Fingal Fingalson was born in Hallindal, Norway, on Oct 1, 1842. His family came to America when he was 2 1/2 years old and settled near Beloit, Wisconsin. When he was 9 both parents fell victim to a cholera epidemic and died within a few hours of each other. At the age of 13, Fingal began making his own way by learning the trade of being a carpenter. He followed his brothers and sisters to Minnesota and settled in Rice County. At the age of eighteen he fell in love and became engaged to Maline Lockrem. The war was beginning, however, and their marriage had to wait. Fingal and his older broether, Truls, enlisted in the 2nd Company of Minnesota Sharpshooters on Jan 20, 1862, along with his friends Endre (Andrew) Lockrem and Halvor Quie. Fingal was 19, Halvor was 27 and Andrew was 25 years old. Endre Lockrem would have been Maline's older brother. The 2nd Company of Minnesota Sharpshooters initially became Company A of the 1st US Sharpshooters, one of the units commanded by Colonel Hiram Berdan; hence called the Berdan's Sharpshooters. Fingal was wounded several times. He was slightly wounded in the side at the battle at Hanover Court House on May 17, 1862, and a few other times, Only one of his wounds was serious. At the battle of Antietam, on Sept 17, 1862, the regiment was a one point, outflanked by the enemy. During this time in the fight a bullet struck him from the side. He dropped his rifle, because his arm now hung useless. Making his way back from the line of battle and moving to the rear he met Captain Russell of his company. Russell ordered him back into line. Fingal raised the torn and bleeding arm with his one good hand and said, "You take my place now Captain." "Humph," snorted the Captain, "you better go and report to the sick squad!" "Exactly where I am headed for," was Fingal's answer. He was sent to the Patent Office Hospital in Washington, DC. This former federal building which housed the country's patent records and models of patented items was converted to be used as a hospital during the war. On Oct 5, 1862, Fingalson was admitted to the Ladies' Home Hospital in New York City. He spent nine months recovering there. He was not with the regiment during their participation at the Battle of Gettysburg. The 2nd Co of Sharpshooters was oftentimes attached to the First Minnesota Infantry. When they were attached, they were known as Company L. In late 1863, after Gettysburg, the unit was attached to the First Minnesota for the duration of their service. This picture of Fingal is of him wearing the same style of uniform as the men of the First, not the nine button frock coat worn by the Berdan's Sharpshooters. It was probably taken some time after he returned from the hospital in the late summer of 1863. Company L returned to Minnesota with the rest of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. The "Old First" was due to be mustered out of service on May 5th. A successor unit was being formed. It was to be called the First Battalion of Minnesota Infantry. Fingal re-enlisted on March 31, 1864. The Second Company of Sharpshooters was formally mustered out of service on Aug 31, 1864. Eighteen members, including Fingal, had re-enlisted. They were transferred to the First Battalion and placed in either Companies A or C. Fingal was promoted to sergeant on Dec 25, 1864. The war ended in April and he was discharged from the service at Burkesville, Va, on Apr 27, 1865. Fingal returned to Northfield. He married his per-war sweetheart, Maline, on July 14, 1865. They moved to Becker County in June of 1878, and farmed in Richwood Township. He served as the town clerk for 19 years and for many years worked as an auctioneer. Fingal and Maline had twelve children. She died giving birth to their twelfth child. Both she and the baby were buried together. Maline was 45 years old when she died. Later in life his son, Edwin, took over the farm and moved into a home a few steps away from the small farm cottage that Fingal called home. Fingal died at the community hospital in Detroit Lakes on Nov 16, 1930. He was 88 years old. His funeral was at the Lutheran Church in Richwood and he was buried in the adjoining church cemetery. Sources: Annual Report of the Adjutant General, to the Legislature of Minnesota, 1862, p 42 & 337. St Paul Daily Press, St Paul, Mn, Aug 18, 1863, p 1. Detroit Lakes Record, Nov 21, 1930, Obituary, Fingal Fingalson, p 1 & 8. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
