The Saint Paul globe., 1898-10-07
HE HAD SEN FIGHTING.
Maj. Wilkinson HadsWOn His Spurs
in the Civil War.

Melville Cary Wilkinson, captain of the
regular army but known to thousands in the
Northwest and elsewhere by the high title
of major, which he had obtained by
brevet for gallant conduct in past campaigns,
was born in New York about sixty years ago
His army career began with the
breaking out of the War of the Re-
bellion. when he joined the forces from his
native state, New York.
He has been soldier ever since and
good one. According to the army register,
he became a first lieutenant in the Twenty
third New York infantry May 16, 1851, and
resigned Nov 7, of the same year. He was
made first lieutenant Of the One Hundred and
Seventh New York infantry July 22 1852
and was promoted to captain in the same
regiment Aug. 9, 1862 and resigned Jan. 26,
1863. He was made first lieutenant Of the
Veteran Reserves Aug. 49, 1863 and was ac-
cepted in that service week later. He
was promoted to a captaincy In the same
service. Dec 10. of the same year. He was
honorably mustered out of tie service June
80, 1866 HIS experience as a soldier In the
Rebellion had created in him a desire for
military affairs. and he remained out of
service only a month, when he joined. the
regulars as a second lieutenant in the Second
infantry. His appointment was made July
| 2S, 1866 and was accepted in the service
| Oct. 16 following. He was transferred to the
| Sixth infantry Arril %, 1863. He was as
| signed to the Third infantry Jan. /, 1870, and
was made a first lieutenant Jan. /, 1871.
His straps a captain came April "a, 1888.
He was brevetted for gallant conduct at
! Antietam and in 1877 again obtained the
brevet of major for gallant service at Clear
water, Idaho, July II and 12, 1877, and at
Kamiah, Idaho. July 49, covering the three
! days of hot fighting during the Indian upris-
! ing at that time.
His record in the Indian wars of the far
! West Is an envabe one. In the years which
Immediately followed the civil war the life
of officer in one Of the regiments
stationed at the frontier posts was any
thing but one ot ease. The terrible result
of Clusters battle On the Little Big Horn. in
1876, is still remembered a climax of In
dian feroc.ty and bravery. And tie war with
the Nez Perces Indians in Oregon, Idaho and
/ Montana, in 1877, was nearly, If not quite, as
fatal for the troops. 1t was in
the Nez Perces war that Capt.
Wilkinson made his record as an
Indian fighter He was attached to the staff
| Of Gen. Howard, and on many occasions won
! the praise of that great commander.
At Clearwater, Idaho. July IL and 12. 1877.
he commanded a gattlng gun and did fearful
execution with it. 1t was his conduct here
that won him the breyet of major.
Maj Wilkinson was a great personal friend
of the late Gen. Mason. They were in the
same regiment many years Of their army life
and from engaging in the same campaigns
| and undergoing the same hardships, formed g
! friendship which those in civil life can
scarcely understand or appreciate. But 1t did
not require life long acquaintance with
| Maj. Wilkinson to teach to like him
as officer and a man. His long residence
at Fort Smelling had brought him in contact
with many of the citizens of this city and
one and all are ready to testify to his gen.
uine merit as an officer and gentleman.
Mrs. Wilkinson and their daughter, Eva
are in Redlands. California.
There was deep grief at the fort, the major
having been with the Third regiment twenty
! three years.
The death of Maj. Wilkinson, falling as hs
did in the incipiency of an Indian uprising
seems like the irony Of fate. He fell like
the brave soldier and man that he is, bu
it will be recalled that after he had gone
South with his regiment last spring, getting
as far as Mobile Ala, he was sent back t,
Minneapolis and st. Paul to open recruiting
Offices for bis regiment. He did not murmur
for that would be unsoldierly, but one wht
talked with him and who understood/a "a sol
dier's desire to go to the post Of danger will
his comrades knew how he was chatting un
der the orders which kept him hundreds o
miles from his men when they were fghtin,
in the trenches of Cuba dying in tn.
Southern hospitals. He was not to fight and
perchance. die, in the great which hi
country waged for humanity and right bu
the message came while he was quelling
disturbance among his old-time enemies, tn
Indians, in his own state. But he died will
his face to the foe, in command Of his men
under fire of better marksmen than his mel
had faced on San Juan hill.
Maj Wilkinson was member of John A
Rawlins Post No. 126, G. A. R., and of Min
nesota commandery, Order of the Loya
Legion.