I work for the City of Kennesaw and pass by the museum several times a week. Lots of great history. Not much left of Camp McDonald except some green space across from the backside of City Hall. And some earthworks along a trail behind the First Baptist Church of Kennesaw.
Fabulous presentation! I know there wasn’t time to talk about it but OMG the stories of the guys who successfully escaped (and HOW they escaped!) that is worth another 20 minutes! Also, my cousin Pvt. Robert Buffum of the 21st Ohio was one of the six who were finally exchanged and received the medal of honor. A little known fact is that all of the Raiders who were privates were instantly boosted up to lieutenants because of this mission. Those who survived that is. Sadly my cousin Robert Buffum suffered certainly post traumatic stress from the ordeal and he ended up dying years later in prison where he is buried today.
Thank you for explaining the locomotive. My grandfather was a fireman on the CNR after WW1. He worked himself up to engineer. Train pride! So, I really appreciated the education.
Wonderful museum! While the focus is The General and the Locomotive Chase, the museum is filled with a lot of railroading artifacts and local history. Well worth the visit. There are also other monuments and sites of interest between there and Chattanooga, Tennessee related to the chase. A few of the raiders are buries at the National Cemetery in Chattanooga near a monument of The General. Also worth the time to visit.
Hello, from Birkenhead, England (where the '290 / Enrica / CSS Alabama' was built & launched and also where 'The Sea King / CSS Shenandoah' ended her voyage in 1865, well after the war had ended - the last Confederate flag to be lowered ?). One question seemingly not covered - What was the gauge of the A & W RR for the entire length. Knowing most rail lines in the South ran North / South, but many states had different gauges - can you clarify how many different gauges were in operation during the war 1860 - 1865. Great coverage of the Museum, love to visit it one day. Finest Regards.
The Western & Atlantic Rail Road was built to the 5-foot Broad Gauge (1524mm) before the War, very common in the South. On May-31-June 1, 1886, it was regauged to Northern Standard Gauge (4' 8 1/2", 1435 mm) , all 138 miles in 24 hours, basically. Locomotives and rolling stock were regauged at the same time. (Per the wiki entry relating to the W&ARR).
“The General” was severely damaged during the Civil War. There is a picture by George Barnard of the General showing this damage on Page 339 of Russell Bonds’ book entitled “Stealing the General”. Secretary of War Stanton gave 6 of the raiders their Medals of Honor (newly minted) in his office. “The Texas” is also, preserved at the Atlanta History Center.
Great video and awesome presentation and enthusiasm from museum staff Joshua T. It is so great to see the passion and excitement teaching about these great moments in the civil war. I have never been to the Southern Civil War History Museum but it is now on my bucket list to see the "General" and I hope that I can meet Joshua as well. Great job ABT team!
I wish so too. “The Great Locomotive Chase” is one of my favorite movies since I was a kid. The movie was filmed on the old Tallulah Falls Railroad which, sadly, no longer exists. I’d love to see a new movie made.
My dad was a train buff, and I remember him taking me to see this movie in 1956, when I was 6. When I was seven, we moved to Tennessee and I may be hallucinating but I think I was allowed to get up on the engine.
The site where Andrew’s Raiders and “The General” were caught is just down the road from my house about five minutes. There is a larger stone marker that has General inscripted on it and tells about the Great Locomotive chase. Andrew’s Raiders we’re taken to Chattanooga and hung as spies. They are buried in the Chattanooga National cemetery downtown. The location of the graves is right at the front entrance to the cemetery. It is a group of about 7 graves arranged in a semi circle with a locomotive monument in the center
The Buster Keaton silent movie ''The General' was inspired by this story. Not completely historically accurate, but basically every exciting bit from the story is in the movie in some form. It's a masterpiece. Watch it! You won't regret it.
It has now been Colourised (April 2022), not the finest quality nut it's free on RU-vid, worth checking is 'Santa Fe Trail' too - also colourised - far better, with Ronald Reagan & many other stars too (it features the John Brown raid at Harpers Ferry)..
At first I was going to skip over this as it didn't really spark my interest. I was wrong. It's quite a story and I admire Mr. Trower's passion for trains and history. Thanks for posting.
Been there twice. Long time fan of the story of the GLC. William Pittinger, one of the raiders and the unofficial chronicler of the raid, is a distant relative on my mother's side.
More interesting facts about this raid - Raider Ovid Smith was 16 and too young to enlist in the army when he joined, therefore he gave a fictitious name (James) and age (18). He and Llewelyn were the ones stopped in Tennessee by the Confederate army.
Thanks so much. This is a fascinating story and Josh is Great. Love his technical knowledge and passion for this subject.. Just moved to Kennesaw and this museum will be our next stop. Hope to see Josh there!!
Hi! I’m John Robert Pittenger , the Great Great Nephew of William Pittenger , one of the Raiders! Loved your video! Uncle Will would have loved it too! ( he authored “ Daring and Suffering “ about the raid , which Walt Disney used as the basis of the script for “ The Great Locomotive Chase “ starring Fess Parker. My Cousin Gregg Pittenger is helping to design a board game based on the Raid entitled “ Train Thieves “.
My Sons of Veterans of the Civil War Camp is named for one of the Raiders, Sgt William Pittenger. He was one of the first recipients of the Medal of Honor along with several other Raiders. He is buried in Fallbrook California.
I was a 65 bravo in the army locomotive mechanic wish I would have followed that trade the Milwaukee road was failing not hiring loved doing brake stands with a locomotive sending sparks is awesome air2 s army out