Christopher Sorenson Sampson

Name: Christopher Sampson Company: C Died September 26, 1864, in Randolph county, Arkansas.
Birth Date: September 23, 1835 Place: Sandsvær, Buskerud county, Norway	Mustered In Date: February 24, 1862 Rank: Private Age: 26 Residence prior to military service: Norway; Rock County, Wisconsin; New Richland, Waseca County, Minnesota Vocation prior to military service: Farmer
Death Date: September 26, 1864 Place: Randolph County, Arkansas Burial: LeSueur River Lutheran Cemetery, New Richland, Waseca County, Minnesota

Christopher Sampson Biography and Civil War Narrative

Christopher Sampson was born Christopher Sorenson on September 23, 1835, in Sandsvær (now part of Kongsberg), Buskerud county, Norway. He married Nicholena (born about 1836), and while still living in Norway, they had a daughter, Marn, born about 1854. Christopher and his young family came to America and arrived at Rock County, Wisconsin, in April 1856. Two daughters were born in Wisconsin: Carolena (about 1856; also known as "Hannah") and Mary (about 1858). By the time of the 1860 U.S. Census, Christopher and his family were farming in Richland Township, Waseca County, Minnesota. His last name was recorded as "Samson" by the census enumerator.

On February 24, 1862, Christopher "Sampson" enlisted as a Private in Company C of the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment. As members of Company C, they were sent for garrison duty to Fort Ripley, north of Little Falls, Minnesota, in March 1862. Company C -- under the command of Captain Timothy J. Sheehan -- was sent south later in the year and joined the rest of the 5th Minnesota on December 12, 1862, near Oxford, Mississippi.

Although the 5th Minnesota had been attached to the 2nd Brigade, 8th Division, 16th Army Corps commanded by General Hurlbut, they were sent that December on an expedition against Confederate General Forrest through west Tennessee under the command of General Ralph P. Buckland (15th Army Corps). They rejoined the 16th Army Corps on February 1, but in April they were attached to the 2nd Brigade (Joseph A. Mower), 3rd Division (James M. Tuttle), 15th Army Corps (William T. Sherman), Army of the Tennessee (Ulysses S. Grant). After a few smaller engagements in Louisiana and Mississippi, Private Sampson and the 5th Minnesota participated in the successful Siege of Vicksburg from May 18 to July 4. The following spring the 5th Minnesota particated effectively in the less-than-successful Red River Campaign that took them through much of Louisiana between March 10 and May 22, 1864.

From September 2-10, 1864, Sampson and the 5th Minnesota participated in Mower's Expedition to Brownsville, Arkansas, after which they were sent in pursuit of Confederate General Price through Arkansas and Missouri. Nearing Missouri while marching through wild terrain in late September, Christopher Sampson died of disease. At the time of Sampson's death, the regiment was in Randolph County, Arkansas, near Black River. His body was transported back to Minnesota and was buried in LeSueur River Lutheran Cemetery, New Richland, Waseca County, Minnesota.

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