In a historic ceremony at the White House on Wednesday, President Joe Biden posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to two Union soldiers, Private Philip G. Shadrach and Private George D. Wilson, more than 160 years after their execution for their daring mission against the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

The recognition comes as a long-overdue acknowledgement of the gallantry and intrepidity displayed by Shadrach and Wilson during a covert military operation that took place on April 12, 1862. These brave soldiers, along with 20 others from the 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment and two civilians, infiltrated Confederate territory in one of the earliest special operations in US Army history.

Their mission, known as the Great Locomotive Chase, saw Union soldiers masquerading as civilians as they hijacked a train named the General in Georgia and drove it north for 87 miles. Along the way, they strategically tore up tracks, switches, and bridges to inflict maximum damage on enemy infrastructure. However, the Confederates caught up with them, forcing the Union soldiers to abandon the General.

Within two weeks, Shadrach and Wilson, along with their fellow raid members, were captured and found guilty of "acts of unlawful belligerency." They were subsequently convicted as spies and executed by hanging, a fate that went unrecognized for more than a century.

The delay in awarding Shadrach and Wilson the Medal of Honor can be attributed to unfortunate timing. Shortly after the raid, their officers were promoted and moved to different units, leaving no one to advocate for their recognition. Despite this oversight, their bravery and dedication to preserving the union remained unchanged.

President Biden, along with descendants of Shadrach and Wilson, presented the prestigious medal in the ceremony held at the White House. The event was a culmination of years of hard work by family members and historians who tirelessly researched and submitted the necessary documentation for their posthumous recognition.

The General and the pursuing locomotive, the Texas, both survived the daring chase and are now housed in museums in Georgia. The General can be found at Kennesaw's Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, while the Texas is displayed at the Atlanta History Center, serving as a reminder of this remarkable event in American history.

As the descendants and historians bask in the fulfillment of their efforts, the posthumous awarding of the Medal of Honor to Shadrach and Wilson underscores their unwavering dedication, intense bravery, and comradery among a group of men who believed in their mission and sacrificed everything to preserve the Union.