A Man, his Regiment, and his Flag

Erik Barsness, and his “Norwegian Regiment”

By Gene Estensen

 “They were old men now, and as these Civil War veterans were brought up to the speaker’s platform terrific rounds of applause rose through the hall. As they unfurled the old regimental flag, the cheers and applause of 20,000 sounded like a hurricane over the gathering. The old warriors seemed very much moved by the ovation, although they had well earned it. These veterans were the last of “The Norwegian Regiment”, the 15th Wisconsin Regiment, which was shattered 50 years earlier on the fields of Tennessee and Georgia.” 

They held their last major reunion May 17, 1914, celebrating Norwegian Independence Day. The location was the exhibition hall at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Twenty-seven of the veterans of Det Femtende Wisconsin Frivillige (the 15th Wisconsin Regiment) registered. Erik Barsness of Glenwood is not listed as an attendee, but he was very active in Veterans organizations such as Post 38 of The Grand Army of the Republic.  Erik Dalager visited him in March of 1916 and recorded “Barsness is very ill now and possibly will not live long.  He complains about the pain from the bullet he carries for the Cause.” 

The old regimental flag was never lost in battle, and the 15th served in 26 battles all together. As they listened to the speakers, including the Honorable James Peterson, their thoughts had to turn back to places like Stones River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Pickett’s Mill, and New Hope Church.”

Norsemen, 

Let us Band Together

Erik Barsness, early pioneer at Pope County, came over from Norway in 1861 and later that year signed up with Company D of the 15th.  He was a flag bearer for this famed regiment.  He was likely influenced to enlist by Hans Christian Heg who commanded the 15th.  Heg travelled through the Midwest recruiting youth from Norway.   Colonel Heg asked for a thousand men, Norwegians, Swedes, and Danes. “The government of our adopted country is in danger.” he wrote. “That which we learned to love as freemen in our old Fatherland – our freedom – our government – our independence – is threatened with destruction.” His appeal generally closed with these words, “Come then, 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.” 

Heg visited certain Norwegian settlements in four states. In October of 1861 he visited Decorah, Iowa and it was from here that two young immigrants from Tinn, Telemark, Norway joined the 15th. They were Per Torgiersen Såheimsmogen (Peter Thompson) and his nephew, Kittil Tovsen Bömogen (Charles Thompson).  They were from this author’s family.

Erik Barsness was seriously wounded at the battle Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he received rifle ball in his right lung. The agony he suffered was indescribable, being forced to lie on the cold, wet ground during the next two days and nights.  He nearly died.  It was an honor to be a flag bearer during the Civil War, but it was extremely dangerous. 

What better source can you find to describe the bravery of the 15th Wisconsin Regiment, and their flag bearers, than from their enemy opponents at Pickett’s Mill, near Atlanta, Georgia?  

The 15th charged up a ravine and was raked by artillery fire and gun shots.  After reviewing accounts of the battle, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson wrote of this brave regiment that attacked his forces. “The leading regiment in the storm columns came so close to the barricades as 20 feet, while the flag bearer broke rank and planted the regiment’s flag in the ground 10 feet from the entrenchment and was shot. First one man, then two more crept forward to rescue the flag and were shot one after the other until the 4th man succeeded in carrying it away”. 

For Gud og Vort Land

Today, the flag of the 15th Wisconsin with the Norwegian words on it, ‘For Gud og Vort Land”  (for God and for Country) can be viewed at the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa.   The flag is well traveled.  There was a Jubilee Exposition in 1914 in Christiania (Oslo) Norway.  Mabel Wraalstad was there supervising the Wisconsin exhibit.  She was the daughter of John Wraalstad, hero of the Norwegian Regiment attack on Rocky Face Ridge in Georgia.  

Approach it with Pride and Defference

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 a showcase, that pertained to the 15th Wisconsin Regiment.  Norwegian newspapers brought out long columns of descriptions about the showcase and its contents.  The newspaper, Morganbladet, 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.”

About the Author:

Gene Estensen was born in Morris, Minnesota and raised in Hancock.  He is retired and spends his summers at Lake Minnewaska. Gene is a descendant of Minnesota Territorial Pioneers from Telemark, Norway who were caught up in the Civil and Indian Wars.  Gene’s family members Peter Thompson and Charles Thompson died for their new country with Company K of the 15th Wisconsin, the Norwegian Regiment. 

Gene is a student of Norwegian emigration history and has published several articles on the Norwegian Regiment.