Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-09

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 again and put out on foot
alone. After running two miles they met
the down freight train ons mile out of
Adairsville. They Immediately reversed
the train and run backward to Adairsville,
put the cars on the siding and pressed for
ward, making fine time to Calhoun, where
they met the regular down passenger train.
Here they halted moment, took on board
a telegraph operator and number of men,
whS again volunteered, taking their guns
along, and continued the chase Mr.. Full
ler also took in here a company Of track
hands to repair the track as they went
along. A short distance above Calhoun
they flushed their game on q curve, where
they doubtless supposed themselves out of
danger, and were quietly oiling the engine,
taking up the track, SC. Discovering that
they were pursued, they mounted and sped
away, throwing out upon the track as they
went along the heavy cross-ties they had
prepared themselves 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,
Resaoa, Tilton, and on through Dalton.
The rails they had taken up last they took
off with them, beside throwing out cross
ties upon the track, occasionally, hoping
thereby the more surely to impede the pur-
suit but all this was like tow to the touch
of FIRE to the now thoroughly aroused, ex-
cited and eager pUrsuers. These men,
though so much excited and influenced by
so much determination, still retained their
well known caution, we're looking out for
this danger, and discovered it, and though
it was seemingly an insuperable obstacle
to their making any headwsy in pursuit,
was quickly overcome by the genius of
Fuller and Murphy. Coming to where the
rails were torn up, they stopped, tore up
the rails behind them and laid them down
before till they had passed over the obsta-
Gle. When the cross-ties were reached
they hauled to and threw them of, and then
proceeded, and under these difficulties
gained on the frightened fugitives. At
Dalton they halted moment. Fuller put
off the telegraph operator, with instrue-
tions 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 message
could be sent, as to catch them. The dar-
ing adventurers stopped just opposite, and
very near 10, where Colonel Glenn's regi-
ment is encamped, and cut the wires; but
the operator at Dalton had put through the
message about tlUo minutes before. They also
again tore up the track, cut down tele-
graph pole, and placed the two ends Of it
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 before.
Once over this, they shot on and passed
through the great tunnel at Tunnel Hill,
being only five minutes behind. The fugi-
tives, finding themselves closely pursued,
CINE, TO impede the progress of the pursu-
ers. Fuller hastily coupled them to the
front of his engine, and pushed them ahead
of him to the turnout or siding where
they were left thus preventing the colli-
sion the adventurers intended. Thus the
engine thieves passed Ringgold, where
they began to fag. They were out of wood,
water, and oil. Their rapid running and
inattention to the engine had melted sll
the brass from the journals They had no
time to repair and reft, for an iron horse
of more bottom was close behind. Fuller
and Murphy and their men soon came
within four hundred yards Of them, when
the fugitiYes jumped from the engine and
left it-three on the north side and five on
the south, all fleeing precipitstely, and
scattering through the thicket. Fuller and
his party also took to thewoods after them.
Some gentlemen, also well armed, took the
engine and some cars Of the down passen-
ger train at Calhoun and followed up Full
Ter and Murphy and their party in the
chase but a short distance behind, and
reached the place of the stampede but
very few minutes after the first pursuers
did.
mounted, armed, and securing the entire
country in search of them. Fortunately,
there was q militia muster at Ringgold.
A great many countrymen we're in town.
Hearing of the chase, they put out on foot
and on horseback in every direction in
search of the daring but now thoroughly
frightened and fugitive men.
All of the eight men were captured,
and are safely lodged in jail. The partic-
ulars of their capture we have not receiv-
ed. This we hope to obtain in time for a
postscript to this, or for our second edition.
They confessed that they belonged to Lin
coins army, and had been sent down from
Shelbyville to burn the bridges between
here and Chattanooga, and that the whole
party consisted Of nineteen men, eleven Of
whom were dropped at several points on
the road as they came down, to assist in
the burning eff the bridges as they Weat
back.
"The most daring scheme that this revo-
luton has developed has been thwarted,
and the tremendous results which, if sue
cessful, can scarcely be imagined, much
less described, have been averted. Had
they succeeded in burning the bridges. the
enemy at Huntsville would have occupied
Chattanooga before Sunday night. Yes
terday they would have been in Knoxville,
and thus had possession Of all East Ten
nessee. Our forces at Knoxville, Green
vile, and Cumberland Gap would ere this
have been in the hands Of the enemv.-
Lynchburg, Virginia, would have been
moved upon at once. This would have
given possession of the valley Of Yirginia,
and StOnewall Jackson could have been at
tackled in the rear. They E0zld have poe,-
session of the railroad lesding to ChfIr-
loitesville and Orange Courthouse, as veil
as the Southside RAILROAD leading to Peters,
burg and RiQhmondl They might have
been able to unite with McClellan's forces,
and attack Joe JOhnsOn's army, front and