Hometown Heroes
Wilson: Civil War vet, then Putnam postmaster
By Michael Rocchetti
Perry Potter Wilson (1840-1899) was a Union Army soldier and a disabled Civil War veteran who lost his right leg above the knee after being severely wounded in action on June 22, 1864, at the Battle of Culps Farm near Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia.
He enlisted in the Army on June 27, 1861, and mustered in as a Corporal. He was assigned to Company H, 5th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Between 1862 and 1863 he fought in numerous battles in Virginia at Winchester, Hudson’s Corner, Cedar Mountain, Chantilly, Chancellorsville, and at Gettysburg, Penn. In the summer of 1864 his unit was reassigned to the western theater under the Command of General William Tecumseh Sherman. He fought in a series of battles as part of the Atlanta Campaign - until the time he was wounded. 
He moved through the ranks quickly, being promoted to Sergeant on Feb. 20, 1862, 1st Sergeant on April 2, 1863, 2nd Lieutenant on Oct.16, 1863, and to 1st LT on Nov. 17, 1864. After being wounded, he was medically discharged on Dec. 22, 1864.
President Grant appointed him postmaster of Putnam in 1869, and he held the office till 1886. He was employed a number of years in the adjutant general’s office, compiling records of Connecticut volunteers in the various wars. In 1890 he was appointed a United States Storekeeper, Internal Revenue department. He was an ardent Republican and was honored by his party with various offices. He organized the first Grand Army of the Republic Post in Putnam in 1869 and was its first commander. He was also active in the 5th Regiment Veterans organization.
He was born in Thompson, Feb. 22, 1840, the son of Omer Wilson (1810-1897) and Hannah Wilson (1814-1851). He had two brothers. In 1864 he married Mary Emily Paine (1847-1928) of Woodstock. They had 5 children.
He died Sunday morning July 23, 1899 (age 59) of dropsy (edema) and catarrh (build up of mucus) of the stomach. He is buried at the Grove Street Cemetery in Putnam.
Hometown Heroes is a series published in the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger with this mission: We owe it to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to make sure that they are never forgotten, and that the memory of their service and sacrifice will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the grateful people of Putnam.

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