The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-10-21

Detroit May 13. 1861, at the head Of a superb
regiment, for Washington. This was the first
Western regiment TO enter the National Capt.
tai. A few days later on May "a, Col. Wilcox
with his regiment led the advance of the Union
forces into Virginia, crossing Long Bridge,
driving in the rebel pickets and entering and
taking possession of Alexandria at the same
hour that Col. Ellsworth, entering from the
river, while hauling down a rebel flag was shot
by Jackson. The lst Mich. captured $50 cav
alrymen with their arms and equipments, these
being the first considerable body of rebel pris-
oners taken in the war.
When the army was organized for the adj
vance to Manassas Col. Wilcox was placed in
command of the Second Brigade Third Dr.
vision, under Gen. Heintzelman. He was con-
spicuous for gallantry at Bull Run. He was
severely wounded and fell into the hands of
tho enemy. He remained q prisoner for one
year and 81 days, being confined successfully
in the Almshouse Hospital and Libby Prison
at Richmond, Salisbury, Columbia JAIL Castle
Pinckney and Charleston Jail. At the latter
place he was held as one of the hostages for
privateers who had fallen into the hands Of the
Union forces.
He was exchanged in August, 1862, and was
at once commissioned Brigadier-G General to
date from the battle of Bull Run, July 81, 1861
Entering upon active duty, he led the First
Division of the Ninth Corps at the battles of
South Mountain and Antietam. In the closing
months of that year he commanded the Ninth
Corps, supporting the cavalry operations of
Gen. Pleasouton and the crossing of Burnside
at Fredericksburg.
During the Fall and Winter Of 1863 he served
with the Ninth Corps in Kentucky and East
tennessee, occupying Cumberland Gap and
subsequently taking an active part in the ope-
rations about Knoxville, being a considerable
part Of the time in command of the corps
In March, 1851, the Ninth Corps returned to
the East and rejoined the Army of the Potomac
Gen. Wilcox was in constant service command
ing the Third Division through the Wilderness,
SpOttsylvania, Bethesda Church, Petersburg
Weldon Railroad. Hateher's Run, Fort Steadman
and other engagements. His troops led the
final assault at Petersburg, and he received
from the civil authorities the surrender of the
city. Remaining there in command for two
days, he marched with his division to Burkes-
vile, when the surrender of Lee put an end to
active operations. Gen. Wilcox was in COM
mand of the District of Washington until Au-
gust, 1865, when he was transferred to the Dis
trict of the Lakes. He was mustered out of
the volunteer service in January, 1866. He
was brevetted Brigadier-G General and Major
General in the Regular Army for gallant and
meritorious services at the Wilderness, Spott-
sylvania and Petersburg
Being offered a Colonelcy in the Regular
Army, he decided TO continue in the military
service, and July %. 1866, was commissioned
Colonel of the Doth Inf. Upon the cOnsolida-
ton of the army in 1869 no was transferred to
the 18th Inf. He served for many years on the
Pacific Coast and commanding the Department
OF Arizona, and was engaged in the campaigns
against the Apaches and other bad Indians. OF
late he has been in command at Madison Bar
racks. He has been ordered TO Fort Leaven-
worth to relieve Gen. Potter in the command of
the Department of Missouri. Gen. Wilcox will
be retired by reason of age next year.