Civil War Soldiers Record Database

Samuel Johnson was a Norwegian born in Smaaland, Sweden. He joined the WI 15th Infantry, Company C. The men of the company called themselves the “Norway Bear Hunters,” but they were also known as the Color Company because the regimental Color Guard was attached to their company. The army listed him as living in Norway Township, Racine County, WI, age 30, and unmarried. He enlisted for three years on November 5, 1861 at Waterford, WI, and mustered on December 2, 1861 at Madison, WI as a Private (Menig). Johnston was promoted to Corporal (Korporal) on February 7, 1862. He was wounded at Stones River, TN on December 31, 1862, and sent to hospital in Nashville, TN. He was absent in Murfreesboro because of his wounds. He became unfit for further service and was discharged for wounds at Louisville, KY on April 15, 1864.

Sources: Series 1200: Records of Civil War Regiments, 1861-1900, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, box 76-5; Regimental muster and descriptive rolls, 1861-1865, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, vol.20, p.42; Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillage [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers], Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, Iowa, 1895), p.419; Nordmaendene i Amerika, Martin Ulvestad, 1907, History Book Co., Minneapolis, MN, p.263; The Military History of Wisconsin in the War for the Union, Edwin B. Quiner, 1866, Clarke & Co., Chicago, p.521.