Family Information
Biographical Sketches From Kentucky, Genealogy and
Biography
W.H. Perrin 1887 Volume #2
Clark and Estill Counties
Captain John Wilson a farmer and stock-grower of Station Camp, Estill County,
KY, was born in said county, Mary 14, 1822. His father, Ebeneezer Wilson, a
native of Loudoun County, VA, was a son of Joseph and Liddie (Dodd) Wilson,
natives of Virginia, who settled in Estill County, KY, about 1824. Ebeneezer
Willson was reared on the farm in Virginia, married in that State, and came
to Kentucky about 1812. He married Rhoda Dillingham, a
member of the well
known Virginian family of that name. Five Children were born to their union,
viz: Angelina, William D., John, Liddie J. and Delina. John Wilson, the
third child, was reared on the farm and received a common school education.
He followed farming until the outbreak of the late war, when he joined the
Federal army as Captain of Company C, Eighth Kentucky Infantry, commanded by
Col. Sidney M. Barnes. At the beginning of the war the ladies of Estill
County made and presented to the Eighth Kentucky Infantry a flag, requesting
that it should be born aloft and made a part of the history of the war. Col.
Barnes presented the flag to Captain Wilson, which he cheerfully received,
determining to comply with the request of the ladies who presented it.
Captain Wilson adds:
"At Lookout Mountain, where the Eighth Kentucky was engaged, it being in one
of the columns on the extreme right nearest the palisade or top of said
mountain, on the night of November 24, 1863, it lay above the Craven House
and above any other command. Just before daylight on the 25th of November,
Gen. Walter C. Whitaker, Brigade Commander, came to Col. Sid M. Barnes and
said: 'Col. Barnes, have you got an officer that will volunteer to go and
place the Eighth Kentucky flag on the top or peak of said mountain?' Said
he: 'I could order them up, but will not, for it is a hazardous undertaking,
but will be an honor to the one who gets there first.' The promise ever
being fresh in my mind made to the ladies of Estill, I was not only ready and
willing to go where ordered, but was ready to volunteer and go where my
superior officers would not order me, to fulfill my promise to those ladies.
Said I; 'General, I will go.' He turned tot he regiment and said: 'Boys, how
many of you will volunteer to go with Capt. Wilson?' There were five others
volunteered to go, to wit: Sergeant Harris H. Davis, of Company A; Sergeant
Joseph Wagers, of Company B; Sergeant James Wood, of Company H; Private
William Witt, of Company A, and Private Joseph Bradley, of Company I. And to
us six belongs the honor of planting the first National Flag on the top or
peak of Lookout Mountain, on the morning of November 25th, 1863, it being the
highest flag planted during the war, being 2,400 feet above the level of the
valley. We started immediately. Said Gen. Whitaker, 'take your flag,
Captain.' I called to my Color Sergeant and asked him if he did not want to
go and carry it; he shook his head and said no. I unbuckled my belt and gave
him my sword, and told him to bring it up with him, I took the flag, and some
fifteen or twenty minutes before sunrise I unfurled the flag on top of said
mountain, calling forth hearty cheers from below. January 18, 1864, we six
got thirty days' leave of absence by order of Major Gen. George H. Thomas,
for said deed, and I hereby enclose you a copy of mine:
Headquarters
Department of the Cumberland
Chattanooga, Tenn., January 18, 1864
Special Field Orders,} Extract
No. 18
I The following named officers are granted leave of absence for the period
of time set opposite their respective names.
Capt. John Wilson, Co. C, 8th Kentucky Vol's, 30 days for gallant and heroic
conduct on the morning of the 25th of November, 1863, at the battle of
Chattanooga, in advancing with five enlisted men and placing the colors of
the 8th Kentucky Vol's Infantry on the peak of Lookout Mountain in the face
of the enemy.
By command of Major General Thomas, (Signed), Wm. D. Whittle, A.A.G.
War Department, Adjutant General's Office.
April 19, 1887
Official copy, Thomas Ward, Assistant Adjutant General
On my way home to my family in Kentucky I met Gen. Whitaker at the Galt House
in Louisville, KY. Said he: 'Which way, Captain Wilson?' I told him I had a
thirty days' leave of absence, and gave it to him; after reading it, said he:
'I had rather have that than to be President of the United States,' and said,
'what position do you want to be promoted to, for I will give you any thing
in my power?' Said I:, 'Gen. Whitaker, I want no promotion, for there were
several young boys enlisted in my company when made up, and their parents
asked me if I would stay with their boys and bring them back home if
permitted to live until the war was over, and I promised that I would; and
said, 'Gen. Whitaker, I would rather fulfill that promise than to be promoted
to any office in your power.' " At the close of the war Capt. Wilson
returned to his home in Estill County, KY, where he engaged in farming.
Having at one time 1,500 acres of fine land, but has given or divided out
1,000 acres to his children. January 26, 1846, he married Sarah A. Boroman,
a daughter of Elisha W. and Sarah A.(McMunagal) Boroman, of Estill County.
Of the twelve children born to their union, seven are living, viz: Theodore,
Mary E., George M., John W., Algernon S.A., Landon T. and G.E. Capt. Wilson
is Democratic in politics, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
as well as the F. & A.M. fraternity.
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