Capture of the "General" and the Great Locomotive Race

"Mitchell''s Expedition", "Andrew''s Raid" and, finally, the "Great Locomotive Race" - under a variety of names — which is quite remarkable — we know, perhaps, the most striking of the events of the American Civil War — incredible courage and bravery of its participants — a diversionary raid led federal spy James Andrews, a group of several soldiers selected from different volunteer regiments, whose task was to destroy the communication links between Atlanta and Chattanooga — the only ones through which the Southerners sent to the front line a different kind of army replenishment.And we, those living in the 21st century, were very lucky that there was one such among them — a young, well-educated soldier who almost did not participate in real combat battles — a corporal, William Pittenger (1840–1904), who told in detail and emotionally to us about all the vicissitudes of this, even by modern standards, almost unbelievable military railway expedition.Both James Andrews, and his commander and learned general Mitchell, his comrades, he describes with love and warmth, and himself with his own feelings and experiences - with the utmost sincerity.This raid has done a lot of noise - having learned a lesson, the Southerners took a number of measures so that nothing like this would ever happen again. The courage of all those who participated in it, made an indelible impression on the entire nation - and the memory of it occupied one of the most honorable pages of US history. A lot of scientific research, two full-length feature films, museums and memorials - all of them always receive deserved attention.However, there is no need to retell the storyline of his narrative, because from the very beginning, taking the reader''s attention under his care, softly and fascinatingly, Pittenger leads him to the last page - and therefore, the reader who is interested in history as the adventures that have really happened stop before reaching the very last line of his incredible narration.