Posted on 07/06/2024 8:39:54 AM PDT by lowbridge
Two Union soldiers from the American Civil War were posthumously awarded with the Medal of Honor by President Joe Biden on Wednesday, more than 160 years after being executed for their part in a daring mission against the Confederacy.
“Private Philip G. Shadrach and Private George D. Wilson will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for their gallantry and intrepidity while participating in a covert military operation 200 miles behind Confederate lines on April 12, 1862,” a White House official said Wednesday morning. “In one of the earliest special operations in US Army history, Union Soldiers dressed as civilians infiltrated the Confederacy, hijacked a train in Georgia and drove it north for 87 miles, destroying enemy infrastructure along the way.”
-snip
Shadrach and Wilson were members of the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment in 1862 when they joined 20 other Union soldiers, and two civilians, to infiltrate Confederate territory.
The raid, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, involved the soldiers commandeering a locomotive known as the General that was on its way toward Chattanooga. They would stop occasionally along the route to “tear up track, switches, and bridges, inflicting as much damage as possible.” The Confederates began chasing the General in handcars and locomotives, at some points even on foot, eventually catching up to them and forcing the Union soldiers to abandon it.
They were all captured within two weeks, and found guilty of “acts of unlawful belligerency,” according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Both the General and the Texas — one of the pursuing locomotives — survived and are in museums in Georgia; the General in Kennesaw’s Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, and the Texas in the Atlanta History Center.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
MOH Award, one of the “make me look good” goto tricks an embattled Potus uses.
Stolen valor. biden is disgusting.
While I appreciate that Biden is recognizing the acts of Republicans, there is something a little bit off about soldiers dressed in civilian clothing committing acts of sabotage behind enemy lines.
There were brave acts by Confederate soldiers. Will they get any honors?
Biden used to ride the Amtrak train that they hijacked. The same one that ran over Beau’s cancer in Somalia.
Absurd gesturing
Weird Congressional Medal of Honor Award now. (The original raiders WERE ALREADY AWARDED numerous Medals of Honor! )
Adding these guys now is just political.
😆
> MOH Award, one of the “make me look good” goto tricks an embattled Potus uses. <
Yes. Another trick failing leaders use is getting the country involved in a hot war. Set up a fake attack on the country. Then it’s rally ‘round the flag, boys (and girls).
That’s what I’m worried about.
"We need volunteers for this mission. If you are captured, you will be executed."
IIRC-—IT was pretty common in the Civil war -—And the REVOLUTIONARY War, also.
Spies have been executed forever. One side’s hero is the other side’s infiltrator. Confederate spies didn’t get medals, ‘cause they lost.
Spies have been executed forever. One side’s hero is the other side’s infiltrator. Confederate spies didn’t get medals, ‘cause they lost.
Private Philip G. Shadrach
Yep. Look at him trying to co-opt the Union side for the Democrats also.
I did not realize that spies could be awarded a MOH? They were in civilian clothing.
I wonder if Joe remembers the Confederates were predecessors of thee Democratic party.
Point of reference for non standard military uniforms. Our special ops guys in Afghan dressed civilian on horseback.
https://lieber.westpoint.edu/hays-parks-sof-non-standard-uniforms/
Our modern reference point for standard military uniforms and laws of war are based on Geneva Convention
Sure. To be awarded by the government they served, just like these guys.
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