Born circa 1836, at
__________________________________________ Kingdom of Norway
Parents were
____________________ (1___-18__) and ___________________ (1___-18__)
Immigrated to
America, 18__
Never married
Died January 2, 1864,
City of Chattanooga, State of Tennessee
Buried at
_________________________________________________________________
Ole Jenson was enlisted in Company K of the 15th Wisconsin by Lieutenant Ole Peterson in Freeborn County, State of Minnesota, on January 18, 1862, for a 3 year term of service. The men of Company K called themselves "Clausen's Guards" after the 15th's first Chaplain, Claus Lauritz Clausen, a Dane.
Ole was mustered into Federal service at the rank of "Private" on February 11, 1862, at Camp Randall, near the City of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. At the time the army recorded him as being 26 years old and not married. His residence was listed as Freeborn County, Minnesota.
After only a few weeks at Camp Randall learning to be a soldier, Private Jenson left there on March 2, 1862, with his company and regiment to join the war. From then until November, 1863, he was listed as "present." As such he would have participated in the successful siege of Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River in the State of Tennessee during March and early April, 1862, as well as on the surprise raid on Confederate Cavalry forces at Union City, Tennessee, near the end of March, 1862.
After the surrender of Island No. 10 on April 7, 1862, Companies A, F, H, I, and K were sent to occupy the island and Captain Andrew Torkildson was placed in command of this battalion. There was much hard, physical work to be done on the island, and quickly. The slave-built fortifications contained many cannons, which the Confederates had had installed to defend against a Union attack coming down the Mississippi River from the north. These had to be moved and the fortifications changed so they could be used to defend the island against a possible Confederate assault coming up the river from the south. This task was made even more difficult due to the unhealthy nature of the island, and with problems getting an adequate supply of rations. These conditions caused many complaints, sickness, and even death amongst the soldiers there.
Starting June 11, 1862, Private Jenson departed Island No. 10 by steamboat with his company to take part with the 15th in a summer campaign through Tennessee and the States of Mississippi and Alabama. Starting on July 3, 1862, he was assigned "extra duty as Teamster," meaning he drove a horse or mule-pulled wagon. In August and September he would have participated in the grueling 400 mile forced march retreat from Alabama up to the City of Louisville, State of Kentucky. The last few weeks of the retreat, led by U.S. Major General Don Carlos Buell, were conducted on half rations and with very little drinking water.
As a Teamster, Private Jenson would have been present at, but not likely to have taken part in, the fighting on October 8, 1862, at the Town of Perryville, Boyle County, Kentucky, which was also called the Battle of Chaplin Hills. While this was the first time the 15th took part in a big battle, it emerged without any fatalities.
As a Teamster, Private Jenson would probably not have participated in the 15th's desperate charge upon a Confederate artillery battery at Knob Gap, Tennessee, just south of the City of Nashville. There the 15th captured a brass cannon and some prisoners. It is also unlikely that Private Jenson fought with the 15th at the long, cold, wet, and bloody fighting at Stone River, Tennessee, also called the Battle of Murfreesboro, on December 30-31, 1862. It was there that the regiment first suffered serious battle casualties, and was cited for bravery. Private Jenson may have seen some fighting during that period when Confederate Cavalry attacked the Union wagon trains.
The 15th camped in the Murfreesboro area for the next 6 months, except for 2 weeks in February when it was sent to the Town of Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee. In March, April, May, and June, 1863, Jenson's rank is listed as "Wagoner," but beginning in July, 1863, he was once again listed as a " Private" and was probably back again serving in the ranks of Company K. Starting June 23, 1863, the regiment took part in the Tullahoma campaign led by U.S. Major General William S. Rosecrans. On July 3, 1863, the 15th went into camp at the Town of Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee, for 6 weeks.
On August 17, 1863, the 15th departed Winchester to take part in what later became known as the Chickamauga campaign led by U.S. Major General William S. Rosecrans. Private Jenson is believed to have been present at the daring early morning crossing of the Tennessee River on August 28th, which the 15th led. He was present at the September 19-20, 1863, fighting at Chickamauga, Georgia -- the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War. He survived the vicious fighting around Viniard's Farm on the first afternoon, as well as the near capture of the regiment around midday on the 20th during Longstreet's Breakthrough. Some 63% of the 15th's soldiers who were at Chickamauga were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner.
Private Jenson would have then served with the regiment during the Confederate siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee, which began right after the battle. The siege resulted in severe shortages of medicine, food, and firewood which, together with cold, wet weather, caused much suffering, sickness, and death. One of those taken ill was Private Jenson. The Confederate siege was finally broken by the Union Army's victorious charge up Mission Ridge on November 25, 1863, which the 15th took part in. It is unclear if Private Jenson participated in the attack because starting November 28, 1863, he was listed as having been "Left sick at Chattanooga" when the 15th departed there that day. That was the last day he ever served with the 15th.
Private Jenson was next listed by the army as having died of "Chronic Diarrhea" on January 2, 1864, at the hospital of the 2nd Division of the 4th Army Corps in Chattanooga. The Army discharge record for Private Jenson described him as having been born in the Kingdom of Norway, as standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, having a "light complexion, blue eyes, and light hair," and as having been a "Farmer" before enlisting.
Sources: Civil War Compiled Military Service Records by Office of Adjutant General of the United States (Washington, DC); Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillage [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers] by Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, Iowa, 1895); Regimental Descriptive Rolls, Volume 20 Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1885); Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Volume I Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1886).
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