The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-07-05


other trains oflikc character. These
are the second lines. Next, near the
terminus, and following it hour by
hour are the boarding cars and
construction train, which answer to
the actual battle line. The one is the
camp; the other is the ammunition
used in the fight.
The boarding cars are each eighty
feet long. Some are fitted with berths
two are dining halls one is kitchen,
storeroom, and Office. Under the
whole those men who prefer fresh
air have swung hammocks. Rifles
are hung over head, plentiful in num-
Der, loaded, and convenient. The
party protects itself, without atten-
tion from the Governmen. The track
laying gang numbers 400. On the
$50 miles all ready built there are
1000 track repaireTs constantly i'm
proving the road bed
The boarding cars so in advance.
They are pushed to the extremity OF
the track; construction train then
runs up, unloads It's material and
starts back to bring another from the
second line. The boarding train is
then run back till it has cleared the
unloaded material.
Three trucks, each drawn by two
horses, ply between the track-layers
and their supplies. The horses run
outside the track pulling with tow
line, as boats are moved on canals.
They must be out OF tho way of the
workmen. Ono of these trucks takes
on load of rails, about forty, with
the proper proportion Of spikes and
chairs, making a load, when the hors-
es are started off on full gallOp for the
track layers. On eaeh side OF these
trucks are rollers TO facilitate RAINING
off the iron. On reaching the end of
the last rail the truck is stopped. A
single horse is attached to move it
over each successive rail. Meantime
the truck last emptied has been turn
ed on its side to allow the loaded one
to 20 to the front. The two horses
released are started up on keen
gallop for another supply. The third
one moves up in like manner, and
thus through all the day they are
rushing forward with their iron load.
To see them, and reflect what rush
and roaring means, is as exciting as 1t
ever Was 70 watch battery thunder
into position, at q needed moment, Mt
tho vital point in its live.
The rails within reach, parties OF
five men stand on either side One
in the rear throws rail upon the
rollers, three in advance seize il, and
run out with IL to the proper distance.
The chairs have meantime, been set
under the last rails placed. The two
mcn in the rear, with u single swing,
force the end of tho rail into the
chair, and the chief of the squad calls
out +" down." in a tone that equals the
d" forward" to an army. Every thir-
ty seconds there came that brave
"down," down." on either side the
track. They were the pendulum
beats of mighty era they marked
the timo If the march aud it's reguia-
ton step.
One Of the rear men drove tho ears,
in addition to hnndling the rail. The
horses started ~ each rail fell into its
place, the truck rolled on TO the end
of it, a second rail was projected into
the wilderness, with the same precis-
ion and haste theu came the magic
" down" the car moved on again, and
another length was accomplished.
Two spikers followed each rail, one
party little in advance Of the other.
One rail was fastened Mt the end and
at the middle. The second party then
drew the opposite rail to the exact
guage, and fastened il at tho middle
and the end. Then came othor squads
of spiAers, moving along with the
precision Of military drill, each hav.
ing a particular spike to drive, and
no one interfering with another.
Track liners followed these, and with
their crowbars rectiAed the line. The
fners came last One party Of these
filed and packed the spaces at the
ends and middle Of the rails; tho 9TH
or completed the intermediate inter
walls, and the Job was left till The
SQUADS Of track repairers should come
up and finish the ballasting. But as
tho filters leave IL, full trains can run
over il with safety at twenty miles
an hour.
These are tho dry details. Lot the
reader picture the scene. The rush
of tho loaded track; the successive
dropping of the rails into place; the
rattle of the spiker's hammer, sound
ing like a hotly-eontested skirmish
the roar of tho distant supply trains
moving mp; the resounding Of the
frequent sigEais, near at hands the
| universal hustle; "the rumble, and
grumble, and roar" Of the wonderful
advance. Let tho clements OF saw
age warfare, aud tho actual presence
OF hostile Sioux along the blutis, DC
woven into tho picture, and together