WILSON-JOSEPH

Joseph David Wilson was reportedly born during 1841 in Florida.  Records reflect he attended the U.S. Naval Academy, class of 1857, and on April 7, 1861 he resigned from the U.S. Navy and immediately joined the Confederate States Navy.  Following a period of training aboard CSS SUMTER he was sent in April 1862 to Liverpool, England, to join the newly constructed CSS ALABAMA as the Third Lieutenant.  He was subsequently promoted to Second Lieutenant and served aboard ALABAMA until its sinking on June 19, 1864.  CSS ALABAMA, a screw sloop-of-war, became perhaps the most famous commerce raider of the Confederacy during the Civil War as the ship is credited with having captured at least 65 Union vessels of various types, most of them merchant ships.  During ALABAMA’s raiding ventures, captured ships’ crews and passengers were never harmed, only detained until they could be placed aboard a neutral ship or placed ashore.  During the engagements, Wilson’s actions and courage gained him the nickname of “Fighting Joe.”

In June 1864, ALABAMA arrived in Cherbourg, France, for badly needed repairs and soon the Union sloop-of war USS KEARSARGE headed a blockading force off the harbor entrance.  Through diplomatic channels the ALABAMA’s commander sent a bold challenge, “My intention is to fight the KEARSARGE as soon as I can make the necessary arrangements.  I hope these will not detain me more than until tomorrow or the morrow morning at farthest.  I beg she will not depart until I am ready to go out.”   On June 19, ALABAMA sailed out to meet KEARSARGE.  As the ships steamed on opposite courses in spiraling circles the battle turned against ALABAMA due to the superior gunnery displayed by KEARSARGE and the deteriorated state of ALABAMA’s contaminated powder and fuses.  ALABAMA’s too rapid rate-of-fire resulted in frequent poor gunnery with many of her shots going too high.  Historical records indicate that by the end of the battle, ALABAMA was listing badly and unable to lower its guns thus its shots were going harmlessly over KEARSARGE. 

When it was obvious that ALABAMA was sinking, records report that Second Lieutenant Wilson rowed to KEARSARGE with a white flag to surrender the ship.  Records also relate that he was the only ALABAMA officer to deliver his sword to KEARSARGE, as all the other officers threw their swords into the ocean.  After boarding KEARSARGE, his actions and deportment as a prisoner so impressed the Commander of KEARSARGE that he released Wilson in late 1864 after writing a Letter of Parole.  Wilson returned to the Confederacy where he served for a short time aboard CSS VIRGINIA and as Commander of CSS HAMPTON.  On April 26, 1865, Wilson surrendered and was paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina, thus ending his navy career.

On July 17, 1865, Wilson was married and resided as a road master and civil engineer with his wife and several children at Tallahassee, Florida, until November 30, 1880, when he died in a railroad accident at Madison County, Florida.  He was laid to final rest at Old City Cemetery in Tallahassee.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)