Newstory: Fort Chadbourne Exhibits Celebrate National Medal of Honor Day
          Submitted by Ann Pate
Contributed by Brenda Scott Hines
June 2015
***********************************************************************
The Observer/Enterprise, Coke County, TX - March 21, 2014

Fort Chadbourne Exhibits Celebrate National Medal of Honor Day

Submitted by Ann Pate

National Medal of Honor Day is Tuesday, March 25, 2014. 
Many Americans are unaware that this day even exists. The date was 
chosen because the first six Medals of Honor were awarded on 
March 25, 1863. The men were members of Andrews' Raiders and took 
part in "The Great Locomotive Chase", a raid to destroy the
Western and Atlantic Railroad which was used by the Confederates 
as a main supply link to Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

On April 12, 1862, exactly one year from the outbreak of the 
Civil War, James Andrews, a civilian scout, along with volunteers 
from the Union Army, hijacked a train, known as the "General", 
thus beginning he great chase. Train employees pursued the 
commandeered train following the raiders to Kingston, Tennessee. 
There, they boarded a south bound train, the "Texas", running 
it backwards along the opposite tracks to the Union soldiers, 
in pursuit of the "General".

Along the way, Andrew's Raiders did as much damage to the 
tracks as they possibly could, even setting a railcar on fire 
in order to burn a bridge, but the timbers were rain soaked 
from the night before and the tracks were so well built 
that without explosives or demolition tools, it was impossible 
to do more than minor damage.

Eventually the "General" ran out of fuel. Andrews and the Union 
soldiers abandoned the train and spread out, but were caught 
within the next week. The soldiers were held in Confederate 
P. O. W. camps, eventually being traded in a prisoner exchange.

Five of the men, including Andrews, were tried and hung. 
Approximately four months later, eight of the remaining Raiders 
escaped. Six of the men were found, returned, and brutally beaten.
 
These six men would become the first Medal of Honor recipients. 
They were; Jacob Parrott, William Bensinger, Robert Buffum,
Elihu Mason, William Pittenger and William Reddick. 

Eventually, nineteen of Andrew's Raiders would be awarded the 
Medal of Honor. Fort Chadbourne honors all 3,485 recipients of 
the Medal of Honor inside the Visitor Center/Museum. All 
recipients' names are inscribed on a wall listed by war or 
interim. Every Medal of Honor is also on display in the museum 
including the medals issued in the 1800s to those issued today. 
All branches of service are represented. 

Six men who served at Fort Chadbourne received the Medal of Honor 
for actions in the Civil War. They were; Eugene Beaumont, 
Peter Boehm, Zenus Bliss, Joseph Hedges, David Stanley 
and Henry Clay Wood.

Several items belonging to Medal of Honor recipients are also 
featured, including a Henry Rifle that belonged to 
Alanson Pitts Webber, and a sword that belonged to a 
Fort Chadbourne recipient, Major Peter Boehm who served at 
Fort Chadbourne in 1867. Medals from the Purge of 1917 are 
also displayed. 

Fort Chadbourne invites, everyone interested in the Medal of Honor, 
and those who honor our brave men and women serving today, to 
stop by and view this historic display. Fort Chad-bourne, 
located 12 miles north of Bronte on Highway 277, is open 
Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8 am to 5 pm.