This pocket wallet belonged to Captain William C. Wilson; an outside pocket has a white envelope containing a large lock of brown hair, folded piece of newspaper containing a lock of red hair, paper with a lock of braided hair, and a piece of paper containing a lock of baby hair. The wallet also contains folded pieces of paper with the passwords of the day and several Federal buttons with “CHR” on them.
At the time of the Battle of Pea Ridge, March 7 – 8, 1862, Wilson was a corporal assigned to Company H, 37th Illinois Infantry. He was later promoted to second lieutenant and re-assigned to Company A.
The 37th Illinois was heavily engaged during the Battle of Pea Ridge on March 7- 8, 1862, particularly along the Leetown Road and in Morgan’s Woods, where the brush and smoke were so dense it was extremely difficult to tell friend from foe. While forced to retreat, they fought a delaying action and inflicted heavy casualties on the Confederates.
Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 30083
