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From: "Ernest Everett Blevins" <>
Subject: [SUVCW] Fwd: Remembering the Great Locomotive Chase
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:15:30 -0400
References: <20070411131934.UDPO1285.ibm68aec.bellsouth.net@mail.bellsouth.net>
In-Reply-To: <20070411131934.UDPO1285.ibm68aec.bellsouth.net@mail.bellsouth.net>


This comes from the SCV Dispatch (much like our own list) and is forwarded
with permission of the author.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Calvin Johnson <>
Date: Apr 11, 2007 9:19 AM
Subject: [The Dispatch] Remembering the Great Locomotive Chase
To:

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Friends,

Tomorrow, April 12th is the 145th anniversary of the Great Locomotive
Chase. Here is my latest article about the event that has been
published at: http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_105155.asp

Please email these good folks a letter of thanks at:


It has also been posted at: www.accessnorthga.com/articles and
Southern Heritage News and Views. It is part of the Confederate History
Month minutes at: http://spofga.org and http:/georgiaheritagecouncil.org

Our website for: www.confederateheritagemonth.com is being updated.
Please send attachment of proclamation to:


Remembering our noble Confederate anccestors.

Calvin E. Johnson, Jr., Chairman
Confederate History Month Committee for the Georgia Division
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Chattahoochee Guards 1639, Mableton, Georgia
www.confederateheritagemonth.com

Remembering the Great Locomotive Chase

By: Calvin E. Johnson, Jr.
Author of book, "When America Stood for God, Family and
Country."
1064 West Mill Drive
Kennesaw, Georgia 30152
Phone: 770 428 0978

Do young people know what happened on April 12, 1862, in
our nation's history? Please share this story with your family.

This year, 2007, is the 51th Anniversary of Walt Disney Picture's
classic "The Great Locomotive Chase" starring Fess Parker and
Jeffrey Hunter. This movie was made during the golden age of
Hollywood when films were still made for the entire family.

When it comes to locomotives many of us are children at heart.
Don't you love a good story about the bygone era of passenger
trains that once were America's fastest way to travel?

America's most famous locomotive "The General" is now home
at the Kennesaw, Georgia Civil War Museum. Kennesaw, Georgia
is is just 45 miles from Atlanta. Located across the railroad tracks
from Kennesaw's main street of business, that is Old Highway 41,
is the museum. There is a train story here if you have the time to
listen.

April 12, 2007, is the 145th anniversary of the Great Locomotive Chase
that made "The General" famous.

Jefferson Cain, an employee of the Western and Atlantic Railroad,
was Engineer of the General. At 4:15AM on April 12, 1862, Cain pushed
the throttle forward and drove the train out of Atlanta, Georgia for
Chattanooga as a cool spring rain fell on the city.

In the spring of 1862, the peaceful town of Big Shanty (now Kennesaw)
Georgia was paid not-so-peaceful visit by Union spies that were led
by James Andrews, who brought with him plans to disrupt Confederate
supply lines. Andrews and his men boarded the train in Marietta, Georgia.
They had spent the night before at the Fletcher House (now the Kennesaw
House.) Twenty boarded the train and two were left behind.

The next stop was the Lacy Hotel in Big Shanty (now Kennesaw) for a
20 minute breakfast break where the General was stolen in view of
Camp McDonald that was home to many enlisted men and officers. There
was no telegraph there which was one reason Andrews chose this site.

James Andrews, a Kentuckian, had made a name for himself by smuggling
the much needed quinine through Union lines for Confederate soldiers and
Southern civilians. There were with him three experienced engineer's,
William
Knight, Wilson Brown and John Wilson. When asked where they were from
their reply was, "I am from Fleming County, Kentucky." They also said they
were going to join the Confederate army.

The official plan to steal the General was approved by Union General Ormsby
Michael. The plan was to take the locomotive north on the Western and
Atlantic
Railroad and destroy tracks, bridges and tunnels along the way. General
Michael agreed that he would take Huntsville on April 11, 1862, and then
would
wait for Andrews before moving into Chattanooga, Tennessee.

"Someone...has stolen our train," William Fuller, Conductor of the General
said in amazement as the train was stolen and was pulling away from the
train depot. Men of the Atlantic and Western Railroad immediately began
the chase with Engineer Jefferson Cain, William Fuller and machine foreman
Anthony Murphy close behind.

With no telegraph at Big Shanty, the men ran north for two miles to Moon
Station and procured a platform handcar, then went on until they found the
locomotive "Yonah." The second train used was "the William R. Smith."

The last locomotive Fuller used was the famous "Texas" that was heading
south. The Texas is now housed at the Cyclorama at Grant Park in Atlanta,
Georgia. With no time to spare, the Texas was run in reverse through the
entire chase.

James Andrews and his Raiders were slowed down by South Bound
trains that had to pass before they could continue. With the telegraph out
of service, Fuller was fortunate to catch telegraph operator Edward
Henderson. Fuller gave the young Henderson a hand up on the train, still
in motion, to take a message that he would send to General Ledbetter
from Dalton, Georgia.

Andrews and his raiders failed to destroy the bridges over Georgia's
Chickamauga Creek, Etowah River at Tunnel Hill. They also failed to
slow down their pursuers by setting the cars of the General on fire and
sending them back down the railroad tracks.The end came when they ran
out of wood and lost power about 18 miles South of Chattanooga.

It took about two weeks for the Confederates to capture the Union spies.
Some of them made it as far as Bridgeport, Alabama. All 20 of Andrews
Raiders were captured. James Andrews and 6 of his men were hung in
Atlanta, eight escaped and others were paroled.

The United States Congress created the Medal of Honor in 1862 and
it was awarded to some of the raiders. James Andrews was not eligible
because he was not a part of the military service.

The South's William Fuller, who is buried in Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery,
was recognized by the Confederate government, Georgia's Governor
Joseph Brown and Georgia State Legislature for his act of heroism.

Lest We Forget all of our American History!!!!




Ernest Everett Blevins, MFA
Blevins Historical Research
110 Evergreen Way
Villa Rica, Georgia 30180
770-456-1876

Save the Old Villa Rica Library! Write the mayor at
and City officials listed on
http://villarica.org/council_members.php. Tell them the benefits of keeping
National Register Eligible Properties.

Historic Preservation Consultant -- Historical and Architectural Research --
Genealogical (Family) Research -- Preservation Planning and Documentation --
House History

Member: American Planning Association, Ambassador of the New England
Historic Genealogical Society, Historian: Casimir Pulaski SAR, Registrar:
Georgia Society of Founders & Patriots, and member of numerous other
lineage and heritage societies.

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