This bill authorizes the posthumous awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal to James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell in recognition of their extraordinary heroism as civilian members of the Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War.
Charles "Chuck" Fleischmann
Representative
TN-3
The James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell Congressional Gold Medal Act authorizes the presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the extraordinary bravery of James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell. As the only civilian members of the historic "Great Locomotive Chase" during the Civil War, these men are recognized for their unwavering devotion to the nation. The awarded medal will be housed at the Smithsonian Institution, with provisions for the production and sale of bronze duplicates.
Congressional Gold Medal Awarded to Civil War Spies: Andrews and Campbell Honored for 'Great Locomotive Chase'
This bill authorizes the presentation of a single Congressional Gold Medal to jointly honor James J. Andrews and William H. Campbell, two civilian spies who led a daring 1862 mission known as the 'Great Locomotive Chase.' While most of their fellow 'Andrews Raiders' received the Medal of Honor—some as the first recipients in U.S. history—these two civilians were ineligible for that specific military award at the time. This legislation seeks to finalize their historical recognition for a mission that involved stealing a Confederate train to sabotage supply lines, an act that ultimately led to their capture and execution.
A Century-Old Debt Settled
The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike a gold medal featuring inscriptions and 'suitable emblems' that commemorate the bravery of Andrews and Campbell (Section 3). For those who aren't Civil War buffs, these men were the only two civilians in a group of 24 volunteers who hijacked the locomotive General in Georgia. While President Biden recently awarded posthumous Medals of Honor to the remaining soldiers in the group in July 2024, this bill ensures the civilian leaders receive the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow, officially cementing their place in national history.
From the Mint to the Museum
Once the medal is struck and presented, it won't just sit in a private collection. Section 3(c) requires the medal to be given to the Smithsonian Institution, with a specific request that it be made available for display at the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This effectively turns a piece of legislation into a public educational tool. If you’re a history teacher or a family on a road trip, this means a new, high-profile artifact will be accessible for public viewing and research, rather than locked away in a vault.
Collectibles and Costs
For the hobbyists and collectors out there, Section 4 allows the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicate versions of the medal. The bill is structured to be self-sustaining: the price of these duplicates must cover all production costs, including materials and labor (Section 4(b)). All proceeds from these sales go back into the U.S. Mint Public Enterprise Fund (Section 6). This means the project is designed to honor these historical figures without creating a permanent drain on taxpayer funds, as the sales of the bronze replicas are intended to offset the expenses of the gold original.