The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-01-19

ence, together with his cap and some
other pieces Of clothing that he did not
need for immediate use, were flung re-
morselessly into the furnace. Various
papers went along. These were probably
documents that he feared would compro-
mise himself or others In case Of capture.
Such preparations were indeed ominous
But his next command-the last he ever
gave to us as q party-waS more dreadful
still, and for the first time that day there
shot pang Of mortal terror to my heart.
Not the crash Of the engine down an en-
bankment nor the coming of another
train OF the enemy from the north, shut
ting Us between two fires, would have
caused such q sense Of despair and hope
less misery to steal over me. This was
the order which, as inttmated before, our
party, had they been properly organized,
would not have obeyed.
For our situation was still far from des-
perate. Aside from the capture of the
pursuing train, which would now have
been very difficult from the fact that we
had neither fuel for rapid running, nor
the distractions on board that were nee
essary 20 place Us far enough ahead for
an ambuscade, there was another plan to
which orr leader was virtually pledged,
which presented every prospect OF saving
our own lives, though it was now too late
TO accomplish our original purpose. We
were some i've miles beyond Ringgold,
within a mile of Graysyille, or nineteen
miles by the longest railway course from
Chattanooga. From that city westward
TO Bridgeport was twenty-eight miles fur
Their. But the nearest way to Bridgeport
was not through Chattanooga, but fur
Their south, and by that route it was not
distant more than thirty-f1ve or forty
miles. The direct course was at right
angles with the numerous mountain
ranges which here run almost north and
south, route over which cavalry could
not be used, and which was known to
more than one OF our party. Two COM
rades had pocket compasses which would
have guided as in thick woods or in
cloudy weather by day or night Now to
have left our train In body, and without
delaying to seek concealment, to have
struck over the streams and mountains at
right angles, as rapidly as we could go,
would have been our most hopeful
course. Long before night OF the
next day we would have been safe
within Mitchers linesI Why notI How
could the enemy have captured US? II
they sent cavalry, these would necessarily
have made long circuits and have been
obliged to adhere to the lines of the road,
and thus could not have come near US
while clinging to the valleys and the
mountain sides. Even in thick woods
they could not have overtaken us. If
they followed US with a strong party on
foot, we fleeing for our lives, would not
have deserved to escape, If we could not
have held our distance for forty miles or
more. II they had ridden ahead and
raised the whole country for a general
man hunt, they would have had only
twenty-four hours or less to organize 1t,
and no small party then could have ar
rested twenty armed men. In fine, this
plan of escape through mountainous
~ a a1sr N.l
pear to me TO be more dangerous than q
cavalry dash on the lines of the enemy's
communications-an every day military
affair. Even II Mitchell did not prove to
be in the neighborhood of Bridgeport
when we arrived, we would then have
been In the loyal mountainous district
where we would have met as many friends
as foes. All that we needed IN the way of
provisions and guides our force would
have enabled us to command, and even
guns and ammunition could readily have
been gathered on our way.
But all these advantages depended on
our keeping together under one head. An
army scattered and disorganized is lost;
and our little army was no exception.
The fatal command which Andrews now
gave as we were huddled together in the
wood box Of the tender was to jump of,
one by one, scatter in the woods, and each
man strive to make his own way back to
the Union ARMY We hesitated, but had
no concert OF action, no leader, no time
for council, and the instinct OF obedience
was still strong upon us; but it was
fatal order, and led directly to the calami-
ties that followed. 1t transformed us in
q moment from q formidable body of
picked soldiers, ready to fight to death,
into n scattered mass OF fugitive boys, be-
wildered and hopeless in an enemy's
country.
Yet no one Of US felt like censuring our
leader for this order, which every one at
the moment believed to be q terrible mis-
take. Probably he thought that each
man OF the party would find relief in
being cast entirely on his own resources.
1t must further be remepbered. in ex-
PLANTATION OF this mistaken order, that
Andrews had slept none the night before,
that he had been nearly twenty-four hours
without food, and that he had spent nearly
two days and night in the most exhaust
ing labors, both mental and physical, that
1t Is possible to conceive. He had seen his
cherished plans, when on the brink of sue
cess, overthrowp by what seemed the re-
morseless hand OF destiny. To the many
failures and SORROWS OF his past life had
been added the crowning misfortune of
this defeat. Perhaps under his calm brow
he realized this with an intensity OF
anguish, and felt that the greatest favor
he could do those he had led within sight
Of q horrible death. and into the presence
Of an enraged and triumphant foe, was to
separate them at once from his own dark
and Swallowed destiny. II so, that was
the most fearful mistake of all; and as this
order was given, we could almost, as we
looked southwark through the driving
rain and the storm clouds, behold already
the dark outline Of the Atlanta scaffoldsl
It was pitiful! The General had served
us well ever since the morning hour in
fearful speed and patient waiting, in ex-
ulting raptures and in almost despair. 1t
was hard to abandon her now. She was
substantially uninjured. The engineers,
| Brown and knight, had taken good care
of her, and with wood and oil in abund-
Rnce, there would have been no difficulty
on her part in completing the run to
Huntsville. She WINS still jogging along
| at the rate of eight or ten miles an hour,
and could maintain that pace a little
longer. The pursuers had also diminished
their speed, so as to just keep us in sight,
having apparently no wish to press upon
what may have seemed TO them like a
wounded and dying lion. The command
TO lump on and scatter" was repeated
with the injunction to be quick about it,
| as the engineer wished to reverse the en-
| CINE and drive IL back upon the enemy.
| With such q reason there could be nc
| more hesitation. IL Is said that some
three or four had already got OF at the
first word of command; but the most OF
us had hesitated, not on account of the
still rapid motion of the train, but in the
idle hope that In some way this terrible
| parting might be averted. Now one
after another clambered down on the steI
and swung on. was neither among
the first nor the last, and jumping unskin
fully out from the step, instead OF for
ward, whirled over and over on hands and
feet for several revolutions. Rising in 6
dazed condition, though unhurt, with tbs
exception OF q few scratches from the
briers with which the place abounded,
looked over the animated scene with tbs
deepest interest The men who jumped
OF were, according to instructions, hyin[
In different directions, q few others wer'
Just coming on the engine in much tbs
same way that I had done, while the en-
gineers were attempting to carry out theil
scheme OF reversing the engine, which
could do no good now, except possibly t.