Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-06-11
SOLDIERS STORIxs.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scene,
Witnessed on the Battlefield and in
camp-Veterans of the Rebellion Re.
cite Experiences of Thrilling Natwre.

az Williamsport, there passed from
arth one of the prominent figures of
The old Construction corps of tile Civil
war: one whose exploits hazardous in
The extreme in many cases were as
Necessary TO the successful issue of
that conflict as were those of any
hero bearing sword or gun
All through the years of that exclt-
Ing period. Col. u. c. McCamm was
chief in command OF all military rail
way construction work: Mai +. l..
Nentz, of Binghamton \. Y. chief
engineer Of all active work, and his
fright hand man. his superintendent
OF bridges and buildings, was the late
Russell G. Chase. also formerly of
nghamton-atcr OF Willamsport
It often became necessary for these
two men-Wentz and Chase TO 20
unarmAd and unattended many miles
into the heart OF the enemy's coun-
try, TO plan for further extension of
their railroad work when every such
excursion meant possible arrest and
uhe ignominiouS death sure to be melted
cut to the government spy.
A year ago another OF that "Ofd
Guard passed away ut Bmghamton-
ANDREW Wilson Chase, brother of Rus
sell, who narrated to the writer this
one Of the many hazardous undertake
fngs that made the lives and work of
those brothers memorable. The writer
Will try to repeat the history as near
as possible In Andrews own words:
1t was, | think. on the evening of
July >, 1864, that Maj.-Gen. John A.
Dix. who with his command was at
White House Landing, Va, on the
Pamunkey river, from his headouar-
ters on the boat. City of Albany. at
about 8 o'clock. sent for the chief en-
gineer, Major Wentz. to come To him
Tor an important conference. But the
major had gon 10 Washington and
taken his assist INT engineer Charles
+. McAlpine. with him: and as NV
brother Russell {. Chase. was next
IN command he reported at headduar-
tiers. Said the General 10 him: L want
A man whom | can trust-one who has
the courage To Ike a locomotive and
ear and fifteen or twenty negroes with
baskets Of light wood and pals of
spirits OF turpentlne, and 20 down Tue
railroad as far as our picket lines
extend, having no light on either en-
CINE or car, and then in stocking feet
proceed down the track to Block House
bl9dge-about tive miles from Tun-
stalls statlon-and, said he, the men
are not 10 make any noise. not even
to speak, except in whispers, and ret
10 the bridge about a. m. put the
lat pine all along the bridge, ana then
at the first faint streak of light IN the
east pour the turpentine onto the
bridge, set fire to II and run for dear
life; for the rebel videttes are Just
across that bridge, and II one were
caught he would he hung without II
trial-f0r such is the fate Of bridge
burners.
And now said General Dix, have
.'ou a man who has the courage TO do
thisT Yes said Russell, L will 70.
and my brother will go with me- So
the General sent an orderly to summon
me, as ] was in the office awaiting
the return Of Russell from the confer
ence; and he repeated to me what was
90 be required of us. Said he. Young
man, have You the courage 10 do this ?
DO you know what they do with bridge
burners? NO. General They hang
them said he impressively. Now.
young man. dare you go" Yes, re
piled; they have 10 catch them first,
don't they, GeneralY At which he ana
all his staff smiled. and he said. NV
man, think you'll do; 20 and may
success attend you
I'VE left the boat; Russell 10 get
the engine and car ready. and have
the quartermastcr get the wood and
turpentlne In readiness: TO select
the requisite number OF negroes: and
at II O'clock we started on our perilous
mission.
AT O'Clock we had reached the
outer picket line. where II became nee
essary TO leave the engine and car and
proceed on foot; all the darkies were
barefooted, Russell Chase was In stock.
Ing feet was wearing pair OF old
rubbers; ten darkies. each with two
pals OF turpentne, and ten with big
baskets OF light wood which they
silently set down at the end OF the
bridge when we arrived there. Then
| led all the darkies back toward the
car for about half mile telling them
to run for 1t as fast as their legs would
carry them, for If the rebels caught
them they would skin them alive: 50
they must not talk or make the least
noise until Russell and got back to
the car. They needed no second bid
ding. for all / could see OF them was
black streak up the railroad track
when returned to my brother |
found that he had alone distributed
the wood upon the bridge. 40 we sat
down 10 wait and watch for the first
streak OF dawn. our army OF from
5000 to 10000 men was about ten
miles from where we were--at Deep