IF YOU GO
What: Civil War Roundtable discussion/the Medal of Honor at 150When: 7 p.m.Where: Millis-Evans Room, Caldwell Hall at the McCallie SchoolContact: Jim Ogden at 706-866-9241, ext. 116Cost: Free
In April 1862 two dozen Union soldiers disguised as civilians had infiltrated Confederate lines and made it to Marietta, Ga.
Their plan was to capture a train and push it north to Chattanooga, stopping only to burn bridges along the way. The daring attack would sever Confederate rail lines and cut off the rebels’ supply to huge swaths of troops in Tennessee and beyond.
James J. Andrews led the party as it took over The General, a steam engine pulling three empty boxcars. But they had been spotted, and two men chased them just past Ringgold, Ga., where Andrews’ Raiders fled.
Some of the raiders were captured, eight hanged in Atlanta and their bodies later disinterred and moved to Chattanooga National Cemetery.