The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-02-06
Two Famous Engines.


Tennessee, stands, upon a special
track and surrounded by a handsome
railing, one of the most famous loco
motives in history. 1t Is the General,
with which the Andrews raiders en-
deavored to cut off railway communica-
tons between Tennessee and Georgia
In the spring Of 1862. But while the
General has thus rested at ease for
many years, another engine when
should have equal fame-in fact, the
one which captured the General and
brought the raid to an end-has been
working it's days out on branch Line
in northwestern Georgia. Now this
one also, the "Texas," is to be saved
from the scrap heap and placed on
view. The story Is one Of those ro-
mantle chapters which railroad men
and railroad rolling stock contributed
to the history Of the civil war.
When Andrews and his twenty-five
men boarded the General at Big
Shanty station and ran away with a
string Of cars while the crew was at
breakfast, they left behind them Con
ductor William Fuller, brave and re-
sourceful man.
Believing his engine had been stolen
by conscripts, he, with some OF his
crew, ran after 1t on foot. Soon they
came upon hand car, and were able
to travel faster. Then they found the
engine "Yonah" on a siding, which An
drews had neglected to destroy, and in
this they followed hot after the raid
erS.
Meanwhile the Texas, pulling a
freight train, held the General some
minutes at station. At another sta
ton the General was delayed an hour
This gave time for Conductor Fuller to
catch up. He left the Yonah where he
met the freight train, and took the
Texas, a fresh and speedy engine.
Then began a tremendous race, with
the pursuer but four minutes behind
the raiders. Captain Andrews had
twenty-five men, all armed with revolt
vers. He could have halted anywhere
and defeated the other party. But he
was spy, not soldier, and had never
been in battle. His raid was so planned
that by burning certain bridges he
would keep his men safe.
With the Texas in pursuit, all this
was prevented. Flying along at top
speed, his men kicked off one car after
another to destroy pursuit, but Fuller,
in the Texas, slowed down, received
them gently, and plowed ahead. Sew
eral cars were covered with oil and set
afire, to destroy bridges, but torrent
Of rain checked the flames, and Fuller
side tracked the cars.
At last, at Dalton, the raiders shot
into a tunnel, which offered an ideal
ambuscade Although Captain An
drews did not halt, it was with no
knowledge Of this that the Texas and
her crew drove top speed into the
smoky hole.
At last the General was exhausted.
The raiders, defeated in their attempt
climbed down, the engineer reversed
his engine, and the General ran back
to strike the pursuers.
1t was too late. The engine could
barely run at all. The Texas received
it without harm. Conductor Fuller
leaped aboard and shut off steam, and
a moment later the raiders, divided
into small parties had begun that flight
which ended so disastrously for some
Of them.
After the war, admirers Of Captain
Andrews bought the General and put
it in an exhibition stall but the Texas
has had to battle with freight trains
for more than forty years before COM
ing to the same position of honor
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