• 1953—The State of Ohio placed markers at Engineer of the Civil War Stryker’s corporation limits, recognizing the village as William J. Knight’s home. “Andrews Raid” or “Great • 1956—Walt Disney released the film “The Locomotive Chase” ,” based on the An‐ drews Raid. Recipient

• 1959—The William J. Knight Army Reserve Training Center in Bryan is dedicated. • 2003—Plaque recognizing Medal of Honor recipients William J. Knight and Aquila William J. Knight Coonrod placed in the Williams County Emma Knight at the Knight home, 102 East Alli‐ courthouse in Bryan. 1837-1916 son Street, Stryker, prior to extensive alterations. • 2004—Medal of Honor marker placed on

• 1886—Knight was chief of Stryker’s fire Knight’s grave.

engine. Suggested Reading • November 1886—Attended the first reun‐ Stealing , The Great Locomotive Chase ion of survivors of the Andrews Raid at and the First Medal of Honor, by Russell S. Bonds, McComb and Findlay. 2007 • 1887—Became agent for the sale of William The General & , A Pictorial History of the Pittenger’s book on the Andrews Raid. Andrews Raid, , 1862, by Stan Cohen and • 1891—The State of Ohio placed an impres‐ James G. Bogle, 1999 sive monument honoring Andrews Raiders The Great Locomotive Chase, More on the Andrews Raid and the First Medal of Honor, by W. Craig An‐ at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. gle, 1992 • 1896—Knight purchased his final home at Wild Train, The Story of the Andrews Raiders, by 102 East Allison Street in Stryker. Charles O’Neill, 1956. • June 1903—Opened a general repair shop The Great Locomotive Chase, by , in Stryker. 1893 • April 1912—Knight attended the final An‐ Daring & Suffering, by William Pittenger, 1887 drews Raiders reunion at Findlay. Military History of Ohio, Illustrated, Williams • 1914—The surviving Raiders agree to act in County, Ohio, Edition, 1885. a film about the Andrews Raid; the movie never transpired. Brochure by Kevin M. Maynard and Richard L. Cooley • September 26, 1916—Knight passed away at his home and was buried at Oakwood STRYKER AREA HERITAGE COUNCIL Cemetery, Stryker. P. O. Box 180 Stryker, OH 43557 [email protected] (email) www.strykerhistory.org (website)

The Andrews Raid William J. Knight, Engineer of the Andrews Raid

William James Knight’s Early Life • March 13, 1863—Transferred to Company • January 24, 1837—Knight was born in East G, 115th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Union Township, Wayne County, Ohio, to • July and August 1863—Home on furlough. Matthew and Eliza Jane (Ackert) Knight. • September 1863—Received the Medal of • Knight’s parents died before he was five Honor. years old, and he was raised by his grand‐ • September 27, 1864—Discharged from ser‐ father, Jacob Knight. vice and mustered out the following day. • Circa 1852—Moved to Farmer Township in Knight’s Post‐War Years Confederate locomotive “The General” Defiance County, Ohio. • • It is claimed Knight worked at his grandfa‐ August 30, 1868—Married Emma Oldfield n April 12, 1862, 20 Union volunteers ther’s sawmill, where he learned about at Defiance. led by James J. Andrews infiltrated steam engines and things mechanical. • Worked as a railroad mechanic at Logans‐ O Southern lines in civilian clothes and port, Ind., and as an engineer on the Penn‐ stole the locomotive “The General” and three Knight’s Civil War Service sylvania Panhandle Railroad. boxcars at Big Shanty, Ga. The Raiders planned • August 29, 1861—At age 24, Knight • 1883—Knight’s biography appeared in the to make their way north to Chattanooga, enlisted as a private in Company E, 21st History of Defiance County; at that time he Tenn., tearing up railroad tracks, cutting tele‐ Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Defiance, Ohio, was a merchant living in Minnesota. graph lines and burning bridges behind them for three years service. He was mustered in • By 1885, Knight moved to Stryker and to isolate Confederate troops, communications on September 19, 1861, at Findlay, Ohio. gave public lectures on the Andrews Raid. and supplies, and help bring the Civil War to • October 31, 1861—Knight was detailed as a • June 1886—Received a pension for his an end. Hotly pursued by Southerners in “The first class sapper (combat engineer). military service and for hearing loss suf‐ Great Locomotive Chase,” the General eventu‐ • November and December 1861—Sick in a fered at the Battle of Stones River, Tenn. ally ran out of fuel and water, and the Raiders Cincinnati, Ohio, hospital. fled to the woods, but all were soon captured • April 12, 1862—Participated in the An‐ and imprisoned. In June 1862, James J. An‐ drews Raid. Knight was engineer of the drews and seven of the “engine thieves” were stolen locomotive, The General. Following executed by hanging. Eight others, including the wild 87‐mile Great Locomotive Chase, William James Knight, escaped in October 1862 the Raiders were captured and imprisoned. and secretly made their way back to Union • June 1862—Eight Raiders executed by lines; the remainder were released in an 1863 hanging in . prisoner exchange. Hailed as Northern heroes • October 16, 1862—Knight and seven other for their part in “the boldest adventure of the Raiders escaped to avoid the gallows. war,” six of the Raiders became the nation’s • November 25, 1862—Knight reached Union first Medal of Honor recipients. The Andrews lines at Somerset, Ky., following his escape. Andrews Raid survivors in 1906 at the Chatta‐ Raid has inspired numerous articles, books • December 1, 1862—Knight returned to his nooga monument erected in their honor by the and films. regiment. State of Ohio. William Knight is second from left