Military Service
He was a volunteer aide (without rank or commission) on the staff of William "Bull" Nelson at the Battle of Richmond, Ky. in 1862, where he was reportedly wounded.
In 1863, he was commissioned by Missouri Governor Hamilton R. Gamble. He was given the rank of Colonel in the 68th Enrolled Missouri Militia, which was subsequently disbanded.
In 1864, he enlisted in the 47th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. His initial rank was Private. Soon he was commissioned major of the regiment.
Detachments of the 47th Missouri were involved in the Battle of Pilot Knob in September 1864. In October, he was tasked by General Rosecrans to reopen the Iron Mountain Railroad from St. Louis, Missouri to Pilot Knob. In this mission he was again wounded in battle.
in 1865 Emerson's Regiment was ordered to assist General Thomas Welsh, at Nashville, Tennessee. His regiment pursued General Hood as far as Alabama, capturing more than 1000 prisoners. Emerson was in command of the regiment through the end of the war.
Read more about this topic: John Wesley Emerson
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