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Introduced by Democratic Congressman David Wilmot of Pennsylvania, the Wilmot Proviso would have banned the extension of slavery into any territories Mexico ceded to the U.S. after the Mexican-American War. Although never enacted by Congress, the Wilmot Proviso hastened the division of the American political landscape along sectional lines, ultimately contributing to the onset of the Civil War.

The Wilmot Proviso was an amendment to an appropriations request for $2 million made by President James K. Polk to…

Part of the Petersburg Campaign, the Wilson-Kautz Raid (June 22–July 1, 1864) was a Union cavalry foray into the area southwest of Petersburg, Virginia, designed to destroy railroad track and facilities critical to supplying the Army of Northern Virginia encamped at Richmond.

Key facts about the Wilson-Kautz Cavalry raid of 1864.

Fought on August 10, 1861, the Battle of Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River and the scene of the death of Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in combat.

Date August 10, 1861 Location Wilson's Creek, near Springfield, Missouri Campaign Operations to Control Missouri Principal Confederate Commanders Major General Sterling Price…

Between March 22 and April 20, 1865, Brevet Major General James H. Wilson led roughly 13,000 Union cavalrymen on a destructive raid through Alabama and Georgia that culminated with the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

Key facts about Union General James H. Wilson's 1865 raid into Alabama and Georgia.

Fought on May 25, 1862, the First Battle of Winchester was the fourth engagement and third Confederate victory of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862.

Key facts about the First Battle of Winchester.

The Confederate victory at the Second Battle of Winchester (June 13 – June 15, 1863) cleared the upper Shenandoah Valley of Union resistance, paving the way for Robert E. Lee's invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Key facts about the Second Battle of Winchester (June 13 – June 15, 1863), which cleared the upper Shenandoah Valley of Union resistance, paving the way for Robert E. Lee's invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Thomas J. Wood was a prominent Union general who participated in nearly every major campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.

Key facts about Thomas J. Wood, a prominent Union general who participated in nearly every major campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.

David Wooster was a Connecticut militia leader who served in King George’s War, the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. He died in 1777, during the American Revolution, soon after the Battle of Ridgefield.

A prominent general officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, Horatio Wright served briefly as commander of the Department of the Ohio from August 19, 1862 to March 12, 1863.

Key facts about Horatio Wright, a prominent general officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, who served briefly as commander of the Department of the Ohio from August 19, 1862 to March 12, 1863.