Photo of Martin J. Norde taken when he was a Private

Muster Out

15th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
The Scandinavian Regiment

1st Sergeant Martin J. Norde of Company I
Image taken circa early 1862 shows him as a Private
Photo courtesy of Mike Thorson, Great Great Grandson of Ellend Olson of Company B
Picture appearing above has been electronically enhanced by Deep Vee Productions

The following quotes are by 15th soldiers. They describe the final months of their service in the regiment, including conducting Provost (police) duty at Chattanooga, Tennessee, and guarding a railroad bridge at Whitesides (White Side Station) Tennessee.

"When we returned from the zone of combat, we were to serve as guards for a time in Chattanooga but we were not the right material for this assignment as we let the soldiers come and go without passes as long as they didn't create any disturbance."

--Sergeant John O. Wrolstad of Company I
from an article he wrote in the 1890's

"Last night we slept under the high heavens and it was so cold we were nearly frozen stiff. Here the landscape is terrible."

--1st Sergeant Martin J. Norde of Company I
October 19, 1864, diary entry at White Side Station, Tennessee

"...we are at Whiteside Tenn which is an inconsiderable station on the Nashville & Chattanooga R.R. [railroad] and is held by forces only because it contains a very high and important bridge or rather trestle work.  It's only fourteen miles from Chattanooga from whence we get all our supplies [and] rations.  The 'big scare' occasioned by [Confederate General John Bell] Hood's advance having subsided camp life resumed its usual monotoney.  We are now pretty comfortably situated in as much as we have good quarter and pretty good living."

Captain Andrew A. Brown of Company H
October 27, 1864, letter to his Brother from White Side Station, Tennessee

"A drove of cattle was being driven by one day for the Army. We noticed that some of the steers were tired after their long march and so some of us boys watched our chance and drove several of them into a small wood. After the main drive had passed, we slaughtered them and lived high."

--Sergeant John O. Wrolstad of Company I
from an article he wrote in the 1890's

"The common folk around here live in poverty seldom seen among white people. We have built a log house on a hill top to protect us from the enemy's rifle fire."

--1st Sergeant Martin J. Norde of Company I
October 28, 1864, diary entry at White Side Station, Tennessee

"Down by the bridge near Whiteside we had it good; in fact the best days of the war. There was nothing to do and plenty of food...The good times we had watching the bridge were considered a gift for our long and faithful service."

--Sergeant John O. Wrolstad of Company I
from an article he wrote in the 1890's

"Presidential election today. Our regiment voted naturally for Old Abraham Lincoln except for one man in Company C."

--1st Sergeant Martin J. Norde of Company I
November 8, 1864, diary entry at White Side Station, Tennessee

"Toward the end of Nov. [November, 1864] the railway connection between Nashville and Chattanooga was cut off by [Confederate General John Bell] Hood's army which pushed forward through Tennessee to Nashville from where he later was driven the 15th and 16th of Dec. [December, 1864] by [Union General George] Thomas' troops...Dec. 1st the former Co. B mustered out [of the Federal Army at the end of their 3 year term of service] but because the railway was cut off they did not go home until the 20th [of December]."

--Sergeant Michael Thompson of Company I
diary entries
about the final days of Co. B

"During the long period that we have been cut off from the rest of the world by Hood's movements I have been unable to obtain any definate information concerning home...During the whole time we have quietly remained at this Post doing garrison duty & enjoying all the comforts possible for a camp life...The weather is very cold...I am very busy making out my papers preparatory to being mustered out."

Captain Andrew Brown of Company H
January 4, 1865, letter to his Mother
About the final days at Whitesides, Tennessee

"The 18th of Jan. [January, 1865] a detachment from Chattanooga under the command of Lieut. Colonel O'Brien arrived and relieved Lieut. Col. [Ole C.] Johnson as Post Commander [Whitesides, Tennessee].  Feb. [February] 8th we handed in our weapons and the 10th at 4 a.m. we went to Chattanooga where we at 9 a.m. were discharged [mustered out of the Federal Army] and at 2 p.m. we set out to Nashville [Tennessee] where we arrived at 10 a.m. the 11th.  We left at 3 and arrived Louisville [Kentucky] at 3 o'clock the 12th.  The 13th we got paid and left Jeffersonville at 3 and arrived in Indianapolis [Indiana] at 8 p.m.  Reached Michigan City [Indiana] in the morning and Chicago [Illinois] 9 a.m. the 14th.  The 15th in the afternoon we left Chicago and arrived Burnet Junction [Wisconsin] in the night.  The 16th we left and arrived Scandinavia [Wisconsin] midnight the 17th."

--Sergeant Michael Thompson of Company I
diary entries
about the final days of Co. I and his return home to Wisconsin

This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created December 5, 1999. Last updated December 4, 2000.

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