The Youngest Raider

Union Private Jacob Wilson Parrott, a member of Andrews’ Raiders, was exchanged along with other members of the Raiders on March 17^th 1863 for Confederate soldiers at Camp Point, Virginia.

Jacob Wilson Parrott was born July 17^th 1843 in Fairfield County, Ohio, the son of George and Anna (Landfair) Parrett Jr.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Parrott joined the 90 day 20^th Ohio Infantry.  When the term of service was up he went home to Kenton, Ohio where he enlisted in Company K of the 33^rd Ohio Infantry.  His first combat was November 8^th 1861 during the Battle of Ivy Mountain.

In April 1862 when James J Andrews was looking for volunteers to take part in his raid, Parrott joined with 21 other men, becoming known as Andrews’ Raiders.  The Raiders slipped 200 miles south behind Confederate lines and hijacked the train “The General”.  Parrott was among the men who were captured during the raid.  While being held as a prisoner he was beaten numerous times in an attempt to get him to talk.  Parrott even escaped once with fourteen others, but was recaptured.  He was part of a prisoner exchanged March 17^th 1863.

After the exchange Parrott was taken to Washington, DC where he met with President Abraham Lincoln.  Parrott, the youngest surviving member of Andrews’ Raiders, was the first man to receive the Medal of Honor.  He would serve out the rest of the war ending as a First Lieutenant.

When the war ended Parrott returned to his home in Ohio.  He ran a stone quarry and worked as a cabinet maker.  While walking home on December 22^nd 1908, he had a heart attack and died.  Parrott is buried in the Grove Cemetery in Kenton, Ohio.

Parrott’s Medal of Honor citation reads: One of the 19 of 22 men (including 2 civilians) who, by direction of Gen. Mitchell (or Buell) penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and tracks between Chattanooga and Atlanta.

I Shut My Eyes

Union General John Basil Turchin looked the other way on May 2^nd 1862, when his troops had their way with Athens, Alabama.

John Basil Turchin was born with the name Ivan Vasilyevich Turchaninov on December 24^th 1821 in Russia.  He attended the Imperial Military School in St Petersburg, Russia.  Turchin served with the Russian Guards and saw action as a Colonel in the Crimean War.  He and his wife immigrated to the United States in 1856.  He settled in Chicago, Illinois and went to work for the Illinois Central Railroad.

When the Civil War started Turchin joined the 19^th Illinois Infantry, and became their Colonel.  His unit was place under the command of Union Major General Don Carlos Buell in the Army of the Ohio.  Turchin’s was soon commanding a brigade that was part of the Third Division under Brigadier General Ormsby McNight Mitchel.  Buell moved to support Union General Ulysses S Grant at Shiloh, and sent Mitchel south to Huntsville, Alabama to cut the rail line there.  This move over extended the Union line, and Turchin’s men were badly handled, with the locals firing on them from their windows while trying to hold the town of Athens, Alabama.  Turchin’s men finally occupied the town of Athens on May 2^nd 1862.  He brought his men together and told them, "I shut my eyes for two hours. I see nothing."  What followed has been called the “Rape of Athens”, with Turchin leaving his men to loot the town.

When Buell heard about the incidence he court-martialed Turchin.  The proceedings became the focus of the nation.  The debate surrounded on the how the conciliatory policy to Southerns were causing Union casualties to grow.  Before the court-martial was finished Turchin received a promotion to Brigadier General.  Turchin continued to serve, distinguishing himself at Chickamauga and Chattanooga.

Turchin suffered heatstroke and resigned his command October 1864.  He returned to Chicago, where he worked as a civil engineer, and invested in real estate.  He developed dementia which was attributed to the heatstroke he suffered while in the army.  Turchin died June 18^th 1901 in Anna, Illinois.

The Bull Was Killed

Union General William “Bull” Nelson was killed September 29^th 1862.

William “Bull” Nelson was born September 27^th 1824.  He attended school at Maysville Academy, and then at age 13 he went to Norwich University in Vermont.  At 15 Nelson received, with the help of Congressman Garrett Davis a midshipman position on the USS Delaware.  After five years sailing in the South Pacific he became part of the first class at the United States Naval School at Annapolis.  Nelson graduated in 1846 and reported for duty on the USS Raritan.

When the Civil War started Nelson was detached from the Navy and sent to recruit troops in the East Tennessee area.  He was placed with his troops in Camp Dick Robinson and made Brigadier General of United States volunteers September 16^th 1861.  Nelson organized a brigade at Camp Kenton and marched them to Olympian Springs, Bath, Kentucky.  In late October 1861 his men routed Confederates at West Liberty, and on November 8^th 1861 Confederate Captain Andrew Jackson May fought a delaying action against Nelson on Ivy Mountain.  At the end of the month Nelson was place under Union General Don Carlos Buell as part of the Army of the Ohio.  His men arrived at Shiloh Church on April 5^th 1862 and saw heavy fighting.  Nelson got into an argument after entering Corinth on May 30^th 1862 with Union General John Pope over who should get credit for occupying the town.

On September 18^th 1862 Nelson assigned Union Brigadier General Jefferson C Davis to command the Home Guard.  Davis felt that this assignment was an insult and on September 29^th 1862 he publicly demanded an apology from Nelson in the lobby to the Galt House.  Nelson refused to apologize and this publicly shamed Davis.  Davis obtained a pistol and shot Nelson in the heart.  Although Davis was prosecuted the case was dropped from the court docket in 1864 and Davis was never convicted.  Nelson was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery.  His body was latter moved to a family plot March 8^th 1872 in the Maysville Cemetery.

The First Time In Town

In Rutherford County, Tennessee on July 13th 1862 the First Battle of Murfreesboro was fought.


Union Major General Don Carlos Buell started his Army of the Ohio toward Chattanooga, Tennessee from Corinth, Mississippi on June 10th 1862. In response to this Union threat, Confederate Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest moved to Chattanooga. In early July Confederate cavalry under Forrest and Colonel John Hunt Morgan began raiding around Middle Tennessee and Kentucky.

On July 9th 1862 Forrest took two cavalry regiments and left Chattanooga. He met up with some other Confederate units, making his total force about 1,400 men. The target was the Union supply depot on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Union troops under Brigadier General Thomas Turpin Crittenden where garrisoned in three location around the town of Murfreesboro. They were made up of parts of four companies of infantry, cavalry and artillery. In the early morning of July 13th 1862 Forrest’s cavalry engaged Union picket east of Murfreesboro, and then overran a Union hospital and the camp of the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry. The Confederate soldiers then moved onto the Union troops at the Murfreesboro’s jail and courthouse. By that afternoon all of the Union troops had surrendered, a total of about 1,000 men. The Confederates destroyed the railroad tracks and most of the Union supplies. The Confederates lost about 150 men.

Holding The Bridge

The Battle of Rowlett’s Station was fought in Hart County, Kentucky December 17th 1861 as the Union tried to hold a railroad bridge on the Green River.

Union Brigadier General Don Carlos; in command of the Army of the Ohio, ordered Brigadier General Alexander McDowell McCook to Nolin, Kentucky. The Confederates set up a defensive line along the Green River near Munfordville, Kentucky. The Union moved on the enemy on December 10th 1861. The Confederates under Brigadier General Thomas C Hindman countered by blowing up a pier on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad bridge. Two companies of the 32nd Indiana Infantry crossed the river to protect against a surprise while a pontoon bridge was being constructed. The bridge was completed December 17th 1861. Four more companied of the 32nd crossed the river and advanced to a hill south of Woodsonville. That afternoon they spotted Confederates in the woods in front of them. Advancing on them, the Confederates fell back until Confederate cavalry attacked. After fighting for a time, both sides pulled back to a stronger positions. The battle was inconclusive, but the Union held the area which allowed for movement of men and supplies on the Railroad.

Control Of Kentucky

The Battle of Perryville, also sometimes called the Battle of Chaplin Hills was fought October 8th 1862 in Perryville, Kentucky.


Union General Don Carlos Buell’s Army of the Ohio with about 55,000 troops, converged on the town of Perryville, Kentucky pursuing Confederate General Braxton Bragg and his Army of Mississippi. The fighting began at dawn October 8th 1862 along the Peters Hill. After noon a Confederate division hit the Union left flank of Major General Alexander M McCook, causing it to fall back. The Union troops formed a line and made a stand, but with more Confederate soldiers coming up the Federal force was routed. Buell was several miles behind the action, and wasn’t aware there was a fight taking place. Once he realized there was a battle taking place he sent in reserves. Two brigades prompted up the Union left flank, halting the Confederate attack.

Following this three regiments of Confederates hit a Union division along the Springfield Pike, finding themselves overwhelmed the Confederates fell back to Perryville. Union troops gave chase, and there was fighting in the streets until darkness fell. By this time there were more Union reinforcement, and Bragg who was short on supplies and man power pulled out during the night, retreating through the Cumberland Gap to Fort Tennessee. This battle left the Union in control of the border state of Kentucky.

For more information about this battle check out this web site The Battle of Perryville

Clearing Kentucky Out

In southwestern Kentucky on January 10th 1862 the Battle of Middle Creek was fought, setting up the Union army for its invasion of middle Tennessee.

Confederate Brigadier General Humphrey Marshall was moving into southeast Kentucky recruiting volunteers, setting up a headquarters in Paintsville Kentucky. By early January 1862 he had raised more than two thousand men, but had only been able to equip part of them. Union Brigadier General Don Carlos Buell, ordered Colonel James A Garfield to push Marshall back into Virginia. Garfield; the future President, took the 18th Brigade and marched south pushing the Confederates to retreat to Prestonsburg Kentucky. The Union continued south, but were slowed by the numerous swamps and streams, arriving near Marshall’s camp on January 9th. In the morning of January 10th 1862 Garfield’s troops march out at 4am to the mouth of Middle Creek, where they fought off some Confederate cavalry.

Marshall put his men in line southwest of the creek near its forks. The Union attacked just before noon, and the fighting continued through the afternoon. The Confederates retreated south, and finally Marshall was ordered back to Virginia on January 24th.

The Great Train Race

James J Andrews and six of his Raiders were hung on May 8th 1862 after leading the Great Locomotive Race on the Western and Atlantic Railroad.

The train “The General” was stopped at Big Shanty, Georgia [now known as Kennesaw GA], when civilian James J Andrew and a group of Union spies boarded the train and headed off towards Chattanooga. Andrews was working with General Don Carlos Buell, on this mission. The Raiders left Ohio on April 7th 1862, disguised as civilians, they headed 200 miles south. The plan behind the heist of this train was to destroy Confederate supply lines, rail, and telegraph along the route between Atlanta and Chattanooga. “The General” was pursued by conductor William Allen Fuller on foot for the first couple of miles, before he got hold of a handcar and several trains, as he continued after the stolen “General”. Eighty-seven miles into the chase, the locomotive was low on water and wood, and lost steam, coming to halt just north of Ringold GA. The raiders left “The General” attempting to escape, but they didn’t get far.

James Andrews and six of the raiders were convicted as spies and hung on May 8th 1862. Eight of the raiders were made prisoners of war and were exchanged latter in the war. All of the Raiders except Andrews were given the Medal of Honor; as a civilian he wasn’t eligible. Andrews is buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery in Chattanooga Tennessee.

Other interesting reading
The Great Locomotive Chase The story of Andrew's Raiders

Daring and Suffering: A History of the Andrews Railroad Raid