Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-19
SKETCHES Of THE CAPT0RS.
sketch OF Brevet Major General
James n. wilson


OF the material resources Of the country has
been the development Of all grades Of usen equal
20 every emergency. Less shan Eve years ago
the subject Of this sketch Was a cadet at the gov
eminent academy; to-day he leads 80 army, and
his name IL associated at the head OF the finish
ing and of the most brilliant raids OF the war
james II Wilson Brevei Major General Of
Volunteers and captain Of Engineers 40 the
United States Army was born in lower Illinois.
about the year 1910 He entered West Point as
cadet in 1856, and graduated fifth in bis class.
June 30, 1860. On the following day he was
promoted TO brevet second lieutenant Topograph-
cal Engineers On the out break of the rebel
lion he vas made full second lieutenant. to
date from jane 10, 1861. On the 9th of Sep
TENDER followiug he became first lieutenant in
his corps. Upon the organization. at Annapolis
Maryland. of the Sherman IT. W } expedition TO
Hilton Head. South Carolina. Lieutenant Will
SOC was ordered 20 d1ty chief of Topographi-
cal Eogneers Of that army After the forces
had secured a foothold in South Carolina. Lieu
tenant Wilson conducted number OF recon
noissances through the rivers and other water
courses. in the vicinity Of Fort Pulaski on the
Savannah river. with view TO future operatio n
in that direction. On December -. 1861 he
left on more extended and distant reconnos
sance to discover whether a nayigable passage
existed between Catalogue sound and the Savan
nah river
Z At this time the extreme advance OF our forces
rested on Davfuskie island. Leaving Catalogue
sound in tvo rowb0ats, with detachment OF ~
men of Rhode Island regiment. Lieutenant
Wilson proceeded by night through number OF
intricate channels At various points along the
the party spied the picket fires OF the enemy.
but passed them with mUffled and without
eliciting discovery. Alter a night OF fruitess
search the party drew up with the dawn of day
and secreted themselves in the grass When
oh IN hQi
Pushing on their way they soon entered Wright
river. and rounding the point of Jones island,
entered the Savannah. The rest OF the night
was passed in making soundings. approaching
under the very guns OF Palsski. ard go near that
the sentnels could be heard at their beat Lieut.
Wilson now pushed up the Savannah beyond
Venus Point. TO the mouth OF Mud river, whence
he returned TO the Wright aud thence to the
headquarters of the army. The result Of this re-
eonnoirssnce was the discovery OF passage for
gunboats drawing ten feet and clear OF the guns
of The fort In the subsequent operations against
Pulaski the troops followed Lieutenant Wilson =
route, aud battery WAS established at Venus
Point Lieutenant Wilson remained Ira The de
partment OF the south. conspicuously engaged on
engineer duty until The summer of 1862 when he
served for short time aid To General Nc
Clellan On November 3. le62. he was ap-
pointed assistant Inspector general, with the rank
OF lieutenant colonel OF volunteers. and assigned
TO General Grant, by whom he was for several
months assigned 10 duty on the staff OF Msjor
General james Il. Mcpherson.
During The operations in Mississippi and against
Wick sburg Col Wilson again conspicuous
for his engineering skill and in the brilliant vic
tories of Gen Grant. in the vicinity OF Chstta-
nooga, won the official commendaton of Gen
w F. Smith, with whom he then acting
On December 81. 1863 he was dominated briga-
der general of volunteers, to cate from October
firm et
the recommendation of Lieut. Gen Grant. In
January, 1864. Gen Wilson was appointed chief
of the cavalry bureau in Washington. Iu April
following he was assigned 10 the command of the
ID .division, cavalry corps, Major Gen Sheridan,
army OF the Potomac During Gen. Grants
Virginia campaign he acted independently. to the
right and rear of the armv to destroy railroads
He also covered the rear from Coal Harbor to
the south side of the James river. In June and
the beginning of July he conducted raid south
of Rich mond, destroying the railroads and throw
ing the enemy in great state of alarm After
the necessity of cavalry operations in the vicinity
Of Richmond and Petersburg had passed. Gen
Wilson transferred to the Shenandoah Val
ley, where he added TO his reputation as an eff
eient officer. For distinguished services he Was
breveted major general of volunteers. to date
from October D, 1864 During the winter he was
transferred 10 the department OF the Cumberland
aud by Gen Thomas placed in command of
the cavalry corps of the army of the Cumberland
On March % 1865. Gen. Wilson started from
Chckassw. Ala with his troops well mounted
and equipped. After routing Roddy at MONT
cello, he moved on and annihiated the combined
forces of Forrest. Lyon ard Chalmers, under
Forrest and occupied Selma, Ala, on April 2
Thence he moved on to Montgomery thence
swept across Georgia, reaching Savannah on
April %. having marched six hundred aud fifty
miles.
n -. al I'll.
nouncement, il was portion of General Will
sons gallant corps which has the honor of putt
ing climax to the downfall of the rebellion by
capturing its prime mover and leader.
General Wilson ia twenty FIVE years
OF age. very Young looking. about Eve feet eight
inches in height. light hair and eyes and rather
boyish in manner. The latter PECULIARLY, how
ever, does not detract from his merits as a sol
der. DE has the reputation OF good judgment
in the disposition of troops and the management
Of isolated expeditions General Wilson's pre-
sent rank IN the regular army IS captain in the
corps OF engineers dating from May I, 1868.
SKETCH or LIEUT.. COL BENJAMIN rKIrcHARp,
FOURTH MICHIGAN CAVALRY
JEFF Davis. the 4th Michigan cavalry, command
Ell by Lieut. Col Benjamin d. Pritchard. has the
glory OF this Growing Col. Pritchard en-
tered The service rs captain IN the 4h Michigan
cavalry. his commission dating August 10. 1862
His regiment rendezyoused at Detroit. mus
tered into the United States service on August
%, and left for Kentucky in September follow
ing Col. Pritch ,rd during his csptsincy, took
part in the advance during the attack on Nor
gan's guerillas at Stamford. and joined in the
pursuit as far = Crab Orchard. Kentucky On
November q 1862. he took part in the chase
after Morgan, in which the rebel chief was driven
se.en miles. and pu ting him completely % rout
Subs qupntly he participated IN the operations
against Murireesboro and in pursuit of Forrest
and Wheeler towards Fort Donel-on. Daring
the campaigns OF 1865 and 1861, in Tennessee
and Georgia. re 4 Michigan took again a con
spcuous part. For gslIsntry in the various
actions Of bis regiment Captain Pritchtrd VS.
promoted TO the rank which he now holds
IL Is unnecessary to repeat here the series of
skilful aud quickly executed movements. under
the immediate command of Col Pritchsrd which
have resulted in Davis capture Ii is hoped
this satisfactory success IL but TIE forerunner of
more definite determination of the ex Psesi
dental rebels career
sketches .f the sapttves.
THE REBEL LEADER. JEFF DAVIS
J.f Davis born in keutncky June 3.
fSns Ia - tho SON If lance N -. . -