Jurgen Wilson
Encyclopedia
Jurgen Wilson [George Wilson] (December 18, 1836-) was a German-American Union Army
officer during the American Civil War
, serving with the Scandinavian Regiment.
), for a time before emigrating to the United States
in 1858. Settled in Madison, Wisconsin
, Wilson worked as a store clerk for a year before travelling to New Orleans in December 1859 where he became a sailor. He lived in Chicago
for a time, before returning to Madison at the start of the Civil War in 1861, enlisting in the Scandinavian Regiment.
, and, in May 1862, was promoted a full lieutenant
following the campaigns of Tennessee
, Mississippi
, and Alabama
. In command of Company H during the Battle of Chaplin Hills, Wilson would later be wounded at the Battle of Murfreesboro.
Promoted to the rank of Major (United States)
soon after returning to duty, Wilson severely wounded after being shot three times during the Battle of Chickamauga
. After a time recuperating in Wisconsin (during which time he married Marry Madson), Wilson returned in November 1863 as acting commanding officer of the Scandinavian Regiment during the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge
, Resaca
and Pickett's Mill
(during which the regiment suffered particularly heavy casualties) before turning command over Col. Ole Johnson in July 1864. Wilson would continued to remain with the regiment serving in an additional 26 military engagements until the war's end in 1865.
In 1874, during a family vacation in Europe, Wilson rescued a drowning woman after she fell overboard from a steamship off the coat of Norway. Within four years however, Wilson's business failed and was forced to sell his shares in 1878, later becoming a travelling salesman for a wholesale clothing firm in Chicago.
He later moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota
, in 1882 and, three years later, he was one of a several of veterans commissioned by Wisconsin Gov. Rusk to write on the history of Wisconsin's Civil War regiments.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
officer during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, serving with the Scandinavian Regiment.
Early life
Born to English parents in Hamburg, Germany, Wilson lived in Kristiania, Norway (now OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
), for a time before emigrating to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1858. Settled in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, Wilson worked as a store clerk for a year before travelling to New Orleans in December 1859 where he became a sailor. He lived in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
for a time, before returning to Madison at the start of the Civil War in 1861, enlisting in the Scandinavian Regiment.
Military career
As a second lieutenant in Company B, Wilson first saw action at the Union raid on Union City, TennesseeUnion City, Tennessee
Union City is a city in Obion County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,876 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Obion County. The name comes from its location at the union of two railroads, one running roughly east-west and the other roughly north-south...
, and, in May 1862, was promoted a full lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
following the campaigns of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. In command of Company H during the Battle of Chaplin Hills, Wilson would later be wounded at the Battle of Murfreesboro.
Promoted to the rank of Major (United States)
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
soon after returning to duty, Wilson severely wounded after being shot three times during the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
. After a time recuperating in Wisconsin (during which time he married Marry Madson), Wilson returned in November 1863 as acting commanding officer of the Scandinavian Regiment during the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge
Battle of Rocky Face Ridge
The Battle of Rocky Face Ridge was fought May 7–13, 1864, in Whitfield County, Georgia, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The Union army was led by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and the Confederate army by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston...
, Resaca
Battle of Resaca
The Battle of Resaca was part of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle was waged in both Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia, from May 13 - 15, 1864. It ended inconclusively with the Confederate Army retreating. The engagement was fought between the Military Division of the...
and Pickett's Mill
Battle of Pickett's Mill
The Battle of Pickett's Mill was fought on May 27, 1864, in Paulding County, Georgia during the American Civil War between Union and Confederate forces. Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman attempted an attack on the right flank of Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.After the Union defeat at...
(during which the regiment suffered particularly heavy casualties) before turning command over Col. Ole Johnson in July 1864. Wilson would continued to remain with the regiment serving in an additional 26 military engagements until the war's end in 1865.
Later years
Becoming a successful businessman in La Crosse County, Wisconsin following the war, Wilson successfully began a bank and steamship business under Wilson & Jurgens, as well as a partnership in a meat salting company.In 1874, during a family vacation in Europe, Wilson rescued a drowning woman after she fell overboard from a steamship off the coat of Norway. Within four years however, Wilson's business failed and was forced to sell his shares in 1878, later becoming a travelling salesman for a wholesale clothing firm in Chicago.
He later moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
, in 1882 and, three years later, he was one of a several of veterans commissioned by Wisconsin Gov. Rusk to write on the history of Wisconsin's Civil War regiments.