WILLIAM WILSON -- 9th CAVALRY BECAME COMMISARY SERGEANT - William Wilson, a 24-year-old clerk who was born in Canada, enlisted in the 9th Cavalry in Rouses Point on November 27, 1861. He was recruited by a regular Army officer who had just joined this new regiment, Joseph Milliete, Jr., from New York City. William was assigned to Company M as 2nd lieutenant and the company went to Westfield and Albany, NY, to muster in as the "Stoneman Cavalry." His company left for Washington in early December and became part of its defenses until March 1862. Willam resigned from the regiment and returned home on January 24, 1862, before they went to the Peninsula Campaign with General McClellan. About ten months later, he enlisted again in Champlain in the same regiment and the same company. This time he mustered in as a private and, less than a month later, on November 13th, he was appointed sergeant while the 9th was in winter quarters west of Washington. In January 1863, William was appointed Commissary Sergeant, and, during the next year, the regiment had forty-five engagements in northwest Virginia, Maryland and Gettysburg, PA, in July. While the 9th was in their dismount camp in January 1864, while they were preparing for their campaign against Petersburg, William deserted on March 1st. He was placed on the Discipline List for Deserters. In 1891, despite having been on the Discipline List at one time, things must have resolved themselves and he started receiving a pension.
