Stealing the General

The Great Locomotive Chase and the First Medal of Honor

By: Russell S. Bonds

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 15 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

On April 12, 1862—one year to the day after Confederate guns opened on Fort Sumter and started the Civil War—a tall, mysterious smuggler and self-appointed Union spy named James J. Andrews and 19 infantry volunteers infiltrated Georgia and stole a steam engine called the General. Racing northward at speeds near 60 miles an hour, cutting telegraph lines, and destroying track along the way, Andrews planned to open East Tennessee to the Union army, cutting off men and materiel from the Confederate forces in Virginia. If they succeeded, Andrews and his raiders could change the course of the war.

But the General’s young conductor, William A. Fuller, chased the stolen train - first on foot, then by handcar, and finally aboard another engine, the Texas. He pursued the General until, running out of wood and water, Andrews and his men abandoned the doomed locomotive, ending the adventure that would soon be famous as “The Great Locomotive Chase.” But the ordeal of the soldiers involved was just beginning.

In the days that followed, the raiders were hunted down and captured. Eight were tried and executed as spies, including Andrews. Eight others made a daring escape, including two assisted by a network of slaves and Union sympathizers. For their actions, before a personal audience with President Abraham Lincoln, six of the raiders became the first men in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest decoration for gallantry. Americans North and South, both at the time and ever since, have been astounded and fascinated by this daring raid. But until now, there has not been a complete history of the entire episode and the fates of all those involved.

Based on eyewitness accounts, as well as correspondence, diaries, military records, newspaper reports, deposition testimony, and other primary sources, Stealing the General is a blend of meticulous research and compelling narrative that is destined to become the definitive history of “the boldest adventure of the war”.

©2007 Russell S. Bonds (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

North Georgia Native

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This story is one I grew up thinking I knew. Born in Marietta, raised in Adairsville, and now a resident of Kennesaw; the story of the General and Texas is one I thought I knew completely. But the myths I'd grown up hearing were not nearly as interesting as the real account of the events. What a great story and so masterfully told.

Wonderful civil war story of courage and daring.

A very well written history history of the stealing of the Train the General during the Civil War. Story illustrates how difficult it is to pull off plans plans and to plan for every contingency I didn't see as the general ran out of fuel in the end. The most interesting part is of the soldiers that Anderson conscripted to help him help him with his plans and they're daring escapes after being captured several times. The escaped of the soldiers is just phenomenal. And hanging or we should be saying the attempted hanging of many of the soldiers is interesting and worth the time. I enjoyed the narration very much. Now I need to go back and watch the 1st Parker movie, The great locomotive Chase.

Amazing adventure and piece of history!

This was an amazing story of adventure and the fact that it is based off of real life factual events makes it all the better. ☺

Good story,worth a listen if you enjoy history

A good listen, there were some flat spots. I wasn't sure if the story was slow or the narration dry, forced. It was worth finishing. Certainly a different civil war tale.

Enough to make a Southerner root for the Yankees!

Growing up outside of Atlanta and going to college in Northwest Georgia, of course I had heard about the Great Locomotive Chase and had even seen the General on school field trips to Kennesaw, but I knew very little about the chase itself and, as I found out, what I did know was largely false or inflated by myth. This was a very thorough and entertaining story about a very small chapter in Civil War history. Russell Bonds's research was meticulous and Bronson Pinchot's narration was gripping. I have to take a moment here to apologize to Mr. Pinchot because, while I knew I wasn't going to be listening to Balki or Serge narrate this book, I was a good 10 minutes in before I realized "Hey, this is actually Bronson Pinchot!" He did a fantastic job bringing the story to life and finding the subtle humor in some of the text with timely pregnant pauses and more ironic moments pointed out with conspiratorial undertones.

As I said before, I knew very little of this story even though it happened practically right in my backyard in Georgia. As the story unfolded and the General plowed up through NW Georgia I could imagine my own drives up I-75 and thinking about all the landmarks that the General was passing and my own experiences going through that countryside. After the chase was over, I also felt the Union soldiers' pain as they were held prisoner and their anguish at losing their friends and not knowing what was going to happen to them next. Bonds' description of the Yankees eventual escape was so engrossing, I continued to listen to the book even once I got home as I do almost all of my audio book listening in the car going to and from work.

In the early part of the book, Bonds points out significant landmarks in Atlanta and Marietta which pertain to the Great Locomotive Chase. I plan to buy a copy of this book so that I have it handy on my next trip home to Atlanta so I can visit these landmarks and hopefully pick up a little bit more knowledge of this intriguing moment of Civil War history.

One of my favorite books of all time

Why read fiction when there are so many interesting stories like this one? It's hard to believe that this is non-fiction. The story is told in a way that keeps you listening. This is one of my favorite books of all time.

An absorbing story behind the Metal of Honor.

Any additional comments?

A very interesting history of the great train heist of the Civil War, and The detail backgrounds of the people involved. Pinchot is an excellent reader. What happened to each of them long after the event, is just as interesting. This event was the reason that the Metal of Honor was created, and the politics involved explains why such a the most were actually handed out during the civil war, than any other war. It is so exclusive now. A very good, enjoyable read.

Very Educational and Historical

Enjoyed this of historical journey through a small but important part of the Civil War. Also learned about the beginning of the Medal of Honor.

Intriguing

Fascinating story. Great Civil War tale. Holds interest before, during and after
.Well read by narrator.

A great read/listen

I am giving this book an excellent review early. I am a great fan of Pinchot (the reader). One of the critical reviews complained about Bronson's narration. His emphasis etc. Stating that the writing should carry the narrative. For dull historians, that might be true, but for average folks like me, who enjoy being entertained, the case is different. Dull people don't fall asleep during monoton lectures. But simpletons like me enjoy enthusiastic narration. I was a Professor for 34 years. With excellent student reviews, because I was an actor exciting my students to learn. That is what excellent narration is. Thank you Bronson Pinchot for taking the time to bring this excellent book to life.