Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-06-28
THR


DEATH or JAMES II. WIIsoH.-In
the sorrow and amusement which have
been. CccasiOned b. the unexpected
death Of Mr.. WILSON, we find OuT-
selves at this time unequal to the task |
Of making connected and intelligent
comment. A brief recital Of the lead.
ingfaotsofhislifs and death il oil wears
able 10 prepare for the present issue
Of our paper. DIR. WILSON was sdu-
Gated at Charlotte Hall and st. john
College, graduating at the latter. On
his return from college. not willing to
trespass longer on the hberality Ofhis
father, who had other children to ed
ucate, he commenced teaching in the
public school ct Lsonardtown to OBJ
tain the means necessary 10 sustain
himself while he was pursuing his le-
gal studies. having had from boyhOod
q strong prediction fer the profess
sion Of law. He was admitted 10 the
Leonardtown bar about the breaking
out Of the late civil war. but, appre-
Ciating that the avenues TO legal and
other civil pursuits would be Practi-
cally closed during its continuance.
and ardently sympathizing with the
South. he cast in his fortunes with the
Confederacy, taking service the first
year Of the war a. private in q Vir-
ginia regiment. BeinghonOrably mus
tered out Of this command at the end
Of bis service. be soon thereafter con-
nected himself with the 2nd Maryland.
becoming q Lieutenant in Company
B. From that time until the fatal
day at Gettysburg his fate and for
tunes were tied up with that Reg
iment. aud on the day itself he was
the second in command Ofhis company
in that celebrated charge Of the Mary
landers when the flower Of our own
youth went down. Mr.. WILSON had
his sword arm so badly shattered by
minnie bullet that he was never af-
forwards able to use it with freedom,
but he left the field Of battle like the
brave soldier he was. bringing off his
sword in safety. On the retreat Of
Lees army, being among the wound
ed, he was captured. and after his re-
cOvery from dangerous and prOlong-
ed sickness, was sent to Federal pri-
ron. On his exchange, he was found
incapable Of active service and he was
assigned to post duty where he con-
tinued until the conclusion of the war.
Returning 10 LeonardtOwn about sc,
he resumed the practice Of the law,
was subsequently elected Clerk to the
Commissioners Court, on his removal
from which position, he devoted him
self with renewed energy to his pro-
fession. At later date, he became
the nominee of the democratic party
for the Legislature, and though beaten
by his republican opponent, led his
own ticket and greatly reduced the
usual republican majority. The sue
cess he has obtained and the reputa-
tion he has since made as an advocate
are known to all. and we shall not
here refer to them further. And now
TO the sad close Of his history. He left
Leonardtown a few weeks ago in ex-
cellent health and spirits for Balti-
more to look up evidence and obtain
information bearing on a suit to be
tried at our September Court. Soon
after his arrival in Baltimore, reports
of his sickness reached his friends
here, but as he had a sister living in
the city, and was well known to have
ample means, little solicitude was felt
in regard to him. Subsequently, it
was stated that he had grown worse
and had gone to Hospital for treGt-
ment. Last 4donday's Sun tells what
remains to be told, which is, that "Mr.
JAMES H. WILSON, Of Leonardtown,
st. Mary's county, died at the City
Hospital last night Sunday of con-
gestiOn Of the lungs. He was A years
Old" The body Ofthe deceased will be
brought tOthe county (Bacon's Wharf
per steamer Sue to-day Wednesday,
and will be buried, we learn. at Pop
lar Hill Church. The Pall-Bearers
are R. G. Combs. Jos. 81. Key, D. C.
lIammctt, 10. F. Morgan, r. A. Young
and b. Fl. Camalier.