Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-18

u N. WISDOM IlAJ al ppetIGu IL a AdL'
issue of the Jackson Dispatch. Per
soIal partiality has in some places
giFen too high a coloring to the pic.
ture, but VIC prefer to publish the
article entire, as its kind intention
is manifest. EDS. W. & T.
DEW N. WISDOM.
The Democratic Convention 10
nominate a candidate to represent
the EIGHTH District of Tennessee in
tie Forty-fourth Congress, meets
at Jackson on Thursday, the 18th
OF August next.
Before that convention as a candi-
date for its nomination, none will
sand more conspicuous than ID. NJ.
Wisdom of Madison. In view OF
tlis prominence. il has been
| thought to give the public a short
sketch of his life and services would
not be out of place.
Dew NJ. Wisdom is the eldest son
Of the late w. S. Wisdom, for more
shan forty years one Of the leading
and most respectable citizens of Nc
Marry county, Tenn. He was born
February 3, 1886, and is conse-
quently at present in his thirty
ninth year. Shortly after his birth,
his father located at Purdy, McNai-
ry county, where he remained un-
til his death, which occurred sever
al years ago.
Young Dew continued TO reside
with his father until the outbreak
of the war. During this period he
prosecuted his collegiate studies at
Cumberland University, Lebanon,
graduated, and was pronounced by
the entire Faculty the best lingUist
in school. His speech on the Occa-
sion of receiving his diplOma-the
subject of which was, "Trifles"
excited universal praise, so much
| so, that several members of the Fac
ulty and brother students request
/ ed copies from him.
After finishing his collegiate
course he returned to Purdy, where
I he clerked III his fathers store-stu-
died law and obtained a license to
practice.
In 1861 he ran in McNairy coun-
| ty as a cooperative candidate for
D
eide whether or not Tennessee
should remain in the Union. The
people voted down this cOnven-
ton, which consequently never as
sembled.
When the bugle horn of War re-
sounded hoarse and shrill through
out the South, and the public pulse
beats quick with excitement and
ominous forebodings, d. NJ. Wis
dom was among the first TO girdle
on his sword and take up his coun-
try's banner in the time of her eX-
treme need and peril. having been
slected first lieutenant of Co. +. of
the thirteenth Tennessee Infantry,
volunteers, over w hich he was soon
afterward promoted Captain, by the
promotion of the gallant John V.
Wright to the Colonelcy. Captain
Wisdom was mustered into service
at Jackson in the summer of fS6l.-
Captain Wisdom fought in the bat
tie of Belmont and was there woun-
ded twice in the face went all
thrO' the terrible carnage at Shiloh,
and was wounded there also. Hav-
ing served twelve months in the
18th, the period he volunteered to
serve, he was promoted to the posi-
tion of Major in Julian's Battalion
of Roddy's command, which opera
ted in North Alabama, where he
remained for fourteen months, do
ing all the scouting and outpost du-
ty for that part of the army. At
the end of this period Maj. Wisdom
was transferred to Forests CaYal-
ry and made Lieut.. Col. of the 10Th
Tenn. Cavalry, of Bells Brigade
His services were invaluable to
Roddy, and who parted from him
with much regret. On leaving his
old and Scared veterans in Ala
bam, with whom he had been assO-
ciated in every peril, and to whom
he was endeared by every tie which
can bind brave hearts together, he
made them an eloquent farewell
speech, which sank deep into their
hearts, and blooms fresh in memo
ry's most fertile spot to this day.
Col. Wisdom remained Lieut.. Colo
mel of the 18th during his entire con-
nection with Forests Cavalry and
participated in all the fights and vic
tories which have immotaized that
band of soldiers to the latest posteri-
ty and placed their names high in the
Pantheon of remembered heroes. At
the battle of Tishomingo Greek when
the fate of that day hung trembling
in the balance, and Sturgess' over
whelming forces were breaking our
lines, Col. Wisdom came upon the
field with a portion OF his COM
mand and turned the tide. The partic-
ipation of a fresh regiment in the bat
tie at once changed the whole face of
the contest, and in less than four
hours the sun, red with the blood
which he had licked up from the
gurgling veins of dying soldiers, went
down on rout almost equal Waterloo
The rebels mastered the situation, and
Sturgess' army which had been boast
ing that nothing but the Gulf would
stop its progress, was put to inglorious
flight. It would not be too much to say
that Col. Wisdom was the Blucher
of Tishomingo Creek. He was again
wounded at Harrisburg and bore a
cOnspicuOus part IN every fight For
rest engaged IN after that battle. He
fought all through the terrible Russian
advance and retreat of Hood. The
rigOr of the winter-the large and
overwhelming numbers of the enemy
their splendid equipment and stub
born resistance-the destitution in
the rebel army, marching shoeless
and with bleeding feet over the ice
and snow which covered the whole
face of the cOuntry-the terrific bat
ties that were fought-and the gloomy
foreboding lodged IN the breast Of
every soldier, entitle Hoods Middle
Tennessee campaign to a place on the
pages of history along with Keno
phon's retreat with the ten thousand,
and Bonaparte' 5 retrograde from Mos
COW to Leipsic. No soldier passed
through that bloody aud terrific or
deal but who was as much a veteran
in danger, trial and hardship, as the
soldiers of Marengo and Austerlitz.
Returning from this campaign, he
was promoted to Colonel and assign
ed to command q subdivision Of cOun-
ties in West Tennessee TO return strag-
glers and increase the general efficien-
cy of the army.
Having served in the Lost Cause"
until its star went down to rise no
more upon the bloody field AppOma-
tox, ne received his parole and re-
turned home to cultivate the arts of
peace with his body marked with hon
orable scars.
In 1862 Col. Wisdom married and