The reenactment will retrace the original route of the Andrews’ Raid—an audacious mission on April 12, 1862, that ultimately led to our country’s first Medals of Honor awarded on March 25, 1863
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — To officially kick-off the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration in Chattanooga, the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, in partnership with CSX, will bring history to life with the first ever immersive reenactment of The Great Locomotive Chase on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. This once-in-a-lifetime event–which is sponsored by the Gary W. Rollins Foundation–will have nearly 20 Medal of Honor Recipients and other invited guests on a special CSX train as they travel on the famed Western and Atlantic Railroad (W&A) line from Atlanta to Chattanooga to attend the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration.
“Having today’s Medal of Honor Recipients retrace the same route as the very first Recipients brings this history to life in a remarkable way,” said Chad Graham, Executive Director of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. “This reenactment is a living example of our mission to honor the sacrifice and inspire the future, linking the courage of the past to the voices of today’s Recipients as they share the values of the Medal with generations to come.”
In partnership with the Atlanta History Center, the Southern Museum and the City of Ringgold, Georgia, the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration is honored to host this immersive, living-history experience that will retrace the daring path of the Andrews’ Raid, more popularly known as the Great Locomotive Chase. On April 12, 1862, civilian scout James J. Andrews, along with one civilian accomplice and 22 Union volunteers from three Ohio infantry regiments, masqueraded in civilian attire to covertly board a train–the General–at Marietta, Georgia. Their mission: seize the locomotive the General near Big Shanty (present-day Kennesaw), then steam north toward Chattanooga, systematically sabotaging railroad tracks, bridges and telegraph lines to disrupt Confederate supply routes.
“This reenactment is more than a commemoration – it’s a living tribute to the courage, and commitment of the first Medal of Honor Recipients,” said Tom Mundell, President & CEO of the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. “We are grateful to our partners and sponsors, especially CSX, for helping us preserve this historic Medal of Honor action and historical event in such a powerful and immersive way.”
Why It Matters?
The Great Locomotive Chase is more than a Civil War story – it’s a defining moment in American military history and established Chattanooga as the Birthplace of the Medal of Honor. The audacious raid, spanning roughly 87 miles over seven hours, evoked an epic chase. Pursued relentlessly by Confederate conductor William Fuller—who switched between several chasing locomotives including the Texas, which is now located at the Atlanta History Center. The Raiders’ plans unraveled when the General – which is now located at the Southern Museum – ran out of steam just outside of Chattanooga near Ringgold, Georgia. The men scattered but were eventually captured. Eight of the captured participants—including James J. Andrews and seven others—were tried as spies and executed in Atlanta and later reinterned in Chattanooga at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. The rest endured imprisonment: some escaped, while others were later released in a prisoner exchange.
Despite its tactical failure, the raid left an enduring legacy: six of the raiders received the very first Medals of Honor on March 25, 1863, and over time, 21 of the 24 participants would be awarded the Medal of Honor—including two (Privates Philip G. Shadrach and George D. Wilson) who were posthumously recognized on July 3, 2024 by President Joe Biden.
“The Great Locomotive Chase isn’t just another Civil War story – it’s the birth of the Medal of Honor story,” said General B.B. Bell, U.S. Army, Retired. “By retracing this route, we honor the extraordinary bravery of those who risked everything for a cause greater than themselves, and we ensure their legacy continues to inspire future generations.”
Bell continued, “This mission created a historic milestone in our nation’s military history – one that also laid the foundation for Chattanooga’s heritage as the Birthplace of the Medal of Honor. By reenacting this mission as part of the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration, we are honoring these 24 men who courage, sacrifice and commitment on April 12, 1863, played a critical role in bringing the Civil War to an end and saving our great nation and the freedoms we all enjoy today.”
The Great Locomotive Chase Reenactment – September 30, 2025
This historic event will be recreated with an opening breakfast at the Atlanta History Center, where Medal of Honor Recipients, community, and civic leaders will learn more about the Great Locomotive Chase before heading to the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History for a lunch program.
The Medal of Honor Recipients and invited guests will then board the CSX train for the re-enactment journey. The event will conclude with a brief reception at the Historic Ringgold Depot Center.
The public is invited to wave the train along its route from Kennesaw to Ringgold.
Media credentialing is limited. For inquiries about participating in the reenactment or other media opportunities during the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration week, please email [email protected].
The 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration
This fall, Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Birthplace of the Medal of Honor, will welcome all of our nation’s living Medal of Honor Recipients for a week of remembrance, celebration, and community engagement. Presented by Textile Rubber & Chemical Company, the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration will take place September 29 – October 4, featuring a variety of public and private events across the region. The week will conclude with the Patriot Awards Gala on Saturday, October 4, at the Chattanooga Convention Center, where four remarkable Americans will be honored for exemplifying the Medal of Honor’s values.
The 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration is also sponsored by the Gary W. Rollins Foundation, the Gary Sinise Foundation, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, American Airlines, CSX, the Robert Irvine Foundation, the Jack and Charlotte Frost Family Foundation, the Frank P. Pierce Foundation, Unum, Texas A&M University, AM General, Decosimo Family Partners, Erlanger Hospital, Fed-Ex, Food City, Miller Industries, Realized Solutions, Tennessee Valley Authority, the Kennedy Family Foundation and PenFed Foundation For Military Heroes and The Raines Group.
To learn more about the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Vince Butler at (423) 877-2525 or [email protected].
Link to video about the 2025 Medal of Honor Celebration
About the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center
The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center is situated in the heart of the Birthplace of the Medal of Honor—Chattanooga, Tennessee. The 19,500 square-foot facility is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Medal of Honor and sharing the incredible stories of Medal of Honor Recipients through immersive exhibits and educational programming. Through this mission, the Heritage Center strives to educate future generations about the six character traits embodied by the Medal of Honor and its Recipients–Patriotism, Citizenship, Courage, Integrity, Sacrifice and Commitment—and inspire the leaders of tomorrow to embody these traits in their daily actions to make a difference in their community and world. Learn more at www.MOHHC.org.
About the Congressional Medal of Honor Society
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Medal of Honor (the United States’ highest award for military valor in action) and its Recipients, inspiring Americans to live the values the Medal represents, and supporting Recipients as they connect with communities across America. Chartered by Congress in 1958, the Society’s membership consists exclusively of those individuals who have received the Medal of Honor. The Society carries out its mission through outreach, education, and preservation programs, including the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, Citizen Honors Awards, and The Medal of Honor Museum. As part of Public Law 106-83, the Medal of Honor Memorial Act, The Medal of Honor Museum, which is co-located with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s headquarters on board the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, was designated as one of three national Medal of Honor sites. The Society’s programs and operations are fully funded by generous donors. Learn more about the Medal of Honor and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s initiatives at cmohs.org.
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SOURCE Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center
