List About Books Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor
| Title | : | Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor |
| Author | : | Russell S. Bonds |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 444 pages |
| Published | : | October 16th 2006 by Westholme Publishing (first published October 15th 2006) |
| Categories | : | History. Military History. Civil War. Nonfiction. American History. American Civil War. War |
Russell S. Bonds
Hardcover | Pages: 444 pages Rating: 3.95 | 570 Users | 79 Reviews
Relation In Pursuance Of Books Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor
On April 12, 1862—one year to the day after Confederate guns opened on Fort Sumter and started the Civil War—a tall, mysterious smuggler and self-appointed Union spy named James J. Andrews and nineteen infantry volunteers infiltrated north Georgia and stole a steam engine called the General. Racing northward at speeds approaching sixty miles an hour, cutting telegraph lines and destroying track along the way, Andrews planned to open East Tennessee to the Union army, cutting off men and matériel from the Confederate forces in Virginia. If they succeeded, Andrews and his raiders could change the course of the war. But the General's young conductor, William A. Fuller, chased the stolen train first on foot, then by handcar, and finally aboard another engine, the Texas. He pursued the General until, running out of wood and water, Andrews and his men abandoned the doomed locomotive, ending the adventure that would soon be famous as The Great Locomotive Chase. But the ordeal of the soldiers involved was just beginning. In the days that followed, the "engine thieves" were hunted down and captured. Eight were tried and executed as spies, including Andrews. Eight others made a daring escape to freedom, including two assisted by a network of slaves and Union sympathizers. For their actions, before a personal audience with President Abraham Lincoln, six of the raiders became the first men in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor—the nation's highest decoration for gallantry.Americans north and south, both at the time and ever since, have been astounded and fascinated by this daring raid. But until now, there has not been a complete history of the entire episode and the fates of all those involved. Based on eyewitness accounts, as well as correspondence, diaries, military records, newspaper reports, deposition testimony and other primary sources, Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor by Russell S. Bonds is a blend of meticulous research and compelling narrative that is now considered to be the definitive history of "the boldest adventure of the war."
Describe Books Conducive To Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor
| Original Title: | Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor |
| ISBN: | 1594160333 (ISBN13: 9781594160332) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Setting: | Georgia(United States) |
| Literary Awards: | Richard Barksdale Harwell Book Award (2007) |
Rating About Books Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor
Ratings: 3.95 From 570 Users | 79 ReviewsEvaluate About Books Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor
James Andrews as scout/spy, eastern TN 2to1 union, Mitchell astronomy, 24 Andrews Raiders ages 17-33 all Ohio Mitchell Raiders telegraph bridges, go to Marietta first 200 miles in 4 days, 2 recruited on journey to one to canons and other escaped, Chattanooga a wild place, after engine left station 3 ran on foot, journey to Chat has 28 full circles at 1% grade, RR accidents 14xEngland, made 89 miles then 20 abandoned all captured, one whipped, dungeon in Chat where 7 hung-2 twice plus AndrewsWow, if you ever want to read about the very last detail of this raid, this is your book. It follows the events from their inception to the conclusion of the lives of all involved. I'd rate it a 5 star except the author kept referring to events that happened in that area 1 to 2 years after the raid, and where totally unrelated. In other words, what Sherman did along the same rail path two years later was unrelated to the raid (while of course being related to the railroad). So, the narrative is
A civil war story without all the usual civil war stuff.
Very well researched and written account of early Civil War exploit. After our recent visit to Kennesaw Mountain and the railroad museum where the General is displayed, the book filled in the details and gave life to the participants.
This is a most compelling book, history that moves at the pace of a novel.Since I was a kid and saw a Walt Disney production of "The Great Locomotive Chase" (starring Fess Parker, no less!), I have had an interest in the Civil War story of the Andrews raid, in which a group of Union soldiers went behind enemy lines to steal a train for the purpose of disrupting Confederate railroad traffic. What the raiders had counted on was a conductor on the train they stole, so offended by their act that he
This probably isnt a well known story by people that study Civil War history. Its about a group of 22 Yankee volunteers who hijacked a train in Georgia. The plan was to take the train and burn bridges along a railroad line that lead from Atlanta to Chattanooga. The hope was after the train was stolen the Federal troops could support the mission and cut off the souths supply line to the eastern front of the war.By todays standards a train chase wouldnt seem all that impressive but at the time
Mr. Bonds has written quite the encompassing history of the Great Locomotive Chase. He covers seemingly every single facet of this incredible story, almost to a fault, and does so without diverting the attention from central figures or the main story. This book fully illustrates the subject, yet never grows exhausting in its extensive research, and Bonds' talent as a storyteller as well as a historian shines through this heroic yet tragic piece of American history.And I'm not kidding when I say
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