Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-02-18
How "JOhnny Reb' Captured Engines.

AAOHS tAe edI44es' dHN H4N'' ~
picking problems that confronted the
leaders in the Civil war
was that of railroad transportation.
The Southern railroads had few
shops, it is true, but their combined IA
cilities were not equal to the manufaot-
ure of half the rolling stock needed.
TIE plan based on the axiom that
"all is fair in love and war, was moth
ing more or less than that Of seizing
the rolling stock of a Northern road
and appropriating it to use on the
lines.
It is generally conceded that the
idea of taking the B. x 0. rolling stock
originated With Col. Thomas r. Sharp,
at the time of the occurrences uarrat-
ed Captain and acting Quartermaster
in the Confederate army Most Of the
facts given are obtained from J. L.
Duke, now residing in Cumberland,
and in 1861 Col. Sharps confidential
clerk.
In June, 1861, Stonewall Jackson,
acting under the orders Of General
Johnston, went to Martinsburg and
burned a number of cars and engines
belonging to the B & o. road.
The first capture Of locomotives
took place at Martinsburg on bright
morning in July, 1861 Everything
having been previously arranged, the
forces selected to do this work, consist
ing of about 50 men, including ma
chinists, detailed from the ranks, ten
teamsters and about a dozen laborers,
left Winchester before daybleak and
proceeded by the pike to Martlnsburg.
They were under the immediate charge
of Hugh Lougust, an experienced rall-
road man from Richmond. Forty
horses formed highly picturesque
feature of the expedition, They were
to furnish the motive power.
Upon arrival at Martnsburg, Mr..
Longust, a swarthy, wiry little man,
looked about HIN until his eyes fell
upon big locomotive standing on a
side track near the round-house.
That's the fellow we've got to begin
on. Go in, boys :" he shouted.
First the tender was uncouPled'
then the engine was raised by means
of iackscrews and stripped Of all the
parts that could be removed, such as
side and piston rods, yalyes, levers,
lamps. bell, whistle and sandbox. All
the wheels were taken off except the
Aange drivers at the rear. The strip
ping was done to tighten weight, secure
greater ease in handling, and for the
better preservation Of the running
gear
The next step was to swing the Pri@e
around until it hung poised IN the ar
and to replace the missing forward
wheels with heavy truck. A power
full chain formed the connecting link
between the locomotive and the team
of hoIses.
When all was in readiness team
ster mounted the end Of each four.
Longust gave the signal, the cracks Of
ten whips rang out, and the locomo-
tives novel trip was begun.
The average time Of the entire trip
was three day. to Strasburg, thirty
eight miles south Of MartInsburg. Of
ten the macadam covering Of the road
would break through under the un-
wonted weight and let the iron monster
down into the soft earth
Before the first trip was made pro-
specting party went over the route
and examined the bridges on the line
of the pike. In most instances these
were not equal to supporting a heavy
locomotive, and it was necessary to
strengthen them for the unusual bur
den.
One Of the hardest problems to solve
was that Of regulating the speed in
descending hills. Just what the cy-
clist does for his wheel with his little
spoon-shaped brake, the men in charge
of the locomotives did for that un-
wieldy mass Of iron. After consider
able experiment and thought, the all
useful jackscrew was again called into
requisition and used as a brake, being
fastened to the engine frame and plac-
ed sidewIse against the driving wheel
and tightened OF loOsened, as the ne
cessity arose, by man who rode on
the engine.
When the engines reached Strasburg
they were placed on the tracks Of the
Manassas Gap road, which had the
same guage az the B. & o.-fve feet
eight and a-haIf inches-by the pro-
cess employed in taking them from the
IL % Nfa,t;nshurg-and the tenders