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RJNorton · 08-30-2019, 04:25 AM

In 1868 the Mississippi Central Railroad was ordered to take one of its engines out of service. What caused this order to happen?

Eva Elisabeth · 08-30-2019, 04:43 AM

Trying to approach...was it 1.) a positive reason (they found some historic value or similar to preserve the engine)? 2.) a negative reason (CW explosives found or similar)?

RJNorton · 08-30-2019, 04:51 AM

Eva, you are on the right track with a "negative reason" and CW thinking, but it's not what your guess is.

Eva Elisabeth · 08-30-2019, 07:09 AM

Was it in some way dangerous to continue runn3the engine? (Some kind of damage/manipulation?)

RJNorton · 08-30-2019, 07:44 AM

Eva, that is not it.

Hint #1: It has something to do with a person who has been frequently discussed on this forum.

Eva Elisabeth · (This post was last modified: 08-30-2019 08:09 AM by Eva Elisabeth.)

Did the engine "bear" some bad memory? Was it connected to a persona non grata?

RJNorton · 08-30-2019, 08:31 AM

(08-30-2019 08:08 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote: Was it connected to a persona non grata?

Good thinking, Eva. Kudos! You are very close, and I cannot think of any more clues. The name of the engine was "W Booth," and the railroad was ordered to take it out of service. But then it was discovered that the railroad had purchased the engine prior to the Civil War, and that it was named for a sheriff in Mississippi who had that particular name. In other words, it had nothing to do with John Wilkes Booth. When this information was discovered, the order to take the engine out of service was lifted.

SOURCE: E. Lawrence Abel's article in the Surratt Courier.

LincolnMan · 08-30-2019, 08:40 AM

In a era a “deadhead” refers to devotees of the rock band The Grateful Dead. In the Civil War era what did the term mean?

Anita · 08-30-2019, 02:56 PM

A dead soldier?

Eva Elisabeth · 08-30-2019, 06:27 PM

(08-30-2019 08:31 AM)RJNorton Wrote:
(08-30-2019 08:08 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote: Was it connected to a persona non grata?

Good thinking, Eva. Kudos! You are very close, and I cannot think of any more clues. The name of the engine was "W Booth," and the railroad was ordered to take it out of service. But then it was discovered that the railroad had purchased the engine prior to the Civil War, and that it was named for a sheriff in Mississippi who had that particular name. In other words, it had nothing to do with John Wilkes Booth. When this information was discovered, the order to take the engine out of service was lifted.

SOURCE: E. Lawrence Abel's article in the Surratt Courier.

My thinking actually was Jefferson Davis...Well, considering what an engine is worth it's weird that they did not simply re-name it (into A. Lincoln e. g.), that's at least what they do here.

Rob Wick · 08-30-2019, 07:30 PM

Bill,

I know the term "deadline" was a line that no soldier in a prison camp could cross without getting shot, so I'm going to guess it had a similar meaning to deadhead, although I'm not sure what that would entail.

Best
Rob

AussieMick · (This post was last modified: 08-30-2019 08:26 PM by AussieMick.)

'Deadhead'. I know about deadheading roses (removing the old flowers).

Its not nice to consider but maybe in the Civil War there were instances where mortally wounded soldiers were mercifully killed by a bullet to the head?

LincolnMan · 08-31-2019, 09:27 AM

Great guesses all but still none correct.

Steve · 08-31-2019, 09:42 AM

A soldier getting out of their duties by faking an illness or by causing their own injury(ies).

Anita · 08-31-2019, 11:08 AM

A soldier who goes AWOL?