Two hanged Andrews Raiders are among 19 inducted into Ohio Military Hall of Fame. 'I wish more people knew about the history,' a descendant says

Recipients and relatives or descendants of honorees, the Military Hall of Fame medal and the reverse for Pvt. George D. Wilson (All photos Ryan Griffin, Ohio Department of Veterans Services)

Theresa Chandler believes it is appropriate her ancestor, Pvt. George D. Wilson, was honored Friday in the Ohio Statehouse, where tens of thousands filed past the coffin of President Abraham Lincoln 160 years before.

After all, Lincoln’s administration was the first to bestow the Medal of Honor, and that was to participants of the Andrews Raid. Wilson was one of eight men executed as spies following a dramatic locomotive chase in North Georgia.

Theresa Chandler talks with Brig. Gen. Matthew Woodruff of the Ohio National Guard 

For descendants of the families of Wilson and Pvt. Perry (Philip) Shadrach, who also was hanged, the ceremony in Columbus was a full circle moment – the men belatedly received the Medal of Honor last summer and were now being recognized for valor and induction into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame.

“I think it was important being honored in Ohio as part of the Civil War and I wish people knew more about the history of how we got to where we are today,” Chandler, 86, told the Picket on Tuesday.

Chandler, great-great granddaughter of Wilson, has said she got chills when she learned the soldier called for the return of one flag over the country before his execution. “We were not aware of any of the background when we were growing up.”

The sabotage mission along the Western & Atlantic Railroad from Atlanta to Chattanooga in 1862 was a tactical failure, but was a boost to the war-weary North. .

James Andrews and his band of Union raiders, dressed in civilian clothes, tried to destroy much of the railroad and communications as they rushed northward on April 12, 1862. But little damage was done and the group was forced to flee when the commandeered locomotive General ran out of fuel.

They were captured and most later escaped or were exchanged. Andrews and seven others -- including Shadrach and Wilson -- were treated as spies and executed. The episode became known as the "Great Locomotive Chase" because Southerners in the locomotive Texas pursued the General.

Shadrach and Wilson, members of the 2^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, are buried at the national cemetery in Chattanooga, Tenn., where new Medal of Honor headstones were unveiled in October following events for descendants.

While other members of the raid received the Medal of Honor, paperwork did not go through for the pair, supporters of the recognition claimed.

The Ohio Department of Veterans Services said 19 Ohioans were inducted in the statehouse atrium. “Of the 19 honorees, 12 are posthumous awards. Six were killed in combat. For their actions, members of this class have received multiple awards for valor including three the Medal of Honor recipients.” Most of the honorees saw combat during and since World War II.

Accepting the Shadrach medal was Ron Shadrach (below with Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr.), a great cousin

He nominated his ancestor and Wilson for the state honor and was a leader in the long campaign for them to receive the Medal of Honor, which was bestowed last summer by then-President Joe Biden.

Chandler’s sisters Charlene Murphy and Joyce Dersom and other family members were on hand Friday.

Chandler said Friday was the first time she saw a ground-floor plaque honoring the Andrews Raiders.

A 2012 ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the raid was held in the Statehouse.

“There are a lot of people who have heard about the Andrews Raiders but don’t know about the history of it," Chandler said.

Ron Shadrach (left) and others look at the Andrews Raid plaque on Friday in Columbus, Ohio.