Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-24
Sketch Of Life

Mai or General James Harrison Will
son was the last Of the corps conn
manders of either the Union or Con-
federate forces in the Civil War and
the last member OF General Grants
staff. In his long. distinguished ca
reer he was soldier, engineer. rail-
road man and author. and in each he
showed marked ability with conse-
quent success. He was famous as the
captor of jefferson Davis and was one
of the best known OF the cavalry gen.
erals OF the Union army While at the
head OF $4,000 mounted men he con-
Quoted the campaign through Alaba ma
and Georgia known in Civil War his
tory as Wilson's raid"
General Wilson retired from the
military service in 1870 to devote his
time to railroad work. only to return
to the armv during the Spanish
American War and the Boxer cam
paign In China. His latter years were
spent in writing. He was the author
in collaboration with Charles A. Dana
of the life of General Grant, written
in the early seventies.
When the Spanish war started
General Wilson was appointed a ma
jor general of volunteers and COM
manded the Sixth Army Corps. He
accompanied the military expedition
to Porto Rico and was .appointei
military governor Of the island. He
remained in command of Ponce and
southeastern Porto rico until order
ed home. He served in the army of
occupation in Cuba in command of
the department of Matanzas and
Santa Clara and was honorably mus
tered out of the volunteer service.
In recognition Of his long military
career, General Wilson was appoint
ed in February, 1901, a hrigac 'er
! general OF the regular army by act
of congress and was retired for age
shortly afterward since which time
he was engaged iE private br~i g
at his home in Wilmington. Del.
General Wilson volunteered and
commanded division of General
Chaffee's army in China at the time
of the Boxer campaign. and Vile
his forces did not or gage in any bat
ties, they rendered efficient service
III overcoming the disorderly ele-
ments and restoring peace and order.
On January II, 1902. President
Roosevelt appointed him a membt :
Of the special embassy to represent
the United States at the coronation
of King Edward VII.
September ., 1887, General Wilsno's
earliest known paternal ancestor
was Revolutionary soldier. His
father was a captain in the Black
Hawk war and subsequently col
onel in the Illinois militia. Inc
general was educated at Mckendfee
college, Lebanon. H.. was graduated
from West Point in 1850 and assign
ed to the topogra phical engineers.
He was attached to headquarters OF
the department of Oregon and later
vas chief Typographical engineer OF
the Port Royal expedition. He
served in the department of the
south, was at the bombardment of
Fort PULASKI and was an acting
aide de-amp to General George j..
Mcclellan until October. 1862, being
present at the battles of South
Mountain and Antietam.
Appointed lieutenant-co colonel OF
volunteers in November 1852, Gen
eral Wilson served as chief topo-
graphical engineer and inspectoc
general of the army Of the Tennessee
until October. 1868, being active in
the operations before and during the
siege of Vieksburg. He became cap
tain of engineers in May 1868 and
brigadier general Of volunteers in
October OF the same year. He was
engaged in the operations near Chat
tanooga, the battle Of Missionary
Ridge and the relief Of Knoxville.
constructing bridges until Decembet
1863.
General Wilson after short tour
Of duty at Washington. in charge of
the Cavalry bureau of the Army of
the Potomac, bore conspicuous part
in the operations under General
Philip~H. Sheridan from May until
August. 1864, including the Richmond