Wilson took part in the Battle of Tournay on 23 May 1794. He commanded the artillery at the defence of Nieuport that year, when General Diepenbrook with 1,500 men held the French army of 40,000 men under General of Brigade Jean Victor Marie Moreau at bay for nineteen days. On the capitulation Wilson became a prisoner of war, and was not exchanged for nine months. He commanded the Royal Artillery in the Quiberon Expedition under Major-General Welbore Ellis Doyle in 1795. Shortly after the capture of Isle Dieu he returned to England.