THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE NEARLY ALTERED THE COURSE OF THE CIVIL WAR
There have been plenty of crazy heists in the history of our nation, yet stealing a train behind enemy lines while sabotaging an essential route for their forces is pretty far up there. The Great Locomotive Chase was an inspiring, daring mission to steal a train during the Civil War that would inspire many different movies, including a noted Disney film, bringing the true story to life.
What Was the Great Locomotive Chase?
The Great Locomotive Chase, also known as Andrews Raid of 1862, took place as Union forces wanted to take over Chatanooga, Tennessee.
A plan was devised to steal a Confederate train, The General, while also sabotaging communications along the railroad to hinder reinforcements.
As Major General Ormsby M. Mitchel advanced on Chattanooga, James J. Andrews, a civilian spy working for the Union, and his team devised the plan.
Their mission was to destroy tracks, bridges, and telegraph lines along the railway, and then reunite with Union forces.
Known as Andrews’ Raiders’ the volunteers dressed as civilians and despite knowing capture meant death, they took on the mission in a daring attempt to help the Union.
Capturing Chattanooga
In 1862, Major General Ormsby M. Mitchel was working to take Chattanooga from the Confederacy.
This was an important post for Confederate fighters as it was a hub for its railway as well as a major source of water.
By cutting off access to the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, Mitchel would cripple the supply chain of the South in a notable way.
However, reinforcements could easily make the trip to the Tennessee hub from Atlanta, through the Southern railroad system.
This is how the history of the Great Locomotive Chase came to be, as stealing their train and destroying infrastructure would make it much harder for Confederate fighters to make the trip north.
Andrews Raid of 1862
Big Shanty, Georgia, was decided upon as the starting point to begin the chase. The location worked because there wasn't a telegraph office to alert others and there was a refueling facility, necessary for the steep climb located ahead.
On April 12, 1862, Andrews' Raiders seized a Confederate locomotive called The General, heading north to Chattanooga, while also destroying the railroad as they had planned.
Despite these setbacks, the Confederates weren't going to simply lay back and let the Union steal The General. The train's conductor, William Fuller, pursued the Raiders on foot and handcar, before eventually commandeering locomotives to pursue them.
Furthermore, the Great Locomotive Chase didn't go smoothly for the Union, as there were several setbacks that would hinder their progress and allow the Confederacy to gain significant ground.
For example, Andrews had to convince a station master that he was transporting critical ammunition for Chattanooga troops during one stop.
Another stop in Kingston would see the Raiders have to wait while another train was on its way, costing them an hour and putting the Confederates right on their tail.
Fuller switched between several locomotives, including The Yonah and The William R. Smith, continuing the advance, before finally driving The Texas, in which he would finally catch the thieves.
Despite being close to their destination, the heat was too much for Andrews’ Raiders and they would not make it to their destination. The mission ended in failure.
Andrews’ Raiders are Captured
As the Great Locomotive Chase came to a close, Andrews' Raiders had to abandon The General just 18 miles from Chattanooga, leading to their eventual capture over the next two weeks after running from Confederate forces.
The mission to take the city had failed and James J. Andrews, along with seven others were hanged, while Jacob Wilson Parrott and the remaining fighters faced brutal imprisonment.
Parrott was beaten over 100 times to reveal their plans, but he never did. The men tried to escape but had to wait it out as POWs before being exchanged later in the war.
Because of the torture these men endured, they were awarded the first Medals of Honor in the history of our nation.
The Great Locomotive Chase Is Also a Movie
The events during the Civil War were daring and had the makings of things you'd see in the movies.
Hollywood thought so too, which is why several films were bringing the exploits to audiences through the big screen.
Most notable is The Great Locomotive Chase, a 1956 adventure film based on the real-life Civil War mission, starring Fess Parker as James J. Andrews.
The Disney movie used several stars from its popular Davy Crockett miniseries, including co-star Jeff York, and the film was shot in Georgia and North Carolina.
Bringing to life the famous Union raid, the film premiered in theaters on June 8, 1956; however, received mixed reviews. Thus, it wasn’t as successful as Disney had hoped.
Part of this came from the fact that the movie stuck true to the story and many disliked the ending where Andrews' Raiders were captured and couldn't escape prison, leading to an anticlimactic finish.
If you’d like to judge for yourself, you can rent the film on a variety of streaming apps, including Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
Although the movie wasn’t a hit with everyone, it doesn’t take away from the real story.
The Great Locomotive Chase remains an incredible story of bravery by American Soldiers risking their lives to reunify our country.
Suggested reads:
Veterans Day Cocktails: Enjoy These Five Libations With Military Ties
Andrews’ Raiders Stole a Civil War Train, Earning the First MOH
