Railroad History

The Andrews Raid: ‘The Most Extraordinary and Astounding adventure of the War’

KENNESAW, Ga. – The General steamed into town early on an April morning 141 years ago. Its abrupt departure marked the start of the “most extraordinary and astounding adventure” of the Civil War, the Southern Confederacy newspaper exclaimed.

It was April 12, 1862 – one year to the day after the first shots had been fired on Fort Sumter, marking the start of the Civil War. Deep in the heart of the Confederacy, Union spies under the command of James Andrews rode into town on the morning passenger train. Their motive was the destruction of the Western and Atlantic Railroad.

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