The 15th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Madison, Wisconsin, and it was mustered in February 14, 1862. This regiment was also known as the Scandinavian Regiment since almost all of the soldiers were from Norway with some from Denmark and Sweden.
Companies "A," "B" and "E" were mustered out December 1, 1864; Company "C" was mustered out January 1; Companies "F" and "G" were mustered out January 14; Companies "I" and "K" February 11; and Companies "D" and "H" were mustered out February 13, 1865.
The Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 86 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 241 Enlisted men by disease. Total 336.
Officers:
Colonel Hans Christian Heg (February 14, 1862 – September 20, 1863) died of wounds after Chickamauga. Before the war, he had served as the 6th prison commissioner of Wisconsin.
Major Jurgen Wilson (September 20, 1863 – July 24, 1864) 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 (July 24, 1864 – February 10, 1865) 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.
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.
Assignments:
Ordered to St. Louis, Mo., March 2, thence to Bird's Point, Mo., March 5, and to Island No. 10 via Columbus and Hickman, Ky., March 14-17. Attached to Flotilla Brigade, Army of Mississippi, to April, 1862. Garrison at Island No. 10 to July, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, Army of Mississippi, to September, 1862. 31st Brigade, 9th Division, Army of the Ohio, September, 1862. 31st Brigade, 9th Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Right Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to March, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps, to October, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Separate Division, District of the Etowah, Dept. of the Cumberland, to February, 1865.
Service:
Operations against Island No. 10, Mississippi River, March 17-April 8, 1862. Expedition to Union City, Tenn., March 30-April 2. Union City March 31. (Four Companies detached for duty at Bird's Point, Mo., March 5 to April 16; rejoined at Island No. 10.) Garrison duty at Island No. 10 until June (Cos. "G" and "I" until October, 1862). Moved to Union City, Tenn., June 12, thence to Humboldt and Corinth, Miss. Moved to Jacinto July 20, thence to Florence, Ala., August 21-24. March to Nashville, Tenn., thence to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg August 26-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg to Crab Orchard, Ky., October 1-16. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. Stanford October 14. Island No. 10 October 17 (Cos. "G" and "I"). March to Nashville, Tenn., October 19-November 7, and duty there until December 26. Expedition down the Cumberland River toward Clarksville after Morgan's guerrillas November 15-20. Wilson's Creek Pike December 25. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Nolensville December 26-27. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro until June. Reconnaissance from Murfreesboro March 6-7. Methodist Church, Shelbyville Pike, March 6. Reconnaissance to Versailles March 9-14. Operations on Edgefield Pike and Shelbyville Pike June 4. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. Liberty Gap June 24-27. Occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Caperton's Ferry, near Bridgeport, August 29. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-20. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. March to relief of Knoxville November 28-December 8. Charleston, Tenn., December 28. Operations in East Tennessee until April, 1864. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge and Dalton May 8-13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Near Cassville May 19. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Pickett's Mills May 27. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Ruff's Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Duty at Atlanta until September 29. Ordered to Chattanooga, Tenn., September 29, thence to Whiteside Station October 17 and guard bridge and railroad until February, 1865. Companies "A," "B" and "E" mustered out December 1, 1864; Company "C" January 1, Companies "F" and "G" January 14, Companies "I" and "K" February 11 and Companies "D" and "H" February 13, 1865.
Rosters:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 2346 men.
Company A - Chicago, Illinois and Boone County, Illinois
Company B - Dane County
Company C - Racine County
Company D - Waukesha County
Company E - Dane County
Company F - Manitowoc County
Company G - Rock County
Company H - Dane County and several men from Clermont, Fayette County, Iowa
Company I - Waupaca County and Pepin County
Company K - Freeborn County, Minnesota, Winneshiek County, Iowa, Worth County, Iowa, and Fillmore County, Minnesota
Historical Sketch: