The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-20

times was a problem that had not yet
been worked out. There was no man bet
ter fitted by nature and experience to
solve this momentous question than was
Col Thomas A. Scott. Napcleon's great
forte is said by some critics to have been
the concentration of large bodies OF troops
from long distances in an incredibly short
time at a point where decisive blow was
to be struck Now the movements of
large bodies Of troops along military rail-
ways depend upon considerations in many
ways different from those which influenced
transportation along other highways. The
rolling stock available for the men, their
arms equipment, animals and commissary
is first of all to be considered But the
condition of the roadbed and tracks, of the
trestles and bridges, at any gwen time
when delay is dangerous, If not fatai. con-
stitutes a consideration of equal import
ance in railway transportation.
1.-THE railways in the state of Virginia,
which was the seat of war in the earlier
periods, were liable TO be ripped up over
night. the ties and bridges burned. the
rails heated over the same fire and then
twisted out Of shape. If, for strategic
purposes, the Confederate troops worked
this havoc upon any portion of a line
necessary to the governments purpose,
Col Scott's forces were at once called
into action, and were required, perhaps
at an hours notice in the middle of night
and as often as not in the pouring rain
10 go 10 the scene of destruction, cut now
sleepers from the adjacent forests, hew
them into shape, replace them heat and
hammer the rails in impromptu FORCES
back 10 the shape necessary for relaying
rebuild the trestses and bridges, and work
all the while in immediate danger of an
attack by the enemys sharpshooters.
Such an apprenticeship stood me in good
stead-for this was my second apprentice
ship. What l had learned in the shops
] now had an opportunity of applying on
the road. What | had studied indoors
was called upon 10 pat into practice out
of doors. OF course, Col Scott would
never have sent me ut all if he had not
known the school of experience in which
at Altoona, had been learning TO do the
very things ! was now to demonstrate.
1T is said there are in every mans life
turning points to which he can look back
with the reelection that any deviation
there would have changed his future NV
perseverance in the car shops, I firmly be-
lieVe, marked such a crisis in my career
&C was the means of bringing 10 me my
great opportunity, the chance to see serV-
ice at the front under the personal SUI
perVisiou OF Thomas A. Scott on the mill
tary railways of the United States through
a period which was also a turning point
in the history of the nation. A single
exploit of the bureau of military RAILWAYS
which experts say resulted in complete
SURPRISE to the enemy and a far-reachinr
victo~y will show Just what Col Scott
could do in an emergency and by impI-
cation what were the labors and duties
of the men who were proud to work under
him;
lookout mountain as Gen Grant de-
scribed it in his memoirs was in brief for
Sherman to attack the enemy's right
flank Hooker TO performs like service on
our right attacking the enemy's LEFT
flnak) and Thomas. with the army of the
Cumberland, TO occupy the center Now
that Hooker was enabled to make this de-
cisive attack upon the enemy's left flank
was due to the presence in his command
OF two entire army corps, which were M
short notice transferred by Col Scott IN
complete lighting form over many hun
dred miles of railway from the army ~
the Potomac in Virginia to Lookout noun.
tain in tennessee. The entire SUCCESS ana
wonderful celebrity with which This great
movement, up 70 that time unprecedented
was perfomed was due entirely 10 the
magnificent efficiency of Col. Scott's corns