The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-02
LOCOMOTIVES IN HE WAR.
How Engines Were Destroyed and Rail
roads Constructed.

| on wheels which in 1861 ran between
| Alexander and Richmond. 1t was in
reality type OF the primitive engine,
but assumed formidable proportions
when appearing in armor. The cab and
boiler were completely eneased in sheet
iron with breathing holes and shattered
gun rests; while on the cow-catcher was
a small howitzer.
In keeping open comm unications be-
tween these two important cities, the
line of road connecting which was
| threatened and several times torn up
by the confederate cavalry, this curious
engine of defense played most inn
portant part One of its main duties
| outside of carrying news, supplies and
troops, was that OF an active sentry.
The captain relates an experience
which occurred later in the war show
ing to perfection the real utility in war
times OF otherwise seeming waste. He
had been stationed ON the Peninsula
under Gen. Mcclellan. Trains from
White House Landing brought the main
supplies for the troops TO Savage Sta
ton, which was the central point of
army communication, and here sup
plies were unloaded and distributed TO
the different brigade CORPS
In June, 1869, Gen Mcclellan found it
necessary to retreat, as the confederates
for weeks back had been making it very
warm for him. 1t was, moreover, abso-
lutely necessary to go in as light march
ing order as possible; therefore, the sac
riice of ammunition, commissary and
general army supplies was imperative.
An order was issued on the 2Sth of June
to brigade, corps and division COIN
manders directing them to load their
respective wagon trains. All the sur
plus comrnissary stores and forage, con-
sisting principally of crackers, beef and
pork, were then stacked together and
fired. As many as one thousand boxes
of crackers alone went up in the seem
ingly wasteful blaze. With the stores
forever out of the way came the prob
lem of getting rid of the engine and
train of seven or eight cars, which had
performed such valuable service for
McClellan's army between White House
Landing and Savage Station To de-
stroy the equipment was cutting off all
communication and isolating an army,
but the question was quickly solved.
The cars were loaded the morning of
the retreat with all the ammunition
left over, consisting of thousands of
cartridges and quantities of bombs and
powder. Steam was gotten up, fuses
were attached to the bombs, a man
jumped into the engines cab, opened
= H., -
brake and jumped to the ground as the
train started on it's wild race of de-
struction toward Bottom Bridge. For
several miles the furious late of speed
was maintained, then the very ground
trembled as bomb after bomb exploded
and portions of trucks and cars were
showered high in air like flying me-
teors. The confederates were at work
on Bottom Bridge, about seven miles
away. Gen McGruder, the confeder-
ate leader, hearing the premature
Fourth of July, supposed 1t to be di-
vision of his force and making an at
tack and hurried to its support, only to
find that he had rushed within the
union picket line and by 50 doing lost
many men, who were taken prisoners.
Bottom Bridge was undergoing repairs
and the fright OF the confederate work
men may well be imagined, as the wild
iron steed, with its shattered and burn
ing attachments, Numbered up to the
approach of the bridge, then sprang
out to the wrecked and open span and
leaping high in the open air plunged
sixty feet below into the ravine.
Capt Updegraff was taken prisoner
in the skirmish which preceded the
battle of Malvern Hill and was sent
back to Savage Station; there the con-
federate soldiers told him the subse-
quent history of the train he had seen
depart. They declared that when they
saw it approaching they believed It the
devil in person and that long after it
made its terrible plunge bombs ex-
ploded Gen. McGruder apparently
took the greatest delight in destroying
beyond repair railroads and equipment;
in this one case he was spared some
trouble. He figured later in the war in
Texas.
In the summer of 1865 the Fourth
army corps were sent from Nashville,
Tenn, to Texas and were landed at In
dianola. They were under the com
mand of Maj Gen. D. s. Stanley, with
headquarters at Victoria, about forty
miles from Indianola. Maj. Z. J. Smith
was at that time quartermaster of the
Second division fourth army corps and
was ordered by Gen. Stanley 10 take
charge of the reconstruction Of the old
San Antonio and Mexican Gulf railroad,
which the same Gen. McGruder had de-
stroyed in 1862. . year after the Bottom
Bridge exploit. The union troops were
scattered throughout the state of Texas
and the transportation of supplies 70
them was an important item and the de-
struction Of this road made thinks look
very serious
1t was thought If this railroad could
be rebuilt it would obviate the danger
Gus and slow method OF wagon trans
port The construction of this road
was a marvellous accomplishment as II
was done IN the face OF the enemy and
by the union troops. The old road bed
was used and the rails which McGru-
der's men had twisted into every fantas- +
tic shape were Strengthened OFT. To
secure ties the troops had 70 travel sew
enty miles, each tie costing the govern
ment one hundred dollars The work
was finished early in the winter OF 1855
and Maj. Smith was sent 20 New Or
leans 20 secure an engine and necessary +
oUtst 20 put the road IL operation from
Pt Lavaca on the BAY 20 Victoria The /
equipment was secured and the road !
eventually operated in the face q fear
fuI and dangerous difficulties, for II the /
rassan gers life WAS secured from tie