The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-12-30


containing large amount of Confederate
scrip to pay the troops at Corinth, Miss
issippi, and here it was that we knew the
duty that we were expected to do, viz
destroy the track and bridges on The
line of the road, and thus prevent re- en-
forcements and commissary stores from
reaching Virginia, Tennessee and Geor
gia. Gen. Mitchell had already cut of
communication from Corinth by holding
Huntsville, Alabama, and our duty. was
to destroy the tracks and bridges from
Big Shanty TO and beyond Chattanooga
or as far as Bridgeport, Tenn. 1t mus
be recollected that this portion Of the
road is built over innumerable creeks
and rivers, and crosses the Tennessee
river at Bridgeport, where fine bridge
is erected.
As before stated, our whole party, con-
sisting of twenty, left the cars and divi-
ded into squads Of three or four taking
stations on each side OF the train, An
drews stationing himself at the coupling
pin of the third car, 1T must here be
stated that number Of our party were
engineers, and thoroughly understood
the business We had on hand.) One OF
our engineers was at his post, and found
everything all tight. All hands now
mounted the cars, although the guard
was within three feet OF them, and the
word was given. Andrews drew the
coupling pin, and cried, all right. The
The train, now consisting of three cars
and the engine, was started of with as
ittle noise as possible.
We soon lost sight of the lights at Big
Shanty. and at the first curve the train
was stopped, and one of the party, (John
Scott, climbed the telegraph pole and
cut the wires we then started, and at
the next point alta town, name unknown,
we tore up the track, and took raj
with us or the car, and thus we contin
ued tearing up the track and cutting
down the wires on the other side, after
passing a town. Unfortunately, howev
er, for us, the train was running in a
very slow schedule, and we were com
PEELED to switch off and let the down
train pass US.
At the first station this occurred, the
engineer of the road made his appear
ance, and was about to step on the en-.
CINE, when Andrews told him he could
not come on board, as this was an extra
train to run through to Corinth, and the
present party were engaged to carry it
there, and in support Of the assertion the
iron safe was shown. This apparently
satisfied the engineer, and we took in
wood and water and again started.
A second time wo were compelled TO
switch OFF, and in order to get the switch
keys, Andrews, who knew the road we'll
went into the station and took the KEYS
from the office. This caused eonsidera.
ble excitement, but we quieted il in a
measure by stating that our train con.
tanned gunpowder for Beauregard at Cor
inth, and soon after we again started
About twenty miles south Of Dalton, Ga,
we came to bridge, and here we set
fire to one of our cars, piled on wood
and left it on the bridge, designing tc
set il on fire also.
At this time the engineer at the Rome
Branch, suspecting that all was not
right, started up the track, AMI we sup.
pose, found the rails torn up, and imma.
diatsly returned TO the junction, and
took on board quantity of loose rails
and started after us. Where we had
torn up the rails he Immediately laid
one, and without stopping to fasten it
started over slowly and gave chase
Soon he came to the burning ear whicl
had not yet caught the bridge. In the
meantime we had switched off TO let al
express pass, which train was duly IN
formed of our character by discovering
the track torn up and stopped, but was
soon ioiced by the Roman engineer, wht
had succeeded in turning the burning
car of the bridge; they then both start
for us, laying the track as they wen
along, which they could do in mucl
shorter time than we conld tear il up.
Thus it was they overlook Us a
work, and as soon as We found ourselye
discovered, speed was our hope, and a
It we went, but unfortunately for us ou
fuel was nearly out. and il was then de
termined TO leave the engine and take {
the woods. Accordingly we stoppe'
and reversed her, intending she shoul,
run back upon our pusuers, but in th'
we failed, as she had not sufficient stear