Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-23
By F. A. Mitchell


the main instruments of transportation
and communication Their possession
was therefore usually the most I'M
pcrtant element in a campaign. And
when taken the next problem that
,rose was how to hold them and the
next how to operate them to pur-
nose. The people living in the south
through which they passed were
mostly sympathizers with the Confed-
eracy and did all they could or dare
do to wreck trains in Federal hands
They would take up rail, saw the
stringers or bridge, so that the
weight Of a train would break it; they
would interfere with switches Indeed,
there was no element Of danger they
could devise that they would not
throw in the way OF the Union opera
ton OF the road.
Before repeating story that was
told me by an ex-Federal railroad en-
cineer l will mention narrow escape
a Union general who vas riding on
a locomotive through hostile coun-.
try. The engineer was young south
erner whom the general had impressed
for the service. forcing him to run
the engine. We were speeding along
at night. Suddenly saw the engi-
neer reverse the wheels. then. pale as
q ghost. wait for something terrible
to happen felt jolt, and the en-
gineor at once recovered his courage!
He had seen tie wetged In between
the rails with view to throwing our.
locomotive OFF the tracks and down
an embankment. The effort had. fqil-
ed. In few minutes we Thought no
more about it. The deaths we missed
and were constantly missing counted
for nothing. Now for the ;story.SSn;:'H
Zone morning at daybreak,"; said the
narrator. after forced march sSye'
struck one of the main / RAILROAD ar:
teries in the southwest. and captured a
lot Of rolling. stock. My captain told
ME that the general had called for
those of the command who had been
railway engineers, conductors and
trainmen.. and l. being an engineer.
was to report Mt once at headquarters.
/ did so. The general asked me few
questions about my experience and told
me to report for duty to Captain Ben
ton. who had been appointed railway
Superintendent. I was given an engine
and hauled troops to the eastern END
Of +lro, road. which they occupied.
~ about two weeks after this
~ ,perintendent told me to re-
s on to the general. ] did so,
to me:
~ have just received a
ut the other end of
.s = force there has been
superior force. The
ing has promised not
to s. at least two hours.
You M ST. rain through to him
loaded with troops and ammunition
within that period
but. general eXpoStulated, there
are three clements against me- must
go in the night. the roadbed will not
admit Of safe rate Of over thirty
miles an hour. and the people along the
route will do all they can to wreck the
train
"'You must go the whole ninety
miles in two hours. The possession OF
L. is Of vital Importance. If you reach
there before the surrender it will be
saved. Better that you should wreck
your train than be minute late
That's what mans life-not one
mans Afe. but thousands-is worth
in war. walked away from the gen.
eral feeling that l had been ordered to
take nine chances in ten of killing and
manning SEQ men. including myself
But ID been In it year then and
knew how little our lives we're worth
against the possibility OF achieving
success for the nation.
~ found that the superintendent had
been getting 4 train ready for me and
it was loaded with the probable
victims. l Sprang on to the cab and
with couple OF short toots from the
whistle started the machine, the ono
In best repair in our possession. had
been over the line nearly every day
for fortnight and knew where | must
endeavor to make the best time.
hadn't had any time to figure it out
automatically. must take frightfui
risks on the straightaway parts anG
let up On the curves. And even on the
curves must drive far beyond g safe
rate.
IF may be said to have got on well
on any part Of the journey it YVES the
first half. For that period my arm
was steady and my brain was cool.
Nevertheless 1t was an hour calculated
to break the stoutest nerve. Word
must have got to some Of the people |
along the line. for had scarcely got
over ten miles when found an CD
struction. Coming to Q sharp curve
around the base Of hill, said tc nv
self. If they're going to throw =, os
anywhere they'll do It right sers.' &c
cut my speed down 20 What would |