Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-09-03
COL. LOUIS D. WILSON


Our readers will find in another column the an
nouuccment of the death of this distinguished son
Of North Carolina.
Seldom, indeed, has it been our lot, since we
to perform more melancholy duty than the one
now before us--the paying our humble tribute to
the memory of one of North Cardinals noblest
sons.
The death of such man Louis d. Wilson,
could not fail, under any circumstances. TO be felt
as a calamity by the community 10 which he had
lived and acted but under the peculiar circunstan
ces of Col. Wilson's death, the whole State of N.
Carolina will depore that untowald event as
State calamity.
Col. Wilson, for many wears past, had hIlco
no inconsiderablc space in the public eye Of his
native State, as one of the leading men of the de-
mocratic party and at The time when he enrolled
his name as Volunteer to fight the battles of his
country, he was serving distinguished Sena-
tor in the Legislature of n Carolina from Edge
combe county Every one will recollect the diff
cutics thrown in the way of raising the North Caro-
lima Regiment of Volun GERS, 1--WE will not IN the
present connection say by whom,) and that 1t was
O at one time doubted whether the Regiment could
be made up. At this peculiar juncture, Col. Will
con was one of the tirst--we believe the very first
TO enroll his name as a Volunteer from that
County which had honored him with a seat in the
Senate chamber of the State. The effect was ma
Co.
the noble and generous qualities of his heart--res
pected for the sterling lofty attributes ohis mind,
and hOnored for the purity and integrity of his life
Its citizens led on by such bright example, flock
cd to the standard of their country, and in the
space of very few days Edgecombe county sent
forth two full companies, composed Of as gallant
spirits as ever ranged themselves beneath the
Stars and stripes of our glorious Republic. This
noble and devoted conduct of Edgccombc County
guye an impulse 10 the people in other sections OF
the State and the Regiment finally raised.
Col. Wilson went forth as the Captain Of Conpa-
pany 4, of the Edgecombe Volunteers.
Some appreciation of the spirit which animated
Col. Wilson can Se formed, when it is known
advanced in the vale Of years. and that in his home
he was surrounded by all the comforts which
wealth and ease can give. With spirit of Patrlo-
tism and devotion to his country which would
have done honor to the Revolutionary days Of
tue Republic, he disreg arded all these clrcumstan-
ces which would have weighed heavily with most
men, and went forth TO a foreign land to meet the
enemies of his country.
The President rendered TO Col Wilson COM
mission as Colonel of the 18th Regiment of In
fantry; and we know from the most reliable source
that it not till after the earnest aud repeated
urgings of his friends, and the unkind, and we
may add, improper treatment of his superiors oil
the n. Carolina Regiment, that he consented 10
accept TIE appointment. AS he said himself, he
disliked to leave the Edgecombe boys. They ap.
peared in the light of children to him. He had
been in no uncomfortable degree instrumental il
inducing them to leave their homes. He did
however, accept the appointment, and was conse
quently, at the time of his death, indeed for som
months previous, the Col. commanding the l2tl
Regiment of Infantry.
Col. Wilson intended to march as the comman
der OF the escort of the train which left Vera Cru
on the 7th OF August, but unfortunately he wa
stricken down with climatic fever, of which be ex
PRED on the 18th of the same month.
Were we to follow the dictates of our own feel
lngs, we would draw this notice to an unwarrant
able length.
Col. Wilson's death is deeply mourned through
out the whole length and breadth of the State, a
we'll by those who, when he was alive, were hi
POllcal enemies as by these who were his politi
aeal friends.
his S'nd' courteous, and gcntlcmanly manner