He was working as a painter when the war broke out.
He enlisted and on Apr 29, 1861, was mustered as a private in Co. D, 1st Minnesota Infantry. That same day he was promoted to sergeant. On November 27, 1861, Chris was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on September 17, 1862. He was slightly wounded at Gettysburg, on July 3rd, during the repulse of Pickett's charge. A minie ball pierced his coat and made a hole at the top of the pocketbook he carried in his inside breast pocket. The ball broke the pencil on the inside cover, glanced off and seared the skin of his chest, almost knocking him down. He continued carrying the book throughout the rest of the war.
Later, on July 25, 1863, he was promoted to captain and commanding officer of Company D, from the date of July 4, 1863. This last promotion occurred after so many officers had been killed or wounded at Gettysburg. Being only slightly wounded in the chest, he was one of the few who had survived the battle able to continue to fight on another day.
On Dec 20, 1863, while on leave, he married Mary E Totten in Pittsburg, PA. She stayed in Pennsylvania, while he returned to the war. He continued to serve with his unit until they were discharged after 3 years of service in May of 1864.
In 1865, he was tendered and accepted a commission as major of the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery by Gov Stephen Miller. He served with them in Chattanooga, TN, from April to September. They returned to Fort Snelling and were discharged in Oct, 1865.
After the war he and Mary raised a family in Minnesota.
Chris was a charter member of the Rawlins GAR Post #126 in Minneapolis. On Jan 11, 1884, he became a member of the George N Morgan GAR Post #4, in Minneapolis.
He was one of the commissioners of the project to erect a monument on the field at Gettysburg commemorating the unparalleled charge of the "Old First".
He enlisted and on Apr 29, 1861, was mustered as a private in Co. D, 1st Minnesota Infantry. That same day he was promoted to sergeant. On November 27, 1861, Chris was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on September 17, 1862. He was slightly wounded at Gettysburg, on July 3rd, during the repulse of Pickett's charge. A minie ball pierced his coat and made a hole at the top of the pocketbook he carried in his inside breast pocket. The ball broke the pencil on the inside cover, glanced off and seared the skin of his chest, almost knocking him down. He continued carrying the book throughout the rest of the war.
Later, on July 25, 1863, he was promoted to captain and commanding officer of Company D, from the date of July 4, 1863. This last promotion occurred after so many officers had been killed or wounded at Gettysburg. Being only slightly wounded in the chest, he was one of the few who had survived the battle able to continue to fight on another day.
On Dec 20, 1863, while on leave, he married Mary E Totten in Pittsburg, PA. She stayed in Pennsylvania, while he returned to the war. He continued to serve with his unit until they were discharged after 3 years of service in May of 1864.
In 1865, he was tendered and accepted a commission as major of the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery by Gov Stephen Miller. He served with them in Chattanooga, TN, from April to September. They returned to Fort Snelling and were discharged in Oct, 1865.
After the war he and Mary raised a family in Minnesota.
Chris was a charter member of the Rawlins GAR Post #126 in Minneapolis. On Jan 11, 1884, he became a member of the George N Morgan GAR Post #4, in Minneapolis.
He was one of the commissioners of the project to erect a monument on the field at Gettysburg commemorating the unparalleled charge of the "Old First".
He was working as a painter when the war broke out.
He enlisted and on Apr 29, 1861, was mustered as a private in Co. D, 1st Minnesota Infantry. That same day he was promoted to sergeant. On November 27, 1861, Chris was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on September 17, 1862. He was slightly wounded at Gettysburg, on July 3rd, during the repulse of Pickett's charge. A minie ball pierced his coat and made a hole at the top of the pocketbook he carried in his inside breast pocket. The ball broke the pencil on the inside cover, glanced off and seared the skin of his chest, almost knocking him down. He continued carrying the book throughout the rest of the war.
Later, on July 25, 1863, he was promoted to captain and commanding officer of Company D, from the date of July 4, 1863. This last promotion occurred after so many officers had been killed or wounded at Gettysburg. Being only slightly wounded in the chest, he was one of the few who had survived the battle able to continue to fight on another day.
On Dec 20, 1863, while on leave, he married Mary E Totten in Pittsburg, PA. She stayed in Pennsylvania, while he returned to the war. He continued to serve with his unit until they were discharged after 3 years of service in May of 1864.
In 1865, he was tendered and accepted a commission as major of the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery by Gov Stephen Miller. He served with them in Chattanooga, TN, from April to September. They returned to Fort Snelling and were discharged in Oct, 1865.
After the war he and Mary raised a family in Minnesota.
Chris was a charter member of the Rawlins GAR Post #126 in Minneapolis. On Jan 11, 1884, he became a member of the George N Morgan GAR Post #4, in Minneapolis.
He was one of the commissioners of the project to erect a monument on the field at Gettysburg commemorating the unparalleled charge of the "Old First".
He enlisted and on Apr 29, 1861, was mustered as a private in Co. D, 1st Minnesota Infantry. That same day he was promoted to sergeant. On November 27, 1861, Chris was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant on September 17, 1862. He was slightly wounded at Gettysburg, on July 3rd, during the repulse of Pickett's charge. A minie ball pierced his coat and made a hole at the top of the pocketbook he carried in his inside breast pocket. The ball broke the pencil on the inside cover, glanced off and seared the skin of his chest, almost knocking him down. He continued carrying the book throughout the rest of the war.
Later, on July 25, 1863, he was promoted to captain and commanding officer of Company D, from the date of July 4, 1863. This last promotion occurred after so many officers had been killed or wounded at Gettysburg. Being only slightly wounded in the chest, he was one of the few who had survived the battle able to continue to fight on another day.
On Dec 20, 1863, while on leave, he married Mary E Totten in Pittsburg, PA. She stayed in Pennsylvania, while he returned to the war. He continued to serve with his unit until they were discharged after 3 years of service in May of 1864.
In 1865, he was tendered and accepted a commission as major of the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery by Gov Stephen Miller. He served with them in Chattanooga, TN, from April to September. They returned to Fort Snelling and were discharged in Oct, 1865.
After the war he and Mary raised a family in Minnesota.
Chris was a charter member of the Rawlins GAR Post #126 in Minneapolis. On Jan 11, 1884, he became a member of the George N Morgan GAR Post #4, in Minneapolis.
He was one of the commissioners of the project to erect a monument on the field at Gettysburg commemorating the unparalleled charge of the "Old First".
Family Members
Siblings
