Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-02-22


When we We're ready, as it still lacked
q little of train time. we gathered in An
drews' room for an informal council of
war. Some were seated on the edge Of
the bed, one or two on chairs, and the
remainder stood around rs best they
could. We did not speak very loud, as we
wished no sharers in our plans. Andrews
gave no exhortations-the time for that
had passed-but rather cautions to pre-
vent too precipitate action. He said:
"When the train stops at Big Shanty
for breakfast, keep your places till tell
you to go. Get seats near each other in
the same car, and say nothing about the
matter on the way up. If anything un-
expected occurs, look to me for the word.
You and you'-designating the men
"will 60 with me on the engine; all the
rest will 60 on the left of the train for
ward of where it is uncoup1ed, and climb
on the cars in the best places you can,
when the orde- is given. If anybody in
terferes, shoot him, but don't fire until it
is necessary"
Sergt. Maj. Ross, the ranking man Of
the party, and as brave as any, offered
respectful protest against going further.
He said that circumstances had changed
since we set out; that it was day later
than planned; that many more troops
were at Big Shanty than formerly; that
we had noticed the crowded state of the
road as we came down, and that Mitchel's
movements would make the matter worse.
For all these reasons he thought it better
to put off the attempt, or give it up alto
gether.
Our heads were very close together as
we talked, and the words softly spoken;
the door was locked, and the windows
overlooked the railroad, so that we were
sure to see the train coming. Andrews
very quietly answered the objections OF
Ross, admitting all the facts he stated,
but claiming that they only showed our
way the clearer. The military excite
ment and commotion and the number OF
trains on the road would make our train
the less likely to be suspected; and as to
the troops at Big Shanty, if we did our
work promptly. they would have no
chance to interfere. Capturing the train
in the camp would be easier than any
where else, because no one would believe
it possible, and there would therefore be
no guard.
Andrews could always find a reason for
CfeESll puU lllCSC p1itAolOAS oA piiiSANo
were not perfectly convincing, Several
others, among whom was j. A. Wilson,
Joined in respectful protest against pro-
ceeding. Then Andrews, speaking even
lower, as was his wont when strongly
moved, said:
s'Boys, I tried this once before and
failed; now I will succeed or leave my
bones in DiXic'
The words and manner thrilled every
hearer, and we assured him that we
would stand by him, and, if need be, die
with him. He grasped our hands and we
hurried to the platform, for the train was
now almost due. had said nothing in
the discussion, for l felt that we were
under the leadership of Andrews, and
should simply obey, leaving the reSpon'
sibility to rest on him. | am not sure
that, on later critical occasion, we did
not carry this principle little too far.
Although we only needed tickets to Big
Shanty, we purchased them to various
points along the line that attention might
not be attracted by such a number bound
to one place. AS the train came up we
noticed three closed box cars attached.
Every passenger train, as l have since
been informed by Conductor Fuller, was
at this time required to carry empty cars
northward, which were brought back
filled with bacon and other provisions,
vast quantities Of which were then being
CLEANED out of Tennessee and stored in
Atlanta We all took our places close to-
gcther in one car, that we might be ready
to help each other in case of need Knight
sat near the front door, and says that on
looking back he saw that most of our men
were pale, yet resolute The passengers
had that lstless and weary air always
seen in the early morning on board II
train.
The conductor, whose name we after
ward learned was William y. Fuller, en-
tered and began to take the tickets. He
looked narrowly at us, for it was an I'M
common thing for so many persons to en-
ter in body as did at Marietta; besides,
he had been warned cry recently to
watch that 10 conscripts used his train
for the purpose of escaping, and ordered,
in case of suspicion, to telegraph for help
at once No doubt we looked SOldierly
enough, but he aftcrward told me that he
did not suspect us of being conscripts.
We also scrutinized him carefully, for it
was possible that he might, if his sus-
Dicions were in the least aroused, en-
deavor to prevent us from taking his
train.
He was quite young for conductor,
being, as we afterward learned, only 2G,
though he had been for seven years i'll
that position. He had u frank, genial,
but resolute face, was of medium size,
and looked active and strong.
We had little leisure for looking at the
grand form OF kenesaw mountain, which
rose on our left, and around the base of
which the road describes almost u half
circle, and then turns away before it
reaches Big Shanty. Here was fought