The Great Locomotive Chase: A Civil War Adventure
Narrator: April 12, 1862. The American Civil War is raging. Deep in Confederate territory at Big Shanty, Georgia, a passenger train called The General stops for breakfast. But some passengers have a secret.
James Andrews: (whispering) Quiet, men. This is our moment. The passengers and crew have gone inside the hotel to eat. The locomotive is sitting there, completely unguarded.
Elihu Mason: Are you sure about this, Mr. Andrews? We are miles behind enemy lines. If we get caught, we will be treated as spies.
James Andrews: I am certain, Mason. Our mission is to steal this train, drive it north to Chattanooga, and destroy the Western and Atlantic Railroad along the way. If we tear up the tracks and burn the bridges, we can cut off the Confederate supply lines.
Narrator: With stealth and speed, the Union raiders uncouple the passenger cars, leaving only the locomotive, the tender, and three empty boxcars.
James Andrews: (climbing aboard) Get in! Soldier, fire up the engine!
Elihu Mason: The steam is up! Let's go!
Narrator: With a hiss of steam, The General screeches out of the station. Inside the breakfast room, Conductor William Fuller looks out the window in absolute shock.
William Fuller: Hey! Someone is stealing my train! Murphy, look!
- Locomotive:
- A powered railway vehicle used for pulling trains.
- Tender:
- A special wagon attached to a steam locomotive that carries its fuel (like wood or coal) and water.
- Handcar:
- A small, muscle-powered railroad car that people move by pumping a handle up and down.
- Telegraph:
- An old-fashioned communication system that sent coded electrical messages over wires.
- Raiders:
- Soldiers who go into enemy territory on a sudden, surprise attack.
- relentless:
- Refusing to give up, slow down, or stop; remaining completely determined.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where did the Union raiders steal the locomotive called The General?
- 2Why did James Andrews and his men want to steal the train and drive it north?
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About this reader's theater passage for Upper Elementary
“The Great Locomotive Chase: A Civil War Adventure” is a reader's theater reading passage about Civil War History, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (653 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.