Thor P. Slaaen (Sloan)

SLOAN, Thor Paulsen - WI 15th Inf Co E. Residence: Skogdalen (Timber Coulee), Upper Coon Valley, Buchanan, LaCrosse County, Wisconsin. Born in Nord Fron, Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 28. Blue eyes, dark hair, fair complexion, 5’8”. Enlisted for three years on 11 Dec 1861 at La Crosse and mustered 20 Dec 1861 at Madison, Wisconsin. Designated Sergeant. Taken prisoner at Stone’s River 31 Dec 1862. Escaped and made his way back to his own lines. Returning, he was sent home as a recruiter. Promoted from Sergeant to First Sergeant 1 May 1863, and detached on 1 Jul 1863 to serve as a Clerk at 2nd Brigade headquarters by order of Col. H. C. Heg. Was in camp at Chattanooga, Tennessee, on 28 Sep 1863. On recruiting service 21 Nov 1863. Commissioned First Lieutenant on 7 Apr 1864. Wounded in his head near Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, on 21 Jun 1864, and died of his wounds in an army hospital at Big Shanty, Georgia, on 28 Jun 1864. Sloan was one of four officers making coffee during a lull in the battle when an enemy shell fell among them. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 boxes 76-7, 77-1; red book vol 20 p70) (TAR) (Buslett p465) (Ulvestad p258) (Ager p125, photo; p306) (Gjertveit) (“Coon Valley”, publ 1928 by Upper Coon Valley Norwegian Lutheran Church.) “Slaaen, Thor”