Description
One of the most famous commando-type raids of the Civil War comes to life! Twenty Union soldiers and two civilians hijacked a train. Their mission - to head north and destroy bridges, rails and rolling stock on the Western & Atlantic Railroad connecting Atlanta and Chattanooga. As the Raiders headed north, Confederates commandeered several engines, including the "Texas," and the great locomotive chase was on.
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On April 12, 1862, twenty Union soldiers and two civilians stole a train powered by a locomotive named "The General" just north of Atlanta. Their mission was to drive the train north to Chattanooga, destroying bridges, railways, and rolling stock along the way. Confederates, however, commandeered several engines, including "The Texas, " and initiated what became known as "The Great Locomotive Chase." Two movies and numerous books have been dedicated to this chapter in American history, but this is the first pictorial account of the incident. A thorough narrative is accompanied by numerous archival photographs, drawings, and maps associated with raid. After abandoning their mission, eight of the Union soldiers were executed and the remainder exchanged for Confederate POWs. The first Congressional Medals of Honor were awarded to the Union soldiers who participated.
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