The Hanging of Andrews Raiders
280 feet south of this location on June 18, 1862, seven of the Union Army´s brave Andrews Raiders were hanged and buried. On April 12, 1862, 22 Andrews Raiders seized the General, a tender and three boxcars at Big Shanty (now Kennesaw) and raced towards Chattanooga on the Western & Atlantic Railroad in an effort to burn bridges and otherwise dismember a supply artery vital to the Confederacy. They had covered 87 miles when the General was overtaken by valiant pursuit led by conductor Fuller. Of the Raiders, only these seven plus James J. Andrews, their leader, were executed by the Confederate Army. In 1866, remains of the seven were exhumed from this location and reinterred at the National Cemetery at Chattanooga. Andrew´s remains were reinterred at the national Cemetery in 1887. The first awards of the Congressional Medal of Honor were made members of the Andrews Raiders.
Executed June 18, 1862, Atlanta city (now Oakland) Cemetery
John M. Scott Marion A. Ross
21st Ohio vol. inf. 2nd Ohio vol. inf.
Samuel Robertson Charles P. Shadrach
33rd Ohio vol. inf. 2nd Ohio vol. inf.
Samuel Slavens George D. Wilson
33rd Ohio vol. inf 2nd Ohio vol. inf.
William H. Campbell, civilian
Salineville, O
Executed June 7, 1862, downtown Atlanta
James J. Andrews, civilian
Flemingsburg, KY
Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.
Original page, with additional info, here.
Photo credit: Byron Hooks of Lat34North.com.