Editing Henry Wilson (section)

=== Greenhow controversy ===
[[File:Rose O'Neal Greenhow.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Rose O'Neal Greenhow and her daughter]]
In July 1861, Wilson was present for the Civil War's first major battle at [[First Battle of Bull Run|Bull Run Creek]] in [[Manassas, Virginia]], an event which many senators, representatives, newspaper reporters, and Washington society elite traveled from the city to observe in anticipation of a quick Union victory.{{sfn|Hatfield SHO 1997}}  Riding out in a carriage in the early morning, Wilson brought a picnic hamper of sandwiches to feed Union troops.{{sfn|Hatfield SHO 1997}}  However, the battle turned into a Confederate rout, forcing Union troops to make a panicky retreat.{{sfn|Hatfield SHO 1997}} Caught up in the chaos, Wilson was almost captured by the Confederates, while his carriage was crushed,{{sfn|Hatfield SHO 1997}} and he had to make an embarrassing return to Washington on foot.{{sfn|Hatfield SHO 1997}}  The result of this battle had a sobering effect on many in the North, causing widespread realization that Union victory would not be won without a prolonged struggle.{{sfn|Hatfield SHO 1997}}

In seeking to place blame for the Union defeat, some in Washington spread rumors that Wilson had revealed plans for the Union invasion of Virginia to Washington society figure and Southern spy [[Rose O'Neal Greenhow]].{{sfn|Hatfield SHO 1997}}  According to the story, although he was married, Wilson had seen a great deal of Mrs. Greenhow, and may have told her about the plans of Major General [[Irvin McDowell]], which Mrs. Greenhow then conveyed to Confederate forces under Major General [[P. G. T. Beauregard]]. One Wilson biography suggests someone else—Wilson's Senate clerk Horace White—was also friendly with Mrs. Greenhow and could have leaked the invasion plan, although it is also possible that neither Wilson nor White did so.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/inside.asp?ID=662&subjectID=2 |title=Visitors from Congress: Henry Wilson (1812–1875) |website=Mr. Lincoln's White House |publisher=The Lehrman Institute |access-date=October 7, 2015 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905182313/http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/inside.asp?ID=662&subjectID=2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{sfn|McKay|1971|p=233}}{{clear}}