WI 15th Inf Co C. Residence: Norway Township, Racine County, Wisconsin. Born on Farm Grinde in Sogn, Norway, 1837. Came to America in 1846 with his parents. When he was 18, his father died and he took over running his family’s farm. Civil War: Age 24. Married. Enrolled 3 Dec 1861 at Waterford, Wisconsin. Commissioned First Lieutenant 22 Nov 1861, effective from the 19th. Mustered 2 Dec 1861 at Madison, Wisconsin. When Captain Fredrick Berg resigned, Hanson took command of Company C. He was promoted to Captain at Clear Creek, Mississippi, 23 Jun 1863, effective from 12 Jun. He took part in all the Regiment’s battles and skirmishes. In the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, on 19 Sep 1863, as the regiment advanced, the blade of his sword was broken by a bullet. During a short rest, he showed the hilt to Colonel Johnson and said, “This is getting to be hot work”. A short while later, in confusion, his company was fired upon by their own lines, and he was hit, shot in his head. He was taken prisoner and brought to a prison in Atlanta, Georgia, where he died of his wounds on 13 Oct 1863. Buried in National Cemetery at Marietta, Georgia; section A, grave 1070. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 box 76-5; red book vol 20 p 42) (Buslett p402 photo) (Ager p70, photo; p165, photo; p297) (Lonn p260) (Ulvestad p254) (Quiner p 621, 622) (Hedberg) (Gene Estensen gestensen@aol.com) “Hanson, Hans J.”
