Researchers: Kara McDonald & Kari Lindell

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          The men and women who give there lives up to fighting for our country are known as true heroes. Charles H. Wilson is one of the many heroes that fought in the Civil War for this country. Charles was born in Wrentham, Massachusetts, and died on May 5, 1864. He was a teenager at the time of his death, which was 18 years, 8 months, and 19 days old. He along with many others died on battlefield at the Battle of Wilderness that took place in Virginia. He was buried not in his hometown but in the state of Virginia. Private Wilson, was in the eleventh Massachusetts regiment on the Union’s side and was a part of Company C. The battle of Wilderness was the first battle of the Army of the Potomac’s six-week campaign. Three Years in the Army of the Potomac is a biography of a man that fought in the same battle that took place in Spotsylvania County and was in the same regiment as Charles. The battle took place from May 5-7 in the year of 1864. The author of the biography gives hourly details of his experiences. His experiences included "commands issued for regiments to move at half past 10pm". Also, all unusual fires were prohibited and veterans were to reserve their strength and silently follow the leader. The regiment had crossed the river at Elys Ford and at 12:30 crossed pontoon bridge. Though it was said there was obstruction in the road, troops marched rapidly until 3pm when corps halted and formed its lines upon the old battlefield of Chancellorsville. Breastworks were thrown up by both armies to hold their position while oaks and limbs were shattered, along with clothing and equipment. The 11th Massachusetts regiment was second in line at this point. This man says that many of the union soldiers were dead and there was jaws, legs and skulls lying around. The results of the Battle of Wilderness were 9 killed, 54 wounded and 12 missing. Charles H. Wilson was among the 75 people in this company, and one of the 9 killed. Though there were no records of Private Wilson having any specific commands, he, along with the 11th regiment was ordered to fight at the battleground of Chancellorsville. There were no records of Wilson’s family or marriage life. Charles H. Wilson, along with the hundreds of thousands of brave men that fought in the Civil war, are true heroes.