Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor

By Russell S. Bonds
Illustrated, maps, bibliography, index, 444 pp., 2007. Westholme Publishing LLC, 8 Harvey Ave., Yardley, PA 19067, $29.95 plus shipping.

Reviewer: Robert L. Durham
Robert L. Durham is a computer specialist. A longtime Civil War buff, he is also interested in Old West history and has written articles and book reviews for Alamo Journal, True West, Journal of the Alamo Battlefield Association, and Alamo de Parras web site at www.flash.net/~alamo3

Review:
The "Great Locomotive Chase" has become almost mythical in memory. One of the raiders, William Pittenger, practically made a postwar career of writing about the raid. The story eventually made its way onto the silver screen with Buster Keaton's silent classic, "The General," and Walt Disney's "The Great Locomotive Chase," with Fess Parker playing James Andrews, the leader of the enterprise.

Andrews was a shadowy figure, moving easily between the Union and Confederate lines, supplying the Confederacy with quinine and other medical supplies and providing the Federal army with military intelligence. In April of 1862, shortly after the battle of Shiloh, Andrews showed up at the camp of Union Brig. Gen. Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel in Shelbyville, Tenn.

Andrews proposed a plan to sneak behind enemy lines in Georgia and steal a train. He would then move north up the Western and Atlantic Railroad toward Chattanooga, burning bridges as he went.

The idea was to cut Chattanooga off from Southern reinforcements, leaving it open for a relatively easy capture by General Mitchel. James Andrews convinced Mitchel that the raid was worth a try and Mitchel provided handpicked soldiers from three Ohio regiments to aid Andrews in his secret undertaking.

Author Russell S. Bonds provides a detailed narrative of the preparation for the raid, the stealing of the locomotive General, the thrilling chase and the aftermath of the raid.

The aftermath is perhaps the most thrilling part of the story, "a compelling tale of courts-martial, torture and imprisonment, daring escapes, grisly executions, bungled military opportunities, and - for a few fortunate survivors - newly minted medals for heroism’Ķ."

Bonds does a great job of placing the raid into the wider context of the war as a whole, describing how it was hoped the raid would impact the strategic situation. While often thought of as little more than a side show, Andrews' raid is a story of personal courage and endurance and is a worthwhile volume to add to your bookshelf.