The St. Albans Raid, Vermont

[RollAlabamaRoll]

The St. Albans raid in St. Albans Vermont was a robbery by 21 confederate soldiers on October 19th, 1864 that had retreated to Canada after John Hunt Morgan's raid of Ohio in 1863, led by lieutenant Bennett H. Young. Young would assemble the men on horseback on October 19th to raid the St. Alabans bank. The soldiers walked into the bank and declared that they were confederate soldiers and stole about 208,000 dollars (about 3,604,000 dollars in today's terms.) and fled to Canada. They were promptly arrested in Canada however under the law they were following military orders and were released. However, about half of the money that was on them was returned. The main goal of the raid was to help tear up the union economy and divert troops to the Canadian border.

St. Albanas bank teller being forced to pledge allegiance to the confederacy, unknown author.

 

[EHParks]

The St. Albans raid in St. Albans Vermont was a robbery by 21 confederate soldiers on October 19th, 1864 that had retreated to Canada after John Hunt Morgan's raid of Ohio in 1863, led by lieutenant Bennett H. Young. Young would assemble the men on horseback on October 19th to raid the St. Alabans bank. The soldiers walked into the bank and declared that they were confederate soldiers and stole about 208,000 dollars (about 3,604,000 dollars in today's terms.) and fled to Canada. They were promptly arrested in Canada however under the law they were following military orders and were released. However, about half of the money that was on them was returned. The main goal of the raid was to help tear up the union economy and divert troops to the Canadian border.
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St. Albanas bank teller being forced to pledge allegiance to the confederacy, unknown author.

I believe the raiders were much surprised by the amount of armed resistance raised immediately against them afterwards.

 

[lupaglupa]

The whole story is pretty wild. It didn't end up having much of an impact at all.

 

[RollAlabamaRoll]

I wonder what it would be like if there were a small force (1000 or so) in the Maine or New Hampshire area that took cities hostage and raided the states before a bulk force could get to them in time.

 

[ErnieMac]

1864 saw a number of actions along the Canadian border. Calais, Maine, saw an attempted bank robbery in July, 1864. In September Confederate agents seized two steamers on Lake Erie in attempt to free prisoners on Johnston Island. A plot to set a number of fires in New York City failed in November of that year.

 

[NFB22]

Bennett Young had previously taken part in Morgan's Raid prior to the St Albans Raid with the 8th Kentucky Cavalry. After the war he eventually returned to Kentucky and practiced law in Louisville where he is now buried at Cave Hill Cemetery.

 

[A. Roy]

Thanks for creating a thread on this topic, @RollAlabamaRoll -- I lived in Vermont for a number of years, and this was kind of viewed by many folks as one of the oddball incidents in Vermont history (there are many!)

St. Albans is way up north, so it tends to be somewhat marginalized in Vermont, but this raid does give the city a claim to fame. Here's a memorial plaque found there (Mdbfar, CC-BY-SA-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons):

ARB

 

[A. Roy]

Here's a photo of the raiders taken outside the Montreal jail (source is Library and Archives Canada, via Wikimedia Commons):

ARB

 

[Bentonville]

It makes a little more sense to me now. I didn't know that they made it back to Canada. I assumed they got caught. It's still weird.

I guess when I go see my sister it's time to make a side trip.

 

[Fairfield]

1864 saw a number of actions along the Canadian border. Calais, Maine, saw an attempted bank robbery in July, 1864. In September Confederate agents seized two steamers on Lake Erie in attempt to free prisoners on Johnston Island. A plot to set a number of fires in New York City failed in November of that year.

Because Calais is further north than St. Albans, that incident in Maine is the northernmost ACW action. However those St. Albans farmers who believed that they were all that was left of the Union (it wasn't known at first that the raiders came from Canada) yet still brought out their old arms have to be noted for their bravery.

 

[JeffBrooks]

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I can think of many adjectives that might be used to describe the St. Albans Raid, but "stirring" didn't exactly pop into my head.

 

[RollAlabamaRoll]

Because Calais is further north than St. Albans, that incident in Maine is the northernmost ACW action. However those St. Albans farmers who believed that they were all that was left of the Union (it wasn't known at first that the raiders came from Canada) yet still brought out their old arms have to be noted for their bravery.

The CSS Shenandoah captured 10 vessels just below the artic circle, which technically makes that event the northernmost action? But that was after the war had ended so it would be up for debate.

 

[RedRover]

It inspired the 1954 adventure film, "The Raid" starring Van Heflin, Lee Marvin, Peter Graves, Anne Bancroft and Richard Boone.

Here's a still with Claude Akins (Sheriff Lobo) at left, and Van Heflin (Santa Fe Trail), at right.

Okay, a little bit of Van Heflin trivia, his name was on the marquee at the Texas Theater in Dallas where Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested in 1963...

 

[Fairfield]

The CSS Shenandoah captured 10 vessels just below the artic circle, which technically makes that event the northernmost action? But that was after the war had ended so it would be up for debate.

Sometimes it feels like Maine is above the Arctic Circle but, as this really isn't the case, you have a point. I should have specified a land incident--so we both have technicality on our side!

 

[Fairfield]

I can think of many adjectives that might be used to describe the St. Albans Raid, but "stirring" didn't exactly pop into my head.

The folk of that little town who believed that they were all that was left of the Union to face the entire Confederate army were--indeed--stirred!

 

[Championhilz]

I wonder what it would be like if there were a small force (1000 or so) in the Maine or New Hampshire area that took cities hostage and raided the states before a bulk force could get to them in time.

There was a small Confederate raid on the town of Calais, Maine, July 18, 1864 - the alert residents managed to capture the raiders. Here is a link to a story about the raid: https://stcroixhistorical.com/?p=3974#:~:text=On July 18, 1864 Confederate,late 1863 and early 1864.

 

[Bentonville]

The CSS Shenandoah captured 10 vessels just below the artic circle, which technically makes that event the northernmost action? But that was after the war had ended so it would be up for debate.

I think its interesting that for taking those ten ships they didn't brought up on charges if piracy. It was the only time I can think of that 'I didn't see the top sign' worked. So their wasn't even a citation.

I used to think that Johnson was cruel and vindictive. Your post makes re-examine my position.

Thanks for bringing up the post war Shenandoah.

 

[Library Lady]

I think its interesting that for taking those ten ships they didn't brought up on charges if piracy. It was the only time I can think of that 'I didn't see the top sign' worked. So their wasn't even a citation.

As I recall, the whole Battle of New Orleans was fought after the end of the War of 1812. Andrew Jackson "didn't see the stop sign", either. He wasn't brought up on charges, unless you think getting elected President is just as bad.

 

[Bentonville]

As I recall, the whole Battle of New Orleans was fought after the end of the War of 1812. Andrew Jackson "didn't see the stop sign", either. He wasn't brought up on charges, unless you think getting elected President is just as bad.

Jackson & Waddell both could have used 'guilty, with an explanation'.

I really don't like talking politics. I try to keep things civil lest there is a war started.

 

[RollAlabamaRoll]

I think its interesting that for taking those ten ships they didn't brought up on charges if piracy. It was the only time I can think of that 'I didn't see the top sign' worked. So their wasn't even a citation.

I used to think that Johnson was cruel and vindictive. Your post makes re-examine my position.

Thanks for bringing up the post war Shenandoah.

The Shenandoah surrendered in Liverpool to avoid charges of piracy. The officers slowly made their way back to the US over the course of 10 years or so in small groups. If the Shenandoah touched port in the U.S. the officers most likely would've been hung for piracy unless their innocence plea due to lack of knowledge was accepted by the court. The officers however did make it abundantly clear that they wanted to act carefuly as possible like Semmes did.