James H. Wilson

James Harrison Wilson
Portrait of James Wilson during the Civil War
Born	(1837-09-02)September 2, 1837 Shawneetown, Illinois
Died	February 23, 1925(1925-02-23) (aged 87) Wilmington, Delaware
Place of burial	Old Swedes Churchyard, Wilmington, Delaware
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	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

James Harrison Wilson (September 2, 1837 – February 23, 1925) was a United States Army topographic engineer and a Union Army Major General in the American Civil War. He served as an aide to Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan during the Maryland Campaign before joining Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's army in the Western Theater, where he was promoted to brigadier general. In 1864, he transferred from engineering to the cavalry, where he displayed notable leadership in many engagements of the Overland Campaign, though his attempt to destroy Lee’s supply lines failed, when he was routed by a much smaller force of Confederate irregulars.

Returning to the Western Theater, Wilson became one of the few Union commanders to defeat Confederate cavalier Nathan Bedford Forrest in battle, at the Battle of Franklin in November 1864 and again during his raid through Alabama and Georgia in March and April 1865, and ended the war with his men capturing both Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Andersonville Prison commandant Henry Wirz in May 1865. Upon his death in 1925, he was the fourth-to-last living Union Civil War general.

Wilson was born in Shawneetown, Illinois. He attended McKendree College for a year and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1860, sixth in his class of 41, receiving a commission as a brevet second lieutenant in the Topographical Engineers. His initial assignment was assistant topographical engineer of the Department of Oregon at Fort Vancouver.