First Medals of Honor

[Gael]

For your information:

The first Medals of Honor were struck during 1862, and a number of years later Congress had them redesigned and offered to exchange the new for the old.

Some of the first medals were presented to the volunteers who participated in the Andrews Raid, which later was filmed with Fess Parker as Andrews.  One participant, William J Knight of Stryker (my home town where I grew up), OH, was buried about two miles from our farm.  Originally from nearby Farmer, OH, he was the Engineer for the captured train.  During a recent celebration of the event of his receiving the Medal, photos were taken and are now attached here for your enjoyment.  Both back and front images are shown.  After the war, when the new medal was offered in exchange, Mr. Knight refused to give up his original medal as it was presented to him by President Lincoln, and nothing could rival that event in Mr. Knight's life -- per his family's oral history.

When at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes for an acquaintance's retirement ceremony, I viewed the big wall plaques around the room and was able to locate Mr. Knight's name.

 

http://homeofheroes.com/photos/1_civilwar/knight_william.html

"In April 1862 General Mitchell and General Buell tasked 22 volunteers
(including 2 civilians) under the leadership of James Andrews, with a daring
raid. The men, later known as "Andrews' Raiders" penetrated 200 miles into
enemy territory to capture a railroad train at Big Shanty, Georgia. Their
mission was to destroy vital railroad lines and bridges between Chattanooga
and Atlanta to disrupt movement of Confederate soldiers and supplies.
Partially successful, their capture of the locomotive "The General" resulted
in a nearly 100-mile race that became known as "The Great Locomotive Chase".
Private Knight was one of these raiders, traveling in small groups for 4
days to reach Big Shanty and then joining the reunited group in the daring
sabotage mission. He was one of 2 who engineered the captured train. In the
ensuing race, a limited amount of damage was accomplished to bridges and
rail lines, and in the end all members of the Andrew's Raid were captured
and confined in Confederate prisons. On June 7th James Andrews was hanged as
a spy and on the 18th seven more raiders (including the civilian members)
were hanged. Knight spent more than a year in Confederate prisons.
In the 1950s Disney Studios released the movie "The Great Locomotive Chase"
to herald the exploits of Andrews Raiders."

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                              --Gael

 

 

 

 

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