ANDREWS' RAIDERS America in the Making Series

The redoubtable exploits of James J. Andrews and his raiders are vitiated by a style which seesaws between the plebeian and the pretentious. Their mission is to sneak into Southern territory, steal a train, and drive it off burning ""the railroad bridges behind them."" They easily capture the train, but ""Someone has gone off with our train"" cries a watching confederate conductor. The ""great train chase"" begins and is followed by ""the great manhunt."" All the raiders are captured and undergo various tribulations which end in execution, escape or exchange. At one dangerous moment in the adventure, Andrews offers his men the opportunity to return to the north, but he vows, ""I will accomplish my purpose or leave my bones to bleach in Dixie."" Guess what? ""No man was willing to desert his leader. The train would be stolen or they would all leave their bones to bleach in Dixie."" Despite lengthy quotes from contemporary accounts, a sense of suspicion remains: we prefer our bones unbleached.