'4^'^/ -0 ^"'^<^. .f 0- 0*' s * ' ' ' ^^ V f. ' • "x- C> <0 s * ' * '* ,>^^ A •:w^' " o '>' v^ 0" t)%" ^oV^ A^^ '^^ -^^ ^. •?-. .f^ -*M% -^^0^ ^^ A^ ^;aVa^ ^^ <^'^ ^i JOHN A. WILSON. ADVENTURES -or- ALF. AVILSON A THRILLING EPISODE -OP THE- DARK DAYS OF THE REBELLION 3feT JOHN At WILSON, w A Member of the Mitchell Railroad Raidtrt. TOLEDO: Blade Printing & Paper Company. 1880. VnIT^ Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, by J. A. WILSON, iu the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. 0. PERSONAL. FTER the following chapters of this book were in typoy and I thought my work completed, I received notice from the printers that two pages of space had been left for an author's preface, and a request that I should forward the same without delay. As book-making is regulated by established customs, I sup- pose, that in order to please the printers and conform to these old established usages, I ought to fill these two pages with an apology for writing a book, or, rather, for my unfitness for such work. I have, in this connection, only this consoling thought to offer the reader— that had I been a better book- maker, I miglit have been less a IMitchell raider. Originally, the following chapters of this book were intended solely for publication in the local newspaper of my own county. My friends and old army comrades, after reading them, as they appeared from week to week, said they were interesting and advised me to pubHsh them in book form, and here it is. If it does not meet the requirements of the critics, let them bear in mind that it is simply the story of a private soldier, told in plain words, by one who aspires to no literary honors, who claims no credit for martyrdom, whose deeds did not change the tide of a single battle, nor to any act of soldierly gallantry. None of these are mine. I may say, too, incident- ally, that stealing and wrecking a railroad, even in case of (3) IV- PERSONAL. those who succeed, is not considered an unusual occurrence, not even in times of peace, and does not usually furnish mate- rial for a book ; but in this case there are a few circumstances, incidents and accidents not connected with common occurrences of the kind. I am not, however, aware, to this day, what effect our . efforts had, if any, on the stock of the Georgia Central Railroad ; yet, had we succeeded, I do not think it would have been beneficial to the owners at that time. I need not, perhaps, say to the reader, iiut I never have had any further desire to engage in railroad enterprises, and all the credit I claim for myself, in this expedition, is that I believe I cheated the rebels out of the pleasure of hanging me, and did all in my power to carry out tlie orders of my General, and tried to serve my country faithfully. I can not conscientiously close -.v iiiout first acknowledging valuable assistance from C. W. Evora, of tlie Wood County Sentinel, Bowling Green, Ohio, and to F. J. Oblinger, of the Toledo Bee; also to 'my comrade ' .;iuts that had escaped my memory. JOHN A. WILSON. Haskins, Ohio, April 28, 1880. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. First Meeting of the Raiders near Shelby ville — Tlieir Names — Putting on Citizens' Clothes — Andrews, the Federal Spy — Final Instructions and Farevv^eil by General Mitchell — Off to Dixie — Heavy Rains and Freshets in the Rivers — "Meet- ing Up " with a True Union Man — An Old Rebel Colonel — A Confederate Spy — Crossing the Cumberland Mountains — Safe Arrival at Chattanooga — One Day Behiiid Time — Off to Marietta by Rail 15 CHAPTER II. Safe Arrival at Marietta — On Board the Morning Express — Porter and Hawkins Get Left — Capturing the Train at Big Shanty — A Bewildered Multitude of Rebels — We Pull Out Lively — Cutting Telegraph Wires — Tearing up Railroad Ti'ack — The PowTler Train Story — Hindered by Dovvn Trains Flee- ing from General Mitchell — Pursued by a Locomotive — A Railroad Race for Life or Death — Vain Efforts to Impede Pursuit — Trying to Burn a Bridge — Throwing Off Ties on the Track — A Reckless and Devil-may-care Race 26 CHAPTER III. Run Down at Last — We Jump the Train and Fly to the Woods under Musketry Fire — How the Chase was Made — The Obsta- cles We Had to Encounter — Sensational Rebel Account of the Whole Affair — The Confederacy Badly " Shook Up." 39 CHAPTER IV. "Nip and Tuck " — A Grand Old ♦* Yankee " Man-Hunt— Citizens, Soldiers and Dogs Join the Chase — Mark Wood and I Squat in a Little Brush Pile —" Ticklish " Situation for Thirty -Six Hours — Escape to the I\Iountains — Discovered by Women in a Fodder-Pile — We Teil a Plausible Stoiy — Another Lynx- (5) •VI CONTENTS. Eyed Woman — "You Are Union Men; You Can't Fool Me." 53 CHAPTER V. Captured by Old Snow's Cavalry — A Deceptive Story that Wins — A Terrible Risk — A Red-Hot Rebel Lecture — Again in the Mountains — A Loyal Woman in the Case, and Her No Less Loyal Husband — "I Knew You Were Union Men all the Time " — Night March with a Guide — Stealing a Boat — Safe Arrival on the Tennessee River — Night of Terror on the Tennessee i 65 CHAPTER VI. Running t)y Chattanooga — A Dangerous Voyage — Taking On a Pilot — A Terrific Ride — Hailed by Rebel Cavalry — Recon- noitering a Rebel Camp at Bridgepoi-t — A Rebel Stampede — Arrival at Stevenson — Fatal Mistake — Captured within Seven Miles of Mitchell's Lines— Sent to Bridgeport under Guard. 83 CHAPTER VII. Strongly Guarded— General Leadbetter at Bridgeport— Red-Hot Interview with the Scoundrel— A Blustering Braggart and an Arrant Coward — Taken Back to Chattanooga — " The Hole " — Old Swims, the Jailer — A Horrible, Loathsome Pit 91 CHAPTER VIII. Horror upon Horrors — Loathsome Corn-bread and Rotten Meat — Odors Most Foul — Fetters, Vennin and Darkness — Parallel with the Black Hole of Calcutta — The Boom of Mitchell's Cannon — A Night of Anxiety — Sad Disappointment — Oif to Atlanta — A Bloodthirsty Mob Clamoring for our Lives — Landed in Better Quarters at Madison — Visited by a Union Spy — The Spy's Nar- row Escai)e — Back to our Chattanooga Prison — The Heroic Lad, Jacob Parrott, Bnitally Whipped on the Naked Back 100 CHAPTER IX. Planning to Escape — Night Fixed upon for the Attempt — Twelve of the Train-Thieves Sent to Knoxville for Trial — Andrews' Death-Warrant — Preparations to Break Jail — Andrews, the Spy, and John Wollam Escape — The Guards Aroused — Andrews' Wanderings and Terrible Sufferings— Three Days Almost Naked CONTENTS. Vll — Hecaptured — Brought Back to Prisc«i More Dead than Alive 116 CHAPTER X. Our Brave and Noble Leader^ His Impending Doom — All Taken to Atlanta Again — Last Advice and Counsel from Andrews — Dying the Death of a Spy— The Terrible Tragedy Consummated — Wollam Recaptured — Account of his Adven- tures — Mark Wood's Sickness — Pinchings of Hunger —Arrival of our Comrades from KnoxviUe— The Old ViUain, Thor— Pre- pai-ing Seven of our Comrades for the Gallows 129 CHAPTER XI. Painful Reflections — Brave Bearing of the Doomed Seven — *' Tell Them I Died for My Country"— Poor John Scott — Wilson's Dying Speech— Bmtal Scene— Rope Breaks with Two —Seven Murdered Heroes— Southern Barbarity— An Afternoon Never to be Forgotten— Solemn Hours in Prison— A Night of Prayer— Captain David Fry— A Christian Hero— A Rebel Minis- ter—Letter Sent to Jeff Davis and its Probable Result 142 CHAPTER XII. The Jail at Atlanta — Preparations to Break Jail — Expecting an Order for Our Execution — Busy Preparations for Escape — Prayer for Deliverance— The Last Desperate Chance— The Criti- cal Moment— Fighting the Guards — Away We Go— The Pur- suit.... 154 CHAPTER XIII. Eluding Pursuit — Crossing the Line of Rebel Guards — Discour- aging Journey before Us — Paroxysm of Joy — Striking Out for the Gulf — We Reach the Chattahooche, and Hope Springs Up Anew — We Find a Boat and are Soon GUding Down the River Gulfward 166 CHAPTER XIV. The Pangs of Hunger — Visions of Feasting — We Must Have Food — Visit a Rebel Planter's House — Get a Good Meal— Mark Gets to "the End of the River" — A Mysterious Noise- Reckless Run Over a Mill-Dam— Mark Falls in the River — A Toilsome Lund Joumey of Three Days and Nights — Passing viii CONTENTS. Columbus — The Rebel Ram Cliattahooche —Capture Another Boat — Soon Exchange It for a Better One— Pursued by Its Owners — Feeding on Corn and Pumpkin Seeds — Mosquitoes, Snakes and Alligators 177 CHAPTER XV. Go After a Meal — Our Boat is Stolen — Feelings of Despair — Night of Gloom — Dangerous Method of Securing Another Boat — Complete Success— Feast on Raw Cat-fish— Nearing the Gulf — Appalachicola — A Royal Feast on Cooked Fish and Roasted Sweet Potatoes— Going Dow^n the Bay— Looking for the Block- ading Fleet— The Federal Fleet in the Distance — Thrilling, Rapturous Sight— The Old Flag Once More 193 CHAPTER XVI. Hailed by the Commander of the Blockading Fleet — A Gruff Reception — Explanation of Our Appearance — Changed De- meanor of the Commander — Our Cadaverous Condition — Rage of the Old Sea Veteran, Commander J. F. Grossman — A Kind and Noble Man — The Substantial Welcome Given Us We Start for Key West — Yellow Jack Catches Me — Key "VVfest — The ' ' Conchs " — A Marked Contrast 203 CHAPTER XVII. Port Royal — Death of General O. M. Mitchell — Memories of the Past — Characteristics of Successful Generalship — General Mitchell's Confidence in the Success of the Enterprise — Steam- ing to New York with the Body of General Mitchell — Our Cordial Reception — Arrival at Washington — Caught without a Pass and Imprisoned — A Note to the President — Immediate Release — Introduced to President Lincoln — An Interesting Inter- view^ -- 213 CHAPTER XVIIL EUituming to the Regiment — Back to the Army of the Cum- berland — The Greeting of Old Comrades — Meeting with Captain Fry — History of Different Members of Our Party — Interesting Account from Wm. J. Knight — J. R. Porter's Account — Whereabouts of other Comrades of the Expedition — A Few Words Personal — Medal and Extra Pay — Concluding Words— A Hope that the Spirit of RebeUion is at an End.. 223 INTRODUCTION. ^j^N the quiet little village of Haskins, Wood (Juiiiity, Ohioy ^ lives the subject of these adventures — a modest, quiets unpretentious gentleman, a good citizen, in w^hose outward appearance and actions there is nothing to indicate to the casual observer that he was one of a band of men of more than Spartan valor, who, in the midst of one of the darkest, periods of the nation's annals, participated in one of the most thrilling incidents of a gigantic war — a war whose history is one of Titanic death-struggles, wliere thousands of brave men^ with the most improved contrivances and implements of war- fare of modern times, strove for the mastery — a war marked from beginning to end with startling dramatic acts of adven- ture and heroism, unsurpassed in the annals of the world. The ancient chroniclers of Greece and Rome tell us of prodigious feats of valor in arms, while the historian of modern times excites our admiration with the military genius of Napoleon and the braver}^ and devotion of his marshals and soldiers. The legends of Scotland teem with the stories of patriotism, devo- tion, and self-sacrifice of that brave people ; but it is no dis- paragement to say of all these that in acts of patriotism,, devotion, daring, endurance, and all the qualities which go to make the soldier, history gives no account of men superior to- those developed by the war of the American Rebellion. Lord Nelson, the hero of Trafalgar, and the idol of the British (ix) X INTRODUCTION. nation, was not braver than Farragut, lashed to the mast of his ship in Mobile Bay, and Cambronne and the Imperial Guard at Waterloo wers not braver than Pickett, who led the dread- ful charge at Gettysburg, and tlie men who followed him. When the actors in the bloody drama of the Rebellion shall all have passed away, and jDersonal jealousies and sectional animosities liaA'e died out, then will history make an impartial award of merits to the actors in that great struggle. Much that was real and dreadful will th3n read like fiction and romance, as if it had occurred in the days of miracles and wonders. The timely arrival oi the little Monitor at Hampton Roads, and her combat a,nd miraculous victory over the mon- ster iron-clad Merrimac, or th3 providential rain-fall which delayed one day Albert Sidney Johnston's attack on Grant at Shiloh, thereby saving the Union army, are events so familiar to this generation that they seem commonplace ; yet they are events, small as they may seem, on which, perhaps, hung the fate of the Republic. The Avliole war, from its beginning to its close, ending in the tragic death of the Chief Executive of the nation, was a succession of startling events, deeds of valor, great battles, hard marches, victories, defeats, and adventure by land and sea, wliicli put to the sorest test the powers of endurance and bravery of the combatants. The mettle of the hero of the following pages, although not teste4 on the battle-field amid the rattle of musketry, the boom of cannon, the shriek of shot and shell, and the soul-inspiring strains of martial music, was tried in a crucible where cool- ness, courage, fortitude, endurance, valor, nerve that amounted almost to sublimity, were called into requisition, and where all the ennobling traits of man's highest nature were brought into play. This trying ordeal will be fully develoj)ed in the pages that follow. John A. Wilson was born July 35, 1833, near the town of INTRODUCTION. XI Worthington, Franklin County, Ohio. When a boy about seventeen years of age, he removed with his father, Ezekiel Wilson, to Wood County, tlie family locating not far from Haskins, where the lad Wilson grew to manhood. With the exception of a year's residence in Iowa, and his term of army service, Mr. Wilson, or "Alf.," as all his acquaintances call him, has since been a resident of Wood County. In stature he is medium, weighing, perhaps, one hundred and fifty pounds, of rather slender, but wiry, build, of nervous temperament, light hair, and bluish grey eyes. In his manner he is deliberate, though quick of decision and action, and there is that in his appearance that denotes to the close observer of human character a fearless determination and tenacity of purpose that can not be swerved withouf sufficient reason. He is a man somewhat after the old John Brown make-up" in tenacity of resolution, belief and purpose. Though broken in health, having endured and suffered enough to break the strongest constitution, he is yet active in mind and body, being one of those persons who will never cease to be active until overtaken by the last enemy of mankind. On the sub- ject of his many startling adventures, his perilous hardships, and hairbreadth escapes, he is usually reticent. V/hen he is induced to speak of them, the dark hours of his imprisoimient seem to harrow up his feelings to their utmost tension. His eyes dance with an unnatural light, he grows excitedly nervous over the recollections of that terrible summer, and his every action indicates that of a tempest -tossed spirit over the bitter memories of the past. Under no other circumstances is this state of mental incandescence perceivable with Mr. Wilson. It is a matter of no surprise, then, that a man of his tempera- ment should so seldom allude to the bitter agonies and har- rowing circumstances of that memorable year. At the beginning of tlie Rebellion, in 1861, Mr. Wilson Xll INTRODUCTION. enlisted in C Company, Twenty-First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and the ever-shifting events of the war found the regiment, of which Colonel J. S. Norton, now of Toledo, was commander, stationed near Shelbyville, Tennessee, and in the army division commanded by that enterprising and far-seeing officer, General O. M. Mitchell, who was then directing his column to Chatta- nooga. This was in April, 1863, and it is at this point that the adventures of Mr. Wilson properly begin. In order, how- ever, to get a better understanding of the importance of the perilous enterprise about to be related, and its direct bearing on the gigantic military operations then transpiring, it will be well to briefly recapitulate a little of the history of that period. General McClellan, at tliat time, was advancing on Rich- mond in the east. In the west, General Grant had just gained a great victory at Fort Donelson. This defeat of the Confed- erates caused them to virtually abandon Kentucky and West- em and Middle Tennessee. The Federal forces promptly fol- lowed up their advantage and advanced their army up the Tennessee River, by gunboats and transports, as far as Pitts- burg Landing. To meet this powerful array of the Federal armies, the Confederate Generals, Johnson and Beauregard, were making superhuman efforts to concentrate a Confederate force at Corinth, powerful enough to meet and crush Grant's army before it advanced further southward. Troops and sup- plies were being hurried forward from all directions ; but from no place was the supply so strong and steady as from the State of Georgia, the granary of the South. This stream of constant supj)ly and fresh levies came from Georgia by the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. Corinth, where tlie Rebel army lay, is situated on this Railroad, and so is Chattanooga, though the two places are a long distance apart. From Chat- tanooga south to Atlanta, the heart of Georgia, the traffic was over the Georgia State Railroad. Over this Railroad, Georgia INTRODUCTION. XllI and other portions of the Gulf territory not only sent supplies to the Confederate forces preparing for battle at Corinth, but over the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, by way of Chattanooga, to Richmond and to Cumberland Gap, then threatened by General George W. Morgan, with a Federal division. From this it will be seen that the Georgia State Road, from Atlanta and the South, intersecting, as it did at Chattanooga, roads running to Virginia and to the west, dis- tributing supplies and troops on shortest notice at points where most needed, was a most important and essential factor to the success of the Confederates, in resisting the great armies which menaced them in Virginia and the Gulf States. The Federal Generals foresaw the importance of destroying, even temporarily, this great artery of supply to the Confeder- ates. But to attempt it with a large force would be extremely hazardous, as it would necessarily place such force hundreds of miles from its base of supplies, and with its line of com- munication in the control of the Confederates. Some time in March, a noted Union spy, or secret service agent, named J. J. Andrews, a Kentuckian by birth, and who had repeatedly visited all portions of the South and was thor- oughly familiar with the railroad in question, discussed with General Mitchell the possibihty of accomplishing the work with a secret expedition. General Mitchell soon became inter- ested in the bold proposition, and, after due consideration, fell in with tlie plan. Eight men voluntarily started out on the perilous enterprise, but after an absence of some days, they all xetumed without attempting the hazardous undertaking. But Andrews Wi\s loth to give up his daring project, and subse- quently had a consultation with General Mitchell, in which he claimed tliat the project was still feasible. General Mitchell, with some misgivings, continued to favor it, because the scheme, if successful, would cripple the Confederates and send XIV INTRODUCTION. terror and dismay through the whole Confederacy ; and it was one of those problematical, far-reaching undertakings, in which this restless officer seemed to dehght. But he did not like the possible consequences which might fall on the heads of the men who would have to go with Andrews on the dangerous expedition, in case of failure. He knew if they were captured they would be executed. However, the General gave Andrews permission to make the attempt, provided he could find twenty men among the regioients of the division who would volun- tarily go with him. Tliis, strange as it may seem, was not attended with any great trouble, hazardous as was to be the service. The army abounded in cool-headed, daring spirits, and in a short time the list of volunteers was made up, to the number of twenty-four, including Andrews, the leader. Such was the origin of one of the most daring exploits con- ceived during the "War of the Rebellion — one which for bold- ness of design, intrepidity, daring and recklessness, has but few parallels in the liistory of ancient or modern warfare. Hon. Judge Holt, in his official report as Secretary of "War, used these words; "The expedition, in the daring of its con- ception, had the wildness of a romance ; while in the gigantic and overwhelming results it sought and was likely to accom- plish, it was absolutely sublime." And with this introduction to the details of this thrilling expedition, necessary to a proper understanding of the events about to be related, Mr. "Wilson will take up the narrative, which has all the sensation of a thrilling romance, and yet in which there is not a line that is not true to the letter. C, W. E. ADVENTURES OF ALF. WILSON. CHAPTER I. First Meeting of the Raiders near Shelby ville — Their Names — Putting on Citizens' Clothes — Andrews, the Federal Spy — Final Instructions and Farewell by General Mitchell — We Brealc into Squads and are Off to Dixie — Wayside Reflec- tions — Heavy Rains and Freshets in the Rivers — "Meeting Up" with a True Union Man — Our Story of Deception — An Old Rebel Colonel — A Confederate Spy — Crossing the Cum- berland Mountains — Safe Arrival at Chattanooga — One Day Behind Time — Off to Marietta by Rail. *' With years, ye know, have not declined My strength, my courage, or my mind, Or at this hour I sliould not be Telling stories beneath a tree." IT was a pleasant day in April in the year 1802, the [ ^^Q^y dciy on which the bloody battle of Shiloli was fought and won (the Tth), that a party of twenty- four men assembled near the old town of Shelbyville, Tennessee, and placed themselv^es under the leadership of one of their number, J. J. Andrews, a daring and successful P'ederal spy and secret service agent. These mea, with two exceptions, Avere enlisted soldiers, and belon2:ed to the division of General Ormsbv M. Mtichell, then encamped about Shelbyville. (15) 16 KOSTEK OF THE 11A.IDER3. Their enrollment was as follows : J. J. Andrews and William Campbell, citizens of Kentucky ; Marion A. Ross and E^erry G. Siiadrack, Conripany A, Second Reo:iment O. V. I.; George D. Wilson, Company B, same regiment ; William Pittenoer, Company G, same regiment ; J. R. Porter, Mark: Wood and J. A. Wilson, Com- j^any C, Twenty-First Regiment O. Y. I.; William Knight, Company E, same regiment ; AYiLsoN W. Brown, Company F, same regiment; William Bensinger, Company G, same regiment ; HoBERT BuFFUM, Company H, same regiment; John Scott and E. II. Mason, Company K, same regiment ; M. J. Hawkins, Company A, Thirty -Third Regiment O. y. L; William Reddick, Company B, same regiment ; John Wollam, Company C, same regiment ; Sa^^iuel Robinson, Company G, same regiment ; D. A. DoRSEv, Company II, same regiment; Jacob Parrott, Company K, same regiment; Samuel Slavens, same regiment. Two others, whose names have escaped my memory, started Avith us from Shelbyville, but they reached the Tennessee River so far behind the remainder of the part}', as I afterwards learned, that they saw their services would be of no avail, and the next best thing was to return to the Federal lines, if possible. This they failed to do, were conscripted into the rebel army, and after some time one of them escaped back to the Federal camp, which caused suspicion to fall upon his ANDREWS, THE SPY. 17 comrade, who was arrested and afterwards placed in prison in Chattanooga. The object of our expedition as already foreshadowed, was to penetrate the rebel lines to the city of Marietta. Georgia, there to secure a train of cars, by fair means or by force, and then to run northward toward our own lines, burning all the bridges and destroying the road in such a manner as to utterly and effectually break al] rail communication by this most important railroad to the South. To do this successfully it was necessary tc disguise ourselves in citizens' clothes. Accordingly, late in the afternoon of April 7, we went into the town ol Shelbyville and procured suits of clothes, after w^hich we assembled at a point designated for our final start. "We passed through our line of pickets without difficulty, as they had been previously instructed to allow us to pass. Soon after passing our pickets we were joined by General Mitchell, and after proceeding a short distance to a secluded spot, ^ve were halted for final instructions. This business over, the good old General took us each by the hand and with tearful eyes bade us good-bye, saying, as he did so, that he feared he should never see us again. Before proceeding further, I will briefly describe our leader, Andrews. He was a noble specimen of man- hood, nearly six feet in height, of powerful build, long raven black hair, black silken beard, Roman features, a high, expansive forehead, yet with a voice soft and gentle as that of a woman. He was a man who com- b'ned intelligence and refinement with cool, dauntless courage that quailed under no ditnculty or danger. He was a man deliberate in speech and calm in manner — 2 18 THE START. a man well fitted for the clano-erons service he was engaged in, though I doubt his entire fitness to coni- mand men in sudden and unexpected emergencies. However, he shared his chances equally with us, and died the death of a brave man. No braver, truer man ever lived. Having been supplied by Andrews with Confederate money to pay our expenses, we separated into squads of four or five and directed our course toward Chattanooga, distant one hundred and three miles. We Avere soon clear of all our picket and vidette posts and in the enemy's country. Not until fairly avray from sight of the old flag and our regiments and entirely within the enemy's line, could we begin to realize the great respon- sibility we had incurred. To begin vv'ith, we had cast aside our uniforms and put on citizens' clothes, and assumed all the penalties that in military usages the word SPY implies, which is death the world over. Again, our mission was such that concealment was impossible. We were sure to arouse the whole Confederacy and invoke all the brutal vengeance of its frenzied leaders in case we did not make good our escape after doing our work. The military spy, in the ordinary line of his duty, is not compelled to expose himself to detection. On the contrary, he conceals, in every possible way, his identity. This we could do until in tlie heai't of the enemy's country, the very place where we would be in most danger and where the blow would fall most heavily on our enemies and arouse against us all their hatred and most active energies. All these things passed in review in our minds as we walked on, but did not cause us to slacken our pace or A TRUE SOUTHERN UNION MAN. 19 abate our will and determination to destroy the Georgia State Railroad or die in the attempt. There was, I may say right here, one thought about the business that I did not just like — that if caught I would die the death of a spy — be hung. I had enlisted as a soldier and of course knew that 1 took in the bargain some chances of being shot, which is not a dishonorable way of closing up a soldier's earthly account. I speak of this, that the reader may in some measure appreciate the perplexing anxiety of our situation at times, and also as an explana- tion of some things which subsequently occurred, and which may appear to have been done in wanton bravado, or with a reckless disregard of life. It commenced raining again the night of our depart- ure, as it had done the week previous, and continued with but very little cessation during our entire trip. This of itself increased the obstacles that delayed us. During our first day's march we met, for a wonder, a true Southern Union man — as loyal a man as ever I met. He \vas an old man, who had remained true, though surrounded by disloyal neighbors. Though we professed to be rebels on our way to enlist in the rebel army, he boldly spoke his sentiments and did his best to persuade us to return and cast our lot with the Union arm}'-. After much urging he piloted us to the river, which was so swollen by rain that we could not ford it as we expected. The wliole face of the country was a vast sheet of water, and we waded for miles throu2rh mud and water. The old man procured us a skiff, and we then, Avith a hearty shake of his loyal hand, bade him farewell. By our instructions we were allowed just four days, :20 DECEPTIVE STORIES. , not only to reach Chattanooga, but to accomplish the work. The continued rains and bad roads made this accomplishment in the allotted time simply an impossi- bility. It delayed us one day longer than the time agreed upon, and had much to do with the outcome of our -under taking, as will be hereafter seen. That old adage vwhich says, " Delays are dangerous," Avas most faith- ifully verified in our case. During our journey to Chattanooga, Andrews, who "^vas mounted, would ride ahead and make all necessary inquiries and then, passing out of sight, would allow us to go by, w^hen he would mount and overtake us in some safe place w^here he would give us instructions, ^nd then ride on, as though w^e were entire strangers to yhimjind he to us. He would frequently pass us, simply ^bidding us the time in a careless way, and perhaps in -an indifferent manner would ask us which Avay w^e were .traveling. Sometimes, when squads of rebels Avere .about, he would ask us where Ave were going. The .re])ly would invariably be — -" To Chattanooga, sir." •"Are you soldiers?" "^^No, sir, Ave are not soldiers, but Ave expect to be as soon as Ave can get to one of the Kentucky regi- ments. Wq are from Kentucky and are on the Avay to join the army, sir. We have become so disgusted with >the ..cussed Yankees since they came into our State, that Ave can't stand it any longer, and Ave are determined to iight ,them as long as there is a man left. They have ruined our State, sir. Yes, sir, they steal everything they can lay their hands on ; they have burned nearly iivery .fence in the StatCj sir. Are you acquainted ia AN OLD PwEBEL COLONEL. 21 Chattanooga, sir? Conld you give us any information about Colonel Williams' reg-iment V' *' No, men, I'm sorry to say I can't, now ; but I'n^ glad to see you come out to fight for your country^ The Lincolnites are determined to take all our slaves from us, confiscate our homes, and cut our throats in-* the bargain. It is the duty of every Southern man ta rally to arms and drive them from our country." Durins: these conversations the rebel citizens would look on and by their actions and words they seemed ta* think we were as good Confederates as ever lived. Im this manner we were able to travel through their country without exciting suspicion. On Wednesday night, April 9, we arrived at the little village of Manchester. Xear this village some of the party stopped for the night at the house of an old rebel Avho bore the title of Colonel. It was our plan to avoid persons of his stamp, as we did not care to undergo too close scrutiny. But night overtook a part of the squad there and none who took shelter under the old Colonel's roof had cause to feel sony. He was a good enter- tainer, had plenty of the comforts of life about him and was an incessant talker, especially on the subject uppermost in his mind — the war. He was at first a little cautious and shy, but on being assured that his quests were Confederates of the best stripe, he relaxed himself and assured them that he felt honored by their presence and that it was a privilege indeed to be able to serv^e such brave men — men who were patriotic enough to leave their homes in Old Kentucky and go voluntarily to the front in the great hour of danger.. It did not seem as though he could do enough for the; 22 A cjentp:el stkan'gek. boys; nothing he had was too good. lie proved his loyalty, the next morning, to the secession cause, and his good will to them by taking his team and wagon and hauling them as far as the mountains, to a little place called Pelham. While in his company we had no reason to fear suspicion. No better guarantee that we were all right was needed in that part of Tennessee. Before leaving the men he took them to a tavern and treated them to whisky, after which he baxle them good speed and returned home. AVhether he ever learned his mistake or not I do not know. For myself, I spent the same night with an old farmer — a neighbor of the old ColoneFs — a mild and inoffensive-appearing old man. I was very hungry and tired and felt great gratification on seating myself at his table to see it so bountifully supplied with substan- tial eatables so tempting to a hungry man. I ate heartily and said but few w^ords. There was a rather genteel, smooth-looking man at the table whose pres- ence and appearance I did not exactly understand. I could not at first make out whether he belonged to the place or not, but soon discovered that he w^as a stranger. I kept a discreet tongue and learned bye and bye that the stranger, too, was on his way to Chattanooga. He inquired particularly concerning the roads and very minutely in regard to the Yankees. The old man told him that lie had never seen a Yankee nor heard of any being nearer than the coal banks at the mountains. The stranger seemed quite uneasy lest he should fall into Yankee hands and was evidently no lover of the horrible "Yanks." Next morning, in good season, we were ready to continue our journey and the stranger A CONFEDEKATE SPY. 23 became one of our traveling companions. He did not long continue with us, however, as we took a road that was supposed to come in close proximity to the Federal lines. He now took me one side and proposed to give me forty dollars to pilot him over the mountains. He told me he was a spy, acting in the employ of the Confederate Government. My mind was now thrown into a cloud of doubt and perplexity as to what was the proper thing to do. At times I had a mind to accept his offer and go as a guide with him until I had a chance to lose him or get sep- arated from him. He might, in case he had seen reason to suspect us, get to Chattanooga in advance of us and cause our arrest and imprisonment. I was at no little loss what to do. At one time I had concluded to go with him until we could reach some secluded place and there treat him to the fate of a spy and enemy of my country — a fate he deserved, as I knew he was carrying important news to the Confederates. But on the other hand, if I did this, it might detain me so long that I would fail to be on time to discharge my part in the service for which I had been detailed. We finally let him go his road and we went ours. When we arrived in Chattanooga he was the first. man we met and he, supposing us to be friends, treated us with great cordi- ality and invited us to go with him and '' have some- thing," but it was nearly train time and we had reasons for politely declining, not caring to make his further acquaintance. This was the last we saw of the nice- appearing stranger and Confederate spy. We reached the north bank of the Tennessee Eiver, opposite Chattanooga, on Friday, the 11th, one day 24: OFF FOR MAKIfcTTA. behind the time agreed upon with General Mitchell, and were compelled to wait for some time for the wind to subside so that the ferry-boat — a little, crazy, frail affair —could carry us safely across. At length, however, we had the satisfaction of landing safe and sound in Chat- tanooga, where we found we had been preceded by most of the party. AVe went to the depot and pur- chased tickets to Marietta, Georgia. Some of the party purchased several tickets, so that there would not be so- many of us at the office at once. Everything thus far appeared to work finely. AYe all secured our tickets^ went aboard the train, and no one seemed to pay any attention to us. This was a great relief to us. We took seats in the cars and were soon moving off into Dixie at a good rate of speed. I felt that this was a much, easier and more expeditious way of getting on than the tedious, tiresome march of the previous four days. After getting seated, and there being no further cause of concern for the time being, I began to carefully study over the situation with all the thought I could, and to calculate our chances of success or failure, and the result of my deliberations was by no means encourag- ing. We were one day behind the time appointed. I knew, too, or felt sure, that General Mitchell would not fail to march upon and take Iluntsville, according to the arrangements made with us when we started. I also felt certain that if he did so there would be little room to hope for our success. It would cause the road to be crowded with trains flying from danger, and it would be difficult for us to pass them all in safety. But it was too late now to change the programme. We must make the effort, come what might. I said noth- ANDKEWS SANGUINE. 25 ing, however, to any one except Andrews ; but on lis- tening to my opinion on the situation he encouraged me by saying there was yet a good chance to succeed. Indeed, he expressed himself in so sanguine a manner that I made no further argument ; but I still thought my course of reasoning correct, whether the result would accord v/ith it or not. CIIAPTEPw II. Safe Arrival at Marietta — On Board the Morning Express — Porter and Hawkins get Left— Ciipturing the Train at Big Shanty — A Bewildered Multitude of Rebels — AVe Pull Out Lively — Cutting Telegraph Wires — Tearing up Railroad Track — The Powder Train Story — Almost a Row with the Train Men — A Zealous Station Agent, who was Willing to Send his Last Shirt to General Beauregard — Hindered, by Down Trains Fleeing from General Mitchell — Pui*sued by a Loco- motive — Tearing up More Track — A Railroad Race for Life or Death — Vain Efforts to Impede Pursuit — Trying to Burn a Bridge — Throwing off Ties on the Track — A Reckless and Devil-may-care Race, the Like of Which was Never Before Seen. "Now, by St. Paul, tlie work goes bia^ely on." MJe left Chattanooga a little while before sunset, and ^)l arrived at Marietta soon after midnight, a distance X^ of one hundred and thirty miles. We at once repaired to the nearest hotel and registered, of course giving fictitious names. Before retiring, arrangements were made to have the hotel men awake us in time for the north-bound train in the morning, which they prom- ised to do without fail. No man kno\vs what a day may bring forth ; and this very uncertainty of what the light of that day's sun would bring forth in our particular cases was the reason some of us, myself at least of the number, did not sleep very much. Our doom might be fixed before (26) POKTER AND HAWKINS LEFT. 27 the setting of another sun. We mi^ht be hanging to the limbs of some of the trees along the railroad, with an enraged populace jeering and shouting epitliets and vengeance because we had no more lives to give up ; or, we miirht leave a trail of fire and destruction behind US and come triumphantly rolling into Chattanooga and Huntsville, witliin the Federal lines, to receive the wel- come plaudits of comrades left behind, and the thanks of our General and the praises of a grateful people. Such thoughts as these passed in swift review, and were not well calculated to make one sleep soundly. But even this broken rest was not to continue long. The two or three hours soon slipped by and we were called and notified to " hurrv ud or we would be left." Two of our men who lodged at another house. Porter and Hawkins, by some mistake, were not called, and were left, so that only twenty of us took the train. This was a serious loss, for Hawkins was the most experi- enced engineer of the party, and he was the one selected to take charge of the engine ; but it is not likely that the result of the expedition would have been different, even with his practice and experii^nce. The reader will, by glancing at a map of Georgia, notice that just to the north of Marietta, on the rail- road, are the towns of Kenesaw and iVig Shanty. Sherman's soldiers will all remember these two places. It was the latter place, also called Camp McDonald, a place where rebel recruits in great numbers were brouo:ht for oro^anization and drill, that had been selected to strike*the first blow, by capturing the train, or such portion of it as was wanted. Big Shanty is only eight or ten miles from Marietta, and there were two good 28 THE CRITICAL MOMENT. reasons why we selected that particular station. In the first place, tlicre was no telegraph office there — an important point in our favor — and in the next place it was a lunch station, where passengers were allowed twenty minutes for refreshments. This was in our favor, for it might save us the necessity of killing the engineer and fireman, Avho would, in all probability, leave the engine to go to the refreshment room. Aside from considerations of humanity, it was our wish to avoid any collision or delay, for there were camped within sight of the station no less than ten thousand Confederates. The train we had taken passage on was the express, heavily loaded with passengers and drawn by a fine iookino^ locomotive. There was many an anxious ffaze from one to another of our party after we had taken our seats in the cars that morning, as if to read the thoughts of each, as men will sometimes do w^hen drawn up in line on the eve of a great battle when the skirmishers are slowly retreating before the advancing columns of the enemy. For my own part I could not discover on a face in our party any sign of trepidation or timidity. Each seemed cool, decided and resolute. Few words were spolren and each seemed impatient for the decisive moment to arrive. "When the shrill v,diistle announced that we had arrived at the station and the conductor sang out " Big Shanty ! twenty min- utes for breakfast ! " and himself started for the restau- rant, followed by the engineer and fireman, we felt a happy relief. The passengers were swarming into the eating-house for breakfast }>ell-mell. Now was our time to strike ! THE TRAIN CAPTURED. 29 Our party had, by this time, all drifted together along side the train on the platform, when Andrews, who had been ahead to see if the switches were all right and the track clear, came up and quietly said, *' All right, boys." Every man sprang to his place. Andrews, who had been improving all his time, had uncoupled the train, leaving three box-cars hitched to the tender. Andrews, Brown, Knight and myself sprang on the engine. Knight grasped the lever of the engine and gave it a surge and the ponderous wheels were instantly in motion. We were off. The rest of the men had leaped into one of the box-cars. The rebel guards who were on duty about the platform, did not at first seem to comprehend what was up, and, when it was, alas, too late, looked after us in blank amazement. We shot out lively for a short distance, perhaps nearly half a mile, as Knight had thrown the valve wide open, when w^e discovered the engine had been left with but little steam or lire either. We were compelled to come to a dead stop, and the way we put in Avood and poured on oil wasn't slow by any means. We could see the surprised, dumbfounded crowd — citizens, soldiers, officers and railroad men — gazing after us and running hither and thither in helpless confusion. Several squads of soldiers, with their guns, started for us on the dead run, yelling like w^ild Comanches. Our fire was burn- ing briskly by this time and we had no fear of them. We waited, however, until they came within thirty or forty rods and then pulled the lever and rolled out slowly for some distance, until we could gain a good head of steam. When they saw w^e had steam up, they cdime to XI halt and opened a lively musketry fire on us. 30 DESTROYING TRACK AND WIRES. They did us no barm, and every revolution of the big wheels carried us farther beyond their reach. When we were safely out of tlieir way, ^ve halted again and John Scott, with the agility, intrepidity and daring for which he was noted, climbed a pole and cut the tele- graph wire, so that by no possibility would they be able to send a dispatch ahead of us. We then pulled out at a rapid rate for a time, until, coming to a curve in the road, we stopped again. Every man fully realized the danger of the terrible work of destruction that we had undertaken, and was full}'' nerved for the struggle. Here, too, we tore up the track behind us, and Scott again cut down the wires, as he continued to do throughout that terrible race, and this time made them fast to the rear car of the train. The way we " yanked " down telegraph poles and tore the wire loose when we started up, was frio-htful to behold. At the next station we met and passed a train. They evidently regarded us with surprise or suspicion. The train men knew the loco- motive we were on, but the hands were all strangers to them. Besides, w^e were a wild train ahead of the express and unannounced. But we did not parley or answer questions nor stop until we reached the tank, where we took on water and wood. Then we pulled out at rapid speed for a v\^hile when we again stopped and tore up the track and cut the wires to cut off pur- suit. We continued in this manner, destroying track and wire frequently, until we reached a little station called Marengo, where we had to stop for a south- bound train to pass. AVhen we made the first stop, after capturing the THE POWDER STORY. 31 train and getting clear of Big Shanty, Andrews was overjoyed at our success, and wiien he jumped off the locomotive he clasped each of us by the hand, congrat- ulating us that the worst part of the job was over, as we had but one more tram to pass when the " coast w^ould all be clear. " This probably would all have been true had we been one dav sooner. While we were waiting at Marengo, Andre v/s went into the office and procured the switch ke3's and a schedule, telling the office-man that he was running an "extra" through with powder and ammunition to Beauregard, who was hard pressed by Grant and was out of ammunition, and the greatest possible haste was- necessary. This story, trumped up on the spur of the moment, had much semblance of truth, although we did not know it. !N"ot a week had elapsed since the battle of Shiloh^ and Generals Grant and Ilalleck were at that very time pushing their columns on toward Beauregard at Corinth, and to give further plausibility to our story, there was in the express car a prodigious iron-bound saCe, contain- ing probably a wagon load of Confederate scrip, with which to pay off the Confederates at Corinth. This was satisfactory to the man, who said he would willingly take off his shirt and send it to Beauregard if it would do any good. When Andrews returned to the train we were in a great turmoil. This was the station where the express train changed hands, and no sooner had we come to a halt than the relief came on to take possession. Finding a new and strange set of men and no passenger cars, they did not know w^hat to make of it. They knew the locomotive and asked us what we 32 PASSING FLYING TRAINS. Tivere doino: on that eno^ine? A7e told them the same story that Andrews told ; but still they seemed to think something was not right. AVhen Andrews, however, who was clothed in somewhat of a military dress, made his appearance and told them the same story in his serious and impressive way ; that he had charge of ihe train and that it Avas very important that there should be no delay, and also assured them that the express train would be along soon, they seemed a little more reconciled. In the meantime the down train had passed, and without further parley we pulled out and left them to settle the matter the best they could. We did not run far until we again stopped and tore up the track and cut the wires. This time w^e took the displaced rails with us for the purpose of making them all the trouble and delay we could, knowing that in all probability pursuit would soon follow. Thus we pro- ceeded, tearing up the track, cutting the wires and waiting for trains to pass, frequently, however, doubling on schedu«Ie time between stations. AVhat gave us most ^.oncern was the fact that every ^^train that passed us carried a red flag, indicating thaf other trains were fol- lowing. We knew the explanation of this. General Mitchell, prompt to fulfill his agreement with us, had pushed the Federal troops forward to the railroad ,at Iluntsville, and the whole rebel population were badly scared, while all the public property was being run into Georgia for safety. At length we reached a station where we were almost positive that we should pass the last train. Andrews went into the station where the keys were hanging and took them to adjust the switch without asking any one. TUE puEsurr began. 33 This liberty on his part was likely to raise some trouble with the station men, but the plausible powder story quieted them. After waiting a short time the down train passed, but it carried the inevitable red flag. This was not encouraging to us. Our precious time was being fatally consumed with these delays. We felt and Ivuew it. Finally, while we were engaged in tearing up the track, we were startled by the shrill whistle of a pur- suing locomotive, away in our rear, but unmistakably coming toward us. "VYe were followed and there was not a doubt of it. The pursuing train, however, was delayed by meeting the train which had just passed us and this delay gave us quite a start again, which we improved to the best possible advantage. It must be remembered that from the nature of our position we had a poor chance of providing ourselves with bars, saws, grappling-hooks, axes, sledges, powder, torpedoes, and other necessary implements for making quick work in the destruction of track and bridges. We had put our main reliance on destroying by fire. Eight here I may as well explain briefly, although a little out of the regular order, how the pursuit, which began at Big Shanty, was conducted. The engineer, conductor and track-master followed on a hand-car until they met the first train we had passed. They boarded this train, reversed the engine and pushed on with all possible haste. When they came to where we had displaced the track, they took up rails behind them and laid them down again in front and thus pressed on with no great delay, for on reaching the first station they dropped off most of the cars, took on a quantity 3 34 DESPERATE RACE FOR LIFE. of rails and a gang of track-hands and tlicn pushed rapidly on. When we found that we were pursued we knew that the destruction of a bridge was the only thing that would save us and to do this we must outrun them far ^ enough to burn the bridge before they came up. Now followed a trial of speed between locomotives — a race which for desperate, dare-devil recklessness, velocity and the high stakes at issue was never equaled on land or water on the American continent. This was our last shuffle of the cards and the game was a des- perate one. It was swift vengeance on the one side and life or death on the other. Our locomotive was under a full head of steam. The engineer stood v/ith his hand on the lever with the valve wide open. It was frightful to see how the powerful iron monster under us would leap forward under the revolutions of her great wheels. Brown would scream to me ever and anon, *' Give her more wood, Alf!" which command was promptly obeyed. She rocked and reeled like a drunken man, while we tumbled from side to side like grains of pop-corn in a hot frying-pan. It was bewildering to look at the ground, or objects on the road-side. A constant stream of fire ran from the rims of the great wheels and to this day I shudder when I reflect on that, my first and last locomotive ride. "We sped past stations, houses and fields and out of sight almost like a meteor, while the bystanders who barely caught a glimpse of us as we passed, looked on as if in both fear and amazement. It has always been a wonder with me that our locomotive and cars kept the track at all, or how they could pos- THE TERRIBLE SrEED CONTINUED. 35 sibly stay on the track. At times the iron horse seemed literally to fly over the course, the driving-wheels of one side bein^: lifted from the rails much of the dis- tance over which we now sped w^ith a velocity fearful to contemplate. "We took little thought of the matter then. Death in a railroad smash-up would have been preferable to us to capture. AVe had but this choice left us. :}. While vre on the locomotive were making this pell- mell, "devil-may-care" race, the men in the box-cars were not idle. They had, previous to leaving the last stopping place, taken on a lot of ties which they placed in the rear car. They then broke a large hole m the car and as we sped on would now and then drop out a tie to impede the progress of the pursuers. So great Avas our speed that sometimes "when one of these ties struck the track it bounded twenty or thirty feet high and came whirlino: end over end after the train as though shot after us from a cannon. Twice or thrice did we stop to burn bridges, but in spite of the terrible speed we had made, only a few minutes would elapse before we could hear our pursuers thundering after us like a roaring storm-cloud before a furious wind. They had in the meantime picked up another passenger locomotive and train just in from the Rome branch of the Georgia road, which, with troops, was following close after the first train. We were now nearing Dalton, and, discovering the track all clear, we went through at a high rate of speed. Here is the only instance, I think, where we failed to do all that could have been done. We ran about two minutes too long before w^e stopped to cut the wire. I 36 THE SCARE AT CHATTANOOGA. tried, and even insisted with Andrews, that we should stop the train sooner, but for some unknown reason he did not. It was all owing to this that our pursuers got a dispatch through to Chattanooga ahead of us. They had taken up a telegraph operator who was put off near Dalton, and who succeeded in getting a dispatch through about two minutes before Ave cut down the wire. I have since learned that the dispatch caused the wildest stampede in Chattanooga. Troops were called to arms, the railroad track torn up and cannon planted covering the track, while a double guard was kept on duty all night. As matters turned out, however, it made but little difference, except to scare the Chattanooga people nearly out of their senses. We had now arrived at a part of the road which we particularly wished to destroy. We therefore deter- mined to make another effort to burn a bridge, knowing that if we could destroy one we would be safe from our pursuers, while we could destroy the rest. Otherwise we would certainly fail. We kindled a fire in the rear car and put the locomotive again at full speed, so as to have all the time possible for the bridge to get well to burning before the pursuing train came up. We dropped off this burning car on the bridge when we reached it, and stopped to assist the fire in the work of destruction all we could. But we were not permitted to accomplish the task. We no more than fairly got to work before we saw the black smoke of the pursuing locomotive rolling above the trees as she came thunder- ino- down the road at almost lightning speed. They seemed to know our design on the bridge and were straining evpry nerve to foil the attempt. They had LAST DESPERATE EFFORTS. 37 one of the best locDmotives on tli3 road, and had a fresh supply of wood and water, while we had but little of either, our supply having nearly run out. Our situation was becoming more unpleasant every moment. Tlie road was very rougli here ; but, rough or smooth, our last thread of hope hung on the swift- ness of our tired locomotive. AVe crammed the furnace with every combustible we could lay hands on. Again she plunged ahead at frightful speed, reeling and rock- ing on the rough track like a drunken man. We made a sudden halt at a tank and wood-pile, and hastily pro- ceeded to " wood and water." "We had, however, secured only a partial supply when the chasing train came in sight, loaded with armed soldiers. Our pursuers were worked up to an infuriated pitch of excitement and rent the very air with their devilish screeches and 3^ells as they came in sight of us, like dogs when the quarry is sprung. They opened on us at long range with musketry. The bullets rattled around us like hail, but fortunately none of our party was hit. This is the only instance I have ever heard of where troops were put into action on a moving railroad train and I am clear in my mind that this kind of warfare will never become popular if everybody regards it from my standpoint. #i Our iron horse was now put to its severest test, but our most strenuous efforts to place distance between ourselves and our pursuers were in vain. Their loco- motive was equal to ours and they were running it equally as reckless. "We had nothing left on board to throw off and thus obstruct the track as we had previ- ously done. It was becoming more evident every mo- 38 THE RACE ALMOST RUN. ment that our only and last hope lay in an abandon- ment of the locomotive and fleeing to the Avoods. Already our speed began to slacken — we had neither wood, water nor oil. The locomotive shook and reeled as she sped on. I could liken her condition to nothing else than the last struggles of a faithful horse, whose heartless master has driven and lashed him until he is gasping for breath and literally dying in the harness. The powerful machine had carried us safely for more than a hundred miles, some of the time at a rate of speed appalling to contemplate, but she was becoming helpless and useless in our service. She was shaken loose in every joint, at least she seemed so ; the brass on her journals and boxes was melted by the heat ; her great steel tires almost red hot, while she smoked and sizzled at every joint. Our race was almost run. CHAPTER III. Run Down at Last — We Jump the Train and Fly to the Woods under Musketry Fire — How the Chase was Made — The Obstacles We Had to Encounter — Sensational Rebel Account of the Whole Affair — The Confederacy Badly "Shook Up." 1% FEW minutes before we came to our final halt, ^' Andrews, Brown, Knight and myself, who were on the engine and tender, having given up all hope of success, hastily discussed as to the best thing to be done, and it was concluded that the best course was to separate and scatter in all directions. In this way some of the party might possibly get away, while if we went in a body and continued together, with the great number of rebel troops in our front and in the rear, and, in fact, on all sides of us, the capture of the entire party would be absolutely certain. In accord- ance with this conclusion, Andrews now told us all that it was " every man for himself ;" that we must scatter and do the best we could to escape to the Federal lines. We put down the brakes and as we sprang oif and she stopped, her motion was reversed, with the hope that she would run back and either cause collision or delay to the on-rushing train, with its frenzied, blood- thirsty passengers behind us, thereby giving us a little (S9) 4rO JUMPING THE TRAIN. lever — she Avould not budge a wheel nor move an inch, but stood useless and sullen on the track — she was dead* AVe did not stop even to take a farewell look but all struck for the woods, scattering in all directions except behind us. They came thundering up to within twa hundred yards of where we stopped, and we could hear them shout, " Halt ! " " Halt ! " and while some were leaping oil the cars, others opened fir'e on us with their muskets. Between the shrill whistle and steam of their locomotive, their infernal screeches and yells and the musketry fire, it seemed as if all Bedlam had been turned loose. This tumult only lent wings to our flight. The musket balls began to fly uncomfortably thick ; but we only ran the faster. As I jumped and ran from the train I heard my name called, and looking back, saw my comrade, Mark Wood, hastening after me. Halting for him we continued our flight together, and remained close companions in many an after-adventure in Dixie. The reader may here be inclined to wonder, that with the start we had, the terrific speed with which w^e almost flew over the track, the rails we had torn up and the obstacles w^e had thrown out to impede our pursuers, why it was that they gained upon us so rap- idly in such an incredibly short tim3. Bat it must be remembered that much valuable time was lost in pass- ing down trains, at one place having waited twenty- five minutes for a train. Train after train passed us, and on one occasion as many as eight or ten locomo- tives in a string— cars both empty and loaded, all hur- rying down the road in the effort to get all the available rolling stock and property to a place of safety from the clutches of General Mitchell's triumphant and advanc- V'l w ! f ImIikihi HimiimKm,.iimjiiuu!.', THE OBSTACLES WE MET. 41 ing army. Then, too, tlie time lost in getting wood and water, in cutting telegraph wires, altogether con- sumed many precious mom3nt3. The very excitement of the chase also brought those living naar the track to the road in crowds, and they undoubtedly assisted in clearing obstructions as spaedily as possible. The rebel account of the pursuit, published in the Sjiithem Con- federacy, at Atlanta, April 15, 1862, shows clearly how our pursuers gave us such a successful chase, and also shows the immense importance the Confederates attached to this reckless expedition, if it had been suc- cessful. I take the liberty here of reproducing the published account as it appeared in that paper, three days after the occurrence. It is as follows : THE GEEAT EAlLPwOAD CHASE. THE MOST EXTR-VOKDINARY AND ASTOUNDING ADVENTURE OB" THE WAR — THE MOST DAltING UNDERTAKING THAT YANKEES EVER PLANNED OR ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE STEALING AN ENGINE — TEARING UP THE TRACK — PURSUED ON FOOT, ON HAND-CARS, AND ENGINES OVERTAKEN A SCATTERING — THE CAPTURE THE WONDERFUL ENERGY OF MESSRS. FULLER, MURPHY AND CAIN SOME REFLEC- TIONS, ETC., ETC. Since our last issue we have obtained full particu- lars of the most thrilling railroad adventure that ev^er occurred on the American Continent, as Avell as the mightiest and most important in its results, if success- ful, that has been conceived by the Lincoln Govern ment since the commencement of this w^ar. Nothing on so grand a scale has been attempted, and nothing within the range of possibility could be conceived that would fall with such a tremendous crushing force upon us, as 42 ' THE KEBEL ACCOUNT OF the accomplishment of the plans which were concocted and dependent on the execution of the one whose history we now proceed to narrate. Its reality — lohat was actually done — excels all the extravagant coiiceptloiis of the Arrow-Smith hoax, which fiction created such a profound sensation in Europe. Tt) mal^e the matter more complete and intelligible, we will take our readers over the same history of the case which we related in our last, the main features of which are correct, but are lacking in details, which have since come to hand. We will begin at the breakfast table of the Big Shanty Hotel, at Camp McDonald, on the W. & A. R. II., where several regiments of soldiers are now encamped. The morning mail and passenger train had left here at 4 a. m. on last Saturday morning as usual, and had stopped there for breakfast. The conductor, William A. i^ uUer, the engineer, I. Cain — both of this €ity — and the passengers were at the table, when some eight men, having uncoupled the engine and three empty box-cars next to it from the passenger and bag- gage cars, mounted the engine, pulled open the valve, put on all steam, and left conductor, engineer, passen- gers, spectators, and the soldiers in the camp hard by, all lost in amazement and dumbfounded at the strange, startling and daring act. This .unheai'd-of act was doubtless undertaken at that place and time, upon the presumption that pursuit coukl not be made by an engine short of Kingston, some thirty miles above, or from this place; and that by cutting down the telegraph wires as they proceeded, the adventurers could calculate on at least three or four hours the start of any pursuit it was reasonable to expect. This was a legitimate conclusion, and but for the will, energy and quick good judgment of Mr. Fuller and Mr. Cain, and Mr. Anthony Murphy, the- intelligent and practical foreman of the wood depart- THE GREAT KAILWAY CHASE. 43 ment of the State road shop, who accidentally went on the train from this place that morning, their calcula- tions would have worked out as originally contempla- ted, and the results would have been obtained long ere this reaches the eyes of our readers — the most terrible to us of any that we can conceive as possible, and unequaled by an3^thing attempted or conceived since this war commenced. Now for the chase ! These three determined men, without a moment's delay, put out after the flying train — on foot^ amidst shouts of laughter by the crowd, who, though lost in amazement at the unexpected and daring act, could not repress their risibility at seeing three men start after a train on foot, which they had just witnessed depart at lightning speed. They put on all their speed, and ran along the track for three milej, when they came across some track-raisers, who had a small truck-car, which is shoved along by men so employed on railroads, on which to carry their tools. This truck and men were at once " impressed " They took it by turns of two at a time to run behind this truck and push it along all up grades and level portions of the road, and let it drive at will on all the down grades. A little way further up the fugitive adventurers had stopped, cut the tele- graph wires and torn up the track. Here the pursuers were thrown off pell-mell, truck and men, upon the side of the road. Fortunately, " nobody was hurt on our side.'' The truck was soon placed on the road again ; enough hands were left to repair the track and With all the power of determined will and muscle, they pushed on to Etowah Station, some twenty miles above. Here, most fortunately. Major Cooper's old coal engine, the " Yonah " — one of the first engines on the State road — was standing out, fired up. This venerable locomotive was immediately turned upon her old track and like an old racer at the tap of the drum, pricked up her ears and made fine time to Kingston. 44: THAT POWDER STORY. The fugitives, not expecting such early pursuit, quietly took in wood and water at Cass Station, and borrowed a schedule from the tank-tender upon the plausible plea that they were running a pressed train, loaded with powder for Beauregard. The attentive and patriotic tank- tender, Mr. William Eussell, said he gave them his schedule, and would have sent the shirt off his back to Beauregard, if it had been asked for. Here the adventurous fugitives inquired which end of the switch they should go in on at Kingston. When they arrived at Kingston, they stopped, went to the agent there, told the powder story, readily got the switch-key, went on the upper turn-out, and waited for the down way freight train to pass. To all inquiries they replied with the same powder story. When the freight train had passed, they immediately proceeded* on to the next station — Adairsville — where they Avere to meet the Tegular down fr eight train. At some point on the way they had taken on some fifty cross- ties, and before reaching Adairsville, they stopped on a curve, tore up the rails, and put several cross-ties on the track — no doubt intending to wreck this down freight train, which would be along in a few minutes. They had out upon the engine a red handkerchief, as a kind of flag or signal, which, in railroading, means another train is beliind — thereby indicating to all that the regular passenger train would be along presently. They stopped a moment at Adairsville, and said Fuller, with the regular passenger train, was behind, and would wait at Kingston for the freight train, and told the conductor thereon to push ahead and meet him at that point. They passed on to Calhoun, where they met* the down passenger train, due here at 4:20 p. m., and without making any stop, they proceeded — on, on and on. But we must return to Fuller and his party whom we have unconsciously left on the old " Yonah " making oheir way to Kingston. THE TwEBEL PURSUIT. 4:5 Arriving there and learning the adventurers were but twenty minutes ahead, they left the '' Yonah " to blow off, while they mounted the engine of the Eome Branch Eoad, which was ready fii'ed up and waiting for the arrival of the passenger train nearly due, when it would have proceeded to Rome. A large party of gentlemen volunteered for the chase, some at Ac worth, Allatoona, Kingston and other points, taking such arms as they could lay their hands on at the moment ; and with this fresh engine they set out with all speed but with great " care and caution," as they had scarcely time to make Adairsville before the down freight train would leave that point. Sure enough, they discovered this side of Adairsville three rails torn up and other impediments in the way. They " took up " in time to prevent an accident, but could proceed with the train no further. This was most vexatious, and it may have been in some degree disheartening, but it did not cause the slightest relaxation of efforts, and as the result proved was but little in the way of the dead game, pluck and resolutions of Fuller and Murphy, who left the engine and again j9i^^ out on foot alone ! After running two miles they met the down freight train, one mile out from Adairsville. They immediately reversed the train and run backwards to Adairsville — put the cars on the siding and pressed forward, making fine time to Calhoun, where they met the regular down passenger train. Here they halted a moment, took on board a telegraph operator, and a number of men who again volunteered, taking their guns along — and continued the chase. Mr. Fuller also took on here a company of track hands to repair the track as they went along. A short distance above Calhoun they flushed^ their game on a curve, where they doubtless supposed themseh^es out of danger, and were quietly oiling the engine, taking up the track, etc. Discovering that they were pursued, they mounted and sped away, throwing out upon the track as they went along the heavy cross-ties 4:6 GAINING ON THE HAIDERS. they had prepared themseh^es with. This was done by breaking out the end of the hindmost box-car, and pitching them out. Thus, *'nip and tuck," they passed with fearful speed Resaca, Tiiton, and on through Dalton. The rails which the}^ had taken up last they took off with them — besides throwino^ out cross-ties upon the track occasionally — hoping thereby the more surely to impede the pursuit ; but all this was like tow to tlie touch of fire, to the now thoroughly aroused, excited and eager pursuers. These men, though so much ex- cited and influenced by so much determination, still retained their well-known caution, were looking out for this danger and discovered it, and though it was seem- ingly an insuperable obstacle to their making any head- way in pursuit, was quickly overcome by the genius of Fuller and Murphy. Coming to where the rails were torn up, they stopped, tore up rails behind them, and laid them down before, till they passed over that obsta- cle. When the cross-ties were reached, they hauled to and threw them off, and thus proceeded, and under these difficulties gained on the fugitiv^es. At Dalton they halted a moment. Fuller put off the telegraph operator, with instructions to telegraph to Chattanooga to have them stopped, in case he should fail to over- haul them. Fuller pressed on in hot chase — sometimes in sight — as much to prevent their cutting the wires before the messafi^e could be sent as to catch them. The darino: adventurers stopped just opposite and very near to where Colonel Glenn's regiment is encamped, and cut the wires, but the operator at Dalton had jput the mes- sage through about two mimites before. They also again tore up the track, cut down a telegraph-pole, and phiced the two ends under the cross-ties, and the middle over the rail on the track. The pursuers stopped again and got over this impediment in the same manner they did before — taking up rails behind and laying them down TAKE TO THE WOODS. 4T before. Once over this, they shot on, and passed through the great tunnel, at Tunnel Kill, being then onlv live minutes behind. The fugitives thus tindino: