Frank Wilkeson
Encyclopedia
Frank Wilkeson was an American
journalist, soldier, farmer and explorer. He wrote several books, including an autobiography of his service in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. He was among the first white men to explore and map the Cascade Pass
in the state of Washington.
, in 1848 to a prominent and wealthy family. He was the youngest son of famed journalist Samuel Wilkeson (1817–1889) and Catherine Cady, a sister of social activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton
. Their next door neighbor was President Millard Fillmore
. One of his older brothers, Bayard Wilkeson, would be killed during the Civil War at the Battle of Gettysburg
while commanding an artillery battery
on what became known as Barlow's Knoll. Frank was educated at New London, Connecticut
, and in New Hampshire
.
Their father, Samuel Wilkeson, was a newspaper correspondent who covered the Civil War for the New York Times and was present at Gettysburg during the battle in which 19-year-old Bayard was killed. A year later, 14-year-old Frank ran away from home and on March 26, 1864, joined the Union Army. Claiming he was an 18-year-old farmer, young Wilkeson enlisted in the 11th Battery of the New York Light Artillery.
Wilkeson was sent to serve in the Army of the Potomac
in Northern Virginia
, where he took part in the Overland Campaign
of General Ulysses S. Grant
. He fought in the Battle of the Wilderness
in May and then took part in the Siege of Petersburg
. On June 21, 1864, Wilkeson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Artillery. He was sent to help man the defenses of Washington, D.C.
. Later in the war, Wilkeson led a unit guarding prisoners at Elmira Prison
in Upstate New York
. Wilkeson left the army in March 1866.
Wilkeson subsequently worked as a mining engineer in Pennsylvania
and, after marrying Mary Crouse in 1869, the couple settled in Johnstown
. In 1871 they moved to Gypsum, Kansas
, where they managed a large cattle ranch and wheat farm.
In the 1880s Wilkeson wrote for several newspapers including the New York Times, as well as contributing articles to periodicals such as Harper's Weekly
. A book on his military experiences, Turned Inside Out: Recollections of a Private Soldier, was published in 1887.
Frank Wilkeson died from complications of diabetes at a hotel in Chelan, Washington
, on April 22, 1913. He was buried in Gypsum, Kansas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist, soldier, farmer and explorer. He wrote several books, including an autobiography of his service in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was among the first white men to explore and map the Cascade Pass
Cascade Pass
Cascade Pass is a mountain pass over the northern Cascade Range, east of Marblemount, Washington, U.S....
in the state of Washington.
Biography
Wilkeson was born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, in 1848 to a prominent and wealthy family. He was the youngest son of famed journalist Samuel Wilkeson (1817–1889) and Catherine Cady, a sister of social activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an American social activist, abolitionist, and leading figure of the early woman's movement...
. Their next door neighbor was President Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States and the last member of the Whig Party to hold the office of president...
. One of his older brothers, Bayard Wilkeson, would be killed during the Civil War at the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
while commanding an artillery battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
on what became known as Barlow's Knoll. Frank was educated at New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, and in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
Their father, Samuel Wilkeson, was a newspaper correspondent who covered the Civil War for the New York Times and was present at Gettysburg during the battle in which 19-year-old Bayard was killed. A year later, 14-year-old Frank ran away from home and on March 26, 1864, joined the Union Army. Claiming he was an 18-year-old farmer, young Wilkeson enlisted in the 11th Battery of the New York Light Artillery.
Wilkeson was sent to serve in the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
, where he took part in the Overland Campaign
Overland Campaign
The Overland Campaign, also known as Grant's Overland Campaign and the Wilderness Campaign, was a series of battles fought in Virginia during May and June 1864, in the American Civil War. Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, general-in-chief of all Union armies, directed the actions of the Army of the...
of General Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
. He fought in the Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
in May and then took part in the Siege of Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
. On June 21, 1864, Wilkeson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Artillery. He was sent to help man the defenses of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Later in the war, Wilkeson led a unit guarding prisoners at Elmira Prison
Elmira Prison
Elmira Prison was a prisoner-of-war camp constructed by the Union Army in Elmira, New York, during the American Civil War to house captive Confederate soldiers....
in Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. Wilkeson left the army in March 1866.
Wilkeson subsequently worked as a mining engineer in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and, after marrying Mary Crouse in 1869, the couple settled in Johnstown
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
. In 1871 they moved to Gypsum, Kansas
Gypsum, Kansas
Gypsum is a city in Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 405. It is part of the Salina Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Gypsum is located at...
, where they managed a large cattle ranch and wheat farm.
In the 1880s Wilkeson wrote for several newspapers including the New York Times, as well as contributing articles to periodicals such as Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly
Harper's Weekly was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor...
. A book on his military experiences, Turned Inside Out: Recollections of a Private Soldier, was published in 1887.
Frank Wilkeson died from complications of diabetes at a hotel in Chelan, Washington
Chelan, Washington
Chelan is a city in Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population was 3,890 at the 2010 census. It sits on the southeast tip of Lake Chelan, where the lake flows into the Chelan River....
, on April 22, 1913. He was buried in Gypsum, Kansas.
External links
- Skagit River Journal Retrieved on 2008-10-08