Soldier Parrott
The Incredible Story of America’s First Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
J. North Conway
Lyons Press, Guilford, Connecticut, 2021, 272 pages
Book Review published on: October 27, 2023
The Medal of Honor is our Nation’s highest military decoration and is presented to members of the Armed Forces for valor in action against enemy forces. In his book, Soldier Parrott: The Incredible Story of America’s First Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, J. North Conway describes the amazing story of the Andrews’ Raiders and Jacob Parrott, an illiterate orphan from Ohio and a private in the Union Army, who became the first individual to receive this prestigious award. It depicts a daring mission during the Civil War by Union soldiers to seize a Confederate train outside of Atlanta and take it to Northern territory in Tennessee. Along the way, the goal was to destroy Southern railroad tracks, burn bridges, and cut telegraph lines, preventing the movement of troops and supplies from Atlanta to Chattanooga. The theme throughout this book is the incredible call to duty by a select group of Union soldiers and their personal sacrifices in pursuit of Northern war objectives including preservation of the Union
.
The book begins by describing the movement of Parrott and others from Union Tennessee camps to Marietta, Georgia. Most were young farm boys and laborers who never traveled farther than ten miles from their homes and were now on the greatest adventure of their lives. They were eager volunteers who traveled in small parties deep into Confederate territory to avoid arousing suspicion by the enemy. On the morning of 12 April 1862, the raiders, including their leader James Andrews, boarded a train northward and upon arrival at Big Shanty, they allowed the crew and unsuspecting passengers to disembark for breakfast. This stop had no communication lines. They then uncoupled the passenger cars and confiscated the locomotive called General, a tender, and three empty boxcars. The theft occurred so quickly that none of the Confederate soldiers had time to react or sound the alarm.
The importance of this raid emphasizes two critical revolutions in military affairs taking place during the Civil War. First, railroads transformed the conflict for both Union and Confederate forces. It was the most efficient way to transport troops and provisions to the battlefield. Second, the use of telegraph lines increased the speed and accuracy of information between military commands and played a significant role in the tactical and operational maneuvers during the war.
Upon learning of the train theft, the Confederate pursuit began on foot and then by railcar. Eventually, the pursuers acquired a southbound train called Texas and continued their chase. There was no time to turn the train around, so the Texas followed General while traveling in reverse. The pursuit finally came to an end at Ringgold, a small community twenty miles south of Chattanooga. Out of fuel, the Union soldiers abandoned their train and dispersed into the woods before Confederate troops captured them. Overall, the mission was a failure and had no military effect on the war effort. The damaged rail and communication lines were quickly repaired. The train thieves were hailed in the North as heroes. Carl von Clausewitz would argue chance in war is an unavoidable phenomenon. Although the Union took a chance in attempting this raid, it created an opportunity for exploitation that could not be ignored.
After capture, Parrott and others on his team were interrogated. All suffered great misery at the hands of the Confederates. Eight of the raiders were tried and hanged in Atlanta, including their leader, James Andrews. The remaining prisoners went to prison camps and attempted to escape. Eight of the prisoners were successful and traveled hundreds of miles in pairs until they safely reached Union lines. The remaining six raiders were detained as prisoners of war and exchanged for Confederate prisoners. They were released on 17 March 1863 and traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. After a short discussion, Stanton informed them that they would receive the Medal of Honor. Parrott became the first recipient of this award by virtue of the physical abuse and torture he had endured while a prisoner. The other five raiders received similar recognition. After the ceremony, the six soldiers were invited to the White House and met with President Abraham Lincoln. Subsequently, all but three soldiers who participated in the raid were awarded the Medal of Honor, including posthumous awards for those prisoners executed.
Soldier Parrott: The Incredible Story of America’s First Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient describes the events of the Andrews’ Raid of 1862, in which Union soldiers apprehended a Confederate train in Northern Georgia during the Civil War. It is an exceptional, quick read for those interested in Civil War history. Conway organizes this book in four chapters and depicts a chronological sequence of events that is easy to follow and comprehend. Parrott and the other raiders will always be remembered for their love of country, devotion to mission accomplishment, and their excruciating pain and suffering while serving as prisoners of war. Their outstanding service epitomizes the true meaning of selfless sacrifice.
Book Review written by: Lt. Col. Mark F. Kormos, U.S. Army, Retired, Fort Belvoir, Virginia