River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-12-08
LOCOMOTIVES IN THE WAR.
40" Engines Were Destroyed and Rail-
roads Constructed

Inc important part railroads played
In the late war is illustrated by several
anecdotes IN the experience of Can't. C,
T. Opdegratf, formerly of the Thirty
third New York and subsequently, In
Pennsylvania state cavalry, doing scout
duty. He tells of the unique monitor
on wheels which in 1861 ran between
Alexander and Richmond. II was in
reality type of the primitive engine,
but assumed formida bic proportions
when appearing in armor The cab and
boiler were completely encased in sheet
iron with breathing hoies and shattered
gun rests; while on the co .v-catcher was
a small howitzer
In keeping open comm unicatious be-
tween these two important cities. the
line of road connecting which was
threatened and several times torn mn
by the confederate cavalry, this curious
engine of defense played most i'm
lSortant part. One of its main duties,
outside of carrying news, supplies and
troops, was that Of an active sentry.
The captain relates az 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
Waite House Landing broughs the nam
supplies for the troops to Savage Sta
ton, which was the central point of
amy communication. and here sup
plies were unlosded and distributed to
che different brigade corps.
In June, 1862, Gen. Mcclellan found il
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
rifice of ammunition, commissary and
general army supplies was imperative
An order was issued on the 2sth of June
to brigade. corps and division COM
manders directing them to load their
respective wagon trains All the sur
plus commissary 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 ont 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
wide the throttle and threw off the
brake and jumped to the ground as the
train started on its wild race of de-
struction toward Bottom Bridge For
several miles the furious rate 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 it to be Gi-
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 SO 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
mend of Maj Gen. H. S. Stanley, with
headquarters at Victoria, about forty
miles from Indianola. Maj. L. j. Smith
was at that time quartermaster of the
Second division fourth army corps and
was ordered by Gen. Stanley to take
81. Of ba r. a.
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 to
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 it
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 fautas-
tic shape were Strengthened out. To
secure ties the troops had TO travel sew
enty miles. each tie costing the govern
ment one hundred dollars. The work
was finished early in the winter of 1865
and Maj. Smith was sent TO New Or
leans to secure an engine and necessary
outfit to put the road in operation from
Pt. Lavaca on the bay to Victoria. The
equipment was secured and the road
eventually operated in the face of fear
-ul and dangerous difficulties, for If the
life was secured from the
stray sharpshooters' bullets IL was in
greater danger from the roadbed, which
was in a condition beyond description.
This little stretch of tine, however,
was worth a mint to the western forces
and it was com pletely protected after
It's second construction from the de-
structive finger Of the confederate Gen.
Herald.
An AnerthouEht.
Committeeman-O.d Hennessey is
lead, and our club wishes TO erect
hiatt to his memory.
Dealer-Do you wish any inscription
IN il?
COMPLEMENTARY "Hic facet"
Dealer-Anything else?
Committeeman-Wel you
night put the "hic" in parentheses.-
PUCK