Two Union soldiers who took part in one of America’s earliest special operations 162 years ago were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Wednesday.
Descendants of Pvt. George Wilson and Pvt. Shadrach received a call from the White House informing them that these Civil War heroes would be honored with the nation’s highest military award for their “gallantry and intrepidity” in defending the Union.
President Joe Biden personally invited Theresa Chandler, the great-great-granddaughter of Pvt. Wilson, and Gerald Taylor, the great-great-nephew of Pvt. Shadrach, to accept the medals on behalf of their ancestors.
The soldiers, part of a group of 24 volunteers, had infiltrated Confederate lines, commandeered a train called “The General,” and driven it 87 miles from Georgia to Tennessee, destroying Confederate infrastructure along the way.
The mission, known as “The Great Locomotive Chase” on April 12, 1862, led to 19 of the men receiving Medals of Honor, making them the first group of Army soldiers to receive the award.
However, the mission ultimately failed, and the soldiers were captured. Some escaped and received their medals after the war, but eight, including Wilson and Shadrach, were executed by the Confederacy.
Due to an oversight, Wilson and Shadrach were never posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Ron Shadrach, a descendant of Pvt. Shadrach, and historian Brad Quinlin worked together to rectify this, with their efforts culminating in this recognition.
Quinlin believes the mission, had it succeeded, could have shortened the Civil War by up to two years. He emphasized the extraordinary bravery of these ordinary citizens who volunteered for such a perilous mission.
Before his execution, Pvt. Wilson reportedly declared that he did not regret his actions to help save the Union.
Shadrach, who had campaigned for over 12 years to honor his ancestor’s sacrifice, expressed deep emotion at finally achieving this recognition. Quinlin, who has extensively studied Medal of Honor recipients, underscored the significance of the award, which honors the valor and sacrifice of American soldiers.
