William Pittenger

William Pittenger was one of the Union soldiers who penetrated deep into Georgia in 1862, seized the locomotive General, and tried to wreck the rail line between Atlanta and Chattanooga in the operation remembered as the Great Locomotive Chase.

Born on 31 January 1840 at Knoxville in Jefferson County, Ohio, Pittenger served as a sergeant in Company G, 2nd Ohio Infantry. In April 1862 he joined the raiding party led by civilian scout James J. Andrews. The raiders captured a train at Big Shanty, Georgia, and attempted to damage track, bridges and communications as they drove north. Pittenger was captured after the raid failed.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): Pittenger was one of the Union soldiers who took part in the April 1862 Andrews raid into Georgia, seized a locomotive and attempted to disrupt Confederate rail communications.

He was among the earliest recipients of the Medal of Honor, receiving the decoration on 25 March 1863. Pittenger later became a minister, author and lecturer. He died on 24 April 1904 in Fallbrook, California, and was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery there.

His verified rack consists of the Medal of Honor and the Army Civil War Campaign Medal. No clasp, service star, or other ribbon device is supported.