WI 27th Inf Co H. Residence: Christiania, Dane County, Wisconsin. Born in Sogndal, Sogn, Norway (One source says Lister, Norway.) He was a brother of Erik Nilsen Barsnes. Came to America on 19 Jul 1861. Civil War: Farmer. Age 26. Blue eyes, light hair, light complexion, 5’6½”, stout build. Enlisted for three years on 15 Aug 1862 at Albion, Wisconsin. Mustered 25 Oct 1862 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bounty $100, $75 still due at muster out. Private. On detached service at Ft. Smith guarding boat 3 Mar to 28 May 1864. On 27 Oct 1864, he was on a list of men absent sick at Little Rock, Arkansas. On 30 Oct, he was returned to duty. Mustered out with company on 29 Aug 1865 at Brownsville, Texas. Post war: He lived in Barsness Township, Pope County, Minnesota. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 boxes 129-10,17, 130-10, 131-14; red book vol 32) (Ulvestad p270) (“Descendants of Ole Berntsen Barsness and Kari Mikkelsdatter Olstad” by Katherine Barsness Evenson, p22. Copy in DCHS) (“The Barsness Family”, by Barbara Barsness Swedenburg, publ. 1979, p23-28) “Barsness, Nels” “Nelssen, Nels”.
