The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-04-27
selected for the dangerous, but honor

able, duty OF the attempt.
1--WE had reason to suppose that the
enemy had not destroyed the railroad,
and that if we were not captured at
the outset we might get an engine
through to Kanakia station, where
Stockton lay.
"At 1890 my orders were given me,
and l mounted the engine, which was
either to carry me to my death II to
save the army. 1t was not a powerful
machine, but it was the best at our dis
posal, and in good order, fortunately.
One of our men, who had been an en-
gineer, undertook to manage the en-
CINE, and another to fire it. Both were
cool, tried men, but as we stepped into
the cab together, l saw them shake
hands with their comrades and bid
them farewell. Evidently neither Of
them expected to get through alive.
"'Put in a couple of extra tallow-
cans, john said the engineer. I'VE
are going in to make time, and 1 expect
the old machine will heat up finely
1.-THE cans were slowed away in the
caboose, the engineer opened the
Unbelievable, and amid an Impress
i've silence in the crowd surrounding
the starting point we moved slowly
away. About two miles distant lay
the first battery which the enemy had
thrown up to command the road; be-
You'd that were several more, to say
nothing of the picket lines scattered
along the tracks. So you will perceive
we were to run a pretty warm gaunt-
let.
eve had proceeded but a very short
distance when there was a flash and
report from the shrubbery skirting the
road, and a bullet crushed through the
window of the cab. An outpost had
already discovered us, and had given
us a foretaste of what we were to ex-
pect further on.
"'Let her out ? l said to the en-
There is no use in trying to
hide ourselves. Speed is our only
chance now
every good, SIR replied the en-
opening the valve as he spoke.
The engine bounded like a spurred
horse. On we went, swaying from
side to side, until it seemed as if we
must JUMP the track. Meanwhile, our
friends along the road were not idle.
Bullet after bullet whistled by us; but
fortunately, what with the darkness
and the rapidity Of our motion, none
of them reached us.
"We had now arrivelin sight of the
first battery. BY the lights moving
hurriedly along the parapet, it was
that our approach was expect
ed. AS we passed abreast of the bat
terry, it gave us its first compliment in
the shape of a round shot, followed by
a storm of grape. Here, again, the
darkness and u speed saved us.
Several of the grapeshot glanced off
the frame Of the engine without doing
any damage, however.
"'Give her some more fire, John
said the engineer, grimly. IF they
happen to knock a hole in Us with one
of them bits of iron, you won't do no
more firing, my boy, l can tell you
that
"By this time we had passed out of
range of the first battery, an | we're
under the guns of two more. These
works had been constructed to con
mand the junction of u road with
another running south. There was
also a station at this point, and as we
whirled by | saw an engine standing
upon a siding with steam up. l caught
of a number of men running to-
ward it, as well as others busy with a
car which stood near it. What they
were at l could not make out, for we
passed them like a flash of lightning.
At this moment, too, the batteries,
Which had probably received tele-
graphic notice of our approach, opened
fire upon us, and for IA moment the
air seemed to be alive with shrieking
iron.
"'More fire, john cried the en-
gineer ram her full to the doors, or
it's all up with u.s.
"The fireman stopped to obey, but
at that moment a shell struck upon
the caboose and burst within threeteet
of us. 1t was a ten-inch monster, and
how any Of us escaped alive L fail to
see. AS it was, when the smoke and
dust cleared away, l found the top of
the cab gone, a portion of the caboose
torn off and the fireman lying in a
heap on the floor, with his arm broken.
I'm Knocked out, William he
groaned, 'and whose to fire her for the
rest of the trip
al will said Il; Il think 1 can
manage it,
"After placing the poor fellow in as
comfortable position a possible, l
seized the shovel and began my new
duties.
by this time we had passed out of
range of the batteries, which now and
then, however, sent a sullen shot in
our direction. rs a parting evidence of
their goodwill.
"'We are safe,' 1 said, with a sigh of
relief; that was their last line of
works. The road is clear before us
81 hope so, SIR responded the en-
gineer. 'How's your fire, Johh?'
Every bad, William groaned the
fireman but that amt the worst of