Civil War Soldiers Record Database

Andrew Thompson was enlisted in Company F of the 15th WI by Captain Charles Gustafson at Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, WI on October 31, 1861 for a 3-year term of service. The men of the company called themselves K.K.’s Protectors in honor or the 15th’s first Lieutenant Colonel Kiler K. Jones. “F” was also known as the Valdres Company because a large number of its members hailed from the Valdres region of Norway. Andrew was mustered into Federal service as a Private (Menig) on December 12, 1861 at Camp Randall near Madison, Dane County, WI. At the time he was listed as being 28 years old, not married, and residing in Manitowoc, WI.

On January 1, 1862, Private Thompson was appointed to the rank of Corporal (Korporal). After several months at Camp Randall learning to be a soldier, Corporal Thompson left there in early March 1862 with his company and regiment to join the war. From then until October 1863 he was listed as “present.” As such he would have participated in the successful siege of Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River in TN and the surprise raid on Union City, TN in March and April 1862. That summer he would have been with the 15th on the campaign though TN, MS, and AL. In August and September he would have participated in the grueling 400-mile retreat with General Buell up to Louisville, KY, with the last 2 weeks being on half rations and short of water. He would have been present at the October 8, 1862, Battle of Perryville, KY, which is also called the Battle of Chaplin Hills. In late December he would have participated in the 15th’s desperate charge upon a Confederate artillery battery at Knob Gap, TN, just south of Nashville. There the 15th captured a brass cannon. He would have also fought at the long, cold, wet, and bloody Battle of Stone River, TN, also called the Battle of Murfreesboro, at the end of December 1862. It is there that the 15th first suffered serious battle casualties, and was cited for bravery. Corporal Thompson was wounded during the Battle of Stone River, although the nature of wound was not stated in Army records.

In August and September 1863, Corporal Thompson participated in General Rosecrans’ Chickamauga campaign. He is believed to have been present at the daring early morning crossing of the Tennessee River on August 28th, which the 15th led. He was present at the September 19-20, 1863, Battle of Chickamauga, GA — the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War. He survived the vicious fighting around Viniard’s Farm on the first afternoon, as well as the near capture of the regiment around midday on the 20th during Longstreet’s Breakthrough. Some 63% of the 15th’s soldiers who were at Chickamauga were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. On October 13, 1863, Corporal Thompson was assigned to duty as a Guard for the supply wagon train from Chattanooga, TN over the mountains to the Army supply base at Stevenson, AL and back. He fell sick and was hospitalized in Chattanooga starting November 28, 1863.

On January 30, 1864, Corporal Thompson was transferred along with a number of 15th soldiers to the 68th Regiment of IN Volunteer Infantry by order of his brigade commander. On April 1, 1864, he and the others were transferred back to the 15th by order of the War Department. Corporal Thompson then served with the 15th during the first half of General Sherman’s famous campaign to capture Atlanta, GA in the spring and summer of 1864. This campaign included the disastrous May 27, 1864 Battle of Pickett’s Mill, GA, which is often referred to as the Battle of Dallas or New Hope Church. There the 15th suffered fearful casualties. Corporal Thompson survived that battle, but was killed in action on June 27, 1864 at Bald Knob, GA. The Army’s final statement on Corporal Thompson described him as being 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a light complexion, dark eyes and hair, and having been a farmer before enlisting.

Sources: Civil War Compiled Military Service Records by Office of Adjutant General of the United States (Washington, DC); Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillige [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers] by Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, Iowa, 1894); Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Volume I, Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1886).