Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Major General James Harrison Wilson, USV
⎯⎯⎯
Wilson's Raiders

Major General James Harrison Wilson, USV Marker (Side A) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 6, 2012

1. Major General James Harrison Wilson, USV Marker (Side A)

Inscription.
Major General James Harrison Wilson, USV
1837-1925 Exceptional American soldier, born Illinois, West Point Class of 1860, MG at 27. Civil War service: Port Royal 1861-62, Aide to McClellan '62; Vicksburg and Chattanooga Campaigns, Grant's staff '63-64, Chief of Cavalry Bureau '64; Wilderness and Valley Campaigns, Commander Cavalry Division, Sherman's Corps'64; Franklin, Nashville, AL & GA '64-65. Retired from Army 1870; pursued railroading career in U.S., Latin America, Japan & China. MG USV, 1898; War With Spain, Division Commander in Puerto Rico; Boxer Rebellion, Commander U.S. & British troops in China. U.S. representative at coronation of King Edward VII

Wilson's Raiders
April 1865 MG J.H. Wilson's Cavalry Corps raised U.S. flag over Alabama's and the Confederacy's first capital on 4/12/65, 3 days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Wilson had defeated LTG N.B. Forrest's depleted and outnumbered troops at the Confederate arsenal city of Selma. Before fleeing Montgomery, BG D.W. Adams, CSA ordered 85,000 bales of cotton and 40,000 bushels of corn set afire to deny them to the Federals. But for the wind's change

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and heroic volunteer firefighters, the city would have burned. Wilson left Montgomery for Columbus, GA on Friday, 4/14/65, the day Lincoln was shot by Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington.

Erected 1992 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, Spanish-American • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1865.

Location. 32° 22.891′ N, 86° 20.72′ W. Marker is in Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in Montgomery County. It is on Ash Street west of Poplar Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Montgomery AL 36112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Alabama’s Tri-Counties River Region.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself

Wilson's Raid (Side B) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 6, 2012

2. Wilson's Raid (Side B)

in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Air University / Maxwell Air Force Base (a few steps from this marker); North American B-25 Mitchell (a few steps from this marker); William R. Lawley, Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker); Montgomery Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War (within shouting distance of this marker); Former POWs And Those MIA (within shouting distance of this marker); British and Commonwealth Pilots Trained in the U.S.A. (within shouting distance of this marker); Sikorsky MH-53M 'Pave Low IV' Helicopter (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Boeing B-52D "Stratofortress" (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maxwell Air Force Base.

Also see . . .
1. James Harrison Wilson. Mr. Lincoln & Friends website entry (Submitted on April 14, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

2. Maj Gen James H. Wilson. Library of Congress entry (Submitted on April 14, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

3. James Harrison Wilson.

James Harrison Wilson, USV image. Click for full size.

via Wikipedia, unknown

3. James Harrison Wilson, USV

Find A Grave entry (Submitted on April 14, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

4. Wilson's Raid. New Georgia Encyclopedia website entry (Submitted on April 14, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

MG James H. Wilson / Wilson's Raid Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 6, 2012

4. MG James H. Wilson / Wilson's Raid Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,603 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 14, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on October 7, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on April 14, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

Major General James Harrison Wilson, USV⎯⎯⎯Wilson's Raiders

Major General James Harrison Wilson, USV
⎯⎯⎯
Wilson's Raiders