The Texas is located in a museum at the Cyclorama in Atlanta.
Posted on 04/12/2011 2:18:29 PM PDT by BigReb555
It took about two weeks for the Confederates to capture the Union spies. Some of them made it as far as Bridgeport, Alabama.
(Excerpt) Read more at canadafreepress.com ...
During the spring of 1862, the peaceful town of Big Shanty (now Kennesaw) was paid not so peaceful a visit by Union spies led by James Andrews, who brought with him plans to disrupt Confederate supply lines. Andrews and his men boarded the train at Marietta, Georgia. They had spent the previous night at the Fletcher House now (Kennesaw House). Twenty boarded the train while two were left behind.
The next stop was the Lacy Hotel in Big Shanty for a twenty minute breakfast break. That's where The General was stolen in full view of "Camp McDonald" a drill camp and home to many Confederate officers and enlisted men. There was no telegraph there, which was one reason Andrews chose the site.
Andrews, A Kentuckian, had made a name for himself by smuggling much needed quinine through Union lines for the benefit of Confederate soldiers and civilians. There were with him three experienced engineers, William Knight, Wilson Brown and John Wilson. When asked where they were from, they replied by saying, "I am from Fleming County, Kentucky." They also said that they were on their way 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 on Andrews before moving into Chattanooga, Tennessee.
"Someone.....has stolen my train, " William Fuller, conductor on the General said in amazement as the train was pulling away from the Big Shanty train depot. Men of the Western and Atlantic railroad almost 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 along the railroad tracks to Moon Station and procured a platform handcar; then went on until they found "The Yonah." The next train used was the "William R. Smith." The last locomotive used in the chase by William Fuller was the famous "Texas" that was heading South. The Texas is now housed in Atlanta, Georgia's Cyclorama at Grant Park. With no time to spare, the Texas was run in reverse through the entire chase.
James Andrews and his Raiders were slowed down by southbound 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, as it was in motion, and gave him a message for General Ledbetter that Henderson sent from Dalton.
Andrews and his men failed to destroy the bridges over Georgia's Chickamauga Creek, Etowah River and Tunnel Hill. They also failed to slow down the pursuers by setting up 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. Eventfully, all 20 of Andrews Raiders were captured. James Andrews and six 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 not a part of the military service.
William Fuller was recognized by the Confederate Government, Georgia Governor Joseph Brown and the Georgia General Assembly for his act of heroism.
See: http://confederateheritagemonth.com
It made a great Disney movie back in the 50’s I am pretty sure Fess Parker ( Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone) was in the movie.
I remember seeing a show about this on the history channel. A great story from the war.
James Andrews and six of his men were hung in Atlanta...
The silent movie “The General” with Buster Keaton(?) is a favorite of my kids. I didn’t realize how closely the film matches the actual events.
| Rank | Name | Unit | Date of Medal of Honor award | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James J. Andrews (c. 1829-1862) | No award | Ineligible for the Medal of Honor as a civilian; hanged | ||
| Private | William Bensinger (1840-1918) | 21st Ohio | March 25, 1863 | Exchanged; later promoted to captain |
| Private | Wilson W. Brown (1837-1916) | 21st Ohio | September 17, 1863 | Escaped; later promoted to 2nd lieutenant |
| Private | Robert Buffum (1828-1871) | 21st Ohio | March 25, 1863 | Exchanged; later promoted to 2nd lieutenant |
| William Hunter Campbell (1839-1862) | No award | Ineligible for the Medal of Honor as a civilian; hanged | ||
| Corporal | Daniel A. Dorsey (1838-1918) | 33rd Ohio | September 17, 1863 | Escaped; later promoted to 2nd lieutenant |
| Corporal | Martin J. Hawkins (1830-1886) | 33rd Ohio | September 17, 1863 | Overslept and did not participate; escaped; later promoted to sergeant |
| Private | William James Knight (1837-1916) | 21st Ohio | September 17, 1863 | Escaped |
| Corporal | Samuel Llewellyn (1841-1915) | 33rd Ohio | No award | Did not participate; enlisted in a Confederate unit before reaching Marietta; later promoted to sergeant |
| Sergeant | Elihu H. Mason (1831-1896) | 21st Ohio | March 25, 1863 | Exchanged; later promoted to captain |
| Private | Jacob Parrott (1843-1908) | 33rd Ohio | March 25, 1863 | Exchanged; later promoted to 1st lieutenant |
| Corporal | William Pittenger (1840-1904) | 2nd Ohio | March 25, 1863 | Exchanged; later promoted to sergeant |
| Private | John R. Porter (1838-1923) | 21st Ohio | September 17, 1863 | Overslept and did not participate; escaped; later promoted to 1st lieutenant |
| Corporal | William H. Reddick (1840-1903) | 33rd Ohio | March 25, 1863 | Exchanged; later promoted to 2nd lieutenant |
| Private | Samuel Robertson (1843-1862) | 33rd Ohio | September 17, 1863 | Posthumous; hanged as a spy |
| Sergeant Major | Marion A. Ross (1832-1862) | 2nd Ohio | September 17, 1863 | Posthumous; hanged as a spy |
| Sergeant | John Morehead Scott (1839-1862) | 21st Ohio | August 4, 1866 | Posthumous; hanged as a spy |
| Private | Charles Perry Shadrack (1840-1862) | 2nd Ohio | No award | Hanged as a spy; ineligible for the Medal of Honor due to serving under an assumed name (real name Phillip Gephart Shadrach) |
| Private | Samuel Slavens (1831-1862) | 33rd Ohio | July 28, 1883 | Posthumous; hanged as a spy |
| Private | James Smith (1844-1868), born Ovid Wellford Smith | 2nd Ohio | July 6, 1864 | Did not participate; enlisted in a Confederate unit before reaching Marietta, but was held prisoner in Swims Jail during the Raid;[1] later promoted to corporal |
| Private | George Davenport Wilson (1830-1862) | 2nd Ohio | No award | Hanged as a spy |
| Private | John Alfred Wilson (1832-1904) | 21st Ohio | September 17, 1863 | Escaped |
| Private | John Wollam (1840-1890) | 33rd Ohio | July 20, 1864 | Escaped |
| Private | Mark Wood (1839-1866) | 21st Ohio | September 17, 1863 | Escaped; later promoted to 2nd lieutenant |
That would be "The Great Locomotive Chase" (1956), with Parker playing Anderson.
The event also inspired Buster Keaton's great film "The General" (1925).
***The silent movie “The General” with Buster Keaton(?) is a favorite of my kids. I didn’t realize how closely the film matches the actual events.****
It was on TCM last night!
Will they celebrate the raid on St. Albans Vermont by 21 escaped confederate POWs in 1864? Although the able bodied male population of St. Albans outnumbered the Confederates several times over, only two resisted, resulting in one killed, with the other wounded.
Will they celebrate the raid on St. Albans Vermont by 21 escaped confederate POWs in 1864? Although the able bodied male population of St. Albans outnumbered the Confederates several times over, only two resisted, resulting in one killed, with the other wounded.
Will they celebrate the raid on St. Albans Vermont by 21 escaped confederate POWs in 1864? Although the able bodied male population of St. Albans outnumbered the Confederates several times over, only two resisted, resulting in one killed, with the other wounded.
Will they celebrate the raid on St. Albans Vermont by 21 escaped confederate POWs in 1864? Although the able bodied male population of St. Albans outnumbered the Confederates several times over, only two resisted, resulting in one killed, with the other wounded.
Bummer, danged double tap finger.
The Buster Keaton Movie does follow the events very closely. They used national guard troops to simulate the union and confederate troops changing uniforms from union to confederates. The train wreck when crossing the bridge was with a real train and started a forest fire. Filmed in California.
Wow, if that’s the attitude you take I’ll go ahead and say they got the last laugh.
Good to see it commemorated. I’ve always been more impressed with the speeds: 60+ mph - the Texan going reverse, the General facing forward - on those Civil War-era tracks and those rickety ties!
(I’m a volunteer in that museum for its machine shop, iron casting, molds and fabrication displays. )
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.