WI 15th Inf Co D. Residence: Neenah, Winnebago County, Wisconsin. Born “Hans Halvorsen Kjeldalen” on 18 Jul 1838 in Hjartdal, Telemark, Norway, son of Halvor Olsen Kjeldalen and Anne Sørensdatter Hovland. He came to America from Tuddal, Hjartdal, with his parents and seven siblings on “Lolland”, sailing from Larvik and arriving in New York on 14 Aug 1848. They came to Wisconsin to Walworth County, then in 1851 to Columbia County, and in 1860 to the Winchester settlement in Winnebago County. Civil War: Age 22. Unmarried. Enlisted for three years on 5 Nov 1861 at Neenah, and mustered at Madison, Wisconsin, on 8 Dec 1861. Private. Temporarily appointed as a wagoner for the commissary supply train during July 1862. Sick in Chattanooga, Tennessee, 28 Nov 1863. In May 1864, he fought in battles of Resaca, Georgia, and Pickett’s Mill, Georgia. He was taken prisoner at Pickett’s Mill (New Hope Church) on 27 May 1864, and sent to Andersonville prison for a long time. Released in early 1865. Mustered out at Madison, 25 Mar 1865. Post war: In 1865, he moved to Belgrade, Minnesota. He died 7 Jan 1924 at Brooten, Stearns County, and is buried in Big Grove Cemetery at Belgrade. He was a brother of soldiers Halvor, Kittel and Soren Halvorsen. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 boxes 76-6, 78-3, 79-2; red book vol 20 p60) (Buslett p443) (Ulvestad p286) (Ager p301) (Meeker) ancestry.com) (History of the town of Winchester, Winnebago, Wisconsin, publ. 2002, 4-11) (Naeseth ’48-1282) “Halvorsen, Hans”
