 Nyorai mberi kweiyi ndima - Pashure pokutanga kweHondo yeVanhu, Wilson akagamuchira kukwidziridzwa kuva mutevedzeri wechipiri uye wokutanga uye akava injiniya wezvemamiriro okunze wePort Royal Expeditionary Force, kubva muna September 1861 kusvika muna March 1862. Sa mainjiniya weTopographic weDhipatimendi reMaodzanyemba, akatora chikamu muHondo yeFort Pulaski pamuromo weRwizi Savannah uye akagamuchira kukwidziridzwa kwebrevet kune mukuru muuto rehurumende nekuda kwebasa rake. Akachinjirwa kuArmy of the Potomac muna Kubvumbi 1862 uye akashanda sainjiniya wayo wepamusoro, asi zvakare semubatsiri wemusasa kuna Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan. Akashanda pasi paMcClellan panguva yeMaryland Campaign uye akanga aripo muhondo dzeSouth Mountain neAntietam. 