The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-02-06

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Below will he found letter from
VIM. Brown, OF this county, giving
an account OF bis adventures in the
enemy's country.
Mr.. Brown was one Of tho hravh
twenty who were sent by Gen
Mitchell to destroy railroad bridgee
in Georgia, oil OF whom perished but
two. lie was comrsde Of John
Scott, Of this place.
will lay before the readers Of the
Jefferson ian, my long experience in
ID xic, as | am one that formed o
part Of an expedition sent out by
Gen. Mitchell, in April last, on a
dangerous mission, which urlortu.
nat5ly failed.
Let it be remembered that the 2 81
Oh:a regiment, to which | belong,
commanded by Col. Norton, formed
part OF Gen. O. NJ. MitcbelI's di-
vision in April last. which WAS n
that time stationed at Shelbyville
Tennessee. While there secret
expedition for dangerous service wHs
being organized ani placed urd"'
the orders OF a man supposed to be
epy of the commander Of the divis'
ION. Twenty.one ren whose nance
are given, and myself, making in all
twenty-five men, were detailed for
the service; the whol1 party being
disguised in citizens clothes, una
lett Shclbyville on the 7th OF A pril.
We proceeded to Manchester Ten.
nessee, where we represented our
selves as citizens OF Kentucky, on
our way to Chattanooga, to jJiu lhe
rebel army.
ln this woy we made oar way
across tho Cumberland mountains
to Chattanooga, obtaining subsist-
ence from eccssh. From that point
we proceeded TO Marietta, Georgia, ,
in the cars arrived at Marietta. at
eight o'clock in the night got Of
and held consultation. and finally
agreed TO make division OF the par.
", and some pct up At one hotel,
aud some at another; as we thought
to avoid suspicion The next morn.
ing we all met at the depot, accord
ing to agreement. ard took the
same train back to place called
Big Shanty, where the car handt
took breakfast. At this place there
were 30 900 rebel troops encamped
;, AT this place orr real service begun,
The train contained number OF
soldiers, together with quantity o
provisions and large amount o
I Confederate scrip, to pay the rebe
troops at Corluth.
will here state that the grand
Object OF this expedition was to dc
stroy the bridges on the GeOigis
State road, and thus prevent rein
forcements and supplies from reach
ing Virginia, TeapG sSee, and Gaor
gia. 1t mnst be recoIlectrd tina
this portion OF the road is built owe
innumerable creeks and rivers and
there are great many fine bridge
the most important one howcveI
. ia at Bridgeport, which is bull
across the Tennessee river Ga
y whole party consisting of lwsnty
two, left the cars at Big Shsnty di
vided in squads Of three and tour
- taking our respective stations II S IN
ed to US by our leader, etationina
himself at the c'uplng pin OF the 3
car. AS | WAS detailed ss chief en-
gineer, | was soon at my post, an
finding The machine in good run
ming order, | gave the signal to An
drews that all YVES right, and h
! drew the pin. Tho train now con
b sisting OF three box cars and the err
CINE. was started off on doubl
quick time. In lew mlnutes W
lost sight of Big Shanty leaving en-
gineer. couductcr, passengers, au
twenty,thousand soldiers all at
loss to know who had stolen th
:, tr in. Some laughed. somc crieC
J. some swore, and such an exc;emer
was never before created in g, orgii
e. The most diverting feature OF tn
- whole thing was, some OF the cs
hands started after the train foo
thinking they would overhaul US an
= take us prisoners, but that w
p! Jolly at that juncture OF time. 4
# the train was running at the ratio {
So miles per hour. After runnin
five miles from Big Shanty we can
to short cnrve in the road, whel
| stopped the train and one OF OF
party, John Scott, climbed the t.
egraph pole, aud cut the wira. "
then started, at the next point, at
town by the name ol Centervill
ee we tore rp tho track aud took II
rails with us on the train to ke'
to them from laying them down agai
thus we continued tearing up I
a track and cuttiag the wire; uniort
nately for us, the train was runniI
l"' at a very slow rate, aud We we
in compelled to switch off and lot t
sO' down rain pass us. AT the first al
ton this occurred, the engineer
the road made Lis appearance a
cut was about to come on board OF c
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