Wilson Queen was born on November 17, 1830, in Harrison County, modern-day West Virginia, to farmer William B. Queen and Sarah Catherine Pritchard. He spent much of his early life in nearby White Oak. In 1856, he enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he studied medicine, surgery, anatomy, and botany. He withdrew from the university on April 1, 1857, and returned to Harrison County to practice medicine. He was active in local Democratic politics, serving as a clerk and secretary at several county-level meetings.

On July 4, 1861, Queen enlisted as a private in Company K of the 3rd West Virginia Volunteer Infantry at Ritchie Courthouse, West Virginia. His enlistment records listed him as 5 feet, 6 inches tall, with blue eyes and black hair. Queen was wounded in battle near Pocahontas County and captured by Confederate forces soon after. In May 1862, Queen’s captors released him on parole, and he reported to Camp Chase, Ohio, on August 15, 1862. While there, he contracted typhoid fever, and his health quickly declined. He received a discharge for disability on October 8, 1862, and returned to White Oak, West Virginia.

Queen bounced around between his father’s and cousin’s homes while he slowly recovered his health. On May 10, 1863, he enlisted as a private in the Confederate army and mustered into Company F of the 20th Virginia Cavalry. Queen later claimed that he joined the Confederate army under duress. Many of Queen’s relatives supported the Confederacy, and a Unionist neighbor allegedly threatened to arrest Queen if he “didn’t get out from among the ‘secesh.’” The provost marshal warned Queen to leave town, and he planned to move to Ohio. Before he could leave, however, Confederate troops raided the town and drove away many of his neighbors. Queen later testified that he joined the Confederate army because he had no other means of support.

After the war, Queen returned to Harrison County and resumed his medical practice. He married Susan Reed on November 29, 1876. He continued to suffer from poor health, developing catarrh, varicose veins, and cataracts. He applied for a federal pension in February 1891 and began receiving $12 per month soon after. The following year, however, a pension examiner launched a special investigation into his case. After discovering Queen’s Confederate service, the pension office dropped him from its rolls on May 4, 1895. Susan died some time before 1900, and Queen likely died on December 12, 1906.

Document:

Wilson Queen Swears Amnesty Oath

Wilson Queen Account of Both Union and Confederate Service, January 17, 1895