James Andrews had a bright idea. Andrews was known to the Union Army of the Ohio as a purveyor of intelligence about Confederate movements. Intelligence is what Brigadier General Ormsby Mitchel expected when Andrews asked to see him. Andrews had an insane idea, he and some volunteers would hijack a train and destroy bridges as they escaped to the north. The rail line he had targeted was the Western and Atlantic line connecting Atlanta to Chattanooga. It was called the “life-line of the Confederacy”. Cutting that line would cause major supply problems for the Confederate army in Georgia. On April 7, 1862, Andrews and twenty daring volunteers made there way singly and in pairs from Shelbyville, Tennessee to hop a train in Georgia. Clad in civilian clothes, the men did not attract any suspicion when they boarded. When the train stopped for breakfast in Big Shanty, Georgia, Andrews and his comrades hijacked the locomotive called the General, its tender, and three other empty cars. They headed north intending to cut telegraph wires and set fire to bridges. Things were looking good, but they had not reckoned with William Fuller. Fuller, the conductor of the General, did not know what was going on, but he was determined to get his locomotive back. With Anthony Murphy and Jeff Cain, he took off running after the train. The trio had gone about a mile and were ready to drop when they encountered a railroad construction crew. They commandeered a small work car which they used poles to propel it. They then switched to an old locomotive called the Yonah. Meanwhile, the Yankees were having trouble setting fire to the wooden bridges because of a recent rain. Finally, Andrews and his mates switched to the Texas, which even though it had to go backwards, soon gained on the General. Fuller rode precariously on the front to spot problems. Andrews tried dropping wood fuel on the tracks and then uncoupled two of the cars. Nothing could stop the Texas. With the Texas within sight and the General out of fuel, Andrews and his men jumped off and headed into the woods. The race had covered 55 miles. A manhunt ended up capturing all of the raiders. Since they were in civilian clothes, the Confederates could charge them with espionage. Andrews was hanged before a cheering crowd on June 7. Ten days later, seven more were executed. The others were held in prison. On Oct. 16, eight of the survivors escaped. Six were recaptured and later exchanged for Rebel captives. They were brought to Washington to be honored. Congress had recently passed a resolution calling for a new medal for valor. The Andrews Raiders (including the ones executed) were the first to receive the Medal of Honor.
– Garrison pp. 104-108
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