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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NILSEN, Magnus

From Tromso, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived at La Crosse, Wisconsin. Sources: (Ulvestad p314)

NIELSON, Haakon

WI 15th Inf Co G. Residence: Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Age 25. Unmarried. Enlisted for three years on 16 Jan 1862 at Madison…

NIELSON, Jacob

IA 27th Inf Co B. Residence: Allamakee County, Iowa. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 31. Enlisted 14 Mar 1864. Mustered 6 Apr 1864. Private.…

NIELSON, Jens

MN Indian War: “Citizen Soldiers engaged in the Sioux Indian war of 1862”. The St. Peter Frontier Guards, on duty at New Ulm during the…

NIELSON, Nels

MN Indian War: “Citizen Soldiers engaged in the Sioux Indian war of 1862”. The St. Peter Frontier Guards, on duty at New Ulm, Minnesota, during…

NIELSON, Soren

WI 3rd Inf Co E. Civil War: Age 38. Joined 5 May 1861. Private. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 11)

NIELSON, Toller

See NELSON, Tollef
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NIELSON, Trond

WI 15th Inf Co F. Residence: Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Born “Thrond Nilsen Rogn” in Bamle, Norway. Civil War: Age 45. Married. Enlisted for three years…

NILSEN, ?

Residence: Clay County, South Dakota. He was a son of Peder Nilsen from Kristianssand, Norway. Indian War: Private. Served in Indian wars in the Dakota…

NILSEN, A.

From Kristiania (Oslo), Norway. Indian War: Private. Post war: Lived in Big Stone County, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p313)

NILSEN, Agrim

From Sogn, Norway. Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived in Madison, South Dakota. Sources: (Ulvestad p313)

NILSEN, Andrew

From Sogn, Norway. Civil War: Corporal. Post war: In 1907, he was living in Cambridge, Wisconsin. Sources: (Ulvestad p264)

NILSEN, Carl

Spanish-American War: Private. Post war: Lived at Alpena, Michigan. Sources: (Ulvestad p313)

NILSEN, Edward

From Land, Norway. Civil War: Private. Died of Disease during the war. Sources: (Ulvestad p313)
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NILSEN, Einar

Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived at Menomonie, Wisconsin. Sources: (Ulvestad p313)

NIELSEN, Lorents

WI 15th Inf Co A. Residence: Chicago, Illinois. Civil War: Age 30. Unmarried. Enlisted for three years on 25 Nov 1861 at Chicago. Mustered 2…

NIELSEN, Niels

WI 15th Inf Co C. Residence: Raymond, Racine County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Age 33. Unmarried. Enlisted for three years on 9 Nov 1861 at Madison,…

NIELSEN, Niels E.

WI 52nd Inf Co D. Residence: Farmington, Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Clerk. Age 26. Blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion, 5’9”.…

NIELSEN, Syvert

TX. Civil War: Private. Sources: (Elise Wærenskjold “The Lady with the Pen”, p 80; publ by NAHA, 1961)
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Texas

NIELSON, Carl

WI 15th Inf Co F. Residence: Door County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Age 32. Married. Enlisted for three years on 24 Feb 1862 at Door County…