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- Jul 29, 2013
The Great Locomotive Chase (Andrews' Raid) was a military raid that occurred April 12, 1862, in northern Georgia during the American Civil War. Volunteers from the Union Army, led by civilian scout James J. Andrews, commandeered a train and took it northward toward Chattanooga, Tennessee, doing as much damage as possible to the vital Western and Atlantic Railroad (W&A) line from Atlanta to Chattanooga as they went. They were pursued by Confederate forces at first on foot, and later on a succession of locomotives.
Because the Union men had cut the telegraph wires, the Confederates could not send warnings ahead to forces along the railway. Confederates eventually captured the raiders and executed some quickly as spies, including Andrews; some others were able to flee. Some of the raiders were the first to be awarded the Medal of Honor by the US Congress for their actions. As a civilian, Andrews was not eligible.
* Kennesaw House in Marietta, Georgia (Andrew and Raiders embarked The General on April 12th, 1862)
* The General (Housed at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw)
* Kennesaw Station (Big Shanty)
* Georgia State Marker (The General)
* The Texas (Housed at the Atlanta Cyclorama)
* Kennesaw Station Monument Park
* Kennesaw Station Monument Park
* The General Marker near Ringgold, Georgia
* Andrews' Raiders Monument and Graves at the Chattanooga National Cemetery
* Photos courtesy of William Bechmann (2012 - 2014)
Because the Union men had cut the telegraph wires, the Confederates could not send warnings ahead to forces along the railway. Confederates eventually captured the raiders and executed some quickly as spies, including Andrews; some others were able to flee. Some of the raiders were the first to be awarded the Medal of Honor by the US Congress for their actions. As a civilian, Andrews was not eligible.
* Kennesaw House in Marietta, Georgia (Andrew and Raiders embarked The General on April 12th, 1862)
* The General (Housed at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw)
* Kennesaw Station (Big Shanty)
* Georgia State Marker (The General)
* The Texas (Housed at the Atlanta Cyclorama)
* Kennesaw Station Monument Park
* Kennesaw Station Monument Park
* The General Marker near Ringgold, Georgia
* Andrews' Raiders Monument and Graves at the Chattanooga National Cemetery
* Photos courtesy of William Bechmann (2012 - 2014)
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