It`s quite logical to look for Scandinavians in both Confederate and Union Navys because of our heritage as Vikings - " The Barbarians on the Sea ". All of our nations have long traditions on the water, and are regarded as able seamen. The work to find Scandinavians in the Confedrate Navy are and was difficult because of the state the archives. As far as we know, the records are to be found in 22 different places around the US, and are not yet centralized. One other main obstacle are the nature of recruiting of crews in the war, that on many occations was done all over the world, and when Confederate ships captured merchant vessels . Many men from those ships did for some period of time serve as Confederate Seamen. We have to especially thank one of the few notables on Navy matters during the WBTS ,Terry Foenander, to identify many of those who are presented here. You can find his website here.

Commissioned 9 July 61, Norfolk, Va.
In service with the North Carolina Squadron (Albemarle Sound) until February 62, thereafter James River Squadron.
Scuttled 3th Apr 65.

Crew composed almost exclusively of Englishmen and Scandinavians (mostly Danes and Swedes), recruited from 5 prizes taken by the CSS Winslow July-Aug 61. Scandinavian names on the muster roll include Frank Anderson, August Eliason, Abraham Lawson, John M. Kedslie, and A. E. Albertson.

[Ella Lonn, Foreigners in the Confederacy, p. 285-86]

Commissioned 17 Aug 62, Nassau, New Providence Island, Bahamas.
Captured Bahia (San Salvador), Brazil 7 Oct 1864.

Samuel MARTIN - Ordinary Seaman

B: Simen Martin Torbjørnsen 1840, Kragerø, Norway. A sailor since the age of 12, he was at Nassau, Bahamas, in 1862, and joined the crew of the CSS Florida there (between April and August 1862, when the ship was detained at Nassau). After the war he settled in Racine, Wisconsin.
D: July 1915, Racine, Wis. [Racine Journal 1921]

Charles Peter Johnson - First class fireman

B: In Sweden.
(Florida Medical Journal, see the list of personnel in the Engineer's Department, CSS Florida, dated at St. George's, Bermuda, June 27, 1864.) D: ?

Other Scandinavian names on the roll: George Hanson - Quarter Gunner, and one P. Hanson .

Commissioned Aug 63, Mobile, Ala. In service with the Mobile Squadron.
Scuttled 12 Apr 65.

Scandinavian names on the muster roll include C. Hanson and Charles Kronberg.

Commissioned March (?) 62, Mobile, Alabama. In service with the Mobile Squadron.
Surrendered 10 May 65, Tombigbee River, Ala.

Letter from Lt. Charles Graves, CSS Morgan, to cousin, dated Mobile, Ala. 2 Mar 62: "..We have Irish, Dutch, Norwegians, Danes, French, Spanish, Italian, Mexican, Indian, and Mutezos - a set of desperate cut throats.."
[Quoted in William N. Still, Iron Afloat: Buchanan and the Mobile Squadron, p. 99]
Scandinavian names on the muster roll include Anton Paulsen and Andrew Nelson.

A similiar description of the crew of the CSS Selma, also part of the Mobile Squadron, was given by one of her officers
(see below).

Commissioned July 61, Mobile, Alabama, as the CSS Florida.
Renamed CSS Selma in July 62. In service with the Mobile Squadron.
Captured during the Battle of Mobile Bay 5 Aug 64.

One Scandinavian name on the muster roll is Fitz I. Christinson.

Commissioned in June 1863 at Savannah, Georgia.
The ship was destroyed by burning in December 1864.

Thomas BRANDT - Ordinary seaman

B: In Denmark.
Servicerecords shows that he deserted to the enemy while on picket on the night of November 8, 1863 at Savannah, Georgia. Read the story here.

Commissioned 19 October 1864, Madeira
The last Confederate ship to surrender

Jacob Hanson - Quartermaster

B: In Denmark.
[Alabama Claims, 1, 975.]

Commissioned 17 Feb 62, Norfolk, Virginia. In service with the James River Squadron.
Destroyed to avoid capture 10 May 62.

William E JOHNSON - Gunner's Mate
Transferred from Co E, 41st Virginia Infantry Regiment 16 Jan 62.

Other Scandinavian names on the rolls of the Virginia are Andrew G. Peterson, Aug. W. Lemblom, John Nelson, Jacob Ollson, and Reinbeam W. Nelson.

Commissioned 1863, Richmond, Virginia. In service with the James River Squadron.
Destroyed to avoid capture 3rd April 65.

H. J. OLSON - Quartermaster