Person:Iver Romsaas (1)

Name	Iver Erikson Sygard Romsaas
Alt Name	Iver Erikson Sygard Romsås
Alt Name^[1]	Iver Eriksen søndre Romsaas
Alt Name^[2]	Ever Erexson
Gender	Male
Birth^[3]	22 Oct 1823	Ringebu, Oppland, Norway
Baptism^[3]	26 Oct 1823	Ringebu, Oppland, Norway
Confirmation`^?`	1840
Marriage	1 Jun 1852	Ringebu, Oppland, Norwayto Marit Guldbransdatter Strand
Emigration^[5]^[6]	1853	Ringebu, Oppland, Norway
Marriage	23 Oct 1857	Viroqua, Vernon, Wisconsin, USAto Karen Eriksdatter Thorsgaard
Census	20 Jun 1860	Viroqua, Bad Axe (Now Vernon), Wisconsin, USAwith Karen Eriksdatter Thorsgaard
Other^[7]	6 Jan 1862	Madison, Wisconsin, USAMilit-Beg
Death^[4]	1 Dec 1863	Union Army General Field Hospital, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Burial^[9]	Dec 1863	Chattanooga, Hamilton, Tennessee, USA
Other^[8]	21 Mar 1864	Milit-End

Iver Erikson Sygard Romsaas (22 October 1823 – 1 December 1863)
In 1853 Iver Erikson Sygard Romsaas, his wife Marit Gudbrandsdatter Strand, and daughter Ane Iversdatter Romsaas immigrated to America. As they came to Wisconsin, Iver’s wife Marit died, leaving Iver and 2 year old daughter Ane. Records show that Peter P. Hektoen became Ane's guardian .
On 20 June 1860, the 1860 Census of the United States shows Iver Erickson living in Bad Axe (now Vernon) County, Wisconsin. His second wife, immigrant Karen Eriksdatter Teige (nee Thorsgaard) and Karen’s children are listed living together with Iver Erikson.

Private Iver Ericksen Romsaas, Union Army

In Bad Axe, Wisconsin on 16 December 1861 immigrant Iver Ericksen Sygard Romsaas enlisted in Company E of the 15th Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteers. This famous regiment of the Union Army was called the “Scandinavian Regiment”. Although many Scandinavians served on both the Union and Confederate sides of the war, the 15th was the only all-scandinavian regiment on either side. Private Romsaas was mustered into service in Madison, Wisconsin on 6 January 1862. The following is the history of the 15th Regiment while Iver served in it:
• Snowy Departure. On March 1st, 1862, the 15th left Wisconsin in a rain storm that turned to snow. Shortly thereafter their railroad train got stuck in the snow and the 15th had to dig it out.
• Earthquake. On June 6, 1862, the 15th's camp at Island No. 10, Tennessee, was struck by an earthquake which lasted some 3 minutes.
• Grueling March. Starting from Iuka, Mississippi on August 21, 1862, the 15th marched some 400 miles to Louisville, Kentucky in 37 days, the last 2 weeks on half rations with little water.
• Dusty Trail. Sergeant Rollin Olson described the dust stirred up by the Army's September 1862 passage through drought-stricken Kentucky as being "as thick as a thick fog."
• Perryville/Chaplin Hills. This bloody October 8, 1862, Union victory in Kentucky was the 15th's first big battle. Despite forcing the enemy back more than a mile, none of the regiment's soldiers were killed.
• Cannon Captured. The 15th charged a Rebel artillery battery at Knob Gap, near Nashville, Tennessee, on December 26, 1862, capturing a brass cannon and 3 prisoners.
• Stone River/Murfreesboro. The 15th suffered 36% casualties at this frosty December 30-31, 1862, Union victory in Tennessee. They suffered severely from the cold and a lack of rations during and after the battle. Colonel Heg and the 15th were both cited for their bravery.
• First Across. In the Chickamauga Campaign the 15th became the first Union regiment to advance south over the Tennessee River, crossing in pontoon boats during a daring early morning assault on August 28, 1863.
• Chickamauga. The 15th suffered 63% casualties at this September 19-20, 1863, Union defeat in Georgia -- the war's second bloodiest battle. Colonel Heg was mortally wounded and all of the 15th's field officers were killed, wounded, or captured. The next morning just 75 men answered role call. “

Company E, 15th Regiment muster rolls state that Private Romsaas was detached in the Brigade Provost Guard on 19 June 1863 by order of Colonel Heg. On 24 October Private Romsaas was sent to the General Field Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee. On 1 December 1863 Private Iver Ericksen Sygard Romsaas died in the Chattanooga General Field Hospital of Chronic diarhea. He was survived by his second wife, the widow Karen Eriksdatter Theige (nee Thorsgard) and daughter Ane Iversdatter Sygard Romsaas from his first marriage.

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