Active
February 14, 1862 – February 13, 1865
Country
Allegiance
Branch
Role
Size
Nickname(s)
Scandinavian Regiment
Motto(s)
För Gud og Vårt Land! (For God and Our Country!)
Engagements
Commanders
Major
Lt. Col.
Wisconsin U.S. Volunteer Infantry Regiments 1861-1865
The 15th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was popularly known as the Norwegian Regiment or the Scandinavian Regiment, due to its composition of mostly Norwegian American, Swedish American, and Danish American immigrants.[1][2]
The 15th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was originally formed by Col. Hans Christian HegatCamp Randall, near Madison, Wisconsin. The majority of its members were Norwegian[3] immigrants with the rest being mainly Swedish and Danish immigrants. The regiment was organized at Madison, Wisconsin, and mustered into federal service January 31, 1862. The regiment was mustered out of service by company between December 1, 1864, and February 13, 1865.[4]
The 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment was a participant in a number of major battles conducted by the Union Army during the Civil War.[5]
The 15th Wisconsin suffered eight officers and 86 enlisted men who were killed in action or who later died of their wounds, plus another one officer and 241 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 336 fatalities.[4] On September 20, 1863 Colonel Hans Christian Heg died of wounds he received in action in the Battle of Chickamauga on September 19, 1863.[6]
