The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-10-18
STOOD UP TO IT.
Narrative of the Defense of Paint Rock
Bridge. Ala.

! ApTIi, 1867. Gen. Mltchel'S DIVISION was
camped at Huntsville, Ala. On the morning
| of the 21st there was sent ont detail
made o. 10 men and a Sergeant to guard a
| bridge about "A miles from Huntsville. We
to. k cars and arrived at the bridge about
10 o'clock &. NJ, formed in line and counted
into relieis Of three men each, making five.
One man was posted at each end of the
| bridge, and the third was ordered to guard
the arms and supplies which we had in an
old hut some four or five rods from the east
end of the bridge.
The bridge consisted of two spans, with
stone pier in the middle of the river. AT
the west end there was high grade-I
should Judge about 40 feet, but at the east end
it was not more than 20 feet, and not so long.
| The bridge was covered and sided up with
/ half-inch siding boards There was foot
plank for pedestrians on each side of the
| track the whole length of the bridge, but
between the rails there was nothing but the
| ties 10 walk on. The nearest house was on
| the east end, about 10 or 10 rods from the
| bridge, and on the west the nearest building
was an old saw-mill, half mile distant.
1t was the 2Sth of April. The sun was Just
| setting We were seated on some ties at the
east end of the bridge, talking about the
| anticipated attack, when one of the guards
| from the bridge came toward us with
stranger in charge. The guard presented the
stranger, and said:
"SeTg't Nelson, this man says we will be
attacked to night"
Serg't Nelson demanded how he knew.
The stranger said " | am discharged sol
der from the Sd Ohio; am cooking for my
Captain. We were going up to Stevenson
on the train. ! was on top of the cars, lying
| hos, ,G,,r,, hnn
| out of my pocket and fell off the cars.
1t contained my discharge papers. We
were moving very slowly, and jumped off
to get it. Just then the train started up
| faster, and l was LETT behind, so l came on
| afoOt.
"On the way a negro came running from
a field near by and told me the bridge would
surely be attacked tO-ni.ht. He said he
| overheard Gov. Harris and his old master
talking about it, and it was a sure thing"
Serg't Nelson questioned the man very
closely, and then turned to me and said:
"YOu and Howard go to the station and
ask Lieut.. Hardness to come down tonight
again"
We were soon off, and the stranger went
with us to tell his story to the Lieutenant.
About a week later Lieut.. Hardness was
left at the station (about two and half
miles east of the BRIDGE with 20 men, under
! Serg't Mex impSOn and on the night Of the
9th they came TO the bridge and stayed all
night. They said thai negro had informed
them that We would be attacked that night,
and they had come to help us hold the
bridge; but IS nothing occurred that night
| they went back the next morning to the
! station.
The Lieutenant said he did not believe
we would be attacked; that they had had
the same report from a negro the night be-
FORE and he wouldn't go; that Serg't Nc
| Kimpson, If he chose, might take part of
| the men and reinforce us. McKimpson said
he would 90, and we started with nine men,
Howard and / going ahead as an advance
! guard.
When we got to the bridge we found that
the boys had not been Idle. They had paid
a visit to the old sawmill and brought back
some lumber. made floor in each end Of
the bridge AMI moved our quarters into the
! bridge. Howard and | reported to Nelson,
who told US we should come on guard at 10
| o'clock. He had CHANGED the guard, placing
one in the middle OF the bridge az the pier,
one at each end, and one four or five rods
| from each end on the track az picket, all
/ Of which Nelson explained 10 us, and that
| he was TO command The west end and Nc
! Kimpson the east end. Howard and / were
/ TO fight at the west end Every man was
! instructed just where his place was to be in
| case we were attacked.
think tho defense was well planned and
Nelson seemed satisfied that we would have
/ a ight before morning.
We lay down, but were soon awakened
| by the sentine's gun. We seized our guns
and hurried TO The end of the bridge.
Charley Mack was on guard, who said The
shot was at the other end. That picket,
named Cat, came in very slowly; he was a
mere hoy, but was cool as cucumber. He
carried his gun in the hollow OF his arm,
and said, Boys, they are comingi" Mack
asked, Where? / don't see anybody" Cat
| pointed up the river. Sure enough, there
/ they came, and good many of them too.
We formed line outside of the brid .e
and waited for them 10 come mp, which
they did with flourish the officer COM
manding, " File right March, Halt! 'FRONT.'
/ Right dress!" About this time we let them
have it, and then it was the best man that
| got first into the bridge. But the Jbhnnies
/ gave Us a tremendous volley 1t seemed to
me that the heavens and earth had come
| together with crash, and caught me be-
| tween. For moment all was dark. Then
/ | realized that i was wounded and lying
! fat on my face. / crawled into the bridge
! on my nanQS ana knees. SHch "a storm of
bullets, it seemed, must tear the old bridge
all to pieces. They appeared to he firing rs
rapidly as possible in order TO scare us, but
when their guns were empty the officer
commanded, Cease fring!"
We sprang out and gave them another
volley, and ran back without getting any
thing in return. But they gave the bridge
another yolley as soon as they got their
guns loaded We returned it, and then they
broke and ran for the bushes, in spite of
their officer.
About this time saw Nelson, who told
me they were attacked at the other end of
the bridge, and McKimpson had business
too. Nelson got it in his head that The
Johnnies were preparing for a charge, and
he ordered all to the front, near the end OF
the bridge. AS was wounded, he told me
TO report to McKimpsOn and ask him TO
send man in my place.
Serg't McKimpson ordered man to report
to Nelson, and lay down near the corner
of the bridge. The men were firing at ran
dom Whenever a reb would fire our men
would fire at the fash, and then they did
the same.
At last an officer, with stentorian voice,
stepped out from behind the old tent and
called out:
Now, come out of that and give your