Historic Engine General

This sterling silver souvenir spoon commemorates the Great Locomotive Chase in 1862. A group of 22 northerners, on an authorized military mission but wearing civilian clothes,  commandeered a Western & Atlantic Rail Road train that had left Atlanta. They seized the train in Marietta, GA and continued towards Tennessee, destroying some track and telegraph lines as they went. The objective was to cut the lines of communication to Chattanooga, thus isolating it from the heart of the South.

Two of the W. A. R. R. crew took up chase, first on foot, then by hand-car, then on a switching engine and finally in another locomotive, The Texas. The Northerners threw ties on the tracks and released cars from their train, even setting one on fire first, to try to block the southern pursuers, but all were eventually captured and 7 of them were hanged as spies. Some of the participants were paroled and about half of the ones imprisoned escaped before too long.

The General spent many years after the war in Chattanooga, TN. It now has been restored and is on exhibit in the Kennesaw Civil War Museum in Kennesaw, GA. For a stirring account of the chase, and some nice photos, visit their web page; you can return here by right-clicking, then clicking "Back" if you're using MSIE or Netscape.

The handle of the spoon is embossed with eight different scenes commemorating the battles around Chattanooga, TN (Brotherton House, Snodgrass House, Incline, Lookout Battlefield, Craven's House, Sunset Rock, Umbrella Rock and a monument) and the city name down the stem. The engraving is bright-cut and  gold-washed. 

Sterling silver, 5¼ inches, Watson & Newell (pennant H mark) American souvenir spoon.