The National tribune., 1885-01-15

once more mounted our engine ana SpeQ on
ward. The telegram was sent ahead by this
line as well as the other minute or two before
the wire was severed. 1t created a terrible ex-
element in Chattanooga, but did us no real
damage. Both. the pursuing trains were near
us when we entered the great tunnel north of
Dalton. Our supply of cross-ties was unfortu-
nately exhausted, or they might have proved
very serviceable in the darkness. In fearful
proximity and with undated speed the tunnel
was passed. Murphy declares that he was quito
relieved when he saw by the CLEAN of light
ahead that our engine was passing on, for he
had quite made up his mind that we would
attack them or drive our engine back upon
them iii the darkness. But no such plan had
entered our thoughts. We would far have
preferred a fight in open day.
We now resolved to play what had been re-
served as our last card. Running more slowly
to ecOnomiZe fuel Though high velocity was
still maintained,-we tried to light a fire in
our only remaining car. 1t was already open
at both ends, and now as much of the sides and
top as could possibly be obtained was also torn
off and prepared for fuel The attempt to light
these splintcrs by matches did not succeed, for
the wind caused by the rapid motion blew them
ont. Fire was then brought back from the en-
CINE, but this seemed to smoder rather than
burn; for the rain, which fell in torrents, blew
through the unprotected car. and all the boards
were soaking wet. Never did kindling a fire
seem so difficult When at length it fairly
caught, and began to burn briskly, our dam
pened hopes began to brighten in sympathy
with it. Might it not be that our persistent
struggle against ill-fortune was to win the
victory even yet? Just then a long covered
bridge was approached, which it was desirable
OH every account to burn. All of party,
whom the heat had not already driven
forward, were ordered into the nearly
empty tender. and the car was uncoupled in
the middle of the bridge. We did not leave it
! o-f,l but. Co. ODD g
the bridge to watch the result in breathless
anxiety. We had scarcely halted when the
black smoke of the nearest pursuer was seen,
and he bore down upon us at full speed. We
were very 10th to leave position. We
could see that the flame was rising higher, but
could also see that the enemy's train had Il
large number of men on board, some of whom
had firearms. Oh, what would we not have
given for a few of the muskets we had left in
camp, TO have held our position for even few
minutes or even one minute! Bat our situa-
ton was too unfavorable to allow more than
momentary thought of resistance. At long
range we were virtually unarmed. But we
fingered still, until we saw the enemy pushing
our blazing car before them over the bridge;
then, being in reach of their firearms, and but
poorly protected in our engine and tender, we
again sought safety in fight. They pushed the
blazing car before them to the first side track,
which happened not to be far away and then
hope expired.
But not all of the adventures were willing
to accept defeat even yet halt was made
the last-for the sake of again obstructing the
track, and getting few sticks of wood that
lay near the track to replenish the waning fire
Of our engine. Some of the number, from the
force of habit more than anything else, began
to take up rail. The writer then suggested
to Andrews simple plan, which, at this late
hour, still offered glmmering hope. Could
we throw the pursuers off the track, we night
burn few bridges yet, though the most im-
portant had been left behind us, and we could
no longer hope to run our engine through Chat
| tanooga. This attempt would have been more
full OF peril than any other of the day, with
the possible exception of the first seizure of
the train: but It's success would have turned
the tables on our enemies overwhelmingly.
With sufficient promptness and desperation it
might have succeeded, while its failure would
only have ended a hopeless struggle, exchang
ing certain and immediate death for whatever
faint chances of escape might otherwise remain
after the train was abandoned. There had
been many hints on the part of the soldiers
that we were running away from the enemy
too many times, and that it would be better to
fight, but this was the first definite proposal
The suggestion was to use our remaining fuel
in once more running out of sight of the enemy,
then, selecting a place for ambuscade in the
low, thck-set bushes that frequently came
close to the road to obstruct the track in our
usual manner. When this was DONE all of u.s.
except one of the engineers, could hide, in
such position as to be abreast of the enemy
when he stopped to remove the distractions.
Our own engineer could wait until the pursu-
ers were in sight, and then start off as usual,
but slowly, so as to keep their attention fixed
upon his train. We had several times noticed
how in the case of an obstruction, the Confed-
crates had checked their headlong career,
sprang to the ground even before the train had
stopped fully. aud worked furiously at clearing
the track. This would be our opportunity for
rushing forth. We could shoot down all who
were on the engine or the ground, while one
of our reserve engineers sprang on the engine
and threw it back at full speed, jumping off as
il started. The result could scarcely have
failed to be fatal collision with the next pur-
suing train, which was never far behind.
Then we would have been free from pursuit,
and left only to reckon with the forces ahead.
The place and manner of leaving the train could
then have been selected at our leisure. We
afterwards learned that no preparation had been
made to receive us farther south than Boyces
Station, some three miles from Chatta-
nooga. There strong military force had been
posted, the track torn up, and cannon planted.
But we would never have ventured so near
Chattanooga after knowing that message had
been sent ahead of us at Dalton. Our original
hope had been to get so far ahead of all pursuit
as to pass Chattanooga before the pursuerS had
reached Dalton. Then the junction OF roads
at the latter point would not have been an en-
barrassment to us, rs will be made clear by n
reference to the map
Andrews said that the plan, of which hint
was given in a few rapid words, was good and
worth trying. But the one great defect in his
character as a leader came to the surface in this
emergency. This was disposition to turn
everything carefully over in his mind before
deciding. There was time for reflection now.
The Confederate whistle sounded, and our men,
without waiting for the word of command, so
accustomed had they become to this manuver,
mounted the engine and sp u away. Andrews
bitterly regretted afterwards that this last ex
pedient was not tried. With this exception, /
do not know of anything more that could have
been devised, beyond what we actually at
tempted.
One object only could now be attained by
clinging longer to the train. the speedy aban-
donment of which was inevitable. Andrews
wished to shorten the distance to our own lines
as much as possible, so that the slender chance of
escaping through the woods and mountains
might be increased. 1t was far easier to travel |
on the engine than to run or skulk through the |
country on foot. 1t was better to continue this
mode of locOmotion as long as possible, until |
we were carried as near Chattanooga as it was |
prudent to venture. The old lightning rate of |
running could not be maintained, but we were |
still moving swiftly. The engine was in bad |
state and really incapable of much further |
service. The fuel too, was gone. For some |
time we had been reduced to the fragments that |