John T. Wilder

John T. Wilder
(National Archives)

Name: John T. Wilder
Allegiance: USA
Rank: Colonel
Age: 33
State of Origin: Indiana (New York)
Command: 1st ("Lightning") Brigade, 4th Division, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland

Biography:
John T. Wilder was born in Greene County, New York, January of 1830. By the time of the battle of Chickamauga, Wilder would have been 33 years old. Wilder's family had fought in both the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Before the Civil War, Wilder had married Miss Martha Stewart in Greensburg, Indiana and settled down to run a successful business. Wilder sided with the Union in 1861 when it became evident that war was unavoidable. Wilder began his military career by raising an artillery company, Company A in the 17th Indiana Infantry. Initially, Wilder led the company as captain and later became a Colonel in the Union Army.

Wilder defended Munfordville, Kentucky until seeing that the defense was hopeless. Wilder decided to capitulate, soon after he was exchanged and placed in charge of a new brigade of Mounted infantry. Having no previous training in military tactics before the Civil War, Wilder proved to be an able officer who possessed much courage and held a strong belief in the ability of his troops. It is noted that Wilder was a man who possessed much charisma. Wilder was eventually promoted to General.

Wilder lived through the Civil war and continued running a successful business. Later he would aid in building a memorial to all of his men who had died during the battle of Chickamauga. Following the war in 1866, Wilder moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. There he helped organize an iron company in 1867. Wilder again began creating and running businesses and was extremely successful in the Chattanooga and Dayton, Tennessee area. Wilder settled down with and married a Miss Dora E. Lee from South Carolina in the year 1904. Wilder lived to be 87 years old and passed away in 1917.

Author: Lauren Miller, January 28, 2015

Further Reading:
Steven E. Woodworth, Six Armies in Tennessee: The Chattanooga and Chickamauga Campaigns
Samuel C. Williams. "General John T. Wilder" Indiana Magazine of History, JSTOR, Accessed Jan. 26, 2015.
Stacy W. Reaves. A History & Guide to the Monuments of Chickamauga National Military Park.