The General
1855 · Western & Atlantic 4-4-0 · Work 13 of 1,871
The wood-burning locomotive The General on a single track through Georgia pine forest, cordwood stacked in the tender, sparks rising from the diamond stack.
- What it was used for
- Passenger and freight work on the Western & Atlantic Railroad in Georgia.
- What was new
- Stolen by Union agents on 12 April 1862 and pursued for ninety miles. The machine is ordinary; what makes it famous is a single day — and what that day cost: James Andrews and seven of his men were caught and executed. Survivors of the party were among the first recipients of the Medal of Honor.