Museum Seeks Andrews Raid Descendants
Feb/March 2003

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, home of the locomotive the General, is searching for descendants of men who took part in the Great
Locomotive Chase.

The chase took place on April 12, 1862, when 24 Union spies under James Andrews stole the General in downtown Kennesaw. Their mission was to destroy rail line, bridges and telegraph lines on the way to Tennessee. The engine ran out of fuel near Ringgold. Confederates
on foot, in a handcar and three locomotives. The Union men were caught during the next two weeks and Andrews and seven others were executed.

Museum curator George Deeming is leading the search for descendants. He has learned of some descendants from old visitor logs at the museum when it was known as the Kennesaw Civil War Museum. Most of the raiders were in the 21st and 33rd Ohio Infantry Regiments.

Publicity in Ohio has brought some responses.

A dozen participants have been identified on the Confederate side. They include train engineers, a conductor, telegraph messenger, wood
asser and foreman.

Deeming would like to get relatives together for a reunion and to share their stories. He plans to invite them to the March 30 museum grand opening.

The museum, which is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, will be opening a new building 10 times larger than the old facility. It displays a Civil War Era Collection that depicts the importance of
railroads and wartime life for soldiers and citizens. The Glover Steam Locomotive Collection illustrates life in a turn-of-the-century locomotive factory. Traveling Smithsonian exhibits are also shown.

Chase descendants may call Deeming at (678) 354-7242. For information about the museum call (770) 427-2117.