Centre County Library and Historical Museum - P. Benner Wilson Letters

B&W photograph of Captain P. (Philip) Benner Wilson of Company F, 59th PA Regiment, 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry Volunteers by J. E. M'Clees, 910 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. Photograph taken between September 1861 and March 31, 1862 when Company F was located at Camp Patterson in Philadelphia, PA.

The 2nd PA Cavalry had just arrived in Baltimore and a bullet 'passed between the legs of one of the men'. Capt. Wilson's regiment had no firearms. Capt. Wilson thought it 'imprudent' being sent to a place with many rebels without 'something to protect us'. Only a Maryland company had weapons. People were 'hissing their dogs at you and throwing stones'. 'About two thirds of this end of the City and around us are South'. They were likely fired upon for raising a flag. A Union army captain from Maryland said he would hang his two rebel brothers if they were taken prisoner.

Capt. Wilson wrote a quick letter to his sister who was in Harrisburg, PA at the time. Major Brinton from the same regiment was going to Harrisburg, PA and could deliver the letter. Capt. Wilson wanted Mary to write back quickly and return it with Major Brinton.

Capt. Benner Wilson and his men are marching and drilling in the Washington D. C. area. It is Sunday and Capt. Wilson wishes he was in church back home. Capt. Wilson tells Isaac and Frank not to go to war.

Capt. Wilson was busy sorting horses by color so that each company of the regiment had the same color. Capt. Wilson was almost shot by a drunk, fellow Union officer in front of the Willard Hotel who shot 4 times at a 'hackman' for not obeying orders; Capt. Wilson jumped him and had him arrested. 'It created quite an excitement in Washington.' Capt. Wilson had a passing romance with a Senator's daughter.

Capt. Wilson celebrated July 4th by marching his men into the woods, treating them with lemonade and cakes, reading the Declaration of Independence, making a few remarks, and singing some songs. Capt. Wilson states that 'it is a grand sight at night to see the difft. [different] camps around lights up.' Capt. Wilson mentions a 'terrible battle in Richmond'.

Capt. Wilson appreciated the letter from 'an only sister'. Capt. Wilson rode to Warrenton, VA and passed by Bull Run, Manassas and Warrenton Junction; he saw many Rebel entrenchments and masked batteries, and a mound supposedly where 900 Rebels are buried.

Charlie Hale wants Mary's photograph. Capt. Wilson and the 2nd PA Cavalry received marching orders. In anticipation of the march, the 2nd PA Cavalry cooked rations for 3 days and were told they could not take their tents; they were to sleep on the ground.

The regiment moved from Cloud's Mills, VA to Little Washington, VA. Capt. Wilson's unit marched past the Bull Run battlefield and saw 'where the trees were cut by the bullets and cannon balls, one passed through a stone house'. They expected to get into a battle soon. Capt. Wilson noted 'if I should happen to be killed I wish you would have my remains brought home and buried in a lot in the cemetery', and if he got wounded he wanted to be brought back to Pennsylvania.

Captain Wilson asked his brother to have the deserters of his company arrested and their names published in all the county papers. Captain Wilson also wants his brother to bring them to Harrisburg, PA and probably to his regiment in Washington; he wants him to act immediately.