GENERAL LOCOMOTIVE WAR MEMORIAL

THIS TABLET MARKS THE SPOT AT WHICH THE LOCOMOTIVE “GENERAL” WAS ABANDONED BY ANDREWS’ RAIDERS THE AFTERNOON OF APRIL 12, 1862. CAPT. JAMES J. ANDREWS, WITH TWENTY VOLUNTEERS FROM SILL’S BRIGADE, MITCHELL’S CORPS, U.S.A. AND A CITIZEN OF KENTUCKY, ALL DRESSED AS CIVILIANS, CAPTURED THE “GENERAL” AT BIG SHANTY, APRIL 12, 1862. THE PURPOSE OF THE CAPTURE WAS TO DESTROY THE BRIDGES ON THE WESTERN & ATLANTIC R.R. AND THEREBY CUT OFF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY FROM ITS BASE OF SUPPLIES. THE “GENERAL” WAS ABANDONED BY THE RAIDERS ON ACCOUNT OF LACK OF FUEL AND THE CLOSE PURSUIT OF CONDUCTOR FULLER AND HIS PARTY.