Steven Fortney

Heg Steven Fortney

In Heg's story, and for those Scandinavian-Americans but a few generations removed from our European roots, we find how a courageous, liberal, and humane politician-soldier could love his country with its ideals of liberty and community. Ours is the only successful Enlightenment Revolution the world has ever seen-and as such was a magnet in the 19th century for many Norwegian immigrants, disaffected by their experiences in old Europe. We also discover a new appreciation for that melancholy genius, Abraham Lincoln, and those he inspired in the defense of popular rule to consolidate what James McPherson has rightly called the Second American Revolution that has defined for us so much of our national character and is the envy of all those disadvantaged and oppressed of the world. This is the story of one such patriot, Hans Christian Heg, who gave his life for the love of his adopted country. He fell at Chickamauga in September,1863, the highest ranking officer from Wisconsin to have died in a Civil War battle. Steven Fortney, author of books of fiction, essays, and poetry lives in Stoughton, Wisconsin a city with strong Norwegian roots. Because he is of Norwegian-Swedish descent, the heroism and tragic early death of Hans Christian Heg to him is of special importance. In a time of continued national divisions, whose roots are in a Civil War still with us, Heg shows that a devotion the ideals of our Founders even now requires effort and sacrifice.