This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Andrews Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Wm.2ADEB/2852 Message Board Post: I am looking for descendents of James J. Andrews, born about 1829 in Holiday's Cove, Virginia (now Weirton, W. Virginia), a Presbyterian. He was engaged to Elizabeth Layton of Flemingsburg, Ky. at the time of the mission. Andrews was a man of mystery and who had engaged in smuggling contraband between Union and Confederate lines during the early years of the Cilil War. He may have been attached to the Union Secret Service. In any case, he led a group of 23 military soldiers who were attached to the Command of General Ormsby M. Mitchell (mostly Ohio Infantry Units and all volunteers)and one other civilian in the infamous event known as "Andrews Raid", better known to the general public as "The Great Locomotive Chase" on April 12, 1862. After the raid he was captured by the Confederates, jailed, court-marshalled (the Confederates considered him a spy) and hanged in Atlanta, Georgia on June 18, 1862 at the corner of Fair Street (now Memorial Drive) and South Park Avenue. His ! body was temporially buried near the gallows but on April 25, 1866 was removed to the Federal National Cemetery in Chattanooga, Tenn., Near the Ohio Memorial, Section 'H', Grave No. 12982. He was buried along with 7 other raider compatriots that were hanged at the same time. The graves are arranged in a semi-circle around a large stone tribute to the members of the raiders party. There were 24 raiders in all. Some 18 of them were awarded the Congressional "Medal of Honor", the first time it was ever awarded. Some of those medals were awarded posthumously. Because Andrews and one other were civilians they were ineligible for the Medal. I am the Curator at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia. The locomotive known as "The General" is located in the museum's collection & was the engine taken by the raiders, at a point just a few feet from the present front of the museum. We recently underwent a $10 million dollar renovation/ rebuilding and as part of the opening (March 30, 2003) held a "Descendents Party" that was open to all descendents of the raiders or chasers of "The Great Locomotive Chase. It was an 'invitation-only' Southern Barbecue with a preview of the museum prior to the public opening and festivities covering the entire weekend. I managed to locate over 800 descendents of the raiders and close to 400 people showed up. We intend to hold this "Descendents Party" every 3 years, but I wish the next one to be bigger and contain more members of raiders families. That is why I'm asking for assistance. Finding descendents of your own family can be tough but locating descendents from 24 or more families is practically a full time job. Can you please help? Please pass the word around to family members about what I'm trying to do if you think that there is a connection. The next "Descendents Party" is set on the weekend closest to the anniversary of the raid (April 12) in 2006. The City of Kennesaw celebrates over the entire weekend with parades, music, pageantry, flea markets, city-wide promotions & open house. All descendents of James J. Andrews are invited. Please contact me to get on the invitation list. We are accepting copies of all genealogies associated with the raiders for inclusion into our library & archives for research and as part of our mission statement. We would welcome email or snail mail copies. Thank you. Sincerely George Deeming, Curator - The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, 2829 Cherokee Street, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144 Phone (770) 427-2117 - email: (gdeeming@kennesaw.ga.us) website: (southernmuseum.com)