The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-05-13

vile, but they reached the Tennessee River
so far behind the remainder Of the party, as
l afterwards learned, that they saw their
services would be of no avail and the next
best thing was to return to the Federal lines
if possible. This they failed 10 do. were
c0nscripted into the rebel army, and after
some time one Of them escaped back to the
Federal camp, which caused suspicion to fall
upon his coinrade, who was arrested and
afterwards placed in prison in Chattanooga.
The object of our expedition as already
foreshadowed was to penetrate the rebel
lines to the city of Marietta, Ca, there 10
secure train of cars, by fair means or by
force, and then to run northward toward
our own lines, burning all the bridges and
destroying the road in such a manner as to
utterly and effectnally break all rail COM
munication by this most important railroad
to the South. To DO this successfully it was
necessary to disgp-ee ourselves in citizens
clothes. Accord. y. late in the afternoon
of April 7, we went ioto the town of Shelby
Vile and procured suits of clothes, after
which we assembled at point designated
for our final start.
We passed through our line of pickets
without difficulty, as they had been pre-
viously instructed to allow us to pass.
Soon after passing our pickets we were
Joined by Gen. Mitchell, and after proceeding
a short distance to secluded spot, we were
halted for final instructions. This business
over. the good old General took us each by
the hand and with fearful eyes babe us
good-by, saying, as he did so, that he feared
he should never see us again. Before pro-
ceeding further, will briefly describe
OUR LEADER, ANDREWS.
He was noble specimen of manhood, nearly
six feet in hight, of powerful build long
rayen-black hair, black silken beard, Roman
| features, high, expansive forehead, yet
| with voice soft and gentle as that of a
| woman. He was man who combined in
| telligence and refinement with cool, dantless
courage that quailed under no difficulty or
| danger. He was man deliberate in speech
and calm in manner-a' man well fitted for
the dangerous service, he was engaged in,
though l doubt his entire fitness to COM
rnand men in sudden and unexpected
emergencies However, he shared his
chances equally with us, aid died the death
of brave man. No bfayer truer man ever
| lived. dF
Having been supplied by Andrews with
Confederate money to pay cur expenses, we
| separated into squads Of four or five and die
rected our course toward Chattanooga, dis
tant 1O3 miles We were Soon clear of all
our picket and videt posts and in the
enemy's country. Not Until fairly away
| from sight of the old flag and our regiments,
and entirely within the enemy's line, could
we begin to realize the great responsibility
| we had incurred. 81 ga
TO begin with, we had cast aside our uni.
forms and put on citizens clothes, and as
sumed all the penalties that In military
usages the word spy implies, which is death
the world over. Again, our mission was
such that concealment was impossible. We
were sure TO arouse the whole Confederacy
| and invoke all the brutal vengeance of its
/ frenzied leaders In case we did not make
good our escape after doing our work. The
military spy, in the ordinary line of his
duty, is not compelled to expose himself to
detection. On the contrary, he conceals in
every possible way, his identity. This we
could do until in the heart Of the enemy's
country. the very place where we would be
In most danger and where the blow would
fall most heavily on our enemies aud arouse