The Great Locomotive Chase
Page 9
Having “borrowed” a claw bar from a section gang at Moon’s Station, the raiders lifted a rail to halt pursuers. The lack of adequate tools made this a slow and labor-intensive job and would eventually lead to the foiling of the raid. At the same time the telegraph wire was cut. (Pittenger)
The first newspaper account of the chase, appearing in the April 15, 1862 issue of the Atlanta Southern Confederacy, stated: “Let this be a warning to the railroad men and every body else in the Confederate States. Let an engine never be left alone a moment. Let additional guards be placed on our bridges. This is a matter we urged in the Confederacy long ago. We hope it will now be heeded.”
Indeed, the biggest benefit to the South was a boost to internal security. Bridge and station guards were increased and a passport system implemented in Georgia, which previously lacked one. Railroaders and citizens increased their vigilance. Anyone appearing the least bit suspicious was in for a tough round of questioning.
In the end, the ultimate loss was eight good men to the noose.
CONCLUSION
Overall, Andrews developed a good plan, collected adequate intelligence, and anticipated many situations and needs. This was in an era when “raids” were quick hit-and-run forays to create as much destruction and confusion as possible to harass local forces. Few had strategic implications. Andrews had no previous examples or “doctrine” as guidelines or lessons to learn from. He developed the plan based solely on his year or so of experience as a line-crosser and his instincts. Nothing comparable had ever been attempted before, and very little has been since.
Regardless of the errors, flaws, and uncontrollable events foiling the raid, what it really comes down to is one individual: William Fuller. The determined and persistent conductor simply never gave up. There is little doubt that his unrelenting pursuit was the reason for the mission’s failure. If another conductor had been on duty on the morning run north Andrews most likely would have succeeded.
A number of the participants and surviving raiders published memoirs. They tend to embellish and even fabricate parts of their stories. It is not uncommon for incorrect or conflicting events to be related. Some of the participants conducted ongoing feuds to the end of their days, accusing others of inflating their actions or diminishing the roles of others.
Besides numerous histories and memoirs by participants, two movies based on the Andrews’ raid have been produced. Buster Keaton co-directed and starred in The General, a 1927 silent film very loosely based on the chase. While essentially a romantic comedy, it is worth viewing by those interested in the chase. The most notable movie was the 1956 Walt Disney production The Great Locomotive Chase, which was probably as responsible for promoting the story of the chase as any book. While there are inaccuracies – compression of events, gunplay, dramatically burning a boxcar on a bridge, and especially with the portrayal of the escape being much fictionalized – it does successfully portray the ambience of the dramatic chase.
The locomotive Texas in 1911 before being placed in the Cyclorama Building in Atlanta’s Grant Park. By this time it had been modified as a coal burner, had slightly smaller main driver wheels, a “thinner” stack, and lost its V-shaped cowcatcher. (Bogle)
A memorial, complete with a bronze replica of the General, commemorating the Andrews raiders overlooks the executed raiders’ graves, to include James Andrews’, in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. The escaped and exchanged raiders’ names are listed on the ends of the monument. (Allen Shoppe)
Today the General is on display in Kennesaw, Georgia and the Texas is in Atlanta. The old W&A line is still owned by the State of Georgia and leased to CSX Transportation. Much of it remains a single-track route and mostly follows the original course. With patience and attention to detail one can follow the entire route on Google Earth and see many of the old landmarks.
One wishing to drive the route can follow a guide available in local museums or online (http://home.earthlink.net/~khsociety/routegen/routegen.htm). Virtually every notable site on the route is identified by historical markers and many of the old W&A railroad stations are now local museums recording the history of the Great Locomotive Chase. Graves of many of the participants are found in the Chattanooga National Cemetery and Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery.
FURTHER READING
Aiken, Gene, The Great Locomotive Chase as Told by the Men Who Made is Happen, Historic Press/South, Gatlinburg, TN (1994)
Bonds, Russell S., Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor, Westholme Publishing, Yardly, PA (2007)
Cohen, Stan & Bogle, James G., The General & the Texas: A Pictorial History of the Andrews Raid, April 12, 1862, Pictorial Histories Publishing, Missoula, MT (1999)
Jones, Robert C., Retracing the Route of the General, Bartow History Center, Casterville, GA (1996)
O’Neill, Charles, Wild Train: The Story of the Andrews Raiders, Random House, New York (1956)
Pittenger, William, Daring and Suffering: A History of the Great Railroad Adventure, J.W. Daughaday, Philadelphia (1863)
Pittenger, William, Capturing a Locomotive: A History of Secret Service in the Late War, National Tribune, Washington, DC (1884)
Pittenger, William, Daring and Suffering: A History of the Andrews Railroad Raid, War Publishing Company, New York (1887)
Scaife, William R., Joe Brown’s Pets: The Georgia Militia, 1862–1865, Mercer University Press, Macon, GA (2004)
Wilson, John A., Adventures of Alf Wilson: A Thrilling Episode, National Tribune, Washington, DC (1880)
Websites
Atlanta Cyclorama: www.bcaatlanta.com
Marietta Museum of History: www.mariettahistory.org
Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History: www.southernmuseum.org
The 30ft high stone pillars of the Etowah River Bridge today. The railroad has been re-routed 1/4 mile to the south (behind the viewer). The former 2-mile spur leading east from Etowah to the Cooper Iron Works ran behind the trees to the left. (Author)
Related Titles - Raid Series
epub ISBN PDF ISBN No. TITLE
9781780962351 9781849081023 1 Rangers Lead the Way – Pointe-du-Hoc D-Day 1944
9781780964706 9781849081030 2 Israel’s Lightning Strike – The raid on Entebbe 1976
9781780964683 9781849081115 4 Who Dares Wins
9781780962276 9781849081313 6 The Samurai Capture a King – Okinawa 1609
9781780964294 9781849082594 7 The Blocking of Zeebrugge - Operation Z-O 1918
9781780962696 9781849082600 8 The Cockleshell Raid – Bordeaux 1942
9781782000686 9781849082761 10 Certain Death in Sierra Leone – The SAS and Operation Barras 2000
9781780963440 9781846039942 12 Roughshod Through Dixie – Grierson’s Raid 1863
9781780965420 9781849082976 13 Bruneval Raid
9781780961378 9781849080767 14 The Los Banos Prison Camp Raid – The Philippines 1945
9781780964621 9781846039355 16 Dambusters - Operation Chastise 1943
9781780962337 9781849082464 17 The Great Expedition – Sir Francis Drake on the Spanish Main 1585–86
9781780966229 9781849082488 20 The Great Chevauchée - John of Gaunt’s Raid on France 1373
9781849088329 9781849083751 22 Decatur’s Bold and Daring Act – The Philadelphia in Tripoli 1804
9781849088640 9781849084284 23 The Revenge of the 47 Ronin – Edo 1703
9781849088770 9781849084260 24 The Last Boarding Party – The USMC and the SS Mayaguez 1975
9781849088909 9781849084307 25 Ride Around Missouri – Shelby’s Great Raid 1863
9781849089043 9781849085106 26 Tora! Tora! Tora! – Pearl Harbor 1941
9781780960333 9781849085670 27 Tomahawk and Musket-French and Indian Raids in the Ohio Valley
9781780960418 9781849085717 28 Run the Gaunlet - The channel Dash 1942
9781780960494 9781849085694 29 The hunt for Pancho Villa - The Columbus raid and Pershing’s
9781780964065 9781849085878 30
Red Christmas - The Tatsinskaya Airfield Raid 1942
9781780964324 9781849085854 31 Gothic Serpent – Black Hawk Down Mogadishu 1993
9781780964614 9781849086028 32 Knight’s Move – The Hunt for Marshal Tito 1944
First published in 2009 by Osprey Publishing
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author appreciates the valuable assistance provided by Col James G. Bogle (authority on the Chase), Keith Lauer (Director, Atlanta Cyclorama), Jan Galt Russell (Director, Marietta Museum of History), Jeffrey Drobney (Executive Director) and Harper Harris (Manager/Historian) of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History; and Dent “Wildman” Myers (Wildman’s Civil War Surplus). He is especially indebted to Allen Shoppe for his valuable assistance and advice while retracing the route of the Chase.
EDITOR’S NOTE
For ease of comparison between types, Imperial/American measurements are used almost exclusively throughout this book. The following data will help in converting the Imperial/American measurements to metric:
1mile = 1.6km
1lb = 0.45kg
1yd = 0.9m
1ft = 0.3m
1in = 2.54cm/25.4mm
1gal = 4.5 liters
1 ton (US) = 0.9 tonnes
ARTIST’S NOTE
Readers may care to note that the original paintings from which the color plates of the locomotives in this book were prepared are available for private sale. All reproduction copyright whatsoever is retained by the Publishers. All inquiries should be addressed to:
Brian Delf
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Burcot
Abingdon, OX14 3DH
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