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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NELSON, Charles B.

WI 15th Inf Co G. Residence: Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Age 35. Married. Enlisted 27 Sep 1861 and mustered at Madison, Wisconsin, on…

NELSON, Charles J.

MN 2nd Inf Co A. Residence not shown. Born in Norway; military records list Sweden. Civil War: Age 18. Substitute. Mustered 1 Apr 1865. Private.…

NELSON, Chr.

MN Indian War: “Citizen Soldiers engaged in the Sioux Indian war of 1862”. Irregular State Militia, Co C. Organized at New Ulm, Minnesota, 15 Sep…

NELSON, Christ

MN 10th Inf Co C. Residence: Highland, Wabashaw County, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 21. Enrolled 15 Aug 1862. Mustered 15 Nov 1862.…

NELSON, Christ

Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. Sources: (Ulvestad p311)

NELSON, Christ

MN 13th Inf Co D. Residence: Residence: La Crosse, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Spanish-American War: Age 35. Enrolled and mustered 13 Jun 1898 at St.…

NELSON, Christian

Civil War: Private. Post war: Lived in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Sources: (Ulvestad p311)

NELSON, Christian

WI 10th Inf Co H. Residence: Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 20. Unmarried. Farmer. Blue eyes, light hair, light complexion, 5’6”.…

NELSON, Andrew O.

MN Lt Arty 1st Battalion. Residence: Winona County, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 39. Mustered 21 Nov 1861. Private. Re-enlisted 1 Jan 1864.…

NELSON, Anthony

DT 1st Cavalry Battalion Co B. Civil War: Private. Served in the Indian war from 1862 to 1865. Post war: Lived in Clay County, South…

NELSON, Anton

Spanish-American War: Private. Was captured by the enemy in Manila, The Philippines, but he came back alive. It is not known where he lived. Sources:…
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NELSON, Arne

WI 1st Inf Co D. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 17. Enrolled in May 1864. Post war: Moved from Minnesota to Grand Forks County,…

NELSON, Ben

WI 15th Inf Co I. Residence: Elk Mound, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. Born “Bersven Nilson” at Ovre Fleskemo, Maalselvedalen, Troms, Finmark, Norway. Left with his…

NELSON, Bendix

WI 33rd Inf Co K. Residence: Dunkirk, Dane County, Wisconsin. Born in Denmark. Civil War: Age 23. Farmer. Unmarried. Blue eyes, dark hair, light complexion,…

NELSON, Benjamin J.

IN 12th Cav Co A. Born 4 Aug 1842 in Helsinborg, Sweden. Civil War: Entered service on 15 Dec 1863 at Laporte, Indiana. Corporal. Discharged…

NELSON, Bersven

See NELSON, Ben
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NELSON, Bor

WI 49th Inf Co I. Residence: Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 29. Blue eyes, light hair, light complexion, 5’9”.…

NELSON, C. O.

Spanish-American War: Private. Post war: Died in Hayward, Minnesota (before 1907). Sources: (Ulvestad p311)

NELSON, C. S.

IA 21st Inf Co G. Residence: McGregor, Iowa. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 22. Enlisted 15 Aug 1862. Mustered 22 Aug 1862. Private. Died…