Evening journal., 1902-06-16
"GATH'S" "REMINISCENCES OF
GENERAL j. II. WILSON OF THIS CITY

for the New York Sun:
The day before General James H..
Wilson left Wilmington, Del, for New
York. to sail for the coronation cere-
monies Of Edward VII, l had the privi-
lege Of dining with him and Judge
George Gray, at the bachelor residence
Of former Senator Higgins, Of Della
ware.
These three men. Of quite different
or differentiated views, are close
friends, and not for from the same age,
each | thinK turned 60. Yet they are
all youthful minded and started IN MY
observation the thought that no part
OF the United States is without select
spirits, men lifted from the local quail
ity to the national career by the fair
ness of our institutions.
Gray, a Democrat, was one Of the
signers of the Treaty of Paris. When
knew him first thirty-one years ago
he was a lawyer at the small but su-
cient town OF New Castle, once the
largest town but New York on the
American coast south of New England
After nearly two centuries and a-half
the courts were removed from Ntw
Castle to Wilmington. which may have
more than half the population of all
Delaware. and Delaware has been set
tied since about 1929 It was the pre-
cursor of Pennsylvania and the COM
plement Of Dutch New York. Since
1858 it has been continuously cccu-
pied. Delaware was the tobacco plan
tation of New Amsterdam.
Former Senator Higgins represents
the old settlers, from theHuguenotsan and
QuaKers to the north Irish he is OF
the connection OF the Bayards. He
was the first, perhaps the only Repub-
lican senator from Delaware, and since
his term the Republicans have faction
allied. and elected nobody, though
twice possessing a majority OF the
Legislature. Mr.. Higgins has large
law practice.
General Wilson is descended from a
pioneer OF Illinois, who was reared at
Front Royal, Va, and married Elar-
rson. whose early home had been
about Frederick. Md. Wilson went
from Illinois TO West Point entered
the engineers In 1860 and was Grants
engineer and bridgebuilder around
Vicksburg, going into the water"
says Grant, and working on the
bridge like one OF the men"
He was selected by Grant for secret
services. such as going into Knoxville
when it was beleaguered TO carry
Burnside a letter. and was accompanied
by Charles A. Dana, who ever after
ole n .
ed reconnaissances on the Yazoo as
predatory to campaigns.
When Sheridan came East he aeked
for Wilson and gave him a division.
and the first great raids were partici-
pated in by this mounted engineer, the
lConfederates once making him the sub
iect of a concentration Of their forces
but. defeated. he came out all right.
and fought in the Valley OF Virginia,
as well as in the Wilderness. He was
at Yellow Tavern when J. E. s. Stuart
was killed. Transferred to Sherman,
an army was given him to cooperate
in the grand strategy of March, 1865
leaving the Tennessee river with $4,000
men. $50 wagons. sixty days rations, a
pontoon uain and six batteries.
Near Selma he broke the fame and
force of the renowned Forrest driving
him twenty-forr miles in one day
Dick Taylor. brother-in-law OF Jeffer-
son Davis. abandoned Selma, the Con-
federate armory and arsenal, and Viii
son took il and destroyed all the gun
shops. He took Montgomery and
burned 9OOOO bales of cotton, for the
hrst time occupying that birthplace Of
the Confederacy. He took Columbus
Ca, and flfty-two field guns with a
loss Of only twenty-four men. He cap
tured Macon and there was told by
| Howell Cobb OF Lees surrender tC
Grant.
In thirty days Wilson had campaign
led $50 miles. with the object OF keep
ling relief from Mobile. Wilson in this
Extraordinary march captured fiv'
lcities. and 2SS pieces of artillery, anC
took 1000 prisoners, losing 725 men.
AS one OF the results, jefferson
Davis was taken by Wilson's troops
three weeks after the general occupied
Macon. or on the 18th OF May. 1865.
. After the lapse of more than gen
eration. Wilson again appeared as ;
} aior-general in Cuba, along with hi
peer General Merritt. and old oppon
ents like Lee and Butler. He com
manded a large part of Cuba, wen
thence to Asia, figured Importantly il
China. and is selected to attend th
coronation of the British King.
. General Dick Taylor, son OF Zachar.
, Taylor, says in his book: "ln this in
! Stance the Federal commander move
with unusual Iapidity and threw ou
false signals. Forrest fought as II tn
world depended on his arm, but hors
land man were covered with blood an
he said: 4 must leave Selma at one
a to escape capture Wilson made no dc
/ lay at Selma. have never met thi
General Wilson whose soldierly quail
ties are entitled to respect, but of a
Q 1.-THE Federal expeditions OF which
b have any knowledge, his was the bes
, conducted This was written IN 1S7!
Forrest also says in his memoir tina
e Wilson had drilled his little army int
( the highest state of efficiency. tina
{ they fought almost entirely with th
sabre. that all Wilson's disposition
We're made with decision and celerit