Your website for Scandinavians during the Civil War

Welcome to my website, my friend !

I am currently making a website about the American Civil War in Norwegian, primarily for students in elementary and high school levels. The main reason for me doing this is that there are very little information about the War in Norwegian schoolbooks. This is very strange, because the War is infact the second largest war, in number, that Norwegians has been a part of.

The project began after reading the only book that to some extent, in depth, presented the Norwegian participation. The book are "Til Våpen for Vårt Nye Fedreland",( not yet translated to English ) by the Norwegian historian Karl-Jacob Skarstein. The book are mostly with information about the famous 15th Wisconsin, "The Scandinavian Regiment", but it do also cover other regiments.

In the book, it came clear, that few of the men did infact speak and write English at all. After been on the Net doing research, I did understand that there was virtually nothing written about the War and the men in Norwegian. So, I did find it strange that everything written about them, was in English. I did know that students at school here in Norway learn a little about it, but it`s more in the way of "Lincoln and slavery", and it ends with that. Not a word about Norwegians or the War itself. An idea to honor all of them did emerge, and to make a website students can turn to for help and information in their own language, was in it`s place to do.

What I didn`t understand at the time was the magnitude of the War, both in history and content, so I`ve realized it may become a lifetask. The War became soon my passion and hobby, and it still is.

An another side of the book I read, was that I here and there came over information about our fellow countrymen in grey, but little was written about these "on the other side". I began to ask myself "Why ?". The hunt for these men resulted, by help of others, to the website "Scandinavian soldiers in the Confederate Forces - The Forgotten Boys of the South". Firstly, it was intended only for Norwegians, but here and there during the research, a Scandinavian brother did emerge, so the site became "Scandinavian". Allot of the information there, are news in the history of the War. There are few who know that there was Scandinavians in the Confederate forces, both here in Scandinavia and in the States.

I will in the future make a site for our Union men, but in contrast of a few hundred in grey, we do talk of thousands in this chapter.

A radio have been created too, to add multimedia into the history of the War. Here I present Civil War music,storytelling, compos and chat. I am currently broadcasting in English, but it will also be programs in Norwegian.

Below, you`ll find several interesting websites, and the first 4 of them I do webmaster. All are in English.

Roy H Larsen,
Webmaster - Editor WBTS Radio

Civil War site index
Welcome to my website, my friend ! I am currently making a website about the American Civil War in Norwegian, primarily for students in elementary and high school levels. The main reason for me doing this is that there are very little information about the War in Norwegian schoolbooks. This is very strange, because the War is infact the second largest war, in number, that Norwegians has been a part of. The project began after reading the only book that to some extent, in depth, presented the Norwegian participation. The book are "Til Våpen for Vårt Nye Fedreland",( not yet translated to English ) by the Norwegian historian Karl-Jacob Skarstein. The book are mostly with information about the famous 15th Wisconsin, "The Scandinavian Regiment", but it do also cover other regiments. In the book, it came clear, that few of the men did infact speak and write English at all. After been on the Net doing research, I did understand that there was virtually nothing written about the War and the men in Norwegian. So, I did find it strange that everything written about them, was in English. I did know that students at school here in Norway learn a little about it, but it`s more in the way of "Lincoln and slavery", and it ends with that. Not a word about Norwegians or the War itself. An idea to honor all of them did emerge, and to make a website students can turn to for help and information in their own language, was in it`s place to do. What I didn`t understand at the time was the magnitude of the War, both in history and content, so I`ve realized it may become a lifetask. The War became soon my passion and hobby, and it still is. An another side of the book I read, was that I here and there came over information about our fellow countrymen in grey, but little was written about these "on the other side". I began to ask myself "Why ?". The hunt for these men resulted, by help of others, to the website "Scandinavian soldiers in the Confederate Forces - The Forgotten Boys of the South". Firstly, it was intended only for Norwegians, but here and there during the research, a Scandinavian brother did emerge, so the site became "Scandinavian". Allot of the information there, are news in the history of the War. There are few who know that there was Scandinavians in the Confederate forces, both here in Scandinavia and in the States. I will in the future make a site for our Union men, but in contrast of a few hundred in grey, we do talk of thousands in this chapter. A radio have been created too, to add multimedia into the history of the War. Here I present Civil War music,storytelling, compos and chat. I am currently broadcasting in English, but it will also be programs in Norwegian. Below, you`ll find several interesting websites, and the first 4 of them I do webmaster. All are in English. Roy H Larsen, Webmaster - Editor WBTS Radio
Below, you`ll find websites that can give you valuable information about the War.

	WBTS Radio - Your gateway to the American Civil War on radio The only radio on the Net that sends information about the Civil War 24/7 - 365 days a year. Sends live broadcasts, free books, compos, useful ulrs, CW News and storytelling etc. (Dj`en forstår godt norsk,svensk og dansk også..) Visit the stations own radiopage The website and broadcast are in English

	7th Texas Infantry - The only Norwegian reenactorgroup with the Civil War as a subject. The group have been in "action" for over 10 years, and have great knowledge about all the sides of the War. The group has also the largest library of Civil War books in Norway. The website is a goldmine for those who want to know every aspect of the original unit and Texas. (There was Norwegians in this unit during the War) The website are both in Norwegian and English

	3rd Texas Cavalry - This reenactorunit that have it`s seat in Texas, but with different departments all around the US. The website are full of information about being a cavalryman during the War, and it does also give you the full story and history about the original unit. (There was Norwegians in this unit during the War) The website are in English

	Scandinavian soldiers in the Confederate Forces - " The Forgotten Boys of the South" - This website gives you the insight of who the Scandinavians were in the Southern forces during the War. The website gives you an annotated roster of every man, and it gives you URL`s to many of the units they were a part of. The website are in English

	15th Wisconsin - This website are one of the best Civil War sites on the Net, and gives you every aspect of the unit and it`s men. The website is unique in many ways, but one of the most remarkable sides are that you can find 219 pictures of the 916 men of the unit. The site does also tell many of the tails of the men in the unit, and how it was being a soldier in the War. The site are honoring the men of the "Scandinavian Regiment". The unit consisted of 95% Norwegians, but there were also Swedes, Danes and Americans in it too. The website are in English

	3rd Wisconsin - This website are also one of the best Civil War sites on the Net, and gives you every aspect of the unit and it`s men. The unit was one of the unit that did fight on both theatres during the War. They spendt 2 years in the East and 2 years in the West. In the state of Wisconsin, you`ll find Norwegians serving in all infantry regiments from the 1st to the 50th regiment, and in several cavalry and artillery units. The website are in English

	15th Wisconsin - This is the website of the Danish 15th Wisconsin reenactors. You `ll find allot information about the unit here too. The website are in Danish and English

	Database for Norwegian soldiers in the Civil War - Vestreheim Museum, Decorah, Iowa. Here you can find almost every Norwegian that took part of the War. Search for relatives and their records. Do check the listing at" Scandinavian soldiers in the Confederate Forces " that have more information of the Southern soldiers. The website are in English

	The American Civil War - "The Struggle to Preserve the Union" - are a very nice designed website and are packed with information about the War. If you are on the hunt for information about the War, you don`t come by this excellent site. The website are in English

	Stonewall In The Vally - this site takes care of the famous Shenandoah Campaign in 1862 that General Jackson conducted, and has passed into history as one of the most successful campaigns in military history. The website are in English

	"And Then Came A.P Hill Up" - The Life of A.P Hill, Confederate General - is maybe one of the best Civil War sites on the Net, both in content and design about a Civil War theme. You`ll get every aspect of this man as soldier and human. The webmistress did spend 4 years making it, so this should tell you that it is allot of content on the site. The website are in English


There are several books you can get hold of to read, and I`ll list some of them from both sides of the War. UNION " Colonel Heg and his Boys" (15th Wisconsin Infantry) Written by Ager, Waldemar, 1916 ISBN 0-87732-091-8 Published by the Norwegian-American Historical Association. 1510 St. Olaf Avenue Northfield, MN 55057-1097 To order the book "With the 3rd Wisconsin Badgers" The Living Experience of the Civil War Through the Journals of Van R. Willard Edited by Steven S. Raab, published by Stackpole Books To order the book Four Years with the Iron Brigade: The Civil War Journal of William Ray, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteers Hardcover: 464 pages Publisher: DaCapo Press; (December 2001) ISBN: B0002D6D9M To order the book The Iron Brigade: A Military History (Great Lakes Connections: The Civil War) Publisher: Indiana University Press; (February 1, 1994) ISBN: 0253208637 To order the book War, Technology, and Experience Aboard the USS Monitor by David A. Mindell Paperback: 187 pages Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press; (April 1, 2000) ISBN: 0801862507 To order the book CONFEDRATE Irish Rebels, Confederate Tigers: The 6th Louisiana Volunteers, 1861-1865 by James P. Gannon Hardcover: 453 pages Publisher: DaCapo Press; (July 1, 1998) ISBN: 1882810163 To order the book 10th Louisiana Infantry - Lee`s Foreign Legion by Tom Brooks & Michael Dan Jones You have to order the book from one of the authors Tom Brooks - 139 Pratt Crescent - Gravenhurst, Ontario Canada - P1P 1P5 (705) 687-5997 Shark of the Confederacy: The Story of the CSS Alabama by Charles M., III Robinson Hardcover: 212 pages Publisher: Naval Institute Press; (January 1, 1995) ISBN: 1557507287 To order the book Lone Star Regiments in Gray (Texas) by Ralph A. Wooster Hardcover: 424 pages Publisher: Eakin Press; 1st ed edition (December 1, 2001) ISBN: 1571685464 To order the book