Cartersville in Bartow County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Heart of the Chase

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, January 15, 2022

1. The Heart of the Chase Marker

Inscription. On April 12, 1862, Union spies led by James Andrews hijacked the locomotive General in Kennesaw, GA. The raiders ran north in hopes of burning bridges, ripping up rails, and cutting telegraph wires on the Georgia owned W&A RR. The plan would prevent Confederate reinforcements from Atlanta and allow Union General Ormsby Mitchel time to attack Chattanooga.

Pursued by conductor William Fuller, engineer Jeff Cain, and foreman Anthony Murphy, the chase covered five counties before the General ran out of steam north of Ringgold.

No other county offered as much thrill and action than Bartow. All three chase engines (Yonah, Smith, and Texas) were acquired in Bartow, the greatest track distance was covered in Bartow, and the General was side tracked for an hour in Kingston where Andrews' story was challenged by depot agent Uriah Stephens.

The event is considered to be America's greatest railroad adventure resulting in awarding of the nation's first Medals of Honor. In 1956, Walt Disney made the event into a movie entitled, The Great Locomotive Chase.

Erected by Etowah Valley Historical Society • Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars

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• War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 12, 1862.

Location. 34° 9.936′ N, 84° 47.745′ W. Marker is in Cartersville, Georgia, in Bartow County. Marker can be reached from West Main Street (Georgia Route 113) west of South Public Square, on the right when traveling west. Marker is on fence along railroad tracks south of the old depot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Friendship Plaza, Cartersville GA 30120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Amos T. Akerman (here, next to this marker); Warren Akin, Sr. (here, next to this marker); Francis S. Bartow (here, next to this marker); Chief Justice Robert Benham (here, next to this marker); Farish Carter (here, next to this marker); Mark A. Cooper (here, next to this marker); Rebecca L. Felton (here, next to this marker); William H. Felton (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cartersville.

Also see . . . Great Locomotive Chase. Wikipedia entry on the daring raid, subsequent 87-mile chase and its aftermath. (Submitted on January 18, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, January 15, 2022

2. The Heart of the Chase Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 18, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 141 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 18, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.