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John Moulder Wilson

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John Moulder Wilson
Born(1837-10-08)October 8, 1837
Washington, D.C.
DiedFebruary 1, 1919(1919-02-01) (aged 81)
Washington, D.C.
Place of burial
West Point Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service / branchUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1860–1901
Rank Brigadier General
CommandsChief of Engineers
Battles / warsAmerican Civil War
AwardsMedal of Honor
Other workSuperintendent of the United States Military Academy
Signature

John Moulder Wilson (October 8, 1837 – February 1, 1919) was a Union Army officer and later served as Chief of Engineers as well as serving as Superintendent of the United States Military Academy from 1889 to 1893. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat during the American Civil War.

Biography

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Wilson was born in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1860 and was commissioned into combined Batteries B & L, 2nd U.S. Artillery as part of the U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade. He transferred to the Corps of Topographical Engineers in July 1862 and was awarded the Medal of Honor for fighting at the Battle of Malvern Hill in Virginia, on August 6, 1862. He joined the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1863 and received three brevet promotions for gallant service in Alabama.

First Lieutenant John M.Wilson, June 1862. Detail of a photo by James F. Gibson. Library of Congress.

After the Civil War, Wilson worked on Hudson River improvements and drafted plans for the canal around the Cascades of the Columbia River. He improved the Great Lakes harbors of Oswego, New York, Cleveland, Ohio, and Toledo, Ohio. Wilson headed the divisions of the Chief's office pertaining to military affairs for four years, was in charge of public buildings and grounds in Washington during both Grover Cleveland administrations, and was Superintendent of West Point from 1889 to 1893 during the administration of President Benjamin Harrison. Before his appointment as Chief of Engineers, he was Northeast Division Engineer. He was appointed as Chief Engineer of the US Army and promoted to brigadier general on February 1, 1897. As Chief of Engineers, he directed the Corps' activities during the Spanish–American War.

Wilson retired from the Corps on April 30, 1901. He served as an arbitrator during the Coal Strike of 1902, and was president of the Columbia Hospital for Women from 1902 to 1907. He remained a prominent figure in the cultural life of Washington until his death there on February 1, 1919.

General Wilson was a Companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Columbia University.[1]

Medal of Honor citation

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Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Engineers. Place and date: At Malvern Hill, Va., August 6, 1862. Entered service at: Washington Territory. Birth: Washington D.C.. Date of issue: July 3, 1897.

Citation:

Remained on duty, while suffering from an acute illness and very weak, and participated in the action of that date. A few days previous he had been transferred to a staff corps, but preferred to remain until the close of the campaign, taking part in several actions.

Personal

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Wilson was the son of Joseph Shields Wilson and his first wife Eliza Uhler Moulder. His older sister Mary Shields Wilson was the wife of Brevet Brig. Gen. Thomas Duncan. His older brother Brevet Brig. Gen. Thomas Wilson was a 1853 West Point graduate and his younger brother Lt. Commander Downs Lorraine Wilson was an 1871 Naval Academy graduate.[2][3][4]

Wilson married Augusta Bertha Waller. They had a daughter, but she died about six months old in New Orleans.[1] Wilson and his wife were buried at the West Point Cemetery.[5]

See also

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References

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This article contains public domain text from "Brigadier General John Moulder Wilson". Portraits and Profiles of Chief Engineers. Retrieved April 11, 2009.

  1. ^ a b Abbot, Frederic V. (June 10, 1919). "John Moulder Wilson". Fiftieth Annual Report. Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  2. ^ "Thomas Wilson". Thirty-Second Annual Reunion of the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy. Saginaw, Michigan: Seemann & Peters, Printers and Binders. June 8, 1901. pp. 208–212. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "Downs Lorraine Wilson". Class of '71: United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. New York: The Grafton Press. October 1902. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  4. ^ Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. January 1, 1913. p. 178. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  5. ^ "Wilson, John Moulder". Army Cemeteries Explorer. U.S. Army. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
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Military offices
Preceded by Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy
1889–1893 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Engineers
1897–1901 		Succeeded by
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