WI 15th Inf Co E. Residence: Christiana, Dane County, Wisconsin. Born “Johan Nordal Brun” in Koppervig, Norway, in October 1840. He was a great grandson of a famous bishop with his same name. His father, also Johan Nordal Brun, was a merchant. Came to America at age 9 in a group led by Pastor A C Preus, who was married to young Brun’s sister. Following confirmation, young Brun learned to be a typographer and worked for the Norwegian language paper “Emigranten” in Madison, Wisconsin. Civil War: Age 22. Mustered into WI 15th Inf Co K at Madison, Wisconsin, on 17 Apr 1861, as Sergeant. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in WI 15th Inf Co G, on 28 Nov 1862, at Washington, D.C., with rank from 1 Oct 1862. Seriously wounded in the battle of Stone’s River near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on 31 Dec 1862, and was taken prisoner by the Confederates, who lost him almost immediately to a troop of Union Cavalry. Detached from Co G and assigned to Co E on 8 Jan 1863, effective from 20 Dec 1862. Was given leave of absence for 20 days beginning 3 Feb 1863. Was hard of hearing and this got worse during the fighting. Resigned 9 Apr 1863. Died, not yet 24, on 1 Aug 1864 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was working for the Norwegian language newspaper “Fædrelandet”. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 76-9; red book vol 20, p70) (TAR) (Buslett p466 photo) (Ager p192 photo; p303; p311) (Gjertveit)
