Biden awards Medal of Honor to Civil War descendants

President Joe Biden presented the Medal of Honor to the descendants of Pvt. George D. Wilson and Pvt.

Today, I had the distinct honor of posthumously awarding the Medal of Honor to two great Americans for their gallantry and intrepidity while participating in a military operation 200 miles deep into Confederate territory in April 1862. pic.twitter.com/le3yZLuCyX

— President Biden (@POTUS) July 3, 2024

Philip G. Shadrach at the White House on Wednesday.

Tune in as I deliver remarks at a Medal of Honor Ceremony at the White House. https://t.co/NpluVZGyZR

— President Biden (@POTUS) July 3, 2024

Wilson and Shadrach were part of a 24-man team that commandeered a train outside Atlanta in April 1862 and attempted an ambitious 87-mile sabotage mission to disrupt Confederate supply lines during the Civil War. The mission, known as the Great Locomotive Chase, aimed to cripple the Confederacy’s ability to move troops and supplies.

#BREAKING:

Today, July 3, 2024, #USArmy Privates Philip G. Shadrach and George D. Wilson will be awarded the #MedalOfHonor for their heroic actions on April 2, 1862 as part of 22 Andrews’ Raiders during the Civil War.

See the story here: https://t.co/VdT0jg4KMm pic.twitter.com/PnV9bjkyL8

— U.S. Army (@USArmy) July 3, 2024

The team, disguised as civilians, seized the locomotive “General” north of Atlanta, tore up track ties, and cut telegraph wires to impede Confederate communication and reinforcements. Despite their lack of specialized training, the raiders undertook the dangerous mission with commendable bravery.

Medal honors Civil War bravery

However, the mission ultimately ended in failure as the Union soldiers ran out of fuel for the “General” near Chattanooga. They scattered but were gradually captured. Eight of the raiders, including Shadrach and Wilson, were tried as spies and executed. Nineteen soldiers received the Medal of Honor for their roles in the mission, including several posthumously. Shadrach’s and Wilson’s descendants expressed pride in finally seeing their ancestors recognized for their valor. Efforts to recognize Shadrach and Wilson date back decades, intensifying in recent years with new evidence submitted by historians and family members. Brian Taylor, Shadrach’s descendant, performed a song he wrote about the mission ahead of the White House ceremony, capturing the spirit and bravery of the raiders who risked everything in their attempt to disrupt the Confederate war effort. The recognition of Shadrach and Wilson not only honors their personal bravery but acknowledges all who contributed to this historic mission. The Great Locomotive Chase remains a significant episode of the Civil War, inspiring books and films such as Buster Keaton’s “The General” and Disney’s “The Great Locomotive Chase.”