Civil War Soldiers Record Database

Gulbrand Lokke was enlisted in Company E of the 15th WI by Captain John A. Ingmundson on November 16 or 18, 1861 for a 3-year term of service. The men of the company called themselves Odin’s Rifles. Gulbrand was mustered into Federal service as a Private (Menig) on December 9 or 10, 1861 at Camp Randall near Madison, Dane County, WI. At the time he was recorded as being 21 years old and not married. His residence was listed as York, Green County, WI.

After several months at Camp Randall learning to be a soldier, Private Lokke 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” with the 15th. 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 November 1862, Private Lokke was listed as being sick at Bowling Green, KY. He was back with the regiment by December 26, 1862, when the 15th made a desperate charge upon a Confederate artillery battery at Knob Gap, TN, just south of Nashville. There the 15th captured a brass cannon. Private Lokke 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. The following is from Buslett’s 1895 history of the 15th:

“After the battle General Rosecrans issued an order to the various regiments’ commanders to submit to headquarters a list of one sergeant, two corporals and four or five privates in each company (altogether no more than six from each company), who had shown the greatest courage and ability during the battle. These would be entered on the Roll of Honor.”

 At the recommendation of the 15th commander, Colonel Hans C. Heg, and with the approval of General Rosecrans, Private Lokke was entered on the Roll of Honor for the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps (Army of the Cumberland) for showing “the greatest courage and ability during the battle.”

The 15th camped in the Murfreesboro area for the next 6 months, except for 2 weeks in February when it was sent to Franklin, TN. On March 1, 1863, Private Lokke was appointed to the rank of Corporal (Korporal) in Company E. Starting June 23, 1863, the regiment took part in General Rosecrans’ Tullahoma campaign. On July 3, 1863, the regiment camped at Winchester, TN. On August 17, 1863, the 15th left there to participate in General Rosecrans’ Chickamauga campaign. Corporal Lokke is believed to have been present at the daring early morning crossing of the Tennessee River on August 28th, which the 15th led, becoming the first Federal troops across. Corporal Lokke was present at the September 19-20, 1863 fighting at Chickamauga, GA — the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War. There 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.

Corporal Lokke would have then served with the regiment during the Confederate siege of Chattanooga, TN, which began right after the battle. The siege resulted in severe shortages of food and firewood which, together with cold, wet weather, caused much suffering, sickness, and death. Starting October 13, 1863, he was assigned as a Guard with the Army supply wagon train from Chattanooga over the mountains to the Federal depot at Stevenson, AL. This was by all accounts a physically challenging and dangerous trip. Corporal Lokke was once again back with the 15th in early November 1863 and remained present with it until May 1864. The Confederate siege was finally broken by the Union Army’s victorious charge up Mission Ridge on November 25, 1863, which the 15th took part in.

Starting right after Mission Ridge the 15th was engaged in almost non-stop marching and counter-marching all over eastern TN throughout the winter of 1863/1864. According to many original accounts, this was the worst period of the regiment’s 3-year term of service. Poor rations, inadequate clothing and shelter, and unseasonably cold weather made these months nearly unbearable.

Starting in May 1864, the 15th participated in General Sherman’s famous campaign to capture Atlanta, GA. This campaign was marked by almost daily marching and/or combat for 4 months straight. It included fighting at Rocky Face Ridge, GA in early May; the bloody Battle of Resaca, GA on May 14-15; and the disastrous Battle of Pickett’s Mill, GA, (often called Dallas or New Hope Church) on May 27, 1864, where the 15th suffered fearful casualties. One of them was Corporal Lokke, who was killed in action by a “shot through the head.”

In the Army’s Final Statement on Corporal Lokke, he is described as having been born in Norway, standing 5 feet, 7 inches tall, with a light complexion, blue eyes, and sandy colored hair, and a farmer.

After the war, his mother, Gertrude, filed a pension in his name. According to a post-war sworn statement by T. M. Lokke, the brother of Corporal Lokke, Private Halvor O. Brenden of Company E:

“…brought home my brothers watch and some money belonging to him, from the battle of Dallas, or Hope Church, when my brother was killed and Halvor O. Brenden was wounded.”

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], 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); Civil War Pension Index, Roll #T288_287.