Reminiscences: The Story of an Emigrant

In Short

Hans Mattson’s memoir charts a classic nineteenth-century American trajectory, tracing his journey from an eighteen-year-old Swedish military cadet embarking on a grueling Atlantic crossing to a prominent pioneer, Union officer, newspaper editor, and United States Consul General to India. Writing in straightforward, nostalgic prose, Mattson records the gritty realities of frontier settlement, the trial of the American Civil War, and his later global diplomacy. The book remains a vital document of Swedish-American history, capturing the immigrant experience with unusual clarity, civic pride, and deep affection for both his adopted republic and his native land.

The Story

The narrative opens in 1851 with eighteen-year-old Hans Mattson leaving Sweden aboard a sailing vessel, driven by ambition and youthful optimism. Landing in Boston penniless and ignorant of the English language, he faces initial hardship and debilitating illness. A chance encounter with a benevolent doctor in Illinois provides him shelter, access to education, and a path toward recovery. Reunited with his family, Mattson moves northwest into the territory of Minnesota, where he joins fellow Scandinavian settlers in carving out farms from the wilderness, organizing Vasa Township, and establishing Lutheran and Baptist congregations.

As tension between Northern and Southern states erupts into the American Civil War, Mattson rallies his fellow Scandinavians to form Company D of the Third Minnesota Infantry. He serves throughout the conflict, experiencing key Western campaigns including the siege of Vicksburg and anti-guerrilla operations in Tennessee and Arkansas. Mattson rises to the rank of colonel, witnessing the formal surrender of Confederate forces under General Jeff Thompson and noting the deep, unexpected grief among Southern soldiers following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

After the war, Mattson transitions seamlessly into public service and civic leadership. He takes a leading role in encouraging Scandinavian immigration to the Midwest, working as an agent for Jay Cooke’s Northern Pacific Railroad to help new arrivals establish homesteads. His public career expands when he is elected Secretary of State for Minnesota and later founds influential Swedish-language newspapers in Minneapolis and Chicago, offering practical advice and civic guidance to incoming pioneers.

In 1881, Mattson’s public career reaches an international stage upon his appointment as United States Consul General in Calcutta. His memoir shifts to vivid travel writing, detailing his journeys through Egypt, the Red Sea, and India. He observes local customs, reflects on British colonial administration, visits ancient Buddhist ruins, witnesses famous Hindu religious festivals in Benares, and dines with local royalty. Upon returning to the United States, Mattson continues his advocacy for Swedish-Americans, delivering speeches at major historical anniversaries and reflecting on the deep cultural and political contributions of Scandinavian immigrants to the American republic.

How It Unfolds

The crossing to America Eighteen-year-old Mattson boards the brig Ambrosius in 1851, leaving Sweden with high hopes but little money. He endures smallpox outbreaks among fellow passengers and arrives in Boston unable to speak English.

Pioneering on the frontier After recovering from illness under the care of a generous Illinois doctor, Mattson moves to Minnesota with his family. They endure the severe hardships of pioneer life, building log cabins, clearing land, and establishing the settlement of Vasa.

Service in the Civil War Mattson recruits Scandinavian immigrants for the Union Army and takes command of the Third Minnesota Infantry. He leads troops through skirmishes in Tennessee, the siege of Vicksburg, and the eventual surrender of Confederate forces in Arkansas.

Building Minnesota and public service Following the war, Mattson enters politics, earning election as Minnesota’s Secretary of State and serving as an immigration agent. He establishes influential Swedish-language newspapers to help new immigrants adjust to American life.

Diplomacy in India Appointed Consul General to India, Mattson travels through the Suez Canal to Calcutta. He records impressions of Indian culture, religious rites at Benares, exotic juggling performances, and elaborate state receptions hosted by native princes.

Reflections on immigration Returning home, Mattson addresses large gatherings of Swedish-Americans, arguing passionately that Scandinavian settlers earned their place in the nation through hard labor, civic devotion, and military sacrifice.

The People

• Hans Mattson

The author and protagonist, who transforms from a penniless, sick Swedish youth into a Union officer, state politician, newspaper publisher, and diplomat. He wants to build a meaningful, prosperous life in America and works continuously to uplift his fellow Scandinavian immigrants.

• Dr. Ober

A compassionate Illinois physician who takes the young, ailing Mattson into his household. He provides medical treatment, shelter, access to his personal library, and encouragement to pursue an education.

• General Jeff Thompson

A tall, colorful Confederate officer dressed in white who surrenders his command of eight thousand men to Mattson in Arkansas. He gives a memorable farewell speech to his troops, urging them to accept the war's outcome and return peacefully to their homes.

• Janne Tenggren

A bright young army acquaintance from Sweden who travels to America at the same time as Mattson. His early presence highlights the shared bonds and mutual support systems among newly arrived immigrants.

In Its Own Voice

"To some of these castles our lives have given reality, others are still floating before us."

As an eighteen-year-old standing on the deck of the brig Ambrosius, Mattson reflects with quiet wonder on the ambitious hopes that drive young immigrants across the Atlantic.

"The joys and sorrows of one, were shared by the others, and nowhere in the wide world, except in a military camp, have I witnessed so much genuine cordial friendship and brotherhood as among the frontier settlers in the West."

Mattson recalls the deep communal bonds forged among impoverished pioneers during the early years of settling the Minnesota prairie.

"India is the only country in the world where the civilization of the East and that of the West are found side by side with equal rights and equal chances of a free and full development."

Reflecting on his diplomatic tenure in Calcutta, Mattson observes the unique juxtaposition of ancient eastern traditions and modern western governance.

What It's Really About

Beneath its chronological travelogue and personal history, Reminiscences is a thoughtful meditation on the meaning of citizenship and the moral rights of immigrants. Mattson argues that the Scandinavian settlers of the Midwest are not passive recipients of American freedom, but active co-creators of the republic. Through manual labor in clearing the wilderness, military sacrifice on Civil War battlefields, and active participation in democratic governance, these newcomers earned a genuine right of ownership in their adopted homeland. The book explores how cultural heritage and fierce American patriotism can coexist, painting assimilation not as the erasure of one's origin, but as an enriching contribution to a growing national identity.

Why Read It Today

Reminiscences offers a remarkably direct window into nineteenth-century American expansion, written by a figure who experienced nearly every facet of the era's transformation. Readers interested in immigration history, the Civil War, or early global diplomacy will appreciate Mattson's clear-eyed, unsentimental perspective. His narrative balances raw frontier survival—describing improvised shoes made of untanned skins—with rich observations of Victorian diplomatic life in British India.

The book is exceptionally readable, lacking the overly ornate prose common to nineteenth-century memoirs. Modern readers may occasionally notice period attitudes regarding foreign cultures or the brief, matter-of-fact references to regional conflicts, but Mattson’s tone remains overwhelmingly generous and observant. What lingers long after reading is the author's profound gratitude toward the strangers who helped him when he was vulnerable, and his unshakeable faith in the power of civic duty, hard work, and honest enterprise.