15th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
The 15th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was popularly known as the Norwegian Regiment or the Scandinavian Regiment, due to its composition of mostly Norwegian American, Swedish American, and Danish American immigrants.
Service
The 15th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was originally formed by Col. Hans Christian Heg at Camp Randall, near Madison, Wisconsin. The majority of its members were Norwegian immigrants with the rest being mainly Swedish and Danish immigrants. The regiment was organized at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into federal service January 31, 1862. The regiment was mustered out of service by company between December 1, 1864, and February 13, 1865.| Company | Earliest Moniker | Primary Place of Recruitment | Company Commander |
| A | St. Olaf's Guards | Chicago, Illinois and Boone County, Illinois | Andrew Torkildson |
| B | Wergeland Guards | Dane County | Ole C. Johnson |
| C | Norway Bear Hunters | Racine County | F. B. Berg |
| D | Wolf Hunters | Waukesha County | C. Campbell |
| E | Odin's Guards | Dane County | J. Ingmundsen |
| F | K.K.'s Protectors | Manitowoc County | Charles Gustavson |
| G | Rock River Rangers | Rock County | John J. Gordon |
| H | Heg's Rifles | Dane County, Wisconsin and Clermont, Fayette Counties from Iowa | K. J. Sime |
| I | Scandinavian Mountaineers | Waupaca County and Pepin County | A. Gaassman |
| K | Freeborn County, Minnesota, Winneshiek County, Iowa, Worth County, Iowa, and Fillmore County, Minnesota | Mons Grinager |
Major campaigns
The 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment was a participant in a number of major battles conducted by the Union Army during the Civil War.- The Battle of Island Number Ten
- The Battle of Perryville
- The Battle of Stones River
- The Tullahoma Campaign
- Battle of Chickamauga
- Battle of Resaca
- The Battle of Peachtree Creek
- Battle of Atlanta
- Battle of Jonesborough
Casualties
Commanders
- Colonel Hans Christian Heg died of wounds after Chickamauga. Before the war, he had served as the 6th prison commissioner of Wisconsin.
- Major Jurgen Wilson commanded the regiment after many senior officers were killed or captured at Chickamauga. Earlier in the war, he had been captain of Co. H. He was also wounded at Chickamauga. He received an honorary brevet to lieutenant colonel after the war.
- Lt. Colonel Ole C. Johnson was captured at Chickamauga and was prisoner of war until making his escape in May 1864. He commanded the regiment through the end of the war and was designated for promotion to colonel, but was never mustered at that rank. Earlier in the war, he had been captain of Co. B. After the war he became mayor of Beloit, Wisconsin, and immigration commissioner of Wisconsin.
Notable people
- Hans Borchsenius was adjutant of the regiment for one year. He resigned due to illness. He later served as a Wisconsin state legislator, and served several appointed roles in the Internal Revenue Service.
- Claus Lauritz Clausen was chaplain of the regiment for one year. Before the war he had served in the Iowa state legislature. After the war he was a prominent religious leader in the Scandinavian American Lutheran community.
- David McKee was lieutenant colonel of the regiment and died at the Battle of Stones River. Earlier in the war, he had been captain of Co. C in the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.
- John T. Rice was first lieutenant and later captain of Co. C, serving nearly the entire war. After the war he served as a Wisconsin state legislator.
- Otto A. Risum was enlisted in Co. G and rose to the rank of sergeant. He was later promoted to sergeant major and then adjutant, serving through the entire war. After the war he served as a Wisconsin state legislator.
- Svend Samuelson was 2nd lieutenant of Co. F and resigned due to illness in November 1863. He later served as a Wisconsin state legislator.