Captain John Wilson a farmer and stock-grower of Station Camp, Estill County, KY, was born in said county, May 14, 1822. His father, Ebenezer Wilson, a native of Loudoun County, VA, was a son of Joseph and Liddie (Dodd) Wilson, natives of Virginia, who settled in Estill County, KY, about 1824. Ebenezer Wilson was reared on the farm in Virginia, married in that State, and came to Kentucky about 1812. He married Rhoda Dillingham, a member of the well-known Virginian family of that name. Five Children were born to their union, viz: Angelina, William D., John, Liddie J. and Delina. John Wilson, the third child, was reared on the farm and received a common school education. He followed farming until the outbreak of the late war, when he joined the Federal army as Captain of Company C, Eighth Kentucky Infantry, commanded by Col. Sidney M. Barnes. At the beginning of the war the ladies of Estill County made and presented to the Eighth Kentucky Infantry a flag, requesting

that it should be born aloft and made a part of the history of the war. Col. Barnes presented the flag to Captain Wilson, which he cheerfully received, determining to comply with the request of the ladies who presented it. Captain Wilson adds: "At Lookout Mountain, where the Eighth Kentucky was engaged, it being in one of the columns on the extreme right nearest the palisade or top of said mountain, on the night of November 24, 1863, it lay above the Craven House and above any other command. Just before daylight on the 25th of November, Gen. Walter C. Whitaker, Brigade Commander, came to Col. Sid M. Barnes and said: 'Col. Barnes, have you got an officer that will volunteer to go and place the Eighth Kentucky flag on the top or peak of said mountain?' Said he: 'I could order them up, but will not, for it is a hazardous undertaking, but will be an honor to the one who gets there first.' The promise ever being fresh in my mind made to the ladies of Estill, I was not only ready and willing to go where ordered, but was ready to volunteer and go where my superior officers would not order me, to fulfill my promise to those ladies. Said I; 'General, I will go.' He turned tot he regiment and said: 'Boys, how many of you will volunteer to go with Capt. Wilson?' There were five others volunteered to go, to wit: Sergeant Harris H. Davis, of Company A; Sergeant

Joseph Wagers, of Company B; Sergeant James Wood, of Company H; Private William Witt, of Company A, and Private Joseph Bradley, of Company I. And to us six belongs the honor of planting the first National Flag on the top or peak of Lookout Mountain, on the morning of November 25th, 1863, it being the highest flag planted during the war, being 2,400 feet above the level of the valley.

We started immediately. Said Gen. Whitaker, 'take your flag, Captain.' I called to my Color Sergeant and asked him if he did not want to go and carry it; he shook his head and said no. I unbuckled my belt and gave him my sword, and told him to bring it up with him, I took the flag, and some fifteen or twenty minutes before sunrise I unfurled the flag on top of said mountain, calling forth-hearty cheers from below. January 18, 1864, we six got thirty days' leave of absence by order of Major Gen. George H. Thomas, for said deed, and I hereby enclose you a copy of mine:


Headquarters

Department of the Cumberland

Chattanooga, Tenn., January 18, 1864

Special Field Orders,} Extract

∼Died May 24th, 1896
The subject of this sketch was born in Estill county, Kentucky, May 14th, 1822 and resided here all of his life. He followed the occupation of farming up to the late rebellion when the country was calling for patriot men. It was then he showed his undaunted courage and love for his family and country and the esteem and confidence of his countrymen by being placed as Captain over 100 of his gallant old associates which position he still held to the close of the war.
Making himself famous throughout the land by being the Hero of Lookout Mountain, placing the stars and stripes there in the face of the enemy which goes down in history as the battle above the clouds. After the war he came home and began his former occupation. He was an efficient, esteemed member of the Methodist church, having belonged since he was 16 years of age.
He was made a Mason Sept. 20, 1961, and was honored by Masons wherever he was known for his loving and kind disposition, zeal for Masonry, and his ever ready and willing hand to assist the needy. Therefore, be it
Resolved, 1st. That in the death of Bro. Wilson our O.D. Henderson Lodge No. 437, has lost a wise counselor and a true and faithful member, the county a worthy citizen, the church a consistent member and his family a kind, loving and devoted father.
2nd. That we, as Masons, deploring the untimely death of our dear brother, yet having faith in Him, who he served, hope in a coming day when our silver cord shall be loosed or the golden bowl be broken to meet him in that celestial world where sickness, death and parting are unknown. Faith, hope and charity are jewels he possessed, cherished and practiced.
3rd. A precious one from us has gone, A voice we loved is stilled, A place is vacant in our lodge and home, Which can never be filled. God in his wisdom as recalled, The boon His love had given, And though the body slumbers here, The soul is safe in Heaven.
4th. That these resolutions be spread at large on the minutes of the lodge, published in the Masonic Home Journal and the Richmond Climax and a copy sent to the family of our deceased brother