Memories of the Civil War
(by Torkel Torgersen, Erskine, Minn.)*
"-----Now I was a soldier and as such I came to learn the soldier's life. We
came to Madison with our Company and began to train and when more Companies
arrived, we went to Camp Randall in the outskirts of Madison where we
learned to drill and at the same time became acquainted with one another.
Among the soldiers there were three who were well-known from Norway and
who probably were still spoken of at home for their fighting ability. Tosten
Dangerud, one of Hallingdal's best fighters who when drunk caused much
damage and was feared by our soldiers. I remember once that he came roaring
into our quarters. Everyone ran out the door except one who remained, which
Tosten took as defiance. After an exchange of words it ended that Tosten was
sent headlong between two bunks. There were three bunks above one another.
Tosten had little room and could not get out until he humbly promised to be
a good boy. After that he always left the man at peace.
Christian Colbjørnsen from Christiania was also another brawler there. He
was also known for his great strength since it was said that he could get
under a horse, lift it up from the ground and swing it around. He also found
his superior, the same man who stowed Tosten into the bunk.
Now those celebrities were conquered but Andreas Fosse from Sogn**, who
at home had travelled around as a peddler, was probably better than the
other two. It was said that he could put his heels on a chair and his head
on another and support three men who sat on him. He never had the
opportunity to show his strength in the regiment for he never picked a
quarrel and left everyone at peace. I believe besides that the Fifteenth
Regiment consisted of such good soldiers as any regiment could show; all
healthy and fit and courageous.
When we left Madison we knew little of what we would undergo in the
three years that faced us. We came to St. Louis where we were taken aboard
boats and sent to the vicinity of Island No. 10, which our gunships
bombarded for over two weeks. During that time we lived partly on the boats
and partly on log booms where we did our cooking. It was not unusual to see
one or another with a coffee cup or soup bowl in their hands fall between
the logs to the laughter and amusement of the onlookers but little joy for
those who received an involuntary bath and lost their food.
We guarded the land on the Missouri side so the enemy could not come and
attack our gunships that were on that side of the river. We guarded a two to
three long line. I will never forget a night when together with some others
I was set on watch at 7 o'clock in the evening. The sky was filled with
thick, black and coppery clouds that indicated a coming storm and we did not
have to wait long. The rain began to fall in torrents. The thunder struck
blow after blow. The lightning lit the sky so it looked like the inside of a
stove and sparks seemed to fall all around us. And to make things worse the
cannons at Madrid Bend, right across from us, began to fire and things
really broke loose. Round after round for about two hours. Many of the
rounds crossed the river, uncomfortably close to us. We became rather
unconcerned as we walked back and forth since we knew that nothing could
come through the impenetrable darkness after the worst of the thunderstorm
had passed. Three or four of us walked together in order to better pass the
time. We took a rail, set it in a fence and sat on it. But we had not been
there long before a cannon ball came and hit the fence. That sent a cold
shiver down our backs but we stayed where we were except for one man who ran
off into a field and threw himself down. That was hardly pleasant for the
field was soaked with water. We were not relieved until 5 o'clock in the
morning. The reason was that the watch troops had been lodged in a log cabin
and a cannon ball went right through it, breaking a log and sending the
watch to flight. They found a mortar scow where they stayed the rest of the
night and so we were left to our fate. This was our first test under fire
but we found harder nuts to crack after a while. The reason the rebels used
such heavy cannon fire was that three of our gunships sailed past the island
and when they had successfully made the trip, there was nothing else for the
enemy to do but surrender. The next morning we were ordered to go ashore at
Madrid Bend and gather prisoners and anything else. And many a full box of
clothing was packed and sent to the families up north.
Now we had the island in our possession and three Companies of the
Fifteenth Regiment were ordered to remain and set up defenses in case the
enemy should come back up the river. But before the Brigade left us we made
a little excursion to a railroad station called Union City, 21 miles from
Hickman. We went by boat from the island and up the river and went ashore at
Hickman. From there it was away through the country without knowing where
we were going. It became rather dark before we halted. We knew then that
something unusual was ahead for we were not allowed to speak loudly or light
fires. We had to eat hardtack and drink cold water. During the night we held
our rifles like a mother holds her child. As the day began to dawn we were
again on the march. We went straight into the forest that had been cut down,
with trees felled in all directions. We crept ahead as best we could and it
was not long before we were right at a little rebel camp to whom we sent a
rifle salvo as a morning greeting. I will never forget the activity in the
little camp and before we knew it all the men sprang out of their
tents. Some had their trousers in their hands but most had just their shirts
on. And in that costume they had to cover the three miles to a cavalry camp
of several thousand men which we knew about and who caused us to be
nimble-footed. We knew that after the first shock was over they would pursue
us. We burned the camp, took the horses and set off as quickly as we
could. We reached Hickman and as we were boarding the boats we saw the enemy
on the heights above Hickman and thanks to our gunship we were not taken
prisoner. Happy and satisfied we came back to the island where our Brigade
departed and left us alone.
After we had gotten the island in a defensible condition, two of our
Companies were sent to join the Regiment much to everyone's happiness. We
had tired of the monotonous life as well as the hard work we had to carry
out. At the same time a good many of us had gotten sick from the poor water
since we had no other but the Mississippi River. In the eight months from
when we left Madison until we came to Bowling Green, Ky. my weight had
reduced from 240 to 145 pounds when I joined many others admitted to
hospital. I believed I would never be well again but I was satisfied that I
could be there whether it would be life or death. It was in the fall when we
came there when all the fruit was ripe and the farmers took all their loads
of apples and other produce to market. And we duped many farmers badly, when
some engaged in good conversation with them, others were behind the wagon
and ripped open the sacks and stole what we found. It was a sort of mania.
We stole whether we needed it or not and whether it lead to death or not.
For my part, I had been warned not to eat green fruit but this admonition I
had forgotten as well as the doctor's instructions with regard to the food
he prescribed for me. That consisted of a little piece of well-toasted bread
and a little tea to drink. I gathered up the left-overs I found in the room
and ate them until the doctor forbade it and told the waiters not to give me
anything other than his prescription. Then I went to the kitchen where I was
always well provided for. That did not last long before I was denied food
there also. But I was not at a loss. Outside the kitchen there were always
one or more barrels that contained scraps from the kitchen and from them I
had many a good meal. The victory was won. The doctor promised me I would
get no medicine but would die like a dog. I would be permitted to eat all I
wished and what I wished for the short time he told me I would live.
Naturally I was grateful to the doctor, not so much for the honourable death
he promised me but for the good meals I expected, which was no deceit. I ate
all I wished and what I wished and remarkably I got better day by day and
in a short time I was well enough to return to the Regiment.
I believe this is the place to recount a touching occurrence that
happened at the hospital. Everyone in the Regiment knew the Urnes brothers.
There were three of them in the Regiment. Andreas Urnes was the Colour
Bearer. And he was equal to the job. There was no braver soldier in the
Regiment than him. The same with his brother Ole, who after the war went to
Douglas County where he was sheriff for many years. But their youngest
brother, a small and young boy whose name I cannot recall even though he was
one of my best friends, especially in the hospital. There were many of our
Regiment there but this little Urnes was treated by all of us like a pet.
(This boy's name was Peter, see the account earlier in the book. M.U.)
His engaging face made him beloved by all of us. He had a habit of
washing his feet every day. One day while he sat near the stove and washed
he said to me that he did not have long to live. I laughed at him and said
that it was just his imagination, which I also believed. But I had to help
him to his bed, which we had never had to do before. On his request I pulled
out a folder from under his pillow that contained some letters and
photographs of his sister. I promised to give these articles to his brother
Andreas which I later did along with a brotherly farewell. He called on the
nurse and asked her to call all the Norwegians in the hospital to him, which
was done. When they came he could see nothing but he called us by name and
asked each of us come to him. Then he took each of us by the hand and
thanked us for the love we had shown him. When he had said farewell to all
of us he folded his hands on his breast and recited Our Father aloud and
clearly. We stood by his bedside and thought he had exerted himself too much
and fallen asleep. But to our great surprise he was dead. I have seen many
dead and dying but never anyone who died so cheerfully and who seemed to be
as pain-free as him.
Another curious thing happened at the same hospital. A French-Canadian,
who was also with our Regiment but whose name I will not mention, had a
hatred of dogs and cats and the more he could torture these animals the more
content he was. He died in the hospital and was placed in the mortuary
overnight as usual but the unusual thing that happened to him was that the
rats ate up his face during the night.
Our Regiment now came back from Louisville where they had pursued Bragg
and his army without ever coming to a battle. It looked as though they were
play-acting. They were seldom more than a half-day's march from each other.
It was also told that the two army leaders often visited each other at
night. Since they were brothers-in-law this was possible.
When our Regiment came to Elmira I left the hospital without the doctor
knowing it and found my Company. I remember that night as if it was now. The
snow was quite high in the fields and we made a bonfire, pushed the snow
aside and lay around the fire. The next morning there were many sick
admitted to the hospital and to my great annoyance, I was one of them and
the doctor did not wish to have me. The hospital to which we were admitted
was a big church. In this hospital just as many people died as in all the
other hospitals together. Possibly the reason was that the doctor was a
rebel. Several times I heard him shout hurrah for Jeff Davis when he was
drunk, which was not infrequently. In a while I was discharged from the
hospital and with several others sent back to the Regiment that was then in
Murfreesboro, Tenn. where many of our boys had to give their lives in a
three day battle that took place at Christmas and where our army won a
brilliant victory under the command of our brave General Rosecrans. I will
omit details about work, patrols and small raids in the countryside where
our brave Colonel Heg, who always received fame for his many displays of
bravery, was our leader. He was not only brave and quick-witted in battle
but he dealt with the soldiers as his equals. I recall that many times he
would go around the camp and when he found someone who had more than the
usual rations he got a plate and a cup and sat with us and ate and had one
or another amusing story to tell.
This made him beloved and popular in the whole Brigade he commanded. Our
Regiment and Brigade were always the ones to be found where they were most
needed, such as when we marched from Murfreesboro to the Tennessee River
where we supposed that the enemy had hidden in the woods on the other side.
Our pontoon boats were all pulled up into a line with so and so many men
ordered into each boat and on a given signal all the boats were launched,
full of soldiers who competed to see who would be first on the other side.
Again it was Heg, as usual, who was first ashore but instead of the warm
reception we expected from the enemy not a shot was fired since they had all
left.
The advance was now in full force with small actions here and there daily
but since this is of little interest I will omit that and begin with the
19th September 1863. At dawn the Brigade was awakened, had a hasty
breakfast and five days provisions were issued to each man. Just when we
were finished and on the march shooting began at some distance. The shooting
stopped after a while and the only thing one can compare it with is when a
strong hailstorm hits the roof with a strong thunderclap all at once. One
day on this march, decks of cards seemed to become so heavy that no one
wished to carry them, and cards were strewn all along the way. Whether this
was done to lighten the load or because of conscience, shall be unsaid. The
reader may judge for himself. That morning I and a young lad, Ole
Gunstinsen, also from Sætersdalen made a promise to one another that if one
should fall and the other be saved, he would tell the parents about the
fallen one. My comrade disappeared that I had to tell his parents much
later. When we got to the place where the battle took place and were ordered
in a battle line, I took three crackers and began to eat. I thought that it
might be some time before I would get something to eat which later turned
out to be so. I had eaten two but threw away the third when the shooting
began. We were then in the tumult of battle and drove the enemy back but it
did not last long before we had to pull back to our lines. In that manner we
drove each other back and forth seven times. At that time my hand was
wounded but it did not hinder me from shooting but then I received a bullet
that made me unconscious for a moment and when I stopped and examined my
wound I believed that my thigh bone was broken. I laid down in the shelter
of a big tree but it was not long before the bullets hit the tree and the
small bushes seemed to be alive. At that same time a Lieutenant of our
Regiment came who I asked for help. But he could not because a little piece
of his little finger was shot off which he showed me and left. I hoped that
his head would go the next time. I discovered that I could walk and I
hobbled along until Colonel Heg saw me and pointed the right way since I was
on the way toward the rebels who lay in a field beside us. I followed the
new direction and got past our lines, but not far. The blood loss was great
and I began to see stars. I had to sit down and rest and thought that
possibly someone would come and bind up my wounds. Several passed by but
none had the time to help me. Finally two men came of whom one was kind
enough to help me. He put a bandage on which consisted of the bottom of my
shirt. But when he was putting a pin in it a cannon ball plowed into the
ground just five feet from us. The lad dropped the pin and bandage and
bolted away as fast as he could. I suppose I would have done the same in his
place. We did not know if it was a ball or a shell but we fled in fear. I
had to continue with the bandage but was in such a hurry I forgot my food
and cartridge case. I received the help of a man who supported me until we
came to an ambulance that took me and another wounded a short distance
away and left us near a small unoccupied house and laid us under some big
trees. My comrade died the first night while I lay there for five days
without food or drink before I was found by our people who brought me to the
hospital, four or five miles from the place where the battle took place.
On the 20th September our army had to withdraw to Chattanooga and many
ran like frightened sheep. Almost no one knew where their comrades were. At
Chattanooga our army entrenched itself to receive the enemy. We were now in
the enemy's hands. Our doctor and nurses were ordered to let themselves be
taken prisoner so they could treat their badly wounded. The lightly wounded
escaped to Chattanooga. After five days I was found and brought to the
hospital where we received treatment but little or no food. It was there I
first heard that our valiant Colonel had fallen. I do not think that I
grieved more over my father's death than I did his. It was said about him
that he was foolhardy. But never did we go into any danger unless he was in
the lead. Nor did he plunge himself or us into danger without knowing how to
get us out again.
We were in the hospital for six days. One day a black woman came to our
tent and wished to have our laundry. I gave her my bloody and stiff trousers
and that was the last I saw of them and later had to use a piece of the tent
that I wrapped around me like a skirt. I used that until I got to Nashville,
Tenn. We were all exchanged under parole and transported through the lines
by the rebels. We drove through the battlefield where the naked dead were
strewn about, eleven days after the battle. It was a terrible sight to see
the dead people and horses among each other. I must praise our drivers as
they treated us with great friendship. Similarly when we came to their camp
where we stopped for a time and the lads came to us with food and coffee -
more than we could have expected from enemies. We came to Chattanooga in the
evening where they received us as though we were brothers. Our wounds were
examined and dressed and we all received good food, something we were not
used to get.
The next morning I heard that my Regiment was encamped in the outskirts
of the city and I walked there on two crutches. It still makes me happy when
I think of the hearty reception from the Company and Regiment and I will
never forget the affection Lieutenant Simonsen showed me. He could not have
treated a brother with more friendship. The next day he brought me clothing.
He accompanied me to the hospital in the evening. Then something happened
that was unexpected. Early the next morning we were taken by ambulance again
to Stevenson. The roads seemed almost impassable and many of the wounded
soldiers could feel it. Finally we got to Stevenson and there we were packed
into box cars like a herd of pigs. Then the trip continues to Nashville
where we were admitted to hospital and received good treatment in every way
and our improvement went quickly. But the longing for home was unbearable
for me and when they believed I was well enough I received permission to go
home.
*The account that Torgeresen sent me unfortunately had to be shortened a bit.
**Andreas Fosse was from Voss, not from Sogn We find him listed
in the Honour Roll as a Captain (previously in the book). He fell at
Stone River after having shown unusual bravery.
Some camp memories
Our Orderly Sergeant, John Underwood, was the swiftest and best we had in
the Regiment. He was skilled at boxing and quick as lightning although not
very big. He taught me the art of boxing in a rather reckless way so that
blood often flowed from my mouth and nose. Such joking was more than I could
take and he always had to flee as best he could. But it was not long before
I was just as good in the art as he was for I was a quick learner but mainly
because I wished to pay him back for all the bloody noses he gave me. And it
was not long before I gave him tit for tat so I could get my debt satisfied
for me if not always for him. Nevertheless we were inseparable. Where one
was, both were. At the same time it seemed that the lads had little fun if
we were not along. They knew that we always had a grudge and seldom did they
miss any amusement.
We lived at that time in Camp Washburn on the outskirts of Milwaukee.
Once six or eight of us were going to walk to the city. Underwood was the
first in line and I was behind him. On the way we came upon a man who was
driving a cart of wet manure. Underwood said he would give $5.00 to the one
who could throw him onto the load. The words were no sooner out of his mouth
than I grabbed him from behind and flung him full length onto the load so
that the manure squirted out to both sides. I had to take flight and had no
time to wait for my payment even though he did his best to catch me. His
uniform was ruined and I accompanied him to the camp so he could change his
clothes and be more suitable for our company.
One Sunday afternoon some of us were going to town. We ate our midday
meal which consisted of butter, bread, coffee and black molasses that was
served on our tin plates. Underwood came behind me to do mischief and after
the third time he had pulled me onto the floor by the ears, I grabbed him
and threw him the full length of the mess table so the cups and dishes and
their contents made a dreadfull mess of his Sunday clothes. Once again he
had to change.
One Sunday there was inspection which always took place at nine in the
morning. We were all ready to fall in when I went to Underwood's room and
found him hurriedly dressing. On his request to help by putting his
cartridge case and bayonet on his belt, I did that hastily but used a rusty
bayonet that hung on the wall. I set the belt on him and we raced out the
door and into the line. It happened it was a bright and cloudless day and
the regiment was lined up such that the sun shone in our eyes so we could
not see as well as we should. The inspection began and Underwood was the
first. The Captain took his rifle and asked what it was with his bayonet.
Underwood scowled at me. The Captain wished to have an explanation and
Underwood told the whole story. There was hearty laughter from the Colonel,
the Captain and the whole Regiment so every officer in the Regiment was able
to take part in the fun we had.
But the worst trick I played on him I cannot tell in its entirety.
Suffice to say that he took a large poker and chased after me all around
the camp. I had a good lead so the poker was of little use to him. Had he
reached me there would have been an unpleasant contact with my poor skin.
During the run we passed by the Officer's Quarters and since it was a warm
and pleasant day the officers and some visitors from town had gathered so
the balcony was full of both sexes. Our Captain asked what was going on.
Underwood explained without beating around the bush to the hearty laughter
and amusement of everyone.
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A remarkable event occurred on this trip. The boat we travelled on
stopped for two to three hours at a town whose name I cannot remember but it
does not matter to the story. We took a trip up through the town. Moore and
I were together. We noticed a man across the street who was looking at us.
Finally he came over and greeted me and asked to speak to me alone. This man
belonged to a regiment that was put together of escaped soldiers from the
South and who were sent six weeks before to Fort Snelling. He and four
others had remained in Milwaukee, where the regiment had served at Camp Reno
and were seen as deserters and considered such by us. One evening I was out
and looking for them in Milwaukee and I found and arrested him. This was
after eleven o'clock and the street lights had been put out. He escaped and
I fired three times and hit him twice, once in the arm and once in the
shoulder but luckily he was only lightly injured. I did not find the man and
my comrades made fun of me because I let him escape. This was the man who
wished to speak to me. He was on his way to his regiment but was out of
money and could not get anywhere and had found out that his regiment had
left Fort Snelling. I spoke to Moore and we took him with us and reported
that he had been in Milwaukee and was now heading to his regiment. We
finally got to Fort Snelling and on our return trip we happened to get on
the same boat we came up on. After that my comrades had to guard me so the
boat's crew could not take their planned revenge. We came to La Crosse in
the afternoon and we were to take the train in the evening. Sergeant Moore
was the only one who had any money left and he took a sleeping car. When he
left he said we should take the first class car since our tickets were for
that and we needed to sleep since we had had little sleep on the trip.
When we boarded the train I went into a first class car but my comrades
went into second class. I gave them my rifle and some other things I had and
went back and put my ticket in my hat and soon fell asleep. After a while I
was awakened by the conductor with a request for my ticket. I directed him
to my hat and felt that he should not have disturbed me. He let me know that
I only had right to a second class car and had to get out and so his order
would be complied with quickly he grabbed my by the collar in an impolite
manner and lifted me out of the seat. I believed that we were about to play
a game and grabbed the conductor by the throat so forcibly that he let go.
There was not a little laughter among the passengers over this little
incident. The conductor left and I occupied the seat and soon fell asleep
and did not wake up until we were in Milwaukee.
As the day passed and we had had some food I went to speak to my comrades
and walked past the Captain's office. He waved to me and I went in. I feared
a severe dressing down and was not a little amazed when he gave me a big
glass of whisky and said that Sergeant Moore had told him everything.
A battle on the lake.
