The Great

Locomotive Chase

(2000)Robert W. Smith

Created by John Sierakowski (2007)

Northern Illinois University

Grade 2

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The Great Locomotive Chase

• Commissioned and dedicated to the 1999-2000 Tapp Middle School (GA) Symphonic Band

• Composer Robert W. Smith– Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual– The Tempest– Encanto

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History behind the composition

• Follows the story of Union spy James Andrews in his efforts to cut off resources to the confederate army during the Civil War.

• The Confederate Railroad system.

• “Boldest Civil War adventure.”

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Andrews’ Mission

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Sounds Easy?

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The Story Unfolds

• Andrews’ group travels from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Marrietta, Georgia.

• Total of twenty men that participated in the mission.

• Big Shanty, Georgia (now Kennesaw)

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The General

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The Chase Begins

• William Allen Fuller – The Pursuer

• As “The General” burns through Georgia towns, Fuller and Murphy chase on foot and handcar.

• Derailed Handcar leads Fuller to take control of a locomotive in Etowah.

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The Chase continues

• “Yonah” pursues “The General”

• Minutes pass in between Andrews’ departure and Fuller’s arrival.

• Fuller and Anthony run into more pulled up tracks.

• Fuller commandeers the “Texas.”

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“Texas” pursues “The General”

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The Chase Ends

• “The General” was running out of water and wood.

• Abandoning the train.

• The hunt for Andrews’ Raiders

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The Results

• The hunt continues

• Execution of some of the raiders.

• Others never brought to trail

• Survivors received medals

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Compositional techniques used…

• “Haaaaa!”

• Chimes

• Diminished Chord

• Dynamics

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More techniques

• Accelerando and vocals

• Glissando

• “Loosing Steam”

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Related Information

• American Terrorists or Military importance?

• Memorial to Andrews’ Raiders

• Andrews in the movies

• The General final resting home

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Resources Cited• Joswick, D. & L. (2002). The Great Locomotive Chase: The Definitive Story of the Andrews

Raid – April 12, 1862. Retrieved March 27, 2007, from The Great Locomotive Chase Website: www.andrewsraid.com/

• No Author (2007). The First Medals of Honor. Retrieved March 27, 2007, from Home of Heroes Website: http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/history/history_first.html

• No Author (2007). The Great Locomotive Chase. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History Website:

www.southernmuseum.org/• No Author (2007). The Great Locomotive Chase. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from Carl

Vinson Institute of Government: Georgia Info Website: www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/

• Pittenger, W. (1887). The History of Andrews Railroad Raid into Georgia in 1862. New York : War Pub. Co.

• Smith, R.W. (2000). The Great Locomotive Chase [Score]. California: Belwin-Mills.