A terrific Newsletter and article indeed! The story of Jacob Parrot, the first MOH recipient in history is compelling. Here is the rest of the story after their capture by the Confederates:

With the Texas so close, there was no longer time for Andrews and his men to stop to tear up track or cut telegraph wires. Finally, just 18 miles from Chattanooga, the raiders abandoned the General and scattered. All were captured within two weeks, and Mitchel’s effort to capture Chattanooga would ultimately fail.

The raiders were tried in military courts and found guilty of “acts of unlawful belligerency.” Andrews was hanged, as were seven others who were taken to Knoxville. Fearing the same fate, Parrott and the remaining raiders made a daring escape. Eight succeeded. Parrott and five others did not. Held as a prisoner of war, Parrott was beaten more than 100 times in an effort to get him to divulge more information about the raiders’ intentions. Each time he refused. The POWs were eventually released in a prisoner exchange.

On March 25, 1863, the six raiders who had been recaptured were awarded a newly approved medal to be awarded for valor. Jacob Wilson Parrott became the first recipient of that coveted award, the Medal of Honor, by virtue of the torture he had been subjected to as a prisoner. Later, all but three of the remaining raiders were also presented with the award, except for Andrews and Campbell who, as civilians, were not eligible.

from https://www.cmohs.org/news-events/history/the-great-locomotive-chase-the-first-awarded-medal-of-honor/