On April 12, 1862, the charismatic Union spy James Andrews and his band of raiders, made up of volunteers from the 2nd, 21st, and 33rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiments, stole the train powered by the locomotive "The General" from under the noses of about 3000 Confederate troops training at Big Shanty (Kennesaw), GA. Their risky mission was to cut telegraph wires, burn railroad bridges and damage track between Atlanta and Chattanooga, thus severing communications, reinforcements and supplies between the two cities. This was to support Union General Mitchel's forces as they marched on Chattanooga with the aim of capturing it and splitting the Confederacy in two. The raiders needed to bluff their way through the Confederate railroad stations and even pass through Chattanooga to meet the advancing Union force in Bridgeport. These Ohioans were the very first to ever receive Medals of Honor in what became known as the Great Locomotive Chase!

'Engine Thieves' is a new one to two player boardgame covering this courageous Civil War raid, by Wes Crawford and Gregg Pittenger (a descendant of one of the raiders), published by Compass Games. Play as the Union raiders in a solo game as you race against time, with Confederates on your tail, to get to Bridgeport on a single line rail with sidetracks only at stations. Each turn, you will decide how you want to meet challenges in and out of stations, monitor and control your wood usage and persuasive ability. With two players, one of you plays as the Confederates, trying to stop your opponent from reaching Bridgeport or to at least minimize their destructive sabotage. This challenging but fun historical game has a variable victory scale and play time (depending on raider decisions and die rolling).

Follow the adventure and real path these raiders took on their daring raid northward. Gregg will mentor players through 'Engine Thieves' games all day on October 5!

Our regularly scheduled First Sunday tabletop games will also be taking place, beginning at 1 p.m.