On April 12, 1862, 24 volunteers from the Union Army, led by civilian scout James Andrews, commandeered a Confederate locomotive named “The General” outside of Big Shanty, Georgia (now Kennesaw) and took it northward toward Chattanooga, Tennessee – doing as much damage as possible to the vital Western and Atlantic Railroad line as they went. Out of fuel, Andrews and his men abandoned the locomotive and scattered into the woods before being captured by Confederate troops. All were put on trial and convicted for “acts of unlawful belligerency” or being unlawful combatants and spies. Shortly thereafter, Andrews and seven of the Raiders were executed by hanging with the remaining held as prisoners of war. For their acts of valor in “The Great Locomotive Chase,” six members of Andrews’ Raiders were awarded the first Medals of Honor in our country’s history on March 25, 1863. Ultimately, 19 of the 24 members of Andrews’ Raiders would receive the Medal of Honor for their incredible acts of valor on that day.
These First Medals are why Chattanooga is recognized and known as the birthplace of the Medal of Honor.
Martin J. Hawkins
Rank: Corporal
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company A, 33rd Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Daniel A. Dorsey
Rank: Corporal
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company H, 33rd Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: Waterford, Virginia
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Mark Wood
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company C, 21st Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: England
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., and attempted to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Robert Buffman
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company H, 21st Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: Salem, Massachusetts
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men (including two civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
John Alfred Wilson
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company C, 21st Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: July 25, 1832, Columbus, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., and attempted to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Wilson W. Brown
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company F, 21st Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: Logan County, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tract between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
John Wollam
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company C, 33d Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: Hamilton, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., and attempted to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
James Smith
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company I, 2d Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tract between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Samuel Slavens
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company E, 33d Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: Pike County, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
John Morehead Scott
Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company F, 21st Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: Stark County, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., and attempted to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Marion A. Ross
Rank: Sergeant Major
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company B, 2nd Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: October 9, 1832, Christiansburg, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into the enemy’s territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Samuel Robertson
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company G, 33d Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: Muskingum County, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
William H. Reddick
Rank: Corporal
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company B, 33d Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: Alabama
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
John Reed Porter
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company G, 21st Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: November 14, 1838, Delaware County, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
William Pittenger
Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company G, 2nd Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: January 31, 1840, Knoxville, Jefferson County, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tract between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Jacob Parrott
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company K, 33d Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: July 17, 1843, Fairfield County, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
Aditional Information: Parrott was the first ever to receive the Medal of Honor for his actions in “The Great Locomotive Chase”
Elihu H. Mason
Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company K, 21st Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: Wayne County, Indiana
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
William J. Knight
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company E, 21st Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: January 29, 1837, Apple Creek, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
William Bensinger
Rank: Private
Organization: U.S. Army
Company: Company G, 21st Ohio Infantry
Action Place: Georgia
(April 1862)
Born: January 14, 1840, Wayne County, Ohio
Citation: One of the 19 Medal recipients from a group of 22 men (including two civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta.
