James J. Andrews
James J. Andrews | |
---|---|
Born | c. 1829 Holiday's Cove, Virginia, US (now Weirton, West Virginia) |
Died | June 7, 1862 (aged 32–33) Atlanta, Georgia, US |
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | Union Army |
Rank | Civilian |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
James J. Andrews (c. 1829 – June 7, 1862) was a Kentucky civilian who worked for the Union Army during the early years of the American Civil War. He led a daring raid behind enemy lines on the Western and Atlantic Railroad, known as the Great Locomotive Chase. Andrews and seven fellow raiders were caught at the end of the chase and executed by the Confederates on the charge of spying.[1]
Biography
Andrews was born in Holiday's Cove, Virginia (now
In April, Andrews proposed a new scheme to
He was
Legacy
He was engaged to Elizabeth Layton of Flemingsburg, Kentucky at the time of his execution.[6] After learning of her fiancé's death, Layton became distraught and apparently never recovered and died two years later, her family believed of a "broken heart".[6]
The first recipients of the Medal of Honor were made to military survivors of the raid. As a civilian, Andrews was ineligible for the Medal of Honor that was presented to most of the raiders.
Walt Disney made a movie of Andrews' exploits in 1956 called The Great Locomotive Chase starring Fess Parker as Andrews. Buster Keaton's 1927 feature-length comedy masterpiece The General was also loosely based on the incident.
See also
References
Citations
- ^ Bonds (2009), p. 306.
- ^ Bonds (2009), pp. 69–85; Casstevens (2006), p. 4.
- ^ a b Bonds (2009), pp. 69–85.
- ^ Bonds (2009), pp. 107–179.
- ^ a b c Bonds (2009), pp. 204–250.
- ^ a b c d e Bonds (2009), pp. 306–330.
- ^ Holt (2010), p. 55.
Sources
- Bonds, Russell S. (2009). Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor (pdf) (2nd Westholme paperback ed.). Yardley, PA: Westholme Publishing. pp. 3–23, 69, 107–179, 204–250, 306–330. OCLC 1352007505. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- Casstevens, Frances H. (2006). Tales from the North and the South: Twenty-Four Remarkable People and Events of the Civil War. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 4. OCLC 881888018. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
- Holt, Dean W. (2010). American Military Cemeteries (2nd ed.). Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 407. OCLC 607552649. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
External links
- Railfanning.org: The Andrews Raid
- James J. Andrews historical marker