Civil War Soldiers Record Database

Edward Holberg joined the WI 15th Infantry, Company A. The men of his company called themselves the “St. Olaf’s Rifles.” They were also known as the “Sailor Company” because of the large number of seamen in its ranks, and as the “Chicago Company” because so many of its members were residents of that city.

The army listed Holberg as living in Chicago, IL, age 35, and married. He enlisted for three years on October 18, 1861 at Chicago, and mustered on November 15, 1861 at Madison, WI as a Private (Menig). On May 17, 1862, he was absent and placed under arrest following a Syttende Mai party at Mississippi River Island No. 10. He was left sick at Iuka, MS on August 21, 1862; in the hospital at Lebanon, KY on October 27, 1862; and in the hospital in Murfreesboro, TN on April 2, 1863. Holberg was assigned to escort a supply train from Stevenson, AL beginning on October 13, 1863. On October 26, 1863, he was absent, sick in Nashville; then in Chattanooga, TN on May 11, 1864. He was absent and assigned to an ordnance detail in Chattanooga on September 15, 1864. He mustered out with Company A at Chattanooga, TN on December 20, 1864. On August 5, 1890, his widow Cornelia filed a pension in his name from IL.

Sources: Series 1200: Records of Civil War Regiments, 1861-1900, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, box 76-3; Regimental Muster and Descriptive Rolls, 1861-1865, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, vol.20, p.16; Regimental Muster and Descriptive Rolls, 1861-1865, compiled circa 1885, Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Office, vol.20, p.14; Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillige [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers], Ole A. Buslett, Decorah, IA, 1894, p.354; Nordmændene i Amerika, Martin Ulvestad, 1907, History Book Co., Minneapolis, MN, p.292; Oberst Heg og hans gutter, Waldemar Ager, 1916, Fremad Pub. Co., Eau Claire, WI, p.292; Civil War Pension Index, Roll #T288_221.