Memorial Service 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry The Scandinavian Regiment Chickamauga National Military Park

Norwegian flag at the 15th monument.
Photo used with permission of Judy Sandberg.

A very special memorial service took place at the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park on Friday morning, September 17, 1999. The park is located just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee, in northern Georgia, and encompasses the land that the 15th Wisconsin fought on at the Battle of Chickamauga, September 19-20, 1863, the second bloodiest battle of the American Civil War.

15th Wisconsin Honor Guard. Photo courtesy of Martha C. Meeker

The purpose of the memorial service was to honor Colonel Hans Christian Heg and the men of the 15th Wisconsin, in particular those who fought at Chickamauga, and most especially those who were killed, wounded, or captured there. A list of the 15th's casualties at Chickamauga can be viewed by clicking HERE.

The service took place on a warm, sunny, peaceful morning in the area of the battlefield known as Viniard's Farm, where the 15th had fought 136 years earlier. The service was attended by some 40 descendants of soldiers who had served in the 15th. To read a partial list of the descendants who were there, click HERE. Also attending were the following honored guests.

• Mr. Erik Bye, broadcast journalist from Norway, representing the Royal Norse Federation and the Norwegian National Emigrant Museum at Hamar.

• Captain James E. Heg, U.S. Navy (ret.), Great Grandson of Colonel Heg, who was there leading 20 descendants of the Colonel.

• Mr. John McDonald, Honorary Norwegian Consul for Georgia, representing the Norwegian Foreign Office.

• Colonel Aksel Olsson, Assistant Defense Attaché at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, DC, representing the Norwegian Defense Ministry.

Wreath laying at Colonel Heg's Monument. Mr. Bye, Mr. McDonald, and Col. Olsson salute Col. Heg Photo courtesy of Greg Olson

Under the direction of Park Ranger Kim Coons, who coordinated the service, the reenactors, guests and descendants assembled in the West Field of Viniard's Farm. Col. Heg's Brigade, which included the 15th Wisconsin, repeatedly charged across this field on the afternoon of September 19, 1863.

The service began with a welcome by Scott C. Meeker, who had organized the memorial service, and a passage from the Bible read by Robert Braun, who commanded the honor guard of Civil War reenactors.

The honor guard then marched off behind the 15th's National flag, which was held proudly aloft by Stein Are Karlsen of the 15th Wisconsin (Norway). The flag was a faithful copy of the one the 15th had carried into battle at Chickamauga.

Following the honor guard came the representatives of Norway and the 15th descendants. They walked behind a Norwegian flag provided by the Norse Federation, which was carried by Chris Heg, Col. Heg's Great Great Grandson.

Wreath laying at 15th Monument. Captain Heg (left) and James T. Heg Photo courtesy of Martha C. Meeker

The procession's first stop was at the nearby monument to Col. Heg, who had recruited and initially led the 15th Wisconsin. The monument marks the spot where Col. Heg was mortally wounded late on the afternoon of 19th while leading his brigade, which included the 15th.

At the Heg monument 3 of the Colonel's great great great grandchildren laid a memorial wreath from the Heg family. This was followed by a wreath in honor of Col. Heg from the Norwegian government, which was laid by Col. Olsson, Mr. McDonald, and Mr. Bye.

The procession next stopped at the nearby 15th Wisconsin monument, which stands where the regiment first deployed in the battle. There a wreath in honor of the 15th from the Norwegian government was presented by Col. Olsson, Mr. Bye, and Mr. McDonald. This was followed by a commemorative wreath from the Heg family, which was laid by Captain Heg and his son James T. Heg.

Ranger Coons then led the reenactors, descendants, and honored guests into the cool shade of the East Viniard's Woods. It was in these woods that the 15th did most of its fighting and dying at Chickamauga. There Mr. Bye, who had flown over from Norway specifically to attend the 15th activities, spoke to the assembly.

He began with an insightful talk that touched upon the nature of civil wars, and the past and present links between Norway and the 15th's soldiers -- some 90% of whom were born in Norway. Thanks to Mr. Bye, his well-received words, entitled The Mountains Remember, can be read by clicking HERE.

15th Honor Guard in the East Woods. Captain Heg (right) and family look on. Photo courtesy of Martha C. Meeker

Mr. Bye then recited a lyric poem that he had written over 25 years ago about a 15th soldier who had been killed in action at Chickamauga. Entitled Gudmund Gudmundson, it brought tears to the eyes of many. Again thanks to Mr. Bye, his poem can be read by clicking HERE.

Mr. Bye's presentation was followed by the singing of a sad and sentimental Civil War period song called The Vacant Chair. The lyrics of this song, which was very popular during the war, can be read by clicking HERE.

The service then closed with the reading of another Bible passage by Robert Braun and with a thank you to all from Scott Meeker.

The honor guard consisted of members of the 3rd Wisconsin, the 33rd Wisconsin, The Stragglers, and several other Civil War reenacting units. Two reenactors who served with the honor guard -- David Hovde and Greg Olson -- were relatives of 15th soldiers. And four others -- Lars Gjertveit, Ingolf Hermansen, and Stein Are Karlsen of Norway, and Jens Kiilerich of Denmark -- had flown over specifically to participate in the memorial service and reenactment.

The service, which was covered by TV crews from Norway and Chattanooga, was made possible by the kind permission and generous help of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park staff.

This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created October 13, 1999. Last updated June 7, 2000.

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