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Thursday, April 12, 2012

The "General" and Great Locomotive Chase

Locomotive "General" marker

About 6 A.M. on April 12, 1862, a Federal spy and contraband merchant, James J. Andrews, of Ky, together with 18 soldiers and one civilian seized "General" and three box cars while the train crew and passengers were eating breakfast at the Lacy Hotel. Intedning to sabotge the state railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga, the raiders steamed north to destroy track and burn bridges. They were foiled in this attempt by the persistant pursuit of conducter of the train Capt. W.A. Fuller, Fireman Jeff Cain and Anthony Murphy of the Atlanta Railroad shops, after a chase of 87 miles at the tracks a few feet from this location.

William A. Fuller marker

Both of the markers above, one for the "General" and one for William A. Fuller, are seen in downtown Kennesaw, GA. Today, that locomotive is the centerpiece of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, also in Kennessaw.

Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History

Little General - Marietta, GA

Little General - Marietta, GA

This replica train is located in Glover Park, in the middle of the town square in Marietta, GA. It's a smaller version of the "General" which was a part of the Great Locomotive Chase.

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