The Great Locomotive Chase (Andrews' Raiders)
by Adria Andrews for Grade 4-6
Smuggling quinine across the battle lines for several weeks for the Confederates, Andrews, part of the Union was right where he wanted to be. Using his new found "friends" he was able to bring in Union men who knew how to operate locomotives. Eventually, he had enough men for a plan approved by Union General Ormsby Mitchel. Their plan was to steal "The General" a Confederate train and destroy track, bridges and tunnels along our way to Chattanooga, a prosperous Confederate city. With the railroad destroyed Chattanooga would easily be taken. It was a quite morning in Marietta, Georgia on April 12, 1862. The General had stopped to allow it's passengers and crew time for breakfast at the Lacey Hotel. Andrews and 21 other raiders boarded The General and headed for their first destinations, Huntsville, which was taken over the day before by Mitchel. Once The General's crew saw their train take off down the track they took it in their own hands to bring it back. Fuller and a few other crew members ran two miles to Moon's Station where they hopped onto a handcar along with two other maintenance crew to help push and pull. Lucky, for them the tracks began a slow but steady downhill. Andrews stayed up in the cab with a few others while the rest scattered throughout the rest of the train. The General was a regular train which kept to a regular schedule, so when many Georgians saw The General with a different crew they were suspicious. Andrews assured them that he was taking a "powder train" to General Beauregard at Corinth. At first, Fuller and The General's crew thought the men they were chasing were deserters who wanted to escape, but as they came upon rail ties in the roadbed, cut telegraph wires and missing rails they knew their enemy was in front of them. In Etwah The General's original crew jumped onto a switch engine and were off. Andrews and Fuller were less than 10 minutes apart. Andrews was oblivious that he and his crew were being chased. Fuller again had to switch engines. Then finding more tracks torn up Fuller and Murphy continued on foot to Adarisville. At Adairsville station Fuller, took a southbound engine The Texas and was off again in reverse! In a short time Fuller and his crew spotted Andrews and The General. Andrews' quick attempt to raise a rail to stop their pursuers was unsuccessful. As the chase was in full swing, 17 year old Edward Henderson, a telegraph operator, was in search of the problem with the telegraph wires which the raiders had cut. Fuller recognizing Henderson, pulled him onto the moving train. Fuller wrote a message to General Ledbetter in Chattanooga, warning him of the stolen locomotive. The telegraph boy was dropped off the train to send the message. On The General, Andrews and his men dropped crossties behind them but did not slow down Fuller. Next, Andrews released two boxcars. Fuller pushed those out of the way. Finally, they were approaching a covered bridge. Andrews decided to set fire to the remaining car hoping to slow down Fuller while burning a bridge. Unfortunately for Andrews, the wet conditions prevented the bridge from catching fire. Again, Fuller pushed the burning car out of the way. The end was near for Andrews and his raiders. At the top of Ringgold Gap The General gave out. The message had reached General Ledbetter and Confederates were on the track traveling to meet Andrews in Ringgold. Over the next two weeks, all 22 men were caught. 14 men were sent to Confederate prison from which 8 escaped and the 6 that were left were paroled a few months later. Andrews and 7 of his raiders were tried and hung in Atlanta then buried unceremoniously in an unmarked grave. In 1862, Congress created the Medal of Honor and awarded it to some of the Raiders. Unfortunately, James Andrews was not in the military and was not eligible. The bodies of the raiders who had been hung were disinterred from the unmarked grave and buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Questions: 1. What side was James Andrews on in the Civil War?
2. What was the goal of Andrews and his raiders?
3. Were they successful? 4. How did Fuller get help?
5. What do you think the telegraph boy was thinking as he was being pulled onto a moving train?
6. What would you have done if you were part of The General's crew and saw your train leave the station?
Outline: I. Andrews' Raid
1. Goal
2. Stealing of The General II. The General's crew in pursuit 1. Handcar 2. Switch engine 3. The Texas III. The Chase 1. Telegraph boy 2.Andrews' three last attempts a. Crossties b. Release of two cars c. Set fire to the last car IV. The Final Act 1. The General gives out 2.Confederates meet The General V. The raiders' demise A. All 22 caught 1. 14 sent to prison a. 8 escape b. 6 paroled a few mo. later 2. Andrews and 7 raiders a. tried and hung in Atlanta b. buried unceremoniously B. Medal of Honor 1. Some of the raiders 2 Not Andrews C. Bodies disinterred 1. Reburied in Chattanooga National Cemetery
Answers:
1. Union 2. To destroy tracks, bridges and tunnels on their way to Chattanooga. 3. No. 4. Used a telegraph boy to relay a message to the Confederates. 5. Answers will vary. 6. Answers will vary. Source: http://www.ngeorgia.com/history/raiders.html