Ole Johnson (February 23, 1838 - November 4, 1886) was a Norwegian-American soldier in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

who served with the Scandinavian Regiment.

Background

Ole Johnson was born on the Skipnes Farm, (''Skibsnes''), near Nordsjø, in Helgen Parish,

Telemark Telemark is a traditional region, a former county, and a current electoral district in southern Norway. In 2020, Telemark merged with the former county of Vestfold to form the county of Vestfold og Telemark. Telemark borders the traditional ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

. He came to the United States with his parents and four siblings, arriving in New York on board the ''Salvator'', on July 6, 1844. The family went to

Whitewater Whitewater forms in a rapid context, in particular, when a river's gradient changes enough to generate so much turbulence that air is trapped within the water. This forms an unstable current that froths, making the water appear opaque and ...

, Walworth County,

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

. In 1852, they moved to

Koshkonong, Wisconsin Koshkonong is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,692 at the 2010 census. The town entirely surrounds the city of Fort Atkinson. The unincorporated communities of Koshkonong Mounds and Vinnie Ha Ha are lo ...

. Johnson studied law at

Beloit College Beloit College is a private liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin. Founded in 1846, when Wisconsin was still a territory, it is the state's oldest continuously operated college. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest and has ...

. He became a school teacher in Stoughton.

Civil War

When the Civil War broke out, Johnson joined the Scandinavian Regiment (15th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment) and was appointed captain of Company B. After the battle at Perryville, Johnson was promoted to the rank of major. He took part in the battle of

Murfreesboro Murfreesboro is a city in and county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 152,769 according to the 2020 census, up from 108,755 residents certified in 2010. Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropol ...

and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel in March 1863. The Scandavian Regiment was heavily mauled at the

battle of Chickamauga The Battle of Chickamauga, fought on September 19–20, 1863, between United States, U.S. and Confederate States of America, Confederate forces in the American Civil War, marked the end of a Union Army, Union offensive, the Chickamauga Campaign ...

with approximately 63% killed, wounded or captured. Colonel

Hans Christian Heg Hans Christian Heg (December 21, 1829September 20, 1863) was a Norwegian American abolitionist, journalist, anti-slavery activist, politician and soldier, best known for leading the Scandinavian 15th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment on the Union sid ...

who had commanded the Regiment since its formation was killed and Johnson was captured. Johnson was held in Libby Prison in Virginia before it was decided in May 1864 to move him to another prison. At Chesterville, Johnson and two others escaped from the railroad car they were being transported in. After a month, the men were able to rejoin the Union Army at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. Johnson was promoted to colonel and took command of the Scandinavian Regiment on July 24, 1864, remaining with the regiment until the end of the war.

Post Civil War

After the war Johnson went into business and settled in Beloit, Rock County,

, becoming active in the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

and was elected mayor of Beloit. Johnson was appointed Immigration Commissioner of the state of Wisconsin. Later he became president of the Watertown Bank. Johnson married on January 3, 1867 to Caroline Freie Bödtker. They had one child, a son, named Wilfor Chickamauga Shipness. In his later years, Johnson had adopted the last name "Skipnes", the name of his family farm in Norway. Ole Johnson died in Beloit, Wisconsin.

References

External links

15th Wisconsin Infantry RegimentWisconsin Board of ImmigrationNorske Gaardnavne (v.7, p. 174 Bratsberg Amt by O. Rygh with A. Kjær. 1914)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Ole C. 1838 births 1886 deaths People from Telemark Mayors of places in Wisconsin People from Beloit, Wisconsin United States Army officers People of Wisconsin in the American Civil War Norwegian emigrants to the United States Beloit College alumni Union Army colonels 19th-century American politicians People from Koshkonong, Wisconsin American Civil War prisoners of war held by the Confederate States of America