Civil War Database

This extensive database contains information on the lives and service of Civil War soldiers who were born in Norway.

The data was compiled from research conducted between 1997 and 2003 by Jerry Rosholt, a journalist and later producer for NBC Nightly News. In addition to the database, Rosholt served as guest historian a major exhibition on Norwegians in the Civil War at Vesterheim and authored a companion volume. Ole Goes to War: Men from Norway Who Fought in America’s Civil War, by Jerry Rosholt, is available through Vesterheim’s Museum Store.

Database Sources – a list of sources of the information and explanation of abbreviations listed at the end of the entries.

Abbreviations & Database Clues – includes more information about how to use this database.

Soldiers’ Names – includes more information about rural Norwegian naming customs and the name changes that often occurred after emigration to the United States.

Send additions or edits to the database to info@vesterheim.org.

 

Acknowledgments

Vesterheim’s Norwegians in the Civil War project was made possible through the generous support of Hamlet and Suzanne Peterson, Rochester, Minn., and a grant from Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The companion volume Ole Goes to War: Men from Norway Who Fought in America’s Civil War, by Jerry Rosholt, was made possible through a gift from the Government of Norway in honor of Vesterheim’s 125th Anniversary.

We are grateful to The Edwin E. and Janet L. Bryant Foundation of Stoughton, Wisc., for their generous grant in support of the online database.

Additional support for sharing the research of Jerry Rosholt comes from Darlene Rosholt, Gerald R. Sime, Donald and Faye Aamodt, Robert Rosholt, Robert Sande, Dirk Rosholt, Greg Rosholt, and Sons of Norway Nordic 1-502.

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PETERSEN, Lars

MN Indian War: “Citizen Soldiers engaged in the Sioux Indian war of 1862”. The Lake Prairie Rangers of the First Sub-district, 1st Battalion Special Volunteers,…

PETERSEN, Lewis

MN 6th Inf Co B. Residence: Lenora, Minnesota. Born in Stenshol, Eidsvold, Norway. Civil War: Age 20. Enrolled 29 Feb 1864. Mustered the same day.…

PETERSEN, Martin

MN Indian War: “Citizen Soldiers engaged in the Sioux Indian war of 1862”. The Scandinavian Guards, organized in Nicollet County, 27 Aug 1862, and served…

PETERSEN, Mons

Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived at Lowry, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p323)

PETERSEN, Nils

From Sogn, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived at Emmet County, Iowa. Sources: (Ulvestad p323)
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Iowa

PETERSEN, Nils C.

From Kongsberg, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived at Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p323)

PETERSEN, O. C.

From Toten, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived at Lerdal, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p323)

PETERSEN, O. M.

From Sogn, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived at Corsicana, Texas. Sources: (Ulvestad p323)
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Texas

PETERSEN, Ole

From Lærdal, Sogn, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived at Towerville, Wisconsin. Sources: (Ulvestad p323)

PETERSEN, Ole

From Stavangerkanten, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived in Benton County, Iowa. Sources: (Ulvestad p323)
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Iowa

PETERSEN, Hans

Spanish-American War: Private. Post war: Lived at Grafton, North Dakota. Sources: (Ulvestad p322)

PETERSEN, Hans

MA 2nd Inf Co K. Residence: Boston, Massachusetts. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Civil War: Bookkeeper. Was the company’s First Sergeant from 12 May 1861 to…

PETERSEN, Hans

From Valders, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived at Austin, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p322)

PETERSEN, Hellick

From Nummedal, Norway. Indian War: Private. Post war: Died in Franklin, Minnesota (before 1907). Sources: (Ulvestad p322)

PETERSEN, Henrik B.

Civil War: Sergeant. Sources: (Ulvestad p260)
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P

PETERSEN, Henry

From Valders, Norway. Spanish-American War: Private. Post war: Lived in Murray County, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p322)

PETERSEN, Ingebrigt

From Soresund (?), Sogn, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Died in Miner County, South Dakota, in 1888. Sources: (Ulvestad p322)

PETERSEN, Isaac A.

MN 2nd Inf Co C. Residence: Salem, Olmsted County, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 29. Drafted. Mustered 22 Oct 1864. Private. Discharged from…

PETERSEN, John

MN 3rd Inf Co D. Born in Norway; military records list Sweden. Civil War: Age 24. Mustered 23 Jan 1864. Private. Died at Pine Bluff,…

PETERSEN, John

Residence: St. Peter, Minnesota. Indian War: Captain in the Home Guard. Sources: (Ulvestad p256)