The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-10

or more below Chattanooga, they boarded rorih-
bound train loaded with supplies. soldiers, etc,
for the Confederacy. This was the train they had
selected for capture. The raiders did not recog-
nize each other until they reached little station
military headquarters for the Confederacy-
where the trsiumen left the tain and entered a
hotel hard by for 6iuner. The leader of the spies
signaled his men for action. There were two or
three engineers in the Tary. They quietly strolled
out OF the coaches and walked up the track to
the locomotive. All the Others of the
Union soldiers, excepting one without
attracting notice, went to forward
box Car and climbed inside. The last
man stood near the couplings two or three cars
from the locomotive. Andrews gave signal
ThecoGpling-pi pin was drawn, and the soldier doing
that work spTsng up and into the car, while the
leader went into the cab. The valve was thrown
open and the locomotive and two or three box
cars dashed up the track toward CHATTANOOGA
like an arrow. When the alarm was sounded
CONSERVATION seized the Confederate soldiers
They started In pursuit on hand. cars. The run
awsys soon vanished. They supposed there were
no locomotives in that part of the country, and
did not commence their destruction of bridges
soon enough They cut the telegraph wires but
the hand-car with the ConfeGerates kept after
tuCAA until lCNOmOl4Nt WAS feACleQ
on side-track. many miles from
Big Shaety, Ga, the stopping point
When the Confederates secured the locomotive
the chase began. They hove in sight OF the flee
ing Union soldiers, who, seeing them, saw their
mistake in not commencing their fiery destruc-
ton Of bridges sooner. They attempted to burn
the bridges, but their pursuers were near them
before the work of the fire was well under WAY
They tore up the track. The Confederates would
repair the damages and rush ahead. Finally the
two locomotives came INTO such close pIoxtuit,
that the runaways could only impede the pro-
gTess of their pursuers by tearing up their box
cars aud throwing the fragments on the track
The locomotives were dashing up the track at the
rate of sixty or seventy miles an hour. The Union
soldiers sent back upon their pursuers one of
their box cars, then another; but the impeachment
was only temporary. The locomotive bearing the
Union soldiers began to tail. Water and coal were
running short. With the Confederates in sight
there was no time to stop for a supply. The brass
bearings on the locomotive were melting from ex-
eessiye heat The chase was dazzling. The speed
was almost incredible. Finally, the Federal
soldiers were compelled to desert their locomO-
i've aud hee TO the woods. In time they Were all
captured and cast iuto dungeons. Andrews the
leader, was hung first. The survivors were re-
moved To another Prison, where seven more were
S->NSOeSN OA edAiOhc- ~ YET duOlliSE IriSOq
the remaining fourteen were takens
They expected 70 be executed any day for
nearly year At one of the Prisons a portion of
them, pTeferring TO run the Iisk of diving by bay-
onet or bullet than on the scaffold made n bold
dash. oyerDowered the guards, escaped ard after
untold sufferings, finally reached the Federal
lines. The remainder of the party were finally
taken TO Richmond and confined for many
months in Libby Prison. At the end of nearly
two years from the tine the expedition was Sc;
on loot the surviving prisoners were exchanged
and reached Washington, where the authorities
looked upon them as men snatched from their
graves They were thought TO be dead They
were broken down in health, and have never
been rewarded further than in en-
honorary way. The details of this daring
exploit are vivid as the aiventurer's novel
and have furnished thrilling poiRis for two or
three books All old soldiers are familiar with
the story and eli the Boys in Blue will rejoice TO
learn that Congress has at last recognized their
distinguished services in a su bstantial way.