Capt. John S. Wilson of Danville, Pennsylvania, 1840 to 1847, by Randy W. Hackenburg

Capt. John S. Wilson of Danville, Pennsylvania, 1840 to 1847

Randy W. Hackenburg

The Treaty of Fort Stanwix, on 5 November 1768, secured for the colony of Pennsylvania a huge swathe of Indian land. This new acquisition was organized as Northumberland County in 1772 and much of northeastern and central Pennsylvania fell within its bounds.1 Not long thereafter, it began to be broken up into more manageable divisions. In 1813, the area somewhat east of the confluence of the north and west branches of the Susquehanna River was established as Columbia County, with the village of Danville as its seat.2 Within a relatively short time the martial spirit of its citizens began to express itself. A uniformed militia company calling itself the Columbia Guards sprang up about 1817 and reached some degree of maturity by 1820, with its membership being composed of the community’s up and coming young men.3

John S. Wilson was born, presumably in Danville, on 30 May 1813. He grew up with the town, becoming a machinist in an area that was prominent in the iron industry. The first iron T rail made in America would be rolled there on 8 October 1845. Around 1841, John married Martha J. Wilson and they started a family.4 John joined the Columbia Guards at an unknown date, probably in the early to mid 1830s. His name first appears in connection with the company when the members elected him captain on 4 July 1840. He held this office until 15 August 1842. During his captaincy, the Danville Encampment took place from Tuesday, 24 May, through Friday, 27 May 1842, and was highlighted by a visit from General-inChief of the U.S. Army Winfield Scott. Scott reviewed and complimented the troops at Camp Washington and was paraded around the town by the thirteen foot and mounted companies, composing nearly 550 men. The Columbia Guards played a significant role as one of the host companies.5

Early in September 1842, John S. Wilson received the appointment as quartermaster of the 1st Brigade, 8th Division, Pennsylvania Militia, under command of Brig. Gen. Robert H. Hammond of Milton, Pennsylvania. General Hammond was the son of a local Revolutionary War hero and he had served as a Regular Army officer in the War of 1812, before becoming whole-heartedly absorbed in the state militia of east-central Pennsylvania. As brigade commander, he had played his part in the Danville Encampment, while at the same time renewing his relationship with General Scott.6

On 31 January 1846, John S. Wilson was again elected captain of the Columbia Guards and on 4 May of that year, the company turned out for their spring parade sporting brand new uniforms. Nine days later Congress declared war on Mexico. In a meeting 23 May 1846, the Columbia Guards voted to

Journal of the Company of Military Historians offer their services to the governor, volunteering to be part of any regiment from Pennsylvania called into active service, being the second company in the state to do so. Of course, Captain Wilson took the lead in this initiative and handled the responsibilities of seeing that his company was recruited full and his men were prepared to depart on short notice. After much waiting, along with a few false starts and discouragements, Wilson received notification on 21 November 1846 the Columbia Guards had been accepted into the second regiment of volunteers from Pennsylvania. The company left Danville early on 28 December, arriving at the rendezvous in Pittsburgh on Sunday, 3 January 1847. Upon organization, the Columbia Guards became Company C, 2d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Between 9 and 15 January, the regiment was on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers between Pittsburgh and New Orleans.7

Camp Jackson, to which the regiment was assigned, proved to be flood-prone low ground—part of the 1815 battlefield. Captain Wilson was among the first to feel the effects of the unhealthy conditions in camp. By 21 January, he was already unwell and spent some time in the city trying to recuperate. Then, very early on the twenty-third, a severe thunder storm ravaged the camp. Wilson described the scene in a letter to his wife:

[The] water could not run off and in the morning the water was between two and three feet deep, so that all our trunks and baggage was floating about and the men walking around and collecting the things[.] our clothes and books & everything was wet through.

The very next day, the Guards boarded a ship with two other companies and lay at anchor in the river until the twentieth. For a short time poor and scanty rations became a serious complaint. Then the illnesses set in and six of Wilson’s company deserted, with one more being discharged on a surgeon’s certificate of disability.8

For the next two weeks life aboard ship proved to be a nightmare. The close quarters, poor food, and general unhealthy conditions took their toll. To make matters worse, severe storms on the Gulf of Mexico brought on debilitating seasickness. Finally, on 13 February, the ship Ocean dropped anchor off Lobos Island, where the three companies were allowed to go ashore. However, they were segregated from the other troops for fear that the illnesses experienced on the Ocean might infect others. They reboarded the Ocean on 1 March, setting sail two days later. On 9 March, both Pennsylvania regiments landed on the beach near Vera Cruz. The city was subsequently surrounded and bombarded into submission, surrendering on 29 March.9

After commanding his company through the siege, John

Wilson’s health completely gave out, never having fully recovered from the sickness he had experienced in New Orleans. On 7 April, he received a furlough to return to the United States for recuperation and on the 9th, three of his company put him on a steamer for that purpose.10 That same day the company marched for the interior of Mexico. The ship, however, didn’t set out until 12 April and Wilson’s condition continued to deteriorate so that he died aboard ship just before the vessel could leave port. His body was taken ashore, placed in a casket, and buried in the Vera Cruz cemetery. Full military honors were provided by Company G, 2d Pennsylvania Regiment, the Cameron Guards of Harrisburg under Capt. Edward C. Williams. Companies B, D, and G just arrived at Vera Cruz because they had been quarantined on Lobos due to an outbreak of smallpox on their ship.11 It so happened that Gen. Robert H. Hammond, on whose militia staff Wilson had been quartermaster, was now serving as major and U.S. Army paymaster in Vera Cruz. Hammond conducted the Episcopal service and provided a eulogy for his dead comrade and friend.12 Lt. Col. John White Geary, the 2d Pennsylvania’s executive officer, sent Wilson’s personal effects home with the regiment’s surgeon Benjamin S. Muhlenberg, who had just resigned and was returning to the state.13

The Columbia Guards carried on with its duty through the campaign, entering Mexico City with Scott’s army on 14 September 1847 and doing their “bit” during the occupation.

Company command devolved upon 1st Lt. Clarence H. Frick, who eventually got promoted to captain. Finally, the time to vacate Mexico arrived and all the details for the departure were completed. Captain Wilson’s commitment to his country, his community, and his Columbia Guards was not forgotten. A detail had his body disinterred and prepared for the trip home. When it reached New Orleans, a delegation of two men from Danville met them and took charge of the coffin containing the hero’s remains. These men booked passage separately from the Guards and arrived home in Danville on 25 July 1848, two days ahead of the company.14

The festivities surrounding the return of the volunteers lasted multiple days and spilled over into several surrounding communities. The somber part of the homecoming took place starting at 1100 on 28 July. It began at the home of Mrs. Wilson, where the coffin was draped with the, “United States Flag, and covered by the Military dress of the deceased.” A huge procession escorted the remains to Christ Episcopal Church where the Rev. Milton C. Lightner delivered “an appropriate discourse” to an immense congregation. Following the

FIG 1. Headstone of Capt. John S. Wilson in the Episcopal Cemetery in Danville, PA. All images courtesy of the author.

formal service, the procession navigated the streets to the old Presbyterian burial grounds, which had been purchased for that purpose in 1775. “It is supposed to have been the largest collection of People that ever assembled at the old grave yard to witness an interment.”15 In 1907, this cemetery was turned into a memorial park and in October, Wilson’s remains were removed to the Episcopal Cemetery (FIG 1) where they now rest. 16

It is totally hypothetical to surmise what may have been included with “the military dress” that adorned Captain Wilson’s casket. Could his militia accouterments have been part of that display? We will almost certainly never know the answer to that question. However, we do know his family did keep certain items which the captain used during his militia duties, and after several generations they were salvaged from an old home in Danville that was scheduled for demolition. The following is an inventory of what survives.

The sword belt (FIG 2) is of black patent leather 1¾ inches wide, of the standard three-piece construction. The plate (FIG 3) is of gilt brass with a die struck American eagle tongue in a round laurel wreath, identical to O’Donnell & Campbell’s Plate 135.17 The waist size is now about thirtyone inches. The slings are of gilt brass mesh chain about half an inch wide by nearly a quarter inch thick.

Wilson’s epaulettes (FIG 4) are tarnished gold in color,

FIG 2. John S. Wilson’s sword belt with mesh brass slings.

FIG 3. Close-up of Wilson’s sword belt plate.

FIG 4. Top view of Wilson’s epaulettes.

FIG 5. View showing the underside and yellow silk lining of the epaulettes. edged with bullion and having a bullion and sequin crescent. They are 6½ inches long and the strap is 3 inches wide. The crescent is 3⅞ inches wide. The fringe is roughly four inches long by one-half inch in diameter. The underside (FIG 5) is padded and lined with yellow silk cloth. The general staff buttons (FIG 6) bear the back mark of “R. & W. ROBINSON/MAKER/ATTLEBOROUGH/ MASS.”18 FIG 6. Close-up showing the epaulette’s crescent and button.

FIG 7. Aiguillette worn by John S. Wilson as a brigade quartermaster in the Pennsylvania Militia from 1842 to 1846.

The aiguillette (FIG 7) is of quarter-inch plaited gilt cord. It terminates with a very plain “pencil” on one end and a bullion tassel on the other. This was obviously worn while Wilson was quartermaster of the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Pennsylvania Militia, between 1842 and 1846.

The cartridge box (FIGs 8 through 11) appears to have started out as a model 1839 box with white buff belt. At some point it was modified by having the front flap very cleanly and professionally cut off at its base, without damaging any other part of the box. A new detachable shield shaped flap (FIG 12) was fabricated to replace it. It is formed of three plies of leather well worked and stitched together around the entire perimeter of the flap. It is attached by having three roundish tabs at the top

FIG 9

FIG 8 FIG 10 FIG 11

FIG 8. Overall view of the modified model 1839 cartridge box and belt. FIG 12 FIG 9. Model 1839 cartridge box underneath the modified personalized front flap. FIG 10. Reverse of the model 1839 cartridge box, showing the belt straps and the center roundish tab which helps to attach the modified front flap. FIG 11. Bottom view of the model 1839 cartridge box, showing the attachment of the belt straps. FIG 12. Model 1839 cartridge box with its customized front flap.

which fit neatly behind both belt ends and one in between them, forming a snug fit. On its front about a half-inch from the bottom point is what appears to be some sort of implement holder, measuring 3 inches wide by 1⅛ inches high. It is neatly stitched at the top and bottom, leaving both ends open. Just over a half-inch above this leather sleeve is a heavy beveled rectangular brass plate (FIG 13) 3 7/16 inches wide by 2 1/16 inches high. Upon this plate are engraved in script in three lines ,“J. S. Wilson/Danville,/Penna.” The plate is affixed to the flap by four rectangular tabs (FIG 14) coming through the back of the flap and being bent outwards to secure it. Each tab measures roughly a half-inch by a quarter-inch. This replacement flap is an excellent piece of workmanship throughout and begs the question, why didn’t the engraver do his work in the middle of this nice heavy plate? But then again, both the plate and the leather implement sleeve are slightly off center.

The sturdy cartridge box belt is 2⅛ inches wide and is 57 inches long, excluding the tabs by which it is buckled to the box. On the back of the belt is a rectangular ink stamp (FIG 15) in which are the words “MADE BY/R. DINGEE/ NEW YORK”. The rectangle measures 2½ inches by 1⅝ inches and is 5 inches up from the top of the box and would have been against the wearer’s back. Another modification this accouterment experienced is that the belt has had a blackening applied over the exterior surface of the white buff leather (FIG 16). Now, after all these years it has flaked off to some extent and been marred by careless storage, but the belt remains in remarkably good condition. When and for whatever reason the blackening was done will probably remain a mystery, but it certainly appears that it was done while still in the possession of John S. Wilson.

Interestingly, a model 1839 cartridge box plate (FIGs 17 and 18) was with the cartridge box when discovered in that old building. It is in non-dug condition and poses this question: Could this be the plate that belonged to the original flap that was cut off this box? It measures 57mm by 88mm and the die strike is exceedingly like O’Donnell & Campbell’s plate 476. As well, it has the rounded letters, thin construction and shallow die to which these authors referred in connection with early plates.19

Another artifact that accompanied these things is an unusual stone (FIG 19). Although very nearly round, it is not a perfect sphere. It measures roughly 2 3/16 inches in diameter and weighs about eleven ounces. One thing that makes it interesting is on just one side of this stone ball there is a dark rusty looking stain, as if it had been burned. It having been reported by the U.S. soldiers that the Mexicans were firing just about everything but the kitchen sink from their cannon at Vera Cruz, could this have been an artillery projectile that Wilson picked up during the siege and had with his effects, which then Dr. Muhlenberg delivered to Martha Wilson? We will not likely know the answer to that question either, but it is an interesting thought.

The remaining item is a letter written by John S. Wilson to his wife Martha in Danville, Columbia County, Pennsylvania. He wrote it on 21 February 1847, while on

FIG 13. Close-up of the heavy brass plate, identifying it as belonging to John S. Wilson of Danville, PA.

FIG 17. Model 1839 cartridge box plate that came with John S. Wilson’s accouterment collection.

FIG 14. Reverse of the replacement front flap showing how the plate is attached.

FIG 18. Reverse of the model 1839 cartridge box plate.

FIG 15. Underside of the cartridge box belt, showing the stamp of Robert Dingee, its maker. FIG 19. Small spherical stone that accompanied John S. Wilson’s accouterments.

FIG 16. View of the exterior side of the cartridge box belt showing the blacking that was applied, presumably, sometime after its purchase.

Lobos Island, Mexico. In it he described the island and the general welfare of the troops. In order to calm her fears he said, “I am in good health and getting along as well as I can without you being with me.” He then went on to share his true feeling. “I can tell you that if I was at home again I would not be here.” The original letter is in terrible condition. It appears to have been handled often, being unfolded and refolded repeatedly until it literally fell apart. In order to keep it together some well-meaning person taped it together at virtually every seam, leaving horrible stains through both pieces of the paper. Several small sections are now missing from both pages as well. All this gives the impression this may have been the last letter he wrote home and his family took great comfort in repeatedly reviewing it. Especially poignant is the fact the letter was post-marked in New Orleans on 14 May 1847, not reaching his family until weeks after the news of his death. Acknowledgement: The author wishes to acknowledge Company Member Dr. JoAnna McDonald for technical assistance with this article. Also, the author admits to being subject to mistakes , omissions, and other human failings. Therefore, this article and the accompanying photos are far less than perfect. But, by the grace of God, I trust this article may prove to have some interest to its readers.

Notes

1. Herbert C. Bell, ed., History of Northumberland County,

Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co., 1891), 82, (opposite) 152. Randy W. Hackenburg, Montour County And The

American Revolution (Boiling Springs, PA: by the author, 2009), 1–4, (hereafter cited as Hackenburg, Montour Co. & Am. Rev.) 2. J. H. Battle, ed., History of Columbia and Montour Counties,

Pennsylvania (Chicago: A. Warner & Co., 1887), Montour County

Section 22, (hereafter cited as Battle). 3. Battle, 46. Randy W. Hackenburg, “The Columbia Guards,

Danville’s Volunteer Infantry, 1817–1861” (unpublished master’s thesis, Bloomsburg State College, 1975), 16, (hereafter cited as

Hackenburg, “Columbia Guards”). 4. Danville (Pennsylvania) Intelligencer, 7 May 1847, hereafter cited as Intelligencer; Battle, 101; National Archives, U.S. Census of 1850 (Montour County, PA, Danville, houses 127 and 491) and U.S. Census of 1860 (Montour County, PA, Danville, North

Ward, house 1352). His father was Alexander Wilson, born in

Ireland about 1778, a coppersmith. John S. and Martha had three children: Helen A., born about 1843; Alexander, born about 1845; and Francis, born probably in 1847 after his father went off to war. The 1850 census calls “Frances” a female, while “Francis” was listed as a male in 1860. We presume the 1850 census taker, seeing an infant in a dress mistakenly listed him as a female. Son

Alexander served in the Civil War from 27 February 1865 to 25

August 1865 in New Company I, 104th Pennsylvania Volunteer

Infantry and then lived in Danville until at least 1890. 5. Hackenburg, “Columbia Guards,” 21-25; Intelligencer, 10 July 1840, 20 and 27 May 1842, 3 June 1842, 26 August 1842, 9

September 1842. 6. Hackenburg, “Columbia Guards,” 25; Hackenburg, Montour Co. & Am. Rev., 49; Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and

Dictionary of The United States Army, From Its Organization,

September 29, 1789 to March 2, 1903 (Washington: GPO, 1903), 1: 495–496. Robert H. Hammond’s father was Lt. David

Hammond, who served from 1775 to 1783 in Pennsylvania’s

Thompson’s Battalion and the 1st and 3d Pennsylvania Regiments of the Continental Line, being severely wounded in Wayne’s attack on the block house at Bergen Neck, NJ, in 1780. Robert Hammond was ensign, 3d lieutenant, and 2d lieutenant, 42d U.S. Infantry, 11 March 1814 to 13 June 1815—then 2d and 1st lieutenant, 5th

U.S. Infantry, 17 May 1816 to 15 October 1820. He later served as

Additional Paymaster of Volunteers from 30 May 1846 and Major,

Paymaster, USA, from 29 June 1846 until his death on 2 June 1847. His son Thomas graduated from West Point in 1842 and was killed in action 6 December 1846 at San Pasqual, CA. 7. Hackenburg, “Columbia Guards,” 26–38; Intelligencer, 6

February 1846, 22, 29 May 1846; 5 June 1846; 18, 25 December 1846; 1, 15 January 1847. 8. Hackenburg, “Columbia Guards,” 38–40; John S. Wilson to

Martha Wilson, 21 February 1847, author’s collection. 9. Hackenburg, “Columbia Guards,” 40–41. Pennsylvania State

Archives, Adjutant General’s Collection (Anonymously written

Columbia Guards diary, 29 January-3 March 1847); Intelligencer, 26 March 1847. 10. Hackenburg, “Columbia Guards,” 41–42; Intelligencer, 7 May 1847. The men who put Wilson on the steamer were Lt. Edward

E. LeClerc, a lawyer from Wilkes Barre; Musician Jesse G. Clark, a printer from Danville and a correspondent to the Intelligencer; and Pvt. William H. Dietrick, a miller and also a correspondent to the Intelligencer. Dietrick later died 2 October 1847 of wounds received on 13 September in the storming of Chapultepec. 11. Hackenburg, “Columbia Guards,” 42; Intelligencer, 7 May 1847;

Randy W. Hackenburg, Pennsylvania In The War with Mexico,

The Volunteer Regiments (Shippensburg, PA: White Mane

Publishing Co., Inc., 1992), 30–31, (hereafter Hackenburg,

Mexican War). 12. Ibid. As previously noted, Hammond died 2 June 1847. His remaining son came from Milton to claim the body and return it home for burial. 13. Intelligencer, 7 May 1847; Hackenburg, Mexican War, 200.

Muhlenberg resigned his commission in April and was returning to PA, thus becoming a handy courier for Wilson’s things. 14. Hackenburg, “Columbia Guards,” 48–51; Intelligencer, 14, 21, 28

July 1848. The delegation was William Morgan and Arthur W.

Frick. Frick was the brother of Capt. (Dr.) Clarence H. Frick. He also had been the man who was elected captain of the Columbia

Guards between 1842 and 1846. In 1849 he would be lured to the gold fields of California where he met an untimely end. 15. Intelligencer, 28 July 1848, 4 August 1848. 16. Cynthia S. Elder, The History of the Old Presbyterian Cemetery,

Danville, PA (Danville, PA: Montour County Genealogical Society, 2009), 14, 22, 48. 17. Michael J. O’Donnell & J. Duncan Campbell, American Military

Belt Plates (Alexandria, VA: O’Donnell Publications, 1996), 92, (hereafter O’Donnell & Campbell, Belt Plates). 18. Bruce S. Bazelon & William F. McGuinn, A Directory Of American

Military Goods Dealers & Makers, 1785–1915 (Bazelon &

McGuinn, 1990), 140. 19. O’Donnell & Campbell, Belt Plates, 298–301.