A Notable Bully
Robert E. Cray | Filed under: Civil War Era, History, Interpreting the Civil War: Texts and Contexts, Recent Releases, Understanding Civil War HistoryLargely forgotten by historians, Billy Wilson (1822–1874) was a giant in his time, a man well known throughout New York City, a man shaped by the city’s immigrant culture, its harsh voting practices, and its efforts to participate in the War for the Union. For decades, Wilson’s name made headlines—for many different reasons—in the city’s major newspapers.