Major John Wiley (USA)

Civil War Veteran

Military Service:

• Captain of Reading Infantry Company; 1844-1866 (also known as Washington Rifle Greens and Washington Rifle Grays)
• Captain and was promoted to Major of Richardson Light Guard; 1851- 1861

Civil war service:

• Affiliation:Union
• Massachusetts
• Rank: Captain; Co. G 19th Reg.; 1861- detached and reassigned Co.E; 16th Reg.; 1861
• Branch: Infantry
• Discharged: Aug. 26, 1863

Engagements:

Seven Days Battles; Battle of Glendale; Second Battle of Bull Run; Battle of Fredericksburg; Battle of Chancellorsville; Battle of Gettysburg; Bristoe Campaign; Mine Run Campaign; Battle of the Wilderness; Battle of Spotsylvania Court House; Battle of Harris Farm; Battle of Totopotomoy Creek; Battle of Cold Harbor; Siege of Petersburg; Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road

Biography

Among the prominent and familiar figures known to our citizens during the present century was that of Major John Wiley, 2d. He was born July 18, 1812, and was the son of Peter B. Wiley and Ruth (Ingalls) Wiley. He was descended from John Wiley, one of the earliest settlers. The descent then runs to Timothy, born in 1653; and to Timothy, of whose birth no record is found thence; to Thomas, born in 1697; then to Ebenezer, born in 1729; thence to James, born in 1755; thence to Peter B., born in 1784; and to John 2d, who married first Elizabeth Gregg, July 18. 1835 and who died July 30, 1872; and second, Deborah Gould, who now survives him. The children of the first marriage were: William, who was born March 23, 1836, and who enlisted in Co. B; 5th Regiment for three months in April, 1861, and reenlisted in 1862 in Co. A; 17th Regiment and was first sergeant, and who died at Newbern, NC, Oct. 13, 1862, of fever. He married July 4, 1858, Sarah F. Chalk; John Gregg Wiley born Feb. 27, 1840, and died June 10, 1844; Ruth Elizabeth, born Feb. 23, 1843, who married Francis P. Batchelder, who died Feb. 27, 1891; Ada G., born Feb. 5, 1846, and died July 9, 1848; Almira, born Jan. 24, 1848, and married Thomas Gould.
That Major Wiley had a strong military inclination was evident. He probably partook somewhat of the spirit of his father, who was a captain in the Reading Infantry Company, an organization formed about the time of the town's incorporation in 1644, and which had a continuous existence for about two centuries, and was formally disbanded about 1840. In 1812 a company was formed in "Stoneham" Reading and vicinity, called the Washington Rifle Greens. Its first officers were all of Stoneham, subsequently it became practically a South Reading company, changing its uniform from green to gray and its name to Washington Rifie Grays. It was known in the military department of the State as Co. H, 4th Regiment Light Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, and was designated upon the rolls as South Reading Rifles, John Wiley 2d was commissioned as captain of this company May 27, 1844, and was discharged Oct. 19, 1846, the company having been disbanded. Upon the formation of the Richardson Light Guard in 1851, Captain Wiley was elected its first captain, and continued in office until 1855. In 1857 he was again elected commander and served until June 26, 1858, when he was promoted to be major and was commissioned by Gov. N.P. Banks, He resigned and was discharged March 6, 1861, probably upon the reorganization of regiments signifying an intention to volunteer for service in the war then imminent. The company at that time was attached to the 7th Regiment as Co E and that regiment as an organization had not indicated a purpose to volunteer, but several companies in the regiment had forwarded to headquarters their desire to enlist, among them being the Richardson Light Guard, and when the call came, this company was assigned to the 5th Regiment. Major Wiley at once set out to recruit a company which was quickly enrolled to the required standard, and on the first day of May, 1861, he received from Gov. John A. Andrew, his commission as captain. His company was designated as Co. G, 19th Regiment and on the sixth day of July, by Special Order No 331, Co. G, Captain Wiley was detached from the 19th Regiment and assigned to the 16th Regiment as Co E. The regiment left the State August 17, 1861 and was stationed at various points in Virginia. In 1862, the regiment was engaged in the battles of Fair Oaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Kettle Run, Chantilly, and Fredericksburg, and in 1863, at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Locust Grove. The record of the regiment shows that on the twelfth day of November, 1862 there were absent, sick and wounded, 11 officers, 383 enlisted men, 13 officers and 251 men killed, wounded, and missing, which indicate severe service. Captain Wiley resigned and was discharged August 26, 1863, having served over two years.
Major Wiley was deeply interested in mechanics, and previous to the war devoted much time and study to mechanical appliances, and was the author of several inventions. He was connected with various business enterprises in the old town, being one of the firm of Peter and John Wiley, manufacturers of doors sashes and blinds in the old red mill which stood upon the site of the present rattan factory. He also fitted up a mill on the Lynnfield line near the Montrose railroad station, and located a similar business on the site of the present foundry buildings. He established a large baking business on the site of Cheney's block, and at the place recently carried on by H.L. Day. Afterwards he established a saw mill in Lynnfield and continued there until ill health compelled him to abandon active pursuits. In 1859 he represented the twentieth Middlesex District in the legislature. He died Feb. 10, 1886.

Source: Proceedings of the 250th Anniversary of the Ancient Town of Redding; By Will Everett Eaton, Chester Williams Eaton (ed), Warren E. Eaton (ed); Reading, Mass; Loring & Twombly Publishers; 1896; Pg. 290

Link:https://books.google.com/books?id=Ke44AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA108&lpg=PA108&d...