The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-01-08
THE BATTLE-FlELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review Incl.
dents of the Late War, and in Q
Tell Of Camp, March and Battle.

TOT more tnan week De1Ore Gen-
eral Butler occupied New Orleans the
Confederate officers in command kept
all 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
city was thoroughly improved. Tele-
grams were sent up the road for all the
rolling 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 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 Qulck-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
diers, stood thickly scattered along the
outer edge of the circle of busy hu-
manity.
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 fit to put stop to it. The last
trains out were unusually heavy, and
crowded with soldiers as well. Slow
time was made generally, but as We
reached Kennerville, ten miles above
the city. the road ran within half
mile Of the river, in plain view, and it
was necessary to make as quick time
as possible to avoid the chance Of a
shot from the gunboats.
The commander of the Federal feet
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 Kennerville.
There was about a 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 were fred at us, but except a
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 a 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
go on, as we feared being cut of by
some of the Federal gunboats at the
Pass. We saw nothing as we rolled
quietly out of the dense growth of the
swamp, upon the lower edge Of Lake
Maurepas and thundered upon the
bridge. The train was hardly its
length on the bridge before we saw a
Federal gunboat approaching from be-
low, and at almost the same time the
swash Of a shell In the water beside
us impressed us fully with our danger
ous position. The gunboat was barely
of mile away and COM
ing as fast as possible. Out Of score
of shots but three or four struck our
train; one of the shells entering box
car and exploded, blowing out both
doors. 1t did not take us long to cross
that bridge.
Fortunately for US, the draw was
closed, ard We ;iarted out upon the
of Johnson's Island like
fash of lightning. 1t was only two or
three miles across to the bridge over
North Pass, but our speed was too
great for the decaying timber Of the
and the rear portion of
our train broke through again.
1t was too bad break to attempt to
repair, with the enemy In shelling dis
lance, and the locomotive, with the few
cars remaining on the track. proceeded
On toward Pontchatoula, expecting to
send back a returning train to assist,
Il possible, In saving the contents of
the ditched cars. A detail of about
lozen men were left to guard the prop
arty and watch the enemy.
We expected the Federal gunboat to
pass through the drawbridge and come
around the upper end Of the island to
the North Pass bridge, and thus cut of
all chance Of our saving the cars; but
our guard informed us that, after re-
peated trials to open the draw, the
yunboat gave 1t up, and set fire to the
bridge. The bridge was built on piles,
and only the stringers and some of the
.ross-timbers were burned, but suffi-
,ient to prevent any crossing of cars
Until near the close Of the war, when
t was completely renewed.
We continued on beyond Pontcha-
oula nearly to the Southern car
works before we met a train bound
;Outh. AS soon as they were informed
If the condition Of things they pulled
,ut for the swamp. Another large de-
all, however, was sent with the train
o assist In transferring the goods from !
he wrecked cars. AS We reached
1t was so near night the
rain was laid up until morning.
At daylight We proceeded on down
o tine pass. AS we approached Owl |
bayou we saw a smoke rising to cur
light, apparently in the pass. and di-
ectly some of our guards stepped out
4 the thick bushes and the train came
o a stop. Our guards told US that the
nemy succeeded In getting through
he draw, and they Of course retreated
cross the bridge to avoid being taken
risoners. or compelled to stay in the