The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-17
When he speaks not Ike citizen,
You find him like a soldier.
Shakespeare: "COriolanus

ne IS one OF the nHeSt yOung-Oid men
in the nation. They retired me on ac-
count of age" he says, "and yet I am
as spry as ever I was. Why, 7 make il
a practice every birthday to jump from
the floor to my table, and can stin DO
It with ease. I did it on my sixty-fourth
birthday; I hope 10 be able 10 do it on
my SEVENTEEN
He was born in the District of Column
bia, October s. 1887, and his father be
fore him was born here in 1896. His
grandfather on his fathers side was a
North of Ireland Presbyterian. and his
grandfather on his mothers side was a
Presbyterian from Scotland. The blood
of the Covenanters always did result in
a good fighting strain. Christopher
North, he of the 'Noctes Ambrosiana,"
editor of Blackwoods, the one of whom
Tennyson wrote. in reply to a review Of
his poems
When I learnt from whom Il came,
forgaye You al the blame
NASTY Christopher:
/ could not forgive the praise,
Fusty Christopher
was a cousin Of Gen. Wilson's father.
Gen. Wilson was educated in the pri-
vate schools of the District. and at Co
lumbia College, but he left school early.
for at twelve years of age he was ap-
pointed a page to the Senate. that gIori-
Gus session when the body numbered
among its. members such giants as Clay
and Webster. Calhoun. Sumner. and such
like. As a boy here he heard these ora
tors IN action. and remembers still hay
ing heard Webster make his famous
speech on the Clay compromise. which,
81 has always been said, lost him the
Presidency.
In 1854, Senator Walter NJ Gwin. known
afterward us Duke Gwin. took young
Wilson with him 10 California. whence
he started out for himself and went to
Oregon. TO Puget Sound. and settled in
Olympia. 1t was from Washington Ter
ritory that he was appointed to West
Point July I. 1850
One of his instructors at West Point
was Gen. Rufus Saxton. who, like him
self, won great distinction in the civil
war, that was 50 imminent then. There
began then an affection and a friendship
that has lasted until the present day,
when instructor and pupil, both veterans
now, and both decorated with the high
est medal In the gift of Congress. often
meet and talk over the days that were"
He was graduated from West Point |
July T. 1850. when he was promoted In the
army 20 brevet second lieutenant of artil- |
lery, an arm wits which much OF his /
military career was to be identified He
vas transferred TO the Ordnance Depart /
leut in October of this year. and served
as assistant ordnance officer at Fort
Monroe Arsenal, Virginia. until he was
transferred 20 the First Artillery, i'm Jan
uary. 1861. being again transferred in the
same month to the Second Artillery, and
being promoted at the same tine 10 sec
Ond lieutenant
When the war broke out, Second Lieut..
Wilson was assigned 10 duty on the de
lenses of Washington. q duty he left 10
take - work in the Manassas campaign
OF July, 1861, and as first lieutenant OF
the Second Artillery, a promotion which
came 10 him I'm May. he served fn the
battle of Bull Run, July o. After Bull
Run he returned TO the defenses Of
Washington, where ne remained until he
Joined the Army of the Potomac. with
which he went on the Virginia Peninsular
campaign. being engaged in the siege of
Yorktown, april > to May 4. the battle
of williamsburg the action at Skaters
vile, the skirmish at Gaines Mil. of
May; the action of Ne-hanicsville. the
second battle OF Gaines Min, of June -
al which time he was brevetted captain
FOR gallant and meritOri0Us services. Then
came the first battle of Malvern Hill, Va
followed by skrmish at HarrisOns
Landing. and the second battle Of NAL
vorn HIiH in August In the meantime
lie had been transferred to the Engineer
Corps. and this gave him the opportunity
of which he took such fine advantage at
the battle OF Malvern Iill. Says Gen.
Wilson. Il had been severely III and
was really not 1T for duty. and was, in
fact, notified 10 remain in the rear But
the work before US was serious. and /
had to get into IT, ] commanded some
artillery and cavalry, and it CHANGED that
on my little body fell the task Of hold
ing back the whole body Of Confeder-
ate troops opposed to us. It was an all
night task, for our troops were forced
to retreat, but I managed. by hard
work, 10 check the enemy's advance and
10 bring away my force intact. without
the loss OF a single man, or gun. or horse.
MAI Gen. Pleasonton. who was in COM
mand. came 10 me after the battle and
publicly commended me. He said that he
had never expected to see me again; he
thought that surely L and my small force
would be utterly destroyed by the army
We opposed"
awarded The medal of honor by Con-
gress for distinguished gallantry IN ac-
ton at Malvern Hill, Va. August 6. 1892 %
From then on there was plenty Of fight
ing. The young soldier went right on
with the Army Of the Potomac into the
Maryland campaign and was engaged in
the battle OF South Mountain. September
Il, followed quickly by the battle OF An
tietam, on September Il, and this was
followed I'm turn by the skirmish at
Charlest0wn, Va, October L. After this
he was appointed experimenting engi-
neer TO take charge OF the construction
Of the defenses Of Harpers RFerry, and
this work concluded, he was assigned to
duty at the Military Academy as assist
ant professor Of Spanish.
In June. 1868. he was appointed captain
of the Corps Of Engineers, and he acted
as assistant engineer Of the construction
of the defenses Of Baltimore This work
was done by the end of July, and he went
down to Memphis. Natchez. and Vicks-
burg as experimenting engineer Of the
construction of defensive works At those
places. This lasted until May. 1864, when
he was appointed assistant inspector gem
eral OF the military division of West Mis-
sissipi He served rs lieutenant colonel
of the staff. United States Volunteers, un-
til September. 1860 much OF the time at
the headquarters Of Mai. Gen Candy af-
terward serving in the Mobile campaign.
where he won the bTevet rank Of colonel
for faithful and meritoriOus services dur
ing the campaign against the city of Mo
bile and its defenses-
From March p to April S. 1853. he was