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In April 1862 General Mitchell and General Buell tasked 22 volunteers (including 2 civilians) under the leadership of James Andrews, with a daring raid. The men, later known as "Andrews' Raiders" penetrated 200 miles into enemy territory to capture a railroad train at Big Shanty, Georgia. Their mission was to destroy vital railroad lines and bridges between Chattanooga and Atlanta to disrupt movement of Confederate soldiers and supplies. Only partially successful, their capture of the locomotive "The General" resulted in a nearly 100 mile race that became known as "The Great Locomotive Chase". Corporal Reddick was one of these raiders, traveling in a small group for four days to reach Big Shanty and then joining the reunited group in the daring sabotage mission. In the ensuing race, a limited amount of damage was accomplished to bridges and rail lines, and in the end all members of the Andrew's Raid were captured and confined in Confederate prisons. On June 7th James Andrews was hanged as a spy, and on the 18th seven more raiders (including the civilian members) were hanged. Fourteen raiders later escaped their prison camp. Reddick was one of 6 to reach friendly lines. |
| After his successful escape, Corporal Reddick arrived in Washington, DC where he and his fellow raiders were presented the first Medals of Honor in history. Mason was the sixth in the group to receive his Country's highest honor. In the 1950s, Disney Studios released "The Great Locomotive Chase", a movie starring Fess Parker to herald the accomplishments of the Andrews Raid. |
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