Wilson W. Brown - Perrysburg, OH
Posted by: 
Scouter Joe
N 41° 28.764 W 083° 35.538
17T E 283561 N 4595221
Civil War Veteran who was a part of Andrews Raiders
Waymark Code: WM3KJD
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 04/16/2008
Views: 22
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. He was a Private with Company F, 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism at Big Shanty, Georgia. His official Medal of Honor citation reads as follows "One of the 19 of 22 men (included 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen/ Mitchell (or Buell), 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".
He joined the famous Andrews Raiders to wreck Confederate supply lines. The raiders captured a locomotive, "The General", at Big Shanty, GA, on April 12, 1862. Brown served as the engineer and was captured after "The General" ran out of fuel. he escaped on October 16 and made his way back to Union lines after enduring great hardships.
Andrews and all 21 of his men were caught by the Confederates, as well as the two that had missed the hijacking that morning by oversleeping. Andrews was tried in Chattanooga and found guilty. He was executed by hanging on June 7 in Atlanta. On June 18, seven others who had been transported to Knoxville and convicted as spies, were returned to Atlanta and also hanged; their bodies were buried unceremoniously in an unmarked grave. Eight other raiders made a successful and remarkable escape from confinement. Traveling for hundreds of miles in predetermined pairs, they all made it back safely to Union lines, including two who were aided by slaves and Union sympathizers and two who floated down the Chattahoochee River until they were eventually rescued by the Union blockade vessel, U.S.S. Somerset. The remaining eight were exchanged as prisoners of war on March 17, 1864.
Several of the Andrews Raiders were among the very first of the Medal of Honor winners.
Look closely at both stones. One lists Brown as a sergeant, the other as a lieutenant. At least one website has him listed as a private at the time of the raid and later promoted to sergeant. I'm unsure when he was promoted to lieutenant.
Armed Service: Army
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