Torgus Chesterson

Name: Torgus Chesterson Company: C
Birth Date: November 9, 1828 Place: Edland, Vinje, Norway	Mustered In Date: November 10, 1864 Rank: Private Age: 36 Residence prior to military service: Edland, Vinje, Norway; Dane County, Wisconsin; Blooming Grove Township, Waseca County, Minnesota Vocation prior to military service: Farmer
Death Date: October 30, 1909 Place: Waseca County, Minnesota Burial:	Mustered Out Date: September 6, 1865 Rank: Private Age: about 37 Residence following military service: Blooming Grove Township, Waseca County, Minnesota Vocation following military service: Farmer

Torgus Chesterson Biography and Civil War Narrative

Torgus Chesterson was born November 9, 1828, in Edland, Norway. Edland is a village located in the municipality of Vinje in Telemark county of southern Norway, about 163 miles (263 km) west of Oslo by car. He left Norway for America in 1851, settling first in Dane County, Wisconsin. Also about 1851, Torgus married Synnena Sylfestdtr (aka "Susan," "Susanna"). Susan was born December 1836 in Norway, and had come to America in 1855. Torgus and Susan had eight children, four of whom survived: Sievert and Margaret were twins, both born in Wisconsin about 1861. Ole was born in Minnesota about 1863, and Regina was born about 1879 in Minnesota.

Torgus Chesterson enlisted in the Union Army toward the end of the Civil War. He was mustered in to Company C of the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment as a Private on November 10, 1864. He and 10 other November additions to the company joined up with the rest of the 5th Minnesota in time to participate in the Battle of Nashville on December 15 & 16, 1864.

Though urged by General Ulysses S. Grant in early December to attack Confederate General Hood's army camped south of Nashville, General George Thomas was delayed by weather. Finally on Thursday, December 15, Thomas ordered his union army to take action against Hood. Proceeding as part of the main attack on Hood's left flank, the 5th Minnesota followed an arced path along the Charlotte Pike under the command of Major John Becht (5th Minnesota), Colonel Lucius F. Hubbard (2nd Brigade), Brigadier General John McArthur (1st Division), and Major General Andrew J. Smith. That afternoon the 5th Minnesota led the attack and capture of one of several armed dirt forts along the confederate line.

After camping on the battleground that night, the 5th Minnesota re-positioned themselves the next morning. They advanced under heavy fire to a line about a quarter mile from the re-entrenched confederate soldiers. About 4:15 pm the 5th Minnesota fixed their bayonets, and the volunteers abandoned their makeshift fortifications in a charge across an open, muddy cornfield, crossing stone walls and fences as they advanced. Lieutenant Colonel William B. Gere described the Confederate's response as "the most terrific and withering fire of musketry and artillery it has ever been my fortune to behold or encounter." Many Union soldiers were wounded or killed in the charge. Private Torgus Chesterson, however, escaped injury.

The Union Army pursued the Confederates until they crossed the Tennessee River on December 26th. From there the 5th Minnesota went to Easport, Mississippi, until the beginning of February 1865, when they moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. The participated in the siege anc capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely as part of the Mobile Campaign from March 26 to April 8. Marching to Montgomery, Alabama, April 13-25, Chesterson and the 5th Minnesota closed out their service with garrison duty at Montgomery, Selma, and Demopolis, Alabama, until August. Private Chesterson was mustered out with the regiment on September 6, 1865.

After the war, Torgus Chesterson returned to his home in Blooming Grove Township, Waseca County, Minnesota. The 1870 U.S. census shows the household as including "Targe" (farmer), his wifed Susanna (age 35), Sievert and Margaret (age 9, attending school), and Ole (age 7, attending school). Boarding with them were Chester Grogersen (age 75, born in Norway), Margaret Grogersen (age 68, born in Norway), Oone Olesen (age 66, born in Norway), and Tore Chestersen (age 22, born in Norway).

The 1880 census shows "Torges Chestofson" as a 51-year-old farmer in Blooming Grove Township. Susan was 45, "Sever" and "Margret" now 19, and "Oley: now 17. Added to the family was 1-year-old Regina. Also living with them was Torge's 78-year-old mother-in-law, One Oleson.

In 1900, Targus and Susan were listed in the census with the last name of Hagen. The two had been married 49 years with 4 of 8 children still living. Next to them lived their 37-year-old son, "Ole T. Hagen," his wife, and three daughters.

Susanna Chesterson died February 19, 1908, in Waseca County, Minnesota. Torgus Chestersen died a year and a half later on October 30, 1909, at the age of 80.

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This page is maintained by Tim Bode (timbode@juno.com ). Page created on 5/7/09. Last modified on 5/9/09.