Civil War Union Army Officer. Born Lier, Norway he came to the United States at age eleven. During the California gold rush he became a Forty-Niner going to California in that year and returning to Wisconsin in 1851. There he held local offices becoming a leader in the Norwegian community and an outspoken anti-slavery advocate. In 1859 he was elected State Prison Commissioner, the first Norwegian elected to a statewide office in Wisconsin. In 1861 after the start of the Civil War he was commissioned Colonel of the 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served at Island No. 10, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone's River and Chickamauga. At Chickamauga he commanded a brigade and was mortally wounded on the 19th, dying the next day at Crawfish Springs. In 1936 his letters were published in a book edited by Theodore Blegen titled The Civil War Letters of Colonel Hans Christian Heg".
Civil War Union Army Officer. Born Lier, Norway he came to the United States at age eleven. During the California gold rush he became a Forty-Niner going to California in that year and returning to Wisconsin in 1851. There he held local offices becoming a leader in the Norwegian community and an outspoken anti-slavery advocate. In 1859 he was elected State Prison Commissioner, the first Norwegian elected to a statewide office in Wisconsin. In 1861 after the start of the Civil War he was commissioned Colonel of the 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served at Island No. 10, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone's River and Chickamauga. At Chickamauga he commanded a brigade and was mortally wounded on the 19th, dying the next day at Crawfish Springs. In 1936 his letters were published in a book edited by Theodore Blegen titled The Civil War Letters of Colonel Hans Christian Heg".
Bio by: Steve Dunn
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