Defenders of the Union [pp. 434-462]

DEFENDERS OF THE UNION.
he opened the box of candy, which came
from the wife of his visiting comrade accompanied by a few kind words, the soldier, who had sought "the bubble reputation even in the cannon's mouth" without
a tremor, was unable to conceal his pleasure. His tearful eyes testified his gratitude.
The present Department Commander
of California and Nevada, Charles E.
Wilson, was born at Bradford, Maine,
and comes from old English stock. His
first ancestor in America was Lieutenant
John Wilson, who came in I65I and settled in Massachusetts. The grandson of
this John Wilson and grandsire of Charles
E. Wilson, moved to Thomaston, Maine,
in I794. Miles Wilson, the father of
Commander Wilson, was a Captain of
Maine militia as early as I828.
In 1863 Comrade Wilson enlisted as
a private in the Second Maine Cavalry
and was promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant and Sergeant Major. The last
rank he held at the expiration of his term
of service, at which time he went to
Bangor, Maine, and studied law.
Commander Wilson with his regiment
Saw much arduous service in the Department of the Gulf. His regiment was
in the Red River Expedition, one of the
most important movements in the history
of that portion of our armies, and in the
many hazardous raids which it dashingly
made into the enemy's country in Louisiana, Florida, and Alabama.
After he was admitted to the bar he
came to San Francisco in I868, where he
has ever since lived, practising his profession, and where he has established a
large clientage. He has confined himself
to the civil law and is most favorably
known for his knowledge of land titles
and lumber matters. He is counsel for
many large and wealthy corporations.
Commander Wilson has been a staunch
Grand Army man, since he became a
member in I868. He served three terms
as Judge Advocate, Department of California, in which position he inaugurated
many needed reforms. In I885 he was
a representative to the National Encampment at Portland, Maine, and materially
aided in securingthe Encampment following to meet in San Francisco. George
H. Thomas Post elected him its Commander for I886, and he was a prominent and an active member of the general committee of management of the
National Encampment held in San Francisco the same year.
Probably no member of the Department of California ever had office more
practically thrust upon him than Commander Wilson. Several times his name
was put forward for Department Commander and he was urged by his friends
to make a canvass, but he steadfastly
refused to advocate his own preferment,
and at the last Encampment the honor
came without any solicitation.
After his election an old comrade expressed himself to Commander Wilson in
this manner: "Well, you did n't have
influence enough to defeat Charlie Wilson for Department Commander this
time!" And this sentiment sounds the
key note of Commander Wilson's retiring
disposition, although in business probity
and devotion to duty he is firm enough.
His administration of the Department
during his incumbency of office has been
most successful. He has been greatly
aided by his efficient staff, composed of
such comrades as T. C. Masteller, Adjutant General, and Eugene Weigand,
Quartermaster General.
No comrade in the Department of California is more generally known than
Past Department Commander C. Mason
Kinne. He became a member of the first
Post in California —organized in April,
I867-and has ever since been one of
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