The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-09-09

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 IL
necessary to retreat, IA 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 rs 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 aud 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 attacked together and
fired. AS many W ono thousand boxes
of crackers alone want up In the SEEM
ingly wasteful blnzn. 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
McClellan's army between White House
Landing and Savage Stution. To de-
stroy the equipment was cutting off all
communication and isolnting On army,
but the question was quickly solved.
The cars we're londed 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, man
jumped into tho engines cab, opened
wide the throttle nnd threw off the
brake and jumped to the ground US 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 confedcrates 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 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 80 doing lost
many men, who were taken prisoners.
Bottom Bridge was undergoing repairs
and the fright of the confederate work.
men may we'll be imagined, US the wild
iron steed, with It's shattered and burn.
Ing attachments, thundered up to the
approach of the bridge, then sprang
out to the wrecked and open span and
leaping high in tho open air plunged
sixty feet below into the ravine
Capt Updegratf was taken prisoner
in the slsirmisa 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 1t approaching they believed it the
devil in person and that long after 1t
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 1868 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 e. j. Smith
was at that time quartermaster of the
Second division fourth army corps and
was ordered by Gen. Stanley to 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 to
them was an important item and the de.
struction Of this road made thinks look
very serious.
1t was thought II this railroad could
be rebuilt 1t would obviate the danger
GUS and slow method of wagon trans
port The construction of this road
was marvellous accomplishment as II
was done In the face OF the enemy and
by the union troops The old road bee
was used and the rails which McGrn
| o0E lucn udu SWlSGoo uCoCFcTy IdutdS
tic shape were Strengthened out II
secure ties the troops had to travel sew
enty miles, each tic costing the govern
ment one hundred dollars. The worl
was finished early in the winter Of 1891
and Maj. smith was sent to New Or
leans to secure an engine and necessary
outfit to pvt the road in operation from
Pt Lsvacn on the bay to Victoria. Th'
equipment was secarod and the roa,
eventually operated in the face of fear
full and dangerous difficulties, for II tn
passengers life was secured from tn
stray sharpshooters' bullets 1t was II
greater danger from the roadbed, whicl
Was In q condition beyond description
This little stretch of line, however
was worth mint TO the western force
and It was completely protected afte
its second CONSTRUCTION from the de
structive finger Of the confederate Gen
NcGrudsr. Herald.
Tho Usual Thing.
The four children had been nauRht,
again and for the dozenth time tn
/ n v.I a.