Andrew's Raid

[James Mason]

Can anyone tell me the names of the men receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor resulting from the Andrew's Raid?

 

[CivilWarTalk]

Try this link: http://civilwarwiki.net/wiki/Medal_of_Honor#The_First_Medal_of_Honor_Action

Pvt Jacob Parrott Co K, 33d Ohio Infantry March 25, 1863
Pvt William Bensinger Co G, 21st Ohio Infantry March 25, 1863
Pvt Robert Buffum Co H, 21st Ohio Infantry March 25, 1863
Sgt Elihu H. Mason Co K, 21st Ohio Infantry March 25, 1863
Sgt William Pittinger (Pittenger) Co G, 2d Ohio Infantry March 25, 1863
Cpl William H. Harrison Reddick Co B, 33d Ohio Infantry March 25, 1863
Cpl Daniel Allen Dorsey Co H, 33d Ohio Infantry September 17, 1863
SgtMaj Marion A. Ross ** 2d Ohio Infantry September, 1863
Pvt Mark Wood Co C, 21st Ohio Infantry September, 1863
Pvt John Reed Porter Co G, 21st Ohio Infantry September, 1863
Pvt Wilson W. Brown Co F, 21st Ohio Infantry September, 1863
Pvt William J. Knight Co E, 21st Ohio Infantry September, 1863
Pvt John Alfred Wilson Co C, 21st Ohio Infantry September, 1863
Pvt Samuel Robertson ** Co G, 33d Ohio Infantry September, 1863
Cpl Martin Jones Hawkins Co A, 33d Ohio Infantry September, 1863
Pvt James Smith Co I, 2d Ohio Infantry July 6, 1864
Pvt John Wollam Co C, 33d Ohio Infantry July 20, 1864
Sgt John Morehead Scott ** Co F, 21st Ohio Infantry August 4, 1866
Pvt Samuel Slavens ** Co E, 33d Ohio Infantry July 28, 1883

 

[bama46]

Notice that Andrews name is not among them... he was a civilian

 

[reading48]

Hello and Greetings from the Comonwealth of Penna.

 

[Nathanb1]

Howdy from Texas.

 

[oldpete63]

A Hearty Welcome from New York !!! Enjoy !!!

 

[donna]

Welcome from Kentucky.

 

[Gen Cleburne]

This list does in fact list the recipients(awardees) of Andrews Raid, but does not include 3 members- bringing the total of Andrews Raiders to 23. William Campbell, executed with the seven raiders a week after Andrews, was in fact a civilian who affiliated with the 2nd regiment, Ohio Vols. George Wilson and Perry Shadrach, also among the 7 executed were not awarded the medal, simply because a family member did not request it. Not listed also was Samuel Llewellyn, who began the operation but was compelled to enlist to avoid capture. In his case, feeling undeserving of the medal, he declined to request it.
Many lists have been made, and over time the numbers of men in the Raid have varied. It appears that 23 men commenced the mission under command of Andrews. Of these, 7 were hanged. It is curious to note that of the 7 hanged, only 4 ultimately received the MOH. I refer you to "Stealing the General", by Russell S. Bonds, in my opinion the best source on this operation thus far.

 

[kholland]

Welcome from Maryland.

 

[diane]

Glad to see you Gen Cleburne! Welcome! That is a very good book on the raid. I had no idea how the escapees escaped until I read that book but the pair who piked it through Dixie and came out at the Gulf of Mexico get a big hand from me! (They were close to starving but the Englishman recognized clams!)

 

[richard]

I have not read the book but I understand but I could be wrong, that the plot was much larger that what took place in Ga. I have also heard that there were some women involved in the plot on the western end of the rail line that connected Memphis to Chattanooga. Again, I could be wrong and if I am I will stand corrected.

 

[diane]

Hadn't heard about women - could you elaborate? The idea was Ormsby Mitchell's and Andrew was available - he was somewhat a shady character. Seemed to be a double agent but nobody is really sure! However, the battle of Shiloh bolloxed the whole scheme. It was a good idea to cut that vital rail tie but all the troops suddenly shifting with the fall of Nashville - that punched the bottom out of the raiders' tub.

 

[richard]

When I was in Huntsville a year ago, I stopped in at the train station that was used during the civil war. The guide told of the raid and that it involved more people that is generally talked about including several women.

 

[Gen Cleburne]

Good point Diane. The rushing of troops from Nashville, and the aftermath of Shiloh congested the lines, but untimately it came down to the delay of Andrews himself. There was to have been close coordination with Mitchels troops, which were to seize Huntsville, AL, taking out the Memphis line, while Andrews and co. were to rendezvous with them, after having severed the Atlanta-Chattanooga line. Feeling that heavy rains would delay Mitchel, he postponed his own operation one day. As it happens, Mitchel seized Huntsville on 11 April as planned, the raid went off on the morning of the 12th, and absorbed all the 'skeedaddling' traffic. No less than 3 southbound trains were encountered, while the raiders lay on sidetracks. Pressed by relentless puruit by Captain Fuller and company, Andrews decided not to do near the damage that he had intended. No bridges were fired, though this was as chiefly due to dampness, and crucial telegraph lines were not cut in a timely manner. Trains were also left undamaged on siderails, and these ultimately figured in the pusuit.
The talk about female collaboration I have not heard, but I feel that it has to be of Mitchel's design, upon occupying Huntsville. Ive found no mention of it regarding Andrews, and I feel certain he was not privy to this information. Id love to learn more about Andrews. Ive been to his hometown(Flemingsburg,KY), and learned a bit more about him, but he remains an enigma- an early-day James Bond!

 

[diane]

Mitchel was very energetic - too much so for Buell! Buell pulled the rug out from under him and also from under Andrews. If the raid had gone better and they had been able to damage the bridges and locomotives encountered - some of those undamaged engines were used to chase them - as well as the communications lines, it would have been a heavy blow to the Confederates. Mitchel had the right idea but the wrong superior.

 

[Littlestown]

In the Chattanooga National Cemetery stands the Ohio monument which was dedicated to the Union men who participated in "The Great Locomotive Chase." Those graves in a semi-circle that lie within the shadow of the monument contain the remains of eight of the raiders who were hung and initially buried in Atlanta, Georgia in June 1862. Their bodies were re-interred in this cemetery after the war.

 

[Bob Owen]

The "General" is located in Kennesaw, Ga. and the "Texas"

is located in Atlanta.

 

[Robtweb1]

There is a historical marker out in the country on Hwy 64 near Shelbyville,Tennessee. It marks the place where the raiders assembled. Don't blink or you'll miss it.

http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=25432

 

[Littlestown]

Hadn't heard about women - could you elaborate?

I recently listended to a speaker give a presentation on Andrews Raid. He mentioned the "women helping" aspect as follows:

The idea about "women being involved", may have come about because William Hunter Campbell, ran a "house of ill repute" in Louisville, KY, around the time of the War's start. The 2nd O.V.I. was stationed in or near Louisville, and, many of its members had been raised with Campbell (born in Salineville, Columbiana County, OH, 9 Sept 1839). Campbell reportedly was a loyal secessionist and used the women to pass false information about Southern activities to Union troops who frequented his establishment. The only reason that Campbell joined the railway raid, was to escape the hangman's noose. Campbell had killed a man in Louisville, and, was a fugitive from justice.

The speaker was Gary Harris, Carroll Co. Ohio Chamber of Commerce. This site also shares some of the same information and elaborates further about the entire Raid: http://www.jeffcochapter.com/Campbell.html

 

[richard]

The "General" is located in Kennesaw, Ga. and the "Texas"View attachment 7774View attachment 7775 is located in Atlanta.

I was in Chattanooga when the General was "Kidnaped" and taken to Kennesaw.