The Texas Joins The Chase

Again, it was necessary for Fuller and his associates to resort to movement by foot. After a run of some three miles they met the southbound Texas. Pete Bracken, the engineer, immediately recognized Fuller and reversed his engine to stop the train. Only Murphy was with Fuller at this point as Jeff Cain had given out and remained with the William R. Smith.

Fuller and Murphy quickly climbed aboard the Texas and told Bracken of the heist. Bracken threw the Texas in reverse and moved back to Adairsville where he got rid of the freight cars at a siding. The Great Locomotive Chase would continue in intensity now, with participants on both sides on somewhat more equal terms. The main differences were that the Texas was not burdened with box cars...and was running backwards.

The Texas made the run in reverse to Calhoun in some twelve minutes. At Calhoun, the Texas crew picked up valuable reinforcements for their cause. Fleming Cox, an engineer on the Memphis and Charleston RR, was on his way to Atlanta; caught up in the excitement of the day he climbed aboard the Texas and relieved 15-year-old Henry Haney as Bracken's fireman. Alonzo Martin also got on board and assisted in passing wood from the tender.

As the Texas left Calhoun, Conductor Fuller sighted a familiar face in young Edward Henderson, the assistant telegraph operator at Dalton, who had started south to find out what was wrong with the telegraph line. Fuller helped him aboard the Texas, still in reverse, and as soon as they got underway he scribbled a message for young Henderson to dispatch to Gen. Danville Leadbetter, commander at Chattanooga, as soon as they let Henderson off at Dalton. The message read:

My train was captured this a.m. at Big Shanty, evidently by Federal soldiers in disguise. They are making rapidly for Chattanooga, possibly with the idea of burning the railroad bridges in their rear. If I do not capture them in the meantime, see that they to not pass Chattanooga.

Having passed five trains, and remembering the sound of a locomotive whistle coming from his rear, Andrews concluded it was important again to obstruct the track. Thus, about three miles north of Calhoun the Raiders stopped to remove yet another rail and cut the telegraph wire. While using a fence rail to pry the track loose, a loud and clear whistle came from the south. The Raiders quickly stopped what they were doing and attempted to place the fence rail under the track, hoping to force the pursuers to halt. The General was soon racing again for Chattanooga.

Andrews, thinking of ways to spoil the pursuit and yet do it without force, decided to stop and reverse the General for a moment and kick a box car back at the engine chasing him. This might have worked had the General been on a grade. But on level track it was a simple matter for the pursuers to reverse their already backwards running engine and couple onto the rolling box car. After only a short delay, the Texas was again in hot pursuit.