Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-01-09

with them in forming a company
which was afterwards known a
Company b. 2nd Maryland Infan.
try, Of which he was chosen Third
Lieutenant, with j. Parran Crane,
OF this county Captain, John I'll.
Stone, of Charles, First Lieutenant,
and Charles b. Wise also of this
county Second Lieutenant.
This regiment, in conjunction
with General .Jones' Cavalry, was
ssns u hsld the Valley
of Virginia, and in the early part
of June 1868 attacked Milroy at
Winchester, driving him from the
Valley. Lieutenant Wilson was in
command of a skirmish line in this
engagement, and his cool and gal
liant bearing won for him many
praises and complimentary notices.
Closely following upon this de-
cisive victory, the "gallant Battal-
ion" as it was afterwards styled by
General Lee, started with the army
on the campaign into Maryland and
Pennsylvania, and on the last day
of June 1868 turned their faces
toward the enemy and marched up
on Gettysburg.
On the first day of July the Con-
federates encountered the Federals
and severe engagement followed
in which the Second Maryland took
no part, not arriving until alter the
close of the battle. and IN which the
Federals were driven from the field
and forced back through the very
streets of Gettysburg to Cemetery
hill. On the second day, the con-
flict was fierce and bloody and the
End Maryland with a portion of
Steuart's brigade took a portion of
the works of the enemy on Culp's
hill which they held during the
night.
Here Lieut.. Wilson was second in
command of his company, and his
surviving comrades recall witt mel
ancholy pleasure and pride, his
GOODNESS and bravery. When the
command had "dressed up" to ford
Rock Greek at the foot of the hill,
preparatory to the charge, and
whilst the enemy's batteries were
raking their lines, Lieut.. Wilson's
voice of counsel was head above the
din of the conflict, urging the men
"to stand firm and steady" and
when the order ''On ward" was given
it was distinctly repeated by him
and heard along the line as that
Spartan band went forth "to do or
die" in the grandest and most des-
perate charge recorded in the an
nails of war.
Although the hill was very steep
and rugged, and brush had been
cut down by the enemy and thickly
strewn upon it to impede the ascent
of the soldiers, if possible, never
theless they did not falter, but only
halted when they took portion of
the Federal works on the top of the
hill.
This was sad victory however
for the gallant Second Maryland, !,
as it was found that more than one
half of the 400 men who had gone
into the action were either killed or
wounded.
To commemorate this heroic
charge. and to perpetuate the men,
ories of their "fallen braves" the
survivors of the Regiment have
erected here a monument whore the
recollection of their brave deeds,
and the grateful songs of all true
lovers of heroism may be caught up
and repeated in more heroic strains
by future generations. To Mary
landers particularly this hill IS
hallowed indeed.
! BY fairy hands their knell is wrung;
| BY forms unseen their dirge Is sung.
There Honor comes. "a pilgrim gray.
To bless the turf that wraps their ciav;
And freedom shall awhile repair,
To dwell a weeping hermit there"
On the third and last day of this
memorable battle, Steuart's brig
ade, to which the 2nd Maryland
was assigned, after holding the
Federal works on Culp's Hill
through the night, attempted to
advance further, but failed after a
desperate conflict, and had to re-
turn to the position on Rock Creek.
In this engagement Lieutenant
Wilson had his sword arm so bad
ly shattered By a minnie bullet
that he was never afterwards able
TO use il with freedom, but he left
IL G~IJ ILL., tha kraxa soid;o. ! N