The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-08
GREAT RAILROAD ADVENTURE,

GREAT RAILROAD ADVENTURE,
"Daring and Suffering; History Of the Great
Railroad Adventure" and Beyond the Lines -
are the titles of two very interesting books pub
Ished by ]. w. Daughaday, No. 1908 Chestnut
street. Philadelphia. They are true stories of
the war, written by returned prisoners, and no
Eonauce could be more exciting, The first book
is by Lieutenant William Pettinger, one of that
little band Of daring men who penetrated the
enemy's lines in Georgia, in 1862, seized an
entire railroad train and dashed off with It into
the heart of the country, to destroy the railroads
and interrupt the movement of the Rebel armies.
The expedition was audacious, but il nearly
succeeded We quote, for the pleasure of our
readers, the graphic account Of the adventure
which Lieutenant Pettinger has given The rest
OF the book is devoted to an account of prison
Life, and the efforts of the prisoners to escape. 1t
Is well to premise that the adventurcrs were
dressed in citizens clothes, and had Travelled un-
suspected as far as Marietta where they seized
a. lin. The Lieutenant says
""- ~"used us at four o'clock in the
tobthihh, as we,told n,.- 90 Sa - I,1II nm Iie
train al that hour back tS osaa BS sSaat9
(which Is located at place &c.
e1Eut OF MdIl6tLA, ana IL also Dreak-
fast Stshlyh. Andrews had gone to another hotel
and warned the members Of the party there 10 be
In readiness TO take passage. Two OF them Haw-
kins and Porter, who had arrived earlier, were
not warned, and were, therefore, left behind. 1t
was net their fault, as they had no certain know
ledge of the time we were to start, but rather
thought II would be the next day
There we're Just twenty Of us on the tran An
drews and nineteen others, of whom several were
engineers We went along very quietly and in
Extensively, just as any other passengers would
do, until we reached Big shanty. knew that
We were to take possession of the train at this
place, but did not just know how it was to be
done. l thought we would probably have TO
fight, and compel the conductor, train hands, and
passengers TO get of. We might have done this,
but it would have required very quick work, for
there were then some ten thousand troops mostly
conscripts, camped there, and guard was placed
watching the train. But u far better plan was
adopted.
AS soon as we arrived the engineer, conductor,
and many Of the passengers went over to the
eating house. Now was our opportunity! An
drews, end one or two others, went forward and
examined the track, TO see If everything was in
readiness for O rapid start.
Oh what thrilling moment was that! Our
hearts throbbed thick and fast with emotions We
dared not manifest 10 those who were loating in
differently around. In a minute, which seemed
an hour, Andrews came back opened the door,
and said, very quietly and carelessly, Let US go,
now, boys" Just as quietly and carelessly we
arose and followed him. The passengers who
were lazily waiting for the train TO move on and
carry them TO their destination, saw nothing in
the transaction 10 excite their suspicious. Lei
surely we moved fOrward-reached the head OF
the tTain-then Andrews Brown, our engineer,
and knight, who also could run an engine, eaped
on the locomotive; Alfred Wilson took the top OF
the car as brakesman, and the remainder of us
cambered into the foremost baggage car, which,
with two others, had been previously uncoupled
from the hinder part OF the train For one mo-
ment of most intense suspense all was still-then
apuli-a jar--a clang-and we were flying away
on our periious journey.
There are times in the life of man when whole
years Of intensest enjoyment seem condensed
into single moment. 1t was so with me then.
i could comprehend the emotion Of Columbus,
when he first behed through the dim dawn of
morning, the Dew-found but long dreamed OF
shores of America, or the less innocent but no
less vivid joy CT Cortez, when he first planted the
cross of spain over the golden halls Of Monte
yuma. My breast throbDed full with emotions
OF delight and gladness, thai words labor in vain
10 express. sense Of ethereal lightness ran
through all my vens, and seemed 10 be ascend
ing higner-higher-nto realms of ineXpress bIe
bliss with each pulsation OF the engine It was
moment of triumphant joy that will never re-
turn again. Not dream Of failure now sha-
dOwed my rapture All had told us that the
greatest difficulty was TO reach and take posses
sion Of the engine, aud after that success was
certain. trould hare bee but for unforeseen con-
tingencies.
Away we secured, passing field and village,
and woodland. AT each leap of the engine our
hearts rose higher, and we talked merriiy Of the
welcome that would greet us when We dashed
done, and the brightest laurels Of the guerilla
far ecipsed.
But the telegraph ran by our side, aud was
able, by the flashing of single lightning mes
sage ahead, 10 arrest our progress and dissipate
all our fOndest hopes. There was no teleJrIph,c
station where we took the train, but We knew not
how soon our enemies might reach one, or whether
they might not have porIaOle battery AT com
mand. To Obyiate al danger on this point, we
stopped, after running some four miles, " cut the
wire.
John Scott, an active young man, climbed the
pole, and with his hand knocked Off the insulated
box nt the top, and swung down the wire. For
tunateyi there was small saw on the engine,
with which the wire was then severed. While
this was being done, another party took up rail-
and put It into the car to carry of with us. This
did not long check our pursuers, bat we had the
satisfaction Of learning that it threw them down
an embankment, as VIII be narrated more fully
in a Confederate account inserted hereafter.
When the engine first stopped, Andrews jumped
of, clasped our hands in ecstasy, COngratulating
us that our difficulties were now all over; that
we had the enemy at such a disadvantage that he
could not harm us and exhibited every sign OF
joy. Said he :-"Only one more train to pass
ana then we will put our engine to full speed,
burn the bridges after us, dash through ChatJa-
nooga, and on 10 Mitchell at Huntsville" The
programme would have been filed if we had met
only one train.
We were ahead of time and in order TO meet
me Gown train just on time, we were obliged %
H.oP vh the track awhile. These were tedious
nounents l'a wnls % we waited, but soon we moved
AZ, seay s,loWy again. AZ the next station
Andrews borrowed schedule from the tank
tender, telling him that he was runnii,1 an ev.
pless powder-.rain through TO Beaureg9ri. He
gSSs lhe schedule, saying that he would send his
asked afterwards II he did not suspect aD,t,i, Iou
he sald he would as soon have though 81 sns |
peeting Jeii. Davis, as one who talked wtb vi |
much assurance as Andrews did ~ ~ 1
On We went TIL we reached the station, wbere |
we were TO pass what we believed 70 be the last
train. Here the switch was not properly ad-
lukleu. and Andrews rutnrnn hQ y
without asking leaye of anybody, took down the
keys, ind adjusted tle switch, This raised some
disturbance on the part of those around the stA-
iioD, bnt " Was quieed BY telling then the same