The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-02-22
BRAINS AND Drawn.
The Engineers of First Corps Headquarters,
Their Work and Endurance.

Their Work and Endurance.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the
Spring of '62, when Mcclellan advanced on
Richmond by way of Yorktown, the First
Corps, under Gen. Mcdowell, was left to
protect Washington. After some manuver-
ing the Corps reached Fredericksburg May
/, and occupied the town without much re-
sistance, the rebels burning the railroad
bridge and other property as they fell back.
1t was intended that Mcdowell should CO.
operate with Mcclellan in his movements
against Richmond. In order to do this the
railroad bridge must be built, so as to open
up communication by rail from the Potomac
with McClellan's right 1t is well known
that the army was made up of men from
every profession, occupation, or trade so that
all that was necessary to accomplish any
work was to make a detail, and the men
were at hand. Soon after reaching Fred
ericksburg detail was made of mechanics
and ax-men from the different regiments
composing the corps. They were organized
into an Engineer Corps, and attached to
corps Headquarters. A finer body of men
were never seen together, or better qualified
to do this kind of work, and no organization
in the army was required to do harder serv-
ice than were they.
They at once commenced work on the
railroad bridge. 1t was 636 feet long, and
three bents, each II feet high the first bent
was settled on the bottom of the river, and
the other two on top, one above the other.
These bents were just high enough to re-
ceive the stringers which supported the
cross-ties on which the rails were laid.
They were framed out of round timber, and
braced in such a way as to form a
en- cfapfiol ctr, Tho fret hridno
was only just completed when a sudden
rise in the river, caused by a heavy
rain, swept it out. The second bridge was
completed in six days, so that the cars pass
ed over. This is the quickest work on
record, all things taken into account. Much,
if not all, the timber was in the woods on
the stump, and at some distance from the
bridge; yet these men took hold with a will
that overcame all difficulties, and in that
short time built bridge that was well
adapted to the needs of the hour. Think
of it, you bridge builders of to-day, these
men were doing this work for the sum of 40
cents day, and the privilege of being de-
famed and classed with frauds and paupers
in this year of grace. If the Government
would pay these men the difference between
40 cents and what they should have re-
ceived, or what civilians would have been
paid, with interest ON the difference, they
would ask nothing more. Would not this
be justice?
This was not the only hard or the only
effective work performed by these men; but
from the Rapidan, to which they had been adj
vanced in front of Pope's army, to Antietam,
they marched by day and worked by night,
till at times it seemed that nature could en-
dure no more. By their Drawn and brain
during that eventful retreat many regi-
ment and command found an easy and safe
crossing where the evening before they saw
an almost impossible stream or quagmire,
which to cross with an active and strong
enemy in hot pursuit, without serious loss
of men and baggage, was impossible.
This retreat was famous for one thing if
no more; that is, the small per cent. of bag
gage lost out of the enormous train that
started from Culpeper. No body of men of
the same number did more to bring about
this deliverance than this Engineer Corps.
Brave men may defend their trains and
themselves with muskets, but it takes brave,
strong men with tools to construct crossings
over forbdding streams, in the face of an
enemy, over which they may cross in safety
with their baggage.-B. II. TRIP, 7th Wis,
Lamar, Mo.