During the war, he served in the Confederate States Army, first as a private in Stuart's cavalry, and then as an aide to his father, who was a brigadier general.

Known as the Wise Light Infantry, the unit continued at least through 1885, when it appeared during the inaugural festivities of President Grover Cleveland in Washington.

Wise successfully contested the election result, and served in the Fifty-fifth Congress from April 26, 1898, to March 3, 1899.

This result was repeated in 1898; Wise served in the Fifty-sixth Congress from March 12, 1900, until his death in Williamsburg on December 21, 1900.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress