The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-19

ded into squads Of three and. tbur, king
lstations on each side Of the train, An
drews stationing himself 1t the couplins
pin Of the third car. i. must here bt
stated that number of our party were
engineers, and thoroughly understood
the business we had on hand. One o.
our engineers was at his post, and found
everything oil right. All hands now
mounted the oars, although the guard
was within three feet of them, and the
word was given. Andrews drew the
coupling pin, aud cried, all right. The
train, now consisting Of three cars and
the engine, was started of with as little
noise as possible.
| We soon lost sight Of the lights at Big
Shanty. and at the first curve the train
was stopped, md one of the party John
Scott climbed the telegraph pole and cut
the wires; we then started, and the next
point at town. name unknown, we tore
up the track, and took rail with US on
the car, and thus We continued tearing up
the track and cutting down the wires on
the other side, after passing town. I'm
fortunately. however, for US, the train was
running in q very slow schedule, and we
we're compelled to switch off and let the
down train pass us.
At the FIRST station this occurred, the
engineer Of the road made his appearance,
aud was about to stop the engine, when
Andrews told him he could not come on
board. as this was an extra train to run
through to Corinth, and the present par
ty were engaged to carry 1t there, and in
support of the assertion the iron safe was
shown. This apparently satisfied the en-
sineer, and we took in wood and water,
and again started.
A second time we we're compelled to
switch off, and in order to get the switch
deys, Andrews. who knew the road well,
went into the station and took them from
the office. This caused considerable ex-
element, but We Quoted it in measure
by stating that our train contained gun
powder for Beauregard, ut Corinth, and
soon after We again started. About 20
miles south Of Dalton, Georgia, VIC came
to a bridge, and here we set FIRE to one Of
our cars, piled on wood, and left it on FIRE
also.
| At this time the engineer at the Rome
Branch, suspecting that all was not right,
started up the track, and, we suppose.
found the rails torn up, and Immediately
returned to The junction, and took on board
a quantity of loose rails, and started after
us. Where we had torn up the rails he
immediately laid one. and without stop.
ping to fasten il, started over slowly and
gave chase. Soon he came to the bridge
| with the burning car which had not yet
caught the bridge. In the mean time
we had switched of to let an express pass,
which train was duly informed of our
charaoter BY discovering the track torn
up, and stopped, but was soon joined by
the Rome engineer, who had succeeded
IN turning the burning car off the bridge;
they then both started for us, laying the
track ss they went along, which they
could do in a much shorter time than we
could tear it up.
Thus it was they overlook us at work,
and as soon as we found ourselves dis
covered, speed was our hope, and at it
We went; but unfortunately for us our
fuel was nearly out, and it was then de-
termined to leave the engine and take
through the woods. Accordingly we
stopped and reversed her, Intending she
should run back upon our pursuers, but in
this We failed, as she had not sufficient
steam to run her over, and our object had
failed from combination OF Unfortunate
circumstances. Ten minutes more would
have set the bridge on FIRE and the Rome
engineer with the rails could not have
followed us, and the down express was
entirely useless; it was our intention to
have destroyed all the bridges. run into
Chattanooga, wait until the evening
train passed, and then gone on to Bridge
port, destroyed the bridge over the Ten
nessee river, and then away for Hunts
vile and join Gen. Mitchell.
| Our troubles were commenced, and
the greatest Of all our disasters was the
division Of our party; twas now every
man for himself We started for tho Ten
nessee river, but, being entirely unac-
quainted with the country, mistook our
way, and after being hunted through the
woods and twice fred at, made our es-
cape. Our travels from this time were
succession Of hardships and difficulties.
We crossed the mountains, made the
Iennessee river, where we found small
boat, with which We made our way down
ne liver to Stephenson, Alabama. Here
rs.ound the entire rebel force in COM
49, ete Of confusion, occasioned, - We
H eaa:I.sy visit from our cavalry,
wnl0n NV ,sde dash into the town.
I morning. anu " 'na'
We had succeeded, r...;n 49,.
. the town safely, when " snddsD, t.'o o.ga