Stealing the General: The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor

Detailed coverage of one of the Civil War's lesser known and stranger episodes. Includes informed speculation on why the endeavour was undertaken, thorough recital of the events of the raid itself, and extensive coverage of the raiders in the following days, as they were moved between prisons and, eventually, returned to the North. This latter portion is an aspect of the story which has not previously been told, and is fully as interesting as the events of the raid itself. In no part of this book did I find myself wanting further detail, or wondering what events had been omitted or compressed for brevity. It is rare to find a book which is so complete in it's story.

In "Stealing the General" Russell Bonds presents a minutely detailed account of an 1862 raid that sent a party of Union soldiers (and two civilians) behind Confederate lines to steal a locomotive and then burn railroad bridges between Atlanta and Chattanooga to isolate the latter city in advance of a proposed Federal movement. The Union raiding party captured the locomotive (the "General" of the title) but because of close pursuit they were unable to carry out the main part of their mission, the destruction of the bridges. The entire raiding party was subsequently captured and about a third of them were executed as spies (the survivors and their dead military comrades were awarded Medals of Honor). Bonds delves into the backgrounds of the raiders (and their foes), creating three-dimensional portraits of real men, with flaws as well as commendable virtues. The incident resulted in many postwar articles and books, including several by participants, and eventually provided seeds for not only the 1956 film, "The Great Locomotive Chase," but also an earlier Buster Keaton classic, "The General." But for the past half century, the raid has been largely neglected as a subject for serious study; Bonds's book corrects this lack. Although not a story of a great battle or a famous military leader, this is nonetheless a book that provides compelling, vivid reading about heroes who may have been less than perfect, and all the more real because of that.

There has been such a deluge of books on the American Civil War in the past forty years - many of them thrown together with minimal research - that many readers might ask, do we really need another? Particularly a book written by a lawyer for Coca-Cola? In fact, Stealing the General is a remarkably good book that seems to escape the vicissitudes of more pedestrian efforts at Civil War history. Author Russell S. Bonds has not only carefully researched the details of the famous Andrews raid in April 1862, but he lays out the tale of train theft, capture, execution for some and escape for others in a dramatic and gripping fashion. Unlike most Civil War history, this book is a real page turner and even though most readers will know the broad details, the author displays an ability to fascinate the reader with details that are often not so well known. This book can be viewed on several levels: as a cautionary tale about one of America's first commando-style operations, as a demonstration of human resilience and ingenuity in the face of danger, and as a measuring point on a nation's attempt to quantify military valor. Stealing the General succeeds magnificently on all three levels. Stealing the General is laid out in standard narrative format, with the opening chapters discussing the origins of the raid and the men involved on both sides. Most readers are not likely to be overly familiar with Union Brigadier General Ormsby Mitchell, an aggressive division commander in eastern Kentucky in the spring of 1862. Mitchell developed the plan with James J. Andrews, a smuggler and sometimes-Union intelligence operative that was familiar with Confederate railroad operations in Tennessee and Georgia. As the author explains, the basic plan was for Andrews to infiltrate behind enemy lines with over 20 disguised Union soldiers, steal an engine in Georgia then proceed back up the rail line toward Chattanooga, burning bridges and tearing up rails as he went. With the Confederate lines of communication disrupted, Mitchell would lead his troops to capture the isolated Chattanooga garrison in a coup de main. As the author describes it, the plan initially went well, with 22 of 24 raiders succeeding in infiltrating over 100 miles behind enemy lines and Mitchell succeeded in making a rapid advance into northern Alabama and northwestern Tennessee. As a look at America's first real special forces operation, the Andrews raid reveals the impact of small "friction" factors that ultimately doomed the raid to failure. The well-known U.S. Army "6-P" rule was also in effect, in that Andrews failure to bring along any tools for removing rails prevented the raiders from doing much damage to the rail line. The author's narrative of the railroad chase and the capture of the raiders is well-told and first-rate drama. This part of the book, particularly the role of minor delays, reminds me of the 1945 "Hammelburg Raid" by Patton's troops, which was also doomed by minor delays. Howe

Popular history at its best, brilliantly researched, organized and written. Even if you have no interest in the Civil War, railroads or military matters, buy and read this book -- you won't be disappointed. Smooth narrative flow keeps the action on the ground moving along at an interesting pace, while taking time to connect the locomotive chase with the larger military and political events which place it in historical context. Wish more authors wrote this well.

A small failed raid in 1862 produced a long and complex history. Along the way, this raid serves as the inspiration for two moves and a number of books. "Stealing the General" is the latest addition to that stack of books. Not having read the others, I cannot state that it is the best but it has to be very close. Russell S. Bonds tells a story that most of think we know. Along the way, he corrects are misimpressions, fills in the blanks while adding story lines we had no idea existed. All of this happens in the nicest, most entertaining manner possible without once making us feel that we do not know what is going on. The book divides into four parts, The Plan, The Chase, Consequences and Valor. The Plan sets the stage detailing the reasons for the raid, introducing the raiders and the hoped for results. Solid writing, with attention to detail produces very real characters that the reader can identify with and take a keen interest in. Brigadier General Ormsby "Old Stars" Mitchell, one of the people that we know nothing about, authorizes the raid. James Andrews, sometime spy, sometime smuggler and possible Confederate agent is the author of the plan and leader of the raid. The men volunteer from three Ohio regiments, agreeing to slip behind enemy lines, destroy the railroad cutting Chattanooga off from the Confederacy. That done, General Mitchell's division will seize the city and the CSA's main East/West railroad line. A strong point of this part is the author's intelligent instruction on the contemporary mechanics of travel by and view of railroads. Atlanta to Chattanooga is just under twelve hours by train. The Chase is what we have seen in the movies. It is the story of taking of the train, the pursuit and capture of the raiders. The book shows us the limitations of a 90-minute film and how little history it contains. The Plan provided a good account of train travel, allowing us to understand the chances both sides take and the problems they encounter. This is a well-written history and this is the most exciting part of the tale. The author takes the time to correct misconceptions and lay the foundation for the legend that follows. These side trips do not slow the on-rushing trains but increase our understanding of the story to come. The movies emphasize The Chase with a quick nod to Valor. Consequences detail the imprisonment and military justice that the raiders faced after capture. The conditions the raiders faced in prison, the quality of their trails and the feelings of the people are the backbone of this part of the book. The division between the residents is graphically brought to light, as pro-Union and pro-Confederate locals, vie to hang or help the raiders. A number of the raiders are tried, commended and executed by hanging. Three of the hangings are badly done, James Andrews' strangles while being held off the ground. Twice a rope breaks and the men are hung a second time. With the exception of Andrew