Walter G. Wilson – b. September 30, 1838 Peru, IN. d. August 23, 1897

Married Anna Eliza Scott, June 20, 1866 Miami County IN. b. April. 6, 1845 Peru, IN. d. August. 22, 1898 

Civil War Veteran - enlisted 6/24/1861 Peoria County Illinois as a private in Company E, 17th Regiment Illinois Infantry, Union, mustered out 6/24/1864 as Sergeant.  Buried Oak Grove Cemetery in Peru Indiana, (to the north and west of Mount Hope, later merged with Mount Hope, Peru Twp.) Section A, Lot 28, Space 3 & 4. 

Headstones Provided by Stockbridge Marble Co. for Deceased Union Civil War veterans.

From 1870 Census - 1870 Indiana, Miami County, Peru Township, Page 171B, 6/9/1870: Walter G. Wilson, 31yo, Locomotive Engineer, IN, Eliza, 24yo, Keeping House, IN, Walter L., 3yo, IN, Jessie (female), 9/12mo, IN

From 1880 Census - Walter Wilson - 42 RR Engineer, Anna Wilson - wife - 35 - Keeping House, Scott Wilson - son 13, Jessie Wilson - daughter 11, Hattie Wilson - daughter 5, Clarence Wilson - son 3, Mary Wilson - daughter 1, Mattie Webb - other 22

Walter G. Wilson was just 22 years old when he enlisted June 24, 1861 in the Peoria County Illinois Volunteers as a private in Company E, 17th Regiment Illinois Infantry, Union.  In less than a year Walter and his regiment would find themselves in the middle of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War; Shiloh.  Three years later he would be mustered out on June 24, 1864 as Sergeant.

For the first few months the Regiment would travel to Warrenton Missouri,  and participate in building Fort Holt in Kentucky.  On October 21, 1861 the Regiment met and defeated Confederate forces at Fredericktown, MO.

From the Adjutant Generals’ Report, 17th Regiment Illinois, 1861-1864:

 “… The Regiment charged the enemy's lines early in the engagement, completely routing him.  Captured two 6-pound howitzers and 200 prisoners.  The enemy fled in great confusion, leaving his dead upon the field among whom was the Brigade Commander, Colonel Lowe.  Among the killed and wounded on the Union side was first Lieutenant J. Q. A. Jones, Company "K," killed; Second Lieutenant Owan Wilkins, Company "A."  wounded, and Sergeant Jacob Wheeler, Company "K," was twice wounded, once dangerously.  October 22, pursued the enemy, and engaged him near Greenfield, Ark., in which the Seventeenth lost one killed and several wounded.  Returned to Cape Girardeau, doing provost duty until early in February, 1862, when ordered to Fort Henry.

 … later arriving at Pittsburg Landing, where the Regiment was assigned to the First Division of the Army of West Tennessee, under command of General John A. McClernand, and upon the memorable field of Pittsburg Landing took part in the momentous battles of the 6th and 7th of April. “²²

From Yvette Slusarski : Anna's father was born in VT and her mother OH.  I’m not sure of the accuracy of this story, but was told Annie Scott was the daughter of an Indian Agent and had the nickname of "white papoose".
 

Battle Report of the 17th Illinois Volunteer Infantry at Shiloh.

TO Maj. Gen. JOHN A. McCLERNAND. 

The following is a report of the Third Brigade, First Division, Col. L. F. Ross, Seventeenth Regiment Illinois Infantry, commanding, for the 6th and 7th days of April, 1862: On the morning of the 6th instant I was sent for by Colonel Rearden, Twenty-ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, commanding brigade. Upon reporting to him he stated that owing to ill-health he was unable to command the brigade. While conversing with him heavy firing was heard in the front and on our left. Colonel Rearden ordered me to report to Colonel Raith, Forty-third Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry (next senior officer of the brigade), his condition, and request him to assume command, and then to report to Major-General McClerand the condition of the brigade. These orders were complied with.

On rejoining the brigade it was advanced to the encampment of General Sherman's division. When all was ready for action I rode to the front, near Taylor's battery, and found nothing intervening between us and the enemy except a line of skirmishers and Taylor's battery. While reconnoitering my horse received a ball through the neck, forcing me back to the main line. I reported to Captain Barrett, commanding battery, that his support had left him, and, pointing out the position of the brigade, told him to call upon it if hard pressed.

 Returning to the brigade I reported to Colonel Raith the condition of affairs, who directed me to find the position of the Second Brigade, which I found on our left and rear, commanded by Colonel Marsh, of the Twentieth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and with it Major-General McClernand, supervising its movements. On reporting to him he ordered the Third Brigade to fall back and form on the right of the Second. Returning to the brigade, and not finding Colonel Raith, I gave the necessary orders for the movement. The right of the brigade retained its position, the left falling back in good order, though fighting the enemy step by step.

 They understood what the movement was for, and executed it accordingly. Upon reaching the ground that the Second Brigade had occupied we discovered that it had changed its position. We, however, retained the position, hotly pressed by the enemy, till in danger of being flanked on the left, Colonel Raith being engaged in another portion of the field. Seeing no support, I gave the necessary orders and fell back, fighting the enemy step by step, and formed on a line with some troops in our rear. Major Schwartz here requested that a portion of the brigade be detached to support his battery. The Seventeenth Illinois Regiment was detailed for that purpose, and remained until the battery limbered up and changed position. A few minutes afterward Colonel Raith fell mortally wounded. He was immediately carried to the rear by four of his own men. I accompanied him a short distance to receive orders, &c.

 When I returned the Twenty-ninth and Forty-ninth Regiments had fallen to the rear, having expended their ammunition. The remainder of the brigade continued the fight until their ammunition gave out likewise, when they were ordered to the rear for a new supply. On gaining the encampment of the First Brigade, First Division, Lieutenant of Taylor's battery, requested a detail of men to assist in working the battery, many of his own men having fallen. I immediately detailed 20 men from the Seventeenth Illinois Regiment and reported them to Captain Barrett, commanding battery. Searching through the encampment of the Eighth Illinois Regiment, I found ammunition and carried it to the brigade, but it proved to be of a wrong caliber. Learning that it could be used by the Eleventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, I turned it over to Colonel Ransom, commanding.

 After waiting a while, and no ammunition coming up, I fell back to meet the train. As I could do no further good remaining with the train, I rode forward to hurry up ammunition. Meeting with Lieut, C. C. Williams, brigade quartermaster, he gallantly volunteered to bring forward a train, designating a field where to meet the regiments. When I returned I found that the regiments had been separated. Halting the advance, I eventually succeeded in getting the Seventeenth, Forty third, and Forty-ninth Regiments into line, when Quartermaster Williams returned with an ammunition train, under the direction of Lieutenant Jones, ordnance officer, First Division, who, supplying the men with whatever was necessary, gallantly moved with his train to the front.

 After getting everything in readiness for action I reported to Lieutenant-Colonel Wood, Seventeenth Illinois Regiment, who commanded the brigade the remainder of the day. For its operations during that time I would refer you to Lieutenant-Colonel Wood and to the report of Colonel Marsh, who commanded the brigade on the 7th instant.

 I cannot close this report, general, without referring to some of the officers and men of this brigade. To Colonel Raith, of the Forty-third Illinois Regiment, who fell early in the action, while gallantly and bravely discharging the duties of brigade commander, and in his loss know that our cause has lost one of its best and bravest defenders; but while deploring his loss we cannot but admire the heroism and patriotism always exhibited by him, even to the shedding of his last drop of blood upon the altar of his adopted country for the preservation of its dearly loved Constitution and laws.

 To Lieutenant-Colonel Pease, Forty-ninth Illinois Regiment, who commanded his regiment during the entire contest with great coolness and discretion. To Capt. Josiah Moore, Company F, Seventeenth Illinois Regiment, who distinguished himself by daring bravery on the battle-field, as did also, with but few exceptions, the whole command. To Brigade Surg. L. D. Kellogg, who merits the thanks of all for his untiring endeavors to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded, remaining in the hospital when all other surgeons fled, seeking no rest till exhausted nature claimed her own. To Secretaries Radford and Bassett, who preserved all books and papers belonging to the various departments of the brigade. The brigade went into action with an aggregate of about 1,650 men; reported loss, killed, wounded, and missing, 834 men.(*) For full particulars see reports of regimental commanders.

Yours, respectfully,
A. H. RYAN, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. ²⁴