On April 12, 1862, during the American Civil War, a group of Union soldiers led by civilian scout James J. Andrews embarked on a bold mission to disrupt Confederate supply lines in Georgia. They commandeered a Confederate locomotive named "The General" in Big Shanty (now Kennesaw), Georgia, and began a northward journey toward Chattanooga, Tennessee, intending to destroy bridges and railroad infrastructure along the way.
The Confederate crew gave chase in another locomotive, "The Texas," in what became known as the Great Locomotive Chase. After a thrilling pursuit of approximately 87 miles, the raiders ran out of fuel and were captured. Andrews and several of his men were later executed as spies. The surviving raiders became the first recipients of the Medal of Honor. The story of the Great Locomotive Chase has been immortalized in books, films, and museums, and "The General" is now preserved at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia.