Civil War Soldiers Record Database

Christen Ellingson was born in Norderhov, Buskerud, Norway on August 17, 1841. His parents were Elling Christensen and Gunnild Arnesdr. He immigrated in 1852. He joined the WI 15th Infantry, Company H. The men of his company called themselves “Heg’s Rifles” in honor of the 15th commander, Colonel Hans C. Heg. They were also known as the “Voss Company” because of a large number of them who were from the Voss region of Norway.

The army listed Ellingson as living in Deerfield, Dane County, WI, age 21, unmarried, and a farmer. He had blue eyes, light hair, light complexion, and stood 6’1”. He enlisted for three years on December 6, 1861 at Decorah, Winneshiek County, IA, and mustered on February 13, 1862 at Madison, WI as a Private (Menig). He was with the provision transport from Stevenson, AL in October 1863. He re-enlisted for three years on January 1, 1864 at Strawberry Plains, TN. Re-mustered on 25 Apr 1864 at McDonald’s Station, TN. He was to be given a 30-day furlough sometime before the end of his original enlistment term. He was promoted to Corporal (Korporal). He was temporarily assigned to the Wisconsin 24th Infantry and then transferred on June 10, 1865 to I Company of the WI 13th. He was discharged from the service on June 30, 1865 at New Orleans, LA, “by reason of being supernumerary N.C.O.”

After the war, Ellingson married a woman named Agnes. They did not have children. In 1880, they were living in Pleasant, Winneshiek County, IA. He worked as a farmer. In 1900, Ellingson was still living in Pleasant, but was a widow.

Sources: Series 1200: Records of Civil War Regiments, 1861-1900, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, box 76-10,14; Regimental Muster and Descriptive Rolls, 1861-1865, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, vol.18, p.174; vol.20, p.112; Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillige [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers], Ole A. Buslett, Decorah, IA, 1894, p.557; Decorah, IA Genealogical Association; Nordmændene i Amerika, Martin Ulvestad, 1907, History Book Co., Minneapolis, MN, p.277; List of Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, Living in Iowa, William L. Alexander, Des Moines, IA 1886, p.705; Civil War Pension Index, Roll # T288_140; Iowa Cemetery Records, 1662-1999, Tombstone Records of Winneshiek County, p.43; 1880 Census, Roll: 370, Family History Film: 1254370, Page: 223C, Enumeration District: 354, Image: 0637; 1900 Census, Roll: 466, Page: 5A, Enumeration District: 0139, FHL microfilm: 1240466.