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The "Norwegian Regiment", the 15th Wisconsin, is documented by Scott Cantwell Meeker at his fine web site.
The "Fox River Regiment", the 36th Illinois, had a high number of Norwegian immigrant soldiers and is documented at this web site.
Gene Estensen, Telelaget member, has written a series of articles on the "Norwegian Regiment" with an emphasis on the soldiers from Telemark.
In the series of articles (above) was Gene's tribute to John Johnson Thoe of the 15th Wisconsin. The beautiful letters he wrote home were to his sisters Mari and Margit, also to his brother-in-law Levor Levorson. To this day the home farm is called Mariland in honor of Mari. Here are pictures of Mari and Levor Levorson, Margit Johnson, John Johnson in uniform, and of my friends the current-day Levorson family.
Andersonville Prison in Georgia is this nations monument to POWs. Many Civil War soldiers from the Norwegian Regiment, the 15th Wisconsin, are buried here.
Gunhild Jacobsdatter Einung came to America from Tinn, Telemark. She grew up to marry a bright young man from Muskego in Wisconsin. His name was Hans Christian Heg and he commanded the 15th Wisconsin Regiment, the Norwegian Regiment. He was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. His body was returned to Muskego and monuments were established in his honor.
We regret that Erik Bye passed away in 2004. He was called by some the "Walter Cronkite of Norway". It was Gene Estensen's pleasure to meet him on the battlefield at Chickamauga, Georgia where Erik met with the descendants of Hans Christian Heg as part of a TV program for Norway. He is known for his poem, "Gudmond Gudmondson". He was said to be inspired to write the poem when he saw the picture of Civil War soldier John Johnson Thoe. This Civil War soldier is buried within eyesight of Gene Estensen's former office in Marietta, Georgia and many of you have read Gene's story about John Johnson which has been published in Telesoga and in Norway. Scott Cantwell Meeker has placed a memorial page on his 15th Wisconsin Regiment website. Webmaster.
The Norwegian pioneers were caught up in a mixture of politics, religion, and rhetoric at the onset of the Civil War. The pioneers, and sons of pioneers, joined the Union army in large numbers and served in many regiments as documented here.
Here is a summary of the links:
Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
The 15th Wisconsin Regiment, the "Norwegian Regiment"
Norwegians in the Civil War, website of the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum
