Philip Gephart Shadrach | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 15, 1840 |
| Died | June 18, 1862 (aged 21) |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | American Civil War soldier |
Philip Gephart Shadrach (or Shadrack) was an American soldier who was executed in 1862 for his involvement in the Great Locomotive Chase.
Early life
Shadrach was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on September 15, 1840. He enlisted with Company "K" of the 2nd Ohio Infantry Regiment for three years on September 20, 1861, at a place called the Mitchell Salt Works in Ohio as a private. He enlisted as "Charles P. (Perry) Shadrach".
Andrews Raid
On April 12, 1862, Shadrach participated in the Andrews Raid, otherwise known as the Great Locomotive Chase. The participants' goal in the raid was to sabotage railways to prevent Confederate soldiers stationed in Chattanooga, Tennessee, from receiving supplies.[1]
Shadrach was hanged alongside Samuel Robertson, John Morehead Scott, Samuel Slavens, and George Davenport Wilson in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 18, 1862. However, unlike Robertson, Scott, and Slavens, Shadrach and George Wilson were not posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor for their roles in the raid. In 2008, President George W. Bush signed legislation to authorize himself to award the Medal of Honor to Shadrach and Wilson; however, as of 2015, neither had received the medal, despite calls for Bush's successor, President Barack Obama, to recognize Shadrach and Wilson.[1]
See also
References
- 1 2 Shadrach, Ron (2015-07-03). "Medals of Honor to Two Who Died Would Correct Omission (Opinion)". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on 2023-07-15. Retrieved 2023-07-15.