John Moulder Wilson

John Moulder Wilson
John Moulder Wilson
Born	October 8, 1837 Washington, D.C.
Died	February 1, 1919 (aged 81) Washington, D.C.
Place of burial	West Point Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1860–1901
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands held	Chief of Engineers
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Malvern Hill
Awards	Medal of Honor
Other work	Superintendent of the United States Military Academy

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

Biography

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 1889-1893. Before his appointment as Chief of Engineers, he was Northeast Division Engineer. 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.

Medal of Honor citation

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.

See also

• List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: T–Z

References

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

• "Civil War (M-Z); Wilson, John Moulder entry". Medal of Honor recipients. United States Army Center of Military History. August 6, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2010.

External links

• Men of Mark in America Biographical Sketch
• "John Moulder Wilson". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved March 4, 2010.