The Andrews Raid (also known as the Great Locomotive Chase) is probably the most famous railroad event of the Civil War.  In April 1862, Federal raiders under James Andrews stole the Western & Atlantic locomotive General at Big Shanty (now Kennesaw) near Marietta, Georgia, and headed north toward Chattanooga with the intention of disrupting Confederate rail operations between Atlanta and Chattanooga.  Pursued by determined Confederate trainmen operating the locomotive Texas in reverse, Andrews' party damaged track and cut telegraph wires along the W&A route until the General finally quit running as it neared the Tennessee state line.  The raiders abandoned the General, but most were soon captured and several were subsequently hanged.

Although the locomotive chase itself occurred in north Georgia, there are many Tennessee connections and associations with this fascinating railroad event....

For many years after its retirement the locomotive General resided at Union Station in Chattanooga, as seen in this circa 1907 photograph.  The General, originally built by Rogers Locomotive Works of Paterson, New Jersey in 1855, served the Western & Atlantic Railroad until retired in 1891.  While in Chattanooga, it was restored in 1961 for the Civil War Centennial.  After an extended lawsuit, the L&N transferred the General to Georgia in 1972, and today it can be seen at the Kennesaw Civil War Museum.

Several Tennessee Historical Markers commemorate Tennessee events associated with the Andrews Raid:

The Andrews party assembled near Shelbyville in Bedford County in preparation for their raid (Tennessee Historical Marker 3 G 16).

The captured raiders were confined in Swim's Jail at Fifth and Lookout Streets in Chattanooga (Tennessee Historical Marker 2 A 77).

The raiders' leg irons were made by freed slave William Lewis in his Chattanooga blacksmith shop (Tennessee Historical Marker 2 A 84).

Andrews escaped from jail in Chattanooga, but was recaptured on Williams' Island (Tennessee Historical Marker 2 A 65).

In 1863, twelve raiders were charged at the Old Knox County Courthouse and one was convicted--before the trial was adjourned in response to increasing Federal raids on East Tennessee, and the prisoners were sent to Atlanta (Tennessee Historical Marker 1 E 92).

The National Cemetery in Chattanooga houses a monument to the Andrews party.  The monument inscription reads:  "Ohio's tribute to the Andrews Raiders, 1862, erected 1890."  On several occasions veterans of the event met at this site to commemorate the raid.

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Last update:  May 10, 2000