Ole
Johnson was born in Telemark, Norway,
in 1838. When he was six years old his family emigrated to America
and they settled in Dane County, Wisconsin. Eventually Johnson became
a school teacher in Stoughton.
On the outbreak of the Civil War Johnson
joined the Scandinavian Regiment under the command of Colonel Hans
Heg. Although Johnson had no military experience, Heg appointed
him captain of Company B.
After the battle at Perryville (October,
1862) Johnson was promoted to the rank of major. He took part in the
battle of Murfreesboro (December,
1862) before becoming a Lieutenant Colonel in March, 1863.
Around 63% of the Scandinavian Regiment were killed, wounded or captured
at Chickamauga (September, 1863).
Colonel Hans Heg was killed and Johnson was
captured.
Johnson was held in Libby Prison in Virginia before it was decided
in May, 1864 to move him to a prison away from the advancing Union
Army. At Chesterville, Johnson and two other officers managed
to escape from the railroad car they were being transported in. The
three men spent 29 days behind enemy lines before rejoining the Union
Army at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee.
Lieutenant Colonel Johnson took command of the Scandinavian Regiment
on 24th July, 1864. Promoted to the rank of Colonel, he remained with
the regiment until the end of the fighting.
After the war Johnson settled in Beloit, Wisconsin, where he became
part-owner of the Beloit Plow and Wagon Works, a company that produced
the Beloit Norwegian Plow.
Johnson was an active member of the Republican
Party and was elected mayor of Beloit. In 1871 Johnson was appointed
Immigration Commissioner of Wisconsin. Later he became president of
the Watertown Bank. Ole Johnson died in Beloit, Wisconsin, on 4th
November, 1886.
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