Edward A. Wild and the African Brigade in the Civil War

By Frances H. Casstevens
Illustrated, maps, notes, bibliography, index, 335 pp., 2003. McFarland & Company Inc., Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640, $49.95 plus shipping.

Reviewer: Richard A. Sauers
Richard A. Sauers is the author of numerous Civil War books, including Advance the Colors!

Review:
Frances Casstevens, whose prior work includes a history of the Civil War in Yadkin County, North Carolina, and the story of Thomas L. Clingham's Tarheels, here examines the controversial life and exploits of Massachusetts-born Edward A. Wild.

Educated in Brookline, Wild became a medical doctor prior to the war, traveling to France, Italy and Turkey, where he served the Ottoman Empire during the Crimean War. When war erupted in 1861, Wild raised a company for the 1st Massachusetts, but soon became involved in a disagreement with Col. Robert Cowdin (when Cowdin later wrote the regimental history, he omitted Wild's name entirely). He was arrested twice but was cleared before being wounded at Oak Grove at the start of the Seven Days.

Wild then was promoted to colonel and given command of the new 35th Massachusetts, which he led at South Mountain, where he was wounded a second time and his left arm amputated. Wild was then promoted to brigadier general and was given the assignment of raising African-American troops.

The new general went to North Carolina and began recruiting soldiers. His Carolina volunteers were mustered into service and saw action at Charleston. Wild was then transferred to the Norfolk area and again ordered to raise more black troops.

In December 1863, Wild's brigade moved south into northeastern North Carolina, where his raid is bitterly remembered to this day. His troops exchanged fire with Confederate guerrillas, hanged a captive, and seized two women as hostages before returning to Norfolk. Casstevens examines the results of this raid, which included a retaliatory hanging and the furor over Wild's female captives.

Wild created more controversy when he allowed former slaves to whip their former owner, confiscated property for his own and his troops' usage, arrested several civilians within his jurisdiction, and overlooked the shooting of more than one civilian who crossed his black troops.

During the 1864 campaign, Wild's men saw action at Wilson's Wharf, Fort Powhatan and Fort Pocahontas in May, where the general was recognized for his success in keeping Rebel raiders away from Gen. Benjamin Butler's supply line along the James River.

However, Wild and his superior, Gen. Edward W. Hinks, got into an argument over several details, resulting in Wild's court- martial, which was overturned by Gen. Butler. Detailed on recruiting service thereafter, Wild had charges preferred against him by a former subordinate, Alonzo G. Draper. When Richmond fell, Wild's men were among the first to occupy the city, only to be told to leave by Gen. Edward Ord, who preferred that his white troops occupy the fallen capital.

Following the war, Wild worked in Georgia for the Freedmen's Bureau, but again became embroiled in controversy and was removed from duty. Wild then went west in search of silver, owning and operating mines in Nevada and Ontario, Canada. In 1891, he joined a party of engineers surveying a rail line in Colombia, South America. Sickened during this expedition, Wild died on Aug. 28, 1891, and was buried in Medeillin.

Casstevens had done prolific research in unearthing Wild's controversial life and military career. She dug through Wild's papers in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, examined relevant records in the National Archives, and looked at many manuscript collections, books, articles and other sources to write Wild's story. All in all, this is a good book, but it could have used the expert work of an editor to clarify and smooth out Casstevens' writing.