Captain Lewis Wisner (1841-1906)
One of three medal of honor recipients in Hillside, Lewis Wisner was a 21-year-old man from Middletown when he enlisted for the Union cause. He was the great great grandson of founding father Henry Wisner whose political activity and gun powder mills helped to bring victory to the patriots during the revolutionary war. Lewis Wisner enlisted with the famous Orange Blossoms of Orange County during the civil war and fought many battles, including Gettysburg where their commanding officer General Augustus Van Horne Ellis from New Windsor,N.Y. was killed in battle on July 2, 1863. Lewis survived Gettysburg and went on to continue fighting for the Union. It was during the battle of Spotsylvania where Lewis showed his incredible bravery and selflessness. The confederates were destroying his K company at the infamous “bloody angle” by snipers picking off union soldiers at will from high in the treetops over the breastworks. Someone had to jump onto the logs that sat on top of the breastworks and cut them away so the Union soldiers could aim their guns into the treetops without being exposed to enemy fire. Wisner took no time and disobeyed advice from his battery commander. He grabbed an axe, leaped onto the logs and cut the wires holding the logs in place. When he dismounted the logs, his uniform was riddled with multiple bullet holes, including one in his cap. His comrades immediately set him down to inspect his wounds, fearing the worst. Wisner was but barely grazed by the multiple bullets that had found their target!!! The battery commander was quoted as stating “ You have accomplished the single most heroic act ever accomplished, Captain”. Lewis Wisner was promoted to Captain on the spot and later received the medal of honor for his heroism. The medal of honor is the highest military honor in the country and was awarded by President Cleveland to Lewis Wisner in 1895. He went on to survive the war but not before losing his friend and immediate commanding officer from Goshen, N.Y. , Captain William Jackson at the battle of Petersburgh. He wrote a letter to the local newspaper that night in which he stated “ For me it is a particularly sad blow, for I loved him like a brother” and further along in the letter “while we mourn his death, we must remember he died to save the sacred cause of liberty”. Lewis Wisner, the hero who survived against such odds through the war, died at his family farm in Sussex N.J. at age 65 when he was gored to death by his prize bull! His death was headlines in the New York Times the day after his death on October 6. 1906.
One of three medal of honor recipients in Hillside, Lewis Wisner was a 21-year-old man from Middletown when he enlisted for the Union cause. He was the great great grandson of founding father Henry Wisner whose political activity and gun powder mills helped to bring victory to the patriots during the revolutionary war. Lewis Wisner enlisted with the famous Orange Blossoms of Orange County during the civil war and fought many battles, including Gettysburg where their commanding officer General Augustus Van Horne Ellis from New Windsor,N.Y. was killed in battle on July 2, 1863. Lewis survived Gettysburg and went on to continue fighting for the Union. It was during the battle of Spotsylvania where Lewis showed his incredible bravery and selflessness. The confederates were destroying his K company at the infamous “bloody angle” by snipers picking off union soldiers at will from high in the treetops over the breastworks. Someone had to jump onto the logs that sat on top of the breastworks and cut them away so the Union soldiers could aim their guns into the treetops without being exposed to enemy fire. Wisner took no time and disobeyed advice from his battery commander. He grabbed an axe, leaped onto the logs and cut the wires holding the logs in place. When he dismounted the logs, his uniform was riddled with multiple bullet holes, including one in his cap. His comrades immediately set him down to inspect his wounds, fearing the worst. Wisner was but barely grazed by the multiple bullets that had found their target!!! The battery commander was quoted as stating “ You have accomplished the single most heroic act ever accomplished, Captain”. Lewis Wisner was promoted to Captain on the spot and later received the medal of honor for his heroism. The medal of honor is the highest military honor in the country and was awarded by President Cleveland to Lewis Wisner in 1895. He went on to survive the war but not before losing his friend and immediate commanding officer from Goshen, N.Y. , Captain William Jackson at the battle of Petersburgh. He wrote a letter to the local newspaper that night in which he stated “ For me it is a particularly sad blow, for I loved him like a brother” and further along in the letter “while we mourn his death, we must remember he died to save the sacred cause of liberty”. Lewis Wisner, the hero who survived against such odds through the war, died at his family farm in Sussex N.J. at age 65 when he was gored to death by his prize bull! His death was headlines in the New York Times the day after his death on October 6. 1906.