20 May 2019

Swedes in the Civil War (Part 2)



Peter Lind, 111th Regiment, Company D; died 15 Sep 1862 in
Alexandria from disease. Grave Site No. 4321, Soldiers Home
National Cemetery. Photo by Catherine Pfaffenroth ©2018 
As clear as mud. I have gained new insight into the peculiar difficulties of researching in Civil War documents. For most cases all is straight forward, even for Swedes. But there are a number of soldiers and most sailors who would require substantially more effort to properly document them.

 Several issues about the Swedes who fought for our freedoms in the Civil War remain unresolved. I still don't understand why some of the Swedes used aliases (i.e., August Anderson aka George Thompson). And, I still don't understand why Swedish participation in the war was underestimated by local Swedish histories. At least 27 Swedes from our area died in the conflict.

The oversimplification that Swedes were super patriotic and never deserted isn't confirmed by my research. Sometimes it is hard to know if a Swede's desertion was a misunderstanding of paperwork or a dereliction of duty, but it occurred.


Recently I was reading the mudslinging during the 1894 campaign for Chautauqua County sheriff between John P. Gelm and Bela B. Lord.  Gelm’s supporters brought up the issue of Lord’s non-participation in the Civil War, but Gelm doesn't seem to have served either.  Gelm’s obituary1 explained, “Under inbördeskriget utgjorde han en av besättningen på en flodångare på Mississippi floden och upplevdo en massa äfventyr.”  Roughly translated as: In the Civil War he was a crew member of a steamboat on the Mississippi River and experienced a lot of adventure.  Gelm is not listed in the 1890 United States Federal Census Veteran Schedule and I have found no documentation of any service by him during the war.

Gold Star Families with multiple losses2  


Peter and Sara Lind of Wrightsville from Hässleby parish, Jönköpings län


  • Peter Lind [1855.005] died 15 September 1862 in Alexandria from disease. Enlisted 111th PA Infantry Regiment, Co. D 
  • John Lind [1855.007] died 28 December 1864 in Savannah, SC. Enlisted  111th PA Infantry Regiment, Co. H 

Isaac and Inga Agrelius of Brokenstraw from Järstad parish, Östergötlands län


  • Charles G. Agrelius [1851.107] died 24 August 1862 in Chester, PA hospital from wounds. Enlisted 4th PA Cavalry, Co. M. 
  • Andrew P. Agrelius [1851.106] died 12 October 1864 in P.O.W. camp, Florence, SC. Enlisted  83rd PA Infantry, Co. D. 

Ely (Fincke) Brown of Jamestown orphaned at age 8, taken in by Levant B. Brown


  • Louise Fincke [1854.009], his mother, had died 28 November 1862 in Jamestown from consumption.  Dr. Finke had returned to Jamestown in time for her death and signed her death certificate.
  • Frederick Maurits Fincke [1854.008] died 21 December 1862 in Jamestown from typhoid. He had received a disability discharge 12 October 1862 from his position as hospital steward at the U.S. Army Hospital3  in Newark, NJ due to two months of dysentery. 
  • Augustus M. Fincke [1854.010], Ely's older brother, had enlisted 1 December 1861 in the NY 100th Infantry and was taken P.O.W. in May 1864 and sent to Andersonville Prison.  He survived and returned to Jamestown and then moved in 1867 to Michigan.  He settled at first in Barry County but then moved to Augusta in Kalamazoo County where he was also known as Gustavus M. Finkey. 


Frederick M. Finke served at the new U.S. Army Hospital in Newark, NJ.
This hospital was a converted warehouse with convenient access by train
for the transported wounded soldiers.  The hospital was known by various
names and after the war was known as Ward Hospital.


Civil War Dead (Swedish Immigrants)4  

Database
Military
No.
Immigrant Name
Birth
Death
Muster Roll Name
Assignment
Co.
Rank
Enlisted
Burial
Find A Grave No.
1851.118
Otto Nelson
24 Mar 1837 Västra Eneby, Östergötland
16 Dec 1861 Baltimore, MD
Otto Nelson
NY 72 Inf
B
Pvt
28 May 1861
Arlington National Cemetery
29614307
1852.015
John Peterson
1 Jun 1836 Lönneberga, Kalmar
10 May 1862 Williamsburg, VA
John A. Peterson
NY 72 Inf
B
Cpl
28 May 1861
At Sea?
31167264
1851.044
Charles J. Jones
25 Oct 1839 Viserum, Kalmar
19 May 1862 New York City
Charles J. Jones
NY 9 Calv
C
Pvt
1 Oct 1861
Cypress Hills National Cemetery
2591783
1851.092
John A. Berg
14 Aug 1838 Hässleby, Jönköping
7 Jun 1862 David's Island, NY
John Barge
NY 9 Calv
F
Cpl
2 Oct 1861
David's Island, NYC
nic
1851.106
Charles Agrelius
26 Dec 1840 Järstad, Östergötland
24 Aug 1862 Chester, PA
Charles G. Agrelius, Charles G. Agreelins
4th PA Calv
M
Pvt
Philadelphia National Cemetery
2538301, 48146942
1852.046
John Anderson
18 Aug 1838 Hult, Jönköping
14 Oct 1862 Antietam, MD
John Anderson
PA 111 Inf
D
Pvt
22 Nov 1861
Antietam National Cemetery
39175930
1855.005
Peter J. Lind
6 May 1843 Hässleby, Jönköping
29 Oct 1862 Alexandria, VA
Peter J. Lind
PA 111 Inf
D
Pvt
26 Dec 1861
Soldiers Home National Cemetery
33636910, 45122389
[i3196]
Conrad Benz
1840 likely Baden, Germany
2 Nov 1862 Suffolk, VA
Conrad Benz aka Conrad Bens
NY 1B SSh
7
Pvt
13 Aug 1862
Hampton National Cemetery
357719
[i1937]
Charles Peterson
13 Feb 1835 Stora Åby, Östergötland
5 Dec 1862 Chantilly, VA
Charles Peterson
NY 9 Calv
C
Sgt
20 Sep 1861
Lake View Cemetery
144457564
1852.226
John Lawson
30 Jun 1844 Hillared, Älvsborg
20 Dec 1862 Suffolk, VA
John Lawson also George Lawson
NY 1B SSh
7
Pvt
15 Aug 1862
Hampton National Cemetery
3086999
1854.008
Frederick M. Fincke
14 Dec 1815 Stockholm
21 Dec 1862 Jamestown, NY
Frederick M. Fincke
NY 72 Inf
B
Pvt
28 May 1861
Lake View Cemetery
199265158
NY 3 Hosp
Hospital Steward
6 Jun 1861
[i1941]
Augustus Anderson
16 Jul 1833 Liared, Älvsborg
25 Apr 1863 Block Island, SC
George Thompson aka August Anderson
NY 112 Inf
H
Pvt.
28 Aug 1862
Beaufort National Cemetery
nic
[i3138]
Elias B. Skone
1842 (Age 20) Sweden
2 May 1863 Chancellorsville, VA
Elias B. Skone. Scone.
NY 154 Inf
E
Pvt
22 Aug 1862
Chancellorsville Battlefield
nic
[i3217]
Ole Olstrom
1838    Sweden
17 May 1863
Ole Olstrom, aka Alo Olstrom
NY 49 Inf
Aug 1862
Possibly Yorktown Battlefield Cemetery
nic
[ i0842 ]
Charles P. Frank
1824 Sweden
20 Jul 1863 Charleston, SC
Charles P. Frank, Frank Peterson
NY 100 Inf
E
Pvt
3 Oct 1861
P.O.W. camp
nic
1852.099
Charles Neil
5 Jun 1820 Målilla, Kalmar
29 Aug 1863 Charleston, SC
Charles Neil
NY 112 Inf
D
Corp
2 Aug 1862
Beaufort National Cemetery
2953224
1853.034
Peter Lawson
10 Oct 1844 Björketorp, Älvsborg
8 Oct 1863 Charleston, SC
Peter Lawson
NY 112 Inf
E
Pvt
2 Aug 1862
Beaufort National Cemetery
2951706
[i1943]
Andrew Johnson
1834     Sweden
20 Feb 1864 Richmond, VA
Andrew Johnson
NY 72 Inf
G
Pvt
17 Jul 1861
unknown
nic
1852.155
Andrew Jones
29 Aug 1840 Asby, Östergötland
6 Apr 1864 Cold Harbor, VA
Andrew Johnson
NY 1B SSh
7
Pvt/ Corpl
29 Aug 1862
Cold Harbor National Cemetery
3069986
1850.031
Frederick Lawson
4 Oct 1838 Pelarne, Kalmar
11 Jun 1864 Trevilian Station, VA
Frederick Lawson
NY 9 Calv
B
Pvt
23 Sep 1861
possibly Oakland Cemetery. Louisa, VA
nic
1851.034
Charles Hultberg
25 Jun 1846 Frödinge, Kalmar
20 Jul 1864 Peachtree Creek, GA
Charles Hultberg
PA 111 Inf
D
Pvt
22 Nov 1861
likely battlefield grave
nic
nic
Andrew Anderson
1841 Larvik, Norway
21 Jul 1864 Andersonville, GA
Andrew Anderson
NY 100 Inf
I
Pvt
19 Aug 1862
Andersonville National Cemetery
51150726
1851.107
Andrew P. Agrelius
23 Jul 1843 Järstad, Östergötland
15 Oct 1864 Florence, SC
Andrew P. Agrelius, Andrew Agrelius, Andrew P. Agrilius
PA 83 Inf
D/F
Pvt
16 Feb 1864
Florence National Cemetery
41164753
1851.129
John Carlston
1821 Sweden
27 Oct 1864 Darbytown Road, VA
John Carleson, John Carlston
NY 112 Inf
E
Pvt
19 Sep 1864
unknown
nic
[i2844]
Lars John Johnson
2 Sep 1844 Vimmerby, Kalmar
18 Nov 1864 Fort Monroe, VA
John Johnson
NY 112 Inf
D
Pvt
30 Jul 1862
Hampton National Cemetery
3085667
1855.007
John Lind
24 Jun 1847 Hässleby, Jönköping
28 Dec 1864 Savannah, GA
John Lind
PA 111 Inf
H
Pvt
16 Feb 1864
Beaufort National Cemetery
2951869, 45122369
1850.063
John A. Delain
21 Nov 1840 Djursdala, Kalmar
6 Jan 1865 Salisbury, NC
John A. Delain, John A. Delaine
NY 112 Inf
H
Pvt.
28 Aug 1862
Salisbury National Cemetery
109659725
[i3198]
Andrew Anderson
1838     Sweden
17 Jan 1865 Fort Fisher, NC
Andrew Anderson
NY 112 Inf
E
Pvt
5 Aug 1862
unknown
nic
1851.008
Peter J. Peterson
27 Nov 1842 Vimmerby, Kalmar
19 Jan 1865 Fort Fisher, NC
Peter John Peterson
NY 112 Inf
E
Pvt
5 Aug 1862
possibly Wilmington National Cemetery
109667407
nic
Peter Nelson
1840    Denmark
15 Apr 1865 Hampton, VA
Peter Nelson
NY 100 Inf
H
Pvt
19 Jan 1865
Hampton National Cemetery
3090111


Recent Indentifications

Otto Nelson [1851.118] died 16 Dec 1861 Camp Wool, Baltimore, MD from disease and was buried in Arlington Cemetery.  He enlisted 28 May 1861 in Kiantone in  the72nd New York Infantry Regiment, Co. B.  He is very likely identified as Nils Otto Larsson, born 24 March 1837 in Västra Eneby parish, Östergötlands län, son of Lars Persson and Stina Nilsdotter.  His father died in 1849. He, his mother and his siblings emigrated from Västra Eneby parish in 1851 and arrived 9 September 1851 aboard THEMIS in New York City.
William S. Anderson [1852.268] enlisted 30 Aug 1864 in Buffalo in the U.S. Navy and served as a Landsman  aboard the USS Union and USS North Carolina.  He was discharged 6 June 1865 in Brooklyn. His identification was established through the pension application of his widow. He was born 21 July 1843 in Vinslöv parish, Kristianstads lan and baptized Sven, son of Pehr Andersson and Anna Andersdotter.  His family emigrated from that same parish in 1852 and arrived aboard the INDUSTRIE in New York City 27 July 1852. The family first settled in Peoria, Illinois, but moved to Jamestown in the 1860s. After the war Anderson returned to Peoria and then settled in Benton County, Iowa before moving late in his life to Oklahoma where he died 30 Apr 1907 in Streeter, Roger Mills County.
Augustus A. Crane [1852.138] enlisted 28 May 1861 in the NY 72nd Infantry, Company B and reenlisted 23 June 1864 in NY 120th Infantry, Company C.  He served as a sergeant,  the highest rank of any of the local Swedes.  He was discharged for disability 25 March 1865 (NYSAG, p 1028) and A.J. Lannes noted, "Augustus Crone," died of wounds received in battle.
Augustus Crane was born 24 June 1835 in Sund parish, Östergötlands län, baptized Gustaf Adolf, son of Lifgrenadier Peter Kron and Anna Greta Ericsdotter from Lienshem Soldattorp.  His father died in 1842 and Augustus, his mother and siblings emigrated in 1852 from Sund parish and arrived 26 August 1852 aboard the
CARLOS in New York City.  The family settled in Chautauqua County and in 1865 he was listed in the household of his sister and brother-in-law, John P. Peterson, living in Ellicott township (New York State Census, Family No. 367). Augustus Crane did not die from his wounds, but did receive a pension for his Civil War service.  His pension index card indicates that he died in Horton, Brown County, Kansas on 14 December 1921 (age 86).  He was buried in Horton Cemetery in that town.

Endnotes

  1. Vårt Land, January 2, 1919, p 8.
  2. The designation of Gold Star Mothers was introduced after World War I, and wasn't used at the time of the Civil War.
  3. "In 1862 Marcus L. Ward assumed the responsibility for organizing a hospital to treat the trains full of Civil War wounded. He borrowed money from the NJ state government and leased a four-story building. In two days the building was readied for occupancy, complete with hospital equipment. The summer of 1865 saw the closing of the hospital, which was converted into a state soldiers home.
    The Ward Hospital was located in several factory and warehouse buildings east of Centre Street, and between the railroad tracks of what is now the freight station of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and the river. The wounded and sick men were brought on from the front or from other hospitals, in trains and moved directly out of the cars into the hospital. The hospital had bed accommodations for 1,400 patients. From the time of its opening until after the close of the war convalescent soldiers were constantly to be seen on Newark streets." 
    Source: "Newark Care Facilities, Old Newark" http://newarkcarefacilities.com/wardhosp.php accessed 21 May 2019.  Note: the images of the hospital shown above are included on this website but do not include full citations.
  4. Table entries in italics denote information that is not available or corroborated.

    Conrad Benz [i3196] is almost certainly the younger brother of Joseph Benz who identified his birth place as Baden in the U.S. censuses, however, Conrad is listed in Hemlandet as a Swedish recruit.  It is possible that Conrad Benz was a Swedish orphan who adopted that surname. 

    Ole Olstrom [i3217] is an unknown soldier whose documentation was likely complicated by his lack of English.  He was credited to the Town of Ellicott but does not show up in the regimental roster. 

    Andrew Anderson [nic] is listed as Norwegian in his Find A Grave entry.  He enlisted in Buffalo and served in Company I and is similar to Andrew Anderson [i2519] who served in the same regiment, enlisted in Mayville, served in Company E and was a P.O.W. at Andersonville.

    Peter Nelson [nic] was a Dane who enlisted in the Town of Portland, however he was not identified in the local history of Portland.  The common practice of supplying Town enlistment quotas by paying bounties to non-residents greatly complicates the identification of civil war soldiers.