Omaha daily bee., 1883-06-08
A MISSING SOLDIERS FATE.
His Bloodstained AlbumlReturned to
His Family After Nineteen
Years,

On February &c, 1864, Harrison
Wilson, Joshua Gorton, James Clark,
Joseph Smallwood, William d. Hoov.
or, Lewis s, Smith, James Smsllwood,
Josedh Alexander and William Bart.
lett, of Mayo Landing, N. j., enlisted
In company G, Of the Tenth regiment
OF New Jersey volunteers. They went
into the Union army at the period
when aome Of the most f%ercely con-
tested battles of the war were fought.
Four of these brave men, after
enduring the fatigue and
dangers of the battle fields
we're so fortunate as to return
to their homes at the close of the war.
The others fell on the battlefield.
Joshua Gorton died of disease In the
hospital; James Clark and Joseph
Smallwood fell by tho bullets of the
enemy In battle. Joseph Alexander
was wounded, but served out his time
and was discharged honorably, but
ultimately died of his wounde. Jas.
Smsllwood was lost at sea, or supposed
to be lost, about the same way as the
Wilson brothers we're lost last fall.
William d. Hoover and Lewis Smith
are still living at their homes. But
Harry Wilson was reported missing,
and for nineteen years that terrible
word ''missing" has filled a mothers
and fathers hearts with anguish.
On Tuesday, May Is, there came to
the Mays Landing postofice a letter
addressed to the postmaster contain.
ing the following:
p. M.-Will you please deliver this let
ter to the nearest t~elative-father or
mother, il iivine-of Harrison Wilson, Of
Mays Landing, N. j who belonged to the
New Jersey volunteers during the late
war. Respectfully. etc,
ANDERSON, G. H., S. c., May IL, 1888.
Il would be glad to hear from you in ref.
erence to Mr.. Harrison Wilson, of Nays
Landing, N. j., who, during the war;, be.
longed to the N, j. volunteers [ No. of reg.
iment unknowp). This man, I have rea.
son to believe, was either killed or proba-
bly, wounded in q certain battle. Would
be glad you would communicate all you
know in reference to him.
Respectfully, etc,
| IA, IL. ObBOhNs
To this,lettar the father, anxious for
ell the particulars, replied, and re-
ceived by due course cf mail the fol-
lowing letter and album belonging to
his son, which was taken from his
pocket while lying dead upon the field
of battle:
ANDERSON, q. H., S. O.. May 20, 1888.
Captain Joseph Wilson-Dear Sir: Your
letter of the 18th inst. IS at hand, and in
reply would first say that the information
l give is neither such as you expected or
hoped for; nor is it such as I desire to give,
knowing as I do the grief it will cause.
But facts are facts, and if it is possible for
the friends of Harry Wilson to gather any
comfort from what little 1 can give con.
corning his fate, God grant that they may
do so, for l have long hesitated in doing
what I now do; for l fear the sight Of this
bloody memento can only make more sad
the sorrow and embitter the grief OF
those who loved this Soldier boy" !
wrote to you for Information respect
ing Mr., Harrison Wilson, hoping that by
some mistake he was only wounded, and
that the album was not in his possession
when pierced, as you will find it During
the battle of the Wilderness, one of my
COulTbuth I'VE pOLu DoiHB ulcIilDtTs VI
Company @, Palmetto sharpshooters'),
handed to me the album, saying that he
had just taken it from the pocket of a dead
Federal soldier. This album I have re.
tanned ever since, and will now mail to
your address, hoping that it will be re.
ceived in as kindly a spirit as it is sent,
This is all I know of the fate of Harry
Wilson, which, coupled with what yor
know, is conclusive that he was killed anc
buried on the battlefe d of the Wilder
neps. 1 will keep the picture of Harry, i
you lave no objections.
Respectfully, A. FL. OSBORN.
The album, to which allus!on i
made In the preceding letter, con
tanned the pictures of Wilson's moth
or, his FIVE sisters, and several of hi
friends at home. Almost ct the cen
ter a bullet had cut Its way clea
through, and many Of the pictures ar
stained with blood.