DVIDS – News – Civil War heroes receive the long-awaited Medal of Honor

WASHINGTON – The White House has announced that President Joe Biden will posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Civil War soldiers Pvt. Philip Gephart Shadrach and Pvt. George Davenport Wilson for their heroism and courage during the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862.

The oldest living relative of each soldier will receive the award today during a ceremony at the White House.

“Volunteering for a project they knew little about, knowing that if they failed they would be executed, makes me realize how dedicated they were,” said Gerald Taylor, Shadrach’s great-grandnephew. “I am honored to have the opportunity to accept the Medal of Honor awarded to our relative.”

Both Shadrach and Wilson were part of a group of 24 soldiers and civilians who became known as the “Andrews’ Raiders.”

In early April 1862, James J. Andrews, a civilian spy born in Kentucky, led the group on a mission to invade the South and destroy the railroad and communication lines that supplied the Confederacy from Georgia to Tennessee.

The raiders moved hundreds of miles through enemy territory, through heavy rain and rough terrain. They did their best not to arouse suspicion by wearing civilian clothes and traveling in small groups. Despite several near misses, 22 of them met up just outside Marietta, Georgia, at Big Shanty, where they hijacked a locomotive named the General and headed north, tearing up railroad tracks, hijacking telegraph lines, and attempting to burn bridges along the way.

William Fuller, the general’s conductor, and some Confederates pursued them, first on foot and then by trolley and locomotive. The attackers had a head start on their pursuers, but were slowed in completing their mission, stopping for oncoming trains on the single-track railroad.

Running out of fuel and with the Confederates hot on their heels, the raiders abandoned their efforts just 18 miles from their final stop in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The men fled to avoid capture.

Thousands of Confederate soldiers and citizens began searching the country for the attackers. After 12 days, all 22 men were captured.

Andrews and seven soldiers, including Shadrach and Wilson, were tried and convicted as spies. The soldiers were executed on June 18, 1862.

According to historical documents, immediately before his execution, Wilson addressed the crowd and said that he felt no hostility towards them and that he did not regret having died for his country because he knew that people would soon see the Union flag flying over them again.

“When I read that, I got goosebumps,” said Theresa Chandler, Wilson’s great-great-granddaughter. “It made everything clear to me and you get so much more respect and appreciation for what they did and what they fought for.”

The remaining attackers tried to escape from the prison after seeing the fate of their compatriots. Although most of them managed to get to safety, six of the soldiers were recaptured.

They were finally released in March 1863 as part of a prisoner exchange. All six men received the Medal of Honor – they were the first soldiers in the history of the US Army to be awarded this distinction – and were offered the rank of first lieutenant. In the following years, 13 other attackers also received the medal.

Enacted by President Abraham Lincoln on July 12, 1862, the Army Medal of Honor was awarded “to those noncommissioned officers and privates who have most distinguished themselves by gallantry in action and other soldierly qualities during the present insurrection.”

Both Shadrach and Wilson were members of the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Now, 162 years after their heroic deeds during the Great Locomotive Chase, both men are finally being honored.