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.