Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-01-03
THE BATTLE-FIELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl
dents of the Late War, and in a
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell of Camp, March and Battle.

Confederate officers in command kept
Ill their men busy attending to the
hauling TO the jackson Railroad de-
pot of such stores as could be shipped
away. The delay between Farragut'S
arrival and Buffers possession of the
,ity was thoroughly improved. Tele-
grams were sent up the road for all the
.olling stock that could be gathered,
and as fast as the cars came in they
were loaded and sent out
1t was necessary TO take them beyond
Pass Manchac In order TO be out of
reach of the Federal gunboats, which
took possession of the lakes nearly as
soon as the river. The old jackson
Railroad depot never before or since
presented such a busy appearance as
during the few days of no rule In New
Orleans and the departure of the Con
federate military forces and supplies.
For a mile the different side tracks
were dotted with the Quick-moving
forms of men hard at work. and the
hasty arrival and departure of drays
and floats. Carriages, also, with the
sweethearts and lady friends of the sol
iiers, stood thickly scattered along the
outer edge of the circle of busy hui
mainly.
The glitter of steel In the sunlight
told plainly, even in the distance that
all Of this almost superhuman effort
was guided and controlled by military
authority. The first train out had
time to reach Camp Moore, on the out
skirts of the station of Tangipahoa.
about eighty miles north, unload and
return before the Federal commander
saw lit TO put stop TO it. The last
trains out were unusually heavy, and
crowded with soldiers ms we'll Slow
time was made generally, but as we
reached Kennerville. ten miles above
the city, the road ran within Il half
mile of the river, In plain view, and it
was necessary TO make as quick time
as possible TO avoid the chance OF
shot from the gunboats.
The commander Of the Federal fleet
seemed to have gained some informa-
ton as to our movements, for couple
Of gunboats were cruising slowly up
and down the river, Our train was
one Of the latest, and all the pressure
Of the steam was forced on the drive
wheels as we passed kenneryille.
There was about Il mile of open plan
tation before we entered the swamp,
and the gunboats opened on US as we
cleared the town. At least a dozen
shots We're fired at us, but except
crash through one or two box cars, no
damage was done.
Above Kennerville we got along
finely until we passed Bayou de Sair.
where we had stretch of about eight
miles of soft. trembling cypress swamp,
and the wooden trestlework would
spring and sway as we passed along.
When within three miles of Pass Man
chac the trestlework gave way and let
down two or three box cars. All hands
took hold and rolled them over, so
that we could patch up the track and
20 on, as we feared being cut off by
some of the Federal gunboats at the
Pass. We saw nothing az we rolled
quietly out of the dense growth OF the
swamp, upon the lower edge Of Lake
Maurepas and Numbered upon the
bridge The train was hardly It's
length on the bridge before we saw a
Federal gunboat approaching from be-
low, and at almost the same time the
swash of shell In the wafer beside
rs impressed US fully with our danger
Gus position. The gunboat was barely
three-fourths of mile away and com
ing as fast as possible. out Of a score
Of shots but three or four struck our
train: one Of the shells entering q box
car and exploded. blowing ont both
doors. 1t did not take us long to cross
that bridge.
Fortunately for us. the draw was
closed, and we darted out upon the
trestlework of Johnsous Island like a
flash of lightning. 1t was only two or
Hlree miles across to the bridge over
North Pass. but our speed was too
great for the decaying timber Of the
tfestlework, and the rear portion of
our train broke through again.
1t was too bad n break 10 attempt to
repair, with the enemy In Smelling dis
lance. and the locomotive, with the few
cars remaining on the track, proceeded
IN toward Pontchatoula, expecting to
send back a returning train to assist,
II possible, IN saving the contents Of
the ditched cars. a detail of about
lozen men were left to guard the prop
erty and watch the enemy.
We expected the Federal gunb0at 10
pass through the drawbridge and come
around the upper end Of the island 10
the North Pass bridge and thus cut OFF
al chance Of our saving the cars: but
our guard Informed us that after re-
peated trials 10 open the draw, the
gunboat gave It up. and set fire to the
bridge. The bridge was built on piles
and only the stringers and some Of the
crUss-timbers were burned but sufii-
Gent to prevent any crossing Of cars
until near the close Of the war, when
it was completely renewed