Daring and Suffering by William Pittenger

Upon his return to the North, William was not only promoted but was among the first men to be presented the Medal of Honor.

He escaped execution as a spy but remained imprisoned until repatriated in a prisoner exchange. His zeal let him to volunteer for the hapless Andrews railroad raid even though his commander attempted to discourage him because of bad vision. Patriotism was the force that caused him to enlist as a private in the 2d Ohio volunteer infantry. His meager education came from one-room country schools. William was an Ohio native born to Thomas and Mary (Mills) Pittenger in Knoxville, Jefferson County, Ohio. The heroic attempt was a disaster as not a single bridge was destroyed and all participants were captured with some hung as spies. William Pittenger entered into the lore of the American Civil War when he volunteered to be a member of a raiding party today known as the 'Andrews Raid.' The mission was to take control of a Confederate train at Marietta, Georgia and proceed to Chattanooga while wreaking havoc in its wake by burning bridges and destroying telegraph lines in an attempt to disrupt Confederate troop movements and communications. He later became a minister and author, settling at Fallbrook, California, where he is buried. William Pittenger (JanuApril 24, 1904) was a participant in the Great Locomotive Chase (or Andrew's Raid) into northern Georgia on Apand was among the first recipients of the Medal of Honor.

Daring and Suffering by William Pittenger