In the early years of the Civil War, Georgia was largely protected from military hostilities, leaving it free to ship arms and munitions, food, and supplies to Confederate troops on the battlefields to the northeast. It was the importance of the extensive rail system to the Confederates that prompted James Andrews, a Union spy from Kentucky, to attempt a daring effort to disrupt the 138-mile rail line connecting Atlanta and Chattanooga. Along with 19 Union soldiers dressed as civilians, Andrews arrived at Marietta April 12, 1862. Here, they boarded a northbound train pulled by the General, a wood-burning locomotive built in 1855, At Big Shanty, the train stopped so the passengers and crew could eat breakfast. Andrews used the break to uncouple the engine, wood tender, and three box cars from the passenger cars, They then sped off with the goal of damaging as many W&A tracks and rail bridges as possible. Hearing the General steam out, conductor William Fuller and two W&A employees ran out of the hotel dining room and pursued the stolen train by foot for several miles, Ultimately, Fuller would commandeer the locomotive Texas and, joined by Confederate soldiers, finally catch Andrews' Raiders - a race Joel Chandler Harris later characterized as "the boldest adventure of the war." This composition for concert band is based upon this fascinating event in American history. It was composed in the fall of 1999 for the Tapp Middle School Concert Band under the direction of Erin Cole, The work is dedicated to the Tapp Middle School Band in commemoration of their performance at the University of Georgia in December of the same year. You can read the [[Great Locomotive Chase Story.pdf|whole story here]]. ### Comments from Mr. Windsor The Civil War had a favourable outcome in the abolition of slavery. However it is important to recognize that bravery existed on both sides of the conflict, and that the people involved on both sides were human beings with family and friends they cared for. Both sides were successful in this exchange in their own way; the Unionists in their endeavour to severely disrupt supply lines, the Confederates in their successful recovery of the General. For my part, I experience a little Civil War history every summer, working with reenactors at living history events. The Great Locomotive Chase continues to be a great story told amongst Civil War historians and reenactors. As for the Senior Concert Band, many of our students first heard the performance of this piece in 2018 by the then-Senior Concert Band. Those students were in Grade 6 at the time. For their enjoyment we selected this piece to perform once again, also performing it for Holy Spirit Academy students this year.