Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-09-25

been sent by an old friend OF mine, q
staff officer on duty at the Ferry.
Translated by the code we had arranged,
it read thus:
Everything is in motion here and
at the front. A battle is imminent.
I think it will be decisive one. Come
up at once"
It was very we'll for the Major to say
"come up" but there was no train, it
being Sunday, and Sheridan was not
the man to wait the arrival of myself
or any one else. If Little Phil" was
all ready, as the dispatch indicated, he
would probably fight next day, and
unless reached the field before that
noon I could do nothing.
Here 1 was, over one hundred miles
from the scene and no trains. The
case seemed hopeless. Then came an
idea that promised success.
In the early part of that summer,
when Hunter was skedaddling toward
the Ferry after one of his brief skir-
mishes, had been able to render good
bit of service to the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad
I had left Hunters main force, and
succeeded in reaching Harper's Ferry
before it was known that he was falling
back. On arriving at the railroad plat
form, noticed that there were but few
cars lying under the hill, and on in
quiry learned that two or three freight
trains had gone to Martinsburg few
hours before. Nobody at the Ferry
seemed to be aware that Hunters flank
had been turned; but I knew that the
enemy were marching direct for Mar
tinsburg, if they had not already en-
tered the town. I therefore decided on
a bold stroke.
You see, I realized that if the enemy
burned the railroad bridge just below
Martinsburg, as they had often done
before, these trains would be captured
and destroyed. Entering the telegraph
Office, wrote message to the station
master, ordering him to start down all
the locomotives and cars in his hands,
at the same time telling him Of his
danger.
The astonished operator hesitated at
first to accept my dispatch, knowing
well that 1 had no authority on the
road; but on my assuring him that he
had no time to lose, he quickly flashed
it. It did not go moment too soon.
In less than ten minutes after my
warning arrived, locomotives and cars
ratified toward the Ferry.
Three long trains crossed the bridge
in safety, the rear cars of the last
catching many Confederate bullets, and
the bridge was actually in flames before
the train was out of sight.
When Mr.. Smith, the master OF
transportation, learned of my action, he
promised me any facility he could ex-
tend in the future, as reward for the
service.
So, as T sat fumbling the Majors
telegram, remembered this promise,
and decided to avail myself of it.
Taking cab, I sought Mr.. Smith,
found him at church, and called him
out and explained.
aYou shall have locomotive, Os-
borne,' said ho. "Come drive me
over to the depot"
Half an hour after, was seated in
the cab of an engine, whirling over the
rails and enjoying q most exciting ride.
The wrecked bridge at Martinsburg
was reached just as the sun was drop
ping behind the mountains, and I
gleefully leaped to the ground and
bade the engineer good-by.
Soon after passing Harpers Ferry,
we had heard frequent cannonading
evidently fighting was going on some
where in the Valley above. AS we
went on the sound grew much louder,
and l noticed that when 1 left the
locomotive Mr.. Engineer lost no time
in getting back to the Ferry.
I was now on foot, entirely alone,
with only navy revolver in my belt
and q small flask of brandy in my
pocket. Walking up the road, I soon
reached the town. The place was oil.
most deserted, some half-dozen intoxi-