Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-05-27
A CASE IN POINT.

In the spring of 1852, as the Union
forces under Buell. and Mitchell were ad
vancing toward Chattanooga, Tenn, a
Federal spy named Andrews outlined to
General Mitchell a scheme for cutting of
the railroad communications OF that i'm
portant point and preventing the removal
Of the trainloads certain to leave the city
at the impending capture. General
Mitchell authorized the expedition, and
one of the most daring aud reckless ex-
pIoits Of the Civil war followed, with a
tragedy as the closing act.
About twenty men were selected for the
task and its perilous nature made clear to
them. They laid aside their uniforms
and muskets, and in citizens clothing,
carrying only concealed weapons, made
their way in attachments OF three or four
to the city OF Marietta, Ga. many miles
south OF Chattanooga, with which it was
connected by rail. Over this railroad it
was planned to pass by stealing train,
and as it hurried on, to cut telegraph
wires, wreck the track and burn the
bridges.
The daring band OF twenty seized To-
connective and two or three cars while the
train crew were away for lunch and start
ed suspiciously on their eventfuI trip.
Their leader had a timetable and knew
the places Of meeting the regular trains.
With his armed men concealed inside the
cars, as he arrived at the stations along
the line, he gave out that he was under
urgent orders to take trainload OF pow
der through to Chattanooga and must
have the right OF way.
This went for time, but excited sus-
pioion. The fact that several extra trains
had to be met threw the plan askew and
caused delays that resulted in its inal IN
doing. However. wires were cut and
slight damage done to the track, but the
fear Of pursuit prevented much accom-
pIishment.
That this fear was real soon appeared.
The wreckers had hardly gained a clear
track when they beard the whistle OF an
approaching locomotive. The engineer
OF the one that they had stolen had
promptly set out with another to over
take them, backed by 9 strong armed
band. Then followed thrilling locomo-
tive chase for many miles. The Union
crew tried to run ahead far enough to OBJ
struct the rails, but being without ade-
quate tools, and obliged to make the ut
most use OF time in replenishing wood
and water, they failed to check the pur-
suit. Once they attempted to wreck the
Confederates by dropping of their rear
car, but the latter deity caught it up by
reversing. As last resort, they dropped
freight car, to which they had set fire,
inside covered bridge, hoping to burn
it, but recent rain prevented.
The pursuit now became so keen that
they could no longer stop TO take on
wood or water, and when the engine fin
ally stopped helpless the Unionists had to
abandon her and strike out afoot to save
themselves. So thorough had the alarm
been, and SO closely were they followed,
that every man was captured before be
could reach the Federal lines.
We have recounted this story to show
how closely it paralleled, in some of its
features, the st. AIbans raid of two years
later, undertaken by Confederates, in
Northern Vermont, and about which
much has been said recently. II there
were any difference in classifying the two
acts, the locomotive chase would be con.
sidered the closer approach to genuine
: legitimate warfare. 1t took place in
notorious area Of open hostilities, as
I part of the general plan OF commanding
general, and it resulted without loss Of
: life to the Confederates, or appreciable in
! Jury to them.
Yet because these twenty men wen
! into the enemy's country under false col
ors and began their achievement BY
/ stealth. they were deemed to be spies anC
: their leader and seven others were execut
ed as such. The North never complained
: Of the judgment as unjust or undrly Sc
we're.
' One Of the canons OF warfare is that /
must be waged openly and under tru
:. eoIors to remove its perpetrators from th'
: realm OF common bandits and murderers