Kennesaw in Cobb County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Locomotive "General"

Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 2007

1. Locomotive "General" Marker

Inscription.

Locomotive "General". . This tablet marks the spot at which the LOCOMOTIVE "GENERAL" was captured by Andrews' Raiders morning of April 12th, 1862. Capt. Jas. J. Andrews , with twenty volunteers from Sill's Brigade, Mitchell's Corps, U.S.A. and a citizen of Kentucky, all dressed as civilians, captured the "General" at Big Shanty, April 12,1862, while the train crew and passengers were taking breakfast. The purpose of the capture was to destroy the bridges on the Western and Atlantic R.R. , and thereby cut off the Confederate Army from its base supplies. Conductor W.A. Fuller accompanied by Engineer Jeff Cain and Anthony Murphy, Foreman of the W.& A. Shops, commenced pursuit on foot. They soon secured a hand car and in spite of obstructions placed on the track by Andrews Raiders, made rapid progress. They found the engine "Yonah" at Etowah, and the pursuit then was at such a rapid pace, that serious damage to the railroad by the Raiders was impossible. The "General" was abandoned by the Raiders on account of lack of fuel and the close pursuit of Conductor Fuller and his party., Jas. J. Andrews, Flemingsburg Ky. M.A. Ross, 2nd. Ohio Vol. Inf. G.D. Wilson, Co. B., - - - - C.P. Shadrach, Co. K., - - - - J.M. Scott, Co. F., 21st. - - - S. Slavens, Co. E., 33rd. - - - S. Robertson, Co. C., - - - - W.H. Campbell Citizen Were executed in Atlanta as spies., Jno. A. Wilson, Co. C., 21st Ohio Vol. Inf. Mark Wood, Co. C., - - - - J.R. Porter, Co. C., - - - - W.W. Brown, Co. F., - - - - Wm. Knight, Co. E., - - - - D. A. Dorsey, Co. H., 33rd - - - Martin Hawkins, Co. A., - - - - John Wollam, Co. C., - - - - Escaped from prison and reached the Union Lines., Wm. Pittenger Co. C 2nd Ohio Vol. Inf. Jacob Parrott Co. K 33rd - - - Wm. H. Reddick Co. B - - - - Rob Buffum Co. H 21st - - - Wm. Bensinger Co. G - - - - E. H. Mason Co. K - - - - Were exchanged from Libby Prison., Prominent among the pursuers were ......... Smith, Steve Stokely, Peter Bracken, F. Cox, A. Martin, H. Haney.

This tablet marks the spot at which the
LOCOMOTIVE "GENERAL"
was captured by Andrews' Raiders
morning of April 12th, 1862
Capt. Jas. J. Andrews , with twenty volunteers from Sill's Brigade, Mitchell's Corps, U.S.A. and a citizen of Kentucky, all dressed as civilians, captured the "General" at Big Shanty, April 12,1862, while the train crew and passengers were taking breakfast. The purpose of the capture was to destroy the bridges on the Western & Atlantic R.R. , and thereby cut off the Confederate Army from its base supplies. Conductor W.A. Fuller accompanied by Engineer Jeff Cain and Anthony Murphy, Foreman of the W.& A. Shops, commenced pursuit on foot. They soon secured a hand car and in spite of obstructions placed on the track by Andrews Raiders, made rapid progress. They found the engine "Yonah" at Etowah, and the pursuit then was at such a rapid pace, that serious damage to the railroad by the Raiders was impossible. The "General" was abandoned by the Raiders on account of lack of fuel and the close pursuit of Conductor Fuller and his party.

Jas. J. Andrews, Flemingsburg Ky.
M.A. Ross, 2nd. Ohio Vol. Inf.
G.D. Wilson, Co. B., - - - -
C.P. Shadrach, Co. K., - - - -
J.M. Scott, Co. F., 21st. - - -
S. Slavens, Co. E., 33rd. - - -
S. Robertson, Co.

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C., - - - -
W.H. Campbell Citizen
Were executed in Atlanta as spies.

Jno. A. Wilson, Co. C., 21st Ohio Vol. Inf.
Mark Wood, Co. C., - - - -
J.R. Porter, Co. C., - - - -
W.W. Brown, Co. F., - - - -
Wm. Knight, Co. E., - - - -
D. A. Dorsey, Co. H., 33rd - - -
Martin Hawkins, Co. A., - - - -
John Wollam, Co. C., - - - -
Escaped from prison and reached the Union Lines.

Wm. Pittenger Co. C 2nd Ohio Vol. Inf.
Jacob Parrott Co. K 33rd - - -
Wm. H. Reddick Co. B - - - -
Rob Buffum Co. H 21st - - -
Wm. Bensinger Co. G - - - -
E. H. Mason Co. K - - - -
Were exchanged from Libby Prison.

Prominent among the pursuers were ......... Smith, Steve Stokely, Peter Bracken, F. Cox, A. Martin, H. Haney.

Erected 1901.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • Notable Events • Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is April 12, 1898.

Location. 34° 1.437′ N, 84° 36.901′ W. Marker is in Kennesaw, Georgia, in Cobb County. Marker is on North Main Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is on the west side of the railroad tracks, track side. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kennesaw GA 30144, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

Photographed By Jamie Abel, June 4, 2013

2. Locomotive "General" Marker

Behind the marker (nearest) and across the railroad tracks, you can see the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, home to the General.

are within walking distance of this marker. William A. Fuller (here, next to this marker); Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Federal Occupation of Big Shanty (a few steps from this marker); Stewart's Corps at Big Shanty (within shouting distance of this marker); Site - Lacy Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); The Andrews Raid (within shouting distance of this marker); Big Shanty (within shouting distance of this marker); The General (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kennesaw.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. The General (locomotive). Wikipedia entry:
Early in the Civil War, spies rode this combined freight-passenger train into history in an event now popularized as "The Great Locomotive Chase." (Submitted on February 5, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.) (Submitted on February 16, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. The "Texas" (locomotive). Wikipedia entry:
Steaming in reverse after jettisoning the railcars, the Texas pursued the fleeing General over 50 miles to Ringgold, Georgia, where the raiders abandoned their stolen train two miles north of that town and fled. The Texas's engineer, Peter Bracken, towed the abandoned General back to Adairsville, Georgia, and then picked up his 21 cars

Locomotive General on display at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 1, 1996

3. Locomotive General on display at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History

2829 Cherokee Street (Big Shanty Road)

and steamed into Atlanta, well behind schedule, but with a good reason. (Submitted on February 5, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. Locomotive
Yonah was one of the four steam locomotives involved in the Great Locomotive Chase during the American Civil War. Yonah is a variant transliteration for Jonah (יונה) in Hebrew and means dove.

— Submitted February 5, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.

The "Texas" pursued the "General" in reverse over 50 miles image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, circa 1984

4. The "Texas" pursued the "General" in reverse over 50 miles

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 5, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 5,290 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on June 24, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. Photos: 1. submitted on February 5, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 2. submitted on June 23, 2013, by Jamie Abel of Westerville, Ohio. 3, 4. submitted on February 5, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.