Civil War Soldiers Record Database

Charles B. Nelson was born on October 11, 1825 in NY to Charles C. Nelson and Laura (née Ellsworth). His father was born in VT and mother in NY. In 1840, the family moved to Winnebago County, IL where his father farmed. In 1847, Charles B. Nelson married Maria Amanda Mather in Beloit, Rock County, WI. In 1860, he and his wife were living in Roscoe, Winnebago County, IL. Their children were Annie (1849), Marion (1851), Alice (1853), Caroline (1855), Charles (1858), and Wesley (1860).

Nelson joined the WI 15th Infantry, Company G. The men of the company called themselves the “Rock River Rangers.” The army listed Nelson as living in Beloit, Rock County, WI, age 35, and married. He enlisted on September 27, 1861, and mustered at Madison, WI on December 13, 1861 as First Sergeant (Sersjant) of the company. Nelson was detached with his company at Mississippi River Island No. 10. He was a witness in a general military court in Columbus, KY on May 17, 1863. He was commissioned First Lieutenant (Løytnant) on June 17, 1863 in Chattanooga, TN, with rank from January 21, 1863 at Mississippi River Island No. 10. Then, he was the company Commander for awhile in 1863. On October 1863, he was with the provision transport from Stevenson, AL. His regiment mustered out on January 14, 1864.

It was said that after only 10 days back at home, he rejoined the military, this time as the Captain of H Company of the 47th WI Infantry. He was seriously wounded in his right shoulder by a piece of shell at New Hope Church, GA on May 27, 1864 and was sent to hospital in Nashville, TN. Nelson mustered out on September 13, 1865.

After the war, he and his family settled in Jackson Township, Butler County, IA. He had a 400 acre farm. By 1900, he and his wife were living in Clarksville, Butler County. It is said that two of his children had died by this year. Charles died in 1902 and is buried in Lynwood Cemetery in Clarksville. His wife died in 1909 and is buried in the same cemetery.

Sources: Series 1200: Records of Civil War Regiments, 1861-1900, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, box 76-9; Regimental muster and descriptive rolls, 1861-1865, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, vol.20, p.98; Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillige [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers], Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, Iowa, 1894), p.524; Nordmaendene i Amerika, Martin Ulvestad, 1907, History Book Co., Minneapolis, MN, p.258; Oberst Heg og hans gutter, Waldemar Ager, 1916, Fremad Pub. Co., Eau Claire, WI, p.311; findagrave.com; History of Butler and Bremer Counties (Springfield, IL: Union Publishing Company, 1883), p.601-602; 1860 Census, Roll: M653_240, Page: 584, Image: 584, Family History Library Film: 803240; 1870 Census, Roll: M593_379, Page: 674B, Image: 640, Family History Library Film: 545878; 1880 Census, Roll: 330, Family History Film: 1254330, Page: 186B, Enumeration District: 105, Image: 0114; 1900 Census, Roll: 420, Page: 5B, Enumeration District: 0061, FHL microfilm: 1240420.