James H. Wilson

James Harrison Wilson
Born	(1837-09-02)September 2, 1837 Shawneetown, Illinois, US
Died	February 23, 1925(1925-02-23) (aged 87) Wilmington, Delaware, US
Place of burial	Old Swedes Episcopal Church Cemetery, Wilmington
Allegiance	United States Union
Service / branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1860–1870, 1898
Rank	Major General
Commands	Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi
Battles / wars	Battle of Fort Pulaski Siege of Corinth Battle of South Mountain Battle of Antietam Battle of Champion Hill Siege of Vicksburg Battle of Chickamauga Third Battle of Chattanooga Knoxville campaign Overland Campaign Battle of Yellow Tavern Siege of Petersburg Valley campaigns of 1864 Third Battle of Winchester Battle of Franklin Battle of Nashville Wilson's Raid Battle of Selma Battle of Columbus Spanish-American War – Conquest of Puerto Rico/service in Cuba Boxer Rebellion (September – December 1900)
Relations	Jim Thompson (grandson)

James Harrison Wilson (September 2, 1837 – February 23, 1925) was an American military officer, topographic engineer and a Major General in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He initially served as an aide to Major General George B. McClellan during the Maryland Campaign before joining Major General 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. However, 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. He achieved this feat at the Battle of Franklin in November 1864 and again during his raid through Alabama and Georgia in March and April 1865. Wilson ended the war with his men capturing both Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Andersonville Prison commandant Henry Wirz in May 1865. At the time of his death in 1925, he was the fourth-to-last living Union Civil War general.