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Contact: Valerie Buxton, O’Neill Communications
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NEW MUSEUM RECREATES FAMOUS CIVIL WAR LOCOMOTIVE CHASE
KENNESAW, GA – On April 12, 1862, James J. Andrews and a band of Union spies quietly stole the Confederate locomotive, the General, right from under the noses of guards at nearby Camp McDonald while passengers and crew were eating breakfast at the Lacy Hotel in what was then Big Shanty, Georgia. In a matter of minutes, Andrews and his “Raiders” took off. Confederate Conductor William Fuller shortly gave chase and stopped the spies before they accomplished their goal of cutting supply lines and halting troop movement.
The fascinating story of the Great Locomotive Chase, as it came to be called, lives on in two Hollywood films and is being recreated again in the new Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, located in today’s version of Big Shanty, now known as Kennesaw, Georgia. The $6 million renovation was constructed around the General, which was originally housed in the old Frey Cotton Gin and known as the Kennesaw Civil War Museum. The newly expanded Museum is now part of the Smithsonian Affiliations program and reopened to the public on March 30, 2003.
Though it was involved in a bit of a tug of war between Georgia and Tennessee at one time, the locomotive itself – the General – has been located in Kennesaw since the 1970s. “To move the General would have been prohibitive in several ways,” says George Deeming, Curator of the Museum. “Instead we gave our architect the unique task of creating a plan around the existing structure originally built to house the General.”
The result? A masterful two-story design that plays off high ceilings to add light to the second story and fits right in next to the historic Kennesaw downtown. Kennesaw is a Cobb County suburb 20 miles north of downtown Atlanta, and its historic area is lined with brick paving, antique shops, and local businesses.
At the Museum, Civil War and railroad buffs can follow in the footsteps of Confederate Conductor William Fuller as he chases “Andrew’s Raiders” through dramatic exhibits, starting at a façade of the Lacy Hotel, through Tunnel Hill, and ending up at the General itself. An exciting new movie brings the excitement of the chase to life.
According to Deeming, one of the most unusual and perhaps valuable pieces in the Museum’s extensive collection is the Medal of Honor presented posthumously to the family of Sgt. John Scott. Scott, one of Andrews’ Raiders, and Andrews himself, were hanged by the Confederates after they were caught, but later became heroes of the Union cause.
“The Medals of Honor issued to the Raiders were the first ever given by the US Government,” said Deeming. “This one has stayed in the family of Sgt. Scott until now. We think there are only about a dozen or so Medals of Honor from this era still in existence in the United States, so it is very significant to us that we have Sgt. Scott’s Medal on display.”
Deeming tracked down the Medal via extensive Internet and genealogical research. He found descendants of Sgt. Scott in Findlay, Ohio and discovered that they were eager to give the Medal to a museum so that it could become a public treasure.
The new Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History also features a Raiders Gallery housing photos and information about all of Andrews’ Raiders. Deeming and his staff have tracked living descendants of Andrews’ Raid on both sides of the Civil War and have identified more than 300. Ironically, many of Confederate Conductor Fuller’s descendants live in the northern or western parts of the US.
The General and the Raiders Gallery are but one portion of the Museum’s extensive Civil War and train collection. Deeming estimates that his staff has catalogued more than 50,000 items, many of them being weapons, bullets, mess utensils and clothing. The Museum’s comprehensive Railroads: Lifelines of the Civil War Collection give visitors a glimpse into the lives of soldiers and citizens during the Civil War era, with a wide variety of rare Confederate weapons and personal items including uniforms, leather goods, bibles, musical instruments, and more.
The Southern Museum also brings to life the old Glover Machine Works, a significant business in this part of Georgia for many years. Its reproduction of the Glover factory, original to Cobb County, features the only restored belt-driven locomotive assembly line in the country, the original machining equipment, and two restored Glover locomotives in various stages of assembly.
The Glover Machine Works played a significant role in industrializing the South after the Civil War. An interactive presentation detailing the train building process, from metallurgy and patterns to casting and construction helps visitors experience life as a factory worker, while detailed company records provide insight into the management of the Glover Machine Works. Personal items and photographs illustrate the lifestyle of the Glovers, one of Cobb County’s most notable families.
In addition to its regular exhibits, the Museum also hosts traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and other sources. For up to date information on these exhibitions, visit the Museum’s Web site at www.southernmuseum.org.
The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History is open daily Monday – Saturday from 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 - 5:00 PM and will be closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information call 770-427-2117 or visit www.southernmuseum.org.
