In the spring of 1862, a daring plan was hatched by a small group of Union Army saboteurs to disrupt Confederate supply lines near Chattanooga. Their mission involved stealing a train, destroying railroad tracks, burning bridges, and cutting telegraph wires to hinder enemy communication and transportation.
Disguised in plain clothes, the group embarked on their audacious mission in April, infiltrating behind enemy lines in Georgia. They successfully commandeered a locomotive named “the General” near Marietta and carried out their disruptive activities for seven hours along the railway, attempting to shift the battle further into Tennessee.
However, the stolen train eventually ran out of fuel just 18 miles from Chattanooga, leading to the capture of all participants within two weeks. Most were sent to prisoner of war camps, while the rest were executed as spies by the Confederates.
In 1863, six survivors of the daring raid became the first American soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration for valor in combat. President Abraham Lincoln had authorized the award the previous year. Over time, a total of 19 men involved in the mission were honored with the Medal of Honor, except for two soldiers who were executed immediately after the chase and were never formally recognized.
| Soldier | Photo |
|---|---|
| Pvt. George D. Wilson |  |
| Pvt. Philip G. Shadrach |  |
