The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1888-07-19
A THRILLING INCIDENT OF THE
WAR.
The Locomotive Chase in Georgia.

~
lanta and Chattanooga.
A spy in the employ of General
Buell., with "a men from an Ohio
Regiment in Gen. Sills' Brigade.
secretly entered the enemy's terri
tory, made their way to Marietta.
Georgia, (under the pretext of be-
ing kentuckians going south to Join
the Southern army with instruc-
tons to capture train, burn the
bridges on the northern part of the
Georgia State Railroad, and also on
the East Tennessee Railroad where
it approaches the Georgia State line,
thus completely isolating Chattanoo-
ga which was virtually ungarrison-
ed.
Andrews and his men arrived at
Marietta without trouble. A consul
tation was held, plan adopted and
day fixed to carry it into effect.
When the time arrived Andrews
and his men bought tickets for diff
ferent stations along the route and
took their seats as passengers on ar
rival of north bound train.
Eight miles from Marietta at
"Big Shanty," the train stopped for
breakfast. The conductor, engineer
and many passengers hurried to the
breakfast room leaving the train
unguarded. ''Big Shanty was a
confederate camp. Andrews, his
two engineers and fremen hurried
forward, uncoupled section of the
train, consisting of a locomotive,
tender and three baggage cars.
Andrews, the engineers and fremen
sprang into the cab and the men into
the three cars. The throttle was
pulled wide open, then with bound
the little train with its daring cyan
KEGS" darted away as if by magic,
leaving the camp and the station
in the widest confusion. Andrews
had secured a copy of the time table
which enabled him to meet the trains
going South at the various stations.
Andrews object was TO run at the
highest speed after passing the
south bound trains to Oostanaula
and Chicamauga bridges, lay them
in ashes, and pass on through Chat
tanooga to the Union army at
Huntsville. If all trains had been
on time, Andrews might have car
ried out his daring scheme, but I'M
fortunately for him, some of the
trains he had to meet were behind
time. Andrews and his brave men
stopped frequently to tear up the
track, cut telegraph wires and load
on cross ties to be used in bridge
burning, &c.
Andrews explained at the differ
ent points at which he had to stop,
in passing trains, taking in wood
and water, that he was one of Beau
regards officers, running an i'm
pressed powder train through to
that officer at Corinth. Andrews
reached Kingston, 30 miles from
starting point, without trouble. At
Kingston regular trains had to be
passed and extras had to be wait
ed for Andrews asked one of the
conductors ''what was the meaning
of the road being blocked in this
manner, when he had orders to take
the powder train to Beauregard
without moments delay ?" The
answer was Mitchell has captured
Huntsville and we are getting out
of there" For an hour Andrews
and his men remained in intense
agony and suspense, surrounded by
a curious crowd, who asked many
questions, but he succeeded in ward
ing off suspicion. On the arrival of
the extra trains, Andrews pulled
out" Away sped the fugitive train,
but an unexpected danger threaten
ed from behind. As soon as Con
ductor Fuller discovered at "Big
Shanty" that his train had been
captured, he and a railroad man
named Murphy, started on foot as
fast as they could run up the track,
found a hand car and started in pur-
suit. Near Etowah they were pre-
cipitated in a ditch by break made