WI 15th Inf Co D. Residence: Sparta, Monroe County, Wisconsin. Born in Hurdalen, Norway. Civil War: Age 22. Unmarried. Enlisted for three years on 21 October 1861 at Sparta. Mustered at Madison, Wisconsin, 13 Nov 1861. Private. Promoted to Sergeant 17 Jan 1862. Promoted to First Sergeant 18 May 1862. Transferred to WI 15th Inf Co H on 28 May 1862. Promoted to Sergeant Major, 1 Jan 1863 and transferred to the Regimental staff. Commissioned Second Lieutenant on 8 Jun 1863, with rank from 27 May 1863. Missing and found to have been taken prisoner at Chickamauga, Georgia, 20 Sep 1863. He was sent to Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia. He had not been mustered as an officer before his capture and so was imprisoned as an enlisted man. Was imprisoned at Danville. Escaped from there but was recaptured and held until April 1865 when he was exchanged. Mustered out as a Sergeant in Madison on 27 May 1865. War Department orders dated 9 Jan 1868 corrected his muster out to be as a Second Lieutenant. Post war: He became a merchant in Sparta. Gangrene developed in a leg he had injured during the war, and he had to have it amputated. He did not survive the amputation. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 boxes 76-6,10; 78-1; red book vol 20 p4, 58, 112) (Meeker) (Buslett p552) (Ulvestad p257) (Ager p290, 309) “Erikson, Martin”
