George D. Wilson
{{Short description|American soldier and Medal of Honor recipient (1830–1862)}}
{{Other uses|George Wilson (disambiguation){{!}}George Wilson}}{{Infobox military person
| image = George D. Wilson.jpg
| caption = 1887 portrait of Wilson
| birth_date = 1830
| death_date = June 18, {{Death year and age|1862|1830}}
| birth_place = Belmont County, Ohio, US
| death_place = Atlanta, Georgia, Confederate States of America
| death_cause = Execution by hanging
| allegiance = {{flagu|United States|1861}}
| branch = Army
| branch_label = Branch
| rank = Private
| unit = 2nd Ohio Infantry Regiment
| battles = {{Tree list}}
{{Tree list/end}}
}}
George Davenport Wilson (1830 – June 18, 1862) was an American Civil War soldier and Medal of Honor recipient.
Biography
Wilson was born in 1830, in Belmont County, Ohio, to George and Elizabeth Wilson. He worked as a journeyman shoemaker. On August 31, 1861, he enlisted in the 2nd Ohio Infantry Regiment. On April 12, 1862, he and 21 other men volunteered to travel 200 miles to destroy a Confederate railway. They were caught, and on May 31, he and six other men were tried and convicted as spies. They were executed by hanging on June 18, in Atlanta.{{Cite web |title=Private George D. Wilson {{!}} Medal of Honor Recipient |url=https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/wilson/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240705042740/https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/wilson/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 5, 2024 |access-date=August 1, 2024 |website=www.army.mil}}
He and his family were buried at his execution site, but were moved to the Chattanooga National Cemetery on April 25, 1866.
On July 4, 2024, he and Philip G. Shadrach posthumnously received the Medal of Honor from Joe Biden.{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=July 4, 2024 |title=Remarks by President Biden at Presentation of the Medal of Honor to Army Private Philip G. Shadrach and Private George D. Wilson |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/07/04/remarks-by-president-biden-at-presentation-of-the-medal-of-honor-to-army-private-philip-g-shadrach-and-private-george-d-wilson/ |access-date=August 1, 2024 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}
Medal of Honor citation
"Private George D. Wilson distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry in Georgia on 12 April 1862. Private Wilson was one of 22 Andrews' Raiders who, by direction of Major Ormsby M. Mitchell, penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory. Upon capturing a railroad train at Big Shanty in Georgia, the group set out to complete their mission of disrupting enemy supply lines by destroying bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta. Private Wilson's gallant actions in close contact with the enemy were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Army of the Ohio, and the United States Army."{{Cite web |title=George D. Wilson {{!}} U.S. Civil War {{!}} U.S. Army {{!}} Medal of Honor Recipient |url=https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/george-d-wilson |access-date=August 1, 2024 |website=Congressional Medal of Honor Society |language=en}}