Year: 1862

Running an Engine in Rebel Service.


The engineer, Charles Little refused to run
the train on during the night, as he was not
well acquainted with the road, and thought it
dangerous. In addition, the head light of the
locomotive being out of order, and the oil
frozen, he could not make it burn, and he could
not possibly run without it. Colonel Williams
grew angry, probably suspecting him of Union
sentiments, and of wishing to delay the train,
cursed him rather roundly, and at length told
him he should run in under a guard: adding,
to the guard already on the engine if any ac-
cident occurs, shoot the cursed Yankee Lit
tie was Northern man. Upon the threat thus
enforced, the engineer seemed to yield, and
prepared to start the train. As if having for
gotten an important matter, he said, hastily
oh, / must have some OIL and stepping down
off the locomotive, walked toward the engine
house. When he was about twenty yards from
the cars, the guard thought of their duty, and
one of them followed Little, and called upon
him to halt; but in moment he was behind
the machine-shop, and off in the dense woods,
In the deep darkness. The commoton soon
brought the colonel and crowd, and while
they were cursing each other all around, the
flremen and most of the brakemen slipped off,
and here we were with no means of getting
ahead. All this time had stood on the en-
gine, rather enjoying the melee, but takinrno
part in it, when Colonel Williams, turning to
me said:


Can not you run the enginee'


replied No, sir


You have been on it as we came down.


Yes, sir, as a matter ofcuriosity.'


Don't you know how to start and stop
her?'


Yes, that is easy enough; but If ANYTHING
should go wrong / could not adjust it,


No difference, no difference, sir; must be
at Bowling Green, tomorrow and you must
put us through


a. fe,''s,, 49, L. sha- and said calmly
Colonel Williams, cannot voluntarily take
the responsibility of managing train with a
thousand men aboard, nor will be forced to
do 1t under guard who know nothing about
an engine, and who would be as likely to shoot
me for doing my duty as failing TO do it; but
fyou will find among the men fireman. send
away this guard and come yourself on the To-
comotiye, l viii do the best cam


And now commenced my apprenticeship to
running secession railroad train, with reb-
el regiment on board. The engine behaved
admirably, and began to feel quite safe, for
she obeyed every command gave her, as if
she acknowledged me her rightfnl lord


could not but be startled at the position in
which was placed, holding in my hand the
lives of more than thousand men, running
train of twenty-five cars over road / had nev-
Ci sSSiis luiuliIk WituOul u Hcdu ISuL, ana the
road SO dark that ! could only see foot or
two ahead, and to crown all. knowing almost
nothing of the business. OF course ran slow
ly, about ten miles an hour, aud never took
my hand off the throttle or my eye from the
road. The Colonel at length grew confident.
and almost confidential, and did most of the
talking as l had no time for conversation.
When we had run about thirty miles, and eve-
rything was going well, Col. Williams conclu-
ded to walk back, on the top of the box cars.
to passenger car which was attached to the
rear of the train and occupied by the officers.


This somewhat hazardous movement he
commenced just as we struck stretch of tres
tlework which carried US over gorge some
fifty feet deep. As the locomotive reached the
end Of the trestlework the grade rose little.
and ! could see through, or in, deep cut
which the road ran into, an obstruction. What
1t was, or how far ahead, had almost no con-
ception; but as quick as thought-and thought
Is as quick as lightning in such circumstances
Il whistled for the brakes, shut off the steam.
and waited the collision. | would have re-
versed the engine, but u fear that reversal
would crowd the cars on the trestlework and
throw them into the gorge below forbade:
nor was there wisdom in Jumping off, for the
steep embankments on either side would pre-
vent my escape from the wreck of the ears
when the collision came. All was decided in
an instant of time, and l calmly awaited the
shock which saw was unavoidable. Though
the speed, which was very moderate before.
was considerably diminished in the fifty wards
between the obstacle and the head of the train.
/ saw that we should certainly run into the
rear of another train, which was the obstruc-
tion had seen.


The first car struck was loaded with hay
and grain. Ny engine literally split it in two,
throwing the hay right and left and scattering
the grain like chatf The next car loaded with
horses, was in like manner torn to pieces, and
the horses piled upon the sides of the road.
The third car, loaded with tents aud camp
equipage, seemed to present greater resist
ance, As the locomotive only reached it, and
came to a standstill.


My emotions during these moments were
peculiar. l watched the remorseless pressure
of the engine with almost admiration. 1t ap-
peared to be deliberate, and resolute, and insa-
table. The shock was not great; the advance
seemed to be Slows but it plowed on through
car after car, with a steady and determined
course, which suggested at that critical mo-
ment, vast and resistless living agent. When
the motion ceased new my time of trial was
near; for II Col. Williams had not been thrown
from the top OF the cars into the gorge below,
he would soon be forward to execute his
threat-to shoot me If any accident occurred.
/ stepped out of the cab on the railing rum
ming along TO the smoke stack, so as TO he out
vi view W Que COIiliig forward toward the en-
gine, and yet to have him in the fnl ligbt of
the lantern which hung in the cab.


Exactly as | had surmised-for.I had seen
specimen of his fierce temper and reckless
ness-he came stamping and cursing; and
Jumping from the car on to the tender, he
drew pistol and cried out, "Where is that
cursed engineer that did this pretty Job? I'll
shoot him the minute | lay eyes on himr'


threw up my six-shooter so that the light
OF the lantern Shnnn pnnt, n x.sl;ol, h., oo,,I1
see but indistnctly, If at all, and said. with
dellberation-"Colonei Williams, If you raise
your pistol you are dead man. Don't stir.
but listen to me. have done Just what any
man must have done under the circumstan.
ces. | stopped the train as soon as possible.
and Iii convince you of it, if you are a reas-
ap'e man; but not another word of shooting.
nf, dclx,rl p