Kennesaw
Historical Society, Inc.
c/o Kennesaw Civil War Museum
2829 Cherokee St.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
770-975-0877
Following in the Footsteps of the Andrews Raid
Written
by Robert C. Jones
Kennesaw, Georgia
Copyright 1996, 2004 by Robert C. Jones
http://www.mindspring.com/~robertcjones/khs/khs.htm
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This book is intended to be an easy-to-use guide to
follow in the footsteps of the "Great Locomotive Chase".
By liberal use of maps, and easy to read text, we hope we have
accomplished that task.
This booklet will not attempt to re-tell
the story of the Andrews Raid. There
are many books and articles that have already done a fine job of chronicling
the event. Rather, we focus on sites from the 1862 chase route that have
modern day remnants. In some
cases, these remnants may be as basic as bridge abutments (the railroad bridge
across the Oostanaula River); in other cases, they may be as substantial as,
well, a locomotive (the General in Kennesaw).
The whole route (including the drive home) can be covered
comfortably in an eight-hour period. With
the exception of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History,
there are no significant museums chronicling the chase along the way.
But when you are done, you will have a much better picture of what the
Andrews Raid was all about.
Luckily, the slice of Georgia countryside that lays
between Kennesaw and Ringgold has not changed significantly since the raid in
1862. So it is not hard to
imagine the cries of the outraged Conductor William Fuller, the sound and heat
of the roaring blaze in the fireboxes of the 4 locomotives that participated
in the chase, and the looks of astonishment on the faces of passengers waiting
patiently at the many railroad depots that still exist today, as the General
roared by without stopping to pick them up!
We hope you enjoy this trip through a slice of Americana, as you, too, are "Retracing the Route of the General".
On
April 12, 1862, one of the most famous incidents of the Civil War began in
Kennesaw, Georgia, then known as Big Shanty.
A group of 20 Union spies, led by civilian James Andrews, hijacked a
Confederate locomotive named the General, and steamed north towards
Chattanooga, attempting to disrupt the Confederate supply and communication
lifelines. Pursued by conductor
William Fuller and Anthony Murphy for 87 miles and 8 hours, the raid failed in
its objectives. But the daring
exploit has become part of our nation's collective consciousness.
On April 12, 1862, at approximately 6:00 AM, the Confederate locomotive General, hauling a passenger train from Atlanta to Chattanooga, made a scheduled 20 minute stop at the four-room Lacy Hotel, in the town of Big Shanty, Georgia (now Kennesaw, GA). At 6:10 AM, James Andrews and 20 Union spies seized the engine, and three cars, and began their fateful trip north.
The Lacy Hotel was burned to the ground by William Tecumseh Sherman's troops in 1864, after the fall of Atlanta. The location of the hotel foundation is under the current Depot parking lot. The most significant remains from the raid is the General itself, located in the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, on Cherokee street in Kennesaw. Also, there is a stone marker commemorating the Raid in the little park at the corner of Cherokee St. and Rt. 293.
Take exit 273, Wade Green Road, from I-75. Head west (Cherokee St.) approx. 2.3 miles. The museum is on your right, before the railroad crossing (the old Western & Atlantic line!)
The
General was seized across the street from the present-day Southern Museum of
Civil War and Locomotive History
The Texas - stained glass window in the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History
This desolate little spot, located about 2 miles north
along the old W&A railroad right of way, was the site where Andrews
stopped momentarily to "borrow" some tools from an obliging railroad
crew. These tools included a
crow-bar later used to tear up track!
This is also where Fuller and Murphy picked up the now famous "pole car", used to pursue the raiders all the way to the Etowah River.
A State of Georgia marker is the only thing left to commemorate the part of Moon's Station in the raid. The railroad crossing was closed in 1995.
From the museum parking lot, turn left, heading back toward I-75 (Cherokee Street). Travel 2 miles, and turn left at Baker Road. Travel .7 miles, and turn right to continue on Baker Road. Moon's Station is .3 miles on the left. (Note: Moon's Station Rd. no longer crosses the railroad tracks at Moon's Station).
Moon's Station
This bridge was the first main target of Andrews' master plan. Andrews made a decision not to destroy the bridge, as the Cooper Iron Works locomotive Yonah was in sight on a nearby spur track. The decision not to destroy the bridge (and the Yonah) proved to be fatal, as the Yonah was the first locomotive used by Fuller and Murphy in the chase.
The massive stone bridge supports are easily viewable from Highway 41, south of Cartersville. The bridge itself was destroyed in 1864 during Sherman's Atlanta campaign.
Continue N. on Baker Rd for 1.1 miles. Turn left on Hickory Grove Rd. (Turns into Southside Dr. in Acworth). Travel 3 miles into Acworth, GA, and turn left across the railroad tracks on Lemon St. (you'll pass the ruins of an old mill on the left before Lemon St.) Turn right onto Main St. (Route 293). Continue North on 293 (approx. 6.4 miles) to the intersection of Rt. 293 and Rt. 41. Turn left to go under Rt. 41. Continue N. on Rt. 293 through Emerson, GA for approximately 2.4 miles. Turn right on River Road. Cross under Route 41 (.4 miles). Immediately on the right are the remains of the Civil War era Etowah River Bridge.
Remains of the Etowah River Bridge
The Yonah, the first locomotive used to pursue Andrews and his raiders, was in use at Cooper Furnace, located on the banks of the Etowah River. The iron works were operated by Major Mark Cooper from 1847 - 1862, hence the name it still bears today.
The huge iron foundry still stands, as well as traces of the old railroad cut on the north side of the River Road.
From the Etowah River bridge piers, continue east on the River Road (about 2.4 miles) until you dead-end at Cooper Furnace.
Cooper Furnace
The Raiders stopped for wood & water at Cass Station. The over-eager tender, William Russell, gave Andrews a W&A schedule, thinking that he was helping the Confederate War effort! (Andrews had told Russell that the General was taking much needed ammunition to General Beauregard).
Scant remains behind the brick warehouse may be of a warehouse that stood at the time of the Raid.
From Cooper's Furnace, head west on the River Road, back to Route 41. Take Route 41 N. through Cartersville for 7 miles (to a point 1/2 mile S. of the intersection with Rt. 20 W./411 S.). Turn left on Mac Johnson Rd. Turn right on Rt. 293. Turn left on Burnt Hickory Rd. Cass is about 200 yards on the right.
Ruins at the site of Cass Station
Andrews was delayed here for 65 minutes, because of a three-section southbound freight. Fuller arrived a mere 4 minutes after Andrews pulled out of Kingston! (Fuller later claimed that he made the 14 mile trip from the Etowah River to Kingston in the Yonah in 15 minutes!) The Yonah was abandoned, and Fuller and Murphy navigated the complicated Kingston rail yard on foot. The Rome Railroad locomotive William R. Smith was appropriated next, by Fuller and Murphy.
A State of Georgia marker commemorating the raid; foundations of the old railroad station; the roadbed of the old railroad spur to Rome, GA is visible in places. The cool DeSoto Hotel was built in 1890.
From Cass Station, return to Rt. 293. Turn left, and follow Rt. 293 towards Kingston, about 6.5 miles. Turn left at the blinking light onto Shaw Ave, and follow the road to the center of Kingston. The remains of the station are across the railroad tracks from the DeSoto Hotel. The remains of the Rome railroad spur are to the west of the station remains, in what is now a public park.
Remains of the old Rome Railroad Spur
Just south of Adairsville, Fuller was forced to abandoned the William R. Smith, and continue pursuit in the famous Texas.
c. 1850 railroad station (that contains a small museum dedicated to the Chase); a marble monument that mentions the chase.
From Kingston, return to Route 293 on Shaw St. Turn left on Rt. 293, and travel .4 miles. Turn right on Halls Station Road, and follow the old W&A railroad tracks to Adairsville (approx. 9.5 miles). Turn right on King St. Turn right on Railroad St. (not marked), and continue to the old Depot.
Adairsville Station, June 2005
The Oostanuala River Bridge was one of the primary targets for destruction by Andrews Raiders. The wet, soggy conditions kept the wooden covered bridge from catching fire.
The stone ramparts of the modern railroad bridge date from Andrews' time.
From Adairsville, return to King St. on Railroad St.
Turn right on King St., and then make a left (N.) onto Main St.
Head North to Route 140 - turn right, and follow the signs to I-75 N.
Exit from I-75 12.4 miles N. from Adairsville, at Exit 318. Head N. on Rt. 41 for 1.4 miles. The stone ramparts of the old railroad bridge are on the right.
The stone ramparts on the embankments date from the 1862 raid
A major target of the Andrews Raid was the 1849 tunnel at Tunnel Hill. Andrews failed to destroy the tunnel, as the Texas was within site by that time. Use of the old tunnel was discontinued in 1928, when a new tunnel was built next to it.
The stone building at the industrial plant is the original depot. The old tunnel is now a small park, complete with a parking lot. The tunnel is sometimes open for tours on the weekend.
From the Oostanaula River Bridge in Resaca, travel N. on Rt. 41 200 yards. Turn left on Route 136. Travel about .3 miles, and get on I-75 N. Head N. on I-75 about 20 miles to Exit 341 (Route 201). Turn left onto Rt. 201 S. Travel for 2.5 miles, continuing straight on Varnell St, when Rt. 201 turns to the right. Turn right on Main St. Turn left on Oak St., and cross the railroad tracks. Make a left on Clisby-Austin Rd. The old depot is on the left. The tunnel mouth is ahead .3 miles on the left (after the covered bridge).
Tunnel Hill railroad depot
Tunnel Hill tunnel
The 1849 railroad depot was standing in Ringgold when Andrews Raiders, nearly out of wood and water for the General, limped past in 1862. The Great Chase ended 2 miles N. of the old depot, when the raiders abandoned the General.
The old depot; a stone marker commemorating the end of the chase.
From the Tunnel Hill railroad tunnel, backtrack on Clisby-Austin road, and continue straight on Oak St to Rt. 41 (do not cross back over the railraod tracks). Head N. on Rt. 41 for 7.1 miles, into Resaca. The old depot will be on the hill to the right. From the depot, head N. on Rt. 151 (just S. of the depot - called Ootewah St./Rt. 41 Truck Route at the intersection below the depot) for 1.9 miles. The stone marker is on the left.
1849 Ringgold Depot
The end of the Great Locomotive Chase
On July 28, 1994, a stamp honoring the General was released by the U.S.P.S. On July 29, 1994, a "Second Day Issue" ceremony was held at the Big Shanty Museum (now Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History) in Kennesaw, Georgia. Speakers at the ceremony included Catherine Fletcher (Kennesaw Civil War Museum), Kennesaw Mayor J.O. Stephenson, General historian Col. James Bogle, and Kennesaw Postmaster Ralph Brooks.
James G. Bogle, with a replica of the General stamp
On June 11, 2005, 47 hardy soles retraced the route of the General via tour coach, with Harper Harris and Robert Jones as the tour guides. Among the stops: Cooper’s Furnace, Kingston, Adairsville, Tunnel Hill, and the Ringgold Depot.
Bus tour group at Ringgold Depot
§ Fields of Glory by Jim Miles (Rutledge Hill Press, 1989)
§ The General: The Great Locomotive Dispute by Joe F. Head (Etowah Historical Foundation, 1990)
§ The Great Locomotive Chase As Told By Men Who Made It Happen, Edited by Gene Aiken (Historic Press/South, 1994)
§ The Great Locomotive Chase or, The Andrews Raid, by James G. Bogle (Blue & Gray Magazine, Blue & Gray Enterprises, July, 1987)
Photos by Robert Jones