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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WILSON, John

WI 14th Inf Co B. Residence: New Hope, Portage County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 39. Farmer. Married. Blue eyes, brown hair, sandy…

WILSON, J. L.

From Stavanger, Norway. Civil War: Private. Lived in Lynden, Washington. Sources: (Ulvestad p340)

WILSON, Henry

WI 27th Inf Co K. Born in Norway. Civil War: Seaman. Age 29. Blue eyes, light hair, light complexion, 5’6”. Enlisted for three years on…

WILSON, Gustavus

WI 18th Inf. Born in Norway. Civil War: Seaman. Age 27. Brown eyes, brown hair, dark complexion, 5’7½”. Enrolled for one year on 23 Dec…

WILSON, Gilbert

WI 20th Inf Co H. Residence: Rosendale, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. Civil War: Unmarried. Age 19. Enlisted for three years on 15 Aug 1862…

WILSON, George

WI 15th Inf Co B. Residence: Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. Born in Hamburg, Germany, 18 Dec 1836, of English parents. Grew up in Christiania (Oslo)…

WILSON, George

IL 20th Inf Co G. Residence not shown. Born in Denmark. Civil War: Age 24. Sailor. Hazel eyes, brown hair, dark complexion, 5’10”. Enlisted for…

WILSON, George

WI 16th Inf Co I. Residence: Stevens Point, Portage County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 33. Farmer. Married. Black eyes, black hair, dark…

WILSON, Swand

MN 2nd Cav Co G. Residence: Winona, Winona County, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 30. Enrolled 11 Dec 1863. Mustered 4 Jan 1864.…

WILSON, Siver O.

IA 6th Cav Co D. Residence: Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa. Born in Voss, Norway. Civil War: Age 31. Enlisted 21 Oct 1862 as Sergeant. Mustered…

WILSON, Peter

MN 4th Inf Co H. Residence: Nicollet County, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 19. Enrolled 27 Sep 1861. Mustered 20 Dec 1861. Private.…

WILSON, Ole C.

WI 36th Inf Co I. Residence: Ottawa, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Unmarried. Age 22. Blue eyes, brown hair, light complexion,…

WILSON, Ole C.

From Telemarken, Norway. Civil War: Private. Lived at Hazel Run, Minnesota. Sources: (Ulvestad p340)

WILSON, Ole

From Hallingdal, Norway. Civil War: Corporal. Served in Indian and Civil wars. Was a prisoner at Andersonville, Georgia, a long time. Died in 1867. Sources:…
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WILSON, Ole

MN 9th Inf Co H. Residence: San Francisco, Carver County, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 18. Enrolled 23 Aug 1862. Mustered 27 Oct…

WILSON, Ole

MN Hv Arty 1st Reg Co C. Residence: Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 45. Enrolled 29 Sep 1864. Mustered…

WILSON, Ole

MN Hv Arty 1st Reg Co H. Residence: Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 22. Enrolled 18 Feb 1865. Mustered the…

WILSON, Ole

WI 4th Cav Co A. Born in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 18. Gray eyes, light hair, light complexion, 5’½”. Enlisted for three years on…