Army of the Rappahannock under McDowell. He was promoted major and made chief of artillery in Gen. Ord's division. After the battle of Cedar Mountain, Aug. 9, 1862, he was assigned to Gen. McDowell's staff as chief of artillery, in which capacity he served during the three days' fight at Rappahannock station, and then at the second battle of Bull Run. Subsequently, until April, 1863, he was inspector of artillery, and in January was made lieutenant colonel. March 29, he was ordered to Cincinnati, having been commissioned brigadier general, and made chief of artillery for fortifications in the Department of the Ohio. He had charge of the defences of Cincinnati and the works on the Louisville and Nashville railroad, and raised and organized two regiments of heavy artillery. Later he supervised various works at Knoxville, and was given a brigade in the 23d Army Corps, which he commanded in several engagements with confederate cavalry and irregular troops during the winter of 1863-4. He continued in charge of these works, which were officially commended as the best in the military division of the Mississippi, and also organized the 1st U. S. heavy artillery of colored troops and the 3d North Carolina mounted infantry.

Subsequently he had command of the district of East Tennessee until early in 1865, when he was transferred to the 4th division of the Department of the Cumberland, and held that command until the close of the war. He then offered his resignation, which was not accepted, and he remained on duty until Dec. 1, 1866, in charge of the freedmen's bureau at Memphis and subsequently in Georgia. For a year he remained in the latter state in the cotton business. Selling out, he came north, bought Hurricane Island, 12 miles from Rockland, and organized a company to develop its rich granite interests. Fully 1,000 men were employed there at one time. Several years ago the quarries were released to another concern, and Gen. Tilson, confined his attention to the extensive orange groves which he had bought and placed in cultivation at Deland, Fla. These groves are probably the largest in Florida. Gen. Tilson has displayed wide public spirit in his native city, and his benevolent acts have rendered him greatly beloved. He had a very kindly feeling for his comrades of the war, and made Edwin Libby Post, to which he belonged, many valuable presents. He was a republican in politics, and represented his ward in the city government. He died April 30, 1896, of heart disease. Gen. Tilson is estimated to have been worth over half a million dollars.

MARY A. TILSON8 (William F.7, William6, John5, John4, Edmund3, Ephraim2, Edmond1), dau. of William F. and Lucy (Winslow) Tilson; b. Nov. 15, 1835; m. Nov. 6, 1854, Dr. William A. Banks. Resides in Rockland, Me.