Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private John Wollam received the Medal of Honor for his actions in April 1862 in Georgia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company C, 33d Ohio Infantry. Wollam was about 24 years old.
The medal was presented on July 20, 1864, 2 years after the action.
Wollam was born in 1838 in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Jackson, Jackson County, Ohio. Wollam died on September 26, 1890 in Topeka, Kansas, at the age of about 52. He is buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Jackson, Ohio.
Wollam 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.
Timeline
- 1838Born in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio
- April 1862Act of valor — GeorgiaAge about 24. Company C, 33d Ohio Infantry
- July 20, 1864Medal of Honor presented
- September 26, 1890Died in Topeka, KansasAge about 52.
- Resting placeFairmount CemeteryJackson, Ohio
Biography
John Wollam (1838 - September 27, 1890) was a participant in the Great Locomotive Chase and recipient of the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “John Wollam”, 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
