Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07

Jun the army OF East tennessee
w in the spring of 1862 clever
spy named Andrews. He went
everywhere in the Confederate camps, dis
gused as quack medicine man. He was
talker, and the soldiers talked to him, and
he seldom returned without an interesting
budget of news. The present enterprise
the conception of Andrews. The spy,
knowing that his commanders wished to
take possession of the city of Chattanooga,
which had become point of strategic i'm
portanCe, and that the only lnsurmOuntable
obstacle the railroad from Chattanooga Ii
to the South, by means OF which the Con-
federates could at any time succeed in
blocking the movement with a section of Z
their army, laid before General Mitchell
remarkable plan. 1t was as simple as it
was bold.
He proposed to take twentv-four men
more than two hundred miles into the Con-
federacy, with them to capture train, and
to travel back over the line of rail, Destroy
ing all the important bridges between the
hostile armies. To accomplish so great a
result it seemed reasonable to risk the
lives of only twenty-four men; therefore,
the General finally gave his consent.
Andrews never doubted that his scheme
would be successful Telling his men to
meet him in three days at Marietta, Georgia,
whittier they to journey sngy, dis
gused as countrymen, and to say that they
were on their way to join the army, the spy
disappeared, and was not seen again until
the day set. Then all but five met him at
the f2ct, however that they had succeeded
in reaching the rendezvous, they were in
cheerful frame of mind At every stage
of the journey they had encountered SOL
ders, and nothing but soldiers, in the trains,
guarding the station Platforms or encamped
close by. And the majority now thought
that the thing they were undertaking was impossi
Andrews said, 4" If anyone wants to withdr
he is free to do so. For my part, | say
coed, and l will do it or die!'
Starting on Their Mission
TT was morning of unusual gloom. In silence
i men stared at the rainy windows. After
momentary pause, there being reply to his wo
the leader completed his instructions, and all
for the train, which pulled out of the city
minutes later in the direction of Kenesaw Mount;
At the foot of the mountain was Big Shanty, 7
Kenesaw station The train would delay there SC
minutes for breakfast. They rapidly neared
station There were the white tents of an encar
ment, the soldiers moving about, the sentinel W
his musket walking the platform. The cars jol
together, then stopped, and the passengers w
into the restaurant, followed by the conductor
luckily by the engineer also
Then, in sight of ALL not dozen feet from
sentry on the platform, Andrews and his men swi
executed their design. Three who had been eng
drivers IN time OF peace sprang with the leader
the cab of the locomotive Others uncoupled
rear section of the train, leaving three empty b
gage attached to the engine, and leaped
of the cars, closing the door behind tn
Andrews swung out from his place on the steL
the engine, and looked back to see if all was rea
At the moment of the soldiers seemed
comprehend that something unusual tax
place, and he called out questioningly. Quickly
was answered The drivers of the locomotive 81
furiously for a second, and then the light Il
abruptly forged ahead, and soon left the station
behind CHANGING back, the men on the ems
saw the commotlon they had caused, from WI