James H. Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Harrison Wilson
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Portrait of James Wilson during the Civil War
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| Born | September 2, 1837 Shawneetown, Illinois |
| Died | February 23, 1925 (aged 87) Wilmington, Delaware |
| Place of burial |
Old Swedes Churchyard, Wilmington, Delaware
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| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1860–1870, 1898–1901 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Commands held | Western Cavalry Corps |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War Spanish–American War Boxer Rebellion |
| Relations | Jim Thompson (grandson) |
James Harrison Wilson (born September 2, 1837 – died February 23, 1925) was an important American soldier. He started as an engineer who mapped land for the United States Army. Later, he became a Major General in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Wilson first helped General George B. McClellan during the Maryland Campaign. Then, he joined General Ulysses S. Grant's army in the western part of the country. There, he was promoted to a higher rank. In 1864, he switched from engineering to leading cavalry (soldiers on horseback). He showed great skill in many battles.
Back in the West, Wilson became one of the few Union leaders to defeat the famous Confederate cavalryman Nathan Bedford Forrest. He beat Forrest at the Battle of Franklin in November 1864. He also defeated him during a large raid through Alabama and Georgia in 1865. Wilson's soldiers ended the war by capturing Confederate President Jefferson Davis. They also captured Andersonville Prison leader Henry Wirz in May 1865. When Wilson died in 1925, he was one of the last living Union generals from the Civil War.
Contents
Early Life and Army Training
James Wilson was born in Shawneetown, Illinois. He went to McKendree College for a year. Then, he graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1860. He was one of the top students in his class. He became a second lieutenant in the Army's engineering branch. His first job was mapping land in Oregon.
Civil War Service
Working as an Engineer
When the Civil War began, Wilson was promoted quickly. From 1861 to 1862, he was the main engineer for the Port Royal Expeditionary Force. As an engineer, he helped in the Battle of Fort Pulaski. This battle was at the mouth of the Savannah River. For his good work, he was promoted to major.
In April 1862, he moved to the Army of the Potomac. He continued as an engineer and also helped General George B. McClellan. He was with McClellan during the Maryland Campaign. He was present at the battles of South Mountain and Antietam.
Later, Wilson moved to the western part of the war. He joined General Ulysses S. Grant's army as a lieutenant colonel and engineer. During the Vicksburg Campaign, he was an inspector for Grant's army. On October 30, 1863, he became a brigadier general. He also helped during the Battle of Chattanooga. He was the chief engineer for the troops sent to help Knoxville.
Leading Cavalry Troops
In 1864, Wilson changed from engineering to leading cavalry. On February 17, 1864, he became the head of the Cavalry Bureau in Washington, D.C.. He was very good at organizing and managing. But he was even better as a combat leader.
General Grant promoted him to major general on May 6, 1864. Wilson then led a cavalry division under General Philip Sheridan. He showed great courage and skill in many battles. These included fights in the Overland Campaign and the Valley Campaigns of 1864.
General Wilson and General August Kautz led a cavalry raid. Their goal was to cut off General Robert E. Lee's supply lines to Petersburg, Virginia. If they succeeded, Lee would have to leave Petersburg. The raid started on June 22, 1864. Wilson had over 5,000 cavalry soldiers and 16 cannons.
In the first three days, Wilson's cavalry destroyed 60 miles of railroad tracks. They also burned two trains and several train stations. Confederate General W. H. F. "Rooney" Lee chased them but could not stop them. The main goal was to destroy a key railroad bridge over the Staunton River.
The Confederates knew this bridge was important. They had a small fort there with 296 reserve troops. Local volunteers, including old men and boys, gathered to help. Nearly 1,000 defenders stopped Wilson's 5,000 well-armed troops. Wilson's cavalry fought on foot. "Rooney" Lee's cavalry arrived and defeated Wilson's troops. This battle was a tough moment in Wilson's otherwise successful career.
Despite this, Wilson was sent back to the West. He became the chief of cavalry for General William T. Sherman's army.
As cavalry chief, he trained Sherman's cavalry for the famous March to the Sea. However, Wilson did not go with Sherman. Instead, he and 17,000 cavalry soldiers joined General George H. Thomas's army. This was for the Franklin-Nashville Campaign in late 1864.
Wilson stopped a surprise attack by General Nathan Bedford Forrest. This helped save the Union Army at the Battle of Franklin. Wilson was one of the few Union officers to defeat the legendary Southern cavalry leader. He was promoted for his service in the Battle of Nashville.
He then led the successful Wilson's Raid through Alabama and Georgia. He defeated Forrest's smaller force. He captured Selma, Alabama, and four other fortified cities. During this campaign, his troops burned most of the buildings at the University of Alabama. On Easter Day, 1865, his troops attacked and captured the city of Columbus, Georgia.
His men caused huge damage to the South's military buildings and supplies. But they did it in a very organized way. This usually stopped looting and damage to regular people's homes. In central Georgia, Wilson's cavalry captured Confederate President Jefferson Davis. They also captured Captain Henry Wirz, the leader of Andersonville Prison.
After the war, Wilson's leadership in Georgia was seen as fair. He even helped distribute Confederate mules and wagons to poor people. He left the Army in December 1870.
Later Life and Other Wars
After leaving the Army, Wilson worked as an engineer for railroads. He also became a railroad executive. In 1883, he moved to Wilmington, Delaware. For the next 15 years, he focused on business, traveling, and public matters. He also wrote several books.
Wilson returned to the Army in 1898 for the Spanish–American War. He served as a major general in Cuba and Puerto Rico. He also served in China during the Boxer Rebellion in 1901.
After retiring from the Army again in 1902, he represented President Theodore Roosevelt. He attended the coronation of Edward VII of the United Kingdom.
He was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS). This was a group for Union officers and their families.
James Wilson died in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1925. Only three other Union Civil War generals lived longer than him. He is buried in the Old Swedes Churchyard in Wilmington.
Works
James Harrison Wilson wrote several books, including:
- The Life of General U. S. Grant, General of the Armies of the United States (with Charles A. Dana, 1868)
- China: Travels and Investigations in the Middle Kingdom (1887)
- The Life of Charles A. Dana (1907)
- Under the Old Flag: Recollections of Military Operations in the War for the Union, the Spanish War, the Boxer Rebellion, etc. (1912)
