Tales from Tennessee and Beyond: The Great Locomotive Chase

The Great Locomotive Chase occurred in 1862, in the city of Kennesaw, Georgia. It involved the stealing of the Confederate locomotive known as the General. The mastermind behind this deed was Union spy James Andrews. Andrews and his men felt as though they could weaken the Confederacy, if they stole one of their locomotives, and cut the telegraph wires, making it easier for Sherman to make his march to the sea. Andrews, in disguise, boarded the train, and waited until it stopped in Kennesaw, at the Big Shanty Hotel. It was here that Andrews and his men uncoupled the General, from her cars and took off. The General's conductor, Will Fuller, ran after the General on foot. He realized he was not going to catch his train that way. He eventually came across the locomotive, known as the Texas. The Texas' crew found it strange to see Fuller on foot, without a train. He told them what had happened, and they were off. The Texas was going in the opposite direction as the General was, so it had to run backwards. Andrews and his men eventually had to stop and take on more water and wood. They hurried away, when they saw the Texas coming. Andrews knew he had to stop Fuller and the Texas. He ordered his men to uncouple the last train car from the General. The car was then sent down the tracks. The Texas was unfazed by it, and slowed down, picked it up, and then sent it into a nearby siding. Andrews then sent another car, with the same result. Finally Andrews ordered the last car be set on fire, and left on the covered bridge along the main line. When the Texas approached it, the crew slowly hooked up to the flaming car, put the fire out, and tore away all the charred wood. By the time the chase reached Ringgold, Georgia, just outside Chattanooga, Tennessee, the General ran out of wood, and water. Andrews and his men abandoned the locomotive. The Texas got there just minutes behind, and the General was regained by the Confederacy. Andrews and his men were eventually caught. Andrews and a few of his men were later hanged. The other members of his raiders, were awarded the Medal of Honor. If the General had of gotten to Chattanooga, the plan would have worked. Fuller was a hero, and he successfully got his locomotive back. This story, while small, was a big part of the Civil War.

The General as it appears today. It is currently on display at its permanent home, The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, in Kennesaw, Georgia.

The Texas as it appears today. It was on display at the Atlanta History Center, but has been sent to North Carolina for refurbishing. It will return in 2017 or 18.

The historical marker that stands outside the museum where the General resides. I was privileged to have visited the General this past Sunday, July, 17, 2016.