Private John Alfred Wilson, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in April 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 21st Ohio Infantry. Wilson was about 29 years old.
The medal was presented on September 1863. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.
Wilson was born on July 25, 1833 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Perrysburg, Wood County, Ohio. Wilson died on March 28, 1904, at the age of 70. He is buried at Union Hill Cemetery in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Wilson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.
Official Medal of Honor citation
One of 19 of 24 men (including two civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchell, penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Timeline
- July 25, 1833Born in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
- April 1862Act of valor — GeorgiaAge about 29. Company C, 21st Ohio Infantry
- September 1863Medal of Honor presented
- March 28, 1904DiedAge 70.
- Resting placeUnion Hill CemeteryBowling Green, Ohio
Biography
John Alfred Wilson (July 25, 1833 – March 28, 1904) was a member of the Andrew's Raid and one of the first recipients of the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “John Alfred Wilson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Further reading
- The Great Locomotive Chase: The First Awarded Medals of Honorcmohs.org · 2022
