NORWAY-L Archives

From: Neil A Hofland< >
Subject: Uncle Rasmus - 124 - 127
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 14:44:33 +0000

Hi All,

(My oldest daughter called yesterday for me to pick her up at the
airport at the same moment that Barry Sanders rushed for over 2000 yards.
In the ensuing excitement I sent the last chapter of Uncle Rasmus
without entering the page number of 123 where it finished. So now all of
you will have to plug it in yourselves. Sorry. I suppose this could
technically be considered not having the subject line match the message,
but I have faith that none of you would accuse me of this during the
Christmas season.

When we left off Col. Porter C. Olson was commanding the 36th Illinois in
battle after battle and his mostly Norwegian troops were hurling
insulting and extremely intelligent epithets illustrating the social
happiness and mental and moral improvements they had secured from reading
their portable library.)

On February 2, 1864, the regiment returned to Chicago and a few days
later to Aurora, where it was reorganized and started for the south again
on the 19th of March, with Miller as colonel and Porter C. Olson as
lieutenant colonel.

As evidence of Olson's popularity it may be mentioned that the ground on
which they camped near Cowan, Tenn., was called Camp Olson. From June
until the 24th of August Olson was absent from the regiment on account of
sickness, but upon the death of Col. Silas Miller, he returned and
resumed command. On the 23rd of September, 1864, the anniversary of the
mustering in of the regiment, 127 men and one officer, whose 3 years had
expired, were mustered out and took leave of their comrades. Being drawn
up in line, they were addressed in a speech by Col. Olson who "reviewed
their connection with the regiment, honored their fidelity, and exhorted
them to be true to the country, as citizens at home, while their comrades
continued to bear the hardships of camp and field."

On the 30th of November occurred the bloody fight and slaughter at
Franklin, Tenn. For his successful resistance and victory in this battle
Gen. Schofield was in a large measure indebted to the cool courage of
Col. Olson and the gallant 36th in checking and delaying the march of
Hood's army until the works at Franklin were strengthened, It was a
delicate and dangerous duty to clear the pike and hold it open to enable
the troops from Columbia to pass without interruption, and Col. Olson
with his regiment was selected to do this.

In the battle of Franklin, Col. Olson was everywhere among his men with
words of cheer and encouragement, and utterly regardless of his own life
and safety. Shortly after reaching the works he was struck by a musket
ball, which entered the breast and passed through his body in the region
of the heart. He fell instantly, but in falling he requested Lieut. Hall
of Company E to take him to the rear. Assisted by Sergeant Yarnell of
Company G, they carried him to the shelter of a brick-house standing near
the works, when, perceiving that he was failing fast, the lieutenant
called to Capt. Biddulph to attend to the regiment as the colonel's wound
was mortal. Yarnell wrenched a window shutter from the house, on which
the bleeding body of their commander was placed and hurriedly borne to
the rear, while musket balls and cannon shot were striking around them in
fearful quantities.

Reaching the river, they were none too soon to secure the last vacant
place in an ambulance in which he was tenderly placed by the side of the
wounded color-bearer, Mr. Zimmer. Then taking a last look at their dying
chief, they hurried back to the trenches, resumed their position in the
line and fought bravely to the end. The colonel's life ebbed rapidly
away and in a half unconscious state the pious, god-fearing soldier
feebly whispered, "Oh, help me, Lord!" These were his last words and his
heart was still. His noble spirit had taken its flight to that country
where wars and battles are unknown. L. G. Bennett, in whose work this
account of Col. Porter C. Olson is found, closes the chapter on Col.
Olson's death with these eloquent and striking words: "When brave Olson
fell, a cold tremor thrilled along the line. At any other time than in
the face of the enemy and under murderous fire, the men would have sat
down and cried like children over his untimely fate. Brave, generous,
earnest and faithful, none had stood more honestly by the men or been
more true to the country than he. Always present in the perils and
hardships of the 36th, he had shared them all and won his way into the
hearts and affections of the men, making a record of glory that will
never by closed up or forgotten, though his mangled remains may moulder
and lay hidden from sight in an unknown and unmarked grave. The name of
Porter C. Olson will live forever, and be handed down along the
imperishable ages, indissolubly linked with the fame of the immortal
Thirty-Sixth."

I am happy to be able to embellish this volume with a portrait of Col.
Olson. It shows a peculiarly mild, intelligent and thoughtful face.
This grand life and Col. Olson's splendid services resulted from the
immigration of his father, Ole Olson, in 1825, and many a descendant of
Norwegian immigrants appreciates the force and significance of this
remark.

(Kneel here. Well Uncle Rasmus and Colonel Porter C. Olson, its been
over 100 years and you are both still being handed down to Norwegian
descendants.

The next installment will finish of the chapter on the Sloopers.)

Kneel

This thread:

• Uncle Rasmus - 124 - 127 by Neil A Hofland< >