The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-02-05

t.
had previous knowledge, were called out,
chained and ironed in the same manner. We were
then conducted ton boxiear, which had In 1t some
bales of cotton, and started northward. The SER
geant in charge OF stepped tue party at Dalton,
and awaited the arrival of the officer In command,
who WAS to come on the next train 1t was night,
and. although our guard was as kind as they well
could be under the circumstances, they had no
means of feedingus. Amob surrounded the depot
and threatened TO hang u.s. but the guards man
aged not without serious difficulty to keep them
of. Here we had a mosf grateful surprIse,-one OF
the few really pleasant incidents which mitigated
the horrors of our xperenCe. A few Dalton Ladies,
with their servants, into the waiting room,
and supplied us with first-class supper. We rel
Ished II hugely, for had been altogether without
dinner, and breakfast of the scantiest char
acter. This was the first meal we had ever eaten
with chains and irons upon us, and as the reader
may Judge, we felt and acted very awkwardly with
these useless appendages. The ladies who had
been so bountiful, requested some OF our party TO
stand up that they might have good look at them
They complied, in pairs ut a time, and, when the
other four had passed inspection and resumed their
seats, their little servant boy came with the same
request TO Wilson and myself. Wilson very po-
litely declined nstructing the boy to tell the la
dies that we were not here on exhibition, Dut, ii
they will come over this way, we will be glad to
see and talk with them The offer was accepted,
and two, matron and young lady, apparently
mother and daughter, came to our side OF the room
and we had conversation long to be remembered.
They sympathzed with us, and wept freely.
With us the wound was too deep for tears. Inc
ladies returned to the other part of the room when
the conversation was ended, but took seats and
remained until the expected train arrived and we
started for Chattanooga. Ali this time the mob
was bowling and cursing and threatening outside,
and we fatter ourselves that the ladies stayed to
exert a restraining influence, and to hinder them
from proceeding to extremities. Before we left,
the younger lady referred to sent the little boy TO
me tDtUf pink rose with one row OF leaves around
1T, and her name.
THE presentation of that rose seemed to exas-
perate those of the mob who saw it. and am free
to confess that regretted the action, for at one
time it seemed as if they would break in and seize
us. But the frmness of the Sergeant kept them
back. / regret that was unchivalrous as to
soon forget the name given; but in our circum-
stances who would try to remember a name even
that of a beautiful lady? The only encouragement
rs to our prospects we had yet received was that
our fate would be a warning to our comrades in
arms, none of whom would venture to eng1ge in
such another foolhardy expedition. The flower
served more to recall home and friends than to
awaken hope of any ayailiDg friendship and help
i'll that part of the country. 1t was twisted round
and round between my closely y-cuifed hands-for
the cuffs wore had connecting links, and fitted
very tight-tntil by the leaves ali fell, and
when the last was gone | got Wilson to put the
stem in my pocket, and kept 1T a long time.
We arrived at Chattanooga next morning.
There again the inevitable crowd to welcome
us. Will those hounds hunt?' bawled out a
coarse voiced individual, they led us by our
neck-cfanS through the crowded street.
The landlord of the hotel to which we were
taken to await orders a Union man, whom L
have met since under very different circumstances
At his own expense, and on his own responsibility,
he ordered his servants to bring us good break
fast. We had by this time got on good terms with
the clever guards who brought us from Marietta
and parted with them with real regret They
quested to have our names written IN the Little
diaries many of them carried. Putting the book in
one cufted hand and the pencil In the other, they
were amazed to see how well we could write under
such circumstances
The next scene in our strange history was ter
rible contrast to the peaceful occupation of eating
good breakfast and writing our names IN diaries.
Wewere marched to hat new conductor called
the hole From the upper room of prison a lad
der put down through trap-door, and we
were ordered 10 descend sinto what can Only call
hell for 1t was that to us. The ladder drawn up
the trap-dOor gain fallea and now in the murky
gloom came whispered recognitions from our conf
rades the warm clasp of friendly but if0ned hands
Andrews and all his men, except two-Aiark Wood
and Alfred WllSon-were now gathered together
1t viii be remembered that J. f. Porter and
NJ. j. Hawkins were not on the captured train
at all, but joined Dorsey and his comrades at
Marietta. We abridge the account of their
mishaps given by Porter:
Through some mistake or negligence of the
hotel waiter were not called in time for the
train ION the morning of the capturel, though we
got to the depot in time to 1t pass out of sight
/ cannot describe my feelings al that moment. g
We could, hardly make up our minds how to meet
the emergency.
''rhen we ieisurely strolled about the town. ex-
pecting every moment to hear of the capture of the
train. Nor did we have to wait long, for the news
soon reached town thai train had been captured
at Big Shanty while the passengers and crew were
at break fast and that II done quickly and
easily that they could not imagine who did the
deed o what il meant Soon everything was wild
with excitement. ana the town was thronged with
excited rebels waiting to hear further develop
ments. Hawkins and concluded to skip
out for q time. After reaching piece of woods
came together and congratulated ourselves
thus far, but what to do next hardly
knew. After much hesitation deter
mined to GO to Big Shanty, or Camp Mcdonald as
it rebel camp OF instruction, and join the
rebel army"
This was to put their heads into the lions
mouth. Their best course would have been to
have leisurely worked their way southwark
instead Of going where the excitement was
highest. But it is always easy to be wise after
the event.
I'VE car @ in sight of the camp late in the day.
and marched into camp and reported at headquar-
ters Here found several rebel officers one of
whom. who bore the marks OF 4 colonel turned his
attention to After II short interview, which
seemed plausible TO him. he ordered us To report to
the commanding officer of the eth Ga. battalion for
enlistment. One OF the companies, not being full,
called into line and took a vote whether or not
we should lie received into the company. The vote
unanimous in our favor, and we, after giving
fictitious names, were assigned to a certain mess
for our suppers. After supper made the ac-
quairtance of several of our new messnates reIat-
ing dismal stories of our treatment by the Yankee
hirelings in Kentucky, which made good impress
sion comrades as to our loyalty to the
Confederacy.
Everything went right with us until in some
manner it leaked out among the rebels that the
Yankee raiders, by mistake accident, had left
two of their pss.ty at Marietta How this nforma-
ton got out j never learned, but it could not be
otherwise than that some of our party had indis-
creetly told more than he ought when captured.
Who the man was never learned
Then followed the usual questionings, ending
in the acknowledgment by these two of their
share in the enterprise and their position as
soldiers 1t is not necessary to suppose, as
Porter does that one of the two captured on
Saturday--it could have been no others, for
Porter and Hawkins themselves were arrested
Sunday morning-gave information Of two of
our number being left behind. Porter and
Hawkins told the same Kentucky story, even
enlarged upon it to their rebel messmates, and
this was enough to direct suspicion towards
them. Then, when examined separately by the
rebels it was impossible that they could avoid
becoming entangled in their stories. After
examination these two were committed to the
Marietta Jail, where they met Dorsey and his
comrades, as narrated above.
To be continued.