The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-11

surrounding Chattanooga was almost en- tirely unprotected.
 ,, When General Buell. marched to re-in- force Grant at Shiloh, or Pittsburg Land ing, he left General c. M. Mitchell at Shebyville, with about 10000 men, and garrisons at Fayetteville, Murfreesboro, Franklin and Columbia, in all numbering about 25,000. It will also be noticed by reference to an old map that at this time, from Chattanooga northeast there was only one line of railroad, passing through Knoxville and on to Lynchburg, Va. South there was a single line of road to Atlanta, where it was fed by three other lines penetrating the southern portion of the confederacy. This latter was of inn mense value to the south, as over it were transported a large part of the supplies for the armies in the field, and by its use had been collected in Atlanta for dis tribution large quantities of commissary stores from middle Tennessee.
 The line of railroad running west from Chattanooga was int ersected by line from Nashville and several others from the north all of which were In possession of the federals. Simultaneously with the dispatching of Andrews on his raid, Mitchchell moved south, surprised and captured Huntsville and Decatur and u which caused the confederates to burn the railroad ridges between that point and Corinth, and also between Tuscum- bia and Florence. He then sent bri- bade via rail east as far as Bridgeport, within a few miles of. Chattanooga, but did not burn the railroad bridge, but left it for Andrews use in case he succeeded in his mission.
 1t would really seem from the foregoing that General Mitchell, had he fully real ized the weakness of the confederates. could have captured Chattanooga and moveed south far enough to burn the railroad bridges without the assistance of Andrews. Had he done this the capture of Knoxville would have followed as a natural sequence, and in possession of the federals would have been the whole of East Tennessee, continuous line or railroad over two hundred miles in length and the two main confederate armies at Shiloh and Richmond completely isolated. In other words, the aim was to do what Sherman accomplished nearly two years later. viz: Cut the confederacy in two. What would have resulted Is, of course largely a matter of speculation. but that 1t would have changed the whole aspect of the war, scarcely any one can deny.
 In most accounts of the pursuit and capture of Andrews and his party, only the name of Captain Wm. A. Fuller has been mentioned. In the narrative which follows I shall take the liberty of men, tioning others whose presence and CO., operation made possible the complete suc- cess of the undertaking. In doing this, I distinctly disavow any intention to de- tract from the honor due Capt Fuller for the heroism displayed. and cheerfully ac- cord to him the position of leader or his expedition. I merely wish 10 give que credit to a class of men who have had scant justice done them by public senu- ment or popular history.
 The occupation of a locomotive engin- ger even in time of peace Is an extremely hazardous one, and in time Or war the hazard Is increased ten-fold, while III the events I am about to describe the peril incurred was but little less than the charge of a forlorn hope in time of battle. Yet, it seems that not one Of the brave engineers who participated in the chase hestated a moment, but ran their ma chimes at top speed when they knew that their lives were In imminent 1eoJardy all most every moment
 As the success of General Mitchell's and Andrews plans promised such dire results to the southern cause, and it's comnlete overthrow and defeat were com passed by a few plain railroad men, too much praise cannot be accorded to each and all of them These men were not se- lected on account of their "well-known courage and discretion. as Generai ftoil says of the raiders. and had not the in- .centive of future honors ana promotion which inspires the soldier to deeds or desnerate daring. Their only idea seems to have been that the property or their road had been captured and it was their duty to recapture it or die trying. How noblv they performed this duty, the fol- lowing narrative will tell
 (To be Continued Next sunday.)