Pittinger's Daring & Suffering

[gary]

Can anybody tell me what this book is about?

[thea_447]

Did you mean Pottinger's?
I found this:
http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/97/0620/hkhistory.html

Daring and Suffering a History of the Great Railroad Adventure Author: William Pittenger

http://www.aboutthecivilwar.com/usci...US116768.shtml

The whole nation was excited, last spring, at the revelations made before the President and the Cabinet at Washington, by the survivors of General Mitchel's secret Railroad Expedition, sent into the heart of the Confederacy almost a year before. Of the twenty-two daring adventurers who took their lives in their hands and penetrated the enemy's country, eight were executed, and the others, after suffering untold hardships, finally succeeded in recrossing the lines and reaching their regiments in the Union army. They each received a medal of honor from the hands of the President.

The narrative of the long captivity, attempts at escape, sufferings and sorrows, of these heroic soldiers, is told with a graphic power which at once rivets the reader's attention. Nothing in the history of our country is more startling than this adventure, nothing so heart-touching as the protracted trials and privations of the prisoned adventurers, as related by the pen of the gifted author of this work.

The book is illustrated by a fine steel portrait of the author, and several exquisite wood engravings, and printed in the highest style of typographical beauty.



Hope it helps

It is also available as an E Book I believe.

(Message edited by aphillbilly on October 26, 2003)

[gary]

Thanks. May look into it.

[mobile_96]

Gary,
This is a great story. This true exploit spawned at least 13 editions of an account by one of the participants, 1 novel, a dozen histories and 3 movies, most notably "The General" with Buster Keaton. A 2nd movie was entitled "The Great Locomotive Chase", not sure about the other movies title. Both well worth the effort to find.
Anyway, both are great fun, especially The General, with Keaton as the deadpan engineer trying to recover his stolen train.
Both Engines, the Texas and the General can be viewed, intact, in Chattanoonga's National Cemetery, (at least according to this insert I have in 'Daring and Sufferings').
In 1881, Pittenger brought out a new and greatly expanded version of his narrative unter a new title, "Capturing a Locomotive" and in 1965 a newer reprint was done with the title "In Pursuit of the General,: A History of the Civil War Railroad Raid".
I have the Time Life "Collector's Library of the Civil War", re-issue- leatherbound.
Chuck in Il.

[mobile_96]

More on the story:
The original book is the more accurate. The later versions are longer and more dramatic, with manufactured conversations and extraneous material, including details of the author's experiences in prison.
A monument to the raiders stands in Chattanooga's National Cemetery, and the eight men who were executed are buried nearby. The ultimate tribute came in 1863 with the creation of an award for courage 'above and beyond the call of duty': The award was the Medal of Honor, and the raiders were the first recipients.
(Per the Time Life Editors)