The Shasta courier., 1864-06-18

l
1t was to let our engineer take our engine
on out of sight, while we hid on a
curve after putting tie on the track, and
waited for the pursuing train to come up
then, when they checked to remove the OBJ
! structlon, we could rush on them, shoot every
| person on the engine. reverse it, and let il
| drive will back as it came. 1t would have
chased all the trains following, Of which there
were now two or three, back before it. and
thus have stopped the whole pursuit for a
time. This would have required quick work,
and have been somewhat dangerous. as the
trains were now loaded with soldiers but it
| afforded chance of success. Andrews said
IT was a good plan-looked all around and
| then buried to the engine, and had no fur
| ther opportunity of discussing the subject.
After we were in prison, he said he was yery
sorry that we had not made the effort.
All this time we were rushing through
towns and villages at terrific speed. Some
passengers came down whom they heard our
whistle to go aboard. but they all shrank
back amazed when they saw us pass with the
mise OF thunder and the speed oflightnng.
Still more were they astonished when they
saw three other trains dashing bv in close
pursuit. and loaded with excited soldiers.
Thus the break neck chase continued through
Dalton. Ringgold, and the other small towns
on the route.
But it soon became evident that it could
not continue much longer We had taken
on wood an1 water before we were so closely
pressed, but now our supply was nearly ex-
hausted, and our pursuers were too close be-
hind to permit US to replenisb it. But before
yielding, we resolved to try one more expe-
dent
For this purpose, we broke open the for
ward end Of the only box car we had left, and
with the fragments endeavored to kindle a
fire in it. Had we succeeded. we would have
detached it, left it burning on a bridge and
run on with the locomotive alone But the
fuel on the latter was toe nearly gone to af-
ford us kindling wood, ana the draught
through the ear caused by our rapid motion,
blew our matches out At length we sue
ceeded in kindling small fire, but the driz
zling rain, which had been falling all morn
ing, was blown upon it, and prevented it
from burning rapidly enough to be of any
service.
Thus our last hope expired, and our mag
niticent scheme, on which we ha0 so long
thought and toiled, was failure. But one
thing more now remained-to save ourselves
if possible.
We were within, perhaps, fifteen miles of
Chattanooga, when we resolved to abandon
the engine. Having made this resolve, we
did not cut the telegraph wire. and then for
the first time, they succeeded in sending a
message ahead of u.s.
This was no serious detriment to us. but it
raised the widest excitement in Chattanooga.
The women and children instantly fed from
the town, and sought safety in the woods and
maintains The whole N, Hilary foroa biob
was encamped near the place, came out and
selected an advantageous position to meet us.
There they planted cannon, feled trees across
the track. tore up the rails for some distance
and waited for our approach. Their orders
were Tor them to make general massacre
NOT to spare single man. But we came
not, and therefore they had no opportunity
to display their latent cruelty.
1t was at this point. when we saw every
scheme we attempted to execute completely
foiled. that Andrews presence of mind, for
time seemed to desert him. 1t was only ff
teen miles across the country to the Tennes-
gee river, and we could have reached it ahead
of any opposition, had we all stuck together.
One man had a compass, and with that. and
Andrews knowledge of the country. ne could
have gained and crossed the Tennessee. and
struck into the mountains beyond before the
country could have been aroused Once
there. in those interminable forests, it would
have been almost impossible for them to cap
ture us. well armed as we were, before we
could have reach ed the shelter of our army.
But this was not done, and this last chance
o o'lascape was lost
The locomotive was run on till the wood
and water were completely exhausted, and
the pursuers plainly in view. Then An
drews' gave the order for us to leave the
train, disperse, and for every man to save
himself, The could. We obeyed. jumping
off the train while still in motion. and were
soon making the best of our way through the |
tangled pines of Georgia.
From these pines most of the adventurers |
were at last forced by hunger, and were pick
ed up by the rebel cavalry which secured the
country. The Southern papers at the time
were filed with sensational accounts of the
exploit. and the prisoners were fortunate in
escaping with their lives.