USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The heroes of Albany. A memorial of the patriot-martyrs of the city and county of Albany, who sacrificed their lives during the late war in defense of our nation 1861-1865 > Part 16
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He was in the service of the United States from August 3d, 1861, till the time of his death, May 7th, 1864.
Each of these names and dates is radiant with the valor, the pure patriotism and the iron energy of our departed hero. Could we give the minute details of the part he bore in these succes- sive bloody scenes-could we depict his thousand acts of bravery, of self-sacrifice, and of devotion to his country's cause, the his- tory would present one of the most brilliant records of the war.
Of this remarkable regiment and its gallant officers, the Albany Knickerbocker thus speaks, under date of May 17th, 1864.
FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT - THEIR GALLANTRY - HOW COL. WILSON AND MAJOR WALLACE WERE KILLED.
" Few regiments engaged in the recent desperate conflicts at the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House suffered more severely, or accomplished more brilliant achievements than the gallant old Forty-third. Its previous record was a proud one,
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but its late daring demonstrations elimax anything heretofore undertaken by the noble boys. Capt. WM. THOMPSON, of Com- pany H, is now in the city suffering from a severe wound in the foot, which he sustained the first day while in charge of a picket line. From him we learn some of the actions of the regiment during the fight, and also how his gallant Colonel and Major met their deaths.
" The Forty-third Regiment was in NEIL's Brigade, which was deployed to the front as skirmishers on the first day, supported by SEYMOUR's Brigade. On that occasion the regiment lost only four men. On the second day the regiment was formed in line of battle for a charge on the enemy, who were undertaking to execute a flank movement on the Forty-third. Col. WILSON see- ing this, gave the order : 'Charge front to rear on eighth com- pany;' and the order was no sooner uttered than he received the fatal wound. He was carried from the field by a couple of his men, when amputation was resorted to, and he died from the effects. His only words were : 'I care not for myself, but my poor mother.'
" About an hour subsequent to Col. WILSON being shot, Major WALLACE, who was in charge of his old company, was killed. This company lost all but one man, THOMAS KELLY, of Canal street, in killed, wounded, or missing. The command now devolved upon Lieut. Col. FRYER, who led the regiment in the charge. They carried everything before them until they reached the rifle pits of the enemy, into which they charged in a terrific manner. CHRISTOPHER HACKETT, the color-bearer, was seen to plant the colors on the enemy's works, but neither he nor the colors were seen afterwards, and both are supposed to be cap- . tured. He was a brother of Miss HACKETT, the celebrated singer. Two rebel colors were captured by the Forty-third; one of these was in the hands of Capt. BURHANS, who was carrying it off, when he himself was captured and taken off a prisoner.
" It was while superintending all these noble deeds that Lieut. Col. FRYER received his mortal wounds, and from which he has since died. The regiment lost all its field officers-killed. All the line officers who entered the fight were either killed, wounded,
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or missing, save Capt. VISSCHER and Lieut. REID. The regiment went in with about four hundred men, and came out with eighty- six. This is a record that few regiments can show, and one of which our citizens and country should feel proud."
The bereaved family of the departed Christian soldier were consoled by several touching letters from friends, and testimonials to the worth of Col. WILSON. The following is from Prof. MUR- RAY. of Rutger's College, formerly Principal of the Albany Academy:
Mrs. WILSON:
My Dear Madam-You ask me to write down my recollections of your son, JOHN WILSON, late Colonel of the Forty-third regi- ment of New York Volunteers. The task you ask me to perform would be a delightful one, were it not that it recalls the memory of his sad fate, and the irreparable loss which you and all of us have sustained. Recollection travels backward, in the reverse order from the march of events, and gathers up first the scenes which last transpired. And now while I sit here, trying to col- lect together the broken fragments which my memory retains of his life and character, the first picture which presents itself is one which I saw in April, 1864.
I was making a brief visit to my friend, Gen. PATRICK, in the Army of the Potomac, which then lay in its winter quarters on the south side of the Rappahannock river. It was just prior to the opening of the campaign toward Richmond, which resulted a few weeks later in those terrible battles of the Wilderness, in which so many gallant men, and Col. WILsox among the num- ber, lost their lives. I remember that upon the one day of sun- shine, out of the rainy ones I spent in camp, I rode out with Gen. PATRICK on a brief tour of observation. A young officer from the west, whose name had scarcely been heard in the Army of the Potomac, had just come to assume command of the cavalry corps. My friend called to pay his respects, and we saw for the first time Gen. SHERIDAN, whose name has since been heard in every civilized land.
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COL. JOHN WILSON.
We visited the head-quarters of the Sixth Corps, then under the command of that prince of corps commanders, Gen. SEDG- WICK, whom the soldiers fondly called "Uncle JOHN." As we rode away from Gen. SEDGWICK's head-quarters, I remember turn- ing to Gen. PATRICK and saying: " General, I have been looking all day for fortifications, where are they?" "There they are," said he, pointing to an opposite eminence, on which a regiment was going through its evolutions. "Where," I repeated. "There, those fellows in blue, they are our fortifications." As we rode past this regiment, its commander galloped up to us. It was Col. WILSON, and this regiment was the Forty-third New York. He took me into his tent, and we enjoyed a delightful chat on our common friends, and on matters of common interest in Albany.
The Albany Bazaar had just closed its triumphant career, and I remember with what delight he showed me the photographs, illustrative of its scenes, which you had sent him. And as he talked there of the dangers through which he had passed in the war with his regiment, and spoke so bravely and hopefully of the coming campaign, which they all knew would be a desperate one, I thought then, and I think now, that I never had seen a more noble, gallant looking officer. And when a few weeks later I heard of his death, it was one of the saddest of the many tales of sorrow which came to my ears at that terrible time.
My recollections of Col. WILSON, at the Albany Academy, are of the most pleasing description. I remember him as a bright little lad, when I first came to the Academy. I believe he had already been a student there several years before that time. Indeed, I suppose his education was begun as well as finished at this institution. His classical training was chiefly conducted under Prof. MILLER, and was, as you may be well assured, ex- tensive and thorough.
Among a class of young men, whose classical reading extended to the Greek tragedies, and included selections from all the prin- cipal Greek and Latin anthors which are read in college, he was selected as entitled to the VAN RENSSELAER classical medal; and what was very unusual, he was in the same year the recipient of the CALDWELL medal for superior proficiency in mathematics.
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As a student, he was a universal favorite with teachers and pupils. He had a manly independence about him which com- manded respect. He was diligent and persistent in his duties as a student, not easily discouraged, not easily elated, indeed, but working on with a steady purpose and a persevering temper. There were among his compeers young men more brilliant in partienlar branches, and who acquired with less labor; but there were few who, in a happy balance of faculties, and in careful habits of application, were in the race of scholarship more likely to succeed. He had a natural shrinking from prominence and publicity, and hence I think his more public duties of declama- tion and speaking at exhibitions, were always distasteful to him.
There were as his cotemporaries in the Academy an unusual number of young men whose character and attainments were notable. I could name many, a little older than himself, and many of about his own age, who have already attained in busi- ness and professional life, positions of great usefulness and promise. There seemed to be a tone of manliness and earnest- ness pervading these young men, even during their academic career, which enabled one to prophecy their future integrity and success.
And yet it is sad for me, when I look at this brilliant array of young men, who were cotemporaries of Col. WILSON in the Academy, to see how many have already been cut off. JOHN H. MEADS, memorable to all who knew him for the loveliness of his person and character; ORLANDO MEADS, Jr., his brother; HEBER SMITH, who perished in the war; RICHARD M. STRONG, another costly sacrifice; EDWARD D. WAIT, JAMES H. BOGART, WILLIAM HI. POHLMAN, ALEXANDER B. MCDOUAL, all were his contempo- raries, and all are dead. All of them had the brightest prospects in life; they had friends who loved them; they had careers of usefulness opening up before them; and yet all, in their early manhood, have been cut off. To those who, like Col. WILSON, gave their lives for their country, we all owe a lasting debt of gratitude; and it cannot but be a consolatory reflection, even in this great sorrow, and under the sense of your irreparable loss,
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that his life was sacrificed in his country's cause, and that all posterity will bless his memory.
With the kindest regards,
I am your obedient servant, DAVID MURRAY.
RUTGERS COLLEGE, NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J., March 3, 1865.
The following letter is from the warm heart of a loving friend:
NEW ORLEANS, June 24, 1864.
My Dear Mrs. WILSON-I think that I have never felt the utter inadequacy of words to express emotions as I have felt them since the sad news reached me of your terrible bereavement-of your almost second widowhood-in the loss of your noble son.
Terribly crushing, I know, the blow must have been on your- self and your dear daughters, who had every opportunity to know his excellence and appreciate his value, and could rejoice that he was your own son and brother; for I have not myself been yet able, to control my emotions, when alluding to him whom I had learned to love so much. From his early youth I had watched with delight the gradual, but sure development of all those qualities of mind and physical elements which made him so nearly a perfect man. For more than two years past JOHN WILSON had been, to my mind, the type of manly beauty in its full development, while his mind and soul were of the character to intensify the admiration and deepen the regard which obser- vation of him in previous years had caused me to feel for him.
It has been to many, I doubt not, as it was to myself at times, eause for surprise that JOHN should have felt it to be his luty to leave the dear ones at home to do battle for his country and the maintenance of the Right; but those who knew him best do best know that it was probably the very strength of the temptation to remain at home, and the strong reasons that could be urged in its behalf, that caused him the more determinedly to resist it, from a conviction that all had a duty to discharge in this terrible struggle, and he became-
" More brave for this, that he had much to love."
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COL. JOHN WILSON.
He, more nearly than any man whom I have ever known so well, was described in these lines of WORDSWORTH :
" Whom neither shape of danger could dismay, Nor thought of tender happiness betray ; Who, not content that former worth stood fast, Looked forward, persevering to the last; From well to better, daily self surpassed, Found comfort battling in a righteous cause, And, while the mortal mist is gathering, draws Hlis breath in confidence of Heaven's applause "
No purer life, no braver soul, no more manly form, no more constant heart has been offered up since the commencement of this struggle than him whose loss we mourn.
" He was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow," is the touching description given by the evangelist in the case of the young man of Nain, when his body was met by the Sav- jour; and how often have these words rung in my ears even while your son was living, as I trembled in apprehension of the result, and realized how much of the happiness of the circle at home depended on the preservation of his life. Trembled, too, because I knew he was not the man to save himself from any exposure, for he had deliberately chosen his position, and from it, no consideration of personal danger could for a moment swerve him.
" I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me," said the Psalmist when mourning the loss of a beloved child, and this thought will be your consolation in this your hour of deep afflic- tion. In the beautiful words of Bishop Heber:
" Wake not, O mother! sounds of lamentation! Weep not, O widow! weep not hopelessly! Strong is Ilis arm, the Bringer of Salvation, Strong is the word of God to suecor thee."
May God enable you constantly to repose in the confident faith that " He doeth all things well." For His own wise purpose He has used the young life of your beloved son, so that it has been of more value, than the combined lives of thousands, who have sluggishly plodded out their three score and ten.
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COL. JOHN WILSON.
" Men live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; In feelings, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart throbs. He most lives
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.
And he whose heart beats quickest lives the longest.
Life is but a means unto an end ; that end,
Beginning, mean and end to all things-God.
Judged by this, the only true test, your son was not cut off with his labor unperformed, but with every duty discharged, and his life-work done.
What a precious consolation you must experience as you now reflect that your dear son had early given himself to Jesus, and that, during the remaining years of your pilgrimage, you can look forward, in the full assurance of faith, to the time that you shall join the company of the redeemed ones and receive the welcome of husband and children gone before-part of your inestimable "treasures in Heaven."
" And when the Lord shall summon us Whom thou hast left behind, May we, untainted by the world, As sure a welcome find.
" May each, like thee, depart in peace, To be a glorious guest Where the wicked eease from troubling, And the weary are at rest."
That such may be the happy lot of each and all of us, through the merey and merits of Christ, I earnestly hope and pray; and that God may vouehsafe to you and your dear ones the consola- tions of His Holy Spirit, leading you in the green pastures, and by the still waters of his grace, and enabling you, though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, to fear no evil, but to find Him with you, and his rod and staff to comfort and support you; that you may find him a very present help in every time of need, is the earnest prayer of
Most sincerely your friend, WM. RICHARDSON.
Mrs. ANN WILSON, Albany, N. Y.
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COL. JOHN WILSON.
The following is a most valuable testimonial to the Colonel's Christian character:
SOUTH DEDHAM, MASS., May 22, 1864.
My dear Mrs. WILsox-I have learned through the papers of your sad bereavement, and though I know that no earthly hand em bring relief from so overwhelming a sorrow, yet I thought that a little comfort might be found for you in the words of sym- pathy, and of testimony to the Christian character of your dear son, which I could speak.
Sometimes there is fear in the minds of Christian friends at home, lest their friends may not maintain their religious charac- ter amidst the temptations of army life; and when they are taken away from us, the one source of consolation is in the assurance that they were ready for the great change which has passed upon them. But I can testify, as no one else perhaps is able to do, that JOHN WILSON maintained in the army a worthy Christian character, that he did not yield to its temptations, but that he was as good a soldier of Jesus Christ as he was of his country, and this is saying a great deal for one who was looked up to as the " best field officer in the brigade."
I have not yet learned the particulars of his death, but in rela- tion to this subject I do not need to ask them, for I know how he lived; I know his faith in God; I know his tender conscience; I know his noble heart, and everybody in the circle of his army acquaintance knew his spotless life.
I am not mentioning these things for the sake of praising him-that will not be lacking from other lips and hands-but that you, who are so deeply afflicted in his loss, may, with the greater confidence, apply to him the words of inspiration: " Say ve to the righteous it shall be well with him."
I have, since his death, thought of a hundred incidents and habits connected with my intercourse with him, while Chaplain of the regiment, and of one with peculiar pleasure: Whenever we were on the march or in line of battle on Sunday, when no religious services were practicable, he used always to say to me at some time when we halted, "Come, Chaplain, read to the Major and me a chapter or two in the bible," and those little Sunday
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COL. JOHN WILSON.
bible readings are among the most pleasant memories of our intercourse.
He always stood by my side when we had preaching, and his voice was always heard in the song of praise to God at our meetings. No one who knew him there will doubt that he honored his Christian profession, and had a great influence for good with the men of the regiment.
We think and talk a great deal of you all, and very much desire to see you. It is the sweetest thought we have in such sorrow, that the parting is not to be long, and that we shall all soon be together at God's right hand.
Your friend, C. OSBORN.
Let me add the following merited tribute from the Common Council of the city of Albany:
ALBANY, May 17, 1864.
At a regular meeting of the Common Council, held at their rooms this day, His Honor the Mayor announced to the board the death of Col. JOHN WILSON, as follows: Gentlemen of the Common Council:
The sad events of this war have taken from our midst another brave, devoted and gallant soldier, whom we were wont to meet in fraternal relations. It has pleased God, in his mysterious providence, to remove by death our much esteemed fellow citi- zen, Col. JOHN WILSON, of the Forty-third Regiment New York State Volunteers, who died from the effects of wounds received while gallantly charging the enemy's works at the recent battle of the Wilderness, in Virginia, thus adding another name to the already long list of Albany's noble sons who have laid their lives a voluntary sacrifice upon the altar of our country; therefore,
Resolved, That we recognize in Col. WILSON a young man of the rarest excellence of character, whose gentlemanly deport- ment, unassuming manners and social virtues endeared him to all who shared his acquaintance, and who, although surrounded by all the endearments of a most pleasant home, hesitated not, when his country called, to sacrifice every personal interest, sever
13
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COL. JOHN WILSON.
every endearing tie, and exchange the comforts of a happy home for the hardships of the tented field.
Resolved, That his was no ordinary sacrifice. That those who knew his circumstances and relations in life best, can not but appreciate the pure, unselfish, devoted patriotism that prompted him to enter upon a career where, personally, he had everything to lose and nothing to gain.
Resolved, That in his death our country has lost one of her most earnest, faithful defenders, our city one of its brightest ornaments, and his family a most dutiful son and loving brother.
Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the bereaved family in their severe affliction, and while we share with them the sorrow, we may also share the abiding consolation that the loss to us of one so noble, pure and virtuous, can not be other than his eternal gain.
Resolved, That to his remains and memory are eminently duc the highest respect that a city can pay to her most valiant sons.
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to make all necessary arrangements for the funeral of the lamented Colonel WILSON, on the day to be appointed after the arrival of his remains, and that the members of the Common Council will attend his funeral in a body, and wear the usual badge of mourning.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be signed by the Mayor and Clerk, and sent to the family of the deceased.
The above preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted, and Messrs. AMSDELL, JOHNSON, TRACEY, JUDSON and BANCROFT appointed the committee.
MARTIN DELAHANTY, Clerk of Common Council.
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COL. MICHAEL K. BRYAN.
VII. COL. MICHAEL K. BRYAN
Tins able and distinguished officer was born in the county of Cork, Ireland, in the year 1820. He was the son of DAVID BRYAN and MARY KIRK BRYAN, who emigrated to this country in the year 1827, and settled in Albany, N. Y., where the family has since resided.
The father of Col. BRYAN died many years since, noted for his integrity and industry, but left only a good name to his children. His mother was the daughter of Capt. JOHN KIRK, who owned and commanded a merchant vessel, and like most of his family, followed the sea. She still resides at Albany with her daughter- in-law, the widow of Col. BRYAN, a most worthy and enterprising woman, who, upon the death of her husband, was left with four children.
Col. BRYAN spent his boyhood in Albany, where he received a limited education in the schools of the city. He, however, greatly improved himself in after years by devoting his leisure hours to the cultivation of his mind. He entered into the employ of his consin, Col. JOHN MCCARDEL, of Albany, as a clerk, at the age of fifteen, and remained most of the time with him in that capa- city till 1853, when he, through the assistance of his late em- ployer, commenced business for himself. He became the pro- prietor of a restaurant and hotel in Albany, in which business he continued till his entrance into the service of the government in 1861.
From his youth, he was always a member of some military organization. About the year 1850, he was chosen Captain of the Albany Worth Guards, which company he commanded for several years. By his skill and perseverance, he brought them
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to a high state of discipline, when he was promoted to the office of Major of the Twenty-fifth Regiment New York Militia. Shortly after he was chosen to fill the office of Lientenant Colo- nel, and finally Colonel of this famous regiment, which, under his command, became the most efficient and best disciplined regi- ment of the State, outside of New York city.
When Fort Sumter was fired upon in April, 1861, he was at the head of this organization; and on the 21st of April, 1861, at eleven o'clock, P. M., the order reached him in his place of busi- ness, from Gov. MORGAN, to at once proceed with his regiment to Washington, D. C. He summoned his officers to his quarters at midnight and issued his orders, and at eight o'clock A. M., the next morning, the regiment was in line, ready to take the Hud- son River railroad cars to New York.
This memorable morning of the 22d of April, found many of the members of the regiment in the workshop. When the order reached them they rushed to the armory, put on their uniforms, and took their places in the ranks. A majority of them were Jaborers and mechanics; they were also husbands and fathers, with those as dear to them as life, and dependent upon them for support. Their wives and children only had time to bid them "good bye" at the armory of the regiment; many of them not having had time to go from their workshops to their homes, before the regiment was to move.
About one o'clock the Twenty-fifth Regiment, under command of Col. BRYAN, left the armory and were escorted to the Hudson River ferry boat by the entire fire department of the city, under command of Chief Engineer McQUADE, and Company B, Capt. AINSWORTHI. The march through Eagle, State street and Broad- way was a complete ovation. The streets were densely packed with human beings, and the houses and house-tops were lined with our citizens. Cheer after cheer rent the air, and at times the wildest excitement pervaded the dense assemblage. From the windows the ladies waved their handkerchiefs, while from the tops of houses guns and pistols were fired, amid the vociferous cheers of the spectators. The regiment, on their march to the cars, halted in front of Stanwix Hall, on Broadway, for the pur-
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COL. MICHAEL K. BRYAN.
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