The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-01-13
BY WILLIAM PITTENGER,
A MEMBER OF THE EXPEDITION.
fCopyrlghted, 1887, by War Publishing Co.. N. Y.
and published By arrangement with them.l
CHAPTER XI.


refreshed FROM its rest, sped on again.
We had been careful to so obstruct the
track that the enemy was obliged TO come
to full halt, and thus give US time TO
once more get out of sight.
We passed TiltOn in safety, and the
water station, which at that time was at
o different place from the wood yard, was
soon reached. Our supply of this neces-
sity was low, and without it our progress
would be at once arrested. We stopped,
adjusted the pipes, told the powder story
although from the battered appearance
Of our only car, with hole knocked in
each end, that story was no longer plaus-
ible, but it answered for the moment and
we succeeded in getting all the water we
needed. Had any objection been made
we would have taken it by force, and the
assurance with which we went to work
aided in securing confidence. Before the
tank was full the pursuers came in sight,
but seeing us they ran slowly, and as a
party of our men had run back and put
some Instructions on the track, out of gun
shot, they were obliged to come to full
stop there, thus giving us the time needed.
Then we mounted and sped on toward
Dalton.
1t was advisable at once to get deci-
sively ahead of the pursuers before reach
ing this town, which might present seri-
Gus difficulties. AS there were no bridges
to burn now for a considerable distance,
the only other thing was to try once more
to tear up the track. The engine was
again in good running condition, and we
rushed rapidly forward, putting frequent
distractions on the track-mostly by drop
ping ties or sticks of tirewood, but in one
or two instances by reversing the engine,
jumping out and piling up distractions.
At favorable place we stopped again for
q more permanent break.
Long practice had made us skillful in
this matter, and the last two stops had
shown us that the enemy could not run
upon us without great care. So we
divided at once into four parties. Scott
and a companion cut the telegraph;
Knight carefully inspected the engine;
two or three ran back just out of gun
shot, and heaped distractions ON the
track, while the remainder worked with
might and main in taking up rail. II
was here that a little occurrence took
place that has been much misrepresented.
A southern account, widely copied,
says that Andrews men almost mutinied
against him at this place. The facts
are these: The writer and the men in the
box car had come to feel that there was
no need of running so long before the pur-
suing train, which we could see to be a
short one, with probably not much if any
greater force than our own. Now while
as many were at the rail as could find
places to work-the process of lifting II
with our imperfect tools was very slow,
ipin iva II cuil
to Andrews: 1--WE can capture that train,
II you are willing"
How he asked. answered:
Find good place on a curve where
there are plenty of bushes las the road
had numberless curves, and ran mostly
through woods, this was easy; then let
Us put on some distractions and hide; ont
of our engineers can run ahead n mile Of
two and come back after us; when the
enemy stop to clear the track we will rusf
on them, and when we have captured
them our other engineer can reverse theil
engine and send it in hurry down thu
track to clear the road of any more trains
that may be following"
Andrews said, in his quiet way, cit is
good plan. 1t is worth trying" an(
looked around in n meditative manner q!
If weighing the chances. Then tn,
enemy's whistle sounded, we saw then
rush up to the distractions we had placed
on the track, stop by reversing, and labo
as frantically to clear the road as we were
doing in trying to raise the rail.
But our efforts were in vain. TIL,
stubborn spikes still held, and as they
were ready to move on again, Andrews
called out, "All aboard" and we dashed
away. That was not the place to make {
fight, as we all knew, for revolvers agains
shOtguns and rifles would have had M
chance at long range; but from an am
bush we could have been climbing int
their engine and cars before they coul(
pick up their guns, and the conflict would
not have been many minutes doubtful
This was the nearest we came to what
southern account called open mutiny''-
mere respectful suggestion in the line O
our work. No officer was ever NOR
heartily obeyed than was Andrews during
the whole of this day, and none of us sale
anything more about this plan for tn,
time, partly because we felt that on,
leader was better able to judge what wa!
to be done than we, and partly also,
must confess, because we thought he wa!
only waiting for the best place to turn OF
our foes, and that we would soon hav,
all the fighting we wanted.
The full speed of our engine was agaiI
called into requisition as we neared Dial
ton, and by the aid of few ties dropped
on the track we were once more a respect
able distance ahead. We needed thil
interval badly, for it was by no mean!
certain that the switches at this poin
would be properly adjusted for our i'm
mediate passage through; and if not, Sc
rious difficulty might arise. We might
have battle with forces i'm front as wei
as in the rear, for Dalton was the largest
town we had reached since leaving
Marietta. Here road diverged to Cleve
land in Tennc see, where il connects with
the main line from Richmond to Chatta
nooga. thus Taking large triangle, or, a:
a railroad man would say, a great Y. Al
that time no telegraph wires were on this
cross road; they were not put up till 1877
There were also numerous side tracks
and probability that cars might be left
standing OH some Of them; and as we had
more than made up our hours delay al
Kingston and were now much ahead OF
time, there was no certainty OF the road
being. rightly adjusted for us. 1t was
therefore necessary TO stop at the open
ing of the switch, which was fortunately
little way down from the large passen-
ger depot, which had shed over all the
tracks, and through which we had to
pass.
Here the GOODNESS and adroitness of An
drews shone out with pre.eminent luster.
1t Is likely that when we had spoken of
fighting little way back, his mind was
occupied rather with the problem of pass
ing Dalton, and of Judging by what took
place there whether the enemy was warned.
The train was stopped, he ran forward,
observed that the track was clear, spoke
to one or two bystanders, and was back
to his post in an exceedingly short time.
To one or two who had come up even in
these few seconds, he said: II am running
this train through to COrinth, and have
NO time to spare;' and nodded to knight,
who once more put on the full force of
the engine-there was nothing to be gained
by care in avoiding alarm any longer, for
the distant whistle OF the pursuer was
heard-and we rushed at the depot, which
then stood right across the double track,
and passed with fearful speed under its
roof. Here Knight got his most terrible
fright. The darting into the partial dark
ness OF the shed was bad enough, but lust
at the far end the main track bends sharply
to the left, and the swerve was so sudden,
and the speed already so high. that knight
believed he was rushing ON another side
track, and that in moment would come
the awful crash. But instead the engine
instantly rlghted, and he again saw the
track straight before him. But so quickly
had we passed that we could not certainly
determine whether the people mt the sta
tion had been warned or not!
A mile above Dalton, which was about
as soon as the headlong rush Of the engine
could he checked, we stopped again, Just
opposite to where Col. Jesse Glenrl's reOi-
ment OF conscrlpts were encamped IN a
field Their position, which was within
200 or 300 yards Of us, was probably not