Asgrim Knutson Skaro
Asgrim Knutson Skaro | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 4, 1829 Buskerud, Norway |
| Died | December 16, 1864 Nashville, Tennessee, US |
| Allegiance | United States Army Union Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | |
| Commands |
|
| Battles / wars | Mexican-American War
|
| Spouse(s) | Theodora Laumann |
| Children | 4 |
Asgrim Knutson Skaro (June 4, 1829 - December 16, 1864) was a Norwegian immigrant to the United States, a founding settler of the city of St. Peter, Minnesota, the County Treasurer of Nicollet County, Minnesota, and a veteran of both the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.
Early life
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Asgrim Knutson Skaro was born on June 4, 1829 in Hallingdal, Buskerud in the Kingdom of Norway to Knud Ellingsen Skaro and Guro Eriksdatter.[1][2] At the age of 19 Skaro emigrated to the United States in 1846 on the Brig ship "Tricolor" out of Christiania.[1][2][3] Skaro served in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War at Fort Snelling in Saint Paul, Minnesota from 1847-1852.[2] Skaro eventually settled the area of what is now St. Peter, Minnesota in 1852 alongside two fellow Norwegians, the brothers Matthias Evenson and Peder "Per" Evenson.[1][2] Skaro was elected as the Treasurer of Nicollet County, Minnesota from 1858-1861. He was also a member of Lodge Number 12 of the Odd Fellows in St. Peter. In July 1858 around 50 men from St. Peter and the surrounding area formed a militia named the "St. Peter Guards" and elected Skaro as their Captain.[2]
American Civil War
[edit]
2nd Minnesota Infantry Regiment
[edit]At the outbreak of the American Civil War Skaro formed his militia company of the St. Peter Guards to volunteer for the Union Army, Skaro's company would compose the ranks of Company E of the 2nd Minnesota Infantry Regiment.[4][5][6] Skaro was elected as the Captain of Company E of the 2nd Minnesota alongside Eugene Saint Julien Cox who was elected as Skaro's Lieutenant. Company E was composed of volunteers primarily from Nicollet County, Brown County, and Le Sueur County, Minnesota.[5] Skaro fought with the 2nd Minnesota until March 20, 1862, when he was forced to resign his officer's commission due to health reasons.[1][7] Skaro returned to St. Peter, Minnesota until later re-joining the Army during the outbreak of the Dakota War of 1862.[citation needed]
9th Minnesota Infantry Regiment
[edit]
On September 23, 1862, Skaro was mustered in as the Captain of Company D of the 9th Minnesota Infantry Regiment.[7] Skaro participated in the Dakota War of 1862 on the Minnesota frontier which began in mid-August, 1862 following the Acton Incident (Acton Massacre) and the Attack at the Lower Sioux Agency. Companies of the 9th Minnesota were organized at Camp Release, before being placed on guard duty throughout the state. Skaro's Company D was present as the Provost Guard during the hangings of the 38 Dakota people at Mankato, Minnesota on December 23, 1862.[8]
In the autumn of 1863 the 9th Minnesota was sent to St. Louis, Missouri where it was incorporated into the Department of the Missouri. The 9th Minnesota was later transferred to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division of the XVI Corps in the Army of the Tennessee.[8] The 9th Minnesota would fight in Forrest's Defense of Mississippi, the Battle of Brice's Crossroads, the Battle of Tupelo, Price's Raid, the Battle of Westport, and the Battle of Nashville among others.[citation needed]
Battle of Nashville and Shy's Hill
[edit]
Skaro was killed in action during the main Union attack at Shy's Hill during the During the Battle of Nashville on December 16, 1864. A bullet struck Skaro through his right breast and killed him almost instantly.[1][2] Skaro's body was returned to St. Peter, Minnesota and was buried in Green Hill cemetery in St. Peter.[2]
Personal life
[edit]Skaro married Theodora Laumann of St. Peter, Minnesota on September 15, 1857.[2] Together the Skaros had 4 children, three boys and one girl.
Legacy
[edit]Skaro's name is remembered today in St. Peter, Minnesota with a street named in his honor, as well as a section of St. Peter known as the "Skaro and Evenson Addition".[1] The local post of Grand Army of the Republic, Post Number 37 "Asgrim K. Skaro" in St. Peter, Minnesota was named in Skaro's honor.[1] A memorial to Skaro was erected by the St. Peter Lodge Number 12 of the International Order of Odd Fellows.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Becker, Jessica (2020-07-01). "Asgrim K. Skaro Grand Army of the Republic Post Number 37, St. Peter, Minnesota". Nicollet County Historical Society. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g h vesterheim2 (2019-09-27). "SKARO, Asgrim K." Vesterheim Norwegian-American. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Tricolor, Dr. Lorentzen". www.norwayheritage.com. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (1861-05-10). "The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, May 10, 1861, Image 6". ISSN 2694-4251. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- ^ a b Humanities, National Endowment for the (1861-05-10). "The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, May 10, 1861, Image 5". ISSN 2694-4251. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (1861-05-24). "The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, May 24, 1861, Image 4". ISSN 2694-4251. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- ^ a b Minnesota. Adjutant General's Office (1862). Annual report. The Library of Congress. Saint Paul.
- ^ a b "Battle Unit Details - The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2025-06-27.