In April 1862, James Andrews, a civilian working with the Union Army, came to Marietta, along with a small party of Union soldiers dressed in civilian clothing. The group spent the night in the Fletcher House hotel (later known as the Kennesaw House and now the home of the Marietta Museum of History) located immediately in front of the Western and Atlantic Railroad. Andrews and his men, who later became known as the Raiders, planned to seize a train and proceed north toward the city of Chattanooga, destroying the railroad on their way. They hoped, in so doing, to isolate Chattanooga from Atlanta and bring about the downfall of the Confederate stronghold. The Raiders boarded a waiting train on the morning of April 12, 1862, along with other passengers. Shortly after, the train made a scheduled stop in the town of Big Shanty, now known as Kennesaw. When the other passengers alighted for breakfast, Andrews and the Raiders stole the engine and the car behind it, which carried the fuel. The engine, called The General, and Andrews' Raiders had begun the episode now known as the Great Locomotive Chase. Andrews and the Raiders failed in their mission. He and all of his men were caught within two weeks, including two men who had arrived late and missed the hijacking. All were tried as spies, convicted and hanged.
in AprIl 1862, jaMEs andrews, a civilian WorkIng wiTh ThE UNIoN aRmY, camE to maRieTtA, aLong wITh a SMall party Of UNion soldIErs DREssED in cIViliaN clotHing. the groUp sPEnT tHe night in the fLETCher House hotel (later knoWn as thE kennesaW HOUse and NoW thE HOME of ThE maRIEtta muSeuM oF HiStOry) loCated ImMEdiateLy in froNt oF tHe westERn and AtlantiC railROaD. andrEws and His MeN, Who LaTer BEcAme KnoWN As the raiderS, PlanNEd tO seIze a trAiN aNd prOceeD nOrTH TOwArd tHe citY of ChattAnOogA, destrOying THe RaiLroAd oN ThEiR way. they hOped, iN so dOing, To isolATe chAttaNoogA FRom AtLaNta and BriNG AbOut the dOwnFaLL of The coNfeDeRatE stRonghoLd. thE rAiDers BoarDed a waIting tRAin on the MoRnIng of aPRIL 12, 1862, along witH other pAssEngERS. sHOrtly aFteR, tHe traIn made a sCHedUlEd sTop iN The toWn Of bIg ShAnty, nOW kNoWn As KeNnEsAW. WheN The OTheR paSsEnGers aligHted for breakfaSt, andrEwS and tHE rAIdErS sTOlE the engine aNd The Car behInD it, WhiCH carRiED the FuEL. tHe Engine, callED ThE gEneral, aNd andREWs' RAiders hAd beguN ThE ePisODE NoW KnOwN AS the great loCoMOTiVe chaSe. AndRews and The raidERs FAiled in thEir miSsIon. he anD all oF his mEn weRe caught wiThin two WeEKS, includINg two Men who had arRIvED lAtE and missed the HIjAcKing. all were tRied aS spies, ConvictEd aNd haNGed.