 Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Pakutanga kweHondo Yenyika, Wilder akaronga boka rezvombo zvakareruka munzvimbo yeGreensburg, achitosvika pakukanda zvombo zviviri zvepfuti zveshanu pafuriri yake. Kambani yaWilder yakaunganidzwa mubasa rehurumende asi hurumende yeFederal yakaramba kuigamuchira, sezvo Indiana yakanga yatosangana nechikamu chayo chemapoka epfuti. Panzvimbo pezvo, Wilder akagadzwa kuva kaputeni, uye varume vake vakarongwa seKambani A, 17th Indiana Infantry Regiment paIndianapolis. Apo 17th Indiana yakaenda kumadokero kweVirginia muna July 1861, Kambani A yakatora zvombo zviviri. Pane imwe nguva muVirginia, kambani yekare A yakasunungurwa zvachose uye pakupedzisira yakarongedzwazve se26th Independent Battery Indiana Light Artillery asi yaizivikanwa se Wilder Battery mukucherechedza mutungamiri wayo wokutanga. Munguva iyi, Kaputeni Wilder akakurumidza kukwidziridzwa kuva lieutenant colonel we17th Indiana musi wa 4 Chikumi 1861, achishumira kwaakagara panguva yekutanga mushandirapamwe muVirginia uye basa revarwi muKentucky. Muna March 1862 Wilder akasimudzirwa kuva colonel, achiva mutungamiri we17th Indiana. Mukati mokurwisa kuti vatore Korinde, Mississippi, Wilder akakurumidza kuwana mukurumbira semutungamiriri wehurumende anokwanisa, uye kunyange ane chipo. 