Two Union soldiers, Pvt. Philip G. Shadrach and Pvt. George D. Wilson, were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Joe Biden during a ceremony at the White House on July 3, 2024. The soldiers were recognized for their acts of gallantry and intrepidity during the Great Locomotive Chase on April 12, 1862.
The Great Locomotive Chase was one of the earliest special operations in U.S. Army history, involving Union soldiers hijacking a train in Georgia to degrade Confederate railway and communication lines. Shadrach and Wilson were among the 24 soldiers who participated in this daring mission behind enemy lines.
Born in Pennsylvania, Shadrach was just 21 years old when he volunteered for the mission. Wilson, originally a tradesman from Ohio, became a central figure in the raid. Both soldiers faced enormous risks during the operation and did not have an opportunity to back out once they had committed.
The mission sought to destroy Confederate railway and communication lines that supported Chattanooga, Tennessee's rebel stronghold. The soldiers dressed as civilians, hijacked a train in Georgia, and drove it north for 87 miles while destroying essential infrastructure along the way. They occasionally stopped to tear up track, switches, and bridges to inflict as much damage as possible.
Despite their successes during the mission, Shadrach and Wilson were eventually captured by Confederate forces and executed by hanging.
The Medal of Honor is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Both Shadrach and Wilson demonstrated these qualities during their participation in the Great Locomotive Chase, making them deserving recipients of this prestigious military decoration.
