The Norwegian Regiment of the American Civil War

He was the most famous Norwegian-American of his time.  His name was Hans Christian Heg and he was the commander of the 15th Wisconsin Regiment, the "Norwegian Regiment", of the American Civil War.  His statue graces the lawn of the capital of Wisconsin.

He appealed to newcomers from Norway to enlist in the regiment.  My great great uncles Peder Torgiersen (Peter Thompson) and Kjitil Tovsen (Charles Thompson) heard his impassioned speeches and enlisted the same day.  They both died for their new country in the South.

Erik Barsness, a founder of our new hometown of Glenwood also enlisted in the Norwegian Regiment.  Barsness was a flag bearer, an honor but usually a death sentence.  He survived and there are signs of his existence all around us:  Barsness Park, Barsness Point, Barsness Lutheran Church, and Barsness Cemetery.

Hans Christian Heg toured Wisconsin and Minnesota recruiting for the Norwegian Regiment.  There are records of his speeches from newspapers.  His plea went like this:

“The government of our adopted nation is in danger.”  “Come on, young Norsemen, and take part in defending our country’s cause, and thus fulfill a pressing duty which everyone who is able to do so owes to the land in which he lives.”  “Let us band together and deliver untarnished to posterity the old honorable name of Norsemen.”

“All hail, Norsemen, descendants of the Vikings, let your hordes, as in the days of old, sweep down upon the South, crushing as with Tor’s hammer the Southerner who meets you on the field of battle”.

Hans Heg died leading the 15th into battle at Chickamauga, Georgia.  He was destined to become Governor of Wisconsin when the war was over.  His wife Gunhild was from my extended family from Rjukan, Telemark, Norway.  His letters home to Gunhild have been published in a book and record the history of the regiment.

Erik Barsness, flag bearer, survived and I am writing up a blog entry about his pioneer days at Glenwood.  We recently hiked in Barsness Park.


I came across this tribute to the 15th while doing my research.  Fantastic tribute.

The Jubilee Exposition of 1914 in Christiania (Oslo), Norway

Long after the Civil War was over, Waldemar Ager arranged the section from the State of Wisconsin at the Jubilee Exposition in Christiania, Norway in 1914. The most outstanding thing in the collection was said to be the old flag of the 15th. It was so badly damaged, that before hanging it had to be tacked to a piece of gauze. "It is half in rags, and marked with rifle bullets and cannon shells". But it had taken part in 26 battles and onsets. There was always a large crowd around the section, with showcase, that pertained to the 15th Wisconsin Regiment. Newspapers brought out long columns of descriptions about the showcase and its contents. Morgenbladet stated "It contains relics and mementos of that gallant 15th Wisconsin Regiment which received itself so much acclaim in the numerous and bloody battles in which they took part during the great American Civil War". "Here at home we have not had a war for a hundred years. But it was no more than 50 years ago that a Norwegian regiment fought along in a long and hard war. And they fought with honor. That little glass case in Wisconsin's room, with the flags, under which our country's sons fought and gave their blood, let us approach it in deference, and let its contents fill us with pride - and with faith. Fifty years ago Norsemen gave their lives for an ideal. We must believe they would do the same today, if the "Ideal" would mean our fatherland's freedom.