Marietta Plans Commemoration of 'Great Locomotive Chase'

Larceny will be in the air around Square April 12 through 15 as theaters, museums and art galleries as well as actors in Glover Park take part in a commemoration of the Civil War’s “,” a mysterious, dangerous and quirky episode that took place 150 years ago.

The four-day celebration will be this year’s main remembrance of the war’s 150th anniversary. “We are putting all our eggs in this basket,” said Theresa Jenkins, head of the Marietta Welcome Center and Visitors Bureau. “After all, (the chase) started here.”  

Highlights of the Civil War celebration in Marietta include: a showing of at the , where the movie had its southern premiere in 1956; Pearl Cleage’s post-Civil War drama Flyin’ West playing at ; and a living history of the tragic events of 1862, performed by actors playing the Union raiders who secretly met in Marietta and hijacked the train.

More information on the events (listed below) is available at the Marietta Civil War website. April is a big month on the square. The popular Glover Park Concert Series begins, and the Taste of Marietta festival is April 29. But the “Great Locomotive Chase” celebration is the main draw this year.

“The heritage traveler stays longer and spends more money than a regular tourist,” Jenkins said. “We think we have events planned for the Civil War 150th that will attract these types of visitors and be a boon for Marietta. There is plenty to see and do for both history buffs and families.”

In April of 1862, the plan was for 24 men, mostly Union soldiers, to slip into Marietta and board the train called “The General.” Many of them stayed overnight at the Fletcher House, a hotel on the square (now the Kennesaw House). They were prepared to steal the train and take it to Chattanooga, destroying bridges, tracks and communication lines along the way and cutting the critical Confederate supply route.

As detailed in , the raiders got on the train the morning of April 12, stole it when it stopped in what is now Kennesaw and headed north. The mission did not go well.

Railroad officials and armed men boarded another train and chased “The General” down. It never got out of Georgia. Confederate troops near Ringgold, alerted to the theft, captured the raiders, who had done little damage on their trip. Eight ended up being hanged in Atlanta.

Civil War historian Brad Quinlin will play a role in the living history performance in Glover Park on Saturday, April 14. His new book is Duty Well Performed: The Civil War History of the 21st Ohio. Nine of the men who stole “The General” were from that unit.

“It was a great moment in American history,” Quinlin said.  “It was a daring raid. Even thought it failed in the scope that was planned, on July 17, 1862, Congress passed a bill creating the Army Medal of Honor, which was given to the men who survived the raid.

“One of the greatest pieces of legislation ever written happened because of these men.”

Marietta’s “Great Locomotive Chase” Weekend

Thursday, April 12: Re-premiere of the movie The Great Locomotive Chase at the to commemorate the event and the southern premiere of the movie held in 1956.

• 6 p.m. Red carpet for premiere ticket holders
• 6 to 7:30 p.m. Southern dinner for premiere ticket holders
• 7 to 7:30 p.m. Civil War music organ recital presented by Ron Carter       
• 7:30 p.m. Opening remarks by Russell Bonds, author of “Stealing the General.”
• 8 p.m. Movie
• 9:45 p.m. Champagne and dessert reception

Ticket prices:  $75 for VIP (includes red carpet, dinner, movie and champagne reception); $35 general admission (includes movie and champagne reception).

Friday, April 13:

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Civil War Home Front Days: Learn how the “home folks” coped during the war. , Marietta Museum of History,

10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Technology during the Civil War: Learn how technology was advanced during the war in the fields of medicine and artillery. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Homes and Heroes of the Civil War Exhibit.

11 a.m. and 1p.m. : Take a ride through the history of Marietta.

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Book signing with Clint Johnson, Civil War historian and author of Civil War Blunders.

8 p.m. Flyin’ West: a post-Civil War drama by playwright and author Pearl Cleage.

8 p.m. A showing of the silent movie starring Buster Keaton plus an organ concert of Civil War-era music performed by Ron Carter.

Saturday, April 14

8 p.m. to 12 p.m.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Civil War Home Front Days. , ,

10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Technology during the Civil War

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Look Who’s Talking Now:  Living History on the Marietta Square. Meet the raiders from the locomotive theft as well as residents from Marietta’s Civil War era who will share their stories with you. Glover Park.

11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Civil War music concert. 8th Regiment Band of the Georgia Volunteer Infantry. Glover Park

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Homes and Heroes of the Civil War Exhibit.

11 a.m. Book signing with Clint Johnson, Civil War historian and author.

2:30 p.m. Presentation by Clint Johnson from his book Civil War Blunders and book signing.

6 p.m. Presentation by Clint Johnson from his book Pursuit: The Chase, Capture, Persecution and Surprising Release of Jefferson Davis and book signing. 2 Rules Fine Art

8 p.m. Flyin’ West by Pearl Cleage.

8 p.m. The General: A showing of the silent movie starring Buster Keaton plus an organ concert of Civil War-era music performed by Ron Carter.

Sunday, April 15

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Civil War Home Front Days. , Marietta Museum of History

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Homes and Heroes of the Civil War Exhibit.

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Statue dedication and cemetery tours. Marietta Confederate Cemetery

2 p.m. Flyin’ West by Pearl Cleage.