Speaking of the Civil War, Part II

Absalom

Absalom

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Reminded by the thread about the CSS Hunley, here's another part of Civil War history that's worth visiting and remembering:

The Great Locomotive Chase, impressively commemorated at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia, the place known back then as Big Shanty where it all started.

Based on the dearth of visitors when we visited some months ago (compared to the piles of tourists at the CW sites in nearby Chattanooga and at Chickamauga), not enough folks know about this place.

The heart of the display is, of course, the wonderfully restored locomotive, the General, which by itself for me was reason enough to go. The remainder is a small, but well curated collection of CW artefacts, including small arms, and railroad stuff.

The raid is a really neat story. And it offers heroism for both sides, the daring (and the first Medals of Honor) of a true early attempt at "special ops" and the almost unbelievable dedication of the stolen train's pursuers who ultimately prevailed and thwarted the operation.

If you're ever in the Atlanta area, I highly recommend it.
 

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thank you for the wonderful thread and the nice pix too. It looks like a 1st class display. I had never even heard of this museum before.
 
I forgot to add on my first post here... as on the other Civil War Thread.. I commented there that the CSA Hunley was manned by brave men trying to help their country... here too, brave and daring men, facing almost a sure death or captivity in a prisoner of war camp... a fate that may have been worse than death, seized that train to try and help the Union cause by forcing the CSA to tie up their forces to protect rail yards. May we honor the men & yes boys too, who fought on both sides... they were all Americans. My mother's paternal grandfather was in the Missouri 33rd, GAR.
 
I was a small boy when I first saw the General sitting behind a rusty fence at the Union Station at Chattanooga. The big drive wheels far above my head and a "must visit" every time we made a train trip to Atlanta.
I got to see "my friend" again after almost 60 years! My daughter through a mutual friend, contacted the museum curator and told him my story and love for the old locomotive and made a date for a special viewing... it was no longer rusty and the drive wheels much smaller than the last time I stood by it!

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I saw a movie about this as a kid.


One of the soldiers posing as southern civilians was seen with a Union revolver. Another told onlookers that the man had taken it from a dead Yankee who'd been stealing his chickens.


Anyone remember that film?


I think it may have starred Fess Parker, who also played Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett in other roles. But my memory may not be accurate on that point.
 
Chuck24 said:
Is this the same General that is depicted in the Buster Keaton silent movie of the same name?
Click to expand...

It is, but ...

The movie was "inspired" by the actual raid, but uses it loosely. The lady at the museum told me that back in 1926 the production people came to Georgia, but outstayed their welcome when it became clear how far their script was from the real story.

So they filmed the whole thing up here along a logging railroad in Oregon outside Cottage Grove. Since there were no special effects, it included one (fortunately successful) scene where a real locomotive dropped off a bridge into the Row River, where it sat until WW II because they didn't have the money to pull it out again.
 

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I saw the General many times when I was a kid. In those years--1940's--the locomotive was displayed in Chattanooga's central railway station. Always fascinated me, even more than the then-current steam locomotives that were used almost exclusively then.
 
Texas Star said:
I saw a movie about this as a kid.


One of the soldiers posing as southern civilians was seen with a Union revolver. Another told onlookers that the man had taken it from a dead Yankee who'd been stealing his chickens.


Anyone remember that film?


I think it may have starred Fess Parker, who also played Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett in other roles. But my memory may not be accurate on that point.
Click to expand...

Yes, its The Great Locomotive Chase--one of few Disney movies I have--others being Davy Crockett, and anything Zorro.
 
You have the DVD? Can you ID the revolvers? I was about ten when I saw it and didn't become a serious student of guns for another two years.
 
Texas Star said:
You have the DVD? Can you ID the revolvers? I was about ten when I saw it and didn't become a serious student of guns for another two years.
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I do but, im not as good as you guys at gun ID. Now if it were WWII-related? that's a diff story.
 
The locomotive "Texas", which pursued and caught the Yankee raiders on the General, also survives.
It is in Atlanta in The Cyclorama at Grant Park. The Cyclorama is currently closed. They are moving the painting to a new building on the north side of Atlanta (Buckhead).
I do not know if they are also going to move the Texas. I hope so.


The Texas (locomotive - Wikipedia)

Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum - Wikipedia
 
handejector said:
The locomotive "Texas", which pursued and caught the Yankee raiders on the General, also survives.
It is in Atlanta in The Cyclorama at Grant Park. The Cyclorama is currently closed. They are moving the painting to a new building on the north side of Atlanta (Buckhead).
I do not know if they are also going to move the Texas. I hope so.
....
Click to expand...

Yes. We talked about the "Texas" at the museum also. They're actually refurbishing it; originally it was supposed to only be off display this year, but it's taking longer and the whole thing (diorama and all) will re-open at the new place together (which is actually closer to Kennesaw, so it'll be easier to see both the same day), maybe next year.
 
A good book on this topic is "Stealing The General" by Russell S. Bonds. The book covers the "Andrew Raiders" - as the team was called after James Andrew, thier leader -, the planning and execution of the raid and the aftermath. Most of the raiders died in captivity or while trying to escape. Btw, the first MOH was awarded to one of the raider - Jacob Parrott, an illiterate private. It some how seems fitting that the first MOH was awarded to a private. Other Raiders also were awarded the MOH.
 
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