This collection consists of the correspondence of General James Harrison Wilson (1837-1925). Graduating from West Point in 1860, Wilson soon found hands on training during the Civil War where he aptly proved himself a skilled and able administrator and military leader. At the age of 26 he was promoted to brigadier general. He served in the western campaigns, helped capture Jefferson Davis and was instrumental in the prosecution of Henry Wirz, administrator of the infamous Confederate prison camp Andersonville. Following the war, he was transferred to the US Engineers on the Mississippi River. He retired but later re-entered the military during the Spanish-American War after which he served as military governor of Matanzas District, Cuba. He also served in China during the Boxer Rebellion. In private life, he was engaged in numerous business and political endeavors, and wrote extensively about the Civil War. He died in Wilmington, Delaware in 1925.

This collection contains correspondence from his early years in the Civil War until shortly before his retirement. Much of the correspondence deals with the Civil War, his writings, and Asian diplomacy. Included are military reports and orders, criticism of military strategy/campaigns, politics, personal life, business and investment prospects, Civil War reminiscences, assessments of Asian affairs, publications, manuscripts and speeches. Also included are personal letters of General John Rawlins from 1863 to 1867.

See Edward G. Longrace, From Union Stars to Top Hat: A Biography of the Extraordinary General James Harrison Wilson (Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1972)