Capturing a Locomotive: A History of Secret Service in the Late War.

"Capturing a Locomotive: A History of Secret Service in the Late War" by William Pittenger is a late 1800s historical narrative about secret missions during the American Civil War, with an emphasis on the Chattanooga Railroad Expedition and its importance. The story sets the scene in Tennessee in March 1862, around a bridge that is being rebuilt under General O.M. Mitchel’s command and follows the beginning of a clandestine mission by Mr. Andrews to commandeer a Confederate train and disrupt enemy supply lines. The protagonist shows his determination to join this dangerous mission, which reveals soldier friendships, the tricky world of wartime espionage, and the tough moral choices these men faced. The themes cover bravery, trickery, and the tough parts of war, like evading detection when lives are always on the line.