The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-01-03
The Old Georgia Veteran Who
Captured the Engine General
HAS GONE TO BEST.
During the Civil War He Was the Lead
er Of the Band thst Ran Down and
Captured the Famous Cap.
tain Andrews and His
Band.

Capt. William Allen Fuller, a prom.
iuent pioneer citizen OF Atlanta, and
former conductor for the State road,
who made himself famous during the
war between the states by recaptur-
ing the historic engine General" and
causing the execution Of James J. An
drews, and his raiders, passed away
Thursday morning at 1925 o'clock at
his late residence, 337 Washington
street, Atlanta.
The Augusta Chronicle says the
death of this distinguished citizen and
patriot of the Cllnfsderacy was caused
by q malady of carbuncles, and he
passed away after q five weeks illness.
When be died he was surrounded by
the members of his family and his ply.
sicians. His famous recapture OF the
General" has given him place not
only in the history OF Georgia and the
South but the entire Union. Several
histories have been written contain
ing the details Of this great feature OF
the war.
Capt. Fuller, as conductor, took part
In the following graphic story Of the
rscapture of the Confederate engine,
General"
In 1852 the Confederate line Of de.
tense extended from Richmond, Va,
to Corinth, Miss. The line of railroad
ran from Memphis to Richmond
through Chattanooga to Atlanta and
connected with divergent lines to
Charleston, Savannah, Montgomery,
Mobile and New Orleans.
Capt. Andrews, In command OF a
body Of Federal troops, planned to de-
stroy several bridges, cutting of COM
municstion between Chattanooga and
the south, leaving Chattanooga an
easy prey to the Union army.
A little company Ct twenty. one re-.
sponded to the call OF Andrews, and a
meeting for explanation Of the details
was held in the woods near. Shelby
vile, Tenn, april 7, 1862. After this
the men broke up into squads Of three
or four and made their way through
the Confederate lines to Marietta, Ca,
to meet Andrews.
Nineteen of the men, two OF them
getting left, boarded Western and
atlantic train at Marietta. Their real
identity was disguised. The train con-
sisted Of three empty box cars, be-
sides the passenger coaches. The
nineteen spies for the Federal forces
Immediately scattered themselves
throughout the train.
When Big Shanty was reached,
which is seven miles north Of Marlet-'
ia, the fagman cried out: big Shan.
tY! Twenty minutes for breakfast"
Every member of the train crew, most
of the passengers, save the spies, to-
gether with Capt. Andrews, alighted.
Andrews quietly directed Engineer
Knight to uncouple the train back OF
the empty freight cars, thus providing
Guartere for his party without alarm
Ing the passengers. Then, as II he
were conductor Of the train, Andrews
loaded the empty cars with his men.
This done, Andrews, William Knight,
Wilson and Brown, all Federallsts,
mounted the engine and rolled away.
One precaution, however, was omit
ted. He failed to cut in twain the
bell ccrd. When the engine pulled
away with the box cars the cord snap.
ped and the engine bell rang aloud.
But they were off.
Along the way they tore up rails
and cut telegram wires.
According to Andrews calculations,
there was only one trsin likely to give
him trouble-the southbound local
freight-Which, he knew, might be
met at any point between Big Shanty
and Kingston. he placsd red flag
to indicate that another train was fol-
lowin.. This was done to assist him
In explanations that might be- demand
ed because he was running out OF Sche-
dule time.
This train, belonging to the Confed-
crates, In the hands Of enemies, pull
I'd through Moons Station, where tools
were taken from workmen with which
to tear up rails. The train passed
through Acworth, Altoona, Etoworth
Reseca, Gainesville, C4lhoun, Tunnel
Hill, and finally Rlnggold, wnele they
were thWarted and Wnere the 'Gener.
al" was recaptured.
AS soon as the bell rang, while Cap
tain Fuller and his men were eating,
be looked from the window and saw
the General" moving away. Jumping
from his chair, he pursued the enemy
on foot for q miles, accompanied by
Anthony Murphy, master mechanic
Of the Western and Atlantic railroad,
now living in Atlanta, and one OF the
few surviving members Of this crew,
ana Jeff Cain, engineer. Beforehand
he dispatched William Kandrick on
horseback to Marietta to notify the
Atlanta Office.
Reaching Moons Station on foot,
Captain Fuller Ret Jack Bon, fore
man CT a read gang, from whom he
learned that the fugitive train had
passed there, carrying about twenty
five people.
Capt. Fuller, obtaining an old time
handcar, propelled by poles, ran this
rn$hor nm Mnrnhv ann