James J. Andrews (about 1829 – June 7, 1862) was an American Civil War espionage agent who led a daring raid on the Western and Atlantic Railroad that became famous as the Great Locomotive Chase. The raid failed and Andrews and seven followers were executed. 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The American Civil War was fought in North America from 1861 until 1865 between the United States of America – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession. ... Espionage is the practice of obtaining secrets (spying) from rivals or enemies for military, political, or economic advantage. ... The Western & Atlantic Railroad (W&A) runs from Atlanta, Georgia, to Chattanooga, Tennessee. ... The Great Locomotive Chase occurred during the American Civil War. ...

Andrews was born in Holiday's Cove, Virginia (now Weirton, West Virginia near Pittsburgh). He moved to Kentucky, where he found employment as a house painter and singing coach. During the Civil War, he was engaged in buying contraband merchandise (including quinine) and smuggling it between the military lines. While serving as a secret agent and scout in Nashville, Tennessee, for Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell in the spring of 1862, he devised a plan to take eight men to steal a train in Atlanta, Georgia, and drive it northward. They would disrupt Confederate communications in western Tennessee and burn the long railroad bridge over the Tennessee River at Bridgeport. The mission failed when the required engineer failed to show up at the designated meeting place. Weirton is a city located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. ... City nickname: The Steel City Location in the state of Pennsylvania Founded 1758 Mayor Tom Murphy (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 151. ... State nickname: Bluegrass State Other U.S. States Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) Official languages English Area 104,749 km² (37th)  - Land 102,989 km²  - Water 1,760 km² (1. ... Molecular structure of quinine Tonic Water containing quinine. ... The Nashville skyline Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Don Carlos Buell ( 23 March 1818- 19 November 1898) was an American assistant adjutant general who fought in the Seminole War, the Mexican-American War, and the Civil War. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... There are various types of trains designed for particular purposes, see rail transport operations. ... Atlanta is the capital and largest city of Georgia, a state of the United States of America. ... Some Confederate soldiers The Confederate States Army (CSA) was formed in February, 1861, to defend the Confederate States of America, which had itself been formed that same year when seven southern states seceded from the United States (with four more to follow). ... State nickname: Volunteer State Other U.S. States Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Governor Phil Bredesen (D) Official languages English Area 109,247 km² (36th)  - Land 106,846 km²  - Water 2,400 km² (2. ... A riverboat passing under the Gay Street Bridge on the Tennessee River The river viewed from the top of Neyland Stadium. ...

In April, Andrews proposed a new scheme to Maj. Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchel to seize a locomotive in northern Georgia and drive it to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he would rendezvous with Mitchel's attacking Union Army. On April 12, 1862, Andrews, another civilian, and 22 volunteers from three Ohio infantry regiments garbed in civilian clothes stole a locomotive known as the General at Big Shanty, near Kennesaw, Georgia. They headed north, destroying tracks and telegraph wires along the way in an effort to discourage pursuers and render the railroad useless for supplying the Confederate troops in Tennessee. The conductor of the stolen train pursued the train hijackers in a variety of other locomotives. After an 87-mile chase, the General lost power and Andrews and his raiders scattered. He was captured soon afterwards and identified as the leader. Categories: 1911 Britannica | 1809 births | 1862 deaths | American astronomers | Astronomers stubs ... A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train, and has no payload capacity of its own; its sole purpose is to move the train along the tracks. ... City nickname: Scenic City (official), River City, Chatty, ChatTown, Chattavegas Location Location within the U.S. State of Tennessee Government Cities in Tennessee Tennessee Mayor Ron Littlefield Physical characteristics Area      Land      Water 370. ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... April 12 is the 102nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (103rd in leap years). ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... State nickname: The Buckeye State Other U.S. States Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Governor Bob Taft (R) Official languages None Area 116,096 km² (34th)  - Land 106,154 km²  - Water 10,044 km² (8. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A regiment is a military unit, larger than a company and smaller than a division. ... A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train, and has no payload capacity of its own; its sole purpose is to move the train along the tracks. ... Kennesaw is a city located in Cobb County, Georgia. ... Telegraphy (from the Greek words tele = far away and grapho = write) is the long distance transmission of written messages without physical transport of letters, originally over wire. ... A passanger train conductor is a person who sells and checks tickets on a bus, tram or train. ...

He was court-martialed in Chattanooga and sentenced to hang in one week as a spy. Andrews escaped from Swims Jail on June 1, but was quickly recaptured the next day. He was taken to Atlanta (ironically by train over the same tracks that he had used during the raid) on June 7. Andrews was hanged about 5:00 p.m. that afternoon, near the present day intersection of 3rd and Juniper Streets, NE. Andrews' body was temporarily buried at the site of execution. His remains were removed to the National Cemetery in Chattanooga on October 16, 1887, and a gravestone and monument to the raid was erected near the Ohio Memorial (Section H, Grave No. 12,982). A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a military court that determines punishments for members of the military subject to military law. ... Hanging is a form of execution, or a method for suicide. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... October 16 is the 289th day of the year (290th in Leap years). ... 1887 is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ...

He was engaged to Elizabeth Layton of Flemingsburg, Kentucky at the time of his execution. Flemingsburg is a city located in Fleming County, Kentucky. ...

As a civilian, Andrews was ineligible for the Medal of Honor that was presented to most of the raiders. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. ...

External links

• Graveston and drawing of Andrews