Biden to Award Medal of Honor to Civil War Heroes for Gallantry in Great Locomotive Chase

President Joe Biden is set to honor two Union soldiers with the Medal of Honor for their "conspicuous gallantry" during the Great Locomotive Chase of the Civil War. The prestigious award will be presented to U.S. Army Privates Philip G. Shadrach and George D. Wilson in a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday.

The Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration, will be awarded to Shadrach and Wilson for their "gallantry and intrepidity" in one of the earliest special operations in U.S. Army history. The Great Locomotive Chase took place on April 12, 1862, and involved 22 men known as "Andrews' Raiders," led by Kentucky-born civilian spy and scout James J. Andrews.

The raiders' mission was a daring attempt to sabotage Confederate infrastructure. The group infiltrated the South in small numbers, rendezvousing in Marietta, Georgia, where they hijacked a train named "The General." They drove the train 87 miles north into Tennessee, tearing up tracks and cutting telegraph wires to disrupt Confederate supply lines. The mission ultimately led to a dramatic chase by Confederate troops, both on foot and by train.

Sadly, both Shadrach and Wilson were captured and executed by hanging after the raid. Andrews and seven others were also executed, while the remaining raiders either escaped or were imprisoned. Despite their sacrifice, Shadrach and Wilson were not initially recommended for the Medal of Honor, a recognition they were authorized to receive much later in the fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Act.

Private Philip G. Shadrach was born on September 15, 1840, in Pennsylvania and enlisted in an Ohio infantry regiment in 1861. The young Pennsylvanian, orphaned at an early age, was just 21 when he volunteered for the perilous mission. George D. Wilson, born in 1830 in Belmont County, Ohio, worked as a journeyman shoemaker before enlisting in an Ohio-based volunteer infantry in August 1861.

The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the armed forces who demonstrate great personal bravery or self-sacrifice, often at the risk of their own lives. The award ceremony offers President Biden a brief respite from mounting criticism following his performance in last week's presidential debate against Republican former President Donald Trump.

The commemoration of Shadrach and Wilson comes as the legacy of the Civil War continues to influence U.S. politics. The conflict, which killed more than 600,000 service members between 1861 and 1865, remains a contentious topic. Biden recently remarked that the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol was the greatest threat to democracy since the Civil War, while Trump has referenced the Battle of Gettysburg and Confederate General Robert E. Lee at a recent rally in Pennsylvania.

The White House ceremony not only honors the bravery of Shadrach and Wilson but also underscores the enduring impact of the Civil War on American society. As Biden recognizes these historical heroes, the nation is reminded of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom and unity.

Conservative Bias:

Well, here we go again, folks. President Joe Biden is doing what he does best: using a patriotic event to distract from his abysmal performance. The awarding of the Medal of Honor to two Union soldiers, Shadrach and Wilson, is nothing more than a political stunt to divert attention from his disastrous debate showing against President Trump. Biden is desperate to cloak himself in the valor of Civil War heroes to mask his incompetence and failures. The liberals will do anything to rewrite history and push their divisive agenda, even if it means exploiting the bravery of soldiers who fought and died over 150 years ago. This ceremony is just another attempt by the left to manipulate public sentiment and distract from the real issues at hand, like the border crisis, inflation, and rising crime rates. It's a shameful display of political pandering at its finest.

Liberal Bias:

Here we have President Joe Biden, in a rare moment of decency, honoring two Union soldiers who displayed immense bravery during the Civil War. But let's not forget, the only reason this ceremony is even necessary is because of the systemic neglect and historical amnesia perpetuated by conservatives for decades. These soldiers were ignored and forgotten, much like how today's GOP ignores the sacrifices of everyday Americans while idolizing Confederate traitors. Biden's commemoration of Shadrach and Wilson is a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against the revisionist history championed by the right. The Republicans, with their constant glorification of Confederate figures like Robert E. Lee, continue to undermine the true legacy of the Civil War and the fight for equality. This ceremony is a much-needed correction in the face of conservative attempts to whitewash history and perpetuate a divisive, racist narrative.