President Biden will honor two Union soldiers, Private Philip G. Shadrach and Private George D. Wilson, with the Medal of Honor for their bravery during the Civil War’s Great Locomotive Chase. This special operation, which took place 200 miles behind Confederate lines on April 12, 1862, involved the soldiers hijacking a locomotive and destroying railroad tracks to help bring about the end of the war.
Shadrach, a Pennsylvanian native, and Wilson, from Belmont County, Ohio, were captured by Confederate forces and executed by hanging after their daring mission. Despite their ultimate sacrifice, their courage and valor will be recognized by President Biden 162 years later with the country’s highest military decoration.
The Great Locomotive Chase, orchestrated by civilian spy James J. Andrews, saw Union soldiers infiltrating the Confederacy dressed as civilians to carry out the covert mission. While the raiders were able to cause significant damage to Confederate supply lines, their plans were thwarted when rain soaked the wood they intended to burn, causing the locomotive to run out of fuel 18 miles from Chattanooga.
The Medal of Honor, awarded for acts of valor, has been bestowed upon more than 3,500 individuals in the Armed Forces. Private Shadrach and Private Wilson were among the Army’s first recipients of this prestigious award, although it remains unclear why they were not originally recommended for the honor.
Both The General and The Texas locomotives involved in the historic chase have been preserved in museums, with The General located at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia, and The Texas at the Atlanta History Center. The daring escapade was immortalized in film adaptations such as the 1956 movie “The Great Locomotive Chase” and the 1926 silent film “The General.”
As we reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of these Union soldiers, it serves as a reminder of the courage and resilience displayed by individuals throughout history in the face of adversity. The Medal of Honor ceremony honoring Private Shadrach and Private Wilson is a testament to their unwavering commitment to duty and country, leaving a lasting legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.