APRIL 1862
It had only been a year since the Confederate Army had attacked Fort Sumpter in Charleston, South Carolina and the war between the states began. So far both sides had their share of losses and triumphs but the war was still thundering on. One of the weapons advantages of the Civil War as the Railroads. With this new technology, both sides of the war could transport troops, supplies, weapons, and munitions to the battlefields.
The Railroads that served the Union, like the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and others joined together to create a big system called the United States Military Railroad and the presidents of the lines became Union Officers. The Railroads in the south like the Western & Atlantic, the Memphis & Charleston, the Orange & Alexandra, the Atlanta & West Point, and others however remained independent, but their leader did become Confederate Officers.
Both sides of the war went to many length to destroy and/or capture railroad tracks, locomotives, and freight cars for their own use and to prevent the other sides from using them. To use the Great Train Raid of 1861 as an example, the Confederates captured about 10 locomotives several pieces of rolling stock. This explains that railroads played a vital role in the U.S. Civil War.
It was in April 1862 and Union General Wilbur Huggins called secret agent Agnes Johnson to his headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, saying that he had come up with a plan to sabotage the confederate forces south of Chattanooga, Tennessee.. To which, she obliged.
Agnes Johnson and her right hand man, Corporal Lincoln Loud walked into the office of General Huggins. "Good afternoon General", she said. "Ah Agnes, Lincoln too. Please come in and take a seat.", said General Huggins. Agnes and Lincoln walked inside the general's office and sat down in front of General Huggins' desk. "Now I'm planning something big and I need you Agnes to fulfill it". "Sure, what is it?" General Huggins got up from his desk and showed them a map of the southeastern United States. "Okay, here is the current battlefield, Agnes. We're trying to inflitrate the Confederates at Chattanooga where General Tetherby and his men are located".
He then pointed to a railroad line. "This here is the Confederates East to West railroad line. Running from Alexandria, Virginia to Memphis, Tennessee. And Chattanooga is in the middle and here we are in Nashville." "Go on", said Agnes. "Now if I were to capture Huntsville and capture all of the locomotives and rolling stock of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, then the only supply line the Confederates will have in this area would be from Atlanta, Georgia to Alexandria via the East Tennessee & Georgia, Western & Atlantic, and East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad Companies."
"So what you are saying General, is that if we cut that supply line, then there's a chance we might capture Chattanooga and force Tetherby and his men out?", asked Lincoln. General Huggins smiled. "I see your right hand man is quick as a flint", he said. "He is", said Agnes, "I should know, I trained him myself". "You always were the feistiest of 'em, Agnes", said the General as he continued, "Agnes, if we destroy the Western & Atlantic Railroad, which runs from Atlanta to Chattanooga, we could shorten the war by half, maybe even end it". "I like those odds", said Agnes smiling. "I want you to start now", said the general, "I'm planning to invade Huntsville very soon". "Yes sir", said Agnes, "Just let me gather up a team". "Will do", said General Huggins as Agnes and Lincoln left the office.
Agnes and Lincoln wasted no time in looking for the right people to participate in the mission. The List follows:
- Corporal Clyde McBride: Member of Lincoln's platoon. A former slave who escaped to enlist in the Union Army in order to fight for his freedom and the best friend of Corporal Lincoln Loud.
- Private 1st class Rusty Spokes: Member of Lincoln's platoon.
- Private Zach Gurdle: Member of Lincoln's platoon.
- Private Liam Huckle: Member of Lincoln's platoon and a former Confederate Solider and Union Symphatizer.
- Sergeant 1st class Roberto Santiago Jr.: Ringleader of Lincoln's platoon.
- Private Casey Wilson: Member of Lincoln's platoon and also a former slave to escaped with Clyde to fight for his freedom.
- Private 2nd class Sameer Jones: Member of Lincoln's platoon.
- Agent Ronalda "Ronnie" Anne Santiago: Roberto's younger sister and secret agent.
- Agent Lori Loud: Lincoln's 1st oldest sister and secret agent.
- Agent Leni Loud: Lincoln's 2nd oldest sister and secret agent.
- Agent Luna Loud: Lincoln's 3rd oldest sister and secret agent.
- Agent Luan Loud: Lincoln's 4th oldest sister and secret agent.
- Agent Lynn Loud Jr.: Lincoln's 5th oldest sister and secret agent.
- Agent Lucy Loud: Lincoln's 1st little sister and secret agent.
- Agent Lana Loud: Lincoln's 2nd little sister, Lola's twin and secret agent. She saw service as a firegirl on the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and has experience driving trains.
- Agent Lola Loud: Lincoln's 3rd little sister, Lana's twin and secret agent.
- Agent Lisa Loud: Lincoln's 4th little sister and secret agent.
- Agent Nikki Rhodes: Secret Agent.
- Agent Jordana "Girl Jordan" Meyer: Secret Agent.
- Agent Sam Sharp: Luna's best friend and secret agent.
- Agent Christina Phillips: Secret Agent.
- Agent Mollie Sawyer: Secret Agent.
All of these soldiers and agents met up with Lincoln and Agnes in a barn outside of Nashville. Agnes raised her hand and got everyone's attention. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming. Now listen, what I'm about to tell you should not leave your mouths. General Huggins has assigned a mission to us". Liam raised his hand. "Uh ma'am, what is the mission". "She's about to tell us dummy", said Girl Jordan. "Alright, as you are aware. Confederate General Tetherby and his men are currently stationed at Chattanooga, Tennessee. General Huggins is planning to capture Huntsville and cut the Confederate Supply line, leaving the only other supply line left for Beauregard to control, the Western & Atlantic Railroad which runs from Atlanta to Chattanooga".
"So what does this have to do with us?" asked Lynn Jr. "Our mission is to hijack a train and destroy the track and bridges behind us, we will also cut the telegraph wires. If we are to succeed, General Tetherby would have no choice but to withdraw his troops from Chattanooga and Huggins and his men can move in." "That's sounds easy enough", said Lori. "But how are we going to get on the train?" asked Leni. "According to my spies, there is no telegraph office in Big Shanty, Georgia, one of the W&A's stops." "But I heard there's a Confederate camp there with about 3,000 soldiers", said Casey. "It's a risk we have to take", said Lincoln, "If we are successful, we might shorten the war or end it". "But what if we aren't?", asked Leni.
"Then we will end up lynched", said Agnes. The volunteers gulped. "But not to worry, I'm certain this plan will not fail", Agnes continued, "Do you have your pistols?" All of the volunteers opened their coats to reveal that each one was carrying a cap and ball 6 shot revolver from a variety of Colt model 1851 Navys, Colt Model 1860 Army's, Remington model 1858s, and Colt Dragoons. Liam was carrying a 9-shot LeMat revolver. "That's good", said Agnes, "Keep them hidden, you may never know when you're going to need them".
"Alright guys, we will seperate and meet up in Chattanooga. Then we'll take a train to Marietta where we'll spend the night and then take the 6:00 local train to Big Shanty", said Agnes. "Why do we have to hijack the train at Marietta? Why not Chattanooga?" asked Leni. "Leni, the whole point to destroy the track from Atlanta to Chattanooga. Marietta is the best place since it has no telegraph office. When the train arrives at Marietta, the engine crew and the passengers will go inside the station cafe for breakfast. That's when we'll spring our plan into action", said Lincoln, "You guys start heading for Atlanta tomorrow. Dismissed". With that, all of the volunteers left the barn to prepare for their big mission.