Born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1843, Army Pvt. Jacob Parrott joined the Ohio Infantry during the Civil War and would become the youngest of 24 men known as Andrews’ Raiders.
By 1863, Parrott received the first Medal of Honor for his part in the “The Great Locomotive Chase” that ended just outside of Chattanooga in the Ringgold area. Ultimately, 19 of the 24 raiders were awarded the Medal of Honor.
The mission began on April 12, 1862, in the Marietta, Georgia, area. The men were given orders to invade enemy territory, comandeer a Confederate locomotive named The General, burn bridges and destroy railroad tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta, according to the Medal of Honor Heritage Center.
The men, led by civilian scout James Andrews, got on the train with the cover story that they were from Fleming County, Kentucky, and were on their way to join the Confederate Army, said Anthony Hodges, Medal of Honor Heritage Center board member and local Civil War historian.
Once the train reached Big Shanty, Georgia – now known as Kennesaw – everyone disboarded for breakfast.