James Wilson was born in Spartanburg prior to the 1800's and had five children. The first born was Abisha, born 1810 in Spartanburg, SC, later migrating to Alabama with his family.

Three of Abisha's children were William Jasper born 1838, Alvin Newton born 1840 and Josiah born in 1842. The three sons joined the Alabama 28th Infantry Regiment, survived the war and became successful farmers in North Alabama.

Family legend has it that Josiah became sick, or was wounded and came home to recuperate. After awhile, the 28th ordered him back to duty and he refused. He then slipped away to Camp Davies, MS where he joined the 1st Alabama Cavalry on January 14, 1864. He joined General Sherman's forces and marched to Savannah and into NC before the war was over. Companies from the 1st Alabama Cavalry participated in Streight's Raid into Northern Alabama, serving as scouts for Streight's forces.

His brothers in the 28th were in Atlanta at the same time as the 1st Alabama Cavalry, but there are no accounts of the two units engaging in combat.

Josiah was mustered out in Huntsville, Al on October 20, 1865 after marching from North Carolina at the end of the war.

Josiah returned from the war and married Tabitha Tate on February 21, 1867 and raised eleven children. Josiah would float logs down the river to Mobile, sell them and then start the long walk back to North Alabama. He made enough money to purchase his homestead and became a successful farmer and land holder. He is buried in Lawler Cemetery in Jefferson County.

There is an entry in the family bible that states: "was of Scotch descent and whose ancestry dates back to the early settling of the Carolinas in 1670 under William Sayle who landed within, what is now the city of Charleston".

Josiah Wilson Diary
The Wilson family owns a diary kept be Josiah Wilson from November 1864 to June 1865. A transcript of its contents can be found at E.D. Wilson's web site.

Database created and maintained by Ryan Dupree.

Service records compiled by Glenda Todd and used with her permission. This and other information about the history of the First and the men who fought with the unit can be found in her book, First Alabama Cavalry, USA: Homage to Patriotism.

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