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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36752-8.txt b/36752-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ee612cf --- /dev/null +++ b/36752-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12532 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Capturing a Locomotive, by William Pittenger + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Capturing a Locomotive + A History of Secret Service in the Late War. + +Author: William Pittenger + +Release Date: July 17, 2011 [EBook #36752] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + +CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE + +[Illustration: A RAILROAD CHASE. +_Frontispiece._] + + + + + CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE: + + A HISTORY + OF + SECRET SERVICE + IN THE LATE WAR. + + BY + REV. WILLIAM PITTENGER. + + "Storm'd at with shot and shell, + Boldly they rode and well; + Into the jaws of death, + Into the mouth of hell, + Rode the six hundred. + + * * * * * + + "They that had fought so well + Came through the jaws of death + Back from the mouth of hell, + All that was left of them-- + Left of six hundred." + TENNYSON'S _Charge of the Light Brigade_. + + WASHINGTON: + THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. + 1885. + + + + +Copyright, 1881, by REV. WILLIAM PITTENGER. + + + + + TO + THE SURVIVING COMRADES + OF THE + CHATTANOOGA RAILROAD EXPEDITION, + AND TO + THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE + SAME ADVENTURE, + + =This Record of their Daring and Suffering= + + IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. + + + + +NAMES OF THE ADVENTURERS. + +EXECUTED. + + J. J. ANDREWS, _Leader_ Citizen of Kentucky. + WILLIAM CAMPBELL Citizen of Kentucky. + GEORGE D. WILSON Co. B, Second Reg't Ohio Vols. + MARION A. ROSS Co. A, Second Reg't Ohio Vols. + PERRY G. SHADRACK Co. K, Second Reg't Ohio Vols. + SAMUEL SLAVENS Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + SAMUEL ROBINSON Co. G, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + JOHN SCOTT Co. K, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + +ESCAPED IN OCTOBER. + + W. W. BROWN[1] (_Engineer_) Co. F, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + WILLIAM KNIGHT[2] Co. E, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + J. R. PORTER[3] Co. C, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + MARK WOOD[4] Co. C, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + J. A. WILSON[5] Co. C, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + M. J. HAWKINS[6] Co. A, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + JOHN WOLLAM[7] Co. C, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + D. A. DORSEY[8] Co. H, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + +EXCHANGED IN MARCH. + + JACOB PARROT[9] Co. K, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + ROBERT BUFFUM[10] Co. H, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + WILLIAM BENSINGER[11] Co. G, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + WILLIAM REDDICK[12] Co. B, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + E. H. MASON[13] Co. K, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + WILLIAM PITTENGER[14] Co. G, Second Reg't Ohio Vols. + + +RESIDENCES IN 1881. + + [1] Perrysburg, Ohio. + [2] Minnesota. + [3] Carlisle, Arkansas. + [4] Dead. + [5] Hoskins, Wood County, Ohio. + [6] Topeka, Kansas. + [7] Unknown. + [8] Jefferson, Wisconsin. + [9] Kenton, Ohio. + [10] Dead. + [11] McCombs, Hancock County, Ohio. + [12] Unknown. + [13] Unknown. + [14] Woodbury, N. J. A member of the New Jersey Conference + of the Methodist Episcopal Church. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +War has a secret as well as a public story. Marches and battles are open +to the popular gaze; but enterprises of another class are in their very +nature secret, and these are scarcely less important and often much more +interesting than the former. The work of spies and scouts, the +enterprises that reach beyond the lines of an army for the purpose of +surprise, the councils of officers, the intrigues by means of which +great results often flow from apparently insignificant causes, and all +the experiences of hospitals and prisons,--these usually fill but a +small place on the historian's page, though they are often of romantic +interest, and not unfrequently decide the course and fate of armies. The +enterprise described in these pages possesses all the unity of a drama, +from the first plunge of the actors into the heart of the enemy's +country, through all their adventures and changing fortunes, until the +few survivors stood once more under the old flag! No single story of the +war combines so many of the hidden, underground elements of the contest +against rebellion as this. Disguise and secrecy, the perils of a forlorn +hope, the exultation of almost miraculous success, the sufferings of +prisoners, and the gloom of despair are all mingled in a varied and +instructive war-picture. + +In telling the story all fictitious embellishments have been rejected. +No pains have been spared to ascertain the exact truth, and the reader +will find names, dates, and localities so fully given that it will be +easy to verify the prominent features of the account. + +In narrating those events which fell under his own eye, the writer has +waived all scruples of delicacy, and used the first personal pronoun. +This is far more simple and direct, while an opposite course would have +savored of affectation. + +This is not a revision or new edition of the little volume published by +the present writer during the rebellion. DARING AND SUFFERING, like a +number of similar sketches published in newspapers, magazines, and +pamphlets, was a hasty narrative of personal adventure, and made no +pretence of completeness. CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE is broader and more +historic; a large amount of valuable material is now employed for the +first time; and the story is approached in an entirely different manner. +No paragraph of the old book is copied into the new. + + WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY January, 1882. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I.--A SECRET MILITARY EXPEDITION 9 + II.--MIDNIGHT CONSULTATION 27 + III.--COMPANIONS AND INCIDENTS 36 + IV.--A LOCOMOTIVE AND TRAIN CAPTURED 65 + V.--UNFORESEEN HINDRANCES 75 + VI.--A TERRIBLE RAILROAD CHASE 93 + VII.--A NIGHT IN THE WOODS 120 + VIII.--IN THE ENEMY'S POWER 136 + IX.--OTHER CAPTURES 153 + X.--A HORRIBLE PRISON 170 + XI.--LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF PRISON 182 + XII.--THE FIRST TRAGEDY 197 + XIII.--A CONFEDERATE COURT-MARTIAL 205 + XIV.--THE CROWNING HORROR 221 + XV.--PRISON RELIGION 228 + XVI.--LIBERTY OR DEATH? 244 + XVII.--ROMANTIC ESCAPES 262 + XVIII.--FROM ATLANTA TO THE GULF 274 + XIX.--FROM ATLANTA TO RICHMOND 293 + XX.--LIBBY AND CASTLE THUNDER 308 + XXI.--SICKNESS AND LIBERTY 326 + + APPENDIX: + No. I.--EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL + HOLT TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR 341 + No. II.--A SOUTHERN ESTIMATE 345 + No. III.--A FRENCHMAN'S VIEW OF THE CHATTANOOGA + RAILROAD EXPEDITION 350 + No. IV.--OLD SCENES REVISITED 352 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + PAGE + 1. The Chase _Frontispiece._ + 2. GENERAL O. M. MITCHEL 11 + 3. MIDNIGHT CONSULTATION 32 + 4. WILLIAM PITTENGER 42 + 5. MAP OF CHATTANOOGA AND ITS RAILROAD CONNECTIONS 58 + 6. CAPTURE OF A TRAIN 71 + 7. WILLIAM A. FULLER 87 + 8. D. A. DORSEY 156 + 9. A TERRIBLE DESCENT 172 + 10. LIBERTY OR DEATH! 255 + 11. W. W. BROWN 264 + 12. DORSEY AND HAWKINS IN THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS 272 + 13. SAVED AT SEA 290 + + + + + +CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A SECRET MILITARY EXPEDITION. + + +As the writer looked up from the manuscript page on a warm March +afternoon of 1862, a very busy, and occasionally an amusing scene was +presented. I was seated on a gentle, wooded slope which led down to the +clear and quiet stream of Stone River, in Tennessee. Not being at that +time "on duty," I had strolled away from the tents which whitened the +level fields above, and was passing an hour in the pleasant task of +preparing "war correspondence" for the _Steubenville Herald_. Now and +then I lifted my eyes to watch the work in progress a few yards farther +down the stream. A large bridge, burned by the enemy on their retreat a +few weeks before, was now being rapidly repaired, or rather rebuilt. The +chief director of the work was General O. M. Mitchel, of astronomical +fame, in whose division I then served. He was in every respect an able +officer, and understood the construction of railroad bridges as well as +observing the stars, or moulding raw recruits into veteran soldiers. But +all his skill and science did not save him from becoming a little +ridiculous at times. The Union soldier found no difficulty in loving his +commander and laughing at him at the same instant. General Mitchel was +now most impatient to complete this bridge, and thus maintain a +northern line of communication, while he penetrated farther into the +South. Being now, for the first time, possessed of an independent +command, he wished to signalize himself by some great blow struck at the +most vulnerable point in the enemy's line. He could, therefore, scarcely +endure the necessary delay caused by burnt bridges, and worked like a +beaver, and chafed and fretted, and caused the men of his command to +perform more hard labor than was agreeable. As I saw him running from +place to place, urging on the idlers, and taking hold of any piece of +work that presented itself as if he had been a common laborer, shouting +and scolding, but always knowing just what ought to be done, and making +surprising progress, I could not help admiring the man, even while I +laughed at some exhibitions of superfluous zeal. Mitchel's scientific +education, his practical experience, and his inventive genius stood him +in good stead, as was proved by the rapid growth of the bridge before +me. The soldiers almost idolized their skilful and zealous commander, +but this did not deprive them of the soldier's privilege of grumbling +without stint at his restless activity. He was to be found along the +guard lines at almost any hour of the night, and woe to the sleepy +sentinel who failed to give the proper challenge or to "turn out" +promptly. No severe punishments had yet been inflicted, but some of the +indolent had been terribly frightened, and were accustomed to declare +that "Old Mitchel" had been watching the stars so long that he could not +sleep at night himself, and was not willing that anybody else should! +But the discipline of the troops steadily improved, and the hearty +commendation of their commander, who knew how to praise as well as +blame, made amends for seeming harshness. + +[Illustration: GENERAL O. M. MITCHELL. +(From Harper's Magazine.) +Page 11.] + +As I watched the working-parties, my attention was attracted to one +strong-looking soldier who was obviously shirking. Before many minutes +General Mitchel saw him too. The man pretended to lift and work, +while really doing nothing, and thus became a great hindrance, for his +example was contagious. Stealthily the general stole towards him, and +when I saw him take a piece of rotten wood in his hand I looked for a +scene. It came. He dealt the idler a sudden blow that covered him all +over with rotten wood, and nearly took him from his feet, but did him no +real injury. The fellow turned furiously to avenge himself on his +assailant, but stood abashed when he saw the face of his commander, and +heard the exclamation, "Go to work, you lazy rascal!" The spectators +enjoyed the man's look of blank amazement greatly, and the work went +forward more promptly than ever. But in a few moments the tables were +turned. Large framed masses of timber were first floated near the +position they were to occupy in the bridge, at the end of the +trestle-work, and then, with ropes and pulleys, were slowly and +painfully hoisted into place. One of these was approaching the +perpendicular, and the general, in his eagerness, ran to the end of a +log, which extended over the water, and began to encourage the laborers +by loud cries of, "Heave, O! heave, O!" as they pulled at the ropes. +Another party of workmen passed by the shore end of the log on which +Mitchel stood, carrying a load of timber. Just as they reached the +log,--the lazy man among them, now lifting as much as any other,--I +could not see just how it was done, but probably by a quick motion of +the foot, the general's log was turned so suddenly that he had no choice +but to plunge in the water. I expected a fearful explosion of +indignation, and perhaps the summoning of a guard to arrest the +offender, but was greatly surprised to see Mitchel, as soon as the +splash enabled me to see at all, stand up in the water, which was not +more than two feet deep, and without even turning towards the shore, +continue calling, "Heave, O! heave, O!" as vigorously as ever. There was +some laughing, but the soldiers had great respect for such coolness and +presence of mind. The general made no effort to discover the author of +his sudden immersion, though he must have known that it was not +accidental. "'Old Stars' can take a joke," was the approving remark of a +soldier close to my side. + +I had just finished reading to a friend the newspaper article I had been +writing, when Captain Mitchel, a distant relative of the general's, and +commander of one of the companies in the Second Ohio Regiment,--the +regiment in which I served,--came and sat down by me, and asked what +news I had been writing to the papers. This was always a matter of great +interest to the officers and soldiers of our volunteer armies, for the +public letter served to give the families at home a great deal of news, +and thus to fill out the accounts conveyed by private letters. I read +the sketch over to him, and it suggested a general conversation on the +prospects of the war. These we regarded as eminently favorable. +McClellan was about to move towards Richmond with an overwhelming force, +and we expected him to easily capture the rebel capital. Buell, who had +been with us in our march through Kentucky, had gone Southwest to join +Grant. That they would, when united, be able to drive the enemy far down +the Mississippi, even if they did not open that river to the Gulf, +seemed equally sure. But where were we going, that we, with only ten +thousand men and an adventurous general, were being hurried Southeast? +There was no enemy in our front now, but we could not continue to march +in that direction very long without finding foes enough. We were +striking directly between the great armies of the Rebellion, and, if we +went on far enough, would totally sever their connection. At this point +in the conversation Mitchel exhibited some constraint, as if afraid of +saying too much. I declared my own opinion, which I shared with the +greater part of the army, that we were bound for Chattanooga, and +possibly for Atlanta, but that the rebels would be sure to run in heavy +bodies of troops by rail, and give us all the fighting we wanted before +reaching even the former place. + +"Possibly they may," said Mitchel; "but there are ways of looking out +for that." + +"How?" I asked, with interest, for I knew that he was usually well +informed and very intelligent. + +He smiled, and said that "I might find out some time." + +His manner, much more than his words, piqued my curiosity. Besides, +there was another matter I had resolved to question him about at the +first opportunity. A few days before several of the best soldiers of our +regiment had suddenly disappeared. Four of the missing men were from the +company to which I belonged, and two others from Mitchel's company. They +had been seen in close and apparently confidential conversation with the +regimental officers, and then, without any leave-taking, were gone! No +one of the private soldiers could tell anything about their destination. +In a moment the hints of Mitchel connected themselves, in my mind, with +the absence of these men. Had not some secret enterprise been set on +foot in which they were engaged? If there was any such scheme, I would +like to find it out, and, if still possible, take a part in it. In +addition to this motive for curiosity, one of the absent men was a young +cousin of mine, in whose welfare I was deeply interested. + +"Mitchel," I said, turning sharply on him, "I understand that Frank +Mills and those other men have been sent into the enemy's lines to +perform some important and dangerous service. I want you to tell me all +about it." + +As soon as I uttered the words I knew I was right. Mitchel was silent +for a moment, and then asked who had told me so much. + +"No matter about that," I returned. "You can trust me fully. Tell me +what you know." + +"I will," he answered, "for I am anxious about the boys myself, and +want to talk the matter over with some friend. I am not sure that we did +right in letting them go." + +Rising, we strolled up the stream until we reached a solitary place far +away from the bridge and the noisy workmen. Then getting a seat on a +large rock, I listened to Captain Mitchel's story. This conversation is +one of the most important epochs of my life. So strange and romantic +were the particulars to which I listened, that it was difficult at first +to give them perfect credence. + +Said Mitchel, "Do you remember a Mr. Andrews, a Kentuckian, who was +about our camp last fall?" + +At first I did not, but a moment after, I recollected seeing a +fine-looking, well-dressed man standing on the street-corner in the town +of Prestonburg, up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. He held +carelessly on his arm a beautiful Winchester rifle, which I, in common +with many others, had examined with great admiration. I therefore +answered Mitchel's question in the affirmative, though I thought he was +beginning rather far away from the subject in hand. He continued,-- + +"Some of you maintained that he was a rebel citizen, and possibly a spy, +who was only pretending to be a unionist because our army was at hand." + +I said that such had been my own opinion when I first saw him, for he +was the very ideal of a magnificent Southern gentleman, but that I had +afterwards learned that though he was a spy and secret agent, it was on +the Union side, and that he was high in the confidence of our officers, +adding that I had seen the same man in our camp again, but had not +spoken to him after the first occasion. + +"Well," continued Mitchel, "he was, and is, a spy, and has been of great +service to us. But I sometimes fear that we may have trusted him a +little too far. Our boys are now in Georgia with him." + +I sprang up from my seat. This was startling news. It had, indeed, been +asserted by the camp-fires--where all events are discussed, and where +conjectures too often pass for facts--that the missing men had turned +spies, but I had scouted the idea. I thought that at most they might +have been sent on ahead of us a short distance, to seize some important +post in connection with similar details from other regiments, and +supported by cavalry. But we were a hundred and fifty miles from the +nearest point of the Georgian State line. + +I looked at my companion in astonishment, and exclaimed, "What on earth +are they doing in Georgia?" + +"Andrews has taken them there," he said, "disguised as Southern +citizens, with the intention of capturing a railroad train. He has also +engaged a Southern man, who is an engineer on the same railroad, to run +their locomotive, and when they get their train they will start for our +line and burn every bridge they pass over. They will cut all the +telegraph wires, and thus leave the enemy in helpless rage behind them." + +My imagination took fire at the picture his few words had sketched. A +train surprised by a handful of bold men in the heart of the enemy's +territory; the passengers and train hands forced to get out under threat +of instant death, and possibly a desperate fight before this was +accomplished; then the wires cut, so that no lightning message could be +flashed ahead; the secret confederate--whom there might be a show of +compelling by force to mount the engine--set to his work; the train +rushing on its way through a hostile country, past the towns and camps +of the enemy, but rendered secure by the two elements of surprise and +speed; the great bridges (like those at Green and Stone Rivers and other +places, which had cost us weary delays and hard work in repairing),--all +these bursting into flames as they were passed, and possibly other +damage done before the daring adventurers returned in triumph to our own +lines. I knew enough of war to understand, at a glance, the great +military importance of thus severing railroad communications, for had I +not seen our whole division brought to a halt, and General Mitchel +rendered almost furious with impatience over a single burnt bridge? +Besides, it required no particular insight to reveal the immense moral +effect upon an enemy of such a bold stroke far in the centre of his +territory. It would tend to diffuse distrust and fear through all the +rebel armies if they were thus made to feel that no place in their whole +country was safe from the presence and the blows of a daring adversary. + +"Well, what do you think of it?" said Mitchel, as he saw my +preoccupation. + +"Why, it is the grandest thing I ever heard of!" was my enthusiastic +reply. "I wish I was with them. But do you think that spy can be +trusted? Spies are all the time betraying the confidence of one party or +the other, and if he should be false to us, he has the lives of our boys +in his hands. I have heard that he has been over the lines several +times, and if he has been a secret rebel all the while, it would be a +nice stroke of business for him to lead down a party of our best men and +deliver them to the rebels." + +"I have no fear of the fidelity of Andrews," said Mitchel. "He has been +too well proved. But I am not so sure that he will be able to carry +through all that he has undertaken, or that our boys can preserve their +disguise until they reach the right point and are ready for the blow. If +they should be detected while pretending to be rebels, it is not at all +unlikely that they will be treated as spies and hung up. I wish they +were back in camp again. But if they get through all right and burn the +bridges, we will make for Chattanooga as fast as our legs can carry us. +This is one of the reasons that makes the general so anxious to have +that bridge done. If we should hear to-morrow, as we may at any moment, +that those Southern bridges are smashed, it would be a race for +Chattanooga with all the odds in our favor. But you must not breathe a +word of this to one of the soldiers, or especially write of it to the +papers, or to any of the relatives of the poor fellows, till they are +back with us,--if they ever come back! Give me your candid opinion, was +it right to let them take such a risk?" + +Without the slightest hesitation I declared that it was right, giving +the reasons that seemed most weighty. War is full of risks. In an +obscure skirmish, or by a chance shot from the picket-line, the most +valuable life may be put out. Now, if by a little additional risk a few +men can do the work of thousands,--the work that if done in the ordinary +mode would certainly cost a score times as many lives as are +imperilled,--the risk is worth taking. Of course, it would not be right +to send men on such an enterprise without their consent, but in the +Union army it was never necessary to force men into any dangerous +enterprise. Volunteers were always plenty enough. + +I asked, further, how many men were engaged, and learned with additional +astonishment that the detachment from our own regiment--only eight +men--was all. This force seemed totally inadequate to the greatness of +the work, but I understood that the risk of detection would multiply +with the increase of numbers. The very smallest number that could serve +was, therefore, selected. If they succeeded, few were better than many. + +After a long conversation, Mitchel and I returned to the working-party +down the river. The burnt remnants of the old railroad bridge and the +rapidly rising timbers of the new had now a deeper interest than ever. +The completion of this bridge and the burning of some others far in the +South were the two events for which that whole division, whose tents +dotted the meadows behind us, was unconsciously waiting. My head was +full of conjectures and plans as I walked back through the twilight to +join my messmates in the tent. I could talk to no one of what I had +heard, but as I lay awake that night a most important resolution took +shape. I was weary of the slow movement of the army, and of the monotony +of a private soldier's service. While trying carefully to do all my +duty, and winning a fair degree of approval from my officers, I yet had +no taste for military affairs. If by a little extra hazard I could do +more for the country, while getting rid of distasteful routine and +entering into a new sphere of work, I was more than willing to accept +all the hazard involved. It was too late to take part in the present +attempt, but I resolved to be prepared for any opportunity of the kind +that might again offer. + +Accordingly, in the forenoon of the next day I went up to regimental +headquarters and told Colonel L. A. Harris, of the Second Ohio, that I +had a favor to ask of him. Major (since General) Anson G. McCook, in +whose company I had served during the first three months of the war, was +also present. I told them I had ascertained that some of our men had +been sent out on secret service lately, and that if any similar details +should be made in the future, I wanted the opportunity of being +included. Major McCook, while saying some kind things about me, +intimated a doubt whether my defective vision--I was very +near-sighted--might not be a hindrance on any perilous service. Colonel +Harris, however, took a different view of the matter, saying he thought +that if I dressed in citizen's clothes, and wore my spectacles (as I was +accustomed to do even in the ranks), no person in the South would +suspect me of being a soldier, and I was thus only the better fitted for +any secret service. McCook did not press his objection, and after +learning the reason for my request and trying in vain to find the source +of my information, Colonel Harris said,-- + +"Pittenger, I don't know that we will ever send any more men out of camp +in this manner, but I will give my promise that if we do, you shall be +the first man called upon." + +This was perfectly satisfactory. I returned to my duty, and in the +routine of camp-life waited for several days in impatient anxiety. I +dreamed at night of burning bridges and startling adventures. Duty on +picket and in the camp lines, however, with other excitements, began to +weaken the impression, as day after day rolled by with no recurrence of +the subject. But one day it was told me by a friend that one of the +missing men, a member of Company C, was back again in his usual place in +line. For some time attempts to get him to say where he had been, and +whether alone or in company, were in vain. He would speak no word by +which any one could divine the nature of his errand while away from us, +or the degree of success he had met with. I was much disquieted by his +return alone, but having no special acquaintance, I did not like to try +to get any information directly from him. But I soon learned that he had +gone as far as Chattanooga and had turned back,--some of his comrades +afterwards thought because he became so sensible of the difficulties of +his attempt that he resolved to go no further in it,--a determination +which he had a perfect right to make, and which in no way impugned his +character as a soldier. His own explanation, afterwards given, which I +saw no reason to doubt, was more dramatic. He said that he had gone in +disguise as far as Chattanooga, but had there been recognized by a rebel +soldier, who was an old acquaintance, and who knew that he belonged to +the Union army. This man heard him telling his false story in a public +place without contradicting him, but as soon as he could do so +unobserved, drew him aside and declared that he remembered him, and knew +he was down there disguised for some bad purpose; but that if he would +pledge himself to return immediately to the Union lines, he would, for +the sake of their former friendship, refrain from denouncing him, +otherwise his own sense of duty would require him to report all he knew +to the commander of the post. Under such circumstances our comrade +judged it most prudent to give and keep the pledge required. + +At length the bridge over Stone River was completed, and there was great +rejoicing as the first train, laden with army supplies, passed over it +from Nashville. Next morning the order was given to the whole division +to prepare three days' rations. This was invariably the signal for a +decided movement. Our lost comrades were still away, and no word had +reached the rank and file of the army of any unusual occurrence +southward. The uneasiness of General Mitchel and the regimental officers +of the Second Ohio, and especially of Captain Sarratt, who commanded the +company to which I belonged, and my friend, Captain Mitchel, was +apparent to any careful observer. + +Just before the march began, while we were standing in line early the +next morning, with the camp all broken up, our knapsacks swung, and our +haversacks filled with rations, waiting only for the word "forward," +Captain Mitchel came over to me and uttered a sentence, in a half +whisper, that went through me like an electric shock. His message was +simply this: "Mills is back, and has gone up to headquarters to report." +While standing in my place in the ranks I could give no answer, nor +could I ask any question, but my mind was full of surmises. Had the +adventurers succeeded, and were we now on our way to do our part in the +great plan,--to strike swift and far into the South, while the enemy's +communications were broken? That would involve hard fighting and +stirring scenes not far ahead. Had they failed? If so, there would +probably be other attempts,--that is, if the secret had been kept,--and +then I would have a part in the risk and the adventure. At any rate, I +was exceeding glad of Mills's return, and I knew that I would find out +all about it as soon as I could get to talk with him alone. As Company +K--Mitchel's--was next my own in the line, that opportunity, even on the +march, would not be long delayed. + +Soon the command to march was given, and the column moved southward +towards Shelbyville, about twenty-five miles distant. Before noon I +dropped out of my place, sought and found Mills, and as we plodded +along, in the loose order allowed on long marches, we had no difficulty +in remaining together, and yet far enough from other soldiers to talk in +perfect security. The whole history of my relative's adventures was +fully laid open before me. I found that all Mitchel had narrated was +perfectly accurate, but the enormous obstacles to be encountered by such +an expedition were now brought much more plainly into view. Mills said +that he and his companions had first of all exchanged their uniforms for +citizen's clothes, and made provision for the safety of their arms and +personal effects in the camp. Then, under the direction of Andrews, they +had scattered in the mountains, to the eastward of our camp, +representing themselves as refugees from the oppressions of the Union +troops in Kentucky, and had journeyed thus to Chattanooga. That town had +been reached in about four days. My friend pictured in lively colors the +manner in which he had been compelled to verbally abuse the Union cause, +and join in praise of the leaders and principles of Secession. The squad +to which he belonged had no particular difficulty in passing themselves +as good rebels. The man who first returned had been less fortunate. At +Chattanooga they took passage on the cars for Atlanta, and in due time +reached that place, where they scattered themselves among the several +hotels and lived plentifully (they had an abundant supply of money) for +three days longer. Each hour Andrews anticipated the arrival of that +Confederate engineer of whom Mitchel had spoken to me. But he did not +come. All possible inquiries were guardedly made concerning him, for it +was not safe to appear too inquisitive. + +"How did you feel while thus waiting in suspense?" I asked. + +"I felt as if I wanted to be back in camp, and had no business to be in +that town any longer," replied Frank. "To hear the curses and threats +made against everything that belonged to the Union, and to be obliged to +keep perfectly quiet, or to agree with them, was more than I could +easily endure. And the folks about the hotel were more anxious every day +to know who I was, and I had to tell them lies without number. I +resolved not to stand it much longer." + +"Were you really afraid of being found out, Frank?" I queried. "Did you +consider yourself in much danger?" + +With great emphasis he answered, "No money could hire me to put myself +in such a position again. I would have run away if we had been obliged +to stay much longer." + +This man was as brave as any human being. I had seen him perfectly cool +and serene under circumstances of great danger, when every one else in +the company betrayed some sign of fear. I did not suspect him of +exaggerating the perils of the situation in which he was placed, and, +having a deep personal interest in the matter, I put the question +bluntly,-- + +"If men should be wanted to try this thing again, would you not go?" + +"Never!" was the unequivocal response. "If Andrews and Mitchel want +bridges burned, they can go themselves and burn them! I will do my duty +as a soldier, but as to going out among those----" + +The terms applied, and the energy given to the accompanying description +of the horror of being alone among blood-thirsty enemies, feeling that, +sleeping or waking, a rope was around one's neck, just ready to be +tightened on the utterance of a single careless word, it is not +necessary to transcribe here. + +"But why did not that man come to help you? Did you find out anything +about him?" + +"Andrews told us, on the third day after we had reached Atlanta, that he +had heard through some of the railway officials that the engineer had +been transferred to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad to help in running +troops to Corinth" (this was a short time before the battle of Shiloh). +"But my own opinion is that the man got scared and had himself +transferred there to get out of a bad scrape." + +"But how did Andrews take this disappointment?" + +"He was very much cast down. He asked each of us if we had ever been +engineers or firemen. But no one had ever occupied such a position. He +hated terribly to give up; but, as nothing more could be done, he at +last told us we might work our way back to camp." + +"Where are the other boys?" + +"I suppose they are on their way. It was harder getting back than going +down. Everybody seemed to think it natural for us to be going South; but +we had to make all kind of excuses for 'heading the wrong way,' as they +called it. We had to scatter to avoid observation, and travel part of +the way by night; and if some of them are not discovered and either put +into the rebel army or hung, I will be very glad." + +"Do you think Andrews will now give up the job of burning those bridges, +or will he try again?" + +"If he can get men to go, you may be sure he will keep at it until he +succeeds or dies. But I would never go again or advise any one else to +do so. Why, he said he would stay down several days after we left and +make a complete survey of the line, for the very purpose of trying over +again." + +"What do you think of Andrews himself? Can he be trusted?" + +"Yes; he's as true as steel, and very smart. But I am afraid he will +venture a little too far, both for himself and for those with him, one +of these days." + +I have omitted the many striking incidents that Mills narrated to me in +the course of this conversation, which was more interesting to me than +any romance, because adventures very similar in their general character +to those he described will be fully narrated in another place. + +I found my way back to my proper place in the regiment, feeling sure +that another attempt to destroy the Southern communications would be +made, in which I must engage if I did not positively "back out"; +convinced, also, that it would involve hard labor, much peril, and, even +with these, great risk of failure. + +The next day others of the Andrews party returned to us, and +corroborated the accounts given by Mills. The day following the +remainder arrived in safety. They were all glad to get back, and were +unanimous in declaring that they would not again venture disguised into +the enemy's country under any circumstances. They spoke very sparingly +about their experiences, for the officers had cautioned them to say but +little, in view of the possibility of a new venture of the same +character. + +On Saturday evening, the 5th of April, we camped on the banks of Duck +River, in some pleasant meadows about a mile from the town of +Shelbyville. The next day was delightful. The spring of 1862 opened very +early, and now the meadows were verdant and the birds singing. The calm, +quiet, and beauty of that Sabbath, with the white tents dotting the +level fields, and the soldiers luxuriating in one day of rest after the +hard march, which had been rendered more fatiguing by the accompaniments +of rain and mud, form a very pleasant picture in memory. The next +Sabbath came to me under entirely different circumstances. I felt the +pressure of a vague melancholy resting upon me,--possibly it was only +that pensive feeling often inspired by a fresh, bright, and quiet day in +early spring; possibly the faint shadow of coming evil. I devoted the +greater part of the day to writing letters to friends and +newspapers,--the last I wrote for weary months. On this same day--though +we knew it not till afterwards--began the great battle of Shiloh, or +Pittsburg Landing, one hundred and fifty miles west of us. + +On Monday Andrews himself returned to our lines, and asked, as I had +anticipated, for permission to renew his enterprise. He had spent +several days along the line of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, +learning the number of trains, their times of running, and everything +else likely to be useful. He had then started for camp, and being +provided with passes, so that he could take the most direct road, +besides being well mounted, he came in almost as soon as the private +soldiers who started much sooner. + +But not one of the first party would return. They were tired of feeling, +as one of them expressed it, that their necks depended upon a lie. Like +Schiller's diver, they had plunged once into the abyss and returned in +safety; but, unlike that venturous youth, they would not make the second +and fatal trial. + +The new expedition, as proposed by Andrews, differed in three +particulars from the first. He wanted a larger force,--twenty-four men +instead of eight. He had seen that it was possible to carry a +considerable number of men in disguise to the scene of action, and the +number now requested was none too large for the capture of a full +railway train or the overpowering of guards at important bridges. He +also wanted some engineers to be detailed, in order that no mishap might +leave them without the power of running their train. Five were secured, +thus leaving an ample margin, as it was believed, for the possibility of +capture on the way down, or of death by the enemy's bullets in the hour +of conflict. It thus became an enterprise completely fitted out in +Federal lines, without any reliance on help from the South. The third +point of difference was of more importance than a casual glance +revealed. The first expedition had an abundance of time. A week's delay, +even after the soldiers were in the enemy's country, would have involved +no risk, save that of discovery,--would, indeed, have been an advantage, +as it would allow less time for the repair of damages done to the +Southern railroads before Mitchel's arrival at Chattanooga. But now it +was different. The whole division was ready to advance, its course being +clearly indicated to the enemy, and moments became precious. By making +the utmost speed it was still possible to have the bridges burned at the +right time, but every hour's delay would render the work more difficult, +and its success more uncertain. The bearing of this question of time +will be made painfully apparent in our story. + +General Mitchel received the report of Mr. Andrews (which also embraced +all the information the most skilful spy could have brought concerning +the nature and disposition of the enemy's forces), approved his prudence +in ordering the return of the soldiers, and sanctioned the second +attempt. He, however, advised caution, saying that Andrews must not +strike unless he saw a good prospect of success; but he made no +objection to the increase of force, provided volunteers could be +obtained. It was easy to secure the five engineers asked for without +going beyond the limits of the three Ohio regiments composing General +Sill's brigade. Of the detail as finally made out, nine men belonged to +the Twenty-first, eight to the Thirty-third, and seven to the Second +Ohio Regiments. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MIDNIGHT CONSULTATION. + + +On Monday, April 7, while I was inside my tent engaged in some of the +little details of work which occupy a soldier's time in camp, a comrade +pulled open the canvas door and called out,-- + +"Pittenger, Captain Sarratt is looking for you." + +I went out and met the captain, and together we walked up the street +formed by the two rows of tents to the larger tent occupied by the +company officers, which stood across the street at the upper end. He +took me inside, and then said, with a sigh,-- + +"Colonel Harris has just sent me word that you are to go with Andrews +down to Georgia. I do not know why he has selected you, but I advise you +not to go. You have perfect liberty to refuse." + +I told him that so far from refusing my mind was fully made up to +accept, and that I had already arranged with Colonel Harris to that +effect. Sarratt was surprised to hear this, but urged every argument in +his power to dissuade me; telling me that the safe return of the four +who had been out on the former expedition had lifted a great burden from +his heart; but that if I went, it would be no better than before. I was +deeply moved by his evident concern, but had gone too far to retract. I +asked if any other member of our company was to go. He answered in the +negative, saying that he understood that but one from each company was +to be detailed. Finding persuasion in vain, he gave me a pass to +Shelbyville, where I could see Andrews and procure all necessaries for +the journey. I left him, deeply impressed by the kindness of the man, +which led him to regard the soldiers under his command as children, for +whose welfare he felt himself in a great degree responsible. + +No one of my comrades yet knew of the intended expedition. In the +afternoon I took a friend with me and strolled into Shelbyville, a +well-built village of a few hundred inhabitants, and purchased some +articles of clothing, but was not able to find a complete suit. A number +of persons were engaged in making similar purchases--among others, the +sergeant-major of our regiment, Marion Ross. By watching the character +of his purchases and by a few careful questions, I found that his +business was the same as my own. No side-arms could be found, but I knew +that all lack in that direction could easily be supplied in camp. +Getting away from all other company, Ross and I strayed through the town +for some time, keeping a sharp lookout, until, at length, we saw +Andrews. His striking personal appearance made it easy to recognize him, +and, approaching, we told him that we were ordered to report to him. +After scrutinizing us a moment, and asking us the company and rank we +held, he told us that it would not be prudent to talk much in so public +a place, but to overtake him after dark a mile or more east of +Shelbyville, on the road toward Wartrace, and he would there give us +full explanations, and allow us to return to our regiments if not +satisfied with his plans. With these few words we parted from him, and +went back to our tents for final arrangements. I borrowed the additional +clothing I needed from one of the former adventurers. All my arms and +equipments I put carefully in order, packed my uniform in my knapsack to +be left in the care of the proper authorities, arrayed myself in +citizen's clothes, and stepped out of my tent. The soldiers who were +idling around passed the word to their comrades who were in their tents, +reading, playing cards, or amusing themselves in the various ways +incident to camp-life, and soon almost the whole company--indeed, all +who were not absent on guard duty--thronged around and commenced all +kinds of questions. "Pittenger, going to desert? Going home? Going out +as a spy? Got a discharge? Got a furlough?"--were a few of the inquiries +that rained from every quarter. At the same time I heard it asserted +that several other men were dressing up in the same manner. I answered +all questions in the affirmative, and stepped over to the company street +adjoining our own--that of Company K--and sought the tent in which Frank +Mills messed. He had a very good revolver which I wanted to borrow. As I +entered, he read the situation in a glance. + +"So, you are going with Andrews." + +I nodded, and hastened to add, "I want your revolver." + +"You are welcome to the revolver, but if you know when you are well off +you will stay where you are. Because I was fool enough to go, it does +not follow that you need be." + +I did not argue the question, but he saw that it was settled, and he +gave me the weapon, with a liberal supply of cartridges. I was now +ready, and the gravity of the situation forced itself more clearly upon +my apprehension. I did not expect to return to camp until the proposed +enterprise had been accomplished. Considering, therefore, that so much +was already known in camp from the report of the former party, and from +seeing me arrayed as I was, I could not understand that it would be any +advantage for me to steal away unnoticed. With this view, I went up to +Captain Sarratt's quarters and bade him good-by. He was almost overcome +with emotion, and could not muster a single one of his accustomed +good-natured jokes. Then came the farewells to tried comrades. Few of +them had any distinct conception of the nature of my errand, but they +knew it was secret and dangerous, and this was enough to excite their +apprehension. They labored hard to dissuade me. The devotion of one of +their number, my inseparable companion, Alexander Mills, was especially +affecting. Though he had been lying in our tent very sick all day, he +now crawled to the door and begged me not to go. Finding that I was +fully determined, he hurried as fast as his tottering steps would allow +to headquarters, for permission to go along! Notwithstanding his +physical inability, he persisted in his request until the colonel +threatened to have him put under arrest. Had he been well he would not +have been refused, as he was a most excellent soldier; but in the trying +times that followed, it was a great satisfaction to me that he was left +behind. Poor fellow! he lost his life while carrying the flag of the +Second Ohio at the battle of Lookout Mountain, eighteen months later, +and now sleeps in the beautiful National Cemetery at Chattanooga,--that +town towards which our steps were now bent. + +When all the farewells were over I strolled back to Shelbyville, meeting +Sergeant Ross as we had arranged, and passed the time pleasantly with +him in looking about the village until about dark, when we inquired the +road to Wartrace, and started for the rendezvous that Andrews had +appointed. We walked very leisurely, expecting that some of our number, +who were probably behind, would soon overtake us, and having a curiosity +to ascertain whether we could recognize them by speech or manner as +belonging to our party. We saw several persons, but they were travelling +the opposite way, and we began to be apprehensive that we had taken the +wrong road. + +As we journeyed on, we noticed a house surrounded by a yard, and Ross +proposed getting a drink of water. Crossing the fence we went up to the +house, but before we reached the door, a dog came up silently behind my +companion, and, biting his leg, ran under the house before a revolver +could be drawn. + +The bite was not severe, and I laughed heartily at his mishap; but +after drinking, and before reaching the fence, the same dog rushed out +once more. Ross saw him in time, and sprang over the fence, but I sat on +the top of it in fancied security. The malicious creature sprang at me, +seized my coat, and tore a large piece out of it. The same coat, thus +torn, I wore during the whole of the year through which our adventures +extended. The incident was trivial, but in the deepening darkness, with +a thunder-storm, which now began to mutter in the distance, approaching, +uncertain as to where our comrades were, and at the beginning of a +desperate enterprise, it stands out in memory with lurid distinctness. +To a superstitious person it might have seemed ominous of the results of +that expedition in which Ross perished, and from which I returned a +shattered and disabled invalid. + +A pistol-shot easily cleared us of the dog, and we pursued our way,--not +rejoicingly, for our situation grew every moment more perplexing. Not +one of our comrades was visible, and we were almost certain we had taken +the wrong road. Finally, we resolved to retrace our steps, and try to +get in Shelbyville some better clue to our journey. Unless we could +obtain further instructions, we knew not how or where to go. We did not +like to return to camp, for that would probably delay us too long to +take part in the enterprise, and the failure to go, after our affecting +leave-taking, would have formed a ludicrous anticlimax, and probably +have been charged to cowardice. At a cross-road in sight of Shelbyville, +where we felt sure that any of the adventurers who obeyed the directions +we had received must pass, we sat down and waited nearly an hour longer. + +Our patience was rewarded. We had started too soon, and from this +miscalculation all our perplexity arose. A few men, whom we recognized +almost instinctively as belonging to our party, came along the road in +the right direction. A little guarded conversation showed us that we +were right, and we strolled slowly on with them. Shortly afterwards +others overtook us, among whom was Andrews. This was a great relief, as +we now had a guide. Soon we were as far from Shelbyville as Ross and I +alone had been, and a few hundred yards farther on fell in with still +other men. Our party had so greatly increased as to be quite +conspicuous, and it was advisable to add still further security to the +cover of the night. Accordingly, we left the road for some distance, +and, marching silently, were soon at the appointed rendezvous. + +A little thicket of dead and withered trees, a short distance from the +road, and sufficiently open to assure us that no listener was near, was +the place of our assemblage. Never was a consultation preparatory to +some desperate deed held under more fitting circumstances. The storm +which had been gathering all the evening was now near. Black clouds +covered one half the sky, and the young moon, low down in the west, was +soon obscured. The frequent flashes of lightning, more vivid in the +darkness, and the low roll of thunder that followed, grew continually +more emphatic, forming most startling interruptions to the earnest but +suppressed words of our leader. It is very singular that amid these +ominous surroundings, which fitted so well the character of the business +in hand, one ordinary sound stands out in my memory, far more clear and +distinct than any part of the scene. Far off I heard the bark or howl of +a dog,--no doubt at some farm-house,--roused either by the coming storm +which began to sway the leafless boughs above us, or by the passing of +some belated traveller. Popular superstition would probably have +considered such a sound as ominous of evil; and most of us are +superstitious when young, in the dark, and entering upon unknown +dangers. + +We formed a close circle around Mr. Andrews while he revealed to us his +daring plans. In a voice as soft and low as a woman's, but tremulous +with suppressed enthusiasm, he painted the greatness of the project +we were to attempt, the sublimity of rushing through a hostile country +at the full speed of steam, leaving flaming bridges and raging but +powerless foes behind. But he did not disguise the dangers to be +encountered. + +[Illustration: Midnight Consultation. +Page 32.] + +"Soldiers," he said, "if you are detected while engaged in this +business, the great probability is that you will be put to death,--hung +as spies, or massacred by a mob. I want you to clearly understand this, +and if you are not willing to take the risk, return to camp, and keep +perfectly quiet about it." + +A murmur all around the circle conveyed the assurance that we would +follow him to the last extremity. + +"Our plan," he continued, "is simply this: you are to travel on foot, or +by any conveyance you can hire, either to Chattanooga or some station +not far from that point on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad; then you +can take passage on the cars down to Marietta; that will be our next +place of assembling, and not Atlanta. You must be there by Thursday +evening, ready to take passage on the cars northward again by Friday +morning. I will be there as soon as you, and tell you what more is to be +done." + +"But how about money to pay our way?" was asked. + +"I have plenty of Confederate money, and will share it among you before +we part. As to your story, you cannot do better than to tell everybody +that you are Kentuckians coming South to get away from the Yankees, and +to join the Confederate army; only be careful to have always some +plausible reason for going farther before joining. A great many +Kentuckians have gone South by this route, and are very heartily +received. If you will go eastward through Wartrace and Manchester, you +will get into the track they usually take, and by then turning south, +you will not appear to be heading from the Union army. If any one of you +are questioned closely, you may say you are from Fleming County, for I +happen to know that no soldiers from that county are in this part of the +country." + +All of these directions were eagerly listened to, but the closing one +afterwards bore disastrous fruit. + +One of the soldiers asked, "If any of us are suspected, and find we +can't get away, what would you ad vise us to do?" + +"Enlist without hesitation in the rebel army," was the response. "You +are fully authorized to do that, and no one of this party will be +accused of desertion, even if captured among the rebels. I would be +sorry to lose any one of you, but it will be far better that you should +serve awhile with the enemy than to acknowledge who you are, and thus +risk the disclosure of the enterprise." + +"But is it likely that we could get the chance thus to enlist?" it was +further asked. + +"Most certainly," said Andrews. "They are taking all the prisoners out +of the jails and enlisting them. They are picking up men who have run +away from the conscription wherever they can find them, and serving them +in the same manner. If you tell your story and stick to it, even if they +are not satisfied that you are telling the truth, they will put you into +the service. You can stay until some dark night on picket. But I hope +you will escape all trouble, and all meet me at Marietta safely. Break +this party up into squads of three or four, and don't recognize each +other on the way. I will ride along the same country you are travelling, +and give you any help or direction in my power. But you must not +recognize me unless sure that we are not observed." + +There was but one subject on which I cared to ask any questions, and +that related to a distant contingency. I was well informed as to the +first part of the intended enterprise. + +"Suppose we succeed in capturing the train," I said, "and in burning the +bridges, are we then to leave the train, and try to steal back to our +lines in the same way we are now going South?" + +"By no means," replied Mr. Andrews. "We will run the train right through +Chattanooga, and westward until we meet Mitchel, who by that time will +be coming eastward on the road from Memphis. If we should not quite +reach him, we will get so close that we can dash through in a body." + +This was satisfactory as far as it went, but there was still another +contingency. More than anything else I dreaded being left alone in an +unknown country. + +"If we fail to run the captured train through Chattanooga, will we then +disperse or stick together?" + +"After we meet at Marietta, we will keep together, and, if necessary, +cut our way back to our own lines. Form your squads now, and I will give +out the money." + +Swiftly we selected our companions. There was little time for choice. +Most of the men were strangers. The darkness was intense, and the +thunder-peals almost overhead. In a moment we formed six or seven little +groups. My former comrade, Ross, stood with another man or two beside +Andrews. Two men from Captain Mitchel's company and one from the next +company to that in the regimental line stood by my side. Andrews went +from group to group, giving out the money freely, and answering +questions that were still asked. When this was accomplished, he +addressed himself once more to the whole number, and we crowded around +to listen to his parting words. They gave us the fullest insight into +the whole plan we had yet received. + +"To-morrow morning," said he, "Mitchel, with his whole army, will start +on a forced march right south to Huntsville. He will capture that town +not later than Friday (it was now Monday night), and will then turn east +towards Chattanooga. We must burn the bridges south of Chattanooga the +same day, for after that, the road will be crowded with trains bringing +reinforcements against him and running property away, and our task will +be very much harder. So we have no time to lose. We must be at Marietta +on Thursday evening. The last train for that station leaves Chattanooga +at five o'clock in the afternoon. Be sure to catch it. Good-by." + +He gave each of us his hand with a hearty pressure and fervent good +wishes. Not many moments after, the storm broke over us with all its +fury. The rain fell in torrents. The last glimpse I caught of Andrews as +my party of four hurried on their prescribed course was by means of a +broad glare of lightning that made the drenched landscape for a moment +as bright as day. He had just parted from the last group and was gazing +after us. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +COMPANIONS AND INCIDENTS. + + +Who was this Mr. Andrews, from whom we had just parted in storm and +darkness,--the man from whose brain sprang the Chattanooga Railroad +Expedition, and to whose keeping we had so fearlessly committed our +lives? Few of us knew much about him at that time, but became wiser +afterwards. As he is the hero of the earlier part of this story, it may +be well to give the reader the benefit of all the information as to his +character and history subsequently obtained. + +Mr. J. J. Andrews was born in that part of Western Virginia known as the +"Pan Handle," on the eastern bank of the Ohio River, and only separated +from my own county of Jefferson by that stream. While quite young he had +removed to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, settling in Fleming +County. Here he acquired considerable wealth, but at the outbreak of +the civil war lost most of it again. While in business here he +travelled over much of the South, and became acquainted with many men +whom the war afterwards threw into prominence. At the first outbreak of +hostilities he joined the Union army, not as a soldier, but in the still +more useful and dangerous character of a spy and secret negotiator. He +accompanied General Nelson in his Eastern Kentucky campaign, on which +occasion I had seen him at Prestonburg, and afterwards he journeyed back +and forth two or three times from Nashville before the capture of that +city. He also spent several days in Fort Donelson during the week +preceding its capture by General Grant. At this place he narrowly +escaped detection. Subsequently he visited Atlanta and brought back much +valuable information. By representing himself as a blockade-runner, and +carrying southward through our lines articles of small bulk but of great +value to the enemy, he secured their confidence and brought back +information a hundredfold more valuable. This business was pecuniarily +profitable to himself as well as very serviceable to the Union army. A +Mr. Whiteman, of Nashville, afterwards testified that he had paid him +ten thousand dollars for one cargo, the most of which was clear profit. +Some of the Southern officers with whom he was intimate had bestowed +upon him passes authorizing him to come and go through their lines at +pleasure. It is not my intention to offer any apology for a man who thus +betrays the confidence even of rebels. What justice requires to be said +on this subject will find a more appropriate place in explaining the +position of those who accompanied him in his last and most perilous +journey. His occupation was one of the utmost danger, and he could not +expect much mercy if detected. He had even gone the length of taking the +oath of allegiance to the Southern Confederacy, though he was +passionately loyal to the old government. Indeed, his hatred for +secession and everything connected with it had become the more intense +from the very disguise he so frequently assumed; and the desire to work +all possible injury to that cause had far more influence in inducing him +to pursue his perilous vocation than any hope of reward. I have since +been told by Southern authorities that he acknowledged being promised +fifty thousand dollars reward in case he succeeded in destroying the +bridges from Atlanta to Chattanooga, but I never heard of such a +contract. Certainly no reward whatever was promised directly or +indirectly to the soldiers who accompanied him, and I never heard +Andrews himself speak of expecting any pecuniary recompense. + +Mr. Andrews was nearly six feet in height, of powerful frame, black +hair, and long, black, and silken beard, Roman features, a high and +expansive forehead, and a voice fine and soft as a woman's. Of polished +manners, stately presence, and more than ordinary personal beauty, wide +information, great shrewdness and sagacity, he was admirably fitted to +win favor in a community like that of the South, which has always placed +a high value on personal qualities. He had also the clear forethought in +devising complicated schemes, and the calmness in the hour of danger +necessary for the perilous game he played. Carrying his life in his hand +whenever he ventured beyond the Union pickets, involved continually in +dangers, where a single thoughtless word, or even an unguarded look, +might lead to detection and death, he had learned to rely absolutely on +his own resources, and to contemplate with easy familiarity enterprises +that would have looked like sheer madness to one without this +preliminary drill. + +But it was said that even he had grown tired of this perpetual risk, and +intended, if successful in this last and most difficult enterprise, to +retire to peaceful life. A tender influence conspired to the same end, +and imparts a dash of romance to his story. He was engaged to be married +in the following June, and intended then to retire from the army. Alas! +June had a far different fate in store for him. + +At our interview in the afternoon, as well as in the midnight +consultation, Andrews impressed me as a man who combined intellect and +refinement with the most dauntless courage. Yet his pensive manner, slow +speech, and soft voice indicated not obscurely what I afterwards found +to be almost his only fault as a leader,--a hesitancy in deciding +important questions on the spur of the moment, and in backing his +decision by prompt, vigorous action. This did not detract from his value +as a secret agent when alone, for then all his actions were premeditated +and accomplished with surpassing coolness and bravery; but it was +otherwise in commanding men in startling and unforeseen emergencies. +This trait of character will be more fully developed in the course of +the story. + +How were the soldiers selected who assembled that evening at the +rendezvous? This question was asked with curiosity and wonder by the +enemy, and is of great importance in estimating the treatment of such of +their number as were afterwards captured. The enemy could not, by their +utmost exertions, obtain correct information on this subject; but there +is now no reason for reticence. The nature of the enterprise was such +that it could not be publicly explained and volunteers called for, as it +was quite possible that spies of the enemy were in our camp; neither was +it right, according to the laws of war, to divest soldiers of their +uniform and place them under the orders of a spy without their full +consent. A medium course was adopted, which avoided the opposite +difficulties as far as possible. The captains who were ordered to +furnish each a man gathered a few of their soldiers about them in a +quiet way, and stated that a volunteer was wanted for a very dangerous +enterprise. Of those who professed willingness to go one was selected, +taken aside from the others, and told simply that he was to be sent +disguised into the heart of the enemy's country, under the orders of a +Southern citizen, whom the commanding officers trusted fully. If they +felt like engaging in this service, with all its risks, they could see +this man and learn more; but if not, they would be at liberty to decline +the dangerous honor. In one or two cases these preliminary explanations +were so vague that the men addressed did not fairly understand the +matter, and subsequently declared that if they had been more fully +informed they would not have taken the first step. After they met +Andrews, however, they felt that their reputation was at stake, and were +not willing to "back out." In one or two other cases the men were merely +selected by their captains and ordered, without any preliminary +explanations, to report to Andrews outside of the lines. + +Twenty-four men were thus detailed, twenty-three of whom met at the +rendezvous. The twenty-fourth we never heard of; whether he tried to +reach us and failed, or whether some one of the captains who was to +furnish a man was unable to induce any one to accept the dangerous +honor, is uncertain. Indeed, there must have been a failure of two men, +for we had one with us who was not originally expected to go. Captain +Mitchel had one man to furnish, and Perry G. Shadrach was chosen. +William Campbell, a native of Salineville, Ohio, but for many years a +citizen of Kentucky, a man of wild and adventurous habits, was visiting +Shadrach, and at once asked and obtained permission to go with him. +Though he was only a civilian, we always spoke of him as an enlisted +soldier of Captain Mitchel's company. + +While we are splashing along in the darkness and under the fast-falling +rain, it may be a good time to describe the members of the squad with +whom I travelled. Shadrach and Campbell were two of its members. The +former was small but roundly built, a merry, reckless fellow, often +profane, easily put out of temper, but very kind, and willing to +sacrifice anything for a friend. Campbell was physically the strongest +man of the whole party and possibly of Mitchel's division as well. He +weighed two hundred and twenty pounds, was perfectly proportioned, very +active, apparently fond of danger for its own sake, and as true as +steel. Neither of these two men possessed much skill in duplicity or +shrewdness in planning. They were willing to leave the task of asking +and answering questions to their comrades, but were always ready to bear +their full share in action. + +The third, George D. Wilson, of Cincinnati, was of very different +character. He was not highly educated, though he had read a great deal, +but in natural shrewdness I have rarely, if ever, known his equal. He +was of middle age, whilst most of us had just passed out of boyhood. He +had traveled extensively, and had observed and remembered everything he +encountered. In the use of fiery and scorching denunciations he was a +master, and took great delight in overwhelming an opponent with an +unmeasured torrent of abuse. In action he was brave and cool; no danger +could frighten him, no emergency find him unprepared. The friendship I +felt for him grew steadily until his tragic death. I depended on his +judgment and advice more than on that of any one in the whole +expedition. + +The writer was first corporal in Company G of the Second Regiment of +Ohio Volunteers, and had just been promoted to the position of sergeant. +I was twenty-two years of age, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, had +been reared on a farm, had taught school in the winters, and more +recently had entered on the study of law. My opportunities for acquiring +knowledge were very limited, but had been tolerably well improved. I had +read a good many volumes and gained a fair English education. For war +and warlike affairs I had not the slightest taste, and was indeed so +near-sighted that it was very doubtful whether I could ever make an +efficient soldier. When the call for three months' troops was made at +the bombardment of Fort Sumter, I felt that the emergency was so great +as to require the services of every patriot, and immediately enlisted. I +did not then contemplate a longer term of service, as I believed that +the government would be able to organize an adequate force within that +period from those who were better adapted to the profession of arms. My +decision to enter the ranks was not made without some forethought. Just +previous to putting my name to the enlistment paper, I took a solitary +night walk and tried to bring up in imagination all the perils and +discomforts that were possible in military service, asking myself +whether I was willing to endure any of them that might fall to my lot as +the result of the step I then contemplated. Having decided, I returned +to the mass-meeting (convened in the court-house of Steubenville, Ohio) +and entered my name as a volunteer. The company formed that night was +hurried to Washington, and on the route was organized with others into +the Second Ohio Regiment. During the three months' service our only +experience of fighting was in the badly-managed battle, or rather +skirmish, of Bull Run. On the battle-field, when the tide of fortune +turned against us, I concluded that I ought to re-enlist for two +reasons. It was hard to quit the army with no experience but that of +defeat, and the country's need of men was still urgent. When the Second +Ohio was reorganized for three years' service, I therefore continued in +the ranks. We were sent to Eastern Kentucky, and succeeded, after some +trifling engagements, in clearing that part of the State from rebels. We +were then ordered to Louisville, and greatly to my delight were put +under the command of the astronomer Mitchel. A few years before I had +studied astronomy enthusiastically, and had even gone so far as to +construct a ten-foot telescope for my own use. This similarity of tastes +led me to feel greatly delighted, and almost acquainted, with our new +general. His fame as an astronomer did not guarantee his success in war; +but the ability displayed in one profession was a hopeful indication for +the other. Our division participated in the advance upon Bowling Green +and afterwards upon Nashville. This service offered no hardship except +wintry marches, for the capture of Fort Donelson by General Grant had +broken the enemy's resistance. During this march there was not perfect +accord between Mitchel and his less energetic superior, General Buell. +Even the soldiers learned something of their disputes, and were much +gratified when, at Nashville, Mitchel was detached from the main army +and left to operate independently. In three days he marched to +Murfreesborough, where this narrative opens. + +[Illustration: WILLIAM PITTENGER. +[1882--twenty years later.] +Page 42.] + +On parting from Andrews we worked our way eastward, keeping not far from +the railroad leading to Wartrace. We did not wish to travel very far +through the rain, which was almost pouring down, but only to get well +beyond the Federal pickets, so as to have a clear track for a long +journey on the following day. We wished to elude our own pickets, not +only to avoid detention, but to gain a little practice in such work. It +was our intention to get that night beyond Wartrace, where our last +outpost in that direction was stationed; but our progress was so slow +and fatiguing that we changed our minds, and determined to find a +lodging at once. This resolution was more easily made than accomplished. + +For a long time we searched in vain. It seemed as if the country was +uninhabited. At length the barking of a dog gave a clue, which was +diligently followed. The better to prosecute the search, we formed a +line within hearing distance of each other, and then swept around in all +directions. A barn was our first discovery, but we were so completely +wet and chilled that we resolved to persevere in hope of a bed and a +fire. + +Shortly after, finding a rude, double log house, we roused the inmates +and demanded shelter for the night. The farmer was evidently alarmed, +but let us in, and then began to investigate our character. + +I narrate minutely the events that accompanied our first setting out, +not so much for their intrinsic interest, as for the sake of giving a +vivid idea of the conduct required by the nature of our expedition. This +may also be a good place to answer a question often asked, "How can the +equivocation and downright falsehood that follows be justified?" I am +not bound to attempt any formal justification; but it is easy to show +that all the moral question involved is only a branch of the larger +question as to the morality of war. In its very nature, war is +compounded of force and fraud in nearly equal quantities. If one of the +necessary ingredients be wrong, the other can hardly be right. The most +conscientious general thinks nothing of making movements with the sole +purpose of deceiving his adversary, or of writing absolutely false +despatches for the same purpose. If it be right to kill our +fellow-beings, I suppose it is also right to deceive them in order to +get a better chance to kill them! The golden rule, which is the basis of +all morality, has but little place as between hostile armies or nations. +To find where some unsuspecting persons are asleep, and steal upon them, +begin to shoot and stab before they can wake to defend themselves, +would, in peace, be thought a crime of the most dastardly and ferocious +character; but, in war, it is only a surprise, and, if successful, +confers the greatest honor upon those who plan and execute it. Are there +two sets of morals,--the one for peace, the other for war? "But," the +objector may continue, "is not a constant resort to falsehood in a +secret expedition peculiarly dishonorable?" Let us look this question +fairly in the face. All armies employ spies, and the old adage, "The +receiver is as bad as the thief," is here fully applicable. A general +who induces a man, by the hope of money or promotion, to go disguised +into the enemy's lines, with a lie in his mouth, for the general's +advantage, is a full partner in the enterprise, and cannot throw off his +share of the guilt. It is true that the laws of war throw all the odium +on the spy. But the generals, and not the spies, made the laws of war. +Besides, there is no necessary connection between the laws of war and +the laws of morality. The former are merely the rules men construct for +the regulation of the most tremendous of all their games, and can never +affect the essence of right and wrong. I do not wish to argue the +abstract right of deceiving an enemy, or of deviating from the strict +truth for any purpose whatever. It is enough for my purpose to show that +deception is an element in all war. The candid reader will also consider +that most of us were very young. The common sentiment of the camp was +that deceiving a rebel in any manner was a meritorious action. With the +full sanction of our officers, we had entered upon an expedition which +required disguise and deception. We had been expressly told that we were +not even to hesitate in joining the rebel army,--which implied taking +the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy,--if that step became +necessary to avoid detection. In the whole of this expedition we were +true to each other and to the mission upon which we had entered, but we +did not hesitate at any kind or degree of untruthfulness directed +towards the enemy. Such was the effect of our resolution in this +direction that no one, so far as I remember, ever expressed any sorrow +or remorse for any of the falsehoods that were so plentifully employed. +Indeed, while the war lasted, I did not find a single person, in the +army or out, who ever criticised our expedition from the _moral_ +stand-point. There seemed to be some kind of an instinctive feeling that +the revolted States had forfeited all their rights by rebellion,--even +that of having the truth told to them. I confess that deception was very +painful to me at first, and from inclination, as well as policy, I used +it as sparingly as possible. But practice made it comparatively easy +and pleasant, within the limits indicated above. + +We did not wait for all these reasonings before we began to practise +deception upon our host. He was informed that we were Kentuckians, +disgusted with the tyranny of the Lincoln government, and seeking an +asylum in the free and independent South. His reply was a grateful +surprise. "Oh," said he, "you come on a bootless errand, and might as +well go home again and make the best of it. The whole South will soon be +as much under Lincoln as Kentucky is." + +"Never!" we answered. "We'll fight till we die, first!" + +At this the old man chuckled quietly, but only said, "Well, we'll see, +we'll see." We found him to be an enthusiastic Union man, but firmly +maintained our own assumed character. He provided us with a good supper, +late as it was, and with good beds, which we refused to occupy until he +had promised not to betray us to the Union pickets. + +The next morning we were early on our way, reaching Wartrace in the +midst of a pelting storm. Attempting to pass directly through, our +soldiers on guard were too vigilant for us, and we enjoyed another +opportunity for "diplomacy," in the endeavor to represent ourselves as +innocent citizens from the adjoining country. But it was more difficult +to deceive our own men than the enemy, and, to avoid detection, we were +obliged to reveal our true character, which secured our immediate +release. + +We plodded onward through the deep mud and splashing roads, and were now +outside our own lines. Our only safety, from this time, lay in our +disguise and in our false tongues. We felt not unlike the landsman who +for the first time loses sight of the shore, and feels the heaving of +the broad ocean under his feet. To the average Northern citizen a vague +mystery and terror had rested over the whole of the Southern States, +even before the beginning of the war. During the existence of slavery no +Northern man dared make his home in the presence of that institution and +express any views unfavorable to it. Many tales of violence and blood +were reported from that region long before hostilities began, and as the +passions which led to the contest grew more fierce, the shadows still +deepened. When war began the curtain fell, and only reports of wild and +desperate enthusiasm in behalf of the cause of disunion and slavery, +with stories of the most cruel oppression of the few who dared to differ +with the ruling class in still loving the old flag, reached Northern +ears. No doubt there were many exaggerations, but there was a solid +basis of fact. The South was swept with a revolutionary frenzy equal to +any that history recalls, and the people were ready to sacrifice any one +whose life seemed dangerous to their cause. Even exaggeration was potent +as truth in aiding to invest the region beyond the Union lines with +mysterious horror. Into this land of peril and fear and frequent outrage +we were plunging as the secret but deadly enemies of the whole people. +Now, when Chattanooga and Atlanta are brought into such easy +communication with Northern cities, it is difficult to recall the +feelings with which they were regarded in the dark days of eighteen +hundred and sixty-two. But hope and courage outweighed apprehension in +our hearts, and we pushed rapidly forward. + +Others of our party were occasionally seen trudging along in the dreary +rain, and sometimes we went with them a little way, but mostly we kept +by ourselves. Shortly after noon we crossed Duck River, and entered +Manchester, stopping just long enough to get the names of some of the +prominent secessionists along our proposed route, that we might always +have some one to inquire for, and be recommended from one influential +man to another. Nightfall this evening (Tuesday) found us still several +miles from Hillsborough, and we began to fear that we would be behind +time in reaching our destination. Each one was weary and stiff, but we +resolved to make every effort, and, if necessary, travel a whole night +rather than be too late. I have always been sorry that this night +journey was not required of us. + +At the place where we lodged that night I first heard a slave-holder +talk of hunting negroes with blood-hounds. In conversation after supper +our host said to us, as a mere matter of news, "I saw some persons +dodging about the back of the plantation just as it was getting dark, +and in the morning I will take the hounds and go out and hunt them up. I +will be glad to have you go along and see the sport, if you can afford +the time. If they prove to be negroes I will make something." + +"What will you do with them?" I asked. + +"Oh, turn them over to the authorities and get the reward," was the +answer. "I have caught a considerable number, and it pays to keep on the +lookout." + +Of course we had to agree outwardly; but the idea of hunting human +beings with the ferocious-looking dogs we had seen about his door, and +that for money, thrilled me with detestation and horror. Soon afterwards +we found that blood-hounds were not kept for negroes alone. + +After a sound night's rest we continued our journey, and were fortunate +enough to find a man who was willing, for the good of the Confederacy, +and for an extravagant price in money, to give us a short ride. The +conveyance was an old wagon, with a wood-rack for a bed, four mules, +with a scanty chain harness, ropes for bridles and lines, a driver black +as ebony, who rode the lead mule, with a straw bag for a saddle, and +flourished a fine black-snake whip,--the latter the only really good +article in the whole "turnout." Seven or eight of our party were now +together, and we rattled merrily over the stony road, holding on to the +sides of the old wood-rack, and agreeing that this was much better than +walking. About the middle of the forenoon we came in sight of the +Cumberland Mountains. It was now Wednesday, our second day outside of +our own lines. + +Never have I beheld more beautiful scenery. For a short time the rain +ceased to fall and the air became clear. The mountains shone in the +freshest green, and about their tops clung a soft, shadowy mist, +gradually descending lower, and shrouding one after another of the spurs +and high mountain valleys from view. But the beautiful scene did not +long continue. Soon the mist deepened into cloud, and the interminable +rain began again to fall. To add to our discontent, our wagon could go +no farther, and we once more waded in the mud. + +At noon we found a dinner of the coarsest fare at a miserable one-roomed +hut. One of our men, not belonging, however, to the squad I usually +travelled with, managed to get possession of a bottle of apple-brandy, +which he used so freely as to become very talkative. He was placed +between two others, who kept him from all communication with strangers, +and walked him rapidly on until he became sober. This was the only +instance of such dangerous imprudence in the whole journey. + +From the personal narrative of J. Alfred Wilson, who was with us by this +time, I will make frequent extracts, though by no means always indorsing +his opinions as to military affairs, or the hopefulness of our +enterprise. He was a man of great resolution and endurance, though by no +means of hopeful temper. He says,-- + + "Not till fairly away from the sight of the old flag and of + our regiments, and entirely within the enemy's line, could we + begin to realize the great responsibility we had incurred. To + begin with, we had cast aside our uniforms and put on citizen's + clothes, and assumed all the penalties that, in military usage, + the word _spy_ implies, which is death the world over. Again, + our mission was such that concealment was impossible. We were + sure to arouse the whole Confederacy and invoke the brutal + vengeance of its frenzied leaders in case we did not make good + our escape after doing our work. The military spy, in the + ordinary line of his duty, is not compelled to expose himself + to detection. On the contrary, he conceals, in every possible + way, his identity. This we could do until in the heart of the + enemy's country, the very place where we would be in the + greatest danger." + +Some of the groups fell into the natural error of overdoing their part, +and by the very violence with which they denounced the United States +government excited suspicion. One party of five or six made a narrow +escape from this kind of danger. Their talk was too extravagant and +their answers to some questions somewhat contradictory. As none but +citizens were then present, no objections were made to their statements; +but a company of rebel guerillas was secretly summoned, and they were +pursued. The guerillas arrived at a house where this party had passed +the night but a few moments after they had resumed their journey in the +morning. The pursuit was continued; but growing somewhat weary, and +receiving more reassuring accounts of the travellers ahead, the chase +was abandoned, and our comrades escaped. + +Two others of our number were less fortunate. They became involved in +the same manner, were followed, overtaken, and arrested. They told their +Kentucky story in vain, but as they professed their willingness to +enlist in the rebel army, that privilege was granted them. They were +sent to the nearest post and duly sworn in. Not long afterwards they +took the step that had been in their minds at the hour of enlistment by +endeavoring to desert. One of them succeeded, but the other was +arrested, and had to suffer a long and severe imprisonment. Finally, +however, he was sent back to camp, and his next attempt at desertion was +more successful. + +In conversation my own group was careful to take a very moderate though +decided Southern tone. It was agreed that Wilson and myself should, as +far as possible, do all the talking when in the presence of the enemy. +On entering towns it was our custom to go directly to the street corners +and the groceries, inquire for the latest news, tell our Kentucky story +as often as it seemed necessary, deny some of the reports of Union +outrages and confirm others, assuring the bystanders that the Yankees +were not half so bad as reported, and especially that they would fight, +as otherwise they would never have conquered our great State of +Kentucky, and then demand, in the name of the common cause of the South, +direction and assistance on our way. We thus acquired much information, +and were never once suspected. It is my deliberate opinion that we could +have travelled from Richmond to New Orleans in the same manner at that +period of the war. + +A little way out from our camp Dorsey met a man who seemed to be a +Southern spy, and on the strength of this suspicion was strongly tempted +to shoot him to prevent the irreparable harm he might do us. A little +watching, however, partly dispelled first impressions. The same man +afterwards offered Wilson a liberal reward to pilot him over the +mountains, and actually claimed to be a Confederate spy. Wilson kept +with him for a time and watched him narrowly, but became convinced that +he had not the least suspicion of our expedition. He allowed him, +therefore, to go on his way in peace. It is possible that he was not +what he pretended, any more than we ourselves were Kentucky citizens. +This man was met once more in Chattanooga, but then disappeared. + +As we were mounting the first spurs of the Cumberland Mountains we +encountered a Confederate soldier from the East, who was then at home on +a furlough. He had been in many battles, among them the battle of Bull +Run, which he described minutely. Little did he think that I, too, had +been there, as we laughed together at the wild panic of the fugitive +Yankees. He was greatly delighted to see so many Kentuckians coming out +on the right side in the great struggle, and contrasted our conduct with +that of some mean-spirited persons in his own neighborhood who were so +foolish and depraved as to still sympathize with the abolitionists. + +When we parted he grasped my hand with tears in his eyes, and said he +hoped "the time would soon come when we would be comrades, fighting side +by side in one glorious cause!" My heart revolted from the hypocrisy I +was compelled to use, but having begun there was no possibility of +turning back. We clambered up the mountain till the top was reached; +then across the level summit for six miles; then down again by an +unfrequented road over steep rocks, yawning chasms, and great gullies +cut out by recent rains. This rough jaunt led us down into Battle Creek, +which is a picturesque valley opening out into the Tennessee, and hemmed +in by projecting ranges of lofty mountains. As we descended the slopes, +a countryman we had overtaken told me how the valley had obtained its +name. The legend is very romantic, and probably truthful. + +There was an Indian war between two neighboring tribes in early times. +One of them made a plundering expedition into the territory of the +other, and after securing their booty retreated homeward. They were +promptly pursued, and traced to this valley. The pursuers believed them +to be concealed within its rocky limits, and to make their capture sure +divided their force into two bands, each of which crept along the steep +opposite sides towards the head of the valley. It was early in the +morning, and as they worked their way cautiously along the mountain mist +rolled downward as we had seen it do that morning, and enveloped each of +the parties in its folds. Determined not to be foiled, they kept on, and +meeting at the head of the valley, each supposed the other to be the +foe. They poured in their fire, and a deadly conflict ensued. Not till +the greater number of their braves had fallen did the survivors discover +their sad mistake; then they slowly and sorrowfully retreated to their +wigwams. The plunderers, who had listened to their conflict in safety, +being higher up the mountain, were left to bear off their booty in +triumph. + +But we had little leisure for legendary tales. We rested for the night +with a wealthy secessionist, whom our soldier friend on the mountains +had designated as "the right kind of a man." He received us with open +arms, and shared the best his house afforded. We spent the evening in +denouncing the policy of the Federal government and in exchanging views +as to the prospects of the war. Among other topics I happened to mention +an expatriation law which, as I had learned from a newspaper paragraph, +had been passed by the Kentucky Legislature a few weeks before. This law +only made the reasonable provision that all persons going South to join +the rebel army should lose their rights of State citizenship. The old +man thought this to be an act of unparalleled oppression; and in the +morning, before we were out of bed, he came into our room and requested +some of us to write down that infamous law that he might be able to give +his Union neighbors a convincing proof of Yankee wickedness! We +complied, and all signed our names as witnesses. No doubt that document +was long the theme of angry discussion in many a mountain cabin. + +So thoroughly did we maintain our assumed character in this instance, +that three days after, when the culmination of our enterprise came to +the Confederates like a clap of thunder out of a clear sky, it was +impossible to make our host believe that his guests were among the +adventurers. This we learned from a Union man to whom he had shown a +copy of the terrible expatriation law! + +We were still more than forty miles distant from Chattanooga on this +Wednesday evening, and were due at that place by five o'clock the next +day. On each of the two preceding days we had measured about thirty +miles,--a good rate of speed, but not sufficient. We had formed the +resolution of taking a night journey of ten or fifteen miles, but before +starting after supper, another squad arrived and managed to tell us that +they had seen Andrews and been informed that the grand enterprise was +postponed one day. This was a great relief, for it was hard to tear away +from our comfortable quarters; but this delay was a serious mistake. In +all combined movements in war, time is of prime importance. On the +appointed Friday success would have been easy; on Saturday--but we must +not anticipate. + +Andrews had also caused the advice to be passed along the line that it +would be better to attempt to cross the Tennessee at some point far west +of Chattanooga, and taking passage on the Memphis and Charleston +Railroad, endeavor to pass through Chattanooga by rail. He had heard of +stringent orders being issued against any one crossing the river near +this town without a pass. Farther down the stream these orders might not +apply, or, in case of necessity, a raft might be constructed among the +wooded mountains, and a passage obtained by that means. + +About noon of the next day we came to Jasper, and spent a short time in +the principal grocery of the place talking over the state of the +country. We informed the idlers that there would soon be a mighty +uprising of Kentuckians in favor of the Southern cause, but professed +ignorance of the movements of Mitchel's army. In return we received the +first vague reports of the battle of Pittsburg Landing. It was the +impression that the Union army was totally destroyed, thousands of men +being slain, and innumerable cannon captured. One countryman assured me +that five hundred Yankee gunboats had been sunk! I ventured to suggest a +doubt as to the Yankees having so many, but was not able to shake his +faith. + +The same night we reached the banks of the Tennessee, directly south of +Jasper, and lodged at the house of a Mrs. Hall. A flat-boat owned by one +of the neighbors was used as a ferry-boat, and arrangements were made +for setting us on the other side of the stream early in the morning. The +evening spent here was very enjoyable. Others of our party came in, and +among them Andrews himself. After a good supper, we were all assigned to +the best room, which had a roaring wood-fire in an open chimney, and two +large beds in the corners. We met without any outward sign of +recognition, but rapidly became acquainted. Each acted according to his +own nature. The bountiful supper and the cheerful fire greatly refreshed +us after the labor of the day. My companion, Shadrach, was soon +acknowledged as the wit of the party, and received perpetual applause +for his mirthful sallies. Andrews was silent, but appeared to greatly +enjoy the fun. Dorsey, who had great forethought and prudence, and had +decided that it was good policy, even among his comrades, to appear as +ignorant as possible, felt highly complimented when told that his group +had been described to some of the others who followed as "a party of +country Jakes." Wilson gave us all the information wanted on every +possible subject. Songs were sung, stories were told, and as the family +formed part of the fireside company, many of the incidents may not have +been quite authentic. Late at night this social evening's entertainment +closed. It was the more highly appreciated as it was the first +opportunity most of us had enjoyed of becoming acquainted with our +leader and with each other. + +In the morning Andrews started up the river on horseback. The flat-boat +was bailed out, and we were just entering it, when a mounted man +appeared and handed the ferryman an order forbidding him to allow any +one to cross the river at his ferry for three days. We tried to get an +exception made in our favor, as we had contracted with him the evening +before, but he was unwilling to assume the risk. The messenger gave us +the reason for the order, and a most interesting piece of news it was. +General Mitchel was moving rapidly southward for some unknown object, +and it was desirable on that account to stop all intercourse with the +country beyond the river. The messenger volunteered the comforting +assurance that "these brave Kentuckians will no doubt find a warm +welcome at Chattanooga," and gave us the best directions in his power +for reaching that point. We concealed our disappointment, and as soon as +we were alone debated as to the best course to be taken. Two +alternatives only were open. One was to build or seize a raft or boat +and cross in defiance of the order. This was easy enough in the night, +but in daytime it would be very hazardous, and that day, until five +o'clock in the afternoon, was the only time at our disposal. We +therefore took the only remaining course, and dispersing, hurried over +the mountains towards Chattanooga. + +Our journey was far from pleasant, as the rocky mountain-spurs here +sweep directly down to the bank of this very crooked river. Several +times we lost our way in the entanglements of the woods, but at length +reached a valley that ran down to the Tennessee directly opposite +Chattanooga. The road was now more frequented, and we talked freely with +travellers, for all fear of being detected by those we chanced to meet +had long since been dissipated. + +One countryman related a very interesting item of news from the war in +the East. It was to the effect that the Confederate iron-clad "Merrimac" +had one day steamed out into the harbor of Fortress Monroe, and after +engaging the Union "Monitor" for some hours, with no decisive result, +had run alongside of her opponent, and throwing grappling-irons on +board, had towed her ashore, where she, of course, fell an easy prey. +This may serve as a specimen of the kind of news we perpetually heard +while in the Confederate States. + +Quite a number of persons--many of them of our own party--were waiting +on the banks of the Tennessee River. The assemblage of so many of us on +that side of the river was very unfortunate, as it materially increased +the risk of discovery; but a very high wind was blowing, and the +ferryman feared to risk his little shackly "horse-boat" on the turbulent +stream. Our time was nearly exhausted, and we could not afford to wait +very long. We urged the boatman very strenuously to set us over at once, +but he wished to delay until the wind fell. Nothing as yet had been said +to us about passes, but this was explained mentally by the conjecture +that there was a guard on the other side, whose inspection we would be +obliged to pass,--a more formidable ordeal than we had yet encountered. +When requests for a speedy passage failed to move the ferryman, we +changed our tactics, and talked in his hearing of the cowardice of +Tennessee boatmen as contrasted with Kentuckians, or even the Ohio +Yankees. When twelve or sixteen men deliberately attempt to make one man +angry, they can generally succeed. The boatman soon tired of our +raillery, and, entering his boat, told us to come on and show what we +could do by lending him a hand, adding that he would put us over or +drown us, he did not care much which. The invitation was promptly +accepted, and by pushing with poles and pulling on the limbs of +overhanging trees we moved up the stream to a point judged most +favorable, and swung out into the waves. The ride was short and not +without danger, but the peril on the other side was so much greater that +we had little thought to give to the passage. "How should we meet and +deceive the guard?" This was the important question. Our surprise was +almost equal to our delight when we landed and found no one to bar our +progress. The explanation was perfectly simple. The guard had not been +placed that afternoon because it was not believed that any one would +attempt to cross in the storm. Wondering at our good fortune, we hurried +to the cars, and were in time to procure tickets for Marietta before the +departure of the train, which was crowded with passengers, many of them +Confederate soldiers. In such a crowd it was easy to avoid notice. + +Every seat in the cars was filled, and we had to be contented with +standing room. The fumes of whiskey and tobacco were very strong. +Talking was loud and incessant, and turned mostly upon the great battle +of Shiloh, the accounts of which were by no means so extravagant as at +first, though a great victory was still claimed. We took part in the +conversation freely, judging this to be the best way of maintaining our +assumed disguise. No general system of passports had been brought into +use, at least in this part of the South, and railway travel was entirely +unrestricted. + +The sun was about an hour high when we glided out of the depot, and it +soon sank to rest behind the hills of Georgia. The time for our perilous +attempt drew near. There was some diversity of opinion among the members +of the party, as revealed by conversations both before and after, as to +the prospects of success. The most of us felt some solicitude, but were +far more hopeful than when we left camp. So many incidents had occurred +substantially as they had been planned, that trust in the foresight of +our leader, with the assurance that all would come out right, was +greatly strengthened. The first feeling of strangeness which followed +our plunge into the enemy's country had given way to confidence in the +impenetrability of our mental disguise. For my own part I scarcely felt +a doubt of success. It seemed to me that a dozen modes of escape were +open in the improbable event of failure. I saw the dangers surrounding +us clearly, but none of them now appeared more formidable than when I +first asked Colonel Harris the privilege of joining the expedition. +There were many bridges on the road we passed over, and we could not +help picturing our return on the morrow and the vengeance we proposed +wreaking on them. Darkness closed in, and on we went amid the oaths and +laughter of the rebels, many of whom were very much intoxicated. I +procured a seat on the coal-box and gave myself up to the thoughts +suggested by the hour. There was now no need of trying to keep up +conversation with those around. Visions of former days and friends--dear +friends, both around the camp-fires and the hearths of home, whom I +might never see again--floated before me. I also heard much talk of the +merits of different States and regiments in the contest, and many +discussions of the conscript law, which was just now coming into force. +The opinion of the greater number of the soldiers seemed to be that +while the provisions of the law were right in compelling all to take a +part in the burdens of the conflict, yet that it would be of but little +service, as the unwilling soldiers, who were thus forced into the ranks, +would be no match for volunteers. Little did they imagine that in this +terrible law their rulers had found a weapon which would enable them to +repulse the Northern armies at every point, and protract the war for +three years longer! + +[Illustration: CHATTANOOGA AND +RAILROAD CONNECTIONS.] + +At this time the Union cause seemed most hopeful. All appearances +indicated a speedy termination of the war and a complete +re-establishment of the old government. Few great battles had taken +place, but the preponderance of fortune as well as force seemed +everywhere on the loyal side. In the West, our armies had during the +last three months penetrated almost half-way to the Gulf; McClellan was +preparing to move with overwhelming force towards Richmond; Burnside was +dealing hard blows on the North Carolina coast; the force which captured +New Orleans was already on the way; and at no point were the rebel +forces a fair match for their opponents. Volunteering had almost stopped +in the South, while recruits were pouring as a steady stream into the +Northern armies, and continued to do so for a year longer. A rebellion +almost isolated and placed everywhere on the defensive could not hope +for long life unless new resources were discovered. The rebel leaders +well knew this, and therefore passed the conscription law. + +It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that there were two wars waged +between the North and the South. The first was between the two people by +means of volunteers, and the second between the two governments. For the +first year the soldiers fought on both sides with scarcely a thought of +pay or bounty, and without a hint of compulsion. But the South had +reached the end of this period, and her volunteers were beaten and +exhausted. This was not from any want of bravery on their part, but +because of inferior numbers, and because, having less at stake than the +volunteers of the North, they could less willingly support adverse +fortune. Now the new law was enacted at the South which put all the +able-bodied population at the service of the State. The advantages were +immediate and obvious. All the volunteers who had enlisted for a limited +time were retained. The depleted organizations were filled up to their +full strength, instead of waiting for the recruiting of new regiments, +and the conscripts thus became, in a few days, the equals of old +soldiers. The second year of the war, in which the Northern volunteers +fought the whole force the Southern States could bring into the field, +was, on the whole, the most unfavorable of any period to the loyal arms. +It became clear that the supremacy of the Union could not be restored +unless the same potent weapon could be employed on her behalf. From the +hour that the possibility of this was demonstrated, and a draft +successfully enforced by the Union government, the issue was virtually +decided. Despair might protract the contest, but the utter exhaustion of +Southern resources was only a question of time. Was it necessary to +permit the war to pass from the first into the second stage? Might not +the victory of the Union volunteers have been pushed so rapidly as to +have prevented the South from enforcing the conscription law over any +considerable portion of her territory, and thus have ended the contest +at once? These were questions of tremendous importance, which could only +be answered in the months of April and May, 1862. Then was a golden +opportunity which once lost could only be regained by years of desperate +fighting. A half-dozen great victories in midsummer would be of less +real value than a vigorous advance in the spring, which should at once +discourage the enemy, while at the lowest point of his fortunes, and +prevent the recruiting of his armies by conscription. It has often been +said that the North did not win any decisive advantage until the +abolition of slavery. This is true, but it does not in the least +contradict the view just advanced. That great measure committed the +North absolutely to the conquest of the South, and thus led to exertions +adequate to the end sought. Yet we must conclude, reasoning from a +military point of view only, that if _the same_ exertions had been put +forth earlier, they would have been even more speedily effective. + +These considerations, which were but dimly, if at all, realized as we +glided along in the darkness through the heart of the rebel country, +will render more intelligible the vast importance attributed by +competent military authorities to the expedition in which we were +engaged. If we burned the bridges on the morrow, General Mitchel would +certainly capture Chattanooga within three or four days, and spread his +power over East Tennessee and all the adjoining loyal districts. The +people of this section, now thoroughly alarmed and enraged by the +conscription, would enlist under his banner by tens of thousands. Seven +regiments had already been formed by East Tennesseeans, who, under +circumstances of the greatest difficulty, had run away into Kentucky. +The communications of the Eastern and the Western rebel armies would be +cut; and to destroy those armies in detail would only require the +vigorous advance of the forces already opposed to them. This was a +brilliant prospect to set before an expedition composed of only +twenty-four men; but there is in it nothing beyond the realm of +probability, and as I thought of the mere possibility of such +achievements I felt that we might afford to despise all personal danger. +To deliver a territory occupied by nearly a million citizens from +conscription; to place an army in the most important strategical +position in the rebel territory, for such Chattanooga was; to give the +command of the great continental system of railways into the hands of +our own troops, and to paralyze the plans of the enemy; these were, +indeed, almost incredible results to flow from such a cause; but we +believed then that such would be the meaning of our success. The reader +who will study attentively the military situation as it was in 1862, +with the railroads then existing, and add the fact that the Southern +armies were then depleted to the lowest point reached during the +struggle, will not be disposed to smile at such possibilities. It is +certain that in the first hour of panic, caused by our attempt, the +Confederates themselves acknowledged, not in words only, but in the most +significant actions, the deadly peril to which they had been exposed. + +With such thoughts the hours passed not unpleasantly. I noticed that we +were making very slow time, and afterwards learned that this was general +on Southern roads. The absorption in warlike affairs and the scarcity of +iron and all other material, as well as of money, had caused the +managers of the railroads to let them fall into bad repair, and this +necessitated a low rate of speed. The fastest train on this road did not +get beyond eighteen miles an hour. This was a decidedly unfavorable +element in the problem we were to solve. Some of the adventurers were +even less favorably impressed with our prospects than I was. The immense +business of the road, which had become one of the most important in the +whole South, rendered the running of a train when we captured it much +more difficult. We saw many freight trains lying at the stations, and +everything indicated that the capacity of this line of rail was being +pressed to the utmost. Sergeant Ross and Alfred Wilson took the most +gloomy view of our prospects of success, and even sought an opportunity, +soon after, to dissuade Andrews from going any further in it. The latter +thus explains his own feelings,-- + + "After getting seated, and there being no further cause of + concern for the time being, I began to carefully study over the + situation with all the thought I could, and to calculate our + chances of success or failure. The result of my deliberations + was by no means encouraging. We were one day behind the time + appointed. I knew, too, or felt sure, that General Mitchel + would not fail to march upon and take Huntsville, according to + the arrangement made when we started. I also felt that if he + did so there would be little room to hope for our success. It + would cause the roads to be crowded with trains flying from + danger, and it would be difficult to pass them all in safety. + But it was too late now to change the programme. We must make + the effort, come what might. I said nothing, however, to any + one but Andrews; but on listening to my opinion on the + situation, he encouraged me by saying there was yet a good + chance to succeed. Indeed, he expressed himself in so sanguine + a manner that I made no further argument; but I still thought + my course of reasoning correct, whether the event should accord + with it or not." + +From the soldiers and others in the train we received a rumor which was +full of startling interest to us,--nothing less than the reported +capture of Huntsville by General Mitchel. Much incredulity was +expressed, and details were wanting. His force was reported at +twenty-five or thirty thousand men,--an extravagant but not unnatural +over-estimate. We had no doubt of the truth of the report, though it +would have better suited us if he also had been detained for one day, or +even more. + +It was near nine o'clock when the train reached the supper station. +After all our fatigue we were well prepared to do justice to the +bountiful meal that was spread. But there was such a rush for the table +that several of our party were unable to get near it, and had therefore +to continue their fast. The writer was more fortunate. Buffum, who was +crowded back on account of his small size, managed to stoop down and +slip up under the arm of a rebel officer just as the latter was rising +from the table, and thus took his place while a half-dozen hungry +travellers rushed for it. There was some laughing, and Buffum was +applauded for his "Yankee trick," more than he would have been had it +been known that he was actually a native of Massachusetts, and then +engaged in the Federal service. + +The train rushed on after we left the supper station, and as I had +managed to get a good meal and also a comfortable seat in the changing, +all reflections and dangers were soon forgotten in a sound sleep, from +which I only awakened when the conductor shouted "Marietta!" It was then +almost midnight, and the goal was reached. This was, for the present, +the utmost boundary of our journey. We were now in the centre of the +Confederacy, and before we departed had a blow to strike that would +either make all rebeldom vibrate from centre to circumference or leave +us at the mercy of the merciless. But the first thing to be done was to +snatch a short repose preparatory to the hard work of the morrow. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A LOCOMOTIVE AND TRAIN CAPTURED. + + +The greater number of us arranged to pass the night at a small hotel +adjoining the Marietta depot. Before retiring we left orders with the +hotel clerk to rouse us in time for the northward bound train, due not +long after daylight. Notwithstanding our novel situation, I never slept +more soundly. Good health, extreme fatigue, and the feeling that the die +was now cast and further thought useless, made me sink into slumber +almost as soon as I touched the bed. Others equally brave and determined +were affected in a different way. Alfred Wilson says,-- + + "No man knows what a day may bring forth, and the very + uncertainty of what that day's sun would bring forth in our + particular cases was the reason that some of us, myself at + least of the number, did not sleep very much. Our doom might be + fixed before the setting of another sun. We might be hanging to + the limbs of some of the trees along the railroad, with an + enraged populace jeering and shouting vengeance because we had + no more lives to give up; or we might leave a trail of fire and + destruction behind us, and come triumphantly rolling into + Chattanooga and Huntsville, within the Federal lines, to + receive the welcome plaudits of comrades left behind, and the + thanks of our general, and the praises of a grateful people. + Such thoughts as these passed in swift review, and were not + calculated to make one sleep soundly." + +As the hotel was much crowded, we obtained a few rooms in close +proximity, and crowded them to their utmost capacity. Andrews noted our +rooms before retiring, that he might, if necessary, seek any one of us +out for consultation before we rose. Porter and Hawkins were +unfortunately overlooked; they had arrived on an earlier train and +obtained lodging at some distance from the depot. The clerk failed to +have them called in time for the morning train, as they had ordered, +and, greatly to their regret and chagrin, they were left behind. This +was a serious loss, as they were both cool, brave men, and Hawkins was +the most experienced railway engineer of our company. W. F. Brown, who +took his place in this work, was, however, fully competent, though +possibly somewhat less cautious. + +Long before the train was due, Andrews, who had slept little, if at all, +that night, glided from room to room silently as a ghost, the doors +being purposely left unfastened, and aroused the slumberers. It seemed +to some of us scarcely a moment from the time of retiring until he came +thus to the bedside of each sleeper in turn, and cautiously wakening +him, asked his name, to prevent the possibility of mistake, and then +told each one exactly the part he was expected to take in the enterprise +of the day. There was hasty dressing, and afterwards an informal meeting +held in Andrews' room, at which nearly one-half of the whole number were +present, and plans were more fully discussed. Then Marion A. Ross, one +of the most determined of the whole number, took the bold step of +advising and even urging the abandonment, for the present, of the whole +enterprise. He reasoned with great force that under present +circumstances, with the rebel vigilance fully aroused by Mitchel's rapid +advance, with guards stationed around the train we were to capture, as +we had learned would be the case at Big Shanty, and with the road itself +obstructed by numerous trains, the enterprise was sure to fail, and +would cost the life of every man engaged in it. Andrews very gently +answered his arguments and strove to show that the objections urged +really weighed in favor of the original plan. No such attempt as we +purposed had ever been made, and consequently would not be guarded +against; the presence of a line of sentinels and of so many troops at +Big Shanty would only tend to relax vigilance still further; and the +great amount of business done on the road, with the running of many +unscheduled trains, would screen us from too close inquiry when we ran +our train ahead of time. This reasoning was not altogether satisfactory, +and some of the others joined Ross in a respectful but firm protest +against persisting in such a hopeless undertaking. But Andrews, speaking +very low, as was his wont when thoroughly in earnest, declared that he +had once before postponed the attempt, and returned to camp disgraced. +"Now," he continued, "I will accomplish my purpose or leave my bones to +bleach in Dixie. But I do not wish to control any one against his own +judgment. If any of you think it too hazardous, you are perfectly at +liberty to take the train in the opposite direction and work your way +back to camp as you can." + +This inflexible determination closed the discussion, and as no man was +willing to desert his leader, we all assured him of our willingness to +obey his orders to the death. I had taken no part in the discussion, as +I was not in possession of sufficient facts to judge of the chance of +success, and I wished the responsibility to rest upon the leader, where +it properly belonged. + +The train was now nearly due, and we proceeded to the station for the +purchase of tickets. By the time they had been procured--not all for one +place, as we wished to lessen the risk of suspicion--the train swept up +to the platform. Hastily glancing at it in the early morning light, and +seeing only that it was very long and apparently well filled, the twenty +adventurers entered by different doors, but finally took their places in +one car. + +From Marietta to Big Shanty the railroad sweeps in a long bend of eight +miles around the foot of Kenesaw Mountain, which lies directly between +the two stations. This elevation is now scarred all over with rebel +intrenchments, and was the scene of one of the severest contests of the +war. This, however, as well as the whole of the three months' struggle +from Chattanooga to Atlanta, came a year and a half later. At this time +the nearest Federal soldiers were more than two hundred miles away. + +When the train moved on and the conductor came to take our tickets we +observed him carefully, as we knew not how closely his fate and ours +might be linked together in the approaching struggle. The most vivid +anticipation fell far short of the reality. Upon the qualities of that +one man our success or failure hinged. He was quite young--not more than +twenty-three or four,--and looked like a man of resolution and energy. +We noticed that he was also scrutinizing us and the other passengers +very closely, and naturally feared that he had in some manner been put +on his guard. In fact, as we learned long afterwards, he had been warned +that some of the new conscripts who were reluctant to fight for the +Confederacy were contemplating an escape, and might try to get a ride on +the cars. His orders were to watch for all such and arrest them at once. +But he did not think that any of the men who got on at Marietta looked +in the least like conscripts or deserters. + +The train ran slowly, stopping at several intervening points, and did +not reach Big Shanty until it was fully daylight. This station had been +selected for the seizure, because the train breakfasted there, and it +was probable that many of the employés and passengers would leave it for +their meal, thus diminishing the opposition we might expect. Another +most important reason for the selection was the absence of any telegraph +office. But, on the other hand, Camp McDonald had been lately located +here, and a large body of soldiers--some accounts said as many as ten +thousand men--were already assembled. Their camp included the station +within the guard-line. When Andrews and the first party had been at +Atlanta, three weeks earlier, few troops had yet arrived at this point. +The capture of a train in the midst of a camp of the enemy was not a +part of the original plan, but subsequently became necessary. It was +certainly a great additional element of danger, but it was not now +possible to substitute any other point. + +The decisive hour had arrived. It is scarcely boastful to say that the +annals of history record few enterprises more bold and novel than that +witnessed by the rising sun of Saturday morning, April 12, 1862. Here +was a train, with several hundred passengers, with a full complement of +hands, lying inside a line of sentinels, who were distinctly seen pacing +back and forth in close proximity, to be seized by a mere score of men, +and to be carried away before the track could be obstructed, or the +intruding engineer shot down at his post. Only the most careful +calculation and prompt execution, concentrating the power of the whole +band into a single lightning-like stroke, could afford the slightest +prospect of success. In the bedroom conference every action was +predetermined with the nicest accuracy. Our engineer and his assistant +knew the signal at which to start; the brakesmen had their work +assigned; the man who was to uncouple the cars knew just the place at +which to make the separation; the remainder of the number constituted a +guard, in two divisions, who were to stand with ready revolvers abreast +of the cars to be seized, and shoot down without hesitation any one who +attempted to interfere with the work. Andrews was to command the whole, +and do any part of the work not otherwise provided for. Should there be +any unexpected hindrance, we were to fight until we either overcame all +opposition and captured the train or perished in a body. If we failed to +carry off our prize we were inevitably lost; if any man failed to be on +board when the signal was given, his fate also was sealed. A delay of +thirty seconds after our designs became clearly known would have +resulted in the slaughter of the whole party. + +When our train rolled up to the platform the usual announcement was +shouted, "Big Shanty; twenty minutes for breakfast!" Most fortunately +for us, the conductor, engineer, firemen, and train-hands generally, +with many of the passengers, poured out, and hurried to the long, low +eating-room which gave its name to the station. The engine was utterly +unguarded. This uncommon carelessness was the result of perfect +security, and greatly favored our design. Yet it was a thrilling moment! +Victory or death hung on the next minute! There was no chance for +drawing back, and I do not think any of us had the disposition. A little +while before, a sense of shrinking came over the writer like that +preceding a plunge into ice-water; but with the next breath it passed +away, and left me as calm and quiet as if no enemy had been within a +hundred miles. Still, for a moment, we kept our seats. Andrews went +forward to examine the track and see if there was any hindrance to a +rapid rush ahead. Almost immediately he returned, and said, very +quietly, "All right, boys; let us go now." There was nothing in this to +attract special observation; but whether it did or not was now a matter +of indifference. The time of concealment was past. We rose, left the +cars, and walked briskly to the head of the train. With the precision of +machinery, every man took his appointed place. Three cars back from the +tender the coupling-pin was drawn out, as the load of passenger-cars +would only have been an incumbrance. Wilson W. Brown, who acted as +engineer, William Knight as assistant, Alfred Wilson as fireman, +together with Andrews, mounted the engine, Knight grasping the lever, +and waiting the word for starting. The appointed brakesmen threw +themselves flat on the top of the cars. At a signal from Andrews, the +remainder of the band, who had kept watch, climbed with surprising +quickness into a box-car which stood open. All was well! Knight, at +Andrews' orders, jerked open the steam-valve, and we were off! Before +the camp-guards or the bystanders could do more than turn a curious +eye upon our proceedings, the train was under way, and we were safe from +interruption. + +[Illustration: CAPTURE OF A TRAIN.] + +The writer was stationed in the box-car, and as soon as all were in, we +pulled the door shut to guard against any stray musket-balls. For a +moment of most intense suspense after we were thus shut in all was +still. In that moment a thousand conflicting thoughts swept through our +minds. Then came a pull, ajar, a clang, and we were flying away on our +perilous journey. Those who were on the engine caught a glimpse of the +excited crowd, soldiers and citizens, swarming and running about in the +wildest confusion. It has been said that a number of shots were fired +after us, but those in the box-car knew nothing of it, and it is certain +that no one was injured. A widely-circulated picture represented us as +waving our hats and shouting in triumph. Nothing so melodramatic took +place. The moment was too deep and earnest, and we had too many perils +still to encounter for any such childish demonstration. + +Yet it was a grand triumph, and having nothing of a more practical +character for the moment to do, I realized it to the fullest extent. +There are times in life when whole years of enjoyment are condensed into +a single experience. It was so with me then. I could comprehend the +emotion of Columbus when he first beheld through the dim dawn the +long-dreamed-of shores of America, or the less innocent but no less +fervent joy of Cortez when he planted the Cross of Spain on the halls of +Montezuma. My breast throbbed fast with emotions of joy and gladness +that words labor in vain to express. A sense of ethereal lightness ran +through my veins, and I seemed ascending higher, higher, with each +pulsation of the engine. Remember, I was but twenty-two then, full of +hope and ambition. Not a dream of failure shadowed my rapture. We had +always been told that the greatest difficulty was to reach and take +possession of the engine, after which success was certain. But for +unforeseen contingencies it would have been. + +Away we rush, scouring past field and village and woodland. At each leap +of the engine our hearts rose higher, and we talked merrily of the +welcome that would greet us when we dashed into Huntsville a few hours +later, our enterprise done, and the brightest laurels of the war +eclipsed! + +We found the railroad, however, to be of the roughest and most difficult +character. The grades were very heavy and the curves numerous and sharp. +We seemed to be running towards every point of the compass. The deep +valleys and steep hills of this part of the country had rendered the +building of the road difficult and costly. There were numerous high +embankments where an accident would be of deadly character. The track +was also uneven and in generally bad condition, for the war had rendered +railroad iron scarce and high-priced, besides diverting all attention +and resources into other channels. This unfavorable character of the +road very greatly increased the difficulty experienced by an engineer +unfamiliar with the route in making rapid time, or in avoiding the +varied difficulties incident to our progress. But we trusted implicitly +that the far-sighted plans of Andrews, the skill of our engineers, and +our own willing efforts would overcome all hindrances. + +Our first run was short. There was a sudden checking of speed and a +halt. When those of us who were in the box-car pushed open our door and +asked the reason for stopping so soon, we were told that the fire was +low and the steam exhausted. This was startling intelligence, and caused +a moment of consternation. If our "General"--the name of the locomotive +we had captured--failed us at the beginning of the race, we too well +knew what the end would be. For hundreds of miles on every side of us +were desperate and daring foes. A hundred times our number of horse and +foot could be gathered against us in a few hours. The most timid bird +pursued by hounds feels safe, for its wings can bear it above their +jaws. But if those wings should be broken! This engine gave us wings; +but if it should be disabled no valor of ours could beat back the hosts +about us, no skill elude their rage. But we found a less threatening +explanation of our premature halt. The schedule time of our train was +very slow,--only about sixteen miles an hour,--and the fires had been +allowed to run down because of the expected stop of twenty minutes for +breakfast at Big Shanty,--a stop that we had reduced to less than two +minutes. Then the valve being thrown wide open, the little steam in the +boiler was soon exhausted. But this difficulty was of short duration. A +rest of three minutes, with plenty of wood thrown into the furnace, +wrought a change, and we again glided rapidly forward. + +But when viewed soberly, and in the light of all the facts since +developed, what were the chances of success and escape possessed by the +flying party? Was the whole attempt, as has been frequently asserted, +rash and foolhardy? Or had it that character of practicability which is +ever the stamp of true genius? Historical accuracy, as well as justice +to the memory of a brave but unfortunate man, compels me to pronounce +the scheme almost faultless. In this estimate I have the full +concurrence of all who were engaged on the opposite side. It is hard to +see how the plan could have been improved without allowing its projector +to have had a knowledge of the precise condition of the enemy such as no +commander at the beginning of an important enterprise ever has. No one +of the plans by which Generals Grant and Sherman finally overthrew the +Rebellion presented a clearer prospect of success. + +These are the elements of the problem upon which Andrews based his +hopes. Big Shanty is twenty-eight miles north of Atlanta and thirty-two +south of Kingston. Short of these places he was convinced that no +engine could be obtained for pursuit. He could obstruct the road so that +no train would reach Big Shanty for hours. Pinch-bars and other +instruments for lifting track might be found on the captured engine, or +obtained from some station or working-party. His force of twenty men was +counted ample to overcome resistance at any switch or passing train. One +irregular train only was expected to be on the road, and that would soon +be met,--certainly at Kingston or before,--after which it would be safe +to run at the highest speed to the first bridge, burn it, and pass on to +the next, which, with all other large bridges, could be served in the +same manner. Each bridge burnt would be an insuperable barrier to +pursuit by an engine beyond that point. Thus every part of the scheme +was fair and promising. Only those critics who are wise after the event +can pronounce the attempt rash and hopeless. The destruction of the +telegraph would also be necessary; but this was not difficult. It seemed +as if every contingency was provided for, and then there was the +additional fighting power of twenty chosen men to guard against any +possible emergency. We were now embarked on this most perilous but +hopeful voyage. Coolness, precision of work, and calm effort could +scarcely fail to sever the chief military communications of the enemy +before the setting of the sun, and convince him that no enterprise was +too audacious for the Union arms. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +UNFORESEEN HINDRANCES. + + +After the fire had been made to burn briskly Andrews jumped off the +engine, ran back to the box-car, about the door of which we were +standing, and clasped our hands in an ecstasy of congratulation. He +declared that all our really hard work was done and that our +difficulties were nearly passed; that we had the enemy at such a +disadvantage that he could not harm us; and exhibited every sign of joy. +Said he, "Only one train to meet, and then we will put our engine to +full speed, burn the bridges that I have marked out, dash through +Chattanooga, and on to Mitchel at Huntsville. We've got the upper hand +of the rebels now, and they can't help themselves!" How glad we all +were! When, three years later, the capture of Richmond set all the bells +of the North ringing out peals of triumph, the sensation of joy was more +diffused but less intense than we then experienced. Almost everything +mankind values seemed within our grasp. Oh, if we had met but one +unscheduled train! + +This reference of Andrews to one train which he expected to meet before +we began to burn bridges has been quoted in many public sketches, and +has led to some misapprehension. He did expect to meet three trains +before reaching Chattanooga; but two of these were regular trains, and +being also farther up the road, were not supposed to present any serious +difficulty. Their position at any given time could be definitely +ascertained, and we could avoid collision with them, no matter how far +we ran ahead of time. But so long as there were any irregular trains on +the road before us, our only safety was in keeping the regular time of +the captured train. This was, unfortunately, very slow; but if we +exceeded it we lost the right of way, and were liable to a collision at +any moment. This risk was greatly increased by our inability to send +ahead telegraphic notifications of our position. The order of +southward-bound trains, according to the information we then had, was as +follows: First, a way-freight, which was very uncertain as to time, but +which we expected to meet early in the morning, and felt sure that it +would be at Kingston or south of that point. This was the only real +hindrance according to our programme, and it was to this train that +Andrews referred. Behind this were the regular freight train, and still +farther north the regular passenger train. As a matter of fact, we did +meet these trains at Adairsville and Calhoun, the latter being somewhat +behind time; but we might have met them farther north had it not been +for unforeseen hindrances. + +There is considerable discrepancy in the many published accounts of the +following chase, which the writer has not in every case been able to +perfectly reconcile. In the intense excitement and novel situations +involved men were not likely to observe or remember every event +accurately. But no pains have been spared to combine fulness and +completeness in the following account. Using the best of my own +recollections, consulting my comrades, reading carefully all published +accounts, and especially going over the whole route years after, with +Fuller and Murphy, two of the pursuing party, who kindly gave me all the +information in their power, it is hoped that substantial accuracy has +been obtained. Some of the incidents of the chase, such as the number of +times the track was torn up, and whether we were fired upon by pursuing +soldiers, allow some room for a conflict of memory. But the variations +are not material. + +Side by side with the road ran the telegraph-wires, which were able, by +the flashing of a single lightning message ahead, to arrest our progress +and dissipate our fondest hopes. There was no telegraph station where we +had captured the train, but we knew not how soon our enemies might reach +one, or whether they might not have a portable battery at command. +Therefore we ran but a short distance, after replenishing the furnace, +before again stopping to cut the wire. + +John Scott, an active young man of the Twenty-first Ohio, scrambled up +the pole with the agility of a cat, and tried to break the wire by +swinging upon it; but failing in this, he knocked off the insulating box +at the top of the pole and swung with it down to the ground. +Fortunately, a small saw was found on the engine, with which the wire +was severed in two places, and the included portion, many yards in +length, was taken away with us, in order that the ends might not be +readily joined. + +While one or two of the party were thus engaged others worked with equal +diligence in taking up a rail from the track. No good track-raising +instruments had been found on the train, and we had not yet procured +them from any other source. A smooth iron bar, about four feet long, was +the only instrument yet found, and with this some of the spikes were +slowly and painfully battered out. After a few had thus been extracted, +a lever was got under the rail and the remainder were pried loose. This +occupied much more time than cutting the wire, and it required no +prophet to foretell that if we did not procure better tools rail-lifting +would have to be used very sparingly in our programme. In the present +instance, however, the loss of time was no misfortune, as we were ahead +of the schedule time, which we still felt bound to observe. + +After another rapid but brief run, we paused long enough to chop down a +telegraph-pole, cut the wire again, and place the pole, with many other +obstructions, on the track. We did not here try to lift a rail; indeed, +we had little serious fear of any pursuit at this time, and merely threw +on these obstructions because of having spare time to employ. + +We thus continued--running a little ahead of time, then stopping to +obstruct the track and cut the wire--until Cass Station was reached, +where we took on a good supply of wood and water. At this place we also +obtained a complete time schedule of the road. Andrews told the +tank-tender that we were running a powder-train through to the army of +General Beauregard at Corinth, which was almost out of ammunition, and +that the greatest haste was necessary. He further claimed to be a +Confederate officer of high rank, and said that he had impressed this +train for the purpose in hand, and that Fuller, with the regular +passenger train, would be along shortly. The whole story was none too +plausible, as General Mitchel was now interposed between our present +position and Beauregard, and we would never have been able to get a +train to the army of the latter on this route; but the tender was not +critical and gave us his schedule, adding that he would willingly send +his shirt to Beauregard if that general needed it. When this man was +afterwards asked if he did not suspect the character of the enemy he +thus aided, he answered that he would as soon have suspected the +President of the Confederacy himself as one who talked so coolly and +confidently as Andrews did! + +Keeping exactly on regular time, we proceeded without any striking +adventures until Kingston was reached. This place--thirty-two miles from +Big Shanty--we regarded as marking the first stage of our journey. Two +hours had elapsed since the capture of the train, and hitherto we had +been fairly prosperous. No track-lifting instruments had yet been +obtained, notwithstanding inquiries for them at several stations. We had +secured no inflammable materials for more readily firing the bridges, +and the road was not yet clear before us. But, on the other hand, no +serious hindrance had yet occurred, and we believed ourselves far ahead +of any possible pursuit. + +But at Kingston we had some grounds for apprehending difficulty. This +little town is at the junction with the road to Rome, Georgia. Cars and +engines were standing on the side track. Here we fully expected to meet +our first train, and it would be necessary for us to get the switches +properly adjusted before we could pass it to go on our way. When we drew +up at the station there was handed to Andrews our first and last +communication from the management of the road, in the shape of a +telegram, ordering Fuller's train--now ours--to wait at Kingston for the +local freight, which was considerably behind time. The order was not +very welcome, but we drew out on the side track, and watched eagerly for +the train. Many persons gathered around Andrews, who here, as always, +personated the conductor of our train, and showered upon him many +curious and somewhat suspicious questions. Ours was an irregular train, +but the engine was recognized as Fuller's. The best answers possible +were given. A red flag had been placed on our engine, and the +announcement was made that Fuller, with another engine, was but a short +way behind. The powder story was emphasized, and every means employed to +avoid suspicion. Andrews only, and the usual complement of train-hands, +were visible, the remainder of the party being tightly shut up in the +car, which was designated as containing Beauregard's ammunition. The +striking personal appearance of Andrews greatly aided him in carrying +through his deception, which was never more difficult than at this +station. His commanding presence, and firm but graceful address, marked +him as a Southern gentleman,--a member of the class from which a great +proportion of the rebel officers were drawn. His declarations and orders +were therefore received with the greater respect on this account. But +all these resources were here strained to the utmost. + +At length the anxiously-expected local freight train arrived, and took +its place on another side track. We were about to start on our way, with +the glad consciousness that our greatest obstacle was safely passed, +when a red flag was noticed on the hindmost freight-car. This elicited +immediate inquiry, and we were informed that another very long freight +train was just behind, and that we would be obliged to wait its arrival +also. This was most unfortunate, as we had been already detained at +Kingston much longer than was pleasant. There were many disagreeable +elements in the situation. A crowd of persons was rapidly assembling. +The train from Rome was also nearly due, and though it only came to the +station and returned on its own branch, yet it was not agreeable to +notice the constant increase of force that our enemies were gaining. If +any word from the southward arrived, or if our true character was +revealed in any other way, the peril would be imminent. But we trusted +that this second delay would be brief. Slowly the minutes passed by. To +us, who were shut up in the box-car, it appeared as if they would never +be gone. Our soldier comrades on the outside kept in the background as +much as possible, remaining at their posts on the engine and the cars, +while Andrews occupied attention by complaining of the delay, and +declaring that the road ought to be kept clear of freight trains when so +much needed for the transportation of army supplies, and when the fate +of the whole army of the West might depend upon the celerity with which +it received its ammunition. There was plausibility enough in his words +to lull suspicion in all minds except that of the old switch-tender of +the place, who grumbled out his conviction "that something was wrong +with that stylish-looking fellow, who ordered everybody around as if the +whole road belonged to him." But no one paid any attention to this man's +complaints, and not many minutes after a distant whistle sounded from +the northward, and we felt that the crisis had passed. As there was no +more room on the side track, Andrews ordered the switch-tender to let +this train run by on the main track. That worthy was still grumbling, +but he reluctantly obeyed, and the long success on of cars soon glided +by us. + +This meant release from a suspense more intolerable than the most +perilous action. To calmly wait where we could do nothing, while our +destiny was being wrought out by forces operating in the darkness, was a +terrible trial of nerve. But it was well borne. Brown, Knight, and +Wilson, who were exposed to view, exhibited no more impatience than was +to be expected of men in their assumed situation. Those of us in the +box-car talked in whispers only, and examined the priming of our +pistols. We understood that we were waiting for a delayed train, and +well knew the fearful possibilities of an obstructed track, with the +speedy detection, and fight against overwhelming odds that would follow, +if the train for which we waited did not arrive sooner than pursuers +from Big Shanty. When we recognized the whistle of the coming train it +was almost as welcome as the boom of Mitchel's cannon, which we expected +to hear that evening after all our work was done. As it rumbled by us we +fully expected an instant start, a swift run of a few miles, and then +the hard work but pleasant excitement of bridge-burning. Alas! + +Swift and frequent are the mutations of war. Success can never be +assured to any enterprise in advance. The train for which we had waited +with so much anxiety had no sooner stopped than we beheld on it an +emblem more terrible than any comet that ever frighted a superstitious +continent. Another red flag! Another train close behind! This was +terrible, but what could be done? With admirable presence of mind +Andrews moderated his impatience, and asked the conductor of the +newly-arrived train the meaning of such an unusual obstruction of the +road. His tone was commanding, and without reserve the conductor gave +the full explanation. To Andrews it had a thrilling interest. The +commander at Chattanooga had received information that the Yankee +General Mitchel was coming by forced marches and in full strength +against that town; therefore all the rolling-stock of the road had been +ordered to Atlanta. This train was the first instalment, but another and +still longer section was behind. It was to start a few minutes after he +did, and would probably not be more than ten or fifteen minutes behind. +In turn, the conductor asked Andrews who he was, and received the +information that he was an agent of General Beauregard, and that he had +impressed a train into military service in Atlanta, which he was running +through with powder, of which Beauregard was in extreme need. Under such +circumstances he greatly regretted this unfortunate detention. The +conductor did not suspect the falsity of these pretences, but told +Andrews that it was very doubtful if he could get to Beauregard at +Corinth by going through Chattanooga, as it was certain that Mitchel had +captured Huntsville, directly on the line between them. Andrews replied +that this made no difference, as he had his orders, and should press on +until they were countermanded, adding that Mitchel was probably only +paying a flying visit to Huntsville, and would have to be gone soon, or +find Beauregard upon him. Andrews also ordered the conductor to run far +enough down the main track to allow the next train to draw in behind +him, and for both trains there to wait the coming of Fuller with the +regular mail. His orders were implicitly obeyed; and then to our party +recommenced the awful trial of quiet waiting. One of the men outside was +directed to give notice to those in the box-car of the nature of the +detention, and warn them to be ready for any emergency. Either Brown or +Knight, I think, executed this commission. Leaning against our car, but +without turning his eyes towards it, and speaking in a low voice, he +said, "We are waiting for one of the trains the rebels are running off +from Mitchel. If we are detected before it comes, we will have to fight. +Be ready." We _were_ ready; and so intolerable is suspense that most of +us would have felt as a welcome relief the command to throw open our +door and spring into deadly conflict. + +Slowly the leaden moments dragged themselves away. It seems scarcely +creditable, but it is literally true, that for twenty-five minutes more +we lay on that side track and waited,--waited with minds absorbed, +pulses leaping, and ears strained for the faintest sound which might +give a hint as to our destiny. One precious hour had we wasted at +Kingston,--time enough to have burned every bridge between that place +and Dalton! The whole margin of time on which we had allowed ourselves +to count was two hours; now half of that was thrown away at one station, +and nothing accomplished. We dared wait no longer. Andrews decided to +rush ahead with the intention of meeting this extra train wherever it +might be found, and forcing it to back before him to the next siding, +where he could pass it. The resolution was in every way dangerous, but +the danger would at least be of an active character. Just at this moment +the long-expected whistle was heard, and soon the train came into plain +view, bringing with it an almost interminable string of cars. The weight +and length of its train had caused the long delay. Obedient to +direction, it followed the first extra down the main track, and its +locomotive was a long way removed from the depot when the last car +cleared the upper end of the side track on which we lay. At length it +had got far enough down, and it was possible for us to push on. Andrews +instantly ordered the switch-tender to arrange the track so as to let us +out. + +But here a new difficulty presented itself. This man had been in an ill +humor from the first, and was now fully convinced that something was +wrong. Possibly the tone in which he was addressed irritated him still +more. He therefore responded to Andrews' order by a surly refusal, and +hung up the keys in the station-house. When we in the box-car overheard +his denial, we were sure that the time for fighting had come. There was +no more reason for dreading the issue of a conflict at this station than +at any other point, and we waited the signal with the confident +expectation of victory. + +But even a victory at that moment would have been most undesirable. We +had no wish to shed blood unnecessarily. A telegraph office was at hand, +and it was possible that before the wire could be cut a message might be +flashed ahead. There were also engines in readiness for prompt pursuit, +and while we might have overcome immediate opposition by the use of our +firearms, our triumph would have been the signal for a close and +terrible chase. + +The daring coolness of Andrews removed all embarrassments. While men are +hesitating and in doubt, boldness and promptness on the part of an +opponent are almost sure to carry the day. Ceasing to address the +switch-tender, Andrews walked hurriedly into the station, and with the +truthful remark that he had no more time to waste, took down the key and +began to unlock the switch. The tender cursed him terribly, and called +for some to arrest him. The crowd around also disliked the action, and +began to hoot and yell; but before any one had decided as to what ought +to be done Andrews had unlocked and changed the switch, and waved his +hand for the engineer to come on. It was an inexpressible relief when +the cars moved forward and the sounds of strife died out. As soon as the +locomotive passed to the main track, Andrews tossed the keys to the +ruffled owner of them, saying, in his blandest manner, "Pardon me, sir, +for being in such a hurry, but the Confederacy can't wait for every +man's notions. You'll find it is all right," and stepped on board his +engine. The excitement gradually ceased, and no thought of pursuit was +entertained until startling intelligence was received a few moments +later from Big Shanty. + +Before describing the terrible struggle above Kingston, it will be well +to narrate the operations of the persons whose train had been so +unceremoniously snatched from them at Big Shanty. From printed accounts +published contemporaneously by several of those engaged in the pursuit, +as well as from personal responses to inquiries made regarding the most +material points, the writer is confident that he can tell the strange +story without essential error. It is a striking commentary on the +promptness of the seizure, that the bystanders generally reported that +only eight men, instead of twenty, had been observed to mount the train. + +William A. Fuller, conductor, Anthony Murphy, manager of the State +railroad shops at Atlanta, and Jefferson Cain, engineer, stepped off +their locomotive, leaving it unguarded save by the surrounding +sentinels, and in perfect confidence took their seats at the +breakfast-table at Big Shanty. But before they had tasted a morsel of +food the quick ear of Murphy, who was seated with his back towards the +window, caught the sound of escaping steam, and he exclaimed, "Fuller, +who's moving your train?" Almost simultaneously the latter, who was +somewhat of a ladies' man, and was bestowing polite attentions upon two +or three fair passengers, saw the same movement, and sprang up, +shouting, "Somebody's running off with our train!" No breakfast was +eaten then. Everybody rushed through the door to the platform. The train +was then fully under way, just sweeping out of sight around the first +curve. With quick decision Fuller shouted to Murphy and Cain, "Come on!" +and started at a full run after the flying train! This attempt to run +down and catch a locomotive by a foot-race seemed so absurd that as the +three, at the top of their speed, passed around the same curve, they +were greeted with loud laughter and ironical cheers by the excited +multitude. To all appearances it was a foolish and hopeless chase. + +Yet, paradoxical as the statement may seem, this chase on foot was the +wisest course possible for Fuller and his companions. What else could +they do? Had they remained quietly in camp, with no show of zeal, they +would have been reproached with negligence in not guarding their train +more carefully, even if they were not accused with being in league with +its captors. As they ran, Fuller explained the situation and his +purposes to his companions. They had neither electric battery nor +engine. Had they obtained horses, they would necessarily have followed +the common road, instead of the railroad, and if they thought of that +expedient at all, it would be as distasteful to railroad men as +abandoning their ship to sailors, and they preferred leaving that course +for others. It would have been wise for those who could think of nothing +else to do to ride as mounted couriers to the stations ahead; but +whether this was done or not I have never learned. Certainly it was not +done so promptly as to influence the fortunes of the day. + +But the truth is that Fuller and Murphy were at first completely +deceived as to the nature of the event which had taken place. They had +been warned to guard against the escape of conscript deserters from that +very camp; and although they would never have suspected an attempt on +the part of the conscripts to escape by capturing their engine, yet when +it was seen to dash off, the thought of this warning was naturally +uppermost. Even then Fuller conjectured that they would use his engine +only to get a mile or two beyond the guard line, and then abandon it. He +was therefore anxious to follow closely in order to find the engine and +return for his passengers at the earliest moment possible. Little did he +anticipate the full magnitude of the work and the danger before him. +That any Federal soldiers were within a hundred miles of Big Shanty +never entered his mind or that of any other person. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN WM. A. FULLER. +(Conductor of Pursuing Train.) +Page 87.] + +For a mile or two the three footmen ran at the top of their speed, +straining their eyes forward for any trace of the lost engine which they +expected to see halted and abandoned at almost any point on the road. +But they were soon partially undeceived as to the character of their +enemies. About two miles from the place of starting they found the +telegraph wire severed and a portion of it carried away. The fugitives +were also reported as quietly oiling and inspecting their engine. No +mere deserters would be likely to think of this. The two actions +combined clearly indicated the intention of making a long run, but who +the men were still remained a mystery. A few hundred yards from this +place a party of workmen with a hand-car was found, and these most +welcome reinforcements were at once pressed into the service. + +Fuller's plans now became more definite and determined. He had a good +hand-car and abundance of willing muscle to work it. By desperate +exertions, by running behind the car and pushing it up the steep grades, +and then mounting and driving it furiously down-hill and on the levels, +it was possible to make seven or eight miles an hour; at the same time, +Fuller knew that the captive engine, if held back to run on schedule +time, as the reports of the workmen indicated, would make but sixteen +miles per hour. Fuller bent all his thoughts and energies towards +Kingston, thirty miles distant. He had been informed of the extra trains +to be met at that point, and was justified in supposing that the +adventurers would be greatly perplexed and hindered by them, even if +they were not totally stopped. Had the seizure taken place on the +preceding day, as originally planned, he might well have despaired, for +then the road would have been clear. Yet he had one other resource, as +will appear in due time, of which his enemies knew nothing. + +Fuller did not pause to consider how he should defeat the fugitives when +he had overtaken them, and he might have paid dearly for this rashness. +But he could rely on help at any station, and when he had obtained the +means of conveyance, as he would be sure to do at Kingston, he could +easily find an overwhelming force to take with him. This Saturday was +appointed as a general muster of volunteers, State militia, and +conscripts, and armed soldiers were abundant in every village. But +Fuller's dominant thought was that his property--the property with which +he had been intrusted--was wrested from his grasp, and it was his duty +to recover it, at whatever of personal hazard. That any serious harm was +intended to the railroad itself he probably did not yet suspect. + +Talking and wearying themselves with idle conjectures, but never ceasing +to work, Fuller and his party pressed swiftly on. But suddenly there was +a crash, a sense of falling, and when the shock allowed them to realize +what had happened, they found themselves floundering in a ditch half +filled with water, and their hand-car imbedded in the mud beside them! +They had reached the place where the first rail had been torn from the +track, and had suffered accordingly. But the bank was, fortunately for +them, not very high at that spot, and a few bruises were all the damage +they sustained. Their hand-car, which was also uninjured, was lifted on +the track and driven on again. This incident increased both their +caution and their respect for the men before them. + +Without further mishap they reached Etowah Station, on the northern bank +of the river of the same name. Here was a large bridge, which the +Andrew's party might have burned without loss of time had they foreseen +the long detention at Kingston; but its destruction was not a part of +their plan, and it was suffered to stand. The mind of Fuller grew very +anxious as he approached this station. On what he should find there +depended, in all probability, his power to overtake the fugitives, whose +intentions seemed more formidable with each report he received of their +actions. Andrews had firmly believed that no engine for pursuit could be +found south of Kingston; but Fuller had a different expectation. + +Extensive iron-furnaces were located on the Etowah River, about five +miles above the station. These works were connected with the railroad by +a private track, which was the property of Major Cooper, as well as the +works themselves. Murphy knew that Major Cooper had also bought an +engine called the "Yonah." It had been built in the shop over which +Murphy presided, and was one of the best locomotives in the State. "But +where," Fuller and Murphy asked themselves, "is this engine now?" If it +was in view of the adventurers as they passed, they had doubtless +destroyed it, ran it off the track, or carried it away with them. They +could not afford to neglect such an element in the terrible game they +were playing. But if it was now at the upper end of the branch at the +mines, as was most probable, it would take the pursuers five miles out +of their way to go for it, and even then it might not be ready to start. +This diversion could not be afforded. Fuller and Murphy had come +nineteen miles, and had already consumed two hours and three-quarters. +The adventurers were reported as passing each station on time, and if +this continued they must have reached Kingston forty-five minutes before +Fuller and his companions arrived at Etowah, thirteen miles behind them. +One hour and a half more to Kingston,--this was the very best that could +be done with the hand-car. It was clear that if the "Yonah" did not come +to their assistance, they were as effectually out of the race as if on +the other side of the ocean. Everything now hinged on the position of +that one engine. + +Here we may pause to note how all coincidences, we might almost say +providences, seemed to work against the bridge-burning enterprise. We +were at Kingston three-quarters of an hour before our pursuers reached +Etowah, thirteen miles distant. If there had been no extra trains, or if +they had been sharply on time, so that we could have passed the three +with a delay not exceeding fifteen or twenty minutes, which ought to +have been an abundant allowance, every bridge above Kingston would have +been in ashes before sundown! Or if the delay had been as great as it +actually was, even then, if the locomotive "Yonah" had occupied any +position excepting one, the same result would have followed. + +But Fuller, Murphy, and Cain, with the several armed men they had picked +up at the stations passed, could not repress shouts of exultation when +they saw the old "Yonah" standing on the main track, ready fired up, and +headed towards Kingston. It had just arrived from the mines, and in a +short time would have returned again. Thus a new element of tremendous +importance, which had been ignored in all our calculations, was +introduced into the contest. + +The pursuers seized their inestimable prize, called for all the +volunteers who could snatch guns at a moment's notice, and were soon +swiftly but cautiously rushing with the power of steam towards Kingston. +The speed of nearly a mile a minute was in refreshing contrast to the +slow and laborious progress of the hand-car, and they were naturally +jubilant. But what lay before them at Kingston? The frequent +obstructions of the track, the continued cutting of the telegraph, and +especially the cool assumption of the leader of the adventurers in +calling himself a Confederate officer of high rank in charge of an +impressed powder train, all conspired to deepen their conviction that +some desperate scheme was on foot. But they did not pause long to listen +to reports. Their eyes and their thoughts were bent towards Kingston. +Had the adventurers been stopped there, or had they surprised and +destroyed the trains met? The pursuers could scarcely form a conjecture +as to what was before them; but the speed with which they were flying +past station after station would soon end their suspense. Even the +number of men on the flying train was a matter of uncertainty. At the +stations passed observers reported that only four or five were seen; but +the track-layers and others who had observed them at work were confident +of a much larger number,--twenty-five or thirty at the least. Besides, +it was by no means sure that they had not confederates in large numbers +to co-operate with them at the various stations along the road. Fuller +knew about how many persons had entered the train at Marietta; but it +was not sure that these were all. A hundred more might be scattered +along the way, at various points, ready to join in whatever strange plan +was now being worked out. No conjecture of this kind that could be +formed was a particle more improbable than the startling events that had +already taken place. The cool courage of these pursuers, who determined +to press forward and do their own duty at whatever risk, cannot be too +highly rated. If they arrived at Kingston in time to unmask the +pretension of the mysterious "Confederate officer," there would +doubtless be a desperate fight; but the pursuers could count on +assistance there and all along the line. + +Fuller reached Kingston at least an hour earlier than would have been +possible with the hand-car, and a single glance showed that the +adventurers were gone, and his hopes of arresting them at that point +were ended. They were, however, barely out of sight, and all their start +had been reduced to minutes. But here again the pursuit was checked. The +foresight of Andrews had blockaded the road as much as possible with the +trains which had so long hindered his own movements. Two large and heavy +trains stood on the main road; one of the two side tracks was occupied +by the third freight, and the other by the engine of the Rome branch. +There was no ready means for the passage of the "Yonah." Some precious +time was employed in giving and receiving information, in telling of the +seizure at Big Shanty, and hearing of the deportment of Andrews and his +men at Kingston. Then a dispute arose as to the best means of continuing +the pursuit, which threatened to disunite Fuller and Murphy. The latter +wished to continue the chase with the "Yonah," which was a fine engine, +with large wheels; but Fuller would not wait to get the freights out of +the way, and, jumping on the Rome engine, he called on all who were +willing to assist him to come on. A large, enthusiastic, and well-armed +company instantly volunteered; the new engine, the "Shorter," pulled +out, and Murphy had only time to save himself from the disgrace of being +left behind by jumping on the hindmost car as it swept past. With all +the time lost in making this transfer, and in mutual explanations, the +pursuers left Kingston just twenty minutes behind the Federals. + +What Fuller and his friends learned at Kingston left no doubt on their +minds that some deliberate and far-reaching military movement was on +foot. While its precise nature was yet concealed, the probability that +the road itself, and possibly Confederate towns and stores, were to be +destroyed, was freely conceded. All agreed that the one thing to be done +was to follow their enemies closely, and thus compel them to turn and +fight or abandon their enterprise. A large force--one or two hundred +well-armed men--was taken on board, and instructions left that as soon +as the track could be cleared another armed train was to follow for the +purpose of rendering any needed assistance. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A TERRIBLE RAILROAD CHASE. + + +We will now resume the direct narrative. + +When Kingston was left behind, it was believed by our leader that, +notwithstanding all our vexatious delays, we still had a margin of at +least an hour's time. Our movements were arranged on that supposition. +The next considerable station, Adairsville, was about ten miles distant, +and the intervening country comparatively level. There were no +considerable bridges in this space, and the most we could do was to run +swiftly, and occasionally to obstruct the track. Our speed was increased +to about forty miles an hour, and this swift running, after our long +halt at Kingston, was exquisitely delightful. Looking out from the +crevices of the box-car, we saw the hills and trees gliding swiftly by, +and felt that each moment we were getting farther away from the foes who +had so long surrounded us, and nearer safety and triumph. While we were +actually under way our prospects did not yet seem very unfavorable. +There were yet one freight and one passenger train to meet, which we +would now encounter an hour farther south, because of our long +hindrance; but we felt confident of our power to deceive or overpower +them, and they did not embarrass our running because they were on the +regular schedule. The freight was now almost due at Adairsville, and we +expected the passenger train to overtake and go ahead of it from that +point. If they were both on time we would also meet them there, and then +have an absolutely open road to Chattanooga. It will show the tremendous +risks that encompassed our enterprise, when we reflect that so trifling +a circumstance as the delay or the misplacement of a train could +introduce an "if" into our most hopeful plans. + +A short distance south of Adairsville we again stopped, and Andrews +called us to come forth and work with a will. No exhortation was needed. +John Scott, as usual, climbed the telegraph-pole, and the wire was soon +severed. Two or three rails were slowly and painfully battered loose +with our iron bar, which still constituted our only instrument for +track-lifting. These were loaded on the car to carry away with us. There +happened to be a large number of cross-ties lying near, and these we +also loaded up for future use. When all was done we moved on, feeling +that we had provided for the delay or destruction of any train that +might pursue. It was also probable that the first train which met us at +Adairsville would be wrecked. This was not our design, as we did not +relish wanton mischief; but there was no safe way of giving warning, and +a wrecked train would have been a considerable obstruction of the track. + +We reached Adairsville before the expected freight, but had only just +taken our place on the side track when its whistle was heard. When it +came up, Andrews, who still personated a Confederate officer, and +exacted and received the obedience which in those days of conscription +and impressment was readily yielded to military authority, ordered the +train to be run past the station and back again on the side track behind +his own, to wait for the expected passenger train. The usual +explanations about the powder train were repeated to credulous ears. +Then came five minutes of suspense and waiting. The train was behind +time,--a trifling matter in itself, but, in our situation, each minute +might turn the scale between death and life. We could not afford to +repeat the experience of Kingston. Not one bridge had yet been burned, +and all we could show for our hazard, beside our captured train, were a +few cross-ties and lifted rails. After a whispered word of consultation +with his engineer, who was willing to assume the most deadly risks +rather than to lie still, Andrews remarked to the bystanders that a +government powder express must not be detained by any number of +passenger trains, and then gave the word, "Go ahead!" + +We started quite moderately, but, as soon as the station was out of +sight, we noticed a wonderful acceleration of speed. The cars seemed +almost to leap from the track, and we whirled from side to side at a +bewildering rate. There was scarcely any slackening for curves or +grades, and our whistle rang out with scarcely a moment's cessation. In +the box-car we could retain no position for more than an instant, and +were jostled over each other and against the sides of the car much +oftener than was pleasant. No one of us had ever rode at such a rate +before. Though we had no means of measuring the speed, none of us +estimated it at less than a mile a minute. What was the meaning of such +a break-neck pace? Had Andrews discovered that we were pursued, and was +he making a desperate effort to escape from the enemy? Or was he simply +hurrying to the bridges we were to burn? Such questions were easier +asked than answered, for two cars and the tender intervened between us +and the locomotive, on which our leader was. At any rate, the moments +were rapidly carrying us towards our own lines, and a very few hours of +such running would see us delivered from the series of perils which had +so long environed us. We had learned that just beyond Calhoun, a station +only ten miles from Adairsville, there was a large bridge, which we knew +was marked for destruction. If that was passed without stopping, we +would be convinced that an enemy was on our track, and that the race was +simply for life. A few minutes would decide. But in the mean time, as an +enemy might be following us, it occurred to the writer that it would be +well to continue obstructing the track. This was accomplished by +breaking open the hind end of the last box-car, and shoving out one by +one the ties previously loaded. A part only of the ties on board were +thus employed, as we thought it possible that the remainder might be +more useful in other directions. Many of those sprinkled on the track +showed a perverse disposition to jump off, but we felt sure that enough +remained to make a pursuer cautious. Nothing more impressed us with the +fearful speed of our train than the manner in which these ties seemed +instantly to vanish when they touched the ground. + +By thus exerting the full speed of the engine Andrews hoped to reach +Calhoun before the belated passenger train should arrive. The engineer +stood with his hand on the lever ready to reverse his engine the moment +an opposing train was sighted. The open character of the country in this +part of the route permitted a good outlook. The whistle was also kept +sounding that an opposite train might be warned and checked. It was the +intention of Andrews, in case of meeting the expected train, to reverse +his own engine only long enough to escape the danger of collision, and +then to persuade or compel the other to back before him to the first +siding. This lightning-like run was bold and full of peril, but it was +wise. Had the same risk been promptly assumed at Kingston the whole +future of the enterprise would have been different. But we reached +Calhoun before any train was met. When we slackened speed, just before +arriving at the station, we shoved out one more cross-tie, and then +carefully concealed the hole in the car by piling other ties across it. +As we drew nearer, great was the satisfaction of Andrews and his +engineer when they saw the belated passenger train--our last +obstacle--lying quietly at the station. It had been just starting, but, +on hearing our whistle, it awaited our arrival. We ran down almost +against it; and, without getting off his locomotive, Andrews shouted +his orders to have the road cleared for an impressed powder train. The +news from the north and west--the panic caused by the rumored approach +of General Mitchel--made this sudden demand seem less unreasonable, and +it was unhesitatingly obeyed. The passenger train was switched out of +the way, and we glided smoothly by the last train we were to meet. Thus, +at length, we had reached the ground where bridge-burning was to begin, +and all obstacles were out of the way; what could hinder full and +decisive success? + +Fuller and Murphy had not left Kingston many minutes before they became +conscious of the error they had committed in exchanging the "Yonah" for +the "Shorter." The latter was a weak engine with small wheels. It was +now forced to the utmost, oil being freely used with the wood in the +furnace; but they were unable to equal the tremendous speed with which +they had made the previous stage of their journey. Though they had but +two or three cars and the advantage of a level and unobstructed track, +they could not exceed forty miles an hour. They maintained a vigilant +lookout, but ran with the steam-valve entirely open, while Murphy and +Cain both grasped the lever, ready to use their combined weight and +strength in reversing the motion if any obstacle should be descried. +Their vigilance was soon approved. They observed the point at which we +had removed rails, and, by reversing, were able to arrest their motion +just on the edge of the break. But here they found themselves confronted +with a terrible obstacle. They had no rails to replace those that had +been carried off. Some instruments for track-laying were on board, and +it was suggested to tear up rails behind and place them in the break. +This double labor required too much time to suit the ardent temper of +Fuller and Murphy. At once they repeated the old tactics which alone had +given them any hope of success. They abandoned their engine and ran +ahead once more on foot. The remainder of their company remained behind, +and probably did, after a time, succeed in lifting rails behind their +engine and laying them down before, as a contemporaneous account +asserts; but they had no further real part in the chase. + +Before the two footmen had gone far they encountered the regular freight +train that we had met at Adairsville. Thus their delay was reduced to a +very small amount. It seems that almost as soon as Andrews and his party +had left Adairsville for their rapid flight towards Calhoun, this train, +guided either by the decision of the conductor, or by a telegraphic +message from the management of the road, started southward, and were met +no more than a mile or two on their way by the dauntless pursuers. Great +was the amazement of the men on the freight train to learn that the +fine-looking Confederate officer with whom they had been talking five +minutes before was probably a "Yankee" engaged in the most daring +exploit of the war. But not much time was allowed for the indulgence of +any emotion. Fuller promptly took command of the train and backed it +with all possible speed to Adairsville. Its engine, the "Texas," was +known to Fuller as one of the largest and best in the State. While +backing and pushing the whole train of nearly twenty cars it made the +most rapid speed that they had yet attained. + +But still greater speed was necessary, and by throwing all but one or +two cars on the side track at Adairsville, the noble engine was relieved +and enabled to show all its fine qualities. No turn-table being at hand, +it had still to be run backward; but that position does not materially +lessen the power of an engine, though the risk of accident is somewhat +increased. This risk had been taken, however, in so many instances by +the desperate pursuers, and with perfect safety, that they were willing +to tempt fortune still further. The engineer of the captured train had +been left behind at the last break, but his place was ably supplied by +Peter Bracken, of the "Texas." Starting from Adairsville with a full +head of steam, the distance of ten miles to Calhoun was run in twelve +minutes, and even this tremendous speed would have been exceeded but for +the slight delay caused by the ties dropped on the track. When one of +these obstructions was seen, Fuller, who had stationed himself for that +purpose on the end of the tender which ran ahead, would jump off, remove +the tie, and be back to his place almost before the engine ceased to +move. The uniform mode of stopping to clear the track was by reversing +the engine. Aside from the time lost in these stops, the running must +have exceeded a mile per minute. This exceeding rapidity prevented any +loss of distance in this stage of the pursuit. + +At Calhoun, Fuller scarcely made a full stop. He told his tale in a few +words and called for volunteers. A number came just as he was moving on +again; indeed, after the train was well under way, he secured a still +more valuable prize. The telegraph managers at Chattanooga had found +that the wires were broken, and were endeavoring to discover the source +of mischief. By telegraphing to different stations and asking for +replies, they could easily make an approximate estimate. But the +difficulty was coming nearer: they discovered that one station after +another was being cut off from communication with headquarters. South of +Calhoun they could get no reply at the time the passenger train reached +Dalton. They had, therefore, directed the only operator at that +station--a mere boy--to leave his post and go to Calhoun for the purpose +of discovering and remedying the mischief. Fuller recognized him on the +platform, and reached out his hand, shouting, "Come!" The boy took hold +and was lifted on the flying engine. + +With no thought of our deadly peril we had stopped a short distance +above Calhoun to cut the telegraph and oil the engine. Several of us +were also engaged in battering out the spikes preparatory to lifting +another rail. As we expected to spend ten or fifteen minutes in burning +the large bridge which spanned the Oostenaula River, a little distance +from us, Andrews thought it better that we should have a rail up in +order to guard against the possibility of the train we had just passed +being turned back after us in time to interrupt our work. It might have +been better, as we were tempted to think afterwards, if we had begun on +the bridge directly; but it was absolutely necessary to cut the wire, +and the lifting of the rail would not take an additional minute. + +The engine was inspected, and found to be still in perfect condition, +though both wood and water were running low; the wire was severed; and +eight of us had just taken hold of the loose end of a rail, out of which +the spikes had been battered, and were trying to pull the other end +loose also. But it was too firmly fixed, and we were about to release +it, and wait the taking out of a few more spikes, when, away in the +distance, we heard the whistle of an engine in pursuit! The effect was +magical. With one convulsive effort the rail was broken asunder, and the +whole party pitched in a heap over the low embankment. No one was hurt, +and we were on our feet in a moment. + +It did not require many moments to realize the situation. Our enemies +were upon us at last! Their train was in plain sight. We could even see +that they were well armed. There seemed to be no resource but flight. + +But from whence came this train? The facts with which the reader is +already familiar were all unknown to us, and the apparition of the +pursuers all the more terrible on that account. We knew the difficulties +against which we had struggled, and little thought that our pursuers had +encountered nearly equal obstacles, over which they had so far been +marvellously victorious. Greater surprise would not have been created +in our ranks had the locomotive, to whose scream we unwillingly +listened, dropped from the sky! One plausible conjecture only presented +itself as to the presence of this train, and, if this one was correct, +it could be but the earnest of speedy defeat and death. Possibly a +telegraphic message from the other side of Big Shanty had traversed the +wide circuit of more than two thousand miles past Atlanta, Richmond, +Chattanooga, and back again to Calhoun, reaching the latter place just +before the wire was cut, and inducing them to start back the train we +had just met at full speed after us. All this was possible,--at least it +seemed so to those of us who were not in the secret of the wide-spread +system of military operations,--unless, indeed, the foresight of our +government had provided at this very time for the severing of the +telegraph on the Carolina coast, at which place alone this circuit came +within striking distance of the Union lines. + +But we had no time for idle conjectures. The fact was patent that a +train was bearing down upon us at full speed. "Shall we stand and fight? +Shall we attack them now?" were questions eagerly asked. + +But Andrews still hesitated to depart from the course pursued so far. We +had the rail broken which would arrest the enemy, and probably give us +time to fire the bridge ahead. Then all might yet be well,--that is if +the stations ahead were not warned, and the track obstructed before us. +Should that prove the case, then to stand and sell our lives as dearly +as possible, or, abandoning our engine, to fly on foot across the +country, were all the alternatives. The crisis of our fate drew near, +and our hardest and sharpest work lay just ahead. + +Influenced by such considerations, which were then mainly confined to +his own mind, Andrews, without a moment's hesitation, gave the signal, +which was as quickly obeyed, for mounting the train. The engineer threw +the valve wide open, and, with a spring that threw us from our feet, the +noble steed was once more careering forward. To his companions on the +locomotive Andrews said, quietly, as he ever spoke in times of deepest +excitement, "Push her, boys; let her do her best. We must lose no time +in getting to the bridge above." Some of the engine oil was thrown into +the furnace, and the already fiery pace sensibly quickened. The problem +seemed perfectly simple. If we could reach the bridge, and get it well +on fire in less time than our enemies could piece out the broken rail, +we had still a chance of life and success. If not, more desperate means +became necessary. The speed of the engine might save us a precious +half-minute, and on such a narrow margin everything turned. Nobly did +our good old locomotive respond to the call! Rocking, whirling, +bounding,--it seemed a marvel that some of the box-cars were not hurled +from the track. Inside these cars all was action. Though we could +scarcely keep one position a moment, idleness could not now be indulged. +We knew that the time for concealment had passed, and we wrought with +flying fingers in preparation for our incendiary work. The forward end +of our box-car, and both ends of the others, were knocked out by +employing one of the heavy cross-ties as a battering-ram, and the +greater part of the sides were loosened in the same manner, and torn +into fragments for kindling. This destruction of barriers also opened a +way of communication with the engine. Andrews approved what we had done, +and told us frankly that our lives probably depended on the number of +seconds we consumed in getting the bridge on fire. Just then an +exclamation of wonder and dismay from our keen-sighted fireman, Alfred +Wilson, drew attention. He declared positively that he saw the smoke of +the pursuing engine still following us! It was scarcely credible, but he +was so positive, and it was so important to know the truth, that our +speed was slackened to ascertain. In a moment a whistle, clear and +unmistakable, rang out from beyond a curve we had just passed. All doubt +was at an end; but our surprise and consternation were as great as when +the train was first discovered in pursuit. There had been no time to lay +again the rail we had taken up, and the broken half of which we still +had with us. It seemed a miracle wrought against us. But Andrews' +resources were not yet exhausted. He ordered another effort, which might +yet give us time to fire the bridge ahead, that he was most unwilling to +pass without destroying. The locomotive was reversed, and our +kindling-wood, with most of the ties, carried forward, and the moment we +began to move backward the hindmost car was uncoupled. The pursuing +locomotive was then in fearful proximity. We could see that it was +running backward, and that a number of men were crowded on it. Almost at +the same moment its machinery was reversed and ours turned forward. As +we left them at lightning speed we could just see that their velocity +was well checked before they touched our abandoned car. + +But this was not yet sufficient. As we came to the next slight up-grade +the same manoeuvre was repeated, and our second car flung back at the +enemy in like manner. The time lost in doing this brought them again +near us, and we saw that they were pushing our first car before them. + +But how had they passed the broken rail? For years I could get no +satisfactory information on this subject. Some Confederate accounts +spoke of a rail being taken up behind and laid down before the engine. +But the time was too short to permit such an action. That a stop could +be made, a rail taken up, spiked down again, and our engine, running +faster than the wind, overtaken,--all of this well inside of five +minutes,--was incredible. Very probably this course was adopted in the +case of the next train which was pursuing not far behind. Other +Confederate accounts say nothing about this rail, while a few assert +that it was not broken at all, but only loosened and left in its place. +But having personally helped in the desperate pull, having fallen down +the bank with the party, and carried one end of the rail to put on our +car, besides having my left hand long suffer from being clasped under +the hand of William Campbell, the strongest man of our party, I +naturally cannot accept this explanation. Conductor Fuller gave another +solution of the mystery scarcely less strange, which I repeat as he gave +it to me. He said that when he saw our engine start on from this point +he could see no obstruction, and allowed the train to continue at high +speed. A moment after he noticed a short blank in one of the rails. A +terrible fear swept over him, for it was now too late to stop. But quick +as a lightning-flash he noticed another fact,--that the place of the +missing rail was on the _inside_ of a sharp curve. He explained to me +that a train at a very high rate of speed throws the most of its weight +on the outside rail of a curve, which is always made a little higher +than the other. Had an outside rail been broken the destruction of their +train would have been inevitable, but the break was on the inside. With +that rapid decision which the better class of railroad men learn to +exercise, he signalled to the engineer, "Faster; faster yet!" There was +a sharp jolt, and the locomotive and the cars attached were on the other +side of the obstruction with their speed not even abated. The next train +which followed was the passenger train that we had met at Calhoun, which +had also been turned back after us. This train had track-layers and +instruments on board, and did very quickly repair the damage; but if +Fuller had waited even that long the bridge over the Oostenaula would +have been wrapped in flames before his arrival. + +Fuller saw the car we dropped, and by promptly having his engine +reversed, reduced the collision to merely a smart shock. It was +dextrously coupled fast and driven forward at full speed. The second +car we dropped was treated in the same manner, and the enemy's speed was +scarcely diminished. The time lost in dropping the cars was about as +long as that lost in coupling to them. + +Thus in the short space between Calhoun and the Oostenaula River three +hindrances or perils, the greatness of which will be best appreciated by +railroad men, were overcome by the skill and daring of Fuller's band, +and in spite of them they attained a rate of running on this crooked and +irregular road which would have been most remarkable on a perfectly +smooth and unobstructed track. + +Now the Oostenaula bridge was in sight, and we slackened speed for a +desperate attempt to burn it. But before we could come to a full stop +the pursuer was close upon us, and very reluctantly we steamed over the +bridge and continued our flight. The prospect was rapidly darkening +before us. It was certain that one of the trains we had met at +Adairsville or Calhoun was turned back after us and driven with the +utmost determination. Of all conjectures to account for this pursuit, +that of a telegram by the way of Richmond was most probable and most +portentous. If this was really the case, our fate was sealed. With a +relentless pursuer hanging upon our heels, and the towns ahead warned +and ready to dispute our passage, human bravery and foresight would +avail nothing. I have no doubt the mind of Andrews was weighed down and +perplexed by the uncertainty of our situation. Could we have known even +as much of the number and plans of our foes as they knew of ours--above +all, could we have known whether the road was open before us--the +problem would have been simpler. Yet we had but two hopes: to wreck the +train behind us, a task of no small difficulty now they were on their +guard; or, failing in this, to distance them in running far enough to +lift some rails or burn one of the bridges still ahead. If only one +bridge could be burned, it would stop the pursuit for the time and leave +us free to encounter the opposition before us. + +Accordingly the jaded "General" was spurred to full speed. The load was +now lighter, and as much of the kindling as we thought it prudent to +spare was used in putting the furnace into a fiercer blaze. We also +resumed the practice of dropping cross-ties from the rear of the car. +These efforts had a marked effect in delaying the pursuers, for their +smoke and whistle soon ceased to disturb us. But while running at this +violent rate we had passed Resaca and thought it prudent to again cut +the telegraph. While stopping for this purpose the writer took a rail +which had been bent in lifting it, and placed it so that one end was +held firmly under the track, and the other projected at a little +elevation, towards the pursuing train. This was not more than +accomplished when that train was heard again, and we mounted our engine +and sped onward. As the rail was small and dark, the enemy ran right on +it before it was observed, and Fuller afterwards declared that if it had +been a little lower, it would have been sure to wreck them. But as it +was, the end struck the edge of the car, and it was knocked harmlessly +from the track. + +Above Tilton we succeeded in getting a full supply of water from the +tank. This was most welcome, as the water was nearly exhausted. The +wood-station was at another place, and as our supply ran low we threw on +fence-rails or any other available fuel whenever stopping to cut the +wires. + +Our condition was now widely different and more unfavorable than it was +a short time before. With only one car, and that almost torn to pieces, +even the magnificent coolness and self-possession of Andrews could +scarcely avert suspicion at any station where we might be driven to +halt. And with all our efforts we could never get much more than out of +sight of our pursuers. The time required for cutting wires and spent in +trying to take up track compensated almost exactly for the time our +pursuers spent in removing the obstructions we continued to throw before +them. With all their efforts they could not get within easy gunshot of +us; neither could we distance them far enough for the decisive operation +of burning a bridge. The relation of the two parties was peculiar and +well defined. Each party soon came to recognize the strength and +weakness which belonged to its own situation. With their better engine +it would have been comparatively easy for our pursuers to come near +enough to pick off man after man with their guns, while entirely out of +reach of our revolvers. But had they come up so close, any obstruction +we might have placed on the track would have been terribly efficient. As +long as we possessed cross-ties or anything large enough to wreck a +train they were bound to keep a respectful distance. The most favorable +position for them was just far enough in the rear to see when we stopped +or threw anything on the track, thus enabling them to check up in time. +They dared not come nearer than this while we were in rapid motion, but +they were often farther behind. + +Mile after mile the terrible chase continued. Station after station was +passed without the least lessening of speed. The idlers about the +platforms started back in amazement and affright when they saw a train +dash by like a thunderbolt, closely followed by three others, the latter +screaming as loudly as their whistles were able. To us, who were looking +out from the baggage-car, houses and villages, groves and hills, flashed +by almost too quickly for distinct vision. Then, in the hottest speed, +the whistle would sound "down brakes," and the stop--usually made by +reversing the engine--would be so sudden that we needed to cling +convulsively to avoid being hurled from our places; then, in a moment, +we would spring to the ground and labor with the energy of despair at +destroying the telegraph and the track, or loading on ties, until the +signal,--usually from behind, given by the pursuing train,--when all +would rush on board, and the engine, putting its full strength into the +first leap, would dash on, jerking from their feet all who were not +braced for the shock. When under way we could not sit down because of +the terrible jolting of the springless car. If we attempted to stand we +fell over or were thrown against the little that remained of the sides +of the car, and had to be very watchful not to be thrown off altogether. +Our actual position was a rapid alternation of all possible attitudes, +the favorite being--judging from the frequency with which it was +assumed--that of bending over with the hands and feet resting on the +floor. + +Those who were on the engine had a better opportunity of observing all +that was passing. Alfred Wilson, who acted as our fireman, gives a vivid +picture of the race from that point of view. He says,-- + + "Our locomotive was under a full head of steam. The engineer + stood with his hand on the lever with the valve wide open. It + was frightful to see how the powerful iron monster under us + would leap forward under the revolution of her great wheels. + Brown (the engineer) would scream to me ever and anon, 'Give + her more wood, Alf!' which command was promptly obeyed. She + rocked and reeled like a drunken man, while we reeled from side + to side like grains of pop-corn in a hot frying-pan. It was + bewildering to look at the ground or objects on the roadside. A + constant stream of fire ran from the rims of the great wheels, + and to this day I shudder when I reflect on that, my first and + last locomotive ride. We sped past stations, houses, and + fields, and were out of sight almost like a meteor, while the + bystanders, who barely caught a glimpse of us as we passed, + looked on as if in both fear and amazement. It has always been + a wonder to me that our locomotive and cars kept the track at + all, or how they could possibly stay on the track. At times the + iron horse seemed to literally fly over the course, the + driving-wheels of one side being lifted from the rails much of + the distance over which we now sped with a velocity fearful to + contemplate." + +But swift running alone could not save us. In a mere trial of speed +between the two engines we were sure in the end to be worsted. To wreck +the pursuing train was our great object, and to that end we employed +every expedient we could devise. By this time we had a few more +track-raising instruments, which Andrews and Wilson had simultaneously +taken from some switch-tenders. Earlier in the race they would have been +worth their weight in gold, but it was now too late. Even with their +help we could take up a rail no quicker than the Confederates, with +ample supplies of rails, instruments, and trained workmen, could lay +another down. All the efforts we made in this direction were a mere +waste of time. + +But the swiftness of pursuit was carrying both parties over long spaces. +The next station of importance that lay before us was Dalton, and this +place, twenty-two miles from Calhoun, was soon reached. This was the +largest town we had approached since starting in the morning. It was the +junction of another road which led to Cleveland, on the main line to +Richmond. It had a further and terrible interest to us, in the knowledge +that there we would learn whether our character had really been +telegraphed ahead of us by the way of the coast lines and Richmond. But +if it had, we would learn it too late to make the knowledge of any +service. We would find a military force ready to receive us at the +depot, and our race would be run. Yet we approached cautiously, ready, +if there were any suspicious indications, to reverse the engine at once +and run back towards the pursuing train, with the intention of getting +out of the town and trying to escape through the fields. But we saw no +more than the usual number of persons about the depot, and Andrews at +once leaped from the engine, examined the switch, which was adjusted to +throw a train on the Cleveland fork of the road, had it changed, and +answered all questions as coolly and composedly as ever. The whole had +to be done very promptly, as the appearance of our poor battered train +was sadly against us, and we knew that in a town the size of Dalton it +would be easy to find force enough for our arrest. Besides, it was sure +that in a few seconds Fuller and his tireless band would appear on the +scene. In no period of this eventful day does the courage and +self-control of Andrews shine out more brightly than in the manner in +which he here caused the persons about the depot in a moment to obey his +orders and believe his story, even while thinking it possible that they +might have previous information of his designs, and be only waiting the +arrival of assistance to destroy him. The pursuing train was heard as +expected. Before our foes came near enough to reveal our character +everything was arranged, and taking the left-hand road, that which led +directly to Chattanooga, we again darted forward. + +This was, however, a decisive point in the race. When we thus passed +Dalton without having destroyed our pursuers, we knew that all hope of +passing through Chattanooga with our engine must be abandoned. All +uneasiness on account of a possible telegram from Richmond was at an +end, but there was a nearer danger, which defined the limits beyond +which we could no longer hope to pass. There was a line of telegraph +along each of the diverging railroads. We could destroy but one of +these, and it was certain that as soon as Fuller and his friends arrived +at Dalton and told their story, warning would be sent ahead of us by the +other road. This will explain what some accounts have left +doubtful,--our neglect to cut the wire immediately after leaving Dalton. +It made no practical difference to us whether the fatal message was sent +directly to Chattanooga and all intermediate stations, or whether it +went by the way of Cleveland and Chattanooga and then back to the +stations on our line. The distance was twice as great in thus +telegraphing around two sides of a triangle, but this counted for +nothing when lightning was the messenger. Our only resource was in the +fact that we were now counting nearly as many miles as minutes, and +that we might be far on our way towards Chattanooga, and possibly have +some bridges burned, before preparation could be made for stopping us. +As a last resource, we now fully expected to have to take to the woods +on foot. + +Fuller well knew the decisive advantage he would have at Dalton. As he +neared that station he wrote the following dispatch and gave it to the +young operator he had taken up at Calhoun, with instructions to put it +through to Chattanooga, both ways, with the least possible delay. It +proves--if it were not afterwards written from memory and unconsciously +modified--how correctly he had already estimated the character of the +men he was chasing. This sagacity is scarcely less wonderful than the +daring with which he encountered and overcame so many obstacles. + + Fuller's Telegram. + + "TO GENERAL LEADBETTER, Commander at Chattanooga: + + "My train was captured this A.M. at Big Shanty, evidently by + Federal soldiers in disguise. They are making rapidly for + Chattanooga, possibly with the idea of burning the railroad + bridges in their rear. If I do not capture them in the mean + time see that they do not pass Chattanooga. + + "WILLIAM A. FULLER." + +Two miles above Dalton we stopped and obstructed the track, and once +more cut the telegraph wire. The latter was of slight importance, but +Wilson and others urged it upon Andrews, and he did not wish to +discourage them by telling them that it was now useless. But the removal +of a rail might have been of more value by giving us time for burning +some of the bridges, which are very numerous on this part of the road. +This stop was made in plain sight of a Confederate regiment commanded by +a Colonel Glen. The work to be done, however, demanded too much speed +for us to apprehend their interference. But before the rail could be +more than loosened, the pursuers, who had halted at Dalton for even a +shorter time than we had, were upon us again, and we once more mounted +our engine and sped onward. The telegram was sent ahead by this line as +well as the other a minute or two before the wire was severed. It +created a terrible excitement in Chattanooga, but did us no real damage. +Both the pursuing trains were near us when we entered the great tunnel +north of Dalton. Our supply of cross-ties was unfortunately exhausted, +or they might have proved very serviceable in the darkness. In fearful +proximity and with unabated speed the tunnel was passed. Murphy declares +that he was quite relieved when he saw by the gleam of light ahead that +our engine was passing on, for he had quite made up his mind that we +would attack them or drive our engine back upon them in the darkness. +But no such plan had entered our thoughts. We would far have preferred a +fight in open day. + +We now resolved to play what had been reserved as our last card. Running +more slowly to economize fuel,--though a high velocity was still +maintained,--we tried to light a fire in our only remaining car. It was +already open at both ends, and now as much of the sides and top as could +possibly be obtained was also torn off and prepared for fuel. The +attempt to light these splinters by matches did not succeed, for the +wind caused by the rapid motion blew them out. Fire was then brought +back from the engine, but this seemed to smoulder rather than burn, for +the rain, which fell in torrents, blew through the unprotected car, and +all the boards were soaking wet. Never did kindling a fire seem so +difficult. When at length it fairly caught, and began to burn briskly, +our dampened hopes began to brighten in sympathy with it. Might it not +be that our persistent struggle against ill-fortune was to win the +victory even yet? Just then a long covered bridge was approached, which +it was desirable on every account to burn. All of our party, whom the +heat had not already driven forward, were ordered into the nearly empty +tender, and the car was uncoupled in the middle of the bridge. We did +not leave it hastily, but stopped near the farther end of the bridge to +watch the result in breathless anxiety. We had scarcely halted when the +black smoke of the nearest pursuer was seen, and he bore down upon us at +full speed. We were very loth to leave our position. We could see that +the flame was rising higher, but could also see that the enemy's train +had a large number of men on board, some of whom had firearms. Oh, what +would we not have given for a few of the muskets we had left in camp, to +have held our position for even a few minutes, or even one minute! But +our situation was too unfavorable to allow more than a momentary thought +of resistance. At long range we were virtually unarmed. But we lingered +still, until we saw the enemy pushing our blazing car before them over +the bridge; then, being in reach of their firearms, and but poorly +protected in our engine and tender, we again sought safety in flight. +They pushed the blazing car before them to the first side track, which +happened not to be far away, and then left it to burn at its leisure. +Thus our forlorn hope expired. + +But not all of the adventurers were willing to accept defeat even yet. A +halt was made--the last--for the sake of again obstructing the track, +and getting a few sticks of wood that lay near the track to replenish +the waning fire of our engine. Some of the number, from the force of +habit more than anything else, began to take up a rail. The writer then +suggested to Andrews a simple plan, which, at this late hour, still +offered a glimmering hope. Could we throw the pursuers off the track, we +might burn a few bridges yet, though the most important had been left +behind us, and we could no longer hope to run our engine through +Chattanooga. This attempt would have been more full of peril than any +other of the day, with the possible exception of the first seizure of +the train; but its success would have turned the tables on our enemies +overwhelmingly. With sufficient promptness and desperation it might have +succeeded, while its failure would only have ended a hopeless struggle, +exchanging certain and immediate death for whatever faint chances of +escape might otherwise remain after the train was abandoned. There had +been many hints on the part of the soldiers that we were running away +from the enemy too many times, and that it would be better to fight, but +this was the first definite proposal. The suggestion was to use our +remaining fuel in once more running out of sight of the enemy, then, +selecting a place for ambuscade in the low, thick-set bushes that +frequently came close to the road, to obstruct the track in our usual +manner. When this was done, all of us, except one of the engineers, +could hide, in such a position as to be abreast of the enemy when he +stopped to remove the obstructions. Our own engineer could wait until +the pursuers were in sight, and then start off as usual, but slowly, so +as to keep their attention fixed upon his train. We had several times +noticed how, in the case of an obstruction, the Confederates had checked +their headlong career, sprang to the ground even before the train had +stopped fully, and worked furiously at clearing the track. This would be +our opportunity for rushing forth. We could shoot down all who were on +the engine or the ground, while one of our reserve engineers sprang on +the engine and threw it back at full speed, jumping off as it started. +The result could scarcely have failed to be a fatal collision with the +next pursuing train, which was never far behind. Then we would have been +free from pursuit, and left only to reckon with the forces ahead. The +place and manner of leaving the train could then have been selected at +our leisure. We afterwards learned that no preparation had been made to +receive us farther south than Boyce's Station, some three miles from +Chattanooga. There a strong military force had been posted, the track +torn up, and cannon planted. But we would never have ventured so near +Chattanooga after knowing that a message had been sent ahead of us at +Dalton. Our original hope had been to get so far ahead of all pursuit as +to pass Chattanooga before the pursuers had reached Dalton. Then the +junction of roads at the latter point would not have been an +embarrassment to us, as will be made clear by a reference to the map. + +Andrews said that the plan, of which a hint was given in a few rapid +words, was good and worth trying. But the one great defect in his +character as a leader came to the surface in this emergency. This was a +disposition to turn everything carefully over in his mind before +deciding. There was no time for reflection now. The Confederate whistle +sounded, and our men, without waiting for the word of command, so +accustomed had they become to this manoeuvre, mounted the engine and +sped away. Andrews bitterly regretted afterwards that this last +expedient was not tried. With this exception, I do not know of anything +more that could have been devised, beyond what we actually attempted. + +One object only could now be attained by clinging longer to the train, +the speedy abandonment of which was inevitable. Andrews wished to +shorten the distance to our own lines as much as possible, so that the +slender chance of escaping through the woods and mountains might be +increased. It was far easier to travel on the engine than to run or +skulk through the country on foot. It was better to continue this mode +of locomotion as long as possible, or until we were carried as near +Chattanooga as it was prudent to venture. The old lightning rate of +running could not be maintained, but we were still moving swiftly. The +engine was in a bad state, and really incapable of much further service. +The fuel, too, was gone. For some time we had been reduced to the +fragments that had been torn off the cars before they were dropped, and +to what we had gathered up along the roadside. Now all that remained of +a combustible character was crowded into the fire-box for the last pull. +Andrews had always kept with him from the time we first met him at the +midnight consultation a mysterious and well-filled pair of saddle-bags. +These, of which he had been very careful, and which were supposed to +contain important and compromising documents, were now added to the +fire. It was a signal, if any were needed, that the time had now come to +prepare for the worst. Andrews and three others--Brown, Knight, and +Alfred Wilson--were now on the engine, and the remaining sixteen were +huddled together on the tender. At no time since the writer had proposed +attacking the pursuing train had he been in a position to urge the +attempt on Andrews, and it was now too late. But another decision was +arrived at on the engine against which some of us on the tender would +have protested with all our energy had the opportunity been offered. +Alfred Wilson, whose opinion was directly opposite to that of George D. +Wilson and the writer, says,-- + + "A few minutes before we came to the final halt, Andrews, + Brown, Knight, and myself hastily discussed as to the best + thing to be done, and it was concluded that the best course was + to separate and scatter in all directions." + +This fatal decision arose from two causes. Andrews, with all his +courage, never rightly valued fighting men. He preferred accomplishing +his objects by stratagem and in secrecy rather than by open force. It +was simply wonderful that in all the exigencies of this expedition no +one of his soldiers had been permitted to fire a single shot, or even to +draw a revolver upon the enemy. He now considered that when scattered +each one, as well as himself, would be able to find concealment, or if +captured, to evade detection by false stories. This was a great mistake. +The second reason for adopting this fatal course was the belief that the +scattering of the party would also scatter pursuit, and make it less +eager in any one direction. Under ordinary circumstances such would have +been the result. But the terror and the fierce resentment aroused by the +daring character of our enterprise caused the whole country to burst +into a blaze of excitement, and the pursuit to be pushed with equal +energy for scores of miles in every direction. + +An opposite course would have been far more hopeful. We were but twelve +or fifteen miles from Chattanooga. Twenty miles of travel to the +northwest would have placed us on the opposite bank of the Tennessee +River, among the loyal mountaineers of the district. If we had remained +together we could have traversed that broken and wooded country which +lay before us as rapidly as any pursuing soldiers. No body of citizens +not perfectly organized and armed would have ventured to halt us. +Cavalry pursuit away from the main roads was impossible. Besides, one of +our party possessed a pocket-compass, and two others, besides Andrews, +were somewhat acquainted with the country. The writer is convinced that +we might have left the cars in a body, and without even attempting +concealment, but only avoiding the public roads, have hurried directly +towards Mitchel's lines, and within forty-eight hours have been safe in +his camp. + +But we can neither wonder at nor blame the mistake made by our leader on +this occasion, though it led to months of wretchedness and the death of +many of the party. Andrews had met each new emergency with heroic +calmness and unfailing resources; but he was now physically exhausted. +He had been engaged in the most intense and harassing labor for many +days, being without sleep for the past thirty hours and without food for +twenty. An error in action was therefore most natural and excusable, +even if it disagreed with the course which had been marked out in calmer +moments. Wilson says,-- + + "Andrews now told us all that it was 'every man for himself;' + that we must scatter and do the best we could to escape to the + Federal lines." + +This, then, was the formal dissolution of the expedition by the order of +its leader. When we were brought together again under widely different +circumstances, we were simply a collection of soldiers, and while we +respected the judgment and advice of Andrews, we no longer considered +that we owed him military obedience. + +As Conductor Fuller now disappears from our story, where he has been so +conspicuous, and where his energy, skill, and daring shine in such +brilliant colors, a few words may be appropriately devoted to his work +and subsequent history. All the evidence goes to show that the +Confederacy had no other available man who could have saved the bridges +on the Western and Atlantic Railroad that day. With the exception of +himself and his two companions, who were in a sense subordinate to him, +though their services were of very high value, no other person seemed +capable of planning or doing anything whatever. With a conductor of less +energy in the place of this man, the probabilities are that we would +have had the whole day uninterruptedly for the accomplishment of our +task. But for Fuller's daring and perseverance the extra trains would +have but added to the number of wrecks along the line as one after +another ran upon the places where the track had been torn up; while the +burning of the bridges and the loss of telegraphic communications would +have diffused a universal panic. + +The Legislature of Georgia gave Fuller a vote of thanks for his +brilliant services, and instructed the governor to bestow upon him a +gold medal; but, as he laughingly said years after, "Gold was so scarce +in the South that it was hard to find enough for a medal. It was +therefore postponed for a time, and then came the final collapse of the +Confederacy, and I got nothing." The Confederate authorities gave him +the rank of captain by brevet. Of course, the Federal government could +not recognize services rendered against itself of however striking +character. No one of the adventurers ever expressed any malice towards +Conductor Fuller, believing that he simply did what he regarded as his +duty. He retained his place as conductor until the whole road passed +under the control of General Sherman, when he enlisted in the army. +After seeing considerable military service, he was directed by the +Confederate government to take charge of the rolling-stock of the +Western and Atlantic Railroad, and keep it out of the hands of the +Federals. He removed it to various parts of Georgia and South Carolina +as the exigencies of the war and the narrowing territory of the +Confederacy required. Finally, when the supremacy of the Union was +restored, he brought it back to Atlanta and surrendered it to Federal +authority. He afterwards resumed his place as conductor on the same +road, and remained in that situation until 1875, when he located as a +merchant in Atlanta. Here for many years he delighted in talking over +this day of wild adventure. + +Of his two companions, Cain continued for more than twenty years as an +engineer on the same road, while Murphy built up a prosperous business +as a lumberman in Atlanta. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. + + +Many persons, on hearing an account of this unparalleled chase, have +suggested one expedient by which they imagine the fugitive Federals +might have destroyed their enemy and accomplished their own purpose. +"Why did you not," they say, "reverse your own engine and then jump from +it, thus allowing it to knock the pursuing train from the track?" There +were good reasons against that course. Such critics might as well ask a +man who has ascended half-way up out of a well in a bucket why he does +not cut the rope over his head for the sake of crushing somebody at the +bottom of the well. That engine was the basis of all our hopes, and we +could not think of abandoning it until the direst extremity. At the last +moment, however, this attempt to reverse the engine for the purpose of +securing a collision was made. This final effort was unavailing. The +steam power was so nearly exhausted that the locomotive moved backward +very slowly, and accomplished nothing beyond delaying the pursuit on +foot for a very few moments. The pursuing train had no difficulty in +also reversing and running back a little way until the captured engine +came to a dead standstill. Indeed, the hard service of the engine had +very nearly destroyed it, even before we thus flung it back at the +enemy. A Confederate account says, "Their rapid running and inattention +to their engine had melted all the brass from their journals." Wilson is +still more graphic,-- + + "I could liken her condition to nothing else than the last + struggles of a faithful horse, whose heartless master has + driven and lashed him until he is gasping for breath, and + literally dying in the harness. The powerful machine had + carried us safely for more than a hundred miles, some of the + time at a rate of speed appalling to contemplate, but she was + becoming helpless and useless in our service. She was shaken + loose in every joint, at least she seemed so; the brass on her + journals and boxes was melted by the heat; her great steel + tires were almost red-hot, while she smoked and sizzled at + every joint. Our race was almost run." + +We are not able to give an account of the time occupied by us in the +different parts of this long and fearful race. The general impression of +a frightful rate of speed is, however, fully borne out by one fact, +which rests on the authority of the engineer of the "Texas," and I am +not sure that this simple statement is not more eloquent than the most +vivid word-pictures of our chase. It is simply that he ran the distance +of fifty and one-half miles, made all the stops at stations for +explanations and reinforcements, as well as to remove obstructions and +to switch off the cars we dropped, in the space of _sixty-five minutes_. +This calm and definite statement, which I have never heard disputed, +implies an average velocity, when in motion, of not less than a mile per +minute! That such a speed could be attained upon a crooked road, laid +with old iron rails, and with the utmost efforts of an enemy in front to +obstruct the track, seems little less than miraculous. + +But to return to the direct story. When the final and fatal command to +disperse was given, the soldiers, still obedient to orders, jumped off +one by one, and ran, either singly or in small groups, towards the +shelter of the woods. The greater number fled in a western direction. + +No time was lost by the enemy in organizing a most vigorous pursuit. +This would have had little terrors if conducted only by the men on the +pursuing trains. Some of these did join in it, but their part was +insignificant. In an incredibly short space of time the whole country +was aroused. The telegraph, no longer disabled, flashed alarm in every +direction. Horsemen scoured at full speed along every highway, shouting +their exaggerated stories to every passing traveller and to every house +and village. The whole population for scores of miles on every side of +Chattanooga seemed to have abandoned every other occupation, and devoted +themselves exclusively to the work of hunting the fugitive Union +soldiers. Each ferry and cross-road was picketed, while armed bands +explored the sides of every mountain, and searched out every valley. The +people, or at least the great part of those who thus engaged in this +terrible man-hunt in the woods, were not novices in the work, and +employed the most efficient agencies. The dark institution of slavery +rendered the work of hunting down fugitive men very familiar. One of the +points in which there is a strange conflict of testimony between +Northern and Southern witnesses is in relation to the employment of +blood-hounds in the pursuit of Union soldiers, especially when +endeavoring to escape from prison. The writer wishes to be perfectly +candid in this story, and can imagine one explanation of this +discrepancy. Possibly the cause of the dispute is to be found in the use +of the word "blood-hound." The pure-blooded Spanish blood-hound, a +ferocious and terrible beast, is comparatively rare in the Southern +States. But hounds, which were used for tracking men, and some of which +were very large and fierce, were very common. To a poor man, whether +white or black, flying for his life through some lonely wood, who hears, +through the darkness of the night, the baying of a pack of hounds on his +track, and knows that their fangs will soon be fixed in his flesh, it is +little comfort to reflect that the deadly beasts are probably only +mongrels and not of the pure Spanish breed! Hounds were freely employed +in searching for the members of our party, and we felt our blood chill +with horror as we listened to their baying. Escape by concealment for +any considerable length of time was scarcely possible. Rapid flight over +the roughest part of the country was the only alternative, and this was +far from hopeful. The adventurers were so widely dispersed that no +collective narrative of their perilous wanderings is practicable. Yet +many circumstances were common to all the members of the party. The +drenching rain, which continued to fall, added greatly to our +discomfort, and was at once a help and a hindrance. It rendered the +tracking dogs much less efficient, and frequently threw them off the +track altogether, but prevented us from travelling by the sun and stars; +and, as we had no other guide, the flight of the greater number became a +mere aimless wandering through the woods,--sometimes even in a circle. +The endurance of indescribable suffering from cold, hunger, and fatigue +was also an experience common to all who eluded capture for any +considerable period. The expectation of a violent death immediately on +capture and detection was shared by all. The only mode of giving an +adequate impression of this painful but deeply interesting part of the +history will be to narrate with some detail the adventures of a few of +those groups, which will best serve as specimens of all. I offer my own +experience first; not that it is more interesting than others,--indeed, +it is greatly surpassed in number and variety of adventures by the +narratives of Dorsey and Wilson,--but because it is easier to tell my +own experience,--that strange weird period of hunting in the woods and +mountains of Georgia, in which I was the game,--a period which stands +out alone in memory separated from all former and after life! + +On leaving the train the writer was alone, and for a moment his heart +sank within him. No one happened to strike off in the same direction, +and, although some of the fugitives might have been overtaken or fallen +in with, yet the wish was strong to accompany the same band who had been +associated on the southward journey. In looking for these the +opportunity of going with any of the other adventurers was lost. Indeed, +I hardly wished to have any other companions, as the remainder were +comparative strangers, and their trustworthiness had not yet been +thoroughly approved. At that time I knew nothing of the locality in +which I found myself,--whether it was fifteen or fifty miles from +Chattanooga,--nor had I the most indefinite idea of the character of the +country. I only knew that our army and territory lay north or northwest; +but as the sun did not shine, I had no means of determining the points +of the compass. + +The train was still moving when I jumped off,--fast enough to make me +perform several inconvenient gyrations on reaching the ground. As soon +as I could stand firmly I looked about for a moment, and endeavored to +grasp the situation and determine what to do. I had not anticipated that +the train would be abandoned and we dispersed in the woods; but, on the +contrary, had relied on being under the orders of a leader until we +should succeed or perish. Now I was thrown entirely on my own resources, +without even a conscious reliance on the protection of God. I cannot +recall even breathing a prayer in this trying moment. Yet, in a dim way, +I did feel that I was not utterly forsaken. One glance round the +horizon--a swift balancing of the few elements of the problem that were +within my reach--and then hurried flight was all time permitted. Most of +my comrades were in advance of me. Three of them had taken the eastern +side of the railroad, the remainder the opposite side. In my judgment +the latter was best, and, following their example, I soon reached the +cover of stunted pines that grew near. Feeling the necessity of getting +some start before the enemy could arrange for pursuit, I continued to +run at right angles away from the railroad. A little brook that ran +parallel to the railroad was soon passed, and I pressed on up the long, +steep, and open slope of a hill on its opposite side. Running up-hill +was too severe to be maintained long, and I was obliged to drop into a +walk in plain view of the enemy. Each step was fatiguing, and my limbs +seemed made of lead. This greatly augmented my fears. It was more like +trying to run away from danger in a nightmare than any waking sensation. +I saw three of my comrades not far away on the left, and, urging my +failing strength to the utmost, tried to overtake them, but in vain. +This was a great disappointment, for I dreaded solitude above all +things, and wanted the support of sympathy. I knew that pursuit would be +rapid and instantaneous, and could hear shouts from the pursuing trains, +which had now reached the spot and were discharging a host of enemies. +Every breeze that sighed through the branches of the naked forest +sounded like the trampling of cavalry. + +The country was rough and uneven. On the bottoms and by the streams, as +well as on the steep mountains, were a few pines; but on the slopes and +tops of the hills, which here are a low continuation of the Cumberland +range, the timber is mostly of oak and other varieties, which were not +then in foliage. This was a great disadvantage, because it left no +hiding-place and exposed us to the watchful eyes of our enemies. + +As I struggled up the hill-side the sense of faintness and exhaustion +passed away, and with strength hope came again. Nothing in this chase +seems stranger than the manner in which my strength ebbed and flowed. +When seemingly utterly powerless, without rest, food, or sleep, vigor +came back again on more than one occasion, and the new supply would last +for hours. My more rapid pace soon carried me over the hill-top and down +to the bend of a little river, which I subsequently learned was the +Chickamauga,--the witness, afterwards, of one of the most desperate +battles of the war. It was then swollen by the continuous rains, and for +some time I searched along its banks in vain for a crossing-place. +Believing that death was behind, I finally committed myself to the +turbulent stream, and succeeded in getting over, but only to find that +before me the bank rose in an almost perpendicular precipice of +shelving rock not less than one hundred feet in height. I dared not +recross the stream, for I knew the enemy could not be far behind, and I +therefore clambered up the precipice. Several times, when near the top, +did I feel my grasp giving way, but as often some bush or projecting +rock afforded me the means of saving myself. While thus swinging up the +bare rocks, I could not help thinking what a fine mark I presented if +any of the enemy, with guns, should happen to arrive on the opposite +bank! At last, after imminent danger, I reached the top, again utterly +exhausted, pulled myself out of sight, and sank down to breathe for a +while. + +I had been without breakfast or dinner, and had spent not only that day +but many preceding ones in the most fatiguing exertion. Enemies were on +every side. There was no guide even in the direction of home, for the +sun still lingered behind an impenetrable veil. + +While musing on this unenviable situation in which I found myself, a +dreadful sound brought me to my feet and sent the blood leaping wildly +through my veins. It was the distant baying of a blood-hound! A moment's +reflection would have made it certain that in the existing state of +Southern customs dogs would have been used to track fugitives in the +woods. It was a mere every-day incident of slavery. But this +consideration brought no comfort. Alone in the woods of Georgia, the +horror of being hunted with dogs was indescribable. + +A few moments' listening confirmed my worst fears. They were after us +with their blood-hounds! not one pack alone, but all in the country, as +the widening circle from which their dismal baying echoed revealed but +too plainly. There was no longer safety in idleness. Yet the fearful +sound was not without use in supplying a guide to flight, and I am now +convinced that throughout the whole chase the dogs were of more real +service to us than to our pursuers, as they rendered a surprise less +probable. But none the less did they add to the repulsiveness and terror +of our position. + +Away across the hills and streams I sped, I know not how far,--I only +know that the noise of the dogs grew fainter as the evening wore on. I +had distanced them and began to breathe more freely. I even indulged the +hope of being able to work my way ultimately to the Federal lines. Had +the clouds permitted travelling by the sun and stars, this hope might +have been realized. + +As I descended the long slope of a wooded hill into a solitary valley, I +saw a rude hut, with a man working in a cultivated patch beside it. +Believing that he could not yet have heard of our adventure, I +determined to risk something in order to get information. I also felt +sure that one man could not arrest me. Approaching, I asked the road to +Chattanooga, and the distance. He pointed the way, and told me that it +was eight miles. Adding this information to the general knowledge I had +of the geography of that district, it gave me some notion of my +whereabouts. I did not wish to get any nearer the rebel town, as I +rightly judged that in its vicinity pursuit would be most vigorous, but +I continued my journey in that direction until out of sight, when I +climbed the hill at right angles to my former course. This course was +maintained for some hours, when an incident occurred which would have +been amusing but for the fearful perils environing me. + +I had often heard of lost persons travelling in a circle, but never gave +much credit to such stories. Now, I had the proof of their credibility. +I believe philosophers explain the phenomenon by saying that one side of +the body has a little more vigor than the other, and that when we have +no guide to direct us, the stronger side (usually the right), by its +tendency to go ahead of the other side, gradually turns us in the +opposite direction. In other words, the right foot outwalks the left, +and thus, like a carriage-horse swifter than its mate in a driverless +team, can only describe perpetual circles until the will-power again +takes hold of the reins. But at this time I had never heard of such +theories, and the following experiences presented themselves to my mind +as an inexplicable and terrifying fatality. + +I had crossed a road and left it for something like an hour, during +which time I walked very fast, when to my surprise I came to the same +place again. I was considerably annoyed thus to lose my labor, but +struck over the hill in what I now supposed to be the right direction. +Judge of my astonishment and alarm when, after an hour or more of hard +walking, I found myself again at precisely the same spot! So much time +had been lost that the barking of the dogs now sounded very loud and +near. I was perplexed beyond measure and seemingly hopelessly entangled. +A few steps brought me to a stream that was recognized as having been +crossed hours before. In sheer desperation I took the first road that +appeared, and followed it almost regardless of where it led or who was +met. Previously I had kept away from the roads, and sought the most +secluded route. But the risk of meeting any tangible enemy was +preferable to being the sport of that bewildering chance which seemed to +be drifting me around in a remorseless whirlpool. + +Thus I pressed forward till the rainy, dreary evening deepened into +night. I recall no thoughts of prayer, no feeling of dependence upon an +infinite mercy beyond the clouds. All the memory I have of mental +processes is that there was a fixed, iron-like resolve to use every +power of body and mind to escape, and in perfect calmness to await the +result. I intended to do all in my own power for safety and then perish, +if it must be so, with the feeling that I was not responsible for it. +The reader, a little farther on, will find that this feeling was so +powerful that I did not shrink from any sacrifice of truth, or even from +enlistment in the rebel army. For me the stake was life or death. I +would win if my power could by any means be stretched so far; if not, I +would pay the forfeit when I must. + +It was not perfectly dark, for there was a moon beyond the clouds, and, +as I heard a wagon approaching, I stepped to the bushes beside the road +and accosted the driver. His voice assured me that he was a negro, and I +made bold to get from him as much information as possible. Words cannot +describe the flood of disappointment, vexation, and anger that swept +over my bosom when I found I was within four miles of Chattanooga,--that +town which I regarded as the lion's mouth! So far as I had a plan it was +to leave this place far to my right, and strike the Tennessee River +twelve or fifteen miles farther down-stream. I hoped to do this, and to +cross over the river by floating on some dry branch of a tree before +morning. If the stars came out, so that I could travel a straight +course, this hope was not unreasonable. But near Chattanooga, however, +all the river would be watched and the country around strictly +patrolled. But if discouraged by the manner in which I seemed attracted +towards the rebel headquarters, despair was useless; so, learning the +direction both of Ringgold and Chattanooga from the negro, who, like all +of his color, was ready to do anything for fugitives, with whom he had a +fellow-feeling (though I did not make my true character known to him), I +pressed forward through the rain and mud. As the road did not lead in +the right direction, I again travelled in the fields and woods. + +For some time I felt sure of having the right course in my head and +hurried on. But when I had crossed a large field of deadened timber I +was completely lost. Soon, however, I reached a road which seemed to +lead right, and followed it with renewed vigor for several miles. At +length I met three men on horseback. It was too dark to tell whether +they were negroes or white men, but I ventured to ask them,-- + +"How far is it to Chattanooga?" + +"_Three miles!_" + +"Is this the right road?" + +"Yes, sah, right ahead." + +These, probably, were men sent out to search for the railroad +adventurers, and they did not try to arrest me because I had accosted +them so boldly and was going directly towards Chattanooga. + +But it was evident I was again on the wrong road. Indeed, so hopelessly +bewildered was I that it seemed impossible to travel any but the wrong +road. As soon as the horsemen were out of sight I turned and followed +them three or four miles, until I came to a large road running at right +angles with my own, which terminated where it entered the other. I +deliberated some time as to which end of this new road I should take. +These mountain-roads are fearfully crooked, and the one I had been +travelling bent too often to give me the direction even of the dreaded +Chattanooga. + +Many a time had I wished for a sight of the moon and stars. Long before +the clash of arms had been heard in our peaceful land, before the +thunder of battle had filled a nation with weeping, astronomy had been +my favorite study, and I had often longed for the parting of the clouds, +that, with my telescope, I might gaze on the wonders of the world above. +But never did I bend so anxious an eye to the darkened firmament as in +my solitary wanderings over the Georgia hills that memorable night. All +in vain! No North Star appeared to point with beam of hope to the land +of the free! + +But at length I made choice, and, as usual, on this night chose wrong. +After I had gone a long distance the moon did for a moment break through +a rift in the clouds and pour her welcome light down on the dark forest +through which I was passing. That one glance was enough to show me that +I was heading towards the railroad I had left in the morning. Even then +the light was a compensation for all the disappointment, but in a +moment it withdrew and the rain fell again in torrents. Wearily I turned +and retraced my tedious steps, hoping in vain for another glimpse of the +moon. + +One of my feet had been injured by an accident three months before, and +now pained me exceedingly. Still I dragged myself along. My nerves had +become exhausted by the long-continued tension they had endured, and now +played me many fantastic tricks, which became more marked as the night +wore on. I passed the place where the wrong choice of roads had been +made, and still toiled ahead. + +I was thinly clad, and as the wind, which had risen and was now blowing +quite hard, drove the falling showers against me, my teeth chattered +with the piercing cold. I passed many houses, and feared the barking of +the dogs might betray me to watchers within; but my fears were +groundless. The storm, which was then howling fearfully through the +trees, served to keep most of those who would have sought my life +within-doors. For a time I seemed to have the lonely, fearful, stormy +night to myself. + +At last all thoughts gave way to the imperative need of rest. I reeled +to a large log not far from the road, on the edge of a small patch of +woodland, and crawling close under the side of it, not so much for +shelter from the driving rain as for concealment from my worse dreaded +human foes, I slept in peace. + +Up to the time of this profound and dreamless sleep the incidents of +that terrible night are graven on my memory as with a pen of fire. But +after waking I found a marvellous change, and the next experience of the +night floats in memory with all the voluptuous splendor of an +opium-dream. Had I been at all disposed to superstition, I would have +had room enough to indulge it. A rational view of religion would have +enabled me to recognize the manner in which a Merciful Father interposed +to relieve my sufferings,--an interposition not less real or effective +because, as I still believe, purely natural. But at that time I was +indisposed to admit other than the material explanation. The want of +sleep, fatigue, dampness, hunger, and intense mental tension were enough +to cause a mild species of delirium. But the character of this was +surely extraordinary, affecting as it did the senses and imagination +only, and leaving the reason and will altogether untouched. I was as +rational--as able to plan, and far more able to execute, during this +singular psychological experience than before. But let me narrate facts +and leave the reader to his own explanations. + +I cannot tell how long sleep continued, but I wakened perfectly in an +instant, and with a full realization of my position. But, in addition to +this, I seemed to hear some person whisper, as plainly as ever I heard a +human voice,-- + +"Shoot him! shoot him! Let us shoot him before he wakes!" + +My first impression was that a party of rebels had discovered me in my +hiding-place, and that my last moment on earth had come. But the next +thought brought a new suspicion, and I cautiously opened my eyes to see +if my senses were really playing me false. + +Directly before me stood a bush or small tree. The first glance showed +me a tree and nothing more. The next glance revealed a score of angels, +all clad in lovely robes, that melted into the softest outlines, their +heads nodding under feathery plumes above all beauty, and their wings, +bordered with violet and pearl, slowly waving with indescribable grace. +As my eye wandered farther, the whole grove was transformed into a +radiant paradise, in which moved celestial beings of every order, all +instinct with life and blushing with love. There were rose bowers, and +ladies fairer than mortal, and little cherubs floating around on +cloudlets of amber and gold. Indeed, all that I had ever seen, read, or +imagined of beauty was comprised in that one gorgeous vision. It was +very singular, and of this I can give no explanation, except the will of +God, that no hideous, terrible, or even ugly image was seen. That there +were not visions of blood-hounds, chains, and scaffolds, or other forms +of terror, seemingly more appropriate to my condition; is unaccountable, +so far as I know, on any theory save that of heavenly grace, and, +personally, I wish for no better. It was also singular that though the +brain and eye were thus impressed with ideal existences, I was perfectly +calm and self-possessed, knowing the whole thing to be but a pleasing +illusion. I had no fear of these figures of the brain, but, on the +contrary, found them excellent company. They did not always personate +the same characters. Occasionally they would change to the old feudal +knights, arrayed in glittering armor. The finest landscapes would start +up from the cold wet hills around, like mirages in the desert. Panoramas +of the most vivid action passed before me, and the ear joined the eye in +the work of pleasing illusion, for even language was not denied to my +visitants, whose voices were inexpressibly melodious, and even very +sweet music was occasionally heard. + +Not less remarkable was the renewal of strength I felt. To walk or run +was no longer a burden. To say that I was perfectly refreshed is +altogether an inadequate expression. I seemed to have supernatural +strength, and to be incapable of any weariness or disagreeable sensation +whatever. Even the merciless pelting of the cold rain was pleasant and +delightful! I was perfectly easy and peaceful in mind, feeling no fear, +though perfectly conscious of my real situation and peril, and retaining +the full force of the resolve to use every exertion for escape. + +While night and darkness were thus changed into visions of beauty and +joy around me, another faculty penetrated beyond these highly-colored +illusions, and showed me, though in faint lines, the true face of the +country and of events. Yet I had no hesitation in controlling my +conduct with respect to the faint rather than the bright pictures, and +was only once, for a few minutes, deceived, and then by supposing the +real to be fictitious. The error very nearly involved me in a serious +difficulty. At a cross-road, I saw from a distance what I supposed, at +first, to be a group of my spectral friends standing around a fire, the +ruddy blaze of which rendered them clearly visible. They were not so +beautiful as former figures, but I advanced unsuspectingly towards them, +and would probably have continued until too late for retreat had not my +progress been arrested by a sound of all others least romantic,--the +squealing of a pig! The men around the fire had caught the animal, and +were killing it preparatory to roasting it in the fire! This immediately +drove away the seraphs and the angels! I listened, and became convinced +that they were a picket sent out to watch for just such travellers as +myself. Some dogs were with them, but these were, fortunately, too much +absorbed in the dying agonies of the pig to give attention to me. + +I crawled cautiously away, and made a long circuit through the fields. A +dog from a farm-house made himself exceedingly annoying by following and +barking after me. I did not apprehend danger from him, for I had managed +to keep my trusty revolver dry all this time, but I feared he would +attract the attention of the picket. + +When he left me I returned to the road, but came to three horses hobbled +down, which, no doubt, belonged to the picket behind, and had to make +another circuit to avoid driving them before me. Then I pressed on, +hoping that some good chance, if not providence, might bring me to the +steep banks of the Tennessee. Yet I was not sanguine, for the country +was more open and level than I expected to find in the vicinity of the +river. Very many miles--possibly a score, or even more, for my pace was +rapid--were passed in this manner, but at last my visions began to fade. +I was sorry to see them go, for they seemed like a good omen, and they +had been cheerful companions. When the last form of beauty disappeared +the chill horror of my situation froze into my veins; my strange +strength also passed gradually away. I would find myself staggering +along almost asleep,--would wander a short distance from the road to a +secluded spot, throw myself on the flooded ground, and be instantly +asleep,--then, in a few moments, awaken, almost drowned by the pitiless +rain, and so weary, cold, and benumbed that I could scarcely rise and +plod onward. + +Thus the latter part of that dreary night wore on. It seemed an age of +horror, and places a shuddering gulf between my present life and the +past. At length the cold gray dawn of a clouded morning broke through +the weeping sky. Day brought no relief. I had not yet any guide, and had +not stumbled on the Tennessee. I feared to make inquiries. Every one I +saw seemed a foe. Still, I did not avoid them, or leave the road for any +great distance. Slowly a new plan formed itself in my mind, for, if the +rain and clouds continued, I despaired of working my way to our lines. +What this plan was will appear in due time. It will be enough to say +here that I did not now think a capture would be fatal, if once far +enough away from the place where the train was abandoned, to plausibly +deny all knowledge of that raid. I hardly thought it possible that I +could endure another day and night alone in the woods. To prepare for +all emergencies, I carefully washed all traces of that terrible night +from my clothes. The wet would not matter, for the falling rain +accounted perfectly for that. + +It was Sabbath morning, but it came not to me with the blessed calmness +and peace that accompany it in my own far-off Ohio. I realized how sweet +those Sabbath hours and Sabbath privileges had been, which I had never +valued before. I saw the people going to church, and longed to go with +them. Of course this was impossible, but with the thought came more of +a feeling of worship and of desire for God's protection than I had ever +known before. In that hour I believe His blessed Spirit was calling me; +but I soon turned my mind in another direction, preferring to plan for +my own deliverance, and to arrange the stories I would tell if arrested, +or if I ventured to any house for food, as would soon be necessary. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +IN THE ENEMY'S POWER. + + +But I will dwell no longer on the miseries of this dreary morning. Its +hours went tediously by, marked by no special incidents till about noon. +Just beyond Lafayette, Georgia, I was observed by some one on the watch +for strangers. A party of pursuit numbering twenty or thirty was at once +organized. I knew nothing of my danger till they were within fifty +yards, when I heard them calling for me to stop. + +A single glance showed my helplessness. I laid my hand instinctively on +my revolver, but knew that fight was useless. Neither was flight +possible. The country was open and I was too weary to run, even if some +of the party had not been mounted and others armed with rifles and +shot-guns. It was time to see what could be made of my plans carefully +contrived for just such an emergency. Therefore, making a virtue of +necessity, I turned round and demanded what they wanted, though I knew +only too well. They said courteously enough that they wanted to talk +with me awhile. Soon they came up, and a brisk little man who had the +epaulets of a lieutenant, but whom they called "Major," began to ask +questions. He was very bland, and apologized profusely for interrupting +me, but said if I was a patriotic man (as he had no doubt I was) I would +willingly undergo a slight inconvenience for the good of the +Confederacy. I endeavored to emulate his politeness, begging him to +proceed in the performance of his duty, and assuring him that he would +find nothing wrong. He searched me very closely for papers, and examined +my money and pistol, but found no ground for suspicion. + +He next asked me who I was, where I came from, and where I was going. I +expected all these questions in about that order, and answered them +categorically. I told him I was a citizen of Kentucky, of Fleming +County, who had become disgusted with the tyranny of the Lincoln +government, and was ready to fight against it; that I came to +Chattanooga, but would not enlist there because most of the troops were +conscripts, and the few volunteers very poorly armed. I told him where I +had lodged in Chattanooga, and many things about the troops there, using +all the knowledge I had acquired of that character while riding on the +cars to Marietta the preceding Friday. I had also heard many words of +praise spoken of the First Georgia Regiment, and now told the major that +I wished to join that noble organization. This flattered his State +pride, but he asked me one question more,--why I had not gone directly +to Corinth, where the First Georgia was, without coming to Lafayette, +which was far out of the way. The question conveyed much information, as +I did not before know that I was near Lafayette, or out of the road from +Chattanooga to Corinth. I answered as well as I could by alleging that +General Mitchel was said to be at Huntsville, and that I was making a +circuit around to avoid the danger of falling into his hands. + +This seemed to be perfectly satisfactory to the little man, and, turning +to the attentive crowd, he said,-- + +"We may as well let this fellow go on, for he seems to be all right." + +I was greatly rejoiced at these words, and cast about in my own mind to +see if I could not gain something more before passing on the way. But my +joy was premature. A dark-complexioned man on horseback, with his hat +drawn over his brows, looked slowly up and drawled out,-- + +"Well, y-e-s! Perhaps we'd as well take him back to town, and if it's +all right, maybe we can help him on to Corinth." + +This was rather more help than I wanted, but there was no help for it. +Besides, I reasoned that if I could keep on good terms with this party, +I could get information and aid that would be invaluable towards my +final escape. Nothing could really suit me much better than actually to +be forwarded to Corinth and enlisted in the First Georgia. I knew the +ordeal of questioning before that course was determined on would be very +trying, but did not despair. If I could only have had some food and a +few hours' rest! + +They conducted me to the largest hotel of the place, where I was +received with much ceremony, but they neglected to order dinner. I could +have had drink enough, but was too prudent to touch it, even if I had +not always been a teetotaler. Soon all the lawyers came in,--Lafayette +is a county-seat,--and they all had liberty to question me. For four +mortal hours, as I could see by a clock in the room, I conversed with +them and answered questions. We talked of everything, and their +questions grew more and more pointed. I answered as well as I could, and +never let an opportunity pass to put in a question in turn, for it was +much easier and less perilous to ask than answer. When I told them I was +from Kentucky, they wished to know the county. I told them Fleming. They +asked after the county-seat. This also I could give. But when they asked +after adjoining counties I was sorely perplexed. One of them said it was +singular a man could not bound his own county. I asked how many of them +could bound the county we then were in. This question had a double +purpose,--to gain time and information. They mentioned several and fell +into a dispute, to settle which a map had to be produced. I got a look +at it also,--a mere glance, for it was soon out of reach of my eager +gaze; but I had seen much. Then they requested a narrative of my journey +all the way from Kentucky. This I gave very easily and in great detail +as long as it was on ground not accessible to my inquisitors. I told the +truth as far as that would not be compromising, and then pieced out with +inventions. The time I had spent on the train and in the woods were +hardest to arrange for. I had to _invent_ families with whom I had +lodged; tell the number of children and servants at each place, with all +kinds of particulars. I knew not how many of my auditors might be +familiar with the country I was thus fancifully populating, and was +careful not to know too much. I plead forgetfulness as often as that +plea was plausible, but it would not do to use it too often. I might +have refused to answer any question, but this would have been a tacit +admission of some kind of guilt,--at least as good as a mob would have +required. I might safely use any retorts and sharpness in +conversation,--and I did talk with perfect freedom,--but I had the +feeling that silence would have brought me in danger of the lash and the +rope. Can the reader conceive of any situation more critical and +perilous: starving and almost fainting from weariness, in the midst of a +growing tavern crowd, questioned by acute lawyers, and obliged to keep +every faculty on the alert, feeling that an incautious answer would +probably lead to an instant and frightful death, and compelled under +such pressure to tell falsehood after falsehood in unending succession? + +But I had an increasing hope if my endurance continued to the end. At +supper-time I meant to boldly demand food, and I felt sure of getting +it. Besides, although they were clear that I was a suspicious +character, they did not seem in any way to connect me with the great +railroad expedition,--the only identification I feared. The very fact +that I was so far away from the point where the train was abandoned was +in my favor. Temporary confinement, enlistment in the army, anything +they were likely to do was without terror as long as I was not connected +with the daring adventure which had culminated the day before. They were +somewhat perplexed by the assurance with which I spoke, and held +numerous private consultations, only agreeing that the case needed +further investigation. + +Matters were in this position when a man, riding a horse covered with +foam, dashed up to the door. He came from Ringgold and brought the +news--of deeper interest to me than to any one else--that several of the +bridge-burners had been taken near the place where they abandoned the +train. When first apprehended they claimed to be CITIZENS OF KENTUCKY, +FROM FLEMING COUNTY; but on finding that this did not procure their +release, they confessed being Ohio soldiers, sent by General Mitchel to +burn the bridges on the Georgia State Railroad! + +I have no reason to believe that any of those who were captured +described their companions, or gave any information leading +intentionally to their discovery. This was not needed. The unfortunate +telling of the same fictitious story and the subsequent revelation of +their true character on the part of some of the number who were captured +close to the abandoned train, unmasked the others as well. After the +first captures, which were made Saturday afternoon, whenever a fugitive +was arrested who hailed from _Fleming County, Kentucky_, and was not +able to prove his innocence, he was at once set down as a member of the +railroad party. + +The message from Ringgold ended all uncertainty in my own case. I was at +once conducted, under strict guard, to the county jail. + +The little major was my escort. He took advantage of his position to +purloin my money, and then turned me over to the county jailer. That +personage took my penknife and other little articles of property, then +led me up-stairs, unfastened a door to the right, which led into a large +room with barred windows, and having a cage, made of crossing iron bars, +in the centre. He unlocked the small but heavy iron door of the cage and +bade me enter. For the first time in my life I was to be locked in jail! +My reflections could not have been more gloomy if the celebrated +inscription had been written over the cage that Dante placed above the +gate of hell, "All hope abandon, ye who enter here." + +There did seem absolutely no hope for me. I was there as a criminal, and +I knew that life was held too cheaply in the South for my captors to be +fastidious about disposing of an unknown stranger. I had heard the +message from Ringgold, and at once comprehended its bearing against me. +Nothing save a confession of my true character as a soldier and my real +business in the South would be credited. The probability was that even +this would only make my doom the more speedy. + +In that hour my most distressing thoughts were of the friends at home, +and especially of my mother,--thinking what would be their sorrow when +they heard of my ignominious fate,--if, indeed, they ever heard, for I +had given "John Thompson" instead of my own name. That all my young +hopes and ambitions, my fond dreams of being useful, should perish, as I +then had no doubt they would, on a Southern scaffold, seemed utterly +unbearable. But one moment only did these thoughts sweep over me; the +next they were rejected by a strong effort of the will as worse than +useless, and were followed by a sense of unutterable relief, for I could +now rest. I had found a refuge even in prison, and needed no longer to +keep every failing faculty at the utmost tension. The sweetness of rest +for the moment overcame every other feeling save hunger, and that, too, +was soon satisfied. The jailer brought some coarse food, which was +devoured with exceeding relish. There was another prisoner in the same +cage,--probably a detective, put in for the purpose of gaining my +confidence and leading me to a confession. His first step was to plead +ill health as an excuse for not eating his share of the prison food. I +excused him, and ate his allowance as well as my own without difficulty. + +He then wished to talk, and asked me some questions, but I was in no +mood for further conversation. Being cold I borrowed his prison +blankets, of which he had a plentiful supply, and, wrapping myself up in +them, soon sank into a deep sleep--profound and dreamless--such as only +extreme fatigue can produce. The quaint advice contained in the last +words of my companion, however, lingered in my memory. Said he,-- + +"If you are innocent of the charge they make against you, there is no +hope for you. You are much worse off than if you are guilty, for they +will hang you on suspicion, while, if you are a soldier, you can tell +what regiment you belong to, and claim protection as a United States +prisoner of war." + +My sleep lasted until long after dawn of the next morning. This repose, +with the breakfast which followed, completely restored my strength, and +with the elasticity of youth I began to revolve my situation and plan +for the future. I was not long left in loneliness. The people of the +village and surrounding country came in throngs to see a man who was +supposed to belong to the daring band of engine thieves,--one of the +most common names by which our party was recognized during our +imprisonment. They were very free in their criticisms of my appearance, +and some were very insulting in their remarks. But I would not allow +myself to be drawn into conversation with them, for I had a momentous +question to decide in my own mind. + +The more I thought of the advice of my fellow-prisoner the more weighty +did it appear. I did not value it because it was his opinion, but +because it seemed reasonable. I also longed to assume my true name once +more and my position as a soldier. The thought of perishing obscurely +and in disguise was most revolting. Besides, I felt that a soldier had +more chances of life than a suspected wanderer. Our government might put +forth energetic efforts to save those who were in such deadly peril. I +remembered, with increasing hope, that the Federals, at this very time, +held a number of rebel prisoners in Missouri, who had been captured +while disguised in Federal uniform inside of our lines, engaged in an +attempt very similar to our own,--the burning of some railroad bridges. +Why might not these be held as hostages to assure our safety, or even +exchanged for us? To entitle me to any help from our government I must +be William Pittenger, of the Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and not +John Thompson, of Kentucky. My mind was soon made up,--the more readily +that I heard my citizen visitors talking about the capture of several +others of our party, who had all admitted that they were United States +soldiers. They were influenced, no doubt, by the same course of +reasoning that I have indicated. I believe this decision ultimately +saved my life. + +But there was room for choice as to the manner of making my confession. +I told the jailer that I had an important communication for the +authorities, and he reported the matter to some person of influence, who +summoned a vigilance committee, and ordered me before it. + +I found them prepared to renew the examination of the previous day. They +had the same lawyers in waiting, and, indeed, all the principal men of +the town. When their preliminaries were over, they asked the nature of +the communication I wished to make, and hoped that I could throw some +light on the mysterious capture of the railroad train. I said,-- + +"Gentlemen, the statements I made yesterday were intended to deceive." +("So we suspected," said one of the lawyers, _sotto voce_.) "I will now +tell you the truth." + +The clerk got his pen ready to take down the information, and the +roomful of people assumed an attitude of deepest attention. + +"Go on, sir; go on," said the president. + +"I am ready," said I, "to give my true name, and the division and +regiment of the United States army to which I belong, and to tell why I +came so far into your country." + +"Just what we want to know, sir. Go on," said they. + +"But," I returned, "I will make no statement whatever until taken before +the regular military authority of this department." + +Their disappointment and surprise at this announcement were almost +amusing. Curiosity was raised to the highest pitch, and did not like to +postpone its gratification. They employed every threat and argument in +their power to make me change my decision,--some of them saying that I +should be hanged to the nearest tree if I did not. But I knew my ground. +I told them that though an enemy I was a soldier, possessed of important +military information, and, if they were loyal to their cause, it was +their duty to take me at once before, some regular military authority. +The leading men admitted the justice of this view, and when they found +that I would reveal nothing there, they made arrangements to take me to +Chattanooga. This was distant about twenty miles from Lafayette. +Ringgold, near which we abandoned the train, was about the same distance +to the east. In that long and terrible night of wandering I had +travelled twenty miles in a straight line, and, with my meanderings, +must have walked more than fifty. + +My reason for postponing my confession until reaching Chattanooga was +that I wanted to get out of the hands of the mob as soon as possible. +There was no body of soldiers or responsible authority in Lafayette. If +I had perished there no one, in any contingency, could have been called +to account for it. Where a department commander was stationed I would +have to reckon with him alone, which was far preferable, and I counted +on the curiosity of the mob to preserve me as long as my secret was not +revealed. + +I was remanded to the jail to wait for the preparation of a suitable +escort. After dinner about a dozen men entered my room, and guarded me +out to the public square. There a carriage was waiting, in which I was +placed, and then commenced the complicated process of tying and +chaining. + +By this time a great mob had gathered, completely filling the square, +and in the most angry and excited condition. Some persons questioned me +in loud and imperious tones, demanding why I came down there to fight +them, and adding every possible word of insult. I heard many significant +hints about getting ropes, and the folly of taking me to Chattanooga +when I could be hanged just as well there. + +For a little time I made no answer to any question, and paid as little +attention as possible to what was said. But the tumult increased, and +the mob grew so violent in its denunciations that I feared a passive +policy would no longer serve. Though I was being very effectually bound, +my tongue was still at liberty. I had no experience in managing mobs, +but I felt, by a kind of instinct, that mobs and dogs are very +similar,--neither likes to attack a person who quietly and +good-humoredly faces them. I had proved this with savage dogs several +times for mere sport, but this was a more serious matter. I was not much +in the humor of talking, but it was better to be led by policy than by +inclination. Selecting, therefore, some of the nearest persons, I spoke +to them. They answered with curses, but in the very act of cursing they +grew milder and more willing to converse. I answered their innuendoes +cheerfully, jesting, whenever opportunity offered, about the manner I +was being secured, the bracelets they were giving me, the care they had +for a "Yankee," as they persisted in calling me, and tried to look and +speak as if the whole matter were a mere comedy. I soon got some of the +laughers on my side, and before long had the satisfaction of hearing one +man say, regretfully, "Pity he is a Yankee, for he seems to be a good +fellow," and another agree to the sentiment. Yet I was not sorry to hear +the driver announce that we were now ready to start. + +The manner in which I was tied indicated that my captors intended to +"make assurance doubly sure, and take a bond of fate." One end of a +heavy chain was put around my neck, and fastened there with a padlock; +the other end was passed behind the carriage-seat, and hitched to my +foot in the same manner, the chain being extended to its full length +while I was in a sitting position, thus rendering it impossible for me +to rise. My hands were tied together, my elbows were pinioned to my +sides by ropes, and, to crown all, I was firmly bound to the +carriage-seat, while two horsemen, armed with pistols and carbines, +followed the carriage at a short distance, and my evil genius, the +little major, took the seat beside me, likewise armed to the teeth. I +ought to have felt secure, but did not. The same exaggerated caution was +often noticed afterwards. + +As we left Lafayette behind, the sky, which had been clouded for days, +suddenly cleared. The sun shone in beauty, and smiled on the first faint +dawnings of spring that lay in tender green on the surrounding hills. +What would I not have given for such a day forty-eight hours earlier! +But even then it was very welcome, and my spirit grew more light as I +breathed the fresh air and listened to the singing of the birds. + +My companions were quite talkative, and I responded as well as I could. +They even tried to make me think that the extraordinary manner in which +I was tied and guarded--with which I reproached them--was a compliment, +showing that they had formed a high opinion of my daring character! +Their conversation was pleasant and courteous enough, except that when +they passed houses they would cry out, "We've got a live Yankee here!" +Then men, women, and children would rush to the door, staring as if they +saw some great monster, and asking,-- + +"Whar did you ketch him? Goin' to hang him when you get him to +Chattanooga?" and similar expressions without number. + +I cared little for this at first, but its perpetual recurrence was not +without its effect in making me think that they really would hang me. In +fact, my prospects were far from encouraging; yet I considered it my +duty to keep up my spirits and hold despair at arm's length while any +possible ground for hope remained. The afternoon wore slowly away as we +journeyed amid grand and romantic scenery that in any other +circumstances would have been enthusiastically enjoyed. But now my +thoughts were otherwise engaged. + +I was not so much afraid of death in itself as of the manner in which it +was likely to come. Death amid the smoke and excitement and glory of +battle never had seemed half so terrible as it now did when it stood, an +awful spectre, beside the gallows! And even sadder it was to think of +friends who would count the weary months, waiting and longing for my +return, till hope became torturing suspense, and suspense deepened into +despair. These and kindred thoughts were almost too much for my +fortitude; yet, setting my teeth hard, I resolved to endure patiently to +the end. + +The sun went down, and night came on,--deep, calm, and clear. One by one +the stars twinkled into light. I gazed upon their beauty with new +feelings, as I wondered whether a few more suns might not set me free +from the short story of earthly things and make me a dweller beyond the +sky. A spirit of prayer and the faint beginnings of trust stirred within +me. Hitherto I had been looking at passing events alone, and refusing to +contemplate the great new experiences death would open. But now my +thoughts took a new direction. God was helping me, and inclining my +heart upward. I was to pass through many more terrible scenes and taste +bitter sorrows before I could recognize His voice and fully repose on +His love. I was not then a member of church nor a professor of religion. +I believed the doctrines of Christianity, and purposed some day to give +them practical attention. It had been easy to postpone this purpose, +and, latterly, the confusion and bustle of camp-life had almost driven +the subject out of my mind. But now God appeared very near, and, even +amid foes and dangers, I seemed to have hold of some hand, firm but +kind, beyond the reach of vision. What influence was most powerful in +turning my thoughts upward I cannot tell,--whether it was the familiar +outlines of the grand constellations, the quiet and stillness all +around, so congenial to exhausted nature after the excitement of the +last few days, or a yet more direct message from the Highest,--I only +know that the memory of that evening, when I was carried, chained, down +the long hill to the valley in which Chattanooga lies, there to meet an +unknown fate, is one of the sweetest of my life. My babbling guards had +subsided into silence, and, as we wended along through the gathering +darkness, high and noble thoughts of the destiny of man filled my +breast, and death appeared only a mere incident of existence,--the gate +out of one department of being into another. I was nerved for any fate. + +It may be thought strange that in these moments of reflection and +spiritual yearning I had no feeling of remorse for any of the deceptions +of which I had been guilty. But I had not. It did not even occur to me +to consider them as sins at all. If necessary or expedient I would then +have added to them the sanction of an oath with equal recklessness. Some +sophistry--felt rather than reasoned out--about the lawfulness of +deceiving or injuring public enemies or rebels in any possible way--a +conviction that they had forfeited everything, even their right to be +told truth--must have controlled me. Before starting on this expedition +I had placed the highest value on truth, and would have regarded a +wilful lie with scorn and loathing. But I accepted deception as one of +the incidents of the enterprise, and all sense of its wrongfulness +passed away, and did not return until long afterwards. + +We arrived at Chattanooga while a feeble glow of the soft spring +twilight lingered in the air. The headquarters of General Leadbetter, +then district commander, was in one of the principal hotels of the town, +and we at once drove there. I was left in the carriage while the major +ascended to inform him of the arrival. + +The town had already been informed. The curiosity to see one of the men +who had captured the train and frightened the women and children of +Chattanooga into the woods only two days before was intense, and a very +large crowd soon assembled. They behaved as such assemblages usually +did, jeering and hooting, and calling me by every epithet of reproach +the language afforded,--wanting to know why I came down there to burn +their property and murder them and their children as well as free their +negroes. To these multitudinous questions and assertions I made no +answer. I was much amused (afterward!) by their criticisms of my +appearance. One would say that "it was a pity so young and +clever-looking a man should be caught in such a scrape." Another, of +more penetrating cast, "could tell that he was a rogue by his +looks,--probably came out of prison in his own country." Another was +surprised that I could hold up my head and look around on honest men, +arguing that such brazen effrontery in one so young was a proof of +enormous depravity of heart. I gave no opinion on the subject. Indeed, I +was not asked. + +There was one man I noticed in particular. He was tall and +venerable-looking; had gray hair, gray beard, a magnificent forehead, +and, altogether, a commanding and intellectual expression. He was +treated with marked deference by the throng, and as they parted and +allowed him to come up to my carriage, the thought arose, "Surely I will +receive some sympathy from that kind and noble-looking man." + +His first question confirmed my hope. Said he,-- + +"How old are you?" + +I answered, "Twenty-two, sir." + +Gradually his lip wreathed itself into a curl of unutterable scorn, and, +gazing steadily on me, he slowly uttered,-- + +"Poor young fool! And I suppose you were a school-teacher or something +of that kind in your own land! And you thought you would come down here +and rob us, and burn our houses, and murder us, did you? Now let me give +you a little advice: if you ever get home again, (but you never will!) +do try, for God's sake, and have a little better sense and stay there." +Then he turned contemptuously on his heel and strode away. The rabble +rewarded him with a cheer. I could never find out who he was; but after +that I looked for no more sympathy in that crowd. + +My conductor now returned and escorted me into the presence of General +Leadbetter. I was glad of the change, though there was little about this +man to inspire confidence. They said he was from the North +originally,--a native of Maine, I believe. His habits were so +intemperate that a Confederate captain afterwards informed me that he +always lived in one of two states,--either dead drunk or gentlemanly +drunk. His record was, even this early in the war, of a very ill +character, for he had been the principal agent in hanging a considerable +number of East Tennessee Union men under circumstances of great +barbarity. To this, it was said, he owed his present position. Such was +the man in whose hands my fate now rested. + +All the facts concerning him I learned afterwards, except one that was +apparent when I entered the room. He was considerably under the +influence of liquor, though not to an extent which interfered with the +transaction of business. He began to question me, and without any regard +for truth I gave him the story that I supposed would be best for my own +interest. I told him I was a United States soldier, giving my name, +company, and regiment correctly; but told him I was sent on this +expedition without my previous consent, and was ignorant of where I was +going or what I was to do, which I only learned as fast as it was to be +executed. He next inquired who was our engineer, but I refused to tell. +I afterwards found that they were exceedingly anxious to discover the +name of the person who ran our train, imagining him to be some official +connected with the Georgia State Railroad. He then asked after the +purpose of the expedition. I pleaded ignorance as far as any positive +information went; but as this did not satisfy him, I gave him my +inferences. There was no betrayal of Union interests in this, for all I +told him was what any thoughtful person, map in hand, would have +supposed,--the destruction of bridges and the capture of Chattanooga and +the occupation of East Tennessee. He was very attentive, and said,-- + +"But has Mitchel men enough for all that? My spies report that he has +not more than ten thousand infantry and three regiments of cavalry." + +This was so near the truth that I did not wish to confirm it. So I took +another departure from accuracy, and said,-- + +"That must refer only to his advance-guard, and leaves out of account +that part of his command which has not yet left Nashville." + +"What!" he returned, "is there a reserve army?" + +I assured him there was, and that with the regiments on their way from +the West and Northwest, sixty or seventy thousand men would be at +Nashville for Mitchel's disposal in three or four weeks! + +Leadbetter then asked, "What do you soldiers think is going to be done +with such a large army?" + +"We are confident," I answered, "that Chattanooga will first be +captured, then Atlanta, and afterwards Mitchel may probably strike for +some point on the coast, so as to cut the Confederacy in halves." + +The general rubbed his forehead for a moment, then exclaimed,-- + +"It's a grand plan. They can do it if they have men enough. But I had no +idea that Mitchel had such backing." + +How I did wish that he had! but I knew better. + +Then wheeling his chair directly in front, and fixing his eye steadily +on me, he continued,-- + +"I am much obliged to you for this information. Now, sir, I want you to +tell me just how many men you had on that train, and to describe each +one so that I may know them when I get hold of them." + +This was too much! I answered, "General, I have freely told you whatever +concerns only myself, because I thought you ought to know that I am a +soldier under the protection of the United States government. But I am +not base enough to describe my comrades." + +"Oh!" sneered he, "I don't know that I ought to have asked you that." + +"I think not, sir," I replied. + +"Well," retorted he, "you need not be so particular. I know all about +it. Your leader's name is Andrews. What kind of a man is he?" + +I was thunderstruck! How should he have Andrews' name, and know him to +be our leader? I never imagined what I afterwards found to be the true +cause,--that Andrews had been captured, with documents in his possession +which implicated him so completely that he acknowledged his name and the +fact of his leadership. I had every confidence that _he_, at least, +would escape and devise some means for our relief. So I answered +boldly,-- + +"I can tell you only one thing about him, and that is, he is a man you +will never catch." + +As I said this I thought I noticed a peculiar smile on the general's +face, but he only replied,-- + +"That will do for you;" and turning to a captain who stood by, +continued: "Take him to the hole,--you know where that is." + +With a military salute, the captain took me out of the room. There was +an explanation of the general's smile! Before the door, heavily ironed, +stood Andrews, waiting for an audience, and with him Marion Ross and +John Wollam. I did not think it prudent to recognize them, nor they to +recognize me, so we passed each other as strangers. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +OTHER CAPTURES. + + +As all the members of our party were ultimately assembled at +Chattanooga, so that from that time our stories flow together, it is now +well to bring the separated threads of narration down to that point. One +of the shortest and most lamentable was that of Jacob Parrot and Samuel +Robinson, both of the Thirty-third Ohio Regiment. When they left the +train in company they reached the woods, but on the wrong side of the +road. After being concealed for a short time they came back to the +railroad, but in attempting to cross it were observed by four citizens +and captured. They were immediately conducted to Ringgold, where a +company of Confederate soldiers was stationed. A course of questioning +here began, but Parrot refused to tell anything. He was but little over +eighteen years of age, very boyish-looking, and entirely destitute of +education. So they seem to have thought him a favorable subject for +receiving the treatment applied to those fugitive slaves who hesitate in +answering questions. He was taken out of the room by an officer and four +men, who stripped him and, holding him down over a large stone, +administered over one hundred lashes on his bare back, leaving scars +which the writer has often seen, and which he will carry to his grave. +Three times the whipping was suspended, the poor boy let up and asked if +he was ready to confess, and on his refusal he was thrown down again, +and the torture continued. They wished to force from him the name of the +engineer and the particulars of the expedition. But all their efforts +were in vain. The crowd procured a rope and were about to hang him, but +an officer of higher rank came up and prevented this final barbarity. + +The wonderful fortitude of the poor boy was of no avail. He and his +comrade were caught so near the place where they left the disabled +engine, and they were so utterly unable to give any account of the +manner in which they came to be there, that both would no doubt have +perished if Robinson had not--after first trying the Fleming County, +Kentucky, story, and being falsely informed that Parrot had confessed +everything--finally given his name and regiment, with the general +outline of the expedition. After this confession they were imprisoned +for a time in Ringgold, and afterwards brought to Chattanooga. + +D. A. Dorsey furnishes me an account of his adventures, which were in +some respects peculiar. My own special friend, George D. Wilson, was +with him, as well as William Bensinger and Robert Buffum. I use +Dorsey's own graphic language,-- + + "We fled from our broken down iron-horse in a northeasterly + direction towards the adjacent hills. These were sparsely + studded with timber, but almost entirely destitute of + undergrowth, and, of course, afforded but little opportunity to + hide from our pursuers. The latter were following upon our + trail, well armed and very numerous. Here occurred the first of + many an amusing scene, such as often light up the most horrible + situation. Buffum had worn a peculiar long gray coat, reaching + nearly to his feet, of which he had been very proud. Now he + found it a sore impediment to his precipitate flight, and + unbuttoning it, ran right out of it, leaving it spread out on + the old dry weeds behind him,--not even stopping to get the + bottle out of the pocket, in which he and I had been deeply + interested for the past twenty-four hours. + + "On we went, or rather flew, until we had distanced our + pursuers, and found ourselves in a denser forest. It was very + cloudy. The sun was completely hidden, and we could not tell + which was north, south, east, or west. We wandered on until + near midnight, when we came to a log hut in a small opening, + surrounded by a dilapidated rail-fence. The light of a blazing + fire shone through the cracks in the wall, and we walked to the + door and knocked repeatedly. Getting no answer, Wilson pulled + the latch-string and walked in. There a tall Georgian lay + stretched at full length on the floor, with his bare feet to + the fire, almost undressed, and suffering all the agonies of + colic. Over him bent his better half, busily engaged in + administering hot ash poultices. Of course, under such + circumstances, our application for food availed nothing, and we + were obliged to plod on through the darkness, mud, and rain. + Before morning we came to another cabin, which we did not + enter, but borrowed a pail of milk from the porch, and taking + it to the woods, speedily devoured it. Then we wandered on, + hoping for clear sky, but the clouds were unbroken, and our + wandering at random continued all the morning. + + "About ten o'clock, in the forenoon, we saw some persons on + horseback, who were evidently hunting for us. We managed to + elude them, and getting back to ground they had passed over, + concealed ourselves by lying down. Several other parties were + seen, but by shifting our position we avoided them for some + hours. The increasing number of our pursuers, however, + convinced us that we were in the most deadly peril. + + "'Oh, ye woods, spread your branches apace! + To your deepest recesses I fly; + I would hide with the beasts of the chase, + I would vanish from every eye. + + "'And hark! and hark! the deep-mouthed bark + Comes nigher still and nigher. + Burst on the path a dark blood-hound, + His tawny muzzle tracked the ground, + And his red eye shot fire.' + + "These words of the poet were fully echoed by my feelings. The + much-dreaded blood-hound was upon our trail. We discovered + three of them descending a hill over which we had recently + passed, right on our track, and four men behind them. As soon + as the latter discovered us, one of their number hallooed, and + was answered by shouts in every direction. This demonstrated + that we were surrounded. We advanced and boldly met the first + four, and endeavored to deceive them as to our real character. + Our denials of being the men who captured the train the day + before were all to no purpose. Soon we were surrounded by at + least fifty men, armed with shot-guns, rifles, and pistols. One + man carried a long rope. To say they were furious would be a + mild description. They demanded, in all kinds of profane and + vindictive language, our immediate surrender. We were separated + into two squads. Buffum and Bensinger stood together, and did + what they could to prove that they were victims of a case of + mistaken identity, Wilson and I were a few yards distant, and, + as he was the better talker, I left it all to him. He protested + that we were not the men they wanted, but citizens of Virginia + hunting for fugitive slaves. He told a very nice and plausible + story,--I thought it ought to have convinced any reasonable + man,--but it was in vain." + +[This was the only case, except one, so far as I know, where the +Kentucky story was varied from, and even then Buffum and Bensinger were +using it. Had Wilson and Dorsey been alone they might have succeeded +better. Dorsey continues:] + + "We had to surrender or fight. The latter course would have + been madness. We handed over our revolvers and pocket-knives on + demand, and then commenced the most terrible threats of + vengeance. A young blood, who appeared not more than sixteen, + put a pistol at Wilson's head, and would, no doubt, have shot + him had he not been prevented by one they called 'major.' A + rough fellow they called 'Black Billy' presented a + double-barreled shot-gun to my breast, swore he had sixteen + buckshot in each barrel, and unless I made a 'clean breast' of + it he would blow them all through me. This roused my + indignation, and considering my life worth nothing if I + confessed, while a confession might implicate others, I said, + 'Gentlemen, we have surrendered, and you have our arms. We are + in your power. If you want to shoot, just shoot!' + +[Illustration: LIEUTENANT D. A. DORSEY. +(One of the Adventurers.) +Page 156.] + + "Throwing my breast forward, in full expectation of receiving + the shot, I was surprised to see him drop the butt of his gun + to the ground and make arrangements for tying our hands. Having + thus secured us, they conducted us to a house about a mile + away, and gave us a pretty good dinner. + + "Here we learned that a reward of one hundred dollars had been + offered for each of the 'engine thieves.' We also learned that + we were only nine miles from Ringgold, which convinced us that + much of our travelling the night before must have been on the + _back track_. We were certainly not as far from Ringgold when + captured as we had been when the previous night set in. + + "After dinner we were taken to Ringgold on foot, and _put into + jail_,--the first one into which I had ever set my foot. It was + Sunday, April 13, 1862. This same evening we were all removed + by rail to Marietta, Georgia, where we arrived about midnight, + and were there placed in a literal dungeon of the worst + character,--dark, dreary, damp, and swarming with rats and + smaller vermin. From this point we had started northward for + the capture of the train two days before with high hopes. What + adventures since that time! + + "We hoped when day dawned that there would be some light in + this filthy hole, but we were disappointed, for, although we + could distinguish the difference between day and night, yet not + enough light entered this dismal place to enable us to + recognize our most intimate friend! + + "A heavy guard of six hundred cadets was placed around us for + the purpose of keeping down the mob. We were told that a whole + company of rebel soldiers had left camp at Big Shanty to come + to Marietta to lynch us, but were overtaken by their officers + when about half-way to Marietta and dissuaded from so rash an + act, the officers arguing that we were soldiers, and it would + not do for them to thus violate the rules of war, and also + assuring them that we would be properly dealt with, and, in due + time, executed. They thus succeeded in turning them back to + camp. + + "We remained here a whole day and two nights. On Tuesday we + heard a strange noise,--a horrible clanking and rattling of + chains, while a footstep was heard mounting the outside + staircase, which was the only one. Into the hall the jailer + came (for it was he), and, opening the trap-door, ran a ladder + down into our dungeon. Then he called Wilson up into the hall, + and put one end of a new trace-chain round his neck, and locked + it with a padlock, while he also placed a pair of handcuffs on + his hands. I was then called, the other end of the trace-chain + put around my neck, and my hands secured in the same manner. We + were thus coupled together by the neck, as well as handcuffed. + Bensinger and Buffum were used in the same way. Then Hawkins + and Porter, of whose presence we had no previous knowledge, + were called out, chained and ironed in the same manner. We were + then conducted to a box-car, which had in it some bales of + cotton, and started northward. The sergeant in charge of us + stopped the party at Dalton, and awaited the arrival of the + officer in command, who was to come on the next train. It was + night, and, although our guard was as kind as they well could + be under the circumstances, they had no means of feeding us. A + mob surrounded the depot and threatened to hang us, but the + guards managed, not without serious difficulty, to keep them + off. Here we had a most grateful surprise,--one of the few + really pleasant incidents which mitigated the horrors of our + experience. A few Dalton ladies, with their servants, came into + the waiting-room, and supplied us with a first-class supper. We + relished it hugely, for we had been altogether without dinner, + and our breakfast was of the scantiest character. This was the + first meal we had ever eaten with chains and irons upon us, + and, as the reader may judge, we felt and acted very awkwardly + with these useless appendages. The ladies who had been so + bountiful, requested some of our party to stand up that they + might have a good look at them. They complied, in pairs at a + time, and, when the other four had passed inspection and + resumed their seats, their little servant-boy came with the + same request to Wilson and myself. Wilson very politely + declined, instructing the boy to 'tell the ladies that we are + not here on exhibition, but, if they will come over this way, + we will be glad to see and talk with them.' The offer was + accepted, and two, a matron and young lady, apparently mother + and daughter, came to our side of the room, and we had a + conversation long to be remembered. They sympathized with us, + and wept freely. With us the wound was too deep for tears. The + ladies returned to the other part of the room when the + conversation was ended, but took seats, and remained until the + expected train arrived and we started for Chattanooga. All this + time the mob was howling and cursing and threatening outside, + and we flatter ourselves that the ladies stayed to exert a + restraining influence, and hinder them from proceeding to + extremities. Before we left, the younger lady referred to sent + the little boy to me _with a pink rose_, with one row of leaves + around it, and her name. + + "The presentation of that rose seemed to exasperate those of + the mob who saw it, and I am free to confess that I regretted + the action, for at one time it seemed as if they would break in + and seize us. But the firmness of the sergeant kept them back. + I regret that I was so unchivalrous as to soon forget the name + given, but in our circumstances who would try to remember a + name, even that of a beautiful lady? The only encouragement as + to our prospects we had yet received was that our fate would be + a warning to our comrades in arms, none of whom would venture + to engage in such another foolhardy expedition. The flower + served more to recall home and friends than to awaken hope of + any availing friendship and help in that part of the country. + It was twisted round and round between my closely-cuffed + hands--for the cuffs I wore had no connecting links, and + fitted very tight--until one by one the leaves all fell off, + and when the last was gone I got Wilson to put the stem in my + pocket, and kept it a long time. + + "We arrived at Chattanooga next morning. There was again the + inevitable crowd to welcome us. 'Will those hounds hunt?' + bawled out a coarse-voiced individual, as they led us by our + neck-chains through the crowded street. + + "The landlord of the hotel to which we were taken to await + orders was a Union man, whom I have met since under very + different circumstances. At his own expense, and on his own + responsibility, he ordered his servants to bring us a good + breakfast. We had by this time got on good terms with the + clever guards who brought us from Marietta, and parted from + them with real regret. They requested to have our names written + in the little diaries many of them carried. Putting the book in + one cuffed hand and the pencil in the other, they were amazed + to see how well we could write under such circumstances. + + "The next scene in our strange history was a terrible contrast + to the peaceful occupation of eating a good breakfast and + writing our names in diaries. We were marched to what our new + conductor called 'the hole.' From the upper room of a prison a + ladder was put down through a trap-door, and we were ordered to + descend into what I can only call _hell_, for it was that to + us. The ladder drawn up, the trap-door again fallen, and now in + the murky gloom came whispered recognitions from our comrades, + the warm clasp of friendly but ironed hands. Andrews and all + his men except two--Mark Wood and Alfred Wilson--were now + gathered together." + +It will be remembered that J. E. Porter and M. J. Hawkins were not on +the captured train at all, but joined Dorsey and his comrades at +Marietta. We abridge the account of their mishaps given by Porter: + + "Through some mistake or negligence of the hotel waiter we were + not called in time for the train" (on the morning of the + capture), "though we got to the depot in time to see it pass + out of sight. I cannot describe my feelings at that moment.... + We could hardly make up our minds how to meet the emergency. + + "Then we leisurely strolled about the town, expecting every + moment to hear of the capture of the train. Nor did we have to + wait long, for the news soon reached town that a train had been + captured at Big Shanty while the passengers and crew were at + breakfast, and that it was done so quickly and easily that they + could not imagine who did the deed or what it meant. Soon + everything was wild with excitement and the town was thronged + with excited rebels, waiting to hear further developments.... + Hawkins and I concluded to 'skip out' for a time. After + reaching a piece of woods we came together and congratulated + ourselves on our success thus far, but what to do next we + hardly knew.... After much hesitation we determined to go to + Big Shanty, or Camp McDonald, as it was a rebel camp of + instruction, and join the rebel army." + +This was to put their heads into the lion's mouth. Their best course +would have been to have leisurely worked their way southward instead of +going where the excitement was highest. But it is always easy to be wise +after the event. + + "We came in sight of the camp late in the day, and marched into + camp and reported at headquarters. Here we found several rebel + officers, one of whom, who bore the marks of a colonel, turned + his attention to us. After a short interview, which seemed + plausible to him, he ordered us to report to the commanding + officer of the Ninth Georgia Battalion for enlistment. One of + the companies not being full was called into line, and took a + vote whether or not we should be received into the company. The + vote was unanimous in our favor, and we, after giving + fictitious names, were assigned to a certain mess for our + suppers. After supper we made the acquaintance of several of + our new messmates, relating dismal stories of our treatment by + the 'Yankee' hirelings in Kentucky, which made a good + impression on our comrades as to our loyalty to the + Confederacy. + + "Everything went right with us until in some manner it leaked + out among the rebels that the Yankee raiders, by mistake or + accident, had left two of their party at Marietta. How this + information got out I never learned, but it could not be + otherwise than that some of our party had indiscreetly told + more than he ought when captured. Who the man was we never + learned." + +Then followed the usual questionings, ending in the acknowledgment by +these two of their share in the enterprise and their position as +soldiers. It is not necessary to suppose, as Porter does, that one of +the two captured on Saturday--it could have been no others, for Porter +and Hawkins themselves were arrested Sunday morning--gave information of +two of our number being left behind. Porter and Hawkins told the same +Kentucky story,--even enlarged upon it to their rebel messmates, and +this was enough to direct suspicion towards them. Then when examined +separately by the rebels it was impossible that they could avoid +becoming entangled in their stories. After examination these two were +committed to the Marietta jail, where they met Dorsey and his comrades, +as narrated above. + +The last one of these narratives that our space will permit us to insert +is the most eventful of all. Alfred Wilson and Mark Wood were the last +of the whole party to be captured. The story is told in the most graphic +manner by Wilson in his published account of the expedition. I would +gladly give it in his own words but for its great length, and for the +further fact that he gives literally many of his conversations with the +rebels, in which both parties indulge in no small amount of profanity. + +As Wilson ran from the abandoned engine, of which he had been the +fireman, he heard his name called, and, halting a moment, was joined by +Wood, the only native Englishman of the party, and from that time the +two became inseparable companions. They gained an open field on a long +slope in front of them, but did not feel safe in trying to cross it, +especially as they were out of breath and the enemy not far away. They +fortunately saw where a tree had been cut down, probably the preceding +summer, and the brush lay scattered around with the dead leaves still +clinging to it. Wilson adroitly covered Wood with some of the brush, +making the heap so that it would not attract attention, and then crawled +under beside him. There they waited with revolvers drawn, expecting to +be discovered, and determined, in that event, to fight to the death. The +rebels came very near, so that in some instances they might have been +touched by the hidden fugitives. Their peril was extreme, but the +pursuers were watching the men at a distance rather than looking for +those at their feet. Much of the rebel conversation could be overheard. +One of two stalwart pursuers, armed with muskets, while just by the +brush-heap, cried out,-- + +"There goes two of them! Come on; let's go for them!" + +"Let's get more help," responded the other. + +"But you see they have no guns," urged the first, and they rushed out of +hearing. + +These two poor men remained in that one place a long while before they +dared venture forth. Their escape from detection was little less than +miraculous. So many persons had trampled over the ground where they left +the train that the dogs could do nothing at tracking them, or their +refuge would soon have been discovered. The incessant rain added very +much to their discomfort, as it did in the case of all the fugitives, +but helped to throw the dogs from the track. + +After dark, however, they crawled out from the brush-heap, and could +scarcely walk. After looking about, they decided to take an opposite +course from what they had seen their comrades take, which was in the +main westward from Chattanooga. They wished to pass far to the eastward +of that town, and knew that they must carefully avoid it. + +The remainder of that night they travelled rapidly, and about daybreak +found an old barn and hid themselves in a mow of corn-fodder, where they +slept comfortably until about one o'clock, when they were discovered by +two women who were hunting eggs. The latter were greatly frightened, and +ran to the house which stood near, but Wilson and Wood followed, said +they had been in pursuit of the train-robbers, and preferred sleeping in +the barn to disturbing anybody at the house. Dinner was over, but some +corn-bread and buttermilk was furnished. This was the first food since +leaving the train, and it was most acceptable. They paid for it, and +went on their way greatly refreshed. + +But they did not think it prudent to go far before seeking concealment +in a dense thicket to await the approach of night. A squad of mounted +soldiers went by on the road they had just left, apparently searching +for some one. At nightfall they shaped their course, as nearly as they +could, towards the Tennessee River, east of Chattanooga. They avoided +the roads, but narrowly escaped running into a picket. At dawn the foot +of the mountains was reached, and the wanderers breathed freer than in +the open country. They witnessed the rising of the sun, and were greatly +cheered by its genial warmth. Sleep and weariness claimed them until +nearly night, and with darkness they started on again. It was hard work, +feeling the way over rocks, climbing precipitous places, and descending +the steep inclines through bushes and briers. + +On Wednesday morning mountains were on all sides, with no sign of human +life or habitation. They took a nap in the warm sun, but hunger soon +roused them. That one meal of corn-bread and buttermilk was all the food +they had eaten since their start on Saturday. + +Thus pressed by hunger, they resolved to travel day as well as night, as +in that lonely region it was not likely they would be molested. In the +afternoon they reached the brow of a high mountain, overlooking a lovely +and peopled valley. Almost perishing with hunger, they concluded to +venture down and apply for food at a hut a little separated from the +rest. A young woman appeared at the door, and, after hearing their +story, proceeded to get them a meal. Wilson asked the way to the next +town, the name of which he pretended he could not just speak, but she +helped him out by mentioning--"Cleveland?" They feasted on ham, eggs, +and rye coffee, and went on their way rejoicing. + +Wilson determined to have a map of the country. So leaving Wood outside +well hidden, he ventured into Cleveland, and bought "Mitchell's +Geography and Atlas," the work, as he thought, of his commanding +general! He returned to Wood, tore out such portions of the map as they +needed, and threw the rest away. They were now able to form an +intelligible plan, though the one selected was full of peril. Wilson +seems to have been fond of the water, and certainly managed well upon +it. He wished to reach the Tennessee River, procure a boat of some +kind, and float down the river past Chattanooga to some point within the +Federal lines. + +By evening the travellers had reached the limits of that mountain ridge, +and came down again into the valley. Another secluded log house induced +them to apply for food without waiting till they were on the verge of +starvation. Here they were very fortunate. Only a noble-looking lady was +at home at first. She heard their story, but made up her mind that they +were Union men, and in that belief gave them the best fare she had, and +would accept no pay for it. She and her husband, who afterwards came in, +gave them all the information in their power as to the best way of +avoiding the rebel cavalry in the neighborhood, and asked no confidence +in return. + +But misfortunes were before them. They now passed through a +thickly-peopled valley, observing the greatest caution. Notwithstanding +their vigilance they were suddenly halted by Colonel Snow's cavalry,--a +company of rebel home-guards, whose principal business it was to keep +down the Union men of the vicinity. By shrewd diplomacy they succeeded +in making the captain believe that they belonged to the neighboring town +of Harrison. While accepting this statement he insisted that they were +trying to run away to the Union army, but agreed that they might return +to their homes if they would first take the oath of allegiance to the +Confederacy, and then be ready to join his company when he called for +their services. The oath was a bitter pill, but they swallowed it, and +were set at liberty. + +They might now have taken a very safe course up the line of the +Cumberland Mountains into Kentucky, but Wilson's mind was fixed upon +getting a boat and going down the Tennessee, which was almost in the +opposite direction. Their thoughts recurred to the Union family where +they had been fed the evening before, and they resolved to return +thither, and, revealing their true character, try to get help in +crossing the valley to the river. + +As was safest, they came up to the hut in the night. The man admitted +Wilson, while the woman stood with a rifle cocked, to kill him if he +proved to be an enemy. Wood had been left at some little distance +outside, so as to excite less alarm. Having been sworn themselves that +day they were in the mood for continuing that business, and therefore +swore the man to be true to them. He kept his oath far better than they +did theirs. He told them they must not be seen about his house, and led +them to an abandoned hut, which stood in a secluded spot on a remote +part of his farm. He then furnished them with a bundle of quilts, and +told them to stay in the cellar and be perfectly quiet, assuring them +that they would be safe until he could get a chance to pilot them out of +the neighborhood. He and his wife supplied them with provisions while +they remained here, which was for several days. Two or three reasons led +to this delay. Rest was sorely needed after the fatigue endured in +mountain travel, Snow's cavalry were still in the neighborhood, and they +waited also for a dark night and a trusty guide to take them to the +river. + +The latter was found in the brother of the loyal woman whose guests they +were. This man took them without difficulty, by a circuitous route, in +the night-time, to a tributary of the Tennessee, by following which they +could not fail to reach the main stream. + +The reason Wilson gives for his strong desire to travel by water is +quite cogent. In the uneven mountainous country it was next to +impossible to keep a direct course in night travel, even if they knew +the general direction, while the stream would always keep them in the +right way. Had they asked for guidance by their Union friends in the +direction of Kentucky, however, they would have received it. + +They soon saw a boat on the other side of the river, but, as the creek +was swollen and encumbered with drift-wood, they could not swim across. +Wilson, who always took the lead, left his companion to conceal +himself, and, going boldly to the bank, halloed until a man answered, +who, at his request, ferried him across. As the ferryman could not +change a five-dollar note, Wilson promised to return that way in the +evening--it was then morning--and make it right. He hid during the day, +and came back after dark, and, in the absence of the owner, "borrowed" +the boat, took Wood aboard, and was soon far away towards the Tennessee. +The theft of the boat stands on the same grounds as to justification +with the numerous falsehoods told by all the adventurers,--a military +necessity. + +At the mouth of the creek they found a patrol-boat anchored nearly +across the stream, but, as it was pitch-dark and raining, they were not +discovered, and, gliding close under her stern, were soon afloat on the +swift current of the Tennessee. They rejoiced in this, but found that +their perils were not yet over. The incessant rain was very chilling, +and blinded their eyes, the wind blew almost a gale, and the current +whirled them on with dangerous speed. They were in constant +apprehension, for they could see but a little way before them, and +scarcely knew where they were going. Many times they very narrowly +escaped wreck. Few things in the whole history of the railroad adventure +are more romantic than the picture of these two men piloting a frail, +stolen skiff down the mountain river during a night of rain and storm. + +Their motion was so rapid that they feared dawn might find them in the +vicinity of Chattanooga, by which town it was necessary for them to +pass. Therefore they began, in good time, to cast about for a safe +landing and hiding-place. After many ineffectual attempts, they found a +small island, hugged close to the shore, and reached the lower end, +where they were out of the current, pulled themselves under the +overhanging branches, and drew the boat on shore. + +Their position was still one of extreme discomfort. The rain had changed +to sleet and hail, and all effort to get warm or dry was in vain. +Daylight revealed a small cabin on the shore near by, from which the +smoke curled up invitingly. Their suffering was unendurable, and they +decided to seek shelter. + +They launched and crossed. Poor Wood, who afterwards died of +consumption, brought on by exposure, and who was now almost frozen, +said, "Alf, you will have to make up some lie to tell them. They will +ask us a thousand questions." + +Wilson answered, "I don't know what I can tell them. I am too cold to +speak the truth, though." + +The usual Kentucky story was modified to suit their surroundings. They +asked for boats, and professed to be sent out to destroy all on the +river, except where they were in the hands of trustworthy men, with the +object of preventing Union men running away from the conscription. This +was plausible, and they were warmed, dried, and fed. + +They now ran down a short distance in the daytime, tied up, and hid in a +field. A man and boy saw their boat, and were about to take it, when the +adventurers, unwilling to be done by as they had done, and confident in +their story, came out and stopped the proceeding. They asserted that it +was a government boat, and that they belonged to a regiment in +Chattanooga, which place they learned was only five miles away. The man +invited them to his house to wait the lulling of the storm. They +accepted, and after nightfall pushed off again, passing Chattanooga, +which they had so long dreaded, in safety. They were now almost +jubilant, but soon found that everything was not smooth sailing. I +presume the storm, which had been so disagreeable, had also been a +shelter, and that without it they might not have got by the rebel +headquarters so easily. + +There is a deep gorge a few miles below the city, where the mountains +rise abruptly from the water in frowning grandeur. The river is greatly +narrowed, and, suddenly bending to the left, dashes its furious current +against a wall of rock, and forms a foaming eddy. Our two navigators +"perceived even in the darkness that there was danger ahead. The great +roar and noise caused by the dashing of the angry waters against the +rocks warned us. We hugged the left hand with our little boat as closely +as possible. As we passed the angry whirlpool, into which we seemed to +be drifting, our boat was struck a tremendous blow by a floating log. We +thought we were all dashed to pieces. The blow hoisted us away, however, +several yards to the left, and we went flying down the gorge like the +wind. We were afterwards told that a number of adventurous persons had, +at different times, lost their lives in trying to run down this place by +getting swamped in this great torrent or whirlpool, and it was no doubt +owing to the blow we received from the floating log, by which our boat +was knocked just beyond the reach of danger, that we escaped as +fortunately as we did. It was a providential blow for us, though it had +well nigh crushed our boat. We pulled at our paddles with might and main +to keep the water from swamping our boat, which sank pretty low in the +current and was now going at railroad speed. We soon reached smoother +water, and again felt ourselves safe." + +A man on the bank warned them not to try to run through the "suck," a +worse place than that which they had just passed. With much urging, and +the promise of three dollars reward, they got him to agree to pilot them +through. He was a skilful boatman, and took them in safety, though their +boat was nearly filled with water. + +Because of these dangers they had been running in daylight. They were +soon hailed by a squad of rebel cavalry, but, being well over on the +opposite side, rowed on without seeming to notice them. They were now +coming to the most dangerous part of their journey,--that near the +Federal lines, where the vigilance of the enemy was most constantly +exercised. They therefore resolved to travel only at night, hiding +themselves and their precious boat by day. That night they passed +Bridgeport, where they expected to meet Mitchel, but found he had not +yet arrived. + +When they sought a solitary cabin to get food the next day they heard +great news,--that the Yankees were in the town of Stevenson. This was +confirmed by numerous fugitives who were seeking safety from the dreaded +enemy. They got back to their canoe, rowed down the river until they +judged themselves opposite Stevenson, and then started across the +country to find their friends. The good news elated them so much that +they made the fatal mistake of not waiting for nightfall. Consequently +they found themselves in the town sooner than they expected, and then to +their dismay discovered that the streets were swarming with rebel +soldiers! The story of the frightened fugitives had entrapped them. + +But they put the best possible face on the matter. Buying a few articles +in a store, they attempted to stroll leisurely out, but were stopped by +an officer on guard and questioned. They answered plausibly,--probably +with the Kentucky story, as they were now away from the river,--and were +about to be released, when a man brought a _false_ accusation. He +recognized Wilson as being one of the Federal cavalry that charged into +the town the previous night, and dared him to deny it! He did deny it, +but in vain, and having been believed so often when telling falsehoods, +it was only a fair compensation that he now told the truth to +unbelieving ears. + +Wilson and Wood were put on a hand-car and run back to Bridgeport. At +this place an excited member of the crowd that gathered around them +declared that he knew them both,--that he had seen them on the train +with Andrews! Wilson always thought this man as much mistaken as his +last accuser, but denial was no more availing than in that case. They +were taken before General Leadbetter, questioned separately, as usual +in the captures, Wood "perspiring like a man in a July harvest," and +both virtually convicted, although Wilson answered the questions +addressed to him in the most undaunted manner. They were taken to +Chattanooga, fastened together with a chain around their necks, and +handcuffed, as the others had been, and ordered to the hole. When they +descended the ladder and joined our miserable company there assembled, +they heard some plaintive voice say in the darkness, to which their eyes +had not yet become accustomed, "Wilson and Wood! They have got every one +of us!" It was true. Every one of the bold band had been captured and +were gathered into one of the vilest dungeons ever used by man to +torture his fellow-man! + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A HORRIBLE PRISON. + + +A plain picture of the Chattanooga prison into which the members of the +railroad party were thrust cannot be given in all its detail without +shocking the sensitive reader. Even when the coarser features are +omitted enough will remain to task credulity. The book and newspaper +accounts published by the survivors are not, however, the only evidence +upon which the extraordinary story rests. In the Appendix the official +report is given, based upon sworn testimony, and to this any one who may +be disposed to doubt this narrative is referred. + +Yet I would not hold the Southern people or even the Confederate +government wholly responsible for the barbarous and outrageous treatment +experienced at this place. The system of slavery is primarily +responsible, for it provided such dens as the negro prison at +Chattanooga. An intemperate man of Northern birth--General +Leadbetter--found that the fortunes of war had placed a score of men, +one after another, in his hands, and, feeling that they deserved severe +treatment for the daring character of their enterprise, he recklessly +ordered them, as fast as they were brought before him, to be committed +to "the hole" without stopping to consider what accommodations it +afforded. His subordinates, afraid of being themselves suspected of +disloyalty if they showed sympathy with the prisoners, offered no +remonstrance, and the result was suffering almost too fearful for +belief. + +The captain, to whose charge I had been committed by General Leadbetter +at the close of my examination, called a guard of eight men and +conducted me through the streets to the northern part of the town. We +halted before a little brick building surrounded by a high board +fence,--the negro prison of Chattanooga, known as "the hole." A portion +of the building was occupied by the jailer. The prison part consisted of +two rooms, one directly under the other, and also partly underground. +The upper room was accessible only by an outside staircase, and the +lower had no entrance except from a trap-door directly overhead. + +The jailer, whose name was Swims, met us at the outer gate. He was a +poor, ignorant creature,--a bad specimen of the "poor white" of the +South, and had all his life been engaged in the lowest employments. He +was old,--perhaps sixty,--and had abundant hair, which was very white, +while his face was dry and withered. His voice was always keyed on a +whining tone, except when some great cause, such as a request of +prisoners for an extra bucket of water, excited him, and then it rose to +a hoarse scream. Avarice was his predominant characteristic. He seemed +to think that his accommodations were vastly too good for negroes and +Yankees, and that when they were admitted to his precincts, they should +be thankful and give as little trouble as possible. Such a man was able +to greatly aggravate the hard lot of the unfortunate prisoners in his +care. It should also be stated that he was very fond of a dram, and +frequently became sufficiently intoxicated to reveal many important +matters that would otherwise have been concealed. + +Swims bustled up to the gate, growling about being troubled so much, +unlocked it, and, admitting us, led the way up the outside stairway into +the outer room. I then thought I understood why the general called the +place "the hole." This room was only thirteen feet square, and entirely +destitute of chairs, beds, or any conveniences whatever. Five or six +old, miserable-looking men were in it, who appeared not to have been +washed for months. I shuddered at the thought of taking up my abode in +such a den. But I was not to be allowed that luxury. + +Said the jailer to the captain, "Where shall I put him?" + +"Below, of course," replied the captain. + +The jailer advanced to the middle of the room, and, taking a large key +from his pocket, knelt down and unlocked two rusty locks; then, with a +great effort, raised a ponderous trap-door just at my feet. The hot air +and the stifling stench that rushed up from below drove me back a few +steps; but the bayonets of the guards were just behind, and I was +compelled to move forward again. A long ladder was thrust down through +the trap-door, and the warning given those below to stand from under. A +mingled volley of cries, oaths, and remonstrances ascended, but the +ladder was secured, and I was ordered to descend, ironed as I was. The +long chain and the ropes had been taken off, but the handcuffs remained. +I did not like to go down that ladder into the gloom below, but there +was no alternative. The darkness hid every object from view, but I +clambered down step by step to a depth of fully thirteen feet,--for +the place, as I afterwards learned when I had more leisure for +observation, was of cubic form, just thirteen feet in length, breadth, +and height. I stepped off the ladder, treading on human beings I could +not discern, and crowded in as best I could. + +[Illustration: A TERRIBLE DESCENT. +Page 172.] + +The heat was so great that the perspiration started from every pore. The +fetid air made me, for a time, deadly sick, and I wondered if it could +be possible that they would leave human beings in this fearful place to +perish. The thought of the Black Hole of Calcutta rose instantly before +me. I did not think life could be sustained in such a place for many +hours. But I was yet to learn the wonderful possibilities of human +endurance. + +My breath came thick and heavy, and I expected suffocation. The ladder +was drawn up, and with a dull and heavy thud that seemed to strike my +heart the trap-door fell. It was like being closed alive in the grave! I +wedged and forced my way through the throng to the window. The one I +reached was just beneath the wooden, outside stairway, and even at noon +gave very little light. The only other window was at the opposite side +of the room and below the level of the ground. They were only holes in +the thick walls, a foot square, and filled with a triple row of +thick-set iron bars that almost excluded every current of air. I got my +face near the bars and breathed the purest air I could get, until the +horrible sense of suffocation diminished as I became partially +accustomed to these fearful surroundings, and then turned to ascertain +the condition of my prison companions. It was wretched beyond +description. They were ragged, dirty, and crawling with vermin. Most of +them were nearly naked; but the air was so stiflingly warm that those +who had clothing had removed all they could. I soon found it necessary +myself to disrobe, as far as my handcuffs permitted, and even then the +perspiration was most profuse. It was an atmosphere of death. + +I was the first one of the "engine thieves" put into this horrible +place, though several had been captured earlier. When I entered there +were fourteen other white prisoners and one negro--sixteen in +all--crowded into a room thirteen feet square. My dungeon partners were +East Tennessee Union men. In how many other prisons these hapless +victims to their own loyalty were immured I cannot tell; I found some of +them in every prison of which I became an inmate, in Virginia and +Georgia as well as Tennessee. The negro had been arrested on suspicion +of being a fugitive, and treated in the manner usual in such cases. No +trial was granted. A suspected fugitive was simply arrested and severely +flogged. This usually brought some kind of a confession, true or false, +as the only way to stop the torture. He was then committed to prison and +advertised in accordance with his confession. If no answer came in a +specified time, he was taken out and flogged into a new confession and +re-advertised. Thus whipping and advertising continued until the close +of the year, when he was sold at auction to pay jail and whipping fees. +If he was a slave, his master could take him out earlier; but a free +negro had no prospect but the year of torture and afterwards perpetual +bondage! Can we too often thank God that the whole awful system of +slavery has been swept away? Poor Aleck had been in this horrible prison +seven months, with no prospect but that of remaining five more and then +being sold. He was so kind and accommodating that he became a general +favorite, and when he was taken out to be whipped we could not help +feeling the deepest sympathy. + +Every society has its aristocracy, and I soon found that here the +highest rank was accorded to those who were charged with having done +most against the Confederacy. There was one blind man, charged with +being a spy, and he was considered much above the ordinary Union men. +The rebels thought he was counterfeiting blindness, but I believe it was +real. I was charged with the greatest offence of any yet confined in +that dungeon, and was, of course, treated with becoming deference. + +About an hour later the trap-door again opened, causing a stream of +comparatively cool air from above to rush down. It was an inconceivable +relief,--a _luxury_ that none could appreciate who had not, like us, +been deprived of God's greatest physical blessing--pure air. + +We wondered who was coming next, as the feeble glimmering of a candle +above revealed several forms descending. The Tennesseeans cried out, +"Don't put any more down here! We're full! We'll die if more are put +down here!" But these remonstrances, reasonable as they were, produced +no effect. Down they came, and I, stationing myself at the foot of the +ladder, spoke something indifferently to them, and heard my own name +called in return. There was a warm clasp of ironed hands, and I knew +that I had true comrades in our common misery. It was Andrews, Wollam, +and Ross. Strangely mingled feelings swept over my bosom. I was sorry +that they had come to this terrible place, yet glad of their +companionship. We got into a corner by ourselves, for we did not know +but a spy might be waiting to catch our words, and cautiously spoke of +our past adventures, and strove to form some plans for the future. The +trap-door was soon closed, and the free air, which had seemed to flow to +us in sympathy, was once more shut out. + +Others of our band were brought, I do not remember whether the same +evening or the next morning, and we wondered what had become of those +who were still absent. But they continued to arrive by twos and threes +until all had met in this doleful place of assemblage. The whole number +was twenty-two, and as fast as they came the Tennesseeans with us were +removed into the room above, and we had the foul den all to ourselves. +This allowed the advantage of talking freely without fear of betrayal. + +We had great difficulty in arranging ourselves for sleep on account of +the smallness of the room. An easy calculation will show how closely we +were packed. A small corner was necessarily reserved for the water- and +slop-buckets. Then two rows, with ten in each row, left two over, who +had to be disposed of somehow. We did the best we could. Some sat +against the wall, while others leaned against the breasts of those who +were thus supported. Every motion caused the most dismal clanking of +chains, for the chains were not removed even in such a dungeon. After we +had been packed away for the night, if any one wanted to move his +position, or go for a drink, he was sure to tread on some of his +neighbors, and, tempers being naturally very short here, some warm +altercations took place, which contributed still more to disturb our +slumbers. A fight in the darkness with manacled hands was several times +prevented with great difficulty by those of us who were more pacifically +disposed. + +A few of us, who were more fortunate, had no chains around our necks, +but only wore handcuffs. I was _strongly attached_ to William Reddick, +one of a pair of handcuffs being placed on my left hand and the other on +his right. In two instances three persons were fastened by one chain, +which passed around the necks of each. William Campbell, a man of +immense strength, was a member of one trio. I have seen him several +times take hold of the chain near his own neck, and saying, "Come here, +you Yanks," parade his two chain-comrades, in spite of all their +resistance, back and forth over the room. + +In this wretched situation we slept much. The great quantity of carbonic +acid our breathing produced acted as an opiate, and served in some +measure to stupefy us and deaden the sense of pain. In the morning we +slept or dozed, for we had no motive to rouse up until about nine +o'clock. The next morning after my arrival I was awakened--early, as I +supposed--by the opening of the trap-door and the delicious shower of +cool air that fell upon us. As I looked up, there was the white head of +our old jailer bending over and saying, in drawling tones, "Boys, here's +your breakfast," and he lowered a bucket by a rope, with a very small +piece of corn bread and a tiny morsel of meat for each of us. It was +seized and devoured almost instantly. I had eaten nothing since the day +before, and this pitiful supply only served to whet my appetite. But +there was no more. I learned that we were to get our meals only twice a +day, and then only a starvation allowance. The quality was that which + + "----captives' tears + Have moisten'd many a thousand years, + Since man first pent his fellow-men + Like brutes within an iron den." + +I suppose our food in all our imprisonment was about equal as to +quantity and quality with that supplied at Andersonville and other +Southern prisons. But in the chaining, and the close packing in +dungeons, probably no prisoners during the whole war fared so badly as +we did. + +During the day that succeeded my arrival in this place of horrors a few +more of our party were brought in, and among them was my especial +friend, George D. Wilson. I found that the same reason which had led to +the acknowledgment of my true character as a United States soldier had +induced them to make the same confession. Anxious and frequent were the +consultations we held as to the best course for us now to pursue. It was +too late for absolute denial of our participation in the railroad +adventure, even if that had ever been expedient. The only possible +course which seemed to offer any hope was to continue to claim the +character and protection of soldiers engaged in regular warfare, and to +this end answer all reasonable questions that might be asked. But there +were certain facts we pledged ourselves in no case to reveal. Among +these was the name of our engineer, which they were specially anxious +to ascertain. The fact of ignorance in such a material matter would +indicate that we were merely following the orders of those higher in +authority, and would preserve poor Brown, who had acted in that +capacity, from any special dangers. The fact of a previous expedition +having been sent down into Georgia upon the same errand as our own, was +on no account to be divulged, as it was likely to stimulate our captors +to inflict sterner punishments by way of preventing similar attempts in +future. We were not to allow it to escape that William Campbell was a +civilian only and not an enlisted soldier, as this would have made his +position more perilous than our own. We were also to conceal having +given any expressions of willingness to engage in such an expedition, +claiming to have been detailed without our own consent, and ordered to +obey the directions of a man placed over us. The most vital point was in +relation to Andrews. He had already admitted being the leader of the +expedition. We could, therefore, do him no good by pretending not to +know him, but he asked that we should not admit having any knowledge of +him before we were put under his orders; and, for our sake as well as +his, we resolved to "suppose" that he was some regularly commissioned +officer of the Federal army. Most of us knew him in his true +character,--that of a secret agent or spy. But to have admitted that +fact would have been fatal to any hopes he may have had, and would have +very seriously prejudiced our own case. The position we, therefore, +took, in all our statements, was that of non-commissioned officers and +soldiers belonging to three Ohio regiments, who had been detailed for an +unknown service, and ordered to report to an unknown officer, who had +called himself Andrews, and that we had faithfully and unquestioningly +obeyed such orders as had been given us. We agreed to urge that a flag +of truce should be sent to our lines to inquire if we were not what we +claimed to be, well knowing that, while General Mitchel would boldly +avow us, and stretch his power to the utmost for our protection, he +would be very careful not to say anything to the prejudice of our +leader. + +Our plans were carried out to the letter. No one of our "reserved facts" +was ever known to the enemy until we were all beyond his power, and the +flag of truce was not sent only because the commanding officer said that +he was perfectly satisfied to accept all our representations as true. As +others of our company were captured and joined us, they gave our plans +their cordial approval, and in the separate and formal examination of +each one, gave their names, companies, and regiments. This could not +fail to produce conviction of the truth of our story, and gained us the +sympathy of all whose bosoms were not steeled against every kindly +feeling. To this plan, conceived in the dungeon and consistently carried +out, I attribute, more than to anything else, the escape of any part of +our number. + +Though we did not now recognize Andrews formally as our leader,--he +having repeated his previous declaration that we were to rely on +ourselves,--yet we communicated our plan to him, and he gave it his +cordial approval, saying that if we closely adhered to it we would have +some chance for our lives. No small amount of effort was made by the +rebel authorities to induce us to tell more than we did. Their energies +were bent especially to finding out the engineer. They would ask the +question in the most casual manner, and a number of times, when one man +was taken out alone, he would be offered safety and release if he would +only tell this one thing, and threatened with instant death if he did +not. But no one was moved. The opinion seemed to be that the discovery +of the engineer would reveal the whole mystery of the enterprise. In +this they were mistaken, but the opinion was not unnatural. They would +also ask in many forms the question, "How came it that you would +consent to leave your camp in citizens' clothes for an enterprise you +knew nothing about, and under the leadership of a person you had never +seen, and whose rank and position you say you were ignorant of?" The +answer was always the same in substance: "We were told by our officers +to follow this man, and we considered it a soldier's duty to obey." I +had to pass a more protracted examination than any of the others, +perhaps because I had told General Leadbetter so many of my inferences +about war affairs when first taken before him. For two or three days I +was even separated from my comrades and daily questioned. I thus gained +a short relief from the horrors of the negro prison, and could easily +have secured my own safety by dishonor; but although I talked freely, I +did not go a single word beyond the line which Wilson and myself, with +the approval of all the others, had marked out. At last I overheard the +acute lawyer who acted as examiner on these occasions say to General +Leadbetter, "It is no use. He is either ignorant or too sharp to tell +anything." I felt greatly complimented, and was then taken back to the +horrors of the old dungeon, where I was warmly welcomed by my comrades, +most of whom had passed a similar though briefer ordeal. It was on this +occasion that the officer of the guard happened to lay a newspaper he +was reading near me. I was hungry for news, and in a moment seized and +concealed it in my clothing. It was missed and a great search made, but +as I was handcuffed and looked innocent, suspicion did not fall on me. +It was a great prize, for it contained a complete account of our chase +as given by our pursuers. Through all our subsequent adventures I +carefully preserved it, and at the date of writing it is still in my +possession. The estimate it gives of the military importance of our +expedition, and of what we actually accomplished, goes beyond what has +been sketched in the preceding pages. (See Appendix No. II.) + +After these examinations were over, the misery of our dungeon-life +closed about us again. Whether we would be left there to perish, or +whether some kind of a trial would be given us with the alternatives of +release or execution,--what was the position of the armies outside, or +the progress of the war,--we could not tell. In dreams only we were +free. I remember lying down one afternoon and dreaming of the most +beautiful snow-capped mountains in East Tennessee, and awakening with a +freshness and hopefulness which lasted for many hours. But even dreams +were not all thus pleasant; too often they rivalled the prison itself in +shapes of terror and pain. + +One or two of our number managed to conceal a little money when +searched, and, as our rations were very small, it was resolved to spend +it for food. The jailer agreed to get us any provisions we wanted, so +far as the money would go. There was an anxious discussion as to the +most profitable mode of investment. Wheat bread and molasses--the latter +being very cheap--were chosen, and the precious money tied to the rope, +which was our only mode of communication with the upper world, and drawn +up. It was at our evening meal. We knew Swims would not trouble himself +to bring the provisions that evening, but we anticipated a bountiful +breakfast, with the keenness that only starving men could feel. When the +breakfast bucket dangled at the end of the rope the next morning, it was +quickly seized, and lo! only the usual miserly allowance of "pone" and +meat. "Mr. Swims, have you got the bread and molasses yet?" eagerly +demanded a voice from below. In his most whining tones he drawled out, +"B-o-y-s, I lost that money." Had he been on our level instead of +thirteen feet above, he might have learned how desperate men can become +when hungry. But there was no remedy. The captain of the guard, when +appealed to, considered it a good joke! + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF PRISON. + + +Some two weeks after our capture Andrews received a very brief trial. +The charges against him were two,--that of being disloyal to the +Confederacy and of being a spy. On the first count the evidence against +him was strong. A Mr. Whiteman, from Nashville, Tennessee, whom Andrews +himself had directed to be summoned, and who had once been a partner of +his in some business, testified that Andrews had repeatedly visited the +South as a blockade-runner, bringing to Whiteman some ten thousand +dollars' worth of goods in that manner, and that he had always professed +allegiance to the Southern Confederacy, representing himself to be a +citizen of the same, and an enemy to the United States. When captured, +he had passes in his possession which showed that he had also taken the +oath of allegiance to the Southern government. He had, at the same time, +admitted his part in the railroad adventure, which was assuredly an act +of hostility against the South. Indeed, several persons were produced +who saw him on the train, or directing its movements at some of the +various stations during the chase. So far as I could learn, there was no +direct evidence produced to show that he was or ever had been a spy, +although this might be suspected from his passing back and forth across +the lines, and so soon after acting as an enemy. His case was entirely +different from that of the men he led, and much more unfavorable. They +claimed to have been acting all the while as enemies, and now to be +prisoners of war. They declared, and were ready to prove, their position +in the Federal army. He gave no account whatever of his position, or +the authority under which he was acting, and allowed the court-martial +to establish their case as best they might. He was very reticent, as was +proper, even among our band, as to his plans and hopes, but it was +whispered among us that he expected the liberal use of money from an +outside source to influence the court, or aid in his escape if +condemned. I never heard him, however, intimate anything of the kind, +and he certainly received no such help in escaping. He employed two able +lawyers, and they strove for delay, and at the last gave him reason to +hope that some informalities in the proceedings would require the whole +trial to be gone over again. No decision, however, was officially given, +but he was put back in the same prison, and no more strictly guarded +than the remainder of us, which was judged to be a favorable indication +of the result. + +One day our old jailer, being very drunk, told us that General Mitchel +had advanced to Bridgeport, only twenty-eight miles distant, and there +defeated the rebels, capturing some of the very same men who had been +our guards but a day or two before. How we wished to have been with him! +and how we hoped for a further advance on his part! To be captured with +Chattanooga would be glorious! The officers of the guard were obviously +uneasy. They took the strictest precautions. There were twenty-six men +constantly on guard,--surely enough to watch over twenty-two, confined +and chained in a dungeon as we were. + +Mitchel came nearer. We even heard the boom of cannon in the distance, +and his advance probably saved our lives, by taking us for the time out +of the clutches of Swims and Leadbetter, for a much longer confinement +or rather suffocation there must have been fatal. The ladder was thrust +down and we were ordered to come out. We would, then, have gladly +remained in that vile den a little longer, in the hope of Mitchel's +arrival, but we crawled up. Our fastenings were inspected, to see that +none of us were in condition to make a sudden dash for liberty; we were +formed into a column, with a line of rebel soldiers on each side, and +then marched out through the gate towards the cars. Strangely the free +air fanned our brows and strangely the wide sky bent above us. Very +grateful was the sense of openness and room in the streets through which +we passed, even although ironed, with a rebel soldier on either hand. +For three whole weeks twenty-two men had been cooped up in a dark room +much smaller than an ordinary parlor. No wonder the streets of the +hostile town seemed like freedom by comparison. We were soon seated in +the cars, and were carried in the evening back southward on the road we +had rushed over under such thrilling circumstances three weeks before. + +How beautiful all nature appeared! It was now May, and the time that we +had spent in darkness had not been lost in the outside world. The +landscape had been robed in richer verdure, the budding trees had +swelled into leafy screens, the sky was of a softer blue, the birds +warbled with new melody, and everything seemed to wear its holiday +dress. + +O the joy! the gladness! of being once more under the blue canopy of +heaven, and of looking up to its unfathomable depths, with no envious +bars to obstruct our view! Many a time have I looked on the most +romantic scenery in the freshness of May, but never did I so deeply feel +the pleasantness and beauty of the world as on that balmy evening, when +the rays of the setting sun, glowing from the west, streamed over the +grass and wheat-fields on their path, and poured in mellowed, yellow +radiance through the car-windows. But I could not quite forget that I +was chained to my companion and surrounded by guards with gleaming +bayonets! + +The wild excitement caused by our raid had not subsided, and as it +became known that we were passing along the road, a mob greeted us at +every station. It is not necessary to again describe these assemblages, +for all were alike,--threatening, rude, loquacious, and insulting. + +We also noticed that soldiers on guard were at every station, and that +each bridge we passed was strongly guarded. There could be no doubt that +all these precautions, so different from the careless security of less +than a month previous, were among the tangible results of our +enterprise. It was estimated that on the various roads of the South not +less than three thousand troops had been diverted from the field and +employed in securing communications in all parts of the rebel States. A +general passport system, with all its vexations, had been introduced. +Surely our enterprise, though unsuccessful in its immediate results, was +far from fruitless. + +We passed Big Shanty, passed Marietta, which had been the extreme point +of our former journey southward, and went on to Atlanta. Here there was +no jail room for us; but before going farther we had to wait all day in +the cars for the evening train. Our arrival was soon noised abroad, and +a larger mob than we had seen before gathered and proclaimed their +intention of hanging us. The guard defended us manfully, and several +persons were seriously injured. But while the disturbance was in +progress, one man succeeded in reaching the window unnoticed and handed +us a paper, using only the single, magical word, "a friend," and then +disappeared in the throng. We read the paper by snatches, as we could do +so secretly, and found it to contain glorious news,--_the capture of New +Orleans_! Other items of news were adroitly wormed out of our guards, +who could not be kept from talking with us, and we were full of hope +that the darkening prospects of the Confederacy would brighten our own +outlook, by rendering the advocates of a declining rebellion more +cautious in their treatment of loyal soldiers. All information was +prohibited to us; but from the common soldiers, the negroes, and often +from the officers of the guard themselves, we managed to pick up items +of intelligence, which gave us a general idea of the course of affairs. + +In the evening we left Atlanta, and after a journey not marked by any +notable event reached Madison, in the same State. This was then a +flourishing village, and had a pleasing look as we entered it. Some six, +hundred imprisoned Union soldiers had been already gathered here, and we +freely indulged the hope, which was encouraged by our guards, that we +would be put with them and henceforth treated only as prisoners of war. +But we soon found that the brand of criminality for our daring adventure +was not so easily effaced. We were marched past the dilapidated +cotton-factory, where our fellow-soldiers were confined, to the old +county jail. It was then entirely unoccupied, as all the prisoners had +been released to join the Confederate army. It was a gloomy stone +building, with two rooms, but both were above-ground, and the lower was +entered by an ordinary door. This lower room, in which about half of our +party, including myself and Andrews, were placed, was very dark, and its +heavy stone walls rendered it quite damp. But for our previous +experience at Chattanooga it would have been thought a wretched place. +It was so much better than that, however, that we almost enjoyed it. +Indeed, we could not have endured such confinement as that at +Chattanooga for many weeks longer. Several of our number could scarcely +walk, and all were greatly injured in health by the three horrible weeks +we had spent there. Now we were further from the pernicious influence of +General Leadbetter, and, although we were still kept in irons by his +explicit orders, yet the captain of the guard, in whose direct charge we +were, showed us all the kindness in his power, easing the irons which +pressed too heavily upon swollen limbs, and procuring us abundance of +good water, as well as a better supply of the coarse food, which we ate +in common with our guard. + +The citizens of the town were freely admitted to see us, and ranged +themselves--always in the presence of the guard--along one side of the +room, and talked of all the exciting events of the day. We were now in +our true character, and were not likely to be benefited by concealing +our real sentiments. I used to greatly enjoy their surprise and horror +when I avowed myself an abolitionist, and told them that I had always +been one. They had been talking about abolitionists for years, but had +never before seen a man who would admit the justice of the charge. The +citizens expressed much admiration for us and for the daring of our +expedition, contrasting the latter with what they were pleased to call +the cowardice of the Northern armies in general. George D. Wilson one +day earnestly assured them that we were the poorest men in Mitchel's +division, and had only been sent on this expedition because he had no +use for us! + +Here occurred one of the romantic incidents of prison-life. We had been +intensely anxious for some direct communication with our own army, but +from our side there was no means of effecting it. One day, however, a +man dressed in a rebel uniform came with the throng of visitors, and +managed to talk quite a while, and, as I thought, in a very disconnected +manner, with Andrews. I also thought I noticed an exchange of signs +between them. As soon as he and the visitors had gone, and we were once +more alone, Andrews told us that the man was a spy in the service of the +United States, and that they had managed, even in the presence of the +guard, and without exciting the least suspicion, to say all that was +necessary, and that we might be assured that our friends on the other +side of the lines would soon know all about us. I was a little +incredulous, thinking that the great anxiety of our leader to +communicate with some one who was a Federal spy, as he himself had been, +had caused him to misunderstand this man, and supposed his signs +recognized when they were not. + +But when the captain of our guard brought us supper, he lingered a +little in conversation, and remarked that a most singular thing had +taken place that afternoon, and that after this we would receive no more +visitors. Being pressed for explanations, he finally gave them. He said +that the provost-marshal of Madison had received information that one of +Lincoln's spies was in town, and had even been among our visitors, +though, the captain said, he was glad that the spy had found no +opportunity to reveal himself to us! The marshal at once despatched a +squad to arrest him. They found the suspected stranger at the depot, +just as the cars were coming in. He was boisterously indignant at his +arrest, and told them that he had papers in his pocket which would prove +his character anywhere. They let go their hold on him, so that he might +produce his papers. He lectured them roundly while pretending to search +in his pockets, until he noticed that the train, which was starting, had +attained a good degree of headway, and then, just as the last car swung +by, he suddenly flung the soldiers from him and jumped aboard. There was +no telegraph station at Madison, and no other train that evening, so +that an effective pursuit was out of the question. + +The Confederates were very much enraged, and our confinement was +rendered much more strict. But we felt ample compensation in the hope +that our officers would now know just where we were, and be able to make +all possible efforts for our safety. Whether the spy surmounted all +other perils and got safely to our lines, we never heard. + +Three days only did we remain at Madison,--days of comparative quiet and +hope, during which we recovered some degree of our wasted strength, +which was sadly needed for future trials. The rebel authorities, having +become convinced that Chattanooga was not in present danger from +General Mitchel, ordered us back to that place. Our destination was not +known to us, and the usual rumors circulated as to being now on our way +for exchange. To move from one prison to another--an experience we had +quite frequently--was always a welcome relief, and served, in some +measure, to mitigate the excessive rigor of our confinement. We went +back over the same road we came, and had again to run the gauntlet of +insulting and jeering mobs. We traveled in rude box-cars, wet and +filthy, and were harassed by the fear of going back to our miserable +prison at Chattanooga. One circumstance rendered the journey more +endurable. Captain Laws, who commanded the guard, and his soldiers also, +had been in close association with us for several days, and had become +really interested in our welfare. While he did not relax any of his +vigilance, he strove to make the hardship of our position more +endurable, and showed a friendly spirit on every occasion. His good will +was especially valuable when we reached Chattanooga. + +The remorseless order had been given for our return to the negro prison. +Captain Laws could not change this, but by using his influence with +Colonel Patrick Cleiburne, a man of humanity, who occupied the position +of provost-marshal of Chattanooga for a short time, he got permission +for us to remain in the upper room instead of being forced into the +dungeon below. This was a great relief, for although we were equally +crowded, yet the upper room was above-ground, had three windows instead +of two, and these were of larger size. We had, therefore, a much better +supply of air and light. We were very sorry for the fourteen poor +Tennesseeans who were put below. + +Our enemies displayed a wonderful degree of caution in the manner of +guarding us. Even when we were below, where a man, if left alone, could +scarcely have gotten out without assistance, they never raised the +trap-door unprotected by a strong guard. Old Swims remonstrated against +our being in the upper room, and seemed in perpetual terror. He fretted, +and predicted that evil would come from showing the Yankees so much +indulgence. Yet the precautions observed ought to have reassured him. +Before our door was opened a strong guard was always brought up-stairs +into the jailer's room, from which ours was entered, and arrayed in two +lines with levelled bayonets. At the same time the stairway was guarded, +and the whole jail surrounded by a strong force outside of the wall. We +had not yet been relieved of our fetters,--at least, not by Confederate +authority. + +Colonel Cleiburne had asked permission to remove our irons, and this +being refused, he gave us, on his own responsibility, an inexpressibly +great indulgence. For an hour or two every fine afternoon he ordered the +guards to bring us out into the jail-yard. This was something to look +forward to all the day, and made our second confinement at Chattanooga +far less irksome and prostrating than the first. To simply sit in the +sunlight and watch the clouds drifting in the blue above, or to walk +back and forth watching the lengthening shadows of the mountains, was +intense enjoyment. We will never cease to be grateful to the brave Irish +soldier who secured us these indulgences, which, simple as they were, +had not been expected. + +But we felt that the wearing of irons for so long a period was entirely +unnecessary, and set our wits to work for the removal of such needless +incumbrances. One of the party had managed to secrete a small knife in +his sleeve while being searched, and with this he whittled out rude keys +from the bones of the meat given us, which readily unlocked our +handcuffs. The padlocks on the chains were served in a similar manner. +We did not dare to let any one of the guards know of this expedient, or +appear in public in our new liberty, lest more effectual means should be +devised of securing us. To avoid detection while thus unchained we +always kept some one on the watch. When a footstep was heard on the +outside stairway the signal was given, and a quick rattling of chains +accompanied the adjustment and relocking of our bonds. When the door +opened we would appear all properly chained, but when alone we would +soon be free again. This deception was continued as long as we were kept +in irons. + +We here took up the amusement of mock trials. Andrews had been tried, +and the remainder of us expected to be, either in a body or singly. This +may have suggested the diversion, which soon became very popular. One of +the company would be charged with some offence, usually a trifling +breach of our self-imposed prison rules. William Campbell, whose immense +personal strength better enabled him to enforce his decisions, usually +officiated as judge, until at last he got the name of "judge" firmly +fixed upon him. We had ample time for this sport, and the opposing +counsel would make very long and learned speeches. So interesting were +these arguments, and so eloquent were our appeals, that no one of the +auditors was ever known to leave the court-room while they were in +progress! The witnesses were very slippery, and it was often difficult +to reconcile their testimony. Some friends of the prisoners nearly +always attempted to resist the laws and prevent the infliction of +penalties, but in such cases the _personal weight_ of the judge decided +the affair. This resistance would give rise to new arrests and trials, +and thus the work became interminable. + +Another and more refined source of enjoyment was found in music. There +were several good singers in the party, and by practising together they +soon acquired great proficiency. Most of the songs, under the leadership +of Marion Ross, were of a tender and sentimental cast, such as "Nettie +Moore," "Carrier Dove," "Twenty Years Ago," "Do they miss me at Home?" +etc. The most frequent time for singing was when twilight began to fall. +Then all other occupations would be laid aside, and in the gathering +darkness the voice of song would roll out as full and sweet as if not +strained through prison-bars. The guards were very fond of our singing, +and frequently groups of citizens also would gather around the high +jail-fence to listen. Words of sympathy and kindness for the "caged +Yankees" became more common, and there were a good many tangible +manifestations of the same feelings. The guards who came in contact with +us,--a considerable number, as one squad replaced another,--together +with many of their officers and many residents of Chattanooga, began to +ask why we were not treated as other prisoners, and the shameful chains +taken off. I do not know whether this produced any essential change in +our fortune. Most likely it was the reason we were not brought to trial +in a town where we would have been sure of so much sympathy, but were +arraigned in a distant place, and before officers who were strangers to +us. + +Yet no friendliness on the part of our guards, or mitigation in the +horrors of our treatment, put the thought of escape out of our minds, +although it did divide our counsels and delay an attempt. With many +others, I was convinced that we ought to make a bold push for liberty. +The very strictness of the guard was a challenge to do our best to +overcome it. If there were a few gleams of humanity in the present +treatment, this was merely because our captors had discovered us to be +human beings and not monsters; besides, there was enough still in the +vile nature of our food and rigor of our confinement to justify the most +desperate effort for freedom. If we tried and failed, we might lose our +lives in the attempt; but this was a risk soldiers have to take in every +enterprise; if recaptured, we would be no worse off than we were, for +the charge of attempting to escape could be no more deadly than the old +one of seizing the train. But those who did not wish to make the +attempt, among whom George D. Wilson was foremost, maintained that our +enemies were growing daily kinder, and that we would soon be formally +placed on the footing of prisoners of war; the commander of the guard, +Captain Laws, had become even intimate with Wilson, and had assured him +that our good conduct was producing a profound impression in our favor; +to forfeit this now by a foolhardy attempt to escape might turn the +scale against us. Ross agreed with Wilson. He was a Freemason, and some +members of the fraternity visited him, and gave him assurances of +friendship, together with some small sums of money, which he generously +used to procure us all a little greatly-needed addition to our food. We +no longer made our purchases through Swims, but through Captain Laws, +who did not lose the money intrusted to him. + +Finally the majority decided in favor of an attempt to escape. Two plans +were proposed,--the first by the writer. When men who are not expecting +danger are suddenly surprised, there is a moment when they are incapable +of action, and may be at the mercy of a bold adversary. The same plan, +in general outline, was carried out long afterwards with the most +brilliant success. It was simply to have our irons off when the guards +came to feed us in the evening, and then, as the door opened, to make a +simultaneous rush upon the levelled bayonets outside, wrest the muskets +from their holders, and pour down the stairs on the guards below. If we +succeeded in reaching the ground before the guards fully realized what +was going on, a few moments would suffice to disarm them, and then we +could leave the prison-yard in a solid body, run with all our speed to +the ferry-boat which lay on our side of the river, not far distant. Once +over the river, armed with muskets and bayonets, we would have been +comparatively safe. + +But Andrews did not like this plan for the same reason that made him so +unwilling to use our arms in desperate fighting during the race on the +train. He proposed another plan, which, as he still had great influence +with us, was adopted. His proposition was that some one--John Wollam, I +think, was selected for the perilous attempt--should conceal himself +under the bed in the jailer's room as we passed through it on our return +from the breathing-spell in the yard, and remain there until all was +quiet at night; then come out and noiselessly unlock the door; after +this we could rush down, seize the guard, and proceed as in our first +plan. The time for this bold attempt was fixed for a moonless night not +far distant. + +There were two soldiers of the original twenty-four detailed for our +enterprise who failed to reach the designated rendezvous at Marietta. +One was from the Twenty-first, the other from the Second Ohio Regiment. +They had been suspected and compelled to join a rebel battery, +representing themselves as brothers from Kentucky. In the skirmish at +Bridgeport the member of the Twenty-first found an opportunity to run +across the railroad bridge and join Mitchel. This caused suspicion to +rest on his supposed brother, who was arrested, brought to Chattanooga, +and thrown into the dungeon while we were there. There was some +suspicion that he might have belonged to our party, but we refused to +recognize him, and after confinement for some time he was sent back to +the battery again, and from it, after many remarkable adventures, +succeeded in making good his escape to the Union lines. + +There was at this time a great talk of our exchange, and our drooping +hopes revived. A son of General Mitchel's was captured, but the general +held a large number of rebel prisoners, and released one of them--a +lieutenant--on parole, to propose an exchange. This man visited us and +raised the most sanguine hopes in our bosoms. The Confederate officers +encouraged those hopes, but said we must first go through a merely +formal trial to prove that we were really soldiers, after which we +would be included in the exchange which would undoubtedly be made. We +wanted them to refer the question of our soldiership to General Mitchel, +but we have every reason to believe that they not only never asked him +anything about us, but used all the means in their power to prevent him +from obtaining any knowledge of our situation. The exchange was +effected, but we were not included, and the lieutenant was not permitted +to return to the loyal camp. + +These delusive hopes had served to delay a little longer our projected +escape, but at last we resolved to end the suspense. The very day we had +fixed upon for the desperate enterprise an event occurred which deranged +the plan in the most unexpected manner by dividing our party. George D. +Wilson, who was very sick, was taken down into the yard closely guarded. +While he was there Captain Laws came to him, and said that he had +received an order for twelve of our number to be taken to Knoxville, to +pass the formal investigation which had been so long talked about, and +which was to fix the character of the whole party as prisoners of war. +Wilson asked who the twelve were to be, and wished that he might be one. +The captain told him that this was easily arranged, as the order called +merely for twelve, without giving names. He further offered Wilson the +privilege of naming eleven others beside himself to go, saying that he +would do well to select the ablest men,--those who could do themselves +most credit on examination. Whether this was a mere incident, or whether +it was a plan laid to have Wilson select the most prominent men of the +party, that they might be tried and put to death, I have never learned. +In the light of the subsequent history, this choice was a matter of +profound importance, and my own opinion is that the names were purposely +left blank, and Wilson induced to make the choice, with the view of his +leaving out the nine who might best be reserved for the exercise of +mercy after the others were capitally punished. If this was the case, I +cannot persuade myself that Captain Laws was in the secret. But poor +Wilson was completely misled. He told me that he considered that those +who went to Knoxville would probably be exchanged first, if any +difference was to be made. So he put down his own name first, and mine +next. Then followed the other two who belonged to our regiment,--the +Second Ohio; then William Campbell, the muscular citizen of Kentucky, +and the list was filled out by the names of Wilson's especial friends +from the other regiments. As we twelve, who were to go to Knoxville, +waited the hour of starting, a shade of gloom fell upon us. For nearly +two months we had been companions in trials and privations such as fall +to the lot of few men, and now our band was to be separated. There was +no certainty of reunion; for, in spite of fair words, the fact remained +that we were in the power of desperate and deadly foes, who would not +hesitate a moment in taking our lives, if they saw it for their own +advantage to do so. + +The parting with Andrews, our noble leader, was especially affecting. We +had been accustomed to ask his advice in all emergencies. He had been +already tried by court-martial, and, although no sentence had been +given, the long delay was not a favorable omen. We knew that he was the +first mark for the vengeance of the foe. Officers and visitors, in +bidding us hope, had no words of comfort for him. He bore this like a +hero, as he was, and continued to hope for some deliverance. But now, +after we had sung our songs together for the last time, and came to bid +him farewell, we were all moved to weeping. I will never forget his last +words, as he pressed our hands, with tears in his eyes, and said, in a +low, sad voice that thrilled through my inmost being, "Boys, if I never +see you here again, try to meet me on the other side of Jordan." Never +did we look upon his noble face again! + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE FIRST TRAGEDY. + + +We will first narrate the history of the nine soldiers and their leader, +from whom we parted with so much sorrow and foreboding when the +remainder of us were sent to Knoxville. Various reasons have been +conjectured for this separation, one of which has been given in the +preceding chapter. Another that has been entertained by many of the +party, who have had the opportunity of reviewing the facts, is that the +enemy was now ready to proceed in the work of vengeance, and wished to +lessen any possible danger of escape on our part when we had been driven +to desperation by the beginning of the bloody work. If this was their +design, it was not without success, for the attempt to escape, fixed for +the very day of our separation, was in consequence postponed for a time. + +A week elapsed, during which nothing occurred to break the monotony of +imprisonment. The plan of escape had been modified to be more easily +within the reach of the diminished numbers of the prisoners. The +jack-knife, which had made keys for unlocking the handcuffs, was again +brought into use. The jail walls consisted of brick, and were lined +inside with heavy plank, reaching to the top of the upper room and +covering the ceiling. Three men leaned against the wall, while a fourth +stood on their shoulders, and with the knife cut into the heavy plank +overhead. It was no light task to cut out a hole large enough to admit +the passage of a man's body into the attic. A small part of each day +only could be devoted to the work, and the utmost vigilance was needed +to prevent discovery. The "singing hour" was especially serviceable, as +then the noise of the knife could not be heard. The cut, when so nearly +completed as to require little more labor, was so filled up as not to +attract notice from below, and attention given to other parts of the +work. Just then an incident occurred which added the energy of +desperation to the efforts for liberty. + +Captain Laws entered the prison-yard one day, while our comrades were +enjoying the shade of the prison in the afternoon breathing-spell, which +had been procured by the kindness of Colonel Cleiburne and himself, and +going up to Andrews, with averted face, handed him a paper. Andrews +glanced at it, stood perfectly still a moment, and then silently turned, +and walked up-stairs into the cell, the door of which had been left +open. No one of his comrades said a word, but all felt that something +dreadful had happened. The officer, who seemed hardly able to control +his own emotion, waited for a little time, and then telling the +prisoners very gently that it was time to close up the prison, guarded +them back to their room. + +The explanation Andrews then gave was scarcely needed. He had received +his death-sentence! A week from that day had been appointed as the time, +and hanging as the mode of his execution. The sorrow of the brave men +was indescribable. The many noble qualities of our leader had won not +only respect but love. His unselfish regard for every one of his +companions in misfortune, his cheerful, kindly manner under the greatest +sufferings, had made a deep impression even on his guards,--much more on +his comrades. + +But there was one gleam of hope. Andrews and his party resolved at once +to carry out their projects for breaking out of the jail. These soldiers +would have dared anything in the hope of saving their leader; besides, +the feeling was general that this execution would be but the beginning. +Some of the number had always maintained that no hope existed save the +gleam that might come from some desperate attempt for liberty, such as +they were now to put forth. + +But an additional obstacle was interposed,--Andrews was put down in "the +hole" after receiving his sentence. This required the well-worn knife to +be again used, sparingly but persistently. Notches were sawed in the +planks which held the bolts of the trap-door, and an old blanket or two, +with some articles of clothing, were twisted into ropes. When all this +was done, although the first flush of dawn began to appear in the east, +they dared not risk the chance of their work being discovered the next +day, and accordingly resolved to go at once. Andrews had been drawn up +out of the hole, and it was agreed to give him the first chance for his +life. Andrews and John Wollam were in the loft or attic over the prison +room, while all the others, in their assigned order, were ready to mount +up through the aperture they had cut in the ceiling. A few bricks in the +outside wall had also been removed, and enough of the rude ropes +prepared to allow one by one to descend to the ground. The hope was that +by taking off their boots and moving very cautiously, each one could go +into the loft and out through the hole in the wall, and clamber down the +outside blanket-ropes without disturbing the repose of the guard. Those +who got down first were to wait beside the jail until all their comrades +were on the ground before attempting to dash across the jail-fence and +the guard-line outside. + +It was an anxious moment. They could see the dim form of the sentry, and +hear his measured tread, as he paced back and forth not a dozen yards +away. The word was passed from one to another in the prison that all was +ready. + +Andrews crept out first and swung over the wall, but in doing so +loosened a piece of mortar or a brick, which fell to the ground with a +loud "thump," and attracted the notice of the sentry outside, who +instantly gave the alarm, firing his gun and calling "Halt! halt! +Corporal of the guard!" The whole guard was instantly aroused, and the +firing became rapid. Andrews, however, dropped to the ground, darted to +the fence, and was over before he could be prevented. Wollam heard the +noise from the inside, and knowing that caution was now needless, sprang +through the wall, and slid with the greatest rapidity to the ground. A +number of shots were fired while he was suspended in the air, but the +dim light and the hurry and confusion were not favorable to a steady +aim, and he, also, got to the ground and over the fence unhurt. Dorsey +was third in order, but was too late. Before he could get into the loft +the guard were ready to make sure work of any who might follow. He +prudently turned to his comrades and said, "It is all up with us!" The +whole town was soon aroused. High officers visited the prison to see how +many had escaped. They found the remaining eight safely ironed as +before, the keys having been brought into use. The natural supposition +was that only the two who were missing had succeeded in getting off +their irons, and that the others had not escaped because too tightly +fettered. They were, however, put down in "the hole" as an additional +security, and all damages to the prison carefully repaired, while the +guard manifested unusual vigilance. The afternoon airing was forbidden, +and all the strictness which had marked the first confinement in +Chattanooga returned. The poor captives were made to feel that they had +now nothing to expect but the sternest dealings. + +One consolation was left them in the hope that their comrades had made +good their flight, and that the death-sentence of Andrews could not now +be executed. When the firing was first heard the not unnatural inference +was that both the fugitives had perished, but they knew that _such_ news +would soon have been imparted to them; and as days passed by, their hope +strengthened that two, at least, of their fated company would get back +to the Union lines to tell the story of their adventures and +sufferings. How far these hopes were realized will be seen in the +sequel. + +When Andrews left the prison it was nearly day, so that he knew he could +not long continue his flight without detection. He went only a few +hundred yards away from the city, and there finding a dense tree, +climbed, unobserved, into its branches. It was in plain view of the +railroad and the river. All day long he remained in this uncomfortable +position, and saw the trains passing almost under his feet, and heard +his pursuers speculating as to what could possibly have become of him. +The search all over the vicinity was most thorough, but fortunately no +one thought of looking into the tree. + +At night he came down and swam the river, but becoming entangled in some +drift-wood, floated down past Chattanooga, and did not disengage himself +until he had lost most of his clothing. His boots had been lost in the +first alarm, and he was thus placed in the most unfavorable position for +escaping, but he journeyed on as well as he could. Though so much +superior, in many particulars, to his followers, yet in trying to escape +in the woods he seems to have been as much inferior. As will be seen, +Wollam, and, at a later period, many others of the number, were far more +skilful or fortunate than he. Early in the morning he crossed an open +field on his way to a tree in which he intended to take shelter as on +the preceding day, but unfortunately he was observed. Immediate pursuit +was made, but he dashed through the woods and regained the river much +lower down than the day before. Here he swam a narrow channel and +reached a small island, where, for a time, he secreted himself among +some drift-wood at the upper end of the island. In all his terrible +struggle he seemed to look to the river and to trees for safety. These +became fixed ideas, and possibly interfered with his seeking refuge in +any other manner. But the loss of clothing at the outset was a fatal +misfortune. + +A party with blood-hounds now came over from the mainland to search the +island for him. The dogs came upon him, but he broke away from them, and +ran around the lower end of the island, wading in the shallow water, and +in this way throwing the hounds off the track; then he plunged into the +dense thicket with which the island was covered, and again ascended a +tree. There for a long time he remained securely concealed, while his +pursuers searched the whole island. Frequently they were under the very +tree, whose high foliage effectually screened him from the gaze of dogs +and men. At last they abandoned the search in despair, concluding that +he had by some means left the island. Slowly they took their departure +to devise new plans of search. Two little boys, who came along merely +from curiosity, were all that were left behind. + +At length, in their play, one of them looked upward, and said that he +saw a great bunch on a tree. The other looked,--shifted his +position,--looked again, and exclaimed, "Why, it is _a man_!" They were +alarmed and cried aloud, thus announcing their discovery to their +friends on shore. The latter instantly returned, and Andrews, seeing +himself discovered, dropped from the tree, ran to the lower end of the +island, took a small log, with a limb for a paddle, and shoved into the +stream, hoping to reach the opposite shore before he could be overtaken. +But there was another party lower down the river with a skiff, who saw +him and rowed out to meet him. Thus enclosed, he gave over the hopeless +struggle, and surrendered to his fate,--inevitable death! He afterwards +said that he felt a sense almost of relief when the end had come and he +knew the worst. From the time of losing his clothing in the drift-wood +he had but little expectation of ultimate escape. The spectacle of a man +condemned to death, starving and naked, hunted through the woods and +waters by dogs and men, is one of the most pitiable that can be +imagined. + + EVERY SCHOLAR SHOULD POSSESS A GOOD DICTIONARY. + + A NEW EDITION OF + WORCESTER'S UNABRIDGED QUARTO DICTIONARY + =WITH SUPPLEMENT=, + + =Embracing 204 Additional Pages, containing 12,500 New Words and + a Vocabulary of Synonymes of Words in General Use.= + + FULLY ILLUSTRATED AND UNABRIDGED. + + With Four Full-page Illuminated Plates. Library Sheep, + Marbled Edges, $10.00. Half Russia and Half Morocco, $12.00. + Full Russia, $16.00. + + The new edition is a massive volume of =2058= pages, and + contains considerably more than =115,000= words in its + vocabulary, with their =pronunciation,= =definition,= and + =etymology=. It is illustrated with about 1100 neat woodcuts, + and is enriched by more than a thousand excellent articles on + =Synonymes=, in which five thousand synonymous words are + treated, and accurately and concisely illustrated by short and + well-chosen examples. + + THE NEW EDITION OF + WORCESTER'S DICTIONARY + + Contains Thousands of Words not to be found in any other Dictionary. + + ="WORCESTER"= + is now regarded as the STANDARD AUTHORITY, and is so + recommended by Bryant, Longfellow, Whittier, Sumner, Holmes, + Irving, Winthrop, Agassiz, Marsh, Henry, Everett, Mann, Quincy, + Felton, Hillard, and the majority of our most distinguished + scholars, and is, besides, recognized as authority by the + Departments of our National Government. + + "It follows from this with unerring accuracy that WORCESTER'S + Dictionary, being preferred over all others by scholars and men + of letters, should be used by the youth of the country and + adopted in the common schools."--_New York Evening Post._ + + "The volumes before us show a vast amount of diligence; but + with _Webster_ it is diligence in combination with + fancifulness. 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Half Roan, $1.75. + + "For school purposes, and for common use in the home or place of + business, the _Comprehensive Dictionary_ has no superior."-- + _Massachusetts Teacher_. + + "I regard =Worcester's New Comprehensive Dictionary= as far the best + English Dictionary for general use with which I am acquainted." + THOMAS HILL, LL.D., _Late President of Harvard University_. + + =--V--= + =WORCESTER'S ACADEMIC DICTIONARY.= + With Illustrated Appendix. 576 pages. Crown 8vo. Half Roan, $1.85. + + =--VI--= + =WORCESTER'S OCTAVO DICTIONARY.= + Universal and Critical. 956 pages. Library Sheep, $4.25. + + =--VII--= + =WORCESTER'S QUARTO DICTIONARY= + of the English language. _New Edition, with Supplement._ Unabridged and + fully Illustrated. Library Sheep, $10.00; Half Russia or Half Morocco, + $12.00; Full Russia or Full Turkey, $16.00. + + Many special aids to students, in addition to a very full pronouncing + and defining vocabulary, make the above named books, in the opinion of + our most distinguished educators, the most complete as well as by far + the cheapest Dictionaries of our language. + + * * * * * + + -> For sale by all Booksellers, or will be sent, carriage + free, on receipt of the price by the Publishers. Liberal terms for + Introduction. Correspondence solicited with that view. + + Published by J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., + _775 and 717 Market Street, Philadelphia_. + + (OVER.) + +Alfred Wilson, who was one of the eight who failed to escape, speaks in +feeling terms of the manner in which their leader was brought back to +them on the third day after escaping. He says,-- + + "At the prison we were startled by a rumor that Andrews had + been taken, but we at first gave little credence to it, + probably because we did not desire to believe it. But, alas! + the rumor was only too true, for soon after, a strong guard of + soldiers, having in charge a prisoner, followed by a rabble of + citizens, approached the prison. It was Andrews! Oh, how our + hearts and hopes sank down within us beyond the power of + expression!... I could have prayed that death had spared me + those painful moments, the most harrowing of my life. He was + the most wretched and pitiable human being I ever saw,--a sight + which horrified us all, and even drew words of compassion from + some of our prison guards. His own brother would scarcely have + been able to recognize him. It did not seem possible that the + short space of three days could have wrought a change so + startling. As he lay there chained to the floor, naked, bloody, + bruised, and speechless, he seemed more dead than alive. He had + not eaten a morsel since he left us,--during which time he had + made the most desperate struggle for liberty and life. He had + swam about seven miles in the river in his efforts to keep + clear of the dogs. His feet were literally torn to shreds by + running over the sharp stones and through the brush. Towards + the last he left blood at every step. His back and shoulders + were sun-blistered almost to the bone, and so completely + exhausted was he that he could hardly move his limbs after he + was brought in. His face was pale, haggard, and emaciated. His + eyes, which were sunken, gave forth a wild, despairing, + unnatural light. + + "When we were left to ourselves, we drew around the miserable + man, and, after he had somewhat revived, he told us in that + low, calm tone of voice in which he always spoke, and which + seldom failed to impress the listeners favorably towards the + man, the whole story of his unfortunate attempt to escape. He + told us he had but little time to live, and that now, after + having made every effort to save his life and to rescue us, and + failed, he felt reconciled and resigned to his fate. He said he + was incapable of doing anything more to help himself, and only + regretted that his death could not in some way be instrumental + in saving us, his comrades. He counselled us all against the + fallacy of hoping for an exchange, or for any mercy from those + into whose hands we had fallen. He said his doom foreshadowed + our own, and entreated us to prepare for the worst, and, when + the time came, to prove to them that we were as brave in + confronting an ignominious death for our country's sake as we + had been fearless in doing service for her." + +A few more words will finish this pitiful story. Andrews, in Wilson's +opinion, was somewhat of a fatalist, or at least was haunted with a +presentiment of coming doom from the time he had fairly entered upon +this expedition. He had not long to wait. He was put back into "the +hole," but not before a negro blacksmith had welded a pair of heavy +fetters upon his ankles, and connected them with a chain only about +eighteen inches in length. A scaffold was prepared for him in +Chattanooga, but the indications of an advance by Mitchel, and, +possibly, expressions of sympathy on the part of the citizens, induced +the authorities at the last moment to transfer the death-scene to +Atlanta. His comrades were sent with him to that town. On the way to +Atlanta he was taunted with his approaching doom by the crowds, who +surrounded every station. + +It was the day appointed for the execution. On reaching Atlanta Andrews +and his eight companions were conducted to a second-story room, not far +from the depot. In a little time a body of soldiers marched up into the +building, an officer appeared at the door, and, while all were silent as +death, said, in a low, almost faltering tone, "Come on now, Mr. +Andrews." He instantly arose, and the low, sad "Farewell, boys," spoken +in his calmest, sweetest tones, mingled with the horrible clanking of +his chains, as he walked out with the short, halting step his irons +compelled. This was the final separation. + +The survivors were conducted to the city jail of Atlanta, and there +placed in an iron cage. At meal-time the guards told them how bravely +Andrews died. His fortitude stilled even the clamorous spectators. The +dying agony was protracted by the unskilfulness of the executioner, the +rope stretching so that his feet touched the ground. But the earth was +shovelled away, and the brave spirit set free. Why should the gallows be +accounted infamous when courage and patriotism there meet a hero's +death? The cross was once esteemed more shameful than the gallows now, +but one death has sanctified that instrument forever! + +The grave of Andrews at Atlanta was unmarked, and, in the many changes +that have taken place there, it is probably lost forever. The most +diligent search on the part of the writer failed to discover it. But the +rope adjudged by the court-martial, all of whose members have passed +into obscurity with the downfall of the rebellion they served, cannot +desecrate his memory. No flowers can be placed on his unknown grave by +loyal hands, but loving tears will fall freely for him as long as hearts +can feel for the extremity of misfortune that gathered around the last +hours of the man who planned and boldly executed the most romantic and +perilous enterprise of the Great Civil War. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A CONFEDERATE COURT-MARTIAL. + + +Before describing the adventures of Wollam--Andrews' companion in flight +from the Chattanooga prison--we will turn towards the twelve prisoners +destined for Knoxville, where a yet more fearful tragedy was in +preparation. + +On parting from our comrades we were escorted to the cars by Colonel +Cleiburne, where we found, much to our gratification, that we were to be +guarded by a party of Morgan's guerrillas, whose exploits were then +greatly celebrated. Cleiburne recommended us to the humane care of these +partisans, saying, "These prisoners are men, like other men, and +gentlemen too, and I want them treated as such." This charge from the +generous Irishman, for such he was, did much to secure courteous +treatment from our guard. Indeed, the position of the irregular soldiers +who served under the guerrilla chief was such as to make them admire +rather than blame the bold enterprise that led to our capture. They were +themselves in citizen's dress, and were not always careful to provide +uniforms before penetrating into the Federal lines. A considerable +number of their comrades had been captured under such circumstances, and +were, by every rule of right, equally liable with ourselves to be +treated as criminals. Indeed, the position of some of their captured +comrades was still more questionable, for they had assumed the United +States uniform whenever they found it to their advantage. The +inconsistency of the rebel government in treating our party so harshly +is conclusively shown by the fact that they had passed laws for the +encouragement of just such irregular warfare. + +But we have no complaint to make of these dashing guerrillas. They were +very indignant to see us in irons, and offered to be responsible for our +safe-keeping if these were removed; but this was not allowed. + +As was common in our removals from prison to prison, we had been started +without any rations,--not so much, I presume, from wanton cruelty as +because it was no one's especial business to furnish provisions. As the +journey occupied twenty-four hours (and we were hungry to begin with), +our privation would have been considerable but for the generosity of +Morgan's men. They bought pies and whatever else they could find at the +station eating-houses, and literally feasted us. From the time of our +capture we had not experienced such treatment, and only hoped that these +generous enemies might have charge of us as long as we remained in +Confederate territory,--a hope which was not realized. We never met them +again. + +We arrived in Knoxville shortly after noon, having spent the night on +the cars, and were marched through the hot, dusty streets to the city +jail,--an old building of peculiar architecture,--solid, square, and +massive, presenting quite an imposing appearance. It was used as a +military prison, and was filled from top to bottom with ragged, +dirty-looking prisoners. Some Union men, and several rebel soldiers who +had been captured while attempting to desert, were with them. These +constituted the less-valued class of prisoners, and were permitted to +range over most of the building, which, however, was completely +encircled outside, and watched in every passage-way, by a strong guard. + +The class of prisoners whose offences were considered of a more +aggravated character were shut up in cages. There were five of these +cages, two of which were at once cleared for our reception. The smaller +was seven by nine feet, and four of us were put in it. The larger was +perhaps ten by twelve, and held the remaining eight. + +We arrived at Knoxville in the latter part of May, and remained until +June 10. Outside, the weather was intensely warm, but the enormous mass +of iron and stone in the walls of the prison made it comparatively cool +within. The days here spent were not altogether unpleasant. Our food was +scanty and of indifferent quality, but as long as we were allowed hope I +did not feel much disposed to complain of this. Besides, many of the +Union men of Knoxville, who visited us, were liberal in the gift of +money, and by employing the services of those prisoners who were less +strictly guarded, we were able to get many an extra loaf of bread. + +We here became acquainted with some Tennesseeans who were long our +companions. One of the most remarkable was an old man named Pierce. He +presented a most peculiar appearance, having at some period of his +history received a terrible blow with a gun-barrel, which left a +permanent gash more than an inch deep clear across the forehead from the +nose to his hair. From this circumstance he was variously known in the +prison as "Forked Head," "Old Gun-barrel," etc. He presented the +singular combination of great piety and great profanity, singing hymns +and cursing the Confederacy with equal zeal. But his friendship for +Union soldiers knew no bounds, and, being very bold, he was able to +render us many valuable services. + +Another East Tennesseean, more widely known, was Captain Fry, of +Greenville, a town near the Virginia boundary. He was confined in a +cage, and considered by our guards almost equally criminal with +ourselves. Early in the war he had gathered a number of his neighbors, +and, running the gauntlet of guarded roads, succeeded in reaching our +army in Kentucky. Here he was appointed captain of his recruits, and +remained for some time. When an advance into East Tennessee through +Cumberland Gap was contemplated, the Union general asked him to return +to his home, organize the loyal citizens of that vicinity, burn the +bridges on the Richmond and Knoxville Railroad, and then to keep +possession of the mountainous region till our forces could arrive. With +the most explicit assurances of speedy aid, he departed on his perilous +mission. Success on his part was rapid and complete. He raised fifteen +hundred men, obstructed all communications, burned the bridges, and +seriously threatened Knoxville itself. A very small Union reinforcement +could then have rendered invaluable services, and all the men needed for +the work were assembled not far from Cumberland Gap. But the attention +of the military authorities was then turned in another direction, and +the plan of advancing into East Tennessee was accordingly abandoned. No +word of the change reached Fry, who struggled on alone. But the odds +were too great. An overwhelming force of the enemy was thrown upon him, +and after several contests he and his brave men were forced to disperse. +A few succeeded in reaching the loyal lines, and these mostly enlisted +in our army. Others were captured, and many of them hanged as rebels! +General Leadbetter was very conspicuous in this savage work. Fry himself +passed the whole winter in hiding among the wild mountains of that +section, and in the spring mustered several hundred of those who were +fugitives like himself, and tried to reach the Union lines. Near the +border he was overtaken by a superior rebel force, and after a severe +contest he was defeated, wounded, and taken prisoner. This was on the +5th of March, 1862, and he was kept in solitary confinement until placed +with us on the 11th of June following. Captain Fry's subsequent fortunes +were closely united with those of our party--indeed, with my own--and +will be related in due time. + +When I bring back in memory the minute impressions of those eventful +days, I feel surprise that so many hours of comparative pleasure were +found. We had here many persons to converse with. We had light and air, +which we had not at Chattanooga. We procured newspapers with frequency, +no attempt being made to prevent this as in other prisons, and were able +to form some idea of the gigantic contest in which we were so deeply +interested, and which at that time progressed hopefully. We had become +most intimate with each other, and would not allow despondency or +brooding over trouble to take hold upon any one of our number. We also +provided employment for each waking hour, and until those tragic events +occurred which deepened the gloom around us we were comparatively +hopeful and happy. I even managed to take up the thread of my law +studies and prosecute them vigorously. I sent word through a visitor to +a law firm--Baxter & Temple--that I wanted to borrow "Greenleaf on +Evidence," and almost as much to my surprise as pleasure the volumes +were promptly sent. The prison made quite a good study, and the +spectacle of a man reading law in an iron cage seemed to guards and +visitors alike an excellent jest. But I could afford to let them laugh, +for mine was the gain, not only in the knowledge acquired, but in +causing the prison days to pass less wearily. + +Before we had been long at Knoxville we were visited by an officer, whom +we had seen frequently in Chattanooga, and who told us that he was +judge-advocate of a court-martial about to convene, and notified us to +prepare for trial. Neither this intelligence nor his manner in giving it +was at all alarming. We knew that we had been ordered to Knoxville for +this very purpose, and were only anxious to have the trial soon over, +that we might be formally declared prisoners of war, and thus be placed +in position to be exchanged, if an opportunity should occur. To this end +we asked the judge-advocate if we would all be put on trial at once, and +when he answered in the negative, we urged the expediency and justice of +that course, assuring him that the cases of all were precisely alike. +But he refused with some curtness. We next asked that he would select +one of our number to be tried, whose award might determine the position +of the whole party, and offering to sign a paper agreeing to this +course. This he also refused, with the declaration that the court knew +its own business, and that every one of us should be tried on his own +merits. The only reason I have ever been able to imagine for this course +is that the intentions towards us were much more serious than we had +been allowed to conjecture, and that it would have looked too absurd to +arraign so large a band of private soldiers from one brigade on the +charge of being spies. We asked him for the charge on which the trial +was to take place, and with some apparent hesitation he gave it,--the +same against all. It was charged, in substance, that we were enemies who +were lurking in and around Confederate camps _as spies_ for the purpose +of obtaining military information. Not one word was said about seizing +the cars or anything that we did or tried to do. Wilson spoke out +boldly, and said, "But you know we are not spies, and have yourself told +us that we cannot be held as such." Then, with what I cannot but +consider as deep deception, he replied that their expectation now was to +obtain a negative verdict, which would justify them in exchanging us. He +further advised us to employ counsel and put our cause in good shape, +but not to make ourselves uneasy. The whole conversation left some +apprehension upon our minds, but in the case of most of us the inherent +hopefulness of youth soon banished it. + +Our plan of defence has been partly indicated before. It was to tell +just who we were and what we had done, and to claim that we were United +States soldiers, detailed on a military expedition without our own +consent or knowledge, and simply obeying orders. We were to deny in the +strongest terms that we had been lurking about any camps, or that we had +sought or obtained any military information. No question was to be +answered that would lead to the discovery of the engineer or tend to +show that any one had volunteered for this service. As to evidence +against us, we knew that our recorded confessions, made when we were +first brought to Chattanooga, could be used, and possibly the evidence +of those who first captured us. But no one could say anything about our +lurking around Confederate camps. We had been within the guard-lines at +Big Shanty, but we were no more "lurking" there than a body of cavalry +who might charge into a camp. Indeed, we felt sure that the charge, in +the form it bore, could not be sustained. To make the greatest +impression of candor, our story was sketched in brief, with the approval +of the whole number, and, at a subsequent visit of the judge-advocate, +handed to him. He took our signatures to it, and it was read on the +trials as our confession. It saved our enemies some trouble in the +matter of witnesses, and put our case in what we judged the most +favorable light. + +Baxter & Temple, who had so kindly accommodated me with books, were +willing to act as our counsel. They stipulated that, as fast as tried, +we should give them our notes for one hundred and fifty dollars each. +They did not care for the money, and, indeed, the prospect of obtaining +it was not very favorable. But their own safety required that their help +should appear to be purely professional. They assured me privately that +they were loyal to our government and would do us any favor they dared. +They did promote our comfort by the secret gift of some money. + +The story of the trials may soon be told. The charges and specifications +of William Campbell were first handed in. He was a citizen of Kentucky +in reality, but claimed to be a member of Company K, Second Ohio, and we +were careful to endorse his statement. It was never suspected that he +stood in any different relation from his comrades. After the overthrow +of the Confederacy the writer obtained copies of these charges and +specifications, together with many other papers from the rebel archives. +They are still on file at Washington. With the exception of the change +of names and position in the army, the charges were precisely alike in +all the cases. + + "_Charge._--Violation of Section 2d of the 101st Article of the + Rules and Articles of War. + + "_Specification 1st._--In that the said William Campbell, + private Company 'K,' Second Ohio Regiment, U.S.A., not owing + allegiance to the Confederate States of America, and being in + the service and army of the United States, then and now at war + with the Confederate States of America, did, on or about the + 7th day of April, 1862, leave the army of the United States, + then lying near Shelbyville, Tennessee, and with a company of + about twenty other soldiers of the United States army, all + dressed in citizen's clothes, repair to Chattanooga, Tennessee, + entering covertly within the lines of the Confederate forces at + that post, and did thus, on or about the 11th day of April, + 1862, lurk as a spy in and about the encampment of said forces, + representing himself as a citizen of Kentucky going to join the + Southern army. + + "_Specification 2d._--And the said William Campbell, private + Company 'K,' Second Ohio Regiment, U.S.A., thus dressed in + citizen's clothes, and representing himself as a citizen of + Kentucky going to join the Southern army, did proceed by + railroad to Marietta, Georgia,--thus covertly pass through the + lines of the Confederate forces stationed at Chattanooga, + Dalton, and Camp McDonald, and did thus, on or about the 11th + day of April, 1862, lurk as a spy in and about the said + encampments of the Confederate forces at the places stated + aforesaid." + +All mention of the capture of the train, with the terrible chase that +followed, is entirely omitted from this paper. Could this be for any +other reason than that this sequel would disprove the fact of "lurking +as a spy," on which the whole charge is made to turn, and make the whole +expedition appear of a distinctive military character? The whole charge +of "lurking as a spy" was constructive--not real. No evidence could be +adduced to show that any one of us had lingered for a single hour at any +one of the three Confederate encampments mentioned. Neither was there +any evidence that our false stories were told inside of any encampment. + +With charges which were simply a recital of a small part of our own +admissions and some inference from them, the trials were very simple and +brief. William Campbell was taken out first, the above paper read to +him, and he responded, "Not true, so far as lurking in any camp or being +a spy is concerned." The plea of "not guilty" was then entered for him, +our own confession read, one or two minor witnesses called, and he +returned to prison. The next day another man was taken to the court and +the same story rehearsed. Thus each day one trial only took place, and +no pleadings were heard by the prisoner, either for or against himself, +and no sentence was given. The time occupied in each session of the +court was not much more than an hour. The table around which the court +sat was covered with bottles, newspapers, and novels, and the members +occupied themselves during the proceedings in discussing these. All this +was very well if the object was, as they assured us, merely to put +formally on record our true character as prisoners of war; but it was +most heartless if the trial was in earnest, and a matter of life or +death. + +Wilson related to me a ludicrous incident that occurred when he was on +trial. No instance of his being anywhere within the guard-lines was +proved. A young lieutenant requested to be placed on the witness-stand +to testify of one occasion when he knew that the prisoner had passed +their picket-lines. His offer was gladly accepted. On being sworn, he +stated that he had commanded a picket-post which included the +Chattanooga ferry, and this ferry the prisoner admitted passing. +Immediately the president of the court arose and said that the young +gentleman was mistaken, as he himself commanded the guard that day, and +that _no guard was placed at the ferry_. The whole court was thrown into +a roar of laughter, and the confusion of our would-be convictor may be +imagined. + +Our lawyers visited us frequently in the prison for the purpose of +consultation, and expressed themselves as delighted with the turn +matters were taking. No evidence had been found to discredit or go +beyond our own statements. They said that all the plans of the +prosecution had been deranged, and that if convicted now, it would be +through mere prejudice and perjury on the part of the court. + +There was one feature of the trial, however, which I did not like, and +against which we protested with all our power. No one who was tried was +allowed to be present to hear the pleading of counsel on either side. We +could neither hear what the judge-advocate urged against us nor what our +lawyers said in our favor. Even at the trial of Andrews, in Chattanooga, +he had not been debarred this privilege. But in this, and one other +particular to be narrated later, the rebels used our soldiers with less +show of justice than had been accorded to Andrews himself. + +After three or four of our number had been tried, one of our lawyers +read to us the plea, which he said he had read after the trial of each +man, and would continue to read. It appeared to me to be a paper of +great ability, and I cannot conceive how it could be successfully +answered. Judge-Advocate-General Holt officially speaks of it as "This +just and unanswerable presentation of the case." It was contended that +our being dressed in citizen's clothes instead of Federal uniforms, +which was the only unmilitary incident in the whole history, ought not +to weigh against us, because this was nothing more than the Confederate +government had expressly authorized in the case of their own soldiers, +and that making war without uniform was practised by all the guerrillas +in the Confederate service,--by some from necessity, and by others +because they were thus able better to escape detection, and inflict more +damage upon the enemy. A special instance was cited in which General +Morgan had dressed a detachment of his partisans in Federal uniform, and +passed them off as belonging to the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, by +which means he had succeeded in reaching and damaging a railroad within +the Federal lines. Some of these very men were captured by the Federal +government, and were, up to the present, held as prisoners of war. To +decide that we were spies because we were captured without our uniform +would not only provoke retaliation, but establish a principle far more +dangerous to the Confederate than to the Federal forces. It was urged +that we had stated the object of our expedition, which was a purely +military one, and as such entirely within the laws of war. No evidence +had been adduced to show that we were other than what we claimed. The +plea closed by asking what good purpose could be served by sacrificing +ignominiously the lives of so many brave men on a charge which had been +conclusively disproved by the evidence, and which every member of the +court knew to be really untrue. We were not spies in fact, and to call +us such against their own convictions, and on merely technical and +constructive grounds, would be as unwise as it was cruel. The plea did +_not_ embrace one argument which added very much to our hopefulness, +and which our lawyers considered likely to have a great weight with the +court, though they dared not formally state it. McClellan had not yet +been repulsed before Richmond, and the collapse of the Rebellion seemed +imminent. The same rigid construction which was necessary to make us +spies would assuredly render them all liable to the punishment of +treason, and they were not in a position to make it prudent to invoke +the utmost severities and extreme penalties of the laws of war. As I +glance back over the lapse of twenty years it still seems to me strange +that the decision of the court-martial in our favor could have been for +a moment doubtful. But, alas! reason and sound judgment do not always +rule in human affairs. Though we knew it not then, the life of every man +in that Knoxville prison was trembling in the balance. + +For one whole week--seven days--the trials went on, the same forms being +used in the case of each man, who was taken out for an hour and +returned, knowing nothing of his sentence, having heard no pleading +against himself, and being treated in no sense differently after his +trial. On the seventh day we read that General Mitchel had advanced to +Chattanooga and was shelling the town across the river, and also, that +the Federal General Morgan was advancing from Cumberland Gap, and +threatening Knoxville. We fervently hoped that the latter would settle +the question of our fate by capturing the town while we were still in +it. This would have done away with all further perplexity as to the +decision of the court-martial! + +This advance did prevent all further trials. The officers of the court +were hurried off to their regiments to resist the enemy. From the +newspapers, which some prisoners managed to obtain every day, and then +loaned or read to all the others, we were kept well informed as to the +progress of events. Some of the intelligence they brought thrilled us to +our souls. More than a week before this we read of the escape of +Andrews and Wollam from the Chattanooga prison. We greatly rejoiced, +believing firmly that our leader would be sure to get to our lines, and +then use all his influence to secure some form of help for us. The news +of his recapture overthrew all these hopes and filled us with anxious +apprehension, although we were ignorant of his being sentenced to death. +Of the fate of Wollam nothing was stated. + +But a more terrible blow was in store. One day a newspaper was silently +passed up to our cage by some friend outside, and, glancing at it, the +first thing that arrested our attention was an account of _the execution +of Andrews_! With equal silence we sent it into the other cage. Just +before this deadly intelligence came we had been engaged in +story-telling and in various games, for we were always merry, refusing +to indulge in gloomy forebodings. But this was the sudden opening of an +awful gulf at our feet. All noise and merriment were suspended, and we +passed the whole day in mourning. We could not talk to our guards as +lightly as we had done before, for there was now blood between us. We +all loved Andrews, and would have undergone any peril to save him, but +there was no possibility now even of vengeance. And, although his fate +was governed by different principles from ours, we could not help +feeling more distrustful of our own position. + +An extra guard, bearing a great number of ropes, came in the morning +after the last trial, and we were called out of our cages. This was +startling, as we had no hint of their purpose, and the word was even +passed around that we were all to be taken out and hanged immediately. +But one of the outside prisoners found an opportunity to inform us that +he had overheard the commander saying that he was to remove us to +prevent our capture in case of a sudden Federal dash upon Knoxville. +This convinced us that we were only to have another of our frequent +changes of prisons. + +In our cages here we had not been ironed, and, as our fetters had been +used on some prisoners sent to Richmond, we were now obliged to content +ourselves with a most liberal allowance of cotton rope. It was this +provision for tying us which at first excited our apprehensions. + +While we were being securely bound I had an amusing passage-at-words +with the adjutant, who was superintending that operation. I said to him, +as politely as I could,-- + +"I suppose, sir, our destination is not known?" + +"It is not known to you at any rate, sir," was the gruff rejoinder. + +This was noticed by the whole party, and I felt rather beaten; but a +moment later came my chance for revenge. He turned again to me, and +said, in a dictatorial manner,-- + +"Who was it that run your engine through?" + +I bowed, and returned in the blandest tone, "_That is not known to you +at any rate, sir_." + +All the prisoners around roared with laughter, and the adjutant, +reddening to the eyes, turned away, muttering that he believed I was the +engineer myself! + +When the process of tying was completed to the adjutant's satisfaction, +we took our departure southward, and passed through Chattanooga once +more, but, to our satisfaction, did not stop there. We continued +southward, in the direction of Atlanta. No rations were taken for us, as +usual, and having on this occasion no guerrillas to buy us supplies, we +were obliged to fast the whole time. At various stations the populace +taunted us with Andrews' death, and charitably hoped we might soon meet +the same fate. The remark was often made that we were going to Atlanta +to be hanged there, as he had been! Captain Fry, Pierce, and a few other +of the East Tennesseeans were taken along with us. Before we reached +Chattanooga, we had, as I thought, an excellent chance to effect our +escape. The journey was so slow that night came on, and our guard, +wearied with the frequent delays, had relaxed their vigilance, and most +of them slept by our sides. They exceeded us in numbers, and were armed, +while we were tied. But our two months' experience had made us adepts in +some of the poor, pitiful arts prisoners soon learn. We could +communicate without exciting the suspicions of the soldiers, who were +sitting in the very seats with us, and scarcely one of our number had +failed to so "settle himself" in the cotton ropes that they could have +been thrown off at a moment's notice. To be ready at a signal, to dash +out the two lights that burned in our car, each of us to seize the +musket of the man nearest us while the train was in motion, to secure +the doors, and let no one get out, or make any alarm, seemed to me easy +enough. Then we could have uncoupled our car, and, _with the arms of our +guard_, have started across the country towards the Union lines, which +could not have been more than thirty or forty miles west of us. But +George D. Wilson opposed the project with all his energy. He thought we +might succeed, but some would probably be killed in the scuffle, and all +might be captured outside, and then our case be made much worse, while +by simply remaining quiet, we were sure of a speedy exchange. He had +talked for hours with the captain of our guard, who was certain that our +case had been virtually decided in our favor. He encouraged Wilson by +saying that he had heard officers high in authority say that it had been +necessary to execute Mr. Andrews, as he was a Confederate citizen, and +as an example; but that this was enough, and that no other would suffer +anything worse than possibly, if no favorable exchange could be +arranged, the penalty of being kept to the close of the war. This, in +Wilson's opinion, was not far distant. Wilson's opposition made us +regretfully yield the attempt. Could the future have been foreseen our +decision would undoubtedly have been reversed. + +Atlanta, we found, was our destination. Here, almost in the centre of +the rebel States, the Confederates were as yet free from interruption by +Union armies. Andrews had already perished in this city, and here our +own fate was to be determined. As we marched, with ropes bound tightly +round our hands and pinioning our arms, from the depot to the Atlanta +city jail, a crowd gathered around us, as usual, and a man, calling +himself the mayor of the city, addressed himself first to Captain Fry, +telling him that he knew his history and would soon have the pleasure of +hanging him. Then turning to us, he boasted that he had put the rope +around Andrews' neck and was waiting and anxious to do the same for us! + +The city prison was much smaller than that at Knoxville, but was quite a +large edifice. The lower story was occupied by the jailer and family. +The upper story contained four rooms, two on each side of an entry, into +which the staircase from below led. We, in company with Captain Fry, +were given one of these rooms. The other Tennesseeans brought from +Knoxville with us were put into another, just across the entry from us. +Our comrades, who had been left behind at Chattanooga, had been in this +building ever since the death of Andrews, and in the third room. The +fourth room was on the same side as our own, and had a succession of +occupants,--frequently negroes who had been in search of the North Star. +This jail was to be our home for many eventful months. + +For some days our food was comparatively good and abundant. Turner, the +jailer, was a kind man, and, in a mild way, of Union sentiments. He +showed us all the favor in his power, and, indeed, became so much +suspected that an odious old man named Thoer was sent to watch him. The +change in our condition was at once manifest. Our fare became worse and +more scanty than in any former prison. The constant vigilance of this +spy kept the jailer from doing anything to mitigate our sufferings. But +in this prison we had one great relief. Our ropes were removed and no +chains or handcuffs put upon us. Within our prison-cell we were free. +Here we remained in quiet for a week, thinking the worst of our trials +now over. Little did we imagine how fearful a storm was about to burst +over us. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE CROWNING HORROR. + + +The event described in this chapter will never be effaced from the +memory of any witness. Nothing more terrible or more gratuitously +barbarous is recorded in the annals of civilized war. The seven men of +whose death I am now to write were all young,--from eighteen to +twenty-five. With good prospects, and well connected, they had entered +the army at the bidding of patriotism, ready to endure every peril to +insure the triumph of the old flag. Their only offence, when stripped of +all technicality, was that of accepting a dangerous service proposed by +their own officers. They had entered on this service in the same spirit +that they would have obeyed an order to head a desperate charge on the +enemy's fortifications. Had they perished in the enterprise itself, +their fate would have been but the common fortune of war. But more than +two months had passed since they had been in the power of their enemies, +who had repeatedly testified admiration for their heroism, as well as +for their gallant bearing in captivity. Prominent officers had held +friendly conversations with them and assured them of ultimate safety. +Now, without a moment's warning----. But I must not anticipate the +narration. + +One day--the 18th of June, 1862--while amusing ourselves with games and +stories in our prison-cell, we saw through the barred window a squadron +of cavalry approaching. This only excited a languid curiosity at first, +for it was a common thing to see bodies of horsemen in the streets; but +soon we saw them halt before the gate of the high prison-wall and throw +a line of soldiers completely round the building. This was no ordinary +occurrence. What could it portend? + +A moment after we heard the clink of the officers' swords as they +ascended the prison stairway in unusual numbers, while we waited the +event with deep solicitude. They paused at our door, which was unlocked +by the jailer, and the names of the seven who had been tried at +Knoxville were called over, one by one, and each man as he was called +led out of the room. Samuel Robinson was very sick with fever, and was +not able to rise without assistance, but two guards helped him to his +feet, and he was taken out with the others. Then the door opposite to +ours, on the other side of the hall, was opened, and the Tennesseeans in +that room put with us, while our comrades, with the whole number of +officers, went into the vacated room, and the door was closed. + +With throbbing veins we asked one another the meaning of these strange +proceedings. A confused sound was heard through the closed door +opposite, as of some one reading, but we could distinguish no words. +Some of us supposed they were taken in there to receive their acquittal; +others, still more sanguine, maintained that they were now being +paroled, preparatory to an exchange. + +I was also suffering with malarial fever at that time, but rose to my +feet oppressed with a nameless fear. A half-idiotic man who was among +the Tennessee prisoners came to me and wanted to play a game of cards. I +struck the greasy pack out of his hands, and bade him leave me. + +Our terrible suspense was not of long duration. The door opened and +George D. Wilson entered first, his hands and arms firmly bound, and his +face pale as death, but with form erect and firm step. Some one asked in +a whisper a solution of the dreadful mystery, for his countenance had +appalled every one. + +"_We are to be executed immediately!_" was the awful reply, whispered +with thrilling distinctness. + +Behind him came the others, all tied, ready for the scaffold! They were +to be hanged at once. Not a day nor an hour was given for preparation. +From their hopefulness and fancied security they were snatched in a +moment to die as felons! Surely no rule of war, no military necessity, +no consideration of policy, required such frightful and murderous haste. +I have never heard a word in defence of this military massacre. Even +Andrews, our leader, was given a week for preparation before the +execution of his sentence. The most atrocious criminals are always +allowed a short respite. For a long time I cherished the belief that +some misunderstanding of orders, some terrible error, and not deliberate +cruelty, led to this frightful haste. But the following death-sentence +seems to leave no room for doubt. In the very centre of the Confederacy, +with hundreds of troops at their disposal for guards, there could have +been no military necessity for hurling these poor men into eternity +without one hour's warning! + +The following is a literal copy of the death-sentence read to the doomed +men during the few minutes they were separated from us: + + "HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT EAST TENNESSEE, + "KNOXVILLE, June 14, 1862. + + "_General Orders, No. 54. VII._ + + "At a general court-martial held at Knoxville by virtue of + General Orders Nos. 21 and 34 (Department Headquarters, April + 15 and May 10, 1862), whereof Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Bibb, of + the Twenty-third Regiment Alabama Volunteers, was president, + was tried George D. Wilson, private Company 'B,' Second Ohio + Regiment, on the following charge and specifications, to wit: + + "_Charge._--Violation of Section 2d of the 101st Article of the + Rules and Articles of War. + + "_Specification 1st._--In this, that the said George D. Wilson, + private Company 'B,' Second Ohio Regiment, not owing allegiance + to the Confederate States of America, and being in the service + and army of the United States, then and now at war with the + Confederate States of America, did, on or about the 7th day of + April, 1862, leave the army of the United States, then lying + near Shelbyville, Tennessee, and with a company of about twenty + other soldiers of the United States army, all dressed in + citizen's clothes, repair to Chattanooga, Tennessee, entering + covertly within the lines of the Confederate forces at that + post, and did thus, on or about the 11th day of April, 1862, + lurk as a spy in and about the encampment of said forces, + representing himself as a citizen of Kentucky going to join the + Southern army. + + "_Specification 2d._--And the said George D. Wilson, private + Company 'B,' Second Ohio Regiment, U.S.A., thus dressed in + citizen's clothes, and representing himself as a citizen of + Kentucky going to join the Southern army, and did proceed by + railroad to Marietta, Georgia,--thus covertly pass through the + lines of the Confederate forces stationed at Chattanooga, + Dalton, and Camp McDonald, and did thus, on or about the 11th + day of April, 1862, lurk as a spy in and about the said + encampments of the Confederate forces at the places stated + aforesaid. + + "To which charge and specifications the prisoner plead 'Not + Guilty.' + + "The court, after mature deliberation, find the accused as + follows: Of the 1st specification of the charge, 'Guilty.' Of + the 2d specification of the charge, 'Guilty,' and 'Guilty of + the Charge.' And the court do therefore sentence the accused, + the said George D. Wilson, private Company 'B,' Second Ohio + Regiment (two-thirds of the members concurring therein), as + soon as this order shall be made public, 'to be hung by the + neck until he is dead.' + + "The proceedings in the foregoing case of George D. Wilson, + private Company 'B,' Second Ohio Regiment, are approved. + + "The sentence of the court will be carried into effect between + the 15th and 22d days of June, inst., at such time and place as + may be designated by the commanding officer at Atlanta, + Georgia, who is charged with the arrangements for the proper + execution thereof. + + "By command of + "Major-General E. KIRBY SMITH. + "J. F. BRETON, A.A.A.G. + + "To Commanding Officer of post at Atlanta, Ga." + +It will be noticed that the sentence was to be executed as soon as made +public. The time fixed was between the 15th and 22d days of June. This +was the 18th. The sentence had been received the preceding day, and the +time employed in clearing a spot of wooded ground then lying east of the +city cemetery, but since included in its bounds, and in erecting a +scaffold there. But no word of the awful preparations had been allowed +to reach us. According to the orders of General E. Kirby Smith, several +days' respite might have been allowed; but in a communication to the +Confederate Secretary of War, Colonel G. I. Foreacre, post-commander at +Atlanta, says, "General Smith only sent from Knoxville instructions and +orders to have seven of them hung, which was promptly attended to by +myself." + +After the sentences had been read came the farewells,--which, in their +full meaning, we could scarcely realize,--farewells with no hope of +meeting again in this world! Our comrades were dear as brothers to us, +and to stand helpless while they were dragged away to the scaffold froze +our blood and crushed our hearts. + +These doomed men were brave. On the battle-field they had never faltered +in the presence of danger. They were ready to die, if need were, for +their country; but to die on the scaffold,--to die as murderers +die,--this was almost too much for human nature to endure. + +Then, too, they were destitute of the best support a man can have in the +presence of death. Although most of them had been of excellent moral +character, yet they had no firmly-grounded religious hope. The near +prospect of eternity, into which they were thus to be hurled without a +moment's preparation, was black and appalling. Wilson had been a +professed disbeliever in revelation, and many a time had argued with me +for hours at a time. But in this awful moment he said to me, "Pittenger, +I believe you are right now! Oh, try to be better prepared, when your +turn comes to die, than I am!" Then laying his hand on my head, with a +muttered "God bless you!" we parted. I saw no more the one I had loved +and trusted as few others in the world. + +Shadrack was profane in speech and reckless in action, but withal +exceeding kind-hearted, lovable, and always merry. Now turning to us +with a voice the forced calmness of which was more affecting than a wail +of agony, he said, "Boys, I am not prepared to meet my Jesus." When +asked by some of us, in tears, to trust in His mercy, and to think of +heaven, he answered, still in tones of thrilling calmness, "I'll try! +I'll try! But I know I am not prepared." + +Samuel Slavens, who was a man of immense strength and iron resolution, +turned to his friend Buffum, and could only articulate, +"Wife--children--tell--" when utterance failed. + +John Scott had been married only three days before he came to the army, +and the thought of his young and sorrowing wife nearly drove him to +despair. He could only clasp his hands in silent agony. + +William Campbell smiled grimly as we pressed his bound hands, and said +in response to our declarations, "Yes, boys, this _is_ hard." + +Marion Ross bore himself most firmly of all. He had been more gloomy and +depressed than any other member of the party previously, and did not +seem to share fully in our hopes. Now his eyes beamed with unnatural +light, and there was not a tremor in his voice as he said, in full, +clear tones, "Tell them at home, if any of you should escape, that I +died for my country, and did not regret it." + +These parting words occupied but a moment, and even then the officers +standing in the door seemed impatient to finish their horrible work! + +In this manner the poor men were hurried to their doom. Several of them, +in passing, had the privilege of shaking hands with our comrades in the +other room. Robinson, though too sick to walk, was dragged away with +them. + +Thus we parted. The rough wagon, with a wood-rack for a bed, drove off +with our comrades, surrounded by cavalry. In about an hour it came back, +_empty_. The deed of shame was done. + +Later in the evening the provost-marshal came to our door, and, in +response to eager questions, informed us that our friends "had met their +fate as brave men should die everywhere." + +The next day we obtained from the guards, who, in the absence of their +officers, were always willing to talk with us, full particulars of the +sevenfold murder. + +When all had been mounted on the scaffold Wilson asked permission to say +a few words, which was granted,--probably in the hope of hearing some +kind of a confession. If such was the expectation, they were much +disappointed. It was a strange scene,--a dying speech to a desperate +audience, and under the most terrible circumstances conceivable. + +But Wilson was equal to the occasion, and when he had once begun to +speak, the force of his words was such that the mob remained silent, +making no attempt to interrupt him. Unterrified by the near approach of +death, he spoke his mind freely. He told the rebels that they were all +in the wrong, that he had no hard feelings towards the Southern people +for what they were about to do, because they had been duped by their +leaders, and induced by them to engage in the work of rebellion. He also +said that though he had been condemned as a spy, yet he was none, and +they well knew it. He was only a soldier in the performance of the work +he had been detailed to do; that he did not regret to die for his +country, but only regretted the manner of his death. He concluded by +assuring them in prophetic words that they would yet live to regret the +part they had taken in this rebellion, and would see the flag of our +country wave in triumph over the very ground occupied by his scaffold. + +This address made a deep impression on the minds of all who listened, +and I often afterwards heard it spoken of in terms of deepest +admiration. When he ceased the signal was given, and the traps fell! + +Then followed one of the disgusting exhibitions which so often disgrace +all kinds of public executions. Five only remained dangling in the air. +Campbell and Slavens, being very heavy, broke their ropes, and fell to +the ground insensible. When they revived, they asked and received a +drink of water. Then they requested an hour to pray before entering the +future world. This most reasonable petition, which would not have been +denied to the most hardened murderer under civilized rule, was sternly +denied, as if they wished to do their utmost to murder both soul and +body. As soon as the ropes could be readjusted they were compelled to +mount the scaffold once more, and were again turned off. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +PRISON RELIGION. + + +The afternoon following the execution of our brave comrades was one of +indescribable sorrow, gloom and fear. We knew not how soon we might be +compelled to follow in the same path and drink the same bitter cup. As +has been before narrated, we had offered at Knoxville to accept the +award of the court in one of the cases as the sentence of all, since +there was not the slightest difference among us. At that time, however, +we were confident of acquittal. Now that confidence had utterly +vanished, and no one of our number anticipated anything but speedy death +on the scaffold. + +But even without the addition of apprehension for ourselves, the parting +from our loved friends, whose voices were still ringing in our ears, +while they themselves had passed beyond the gates of death into the +unknown land of shadows, was enough to rend the stoutest heart. Few +words were spoken, but tears and sobs were frequent. + +I could not shed a tear. A fierce fever burned in my veins, and my head +seemed as if on fire. For hours I scarcely knew where I was, or the loss +I had sustained. Every glance around the room, which revealed the vacant +place of our friends, would bring our sorrow in a new wave upon us +again. Slowly the afternoon wore on in grief too deep for words, and +despair too black for hope. + +At last some voice suggested prayer. We had no chaplain, and few of us +were professedly religious, but the very thought of prayer seemed to +bring relief, and was eagerly accepted. We knelt around the bare +prison-walls, as so many prisoners have done before, and tried to draw +near to God. We felt as if already cut off from the world. Captain Fry +first prayed aloud. His voice was broken by sobs, but he did not now +pray for the first time, and we felt our faith leaning on his as he +poured out strong supplications for that Almighty help we so sorely +needed. He prayed that God's love might be revealed to us, and that we +might be able to trust the Saviour even on the gallows. When he ceased +another took up the thread of petition. After him, another and another +followed, until all but two had prayed aloud, and even these were +kneeling and sobbing with the rest. As the twilight deepened, our +devotional exercises grew more solemn. In the lonely shadow of coming +night, with eternity thus tangibly open before us, and standing on its +very brink, we prayed with inconceivable fervor. These exercises +continued far into the night, and wrought their effect deeply in our +hearts. From that night I recognized God's right to my allegiance. I did +accept Christ as my Saviour, and determined to confess His name before +men, whether I lived or died. This resolution in my own case--and I +doubt not the same result was produced in other hearts--restored the +fortitude that had been so rudely shaken, and I felt nerved for any +fate. Strangely enough, with this resignation to the worst came the +glimmer of a hope, unfelt before, that possibly life might yet be +spared. + +This hour wrought a complete and permanent change in the routine of our +prison-life. Games, sports, and stories were no longer our leading +pursuits. The cards we had been accustomed to play for pastime only--an +old greasy pack obtained from the compassion of some soldier on +guard--were thrown out of the window, and that game given up forever. +Each morning and each evening we had a prayer-meeting,--not simply a +single prayer, but all praying in turn. We asked for and obtained a +Bible from the jailer, and read a chapter or more as part of our +exercises, and sang hymns, so that our meetings became as much like +those we had witnessed in the distant but never forgotten days of +freedom as we could make them. There was wonderful pathos in the very +rudeness of the singing, for our sweetest voices were silent in death. +The remark was often made, "If Ross was only here to lead the singing!" +The one who read the Bible lesson was considered the leader of the +meeting, and, for a time, we took this position by turns. In place of +"Do they miss me at Home?" we sang the more inspiring and helpful +"Jesus, Lover of my Soul," and "Rock of Ages." The jailer, the guards, +and all who came near the prison noticed the great change. + +I had one peculiar difficulty which, to many readers, will appear almost +whimsical, but to me was most real. Our hope of ever regaining liberty, +or even preserving our lives much longer, was but slight; yet my +greatest difficulty in finding satisfactory religious consolation had +reference to a possible release. I had been a diligent law student, and +had managed to continue the study even in the army and in prison. But +now it was impressed upon my mind, with daily increasing force, that I +must submit the decision of my future career to God. If I took this +matter into my own hands, I could not feel that I was completely true to +Him. Underlying this feeling was the further conviction that if I made +such a submission of my future profession to God I would be led into the +ministry, and the thought of this was very repulsive. Yet the longer the +struggle continued the plainer duty became. If I gave myself to Christ, +it seemed a necessary consequence that I should accept any work He gave +me to do. If I feared that He would guide me in a certain direction, +this was sure proof that I was not resigned to His will, and, according +to my views, not a true Christian. At last the choice was made,--I +resolved to follow my sense of duty, no matter where that should +lead,--to the ministry or anywhere else. When this conflict was over +there was no great emotional excitement,--only a sense of peace and +rest. I could wait calmly in the prison until led forth to die, if such +should be my doom, and then go forth out of life feeling that I was +loyal to God, and that I should remain His, into whatever worlds the +gate of death should open. If, contrary to all probability, the +prison-gate should open for my passage back into the free world, from +which I seemed almost as effectually separated as if death had already +intervened, I promised still to be loyal to Him. This was the essence of +the inward change I date from that time. My standard of action before +had been pleasure, inclination, the world's notion of honor and +morality. Even this had not been held too strictly, as the reader of +these pages has discovered. But afterwards, however imperfectly +maintained, my standard became the will of God, as revealed in the +Bible, and my own sense of duty as enlightened by His Spirit. No great +joy, such as is often expressed in conversion, came at first. But it was +even better than any joy to feel that I now had a strong arm upon which +I could lean,--that there was one person to whom I could go at any +time, and who was not indifferent to my fate. + +I now read the Bible with a clear purpose, and with a light on its pages +that never before beamed there. Its very history was full of new +meaning. Its grand beginning, the growth of wandering tribes into great +empires, the pathos of the Psalms, the sublimity and eternal hope of the +prophecies, and, above all, the life and death of that loving and lowly +man who was greater than Psalmist or Prophet,--all these passed before +me in the old Atlanta jail, until the place seemed like a new isle of +Patmos. I had a strong bent towards scepticism, though I had not yielded +to it, and found it hard to exercise simple faith in all the Word of +God. But, little by little, my doubts became weaker and my conviction of +truth clearer. + +For a considerable time the whole of our party took turns in the +leadership of our devotions, but finally this work devolved on the +writer, and, after some months, the guards and other prisoners began to +call me the "preacher," though, as yet, I was a member of no church, +unless our prison band can be dignified by that title. + +Two Southern ministers visited us at this period. The first requested +permission of the guard, and was allowed to enter with the express +provision that his conversation should be confined to religious topics. +His name was Scott, but I am not sure what denomination he belonged to, +and his conversation gave no clue. His first question did not contribute +to a good understanding. He asked how we could be so wicked as to enter +the Federal army, to fight against the Southern people and free their +negroes? We were sorry enough about many things, but had not yet +repented of those particular sins, and therefore answered a little +tartly, by asking how he and his friends could be so wicked as to rebel +against a good government? A heated dispute followed. Our visitor talked +so loudly and vehemently that the officer of the guard entered and told +him that he "had given those men religious counsel enough for one time +and had better leave." He never came again, and we were not sorry. + +Our jailer, Mr. Turner, had a very kindly feeling towards us, and +hearing us so often singing and praying, asked if we would not like to +talk with a minister. Knowing that ministers were not all alike, we +assented. Rev. George G. N. MacDonell, of the M. E. Church South, then +visited us. We were glad to see him, and a very profitable conversation +took place. A little offence was occasioned by his first prayer, in +which he petitioned that our lives might be spared, if consistent with +_the interests of the Confederacy_. But we made no comment, and were +richly rewarded for our complacency. He not only gave us Christian +sympathy and counsel above all value, but on leaving sent us some +excellent books. When the first lot of books was finished--of which we +took the best of care, reading most of them aloud--we returned them, and +received others,--continuing the process of borrowing until we had +perused nearly the whole of the good man's library. Only those who know +what a terrible trial it is to pass day after day with no definite +employment, no company, and no means of diverting thought from one +never-ending round, can form any idea of the great boon thus bestowed +upon us. The Christian kindness and disinterested benevolence of this +minister will never be forgotten. But even these books were not +sufficient. I sold my vest--not expecting to live until cold +weather--and my pocket-book,--which my captors had left when they took +all its contents,--and with the proceeds the jailer bought me three +little books--all gems,--"Paradise Lost," "Pilgrim's Progress," and +Pollok's "Course of Time." These I deliberately set to work to memorize. +It was a pleasant and profitable employment, helping very much to +shorten those interminable days. + +Our room was of greater size than that in Chattanooga; the windows +larger, and our number reduced; yet the heat was fearfully oppressive. +One of the party, Mark Wood, was very sick. He had been prostrated with +fever for nearly a month, and at this time his life was despaired of. +This was not thought by the others to be any great misfortune to him, +and they accordingly administered consolation in a style worthy the best +of Job's friends. They would say, "Now, Wood, I wouldn't try to get +well, if I were in your place. They will only hang you if you do. Better +try to die and save them the trouble." Wood, however, did not relish +this counsel, and, becoming contrary, he recovered, "just for spite," as +he often declared. + +The black waiters of the prison were very friendly. They assisted us by +every means in their power, and seemed willing to take any personal risk +on our behalf. It was not long before they found that we desired few +things so much as to read the news, and they tasked their ingenuity to +gratify us. Newspapers were prohibited, as they had not been at +Knoxville. But the waiters would watch until the jailer or some of the +guard had finished reading a paper and laid it down, when they would +slyly purloin it, put it into the bottom of the pan in which our food +was brought, and thus hand it to us unsuspected. It had to be returned +in the same way to avoid suspicion. Our ministerial friend also, as he +acquired confidence in us, gave us reason to think that he was not so +much devoted to the Confederacy as his first prayer (made in hearing of +the guard) indicated. He asked permission of the jailer to give us some +old files of religious papers, and sent in a bundle weekly, or oftener. +They were acceptable, but their value greatly increased when we found +that an old religious paper might have a new daily folded carefully +inside! These acts of friendship were deeply grateful to us, and +lightened many a weary hour. + +One morning our jailer came to our door and asked if we knew John +Wollam. We were startled, and hesitated to answer. For three weeks we +had heard nothing of Wollam, and hoped that one member of our devoted +band had escaped. Now we knew that the jailer was in possession of some +news, and while we burned to hear it, we feared the possibility of doing +Wollam an injury by acknowledging the acquaintance. But while we +deliberated John himself came up, and put an end to our doubts by +greeting us heartily. The door was unlocked, and he entered. All the +survivors of our party were now together, as those who had been +separated from us at Chattanooga were put into our room immediately +after the execution of our comrades. Our number, including Captain Fry, +who remained in our room, was fifteen. + +The first thing in order, when left alone, was for John to tell us all +his adventures from the time he and Andrews had broken out of the +Chattanooga dungeon. He was fired upon while still suspended in the air +by the blankets upon which he was descending, but fortunately the hands +of the guards were too unsteady to inflict any injury. He succeeded in +getting safely to the ground, and then out of the prison-yard and +through the guard-line. + +In his efforts to escape Wollam displayed qualities which would have +done credit to an Indian. A few moments' running brought him down to the +river-side in advance of all pursuers. Finding no means of crossing, the +brilliant thought struck him of making his enemies believe he had +crossed. This idea was instantly acted on. He threw off his coat and +vest, dropping them on the bank of the river, and then walked a few rods +in the water to throw any hounds that might be following off his track. +He next slipped quietly back and hid in a dense thicket of canes and +rushes. He heard his pursuers on the bank above him, and all around, +talking of their various plans. At last they found the clothes, and at +once concluded that he had taken to the river. Accordingly they ferried +the blood-hounds to the other side, and searched for the place of his +exit from the water. As might be expected, the dogs were unable to find +that, and after a due time spent in consultation, the Confederates +concluded that he had been drowned and gave over the search. + +Wollam spent the day in great anxiety, but night gave him the +opportunity of leaving his hiding-place. He made his way cautiously down +the river on the Chattanooga side for some miles. At length he found a +canoe, in which he drifted down the stream by night, while hiding it and +himself in the bushes by day. On two occasions he would have been saved +if he had only known it. General Mitchel had captured a steamboat and +fitted it up as a cruiser, with which he patrolled the river as far as +his lines extended. In his night-voyaging Wollam passed this +extemporized gunboat twice, but fearing that it was some rebel craft, he +crept quietly by in the shadow of the shore without discovery. + +At length he felt sure that he was inside the Union lines, and beyond +the probable danger of capture, and therefore ventured boldly forward in +the daytime. This was a fatal mistake. The danger of capture is never so +great as in the debatable ground between two armies, where both exercise +their utmost vigilance. This boundary in most cases is also a shifting +one. It was so in this instance. A band of rebel cavalry on the shore +saw the lonely voyager, and, riding on ahead, procured a boat and came +out to meet him. He was unable to escape, and thus the poor fellow was +captured on the very brink of safety. As usual, he tried to persuade +them that he was a Confederate, but unfortunately a certain Lieutenant +Edwards, who had assisted in his previous capture, happened to be +present, and at once recognized him by his bold and reckless bearing. He +was then taken to join us at Atlanta. + +Our provisions here became worse and less, until the starvation point +was very nearly reached. Constant hunger was one of the torments of our +life. We only received a very small fragment of half-baked corn-bread, +without salt, and a morsel of pork,--the latter always spoiled, and +frequently covered with maggots. But none of it was wasted! Several had +very little appetite, because of malarial or intermittent fever. The +allowance of _such_ food was abundant for these, but the others ate all +that the sick spared. Many a Barmecide feast was spread by the +description of rich dainties that would be enjoyed if "at home" once +more; and what was even worse, the same banquets would be spread in +dreams, from which the tantalized sleepers awoke more hungry and +miserable than ever. I am not sure that the aching head and burning +fever were more painful than the constant pangs of unsatisfied hunger. +However, I need not linger over these details. In the mere matter of +starving I presume we suffered no more than thousands of our +fellow-soldiers in Andersonville and other prisons. Alfred Wilson, whose +iron constitution bore up well under all hardships, and whose appetite +was always good enough for all the rations of every kind he could get, +felt these privations most keenly. He says of the food that it was +"almost enough to convulse the stomach of a hungry dog. I have found by +experience, and I think I will be corroborated by all the men who have +been in rebel prisons and have suffered the protracted pangs of hunger +and starvation, that man, when forced to it, is as ravenous, reckless, +unreasonable, and brutish in his appetite as the lowest order of animal +creation." In other prisons, it was not uncommon for the inmates to +fight over their miserable allowance; but our common sympathy and +discipline were so strong that few disputes arose, and these were +quickly settled by the general voice. The religious influence that had +grown up in our midst also tended powerfully to prevent any +interference of the stronger with the rights of the weaker. + +Indeed, the completeness of our voluntary discipline and the systematic +manner in which we employed our time was little less than marvellous. To +sleep was always in order, when possible, but the disposal of waking +hours was not left to the will of each person. The only game permitted +was that of checkers or drafts, and over the rude board carved on the +floor eager players bent during all the hours allotted to amusement. +Then we had a couple of hours daily for debating, and discussed +questions of every kind. No little ingenuity and skill were thus +exercised. Often great political questions occupied our attention, and +evoked real and strong differences of opinion. Strange as it may seem, +there were but two of us--Buffum and myself--who avowed ourselves out +and out abolitionists. The name had not yet lost all its reproach, but +we held our own in argument, especially when we pointed out the natural +result of slavery in making men barbarous and inhuman even to whites, as +illustrated in our condition. _That_ argument never failed to give us +the advantage! + +We also set aside two hours in the forenoon and two in the afternoon for +reading. During this time not so much as a whisper was permitted, and +few schools have kept better discipline. Any one not wishing to read was +permitted to sleep or occupy himself in any quiet manner. Frequently +some one was selected to read aloud for a time, but this only took place +by general consent, that those who wished to read silently might be +undisturbed. The extraordinary character of these exercises will be +better appreciated when it is remembered that we had no "light reading," +but mainly theological works, with a few volumes of travels, biography, +and poetry,--just what the good minister's library could furnish, for we +read everything we could get. The Bible was not forgotten. When the +supply of books ran short, we resorted to our memories. All the +prominent incidents of our lives had been told in our terribly close +association, and we next began to repeat for the common benefit the +books we had read so far as we could remember them. One night about dark +I began to tell something about a weird book I had read a few months +previously. A few questions elicited fuller detail, and it was after +midnight before the story was finished. Buffum, especially, was so +deeply impressed that when released he took the earliest opportunity of +getting and reading the volume, but he gave me a great compliment by +saying that the original was not half so good as the copy. The changed +circumstances, perhaps, made a more natural, if less flattering, +explanation of his diminished interest. We also had our regular hours +for gymnastic exercise,--wrestling, boxing, acrobatic feats, etc. One of +our party, Hawkins, having once been connected with a circus, now +trained us in all the exercises that our enfeebled condition and close +quarters permitted. Much of the health and vigor that we retained during +so long an imprisonment was due to our systematic and diversified +employments. + +This careful division of time, and endeavor after constant employment, +was, doubtless, of great advantage, but it could not change the fact +that we were close prisoners in a stifling room, and far from our home. +Those summer days, as month after month glided away, were terribly long +and oppressive. The tediousness and vain longing for action pressed upon +us more and more closely. We fought the dreadful weight with all the +strength of our wills, but even will-power grew feebler. The engineer +Brown, who was one of the most restless of mortals, all nerve and fire +in action, capable of enduring tremendous hardship if it were only of an +active character, would pace the floor back and forth like a caged +tiger; when this, too, grew unendurable, he would stop at the door, +shake its woven iron bars till they rang again, and say in the most +piteous tones (of course, meant only for _us_ to hear), "Oh, kind sir, +please let me out! I want to go home!" The feeling he expressed was +shared by all. Never before could I realize the full value of liberty +and the horror of confinement. In previous prisons the novelty of our +situation, the frequent removals, the painful excitement of trials, +prevented the blank monotony of imprisonment from settling down upon us +as it did here, after the first few weeks of our stay in Atlanta rolled +by, and no whisper regarding our probable fate reached us. It was like +the stillness and death that brood over the Dead Sea! + +We would sit at the windows in the sultry noon and look out through the +bars at the free birds as they flew past, seemingly so full of joyous +life, and foolishly wish that we were birds, that we, too, might fly far +away and be free. + +At long intervals, two of us at a time would be permitted to go down +into the jail-yard to do some washing for ourselves and the party. This +great privilege came round to me at last. It was then three months since +I had stepped out of that prison room, and the unobscured vision of open +air and sky made it seem like another world. I remember looking up at +the snowy clouds, my eyes dazzled by the unusual light, and wondering, +as I gazed in admiration upon their beautiful and changing forms, +whether beyond them lay a world of rest in which there were neither wars +nor prisons. Oh, how I longed for freedom! to be where I could look up +at the sky every day and go where I wished! Yet with the thought came a +great fear. If I was ever removed from the pressure of immediate danger, +and allowed to mingle in the interests and cares of the thronging world, +might I not forget my prison-made vows and lose my claim to the world +beyond the clouds and stars? Such a sense of weakness and helplessness +came over me that I felt greatly relieved when, my task being done, I +was conducted back to the dark and narrow prison room, where the +contrast between freedom and bondage was less palpable! + +All this time we hardly permitted ourselves to indulge a hope of getting +home again. The friends we had known in happier days were separated from +us by an impassable gulf; and when fancy called round us the loved +scenes and friends at home, it was like treading upon forbidden ground. +But when the long day had dragged its hours away, when we were weary +with fighting against weariness, the night removed every restraint, and +for a few golden hours love and freedom were ours again. + +Often in dreams have I seen the streets and buildings of my own town +rise before me, and have felt a thrilling pleasure in contemplating each +feature of the landscape around as I wended my way in fancy towards the +old log cabin forever consecrated by affection. But the waking from such +dreams of earthly paradise was sad beyond measure. The evening hour, +when the burning heat had abated, and when we were settling to +rest,--though it was on the bare floor, and without even a stone like +that upon which Jacob pillowed his head,--was our happiest time. Then +prayer and song and more cheerful conversation prepared us for rest and +often for happy dreams. But the morning hours, when we wakened, hungry, +sore, unrefreshed, with no food but our miserable bit of vile bread and +spoiled meat, and a long day to look forward to,--these were always +dreary. After prayers, and our apology for a breakfast, we grew more +cheerful, and again took up the task of living. + +An anecdote here will fitly illustrate the affection and exaggerated +reverence felt for what we, to the great annoyance of the guards and +citizens, persisted in calling "God's country." I had been reading aloud +a sermon of Bishop Bascom's, from a book loaned us by our friend, the +minister. The topic was "The Joys of Heaven." All listened with delight +to his magnificent descriptions, but when the reading closed, engineer +Brown, who was of a matter-of-fact disposition, asked, "Now, candidly, +boys, would you rather be in heaven, safe from all harm, if it is as +good as the preacher says, or be in Cincinnati?" This roused a very +animated discussion, but at its conclusion, when we took a vote on the +subject, the majority decided, honestly, no doubt, that they would +rather be in Cincinnati,--for a while, at least! + +The expedients to which the tobacco-chewers of our party were driven to +obtain a supply of "the weed" were at once amusing and pathetic. They +were even more eager for it than for their food. They begged from the +negroes, jailer, guards, visitors,--anybody who could supply the valued +article. The little they got was husbanded with the utmost care. One +chewing was not sufficient. No "quids" were thrown away, but carefully +laid up, dried, and again used. When no more narcotic could be so +extracted, they were once more dried and smoked in cob pipes! + +When Andrews broke out of the Chattanooga jail, he gave Hawkins a large, +fine coat, which was too heavy to be carried. This was now sold to the +jailer, and the proceeds furnished quite a treat of provisions. + +We found some diversion in opening secret communication with every room +in the prison. Those on the opposite side of the entry were reached by +means of a small stick, which was shot from the crack under one door to +the corresponding crack under the other. Each door was double,--one +thickness of heavy wood, which was shut only at night, and precluded all +communication; the other of light iron bars. A string tied to the stick +pulled over any message we might desire to send. Between our room and +the other on the same side of the hall there was an unused chimney, into +which stove-pipes led on each side. By removing the elbows we could talk +through, but there was the danger of being overheard. To remedy that, a +long lath was forced off the side of our room in such a way that it +could be put back again when desired, and this was used in passing notes +back and forth through this concealed passage. This "telegraph" was very +useful when we afterwards undertook an escape. + +I can preserve no order of time in relating the events of these tedious +months, which slowly rolled away their ponderous length. It was an +almost perfect isolation from the world, with little hope of ever again +mingling in its busy currents. As each month closed, we were startled by +the thought that we were still alive,--that the thunderbolt had not yet +descended,--and we surmised and wondered how much longer it could be +delayed. At last a small ray of hope began to rise, very feeble at +first, and based only upon the incomprehensible reprieve we were +enjoying. As week after week glided away eventless--marked only by the +monotony that is more wearying to heart and brain than the most severe +anguish--this hope grew stronger; though it was so little assured that +the most trifling circumstance--such as the strengthening of the guard, +or the visit of an army official--was sufficient for the time to +overturn it. It was the 12th of June when we entered that room. It was +the 18th of October before we left it amid events of the most startling +character, which will form a fit topic for a new chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +LIBERTY OR DEATH? + + +One morning the guard brought up four Federal soldiers, who were shut up +in the front room. As soon as we were alone we resorted to our usual +method of telegraphing to learn who they were. To our great surprise and +pleasure we found that two of them--Coleman and Helbling--were of the +Tenth Wisconsin, a regiment of our own brigade. They gave us many most +interesting items of news,--among others, that our comrades had long +since given us up for dead, and were vowing vengeance on our behalf. +They were greatly surprised to find so many of us still alive. The other +two were of the regular army, who had been captured on the coast of +Florida. They remained with us until we were taken to Richmond long +after. From them we gained a complete detail of the movements of our +army since our departure. We were greatly grieved to find the military +situation far less favorable than it had been four months before. The +transfer of General Mitchel from Tennessee to the Atlantic coast we also +regarded as unfavorable to our interests. These soldiers were the means +shortly of leading us to a desperate resolution. + +We frequently talked and plotted about escape. This is the one topic +that prisoners never weary of. We long before resolved that if any +movement was made towards a court-martial, we would make one desperate +effort for life; for the result of the trials in the case of Andrews and +our poor comrades assured us that this formality would not be undertaken +for any other purpose than that of putting us to death, under a show of +law. After the lapse of a considerable time we had hopes that they +would not dispense with this ceremony, and that we would thus have +warning which might be useful. But many of our number--those especially +who were vigorous in health, and, therefore, were more ready for +action--wished to make the attempt at any rate. But time rolled on, and +the dreaded preparations for a trial were not made. Why we were left in +this uncertain condition for four months we could not tell. It might be +that, in the rush of military events, we were forgotten, or it might be +that the rebel authorities considered the hanging of eight men as +sufficient to show their estimate of the enormity of our crime. This +latter view grew upon the minds of some to such a degree that we boldly +resolved to test it, even if it did bring our fate more swiftly upon +us,--resolving that if our action should result in calling a +court-martial we would then break from our prison or die in the attempt. +Indeed, the scanty fare, the uncertainty, and the longing for liberty +had become so completely unendurable, that the prospects of perishing on +the bayonets of the guard had little terror. But our resolution was to +write a letter directly to Jefferson Davis, the President of the +Confederacy, reciting our case, and asking to be put on the footing of +prisoners of war. I acted as scribe, and used language as strong and yet +respectful as possible. While writing, the whole party gathered around, +and volunteered suggestions. Said Brown, "Be very humble to him, +Pittenger. We can take all back, if we get out." Buffum raised quite a +laugh by saying, "Tell him, Pittenger, that 'all we ask is to be let +alone.'" This was an extract from one of Jefferson Davis' own addresses. +But it did not go in the letter. The following is a copy of the +document, obtained from the Confederate archives: + + "ATLANTA JAIL, August 17, 1862. + "TO HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS, + "President Confederate States of America. + + "RESPECTED SIR,--We are United States soldiers regularly + detailed from our command to obey the orders of Andrews. He + was a stranger to us, and we ignorant of his design, but, of + course, we obeyed our officers. You are no doubt familiar with + all we did, or can find it recorded in the trial of our + comrades. Since then, Andrews himself and seven of us have been + executed, and fourteen survive. Is this not enough for + vengeance and for a warning to others? Would mercy in our case + be misplaced? We have already been closely confined for more + than four months. Will you not, sir, display a noble generosity + by putting us on the same footing as prisoners of war, and + permitting us to be exchanged, and thus show that in this + terrible war the South still feels the claim of mercy and + humanity? + + "If you will be so good as to grant this request we will ever + be grateful to you. + + "Please inform us of your decision as soon as convenient." + +Signed by all the survivors,--eight of the Twenty-first Ohio, one of the +Second, and five of the Thirty-third, all of Sill's brigade, Mitchel's +division. + +This paper was forwarded from one officer to another in an ascending +grade, and the indorsements on it, and the correspondence which +followed, shed much light upon the position and fortunes of our party. +But this light did not come to us until long after. + +The letter was marked (erroneously as to its address), as follows: + + "Petition from the survivors of Andrews' party, who took the + engine on the Georgia State Railroad in April last, to + Major-General Bragg, commanding Department No. 2." + +The first indorsement is that of Colonel Lee, provost-marshal at +Atlanta: + + "Respectfully forwarded to General Staughton. + "G. W. LEE, + "Commanding Post." + + "HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT NO. 2, + "CHATTANOOGA, August 21, 1862 + "ADJUTANT-GENERAL C. S. ARMY, Richmond, Va. + + "SIR,--I have the honor to inclose herewith the petition of W. + W. Brown and others, soldiers of the Twenty-first and Second + Ohio Regiments, U.S.A., and to request information in the + matter. I am, sir, very respectfully, + + "Your obedient servant, + "BRAXTON BRAGG, + "General Commanding." + +The next indorsement shows a favorable disposition--at least in part: + + [Indorsement.] + + "Respectfully submitted to the President. + + "I recommend that they be respited until further orders, and + detained as hostages for our own people in the hands of the + enemy. + + "G. W. RANDOLPH, + "Secretary of War." + +The Secretary of War seems to have had the impression that we had been +also tried, and that sentence of death was pending over us. Under such +circumstances a respite would have been a valuable boon. + +But President Davis is inflexible: + + [Indorsement.] + + "Secretary of War, inquire whether there is anything to justify + a discrimination between them and others who were executed for + the same offence. J. D." + +The inquiry thus ordered was at once begun: + + [Indorsement.] + + "Write to Major G. W. Lee, provost-marshal at Atlanta, and + inquire why fourteen of the engine thieves were respited while + the others were executed, and whether there is anything + distinguishing their case. + + "G. W. RANDOLPH, + "Secretary of War." + +Only the responses to these inquiries were preserved on file at +Richmond, and are now in Washington. They show the degree of confusion +and misunderstanding which prevailed at the rebel capital: + + "HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA, GA., Sept. 16, 1862. + "HON. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. + + "SIR,--Your communication of the 11th inst. is duly to hand. In + reply, I have respectfully to say that the arrest, + incarceration, trial, and execution of the prisoners you refer + to occurred before I took charge of this post by your order. I + found a number of prisoners on my arrival, and among them the + men named in the petition transmitted. + + "Inclosed I transmit the papers handed over to me by my + predecessor. Since the reception of your letter I have + endeavored to find Captain Foreacre, and ascertain something + more, explaining what I was not conversant with in the + transaction, but as his business takes him away from the city, + I have not as yet had an interview with him. I will still seek + occasion to find him, and give you all the information learned + from him. You will please find inclosed the names of the + engine-stealers and bridge-burners who are confined in the jail + of this city. It is entirely out of my power to answer you as + to 'why fourteen of the engine thieves were respited while the + others were executed, and whether or not there is anything to + justify a discrimination in their favor?' as I am not informed + in relation to the proceedings of the court-martial that tried + the men. + + "I am, sir, + "Respectfully your obt. servt., + "G. W. LEE, + "Commanding Post, and Provost-Marshal." + +The inclosures consist of the seven death-sentences, one of which has +already been given, and the following lists, which show a number of +glaring errors. According to the first we had all been court-martialled, +but only the seven sentenced. The second is wrong in the placing of +several names. The manner in which the word "spies" is interlined in the +"charges" of the first list is also suggestive. + + _"List of Prisoners sent to Atlanta, Ga., June 13, 1862, from + Knoxville, Tenn., by command of Major-General E. Kirby Smith:_ + + + Names. Residence. Charges: + Spies, + 1. Wilson Brown Ohio. Court- and Engine + martialled sentenced. stealing. + 2. Marion Ross " " " " + 3. W. H. Campbell " " " " + 4. John Scott " " " " + 5. Perry G. Shadrach " " " " + 6. G. D. Wilson " " " " + 7. Samuel Slavens " " " " + 8. S. Robinson " " " " + 9. E. H. Mason " " " + 10. Wm. Knight " " " + 11. Robt. Buffins " " " + 12. Wm. Pettinger " " " + 13. Captain David Fry Green Co., Tenn. Bridge-burning and + recruiting for Federal + army. + 14. G. W. Barlow Washington Co., Tenn. Obstructing railroad + track. + 15. Thos. McCoy Morgan Co., " } + } Prisoners of war-- + } Federal soldiers. + Peter Pierce Campbell Co., " } + John Barker Estill Co., " } + Bennet Powers Lincoln Co., " } + + Names. Residence. Charges: + Political prisoners. + Ransom White Morgan Co., Tenn. } Citizen aiding the enemy. + John Walls Blount Co., " } Trying to go to Kentucky. + John Green Union Co., " } Rebellion. + John Thompkins Washington Co.," } " + Henry Miller Sullivan Co., " } Suspected as a spy. + William Thompson Arrested at Bristol " + + "Respectfully submitted by order. + "WM. M. CHURCHWELL, + "Colonel, and Provost-Marshal." + + "_List of Prisoners in Atlanta City Jail, September 16, 1862._ + + ENGINE-STEALERS. + + M. J. Hawkins, W. Reddick, + J. Parrott, D. A. Dorsey, + W. Bensinger, J. K. Porter, + A. Wilson, M. Wood, + E. H. Mason, W. W. Brown, + W. Knight, R. Bufman, + W. Pettinger, David Fry, + J. J. Barker. + + BRIDGE-BURNERS. + + T. McCoy, P. Pierce, + B. Powers, Jno. Walls, + Jno. Green, R. White, + H. Mills, J. Tompkins, + G. D. Barlow, Jno. Wollam." + +The next day Provost-Marshal Lee wrote again as follows: + + "HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA, GA., + "September 17, 1862. + "HON. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. + + "SIR,--I respectfully forward to you hereby all that I have + been enabled to obtain from my predecessor, Captain Foreacre. + + "The documents relating to the cases, so far as I know anything + about them, were forwarded to you on yesterday. + + "I am, sir, very respectfully, + "Your obedient servant, + "G. W. LEE, + "Commanding Post, and Provost-Marshal." + +The following letter, inclosed from Captain Foreacre, is wrong in saying +that some of the party had been tried but not sentenced. Yet this was +the obvious belief of the Confederate authorities: + + "ATLANTA, GA., September 16, 1862. + "HON. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. + + "DEAR SIR,--Your letter of September 11, 1862, to Major Lee, + provost-marshal, has been shown me by him, and, as far as I am + acquainted with the matter, General Smith only sent from + Knoxville instructions and orders to have seven of them hung, + which was promptly attended to by myself. + + "The remaining fourteen were reported to this office only for + safe-keeping,--some having been tried, but not sentenced, and + others not tried. The only office which can properly answer + your inquiry is that of Major-General E. K. Smith. + + "I have the honor to remain, + "Your obedient servant, + "G. I. FOREACRE." + +No record of any further inquiry remains. Whether the matter was there +dropped, or orders issued for opening the whole question by a +court-martial, remains uncertain. But these documents make it almost +certain that all the party, or at least the twelve who were sent to +Knoxville, were destined to be tried and condemned; that at the abrupt +breaking up of the court, no record was put on file of the cause of the +interruption; and that the authorities at Atlanta and Richmond expected +the court at Knoxville, which they assumed to have finished its work, to +give orders for our disposal. That court never reconvened. Its members +were dispersed all over the South. The commanding general, E. Kirby +Smith, was transferred to a distant department. We were forgotten, and +thus the strange respite we enjoyed is explained. But would it continue? + +Some of the Confederate officers had formed a theory of their own to +account for the death of seven of our number and the sparing of the +remainder. They assumed that those put to death were volunteers, while +the others were detailed by their officers. But there were no grounds +for such a supposition. + +While this correspondence was in progress, Colonel Lee came to our door +one day, and had a long talk with us about our expedition and prison +experiences. He finally told us of receiving a letter from the +Secretary of War at Richmond asking why we had not all been executed! +He asked us the reason, and one of the party, who had not totally +forgotten his experience of duplicity in the early part of our +enterprise, said that it had been thought that there were some +mitigating circumstances in our case. The marshal said that he could +give no reason, but had referred the Secretary to the court-martial at +Knoxville, and that he was now awaiting orders concerning us. On our +request he promised to visit us again when he should receive an answer +from Richmond. We told him of the manner in which our comrades had been +put to death without warning. He admitted the wrong, but disclaimed +responsibility for it, as it occurred before he came into command. + +We waited anxiously for his return for several days, but waited in vain. +It was urged that we had heard enough already, and that now, if ever, we +ought to strike for life. But I was of another opinion. The enterprise +of escaping was of enormous difficulty, and success, at the best, +doubtful. I did not think that, in our enfeebled condition, after six +months of terrible hardship and partial starvation, we were the men we +had been. It was my judgment that nothing but the certainty of death on +the one hand could give the necessary vigor, spring, and desperation to +command success on the other. Despair might nerve us to throw ourselves +with resistless fury on the bayonets of the guards, but this fury would +come only when the last hope was dead. My reasoning prevailed, and we +waited a little longer. + +But evidence came soon that ended hesitation. More of the guard was kept +on duty at once, and greater vigilance was everywhere apparent. We +fancied that the old jailer regarded us with unusual compassion. But +through the stove-pipe, from our friends in the other room, came the +decisive information. The prisoners there saw the provost-marshal ride +up to the gate, have the jailer called out, and heard him give orders +to watch those engine-thieves closely, as he had been notified that a +court was ordered for their trial. The same evening the jailer said to +them that he was very sorry for the poor Yankees in the other room, for +every man of them would be hung! This word was conveyed to us, and +longer doubt would have been folly. + +We were now ready for the emergency, and had fully discussed and settled +our plans. We were in the upper story of the jail. Our room was entered +by a double door,--one of heavy plank, and one of iron slats. If this +was opened, we would only be in the entry, and would have still to go +down-stairs into a hall and pass another door before we could gain the +jail-yard. This, in turn, was surrounded by a board fence eight or ten +feet high, and having but a single gate, which was usually closed. Seven +fully-armed soldiers were constantly on guard, with an unknown reserve +close at hand. We could depend on help from no one of the prisoners +except Captain Fry, so that we were but fifteen, and even two or three +of these were too sick to be of great value in a fight. Then we were in +the skirts of the town, fully a mile from the nearest woods. One +advantage, and the only one on which I relied, was that of surprise. We +knew what we were to do, and the strong motive that impelled it. + +All plans looking to sawing out and swinging to the ground at night, as +in Chattanooga, had been canvassed and rejected. What we meant to do was +to break out in open daylight and overpower the guards. The most +favorable time was when the doors were opened for bringing in our +supper, which was a little before sundown, as by starting then we would +soon have the cover of darkness. It was arranged to seize the jailer +when he came to remove the pans in which our supper was brought, and to +keep him perfectly quiet while all the doors were being unlocked, for we +wished to release all the other prisoners. At the same moment the other +members of the party, divided into two squads, were to cautiously +descend the stairway, pounce upon the guards, and take their guns from +them. If this was done in _perfect quiet_, the guards were to be locked +up, and we, taking their arms, would march out on our homeward journey. +As soon as discovered we were to break into parties of two and strike +out for Union territory by widely-diverging lines. + +All our plans were completed. We had patched our clothes as well as +possible, and made cloth moccasins to protect our feet, many of our +shoes being worn out. We only waited the coming of the appointed hour. + +Slowly the sun sunk down the west; slowly the shadows lengthened in the +east, till the gloomy shade of the jail had nearly reached the crest of +the hill that usually marked our supper-time. We bade each other a +solemn farewell, for we knew not if we should ever meet again on earth, +or how many of us might be cold and lifeless before the stars shone out. +We prayed fervently, though we dared not kneel or speak aloud. Captain +Fry, who was tender-hearted as a child, wept at the parting. He had two +large coats, and as he could not take both with him in the expected +rush, he generously gave one to me. I needed it extremely, for I was +very nearly destitute of clothing. He and I were to be companions, +according to a previous arrangement. + +Everything was put in readiness. I had carefully piled in a corner such +of the books belonging to the minister as we still retained, and had +written him a note of thanks for them. Anything that could be used as a +weapon was now put within reach. + +At last the supper-hour came. We could not afford to lose a morsel of +the scanty food, and ate it in silence. The jailer was not accustomed to +come into the room, but merely opened the door and admitted the negroes +who bore the pans filled with corn-bread. Old Thoer, the watchman whom +everybody hated, was fortunately away. It was well, or he might have +suffered. Turner we respected, and were determined not to injure if we +could help it. After the jailer had given their food to the inmates of +the other rooms he came back to ours and swung open the creaking door to +remove the food-pans. This was the signal. + +It was a thrilling moment! On the action of the next few seconds +hung the issues of life or death. I confess that for one instant +the blood flowed to my heart with a sharp, piercing throb, and +there came a sudden and terrible fear lest the fever-weakened body +would not in this crisis obey the dictates of will. But this ceased +before the door had swung wide enough open to admit the passage of a +man. The others were pale but determined, and a single glance told me +that there would be no faltering. As for Captain Fry, who was to +initiate the movement,--supported by myself,--and whom I had seen +weeping a few minutes before, he was perfectly calm, and his face wore +a pleasant smile! As soon as the door had swung far enough he stepped +adroitly through it as if this were the most natural thing in the world, +and said, very quietly,-- + +"A pleasant evening, Mr. Turner." + +"Yes,--rather--pleasant," responded the jailer, looking bewildered by +this movement, as he no doubt was. + +"We feel like taking a little walk this evening," continued the captain, +while the door was forced clear back, and three of us stood abreast in +it ready to spring. + +The astonishment of the jailer now knew no bounds. "What?--how?--where?" +he gasped, in broken ejaculations. + +Fry's countenance grew darker as he clasped the old man in his arms, and +said,-- + +"We have stayed as long as we can stand it, and are now going to leave +and let the other prisoners out; so give up the keys, and make no +noise about it, or it will be the worse for you!" + +[Illustration: LIBERTY OR DEATH. +Page 255.] + +Turner tightened his grasp on the keys, whispered, hoarsely, "You can't +do that," then threw himself back and began in a loud tone, "Guar--" +when my hand closed across his mouth and stifled the incipient call for +help. He bit my finger, but did no great damage. + +Then came the rush of the prisoners,--quick, stealthy, cat-like. Not a +sound was audible a dozen yards away. The negroes huddled in a corner of +the room in stupid fright, but had sense enough to be quiet. Turner +struggled violently, for he was a man of great strength, but Fry and I +kept him mute; the keys were twisted from him, and Buffum was soon at +work on the locks of the other doors. Quietly the assaulting column +descended the stairway and burst out upon the guards outside. If they +committed a fault, it was in being too quick. In one minute Buffum would +have had the other doors unlocked, and then, throwing aside the disarmed +jailer, Fry, Buffum, and myself, reinforced by all the prisoners who +chose to go with us, would have stood by their side in the second +charge. This trifling circumstance did make a considerable difference in +the result,--at least, to some of us. + +Seven sentinels were on duty,--three in the back yard, four in the front +yard. The charge upon the former was completely successful, their guns +being wrested from them before they knew their danger, and they were +kept perfectly quiet under the threat--which would have been +executed--of instant death. + +The attack in the front yard was made with equal gallantry and skill, +but not with equal success. Two rebels stood near the front door of the +prison, and these were secured in the same manner as their comrades at +the rear, and held in silence. Had the remaining two been close at hand, +I have no doubt they would have fared as their comrades, and thus the +unparalleled feat of twelve unarmed prisoners taking the loaded muskets +from seven guards on their post would have been accomplished. But, +unfortunately, the last two stood at the open gate. Their conduct was +not brave but it was wise, for, without firing a shot, they ran out +through the gate, screaming the alarm in tones that roused the whole +neighborhood. The reserve guard was close at hand, and at once rushed to +the rescue. + +The whole action, from the time Fry stepped out of the door until the +wild cry was raised at the gate, was probably less than sixty seconds. +Fry and myself were preparing to secure the jailer, for we knew not yet +that the attack was made. Buffum had opened two doors, and was working +at the third when the wild, thrilling cry of alarm arose from below. +Those within adjured him to open, and the brave man, though his own +chances of life were lessening each second, worked till the door opened, +and then violently flung it wide, with an impatient "_there!_" while he +bounded down the stairway like a hunted deer. + +All secrecy was at an end, and the only remaining hope was in headlong +flight. Our comrades in the yard saw their peril, and were in a little +better position than those of us who were still inside the jail. They +let go their terrified enemies, flung away the guns, which now could +only impede their flight, and, scaling the board fence, made for the +woods nearly a mile away. Even for the foremost of them it was a fearful +race. Rebel bullets whistled around their ears, but none of them was +hit. Indeed, I am inclined to think that it was a fortunate thing for +our comrades that the rebels had guns to carry, and stopped to fire +whenever they came near a fugitive. Otherwise hundreds of fresh, +vigorous soldiers--for there were soon hundreds on the scene--could have +run down a dozen half-starved prisoners. + +Fry and myself started down-stairs together as soon as Buffum had opened +the last door,--only a moment after the alarm had been given, but +moments were more precious then than common months. The captain was a +little in advance. His eagle eye took in the situation, as in two leaps +he cleared the stairway. He saw there was no chance in the front yard, +now filled with armed rebels, and darted to the back door, found a +passage to the yard fence, scaled it just before a complete guard was +stretched around the prison, was fired at on the fence, but descended in +safety, and run in a different direction from the other fugitives. +Finally, a soldier levelled his musket at him, and he fell. One of our +own men who saw this, and no more, reported that he was killed, and we +long mourned the brave man as dead. But this was only a stratagem to +gain his breath for a moment. His pursuers turned towards other game, +and he rose, and, after a second hard chase, gained the cover of the +woods. Thirty days after he had reached Nashville in safety. + +I was to have been his companion, according to the allotment we made +before leaving the prison, and our boys almost envied me the advantage +of being with so experienced a mountain traveller. But a moment's +misfortune made this advantage unavailing, and doomed me to further +sufferings. My eyes have always been defective, and especially sensitive +to sudden variations of light. When I came from the dark prison room +(the hall was equally dark) into full light, for a moment I could see +nothing distinctly. I lost sight of Fry. It would not do to stand still, +and I rushed for the prison-gate. Many a time defective vision has been +a source of annoyance and vexation, but never so much as then. Before +getting to the gate I could see better, and was confronted by two +soldiers, who were tossing their guns about in a distracted manner, and +crying, "What shall we do? Oh, what shall we do?" They did not look +dangerous, and I ran by; but just in the gate I met a stream of fresh +guards coming on the run. Of course they halted me, and equally, of +course, I did not halt, but turned back towards the jail. There were +other guards around, one of whom snapped his gun at me when not two +yards away. I eluded them, got into the jail again, and out at the back +door. This time I reached the top of the yard fence, but a dozen muskets +were lifted from the outside to fire. To jump down on that side was +inevitable death. One chance only remained. Possibly the gate now was +not watched! I sprang back into the yard, and other guards were after +me. The prison-door was open, and I entered, seeking to pass through it +as before, and get outside the gate for a clear race. But the front door +was now guarded also, and, as I turned, I found my pursuers in the back +door. I was fairly trapped,--back in the prison again! It was a terrible +situation. If I could crush between the two men who stood with loaded +muskets in the door, their comrades were outside, and it was simply +death to attack them. In sheer desperation, I turned my back upon them, +not caring whether they fired or not, and walked up-stairs to a window, +from which I could see something of the fearful race still going on, and +note the streams of troops pouring towards the prison. My guards pointed +their guns at me, but did not offer to come near, and when I walked from +the hall window into a room,--not our own, but another which commanded a +better view,--I found in it the four Federal soldiers, its former +occupants, who had made no attempt to get away, the alarm and the rapid +firing which followed convincing them that it was safer to remain where +they were. + +Parrott and Reddick were recaptured inside the wall, like myself. Buffum +got over the wall about the same time as Captain Fry, but was less +fortunate. A soldier singled him out, and squarely ran him down. When +hardly able to drag another step, and with the inexorable armed runner +within a rod of him, Buffum tried a "Yankee trick." (He was a native of +Massachusetts.) Sinking down exhausted, he said, "I surrender. You can +go on and get that other fellow," pointing to one a few rods away. +"No," answered the man, with a great oath, "I've got _you_, and I mean +to _keep_ you." So he stood with his gun aimed until some of his +comrades arrived, and poor Buffum was marched back to jail. Had the man +taken his advice, and looked for a bird in the bush, the one in hand +would doubtless have flown. Mason and Bensinger were also captured +outside of the wall, making a recapture of six and an escape of nine,--a +better result than I had supposed probable when we planned the attempt. + +From the window of the front room where I then was I had a good view of +the proceedings below. In a short time a large body of troops, including +a regiment of cavalry, were drawn up in front of the jail. I heard +Colonel Lee give his orders. He said, "Don't take one of the villains +alive. Shoot them down wherever you find them," with many similar +expressions, which were possibly meant for the benefit of those inside +the prison as well as for the troops. He also ordered pickets to be +placed at the ferries of the Chattahoochee, along the railroad, and also +at all cross-roads,--an arrangement that pleased me, for we had agreed +to avoid those very places. Our intention had been to travel in the +night-time through the woods, and to cross the rivers on logs as far +from ferries as possible. + +Hearing some confused sounds of distress from the room of the +Tennesseeans, I inquired the cause, and learned that a young man, named +Barlow, who alone of their number had attempted to escape, had broken +his ankle. This injury was received in jumping from the outside fence. +He was driven back to the prison room, where surgical aid was refused, +and he finally died after great suffering. + +Of all who were up-stairs at the time the alarm was given, only Fry and +one other man succeeded in escaping. The latter was a deserter from the +rebel army, and being very active and fleet, reached the shelter of the +woods in advance of all the fugitives. + +From the window I could hear the guards, all night long, talking over +their adventures. Generally they praised their own bravery liberally, +but occasionally some one who had arrived later would suggest that it +was not much to their credit to let unarmed men snatch their guns from +them; but such suggestions were not kindly received, and the work of +self-glorification went on. One of them expressed astonishment at the +speed of the Yankees, who had been so long kept in jail; another +accounted for it by the abundant practice in running Yankee soldiers had +received in battle! + +All night long I lay in a hammock which one of the regular soldiers had +swung by the window, but now kindly resigned to me, and listened to the +boastful conversation below. + + "Sadly I thought of the morrow." + +There was little reason to doubt that full vengeance would be dealt to +each man who remained in the enemy's power. The news we had received, +and which we had agreed in crediting, was the end of all hope. Death, +which had stared us in the face so often, could not be far distant now. +Another escape would scarcely be left by the aroused vigilance of the +enemy within the realms of possibility. And such a death! No vision of +glory to dazzle the sight, and hide the grim monster from view, or +wreathe him in flowers. No eye of friends to behold the last struggle. +No sympathy,--nothing but ignominy and an impenetrable darkness, beyond +which no loving eye might ever pierce! But even as the cold horror of +the scaffold, and the vision of the heartless, jeering crowd rose +freshly before me, I looked out in the clear night, and up to the +shining stars, and remembered that I had one Friend,--a Friend who would +not fear to stand with me on the scaffold, and who had Himself tasted +the bitterness of a public execution. Was it for me he had died,--to +show me that no outward shame is too great to be borne by the true +heart? With the thought came a still and heavenly peace, while my hope, +finding no place on this side, overleaped the darkness of death and +dwelt upon the scenes of promised happiness beyond. It is in such hours +that the value and supporting power of religion is fully realized. + +The next morning the jailer put me back into the room formerly occupied. +When all had gathered, we were only six in number,--Mason, Buffum, +Bensinger, Reddick, Parrott, and myself. We had enough to talk over for +many hours. The jailer, too, had his story to tell. He said that some +man put his hand over his mouth and nearly smothered him, but added, +with great satisfaction, "I bit his finger terribly, and gave the rascal +a mark he will carry to the grave with him." However, though he did bite +hard, his teeth were not so sharp as he thought, and he had only managed +to inflict a slight bruise. I kept my hand out of sight in his presence +for a day or two, and he had no idea that I was the person of whom he +complained, as his fright prevented his clearly distinguishing anything. +He was rather cross for a while, and always brought up the guards when +he came to feed us. + +About the middle of the day some officers came to see us, and talked +very roughly. With many threats, they demanded to know what direction +our comrades had intended to travel. I was glad of this, as it assured +me that some were still at large. They professed to have killed several, +and declared that they meant to kill the others as fast as they were +taken. In answer to their demand I told them the truth, as I thought +that would do them as little good as anything else. I said,-- + +"They intend to try to get to the Union lines; and they said that it +made little difference which way they went, for our forces have you so +completely surrounded, that travelling in _any_ course will do equally +well." + +Being unable to get anything more definite, they retired. + +Not until our own release did we learn with certainty the fate of our +eight comrades. Nothing in this whole story seems more wonderful than +their adventures and ultimate success. Two went South, two West, and +four others, in two groups, went Northward. To recite the adventures of +all would detain us too long, but the reader will expect some account. +We will give two of the four narratives in some detail, and the others +more briefly. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ROMANTIC ESCAPES. + + +J. R. Porter and John Wollam kept in company when they ran for the +woods. The latter will be remembered as having previously escaped from +Chattanooga in company with Andrews, and eluded his pursuers for a long +time. + +It was October 16 when they started, and they reached the Federal lines +at Corinth, Mississippi, November 18, being thus two days over a month +on the way. They endured the greatest hardships. When in wooded country +they travelled both night and day, subsisting on wild grapes, chestnuts, +hickory-nuts, walnuts, and some few sweet potatoes. In a few instances +they got a little morsel of corn-bread from some negroes. This was not +always a gift. Several times they slipped into the fields where the +negroes were at work and stole their scanty dinners. Necessity knew no +law. For one whole week they had no bread, nor any other food, except +the nuts gathered in the woods. + +Their sufferings with cold were also very great, as their clothes were +light and almost worn out, and the nights very chill. Twice only they +slept in houses. One night they travelled till they were chilled and +weary, and almost perishing with cold, when they fortunately discovered +a nest of hogs. It was no time to be choice; so routing out the inmates, +they took possession of the warm bed, and slept soundly till morning! + +They found many streams on the way, which they were obliged to wade, or +float across on logs. Porter was a man of clear religious faith and +great constancy, while Wollam was full of resources, though somewhat +reckless. He longed for the Tennessee River, down which he had floated +alone once before, and somewhere on which he knew Federal troops were to +be found. It was twenty-two days, however, before this stream was +reached, at a point forty miles west of Chattanooga. The worst of their +trials were now over. They pressed a canoe into the service, and used it +as Wollam had done before, paddling and floating down stream at night, +and hiding it and themselves, in the most secret place they could find, +during the day. Two persons under such circumstances have great +advantages over a solitary traveller. Not only does companionship assist +in keeping hope alive in each breast, but one can watch while the other +rests, and thus their resources are husbanded. The voyagers met with no +remarkable adventures until they reached the head of Muscle Shoals, +which they could not pass on account of low water. Abandoning their +canoe here, they made a circuit of forty miles by land, and came back to +the river below the Shoals. Here they "borrowed" a skiff, and continued +their journey until within twelve miles of Pittsburg Landing, where they +finally left the river. Twelve miles of travel brought them to +Corinth,--a post occupied by Union troops,--where they were received +with all the welcome that could be given to comrades long considered +dead. They had passed over three hundred miles in a straight +line,--probably double that distance by reason of the circuits they +made, and this without assistance, and while shunning all about them as +foes. + +Engineer Brown, W. J. Knight, and E. H. Mason were thrown together in +the hurry of escape, although only the former two had intended to travel +in company. Mason's intended comrade was recaptured. Dorsey and Hawkins +were also, at first, in the same squad. The first night, while hiding in +the woods, Mason became very sick, and for two days remained within a +short distance of Atlanta. This was very dangerous, and he finally told +Brown and Knight to leave him and make good their own escape. This the +heroic boys refused to do, but, on the contrary, took him to a house, as +he was growing rapidly worse. They were well received, and given some +food in the kitchen. Just as they had finished it, three men, who had +probably seen their arrival, came in at the front door to arrest them. +This was an almost unique incident in the history of our +expedition,--the attempt to arrest any members of the party without +having an overwhelming superiority in numbers,--and, as might have been +expected, it miscarried. Our comrades did not deny being escaped +prisoners, but when told that they must surrender and go back to +Atlanta, Brown, who hardly knew the meaning of fear, gave in his soft, +silvery voice the very decided reply, "No, we won't; now see if we do," +and with Knight sprang through the back door. There was no alternative +but to abandon Mason; but the other two were the strongest and most +agile of our number,--had always been our leaders in all athletic +sports, and were able to give a good account of themselves either in a +race or fight. They ran round the end of the house and then struck +towards a piece of woods half a mile away, keeping under the shelter of +a fence which extended towards the woods. The Confederates ran out at +the front door with their shot-guns just as the fugitives were flying +along the fence. Not wishing to try a foot-race, the former mounted +their horses and galloped out from the house down a lane that led to +the main road, attempting thus to head them off, while the owner of the +house where they had stayed unloosed his pack of hounds, which were soon +on the trail in full cry. The fugitives changed their course to avoid +the chance of a shot from the road, and to keep at right angles with it. +Before the woodland could be reached, the dogs closed in upon them, and +the struggle which followed was short and decisive. Brown and Knight, +seeing the dogs gaining upon them, selected a place where loose stones +were abundant, and gave their barking foes a reception which must have +astonished them. Stones weighing a pound or more, hurled at close +quarters by the strong arms of desperate men, are not to be despised by +the most savage of blood-hounds. The whole pack were soon crippled or +driven into hasty flight. + +[Illustration: LIEUTENANT WILSON W. BROWN +(Union Engineer.) Page 264.] + +But by this time the horsemen were near, and our hunted comrades were +obliged to run again at full speed, changing their course, with the +purpose of eluding their armed pursuers. They got into some brushwood, +and by "seesawing and tacking" hoped to get out of sight of the +horsemen. But the dogs still followed the trail, though they dared not +come near, and the brave pair would no doubt have been run down in time, +by the aid of dogs and horses, had they not found a little creek, in +which they waded long enough to throw the dogs off the scent; then the +expanse of timber about the creek soon hid them from their human foes. + +That day they reached Stone Mountain, about eighteen miles east of +Atlanta, and afterwards travelled only at night, due north, with the +North Star for their guide. From their daytime hiding-places they +frequently saw parties of patrollers, but were never discovered. + +Mason was taken without resistance and sent back to Atlanta, where he +joined us, being the sixth and last man recaptured. + +Brown and Knight did not venture again to a house, and suffered greatly +for want of food. From the house they had left so precipitately they +travelled six days with nothing to eat save what the woods furnished. +They even chewed brush to appease the gnawings of hunger. On the seventh +day they obtained a great feast by catching a goose, which they ate raw, +and also procured a little of the corn left in a field by the huskers. +Two days after, they found a tree of apples, very poor, but precious to +them, and, after having devoured as many as they could, carried a supply +with them. Before night, however, they had still better fortune. They +discovered a drove of half-grown pigs. To get one was not easy, but +these men were not readily baffled. Their plan was soon laid: Knight hid +behind a tree with a club, while Brown tolled a confiding member of the +drove by biting off bits of apple and throwing towards him. He backed +past the tree where Knight was concealed, and when the pig in following +came near enough, the latter felled it with one powerful blow, and they +bore it away in triumph. That night they found a burnt brush-heap, and, +as some of the coals were not extinct, they made a fire and feasted on +roast pig. They carried off what they could not eat, and it took the +edge from famine for a long while. + +When ten days out they crossed the Chattahoochee on a raft made of rails +tied together with bark. At length they came into the mountains, where +travel at night for famishing men was intolerably difficult. But, though +they knew it not, they were near friends. The border country between +Tennessee and North Carolina was always predominantly loyal. Accident +led to the discovery of those who were glad to give them help. In +crossing an old clearing, which seemed deserted, they came out +unexpectedly in front of a lonely looking log house, where two men stood +on the porch. Brown and Knight were so hungry that they resolved to take +the risk of asking for dinner. As there were only two men, they thought +they could not be arrested, especially if they first got something to +eat. They pretended to be rebel soldiers, who had been sick and were +now trying to get back to their regiments. The mistress of the house +gave them food, but eyed them closely, and soon accused them of being +"Yankees." Denial was useless, and they "soon found each other out." +These Union people put them on the Southern branch of the Underground +Railroad, and they arrived at Somerset, Kentucky, on the 25th of +November,--a month and nine days after leaving Atlanta. + +The course of the next pair, Dorsey and Hawkins, was also northward, and +in nearly the same track. In the early part it presents marked +peculiarities, especially in the fact that much help was obtained from +the negroes. These sympathized with all fugitives on general principles, +and still more when the fugitives were Union soldiers. The latter part +of this narrative passes over the same ground as the former. It is a +trifling but noticeable coincidence that four of the eight who escaped +came to the town of Somerset, Kentucky, and two others to the ship +"Somerset." + +Dorsey shall tell his own story, with a few abridgments. He hurt his +ankle in the first terrible run, and this caused him great suffering. He +also met a countryman just before reaching the woods, but having armed +himself with a large stone in each hand, and looking dangerous, he was +not stopped. The rapid firing of the enemy led him to believe that many +of our number were killed. We take up his story at the entrance of the +forest. The first touch is very graphic. + + "Passing a little way into the woods, I found Brown and Knight + leaning against a tree, gasping for breath. I leaned against + the same tree. None of us could speak. I thought for a moment + or two that each breath would be my last. As we recovered a + little, one gasped, 'Guess we'd better go, boys.' On we went, + but not so fast as before, for none of our pursuers were now in + sight. We were soon joined by Hawkins, Mason, and the escaped + deserter, so that we were six in all. We lay in an open field + that night, judging it to be safer than the woods, and huddled + together as a partial protection from the cold. All night long + we heard the baying of the hounds and the frequent discharge + of firearms. The distance from which these sounds came + indicated that the pursuers were beyond us, and that our best + chance was in hiding and allowing them to pass still farther + ahead. The next day we were fortunate enough to discover some + luscious wild grapes, which we devoured with the greatest + relish. Our mouths afterwards were very sore, and the grapes + may possibly have been the cause of the injury. The same day we + were surprised by some citizens with shot-guns, but outran them + and escaped. + + "Brown, Mason, and Knight left us, the latter being sick. The + deserter continued with us a day longer. He then wished to + visit a house for food, but we, though very hungry, did not + think it advisable, and parted with all good wishes. I have + heard that he got safely to Washington, D. C., but, returning + to his home in Northern Georgia, was arrested and executed as a + deserter from the Confederate army, into which he had been + conscripted at first. + + "On the fourth day out we met two of our pursuers, who were + apparently coming back discouraged, but easily eluded them by + hiding under some bushes. We now began to travel more rapidly, + hiding by day and continuing on our way by night, directed by + the stars, which Hawkins understood very well. + + "On the eighth day out we came to the ferry of the + Chattahoochee River, far to the northeast of Atlanta. We took + rails from a neighboring fence, and began to build a raft, when + we observed a lighted torch approaching the opposite side of + the river. When it came nearer we saw that the party + accompanying it were negroes, two in number, with four dogs. + Hawkins, who had spent some years in the South, and understood + the disposition of the negroes, felt disposed to trust them. + Accordingly, we asked them to ferry us over, which they readily + did, we giving them a little tobacco we had, and which we could + not use because of our sore mouths. They professed themselves + Unionists, and we told them that we were Union soldiers. The + fact of belonging to the railroad party we did not disclose + until we were within the Union lines. One went for provisions, + while the other remained with us, as if to allay any suspicions + we might entertain. They told us that we were forty-eight miles + northeast of Atlanta, in the region of deserted gold-mines, and + proposed to hide us in one of those mines, supply us with + quilts and provisions until we were well rested, and then + direct us on our northward way. It would probably have been + better to have accepted their kind offer, which I think Hawkins + wished to do, but I had some fear; so we declined. + + "The one who had gone for provisions returned with a goodly + supply of boiled pork and beans, mashed Irish potatoes, sweet + potatoes, and corn-bread. What a feast! It was the first food + worthy the name we had eaten for six long months! We did it + ample justice, and what was left carried away with us. Our + African friends also gave us a piece of a broken butcher-knife, + that was of great service. They also gave us invaluable + directions, telling us where the rebel troops lay, and where we + could find a colored slave, who would ferry us over the + Hiawassee (which runs down from North Carolina into the + Tennessee), as they had done over the Chattahoochee. We assured + them that they would soon be free, and parted with a mutual + 'God bless you!' + + "With thankful hearts we pressed on, made a good night's + journey, and then laid by until evening of the next day. Seeing + a house on the edge of the woods, we watched it until assured + that only an old man and woman were there, when we went boldly + up to it and asked for supper, which was given with some + reluctance. + + "Early in the evening journey we came to a small stream, and + attempting to cross on a fallen tree, I fell into the water, + and was thoroughly soaked. From this cause I suffered greatly + with cold. Some hours after we came to a barn, the mows of + which were filled with corn-blades. We were glad to bury + ourselves out of sight in the fodder, where we grew warm, and + slept all day. It was comfortable, but we paid for it by a + terrible fright. Some cavalrymen came into the stable under the + mows and took out their horses. We could hear their + conversation and the jingle of their spurs, and scarcely dared + to breathe. But they left us in safety. We stayed a day longer, + as the bed was the best we had found since our first capture. + But a negro boy came up to hunt eggs, and found us. He was so + frightened that we could not pacify him, and, fearing an alarm, + we hastened to the woods once more. Some negroes were again + met, starting on their favorite amusement,--an opossum-hunt. On + application they gave us a magnificent treat,--a hatful of + apples, a half 'pone,' and two or three pounds of boiled beef + on a bone. This supply lasted for several days. + + "On the night journey we were much annoyed by the barking of + dogs at the houses we passed. Once we were seen, but, + pretending to be rebels on the way to our regiments, we + succeeded so well in lulling suspicion that an old man sent a + message to his son, who was in the rebel army, by us, and added + some corn-bread for the messengers. + + "I here became more lame than ever, by reason of an unfortunate + misstep, and had to walk by leaning part of my weight upon my + faithful comrade. We came to a wide river we could not cross, + and, going back into the fields, lay on the damp ground till + morning. If I ever _tasted_ cold, it was then. Hawkins became + reckless from suffering, and was disposed to go to a house, + even at the risk of capture. But I demurred, and we waited for + an opportunity to communicate with the ever-faithful negroes. + We found a hut, and, watching it some time, saw none but a + black woman there. She readily responded to our appeal for + help, gave us a hot breakfast, a fire to warm by, and some + parched corn to carry on our journey. She also directed us to a + ford. Thanking her from our hearts, we returned to the river, + got over, and concealed ourselves in the woods on the other + side. + + "With the coming of night we once more took up our weary way. + Towards morning we saw a large encampment of whites and colored + people. All were asleep except one of the latter. We + approached, and, in a whisper, asked him who they were. He told + us of the retreat of Bragg's army from Kentucky, and that these + were a band of fugitives coming South with their slaves to + avoid the Union army. To us this was a serious matter. A large + army, with all its baggage, and the country full of pickets, + directly in our front, was a great addition to our danger. The + colored man gave us all the scanty information he possessed + about the position of the army. Hawkins, spying a covered + skillet near the fire, winked at our friend, got an assenting + nod, and reached for it. It had two baked sweet potatoes, which + we appropriated, and departed as noiselessly as we had + advanced. Twenty-four hours after, we had reached the Hiawassee + River. We called lustily for the ferryman, and, to our + exceeding delight, were answered by the very slave our colored + friends on the Chattahoochee had said would be willing to ferry + us over. + + "With his counsel, for we trusted him with the secret of our + being escaped prisoners, we resolved to go down the Hiawassee + to its junction with the Tennessee. To do this, however, it + would be necessary to pass round the rebel camp at Charleston, + a few miles farther down the river. This was Friday, and, by + waiting until Saturday, the young man could get a pass good + until Monday, and could pilot us around Charleston. We resolved + to wait. He treated us royally,--shared his scanty allowance of + food with us, for he had only a slave's rations, doctored my + ankle, kept us in his best bed--_a feather one_--overnight, + though, for prudential reasons, we hid in the woods during the + day, and, on starting, gave us a bottle of molasses and a piece + of pork. We floated down near camp in a 'dug-out' canoe, then + left the river and _surrounded_ the enemy. Our pilot was + obliged to leave us before we got back to the river below the + town, but he put us on the banks of a small stream, which we + had only to follow down to its mouth. This we reached by two + P.M., and amused ourselves by cracking walnuts and hickory-nuts + in a solitary place until dark, when we hunted up an old + dilapidated canoe. It was a miserable boat, and gave us enough + to do in bailing as well as paddling it. We soon saw a better + craft, with good paddles, tied up, and, as the owner was not + there, we 'traded' without difficulty. + + "The stars were shining brightly when we again pushed off, and + the water was as clear as crystal, though not deep. We dried + our wet clothes, and felt very much more comfortable. Save an + occasional whisper between us and the soft ripple of the oars, + silence was unbroken. This was the most peaceful and + satisfactory night's travel we had yet made. + + "At daybreak we hid the boat and nestled away in some dry + leaves, and after the sun got high enough to warm us, slept by + turns till afternoon. Then we noticed an island half a mile + farther down the river, and, as we had seen nobody the whole + day, and the place appeared perfectly solitary, we resolved to + explore it. Nothing was found, but we saw a house on the east + bank, which we watched until sundown, and seeing only women + about it, resolved to try for supper. We got a good square + meal, but judge our dismay at finding a good number of ladies, + and, soon after, a few men, also, at the place. It was a + 'quilting,' and they were to dance that evening. But we told a + new story. We had been working at a saw-mill in the mountains, + were now out of employment, and were going to Chattanooga to + look for a job. They warned us that we would be arrested at + Chattanooga, and would have to go to jail or join the army. + They seemed to care nothing for the war, and to have no + disposition to molest us. We assured them that we would be all + right in Chattanooga, as we were _personally acquainted with + General Leadbetter_. They looked doubtful, and in parting they + said, in a rather insinuating manner, that they wished us a + safe journey to _Chattanooga_. Probably they were Unionists, + but we dared not risk a discovery. I tried, unsuccessfully, to + steal a quilt, which we greatly needed. The night was overcast, + the water was very shallow in places, and some tree-tops were + in the way. We had to get out, pull our boat out of these + obstructions and into deeper water, and then, wet to the skin, + to re-embark and paddle on. + + "About midnight we came to what seemed to be a ferry, where the + river was deeper and wider than it had been before. Suddenly + two shots were fired at us. We lay down in the bottom of the + boat, and, taking in our paddles, let her float down stream, + while we did not move a muscle. I suppose it was a picket of + the enemy, who, after firing once, concluded that our boat was + only a floating log, and took no further trouble. After + getting, as we supposed, out of danger, we again seized the + paddles, and an hour of vigorous work brought us to the river's + mouth, and out on the broader Tennessee. + + "We were very reluctant to abandon the river navigation, but it + was manifestly dangerous to continue it further, and useless as + well, unless we were prepared to take the risk of running by + Chattanooga. So we rowed to the north side of the Tennessee, + and turned our trusty craft adrift, while we started across the + mountains. The first road we crossed gave evidence of the + passage of a large body of troops, and thus warned us that we + were probably in danger of becoming entangled in the scouts and + detachments of Bragg's army, now on its retreat from Kentucky. + Two boys we found by a fire in a school-house--they had been + out 'coon'-hunting--confirmed this report. Soon we saw their + camp-fires, and ascending a mountain, where we supposed we + would be safer than in the valleys, waited for morning. When it + came, an appalling sight met our view,--a large division of + Bragg's army, with its seemingly endless baggage-trains, well + guarded by cavalry, was spread out beneath us. All day long + we watched their movements from our eyrie with breathless + anxiety. We resolved at night to turn to the northeast instead + of keeping due north, as we had intended. Before we had gone + far, Hawkins whispered in my ear, 'Dorsey, we mustn't crack any + corn to-night.' Rebel pickets and scouts were no doubt on every + side of us. The mountain-side was steep and covered with loose + stones, where travelling, even by day, would have been + difficult; at night, in the presence of the enemy, it was + terrible! We came to a picket, and were only saved from running + right into it by the snuffling of a horse. We slipped away a + short distance from the road, and lay down. Soon a squad of + cavalry passed up the road, and we crossed it right behind + them, anxious to get out of that dangerous neighborhood while + the sound of their hoofs drowned any noise we might make. We + moved very cautiously, again ascended the mountain-side, and + near daybreak came to a halt and went into camp,--that is, hid + in the brush. + + "When the light came we could see the enemy no more, but heard + his wagons rumbling off in the distance. The immediate danger + from that source was over. Our stock of provision, which was + only a little parched corn, was almost exhausted; and as the + mountain seemed to be uninhabited, we resolved to move forward + in the afternoon. We found a negro, who, for a wonder, could + not or would not give any provisions or information. Late in + the night we rested, tying some bushes together to make a rude + shelter, and both sleeping, for nature was almost overcome. + Food and water were also very low, but in the morning we + pressed on, halting when our waning strength failed, and going + on when strength allowed. + + "Very impressive were some of the hours spent in watching on + the Cumberland Mountains. One of us would sleep in perfect + trust, while the other watched and thought. The lofty peaks, + the wide landscape, and the rising and setting sun were doubly + solemn in the profound silence, and amid the mighty forests of + that region. I can never forget the beauty of nature associated + with so much of peril. + + "But there were other hours of very prosaic toil. Once we had + to force our way on hands and knees through a mass of briers a + quarter of a mile wide. Several times we hunted persimmons by + moonlight,--Hawkins shaking them off, while I crawled on hands + and knees _feeling_ for them. Many adventures similar to those + already narrated were encountered. Near a ford of the + Sequatchie River we found a quilted skirt hanging out, which we + appropriated, tore in two, and, making a hole in the middle of + each piece for our heads, found ourselves possessed of passable + undershirts, which we needed sorely, as it was now colder than + ever. The ford was waded with our clothes taken off and tied on + our heads. + + "For two days more we travelled and rested alternately in the + mountains, hungry, wet with the rain that now began to fall, + and as solitary as if we were the only inhabitants of the + globe. Near sundown of the second day we heard some + wood-choppers far below us. We were so weak that we repeatedly + fell as we descended the mountain-side. Hunger was so extreme + that we resolved to try for food from them, using the best + story we could frame. We told them we were Confederate + soldiers, who had been left in a hospital, from which we had + run away, and were now trying to get to our regiments; also + that we were without money, and wanted food. They refused to do + anything for us; said that soldiers had already eaten them + nearly out. This reception encouraged us. To test them further + we talked of _our cause_, its justice, certainty of success, + etc. They did not pretend to agree with us, and, finally, told + us that we were in what had been called 'Lincoln District,' + because only two votes were cast there for secession. The + conversation led them to a flat avowal that they were Union + men. We then cautiously revealed the fact that we were soldiers + on the same side, and the hospitality which had been denied + before was now readily extended." + +[Illustration: DORSEY AND HAWKINS IN THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS. +Page 272.] + +This proved to be a station on the "Underground Railroad," which had +been organized since the opening of the war for the escape of Union men +and prisoners to the Union lines in Kentucky. After the fugitives had +completely proved their character, they were put under the conduct of a +local celebrity, known as "Red Fox," from his skill in eluding the +enemy. He conducted them for some distance, and gave them directions to +the next point, and from this they were directed to another. Thus they +were forwarded swiftly and in comparative safety. Dorsey dwells with +great gusto upon the good food and generous treatment received from +these loyal mountaineers, who had no hope of a reward, but were glad to +do anything for their loved and imperilled country. His expressions of +gratitude are also frequent and hearty. One man gave them the only +dollar he had, and would not hear of a refusal. Some very narrow escapes +were run even after they were thus among friends, but they finally +reached Somerset, Kentucky. At first they were received with some +suspicion by the Union officials, but, as soon as their true character +was established, they enjoyed the enthusiastic welcome accorded to each +one of the railroad party who returned from "the valley of the shadow of +death." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +FROM ATLANTA TO THE GULF. + + +No fugitives passed through more romantic adventures than Wood and +Wilson. The southward course they took saved them from an energetic +pursuit, but their unwillingness to trust the negroes exposed them to +imminent peril of starvation. The idea that any of our party would seek +for the Gulf blockading squadron probably never entered the head of any +pursuer. It was well that this route was chosen by Wilson, for in no +other way could he possibly have succeeded in carrying his sick comrade +with him. The manner in which poor Wood, who had been for months +suffering from fever, and was scarcely able to walk about the jail, was +taken from "Atlanta to the sea" by a starving comrade, would seem a most +improbable invention if met in a work of fiction. I extract the complete +account of the escape, with a few unimportant omissions, from "The +Adventures of Alf. Wilson," written by himself, and first published in +book form in Toledo, 1880. The account begins in the Atlanta jail-yard. +The necessity for immediate flight was first seen by Wood, who +exclaimed,-- + + "'Alf, come on, quick! the boys are getting over the fence at + the back of the jail; hurry up, for there's a company of guards + coming double-quick.' + + "This was my old comrade, Mark Wood, and his voice was the + first warning I had of the danger that threatened me, or of the + necessary change in our programme. + + "'Then bounce that fence!' I yelled. We both reached the top of + the high fence at the same instant, and not a second too soon, + for, as I glanced over my shoulder from the fence-top, I saw + the guards with gleaming muskets pouring in at the gate, and + before I could throw my leg over and spring off a volley was + fired, the balls rattling and whizzing all about us. One bullet + struck the picket under my thigh, and so close that the + splinters lacerated my flesh, and as my feet struck the ground + on the outside, I said to Mark, 'I am hit.' + + "'Get up and run like----!' exclaimed Mark. + + "I was on my feet in an instant, not knowing whether my thigh + was shattered or not. As I ran I clapped my hand there to see + if it bled freely. I pulled away a lot of splinters, and had + the satisfaction of finding that I had received only a slight + flesh wound made by the picket splinters. Never did I make + better use of my legs; there was need of it, too, for the balls + were spatting about us in the dirt uncomfortably near. They + came so thick and closely at one time that I was almost certain + that one or both of us would be hit; but we answered their + cries of 'Halt! halt!' by springing forward with all the speed + we could command. + + "It was about a mile before we struck the cover of woods, and + then the trees were so scattering that they afforded only a + doubtful place for concealment. It was now every man for + himself, and, like the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, we + longed for darkness or some other friendly interposition in our + behalf. Wood had come up with me, and we dodged stealthily from + one thicket to another until it began to grow quite dark, when + we breathed easier and acted more deliberately, although we + well knew we were not out of danger yet. + + "About this time, we became aware that we were approaching a + public road. We soon had warning that it was much better to + halt, and not attempt to cross the road. The sound of galloping + horsemen in great numbers and the clanking of sabres could be + heard near by. We were so nearly out of breath that we could + run no farther for the present, and, on looking hastily about, + discovered a low, scrubby pine-bush surrounded with shrubbery. + We both darted under its protecting shelter, and lay flat on + the ground on our faces, neither having spoken a word to the + other for some minutes, on account of our great exhaustion. We + were so near the road that we could plainly see all the + movements of the rebel cavalry, who were deploying their line + something in the manner of skirmishers. + + "This presented an unexpected difficulty in our way. If we had + reached the road two minutes sooner we might have crossed + without being seen, but we could not have been there an instant + sooner than we were, unless we had had wings, for we had both + run until we were ready to fall in our tracks. We had become + separated from the rest of the party, but could still hear the + reports of muskets, and knew that the pursuit was still going + on, but how many of the escaping party had been killed was + beyond our knowledge, though I had seen Captain Fry reeling and + stumbling in a manner that led me to fear he was shot. We were + thus compelled to lie quietly for some time. While we were + waiting here the cavalry was relieved by infantry, and formed + into squads to scour the woods. + + "The place where we lay was not over fifteen steps from where + the infantry sentinel was stationed. We could hear every word + he spoke to the man on the next post. Their comments on the + affair at the jail would have been amusing to us under less + serious circumstances, and I wish I could give their words + exactly now, for they were ludicrous enough. + + "Some time late in the evening, while we were still lying under + the bush, we became aware that some one was approaching us very + quietly. In the dark we could recognize the dim outlines of two + men, and we felt certain, as they came so near us that we could + have almost touched them, that it was two of our comrades; but + we dare not even whisper to them, lest we should cause them to + betray themselves, and, perhaps, us too. They were, evidently, + from the cautious manner in which they moved, aware that they + were very close to the rebel guards. These men, I afterwards + learned, were Porter and Wollam. + + "After waiting a short time to see if they were discovered, and + hearing nothing of them, we began to crawl out, concluding that + there was no probability of the guards leaving that night. I + should judge the sentries were stationed about thirty paces + apart, and to get out there was no alternative but to pass + between them. I selected a place and crawled to the other side + of the road safely, and then lay perfectly still, while Mark + did the same. My hair fairly stood on end as he wriggled along, + for it seemed to me once or twice as if one of the sentries + would certainly discover him before he would reach me. This was + one of our most narrow escapes. + + "We were no more than safely across the road when a new and + unseen obstacle, in the shape of a high fence, presented + itself, over which we must climb before we could breathe free. + We crawled carefully to the fence, and by great patience and + much care, one at a time, managed to get over without + attracting the attention of the guards. We felt as if we had + accomplished quite an achievement when at last we had escaped + beyond the fence a few steps and found ourselves in an open + field, where we could push ahead noiselessly, and when, at + last, we got away entirely out of hearing, we struck out on a + full run. At the far side of the field we came to a small + stream, in which we travelled some distance in the water, to + take precaution against pursuit by dogs. Soon after, we struck + a thick piece of woods on the slope of a hill-side, which we + continued to ascend under the thick foliage for some time. But, + at last, exhausted Nature asserted her full sway, and we were + compelled to lie down and rest out of sheer inability to go + farther. + + "Up to this time, I think, neither of us had spoken any more + than if we had been dumb. As we threw ourselves on the ground, + without breath or strength to go farther, we began to realize + the weak, helpless condition we were in. It did not appear as + if our limbs were strong enough to carry us five miles a day. + When we looked forward to the long journey ahead of us, the + hunger and fatigue, it looked a little discouraging. I think, + however, a portion of this sense of physical prostration was + caused by the sudden relaxation from the great mental strain + and excitement which had been upon us from the time of the + jail-break and immediately preceding it. This, with the intense + exertion in running, in our enfeebled condition, had wellnigh + unnerved us. We were wild, too, almost, with joy at our escape. + + "But we had but little time to rest, rejoice, or feel thankful + in. Many contingencies yet stood between us and the goal of our + hopes. Many armed enemies; many long, weary miles of travel; + many rivers lay across our path, and many days of hunger and + many sleepless nights, if we would succeed. + + "Before we escaped from the prison I studied over the subject + of routes very carefully. I had seen enough of night travel in + the mountains about Chattanooga and along the Tennessee River, + and well knew that the probabilities of our being picked up, + should we go in that direction, would be very much greater. I + therefore decided in my own mind that I would strike out for + the Gulf, and try to reach some of the vessels of the Federal + blockading squadron. While this would be much the longest + route,--the distance, as near as I could calculate, being over + three hundred miles,--I thought there would be less vigilance + and liability of pursuit in that direction. In this conjecture + it turned out that I was correct. The country was entirely + unknown to me, except a slight general idea I had of it from + the school geographies. I only knew that the waters of the + Chattahoochee River, which flowed west of Atlanta, entered the + Gulf. + + "While we rested on the hill-side I communicated, in a whisper, + to Mark my views, and he readily agreed that he would go in any + direction I thought best. Accordingly, we rose up and walked to + an open place where we could see the stars, and soon determined + our course, which was to be slightly south of west, and at once + we set out as fast as we could travel. We spoke no words as we + walked on, and went as noiselessly as possible, for we were on + the lookout for scouting parties of cavalrymen that might be + prowling about. + + "We soon came to the railroad track leading from Atlanta to + Columbus, and knew from this that our course was about right. + Our march led us through some rough country, and we were + compelled to rest quite frequently, so that when it began to + grow light in the east we estimated that we were about eight + miles from the prison. We sought out a secluded retreat for the + day, and after getting each of us a stout stick, which would + answer either as a weapon or a walking-stick, we lay down and + slept until late in the afternoon. We woke up much rested, but + were so lame and our feet were so sore that we could hardly + take a step without excruciating pain. We were hungry, and the + scanty morsel of corn-bread we had brought from the prison the + previous evening did not go far towards satisfying our sharp + appetites. But it was all we had, and we ate it and were + thankful, although we did not know where or when we would get + our next rations. + + "I now saw a difficulty in this attempt to get away that we did + not encounter in our first attempt to reach the Federal lines. + Our clothes had become dirty and ragged, and we had a sort of + jail-bird look, that it seemed to me would betray us if we were + seen. I was brought to a realization of this fact as I looked + at Wood, when we sat together in silence beneath the great tree + where we had taken shelter, waiting for the friendly mantle of + darkness to shield our movements. And I suppose my own + appearance was no more prepossessing than his. The miserable + garments he wore did not cover his nakedness. His face was + begrimed with dirt almost set in the skin. He had become thin + and emaciated with fever, and had a ravenous appetite; his eyes + were sunken in his head and seemed to have the wild, unnatural + glare of a madman, which at times almost made me shudder. The + poor fellow's pitiable appearance, as he sat there despondently + and longingly gazing down on the beautiful valley below, was + such as to appeal to a heart of stone. Yet I knew that it was + unsafe for us to go to a house, and we agreed not to be seen by + a human being if we could avoid it. I felt certain that if we + should meet any one, our appearance would at once betray us. We + were in a country where we could not expect to find a friend, + unless, possibly, it might be the negroes, of whom, as a class, + we knew but very little. We were so weak, and the mental strain + and long-continued anxiety, in which we had lived from day to + day, had had the effect of making us, I may say, foolishly + suspicious and timid of everything. We were startled at every + sudden noise, and crouched like sneaking wolves from the sight + of man. + + "While in the midst of unpleasant thoughts, Mark broke the long + silence by raising his head and saying, 'Alf, it is time for us + to go.' + + "Our journey that night took us through a corn-field, where we + pulled a few ears of corn and chewed it as we went along. I + remember it was hard and made my jaws very tired, but it helped + to quiet my gnawing hunger. It was much better than nothing. + After a toilsome night's journey, guided by the stars, and over + a very rough county, in which we entirely avoided roads, we + again secreted ourselves as the streaks of gray began to appear + in the east, and, after scraping up a pile of leaves, lay down + for the day. When we awoke, late in the afternoon, we found + that our feet were so bruised and sore, and that we were + otherwise so lame, and withal so weak from hunger, that it + taxed our endurance to the utmost to take a single step. We + each took from our pockets an ear of corn, and after crunching + and swallowing what we could, we put the rest in our clothes + and hobbled off, making but very slow time for the first mile + or so. It was in the month of October, and the nights were + pretty cool, which, in our poorly-clad condition, compelled + us to keep moving all the time to keep comfortably warm. + + "The next morning came and still we had not reached the river. + Again we hid ourselves and slept through the day. When night + came and we tried to walk, we found our feet in such a + deplorable condition that it did not seem possible for us to go + farther. Mark crawled some distance on his hands and knees, + and, looking back at me, said in an appealing tone, 'Alf, + what's a fellow's life but a curse to him when he has to drag + it out in this way? I would rather be dead and done with it.' + + "I encouraged him, telling him the worst was over and we would + soon reach the river. I suppose we had shaped our course a + little too far south, and thus made the distance longer than it + would otherwise have been. We struggled on for some time, + crawling where the ground was stony, and stopping very often to + temporarily quell the pain in our feet. I was a little ahead, + and, as the breeze fanned my aching temples, I thought I heard + to our right the lull of running water. I told Mark and cheered + him up. We forgot our tortures for the time being and scrambled + on quite lively, and soon after had the satisfaction of + standing on the banks of the Chattahoochee. + + "De Soto did not feel more joy when he first discovered the + Mississippi, the great Father of Waters, nor was the ecstasy of + Balboa greater, when, from the cloud-capped summits of Darien, + his eyes first beheld the vast expanse of water which he named + the Pacific Ocean. Like that great discoverer, we waded out + into the water, carrying neither naked sword nor the banner of + our country like he, to take possession of our discovery in the + name of our rulers, but to bathe our painful feet and cool our + parched throats. + + "We made certain of the direction the river current ran, and + started southward in high hopes, although the temptation to go + northward to our friends was very strong. We now wanted a boat, + and, not long after we started, fortune had another pleasant + surprise in store for us, for we came upon a skiff safely + moored, with lock and chain, to a tree. After carefully + inspecting the surroundings to see that no prying eyes were + peering on us, we 'loosened' the lock with a stone, and in a + few minutes after were smoothly gliding down the current of the + great river, and I doubt if two more joyful mortals ever + navigated a canoe than we two, with that stolen little craft. + + "What a happy change! Our weary limbs and painful feet now had + a rest, and yet we were gliding noiselessly on our journey. + What wonderful teachers hardship and stern necessity are! + Discontented mortals do not half appreciate the blessings they + have until they have been pupils in the school of adversity. I + felt as if this chilly night's ride, in a little stolen boat, + on a strange river, whose shores were hidden by Plutonian + shadows, was the best and most grateful that I ever had, or + ever expected to enjoy. + + "We pulled off our old boots and bathed our lacerated feet in + the water, and quenched the tormenting thirst caused by the + indigestible hard corn, which was now our only nourishment. We + kept our paddles pretty busy, as we wished to get as far away + as possible from where we took the boat before the dawn of day. + When daylight began to appear, we paddled our craft into a + bayou, safe from view, and secreted ourselves in a thicket for + the day. + + "Four days and nights had now passed since we had eaten food, + except the morsel of corn-bread we brought out of the prison. + We lay down to sleep the day away, but between our great hunger + and the swarms of mosquitoes we could get but little rest. I + could, while sleeping, see in my dreams tables spread and + groaning with loads of good things to eat; bread, meat, cheese, + coffee, biscuit, and butter were all within my reach, and were + vanishing before my ravenous appetite, when, in the midst of + the great pleasures of this feast, I would suddenly waken to a + sense of the reality of the case, and what a maddening + disappointment I would feel. With this disturbed sort of rest + we worried through the day, the demands of hunger and our + stomachs getting the better of nature's demand for rest, until + at last we grew desperate, and at early twilight, in the + evening, pulled out of the little bayou, determined on a raid + of some sort on a house for food. + + "We spied a house some distance from the river-bank, which we + thought from appearances we could capture with a plausible + story or by force. + + "On approaching, we saw in its immediate vicinity quite a + number of negro cabins, and in the yard surrounding the house + about twenty blood-hounds chained to the fence, indicating that + these were the premises of an extensive planter. The only + occupants of the house were an old man and woman. We apologized + for disturbing them, and told them we were soldiers who had + been on furlough returning to our regiments at Atlanta, and + wished directions to the ferry (we had discovered a ferry as we + came down); also, that we were hungry and wanted to get + something to eat, provided they felt like feeding hungry + soldiers without money, as we had had no pay for some time, and + were both moneyless and in bad health, Mark's appearance + proving this latter assertion. It was quite dark, however, and + they could not see us very distinctly, but they evidently + credited our story, for they told us to be seated and we would + soon be made welcome to such food as they had. + + "They were a couple of quite intelligent but unsophisticated + old people, in comfortable circumstances, living, as most + Southerners did, away from any highway, and we gained their + confidence so far as to feel ourselves assured from suspicion. + I had been in Dixie so long that I had acquired, from the + guards and citizens, their vernacular of speech quite + perfectly; besides this, we had learned the names of officers + and the number of different regiments, such as the Eighth + Georgia Cavalry, Fifth Tennessee Infantry, etc., until we + were able to tell quite a plausible story, if not too closely + questioned. + + "We asked the old man if there was any late news. He said, + 'Nothing, except that the Yankee raiders had seized the Atlanta + jailer, overpowered the guards, and a number of them escaped + and had not yet been caught.' We expressed great surprise that + such a piece of audacity could be made successful in Atlanta. + The old man said, 'They were a desperate, dangerous lot of + scoundrels, who ought to have been hung long ago.' He said many + of them stood up and fought the soldiers with clubs and bricks, + even after the guards had shot them through, and finally they + jumped the high fence and ran like deer. + + "In the mean time we had devoured everything the good woman had + set before us on the table. We were ashamed, but our hunger was + so much stronger than our sense of shame that we could not + leave off, and, if we had not been in a hurry, we would have + waited for her to have prepared another meal for us. She said + she regretted that she had not more cooked to set before us, + but we told her she had been very kind, and thanked them, at + the same time bidding them good-night, when we started off, as + they supposed, for the ferry. A short time afterwards we were + in our boat pulling down-stream with more vigorous energy than + we had before. We kept up a steady stroke of the paddles for + some hours, feeling that each stroke placed so much more + distance between us and the prison. + + "While we were thus moving along with steady, cautious stroke, + high in the hopes of the future, I suddenly, quicker than a + flash, found myself lying flat on my back in the river. What on + earth had happened I did not know, the accident had been so + sudden. I thought of earthquakes, whales, sharks, torpedoes, + and many other things. Luckily, one of my feet caught on the + side of the boat, and I drifted with it until Mark came to my + assistance and pulled me out. The cause of my mishap had been a + ferry-boat wire, which was stretched across the river, and hung + just low enough to catch me fairly as I sat in the stern of the + boat. It struck Mark, but he sat in the middle, and fell into + the bottom of the boat. We were going at a good speed, and the + collision came so suddenly that it is a wonder we did not fare + worse. Fortunately, there were no guards at the ferry, so we + had no cause to apprehend discovery or molestation. My greatest + mishap was a thorough wetting, for the night was frosty and + cold, and caused me to chill. + + "This was followed in the after part of the night by a stupor + that I could not shake off, and my continued efforts at the + paddle had wellnigh exhausted me. Mark could not manage the + boat very well, as he had tried it a number of times. But I + felt that I must have rest and sleep, and so gave the boat over + into his hands, enjoining him to keep it in the current. I lay + down in the bottom of the boat, and soon sank into a state of + forgetfulness and sleep. I do not know how long I had slept, + but some time in the night Mark aroused me, and told me we + could go no farther, as we had come 'to the end of the river.' + It was some time before he could awaken me fully to + consciousness, so that I could comprehend our situation. + + "At last I began to look around, to determine what Mark's 'end + of the river' meant. I soon discovered that he had run the boat + away under a ledge of the mountain, and a dim light could only + be seen in one direction. All else around us was impenetrable + darkness. I took the paddle, and worked the boat in the + direction of the light, and in a little while we emerged from + beneath this overhanging mountain ledge, and again reached the + current of the river, down which the boat was soon rapidly + gliding. Mark now discovered that the 'end of the river' had + not yet been reached, but he did not care to take charge of the + boat again. + + "Shortly after this adventure we perceived that we were not to + have smooth sailing all the way. The river began to grow rough, + and the water ran over benches and ledges of rocks, and, in + places, with great velocity, so much so that we narrowly + escaped being 'broken up' on several occasions during this + night's journey. We passed over a number of places that we + would not have dared to risk in daylight, when we could have + seen the danger. It seemed to grow worse and worse as we went + on, when daylight warned us that it was time to tie up and + hide, which we did, and, the day being warm and pleasant, we + had a comfortable rest,--the best since our escape. + + "On the following night we came to a mill-dam, where the water, + judging from the noise, poured over in great volume and force. + We manoeuvred around for some time above it, not knowing what + to do, but finally discovered what appeared to be an apron near + the centre of the dam, and decided to risk running it. + Accordingly, we rowed up-stream some distance to get under good + headway, then turning the head of the boat down-stream, we bent + to our paddles with all our might. We came down with the + velocity of an express-train. What we supposed might have been + an apron, was nothing but a break in the dam, and over it we + shot like an arrow, shutting our eyes and holding our breath. + In an instant after, we landed (luckily right side up) away + below in the midst of the angry, foaming torrent, and plying + our paddles right vigorously, and keeping the bow of our boat + down-stream, we rode out safely, but then and there 'swore off' + on running mill-dams in the night. + + "We continued our journey, though the river was still rough and + growing worse. We were constantly among rocks and foaming, + headlong torrents of water, while steep rocky walls confined + the stream to very narrow limits, and dark, shadowy mountain + peaks loomed up in the background, reminding us of the + Tennessee about Chattanooga. We went on from bad to worse, + until at last, during the latter part of the night, we were + incautiously drawn into a gorge, where it seemed that the + destruction of our boat was inevitable. Such was the force and + velocity of the water, that we lost all control of the boat, + and in one instant would be spinning around in a furious eddy + until our heads were fairly dizzy, and in the next we would be + dashed against the rocks until it seemed as if our boat would + be splintered to pieces. We regarded our escape here as the + narrowest we had made, and as quick as we could do so with + safety we landed on the rocks and, with many regrets, abandoned + our little craft to begin a tedious, toilsome land journey of + three days and nights over rocky hills, bluffs, and mountains + along the river. + + "Just as we landed from the boat Mark started to walk out, and, + losing his balance, fell headlong into the river. With + considerable difficulty I fished him out, and, the early + morning being quite cool, the poor fellow was chilled through + and through, and it was with the greatest difficulty that I + finally succeeded in getting him up into the mountains, and + continued to exercise him by walking, so as to get up a good + circulation of his blood. But he became so benumbed that I + finally let him lie down, and gathered a lot of cedar boughs + and piled them thickly over him, and then crawled in with him + myself, and kept him as warm as possible. Here we slept and + rested until late in the afternoon of that day, which became + very warm under the bright rays of the sun. + + "Our progress was very slow, and towards the last extremely + painful. The old bruises and blisters on our feet, which were + not entirely healed, came back worse than ever, and much of the + time we crept along on the rocks on our hands and knees, + believing that if once we could get below this range of + mountains, we would find navigable waters. We came in sight of + several isolated cabins in these wild, rocky hills, where we + managed to beg a little food on two different occasions, which + helped us very much. The suffering we endured on our last + night's travel I cannot describe. It seemed as if we must give + up and die where we were. But at last, when daylight came, to + our great delight we saw the spires and smoke-stacks of a town + in the distance. We knew this to be Columbus, Georgia, and that + when we got below it the river was navigable clear to the Gulf. + + "We now deemed it prudent to hide ourselves for the day, which + we had not done in the mountains, and wait for the friendly + cloak of darkness. When night came we made a long, careful + detour away out around the suburbs of the town, and at last had + the satisfaction of again reaching the river-bank, below the + town, where we found good shelter among the dense grapevines + and drift-wood. By this time it was nearly morning again, and, + like beasts of prey, we betook ourselves to a safe + hiding-place. + + "During all the time we had been in the vicinity of the town we + had heard a constant clattering sound, as of a hundred workmen + with hammers. This noise came from near the river, where there + appeared also to be a great light. When daylight came the noise + still continued, and we were near enough so that we could see + that it was caused by a large number of workmen engaged on a + vessel, which they were covering with iron. The boat appeared + to be very large and of great strength, and evidently was + intended for a warlike purpose. On closer inspection the + following night I found that she was a powerfully-built + gunboat, which they were evidently in great haste to complete, + as the hammers of the workmen never ceased on her, night or + day, nor for a single moment. + + "This gunboat was none other than the rebel ram + 'Chattahoochee,' a formidable iron monster, built as an engine + of destruction for the blockading fleet in Appalachicola Bay. + The first knowledge the Navy Department had of her was through + Wood and myself. The ram, on her first downward trip, blew up + near the mouth of Flint River, and never reached the Gulf. + + "Our great anxiety now was to secure a boat. Wood was so lame + he could not walk, and I was not much better. This delayed us + here two days and nights. During the nights I was prowling + about, up and down, trying to discover some sort of a craft + that would float. In my reconnoitring about the gunboat I had + discovered an old skiff chained to a stump quite near and in + plain sight of the workmen, to some of whom, no doubt, it + belonged. I secured a stout stick for a lever, and crept to the + stump to which the boat was chained, when, watching my + opportunity, I got a pry in such a manner as to break the lock + on the chain. The lights shone so brightly that I could plainly + see the men's eyes, and I very much feared they would notice + me. However, I worked off with the boat carefully, and half an + hour after I had Mark aboard, and we were pulling rapidly + down-stream. We found our prize to be a leaky old concern, and + one of us was constantly busy keeping her bailed out. + + "After we had drifted down some miles, we spied three boats + tied to the shore on the Alabama side of the river, and as we + had been giving our attention entirely to the Georgians all + along, we concluded to trade boats on that side of the river, + provided we could secure a better boat. Just as we had loosened + the one we selected, three men with a pack of dogs came down + the hill towards us, and the head man, evidently the owner, + began hallooing to us and calling us slanderous names, such as + thieves and the like. We did not stop to bandy words with the + fellows, but speedily shoved all the boats into the river, and + took a course up the river, as though we were going towards + Columbus. They rent the air with curses upon our heads. In the + course of fifteen or twenty minutes they had secured the boats + we shoved into the stream, and with the lights they carried we + could distinctly see that they were bent on pursuing us. We + took a wide circuit, and then headed downward under cover of + the willows, behind several small islands near the Georgia + shore, and came out in the main stream far below the islands, + while we had the satisfaction of seeing the lights of our + pursuers disappearing up the river and prowling about the upper + end of the islands, which we were now leaving far behind. We + soon lost sight of them, and the strong presumption is that + they never succeeded in finding their boat. + + "We increased our speed, and kept under the shadows of the + wooded shores as much as possible, congratulating each other on + our lucky boat trade. With a good boat and an open river we + felt now that our chances of escape were exceedingly good, and + our spirits were buoyant and hopes high, although our stomachs + were craving food. But on we swept, hour after hour, down the + broad river, happy in the thought that we were fast placing + scores of miles between us and the hated prison. The rest given + our feet had much allayed the pain we suffered, and when + morning came and we had secreted ourselves for the day, we + slept well, but awoke in the afternoon ravenously desperate for + want of something to eat. + + "We went out, and, reconnoitring a little, discovered a + corn-field. Making sure that there was no one about, we stole + into the field and found plenty of corn and pumpkins. The hard + corn and river water did not go well together, and proved to be + an unpleasant diet to us, so we broke up the pumpkins, ate + freely of the seed, and filled our pockets with more for lunch, + each of us taking also a few ears of corn. By the time we got + back it was nearly dark, and we pulled out. The pumpkin-seed + diet, poor as it was, helped us wonderfully, and we made a big + night's journey, passing a steamboat upward bound, which we + dodged by pulling under the shadows of the timber and + low-hanging bushes. + + "Thus we progressed, travelling by boat at night and laying by + in the daytime. If any reader of this story has ever made a + trip on the lower end of the Chattahoochee River, I think he or + she will agree with me when I say that the river scenery is + peculiarly monotonous and causes a sense of loneliness. It is a + vast water-path through dense forests of cypress and other + swamp-growing timber. On either side, to the right and left, + were endless swamps covered with water, and the river-channel + was only observable by its being free from logs and gigantic + trees. Great festoons of gray and sombre moss hung suspended + from even the topmost limbs of these trees, reaching clear down + to the water, and floated and swung to the music of the sighing + winds. Perhaps it was the circumstances in our case that made + us feel so, but I remember it as a dismal, lonesome journey. + Sometimes we would not see a sign of civilization for + forty-eight hours at a stretch. + + "Besides the torments of hunger, our nights were made almost + unendurable by the swarms of blood-thirsty mosquitoes, which + came upon us in clouds. I did think that I had learned + considerable about mosquitoes in my boyhood days in the Black + Swamp of Northwestern Ohio, but for numbers, vocal powers, and + ferocity I will 'trot' the Chattahoochee swamp fellows out + against any others I have ever 'met up with.' The ragged + clothing, which yet clung to our backs, did not much more + than half cover us; especially was this the case with Wood, who + was, I may truthfully say, half naked, and was thus doubly + annoyed by the omnipresent 'skeeters.' And my own condition was + but little better. To protect ourselves from the pests, we + thatched our bodies all over with great skeins of moss, and two + more comical-looking beings than we were, thus rigged out, it + would be hard to find, but it baffled the bills of our + tormentors. + + "We had two other annoyances,--moccasin-snakes and alligators. + The latter, with which the water swarmed as we went farther + towards the Gulf, were a terror to me. They were a ferocious, + hungry, dangerous-looking beast at best. We knew but little of + their habits. The largest water inhabitant I had ever seen was + a Maumee River cat-fish, and the most dangerous, a Black Swamp + massasauger. Night or day these 'gators," as the Southern + negroes call them, like the mosquitoes, were always within + sight and hearing. Sometimes during the day, in order to keep + out of the water, we would take shelter in a pile of + drift-wood. When we would wake up, after a short nap, every old + log and hommock about us would be covered with 'gators.' They + would lie listlessly and lazily, with eyes almost shut, looking + hungrily and quizzically out of one corner of their wicked + peepers, as if waiting for us to leave, or for a chance to nab + one of us by the leg or arm and run. Mark grew superstitious of + these creatures. He said he had read of wolves following a + famished buffalo in the same manner, and that sharks would + hover around a ship from which a corpse was to be cast + overboard, and that, too, even days before death had occurred + or was even suspected by the sailors. But the 'gators' were + cowardly fellows, and, on the least demonstration on our part, + would scramble into the water. Still we feared that they might + steal upon and lay hold of us with their powerful jaws while we + were asleep. We had learned that they were not apt to attack, + except when the object of their voracious appetites lay quiet; + but, when once they did lay hold, that they were hard to beat + off. They will drag their victim, be it man or beast, instantly + under the water, where the struggle soon ends. + + "After enduring hunger as long as we possibly could, we were + finally forced a second time since leaving Columbus to go in + search of something to eat. This, I think, was about five or + ten miles above Chattahoochee landing. It is not necessary to + relate the particulars of our search for a human habitation, + and the story of deception we told. It was a little before dark + when we struck out on foot so weak, hungry, and faint that we + could not walk many steps without resting, in search of + something or anything we could devour. We were successful, or + partially so, at least, and came back safely, much + strengthened, as well as elated over our good luck, when, to + our great dismay and chagrin, we found that our boat had been + stolen during our absence. + + "It was evident some one had seen us land and watched until + we left, and then taken the boat. I cannot describe our + feelings. We scarcely knew what to do. The night was very dark, + and it rained incessantly. We waded about in the water, tall + grass and cane, and after a while found a little mound or + hommock, which projected above the water, and on which we + perched ourselves for the night. Such a dismal, long, rainy + night as it was, too! It did seem as if the mosquitoes would + carry us away piecemeal towards morning, when the rain had + ceased. Had it not been for the food we had eaten, I believe we + would have given up in despair. When morning came, we waded up + and down in the cane and grass all forenoon, and about the only + discovery we made was that another river came in just below us, + and we could not go farther without a boat. + + "During the afternoon I descried something on the far side of + the river that looked like a boat partly sunk in the water, one + end only of which was out. The next trouble was to get to it, + as the river was about three-quarters of a mile wide, as near + as we could judge. We found an old piece of plank, which we + lashed on three flat rails with a grape-vine, and with a piece + of narrow stave for a paddle and to fight off 'gators,' I + twined my legs firmly around the centre of the frail craft, + while Mark pushed it off into the stream and stood at the edge + of the grass watching me. The raft sunk down until the water + came about my waist, but I stuck to it, and after about an + hour's hard work I effected a landing on the far side, and not + long after found myself rewarded in the possession of a much + better boat than the one we had lost the night before. I was + not long in bailing out the water and rowing her back to where + Mark was, whose gratitude found expression in tears and hearty + hand-shaking, as he crept into the boat with me. + + "We now plied our paddles energetically for a while, until we + felt sure we had passed out of reach of the owners of the boat, + when we put into the cane and secreted ourselves until night. + After this mishap in losing our boat, we resolved that we would + not both leave again while our journey lasted, starve or no + starve. During the following day, while we were laid up waiting + for night and fighting mosquitoes, I went out, skulking about + to see what I could see, and in passing through an old field + found some fish-hooks and lines in an old vacant cabin. I + appropriated them, and we found them a godsend to us, for they + proved the means of keeping us from actual starvation. + + "We must have had a touch of scurvy, for our mouths and gums + had become feverish, and our teeth were loose, and would bleed + constantly when we attempted to chew the corn. This was the + condition we were in when, providentially, we became possessed + of the fish-hooks and lines. + + "And now for a feast on raw cat-fish, of which we caught a + plentiful supply as we journeyed on in the night. I have + previously neglected to mention that I had with me an old + one-bladed knife without any back, which was our only weapon, + defensive or offensive. This old knife I had secreted when we + were in the Atlanta prison, and had kept it with me as a + precious treasure during all our wanderings. With this knife + and our fingers we managed to skin and dress the fish, which we + ate raw with our soaked corn. Matches we had none, nor had we + been able to get any, and so we had no fire. I could eat only a + mouthful or two of the raw fish at a time. My stomach was weak + and feverish, and rebelled against the flesh. Still it tasted + palatable. + + "Mark, poor, hungry fellow, tore it from the bones in great + mouthfuls, like a ravenous wolf, until I would beg of him to + desist, fearing the results. He would sit and crunch the bloody + flesh, and look at me with a wild, strange stare, and never + speak a word. His eyes were sunken away in his head, almost out + of sight, and as he would seize a fresh piece the pupils of his + eyes would dilate with the gloating, ferocious expression of a + panther or other carnivorous wild beast. I had frequently heard + of men losing their reason and going mad from the effects of + protracted hunger, and I sometimes shuddered as I looked at its + telling effects on poor Mark's wasted frame, and the unnatural + glare of his eyes. He would mutter and groan in his sleep, and + sometimes scream out as if pierced by a knife, when he would + suddenly start up and call my name. Towards the last of our + journey his condition was much of the time a cause of great + anxiety to me. Still, after we began to eat the fish he seemed + much better, and I only feared the unnatural quantities of the + raw flesh would kill him. + + "We were now nearing the bay, as was plain to be seen, for on + each succeeding morning the river had grown wider. Finally we + became well satisfied that we were nearing a large town, which + afterwards proved to be Appalachicola, and this made us anxious + to learn something of the state of affairs below,--whether + there were rebel picket-boats, or obstructions, such as + torpedo-boats and the like. + + "About this time we discovered a cabin some distance from the + shore, and, to have a plausible excuse, I took an old pipe Mark + had, and filled it with a few crumbs of tobacco which I fished + from my old coat-linings, and then taking a piece of rotten + wood which would retain fire, I left Mark with the boat and + walked over to the house to get a light for my pipe. The + occupants of the cabin proved to be an old Scotchman and his + wife. He was very inquisitive, and asked more questions than I + cared to answer. But I managed to evade suspicion, and at the + same time gained considerable information. I learned that we + were about five miles above Appalachicola, and that the Federal + blockading squadron was stationed at the mouth of the bay, + eighteen miles below the city. I hurried back to the boat, and + found Mark rejoicing over a little armful of sweet potatoes he + had stolen from a negro's canoe, which he had discovered in my + absence. + + "We got into the boat and at once paddled to the other side + of the bay or river, where we entered into an inlet or creek, + up which we ran for some distance, when we came to a dense + canebrake. Here we secreted ourselves and built a little fire, + roasted fish and potatoes, parched corn, and dined in right + royal style, although we felt the need of a little salt. Two + hungry wolves never ate more ravenously than we did, although + we were obliged to restrain ourselves, and leave off while yet + hungry. It was with the utmost difficulty that I absolutely + forced Mark to quit. After eating enough for four men, as I + thought, he still begged for more. I finally induced him to go + to sleep, and stored away some of the cooked fish and sweet + potatoes for the next day. + + "The information we had gained was invaluable to us, although I + felt I had obtained it at some risk. When night came on we + pulled out and passed down on the opposite side of the bay from + the city, slowly and cautiously. We had moss in the bottom, on + the sides, and in the seats of our boat for our comfort. As + soon as we had gone well past the city, whose bright lights we + could plainly see, we crossed the bay to the city side below + the city, in the hope of finding a more sea-worthy boat. We + were unable to find any other boat, however, and pulled on down + the bay as fast as we could. While going down the bay that + evening, we ran along in the midst of a large school of huge + fish of some description, from which we apprehended danger + every instant. These monsters would swim along on all sides of + us, with great fins sticking more than a foot out of the water, + and extended like a great fan. One of these fish could easily + have wrecked our boat with its huge body. We hoped to reach the + blockading fleet before daylight, but the night grew cloudy and + we were unable to tell what course we were running, as the bay + grew wider and wider as we went out. We decided the best thing + we could do was to pull for land, which we reached after + midnight, pretty well exhausted with our hard work at the + paddles. We tied up our boat and went to a thicket near by and + slept soundly. + + "When we awoke in the morning, we were cheered by the beautiful + surroundings,--all just as nature had fashioned them, for the + habitation or handiwork of man was nowhere to be seen. Our + couch had been a bed of prickly grass, that caused a stinging, + itching sensation all over our bodies. We had slept in a wild + orange grove. + + "We made a hasty breakfast on our fish and potatoes left from + the night previous, and started for our boat; but imagine our + surprise when we found it distant at least two hundred yards + from the water. Mark, who had lived in the old country, + explained to me that this was the effect of the ocean tide, + which had gone out since we landed, and would not come in again + until that night. There was no safe course left us but to drag + our boat to the water, which we did, after tugging at it for + about an hour. + + "When we were again on the water we could see the spires and + high buildings of the city we had passed, but no sight of ships + could we see. We took our course as well as we could, and + pulled for the open sea. A little boat, which seemed to be a + fishing-smack under full sail, passed away to the leeward of + us, coming out from the city, and caused us no little concern, + but she passed off, and either did not notice us or care to + inquire who we were. We plied our paddles industriously until + about the middle of the afternoon, when we spied an island away + in the distance. We had been out of sight of land for some time + and the view of the island cheered us up a little, for we knew + if a rough sea came on that our little boat was liable to get + swamped. This island was much farther away than we had + supposed. As we neared it we were in some doubt as to whether + we should pass to the right or left of it, when our decision + was made by the discovery to the left and away in the distance + of something that had the appearance of dead trees. + + "In the same direction, and right in our course, was something + that appeared like a bar or gravel-bank. We supposed the old + trees stood on another low island or bar beyond. But as we + neared this bar, that which at first seemed to be dead trees + began to take the shape of ship-masts, and we imagined that we + could see something that looked like the dark outlines of black + smoke-stacks in the blue, hazy distance. This made us quite + nervous, and we pulled away at the paddles with renewed vigor + and strength. Before we were scarcely conscious of it we were + close upon the bar, and began to be puzzled how we should get + by or around it, for it was longer than it appeared to be when + first seen. Presently we discovered a narrow, shallow channel + through it, and we were not long in getting our boat through. + As we were going through, Mark gathered in a lot of rough, + muddy-looking lumps, which I supposed were boulders, and soon + called for my old broken-backed knife, after which I saw him + open-one of the muddy chunks and eat something from it. Says I, + 'Mark! you starving Yank! what in thunder are you at now?' + 'Taste this,' says he, as he opened another muddy chunk, and I + lapped up from the dirty shell the sweetest oyster I had ever + tasted. + + "We were in the midst of a great oyster-bed, the like of which + I had never before seen. I had never, in fact, seen an oyster + in the shell before. Mark gathered up as many as he could as + the boat passed along, and when we reached the still water we + made quite a little feast on them as we paddled on. I think I + never tasted anything so delicious. We were still very hungry, + and the moist, rich, salty flavor of the oysters seemed to suit + our weak, famished stomachs to a nicety. + + "But our little feast was soon cut short by the certain + discovery that the dead trees were nothing less than the masts + of vessels. We could now plainly see the yards, cross-trees, + and great smoke-stacks. We dropped the oysters in the bottom of + the boat, and, though quite exhausted, the sight of the vessels + so renewed our strength that we made the little boat scud over + the still water at a lively rate. Soon we could see the long, + graceful streamers waving from the peaks of the masts, and + the outlines of the dark, sombre-looking hulls of the ships. + +[Illustration: SAVED AT SEA. +Page 290.] + + "We were now nearing the ships very fast, and were a little + anxious to see their colors, as we had become so suspicious of + everybody and everything that we half feared running into the + clutches of our enemies. But we were not long in suspense, for + suddenly a little breeze sprang up, and I shall never forget my + joy on seeing the old flag, the glorious old stars and stripes, + as they unfolded to the ocean breeze, and seemed to extend + their beneficent protection over us, after nearly eight months + of terrible bondage. We could see the field of blue, studded + with its golden stars, and the stripes of white and red! Yes, + it was our flag, old _E Pluribus Unum_! We threw down our + paddles in the boat, and stood up and yelled and screamed and + cried like a couple of foolish boys lost in the woods. We could + not restrain ourselves. Mark wanted to jump overboard and swim + to the ships, although we were yet, perhaps, nearly a mile + away,--at least too far to swim in his condition. After we + recovered our senses a little, we picked up the paddles and + began rowing again, directing our course towards the largest + vessel. + + "It seems now like a dream to me,--that joyful day,--the most + joyful, I was about to say, of my life. I believe there were + three vessels in sight. In steering for the largest one, + although it was the most distant, we had to pass some distance + in front of the bow of a smaller ship or boat. We were now + getting so close that we could plainly see the officers and men + on the decks in their neat, blue uniforms. We could see the + port-holes in the sides of the ships, and the black muzzles of + the cannon projecting out. This gave us much assurance, and we + said to ourselves, 'Good-by, rebs! We are out of your clutches + at last!' + + "We were rowing our insignificant-looking little boat right + along, just as though we intended to capture the biggest vessel + in the fleet, when a gruff voice from the ship, whose bow we + were passing, commanded us to 'Come to, there!' At the same + time we saw a grim-looking old sea-dog, in nice uniform, + leaning over the rail, motioning us in with his hand. We turned + the bow of our little boat towards him, and, when we came + within better speaking distance, he interrogated us, in + stentorian voice, about as follows: + + "'Who in ---- are you, and what are you paddling under my guns + in this manner for?' + + "We were half-terrified by the old fellow's angry, stern + manner, and did not know but we had at last fallen into the + hands of a rebel cruiser under false colors. We did not know + what to say to this unexpected, angry interrogation. We paddled + on very slowly, while the sailors and officers began to gather + in little squads, and look at us with mingled curiosity and + merriment. + + "Presently, the officer hailed us again, with about the same + questions. I now stood up in our boat, and answered that we + were two men trying to get back to God's country, among + friends. I was now quite uneasy, and suspicious of the + situation, and kept my eyes on the officer, for I perceived he + was the commander. I shall never forget his stern but puzzled + look as we came up under the bow of his vessel. We had been so + overjoyed and excited that we had forgotten to pull the old + moss, which covered our nakedness and protected us from the + sun, from our backs, and we must have looked like scare-crows + or swamp-dragons. I cannot speak so well of my own appearance + then, but can see Mark Wood, just as he was on that joyful day, + and a more comical, forlorn, starved-looking being cannot well + be imagined. + + "In our boat were a few cat-fish partly skinned, some oysters + in the shell, some ears of scorched corn, a lot of moss, and + our old boots, for our feet were yet sore, and we went + bare-footed when in the boat. + + "After scrutinizing us in silence for some little time, as we + drifted up closer and closer, he again demanded of us some + account of our strange conduct and appearance. I told him we + were enlisted Federal soldiers, and belonged to the command of + General O. M. Mitchel, in Tennessee, to which he growled + something about our being 'a ---- long ways from camp.' I then + explained to him briefly that we were fugitives, and the causes + that led to it; that we were nearly famished with hunger, and + that, after skulking through mountains and river by night, we + had at last sought protection under the old flag and the guns + of his ship. + + "I could see that his manner towards us had changed. He plainly + saw the indications of our distress. He said he had heard of + the raiding expedition we spoke of, and commanded us to row up + to the ladder and come up the ship's side. We did so, and Wood + went up the steps first. The poor fellow's agitation and joy + were so great, and he was so weak, that he could scarcely raise + his feet from step to step on the ladder or stairs. The + commander, seeing his weak, faltering condition, leaned over + the rail, as Wood came up, and, reaching out, took hold to + assist him, and, as he did so, the rotten bit of old moss, + which covered Mark's shoulder and back, all pulled off, and + exposed his emaciated, bony skeleton, which, in truth, was + nothing but skin and bones. The well-fed, sleek-looking sailors + seemed to look on in horror, but not more so than the + generous-hearted commander, who was moved almost to tears as he + was reaching over to help me as I came to the top of the + step-ladder. They stared at us in silent wonderment, while the + sailors looked down into our little boat with comical + curiosity." + +We need not linger over the royal reception the poor fugitives met, or +their joy as they partook of the hospitality of the commander, or even +their still greater joy when they returned to friends and comrades, who +had long mourned them as dead. From the bright termination of their +sufferings we must turn, with deep reluctance, to the story of the +unfortunate six, still in the power of the enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +FROM ATLANTA TO RICHMOND. + + +"When we resolved to break jail it was our firm belief that failure or +recapture meant death. Yet no sooner was the excitement over, and we +quietly back in prison, than hope began to whisper once more. Possibly +there was some mistake in the report which led to our desperate effort, +or, if it was indeed true, the escape of the larger part of the band +might derange the plan, or change the purpose of holding another +court-martial. It is sure that our anticipations of worse treatment were +not realized. I cannot account for the agreeable surprise we experienced +in this particular. Those who are convinced that the mitigations of our +lot were caused by any representations made by the Union authorities at +Washington after our comrades had escaped must be mistaken, because the +change took place _before one of the fugitives had reached the Union +lines_. Wilson and Wood at Washington, as well as the others of our +number who escaped, did make prompt representations to our government, +which may afterwards have been of service to us. But these could +scarcely have affected us during our stay in Atlanta, as the time was +not sufficient. Possibly, it was thought by the Confederates that the +little remnant of the band, which had already suffered so much, was not +worth persecuting further. However it is explained, the succeeding two +months we remained in Atlanta, after the attempted escape, was the least +rigorous imprisonment endured by us in the South. + +Colonel Lee thought the jail no longer safe, and ordered us to be taken +to the city barracks. These were in the centre of Atlanta, looking out +on one of its busiest public squares. Our room was also far better than +had been given to us before. It was large, well lighted, and provided +with a great open fireplace, in which a fire was kept continually +burning. Our door was never closed, but a sentinel stood in it, watching +us, and the gas was burned all the night. The Confederate soldiers +roomed all around us, and the whole large house--a former hotel, I +think--was surrounded by a line of sentinels. We were in the second +story, and our windows were not barred. We could stand by them, and +watch the busy throng outside for hours at a time. All our surroundings +were now of a soldierly and civilized character. Our treatment was also +more courteous and considerate than formerly. + +Probably much, if not all, of this change for the better may be +attributed to the character of the man in whose charge we were now +placed. Jack Wells, as he was familiarly called, had been a lieutenant +in the regular army of the United States before the war, and had not +forgotten the traditions of the service. He had no feeling of resentment +against us; on the contrary, would come around to our room and talk by +the hour, telling us some great stories of his adventures and receiving +as great in return. His worst fault was intemperance, being frequently +half drunk and not seldom going beyond that point. In these cases, and +when in a communicative mood, he would tell us that he did not care a +cent which side whipped in the war,--that he only held his present +position to avoid being conscripted, and because he preferred having a +commission as a volunteer to being compelled to fight as a private +conscript. But he was an excellent disciplinarian, and we nowhere had +less chance of escape than from under his watchful eye and among his +well-drilled soldiers. He would allow no trifling with his authority, +and was ready to punish with fearful severity, as some of our Tennessee +comrades--who were citizens, not soldiers--found. In fact, he seemed to +care very little for those who were not soldiers. + +One of these men--Mr. Pierce, who had accompanied us from Knoxville--one +day threw his allowance of provisions back again into the tray in which +it was being passed around, with a gesture of contempt, but without a +word being spoken. The supply was very scanty and bad; but, as we could +get no better, we only thought that the old man was very foolish thus to +give up the little that he was offered. But this was not the end. In a +few minutes a file of guards entered, took Pierce out, and tied his +hands before his knees, with a stick inserted across under the knees and +over the arms, in that most uncomfortable position known to soldiers as +"bucking." They left him in the cold hall all night. He was able to eat +his morning allowance without difficulty! + +The next Tennessee sufferer was a Mr. Barker. One of the guards often +used to tease the prisoners by asking them how they liked being shut up +in a prison, "playing checkers with their noses on the windows," etc. A +complaint to the commander would probably have caused a cessation of +such taunts, which it was foolish to notice in any way. But Barker +answered, that _he_ need not feel so proud, for he would certainly be +driven before long to work like a slave in the cotton-fields, to help +pay the expenses of the war. The guard reported the insult, and Barker +was taken to the punishment-room and there suspended, head downwards, +till he fainted. This was repeated two or three times, and he was then +put into a dark cell, only four feet square, without food, for +twenty-four hours. + +I was personally very fortunate here in receiving the favor of the +commander, which I used to the advantage of my comrades as well as I was +able. Having nothing to read, for the kind minister had not visited us +since the attempted escape, and being determined not to be idle, I began +to practise short-hand regularly each day. I had learned it before, and +now wrote with a pencil on any scraps of paper I could find. Wells +watched me while thus engaged, made a good deal of sport of the "spider +tracks," but came in the next day and asked if I would not do a little +writing for him. I was perfectly willing, provided it was not contrary +to my allegiance to the United States. He laughed at the qualification, +and showed me that it was the daily prison reports that he wanted made +out. I did not see that this kind of work would do any harm, and +undertook it. His office adjoined the prison room, and he gave orders +that I was to be allowed to go from one room to the other at pleasure, +but no farther. In fact, when in the office, there was always a special +guard standing at the door. A hundred schemes of escape flashed through +my brain, founded upon the additional privileges I now had; but I soon +found that the guards were instructed to watch me all the more closely +on account of my license. Wells himself laughed, and said that he would +ask no pledges of me, for it was his business to keep us, and ours to +get away--if we could! The qualification was well put. The only time the +eye of a guard was off me day or night was while in the office, and that +had only one door, by which the guard who brought me to the office +always stood till ready to take me back to the common prison room. Yet I +hoped something might occur by which I could help my comrades and +myself. + +One day I had the heartfelt pleasure of saving a man's life. While I was +in Wells' office writing a requisition for provisions a person dressed +in the uniform of a rebel officer was brought in under arrest. He +appeared to be very drunk, but remonstrated so very hard against being +put into the rooms which had common prisoners that Wells consented to +let him stay in his office, to get sober enough to give an account of +himself. He had five hundred dollars in gold, which had been taken from +him,--a marvellous possession, which Wells asked me to feel the weight +of,--but as the officer furiously demanded his money, it was given back +to him. As the charge against him had not yet been made known, Wells +believed that it was only that of drunkenness,--an offence with which he +had great sympathy. When the man got his money he sank down on a lounge +in a drunken stupor. Wells had some business to transact, and soon went +out. Sergeant White, the second in command, was with us, but he, too, +soon took his departure. I was busy writing, but, hearing a step, I +looked up and saw the stranger approaching me. A startling change had +taken place. No trace of drunkenness was visible, but in place of it a +terrible expression of anxiety and determination. I glanced about the +desk to see that the heavy inkstand was in easy reach, for I had never +seen a more desperate face. He leaned over my chair, and whispered, "You +are a prisoner?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"One they call engine thieves?" + +I nodded assent. + +"I know you," said he; "I know all about you. I was here when your +comrades were hung. Brave men they were, and the cruel deed will yet be +avenged. I am not afraid to trust you. The commander here don't know who +I am yet, but he will soon learn, and then I will have to _die_, for I +am a spy from the Federal army." Then he added, with a most appealing +look, "Can't you help me to escape, before it is too late?" + +I was amazed, and for a moment doubtful; but a few hasty questions, put +to test his knowledge of the Federal army and his present character, +set my doubts at rest. Then I asked, "What can I do for you?" + +He answered, "Can't you write me a pass and sign the commander's name to +it?" + +I shook my head. If a pass written in such circumstances had been worth +anything, I would probably have written one for myself and comrades +before that time. Wells, who did not trust me at all, had guarded that +very point in his orders. + +Then my new friend proposed that we together break past the guard and +run for it. I had no wish for such a trial with only one to help. There +was my guard at the office-door; two more guards in the hall; a +barrack-room, with always a dozen or more soldiers in it, at the head of +the stairway; two guards at the front door; and a line of sentinels +around the whole building. + +But as I glanced around the room my eye rested on a fine overcoat of +Wells' lying on the foot of the office bed, and an idea struck me. The +prisoner was a short, thick man, about the same size and build of Wells. +Said I, "Take that overcoat," pointing to it, "and throw it around you, +and just walk out as independently as though you owned the entire +establishment. It is now nearly dark, and the chances are that you will +not be halted at all." + +His countenance lighted at once. "I'll do it!" he exclaimed, with +suppressed eagerness. To fold himself in the cloak, nearly crush my hand +as he said "Thank you! Thank you!" and to open the door and walk out, +was the work of but a moment. I listened as his firm step died away +along the hall, but there was no challenge, no sound that betokened any +discovery. The soldiers, seeing the familiar coat, must have supposed +its rightful owner in it, and allowed it to pass unhindered. A moment +after Sergeant White came in. I feared he would notice the prisoner's +absence, but he did not. I got him engaged in story-telling as soon as +possible, to postpone any inquiries. For some five minutes I succeeded +very well, when Wells entered, cast an uneasy glance about the room, and +at once exclaimed, "Sergeant, where is that officer? Did you put him in +another room?" + +The sergeant answered that he had been out, and that when he returned he +saw nothing of the man. + +It was Wells' turn to be startled now. He sprang over to me and demanded +sternly, "Pittenger, where's that officer?" + +I was not in the least terrified. In fact, I was greatly amused, and for +the moment forgetting the purpose formed two months before, of always +avoiding untruth as well as all other evil things, I answered, "What +officer?" + +"That officer I put in here." + +"Oh! that drunken fellow?" + +"Yes; where is he?" + +"The last I saw of him, he picked up his coat and said he was going to +supper." + +"Going to supper, was he? Ho! I see! Sergeant, run to the guards and +tell them if they let him out I'll have every one of them hung up by the +heels." + +Wells was in a towering passion at once. The alarm was sounded, and for +a few minutes a terrible commotion prevailed, but nothing was seen of +the drunken fugitive, whose importance began to be known. Soon Wells +returned, and demanded in a peremptory tone, "Pittenger, why did not you +give the alarm when he started?'" + +I answered carelessly, "Oh! I did not know that my business in the South +was to guard prisoners." + +"Of course not," he returned; "but I wish you had called me this time." + +Then after a moment's silence, he continued, "You said he took his coat. +Had he a coat?" + +"I suppose so, sir," I returned, "or he would not have taken it." + +"He brought none in. Where did he get it?" + +"Off the foot of that bed." + +Wells sprang to his feet as quickly as if he had been galvanized, kicked +the chair on which he had been sitting clear across the room, and +exclaimed, "_My overcoat!_ sure as ----! Worth eighty dollars! The +villain!" + +No intelligence of this spy reached Atlanta while we remained there. +Wells told me that there was no doubt he had gotten entirely away. + +While in this place, I had the opportunity of learning that there were +many lovers of the old Union in Atlanta. These visited us, and, although +always in the presence of the guards, managed to express their kindness +in very tangible ways. They told us much of their hopes, and of the +strength they numbered. A certain Dr. Scott was very liberal in his +contributions to our wants. I had afterwards the pleasure of repaying +his kindness, when he had been forced to flee for his life, and arrived +destitute in the North. The money we thus obtained, together with some +small presents Captain Wells bestowed, when pleased with the writing I +did for him, gave us the means of living almost luxuriously. One dainty +I remember with especial delight. Sweet potatoes were very abundant and +cheap, and we were allowed to buy as many as our means permitted, and +roast them in the ashes of the wood fire which always glowed on our +hearth. The great mealy potatoes, raked out and dusted off and eaten +hot, constituted a feast good enough for a king! I have never since +found any sweet potatoes equal to those we devoured by the bushel in the +old Atlanta barracks. This abundant living made some amends for the six +months of famine that preceded it, and gave strength, which was still to +be sorely tested before the day of deliverance. The memory of those +beautiful autumnal days, when we could look from our unbarred windows +upon the sky and the street, when we could gather around the fire and +under the gas-jet in the evening, when hunger no longer pinched, and +when health, which I had long missed, came back, when some consideration +was shown for us even by our guards, and when visitors often whispered +words or gave signs of sympathy for our cause as well as for ourselves, +is not altogether unpleasant. True, we were still prisoners, and our +fate as uncertain as ever; but it was easy to persuade ourselves that +these more pleasant surroundings were the promise of still greater good. + +Our religious exercises were here continued as persistently and publicly +as in the jail. There were serious difficulties to overcome. Some of our +own party seemed to consider that our release from the dark cells of a +criminal prison removed the necessity of morning and evening prayer. We +were not alone, and the soldiers who were "off duty" came to our door +when it was first reported that "the Yankees were having +prayer-meeting," and greatly annoyed us by interruptions and by a +continual series of comments upon the exercises. We endured this for a +time, but at last I appealed to Wells. He gave us protection from the +guard, saying that he could not stand praying himself, but if we could +get any good out of it we were welcome, and should not be disturbed. The +opposition of the prisoners soon gave way also, and our morning and +evening devotions were seasons of great interest. Even prisoners from +other rooms came to their open doors that they might hear the reading +and prayers, and join with us in song. Faith, hope, and courage were +sustained by this recognition of God more than by all other agencies +combined. + +An effort was here made to get recruits out of the prison for the +Confederate army. Especially were the regular soldiers who were in our +company importuned. But our band were not asked. I presume they thought +we could not be trusted. Had the offer now been made I would not have +accepted, though I would have done so without hesitation at any time +preceding the death of our friends. Now my religious principles would +have prevented me from taking the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy +for the mere purpose of breaking it by desertion. But I was glad the +temptation was not offered to any of our band. + +At length there came to us most startling news,--a court-martial was +again convened! This was the first since the ever-memorable one at +Knoxville, and we awaited its action with breathless interest. A week of +sickening suspense passed and no summons came for us. Had we been +ordered out for trial we had resolved to try again to escape, even if +the effort only resulted in throwing us on the bayonets of the +surrounding guards. But when news came that the court had adjourned, we +were as much rejoiced as we had been fearful before. It did look as if +they intended to persecute the feeble remnant of our party no further; +and passing from the extreme of despondency to that of hope, we began +once more to indulge the blissful expectations of exchange. But our time +had not yet come. + +The weeks rolled on. Few things worthy of note occurred. The same +monotony which makes prison-life so dreary robs it of interest when +recorded. We would rise in the morning from our hard bed--the floor--and +wash ourselves by pouring water on each other's hands; then eat our +scanty rations when brought. Then the effort was to kill time until +dinner came, which was about four o'clock. It was not abundant, but if +we had a bundle of roasted sweet potatoes to add from our own stores, as +often happened, it was not so bad. Then we did anything to keep busy +until the gas was lit. This was kept burning all night, not from any +favor to us, but only that the guards might see that we were not +arranging any plan for escaping. + +This was the most cheerful hour of the day, for under the soft +inspiration of the gaslight conversation flowed freely, and all the +incidents of our past lives were rehearsed. Wells or some other rebel +officer would often enter and talk with us. Arguments and discussion on +all manner of subjects were introduced, and often continued until the +midnight bells were striking in the town. Then would come our evening +prayers as we lay down to dream often of home and friends and freedom. +In the morning the same round recommenced. Thus days glided into weeks, +and weeks passed into months. The golden hues of autumn deepened into +the sombre colors of early winter, and still we were in Atlanta. It +almost seemed as if we would never be anywhere else. + +At length there came a day of wonderful joy. A number of officers, +including the provost-marshal, came to the barracks, and, inquiring out +our room, had us all drawn up in line. One of them stepped forth and +addressed us, saying that he had good news to communicate, which they +had been hoping to receive for some time past. He continued, "You have +all been exchanged, and all that now remains is to send you out of our +territory by way of Richmond and City Point." + +Each of them then came along our line and shook hands with us,--the +Tennesseeans and regular soldiers included, twenty in all,--offering +congratulations on the happy terminations of our trials, and wishing us +much joy on our arrival at home. + +Our feelings were indescribable, but strangely mingled. There was an +overwhelming rush of emotions which forbade utterance,--rapture +exceedingly great, and yet mingled with a deep touch of sorrow that our +seven dead--murdered--comrades were not with us to share the joy of this +hour. And the eight also who had managed to get out of the clutches of +the rebels by their own daring,--we were uneasy about them. Only a day +or two before we had seen in an Atlanta paper, obtained, as usual, +through the negroes, who were waiters here as well as at the jail, an +article clipped from the _Cincinnati Commercial_, telling of the arrival +of Porter and Wollam at Corinth, as narrated above. Of the others we +had received no reliable information, but supposed that some of them at +least had perished. The provost-marshal told us that three had been shot +and left in the woods, but we did not fully credit him. + +Notwithstanding all this, the prospect of liberty was enough to make our +hearts overflow with gratitude to God. I was so agitated that when Wells +asked me to write a requisition for provisions for the trip to Richmond +I could not do it, and had to transfer the work to more steady hands. It +was nine o'clock in the morning when we received the glad news, and we +were to start for home--_via_ Richmond--at seven in the evening. As the +time for departure drew near, we again lit the gas, and made up a fire, +the ruddy blaze of which was an emblem of cheerfulness, to take a +farewell view of the room in which we had spent so many not altogether +unhappy hours. Often afterwards did we remember that bright hour of +expectation. + +We were forbidden to take any blankets with us, being told that we would +soon be where blankets were plenty. The pieces of carpet we had managed +to secure as blankets were therefore left behind, with the exception of +two small strips, which were afterwards very serviceable. A great +surprise met us when we were ordered to start. We were not tied! This +was the first journey on which we had been sent so carelessly, and it +afforded the strongest presumption that the exchange was a reality. + +All was now in readiness for our departure, and we took a last look at +rebel Atlanta. The guards fell in on each side of us, and we wended our +way along the dark streets. Wells, even drunker than usual, accompanied +us to the cars, where he hiccoughed an affectionate farewell. I carried +away one good article of dress,--a nice felt hat. The day before Wells +clapped it on my head, telling me that I looked better in it than in my +own shabby cap. I supposed that it was only a freak, and that he would +reclaim it again, but he did not. It was much out of suit with my other +garments, but I wore it until I had a chance to sell it for a great +price--in Confederate money! + +Sergeant White commanded our escort. He had always been kind to us, and, +like his superior, did not care which side came out best in the war, so +long as he was not hurt. The guard were only ten in number, while we +were twenty and unbound,--a ridiculous falling off from former +precautions. + +We were crowded into box-cars, and soon began to suffer severely with +cold, for the night air was most piercing. It was the 3rd of December, +and we had only summer clothing, which was, in addition, very ragged. +About three o'clock in the morning we left the train at Dalton to wait +for another train to Cleveland, as we were not to go through +Chattanooga. This was our last passage over the railroad we had so much +wished to destroy nine months before. + +The stars were sparkling in night and frosty brilliancy. When we +stopped, and the keen and icy wind cut almost through us. We nearly +perished before the train arrived, and enabled us to continue our +journey. + +In the morning we found that our three days' rations, which were to last +to Richmond, were barely sufficient for breakfast. We ate everything, +and trusted to buying something with the remaining money our Atlanta +Union friends had given us. When that failed we had our old +resource,--the endurance of hunger. + +During this day's ride on the cars, we discussed the question as to +whether it would not be best to capture the guard and escape. The task +did not seem hard. The guards were very careless, and we could at any +time have had as many guns as they had. They sat on the same seats with +us, and were often asleep. Several times on the trip we awakened the +sentinels by the doors as the corporal approached, thus saving them from +punishment. Once Sergeant White laughingly told us that we could escape +if we tried, but that he thought it would be more pleasant for us to +ride around by way of Richmond rather than to walk over the mountains on +our own responsibility. This very security lulled our suspicions, and +made us shrink from undertaking an escape which would have involved +severe hardship in mountain travel, if nothing worse. Besides, we no +longer had the same homogeneous party as in Atlanta. + +In the afternoon we passed Knoxville, and were glad to keep right on. +Then came the town of Greenville, the home of our former companion, the +heroic Captain Fry. About nightfall we reached the Virginia line, and +ran steadily on. It was a beautiful night; the moon shone over the pale, +frosty hills with a mellow radiance which made the whole landscape +enchanting. The shifting scenes of mountain, stream, or ghostly wood +seemed to me like a panorama of human life. The morning dawned upon us, +still steaming slowly through the romantic valleys of Virginia. + +The next day was wet and dreary. Our car leaked, our fire went out, and +we were thoroughly uncomfortable. By evening we had reached the mountain +city of Lynchburg, and discovered that we had missed the railroad +connection. This led to a delay of twenty-four hours, which we greatly +regretted, being very anxious to get speedily through to our own lines. +We had all our plans laid for the happy day of our arrival at +Washington. + +We were quartered in a large bare room belonging to the barracks, where +some of the worst criminals of the Confederacy were also confined. There +was a great stove in the centre of the room, but, as no fire was put in +it, we had to endure another night of dampness and cold. The only +consolation was found in the thought that we would not have many more +such nights to spend before reaching home. I paced the floor till nearly +morning, and saw a good many amusing incidents. Many of the rebels were +drunk and disposed to mischief. One man diverted himself by walking +around the room on the forms of those who were trying to sleep. In his +round he stepped on Bensinger,--one of our party. The infliction was +patiently endured the first time, but as the sot came again, Bensinger +was on the lookout, and, springing to his feet, gave him a blow that +stretched him out on the floor. Some of his companions rushed forward to +resent the just punishment, but Bensinger's friends also were prepared, +and there was a good prospect of a general fray. But, as soon as the +ruffians understood the position, they retired to their own side of the +room. + +In the raw and chill morning I found here some of the most virulent +enemies of the Union I had yet seen. A prisoner loudly declared that no +quarter ought to be given in the war,--said that he had advocated +raising the black flag from the first, asserting that "if it had been +raised the war would have been over long since." + +"No doubt of it," I replied. "In that case the whole Southern race would +have been exterminated long before this." + +That mode of ending the war had not entered his mind, and he did not +appear pleased with the suggestion. + +A little before dark the next evening we again started, and now had +good, comfortable cars,--the best we had enjoyed on the route. But we +only ran a short distance to the junction, where we had to leave them +and wait the arrival of another train. Here was the best chance of +escape we had yet found. The night was pitchy dark, and so cold that the +guards built a great fire on the border of a strip of woodland, and +allowed us to help in gathering withered sticks to replenish it. They +scarcely appeared to notice us, and all that was necessary for escape +was to give the word and run for it. Nothing held us but the absolute +confidence of a speedy exchange, and, depending upon that, the golden +opportunity was neglected. Of course, the perils and hardships of +wandering through the Virginia mountains in the depth of winter would +have been severe, but the start would have been mere child's play. Oh! +how bitterly we afterwards regretted that we had not darted into the +depths of the forest and sought to effect our own exchange! + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +LIBBY AND CASTLE THUNDER. + + +In a few hours the train for which we waited arrived, and, passing +onward without further noticeable events, long before morning we were in +Richmond. There was the same intense and piercing cold which had been +the main element in our suffering during this journey, but the sky was +clear, and the rebel capital was distinctly seen in the sparkling +moonlight. Everything looked grim and silent through the frosty air, and +our teeth chattered fast and loud as we walked up a street of the +sleeping city. + +But the sergeant in command of our party did not know what to do with +us. We hoped that some arrangements had been made for forwarding us +directly to City Point, the place of exchange, so that we might that +very day behold once more the stars and stripes. Yet we knew it was more +probable that some detention would occur. The sergeant left us where we +were while he started in search of the provost-marshal's office for +instructions. We endeavored to shelter ourselves as best we could from +the unbearable cold, which really threatened to prove fatal. Two pieces +of ragged carpet were all the protection we had, in addition to our +well-worn summer clothing, and we spread these over our heads as we +huddled together in a solid mass in the angle of a brick wall. It was +astonishing what a relief this afforded,--especially to those who were +in the inside of the _pack_, where I happened to be. Here we shivered +till the sergeant returned. He had found the headquarters of the prison +department and conducted us thither. + +Several streets were threaded in the moonlight, and when the office was +reached, to add to our discomfort, it was destitute of fire. We stood in +the empty room, looking at the grim portraits of rebel generals for an +hour or two, until the marshal entered. He did not deign to speak to us, +but broke open a sealed letter Sergeant White handed him and read aloud +that ten disloyal Tennesseeans, four prisoners of war, and _six engine +thieves_ were hereby forwarded to Richmond by order of General +Beauregard. The old name applied to us was no small shock. We had hoped +that the title of "engine thieves" had been left behind, and that from +henceforth we would be only called "prisoners of war." But we still +trusted to be soon beyond their lines, and it would make no real +difference what name they exchanged us under. The marshal then gave his +orders, and we were conducted onward. + +By this time it was daylight, December 7, 1862. Richmond looked still +more cheerless in the cold morning than in the moonlight. + +A long march through a number of streets brought us to the banks of the +James River, where we halted in front of a most desolate-looking but +very large brick building, situated near the water, and surrounded by a +formidable circle of guards. This we supposed to be a prison, and soon +learned that we were right. It was the famous LIBBY. + +We entered, were conducted up a flight of steps, and reached a vast, +open room, where we saw, almost for the first time since our capture, +the old, familiar United States uniform, and were soon in the midst of +over a hundred United States soldiers. + +Our greeting at first was not very friendly, as we still wore the +ragged clothing that had served us all summer; but as soon as our true +character and history were known, a most cordial welcome was extended. +There was only one small stove in the cold, empty room, around which +part of the inmates were huddled. But with the characteristic courtesy +and chivalry of the American soldier they cleared a place beside it for +us. When I got warm I had leisure to look around. + +The prospect was not very cheerful. Above, the floor had been taken out, +leaving only the rafters between us and the roof. The window-sashes were +all removed, and the cold wind whistled in from the river far more +sharply than was consistent with comfort. Only a very scanty amount of +fuel was allowed per day, and when that was exhausted they had to endure +the freezing as best they could. The room was too large and open to be +warmed throughout, and only a few could gather around the stove. The +food was neither better nor worse than in other Southern prisons. +Probably among all the prisoners, past and present, we were the only +ones who were glad to be there. We regarded it as the sure pledge that +our foes had not deceived us in their promise of an exchange, for these +men, with whom we found ourselves, were actually going northward on the +next truce-boat, which was daily expected. What mattered the cold wind +or the bare floor with such a hope? We felt that we were no longer held +as criminals, but were now in the common prison, with other soldiers, +sure that the day of final release could not be far off. What wonder if +our joy was too deep for words, and we could only turn it over in our +minds, and tremble lest it should prove too delightful to be realized? +The vision of freedom was so warm and vivid that all hardships were +forgotten. + +It was also very agreeable to talk with our comrades who had recently +been captured, and get news of the progress of the war from a Federal +stand-point. All the intelligence we had obtained for a long period +came colored by Southern prejudices. In such communion with friends who +were still confident of success in the great conflict the time passed +rapidly. + +But in the midst of our conversation, probably two hours after our +entrance, an officer came to the door and called for the men who had +just been admitted. Every one in the room but ourselves had taken the +customary oath of parole, not to serve against the Confederacy until +regularly exchanged; and supposing that omission in our case was about +to be supplied, we gladly responded. The guard led us down to the +entrance hall and called over our names. The four prisoners of war who +had come from Atlanta with us were sent up-stairs again, while we were +turned into an immense, but dark and low, room on the left of the +stairway and the door locked behind us. + +This was an awful moment. The full meaning of this separation burst upon +us. We had been taken away from those who were to be exchanged and put +in a room reserved for those regarded as criminals. We had been bitterly +deceived, and our hopes at once fell from the highest heaven to which +they had soared. A cold sense of misery and despair came over us. No +wonder we looked at each other with pale, troubled countenances in the +dim light, and asked questions none were prepared to solve. + +But for one moment only were we thus crushed; the next we eagerly sought +an avenue for hope. Perhaps they did not choose to recognize us as +soldiers, and merely wished to exchange us as civilians,--a matter of +perfect indifference to us, provided we were exchanged at all. We looked +around to see what foundation we could build on for this pleasant +conjecture. + +Our present apartment contained even more prisoners than that up-stairs. +They were not Northern soldiers, but were from all parts of the South. +Some of them had been in prison ever since the war broke out, while a +few had been arrested for supposed anti-slavery sentiments even before +that event, and had lived in loathsome dungeons ever since. There had +been a reign of terror in the Southern States preceding the war, as well +as after the opening of the contest, which differed from the similar +terror in the French revolution mainly in being less theatrical, and in +striking humbler victims. A few Northern soldiers were here who had been +put in for attempting to escape or for other breaches of prison +discipline. Every man in the room had some kind of "a charge" against +him. These facts were not calculated to strengthen hopes of exchange, or +even weaken fears of further punishment. + +In the mean time breakfast was brought in. It consisted of a small +quantity of thin soup and a very scanty allowance of bread. To our +delight the latter was made of wheat flour instead of corn-meal; and all +the time we remained in Richmond we received good bread, though it was +very deficient in quantity. + +While we were talking with our new room-mates an officer again entered, +and inquired for the men who had last come in. We responded promptly, +for hope was again whispering in our hearts that probably there had been +some mistake, which would now be rectified, and we be taken up-stairs +again. But no such good fortune was in store,--rather the reverse. We +were taken out of doors, where a guard waited to remove us to another +prison. Again our hearts sank. + +We crossed the street and marched westward, halting at a +desolate-looking building, a few hundred yards from Libby, which we +afterwards learned was "CASTLE THUNDER," the far-famed Bastile of the +South. Through a guarded door we entered a reception-room and waited for +some time. In this interval a fierce-looking, black-whiskered, bustling +individual, who I afterwards learned was Chillis, the prison commissary, +came by and, looking at us, exclaimed,-- + +"Bridge-burners, are they? They ought to hang, every man of them; so +ought everybody who does anything against the Confederacy." The latter +proposition, with the change of one word, precisely suited my own +feeling then. + +Soon we were ordered up-stairs. Up we went, passing by a room filled +with a howling and yelling multitude, who made such an outrageous racket +that I was compelled to put my hands to my ears. A score of voices +brawled with all the power of their lungs, "Fresh fish! Fresh fish!" The +same exclamations greeted every new arrival. + +Here we were searched, as usual, to see if we had anything contraband, +or rather, anything worth taking from us. I had obtained a large knife +in Atlanta, which I managed to slip up my sleeve, and by carefully +turning my arm when they felt for concealed weapons, succeeded in +keeping it out of the way. + +The examination over, I supposed they would put us in the bedlam we had +just passed. They did no better, for we were put into a _stall_ beside +the large room. I use the word "stall" advisedly, for no other is so +appropriate. It was one of a range partitioned off from the room in +which were the noisy miscreants, and from each other, by boards nailed +to the upright timbers, with cracks wide enough to let the wind +circulate freely everywhere. Most of the windows of the large room were +out, which greatly increased the cold. Our stall was only eight or nine +feet wide, and perhaps sixteen in length. It was perfectly bare of +furniture,--not having even a bench or any means of making a fire. It +was in the third story, and had one redeeming quality,--it commanded a +view of the street, but there was a guard below, who had orders to shoot +at any head that might be protruded from the window. + +In this cheerless place our party of six, with nine +Tennesseeans,--fifteen in all,--were confined during the months of +December and January. The first day our spirits sank lower than ever +before. All our bright hopes were dashed to the ground, and there +seemed every reason to believe that we were doomed to this dreary abode +for the whole duration of the war, if, indeed, we escaped sharing with +our murdered friends the horrors of a scaffold. It was too disheartening +for philosophy, and that day was one of the blackest gloom. We seldom +spoke, and when we did, it was to denounce our own folly in suffering +ourselves to be deluded to Richmond by falsehood. I cannot say at this +time whether the false declaration concerning the exchange was intended +to deceive or was only the result of some misunderstanding; but then we +had no doubt it was deliberate treachery. Not being able to spare enough +guards to make us secure, we felt that they had deceived us to this +terrible prison, which we might have avoided by seizing one of the many +opportunities for escape our journey afforded. But it was no use +lamenting; all we could do was to register a vow never to be so deceived +again. One resource remained. It was my turn to lead our devotions, +which we had continued faithfully. If I ever prayed with fervor it was +in this hour of disappointment and dread. I tried to roll our cares upon +the Lord, and at least partly succeeded, for I rose from my knees +convinced that we had one Friend who had not forsaken us, and who had +often made His children rejoice in worse situations than ours. The next +morning we awoke quite cheerful and nerved for any fate that might yet +be in store. + +The routine of prison-life here differed but little from that in +Atlanta, though our condition was far less comfortable. In the morning +we were taken down to the court (the building was square and built with +an open space in the centre) to wash, and were immediately taken back to +our stall and locked up. The principal difference arose from our lack of +fire. No other physical suffering I endured in the whole imprisonment +was more intolerable than this perpetual freezing. We had no opportunity +for those pleasant fireside chats which had done so much to make our +days endurable in the Atlanta barracks. In their stead, as the darkness +and coldness of night drew on, we were compelled to pace the floor, +trying to keep warm; and, when sleep became a necessity, we would all +pile down in a huddle, as pigs sometimes do, and spread over us the thin +protection of our two bits of carpet. Thus we would lie until the cold +could be endured no longer, then rise and resume our walk. When the +weather became warmer than usual we would sleep much, to make up for +wakefulness during the colder nights. + +We never omitted our public prayers. For a while the crowd outside in +the large room, which was composed of the very scum of Southern society, +such as deserters from the army, gamblers, and cut-throats from the +large cities, gave us all the annoyance in their power, by shouting all +kinds of derisive epithets through the cracks in the board partition +while we were kneeling; but, finding their efforts ineffectual, they +finally gave over, and left us to pursue our own way in peace. We found, +afterwards, when, for a short time, we were put in with them, that they +respected us all the more for our perseverance. + +A few days after our arrival we noticed a great stir at Libby Prison, +which was in plain view. A truce-boat had arrived at the place of +exchange. Soon a body of prisoners were marched up the street by us, and +our four Atlanta companions with them. As they passed by they waved +their hands to us in farewell and continued their journey to freedom. +They were not disappointed, and, as I have since learned, they were soon +with their friends at home. The representations made at Atlanta were +true as regarded these four men; the falsehood was in making us believe +that _we_ stood on the same footing. We felt glad for their sakes; but +the parting, to us, was very painful, and we turned away from the window +with something of the gloom that had darkened the first day of our abode +in this prison. + +One great privilege we had here,--a delightful oasis in the dead +sameness that settled over our days. This was found in reading the daily +newspapers. We were not now forbidden their perusal, and some one in the +large room had always money enough to buy a paper and charity enough to +lend it. As soon as we received it, all the party would gather around +while it was read aloud. Each item of importance was eagerly discussed. +The news was often exciting, as the Union commander, Burnside, had just +made an advance, and we breathed hearty prayers that he would be +successful in reaching Richmond. Probably our enemies would, in that +case, try to remove us farther South; but we had firmly resolved to +escape in such a contingency or die in the attempt. We would not allow +ourselves again to be moved from one prison to another without risking +everything for freedom. + +But soon came the sad news of Burnside's bloody repulse at +Fredericksburg,--sad to us, but causing the greatest rejoicing among our +enemies, who felt that they had escaped a great danger. If Union defeats +diffused gloom throughout the whole of the loyal States, there was yet +no place where they were so regretfully and bitterly felt as in Southern +prisons. + +Here I sold the hat I had obtained from Commander Wells in Atlanta, and +made an effort to invest the money in books, for which I was more hungry +than for bread. But the volumes I wanted were not to be found in +Richmond. Chillis, the cross commissary who wished us hung on our first +arrival, but who was, nevertheless, the kindest official in the prison, +made the effort to obtain them; but when he failed, we took instead some +very small cakes, at ten cents each. These were a great addition to our +rations for a day or two. + +The desire to escape once more became intense. Being in the third story, +we could only get out by passing at each door successive relays of +guards, all of whom had reserves ready to co-operate with them in case +of alarm. Our room was nearest the jailer's office, and on the other +side there ran a row of rooms filled with all kinds of prisoners,--some +held as spies and others as murderers. + +The nearest of these rooms to our own was occupied by Federal soldiers +accused of various offences. Captain Webster was one of these. He had on +one occasion been sent to capture a notorious guerrilla captain named +Simpson, who was then hiding within the Union lines. When he was found, +Webster summoned him to surrender. Instead of doing so he fired his +pistol and started to run, but Webster also fired and mortally wounded +him. + +When Webster was afterwards captured by the Confederates, he was charged +with the murder of Simpson, and confined in the room next our own. He +was finally hanged, but in the official report the offence was changed, +in a manner not uncommon with Confederate authorities, for the more +plausible one of violating his parole. + +At this time Webster was very anxious for an attempt at escape. A plan +was soon arranged, and the evening before Christmas selected as the +time. The citizen prisoners in the room below were more favorably +situated than ourselves for beginning the enterprise. We had opened +secret communications with them, and the ramifications of the plot +reached every room in the prison. The signal agreed upon was the cry of +"fire!" When this alarm--always startling, but doubly so in a crowded +prison--was given, we were to rush upon the guards and overpower them. +They only numbered about thirty, while we had over a hundred and fifty +men in the plot. After capturing the guard, we still had the very +serious task of getting out of the guarded and fortified city. It is not +probable that a very great number could have succeeded in doing this. + +That Christmas-eve was not much like Christmas at home. We made +everything ready, and anxiously waited for the thrilling alarm of +"fire!" which we would have echoed at the top of our voices, and then +burst off the door of our stall and flung ourselves on the guard. I had +no doubt that we could thus break open the strongest prison in the +Confederacy; but as to any large number escaping to the Union lines I +was less confident. The hours rolled on and midnight came,--the hour +fixed for the attack. But we waited in vain. No signal was given. The +inmates in the room below had failed in courage at the critical moment +and resolved to postpone the attempt. + +Not yet discouraged, we determined to make another trial the very next +night. Captain Webster was appointed leader, as we felt sure that he +would not falter. The locks were taken off all the side rooms except +ours, which was so near the station of the guard that it could not be +removed without great danger of discovery. We cared but little for this. +A long board which supported our water-bucket afforded a convenient +battering-ram, with which we felt sure of being able to deal with our +door. + +Some of the inmates did not wish to run the fearful hazard, but were +very kind to those of us who did, supplying us with serviceable shoes +and taking our worn-out ones in return. + +Again we waited for the signal. Four of us held the long board, and felt +sure that one blow would dash our door into the middle of the room. + +The other small rooms were soon vacated, the movement being concealed +from the observation of the guards by the inmates of the large room, +into which all the others entered, crowding up around the doors. + +For an instant all was silent. We lifted our hearts in mental prayer to +God that he would be with us and preserve us through the coming strife, +and if consistent with his high will, permit us to regain our liberty. + +What can cause the delay? Minute after minute passes, and the dead +silence is broken only by the throbbing of our own hearts. We have +counted the cost, and are ready for the strife which shall lead us to +grapple, with naked arms, the shining bayonets of the guards. Some will +certainly fall, but we trust that others will regain the unutterable +blessing of liberty. + +But now we see our friends _creeping back to their rooms_! We grind our +teeth with rage and chagrin, but soon hear the explanation, which makes +us believe that the Lord is indeed watching over us. + +Just as the leader was ready to give the signal, a friend pressed to his +side and informed him that we were betrayed, and that the enemy were on +the watch for us. From a window in the far corner of the room a force of +at least eighty men could be seen drawn up before the prison-door. The +story continued that orders had been given to shoot down every one who +attempted to escape, while another detachment was to close in behind and +make an indiscriminate massacre. Had we carried out our plan, the guard +would have yielded before our rush until we had been fully drawn into +the trap, when they hoped to make such a slaughter as would be a +perpetual warning to prison-breakers. + +When I first heard this account I thought it the invention of some +weak-nerved individual who wished to avoid the danger of our scheme. But +it was perfectly true. The next day the newspapers of Richmond contained +a full _exposé_ of the whole affair, and Captain Alexander, the tyrant +who commanded the prison, threatened to have every one engaged in it +tied up and whipped. But he finally changed his mind. A nominal +prisoner, who was really a spy in the service of the authorities, had +contrived to get into the plot, and had reported it to his employers. +This was the last attempt at prison-breaking in which I was concerned. + +In Richmond there was a pretence of allowing prisoners to correspond +with their friends in the North,--of course, subject to the inspection +of the prison officials. From Libby Prison some letters did go safely. +We also tried writing, making our expressions very guarded, but, so far +as I have ever heard, none of our correspondence was forwarded beyond +the lines. I was providentially afforded a better opportunity. Some of +the prisoners captured at the battle of Murfreesborough were brought to +Richmond for exchange, and were kept overnight in a room in the basement +of Castle Thunder. When in the court as usual in the morning, I asked a +good-natured Irishman of their number if he would carry a letter and +mail it for me after getting to loyal territory. He cheerfully +consented, and I pencilled a note to my father on the fly-leaf of a book +and, watching an opportunity when unobserved, gave it to him. He +concealed it until out of rebel power, and duly committed it to the +mail. The sensation may be imagined which it produced among my own +friends and those of other members of the party, as nothing had been +heard from us since the October escape, and we had long been given over +as dead. Though the note was very hastily written, I copy it here +without change, as showing the feeling experienced at that time. +Something of the hopefulness and lightness of the tone resulted from the +wish to cheer those addressed. + + "RICHMOND, VA., January 6, 1863. + + "DEAR FATHER,--I take this opportunity of writing by a paroled + prisoner to let you know that I am well and doing as well as + could be expected. I have seen some rather hard times, but the + worst is past. Our lives are now safe, but we will be kept + during the war, unless something lucky turns up for us. There + are six of our original railroad party here yet. Seven were + executed in June, and eight escaped in October. + + "I stand the imprisonment pretty well. The worst of it is to + hear of our men [this refers to the Union army] getting whipped + so often. I hear all the news here: read three or four papers a + day. I even know that Bingham was beat in the last election, + for which I am very sorry. + + "The price of everything here is awful. It costs thirty cents + to send a letter. This will account for my not writing to all + my friends I Give my sincere love to them, and tell them to + write to me. + + "You may write by leaving the letter unsealed, putting in + nothing that will offend the Secesh, and directing to Castle + Thunder, Va. I want to know the private news,--how many of my + friends have fallen. Also tell me who has been drafted in our + neighborhood, who married, and who like to be. Also, if you + have a gold dollar at hand, slip it into the letter,--not more, + as it might tempt the Secesh to _hook_ it. I have tried to send + word through to you several times, but there is now a better + chance of communicating since we came from Atlanta to Richmond. + + "No doubt you would all like to see me again, but let us have + patience. Many a better man than I am has suffered more, and + many parents are mourning for their children without the hope + of seeing them again. So keep your courage up, and do not be + uneasy about me. Write as soon as you can, and tell all my + friends to do the same. + + "Ever yours, + "WILLIAM PITTENGER. + + "To THOMAS PITTENGER, + "New Somerset, Jefferson Co., Ohio." + +The belief expressed in the above letter of imprisonment during the war +was thought by the writer to be most probable. No word was spoken either +of exchange or of court-martial. The prices referred to were in +Confederate money, which was now greatly depreciated. The little we had +brought from Atlanta rapidly melted away, procuring us very little +addition to our meagre fare. We still hoped for great Union victories +and a speedy termination of the war. But at the opening of the year 1863 +the prospect was dark indeed. + +About the 1st of February the range of side rooms in which we were +confined was wanted for hospital purposes. The prison hospital had been +located in the garret above, but disease increased to such an extent +that its accommodations were no longer sufficient. These chill and +comfortless rooms had but little adaptation to their new purpose, and +hastened the release of many a poor unfortunate by the mercy of death. +Disease was now making fearful havoc. The hardships of prison-life and +the starvation diet prepared the way for every contagion. Smallpox broke +out, and prevailed to such an extent that the whole town was alarmed. +The prisoners were vaccinated by the wholesale, but this necessary +precaution caused great additional suffering. Men died in every room, +and the visiting physician came each morning to remove to the hospitals +those who showed marks of the dreaded pestilence. It would scarcely be +believed that some prisoners actually counterfeited smallpox in order to +be sent to the smallpox hospital, where they would have a better +opportunity for escape. But escaping had become a regular mania, and all +possible means were employed to effect it. + +No one of our party of six took the pestilence, though two suffered very +severely from the vaccine virus. But the prevalence of disease did us a +good service in securing our removal from the narrow stall to the +comparative freedom of the room outside. + +This was a great change, and did seem like freedom by contrast. From +this time the isolation of our prison-life was at an end. I have spoken +of the "room," but the term is scarcely accurate. The partitions had +been taken out or never inserted in this upper floor, and the prisoners +could go from one end of the building to the other, but with guards +stationed at every door and watching every window outside. In a far +corner there was a stove,--the first fire we had felt since leaving +Libby two months before. It did not suffice to warm half the people +around it, and these were very quarrelsome, but it was a great luxury to +be occasionally warm. + +The amusements of the hundreds who had been gathered into this +receptacle of humanity were very _striking_, if not elegant. When a +dense crowd had gathered around the stove, some person outside--usually +one of a large group of very mischievous Irish-men--would cry, +"Char-rge, me boys!" and a solid column of perhaps fifty men would rush +against the group around the stove, knocking men in all directions, +endangering limbs, and raising a perfect storm of profanity. Fights were +very frequent, and it only needed the addition of intoxicating liquor to +make the place a perfect pandemonium. As it was, the interference of the +guard was often required to preserve order. Our party, however, always +stood together, and were thus able to protect themselves. + +The evenings were a compensation for the turmoil and quarrelling of the +day. After all who possessed blankets had rolled themselves up and laid +down to rest on the floor, some of the worst rowdies, who had been +annoying and persecuting their fellow-prisoners all day, would gather +around the stove and appear in a new character,--that of story-tellers. +Old Irish legends, and some of the finest fairy-tales to which I have +ever listened, were brought forth, and the greater part of the night was +often passed in such discourse. But the approach of day put an end to +the romantic disposition of these rude bards and left them ill ruffians +as before. + +We soon wearied of this perpetual ferment and excitement, and learning +that there was one room in the prison occupied principally by Union men, +petitioned to be placed with them. To our surprise this request was +granted, and we were taken down to the ground floor, and placed in a +large, dingy room on the level of the street. The windows were not only +secured by crossing bars, but additionally darkened by fine woven wire. +The refuse tobacco-stems--the building was an old tobacco +manufactory--had been thrown into this room, and were now gathered into +a great heap in one corner, occupying more than a fourth part of the +entire apartment. This filthy stuff--for such it was, having been +trodden underfoot for years--was not without its uses for the +tobacco-lovers of the party. + +But this dungeon had ample compensations for its darkness and dinginess. +It contained a stove, and was kept quite warm. Thus the terrible +suffering from cold was now ended. There was also good society +here,--nearly a hundred Union men from different parts of the +South,--all intensely patriotic, and many of them possessing great +intelligence. The rude, wild element which dominated in the third floor +was in complete subordination on the first. + +It would be easy to fill a volume with stories told us by the loyal +citizens confined in this room. One or two may serve as specimens. I +became very intimate with a Scotchman named Miller, from Texas. He told +me of the beginning of the reign of terror, which prepared the way for +secession. The rumor, in Miller's neighborhood, was first spread of an +intended slave insurrection. Weapons, and in some cases poison, were +secreted, to be afterwards found at the right time. Some slaves were +next whipped until, under the torture, they would confess to the +intended insurrection, and implicate the most prominent opponents of +secession. This was enough to drive the populace to madness. The fear of +servile insurrections has always aroused the worst passions of +slaveholding countries. Slaves and white Unionists were now hung up to +the same trees, and the work went on until all who opposed the +withdrawal of the State from the old Union were treated as criminals. It +is not strange that slavery thus furnished the means as well as the +occasion of rebellion. + +Miller, being an outspoken opponent of secession, was seized, and sent +eastward, accused of treason against the Confederacy. Twice he made his +escape, and when recaptured told, each time, a different story. At +Richmond, when brought up for examination, he merely said, "I told you +all about my case before." The examining officer, who was very busy and +a little in liquor, took him at his word and ordered him back to prison. +At length he was included with many others in a special exchange. + +A few Union soldiers, besides ourselves, were in this room. There was a +young and adventurous scout from the Potomac army, Charlie Marsh by +name, who had been sent a short distance inside the rebel lines to burn +an important bridge. While on his way, with a gray coat--the rebel +color--thrown over his own uniform, he managed to get some important +information regarding the enemy, which he committed to writing. In this +perilous position he was captured, and the papers, which he was not able +to destroy, determined his character as a spy. A drum-head court-martial +convicted him, and he was sent with a strong guard to Richmond for +execution. While on the way the sergeant in charge got an opportunity to +drink, and soon became very careless. Marsh could not escape; but, +watching his chance, slipped from the sergeant's pocket the package +containing the report of the trial and sentence, and dropped them, +unobserved, into a ditch by the wayside. + +When he arrived in Richmond, the sergeant could give the prison +authorities no information further than that his prisoner was a Yankee +he had been told to bring to them. The drunkard was reprimanded, and the +authorities sent back to the army for the missing information. Pending +its arrival, Marsh was put into our room, instead of being confined +separately and securely, as would have been the case if his sentence had +been known. When the evidence against him arrived, the commanding +officer entered the room with a guard and called his name. This was +Charlie's last chance for life, and shrewdly was it improved! A man had +died in the prison the night before, and the body had not yet been +removed. Charlie promptly responded, "Oh, that fellow is dead?" pointing +to the corpse. + +"Died, has he? the rascal! We'd 'a hung him this week and saved him the +trouble if he had only held on," growled the officer. + +No prisoner felt called upon to expose the deception, and the officer +departed and reported accordingly. Marsh continued to answer whenever +the dead man's name was called, and was finally exchanged in his place. +I once met him since the close of the war. He was then in congenial +employment as a government detective. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +SICKNESS AND LIBERTY. + + +In February the attempt was made to persuade the Union men of our prison +room to enlist in the rebel army. Over twenty recruits were obtained. +They were loyal in heart to the old government, but so worn down and +dispirited by suffering that they could resist no longer. The refusal of +the remainder to take the same step seemed to exasperate the prison +officials, and new hardships were devised for us. Captain Alexander, the +tyrant who had charge of the prison, issued an order for taking out a +working-party to perform menial service each day. At first volunteers +were called for, and the desire to be in the open air was so great that +they were readily obtained, notwithstanding the conditions of the work +were far from being pleasant. As soon as no more volunteers offered, a +list was prepared, and a certain number of the names called daily for +service. This was putting the matter in another light. One of the first +called was a frank, brave Tennesseean named McCoy. He answered boldly, +"I'm not going." + +"What's the matter now?" demanded the officer who was calling the list. + +"I didn't come here to work, and if you can't board me without, you may +send me home," replied the fearless man. + +"Well! well! You'll be attended to," growled the officer, and proceeded +with the roll. Four others on the list likewise refused. In a short time +a guard entered the room and seized them. We feared that one of the +terrible floggings, which were only too common in the case of prison +insubordination, was going to take place. But another mode of punishment +was devised. The four were taken before Captain Alexander, who ordered +them to "the cell." This was a windowless place, beside the open court, +only about four feet wide by six or seven in length. It had no floor but +the damp earth, and was dark at mid-day. They were informed that they +should remain here until they consented to work. + +We found another alternative for them. There was a piece of file and a +scrap of stove-pipe in our room, which we secreted, and, buying a piece +of candle from the commissary, found an opportunity, when taken to wash +in the prison-court, of slipping the articles into the cell. Thus +provided, our friends began to dig their way out under the wall. All day +and night they worked, but did not get through. We furnished another +candle and they worked on. Towards morning of the second night they +broke upward through the crust of the ground outside of the wall. The +foremost wormed his way out and glided off. He was never heard of +afterwards, and, I presume, reached the Union army. The next man was +just under the wall, when the barking of a dog that happened to be +prowling around drew the attention of the guard that way, and the hole +was closed. This incident prevented the confinement of any others in the +cell. + +Yet the attempt to secure workers from the prison was not given up. I +happened to be on the next list prepared. To work with a guard carrying +a musket to enforce obedience did not seem to me a part of my business +as a United States soldier. Carefully counting the cost, I determined to +go any length in resistance. + +On our refusal, we were ordered into the jail-yard. It was a very cold, +windy day in February, with abundant rain. We were nearly naked, having +only the remnant of the rags that had already outserved their time. The +bottoms were out of my shoes, and the water stood in the yard several +inches deep. The yard itself was only a vacant corner in the building +inclosed by high brick walls, on the top of which guards walked. The +cold, wet wind swept down with biting sharpness, and almost robbed us of +sensation. We paced the narrow bounds, through the mud and water, until +too weary to walk any more, and then resigned ourselves to our misery. +If this exposure had come earlier, when we were accustomed to the +endurance of cold, it might have been less serious. But for several +weeks we had been in a close, warm room, and the contrast was almost +unbearable. + +Here we remained from early in the morning until nearly dark in the +evening. They told us we would have to stay there till we agreed to work +or froze to death! The first we had resolved never to do. The latter +seemed only too probable. I do not think any of us could have survived +the night. We resolved as soon as it was fairly dark to scale the wall +and seek our own deliverance, feeling that it could not be worse to die +by the bullet than by exposure. + +But we had help from an unexpected source. The old commissary, Chillis, +had come out of his room, which was near by, several times during the +day to observe us, and each time went away muttering and grumbling. We +thought he enjoyed our suffering, but were greatly mistaken. In the +evening he went to Captain Alexander and remonstrated with him in the +strongest terms. Said he,-- + +"If you want to kill the men, do it at once! The rascals deserve it. +Hanging is the best way. But don't leave them out there to die by +inches, for it will disgrace us all over the world." + +His remonstrance was heeded, and we were remanded back to our room, +which, with its warm fire, never seemed more agreeable. We soon sank +into a pleasant stupor, from which all awoke very ill. One poor fellow +died within a few hours, and several more after a short interval. I was +the only one of our railroad party who had been thus exposed. That day +of freezing does not seem a worse hardship than many endured previously, +but coming when already enfeebled, it was far more injurious. Pneumonia +followed, and when I grew better a distressing cough continued, which +has never left me. Ever since I have been a confirmed invalid. But the +attempt to make us work was relinquished. + +One day we were summoned into line, and the names of our railroad party, +with a few others, called over. One of the prisoners who had not been +called, asked the reason of the omission. The officer replied,-- + +"We can't tell, for this list came from Yankee-land." + +This speech set wild conjectures afloat. Why should a list be sent from +the North? Was it for the purpose of exchange? Had the Federal +government made some arrangement at last which applied especially to us, +and not to the mass of Union men in the prison? We could not tell, but +it was pleasant to believe that we were not utterly forgotten. + +It was soon discovered that a special exchange of political +prisoners--prisoners whose offences were of a civil and not a military +character--was in contemplation. Soldiers were being exchanged +frequently from the Libby on the other side of the way, but it had +seemed as if we were altogether forsaken. Now the rumor was current that +a large number on each side who were held for various offences were to +be massed into one general exchange, and the including of our names in a +list sent from the loved loyal States was sufficient fuel to rekindle +the almost extinct fire of hope. + +But the delay was long, and we grew very weary of waiting. Truce-boat +after truce-boat went off, and week after week slid away, leaving us +still in our dark and irksome prison. So completely did this damp our +hopes that if any one referred to exchange he was laughed into silence. + +One day, however, we received a most welcome token of governmental +remembrance. An officer bustled into the prison and asked for the name +of every one there who claimed United States protection. There, was a +general rush towards him, for, although we did not know how our +government could protect us while in rebel hands, we were resolved not +to lose anything for want of claiming it. It then transpired that the +authorities at Washington, in order to relieve the sufferings of the +Richmond prisoners, had offered to furnish a supply of clothing for +them. The offer was accepted, and some of the clothing reached its +destination,--not nearly all, as I judge from comparing the accounts +given on the opposite sides of the line. My own portion was a pair of +boots, which were sorely needed. We did not obtain a complete supply, +but what we did get was very grateful, as a token that we were not +forgotten, but that a great nation still cared for us. + +I have said but little for some time past of our religious exercises. It +must not be inferred that we had lost the zeal enkindled during the dark +hours in Atlanta. Up-stairs we continued to pray, sing, and repeat Bible +lessons morning and evening. When we first came into the room below, +where we were strangers, and where the whole current of opinion seemed +utterly irreligious, I did feel as if it would be impossible for us in +the common room to worship publicly as before. At the arrival of the +usual hour I was sorely perplexed, and almost persuaded to wait a day or +two for better acquaintance with our new room-mates. But the matter was +settled providentially for us. Mr. Pierce, who had accompanied us all +the way from Knoxville, and who was very profane in speech, had never +shown any interest in our prayers beyond remaining silent when we were +thus employed. But now he stepped on a box, and calling and stamping +until he had the attention of everybody in the room, he said,-- + +"I have a matter to propose for our general interest. We have some +preachers with us who are accustomed to sing and pray and read the Bible +every morning and evening. Now, I am wicked enough myself, but I like to +have something good going on; so I propose that we invite them to go +ahead as they have done in other prisons. All that favor the motion say +'aye!'" + +The response was most hearty. In a prison a proposition for anything +which will break the monotony for even a little time is sure of favor. +No one voted in the negative, and Pierce, turning to me, said, "Go +ahead." + +There were no preachers in our party, but, under such circumstances, we +gladly embraced the providential opportunity. The majority of the +prisoners gathered around in respectful silence, and seemed greatly +pleased to hear, in that gloomy place, the voice of prayer and sacred +song. Even the guards drew near the open door, and stood in reverent +attention. But a small company of the more reckless of the prisoners +regarded the whole matter in the light of a burlesque. One I especially +noticed, who seemed to be their leader. He was quite young, had a +confident bearing, and uttered great oaths on the smallest occasion. He +watched us without making any disturbance while we read and sang, but, +when we knelt for prayer, he knelt too, and became very noisy in his +mock devotions, responding "amen" with more than Methodistic fervor and +at the most inopportune places. This we endured patiently for that +evening, but I resolved to win him over, feeling sure that we would thus +do good and secure ourselves from interruption. On the next day I +managed to get into conversation with him, told him the story of our +adventures, which always commanded attention, and asked the reason of +his imprisonment. He gave the story, and I afterwards asked after his +friends in his far-off Canadian home. He told me that he had no near +relatives except a sister, and his blue eyes filled with tears as he +spoke of his longing to see her once more. There were no interruptions +to our evening service; and I learned that my friend had taken occasion +to say that those Ohioans were good fellows, and that anybody who +disturbed them would have to reckon with him. A number of other +religious persons made themselves known when the way was thus open, +though each one had supposed himself alone before. We formed quite a +church when all assembled, though there was a great mixture of creeds, a +Roman Catholic being one of the most devoted of the number. + +A day now approached that had been longed for ever since we first tasted +the bitter cup of captivity,--a day which yet shines golden and glorious +in the light of memory,--a day which I never recall without a mental +ejaculation of thanksgiving to Almighty God. To have assured its coming +I would at anytime during the preceding eleven months have unshrinkingly +sacrificed my right hand! + +On the evening of the 17th of March, 1863, when we were sitting around +the stove, discussing quietly but not indifferently the siege of +Vicksburg, an officer stepped within the door and shouted the strange +order, "All who want to go to the _United States_ come to the office!" + +No more plans were laid for capturing Vicksburg that night! We thought +we were in the United States all the while, but had no objection to be +still more so, and at once fell into line, and walked out, between two +files of soldiers, to the office. It seemed like a dream. For a moment a +delicious hope thrilled through my veins,--a vision of happiness and +home, dazzling as a flash of summer lightning,--but it instantly faded +before the remembrance of the manner in which we had been deceived in +Atlanta. I did not doubt that an exchange had been arranged for some of +the inmates of our room, but feared that the good fortune would not +reach so far as our proscribed band. The oath of parole, binding each +man not to serve against the Confederacy until regularly exchanged, was +being signed as fast as the names could be written and the oath +administered. To end the suspense, I pressed forward, gave my name, and +held my breath, while fully expecting to hear "The engine thieves can't +go,"--but no objection was made. I wrote my name, and watched each of my +five comrades do the same, with growing hope, as still no objection was +made. Then came the remembrance that our names were the first on the +list, read a few days before, which, as we had been told, came from +"Yankee-land,"--and I suspected, what I afterwards learned to be the +fact,--that our government, in arranging this exchange, had specially +stipulated that we should be included. Although a sickening fear would +still intrude itself now and then, there was really no reason to doubt +that all the preliminaries of our exchange were actually arranged. + +When all the prisoners had signed the papers we were ordered to return +to our room, and be ready to start for the North at four o'clock next +morning. We could have been ready in four seconds! but we really needed +the quiet night hours to realize the full magnitude of our deliverance. +The wild excitement of that evening can never be fully described. The +majority of paroled men acted as if bereft of reason. The joyousness of +some found vent in vociferous shouts,--in dancing and bounding over the +floor,--in embracing each other, and in pledging kind remembrances. Some +seemed stupefied by their good fortune, others sat down and wept in +silence, and still others laughed for minutes together. But in the room +there were a few not permitted to go, and my heart bled for them. I +remembered the hour when we had been left by our comrades on first +arriving in Richmond, and now these friends sat cheerless and alone, +seeming more wretched than ever amid the general joy. + +But there was one expression of joy which it would have been the basest +ingratitude for us to omit. It was near midnight before we became calm +enough to offer up our usual evening devotions. But when all were +wearied out by the very excess of joy, when the quietness which ever +follows overwhelming emotion had settled upon us, we knelt in prayer,--a +prayer of deep, strong, fervent thankfulness. We implored that we might +not be deceived in our vivid hopes and dashed back from our anticipated +paradise. Yet, if such should be God's mysterious will, and we should +see these hopes fade, as others had faded before them, we asked for +strength to bear the trial. Then, with solemn trust, we tried to commit +the whole matter to the wisdom and the mercy of God, and lay down to +sleep, if we could, and to await the event. + +Few eyes closed during the entire night. Fancy was too busy peopling her +fairy landscapes,--picturing the groups that awaited us, beyond that +boundary which for nearly a year seemed to us as impassable as the river +of death. But even as we muse we find that hope is not the only painter +at work. What unbidden fears spring up to darken the prospect and stain +the brightness of our joy! How many of those dear friends we were hoping +to meet may now be no more! For a year not a whisper from them has +reached us,--no letter or message from any friend, and we tremble as we +think of the ravages of time and of battle. These and a hundred other +thoughts whirled through our brains during that ever-memorable night. It +seemed but a few moments after lying down until we heard the voice of an +officer, who stood by the open door, and gave the thrilling order +to--_prepare for our journey_! + +Hurriedly we thronged to our feet. It was yet long before daylight, but +the guard were in readiness, and they did not need to wait long for us. +The visions of the night were swept away, but in their stead was the +blessed reality. It was true! Freedom once more! Our terrible captivity +ended! Oh joy! _joy!_--wild and delirious JOY! + +There was a hurrying around in the darkness, illumined by the flashing +of torch-lights,--a discordant calling of names,--a careful inspection +of each man to see that none went except those who had been chosen; +then, forming two lines in the court-yard, with bounding hearts we +passed outward through the dreaded portals of Castle Thunder,--the same +portals we had passed inward more than three months before!--passed out +into the cool but _free_ night air, and stood in the dark and silent +street. + +Beside us rose the tall, square, and ugly outline of the prison we had +left. Not far away on the left was the shadowy form of the twin +prison,--the Libby,--fit emblems, in their frowning blackness, of that +system of oppression which had shed rivers of blood in a vain war, and +was soon to pass away forever. But we could not pause to moralize even +upon such a theme. As soon as all were out of the gate, and the column +of prisoners duly formed, with guards on either hand, we marched onward +through the muddy streets for many squares. There were with us a number +of sick, who were too weak to walk unassisted, and yet unwilling to be +left behind. As no conveyances were provided for them, we placed each of +them between two friends, on whose shoulders they leaned, and they were +thus able to totter the weary distance. A few had to be carried +altogether by those who were themselves far from strong, but hope, and +the exultation of liberty, made everything possible. After we were +seated in the cars, which were waiting at the depot, and had begun to +glance around with happy faces in the dim morning light, some Richmond +papers were procured. Looking over them we found the very interesting +news that "a large number of _engine thieves_, bridge-burners, +murderers, robbers, and traitors will leave this morning for the United +States. The Confederacy may well congratulate itself on this good +riddance." The item was handed from one to another, and we recognized +the names applied with quiet joy. Our congratulations were not less +fervid than theirs, but we could not help thinking that the riddance +might have been made long before! + +With the rising sun we glided out of Richmond, and, passing +fortifications and rifle-pits, soon reached Petersburg. Then, with but +short detention and no notable incidents, we continued on to City Point, +on the James River,--the place of exchange. It was not far from noon +when we came within sight of the most glorious and fascinating object on +the American continent!--the "Stars and Stripes," which we had not seen +before for eleven months, floating in proud beauty over the truce-boat +"State of Maine." It was a glorious vision. Cheer after cheer arose from +the cars. The guard ordered the noise stopped, but the command was +unheeded, and the officers did not try to enforce it. + +The memories of that hour are indistinct from their very brightness. I +seem to see again the great boat with its beautiful flag, the line of +Federal guards with their bright blue uniforms, the gray-clad company +for whom we were to be exchanged, and who did not seem nearly so glad as +ourselves, and my own tattered and starved companions, some three +hundred in number. I hear once more the seemingly interminable reading +of names, the checking of lists, the wrangling over trifles, and at last +the order--which needed no repetition--to go on board. There was still a +sense of trembling and apprehension until the boat actually pushed off +and we were on our way down the James. + +Then our delight was boundless. We had awakened from a hideous +nightmare-dream to find that all its shapes of horror and grinning +fiends had passed away and left us in the sunlight once more. Our hearts +kept time with the glad threshing of our wheels on the water, and sang +within us, knowing that each ponderous stroke was placing a greater +distance between us and our dreaded foes. + +The hearty, cheerful welcome we met on board was no small element in our +pleasure. We were hungry--no wonder after a year's fasting--and we were +fed,--the only difficulty being to avoid hurtful excess. With a full +supply of provisions and a large tin cup of coffee--I am not sure that +so good a cup of coffee has been made since--I sat down and ate slowly, +as if I could never have enough. Then I wandered all over the boat, from +the upper deck and the cabin down to the hold, in the mere wantonness of +liberty. To go about with no guard watching me was as strange as it was +delightful. The act of going up to, and passing unchecked through a +door, was a great pleasure! I saw little of the country through which we +passed, for the mind was too busy. No emotion on earth has the same +sweep and intensity as the throbbing sensations that rush through the +bosom of the liberated captive! + +I have no recollection whatever of the lower James, of Fortress Monroe, +of the Chesapeake. In all my memoranda no word occurs of these things. +Whether the hours were spent in sleep or waking, whether the monotony of +happiness obliterated memory, or nature, weakened by disease and +exhausted by too great a multiplicity of sensations, refused to receive +new impressions, I know not; but not until we were near Washington can I +again recall passing events. Then we thronged to the vessel's side, and +bent loving eyes upon the snowy front of our beautiful Capitol. It +seemed a far more grand and fitting emblem of our country's power now +than when I had first looked upon it, an inexperienced boy, in the +far-away opening of the war, though only two years had elapsed since +that time. In those two years the whole country had learned many +lessons, and to me they were an age! + +Here a brief controversy arose with the commander of the truce-boat. He +had orders to forward all the exchanged soldiers to the parole camp at +Annapolis, and wished to send our party with them. I demurred, feeling +that it was right for us to report at Washington, at military +headquarters. General Mitchel, who sent us forth upon our expedition, +was dead. Our leader, Andrews, was no more. How many of our officers had +fallen in the sanguinary battles of the West we knew not; possibly we +had been reported as dead and our places filled. This, we afterwards +learned, was actually the case. The right place for us to report, in +order that everything might be put in proper shape, was at Washington, +and to the Secretary of War, Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, in person. Our case, +as the rebels had been showing to our cost for the past year, was not +that of ordinary prisoners of war, and we thought ourselves entitled to +claim the same distinction on Federal soil. I therefore informed the +commander that we had urgent business with Secretary Stanton, and must +be sent to him. He was a little incredulous at first, but as soon as I +gave my reasons he gracefully yielded. + +Our reception in Washington was even more cordial than it had been on +the truce-boat. We were provided with most comfortable quarters, and +literally feasted on the best the city afforded. Secretary Stanton asked +us to go before Judge-Advocate-General Holt and there give our +deposition, that the full particulars of what he was pleased to consider +our extraordinary adventures might be given to the world on an +unquestionable basis. Our first visit to Judge Holt was merely friendly, +at which Major-General Hitchcock and Mr. J. C. Wetmore, Ohio State +Agent, were also present. We were invited to come again on the morrow, +when we found a justice of the peace and a phonographer to take our +testimony. I was questioned first, and the examination covered all the +outlines of the story. All were sworn except Mason, who was unable from +illness to be present. The result of the examination, together with +Judge Holt's comments upon it, were published in the _Army and Navy +Gazette_ of that date. + +General Hitchcock then accompanied us in our call upon Secretary +Stanton, where we enjoyed a most delightful interview. At its close he +brought out six medals which had been prepared according to a recent act +of Congress and left to his disposal. He said that they were the first +given to private soldiers in this war. Jacob Parrot, the boy who had +endured the terrible beating, received, as he well deserved, the first +one. + +Secretary Stanton next presented us one hundred dollars each from the +secret service fund as pocket-money, and gave orders for payment to us +of all arrearages, and for refunding the full value of the money and +arms taken from us at our capture. This was not all. He tendered us, +each one, a commission in the regular army, and on our expressing a +preference for the volunteer service, he requested Governor Tod, of +Ohio, to give us equivalent promotion in our own regiments. These +commissions were promptly given, but through ill health, some of our +number, myself included, were not able to be mustered as officers. + +Stanton praised the bravery of Mitchel in the highest terms, and stated +that he had been aware of our expedition, but, until the escape of our +eight comrades in October, had supposed that we had all perished; that +he had then threatened retaliation in case any more of us were executed, +and had demanded to know the reason for the execution of the seven who +had been put to death. It was answered that the Confederate government +had no knowledge of the death of any member of the party. Since that +time he had been most anxious to effect our exchange, and by special +effort had at last succeeded in arranging it. + +We were then escorted to the Executive Mansion, and had a most pleasing +interview with President Lincoln. We told him many incidents of prison +experience and received his sympathizing comments in return. + +After taking our leave of the President we received transportation at +government expense to our homes. The joy of our reception in our own +Ohio and among our own kindred I will not attempt to describe. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + + + +No. I. + +EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL HOLT TO THE SECRETARY +OF WAR. + + + "JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL'S OFFICE, + "March 27, 1863. + +"SIR,--I have the honor to transmit for your consideration the +accompanying depositions of Sergeant William Pittenger, Company G, +Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteers; Private Jacob Parrot, Company K, +Thirty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteers; Private Robert Buffum, Company +H, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteers; Corporal William Reddick, Company B, +Thirty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteers; and Private William Bensinger, +Company G, Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteers; taken at this office +on the 25th instant, in accordance with your written instructions; from +which the following facts will appear: + +"These non-commissioned officers and privates belonged to an expedition +set on foot in April, 1862, at the suggestion of Mr. J. J. Andrews, a +citizen of Kentucky, who led it, and under the authority and direction +of General O. M. Mitchel, the object of which was to destroy the +communications on the Georgia State Railroad between Atlanta and +Chattanooga. + +"The mode of operation proposed was to reach a point on the road where +they could seize a locomotive and train of cars, and then dash back in +the direction of Chattanooga, cutting the telegraph wires and burning +the bridges behind them as they advanced, until they reached their own +lines. The expedition consisted of twenty-four men, who, with the +exception of its leader, Mr. Andrews, and another citizen of +Kentucky,--who acted on the occasion as the substitute of a +soldier,--had been selected from the different companies for their known +courage and discretion. They were informed that the movement was to be a +secret one, and they doubtless comprehended something of its perils, but +Mr. Andrews and Mr. Reddick alone seem to have known anything of its +precise direction or object. They, however, voluntarily engaged in it, +and made their way, in parties of two or three, in citizen's dress, and +carrying only their side-arms, to Chattanooga, the point of rendezvous +agreed upon, where twenty-two out of the twenty-four arrived safely. +Here they took passage, without attracting observation, for Marietta, +which they reached at twelve o'clock on the night of the 11th of April. +On the following morning they took the cars back again towards +Chattanooga, and at a place called Big Shanty, while the engineer and +passengers were breakfasting, they detached the locomotive and three +box-cars from the train and started at full speed for Chattanooga. They +were now upon the field of the operations proposed by the expedition, +but suddenly encountered unforeseen obstacles. According to the schedule +of the road, of which Mr. Andrews had possessed himself, they should +have met but a single train on that day, whereas they met three, two of +them being engaged on extraordinary service. About an hour was lost in +waiting to allow these trains to pass, which enabled their pursuers to +press closely upon them. They removed rails, threw out obstructions on +the road, and attained, when in motion, a speed of sixty miles an hour; +but the time lost could not be regained. After having run about one +hundred miles they found their supply of wood, water, and oil exhausted, +while the rebel locomotive which had been chasing them was in sight. +Under these circumstances they had no alternative but to abandon their +cars and fly to the woods, which they did, under the orders of Mr. +Andrews, each one endeavoring to save himself as best he might. + +"The expedition thus failed from causes which reflected neither upon the +genius by which it was planned, nor upon the intrepidity and discretion +of those engaged in executing it. But for the accident of meeting these +trains,--which could not have been anticipated,--the movement would have +been a complete success, and the whole aspect of the war in the South +and the Southwest would have been at once changed. The expedition +itself, in the daring of its conception, had the wildness of a romance; +while in the gigantic and overwhelming results which it sought, and was +likely to accomplish, it was absolutely sublime. + +"The twenty-two captives, when secured, were thrust into the negro jail +of Chattanooga. They occupied a single room, half under ground, and but +thirteen feet square, so that there was not space enough for them all to +lie down together, and a part of them were, in consequence, obliged to +sleep sitting and leaning against the walls. The only entrance was +through a trap-door in the ceiling, that was raised twice a day to let +down their scanty meals, which were lowered in a bucket. They had no +other light or ventilation than that which came through two small, +triple-grated windows. They were covered with swarming vermin, and the +heat was so oppressive that they were often obliged to strip themselves +entirely of their clothes to bear it. Add to this, they were all +handcuffed, and, with trace-chains secured around their necks by +padlocks, were fastened to each other in companies of twos and threes. +Their food, which was doled out to them twice a day, consisted of a +little flour wet with water and baked in the form of bread, and spoiled +pickled beef. They had no opportunity of procuring supplies from the +outside, nor had they any means of doing so,--their pockets having been +rifled of their last cent by the Confederate authorities, prominent +among whom was a rebel officer wearing the uniform of a major. No part +of the money thus basely taken was ever returned." + +[The report narrates the continued sufferings of the adventurers in +prison substantially as they are given in the preceding pages, and +concludes:] + +"So they remained until a few days since, when they were exchanged; and +thus, at the end of eleven months, terminated their pitiless +persecutions in the prisons of the South,--persecutions begun and +continued amid indignities and sufferings on their part, and atrocities +on the part of their traitorous foes, which illustrate far more +faithfully than any human language could express it the demoniac spirit +of a revolt, every throb of whose life is a crime against the very race +to which we belong. + +"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + "J. HOLT, + "_Judge-Advocate-General_. + + "HON. EDWIN M. STANTON, + "_Secretary of War_." + + + + +No. II. + +A SOUTHERN ESTIMATE. + + +The following extracts from an editorial published in the Atlanta +_Southern Confederacy_ of April 15, 1862, will serve to show the intense +excitement of the hour: + + "THE GREAT RAILROAD CHASE! + + "THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY AND ASTOUNDING ADVENTURE OF THE WAR!! + + "THE MOST DARING UNDERTAKING THAT YANKEES EVER PLANNED OR ATTEMPTED + TO EXECUTE! + + "_Stealing an Engine--Tearing up the Track--Pursued on Foot, on + Hand-Cars, and Engines--Overtaken--A Scattering--The + Capture--The Wonderful Energy of Messrs. Fuller, Murphy, and + Cain--Some Reflections, Etc., Etc._ + +"Since our last issue we have obtained full particulars of the most +thrilling railroad adventure that ever occurred on the American +continent, as well as the mightiest and most important in its results, +if successful, that has been conceived by the Lincoln government since +the commencement of this war. Nothing on so grand a scale has been +attempted, and nothing within the range of possibility could be +conceived that would fall with such a tremendous, crushing force upon us +as the accomplishment of the plans which were concocted and dependent +upon the execution of the one whose history we now proceed to narrate. + +"Its _reality_--_what was actually done_--excels all the extravagant +_conceptions_ of the Arrowsmith hoax, which fiction created such a +profound sensation in Europe. + +"To make the matter more complete and intelligible, we will take our +readers over the same history of the case we related in our last, the +main features of which are correct, but lacking in details which have +since come to hand. + +"We will begin at the breakfast-table of the Big Shanty Hotel at Camp +McDonald, where several regiments of soldiers are now encamped. The +morning mail and passenger train had left here at four A.M. on last +Saturday morning as usual, and had stopped there for breakfast. The +conductor, William A. Fuller, the engineer, J. Cain,--both of this +city,--and the passengers were at the table, when the eight men, having +uncoupled the engine and three empty box-cars next to it from the +passenger and baggage-cars, mounted the engine, pulled open the valve, +put on all steam, and left conductor, engineer, passengers, spectators, +and the soldiers in the camp hard by, all lost in amazement, and +dumbfounded at the strange, startling, and daring act. + +"This unheard-of act was doubtless undertaken at that time and place +upon the presumption that pursuit could not be made by an engine short +of Kingston, some thirty miles above, or from this place; and by cutting +down the telegraph wires as they proceeded the adventurers could +calculate on at least three or four hours the start of any pursuit it +was reasonable to expect. This was a legitimate conclusion, and but for +the will, energy, and quick good judgment of Mr. Fuller and Mr. Cain, +and Mr. Anthony Murphy, the intelligent and practical foreman of the +wood department of the State Road shop, who accidentally went on the +train from this place that morning, their calculations would have worked +out as originally contemplated, and the results would have been obtained +long ere this reaches the eyes of our readers,--the most terrible to us +of any we can conceive as possible, and unequalled by anything attempted +or conceived since this war commenced. + +"Now for the chase!" + +[The account, which fills a whole page of the paper, is omitted, as it +differs in no essential particular from that given in the foregoing +pages. In concluding, the editor gives his estimate of the purpose and +magnitude of the expedition.] + +"We do not know what Governor Brown will do in this case, or what is his +custom in such matters, but, if such a thing is admissible, we insist on +Fuller and Murphy being promoted to the highest honors on the road,--if +not by actually giving them the highest position, at least let them be +promoted by _brevet_. Certainly their indomitable energy and quick +correct judgment and decision in the many difficult contingencies +connected with this unheard-of emergency has saved all the railroad +bridges above Ringgold from being burned; the most daring scheme that +this revolution has developed has been thwarted, and the tremendous +results, which, if successful, can scarcely be imagined, much less +described, have been averted. Had they succeeded in burning the bridges, +the enemy at Huntsville would have occupied Chattanooga before Sunday +night. Yesterday they would have been in Knoxville, and thus had +possession of all East Tennessee. Our forces at Knoxville, Greenville, +and Cumberland Gap would ere this have been in the hands of the enemy. +Lynchburg, Virginia, would have been moved upon at once. This would have +given them possession of the valley of Virginia, and Stonewall Jackson +would have been attacked in the rear. They would have had possession of +the railroad leading to Charlottesville and Orange Court-House, as well +as the South Side Railroad leading to Petersburg and Richmond. They +might have been able to unite with McClellan's forces and attack Joe +Johnston's army front and flank. It is not by any means improbable that +our army in Virginia would have been defeated, captured, or driven out +of the State this week. + +"Then reinforcements from all the eastern and southeastern portion of +the country would have been cut off from Beauregard. The enemy have +Huntsville now, and with all these designs accomplished his army would +have been effectually flanked. The mind and heart shrink back appalled +at the bare contemplation of the awful consequences which would have +followed the success of this one act. When Fuller, Murphy, and Cain +started from Big Shanty _on foot to catch that fugitive engine_, they +were involuntarily laughed at by the crowd, serious as the matter +was,--and to most observers it was indeed most ludicrous; but _that +foot-race saved us_, and prevented the consummation of all these +tremendous consequences. + +"We doubt if the victory of Manassas or Corinth were worth as much to us +as the frustration of this grand _coup d'état_. It is not by any means +certain that the annihilation of Beauregard's whole army at Corinth +would be so fatal a blow to us as would have been the burning of the +bridges at that time and by these men. + +"When we learned by a private telegraph dispatch a few days ago that the +Yankees had taken Huntsville, we attached no great importance to it. We +regarded it merely as a dashing foray of a small party to destroy +property, tear up the road, etc., _à la_ Morgan. When an additional +telegram announced the force there to be from seventeen to twenty +thousand, we were inclined to doubt it,--though coming from a perfectly +upright and honorable gentleman, who would not be likely to seize upon a +wild report to send here to his friends. The coming to that point with a +large force, where they would be flanked on either side by our army, we +regarded as a most stupid and unmilitary act. We now understand it all. +They were to move upon Chattanooga and Knoxville as soon as the bridges +were burnt, and press on into Virginia as far as possible, and take all +our forces in that State in the rear. It was all the deepest-laid +scheme, and on the grandest scale, that ever emanated from the brains +of any number of Yankees combined. It was one, also, that was entirely +practicable for almost any day for the last year. There were but two +miscalculations in the whole programme: they did not expect men to start +out afoot to pursue them, and they did not expect these pursuers on foot +to find Major Cooper's old 'Yonah' standing there already fired up. +Their calculations on every other point were dead certainties. + +"This would have eclipsed anything Captain Morgan ever attempted. To +think of a parcel of Federal soldiers--officers and privates--coming +down into the heart of the Confederate States,--for they were here in +Atlanta and at Marietta (some of them got on the train at Marietta that +morning, and others were at Big Shanty); of playing such a serious game +on the State road, which is under the control of our prompt, energetic, +and sagacious governor, known as such all over America; to seize the +passenger train on his road, right at Camp McDonald, where he has a +number of Georgia regiments encamped, and run off with it; to burn the +bridges on the same road, and go safely through to the Federal +lines,--all this would have been a feather in the cap of the man or men +who executed it." + + + + +No. III. + +A FRENCHMAN'S VIEW OE THE CHATTANOOGA RAILROAD EXPEDITION. + + +The following extract from the "History of the Civil War in America," by +the Comte de Paris (vol. ii. pp. 187, 188), is suggestive and +characteristic, though erroneous in many particulars. The numbers of +those who escaped and of those who perished are reversed, and the cause +assigned for the failure of the expedition is purely imaginary; but the +local coloring is exquisite: + +"Among the expeditions undertaken by Mitchel's soldiers at this period, +we must mention one which, despite its tragic termination, shows what a +small band of daring men could attempt in America; it will give an idea +of the peculiar kind of warfare which served as an interlude to the +regular campaigns of large armies. An individual named Andrews, employed +in the secret service of Buell, and twenty-two soldiers selected by him, +went to Chattanooga under different disguises, and thence to Marietta, +in Georgia, which had been assigned them as a place of rendezvous, and +which was situated in the very centre of the enemy's country. Once +assembled, they got on board a train of cars loaded with Confederate +troops and ammunition. During the trip this train stopped, as usual, +near a lonely tavern close to the track; everybody got out, and both +engineer and fireman went quietly to breakfast. Andrews took advantage +of their absence to jump upon the locomotive, which was detached by his +men, with three cars, from the rest of the train; they started off at +full speed, leaving their fellow-travellers in a state of stupefaction. +At the stations where they stopped they quietly answered that they were +carrying powder to Beauregard's army. Presently they began the work of +destruction which they had projected; they cut the telegraph wires, tore +up the rails behind them, and proceeded to fire the bridges which they +reached on their way to Chattanooga. They hoped to arrive at that city +before the news of their expedition had spread abroad, to pass rapidly +through it, and join Mitchel at Huntsville. But it was necessary to +avoid the trains running in the opposite direction. One of these trains, +which they had just passed on the way, after exchanging the most +satisfactory explanations, reached an embankment, where Andrews had torn +up the rails and made every preparation to throw the cars off the track. +The conductor discovered the trap in time, and backed his engine +instantly, in order to overtake those who laid it. At his approach the +Federals made off in great haste, throwing out of the cars everything +that could embarrass their flight. They at first got a little ahead, and +the few occupants of log huts lying contiguous to the railway track +looked on without understanding this strange pursuit. But, being short +of fuel, they soon began to lose ground; they could not stop long enough +to tear up rails; they tried in vain to keep up the fire of their +engine; they were about to be overtaken; their oil had given out; the +axle-boxes were melted by the friction. The game was lost; they stopped +the engine and rushed into the woods, where they hoped to conceal +themselves. Meanwhile, the telegraph had everywhere announced their +presence, and the entire population started in pursuit. A regular hunt +was organized in these vast forests, and Andrews was captured with all +his men. The majority of them were shut up in narrow iron cages and +publicly exhibited at Knoxville, to intimidate the Union men, after +which fifteen of them were hung; the remaining eight were spared, and +had the good fortune to survive and relate their strange adventures." + + + + +No. IV. + +OLD SCENES REVISITED. + + +Nearly twenty years after the events narrated in the preceding pages the +writer passed over the same ground again. Many of the prisons in which +he had been confined were no more. In some cases even their sites had +been so changed by the altering and grading of streets as to be +undiscoverable. But the railroad from Chattanooga to Atlanta continued +to be one of the most important in the whole South, and the memory of +the captured train and the stirring events connected with it had become +a cherished local tradition. The principal pursuers were also found, +some of them being still in the employ of the same railroad, and others +located in Atlanta. From these former enemies nothing but kindness was +experienced. The very locomotive which had been captured was repaired +and continued in use, the writer having the pleasure of once more riding +over the road on a train drawn by it. The same stations were passed. +Many of the smaller towns were externally almost unchanged. Yet +everywhere there was a new atmosphere. War and slavery had vanished, and +the enterprises of peace were in the ascendant. Chattanooga and Atlanta +displayed wonderful improvement, having become like Northern towns in +the rush of their business and the character of their population,--the +latter city, however, to a less degree than the former. + +But a still deeper and more melancholy interest was felt in seeking for +the bodies of those who had perished so tragically in Atlanta while +rebellion was still in the plenitude of its power. Of the grave of +Andrews, himself, no trace could be found. Many old citizens could point +out the spot where his scaffold had been erected, and near which he had +been buried. But that portion of the town had been entirely burnt by +Sherman, and when rebuilt the streets had been raised to a higher level +and rearranged, so that the precise location of the grave is probably +forever lost. + +The scaffold of the seven soldiers was erected in a little wood directly +east of the Atlanta city cemetery, about an acre of ground being cleared +for that purpose. On this spot, which is now included within the bounds +of the cemetery, the terrible tragedy took place. The heart of the +writer was almost overwhelmed as he stood there on a peaceful Sabbath +afternoon and brought back in recollection that hour of horror! When the +work of death was completed the bodies were placed side by side in a +wide trench at the foot of the scaffold and covered over. So profound +was the impression made by their heroism that the place of burial could +not be forgotten, and was often visited by sympathizing friends even +during the continuance of the war. But this rude grave is now empty, and +for a time the writer could not ascertain what disposition had been made +of its contents. An old man formerly connected with the cemetery at +length supplied the information that the bodies had been removed, not to +the Federal cemetery at Marietta, as had been first conjectured, but to +the more distant and larger one at Chattanooga. Here, in probably the +most beautiful of all the National cemeteries, the graves were found. In +Section H, placed in the open space about the centre, which is usually +assigned to commissioned officers, the seven heroes have obtained a +final resting-place. There is a headstone, with name and rank, at each +grave, and the seven are arranged in the form of a semicircle. This part +of the cemetery overlooks a long stretch of the Georgia State Railroad, +the great prize they struggled to seize for their country and thus lost +their lives. From this spot the frequent trains are distinctly visible. +Watched by the mountains and undisturbed by the passing tide of human +activity, they rest here as peacefully as if death had stolen upon them +in the midst of friends at home instead of rushing down amid the gloom +and horror of that memorable Atlanta scaffold. + +THE END. + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Hyphen removed: thunder[-]bolt (page 243), look[-]out (page 277). + +List of Illustrations: For illustration 13, "260" changed to "290". + +Page 220: "Knoxvile" changed to "Knoxville" (than that at Knoxville). + +Page 248: "predecesssor" changed to "predecessor" (handed over to me by +my predecessor). + +Page 290: Page number restored in the caption of the illustration. + +Page 324: "examing" changed to "examining" (The examining officer). + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Capturing a Locomotive, by William Pittenger + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE *** + +***** This file should be named 36752-8.txt or 36752-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/5/36752/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Capturing a Locomotive + A History of Secret Service in the Late War. + +Author: William Pittenger + +Release Date: July 17, 2011 [EBook #36752] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 370px;"> +<a href="images/cover-hi.jpg"><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="370" height="600" alt="Cover." title="" /></a> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h1>CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE</h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 596px;"><a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a> +<a href="images/frontis-hi.jpg"><img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="596" height="355" alt="A RAILROAD CHASE.Frontispiece." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">A RAILROAD CHASE.<br /><i>Frontispiece.</i></span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h1>CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE:<br /> +A HISTORY<br /> +OF<br /> +SECRET SERVICE<br /> +IN THE LATE WAR. +</h1> + +<h2>BY<br /> +REV. WILLIAM PITTENGER. +</h2> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class='poem'> +"Storm'd at with shot and shell,<br /> +Boldly they rode and well;<br /> +Into the jaws of death,<br /> +Into the mouth of hell,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Rode the six hundred.</span><br /> +<br /> +* * * * * * +<br /> +"They that had fought so well<br /> +Came through the jaws of death<br /> +Back from the mouth of hell,<br /> +All that was left of them—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Left of six hundred."</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Tennyson's</span> <i>Charge of the Light Brigade</i>.<br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<div class='center'> +WASHINGTON:<br /> +THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.<br /> +1885. +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'> +Copyright, 1881, by <span class="smcap">Rev. William Pittenger</span>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='center'> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +TO<br /> +<br /> +THE SURVIVING COMRADES<br /> +<br /> +OF THE<br /> +<br /> +CHATTANOOGA RAILROAD EXPEDITION,<br /> +<br /> +AND TO<br /> +<br /> +THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE<br /> +SAME ADVENTURE,<br /> +<br /> +<b>This Record of their Daring and Suffering</b><br /> +<br /> +IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED.<br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='center'>NAMES OF THE ADVENTURERS.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></div> + +<div class="center"> +<br /> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">EXECUTED.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">J. J. Andrews</span>, <i>Leader</i></td><td align="left">Citizen of Kentucky.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">William Campbell</span></td><td align="left">Citizen of Kentucky.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">George D. Wilson</span></td><td align="left">Co. B, Second Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Marion A. Ross</span></td><td align="left">Co. A, Second Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Perry G. Shadrack</span></td><td align="left">Co. K, Second Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Samuel Slavens</span></td><td align="left">Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Samuel Robinson</span></td><td align="left">Co. G, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">John Scott</span></td><td align="left">Co. K, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">ESCAPED IN OCTOBER.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">W. W. Brown</span><sup>1</sup> (<i>Engineer</i>)</td><td align="left">Co. F, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">William Knight</span><sup>2</sup></td><td align="left">Co. E, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">J. R. Porter</span><sup>3</sup></td><td align="left">Co. C, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Mark Wood</span><sup>4</sup></td><td align="left">Co. C, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">J. A. Wilson</span><sup>5</sup></td><td align="left">Co. C, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">M. J. Hawkins</span><sup>6</sup></td><td align="left">Co. A, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">John Wollam</span><sup>7</sup></td><td align="left">Co. C, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">D. A. Dorsey</span><sup>8</sup></td><td align="left">Co. H, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" align="center">EXCHANGED IN MARCH.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Jacob Parrot</span><sup>9</sup></td><td align="left">Co. K, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Robert Buffum</span><sup>10</sup></td><td align="left">Co. H, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">William Bensinger</span><sup>11</sup></td><td align="left">Co. G, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">William Reddick</span><sup>12</sup></td><td align="left">Co. B, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">E. H. Mason</span><sup>13</sup></td><td align="left">Co. K, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">William Pittenger</span><sup>14</sup></td><td align="left">Co. G, Second Reg't Ohio Vols.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<div class='center'>RESIDENCES IN 1881.</div> + +<div class='blockquot'> +<sup>1</sup> Perrysburg, Ohio.<br /> +<sup>2</sup> Minnesota.<br /> +<sup>3</sup> Carlisle, Arkansas.<br /> +<sup>4</sup> Dead.<br /> +<sup>5</sup> Hoskins, Wood County, Ohio.<br /> +<sup>6</sup> Topeka, Kansas.<br /> +<sup>7</sup> Unknown.<br /> +<sup>8</sup> Jefferson, Wisconsin.<br /> +<sup>9</sup> Kenton, Ohio.<br /> +<sup>10</sup> Dead.<br /> +<sup>11</sup> McCombs, Hancock County, Ohio.<br /> +<sup>12</sup> Unknown.<br /> +<sup>13</sup> Unknown.<br /> +<sup>14</sup> Woodbury, N. J. A member of the New Jersey Conference of the Methodist +Episcopal Church.<br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>War has a secret as well as a public story. Marches +and battles are open to the popular gaze; but enterprises +of another class are in their very nature secret, +and these are scarcely less important and often much +more interesting than the former. The work of spies +and scouts, the enterprises that reach beyond the lines of +an army for the purpose of surprise, the councils of officers, +the intrigues by means of which great results often +flow from apparently insignificant causes, and all the +experiences of hospitals and prisons,—these usually fill +but a small place on the historian's page, though they +are often of romantic interest, and not unfrequently decide +the course and fate of armies. The enterprise described +in these pages possesses all the unity of a drama, +from the first plunge of the actors into the heart of the +enemy's country, through all their adventures and +changing fortunes, until the few survivors stood once +more under the old flag! No single story of the war +combines so many of the hidden, underground elements +of the contest against rebellion as this. Disguise and +secrecy, the perils of a forlorn hope, the exultation of +almost miraculous success, the sufferings of prisoners, +and the gloom of despair are all mingled in a varied +and instructive war-picture.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> + +<p>In telling the story all fictitious embellishments have +been rejected. No pains have been spared to ascertain +the exact truth, and the reader will find names, dates, +and localities so fully given that it will be easy to verify +the prominent features of the account.</p> + +<p>In narrating those events which fell under his own +eye, the writer has waived all scruples of delicacy, and +used the first personal pronoun. This is far more simple +and direct, while an opposite course would have +savored of affectation.</p> + +<p>This is not a revision or new edition of the little +volume published by the present writer during the +rebellion. <span class="smcap">Daring and Suffering</span>, like a number +of similar sketches published in newspapers, magazines, +and pamphlets, was a hasty narrative of personal +adventure, and made no pretence of completeness. +<span class="smcap">Capturing a Locomotive</span> is broader and +more historic; a large amount of valuable material +is now employed for the first time; and the story is +approached in an entirely different manner. No paragraph +of the old book is copied into the new.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<span class="smcap">Woodbury, New Jersey</span> January, 1882. +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right">CHAPTER</td><td align="left"></td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">I.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">A Secret Military Expedition</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Midnight Consultation</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Companions and Incidents</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">A Locomotive and Train Captured</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Unforeseen Hindrances</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">A Terrible Railroad Chase</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">A Night in the Woods</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">In the Enemy's Power</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IX.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Other Captures</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">X.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">A Horrible Prison</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XI.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Lights and Shadows of Prison</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XII.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The First Tragedy</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIII.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">A Confederate Court-Martial</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIV.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">The Crowning Horror</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XV.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Prison Religion</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVI.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Liberty or Death?</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVII.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Romantic Escapes</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_262">262</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVIII.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">From Atlanta to the Gulf</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_274">274</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIX.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">From Atlanta to Richmond</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_293">293</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XX.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Libby and Castle Thunder</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_308">308</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XXI.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Sickness and Liberty</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_326">326</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3"> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">APPENDIX:</td><td align="left"></td><td align="right"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">No. I.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Extracts +from the Report of Judge-Advocate-General Holt</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_341">341</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap"> to the Secretaryof War</span></td><td align="right"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">No. II.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">A Southern Estimate</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_345">345</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">No. III.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap"> +A Frenchman's View Of The Chattanooga</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_350">350</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap"> Railroad Expedition</span></td><td align="right"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">No. IV.</td><td align="left">—<span class="smcap">Old Scenes Revisited</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_352">352</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">1.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Chase</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#frontis"><i>Frontispiece.</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">2.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">General O. M. Mitchel</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_10">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">3.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Midnight Consultation</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">4.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">William Pittenger</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">5.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Map of Chattanooga and its Railroad Connections</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_58">58</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">6.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Capture of a Train</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">7.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">William A. Fuller</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">8.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">D. A. Dorsey</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">9.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Terrible Descent</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">10.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Liberty or Death!</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">11.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">W. W. Brown</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_264">264</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">12.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Dorsey and Hawkins in the Cumberland Mountains</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_272">272</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">13.</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Saved at Sea</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_290">290</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> +<h2>CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>A SECRET MILITARY EXPEDITION.</h3> + + +<p>As the writer looked up from the manuscript page +on a warm March afternoon of 1862, a very busy, and +occasionally an amusing scene was presented. I was +seated on a gentle, wooded slope which led down to the +clear and quiet stream of Stone River, in Tennessee. +Not being at that time "on duty," I had strolled away +from the tents which whitened the level fields above, +and was passing an hour in the pleasant task of preparing +"war correspondence" for the <i>Steubenville Herald</i>. +Now and then I lifted my eyes to watch the work +in progress a few yards farther down the stream. A +large bridge, burned by the enemy on their retreat a +few weeks before, was now being rapidly repaired, or +rather rebuilt. The chief director of the work was +General O. M. Mitchel, of astronomical fame, in whose +division I then served. He was in every respect an +able officer, and understood the construction of railroad +bridges as well as observing the stars, or moulding raw +recruits into veteran soldiers. But all his skill and +science did not save him from becoming a little ridiculous +at times. The Union soldier found no difficulty +in loving his commander and laughing at him at the +same instant. General Mitchel was now most impatient +to complete this bridge, and thus maintain a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +northern line of communication, while he penetrated +farther into the South. Being now, for the first time, +possessed of an independent command, he wished to +signalize himself by some great blow struck at the most +vulnerable point in the enemy's line. He could, therefore, +scarcely endure the necessary delay caused by burnt +bridges, and worked like a beaver, and chafed and fretted, +and caused the men of his command to perform +more hard labor than was agreeable. As I saw him +running from place to place, urging on the idlers, and +taking hold of any piece of work that presented itself +as if he had been a common laborer, shouting and scolding, +but always knowing just what ought to be done, +and making surprising progress, I could not help admiring +the man, even while I laughed at some exhibitions +of superfluous zeal. Mitchel's scientific education, +his practical experience, and his inventive genius +stood him in good stead, as was proved by the rapid +growth of the bridge before me. The soldiers almost +idolized their skilful and zealous commander, but this +did not deprive them of the soldier's privilege of grumbling +without stint at his restless activity. He was to +be found along the guard lines at almost any hour of +the night, and woe to the sleepy sentinel who failed to +give the proper challenge or to "turn out" promptly. +No severe punishments had yet been inflicted, but some +of the indolent had been terribly frightened, and were +accustomed to declare that "Old Mitchel" had been +watching the stars so long that he could not sleep at +night himself, and was not willing that anybody else +should! But the discipline of the troops steadily improved, +and the hearty commendation of their commander, +who knew how to praise as well as blame, +made amends for seeming harshness.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 433px;"> +<a href="images/i013-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i013.jpg" width="433" height="540" alt="GENERAL O. M. MITCHELL. +(From Harper's Magazine.) +Page 11." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">GENERAL O. M. MITCHELL.<br /> +(From Harper's Magazine.)<br /> +Page 11.</span> +</div> + +<p>As I watched the working-parties, my attention was +attracted to one strong-looking soldier who was obviously +shirking. Before many minutes General Mitchel +saw him too. The man pretended to lift and work, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>while really doing nothing, and thus became a great +hindrance, for his example was contagious. Stealthily +the general stole towards him, and when I saw him take +a piece of rotten wood in his hand I looked for a scene. +It came. He dealt the idler a sudden blow that covered +him all over with rotten wood, and nearly took +him from his feet, but did him no real injury. The +fellow turned furiously to avenge himself on his assailant, +but stood abashed when he saw the face of his commander, +and heard the exclamation, "Go to work, you +lazy rascal!" The spectators enjoyed the man's look +of blank amazement greatly, and the work went forward +more promptly than ever. But in a few moments +the tables were turned. Large framed masses of timber +were first floated near the position they were to occupy +in the bridge, at the end of the trestle-work, and then, +with ropes and pulleys, were slowly and painfully +hoisted into place. One of these was approaching the +perpendicular, and the general, in his eagerness, ran to +the end of a log, which extended over the water, and +began to encourage the laborers by loud cries of, +"Heave, O! heave, O!" as they pulled at the ropes. +Another party of workmen passed by the shore end of +the log on which Mitchel stood, carrying a load of +timber. Just as they reached the log,—the lazy man +among them, now lifting as much as any other,—I +could not see just how it was done, but probably by a +quick motion of the foot, the general's log was turned +so suddenly that he had no choice but to plunge in the +water. I expected a fearful explosion of indignation, +and perhaps the summoning of a guard to arrest the +offender, but was greatly surprised to see Mitchel, as +soon as the splash enabled me to see at all, stand up in +the water, which was not more than two feet deep, and +without even turning towards the shore, continue calling, +"Heave, O! heave, O!" as vigorously as ever. +There was some laughing, but the soldiers had great +respect for such coolness and presence of mind. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +general made no effort to discover the author of his +sudden immersion, though he must have known that it +was not accidental. "'Old Stars' can take a joke," +was the approving remark of a soldier close to my +side.</p> + +<p>I had just finished reading to a friend the newspaper +article I had been writing, when Captain Mitchel, a +distant relative of the general's, and commander of one +of the companies in the Second Ohio Regiment,—the +regiment in which I served,—came and sat down by +me, and asked what news I had been writing to the +papers. This was always a matter of great interest to +the officers and soldiers of our volunteer armies, for the +public letter served to give the families at home a great +deal of news, and thus to fill out the accounts conveyed +by private letters. I read the sketch over to him, and +it suggested a general conversation on the prospects of +the war. These we regarded as eminently favorable. +McClellan was about to move towards Richmond with +an overwhelming force, and we expected him to easily +capture the rebel capital. Buell, who had been with +us in our march through Kentucky, had gone Southwest +to join Grant. That they would, when united, be +able to drive the enemy far down the Mississippi, even +if they did not open that river to the Gulf, seemed +equally sure. But where were we going, that we, with +only ten thousand men and an adventurous general, +were being hurried Southeast? There was no enemy +in our front now, but we could not continue to march +in that direction very long without finding foes enough. +We were striking directly between the great armies of +the Rebellion, and, if we went on far enough, would +totally sever their connection. At this point in the +conversation Mitchel exhibited some constraint, as if +afraid of saying too much. I declared my own opinion, +which I shared with the greater part of the army, that +we were bound for Chattanooga, and possibly for Atlanta, +but that the rebels would be sure to run in heavy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +bodies of troops by rail, and give us all the fighting we +wanted before reaching even the former place.</p> + +<p>"Possibly they may," said Mitchel; "but there are +ways of looking out for that."</p> + +<p>"How?" I asked, with interest, for I knew that he +was usually well informed and very intelligent.</p> + +<p>He smiled, and said that "I might find out some +time."</p> + +<p>His manner, much more than his words, piqued my +curiosity. Besides, there was another matter I had resolved +to question him about at the first opportunity. +A few days before several of the best soldiers of our +regiment had suddenly disappeared. Four of the missing +men were from the company to which I belonged, +and two others from Mitchel's company. They had +been seen in close and apparently confidential conversation +with the regimental officers, and then, without any +leave-taking, were gone! No one of the private soldiers +could tell anything about their destination. In +a moment the hints of Mitchel connected themselves, in +my mind, with the absence of these men. Had not +some secret enterprise been set on foot in which they +were engaged? If there was any such scheme, I +would like to find it out, and, if still possible, take a +part in it. In addition to this motive for curiosity, one +of the absent men was a young cousin of mine, in whose +welfare I was deeply interested.</p> + +<p>"Mitchel," I said, turning sharply on him, "I understand +that Frank Mills and those other men have been +sent into the enemy's lines to perform some important +and dangerous service. I want you to tell me all +about it."</p> + +<p>As soon as I uttered the words I knew I was right. +Mitchel was silent for a moment, and then asked who +had told me so much.</p> + +<p>"No matter about that," I returned. "You can +trust me fully. Tell me what you know."</p> + +<p>"I will," he answered, "for I am anxious about the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +boys myself, and want to talk the matter over with +some friend. I am not sure that we did right in +letting them go."</p> + +<p>Rising, we strolled up the stream until we reached a +solitary place far away from the bridge and the noisy +workmen. Then getting a seat on a large rock, I +listened to Captain Mitchel's story. This conversation +is one of the most important epochs of my life. So +strange and romantic were the particulars to which I +listened, that it was difficult at first to give them perfect +credence.</p> + +<p>Said Mitchel, "Do you remember a Mr. Andrews, +a Kentuckian, who was about our camp last fall?"</p> + +<p>At first I did not, but a moment after, I recollected +seeing a fine-looking, well-dressed man standing on the +street-corner in the town of Prestonburg, up in the +mountains of Eastern Kentucky. He held carelessly +on his arm a beautiful Winchester rifle, which I, in common +with many others, had examined with great admiration. +I therefore answered Mitchel's question in the +affirmative, though I thought he was beginning rather +far away from the subject in hand. He continued,—</p> + +<p>"Some of you maintained that he was a rebel citizen, +and possibly a spy, who was only pretending to +be a unionist because our army was at hand."</p> + +<p>I said that such had been my own opinion when I +first saw him, for he was the very ideal of a magnificent +Southern gentleman, but that I had afterwards learned +that though he was a spy and secret agent, it was on +the Union side, and that he was high in the confidence +of our officers, adding that I had seen the same +man in our camp again, but had not spoken to him +after the first occasion.</p> + +<p>"Well," continued Mitchel, "he was, and is, a spy, +and has been of great service to us. But I sometimes +fear that we may have trusted him a little too far. +Our boys are now in Georgia with him."</p> + +<p>I sprang up from my seat. This was startling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +news. It had, indeed, been asserted by the camp-fires—where +all events are discussed, and where conjectures +too often pass for facts—that the missing men had +turned spies, but I had scouted the idea. I thought +that at most they might have been sent on ahead of us +a short distance, to seize some important post in connection +with similar details from other regiments, and +supported by cavalry. But we were a hundred and +fifty miles from the nearest point of the Georgian State +line.</p> + +<p>I looked at my companion in astonishment, and exclaimed, +"What on earth are they doing in Georgia?"</p> + +<p>"Andrews has taken them there," he said, "disguised +as Southern citizens, with the intention of capturing a +railroad train. He has also engaged a Southern man, +who is an engineer on the same railroad, to run their +locomotive, and when they get their train they will start +for our line and burn every bridge they pass over. +They will cut all the telegraph wires, and thus leave the +enemy in helpless rage behind them."</p> + +<p>My imagination took fire at the picture his few words +had sketched. A train surprised by a handful of bold +men in the heart of the enemy's territory; the passengers +and train hands forced to get out under threat of +instant death, and possibly a desperate fight before this +was accomplished; then the wires cut, so that no +lightning message could be flashed ahead; the secret +confederate—whom there might be a show of compelling +by force to mount the engine—set to his work; +the train rushing on its way through a hostile country, +past the towns and camps of the enemy, but rendered +secure by the two elements of surprise and speed; the +great bridges (like those at Green and Stone Rivers +and other places, which had cost us weary delays and +hard work in repairing),—all these bursting into flames +as they were passed, and possibly other damage done before +the daring adventurers returned in triumph to our +own lines. I knew enough of war to understand, at a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +glance, the great military importance of thus severing +railroad communications, for had I not seen our whole +division brought to a halt, and General Mitchel rendered +almost furious with impatience over a single +burnt bridge? Besides, it required no particular insight +to reveal the immense moral effect upon an enemy +of such a bold stroke far in the centre of his territory. +It would tend to diffuse distrust and fear through all +the rebel armies if they were thus made to feel that no +place in their whole country was safe from the presence +and the blows of a daring adversary.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think of it?" said Mitchel, as +he saw my preoccupation.</p> + +<p>"Why, it is the grandest thing I ever heard of!" +was my enthusiastic reply. "I wish I was with them. +But do you think that spy can be trusted? Spies are +all the time betraying the confidence of one party or +the other, and if he should be false to us, he has the +lives of our boys in his hands. I have heard that he +has been over the lines several times, and if he has +been a secret rebel all the while, it would be a nice +stroke of business for him to lead down a party of our +best men and deliver them to the rebels."</p> + +<p>"I have no fear of the fidelity of Andrews," said +Mitchel. "He has been too well proved. But I am +not so sure that he will be able to carry through all +that he has undertaken, or that our boys can preserve +their disguise until they reach the right point and are +ready for the blow. If they should be detected while +pretending to be rebels, it is not at all unlikely that +they will be treated as spies and hung up. I wish they +were back in camp again. But if they get through all +right and burn the bridges, we will make for Chattanooga +as fast as our legs can carry us. This is one of +the reasons that makes the general so anxious to have +that bridge done. If we should hear to-morrow, as +we may at any moment, that those Southern bridges +are smashed, it would be a race for Chattanooga with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +all the odds in our favor. But you must not breathe +a word of this to one of the soldiers, or especially +write of it to the papers, or to any of the relatives of +the poor fellows, till they are back with us,—if they +ever come back! Give me your candid opinion, was +it right to let them take such a risk?"</p> + +<p>Without the slightest hesitation I declared that it +was right, giving the reasons that seemed most weighty. +War is full of risks. In an obscure skirmish, or by a +chance shot from the picket-line, the most valuable life +may be put out. Now, if by a little additional risk a +few men can do the work of thousands,—the work that +if done in the ordinary mode would certainly cost a +score times as many lives as are imperilled,—the risk is +worth taking. Of course, it would not be right to send +men on such an enterprise without their consent, but +in the Union army it was never necessary to force men +into any dangerous enterprise. Volunteers were always +plenty enough.</p> + +<p>I asked, further, how many men were engaged, and +learned with additional astonishment that the detachment +from our own regiment—only eight men—was +all. This force seemed totally inadequate to the greatness +of the work, but I understood that the risk of +detection would multiply with the increase of numbers. +The very smallest number that could serve was, therefore, +selected. If they succeeded, few were better than +many.</p> + +<p>After a long conversation, Mitchel and I returned to +the working-party down the river. The burnt remnants +of the old railroad bridge and the rapidly rising +timbers of the new had now a deeper interest than +ever. The completion of this bridge and the burning +of some others far in the South were the two events +for which that whole division, whose tents dotted the +meadows behind us, was unconsciously waiting. My +head was full of conjectures and plans as I walked +back through the twilight to join my messmates in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +tent. I could talk to no one of what I had heard, but as +I lay awake that night a most important resolution took +shape. I was weary of the slow movement of the +army, and of the monotony of a private soldier's service. +While trying carefully to do all my duty, and +winning a fair degree of approval from my officers, I +yet had no taste for military affairs. If by a little +extra hazard I could do more for the country, while +getting rid of distasteful routine and entering into +a new sphere of work, I was more than willing to +accept all the hazard involved. It was too late to +take part in the present attempt, but I resolved to be +prepared for any opportunity of the kind that might +again offer.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, in the forenoon of the next day I went +up to regimental headquarters and told Colonel L. A. +Harris, of the Second Ohio, that I had a favor to ask +of him. Major (since General) Anson G. McCook, in +whose company I had served during the first three +months of the war, was also present. I told them I +had ascertained that some of our men had been sent +out on secret service lately, and that if any similar details +should be made in the future, I wanted the opportunity +of being included. Major McCook, while saying +some kind things about me, intimated a doubt whether +my defective vision—I was very near-sighted—might +not be a hindrance on any perilous service. Colonel +Harris, however, took a different view of the matter, +saying he thought that if I dressed in citizen's clothes, +and wore my spectacles (as I was accustomed to do even +in the ranks), no person in the South would suspect me +of being a soldier, and I was thus only the better fitted +for any secret service. McCook did not press his objection, +and after learning the reason for my request +and trying in vain to find the source of my information, +Colonel Harris said,—</p> + +<p>"Pittenger, I don't know that we will ever send any +more men out of camp in this manner, but I will give<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +my promise that if we do, you shall be the first man +called upon."</p> + +<p>This was perfectly satisfactory. I returned to my +duty, and in the routine of camp-life waited for several +days in impatient anxiety. I dreamed at night of +burning bridges and startling adventures. Duty on +picket and in the camp lines, however, with other excitements, +began to weaken the impression, as day after +day rolled by with no recurrence of the subject. But +one day it was told me by a friend that one of the missing +men, a member of Company C, was back again in +his usual place in line. For some time attempts to get +him to say where he had been, and whether alone or in +company, were in vain. He would speak no word by +which any one could divine the nature of his errand +while away from us, or the degree of success he had +met with. I was much disquieted by his return alone, +but having no special acquaintance, I did not like to +try to get any information directly from him. But I +soon learned that he had gone as far as Chattanooga +and had turned back,—some of his comrades afterwards +thought because he became so sensible of the +difficulties of his attempt that he resolved to go no +further in it,—a determination which he had a perfect +right to make, and which in no way impugned his +character as a soldier. His own explanation, afterwards +given, which I saw no reason to doubt, was more +dramatic. He said that he had gone in disguise as far +as Chattanooga, but had there been recognized by a +rebel soldier, who was an old acquaintance, and who +knew that he belonged to the Union army. This man +heard him telling his false story in a public place without +contradicting him, but as soon as he could do so +unobserved, drew him aside and declared that he remembered +him, and knew he was down there disguised +for some bad purpose; but that if he would pledge +himself to return immediately to the Union lines, he +would, for the sake of their former friendship, refrain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +from denouncing him, otherwise his own sense of duty +would require him to report all he knew to the commander +of the post. Under such circumstances our +comrade judged it most prudent to give and keep the +pledge required.</p> + +<p>At length the bridge over Stone River was completed, +and there was great rejoicing as the first train, +laden with army supplies, passed over it from Nashville. +Next morning the order was given to the whole +division to prepare three days' rations. This was invariably +the signal for a decided movement. Our lost +comrades were still away, and no word had reached the +rank and file of the army of any unusual occurrence +southward. The uneasiness of General Mitchel and +the regimental officers of the Second Ohio, and especially +of Captain Sarratt, who commanded the company +to which I belonged, and my friend, Captain Mitchel, +was apparent to any careful observer.</p> + +<p>Just before the march began, while we were standing +in line early the next morning, with the camp all +broken up, our knapsacks swung, and our haversacks +filled with rations, waiting only for the word "forward," +Captain Mitchel came over to me and uttered a +sentence, in a half whisper, that went through me like +an electric shock. His message was simply this: "Mills +is back, and has gone up to headquarters to report." +While standing in my place in the ranks I could give +no answer, nor could I ask any question, but my mind +was full of surmises. Had the adventurers succeeded, +and were we now on our way to do our part in the +great plan,—to strike swift and far into the South, +while the enemy's communications were broken? That +would involve hard fighting and stirring scenes not far +ahead. Had they failed? If so, there would probably +be other attempts,—that is, if the secret had been +kept,—and then I would have a part in the risk and +the adventure. At any rate, I was exceeding glad of +Mills's return, and I knew that I would find out all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +about it as soon as I could get to talk with him alone. +As Company K—Mitchel's—was next my own in the +line, that opportunity, even on the march, would not +be long delayed.</p> + +<p>Soon the command to march was given, and the +column moved southward towards Shelbyville, about +twenty-five miles distant. Before noon I dropped +out of my place, sought and found Mills, and as we +plodded along, in the loose order allowed on long +marches, we had no difficulty in remaining together, +and yet far enough from other soldiers to talk in +perfect security. The whole history of my relative's +adventures was fully laid open before me. I found +that all Mitchel had narrated was perfectly accurate, +but the enormous obstacles to be encountered by such +an expedition were now brought much more plainly +into view. Mills said that he and his companions had +first of all exchanged their uniforms for citizen's clothes, +and made provision for the safety of their arms and +personal effects in the camp. Then, under the direction +of Andrews, they had scattered in the mountains, to +the eastward of our camp, representing themselves as +refugees from the oppressions of the Union troops in +Kentucky, and had journeyed thus to Chattanooga. +That town had been reached in about four days. My +friend pictured in lively colors the manner in which +he had been compelled to verbally abuse the Union +cause, and join in praise of the leaders and principles +of Secession. The squad to which he belonged had no +particular difficulty in passing themselves as good +rebels. The man who first returned had been less +fortunate. At Chattanooga they took passage on the +cars for Atlanta, and in due time reached that place, +where they scattered themselves among the several +hotels and lived plentifully (they had an abundant +supply of money) for three days longer. Each hour +Andrews anticipated the arrival of that Confederate +engineer of whom Mitchel had spoken to me. But he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +did not come. All possible inquiries were guardedly +made concerning him, for it was not safe to appear too +inquisitive.</p> + +<p>"How did you feel while thus waiting in suspense?" +I asked.</p> + +<p>"I felt as if I wanted to be back in camp, and had +no business to be in that town any longer," replied +Frank. "To hear the curses and threats made against +everything that belonged to the Union, and to be +obliged to keep perfectly quiet, or to agree with them, +was more than I could easily endure. And the folks +about the hotel were more anxious every day to know +who I was, and I had to tell them lies without number. +I resolved not to stand it much longer."</p> + +<p>"Were you really afraid of being found out, +Frank?" I queried. "Did you consider yourself in +much danger?"</p> + +<p>With great emphasis he answered, "No money could +hire me to put myself in such a position again. I +would have run away if we had been obliged to stay +much longer."</p> + +<p>This man was as brave as any human being. I had +seen him perfectly cool and serene under circumstances +of great danger, when every one else in the company +betrayed some sign of fear. I did not suspect him of +exaggerating the perils of the situation in which he +was placed, and, having a deep personal interest in the +matter, I put the question bluntly,—</p> + +<p>"If men should be wanted to try this thing again, +would you not go?"</p> + +<p>"Never!" was the unequivocal response. "If Andrews +and Mitchel want bridges burned, they can go +themselves and burn them! I will do my duty as a +soldier, but as to going out among those——"</p> + +<p>The terms applied, and the energy given to the accompanying +description of the horror of being alone +among blood-thirsty enemies, feeling that, sleeping or +waking, a rope was around one's neck, just ready to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +tightened on the utterance of a single careless word, +it is not necessary to transcribe here.</p> + +<p>"But why did not that man come to help you? Did +you find out anything about him?"</p> + +<p>"Andrews told us, on the third day after we had +reached Atlanta, that he had heard through some of +the railway officials that the engineer had been transferred +to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad to help in running +troops to Corinth" (this was a short time before +the battle of Shiloh). "But my own opinion is that +the man got scared and had himself transferred there +to get out of a bad scrape."</p> + +<p>"But how did Andrews take this disappointment?"</p> + +<p>"He was very much cast down. He asked each of us +if we had ever been engineers or firemen. But no one +had ever occupied such a position. He hated terribly +to give up; but, as nothing more could be done, he at +last told us we might work our way back to camp."</p> + +<p>"Where are the other boys?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose they are on their way. It was harder +getting back than going down. Everybody seemed +to think it natural for us to be going South; but +we had to make all kind of excuses for 'heading the +wrong way,' as they called it. We had to scatter +to avoid observation, and travel part of the way by +night; and if some of them are not discovered and +either put into the rebel army or hung, I will be very +glad."</p> + +<p>"Do you think Andrews will now give up the job +of burning those bridges, or will he try again?"</p> + +<p>"If he can get men to go, you may be sure he will +keep at it until he succeeds or dies. But I would never +go again or advise any one else to do so. Why, he said +he would stay down several days after we left and make +a complete survey of the line, for the very purpose of +trying over again."</p> + +<p>"What do you think of Andrews himself? Can he +be trusted?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes; he's as true as steel, and very smart. But I +am afraid he will venture a little too far, both for himself +and for those with him, one of these days."</p> + +<p>I have omitted the many striking incidents that Mills +narrated to me in the course of this conversation, which +was more interesting to me than any romance, because +adventures very similar in their general character to +those he described will be fully narrated in another +place.</p> + +<p>I found my way back to my proper place in the regiment, +feeling sure that another attempt to destroy the +Southern communications would be made, in which I +must engage if I did not positively "back out"; convinced, +also, that it would involve hard labor, much +peril, and, even with these, great risk of failure.</p> + +<p>The next day others of the Andrews party returned +to us, and corroborated the accounts given by Mills. +The day following the remainder arrived in safety. +They were all glad to get back, and were unanimous +in declaring that they would not again venture disguised +into the enemy's country under any circumstances. +They spoke very sparingly about their experiences, +for the officers had cautioned them to say +but little, in view of the possibility of a new venture +of the same character.</p> + +<p>On Saturday evening, the 5th of April, we camped +on the banks of Duck River, in some pleasant meadows +about a mile from the town of Shelbyville. The next +day was delightful. The spring of 1862 opened very +early, and now the meadows were verdant and the +birds singing. The calm, quiet, and beauty of that +Sabbath, with the white tents dotting the level fields, +and the soldiers luxuriating in one day of rest after the +hard march, which had been rendered more fatiguing +by the accompaniments of rain and mud, form a very +pleasant picture in memory. The next Sabbath came +to me under entirely different circumstances. I felt +the pressure of a vague melancholy resting upon me,—possibly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +it was only that pensive feeling often inspired +by a fresh, bright, and quiet day in early spring; possibly +the faint shadow of coming evil. I devoted the +greater part of the day to writing letters to friends and +newspapers,—the last I wrote for weary months. On +this same day—though we knew it not till afterwards—began +the great battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, +one hundred and fifty miles west of us.</p> + +<p>On Monday Andrews himself returned to our lines, +and asked, as I had anticipated, for permission to renew +his enterprise. He had spent several days along the +line of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, learning the +number of trains, their times of running, and everything +else likely to be useful. He had then started for +camp, and being provided with passes, so that he could +take the most direct road, besides being well mounted, +he came in almost as soon as the private soldiers who +started much sooner.</p> + +<p>But not one of the first party would return. They +were tired of feeling, as one of them expressed it, that +their necks depended upon a lie. Like Schiller's diver, +they had plunged once into the abyss and returned in +safety; but, unlike that venturous youth, they would +not make the second and fatal trial.</p> + +<p>The new expedition, as proposed by Andrews, differed +in three particulars from the first. He wanted a larger +force,—twenty-four men instead of eight. He had seen +that it was possible to carry a considerable number of +men in disguise to the scene of action, and the number +now requested was none too large for the capture of a +full railway train or the overpowering of guards at important +bridges. He also wanted some engineers to be +detailed, in order that no mishap might leave them +without the power of running their train. Five were +secured, thus leaving an ample margin, as it was believed, +for the possibility of capture on the way down, +or of death by the enemy's bullets in the hour of conflict. +It thus became an enterprise completely fitted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +out in Federal lines, without any reliance on help from +the South. The third point of difference was of more +importance than a casual glance revealed. The first +expedition had an abundance of time. A week's delay, +even after the soldiers were in the enemy's country, +would have involved no risk, save that of discovery,—would, +indeed, have been an advantage, as it would +allow less time for the repair of damages done to the +Southern railroads before Mitchel's arrival at Chattanooga. +But now it was different. The whole division +was ready to advance, its course being clearly indicated +to the enemy, and moments became precious. By +making the utmost speed it was still possible to have +the bridges burned at the right time, but every hour's +delay would render the work more difficult, and its success +more uncertain. The bearing of this question of +time will be made painfully apparent in our story.</p> + +<p>General Mitchel received the report of Mr. Andrews +(which also embraced all the information the most skilful +spy could have brought concerning the nature and +disposition of the enemy's forces), approved his prudence +in ordering the return of the soldiers, and sanctioned +the second attempt. He, however, advised caution, +saying that Andrews must not strike unless he saw a +good prospect of success; but he made no objection to +the increase of force, provided volunteers could be obtained. +It was easy to secure the five engineers asked +for without going beyond the limits of the three Ohio +regiments composing General Sill's brigade. Of the +detail as finally made out, nine men belonged to the +Twenty-first, eight to the Thirty-third, and seven to +the Second Ohio Regiments.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>MIDNIGHT CONSULTATION.</h3> + + +<p>On Monday, April 7, while I was inside my tent +engaged in some of the little details of work which occupy +a soldier's time in camp, a comrade pulled open +the canvas door and called out,—</p> + +<p>"Pittenger, Captain Sarratt is looking for you."</p> + +<p>I went out and met the captain, and together we +walked up the street formed by the two rows of tents +to the larger tent occupied by the company officers, +which stood across the street at the upper end. He +took me inside, and then said, with a sigh,—</p> + +<p>"Colonel Harris has just sent me word that you are +to go with Andrews down to Georgia. I do not know +why he has selected you, but I advise you not to go. +You have perfect liberty to refuse."</p> + +<p>I told him that so far from refusing my mind was +fully made up to accept, and that I had already arranged +with Colonel Harris to that effect. Sarratt was +surprised to hear this, but urged every argument in his +power to dissuade me; telling me that the safe return +of the four who had been out on the former expedition +had lifted a great burden from his heart; but that if I +went, it would be no better than before. I was deeply +moved by his evident concern, but had gone too far to +retract. I asked if any other member of our company +was to go. He answered in the negative, saying that +he understood that but one from each company was to +be detailed. Finding persuasion in vain, he gave me +a pass to Shelbyville, where I could see Andrews and +procure all necessaries for the journey. I left him, +deeply impressed by the kindness of the man, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +led him to regard the soldiers under his command as +children, for whose welfare he felt himself in a great +degree responsible.</p> + +<p>No one of my comrades yet knew of the intended +expedition. In the afternoon I took a friend with me +and strolled into Shelbyville, a well-built village of a +few hundred inhabitants, and purchased some articles +of clothing, but was not able to find a complete suit. +A number of persons were engaged in making similar +purchases—among others, the sergeant-major of our +regiment, Marion Ross. By watching the character +of his purchases and by a few careful questions, I found +that his business was the same as my own. No side-arms +could be found, but I knew that all lack in that +direction could easily be supplied in camp. Getting +away from all other company, Ross and I strayed +through the town for some time, keeping a sharp lookout, +until, at length, we saw Andrews. His striking +personal appearance made it easy to recognize him, and, +approaching, we told him that we were ordered to report +to him. After scrutinizing us a moment, and asking +us the company and rank we held, he told us that +it would not be prudent to talk much in so public a +place, but to overtake him after dark a mile or more +east of Shelbyville, on the road toward Wartrace, and +he would there give us full explanations, and allow us +to return to our regiments if not satisfied with his +plans. With these few words we parted from him, and +went back to our tents for final arrangements. I borrowed +the additional clothing I needed from one of the +former adventurers. All my arms and equipments I +put carefully in order, packed my uniform in my knapsack +to be left in the care of the proper authorities, arrayed +myself in citizen's clothes, and stepped out of my +tent. The soldiers who were idling around passed the +word to their comrades who were in their tents, reading, +playing cards, or amusing themselves in the various +ways incident to camp-life, and soon almost the whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +company—indeed, all who were not absent on guard +duty—thronged around and commenced all kinds of +questions. "Pittenger, going to desert? Going home? +Going out as a spy? Got a discharge? Got a furlough?"—were +a few of the inquiries that rained from +every quarter. At the same time I heard it asserted +that several other men were dressing up in the same +manner. I answered all questions in the affirmative, +and stepped over to the company street adjoining our +own—that of Company K—and sought the tent in +which Frank Mills messed. He had a very good revolver +which I wanted to borrow. As I entered, he +read the situation in a glance.</p> + +<p>"So, you are going with Andrews."</p> + +<p>I nodded, and hastened to add, "I want your revolver."</p> + +<p>"You are welcome to the revolver, but if you know +when you are well off you will stay where you are. +Because I was fool enough to go, it does not follow +that you need be."</p> + +<p>I did not argue the question, but he saw that it was +settled, and he gave me the weapon, with a liberal supply +of cartridges. I was now ready, and the gravity +of the situation forced itself more clearly upon my apprehension. +I did not expect to return to camp until +the proposed enterprise had been accomplished. Considering, +therefore, that so much was already known in +camp from the report of the former party, and from +seeing me arrayed as I was, I could not understand +that it would be any advantage for me to steal away +unnoticed. With this view, I went up to Captain +Sarratt's quarters and bade him good-by. He was almost +overcome with emotion, and could not muster a +single one of his accustomed good-natured jokes. Then +came the farewells to tried comrades. Few of them +had any distinct conception of the nature of my errand, +but they knew it was secret and dangerous, and this +was enough to excite their apprehension. They labored<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +hard to dissuade me. The devotion of one of their +number, my inseparable companion, Alexander Mills, +was especially affecting. Though he had been lying +in our tent very sick all day, he now crawled to the +door and begged me not to go. Finding that I was +fully determined, he hurried as fast as his tottering +steps would allow to headquarters, for permission to go +along! Notwithstanding his physical inability, he persisted +in his request until the colonel threatened to +have him put under arrest. Had he been well he +would not have been refused, as he was a most excellent +soldier; but in the trying times that followed, it +was a great satisfaction to me that he was left behind. +Poor fellow! he lost his life while carrying the flag +of the Second Ohio at the battle of Lookout Mountain, +eighteen months later, and now sleeps in the beautiful +National Cemetery at Chattanooga,—that town towards +which our steps were now bent.</p> + +<p>When all the farewells were over I strolled back to +Shelbyville, meeting Sergeant Ross as we had arranged, +and passed the time pleasantly with him in looking +about the village until about dark, when we inquired +the road to Wartrace, and started for the rendezvous +that Andrews had appointed. We walked very leisurely, +expecting that some of our number, who were +probably behind, would soon overtake us, and having +a curiosity to ascertain whether we could recognize +them by speech or manner as belonging to our party. +We saw several persons, but they were travelling the +opposite way, and we began to be apprehensive that +we had taken the wrong road.</p> + +<p>As we journeyed on, we noticed a house surrounded +by a yard, and Ross proposed getting a drink of water. +Crossing the fence we went up to the house, but before +we reached the door, a dog came up silently behind my +companion, and, biting his leg, ran under the house +before a revolver could be drawn.</p> + +<p>The bite was not severe, and I laughed heartily at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +his mishap; but after drinking, and before reaching +the fence, the same dog rushed out once more. Ross +saw him in time, and sprang over the fence, but I sat +on the top of it in fancied security. The malicious +creature sprang at me, seized my coat, and tore a large +piece out of it. The same coat, thus torn, I wore +during the whole of the year through which our adventures +extended. The incident was trivial, but in +the deepening darkness, with a thunder-storm, which +now began to mutter in the distance, approaching, uncertain +as to where our comrades were, and at the beginning +of a desperate enterprise, it stands out in memory +with lurid distinctness. To a superstitious person it +might have seemed ominous of the results of that expedition +in which Ross perished, and from which I returned +a shattered and disabled invalid.</p> + +<p>A pistol-shot easily cleared us of the dog, and we +pursued our way,—not rejoicingly, for our situation +grew every moment more perplexing. Not one of +our comrades was visible, and we were almost certain +we had taken the wrong road. Finally, we resolved +to retrace our steps, and try to get in Shelbyville +some better clue to our journey. Unless we could obtain +further instructions, we knew not how or where +to go. We did not like to return to camp, for that +would probably delay us too long to take part in the +enterprise, and the failure to go, after our affecting +leave-taking, would have formed a ludicrous anticlimax, +and probably have been charged to cowardice. At +a cross-road in sight of Shelbyville, where we felt sure +that any of the adventurers who obeyed the directions +we had received must pass, we sat down and waited +nearly an hour longer.</p> + +<p>Our patience was rewarded. We had started too +soon, and from this miscalculation all our perplexity +arose. A few men, whom we recognized almost instinctively +as belonging to our party, came along the +road in the right direction. A little guarded conversation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +showed us that we were right, and we strolled +slowly on with them. Shortly afterwards others overtook +us, among whom was Andrews. This was a great +relief, as we now had a guide. Soon we were as far +from Shelbyville as Ross and I alone had been, and +a few hundred yards farther on fell in with still other +men. Our party had so greatly increased as to be quite +conspicuous, and it was advisable to add still further +security to the cover of the night. Accordingly, we +left the road for some distance, and, marching silently, +were soon at the appointed rendezvous.</p> + +<p>A little thicket of dead and withered trees, a short +distance from the road, and sufficiently open to assure +us that no listener was near, was the place of our assemblage. +Never was a consultation preparatory to some +desperate deed held under more fitting circumstances. +The storm which had been gathering all the evening +was now near. Black clouds covered one half the sky, +and the young moon, low down in the west, was soon +obscured. The frequent flashes of lightning, more vivid +in the darkness, and the low roll of thunder that followed, +grew continually more emphatic, forming most +startling interruptions to the earnest but suppressed +words of our leader. It is very singular that amid +these ominous surroundings, which fitted so well the +character of the business in hand, one ordinary sound +stands out in my memory, far more clear and distinct +than any part of the scene. Far off I heard the bark or +howl of a dog,—no doubt at some farm-house,—roused +either by the coming storm which began to sway the leafless +boughs above us, or by the passing of some belated +traveller. Popular superstition would probably have +considered such a sound as ominous of evil; and most +of us are superstitious when young, in the dark, and +entering upon unknown dangers.</p> + +<p>We formed a close circle around Mr. Andrews while +he revealed to us his daring plans. In a voice as soft +and low as a woman's, but tremulous with suppressed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>enthusiasm, he painted the greatness of the project we +were to attempt, the sublimity of rushing through a +hostile country at the full speed of steam, leaving flaming +bridges and raging but powerless foes behind. But he +did not disguise the dangers to be encountered.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 597px;"> +<a href="images/i037-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i037.jpg" width="596" height="356" alt="Midnight Consultation. +Page 32." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">Midnight Consultation.<br /> +Page 32.</span> +</div> + +<p>"Soldiers," he said, "if you are detected while engaged +in this business, the great probability is that you +will be put to death,—hung as spies, or massacred by +a mob. I want you to clearly understand this, and if +you are not willing to take the risk, return to camp, +and keep perfectly quiet about it."</p> + +<p>A murmur all around the circle conveyed the assurance +that we would follow him to the last extremity.</p> + +<p>"Our plan," he continued, "is simply this: you are +to travel on foot, or by any conveyance you can hire, +either to Chattanooga or some station not far from that +point on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad; then +you can take passage on the cars down to Marietta; +that will be our next place of assembling, and not Atlanta. +You must be there by Thursday evening, ready +to take passage on the cars northward again by Friday +morning. I will be there as soon as you, and tell you +what more is to be done."</p> + +<p>"But how about money to pay our way?" was +asked.</p> + +<p>"I have plenty of Confederate money, and will share +it among you before we part. As to your story, you +cannot do better than to tell everybody that you are +Kentuckians coming South to get away from the +Yankees, and to join the Confederate army; only be +careful to have always some plausible reason for going +farther before joining. A great many Kentuckians +have gone South by this route, and are very heartily received. +If you will go eastward through Wartrace and +Manchester, you will get into the track they usually +take, and by then turning south, you will not appear +to be heading from the Union army. If any one of +you are questioned closely, you may say you are from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +Fleming County, for I happen to know that no soldiers +from that county are in this part of the country."</p> + +<p>All of these directions were eagerly listened to, but +the closing one afterwards bore disastrous fruit.</p> + +<p>One of the soldiers asked, "If any of us are suspected, +and find we can't get away, what would you +ad vise us to do?"</p> + +<p>"Enlist without hesitation in the rebel army," was +the response. "You are fully authorized to do that, +and no one of this party will be accused of desertion, +even if captured among the rebels. I would be sorry +to lose any one of you, but it will be far better that you +should serve awhile with the enemy than to acknowledge +who you are, and thus risk the disclosure of the +enterprise."</p> + +<p>"But is it likely that we could get the chance thus +to enlist?" it was further asked.</p> + +<p>"Most certainly," said Andrews. "They are taking +all the prisoners out of the jails and enlisting them. +They are picking up men who have run away from the +conscription wherever they can find them, and serving +them in the same manner. If you tell your story and +stick to it, even if they are not satisfied that you are +telling the truth, they will put you into the service. +You can stay until some dark night on picket. But +I hope you will escape all trouble, and all meet me at +Marietta safely. Break this party up into squads of +three or four, and don't recognize each other on the +way. I will ride along the same country you are travelling, +and give you any help or direction in my power. +But you must not recognize me unless sure that we are +not observed."</p> + +<p>There was but one subject on which I cared to ask +any questions, and that related to a distant contingency. +I was well informed as to the first part of the intended +enterprise.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we succeed in capturing the train," I said, +"and in burning the bridges, are we then to leave the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +train, and try to steal back to our lines in the same way +we are now going South?"</p> + +<p>"By no means," replied Mr. Andrews. "We will +run the train right through Chattanooga, and westward +until we meet Mitchel, who by that time will be coming +eastward on the road from Memphis. If we should not +quite reach him, we will get so close that we can dash +through in a body."</p> + +<p>This was satisfactory as far as it went, but there was +still another contingency. More than anything else I +dreaded being left alone in an unknown country.</p> + +<p>"If we fail to run the captured train through Chattanooga, +will we then disperse or stick together?"</p> + +<p>"After we meet at Marietta, we will keep together, +and, if necessary, cut our way back to our own lines. +Form your squads now, and I will give out the money."</p> + +<p>Swiftly we selected our companions. There was little +time for choice. Most of the men were strangers. +The darkness was intense, and the thunder-peals almost +overhead. In a moment we formed six or seven little +groups. My former comrade, Ross, stood with another +man or two beside Andrews. Two men from Captain +Mitchel's company and one from the next company to +that in the regimental line stood by my side. Andrews +went from group to group, giving out the money freely, +and answering questions that were still asked. When +this was accomplished, he addressed himself once more +to the whole number, and we crowded around to listen +to his parting words. They gave us the fullest insight +into the whole plan we had yet received.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow morning," said he, "Mitchel, with his +whole army, will start on a forced march right south to +Huntsville. He will capture that town not later than +Friday (it was now Monday night), and will then turn +east towards Chattanooga. We must burn the bridges +south of Chattanooga the same day, for after that, the +road will be crowded with trains bringing reinforcements +against him and running property away, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +our task will be very much harder. So we have no +time to lose. We must be at Marietta on Thursday +evening. The last train for that station leaves Chattanooga +at five o'clock in the afternoon. Be sure to catch +it. Good-by."</p> + +<p>He gave each of us his hand with a hearty pressure +and fervent good wishes. Not many moments after, the +storm broke over us with all its fury. The rain fell in +torrents. The last glimpse I caught of Andrews as +my party of four hurried on their prescribed course +was by means of a broad glare of lightning that made +the drenched landscape for a moment as bright as day. +He had just parted from the last group and was gazing +after us.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>COMPANIONS AND INCIDENTS.</h3> + + +<p>Who was this Mr. Andrews, from whom we had +just parted in storm and darkness,—the man from +whose brain sprang the Chattanooga Railroad Expedition, +and to whose keeping we had so fearlessly committed +our lives? Few of us knew much about him at +that time, but became wiser afterwards. As he is the +hero of the earlier part of this story, it may be well to +give the reader the benefit of all the information as to +his character and history subsequently obtained.</p> + +<p>Mr. J. J. Andrews was born in that part of Western +Virginia known as the "Pan Handle," on the eastern +bank of the Ohio River, and only separated from my +own county of Jefferson by that stream. While quite +young he had removed to the mountains of Eastern +Kentucky, settling in Fleming County. Here he acquired +considerable wealth, but at the outbreak of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +civil war lost most of it again. While in business here +he travelled over much of the South, and became acquainted +with many men whom the war afterwards +threw into prominence. At the first outbreak of hostilities +he joined the Union army, not as a soldier, but +in the still more useful and dangerous character of a +spy and secret negotiator. He accompanied General +Nelson in his Eastern Kentucky campaign, on which +occasion I had seen him at Prestonburg, and afterwards +he journeyed back and forth two or three times from +Nashville before the capture of that city. He also +spent several days in Fort Donelson during the week +preceding its capture by General Grant. At this place +he narrowly escaped detection. Subsequently he visited +Atlanta and brought back much valuable information. +By representing himself as a blockade-runner, +and carrying southward through our lines articles of +small bulk but of great value to the enemy, he secured +their confidence and brought back information a hundredfold +more valuable. This business was pecuniarily +profitable to himself as well as very serviceable +to the Union army. A Mr. Whiteman, of Nashville, +afterwards testified that he had paid him ten thousand +dollars for one cargo, the most of which was clear +profit. Some of the Southern officers with whom he +was intimate had bestowed upon him passes authorizing +him to come and go through their lines at pleasure. It +is not my intention to offer any apology for a man who +thus betrays the confidence even of rebels. What justice +requires to be said on this subject will find a more +appropriate place in explaining the position of those +who accompanied him in his last and most perilous +journey. His occupation was one of the utmost danger, +and he could not expect much mercy if detected. +He had even gone the length of taking the oath of allegiance +to the Southern Confederacy, though he was +passionately loyal to the old government. Indeed, his +hatred for secession and everything connected with it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +had become the more intense from the very disguise he +so frequently assumed; and the desire to work all possible +injury to that cause had far more influence in inducing +him to pursue his perilous vocation than any +hope of reward. I have since been told by Southern +authorities that he acknowledged being promised fifty +thousand dollars reward in case he succeeded in destroying +the bridges from Atlanta to Chattanooga, but +I never heard of such a contract. Certainly no reward +whatever was promised directly or indirectly to the +soldiers who accompanied him, and I never heard +Andrews himself speak of expecting any pecuniary +recompense.</p> + +<p>Mr. Andrews was nearly six feet in height, of powerful +frame, black hair, and long, black, and silken +beard, Roman features, a high and expansive forehead, +and a voice fine and soft as a woman's. Of polished +manners, stately presence, and more than ordinary personal +beauty, wide information, great shrewdness and +sagacity, he was admirably fitted to win favor in a +community like that of the South, which has always +placed a high value on personal qualities. He had also +the clear forethought in devising complicated schemes, +and the calmness in the hour of danger necessary for +the perilous game he played. Carrying his life in his +hand whenever he ventured beyond the Union pickets, +involved continually in dangers, where a single thoughtless +word, or even an unguarded look, might lead to +detection and death, he had learned to rely absolutely on +his own resources, and to contemplate with easy familiarity +enterprises that would have looked like sheer +madness to one without this preliminary drill.</p> + +<p>But it was said that even he had grown tired of this +perpetual risk, and intended, if successful in this last +and most difficult enterprise, to retire to peaceful life. +A tender influence conspired to the same end, and imparts +a dash of romance to his story. He was engaged +to be married in the following June, and intended then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +to retire from the army. Alas! June had a far different +fate in store for him.</p> + +<p>At our interview in the afternoon, as well as in the +midnight consultation, Andrews impressed me as a man +who combined intellect and refinement with the most +dauntless courage. Yet his pensive manner, slow +speech, and soft voice indicated not obscurely what I +afterwards found to be almost his only fault as a leader,—a +hesitancy in deciding important questions on the +spur of the moment, and in backing his decision by +prompt, vigorous action. This did not detract from +his value as a secret agent when alone, for then all his +actions were premeditated and accomplished with surpassing +coolness and bravery; but it was otherwise in +commanding men in startling and unforeseen emergencies. +This trait of character will be more fully developed +in the course of the story.</p> + +<p>How were the soldiers selected who assembled that +evening at the rendezvous? This question was asked +with curiosity and wonder by the enemy, and is of +great importance in estimating the treatment of such +of their number as were afterwards captured. The +enemy could not, by their utmost exertions, obtain correct +information on this subject; but there is now no +reason for reticence. The nature of the enterprise was +such that it could not be publicly explained and volunteers +called for, as it was quite possible that spies of +the enemy were in our camp; neither was it right, according +to the laws of war, to divest soldiers of their +uniform and place them under the orders of a spy +without their full consent. A medium course was +adopted, which avoided the opposite difficulties as far +as possible. The captains who were ordered to furnish +each a man gathered a few of their soldiers about them +in a quiet way, and stated that a volunteer was wanted +for a very dangerous enterprise. Of those who professed +willingness to go one was selected, taken aside +from the others, and told simply that he was to be sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +disguised into the heart of the enemy's country, under +the orders of a Southern citizen, whom the commanding +officers trusted fully. If they felt like engaging +in this service, with all its risks, they could see this +man and learn more; but if not, they would be at liberty +to decline the dangerous honor. In one or two +cases these preliminary explanations were so vague that +the men addressed did not fairly understand the matter, +and subsequently declared that if they had been more +fully informed they would not have taken the first +step. After they met Andrews, however, they felt that +their reputation was at stake, and were not willing to +"back out." In one or two other cases the men were +merely selected by their captains and ordered, without +any preliminary explanations, to report to Andrews +outside of the lines.</p> + +<p>Twenty-four men were thus detailed, twenty-three +of whom met at the rendezvous. The twenty-fourth +we never heard of; whether he tried to reach us and +failed, or whether some one of the captains who was to +furnish a man was unable to induce any one to accept +the dangerous honor, is uncertain. Indeed, there must +have been a failure of two men, for we had one with +us who was not originally expected to go. Captain +Mitchel had one man to furnish, and Perry G. Shadrach +was chosen. William Campbell, a native of +Salineville, Ohio, but for many years a citizen of Kentucky, +a man of wild and adventurous habits, was visiting +Shadrach, and at once asked and obtained permission +to go with him. Though he was only a civilian, +we always spoke of him as an enlisted soldier of Captain +Mitchel's company.</p> + +<p>While we are splashing along in the darkness and +under the fast-falling rain, it may be a good time to describe +the members of the squad with whom I travelled. +Shadrach and Campbell were two of its members. The +former was small but roundly built, a merry, reckless +fellow, often profane, easily put out of temper, but very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +kind, and willing to sacrifice anything for a friend. +Campbell was physically the strongest man of the +whole party and possibly of Mitchel's division as well. +He weighed two hundred and twenty pounds, was perfectly +proportioned, very active, apparently fond of +danger for its own sake, and as true as steel. Neither +of these two men possessed much skill in duplicity or +shrewdness in planning. They were willing to leave +the task of asking and answering questions to their +comrades, but were always ready to bear their full +share in action.</p> + +<p>The third, George D. Wilson, of Cincinnati, was of +very different character. He was not highly educated, +though he had read a great deal, but in natural shrewdness +I have rarely, if ever, known his equal. He was +of middle age, whilst most of us had just passed out +of boyhood. He had traveled extensively, and had +observed and remembered everything he encountered. +In the use of fiery and scorching denunciations he was +a master, and took great delight in overwhelming an +opponent with an unmeasured torrent of abuse. In +action he was brave and cool; no danger could frighten +him, no emergency find him unprepared. The friendship +I felt for him grew steadily until his tragic death. +I depended on his judgment and advice more than on +that of any one in the whole expedition.</p> + +<p>The writer was first corporal in Company G of the +Second Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, and had just +been promoted to the position of sergeant. I was +twenty-two years of age, a native of Jefferson County, +Ohio, had been reared on a farm, had taught school +in the winters, and more recently had entered on the +study of law. My opportunities for acquiring knowledge +were very limited, but had been tolerably well +improved. I had read a good many volumes and +gained a fair English education. For war and warlike +affairs I had not the slightest taste, and was indeed +so near-sighted that it was very doubtful whether I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +could ever make an efficient soldier. When the call +for three months' troops was made at the bombardment +of Fort Sumter, I felt that the emergency was so great +as to require the services of every patriot, and immediately +enlisted. I did not then contemplate a longer +term of service, as I believed that the government +would be able to organize an adequate force within that +period from those who were better adapted to the profession +of arms. My decision to enter the ranks was +not made without some forethought. Just previous to +putting my name to the enlistment paper, I took a solitary +night walk and tried to bring up in imagination +all the perils and discomforts that were possible in +military service, asking myself whether I was willing +to endure any of them that might fall to my lot as the +result of the step I then contemplated. Having decided, +I returned to the mass-meeting (convened in the +court-house of Steubenville, Ohio) and entered my name +as a volunteer. The company formed that night was +hurried to Washington, and on the route was organized +with others into the Second Ohio Regiment. During +the three months' service our only experience of fighting +was in the badly-managed battle, or rather skirmish, +of Bull Run. On the battle-field, when the tide of +fortune turned against us, I concluded that I ought to +re-enlist for two reasons. It was hard to quit the army +with no experience but that of defeat, and the country's +need of men was still urgent. When the Second Ohio +was reorganized for three years' service, I therefore continued +in the ranks. We were sent to Eastern Kentucky, +and succeeded, after some trifling engagements, +in clearing that part of the State from rebels. We were +then ordered to Louisville, and greatly to my delight +were put under the command of the astronomer Mitchel. +A few years before I had studied astronomy enthusiastically, +and had even gone so far as to construct a ten-foot +telescope for my own use. This similarity of +tastes led me to feel greatly delighted, and almost acquainted, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>with our new general. His fame as an astronomer +did not guarantee his success in war; but the +ability displayed in one profession was a hopeful indication +for the other. Our division participated in the +advance upon Bowling Green and afterwards upon +Nashville. This service offered no hardship except +wintry marches, for the capture of Fort Donelson by +General Grant had broken the enemy's resistance. +During this march there was not perfect accord between +Mitchel and his less energetic superior, General Buell. +Even the soldiers learned something of their disputes, +and were much gratified when, at Nashville, Mitchel +was detached from the main army and left to operate +independently. In three days he marched to Murfreesborough, +where this narrative opens.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 478px;"> +<a href="images/i049-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i049.jpg" width="478" height="530" alt="WILLIAM PITTENGER. +[1882—twenty years later." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">WILLIAM PITTENGER.<br /> +[1882—twenty years later.]<br /> +Page 42.</span> +</div> + +<p>On parting from Andrews we worked our way eastward, +keeping not far from the railroad leading to +Wartrace. We did not wish to travel very far through +the rain, which was almost pouring down, but only to +get well beyond the Federal pickets, so as to have a +clear track for a long journey on the following day. +We wished to elude our own pickets, not only to avoid +detention, but to gain a little practice in such work. +It was our intention to get that night beyond Wartrace, +where our last outpost in that direction was stationed; +but our progress was so slow and fatiguing +that we changed our minds, and determined to find a +lodging at once. This resolution was more easily made +than accomplished.</p> + +<p>For a long time we searched in vain. It seemed as +if the country was uninhabited. At length the barking +of a dog gave a clue, which was diligently followed. +The better to prosecute the search, we formed a line +within hearing distance of each other, and then swept +around in all directions. A barn was our first discovery, +but we were so completely wet and chilled that +we resolved to persevere in hope of a bed and a fire.</p> + +<p>Shortly after, finding a rude, double log house, we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +roused the inmates and demanded shelter for the night. +The farmer was evidently alarmed, but let us in, and +then began to investigate our character.</p> + +<p>I narrate minutely the events that accompanied our +first setting out, not so much for their intrinsic interest, +as for the sake of giving a vivid idea of the conduct required +by the nature of our expedition. This may also +be a good place to answer a question often asked, "How +can the equivocation and downright falsehood that follows +be justified?" I am not bound to attempt any +formal justification; but it is easy to show that all the +moral question involved is only a branch of the larger +question as to the morality of war. In its very nature, +war is compounded of force and fraud in nearly equal +quantities. If one of the necessary ingredients be wrong, +the other can hardly be right. The most conscientious +general thinks nothing of making movements with the +sole purpose of deceiving his adversary, or of writing +absolutely false despatches for the same purpose. If it +be right to kill our fellow-beings, I suppose it is also +right to deceive them in order to get a better chance to +kill them! The golden rule, which is the basis of all +morality, has but little place as between hostile armies +or nations. To find where some unsuspecting persons +are asleep, and steal upon them, begin to shoot and stab +before they can wake to defend themselves, would, in +peace, be thought a crime of the most dastardly and +ferocious character; but, in war, it is only a surprise, +and, if successful, confers the greatest honor upon those +who plan and execute it. Are there two sets of morals,—the +one for peace, the other for war? "But," the +objector may continue, "is not a constant resort to +falsehood in a secret expedition peculiarly dishonorable?" +Let us look this question fairly in the face. +All armies employ spies, and the old adage, "The receiver +is as bad as the thief," is here fully applicable. +A general who induces a man, by the hope of money +or promotion, to go disguised into the enemy's lines,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +with a lie in his mouth, for the general's advantage, is +a full partner in the enterprise, and cannot throw off +his share of the guilt. It is true that the laws of war +throw all the odium on the spy. But the generals, and +not the spies, made the laws of war. Besides, there is +no necessary connection between the laws of war and +the laws of morality. The former are merely the rules +men construct for the regulation of the most tremendous +of all their games, and can never affect the essence of +right and wrong. I do not wish to argue the abstract +right of deceiving an enemy, or of deviating from the +strict truth for any purpose whatever. It is enough +for my purpose to show that deception is an element in +all war. The candid reader will also consider that +most of us were very young. The common sentiment +of the camp was that deceiving a rebel in any manner +was a meritorious action. With the full sanction of +our officers, we had entered upon an expedition which +required disguise and deception. We had been expressly +told that we were not even to hesitate in joining +the rebel army,—which implied taking the oath +of allegiance to the Confederacy,—if that step became +necessary to avoid detection. In the whole of this expedition +we were true to each other and to the mission +upon which we had entered, but we did not hesitate at +any kind or degree of untruthfulness directed towards +the enemy. Such was the effect of our resolution in +this direction that no one, so far as I remember, ever +expressed any sorrow or remorse for any of the falsehoods +that were so plentifully employed. Indeed, +while the war lasted, I did not find a single person, in +the army or out, who ever criticised our expedition from +the <i>moral</i> stand-point. There seemed to be some kind +of an instinctive feeling that the revolted States had +forfeited all their rights by rebellion,—even that of +having the truth told to them. I confess that deception +was very painful to me at first, and from inclination, +as well as policy, I used it as sparingly as possible.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +But practice made it comparatively easy and +pleasant, within the limits indicated above.</p> + +<p>We did not wait for all these reasonings before we +began to practise deception upon our host. He was +informed that we were Kentuckians, disgusted with +the tyranny of the Lincoln government, and seeking +an asylum in the free and independent South. His +reply was a grateful surprise. "Oh," said he, "you +come on a bootless errand, and might as well go home +again and make the best of it. The whole South will +soon be as much under Lincoln as Kentucky is."</p> + +<p>"Never!" we answered. "We'll fight till we die, +first!"</p> + +<p>At this the old man chuckled quietly, but only said, +"Well, we'll see, we'll see." We found him to be an +enthusiastic Union man, but firmly maintained our own +assumed character. He provided us with a good supper, +late as it was, and with good beds, which we refused +to occupy until he had promised not to betray us +to the Union pickets.</p> + +<p>The next morning we were early on our way, reaching +Wartrace in the midst of a pelting storm. Attempting +to pass directly through, our soldiers on +guard were too vigilant for us, and we enjoyed another +opportunity for "diplomacy," in the endeavor to represent +ourselves as innocent citizens from the adjoining +country. But it was more difficult to deceive our own +men than the enemy, and, to avoid detection, we were +obliged to reveal our true character, which secured our +immediate release.</p> + +<p>We plodded onward through the deep mud and +splashing roads, and were now outside our own lines. +Our only safety, from this time, lay in our disguise +and in our false tongues. We felt not unlike the +landsman who for the first time loses sight of the +shore, and feels the heaving of the broad ocean under +his feet. To the average Northern citizen a vague mystery +and terror had rested over the whole of the Southern<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +States, even before the beginning of the war. During +the existence of slavery no Northern man dared make +his home in the presence of that institution and express +any views unfavorable to it. Many tales of violence +and blood were reported from that region long before +hostilities began, and as the passions which led to the +contest grew more fierce, the shadows still deepened. +When war began the curtain fell, and only reports of +wild and desperate enthusiasm in behalf of the cause +of disunion and slavery, with stories of the most cruel +oppression of the few who dared to differ with the +ruling class in still loving the old flag, reached Northern +ears. No doubt there were many exaggerations, +but there was a solid basis of fact. The South was +swept with a revolutionary frenzy equal to any that +history recalls, and the people were ready to sacrifice +any one whose life seemed dangerous to their cause. +Even exaggeration was potent as truth in aiding to invest +the region beyond the Union lines with mysterious +horror. Into this land of peril and fear and frequent +outrage we were plunging as the secret but deadly enemies +of the whole people. Now, when Chattanooga +and Atlanta are brought into such easy communication +with Northern cities, it is difficult to recall the feelings +with which they were regarded in the dark days of +eighteen hundred and sixty-two. But hope and courage +outweighed apprehension in our hearts, and we +pushed rapidly forward.</p> + +<p>Others of our party were occasionally seen trudging +along in the dreary rain, and sometimes we went with +them a little way, but mostly we kept by ourselves. +Shortly after noon we crossed Duck River, and entered +Manchester, stopping just long enough to get the +names of some of the prominent secessionists along our +proposed route, that we might always have some one +to inquire for, and be recommended from one influential +man to another. Nightfall this evening (Tuesday) +found us still several miles from Hillsborough, and we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +began to fear that we would be behind time in reaching +our destination. Each one was weary and stiff, but we +resolved to make every effort, and, if necessary, travel +a whole night rather than be too late. I have always +been sorry that this night journey was not required +of us.</p> + +<p>At the place where we lodged that night I first heard +a slave-holder talk of hunting negroes with blood-hounds. +In conversation after supper our host said to +us, as a mere matter of news, "I saw some persons +dodging about the back of the plantation just as it was +getting dark, and in the morning I will take the hounds +and go out and hunt them up. I will be glad to have +you go along and see the sport, if you can afford the +time. If they prove to be negroes I will make something."</p> + +<p>"What will you do with them?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, turn them over to the authorities and get the +reward," was the answer. "I have caught a considerable +number, and it pays to keep on the lookout."</p> + +<p>Of course we had to agree outwardly; but the idea +of hunting human beings with the ferocious-looking +dogs we had seen about his door, and that for money, +thrilled me with detestation and horror. Soon afterwards +we found that blood-hounds were not kept for +negroes alone.</p> + +<p>After a sound night's rest we continued our journey, +and were fortunate enough to find a man who was willing, +for the good of the Confederacy, and for an extravagant +price in money, to give us a short ride. The +conveyance was an old wagon, with a wood-rack for a +bed, four mules, with a scanty chain harness, ropes for +bridles and lines, a driver black as ebony, who rode +the lead mule, with a straw bag for a saddle, and flourished +a fine black-snake whip,—the latter the only really +good article in the whole "turnout." Seven or eight +of our party were now together, and we rattled merrily +over the stony road, holding on to the sides of the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +wood-rack, and agreeing that this was much better than +walking. About the middle of the forenoon we came +in sight of the Cumberland Mountains. It was now +Wednesday, our second day outside of our own lines.</p> + +<p>Never have I beheld more beautiful scenery. For +a short time the rain ceased to fall and the air became +clear. The mountains shone in the freshest green, and +about their tops clung a soft, shadowy mist, gradually +descending lower, and shrouding one after another +of the spurs and high mountain valleys from view. +But the beautiful scene did not long continue. Soon +the mist deepened into cloud, and the interminable rain +began again to fall. To add to our discontent, our +wagon could go no farther, and we once more waded in +the mud.</p> + +<p>At noon we found a dinner of the coarsest fare at a +miserable one-roomed hut. One of our men, not belonging, +however, to the squad I usually travelled with, +managed to get possession of a bottle of apple-brandy, +which he used so freely as to become very talkative. +He was placed between two others, who kept him from +all communication with strangers, and walked him +rapidly on until he became sober. This was the only +instance of such dangerous imprudence in the whole +journey.</p> + +<p>From the personal narrative of J. Alfred Wilson, +who was with us by this time, I will make frequent +extracts, though by no means always indorsing his +opinions as to military affairs, or the hopefulness of our +enterprise. He was a man of great resolution and endurance, +though by no means of hopeful temper. He +says,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Not till fairly away from the sight of the old flag and of our +regiments, and entirely within the enemy's line, could we begin +to realize the great responsibility we had incurred. To begin +with, we had cast aside our uniforms and put on citizen's clothes, +and assumed all the penalties that, in military usage, the word +<i>spy</i> implies, which is death the world over. Again, our mission +was such that concealment was impossible. We were sure to +arouse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> the whole Confederacy and invoke the brutal vengeance +of its frenzied leaders in case we did not make good our escape +after doing our work. The military spy, in the ordinary line of +his duty, is not compelled to expose himself to detection. On +the contrary, he conceals, in every possible way, his identity. +This we could do until in the heart of the enemy's country, the +very place where we would be in the greatest danger."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Some of the groups fell into the natural error of +overdoing their part, and by the very violence with +which they denounced the United States government +excited suspicion. One party of five or six made a +narrow escape from this kind of danger. Their talk +was too extravagant and their answers to some questions +somewhat contradictory. As none but citizens +were then present, no objections were made to their +statements; but a company of rebel guerillas was secretly +summoned, and they were pursued. The guerillas +arrived at a house where this party had passed the +night but a few moments after they had resumed their +journey in the morning. The pursuit was continued; +but growing somewhat weary, and receiving more reassuring +accounts of the travellers ahead, the chase was +abandoned, and our comrades escaped.</p> + +<p>Two others of our number were less fortunate. They +became involved in the same manner, were followed, +overtaken, and arrested. They told their Kentucky +story in vain, but as they professed their willingness to +enlist in the rebel army, that privilege was granted +them. They were sent to the nearest post and duly +sworn in. Not long afterwards they took the step that +had been in their minds at the hour of enlistment by +endeavoring to desert. One of them succeeded, but +the other was arrested, and had to suffer a long and +severe imprisonment. Finally, however, he was sent +back to camp, and his next attempt at desertion was +more successful.</p> + +<p>In conversation my own group was careful to take a +very moderate though decided Southern tone. It was +agreed that Wilson and myself should, as far as possible,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +do all the talking when in the presence of the enemy. On +entering towns it was our custom to go directly to the +street corners and the groceries, inquire for the latest +news, tell our Kentucky story as often as it seemed +necessary, deny some of the reports of Union outrages +and confirm others, assuring the bystanders that the +Yankees were not half so bad as reported, and especially +that they would fight, as otherwise they would +never have conquered our great State of Kentucky, and +then demand, in the name of the common cause of the +South, direction and assistance on our way. We thus +acquired much information, and were never once suspected. +It is my deliberate opinion that we could have +travelled from Richmond to New Orleans in the same +manner at that period of the war.</p> + +<p>A little way out from our camp Dorsey met a man +who seemed to be a Southern spy, and on the strength +of this suspicion was strongly tempted to shoot him to +prevent the irreparable harm he might do us. A little +watching, however, partly dispelled first impressions. +The same man afterwards offered Wilson a liberal reward +to pilot him over the mountains, and actually +claimed to be a Confederate spy. Wilson kept with +him for a time and watched him narrowly, but became +convinced that he had not the least suspicion of our +expedition. He allowed him, therefore, to go on his +way in peace. It is possible that he was not what he +pretended, any more than we ourselves were Kentucky +citizens. This man was met once more in Chattanooga, +but then disappeared.</p> + +<p>As we were mounting the first spurs of the Cumberland +Mountains we encountered a Confederate soldier +from the East, who was then at home on a furlough. +He had been in many battles, among them the battle +of Bull Run, which he described minutely. Little did +he think that I, too, had been there, as we laughed together +at the wild panic of the fugitive Yankees. He +was greatly delighted to see so many Kentuckians<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +coming out on the right side in the great struggle, and +contrasted our conduct with that of some mean-spirited +persons in his own neighborhood who were so foolish +and depraved as to still sympathize with the abolitionists.</p> + +<p>When we parted he grasped my hand with tears in +his eyes, and said he hoped "the time would soon come +when we would be comrades, fighting side by side in +one glorious cause!" My heart revolted from the hypocrisy +I was compelled to use, but having begun there +was no possibility of turning back. We clambered up +the mountain till the top was reached; then across the +level summit for six miles; then down again by an +unfrequented road over steep rocks, yawning chasms, +and great gullies cut out by recent rains. This rough +jaunt led us down into Battle Creek, which is a picturesque +valley opening out into the Tennessee, and +hemmed in by projecting ranges of lofty mountains. +As we descended the slopes, a countryman we had +overtaken told me how the valley had obtained its +name. The legend is very romantic, and probably +truthful.</p> + +<p>There was an Indian war between two neighboring +tribes in early times. One of them made a plundering +expedition into the territory of the other, and after securing +their booty retreated homeward. They were +promptly pursued, and traced to this valley. The pursuers +believed them to be concealed within its rocky +limits, and to make their capture sure divided their +force into two bands, each of which crept along the +steep opposite sides towards the head of the valley. It +was early in the morning, and as they worked their +way cautiously along the mountain mist rolled downward +as we had seen it do that morning, and enveloped +each of the parties in its folds. Determined not to be +foiled, they kept on, and meeting at the head of the +valley, each supposed the other to be the foe. They +poured in their fire, and a deadly conflict ensued. Not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +till the greater number of their braves had fallen did +the survivors discover their sad mistake; then they +slowly and sorrowfully retreated to their wigwams. +The plunderers, who had listened to their conflict in +safety, being higher up the mountain, were left to bear +off their booty in triumph.</p> + +<p>But we had little leisure for legendary tales. We +rested for the night with a wealthy secessionist, whom +our soldier friend on the mountains had designated as +"the right kind of a man." He received us with open +arms, and shared the best his house afforded. We +spent the evening in denouncing the policy of the Federal +government and in exchanging views as to the +prospects of the war. Among other topics I happened +to mention an expatriation law which, as I had learned +from a newspaper paragraph, had been passed by the +Kentucky Legislature a few weeks before. This law +only made the reasonable provision that all persons +going South to join the rebel army should lose their +rights of State citizenship. The old man thought this +to be an act of unparalleled oppression; and in the +morning, before we were out of bed, he came into our +room and requested some of us to write down that infamous +law that he might be able to give his Union +neighbors a convincing proof of Yankee wickedness! +We complied, and all signed our names as witnesses. +No doubt that document was long the theme of angry +discussion in many a mountain cabin.</p> + +<p>So thoroughly did we maintain our assumed character +in this instance, that three days after, when the culmination +of our enterprise came to the Confederates like +a clap of thunder out of a clear sky, it was impossible +to make our host believe that his guests were among +the adventurers. This we learned from a Union man +to whom he had shown a copy of the terrible expatriation +law!</p> + +<p>We were still more than forty miles distant from +Chattanooga on this Wednesday evening, and were due<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +at that place by five o'clock the next day. On each of +the two preceding days we had measured about thirty +miles,—a good rate of speed, but not sufficient. We +had formed the resolution of taking a night journey of +ten or fifteen miles, but before starting after supper, +another squad arrived and managed to tell us that they +had seen Andrews and been informed that the grand +enterprise was postponed one day. This was a great +relief, for it was hard to tear away from our comfortable +quarters; but this delay was a serious mistake. In +all combined movements in war, time is of prime importance. +On the appointed Friday success would have +been easy; on Saturday—but we must not anticipate.</p> + +<p>Andrews had also caused the advice to be passed +along the line that it would be better to attempt to cross +the Tennessee at some point far west of Chattanooga, +and taking passage on the Memphis and Charleston +Railroad, endeavor to pass through Chattanooga by +rail. He had heard of stringent orders being issued +against any one crossing the river near this town without +a pass. Farther down the stream these orders +might not apply, or, in case of necessity, a raft might +be constructed among the wooded mountains, and a +passage obtained by that means.</p> + +<p>About noon of the next day we came to Jasper, and +spent a short time in the principal grocery of the place +talking over the state of the country. We informed +the idlers that there would soon be a mighty uprising +of Kentuckians in favor of the Southern cause, but +professed ignorance of the movements of Mitchel's +army. In return we received the first vague reports +of the battle of Pittsburg Landing. It was the impression +that the Union army was totally destroyed, +thousands of men being slain, and innumerable cannon +captured. One countryman assured me that five hundred +Yankee gunboats had been sunk! I ventured to +suggest a doubt as to the Yankees having so many, but +was not able to shake his faith.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> + +<p>The same night we reached the banks of the Tennessee, +directly south of Jasper, and lodged at the +house of a Mrs. Hall. A flat-boat owned by one of +the neighbors was used as a ferry-boat, and arrangements +were made for setting us on the other side of the +stream early in the morning. The evening spent here +was very enjoyable. Others of our party came in, and +among them Andrews himself. After a good supper, +we were all assigned to the best room, which had a +roaring wood-fire in an open chimney, and two large +beds in the corners. We met without any outward +sign of recognition, but rapidly became acquainted. +Each acted according to his own nature. The bountiful +supper and the cheerful fire greatly refreshed us +after the labor of the day. My companion, Shadrach, +was soon acknowledged as the wit of the party, and +received perpetual applause for his mirthful sallies. +Andrews was silent, but appeared to greatly enjoy the +fun. Dorsey, who had great forethought and prudence, +and had decided that it was good policy, even among his +comrades, to appear as ignorant as possible, felt highly +complimented when told that his group had been described +to some of the others who followed as "a party +of country Jakes." Wilson gave us all the information +wanted on every possible subject. Songs were sung, +stories were told, and as the family formed part of the +fireside company, many of the incidents may not have +been quite authentic. Late at night this social evening's +entertainment closed. It was the more highly +appreciated as it was the first opportunity most of us +had enjoyed of becoming acquainted with our leader +and with each other.</p> + +<p>In the morning Andrews started up the river on +horseback. The flat-boat was bailed out, and we were +just entering it, when a mounted man appeared and +handed the ferryman an order forbidding him to allow +any one to cross the river at his ferry for three days. +We tried to get an exception made in our favor, as we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +had contracted with him the evening before, but he +was unwilling to assume the risk. The messenger +gave us the reason for the order, and a most interesting +piece of news it was. General Mitchel was moving +rapidly southward for some unknown object, and it was +desirable on that account to stop all intercourse with the +country beyond the river. The messenger volunteered +the comforting assurance that "these brave Kentuckians +will no doubt find a warm welcome at Chattanooga," +and gave us the best directions in his power for reaching +that point. We concealed our disappointment, and +as soon as we were alone debated as to the best course +to be taken. Two alternatives only were open. One +was to build or seize a raft or boat and cross in defiance +of the order. This was easy enough in the night, but +in daytime it would be very hazardous, and that day, +until five o'clock in the afternoon, was the only time at +our disposal. We therefore took the only remaining +course, and dispersing, hurried over the mountains towards +Chattanooga.</p> + +<p>Our journey was far from pleasant, as the rocky +mountain-spurs here sweep directly down to the bank +of this very crooked river. Several times we lost our +way in the entanglements of the woods, but at length +reached a valley that ran down to the Tennessee directly +opposite Chattanooga. The road was now more frequented, +and we talked freely with travellers, for all +fear of being detected by those we chanced to meet +had long since been dissipated.</p> + +<p>One countryman related a very interesting item of +news from the war in the East. It was to the effect +that the Confederate iron-clad "Merrimac" had one +day steamed out into the harbor of Fortress Monroe, +and after engaging the Union "Monitor" for some +hours, with no decisive result, had run alongside of her +opponent, and throwing grappling-irons on board, had +towed her ashore, where she, of course, fell an easy +prey. This may serve as a specimen of the kind of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +news we perpetually heard while in the Confederate +States.</p> + +<p>Quite a number of persons—many of them of our +own party—were waiting on the banks of the Tennessee +River. The assemblage of so many of us on that +side of the river was very unfortunate, as it materially +increased the risk of discovery; but a very high wind +was blowing, and the ferryman feared to risk his little +shackly "horse-boat" on the turbulent stream. Our +time was nearly exhausted, and we could not afford to +wait very long. We urged the boatman very strenuously +to set us over at once, but he wished to delay +until the wind fell. Nothing as yet had been said to +us about passes, but this was explained mentally by the +conjecture that there was a guard on the other side, +whose inspection we would be obliged to pass,—a more +formidable ordeal than we had yet encountered. When +requests for a speedy passage failed to move the ferryman, +we changed our tactics, and talked in his hearing +of the cowardice of Tennessee boatmen as contrasted +with Kentuckians, or even the Ohio Yankees. When +twelve or sixteen men deliberately attempt to make one +man angry, they can generally succeed. The boatman +soon tired of our raillery, and, entering his boat, told +us to come on and show what we could do by lending +him a hand, adding that he would put us over or drown +us, he did not care much which. The invitation was +promptly accepted, and by pushing with poles and +pulling on the limbs of overhanging trees we moved +up the stream to a point judged most favorable, and +swung out into the waves. The ride was short and +not without danger, but the peril on the other side +was so much greater that we had little thought to give +to the passage. "How should we meet and deceive +the guard?" This was the important question. Our +surprise was almost equal to our delight when we +landed and found no one to bar our progress. The explanation +was perfectly simple. The guard had not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +been placed that afternoon because it was not believed +that any one would attempt to cross in the storm. +Wondering at our good fortune, we hurried to the cars, +and were in time to procure tickets for Marietta before +the departure of the train, which was crowded with +passengers, many of them Confederate soldiers. In +such a crowd it was easy to avoid notice.</p> + +<p>Every seat in the cars was filled, and we had to be +contented with standing room. The fumes of whiskey +and tobacco were very strong. Talking was loud and +incessant, and turned mostly upon the great battle of +Shiloh, the accounts of which were by no means so extravagant +as at first, though a great victory was still +claimed. We took part in the conversation freely, +judging this to be the best way of maintaining our assumed +disguise. No general system of passports had +been brought into use, at least in this part of the South, +and railway travel was entirely unrestricted.</p> + +<p>The sun was about an hour high when we glided out +of the depot, and it soon sank to rest behind the hills +of Georgia. The time for our perilous attempt drew +near. There was some diversity of opinion among the +members of the party, as revealed by conversations +both before and after, as to the prospects of success. +The most of us felt some solicitude, but were far more +hopeful than when we left camp. So many incidents +had occurred substantially as they had been planned, +that trust in the foresight of our leader, with the assurance +that all would come out right, was greatly strengthened. +The first feeling of strangeness which followed +our plunge into the enemy's country had given way to +confidence in the impenetrability of our mental disguise. +For my own part I scarcely felt a doubt of success. It +seemed to me that a dozen modes of escape were open +in the improbable event of failure. I saw the dangers +surrounding us clearly, but none of them now appeared +more formidable than when I first asked Colonel Harris +the privilege of joining the expedition. There were +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>many bridges on the road we passed over, and we could +not help picturing our return on the morrow and the +vengeance we proposed wreaking on them. Darkness +closed in, and on we went amid the oaths and laughter +of the rebels, many of whom were very much intoxicated. +I procured a seat on the coal-box and gave myself +up to the thoughts suggested by the hour. There +was now no need of trying to keep up conversation with +those around. Visions of former days and friends—dear +friends, both around the camp-fires and the hearths +of home, whom I might never see again—floated before +me. I also heard much talk of the merits of different +States and regiments in the contest, and many discussions +of the conscript law, which was just now coming +into force. The opinion of the greater number of the +soldiers seemed to be that while the provisions of the +law were right in compelling all to take a part in the +burdens of the conflict, yet that it would be of but little +service, as the unwilling soldiers, who were thus forced +into the ranks, would be no match for volunteers. +Little did they imagine that in this terrible law their +rulers had found a weapon which would enable them +to repulse the Northern armies at every point, and protract +the war for three years longer!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 371px;"> +<a href="images/i067-hi.png"><img src="images/i067.png" width="371" height="600" alt="CHATTANOOGA AND +RAILROAD CONNECTIONS." title="" /></a> +</div> + +<p>At this time the Union cause seemed most hopeful. +All appearances indicated a speedy termination of the +war and a complete re-establishment of the old government. +Few great battles had taken place, but the preponderance +of fortune as well as force seemed everywhere +on the loyal side. In the West, our armies had during +the last three months penetrated almost half-way to the +Gulf; McClellan was preparing to move with overwhelming +force towards Richmond; Burnside was dealing +hard blows on the North Carolina coast; the force +which captured New Orleans was already on the way; +and at no point were the rebel forces a fair match for +their opponents. Volunteering had almost stopped in the +South, while recruits were pouring as a steady stream<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +into the Northern armies, and continued to do so for a +year longer. A rebellion almost isolated and placed +everywhere on the defensive could not hope for long +life unless new resources were discovered. The rebel +leaders well knew this, and therefore passed the conscription +law.</p> + +<p>It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that there were +two wars waged between the North and the South. The +first was between the two people by means of volunteers, +and the second between the two governments. +For the first year the soldiers fought on both sides with +scarcely a thought of pay or bounty, and without a hint +of compulsion. But the South had reached the end of +this period, and her volunteers were beaten and exhausted. +This was not from any want of bravery on +their part, but because of inferior numbers, and because, +having less at stake than the volunteers of the +North, they could less willingly support adverse fortune. +Now the new law was enacted at the South +which put all the able-bodied population at the service +of the State. The advantages were immediate and +obvious. All the volunteers who had enlisted for a +limited time were retained. The depleted organizations +were filled up to their full strength, instead of +waiting for the recruiting of new regiments, and the +conscripts thus became, in a few days, the equals of +old soldiers. The second year of the war, in which the +Northern volunteers fought the whole force the Southern +States could bring into the field, was, on the whole, the +most unfavorable of any period to the loyal arms. It +became clear that the supremacy of the Union could +not be restored unless the same potent weapon could be +employed on her behalf. From the hour that the possibility +of this was demonstrated, and a draft successfully +enforced by the Union government, the issue was +virtually decided. Despair might protract the contest, +but the utter exhaustion of Southern resources was only +a question of time. Was it necessary to permit the war<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +to pass from the first into the second stage? Might +not the victory of the Union volunteers have been +pushed so rapidly as to have prevented the South from +enforcing the conscription law over any considerable +portion of her territory, and thus have ended the contest +at once? These were questions of tremendous importance, +which could only be answered in the months +of April and May, 1862. Then was a golden opportunity +which once lost could only be regained by years +of desperate fighting. A half-dozen great victories in +midsummer would be of less real value than a vigorous +advance in the spring, which should at once discourage +the enemy, while at the lowest point of his +fortunes, and prevent the recruiting of his armies by +conscription. It has often been said that the North did +not win any decisive advantage until the abolition of +slavery. This is true, but it does not in the least contradict +the view just advanced. That great measure +committed the North absolutely to the conquest of the +South, and thus led to exertions adequate to the end +sought. Yet we must conclude, reasoning from a military +point of view only, that if <i>the same</i> exertions had +been put forth earlier, they would have been even more +speedily effective.</p> + +<p>These considerations, which were but dimly, if at +all, realized as we glided along in the darkness through +the heart of the rebel country, will render more intelligible +the vast importance attributed by competent military +authorities to the expedition in which we were +engaged. If we burned the bridges on the morrow, +General Mitchel would certainly capture Chattanooga +within three or four days, and spread his power over +East Tennessee and all the adjoining loyal districts. +The people of this section, now thoroughly alarmed and +enraged by the conscription, would enlist under his +banner by tens of thousands. Seven regiments had +already been formed by East Tennesseeans, who, under +circumstances of the greatest difficulty, had run away<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +into Kentucky. The communications of the Eastern +and the Western rebel armies would be cut; and to destroy +those armies in detail would only require the +vigorous advance of the forces already opposed to +them. This was a brilliant prospect to set before an +expedition composed of only twenty-four men; but +there is in it nothing beyond the realm of probability, +and as I thought of the mere possibility of such +achievements I felt that we might afford to despise all +personal danger. To deliver a territory occupied by +nearly a million citizens from conscription; to place an +army in the most important strategical position in the +rebel territory, for such Chattanooga was; to give the +command of the great continental system of railways +into the hands of our own troops, and to paralyze the +plans of the enemy; these were, indeed, almost incredible +results to flow from such a cause; but we believed +then that such would be the meaning of our success. +The reader who will study attentively the military +situation as it was in 1862, with the railroads then +existing, and add the fact that the Southern armies +were then depleted to the lowest point reached during +the struggle, will not be disposed to smile at such possibilities. +It is certain that in the first hour of panic, +caused by our attempt, the Confederates themselves acknowledged, +not in words only, but in the most significant +actions, the deadly peril to which they had been +exposed.</p> + +<p>With such thoughts the hours passed not unpleasantly. +I noticed that we were making very slow time, +and afterwards learned that this was general on Southern +roads. The absorption in warlike affairs and the +scarcity of iron and all other material, as well as of +money, had caused the managers of the railroads to let +them fall into bad repair, and this necessitated a low +rate of speed. The fastest train on this road did not +get beyond eighteen miles an hour. This was a decidedly +unfavorable element in the problem we were to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +solve. Some of the adventurers were even less favorably +impressed with our prospects than I was. The +immense business of the road, which had become one +of the most important in the whole South, rendered the +running of a train when we captured it much more +difficult. We saw many freight trains lying at the +stations, and everything indicated that the capacity of +this line of rail was being pressed to the utmost. Sergeant +Ross and Alfred Wilson took the most gloomy +view of our prospects of success, and even sought an +opportunity, soon after, to dissuade Andrews from +going any further in it. The latter thus explains his +own feelings,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"After getting seated, and there being no further cause of concern +for the time being, I began to carefully study over the situation +with all the thought I could, and to calculate our chances +of success or failure. The result of my deliberations was by no +means encouraging. We were one day behind the time appointed. +I knew, too, or felt sure, that General Mitchel would +not fail to march upon and take Huntsville, according to the arrangement +made when we started. I also felt that if he did so +there would be little room to hope for our success. It would +cause the roads to be crowded with trains flying from danger, +and it would be difficult to pass them all in safety. But it was +too late now to change the programme. We must make the +effort, come what might. I said nothing, however, to any one +but Andrews; but on listening to my opinion on the situation, +he encouraged me by saying there was yet a good chance to succeed. +Indeed, he expressed himself in so sanguine a manner that +I made no further argument; but I still thought my course of +reasoning correct, whether the event should accord with it or not."</p></blockquote> + +<p>From the soldiers and others in the train we received +a rumor which was full of startling interest to us,—nothing +less than the reported capture of Huntsville +by General Mitchel. Much incredulity was expressed, +and details were wanting. His force was reported at +twenty-five or thirty thousand men,—an extravagant +but not unnatural over-estimate. We had no doubt of +the truth of the report, though it would have better +suited us if he also had been detained for one day, or +even more.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was near nine o'clock when the train reached the +supper station. After all our fatigue we were well +prepared to do justice to the bountiful meal that was +spread. But there was such a rush for the table that +several of our party were unable to get near it, and had +therefore to continue their fast. The writer was more +fortunate. Buffum, who was crowded back on account +of his small size, managed to stoop down and slip up +under the arm of a rebel officer just as the latter was +rising from the table, and thus took his place while a +half-dozen hungry travellers rushed for it. There +was some laughing, and Buffum was applauded for his +"Yankee trick," more than he would have been had +it been known that he was actually a native of Massachusetts, +and then engaged in the Federal service.</p> + +<p>The train rushed on after we left the supper station, +and as I had managed to get a good meal and also a +comfortable seat in the changing, all reflections and +dangers were soon forgotten in a sound sleep, from +which I only awakened when the conductor shouted +"Marietta!" It was then almost midnight, and the +goal was reached. This was, for the present, the utmost +boundary of our journey. We were now in the centre +of the Confederacy, and before we departed had a blow +to strike that would either make all rebeldom vibrate +from centre to circumference or leave us at the mercy +of the merciless. But the first thing to be done was +to snatch a short repose preparatory to the hard work +of the morrow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>A LOCOMOTIVE AND TRAIN CAPTURED.</h3> + + +<p>The greater number of us arranged to pass the night +at a small hotel adjoining the Marietta depot. Before +retiring we left orders with the hotel clerk to rouse us +in time for the northward bound train, due not long +after daylight. Notwithstanding our novel situation, I +never slept more soundly. Good health, extreme fatigue, +and the feeling that the die was now cast and +further thought useless, made me sink into slumber +almost as soon as I touched the bed. Others equally +brave and determined were affected in a different way. +Alfred Wilson says,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"No man knows what a day may bring forth, and the very +uncertainty of what that day's sun would bring forth in our particular +cases was the reason that some of us, myself at least of the +number, did not sleep very much. Our doom might be fixed +before the setting of another sun. We might be hanging to the +limbs of some of the trees along the railroad, with an enraged +populace jeering and shouting vengeance because we had no more +lives to give up; or we might leave a trail of fire and destruction +behind us, and come triumphantly rolling into Chattanooga and +Huntsville, within the Federal lines, to receive the welcome +plaudits of comrades left behind, and the thanks of our general, +and the praises of a grateful people. Such thoughts as these +passed in swift review, and were not calculated to make one sleep +soundly."</p></blockquote> + +<p>As the hotel was much crowded, we obtained a few +rooms in close proximity, and crowded them to their +utmost capacity. Andrews noted our rooms before retiring, +that he might, if necessary, seek any one of us +out for consultation before we rose. Porter and Hawkins +were unfortunately overlooked; they had arrived +on an earlier train and obtained lodging at some distance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +from the depot. The clerk failed to have them called +in time for the morning train, as they had ordered, and, +greatly to their regret and chagrin, they were left behind. +This was a serious loss, as they were both cool, +brave men, and Hawkins was the most experienced +railway engineer of our company. W. F. Brown, who +took his place in this work, was, however, fully competent, +though possibly somewhat less cautious.</p> + +<p>Long before the train was due, Andrews, who had +slept little, if at all, that night, glided from room to +room silently as a ghost, the doors being purposely +left unfastened, and aroused the slumberers. It seemed +to some of us scarcely a moment from the time of retiring +until he came thus to the bedside of each sleeper +in turn, and cautiously wakening him, asked his name, +to prevent the possibility of mistake, and then told each +one exactly the part he was expected to take in the enterprise +of the day. There was hasty dressing, and +afterwards an informal meeting held in Andrews' +room, at which nearly one-half of the whole number +were present, and plans were more fully discussed. +Then Marion A. Ross, one of the most determined of +the whole number, took the bold step of advising and +even urging the abandonment, for the present, of the +whole enterprise. He reasoned with great force that +under present circumstances, with the rebel vigilance +fully aroused by Mitchel's rapid advance, with guards +stationed around the train we were to capture, as we +had learned would be the case at Big Shanty, and with +the road itself obstructed by numerous trains, the enterprise +was sure to fail, and would cost the life of every +man engaged in it. Andrews very gently answered +his arguments and strove to show that the objections +urged really weighed in favor of the original plan. +No such attempt as we purposed had ever been made, +and consequently would not be guarded against; the +presence of a line of sentinels and of so many troops +at Big Shanty would only tend to relax vigilance still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +further; and the great amount of business done on the +road, with the running of many unscheduled trains, +would screen us from too close inquiry when we ran +our train ahead of time. This reasoning was not altogether +satisfactory, and some of the others joined Ross +in a respectful but firm protest against persisting in such +a hopeless undertaking. But Andrews, speaking very +low, as was his wont when thoroughly in earnest, declared +that he had once before postponed the attempt, +and returned to camp disgraced. "Now," he continued, +"I will accomplish my purpose or leave my +bones to bleach in Dixie. But I do not wish to control +any one against his own judgment. If any of you +think it too hazardous, you are perfectly at liberty to +take the train in the opposite direction and work your +way back to camp as you can."</p> + +<p>This inflexible determination closed the discussion, +and as no man was willing to desert his leader, we all +assured him of our willingness to obey his orders to +the death. I had taken no part in the discussion, as +I was not in possession of sufficient facts to judge of +the chance of success, and I wished the responsibility +to rest upon the leader, where it properly belonged.</p> + +<p>The train was now nearly due, and we proceeded to +the station for the purchase of tickets. By the time +they had been procured—not all for one place, as we +wished to lessen the risk of suspicion—the train swept +up to the platform. Hastily glancing at it in the early +morning light, and seeing only that it was very long +and apparently well filled, the twenty adventurers entered +by different doors, but finally took their places in +one car.</p> + +<p>From Marietta to Big Shanty the railroad sweeps in +a long bend of eight miles around the foot of Kenesaw +Mountain, which lies directly between the two stations. +This elevation is now scarred all over with rebel intrenchments, +and was the scene of one of the severest +contests of the war. This, however, as well as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +whole of the three months' struggle from Chattanooga +to Atlanta, came a year and a half later. At this time +the nearest Federal soldiers were more than two hundred +miles away.</p> + +<p>When the train moved on and the conductor came to +take our tickets we observed him carefully, as we knew +not how closely his fate and ours might be linked together +in the approaching struggle. The most vivid anticipation +fell far short of the reality. Upon the qualities +of that one man our success or failure hinged. He +was quite young—not more than twenty-three or four,—and +looked like a man of resolution and energy. We +noticed that he was also scrutinizing us and the other +passengers very closely, and naturally feared that he +had in some manner been put on his guard. In fact, +as we learned long afterwards, he had been warned that +some of the new conscripts who were reluctant to fight +for the Confederacy were contemplating an escape, and +might try to get a ride on the cars. His orders were +to watch for all such and arrest them at once. But he +did not think that any of the men who got on at Marietta +looked in the least like conscripts or deserters.</p> + +<p>The train ran slowly, stopping at several intervening +points, and did not reach Big Shanty until it was fully +daylight. This station had been selected for the seizure, +because the train breakfasted there, and it was +probable that many of the employés and passengers +would leave it for their meal, thus diminishing the opposition +we might expect. Another most important +reason for the selection was the absence of any telegraph +office. But, on the other hand, Camp McDonald +had been lately located here, and a large body of soldiers—some +accounts said as many as ten thousand +men—were already assembled. Their camp included +the station within the guard-line. When Andrews and +the first party had been at Atlanta, three weeks earlier, +few troops had yet arrived at this point. The capture +of a train in the midst of a camp of the enemy was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +not a part of the original plan, but subsequently became +necessary. It was certainly a great additional +element of danger, but it was not now possible to substitute +any other point.</p> + +<p>The decisive hour had arrived. It is scarcely boastful +to say that the annals of history record few enterprises +more bold and novel than that witnessed by the +rising sun of Saturday morning, April 12, 1862. Here +was a train, with several hundred passengers, with a full +complement of hands, lying inside a line of sentinels, +who were distinctly seen pacing back and forth in close +proximity, to be seized by a mere score of men, and to +be carried away before the track could be obstructed, or +the intruding engineer shot down at his post. Only the +most careful calculation and prompt execution, concentrating +the power of the whole band into a single lightning-like +stroke, could afford the slightest prospect of +success. In the bedroom conference every action was +predetermined with the nicest accuracy. Our engineer +and his assistant knew the signal at which to start; the +brakesmen had their work assigned; the man who was +to uncouple the cars knew just the place at which to +make the separation; the remainder of the number +constituted a guard, in two divisions, who were to stand +with ready revolvers abreast of the cars to be seized, +and shoot down without hesitation any one who attempted +to interfere with the work. Andrews was to +command the whole, and do any part of the work not +otherwise provided for. Should there be any unexpected +hindrance, we were to fight until we either overcame +all opposition and captured the train or perished in a +body. If we failed to carry off our prize we were inevitably +lost; if any man failed to be on board when +the signal was given, his fate also was sealed. A delay +of thirty seconds after our designs became clearly known +would have resulted in the slaughter of the whole +party.</p> + +<p>When our train rolled up to the platform the usual<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +announcement was shouted, "Big Shanty; twenty +minutes for breakfast!" Most fortunately for us, the +conductor, engineer, firemen, and train-hands generally, +with many of the passengers, poured out, and hurried to +the long, low eating-room which gave its name to the +station. The engine was utterly unguarded. This uncommon +carelessness was the result of perfect security, +and greatly favored our design. Yet it was a thrilling +moment! Victory or death hung on the next minute! +There was no chance for drawing back, and I do not +think any of us had the disposition. A little while +before, a sense of shrinking came over the writer like +that preceding a plunge into ice-water; but with the +next breath it passed away, and left me as calm and +quiet as if no enemy had been within a hundred miles. +Still, for a moment, we kept our seats. Andrews went +forward to examine the track and see if there was any +hindrance to a rapid rush ahead. Almost immediately +he returned, and said, very quietly, "All right, boys; +let us go now." There was nothing in this to attract +special observation; but whether it did or not was now +a matter of indifference. The time of concealment was +past. We rose, left the cars, and walked briskly to the +head of the train. With the precision of machinery, +every man took his appointed place. Three cars back +from the tender the coupling-pin was drawn out, as the +load of passenger-cars would only have been an incumbrance. +Wilson W. Brown, who acted as engineer, +William Knight as assistant, Alfred Wilson as fireman, +together with Andrews, mounted the engine, +Knight grasping the lever, and waiting the word for +starting. The appointed brakesmen threw themselves +flat on the top of the cars. At a signal from Andrews, +the remainder of the band, who had kept watch, climbed +with surprising quickness into a box-car which stood +open. All was well! Knight, at Andrews' orders, +jerked open the steam-valve, and we were off! Before +the camp-guards or the bystanders could do more than +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>turn a curious eye upon our proceedings, the train was +under way, and we were safe from interruption.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 590px;"> +<a href="images/i081-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i081.jpg" width="590" height="404" alt="CAPTURE OF A TRAIN." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">CAPTURE OF A TRAIN.</span> +</div> + +<p>The writer was stationed in the box-car, and as soon +as all were in, we pulled the door shut to guard against +any stray musket-balls. For a moment of most intense +suspense after we were thus shut in all was still. +In that moment a thousand conflicting thoughts swept +through our minds. Then came a pull, ajar, a clang, +and we were flying away on our perilous journey. +Those who were on the engine caught a glimpse of +the excited crowd, soldiers and citizens, swarming and +running about in the wildest confusion. It has been +said that a number of shots were fired after us, but +those in the box-car knew nothing of it, and it is certain +that no one was injured. A widely-circulated +picture represented us as waving our hats and shouting +in triumph. Nothing so melodramatic took place. The +moment was too deep and earnest, and we had too +many perils still to encounter for any such childish +demonstration.</p> + +<p>Yet it was a grand triumph, and having nothing +of a more practical character for the moment to do, I +realized it to the fullest extent. There are times in +life when whole years of enjoyment are condensed into +a single experience. It was so with me then. I could +comprehend the emotion of Columbus when he first +beheld through the dim dawn the long-dreamed-of +shores of America, or the less innocent but no less +fervent joy of Cortez when he planted the Cross of +Spain on the halls of Montezuma. My breast throbbed +fast with emotions of joy and gladness that words +labor in vain to express. A sense of ethereal lightness +ran through my veins, and I seemed ascending higher, +higher, with each pulsation of the engine. Remember, +I was but twenty-two then, full of hope and ambition. +Not a dream of failure shadowed my rapture. We +had always been told that the greatest difficulty was to +reach and take possession of the engine, after which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +success was certain. But for unforeseen contingencies +it would have been.</p> + +<p>Away we rush, scouring past field and village and +woodland. At each leap of the engine our hearts rose +higher, and we talked merrily of the welcome that +would greet us when we dashed into Huntsville a few +hours later, our enterprise done, and the brightest laurels +of the war eclipsed!</p> + +<p>We found the railroad, however, to be of the roughest +and most difficult character. The grades were very +heavy and the curves numerous and sharp. We +seemed to be running towards every point of the compass. +The deep valleys and steep hills of this part of +the country had rendered the building of the road difficult +and costly. There were numerous high embankments +where an accident would be of deadly character. +The track was also uneven and in generally bad condition, +for the war had rendered railroad iron scarce +and high-priced, besides diverting all attention and resources +into other channels. This unfavorable character +of the road very greatly increased the difficulty +experienced by an engineer unfamiliar with the route +in making rapid time, or in avoiding the varied difficulties +incident to our progress. But we trusted implicitly +that the far-sighted plans of Andrews, the skill +of our engineers, and our own willing efforts would +overcome all hindrances.</p> + +<p>Our first run was short. There was a sudden checking +of speed and a halt. When those of us who were in +the box-car pushed open our door and asked the reason +for stopping so soon, we were told that the fire was low +and the steam exhausted. This was startling intelligence, +and caused a moment of consternation. If our +"General"—the name of the locomotive we had captured—failed +us at the beginning of the race, we too +well knew what the end would be. For hundreds of +miles on every side of us were desperate and daring +foes. A hundred times our number of horse and foot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +could be gathered against us in a few hours. The most +timid bird pursued by hounds feels safe, for its wings +can bear it above their jaws. But if those wings should +be broken! This engine gave us wings; but if it +should be disabled no valor of ours could beat back +the hosts about us, no skill elude their rage. But we +found a less threatening explanation of our premature +halt. The schedule time of our train was very slow,—only +about sixteen miles an hour,—and the fires had been +allowed to run down because of the expected stop of +twenty minutes for breakfast at Big Shanty,—a stop +that we had reduced to less than two minutes. Then +the valve being thrown wide open, the little steam in +the boiler was soon exhausted. But this difficulty was +of short duration. A rest of three minutes, with plenty +of wood thrown into the furnace, wrought a change, +and we again glided rapidly forward.</p> + +<p>But when viewed soberly, and in the light of all the +facts since developed, what were the chances of success +and escape possessed by the flying party? Was the +whole attempt, as has been frequently asserted, rash and +foolhardy? Or had it that character of practicability +which is ever the stamp of true genius? Historical +accuracy, as well as justice to the memory of a brave +but unfortunate man, compels me to pronounce the +scheme almost faultless. In this estimate I have the +full concurrence of all who were engaged on the opposite +side. It is hard to see how the plan could have +been improved without allowing its projector to have +had a knowledge of the precise condition of the enemy +such as no commander at the beginning of an important +enterprise ever has. No one of the plans by which +Generals Grant and Sherman finally overthrew the +Rebellion presented a clearer prospect of success.</p> + +<p>These are the elements of the problem upon which +Andrews based his hopes. Big Shanty is twenty-eight +miles north of Atlanta and thirty-two south of Kingston. +Short of these places he was convinced that no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +engine could be obtained for pursuit. He could obstruct +the road so that no train would reach Big Shanty +for hours. Pinch-bars and other instruments for lifting +track might be found on the captured engine, or +obtained from some station or working-party. His +force of twenty men was counted ample to overcome +resistance at any switch or passing train. One irregular +train only was expected to be on the road, and that +would soon be met,—certainly at Kingston or before,—after +which it would be safe to run at the highest speed +to the first bridge, burn it, and pass on to the next, +which, with all other large bridges, could be served in +the same manner. Each bridge burnt would be an insuperable +barrier to pursuit by an engine beyond that +point. Thus every part of the scheme was fair and +promising. Only those critics who are wise after the +event can pronounce the attempt rash and hopeless. +The destruction of the telegraph would also be necessary; +but this was not difficult. It seemed as if every +contingency was provided for, and then there was the +additional fighting power of twenty chosen men to +guard against any possible emergency. We were now +embarked on this most perilous but hopeful voyage. +Coolness, precision of work, and calm effort could +scarcely fail to sever the chief military communications +of the enemy before the setting of the sun, and convince +him that no enterprise was too audacious for the +Union arms.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>UNFORESEEN HINDRANCES.</h3> + + +<p>After the fire had been made to burn briskly Andrews +jumped off the engine, ran back to the box-car, +about the door of which we were standing, and clasped +our hands in an ecstasy of congratulation. He declared +that all our really hard work was done and that our +difficulties were nearly passed; that we had the enemy +at such a disadvantage that he could not harm us; and +exhibited every sign of joy. Said he, "Only one train +to meet, and then we will put our engine to full speed, +burn the bridges that I have marked out, dash through +Chattanooga, and on to Mitchel at Huntsville. We've +got the upper hand of the rebels now, and they can't +help themselves!" How glad we all were! When, +three years later, the capture of Richmond set all the +bells of the North ringing out peals of triumph, the +sensation of joy was more diffused but less intense than +we then experienced. Almost everything mankind +values seemed within our grasp. Oh, if we had met +but one unscheduled train!</p> + +<p>This reference of Andrews to one train which he +expected to meet before we began to burn bridges has +been quoted in many public sketches, and has led to +some misapprehension. He did expect to meet three +trains before reaching Chattanooga; but two of these +were regular trains, and being also farther up the road, +were not supposed to present any serious difficulty. +Their position at any given time could be definitely ascertained, +and we could avoid collision with them, no +matter how far we ran ahead of time. But so long as +there were any irregular trains on the road before us,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +our only safety was in keeping the regular time of the +captured train. This was, unfortunately, very slow; +but if we exceeded it we lost the right of way, and were +liable to a collision at any moment. This risk was +greatly increased by our inability to send ahead telegraphic +notifications of our position. The order of +southward-bound trains, according to the information +we then had, was as follows: First, a way-freight, which +was very uncertain as to time, but which we expected +to meet early in the morning, and felt sure that it would +be at Kingston or south of that point. This was the +only real hindrance according to our programme, and it +was to this train that Andrews referred. Behind this +were the regular freight train, and still farther north +the regular passenger train. As a matter of fact, we +did meet these trains at Adairsville and Calhoun, the +latter being somewhat behind time; but we might have +met them farther north had it not been for unforeseen +hindrances.</p> + +<p>There is considerable discrepancy in the many published +accounts of the following chase, which the writer +has not in every case been able to perfectly reconcile. +In the intense excitement and novel situations involved +men were not likely to observe or remember every event +accurately. But no pains have been spared to combine +fulness and completeness in the following account. +Using the best of my own recollections, consulting my +comrades, reading carefully all published accounts, and +especially going over the whole route years after, with +Fuller and Murphy, two of the pursuing party, who +kindly gave me all the information in their power, it +is hoped that substantial accuracy has been obtained. +Some of the incidents of the chase, such as the number +of times the track was torn up, and whether we were +fired upon by pursuing soldiers, allow some room for +a conflict of memory. But the variations are not +material.</p> + +<p>Side by side with the road ran the telegraph-wires,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +which were able, by the flashing of a single lightning +message ahead, to arrest our progress and dissipate our +fondest hopes. There was no telegraph station where +we had captured the train, but we knew not how soon +our enemies might reach one, or whether they might +not have a portable battery at command. Therefore we +ran but a short distance, after replenishing the furnace, +before again stopping to cut the wire.</p> + +<p>John Scott, an active young man of the Twenty-first +Ohio, scrambled up the pole with the agility of a cat, +and tried to break the wire by swinging upon it; but +failing in this, he knocked off the insulating box at the +top of the pole and swung with it down to the ground. +Fortunately, a small saw was found on the engine, with +which the wire was severed in two places, and the included +portion, many yards in length, was taken away +with us, in order that the ends might not be readily +joined.</p> + +<p>While one or two of the party were thus engaged +others worked with equal diligence in taking up a rail +from the track. No good track-raising instruments +had been found on the train, and we had not yet procured +them from any other source. A smooth iron +bar, about four feet long, was the only instrument yet +found, and with this some of the spikes were slowly +and painfully battered out. After a few had thus been +extracted, a lever was got under the rail and the remainder +were pried loose. This occupied much more +time than cutting the wire, and it required no prophet +to foretell that if we did not procure better tools rail-lifting +would have to be used very sparingly in our +programme. In the present instance, however, the loss +of time was no misfortune, as we were ahead of the +schedule time, which we still felt bound to observe.</p> + +<p>After another rapid but brief run, we paused long +enough to chop down a telegraph-pole, cut the wire +again, and place the pole, with many other obstructions, +on the track. We did not here try to lift a rail; indeed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +we had little serious fear of any pursuit at this +time, and merely threw on these obstructions because +of having spare time to employ.</p> + +<p>We thus continued—running a little ahead of time, +then stopping to obstruct the track and cut the wire—until +Cass Station was reached, where we took on a +good supply of wood and water. At this place we also +obtained a complete time schedule of the road. Andrews +told the tank-tender that we were running a +powder-train through to the army of General Beauregard +at Corinth, which was almost out of ammunition, +and that the greatest haste was necessary. He further +claimed to be a Confederate officer of high rank, and +said that he had impressed this train for the purpose in +hand, and that Fuller, with the regular passenger train, +would be along shortly. The whole story was none +too plausible, as General Mitchel was now interposed +between our present position and Beauregard, and we +would never have been able to get a train to the army +of the latter on this route; but the tender was not +critical and gave us his schedule, adding that he would +willingly send his shirt to Beauregard if that general +needed it. When this man was afterwards asked if he +did not suspect the character of the enemy he thus +aided, he answered that he would as soon have suspected +the President of the Confederacy himself as +one who talked so coolly and confidently as Andrews +did!</p> + +<p>Keeping exactly on regular time, we proceeded without +any striking adventures until Kingston was reached. +This place—thirty-two miles from Big Shanty—we regarded +as marking the first stage of our journey. Two +hours had elapsed since the capture of the train, and +hitherto we had been fairly prosperous. No track-lifting +instruments had yet been obtained, notwithstanding +inquiries for them at several stations. We had secured +no inflammable materials for more readily firing the +bridges, and the road was not yet clear before us. But,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +on the other hand, no serious hindrance had yet occurred, +and we believed ourselves far ahead of any +possible pursuit.</p> + +<p>But at Kingston we had some grounds for apprehending +difficulty. This little town is at the junction +with the road to Rome, Georgia. Cars and engines +were standing on the side track. Here we fully expected +to meet our first train, and it would be necessary +for us to get the switches properly adjusted before +we could pass it to go on our way. When we drew +up at the station there was handed to Andrews our +first and last communication from the management of +the road, in the shape of a telegram, ordering Fuller's +train—now ours—to wait at Kingston for the local +freight, which was considerably behind time. The +order was not very welcome, but we drew out on the +side track, and watched eagerly for the train. Many +persons gathered around Andrews, who here, as always, +personated the conductor of our train, and showered +upon him many curious and somewhat suspicious questions. +Ours was an irregular train, but the engine was +recognized as Fuller's. The best answers possible were +given. A red flag had been placed on our engine, and +the announcement was made that Fuller, with another +engine, was but a short way behind. The powder story +was emphasized, and every means employed to avoid +suspicion. Andrews only, and the usual complement +of train-hands, were visible, the remainder of the party +being tightly shut up in the car, which was designated +as containing Beauregard's ammunition. The striking +personal appearance of Andrews greatly aided him +in carrying through his deception, which was never +more difficult than at this station. His commanding +presence, and firm but graceful address, marked him +as a Southern gentleman,—a member of the class +from which a great proportion of the rebel officers +were drawn. His declarations and orders were therefore +received with the greater respect on this account.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +But all these resources were here strained to the +utmost.</p> + +<p>At length the anxiously-expected local freight train +arrived, and took its place on another side track. We +were about to start on our way, with the glad consciousness +that our greatest obstacle was safely passed, when +a red flag was noticed on the hindmost freight-car. +This elicited immediate inquiry, and we were informed +that another very long freight train was just behind, and +that we would be obliged to wait its arrival also. This +was most unfortunate, as we had been already detained +at Kingston much longer than was pleasant. There +were many disagreeable elements in the situation. A +crowd of persons was rapidly assembling. The train +from Rome was also nearly due, and though it only +came to the station and returned on its own branch, +yet it was not agreeable to notice the constant increase +of force that our enemies were gaining. If any word +from the southward arrived, or if our true character +was revealed in any other way, the peril would be imminent. +But we trusted that this second delay would +be brief. Slowly the minutes passed by. To us, who +were shut up in the box-car, it appeared as if they +would never be gone. Our soldier comrades on the +outside kept in the background as much as possible, remaining +at their posts on the engine and the cars, while +Andrews occupied attention by complaining of the delay, +and declaring that the road ought to be kept clear of +freight trains when so much needed for the transportation +of army supplies, and when the fate of the whole +army of the West might depend upon the celerity with +which it received its ammunition. There was plausibility +enough in his words to lull suspicion in all minds +except that of the old switch-tender of the place, who +grumbled out his conviction "that something was wrong +with that stylish-looking fellow, who ordered everybody +around as if the whole road belonged to him." +But no one paid any attention to this man's complaints,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +and not many minutes after a distant whistle sounded +from the northward, and we felt that the crisis had +passed. As there was no more room on the side track, +Andrews ordered the switch-tender to let this train run +by on the main track. That worthy was still grumbling, +but he reluctantly obeyed, and the long success on +of cars soon glided by us.</p> + +<p>This meant release from a suspense more intolerable +than the most perilous action. To calmly wait where +we could do nothing, while our destiny was being +wrought out by forces operating in the darkness, was a +terrible trial of nerve. But it was well borne. Brown, +Knight, and Wilson, who were exposed to view, exhibited +no more impatience than was to be expected of +men in their assumed situation. Those of us in the +box-car talked in whispers only, and examined the +priming of our pistols. We understood that we were +waiting for a delayed train, and well knew the fearful +possibilities of an obstructed track, with the speedy detection, +and fight against overwhelming odds that would +follow, if the train for which we waited did not arrive +sooner than pursuers from Big Shanty. When we recognized +the whistle of the coming train it was almost as +welcome as the boom of Mitchel's cannon, which we +expected to hear that evening after all our work was +done. As it rumbled by us we fully expected an instant +start, a swift run of a few miles, and then the +hard work but pleasant excitement of bridge-burning. +Alas!</p> + +<p>Swift and frequent are the mutations of war. Success +can never be assured to any enterprise in advance. +The train for which we had waited with so much anxiety +had no sooner stopped than we beheld on it an +emblem more terrible than any comet that ever frighted +a superstitious continent. Another red flag! Another +train close behind! This was terrible, but what +could be done? With admirable presence of mind +Andrews moderated his impatience, and asked the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +conductor of the newly-arrived train the meaning of +such an unusual obstruction of the road. His tone +was commanding, and without reserve the conductor +gave the full explanation. To Andrews it had a thrilling +interest. The commander at Chattanooga had received +information that the Yankee General Mitchel +was coming by forced marches and in full strength +against that town; therefore all the rolling-stock of +the road had been ordered to Atlanta. This train was +the first instalment, but another and still longer section +was behind. It was to start a few minutes after he +did, and would probably not be more than ten or fifteen +minutes behind. In turn, the conductor asked Andrews +who he was, and received the information that +he was an agent of General Beauregard, and that he +had impressed a train into military service in Atlanta, +which he was running through with powder, of which +Beauregard was in extreme need. Under such circumstances +he greatly regretted this unfortunate detention. +The conductor did not suspect the falsity of +these pretences, but told Andrews that it was very +doubtful if he could get to Beauregard at Corinth by +going through Chattanooga, as it was certain that +Mitchel had captured Huntsville, directly on the line +between them. Andrews replied that this made no +difference, as he had his orders, and should press on +until they were countermanded, adding that Mitchel was +probably only paying a flying visit to Huntsville, and +would have to be gone soon, or find Beauregard upon +him. Andrews also ordered the conductor to run far +enough down the main track to allow the next train +to draw in behind him, and for both trains there to +wait the coming of Fuller with the regular mail. His +orders were implicitly obeyed; and then to our party +recommenced the awful trial of quiet waiting. One +of the men outside was directed to give notice to those +in the box-car of the nature of the detention, and +warn them to be ready for any emergency. Either<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +Brown or Knight, I think, executed this commission. +Leaning against our car, but without turning his eyes +towards it, and speaking in a low voice, he said, "We +are waiting for one of the trains the rebels are running +off from Mitchel. If we are detected before it comes, +we will have to fight. Be ready." We <i>were</i> ready; +and so intolerable is suspense that most of us would +have felt as a welcome relief the command to throw +open our door and spring into deadly conflict.</p> + +<p>Slowly the leaden moments dragged themselves away. +It seems scarcely creditable, but it is literally true, that +for twenty-five minutes more we lay on that side track +and waited,—waited with minds absorbed, pulses leaping, +and ears strained for the faintest sound which +might give a hint as to our destiny. One precious +hour had we wasted at Kingston,—time enough to +have burned every bridge between that place and Dalton! +The whole margin of time on which we had +allowed ourselves to count was two hours; now half +of that was thrown away at one station, and nothing +accomplished. We dared wait no longer. Andrews +decided to rush ahead with the intention of meeting +this extra train wherever it might be found, and forcing +it to back before him to the next siding, where he could +pass it. The resolution was in every way dangerous, +but the danger would at least be of an active character. +Just at this moment the long-expected whistle was +heard, and soon the train came into plain view, bringing +with it an almost interminable string of cars. The +weight and length of its train had caused the long delay. +Obedient to direction, it followed the first extra +down the main track, and its locomotive was a long +way removed from the depot when the last car cleared +the upper end of the side track on which we lay. At +length it had got far enough down, and it was possible +for us to push on. Andrews instantly ordered the +switch-tender to arrange the track so as to let us out.</p> + +<p>But here a new difficulty presented itself. This man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +had been in an ill humor from the first, and was now +fully convinced that something was wrong. Possibly +the tone in which he was addressed irritated him still +more. He therefore responded to Andrews' order by +a surly refusal, and hung up the keys in the station-house. +When we in the box-car overheard his denial, +we were sure that the time for fighting had come. There +was no more reason for dreading the issue of a conflict +at this station than at any other point, and we waited +the signal with the confident expectation of victory.</p> + +<p>But even a victory at that moment would have been +most undesirable. We had no wish to shed blood unnecessarily. +A telegraph office was at hand, and it was +possible that before the wire could be cut a message +might be flashed ahead. There were also engines in +readiness for prompt pursuit, and while we might have +overcome immediate opposition by the use of our firearms, +our triumph would have been the signal for a +close and terrible chase.</p> + +<p>The daring coolness of Andrews removed all embarrassments. +While men are hesitating and in doubt, +boldness and promptness on the part of an opponent +are almost sure to carry the day. Ceasing to address +the switch-tender, Andrews walked hurriedly into the +station, and with the truthful remark that he had no +more time to waste, took down the key and began to +unlock the switch. The tender cursed him terribly, +and called for some to arrest him. The crowd around +also disliked the action, and began to hoot and yell; +but before any one had decided as to what ought to be +done Andrews had unlocked and changed the switch, +and waved his hand for the engineer to come on. It +was an inexpressible relief when the cars moved forward +and the sounds of strife died out. As soon as +the locomotive passed to the main track, Andrews +tossed the keys to the ruffled owner of them, saying, in +his blandest manner, "Pardon me, sir, for being in +such a hurry, but the Confederacy can't wait for every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +man's notions. You'll find it is all right," and stepped +on board his engine. The excitement gradually ceased, +and no thought of pursuit was entertained until startling +intelligence was received a few moments later +from Big Shanty.</p> + +<p>Before describing the terrible struggle above Kingston, +it will be well to narrate the operations of the persons +whose train had been so unceremoniously snatched +from them at Big Shanty. From printed accounts +published contemporaneously by several of those engaged +in the pursuit, as well as from personal responses +to inquiries made regarding the most material points, +the writer is confident that he can tell the strange story +without essential error. It is a striking commentary +on the promptness of the seizure, that the bystanders +generally reported that only eight men, instead of +twenty, had been observed to mount the train.</p> + +<p>William A. Fuller, conductor, Anthony Murphy, +manager of the State railroad shops at Atlanta, and +Jefferson Cain, engineer, stepped off their locomotive, +leaving it unguarded save by the surrounding sentinels, +and in perfect confidence took their seats at the breakfast-table +at Big Shanty. But before they had tasted +a morsel of food the quick ear of Murphy, who was +seated with his back towards the window, caught the +sound of escaping steam, and he exclaimed, "Fuller, +who's moving your train?" Almost simultaneously +the latter, who was somewhat of a ladies' man, and was +bestowing polite attentions upon two or three fair passengers, +saw the same movement, and sprang up, shouting, +"Somebody's running off with our train!" No +breakfast was eaten then. Everybody rushed through +the door to the platform. The train was then fully +under way, just sweeping out of sight around the first +curve. With quick decision Fuller shouted to Murphy +and Cain, "Come on!" and started at a full run +after the flying train! This attempt to run down and +catch a locomotive by a foot-race seemed so absurd that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +as the three, at the top of their speed, passed around +the same curve, they were greeted with loud laughter +and ironical cheers by the excited multitude. To all +appearances it was a foolish and hopeless chase.</p> + +<p>Yet, paradoxical as the statement may seem, this +chase on foot was the wisest course possible for Fuller +and his companions. What else could they do? Had +they remained quietly in camp, with no show of zeal, +they would have been reproached with negligence in +not guarding their train more carefully, even if they +were not accused with being in league with its captors. +As they ran, Fuller explained the situation and his +purposes to his companions. They had neither electric +battery nor engine. Had they obtained horses, they +would necessarily have followed the common road, instead +of the railroad, and if they thought of that expedient +at all, it would be as distasteful to railroad men +as abandoning their ship to sailors, and they preferred +leaving that course for others. It would have been +wise for those who could think of nothing else to do +to ride as mounted couriers to the stations ahead; but +whether this was done or not I have never learned. +Certainly it was not done so promptly as to influence +the fortunes of the day.</p> + +<p>But the truth is that Fuller and Murphy were at +first completely deceived as to the nature of the event +which had taken place. They had been warned to +guard against the escape of conscript deserters from +that very camp; and although they would never have +suspected an attempt on the part of the conscripts to +escape by capturing their engine, yet when it was seen +to dash off, the thought of this warning was naturally +uppermost. Even then Fuller conjectured that they +would use his engine only to get a mile or two beyond +the guard line, and then abandon it. He was therefore +anxious to follow closely in order to find the +engine and return for his passengers at the earliest +moment possible. Little did he anticipate the full<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +magnitude of the work and the danger before him. +That any Federal soldiers were within a hundred miles +of Big Shanty never entered his mind or that of any +other person.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 540px;"> +<a href="images/i099-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i099.jpg" width="540" height="517" alt="CAPTAIN WM. A. FULLER. +(Conductor of Pursuing Train.) +Page 87." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">CAPTAIN WM. A. FULLER.<br /> +(Conductor of Pursuing Train.)<br /> +Page 87.</span> +</div> + +<p>For a mile or two the three footmen ran at the top +of their speed, straining their eyes forward for any +trace of the lost engine which they expected to see +halted and abandoned at almost any point on the road. +But they were soon partially undeceived as to the character +of their enemies. About two miles from the +place of starting they found the telegraph wire severed +and a portion of it carried away. The fugitives +were also reported as quietly oiling and inspecting their +engine. No mere deserters would be likely to think +of this. The two actions combined clearly indicated +the intention of making a long run, but who the men +were still remained a mystery. A few hundred yards +from this place a party of workmen with a hand-car +was found, and these most welcome reinforcements +were at once pressed into the service.</p> + +<p>Fuller's plans now became more definite and determined. +He had a good hand-car and abundance of +willing muscle to work it. By desperate exertions, by +running behind the car and pushing it up the steep +grades, and then mounting and driving it furiously +down-hill and on the levels, it was possible to make +seven or eight miles an hour; at the same time, Fuller +knew that the captive engine, if held back to run on +schedule time, as the reports of the workmen indicated, +would make but sixteen miles per hour. Fuller bent +all his thoughts and energies towards Kingston, thirty +miles distant. He had been informed of the extra +trains to be met at that point, and was justified in supposing +that the adventurers would be greatly perplexed +and hindered by them, even if they were not totally +stopped. Had the seizure taken place on the preceding +day, as originally planned, he might well have despaired, +for then the road would have been clear. Yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +he had one other resource, as will appear in due time, +of which his enemies knew nothing.</p> + +<p>Fuller did not pause to consider how he should defeat +the fugitives when he had overtaken them, and he +might have paid dearly for this rashness. But he could +rely on help at any station, and when he had obtained +the means of conveyance, as he would be sure to do at +Kingston, he could easily find an overwhelming force +to take with him. This Saturday was appointed as a +general muster of volunteers, State militia, and conscripts, +and armed soldiers were abundant in every +village. But Fuller's dominant thought was that his +property—the property with which he had been intrusted—was +wrested from his grasp, and it was his +duty to recover it, at whatever of personal hazard. That +any serious harm was intended to the railroad itself he +probably did not yet suspect.</p> + +<p>Talking and wearying themselves with idle conjectures, +but never ceasing to work, Fuller and his party +pressed swiftly on. But suddenly there was a crash, a +sense of falling, and when the shock allowed them to +realize what had happened, they found themselves +floundering in a ditch half filled with water, and their +hand-car imbedded in the mud beside them! They +had reached the place where the first rail had been torn +from the track, and had suffered accordingly. But the +bank was, fortunately for them, not very high at that +spot, and a few bruises were all the damage they sustained. +Their hand-car, which was also uninjured, +was lifted on the track and driven on again. This incident +increased both their caution and their respect +for the men before them.</p> + +<p>Without further mishap they reached Etowah Station, +on the northern bank of the river of the same +name. Here was a large bridge, which the Andrew's +party might have burned without loss of time had they +foreseen the long detention at Kingston; but its destruction +was not a part of their plan, and it was suffered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +to stand. The mind of Fuller grew very anxious +as he approached this station. On what he should find +there depended, in all probability, his power to overtake +the fugitives, whose intentions seemed more formidable +with each report he received of their actions. +Andrews had firmly believed that no engine for pursuit +could be found south of Kingston; but Fuller had +a different expectation.</p> + +<p>Extensive iron-furnaces were located on the Etowah +River, about five miles above the station. These works +were connected with the railroad by a private track, +which was the property of Major Cooper, as well as the +works themselves. Murphy knew that Major Cooper +had also bought an engine called the "Yonah." It had +been built in the shop over which Murphy presided, +and was one of the best locomotives in the State. "But +where," Fuller and Murphy asked themselves, "is this +engine now?" If it was in view of the adventurers as +they passed, they had doubtless destroyed it, ran it off the +track, or carried it away with them. They could not afford +to neglect such an element in the terrible game they +were playing. But if it was now at the upper end of +the branch at the mines, as was most probable, it would +take the pursuers five miles out of their way to go for +it, and even then it might not be ready to start. This +diversion could not be afforded. Fuller and Murphy +had come nineteen miles, and had already consumed +two hours and three-quarters. The adventurers were +reported as passing each station on time, and if this +continued they must have reached Kingston forty-five +minutes before Fuller and his companions arrived at +Etowah, thirteen miles behind them. One hour and a +half more to Kingston,—this was the very best that could +be done with the hand-car. It was clear that if the +"Yonah" did not come to their assistance, they were as +effectually out of the race as if on the other side of the +ocean. Everything now hinged on the position of that +one engine.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>Here we may pause to note how all coincidences, we +might almost say providences, seemed to work against +the bridge-burning enterprise. We were at Kingston +three-quarters of an hour before our pursuers reached +Etowah, thirteen miles distant. If there had been no +extra trains, or if they had been sharply on time, so +that we could have passed the three with a delay not +exceeding fifteen or twenty minutes, which ought to +have been an abundant allowance, every bridge above +Kingston would have been in ashes before sundown! +Or if the delay had been as great as it actually was, +even then, if the locomotive "Yonah" had occupied +any position excepting one, the same result would have +followed.</p> + +<p>But Fuller, Murphy, and Cain, with the several +armed men they had picked up at the stations passed, +could not repress shouts of exultation when they saw +the old "Yonah" standing on the main track, ready +fired up, and headed towards Kingston. It had just +arrived from the mines, and in a short time would have +returned again. Thus a new element of tremendous +importance, which had been ignored in all our calculations, +was introduced into the contest.</p> + +<p>The pursuers seized their inestimable prize, called for +all the volunteers who could snatch guns at a moment's +notice, and were soon swiftly but cautiously rushing +with the power of steam towards Kingston. The speed +of nearly a mile a minute was in refreshing contrast to +the slow and laborious progress of the hand-car, and +they were naturally jubilant. But what lay before them +at Kingston? The frequent obstructions of the track, +the continued cutting of the telegraph, and especially +the cool assumption of the leader of the adventurers in +calling himself a Confederate officer of high rank in +charge of an impressed powder train, all conspired to +deepen their conviction that some desperate scheme was +on foot. But they did not pause long to listen to reports. +Their eyes and their thoughts were bent towards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +Kingston. Had the adventurers been stopped there, or +had they surprised and destroyed the trains met? The +pursuers could scarcely form a conjecture as to what +was before them; but the speed with which they were +flying past station after station would soon end their +suspense. Even the number of men on the flying train +was a matter of uncertainty. At the stations passed observers +reported that only four or five were seen; but +the track-layers and others who had observed them at +work were confident of a much larger number,—twenty-five +or thirty at the least. Besides, it was by no means +sure that they had not confederates in large numbers to +co-operate with them at the various stations along the +road. Fuller knew about how many persons had entered +the train at Marietta; but it was not sure that +these were all. A hundred more might be scattered +along the way, at various points, ready to join in whatever +strange plan was now being worked out. No conjecture +of this kind that could be formed was a particle +more improbable than the startling events that had already +taken place. The cool courage of these pursuers, +who determined to press forward and do their own duty +at whatever risk, cannot be too highly rated. If they +arrived at Kingston in time to unmask the pretension +of the mysterious "Confederate officer," there would +doubtless be a desperate fight; but the pursuers could +count on assistance there and all along the line.</p> + +<p>Fuller reached Kingston at least an hour earlier than +would have been possible with the hand-car, and a +single glance showed that the adventurers were gone, +and his hopes of arresting them at that point were +ended. They were, however, barely out of sight, and +all their start had been reduced to minutes. But here +again the pursuit was checked. The foresight of Andrews +had blockaded the road as much as possible with +the trains which had so long hindered his own movements. +Two large and heavy trains stood on the main +road; one of the two side tracks was occupied by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +third freight, and the other by the engine of the Rome +branch. There was no ready means for the passage of +the "Yonah." Some precious time was employed in +giving and receiving information, in telling of the seizure +at Big Shanty, and hearing of the deportment of Andrews +and his men at Kingston. Then a dispute arose +as to the best means of continuing the pursuit, which +threatened to disunite Fuller and Murphy. The latter +wished to continue the chase with the "Yonah," which +was a fine engine, with large wheels; but Fuller would +not wait to get the freights out of the way, and, jumping +on the Rome engine, he called on all who were willing +to assist him to come on. A large, enthusiastic, and +well-armed company instantly volunteered; the new +engine, the "Shorter," pulled out, and Murphy had only +time to save himself from the disgrace of being left behind +by jumping on the hindmost car as it swept past. +With all the time lost in making this transfer, and in +mutual explanations, the pursuers left Kingston just +twenty minutes behind the Federals.</p> + +<p>What Fuller and his friends learned at Kingston left +no doubt on their minds that some deliberate and far-reaching +military movement was on foot. While its precise +nature was yet concealed, the probability that the +road itself, and possibly Confederate towns and stores, +were to be destroyed, was freely conceded. All agreed +that the one thing to be done was to follow their enemies +closely, and thus compel them to turn and fight or +abandon their enterprise. A large force—one or two +hundred well-armed men—was taken on board, and instructions +left that as soon as the track could be cleared +another armed train was to follow for the purpose of +rendering any needed assistance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>A TERRIBLE RAILROAD CHASE.</h3> + + +<p>We will now resume the direct narrative.</p> + +<p>When Kingston was left behind, it was believed by +our leader that, notwithstanding all our vexatious delays, +we still had a margin of at least an hour's time. +Our movements were arranged on that supposition. +The next considerable station, Adairsville, was about +ten miles distant, and the intervening country comparatively +level. There were no considerable bridges in +this space, and the most we could do was to run swiftly, +and occasionally to obstruct the track. Our speed was +increased to about forty miles an hour, and this swift +running, after our long halt at Kingston, was exquisitely +delightful. Looking out from the crevices +of the box-car, we saw the hills and trees gliding swiftly +by, and felt that each moment we were getting farther +away from the foes who had so long surrounded us, +and nearer safety and triumph. While we were actually +under way our prospects did not yet seem very +unfavorable. There were yet one freight and one passenger +train to meet, which we would now encounter +an hour farther south, because of our long hindrance; +but we felt confident of our power to deceive or overpower +them, and they did not embarrass our running +because they were on the regular schedule. The freight +was now almost due at Adairsville, and we expected +the passenger train to overtake and go ahead of it from +that point. If they were both on time we would also +meet them there, and then have an absolutely open road +to Chattanooga. It will show the tremendous risks +that encompassed our enterprise, when we reflect that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +so trifling a circumstance as the delay or the misplacement +of a train could introduce an "if" into our most +hopeful plans.</p> + +<p>A short distance south of Adairsville we again +stopped, and Andrews called us to come forth and +work with a will. No exhortation was needed. John +Scott, as usual, climbed the telegraph-pole, and the +wire was soon severed. Two or three rails were slowly +and painfully battered loose with our iron bar, which +still constituted our only instrument for track-lifting. +These were loaded on the car to carry away with us. +There happened to be a large number of cross-ties +lying near, and these we also loaded up for future use. +When all was done we moved on, feeling that we had +provided for the delay or destruction of any train that +might pursue. It was also probable that the first train +which met us at Adairsville would be wrecked. This +was not our design, as we did not relish wanton mischief; +but there was no safe way of giving warning, +and a wrecked train would have been a considerable +obstruction of the track.</p> + +<p>We reached Adairsville before the expected freight, +but had only just taken our place on the side track +when its whistle was heard. When it came up, Andrews, +who still personated a Confederate officer, and +exacted and received the obedience which in those days +of conscription and impressment was readily yielded to +military authority, ordered the train to be run past the +station and back again on the side track behind his +own, to wait for the expected passenger train. The +usual explanations about the powder train were repeated +to credulous ears. Then came five minutes of +suspense and waiting. The train was behind time,—a +trifling matter in itself, but, in our situation, each +minute might turn the scale between death and life. +We could not afford to repeat the experience of Kingston. +Not one bridge had yet been burned, and all we +could show for our hazard, beside our captured train,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +were a few cross-ties and lifted rails. After a whispered +word of consultation with his engineer, who was +willing to assume the most deadly risks rather than to +lie still, Andrews remarked to the bystanders that a +government powder express must not be detained by +any number of passenger trains, and then gave the +word, "Go ahead!"</p> + +<p>We started quite moderately, but, as soon as the station +was out of sight, we noticed a wonderful acceleration +of speed. The cars seemed almost to leap from the +track, and we whirled from side to side at a bewildering +rate. There was scarcely any slackening for curves +or grades, and our whistle rang out with scarcely a +moment's cessation. In the box-car we could retain +no position for more than an instant, and were jostled +over each other and against the sides of the car much +oftener than was pleasant. No one of us had ever +rode at such a rate before. Though we had no means +of measuring the speed, none of us estimated it at less +than a mile a minute. What was the meaning of such +a break-neck pace? Had Andrews discovered that we +were pursued, and was he making a desperate effort to +escape from the enemy? Or was he simply hurrying +to the bridges we were to burn? Such questions were +easier asked than answered, for two cars and the tender +intervened between us and the locomotive, on which +our leader was. At any rate, the moments were rapidly +carrying us towards our own lines, and a very few +hours of such running would see us delivered from the +series of perils which had so long environed us. We +had learned that just beyond Calhoun, a station only ten +miles from Adairsville, there was a large bridge, which +we knew was marked for destruction. If that was +passed without stopping, we would be convinced that +an enemy was on our track, and that the race was simply +for life. A few minutes would decide. But in the +mean time, as an enemy might be following us, it occurred +to the writer that it would be well to continue<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +obstructing the track. This was accomplished by +breaking open the hind end of the last box-car, and +shoving out one by one the ties previously loaded. A +part only of the ties on board were thus employed, as +we thought it possible that the remainder might be +more useful in other directions. Many of those sprinkled +on the track showed a perverse disposition to +jump off, but we felt sure that enough remained to +make a pursuer cautious. Nothing more impressed us +with the fearful speed of our train than the manner in +which these ties seemed instantly to vanish when they +touched the ground.</p> + +<p>By thus exerting the full speed of the engine Andrews +hoped to reach Calhoun before the belated passenger +train should arrive. The engineer stood with +his hand on the lever ready to reverse his engine the +moment an opposing train was sighted. The open +character of the country in this part of the route permitted +a good outlook. The whistle was also kept +sounding that an opposite train might be warned and +checked. It was the intention of Andrews, in case of +meeting the expected train, to reverse his own engine +only long enough to escape the danger of collision, +and then to persuade or compel the other to back before +him to the first siding. This lightning-like run +was bold and full of peril, but it was wise. Had the +same risk been promptly assumed at Kingston the whole +future of the enterprise would have been different. But +we reached Calhoun before any train was met. When +we slackened speed, just before arriving at the station, +we shoved out one more cross-tie, and then carefully +concealed the hole in the car by piling other ties across +it. As we drew nearer, great was the satisfaction of +Andrews and his engineer when they saw the belated +passenger train—our last obstacle—lying quietly at the +station. It had been just starting, but, on hearing our +whistle, it awaited our arrival. We ran down almost +against it; and, without getting off his locomotive, Andrews<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +shouted his orders to have the road cleared for +an impressed powder train. The news from the north +and west—the panic caused by the rumored approach +of General Mitchel—made this sudden demand seem +less unreasonable, and it was unhesitatingly obeyed. +The passenger train was switched out of the way, and +we glided smoothly by the last train we were to meet. +Thus, at length, we had reached the ground where +bridge-burning was to begin, and all obstacles were out +of the way; what could hinder full and decisive success?</p> + +<p>Fuller and Murphy had not left Kingston many +minutes before they became conscious of the error they +had committed in exchanging the "Yonah" for the +"Shorter." The latter was a weak engine with small +wheels. It was now forced to the utmost, oil being +freely used with the wood in the furnace; but they +were unable to equal the tremendous speed with which +they had made the previous stage of their journey. +Though they had but two or three cars and the advantage +of a level and unobstructed track, they could not +exceed forty miles an hour. They maintained a vigilant +lookout, but ran with the steam-valve entirely +open, while Murphy and Cain both grasped the lever, +ready to use their combined weight and strength in +reversing the motion if any obstacle should be descried. +Their vigilance was soon approved. They observed +the point at which we had removed rails, and, by reversing, +were able to arrest their motion just on the +edge of the break. But here they found themselves +confronted with a terrible obstacle. They had no rails +to replace those that had been carried off. Some instruments +for track-laying were on board, and it was +suggested to tear up rails behind and place them in the +break. This double labor required too much time to +suit the ardent temper of Fuller and Murphy. At +once they repeated the old tactics which alone had given +them any hope of success. They abandoned their engine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +and ran ahead once more on foot. The remainder +of their company remained behind, and probably did, +after a time, succeed in lifting rails behind their engine +and laying them down before, as a contemporaneous +account asserts; but they had no further real part in +the chase.</p> + +<p>Before the two footmen had gone far they encountered +the regular freight train that we had met at +Adairsville. Thus their delay was reduced to a very +small amount. It seems that almost as soon as Andrews +and his party had left Adairsville for their rapid +flight towards Calhoun, this train, guided either by the +decision of the conductor, or by a telegraphic message +from the management of the road, started southward, +and were met no more than a mile or two on their way +by the dauntless pursuers. Great was the amazement +of the men on the freight train to learn that the fine-looking +Confederate officer with whom they had been +talking five minutes before was probably a "Yankee" +engaged in the most daring exploit of the war. But +not much time was allowed for the indulgence of any +emotion. Fuller promptly took command of the train +and backed it with all possible speed to Adairsville. +Its engine, the "Texas," was known to Fuller as one of +the largest and best in the State. While backing and +pushing the whole train of nearly twenty cars it made +the most rapid speed that they had yet attained.</p> + +<p>But still greater speed was necessary, and by throwing +all but one or two cars on the side track at Adairsville, +the noble engine was relieved and enabled to show all +its fine qualities. No turn-table being at hand, it had +still to be run backward; but that position does not materially +lessen the power of an engine, though the risk +of accident is somewhat increased. This risk had been +taken, however, in so many instances by the desperate +pursuers, and with perfect safety, that they were willing +to tempt fortune still further. The engineer of +the captured train had been left behind at the last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +break, but his place was ably supplied by Peter +Bracken, of the "Texas." Starting from Adairsville +with a full head of steam, the distance of ten miles to +Calhoun was run in twelve minutes, and even this tremendous +speed would have been exceeded but for the +slight delay caused by the ties dropped on the track. +When one of these obstructions was seen, Fuller, who +had stationed himself for that purpose on the end of +the tender which ran ahead, would jump off, remove +the tie, and be back to his place almost before the engine +ceased to move. The uniform mode of stopping +to clear the track was by reversing the engine. Aside +from the time lost in these stops, the running must +have exceeded a mile per minute. This exceeding rapidity +prevented any loss of distance in this stage of +the pursuit.</p> + +<p>At Calhoun, Fuller scarcely made a full stop. He +told his tale in a few words and called for volunteers. +A number came just as he was moving on again; indeed, +after the train was well under way, he secured a +still more valuable prize. The telegraph managers at +Chattanooga had found that the wires were broken, and +were endeavoring to discover the source of mischief. +By telegraphing to different stations and asking for replies, +they could easily make an approximate estimate. +But the difficulty was coming nearer: they discovered +that one station after another was being cut off from +communication with headquarters. South of Calhoun +they could get no reply at the time the passenger train +reached Dalton. They had, therefore, directed the +only operator at that station—a mere boy—to leave his +post and go to Calhoun for the purpose of discovering +and remedying the mischief. Fuller recognized him +on the platform, and reached out his hand, shouting, +"Come!" The boy took hold and was lifted on the +flying engine.</p> + +<p>With no thought of our deadly peril we had stopped +a short distance above Calhoun to cut the telegraph<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +and oil the engine. Several of us were also engaged +in battering out the spikes preparatory to lifting another +rail. As we expected to spend ten or fifteen +minutes in burning the large bridge which spanned the +Oostenaula River, a little distance from us, Andrews +thought it better that we should have a rail up in order +to guard against the possibility of the train we had +just passed being turned back after us in time to interrupt +our work. It might have been better, as we were +tempted to think afterwards, if we had begun on the +bridge directly; but it was absolutely necessary to cut +the wire, and the lifting of the rail would not take an +additional minute.</p> + +<p>The engine was inspected, and found to be still in +perfect condition, though both wood and water were +running low; the wire was severed; and eight of us +had just taken hold of the loose end of a rail, out of +which the spikes had been battered, and were trying to +pull the other end loose also. But it was too firmly +fixed, and we were about to release it, and wait the +taking out of a few more spikes, when, away in the distance, +we heard the whistle of an engine in pursuit! +The effect was magical. With one convulsive effort +the rail was broken asunder, and the whole party +pitched in a heap over the low embankment. No one +was hurt, and we were on our feet in a moment.</p> + +<p>It did not require many moments to realize the situation. +Our enemies were upon us at last! Their train +was in plain sight. We could even see that they were +well armed. There seemed to be no resource but +flight.</p> + +<p>But from whence came this train? The facts with +which the reader is already familiar were all unknown +to us, and the apparition of the pursuers all the more +terrible on that account. We knew the difficulties +against which we had struggled, and little thought that +our pursuers had encountered nearly equal obstacles, +over which they had so far been marvellously victorious.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +Greater surprise would not have been created in our +ranks had the locomotive, to whose scream we unwillingly +listened, dropped from the sky! One plausible +conjecture only presented itself as to the presence of +this train, and, if this one was correct, it could be but +the earnest of speedy defeat and death. Possibly a +telegraphic message from the other side of Big Shanty +had traversed the wide circuit of more than two thousand +miles past Atlanta, Richmond, Chattanooga, and +back again to Calhoun, reaching the latter place just +before the wire was cut, and inducing them to start +back the train we had just met at full speed after us. +All this was possible,—at least it seemed so to those of +us who were not in the secret of the wide-spread system +of military operations,—unless, indeed, the foresight of +our government had provided at this very time for the +severing of the telegraph on the Carolina coast, at which +place alone this circuit came within striking distance of +the Union lines.</p> + +<p>But we had no time for idle conjectures. The fact +was patent that a train was bearing down upon us at +full speed. "Shall we stand and fight? Shall we +attack them now?" were questions eagerly asked.</p> + +<p>But Andrews still hesitated to depart from the course +pursued so far. We had the rail broken which would +arrest the enemy, and probably give us time to fire the +bridge ahead. Then all might yet be well,—that is if +the stations ahead were not warned, and the track obstructed +before us. Should that prove the case, then +to stand and sell our lives as dearly as possible, or, +abandoning our engine, to fly on foot across the country, +were all the alternatives. The crisis of our fate +drew near, and our hardest and sharpest work lay just +ahead.</p> + +<p>Influenced by such considerations, which were then +mainly confined to his own mind, Andrews, without a +moment's hesitation, gave the signal, which was as +quickly obeyed, for mounting the train. The engineer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +threw the valve wide open, and, with a spring +that threw us from our feet, the noble steed was once +more careering forward. To his companions on the +locomotive Andrews said, quietly, as he ever spoke in +times of deepest excitement, "Push her, boys; let her +do her best. We must lose no time in getting to the +bridge above." Some of the engine oil was thrown +into the furnace, and the already fiery pace sensibly +quickened. The problem seemed perfectly simple. If +we could reach the bridge, and get it well on fire in +less time than our enemies could piece out the broken +rail, we had still a chance of life and success. If not, +more desperate means became necessary. The speed +of the engine might save us a precious half-minute, and +on such a narrow margin everything turned. Nobly +did our good old locomotive respond to the call! Rocking, +whirling, bounding,—it seemed a marvel that some +of the box-cars were not hurled from the track. Inside +these cars all was action. Though we could scarcely +keep one position a moment, idleness could not now be +indulged. We knew that the time for concealment had +passed, and we wrought with flying fingers in preparation +for our incendiary work. The forward end of our +box-car, and both ends of the others, were knocked out +by employing one of the heavy cross-ties as a battering-ram, +and the greater part of the sides were loosened in +the same manner, and torn into fragments for kindling. +This destruction of barriers also opened a way of communication +with the engine. Andrews approved what +we had done, and told us frankly that our lives probably +depended on the number of seconds we consumed +in getting the bridge on fire. Just then an exclamation +of wonder and dismay from our keen-sighted fireman, +Alfred Wilson, drew attention. He declared positively +that he saw the smoke of the pursuing engine still following +us! It was scarcely credible, but he was so +positive, and it was so important to know the truth, +that our speed was slackened to ascertain. In a moment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +a whistle, clear and unmistakable, rang out from +beyond a curve we had just passed. All doubt was at +an end; but our surprise and consternation were as +great as when the train was first discovered in pursuit. +There had been no time to lay again the rail we had +taken up, and the broken half of which we still had +with us. It seemed a miracle wrought against us. But +Andrews' resources were not yet exhausted. He ordered +another effort, which might yet give us time to +fire the bridge ahead, that he was most unwilling to +pass without destroying. The locomotive was reversed, +and our kindling-wood, with most of the ties, +carried forward, and the moment we began to move +backward the hindmost car was uncoupled. The pursuing +locomotive was then in fearful proximity. We +could see that it was running backward, and that a +number of men were crowded on it. Almost at the +same moment its machinery was reversed and ours +turned forward. As we left them at lightning speed +we could just see that their velocity was well checked +before they touched our abandoned car.</p> + +<p>But this was not yet sufficient. As we came to the +next slight up-grade the same manœuvre was repeated, +and our second car flung back at the enemy in like +manner. The time lost in doing this brought them +again near us, and we saw that they were pushing our +first car before them.</p> + +<p>But how had they passed the broken rail? For +years I could get no satisfactory information on this +subject. Some Confederate accounts spoke of a rail +being taken up behind and laid down before the engine. +But the time was too short to permit such an +action. That a stop could be made, a rail taken up, +spiked down again, and our engine, running faster than +the wind, overtaken,—all of this well inside of five +minutes,—was incredible. Very probably this course +was adopted in the case of the next train which was +pursuing not far behind. Other Confederate accounts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +say nothing about this rail, while a few assert that it +was not broken at all, but only loosened and left in its +place. But having personally helped in the desperate +pull, having fallen down the bank with the party, and +carried one end of the rail to put on our car, besides +having my left hand long suffer from being clasped +under the hand of William Campbell, the strongest +man of our party, I naturally cannot accept this explanation. +Conductor Fuller gave another solution of +the mystery scarcely less strange, which I repeat as he +gave it to me. He said that when he saw our engine +start on from this point he could see no obstruction, and +allowed the train to continue at high speed. A moment +after he noticed a short blank in one of the rails. A +terrible fear swept over him, for it was now too late to +stop. But quick as a lightning-flash he noticed another +fact,—that the place of the missing rail was on +the <i>inside</i> of a sharp curve. He explained to me that +a train at a very high rate of speed throws the most of +its weight on the outside rail of a curve, which is always +made a little higher than the other. Had an outside +rail been broken the destruction of their train would +have been inevitable, but the break was on the inside. +With that rapid decision which the better class of railroad +men learn to exercise, he signalled to the engineer, +"Faster; faster yet!" There was a sharp jolt, and the +locomotive and the cars attached were on the other side +of the obstruction with their speed not even abated. +The next train which followed was the passenger train +that we had met at Calhoun, which had also been +turned back after us. This train had track-layers and +instruments on board, and did very quickly repair the +damage; but if Fuller had waited even that long the +bridge over the Oostenaula would have been wrapped +in flames before his arrival.</p> + +<p>Fuller saw the car we dropped, and by promptly +having his engine reversed, reduced the collision to +merely a smart shock. It was dextrously coupled fast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +and driven forward at full speed. The second car we +dropped was treated in the same manner, and the +enemy's speed was scarcely diminished. The time lost +in dropping the cars was about as long as that lost in +coupling to them.</p> + +<p>Thus in the short space between Calhoun and the +Oostenaula River three hindrances or perils, the greatness +of which will be best appreciated by railroad men, +were overcome by the skill and daring of Fuller's +band, and in spite of them they attained a rate of running +on this crooked and irregular road which would +have been most remarkable on a perfectly smooth and +unobstructed track.</p> + +<p>Now the Oostenaula bridge was in sight, and we +slackened speed for a desperate attempt to burn it. +But before we could come to a full stop the pursuer +was close upon us, and very reluctantly we steamed +over the bridge and continued our flight. The prospect +was rapidly darkening before us. It was certain +that one of the trains we had met at Adairsville or +Calhoun was turned back after us and driven with the +utmost determination. Of all conjectures to account +for this pursuit, that of a telegram by the way of Richmond +was most probable and most portentous. If this +was really the case, our fate was sealed. With a relentless +pursuer hanging upon our heels, and the towns +ahead warned and ready to dispute our passage, human +bravery and foresight would avail nothing. I have +no doubt the mind of Andrews was weighed down and +perplexed by the uncertainty of our situation. Could +we have known even as much of the number and plans +of our foes as they knew of ours—above all, could we +have known whether the road was open before us—the +problem would have been simpler. Yet we had but +two hopes: to wreck the train behind us, a task of no +small difficulty now they were on their guard; or, failing +in this, to distance them in running far enough to +lift some rails or burn one of the bridges still ahead.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +If only one bridge could be burned, it would stop the +pursuit for the time and leave us free to encounter the +opposition before us.</p> + +<p>Accordingly the jaded "General" was spurred to +full speed. The load was now lighter, and as much +of the kindling as we thought it prudent to spare was +used in putting the furnace into a fiercer blaze. We +also resumed the practice of dropping cross-ties from +the rear of the car. These efforts had a marked effect +in delaying the pursuers, for their smoke and whistle +soon ceased to disturb us. But while running at this +violent rate we had passed Resaca and thought it prudent +to again cut the telegraph. While stopping for +this purpose the writer took a rail which had been bent +in lifting it, and placed it so that one end was held +firmly under the track, and the other projected at a +little elevation, towards the pursuing train. This was +not more than accomplished when that train was heard +again, and we mounted our engine and sped onward. +As the rail was small and dark, the enemy ran right +on it before it was observed, and Fuller afterwards declared +that if it had been a little lower, it would have +been sure to wreck them. But as it was, the end struck +the edge of the car, and it was knocked harmlessly +from the track.</p> + +<p>Above Tilton we succeeded in getting a full supply +of water from the tank. This was most welcome, as +the water was nearly exhausted. The wood-station +was at another place, and as our supply ran low we +threw on fence-rails or any other available fuel whenever +stopping to cut the wires.</p> + +<p>Our condition was now widely different and more +unfavorable than it was a short time before. With +only one car, and that almost torn to pieces, even the +magnificent coolness and self-possession of Andrews +could scarcely avert suspicion at any station where we +might be driven to halt. And with all our efforts we +could never get much more than out of sight of our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +pursuers. The time required for cutting wires and +spent in trying to take up track compensated almost +exactly for the time our pursuers spent in removing +the obstructions we continued to throw before them. +With all their efforts they could not get within easy +gunshot of us; neither could we distance them far +enough for the decisive operation of burning a bridge. +The relation of the two parties was peculiar and well +defined. Each party soon came to recognize the +strength and weakness which belonged to its own situation. +With their better engine it would have been +comparatively easy for our pursuers to come near +enough to pick off man after man with their guns, +while entirely out of reach of our revolvers. But had +they come up so close, any obstruction we might have +placed on the track would have been terribly efficient. +As long as we possessed cross-ties or anything large +enough to wreck a train they were bound to keep a +respectful distance. The most favorable position for +them was just far enough in the rear to see when we +stopped or threw anything on the track, thus enabling +them to check up in time. They dared not come nearer +than this while we were in rapid motion, but they were +often farther behind.</p> + +<p>Mile after mile the terrible chase continued. Station +after station was passed without the least lessening of +speed. The idlers about the platforms started back in +amazement and affright when they saw a train dash by +like a thunderbolt, closely followed by three others, the +latter screaming as loudly as their whistles were able. +To us, who were looking out from the baggage-car, +houses and villages, groves and hills, flashed by almost +too quickly for distinct vision. Then, in the hottest +speed, the whistle would sound "down brakes," and +the stop—usually made by reversing the engine—would +be so sudden that we needed to cling convulsively to +avoid being hurled from our places; then, in a moment, +we would spring to the ground and labor with the energy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +of despair at destroying the telegraph and the +track, or loading on ties, until the signal,—usually from +behind, given by the pursuing train,—when all would +rush on board, and the engine, putting its full strength +into the first leap, would dash on, jerking from their feet +all who were not braced for the shock. When under way +we could not sit down because of the terrible jolting of +the springless car. If we attempted to stand we fell +over or were thrown against the little that remained of +the sides of the car, and had to be very watchful not to +be thrown off altogether. Our actual position was a +rapid alternation of all possible attitudes, the favorite +being—judging from the frequency with which it was +assumed—that of bending over with the hands and +feet resting on the floor.</p> + +<p>Those who were on the engine had a better opportunity +of observing all that was passing. Alfred Wilson, +who acted as our fireman, gives a vivid picture of +the race from that point of view. He says,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Our locomotive was under a full head of steam. The engineer +stood with his hand on the lever with the valve wide open. +It was frightful to see how the powerful iron monster under us +would leap forward under the revolution of her great wheels. +Brown (the engineer) would scream to me ever and anon, 'Give +her more wood, Alf!' which command was promptly obeyed. +She rocked and reeled like a drunken man, while we reeled from +side to side like grains of pop-corn in a hot frying-pan. It was +bewildering to look at the ground or objects on the roadside. A +constant stream of fire ran from the rims of the great wheels, +and to this day I shudder when I reflect on that, my first and +last locomotive ride. We sped past stations, houses, and fields, +and were out of sight almost like a meteor, while the bystanders, +who barely caught a glimpse of us as we passed, looked on as if +in both fear and amazement. It has always been a wonder to +me that our locomotive and cars kept the track at all, or how +they could possibly stay on the track. At times the iron horse +seemed to literally fly over the course, the driving-wheels of one +side being lifted from the rails much of the distance over which +we now sped with a velocity fearful to contemplate."</p></blockquote> + +<p>But swift running alone could not save us. In a +mere trial of speed between the two engines we were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +sure in the end to be worsted. To wreck the pursuing +train was our great object, and to that end we employed +every expedient we could devise. By this time we had +a few more track-raising instruments, which Andrews +and Wilson had simultaneously taken from some switch-tenders. +Earlier in the race they would have been +worth their weight in gold, but it was now too late. +Even with their help we could take up a rail no quicker +than the Confederates, with ample supplies of rails, instruments, +and trained workmen, could lay another +down. All the efforts we made in this direction were +a mere waste of time.</p> + +<p>But the swiftness of pursuit was carrying both parties +over long spaces. The next station of importance +that lay before us was Dalton, and this place, twenty-two +miles from Calhoun, was soon reached. This was +the largest town we had approached since starting in +the morning. It was the junction of another road +which led to Cleveland, on the main line to Richmond. +It had a further and terrible interest to us, in the +knowledge that there we would learn whether our +character had really been telegraphed ahead of us by +the way of the coast lines and Richmond. But if it +had, we would learn it too late to make the knowledge +of any service. We would find a military force ready +to receive us at the depot, and our race would be run. +Yet we approached cautiously, ready, if there were any +suspicious indications, to reverse the engine at once and +run back towards the pursuing train, with the intention +of getting out of the town and trying to escape through +the fields. But we saw no more than the usual number +of persons about the depot, and Andrews at once leaped +from the engine, examined the switch, which was adjusted +to throw a train on the Cleveland fork of the +road, had it changed, and answered all questions as +coolly and composedly as ever. The whole had to be +done very promptly, as the appearance of our poor +battered train was sadly against us, and we knew that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +in a town the size of Dalton it would be easy to find +force enough for our arrest. Besides, it was sure that +in a few seconds Fuller and his tireless band would +appear on the scene. In no period of this eventful +day does the courage and self-control of Andrews shine +out more brightly than in the manner in which he here +caused the persons about the depot in a moment to obey +his orders and believe his story, even while thinking it +possible that they might have previous information of +his designs, and be only waiting the arrival of assistance +to destroy him. The pursuing train was heard as +expected. Before our foes came near enough to reveal +our character everything was arranged, and taking the +left-hand road, that which led directly to Chattanooga, +we again darted forward.</p> + +<p>This was, however, a decisive point in the race. +When we thus passed Dalton without having destroyed +our pursuers, we knew that all hope of passing through +Chattanooga with our engine must be abandoned. All +uneasiness on account of a possible telegram from Richmond +was at an end, but there was a nearer danger, +which defined the limits beyond which we could no +longer hope to pass. There was a line of telegraph +along each of the diverging railroads. We could destroy +but one of these, and it was certain that as soon +as Fuller and his friends arrived at Dalton and told +their story, warning would be sent ahead of us by the +other road. This will explain what some accounts +have left doubtful,—our neglect to cut the wire immediately +after leaving Dalton. It made no practical difference +to us whether the fatal message was sent directly +to Chattanooga and all intermediate stations, or whether +it went by the way of Cleveland and Chattanooga and +then back to the stations on our line. The distance was +twice as great in thus telegraphing around two sides of +a triangle, but this counted for nothing when lightning +was the messenger. Our only resource was in the fact +that we were now counting nearly as many miles as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +minutes, and that we might be far on our way towards +Chattanooga, and possibly have some bridges burned, +before preparation could be made for stopping us. As +a last resource, we now fully expected to have to take +to the woods on foot.</p> + +<p>Fuller well knew the decisive advantage he would +have at Dalton. As he neared that station he wrote +the following dispatch and gave it to the young operator +he had taken up at Calhoun, with instructions to put it +through to Chattanooga, both ways, with the least possible +delay. It proves—if it were not afterwards written +from memory and unconsciously modified—how +correctly he had already estimated the character of the +men he was chasing. This sagacity is scarcely less +wonderful than the daring with which he encountered +and overcame so many obstacles.</p> + + +<div class='center'> +Fuller's Telegram.<br /> +</div> + +<blockquote><p> +"<span class="smcap">To General Leadbetter</span>, Commander at Chattanooga:<br /> +"My train was captured this <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> at Big Shanty, evidently by +Federal soldiers in disguise. They are making rapidly for Chattanooga, +possibly with the idea of burning the railroad bridges +in their rear. If I do not capture them in the mean time see that +they do not pass Chattanooga.</p> + +<div class="right"> +"<span class="smcap">William A. Fuller.</span>"<br /> +</div></blockquote> + +<p>Two miles above Dalton we stopped and obstructed +the track, and once more cut the telegraph wire. The +latter was of slight importance, but Wilson and others +urged it upon Andrews, and he did not wish to discourage +them by telling them that it was now useless. +But the removal of a rail might have been of more +value by giving us time for burning some of the bridges, +which are very numerous on this part of the road. +This stop was made in plain sight of a Confederate +regiment commanded by a Colonel Glen. The work to +be done, however, demanded too much speed for us to +apprehend their interference. But before the rail could +be more than loosened, the pursuers, who had halted at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +Dalton for even a shorter time than we had, were upon +us again, and we once more mounted our engine and +sped onward. The telegram was sent ahead by this +line as well as the other a minute or two before the +wire was severed. It created a terrible excitement in +Chattanooga, but did us no real damage. Both the +pursuing trains were near us when we entered the great +tunnel north of Dalton. Our supply of cross-ties was +unfortunately exhausted, or they might have proved +very serviceable in the darkness. In fearful proximity +and with unabated speed the tunnel was passed. Murphy +declares that he was quite relieved when he saw by +the gleam of light ahead that our engine was passing +on, for he had quite made up his mind that we would +attack them or drive our engine back upon them in the +darkness. But no such plan had entered our thoughts. +We would far have preferred a fight in open day.</p> + +<p>We now resolved to play what had been reserved as +our last card. Running more slowly to economize fuel,—though +a high velocity was still maintained,—we tried +to light a fire in our only remaining car. It was already +open at both ends, and now as much of the sides +and top as could possibly be obtained was also torn off +and prepared for fuel. The attempt to light these +splinters by matches did not succeed, for the wind +caused by the rapid motion blew them out. Fire was +then brought back from the engine, but this seemed to +smoulder rather than burn, for the rain, which fell in +torrents, blew through the unprotected car, and all the +boards were soaking wet. Never did kindling a fire +seem so difficult. When at length it fairly caught, and +began to burn briskly, our dampened hopes began to +brighten in sympathy with it. Might it not be that +our persistent struggle against ill-fortune was to win +the victory even yet? Just then a long covered bridge +was approached, which it was desirable on every account +to burn. All of our party, whom the heat had +not already driven forward, were ordered into the nearly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +empty tender, and the car was uncoupled in the middle +of the bridge. We did not leave it hastily, but stopped +near the farther end of the bridge to watch the result in +breathless anxiety. We had scarcely halted when the +black smoke of the nearest pursuer was seen, and he +bore down upon us at full speed. We were very loth +to leave our position. We could see that the flame was +rising higher, but could also see that the enemy's train +had a large number of men on board, some of whom +had firearms. Oh, what would we not have given for +a few of the muskets we had left in camp, to have held +our position for even a few minutes, or even one minute! +But our situation was too unfavorable to allow +more than a momentary thought of resistance. At long +range we were virtually unarmed. But we lingered +still, until we saw the enemy pushing our blazing car +before them over the bridge; then, being in reach of +their firearms, and but poorly protected in our engine +and tender, we again sought safety in flight. They +pushed the blazing car before them to the first side +track, which happened not to be far away, and then +left it to burn at its leisure. Thus our forlorn hope +expired.</p> + +<p>But not all of the adventurers were willing to accept +defeat even yet. A halt was made—the last—for the +sake of again obstructing the track, and getting a few +sticks of wood that lay near the track to replenish the +waning fire of our engine. Some of the number, from +the force of habit more than anything else, began to +take up a rail. The writer then suggested to Andrews +a simple plan, which, at this late hour, still offered a +glimmering hope. Could we throw the pursuers off +the track, we might burn a few bridges yet, though the +most important had been left behind us, and we could +no longer hope to run our engine through Chattanooga. +This attempt would have been more full of +peril than any other of the day, with the possible exception +of the first seizure of the train; but its success<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +would have turned the tables on our enemies overwhelmingly. +With sufficient promptness and desperation +it might have succeeded, while its failure would +only have ended a hopeless struggle, exchanging certain +and immediate death for whatever faint chances of escape +might otherwise remain after the train was abandoned. +There had been many hints on the part of the soldiers +that we were running away from the enemy too many +times, and that it would be better to fight, but this was +the first definite proposal. The suggestion was to use +our remaining fuel in once more running out of sight +of the enemy, then, selecting a place for ambuscade in +the low, thick-set bushes that frequently came close to +the road, to obstruct the track in our usual manner. +When this was done, all of us, except one of the engineers, +could hide, in such a position as to be abreast +of the enemy when he stopped to remove the obstructions. +Our own engineer could wait until the pursuers +were in sight, and then start off as usual, but slowly, +so as to keep their attention fixed upon his train. We +had several times noticed how, in the case of an obstruction, +the Confederates had checked their headlong +career, sprang to the ground even before the train had +stopped fully, and worked furiously at clearing the +track. This would be our opportunity for rushing +forth. We could shoot down all who were on the +engine or the ground, while one of our reserve engineers +sprang on the engine and threw it back at full +speed, jumping off as it started. The result could +scarcely have failed to be a fatal collision with the +next pursuing train, which was never far behind. +Then we would have been free from pursuit, and left +only to reckon with the forces ahead. The place and +manner of leaving the train could then have been +selected at our leisure. We afterwards learned that +no preparation had been made to receive us farther +south than Boyce's Station, some three miles from +Chattanooga. There a strong military force had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +posted, the track torn up, and cannon planted. But +we would never have ventured so near Chattanooga +after knowing that a message had been sent ahead of +us at Dalton. Our original hope had been to get so +far ahead of all pursuit as to pass Chattanooga before +the pursuers had reached Dalton. Then the junction +of roads at the latter point would not have been an +embarrassment to us, as will be made clear by a reference +to the map.</p> + +<p>Andrews said that the plan, of which a hint was +given in a few rapid words, was good and worth trying. +But the one great defect in his character as a leader +came to the surface in this emergency. This was a disposition +to turn everything carefully over in his mind +before deciding. There was no time for reflection now. +The Confederate whistle sounded, and our men, without +waiting for the word of command, so accustomed +had they become to this manœuvre, mounted the engine +and sped away. Andrews bitterly regretted afterwards +that this last expedient was not tried. With this +exception, I do not know of anything more that could +have been devised, beyond what we actually attempted.</p> + +<p>One object only could now be attained by clinging +longer to the train, the speedy abandonment of which +was inevitable. Andrews wished to shorten the distance +to our own lines as much as possible, so that the +slender chance of escaping through the woods and +mountains might be increased. It was far easier to +travel on the engine than to run or skulk through the +country on foot. It was better to continue this mode +of locomotion as long as possible, or until we were +carried as near Chattanooga as it was prudent to venture. +The old lightning rate of running could not be +maintained, but we were still moving swiftly. The +engine was in a bad state, and really incapable of much +further service. The fuel, too, was gone. For some +time we had been reduced to the fragments that had +been torn off the cars before they were dropped, and to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +what we had gathered up along the roadside. Now all +that remained of a combustible character was crowded +into the fire-box for the last pull. Andrews had +always kept with him from the time we first met him +at the midnight consultation a mysterious and well-filled +pair of saddle-bags. These, of which he had been +very careful, and which were supposed to contain important +and compromising documents, were now added +to the fire. It was a signal, if any were needed, that +the time had now come to prepare for the worst. Andrews +and three others—Brown, Knight, and Alfred +Wilson—were now on the engine, and the remaining +sixteen were huddled together on the tender. At no +time since the writer had proposed attacking the pursuing +train had he been in a position to urge the attempt +on Andrews, and it was now too late. But another +decision was arrived at on the engine against +which some of us on the tender would have protested +with all our energy had the opportunity been offered. +Alfred Wilson, whose opinion was directly opposite to +that of George D. Wilson and the writer, says,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"A few minutes before we came to the final halt, Andrews, +Brown, Knight, and myself hastily discussed as to the best thing +to be done, and it was concluded that the best course was to separate +and scatter in all directions."</p></blockquote> + +<p>This fatal decision arose from two causes. Andrews, +with all his courage, never rightly valued fighting men. +He preferred accomplishing his objects by stratagem +and in secrecy rather than by open force. It was simply +wonderful that in all the exigencies of this expedition +no one of his soldiers had been permitted to fire a single +shot, or even to draw a revolver upon the enemy. He +now considered that when scattered each one, as well as +himself, would be able to find concealment, or if captured, +to evade detection by false stories. This was a +great mistake. The second reason for adopting this +fatal course was the belief that the scattering of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +party would also scatter pursuit, and make it less eager +in any one direction. Under ordinary circumstances +such would have been the result. But the terror and +the fierce resentment aroused by the daring character +of our enterprise caused the whole country to burst +into a blaze of excitement, and the pursuit to be +pushed with equal energy for scores of miles in every +direction.</p> + +<p>An opposite course would have been far more hopeful. +We were but twelve or fifteen miles from Chattanooga. +Twenty miles of travel to the northwest +would have placed us on the opposite bank of the Tennessee +River, among the loyal mountaineers of the district. +If we had remained together we could have +traversed that broken and wooded country which lay +before us as rapidly as any pursuing soldiers. No +body of citizens not perfectly organized and armed +would have ventured to halt us. Cavalry pursuit away +from the main roads was impossible. Besides, one of +our party possessed a pocket-compass, and two others, +besides Andrews, were somewhat acquainted with the +country. The writer is convinced that we might have +left the cars in a body, and without even attempting +concealment, but only avoiding the public roads, have +hurried directly towards Mitchel's lines, and within +forty-eight hours have been safe in his camp.</p> + +<p>But we can neither wonder at nor blame the mistake +made by our leader on this occasion, though it led to +months of wretchedness and the death of many of the +party. Andrews had met each new emergency with +heroic calmness and unfailing resources; but he was +now physically exhausted. He had been engaged in +the most intense and harassing labor for many days, +being without sleep for the past thirty hours and without +food for twenty. An error in action was therefore +most natural and excusable, even if it disagreed with +the course which had been marked out in calmer moments. +Wilson says,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Andrews<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +now told us all that it was 'every man for himself;' +that we must scatter and do the best we could to escape to +the Federal lines."</p></blockquote> + +<p>This, then, was the formal dissolution of the expedition +by the order of its leader. When we were +brought together again under widely different circumstances, +we were simply a collection of soldiers, and +while we respected the judgment and advice of Andrews, +we no longer considered that we owed him military +obedience.</p> + +<p>As Conductor Fuller now disappears from our story, +where he has been so conspicuous, and where his energy, +skill, and daring shine in such brilliant colors, a +few words may be appropriately devoted to his work +and subsequent history. All the evidence goes to show +that the Confederacy had no other available man who +could have saved the bridges on the Western and Atlantic +Railroad that day. With the exception of himself +and his two companions, who were in a sense subordinate +to him, though their services were of very +high value, no other person seemed capable of planning +or doing anything whatever. With a conductor of less +energy in the place of this man, the probabilities are +that we would have had the whole day uninterruptedly +for the accomplishment of our task. But for Fuller's +daring and perseverance the extra trains would have +but added to the number of wrecks along the line as +one after another ran upon the places where the track +had been torn up; while the burning of the bridges +and the loss of telegraphic communications would have +diffused a universal panic.</p> + +<p>The Legislature of Georgia gave Fuller a vote of +thanks for his brilliant services, and instructed the governor +to bestow upon him a gold medal; but, as he +laughingly said years after, "Gold was so scarce in the +South that it was hard to find enough for a medal. It +was therefore postponed for a time, and then came the +final collapse of the Confederacy, and I got nothing."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +The Confederate authorities gave him the rank of captain +by brevet. Of course, the Federal government +could not recognize services rendered against itself of +however striking character. No one of the adventurers +ever expressed any malice towards Conductor Fuller, +believing that he simply did what he regarded as his +duty. He retained his place as conductor until the +whole road passed under the control of General Sherman, +when he enlisted in the army. After seeing considerable +military service, he was directed by the Confederate +government to take charge of the rolling-stock +of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, and keep it out +of the hands of the Federals. He removed it to +various parts of Georgia and South Carolina as the +exigencies of the war and the narrowing territory of +the Confederacy required. Finally, when the supremacy +of the Union was restored, he brought it back to +Atlanta and surrendered it to Federal authority. He +afterwards resumed his place as conductor on the same +road, and remained in that situation until 1875, when +he located as a merchant in Atlanta. Here for many +years he delighted in talking over this day of wild +adventure.</p> + +<p>Of his two companions, Cain continued for more +than twenty years as an engineer on the same road, +while Murphy built up a prosperous business as a +lumberman in Atlanta.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>A NIGHT IN THE WOODS.</h3> + + +<p>Many persons, on hearing an account of this unparalleled +chase, have suggested one expedient by which +they imagine the fugitive Federals might have destroyed +their enemy and accomplished their own purpose. +"Why did you not," they say, "reverse your +own engine and then jump from it, thus allowing it to +knock the pursuing train from the track?" There +were good reasons against that course. Such critics +might as well ask a man who has ascended half-way +up out of a well in a bucket why he does not cut the +rope over his head for the sake of crushing somebody +at the bottom of the well. That engine was the basis +of all our hopes, and we could not think of abandoning +it until the direst extremity. At the last moment, +however, this attempt to reverse the engine for the +purpose of securing a collision was made. This final +effort was unavailing. The steam power was so nearly +exhausted that the locomotive moved backward very +slowly, and accomplished nothing beyond delaying the +pursuit on foot for a very few moments. The pursuing +train had no difficulty in also reversing and running +back a little way until the captured engine came to a +dead standstill. Indeed, the hard service of the engine +had very nearly destroyed it, even before we thus flung +it back at the enemy. A Confederate account says, +"Their rapid running and inattention to their engine +had melted all the brass from their journals." Wilson +is still more graphic,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I could liken her condition to nothing else than the last +struggles of a faithful horse, whose heartless master has driven +and lashed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +him until he is gasping for breath, and literally dying +in the harness. The powerful machine had carried us safely for +more than a hundred miles, some of the time at a rate of speed +appalling to contemplate, but she was becoming helpless and useless +in our service. She was shaken loose in every joint, at least +she seemed so; the brass on her journals and boxes was melted +by the heat; her great steel tires were almost red-hot, while she +smoked and sizzled at every joint. Our race was almost run."</p></blockquote> + +<p>We are not able to give an account of the time occupied +by us in the different parts of this long and fearful +race. The general impression of a frightful rate of speed +is, however, fully borne out by one fact, which rests on +the authority of the engineer of the "Texas," and I am +not sure that this simple statement is not more eloquent +than the most vivid word-pictures of our chase. +It is simply that he ran the distance of fifty and one-half +miles, made all the stops at stations for explanations +and reinforcements, as well as to remove obstructions +and to switch off the cars we dropped, in the +space of <i>sixty-five minutes</i>. This calm and definite +statement, which I have never heard disputed, implies +an average velocity, when in motion, of not less than a +mile per minute! That such a speed could be attained +upon a crooked road, laid with old iron rails, and with +the utmost efforts of an enemy in front to obstruct the +track, seems little less than miraculous.</p> + +<p>But to return to the direct story. When the final +and fatal command to disperse was given, the soldiers, +still obedient to orders, jumped off one by one, and +ran, either singly or in small groups, towards the shelter +of the woods. The greater number fled in a western +direction.</p> + +<p>No time was lost by the enemy in organizing a most +vigorous pursuit. This would have had little terrors +if conducted only by the men on the pursuing trains. +Some of these did join in it, but their part was insignificant. +In an incredibly short space of time the +whole country was aroused. The telegraph, no longer +disabled, flashed alarm in every direction. Horsemen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +scoured at full speed along every highway, shouting +their exaggerated stories to every passing traveller and +to every house and village. The whole population for +scores of miles on every side of Chattanooga seemed to +have abandoned every other occupation, and devoted +themselves exclusively to the work of hunting the fugitive +Union soldiers. Each ferry and cross-road was +picketed, while armed bands explored the sides of every +mountain, and searched out every valley. The people, +or at least the great part of those who thus engaged in +this terrible man-hunt in the woods, were not novices +in the work, and employed the most efficient agencies. +The dark institution of slavery rendered the work of +hunting down fugitive men very familiar. One of the +points in which there is a strange conflict of testimony +between Northern and Southern witnesses is in relation +to the employment of blood-hounds in the pursuit of +Union soldiers, especially when endeavoring to escape +from prison. The writer wishes to be perfectly candid +in this story, and can imagine one explanation of this +discrepancy. Possibly the cause of the dispute is to be +found in the use of the word "blood-hound." The +pure-blooded Spanish blood-hound, a ferocious and terrible +beast, is comparatively rare in the Southern States. +But hounds, which were used for tracking men, and +some of which were very large and fierce, were very +common. To a poor man, whether white or black, flying +for his life through some lonely wood, who hears, +through the darkness of the night, the baying of a pack +of hounds on his track, and knows that their fangs will +soon be fixed in his flesh, it is little comfort to reflect +that the deadly beasts are probably only mongrels and +not of the pure Spanish breed! Hounds were freely +employed in searching for the members of our party, +and we felt our blood chill with horror as we listened +to their baying. Escape by concealment for any considerable +length of time was scarcely possible. Rapid +flight over the roughest part of the country was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +only alternative, and this was far from hopeful. The +adventurers were so widely dispersed that no collective +narrative of their perilous wanderings is practicable. +Yet many circumstances were common to all the members +of the party. The drenching rain, which continued +to fall, added greatly to our discomfort, and was at +once a help and a hindrance. It rendered the tracking +dogs much less efficient, and frequently threw them off +the track altogether, but prevented us from travelling +by the sun and stars; and, as we had no other guide, the +flight of the greater number became a mere aimless wandering +through the woods,—sometimes even in a circle. +The endurance of indescribable suffering from cold, +hunger, and fatigue was also an experience common to +all who eluded capture for any considerable period. +The expectation of a violent death immediately on +capture and detection was shared by all. The only +mode of giving an adequate impression of this painful +but deeply interesting part of the history will be to +narrate with some detail the adventures of a few of +those groups, which will best serve as specimens of all. +I offer my own experience first; not that it is more interesting +than others,—indeed, it is greatly surpassed in +number and variety of adventures by the narratives of +Dorsey and Wilson,—but because it is easier to tell my +own experience,—that strange weird period of hunting +in the woods and mountains of Georgia, in which I +was the game,—a period which stands out alone in +memory separated from all former and after life!</p> + +<p>On leaving the train the writer was alone, and for a +moment his heart sank within him. No one happened +to strike off in the same direction, and, although some +of the fugitives might have been overtaken or fallen in +with, yet the wish was strong to accompany the same +band who had been associated on the southward journey. +In looking for these the opportunity of going with any +of the other adventurers was lost. Indeed, I hardly +wished to have any other companions, as the remainder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +were comparative strangers, and their trustworthiness +had not yet been thoroughly approved. At that time +I knew nothing of the locality in which I found myself,—whether +it was fifteen or fifty miles from Chattanooga,—nor +had I the most indefinite idea of the character +of the country. I only knew that our army and +territory lay north or northwest; but as the sun did +not shine, I had no means of determining the points of +the compass.</p> + +<p>The train was still moving when I jumped off,—fast +enough to make me perform several inconvenient gyrations +on reaching the ground. As soon as I could +stand firmly I looked about for a moment, and endeavored +to grasp the situation and determine what to do. +I had not anticipated that the train would be abandoned +and we dispersed in the woods; but, on the contrary, +had relied on being under the orders of a leader until +we should succeed or perish. Now I was thrown entirely +on my own resources, without even a conscious +reliance on the protection of God. I cannot recall even +breathing a prayer in this trying moment. Yet, in a +dim way, I did feel that I was not utterly forsaken. +One glance round the horizon—a swift balancing of +the few elements of the problem that were within my +reach—and then hurried flight was all time permitted. +Most of my comrades were in advance of me. Three +of them had taken the eastern side of the railroad, the +remainder the opposite side. In my judgment the latter +was best, and, following their example, I soon reached +the cover of stunted pines that grew near. Feeling the +necessity of getting some start before the enemy could +arrange for pursuit, I continued to run at right angles +away from the railroad. A little brook that ran parallel +to the railroad was soon passed, and I pressed on +up the long, steep, and open slope of a hill on its opposite +side. Running up-hill was too severe to be maintained +long, and I was obliged to drop into a walk in +plain view of the enemy. Each step was fatiguing,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +and my limbs seemed made of lead. This greatly augmented +my fears. It was more like trying to run +away from danger in a nightmare than any waking +sensation. I saw three of my comrades not far away +on the left, and, urging my failing strength to the +utmost, tried to overtake them, but in vain. This was +a great disappointment, for I dreaded solitude above all +things, and wanted the support of sympathy. I knew +that pursuit would be rapid and instantaneous, and +could hear shouts from the pursuing trains, which had +now reached the spot and were discharging a host of +enemies. Every breeze that sighed through the branches +of the naked forest sounded like the trampling of cavalry.</p> + +<p>The country was rough and uneven. On the bottoms +and by the streams, as well as on the steep mountains, +were a few pines; but on the slopes and tops of the +hills, which here are a low continuation of the Cumberland +range, the timber is mostly of oak and other +varieties, which were not then in foliage. This was a +great disadvantage, because it left no hiding-place and +exposed us to the watchful eyes of our enemies.</p> + +<p>As I struggled up the hill-side the sense of faintness +and exhaustion passed away, and with strength hope came +again. Nothing in this chase seems stranger than the +manner in which my strength ebbed and flowed. When +seemingly utterly powerless, without rest, food, or sleep, +vigor came back again on more than one occasion, and +the new supply would last for hours. My more rapid +pace soon carried me over the hill-top and down to the +bend of a little river, which I subsequently learned +was the Chickamauga,—the witness, afterwards, of one +of the most desperate battles of the war. It was then +swollen by the continuous rains, and for some time I +searched along its banks in vain for a crossing-place. +Believing that death was behind, I finally committed +myself to the turbulent stream, and succeeded in getting +over, but only to find that before me the bank rose in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +an almost perpendicular precipice of shelving rock not +less than one hundred feet in height. I dared not recross +the stream, for I knew the enemy could not be +far behind, and I therefore clambered up the precipice. +Several times, when near the top, did I feel my grasp +giving way, but as often some bush or projecting rock +afforded me the means of saving myself. While thus +swinging up the bare rocks, I could not help thinking +what a fine mark I presented if any of the enemy, with +guns, should happen to arrive on the opposite bank! +At last, after imminent danger, I reached the top, again +utterly exhausted, pulled myself out of sight, and sank +down to breathe for a while.</p> + +<p>I had been without breakfast or dinner, and had +spent not only that day but many preceding ones in +the most fatiguing exertion. Enemies were on every +side. There was no guide even in the direction of home, +for the sun still lingered behind an impenetrable veil.</p> + +<p>While musing on this unenviable situation in which +I found myself, a dreadful sound brought me to my +feet and sent the blood leaping wildly through my +veins. It was the distant baying of a blood-hound! A +moment's reflection would have made it certain that in +the existing state of Southern customs dogs would have +been used to track fugitives in the woods. It was a +mere every-day incident of slavery. But this consideration +brought no comfort. Alone in the woods of +Georgia, the horror of being hunted with dogs was indescribable.</p> + +<p>A few moments' listening confirmed my worst fears. +They were after us with their blood-hounds! not one +pack alone, but all in the country, as the widening +circle from which their dismal baying echoed revealed +but too plainly. There was no longer safety in idleness. +Yet the fearful sound was not without use in +supplying a guide to flight, and I am now convinced +that throughout the whole chase the dogs were of more +real service to us than to our pursuers, as they rendered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +a surprise less probable. But none the less did they +add to the repulsiveness and terror of our position.</p> + +<p>Away across the hills and streams I sped, I know +not how far,—I only know that the noise of the dogs +grew fainter as the evening wore on. I had distanced +them and began to breathe more freely. I even indulged +the hope of being able to work my way ultimately +to the Federal lines. Had the clouds permitted +travelling by the sun and stars, this hope might +have been realized.</p> + +<p>As I descended the long slope of a wooded hill into +a solitary valley, I saw a rude hut, with a man working +in a cultivated patch beside it. Believing that he could +not yet have heard of our adventure, I determined to risk +something in order to get information. I also felt sure +that one man could not arrest me. Approaching, I asked +the road to Chattanooga, and the distance. He pointed +the way, and told me that it was eight miles. Adding +this information to the general knowledge I had of the +geography of that district, it gave me some notion of my +whereabouts. I did not wish to get any nearer the +rebel town, as I rightly judged that in its vicinity pursuit +would be most vigorous, but I continued my +journey in that direction until out of sight, when I +climbed the hill at right angles to my former course. +This course was maintained for some hours, when an +incident occurred which would have been amusing but +for the fearful perils environing me.</p> + +<p>I had often heard of lost persons travelling in a circle, +but never gave much credit to such stories. Now, I +had the proof of their credibility. I believe philosophers +explain the phenomenon by saying that one side +of the body has a little more vigor than the other, and +that when we have no guide to direct us, the stronger +side (usually the right), by its tendency to go ahead of +the other side, gradually turns us in the opposite direction. +In other words, the right foot outwalks the left, +and thus, like a carriage-horse swifter than its mate in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +a driverless team, can only describe perpetual circles +until the will-power again takes hold of the reins. But +at this time I had never heard of such theories, and the +following experiences presented themselves to my mind +as an inexplicable and terrifying fatality.</p> + +<p>I had crossed a road and left it for something like an +hour, during which time I walked very fast, when to +my surprise I came to the same place again. I was +considerably annoyed thus to lose my labor, but struck +over the hill in what I now supposed to be the right +direction. Judge of my astonishment and alarm when, +after an hour or more of hard walking, I found myself +again at precisely the same spot! So much time had +been lost that the barking of the dogs now sounded +very loud and near. I was perplexed beyond measure +and seemingly hopelessly entangled. A few steps +brought me to a stream that was recognized as having +been crossed hours before. In sheer desperation I +took the first road that appeared, and followed it almost +regardless of where it led or who was met. Previously +I had kept away from the roads, and sought the most +secluded route. But the risk of meeting any tangible +enemy was preferable to being the sport of that bewildering +chance which seemed to be drifting me around +in a remorseless whirlpool.</p> + +<p>Thus I pressed forward till the rainy, dreary evening +deepened into night. I recall no thoughts of +prayer, no feeling of dependence upon an infinite +mercy beyond the clouds. All the memory I have of +mental processes is that there was a fixed, iron-like resolve +to use every power of body and mind to escape, +and in perfect calmness to await the result. I intended +to do all in my own power for safety and then perish, +if it must be so, with the feeling that I was not responsible +for it. The reader, a little farther on, will +find that this feeling was so powerful that I did not +shrink from any sacrifice of truth, or even from enlistment +in the rebel army. For me the stake was life or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +death. I would win if my power could by any means +be stretched so far; if not, I would pay the forfeit +when I must.</p> + +<p>It was not perfectly dark, for there was a moon beyond +the clouds, and, as I heard a wagon approaching, +I stepped to the bushes beside the road and accosted +the driver. His voice assured me that he was a negro, +and I made bold to get from him as much information +as possible. Words cannot describe the flood of disappointment, +vexation, and anger that swept over my +bosom when I found I was within four miles of Chattanooga,—that +town which I regarded as the lion's +mouth! So far as I had a plan it was to leave this +place far to my right, and strike the Tennessee River +twelve or fifteen miles farther down-stream. I hoped +to do this, and to cross over the river by floating on +some dry branch of a tree before morning. If the stars +came out, so that I could travel a straight course, this +hope was not unreasonable. But near Chattanooga, +however, all the river would be watched and the country +around strictly patrolled. But if discouraged by +the manner in which I seemed attracted towards the +rebel headquarters, despair was useless; so, learning the +direction both of Ringgold and Chattanooga from the +negro, who, like all of his color, was ready to do anything +for fugitives, with whom he had a fellow-feeling +(though I did not make my true character known to +him), I pressed forward through the rain and mud. +As the road did not lead in the right direction, I again +travelled in the fields and woods.</p> + +<p>For some time I felt sure of having the right course +in my head and hurried on. But when I had crossed +a large field of deadened timber I was completely lost. +Soon, however, I reached a road which seemed to lead +right, and followed it with renewed vigor for several +miles. At length I met three men on horseback. It +was too dark to tell whether they were negroes or white +men, but I ventured to ask them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"How far is it to Chattanooga?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Three miles!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Is this the right road?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah, right ahead."</p> + +<p>These, probably, were men sent out to search for the +railroad adventurers, and they did not try to arrest me +because I had accosted them so boldly and was going +directly towards Chattanooga.</p> + +<p>But it was evident I was again on the wrong road. +Indeed, so hopelessly bewildered was I that it seemed +impossible to travel any but the wrong road. As soon +as the horsemen were out of sight I turned and followed +them three or four miles, until I came to a large +road running at right angles with my own, which terminated +where it entered the other. I deliberated some +time as to which end of this new road I should take. +These mountain-roads are fearfully crooked, and the +one I had been travelling bent too often to give me the +direction even of the dreaded Chattanooga.</p> + +<p>Many a time had I wished for a sight of the moon +and stars. Long before the clash of arms had been +heard in our peaceful land, before the thunder of battle +had filled a nation with weeping, astronomy had been +my favorite study, and I had often longed for the parting +of the clouds, that, with my telescope, I might gaze +on the wonders of the world above. But never did I +bend so anxious an eye to the darkened firmament as +in my solitary wanderings over the Georgia hills that +memorable night. All in vain! No North Star appeared +to point with beam of hope to the land of the +free!</p> + +<p>But at length I made choice, and, as usual, on this +night chose wrong. After I had gone a long distance +the moon did for a moment break through a rift in the +clouds and pour her welcome light down on the dark +forest through which I was passing. That one glance +was enough to show me that I was heading towards the +railroad I had left in the morning. Even then the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +light was a compensation for all the disappointment, +but in a moment it withdrew and the rain fell again in +torrents. Wearily I turned and retraced my tedious +steps, hoping in vain for another glimpse of the moon.</p> + +<p>One of my feet had been injured by an accident three +months before, and now pained me exceedingly. Still +I dragged myself along. My nerves had become exhausted +by the long-continued tension they had endured, +and now played me many fantastic tricks, which +became more marked as the night wore on. I passed +the place where the wrong choice of roads had been +made, and still toiled ahead.</p> + +<p>I was thinly clad, and as the wind, which had risen +and was now blowing quite hard, drove the falling +showers against me, my teeth chattered with the +piercing cold. I passed many houses, and feared the +barking of the dogs might betray me to watchers +within; but my fears were groundless. The storm, +which was then howling fearfully through the trees, +served to keep most of those who would have sought +my life within-doors. For a time I seemed to have +the lonely, fearful, stormy night to myself.</p> + +<p>At last all thoughts gave way to the imperative need +of rest. I reeled to a large log not far from the road, +on the edge of a small patch of woodland, and crawling +close under the side of it, not so much for shelter +from the driving rain as for concealment from my worse +dreaded human foes, I slept in peace.</p> + +<p>Up to the time of this profound and dreamless sleep +the incidents of that terrible night are graven on my +memory as with a pen of fire. But after waking I +found a marvellous change, and the next experience of +the night floats in memory with all the voluptuous +splendor of an opium-dream. Had I been at all disposed +to superstition, I would have had room enough +to indulge it. A rational view of religion would have +enabled me to recognize the manner in which a Merciful +Father interposed to relieve my sufferings,—an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +interposition not less real or effective because, as I +still believe, purely natural. But at that time I was +indisposed to admit other than the material explanation. +The want of sleep, fatigue, dampness, hunger, and intense +mental tension were enough to cause a mild species +of delirium. But the character of this was surely extraordinary, +affecting as it did the senses and imagination +only, and leaving the reason and will altogether +untouched. I was as rational—as able to plan, and far +more able to execute, during this singular psychological +experience than before. But let me narrate facts and +leave the reader to his own explanations.</p> + +<p>I cannot tell how long sleep continued, but I wakened +perfectly in an instant, and with a full realization of +my position. But, in addition to this, I seemed to hear +some person whisper, as plainly as ever I heard a human +voice,—</p> + +<p>"Shoot him! shoot him! Let us shoot him before +he wakes!"</p> + +<p>My first impression was that a party of rebels had +discovered me in my hiding-place, and that my last +moment on earth had come. But the next thought +brought a new suspicion, and I cautiously opened my +eyes to see if my senses were really playing me false.</p> + +<p>Directly before me stood a bush or small tree. The +first glance showed me a tree and nothing more. The +next glance revealed a score of angels, all clad in lovely +robes, that melted into the softest outlines, their heads +nodding under feathery plumes above all beauty, and +their wings, bordered with violet and pearl, slowly +waving with indescribable grace. As my eye wandered +farther, the whole grove was transformed into a +radiant paradise, in which moved celestial beings of +every order, all instinct with life and blushing with +love. There were rose bowers, and ladies fairer than +mortal, and little cherubs floating around on cloudlets +of amber and gold. Indeed, all that I had ever seen, +read, or imagined of beauty was comprised in that one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +gorgeous vision. It was very singular, and of this I +can give no explanation, except the will of God, that no +hideous, terrible, or even ugly image was seen. That +there were not visions of blood-hounds, chains, and +scaffolds, or other forms of terror, seemingly more appropriate +to my condition; is unaccountable, so far as I +know, on any theory save that of heavenly grace, and, +personally, I wish for no better. It was also singular +that though the brain and eye were thus impressed with +ideal existences, I was perfectly calm and self-possessed, +knowing the whole thing to be but a pleasing illusion. +I had no fear of these figures of the brain, but, on the +contrary, found them excellent company. They did +not always personate the same characters. Occasionally +they would change to the old feudal knights, arrayed +in glittering armor. The finest landscapes would +start up from the cold wet hills around, like mirages in +the desert. Panoramas of the most vivid action passed +before me, and the ear joined the eye in the work of +pleasing illusion, for even language was not denied to +my visitants, whose voices were inexpressibly melodious, +and even very sweet music was occasionally heard.</p> + +<p>Not less remarkable was the renewal of strength I +felt. To walk or run was no longer a burden. To say +that I was perfectly refreshed is altogether an inadequate +expression. I seemed to have supernatural +strength, and to be incapable of any weariness or disagreeable +sensation whatever. Even the merciless pelting +of the cold rain was pleasant and delightful! I +was perfectly easy and peaceful in mind, feeling no fear, +though perfectly conscious of my real situation and peril, +and retaining the full force of the resolve to use every +exertion for escape.</p> + +<p>While night and darkness were thus changed into +visions of beauty and joy around me, another faculty +penetrated beyond these highly-colored illusions, and +showed me, though in faint lines, the true face of the +country and of events. Yet I had no hesitation in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +controlling my conduct with respect to the faint rather +than the bright pictures, and was only once, for a few +minutes, deceived, and then by supposing the real to be +fictitious. The error very nearly involved me in a +serious difficulty. At a cross-road, I saw from a distance +what I supposed, at first, to be a group of my +spectral friends standing around a fire, the ruddy blaze +of which rendered them clearly visible. They were +not so beautiful as former figures, but I advanced unsuspectingly +towards them, and would probably have +continued until too late for retreat had not my progress +been arrested by a sound of all others least romantic,—the +squealing of a pig! The men around the fire had +caught the animal, and were killing it preparatory to +roasting it in the fire! This immediately drove away +the seraphs and the angels! I listened, and became +convinced that they were a picket sent out to watch for +just such travellers as myself. Some dogs were with +them, but these were, fortunately, too much absorbed +in the dying agonies of the pig to give attention to me.</p> + +<p>I crawled cautiously away, and made a long circuit +through the fields. A dog from a farm-house made +himself exceedingly annoying by following and barking +after me. I did not apprehend danger from him, +for I had managed to keep my trusty revolver dry all +this time, but I feared he would attract the attention of +the picket.</p> + +<p>When he left me I returned to the road, but came +to three horses hobbled down, which, no doubt, belonged +to the picket behind, and had to make another circuit +to avoid driving them before me. Then I pressed on, +hoping that some good chance, if not providence, might +bring me to the steep banks of the Tennessee. Yet I +was not sanguine, for the country was more open and +level than I expected to find in the vicinity of the +river. Very many miles—possibly a score, or even +more, for my pace was rapid—were passed in this +manner, but at last my visions began to fade. I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +sorry to see them go, for they seemed like a good omen, +and they had been cheerful companions. When the +last form of beauty disappeared the chill horror of my +situation froze into my veins; my strange strength also +passed gradually away. I would find myself staggering +along almost asleep,—would wander a short distance +from the road to a secluded spot, throw myself on the +flooded ground, and be instantly asleep,—then, in a few +moments, awaken, almost drowned by the pitiless rain, +and so weary, cold, and benumbed that I could scarcely +rise and plod onward.</p> + +<p>Thus the latter part of that dreary night wore on. +It seemed an age of horror, and places a shuddering +gulf between my present life and the past. At length +the cold gray dawn of a clouded morning broke through +the weeping sky. Day brought no relief. I had not +yet any guide, and had not stumbled on the Tennessee. +I feared to make inquiries. Every one I saw seemed +a foe. Still, I did not avoid them, or leave the road +for any great distance. Slowly a new plan formed +itself in my mind, for, if the rain and clouds continued, +I despaired of working my way to our lines. What +this plan was will appear in due time. It will be +enough to say here that I did not now think a capture +would be fatal, if once far enough away from the place +where the train was abandoned, to plausibly deny all +knowledge of that raid. I hardly thought it possible +that I could endure another day and night alone in +the woods. To prepare for all emergencies, I carefully +washed all traces of that terrible night from my clothes. +The wet would not matter, for the falling rain accounted +perfectly for that.</p> + +<p>It was Sabbath morning, but it came not to me with +the blessed calmness and peace that accompany it in my +own far-off Ohio. I realized how sweet those Sabbath +hours and Sabbath privileges had been, which I had +never valued before. I saw the people going to church, +and longed to go with them. Of course this was impossible,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +but with the thought came more of a feeling of +worship and of desire for God's protection than I had +ever known before. In that hour I believe His blessed +Spirit was calling me; but I soon turned my mind in +another direction, preferring to plan for my own deliverance, +and to arrange the stories I would tell if arrested, +or if I ventured to any house for food, as would +soon be necessary.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>IN THE ENEMY'S POWER.</h3> + + +<p>But I will dwell no longer on the miseries of this +dreary morning. Its hours went tediously by, marked +by no special incidents till about noon. Just beyond +Lafayette, Georgia, I was observed by some one on the +watch for strangers. A party of pursuit numbering +twenty or thirty was at once organized. I knew nothing +of my danger till they were within fifty yards, +when I heard them calling for me to stop.</p> + +<p>A single glance showed my helplessness. I laid my +hand instinctively on my revolver, but knew that fight +was useless. Neither was flight possible. The country +was open and I was too weary to run, even if some of +the party had not been mounted and others armed with +rifles and shot-guns. It was time to see what could be +made of my plans carefully contrived for just such an +emergency. Therefore, making a virtue of necessity, I +turned round and demanded what they wanted, though +I knew only too well. They said courteously enough +that they wanted to talk with me awhile. Soon they +came up, and a brisk little man who had the epaulets +of a lieutenant, but whom they called "Major," began +to ask questions. He was very bland, and apologized<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +profusely for interrupting me, but said if I was a patriotic +man (as he had no doubt I was) I would willingly +undergo a slight inconvenience for the good of the +Confederacy. I endeavored to emulate his politeness, +begging him to proceed in the performance of his duty, +and assuring him that he would find nothing wrong. +He searched me very closely for papers, and examined +my money and pistol, but found no ground for suspicion.</p> + +<p>He next asked me who I was, where I came from, +and where I was going. I expected all these questions +in about that order, and answered them categorically. +I told him I was a citizen of Kentucky, of Fleming +County, who had become disgusted with the tyranny +of the Lincoln government, and was ready to fight +against it; that I came to Chattanooga, but would not +enlist there because most of the troops were conscripts, +and the few volunteers very poorly armed. I told him +where I had lodged in Chattanooga, and many things +about the troops there, using all the knowledge I had +acquired of that character while riding on the cars to +Marietta the preceding Friday. I had also heard many +words of praise spoken of the First Georgia Regiment, +and now told the major that I wished to join that +noble organization. This flattered his State pride, but +he asked me one question more,—why I had not gone +directly to Corinth, where the First Georgia was, without +coming to Lafayette, which was far out of the way. +The question conveyed much information, as I did not +before know that I was near Lafayette, or out of the +road from Chattanooga to Corinth. I answered as well +as I could by alleging that General Mitchel was said to +be at Huntsville, and that I was making a circuit around +to avoid the danger of falling into his hands.</p> + +<p>This seemed to be perfectly satisfactory to the little +man, and, turning to the attentive crowd, he said,—</p> + +<p>"We may as well let this fellow go on, for he seems +to be all right."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>I was greatly rejoiced at these words, and cast about +in my own mind to see if I could not gain something +more before passing on the way. But my joy was +premature. A dark-complexioned man on horseback, +with his hat drawn over his brows, looked slowly up +and drawled out,—</p> + +<p>"Well, y-e-s! Perhaps we'd as well take him back +to town, and if it's all right, maybe we can help him +on to Corinth."</p> + +<p>This was rather more help than I wanted, but there +was no help for it. Besides, I reasoned that if I could +keep on good terms with this party, I could get information +and aid that would be invaluable towards my +final escape. Nothing could really suit me much better +than actually to be forwarded to Corinth and enlisted +in the First Georgia. I knew the ordeal of questioning +before that course was determined on would be very +trying, but did not despair. If I could only have had +some food and a few hours' rest!</p> + +<p>They conducted me to the largest hotel of the place, +where I was received with much ceremony, but they +neglected to order dinner. I could have had drink +enough, but was too prudent to touch it, even if I had +not always been a teetotaler. Soon all the lawyers +came in,—Lafayette is a county-seat,—and they all had +liberty to question me. For four mortal hours, as I +could see by a clock in the room, I conversed with +them and answered questions. We talked of everything, +and their questions grew more and more pointed. +I answered as well as I could, and never let an opportunity +pass to put in a question in turn, for it was much +easier and less perilous to ask than answer. When I +told them I was from Kentucky, they wished to know +the county. I told them Fleming. They asked after +the county-seat. This also I could give. But when +they asked after adjoining counties I was sorely perplexed. +One of them said it was singular a man could +not bound his own county. I asked how many of them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +could bound the county we then were in. This question +had a double purpose,—to gain time and information. +They mentioned several and fell into a dispute, +to settle which a map had to be produced. I got a +look at it also,—a mere glance, for it was soon out of +reach of my eager gaze; but I had seen much. Then +they requested a narrative of my journey all the way +from Kentucky. This I gave very easily and in great +detail as long as it was on ground not accessible to my +inquisitors. I told the truth as far as that would not +be compromising, and then pieced out with inventions. +The time I had spent on the train and in the woods +were hardest to arrange for. I had to <i>invent</i> families +with whom I had lodged; tell the number of children +and servants at each place, with all kinds of particulars. +I knew not how many of my auditors might be familiar +with the country I was thus fancifully populating, and +was careful not to know too much. I plead forgetfulness +as often as that plea was plausible, but it would not +do to use it too often. I might have refused to answer +any question, but this would have been a tacit admission +of some kind of guilt,—at least as good as a mob +would have required. I might safely use any retorts +and sharpness in conversation,—and I did talk with +perfect freedom,—but I had the feeling that silence +would have brought me in danger of the lash and the +rope. Can the reader conceive of any situation more +critical and perilous: starving and almost fainting from +weariness, in the midst of a growing tavern crowd, +questioned by acute lawyers, and obliged to keep every +faculty on the alert, feeling that an incautious answer +would probably lead to an instant and frightful death, +and compelled under such pressure to tell falsehood +after falsehood in unending succession?</p> + +<p>But I had an increasing hope if my endurance continued +to the end. At supper-time I meant to boldly +demand food, and I felt sure of getting it. Besides, +although they were clear that I was a suspicious character,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +they did not seem in any way to connect me with +the great railroad expedition,—the only identification I +feared. The very fact that I was so far away from the +point where the train was abandoned was in my favor. +Temporary confinement, enlistment in the army, anything +they were likely to do was without terror as long +as I was not connected with the daring adventure +which had culminated the day before. They were +somewhat perplexed by the assurance with which I +spoke, and held numerous private consultations, only +agreeing that the case needed further investigation.</p> + +<p>Matters were in this position when a man, riding a +horse covered with foam, dashed up to the door. He +came from Ringgold and brought the news—of deeper +interest to me than to any one else—that several of the +bridge-burners had been taken near the place where +they abandoned the train. When first apprehended +they claimed to be <span class="smcap">citizens of Kentucky, from +Fleming County</span>; but on finding that this did not +procure their release, they confessed being Ohio soldiers, +sent by General Mitchel to burn the bridges on the +Georgia State Railroad!</p> + +<p>I have no reason to believe that any of those who +were captured described their companions, or gave any +information leading intentionally to their discovery. +This was not needed. The unfortunate telling of the +same fictitious story and the subsequent revelation of +their true character on the part of some of the number +who were captured close to the abandoned train, unmasked +the others as well. After the first captures, +which were made Saturday afternoon, whenever a fugitive +was arrested who hailed from <i>Fleming County, +Kentucky</i>, and was not able to prove his innocence, he +was at once set down as a member of the railroad +party.</p> + +<p>The message from Ringgold ended all uncertainty in +my own case. I was at once conducted, under strict +guard, to the county jail.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + +<p>The little major was my escort. He took advantage +of his position to purloin my money, and then turned +me over to the county jailer. That personage took my +penknife and other little articles of property, then led +me up-stairs, unfastened a door to the right, which led +into a large room with barred windows, and having a +cage, made of crossing iron bars, in the centre. He +unlocked the small but heavy iron door of the cage +and bade me enter. For the first time in my life I was +to be locked in jail! My reflections could not have +been more gloomy if the celebrated inscription had +been written over the cage that Dante placed above the +gate of hell, "All hope abandon, ye who enter here."</p> + +<p>There did seem absolutely no hope for me. I was +there as a criminal, and I knew that life was held too +cheaply in the South for my captors to be fastidious +about disposing of an unknown stranger. I had heard +the message from Ringgold, and at once comprehended +its bearing against me. Nothing save a confession of +my true character as a soldier and my real business in +the South would be credited. The probability was that +even this would only make my doom the more speedy.</p> + +<p>In that hour my most distressing thoughts were of +the friends at home, and especially of my mother,—thinking +what would be their sorrow when they heard +of my ignominious fate,—if, indeed, they ever heard, +for I had given "John Thompson" instead of my own +name. That all my young hopes and ambitions, my +fond dreams of being useful, should perish, as I then +had no doubt they would, on a Southern scaffold, +seemed utterly unbearable. But one moment only did +these thoughts sweep over me; the next they were rejected +by a strong effort of the will as worse than useless, +and were followed by a sense of unutterable +relief, for I could now rest. I had found a refuge even +in prison, and needed no longer to keep every failing +faculty at the utmost tension. The sweetness of rest +for the moment overcame every other feeling save<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +hunger, and that, too, was soon satisfied. The jailer +brought some coarse food, which was devoured with +exceeding relish. There was another prisoner in the +same cage,—probably a detective, put in for the purpose +of gaining my confidence and leading me to a confession. +His first step was to plead ill health as an +excuse for not eating his share of the prison food. I +excused him, and ate his allowance as well as my own +without difficulty.</p> + +<p>He then wished to talk, and asked me some questions, +but I was in no mood for further conversation. +Being cold I borrowed his prison blankets, of which he +had a plentiful supply, and, wrapping myself up in +them, soon sank into a deep sleep—profound and +dreamless—such as only extreme fatigue can produce. +The quaint advice contained in the last words of my +companion, however, lingered in my memory. Said +he,—</p> + +<p>"If you are innocent of the charge they make against +you, there is no hope for you. You are much worse +off than if you are guilty, for they will hang you on +suspicion, while, if you are a soldier, you can tell what +regiment you belong to, and claim protection as a +United States prisoner of war."</p> + +<p>My sleep lasted until long after dawn of the next +morning. This repose, with the breakfast which followed, +completely restored my strength, and with the +elasticity of youth I began to revolve my situation and +plan for the future. I was not long left in loneliness. +The people of the village and surrounding country +came in throngs to see a man who was supposed to belong +to the daring band of engine thieves,—one of the +most common names by which our party was recognized +during our imprisonment. They were very free +in their criticisms of my appearance, and some were very +insulting in their remarks. But I would not allow myself +to be drawn into conversation with them, for I had +a momentous question to decide in my own mind.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> + +<p>The more I thought of the advice of my fellow-prisoner +the more weighty did it appear. I did not +value it because it was his opinion, but because it +seemed reasonable. I also longed to assume my true +name once more and my position as a soldier. The +thought of perishing obscurely and in disguise was +most revolting. Besides, I felt that a soldier had more +chances of life than a suspected wanderer. Our government +might put forth energetic efforts to save those +who were in such deadly peril. I remembered, with +increasing hope, that the Federals, at this very time, +held a number of rebel prisoners in Missouri, who had +been captured while disguised in Federal uniform inside +of our lines, engaged in an attempt very similar to +our own,—the burning of some railroad bridges. Why +might not these be held as hostages to assure our safety, +or even exchanged for us? To entitle me to any help +from our government I must be William Pittenger, of +the Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and not John +Thompson, of Kentucky. My mind was soon made +up,—the more readily that I heard my citizen visitors +talking about the capture of several others of our +party, who had all admitted that they were United +States soldiers. They were influenced, no doubt, by +the same course of reasoning that I have indicated. I +believe this decision ultimately saved my life.</p> + +<p>But there was room for choice as to the manner of +making my confession. I told the jailer that I had an +important communication for the authorities, and he reported +the matter to some person of influence, who summoned +a vigilance committee, and ordered me before it.</p> + +<p>I found them prepared to renew the examination of +the previous day. They had the same lawyers in waiting, +and, indeed, all the principal men of the town. +When their preliminaries were over, they asked the +nature of the communication I wished to make, and +hoped that I could throw some light on the mysterious +capture of the railroad train. I said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, the statements I made yesterday were +intended to deceive." ("So we suspected," said one +of the lawyers, <i>sotto voce</i>.) "I will now tell you the +truth."</p> + +<p>The clerk got his pen ready to take down the information, +and the roomful of people assumed an attitude +of deepest attention.</p> + +<p>"Go on, sir; go on," said the president.</p> + +<p>"I am ready," said I, "to give my true name, and +the division and regiment of the United States army +to which I belong, and to tell why I came so far into +your country."</p> + +<p>"Just what we want to know, sir. Go on," said +they.</p> + +<p>"But," I returned, "I will make no statement whatever +until taken before the regular military authority +of this department."</p> + +<p>Their disappointment and surprise at this announcement +were almost amusing. Curiosity was raised to +the highest pitch, and did not like to postpone its gratification. +They employed every threat and argument +in their power to make me change my decision,—some +of them saying that I should be hanged to the nearest +tree if I did not. But I knew my ground. I told +them that though an enemy I was a soldier, possessed +of important military information, and, if they were +loyal to their cause, it was their duty to take me at +once before, some regular military authority. The leading +men admitted the justice of this view, and when +they found that I would reveal nothing there, they +made arrangements to take me to Chattanooga. This +was distant about twenty miles from Lafayette. Ringgold, +near which we abandoned the train, was about the +same distance to the east. In that long and terrible +night of wandering I had travelled twenty miles in a +straight line, and, with my meanderings, must have +walked more than fifty.</p> + +<p>My reason for postponing my confession until reaching<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +Chattanooga was that I wanted to get out of the +hands of the mob as soon as possible. There was no +body of soldiers or responsible authority in Lafayette. +If I had perished there no one, in any contingency, +could have been called to account for it. Where a department +commander was stationed I would have to +reckon with him alone, which was far preferable, and +I counted on the curiosity of the mob to preserve me +as long as my secret was not revealed.</p> + +<p>I was remanded to the jail to wait for the preparation +of a suitable escort. After dinner about a dozen +men entered my room, and guarded me out to the +public square. There a carriage was waiting, in which +I was placed, and then commenced the complicated +process of tying and chaining.</p> + +<p>By this time a great mob had gathered, completely +filling the square, and in the most angry and excited +condition. Some persons questioned me in loud and +imperious tones, demanding why I came down there to +fight them, and adding every possible word of insult. +I heard many significant hints about getting ropes, and +the folly of taking me to Chattanooga when I could be +hanged just as well there.</p> + +<p>For a little time I made no answer to any question, +and paid as little attention as possible to what was said. +But the tumult increased, and the mob grew so violent +in its denunciations that I feared a passive policy would +no longer serve. Though I was being very effectually +bound, my tongue was still at liberty. I had no experience +in managing mobs, but I felt, by a kind of +instinct, that mobs and dogs are very similar,—neither +likes to attack a person who quietly and good-humoredly +faces them. I had proved this with savage dogs +several times for mere sport, but this was a more serious +matter. I was not much in the humor of talking, +but it was better to be led by policy than by inclination. +Selecting, therefore, some of the nearest persons, +I spoke to them. They answered with curses, but in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +the very act of cursing they grew milder and more +willing to converse. I answered their innuendoes cheerfully, +jesting, whenever opportunity offered, about the +manner I was being secured, the bracelets they were +giving me, the care they had for a "Yankee," as they +persisted in calling me, and tried to look and speak as +if the whole matter were a mere comedy. I soon got +some of the laughers on my side, and before long had +the satisfaction of hearing one man say, regretfully, +"Pity he is a Yankee, for he seems to be a good fellow," +and another agree to the sentiment. Yet I was +not sorry to hear the driver announce that we were +now ready to start.</p> + +<p>The manner in which I was tied indicated that my +captors intended to "make assurance doubly sure, and +take a bond of fate." One end of a heavy chain was +put around my neck, and fastened there with a padlock; +the other end was passed behind the carriage-seat, +and hitched to my foot in the same manner, the +chain being extended to its full length while I was in +a sitting position, thus rendering it impossible for me +to rise. My hands were tied together, my elbows were +pinioned to my sides by ropes, and, to crown all, I was +firmly bound to the carriage-seat, while two horsemen, +armed with pistols and carbines, followed the carriage +at a short distance, and my evil genius, the little major, +took the seat beside me, likewise armed to the teeth. I +ought to have felt secure, but did not. The same exaggerated +caution was often noticed afterwards.</p> + +<p>As we left Lafayette behind, the sky, which had +been clouded for days, suddenly cleared. The sun +shone in beauty, and smiled on the first faint dawnings +of spring that lay in tender green on the surrounding +hills. What would I not have given for such a day +forty-eight hours earlier! But even then it was very +welcome, and my spirit grew more light as I breathed +the fresh air and listened to the singing of the birds.</p> + +<p>My companions were quite talkative, and I responded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +as well as I could. They even tried to make me think +that the extraordinary manner in which I was tied and +guarded—with which I reproached them—was a compliment, +showing that they had formed a high opinion +of my daring character! Their conversation was pleasant +and courteous enough, except that when they passed +houses they would cry out, "We've got a live Yankee +here!" Then men, women, and children would rush +to the door, staring as if they saw some great monster, +and asking,—</p> + +<p>"Whar did you ketch him? Goin' to hang him +when you get him to Chattanooga?" and similar expressions +without number.</p> + +<p>I cared little for this at first, but its perpetual recurrence +was not without its effect in making me think +that they really would hang me. In fact, my prospects +were far from encouraging; yet I considered it +my duty to keep up my spirits and hold despair at +arm's length while any possible ground for hope remained. +The afternoon wore slowly away as we journeyed +amid grand and romantic scenery that in any +other circumstances would have been enthusiastically +enjoyed. But now my thoughts were otherwise engaged.</p> + +<p>I was not so much afraid of death in itself as of the +manner in which it was likely to come. Death amid +the smoke and excitement and glory of battle never had +seemed half so terrible as it now did when it stood, an +awful spectre, beside the gallows! And even sadder +it was to think of friends who would count the weary +months, waiting and longing for my return, till hope +became torturing suspense, and suspense deepened into +despair. These and kindred thoughts were almost too +much for my fortitude; yet, setting my teeth hard, I +resolved to endure patiently to the end.</p> + +<p>The sun went down, and night came on,—deep, +calm, and clear. One by one the stars twinkled into +light. I gazed upon their beauty with new feelings,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +as I wondered whether a few more suns might not set +me free from the short story of earthly things and make +me a dweller beyond the sky. A spirit of prayer +and the faint beginnings of trust stirred within me. +Hitherto I had been looking at passing events alone, +and refusing to contemplate the great new experiences +death would open. But now my thoughts took a new +direction. God was helping me, and inclining my +heart upward. I was to pass through many more terrible +scenes and taste bitter sorrows before I could recognize +His voice and fully repose on His love. I was +not then a member of church nor a professor of religion. +I believed the doctrines of Christianity, and +purposed some day to give them practical attention. It +had been easy to postpone this purpose, and, latterly, +the confusion and bustle of camp-life had almost driven +the subject out of my mind. But now God appeared +very near, and, even amid foes and dangers, I seemed +to have hold of some hand, firm but kind, beyond the +reach of vision. What influence was most powerful in +turning my thoughts upward I cannot tell,—whether +it was the familiar outlines of the grand constellations, +the quiet and stillness all around, so congenial to exhausted +nature after the excitement of the last few days, +or a yet more direct message from the Highest,—I +only know that the memory of that evening, when I +was carried, chained, down the long hill to the valley +in which Chattanooga lies, there to meet an unknown +fate, is one of the sweetest of my life. My babbling +guards had subsided into silence, and, as we wended +along through the gathering darkness, high and noble +thoughts of the destiny of man filled my breast, and +death appeared only a mere incident of existence,—the +gate out of one department of being into another. I +was nerved for any fate.</p> + +<p>It may be thought strange that in these moments of +reflection and spiritual yearning I had no feeling of remorse +for any of the deceptions of which I had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +guilty. But I had not. It did not even occur to me +to consider them as sins at all. If necessary or expedient +I would then have added to them the sanction +of an oath with equal recklessness. Some sophistry—felt +rather than reasoned out—about the lawfulness of +deceiving or injuring public enemies or rebels in any +possible way—a conviction that they had forfeited +everything, even their right to be told truth—must +have controlled me. Before starting on this expedition +I had placed the highest value on truth, and would +have regarded a wilful lie with scorn and loathing. +But I accepted deception as one of the incidents of the +enterprise, and all sense of its wrongfulness passed +away, and did not return until long afterwards.</p> + +<p>We arrived at Chattanooga while a feeble glow of +the soft spring twilight lingered in the air. The headquarters +of General Leadbetter, then district commander, +was in one of the principal hotels of the town, +and we at once drove there. I was left in the carriage +while the major ascended to inform him of the arrival.</p> + +<p>The town had already been informed. The curiosity +to see one of the men who had captured the train and +frightened the women and children of Chattanooga +into the woods only two days before was intense, and a +very large crowd soon assembled. They behaved as +such assemblages usually did, jeering and hooting, and +calling me by every epithet of reproach the language +afforded,—wanting to know why I came down there to +burn their property and murder them and their children +as well as free their negroes. To these multitudinous +questions and assertions I made no answer. I was +much amused (afterward!) by their criticisms of my +appearance. One would say that "it was a pity so +young and clever-looking a man should be caught in +such a scrape." Another, of more penetrating cast, +"could tell that he was a rogue by his looks,—probably +came out of prison in his own country." Another was +surprised that I could hold up my head and look around<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +on honest men, arguing that such brazen effrontery in +one so young was a proof of enormous depravity of +heart. I gave no opinion on the subject. Indeed, I +was not asked.</p> + +<p>There was one man I noticed in particular. He was +tall and venerable-looking; had gray hair, gray beard, +a magnificent forehead, and, altogether, a commanding +and intellectual expression. He was treated with +marked deference by the throng, and as they parted +and allowed him to come up to my carriage, the thought +arose, "Surely I will receive some sympathy from that +kind and noble-looking man."</p> + +<p>His first question confirmed my hope. Said he,—</p> + +<p>"How old are you?"</p> + +<p>I answered, "Twenty-two, sir."</p> + +<p>Gradually his lip wreathed itself into a curl of unutterable +scorn, and, gazing steadily on me, he slowly +uttered,—</p> + +<p>"Poor young fool! And I suppose you were a +school-teacher or something of that kind in your own +land! And you thought you would come down here +and rob us, and burn our houses, and murder us, did +you? Now let me give you a little advice: if you ever +get home again, (but you never will!) do try, for God's +sake, and have a little better sense and stay there." +Then he turned contemptuously on his heel and strode +away. The rabble rewarded him with a cheer. I +could never find out who he was; but after that I +looked for no more sympathy in that crowd.</p> + +<p>My conductor now returned and escorted me into the +presence of General Leadbetter. I was glad of the +change, though there was little about this man to inspire +confidence. They said he was from the North +originally,—a native of Maine, I believe. His habits +were so intemperate that a Confederate captain afterwards +informed me that he always lived in one of two +states,—either dead drunk or gentlemanly drunk. His +record was, even this early in the war, of a very ill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +character, for he had been the principal agent in hanging +a considerable number of East Tennessee Union +men under circumstances of great barbarity. To this, +it was said, he owed his present position. Such was +the man in whose hands my fate now rested.</p> + +<p>All the facts concerning him I learned afterwards, +except one that was apparent when I entered the room. +He was considerably under the influence of liquor, +though not to an extent which interfered with the +transaction of business. He began to question me, and +without any regard for truth I gave him the story that +I supposed would be best for my own interest. I told +him I was a United States soldier, giving my name, +company, and regiment correctly; but told him I was +sent on this expedition without my previous consent, +and was ignorant of where I was going or what I was +to do, which I only learned as fast as it was to be executed. +He next inquired who was our engineer, but +I refused to tell. I afterwards found that they were +exceedingly anxious to discover the name of the person +who ran our train, imagining him to be some official +connected with the Georgia State Railroad. He then +asked after the purpose of the expedition. I pleaded +ignorance as far as any positive information went; but +as this did not satisfy him, I gave him my inferences. +There was no betrayal of Union interests in this, for +all I told him was what any thoughtful person, map +in hand, would have supposed,—the destruction of +bridges and the capture of Chattanooga and the occupation +of East Tennessee. He was very attentive, and +said,—</p> + +<p>"But has Mitchel men enough for all that? My +spies report that he has not more than ten thousand +infantry and three regiments of cavalry."</p> + +<p>This was so near the truth that I did not wish to +confirm it. So I took another departure from accuracy, +and said,—</p> + +<p>"That must refer only to his advance-guard, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +leaves out of account that part of his command which +has not yet left Nashville."</p> + +<p>"What!" he returned, "is there a reserve army?"</p> + +<p>I assured him there was, and that with the regiments +on their way from the West and Northwest, sixty or +seventy thousand men would be at Nashville for +Mitchel's disposal in three or four weeks!</p> + +<p>Leadbetter then asked, "What do you soldiers think +is going to be done with such a large army?"</p> + +<p>"We are confident," I answered, "that Chattanooga +will first be captured, then Atlanta, and afterwards +Mitchel may probably strike for some point on the +coast, so as to cut the Confederacy in halves."</p> + +<p>The general rubbed his forehead for a moment, then +exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"It's a grand plan. They can do it if they have +men enough. But I had no idea that Mitchel had +such backing."</p> + +<p>How I did wish that he had! but I knew better.</p> + +<p>Then wheeling his chair directly in front, and fixing +his eye steadily on me, he continued,—</p> + +<p>"I am much obliged to you for this information. +Now, sir, I want you to tell me just how many men +you had on that train, and to describe each one so that +I may know them when I get hold of them."</p> + +<p>This was too much! I answered, "General, I have +freely told you whatever concerns only myself, because +I thought you ought to know that I am a soldier under +the protection of the United States government. But +I am not base enough to describe my comrades."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" sneered he, "I don't know that I ought to +have asked you that."</p> + +<p>"I think not, sir," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Well," retorted he, "you need not be so particular. +I know all about it. Your leader's name is Andrews. +What kind of a man is he?"</p> + +<p>I was thunderstruck! How should he have Andrews' +name, and know him to be our leader? I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +never imagined what I afterwards found to be the true +cause,—that Andrews had been captured, with documents +in his possession which implicated him so completely +that he acknowledged his name and the fact +of his leadership. I had every confidence that <i>he</i>, at +least, would escape and devise some means for our relief. +So I answered boldly,—</p> + +<p>"I can tell you only one thing about him, and that +is, he is a man you will never catch."</p> + +<p>As I said this I thought I noticed a peculiar smile +on the general's face, but he only replied,—</p> + +<p>"That will do for you;" and turning to a captain +who stood by, continued: "Take him to the hole,—you +know where that is."</p> + +<p>With a military salute, the captain took me out of +the room. There was an explanation of the general's +smile! Before the door, heavily ironed, stood Andrews, +waiting for an audience, and with him Marion +Ross and John Wollam. I did not think it prudent +to recognize them, nor they to recognize me, so we +passed each other as strangers.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>OTHER CAPTURES.</h3> + + +<p>As all the members of our party were ultimately assembled +at Chattanooga, so that from that time our +stories flow together, it is now well to bring the separated +threads of narration down to that point. One +of the shortest and most lamentable was that of Jacob +Parrot and Samuel Robinson, both of the Thirty-third +Ohio Regiment. When they left the train in company +they reached the woods, but on the wrong side of the +road. After being concealed for a short time they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +came back to the railroad, but in attempting to cross +it were observed by four citizens and captured. They +were immediately conducted to Ringgold, where a company +of Confederate soldiers was stationed. A course +of questioning here began, but Parrot refused to tell +anything. He was but little over eighteen years of +age, very boyish-looking, and entirely destitute of education. +So they seem to have thought him a favorable +subject for receiving the treatment applied to those fugitive +slaves who hesitate in answering questions. He +was taken out of the room by an officer and four men, +who stripped him and, holding him down over a large +stone, administered over one hundred lashes on his +bare back, leaving scars which the writer has often +seen, and which he will carry to his grave. Three +times the whipping was suspended, the poor boy let up +and asked if he was ready to confess, and on his refusal +he was thrown down again, and the torture continued. +They wished to force from him the name of the engineer +and the particulars of the expedition. But all +their efforts were in vain. The crowd procured a rope +and were about to hang him, but an officer of higher +rank came up and prevented this final barbarity.</p> + +<p>The wonderful fortitude of the poor boy was of no +avail. He and his comrade were caught so near the +place where they left the disabled engine, and they +were so utterly unable to give any account of the manner +in which they came to be there, that both would +no doubt have perished if Robinson had not—after +first trying the Fleming County, Kentucky, story, and +being falsely informed that Parrot had confessed everything—finally +given his name and regiment, with the +general outline of the expedition. After this confession +they were imprisoned for a time in Ringgold, and +afterwards brought to Chattanooga.</p> + +<p>D. A. Dorsey furnishes me an account of his adventures, +which were in some respects peculiar. My own +special friend, George D. Wilson, was with him, as well<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +as William Bensinger and Robert Buffum. I use Dorsey's +own graphic language,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"We fled from our broken down iron-horse in a northeasterly +direction towards the adjacent hills. These were sparsely studded +with timber, but almost entirely destitute of undergrowth, and, of +course, afforded but little opportunity to hide from our pursuers. +The latter were following upon our trail, well armed and very +numerous. Here occurred the first of many an amusing scene, +such as often light up the most horrible situation. Buffum had +worn a peculiar long gray coat, reaching nearly to his feet, of +which he had been very proud. Now he found it a sore impediment +to his precipitate flight, and unbuttoning it, ran right +out of it, leaving it spread out on the old dry weeds behind him,—not +even stopping to get the bottle out of the pocket, in which +he and I had been deeply interested for the past twenty-four +hours.</p> + +<p>"On we went, or rather flew, until we had distanced our pursuers, +and found ourselves in a denser forest. It was very cloudy. +The sun was completely hidden, and we could not tell which was +north, south, east, or west. We wandered on until near midnight, +when we came to a log hut in a small opening, surrounded +by a dilapidated rail-fence. The light of a blazing fire shone +through the cracks in the wall, and we walked to the door and +knocked repeatedly. Getting no answer, Wilson pulled the +latch-string and walked in. There a tall Georgian lay stretched +at full length on the floor, with his bare feet to the fire, almost +undressed, and suffering all the agonies of colic. Over him bent +his better half, busily engaged in administering hot ash poultices. +Of course, under such circumstances, our application for food +availed nothing, and we were obliged to plod on through the darkness, +mud, and rain. Before morning we came to another cabin, +which we did not enter, but borrowed a pail of milk from the +porch, and taking it to the woods, speedily devoured it. Then +we wandered on, hoping for clear sky, but the clouds were unbroken, +and our wandering at random continued all the morning.</p> + +<p>"About ten o'clock, in the forenoon, we saw some persons on +horseback, who were evidently hunting for us. We managed to +elude them, and getting back to ground they had passed over, +concealed ourselves by lying down. Several other parties were +seen, but by shifting our position we avoided them for some +hours. The increasing number of our pursuers, however, convinced +us that we were in the most deadly peril.</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"'Oh, ye woods, spread your branches apace!<br /> +To your deepest recesses I fly;<br /> +I would hide with the beasts of the chase,<br /> +I would vanish from every eye.<br /> +<br /> +"'And hark! and hark! the deep-mouthed bark<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span><br /> +Comes nigher still and nigher.<br /> +Burst on the path a dark blood-hound,<br /> +His tawny muzzle tracked the ground,<br /> +And his red eye shot fire.'<br /> +</div> + +<p>"These words of the poet were fully echoed by my feelings. +The much-dreaded blood-hound was upon our trail. We discovered +three of them descending a hill over which we had recently +passed, right on our track, and four men behind them. +As soon as the latter discovered us, one of their number hallooed, +and was answered by shouts in every direction. This demonstrated +that we were surrounded. We advanced and boldly met +the first four, and endeavored to deceive them as to our real +character. Our denials of being the men who captured the train +the day before were all to no purpose. Soon we were surrounded +by at least fifty men, armed with shot-guns, rifles, and pistols. +One man carried a long rope. To say they were furious would +be a mild description. They demanded, in all kinds of profane +and vindictive language, our immediate surrender. We were +separated into two squads. Buffum and Bensinger stood together, +and did what they could to prove that they were victims of a +case of mistaken identity, Wilson and I were a few yards distant, +and, as he was the better talker, I left it all to him. He protested +that we were not the men they wanted, but citizens of +Virginia hunting for fugitive slaves. He told a very nice and +plausible story,—I thought it ought to have convinced any reasonable +man,—but it was in vain."</p></blockquote> + +<p>[This was the only case, except one, so far as I know, +where the Kentucky story was varied from, and even +then Buffum and Bensinger were using it. Had Wilson +and Dorsey been alone they might have succeeded +better. Dorsey continues:]</p> + +<blockquote><p>"We had to surrender or fight. The latter course would have +been madness. We handed over our revolvers and pocket-knives +on demand, and then commenced the most terrible threats of +vengeance. A young blood, who appeared not more than sixteen, +put a pistol at Wilson's head, and would, no doubt, have +shot him had he not been prevented by one they called 'major.' +A rough fellow they called 'Black Billy' presented a double-barreled +shot-gun to my breast, swore he had sixteen buckshot in +each barrel, and unless I made a 'clean breast' of it he would +blow them all through me. This roused my indignation, and +considering my life worth nothing if I confessed, while a confession +might implicate others, I said, 'Gentlemen, we have surrendered, +and you have our arms. We are in your power. If +you want to shoot, just shoot!'</p></blockquote> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 458px;"> +<a href="images/i171-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i171.jpg" width="458" height="535" alt="LIEUTENANT D. A. DORSEY. +(One of the Adventurers.) +Page 156." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">LIEUTENANT D. A. DORSEY.<br /> +(One of the Adventurers.)<br /> +Page 156.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> +<blockquote><p>"Throwing my breast forward, in full expectation of receiving +the shot, I was surprised to see him drop the butt of his gun to +the ground and make arrangements for tying our hands. Having +thus secured us, they conducted us to a house about a mile +away, and gave us a pretty good dinner.</p> + +<p>"Here we learned that a reward of one hundred dollars had +been offered for each of the 'engine thieves.' We also learned +that we were only nine miles from Ringgold, which convinced us +that much of our travelling the night before must have been on +the <i>back track</i>. We were certainly not as far from Ringgold when +captured as we had been when the previous night set in.</p> + +<p>"After dinner we were taken to Ringgold on foot, and <i>put into +jail</i>,—the first one into which I had ever set my foot. It was +Sunday, April 13, 1862. This same evening we were all removed +by rail to Marietta, Georgia, where we arrived about +midnight, and were there placed in a literal dungeon of the +worst character,—dark, dreary, damp, and swarming with rats +and smaller vermin. From this point we had started northward +for the capture of the train two days before with high hopes. +What adventures since that time!</p> + +<p>"We hoped when day dawned that there would be some light +in this filthy hole, but we were disappointed, for, although we +could distinguish the difference between day and night, yet not +enough light entered this dismal place to enable us to recognize +our most intimate friend!</p> + +<p>"A heavy guard of six hundred cadets was placed around us +for the purpose of keeping down the mob. We were told that a +whole company of rebel soldiers had left camp at Big Shanty to +come to Marietta to lynch us, but were overtaken by their officers +when about half-way to Marietta and dissuaded from so +rash an act, the officers arguing that we were soldiers, and it +would not do for them to thus violate the rules of war, and also +assuring them that we would be properly dealt with, and, in due +time, executed. They thus succeeded in turning them back to +camp.</p> + +<p>"We remained here a whole day and two nights. On Tuesday +we heard a strange noise,—a horrible clanking and rattling +of chains, while a footstep was heard mounting the outside staircase, +which was the only one. Into the hall the jailer came (for +it was he), and, opening the trap-door, ran a ladder down into +our dungeon. Then he called Wilson up into the hall, and put +one end of a new trace-chain round his neck, and locked it with +a padlock, while he also placed a pair of handcuffs on his hands. +I was then called, the other end of the trace-chain put around my +neck, and my hands secured in the same manner. We were thus +coupled together by the neck, as well as handcuffed. Bensinger +and Buffum were used in the same way. Then Hawkins and Porter, +of whose presence we had no previous knowledge, were called +out, chained and ironed in the same manner. We were then +conducted to a box-car, which had in it some bales of cotton, +and started northward.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +The sergeant in charge of us stopped the +party at Dalton, and awaited the arrival of the officer in command, +who was to come on the next train. It was night, and, +although our guard was as kind as they well could be under the +circumstances, they had no means of feeding us. A mob surrounded +the depot and threatened to hang us, but the guards +managed, not without serious difficulty, to keep them off. Here +we had a most grateful surprise,—one of the few really pleasant +incidents which mitigated the horrors of our experience. A few +Dalton ladies, with their servants, came into the waiting-room, +and supplied us with a first-class supper. We relished it hugely, +for we had been altogether without dinner, and our breakfast was +of the scantiest character. This was the first meal we had ever +eaten with chains and irons upon us, and, as the reader may +judge, we felt and acted very awkwardly with these useless +appendages. The ladies who had been so bountiful, requested +some of our party to stand up that they might have a good look +at them. They complied, in pairs at a time, and, when the other +four had passed inspection and resumed their seats, their little +servant-boy came with the same request to Wilson and myself. +Wilson very politely declined, instructing the boy to 'tell the +ladies that we are not here on exhibition, but, if they will come +over this way, we will be glad to see and talk with them.' The +offer was accepted, and two, a matron and young lady, apparently +mother and daughter, came to our side of the room, and we +had a conversation long to be remembered. They sympathized +with us, and wept freely. With us the wound was too deep for +tears. The ladies returned to the other part of the room when +the conversation was ended, but took seats, and remained until +the expected train arrived and we started for Chattanooga. All +this time the mob was howling and cursing and threatening outside, +and we flatter ourselves that the ladies stayed to exert a restraining +influence, and hinder them from proceeding to extremities. +Before we left, the younger lady referred to sent the little +boy to me <i>with a pink rose</i>, with one row of leaves around it, and +her name.</p> + +<p>"The presentation of that rose seemed to exasperate those of +the mob who saw it, and I am free to confess that I regretted +the action, for at one time it seemed as if they would break in +and seize us. But the firmness of the sergeant kept them back. +I regret that I was so unchivalrous as to soon forget the name +given, but in our circumstances who would try to remember a +name, even that of a beautiful lady? The only encouragement +as to our prospects we had yet received was that our fate would +be a warning to our comrades in arms, none of whom would +venture to engage in such another foolhardy expedition. The +flower served more to recall home and friends than to awaken +hope of any availing friendship and help in that part of the +country. It was twisted round and round between my closely-cuffed +hands—for the cuffs I wore had no connecting links, and +fitted very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +tight—until one by one the leaves all fell off, and +when the last was gone I got Wilson to put the stem in my +pocket, and kept it a long time.</p> + +<p>"We arrived at Chattanooga next morning. There was again +the inevitable crowd to welcome us. 'Will those hounds hunt?' +bawled out a coarse-voiced individual, as they led us by our neck-chains +through the crowded street.</p> + +<p>"The landlord of the hotel to which we were taken to await +orders was a Union man, whom I have met since under very +different circumstances. At his own expense, and on his own +responsibility, he ordered his servants to bring us a good breakfast. +We had by this time got on good terms with the clever +guards who brought us from Marietta, and parted from them +with real regret. They requested to have our names written in +the little diaries many of them carried. Putting the book in +one cuffed hand and the pencil in the other, they were amazed +to see how well we could write under such circumstances.</p> + +<p>"The next scene in our strange history was a terrible contrast +to the peaceful occupation of eating a good breakfast and writing +our names in diaries. We were marched to what our new conductor +called 'the hole.' From the upper room of a prison a +ladder was put down through a trap-door, and we were ordered to +descend into what I can only call <i>hell</i>, for it was that to us. The +ladder drawn up, the trap-door again fallen, and now in the murky +gloom came whispered recognitions from our comrades, the warm +clasp of friendly but ironed hands. Andrews and all his men +except two—Mark Wood and Alfred Wilson—were now gathered +together."</p></blockquote> + +<p>It will be remembered that J. E. Porter and M. J. +Hawkins were not on the captured train at all, but +joined Dorsey and his comrades at Marietta. We +abridge the account of their mishaps given by Porter:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Through some mistake or negligence of the hotel waiter we +were not called in time for the train" (on the morning of the +capture), "though we got to the depot in time to see it pass out +of sight. I cannot describe my feelings at that moment.... +We could hardly make up our minds how to meet the emergency.</p> + +<p>"Then we leisurely strolled about the town, expecting every +moment to hear of the capture of the train. Nor did we have +to wait long, for the news soon reached town that a train had +been captured at Big Shanty while the passengers and crew were +at breakfast, and that it was done so quickly and easily that they +could not imagine who did the deed or what it meant. Soon +everything was wild with excitement and the town was thronged +with excited rebels, waiting to hear further developments.... +Hawkins and I concluded to 'skip out' for a time. +After reaching a piece of woods<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +we came together and congratulated ourselves +on our success thus far, but what to do next we hardly +knew.... After much hesitation we determined to go to Big +Shanty, or Camp McDonald, as it was a rebel camp of instruction, +and join the rebel army."</p></blockquote> + +<p>This was to put their heads into the lion's mouth. +Their best course would have been to have leisurely +worked their way southward instead of going where +the excitement was highest. But it is always easy to +be wise after the event.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"We came in sight of the camp late in the day, and marched +into camp and reported at headquarters. Here we found several +rebel officers, one of whom, who bore the marks of a colonel, +turned his attention to us. After a short interview, which +seemed plausible to him, he ordered us to report to the commanding +officer of the Ninth Georgia Battalion for enlistment. +One of the companies not being full was called into line, and took +a vote whether or not we should be received into the company. +The vote was unanimous in our favor, and we, after giving fictitious +names, were assigned to a certain mess for our suppers. +After supper we made the acquaintance of several of our new +messmates, relating dismal stories of our treatment by the +'Yankee' hirelings in Kentucky, which made a good impression +on our comrades as to our loyalty to the Confederacy.</p> + +<p>"Everything went right with us until in some manner it leaked +out among the rebels that the Yankee raiders, by mistake or accident, +had left two of their party at Marietta. How this information +got out I never learned, but it could not be otherwise +than that some of our party had indiscreetly told more than he +ought when captured. Who the man was we never learned."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Then followed the usual questionings, ending in the +acknowledgment by these two of their share in the enterprise +and their position as soldiers. It is not necessary +to suppose, as Porter does, that one of the two +captured on Saturday—it could have been no others, +for Porter and Hawkins themselves were arrested Sunday +morning—gave information of two of our number +being left behind. Porter and Hawkins told the same +Kentucky story,—even enlarged upon it to their rebel +messmates, and this was enough to direct suspicion towards +them. Then when examined separately by the +rebels it was impossible that they could avoid becoming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +entangled in their stories. After examination these +two were committed to the Marietta jail, where they +met Dorsey and his comrades, as narrated above.</p> + +<p>The last one of these narratives that our space will +permit us to insert is the most eventful of all. Alfred +Wilson and Mark Wood were the last of the whole +party to be captured. The story is told in the most +graphic manner by Wilson in his published account of +the expedition. I would gladly give it in his own +words but for its great length, and for the further fact +that he gives literally many of his conversations with +the rebels, in which both parties indulge in no small +amount of profanity.</p> + +<p>As Wilson ran from the abandoned engine, of which +he had been the fireman, he heard his name called, and, +halting a moment, was joined by Wood, the only native +Englishman of the party, and from that time the two +became inseparable companions. They gained an open +field on a long slope in front of them, but did not feel +safe in trying to cross it, especially as they were out of +breath and the enemy not far away. They fortunately +saw where a tree had been cut down, probably the preceding +summer, and the brush lay scattered around +with the dead leaves still clinging to it. Wilson +adroitly covered Wood with some of the brush, making +the heap so that it would not attract attention, and +then crawled under beside him. There they waited +with revolvers drawn, expecting to be discovered, and +determined, in that event, to fight to the death. The +rebels came very near, so that in some instances they +might have been touched by the hidden fugitives. +Their peril was extreme, but the pursuers were watching +the men at a distance rather than looking for those +at their feet. Much of the rebel conversation could be +overheard. One of two stalwart pursuers, armed with +muskets, while just by the brush-heap, cried out,—</p> + +<p>"There goes two of them! Come on; let's go for +them!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let's get more help," responded the other.</p> + +<p>"But you see they have no guns," urged the first, +and they rushed out of hearing.</p> + +<p>These two poor men remained in that one place a +long while before they dared venture forth. Their +escape from detection was little less than miraculous. +So many persons had trampled over the ground where +they left the train that the dogs could do nothing at +tracking them, or their refuge would soon have been +discovered. The incessant rain added very much to +their discomfort, as it did in the case of all the fugitives, +but helped to throw the dogs from the track.</p> + +<p>After dark, however, they crawled out from the +brush-heap, and could scarcely walk. After looking +about, they decided to take an opposite course from +what they had seen their comrades take, which was in +the main westward from Chattanooga. They wished +to pass far to the eastward of that town, and knew that +they must carefully avoid it.</p> + +<p>The remainder of that night they travelled rapidly, +and about daybreak found an old barn and hid themselves +in a mow of corn-fodder, where they slept comfortably +until about one o'clock, when they were discovered +by two women who were hunting eggs. The +latter were greatly frightened, and ran to the house +which stood near, but Wilson and Wood followed, said +they had been in pursuit of the train-robbers, and preferred +sleeping in the barn to disturbing anybody at +the house. Dinner was over, but some corn-bread and +buttermilk was furnished. This was the first food since +leaving the train, and it was most acceptable. They +paid for it, and went on their way greatly refreshed.</p> + +<p>But they did not think it prudent to go far before +seeking concealment in a dense thicket to await the approach +of night. A squad of mounted soldiers went +by on the road they had just left, apparently searching +for some one. At nightfall they shaped their +course, as nearly as they could, towards the Tennessee<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +River, east of Chattanooga. They avoided the roads, +but narrowly escaped running into a picket. At dawn +the foot of the mountains was reached, and the wanderers +breathed freer than in the open country. They +witnessed the rising of the sun, and were greatly cheered +by its genial warmth. Sleep and weariness claimed +them until nearly night, and with darkness they started +on again. It was hard work, feeling the way over +rocks, climbing precipitous places, and descending the +steep inclines through bushes and briers.</p> + +<p>On Wednesday morning mountains were on all sides, +with no sign of human life or habitation. They took +a nap in the warm sun, but hunger soon roused them. +That one meal of corn-bread and buttermilk was all +the food they had eaten since their start on Saturday.</p> + +<p>Thus pressed by hunger, they resolved to travel day +as well as night, as in that lonely region it was not +likely they would be molested. In the afternoon they +reached the brow of a high mountain, overlooking a +lovely and peopled valley. Almost perishing with +hunger, they concluded to venture down and apply for +food at a hut a little separated from the rest. A young +woman appeared at the door, and, after hearing their +story, proceeded to get them a meal. Wilson asked the +way to the next town, the name of which he pretended +he could not just speak, but she helped him out by +mentioning—"Cleveland?" They feasted on ham, +eggs, and rye coffee, and went on their way rejoicing.</p> + +<p>Wilson determined to have a map of the country. +So leaving Wood outside well hidden, he ventured into +Cleveland, and bought "Mitchell's Geography and +Atlas," the work, as he thought, of his commanding +general! He returned to Wood, tore out such portions +of the map as they needed, and threw the rest away. +They were now able to form an intelligible plan, though +the one selected was full of peril. Wilson seems to +have been fond of the water, and certainly managed +well upon it. He wished to reach the Tennessee River,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +procure a boat of some kind, and float down the river +past Chattanooga to some point within the Federal lines.</p> + +<p>By evening the travellers had reached the limits of +that mountain ridge, and came down again into the +valley. Another secluded log house induced them to +apply for food without waiting till they were on the +verge of starvation. Here they were very fortunate. +Only a noble-looking lady was at home at first. She +heard their story, but made up her mind that they were +Union men, and in that belief gave them the best fare +she had, and would accept no pay for it. She and her +husband, who afterwards came in, gave them all the +information in their power as to the best way of avoiding +the rebel cavalry in the neighborhood, and asked +no confidence in return.</p> + +<p>But misfortunes were before them. They now passed +through a thickly-peopled valley, observing the greatest +caution. Notwithstanding their vigilance they were +suddenly halted by Colonel Snow's cavalry,—a company +of rebel home-guards, whose principal business it +was to keep down the Union men of the vicinity. By +shrewd diplomacy they succeeded in making the captain +believe that they belonged to the neighboring town +of Harrison. While accepting this statement he insisted +that they were trying to run away to the Union +army, but agreed that they might return to their homes +if they would first take the oath of allegiance to the +Confederacy, and then be ready to join his company +when he called for their services. The oath was a bitter +pill, but they swallowed it, and were set at liberty.</p> + +<p>They might now have taken a very safe course up the +line of the Cumberland Mountains into Kentucky, but +Wilson's mind was fixed upon getting a boat and going +down the Tennessee, which was almost in the opposite +direction. Their thoughts recurred to the Union family +where they had been fed the evening before, and they +resolved to return thither, and, revealing their true character, +try to get help in crossing the valley to the river.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> + +<p>As was safest, they came up to the hut in the night. +The man admitted Wilson, while the woman stood with +a rifle cocked, to kill him if he proved to be an enemy. +Wood had been left at some little distance outside, so +as to excite less alarm. Having been sworn themselves +that day they were in the mood for continuing that business, +and therefore swore the man to be true to them. +He kept his oath far better than they did theirs. He +told them they must not be seen about his house, and +led them to an abandoned hut, which stood in a secluded +spot on a remote part of his farm. He then furnished +them with a bundle of quilts, and told them to stay in +the cellar and be perfectly quiet, assuring them that +they would be safe until he could get a chance to pilot +them out of the neighborhood. He and his wife supplied +them with provisions while they remained here, +which was for several days. Two or three reasons led +to this delay. Rest was sorely needed after the fatigue +endured in mountain travel, Snow's cavalry were still +in the neighborhood, and they waited also for a dark +night and a trusty guide to take them to the river.</p> + +<p>The latter was found in the brother of the loyal +woman whose guests they were. This man took them +without difficulty, by a circuitous route, in the night-time, +to a tributary of the Tennessee, by following +which they could not fail to reach the main stream.</p> + +<p>The reason Wilson gives for his strong desire to +travel by water is quite cogent. In the uneven mountainous +country it was next to impossible to keep a +direct course in night travel, even if they knew the +general direction, while the stream would always keep +them in the right way. Had they asked for guidance +by their Union friends in the direction of Kentucky, +however, they would have received it.</p> + +<p>They soon saw a boat on the other side of the river, +but, as the creek was swollen and encumbered with drift-wood, +they could not swim across. Wilson, who always +took the lead, left his companion to conceal himself,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +and, going boldly to the bank, halloed until a man +answered, who, at his request, ferried him across. As +the ferryman could not change a five-dollar note, Wilson +promised to return that way in the evening—it +was then morning—and make it right. He hid during +the day, and came back after dark, and, in the absence +of the owner, "borrowed" the boat, took Wood aboard, +and was soon far away towards the Tennessee. The +theft of the boat stands on the same grounds as to justification +with the numerous falsehoods told by all the +adventurers,—a military necessity.</p> + +<p>At the mouth of the creek they found a patrol-boat +anchored nearly across the stream, but, as it was pitch-dark +and raining, they were not discovered, and, gliding +close under her stern, were soon afloat on the swift current +of the Tennessee. They rejoiced in this, but found +that their perils were not yet over. The incessant rain +was very chilling, and blinded their eyes, the wind blew +almost a gale, and the current whirled them on with +dangerous speed. They were in constant apprehension, +for they could see but a little way before them, and +scarcely knew where they were going. Many times +they very narrowly escaped wreck. Few things in the +whole history of the railroad adventure are more romantic +than the picture of these two men piloting a +frail, stolen skiff down the mountain river during a +night of rain and storm.</p> + +<p>Their motion was so rapid that they feared dawn +might find them in the vicinity of Chattanooga, by +which town it was necessary for them to pass. Therefore +they began, in good time, to cast about for a safe +landing and hiding-place. After many ineffectual attempts, +they found a small island, hugged close to the +shore, and reached the lower end, where they were out +of the current, pulled themselves under the overhanging +branches, and drew the boat on shore.</p> + +<p>Their position was still one of extreme discomfort. +The rain had changed to sleet and hail, and all effort<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +to get warm or dry was in vain. Daylight revealed a +small cabin on the shore near by, from which the smoke +curled up invitingly. Their suffering was unendurable, +and they decided to seek shelter.</p> + +<p>They launched and crossed. Poor Wood, who afterwards +died of consumption, brought on by exposure, +and who was now almost frozen, said, "Alf, you will +have to make up some lie to tell them. They will ask +us a thousand questions."</p> + +<p>Wilson answered, "I don't know what I can tell +them. I am too cold to speak the truth, though."</p> + +<p>The usual Kentucky story was modified to suit their +surroundings. They asked for boats, and professed to +be sent out to destroy all on the river, except where +they were in the hands of trustworthy men, with the +object of preventing Union men running away from +the conscription. This was plausible, and they were +warmed, dried, and fed.</p> + +<p>They now ran down a short distance in the daytime, +tied up, and hid in a field. A man and boy saw their +boat, and were about to take it, when the adventurers, +unwilling to be done by as they had done, and confident +in their story, came out and stopped the proceeding. +They asserted that it was a government boat, and +that they belonged to a regiment in Chattanooga, which +place they learned was only five miles away. The man +invited them to his house to wait the lulling of the +storm. They accepted, and after nightfall pushed off +again, passing Chattanooga, which they had so long +dreaded, in safety. They were now almost jubilant, +but soon found that everything was not smooth sailing. +I presume the storm, which had been so disagreeable, +had also been a shelter, and that without it they might +not have got by the rebel headquarters so easily.</p> + +<p>There is a deep gorge a few miles below the city, +where the mountains rise abruptly from the water in +frowning grandeur. The river is greatly narrowed, +and, suddenly bending to the left, dashes its furious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +current against a wall of rock, and forms a foaming +eddy. Our two navigators "perceived even in the +darkness that there was danger ahead. The great roar +and noise caused by the dashing of the angry waters +against the rocks warned us. We hugged the left hand +with our little boat as closely as possible. As we passed +the angry whirlpool, into which we seemed to be drifting, +our boat was struck a tremendous blow by a floating +log. We thought we were all dashed to pieces. +The blow hoisted us away, however, several yards to +the left, and we went flying down the gorge like the +wind. We were afterwards told that a number of adventurous +persons had, at different times, lost their +lives in trying to run down this place by getting +swamped in this great torrent or whirlpool, and it was +no doubt owing to the blow we received from the floating +log, by which our boat was knocked just beyond +the reach of danger, that we escaped as fortunately as +we did. It was a providential blow for us, though it +had well nigh crushed our boat. We pulled at our +paddles with might and main to keep the water from +swamping our boat, which sank pretty low in the current +and was now going at railroad speed. We soon +reached smoother water, and again felt ourselves safe."</p> + +<p>A man on the bank warned them not to try to run +through the "suck," a worse place than that which +they had just passed. With much urging, and the +promise of three dollars reward, they got him to agree +to pilot them through. He was a skilful boatman, +and took them in safety, though their boat was nearly +filled with water.</p> + +<p>Because of these dangers they had been running in +daylight. They were soon hailed by a squad of rebel +cavalry, but, being well over on the opposite side, rowed +on without seeming to notice them. They were now +coming to the most dangerous part of their journey,—that +near the Federal lines, where the vigilance of the +enemy was most constantly exercised. They therefore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +resolved to travel only at night, hiding themselves and +their precious boat by day. That night they passed +Bridgeport, where they expected to meet Mitchel, but +found he had not yet arrived.</p> + +<p>When they sought a solitary cabin to get food the +next day they heard great news,—that the Yankees +were in the town of Stevenson. This was confirmed +by numerous fugitives who were seeking safety from +the dreaded enemy. They got back to their canoe, +rowed down the river until they judged themselves +opposite Stevenson, and then started across the country +to find their friends. The good news elated them so +much that they made the fatal mistake of not waiting +for nightfall. Consequently they found themselves in +the town sooner than they expected, and then to their +dismay discovered that the streets were swarming with +rebel soldiers! The story of the frightened fugitives +had entrapped them.</p> + +<p>But they put the best possible face on the matter. +Buying a few articles in a store, they attempted to +stroll leisurely out, but were stopped by an officer on +guard and questioned. They answered plausibly,—probably +with the Kentucky story, as they were now +away from the river,—and were about to be released, +when a man brought a <i>false</i> accusation. He recognized +Wilson as being one of the Federal cavalry that charged +into the town the previous night, and dared him to +deny it! He did deny it, but in vain, and having +been believed so often when telling falsehoods, it was +only a fair compensation that he now told the truth to +unbelieving ears.</p> + +<p>Wilson and Wood were put on a hand-car and run +back to Bridgeport. At this place an excited member +of the crowd that gathered around them declared that +he knew them both,—that he had seen them on the +train with Andrews! Wilson always thought this +man as much mistaken as his last accuser, but denial +was no more availing than in that case. They were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +taken before General Leadbetter, questioned separately, +as usual in the captures, Wood "perspiring like a man +in a July harvest," and both virtually convicted, although +Wilson answered the questions addressed to +him in the most undaunted manner. They were taken +to Chattanooga, fastened together with a chain around +their necks, and handcuffed, as the others had been, +and ordered to the hole. When they descended the +ladder and joined our miserable company there assembled, +they heard some plaintive voice say in the darkness, +to which their eyes had not yet become accustomed, +"Wilson and Wood! They have got every one of us!" +It was true. Every one of the bold band had been +captured and were gathered into one of the vilest dungeons +ever used by man to torture his fellow-man!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>A HORRIBLE PRISON.</h3> + + +<p>A plain picture of the Chattanooga prison into +which the members of the railroad party were thrust +cannot be given in all its detail without shocking the +sensitive reader. Even when the coarser features are +omitted enough will remain to task credulity. The +book and newspaper accounts published by the survivors +are not, however, the only evidence upon which +the extraordinary story rests. In the Appendix the +official report is given, based upon sworn testimony, +and to this any one who may be disposed to doubt this +narrative is referred.</p> + +<p>Yet I would not hold the Southern people or even +the Confederate government wholly responsible for the +barbarous and outrageous treatment experienced at this +place. The system of slavery is primarily responsible,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +for it provided such dens as the negro prison at Chattanooga. +An intemperate man of Northern birth—General +Leadbetter—found that the fortunes of war +had placed a score of men, one after another, in his +hands, and, feeling that they deserved severe treatment +for the daring character of their enterprise, he recklessly +ordered them, as fast as they were brought before +him, to be committed to "the hole" without stopping +to consider what accommodations it afforded. His +subordinates, afraid of being themselves suspected of +disloyalty if they showed sympathy with the prisoners, +offered no remonstrance, and the result was suffering +almost too fearful for belief.</p> + +<p>The captain, to whose charge I had been committed +by General Leadbetter at the close of my examination, +called a guard of eight men and conducted me through +the streets to the northern part of the town. We +halted before a little brick building surrounded by a +high board fence,—the negro prison of Chattanooga, +known as "the hole." A portion of the building was +occupied by the jailer. The prison part consisted of +two rooms, one directly under the other, and also partly +underground. The upper room was accessible only by +an outside staircase, and the lower had no entrance except +from a trap-door directly overhead.</p> + +<p>The jailer, whose name was Swims, met us at the +outer gate. He was a poor, ignorant creature,—a bad +specimen of the "poor white" of the South, and had +all his life been engaged in the lowest employments. +He was old,—perhaps sixty,—and had abundant hair, +which was very white, while his face was dry and +withered. His voice was always keyed on a whining +tone, except when some great cause, such as a request +of prisoners for an extra bucket of water, excited him, +and then it rose to a hoarse scream. Avarice was his +predominant characteristic. He seemed to think that +his accommodations were vastly too good for negroes +and Yankees, and that when they were admitted to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +precincts, they should be thankful and give as little +trouble as possible. Such a man was able to greatly +aggravate the hard lot of the unfortunate prisoners +in his care. It should also be stated that he was very +fond of a dram, and frequently became sufficiently intoxicated +to reveal many important matters that would +otherwise have been concealed.</p> + +<p>Swims bustled up to the gate, growling about being +troubled so much, unlocked it, and, admitting us, led +the way up the outside stairway into the outer room. +I then thought I understood why the general called the +place "the hole." This room was only thirteen feet +square, and entirely destitute of chairs, beds, or any +conveniences whatever. Five or six old, miserable-looking +men were in it, who appeared not to have been +washed for months. I shuddered at the thought of +taking up my abode in such a den. But I was not to +be allowed that luxury.</p> + +<p>Said the jailer to the captain, "Where shall I put +him?"</p> + +<p>"Below, of course," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>The jailer advanced to the middle of the room, and, +taking a large key from his pocket, knelt down and +unlocked two rusty locks; then, with a great effort, +raised a ponderous trap-door just at my feet. The hot +air and the stifling stench that rushed up from below +drove me back a few steps; but the bayonets of the +guards were just behind, and I was compelled to move +forward again. A long ladder was thrust down through +the trap-door, and the warning given those below to +stand from under. A mingled volley of cries, oaths, +and remonstrances ascended, but the ladder was secured, +and I was ordered to descend, ironed as I was. The +long chain and the ropes had been taken off, but the +handcuffs remained. I did not like to go down that +ladder into the gloom below, but there was no alternative. +The darkness hid every object from view, but I +clambered down step by step to a depth of fully thirteen +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>feet,—for the place, as I afterwards learned when +I had more leisure for observation, was of cubic form, +just thirteen feet in length, breadth, and height. I +stepped off the ladder, treading on human beings I +could not discern, and crowded in as best I could.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i189-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i189.jpg" width="600" height="393" alt="A TERRIBLE DESCENT. +Page 172." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">A TERRIBLE DESCENT.<br /> +Page 172.</span> +</div> + +<p>The heat was so great that the perspiration started +from every pore. The fetid air made me, for a time, +deadly sick, and I wondered if it could be possible that +they would leave human beings in this fearful place to +perish. The thought of the Black Hole of Calcutta +rose instantly before me. I did not think life could be +sustained in such a place for many hours. But I was +yet to learn the wonderful possibilities of human endurance.</p> + +<p>My breath came thick and heavy, and I expected +suffocation. The ladder was drawn up, and with a dull +and heavy thud that seemed to strike my heart the +trap-door fell. It was like being closed alive in the +grave! I wedged and forced my way through the +throng to the window. The one I reached was just +beneath the wooden, outside stairway, and even at noon +gave very little light. The only other window was at +the opposite side of the room and below the level of +the ground. They were only holes in the thick walls, +a foot square, and filled with a triple row of thick-set +iron bars that almost excluded every current of air. I +got my face near the bars and breathed the purest air I +could get, until the horrible sense of suffocation diminished +as I became partially accustomed to these fearful +surroundings, and then turned to ascertain the condition +of my prison companions. It was wretched beyond +description. They were ragged, dirty, and crawling +with vermin. Most of them were nearly naked; +but the air was so stiflingly warm that those who had +clothing had removed all they could. I soon found +it necessary myself to disrobe, as far as my handcuffs +permitted, and even then the perspiration was most +profuse. It was an atmosphere of death.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>I was the first one of the "engine thieves" put into +this horrible place, though several had been captured +earlier. When I entered there were fourteen other +white prisoners and one negro—sixteen in all—crowded +into a room thirteen feet square. My dungeon partners +were East Tennessee Union men. In how many other +prisons these hapless victims to their own loyalty were +immured I cannot tell; I found some of them in every +prison of which I became an inmate, in Virginia and +Georgia as well as Tennessee. The negro had been +arrested on suspicion of being a fugitive, and treated in +the manner usual in such cases. No trial was granted. +A suspected fugitive was simply arrested and severely +flogged. This usually brought some kind of a confession, +true or false, as the only way to stop the torture. +He was then committed to prison and advertised in accordance +with his confession. If no answer came in a +specified time, he was taken out and flogged into a new +confession and re-advertised. Thus whipping and advertising +continued until the close of the year, when he +was sold at auction to pay jail and whipping fees. If +he was a slave, his master could take him out earlier; +but a free negro had no prospect but the year of torture +and afterwards perpetual bondage! Can we too often +thank God that the whole awful system of slavery has +been swept away? Poor Aleck had been in this horrible +prison seven months, with no prospect but that of remaining +five more and then being sold. He was so +kind and accommodating that he became a general +favorite, and when he was taken out to be whipped we +could not help feeling the deepest sympathy.</p> + +<p>Every society has its aristocracy, and I soon found +that here the highest rank was accorded to those who +were charged with having done most against the Confederacy. +There was one blind man, charged with +being a spy, and he was considered much above the +ordinary Union men. The rebels thought he was +counterfeiting blindness, but I believe it was real. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +was charged with the greatest offence of any yet confined +in that dungeon, and was, of course, treated with +becoming deference.</p> + +<p>About an hour later the trap-door again opened, +causing a stream of comparatively cool air from above +to rush down. It was an inconceivable relief,—a <i>luxury</i> +that none could appreciate who had not, like us, been +deprived of God's greatest physical blessing—pure air.</p> + +<p>We wondered who was coming next, as the feeble +glimmering of a candle above revealed several forms +descending. The Tennesseeans cried out, "Don't put +any more down here! We're full! We'll die if more +are put down here!" But these remonstrances, reasonable +as they were, produced no effect. Down they +came, and I, stationing myself at the foot of the ladder, +spoke something indifferently to them, and heard my +own name called in return. There was a warm clasp +of ironed hands, and I knew that I had true comrades +in our common misery. It was Andrews, Wollam, and +Ross. Strangely mingled feelings swept over my bosom. +I was sorry that they had come to this terrible place, +yet glad of their companionship. We got into a corner +by ourselves, for we did not know but a spy might be +waiting to catch our words, and cautiously spoke of our +past adventures, and strove to form some plans for the +future. The trap-door was soon closed, and the free +air, which had seemed to flow to us in sympathy, was +once more shut out.</p> + +<p>Others of our band were brought, I do not remember +whether the same evening or the next morning, and +we wondered what had become of those who were still +absent. But they continued to arrive by twos and threes +until all had met in this doleful place of assemblage. +The whole number was twenty-two, and as fast as they +came the Tennesseeans with us were removed into the +room above, and we had the foul den all to ourselves. +This allowed the advantage of talking freely without +fear of betrayal.</p> + +<p>We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> had great difficulty in arranging ourselves for +sleep on account of the smallness of the room. An +easy calculation will show how closely we were packed. +A small corner was necessarily reserved for the water- and +slop-buckets. Then two rows, with ten in each +row, left two over, who had to be disposed of somehow. +We did the best we could. Some sat against the wall, +while others leaned against the breasts of those who +were thus supported. Every motion caused the most +dismal clanking of chains, for the chains were not removed +even in such a dungeon. After we had been +packed away for the night, if any one wanted to move +his position, or go for a drink, he was sure to tread on +some of his neighbors, and, tempers being naturally +very short here, some warm altercations took place, +which contributed still more to disturb our slumbers. +A fight in the darkness with manacled hands was several +times prevented with great difficulty by those of us +who were more pacifically disposed.</p> + +<p>A few of us, who were more fortunate, had no chains +around our necks, but only wore handcuffs. I was +<i>strongly attached</i> to William Reddick, one of a pair of +handcuffs being placed on my left hand and the other +on his right. In two instances three persons were fastened +by one chain, which passed around the necks of +each. William Campbell, a man of immense strength, +was a member of one trio. I have seen him several +times take hold of the chain near his own neck, and +saying, "Come here, you Yanks," parade his two chain-comrades, +in spite of all their resistance, back and forth +over the room.</p> + +<p>In this wretched situation we slept much. The great +quantity of carbonic acid our breathing produced acted +as an opiate, and served in some measure to stupefy us +and deaden the sense of pain. In the morning we slept +or dozed, for we had no motive to rouse up until about +nine o'clock. The next morning after my arrival I was +awakened—early, as I supposed—by the opening of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +trap-door and the delicious shower of cool air that fell +upon us. As I looked up, there was the white head of +our old jailer bending over and saying, in drawling +tones, "Boys, here's your breakfast," and he lowered a +bucket by a rope, with a very small piece of corn bread +and a tiny morsel of meat for each of us. It was seized +and devoured almost instantly. I had eaten nothing +since the day before, and this pitiful supply only served +to whet my appetite. But there was no more. I learned +that we were to get our meals only twice a day, and then +only a starvation allowance. The quality was that which</p> + +<div class='poem'> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">"——captives' tears</span><br /> +Have moisten'd many a thousand years,<br /> +Since man first pent his fellow-men<br /> +Like brutes within an iron den."<br /> +</div> + +<p>I suppose our food in all our imprisonment was about +equal as to quantity and quality with that supplied at +Andersonville and other Southern prisons. But in the +chaining, and the close packing in dungeons, probably +no prisoners during the whole war fared so badly as we +did.</p> + +<p>During the day that succeeded my arrival in this +place of horrors a few more of our party were brought +in, and among them was my especial friend, George D. +Wilson. I found that the same reason which had led +to the acknowledgment of my true character as a United +States soldier had induced them to make the same confession. +Anxious and frequent were the consultations +we held as to the best course for us now to pursue. It +was too late for absolute denial of our participation in +the railroad adventure, even if that had ever been expedient. +The only possible course which seemed to +offer any hope was to continue to claim the character +and protection of soldiers engaged in regular warfare, +and to this end answer all reasonable questions that +might be asked. But there were certain facts we +pledged ourselves in no case to reveal. Among these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +was the name of our engineer, which they were specially +anxious to ascertain. The fact of ignorance in +such a material matter would indicate that we were +merely following the orders of those higher in authority, +and would preserve poor Brown, who had acted in +that capacity, from any special dangers. The fact of +a previous expedition having been sent down into Georgia +upon the same errand as our own, was on no account +to be divulged, as it was likely to stimulate our +captors to inflict sterner punishments by way of preventing +similar attempts in future. We were not to +allow it to escape that William Campbell was a civilian +only and not an enlisted soldier, as this would have +made his position more perilous than our own. We +were also to conceal having given any expressions of +willingness to engage in such an expedition, claiming +to have been detailed without our own consent, and ordered +to obey the directions of a man placed over us. +The most vital point was in relation to Andrews. He +had already admitted being the leader of the expedition. +We could, therefore, do him no good by pretending +not to know him, but he asked that we should +not admit having any knowledge of him before we +were put under his orders; and, for our sake as well as +his, we resolved to "suppose" that he was some regularly +commissioned officer of the Federal army. Most +of us knew him in his true character,—that of a secret +agent or spy. But to have admitted that fact would +have been fatal to any hopes he may have had, and +would have very seriously prejudiced our own case. +The position we, therefore, took, in all our statements, +was that of non-commissioned officers and soldiers belonging +to three Ohio regiments, who had been detailed +for an unknown service, and ordered to report to +an unknown officer, who had called himself Andrews, +and that we had faithfully and unquestioningly obeyed +such orders as had been given us. We agreed to urge +that a flag of truce should be sent to our lines to inquire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +if we were not what we claimed to be, well knowing +that, while General Mitchel would boldly avow us, +and stretch his power to the utmost for our protection, +he would be very careful not to say anything to the +prejudice of our leader.</p> + +<p>Our plans were carried out to the letter. No one of +our "reserved facts" was ever known to the enemy until +we were all beyond his power, and the flag of truce was +not sent only because the commanding officer said that +he was perfectly satisfied to accept all our representations +as true. As others of our company were captured +and joined us, they gave our plans their cordial approval, +and in the separate and formal examination of +each one, gave their names, companies, and regiments. +This could not fail to produce conviction of the truth +of our story, and gained us the sympathy of all whose +bosoms were not steeled against every kindly feeling. +To this plan, conceived in the dungeon and consistently +carried out, I attribute, more than to anything else, the +escape of any part of our number.</p> + +<p>Though we did not now recognize Andrews formally +as our leader,—he having repeated his previous declaration +that we were to rely on ourselves,—yet we communicated +our plan to him, and he gave it his cordial +approval, saying that if we closely adhered to it we +would have some chance for our lives. No small +amount of effort was made by the rebel authorities to +induce us to tell more than we did. Their energies +were bent especially to finding out the engineer. They +would ask the question in the most casual manner, and +a number of times, when one man was taken out alone, +he would be offered safety and release if he would only +tell this one thing, and threatened with instant death +if he did not. But no one was moved. The opinion +seemed to be that the discovery of the engineer would +reveal the whole mystery of the enterprise. In this +they were mistaken, but the opinion was not unnatural. +They would also ask in many forms the question,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +"How came it that you would consent to leave your +camp in citizens' clothes for an enterprise you knew +nothing about, and under the leadership of a person +you had never seen, and whose rank and position you +say you were ignorant of?" The answer was always +the same in substance: "We were told by our officers +to follow this man, and we considered it a soldier's +duty to obey." I had to pass a more protracted examination +than any of the others, perhaps because I +had told General Leadbetter so many of my inferences +about war affairs when first taken before him. For +two or three days I was even separated from my comrades +and daily questioned. I thus gained a short relief +from the horrors of the negro prison, and could easily +have secured my own safety by dishonor; but although +I talked freely, I did not go a single word beyond the +line which Wilson and myself, with the approval of all +the others, had marked out. At last I overheard the +acute lawyer who acted as examiner on these occasions +say to General Leadbetter, "It is no use. He is either +ignorant or too sharp to tell anything." I felt greatly +complimented, and was then taken back to the horrors +of the old dungeon, where I was warmly welcomed by +my comrades, most of whom had passed a similar though +briefer ordeal. It was on this occasion that the officer +of the guard happened to lay a newspaper he was +reading near me. I was hungry for news, and in a +moment seized and concealed it in my clothing. It +was missed and a great search made, but as I was handcuffed +and looked innocent, suspicion did not fall on +me. It was a great prize, for it contained a complete +account of our chase as given by our pursuers. Through +all our subsequent adventures I carefully preserved it, +and at the date of writing it is still in my possession. +The estimate it gives of the military importance of +our expedition, and of what we actually accomplished, +goes beyond what has been sketched in the preceding +pages. (See Appendix No. II.)<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>After these examinations were over, the misery of +our dungeon-life closed about us again. Whether we +would be left there to perish, or whether some kind +of a trial would be given us with the alternatives of +release or execution,—what was the position of the +armies outside, or the progress of the war,—we could +not tell. In dreams only we were free. I remember +lying down one afternoon and dreaming of the most +beautiful snow-capped mountains in East Tennessee, +and awakening with a freshness and hopefulness which +lasted for many hours. But even dreams were not all +thus pleasant; too often they rivalled the prison itself +in shapes of terror and pain.</p> + +<p>One or two of our number managed to conceal a +little money when searched, and, as our rations were +very small, it was resolved to spend it for food. The +jailer agreed to get us any provisions we wanted, so +far as the money would go. There was an anxious +discussion as to the most profitable mode of investment. +Wheat bread and molasses—the latter being very cheap—were +chosen, and the precious money tied to the rope, +which was our only mode of communication with the +upper world, and drawn up. It was at our evening +meal. We knew Swims would not trouble himself to +bring the provisions that evening, but we anticipated a +bountiful breakfast, with the keenness that only starving +men could feel. When the breakfast bucket dangled +at the end of the rope the next morning, it was quickly +seized, and lo! only the usual miserly allowance of +"pone" and meat. "Mr. Swims, have you got the +bread and molasses yet?" eagerly demanded a voice +from below. In his most whining tones he drawled +out, "B-o-y-s, I lost that money." Had he been on +our level instead of thirteen feet above, he might have +learned how desperate men can become when hungry. +But there was no remedy. The captain of the guard, +when appealed to, considered it a good joke!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF PRISON.</h3> + + +<p>Some two weeks after our capture Andrews received +a very brief trial. The charges against him were two,—that +of being disloyal to the Confederacy and of +being a spy. On the first count the evidence against +him was strong. A Mr. Whiteman, from Nashville, +Tennessee, whom Andrews himself had directed to be +summoned, and who had once been a partner of his in +some business, testified that Andrews had repeatedly +visited the South as a blockade-runner, bringing to +Whiteman some ten thousand dollars' worth of goods in +that manner, and that he had always professed allegiance +to the Southern Confederacy, representing himself to be +a citizen of the same, and an enemy to the United States. +When captured, he had passes in his possession which +showed that he had also taken the oath of allegiance to +the Southern government. He had, at the same time, +admitted his part in the railroad adventure, which was +assuredly an act of hostility against the South. Indeed, +several persons were produced who saw him on +the train, or directing its movements at some of the +various stations during the chase. So far as I could +learn, there was no direct evidence produced to show +that he was or ever had been a spy, although this might +be suspected from his passing back and forth across +the lines, and so soon after acting as an enemy. His +case was entirely different from that of the men he led, +and much more unfavorable. They claimed to have +been acting all the while as enemies, and now to be +prisoners of war. They declared, and were ready to +prove, their position in the Federal army. He gave no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +account whatever of his position, or the authority +under which he was acting, and allowed the court-martial +to establish their case as best they might. He was +very reticent, as was proper, even among our band, as +to his plans and hopes, but it was whispered among us +that he expected the liberal use of money from an outside +source to influence the court, or aid in his escape +if condemned. I never heard him, however, intimate +anything of the kind, and he certainly received no +such help in escaping. He employed two able lawyers, +and they strove for delay, and at the last gave him +reason to hope that some informalities in the proceedings +would require the whole trial to be gone over +again. No decision, however, was officially given, but +he was put back in the same prison, and no more +strictly guarded than the remainder of us, which was +judged to be a favorable indication of the result.</p> + +<p>One day our old jailer, being very drunk, told us +that General Mitchel had advanced to Bridgeport, only +twenty-eight miles distant, and there defeated the rebels, +capturing some of the very same men who had been +our guards but a day or two before. How we wished +to have been with him! and how we hoped for a further +advance on his part! To be captured with Chattanooga +would be glorious! The officers of the guard were +obviously uneasy. They took the strictest precautions. +There were twenty-six men constantly on guard,—surely +enough to watch over twenty-two, confined and +chained in a dungeon as we were.</p> + +<p>Mitchel came nearer. We even heard the boom of +cannon in the distance, and his advance probably saved +our lives, by taking us for the time out of the clutches +of Swims and Leadbetter, for a much longer confinement +or rather suffocation there must have been fatal. +The ladder was thrust down and we were ordered to +come out. We would, then, have gladly remained in +that vile den a little longer, in the hope of Mitchel's +arrival, but we crawled up. Our fastenings were inspected,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +to see that none of us were in condition to +make a sudden dash for liberty; we were formed into +a column, with a line of rebel soldiers on each side, and +then marched out through the gate towards the cars. +Strangely the free air fanned our brows and strangely +the wide sky bent above us. Very grateful was the +sense of openness and room in the streets through which +we passed, even although ironed, with a rebel soldier +on either hand. For three whole weeks twenty-two +men had been cooped up in a dark room much smaller +than an ordinary parlor. No wonder the streets of the +hostile town seemed like freedom by comparison. We +were soon seated in the cars, and were carried in the +evening back southward on the road we had rushed +over under such thrilling circumstances three weeks +before.</p> + +<p>How beautiful all nature appeared! It was now +May, and the time that we had spent in darkness had +not been lost in the outside world. The landscape had +been robed in richer verdure, the budding trees had +swelled into leafy screens, the sky was of a softer blue, +the birds warbled with new melody, and everything +seemed to wear its holiday dress.</p> + +<p>O the joy! the gladness! of being once more under +the blue canopy of heaven, and of looking up to its +unfathomable depths, with no envious bars to obstruct +our view! Many a time have I looked on the most +romantic scenery in the freshness of May, but never +did I so deeply feel the pleasantness and beauty of the +world as on that balmy evening, when the rays of the +setting sun, glowing from the west, streamed over the +grass and wheat-fields on their path, and poured in +mellowed, yellow radiance through the car-windows. +But I could not quite forget that I was chained to my +companion and surrounded by guards with gleaming +bayonets!</p> + +<p>The wild excitement caused by our raid had not subsided, +and as it became known that we were passing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +along the road, a mob greeted us at every station. It +is not necessary to again describe these assemblages, +for all were alike,—threatening, rude, loquacious, and +insulting.</p> + +<p>We also noticed that soldiers on guard were at every +station, and that each bridge we passed was strongly +guarded. There could be no doubt that all these precautions, +so different from the careless security of less +than a month previous, were among the tangible results +of our enterprise. It was estimated that on the various +roads of the South not less than three thousand troops +had been diverted from the field and employed in securing +communications in all parts of the rebel States. +A general passport system, with all its vexations, had +been introduced. Surely our enterprise, though unsuccessful +in its immediate results, was far from fruitless.</p> + +<p>We passed Big Shanty, passed Marietta, which had +been the extreme point of our former journey southward, +and went on to Atlanta. Here there was no jail +room for us; but before going farther we had to wait +all day in the cars for the evening train. Our arrival +was soon noised abroad, and a larger mob than we had +seen before gathered and proclaimed their intention of +hanging us. The guard defended us manfully, and +several persons were seriously injured. But while the +disturbance was in progress, one man succeeded in +reaching the window unnoticed and handed us a paper, +using only the single, magical word, "a friend," and +then disappeared in the throng. We read the paper by +snatches, as we could do so secretly, and found it to +contain glorious news,—<i>the capture of New Orleans</i>! +Other items of news were adroitly wormed out of our +guards, who could not be kept from talking with us, +and we were full of hope that the darkening prospects +of the Confederacy would brighten our own outlook, +by rendering the advocates of a declining rebellion +more cautious in their treatment of loyal soldiers. All<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +information was prohibited to us; but from the common +soldiers, the negroes, and often from the officers +of the guard themselves, we managed to pick up items +of intelligence, which gave us a general idea of the +course of affairs.</p> + +<p>In the evening we left Atlanta, and after a journey +not marked by any notable event reached Madison, in +the same State. This was then a flourishing village, +and had a pleasing look as we entered it. Some six, +hundred imprisoned Union soldiers had been already +gathered here, and we freely indulged the hope, which +was encouraged by our guards, that we would be put +with them and henceforth treated only as prisoners of +war. But we soon found that the brand of criminality +for our daring adventure was not so easily effaced. We +were marched past the dilapidated cotton-factory, where +our fellow-soldiers were confined, to the old county jail. +It was then entirely unoccupied, as all the prisoners had +been released to join the Confederate army. It was a +gloomy stone building, with two rooms, but both were +above-ground, and the lower was entered by an ordinary +door. This lower room, in which about half of +our party, including myself and Andrews, were placed, +was very dark, and its heavy stone walls rendered it +quite damp. But for our previous experience at Chattanooga +it would have been thought a wretched place. +It was so much better than that, however, that we almost +enjoyed it. Indeed, we could not have endured +such confinement as that at Chattanooga for many weeks +longer. Several of our number could scarcely walk, +and all were greatly injured in health by the three horrible +weeks we had spent there. Now we were further +from the pernicious influence of General Leadbetter, +and, although we were still kept in irons by his explicit +orders, yet the captain of the guard, in whose direct +charge we were, showed us all the kindness in his +power, easing the irons which pressed too heavily upon +swollen limbs, and procuring us abundance of good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +water, as well as a better supply of the coarse food, +which we ate in common with our guard.</p> + +<p>The citizens of the town were freely admitted to see +us, and ranged themselves—always in the presence of +the guard—along one side of the room, and talked of +all the exciting events of the day. We were now in +our true character, and were not likely to be benefited by +concealing our real sentiments. I used to greatly enjoy +their surprise and horror when I avowed myself an +abolitionist, and told them that I had always been one. +They had been talking about abolitionists for years, but +had never before seen a man who would admit the justice +of the charge. The citizens expressed much admiration +for us and for the daring of our expedition, contrasting +the latter with what they were pleased to call the +cowardice of the Northern armies in general. George +D. Wilson one day earnestly assured them that we were +the poorest men in Mitchel's division, and had only +been sent on this expedition because he had no use for us!</p> + +<p>Here occurred one of the romantic incidents of prison-life. +We had been intensely anxious for some direct communication +with our own army, but from our side there +was no means of effecting it. One day, however, a +man dressed in a rebel uniform came with the throng +of visitors, and managed to talk quite a while, and, as +I thought, in a very disconnected manner, with Andrews. +I also thought I noticed an exchange of signs +between them. As soon as he and the visitors had +gone, and we were once more alone, Andrews told us +that the man was a spy in the service of the United +States, and that they had managed, even in the presence +of the guard, and without exciting the least suspicion, +to say all that was necessary, and that we might +be assured that our friends on the other side of the lines +would soon know all about us. I was a little incredulous, +thinking that the great anxiety of our leader to +communicate with some one who was a Federal spy, as +he himself had been, had caused him to misunderstand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +this man, and supposed his signs recognized when they +were not.</p> + +<p>But when the captain of our guard brought us supper, +he lingered a little in conversation, and remarked that +a most singular thing had taken place that afternoon, +and that after this we would receive no more visitors. +Being pressed for explanations, he finally gave them. +He said that the provost-marshal of Madison had received +information that one of Lincoln's spies was in +town, and had even been among our visitors, though, +the captain said, he was glad that the spy had found no +opportunity to reveal himself to us! The marshal at +once despatched a squad to arrest him. They found the +suspected stranger at the depot, just as the cars were +coming in. He was boisterously indignant at his arrest, +and told them that he had papers in his pocket +which would prove his character anywhere. They let +go their hold on him, so that he might produce his +papers. He lectured them roundly while pretending +to search in his pockets, until he noticed that the train, +which was starting, had attained a good degree of headway, +and then, just as the last car swung by, he suddenly +flung the soldiers from him and jumped aboard. +There was no telegraph station at Madison, and no +other train that evening, so that an effective pursuit was +out of the question.</p> + +<p>The Confederates were very much enraged, and our +confinement was rendered much more strict. But we +felt ample compensation in the hope that our officers +would now know just where we were, and be able to +make all possible efforts for our safety. Whether the +spy surmounted all other perils and got safely to our +lines, we never heard.</p> + +<p>Three days only did we remain at Madison,—days +of comparative quiet and hope, during which we recovered +some degree of our wasted strength, which was +sadly needed for future trials. The rebel authorities, +having become convinced that Chattanooga was not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +in present danger from General Mitchel, ordered us +back to that place. Our destination was not known to +us, and the usual rumors circulated as to being now on +our way for exchange. To move from one prison to +another—an experience we had quite frequently—was +always a welcome relief, and served, in some measure, +to mitigate the excessive rigor of our confinement. We +went back over the same road we came, and had again +to run the gauntlet of insulting and jeering mobs. We +traveled in rude box-cars, wet and filthy, and were harassed +by the fear of going back to our miserable prison +at Chattanooga. One circumstance rendered the journey +more endurable. Captain Laws, who commanded the +guard, and his soldiers also, had been in close association +with us for several days, and had become really +interested in our welfare. While he did not relax any +of his vigilance, he strove to make the hardship of our +position more endurable, and showed a friendly spirit +on every occasion. His good will was especially valuable +when we reached Chattanooga.</p> + +<p>The remorseless order had been given for our return +to the negro prison. Captain Laws could not change +this, but by using his influence with Colonel Patrick +Cleiburne, a man of humanity, who occupied the position +of provost-marshal of Chattanooga for a short +time, he got permission for us to remain in the upper +room instead of being forced into the dungeon below. +This was a great relief, for although we were equally +crowded, yet the upper room was above-ground, had +three windows instead of two, and these were of larger +size. We had, therefore, a much better supply of air +and light. We were very sorry for the fourteen poor +Tennesseeans who were put below.</p> + +<p>Our enemies displayed a wonderful degree of caution +in the manner of guarding us. Even when we were +below, where a man, if left alone, could scarcely have +gotten out without assistance, they never raised the +trap-door unprotected by a strong guard. Old Swims<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +remonstrated against our being in the upper room, and +seemed in perpetual terror. He fretted, and predicted +that evil would come from showing the Yankees so +much indulgence. Yet the precautions observed ought +to have reassured him. Before our door was opened +a strong guard was always brought up-stairs into the +jailer's room, from which ours was entered, and arrayed +in two lines with levelled bayonets. At the same time +the stairway was guarded, and the whole jail surrounded +by a strong force outside of the wall. We had not +yet been relieved of our fetters,—at least, not by Confederate +authority.</p> + +<p>Colonel Cleiburne had asked permission to remove +our irons, and this being refused, he gave us, on his +own responsibility, an inexpressibly great indulgence. +For an hour or two every fine afternoon he ordered the +guards to bring us out into the jail-yard. This was +something to look forward to all the day, and made our +second confinement at Chattanooga far less irksome and +prostrating than the first. To simply sit in the sunlight +and watch the clouds drifting in the blue above, +or to walk back and forth watching the lengthening +shadows of the mountains, was intense enjoyment. We +will never cease to be grateful to the brave Irish soldier +who secured us these indulgences, which, simple as they +were, had not been expected.</p> + +<p>But we felt that the wearing of irons for so long a +period was entirely unnecessary, and set our wits to +work for the removal of such needless incumbrances. +One of the party had managed to secrete a small knife +in his sleeve while being searched, and with this he +whittled out rude keys from the bones of the meat +given us, which readily unlocked our handcuffs. The +padlocks on the chains were served in a similar manner. +We did not dare to let any one of the guards know of +this expedient, or appear in public in our new liberty, +lest more effectual means should be devised of securing +us. To avoid detection while thus unchained we always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +kept some one on the watch. When a footstep was +heard on the outside stairway the signal was given, and +a quick rattling of chains accompanied the adjustment +and relocking of our bonds. When the door opened +we would appear all properly chained, but when alone +we would soon be free again. This deception was continued +as long as we were kept in irons.</p> + +<p>We here took up the amusement of mock trials. +Andrews had been tried, and the remainder of us expected +to be, either in a body or singly. This may +have suggested the diversion, which soon became very +popular. One of the company would be charged with +some offence, usually a trifling breach of our self-imposed +prison rules. William Campbell, whose immense +personal strength better enabled him to enforce his decisions, +usually officiated as judge, until at last he got +the name of "judge" firmly fixed upon him. We had +ample time for this sport, and the opposing counsel +would make very long and learned speeches. So interesting +were these arguments, and so eloquent were our +appeals, that no one of the auditors was ever known to +leave the court-room while they were in progress! The +witnesses were very slippery, and it was often difficult +to reconcile their testimony. Some friends of the prisoners +nearly always attempted to resist the laws and +prevent the infliction of penalties, but in such cases the +<i>personal weight</i> of the judge decided the affair. This +resistance would give rise to new arrests and trials, and +thus the work became interminable.</p> + +<p>Another and more refined source of enjoyment was +found in music. There were several good singers in +the party, and by practising together they soon acquired +great proficiency. Most of the songs, under the leadership +of Marion Ross, were of a tender and sentimental +cast, such as "Nettie Moore," "Carrier Dove," +"Twenty Years Ago," "Do they miss me at Home?" +etc. The most frequent time for singing was when +twilight began to fall. Then all other occupations<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +would be laid aside, and in the gathering darkness the +voice of song would roll out as full and sweet as if not +strained through prison-bars. The guards were very +fond of our singing, and frequently groups of citizens +also would gather around the high jail-fence to listen. +Words of sympathy and kindness for the "caged Yankees" +became more common, and there were a good +many tangible manifestations of the same feelings. +The guards who came in contact with us,—a considerable +number, as one squad replaced another,—together +with many of their officers and many residents of Chattanooga, +began to ask why we were not treated as other +prisoners, and the shameful chains taken off. I do +not know whether this produced any essential change +in our fortune. Most likely it was the reason we were +not brought to trial in a town where we would have +been sure of so much sympathy, but were arraigned in +a distant place, and before officers who were strangers +to us.</p> + +<p>Yet no friendliness on the part of our guards, or +mitigation in the horrors of our treatment, put the +thought of escape out of our minds, although it did +divide our counsels and delay an attempt. With many +others, I was convinced that we ought to make a bold +push for liberty. The very strictness of the guard was +a challenge to do our best to overcome it. If there +were a few gleams of humanity in the present treatment, +this was merely because our captors had discovered +us to be human beings and not monsters; besides, +there was enough still in the vile nature of our food +and rigor of our confinement to justify the most desperate +effort for freedom. If we tried and failed, we +might lose our lives in the attempt; but this was a risk +soldiers have to take in every enterprise; if recaptured, +we would be no worse off than we were, for the charge +of attempting to escape could be no more deadly than +the old one of seizing the train. But those who did +not wish to make the attempt, among whom George D.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +Wilson was foremost, maintained that our enemies +were growing daily kinder, and that we would soon be +formally placed on the footing of prisoners of war; the +commander of the guard, Captain Laws, had become +even intimate with Wilson, and had assured him that +our good conduct was producing a profound impression +in our favor; to forfeit this now by a foolhardy attempt +to escape might turn the scale against us. Ross agreed +with Wilson. He was a Freemason, and some members +of the fraternity visited him, and gave him assurances +of friendship, together with some small sums +of money, which he generously used to procure us all +a little greatly-needed addition to our food. We no +longer made our purchases through Swims, but through +Captain Laws, who did not lose the money intrusted +to him.</p> + +<p>Finally the majority decided in favor of an attempt +to escape. Two plans were proposed,—the first by the +writer. When men who are not expecting danger are +suddenly surprised, there is a moment when they are +incapable of action, and may be at the mercy of a bold +adversary. The same plan, in general outline, was +carried out long afterwards with the most brilliant success. +It was simply to have our irons off when the +guards came to feed us in the evening, and then, as the +door opened, to make a simultaneous rush upon the +levelled bayonets outside, wrest the muskets from their +holders, and pour down the stairs on the guards below. +If we succeeded in reaching the ground before the +guards fully realized what was going on, a few moments +would suffice to disarm them, and then we could +leave the prison-yard in a solid body, run with all our +speed to the ferry-boat which lay on our side of the +river, not far distant. Once over the river, armed +with muskets and bayonets, we would have been comparatively +safe.</p> + +<p>But Andrews did not like this plan for the same +reason that made him so unwilling to use our arms in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +desperate fighting during the race on the train. He +proposed another plan, which, as he still had great influence +with us, was adopted. His proposition was that +some one—John Wollam, I think, was selected for the +perilous attempt—should conceal himself under the bed +in the jailer's room as we passed through it on our return +from the breathing-spell in the yard, and remain +there until all was quiet at night; then come out and +noiselessly unlock the door; after this we could rush +down, seize the guard, and proceed as in our first plan. +The time for this bold attempt was fixed for a moonless +night not far distant.</p> + +<p>There were two soldiers of the original twenty-four +detailed for our enterprise who failed to reach the designated +rendezvous at Marietta. One was from the +Twenty-first, the other from the Second Ohio Regiment. +They had been suspected and compelled to join +a rebel battery, representing themselves as brothers +from Kentucky. In the skirmish at Bridgeport the +member of the Twenty-first found an opportunity to +run across the railroad bridge and join Mitchel. This +caused suspicion to rest on his supposed brother, who +was arrested, brought to Chattanooga, and thrown into +the dungeon while we were there. There was some +suspicion that he might have belonged to our party, +but we refused to recognize him, and after confinement +for some time he was sent back to the battery again, +and from it, after many remarkable adventures, succeeded +in making good his escape to the Union lines.</p> + +<p>There was at this time a great talk of our exchange, +and our drooping hopes revived. A son of General +Mitchel's was captured, but the general held a large +number of rebel prisoners, and released one of them—a +lieutenant—on parole, to propose an exchange. This +man visited us and raised the most sanguine hopes +in our bosoms. The Confederate officers encouraged +those hopes, but said we must first go through a merely +formal trial to prove that we were really soldiers, after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +which we would be included in the exchange which +would undoubtedly be made. We wanted them to +refer the question of our soldiership to General Mitchel, +but we have every reason to believe that they not only +never asked him anything about us, but used all the +means in their power to prevent him from obtaining +any knowledge of our situation. The exchange was +effected, but we were not included, and the lieutenant +was not permitted to return to the loyal camp.</p> + +<p>These delusive hopes had served to delay a little +longer our projected escape, but at last we resolved to +end the suspense. The very day we had fixed upon +for the desperate enterprise an event occurred which +deranged the plan in the most unexpected manner by +dividing our party. George D. Wilson, who was very +sick, was taken down into the yard closely guarded. +While he was there Captain Laws came to him, and +said that he had received an order for twelve of our +number to be taken to Knoxville, to pass the formal +investigation which had been so long talked about, and +which was to fix the character of the whole party as +prisoners of war. Wilson asked who the twelve were +to be, and wished that he might be one. The captain +told him that this was easily arranged, as the order +called merely for twelve, without giving names. He +further offered Wilson the privilege of naming eleven +others beside himself to go, saying that he would do +well to select the ablest men,—those who could do +themselves most credit on examination. Whether this +was a mere incident, or whether it was a plan laid to +have Wilson select the most prominent men of the +party, that they might be tried and put to death, I +have never learned. In the light of the subsequent +history, this choice was a matter of profound importance, +and my own opinion is that the names were purposely +left blank, and Wilson induced to make the +choice, with the view of his leaving out the nine who +might best be reserved for the exercise of mercy after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +the others were capitally punished. If this was the +case, I cannot persuade myself that Captain Laws was +in the secret. But poor Wilson was completely misled. +He told me that he considered that those who +went to Knoxville would probably be exchanged first, +if any difference was to be made. So he put down his +own name first, and mine next. Then followed the +other two who belonged to our regiment,—the Second +Ohio; then William Campbell, the muscular citizen +of Kentucky, and the list was filled out by the names +of Wilson's especial friends from the other regiments. +As we twelve, who were to go to Knoxville, waited +the hour of starting, a shade of gloom fell upon us. +For nearly two months we had been companions in +trials and privations such as fall to the lot of few men, +and now our band was to be separated. There was no +certainty of reunion; for, in spite of fair words, the +fact remained that we were in the power of desperate +and deadly foes, who would not hesitate a moment in +taking our lives, if they saw it for their own advantage +to do so.</p> + +<p>The parting with Andrews, our noble leader, was +especially affecting. We had been accustomed to ask +his advice in all emergencies. He had been already +tried by court-martial, and, although no sentence had +been given, the long delay was not a favorable omen. +We knew that he was the first mark for the vengeance +of the foe. Officers and visitors, in bidding us hope, +had no words of comfort for him. He bore this like +a hero, as he was, and continued to hope for some deliverance. +But now, after we had sung our songs together +for the last time, and came to bid him farewell, +we were all moved to weeping. I will never forget his +last words, as he pressed our hands, with tears in his +eyes, and said, in a low, sad voice that thrilled through +my inmost being, "Boys, if I never see you here again, +try to meet me on the other side of Jordan." Never +did we look upon his noble face again!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FIRST TRAGEDY.</h3> + + +<p>We will first narrate the history of the nine soldiers +and their leader, from whom we parted with so much +sorrow and foreboding when the remainder of us were +sent to Knoxville. Various reasons have been conjectured +for this separation, one of which has been given +in the preceding chapter. Another that has been entertained +by many of the party, who have had the opportunity +of reviewing the facts, is that the enemy was +now ready to proceed in the work of vengeance, and +wished to lessen any possible danger of escape on our +part when we had been driven to desperation by the +beginning of the bloody work. If this was their design, +it was not without success, for the attempt to +escape, fixed for the very day of our separation, was in +consequence postponed for a time.</p> + +<p>A week elapsed, during which nothing occurred to +break the monotony of imprisonment. The plan of +escape had been modified to be more easily within the +reach of the diminished numbers of the prisoners. The +jack-knife, which had made keys for unlocking the +handcuffs, was again brought into use. The jail walls +consisted of brick, and were lined inside with heavy +plank, reaching to the top of the upper room and covering +the ceiling. Three men leaned against the wall, +while a fourth stood on their shoulders, and with the +knife cut into the heavy plank overhead. It was no +light task to cut out a hole large enough to admit the +passage of a man's body into the attic. A small part +of each day only could be devoted to the work, and the +utmost vigilance was needed to prevent discovery. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +"singing hour" was especially serviceable, as then the +noise of the knife could not be heard. The cut, when +so nearly completed as to require little more labor, was +so filled up as not to attract notice from below, and attention +given to other parts of the work. Just then an +incident occurred which added the energy of desperation +to the efforts for liberty.</p> + +<p>Captain Laws entered the prison-yard one day, while +our comrades were enjoying the shade of the prison in the +afternoon breathing-spell, which had been procured by +the kindness of Colonel Cleiburne and himself, and going +up to Andrews, with averted face, handed him a paper. +Andrews glanced at it, stood perfectly still a moment, +and then silently turned, and walked up-stairs into the +cell, the door of which had been left open. No one of +his comrades said a word, but all felt that something +dreadful had happened. The officer, who seemed hardly +able to control his own emotion, waited for a little time, +and then telling the prisoners very gently that it was +time to close up the prison, guarded them back to their +room.</p> + +<p>The explanation Andrews then gave was scarcely +needed. He had received his death-sentence! A week +from that day had been appointed as the time, and +hanging as the mode of his execution. The sorrow +of the brave men was indescribable. The many noble +qualities of our leader had won not only respect but +love. His unselfish regard for every one of his companions +in misfortune, his cheerful, kindly manner +under the greatest sufferings, had made a deep impression +even on his guards,—much more on his comrades.</p> + +<p>But there was one gleam of hope. Andrews and his +party resolved at once to carry out their projects for +breaking out of the jail. These soldiers would have +dared anything in the hope of saving their leader; besides, +the feeling was general that this execution would +be but the beginning. Some of the number had always +maintained that no hope existed save the gleam that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +might come from some desperate attempt for liberty, +such as they were now to put forth.</p> + +<p>But an additional obstacle was interposed,—Andrews +was put down in "the hole" after receiving his sentence. +This required the well-worn knife to be again +used, sparingly but persistently. Notches were sawed +in the planks which held the bolts of the trap-door, +and an old blanket or two, with some articles of clothing, +were twisted into ropes. When all this was done, +although the first flush of dawn began to appear in the +east, they dared not risk the chance of their work being +discovered the next day, and accordingly resolved to go +at once. Andrews had been drawn up out of the hole, +and it was agreed to give him the first chance for his +life. Andrews and John Wollam were in the loft or +attic over the prison room, while all the others, in their +assigned order, were ready to mount up through the +aperture they had cut in the ceiling. A few bricks in +the outside wall had also been removed, and enough +of the rude ropes prepared to allow one by one to descend +to the ground. The hope was that by taking off +their boots and moving very cautiously, each one could +go into the loft and out through the hole in the wall, +and clamber down the outside blanket-ropes without disturbing +the repose of the guard. Those who got down +first were to wait beside the jail until all their comrades +were on the ground before attempting to dash across +the jail-fence and the guard-line outside.</p> + +<p>It was an anxious moment. They could see the dim +form of the sentry, and hear his measured tread, as he +paced back and forth not a dozen yards away. The +word was passed from one to another in the prison that +all was ready.</p> + +<p>Andrews crept out first and swung over the wall, but +in doing so loosened a piece of mortar or a brick, which +fell to the ground with a loud "thump," and attracted +the notice of the sentry outside, who instantly gave the +alarm, firing his gun and calling "Halt! halt! Corporal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +of the guard!" The whole guard was instantly +aroused, and the firing became rapid. Andrews, however, +dropped to the ground, darted to the fence, and +was over before he could be prevented. Wollam heard +the noise from the inside, and knowing that caution +was now needless, sprang through the wall, and slid +with the greatest rapidity to the ground. A number +of shots were fired while he was suspended in the air, +but the dim light and the hurry and confusion were +not favorable to a steady aim, and he, also, got to the +ground and over the fence unhurt. Dorsey was third +in order, but was too late. Before he could get into the +loft the guard were ready to make sure work of any +who might follow. He prudently turned to his comrades +and said, "It is all up with us!" The whole +town was soon aroused. High officers visited the prison +to see how many had escaped. They found the remaining +eight safely ironed as before, the keys having +been brought into use. The natural supposition was +that only the two who were missing had succeeded in +getting off their irons, and that the others had not escaped +because too tightly fettered. They were, however, +put down in "the hole" as an additional security, +and all damages to the prison carefully repaired, while +the guard manifested unusual vigilance. The afternoon +airing was forbidden, and all the strictness which had +marked the first confinement in Chattanooga returned. +The poor captives were made to feel that they had now +nothing to expect but the sternest dealings.</p> + +<p>One consolation was left them in the hope that their +comrades had made good their flight, and that the +death-sentence of Andrews could not now be executed. +When the firing was first heard the not unnatural inference +was that both the fugitives had perished, but +they knew that <i>such</i> news would soon have been imparted +to them; and as days passed by, their hope +strengthened that two, at least, of their fated company +would get back to the Union lines to tell the story of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +their adventures and sufferings. How far these hopes +were realized will be seen in the sequel.</p> + +<p>When Andrews left the prison it was nearly day, so +that he knew he could not long continue his flight without +detection. He went only a few hundred yards +away from the city, and there finding a dense tree, +climbed, unobserved, into its branches. It was in plain +view of the railroad and the river. All day long he +remained in this uncomfortable position, and saw the +trains passing almost under his feet, and heard his pursuers +speculating as to what could possibly have become +of him. The search all over the vicinity was most +thorough, but fortunately no one thought of looking +into the tree.</p> + +<p>At night he came down and swam the river, but +becoming entangled in some drift-wood, floated down +past Chattanooga, and did not disengage himself until +he had lost most of his clothing. His boots had been +lost in the first alarm, and he was thus placed in the +most unfavorable position for escaping, but he journeyed +on as well as he could. Though so much superior, in +many particulars, to his followers, yet in trying to escape +in the woods he seems to have been as much inferior. +As will be seen, Wollam, and, at a later period, +many others of the number, were far more skilful or +fortunate than he. Early in the morning he crossed an +open field on his way to a tree in which he intended to +take shelter as on the preceding day, but unfortunately +he was observed. Immediate pursuit was made, but +he dashed through the woods and regained the river +much lower down than the day before. Here he swam +a narrow channel and reached a small island, where, +for a time, he secreted himself among some drift-wood at +the upper end of the island. In all his terrible struggle +he seemed to look to the river and to trees for safety. +These became fixed ideas, and possibly interfered with +his seeking refuge in any other manner. But the loss +of clothing at the outset was a fatal misfortune.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>A party with blood-hounds now came over from the +mainland to search the island for him. The dogs +came upon him, but he broke away from them, and +ran around the lower end of the island, wading in the +shallow water, and in this way throwing the hounds off +the track; then he plunged into the dense thicket with +which the island was covered, and again ascended a +tree. There for a long time he remained securely concealed, +while his pursuers searched the whole island. +Frequently they were under the very tree, whose high +foliage effectually screened him from the gaze of dogs +and men. At last they abandoned the search in despair, +concluding that he had by some means left the +island. Slowly they took their departure to devise +new plans of search. Two little boys, who came along +merely from curiosity, were all that were left behind.</p> + +<p>At length, in their play, one of them looked upward, +and said that he saw a great bunch on a tree. The +other looked,—shifted his position,—looked again, and +exclaimed, "Why, it is <i>a man</i>!" They were alarmed +and cried aloud, thus announcing their discovery to +their friends on shore. The latter instantly returned, +and Andrews, seeing himself discovered, dropped from +the tree, ran to the lower end of the island, took a +small log, with a limb for a paddle, and shoved into +the stream, hoping to reach the opposite shore before +he could be overtaken. But there was another party +lower down the river with a skiff, who saw him and +rowed out to meet him. Thus enclosed, he gave over +the hopeless struggle, and surrendered to his fate,—inevitable +death! He afterwards said that he felt a sense +almost of relief when the end had come and he knew +the worst. From the time of losing his clothing in the +drift-wood he had but little expectation of ultimate escape. +The spectacle of a man condemned to death, +starving and naked, hunted through the woods and +waters by dogs and men, is one of the most pitiable +that can be imagined.</p> + +<div class='center'> +EVERY SCHOLAR SHOULD POSSESS A GOOD DICTIONARY.<br /> +<br /> +A NEW EDITION OF<br /> +<br /> +WORCESTER'S UNABRIDGED QUARTO DICTIONARY<br /> +<br /> +<b>WITH SUPPLEMENT</b>,<br /> +<br /> +<b>Embracing 204 Additional Pages, containing 12,500 New Words and a Vocabulary<br /> +of Synonymes of Words in General Use.</b><br /> +<br /> +FULLY ILLUSTRATED AND UNABRIDGED.<br /> +<br /> +With Four Full-page Illuminated Plates. Library Sheep, Marbled Edges, $10.00. 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LIPPINCOTT & CO., +</div> +<div class='right'> +<i>775 and 717 Market Street, Philadelphia</i>. +</div> + +<p>(OVER.)</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 374px;"> +<a href="images/i222-hi.png"><img src="images/i222.png" width="374" height="600" alt="Advertisement 2" title="" /></a> +</div> + +<p>Alfred Wilson,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +who was one of the eight who failed +to escape, speaks in feeling terms of the manner in +which their leader was brought back to them on the +third day after escaping. He says,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"At the prison we were startled by a rumor that Andrews had +been taken, but we at first gave little credence to it, probably because +we did not desire to believe it. But, alas! the rumor was +only too true, for soon after, a strong guard of soldiers, having in +charge a prisoner, followed by a rabble of citizens, approached +the prison. It was Andrews! Oh, how our hearts and hopes +sank down within us beyond the power of expression!... I +could have prayed that death had spared me those painful +moments, the most harrowing of my life. He was the most +wretched and pitiable human being I ever saw,—a sight which +horrified us all, and even drew words of compassion from some +of our prison guards. His own brother would scarcely have been +able to recognize him. It did not seem possible that the short +space of three days could have wrought a change so startling. +As he lay there chained to the floor, naked, bloody, bruised, and +speechless, he seemed more dead than alive. He had not eaten a +morsel since he left us,—during which time he had made the +most desperate struggle for liberty and life. He had swam +about seven miles in the river in his efforts to keep clear of +the dogs. His feet were literally torn to shreds by running over +the sharp stones and through the brush. Towards the last he left +blood at every step. His back and shoulders were sun-blistered +almost to the bone, and so completely exhausted was he that he +could hardly move his limbs after he was brought in. His face +was pale, haggard, and emaciated. His eyes, which were sunken, +gave forth a wild, despairing, unnatural light.</p> + +<p>"When we were left to ourselves, we drew around the miserable +man, and, after he had somewhat revived, he told us in that +low, calm tone of voice in which he always spoke, and which +seldom failed to impress the listeners favorably towards the man, +the whole story of his unfortunate attempt to escape. He told +us he had but little time to live, and that now, after having +made every effort to save his life and to rescue us, and failed, he +felt reconciled and resigned to his fate. He said he was incapable +of doing anything more to help himself, and only regretted that +his death could not in some way be instrumental in saving us, +his comrades. He counselled us all against the fallacy of hoping +for an exchange, or for any mercy from those into whose hands +we had fallen. He said his doom foreshadowed our own, and +entreated us to prepare for the worst, and, when the time came, +to prove to them that we were as brave in confronting an ignominious +death for our country's sake as we had been fearless in +doing service for her."</p></blockquote> + +<p>A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> few more words will finish this pitiful story. +Andrews, in Wilson's opinion, was somewhat of a +fatalist, or at least was haunted with a presentiment +of coming doom from the time he had fairly entered +upon this expedition. He had not long to wait. He +was put back into "the hole," but not before a negro +blacksmith had welded a pair of heavy fetters upon his +ankles, and connected them with a chain only about +eighteen inches in length. A scaffold was prepared +for him in Chattanooga, but the indications of an advance +by Mitchel, and, possibly, expressions of sympathy +on the part of the citizens, induced the authorities +at the last moment to transfer the death-scene to Atlanta. +His comrades were sent with him to that town. +On the way to Atlanta he was taunted with his approaching +doom by the crowds, who surrounded every +station.</p> + +<p>It was the day appointed for the execution. On +reaching Atlanta Andrews and his eight companions +were conducted to a second-story room, not far from +the depot. In a little time a body of soldiers marched +up into the building, an officer appeared at the door, +and, while all were silent as death, said, in a low, almost +faltering tone, "Come on now, Mr. Andrews." He instantly +arose, and the low, sad "Farewell, boys," spoken +in his calmest, sweetest tones, mingled with the horrible +clanking of his chains, as he walked out with the +short, halting step his irons compelled. This was the +final separation.</p> + +<p>The survivors were conducted to the city jail of Atlanta, +and there placed in an iron cage. At meal-time +the guards told them how bravely Andrews died. His +fortitude stilled even the clamorous spectators. The +dying agony was protracted by the unskilfulness of +the executioner, the rope stretching so that his feet +touched the ground. But the earth was shovelled +away, and the brave spirit set free. Why should the +gallows be accounted infamous when courage and patriotism<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +there meet a hero's death? The cross was +once esteemed more shameful than the gallows now, +but one death has sanctified that instrument forever!</p> + +<p>The grave of Andrews at Atlanta was unmarked, +and, in the many changes that have taken place there, +it is probably lost forever. The most diligent search +on the part of the writer failed to discover it. But the +rope adjudged by the court-martial, all of whose members +have passed into obscurity with the downfall of +the rebellion they served, cannot desecrate his memory. +No flowers can be placed on his unknown grave by +loyal hands, but loving tears will fall freely for him as +long as hearts can feel for the extremity of misfortune +that gathered around the last hours of the man who +planned and boldly executed the most romantic and +perilous enterprise of the Great Civil War.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>A CONFEDERATE COURT-MARTIAL.</h3> + + +<p>Before describing the adventures of Wollam—Andrews' +companion in flight from the Chattanooga prison—we +will turn towards the twelve prisoners destined +for Knoxville, where a yet more fearful tragedy was +in preparation.</p> + +<p>On parting from our comrades we were escorted to +the cars by Colonel Cleiburne, where we found, much +to our gratification, that we were to be guarded by a +party of Morgan's guerrillas, whose exploits were then +greatly celebrated. Cleiburne recommended us to the +humane care of these partisans, saying, "These prisoners +are men, like other men, and gentlemen too, and I +want them treated as such." This charge from the +generous Irishman, for such he was, did much to secure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +courteous treatment from our guard. Indeed, the position +of the irregular soldiers who served under the +guerrilla chief was such as to make them admire rather +than blame the bold enterprise that led to our capture. +They were themselves in citizen's dress, and were not +always careful to provide uniforms before penetrating +into the Federal lines. A considerable number of +their comrades had been captured under such circumstances, +and were, by every rule of right, equally liable +with ourselves to be treated as criminals. Indeed, the +position of some of their captured comrades was still +more questionable, for they had assumed the United +States uniform whenever they found it to their advantage. +The inconsistency of the rebel government in +treating our party so harshly is conclusively shown by +the fact that they had passed laws for the encouragement +of just such irregular warfare.</p> + +<p>But we have no complaint to make of these dashing +guerrillas. They were very indignant to see us in irons, +and offered to be responsible for our safe-keeping if +these were removed; but this was not allowed.</p> + +<p>As was common in our removals from prison to +prison, we had been started without any rations,—not +so much, I presume, from wanton cruelty as because +it was no one's especial business to furnish provisions. +As the journey occupied twenty-four hours (and we +were hungry to begin with), our privation would have +been considerable but for the generosity of Morgan's +men. They bought pies and whatever else they could +find at the station eating-houses, and literally feasted +us. From the time of our capture we had not experienced +such treatment, and only hoped that these generous +enemies might have charge of us as long as we +remained in Confederate territory,—a hope which was +not realized. We never met them again.</p> + +<p>We arrived in Knoxville shortly after noon, having +spent the night on the cars, and were marched through +the hot, dusty streets to the city jail,—an old building<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +of peculiar architecture,—solid, square, and massive, +presenting quite an imposing appearance. It was used +as a military prison, and was filled from top to bottom +with ragged, dirty-looking prisoners. Some Union +men, and several rebel soldiers who had been captured +while attempting to desert, were with them. These +constituted the less-valued class of prisoners, and were +permitted to range over most of the building, which, +however, was completely encircled outside, and watched +in every passage-way, by a strong guard.</p> + +<p>The class of prisoners whose offences were considered +of a more aggravated character were shut up in cages. +There were five of these cages, two of which were at +once cleared for our reception. The smaller was seven +by nine feet, and four of us were put in it. The larger +was perhaps ten by twelve, and held the remaining +eight.</p> + +<p>We arrived at Knoxville in the latter part of May, +and remained until June 10. Outside, the weather was +intensely warm, but the enormous mass of iron and +stone in the walls of the prison made it comparatively +cool within. The days here spent were not altogether +unpleasant. Our food was scanty and of indifferent +quality, but as long as we were allowed hope I did not +feel much disposed to complain of this. Besides, many +of the Union men of Knoxville, who visited us, were +liberal in the gift of money, and by employing the services +of those prisoners who were less strictly guarded, +we were able to get many an extra loaf of bread.</p> + +<p>We here became acquainted with some Tennesseeans +who were long our companions. One of the most remarkable +was an old man named Pierce. He presented +a most peculiar appearance, having at some +period of his history received a terrible blow with a +gun-barrel, which left a permanent gash more than an +inch deep clear across the forehead from the nose to +his hair. From this circumstance he was variously +known in the prison as "Forked Head," "Old Gun-barrel,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +etc. He presented the singular combination +of great piety and great profanity, singing hymns and +cursing the Confederacy with equal zeal. But his +friendship for Union soldiers knew no bounds, and, +being very bold, he was able to render us many valuable +services.</p> + +<p>Another East Tennesseean, more widely known, was +Captain Fry, of Greenville, a town near the Virginia +boundary. He was confined in a cage, and considered +by our guards almost equally criminal with ourselves. +Early in the war he had gathered a number of his +neighbors, and, running the gauntlet of guarded roads, +succeeded in reaching our army in Kentucky. Here +he was appointed captain of his recruits, and remained +for some time. When an advance into East Tennessee +through Cumberland Gap was contemplated, the Union +general asked him to return to his home, organize the +loyal citizens of that vicinity, burn the bridges on the +Richmond and Knoxville Railroad, and then to keep +possession of the mountainous region till our forces +could arrive. With the most explicit assurances of +speedy aid, he departed on his perilous mission. Success +on his part was rapid and complete. He raised +fifteen hundred men, obstructed all communications, +burned the bridges, and seriously threatened Knoxville +itself. A very small Union reinforcement could +then have rendered invaluable services, and all the +men needed for the work were assembled not far from +Cumberland Gap. But the attention of the military +authorities was then turned in another direction, and +the plan of advancing into East Tennessee was accordingly +abandoned. No word of the change reached +Fry, who struggled on alone. But the odds were too +great. An overwhelming force of the enemy was +thrown upon him, and after several contests he and his +brave men were forced to disperse. A few succeeded +in reaching the loyal lines, and these mostly enlisted in +our army. Others were captured, and many of them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +hanged as rebels! General Leadbetter was very conspicuous +in this savage work. Fry himself passed the +whole winter in hiding among the wild mountains of +that section, and in the spring mustered several hundred +of those who were fugitives like himself, and tried +to reach the Union lines. Near the border he was +overtaken by a superior rebel force, and after a severe +contest he was defeated, wounded, and taken prisoner. +This was on the 5th of March, 1862, and he was kept +in solitary confinement until placed with us on the 11th +of June following. Captain Fry's subsequent fortunes +were closely united with those of our party—indeed, +with my own—and will be related in due time.</p> + +<p>When I bring back in memory the minute impressions +of those eventful days, I feel surprise that so +many hours of comparative pleasure were found. We +had here many persons to converse with. We had +light and air, which we had not at Chattanooga. We +procured newspapers with frequency, no attempt being +made to prevent this as in other prisons, and were able +to form some idea of the gigantic contest in which we +were so deeply interested, and which at that time progressed +hopefully. We had become most intimate with +each other, and would not allow despondency or brooding +over trouble to take hold upon any one of our +number. We also provided employment for each +waking hour, and until those tragic events occurred +which deepened the gloom around us we were comparatively +hopeful and happy. I even managed to take +up the thread of my law studies and prosecute them +vigorously. I sent word through a visitor to a law +firm—Baxter & Temple—that I wanted to borrow +"Greenleaf on Evidence," and almost as much to my +surprise as pleasure the volumes were promptly sent. +The prison made quite a good study, and the spectacle +of a man reading law in an iron cage seemed to guards +and visitors alike an excellent jest. But I could afford +to let them laugh, for mine was the gain, not only in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +the knowledge acquired, but in causing the prison days +to pass less wearily.</p> + +<p>Before we had been long at Knoxville we were visited +by an officer, whom we had seen frequently in +Chattanooga, and who told us that he was judge-advocate +of a court-martial about to convene, and notified +us to prepare for trial. Neither this intelligence nor +his manner in giving it was at all alarming. We knew +that we had been ordered to Knoxville for this very +purpose, and were only anxious to have the trial soon +over, that we might be formally declared prisoners of +war, and thus be placed in position to be exchanged, if +an opportunity should occur. To this end we asked +the judge-advocate if we would all be put on trial at +once, and when he answered in the negative, we urged +the expediency and justice of that course, assuring him +that the cases of all were precisely alike. But he refused +with some curtness. We next asked that he +would select one of our number to be tried, whose +award might determine the position of the whole party, +and offering to sign a paper agreeing to this course. +This he also refused, with the declaration that the court +knew its own business, and that every one of us should +be tried on his own merits. The only reason I have +ever been able to imagine for this course is that the intentions +towards us were much more serious than we +had been allowed to conjecture, and that it would have +looked too absurd to arraign so large a band of private +soldiers from one brigade on the charge of being spies. +We asked him for the charge on which the trial was to +take place, and with some apparent hesitation he gave +it,—the same against all. It was charged, in substance, +that we were enemies who were lurking in and around +Confederate camps <i>as spies</i> for the purpose of obtaining +military information. Not one word was said +about seizing the cars or anything that we did or tried +to do. Wilson spoke out boldly, and said, "But you +know we are not spies, and have yourself told us that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +we cannot be held as such." Then, with what I cannot +but consider as deep deception, he replied that their +expectation now was to obtain a negative verdict, which +would justify them in exchanging us. He further advised +us to employ counsel and put our cause in good +shape, but not to make ourselves uneasy. The whole +conversation left some apprehension upon our minds, +but in the case of most of us the inherent hopefulness +of youth soon banished it.</p> + +<p>Our plan of defence has been partly indicated before. +It was to tell just who we were and what we had done, +and to claim that we were United States soldiers, detailed +on a military expedition without our own consent +or knowledge, and simply obeying orders. We were +to deny in the strongest terms that we had been lurking +about any camps, or that we had sought or obtained +any military information. No question was to be answered +that would lead to the discovery of the engineer +or tend to show that any one had volunteered for this +service. As to evidence against us, we knew that our +recorded confessions, made when we were first brought +to Chattanooga, could be used, and possibly the evidence +of those who first captured us. But no one could say +anything about our lurking around Confederate camps. +We had been within the guard-lines at Big Shanty, but +we were no more "lurking" there than a body of cavalry +who might charge into a camp. Indeed, we felt +sure that the charge, in the form it bore, could not be +sustained. To make the greatest impression of candor, +our story was sketched in brief, with the approval of +the whole number, and, at a subsequent visit of the +judge-advocate, handed to him. He took our signatures +to it, and it was read on the trials as our confession. +It saved our enemies some trouble in the matter +of witnesses, and put our case in what we judged the +most favorable light.</p> + +<p>Baxter & Temple, who had so kindly accommodated +me with books, were willing to act as our counsel.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +They stipulated that, as fast as tried, we should give +them our notes for one hundred and fifty dollars each. +They did not care for the money, and, indeed, the prospect +of obtaining it was not very favorable. But their +own safety required that their help should appear to be +purely professional. They assured me privately that +they were loyal to our government and would do us +any favor they dared. They did promote our comfort +by the secret gift of some money.</p> + +<p>The story of the trials may soon be told. The +charges and specifications of William Campbell were +first handed in. He was a citizen of Kentucky in +reality, but claimed to be a member of Company K, +Second Ohio, and we were careful to endorse his statement. +It was never suspected that he stood in any +different relation from his comrades. After the overthrow +of the Confederacy the writer obtained copies +of these charges and specifications, together with many +other papers from the rebel archives. They are still +on file at Washington. With the exception of the +change of names and position in the army, the charges +were precisely alike in all the cases.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<i>Charge.</i>—Violation of Section 2d of the 101st Article of the +Rules and Articles of War.</p> + +<p>"<i>Specification 1st.</i>—In that the said William Campbell, private +Company 'K,' Second Ohio Regiment, U.S.A., not owing allegiance +to the Confederate States of America, and being in the +service and army of the United States, then and now at war with +the Confederate States of America, did, on or about the 7th day +of April, 1862, leave the army of the United States, then lying +near Shelbyville, Tennessee, and with a company of about twenty +other soldiers of the United States army, all dressed in citizen's +clothes, repair to Chattanooga, Tennessee, entering covertly +within the lines of the Confederate forces at that post, and did +thus, on or about the 11th day of April, 1862, lurk as a spy in and +about the encampment of said forces, representing himself as a +citizen of Kentucky going to join the Southern army.</p> + +<p>"<i>Specification 2d.</i>—And the said William Campbell, private +Company 'K,' Second Ohio Regiment, U.S.A., thus dressed in +citizen's clothes, and representing himself as a citizen of Kentucky +going to join the Southern army, did proceed by railroad +to Marietta, Georgia,—thus covertly pass through the lines of +the Confederate forces stationed at Chattanooga, Dalton, and +Camp McDonald, and did thus, on or about the 11th day of April, +1862, lurk as a spy in and about the said encampments of the +Confederate forces at the places stated aforesaid."</p></blockquote> + +<p>All mention of the capture of the train, with the +terrible chase that followed, is entirely omitted from +this paper. Could this be for any other reason than +that this sequel would disprove the fact of "lurking as +a spy," on which the whole charge is made to turn, and +make the whole expedition appear of a distinctive military +character? The whole charge of "lurking as a +spy" was constructive—not real. No evidence could +be adduced to show that any one of us had lingered +for a single hour at any one of the three Confederate +encampments mentioned. Neither was there any evidence +that our false stories were told inside of any +encampment.</p> + +<p>With charges which were simply a recital of a small +part of our own admissions and some inference from +them, the trials were very simple and brief. William +Campbell was taken out first, the above paper read to +him, and he responded, "Not true, so far as lurking in +any camp or being a spy is concerned." The plea of +"not guilty" was then entered for him, our own confession +read, one or two minor witnesses called, and he returned +to prison. The next day another man was taken +to the court and the same story rehearsed. Thus each +day one trial only took place, and no pleadings were +heard by the prisoner, either for or against himself, +and no sentence was given. The time occupied in each +session of the court was not much more than an hour. +The table around which the court sat was covered with +bottles, newspapers, and novels, and the members occupied +themselves during the proceedings in discussing +these. All this was very well if the object was, as they +assured us, merely to put formally on record our true +character as prisoners of war; but it was most heartless +if the trial was in earnest, and a matter of life or death.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wilson related to me a ludicrous incident that occurred +when he was on trial. No instance of his being +anywhere within the guard-lines was proved. A young +lieutenant requested to be placed on the witness-stand +to testify of one occasion when he knew that the prisoner +had passed their picket-lines. His offer was gladly +accepted. On being sworn, he stated that he had commanded +a picket-post which included the Chattanooga +ferry, and this ferry the prisoner admitted passing. Immediately +the president of the court arose and said that +the young gentleman was mistaken, as he himself commanded +the guard that day, and that <i>no guard was +placed at the ferry</i>. The whole court was thrown into +a roar of laughter, and the confusion of our would-be +convictor may be imagined.</p> + +<p>Our lawyers visited us frequently in the prison for +the purpose of consultation, and expressed themselves +as delighted with the turn matters were taking. No +evidence had been found to discredit or go beyond our +own statements. They said that all the plans of the +prosecution had been deranged, and that if convicted +now, it would be through mere prejudice and perjury +on the part of the court.</p> + +<p>There was one feature of the trial, however, which I +did not like, and against which we protested with all our +power. No one who was tried was allowed to be present +to hear the pleading of counsel on either side. We could +neither hear what the judge-advocate urged against us +nor what our lawyers said in our favor. Even at the +trial of Andrews, in Chattanooga, he had not been debarred +this privilege. But in this, and one other particular +to be narrated later, the rebels used our soldiers +with less show of justice than had been accorded to +Andrews himself.</p> + +<p>After three or four of our number had been tried, +one of our lawyers read to us the plea, which he said +he had read after the trial of each man, and would continue +to read. It appeared to me to be a paper of great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +ability, and I cannot conceive how it could be successfully +answered. Judge-Advocate-General Holt officially +speaks of it as "This just and unanswerable +presentation of the case." It was contended that our +being dressed in citizen's clothes instead of Federal +uniforms, which was the only unmilitary incident in +the whole history, ought not to weigh against us, because +this was nothing more than the Confederate government +had expressly authorized in the case of their +own soldiers, and that making war without uniform +was practised by all the guerrillas in the Confederate +service,—by some from necessity, and by others because +they were thus able better to escape detection, and inflict +more damage upon the enemy. A special instance +was cited in which General Morgan had dressed a detachment +of his partisans in Federal uniform, and +passed them off as belonging to the Eighth Pennsylvania +Cavalry, by which means he had succeeded in +reaching and damaging a railroad within the Federal +lines. Some of these very men were captured by the +Federal government, and were, up to the present, held +as prisoners of war. To decide that we were spies +because we were captured without our uniform would +not only provoke retaliation, but establish a principle +far more dangerous to the Confederate than to the +Federal forces. It was urged that we had stated the +object of our expedition, which was a purely military +one, and as such entirely within the laws of war. No +evidence had been adduced to show that we were other +than what we claimed. The plea closed by asking what +good purpose could be served by sacrificing ignominiously +the lives of so many brave men on a charge +which had been conclusively disproved by the evidence, +and which every member of the court knew to be really +untrue. We were not spies in fact, and to call us such +against their own convictions, and on merely technical +and constructive grounds, would be as unwise as it was +cruel. The plea did <i>not</i> embrace one argument which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +added very much to our hopefulness, and which our +lawyers considered likely to have a great weight with +the court, though they dared not formally state it. +McClellan had not yet been repulsed before Richmond, +and the collapse of the Rebellion seemed imminent. +The same rigid construction which was necessary to +make us spies would assuredly render them all liable to +the punishment of treason, and they were not in a position +to make it prudent to invoke the utmost severities +and extreme penalties of the laws of war. As I glance +back over the lapse of twenty years it still seems to me +strange that the decision of the court-martial in our +favor could have been for a moment doubtful. But, +alas! reason and sound judgment do not always rule in +human affairs. Though we knew it not then, the life +of every man in that Knoxville prison was trembling +in the balance.</p> + +<p>For one whole week—seven days—the trials went +on, the same forms being used in the case of each man, +who was taken out for an hour and returned, knowing +nothing of his sentence, having heard no pleading +against himself, and being treated in no sense differently +after his trial. On the seventh day we read that General +Mitchel had advanced to Chattanooga and was shelling +the town across the river, and also, that the Federal General +Morgan was advancing from Cumberland Gap, and +threatening Knoxville. We fervently hoped that the +latter would settle the question of our fate by capturing +the town while we were still in it. This would have +done away with all further perplexity as to the decision +of the court-martial!</p> + +<p>This advance did prevent all further trials. The +officers of the court were hurried off to their regiments +to resist the enemy. From the newspapers, which some +prisoners managed to obtain every day, and then loaned +or read to all the others, we were kept well informed +as to the progress of events. Some of the intelligence +they brought thrilled us to our souls. More than a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +week before this we read of the escape of Andrews and +Wollam from the Chattanooga prison. We greatly rejoiced, +believing firmly that our leader would be sure +to get to our lines, and then use all his influence to secure +some form of help for us. The news of his recapture +overthrew all these hopes and filled us with anxious +apprehension, although we were ignorant of his +being sentenced to death. Of the fate of Wollam +nothing was stated.</p> + +<p>But a more terrible blow was in store. One day a +newspaper was silently passed up to our cage by some +friend outside, and, glancing at it, the first thing that +arrested our attention was an account of <i>the execution of +Andrews</i>! With equal silence we sent it into the other +cage. Just before this deadly intelligence came we had +been engaged in story-telling and in various games, for +we were always merry, refusing to indulge in gloomy +forebodings. But this was the sudden opening of an +awful gulf at our feet. All noise and merriment were +suspended, and we passed the whole day in mourning. +We could not talk to our guards as lightly as we had +done before, for there was now blood between us. We +all loved Andrews, and would have undergone any +peril to save him, but there was no possibility now +even of vengeance. And, although his fate was governed +by different principles from ours, we could not +help feeling more distrustful of our own position.</p> + +<p>An extra guard, bearing a great number of ropes, +came in the morning after the last trial, and we were +called out of our cages. This was startling, as we had +no hint of their purpose, and the word was even passed +around that we were all to be taken out and hanged +immediately. But one of the outside prisoners found +an opportunity to inform us that he had overheard the +commander saying that he was to remove us to prevent +our capture in case of a sudden Federal dash upon +Knoxville. This convinced us that we were only to +have another of our frequent changes of prisons.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> + +<p>In our cages here we had not been ironed, and, as +our fetters had been used on some prisoners sent to +Richmond, we were now obliged to content ourselves +with a most liberal allowance of cotton rope. It was +this provision for tying us which at first excited our +apprehensions.</p> + +<p>While we were being securely bound I had an +amusing passage-at-words with the adjutant, who was +superintending that operation. I said to him, as politely +as I could,—</p> + +<p>"I suppose, sir, our destination is not known?"</p> + +<p>"It is not known to you at any rate, sir," was the +gruff rejoinder.</p> + +<p>This was noticed by the whole party, and I felt +rather beaten; but a moment later came my chance +for revenge. He turned again to me, and said, in a +dictatorial manner,—</p> + +<p>"Who was it that run your engine through?"</p> + +<p>I bowed, and returned in the blandest tone, "<i>That is +not known to you at any rate, sir</i>."</p> + +<p>All the prisoners around roared with laughter, and +the adjutant, reddening to the eyes, turned away, muttering +that he believed I was the engineer myself!</p> + +<p>When the process of tying was completed to the +adjutant's satisfaction, we took our departure southward, +and passed through Chattanooga once more, but, to our +satisfaction, did not stop there. We continued southward, +in the direction of Atlanta. No rations were +taken for us, as usual, and having on this occasion no +guerrillas to buy us supplies, we were obliged to fast +the whole time. At various stations the populace +taunted us with Andrews' death, and charitably hoped +we might soon meet the same fate. The remark was +often made that we were going to Atlanta to be hanged +there, as he had been! Captain Fry, Pierce, and a few +other of the East Tennesseeans were taken along with +us. Before we reached Chattanooga, we had, as I +thought, an excellent chance to effect our escape. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +journey was so slow that night came on, and our guard, +wearied with the frequent delays, had relaxed their +vigilance, and most of them slept by our sides. They +exceeded us in numbers, and were armed, while we +were tied. But our two months' experience had made +us adepts in some of the poor, pitiful arts prisoners +soon learn. We could communicate without exciting +the suspicions of the soldiers, who were sitting in the +very seats with us, and scarcely one of our number had +failed to so "settle himself" in the cotton ropes that +they could have been thrown off at a moment's notice. +To be ready at a signal, to dash out the two lights that +burned in our car, each of us to seize the musket of the +man nearest us while the train was in motion, to secure +the doors, and let no one get out, or make any alarm, +seemed to me easy enough. Then we could have uncoupled +our car, and, <i>with the arms of our guard</i>, +have started across the country towards the Union +lines, which could not have been more than thirty or +forty miles west of us. But George D. Wilson opposed +the project with all his energy. He thought we might +succeed, but some would probably be killed in the scuffle, +and all might be captured outside, and then our +case be made much worse, while by simply remaining +quiet, we were sure of a speedy exchange. He had +talked for hours with the captain of our guard, who +was certain that our case had been virtually decided in +our favor. He encouraged Wilson by saying that he +had heard officers high in authority say that it had +been necessary to execute Mr. Andrews, as he was a +Confederate citizen, and as an example; but that this +was enough, and that no other would suffer anything +worse than possibly, if no favorable exchange could be +arranged, the penalty of being kept to the close of the +war. This, in Wilson's opinion, was not far distant. +Wilson's opposition made us regretfully yield the attempt. +Could the future have been foreseen our decision +would undoubtedly have been reversed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + +<p>Atlanta, we found, was our destination. Here, almost +in the centre of the rebel States, the Confederates +were as yet free from interruption by Union armies. +Andrews had already perished in this city, and here +our own fate was to be determined. As we marched, +with ropes bound tightly round our hands and pinioning +our arms, from the depot to the Atlanta city jail, a +crowd gathered around us, as usual, and a man, calling +himself the mayor of the city, addressed himself first +to Captain Fry, telling him that he knew his history +and would soon have the pleasure of hanging him. +Then turning to us, he boasted that he had put the rope +around Andrews' neck and was waiting and anxious to +do the same for us!</p> + +<p>The city prison was much smaller than that at Knoxville, +but was quite a large edifice. The lower story +was occupied by the jailer and family. The upper +story contained four rooms, two on each side of an +entry, into which the staircase from below led. We, in +company with Captain Fry, were given one of these +rooms. The other Tennesseeans brought from Knoxville +with us were put into another, just across the +entry from us. Our comrades, who had been left behind +at Chattanooga, had been in this building ever +since the death of Andrews, and in the third room. +The fourth room was on the same side as our own, and +had a succession of occupants,—frequently negroes who +had been in search of the North Star. This jail was +to be our home for many eventful months.</p> + +<p>For some days our food was comparatively good and +abundant. Turner, the jailer, was a kind man, and, in +a mild way, of Union sentiments. He showed us all +the favor in his power, and, indeed, became so much +suspected that an odious old man named Thoer was +sent to watch him. The change in our condition was +at once manifest. Our fare became worse and more +scanty than in any former prison. The constant vigilance +of this spy kept the jailer from doing anything<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +to mitigate our sufferings. But in this prison we had +one great relief. Our ropes were removed and no +chains or handcuffs put upon us. Within our prison-cell +we were free. Here we remained in quiet for a +week, thinking the worst of our trials now over. Little +did we imagine how fearful a storm was about to +burst over us.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE CROWNING HORROR.</h3> + + +<p>The event described in this chapter will never be +effaced from the memory of any witness. Nothing +more terrible or more gratuitously barbarous is recorded +in the annals of civilized war. The seven men of +whose death I am now to write were all young,—from +eighteen to twenty-five. With good prospects, and +well connected, they had entered the army at the bidding +of patriotism, ready to endure every peril to insure +the triumph of the old flag. Their only offence, +when stripped of all technicality, was that of accepting +a dangerous service proposed by their own officers. +They had entered on this service in the same spirit that +they would have obeyed an order to head a desperate +charge on the enemy's fortifications. Had they perished +in the enterprise itself, their fate would have been but +the common fortune of war. But more than two +months had passed since they had been in the power +of their enemies, who had repeatedly testified admiration +for their heroism, as well as for their gallant bearing +in captivity. Prominent officers had held friendly +conversations with them and assured them of ultimate +safety. Now, without a moment's warning——. But +I must not anticipate the narration.</p> + +<p>One day—the 18th of June, 1862—while amusing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +ourselves with games and stories in our prison-cell, we +saw through the barred window a squadron of cavalry +approaching. This only excited a languid curiosity at +first, for it was a common thing to see bodies of horsemen +in the streets; but soon we saw them halt before +the gate of the high prison-wall and throw a line of +soldiers completely round the building. This was no +ordinary occurrence. What could it portend?</p> + +<p>A moment after we heard the clink of the officers' +swords as they ascended the prison stairway in unusual +numbers, while we waited the event with deep solicitude. +They paused at our door, which was unlocked +by the jailer, and the names of the seven who had +been tried at Knoxville were called over, one by one, +and each man as he was called led out of the room. +Samuel Robinson was very sick with fever, and was +not able to rise without assistance, but two guards +helped him to his feet, and he was taken out with the +others. Then the door opposite to ours, on the other +side of the hall, was opened, and the Tennesseeans in +that room put with us, while our comrades, with the +whole number of officers, went into the vacated room, +and the door was closed.</p> + +<p>With throbbing veins we asked one another the +meaning of these strange proceedings. A confused +sound was heard through the closed door opposite, as +of some one reading, but we could distinguish no +words. Some of us supposed they were taken in there +to receive their acquittal; others, still more sanguine, +maintained that they were now being paroled, preparatory +to an exchange.</p> + +<p>I was also suffering with malarial fever at that time, +but rose to my feet oppressed with a nameless fear. A +half-idiotic man who was among the Tennessee prisoners +came to me and wanted to play a game of cards. I +struck the greasy pack out of his hands, and bade him +leave me.</p> + +<p>Our terrible suspense was not of long duration. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> +door opened and George D. Wilson entered first, his +hands and arms firmly bound, and his face pale as +death, but with form erect and firm step. Some one +asked in a whisper a solution of the dreadful mystery, +for his countenance had appalled every one.</p> + +<p>"<i>We are to be executed immediately!</i>" was the awful +reply, whispered with thrilling distinctness.</p> + +<p>Behind him came the others, all tied, ready for the +scaffold! They were to be hanged at once. Not a day +nor an hour was given for preparation. From their +hopefulness and fancied security they were snatched in +a moment to die as felons! Surely no rule of war, no +military necessity, no consideration of policy, required +such frightful and murderous haste. I have never +heard a word in defence of this military massacre. +Even Andrews, our leader, was given a week for preparation +before the execution of his sentence. The +most atrocious criminals are always allowed a short +respite. For a long time I cherished the belief that +some misunderstanding of orders, some terrible error, +and not deliberate cruelty, led to this frightful haste. +But the following death-sentence seems to leave no room +for doubt. In the very centre of the Confederacy, +with hundreds of troops at their disposal for guards, +there could have been no military necessity for hurling +these poor men into eternity without one hour's warning!</p> + +<p>The following is a literal copy of the death-sentence +read to the doomed men during the few minutes they +were separated from us:</p> + +<blockquote> +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Headquarters Department East Tennessee,<br /> +"Knoxville</span>, June 14, 1862.<br /> +</div> +<p> +"<i>General Orders, No. 54. VII.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>"At a general court-martial held at Knoxville by virtue of +General Orders Nos. 21 and 34 (Department Headquarters, April +15 and May 10, 1862), whereof Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Bibb, +of the Twenty-third Regiment Alabama Volunteers, was president, +was tried George D. Wilson, private Company 'B,' Second +Ohio Regiment,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> on the following charge and specifications, to +wit:</p> + +<p>"<i>Charge.</i>—Violation of Section 2d of the 101st Article of the +Rules and Articles of War.</p> + +<p>"<i>Specification 1st.</i>—In this, that the said George D. Wilson, +private Company 'B,' Second Ohio Regiment, not owing allegiance +to the Confederate States of America, and being in the +service and army of the United States, then and now at war with +the Confederate States of America, did, on or about the 7th day +of April, 1862, leave the army of the United States, then lying +near Shelbyville, Tennessee, and with a company of about twenty +other soldiers of the United States army, all dressed in citizen's +clothes, repair to Chattanooga, Tennessee, entering covertly +within the lines of the Confederate forces at that post, and did +thus, on or about the 11th day of April, 1862, lurk as a spy in +and about the encampment of said forces, representing himself +as a citizen of Kentucky going to join the Southern army.</p> + +<p>"<i>Specification 2d.</i>—And the said George D. Wilson, private +Company 'B,' Second Ohio Regiment, U.S.A., thus dressed in +citizen's clothes, and representing himself as a citizen of Kentucky +going to join the Southern army, and did proceed by railroad +to Marietta, Georgia,—thus covertly pass through the lines +of the Confederate forces stationed at Chattanooga, Dalton, and +Camp McDonald, and did thus, on or about the 11th day of +April, 1862, lurk as a spy in and about the said encampments of +the Confederate forces at the places stated aforesaid.</p> + +<p>"To which charge and specifications the prisoner plead 'Not +Guilty.'</p> + +<p>"The court, after mature deliberation, find the accused as follows: +Of the 1st specification of the charge, 'Guilty.' Of the +2d specification of the charge, 'Guilty,' and 'Guilty of the +Charge.' And the court do therefore sentence the accused, the +said George D. Wilson, private Company 'B,' Second Ohio Regiment +(two-thirds of the members concurring therein), as soon +as this order shall be made public, 'to be hung by the neck until +he is dead.'</p> + +<p>"The proceedings in the foregoing case of George D. Wilson, +private Company 'B,' Second Ohio Regiment, are approved.</p> + +<p>"The sentence of the court will be carried into effect between +the 15th and 22d days of June, inst., at such time and place as +may be designated by the commanding officer at Atlanta, Georgia, +who is charged with the arrangements for the proper execution +thereof.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"By command of<br /> +"Major-General <span class="smcap">E. Kirby Smith</span>.<br /> +"<span class="smcap">J. F. Breton</span>, A.A.A.G.<br /> +<br /> +</div> +<p> +"To Commanding Officer of post at Atlanta, Ga."<br /> +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>It will be noticed that the sentence was to be executed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +as soon as made public. The time fixed was between +the 15th and 22d days of June. This was the +18th. The sentence had been received the preceding +day, and the time employed in clearing a spot of wooded +ground then lying east of the city cemetery, but since +included in its bounds, and in erecting a scaffold there. +But no word of the awful preparations had been allowed +to reach us. According to the orders of General E. +Kirby Smith, several days' respite might have been allowed; +but in a communication to the Confederate Secretary +of War, Colonel G. I. Foreacre, post-commander +at Atlanta, says, "General Smith only sent from Knoxville +instructions and orders to have seven of them +hung, which was promptly attended to by myself."</p> + +<p>After the sentences had been read came the farewells,—which, +in their full meaning, we could scarcely realize,—farewells +with no hope of meeting again in this +world! Our comrades were dear as brothers to us, and +to stand helpless while they were dragged away to the +scaffold froze our blood and crushed our hearts.</p> + +<p>These doomed men were brave. On the battle-field +they had never faltered in the presence of danger. +They were ready to die, if need were, for their country; +but to die on the scaffold,—to die as murderers die,—this +was almost too much for human nature to endure.</p> + +<p>Then, too, they were destitute of the best support a +man can have in the presence of death. Although +most of them had been of excellent moral character, +yet they had no firmly-grounded religious hope. The +near prospect of eternity, into which they were thus to +be hurled without a moment's preparation, was black +and appalling. Wilson had been a professed disbeliever +in revelation, and many a time had argued with +me for hours at a time. But in this awful moment he +said to me, "Pittenger, I believe you are right now! +Oh, try to be better prepared, when your turn comes to +die, than I am!" Then laying his hand on my head, +with a muttered "God bless you!" we parted. I saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +no more the one I had loved and trusted as few others +in the world.</p> + +<p>Shadrack was profane in speech and reckless in action, +but withal exceeding kind-hearted, lovable, and +always merry. Now turning to us with a voice the +forced calmness of which was more affecting than a +wail of agony, he said, "Boys, I am not prepared to +meet my Jesus." When asked by some of us, in tears, +to trust in His mercy, and to think of heaven, he answered, +still in tones of thrilling calmness, "I'll try! +I'll try! But I know I am not prepared."</p> + +<p>Samuel Slavens, who was a man of immense strength +and iron resolution, turned to his friend Buffum, and +could only articulate, "Wife—children—tell—" when +utterance failed.</p> + +<p>John Scott had been married only three days before +he came to the army, and the thought of his young and +sorrowing wife nearly drove him to despair. He could +only clasp his hands in silent agony.</p> + +<p>William Campbell smiled grimly as we pressed his +bound hands, and said in response to our declarations, +"Yes, boys, this <i>is</i> hard."</p> + +<p>Marion Ross bore himself most firmly of all. He +had been more gloomy and depressed than any other +member of the party previously, and did not seem to +share fully in our hopes. Now his eyes beamed with +unnatural light, and there was not a tremor in his voice +as he said, in full, clear tones, "Tell them at home, if +any of you should escape, that I died for my country, +and did not regret it."</p> + +<p>These parting words occupied but a moment, and +even then the officers standing in the door seemed impatient +to finish their horrible work!</p> + +<p>In this manner the poor men were hurried to their +doom. Several of them, in passing, had the privilege +of shaking hands with our comrades in the other room. +Robinson, though too sick to walk, was dragged away +with them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thus we parted. The rough wagon, with a wood-rack +for a bed, drove off with our comrades, surrounded +by cavalry. In about an hour it came back, <i>empty</i>. +The deed of shame was done.</p> + +<p>Later in the evening the provost-marshal came to +our door, and, in response to eager questions, informed +us that our friends "had met their fate as brave men +should die everywhere."</p> + +<p>The next day we obtained from the guards, who, in +the absence of their officers, were always willing to +talk with us, full particulars of the sevenfold murder.</p> + +<p>When all had been mounted on the scaffold Wilson +asked permission to say a few words, which was granted,—probably +in the hope of hearing some kind of a confession. +If such was the expectation, they were much +disappointed. It was a strange scene,—a dying speech +to a desperate audience, and under the most terrible +circumstances conceivable.</p> + +<p>But Wilson was equal to the occasion, and when he +had once begun to speak, the force of his words was +such that the mob remained silent, making no attempt +to interrupt him. Unterrified by the near approach +of death, he spoke his mind freely. He told the rebels +that they were all in the wrong, that he had no hard +feelings towards the Southern people for what they +were about to do, because they had been duped by their +leaders, and induced by them to engage in the work +of rebellion. He also said that though he had been +condemned as a spy, yet he was none, and they well +knew it. He was only a soldier in the performance +of the work he had been detailed to do; that he did +not regret to die for his country, but only regretted the +manner of his death. He concluded by assuring them +in prophetic words that they would yet live to regret +the part they had taken in this rebellion, and would +see the flag of our country wave in triumph over the +very ground occupied by his scaffold.</p> + +<p>This address made a deep impression on the minds<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +of all who listened, and I often afterwards heard it +spoken of in terms of deepest admiration. When he +ceased the signal was given, and the traps fell!</p> + +<p>Then followed one of the disgusting exhibitions +which so often disgrace all kinds of public executions. +Five only remained dangling in the air. Campbell +and Slavens, being very heavy, broke their ropes, and +fell to the ground insensible. When they revived, +they asked and received a drink of water. Then they +requested an hour to pray before entering the future +world. This most reasonable petition, which would +not have been denied to the most hardened murderer +under civilized rule, was sternly denied, as if they +wished to do their utmost to murder both soul and +body. As soon as the ropes could be readjusted they +were compelled to mount the scaffold once more, and +were again turned off.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>PRISON RELIGION.</h3> + + +<p>The afternoon following the execution of our brave +comrades was one of indescribable sorrow, gloom and +fear. We knew not how soon we might be compelled +to follow in the same path and drink the same bitter +cup. As has been before narrated, we had offered at +Knoxville to accept the award of the court in one of +the cases as the sentence of all, since there was not the +slightest difference among us. At that time, however, +we were confident of acquittal. Now that confidence +had utterly vanished, and no one of our number anticipated +anything but speedy death on the scaffold.</p> + +<p>But even without the addition of apprehension for +ourselves, the parting from our loved friends, whose +voices were still ringing in our ears, while they themselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +had passed beyond the gates of death into the +unknown land of shadows, was enough to rend the +stoutest heart. Few words were spoken, but tears and +sobs were frequent.</p> + +<p>I could not shed a tear. A fierce fever burned in +my veins, and my head seemed as if on fire. For +hours I scarcely knew where I was, or the loss I had +sustained. Every glance around the room, which revealed +the vacant place of our friends, would bring +our sorrow in a new wave upon us again. Slowly the +afternoon wore on in grief too deep for words, and +despair too black for hope.</p> + +<p>At last some voice suggested prayer. We had no +chaplain, and few of us were professedly religious, but +the very thought of prayer seemed to bring relief, and +was eagerly accepted. We knelt around the bare +prison-walls, as so many prisoners have done before, +and tried to draw near to God. We felt as if already +cut off from the world. Captain Fry first prayed +aloud. His voice was broken by sobs, but he did not +now pray for the first time, and we felt our faith leaning +on his as he poured out strong supplications for +that Almighty help we so sorely needed. He prayed +that God's love might be revealed to us, and that we +might be able to trust the Saviour even on the gallows. +When he ceased another took up the thread of petition. +After him, another and another followed, until all but +two had prayed aloud, and even these were kneeling +and sobbing with the rest. As the twilight deepened, +our devotional exercises grew more solemn. In the +lonely shadow of coming night, with eternity thus +tangibly open before us, and standing on its very +brink, we prayed with inconceivable fervor. These +exercises continued far into the night, and wrought +their effect deeply in our hearts. From that night I +recognized God's right to my allegiance. I did accept +Christ as my Saviour, and determined to confess His +name before men, whether I lived or died. This resolution<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +in my own case—and I doubt not the same result +was produced in other hearts—restored the fortitude +that had been so rudely shaken, and I felt nerved +for any fate. Strangely enough, with this resignation +to the worst came the glimmer of a hope, unfelt before, +that possibly life might yet be spared.</p> + +<p>This hour wrought a complete and permanent change +in the routine of our prison-life. Games, sports, and +stories were no longer our leading pursuits. The cards +we had been accustomed to play for pastime only—an +old greasy pack obtained from the compassion of some +soldier on guard—were thrown out of the window, and +that game given up forever. Each morning and each +evening we had a prayer-meeting,—not simply a single +prayer, but all praying in turn. We asked for and +obtained a Bible from the jailer, and read a chapter or +more as part of our exercises, and sang hymns, so that +our meetings became as much like those we had witnessed +in the distant but never forgotten days of freedom +as we could make them. There was wonderful pathos in +the very rudeness of the singing, for our sweetest voices +were silent in death. The remark was often made, +"If Ross was only here to lead the singing!" The +one who read the Bible lesson was considered the leader +of the meeting, and, for a time, we took this position +by turns. In place of "Do they miss me at Home?" +we sang the more inspiring and helpful "Jesus, Lover +of my Soul," and "Rock of Ages." The jailer, the +guards, and all who came near the prison noticed the +great change.</p> + +<p>I had one peculiar difficulty which, to many readers, +will appear almost whimsical, but to me was most real. +Our hope of ever regaining liberty, or even preserving +our lives much longer, was but slight; yet my +greatest difficulty in finding satisfactory religious consolation +had reference to a possible release. I had been +a diligent law student, and had managed to continue +the study even in the army and in prison. But now it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +was impressed upon my mind, with daily increasing +force, that I must submit the decision of my future +career to God. If I took this matter into my own +hands, I could not feel that I was completely true to +Him. Underlying this feeling was the further conviction +that if I made such a submission of my future +profession to God I would be led into the ministry, and +the thought of this was very repulsive. Yet the longer +the struggle continued the plainer duty became. If I +gave myself to Christ, it seemed a necessary consequence +that I should accept any work He gave me to do. If +I feared that He would guide me in a certain direction, +this was sure proof that I was not resigned to His will, +and, according to my views, not a true Christian. At +last the choice was made,—I resolved to follow my +sense of duty, no matter where that should lead,—to +the ministry or anywhere else. When this conflict was +over there was no great emotional excitement,—only a +sense of peace and rest. I could wait calmly in the +prison until led forth to die, if such should be my +doom, and then go forth out of life feeling that I was +loyal to God, and that I should remain His, into whatever +worlds the gate of death should open. If, contrary +to all probability, the prison-gate should open for +my passage back into the free world, from which I +seemed almost as effectually separated as if death had +already intervened, I promised still to be loyal to Him. +This was the essence of the inward change I date from +that time. My standard of action before had been +pleasure, inclination, the world's notion of honor and +morality. Even this had not been held too strictly, as +the reader of these pages has discovered. But afterwards, +however imperfectly maintained, my standard +became the will of God, as revealed in the Bible, and +my own sense of duty as enlightened by His Spirit. +No great joy, such as is often expressed in conversion, +came at first. But it was even better than any joy to +feel that I now had a strong arm upon which I could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +lean,—that there was one person to whom I could go +at any time, and who was not indifferent to my fate.</p> + +<p>I now read the Bible with a clear purpose, and with +a light on its pages that never before beamed there. Its +very history was full of new meaning. Its grand beginning, +the growth of wandering tribes into great empires, +the pathos of the Psalms, the sublimity and eternal +hope of the prophecies, and, above all, the life and death +of that loving and lowly man who was greater than +Psalmist or Prophet,—all these passed before me in the +old Atlanta jail, until the place seemed like a new isle of +Patmos. I had a strong bent towards scepticism, though +I had not yielded to it, and found it hard to exercise simple +faith in all the Word of God. But, little by little, my +doubts became weaker and my conviction of truth clearer.</p> + +<p>For a considerable time the whole of our party took +turns in the leadership of our devotions, but finally +this work devolved on the writer, and, after some +months, the guards and other prisoners began to call +me the "preacher," though, as yet, I was a member of +no church, unless our prison band can be dignified by +that title.</p> + +<p>Two Southern ministers visited us at this period. +The first requested permission of the guard, and was +allowed to enter with the express provision that his +conversation should be confined to religious topics. +His name was Scott, but I am not sure what denomination +he belonged to, and his conversation gave no +clue. His first question did not contribute to a good +understanding. He asked how we could be so wicked +as to enter the Federal army, to fight against the Southern +people and free their negroes? We were sorry +enough about many things, but had not yet repented +of those particular sins, and therefore answered a little +tartly, by asking how he and his friends could be so +wicked as to rebel against a good government? A +heated dispute followed. Our visitor talked so loudly +and vehemently that the officer of the guard entered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +and told him that he "had given those men religious +counsel enough for one time and had better leave." He +never came again, and we were not sorry.</p> + +<p>Our jailer, Mr. Turner, had a very kindly feeling +towards us, and hearing us so often singing and praying, +asked if we would not like to talk with a minister. +Knowing that ministers were not all alike, we assented. +Rev. George G. N. MacDonell, of the M. E. Church +South, then visited us. We were glad to see him, and +a very profitable conversation took place. A little +offence was occasioned by his first prayer, in which he +petitioned that our lives might be spared, if consistent +with <i>the interests of the Confederacy</i>. But we made no +comment, and were richly rewarded for our complacency. +He not only gave us Christian sympathy +and counsel above all value, but on leaving sent us +some excellent books. When the first lot of books was +finished—of which we took the best of care, reading +most of them aloud—we returned them, and received +others,—continuing the process of borrowing until we +had perused nearly the whole of the good man's +library. Only those who know what a terrible trial +it is to pass day after day with no definite employment, +no company, and no means of diverting thought +from one never-ending round, can form any idea of the +great boon thus bestowed upon us. The Christian +kindness and disinterested benevolence of this minister +will never be forgotten. But even these books +were not sufficient. I sold my vest—not expecting +to live until cold weather—and my pocket-book,—which +my captors had left when they took all its contents,—and +with the proceeds the jailer bought me +three little books—all gems,—"Paradise Lost," "Pilgrim's +Progress," and Pollok's "Course of Time." +These I deliberately set to work to memorize. It was +a pleasant and profitable employment, helping very +much to shorten those interminable days.</p> + +<p>Our room was of greater size than that in Chattanooga;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +the windows larger, and our number reduced; +yet the heat was fearfully oppressive. One of the +party, Mark Wood, was very sick. He had been prostrated +with fever for nearly a month, and at this time +his life was despaired of. This was not thought by the +others to be any great misfortune to him, and they accordingly +administered consolation in a style worthy +the best of Job's friends. They would say, "Now, +Wood, I wouldn't try to get well, if I were in your +place. They will only hang you if you do. Better +try to die and save them the trouble." Wood, however, +did not relish this counsel, and, becoming contrary, +he recovered, "just for spite," as he often declared.</p> + +<p>The black waiters of the prison were very friendly. +They assisted us by every means in their power, and +seemed willing to take any personal risk on our behalf. +It was not long before they found that we desired few +things so much as to read the news, and they tasked +their ingenuity to gratify us. Newspapers were prohibited, +as they had not been at Knoxville. But the +waiters would watch until the jailer or some of the +guard had finished reading a paper and laid it down, +when they would slyly purloin it, put it into the +bottom of the pan in which our food was brought, +and thus hand it to us unsuspected. It had to be returned +in the same way to avoid suspicion. Our ministerial +friend also, as he acquired confidence in us, +gave us reason to think that he was not so much devoted +to the Confederacy as his first prayer (made +in hearing of the guard) indicated. He asked permission +of the jailer to give us some old files of religious +papers, and sent in a bundle weekly, or oftener. +They were acceptable, but their value greatly increased +when we found that an old religious paper might have +a new daily folded carefully inside! These acts of +friendship were deeply grateful to us, and lightened +many a weary hour.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> + +<p>One morning our jailer came to our door and asked +if we knew John Wollam. We were startled, and +hesitated to answer. For three weeks we had heard +nothing of Wollam, and hoped that one member of our +devoted band had escaped. Now we knew that the +jailer was in possession of some news, and while we +burned to hear it, we feared the possibility of doing +Wollam an injury by acknowledging the acquaintance. +But while we deliberated John himself came up, and +put an end to our doubts by greeting us heartily. The +door was unlocked, and he entered. All the survivors +of our party were now together, as those who had been +separated from us at Chattanooga were put into our +room immediately after the execution of our comrades. +Our number, including Captain Fry, who remained in +our room, was fifteen.</p> + +<p>The first thing in order, when left alone, was for +John to tell us all his adventures from the time he and +Andrews had broken out of the Chattanooga dungeon. +He was fired upon while still suspended in the air by +the blankets upon which he was descending, but fortunately +the hands of the guards were too unsteady to +inflict any injury. He succeeded in getting safely to +the ground, and then out of the prison-yard and through +the guard-line.</p> + +<p>In his efforts to escape Wollam displayed qualities +which would have done credit to an Indian. A few +moments' running brought him down to the river-side +in advance of all pursuers. Finding no means of +crossing, the brilliant thought struck him of making +his enemies believe he had crossed. This idea was instantly +acted on. He threw off his coat and vest, +dropping them on the bank of the river, and then +walked a few rods in the water to throw any hounds +that might be following off his track. He next slipped +quietly back and hid in a dense thicket of canes and +rushes. He heard his pursuers on the bank above him, +and all around, talking of their various plans. At last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +they found the clothes, and at once concluded that he +had taken to the river. Accordingly they ferried the +blood-hounds to the other side, and searched for the +place of his exit from the water. As might be expected, +the dogs were unable to find that, and after a +due time spent in consultation, the Confederates concluded +that he had been drowned and gave over the +search.</p> + +<p>Wollam spent the day in great anxiety, but night +gave him the opportunity of leaving his hiding-place. +He made his way cautiously down the river on the +Chattanooga side for some miles. At length he found +a canoe, in which he drifted down the stream by night, +while hiding it and himself in the bushes by day. On +two occasions he would have been saved if he had only +known it. General Mitchel had captured a steamboat +and fitted it up as a cruiser, with which he patrolled +the river as far as his lines extended. In his night-voyaging +Wollam passed this extemporized gunboat +twice, but fearing that it was some rebel craft, he crept +quietly by in the shadow of the shore without discovery.</p> + +<p>At length he felt sure that he was inside the Union +lines, and beyond the probable danger of capture, +and therefore ventured boldly forward in the daytime. +This was a fatal mistake. The danger of capture is +never so great as in the debatable ground between two +armies, where both exercise their utmost vigilance. +This boundary in most cases is also a shifting one. It +was so in this instance. A band of rebel cavalry on the +shore saw the lonely voyager, and, riding on ahead, procured +a boat and came out to meet him. He was unable +to escape, and thus the poor fellow was captured on +the very brink of safety. As usual, he tried to persuade +them that he was a Confederate, but unfortunately a +certain Lieutenant Edwards, who had assisted in his +previous capture, happened to be present, and at once +recognized him by his bold and reckless bearing. He +was then taken to join us at Atlanta.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> + +<p>Our provisions here became worse and less, until the +starvation point was very nearly reached. Constant +hunger was one of the torments of our life. We only +received a very small fragment of half-baked corn-bread, +without salt, and a morsel of pork,—the latter +always spoiled, and frequently covered with maggots. +But none of it was wasted! Several had very little +appetite, because of malarial or intermittent fever. +The allowance of <i>such</i> food was abundant for these, +but the others ate all that the sick spared. Many a +Barmecide feast was spread by the description of rich +dainties that would be enjoyed if "at home" once more; +and what was even worse, the same banquets would +be spread in dreams, from which the tantalized sleepers +awoke more hungry and miserable than ever. I +am not sure that the aching head and burning fever +were more painful than the constant pangs of unsatisfied +hunger. However, I need not linger over these +details. In the mere matter of starving I presume we +suffered no more than thousands of our fellow-soldiers +in Andersonville and other prisons. Alfred Wilson, +whose iron constitution bore up well under all hardships, +and whose appetite was always good enough for +all the rations of every kind he could get, felt these +privations most keenly. He says of the food that it was +"almost enough to convulse the stomach of a hungry +dog. I have found by experience, and I think I will +be corroborated by all the men who have been in rebel +prisons and have suffered the protracted pangs of hunger +and starvation, that man, when forced to it, is as ravenous, +reckless, unreasonable, and brutish in his appetite +as the lowest order of animal creation." In other +prisons, it was not uncommon for the inmates to fight +over their miserable allowance; but our common sympathy +and discipline were so strong that few disputes +arose, and these were quickly settled by the general +voice. The religious influence that had grown up +in our midst also tended powerfully to prevent any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +interference of the stronger with the rights of the +weaker.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the completeness of our voluntary discipline +and the systematic manner in which we employed our +time was little less than marvellous. To sleep was +always in order, when possible, but the disposal of +waking hours was not left to the will of each person. +The only game permitted was that of checkers or drafts, +and over the rude board carved on the floor eager players +bent during all the hours allotted to amusement. +Then we had a couple of hours daily for debating, and +discussed questions of every kind. No little ingenuity +and skill were thus exercised. Often great political +questions occupied our attention, and evoked real and +strong differences of opinion. Strange as it may seem, +there were but two of us—Buffum and myself—who +avowed ourselves out and out abolitionists. The name +had not yet lost all its reproach, but we held our own +in argument, especially when we pointed out the natural +result of slavery in making men barbarous and inhuman +even to whites, as illustrated in our condition. +<i>That</i> argument never failed to give us the advantage!</p> + +<p>We also set aside two hours in the forenoon and two +in the afternoon for reading. During this time not so +much as a whisper was permitted, and few schools have +kept better discipline. Any one not wishing to read +was permitted to sleep or occupy himself in any quiet +manner. Frequently some one was selected to read +aloud for a time, but this only took place by general +consent, that those who wished to read silently might +be undisturbed. The extraordinary character of these +exercises will be better appreciated when it is remembered +that we had no "light reading," but mainly theological +works, with a few volumes of travels, biography, +and poetry,—just what the good minister's library +could furnish, for we read everything we could get. +The Bible was not forgotten. When the supply of +books ran short, we resorted to our memories. All the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +prominent incidents of our lives had been told in our +terribly close association, and we next began to repeat +for the common benefit the books we had read so far as +we could remember them. One night about dark I +began to tell something about a weird book I had read +a few months previously. A few questions elicited +fuller detail, and it was after midnight before the story +was finished. Buffum, especially, was so deeply impressed +that when released he took the earliest opportunity +of getting and reading the volume, but he gave +me a great compliment by saying that the original was +not half so good as the copy. The changed circumstances, +perhaps, made a more natural, if less flattering, +explanation of his diminished interest. We also had +our regular hours for gymnastic exercise,—wrestling, +boxing, acrobatic feats, etc. One of our party, Hawkins, +having once been connected with a circus, now +trained us in all the exercises that our enfeebled condition +and close quarters permitted. Much of the +health and vigor that we retained during so long an +imprisonment was due to our systematic and diversified +employments.</p> + +<p>This careful division of time, and endeavor after +constant employment, was, doubtless, of great advantage, +but it could not change the fact that we were close +prisoners in a stifling room, and far from our home. +Those summer days, as month after month glided away, +were terribly long and oppressive. The tediousness and +vain longing for action pressed upon us more and more +closely. We fought the dreadful weight with all the +strength of our wills, but even will-power grew feebler. +The engineer Brown, who was one of the most restless +of mortals, all nerve and fire in action, capable of enduring +tremendous hardship if it were only of an active +character, would pace the floor back and forth like a +caged tiger; when this, too, grew unendurable, he +would stop at the door, shake its woven iron bars till +they rang again, and say in the most piteous tones (of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +course, meant only for <i>us</i> to hear), "Oh, kind sir, please +let me out! I want to go home!" The feeling he +expressed was shared by all. Never before could I +realize the full value of liberty and the horror of confinement. +In previous prisons the novelty of our situation, +the frequent removals, the painful excitement +of trials, prevented the blank monotony of imprisonment +from settling down upon us as it did here, after +the first few weeks of our stay in Atlanta rolled by, +and no whisper regarding our probable fate reached us. +It was like the stillness and death that brood over the +Dead Sea!</p> + +<p>We would sit at the windows in the sultry noon and +look out through the bars at the free birds as they flew +past, seemingly so full of joyous life, and foolishly wish +that we were birds, that we, too, might fly far away and +be free.</p> + +<p>At long intervals, two of us at a time would be permitted +to go down into the jail-yard to do some washing +for ourselves and the party. This great privilege +came round to me at last. It was then three months +since I had stepped out of that prison room, and the +unobscured vision of open air and sky made it seem +like another world. I remember looking up at the +snowy clouds, my eyes dazzled by the unusual light, +and wondering, as I gazed in admiration upon their +beautiful and changing forms, whether beyond them +lay a world of rest in which there were neither wars +nor prisons. Oh, how I longed for freedom! to be +where I could look up at the sky every day and go +where I wished! Yet with the thought came a great +fear. If I was ever removed from the pressure of immediate +danger, and allowed to mingle in the interests +and cares of the thronging world, might I not forget +my prison-made vows and lose my claim to the world +beyond the clouds and stars? Such a sense of weakness +and helplessness came over me that I felt greatly +relieved when, my task being done, I was conducted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +back to the dark and narrow prison room, where the +contrast between freedom and bondage was less palpable!</p> + +<p>All this time we hardly permitted ourselves to indulge +a hope of getting home again. The friends we +had known in happier days were separated from us by +an impassable gulf; and when fancy called round us +the loved scenes and friends at home, it was like treading +upon forbidden ground. But when the long day +had dragged its hours away, when we were weary with +fighting against weariness, the night removed every restraint, +and for a few golden hours love and freedom +were ours again.</p> + +<p>Often in dreams have I seen the streets and buildings +of my own town rise before me, and have felt a +thrilling pleasure in contemplating each feature of the +landscape around as I wended my way in fancy towards +the old log cabin forever consecrated by affection. But +the waking from such dreams of earthly paradise was +sad beyond measure. The evening hour, when the +burning heat had abated, and when we were settling to +rest,—though it was on the bare floor, and without even +a stone like that upon which Jacob pillowed his head,—was +our happiest time. Then prayer and song and +more cheerful conversation prepared us for rest and +often for happy dreams. But the morning hours, when +we wakened, hungry, sore, unrefreshed, with no food +but our miserable bit of vile bread and spoiled meat, +and a long day to look forward to,—these were always +dreary. After prayers, and our apology for a breakfast, +we grew more cheerful, and again took up the +task of living.</p> + +<p>An anecdote here will fitly illustrate the affection and +exaggerated reverence felt for what we, to the great +annoyance of the guards and citizens, persisted in calling +"God's country." I had been reading aloud a sermon +of Bishop Bascom's, from a book loaned us by +our friend, the minister. The topic was "The Joys of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +Heaven." All listened with delight to his magnificent +descriptions, but when the reading closed, engineer +Brown, who was of a matter-of-fact disposition, asked, +"Now, candidly, boys, would you rather be in heaven, +safe from all harm, if it is as good as the preacher says, +or be in Cincinnati?" This roused a very animated +discussion, but at its conclusion, when we took a vote +on the subject, the majority decided, honestly, no doubt, +that they would rather be in Cincinnati,—for a while, +at least!</p> + +<p>The expedients to which the tobacco-chewers of our +party were driven to obtain a supply of "the weed" +were at once amusing and pathetic. They were even +more eager for it than for their food. They begged +from the negroes, jailer, guards, visitors,—anybody +who could supply the valued article. The little they +got was husbanded with the utmost care. One chewing +was not sufficient. No "quids" were thrown away, +but carefully laid up, dried, and again used. When +no more narcotic could be so extracted, they were once +more dried and smoked in cob pipes!</p> + +<p>When Andrews broke out of the Chattanooga jail, +he gave Hawkins a large, fine coat, which was too +heavy to be carried. This was now sold to the jailer, +and the proceeds furnished quite a treat of provisions.</p> + +<p>We found some diversion in opening secret communication +with every room in the prison. Those on the +opposite side of the entry were reached by means of a +small stick, which was shot from the crack under one +door to the corresponding crack under the other. Each +door was double,—one thickness of heavy wood, which +was shut only at night, and precluded all communication; +the other of light iron bars. A string tied to the +stick pulled over any message we might desire to send. +Between our room and the other on the same side of +the hall there was an unused chimney, into which +stove-pipes led on each side. By removing the elbows +we could talk through, but there was the danger of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +being overheard. To remedy that, a long lath was +forced off the side of our room in such a way that it +could be put back again when desired, and this was +used in passing notes back and forth through this concealed +passage. This "telegraph" was very useful +when we afterwards undertook an escape.</p> + +<p>I can preserve no order of time in relating the events +of these tedious months, which slowly rolled away +their ponderous length. It was an almost perfect isolation +from the world, with little hope of ever again +mingling in its busy currents. As each month closed, +we were startled by the thought that we were still +alive,—that the thunderbolt had not yet descended,—and +we surmised and wondered how much longer it +could be delayed. At last a small ray of hope began to +rise, very feeble at first, and based only upon the incomprehensible +reprieve we were enjoying. As week after +week glided away eventless—marked only by the monotony +that is more wearying to heart and brain than +the most severe anguish—this hope grew stronger; +though it was so little assured that the most trifling +circumstance—such as the strengthening of the guard, +or the visit of an army official—was sufficient for the +time to overturn it. It was the 12th of June when we +entered that room. It was the 18th of October before +we left it amid events of the most startling character, +which will form a fit topic for a new chapter.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>LIBERTY OR DEATH?</h3> + + +<p>One morning the guard brought up four Federal +soldiers, who were shut up in the front room. As soon +as we were alone we resorted to our usual method of +telegraphing to learn who they were. To our great +surprise and pleasure we found that two of them—Coleman +and Helbling—were of the Tenth Wisconsin, +a regiment of our own brigade. They gave us many +most interesting items of news,—among others, that +our comrades had long since given us up for dead, and +were vowing vengeance on our behalf. They were +greatly surprised to find so many of us still alive. +The other two were of the regular army, who had been +captured on the coast of Florida. They remained with +us until we were taken to Richmond long after. From +them we gained a complete detail of the movements +of our army since our departure. We were greatly +grieved to find the military situation far less favorable +than it had been four months before. The transfer of +General Mitchel from Tennessee to the Atlantic coast +we also regarded as unfavorable to our interests. +These soldiers were the means shortly of leading us to +a desperate resolution.</p> + +<p>We frequently talked and plotted about escape. This +is the one topic that prisoners never weary of. We long +before resolved that if any movement was made towards +a court-martial, we would make one desperate effort +for life; for the result of the trials in the case of Andrews +and our poor comrades assured us that this formality +would not be undertaken for any other purpose +than that of putting us to death, under a show of law. +After the lapse of a considerable time we had hopes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +that they would not dispense with this ceremony, and +that we would thus have warning which might be useful. +But many of our number—those especially who +were vigorous in health, and, therefore, were more +ready for action—wished to make the attempt at any +rate. But time rolled on, and the dreaded preparations +for a trial were not made. Why we were left in +this uncertain condition for four months we could not +tell. It might be that, in the rush of military events, +we were forgotten, or it might be that the rebel authorities +considered the hanging of eight men as sufficient +to show their estimate of the enormity of our crime. +This latter view grew upon the minds of some to such +a degree that we boldly resolved to test it, even if it +did bring our fate more swiftly upon us,—resolving +that if our action should result in calling a court-martial +we would then break from our prison or die +in the attempt. Indeed, the scanty fare, the uncertainty, +and the longing for liberty had become so completely +unendurable, that the prospects of perishing on +the bayonets of the guard had little terror. But our +resolution was to write a letter directly to Jefferson +Davis, the President of the Confederacy, reciting our +case, and asking to be put on the footing of prisoners of +war. I acted as scribe, and used language as strong +and yet respectful as possible. While writing, the whole +party gathered around, and volunteered suggestions. +Said Brown, "Be very humble to him, Pittenger. We +can take all back, if we get out." Buffum raised quite +a laugh by saying, "Tell him, Pittenger, that 'all we +ask is to be let alone.'" This was an extract from one +of Jefferson Davis' own addresses. But it did not go +in the letter. The following is a copy of the document, +obtained from the Confederate archives:</p> + +<blockquote> +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Atlanta Jail</span>, August 17, 1862. +</div> +<p> +"<span class="smcap">To His Excellency Jefferson Davis</span>,<br /> +"President Confederate States of America. +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Respected Sir</span>,—We are United States soldiers regularly +detailed from our command to obey the orders of Andrews. He +was a stranger<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> to us, and we ignorant of his design, but, of course, +we obeyed our officers. You are no doubt familiar with all we +did, or can find it recorded in the trial of our comrades. Since +then, Andrews himself and seven of us have been executed, and +fourteen survive. Is this not enough for vengeance and for a +warning to others? Would mercy in our case be misplaced? +We have already been closely confined for more than four +months. Will you not, sir, display a noble generosity by putting +us on the same footing as prisoners of war, and permitting +us to be exchanged, and thus show that in this terrible war the +South still feels the claim of mercy and humanity?</p> + +<p>"If you will be so good as to grant this request we will ever +be grateful to you.</p> + +<p>"Please inform us of your decision as soon as convenient."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Signed by all the survivors,—eight of the Twenty-first +Ohio, one of the Second, and five of the Thirty-third, +all of Sill's brigade, Mitchel's division.</p> + +<p>This paper was forwarded from one officer to another +in an ascending grade, and the indorsements on it, and +the correspondence which followed, shed much light +upon the position and fortunes of our party. But this +light did not come to us until long after.</p> + +<p>The letter was marked (erroneously as to its address), +as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Petition from the survivors of Andrews' party, who took the +engine on the Georgia State Railroad in April last, to Major-General +Bragg, commanding Department No. 2."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The first indorsement is that of Colonel Lee, provost-marshal +at Atlanta:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p> +"Respectfully forwarded to General Staughton.<br /> +"<span class="smcap">G. W. Lee</span>,<br /> +"Commanding Post."<br /> +</p> + +<div class='right'>"<span class="smcap">Headquarters Department No</span>. 2, +"<span class="smcap">Chattanooga</span>, August 21, 1862 +</div> +<p> +"<span class="smcap">Adjutant-General C. S. Army</span>, Richmond, Va. +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—I have the honor to inclose herewith the petition of +W. W. Brown and others, soldiers of the Twenty-first and Second +Ohio Regiments, U.S.A., and to request information in the matter. +I am, sir, very respectfully,</p> + +<div class='right'> +"Your obedient servant,<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Braxton Bragg</span>,<br /> +"General Commanding." +</div> +</blockquote> + +<p>The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +next indorsement shows a favorable disposition—at +least in part:</p> + +<blockquote> +<div class='center'>[Indorsement.]</div> + +<p>"Respectfully submitted to the President.</p> + +<p>"I recommend that they be respited until further orders, and +detained as hostages for our own people in the hands of the +enemy.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">G. W. Randolph</span>,<br /> +"Secretary of War."<br /> +</div> +</blockquote> + +<p>The Secretary of War seems to have had the impression +that we had been also tried, and that sentence of +death was pending over us. Under such circumstances +a respite would have been a valuable boon.</p> + +<p>But President Davis is inflexible:</p> + +<blockquote> +<div class='center'>[Indorsement.]</div> + +<p>"Secretary of War, inquire whether there is anything to +justify a discrimination between them and others who were executed +for the same offence. J. D."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The inquiry thus ordered was at once begun:</p> + +<blockquote> +<div class='center'>[Indorsement.]</div> + +<p>"Write to Major G. W. Lee, provost-marshal at Atlanta, +and inquire why fourteen of the engine thieves were respited +while the others were executed, and whether there is anything +distinguishing their case.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">G. W. Randolph</span>,<br /> +"Secretary of War."<br /> +</div> +</blockquote> + +<p>Only the responses to these inquiries were preserved +on file at Richmond, and are now in Washington. +They show the degree of confusion and misunderstanding +which prevailed at the rebel capital:</p> + +<blockquote> +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Headquarters, Atlanta, Ga.</span>, Sept. 16, 1862. +</div> +<p> +"<span class="smcap">Hon. G. W. Randolph</span>, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—Your communication of the 11th inst. is duly to hand. +In reply, I have respectfully to say that the arrest, incarceration, +trial, and execution of the prisoners you refer to occurred +before I took charge of this post by your order. I found a +number of prisoners on my arrival, and among them the men +named in the petition transmitted.</p> + +<p>"Inclosed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> I transmit the papers handed over to me by my +predecessor. Since the reception of your letter I have endeavored +to find Captain Foreacre, and ascertain something more, explaining +what I was not conversant with in the transaction, but as his +business takes him away from the city, I have not as yet had an +interview with him. I will still seek occasion to find him, and give +you all the information learned from him. You will please find +inclosed the names of the engine-stealers and bridge-burners who +are confined in the jail of this city. It is entirely out of my +power to answer you as to 'why fourteen of the engine thieves +were respited while the others were executed, and whether or not +there is anything to justify a discrimination in their favor?' as I +am not informed in relation to the proceedings of the court-martial +that tried the men.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"I am, sir,<br /> +"Respectfully your obt. servt.,<br /> +"<span class="smcap">G. W. Lee</span>,<br /> +"Commanding Post, and Provost-Marshal."<br /> +</div> +</blockquote> + +<p>The inclosures consist of the seven death-sentences, +one of which has already been given, and the following +lists, which show a number of glaring errors. According +to the first we had all been court-martialled, but +only the seven sentenced. The second is wrong in the +placing of several names. The manner in which the +word "spies" is interlined in the "charges" of the first +list is also suggestive.</p> + +<p> +<i>"List of Prisoners sent to Atlanta, Ga., June 13, 1862, from +Knoxville, Tenn., by command of Major-General E. Kirby +Smith:</i> +</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="left">Names.</td><td align="center">Residence.</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td colspan="2" align="center">Charges:</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td colspan="2" align="center">Spies,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">1.</td><td align="left">Wilson Brown</td><td align="center">Ohio.</td><td align="center">Court-martialled </td><td align="center">and sentenced </td><td align="center">Engine</td><td align="center">stealing.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">2.</td><td align="left">Marion Ross</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">3.</td><td align="left">W. H. Campbell</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">4.</td><td align="left">John Scott</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">5.</td><td align="left">Perry G. Shadrach</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">6.</td><td align="left">G. D. Wilson</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">7.</td><td align="left">Samuel Slavens</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">8.</td><td align="left">S. Robinson</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">9.</td><td align="left">E. H. Mason</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">10.</td><td align="left">Wm. Knight</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">11.</td><td align="left">Robt. Buffins</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">12.</td><td align="left">Wm. Pettinger</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">13.</td><td align="left">Captain David Fry</td><td colspan="3" align="left">Green Co., Tenn.</td><td colspan="2" align="left">Bridge-burning and recruiting for</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right" colspan="5"></td><td colspan="2" align="left"> Federal army.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">14.</td><td align="left">G. W. Barlow</td><td colspan="3" align="left">Washington Co., Tenn.</td><td colspan="2" align="left">Obstructing railroad track.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">15.</td><td align="left">Thos. McCoy</td><td colspan="2" align="left">Morgan Co., "</td><td align="center"></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="left">Peter Pierce</td><td colspan="2" align="left">Campbell Co., "</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">Prisoners of war—</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="left">John Barker</td><td colspan="2" align="left">Estill Co., "</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">Federal soldiers.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"></td><td align="left">Bennet Powers</td><td colspan="2" align="left">Lincoln Co., "</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center"></td></tr> +</table> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">Names.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></td><td align="left">Residence.</td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">Charges.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="center"></td><td align="center">Political Prisoners.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Ransom White</td><td align="left">Morgan Co.,</td><td align="center">Tenn. </td><td align="left">Citizen aiding the enemy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">John Walls</td><td align="left">Blount Co.,</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">trying to go to Kentucky.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">John Green</td><td align="left">Union Co.,</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">Rebellion.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">John Thompkins</td><td align="left">Washington Co.,</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Henry Miller</td><td align="left">Sullivan Co.,</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="left">Suspected as a spy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">William Thompson </td><td align="left">Arrested at Bristol </td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<div class='right'> +"Respectfully submitted by order.<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Wm. M. Churchwell</span>,<br /> +"Colonel, and Provost-Marshal."<br /> +</div> + +<p>"<i>List of Prisoners in Atlanta City Jail, September 16, 1862.</i></p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="2">ENGINE-STEALERS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">M. J. Hawkins, </td><td align="left">W. Reddick,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">J. Parrott,</td><td align="left">D. A. Dorsey,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">W. Bensinger,</td><td align="left">J. K. Porter,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">A. Wilson,</td><td align="left">M. Wood,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">E. H. Mason,</td><td align="left">W. W. Brown,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">W. Knight,</td><td align="left">R. Bufman,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">W. Pettinger,</td><td align="left">David Fry,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="2">J. J. Barker.</td></tr> +</table> +<br /> +<br /> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="center" colspan="2">BRIDGE-BURNERS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">T. McCoy,</td><td align="left">P. Pierce,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">B. Powers,</td><td align="left">Jno. Walls,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Jno. Green,</td><td align="left">R. White,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">H. Mills,</td><td align="left">J. Tompkins,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">G. D. Barlow, </td><td align="left">Jno. Wollam."</td></tr> +</table> +<br /> +</div> + +<p>The next day Provost-Marshal Lee wrote again as +follows:</p> + +<blockquote> +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Headquarters, Atlanta, Ga.</span>,<br /> +"September 17, 1862. +</div> +<p> +"<span class="smcap">Hon. G. W. Randolph</span>, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—I respectfully forward to you hereby all that I have +been enabled to obtain from my predecessor, Captain Foreacre.</p> + +<p>"The documents relating to the cases, so far as I know anything +about them, were forwarded to you on yesterday.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"I am, sir, very respectfully,<br /> +"Your obedient servant,<br /> +"<span class="smcap">G. W. Lee</span>,<br /> +"Commanding Post, and Provost-Marshal."<br /> +</div> +</blockquote> + +<p>The following letter, inclosed from Captain Foreacre, +is wrong in saying that some of the party had +been tried but not sentenced. Yet this was the obvious +belief of the Confederate authorities: +</p> + +<blockquote> +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Atlanta, Ga.</span>, September 16, 1862.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +</div> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Hon. G. W. Randolph</span>, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—Your letter of September 11, 1862, to Major +Lee, provost-marshal, has been shown me by him, and, as far as +I am acquainted with the matter, General Smith only sent from +Knoxville instructions and orders to have seven of them hung, +which was promptly attended to by myself.</p> + +<p>"The remaining fourteen were reported to this office only for +safe-keeping,—some having been tried, but not sentenced, and +others not tried. The only office which can properly answer your +inquiry is that of Major-General E. K. Smith.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"I have the honor to remain,<br /> +"Your obedient servant,<br /> +"<span class="smcap">G. I. Foreacre.</span>"<br /> +</div> +</blockquote> + +<p>No record of any further inquiry remains. Whether +the matter was there dropped, or orders issued for opening +the whole question by a court-martial, remains uncertain. +But these documents make it almost certain +that all the party, or at least the twelve who were sent +to Knoxville, were destined to be tried and condemned; +that at the abrupt breaking up of the court, no record +was put on file of the cause of the interruption; and +that the authorities at Atlanta and Richmond expected +the court at Knoxville, which they assumed to have +finished its work, to give orders for our disposal. That +court never reconvened. Its members were dispersed +all over the South. The commanding general, E. +Kirby Smith, was transferred to a distant department. +We were forgotten, and thus the strange respite we +enjoyed is explained. But would it continue?</p> + +<p>Some of the Confederate officers had formed a theory +of their own to account for the death of seven of our +number and the sparing of the remainder. They assumed +that those put to death were volunteers, while +the others were detailed by their officers. But there +were no grounds for such a supposition.</p> + +<p>While this correspondence was in progress, Colonel +Lee came to our door one day, and had a long talk +with us about our expedition and prison experiences. +He finally told us of receiving a letter from the Secretary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +of War at Richmond asking why we had not all +been executed! He asked us the reason, and one of +the party, who had not totally forgotten his experience +of duplicity in the early part of our enterprise, said +that it had been thought that there were some mitigating +circumstances in our case. The marshal said +that he could give no reason, but had referred the +Secretary to the court-martial at Knoxville, and that +he was now awaiting orders concerning us. On our +request he promised to visit us again when he should +receive an answer from Richmond. We told him of +the manner in which our comrades had been put to +death without warning. He admitted the wrong, but +disclaimed responsibility for it, as it occurred before he +came into command.</p> + +<p>We waited anxiously for his return for several days, +but waited in vain. It was urged that we had heard +enough already, and that now, if ever, we ought to +strike for life. But I was of another opinion. The +enterprise of escaping was of enormous difficulty, and +success, at the best, doubtful. I did not think that, in +our enfeebled condition, after six months of terrible +hardship and partial starvation, we were the men we +had been. It was my judgment that nothing but the +certainty of death on the one hand could give the necessary +vigor, spring, and desperation to command success +on the other. Despair might nerve us to throw ourselves +with resistless fury on the bayonets of the guards, +but this fury would come only when the last hope was +dead. My reasoning prevailed, and we waited a little +longer.</p> + +<p>But evidence came soon that ended hesitation. More +of the guard was kept on duty at once, and greater +vigilance was everywhere apparent. We fancied that +the old jailer regarded us with unusual compassion. +But through the stove-pipe, from our friends in the +other room, came the decisive information. The prisoners +there saw the provost-marshal ride up to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +gate, have the jailer called out, and heard him give +orders to watch those engine-thieves closely, as he had +been notified that a court was ordered for their trial. +The same evening the jailer said to them that he was +very sorry for the poor Yankees in the other room, +for every man of them would be hung! This word +was conveyed to us, and longer doubt would have been +folly.</p> + +<p>We were now ready for the emergency, and had +fully discussed and settled our plans. We were in +the upper story of the jail. Our room was entered by +a double door,—one of heavy plank, and one of iron +slats. If this was opened, we would only be in the +entry, and would have still to go down-stairs into a +hall and pass another door before we could gain the +jail-yard. This, in turn, was surrounded by a board +fence eight or ten feet high, and having but a single +gate, which was usually closed. Seven fully-armed +soldiers were constantly on guard, with an unknown +reserve close at hand. We could depend on help from +no one of the prisoners except Captain Fry, so that we +were but fifteen, and even two or three of these were +too sick to be of great value in a fight. Then we were +in the skirts of the town, fully a mile from the nearest +woods. One advantage, and the only one on which I +relied, was that of surprise. We knew what we were +to do, and the strong motive that impelled it.</p> + +<p>All plans looking to sawing out and swinging to the +ground at night, as in Chattanooga, had been canvassed +and rejected. What we meant to do was to break out +in open daylight and overpower the guards. The most +favorable time was when the doors were opened for +bringing in our supper, which was a little before sundown, +as by starting then we would soon have the +cover of darkness. It was arranged to seize the jailer +when he came to remove the pans in which our supper +was brought, and to keep him perfectly quiet while all +the doors were being unlocked, for we wished to release<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +all the other prisoners. At the same moment the +other members of the party, divided into two squads, +were to cautiously descend the stairway, pounce upon +the guards, and take their guns from them. If this +was done in <i>perfect quiet</i>, the guards were to be locked +up, and we, taking their arms, would march out on our +homeward journey. As soon as discovered we were +to break into parties of two and strike out for Union +territory by widely-diverging lines.</p> + +<p>All our plans were completed. We had patched our +clothes as well as possible, and made cloth moccasins +to protect our feet, many of our shoes being worn out. +We only waited the coming of the appointed hour.</p> + +<p>Slowly the sun sunk down the west; slowly the +shadows lengthened in the east, till the gloomy shade +of the jail had nearly reached the crest of the hill that +usually marked our supper-time. We bade each other +a solemn farewell, for we knew not if we should ever +meet again on earth, or how many of us might be cold +and lifeless before the stars shone out. We prayed +fervently, though we dared not kneel or speak aloud. +Captain Fry, who was tender-hearted as a child, wept +at the parting. He had two large coats, and as he +could not take both with him in the expected rush, he +generously gave one to me. I needed it extremely, for +I was very nearly destitute of clothing. He and I +were to be companions, according to a previous arrangement.</p> + +<p>Everything was put in readiness. I had carefully +piled in a corner such of the books belonging to the +minister as we still retained, and had written him a +note of thanks for them. Anything that could be used +as a weapon was now put within reach.</p> + +<p>At last the supper-hour came. We could not afford +to lose a morsel of the scanty food, and ate it in silence. +The jailer was not accustomed to come into the room, +but merely opened the door and admitted the negroes +who bore the pans filled with corn-bread. Old Thoer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +the watchman whom everybody hated, was fortunately +away. It was well, or he might have suffered. Turner +we respected, and were determined not to injure if +we could help it. After the jailer had given their food +to the inmates of the other rooms he came back to ours +and swung open the creaking door to remove the food-pans. +This was the signal.</p> + +<p>It was a thrilling moment! On the action of the +next few seconds hung the issues of life or death. I +confess that for one instant the blood flowed to my +heart with a sharp, piercing throb, and there came a +sudden and terrible fear lest the fever-weakened body +would not in this crisis obey the dictates of will. But +this ceased before the door had swung wide enough +open to admit the passage of a man. The others were +pale but determined, and a single glance told me that +there would be no faltering. As for Captain Fry, who +was to initiate the movement,—supported by myself,—and +whom I had seen weeping a few minutes before, +he was perfectly calm, and his face wore a pleasant +smile! As soon as the door had swung far enough he +stepped adroitly through it as if this were the most +natural thing in the world, and said, very quietly,—</p> + +<p>"A pleasant evening, Mr. Turner."</p> + +<p>"Yes,—rather—pleasant," responded the jailer, +looking bewildered by this movement, as he no doubt +was.</p> + +<p>"We feel like taking a little walk this evening," +continued the captain, while the door was forced clear +back, and three of us stood abreast in it ready to +spring.</p> + +<p>The astonishment of the jailer now knew no bounds. +"What?—how?—where?" he gasped, in broken ejaculations.</p> + +<p>Fry's countenance grew darker as he clasped the old +man in his arms, and said,—</p> + +<p>"We have stayed as long as we can stand it, and are +now going to leave and let the other prisoners out; so +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span>give up the keys, and make no noise about it, or it will +be the worse for you!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 596px;"> +<a href="images/i275-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i275.jpg" width="596" height="398" alt="LIBERTY OR DEATH. +Page 255." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">LIBERTY OR DEATH.<br /> +Page 255.</span> +</div> + +<p>Turner tightened his grasp on the keys, whispered, +hoarsely, "You can't do that," then threw himself back +and began in a loud tone, "Guar—" when my hand +closed across his mouth and stifled the incipient call for +help. He bit my finger, but did no great damage.</p> + +<p>Then came the rush of the prisoners,—quick, stealthy, +cat-like. Not a sound was audible a dozen yards away. +The negroes huddled in a corner of the room in stupid +fright, but had sense enough to be quiet. Turner +struggled violently, for he was a man of great strength, +but Fry and I kept him mute; the keys were twisted +from him, and Buffum was soon at work on the locks +of the other doors. Quietly the assaulting column descended +the stairway and burst out upon the guards +outside. If they committed a fault, it was in being +too quick. In one minute Buffum would have had the +other doors unlocked, and then, throwing aside the disarmed +jailer, Fry, Buffum, and myself, reinforced by +all the prisoners who chose to go with us, would have +stood by their side in the second charge. This trifling +circumstance did make a considerable difference in the +result,—at least, to some of us.</p> + +<p>Seven sentinels were on duty,—three in the back +yard, four in the front yard. The charge upon the former +was completely successful, their guns being wrested +from them before they knew their danger, and they +were kept perfectly quiet under the threat—which +would have been executed—of instant death.</p> + +<p>The attack in the front yard was made with equal +gallantry and skill, but not with equal success. Two +rebels stood near the front door of the prison, and these +were secured in the same manner as their comrades at +the rear, and held in silence. Had the remaining two +been close at hand, I have no doubt they would have +fared as their comrades, and thus the unparalleled feat +of twelve unarmed prisoners taking the loaded muskets<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +from seven guards on their post would have been accomplished. +But, unfortunately, the last two stood at +the open gate. Their conduct was not brave but it was +wise, for, without firing a shot, they ran out through +the gate, screaming the alarm in tones that roused the +whole neighborhood. The reserve guard was close at +hand, and at once rushed to the rescue.</p> + +<p>The whole action, from the time Fry stepped out of +the door until the wild cry was raised at the gate, was +probably less than sixty seconds. Fry and myself +were preparing to secure the jailer, for we knew not +yet that the attack was made. Buffum had opened two +doors, and was working at the third when the wild, +thrilling cry of alarm arose from below. Those within +adjured him to open, and the brave man, though his +own chances of life were lessening each second, worked +till the door opened, and then violently flung it wide, +with an impatient "<i>there!</i>" while he bounded down the +stairway like a hunted deer.</p> + +<p>All secrecy was at an end, and the only remaining +hope was in headlong flight. Our comrades in the +yard saw their peril, and were in a little better position +than those of us who were still inside the jail. They +let go their terrified enemies, flung away the guns, +which now could only impede their flight, and, scaling +the board fence, made for the woods nearly a mile away. +Even for the foremost of them it was a fearful race. +Rebel bullets whistled around their ears, but none of +them was hit. Indeed, I am inclined to think that it +was a fortunate thing for our comrades that the rebels +had guns to carry, and stopped to fire whenever they +came near a fugitive. Otherwise hundreds of fresh, +vigorous soldiers—for there were soon hundreds on +the scene—could have run down a dozen half-starved +prisoners.</p> + +<p>Fry and myself started down-stairs together as soon +as Buffum had opened the last door,—only a moment +after the alarm had been given, but moments were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +more precious then than common months. The captain +was a little in advance. His eagle eye took in +the situation, as in two leaps he cleared the stairway. +He saw there was no chance in the front yard, now +filled with armed rebels, and darted to the back door, +found a passage to the yard fence, scaled it just before +a complete guard was stretched around the prison, was +fired at on the fence, but descended in safety, and run +in a different direction from the other fugitives. Finally, +a soldier levelled his musket at him, and he fell. +One of our own men who saw this, and no more, reported +that he was killed, and we long mourned the +brave man as dead. But this was only a stratagem to +gain his breath for a moment. His pursuers turned +towards other game, and he rose, and, after a second +hard chase, gained the cover of the woods. Thirty +days after he had reached Nashville in safety.</p> + +<p>I was to have been his companion, according to the +allotment we made before leaving the prison, and our +boys almost envied me the advantage of being with +so experienced a mountain traveller. But a moment's +misfortune made this advantage unavailing, and doomed +me to further sufferings. My eyes have always been +defective, and especially sensitive to sudden variations +of light. When I came from the dark prison room +(the hall was equally dark) into full light, for a moment +I could see nothing distinctly. I lost sight of Fry. It +would not do to stand still, and I rushed for the prison-gate. +Many a time defective vision has been a source +of annoyance and vexation, but never so much as then. +Before getting to the gate I could see better, and was +confronted by two soldiers, who were tossing their guns +about in a distracted manner, and crying, "What shall +we do? Oh, what shall we do?" They did not look +dangerous, and I ran by; but just in the gate I met a +stream of fresh guards coming on the run. Of course +they halted me, and equally, of course, I did not halt, +but turned back towards the jail. There were other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +guards around, one of whom snapped his gun at me +when not two yards away. I eluded them, got into +the jail again, and out at the back door. This time I +reached the top of the yard fence, but a dozen muskets +were lifted from the outside to fire. To jump down on +that side was inevitable death. One chance only remained. +Possibly the gate now was not watched! I +sprang back into the yard, and other guards were after +me. The prison-door was open, and I entered, seeking +to pass through it as before, and get outside the +gate for a clear race. But the front door was now +guarded also, and, as I turned, I found my pursuers +in the back door. I was fairly trapped,—back in the +prison again! It was a terrible situation. If I could +crush between the two men who stood with loaded +muskets in the door, their comrades were outside, and +it was simply death to attack them. In sheer desperation, +I turned my back upon them, not caring whether +they fired or not, and walked up-stairs to a window, +from which I could see something of the fearful race +still going on, and note the streams of troops pouring +towards the prison. My guards pointed their guns at +me, but did not offer to come near, and when I walked +from the hall window into a room,—not our own, but +another which commanded a better view,—I found in +it the four Federal soldiers, its former occupants, who +had made no attempt to get away, the alarm and the +rapid firing which followed convincing them that it +was safer to remain where they were.</p> + +<p>Parrott and Reddick were recaptured inside the wall, +like myself. Buffum got over the wall about the same +time as Captain Fry, but was less fortunate. A soldier +singled him out, and squarely ran him down. When +hardly able to drag another step, and with the inexorable +armed runner within a rod of him, Buffum tried a +"Yankee trick." (He was a native of Massachusetts.) +Sinking down exhausted, he said, "I surrender. You +can go on and get that other fellow," pointing to one a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +few rods away. "No," answered the man, with a great +oath, "I've got <i>you</i>, and I mean to <i>keep</i> you." So he stood +with his gun aimed until some of his comrades arrived, +and poor Buffum was marched back to jail. Had the +man taken his advice, and looked for a bird in the +bush, the one in hand would doubtless have flown. +Mason and Bensinger were also captured outside of the +wall, making a recapture of six and an escape of nine,—a +better result than I had supposed probable when +we planned the attempt.</p> + +<p>From the window of the front room where I then +was I had a good view of the proceedings below. In +a short time a large body of troops, including a regiment +of cavalry, were drawn up in front of the jail. +I heard Colonel Lee give his orders. He said, "Don't +take one of the villains alive. Shoot them down +wherever you find them," with many similar expressions, +which were possibly meant for the benefit of +those inside the prison as well as for the troops. He +also ordered pickets to be placed at the ferries of the +Chattahoochee, along the railroad, and also at all cross-roads,—an +arrangement that pleased me, for we had +agreed to avoid those very places. Our intention had +been to travel in the night-time through the woods, and +to cross the rivers on logs as far from ferries as possible.</p> + +<p>Hearing some confused sounds of distress from the +room of the Tennesseeans, I inquired the cause, and +learned that a young man, named Barlow, who alone +of their number had attempted to escape, had broken +his ankle. This injury was received in jumping from +the outside fence. He was driven back to the prison +room, where surgical aid was refused, and he finally +died after great suffering.</p> + +<p>Of all who were up-stairs at the time the alarm was +given, only Fry and one other man succeeded in escaping. +The latter was a deserter from the rebel army, +and being very active and fleet, reached the shelter of +the woods in advance of all the fugitives.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span></p> + +<p>From the window I could hear the guards, all night +long, talking over their adventures. Generally they +praised their own bravery liberally, but occasionally +some one who had arrived later would suggest that it +was not much to their credit to let unarmed men snatch +their guns from them; but such suggestions were not +kindly received, and the work of self-glorification went +on. One of them expressed astonishment at the speed +of the Yankees, who had been so long kept in jail; +another accounted for it by the abundant practice in +running Yankee soldiers had received in battle!</p> + +<p>All night long I lay in a hammock which one of the +regular soldiers had swung by the window, but now +kindly resigned to me, and listened to the boastful conversation +below.</p> + +<div class='center'> +"Sadly I thought of the morrow." +</div> + +<p>There was little reason to doubt that full vengeance +would be dealt to each man who remained in the +enemy's power. The news we had received, and which +we had agreed in crediting, was the end of all hope. +Death, which had stared us in the face so often, could +not be far distant now. Another escape would scarcely +be left by the aroused vigilance of the enemy within +the realms of possibility. And such a death! No +vision of glory to dazzle the sight, and hide the grim +monster from view, or wreathe him in flowers. No +eye of friends to behold the last struggle. No sympathy,—nothing +but ignominy and an impenetrable darkness, +beyond which no loving eye might ever pierce! +But even as the cold horror of the scaffold, and the +vision of the heartless, jeering crowd rose freshly before +me, I looked out in the clear night, and up to the +shining stars, and remembered that I had one Friend,—a +Friend who would not fear to stand with me on +the scaffold, and who had Himself tasted the bitterness +of a public execution. Was it for me he had died,—to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +show me that no outward shame is too great to be borne +by the true heart? With the thought came a still and +heavenly peace, while my hope, finding no place on +this side, overleaped the darkness of death and dwelt +upon the scenes of promised happiness beyond. It is +in such hours that the value and supporting power of +religion is fully realized.</p> + +<p>The next morning the jailer put me back into the +room formerly occupied. When all had gathered, we +were only six in number,—Mason, Buffum, Bensinger, +Reddick, Parrott, and myself. We had enough to talk +over for many hours. The jailer, too, had his story to +tell. He said that some man put his hand over his +mouth and nearly smothered him, but added, with +great satisfaction, "I bit his finger terribly, and gave +the rascal a mark he will carry to the grave with him." +However, though he did bite hard, his teeth were not +so sharp as he thought, and he had only managed to +inflict a slight bruise. I kept my hand out of sight in +his presence for a day or two, and he had no idea that +I was the person of whom he complained, as his fright +prevented his clearly distinguishing anything. He was +rather cross for a while, and always brought up the +guards when he came to feed us.</p> + +<p>About the middle of the day some officers came to +see us, and talked very roughly. With many threats, +they demanded to know what direction our comrades +had intended to travel. I was glad of this, as it assured +me that some were still at large. They professed +to have killed several, and declared that they meant to +kill the others as fast as they were taken. In answer +to their demand I told them the truth, as I thought +that would do them as little good as anything else. I +said,—</p> + +<p>"They intend to try to get to the Union lines; and +they said that it made little difference which way they +went, for our forces have you so completely surrounded, +that travelling in <i>any</i> course will do equally well."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span></p> + +<p>Being unable to get anything more definite, they +retired.</p> + +<p>Not until our own release did we learn with certainty +the fate of our eight comrades. Nothing in this +whole story seems more wonderful than their adventures +and ultimate success. Two went South, two West, +and four others, in two groups, went Northward. To +recite the adventures of all would detain us too long, +but the reader will expect some account. We will give +two of the four narratives in some detail, and the others +more briefly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>ROMANTIC ESCAPES.</h3> + + +<p>J. R. Porter and John Wollam kept in company +when they ran for the woods. The latter will be remembered +as having previously escaped from Chattanooga +in company with Andrews, and eluded his pursuers +for a long time.</p> + +<p>It was October 16 when they started, and they +reached the Federal lines at Corinth, Mississippi, November +18, being thus two days over a month on the +way. They endured the greatest hardships. When in +wooded country they travelled both night and day, subsisting +on wild grapes, chestnuts, hickory-nuts, walnuts, +and some few sweet potatoes. In a few instances they +got a little morsel of corn-bread from some negroes. +This was not always a gift. Several times they slipped +into the fields where the negroes were at work and stole +their scanty dinners. Necessity knew no law. For one +whole week they had no bread, nor any other food, except +the nuts gathered in the woods.</p> + +<p>Their sufferings with cold were also very great, as +their clothes were light and almost worn out, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +nights very chill. Twice only they slept in houses. +One night they travelled till they were chilled and +weary, and almost perishing with cold, when they fortunately +discovered a nest of hogs. It was no time to +be choice; so routing out the inmates, they took possession +of the warm bed, and slept soundly till morning!</p> + +<p>They found many streams on the way, which they +were obliged to wade, or float across on logs. Porter was +a man of clear religious faith and great constancy, while +Wollam was full of resources, though somewhat reckless. +He longed for the Tennessee River, down which +he had floated alone once before, and somewhere on +which he knew Federal troops were to be found. It +was twenty-two days, however, before this stream was +reached, at a point forty miles west of Chattanooga. +The worst of their trials were now over. They pressed +a canoe into the service, and used it as Wollam had +done before, paddling and floating down stream at +night, and hiding it and themselves, in the most secret +place they could find, during the day. Two persons +under such circumstances have great advantages over +a solitary traveller. Not only does companionship assist +in keeping hope alive in each breast, but one can +watch while the other rests, and thus their resources +are husbanded. The voyagers met with no remarkable +adventures until they reached the head of Muscle +Shoals, which they could not pass on account of low +water. Abandoning their canoe here, they made a circuit +of forty miles by land, and came back to the river +below the Shoals. Here they "borrowed" a skiff, and +continued their journey until within twelve miles of +Pittsburg Landing, where they finally left the river. +Twelve miles of travel brought them to Corinth,—a +post occupied by Union troops,—where they were received +with all the welcome that could be given to +comrades long considered dead. They had passed over +three hundred miles in a straight line,—probably double +that distance by reason of the circuits they made, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +this without assistance, and while shunning all about +them as foes.</p> + +<p>Engineer Brown, W. J. Knight, and E. H. Mason +were thrown together in the hurry of escape, although +only the former two had intended to travel in company. +Mason's intended comrade was recaptured. Dorsey and +Hawkins were also, at first, in the same squad. The +first night, while hiding in the woods, Mason became +very sick, and for two days remained within a short +distance of Atlanta. This was very dangerous, and he +finally told Brown and Knight to leave him and make +good their own escape. This the heroic boys refused +to do, but, on the contrary, took him to a house, as he +was growing rapidly worse. They were well received, +and given some food in the kitchen. Just as they had +finished it, three men, who had probably seen their +arrival, came in at the front door to arrest them. This +was an almost unique incident in the history of our +expedition,—the attempt to arrest any members of the +party without having an overwhelming superiority in +numbers,—and, as might have been expected, it miscarried. +Our comrades did not deny being escaped prisoners, +but when told that they must surrender and go +back to Atlanta, Brown, who hardly knew the meaning +of fear, gave in his soft, silvery voice the very decided +reply, "No, we won't; now see if we do," and with +Knight sprang through the back door. There was no +alternative but to abandon Mason; but the other two +were the strongest and most agile of our number,—had +always been our leaders in all athletic sports, and were +able to give a good account of themselves either in a +race or fight. They ran round the end of the house +and then struck towards a piece of woods half a mile +away, keeping under the shelter of a fence which extended +towards the woods. The Confederates ran out +at the front door with their shot-guns just as the fugitives +were flying along the fence. Not wishing to try +a foot-race, the former mounted their horses and galloped +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span>out from the house down a lane that led to the main +road, attempting thus to head them off, while the owner +of the house where they had stayed unloosed his pack +of hounds, which were soon on the trail in full cry. The +fugitives changed their course to avoid the chance of a +shot from the road, and to keep at right angles with it. +Before the woodland could be reached, the dogs closed +in upon them, and the struggle which followed was +short and decisive. Brown and Knight, seeing the +dogs gaining upon them, selected a place where loose +stones were abundant, and gave their barking foes a +reception which must have astonished them. Stones +weighing a pound or more, hurled at close quarters by +the strong arms of desperate men, are not to be despised +by the most savage of blood-hounds. The whole pack +were soon crippled or driven into hasty flight.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 463px;"> +<a href="images/i287-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i287.jpg" width="463" height="514" alt="LIEUTENANT WILSON W. BROWN +(Union Engineer.) +Page 264" title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">LIEUTENANT WILSON W. BROWN<br /> +(Union Engineer.)<br /> +Page 264</span> +</div> + +<p>But by this time the horsemen were near, and our +hunted comrades were obliged to run again at full speed, +changing their course, with the purpose of eluding their +armed pursuers. They got into some brushwood, and +by "seesawing and tacking" hoped to get out of sight +of the horsemen. But the dogs still followed the trail, +though they dared not come near, and the brave pair +would no doubt have been run down in time, by the +aid of dogs and horses, had they not found a little creek, +in which they waded long enough to throw the dogs off +the scent; then the expanse of timber about the creek +soon hid them from their human foes.</p> + +<p>That day they reached Stone Mountain, about eighteen +miles east of Atlanta, and afterwards travelled only +at night, due north, with the North Star for their guide. +From their daytime hiding-places they frequently saw +parties of patrollers, but were never discovered.</p> + +<p>Mason was taken without resistance and sent back to +Atlanta, where he joined us, being the sixth and last +man recaptured.</p> + +<p>Brown and Knight did not venture again to a house, +and suffered greatly for want of food. From the house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +they had left so precipitately they travelled six days with +nothing to eat save what the woods furnished. They +even chewed brush to appease the gnawings of hunger. +On the seventh day they obtained a great feast by +catching a goose, which they ate raw, and also procured +a little of the corn left in a field by the huskers. Two +days after, they found a tree of apples, very poor, but +precious to them, and, after having devoured as many +as they could, carried a supply with them. Before +night, however, they had still better fortune. They +discovered a drove of half-grown pigs. To get one +was not easy, but these men were not readily baffled. +Their plan was soon laid: Knight hid behind a tree +with a club, while Brown tolled a confiding member of +the drove by biting off bits of apple and throwing +towards him. He backed past the tree where Knight +was concealed, and when the pig in following came near +enough, the latter felled it with one powerful blow, and +they bore it away in triumph. That night they found +a burnt brush-heap, and, as some of the coals were not +extinct, they made a fire and feasted on roast pig. They +carried off what they could not eat, and it took the +edge from famine for a long while.</p> + +<p>When ten days out they crossed the Chattahoochee +on a raft made of rails tied together with bark. At +length they came into the mountains, where travel at +night for famishing men was intolerably difficult. But, +though they knew it not, they were near friends. The +border country between Tennessee and North Carolina +was always predominantly loyal. Accident led to +the discovery of those who were glad to give them +help. In crossing an old clearing, which seemed deserted, +they came out unexpectedly in front of a lonely +looking log house, where two men stood on the porch. +Brown and Knight were so hungry that they resolved +to take the risk of asking for dinner. As there were +only two men, they thought they could not be arrested, +especially if they first got something to eat. They pretended<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +to be rebel soldiers, who had been sick and were +now trying to get back to their regiments. The mistress +of the house gave them food, but eyed them closely, and +soon accused them of being "Yankees." Denial was +useless, and they "soon found each other out." These +Union people put them on the Southern branch of the +Underground Railroad, and they arrived at Somerset, +Kentucky, on the 25th of November,—a month and +nine days after leaving Atlanta.</p> + +<p>The course of the next pair, Dorsey and Hawkins, +was also northward, and in nearly the same track. In +the early part it presents marked peculiarities, especially +in the fact that much help was obtained from +the negroes. These sympathized with all fugitives on +general principles, and still more when the fugitives +were Union soldiers. The latter part of this narrative +passes over the same ground as the former. It is a +trifling but noticeable coincidence that four of the eight +who escaped came to the town of Somerset, Kentucky, +and two others to the ship "Somerset."</p> + +<p>Dorsey shall tell his own story, with a few abridgments. +He hurt his ankle in the first terrible run, and +this caused him great suffering. He also met a countryman +just before reaching the woods, but having +armed himself with a large stone in each hand, and +looking dangerous, he was not stopped. The rapid +firing of the enemy led him to believe that many of +our number were killed. We take up his story at the +entrance of the forest. The first touch is very graphic.</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Passing a little way into the woods, I found Brown and +Knight leaning against a tree, gasping for breath. I leaned +against the same tree. None of us could speak. I thought for +a moment or two that each breath would be my last. As we recovered +a little, one gasped, 'Guess we'd better go, boys.' On +we went, but not so fast as before, for none of our pursuers were +now in sight. We were soon joined by Hawkins, Mason, and +the escaped deserter, so that we were six in all. We lay in an +open field that night, judging it to be safer than the woods, and +huddled together as a partial protection from the cold. All +night long we heard the baying of the hounds and the frequent +discharge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +of firearms. The distance from which these sounds +came indicated that the pursuers were beyond us, and that our +best chance was in hiding and allowing them to pass still farther +ahead. The next day we were fortunate enough to discover +some luscious wild grapes, which we devoured with the greatest +relish. Our mouths afterwards were very sore, and the grapes +may possibly have been the cause of the injury. The same day +we were surprised by some citizens with shot-guns, but outran +them and escaped.</p> + +<p>"Brown, Mason, and Knight left us, the latter being sick. +The deserter continued with us a day longer. He then wished +to visit a house for food, but we, though very hungry, did not +think it advisable, and parted with all good wishes. I have +heard that he got safely to Washington, D. C., but, returning to +his home in Northern Georgia, was arrested and executed as a +deserter from the Confederate army, into which he had been +conscripted at first.</p> + +<p>"On the fourth day out we met two of our pursuers, who +were apparently coming back discouraged, but easily eluded +them by hiding under some bushes. We now began to travel +more rapidly, hiding by day and continuing on our way by night, +directed by the stars, which Hawkins understood very well.</p> + +<p>"On the eighth day out we came to the ferry of the Chattahoochee +River, far to the northeast of Atlanta. We took rails +from a neighboring fence, and began to build a raft, when we +observed a lighted torch approaching the opposite side of the +river. When it came nearer we saw that the party accompanying +it were negroes, two in number, with four dogs. Hawkins, +who had spent some years in the South, and understood the disposition +of the negroes, felt disposed to trust them. Accordingly, +we asked them to ferry us over, which they readily did, we +giving them a little tobacco we had, and which we could not +use because of our sore mouths. They professed themselves +Unionists, and we told them that we were Union soldiers. The +fact of belonging to the railroad party we did not disclose until +we were within the Union lines. One went for provisions, while +the other remained with us, as if to allay any suspicions we +might entertain. They told us that we were forty-eight miles +northeast of Atlanta, in the region of deserted gold-mines, and +proposed to hide us in one of those mines, supply us with quilts +and provisions until we were well rested, and then direct us on +our northward way. It would probably have been better to +have accepted their kind offer, which I think Hawkins wished +to do, but I had some fear; so we declined.</p> + +<p>"The one who had gone for provisions returned with a goodly +supply of boiled pork and beans, mashed Irish potatoes, sweet +potatoes, and corn-bread. What a feast! It was the first food +worthy the name we had eaten for six long months! We did +it ample justice, and what was left carried away with us. Our +African friends also gave us a piece of a broken butcher-knife, +that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +that was of great service. They also gave us invaluable directions, +telling us where the rebel troops lay, and where we could +find a colored slave, who would ferry us over the Hiawassee +(which runs down from North Carolina into the Tennessee), as +they had done over the Chattahoochee. We assured them that +they would soon be free, and parted with a mutual 'God bless +you!'</p> + +<p>"With thankful hearts we pressed on, made a good night's +journey, and then laid by until evening of the next day. Seeing +a house on the edge of the woods, we watched it until assured +that only an old man and woman were there, when we went boldly +up to it and asked for supper, which was given with some reluctance.</p> + +<p>"Early in the evening journey we came to a small stream, and +attempting to cross on a fallen tree, I fell into the water, and was +thoroughly soaked. From this cause I suffered greatly with cold. +Some hours after we came to a barn, the mows of which were +filled with corn-blades. We were glad to bury ourselves out of +sight in the fodder, where we grew warm, and slept all day. It +was comfortable, but we paid for it by a terrible fright. Some +cavalrymen came into the stable under the mows and took out +their horses. We could hear their conversation and the jingle +of their spurs, and scarcely dared to breathe. But they left us +in safety. We stayed a day longer, as the bed was the best we +had found since our first capture. But a negro boy came up to +hunt eggs, and found us. He was so frightened that we could not +pacify him, and, fearing an alarm, we hastened to the woods once +more. Some negroes were again met, starting on their favorite +amusement,—an opossum-hunt. On application they gave us a +magnificent treat,—a hatful of apples, a half 'pone,' and two +or three pounds of boiled beef on a bone. This supply lasted for +several days.</p> + +<p>"On the night journey we were much annoyed by the barking +of dogs at the houses we passed. Once we were seen, but, pretending +to be rebels on the way to our regiments, we succeeded +so well in lulling suspicion that an old man sent a message to his +son, who was in the rebel army, by us, and added some corn-bread +for the messengers.</p> + +<p>"I here became more lame than ever, by reason of an unfortunate +misstep, and had to walk by leaning part of my weight +upon my faithful comrade. We came to a wide river we could +not cross, and, going back into the fields, lay on the damp ground +till morning. If I ever <i>tasted</i> cold, it was then. Hawkins became +reckless from suffering, and was disposed to go to a house, +even at the risk of capture. But I demurred, and we waited for +an opportunity to communicate with the ever-faithful negroes. +We found a hut, and, watching it some time, saw none but a +black woman there. She readily responded to our appeal for +help, gave us a hot breakfast, a fire to warm by, and some +parched corn to carry on our journey. She also directed us to a +ford.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +Thanking her from our hearts, we returned to the river, +got over, and concealed ourselves in the woods on the other side.</p> + +<p>"With the coming of night we once more took up our weary +way. Towards morning we saw a large encampment of whites +and colored people. All were asleep except one of the latter. +We approached, and, in a whisper, asked him who they were. +He told us of the retreat of Bragg's army from Kentucky, and +that these were a band of fugitives coming South with their slaves +to avoid the Union army. To us this was a serious matter. A +large army, with all its baggage, and the country full of pickets, +directly in our front, was a great addition to our danger. The +colored man gave us all the scanty information he possessed about +the position of the army. Hawkins, spying a covered skillet near +the fire, winked at our friend, got an assenting nod, and reached +for it. It had two baked sweet potatoes, which we appropriated, +and departed as noiselessly as we had advanced. Twenty-four +hours after, we had reached the Hiawassee River. We called +lustily for the ferryman, and, to our exceeding delight, were +answered by the very slave our colored friends on the Chattahoochee +had said would be willing to ferry us over.</p> + +<p>"With his counsel, for we trusted him with the secret of our +being escaped prisoners, we resolved to go down the Hiawassee +to its junction with the Tennessee. To do this, however, it would +be necessary to pass round the rebel camp at Charleston, a few +miles farther down the river. This was Friday, and, by waiting +until Saturday, the young man could get a pass good until Monday, +and could pilot us around Charleston. We resolved to wait. +He treated us royally,—shared his scanty allowance of food with +us, for he had only a slave's rations, doctored my ankle, kept us +in his best bed—<i>a feather one</i>—overnight, though, for prudential +reasons, we hid in the woods during the day, and, on starting, +gave us a bottle of molasses and a piece of pork. We floated +down near camp in a 'dug-out' canoe, then left the river and +<i>surrounded</i> the enemy. Our pilot was obliged to leave us before +we got back to the river below the town, but he put us on the +banks of a small stream, which we had only to follow down to +its mouth. This we reached by two <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, and amused ourselves +by cracking walnuts and hickory-nuts in a solitary place until +dark, when we hunted up an old dilapidated canoe. It was a +miserable boat, and gave us enough to do in bailing as well as +paddling it. We soon saw a better craft, with good paddles, tied up, +and, as the owner was not there, we 'traded' without difficulty.</p> + +<p>"The stars were shining brightly when we again pushed off, +and the water was as clear as crystal, though not deep. We dried +our wet clothes, and felt very much more comfortable. Save an +occasional whisper between us and the soft ripple of the oars, +silence was unbroken. This was the most peaceful and satisfactory +night's travel we had yet made.</p> + +<p>"At daybreak we hid the boat and nestled away in some dry +leaves, and after the sun got high enough to warm us, slept by +turns<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +till afternoon. Then we noticed an island half a mile farther +down the river, and, as we had seen nobody the whole day, +and the place appeared perfectly solitary, we resolved to explore +it. Nothing was found, but we saw a house on the east bank, +which we watched until sundown, and seeing only women about +it, resolved to try for supper. We got a good square meal, but +judge our dismay at finding a good number of ladies, and, soon +after, a few men, also, at the place. It was a 'quilting,' and +they were to dance that evening. But we told a new story. We +had been working at a saw-mill in the mountains, were now out +of employment, and were going to Chattanooga to look for a job. +They warned us that we would be arrested at Chattanooga, and +would have to go to jail or join the army. They seemed to care +nothing for the war, and to have no disposition to molest us. +We assured them that we would be all right in Chattanooga, as +we were <i>personally acquainted with General Leadbetter</i>. They +looked doubtful, and in parting they said, in a rather insinuating +manner, that they wished us a safe journey to <i>Chattanooga</i>. +Probably they were Unionists, but we dared not risk a discovery. +I tried, unsuccessfully, to steal a quilt, which we greatly needed. +The night was overcast, the water was very shallow in places, +and some tree-tops were in the way. We had to get out, pull +our boat out of these obstructions and into deeper water, and +then, wet to the skin, to re-embark and paddle on.</p> + +<p>"About midnight we came to what seemed to be a ferry, where +the river was deeper and wider than it had been before. Suddenly +two shots were fired at us. We lay down in the bottom +of the boat, and, taking in our paddles, let her float down stream, +while we did not move a muscle. I suppose it was a picket of +the enemy, who, after firing once, concluded that our boat was +only a floating log, and took no further trouble. After getting, +as we supposed, out of danger, we again seized the paddles, and +an hour of vigorous work brought us to the river's mouth, and +out on the broader Tennessee.</p> + +<p>"We were very reluctant to abandon the river navigation, but +it was manifestly dangerous to continue it further, and useless as +well, unless we were prepared to take the risk of running by +Chattanooga. So we rowed to the north side of the Tennessee, +and turned our trusty craft adrift, while we started across the +mountains. The first road we crossed gave evidence of the passage +of a large body of troops, and thus warned us that we were +probably in danger of becoming entangled in the scouts and detachments +of Bragg's army, now on its retreat from Kentucky. +Two boys we found by a fire in a school-house—they had been +out 'coon'-hunting—confirmed this report. Soon we saw their +camp-fires, and ascending a mountain, where we supposed we +would be safer than in the valleys, waited for morning. When +it came, an appalling sight met our view,—a large division of +Bragg's army, with its seemingly endless baggage-trains, well +guarded by cavalry, was spread out beneath us. All day long +we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +watched their movements from our eyrie with breathless +anxiety. We resolved at night to turn to the northeast instead +of keeping due north, as we had intended. Before we had gone +far, Hawkins whispered in my ear, 'Dorsey, we mustn't crack +any corn to-night.' Rebel pickets and scouts were no doubt on +every side of us. The mountain-side was steep and covered with +loose stones, where travelling, even by day, would have been difficult; +at night, in the presence of the enemy, it was terrible! +We came to a picket, and were only saved from running right +into it by the snuffling of a horse. We slipped away a short distance +from the road, and lay down. Soon a squad of cavalry +passed up the road, and we crossed it right behind them, anxious +to get out of that dangerous neighborhood while the sound of +their hoofs drowned any noise we might make. We moved very +cautiously, again ascended the mountain-side, and near daybreak +came to a halt and went into camp,—that is, hid in the brush.</p> + +<p>"When the light came we could see the enemy no more, but +heard his wagons rumbling off in the distance. The immediate +danger from that source was over. Our stock of provision, +which was only a little parched corn, was almost exhausted; and +as the mountain seemed to be uninhabited, we resolved to move +forward in the afternoon. We found a negro, who, for a wonder, +could not or would not give any provisions or information. Late +in the night we rested, tying some bushes together to make a +rude shelter, and both sleeping, for nature was almost overcome. +Food and water were also very low, but in the morning we pressed +on, halting when our waning strength failed, and going on when +strength allowed.</p> + +<p>"Very impressive were some of the hours spent in watching +on the Cumberland Mountains. One of us would sleep in perfect +trust, while the other watched and thought. The lofty peaks, +the wide landscape, and the rising and setting sun were doubly +solemn in the profound silence, and amid the mighty forests of +that region. I can never forget the beauty of nature associated +with so much of peril.</p> + +<p>"But there were other hours of very prosaic toil. Once we +had to force our way on hands and knees through a mass of briers +a quarter of a mile wide. Several times we hunted persimmons +by moonlight,—Hawkins shaking them off, while I crawled on +hands and knees <i>feeling</i> for them. Many adventures similar to +those already narrated were encountered. Near a ford of the +Sequatchie River we found a quilted skirt hanging out, which we +appropriated, tore in two, and, making a hole in the middle of +each piece for our heads, found ourselves possessed of passable +undershirts, which we needed sorely, as it was now colder than +ever. The ford was waded with our clothes taken off and tied +on our heads.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 334px;"> +<a href="images/i297-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i297.jpg" width="334" height="560" alt="DORSEY AND HAWKINS IN THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS. +Page 272." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">DORSEY AND HAWKINS IN THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS.<br /> +Page 272.</span> +</div> + +<p>"For two days more we travelled and rested alternately in the +mountains, hungry, wet with the rain that now began to fall, +and as solitary as if we were the only inhabitants of the globe. +Near<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +sundown of the second day we heard some wood-choppers +far below us. We were so weak that we repeatedly fell as we descended +the mountain-side. Hunger was so extreme that we resolved +to try for food from them, using the best story we could +frame. We told them we were Confederate soldiers, who had +been left in a hospital, from which we had run away, and were +now trying to get to our regiments; also that we were without +money, and wanted food. They refused to do anything for us; +said that soldiers had already eaten them nearly out. This reception +encouraged us. To test them further we talked of <i>our +cause</i>, its justice, certainty of success, etc. They did not pretend +to agree with us, and, finally, told us that we were in what had +been called 'Lincoln District,' because only two votes were cast +there for secession. The conversation led them to a flat avowal +that they were Union men. We then cautiously revealed the +fact that we were soldiers on the same side, and the hospitality +which had been denied before was now readily extended."</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>This proved to be a station on the "Underground +Railroad," which had been organized since the opening +of the war for the escape of Union men and prisoners +to the Union lines in Kentucky. After the fugitives +had completely proved their character, they were put +under the conduct of a local celebrity, known as "Red +Fox," from his skill in eluding the enemy. He conducted +them for some distance, and gave them directions +to the next point, and from this they were directed +to another. Thus they were forwarded swiftly +and in comparative safety. Dorsey dwells with great +gusto upon the good food and generous treatment received +from these loyal mountaineers, who had no hope +of a reward, but were glad to do anything for their loved +and imperilled country. His expressions of gratitude +are also frequent and hearty. One man gave them the +only dollar he had, and would not hear of a refusal. +Some very narrow escapes were run even after they +were thus among friends, but they finally reached Somerset, +Kentucky. At first they were received with +some suspicion by the Union officials, but, as soon as +their true character was established, they enjoyed the +enthusiastic welcome accorded to each one of the railroad +party who returned from "the valley of the +shadow of death."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>FROM ATLANTA TO THE GULF.</h3> + + +<p>No fugitives passed through more romantic adventures +than Wood and Wilson. The southward course +they took saved them from an energetic pursuit, but +their unwillingness to trust the negroes exposed them +to imminent peril of starvation. The idea that any of +our party would seek for the Gulf blockading squadron +probably never entered the head of any pursuer. It +was well that this route was chosen by Wilson, for in +no other way could he possibly have succeeded in carrying +his sick comrade with him. The manner in +which poor Wood, who had been for months suffering +from fever, and was scarcely able to walk about the +jail, was taken from "Atlanta to the sea" by a starving +comrade, would seem a most improbable invention if +met in a work of fiction. I extract the complete account +of the escape, with a few unimportant omissions, +from "The Adventures of Alf. Wilson," written by +himself, and first published in book form in Toledo, +1880. The account begins in the Atlanta jail-yard. +The necessity for immediate flight was first seen by +Wood, who exclaimed,—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"'Alf, come on, quick! the boys are getting over the fence at +the back of the jail; hurry up, for there's a company of guards +coming double-quick.'</p> + +<p>"This was my old comrade, Mark Wood, and his voice was +the first warning I had of the danger that threatened me, or of +the necessary change in our programme.</p> + +<p>"'Then bounce that fence!' I yelled. We both reached the +top of the high fence at the same instant, and not a second too +soon, for, as I glanced over my shoulder from the fence-top, I +saw the guards with gleaming muskets pouring in at the gate, +and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +before I could throw my leg over and spring off a volley +was fired, the balls rattling and whizzing all about us. One bullet +struck the picket under my thigh, and so close that the splinters +lacerated my flesh, and as my feet struck the ground on the +outside, I said to Mark, 'I am hit.'</p> + +<p>"'Get up and run like——!' exclaimed Mark.</p> + +<p>"I was on my feet in an instant, not knowing whether my +thigh was shattered or not. As I ran I clapped my hand there +to see if it bled freely. I pulled away a lot of splinters, and had +the satisfaction of finding that I had received only a slight flesh +wound made by the picket splinters. Never did I make better +use of my legs; there was need of it, too, for the balls were spatting +about us in the dirt uncomfortably near. They came so +thick and closely at one time that I was almost certain that one +or both of us would be hit; but we answered their cries of 'Halt! +halt!' by springing forward with all the speed we could command.</p> + +<p>"It was about a mile before we struck the cover of woods, and +then the trees were so scattering that they afforded only a doubtful +place for concealment. It was now every man for himself, +and, like the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, we longed for +darkness or some other friendly interposition in our behalf. +Wood had come up with me, and we dodged stealthily from one +thicket to another until it began to grow quite dark, when we +breathed easier and acted more deliberately, although we well +knew we were not out of danger yet.</p> + +<p>"About this time, we became aware that we were approaching +a public road. We soon had warning that it was much better +to halt, and not attempt to cross the road. The sound of galloping +horsemen in great numbers and the clanking of sabres +could be heard near by. We were so nearly out of breath that +we could run no farther for the present, and, on looking hastily +about, discovered a low, scrubby pine-bush surrounded with +shrubbery. We both darted under its protecting shelter, and +lay flat on the ground on our faces, neither having spoken a word +to the other for some minutes, on account of our great exhaustion. +We were so near the road that we could plainly see all +the movements of the rebel cavalry, who were deploying their +line something in the manner of skirmishers.</p> + +<p>"This presented an unexpected difficulty in our way. If we +had reached the road two minutes sooner we might have crossed +without being seen, but we could not have been there an instant +sooner than we were, unless we had had wings, for we had both +run until we were ready to fall in our tracks. We had become +separated from the rest of the party, but could still hear the reports +of muskets, and knew that the pursuit was still going on, +but how many of the escaping party had been killed was beyond +our knowledge, though I had seen Captain Fry reeling and stumbling +in a manner that led me to fear he was shot. We were +thus compelled to lie quietly for some time. While we were +waiting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +here the cavalry was relieved by infantry, and formed +into squads to scour the woods.</p> + +<p>"The place where we lay was not over fifteen steps from where +the infantry sentinel was stationed. We could hear every word +he spoke to the man on the next post. Their comments on the +affair at the jail would have been amusing to us under less serious +circumstances, and I wish I could give their words exactly now, +for they were ludicrous enough.</p> + +<p>"Some time late in the evening, while we were still lying +under the bush, we became aware that some one was approaching +us very quietly. In the dark we could recognize the dim +outlines of two men, and we felt certain, as they came so near us +that we could have almost touched them, that it was two of our +comrades; but we dare not even whisper to them, lest we should +cause them to betray themselves, and, perhaps, us too. They +were, evidently, from the cautious manner in which they moved, +aware that they were very close to the rebel guards. These men, +I afterwards learned, were Porter and Wollam.</p> + +<p>"After waiting a short time to see if they were discovered, +and hearing nothing of them, we began to crawl out, concluding +that there was no probability of the guards leaving that night. +I should judge the sentries were stationed about thirty paces +apart, and to get out there was no alternative but to pass between +them. I selected a place and crawled to the other side of +the road safely, and then lay perfectly still, while Mark did the +same. My hair fairly stood on end as he wriggled along, for it +seemed to me once or twice as if one of the sentries would certainly +discover him before he would reach me. This was one of +our most narrow escapes.</p> + +<p>"We were no more than safely across the road when a new +and unseen obstacle, in the shape of a high fence, presented itself, +over which we must climb before we could breathe free. We +crawled carefully to the fence, and by great patience and much +care, one at a time, managed to get over without attracting the +attention of the guards. We felt as if we had accomplished +quite an achievement when at last we had escaped beyond the +fence a few steps and found ourselves in an open field, where we +could push ahead noiselessly, and when, at last, we got away entirely +out of hearing, we struck out on a full run. At the far +side of the field we came to a small stream, in which we travelled +some distance in the water, to take precaution against pursuit by +dogs. Soon after, we struck a thick piece of woods on the slope +of a hill-side, which we continued to ascend under the thick foliage +for some time. But, at last, exhausted Nature asserted her +full sway, and we were compelled to lie down and rest out of +sheer inability to go farther.</p> + +<p>"Up to this time, I think, neither of us had spoken any more +than if we had been dumb. As we threw ourselves on the +ground, without breath or strength to go farther, we began to +realize the weak, helpless condition we were in. It did not appear +as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +if our limbs were strong enough to carry us five miles a +day. When we looked forward to the long journey ahead of us, +the hunger and fatigue, it looked a little discouraging. I think, +however, a portion of this sense of physical prostration was +caused by the sudden relaxation from the great mental strain +and excitement which had been upon us from the time of the +jail-break and immediately preceding it. This, with the intense +exertion in running, in our enfeebled condition, had wellnigh +unnerved us. We were wild, too, almost, with joy at our escape.</p> + +<p>"But we had but little time to rest, rejoice, or feel thankful +in. Many contingencies yet stood between us and the goal of +our hopes. Many armed enemies; many long, weary miles of +travel; many rivers lay across our path, and many days of hunger +and many sleepless nights, if we would succeed.</p> + +<p>"Before we escaped from the prison I studied over the subject +of routes very carefully. I had seen enough of night travel in +the mountains about Chattanooga and along the Tennessee +River, and well knew that the probabilities of our being picked +up, should we go in that direction, would be very much greater. +I therefore decided in my own mind that I would strike out for +the Gulf, and try to reach some of the vessels of the Federal +blockading squadron. While this would be much the longest +route,—the distance, as near as I could calculate, being over +three hundred miles,—I thought there would be less vigilance +and liability of pursuit in that direction. In this conjecture it +turned out that I was correct. The country was entirely unknown +to me, except a slight general idea I had of it from the +school geographies. I only knew that the waters of the Chattahoochee +River, which flowed west of Atlanta, entered the Gulf.</p> + +<p>"While we rested on the hill-side I communicated, in a whisper, +to Mark my views, and he readily agreed that he would go +in any direction I thought best. Accordingly, we rose up and +walked to an open place where we could see the stars, and soon +determined our course, which was to be slightly south of west, +and at once we set out as fast as we could travel. We spoke no +words as we walked on, and went as noiselessly as possible, for +we were on the lookout for scouting parties of cavalrymen that +might be prowling about.</p> + +<p>"We soon came to the railroad track leading from Atlanta to +Columbus, and knew from this that our course was about right. +Our march led us through some rough country, and we were +compelled to rest quite frequently, so that when it began to grow +light in the east we estimated that we were about eight miles +from the prison. We sought out a secluded retreat for the day, +and after getting each of us a stout stick, which would answer +either as a weapon or a walking-stick, we lay down and slept +until late in the afternoon. We woke up much rested, but were +so lame and our feet were so sore that we could hardly take a +step without excruciating pain. We were hungry, and the +scanty morsel of corn-bread we had brought from the prison the +previous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> +evening did not go far towards satisfying our sharp appetites. +But it was all we had, and we ate it and were thankful, +although we did not know where or when we would get our +next rations.</p> + +<p>"I now saw a difficulty in this attempt to get away that we +did not encounter in our first attempt to reach the Federal lines. +Our clothes had become dirty and ragged, and we had a sort of +jail-bird look, that it seemed to me would betray us if we were +seen. I was brought to a realization of this fact as I looked at +Wood, when we sat together in silence beneath the great tree +where we had taken shelter, waiting for the friendly mantle of +darkness to shield our movements. And I suppose my own appearance +was no more prepossessing than his. The miserable +garments he wore did not cover his nakedness. His face was begrimed +with dirt almost set in the skin. He had become thin and +emaciated with fever, and had a ravenous appetite; his eyes were +sunken in his head and seemed to have the wild, unnatural glare +of a madman, which at times almost made me shudder. The +poor fellow's pitiable appearance, as he sat there despondently and +longingly gazing down on the beautiful valley below, was such +as to appeal to a heart of stone. Yet I knew that it was unsafe +for us to go to a house, and we agreed not to be seen by a human +being if we could avoid it. I felt certain that if we should meet +any one, our appearance would at once betray us. We were in +a country where we could not expect to find a friend, unless, +possibly, it might be the negroes, of whom, as a class, we knew +but very little. We were so weak, and the mental strain and +long-continued anxiety, in which we had lived from day to day, +had had the effect of making us, I may say, foolishly suspicious +and timid of everything. We were startled at every sudden +noise, and crouched like sneaking wolves from the sight of man.</p> + +<p>"While in the midst of unpleasant thoughts, Mark broke the +long silence by raising his head and saying, 'Alf, it is time for +us to go.'</p> + +<p>"Our journey that night took us through a corn-field, where +we pulled a few ears of corn and chewed it as we went along. I +remember it was hard and made my jaws very tired, but it helped +to quiet my gnawing hunger. It was much better than nothing. +After a toilsome night's journey, guided by the stars, and over a +very rough county, in which we entirely avoided roads, we again +secreted ourselves as the streaks of gray began to appear in the +east, and, after scraping up a pile of leaves, lay down for the day. +When we awoke, late in the afternoon, we found that our feet +were so bruised and sore, and that we were otherwise so lame, +and withal so weak from hunger, that it taxed our endurance to +the utmost to take a single step. We each took from our pockets +an ear of corn, and after crunching and swallowing what we +could, we put the rest in our clothes and hobbled off, making but +very slow time for the first mile or so. It was in the month of +October, and the nights were pretty cool, which, in our poorly-clad +condition<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> +condition, compelled us to keep moving all the time to keep +comfortably warm.</p> + +<p>"The next morning came and still we had not reached the +river. Again we hid ourselves and slept through the day. When +night came and we tried to walk, we found our feet in such a +deplorable condition that it did not seem possible for us to go +farther. Mark crawled some distance on his hands and knees, +and, looking back at me, said in an appealing tone, 'Alf, what's a +fellow's life but a curse to him when he has to drag it out in this +way? I would rather be dead and done with it.'</p> + +<p>"I encouraged him, telling him the worst was over and we +would soon reach the river. I suppose we had shaped our course +a little too far south, and thus made the distance longer than it +would otherwise have been. We struggled on for some time, +crawling where the ground was stony, and stopping very often to +temporarily quell the pain in our feet. I was a little ahead, and, +as the breeze fanned my aching temples, I thought I heard to +our right the lull of running water. I told Mark and cheered +him up. We forgot our tortures for the time being and scrambled +on quite lively, and soon after had the satisfaction of standing on +the banks of the Chattahoochee.</p> + +<p>"De Soto did not feel more joy when he first discovered the +Mississippi, the great Father of Waters, nor was the ecstasy of +Balboa greater, when, from the cloud-capped summits of Darien, +his eyes first beheld the vast expanse of water which he named the +Pacific Ocean. Like that great discoverer, we waded out into +the water, carrying neither naked sword nor the banner of our +country like he, to take possession of our discovery in the name +of our rulers, but to bathe our painful feet and cool our parched +throats.</p> + +<p>"We made certain of the direction the river current ran, and +started southward in high hopes, although the temptation to go +northward to our friends was very strong. We now wanted a +boat, and, not long after we started, fortune had another pleasant +surprise in store for us, for we came upon a skiff safely moored, +with lock and chain, to a tree. After carefully inspecting the +surroundings to see that no prying eyes were peering on us, we +'loosened' the lock with a stone, and in a few minutes after were +smoothly gliding down the current of the great river, and I doubt +if two more joyful mortals ever navigated a canoe than we two, +with that stolen little craft.</p> + +<p>"What a happy change! Our weary limbs and painful feet +now had a rest, and yet we were gliding noiselessly on our journey. +What wonderful teachers hardship and stern necessity are! +Discontented mortals do not half appreciate the blessings they +have until they have been pupils in the school of adversity. I +felt as if this chilly night's ride, in a little stolen boat, on a strange +river, whose shores were hidden by Plutonian shadows, was the +best and most grateful that I ever had, or ever expected to enjoy.</p> + +<p>"We pulled off our old boots and bathed our lacerated feet in +the water,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> +and quenched the tormenting thirst caused by the indigestible +hard corn, which was now our only nourishment. We +kept our paddles pretty busy, as we wished to get as far away as +possible from where we took the boat before the dawn of day. +When daylight began to appear, we paddled our craft into a +bayou, safe from view, and secreted ourselves in a thicket for the +day.</p> + +<p>"Four days and nights had now passed since we had eaten +food, except the morsel of corn-bread we brought out of the +prison. We lay down to sleep the day away, but between our +great hunger and the swarms of mosquitoes we could get but +little rest. I could, while sleeping, see in my dreams tables +spread and groaning with loads of good things to eat; bread, +meat, cheese, coffee, biscuit, and butter were all within my reach, +and were vanishing before my ravenous appetite, when, in the +midst of the great pleasures of this feast, I would suddenly +waken to a sense of the reality of the case, and what a maddening +disappointment I would feel. With this disturbed sort of +rest we worried through the day, the demands of hunger and our +stomachs getting the better of nature's demand for rest, until at +last we grew desperate, and at early twilight, in the evening, +pulled out of the little bayou, determined on a raid of some sort +on a house for food.</p> + +<p>"We spied a house some distance from the river-bank, which +we thought from appearances we could capture with a plausible +story or by force.</p> + +<p>"On approaching, we saw in its immediate vicinity quite a +number of negro cabins, and in the yard surrounding the house +about twenty blood-hounds chained to the fence, indicating that +these were the premises of an extensive planter. The only occupants +of the house were an old man and woman. We apologized +for disturbing them, and told them we were soldiers who had been +on furlough returning to our regiments at Atlanta, and wished +directions to the ferry (we had discovered a ferry as we came +down); also, that we were hungry and wanted to get something +to eat, provided they felt like feeding hungry soldiers without +money, as we had had no pay for some time, and were both moneyless +and in bad health, Mark's appearance proving this latter +assertion. It was quite dark, however, and they could not see +us very distinctly, but they evidently credited our story, for they +told us to be seated and we would soon be made welcome to such +food as they had.</p> + +<p>"They were a couple of quite intelligent but unsophisticated +old people, in comfortable circumstances, living, as most Southerners +did, away from any highway, and we gained their confidence +so far as to feel ourselves assured from suspicion. I had +been in Dixie so long that I had acquired, from the guards and +citizens, their vernacular of speech quite perfectly; besides this, +we had learned the names of officers and the number of different +regiments, such as the Eighth Georgia Cavalry, Fifth Tennessee +Infantry,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +etc., until we were able to tell quite a plausible story, +if not too closely questioned.</p> + +<p>"We asked the old man if there was any late news. He said, +'Nothing, except that the Yankee raiders had seized the Atlanta +jailer, overpowered the guards, and a number of them escaped +and had not yet been caught.' We expressed great surprise that +such a piece of audacity could be made successful in Atlanta. +The old man said, 'They were a desperate, dangerous lot of +scoundrels, who ought to have been hung long ago.' He said +many of them stood up and fought the soldiers with clubs and +bricks, even after the guards had shot them through, and finally +they jumped the high fence and ran like deer.</p> + +<p>"In the mean time we had devoured everything the good +woman had set before us on the table. We were ashamed, but +our hunger was so much stronger than our sense of shame that +we could not leave off, and, if we had not been in a hurry, we +would have waited for her to have prepared another meal for us. +She said she regretted that she had not more cooked to set before +us, but we told her she had been very kind, and thanked them, +at the same time bidding them good-night, when we started off, +as they supposed, for the ferry. A short time afterwards we were +in our boat pulling down-stream with more vigorous energy than +we had before. We kept up a steady stroke of the paddles for +some hours, feeling that each stroke placed so much more distance +between us and the prison.</p> + +<p>"While we were thus moving along with steady, cautious +stroke, high in the hopes of the future, I suddenly, quicker than +a flash, found myself lying flat on my back in the river. What +on earth had happened I did not know, the accident had been so +sudden. I thought of earthquakes, whales, sharks, torpedoes, +and many other things. Luckily, one of my feet caught on the +side of the boat, and I drifted with it until Mark came to my assistance +and pulled me out. The cause of my mishap had been a +ferry-boat wire, which was stretched across the river, and hung +just low enough to catch me fairly as I sat in the stern of the boat. +It struck Mark, but he sat in the middle, and fell into the bottom +of the boat. We were going at a good speed, and the collision +came so suddenly that it is a wonder we did not fare worse. Fortunately, +there were no guards at the ferry, so we had no cause +to apprehend discovery or molestation. My greatest mishap was +a thorough wetting, for the night was frosty and cold, and caused +me to chill.</p> + +<p>"This was followed in the after part of the night by a stupor +that I could not shake off, and my continued efforts at the paddle +had wellnigh exhausted me. Mark could not manage the +boat very well, as he had tried it a number of times. But I felt +that I must have rest and sleep, and so gave the boat over into +his hands, enjoining him to keep it in the current. I lay down +in the bottom of the boat, and soon sank into a state of forgetfulness +and sleep. I do not know how long I had slept, but some +time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +in the night Mark aroused me, and told me we could go no +farther, as we had come 'to the end of the river.' It was some +time before he could awaken me fully to consciousness, so that I +could comprehend our situation.</p> + +<p>"At last I began to look around, to determine what Mark's +'end of the river' meant. I soon discovered that he had run the +boat away under a ledge of the mountain, and a dim light could +only be seen in one direction. All else around us was impenetrable +darkness. I took the paddle, and worked the boat in the +direction of the light, and in a little while we emerged from beneath +this overhanging mountain ledge, and again reached the current +of the river, down which the boat was soon rapidly gliding. +Mark now discovered that the 'end of the river' had not yet been +reached, but he did not care to take charge of the boat again.</p> + +<p>"Shortly after this adventure we perceived that we were not +to have smooth sailing all the way. The river began to grow +rough, and the water ran over benches and ledges of rocks, and, +in places, with great velocity, so much so that we narrowly escaped +being 'broken up' on several occasions during this night's +journey. We passed over a number of places that we would not +have dared to risk in daylight, when we could have seen the danger. +It seemed to grow worse and worse as we went on, when +daylight warned us that it was time to tie up and hide, which we +did, and, the day being warm and pleasant, we had a comfortable +rest,—the best since our escape.</p> + +<p>"On the following night we came to a mill-dam, where the +water, judging from the noise, poured over in great volume and +force. We manœuvred around for some time above it, not +knowing what to do, but finally discovered what appeared to be +an apron near the centre of the dam, and decided to risk running +it. Accordingly, we rowed up-stream some distance to get +under good headway, then turning the head of the boat down-stream, +we bent to our paddles with all our might. We came +down with the velocity of an express-train. What we supposed +might have been an apron, was nothing but a break in the dam, +and over it we shot like an arrow, shutting our eyes and holding +our breath. In an instant after, we landed (luckily right side +up) away below in the midst of the angry, foaming torrent, and +plying our paddles right vigorously, and keeping the bow of our +boat down-stream, we rode out safely, but then and there 'swore +off' on running mill-dams in the night.</p> + +<p>"We continued our journey, though the river was still rough +and growing worse. We were constantly among rocks and +foaming, headlong torrents of water, while steep rocky walls +confined the stream to very narrow limits, and dark, shadowy +mountain peaks loomed up in the background, reminding us of +the Tennessee about Chattanooga. We went on from bad to +worse, until at last, during the latter part of the night, we were +incautiously drawn into a gorge, where it seemed that the destruction +of our boat was inevitable. Such was the force and +velocity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +of the water, that we lost all control of the boat, and in +one instant would be spinning around in a furious eddy until +our heads were fairly dizzy, and in the next we would be dashed +against the rocks until it seemed as if our boat would be splintered +to pieces. We regarded our escape here as the narrowest +we had made, and as quick as we could do so with safety we +landed on the rocks and, with many regrets, abandoned our little +craft to begin a tedious, toilsome land journey of three days and +nights over rocky hills, bluffs, and mountains along the river.</p> + +<p>"Just as we landed from the boat Mark started to walk out, +and, losing his balance, fell headlong into the river. With considerable +difficulty I fished him out, and, the early morning +being quite cool, the poor fellow was chilled through and +through, and it was with the greatest difficulty that I finally +succeeded in getting him up into the mountains, and continued +to exercise him by walking, so as to get up a good circulation of +his blood. But he became so benumbed that I finally let him +lie down, and gathered a lot of cedar boughs and piled them +thickly over him, and then crawled in with him myself, and +kept him as warm as possible. Here we slept and rested until +late in the afternoon of that day, which became very warm +under the bright rays of the sun.</p> + +<p>"Our progress was very slow, and towards the last extremely +painful. The old bruises and blisters on our feet, which were +not entirely healed, came back worse than ever, and much of the +time we crept along on the rocks on our hands and knees, believing +that if once we could get below this range of mountains, +we would find navigable waters. We came in sight of several +isolated cabins in these wild, rocky hills, where we managed to +beg a little food on two different occasions, which helped us very +much. The suffering we endured on our last night's travel I +cannot describe. It seemed as if we must give up and die where +we were. But at last, when daylight came, to our great delight +we saw the spires and smoke-stacks of a town in the distance. +We knew this to be Columbus, Georgia, and that when we got +below it the river was navigable clear to the Gulf.</p> + +<p>"We now deemed it prudent to hide ourselves for the day, +which we had not done in the mountains, and wait for the +friendly cloak of darkness. When night came we made a long, +careful detour away out around the suburbs of the town, and at +last had the satisfaction of again reaching the river-bank, below +the town, where we found good shelter among the dense grapevines +and drift-wood. By this time it was nearly morning again, +and, like beasts of prey, we betook ourselves to a safe hiding-place.</p> + +<p>"During all the time we had been in the vicinity of the town +we had heard a constant clattering sound, as of a hundred workmen +with hammers. This noise came from near the river, where +there appeared also to be a great light. When daylight came the +noise still continued, and we were near enough so that we +could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +could see that it was caused by a large number of workmen engaged +on a vessel, which they were covering with iron. The +boat appeared to be very large and of great strength, and evidently +was intended for a warlike purpose. On closer inspection +the following night I found that she was a powerfully-built +gunboat, which they were evidently in great haste to complete, +as the hammers of the workmen never ceased on her, night or +day, nor for a single moment.</p> + +<p>"This gunboat was none other than the rebel ram 'Chattahoochee,' +a formidable iron monster, built as an engine of destruction +for the blockading fleet in Appalachicola Bay. The first +knowledge the Navy Department had of her was through Wood +and myself. The ram, on her first downward trip, blew up near +the mouth of Flint River, and never reached the Gulf.</p> + +<p>"Our great anxiety now was to secure a boat. Wood was so +lame he could not walk, and I was not much better. This delayed +us here two days and nights. During the nights I was +prowling about, up and down, trying to discover some sort of a +craft that would float. In my reconnoitring about the gunboat +I had discovered an old skiff chained to a stump quite near and +in plain sight of the workmen, to some of whom, no doubt, it +belonged. I secured a stout stick for a lever, and crept to the +stump to which the boat was chained, when, watching my opportunity, +I got a pry in such a manner as to break the lock on +the chain. The lights shone so brightly that I could plainly see +the men's eyes, and I very much feared they would notice me. +However, I worked off with the boat carefully, and half an hour +after I had Mark aboard, and we were pulling rapidly down-stream. +We found our prize to be a leaky old concern, and one +of us was constantly busy keeping her bailed out.</p> + +<p>"After we had drifted down some miles, we spied three boats tied +to the shore on the Alabama side of the river, and as we had been +giving our attention entirely to the Georgians all along, we concluded +to trade boats on that side of the river, provided we could +secure a better boat. Just as we had loosened the one we selected, +three men with a pack of dogs came down the hill towards us, +and the head man, evidently the owner, began hallooing to us +and calling us slanderous names, such as thieves and the like. +We did not stop to bandy words with the fellows, but speedily +shoved all the boats into the river, and took a course up the +river, as though we were going towards Columbus. They rent +the air with curses upon our heads. In the course of fifteen or +twenty minutes they had secured the boats we shoved into the +stream, and with the lights they carried we could distinctly see +that they were bent on pursuing us. We took a wide circuit, +and then headed downward under cover of the willows, behind +several small islands near the Georgia shore, and came out in the +main stream far below the islands, while we had the satisfaction +of seeing the lights of our pursuers disappearing up the river +and prowling about the upper end of the islands, which we were +now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> +leaving far behind. We soon lost sight of them, and the +strong presumption is that they never succeeded in finding their +boat.</p> + +<p>"We increased our speed, and kept under the shadows of the +wooded shores as much as possible, congratulating each other on +our lucky boat trade. With a good boat and an open river we +felt now that our chances of escape were exceedingly good, and +our spirits were buoyant and hopes high, although our stomachs +were craving food. But on we swept, hour after hour, down the +broad river, happy in the thought that we were fast placing +scores of miles between us and the hated prison. The rest given +our feet had much allayed the pain we suffered, and when morning +came and we had secreted ourselves for the day, we slept well, +but awoke in the afternoon ravenously desperate for want of +something to eat.</p> + +<p>"We went out, and, reconnoitring a little, discovered a corn-field. +Making sure that there was no one about, we stole into +the field and found plenty of corn and pumpkins. The hard +corn and river water did not go well together, and proved to be +an unpleasant diet to us, so we broke up the pumpkins, ate freely +of the seed, and filled our pockets with more for lunch, each of +us taking also a few ears of corn. By the time we got back it +was nearly dark, and we pulled out. The pumpkin-seed diet, +poor as it was, helped us wonderfully, and we made a big night's +journey, passing a steamboat upward bound, which we dodged +by pulling under the shadows of the timber and low-hanging +bushes.</p> + +<p>"Thus we progressed, travelling by boat at night and laying +by in the daytime. If any reader of this story has ever made a +trip on the lower end of the Chattahoochee River, I think he +or she will agree with me when I say that the river scenery is +peculiarly monotonous and causes a sense of loneliness. It is a +vast water-path through dense forests of cypress and other +swamp-growing timber. On either side, to the right and left, were +endless swamps covered with water, and the river-channel was +only observable by its being free from logs and gigantic trees. +Great festoons of gray and sombre moss hung suspended from +even the topmost limbs of these trees, reaching clear down to the +water, and floated and swung to the music of the sighing winds. +Perhaps it was the circumstances in our case that made us feel +so, but I remember it as a dismal, lonesome journey. Sometimes +we would not see a sign of civilization for forty-eight hours at a +stretch.</p> + +<p>"Besides the torments of hunger, our nights were made almost +unendurable by the swarms of blood-thirsty mosquitoes, which +came upon us in clouds. I did think that I had learned considerable +about mosquitoes in my boyhood days in the Black Swamp of +Northwestern Ohio, but for numbers, vocal powers, and ferocity +I will 'trot' the Chattahoochee swamp fellows out against any +others I have ever 'met up with.' The ragged clothing, which +yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +clung to our backs, did not much more than half cover us; +especially was this the case with Wood, who was, I may truthfully +say, half naked, and was thus doubly annoyed by the omnipresent +'skeeters.' And my own condition was but little better. +To protect ourselves from the pests, we thatched our bodies all +over with great skeins of moss, and two more comical-looking +beings than we were, thus rigged out, it would be hard to find, +but it baffled the bills of our tormentors.</p> + +<p>"We had two other annoyances,—moccasin-snakes and alligators. +The latter, with which the water swarmed as we went +farther towards the Gulf, were a terror to me. They were a +ferocious, hungry, dangerous-looking beast at best. We knew +but little of their habits. The largest water inhabitant I had +ever seen was a Maumee River cat-fish, and the most dangerous, +a Black Swamp massasauger. Night or day these 'gators," as +the Southern negroes call them, like the mosquitoes, were always +within sight and hearing. Sometimes during the day, in order +to keep out of the water, we would take shelter in a pile of drift-wood. +When we would wake up, after a short nap, every old +log and hommock about us would be covered with 'gators.' +They would lie listlessly and lazily, with eyes almost shut, looking +hungrily and quizzically out of one corner of their wicked +peepers, as if waiting for us to leave, or for a chance to nab one +of us by the leg or arm and run. Mark grew superstitious of +these creatures. He said he had read of wolves following a famished +buffalo in the same manner, and that sharks would hover +around a ship from which a corpse was to be cast overboard, and +that, too, even days before death had occurred or was even suspected +by the sailors. But the 'gators' were cowardly fellows, +and, on the least demonstration on our part, would scramble +into the water. Still we feared that they might steal upon and +lay hold of us with their powerful jaws while we were asleep. +We had learned that they were not apt to attack, except when +the object of their voracious appetites lay quiet; but, when once +they did lay hold, that they were hard to beat off. They will +drag their victim, be it man or beast, instantly under the water, +where the struggle soon ends.</p> + +<p>"After enduring hunger as long as we possibly could, we were +finally forced a second time since leaving Columbus to go in +search of something to eat. This, I think, was about five or ten +miles above Chattahoochee landing. It is not necessary to relate +the particulars of our search for a human habitation, and the +story of deception we told. It was a little before dark when we +struck out on foot so weak, hungry, and faint that we could not +walk many steps without resting, in search of something or anything +we could devour. We were successful, or partially so, at +least, and came back safely, much strengthened, as well as elated +over our good luck, when, to our great dismay and chagrin, we +found that our boat had been stolen during our absence.</p> + +<p>"It was evident some one had seen us land and watched until +we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +left, and then taken the boat. I cannot describe our feelings. +We scarcely knew what to do. The night was very dark, and it +rained incessantly. We waded about in the water, tall grass and +cane, and after a while found a little mound or hommock, which +projected above the water, and on which we perched ourselves +for the night. Such a dismal, long, rainy night as it was, too! +It did seem as if the mosquitoes would carry us away piecemeal +towards morning, when the rain had ceased. Had it not been +for the food we had eaten, I believe we would have given up in +despair. When morning came, we waded up and down in the +cane and grass all forenoon, and about the only discovery we made +was that another river came in just below us, and we could not +go farther without a boat.</p> + +<p>"During the afternoon I descried something on the far side +of the river that looked like a boat partly sunk in the water, one +end only of which was out. The next trouble was to get to it, +as the river was about three-quarters of a mile wide, as near as +we could judge. We found an old piece of plank, which we +lashed on three flat rails with a grape-vine, and with a piece of +narrow stave for a paddle and to fight off 'gators,' I twined my +legs firmly around the centre of the frail craft, while Mark pushed +it off into the stream and stood at the edge of the grass watching +me. The raft sunk down until the water came about my waist, +but I stuck to it, and after about an hour's hard work I effected +a landing on the far side, and not long after found myself rewarded +in the possession of a much better boat than the one we +had lost the night before. I was not long in bailing out the +water and rowing her back to where Mark was, whose gratitude +found expression in tears and hearty hand-shaking, as he crept +into the boat with me.</p> + +<p>"We now plied our paddles energetically for a while, until we +felt sure we had passed out of reach of the owners of the boat, +when we put into the cane and secreted ourselves until night. +After this mishap in losing our boat, we resolved that we would +not both leave again while our journey lasted, starve or no starve. +During the following day, while we were laid up waiting for +night and fighting mosquitoes, I went out, skulking about to see +what I could see, and in passing through an old field found some +fish-hooks and lines in an old vacant cabin. I appropriated them, +and we found them a godsend to us, for they proved the means +of keeping us from actual starvation.</p> + +<p>"We must have had a touch of scurvy, for our mouths and +gums had become feverish, and our teeth were loose, and would +bleed constantly when we attempted to chew the corn. This was +the condition we were in when, providentially, we became possessed +of the fish-hooks and lines.</p> + +<p>"And now for a feast on raw cat-fish, of which we caught a +plentiful supply as we journeyed on in the night. I have previously +neglected to mention that I had with me an old one-bladed +knife without any back, which was our only weapon, defensive +or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +offensive. This old knife I had secreted when we were +in the Atlanta prison, and had kept it with me as a precious treasure +during all our wanderings. With this knife and our fingers +we managed to skin and dress the fish, which we ate raw with +our soaked corn. Matches we had none, nor had we been able +to get any, and so we had no fire. I could eat only a mouthful +or two of the raw fish at a time. My stomach was weak and +feverish, and rebelled against the flesh. Still it tasted palatable.</p> + +<p>"Mark, poor, hungry fellow, tore it from the bones in great +mouthfuls, like a ravenous wolf, until I would beg of him to desist, +fearing the results. He would sit and crunch the bloody flesh, +and look at me with a wild, strange stare, and never speak a +word. His eyes were sunken away in his head, almost out of +sight, and as he would seize a fresh piece the pupils of his eyes +would dilate with the gloating, ferocious expression of a panther +or other carnivorous wild beast. I had frequently heard of men +losing their reason and going mad from the effects of protracted +hunger, and I sometimes shuddered as I looked at its telling effects +on poor Mark's wasted frame, and the unnatural glare of +his eyes. He would mutter and groan in his sleep, and sometimes +scream out as if pierced by a knife, when he would suddenly +start up and call my name. Towards the last of our journey +his condition was much of the time a cause of great anxiety +to me. Still, after we began to eat the fish he seemed much better, +and I only feared the unnatural quantities of the raw flesh +would kill him.</p> + +<p>"We were now nearing the bay, as was plain to be seen, for +on each succeeding morning the river had grown wider. Finally +we became well satisfied that we were nearing a large town, +which afterwards proved to be Appalachicola, and this made us +anxious to learn something of the state of affairs below,—whether +there were rebel picket-boats, or obstructions, such as torpedo-boats +and the like.</p> + +<p>"About this time we discovered a cabin some distance from +the shore, and, to have a plausible excuse, I took an old pipe +Mark had, and filled it with a few crumbs of tobacco which I +fished from my old coat-linings, and then taking a piece of rotten +wood which would retain fire, I left Mark with the boat and +walked over to the house to get a light for my pipe. The occupants +of the cabin proved to be an old Scotchman and his wife. +He was very inquisitive, and asked more questions than I cared +to answer. But I managed to evade suspicion, and at the same +time gained considerable information. I learned that we were +about five miles above Appalachicola, and that the Federal blockading +squadron was stationed at the mouth of the bay, eighteen +miles below the city. I hurried back to the boat, and found +Mark rejoicing over a little armful of sweet potatoes he had +stolen from a negro's canoe, which he had discovered in my absence.</p> + +<p>"We got into the boat and at once paddled to the other side +of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +the bay or river, where we entered into an inlet or creek, up +which we ran for some distance, when we came to a dense canebrake. +Here we secreted ourselves and built a little fire, roasted +fish and potatoes, parched corn, and dined in right royal style, +although we felt the need of a little salt. Two hungry wolves +never ate more ravenously than we did, although we were obliged +to restrain ourselves, and leave off while yet hungry. It was +with the utmost difficulty that I absolutely forced Mark to quit. +After eating enough for four men, as I thought, he still begged +for more. I finally induced him to go to sleep, and stored away +some of the cooked fish and sweet potatoes for the next day.</p> + +<p>"The information we had gained was invaluable to us, although +I felt I had obtained it at some risk. When night came +on we pulled out and passed down on the opposite side of the +bay from the city, slowly and cautiously. We had moss in the +bottom, on the sides, and in the seats of our boat for our comfort. +As soon as we had gone well past the city, whose bright lights +we could plainly see, we crossed the bay to the city side below +the city, in the hope of finding a more sea-worthy boat. We +were unable to find any other boat, however, and pulled on down +the bay as fast as we could. While going down the bay that +evening, we ran along in the midst of a large school of huge fish +of some description, from which we apprehended danger every +instant. These monsters would swim along on all sides of us, +with great fins sticking more than a foot out of the water, and +extended like a great fan. One of these fish could easily have +wrecked our boat with its huge body. We hoped to reach the +blockading fleet before daylight, but the night grew cloudy and +we were unable to tell what course we were running, as the bay +grew wider and wider as we went out. We decided the best thing +we could do was to pull for land, which we reached after midnight, +pretty well exhausted with our hard work at the paddles. We +tied up our boat and went to a thicket near by and slept soundly.</p> + +<p>"When we awoke in the morning, we were cheered by the +beautiful surroundings,—all just as nature had fashioned them, +for the habitation or handiwork of man was nowhere to be seen. +Our couch had been a bed of prickly grass, that caused a stinging, +itching sensation all over our bodies. We had slept in a +wild orange grove.</p> + +<p>"We made a hasty breakfast on our fish and potatoes left from +the night previous, and started for our boat; but imagine our +surprise when we found it distant at least two hundred yards +from the water. Mark, who had lived in the old country, explained +to me that this was the effect of the ocean tide, which had +gone out since we landed, and would not come in again until that +night. There was no safe course left us but to drag our boat to +the water, which we did, after tugging at it for about an hour.</p> + +<p>"When we were again on the water we could see the spires +and high buildings of the city we had passed, but no sight of +ships could we see. We took our course as well as we could, and +pulled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +for the open sea. A little boat, which seemed to be a +fishing-smack under full sail, passed away to the leeward of us, +coming out from the city, and caused us no little concern, but +she passed off, and either did not notice us or care to inquire who +we were. We plied our paddles industriously until about the +middle of the afternoon, when we spied an island away in the +distance. We had been out of sight of land for some time and +the view of the island cheered us up a little, for we knew if a +rough sea came on that our little boat was liable to get swamped. +This island was much farther away than we had supposed. As +we neared it we were in some doubt as to whether we should pass +to the right or left of it, when our decision was made by the discovery +to the left and away in the distance of something that +had the appearance of dead trees.</p> + +<p>"In the same direction, and right in our course, was something +that appeared like a bar or gravel-bank. We supposed the +old trees stood on another low island or bar beyond. But as we +neared this bar, that which at first seemed to be dead trees began +to take the shape of ship-masts, and we imagined that we could +see something that looked like the dark outlines of black smoke-stacks +in the blue, hazy distance. This made us quite nervous, +and we pulled away at the paddles with renewed vigor and +strength. Before we were scarcely conscious of it we were close +upon the bar, and began to be puzzled how we should get by +or around it, for it was longer than it appeared to be when first +seen. Presently we discovered a narrow, shallow channel +through it, and we were not long in getting our boat through. +As we were going through, Mark gathered in a lot of rough, +muddy-looking lumps, which I supposed were boulders, and +soon called for my old broken-backed knife, after which I saw him +open-one of the muddy chunks and eat something from it. Says +I, 'Mark! you starving Yank! what in thunder are you at now?' +'Taste this,' says he, as he opened another muddy chunk, and +I lapped up from the dirty shell the sweetest oyster I had ever +tasted.</p> + +<p>"We were in the midst of a great oyster-bed, the like of which +I had never before seen. I had never, in fact, seen an oyster in +the shell before. Mark gathered up as many as he could as the +boat passed along, and when we reached the still water we made +quite a little feast on them as we paddled on. I think I never +tasted anything so delicious. We were still very hungry, and +the moist, rich, salty flavor of the oysters seemed to suit our weak, +famished stomachs to a nicety.</p> + +<p>"But our little feast was soon cut short by the certain discovery +that the dead trees were nothing less than the masts of vessels. +We could now plainly see the yards, cross-trees, and great +smoke-stacks. We dropped the oysters in the bottom of the +boat, and, though quite exhausted, the sight of the vessels so renewed +our strength that we made the little boat scud over the +still water at a lively rate. Soon we could see the long, graceful +streamers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +waving from the peaks of the masts, and the outlines +of the dark, sombre-looking hulls of the ships.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/i317-hi.jpg"><img src="images/i317.jpg" width="600" height="395" alt="SAVED AT SEA. +Page 290." title="" /></a> +<span class="caption">SAVED AT SEA.<br /> +Page 290.</span> +</div> + +<p>"We were now nearing the ships very fast, and were a little +anxious to see their colors, as we had become so suspicious of +everybody and everything that we half feared running into the +clutches of our enemies. But we were not long in suspense, for +suddenly a little breeze sprang up, and I shall never forget my +joy on seeing the old flag, the glorious old stars and stripes, as +they unfolded to the ocean breeze, and seemed to extend their +beneficent protection over us, after nearly eight months of terrible +bondage. We could see the field of blue, studded with its +golden stars, and the stripes of white and red! Yes, it was our +flag, old <i>E Pluribus Unum</i>! We threw down our paddles in the +boat, and stood up and yelled and screamed and cried like a +couple of foolish boys lost in the woods. We could not restrain +ourselves. Mark wanted to jump overboard and swim to the +ships, although we were yet, perhaps, nearly a mile away,—at +least too far to swim in his condition. After we recovered our +senses a little, we picked up the paddles and began rowing again, +directing our course towards the largest vessel.</p> + +<p>"It seems now like a dream to me,—that joyful day,—the +most joyful, I was about to say, of my life. I believe there were +three vessels in sight. In steering for the largest one, although +it was the most distant, we had to pass some distance in front of +the bow of a smaller ship or boat. We were now getting so close +that we could plainly see the officers and men on the decks in +their neat, blue uniforms. We could see the port-holes in the +sides of the ships, and the black muzzles of the cannon projecting +out. This gave us much assurance, and we said to ourselves, +'Good-by, rebs! We are out of your clutches at last!'</p> + +<p>"We were rowing our insignificant-looking little boat right +along, just as though we intended to capture the biggest vessel in +the fleet, when a gruff voice from the ship, whose bow we were +passing, commanded us to 'Come to, there!' At the same time +we saw a grim-looking old sea-dog, in nice uniform, leaning over +the rail, motioning us in with his hand. We turned the bow of +our little boat towards him, and, when we came within better +speaking distance, he interrogated us, in stentorian voice, about +as follows:</p> + +<p>"'Who in —— are you, and what are you paddling under my +guns in this manner for?'</p> + +<p>"We were half-terrified by the old fellow's angry, stern manner, +and did not know but we had at last fallen into the hands +of a rebel cruiser under false colors. We did not know what to +say to this unexpected, angry interrogation. We paddled on +very slowly, while the sailors and officers began to gather in little +squads, and look at us with mingled curiosity and merriment.</p> + +<p>"Presently, the officer hailed us again, with about the same +questions. I now stood up in our boat, and answered that we +were two men trying to get back to God's country, among +friends.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +I was now quite uneasy, and suspicious of the situation, +and kept my eyes on the officer, for I perceived he was the +commander. I shall never forget his stern but puzzled look as +we came up under the bow of his vessel. We had been so overjoyed +and excited that we had forgotten to pull the old moss, +which covered our nakedness and protected us from the sun, +from our backs, and we must have looked like scare-crows or +swamp-dragons. I cannot speak so well of my own appearance +then, but can see Mark Wood, just as he was on that joyful day, +and a more comical, forlorn, starved-looking being cannot well +be imagined.</p> + +<p>"In our boat were a few cat-fish partly skinned, some oysters +in the shell, some ears of scorched corn, a lot of moss, and our +old boots, for our feet were yet sore, and we went bare-footed +when in the boat.</p> + +<p>"After scrutinizing us in silence for some little time, as we +drifted up closer and closer, he again demanded of us some account +of our strange conduct and appearance. I told him we +were enlisted Federal soldiers, and belonged to the command of +General O. M. Mitchel, in Tennessee, to which he growled something +about our being 'a —— long ways from camp.' I then +explained to him briefly that we were fugitives, and the causes +that led to it; that we were nearly famished with hunger, and +that, after skulking through mountains and river by night, we +had at last sought protection under the old flag and the guns of +his ship.</p> + +<p>"I could see that his manner towards us had changed. He +plainly saw the indications of our distress. He said he had +heard of the raiding expedition we spoke of, and commanded us +to row up to the ladder and come up the ship's side. We did so, +and Wood went up the steps first. The poor fellow's agitation +and joy were so great, and he was so weak, that he could scarcely +raise his feet from step to step on the ladder or stairs. The commander, +seeing his weak, faltering condition, leaned over the +rail, as Wood came up, and, reaching out, took hold to assist +him, and, as he did so, the rotten bit of old moss, which covered +Mark's shoulder and back, all pulled off, and exposed his emaciated, +bony skeleton, which, in truth, was nothing but skin and +bones. The well-fed, sleek-looking sailors seemed to look on in +horror, but not more so than the generous-hearted commander, +who was moved almost to tears as he was reaching over to help +me as I came to the top of the step-ladder. They stared at us in +silent wonderment, while the sailors looked down into our little +boat with comical curiosity."</p></blockquote> + +<p>We need not linger over the royal reception the +poor fugitives met, or their joy as they partook of the +hospitality of the commander, or even their still greater<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> +joy when they returned to friends and comrades, who +had long mourned them as dead. From the bright termination +of their sufferings we must turn, with deep +reluctance, to the story of the unfortunate six, still in +the power of the enemy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>FROM ATLANTA TO RICHMOND.</h3> + + +<p>"When we resolved to break jail it was our firm belief +that failure or recapture meant death. Yet no +sooner was the excitement over, and we quietly back +in prison, than hope began to whisper once more. Possibly +there was some mistake in the report which led +to our desperate effort, or, if it was indeed true, the escape +of the larger part of the band might derange the +plan, or change the purpose of holding another court-martial. +It is sure that our anticipations of worse treatment +were not realized. I cannot account for the agreeable +surprise we experienced in this particular. Those +who are convinced that the mitigations of our lot were +caused by any representations made by the Union authorities +at Washington after our comrades had escaped +must be mistaken, because the change took place <i>before +one of the fugitives had reached the Union lines</i>. Wilson +and Wood at Washington, as well as the others of our +number who escaped, did make prompt representations +to our government, which may afterwards have been +of service to us. But these could scarcely have affected +us during our stay in Atlanta, as the time was not sufficient. +Possibly, it was thought by the Confederates +that the little remnant of the band, which had already +suffered so much, was not worth persecuting further.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +However it is explained, the succeeding two months +we remained in Atlanta, after the attempted escape, +was the least rigorous imprisonment endured by us in +the South.</p> + +<p>Colonel Lee thought the jail no longer safe, and ordered +us to be taken to the city barracks. These were +in the centre of Atlanta, looking out on one of its busiest +public squares. Our room was also far better than +had been given to us before. It was large, well lighted, +and provided with a great open fireplace, in which a +fire was kept continually burning. Our door was never +closed, but a sentinel stood in it, watching us, and the +gas was burned all the night. The Confederate soldiers +roomed all around us, and the whole large house—a +former hotel, I think—was surrounded by a line of +sentinels. We were in the second story, and our windows +were not barred. We could stand by them, and +watch the busy throng outside for hours at a time. +All our surroundings were now of a soldierly and civilized +character. Our treatment was also more courteous +and considerate than formerly.</p> + +<p>Probably much, if not all, of this change for the +better may be attributed to the character of the man in +whose charge we were now placed. Jack Wells, as he +was familiarly called, had been a lieutenant in the regular +army of the United States before the war, and had +not forgotten the traditions of the service. He had no +feeling of resentment against us; on the contrary, +would come around to our room and talk by the hour, +telling us some great stories of his adventures and receiving +as great in return. His worst fault was intemperance, +being frequently half drunk and not seldom +going beyond that point. In these cases, and when in +a communicative mood, he would tell us that he did +not care a cent which side whipped in the war,—that +he only held his present position to avoid being conscripted, +and because he preferred having a commission +as a volunteer to being compelled to fight as a private<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> +conscript. But he was an excellent disciplinarian, and +we nowhere had less chance of escape than from under +his watchful eye and among his well-drilled soldiers. +He would allow no trifling with his authority, and was +ready to punish with fearful severity, as some of our +Tennessee comrades—who were citizens, not soldiers—found. +In fact, he seemed to care very little for those +who were not soldiers.</p> + +<p>One of these men—Mr. Pierce, who had accompanied +us from Knoxville—one day threw his allowance +of provisions back again into the tray in which it was +being passed around, with a gesture of contempt, but +without a word being spoken. The supply was very +scanty and bad; but, as we could get no better, we +only thought that the old man was very foolish thus to +give up the little that he was offered. But this was +not the end. In a few minutes a file of guards entered, +took Pierce out, and tied his hands before his knees, +with a stick inserted across under the knees and over +the arms, in that most uncomfortable position known +to soldiers as "bucking." They left him in the cold +hall all night. He was able to eat his morning allowance +without difficulty!</p> + +<p>The next Tennessee sufferer was a Mr. Barker. One +of the guards often used to tease the prisoners by asking +them how they liked being shut up in a prison, +"playing checkers with their noses on the windows," +etc. A complaint to the commander would probably +have caused a cessation of such taunts, which it was +foolish to notice in any way. But Barker answered, +that <i>he</i> need not feel so proud, for he would certainly +be driven before long to work like a slave in the cotton-fields, +to help pay the expenses of the war. The guard +reported the insult, and Barker was taken to the punishment-room +and there suspended, head downwards, +till he fainted. This was repeated two or three times, +and he was then put into a dark cell, only four feet +square, without food, for twenty-four hours.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span></p> + +<p>I was personally very fortunate here in receiving the +favor of the commander, which I used to the advantage +of my comrades as well as I was able. Having +nothing to read, for the kind minister had not visited +us since the attempted escape, and being determined +not to be idle, I began to practise short-hand regularly +each day. I had learned it before, and now wrote with +a pencil on any scraps of paper I could find. Wells +watched me while thus engaged, made a good deal of +sport of the "spider tracks," but came in the next day +and asked if I would not do a little writing for him. +I was perfectly willing, provided it was not contrary to +my allegiance to the United States. He laughed at the +qualification, and showed me that it was the daily prison +reports that he wanted made out. I did not see that +this kind of work would do any harm, and undertook +it. His office adjoined the prison room, and he gave +orders that I was to be allowed to go from one room to +the other at pleasure, but no farther. In fact, when in +the office, there was always a special guard standing at +the door. A hundred schemes of escape flashed through +my brain, founded upon the additional privileges I now +had; but I soon found that the guards were instructed +to watch me all the more closely on account of my +license. Wells himself laughed, and said that he would +ask no pledges of me, for it was his business to keep +us, and ours to get away—if we could! The qualification +was well put. The only time the eye of a guard +was off me day or night was while in the office, and that +had only one door, by which the guard who brought +me to the office always stood till ready to take me back +to the common prison room. Yet I hoped something +might occur by which I could help my comrades and +myself.</p> + +<p>One day I had the heartfelt pleasure of saving a +man's life. While I was in Wells' office writing a +requisition for provisions a person dressed in the uniform +of a rebel officer was brought in under arrest.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +He appeared to be very drunk, but remonstrated so +very hard against being put into the rooms which had +common prisoners that Wells consented to let him stay +in his office, to get sober enough to give an account of +himself. He had five hundred dollars in gold, which +had been taken from him,—a marvellous possession, +which Wells asked me to feel the weight of,—but as +the officer furiously demanded his money, it was given +back to him. As the charge against him had not yet +been made known, Wells believed that it was only that +of drunkenness,—an offence with which he had great +sympathy. When the man got his money he sank +down on a lounge in a drunken stupor. Wells had +some business to transact, and soon went out. Sergeant +White, the second in command, was with us, but +he, too, soon took his departure. I was busy writing, +but, hearing a step, I looked up and saw the stranger +approaching me. A startling change had taken place. +No trace of drunkenness was visible, but in place of it +a terrible expression of anxiety and determination. I +glanced about the desk to see that the heavy inkstand +was in easy reach, for I had never seen a more desperate +face. He leaned over my chair, and whispered, +"You are a prisoner?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"One they call engine thieves?"</p> + +<p>I nodded assent.</p> + +<p>"I know you," said he; "I know all about you. I +was here when your comrades were hung. Brave men +they were, and the cruel deed will yet be avenged. I +am not afraid to trust you. The commander here +don't know who I am yet, but he will soon learn, and +then I will have to <i>die</i>, for I am a spy from the Federal +army." Then he added, with a most appealing +look, "Can't you help me to escape, before it is too +late?"</p> + +<p>I was amazed, and for a moment doubtful; but a +few hasty questions, put to test his knowledge of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +Federal army and his present character, set my doubts +at rest. Then I asked, "What can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>He answered, "Can't you write me a pass and sign +the commander's name to it?"</p> + +<p>I shook my head. If a pass written in such circumstances +had been worth anything, I would probably +have written one for myself and comrades before that +time. Wells, who did not trust me at all, had guarded +that very point in his orders.</p> + +<p>Then my new friend proposed that we together break +past the guard and run for it. I had no wish for such +a trial with only one to help. There was my guard at +the office-door; two more guards in the hall; a barrack-room, +with always a dozen or more soldiers in it, +at the head of the stairway; two guards at the front +door; and a line of sentinels around the whole building.</p> + +<p>But as I glanced around the room my eye rested on +a fine overcoat of Wells' lying on the foot of the office +bed, and an idea struck me. The prisoner was a short, +thick man, about the same size and build of Wells. +Said I, "Take that overcoat," pointing to it, "and +throw it around you, and just walk out as independently +as though you owned the entire establishment. +It is now nearly dark, and the chances are that you +will not be halted at all."</p> + +<p>His countenance lighted at once. "I'll do it!" he +exclaimed, with suppressed eagerness. To fold himself +in the cloak, nearly crush my hand as he said +"Thank you! Thank you!" and to open the door +and walk out, was the work of but a moment. I listened +as his firm step died away along the hall, but +there was no challenge, no sound that betokened any +discovery. The soldiers, seeing the familiar coat, must +have supposed its rightful owner in it, and allowed it +to pass unhindered. A moment after Sergeant White +came in. I feared he would notice the prisoner's absence, +but he did not. I got him engaged in story-telling +as soon as possible, to postpone any inquiries.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +For some five minutes I succeeded very well, when +Wells entered, cast an uneasy glance about the room, +and at once exclaimed, "Sergeant, where is that officer? +Did you put him in another room?"</p> + +<p>The sergeant answered that he had been out, and +that when he returned he saw nothing of the man.</p> + +<p>It was Wells' turn to be startled now. He sprang +over to me and demanded sternly, "Pittenger, where's +that officer?"</p> + +<p>I was not in the least terrified. In fact, I was greatly +amused, and for the moment forgetting the purpose +formed two months before, of always avoiding untruth +as well as all other evil things, I answered, "What +officer?"</p> + +<p>"That officer I put in here."</p> + +<p>"Oh! that drunken fellow?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; where is he?"</p> + +<p>"The last I saw of him, he picked up his coat and +said he was going to supper."</p> + +<p>"Going to supper, was he? Ho! I see! Sergeant, +run to the guards and tell them if they let him out +I'll have every one of them hung up by the heels."</p> + +<p>Wells was in a towering passion at once. The alarm +was sounded, and for a few minutes a terrible commotion +prevailed, but nothing was seen of the drunken +fugitive, whose importance began to be known. Soon +Wells returned, and demanded in a peremptory tone, +"Pittenger, why did not you give the alarm when he +started?'"</p> + +<p>I answered carelessly, "Oh! I did not know that my +business in the South was to guard prisoners."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," he returned; "but I wish you had +called me this time."</p> + +<p>Then after a moment's silence, he continued, "You +said he took his coat. Had he a coat?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so, sir," I returned, "or he would not +have taken it."</p> + +<p>"He brought none in. Where did he get it?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Off the foot of that bed."</p> + +<p>Wells sprang to his feet as quickly as if he had been +galvanized, kicked the chair on which he had been +sitting clear across the room, and exclaimed, "<i>My overcoat!</i> +sure as ——! Worth eighty dollars! The +villain!"</p> + +<p>No intelligence of this spy reached Atlanta while +we remained there. Wells told me that there was no +doubt he had gotten entirely away.</p> + +<p>While in this place, I had the opportunity of learning +that there were many lovers of the old Union in +Atlanta. These visited us, and, although always in the +presence of the guards, managed to express their kindness +in very tangible ways. They told us much of +their hopes, and of the strength they numbered. A +certain Dr. Scott was very liberal in his contributions +to our wants. I had afterwards the pleasure of repaying +his kindness, when he had been forced to flee for +his life, and arrived destitute in the North. The +money we thus obtained, together with some small +presents Captain Wells bestowed, when pleased with +the writing I did for him, gave us the means of living +almost luxuriously. One dainty I remember with especial +delight. Sweet potatoes were very abundant and +cheap, and we were allowed to buy as many as our +means permitted, and roast them in the ashes of the +wood fire which always glowed on our hearth. The +great mealy potatoes, raked out and dusted off and +eaten hot, constituted a feast good enough for a king! +I have never since found any sweet potatoes equal to +those we devoured by the bushel in the old Atlanta +barracks. This abundant living made some amends +for the six months of famine that preceded it, and +gave strength, which was still to be sorely tested before +the day of deliverance. The memory of those beautiful +autumnal days, when we could look from our unbarred +windows upon the sky and the street, when we could +gather around the fire and under the gas-jet in the evening,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +when hunger no longer pinched, and when health, +which I had long missed, came back, when some consideration +was shown for us even by our guards, and +when visitors often whispered words or gave signs of +sympathy for our cause as well as for ourselves, is not +altogether unpleasant. True, we were still prisoners, +and our fate as uncertain as ever; but it was easy to +persuade ourselves that these more pleasant surroundings +were the promise of still greater good.</p> + +<p>Our religious exercises were here continued as persistently +and publicly as in the jail. There were serious +difficulties to overcome. Some of our own party seemed +to consider that our release from the dark cells of a +criminal prison removed the necessity of morning and +evening prayer. We were not alone, and the soldiers +who were "off duty" came to our door when it was +first reported that "the Yankees were having prayer-meeting," +and greatly annoyed us by interruptions and +by a continual series of comments upon the exercises. +We endured this for a time, but at last I appealed to +Wells. He gave us protection from the guard, saying +that he could not stand praying himself, but if we +could get any good out of it we were welcome, and +should not be disturbed. The opposition of the prisoners +soon gave way also, and our morning and evening +devotions were seasons of great interest. Even prisoners +from other rooms came to their open doors that +they might hear the reading and prayers, and join with +us in song. Faith, hope, and courage were sustained +by this recognition of God more than by all other +agencies combined.</p> + +<p>An effort was here made to get recruits out of the +prison for the Confederate army. Especially were the +regular soldiers who were in our company importuned. +But our band were not asked. I presume they thought +we could not be trusted. Had the offer now been made +I would not have accepted, though I would have done +so without hesitation at any time preceding the death<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +of our friends. Now my religious principles would +have prevented me from taking the oath of allegiance +to the Confederacy for the mere purpose of breaking it +by desertion. But I was glad the temptation was not +offered to any of our band.</p> + +<p>At length there came to us most startling news,—a +court-martial was again convened! This was the first +since the ever-memorable one at Knoxville, and we +awaited its action with breathless interest. A week of +sickening suspense passed and no summons came for +us. Had we been ordered out for trial we had resolved +to try again to escape, even if the effort only resulted +in throwing us on the bayonets of the surrounding +guards. But when news came that the court had adjourned, +we were as much rejoiced as we had been +fearful before. It did look as if they intended to persecute +the feeble remnant of our party no further; and +passing from the extreme of despondency to that of +hope, we began once more to indulge the blissful expectations +of exchange. But our time had not yet come.</p> + +<p>The weeks rolled on. Few things worthy of note +occurred. The same monotony which makes prison-life +so dreary robs it of interest when recorded. We +would rise in the morning from our hard bed—the +floor—and wash ourselves by pouring water on each +other's hands; then eat our scanty rations when brought. +Then the effort was to kill time until dinner came, which +was about four o'clock. It was not abundant, but if +we had a bundle of roasted sweet potatoes to add from +our own stores, as often happened, it was not so bad. +Then we did anything to keep busy until the gas was +lit. This was kept burning all night, not from any +favor to us, but only that the guards might see that we +were not arranging any plan for escaping.</p> + +<p>This was the most cheerful hour of the day, for +under the soft inspiration of the gaslight conversation +flowed freely, and all the incidents of our past lives +were rehearsed. Wells or some other rebel officer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> +would often enter and talk with us. Arguments and +discussion on all manner of subjects were introduced, +and often continued until the midnight bells were +striking in the town. Then would come our evening +prayers as we lay down to dream often of home and +friends and freedom. In the morning the same round +recommenced. Thus days glided into weeks, and +weeks passed into months. The golden hues of autumn +deepened into the sombre colors of early winter, and +still we were in Atlanta. It almost seemed as if we +would never be anywhere else.</p> + +<p>At length there came a day of wonderful joy. A +number of officers, including the provost-marshal, came +to the barracks, and, inquiring out our room, had us +all drawn up in line. One of them stepped forth and +addressed us, saying that he had good news to communicate, +which they had been hoping to receive for some +time past. He continued, "You have all been exchanged, +and all that now remains is to send you out +of our territory by way of Richmond and City Point."</p> + +<p>Each of them then came along our line and shook +hands with us,—the Tennesseeans and regular soldiers +included, twenty in all,—offering congratulations on the +happy terminations of our trials, and wishing us much +joy on our arrival at home.</p> + +<p>Our feelings were indescribable, but strangely mingled. +There was an overwhelming rush of emotions +which forbade utterance,—rapture exceedingly great, +and yet mingled with a deep touch of sorrow that our +seven dead—murdered—comrades were not with us to +share the joy of this hour. And the eight also who +had managed to get out of the clutches of the rebels by +their own daring,—we were uneasy about them. Only +a day or two before we had seen in an Atlanta paper, +obtained, as usual, through the negroes, who were waiters +here as well as at the jail, an article clipped from the +<i>Cincinnati Commercial</i>, telling of the arrival of Porter +and Wollam at Corinth, as narrated above. Of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +others we had received no reliable information, but supposed +that some of them at least had perished. The +provost-marshal told us that three had been shot and +left in the woods, but we did not fully credit him.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding all this, the prospect of liberty was +enough to make our hearts overflow with gratitude to +God. I was so agitated that when Wells asked me to +write a requisition for provisions for the trip to Richmond +I could not do it, and had to transfer the work +to more steady hands. It was nine o'clock in the morning +when we received the glad news, and we were to +start for home—<i>via</i> Richmond—at seven in the evening. +As the time for departure drew near, we again +lit the gas, and made up a fire, the ruddy blaze of +which was an emblem of cheerfulness, to take a farewell +view of the room in which we had spent so many +not altogether unhappy hours. Often afterwards did +we remember that bright hour of expectation.</p> + +<p>We were forbidden to take any blankets with us, +being told that we would soon be where blankets were +plenty. The pieces of carpet we had managed to secure +as blankets were therefore left behind, with the +exception of two small strips, which were afterwards +very serviceable. A great surprise met us when we +were ordered to start. We were not tied! This was +the first journey on which we had been sent so carelessly, +and it afforded the strongest presumption that +the exchange was a reality.</p> + +<p>All was now in readiness for our departure, and we +took a last look at rebel Atlanta. The guards fell in +on each side of us, and we wended our way along the +dark streets. Wells, even drunker than usual, accompanied +us to the cars, where he hiccoughed an affectionate +farewell. I carried away one good article of dress,—a +nice felt hat. The day before Wells clapped it on +my head, telling me that I looked better in it than in my +own shabby cap. I supposed that it was only a freak, +and that he would reclaim it again, but he did not. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> +was much out of suit with my other garments, but I +wore it until I had a chance to sell it for a great price—in +Confederate money!</p> + +<p>Sergeant White commanded our escort. He had +always been kind to us, and, like his superior, did not +care which side came out best in the war, so long as he +was not hurt. The guard were only ten in number, +while we were twenty and unbound,—a ridiculous falling +off from former precautions.</p> + +<p>We were crowded into box-cars, and soon began to +suffer severely with cold, for the night air was most +piercing. It was the 3rd of December, and we had +only summer clothing, which was, in addition, very +ragged. About three o'clock in the morning we left +the train at Dalton to wait for another train to Cleveland, +as we were not to go through Chattanooga. This +was our last passage over the railroad we had so much +wished to destroy nine months before.</p> + +<p>The stars were sparkling in night and frosty brilliancy. +When we stopped, and the keen and icy wind +cut almost through us. We nearly perished before the +train arrived, and enabled us to continue our journey.</p> + +<p>In the morning we found that our three days' +rations, which were to last to Richmond, were barely +sufficient for breakfast. We ate everything, and trusted +to buying something with the remaining money our +Atlanta Union friends had given us. When that failed +we had our old resource,—the endurance of hunger.</p> + +<p>During this day's ride on the cars, we discussed the +question as to whether it would not be best to capture +the guard and escape. The task did not seem hard. +The guards were very careless, and we could at any +time have had as many guns as they had. They sat +on the same seats with us, and were often asleep. Several +times on the trip we awakened the sentinels by the +doors as the corporal approached, thus saving them +from punishment. Once Sergeant White laughingly +told us that we could escape if we tried, but that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +thought it would be more pleasant for us to ride around +by way of Richmond rather than to walk over the mountains +on our own responsibility. This very security +lulled our suspicions, and made us shrink from undertaking +an escape which would have involved severe +hardship in mountain travel, if nothing worse. Besides, +we no longer had the same homogeneous party as +in Atlanta.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon we passed Knoxville, and were +glad to keep right on. Then came the town of Greenville, +the home of our former companion, the heroic +Captain Fry. About nightfall we reached the Virginia +line, and ran steadily on. It was a beautiful +night; the moon shone over the pale, frosty hills with +a mellow radiance which made the whole landscape enchanting. +The shifting scenes of mountain, stream, or +ghostly wood seemed to me like a panorama of human +life. The morning dawned upon us, still steaming +slowly through the romantic valleys of Virginia.</p> + +<p>The next day was wet and dreary. Our car leaked, +our fire went out, and we were thoroughly uncomfortable. +By evening we had reached the mountain city +of Lynchburg, and discovered that we had missed the +railroad connection. This led to a delay of twenty-four +hours, which we greatly regretted, being very anxious +to get speedily through to our own lines. We had all +our plans laid for the happy day of our arrival at +Washington.</p> + +<p>We were quartered in a large bare room belonging +to the barracks, where some of the worst criminals of +the Confederacy were also confined. There was a great +stove in the centre of the room, but, as no fire was put +in it, we had to endure another night of dampness and +cold. The only consolation was found in the thought +that we would not have many more such nights to +spend before reaching home. I paced the floor till +nearly morning, and saw a good many amusing incidents. +Many of the rebels were drunk and disposed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> +to mischief. One man diverted himself by walking +around the room on the forms of those who were trying +to sleep. In his round he stepped on Bensinger,—one +of our party. The infliction was patiently endured +the first time, but as the sot came again, Bensinger was +on the lookout, and, springing to his feet, gave him a +blow that stretched him out on the floor. Some of his +companions rushed forward to resent the just punishment, +but Bensinger's friends also were prepared, and +there was a good prospect of a general fray. But, as +soon as the ruffians understood the position, they retired +to their own side of the room.</p> + +<p>In the raw and chill morning I found here some of +the most virulent enemies of the Union I had yet seen. +A prisoner loudly declared that no quarter ought to be +given in the war,—said that he had advocated raising +the black flag from the first, asserting that "if it had +been raised the war would have been over long since."</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it," I replied. "In that case the +whole Southern race would have been exterminated +long before this."</p> + +<p>That mode of ending the war had not entered his +mind, and he did not appear pleased with the suggestion.</p> + +<p>A little before dark the next evening we again +started, and now had good, comfortable cars,—the best +we had enjoyed on the route. But we only ran a short +distance to the junction, where we had to leave them +and wait the arrival of another train. Here was the best +chance of escape we had yet found. The night was +pitchy dark, and so cold that the guards built a great fire +on the border of a strip of woodland, and allowed us to +help in gathering withered sticks to replenish it. They +scarcely appeared to notice us, and all that was necessary +for escape was to give the word and run for it. +Nothing held us but the absolute confidence of a speedy +exchange, and, depending upon that, the golden opportunity +was neglected. Of course, the perils and hardships<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +of wandering through the Virginia mountains in +the depth of winter would have been severe, but the +start would have been mere child's play. Oh! how +bitterly we afterwards regretted that we had not darted +into the depths of the forest and sought to effect our +own exchange!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>LIBBY AND CASTLE THUNDER.</h3> + + +<p>In a few hours the train for which we waited arrived, +and, passing onward without further noticeable +events, long before morning we were in Richmond. +There was the same intense and piercing cold which +had been the main element in our suffering during this +journey, but the sky was clear, and the rebel capital +was distinctly seen in the sparkling moonlight. Everything +looked grim and silent through the frosty air, +and our teeth chattered fast and loud as we walked up +a street of the sleeping city.</p> + +<p>But the sergeant in command of our party did not +know what to do with us. We hoped that some arrangements +had been made for forwarding us directly +to City Point, the place of exchange, so that we might +that very day behold once more the stars and stripes. +Yet we knew it was more probable that some detention +would occur. The sergeant left us where we were +while he started in search of the provost-marshal's +office for instructions. We endeavored to shelter ourselves +as best we could from the unbearable cold, which +really threatened to prove fatal. Two pieces of ragged +carpet were all the protection we had, in addition to our +well-worn summer clothing, and we spread these over +our heads as we huddled together in a solid mass in +the angle of a brick wall. It was astonishing what a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> +relief this afforded,—especially to those who were in +the inside of the <i>pack</i>, where I happened to be. Here +we shivered till the sergeant returned. He had found +the headquarters of the prison department and conducted +us thither.</p> + +<p>Several streets were threaded in the moonlight, and +when the office was reached, to add to our discomfort, +it was destitute of fire. We stood in the empty room, +looking at the grim portraits of rebel generals for an +hour or two, until the marshal entered. He did not +deign to speak to us, but broke open a sealed letter +Sergeant White handed him and read aloud that ten +disloyal Tennesseeans, four prisoners of war, and <i>six +engine thieves</i> were hereby forwarded to Richmond by +order of General Beauregard. The old name applied +to us was no small shock. We had hoped that the +title of "engine thieves" had been left behind, and that +from henceforth we would be only called "prisoners of +war." But we still trusted to be soon beyond their +lines, and it would make no real difference what name +they exchanged us under. The marshal then gave his +orders, and we were conducted onward.</p> + +<p>By this time it was daylight, December 7, 1862. +Richmond looked still more cheerless in the cold morning +than in the moonlight.</p> + +<p>A long march through a number of streets brought +us to the banks of the James River, where we halted +in front of a most desolate-looking but very large brick +building, situated near the water, and surrounded by a +formidable circle of guards. This we supposed to be +a prison, and soon learned that we were right. It was +the famous <span class="smcap">Libby</span>.</p> + +<p>We entered, were conducted up a flight of steps, and +reached a vast, open room, where we saw, almost for +the first time since our capture, the old, familiar United +States uniform, and were soon in the midst of over a +hundred United States soldiers.</p> + +<p>Our greeting at first was not very friendly, as we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> +still wore the ragged clothing that had served us all +summer; but as soon as our true character and history +were known, a most cordial welcome was extended. +There was only one small stove in the cold, empty +room, around which part of the inmates were huddled. +But with the characteristic courtesy and chivalry of the +American soldier they cleared a place beside it for us. +When I got warm I had leisure to look around.</p> + +<p>The prospect was not very cheerful. Above, the +floor had been taken out, leaving only the rafters between +us and the roof. The window-sashes were all +removed, and the cold wind whistled in from the river +far more sharply than was consistent with comfort. +Only a very scanty amount of fuel was allowed per +day, and when that was exhausted they had to endure +the freezing as best they could. The room was too +large and open to be warmed throughout, and only a +few could gather around the stove. The food was +neither better nor worse than in other Southern prisons. +Probably among all the prisoners, past and present, we +were the only ones who were glad to be there. We +regarded it as the sure pledge that our foes had not deceived +us in their promise of an exchange, for these +men, with whom we found ourselves, were actually going +northward on the next truce-boat, which was daily +expected. What mattered the cold wind or the bare +floor with such a hope? We felt that we were no +longer held as criminals, but were now in the common +prison, with other soldiers, sure that the day of final +release could not be far off. What wonder if our joy +was too deep for words, and we could only turn it over +in our minds, and tremble lest it should prove too delightful +to be realized? The vision of freedom was so +warm and vivid that all hardships were forgotten.</p> + +<p>It was also very agreeable to talk with our comrades +who had recently been captured, and get news of the +progress of the war from a Federal stand-point. All +the intelligence we had obtained for a long period came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +colored by Southern prejudices. In such communion +with friends who were still confident of success in the +great conflict the time passed rapidly.</p> + +<p>But in the midst of our conversation, probably two +hours after our entrance, an officer came to the door +and called for the men who had just been admitted. +Every one in the room but ourselves had taken the +customary oath of parole, not to serve against the Confederacy +until regularly exchanged; and supposing that +omission in our case was about to be supplied, we +gladly responded. The guard led us down to the entrance +hall and called over our names. The four prisoners +of war who had come from Atlanta with us were +sent up-stairs again, while we were turned into an immense, +but dark and low, room on the left of the stairway +and the door locked behind us.</p> + +<p>This was an awful moment. The full meaning of +this separation burst upon us. We had been taken +away from those who were to be exchanged and put in +a room reserved for those regarded as criminals. We +had been bitterly deceived, and our hopes at once fell +from the highest heaven to which they had soared. A +cold sense of misery and despair came over us. No +wonder we looked at each other with pale, troubled +countenances in the dim light, and asked questions +none were prepared to solve.</p> + +<p>But for one moment only were we thus crushed; the +next we eagerly sought an avenue for hope. Perhaps +they did not choose to recognize us as soldiers, and +merely wished to exchange us as civilians,—a matter +of perfect indifference to us, provided we were exchanged +at all. We looked around to see what foundation +we could build on for this pleasant conjecture.</p> + +<p>Our present apartment contained even more prisoners +than that up-stairs. They were not Northern soldiers, +but were from all parts of the South. Some of +them had been in prison ever since the war broke out, +while a few had been arrested for supposed anti-slavery<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> +sentiments even before that event, and had lived in +loathsome dungeons ever since. There had been a +reign of terror in the Southern States preceding the +war, as well as after the opening of the contest, which +differed from the similar terror in the French revolution +mainly in being less theatrical, and in striking +humbler victims. A few Northern soldiers were here +who had been put in for attempting to escape or for +other breaches of prison discipline. Every man in the +room had some kind of "a charge" against him. These +facts were not calculated to strengthen hopes of exchange, +or even weaken fears of further punishment.</p> + +<p>In the mean time breakfast was brought in. It +consisted of a small quantity of thin soup and a very +scanty allowance of bread. To our delight the latter +was made of wheat flour instead of corn-meal; and all +the time we remained in Richmond we received good +bread, though it was very deficient in quantity.</p> + +<p>While we were talking with our new room-mates an +officer again entered, and inquired for the men who had +last come in. We responded promptly, for hope was +again whispering in our hearts that probably there had +been some mistake, which would now be rectified, and +we be taken up-stairs again. But no such good fortune +was in store,—rather the reverse. We were taken +out of doors, where a guard waited to remove us to another +prison. Again our hearts sank.</p> + +<p>We crossed the street and marched westward, halting +at a desolate-looking building, a few hundred yards +from Libby, which we afterwards learned was "<span class="smcap">Castle +Thunder</span>," the far-famed Bastile of the South. +Through a guarded door we entered a reception-room +and waited for some time. In this interval a fierce-looking, +black-whiskered, bustling individual, who I +afterwards learned was Chillis, the prison commissary, +came by and, looking at us, exclaimed,—</p> + +<p>"Bridge-burners, are they? They ought to hang, +every man of them; so ought everybody who does anything<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +against the Confederacy." The latter proposition, +with the change of one word, precisely suited my +own feeling then.</p> + +<p>Soon we were ordered up-stairs. Up we went, passing +by a room filled with a howling and yelling multitude, +who made such an outrageous racket that I was +compelled to put my hands to my ears. A score of +voices brawled with all the power of their lungs, "Fresh +fish! Fresh fish!" The same exclamations greeted +every new arrival.</p> + +<p>Here we were searched, as usual, to see if we had +anything contraband, or rather, anything worth taking +from us. I had obtained a large knife in Atlanta, +which I managed to slip up my sleeve, and by carefully +turning my arm when they felt for concealed +weapons, succeeded in keeping it out of the way.</p> + +<p>The examination over, I supposed they would put +us in the bedlam we had just passed. They did no +better, for we were put into a <i>stall</i> beside the large +room. I use the word "stall" advisedly, for no other +is so appropriate. It was one of a range partitioned +off from the room in which were the noisy miscreants, +and from each other, by boards nailed to the upright +timbers, with cracks wide enough to let the wind circulate +freely everywhere. Most of the windows of the +large room were out, which greatly increased the cold. +Our stall was only eight or nine feet wide, and perhaps +sixteen in length. It was perfectly bare of furniture,—not +having even a bench or any means of making a +fire. It was in the third story, and had one redeeming +quality,—it commanded a view of the street, but there +was a guard below, who had orders to shoot at any +head that might be protruded from the window.</p> + +<p>In this cheerless place our party of six, with nine +Tennesseeans,—fifteen in all,—were confined during the +months of December and January. The first day our +spirits sank lower than ever before. All our bright +hopes were dashed to the ground, and there seemed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +every reason to believe that we were doomed to this +dreary abode for the whole duration of the war, if, indeed, +we escaped sharing with our murdered friends +the horrors of a scaffold. It was too disheartening +for philosophy, and that day was one of the blackest +gloom. We seldom spoke, and when we did, it was +to denounce our own folly in suffering ourselves to be +deluded to Richmond by falsehood. I cannot say at +this time whether the false declaration concerning the +exchange was intended to deceive or was only the result +of some misunderstanding; but then we had no +doubt it was deliberate treachery. Not being able to +spare enough guards to make us secure, we felt that +they had deceived us to this terrible prison, which we +might have avoided by seizing one of the many opportunities +for escape our journey afforded. But it was no +use lamenting; all we could do was to register a vow +never to be so deceived again. One resource remained. +It was my turn to lead our devotions, which we had +continued faithfully. If I ever prayed with fervor it +was in this hour of disappointment and dread. I tried +to roll our cares upon the Lord, and at least partly +succeeded, for I rose from my knees convinced that we +had one Friend who had not forsaken us, and who had +often made His children rejoice in worse situations than +ours. The next morning we awoke quite cheerful and +nerved for any fate that might yet be in store.</p> + +<p>The routine of prison-life here differed but little +from that in Atlanta, though our condition was far less +comfortable. In the morning we were taken down to +the court (the building was square and built with an +open space in the centre) to wash, and were immediately +taken back to our stall and locked up. The principal +difference arose from our lack of fire. No other +physical suffering I endured in the whole imprisonment +was more intolerable than this perpetual freezing. We +had no opportunity for those pleasant fireside chats +which had done so much to make our days endurable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +in the Atlanta barracks. In their stead, as the darkness +and coldness of night drew on, we were compelled +to pace the floor, trying to keep warm; and, when sleep +became a necessity, we would all pile down in a huddle, +as pigs sometimes do, and spread over us the thin protection +of our two bits of carpet. Thus we would lie +until the cold could be endured no longer, then rise and +resume our walk. When the weather became warmer +than usual we would sleep much, to make up for wakefulness +during the colder nights.</p> + +<p>We never omitted our public prayers. For a while +the crowd outside in the large room, which was composed +of the very scum of Southern society, such as +deserters from the army, gamblers, and cut-throats from +the large cities, gave us all the annoyance in their +power, by shouting all kinds of derisive epithets through +the cracks in the board partition while we were kneeling; +but, finding their efforts ineffectual, they finally +gave over, and left us to pursue our own way in peace. +We found, afterwards, when, for a short time, we were +put in with them, that they respected us all the more +for our perseverance.</p> + +<p>A few days after our arrival we noticed a great stir +at Libby Prison, which was in plain view. A truce-boat +had arrived at the place of exchange. Soon a +body of prisoners were marched up the street by us, +and our four Atlanta companions with them. As they +passed by they waved their hands to us in farewell and +continued their journey to freedom. They were not +disappointed, and, as I have since learned, they were +soon with their friends at home. The representations +made at Atlanta were true as regarded these four men; +the falsehood was in making us believe that <i>we</i> stood +on the same footing. We felt glad for their sakes; but +the parting, to us, was very painful, and we turned +away from the window with something of the gloom +that had darkened the first day of our abode in this +prison.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span></p> + +<p>One great privilege we had here,—a delightful oasis +in the dead sameness that settled over our days. This +was found in reading the daily newspapers. We were +not now forbidden their perusal, and some one in the +large room had always money enough to buy a paper +and charity enough to lend it. As soon as we received +it, all the party would gather around while it was read +aloud. Each item of importance was eagerly discussed. +The news was often exciting, as the Union commander, +Burnside, had just made an advance, and we breathed +hearty prayers that he would be successful in reaching +Richmond. Probably our enemies would, in that case, +try to remove us farther South; but we had firmly +resolved to escape in such a contingency or die in the +attempt. We would not allow ourselves again to be +moved from one prison to another without risking +everything for freedom.</p> + +<p>But soon came the sad news of Burnside's bloody +repulse at Fredericksburg,—sad to us, but causing the +greatest rejoicing among our enemies, who felt that +they had escaped a great danger. If Union defeats +diffused gloom throughout the whole of the loyal States, +there was yet no place where they were so regretfully +and bitterly felt as in Southern prisons.</p> + +<p>Here I sold the hat I had obtained from Commander +Wells in Atlanta, and made an effort to invest the +money in books, for which I was more hungry than for +bread. But the volumes I wanted were not to be found +in Richmond. Chillis, the cross commissary who wished +us hung on our first arrival, but who was, nevertheless, +the kindest official in the prison, made the effort to obtain +them; but when he failed, we took instead some +very small cakes, at ten cents each. These were a great +addition to our rations for a day or two.</p> + +<p>The desire to escape once more became intense. Being +in the third story, we could only get out by passing +at each door successive relays of guards, all of whom +had reserves ready to co-operate with them in case of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +alarm. Our room was nearest the jailer's office, and on +the other side there ran a row of rooms filled with all +kinds of prisoners,—some held as spies and others as +murderers.</p> + +<p>The nearest of these rooms to our own was occupied +by Federal soldiers accused of various offences. Captain +Webster was one of these. He had on one occasion +been sent to capture a notorious guerrilla captain +named Simpson, who was then hiding within the Union +lines. When he was found, Webster summoned him +to surrender. Instead of doing so he fired his pistol +and started to run, but Webster also fired and mortally +wounded him.</p> + +<p>When Webster was afterwards captured by the Confederates, +he was charged with the murder of Simpson, +and confined in the room next our own. He was finally +hanged, but in the official report the offence was changed, +in a manner not uncommon with Confederate authorities, +for the more plausible one of violating his parole.</p> + +<p>At this time Webster was very anxious for an attempt +at escape. A plan was soon arranged, and the +evening before Christmas selected as the time. The +citizen prisoners in the room below were more favorably +situated than ourselves for beginning the enterprise. +We had opened secret communications with +them, and the ramifications of the plot reached every +room in the prison. The signal agreed upon was the +cry of "fire!" When this alarm—always startling, +but doubly so in a crowded prison—was given, we were +to rush upon the guards and overpower them. They +only numbered about thirty, while we had over a hundred +and fifty men in the plot. After capturing the +guard, we still had the very serious task of getting out +of the guarded and fortified city. It is not probable +that a very great number could have succeeded in doing +this.</p> + +<p>That Christmas-eve was not much like Christmas at +home. We made everything ready, and anxiously<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> +waited for the thrilling alarm of "fire!" which we +would have echoed at the top of our voices, and then +burst off the door of our stall and flung ourselves on +the guard. I had no doubt that we could thus break +open the strongest prison in the Confederacy; but as to +any large number escaping to the Union lines I was +less confident. The hours rolled on and midnight +came,—the hour fixed for the attack. But we waited +in vain. No signal was given. The inmates in the +room below had failed in courage at the critical moment +and resolved to postpone the attempt.</p> + +<p>Not yet discouraged, we determined to make another +trial the very next night. Captain Webster was appointed +leader, as we felt sure that he would not falter. +The locks were taken off all the side rooms except +ours, which was so near the station of the guard that +it could not be removed without great danger of discovery. +We cared but little for this. A long board +which supported our water-bucket afforded a convenient +battering-ram, with which we felt sure of being able +to deal with our door.</p> + +<p>Some of the inmates did not wish to run the fearful +hazard, but were very kind to those of us who did, +supplying us with serviceable shoes and taking our +worn-out ones in return.</p> + +<p>Again we waited for the signal. Four of us held +the long board, and felt sure that one blow would dash +our door into the middle of the room.</p> + +<p>The other small rooms were soon vacated, the movement +being concealed from the observation of the guards +by the inmates of the large room, into which all the +others entered, crowding up around the doors.</p> + +<p>For an instant all was silent. We lifted our hearts +in mental prayer to God that he would be with us and +preserve us through the coming strife, and if consistent +with his high will, permit us to regain our liberty.</p> + +<p>What can cause the delay? Minute after minute +passes, and the dead silence is broken only by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> +throbbing of our own hearts. We have counted the +cost, and are ready for the strife which shall lead us to +grapple, with naked arms, the shining bayonets of the +guards. Some will certainly fall, but we trust that +others will regain the unutterable blessing of liberty.</p> + +<p>But now we see our friends <i>creeping back to their +rooms</i>! We grind our teeth with rage and chagrin, +but soon hear the explanation, which makes us believe +that the Lord is indeed watching over us.</p> + +<p>Just as the leader was ready to give the signal, a +friend pressed to his side and informed him that we +were betrayed, and that the enemy were on the watch +for us. From a window in the far corner of the room +a force of at least eighty men could be seen drawn up +before the prison-door. The story continued that orders +had been given to shoot down every one who attempted +to escape, while another detachment was to +close in behind and make an indiscriminate massacre. +Had we carried out our plan, the guard would have +yielded before our rush until we had been fully +drawn into the trap, when they hoped to make such a +slaughter as would be a perpetual warning to prison-breakers.</p> + +<p>When I first heard this account I thought it the invention +of some weak-nerved individual who wished +to avoid the danger of our scheme. But it was perfectly +true. The next day the newspapers of Richmond +contained a full <i>exposé</i> of the whole affair, and +Captain Alexander, the tyrant who commanded the +prison, threatened to have every one engaged in it tied +up and whipped. But he finally changed his mind. +A nominal prisoner, who was really a spy in the service +of the authorities, had contrived to get into the +plot, and had reported it to his employers. This was +the last attempt at prison-breaking in which I was concerned.</p> + +<p>In Richmond there was a pretence of allowing prisoners +to correspond with their friends in the North,—of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> +course, subject to the inspection of the prison officials. +From Libby Prison some letters did go safely. We +also tried writing, making our expressions very guarded, +but, so far as I have ever heard, none of our correspondence +was forwarded beyond the lines. I was +providentially afforded a better opportunity. Some of +the prisoners captured at the battle of Murfreesborough +were brought to Richmond for exchange, and were +kept overnight in a room in the basement of Castle +Thunder. When in the court as usual in the morning, +I asked a good-natured Irishman of their number +if he would carry a letter and mail it for me after getting +to loyal territory. He cheerfully consented, and +I pencilled a note to my father on the fly-leaf of a +book and, watching an opportunity when unobserved, +gave it to him. He concealed it until out of rebel +power, and duly committed it to the mail. The sensation +may be imagined which it produced among my +own friends and those of other members of the party, +as nothing had been heard from us since the October +escape, and we had long been given over as dead. +Though the note was very hastily written, I copy it +here without change, as showing the feeling experienced +at that time. Something of the hopefulness and lightness +of the tone resulted from the wish to cheer those +addressed.</p> + +<blockquote> +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Richmond, Va.</span>, January 6, 1863. +</div> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Father</span>,—I take this opportunity of writing by a paroled +prisoner to let you know that I am well and doing as well +as could be expected. I have seen some rather hard times, but +the worst is past. Our lives are now safe, but we will be kept +during the war, unless something lucky turns up for us. There +are six of our original railroad party here yet. Seven were executed +in June, and eight escaped in October.</p> + +<p>"I stand the imprisonment pretty well. The worst of it is to +hear of our men [this refers to the Union army] getting whipped +so often. I hear all the news here: read three or four papers a +day. I even know that Bingham was beat in the last election, +for which I am very sorry.</p> + +<p>"The price of everything here is awful. It costs thirty cents +to send a letter. This will account for my not writing to all my +friends<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> +I Give my sincere love to them, and tell them to write +to me.</p> + +<p>"You may write by leaving the letter unsealed, putting in +nothing that will offend the Secesh, and directing to Castle +Thunder, Va. I want to know the private news,—how many +of my friends have fallen. Also tell me who has been drafted +in our neighborhood, who married, and who like to be. Also, +if you have a gold dollar at hand, slip it into the letter,—not +more, as it might tempt the Secesh to <i>hook</i> it. I have tried to +send word through to you several times, but there is now a better +chance of communicating since we came from Atlanta to +Richmond.</p> + +<p>"No doubt you would all like to see me again, but let us have +patience. Many a better man than I am has suffered more, and +many parents are mourning for their children without the hope +of seeing them again. So keep your courage up, and do not be +uneasy about me. Write as soon as you can, and tell all my +friends to do the same.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"Ever yours,<br /> +"<span class="smcap">William Pittenger</span>.<br /> +</div> +<p> +"To <span class="smcap">Thomas Pittenger</span>,<br /> +"New Somerset, Jefferson Co., Ohio."<br /> +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>The belief expressed in the above letter of imprisonment +during the war was thought by the writer to be +most probable. No word was spoken either of exchange +or of court-martial. The prices referred to +were in Confederate money, which was now greatly +depreciated. The little we had brought from Atlanta +rapidly melted away, procuring us very little addition +to our meagre fare. We still hoped for great Union +victories and a speedy termination of the war. But at +the opening of the year 1863 the prospect was dark +indeed.</p> + +<p>About the 1st of February the range of side rooms +in which we were confined was wanted for hospital +purposes. The prison hospital had been located in +the garret above, but disease increased to such an extent +that its accommodations were no longer sufficient. +These chill and comfortless rooms had but little adaptation +to their new purpose, and hastened the release +of many a poor unfortunate by the mercy of death. Disease +was now making fearful havoc. The hardships<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> +of prison-life and the starvation diet prepared the way +for every contagion. Smallpox broke out, and prevailed +to such an extent that the whole town was +alarmed. The prisoners were vaccinated by the wholesale, +but this necessary precaution caused great additional +suffering. Men died in every room, and the +visiting physician came each morning to remove to the +hospitals those who showed marks of the dreaded pestilence. +It would scarcely be believed that some prisoners +actually counterfeited smallpox in order to be +sent to the smallpox hospital, where they would have +a better opportunity for escape. But escaping had become +a regular mania, and all possible means were +employed to effect it.</p> + +<p>No one of our party of six took the pestilence, +though two suffered very severely from the vaccine +virus. But the prevalence of disease did us a good +service in securing our removal from the narrow stall +to the comparative freedom of the room outside.</p> + +<p>This was a great change, and did seem like freedom +by contrast. From this time the isolation of our prison-life +was at an end. I have spoken of the "room," but +the term is scarcely accurate. The partitions had been +taken out or never inserted in this upper floor, and the +prisoners could go from one end of the building to the +other, but with guards stationed at every door and +watching every window outside. In a far corner there +was a stove,—the first fire we had felt since leaving +Libby two months before. It did not suffice to warm +half the people around it, and these were very quarrelsome, +but it was a great luxury to be occasionally warm.</p> + +<p>The amusements of the hundreds who had been +gathered into this receptacle of humanity were very +<i>striking</i>, if not elegant. When a dense crowd had +gathered around the stove, some person outside—usually +one of a large group of very mischievous Irish-men—would +cry, "Char-rge, me boys!" and a solid +column of perhaps fifty men would rush against the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> +group around the stove, knocking men in all directions, +endangering limbs, and raising a perfect storm of profanity. +Fights were very frequent, and it only needed +the addition of intoxicating liquor to make the place a +perfect pandemonium. As it was, the interference of +the guard was often required to preserve order. Our +party, however, always stood together, and were thus +able to protect themselves.</p> + +<p>The evenings were a compensation for the turmoil +and quarrelling of the day. After all who possessed +blankets had rolled themselves up and laid +down to rest on the floor, some of the worst rowdies, +who had been annoying and persecuting their fellow-prisoners +all day, would gather around the stove and +appear in a new character,—that of story-tellers. Old +Irish legends, and some of the finest fairy-tales to +which I have ever listened, were brought forth, and +the greater part of the night was often passed in such +discourse. But the approach of day put an end to the +romantic disposition of these rude bards and left them +ill ruffians as before.</p> + +<p>We soon wearied of this perpetual ferment and excitement, +and learning that there was one room in the +prison occupied principally by Union men, petitioned +to be placed with them. To our surprise this request +was granted, and we were taken down to the ground +floor, and placed in a large, dingy room on the level +of the street. The windows were not only secured by +crossing bars, but additionally darkened by fine woven +wire. The refuse tobacco-stems—the building was an +old tobacco manufactory—had been thrown into this +room, and were now gathered into a great heap in one +corner, occupying more than a fourth part of the entire +apartment. This filthy stuff—for such it was, having +been trodden underfoot for years—was not without its +uses for the tobacco-lovers of the party.</p> + +<p>But this dungeon had ample compensations for its +darkness and dinginess. It contained a stove, and was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> +kept quite warm. Thus the terrible suffering from +cold was now ended. There was also good society +here,—nearly a hundred Union men from different +parts of the South,—all intensely patriotic, and many +of them possessing great intelligence. The rude, wild +element which dominated in the third floor was in +complete subordination on the first.</p> + +<p>It would be easy to fill a volume with stories told +us by the loyal citizens confined in this room. One +or two may serve as specimens. I became very intimate +with a Scotchman named Miller, from Texas. +He told me of the beginning of the reign of terror, +which prepared the way for secession. The rumor, +in Miller's neighborhood, was first spread of an intended +slave insurrection. Weapons, and in some cases +poison, were secreted, to be afterwards found at the +right time. Some slaves were next whipped until, +under the torture, they would confess to the intended +insurrection, and implicate the most prominent opponents +of secession. This was enough to drive the +populace to madness. The fear of servile insurrections +has always aroused the worst passions of slaveholding +countries. Slaves and white Unionists were now hung +up to the same trees, and the work went on until all +who opposed the withdrawal of the State from the old +Union were treated as criminals. It is not strange that +slavery thus furnished the means as well as the occasion +of rebellion.</p> + +<p>Miller, being an outspoken opponent of secession, was +seized, and sent eastward, accused of treason against the +Confederacy. Twice he made his escape, and when recaptured +told, each time, a different story. At Richmond, +when brought up for examination, he merely +said, "I told you all about my case before." The examining +officer, who was very busy and a little in liquor, +took him at his word and ordered him back to prison. +At length he was included with many others in a special +exchange.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span></p> + +<p>A few Union soldiers, besides ourselves, were in this +room. There was a young and adventurous scout from +the Potomac army, Charlie Marsh by name, who had +been sent a short distance inside the rebel lines to +burn an important bridge. While on his way, with a +gray coat—the rebel color—thrown over his own uniform, +he managed to get some important information +regarding the enemy, which he committed to writing. +In this perilous position he was captured, and the +papers, which he was not able to destroy, determined +his character as a spy. A drum-head court-martial +convicted him, and he was sent with a strong guard to +Richmond for execution. While on the way the sergeant +in charge got an opportunity to drink, and soon +became very careless. Marsh could not escape; but, +watching his chance, slipped from the sergeant's pocket +the package containing the report of the trial and sentence, +and dropped them, unobserved, into a ditch by +the wayside.</p> + +<p>When he arrived in Richmond, the sergeant could +give the prison authorities no information further than +that his prisoner was a Yankee he had been told to +bring to them. The drunkard was reprimanded, and +the authorities sent back to the army for the missing +information. Pending its arrival, Marsh was put into +our room, instead of being confined separately and securely, +as would have been the case if his sentence had +been known. When the evidence against him arrived, +the commanding officer entered the room with a guard +and called his name. This was Charlie's last chance +for life, and shrewdly was it improved! A man had +died in the prison the night before, and the body had +not yet been removed. Charlie promptly responded, +"Oh, that fellow is dead?" pointing to the corpse.</p> + +<p>"Died, has he? the rascal! We'd 'a hung him this +week and saved him the trouble if he had only held +on," growled the officer.</p> + +<p>No prisoner felt called upon to expose the deception,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +and the officer departed and reported accordingly. +Marsh continued to answer whenever the dead man's +name was called, and was finally exchanged in his +place. I once met him since the close of the war. He +was then in congenial employment as a government +detective.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>SICKNESS AND LIBERTY.</h3> + + +<p>In February the attempt was made to persuade the +Union men of our prison room to enlist in the rebel +army. Over twenty recruits were obtained. They +were loyal in heart to the old government, but so worn +down and dispirited by suffering that they could resist +no longer. The refusal of the remainder to take the +same step seemed to exasperate the prison officials, and +new hardships were devised for us. Captain Alexander, +the tyrant who had charge of the prison, issued an +order for taking out a working-party to perform menial +service each day. At first volunteers were called for, +and the desire to be in the open air was so great that +they were readily obtained, notwithstanding the conditions +of the work were far from being pleasant. As +soon as no more volunteers offered, a list was prepared, +and a certain number of the names called daily for +service. This was putting the matter in another light. +One of the first called was a frank, brave Tennesseean +named McCoy. He answered boldly, "I'm not going."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter now?" demanded the officer who +was calling the list.</p> + +<p>"I didn't come here to work, and if you can't board +me without, you may send me home," replied the fearless +man.</p> + +<p>"Well! well! You'll be attended to," growled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> +the officer, and proceeded with the roll. Four others +on the list likewise refused. In a short time a guard +entered the room and seized them. We feared that one +of the terrible floggings, which were only too common +in the case of prison insubordination, was going to take +place. But another mode of punishment was devised. +The four were taken before Captain Alexander, who +ordered them to "the cell." This was a windowless +place, beside the open court, only about four feet wide +by six or seven in length. It had no floor but the +damp earth, and was dark at mid-day. They were +informed that they should remain here until they consented +to work.</p> + +<p>We found another alternative for them. There was +a piece of file and a scrap of stove-pipe in our room, +which we secreted, and, buying a piece of candle from +the commissary, found an opportunity, when taken to +wash in the prison-court, of slipping the articles into +the cell. Thus provided, our friends began to dig their +way out under the wall. All day and night they +worked, but did not get through. We furnished another +candle and they worked on. Towards morning +of the second night they broke upward through the +crust of the ground outside of the wall. The foremost +wormed his way out and glided off. He was never +heard of afterwards, and, I presume, reached the Union +army. The next man was just under the wall, when +the barking of a dog that happened to be prowling +around drew the attention of the guard that way, and +the hole was closed. This incident prevented the confinement +of any others in the cell.</p> + +<p>Yet the attempt to secure workers from the prison +was not given up. I happened to be on the next list +prepared. To work with a guard carrying a musket +to enforce obedience did not seem to me a part of my +business as a United States soldier. Carefully counting +the cost, I determined to go any length in resistance.</p> + +<p>On our refusal, we were ordered into the jail-yard.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> +It was a very cold, windy day in February, with +abundant rain. We were nearly naked, having only +the remnant of the rags that had already outserved +their time. The bottoms were out of my shoes, and +the water stood in the yard several inches deep. The +yard itself was only a vacant corner in the building +inclosed by high brick walls, on the top of which +guards walked. The cold, wet wind swept down with +biting sharpness, and almost robbed us of sensation. +We paced the narrow bounds, through the mud and +water, until too weary to walk any more, and then resigned +ourselves to our misery. If this exposure had +come earlier, when we were accustomed to the endurance +of cold, it might have been less serious. But for +several weeks we had been in a close, warm room, and +the contrast was almost unbearable.</p> + +<p>Here we remained from early in the morning until +nearly dark in the evening. They told us we would +have to stay there till we agreed to work or froze to +death! The first we had resolved never to do. The +latter seemed only too probable. I do not think any +of us could have survived the night. We resolved as +soon as it was fairly dark to scale the wall and seek +our own deliverance, feeling that it could not be worse +to die by the bullet than by exposure.</p> + +<p>But we had help from an unexpected source. The +old commissary, Chillis, had come out of his room, +which was near by, several times during the day to +observe us, and each time went away muttering and +grumbling. We thought he enjoyed our suffering, but +were greatly mistaken. In the evening he went to +Captain Alexander and remonstrated with him in the +strongest terms. Said he,—</p> + +<p>"If you want to kill the men, do it at once! The +rascals deserve it. Hanging is the best way. But +don't leave them out there to die by inches, for it will +disgrace us all over the world."</p> + +<p>His remonstrance was heeded, and we were remanded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> +back to our room, which, with its warm fire, never +seemed more agreeable. We soon sank into a pleasant +stupor, from which all awoke very ill. One poor fellow +died within a few hours, and several more after a +short interval. I was the only one of our railroad +party who had been thus exposed. That day of freezing +does not seem a worse hardship than many endured +previously, but coming when already enfeebled, it was +far more injurious. Pneumonia followed, and when I +grew better a distressing cough continued, which has +never left me. Ever since I have been a confirmed +invalid. But the attempt to make us work was relinquished.</p> + +<p>One day we were summoned into line, and the names +of our railroad party, with a few others, called over. +One of the prisoners who had not been called, asked +the reason of the omission. The officer replied,—</p> + +<p>"We can't tell, for this list came from Yankee-land."</p> + +<p>This speech set wild conjectures afloat. Why should +a list be sent from the North? Was it for the purpose +of exchange? Had the Federal government made +some arrangement at last which applied especially to +us, and not to the mass of Union men in the prison? +We could not tell, but it was pleasant to believe that +we were not utterly forgotten.</p> + +<p>It was soon discovered that a special exchange of +political prisoners—prisoners whose offences were of a +civil and not a military character—was in contemplation. +Soldiers were being exchanged frequently from +the Libby on the other side of the way, but it had +seemed as if we were altogether forsaken. Now the +rumor was current that a large number on each side +who were held for various offences were to be massed +into one general exchange, and the including of our +names in a list sent from the loved loyal States was +sufficient fuel to rekindle the almost extinct fire of +hope.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the delay was long, and we grew very weary of +waiting. Truce-boat after truce-boat went off, and +week after week slid away, leaving us still in our dark +and irksome prison. So completely did this damp our +hopes that if any one referred to exchange he was +laughed into silence.</p> + +<p>One day, however, we received a most welcome token +of governmental remembrance. An officer bustled +into the prison and asked for the name of every one +there who claimed United States protection. There, +was a general rush towards him, for, although we did +not know how our government could protect us while +in rebel hands, we were resolved not to lose anything +for want of claiming it. It then transpired that the +authorities at Washington, in order to relieve the sufferings +of the Richmond prisoners, had offered to furnish +a supply of clothing for them. The offer was +accepted, and some of the clothing reached its destination,—not +nearly all, as I judge from comparing the +accounts given on the opposite sides of the line. My +own portion was a pair of boots, which were sorely +needed. We did not obtain a complete supply, but +what we did get was very grateful, as a token that we +were not forgotten, but that a great nation still cared +for us.</p> + +<p>I have said but little for some time past of our religious +exercises. It must not be inferred that we had +lost the zeal enkindled during the dark hours in Atlanta. +Up-stairs we continued to pray, sing, and repeat +Bible lessons morning and evening. When we +first came into the room below, where we were strangers, +and where the whole current of opinion seemed utterly +irreligious, I did feel as if it would be impossible for +us in the common room to worship publicly as before. +At the arrival of the usual hour I was sorely perplexed, +and almost persuaded to wait a day or two for +better acquaintance with our new room-mates. But +the matter was settled providentially for us. Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span> +Pierce, who had accompanied us all the way from +Knoxville, and who was very profane in speech, had +never shown any interest in our prayers beyond remaining +silent when we were thus employed. But now +he stepped on a box, and calling and stamping until he +had the attention of everybody in the room, he said,—</p> + +<p>"I have a matter to propose for our general interest. +We have some preachers with us who are accustomed +to sing and pray and read the Bible every morning and +evening. Now, I am wicked enough myself, but I +like to have something good going on; so I propose +that we invite them to go ahead as they have done in +other prisons. All that favor the motion say 'aye!'"</p> + +<p>The response was most hearty. In a prison a proposition +for anything which will break the monotony for +even a little time is sure of favor. No one voted in +the negative, and Pierce, turning to me, said, "Go +ahead."</p> + +<p>There were no preachers in our party, but, under +such circumstances, we gladly embraced the providential +opportunity. The majority of the prisoners gathered +around in respectful silence, and seemed greatly +pleased to hear, in that gloomy place, the voice of +prayer and sacred song. Even the guards drew near +the open door, and stood in reverent attention. But a +small company of the more reckless of the prisoners +regarded the whole matter in the light of a burlesque. +One I especially noticed, who seemed to be their leader. +He was quite young, had a confident bearing, and uttered +great oaths on the smallest occasion. He watched +us without making any disturbance while we read and +sang, but, when we knelt for prayer, he knelt too, and +became very noisy in his mock devotions, responding +"amen" with more than Methodistic fervor and at the +most inopportune places. This we endured patiently +for that evening, but I resolved to win him over, feeling +sure that we would thus do good and secure ourselves +from interruption. On the next day I managed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> +to get into conversation with him, told him the story +of our adventures, which always commanded attention, +and asked the reason of his imprisonment. He gave +the story, and I afterwards asked after his friends in +his far-off Canadian home. He told me that he had +no near relatives except a sister, and his blue eyes filled +with tears as he spoke of his longing to see her once +more. There were no interruptions to our evening +service; and I learned that my friend had taken occasion +to say that those Ohioans were good fellows, and +that anybody who disturbed them would have to reckon +with him. A number of other religious persons made +themselves known when the way was thus open, though +each one had supposed himself alone before. We formed +quite a church when all assembled, though there was a +great mixture of creeds, a Roman Catholic being one +of the most devoted of the number.</p> + +<p>A day now approached that had been longed for +ever since we first tasted the bitter cup of captivity,—a +day which yet shines golden and glorious in the light +of memory,—a day which I never recall without a +mental ejaculation of thanksgiving to Almighty God. +To have assured its coming I would at anytime during +the preceding eleven months have unshrinkingly sacrificed +my right hand!</p> + +<p>On the evening of the 17th of March, 1863, when +we were sitting around the stove, discussing quietly +but not indifferently the siege of Vicksburg, an officer +stepped within the door and shouted the strange order, +"All who want to go to the <i>United States</i> come to the +office!"</p> + +<p>No more plans were laid for capturing Vicksburg +that night! We thought we were in the United States +all the while, but had no objection to be still more so, +and at once fell into line, and walked out, between two +files of soldiers, to the office. It seemed like a dream. +For a moment a delicious hope thrilled through my +veins,—a vision of happiness and home, dazzling as a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> +flash of summer lightning,—but it instantly faded +before the remembrance of the manner in which we +had been deceived in Atlanta. I did not doubt that an +exchange had been arranged for some of the inmates +of our room, but feared that the good fortune would +not reach so far as our proscribed band. The oath of +parole, binding each man not to serve against the Confederacy +until regularly exchanged, was being signed +as fast as the names could be written and the oath administered. +To end the suspense, I pressed forward, +gave my name, and held my breath, while fully expecting +to hear "The engine thieves can't go,"—but no +objection was made. I wrote my name, and watched +each of my five comrades do the same, with growing +hope, as still no objection was made. Then came the +remembrance that our names were the first on the list, +read a few days before, which, as we had been told, +came from "Yankee-land,"—and I suspected, what I +afterwards learned to be the fact,—that our government, +in arranging this exchange, had specially stipulated that +we should be included. Although a sickening fear +would still intrude itself now and then, there was really +no reason to doubt that all the preliminaries of our +exchange were actually arranged.</p> + +<p>When all the prisoners had signed the papers we +were ordered to return to our room, and be ready to +start for the North at four o'clock next morning. We +could have been ready in four seconds! but we really +needed the quiet night hours to realize the full magnitude +of our deliverance. The wild excitement of that +evening can never be fully described. The majority +of paroled men acted as if bereft of reason. The joyousness +of some found vent in vociferous shouts,—in +dancing and bounding over the floor,—in embracing +each other, and in pledging kind remembrances. Some +seemed stupefied by their good fortune, others sat down +and wept in silence, and still others laughed for minutes +together. But in the room there were a few not permitted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> +to go, and my heart bled for them. I remembered +the hour when we had been left by our comrades +on first arriving in Richmond, and now these friends +sat cheerless and alone, seeming more wretched than +ever amid the general joy.</p> + +<p>But there was one expression of joy which it would +have been the basest ingratitude for us to omit. It was +near midnight before we became calm enough to offer +up our usual evening devotions. But when all were +wearied out by the very excess of joy, when the quietness +which ever follows overwhelming emotion had settled +upon us, we knelt in prayer,—a prayer of deep, +strong, fervent thankfulness. We implored that we +might not be deceived in our vivid hopes and dashed +back from our anticipated paradise. Yet, if such should +be God's mysterious will, and we should see these hopes +fade, as others had faded before them, we asked for +strength to bear the trial. Then, with solemn trust, +we tried to commit the whole matter to the wisdom and +the mercy of God, and lay down to sleep, if we could, +and to await the event.</p> + +<p>Few eyes closed during the entire night. Fancy was +too busy peopling her fairy landscapes,—picturing the +groups that awaited us, beyond that boundary which +for nearly a year seemed to us as impassable as the +river of death. But even as we muse we find that +hope is not the only painter at work. What unbidden +fears spring up to darken the prospect and stain the +brightness of our joy! How many of those dear friends +we were hoping to meet may now be no more! For a +year not a whisper from them has reached us,—no letter +or message from any friend, and we tremble as we +think of the ravages of time and of battle. These and +a hundred other thoughts whirled through our brains +during that ever-memorable night. It seemed but a +few moments after lying down until we heard the voice +of an officer, who stood by the open door, and gave the +thrilling order to—<i>prepare for our journey</i>!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span></p> + +<p>Hurriedly we thronged to our feet. It was yet long +before daylight, but the guard were in readiness, and +they did not need to wait long for us. The visions of +the night were swept away, but in their stead was the +blessed reality. It was true! Freedom once more! +Our terrible captivity ended! Oh joy! <i>joy!</i>—wild +and delirious <span class="smcap">JOY</span>!</p> + +<p>There was a hurrying around in the darkness, illumined +by the flashing of torch-lights,—a discordant +calling of names,—a careful inspection of each man to +see that none went except those who had been chosen; +then, forming two lines in the court-yard, with bounding +hearts we passed outward through the dreaded +portals of Castle Thunder,—the same portals we had +passed inward more than three months before!—passed +out into the cool but <i>free</i> night air, and stood in the dark +and silent street.</p> + +<p>Beside us rose the tall, square, and ugly outline of +the prison we had left. Not far away on the left was +the shadowy form of the twin prison,—the Libby,—fit +emblems, in their frowning blackness, of that system +of oppression which had shed rivers of blood in a vain +war, and was soon to pass away forever. But we could +not pause to moralize even upon such a theme. As +soon as all were out of the gate, and the column of +prisoners duly formed, with guards on either hand, we +marched onward through the muddy streets for many +squares. There were with us a number of sick, who +were too weak to walk unassisted, and yet unwilling +to be left behind. As no conveyances were provided +for them, we placed each of them between two friends, +on whose shoulders they leaned, and they were thus +able to totter the weary distance. A few had to be +carried altogether by those who were themselves far +from strong, but hope, and the exultation of liberty, +made everything possible. After we were seated in +the cars, which were waiting at the depot, and had +begun to glance around with happy faces in the dim<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span> +morning light, some Richmond papers were procured. +Looking over them we found the very interesting news +that "a large number of <i>engine thieves</i>, bridge-burners, +murderers, robbers, and traitors will leave this morning +for the United States. The Confederacy may well +congratulate itself on this good riddance." The item +was handed from one to another, and we recognized +the names applied with quiet joy. Our congratulations +were not less fervid than theirs, but we could +not help thinking that the riddance might have been +made long before!</p> + +<p>With the rising sun we glided out of Richmond, +and, passing fortifications and rifle-pits, soon reached +Petersburg. Then, with but short detention and no +notable incidents, we continued on to City Point, on +the James River,—the place of exchange. It was not +far from noon when we came within sight of the most +glorious and fascinating object on the American continent!—the +"Stars and Stripes," which we had not seen +before for eleven months, floating in proud beauty over +the truce-boat "State of Maine." It was a glorious +vision. Cheer after cheer arose from the cars. The +guard ordered the noise stopped, but the command was +unheeded, and the officers did not try to enforce it.</p> + +<p>The memories of that hour are indistinct from their +very brightness. I seem to see again the great boat with +its beautiful flag, the line of Federal guards with their +bright blue uniforms, the gray-clad company for whom +we were to be exchanged, and who did not seem nearly +so glad as ourselves, and my own tattered and starved +companions, some three hundred in number. I hear +once more the seemingly interminable reading of names, +the checking of lists, the wrangling over trifles, and at +last the order—which needed no repetition—to go on +board. There was still a sense of trembling and apprehension +until the boat actually pushed off and we were +on our way down the James.</p> + +<p>Then our delight was boundless. We had awakened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> +from a hideous nightmare-dream to find that all +its shapes of horror and grinning fiends had passed +away and left us in the sunlight once more. Our hearts +kept time with the glad threshing of our wheels on the +water, and sang within us, knowing that each ponderous +stroke was placing a greater distance between us +and our dreaded foes.</p> + +<p>The hearty, cheerful welcome we met on board was +no small element in our pleasure. We were hungry—no +wonder after a year's fasting—and we were fed,—the +only difficulty being to avoid hurtful excess. With a +full supply of provisions and a large tin cup of coffee—I +am not sure that so good a cup of coffee has been made +since—I sat down and ate slowly, as if I could never +have enough. Then I wandered all over the boat, from +the upper deck and the cabin down to the hold, in the +mere wantonness of liberty. To go about with no +guard watching me was as strange as it was delightful. +The act of going up to, and passing unchecked through +a door, was a great pleasure! I saw little of the +country through which we passed, for the mind was +too busy. No emotion on earth has the same sweep +and intensity as the throbbing sensations that rush +through the bosom of the liberated captive!</p> + +<p>I have no recollection whatever of the lower James, +of Fortress Monroe, of the Chesapeake. In all my +memoranda no word occurs of these things. Whether +the hours were spent in sleep or waking, whether the +monotony of happiness obliterated memory, or nature, +weakened by disease and exhausted by too great a multiplicity +of sensations, refused to receive new impressions, +I know not; but not until we were near Washington +can I again recall passing events. Then we thronged +to the vessel's side, and bent loving eyes upon the +snowy front of our beautiful Capitol. It seemed a far +more grand and fitting emblem of our country's power +now than when I had first looked upon it, an inexperienced +boy, in the far-away opening of the war,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> +though only two years had elapsed since that time. In +those two years the whole country had learned many +lessons, and to me they were an age!</p> + +<p>Here a brief controversy arose with the commander +of the truce-boat. He had orders to forward all the +exchanged soldiers to the parole camp at Annapolis, and +wished to send our party with them. I demurred, +feeling that it was right for us to report at Washington, +at military headquarters. General Mitchel, who sent +us forth upon our expedition, was dead. Our leader, +Andrews, was no more. How many of our officers had +fallen in the sanguinary battles of the West we knew +not; possibly we had been reported as dead and our +places filled. This, we afterwards learned, was actually +the case. The right place for us to report, in order +that everything might be put in proper shape, was at +Washington, and to the Secretary of War, Hon. Edwin +M. Stanton, in person. Our case, as the rebels had +been showing to our cost for the past year, was not that +of ordinary prisoners of war, and we thought ourselves +entitled to claim the same distinction on Federal soil. +I therefore informed the commander that we had urgent +business with Secretary Stanton, and must be sent to +him. He was a little incredulous at first, but as soon +as I gave my reasons he gracefully yielded.</p> + +<p>Our reception in Washington was even more cordial +than it had been on the truce-boat. We were provided +with most comfortable quarters, and literally feasted on +the best the city afforded. Secretary Stanton asked us +to go before Judge-Advocate-General Holt and there +give our deposition, that the full particulars of what he +was pleased to consider our extraordinary adventures +might be given to the world on an unquestionable +basis. Our first visit to Judge Holt was merely +friendly, at which Major-General Hitchcock and Mr. +J. C. Wetmore, Ohio State Agent, were also present. +We were invited to come again on the morrow, when +we found a justice of the peace and a phonographer to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> +take our testimony. I was questioned first, and the +examination covered all the outlines of the story. All +were sworn except Mason, who was unable from illness +to be present. The result of the examination, together +with Judge Holt's comments upon it, were published +in the <i>Army and Navy Gazette</i> of that date.</p> + +<p>General Hitchcock then accompanied us in our call +upon Secretary Stanton, where we enjoyed a most delightful +interview. At its close he brought out six +medals which had been prepared according to a recent +act of Congress and left to his disposal. He said that +they were the first given to private soldiers in this war. +Jacob Parrot, the boy who had endured the terrible +beating, received, as he well deserved, the first one.</p> + +<p>Secretary Stanton next presented us one hundred +dollars each from the secret service fund as pocket-money, +and gave orders for payment to us of all arrearages, +and for refunding the full value of the +money and arms taken from us at our capture. This +was not all. He tendered us, each one, a commission +in the regular army, and on our expressing a preference +for the volunteer service, he requested Governor +Tod, of Ohio, to give us equivalent promotion in our +own regiments. These commissions were promptly +given, but through ill health, some of our number, myself +included, were not able to be mustered as officers.</p> + +<p>Stanton praised the bravery of Mitchel in the highest +terms, and stated that he had been aware of our +expedition, but, until the escape of our eight comrades +in October, had supposed that we had all perished; +that he had then threatened retaliation in case any +more of us were executed, and had demanded to know +the reason for the execution of the seven who had been +put to death. It was answered that the Confederate +government had no knowledge of the death of any +member of the party. Since that time he had been +most anxious to effect our exchange, and by special +effort had at last succeeded in arranging it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span></p> + +<p>We were then escorted to the Executive Mansion, +and had a most pleasing interview with President Lincoln. +We told him many incidents of prison experience +and received his sympathizing comments in return.</p> + +<p>After taking our leave of the President we received +transportation at government expense to our homes. +The joy of our reception in our own Ohio and among +our own kindred I will not attempt to describe.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span></p> +<h2>APPENDIX.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>No. I.</h2> + +<h3>EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL +HOLT TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.</h3> + + +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Judge-Advocate-General's Office</span>,<br /> +"March 27, 1863.<br /> +</div> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—I have the honor to transmit for your consideration +the accompanying depositions of Sergeant +William Pittenger, Company G, Second Regiment, +Ohio Volunteers; Private Jacob Parrot, Company K, +Thirty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteers; Private +Robert Buffum, Company H, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteers; +Corporal William Reddick, Company B, Thirty-third +Regiment, Ohio Volunteers; and Private William +Bensinger, Company G, Twenty-first Regiment, +Ohio Volunteers; taken at this office on the 25th instant, +in accordance with your written instructions; +from which the following facts will appear:</p> + +<p>"These non-commissioned officers and privates belonged +to an expedition set on foot in April, 1862, at +the suggestion of Mr. J. J. Andrews, a citizen of Kentucky, +who led it, and under the authority and direction +of General O. M. Mitchel, the object of which was +to destroy the communications on the Georgia State +Railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga.</p> + +<p>"The mode of operation proposed was to reach a +point on the road where they could seize a locomotive +and train of cars, and then dash back in the direction +of Chattanooga, cutting the telegraph wires and burning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span> +the bridges behind them as they advanced, until +they reached their own lines. The expedition consisted +of twenty-four men, who, with the exception of its +leader, Mr. Andrews, and another citizen of Kentucky,—who +acted on the occasion as the substitute of a soldier,—had +been selected from the different companies +for their known courage and discretion. They were +informed that the movement was to be a secret one, and +they doubtless comprehended something of its perils, +but Mr. Andrews and Mr. Reddick alone seem to have +known anything of its precise direction or object. +They, however, voluntarily engaged in it, and made +their way, in parties of two or three, in citizen's dress, +and carrying only their side-arms, to Chattanooga, the +point of rendezvous agreed upon, where twenty-two +out of the twenty-four arrived safely. Here they took +passage, without attracting observation, for Marietta, +which they reached at twelve o'clock on the night of +the 11th of April. On the following morning they +took the cars back again towards Chattanooga, and at +a place called Big Shanty, while the engineer and passengers +were breakfasting, they detached the locomotive +and three box-cars from the train and started at full +speed for Chattanooga. They were now upon the field +of the operations proposed by the expedition, but suddenly +encountered unforeseen obstacles. According to +the schedule of the road, of which Mr. Andrews had +possessed himself, they should have met but a single +train on that day, whereas they met three, two of them +being engaged on extraordinary service. About an +hour was lost in waiting to allow these trains to pass, +which enabled their pursuers to press closely upon +them. They removed rails, threw out obstructions on +the road, and attained, when in motion, a speed of sixty +miles an hour; but the time lost could not be regained. +After having run about one hundred miles they found +their supply of wood, water, and oil exhausted, while +the rebel locomotive which had been chasing them was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span> +in sight. Under these circumstances they had no alternative +but to abandon their cars and fly to the woods, +which they did, under the orders of Mr. Andrews, each +one endeavoring to save himself as best he might.</p> + +<p>"The expedition thus failed from causes which reflected +neither upon the genius by which it was planned, +nor upon the intrepidity and discretion of those engaged +in executing it. But for the accident of meeting these +trains,—which could not have been anticipated,—the +movement would have been a complete success, and the +whole aspect of the war in the South and the Southwest +would have been at once changed. The expedition +itself, in the daring of its conception, had the wildness +of a romance; while in the gigantic and overwhelming +results which it sought, and was likely to accomplish, +it was absolutely sublime.</p> + +<p>"The twenty-two captives, when secured, were thrust +into the negro jail of Chattanooga. They occupied a +single room, half under ground, and but thirteen feet +square, so that there was not space enough for them all +to lie down together, and a part of them were, in consequence, +obliged to sleep sitting and leaning against +the walls. The only entrance was through a trap-door +in the ceiling, that was raised twice a day to let down +their scanty meals, which were lowered in a bucket. +They had no other light or ventilation than that which +came through two small, triple-grated windows. They +were covered with swarming vermin, and the heat was +so oppressive that they were often obliged to strip themselves +entirely of their clothes to bear it. Add to this, +they were all handcuffed, and, with trace-chains secured +around their necks by padlocks, were fastened to each +other in companies of twos and threes. Their food, +which was doled out to them twice a day, consisted of +a little flour wet with water and baked in the form of +bread, and spoiled pickled beef. They had no opportunity +of procuring supplies from the outside, nor had +they any means of doing so,—their pockets having been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span> +rifled of their last cent by the Confederate authorities, +prominent among whom was a rebel officer wearing the +uniform of a major. No part of the money thus basely +taken was ever returned."</p> + +<p>[The report narrates the continued sufferings of the +adventurers in prison substantially as they are given in +the preceding pages, and concludes:]</p> + +<p>"So they remained until a few days since, when they +were exchanged; and thus, at the end of eleven months, +terminated their pitiless persecutions in the prisons of +the South,—persecutions begun and continued amid indignities +and sufferings on their part, and atrocities on +the part of their traitorous foes, which illustrate far +more faithfully than any human language could express +it the demoniac spirit of a revolt, every throb of +whose life is a crime against the very race to which we +belong.</p> + +<div class='right'>"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,<br /> +"<span class="smcap">J. Holt</span>,<br /> +"<i>Judge-Advocate-General</i>.<br /> +</div> +<p> +"<span class="smcap">Hon. Edwin M. Stanton</span>,<br /> +"<i>Secretary of War</i>."<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span></p> +<h2>No. II.</h2> + +<h3>A SOUTHERN ESTIMATE.</h3> + + +<p>The following extracts from an editorial published +in the Atlanta <i>Southern Confederacy</i> of April 15, 1862, +will serve to show the intense excitement of the hour:</p> + +<div class='center'>"THE GREAT RAILROAD CHASE!<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='center'>"THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY AND ASTOUNDING ADVENTURE<br /> +OF THE WAR!!<br /><br /></div> + +<div class='center'>"THE MOST DARING UNDERTAKING THAT YANKEES EVER<br /> +PLANNED OR ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE!<br /></div> + +<blockquote><p>"<i>Stealing an Engine—Tearing up the Track—Pursued +on Foot, on Hand-Cars, and Engines—Overtaken—A +Scattering—The Capture—The Wonderful Energy +of Messrs. Fuller, Murphy, and Cain—Some Reflections, +Etc., Etc.</i></p></blockquote> + +<p>"Since our last issue we have obtained full particulars +of the most thrilling railroad adventure that ever +occurred on the American continent, as well as the +mightiest and most important in its results, if successful, +that has been conceived by the Lincoln government +since the commencement of this war. Nothing on so +grand a scale has been attempted, and nothing within +the range of possibility could be conceived that would +fall with such a tremendous, crushing force upon us as +the accomplishment of the plans which were concocted +and dependent upon the execution of the one whose +history we now proceed to narrate.</p> + +<p>"Its <i>reality</i>—<i>what was actually done</i>—excels all the +extravagant <i>conceptions</i> of the Arrowsmith hoax, which +fiction created such a profound sensation in Europe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span></p> + +<p>"To make the matter more complete and intelligible, +we will take our readers over the same history of the +case we related in our last, the main features of which +are correct, but lacking in details which have since +come to hand.</p> + +<p>"We will begin at the breakfast-table of the Big +Shanty Hotel at Camp McDonald, where several regiments +of soldiers are now encamped. The morning +mail and passenger train had left here at four <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> on +last Saturday morning as usual, and had stopped there +for breakfast. The conductor, William A. Fuller, the +engineer, J. Cain,—both of this city,—and the passengers +were at the table, when the eight men, having uncoupled +the engine and three empty box-cars next to it +from the passenger and baggage-cars, mounted the engine, +pulled open the valve, put on all steam, and left +conductor, engineer, passengers, spectators, and the soldiers +in the camp hard by, all lost in amazement, and +dumbfounded at the strange, startling, and daring act.</p> + +<p>"This unheard-of act was doubtless undertaken at +that time and place upon the presumption that pursuit +could not be made by an engine short of Kingston, +some thirty miles above, or from this place; and by +cutting down the telegraph wires as they proceeded the +adventurers could calculate on at least three or four +hours the start of any pursuit it was reasonable to expect. +This was a legitimate conclusion, and but for +the will, energy, and quick good judgment of Mr. Fuller +and Mr. Cain, and Mr. Anthony Murphy, the intelligent +and practical foreman of the wood department +of the State Road shop, who accidentally went on the +train from this place that morning, their calculations +would have worked out as originally contemplated, and +the results would have been obtained long ere this +reaches the eyes of our readers,—the most terrible to +us of any we can conceive as possible, and unequalled +by anything attempted or conceived since this war commenced.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now for the chase!"</p> + +<p>[The account, which fills a whole page of the paper, +is omitted, as it differs in no essential particular from +that given in the foregoing pages. In concluding, the +editor gives his estimate of the purpose and magnitude +of the expedition.]</p> + +<p>"We do not know what Governor Brown will do in +this case, or what is his custom in such matters, but, if +such a thing is admissible, we insist on Fuller and +Murphy being promoted to the highest honors on the +road,—if not by actually giving them the highest position, +at least let them be promoted by <i>brevet</i>. Certainly +their indomitable energy and quick correct +judgment and decision in the many difficult contingencies +connected with this unheard-of emergency has +saved all the railroad bridges above Ringgold from +being burned; the most daring scheme that this revolution +has developed has been thwarted, and the tremendous +results, which, if successful, can scarcely be +imagined, much less described, have been averted. +Had they succeeded in burning the bridges, the enemy +at Huntsville would have occupied Chattanooga before +Sunday night. Yesterday they would have been in +Knoxville, and thus had possession of all East Tennessee. +Our forces at Knoxville, Greenville, and Cumberland +Gap would ere this have been in the hands of +the enemy. Lynchburg, Virginia, would have been +moved upon at once. This would have given them +possession of the valley of Virginia, and Stonewall +Jackson would have been attacked in the rear. They +would have had possession of the railroad leading to +Charlottesville and Orange Court-House, as well as the +South Side Railroad leading to Petersburg and Richmond. +They might have been able to unite with McClellan's +forces and attack Joe Johnston's army front +and flank. It is not by any means improbable that +our army in Virginia would have been defeated, captured, +or driven out of the State this week.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then reinforcements from all the eastern and southeastern +portion of the country would have been cut off +from Beauregard. The enemy have Huntsville now, +and with all these designs accomplished his army would +have been effectually flanked. The mind and heart +shrink back appalled at the bare contemplation of the +awful consequences which would have followed the +success of this one act. When Fuller, Murphy, and +Cain started from Big Shanty <i>on foot to catch that fugitive +engine</i>, they were involuntarily laughed at by the +crowd, serious as the matter was,—and to most observers +it was indeed most ludicrous; but <i>that foot-race +saved us</i>, and prevented the consummation of all these +tremendous consequences.</p> + +<p>"We doubt if the victory of Manassas or Corinth +were worth as much to us as the frustration of this +grand <i>coup d'état</i>. It is not by any means certain that +the annihilation of Beauregard's whole army at Corinth +would be so fatal a blow to us as would have been the +burning of the bridges at that time and by these men.</p> + +<p>"When we learned by a private telegraph dispatch +a few days ago that the Yankees had taken Huntsville, +we attached no great importance to it. We regarded +it merely as a dashing foray of a small party to destroy +property, tear up the road, etc., <i>à la</i> Morgan. When +an additional telegram announced the force there to be +from seventeen to twenty thousand, we were inclined to +doubt it,—though coming from a perfectly upright and +honorable gentleman, who would not be likely to seize +upon a wild report to send here to his friends. The +coming to that point with a large force, where they +would be flanked on either side by our army, we regarded +as a most stupid and unmilitary act. We now +understand it all. They were to move upon Chattanooga +and Knoxville as soon as the bridges were burnt, +and press on into Virginia as far as possible, and take +all our forces in that State in the rear. It was all the +deepest-laid scheme, and on the grandest scale, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span> +ever emanated from the brains of any number of Yankees +combined. It was one, also, that was entirely +practicable for almost any day for the last year. There +were but two miscalculations in the whole programme: +they did not expect men to start out afoot to pursue +them, and they did not expect these pursuers on foot +to find Major Cooper's old 'Yonah' standing there +already fired up. Their calculations on every other +point were dead certainties.</p> + +<p>"This would have eclipsed anything Captain Morgan +ever attempted. To think of a parcel of Federal +soldiers—officers and privates—coming down into the +heart of the Confederate States,—for they were here in +Atlanta and at Marietta (some of them got on the train +at Marietta that morning, and others were at Big +Shanty); of playing such a serious game on the State +road, which is under the control of our prompt, energetic, +and sagacious governor, known as such all over +America; to seize the passenger train on his road, right +at Camp McDonald, where he has a number of Georgia +regiments encamped, and run off with it; to burn the +bridges on the same road, and go safely through to the +Federal lines,—all this would have been a feather in +the cap of the man or men who executed it."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span></p> +<h2>No. III.</h2> + +<h3>A FRENCHMAN'S VIEW OE THE CHATTANOOGA RAILROAD +EXPEDITION.</h3> + + +<p>The following extract from the "History of the +Civil War in America," by the Comte de Paris (vol. +ii. pp. 187, 188), is suggestive and characteristic, +though erroneous in many particulars. The numbers +of those who escaped and of those who perished are reversed, +and the cause assigned for the failure of the expedition +is purely imaginary; but the local coloring is +exquisite:</p> + +<p>"Among the expeditions undertaken by Mitchel's +soldiers at this period, we must mention one which, +despite its tragic termination, shows what a small band +of daring men could attempt in America; it will give +an idea of the peculiar kind of warfare which served as +an interlude to the regular campaigns of large armies. +An individual named Andrews, employed in the secret +service of Buell, and twenty-two soldiers selected by +him, went to Chattanooga under different disguises, +and thence to Marietta, in Georgia, which had been +assigned them as a place of rendezvous, and which was +situated in the very centre of the enemy's country. +Once assembled, they got on board a train of cars +loaded with Confederate troops and ammunition. During +the trip this train stopped, as usual, near a lonely +tavern close to the track; everybody got out, and both +engineer and fireman went quietly to breakfast. Andrews +took advantage of their absence to jump upon the +locomotive, which was detached by his men, with three +cars, from the rest of the train; they started off at full +speed, leaving their fellow-travellers in a state of stupefaction. +At the stations where they stopped they quietly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span> +answered that they were carrying powder to Beauregard's +army. Presently they began the work of destruction +which they had projected; they cut the telegraph +wires, tore up the rails behind them, and proceeded to +fire the bridges which they reached on their way to +Chattanooga. They hoped to arrive at that city before +the news of their expedition had spread abroad, to pass +rapidly through it, and join Mitchel at Huntsville. +But it was necessary to avoid the trains running in the +opposite direction. One of these trains, which they +had just passed on the way, after exchanging the most +satisfactory explanations, reached an embankment, +where Andrews had torn up the rails and made every +preparation to throw the cars off the track. The conductor +discovered the trap in time, and backed his engine +instantly, in order to overtake those who laid it. +At his approach the Federals made off in great haste, +throwing out of the cars everything that could embarrass +their flight. They at first got a little ahead, and +the few occupants of log huts lying contiguous to the +railway track looked on without understanding this +strange pursuit. But, being short of fuel, they soon +began to lose ground; they could not stop long enough +to tear up rails; they tried in vain to keep up the fire +of their engine; they were about to be overtaken; their +oil had given out; the axle-boxes were melted by the +friction. The game was lost; they stopped the engine +and rushed into the woods, where they hoped to conceal +themselves. Meanwhile, the telegraph had everywhere +announced their presence, and the entire population +started in pursuit. A regular hunt was organized +in these vast forests, and Andrews was captured with +all his men. The majority of them were shut up in +narrow iron cages and publicly exhibited at Knoxville, +to intimidate the Union men, after which fifteen of +them were hung; the remaining eight were spared, and +had the good fortune to survive and relate their strange +adventures."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span></p> +<h2>No. IV.</h2> + +<h3>OLD SCENES REVISITED.</h3> + + +<p>Nearly twenty years after the events narrated in the +preceding pages the writer passed over the same ground +again. Many of the prisons in which he had been confined +were no more. In some cases even their sites +had been so changed by the altering and grading of +streets as to be undiscoverable. But the railroad from +Chattanooga to Atlanta continued to be one of the most +important in the whole South, and the memory of the +captured train and the stirring events connected with +it had become a cherished local tradition. The principal +pursuers were also found, some of them being still +in the employ of the same railroad, and others located +in Atlanta. From these former enemies nothing but +kindness was experienced. The very locomotive which +had been captured was repaired and continued in use, +the writer having the pleasure of once more riding over +the road on a train drawn by it. The same stations +were passed. Many of the smaller towns were externally +almost unchanged. Yet everywhere there was +a new atmosphere. War and slavery had vanished, +and the enterprises of peace were in the ascendant. +Chattanooga and Atlanta displayed wonderful improvement, +having become like Northern towns in the rush +of their business and the character of their population,—the +latter city, however, to a less degree than the +former.</p> + +<p>But a still deeper and more melancholy interest was +felt in seeking for the bodies of those who had perished +so tragically in Atlanta while rebellion was still in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span> +plenitude of its power. Of the grave of Andrews, +himself, no trace could be found. Many old citizens +could point out the spot where his scaffold had been +erected, and near which he had been buried. But that +portion of the town had been entirely burnt by Sherman, +and when rebuilt the streets had been raised to a +higher level and rearranged, so that the precise location +of the grave is probably forever lost.</p> + +<p>The scaffold of the seven soldiers was erected in a +little wood directly east of the Atlanta city cemetery, +about an acre of ground being cleared for that purpose. +On this spot, which is now included within the bounds +of the cemetery, the terrible tragedy took place. The +heart of the writer was almost overwhelmed as he stood +there on a peaceful Sabbath afternoon and brought back +in recollection that hour of horror! When the work +of death was completed the bodies were placed side by +side in a wide trench at the foot of the scaffold and +covered over. So profound was the impression made +by their heroism that the place of burial could not be +forgotten, and was often visited by sympathizing friends +even during the continuance of the war. But this rude +grave is now empty, and for a time the writer could +not ascertain what disposition had been made of its contents. +An old man formerly connected with the cemetery +at length supplied the information that the bodies +had been removed, not to the Federal cemetery at +Marietta, as had been first conjectured, but to the more +distant and larger one at Chattanooga. Here, in probably +the most beautiful of all the National cemeteries, +the graves were found. In Section H, placed in the +open space about the centre, which is usually assigned +to commissioned officers, the seven heroes have obtained +a final resting-place. There is a headstone, with name +and rank, at each grave, and the seven are arranged in +the form of a semicircle. This part of the cemetery +overlooks a long stretch of the Georgia State Railroad, +the great prize they struggled to seize for their country<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span> +and thus lost their lives. From this spot the frequent +trains are distinctly visible. Watched by the mountains +and undisturbed by the passing tide of human +activity, they rest here as peacefully as if death had +stolen upon them in the midst of friends at home instead +of rushing down amid the gloom and horror of +that memorable Atlanta scaffold.</p> + +<div class='center'>THE END.</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> + +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>High-resolution images of the photos can be accessed by clicking on them.</p> + +<p>Hyphen removed: thunder[-]bolt (page 243), look[-]out (page 277).</p> + +<p>List of Illustrations: For illustration 13, "260" changed to "290".</p> + +<p>Page 220: "Knoxvile" changed to "Knoxville" (than that at Knoxville).</p> + +<p>Page 248: "predecesssor" changed to "predecessor" (handed over to me by my +predecessor).</p> + +<p>Page 290: Page number restored in the caption of the illustration.</p> + +<p>Page 324: "examing" changed to "examining" (The examining officer).</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Capturing a Locomotive, by William Pittenger + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE *** + +***** This file should be named 36752-h.htm or 36752-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/5/36752/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Capturing a Locomotive + A History of Secret Service in the Late War. + +Author: William Pittenger + +Release Date: July 17, 2011 [EBook #36752] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + +CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE + +[Illustration: A RAILROAD CHASE. +_Frontispiece._] + + + + + CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE: + + A HISTORY + OF + SECRET SERVICE + IN THE LATE WAR. + + BY + REV. WILLIAM PITTENGER. + + "Storm'd at with shot and shell, + Boldly they rode and well; + Into the jaws of death, + Into the mouth of hell, + Rode the six hundred. + + * * * * * + + "They that had fought so well + Came through the jaws of death + Back from the mouth of hell, + All that was left of them-- + Left of six hundred." + TENNYSON'S _Charge of the Light Brigade_. + + WASHINGTON: + THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. + 1885. + + + + +Copyright, 1881, by REV. WILLIAM PITTENGER. + + + + + TO + THE SURVIVING COMRADES + OF THE + CHATTANOOGA RAILROAD EXPEDITION, + AND TO + THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THE + SAME ADVENTURE, + + =This Record of their Daring and Suffering= + + IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. + + + + +NAMES OF THE ADVENTURERS. + +EXECUTED. + + J. J. ANDREWS, _Leader_ Citizen of Kentucky. + WILLIAM CAMPBELL Citizen of Kentucky. + GEORGE D. WILSON Co. B, Second Reg't Ohio Vols. + MARION A. ROSS Co. A, Second Reg't Ohio Vols. + PERRY G. SHADRACK Co. K, Second Reg't Ohio Vols. + SAMUEL SLAVENS Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + SAMUEL ROBINSON Co. G, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + JOHN SCOTT Co. K, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + +ESCAPED IN OCTOBER. + + W. W. BROWN[1] (_Engineer_) Co. F, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + WILLIAM KNIGHT[2] Co. E, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + J. R. PORTER[3] Co. C, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + MARK WOOD[4] Co. C, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + J. A. WILSON[5] Co. C, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + M. J. HAWKINS[6] Co. A, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + JOHN WOLLAM[7] Co. C, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + D. A. DORSEY[8] Co. H, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + +EXCHANGED IN MARCH. + + JACOB PARROT[9] Co. K, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + ROBERT BUFFUM[10] Co. H, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + WILLIAM BENSINGER[11] Co. G, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + WILLIAM REDDICK[12] Co. B, Thirty-third Reg't Ohio Vols. + E. H. MASON[13] Co. K, Twenty-first Reg't Ohio Vols. + WILLIAM PITTENGER[14] Co. G, Second Reg't Ohio Vols. + + +RESIDENCES IN 1881. + + [1] Perrysburg, Ohio. + [2] Minnesota. + [3] Carlisle, Arkansas. + [4] Dead. + [5] Hoskins, Wood County, Ohio. + [6] Topeka, Kansas. + [7] Unknown. + [8] Jefferson, Wisconsin. + [9] Kenton, Ohio. + [10] Dead. + [11] McCombs, Hancock County, Ohio. + [12] Unknown. + [13] Unknown. + [14] Woodbury, N. J. A member of the New Jersey Conference + of the Methodist Episcopal Church. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +War has a secret as well as a public story. Marches and battles are open +to the popular gaze; but enterprises of another class are in their very +nature secret, and these are scarcely less important and often much more +interesting than the former. The work of spies and scouts, the +enterprises that reach beyond the lines of an army for the purpose of +surprise, the councils of officers, the intrigues by means of which +great results often flow from apparently insignificant causes, and all +the experiences of hospitals and prisons,--these usually fill but a +small place on the historian's page, though they are often of romantic +interest, and not unfrequently decide the course and fate of armies. The +enterprise described in these pages possesses all the unity of a drama, +from the first plunge of the actors into the heart of the enemy's +country, through all their adventures and changing fortunes, until the +few survivors stood once more under the old flag! No single story of the +war combines so many of the hidden, underground elements of the contest +against rebellion as this. Disguise and secrecy, the perils of a forlorn +hope, the exultation of almost miraculous success, the sufferings of +prisoners, and the gloom of despair are all mingled in a varied and +instructive war-picture. + +In telling the story all fictitious embellishments have been rejected. +No pains have been spared to ascertain the exact truth, and the reader +will find names, dates, and localities so fully given that it will be +easy to verify the prominent features of the account. + +In narrating those events which fell under his own eye, the writer has +waived all scruples of delicacy, and used the first personal pronoun. +This is far more simple and direct, while an opposite course would have +savored of affectation. + +This is not a revision or new edition of the little volume published by +the present writer during the rebellion. DARING AND SUFFERING, like a +number of similar sketches published in newspapers, magazines, and +pamphlets, was a hasty narrative of personal adventure, and made no +pretence of completeness. CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE is broader and more +historic; a large amount of valuable material is now employed for the +first time; and the story is approached in an entirely different manner. +No paragraph of the old book is copied into the new. + + WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY January, 1882. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I.--A SECRET MILITARY EXPEDITION 9 + II.--MIDNIGHT CONSULTATION 27 + III.--COMPANIONS AND INCIDENTS 36 + IV.--A LOCOMOTIVE AND TRAIN CAPTURED 65 + V.--UNFORESEEN HINDRANCES 75 + VI.--A TERRIBLE RAILROAD CHASE 93 + VII.--A NIGHT IN THE WOODS 120 + VIII.--IN THE ENEMY'S POWER 136 + IX.--OTHER CAPTURES 153 + X.--A HORRIBLE PRISON 170 + XI.--LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF PRISON 182 + XII.--THE FIRST TRAGEDY 197 + XIII.--A CONFEDERATE COURT-MARTIAL 205 + XIV.--THE CROWNING HORROR 221 + XV.--PRISON RELIGION 228 + XVI.--LIBERTY OR DEATH? 244 + XVII.--ROMANTIC ESCAPES 262 + XVIII.--FROM ATLANTA TO THE GULF 274 + XIX.--FROM ATLANTA TO RICHMOND 293 + XX.--LIBBY AND CASTLE THUNDER 308 + XXI.--SICKNESS AND LIBERTY 326 + + APPENDIX: + No. I.--EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL + HOLT TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR 341 + No. II.--A SOUTHERN ESTIMATE 345 + No. III.--A FRENCHMAN'S VIEW OF THE CHATTANOOGA + RAILROAD EXPEDITION 350 + No. IV.--OLD SCENES REVISITED 352 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + PAGE + 1. The Chase _Frontispiece._ + 2. GENERAL O. M. MITCHEL 11 + 3. MIDNIGHT CONSULTATION 32 + 4. WILLIAM PITTENGER 42 + 5. MAP OF CHATTANOOGA AND ITS RAILROAD CONNECTIONS 58 + 6. CAPTURE OF A TRAIN 71 + 7. WILLIAM A. FULLER 87 + 8. D. A. DORSEY 156 + 9. A TERRIBLE DESCENT 172 + 10. LIBERTY OR DEATH! 255 + 11. W. W. BROWN 264 + 12. DORSEY AND HAWKINS IN THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS 272 + 13. SAVED AT SEA 290 + + + + + +CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A SECRET MILITARY EXPEDITION. + + +As the writer looked up from the manuscript page on a warm March +afternoon of 1862, a very busy, and occasionally an amusing scene was +presented. I was seated on a gentle, wooded slope which led down to the +clear and quiet stream of Stone River, in Tennessee. Not being at that +time "on duty," I had strolled away from the tents which whitened the +level fields above, and was passing an hour in the pleasant task of +preparing "war correspondence" for the _Steubenville Herald_. Now and +then I lifted my eyes to watch the work in progress a few yards farther +down the stream. A large bridge, burned by the enemy on their retreat a +few weeks before, was now being rapidly repaired, or rather rebuilt. The +chief director of the work was General O. M. Mitchel, of astronomical +fame, in whose division I then served. He was in every respect an able +officer, and understood the construction of railroad bridges as well as +observing the stars, or moulding raw recruits into veteran soldiers. But +all his skill and science did not save him from becoming a little +ridiculous at times. The Union soldier found no difficulty in loving his +commander and laughing at him at the same instant. General Mitchel was +now most impatient to complete this bridge, and thus maintain a +northern line of communication, while he penetrated farther into the +South. Being now, for the first time, possessed of an independent +command, he wished to signalize himself by some great blow struck at the +most vulnerable point in the enemy's line. He could, therefore, scarcely +endure the necessary delay caused by burnt bridges, and worked like a +beaver, and chafed and fretted, and caused the men of his command to +perform more hard labor than was agreeable. As I saw him running from +place to place, urging on the idlers, and taking hold of any piece of +work that presented itself as if he had been a common laborer, shouting +and scolding, but always knowing just what ought to be done, and making +surprising progress, I could not help admiring the man, even while I +laughed at some exhibitions of superfluous zeal. Mitchel's scientific +education, his practical experience, and his inventive genius stood him +in good stead, as was proved by the rapid growth of the bridge before +me. The soldiers almost idolized their skilful and zealous commander, +but this did not deprive them of the soldier's privilege of grumbling +without stint at his restless activity. He was to be found along the +guard lines at almost any hour of the night, and woe to the sleepy +sentinel who failed to give the proper challenge or to "turn out" +promptly. No severe punishments had yet been inflicted, but some of the +indolent had been terribly frightened, and were accustomed to declare +that "Old Mitchel" had been watching the stars so long that he could not +sleep at night himself, and was not willing that anybody else should! +But the discipline of the troops steadily improved, and the hearty +commendation of their commander, who knew how to praise as well as +blame, made amends for seeming harshness. + +[Illustration: GENERAL O. M. MITCHELL. +(From Harper's Magazine.) +Page 11.] + +As I watched the working-parties, my attention was attracted to one +strong-looking soldier who was obviously shirking. Before many minutes +General Mitchel saw him too. The man pretended to lift and work, +while really doing nothing, and thus became a great hindrance, for his +example was contagious. Stealthily the general stole towards him, and +when I saw him take a piece of rotten wood in his hand I looked for a +scene. It came. He dealt the idler a sudden blow that covered him all +over with rotten wood, and nearly took him from his feet, but did him no +real injury. The fellow turned furiously to avenge himself on his +assailant, but stood abashed when he saw the face of his commander, and +heard the exclamation, "Go to work, you lazy rascal!" The spectators +enjoyed the man's look of blank amazement greatly, and the work went +forward more promptly than ever. But in a few moments the tables were +turned. Large framed masses of timber were first floated near the +position they were to occupy in the bridge, at the end of the +trestle-work, and then, with ropes and pulleys, were slowly and +painfully hoisted into place. One of these was approaching the +perpendicular, and the general, in his eagerness, ran to the end of a +log, which extended over the water, and began to encourage the laborers +by loud cries of, "Heave, O! heave, O!" as they pulled at the ropes. +Another party of workmen passed by the shore end of the log on which +Mitchel stood, carrying a load of timber. Just as they reached the +log,--the lazy man among them, now lifting as much as any other,--I +could not see just how it was done, but probably by a quick motion of +the foot, the general's log was turned so suddenly that he had no choice +but to plunge in the water. I expected a fearful explosion of +indignation, and perhaps the summoning of a guard to arrest the +offender, but was greatly surprised to see Mitchel, as soon as the +splash enabled me to see at all, stand up in the water, which was not +more than two feet deep, and without even turning towards the shore, +continue calling, "Heave, O! heave, O!" as vigorously as ever. There was +some laughing, but the soldiers had great respect for such coolness and +presence of mind. The general made no effort to discover the author of +his sudden immersion, though he must have known that it was not +accidental. "'Old Stars' can take a joke," was the approving remark of a +soldier close to my side. + +I had just finished reading to a friend the newspaper article I had been +writing, when Captain Mitchel, a distant relative of the general's, and +commander of one of the companies in the Second Ohio Regiment,--the +regiment in which I served,--came and sat down by me, and asked what +news I had been writing to the papers. This was always a matter of great +interest to the officers and soldiers of our volunteer armies, for the +public letter served to give the families at home a great deal of news, +and thus to fill out the accounts conveyed by private letters. I read +the sketch over to him, and it suggested a general conversation on the +prospects of the war. These we regarded as eminently favorable. +McClellan was about to move towards Richmond with an overwhelming force, +and we expected him to easily capture the rebel capital. Buell, who had +been with us in our march through Kentucky, had gone Southwest to join +Grant. That they would, when united, be able to drive the enemy far down +the Mississippi, even if they did not open that river to the Gulf, +seemed equally sure. But where were we going, that we, with only ten +thousand men and an adventurous general, were being hurried Southeast? +There was no enemy in our front now, but we could not continue to march +in that direction very long without finding foes enough. We were +striking directly between the great armies of the Rebellion, and, if we +went on far enough, would totally sever their connection. At this point +in the conversation Mitchel exhibited some constraint, as if afraid of +saying too much. I declared my own opinion, which I shared with the +greater part of the army, that we were bound for Chattanooga, and +possibly for Atlanta, but that the rebels would be sure to run in heavy +bodies of troops by rail, and give us all the fighting we wanted before +reaching even the former place. + +"Possibly they may," said Mitchel; "but there are ways of looking out +for that." + +"How?" I asked, with interest, for I knew that he was usually well +informed and very intelligent. + +He smiled, and said that "I might find out some time." + +His manner, much more than his words, piqued my curiosity. Besides, +there was another matter I had resolved to question him about at the +first opportunity. A few days before several of the best soldiers of our +regiment had suddenly disappeared. Four of the missing men were from the +company to which I belonged, and two others from Mitchel's company. They +had been seen in close and apparently confidential conversation with the +regimental officers, and then, without any leave-taking, were gone! No +one of the private soldiers could tell anything about their destination. +In a moment the hints of Mitchel connected themselves, in my mind, with +the absence of these men. Had not some secret enterprise been set on +foot in which they were engaged? If there was any such scheme, I would +like to find it out, and, if still possible, take a part in it. In +addition to this motive for curiosity, one of the absent men was a young +cousin of mine, in whose welfare I was deeply interested. + +"Mitchel," I said, turning sharply on him, "I understand that Frank +Mills and those other men have been sent into the enemy's lines to +perform some important and dangerous service. I want you to tell me all +about it." + +As soon as I uttered the words I knew I was right. Mitchel was silent +for a moment, and then asked who had told me so much. + +"No matter about that," I returned. "You can trust me fully. Tell me +what you know." + +"I will," he answered, "for I am anxious about the boys myself, and +want to talk the matter over with some friend. I am not sure that we did +right in letting them go." + +Rising, we strolled up the stream until we reached a solitary place far +away from the bridge and the noisy workmen. Then getting a seat on a +large rock, I listened to Captain Mitchel's story. This conversation is +one of the most important epochs of my life. So strange and romantic +were the particulars to which I listened, that it was difficult at first +to give them perfect credence. + +Said Mitchel, "Do you remember a Mr. Andrews, a Kentuckian, who was +about our camp last fall?" + +At first I did not, but a moment after, I recollected seeing a +fine-looking, well-dressed man standing on the street-corner in the town +of Prestonburg, up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. He held +carelessly on his arm a beautiful Winchester rifle, which I, in common +with many others, had examined with great admiration. I therefore +answered Mitchel's question in the affirmative, though I thought he was +beginning rather far away from the subject in hand. He continued,-- + +"Some of you maintained that he was a rebel citizen, and possibly a spy, +who was only pretending to be a unionist because our army was at hand." + +I said that such had been my own opinion when I first saw him, for he +was the very ideal of a magnificent Southern gentleman, but that I had +afterwards learned that though he was a spy and secret agent, it was on +the Union side, and that he was high in the confidence of our officers, +adding that I had seen the same man in our camp again, but had not +spoken to him after the first occasion. + +"Well," continued Mitchel, "he was, and is, a spy, and has been of great +service to us. But I sometimes fear that we may have trusted him a +little too far. Our boys are now in Georgia with him." + +I sprang up from my seat. This was startling news. It had, indeed, been +asserted by the camp-fires--where all events are discussed, and where +conjectures too often pass for facts--that the missing men had turned +spies, but I had scouted the idea. I thought that at most they might +have been sent on ahead of us a short distance, to seize some important +post in connection with similar details from other regiments, and +supported by cavalry. But we were a hundred and fifty miles from the +nearest point of the Georgian State line. + +I looked at my companion in astonishment, and exclaimed, "What on earth +are they doing in Georgia?" + +"Andrews has taken them there," he said, "disguised as Southern +citizens, with the intention of capturing a railroad train. He has also +engaged a Southern man, who is an engineer on the same railroad, to run +their locomotive, and when they get their train they will start for our +line and burn every bridge they pass over. They will cut all the +telegraph wires, and thus leave the enemy in helpless rage behind them." + +My imagination took fire at the picture his few words had sketched. A +train surprised by a handful of bold men in the heart of the enemy's +territory; the passengers and train hands forced to get out under threat +of instant death, and possibly a desperate fight before this was +accomplished; then the wires cut, so that no lightning message could be +flashed ahead; the secret confederate--whom there might be a show of +compelling by force to mount the engine--set to his work; the train +rushing on its way through a hostile country, past the towns and camps +of the enemy, but rendered secure by the two elements of surprise and +speed; the great bridges (like those at Green and Stone Rivers and other +places, which had cost us weary delays and hard work in repairing),--all +these bursting into flames as they were passed, and possibly other +damage done before the daring adventurers returned in triumph to our own +lines. I knew enough of war to understand, at a glance, the great +military importance of thus severing railroad communications, for had I +not seen our whole division brought to a halt, and General Mitchel +rendered almost furious with impatience over a single burnt bridge? +Besides, it required no particular insight to reveal the immense moral +effect upon an enemy of such a bold stroke far in the centre of his +territory. It would tend to diffuse distrust and fear through all the +rebel armies if they were thus made to feel that no place in their whole +country was safe from the presence and the blows of a daring adversary. + +"Well, what do you think of it?" said Mitchel, as he saw my +preoccupation. + +"Why, it is the grandest thing I ever heard of!" was my enthusiastic +reply. "I wish I was with them. But do you think that spy can be +trusted? Spies are all the time betraying the confidence of one party or +the other, and if he should be false to us, he has the lives of our boys +in his hands. I have heard that he has been over the lines several +times, and if he has been a secret rebel all the while, it would be a +nice stroke of business for him to lead down a party of our best men and +deliver them to the rebels." + +"I have no fear of the fidelity of Andrews," said Mitchel. "He has been +too well proved. But I am not so sure that he will be able to carry +through all that he has undertaken, or that our boys can preserve their +disguise until they reach the right point and are ready for the blow. If +they should be detected while pretending to be rebels, it is not at all +unlikely that they will be treated as spies and hung up. I wish they +were back in camp again. But if they get through all right and burn the +bridges, we will make for Chattanooga as fast as our legs can carry us. +This is one of the reasons that makes the general so anxious to have +that bridge done. If we should hear to-morrow, as we may at any moment, +that those Southern bridges are smashed, it would be a race for +Chattanooga with all the odds in our favor. But you must not breathe a +word of this to one of the soldiers, or especially write of it to the +papers, or to any of the relatives of the poor fellows, till they are +back with us,--if they ever come back! Give me your candid opinion, was +it right to let them take such a risk?" + +Without the slightest hesitation I declared that it was right, giving +the reasons that seemed most weighty. War is full of risks. In an +obscure skirmish, or by a chance shot from the picket-line, the most +valuable life may be put out. Now, if by a little additional risk a few +men can do the work of thousands,--the work that if done in the ordinary +mode would certainly cost a score times as many lives as are +imperilled,--the risk is worth taking. Of course, it would not be right +to send men on such an enterprise without their consent, but in the +Union army it was never necessary to force men into any dangerous +enterprise. Volunteers were always plenty enough. + +I asked, further, how many men were engaged, and learned with additional +astonishment that the detachment from our own regiment--only eight +men--was all. This force seemed totally inadequate to the greatness of +the work, but I understood that the risk of detection would multiply +with the increase of numbers. The very smallest number that could serve +was, therefore, selected. If they succeeded, few were better than many. + +After a long conversation, Mitchel and I returned to the working-party +down the river. The burnt remnants of the old railroad bridge and the +rapidly rising timbers of the new had now a deeper interest than ever. +The completion of this bridge and the burning of some others far in the +South were the two events for which that whole division, whose tents +dotted the meadows behind us, was unconsciously waiting. My head was +full of conjectures and plans as I walked back through the twilight to +join my messmates in the tent. I could talk to no one of what I had +heard, but as I lay awake that night a most important resolution took +shape. I was weary of the slow movement of the army, and of the monotony +of a private soldier's service. While trying carefully to do all my +duty, and winning a fair degree of approval from my officers, I yet had +no taste for military affairs. If by a little extra hazard I could do +more for the country, while getting rid of distasteful routine and +entering into a new sphere of work, I was more than willing to accept +all the hazard involved. It was too late to take part in the present +attempt, but I resolved to be prepared for any opportunity of the kind +that might again offer. + +Accordingly, in the forenoon of the next day I went up to regimental +headquarters and told Colonel L. A. Harris, of the Second Ohio, that I +had a favor to ask of him. Major (since General) Anson G. McCook, in +whose company I had served during the first three months of the war, was +also present. I told them I had ascertained that some of our men had +been sent out on secret service lately, and that if any similar details +should be made in the future, I wanted the opportunity of being +included. Major McCook, while saying some kind things about me, +intimated a doubt whether my defective vision--I was very +near-sighted--might not be a hindrance on any perilous service. Colonel +Harris, however, took a different view of the matter, saying he thought +that if I dressed in citizen's clothes, and wore my spectacles (as I was +accustomed to do even in the ranks), no person in the South would +suspect me of being a soldier, and I was thus only the better fitted for +any secret service. McCook did not press his objection, and after +learning the reason for my request and trying in vain to find the source +of my information, Colonel Harris said,-- + +"Pittenger, I don't know that we will ever send any more men out of camp +in this manner, but I will give my promise that if we do, you shall be +the first man called upon." + +This was perfectly satisfactory. I returned to my duty, and in the +routine of camp-life waited for several days in impatient anxiety. I +dreamed at night of burning bridges and startling adventures. Duty on +picket and in the camp lines, however, with other excitements, began to +weaken the impression, as day after day rolled by with no recurrence of +the subject. But one day it was told me by a friend that one of the +missing men, a member of Company C, was back again in his usual place in +line. For some time attempts to get him to say where he had been, and +whether alone or in company, were in vain. He would speak no word by +which any one could divine the nature of his errand while away from us, +or the degree of success he had met with. I was much disquieted by his +return alone, but having no special acquaintance, I did not like to try +to get any information directly from him. But I soon learned that he had +gone as far as Chattanooga and had turned back,--some of his comrades +afterwards thought because he became so sensible of the difficulties of +his attempt that he resolved to go no further in it,--a determination +which he had a perfect right to make, and which in no way impugned his +character as a soldier. His own explanation, afterwards given, which I +saw no reason to doubt, was more dramatic. He said that he had gone in +disguise as far as Chattanooga, but had there been recognized by a rebel +soldier, who was an old acquaintance, and who knew that he belonged to +the Union army. This man heard him telling his false story in a public +place without contradicting him, but as soon as he could do so +unobserved, drew him aside and declared that he remembered him, and knew +he was down there disguised for some bad purpose; but that if he would +pledge himself to return immediately to the Union lines, he would, for +the sake of their former friendship, refrain from denouncing him, +otherwise his own sense of duty would require him to report all he knew +to the commander of the post. Under such circumstances our comrade +judged it most prudent to give and keep the pledge required. + +At length the bridge over Stone River was completed, and there was great +rejoicing as the first train, laden with army supplies, passed over it +from Nashville. Next morning the order was given to the whole division +to prepare three days' rations. This was invariably the signal for a +decided movement. Our lost comrades were still away, and no word had +reached the rank and file of the army of any unusual occurrence +southward. The uneasiness of General Mitchel and the regimental officers +of the Second Ohio, and especially of Captain Sarratt, who commanded the +company to which I belonged, and my friend, Captain Mitchel, was +apparent to any careful observer. + +Just before the march began, while we were standing in line early the +next morning, with the camp all broken up, our knapsacks swung, and our +haversacks filled with rations, waiting only for the word "forward," +Captain Mitchel came over to me and uttered a sentence, in a half +whisper, that went through me like an electric shock. His message was +simply this: "Mills is back, and has gone up to headquarters to report." +While standing in my place in the ranks I could give no answer, nor +could I ask any question, but my mind was full of surmises. Had the +adventurers succeeded, and were we now on our way to do our part in the +great plan,--to strike swift and far into the South, while the enemy's +communications were broken? That would involve hard fighting and +stirring scenes not far ahead. Had they failed? If so, there would +probably be other attempts,--that is, if the secret had been kept,--and +then I would have a part in the risk and the adventure. At any rate, I +was exceeding glad of Mills's return, and I knew that I would find out +all about it as soon as I could get to talk with him alone. As Company +K--Mitchel's--was next my own in the line, that opportunity, even on the +march, would not be long delayed. + +Soon the command to march was given, and the column moved southward +towards Shelbyville, about twenty-five miles distant. Before noon I +dropped out of my place, sought and found Mills, and as we plodded +along, in the loose order allowed on long marches, we had no difficulty +in remaining together, and yet far enough from other soldiers to talk in +perfect security. The whole history of my relative's adventures was +fully laid open before me. I found that all Mitchel had narrated was +perfectly accurate, but the enormous obstacles to be encountered by such +an expedition were now brought much more plainly into view. Mills said +that he and his companions had first of all exchanged their uniforms for +citizen's clothes, and made provision for the safety of their arms and +personal effects in the camp. Then, under the direction of Andrews, they +had scattered in the mountains, to the eastward of our camp, +representing themselves as refugees from the oppressions of the Union +troops in Kentucky, and had journeyed thus to Chattanooga. That town had +been reached in about four days. My friend pictured in lively colors the +manner in which he had been compelled to verbally abuse the Union cause, +and join in praise of the leaders and principles of Secession. The squad +to which he belonged had no particular difficulty in passing themselves +as good rebels. The man who first returned had been less fortunate. At +Chattanooga they took passage on the cars for Atlanta, and in due time +reached that place, where they scattered themselves among the several +hotels and lived plentifully (they had an abundant supply of money) for +three days longer. Each hour Andrews anticipated the arrival of that +Confederate engineer of whom Mitchel had spoken to me. But he did not +come. All possible inquiries were guardedly made concerning him, for it +was not safe to appear too inquisitive. + +"How did you feel while thus waiting in suspense?" I asked. + +"I felt as if I wanted to be back in camp, and had no business to be in +that town any longer," replied Frank. "To hear the curses and threats +made against everything that belonged to the Union, and to be obliged to +keep perfectly quiet, or to agree with them, was more than I could +easily endure. And the folks about the hotel were more anxious every day +to know who I was, and I had to tell them lies without number. I +resolved not to stand it much longer." + +"Were you really afraid of being found out, Frank?" I queried. "Did you +consider yourself in much danger?" + +With great emphasis he answered, "No money could hire me to put myself +in such a position again. I would have run away if we had been obliged +to stay much longer." + +This man was as brave as any human being. I had seen him perfectly cool +and serene under circumstances of great danger, when every one else in +the company betrayed some sign of fear. I did not suspect him of +exaggerating the perils of the situation in which he was placed, and, +having a deep personal interest in the matter, I put the question +bluntly,-- + +"If men should be wanted to try this thing again, would you not go?" + +"Never!" was the unequivocal response. "If Andrews and Mitchel want +bridges burned, they can go themselves and burn them! I will do my duty +as a soldier, but as to going out among those----" + +The terms applied, and the energy given to the accompanying description +of the horror of being alone among blood-thirsty enemies, feeling that, +sleeping or waking, a rope was around one's neck, just ready to be +tightened on the utterance of a single careless word, it is not +necessary to transcribe here. + +"But why did not that man come to help you? Did you find out anything +about him?" + +"Andrews told us, on the third day after we had reached Atlanta, that he +had heard through some of the railway officials that the engineer had +been transferred to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad to help in running +troops to Corinth" (this was a short time before the battle of Shiloh). +"But my own opinion is that the man got scared and had himself +transferred there to get out of a bad scrape." + +"But how did Andrews take this disappointment?" + +"He was very much cast down. He asked each of us if we had ever been +engineers or firemen. But no one had ever occupied such a position. He +hated terribly to give up; but, as nothing more could be done, he at +last told us we might work our way back to camp." + +"Where are the other boys?" + +"I suppose they are on their way. It was harder getting back than going +down. Everybody seemed to think it natural for us to be going South; but +we had to make all kind of excuses for 'heading the wrong way,' as they +called it. We had to scatter to avoid observation, and travel part of +the way by night; and if some of them are not discovered and either put +into the rebel army or hung, I will be very glad." + +"Do you think Andrews will now give up the job of burning those bridges, +or will he try again?" + +"If he can get men to go, you may be sure he will keep at it until he +succeeds or dies. But I would never go again or advise any one else to +do so. Why, he said he would stay down several days after we left and +make a complete survey of the line, for the very purpose of trying over +again." + +"What do you think of Andrews himself? Can he be trusted?" + +"Yes; he's as true as steel, and very smart. But I am afraid he will +venture a little too far, both for himself and for those with him, one +of these days." + +I have omitted the many striking incidents that Mills narrated to me in +the course of this conversation, which was more interesting to me than +any romance, because adventures very similar in their general character +to those he described will be fully narrated in another place. + +I found my way back to my proper place in the regiment, feeling sure +that another attempt to destroy the Southern communications would be +made, in which I must engage if I did not positively "back out"; +convinced, also, that it would involve hard labor, much peril, and, even +with these, great risk of failure. + +The next day others of the Andrews party returned to us, and +corroborated the accounts given by Mills. The day following the +remainder arrived in safety. They were all glad to get back, and were +unanimous in declaring that they would not again venture disguised into +the enemy's country under any circumstances. They spoke very sparingly +about their experiences, for the officers had cautioned them to say but +little, in view of the possibility of a new venture of the same +character. + +On Saturday evening, the 5th of April, we camped on the banks of Duck +River, in some pleasant meadows about a mile from the town of +Shelbyville. The next day was delightful. The spring of 1862 opened very +early, and now the meadows were verdant and the birds singing. The calm, +quiet, and beauty of that Sabbath, with the white tents dotting the +level fields, and the soldiers luxuriating in one day of rest after the +hard march, which had been rendered more fatiguing by the accompaniments +of rain and mud, form a very pleasant picture in memory. The next +Sabbath came to me under entirely different circumstances. I felt the +pressure of a vague melancholy resting upon me,--possibly it was only +that pensive feeling often inspired by a fresh, bright, and quiet day in +early spring; possibly the faint shadow of coming evil. I devoted the +greater part of the day to writing letters to friends and +newspapers,--the last I wrote for weary months. On this same day--though +we knew it not till afterwards--began the great battle of Shiloh, or +Pittsburg Landing, one hundred and fifty miles west of us. + +On Monday Andrews himself returned to our lines, and asked, as I had +anticipated, for permission to renew his enterprise. He had spent +several days along the line of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, +learning the number of trains, their times of running, and everything +else likely to be useful. He had then started for camp, and being +provided with passes, so that he could take the most direct road, +besides being well mounted, he came in almost as soon as the private +soldiers who started much sooner. + +But not one of the first party would return. They were tired of feeling, +as one of them expressed it, that their necks depended upon a lie. Like +Schiller's diver, they had plunged once into the abyss and returned in +safety; but, unlike that venturous youth, they would not make the second +and fatal trial. + +The new expedition, as proposed by Andrews, differed in three +particulars from the first. He wanted a larger force,--twenty-four men +instead of eight. He had seen that it was possible to carry a +considerable number of men in disguise to the scene of action, and the +number now requested was none too large for the capture of a full +railway train or the overpowering of guards at important bridges. He +also wanted some engineers to be detailed, in order that no mishap might +leave them without the power of running their train. Five were secured, +thus leaving an ample margin, as it was believed, for the possibility of +capture on the way down, or of death by the enemy's bullets in the hour +of conflict. It thus became an enterprise completely fitted out in +Federal lines, without any reliance on help from the South. The third +point of difference was of more importance than a casual glance +revealed. The first expedition had an abundance of time. A week's delay, +even after the soldiers were in the enemy's country, would have involved +no risk, save that of discovery,--would, indeed, have been an advantage, +as it would allow less time for the repair of damages done to the +Southern railroads before Mitchel's arrival at Chattanooga. But now it +was different. The whole division was ready to advance, its course being +clearly indicated to the enemy, and moments became precious. By making +the utmost speed it was still possible to have the bridges burned at the +right time, but every hour's delay would render the work more difficult, +and its success more uncertain. The bearing of this question of time +will be made painfully apparent in our story. + +General Mitchel received the report of Mr. Andrews (which also embraced +all the information the most skilful spy could have brought concerning +the nature and disposition of the enemy's forces), approved his prudence +in ordering the return of the soldiers, and sanctioned the second +attempt. He, however, advised caution, saying that Andrews must not +strike unless he saw a good prospect of success; but he made no +objection to the increase of force, provided volunteers could be +obtained. It was easy to secure the five engineers asked for without +going beyond the limits of the three Ohio regiments composing General +Sill's brigade. Of the detail as finally made out, nine men belonged to +the Twenty-first, eight to the Thirty-third, and seven to the Second +Ohio Regiments. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MIDNIGHT CONSULTATION. + + +On Monday, April 7, while I was inside my tent engaged in some of the +little details of work which occupy a soldier's time in camp, a comrade +pulled open the canvas door and called out,-- + +"Pittenger, Captain Sarratt is looking for you." + +I went out and met the captain, and together we walked up the street +formed by the two rows of tents to the larger tent occupied by the +company officers, which stood across the street at the upper end. He +took me inside, and then said, with a sigh,-- + +"Colonel Harris has just sent me word that you are to go with Andrews +down to Georgia. I do not know why he has selected you, but I advise you +not to go. You have perfect liberty to refuse." + +I told him that so far from refusing my mind was fully made up to +accept, and that I had already arranged with Colonel Harris to that +effect. Sarratt was surprised to hear this, but urged every argument in +his power to dissuade me; telling me that the safe return of the four +who had been out on the former expedition had lifted a great burden from +his heart; but that if I went, it would be no better than before. I was +deeply moved by his evident concern, but had gone too far to retract. I +asked if any other member of our company was to go. He answered in the +negative, saying that he understood that but one from each company was +to be detailed. Finding persuasion in vain, he gave me a pass to +Shelbyville, where I could see Andrews and procure all necessaries for +the journey. I left him, deeply impressed by the kindness of the man, +which led him to regard the soldiers under his command as children, for +whose welfare he felt himself in a great degree responsible. + +No one of my comrades yet knew of the intended expedition. In the +afternoon I took a friend with me and strolled into Shelbyville, a +well-built village of a few hundred inhabitants, and purchased some +articles of clothing, but was not able to find a complete suit. A number +of persons were engaged in making similar purchases--among others, the +sergeant-major of our regiment, Marion Ross. By watching the character +of his purchases and by a few careful questions, I found that his +business was the same as my own. No side-arms could be found, but I knew +that all lack in that direction could easily be supplied in camp. +Getting away from all other company, Ross and I strayed through the town +for some time, keeping a sharp lookout, until, at length, we saw +Andrews. His striking personal appearance made it easy to recognize him, +and, approaching, we told him that we were ordered to report to him. +After scrutinizing us a moment, and asking us the company and rank we +held, he told us that it would not be prudent to talk much in so public +a place, but to overtake him after dark a mile or more east of +Shelbyville, on the road toward Wartrace, and he would there give us +full explanations, and allow us to return to our regiments if not +satisfied with his plans. With these few words we parted from him, and +went back to our tents for final arrangements. I borrowed the additional +clothing I needed from one of the former adventurers. All my arms and +equipments I put carefully in order, packed my uniform in my knapsack to +be left in the care of the proper authorities, arrayed myself in +citizen's clothes, and stepped out of my tent. The soldiers who were +idling around passed the word to their comrades who were in their tents, +reading, playing cards, or amusing themselves in the various ways +incident to camp-life, and soon almost the whole company--indeed, all +who were not absent on guard duty--thronged around and commenced all +kinds of questions. "Pittenger, going to desert? Going home? Going out +as a spy? Got a discharge? Got a furlough?"--were a few of the inquiries +that rained from every quarter. At the same time I heard it asserted +that several other men were dressing up in the same manner. I answered +all questions in the affirmative, and stepped over to the company street +adjoining our own--that of Company K--and sought the tent in which Frank +Mills messed. He had a very good revolver which I wanted to borrow. As I +entered, he read the situation in a glance. + +"So, you are going with Andrews." + +I nodded, and hastened to add, "I want your revolver." + +"You are welcome to the revolver, but if you know when you are well off +you will stay where you are. Because I was fool enough to go, it does +not follow that you need be." + +I did not argue the question, but he saw that it was settled, and he +gave me the weapon, with a liberal supply of cartridges. I was now +ready, and the gravity of the situation forced itself more clearly upon +my apprehension. I did not expect to return to camp until the proposed +enterprise had been accomplished. Considering, therefore, that so much +was already known in camp from the report of the former party, and from +seeing me arrayed as I was, I could not understand that it would be any +advantage for me to steal away unnoticed. With this view, I went up to +Captain Sarratt's quarters and bade him good-by. He was almost overcome +with emotion, and could not muster a single one of his accustomed +good-natured jokes. Then came the farewells to tried comrades. Few of +them had any distinct conception of the nature of my errand, but they +knew it was secret and dangerous, and this was enough to excite their +apprehension. They labored hard to dissuade me. The devotion of one of +their number, my inseparable companion, Alexander Mills, was especially +affecting. Though he had been lying in our tent very sick all day, he +now crawled to the door and begged me not to go. Finding that I was +fully determined, he hurried as fast as his tottering steps would allow +to headquarters, for permission to go along! Notwithstanding his +physical inability, he persisted in his request until the colonel +threatened to have him put under arrest. Had he been well he would not +have been refused, as he was a most excellent soldier; but in the trying +times that followed, it was a great satisfaction to me that he was left +behind. Poor fellow! he lost his life while carrying the flag of the +Second Ohio at the battle of Lookout Mountain, eighteen months later, +and now sleeps in the beautiful National Cemetery at Chattanooga,--that +town towards which our steps were now bent. + +When all the farewells were over I strolled back to Shelbyville, meeting +Sergeant Ross as we had arranged, and passed the time pleasantly with +him in looking about the village until about dark, when we inquired the +road to Wartrace, and started for the rendezvous that Andrews had +appointed. We walked very leisurely, expecting that some of our number, +who were probably behind, would soon overtake us, and having a curiosity +to ascertain whether we could recognize them by speech or manner as +belonging to our party. We saw several persons, but they were travelling +the opposite way, and we began to be apprehensive that we had taken the +wrong road. + +As we journeyed on, we noticed a house surrounded by a yard, and Ross +proposed getting a drink of water. Crossing the fence we went up to the +house, but before we reached the door, a dog came up silently behind my +companion, and, biting his leg, ran under the house before a revolver +could be drawn. + +The bite was not severe, and I laughed heartily at his mishap; but +after drinking, and before reaching the fence, the same dog rushed out +once more. Ross saw him in time, and sprang over the fence, but I sat on +the top of it in fancied security. The malicious creature sprang at me, +seized my coat, and tore a large piece out of it. The same coat, thus +torn, I wore during the whole of the year through which our adventures +extended. The incident was trivial, but in the deepening darkness, with +a thunder-storm, which now began to mutter in the distance, approaching, +uncertain as to where our comrades were, and at the beginning of a +desperate enterprise, it stands out in memory with lurid distinctness. +To a superstitious person it might have seemed ominous of the results of +that expedition in which Ross perished, and from which I returned a +shattered and disabled invalid. + +A pistol-shot easily cleared us of the dog, and we pursued our way,--not +rejoicingly, for our situation grew every moment more perplexing. Not +one of our comrades was visible, and we were almost certain we had taken +the wrong road. Finally, we resolved to retrace our steps, and try to +get in Shelbyville some better clue to our journey. Unless we could +obtain further instructions, we knew not how or where to go. We did not +like to return to camp, for that would probably delay us too long to +take part in the enterprise, and the failure to go, after our affecting +leave-taking, would have formed a ludicrous anticlimax, and probably +have been charged to cowardice. At a cross-road in sight of Shelbyville, +where we felt sure that any of the adventurers who obeyed the directions +we had received must pass, we sat down and waited nearly an hour longer. + +Our patience was rewarded. We had started too soon, and from this +miscalculation all our perplexity arose. A few men, whom we recognized +almost instinctively as belonging to our party, came along the road in +the right direction. A little guarded conversation showed us that we +were right, and we strolled slowly on with them. Shortly afterwards +others overtook us, among whom was Andrews. This was a great relief, as +we now had a guide. Soon we were as far from Shelbyville as Ross and I +alone had been, and a few hundred yards farther on fell in with still +other men. Our party had so greatly increased as to be quite +conspicuous, and it was advisable to add still further security to the +cover of the night. Accordingly, we left the road for some distance, +and, marching silently, were soon at the appointed rendezvous. + +A little thicket of dead and withered trees, a short distance from the +road, and sufficiently open to assure us that no listener was near, was +the place of our assemblage. Never was a consultation preparatory to +some desperate deed held under more fitting circumstances. The storm +which had been gathering all the evening was now near. Black clouds +covered one half the sky, and the young moon, low down in the west, was +soon obscured. The frequent flashes of lightning, more vivid in the +darkness, and the low roll of thunder that followed, grew continually +more emphatic, forming most startling interruptions to the earnest but +suppressed words of our leader. It is very singular that amid these +ominous surroundings, which fitted so well the character of the business +in hand, one ordinary sound stands out in my memory, far more clear and +distinct than any part of the scene. Far off I heard the bark or howl of +a dog,--no doubt at some farm-house,--roused either by the coming storm +which began to sway the leafless boughs above us, or by the passing of +some belated traveller. Popular superstition would probably have +considered such a sound as ominous of evil; and most of us are +superstitious when young, in the dark, and entering upon unknown +dangers. + +We formed a close circle around Mr. Andrews while he revealed to us his +daring plans. In a voice as soft and low as a woman's, but tremulous +with suppressed enthusiasm, he painted the greatness of the project +we were to attempt, the sublimity of rushing through a hostile country +at the full speed of steam, leaving flaming bridges and raging but +powerless foes behind. But he did not disguise the dangers to be +encountered. + +[Illustration: Midnight Consultation. +Page 32.] + +"Soldiers," he said, "if you are detected while engaged in this +business, the great probability is that you will be put to death,--hung +as spies, or massacred by a mob. I want you to clearly understand this, +and if you are not willing to take the risk, return to camp, and keep +perfectly quiet about it." + +A murmur all around the circle conveyed the assurance that we would +follow him to the last extremity. + +"Our plan," he continued, "is simply this: you are to travel on foot, or +by any conveyance you can hire, either to Chattanooga or some station +not far from that point on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad; then you +can take passage on the cars down to Marietta; that will be our next +place of assembling, and not Atlanta. You must be there by Thursday +evening, ready to take passage on the cars northward again by Friday +morning. I will be there as soon as you, and tell you what more is to be +done." + +"But how about money to pay our way?" was asked. + +"I have plenty of Confederate money, and will share it among you before +we part. As to your story, you cannot do better than to tell everybody +that you are Kentuckians coming South to get away from the Yankees, and +to join the Confederate army; only be careful to have always some +plausible reason for going farther before joining. A great many +Kentuckians have gone South by this route, and are very heartily +received. If you will go eastward through Wartrace and Manchester, you +will get into the track they usually take, and by then turning south, +you will not appear to be heading from the Union army. If any one of you +are questioned closely, you may say you are from Fleming County, for I +happen to know that no soldiers from that county are in this part of the +country." + +All of these directions were eagerly listened to, but the closing one +afterwards bore disastrous fruit. + +One of the soldiers asked, "If any of us are suspected, and find we +can't get away, what would you ad vise us to do?" + +"Enlist without hesitation in the rebel army," was the response. "You +are fully authorized to do that, and no one of this party will be +accused of desertion, even if captured among the rebels. I would be +sorry to lose any one of you, but it will be far better that you should +serve awhile with the enemy than to acknowledge who you are, and thus +risk the disclosure of the enterprise." + +"But is it likely that we could get the chance thus to enlist?" it was +further asked. + +"Most certainly," said Andrews. "They are taking all the prisoners out +of the jails and enlisting them. They are picking up men who have run +away from the conscription wherever they can find them, and serving them +in the same manner. If you tell your story and stick to it, even if they +are not satisfied that you are telling the truth, they will put you into +the service. You can stay until some dark night on picket. But I hope +you will escape all trouble, and all meet me at Marietta safely. Break +this party up into squads of three or four, and don't recognize each +other on the way. I will ride along the same country you are travelling, +and give you any help or direction in my power. But you must not +recognize me unless sure that we are not observed." + +There was but one subject on which I cared to ask any questions, and +that related to a distant contingency. I was well informed as to the +first part of the intended enterprise. + +"Suppose we succeed in capturing the train," I said, "and in burning the +bridges, are we then to leave the train, and try to steal back to our +lines in the same way we are now going South?" + +"By no means," replied Mr. Andrews. "We will run the train right through +Chattanooga, and westward until we meet Mitchel, who by that time will +be coming eastward on the road from Memphis. If we should not quite +reach him, we will get so close that we can dash through in a body." + +This was satisfactory as far as it went, but there was still another +contingency. More than anything else I dreaded being left alone in an +unknown country. + +"If we fail to run the captured train through Chattanooga, will we then +disperse or stick together?" + +"After we meet at Marietta, we will keep together, and, if necessary, +cut our way back to our own lines. Form your squads now, and I will give +out the money." + +Swiftly we selected our companions. There was little time for choice. +Most of the men were strangers. The darkness was intense, and the +thunder-peals almost overhead. In a moment we formed six or seven little +groups. My former comrade, Ross, stood with another man or two beside +Andrews. Two men from Captain Mitchel's company and one from the next +company to that in the regimental line stood by my side. Andrews went +from group to group, giving out the money freely, and answering +questions that were still asked. When this was accomplished, he +addressed himself once more to the whole number, and we crowded around +to listen to his parting words. They gave us the fullest insight into +the whole plan we had yet received. + +"To-morrow morning," said he, "Mitchel, with his whole army, will start +on a forced march right south to Huntsville. He will capture that town +not later than Friday (it was now Monday night), and will then turn east +towards Chattanooga. We must burn the bridges south of Chattanooga the +same day, for after that, the road will be crowded with trains bringing +reinforcements against him and running property away, and our task will +be very much harder. So we have no time to lose. We must be at Marietta +on Thursday evening. The last train for that station leaves Chattanooga +at five o'clock in the afternoon. Be sure to catch it. Good-by." + +He gave each of us his hand with a hearty pressure and fervent good +wishes. Not many moments after, the storm broke over us with all its +fury. The rain fell in torrents. The last glimpse I caught of Andrews as +my party of four hurried on their prescribed course was by means of a +broad glare of lightning that made the drenched landscape for a moment +as bright as day. He had just parted from the last group and was gazing +after us. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +COMPANIONS AND INCIDENTS. + + +Who was this Mr. Andrews, from whom we had just parted in storm and +darkness,--the man from whose brain sprang the Chattanooga Railroad +Expedition, and to whose keeping we had so fearlessly committed our +lives? Few of us knew much about him at that time, but became wiser +afterwards. As he is the hero of the earlier part of this story, it may +be well to give the reader the benefit of all the information as to his +character and history subsequently obtained. + +Mr. J. J. Andrews was born in that part of Western Virginia known as the +"Pan Handle," on the eastern bank of the Ohio River, and only separated +from my own county of Jefferson by that stream. While quite young he had +removed to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, settling in Fleming +County. Here he acquired considerable wealth, but at the outbreak of +the civil war lost most of it again. While in business here he +travelled over much of the South, and became acquainted with many men +whom the war afterwards threw into prominence. At the first outbreak of +hostilities he joined the Union army, not as a soldier, but in the still +more useful and dangerous character of a spy and secret negotiator. He +accompanied General Nelson in his Eastern Kentucky campaign, on which +occasion I had seen him at Prestonburg, and afterwards he journeyed back +and forth two or three times from Nashville before the capture of that +city. He also spent several days in Fort Donelson during the week +preceding its capture by General Grant. At this place he narrowly +escaped detection. Subsequently he visited Atlanta and brought back much +valuable information. By representing himself as a blockade-runner, and +carrying southward through our lines articles of small bulk but of great +value to the enemy, he secured their confidence and brought back +information a hundredfold more valuable. This business was pecuniarily +profitable to himself as well as very serviceable to the Union army. A +Mr. Whiteman, of Nashville, afterwards testified that he had paid him +ten thousand dollars for one cargo, the most of which was clear profit. +Some of the Southern officers with whom he was intimate had bestowed +upon him passes authorizing him to come and go through their lines at +pleasure. It is not my intention to offer any apology for a man who thus +betrays the confidence even of rebels. What justice requires to be said +on this subject will find a more appropriate place in explaining the +position of those who accompanied him in his last and most perilous +journey. His occupation was one of the utmost danger, and he could not +expect much mercy if detected. He had even gone the length of taking the +oath of allegiance to the Southern Confederacy, though he was +passionately loyal to the old government. Indeed, his hatred for +secession and everything connected with it had become the more intense +from the very disguise he so frequently assumed; and the desire to work +all possible injury to that cause had far more influence in inducing him +to pursue his perilous vocation than any hope of reward. I have since +been told by Southern authorities that he acknowledged being promised +fifty thousand dollars reward in case he succeeded in destroying the +bridges from Atlanta to Chattanooga, but I never heard of such a +contract. Certainly no reward whatever was promised directly or +indirectly to the soldiers who accompanied him, and I never heard +Andrews himself speak of expecting any pecuniary recompense. + +Mr. Andrews was nearly six feet in height, of powerful frame, black +hair, and long, black, and silken beard, Roman features, a high and +expansive forehead, and a voice fine and soft as a woman's. Of polished +manners, stately presence, and more than ordinary personal beauty, wide +information, great shrewdness and sagacity, he was admirably fitted to +win favor in a community like that of the South, which has always placed +a high value on personal qualities. He had also the clear forethought in +devising complicated schemes, and the calmness in the hour of danger +necessary for the perilous game he played. Carrying his life in his hand +whenever he ventured beyond the Union pickets, involved continually in +dangers, where a single thoughtless word, or even an unguarded look, +might lead to detection and death, he had learned to rely absolutely on +his own resources, and to contemplate with easy familiarity enterprises +that would have looked like sheer madness to one without this +preliminary drill. + +But it was said that even he had grown tired of this perpetual risk, and +intended, if successful in this last and most difficult enterprise, to +retire to peaceful life. A tender influence conspired to the same end, +and imparts a dash of romance to his story. He was engaged to be married +in the following June, and intended then to retire from the army. Alas! +June had a far different fate in store for him. + +At our interview in the afternoon, as well as in the midnight +consultation, Andrews impressed me as a man who combined intellect and +refinement with the most dauntless courage. Yet his pensive manner, slow +speech, and soft voice indicated not obscurely what I afterwards found +to be almost his only fault as a leader,--a hesitancy in deciding +important questions on the spur of the moment, and in backing his +decision by prompt, vigorous action. This did not detract from his value +as a secret agent when alone, for then all his actions were premeditated +and accomplished with surpassing coolness and bravery; but it was +otherwise in commanding men in startling and unforeseen emergencies. +This trait of character will be more fully developed in the course of +the story. + +How were the soldiers selected who assembled that evening at the +rendezvous? This question was asked with curiosity and wonder by the +enemy, and is of great importance in estimating the treatment of such of +their number as were afterwards captured. The enemy could not, by their +utmost exertions, obtain correct information on this subject; but there +is now no reason for reticence. The nature of the enterprise was such +that it could not be publicly explained and volunteers called for, as it +was quite possible that spies of the enemy were in our camp; neither was +it right, according to the laws of war, to divest soldiers of their +uniform and place them under the orders of a spy without their full +consent. A medium course was adopted, which avoided the opposite +difficulties as far as possible. The captains who were ordered to +furnish each a man gathered a few of their soldiers about them in a +quiet way, and stated that a volunteer was wanted for a very dangerous +enterprise. Of those who professed willingness to go one was selected, +taken aside from the others, and told simply that he was to be sent +disguised into the heart of the enemy's country, under the orders of a +Southern citizen, whom the commanding officers trusted fully. If they +felt like engaging in this service, with all its risks, they could see +this man and learn more; but if not, they would be at liberty to decline +the dangerous honor. In one or two cases these preliminary explanations +were so vague that the men addressed did not fairly understand the +matter, and subsequently declared that if they had been more fully +informed they would not have taken the first step. After they met +Andrews, however, they felt that their reputation was at stake, and were +not willing to "back out." In one or two other cases the men were merely +selected by their captains and ordered, without any preliminary +explanations, to report to Andrews outside of the lines. + +Twenty-four men were thus detailed, twenty-three of whom met at the +rendezvous. The twenty-fourth we never heard of; whether he tried to +reach us and failed, or whether some one of the captains who was to +furnish a man was unable to induce any one to accept the dangerous +honor, is uncertain. Indeed, there must have been a failure of two men, +for we had one with us who was not originally expected to go. Captain +Mitchel had one man to furnish, and Perry G. Shadrach was chosen. +William Campbell, a native of Salineville, Ohio, but for many years a +citizen of Kentucky, a man of wild and adventurous habits, was visiting +Shadrach, and at once asked and obtained permission to go with him. +Though he was only a civilian, we always spoke of him as an enlisted +soldier of Captain Mitchel's company. + +While we are splashing along in the darkness and under the fast-falling +rain, it may be a good time to describe the members of the squad with +whom I travelled. Shadrach and Campbell were two of its members. The +former was small but roundly built, a merry, reckless fellow, often +profane, easily put out of temper, but very kind, and willing to +sacrifice anything for a friend. Campbell was physically the strongest +man of the whole party and possibly of Mitchel's division as well. He +weighed two hundred and twenty pounds, was perfectly proportioned, very +active, apparently fond of danger for its own sake, and as true as +steel. Neither of these two men possessed much skill in duplicity or +shrewdness in planning. They were willing to leave the task of asking +and answering questions to their comrades, but were always ready to bear +their full share in action. + +The third, George D. Wilson, of Cincinnati, was of very different +character. He was not highly educated, though he had read a great deal, +but in natural shrewdness I have rarely, if ever, known his equal. He +was of middle age, whilst most of us had just passed out of boyhood. He +had traveled extensively, and had observed and remembered everything he +encountered. In the use of fiery and scorching denunciations he was a +master, and took great delight in overwhelming an opponent with an +unmeasured torrent of abuse. In action he was brave and cool; no danger +could frighten him, no emergency find him unprepared. The friendship I +felt for him grew steadily until his tragic death. I depended on his +judgment and advice more than on that of any one in the whole +expedition. + +The writer was first corporal in Company G of the Second Regiment of +Ohio Volunteers, and had just been promoted to the position of sergeant. +I was twenty-two years of age, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, had +been reared on a farm, had taught school in the winters, and more +recently had entered on the study of law. My opportunities for acquiring +knowledge were very limited, but had been tolerably well improved. I had +read a good many volumes and gained a fair English education. For war +and warlike affairs I had not the slightest taste, and was indeed so +near-sighted that it was very doubtful whether I could ever make an +efficient soldier. When the call for three months' troops was made at +the bombardment of Fort Sumter, I felt that the emergency was so great +as to require the services of every patriot, and immediately enlisted. I +did not then contemplate a longer term of service, as I believed that +the government would be able to organize an adequate force within that +period from those who were better adapted to the profession of arms. My +decision to enter the ranks was not made without some forethought. Just +previous to putting my name to the enlistment paper, I took a solitary +night walk and tried to bring up in imagination all the perils and +discomforts that were possible in military service, asking myself +whether I was willing to endure any of them that might fall to my lot as +the result of the step I then contemplated. Having decided, I returned +to the mass-meeting (convened in the court-house of Steubenville, Ohio) +and entered my name as a volunteer. The company formed that night was +hurried to Washington, and on the route was organized with others into +the Second Ohio Regiment. During the three months' service our only +experience of fighting was in the badly-managed battle, or rather +skirmish, of Bull Run. On the battle-field, when the tide of fortune +turned against us, I concluded that I ought to re-enlist for two +reasons. It was hard to quit the army with no experience but that of +defeat, and the country's need of men was still urgent. When the Second +Ohio was reorganized for three years' service, I therefore continued in +the ranks. We were sent to Eastern Kentucky, and succeeded, after some +trifling engagements, in clearing that part of the State from rebels. We +were then ordered to Louisville, and greatly to my delight were put +under the command of the astronomer Mitchel. A few years before I had +studied astronomy enthusiastically, and had even gone so far as to +construct a ten-foot telescope for my own use. This similarity of tastes +led me to feel greatly delighted, and almost acquainted, with our new +general. His fame as an astronomer did not guarantee his success in war; +but the ability displayed in one profession was a hopeful indication for +the other. Our division participated in the advance upon Bowling Green +and afterwards upon Nashville. This service offered no hardship except +wintry marches, for the capture of Fort Donelson by General Grant had +broken the enemy's resistance. During this march there was not perfect +accord between Mitchel and his less energetic superior, General Buell. +Even the soldiers learned something of their disputes, and were much +gratified when, at Nashville, Mitchel was detached from the main army +and left to operate independently. In three days he marched to +Murfreesborough, where this narrative opens. + +[Illustration: WILLIAM PITTENGER. +[1882--twenty years later.] +Page 42.] + +On parting from Andrews we worked our way eastward, keeping not far from +the railroad leading to Wartrace. We did not wish to travel very far +through the rain, which was almost pouring down, but only to get well +beyond the Federal pickets, so as to have a clear track for a long +journey on the following day. We wished to elude our own pickets, not +only to avoid detention, but to gain a little practice in such work. It +was our intention to get that night beyond Wartrace, where our last +outpost in that direction was stationed; but our progress was so slow +and fatiguing that we changed our minds, and determined to find a +lodging at once. This resolution was more easily made than accomplished. + +For a long time we searched in vain. It seemed as if the country was +uninhabited. At length the barking of a dog gave a clue, which was +diligently followed. The better to prosecute the search, we formed a +line within hearing distance of each other, and then swept around in all +directions. A barn was our first discovery, but we were so completely +wet and chilled that we resolved to persevere in hope of a bed and a +fire. + +Shortly after, finding a rude, double log house, we roused the inmates +and demanded shelter for the night. The farmer was evidently alarmed, +but let us in, and then began to investigate our character. + +I narrate minutely the events that accompanied our first setting out, +not so much for their intrinsic interest, as for the sake of giving a +vivid idea of the conduct required by the nature of our expedition. This +may also be a good place to answer a question often asked, "How can the +equivocation and downright falsehood that follows be justified?" I am +not bound to attempt any formal justification; but it is easy to show +that all the moral question involved is only a branch of the larger +question as to the morality of war. In its very nature, war is +compounded of force and fraud in nearly equal quantities. If one of the +necessary ingredients be wrong, the other can hardly be right. The most +conscientious general thinks nothing of making movements with the sole +purpose of deceiving his adversary, or of writing absolutely false +despatches for the same purpose. If it be right to kill our +fellow-beings, I suppose it is also right to deceive them in order to +get a better chance to kill them! The golden rule, which is the basis of +all morality, has but little place as between hostile armies or nations. +To find where some unsuspecting persons are asleep, and steal upon them, +begin to shoot and stab before they can wake to defend themselves, +would, in peace, be thought a crime of the most dastardly and ferocious +character; but, in war, it is only a surprise, and, if successful, +confers the greatest honor upon those who plan and execute it. Are there +two sets of morals,--the one for peace, the other for war? "But," the +objector may continue, "is not a constant resort to falsehood in a +secret expedition peculiarly dishonorable?" Let us look this question +fairly in the face. All armies employ spies, and the old adage, "The +receiver is as bad as the thief," is here fully applicable. A general +who induces a man, by the hope of money or promotion, to go disguised +into the enemy's lines, with a lie in his mouth, for the general's +advantage, is a full partner in the enterprise, and cannot throw off his +share of the guilt. It is true that the laws of war throw all the odium +on the spy. But the generals, and not the spies, made the laws of war. +Besides, there is no necessary connection between the laws of war and +the laws of morality. The former are merely the rules men construct for +the regulation of the most tremendous of all their games, and can never +affect the essence of right and wrong. I do not wish to argue the +abstract right of deceiving an enemy, or of deviating from the strict +truth for any purpose whatever. It is enough for my purpose to show that +deception is an element in all war. The candid reader will also consider +that most of us were very young. The common sentiment of the camp was +that deceiving a rebel in any manner was a meritorious action. With the +full sanction of our officers, we had entered upon an expedition which +required disguise and deception. We had been expressly told that we were +not even to hesitate in joining the rebel army,--which implied taking +the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy,--if that step became +necessary to avoid detection. In the whole of this expedition we were +true to each other and to the mission upon which we had entered, but we +did not hesitate at any kind or degree of untruthfulness directed +towards the enemy. Such was the effect of our resolution in this +direction that no one, so far as I remember, ever expressed any sorrow +or remorse for any of the falsehoods that were so plentifully employed. +Indeed, while the war lasted, I did not find a single person, in the +army or out, who ever criticised our expedition from the _moral_ +stand-point. There seemed to be some kind of an instinctive feeling that +the revolted States had forfeited all their rights by rebellion,--even +that of having the truth told to them. I confess that deception was very +painful to me at first, and from inclination, as well as policy, I used +it as sparingly as possible. But practice made it comparatively easy +and pleasant, within the limits indicated above. + +We did not wait for all these reasonings before we began to practise +deception upon our host. He was informed that we were Kentuckians, +disgusted with the tyranny of the Lincoln government, and seeking an +asylum in the free and independent South. His reply was a grateful +surprise. "Oh," said he, "you come on a bootless errand, and might as +well go home again and make the best of it. The whole South will soon be +as much under Lincoln as Kentucky is." + +"Never!" we answered. "We'll fight till we die, first!" + +At this the old man chuckled quietly, but only said, "Well, we'll see, +we'll see." We found him to be an enthusiastic Union man, but firmly +maintained our own assumed character. He provided us with a good supper, +late as it was, and with good beds, which we refused to occupy until he +had promised not to betray us to the Union pickets. + +The next morning we were early on our way, reaching Wartrace in the +midst of a pelting storm. Attempting to pass directly through, our +soldiers on guard were too vigilant for us, and we enjoyed another +opportunity for "diplomacy," in the endeavor to represent ourselves as +innocent citizens from the adjoining country. But it was more difficult +to deceive our own men than the enemy, and, to avoid detection, we were +obliged to reveal our true character, which secured our immediate +release. + +We plodded onward through the deep mud and splashing roads, and were now +outside our own lines. Our only safety, from this time, lay in our +disguise and in our false tongues. We felt not unlike the landsman who +for the first time loses sight of the shore, and feels the heaving of +the broad ocean under his feet. To the average Northern citizen a vague +mystery and terror had rested over the whole of the Southern States, +even before the beginning of the war. During the existence of slavery no +Northern man dared make his home in the presence of that institution and +express any views unfavorable to it. Many tales of violence and blood +were reported from that region long before hostilities began, and as the +passions which led to the contest grew more fierce, the shadows still +deepened. When war began the curtain fell, and only reports of wild and +desperate enthusiasm in behalf of the cause of disunion and slavery, +with stories of the most cruel oppression of the few who dared to differ +with the ruling class in still loving the old flag, reached Northern +ears. No doubt there were many exaggerations, but there was a solid +basis of fact. The South was swept with a revolutionary frenzy equal to +any that history recalls, and the people were ready to sacrifice any one +whose life seemed dangerous to their cause. Even exaggeration was potent +as truth in aiding to invest the region beyond the Union lines with +mysterious horror. Into this land of peril and fear and frequent outrage +we were plunging as the secret but deadly enemies of the whole people. +Now, when Chattanooga and Atlanta are brought into such easy +communication with Northern cities, it is difficult to recall the +feelings with which they were regarded in the dark days of eighteen +hundred and sixty-two. But hope and courage outweighed apprehension in +our hearts, and we pushed rapidly forward. + +Others of our party were occasionally seen trudging along in the dreary +rain, and sometimes we went with them a little way, but mostly we kept +by ourselves. Shortly after noon we crossed Duck River, and entered +Manchester, stopping just long enough to get the names of some of the +prominent secessionists along our proposed route, that we might always +have some one to inquire for, and be recommended from one influential +man to another. Nightfall this evening (Tuesday) found us still several +miles from Hillsborough, and we began to fear that we would be behind +time in reaching our destination. Each one was weary and stiff, but we +resolved to make every effort, and, if necessary, travel a whole night +rather than be too late. I have always been sorry that this night +journey was not required of us. + +At the place where we lodged that night I first heard a slave-holder +talk of hunting negroes with blood-hounds. In conversation after supper +our host said to us, as a mere matter of news, "I saw some persons +dodging about the back of the plantation just as it was getting dark, +and in the morning I will take the hounds and go out and hunt them up. I +will be glad to have you go along and see the sport, if you can afford +the time. If they prove to be negroes I will make something." + +"What will you do with them?" I asked. + +"Oh, turn them over to the authorities and get the reward," was the +answer. "I have caught a considerable number, and it pays to keep on the +lookout." + +Of course we had to agree outwardly; but the idea of hunting human +beings with the ferocious-looking dogs we had seen about his door, and +that for money, thrilled me with detestation and horror. Soon afterwards +we found that blood-hounds were not kept for negroes alone. + +After a sound night's rest we continued our journey, and were fortunate +enough to find a man who was willing, for the good of the Confederacy, +and for an extravagant price in money, to give us a short ride. The +conveyance was an old wagon, with a wood-rack for a bed, four mules, +with a scanty chain harness, ropes for bridles and lines, a driver black +as ebony, who rode the lead mule, with a straw bag for a saddle, and +flourished a fine black-snake whip,--the latter the only really good +article in the whole "turnout." Seven or eight of our party were now +together, and we rattled merrily over the stony road, holding on to the +sides of the old wood-rack, and agreeing that this was much better than +walking. About the middle of the forenoon we came in sight of the +Cumberland Mountains. It was now Wednesday, our second day outside of +our own lines. + +Never have I beheld more beautiful scenery. For a short time the rain +ceased to fall and the air became clear. The mountains shone in the +freshest green, and about their tops clung a soft, shadowy mist, +gradually descending lower, and shrouding one after another of the spurs +and high mountain valleys from view. But the beautiful scene did not +long continue. Soon the mist deepened into cloud, and the interminable +rain began again to fall. To add to our discontent, our wagon could go +no farther, and we once more waded in the mud. + +At noon we found a dinner of the coarsest fare at a miserable one-roomed +hut. One of our men, not belonging, however, to the squad I usually +travelled with, managed to get possession of a bottle of apple-brandy, +which he used so freely as to become very talkative. He was placed +between two others, who kept him from all communication with strangers, +and walked him rapidly on until he became sober. This was the only +instance of such dangerous imprudence in the whole journey. + +From the personal narrative of J. Alfred Wilson, who was with us by this +time, I will make frequent extracts, though by no means always indorsing +his opinions as to military affairs, or the hopefulness of our +enterprise. He was a man of great resolution and endurance, though by no +means of hopeful temper. He says,-- + + "Not till fairly away from the sight of the old flag and of + our regiments, and entirely within the enemy's line, could we + begin to realize the great responsibility we had incurred. To + begin with, we had cast aside our uniforms and put on citizen's + clothes, and assumed all the penalties that, in military usage, + the word _spy_ implies, which is death the world over. Again, + our mission was such that concealment was impossible. We were + sure to arouse the whole Confederacy and invoke the brutal + vengeance of its frenzied leaders in case we did not make good + our escape after doing our work. The military spy, in the + ordinary line of his duty, is not compelled to expose himself + to detection. On the contrary, he conceals, in every possible + way, his identity. This we could do until in the heart of the + enemy's country, the very place where we would be in the + greatest danger." + +Some of the groups fell into the natural error of overdoing their part, +and by the very violence with which they denounced the United States +government excited suspicion. One party of five or six made a narrow +escape from this kind of danger. Their talk was too extravagant and +their answers to some questions somewhat contradictory. As none but +citizens were then present, no objections were made to their statements; +but a company of rebel guerillas was secretly summoned, and they were +pursued. The guerillas arrived at a house where this party had passed +the night but a few moments after they had resumed their journey in the +morning. The pursuit was continued; but growing somewhat weary, and +receiving more reassuring accounts of the travellers ahead, the chase +was abandoned, and our comrades escaped. + +Two others of our number were less fortunate. They became involved in +the same manner, were followed, overtaken, and arrested. They told their +Kentucky story in vain, but as they professed their willingness to +enlist in the rebel army, that privilege was granted them. They were +sent to the nearest post and duly sworn in. Not long afterwards they +took the step that had been in their minds at the hour of enlistment by +endeavoring to desert. One of them succeeded, but the other was +arrested, and had to suffer a long and severe imprisonment. Finally, +however, he was sent back to camp, and his next attempt at desertion was +more successful. + +In conversation my own group was careful to take a very moderate though +decided Southern tone. It was agreed that Wilson and myself should, as +far as possible, do all the talking when in the presence of the enemy. +On entering towns it was our custom to go directly to the street corners +and the groceries, inquire for the latest news, tell our Kentucky story +as often as it seemed necessary, deny some of the reports of Union +outrages and confirm others, assuring the bystanders that the Yankees +were not half so bad as reported, and especially that they would fight, +as otherwise they would never have conquered our great State of +Kentucky, and then demand, in the name of the common cause of the South, +direction and assistance on our way. We thus acquired much information, +and were never once suspected. It is my deliberate opinion that we could +have travelled from Richmond to New Orleans in the same manner at that +period of the war. + +A little way out from our camp Dorsey met a man who seemed to be a +Southern spy, and on the strength of this suspicion was strongly tempted +to shoot him to prevent the irreparable harm he might do us. A little +watching, however, partly dispelled first impressions. The same man +afterwards offered Wilson a liberal reward to pilot him over the +mountains, and actually claimed to be a Confederate spy. Wilson kept +with him for a time and watched him narrowly, but became convinced that +he had not the least suspicion of our expedition. He allowed him, +therefore, to go on his way in peace. It is possible that he was not +what he pretended, any more than we ourselves were Kentucky citizens. +This man was met once more in Chattanooga, but then disappeared. + +As we were mounting the first spurs of the Cumberland Mountains we +encountered a Confederate soldier from the East, who was then at home on +a furlough. He had been in many battles, among them the battle of Bull +Run, which he described minutely. Little did he think that I, too, had +been there, as we laughed together at the wild panic of the fugitive +Yankees. He was greatly delighted to see so many Kentuckians coming out +on the right side in the great struggle, and contrasted our conduct with +that of some mean-spirited persons in his own neighborhood who were so +foolish and depraved as to still sympathize with the abolitionists. + +When we parted he grasped my hand with tears in his eyes, and said he +hoped "the time would soon come when we would be comrades, fighting side +by side in one glorious cause!" My heart revolted from the hypocrisy I +was compelled to use, but having begun there was no possibility of +turning back. We clambered up the mountain till the top was reached; +then across the level summit for six miles; then down again by an +unfrequented road over steep rocks, yawning chasms, and great gullies +cut out by recent rains. This rough jaunt led us down into Battle Creek, +which is a picturesque valley opening out into the Tennessee, and hemmed +in by projecting ranges of lofty mountains. As we descended the slopes, +a countryman we had overtaken told me how the valley had obtained its +name. The legend is very romantic, and probably truthful. + +There was an Indian war between two neighboring tribes in early times. +One of them made a plundering expedition into the territory of the +other, and after securing their booty retreated homeward. They were +promptly pursued, and traced to this valley. The pursuers believed them +to be concealed within its rocky limits, and to make their capture sure +divided their force into two bands, each of which crept along the steep +opposite sides towards the head of the valley. It was early in the +morning, and as they worked their way cautiously along the mountain mist +rolled downward as we had seen it do that morning, and enveloped each of +the parties in its folds. Determined not to be foiled, they kept on, and +meeting at the head of the valley, each supposed the other to be the +foe. They poured in their fire, and a deadly conflict ensued. Not till +the greater number of their braves had fallen did the survivors discover +their sad mistake; then they slowly and sorrowfully retreated to their +wigwams. The plunderers, who had listened to their conflict in safety, +being higher up the mountain, were left to bear off their booty in +triumph. + +But we had little leisure for legendary tales. We rested for the night +with a wealthy secessionist, whom our soldier friend on the mountains +had designated as "the right kind of a man." He received us with open +arms, and shared the best his house afforded. We spent the evening in +denouncing the policy of the Federal government and in exchanging views +as to the prospects of the war. Among other topics I happened to mention +an expatriation law which, as I had learned from a newspaper paragraph, +had been passed by the Kentucky Legislature a few weeks before. This law +only made the reasonable provision that all persons going South to join +the rebel army should lose their rights of State citizenship. The old +man thought this to be an act of unparalleled oppression; and in the +morning, before we were out of bed, he came into our room and requested +some of us to write down that infamous law that he might be able to give +his Union neighbors a convincing proof of Yankee wickedness! We +complied, and all signed our names as witnesses. No doubt that document +was long the theme of angry discussion in many a mountain cabin. + +So thoroughly did we maintain our assumed character in this instance, +that three days after, when the culmination of our enterprise came to +the Confederates like a clap of thunder out of a clear sky, it was +impossible to make our host believe that his guests were among the +adventurers. This we learned from a Union man to whom he had shown a +copy of the terrible expatriation law! + +We were still more than forty miles distant from Chattanooga on this +Wednesday evening, and were due at that place by five o'clock the next +day. On each of the two preceding days we had measured about thirty +miles,--a good rate of speed, but not sufficient. We had formed the +resolution of taking a night journey of ten or fifteen miles, but before +starting after supper, another squad arrived and managed to tell us that +they had seen Andrews and been informed that the grand enterprise was +postponed one day. This was a great relief, for it was hard to tear away +from our comfortable quarters; but this delay was a serious mistake. In +all combined movements in war, time is of prime importance. On the +appointed Friday success would have been easy; on Saturday--but we must +not anticipate. + +Andrews had also caused the advice to be passed along the line that it +would be better to attempt to cross the Tennessee at some point far west +of Chattanooga, and taking passage on the Memphis and Charleston +Railroad, endeavor to pass through Chattanooga by rail. He had heard of +stringent orders being issued against any one crossing the river near +this town without a pass. Farther down the stream these orders might not +apply, or, in case of necessity, a raft might be constructed among the +wooded mountains, and a passage obtained by that means. + +About noon of the next day we came to Jasper, and spent a short time in +the principal grocery of the place talking over the state of the +country. We informed the idlers that there would soon be a mighty +uprising of Kentuckians in favor of the Southern cause, but professed +ignorance of the movements of Mitchel's army. In return we received the +first vague reports of the battle of Pittsburg Landing. It was the +impression that the Union army was totally destroyed, thousands of men +being slain, and innumerable cannon captured. One countryman assured me +that five hundred Yankee gunboats had been sunk! I ventured to suggest a +doubt as to the Yankees having so many, but was not able to shake his +faith. + +The same night we reached the banks of the Tennessee, directly south of +Jasper, and lodged at the house of a Mrs. Hall. A flat-boat owned by one +of the neighbors was used as a ferry-boat, and arrangements were made +for setting us on the other side of the stream early in the morning. The +evening spent here was very enjoyable. Others of our party came in, and +among them Andrews himself. After a good supper, we were all assigned to +the best room, which had a roaring wood-fire in an open chimney, and two +large beds in the corners. We met without any outward sign of +recognition, but rapidly became acquainted. Each acted according to his +own nature. The bountiful supper and the cheerful fire greatly refreshed +us after the labor of the day. My companion, Shadrach, was soon +acknowledged as the wit of the party, and received perpetual applause +for his mirthful sallies. Andrews was silent, but appeared to greatly +enjoy the fun. Dorsey, who had great forethought and prudence, and had +decided that it was good policy, even among his comrades, to appear as +ignorant as possible, felt highly complimented when told that his group +had been described to some of the others who followed as "a party of +country Jakes." Wilson gave us all the information wanted on every +possible subject. Songs were sung, stories were told, and as the family +formed part of the fireside company, many of the incidents may not have +been quite authentic. Late at night this social evening's entertainment +closed. It was the more highly appreciated as it was the first +opportunity most of us had enjoyed of becoming acquainted with our +leader and with each other. + +In the morning Andrews started up the river on horseback. The flat-boat +was bailed out, and we were just entering it, when a mounted man +appeared and handed the ferryman an order forbidding him to allow any +one to cross the river at his ferry for three days. We tried to get an +exception made in our favor, as we had contracted with him the evening +before, but he was unwilling to assume the risk. The messenger gave us +the reason for the order, and a most interesting piece of news it was. +General Mitchel was moving rapidly southward for some unknown object, +and it was desirable on that account to stop all intercourse with the +country beyond the river. The messenger volunteered the comforting +assurance that "these brave Kentuckians will no doubt find a warm +welcome at Chattanooga," and gave us the best directions in his power +for reaching that point. We concealed our disappointment, and as soon as +we were alone debated as to the best course to be taken. Two +alternatives only were open. One was to build or seize a raft or boat +and cross in defiance of the order. This was easy enough in the night, +but in daytime it would be very hazardous, and that day, until five +o'clock in the afternoon, was the only time at our disposal. We +therefore took the only remaining course, and dispersing, hurried over +the mountains towards Chattanooga. + +Our journey was far from pleasant, as the rocky mountain-spurs here +sweep directly down to the bank of this very crooked river. Several +times we lost our way in the entanglements of the woods, but at length +reached a valley that ran down to the Tennessee directly opposite +Chattanooga. The road was now more frequented, and we talked freely with +travellers, for all fear of being detected by those we chanced to meet +had long since been dissipated. + +One countryman related a very interesting item of news from the war in +the East. It was to the effect that the Confederate iron-clad "Merrimac" +had one day steamed out into the harbor of Fortress Monroe, and after +engaging the Union "Monitor" for some hours, with no decisive result, +had run alongside of her opponent, and throwing grappling-irons on +board, had towed her ashore, where she, of course, fell an easy prey. +This may serve as a specimen of the kind of news we perpetually heard +while in the Confederate States. + +Quite a number of persons--many of them of our own party--were waiting +on the banks of the Tennessee River. The assemblage of so many of us on +that side of the river was very unfortunate, as it materially increased +the risk of discovery; but a very high wind was blowing, and the +ferryman feared to risk his little shackly "horse-boat" on the turbulent +stream. Our time was nearly exhausted, and we could not afford to wait +very long. We urged the boatman very strenuously to set us over at once, +but he wished to delay until the wind fell. Nothing as yet had been said +to us about passes, but this was explained mentally by the conjecture +that there was a guard on the other side, whose inspection we would be +obliged to pass,--a more formidable ordeal than we had yet encountered. +When requests for a speedy passage failed to move the ferryman, we +changed our tactics, and talked in his hearing of the cowardice of +Tennessee boatmen as contrasted with Kentuckians, or even the Ohio +Yankees. When twelve or sixteen men deliberately attempt to make one man +angry, they can generally succeed. The boatman soon tired of our +raillery, and, entering his boat, told us to come on and show what we +could do by lending him a hand, adding that he would put us over or +drown us, he did not care much which. The invitation was promptly +accepted, and by pushing with poles and pulling on the limbs of +overhanging trees we moved up the stream to a point judged most +favorable, and swung out into the waves. The ride was short and not +without danger, but the peril on the other side was so much greater that +we had little thought to give to the passage. "How should we meet and +deceive the guard?" This was the important question. Our surprise was +almost equal to our delight when we landed and found no one to bar our +progress. The explanation was perfectly simple. The guard had not been +placed that afternoon because it was not believed that any one would +attempt to cross in the storm. Wondering at our good fortune, we hurried +to the cars, and were in time to procure tickets for Marietta before the +departure of the train, which was crowded with passengers, many of them +Confederate soldiers. In such a crowd it was easy to avoid notice. + +Every seat in the cars was filled, and we had to be contented with +standing room. The fumes of whiskey and tobacco were very strong. +Talking was loud and incessant, and turned mostly upon the great battle +of Shiloh, the accounts of which were by no means so extravagant as at +first, though a great victory was still claimed. We took part in the +conversation freely, judging this to be the best way of maintaining our +assumed disguise. No general system of passports had been brought into +use, at least in this part of the South, and railway travel was entirely +unrestricted. + +The sun was about an hour high when we glided out of the depot, and it +soon sank to rest behind the hills of Georgia. The time for our perilous +attempt drew near. There was some diversity of opinion among the members +of the party, as revealed by conversations both before and after, as to +the prospects of success. The most of us felt some solicitude, but were +far more hopeful than when we left camp. So many incidents had occurred +substantially as they had been planned, that trust in the foresight of +our leader, with the assurance that all would come out right, was +greatly strengthened. The first feeling of strangeness which followed +our plunge into the enemy's country had given way to confidence in the +impenetrability of our mental disguise. For my own part I scarcely felt +a doubt of success. It seemed to me that a dozen modes of escape were +open in the improbable event of failure. I saw the dangers surrounding +us clearly, but none of them now appeared more formidable than when I +first asked Colonel Harris the privilege of joining the expedition. +There were many bridges on the road we passed over, and we could not +help picturing our return on the morrow and the vengeance we proposed +wreaking on them. Darkness closed in, and on we went amid the oaths and +laughter of the rebels, many of whom were very much intoxicated. I +procured a seat on the coal-box and gave myself up to the thoughts +suggested by the hour. There was now no need of trying to keep up +conversation with those around. Visions of former days and friends--dear +friends, both around the camp-fires and the hearths of home, whom I +might never see again--floated before me. I also heard much talk of the +merits of different States and regiments in the contest, and many +discussions of the conscript law, which was just now coming into force. +The opinion of the greater number of the soldiers seemed to be that +while the provisions of the law were right in compelling all to take a +part in the burdens of the conflict, yet that it would be of but little +service, as the unwilling soldiers, who were thus forced into the ranks, +would be no match for volunteers. Little did they imagine that in this +terrible law their rulers had found a weapon which would enable them to +repulse the Northern armies at every point, and protract the war for +three years longer! + +[Illustration: CHATTANOOGA AND +RAILROAD CONNECTIONS.] + +At this time the Union cause seemed most hopeful. All appearances +indicated a speedy termination of the war and a complete +re-establishment of the old government. Few great battles had taken +place, but the preponderance of fortune as well as force seemed +everywhere on the loyal side. In the West, our armies had during the +last three months penetrated almost half-way to the Gulf; McClellan was +preparing to move with overwhelming force towards Richmond; Burnside was +dealing hard blows on the North Carolina coast; the force which captured +New Orleans was already on the way; and at no point were the rebel +forces a fair match for their opponents. Volunteering had almost stopped +in the South, while recruits were pouring as a steady stream into the +Northern armies, and continued to do so for a year longer. A rebellion +almost isolated and placed everywhere on the defensive could not hope +for long life unless new resources were discovered. The rebel leaders +well knew this, and therefore passed the conscription law. + +It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that there were two wars waged +between the North and the South. The first was between the two people by +means of volunteers, and the second between the two governments. For the +first year the soldiers fought on both sides with scarcely a thought of +pay or bounty, and without a hint of compulsion. But the South had +reached the end of this period, and her volunteers were beaten and +exhausted. This was not from any want of bravery on their part, but +because of inferior numbers, and because, having less at stake than the +volunteers of the North, they could less willingly support adverse +fortune. Now the new law was enacted at the South which put all the +able-bodied population at the service of the State. The advantages were +immediate and obvious. All the volunteers who had enlisted for a limited +time were retained. The depleted organizations were filled up to their +full strength, instead of waiting for the recruiting of new regiments, +and the conscripts thus became, in a few days, the equals of old +soldiers. The second year of the war, in which the Northern volunteers +fought the whole force the Southern States could bring into the field, +was, on the whole, the most unfavorable of any period to the loyal arms. +It became clear that the supremacy of the Union could not be restored +unless the same potent weapon could be employed on her behalf. From the +hour that the possibility of this was demonstrated, and a draft +successfully enforced by the Union government, the issue was virtually +decided. Despair might protract the contest, but the utter exhaustion of +Southern resources was only a question of time. Was it necessary to +permit the war to pass from the first into the second stage? Might not +the victory of the Union volunteers have been pushed so rapidly as to +have prevented the South from enforcing the conscription law over any +considerable portion of her territory, and thus have ended the contest +at once? These were questions of tremendous importance, which could only +be answered in the months of April and May, 1862. Then was a golden +opportunity which once lost could only be regained by years of desperate +fighting. A half-dozen great victories in midsummer would be of less +real value than a vigorous advance in the spring, which should at once +discourage the enemy, while at the lowest point of his fortunes, and +prevent the recruiting of his armies by conscription. It has often been +said that the North did not win any decisive advantage until the +abolition of slavery. This is true, but it does not in the least +contradict the view just advanced. That great measure committed the +North absolutely to the conquest of the South, and thus led to exertions +adequate to the end sought. Yet we must conclude, reasoning from a +military point of view only, that if _the same_ exertions had been put +forth earlier, they would have been even more speedily effective. + +These considerations, which were but dimly, if at all, realized as we +glided along in the darkness through the heart of the rebel country, +will render more intelligible the vast importance attributed by +competent military authorities to the expedition in which we were +engaged. If we burned the bridges on the morrow, General Mitchel would +certainly capture Chattanooga within three or four days, and spread his +power over East Tennessee and all the adjoining loyal districts. The +people of this section, now thoroughly alarmed and enraged by the +conscription, would enlist under his banner by tens of thousands. Seven +regiments had already been formed by East Tennesseeans, who, under +circumstances of the greatest difficulty, had run away into Kentucky. +The communications of the Eastern and the Western rebel armies would be +cut; and to destroy those armies in detail would only require the +vigorous advance of the forces already opposed to them. This was a +brilliant prospect to set before an expedition composed of only +twenty-four men; but there is in it nothing beyond the realm of +probability, and as I thought of the mere possibility of such +achievements I felt that we might afford to despise all personal danger. +To deliver a territory occupied by nearly a million citizens from +conscription; to place an army in the most important strategical +position in the rebel territory, for such Chattanooga was; to give the +command of the great continental system of railways into the hands of +our own troops, and to paralyze the plans of the enemy; these were, +indeed, almost incredible results to flow from such a cause; but we +believed then that such would be the meaning of our success. The reader +who will study attentively the military situation as it was in 1862, +with the railroads then existing, and add the fact that the Southern +armies were then depleted to the lowest point reached during the +struggle, will not be disposed to smile at such possibilities. It is +certain that in the first hour of panic, caused by our attempt, the +Confederates themselves acknowledged, not in words only, but in the most +significant actions, the deadly peril to which they had been exposed. + +With such thoughts the hours passed not unpleasantly. I noticed that we +were making very slow time, and afterwards learned that this was general +on Southern roads. The absorption in warlike affairs and the scarcity of +iron and all other material, as well as of money, had caused the +managers of the railroads to let them fall into bad repair, and this +necessitated a low rate of speed. The fastest train on this road did not +get beyond eighteen miles an hour. This was a decidedly unfavorable +element in the problem we were to solve. Some of the adventurers were +even less favorably impressed with our prospects than I was. The immense +business of the road, which had become one of the most important in the +whole South, rendered the running of a train when we captured it much +more difficult. We saw many freight trains lying at the stations, and +everything indicated that the capacity of this line of rail was being +pressed to the utmost. Sergeant Ross and Alfred Wilson took the most +gloomy view of our prospects of success, and even sought an opportunity, +soon after, to dissuade Andrews from going any further in it. The latter +thus explains his own feelings,-- + + "After getting seated, and there being no further cause of + concern for the time being, I began to carefully study over the + situation with all the thought I could, and to calculate our + chances of success or failure. The result of my deliberations + was by no means encouraging. We were one day behind the time + appointed. I knew, too, or felt sure, that General Mitchel + would not fail to march upon and take Huntsville, according to + the arrangement made when we started. I also felt that if he + did so there would be little room to hope for our success. It + would cause the roads to be crowded with trains flying from + danger, and it would be difficult to pass them all in safety. + But it was too late now to change the programme. We must make + the effort, come what might. I said nothing, however, to any + one but Andrews; but on listening to my opinion on the + situation, he encouraged me by saying there was yet a good + chance to succeed. Indeed, he expressed himself in so sanguine + a manner that I made no further argument; but I still thought + my course of reasoning correct, whether the event should accord + with it or not." + +From the soldiers and others in the train we received a rumor which was +full of startling interest to us,--nothing less than the reported +capture of Huntsville by General Mitchel. Much incredulity was +expressed, and details were wanting. His force was reported at +twenty-five or thirty thousand men,--an extravagant but not unnatural +over-estimate. We had no doubt of the truth of the report, though it +would have better suited us if he also had been detained for one day, or +even more. + +It was near nine o'clock when the train reached the supper station. +After all our fatigue we were well prepared to do justice to the +bountiful meal that was spread. But there was such a rush for the table +that several of our party were unable to get near it, and had therefore +to continue their fast. The writer was more fortunate. Buffum, who was +crowded back on account of his small size, managed to stoop down and +slip up under the arm of a rebel officer just as the latter was rising +from the table, and thus took his place while a half-dozen hungry +travellers rushed for it. There was some laughing, and Buffum was +applauded for his "Yankee trick," more than he would have been had it +been known that he was actually a native of Massachusetts, and then +engaged in the Federal service. + +The train rushed on after we left the supper station, and as I had +managed to get a good meal and also a comfortable seat in the changing, +all reflections and dangers were soon forgotten in a sound sleep, from +which I only awakened when the conductor shouted "Marietta!" It was then +almost midnight, and the goal was reached. This was, for the present, +the utmost boundary of our journey. We were now in the centre of the +Confederacy, and before we departed had a blow to strike that would +either make all rebeldom vibrate from centre to circumference or leave +us at the mercy of the merciless. But the first thing to be done was to +snatch a short repose preparatory to the hard work of the morrow. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A LOCOMOTIVE AND TRAIN CAPTURED. + + +The greater number of us arranged to pass the night at a small hotel +adjoining the Marietta depot. Before retiring we left orders with the +hotel clerk to rouse us in time for the northward bound train, due not +long after daylight. Notwithstanding our novel situation, I never slept +more soundly. Good health, extreme fatigue, and the feeling that the die +was now cast and further thought useless, made me sink into slumber +almost as soon as I touched the bed. Others equally brave and determined +were affected in a different way. Alfred Wilson says,-- + + "No man knows what a day may bring forth, and the very + uncertainty of what that day's sun would bring forth in our + particular cases was the reason that some of us, myself at + least of the number, did not sleep very much. Our doom might be + fixed before the setting of another sun. We might be hanging to + the limbs of some of the trees along the railroad, with an + enraged populace jeering and shouting vengeance because we had + no more lives to give up; or we might leave a trail of fire and + destruction behind us, and come triumphantly rolling into + Chattanooga and Huntsville, within the Federal lines, to + receive the welcome plaudits of comrades left behind, and the + thanks of our general, and the praises of a grateful people. + Such thoughts as these passed in swift review, and were not + calculated to make one sleep soundly." + +As the hotel was much crowded, we obtained a few rooms in close +proximity, and crowded them to their utmost capacity. Andrews noted our +rooms before retiring, that he might, if necessary, seek any one of us +out for consultation before we rose. Porter and Hawkins were +unfortunately overlooked; they had arrived on an earlier train and +obtained lodging at some distance from the depot. The clerk failed to +have them called in time for the morning train, as they had ordered, +and, greatly to their regret and chagrin, they were left behind. This +was a serious loss, as they were both cool, brave men, and Hawkins was +the most experienced railway engineer of our company. W. F. Brown, who +took his place in this work, was, however, fully competent, though +possibly somewhat less cautious. + +Long before the train was due, Andrews, who had slept little, if at all, +that night, glided from room to room silently as a ghost, the doors +being purposely left unfastened, and aroused the slumberers. It seemed +to some of us scarcely a moment from the time of retiring until he came +thus to the bedside of each sleeper in turn, and cautiously wakening +him, asked his name, to prevent the possibility of mistake, and then +told each one exactly the part he was expected to take in the enterprise +of the day. There was hasty dressing, and afterwards an informal meeting +held in Andrews' room, at which nearly one-half of the whole number were +present, and plans were more fully discussed. Then Marion A. Ross, one +of the most determined of the whole number, took the bold step of +advising and even urging the abandonment, for the present, of the whole +enterprise. He reasoned with great force that under present +circumstances, with the rebel vigilance fully aroused by Mitchel's rapid +advance, with guards stationed around the train we were to capture, as +we had learned would be the case at Big Shanty, and with the road itself +obstructed by numerous trains, the enterprise was sure to fail, and +would cost the life of every man engaged in it. Andrews very gently +answered his arguments and strove to show that the objections urged +really weighed in favor of the original plan. No such attempt as we +purposed had ever been made, and consequently would not be guarded +against; the presence of a line of sentinels and of so many troops at +Big Shanty would only tend to relax vigilance still further; and the +great amount of business done on the road, with the running of many +unscheduled trains, would screen us from too close inquiry when we ran +our train ahead of time. This reasoning was not altogether satisfactory, +and some of the others joined Ross in a respectful but firm protest +against persisting in such a hopeless undertaking. But Andrews, speaking +very low, as was his wont when thoroughly in earnest, declared that he +had once before postponed the attempt, and returned to camp disgraced. +"Now," he continued, "I will accomplish my purpose or leave my bones to +bleach in Dixie. But I do not wish to control any one against his own +judgment. If any of you think it too hazardous, you are perfectly at +liberty to take the train in the opposite direction and work your way +back to camp as you can." + +This inflexible determination closed the discussion, and as no man was +willing to desert his leader, we all assured him of our willingness to +obey his orders to the death. I had taken no part in the discussion, as +I was not in possession of sufficient facts to judge of the chance of +success, and I wished the responsibility to rest upon the leader, where +it properly belonged. + +The train was now nearly due, and we proceeded to the station for the +purchase of tickets. By the time they had been procured--not all for one +place, as we wished to lessen the risk of suspicion--the train swept up +to the platform. Hastily glancing at it in the early morning light, and +seeing only that it was very long and apparently well filled, the twenty +adventurers entered by different doors, but finally took their places in +one car. + +From Marietta to Big Shanty the railroad sweeps in a long bend of eight +miles around the foot of Kenesaw Mountain, which lies directly between +the two stations. This elevation is now scarred all over with rebel +intrenchments, and was the scene of one of the severest contests of the +war. This, however, as well as the whole of the three months' struggle +from Chattanooga to Atlanta, came a year and a half later. At this time +the nearest Federal soldiers were more than two hundred miles away. + +When the train moved on and the conductor came to take our tickets we +observed him carefully, as we knew not how closely his fate and ours +might be linked together in the approaching struggle. The most vivid +anticipation fell far short of the reality. Upon the qualities of that +one man our success or failure hinged. He was quite young--not more than +twenty-three or four,--and looked like a man of resolution and energy. +We noticed that he was also scrutinizing us and the other passengers +very closely, and naturally feared that he had in some manner been put +on his guard. In fact, as we learned long afterwards, he had been warned +that some of the new conscripts who were reluctant to fight for the +Confederacy were contemplating an escape, and might try to get a ride on +the cars. His orders were to watch for all such and arrest them at once. +But he did not think that any of the men who got on at Marietta looked +in the least like conscripts or deserters. + +The train ran slowly, stopping at several intervening points, and did +not reach Big Shanty until it was fully daylight. This station had been +selected for the seizure, because the train breakfasted there, and it +was probable that many of the employes and passengers would leave it for +their meal, thus diminishing the opposition we might expect. Another +most important reason for the selection was the absence of any telegraph +office. But, on the other hand, Camp McDonald had been lately located +here, and a large body of soldiers--some accounts said as many as ten +thousand men--were already assembled. Their camp included the station +within the guard-line. When Andrews and the first party had been at +Atlanta, three weeks earlier, few troops had yet arrived at this point. +The capture of a train in the midst of a camp of the enemy was not a +part of the original plan, but subsequently became necessary. It was +certainly a great additional element of danger, but it was not now +possible to substitute any other point. + +The decisive hour had arrived. It is scarcely boastful to say that the +annals of history record few enterprises more bold and novel than that +witnessed by the rising sun of Saturday morning, April 12, 1862. Here +was a train, with several hundred passengers, with a full complement of +hands, lying inside a line of sentinels, who were distinctly seen pacing +back and forth in close proximity, to be seized by a mere score of men, +and to be carried away before the track could be obstructed, or the +intruding engineer shot down at his post. Only the most careful +calculation and prompt execution, concentrating the power of the whole +band into a single lightning-like stroke, could afford the slightest +prospect of success. In the bedroom conference every action was +predetermined with the nicest accuracy. Our engineer and his assistant +knew the signal at which to start; the brakesmen had their work +assigned; the man who was to uncouple the cars knew just the place at +which to make the separation; the remainder of the number constituted a +guard, in two divisions, who were to stand with ready revolvers abreast +of the cars to be seized, and shoot down without hesitation any one who +attempted to interfere with the work. Andrews was to command the whole, +and do any part of the work not otherwise provided for. Should there be +any unexpected hindrance, we were to fight until we either overcame all +opposition and captured the train or perished in a body. If we failed to +carry off our prize we were inevitably lost; if any man failed to be on +board when the signal was given, his fate also was sealed. A delay of +thirty seconds after our designs became clearly known would have +resulted in the slaughter of the whole party. + +When our train rolled up to the platform the usual announcement was +shouted, "Big Shanty; twenty minutes for breakfast!" Most fortunately +for us, the conductor, engineer, firemen, and train-hands generally, +with many of the passengers, poured out, and hurried to the long, low +eating-room which gave its name to the station. The engine was utterly +unguarded. This uncommon carelessness was the result of perfect +security, and greatly favored our design. Yet it was a thrilling moment! +Victory or death hung on the next minute! There was no chance for +drawing back, and I do not think any of us had the disposition. A little +while before, a sense of shrinking came over the writer like that +preceding a plunge into ice-water; but with the next breath it passed +away, and left me as calm and quiet as if no enemy had been within a +hundred miles. Still, for a moment, we kept our seats. Andrews went +forward to examine the track and see if there was any hindrance to a +rapid rush ahead. Almost immediately he returned, and said, very +quietly, "All right, boys; let us go now." There was nothing in this to +attract special observation; but whether it did or not was now a matter +of indifference. The time of concealment was past. We rose, left the +cars, and walked briskly to the head of the train. With the precision of +machinery, every man took his appointed place. Three cars back from the +tender the coupling-pin was drawn out, as the load of passenger-cars +would only have been an incumbrance. Wilson W. Brown, who acted as +engineer, William Knight as assistant, Alfred Wilson as fireman, +together with Andrews, mounted the engine, Knight grasping the lever, +and waiting the word for starting. The appointed brakesmen threw +themselves flat on the top of the cars. At a signal from Andrews, the +remainder of the band, who had kept watch, climbed with surprising +quickness into a box-car which stood open. All was well! Knight, at +Andrews' orders, jerked open the steam-valve, and we were off! Before +the camp-guards or the bystanders could do more than turn a curious +eye upon our proceedings, the train was under way, and we were safe from +interruption. + +[Illustration: CAPTURE OF A TRAIN.] + +The writer was stationed in the box-car, and as soon as all were in, we +pulled the door shut to guard against any stray musket-balls. For a +moment of most intense suspense after we were thus shut in all was +still. In that moment a thousand conflicting thoughts swept through our +minds. Then came a pull, ajar, a clang, and we were flying away on our +perilous journey. Those who were on the engine caught a glimpse of the +excited crowd, soldiers and citizens, swarming and running about in the +wildest confusion. It has been said that a number of shots were fired +after us, but those in the box-car knew nothing of it, and it is certain +that no one was injured. A widely-circulated picture represented us as +waving our hats and shouting in triumph. Nothing so melodramatic took +place. The moment was too deep and earnest, and we had too many perils +still to encounter for any such childish demonstration. + +Yet it was a grand triumph, and having nothing of a more practical +character for the moment to do, I realized it to the fullest extent. +There are times in life when whole years of enjoyment are condensed into +a single experience. It was so with me then. I could comprehend the +emotion of Columbus when he first beheld through the dim dawn the +long-dreamed-of shores of America, or the less innocent but no less +fervent joy of Cortez when he planted the Cross of Spain on the halls of +Montezuma. My breast throbbed fast with emotions of joy and gladness +that words labor in vain to express. A sense of ethereal lightness ran +through my veins, and I seemed ascending higher, higher, with each +pulsation of the engine. Remember, I was but twenty-two then, full of +hope and ambition. Not a dream of failure shadowed my rapture. We had +always been told that the greatest difficulty was to reach and take +possession of the engine, after which success was certain. But for +unforeseen contingencies it would have been. + +Away we rush, scouring past field and village and woodland. At each leap +of the engine our hearts rose higher, and we talked merrily of the +welcome that would greet us when we dashed into Huntsville a few hours +later, our enterprise done, and the brightest laurels of the war +eclipsed! + +We found the railroad, however, to be of the roughest and most difficult +character. The grades were very heavy and the curves numerous and sharp. +We seemed to be running towards every point of the compass. The deep +valleys and steep hills of this part of the country had rendered the +building of the road difficult and costly. There were numerous high +embankments where an accident would be of deadly character. The track +was also uneven and in generally bad condition, for the war had rendered +railroad iron scarce and high-priced, besides diverting all attention +and resources into other channels. This unfavorable character of the +road very greatly increased the difficulty experienced by an engineer +unfamiliar with the route in making rapid time, or in avoiding the +varied difficulties incident to our progress. But we trusted implicitly +that the far-sighted plans of Andrews, the skill of our engineers, and +our own willing efforts would overcome all hindrances. + +Our first run was short. There was a sudden checking of speed and a +halt. When those of us who were in the box-car pushed open our door and +asked the reason for stopping so soon, we were told that the fire was +low and the steam exhausted. This was startling intelligence, and caused +a moment of consternation. If our "General"--the name of the locomotive +we had captured--failed us at the beginning of the race, we too well +knew what the end would be. For hundreds of miles on every side of us +were desperate and daring foes. A hundred times our number of horse and +foot could be gathered against us in a few hours. The most timid bird +pursued by hounds feels safe, for its wings can bear it above their +jaws. But if those wings should be broken! This engine gave us wings; +but if it should be disabled no valor of ours could beat back the hosts +about us, no skill elude their rage. But we found a less threatening +explanation of our premature halt. The schedule time of our train was +very slow,--only about sixteen miles an hour,--and the fires had been +allowed to run down because of the expected stop of twenty minutes for +breakfast at Big Shanty,--a stop that we had reduced to less than two +minutes. Then the valve being thrown wide open, the little steam in the +boiler was soon exhausted. But this difficulty was of short duration. A +rest of three minutes, with plenty of wood thrown into the furnace, +wrought a change, and we again glided rapidly forward. + +But when viewed soberly, and in the light of all the facts since +developed, what were the chances of success and escape possessed by the +flying party? Was the whole attempt, as has been frequently asserted, +rash and foolhardy? Or had it that character of practicability which is +ever the stamp of true genius? Historical accuracy, as well as justice +to the memory of a brave but unfortunate man, compels me to pronounce +the scheme almost faultless. In this estimate I have the full +concurrence of all who were engaged on the opposite side. It is hard to +see how the plan could have been improved without allowing its projector +to have had a knowledge of the precise condition of the enemy such as no +commander at the beginning of an important enterprise ever has. No one +of the plans by which Generals Grant and Sherman finally overthrew the +Rebellion presented a clearer prospect of success. + +These are the elements of the problem upon which Andrews based his +hopes. Big Shanty is twenty-eight miles north of Atlanta and thirty-two +south of Kingston. Short of these places he was convinced that no +engine could be obtained for pursuit. He could obstruct the road so that +no train would reach Big Shanty for hours. Pinch-bars and other +instruments for lifting track might be found on the captured engine, or +obtained from some station or working-party. His force of twenty men was +counted ample to overcome resistance at any switch or passing train. One +irregular train only was expected to be on the road, and that would soon +be met,--certainly at Kingston or before,--after which it would be safe +to run at the highest speed to the first bridge, burn it, and pass on to +the next, which, with all other large bridges, could be served in the +same manner. Each bridge burnt would be an insuperable barrier to +pursuit by an engine beyond that point. Thus every part of the scheme +was fair and promising. Only those critics who are wise after the event +can pronounce the attempt rash and hopeless. The destruction of the +telegraph would also be necessary; but this was not difficult. It seemed +as if every contingency was provided for, and then there was the +additional fighting power of twenty chosen men to guard against any +possible emergency. We were now embarked on this most perilous but +hopeful voyage. Coolness, precision of work, and calm effort could +scarcely fail to sever the chief military communications of the enemy +before the setting of the sun, and convince him that no enterprise was +too audacious for the Union arms. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +UNFORESEEN HINDRANCES. + + +After the fire had been made to burn briskly Andrews jumped off the +engine, ran back to the box-car, about the door of which we were +standing, and clasped our hands in an ecstasy of congratulation. He +declared that all our really hard work was done and that our +difficulties were nearly passed; that we had the enemy at such a +disadvantage that he could not harm us; and exhibited every sign of joy. +Said he, "Only one train to meet, and then we will put our engine to +full speed, burn the bridges that I have marked out, dash through +Chattanooga, and on to Mitchel at Huntsville. We've got the upper hand +of the rebels now, and they can't help themselves!" How glad we all +were! When, three years later, the capture of Richmond set all the bells +of the North ringing out peals of triumph, the sensation of joy was more +diffused but less intense than we then experienced. Almost everything +mankind values seemed within our grasp. Oh, if we had met but one +unscheduled train! + +This reference of Andrews to one train which he expected to meet before +we began to burn bridges has been quoted in many public sketches, and +has led to some misapprehension. He did expect to meet three trains +before reaching Chattanooga; but two of these were regular trains, and +being also farther up the road, were not supposed to present any serious +difficulty. Their position at any given time could be definitely +ascertained, and we could avoid collision with them, no matter how far +we ran ahead of time. But so long as there were any irregular trains on +the road before us, our only safety was in keeping the regular time of +the captured train. This was, unfortunately, very slow; but if we +exceeded it we lost the right of way, and were liable to a collision at +any moment. This risk was greatly increased by our inability to send +ahead telegraphic notifications of our position. The order of +southward-bound trains, according to the information we then had, was as +follows: First, a way-freight, which was very uncertain as to time, but +which we expected to meet early in the morning, and felt sure that it +would be at Kingston or south of that point. This was the only real +hindrance according to our programme, and it was to this train that +Andrews referred. Behind this were the regular freight train, and still +farther north the regular passenger train. As a matter of fact, we did +meet these trains at Adairsville and Calhoun, the latter being somewhat +behind time; but we might have met them farther north had it not been +for unforeseen hindrances. + +There is considerable discrepancy in the many published accounts of the +following chase, which the writer has not in every case been able to +perfectly reconcile. In the intense excitement and novel situations +involved men were not likely to observe or remember every event +accurately. But no pains have been spared to combine fulness and +completeness in the following account. Using the best of my own +recollections, consulting my comrades, reading carefully all published +accounts, and especially going over the whole route years after, with +Fuller and Murphy, two of the pursuing party, who kindly gave me all the +information in their power, it is hoped that substantial accuracy has +been obtained. Some of the incidents of the chase, such as the number of +times the track was torn up, and whether we were fired upon by pursuing +soldiers, allow some room for a conflict of memory. But the variations +are not material. + +Side by side with the road ran the telegraph-wires, which were able, by +the flashing of a single lightning message ahead, to arrest our progress +and dissipate our fondest hopes. There was no telegraph station where we +had captured the train, but we knew not how soon our enemies might reach +one, or whether they might not have a portable battery at command. +Therefore we ran but a short distance, after replenishing the furnace, +before again stopping to cut the wire. + +John Scott, an active young man of the Twenty-first Ohio, scrambled up +the pole with the agility of a cat, and tried to break the wire by +swinging upon it; but failing in this, he knocked off the insulating box +at the top of the pole and swung with it down to the ground. +Fortunately, a small saw was found on the engine, with which the wire +was severed in two places, and the included portion, many yards in +length, was taken away with us, in order that the ends might not be +readily joined. + +While one or two of the party were thus engaged others worked with equal +diligence in taking up a rail from the track. No good track-raising +instruments had been found on the train, and we had not yet procured +them from any other source. A smooth iron bar, about four feet long, was +the only instrument yet found, and with this some of the spikes were +slowly and painfully battered out. After a few had thus been extracted, +a lever was got under the rail and the remainder were pried loose. This +occupied much more time than cutting the wire, and it required no +prophet to foretell that if we did not procure better tools rail-lifting +would have to be used very sparingly in our programme. In the present +instance, however, the loss of time was no misfortune, as we were ahead +of the schedule time, which we still felt bound to observe. + +After another rapid but brief run, we paused long enough to chop down a +telegraph-pole, cut the wire again, and place the pole, with many other +obstructions, on the track. We did not here try to lift a rail; indeed, +we had little serious fear of any pursuit at this time, and merely threw +on these obstructions because of having spare time to employ. + +We thus continued--running a little ahead of time, then stopping to +obstruct the track and cut the wire--until Cass Station was reached, +where we took on a good supply of wood and water. At this place we also +obtained a complete time schedule of the road. Andrews told the +tank-tender that we were running a powder-train through to the army of +General Beauregard at Corinth, which was almost out of ammunition, and +that the greatest haste was necessary. He further claimed to be a +Confederate officer of high rank, and said that he had impressed this +train for the purpose in hand, and that Fuller, with the regular +passenger train, would be along shortly. The whole story was none too +plausible, as General Mitchel was now interposed between our present +position and Beauregard, and we would never have been able to get a +train to the army of the latter on this route; but the tender was not +critical and gave us his schedule, adding that he would willingly send +his shirt to Beauregard if that general needed it. When this man was +afterwards asked if he did not suspect the character of the enemy he +thus aided, he answered that he would as soon have suspected the +President of the Confederacy himself as one who talked so coolly and +confidently as Andrews did! + +Keeping exactly on regular time, we proceeded without any striking +adventures until Kingston was reached. This place--thirty-two miles from +Big Shanty--we regarded as marking the first stage of our journey. Two +hours had elapsed since the capture of the train, and hitherto we had +been fairly prosperous. No track-lifting instruments had yet been +obtained, notwithstanding inquiries for them at several stations. We had +secured no inflammable materials for more readily firing the bridges, +and the road was not yet clear before us. But, on the other hand, no +serious hindrance had yet occurred, and we believed ourselves far ahead +of any possible pursuit. + +But at Kingston we had some grounds for apprehending difficulty. This +little town is at the junction with the road to Rome, Georgia. Cars and +engines were standing on the side track. Here we fully expected to meet +our first train, and it would be necessary for us to get the switches +properly adjusted before we could pass it to go on our way. When we drew +up at the station there was handed to Andrews our first and last +communication from the management of the road, in the shape of a +telegram, ordering Fuller's train--now ours--to wait at Kingston for the +local freight, which was considerably behind time. The order was not +very welcome, but we drew out on the side track, and watched eagerly for +the train. Many persons gathered around Andrews, who here, as always, +personated the conductor of our train, and showered upon him many +curious and somewhat suspicious questions. Ours was an irregular train, +but the engine was recognized as Fuller's. The best answers possible +were given. A red flag had been placed on our engine, and the +announcement was made that Fuller, with another engine, was but a short +way behind. The powder story was emphasized, and every means employed to +avoid suspicion. Andrews only, and the usual complement of train-hands, +were visible, the remainder of the party being tightly shut up in the +car, which was designated as containing Beauregard's ammunition. The +striking personal appearance of Andrews greatly aided him in carrying +through his deception, which was never more difficult than at this +station. His commanding presence, and firm but graceful address, marked +him as a Southern gentleman,--a member of the class from which a great +proportion of the rebel officers were drawn. His declarations and orders +were therefore received with the greater respect on this account. But +all these resources were here strained to the utmost. + +At length the anxiously-expected local freight train arrived, and took +its place on another side track. We were about to start on our way, with +the glad consciousness that our greatest obstacle was safely passed, +when a red flag was noticed on the hindmost freight-car. This elicited +immediate inquiry, and we were informed that another very long freight +train was just behind, and that we would be obliged to wait its arrival +also. This was most unfortunate, as we had been already detained at +Kingston much longer than was pleasant. There were many disagreeable +elements in the situation. A crowd of persons was rapidly assembling. +The train from Rome was also nearly due, and though it only came to the +station and returned on its own branch, yet it was not agreeable to +notice the constant increase of force that our enemies were gaining. If +any word from the southward arrived, or if our true character was +revealed in any other way, the peril would be imminent. But we trusted +that this second delay would be brief. Slowly the minutes passed by. To +us, who were shut up in the box-car, it appeared as if they would never +be gone. Our soldier comrades on the outside kept in the background as +much as possible, remaining at their posts on the engine and the cars, +while Andrews occupied attention by complaining of the delay, and +declaring that the road ought to be kept clear of freight trains when so +much needed for the transportation of army supplies, and when the fate +of the whole army of the West might depend upon the celerity with which +it received its ammunition. There was plausibility enough in his words +to lull suspicion in all minds except that of the old switch-tender of +the place, who grumbled out his conviction "that something was wrong +with that stylish-looking fellow, who ordered everybody around as if the +whole road belonged to him." But no one paid any attention to this man's +complaints, and not many minutes after a distant whistle sounded from +the northward, and we felt that the crisis had passed. As there was no +more room on the side track, Andrews ordered the switch-tender to let +this train run by on the main track. That worthy was still grumbling, +but he reluctantly obeyed, and the long success on of cars soon glided +by us. + +This meant release from a suspense more intolerable than the most +perilous action. To calmly wait where we could do nothing, while our +destiny was being wrought out by forces operating in the darkness, was a +terrible trial of nerve. But it was well borne. Brown, Knight, and +Wilson, who were exposed to view, exhibited no more impatience than was +to be expected of men in their assumed situation. Those of us in the +box-car talked in whispers only, and examined the priming of our +pistols. We understood that we were waiting for a delayed train, and +well knew the fearful possibilities of an obstructed track, with the +speedy detection, and fight against overwhelming odds that would follow, +if the train for which we waited did not arrive sooner than pursuers +from Big Shanty. When we recognized the whistle of the coming train it +was almost as welcome as the boom of Mitchel's cannon, which we expected +to hear that evening after all our work was done. As it rumbled by us we +fully expected an instant start, a swift run of a few miles, and then +the hard work but pleasant excitement of bridge-burning. Alas! + +Swift and frequent are the mutations of war. Success can never be +assured to any enterprise in advance. The train for which we had waited +with so much anxiety had no sooner stopped than we beheld on it an +emblem more terrible than any comet that ever frighted a superstitious +continent. Another red flag! Another train close behind! This was +terrible, but what could be done? With admirable presence of mind +Andrews moderated his impatience, and asked the conductor of the +newly-arrived train the meaning of such an unusual obstruction of the +road. His tone was commanding, and without reserve the conductor gave +the full explanation. To Andrews it had a thrilling interest. The +commander at Chattanooga had received information that the Yankee +General Mitchel was coming by forced marches and in full strength +against that town; therefore all the rolling-stock of the road had been +ordered to Atlanta. This train was the first instalment, but another and +still longer section was behind. It was to start a few minutes after he +did, and would probably not be more than ten or fifteen minutes behind. +In turn, the conductor asked Andrews who he was, and received the +information that he was an agent of General Beauregard, and that he had +impressed a train into military service in Atlanta, which he was running +through with powder, of which Beauregard was in extreme need. Under such +circumstances he greatly regretted this unfortunate detention. The +conductor did not suspect the falsity of these pretences, but told +Andrews that it was very doubtful if he could get to Beauregard at +Corinth by going through Chattanooga, as it was certain that Mitchel had +captured Huntsville, directly on the line between them. Andrews replied +that this made no difference, as he had his orders, and should press on +until they were countermanded, adding that Mitchel was probably only +paying a flying visit to Huntsville, and would have to be gone soon, or +find Beauregard upon him. Andrews also ordered the conductor to run far +enough down the main track to allow the next train to draw in behind +him, and for both trains there to wait the coming of Fuller with the +regular mail. His orders were implicitly obeyed; and then to our party +recommenced the awful trial of quiet waiting. One of the men outside was +directed to give notice to those in the box-car of the nature of the +detention, and warn them to be ready for any emergency. Either Brown or +Knight, I think, executed this commission. Leaning against our car, but +without turning his eyes towards it, and speaking in a low voice, he +said, "We are waiting for one of the trains the rebels are running off +from Mitchel. If we are detected before it comes, we will have to fight. +Be ready." We _were_ ready; and so intolerable is suspense that most of +us would have felt as a welcome relief the command to throw open our +door and spring into deadly conflict. + +Slowly the leaden moments dragged themselves away. It seems scarcely +creditable, but it is literally true, that for twenty-five minutes more +we lay on that side track and waited,--waited with minds absorbed, +pulses leaping, and ears strained for the faintest sound which might +give a hint as to our destiny. One precious hour had we wasted at +Kingston,--time enough to have burned every bridge between that place +and Dalton! The whole margin of time on which we had allowed ourselves +to count was two hours; now half of that was thrown away at one station, +and nothing accomplished. We dared wait no longer. Andrews decided to +rush ahead with the intention of meeting this extra train wherever it +might be found, and forcing it to back before him to the next siding, +where he could pass it. The resolution was in every way dangerous, but +the danger would at least be of an active character. Just at this moment +the long-expected whistle was heard, and soon the train came into plain +view, bringing with it an almost interminable string of cars. The weight +and length of its train had caused the long delay. Obedient to +direction, it followed the first extra down the main track, and its +locomotive was a long way removed from the depot when the last car +cleared the upper end of the side track on which we lay. At length it +had got far enough down, and it was possible for us to push on. Andrews +instantly ordered the switch-tender to arrange the track so as to let us +out. + +But here a new difficulty presented itself. This man had been in an ill +humor from the first, and was now fully convinced that something was +wrong. Possibly the tone in which he was addressed irritated him still +more. He therefore responded to Andrews' order by a surly refusal, and +hung up the keys in the station-house. When we in the box-car overheard +his denial, we were sure that the time for fighting had come. There was +no more reason for dreading the issue of a conflict at this station than +at any other point, and we waited the signal with the confident +expectation of victory. + +But even a victory at that moment would have been most undesirable. We +had no wish to shed blood unnecessarily. A telegraph office was at hand, +and it was possible that before the wire could be cut a message might be +flashed ahead. There were also engines in readiness for prompt pursuit, +and while we might have overcome immediate opposition by the use of our +firearms, our triumph would have been the signal for a close and +terrible chase. + +The daring coolness of Andrews removed all embarrassments. While men are +hesitating and in doubt, boldness and promptness on the part of an +opponent are almost sure to carry the day. Ceasing to address the +switch-tender, Andrews walked hurriedly into the station, and with the +truthful remark that he had no more time to waste, took down the key and +began to unlock the switch. The tender cursed him terribly, and called +for some to arrest him. The crowd around also disliked the action, and +began to hoot and yell; but before any one had decided as to what ought +to be done Andrews had unlocked and changed the switch, and waved his +hand for the engineer to come on. It was an inexpressible relief when +the cars moved forward and the sounds of strife died out. As soon as the +locomotive passed to the main track, Andrews tossed the keys to the +ruffled owner of them, saying, in his blandest manner, "Pardon me, sir, +for being in such a hurry, but the Confederacy can't wait for every +man's notions. You'll find it is all right," and stepped on board his +engine. The excitement gradually ceased, and no thought of pursuit was +entertained until startling intelligence was received a few moments +later from Big Shanty. + +Before describing the terrible struggle above Kingston, it will be well +to narrate the operations of the persons whose train had been so +unceremoniously snatched from them at Big Shanty. From printed accounts +published contemporaneously by several of those engaged in the pursuit, +as well as from personal responses to inquiries made regarding the most +material points, the writer is confident that he can tell the strange +story without essential error. It is a striking commentary on the +promptness of the seizure, that the bystanders generally reported that +only eight men, instead of twenty, had been observed to mount the train. + +William A. Fuller, conductor, Anthony Murphy, manager of the State +railroad shops at Atlanta, and Jefferson Cain, engineer, stepped off +their locomotive, leaving it unguarded save by the surrounding +sentinels, and in perfect confidence took their seats at the +breakfast-table at Big Shanty. But before they had tasted a morsel of +food the quick ear of Murphy, who was seated with his back towards the +window, caught the sound of escaping steam, and he exclaimed, "Fuller, +who's moving your train?" Almost simultaneously the latter, who was +somewhat of a ladies' man, and was bestowing polite attentions upon two +or three fair passengers, saw the same movement, and sprang up, +shouting, "Somebody's running off with our train!" No breakfast was +eaten then. Everybody rushed through the door to the platform. The train +was then fully under way, just sweeping out of sight around the first +curve. With quick decision Fuller shouted to Murphy and Cain, "Come on!" +and started at a full run after the flying train! This attempt to run +down and catch a locomotive by a foot-race seemed so absurd that as the +three, at the top of their speed, passed around the same curve, they +were greeted with loud laughter and ironical cheers by the excited +multitude. To all appearances it was a foolish and hopeless chase. + +Yet, paradoxical as the statement may seem, this chase on foot was the +wisest course possible for Fuller and his companions. What else could +they do? Had they remained quietly in camp, with no show of zeal, they +would have been reproached with negligence in not guarding their train +more carefully, even if they were not accused with being in league with +its captors. As they ran, Fuller explained the situation and his +purposes to his companions. They had neither electric battery nor +engine. Had they obtained horses, they would necessarily have followed +the common road, instead of the railroad, and if they thought of that +expedient at all, it would be as distasteful to railroad men as +abandoning their ship to sailors, and they preferred leaving that course +for others. It would have been wise for those who could think of nothing +else to do to ride as mounted couriers to the stations ahead; but +whether this was done or not I have never learned. Certainly it was not +done so promptly as to influence the fortunes of the day. + +But the truth is that Fuller and Murphy were at first completely +deceived as to the nature of the event which had taken place. They had +been warned to guard against the escape of conscript deserters from that +very camp; and although they would never have suspected an attempt on +the part of the conscripts to escape by capturing their engine, yet when +it was seen to dash off, the thought of this warning was naturally +uppermost. Even then Fuller conjectured that they would use his engine +only to get a mile or two beyond the guard line, and then abandon it. He +was therefore anxious to follow closely in order to find the engine and +return for his passengers at the earliest moment possible. Little did he +anticipate the full magnitude of the work and the danger before him. +That any Federal soldiers were within a hundred miles of Big Shanty +never entered his mind or that of any other person. + +[Illustration: CAPTAIN WM. A. FULLER. +(Conductor of Pursuing Train.) +Page 87.] + +For a mile or two the three footmen ran at the top of their speed, +straining their eyes forward for any trace of the lost engine which they +expected to see halted and abandoned at almost any point on the road. +But they were soon partially undeceived as to the character of their +enemies. About two miles from the place of starting they found the +telegraph wire severed and a portion of it carried away. The fugitives +were also reported as quietly oiling and inspecting their engine. No +mere deserters would be likely to think of this. The two actions +combined clearly indicated the intention of making a long run, but who +the men were still remained a mystery. A few hundred yards from this +place a party of workmen with a hand-car was found, and these most +welcome reinforcements were at once pressed into the service. + +Fuller's plans now became more definite and determined. He had a good +hand-car and abundance of willing muscle to work it. By desperate +exertions, by running behind the car and pushing it up the steep grades, +and then mounting and driving it furiously down-hill and on the levels, +it was possible to make seven or eight miles an hour; at the same time, +Fuller knew that the captive engine, if held back to run on schedule +time, as the reports of the workmen indicated, would make but sixteen +miles per hour. Fuller bent all his thoughts and energies towards +Kingston, thirty miles distant. He had been informed of the extra trains +to be met at that point, and was justified in supposing that the +adventurers would be greatly perplexed and hindered by them, even if +they were not totally stopped. Had the seizure taken place on the +preceding day, as originally planned, he might well have despaired, for +then the road would have been clear. Yet he had one other resource, as +will appear in due time, of which his enemies knew nothing. + +Fuller did not pause to consider how he should defeat the fugitives when +he had overtaken them, and he might have paid dearly for this rashness. +But he could rely on help at any station, and when he had obtained the +means of conveyance, as he would be sure to do at Kingston, he could +easily find an overwhelming force to take with him. This Saturday was +appointed as a general muster of volunteers, State militia, and +conscripts, and armed soldiers were abundant in every village. But +Fuller's dominant thought was that his property--the property with which +he had been intrusted--was wrested from his grasp, and it was his duty +to recover it, at whatever of personal hazard. That any serious harm was +intended to the railroad itself he probably did not yet suspect. + +Talking and wearying themselves with idle conjectures, but never ceasing +to work, Fuller and his party pressed swiftly on. But suddenly there was +a crash, a sense of falling, and when the shock allowed them to realize +what had happened, they found themselves floundering in a ditch half +filled with water, and their hand-car imbedded in the mud beside them! +They had reached the place where the first rail had been torn from the +track, and had suffered accordingly. But the bank was, fortunately for +them, not very high at that spot, and a few bruises were all the damage +they sustained. Their hand-car, which was also uninjured, was lifted on +the track and driven on again. This incident increased both their +caution and their respect for the men before them. + +Without further mishap they reached Etowah Station, on the northern bank +of the river of the same name. Here was a large bridge, which the +Andrew's party might have burned without loss of time had they foreseen +the long detention at Kingston; but its destruction was not a part of +their plan, and it was suffered to stand. The mind of Fuller grew very +anxious as he approached this station. On what he should find there +depended, in all probability, his power to overtake the fugitives, whose +intentions seemed more formidable with each report he received of their +actions. Andrews had firmly believed that no engine for pursuit could be +found south of Kingston; but Fuller had a different expectation. + +Extensive iron-furnaces were located on the Etowah River, about five +miles above the station. These works were connected with the railroad by +a private track, which was the property of Major Cooper, as well as the +works themselves. Murphy knew that Major Cooper had also bought an +engine called the "Yonah." It had been built in the shop over which +Murphy presided, and was one of the best locomotives in the State. "But +where," Fuller and Murphy asked themselves, "is this engine now?" If it +was in view of the adventurers as they passed, they had doubtless +destroyed it, ran it off the track, or carried it away with them. They +could not afford to neglect such an element in the terrible game they +were playing. But if it was now at the upper end of the branch at the +mines, as was most probable, it would take the pursuers five miles out +of their way to go for it, and even then it might not be ready to start. +This diversion could not be afforded. Fuller and Murphy had come +nineteen miles, and had already consumed two hours and three-quarters. +The adventurers were reported as passing each station on time, and if +this continued they must have reached Kingston forty-five minutes before +Fuller and his companions arrived at Etowah, thirteen miles behind them. +One hour and a half more to Kingston,--this was the very best that could +be done with the hand-car. It was clear that if the "Yonah" did not come +to their assistance, they were as effectually out of the race as if on +the other side of the ocean. Everything now hinged on the position of +that one engine. + +Here we may pause to note how all coincidences, we might almost say +providences, seemed to work against the bridge-burning enterprise. We +were at Kingston three-quarters of an hour before our pursuers reached +Etowah, thirteen miles distant. If there had been no extra trains, or if +they had been sharply on time, so that we could have passed the three +with a delay not exceeding fifteen or twenty minutes, which ought to +have been an abundant allowance, every bridge above Kingston would have +been in ashes before sundown! Or if the delay had been as great as it +actually was, even then, if the locomotive "Yonah" had occupied any +position excepting one, the same result would have followed. + +But Fuller, Murphy, and Cain, with the several armed men they had picked +up at the stations passed, could not repress shouts of exultation when +they saw the old "Yonah" standing on the main track, ready fired up, and +headed towards Kingston. It had just arrived from the mines, and in a +short time would have returned again. Thus a new element of tremendous +importance, which had been ignored in all our calculations, was +introduced into the contest. + +The pursuers seized their inestimable prize, called for all the +volunteers who could snatch guns at a moment's notice, and were soon +swiftly but cautiously rushing with the power of steam towards Kingston. +The speed of nearly a mile a minute was in refreshing contrast to the +slow and laborious progress of the hand-car, and they were naturally +jubilant. But what lay before them at Kingston? The frequent +obstructions of the track, the continued cutting of the telegraph, and +especially the cool assumption of the leader of the adventurers in +calling himself a Confederate officer of high rank in charge of an +impressed powder train, all conspired to deepen their conviction that +some desperate scheme was on foot. But they did not pause long to listen +to reports. Their eyes and their thoughts were bent towards Kingston. +Had the adventurers been stopped there, or had they surprised and +destroyed the trains met? The pursuers could scarcely form a conjecture +as to what was before them; but the speed with which they were flying +past station after station would soon end their suspense. Even the +number of men on the flying train was a matter of uncertainty. At the +stations passed observers reported that only four or five were seen; but +the track-layers and others who had observed them at work were confident +of a much larger number,--twenty-five or thirty at the least. Besides, +it was by no means sure that they had not confederates in large numbers +to co-operate with them at the various stations along the road. Fuller +knew about how many persons had entered the train at Marietta; but it +was not sure that these were all. A hundred more might be scattered +along the way, at various points, ready to join in whatever strange plan +was now being worked out. No conjecture of this kind that could be +formed was a particle more improbable than the startling events that had +already taken place. The cool courage of these pursuers, who determined +to press forward and do their own duty at whatever risk, cannot be too +highly rated. If they arrived at Kingston in time to unmask the +pretension of the mysterious "Confederate officer," there would +doubtless be a desperate fight; but the pursuers could count on +assistance there and all along the line. + +Fuller reached Kingston at least an hour earlier than would have been +possible with the hand-car, and a single glance showed that the +adventurers were gone, and his hopes of arresting them at that point +were ended. They were, however, barely out of sight, and all their start +had been reduced to minutes. But here again the pursuit was checked. The +foresight of Andrews had blockaded the road as much as possible with the +trains which had so long hindered his own movements. Two large and heavy +trains stood on the main road; one of the two side tracks was occupied +by the third freight, and the other by the engine of the Rome branch. +There was no ready means for the passage of the "Yonah." Some precious +time was employed in giving and receiving information, in telling of the +seizure at Big Shanty, and hearing of the deportment of Andrews and his +men at Kingston. Then a dispute arose as to the best means of continuing +the pursuit, which threatened to disunite Fuller and Murphy. The latter +wished to continue the chase with the "Yonah," which was a fine engine, +with large wheels; but Fuller would not wait to get the freights out of +the way, and, jumping on the Rome engine, he called on all who were +willing to assist him to come on. A large, enthusiastic, and well-armed +company instantly volunteered; the new engine, the "Shorter," pulled +out, and Murphy had only time to save himself from the disgrace of being +left behind by jumping on the hindmost car as it swept past. With all +the time lost in making this transfer, and in mutual explanations, the +pursuers left Kingston just twenty minutes behind the Federals. + +What Fuller and his friends learned at Kingston left no doubt on their +minds that some deliberate and far-reaching military movement was on +foot. While its precise nature was yet concealed, the probability that +the road itself, and possibly Confederate towns and stores, were to be +destroyed, was freely conceded. All agreed that the one thing to be done +was to follow their enemies closely, and thus compel them to turn and +fight or abandon their enterprise. A large force--one or two hundred +well-armed men--was taken on board, and instructions left that as soon +as the track could be cleared another armed train was to follow for the +purpose of rendering any needed assistance. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A TERRIBLE RAILROAD CHASE. + + +We will now resume the direct narrative. + +When Kingston was left behind, it was believed by our leader that, +notwithstanding all our vexatious delays, we still had a margin of at +least an hour's time. Our movements were arranged on that supposition. +The next considerable station, Adairsville, was about ten miles distant, +and the intervening country comparatively level. There were no +considerable bridges in this space, and the most we could do was to run +swiftly, and occasionally to obstruct the track. Our speed was increased +to about forty miles an hour, and this swift running, after our long +halt at Kingston, was exquisitely delightful. Looking out from the +crevices of the box-car, we saw the hills and trees gliding swiftly by, +and felt that each moment we were getting farther away from the foes who +had so long surrounded us, and nearer safety and triumph. While we were +actually under way our prospects did not yet seem very unfavorable. +There were yet one freight and one passenger train to meet, which we +would now encounter an hour farther south, because of our long +hindrance; but we felt confident of our power to deceive or overpower +them, and they did not embarrass our running because they were on the +regular schedule. The freight was now almost due at Adairsville, and we +expected the passenger train to overtake and go ahead of it from that +point. If they were both on time we would also meet them there, and then +have an absolutely open road to Chattanooga. It will show the tremendous +risks that encompassed our enterprise, when we reflect that so trifling +a circumstance as the delay or the misplacement of a train could +introduce an "if" into our most hopeful plans. + +A short distance south of Adairsville we again stopped, and Andrews +called us to come forth and work with a will. No exhortation was needed. +John Scott, as usual, climbed the telegraph-pole, and the wire was soon +severed. Two or three rails were slowly and painfully battered loose +with our iron bar, which still constituted our only instrument for +track-lifting. These were loaded on the car to carry away with us. There +happened to be a large number of cross-ties lying near, and these we +also loaded up for future use. When all was done we moved on, feeling +that we had provided for the delay or destruction of any train that +might pursue. It was also probable that the first train which met us at +Adairsville would be wrecked. This was not our design, as we did not +relish wanton mischief; but there was no safe way of giving warning, and +a wrecked train would have been a considerable obstruction of the track. + +We reached Adairsville before the expected freight, but had only just +taken our place on the side track when its whistle was heard. When it +came up, Andrews, who still personated a Confederate officer, and +exacted and received the obedience which in those days of conscription +and impressment was readily yielded to military authority, ordered the +train to be run past the station and back again on the side track behind +his own, to wait for the expected passenger train. The usual +explanations about the powder train were repeated to credulous ears. +Then came five minutes of suspense and waiting. The train was behind +time,--a trifling matter in itself, but, in our situation, each minute +might turn the scale between death and life. We could not afford to +repeat the experience of Kingston. Not one bridge had yet been burned, +and all we could show for our hazard, beside our captured train, were a +few cross-ties and lifted rails. After a whispered word of consultation +with his engineer, who was willing to assume the most deadly risks +rather than to lie still, Andrews remarked to the bystanders that a +government powder express must not be detained by any number of +passenger trains, and then gave the word, "Go ahead!" + +We started quite moderately, but, as soon as the station was out of +sight, we noticed a wonderful acceleration of speed. The cars seemed +almost to leap from the track, and we whirled from side to side at a +bewildering rate. There was scarcely any slackening for curves or +grades, and our whistle rang out with scarcely a moment's cessation. In +the box-car we could retain no position for more than an instant, and +were jostled over each other and against the sides of the car much +oftener than was pleasant. No one of us had ever rode at such a rate +before. Though we had no means of measuring the speed, none of us +estimated it at less than a mile a minute. What was the meaning of such +a break-neck pace? Had Andrews discovered that we were pursued, and was +he making a desperate effort to escape from the enemy? Or was he simply +hurrying to the bridges we were to burn? Such questions were easier +asked than answered, for two cars and the tender intervened between us +and the locomotive, on which our leader was. At any rate, the moments +were rapidly carrying us towards our own lines, and a very few hours of +such running would see us delivered from the series of perils which had +so long environed us. We had learned that just beyond Calhoun, a station +only ten miles from Adairsville, there was a large bridge, which we knew +was marked for destruction. If that was passed without stopping, we +would be convinced that an enemy was on our track, and that the race was +simply for life. A few minutes would decide. But in the mean time, as an +enemy might be following us, it occurred to the writer that it would be +well to continue obstructing the track. This was accomplished by +breaking open the hind end of the last box-car, and shoving out one by +one the ties previously loaded. A part only of the ties on board were +thus employed, as we thought it possible that the remainder might be +more useful in other directions. Many of those sprinkled on the track +showed a perverse disposition to jump off, but we felt sure that enough +remained to make a pursuer cautious. Nothing more impressed us with the +fearful speed of our train than the manner in which these ties seemed +instantly to vanish when they touched the ground. + +By thus exerting the full speed of the engine Andrews hoped to reach +Calhoun before the belated passenger train should arrive. The engineer +stood with his hand on the lever ready to reverse his engine the moment +an opposing train was sighted. The open character of the country in this +part of the route permitted a good outlook. The whistle was also kept +sounding that an opposite train might be warned and checked. It was the +intention of Andrews, in case of meeting the expected train, to reverse +his own engine only long enough to escape the danger of collision, and +then to persuade or compel the other to back before him to the first +siding. This lightning-like run was bold and full of peril, but it was +wise. Had the same risk been promptly assumed at Kingston the whole +future of the enterprise would have been different. But we reached +Calhoun before any train was met. When we slackened speed, just before +arriving at the station, we shoved out one more cross-tie, and then +carefully concealed the hole in the car by piling other ties across it. +As we drew nearer, great was the satisfaction of Andrews and his +engineer when they saw the belated passenger train--our last +obstacle--lying quietly at the station. It had been just starting, but, +on hearing our whistle, it awaited our arrival. We ran down almost +against it; and, without getting off his locomotive, Andrews shouted +his orders to have the road cleared for an impressed powder train. The +news from the north and west--the panic caused by the rumored approach +of General Mitchel--made this sudden demand seem less unreasonable, and +it was unhesitatingly obeyed. The passenger train was switched out of +the way, and we glided smoothly by the last train we were to meet. Thus, +at length, we had reached the ground where bridge-burning was to begin, +and all obstacles were out of the way; what could hinder full and +decisive success? + +Fuller and Murphy had not left Kingston many minutes before they became +conscious of the error they had committed in exchanging the "Yonah" for +the "Shorter." The latter was a weak engine with small wheels. It was +now forced to the utmost, oil being freely used with the wood in the +furnace; but they were unable to equal the tremendous speed with which +they had made the previous stage of their journey. Though they had but +two or three cars and the advantage of a level and unobstructed track, +they could not exceed forty miles an hour. They maintained a vigilant +lookout, but ran with the steam-valve entirely open, while Murphy and +Cain both grasped the lever, ready to use their combined weight and +strength in reversing the motion if any obstacle should be descried. +Their vigilance was soon approved. They observed the point at which we +had removed rails, and, by reversing, were able to arrest their motion +just on the edge of the break. But here they found themselves confronted +with a terrible obstacle. They had no rails to replace those that had +been carried off. Some instruments for track-laying were on board, and +it was suggested to tear up rails behind and place them in the break. +This double labor required too much time to suit the ardent temper of +Fuller and Murphy. At once they repeated the old tactics which alone had +given them any hope of success. They abandoned their engine and ran +ahead once more on foot. The remainder of their company remained behind, +and probably did, after a time, succeed in lifting rails behind their +engine and laying them down before, as a contemporaneous account +asserts; but they had no further real part in the chase. + +Before the two footmen had gone far they encountered the regular freight +train that we had met at Adairsville. Thus their delay was reduced to a +very small amount. It seems that almost as soon as Andrews and his party +had left Adairsville for their rapid flight towards Calhoun, this train, +guided either by the decision of the conductor, or by a telegraphic +message from the management of the road, started southward, and were met +no more than a mile or two on their way by the dauntless pursuers. Great +was the amazement of the men on the freight train to learn that the +fine-looking Confederate officer with whom they had been talking five +minutes before was probably a "Yankee" engaged in the most daring +exploit of the war. But not much time was allowed for the indulgence of +any emotion. Fuller promptly took command of the train and backed it +with all possible speed to Adairsville. Its engine, the "Texas," was +known to Fuller as one of the largest and best in the State. While +backing and pushing the whole train of nearly twenty cars it made the +most rapid speed that they had yet attained. + +But still greater speed was necessary, and by throwing all but one or +two cars on the side track at Adairsville, the noble engine was relieved +and enabled to show all its fine qualities. No turn-table being at hand, +it had still to be run backward; but that position does not materially +lessen the power of an engine, though the risk of accident is somewhat +increased. This risk had been taken, however, in so many instances by +the desperate pursuers, and with perfect safety, that they were willing +to tempt fortune still further. The engineer of the captured train had +been left behind at the last break, but his place was ably supplied by +Peter Bracken, of the "Texas." Starting from Adairsville with a full +head of steam, the distance of ten miles to Calhoun was run in twelve +minutes, and even this tremendous speed would have been exceeded but for +the slight delay caused by the ties dropped on the track. When one of +these obstructions was seen, Fuller, who had stationed himself for that +purpose on the end of the tender which ran ahead, would jump off, remove +the tie, and be back to his place almost before the engine ceased to +move. The uniform mode of stopping to clear the track was by reversing +the engine. Aside from the time lost in these stops, the running must +have exceeded a mile per minute. This exceeding rapidity prevented any +loss of distance in this stage of the pursuit. + +At Calhoun, Fuller scarcely made a full stop. He told his tale in a few +words and called for volunteers. A number came just as he was moving on +again; indeed, after the train was well under way, he secured a still +more valuable prize. The telegraph managers at Chattanooga had found +that the wires were broken, and were endeavoring to discover the source +of mischief. By telegraphing to different stations and asking for +replies, they could easily make an approximate estimate. But the +difficulty was coming nearer: they discovered that one station after +another was being cut off from communication with headquarters. South of +Calhoun they could get no reply at the time the passenger train reached +Dalton. They had, therefore, directed the only operator at that +station--a mere boy--to leave his post and go to Calhoun for the purpose +of discovering and remedying the mischief. Fuller recognized him on the +platform, and reached out his hand, shouting, "Come!" The boy took hold +and was lifted on the flying engine. + +With no thought of our deadly peril we had stopped a short distance +above Calhoun to cut the telegraph and oil the engine. Several of us +were also engaged in battering out the spikes preparatory to lifting +another rail. As we expected to spend ten or fifteen minutes in burning +the large bridge which spanned the Oostenaula River, a little distance +from us, Andrews thought it better that we should have a rail up in +order to guard against the possibility of the train we had just passed +being turned back after us in time to interrupt our work. It might have +been better, as we were tempted to think afterwards, if we had begun on +the bridge directly; but it was absolutely necessary to cut the wire, +and the lifting of the rail would not take an additional minute. + +The engine was inspected, and found to be still in perfect condition, +though both wood and water were running low; the wire was severed; and +eight of us had just taken hold of the loose end of a rail, out of which +the spikes had been battered, and were trying to pull the other end +loose also. But it was too firmly fixed, and we were about to release +it, and wait the taking out of a few more spikes, when, away in the +distance, we heard the whistle of an engine in pursuit! The effect was +magical. With one convulsive effort the rail was broken asunder, and the +whole party pitched in a heap over the low embankment. No one was hurt, +and we were on our feet in a moment. + +It did not require many moments to realize the situation. Our enemies +were upon us at last! Their train was in plain sight. We could even see +that they were well armed. There seemed to be no resource but flight. + +But from whence came this train? The facts with which the reader is +already familiar were all unknown to us, and the apparition of the +pursuers all the more terrible on that account. We knew the difficulties +against which we had struggled, and little thought that our pursuers had +encountered nearly equal obstacles, over which they had so far been +marvellously victorious. Greater surprise would not have been created +in our ranks had the locomotive, to whose scream we unwillingly +listened, dropped from the sky! One plausible conjecture only presented +itself as to the presence of this train, and, if this one was correct, +it could be but the earnest of speedy defeat and death. Possibly a +telegraphic message from the other side of Big Shanty had traversed the +wide circuit of more than two thousand miles past Atlanta, Richmond, +Chattanooga, and back again to Calhoun, reaching the latter place just +before the wire was cut, and inducing them to start back the train we +had just met at full speed after us. All this was possible,--at least it +seemed so to those of us who were not in the secret of the wide-spread +system of military operations,--unless, indeed, the foresight of our +government had provided at this very time for the severing of the +telegraph on the Carolina coast, at which place alone this circuit came +within striking distance of the Union lines. + +But we had no time for idle conjectures. The fact was patent that a +train was bearing down upon us at full speed. "Shall we stand and fight? +Shall we attack them now?" were questions eagerly asked. + +But Andrews still hesitated to depart from the course pursued so far. We +had the rail broken which would arrest the enemy, and probably give us +time to fire the bridge ahead. Then all might yet be well,--that is if +the stations ahead were not warned, and the track obstructed before us. +Should that prove the case, then to stand and sell our lives as dearly +as possible, or, abandoning our engine, to fly on foot across the +country, were all the alternatives. The crisis of our fate drew near, +and our hardest and sharpest work lay just ahead. + +Influenced by such considerations, which were then mainly confined to +his own mind, Andrews, without a moment's hesitation, gave the signal, +which was as quickly obeyed, for mounting the train. The engineer threw +the valve wide open, and, with a spring that threw us from our feet, the +noble steed was once more careering forward. To his companions on the +locomotive Andrews said, quietly, as he ever spoke in times of deepest +excitement, "Push her, boys; let her do her best. We must lose no time +in getting to the bridge above." Some of the engine oil was thrown into +the furnace, and the already fiery pace sensibly quickened. The problem +seemed perfectly simple. If we could reach the bridge, and get it well +on fire in less time than our enemies could piece out the broken rail, +we had still a chance of life and success. If not, more desperate means +became necessary. The speed of the engine might save us a precious +half-minute, and on such a narrow margin everything turned. Nobly did +our good old locomotive respond to the call! Rocking, whirling, +bounding,--it seemed a marvel that some of the box-cars were not hurled +from the track. Inside these cars all was action. Though we could +scarcely keep one position a moment, idleness could not now be indulged. +We knew that the time for concealment had passed, and we wrought with +flying fingers in preparation for our incendiary work. The forward end +of our box-car, and both ends of the others, were knocked out by +employing one of the heavy cross-ties as a battering-ram, and the +greater part of the sides were loosened in the same manner, and torn +into fragments for kindling. This destruction of barriers also opened a +way of communication with the engine. Andrews approved what we had done, +and told us frankly that our lives probably depended on the number of +seconds we consumed in getting the bridge on fire. Just then an +exclamation of wonder and dismay from our keen-sighted fireman, Alfred +Wilson, drew attention. He declared positively that he saw the smoke of +the pursuing engine still following us! It was scarcely credible, but he +was so positive, and it was so important to know the truth, that our +speed was slackened to ascertain. In a moment a whistle, clear and +unmistakable, rang out from beyond a curve we had just passed. All doubt +was at an end; but our surprise and consternation were as great as when +the train was first discovered in pursuit. There had been no time to lay +again the rail we had taken up, and the broken half of which we still +had with us. It seemed a miracle wrought against us. But Andrews' +resources were not yet exhausted. He ordered another effort, which might +yet give us time to fire the bridge ahead, that he was most unwilling to +pass without destroying. The locomotive was reversed, and our +kindling-wood, with most of the ties, carried forward, and the moment we +began to move backward the hindmost car was uncoupled. The pursuing +locomotive was then in fearful proximity. We could see that it was +running backward, and that a number of men were crowded on it. Almost at +the same moment its machinery was reversed and ours turned forward. As +we left them at lightning speed we could just see that their velocity +was well checked before they touched our abandoned car. + +But this was not yet sufficient. As we came to the next slight up-grade +the same manoeuvre was repeated, and our second car flung back at the +enemy in like manner. The time lost in doing this brought them again +near us, and we saw that they were pushing our first car before them. + +But how had they passed the broken rail? For years I could get no +satisfactory information on this subject. Some Confederate accounts +spoke of a rail being taken up behind and laid down before the engine. +But the time was too short to permit such an action. That a stop could +be made, a rail taken up, spiked down again, and our engine, running +faster than the wind, overtaken,--all of this well inside of five +minutes,--was incredible. Very probably this course was adopted in the +case of the next train which was pursuing not far behind. Other +Confederate accounts say nothing about this rail, while a few assert +that it was not broken at all, but only loosened and left in its place. +But having personally helped in the desperate pull, having fallen down +the bank with the party, and carried one end of the rail to put on our +car, besides having my left hand long suffer from being clasped under +the hand of William Campbell, the strongest man of our party, I +naturally cannot accept this explanation. Conductor Fuller gave another +solution of the mystery scarcely less strange, which I repeat as he gave +it to me. He said that when he saw our engine start on from this point +he could see no obstruction, and allowed the train to continue at high +speed. A moment after he noticed a short blank in one of the rails. A +terrible fear swept over him, for it was now too late to stop. But quick +as a lightning-flash he noticed another fact,--that the place of the +missing rail was on the _inside_ of a sharp curve. He explained to me +that a train at a very high rate of speed throws the most of its weight +on the outside rail of a curve, which is always made a little higher +than the other. Had an outside rail been broken the destruction of their +train would have been inevitable, but the break was on the inside. With +that rapid decision which the better class of railroad men learn to +exercise, he signalled to the engineer, "Faster; faster yet!" There was +a sharp jolt, and the locomotive and the cars attached were on the other +side of the obstruction with their speed not even abated. The next train +which followed was the passenger train that we had met at Calhoun, which +had also been turned back after us. This train had track-layers and +instruments on board, and did very quickly repair the damage; but if +Fuller had waited even that long the bridge over the Oostenaula would +have been wrapped in flames before his arrival. + +Fuller saw the car we dropped, and by promptly having his engine +reversed, reduced the collision to merely a smart shock. It was +dextrously coupled fast and driven forward at full speed. The second +car we dropped was treated in the same manner, and the enemy's speed was +scarcely diminished. The time lost in dropping the cars was about as +long as that lost in coupling to them. + +Thus in the short space between Calhoun and the Oostenaula River three +hindrances or perils, the greatness of which will be best appreciated by +railroad men, were overcome by the skill and daring of Fuller's band, +and in spite of them they attained a rate of running on this crooked and +irregular road which would have been most remarkable on a perfectly +smooth and unobstructed track. + +Now the Oostenaula bridge was in sight, and we slackened speed for a +desperate attempt to burn it. But before we could come to a full stop +the pursuer was close upon us, and very reluctantly we steamed over the +bridge and continued our flight. The prospect was rapidly darkening +before us. It was certain that one of the trains we had met at +Adairsville or Calhoun was turned back after us and driven with the +utmost determination. Of all conjectures to account for this pursuit, +that of a telegram by the way of Richmond was most probable and most +portentous. If this was really the case, our fate was sealed. With a +relentless pursuer hanging upon our heels, and the towns ahead warned +and ready to dispute our passage, human bravery and foresight would +avail nothing. I have no doubt the mind of Andrews was weighed down and +perplexed by the uncertainty of our situation. Could we have known even +as much of the number and plans of our foes as they knew of ours--above +all, could we have known whether the road was open before us--the +problem would have been simpler. Yet we had but two hopes: to wreck the +train behind us, a task of no small difficulty now they were on their +guard; or, failing in this, to distance them in running far enough to +lift some rails or burn one of the bridges still ahead. If only one +bridge could be burned, it would stop the pursuit for the time and leave +us free to encounter the opposition before us. + +Accordingly the jaded "General" was spurred to full speed. The load was +now lighter, and as much of the kindling as we thought it prudent to +spare was used in putting the furnace into a fiercer blaze. We also +resumed the practice of dropping cross-ties from the rear of the car. +These efforts had a marked effect in delaying the pursuers, for their +smoke and whistle soon ceased to disturb us. But while running at this +violent rate we had passed Resaca and thought it prudent to again cut +the telegraph. While stopping for this purpose the writer took a rail +which had been bent in lifting it, and placed it so that one end was +held firmly under the track, and the other projected at a little +elevation, towards the pursuing train. This was not more than +accomplished when that train was heard again, and we mounted our engine +and sped onward. As the rail was small and dark, the enemy ran right on +it before it was observed, and Fuller afterwards declared that if it had +been a little lower, it would have been sure to wreck them. But as it +was, the end struck the edge of the car, and it was knocked harmlessly +from the track. + +Above Tilton we succeeded in getting a full supply of water from the +tank. This was most welcome, as the water was nearly exhausted. The +wood-station was at another place, and as our supply ran low we threw on +fence-rails or any other available fuel whenever stopping to cut the +wires. + +Our condition was now widely different and more unfavorable than it was +a short time before. With only one car, and that almost torn to pieces, +even the magnificent coolness and self-possession of Andrews could +scarcely avert suspicion at any station where we might be driven to +halt. And with all our efforts we could never get much more than out of +sight of our pursuers. The time required for cutting wires and spent in +trying to take up track compensated almost exactly for the time our +pursuers spent in removing the obstructions we continued to throw before +them. With all their efforts they could not get within easy gunshot of +us; neither could we distance them far enough for the decisive operation +of burning a bridge. The relation of the two parties was peculiar and +well defined. Each party soon came to recognize the strength and +weakness which belonged to its own situation. With their better engine +it would have been comparatively easy for our pursuers to come near +enough to pick off man after man with their guns, while entirely out of +reach of our revolvers. But had they come up so close, any obstruction +we might have placed on the track would have been terribly efficient. As +long as we possessed cross-ties or anything large enough to wreck a +train they were bound to keep a respectful distance. The most favorable +position for them was just far enough in the rear to see when we stopped +or threw anything on the track, thus enabling them to check up in time. +They dared not come nearer than this while we were in rapid motion, but +they were often farther behind. + +Mile after mile the terrible chase continued. Station after station was +passed without the least lessening of speed. The idlers about the +platforms started back in amazement and affright when they saw a train +dash by like a thunderbolt, closely followed by three others, the latter +screaming as loudly as their whistles were able. To us, who were looking +out from the baggage-car, houses and villages, groves and hills, flashed +by almost too quickly for distinct vision. Then, in the hottest speed, +the whistle would sound "down brakes," and the stop--usually made by +reversing the engine--would be so sudden that we needed to cling +convulsively to avoid being hurled from our places; then, in a moment, +we would spring to the ground and labor with the energy of despair at +destroying the telegraph and the track, or loading on ties, until the +signal,--usually from behind, given by the pursuing train,--when all +would rush on board, and the engine, putting its full strength into the +first leap, would dash on, jerking from their feet all who were not +braced for the shock. When under way we could not sit down because of +the terrible jolting of the springless car. If we attempted to stand we +fell over or were thrown against the little that remained of the sides +of the car, and had to be very watchful not to be thrown off altogether. +Our actual position was a rapid alternation of all possible attitudes, +the favorite being--judging from the frequency with which it was +assumed--that of bending over with the hands and feet resting on the +floor. + +Those who were on the engine had a better opportunity of observing all +that was passing. Alfred Wilson, who acted as our fireman, gives a vivid +picture of the race from that point of view. He says,-- + + "Our locomotive was under a full head of steam. The engineer + stood with his hand on the lever with the valve wide open. It + was frightful to see how the powerful iron monster under us + would leap forward under the revolution of her great wheels. + Brown (the engineer) would scream to me ever and anon, 'Give + her more wood, Alf!' which command was promptly obeyed. She + rocked and reeled like a drunken man, while we reeled from side + to side like grains of pop-corn in a hot frying-pan. It was + bewildering to look at the ground or objects on the roadside. A + constant stream of fire ran from the rims of the great wheels, + and to this day I shudder when I reflect on that, my first and + last locomotive ride. We sped past stations, houses, and + fields, and were out of sight almost like a meteor, while the + bystanders, who barely caught a glimpse of us as we passed, + looked on as if in both fear and amazement. It has always been + a wonder to me that our locomotive and cars kept the track at + all, or how they could possibly stay on the track. At times the + iron horse seemed to literally fly over the course, the + driving-wheels of one side being lifted from the rails much of + the distance over which we now sped with a velocity fearful to + contemplate." + +But swift running alone could not save us. In a mere trial of speed +between the two engines we were sure in the end to be worsted. To wreck +the pursuing train was our great object, and to that end we employed +every expedient we could devise. By this time we had a few more +track-raising instruments, which Andrews and Wilson had simultaneously +taken from some switch-tenders. Earlier in the race they would have been +worth their weight in gold, but it was now too late. Even with their +help we could take up a rail no quicker than the Confederates, with +ample supplies of rails, instruments, and trained workmen, could lay +another down. All the efforts we made in this direction were a mere +waste of time. + +But the swiftness of pursuit was carrying both parties over long spaces. +The next station of importance that lay before us was Dalton, and this +place, twenty-two miles from Calhoun, was soon reached. This was the +largest town we had approached since starting in the morning. It was the +junction of another road which led to Cleveland, on the main line to +Richmond. It had a further and terrible interest to us, in the knowledge +that there we would learn whether our character had really been +telegraphed ahead of us by the way of the coast lines and Richmond. But +if it had, we would learn it too late to make the knowledge of any +service. We would find a military force ready to receive us at the +depot, and our race would be run. Yet we approached cautiously, ready, +if there were any suspicious indications, to reverse the engine at once +and run back towards the pursuing train, with the intention of getting +out of the town and trying to escape through the fields. But we saw no +more than the usual number of persons about the depot, and Andrews at +once leaped from the engine, examined the switch, which was adjusted to +throw a train on the Cleveland fork of the road, had it changed, and +answered all questions as coolly and composedly as ever. The whole had +to be done very promptly, as the appearance of our poor battered train +was sadly against us, and we knew that in a town the size of Dalton it +would be easy to find force enough for our arrest. Besides, it was sure +that in a few seconds Fuller and his tireless band would appear on the +scene. In no period of this eventful day does the courage and +self-control of Andrews shine out more brightly than in the manner in +which he here caused the persons about the depot in a moment to obey his +orders and believe his story, even while thinking it possible that they +might have previous information of his designs, and be only waiting the +arrival of assistance to destroy him. The pursuing train was heard as +expected. Before our foes came near enough to reveal our character +everything was arranged, and taking the left-hand road, that which led +directly to Chattanooga, we again darted forward. + +This was, however, a decisive point in the race. When we thus passed +Dalton without having destroyed our pursuers, we knew that all hope of +passing through Chattanooga with our engine must be abandoned. All +uneasiness on account of a possible telegram from Richmond was at an +end, but there was a nearer danger, which defined the limits beyond +which we could no longer hope to pass. There was a line of telegraph +along each of the diverging railroads. We could destroy but one of +these, and it was certain that as soon as Fuller and his friends arrived +at Dalton and told their story, warning would be sent ahead of us by the +other road. This will explain what some accounts have left +doubtful,--our neglect to cut the wire immediately after leaving Dalton. +It made no practical difference to us whether the fatal message was sent +directly to Chattanooga and all intermediate stations, or whether it +went by the way of Cleveland and Chattanooga and then back to the +stations on our line. The distance was twice as great in thus +telegraphing around two sides of a triangle, but this counted for +nothing when lightning was the messenger. Our only resource was in the +fact that we were now counting nearly as many miles as minutes, and +that we might be far on our way towards Chattanooga, and possibly have +some bridges burned, before preparation could be made for stopping us. +As a last resource, we now fully expected to have to take to the woods +on foot. + +Fuller well knew the decisive advantage he would have at Dalton. As he +neared that station he wrote the following dispatch and gave it to the +young operator he had taken up at Calhoun, with instructions to put it +through to Chattanooga, both ways, with the least possible delay. It +proves--if it were not afterwards written from memory and unconsciously +modified--how correctly he had already estimated the character of the +men he was chasing. This sagacity is scarcely less wonderful than the +daring with which he encountered and overcame so many obstacles. + + Fuller's Telegram. + + "TO GENERAL LEADBETTER, Commander at Chattanooga: + + "My train was captured this A.M. at Big Shanty, evidently by + Federal soldiers in disguise. They are making rapidly for + Chattanooga, possibly with the idea of burning the railroad + bridges in their rear. If I do not capture them in the mean + time see that they do not pass Chattanooga. + + "WILLIAM A. FULLER." + +Two miles above Dalton we stopped and obstructed the track, and once +more cut the telegraph wire. The latter was of slight importance, but +Wilson and others urged it upon Andrews, and he did not wish to +discourage them by telling them that it was now useless. But the removal +of a rail might have been of more value by giving us time for burning +some of the bridges, which are very numerous on this part of the road. +This stop was made in plain sight of a Confederate regiment commanded by +a Colonel Glen. The work to be done, however, demanded too much speed +for us to apprehend their interference. But before the rail could be +more than loosened, the pursuers, who had halted at Dalton for even a +shorter time than we had, were upon us again, and we once more mounted +our engine and sped onward. The telegram was sent ahead by this line as +well as the other a minute or two before the wire was severed. It +created a terrible excitement in Chattanooga, but did us no real damage. +Both the pursuing trains were near us when we entered the great tunnel +north of Dalton. Our supply of cross-ties was unfortunately exhausted, +or they might have proved very serviceable in the darkness. In fearful +proximity and with unabated speed the tunnel was passed. Murphy declares +that he was quite relieved when he saw by the gleam of light ahead that +our engine was passing on, for he had quite made up his mind that we +would attack them or drive our engine back upon them in the darkness. +But no such plan had entered our thoughts. We would far have preferred a +fight in open day. + +We now resolved to play what had been reserved as our last card. Running +more slowly to economize fuel,--though a high velocity was still +maintained,--we tried to light a fire in our only remaining car. It was +already open at both ends, and now as much of the sides and top as could +possibly be obtained was also torn off and prepared for fuel. The +attempt to light these splinters by matches did not succeed, for the +wind caused by the rapid motion blew them out. Fire was then brought +back from the engine, but this seemed to smoulder rather than burn, for +the rain, which fell in torrents, blew through the unprotected car, and +all the boards were soaking wet. Never did kindling a fire seem so +difficult. When at length it fairly caught, and began to burn briskly, +our dampened hopes began to brighten in sympathy with it. Might it not +be that our persistent struggle against ill-fortune was to win the +victory even yet? Just then a long covered bridge was approached, which +it was desirable on every account to burn. All of our party, whom the +heat had not already driven forward, were ordered into the nearly empty +tender, and the car was uncoupled in the middle of the bridge. We did +not leave it hastily, but stopped near the farther end of the bridge to +watch the result in breathless anxiety. We had scarcely halted when the +black smoke of the nearest pursuer was seen, and he bore down upon us at +full speed. We were very loth to leave our position. We could see that +the flame was rising higher, but could also see that the enemy's train +had a large number of men on board, some of whom had firearms. Oh, what +would we not have given for a few of the muskets we had left in camp, to +have held our position for even a few minutes, or even one minute! But +our situation was too unfavorable to allow more than a momentary thought +of resistance. At long range we were virtually unarmed. But we lingered +still, until we saw the enemy pushing our blazing car before them over +the bridge; then, being in reach of their firearms, and but poorly +protected in our engine and tender, we again sought safety in flight. +They pushed the blazing car before them to the first side track, which +happened not to be far away, and then left it to burn at its leisure. +Thus our forlorn hope expired. + +But not all of the adventurers were willing to accept defeat even yet. A +halt was made--the last--for the sake of again obstructing the track, +and getting a few sticks of wood that lay near the track to replenish +the waning fire of our engine. Some of the number, from the force of +habit more than anything else, began to take up a rail. The writer then +suggested to Andrews a simple plan, which, at this late hour, still +offered a glimmering hope. Could we throw the pursuers off the track, we +might burn a few bridges yet, though the most important had been left +behind us, and we could no longer hope to run our engine through +Chattanooga. This attempt would have been more full of peril than any +other of the day, with the possible exception of the first seizure of +the train; but its success would have turned the tables on our enemies +overwhelmingly. With sufficient promptness and desperation it might have +succeeded, while its failure would only have ended a hopeless struggle, +exchanging certain and immediate death for whatever faint chances of +escape might otherwise remain after the train was abandoned. There had +been many hints on the part of the soldiers that we were running away +from the enemy too many times, and that it would be better to fight, but +this was the first definite proposal. The suggestion was to use our +remaining fuel in once more running out of sight of the enemy, then, +selecting a place for ambuscade in the low, thick-set bushes that +frequently came close to the road, to obstruct the track in our usual +manner. When this was done, all of us, except one of the engineers, +could hide, in such a position as to be abreast of the enemy when he +stopped to remove the obstructions. Our own engineer could wait until +the pursuers were in sight, and then start off as usual, but slowly, so +as to keep their attention fixed upon his train. We had several times +noticed how, in the case of an obstruction, the Confederates had checked +their headlong career, sprang to the ground even before the train had +stopped fully, and worked furiously at clearing the track. This would be +our opportunity for rushing forth. We could shoot down all who were on +the engine or the ground, while one of our reserve engineers sprang on +the engine and threw it back at full speed, jumping off as it started. +The result could scarcely have failed to be a fatal collision with the +next pursuing train, which was never far behind. Then we would have been +free from pursuit, and left only to reckon with the forces ahead. The +place and manner of leaving the train could then have been selected at +our leisure. We afterwards learned that no preparation had been made to +receive us farther south than Boyce's Station, some three miles from +Chattanooga. There a strong military force had been posted, the track +torn up, and cannon planted. But we would never have ventured so near +Chattanooga after knowing that a message had been sent ahead of us at +Dalton. Our original hope had been to get so far ahead of all pursuit as +to pass Chattanooga before the pursuers had reached Dalton. Then the +junction of roads at the latter point would not have been an +embarrassment to us, as will be made clear by a reference to the map. + +Andrews said that the plan, of which a hint was given in a few rapid +words, was good and worth trying. But the one great defect in his +character as a leader came to the surface in this emergency. This was a +disposition to turn everything carefully over in his mind before +deciding. There was no time for reflection now. The Confederate whistle +sounded, and our men, without waiting for the word of command, so +accustomed had they become to this manoeuvre, mounted the engine and +sped away. Andrews bitterly regretted afterwards that this last +expedient was not tried. With this exception, I do not know of anything +more that could have been devised, beyond what we actually attempted. + +One object only could now be attained by clinging longer to the train, +the speedy abandonment of which was inevitable. Andrews wished to +shorten the distance to our own lines as much as possible, so that the +slender chance of escaping through the woods and mountains might be +increased. It was far easier to travel on the engine than to run or +skulk through the country on foot. It was better to continue this mode +of locomotion as long as possible, or until we were carried as near +Chattanooga as it was prudent to venture. The old lightning rate of +running could not be maintained, but we were still moving swiftly. The +engine was in a bad state, and really incapable of much further service. +The fuel, too, was gone. For some time we had been reduced to the +fragments that had been torn off the cars before they were dropped, and +to what we had gathered up along the roadside. Now all that remained of +a combustible character was crowded into the fire-box for the last pull. +Andrews had always kept with him from the time we first met him at the +midnight consultation a mysterious and well-filled pair of saddle-bags. +These, of which he had been very careful, and which were supposed to +contain important and compromising documents, were now added to the +fire. It was a signal, if any were needed, that the time had now come to +prepare for the worst. Andrews and three others--Brown, Knight, and +Alfred Wilson--were now on the engine, and the remaining sixteen were +huddled together on the tender. At no time since the writer had proposed +attacking the pursuing train had he been in a position to urge the +attempt on Andrews, and it was now too late. But another decision was +arrived at on the engine against which some of us on the tender would +have protested with all our energy had the opportunity been offered. +Alfred Wilson, whose opinion was directly opposite to that of George D. +Wilson and the writer, says,-- + + "A few minutes before we came to the final halt, Andrews, + Brown, Knight, and myself hastily discussed as to the best + thing to be done, and it was concluded that the best course was + to separate and scatter in all directions." + +This fatal decision arose from two causes. Andrews, with all his +courage, never rightly valued fighting men. He preferred accomplishing +his objects by stratagem and in secrecy rather than by open force. It +was simply wonderful that in all the exigencies of this expedition no +one of his soldiers had been permitted to fire a single shot, or even to +draw a revolver upon the enemy. He now considered that when scattered +each one, as well as himself, would be able to find concealment, or if +captured, to evade detection by false stories. This was a great mistake. +The second reason for adopting this fatal course was the belief that the +scattering of the party would also scatter pursuit, and make it less +eager in any one direction. Under ordinary circumstances such would have +been the result. But the terror and the fierce resentment aroused by the +daring character of our enterprise caused the whole country to burst +into a blaze of excitement, and the pursuit to be pushed with equal +energy for scores of miles in every direction. + +An opposite course would have been far more hopeful. We were but twelve +or fifteen miles from Chattanooga. Twenty miles of travel to the +northwest would have placed us on the opposite bank of the Tennessee +River, among the loyal mountaineers of the district. If we had remained +together we could have traversed that broken and wooded country which +lay before us as rapidly as any pursuing soldiers. No body of citizens +not perfectly organized and armed would have ventured to halt us. +Cavalry pursuit away from the main roads was impossible. Besides, one of +our party possessed a pocket-compass, and two others, besides Andrews, +were somewhat acquainted with the country. The writer is convinced that +we might have left the cars in a body, and without even attempting +concealment, but only avoiding the public roads, have hurried directly +towards Mitchel's lines, and within forty-eight hours have been safe in +his camp. + +But we can neither wonder at nor blame the mistake made by our leader on +this occasion, though it led to months of wretchedness and the death of +many of the party. Andrews had met each new emergency with heroic +calmness and unfailing resources; but he was now physically exhausted. +He had been engaged in the most intense and harassing labor for many +days, being without sleep for the past thirty hours and without food for +twenty. An error in action was therefore most natural and excusable, +even if it disagreed with the course which had been marked out in calmer +moments. Wilson says,-- + + "Andrews now told us all that it was 'every man for himself;' + that we must scatter and do the best we could to escape to the + Federal lines." + +This, then, was the formal dissolution of the expedition by the order of +its leader. When we were brought together again under widely different +circumstances, we were simply a collection of soldiers, and while we +respected the judgment and advice of Andrews, we no longer considered +that we owed him military obedience. + +As Conductor Fuller now disappears from our story, where he has been so +conspicuous, and where his energy, skill, and daring shine in such +brilliant colors, a few words may be appropriately devoted to his work +and subsequent history. All the evidence goes to show that the +Confederacy had no other available man who could have saved the bridges +on the Western and Atlantic Railroad that day. With the exception of +himself and his two companions, who were in a sense subordinate to him, +though their services were of very high value, no other person seemed +capable of planning or doing anything whatever. With a conductor of less +energy in the place of this man, the probabilities are that we would +have had the whole day uninterruptedly for the accomplishment of our +task. But for Fuller's daring and perseverance the extra trains would +have but added to the number of wrecks along the line as one after +another ran upon the places where the track had been torn up; while the +burning of the bridges and the loss of telegraphic communications would +have diffused a universal panic. + +The Legislature of Georgia gave Fuller a vote of thanks for his +brilliant services, and instructed the governor to bestow upon him a +gold medal; but, as he laughingly said years after, "Gold was so scarce +in the South that it was hard to find enough for a medal. It was +therefore postponed for a time, and then came the final collapse of the +Confederacy, and I got nothing." The Confederate authorities gave him +the rank of captain by brevet. Of course, the Federal government could +not recognize services rendered against itself of however striking +character. No one of the adventurers ever expressed any malice towards +Conductor Fuller, believing that he simply did what he regarded as his +duty. He retained his place as conductor until the whole road passed +under the control of General Sherman, when he enlisted in the army. +After seeing considerable military service, he was directed by the +Confederate government to take charge of the rolling-stock of the +Western and Atlantic Railroad, and keep it out of the hands of the +Federals. He removed it to various parts of Georgia and South Carolina +as the exigencies of the war and the narrowing territory of the +Confederacy required. Finally, when the supremacy of the Union was +restored, he brought it back to Atlanta and surrendered it to Federal +authority. He afterwards resumed his place as conductor on the same +road, and remained in that situation until 1875, when he located as a +merchant in Atlanta. Here for many years he delighted in talking over +this day of wild adventure. + +Of his two companions, Cain continued for more than twenty years as an +engineer on the same road, while Murphy built up a prosperous business +as a lumberman in Atlanta. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A NIGHT IN THE WOODS. + + +Many persons, on hearing an account of this unparalleled chase, have +suggested one expedient by which they imagine the fugitive Federals +might have destroyed their enemy and accomplished their own purpose. +"Why did you not," they say, "reverse your own engine and then jump from +it, thus allowing it to knock the pursuing train from the track?" There +were good reasons against that course. Such critics might as well ask a +man who has ascended half-way up out of a well in a bucket why he does +not cut the rope over his head for the sake of crushing somebody at the +bottom of the well. That engine was the basis of all our hopes, and we +could not think of abandoning it until the direst extremity. At the last +moment, however, this attempt to reverse the engine for the purpose of +securing a collision was made. This final effort was unavailing. The +steam power was so nearly exhausted that the locomotive moved backward +very slowly, and accomplished nothing beyond delaying the pursuit on +foot for a very few moments. The pursuing train had no difficulty in +also reversing and running back a little way until the captured engine +came to a dead standstill. Indeed, the hard service of the engine had +very nearly destroyed it, even before we thus flung it back at the +enemy. A Confederate account says, "Their rapid running and inattention +to their engine had melted all the brass from their journals." Wilson is +still more graphic,-- + + "I could liken her condition to nothing else than the last + struggles of a faithful horse, whose heartless master has + driven and lashed him until he is gasping for breath, and + literally dying in the harness. The powerful machine had + carried us safely for more than a hundred miles, some of the + time at a rate of speed appalling to contemplate, but she was + becoming helpless and useless in our service. She was shaken + loose in every joint, at least she seemed so; the brass on her + journals and boxes was melted by the heat; her great steel + tires were almost red-hot, while she smoked and sizzled at + every joint. Our race was almost run." + +We are not able to give an account of the time occupied by us in the +different parts of this long and fearful race. The general impression of +a frightful rate of speed is, however, fully borne out by one fact, +which rests on the authority of the engineer of the "Texas," and I am +not sure that this simple statement is not more eloquent than the most +vivid word-pictures of our chase. It is simply that he ran the distance +of fifty and one-half miles, made all the stops at stations for +explanations and reinforcements, as well as to remove obstructions and +to switch off the cars we dropped, in the space of _sixty-five minutes_. +This calm and definite statement, which I have never heard disputed, +implies an average velocity, when in motion, of not less than a mile per +minute! That such a speed could be attained upon a crooked road, laid +with old iron rails, and with the utmost efforts of an enemy in front to +obstruct the track, seems little less than miraculous. + +But to return to the direct story. When the final and fatal command to +disperse was given, the soldiers, still obedient to orders, jumped off +one by one, and ran, either singly or in small groups, towards the +shelter of the woods. The greater number fled in a western direction. + +No time was lost by the enemy in organizing a most vigorous pursuit. +This would have had little terrors if conducted only by the men on the +pursuing trains. Some of these did join in it, but their part was +insignificant. In an incredibly short space of time the whole country +was aroused. The telegraph, no longer disabled, flashed alarm in every +direction. Horsemen scoured at full speed along every highway, shouting +their exaggerated stories to every passing traveller and to every house +and village. The whole population for scores of miles on every side of +Chattanooga seemed to have abandoned every other occupation, and devoted +themselves exclusively to the work of hunting the fugitive Union +soldiers. Each ferry and cross-road was picketed, while armed bands +explored the sides of every mountain, and searched out every valley. The +people, or at least the great part of those who thus engaged in this +terrible man-hunt in the woods, were not novices in the work, and +employed the most efficient agencies. The dark institution of slavery +rendered the work of hunting down fugitive men very familiar. One of the +points in which there is a strange conflict of testimony between +Northern and Southern witnesses is in relation to the employment of +blood-hounds in the pursuit of Union soldiers, especially when +endeavoring to escape from prison. The writer wishes to be perfectly +candid in this story, and can imagine one explanation of this +discrepancy. Possibly the cause of the dispute is to be found in the use +of the word "blood-hound." The pure-blooded Spanish blood-hound, a +ferocious and terrible beast, is comparatively rare in the Southern +States. But hounds, which were used for tracking men, and some of which +were very large and fierce, were very common. To a poor man, whether +white or black, flying for his life through some lonely wood, who hears, +through the darkness of the night, the baying of a pack of hounds on his +track, and knows that their fangs will soon be fixed in his flesh, it is +little comfort to reflect that the deadly beasts are probably only +mongrels and not of the pure Spanish breed! Hounds were freely employed +in searching for the members of our party, and we felt our blood chill +with horror as we listened to their baying. Escape by concealment for +any considerable length of time was scarcely possible. Rapid flight over +the roughest part of the country was the only alternative, and this was +far from hopeful. The adventurers were so widely dispersed that no +collective narrative of their perilous wanderings is practicable. Yet +many circumstances were common to all the members of the party. The +drenching rain, which continued to fall, added greatly to our +discomfort, and was at once a help and a hindrance. It rendered the +tracking dogs much less efficient, and frequently threw them off the +track altogether, but prevented us from travelling by the sun and stars; +and, as we had no other guide, the flight of the greater number became a +mere aimless wandering through the woods,--sometimes even in a circle. +The endurance of indescribable suffering from cold, hunger, and fatigue +was also an experience common to all who eluded capture for any +considerable period. The expectation of a violent death immediately on +capture and detection was shared by all. The only mode of giving an +adequate impression of this painful but deeply interesting part of the +history will be to narrate with some detail the adventures of a few of +those groups, which will best serve as specimens of all. I offer my own +experience first; not that it is more interesting than others,--indeed, +it is greatly surpassed in number and variety of adventures by the +narratives of Dorsey and Wilson,--but because it is easier to tell my +own experience,--that strange weird period of hunting in the woods and +mountains of Georgia, in which I was the game,--a period which stands +out alone in memory separated from all former and after life! + +On leaving the train the writer was alone, and for a moment his heart +sank within him. No one happened to strike off in the same direction, +and, although some of the fugitives might have been overtaken or fallen +in with, yet the wish was strong to accompany the same band who had been +associated on the southward journey. In looking for these the +opportunity of going with any of the other adventurers was lost. Indeed, +I hardly wished to have any other companions, as the remainder were +comparative strangers, and their trustworthiness had not yet been +thoroughly approved. At that time I knew nothing of the locality in +which I found myself,--whether it was fifteen or fifty miles from +Chattanooga,--nor had I the most indefinite idea of the character of the +country. I only knew that our army and territory lay north or northwest; +but as the sun did not shine, I had no means of determining the points +of the compass. + +The train was still moving when I jumped off,--fast enough to make me +perform several inconvenient gyrations on reaching the ground. As soon +as I could stand firmly I looked about for a moment, and endeavored to +grasp the situation and determine what to do. I had not anticipated that +the train would be abandoned and we dispersed in the woods; but, on the +contrary, had relied on being under the orders of a leader until we +should succeed or perish. Now I was thrown entirely on my own resources, +without even a conscious reliance on the protection of God. I cannot +recall even breathing a prayer in this trying moment. Yet, in a dim way, +I did feel that I was not utterly forsaken. One glance round the +horizon--a swift balancing of the few elements of the problem that were +within my reach--and then hurried flight was all time permitted. Most of +my comrades were in advance of me. Three of them had taken the eastern +side of the railroad, the remainder the opposite side. In my judgment +the latter was best, and, following their example, I soon reached the +cover of stunted pines that grew near. Feeling the necessity of getting +some start before the enemy could arrange for pursuit, I continued to +run at right angles away from the railroad. A little brook that ran +parallel to the railroad was soon passed, and I pressed on up the long, +steep, and open slope of a hill on its opposite side. Running up-hill +was too severe to be maintained long, and I was obliged to drop into a +walk in plain view of the enemy. Each step was fatiguing, and my limbs +seemed made of lead. This greatly augmented my fears. It was more like +trying to run away from danger in a nightmare than any waking sensation. +I saw three of my comrades not far away on the left, and, urging my +failing strength to the utmost, tried to overtake them, but in vain. +This was a great disappointment, for I dreaded solitude above all +things, and wanted the support of sympathy. I knew that pursuit would be +rapid and instantaneous, and could hear shouts from the pursuing trains, +which had now reached the spot and were discharging a host of enemies. +Every breeze that sighed through the branches of the naked forest +sounded like the trampling of cavalry. + +The country was rough and uneven. On the bottoms and by the streams, as +well as on the steep mountains, were a few pines; but on the slopes and +tops of the hills, which here are a low continuation of the Cumberland +range, the timber is mostly of oak and other varieties, which were not +then in foliage. This was a great disadvantage, because it left no +hiding-place and exposed us to the watchful eyes of our enemies. + +As I struggled up the hill-side the sense of faintness and exhaustion +passed away, and with strength hope came again. Nothing in this chase +seems stranger than the manner in which my strength ebbed and flowed. +When seemingly utterly powerless, without rest, food, or sleep, vigor +came back again on more than one occasion, and the new supply would last +for hours. My more rapid pace soon carried me over the hill-top and down +to the bend of a little river, which I subsequently learned was the +Chickamauga,--the witness, afterwards, of one of the most desperate +battles of the war. It was then swollen by the continuous rains, and for +some time I searched along its banks in vain for a crossing-place. +Believing that death was behind, I finally committed myself to the +turbulent stream, and succeeded in getting over, but only to find that +before me the bank rose in an almost perpendicular precipice of +shelving rock not less than one hundred feet in height. I dared not +recross the stream, for I knew the enemy could not be far behind, and I +therefore clambered up the precipice. Several times, when near the top, +did I feel my grasp giving way, but as often some bush or projecting +rock afforded me the means of saving myself. While thus swinging up the +bare rocks, I could not help thinking what a fine mark I presented if +any of the enemy, with guns, should happen to arrive on the opposite +bank! At last, after imminent danger, I reached the top, again utterly +exhausted, pulled myself out of sight, and sank down to breathe for a +while. + +I had been without breakfast or dinner, and had spent not only that day +but many preceding ones in the most fatiguing exertion. Enemies were on +every side. There was no guide even in the direction of home, for the +sun still lingered behind an impenetrable veil. + +While musing on this unenviable situation in which I found myself, a +dreadful sound brought me to my feet and sent the blood leaping wildly +through my veins. It was the distant baying of a blood-hound! A moment's +reflection would have made it certain that in the existing state of +Southern customs dogs would have been used to track fugitives in the +woods. It was a mere every-day incident of slavery. But this +consideration brought no comfort. Alone in the woods of Georgia, the +horror of being hunted with dogs was indescribable. + +A few moments' listening confirmed my worst fears. They were after us +with their blood-hounds! not one pack alone, but all in the country, as +the widening circle from which their dismal baying echoed revealed but +too plainly. There was no longer safety in idleness. Yet the fearful +sound was not without use in supplying a guide to flight, and I am now +convinced that throughout the whole chase the dogs were of more real +service to us than to our pursuers, as they rendered a surprise less +probable. But none the less did they add to the repulsiveness and terror +of our position. + +Away across the hills and streams I sped, I know not how far,--I only +know that the noise of the dogs grew fainter as the evening wore on. I +had distanced them and began to breathe more freely. I even indulged the +hope of being able to work my way ultimately to the Federal lines. Had +the clouds permitted travelling by the sun and stars, this hope might +have been realized. + +As I descended the long slope of a wooded hill into a solitary valley, I +saw a rude hut, with a man working in a cultivated patch beside it. +Believing that he could not yet have heard of our adventure, I +determined to risk something in order to get information. I also felt +sure that one man could not arrest me. Approaching, I asked the road to +Chattanooga, and the distance. He pointed the way, and told me that it +was eight miles. Adding this information to the general knowledge I had +of the geography of that district, it gave me some notion of my +whereabouts. I did not wish to get any nearer the rebel town, as I +rightly judged that in its vicinity pursuit would be most vigorous, but +I continued my journey in that direction until out of sight, when I +climbed the hill at right angles to my former course. This course was +maintained for some hours, when an incident occurred which would have +been amusing but for the fearful perils environing me. + +I had often heard of lost persons travelling in a circle, but never gave +much credit to such stories. Now, I had the proof of their credibility. +I believe philosophers explain the phenomenon by saying that one side of +the body has a little more vigor than the other, and that when we have +no guide to direct us, the stronger side (usually the right), by its +tendency to go ahead of the other side, gradually turns us in the +opposite direction. In other words, the right foot outwalks the left, +and thus, like a carriage-horse swifter than its mate in a driverless +team, can only describe perpetual circles until the will-power again +takes hold of the reins. But at this time I had never heard of such +theories, and the following experiences presented themselves to my mind +as an inexplicable and terrifying fatality. + +I had crossed a road and left it for something like an hour, during +which time I walked very fast, when to my surprise I came to the same +place again. I was considerably annoyed thus to lose my labor, but +struck over the hill in what I now supposed to be the right direction. +Judge of my astonishment and alarm when, after an hour or more of hard +walking, I found myself again at precisely the same spot! So much time +had been lost that the barking of the dogs now sounded very loud and +near. I was perplexed beyond measure and seemingly hopelessly entangled. +A few steps brought me to a stream that was recognized as having been +crossed hours before. In sheer desperation I took the first road that +appeared, and followed it almost regardless of where it led or who was +met. Previously I had kept away from the roads, and sought the most +secluded route. But the risk of meeting any tangible enemy was +preferable to being the sport of that bewildering chance which seemed to +be drifting me around in a remorseless whirlpool. + +Thus I pressed forward till the rainy, dreary evening deepened into +night. I recall no thoughts of prayer, no feeling of dependence upon an +infinite mercy beyond the clouds. All the memory I have of mental +processes is that there was a fixed, iron-like resolve to use every +power of body and mind to escape, and in perfect calmness to await the +result. I intended to do all in my own power for safety and then perish, +if it must be so, with the feeling that I was not responsible for it. +The reader, a little farther on, will find that this feeling was so +powerful that I did not shrink from any sacrifice of truth, or even from +enlistment in the rebel army. For me the stake was life or death. I +would win if my power could by any means be stretched so far; if not, I +would pay the forfeit when I must. + +It was not perfectly dark, for there was a moon beyond the clouds, and, +as I heard a wagon approaching, I stepped to the bushes beside the road +and accosted the driver. His voice assured me that he was a negro, and I +made bold to get from him as much information as possible. Words cannot +describe the flood of disappointment, vexation, and anger that swept +over my bosom when I found I was within four miles of Chattanooga,--that +town which I regarded as the lion's mouth! So far as I had a plan it was +to leave this place far to my right, and strike the Tennessee River +twelve or fifteen miles farther down-stream. I hoped to do this, and to +cross over the river by floating on some dry branch of a tree before +morning. If the stars came out, so that I could travel a straight +course, this hope was not unreasonable. But near Chattanooga, however, +all the river would be watched and the country around strictly +patrolled. But if discouraged by the manner in which I seemed attracted +towards the rebel headquarters, despair was useless; so, learning the +direction both of Ringgold and Chattanooga from the negro, who, like all +of his color, was ready to do anything for fugitives, with whom he had a +fellow-feeling (though I did not make my true character known to him), I +pressed forward through the rain and mud. As the road did not lead in +the right direction, I again travelled in the fields and woods. + +For some time I felt sure of having the right course in my head and +hurried on. But when I had crossed a large field of deadened timber I +was completely lost. Soon, however, I reached a road which seemed to +lead right, and followed it with renewed vigor for several miles. At +length I met three men on horseback. It was too dark to tell whether +they were negroes or white men, but I ventured to ask them,-- + +"How far is it to Chattanooga?" + +"_Three miles!_" + +"Is this the right road?" + +"Yes, sah, right ahead." + +These, probably, were men sent out to search for the railroad +adventurers, and they did not try to arrest me because I had accosted +them so boldly and was going directly towards Chattanooga. + +But it was evident I was again on the wrong road. Indeed, so hopelessly +bewildered was I that it seemed impossible to travel any but the wrong +road. As soon as the horsemen were out of sight I turned and followed +them three or four miles, until I came to a large road running at right +angles with my own, which terminated where it entered the other. I +deliberated some time as to which end of this new road I should take. +These mountain-roads are fearfully crooked, and the one I had been +travelling bent too often to give me the direction even of the dreaded +Chattanooga. + +Many a time had I wished for a sight of the moon and stars. Long before +the clash of arms had been heard in our peaceful land, before the +thunder of battle had filled a nation with weeping, astronomy had been +my favorite study, and I had often longed for the parting of the clouds, +that, with my telescope, I might gaze on the wonders of the world above. +But never did I bend so anxious an eye to the darkened firmament as in +my solitary wanderings over the Georgia hills that memorable night. All +in vain! No North Star appeared to point with beam of hope to the land +of the free! + +But at length I made choice, and, as usual, on this night chose wrong. +After I had gone a long distance the moon did for a moment break through +a rift in the clouds and pour her welcome light down on the dark forest +through which I was passing. That one glance was enough to show me that +I was heading towards the railroad I had left in the morning. Even then +the light was a compensation for all the disappointment, but in a +moment it withdrew and the rain fell again in torrents. Wearily I turned +and retraced my tedious steps, hoping in vain for another glimpse of the +moon. + +One of my feet had been injured by an accident three months before, and +now pained me exceedingly. Still I dragged myself along. My nerves had +become exhausted by the long-continued tension they had endured, and now +played me many fantastic tricks, which became more marked as the night +wore on. I passed the place where the wrong choice of roads had been +made, and still toiled ahead. + +I was thinly clad, and as the wind, which had risen and was now blowing +quite hard, drove the falling showers against me, my teeth chattered +with the piercing cold. I passed many houses, and feared the barking of +the dogs might betray me to watchers within; but my fears were +groundless. The storm, which was then howling fearfully through the +trees, served to keep most of those who would have sought my life +within-doors. For a time I seemed to have the lonely, fearful, stormy +night to myself. + +At last all thoughts gave way to the imperative need of rest. I reeled +to a large log not far from the road, on the edge of a small patch of +woodland, and crawling close under the side of it, not so much for +shelter from the driving rain as for concealment from my worse dreaded +human foes, I slept in peace. + +Up to the time of this profound and dreamless sleep the incidents of +that terrible night are graven on my memory as with a pen of fire. But +after waking I found a marvellous change, and the next experience of the +night floats in memory with all the voluptuous splendor of an +opium-dream. Had I been at all disposed to superstition, I would have +had room enough to indulge it. A rational view of religion would have +enabled me to recognize the manner in which a Merciful Father interposed +to relieve my sufferings,--an interposition not less real or effective +because, as I still believe, purely natural. But at that time I was +indisposed to admit other than the material explanation. The want of +sleep, fatigue, dampness, hunger, and intense mental tension were enough +to cause a mild species of delirium. But the character of this was +surely extraordinary, affecting as it did the senses and imagination +only, and leaving the reason and will altogether untouched. I was as +rational--as able to plan, and far more able to execute, during this +singular psychological experience than before. But let me narrate facts +and leave the reader to his own explanations. + +I cannot tell how long sleep continued, but I wakened perfectly in an +instant, and with a full realization of my position. But, in addition to +this, I seemed to hear some person whisper, as plainly as ever I heard a +human voice,-- + +"Shoot him! shoot him! Let us shoot him before he wakes!" + +My first impression was that a party of rebels had discovered me in my +hiding-place, and that my last moment on earth had come. But the next +thought brought a new suspicion, and I cautiously opened my eyes to see +if my senses were really playing me false. + +Directly before me stood a bush or small tree. The first glance showed +me a tree and nothing more. The next glance revealed a score of angels, +all clad in lovely robes, that melted into the softest outlines, their +heads nodding under feathery plumes above all beauty, and their wings, +bordered with violet and pearl, slowly waving with indescribable grace. +As my eye wandered farther, the whole grove was transformed into a +radiant paradise, in which moved celestial beings of every order, all +instinct with life and blushing with love. There were rose bowers, and +ladies fairer than mortal, and little cherubs floating around on +cloudlets of amber and gold. Indeed, all that I had ever seen, read, or +imagined of beauty was comprised in that one gorgeous vision. It was +very singular, and of this I can give no explanation, except the will of +God, that no hideous, terrible, or even ugly image was seen. That there +were not visions of blood-hounds, chains, and scaffolds, or other forms +of terror, seemingly more appropriate to my condition; is unaccountable, +so far as I know, on any theory save that of heavenly grace, and, +personally, I wish for no better. It was also singular that though the +brain and eye were thus impressed with ideal existences, I was perfectly +calm and self-possessed, knowing the whole thing to be but a pleasing +illusion. I had no fear of these figures of the brain, but, on the +contrary, found them excellent company. They did not always personate +the same characters. Occasionally they would change to the old feudal +knights, arrayed in glittering armor. The finest landscapes would start +up from the cold wet hills around, like mirages in the desert. Panoramas +of the most vivid action passed before me, and the ear joined the eye in +the work of pleasing illusion, for even language was not denied to my +visitants, whose voices were inexpressibly melodious, and even very +sweet music was occasionally heard. + +Not less remarkable was the renewal of strength I felt. To walk or run +was no longer a burden. To say that I was perfectly refreshed is +altogether an inadequate expression. I seemed to have supernatural +strength, and to be incapable of any weariness or disagreeable sensation +whatever. Even the merciless pelting of the cold rain was pleasant and +delightful! I was perfectly easy and peaceful in mind, feeling no fear, +though perfectly conscious of my real situation and peril, and retaining +the full force of the resolve to use every exertion for escape. + +While night and darkness were thus changed into visions of beauty and +joy around me, another faculty penetrated beyond these highly-colored +illusions, and showed me, though in faint lines, the true face of the +country and of events. Yet I had no hesitation in controlling my +conduct with respect to the faint rather than the bright pictures, and +was only once, for a few minutes, deceived, and then by supposing the +real to be fictitious. The error very nearly involved me in a serious +difficulty. At a cross-road, I saw from a distance what I supposed, at +first, to be a group of my spectral friends standing around a fire, the +ruddy blaze of which rendered them clearly visible. They were not so +beautiful as former figures, but I advanced unsuspectingly towards them, +and would probably have continued until too late for retreat had not my +progress been arrested by a sound of all others least romantic,--the +squealing of a pig! The men around the fire had caught the animal, and +were killing it preparatory to roasting it in the fire! This immediately +drove away the seraphs and the angels! I listened, and became convinced +that they were a picket sent out to watch for just such travellers as +myself. Some dogs were with them, but these were, fortunately, too much +absorbed in the dying agonies of the pig to give attention to me. + +I crawled cautiously away, and made a long circuit through the fields. A +dog from a farm-house made himself exceedingly annoying by following and +barking after me. I did not apprehend danger from him, for I had managed +to keep my trusty revolver dry all this time, but I feared he would +attract the attention of the picket. + +When he left me I returned to the road, but came to three horses hobbled +down, which, no doubt, belonged to the picket behind, and had to make +another circuit to avoid driving them before me. Then I pressed on, +hoping that some good chance, if not providence, might bring me to the +steep banks of the Tennessee. Yet I was not sanguine, for the country +was more open and level than I expected to find in the vicinity of the +river. Very many miles--possibly a score, or even more, for my pace was +rapid--were passed in this manner, but at last my visions began to fade. +I was sorry to see them go, for they seemed like a good omen, and they +had been cheerful companions. When the last form of beauty disappeared +the chill horror of my situation froze into my veins; my strange +strength also passed gradually away. I would find myself staggering +along almost asleep,--would wander a short distance from the road to a +secluded spot, throw myself on the flooded ground, and be instantly +asleep,--then, in a few moments, awaken, almost drowned by the pitiless +rain, and so weary, cold, and benumbed that I could scarcely rise and +plod onward. + +Thus the latter part of that dreary night wore on. It seemed an age of +horror, and places a shuddering gulf between my present life and the +past. At length the cold gray dawn of a clouded morning broke through +the weeping sky. Day brought no relief. I had not yet any guide, and had +not stumbled on the Tennessee. I feared to make inquiries. Every one I +saw seemed a foe. Still, I did not avoid them, or leave the road for any +great distance. Slowly a new plan formed itself in my mind, for, if the +rain and clouds continued, I despaired of working my way to our lines. +What this plan was will appear in due time. It will be enough to say +here that I did not now think a capture would be fatal, if once far +enough away from the place where the train was abandoned, to plausibly +deny all knowledge of that raid. I hardly thought it possible that I +could endure another day and night alone in the woods. To prepare for +all emergencies, I carefully washed all traces of that terrible night +from my clothes. The wet would not matter, for the falling rain +accounted perfectly for that. + +It was Sabbath morning, but it came not to me with the blessed calmness +and peace that accompany it in my own far-off Ohio. I realized how sweet +those Sabbath hours and Sabbath privileges had been, which I had never +valued before. I saw the people going to church, and longed to go with +them. Of course this was impossible, but with the thought came more of +a feeling of worship and of desire for God's protection than I had ever +known before. In that hour I believe His blessed Spirit was calling me; +but I soon turned my mind in another direction, preferring to plan for +my own deliverance, and to arrange the stories I would tell if arrested, +or if I ventured to any house for food, as would soon be necessary. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +IN THE ENEMY'S POWER. + + +But I will dwell no longer on the miseries of this dreary morning. Its +hours went tediously by, marked by no special incidents till about noon. +Just beyond Lafayette, Georgia, I was observed by some one on the watch +for strangers. A party of pursuit numbering twenty or thirty was at once +organized. I knew nothing of my danger till they were within fifty +yards, when I heard them calling for me to stop. + +A single glance showed my helplessness. I laid my hand instinctively on +my revolver, but knew that fight was useless. Neither was flight +possible. The country was open and I was too weary to run, even if some +of the party had not been mounted and others armed with rifles and +shot-guns. It was time to see what could be made of my plans carefully +contrived for just such an emergency. Therefore, making a virtue of +necessity, I turned round and demanded what they wanted, though I knew +only too well. They said courteously enough that they wanted to talk +with me awhile. Soon they came up, and a brisk little man who had the +epaulets of a lieutenant, but whom they called "Major," began to ask +questions. He was very bland, and apologized profusely for interrupting +me, but said if I was a patriotic man (as he had no doubt I was) I would +willingly undergo a slight inconvenience for the good of the +Confederacy. I endeavored to emulate his politeness, begging him to +proceed in the performance of his duty, and assuring him that he would +find nothing wrong. He searched me very closely for papers, and examined +my money and pistol, but found no ground for suspicion. + +He next asked me who I was, where I came from, and where I was going. I +expected all these questions in about that order, and answered them +categorically. I told him I was a citizen of Kentucky, of Fleming +County, who had become disgusted with the tyranny of the Lincoln +government, and was ready to fight against it; that I came to +Chattanooga, but would not enlist there because most of the troops were +conscripts, and the few volunteers very poorly armed. I told him where I +had lodged in Chattanooga, and many things about the troops there, using +all the knowledge I had acquired of that character while riding on the +cars to Marietta the preceding Friday. I had also heard many words of +praise spoken of the First Georgia Regiment, and now told the major that +I wished to join that noble organization. This flattered his State +pride, but he asked me one question more,--why I had not gone directly +to Corinth, where the First Georgia was, without coming to Lafayette, +which was far out of the way. The question conveyed much information, as +I did not before know that I was near Lafayette, or out of the road from +Chattanooga to Corinth. I answered as well as I could by alleging that +General Mitchel was said to be at Huntsville, and that I was making a +circuit around to avoid the danger of falling into his hands. + +This seemed to be perfectly satisfactory to the little man, and, turning +to the attentive crowd, he said,-- + +"We may as well let this fellow go on, for he seems to be all right." + +I was greatly rejoiced at these words, and cast about in my own mind to +see if I could not gain something more before passing on the way. But my +joy was premature. A dark-complexioned man on horseback, with his hat +drawn over his brows, looked slowly up and drawled out,-- + +"Well, y-e-s! Perhaps we'd as well take him back to town, and if it's +all right, maybe we can help him on to Corinth." + +This was rather more help than I wanted, but there was no help for it. +Besides, I reasoned that if I could keep on good terms with this party, +I could get information and aid that would be invaluable towards my +final escape. Nothing could really suit me much better than actually to +be forwarded to Corinth and enlisted in the First Georgia. I knew the +ordeal of questioning before that course was determined on would be very +trying, but did not despair. If I could only have had some food and a +few hours' rest! + +They conducted me to the largest hotel of the place, where I was +received with much ceremony, but they neglected to order dinner. I could +have had drink enough, but was too prudent to touch it, even if I had +not always been a teetotaler. Soon all the lawyers came in,--Lafayette +is a county-seat,--and they all had liberty to question me. For four +mortal hours, as I could see by a clock in the room, I conversed with +them and answered questions. We talked of everything, and their +questions grew more and more pointed. I answered as well as I could, and +never let an opportunity pass to put in a question in turn, for it was +much easier and less perilous to ask than answer. When I told them I was +from Kentucky, they wished to know the county. I told them Fleming. They +asked after the county-seat. This also I could give. But when they asked +after adjoining counties I was sorely perplexed. One of them said it was +singular a man could not bound his own county. I asked how many of them +could bound the county we then were in. This question had a double +purpose,--to gain time and information. They mentioned several and fell +into a dispute, to settle which a map had to be produced. I got a look +at it also,--a mere glance, for it was soon out of reach of my eager +gaze; but I had seen much. Then they requested a narrative of my journey +all the way from Kentucky. This I gave very easily and in great detail +as long as it was on ground not accessible to my inquisitors. I told the +truth as far as that would not be compromising, and then pieced out with +inventions. The time I had spent on the train and in the woods were +hardest to arrange for. I had to _invent_ families with whom I had +lodged; tell the number of children and servants at each place, with all +kinds of particulars. I knew not how many of my auditors might be +familiar with the country I was thus fancifully populating, and was +careful not to know too much. I plead forgetfulness as often as that +plea was plausible, but it would not do to use it too often. I might +have refused to answer any question, but this would have been a tacit +admission of some kind of guilt,--at least as good as a mob would have +required. I might safely use any retorts and sharpness in +conversation,--and I did talk with perfect freedom,--but I had the +feeling that silence would have brought me in danger of the lash and the +rope. Can the reader conceive of any situation more critical and +perilous: starving and almost fainting from weariness, in the midst of a +growing tavern crowd, questioned by acute lawyers, and obliged to keep +every faculty on the alert, feeling that an incautious answer would +probably lead to an instant and frightful death, and compelled under +such pressure to tell falsehood after falsehood in unending succession? + +But I had an increasing hope if my endurance continued to the end. At +supper-time I meant to boldly demand food, and I felt sure of getting +it. Besides, although they were clear that I was a suspicious +character, they did not seem in any way to connect me with the great +railroad expedition,--the only identification I feared. The very fact +that I was so far away from the point where the train was abandoned was +in my favor. Temporary confinement, enlistment in the army, anything +they were likely to do was without terror as long as I was not connected +with the daring adventure which had culminated the day before. They were +somewhat perplexed by the assurance with which I spoke, and held +numerous private consultations, only agreeing that the case needed +further investigation. + +Matters were in this position when a man, riding a horse covered with +foam, dashed up to the door. He came from Ringgold and brought the +news--of deeper interest to me than to any one else--that several of the +bridge-burners had been taken near the place where they abandoned the +train. When first apprehended they claimed to be CITIZENS OF KENTUCKY, +FROM FLEMING COUNTY; but on finding that this did not procure their +release, they confessed being Ohio soldiers, sent by General Mitchel to +burn the bridges on the Georgia State Railroad! + +I have no reason to believe that any of those who were captured +described their companions, or gave any information leading +intentionally to their discovery. This was not needed. The unfortunate +telling of the same fictitious story and the subsequent revelation of +their true character on the part of some of the number who were captured +close to the abandoned train, unmasked the others as well. After the +first captures, which were made Saturday afternoon, whenever a fugitive +was arrested who hailed from _Fleming County, Kentucky_, and was not +able to prove his innocence, he was at once set down as a member of the +railroad party. + +The message from Ringgold ended all uncertainty in my own case. I was at +once conducted, under strict guard, to the county jail. + +The little major was my escort. He took advantage of his position to +purloin my money, and then turned me over to the county jailer. That +personage took my penknife and other little articles of property, then +led me up-stairs, unfastened a door to the right, which led into a large +room with barred windows, and having a cage, made of crossing iron bars, +in the centre. He unlocked the small but heavy iron door of the cage and +bade me enter. For the first time in my life I was to be locked in jail! +My reflections could not have been more gloomy if the celebrated +inscription had been written over the cage that Dante placed above the +gate of hell, "All hope abandon, ye who enter here." + +There did seem absolutely no hope for me. I was there as a criminal, and +I knew that life was held too cheaply in the South for my captors to be +fastidious about disposing of an unknown stranger. I had heard the +message from Ringgold, and at once comprehended its bearing against me. +Nothing save a confession of my true character as a soldier and my real +business in the South would be credited. The probability was that even +this would only make my doom the more speedy. + +In that hour my most distressing thoughts were of the friends at home, +and especially of my mother,--thinking what would be their sorrow when +they heard of my ignominious fate,--if, indeed, they ever heard, for I +had given "John Thompson" instead of my own name. That all my young +hopes and ambitions, my fond dreams of being useful, should perish, as I +then had no doubt they would, on a Southern scaffold, seemed utterly +unbearable. But one moment only did these thoughts sweep over me; the +next they were rejected by a strong effort of the will as worse than +useless, and were followed by a sense of unutterable relief, for I could +now rest. I had found a refuge even in prison, and needed no longer to +keep every failing faculty at the utmost tension. The sweetness of rest +for the moment overcame every other feeling save hunger, and that, too, +was soon satisfied. The jailer brought some coarse food, which was +devoured with exceeding relish. There was another prisoner in the same +cage,--probably a detective, put in for the purpose of gaining my +confidence and leading me to a confession. His first step was to plead +ill health as an excuse for not eating his share of the prison food. I +excused him, and ate his allowance as well as my own without difficulty. + +He then wished to talk, and asked me some questions, but I was in no +mood for further conversation. Being cold I borrowed his prison +blankets, of which he had a plentiful supply, and, wrapping myself up in +them, soon sank into a deep sleep--profound and dreamless--such as only +extreme fatigue can produce. The quaint advice contained in the last +words of my companion, however, lingered in my memory. Said he,-- + +"If you are innocent of the charge they make against you, there is no +hope for you. You are much worse off than if you are guilty, for they +will hang you on suspicion, while, if you are a soldier, you can tell +what regiment you belong to, and claim protection as a United States +prisoner of war." + +My sleep lasted until long after dawn of the next morning. This repose, +with the breakfast which followed, completely restored my strength, and +with the elasticity of youth I began to revolve my situation and plan +for the future. I was not long left in loneliness. The people of the +village and surrounding country came in throngs to see a man who was +supposed to belong to the daring band of engine thieves,--one of the +most common names by which our party was recognized during our +imprisonment. They were very free in their criticisms of my appearance, +and some were very insulting in their remarks. But I would not allow +myself to be drawn into conversation with them, for I had a momentous +question to decide in my own mind. + +The more I thought of the advice of my fellow-prisoner the more weighty +did it appear. I did not value it because it was his opinion, but +because it seemed reasonable. I also longed to assume my true name once +more and my position as a soldier. The thought of perishing obscurely +and in disguise was most revolting. Besides, I felt that a soldier had +more chances of life than a suspected wanderer. Our government might put +forth energetic efforts to save those who were in such deadly peril. I +remembered, with increasing hope, that the Federals, at this very time, +held a number of rebel prisoners in Missouri, who had been captured +while disguised in Federal uniform inside of our lines, engaged in an +attempt very similar to our own,--the burning of some railroad bridges. +Why might not these be held as hostages to assure our safety, or even +exchanged for us? To entitle me to any help from our government I must +be William Pittenger, of the Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and not +John Thompson, of Kentucky. My mind was soon made up,--the more readily +that I heard my citizen visitors talking about the capture of several +others of our party, who had all admitted that they were United States +soldiers. They were influenced, no doubt, by the same course of +reasoning that I have indicated. I believe this decision ultimately +saved my life. + +But there was room for choice as to the manner of making my confession. +I told the jailer that I had an important communication for the +authorities, and he reported the matter to some person of influence, who +summoned a vigilance committee, and ordered me before it. + +I found them prepared to renew the examination of the previous day. They +had the same lawyers in waiting, and, indeed, all the principal men of +the town. When their preliminaries were over, they asked the nature of +the communication I wished to make, and hoped that I could throw some +light on the mysterious capture of the railroad train. I said,-- + +"Gentlemen, the statements I made yesterday were intended to deceive." +("So we suspected," said one of the lawyers, _sotto voce_.) "I will now +tell you the truth." + +The clerk got his pen ready to take down the information, and the +roomful of people assumed an attitude of deepest attention. + +"Go on, sir; go on," said the president. + +"I am ready," said I, "to give my true name, and the division and +regiment of the United States army to which I belong, and to tell why I +came so far into your country." + +"Just what we want to know, sir. Go on," said they. + +"But," I returned, "I will make no statement whatever until taken before +the regular military authority of this department." + +Their disappointment and surprise at this announcement were almost +amusing. Curiosity was raised to the highest pitch, and did not like to +postpone its gratification. They employed every threat and argument in +their power to make me change my decision,--some of them saying that I +should be hanged to the nearest tree if I did not. But I knew my ground. +I told them that though an enemy I was a soldier, possessed of important +military information, and, if they were loyal to their cause, it was +their duty to take me at once before, some regular military authority. +The leading men admitted the justice of this view, and when they found +that I would reveal nothing there, they made arrangements to take me to +Chattanooga. This was distant about twenty miles from Lafayette. +Ringgold, near which we abandoned the train, was about the same distance +to the east. In that long and terrible night of wandering I had +travelled twenty miles in a straight line, and, with my meanderings, +must have walked more than fifty. + +My reason for postponing my confession until reaching Chattanooga was +that I wanted to get out of the hands of the mob as soon as possible. +There was no body of soldiers or responsible authority in Lafayette. If +I had perished there no one, in any contingency, could have been called +to account for it. Where a department commander was stationed I would +have to reckon with him alone, which was far preferable, and I counted +on the curiosity of the mob to preserve me as long as my secret was not +revealed. + +I was remanded to the jail to wait for the preparation of a suitable +escort. After dinner about a dozen men entered my room, and guarded me +out to the public square. There a carriage was waiting, in which I was +placed, and then commenced the complicated process of tying and +chaining. + +By this time a great mob had gathered, completely filling the square, +and in the most angry and excited condition. Some persons questioned me +in loud and imperious tones, demanding why I came down there to fight +them, and adding every possible word of insult. I heard many significant +hints about getting ropes, and the folly of taking me to Chattanooga +when I could be hanged just as well there. + +For a little time I made no answer to any question, and paid as little +attention as possible to what was said. But the tumult increased, and +the mob grew so violent in its denunciations that I feared a passive +policy would no longer serve. Though I was being very effectually bound, +my tongue was still at liberty. I had no experience in managing mobs, +but I felt, by a kind of instinct, that mobs and dogs are very +similar,--neither likes to attack a person who quietly and +good-humoredly faces them. I had proved this with savage dogs several +times for mere sport, but this was a more serious matter. I was not much +in the humor of talking, but it was better to be led by policy than by +inclination. Selecting, therefore, some of the nearest persons, I spoke +to them. They answered with curses, but in the very act of cursing they +grew milder and more willing to converse. I answered their innuendoes +cheerfully, jesting, whenever opportunity offered, about the manner I +was being secured, the bracelets they were giving me, the care they had +for a "Yankee," as they persisted in calling me, and tried to look and +speak as if the whole matter were a mere comedy. I soon got some of the +laughers on my side, and before long had the satisfaction of hearing one +man say, regretfully, "Pity he is a Yankee, for he seems to be a good +fellow," and another agree to the sentiment. Yet I was not sorry to hear +the driver announce that we were now ready to start. + +The manner in which I was tied indicated that my captors intended to +"make assurance doubly sure, and take a bond of fate." One end of a +heavy chain was put around my neck, and fastened there with a padlock; +the other end was passed behind the carriage-seat, and hitched to my +foot in the same manner, the chain being extended to its full length +while I was in a sitting position, thus rendering it impossible for me +to rise. My hands were tied together, my elbows were pinioned to my +sides by ropes, and, to crown all, I was firmly bound to the +carriage-seat, while two horsemen, armed with pistols and carbines, +followed the carriage at a short distance, and my evil genius, the +little major, took the seat beside me, likewise armed to the teeth. I +ought to have felt secure, but did not. The same exaggerated caution was +often noticed afterwards. + +As we left Lafayette behind, the sky, which had been clouded for days, +suddenly cleared. The sun shone in beauty, and smiled on the first faint +dawnings of spring that lay in tender green on the surrounding hills. +What would I not have given for such a day forty-eight hours earlier! +But even then it was very welcome, and my spirit grew more light as I +breathed the fresh air and listened to the singing of the birds. + +My companions were quite talkative, and I responded as well as I could. +They even tried to make me think that the extraordinary manner in which +I was tied and guarded--with which I reproached them--was a compliment, +showing that they had formed a high opinion of my daring character! +Their conversation was pleasant and courteous enough, except that when +they passed houses they would cry out, "We've got a live Yankee here!" +Then men, women, and children would rush to the door, staring as if they +saw some great monster, and asking,-- + +"Whar did you ketch him? Goin' to hang him when you get him to +Chattanooga?" and similar expressions without number. + +I cared little for this at first, but its perpetual recurrence was not +without its effect in making me think that they really would hang me. In +fact, my prospects were far from encouraging; yet I considered it my +duty to keep up my spirits and hold despair at arm's length while any +possible ground for hope remained. The afternoon wore slowly away as we +journeyed amid grand and romantic scenery that in any other +circumstances would have been enthusiastically enjoyed. But now my +thoughts were otherwise engaged. + +I was not so much afraid of death in itself as of the manner in which it +was likely to come. Death amid the smoke and excitement and glory of +battle never had seemed half so terrible as it now did when it stood, an +awful spectre, beside the gallows! And even sadder it was to think of +friends who would count the weary months, waiting and longing for my +return, till hope became torturing suspense, and suspense deepened into +despair. These and kindred thoughts were almost too much for my +fortitude; yet, setting my teeth hard, I resolved to endure patiently to +the end. + +The sun went down, and night came on,--deep, calm, and clear. One by one +the stars twinkled into light. I gazed upon their beauty with new +feelings, as I wondered whether a few more suns might not set me free +from the short story of earthly things and make me a dweller beyond the +sky. A spirit of prayer and the faint beginnings of trust stirred within +me. Hitherto I had been looking at passing events alone, and refusing to +contemplate the great new experiences death would open. But now my +thoughts took a new direction. God was helping me, and inclining my +heart upward. I was to pass through many more terrible scenes and taste +bitter sorrows before I could recognize His voice and fully repose on +His love. I was not then a member of church nor a professor of religion. +I believed the doctrines of Christianity, and purposed some day to give +them practical attention. It had been easy to postpone this purpose, +and, latterly, the confusion and bustle of camp-life had almost driven +the subject out of my mind. But now God appeared very near, and, even +amid foes and dangers, I seemed to have hold of some hand, firm but +kind, beyond the reach of vision. What influence was most powerful in +turning my thoughts upward I cannot tell,--whether it was the familiar +outlines of the grand constellations, the quiet and stillness all +around, so congenial to exhausted nature after the excitement of the +last few days, or a yet more direct message from the Highest,--I only +know that the memory of that evening, when I was carried, chained, down +the long hill to the valley in which Chattanooga lies, there to meet an +unknown fate, is one of the sweetest of my life. My babbling guards had +subsided into silence, and, as we wended along through the gathering +darkness, high and noble thoughts of the destiny of man filled my +breast, and death appeared only a mere incident of existence,--the gate +out of one department of being into another. I was nerved for any fate. + +It may be thought strange that in these moments of reflection and +spiritual yearning I had no feeling of remorse for any of the deceptions +of which I had been guilty. But I had not. It did not even occur to me +to consider them as sins at all. If necessary or expedient I would then +have added to them the sanction of an oath with equal recklessness. Some +sophistry--felt rather than reasoned out--about the lawfulness of +deceiving or injuring public enemies or rebels in any possible way--a +conviction that they had forfeited everything, even their right to be +told truth--must have controlled me. Before starting on this expedition +I had placed the highest value on truth, and would have regarded a +wilful lie with scorn and loathing. But I accepted deception as one of +the incidents of the enterprise, and all sense of its wrongfulness +passed away, and did not return until long afterwards. + +We arrived at Chattanooga while a feeble glow of the soft spring +twilight lingered in the air. The headquarters of General Leadbetter, +then district commander, was in one of the principal hotels of the town, +and we at once drove there. I was left in the carriage while the major +ascended to inform him of the arrival. + +The town had already been informed. The curiosity to see one of the men +who had captured the train and frightened the women and children of +Chattanooga into the woods only two days before was intense, and a very +large crowd soon assembled. They behaved as such assemblages usually +did, jeering and hooting, and calling me by every epithet of reproach +the language afforded,--wanting to know why I came down there to burn +their property and murder them and their children as well as free their +negroes. To these multitudinous questions and assertions I made no +answer. I was much amused (afterward!) by their criticisms of my +appearance. One would say that "it was a pity so young and +clever-looking a man should be caught in such a scrape." Another, of +more penetrating cast, "could tell that he was a rogue by his +looks,--probably came out of prison in his own country." Another was +surprised that I could hold up my head and look around on honest men, +arguing that such brazen effrontery in one so young was a proof of +enormous depravity of heart. I gave no opinion on the subject. Indeed, I +was not asked. + +There was one man I noticed in particular. He was tall and +venerable-looking; had gray hair, gray beard, a magnificent forehead, +and, altogether, a commanding and intellectual expression. He was +treated with marked deference by the throng, and as they parted and +allowed him to come up to my carriage, the thought arose, "Surely I will +receive some sympathy from that kind and noble-looking man." + +His first question confirmed my hope. Said he,-- + +"How old are you?" + +I answered, "Twenty-two, sir." + +Gradually his lip wreathed itself into a curl of unutterable scorn, and, +gazing steadily on me, he slowly uttered,-- + +"Poor young fool! And I suppose you were a school-teacher or something +of that kind in your own land! And you thought you would come down here +and rob us, and burn our houses, and murder us, did you? Now let me give +you a little advice: if you ever get home again, (but you never will!) +do try, for God's sake, and have a little better sense and stay there." +Then he turned contemptuously on his heel and strode away. The rabble +rewarded him with a cheer. I could never find out who he was; but after +that I looked for no more sympathy in that crowd. + +My conductor now returned and escorted me into the presence of General +Leadbetter. I was glad of the change, though there was little about this +man to inspire confidence. They said he was from the North +originally,--a native of Maine, I believe. His habits were so +intemperate that a Confederate captain afterwards informed me that he +always lived in one of two states,--either dead drunk or gentlemanly +drunk. His record was, even this early in the war, of a very ill +character, for he had been the principal agent in hanging a considerable +number of East Tennessee Union men under circumstances of great +barbarity. To this, it was said, he owed his present position. Such was +the man in whose hands my fate now rested. + +All the facts concerning him I learned afterwards, except one that was +apparent when I entered the room. He was considerably under the +influence of liquor, though not to an extent which interfered with the +transaction of business. He began to question me, and without any regard +for truth I gave him the story that I supposed would be best for my own +interest. I told him I was a United States soldier, giving my name, +company, and regiment correctly; but told him I was sent on this +expedition without my previous consent, and was ignorant of where I was +going or what I was to do, which I only learned as fast as it was to be +executed. He next inquired who was our engineer, but I refused to tell. +I afterwards found that they were exceedingly anxious to discover the +name of the person who ran our train, imagining him to be some official +connected with the Georgia State Railroad. He then asked after the +purpose of the expedition. I pleaded ignorance as far as any positive +information went; but as this did not satisfy him, I gave him my +inferences. There was no betrayal of Union interests in this, for all I +told him was what any thoughtful person, map in hand, would have +supposed,--the destruction of bridges and the capture of Chattanooga and +the occupation of East Tennessee. He was very attentive, and said,-- + +"But has Mitchel men enough for all that? My spies report that he has +not more than ten thousand infantry and three regiments of cavalry." + +This was so near the truth that I did not wish to confirm it. So I took +another departure from accuracy, and said,-- + +"That must refer only to his advance-guard, and leaves out of account +that part of his command which has not yet left Nashville." + +"What!" he returned, "is there a reserve army?" + +I assured him there was, and that with the regiments on their way from +the West and Northwest, sixty or seventy thousand men would be at +Nashville for Mitchel's disposal in three or four weeks! + +Leadbetter then asked, "What do you soldiers think is going to be done +with such a large army?" + +"We are confident," I answered, "that Chattanooga will first be +captured, then Atlanta, and afterwards Mitchel may probably strike for +some point on the coast, so as to cut the Confederacy in halves." + +The general rubbed his forehead for a moment, then exclaimed,-- + +"It's a grand plan. They can do it if they have men enough. But I had no +idea that Mitchel had such backing." + +How I did wish that he had! but I knew better. + +Then wheeling his chair directly in front, and fixing his eye steadily +on me, he continued,-- + +"I am much obliged to you for this information. Now, sir, I want you to +tell me just how many men you had on that train, and to describe each +one so that I may know them when I get hold of them." + +This was too much! I answered, "General, I have freely told you whatever +concerns only myself, because I thought you ought to know that I am a +soldier under the protection of the United States government. But I am +not base enough to describe my comrades." + +"Oh!" sneered he, "I don't know that I ought to have asked you that." + +"I think not, sir," I replied. + +"Well," retorted he, "you need not be so particular. I know all about +it. Your leader's name is Andrews. What kind of a man is he?" + +I was thunderstruck! How should he have Andrews' name, and know him to +be our leader? I never imagined what I afterwards found to be the true +cause,--that Andrews had been captured, with documents in his possession +which implicated him so completely that he acknowledged his name and the +fact of his leadership. I had every confidence that _he_, at least, +would escape and devise some means for our relief. So I answered +boldly,-- + +"I can tell you only one thing about him, and that is, he is a man you +will never catch." + +As I said this I thought I noticed a peculiar smile on the general's +face, but he only replied,-- + +"That will do for you;" and turning to a captain who stood by, +continued: "Take him to the hole,--you know where that is." + +With a military salute, the captain took me out of the room. There was +an explanation of the general's smile! Before the door, heavily ironed, +stood Andrews, waiting for an audience, and with him Marion Ross and +John Wollam. I did not think it prudent to recognize them, nor they to +recognize me, so we passed each other as strangers. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +OTHER CAPTURES. + + +As all the members of our party were ultimately assembled at +Chattanooga, so that from that time our stories flow together, it is now +well to bring the separated threads of narration down to that point. One +of the shortest and most lamentable was that of Jacob Parrot and Samuel +Robinson, both of the Thirty-third Ohio Regiment. When they left the +train in company they reached the woods, but on the wrong side of the +road. After being concealed for a short time they came back to the +railroad, but in attempting to cross it were observed by four citizens +and captured. They were immediately conducted to Ringgold, where a +company of Confederate soldiers was stationed. A course of questioning +here began, but Parrot refused to tell anything. He was but little over +eighteen years of age, very boyish-looking, and entirely destitute of +education. So they seem to have thought him a favorable subject for +receiving the treatment applied to those fugitive slaves who hesitate in +answering questions. He was taken out of the room by an officer and four +men, who stripped him and, holding him down over a large stone, +administered over one hundred lashes on his bare back, leaving scars +which the writer has often seen, and which he will carry to his grave. +Three times the whipping was suspended, the poor boy let up and asked if +he was ready to confess, and on his refusal he was thrown down again, +and the torture continued. They wished to force from him the name of the +engineer and the particulars of the expedition. But all their efforts +were in vain. The crowd procured a rope and were about to hang him, but +an officer of higher rank came up and prevented this final barbarity. + +The wonderful fortitude of the poor boy was of no avail. He and his +comrade were caught so near the place where they left the disabled +engine, and they were so utterly unable to give any account of the +manner in which they came to be there, that both would no doubt have +perished if Robinson had not--after first trying the Fleming County, +Kentucky, story, and being falsely informed that Parrot had confessed +everything--finally given his name and regiment, with the general +outline of the expedition. After this confession they were imprisoned +for a time in Ringgold, and afterwards brought to Chattanooga. + +D. A. Dorsey furnishes me an account of his adventures, which were in +some respects peculiar. My own special friend, George D. Wilson, was +with him, as well as William Bensinger and Robert Buffum. I use +Dorsey's own graphic language,-- + + "We fled from our broken down iron-horse in a northeasterly + direction towards the adjacent hills. These were sparsely + studded with timber, but almost entirely destitute of + undergrowth, and, of course, afforded but little opportunity to + hide from our pursuers. The latter were following upon our + trail, well armed and very numerous. Here occurred the first of + many an amusing scene, such as often light up the most horrible + situation. Buffum had worn a peculiar long gray coat, reaching + nearly to his feet, of which he had been very proud. Now he + found it a sore impediment to his precipitate flight, and + unbuttoning it, ran right out of it, leaving it spread out on + the old dry weeds behind him,--not even stopping to get the + bottle out of the pocket, in which he and I had been deeply + interested for the past twenty-four hours. + + "On we went, or rather flew, until we had distanced our + pursuers, and found ourselves in a denser forest. It was very + cloudy. The sun was completely hidden, and we could not tell + which was north, south, east, or west. We wandered on until + near midnight, when we came to a log hut in a small opening, + surrounded by a dilapidated rail-fence. The light of a blazing + fire shone through the cracks in the wall, and we walked to the + door and knocked repeatedly. Getting no answer, Wilson pulled + the latch-string and walked in. There a tall Georgian lay + stretched at full length on the floor, with his bare feet to + the fire, almost undressed, and suffering all the agonies of + colic. Over him bent his better half, busily engaged in + administering hot ash poultices. Of course, under such + circumstances, our application for food availed nothing, and we + were obliged to plod on through the darkness, mud, and rain. + Before morning we came to another cabin, which we did not + enter, but borrowed a pail of milk from the porch, and taking + it to the woods, speedily devoured it. Then we wandered on, + hoping for clear sky, but the clouds were unbroken, and our + wandering at random continued all the morning. + + "About ten o'clock, in the forenoon, we saw some persons on + horseback, who were evidently hunting for us. We managed to + elude them, and getting back to ground they had passed over, + concealed ourselves by lying down. Several other parties were + seen, but by shifting our position we avoided them for some + hours. The increasing number of our pursuers, however, + convinced us that we were in the most deadly peril. + + "'Oh, ye woods, spread your branches apace! + To your deepest recesses I fly; + I would hide with the beasts of the chase, + I would vanish from every eye. + + "'And hark! and hark! the deep-mouthed bark + Comes nigher still and nigher. + Burst on the path a dark blood-hound, + His tawny muzzle tracked the ground, + And his red eye shot fire.' + + "These words of the poet were fully echoed by my feelings. The + much-dreaded blood-hound was upon our trail. We discovered + three of them descending a hill over which we had recently + passed, right on our track, and four men behind them. As soon + as the latter discovered us, one of their number hallooed, and + was answered by shouts in every direction. This demonstrated + that we were surrounded. We advanced and boldly met the first + four, and endeavored to deceive them as to our real character. + Our denials of being the men who captured the train the day + before were all to no purpose. Soon we were surrounded by at + least fifty men, armed with shot-guns, rifles, and pistols. One + man carried a long rope. To say they were furious would be a + mild description. They demanded, in all kinds of profane and + vindictive language, our immediate surrender. We were separated + into two squads. Buffum and Bensinger stood together, and did + what they could to prove that they were victims of a case of + mistaken identity, Wilson and I were a few yards distant, and, + as he was the better talker, I left it all to him. He protested + that we were not the men they wanted, but citizens of Virginia + hunting for fugitive slaves. He told a very nice and plausible + story,--I thought it ought to have convinced any reasonable + man,--but it was in vain." + +[This was the only case, except one, so far as I know, where the +Kentucky story was varied from, and even then Buffum and Bensinger were +using it. Had Wilson and Dorsey been alone they might have succeeded +better. Dorsey continues:] + + "We had to surrender or fight. The latter course would have + been madness. We handed over our revolvers and pocket-knives on + demand, and then commenced the most terrible threats of + vengeance. A young blood, who appeared not more than sixteen, + put a pistol at Wilson's head, and would, no doubt, have shot + him had he not been prevented by one they called 'major.' A + rough fellow they called 'Black Billy' presented a + double-barreled shot-gun to my breast, swore he had sixteen + buckshot in each barrel, and unless I made a 'clean breast' of + it he would blow them all through me. This roused my + indignation, and considering my life worth nothing if I + confessed, while a confession might implicate others, I said, + 'Gentlemen, we have surrendered, and you have our arms. We are + in your power. If you want to shoot, just shoot!' + +[Illustration: LIEUTENANT D. A. DORSEY. +(One of the Adventurers.) +Page 156.] + + "Throwing my breast forward, in full expectation of receiving + the shot, I was surprised to see him drop the butt of his gun + to the ground and make arrangements for tying our hands. Having + thus secured us, they conducted us to a house about a mile + away, and gave us a pretty good dinner. + + "Here we learned that a reward of one hundred dollars had been + offered for each of the 'engine thieves.' We also learned that + we were only nine miles from Ringgold, which convinced us that + much of our travelling the night before must have been on the + _back track_. We were certainly not as far from Ringgold when + captured as we had been when the previous night set in. + + "After dinner we were taken to Ringgold on foot, and _put into + jail_,--the first one into which I had ever set my foot. It was + Sunday, April 13, 1862. This same evening we were all removed + by rail to Marietta, Georgia, where we arrived about midnight, + and were there placed in a literal dungeon of the worst + character,--dark, dreary, damp, and swarming with rats and + smaller vermin. From this point we had started northward for + the capture of the train two days before with high hopes. What + adventures since that time! + + "We hoped when day dawned that there would be some light in + this filthy hole, but we were disappointed, for, although we + could distinguish the difference between day and night, yet not + enough light entered this dismal place to enable us to + recognize our most intimate friend! + + "A heavy guard of six hundred cadets was placed around us for + the purpose of keeping down the mob. We were told that a whole + company of rebel soldiers had left camp at Big Shanty to come + to Marietta to lynch us, but were overtaken by their officers + when about half-way to Marietta and dissuaded from so rash an + act, the officers arguing that we were soldiers, and it would + not do for them to thus violate the rules of war, and also + assuring them that we would be properly dealt with, and, in due + time, executed. They thus succeeded in turning them back to + camp. + + "We remained here a whole day and two nights. On Tuesday we + heard a strange noise,--a horrible clanking and rattling of + chains, while a footstep was heard mounting the outside + staircase, which was the only one. Into the hall the jailer + came (for it was he), and, opening the trap-door, ran a ladder + down into our dungeon. Then he called Wilson up into the hall, + and put one end of a new trace-chain round his neck, and locked + it with a padlock, while he also placed a pair of handcuffs on + his hands. I was then called, the other end of the trace-chain + put around my neck, and my hands secured in the same manner. We + were thus coupled together by the neck, as well as handcuffed. + Bensinger and Buffum were used in the same way. Then Hawkins + and Porter, of whose presence we had no previous knowledge, + were called out, chained and ironed in the same manner. We were + then conducted to a box-car, which had in it some bales of + cotton, and started northward. The sergeant in charge of us + stopped the party at Dalton, and awaited the arrival of the + officer in command, who was to come on the next train. It was + night, and, although our guard was as kind as they well could + be under the circumstances, they had no means of feeding us. A + mob surrounded the depot and threatened to hang us, but the + guards managed, not without serious difficulty, to keep them + off. Here we had a most grateful surprise,--one of the few + really pleasant incidents which mitigated the horrors of our + experience. A few Dalton ladies, with their servants, came into + the waiting-room, and supplied us with a first-class supper. We + relished it hugely, for we had been altogether without dinner, + and our breakfast was of the scantiest character. This was the + first meal we had ever eaten with chains and irons upon us, + and, as the reader may judge, we felt and acted very awkwardly + with these useless appendages. The ladies who had been so + bountiful, requested some of our party to stand up that they + might have a good look at them. They complied, in pairs at a + time, and, when the other four had passed inspection and + resumed their seats, their little servant-boy came with the + same request to Wilson and myself. Wilson very politely + declined, instructing the boy to 'tell the ladies that we are + not here on exhibition, but, if they will come over this way, + we will be glad to see and talk with them.' The offer was + accepted, and two, a matron and young lady, apparently mother + and daughter, came to our side of the room, and we had a + conversation long to be remembered. They sympathized with us, + and wept freely. With us the wound was too deep for tears. The + ladies returned to the other part of the room when the + conversation was ended, but took seats, and remained until the + expected train arrived and we started for Chattanooga. All this + time the mob was howling and cursing and threatening outside, + and we flatter ourselves that the ladies stayed to exert a + restraining influence, and hinder them from proceeding to + extremities. Before we left, the younger lady referred to sent + the little boy to me _with a pink rose_, with one row of leaves + around it, and her name. + + "The presentation of that rose seemed to exasperate those of + the mob who saw it, and I am free to confess that I regretted + the action, for at one time it seemed as if they would break in + and seize us. But the firmness of the sergeant kept them back. + I regret that I was so unchivalrous as to soon forget the name + given, but in our circumstances who would try to remember a + name, even that of a beautiful lady? The only encouragement as + to our prospects we had yet received was that our fate would be + a warning to our comrades in arms, none of whom would venture + to engage in such another foolhardy expedition. The flower + served more to recall home and friends than to awaken hope of + any availing friendship and help in that part of the country. + It was twisted round and round between my closely-cuffed + hands--for the cuffs I wore had no connecting links, and + fitted very tight--until one by one the leaves all fell off, + and when the last was gone I got Wilson to put the stem in my + pocket, and kept it a long time. + + "We arrived at Chattanooga next morning. There was again the + inevitable crowd to welcome us. 'Will those hounds hunt?' + bawled out a coarse-voiced individual, as they led us by our + neck-chains through the crowded street. + + "The landlord of the hotel to which we were taken to await + orders was a Union man, whom I have met since under very + different circumstances. At his own expense, and on his own + responsibility, he ordered his servants to bring us a good + breakfast. We had by this time got on good terms with the + clever guards who brought us from Marietta, and parted from + them with real regret. They requested to have our names written + in the little diaries many of them carried. Putting the book in + one cuffed hand and the pencil in the other, they were amazed + to see how well we could write under such circumstances. + + "The next scene in our strange history was a terrible contrast + to the peaceful occupation of eating a good breakfast and + writing our names in diaries. We were marched to what our new + conductor called 'the hole.' From the upper room of a prison a + ladder was put down through a trap-door, and we were ordered to + descend into what I can only call _hell_, for it was that to + us. The ladder drawn up, the trap-door again fallen, and now in + the murky gloom came whispered recognitions from our comrades, + the warm clasp of friendly but ironed hands. Andrews and all + his men except two--Mark Wood and Alfred Wilson--were now + gathered together." + +It will be remembered that J. E. Porter and M. J. Hawkins were not on +the captured train at all, but joined Dorsey and his comrades at +Marietta. We abridge the account of their mishaps given by Porter: + + "Through some mistake or negligence of the hotel waiter we were + not called in time for the train" (on the morning of the + capture), "though we got to the depot in time to see it pass + out of sight. I cannot describe my feelings at that moment.... + We could hardly make up our minds how to meet the emergency. + + "Then we leisurely strolled about the town, expecting every + moment to hear of the capture of the train. Nor did we have to + wait long, for the news soon reached town that a train had been + captured at Big Shanty while the passengers and crew were at + breakfast, and that it was done so quickly and easily that they + could not imagine who did the deed or what it meant. Soon + everything was wild with excitement and the town was thronged + with excited rebels, waiting to hear further developments.... + Hawkins and I concluded to 'skip out' for a time. After + reaching a piece of woods we came together and congratulated + ourselves on our success thus far, but what to do next we + hardly knew.... After much hesitation we determined to go to + Big Shanty, or Camp McDonald, as it was a rebel camp of + instruction, and join the rebel army." + +This was to put their heads into the lion's mouth. Their best course +would have been to have leisurely worked their way southward instead of +going where the excitement was highest. But it is always easy to be wise +after the event. + + "We came in sight of the camp late in the day, and marched into + camp and reported at headquarters. Here we found several rebel + officers, one of whom, who bore the marks of a colonel, turned + his attention to us. After a short interview, which seemed + plausible to him, he ordered us to report to the commanding + officer of the Ninth Georgia Battalion for enlistment. One of + the companies not being full was called into line, and took a + vote whether or not we should be received into the company. The + vote was unanimous in our favor, and we, after giving + fictitious names, were assigned to a certain mess for our + suppers. After supper we made the acquaintance of several of + our new messmates, relating dismal stories of our treatment by + the 'Yankee' hirelings in Kentucky, which made a good + impression on our comrades as to our loyalty to the + Confederacy. + + "Everything went right with us until in some manner it leaked + out among the rebels that the Yankee raiders, by mistake or + accident, had left two of their party at Marietta. How this + information got out I never learned, but it could not be + otherwise than that some of our party had indiscreetly told + more than he ought when captured. Who the man was we never + learned." + +Then followed the usual questionings, ending in the acknowledgment by +these two of their share in the enterprise and their position as +soldiers. It is not necessary to suppose, as Porter does, that one of +the two captured on Saturday--it could have been no others, for Porter +and Hawkins themselves were arrested Sunday morning--gave information of +two of our number being left behind. Porter and Hawkins told the same +Kentucky story,--even enlarged upon it to their rebel messmates, and +this was enough to direct suspicion towards them. Then when examined +separately by the rebels it was impossible that they could avoid +becoming entangled in their stories. After examination these two were +committed to the Marietta jail, where they met Dorsey and his comrades, +as narrated above. + +The last one of these narratives that our space will permit us to insert +is the most eventful of all. Alfred Wilson and Mark Wood were the last +of the whole party to be captured. The story is told in the most graphic +manner by Wilson in his published account of the expedition. I would +gladly give it in his own words but for its great length, and for the +further fact that he gives literally many of his conversations with the +rebels, in which both parties indulge in no small amount of profanity. + +As Wilson ran from the abandoned engine, of which he had been the +fireman, he heard his name called, and, halting a moment, was joined by +Wood, the only native Englishman of the party, and from that time the +two became inseparable companions. They gained an open field on a long +slope in front of them, but did not feel safe in trying to cross it, +especially as they were out of breath and the enemy not far away. They +fortunately saw where a tree had been cut down, probably the preceding +summer, and the brush lay scattered around with the dead leaves still +clinging to it. Wilson adroitly covered Wood with some of the brush, +making the heap so that it would not attract attention, and then crawled +under beside him. There they waited with revolvers drawn, expecting to +be discovered, and determined, in that event, to fight to the death. The +rebels came very near, so that in some instances they might have been +touched by the hidden fugitives. Their peril was extreme, but the +pursuers were watching the men at a distance rather than looking for +those at their feet. Much of the rebel conversation could be overheard. +One of two stalwart pursuers, armed with muskets, while just by the +brush-heap, cried out,-- + +"There goes two of them! Come on; let's go for them!" + +"Let's get more help," responded the other. + +"But you see they have no guns," urged the first, and they rushed out of +hearing. + +These two poor men remained in that one place a long while before they +dared venture forth. Their escape from detection was little less than +miraculous. So many persons had trampled over the ground where they left +the train that the dogs could do nothing at tracking them, or their +refuge would soon have been discovered. The incessant rain added very +much to their discomfort, as it did in the case of all the fugitives, +but helped to throw the dogs from the track. + +After dark, however, they crawled out from the brush-heap, and could +scarcely walk. After looking about, they decided to take an opposite +course from what they had seen their comrades take, which was in the +main westward from Chattanooga. They wished to pass far to the eastward +of that town, and knew that they must carefully avoid it. + +The remainder of that night they travelled rapidly, and about daybreak +found an old barn and hid themselves in a mow of corn-fodder, where they +slept comfortably until about one o'clock, when they were discovered by +two women who were hunting eggs. The latter were greatly frightened, and +ran to the house which stood near, but Wilson and Wood followed, said +they had been in pursuit of the train-robbers, and preferred sleeping in +the barn to disturbing anybody at the house. Dinner was over, but some +corn-bread and buttermilk was furnished. This was the first food since +leaving the train, and it was most acceptable. They paid for it, and +went on their way greatly refreshed. + +But they did not think it prudent to go far before seeking concealment +in a dense thicket to await the approach of night. A squad of mounted +soldiers went by on the road they had just left, apparently searching +for some one. At nightfall they shaped their course, as nearly as they +could, towards the Tennessee River, east of Chattanooga. They avoided +the roads, but narrowly escaped running into a picket. At dawn the foot +of the mountains was reached, and the wanderers breathed freer than in +the open country. They witnessed the rising of the sun, and were greatly +cheered by its genial warmth. Sleep and weariness claimed them until +nearly night, and with darkness they started on again. It was hard work, +feeling the way over rocks, climbing precipitous places, and descending +the steep inclines through bushes and briers. + +On Wednesday morning mountains were on all sides, with no sign of human +life or habitation. They took a nap in the warm sun, but hunger soon +roused them. That one meal of corn-bread and buttermilk was all the food +they had eaten since their start on Saturday. + +Thus pressed by hunger, they resolved to travel day as well as night, as +in that lonely region it was not likely they would be molested. In the +afternoon they reached the brow of a high mountain, overlooking a lovely +and peopled valley. Almost perishing with hunger, they concluded to +venture down and apply for food at a hut a little separated from the +rest. A young woman appeared at the door, and, after hearing their +story, proceeded to get them a meal. Wilson asked the way to the next +town, the name of which he pretended he could not just speak, but she +helped him out by mentioning--"Cleveland?" They feasted on ham, eggs, +and rye coffee, and went on their way rejoicing. + +Wilson determined to have a map of the country. So leaving Wood outside +well hidden, he ventured into Cleveland, and bought "Mitchell's +Geography and Atlas," the work, as he thought, of his commanding +general! He returned to Wood, tore out such portions of the map as they +needed, and threw the rest away. They were now able to form an +intelligible plan, though the one selected was full of peril. Wilson +seems to have been fond of the water, and certainly managed well upon +it. He wished to reach the Tennessee River, procure a boat of some +kind, and float down the river past Chattanooga to some point within the +Federal lines. + +By evening the travellers had reached the limits of that mountain ridge, +and came down again into the valley. Another secluded log house induced +them to apply for food without waiting till they were on the verge of +starvation. Here they were very fortunate. Only a noble-looking lady was +at home at first. She heard their story, but made up her mind that they +were Union men, and in that belief gave them the best fare she had, and +would accept no pay for it. She and her husband, who afterwards came in, +gave them all the information in their power as to the best way of +avoiding the rebel cavalry in the neighborhood, and asked no confidence +in return. + +But misfortunes were before them. They now passed through a +thickly-peopled valley, observing the greatest caution. Notwithstanding +their vigilance they were suddenly halted by Colonel Snow's cavalry,--a +company of rebel home-guards, whose principal business it was to keep +down the Union men of the vicinity. By shrewd diplomacy they succeeded +in making the captain believe that they belonged to the neighboring town +of Harrison. While accepting this statement he insisted that they were +trying to run away to the Union army, but agreed that they might return +to their homes if they would first take the oath of allegiance to the +Confederacy, and then be ready to join his company when he called for +their services. The oath was a bitter pill, but they swallowed it, and +were set at liberty. + +They might now have taken a very safe course up the line of the +Cumberland Mountains into Kentucky, but Wilson's mind was fixed upon +getting a boat and going down the Tennessee, which was almost in the +opposite direction. Their thoughts recurred to the Union family where +they had been fed the evening before, and they resolved to return +thither, and, revealing their true character, try to get help in +crossing the valley to the river. + +As was safest, they came up to the hut in the night. The man admitted +Wilson, while the woman stood with a rifle cocked, to kill him if he +proved to be an enemy. Wood had been left at some little distance +outside, so as to excite less alarm. Having been sworn themselves that +day they were in the mood for continuing that business, and therefore +swore the man to be true to them. He kept his oath far better than they +did theirs. He told them they must not be seen about his house, and led +them to an abandoned hut, which stood in a secluded spot on a remote +part of his farm. He then furnished them with a bundle of quilts, and +told them to stay in the cellar and be perfectly quiet, assuring them +that they would be safe until he could get a chance to pilot them out of +the neighborhood. He and his wife supplied them with provisions while +they remained here, which was for several days. Two or three reasons led +to this delay. Rest was sorely needed after the fatigue endured in +mountain travel, Snow's cavalry were still in the neighborhood, and they +waited also for a dark night and a trusty guide to take them to the +river. + +The latter was found in the brother of the loyal woman whose guests they +were. This man took them without difficulty, by a circuitous route, in +the night-time, to a tributary of the Tennessee, by following which they +could not fail to reach the main stream. + +The reason Wilson gives for his strong desire to travel by water is +quite cogent. In the uneven mountainous country it was next to +impossible to keep a direct course in night travel, even if they knew +the general direction, while the stream would always keep them in the +right way. Had they asked for guidance by their Union friends in the +direction of Kentucky, however, they would have received it. + +They soon saw a boat on the other side of the river, but, as the creek +was swollen and encumbered with drift-wood, they could not swim across. +Wilson, who always took the lead, left his companion to conceal +himself, and, going boldly to the bank, halloed until a man answered, +who, at his request, ferried him across. As the ferryman could not +change a five-dollar note, Wilson promised to return that way in the +evening--it was then morning--and make it right. He hid during the day, +and came back after dark, and, in the absence of the owner, "borrowed" +the boat, took Wood aboard, and was soon far away towards the Tennessee. +The theft of the boat stands on the same grounds as to justification +with the numerous falsehoods told by all the adventurers,--a military +necessity. + +At the mouth of the creek they found a patrol-boat anchored nearly +across the stream, but, as it was pitch-dark and raining, they were not +discovered, and, gliding close under her stern, were soon afloat on the +swift current of the Tennessee. They rejoiced in this, but found that +their perils were not yet over. The incessant rain was very chilling, +and blinded their eyes, the wind blew almost a gale, and the current +whirled them on with dangerous speed. They were in constant +apprehension, for they could see but a little way before them, and +scarcely knew where they were going. Many times they very narrowly +escaped wreck. Few things in the whole history of the railroad adventure +are more romantic than the picture of these two men piloting a frail, +stolen skiff down the mountain river during a night of rain and storm. + +Their motion was so rapid that they feared dawn might find them in the +vicinity of Chattanooga, by which town it was necessary for them to +pass. Therefore they began, in good time, to cast about for a safe +landing and hiding-place. After many ineffectual attempts, they found a +small island, hugged close to the shore, and reached the lower end, +where they were out of the current, pulled themselves under the +overhanging branches, and drew the boat on shore. + +Their position was still one of extreme discomfort. The rain had changed +to sleet and hail, and all effort to get warm or dry was in vain. +Daylight revealed a small cabin on the shore near by, from which the +smoke curled up invitingly. Their suffering was unendurable, and they +decided to seek shelter. + +They launched and crossed. Poor Wood, who afterwards died of +consumption, brought on by exposure, and who was now almost frozen, +said, "Alf, you will have to make up some lie to tell them. They will +ask us a thousand questions." + +Wilson answered, "I don't know what I can tell them. I am too cold to +speak the truth, though." + +The usual Kentucky story was modified to suit their surroundings. They +asked for boats, and professed to be sent out to destroy all on the +river, except where they were in the hands of trustworthy men, with the +object of preventing Union men running away from the conscription. This +was plausible, and they were warmed, dried, and fed. + +They now ran down a short distance in the daytime, tied up, and hid in a +field. A man and boy saw their boat, and were about to take it, when the +adventurers, unwilling to be done by as they had done, and confident in +their story, came out and stopped the proceeding. They asserted that it +was a government boat, and that they belonged to a regiment in +Chattanooga, which place they learned was only five miles away. The man +invited them to his house to wait the lulling of the storm. They +accepted, and after nightfall pushed off again, passing Chattanooga, +which they had so long dreaded, in safety. They were now almost +jubilant, but soon found that everything was not smooth sailing. I +presume the storm, which had been so disagreeable, had also been a +shelter, and that without it they might not have got by the rebel +headquarters so easily. + +There is a deep gorge a few miles below the city, where the mountains +rise abruptly from the water in frowning grandeur. The river is greatly +narrowed, and, suddenly bending to the left, dashes its furious current +against a wall of rock, and forms a foaming eddy. Our two navigators +"perceived even in the darkness that there was danger ahead. The great +roar and noise caused by the dashing of the angry waters against the +rocks warned us. We hugged the left hand with our little boat as closely +as possible. As we passed the angry whirlpool, into which we seemed to +be drifting, our boat was struck a tremendous blow by a floating log. We +thought we were all dashed to pieces. The blow hoisted us away, however, +several yards to the left, and we went flying down the gorge like the +wind. We were afterwards told that a number of adventurous persons had, +at different times, lost their lives in trying to run down this place by +getting swamped in this great torrent or whirlpool, and it was no doubt +owing to the blow we received from the floating log, by which our boat +was knocked just beyond the reach of danger, that we escaped as +fortunately as we did. It was a providential blow for us, though it had +well nigh crushed our boat. We pulled at our paddles with might and main +to keep the water from swamping our boat, which sank pretty low in the +current and was now going at railroad speed. We soon reached smoother +water, and again felt ourselves safe." + +A man on the bank warned them not to try to run through the "suck," a +worse place than that which they had just passed. With much urging, and +the promise of three dollars reward, they got him to agree to pilot them +through. He was a skilful boatman, and took them in safety, though their +boat was nearly filled with water. + +Because of these dangers they had been running in daylight. They were +soon hailed by a squad of rebel cavalry, but, being well over on the +opposite side, rowed on without seeming to notice them. They were now +coming to the most dangerous part of their journey,--that near the +Federal lines, where the vigilance of the enemy was most constantly +exercised. They therefore resolved to travel only at night, hiding +themselves and their precious boat by day. That night they passed +Bridgeport, where they expected to meet Mitchel, but found he had not +yet arrived. + +When they sought a solitary cabin to get food the next day they heard +great news,--that the Yankees were in the town of Stevenson. This was +confirmed by numerous fugitives who were seeking safety from the dreaded +enemy. They got back to their canoe, rowed down the river until they +judged themselves opposite Stevenson, and then started across the +country to find their friends. The good news elated them so much that +they made the fatal mistake of not waiting for nightfall. Consequently +they found themselves in the town sooner than they expected, and then to +their dismay discovered that the streets were swarming with rebel +soldiers! The story of the frightened fugitives had entrapped them. + +But they put the best possible face on the matter. Buying a few articles +in a store, they attempted to stroll leisurely out, but were stopped by +an officer on guard and questioned. They answered plausibly,--probably +with the Kentucky story, as they were now away from the river,--and were +about to be released, when a man brought a _false_ accusation. He +recognized Wilson as being one of the Federal cavalry that charged into +the town the previous night, and dared him to deny it! He did deny it, +but in vain, and having been believed so often when telling falsehoods, +it was only a fair compensation that he now told the truth to +unbelieving ears. + +Wilson and Wood were put on a hand-car and run back to Bridgeport. At +this place an excited member of the crowd that gathered around them +declared that he knew them both,--that he had seen them on the train +with Andrews! Wilson always thought this man as much mistaken as his +last accuser, but denial was no more availing than in that case. They +were taken before General Leadbetter, questioned separately, as usual +in the captures, Wood "perspiring like a man in a July harvest," and +both virtually convicted, although Wilson answered the questions +addressed to him in the most undaunted manner. They were taken to +Chattanooga, fastened together with a chain around their necks, and +handcuffed, as the others had been, and ordered to the hole. When they +descended the ladder and joined our miserable company there assembled, +they heard some plaintive voice say in the darkness, to which their eyes +had not yet become accustomed, "Wilson and Wood! They have got every one +of us!" It was true. Every one of the bold band had been captured and +were gathered into one of the vilest dungeons ever used by man to +torture his fellow-man! + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A HORRIBLE PRISON. + + +A plain picture of the Chattanooga prison into which the members of the +railroad party were thrust cannot be given in all its detail without +shocking the sensitive reader. Even when the coarser features are +omitted enough will remain to task credulity. The book and newspaper +accounts published by the survivors are not, however, the only evidence +upon which the extraordinary story rests. In the Appendix the official +report is given, based upon sworn testimony, and to this any one who may +be disposed to doubt this narrative is referred. + +Yet I would not hold the Southern people or even the Confederate +government wholly responsible for the barbarous and outrageous treatment +experienced at this place. The system of slavery is primarily +responsible, for it provided such dens as the negro prison at +Chattanooga. An intemperate man of Northern birth--General +Leadbetter--found that the fortunes of war had placed a score of men, +one after another, in his hands, and, feeling that they deserved severe +treatment for the daring character of their enterprise, he recklessly +ordered them, as fast as they were brought before him, to be committed +to "the hole" without stopping to consider what accommodations it +afforded. His subordinates, afraid of being themselves suspected of +disloyalty if they showed sympathy with the prisoners, offered no +remonstrance, and the result was suffering almost too fearful for +belief. + +The captain, to whose charge I had been committed by General Leadbetter +at the close of my examination, called a guard of eight men and +conducted me through the streets to the northern part of the town. We +halted before a little brick building surrounded by a high board +fence,--the negro prison of Chattanooga, known as "the hole." A portion +of the building was occupied by the jailer. The prison part consisted of +two rooms, one directly under the other, and also partly underground. +The upper room was accessible only by an outside staircase, and the +lower had no entrance except from a trap-door directly overhead. + +The jailer, whose name was Swims, met us at the outer gate. He was a +poor, ignorant creature,--a bad specimen of the "poor white" of the +South, and had all his life been engaged in the lowest employments. He +was old,--perhaps sixty,--and had abundant hair, which was very white, +while his face was dry and withered. His voice was always keyed on a +whining tone, except when some great cause, such as a request of +prisoners for an extra bucket of water, excited him, and then it rose to +a hoarse scream. Avarice was his predominant characteristic. He seemed +to think that his accommodations were vastly too good for negroes and +Yankees, and that when they were admitted to his precincts, they should +be thankful and give as little trouble as possible. Such a man was able +to greatly aggravate the hard lot of the unfortunate prisoners in his +care. It should also be stated that he was very fond of a dram, and +frequently became sufficiently intoxicated to reveal many important +matters that would otherwise have been concealed. + +Swims bustled up to the gate, growling about being troubled so much, +unlocked it, and, admitting us, led the way up the outside stairway into +the outer room. I then thought I understood why the general called the +place "the hole." This room was only thirteen feet square, and entirely +destitute of chairs, beds, or any conveniences whatever. Five or six +old, miserable-looking men were in it, who appeared not to have been +washed for months. I shuddered at the thought of taking up my abode in +such a den. But I was not to be allowed that luxury. + +Said the jailer to the captain, "Where shall I put him?" + +"Below, of course," replied the captain. + +The jailer advanced to the middle of the room, and, taking a large key +from his pocket, knelt down and unlocked two rusty locks; then, with a +great effort, raised a ponderous trap-door just at my feet. The hot air +and the stifling stench that rushed up from below drove me back a few +steps; but the bayonets of the guards were just behind, and I was +compelled to move forward again. A long ladder was thrust down through +the trap-door, and the warning given those below to stand from under. A +mingled volley of cries, oaths, and remonstrances ascended, but the +ladder was secured, and I was ordered to descend, ironed as I was. The +long chain and the ropes had been taken off, but the handcuffs remained. +I did not like to go down that ladder into the gloom below, but there +was no alternative. The darkness hid every object from view, but I +clambered down step by step to a depth of fully thirteen feet,--for +the place, as I afterwards learned when I had more leisure for +observation, was of cubic form, just thirteen feet in length, breadth, +and height. I stepped off the ladder, treading on human beings I could +not discern, and crowded in as best I could. + +[Illustration: A TERRIBLE DESCENT. +Page 172.] + +The heat was so great that the perspiration started from every pore. The +fetid air made me, for a time, deadly sick, and I wondered if it could +be possible that they would leave human beings in this fearful place to +perish. The thought of the Black Hole of Calcutta rose instantly before +me. I did not think life could be sustained in such a place for many +hours. But I was yet to learn the wonderful possibilities of human +endurance. + +My breath came thick and heavy, and I expected suffocation. The ladder +was drawn up, and with a dull and heavy thud that seemed to strike my +heart the trap-door fell. It was like being closed alive in the grave! I +wedged and forced my way through the throng to the window. The one I +reached was just beneath the wooden, outside stairway, and even at noon +gave very little light. The only other window was at the opposite side +of the room and below the level of the ground. They were only holes in +the thick walls, a foot square, and filled with a triple row of +thick-set iron bars that almost excluded every current of air. I got my +face near the bars and breathed the purest air I could get, until the +horrible sense of suffocation diminished as I became partially +accustomed to these fearful surroundings, and then turned to ascertain +the condition of my prison companions. It was wretched beyond +description. They were ragged, dirty, and crawling with vermin. Most of +them were nearly naked; but the air was so stiflingly warm that those +who had clothing had removed all they could. I soon found it necessary +myself to disrobe, as far as my handcuffs permitted, and even then the +perspiration was most profuse. It was an atmosphere of death. + +I was the first one of the "engine thieves" put into this horrible +place, though several had been captured earlier. When I entered there +were fourteen other white prisoners and one negro--sixteen in +all--crowded into a room thirteen feet square. My dungeon partners were +East Tennessee Union men. In how many other prisons these hapless +victims to their own loyalty were immured I cannot tell; I found some of +them in every prison of which I became an inmate, in Virginia and +Georgia as well as Tennessee. The negro had been arrested on suspicion +of being a fugitive, and treated in the manner usual in such cases. No +trial was granted. A suspected fugitive was simply arrested and severely +flogged. This usually brought some kind of a confession, true or false, +as the only way to stop the torture. He was then committed to prison and +advertised in accordance with his confession. If no answer came in a +specified time, he was taken out and flogged into a new confession and +re-advertised. Thus whipping and advertising continued until the close +of the year, when he was sold at auction to pay jail and whipping fees. +If he was a slave, his master could take him out earlier; but a free +negro had no prospect but the year of torture and afterwards perpetual +bondage! Can we too often thank God that the whole awful system of +slavery has been swept away? Poor Aleck had been in this horrible prison +seven months, with no prospect but that of remaining five more and then +being sold. He was so kind and accommodating that he became a general +favorite, and when he was taken out to be whipped we could not help +feeling the deepest sympathy. + +Every society has its aristocracy, and I soon found that here the +highest rank was accorded to those who were charged with having done +most against the Confederacy. There was one blind man, charged with +being a spy, and he was considered much above the ordinary Union men. +The rebels thought he was counterfeiting blindness, but I believe it was +real. I was charged with the greatest offence of any yet confined in +that dungeon, and was, of course, treated with becoming deference. + +About an hour later the trap-door again opened, causing a stream of +comparatively cool air from above to rush down. It was an inconceivable +relief,--a _luxury_ that none could appreciate who had not, like us, +been deprived of God's greatest physical blessing--pure air. + +We wondered who was coming next, as the feeble glimmering of a candle +above revealed several forms descending. The Tennesseeans cried out, +"Don't put any more down here! We're full! We'll die if more are put +down here!" But these remonstrances, reasonable as they were, produced +no effect. Down they came, and I, stationing myself at the foot of the +ladder, spoke something indifferently to them, and heard my own name +called in return. There was a warm clasp of ironed hands, and I knew +that I had true comrades in our common misery. It was Andrews, Wollam, +and Ross. Strangely mingled feelings swept over my bosom. I was sorry +that they had come to this terrible place, yet glad of their +companionship. We got into a corner by ourselves, for we did not know +but a spy might be waiting to catch our words, and cautiously spoke of +our past adventures, and strove to form some plans for the future. The +trap-door was soon closed, and the free air, which had seemed to flow to +us in sympathy, was once more shut out. + +Others of our band were brought, I do not remember whether the same +evening or the next morning, and we wondered what had become of those +who were still absent. But they continued to arrive by twos and threes +until all had met in this doleful place of assemblage. The whole number +was twenty-two, and as fast as they came the Tennesseeans with us were +removed into the room above, and we had the foul den all to ourselves. +This allowed the advantage of talking freely without fear of betrayal. + +We had great difficulty in arranging ourselves for sleep on account of +the smallness of the room. An easy calculation will show how closely we +were packed. A small corner was necessarily reserved for the water- and +slop-buckets. Then two rows, with ten in each row, left two over, who +had to be disposed of somehow. We did the best we could. Some sat +against the wall, while others leaned against the breasts of those who +were thus supported. Every motion caused the most dismal clanking of +chains, for the chains were not removed even in such a dungeon. After we +had been packed away for the night, if any one wanted to move his +position, or go for a drink, he was sure to tread on some of his +neighbors, and, tempers being naturally very short here, some warm +altercations took place, which contributed still more to disturb our +slumbers. A fight in the darkness with manacled hands was several times +prevented with great difficulty by those of us who were more pacifically +disposed. + +A few of us, who were more fortunate, had no chains around our necks, +but only wore handcuffs. I was _strongly attached_ to William Reddick, +one of a pair of handcuffs being placed on my left hand and the other on +his right. In two instances three persons were fastened by one chain, +which passed around the necks of each. William Campbell, a man of +immense strength, was a member of one trio. I have seen him several +times take hold of the chain near his own neck, and saying, "Come here, +you Yanks," parade his two chain-comrades, in spite of all their +resistance, back and forth over the room. + +In this wretched situation we slept much. The great quantity of carbonic +acid our breathing produced acted as an opiate, and served in some +measure to stupefy us and deaden the sense of pain. In the morning we +slept or dozed, for we had no motive to rouse up until about nine +o'clock. The next morning after my arrival I was awakened--early, as I +supposed--by the opening of the trap-door and the delicious shower of +cool air that fell upon us. As I looked up, there was the white head of +our old jailer bending over and saying, in drawling tones, "Boys, here's +your breakfast," and he lowered a bucket by a rope, with a very small +piece of corn bread and a tiny morsel of meat for each of us. It was +seized and devoured almost instantly. I had eaten nothing since the day +before, and this pitiful supply only served to whet my appetite. But +there was no more. I learned that we were to get our meals only twice a +day, and then only a starvation allowance. The quality was that which + + "----captives' tears + Have moisten'd many a thousand years, + Since man first pent his fellow-men + Like brutes within an iron den." + +I suppose our food in all our imprisonment was about equal as to +quantity and quality with that supplied at Andersonville and other +Southern prisons. But in the chaining, and the close packing in +dungeons, probably no prisoners during the whole war fared so badly as +we did. + +During the day that succeeded my arrival in this place of horrors a few +more of our party were brought in, and among them was my especial +friend, George D. Wilson. I found that the same reason which had led to +the acknowledgment of my true character as a United States soldier had +induced them to make the same confession. Anxious and frequent were the +consultations we held as to the best course for us now to pursue. It was +too late for absolute denial of our participation in the railroad +adventure, even if that had ever been expedient. The only possible +course which seemed to offer any hope was to continue to claim the +character and protection of soldiers engaged in regular warfare, and to +this end answer all reasonable questions that might be asked. But there +were certain facts we pledged ourselves in no case to reveal. Among +these was the name of our engineer, which they were specially anxious +to ascertain. The fact of ignorance in such a material matter would +indicate that we were merely following the orders of those higher in +authority, and would preserve poor Brown, who had acted in that +capacity, from any special dangers. The fact of a previous expedition +having been sent down into Georgia upon the same errand as our own, was +on no account to be divulged, as it was likely to stimulate our captors +to inflict sterner punishments by way of preventing similar attempts in +future. We were not to allow it to escape that William Campbell was a +civilian only and not an enlisted soldier, as this would have made his +position more perilous than our own. We were also to conceal having +given any expressions of willingness to engage in such an expedition, +claiming to have been detailed without our own consent, and ordered to +obey the directions of a man placed over us. The most vital point was in +relation to Andrews. He had already admitted being the leader of the +expedition. We could, therefore, do him no good by pretending not to +know him, but he asked that we should not admit having any knowledge of +him before we were put under his orders; and, for our sake as well as +his, we resolved to "suppose" that he was some regularly commissioned +officer of the Federal army. Most of us knew him in his true +character,--that of a secret agent or spy. But to have admitted that +fact would have been fatal to any hopes he may have had, and would have +very seriously prejudiced our own case. The position we, therefore, +took, in all our statements, was that of non-commissioned officers and +soldiers belonging to three Ohio regiments, who had been detailed for an +unknown service, and ordered to report to an unknown officer, who had +called himself Andrews, and that we had faithfully and unquestioningly +obeyed such orders as had been given us. We agreed to urge that a flag +of truce should be sent to our lines to inquire if we were not what we +claimed to be, well knowing that, while General Mitchel would boldly +avow us, and stretch his power to the utmost for our protection, he +would be very careful not to say anything to the prejudice of our +leader. + +Our plans were carried out to the letter. No one of our "reserved facts" +was ever known to the enemy until we were all beyond his power, and the +flag of truce was not sent only because the commanding officer said that +he was perfectly satisfied to accept all our representations as true. As +others of our company were captured and joined us, they gave our plans +their cordial approval, and in the separate and formal examination of +each one, gave their names, companies, and regiments. This could not +fail to produce conviction of the truth of our story, and gained us the +sympathy of all whose bosoms were not steeled against every kindly +feeling. To this plan, conceived in the dungeon and consistently carried +out, I attribute, more than to anything else, the escape of any part of +our number. + +Though we did not now recognize Andrews formally as our leader,--he +having repeated his previous declaration that we were to rely on +ourselves,--yet we communicated our plan to him, and he gave it his +cordial approval, saying that if we closely adhered to it we would have +some chance for our lives. No small amount of effort was made by the +rebel authorities to induce us to tell more than we did. Their energies +were bent especially to finding out the engineer. They would ask the +question in the most casual manner, and a number of times, when one man +was taken out alone, he would be offered safety and release if he would +only tell this one thing, and threatened with instant death if he did +not. But no one was moved. The opinion seemed to be that the discovery +of the engineer would reveal the whole mystery of the enterprise. In +this they were mistaken, but the opinion was not unnatural. They would +also ask in many forms the question, "How came it that you would +consent to leave your camp in citizens' clothes for an enterprise you +knew nothing about, and under the leadership of a person you had never +seen, and whose rank and position you say you were ignorant of?" The +answer was always the same in substance: "We were told by our officers +to follow this man, and we considered it a soldier's duty to obey." I +had to pass a more protracted examination than any of the others, +perhaps because I had told General Leadbetter so many of my inferences +about war affairs when first taken before him. For two or three days I +was even separated from my comrades and daily questioned. I thus gained +a short relief from the horrors of the negro prison, and could easily +have secured my own safety by dishonor; but although I talked freely, I +did not go a single word beyond the line which Wilson and myself, with +the approval of all the others, had marked out. At last I overheard the +acute lawyer who acted as examiner on these occasions say to General +Leadbetter, "It is no use. He is either ignorant or too sharp to tell +anything." I felt greatly complimented, and was then taken back to the +horrors of the old dungeon, where I was warmly welcomed by my comrades, +most of whom had passed a similar though briefer ordeal. It was on this +occasion that the officer of the guard happened to lay a newspaper he +was reading near me. I was hungry for news, and in a moment seized and +concealed it in my clothing. It was missed and a great search made, but +as I was handcuffed and looked innocent, suspicion did not fall on me. +It was a great prize, for it contained a complete account of our chase +as given by our pursuers. Through all our subsequent adventures I +carefully preserved it, and at the date of writing it is still in my +possession. The estimate it gives of the military importance of our +expedition, and of what we actually accomplished, goes beyond what has +been sketched in the preceding pages. (See Appendix No. II.) + +After these examinations were over, the misery of our dungeon-life +closed about us again. Whether we would be left there to perish, or +whether some kind of a trial would be given us with the alternatives of +release or execution,--what was the position of the armies outside, or +the progress of the war,--we could not tell. In dreams only we were +free. I remember lying down one afternoon and dreaming of the most +beautiful snow-capped mountains in East Tennessee, and awakening with a +freshness and hopefulness which lasted for many hours. But even dreams +were not all thus pleasant; too often they rivalled the prison itself in +shapes of terror and pain. + +One or two of our number managed to conceal a little money when +searched, and, as our rations were very small, it was resolved to spend +it for food. The jailer agreed to get us any provisions we wanted, so +far as the money would go. There was an anxious discussion as to the +most profitable mode of investment. Wheat bread and molasses--the latter +being very cheap--were chosen, and the precious money tied to the rope, +which was our only mode of communication with the upper world, and drawn +up. It was at our evening meal. We knew Swims would not trouble himself +to bring the provisions that evening, but we anticipated a bountiful +breakfast, with the keenness that only starving men could feel. When the +breakfast bucket dangled at the end of the rope the next morning, it was +quickly seized, and lo! only the usual miserly allowance of "pone" and +meat. "Mr. Swims, have you got the bread and molasses yet?" eagerly +demanded a voice from below. In his most whining tones he drawled out, +"B-o-y-s, I lost that money." Had he been on our level instead of +thirteen feet above, he might have learned how desperate men can become +when hungry. But there was no remedy. The captain of the guard, when +appealed to, considered it a good joke! + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF PRISON. + + +Some two weeks after our capture Andrews received a very brief trial. +The charges against him were two,--that of being disloyal to the +Confederacy and of being a spy. On the first count the evidence against +him was strong. A Mr. Whiteman, from Nashville, Tennessee, whom Andrews +himself had directed to be summoned, and who had once been a partner of +his in some business, testified that Andrews had repeatedly visited the +South as a blockade-runner, bringing to Whiteman some ten thousand +dollars' worth of goods in that manner, and that he had always professed +allegiance to the Southern Confederacy, representing himself to be a +citizen of the same, and an enemy to the United States. When captured, +he had passes in his possession which showed that he had also taken the +oath of allegiance to the Southern government. He had, at the same time, +admitted his part in the railroad adventure, which was assuredly an act +of hostility against the South. Indeed, several persons were produced +who saw him on the train, or directing its movements at some of the +various stations during the chase. So far as I could learn, there was no +direct evidence produced to show that he was or ever had been a spy, +although this might be suspected from his passing back and forth across +the lines, and so soon after acting as an enemy. His case was entirely +different from that of the men he led, and much more unfavorable. They +claimed to have been acting all the while as enemies, and now to be +prisoners of war. They declared, and were ready to prove, their position +in the Federal army. He gave no account whatever of his position, or +the authority under which he was acting, and allowed the court-martial +to establish their case as best they might. He was very reticent, as was +proper, even among our band, as to his plans and hopes, but it was +whispered among us that he expected the liberal use of money from an +outside source to influence the court, or aid in his escape if +condemned. I never heard him, however, intimate anything of the kind, +and he certainly received no such help in escaping. He employed two able +lawyers, and they strove for delay, and at the last gave him reason to +hope that some informalities in the proceedings would require the whole +trial to be gone over again. No decision, however, was officially given, +but he was put back in the same prison, and no more strictly guarded +than the remainder of us, which was judged to be a favorable indication +of the result. + +One day our old jailer, being very drunk, told us that General Mitchel +had advanced to Bridgeport, only twenty-eight miles distant, and there +defeated the rebels, capturing some of the very same men who had been +our guards but a day or two before. How we wished to have been with him! +and how we hoped for a further advance on his part! To be captured with +Chattanooga would be glorious! The officers of the guard were obviously +uneasy. They took the strictest precautions. There were twenty-six men +constantly on guard,--surely enough to watch over twenty-two, confined +and chained in a dungeon as we were. + +Mitchel came nearer. We even heard the boom of cannon in the distance, +and his advance probably saved our lives, by taking us for the time out +of the clutches of Swims and Leadbetter, for a much longer confinement +or rather suffocation there must have been fatal. The ladder was thrust +down and we were ordered to come out. We would, then, have gladly +remained in that vile den a little longer, in the hope of Mitchel's +arrival, but we crawled up. Our fastenings were inspected, to see that +none of us were in condition to make a sudden dash for liberty; we were +formed into a column, with a line of rebel soldiers on each side, and +then marched out through the gate towards the cars. Strangely the free +air fanned our brows and strangely the wide sky bent above us. Very +grateful was the sense of openness and room in the streets through which +we passed, even although ironed, with a rebel soldier on either hand. +For three whole weeks twenty-two men had been cooped up in a dark room +much smaller than an ordinary parlor. No wonder the streets of the +hostile town seemed like freedom by comparison. We were soon seated in +the cars, and were carried in the evening back southward on the road we +had rushed over under such thrilling circumstances three weeks before. + +How beautiful all nature appeared! It was now May, and the time that we +had spent in darkness had not been lost in the outside world. The +landscape had been robed in richer verdure, the budding trees had +swelled into leafy screens, the sky was of a softer blue, the birds +warbled with new melody, and everything seemed to wear its holiday +dress. + +O the joy! the gladness! of being once more under the blue canopy of +heaven, and of looking up to its unfathomable depths, with no envious +bars to obstruct our view! Many a time have I looked on the most +romantic scenery in the freshness of May, but never did I so deeply feel +the pleasantness and beauty of the world as on that balmy evening, when +the rays of the setting sun, glowing from the west, streamed over the +grass and wheat-fields on their path, and poured in mellowed, yellow +radiance through the car-windows. But I could not quite forget that I +was chained to my companion and surrounded by guards with gleaming +bayonets! + +The wild excitement caused by our raid had not subsided, and as it +became known that we were passing along the road, a mob greeted us at +every station. It is not necessary to again describe these assemblages, +for all were alike,--threatening, rude, loquacious, and insulting. + +We also noticed that soldiers on guard were at every station, and that +each bridge we passed was strongly guarded. There could be no doubt that +all these precautions, so different from the careless security of less +than a month previous, were among the tangible results of our +enterprise. It was estimated that on the various roads of the South not +less than three thousand troops had been diverted from the field and +employed in securing communications in all parts of the rebel States. A +general passport system, with all its vexations, had been introduced. +Surely our enterprise, though unsuccessful in its immediate results, was +far from fruitless. + +We passed Big Shanty, passed Marietta, which had been the extreme point +of our former journey southward, and went on to Atlanta. Here there was +no jail room for us; but before going farther we had to wait all day in +the cars for the evening train. Our arrival was soon noised abroad, and +a larger mob than we had seen before gathered and proclaimed their +intention of hanging us. The guard defended us manfully, and several +persons were seriously injured. But while the disturbance was in +progress, one man succeeded in reaching the window unnoticed and handed +us a paper, using only the single, magical word, "a friend," and then +disappeared in the throng. We read the paper by snatches, as we could do +so secretly, and found it to contain glorious news,--_the capture of New +Orleans_! Other items of news were adroitly wormed out of our guards, +who could not be kept from talking with us, and we were full of hope +that the darkening prospects of the Confederacy would brighten our own +outlook, by rendering the advocates of a declining rebellion more +cautious in their treatment of loyal soldiers. All information was +prohibited to us; but from the common soldiers, the negroes, and often +from the officers of the guard themselves, we managed to pick up items +of intelligence, which gave us a general idea of the course of affairs. + +In the evening we left Atlanta, and after a journey not marked by any +notable event reached Madison, in the same State. This was then a +flourishing village, and had a pleasing look as we entered it. Some six, +hundred imprisoned Union soldiers had been already gathered here, and we +freely indulged the hope, which was encouraged by our guards, that we +would be put with them and henceforth treated only as prisoners of war. +But we soon found that the brand of criminality for our daring adventure +was not so easily effaced. We were marched past the dilapidated +cotton-factory, where our fellow-soldiers were confined, to the old +county jail. It was then entirely unoccupied, as all the prisoners had +been released to join the Confederate army. It was a gloomy stone +building, with two rooms, but both were above-ground, and the lower was +entered by an ordinary door. This lower room, in which about half of our +party, including myself and Andrews, were placed, was very dark, and its +heavy stone walls rendered it quite damp. But for our previous +experience at Chattanooga it would have been thought a wretched place. +It was so much better than that, however, that we almost enjoyed it. +Indeed, we could not have endured such confinement as that at +Chattanooga for many weeks longer. Several of our number could scarcely +walk, and all were greatly injured in health by the three horrible weeks +we had spent there. Now we were further from the pernicious influence of +General Leadbetter, and, although we were still kept in irons by his +explicit orders, yet the captain of the guard, in whose direct charge we +were, showed us all the kindness in his power, easing the irons which +pressed too heavily upon swollen limbs, and procuring us abundance of +good water, as well as a better supply of the coarse food, which we ate +in common with our guard. + +The citizens of the town were freely admitted to see us, and ranged +themselves--always in the presence of the guard--along one side of the +room, and talked of all the exciting events of the day. We were now in +our true character, and were not likely to be benefited by concealing +our real sentiments. I used to greatly enjoy their surprise and horror +when I avowed myself an abolitionist, and told them that I had always +been one. They had been talking about abolitionists for years, but had +never before seen a man who would admit the justice of the charge. The +citizens expressed much admiration for us and for the daring of our +expedition, contrasting the latter with what they were pleased to call +the cowardice of the Northern armies in general. George D. Wilson one +day earnestly assured them that we were the poorest men in Mitchel's +division, and had only been sent on this expedition because he had no +use for us! + +Here occurred one of the romantic incidents of prison-life. We had been +intensely anxious for some direct communication with our own army, but +from our side there was no means of effecting it. One day, however, a +man dressed in a rebel uniform came with the throng of visitors, and +managed to talk quite a while, and, as I thought, in a very disconnected +manner, with Andrews. I also thought I noticed an exchange of signs +between them. As soon as he and the visitors had gone, and we were once +more alone, Andrews told us that the man was a spy in the service of the +United States, and that they had managed, even in the presence of the +guard, and without exciting the least suspicion, to say all that was +necessary, and that we might be assured that our friends on the other +side of the lines would soon know all about us. I was a little +incredulous, thinking that the great anxiety of our leader to +communicate with some one who was a Federal spy, as he himself had been, +had caused him to misunderstand this man, and supposed his signs +recognized when they were not. + +But when the captain of our guard brought us supper, he lingered a +little in conversation, and remarked that a most singular thing had +taken place that afternoon, and that after this we would receive no more +visitors. Being pressed for explanations, he finally gave them. He said +that the provost-marshal of Madison had received information that one of +Lincoln's spies was in town, and had even been among our visitors, +though, the captain said, he was glad that the spy had found no +opportunity to reveal himself to us! The marshal at once despatched a +squad to arrest him. They found the suspected stranger at the depot, +just as the cars were coming in. He was boisterously indignant at his +arrest, and told them that he had papers in his pocket which would prove +his character anywhere. They let go their hold on him, so that he might +produce his papers. He lectured them roundly while pretending to search +in his pockets, until he noticed that the train, which was starting, had +attained a good degree of headway, and then, just as the last car swung +by, he suddenly flung the soldiers from him and jumped aboard. There was +no telegraph station at Madison, and no other train that evening, so +that an effective pursuit was out of the question. + +The Confederates were very much enraged, and our confinement was +rendered much more strict. But we felt ample compensation in the hope +that our officers would now know just where we were, and be able to make +all possible efforts for our safety. Whether the spy surmounted all +other perils and got safely to our lines, we never heard. + +Three days only did we remain at Madison,--days of comparative quiet and +hope, during which we recovered some degree of our wasted strength, +which was sadly needed for future trials. The rebel authorities, having +become convinced that Chattanooga was not in present danger from +General Mitchel, ordered us back to that place. Our destination was not +known to us, and the usual rumors circulated as to being now on our way +for exchange. To move from one prison to another--an experience we had +quite frequently--was always a welcome relief, and served, in some +measure, to mitigate the excessive rigor of our confinement. We went +back over the same road we came, and had again to run the gauntlet of +insulting and jeering mobs. We traveled in rude box-cars, wet and +filthy, and were harassed by the fear of going back to our miserable +prison at Chattanooga. One circumstance rendered the journey more +endurable. Captain Laws, who commanded the guard, and his soldiers also, +had been in close association with us for several days, and had become +really interested in our welfare. While he did not relax any of his +vigilance, he strove to make the hardship of our position more +endurable, and showed a friendly spirit on every occasion. His good will +was especially valuable when we reached Chattanooga. + +The remorseless order had been given for our return to the negro prison. +Captain Laws could not change this, but by using his influence with +Colonel Patrick Cleiburne, a man of humanity, who occupied the position +of provost-marshal of Chattanooga for a short time, he got permission +for us to remain in the upper room instead of being forced into the +dungeon below. This was a great relief, for although we were equally +crowded, yet the upper room was above-ground, had three windows instead +of two, and these were of larger size. We had, therefore, a much better +supply of air and light. We were very sorry for the fourteen poor +Tennesseeans who were put below. + +Our enemies displayed a wonderful degree of caution in the manner of +guarding us. Even when we were below, where a man, if left alone, could +scarcely have gotten out without assistance, they never raised the +trap-door unprotected by a strong guard. Old Swims remonstrated against +our being in the upper room, and seemed in perpetual terror. He fretted, +and predicted that evil would come from showing the Yankees so much +indulgence. Yet the precautions observed ought to have reassured him. +Before our door was opened a strong guard was always brought up-stairs +into the jailer's room, from which ours was entered, and arrayed in two +lines with levelled bayonets. At the same time the stairway was guarded, +and the whole jail surrounded by a strong force outside of the wall. We +had not yet been relieved of our fetters,--at least, not by Confederate +authority. + +Colonel Cleiburne had asked permission to remove our irons, and this +being refused, he gave us, on his own responsibility, an inexpressibly +great indulgence. For an hour or two every fine afternoon he ordered the +guards to bring us out into the jail-yard. This was something to look +forward to all the day, and made our second confinement at Chattanooga +far less irksome and prostrating than the first. To simply sit in the +sunlight and watch the clouds drifting in the blue above, or to walk +back and forth watching the lengthening shadows of the mountains, was +intense enjoyment. We will never cease to be grateful to the brave Irish +soldier who secured us these indulgences, which, simple as they were, +had not been expected. + +But we felt that the wearing of irons for so long a period was entirely +unnecessary, and set our wits to work for the removal of such needless +incumbrances. One of the party had managed to secrete a small knife in +his sleeve while being searched, and with this he whittled out rude keys +from the bones of the meat given us, which readily unlocked our +handcuffs. The padlocks on the chains were served in a similar manner. +We did not dare to let any one of the guards know of this expedient, or +appear in public in our new liberty, lest more effectual means should be +devised of securing us. To avoid detection while thus unchained we +always kept some one on the watch. When a footstep was heard on the +outside stairway the signal was given, and a quick rattling of chains +accompanied the adjustment and relocking of our bonds. When the door +opened we would appear all properly chained, but when alone we would +soon be free again. This deception was continued as long as we were kept +in irons. + +We here took up the amusement of mock trials. Andrews had been tried, +and the remainder of us expected to be, either in a body or singly. This +may have suggested the diversion, which soon became very popular. One of +the company would be charged with some offence, usually a trifling +breach of our self-imposed prison rules. William Campbell, whose immense +personal strength better enabled him to enforce his decisions, usually +officiated as judge, until at last he got the name of "judge" firmly +fixed upon him. We had ample time for this sport, and the opposing +counsel would make very long and learned speeches. So interesting were +these arguments, and so eloquent were our appeals, that no one of the +auditors was ever known to leave the court-room while they were in +progress! The witnesses were very slippery, and it was often difficult +to reconcile their testimony. Some friends of the prisoners nearly +always attempted to resist the laws and prevent the infliction of +penalties, but in such cases the _personal weight_ of the judge decided +the affair. This resistance would give rise to new arrests and trials, +and thus the work became interminable. + +Another and more refined source of enjoyment was found in music. There +were several good singers in the party, and by practising together they +soon acquired great proficiency. Most of the songs, under the leadership +of Marion Ross, were of a tender and sentimental cast, such as "Nettie +Moore," "Carrier Dove," "Twenty Years Ago," "Do they miss me at Home?" +etc. The most frequent time for singing was when twilight began to fall. +Then all other occupations would be laid aside, and in the gathering +darkness the voice of song would roll out as full and sweet as if not +strained through prison-bars. The guards were very fond of our singing, +and frequently groups of citizens also would gather around the high +jail-fence to listen. Words of sympathy and kindness for the "caged +Yankees" became more common, and there were a good many tangible +manifestations of the same feelings. The guards who came in contact with +us,--a considerable number, as one squad replaced another,--together +with many of their officers and many residents of Chattanooga, began to +ask why we were not treated as other prisoners, and the shameful chains +taken off. I do not know whether this produced any essential change in +our fortune. Most likely it was the reason we were not brought to trial +in a town where we would have been sure of so much sympathy, but were +arraigned in a distant place, and before officers who were strangers to +us. + +Yet no friendliness on the part of our guards, or mitigation in the +horrors of our treatment, put the thought of escape out of our minds, +although it did divide our counsels and delay an attempt. With many +others, I was convinced that we ought to make a bold push for liberty. +The very strictness of the guard was a challenge to do our best to +overcome it. If there were a few gleams of humanity in the present +treatment, this was merely because our captors had discovered us to be +human beings and not monsters; besides, there was enough still in the +vile nature of our food and rigor of our confinement to justify the most +desperate effort for freedom. If we tried and failed, we might lose our +lives in the attempt; but this was a risk soldiers have to take in every +enterprise; if recaptured, we would be no worse off than we were, for +the charge of attempting to escape could be no more deadly than the old +one of seizing the train. But those who did not wish to make the +attempt, among whom George D. Wilson was foremost, maintained that our +enemies were growing daily kinder, and that we would soon be formally +placed on the footing of prisoners of war; the commander of the guard, +Captain Laws, had become even intimate with Wilson, and had assured him +that our good conduct was producing a profound impression in our favor; +to forfeit this now by a foolhardy attempt to escape might turn the +scale against us. Ross agreed with Wilson. He was a Freemason, and some +members of the fraternity visited him, and gave him assurances of +friendship, together with some small sums of money, which he generously +used to procure us all a little greatly-needed addition to our food. We +no longer made our purchases through Swims, but through Captain Laws, +who did not lose the money intrusted to him. + +Finally the majority decided in favor of an attempt to escape. Two plans +were proposed,--the first by the writer. When men who are not expecting +danger are suddenly surprised, there is a moment when they are incapable +of action, and may be at the mercy of a bold adversary. The same plan, +in general outline, was carried out long afterwards with the most +brilliant success. It was simply to have our irons off when the guards +came to feed us in the evening, and then, as the door opened, to make a +simultaneous rush upon the levelled bayonets outside, wrest the muskets +from their holders, and pour down the stairs on the guards below. If we +succeeded in reaching the ground before the guards fully realized what +was going on, a few moments would suffice to disarm them, and then we +could leave the prison-yard in a solid body, run with all our speed to +the ferry-boat which lay on our side of the river, not far distant. Once +over the river, armed with muskets and bayonets, we would have been +comparatively safe. + +But Andrews did not like this plan for the same reason that made him so +unwilling to use our arms in desperate fighting during the race on the +train. He proposed another plan, which, as he still had great influence +with us, was adopted. His proposition was that some one--John Wollam, I +think, was selected for the perilous attempt--should conceal himself +under the bed in the jailer's room as we passed through it on our return +from the breathing-spell in the yard, and remain there until all was +quiet at night; then come out and noiselessly unlock the door; after +this we could rush down, seize the guard, and proceed as in our first +plan. The time for this bold attempt was fixed for a moonless night not +far distant. + +There were two soldiers of the original twenty-four detailed for our +enterprise who failed to reach the designated rendezvous at Marietta. +One was from the Twenty-first, the other from the Second Ohio Regiment. +They had been suspected and compelled to join a rebel battery, +representing themselves as brothers from Kentucky. In the skirmish at +Bridgeport the member of the Twenty-first found an opportunity to run +across the railroad bridge and join Mitchel. This caused suspicion to +rest on his supposed brother, who was arrested, brought to Chattanooga, +and thrown into the dungeon while we were there. There was some +suspicion that he might have belonged to our party, but we refused to +recognize him, and after confinement for some time he was sent back to +the battery again, and from it, after many remarkable adventures, +succeeded in making good his escape to the Union lines. + +There was at this time a great talk of our exchange, and our drooping +hopes revived. A son of General Mitchel's was captured, but the general +held a large number of rebel prisoners, and released one of them--a +lieutenant--on parole, to propose an exchange. This man visited us and +raised the most sanguine hopes in our bosoms. The Confederate officers +encouraged those hopes, but said we must first go through a merely +formal trial to prove that we were really soldiers, after which we +would be included in the exchange which would undoubtedly be made. We +wanted them to refer the question of our soldiership to General Mitchel, +but we have every reason to believe that they not only never asked him +anything about us, but used all the means in their power to prevent him +from obtaining any knowledge of our situation. The exchange was +effected, but we were not included, and the lieutenant was not permitted +to return to the loyal camp. + +These delusive hopes had served to delay a little longer our projected +escape, but at last we resolved to end the suspense. The very day we had +fixed upon for the desperate enterprise an event occurred which deranged +the plan in the most unexpected manner by dividing our party. George D. +Wilson, who was very sick, was taken down into the yard closely guarded. +While he was there Captain Laws came to him, and said that he had +received an order for twelve of our number to be taken to Knoxville, to +pass the formal investigation which had been so long talked about, and +which was to fix the character of the whole party as prisoners of war. +Wilson asked who the twelve were to be, and wished that he might be one. +The captain told him that this was easily arranged, as the order called +merely for twelve, without giving names. He further offered Wilson the +privilege of naming eleven others beside himself to go, saying that he +would do well to select the ablest men,--those who could do themselves +most credit on examination. Whether this was a mere incident, or whether +it was a plan laid to have Wilson select the most prominent men of the +party, that they might be tried and put to death, I have never learned. +In the light of the subsequent history, this choice was a matter of +profound importance, and my own opinion is that the names were purposely +left blank, and Wilson induced to make the choice, with the view of his +leaving out the nine who might best be reserved for the exercise of +mercy after the others were capitally punished. If this was the case, I +cannot persuade myself that Captain Laws was in the secret. But poor +Wilson was completely misled. He told me that he considered that those +who went to Knoxville would probably be exchanged first, if any +difference was to be made. So he put down his own name first, and mine +next. Then followed the other two who belonged to our regiment,--the +Second Ohio; then William Campbell, the muscular citizen of Kentucky, +and the list was filled out by the names of Wilson's especial friends +from the other regiments. As we twelve, who were to go to Knoxville, +waited the hour of starting, a shade of gloom fell upon us. For nearly +two months we had been companions in trials and privations such as fall +to the lot of few men, and now our band was to be separated. There was +no certainty of reunion; for, in spite of fair words, the fact remained +that we were in the power of desperate and deadly foes, who would not +hesitate a moment in taking our lives, if they saw it for their own +advantage to do so. + +The parting with Andrews, our noble leader, was especially affecting. We +had been accustomed to ask his advice in all emergencies. He had been +already tried by court-martial, and, although no sentence had been +given, the long delay was not a favorable omen. We knew that he was the +first mark for the vengeance of the foe. Officers and visitors, in +bidding us hope, had no words of comfort for him. He bore this like a +hero, as he was, and continued to hope for some deliverance. But now, +after we had sung our songs together for the last time, and came to bid +him farewell, we were all moved to weeping. I will never forget his last +words, as he pressed our hands, with tears in his eyes, and said, in a +low, sad voice that thrilled through my inmost being, "Boys, if I never +see you here again, try to meet me on the other side of Jordan." Never +did we look upon his noble face again! + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE FIRST TRAGEDY. + + +We will first narrate the history of the nine soldiers and their leader, +from whom we parted with so much sorrow and foreboding when the +remainder of us were sent to Knoxville. Various reasons have been +conjectured for this separation, one of which has been given in the +preceding chapter. Another that has been entertained by many of the +party, who have had the opportunity of reviewing the facts, is that the +enemy was now ready to proceed in the work of vengeance, and wished to +lessen any possible danger of escape on our part when we had been driven +to desperation by the beginning of the bloody work. If this was their +design, it was not without success, for the attempt to escape, fixed for +the very day of our separation, was in consequence postponed for a time. + +A week elapsed, during which nothing occurred to break the monotony of +imprisonment. The plan of escape had been modified to be more easily +within the reach of the diminished numbers of the prisoners. The +jack-knife, which had made keys for unlocking the handcuffs, was again +brought into use. The jail walls consisted of brick, and were lined +inside with heavy plank, reaching to the top of the upper room and +covering the ceiling. Three men leaned against the wall, while a fourth +stood on their shoulders, and with the knife cut into the heavy plank +overhead. It was no light task to cut out a hole large enough to admit +the passage of a man's body into the attic. A small part of each day +only could be devoted to the work, and the utmost vigilance was needed +to prevent discovery. The "singing hour" was especially serviceable, as +then the noise of the knife could not be heard. The cut, when so nearly +completed as to require little more labor, was so filled up as not to +attract notice from below, and attention given to other parts of the +work. Just then an incident occurred which added the energy of +desperation to the efforts for liberty. + +Captain Laws entered the prison-yard one day, while our comrades were +enjoying the shade of the prison in the afternoon breathing-spell, which +had been procured by the kindness of Colonel Cleiburne and himself, and +going up to Andrews, with averted face, handed him a paper. Andrews +glanced at it, stood perfectly still a moment, and then silently turned, +and walked up-stairs into the cell, the door of which had been left +open. No one of his comrades said a word, but all felt that something +dreadful had happened. The officer, who seemed hardly able to control +his own emotion, waited for a little time, and then telling the +prisoners very gently that it was time to close up the prison, guarded +them back to their room. + +The explanation Andrews then gave was scarcely needed. He had received +his death-sentence! A week from that day had been appointed as the time, +and hanging as the mode of his execution. The sorrow of the brave men +was indescribable. The many noble qualities of our leader had won not +only respect but love. His unselfish regard for every one of his +companions in misfortune, his cheerful, kindly manner under the greatest +sufferings, had made a deep impression even on his guards,--much more on +his comrades. + +But there was one gleam of hope. Andrews and his party resolved at once +to carry out their projects for breaking out of the jail. These soldiers +would have dared anything in the hope of saving their leader; besides, +the feeling was general that this execution would be but the beginning. +Some of the number had always maintained that no hope existed save the +gleam that might come from some desperate attempt for liberty, such as +they were now to put forth. + +But an additional obstacle was interposed,--Andrews was put down in "the +hole" after receiving his sentence. This required the well-worn knife to +be again used, sparingly but persistently. Notches were sawed in the +planks which held the bolts of the trap-door, and an old blanket or two, +with some articles of clothing, were twisted into ropes. When all this +was done, although the first flush of dawn began to appear in the east, +they dared not risk the chance of their work being discovered the next +day, and accordingly resolved to go at once. Andrews had been drawn up +out of the hole, and it was agreed to give him the first chance for his +life. Andrews and John Wollam were in the loft or attic over the prison +room, while all the others, in their assigned order, were ready to mount +up through the aperture they had cut in the ceiling. A few bricks in the +outside wall had also been removed, and enough of the rude ropes +prepared to allow one by one to descend to the ground. The hope was that +by taking off their boots and moving very cautiously, each one could go +into the loft and out through the hole in the wall, and clamber down the +outside blanket-ropes without disturbing the repose of the guard. Those +who got down first were to wait beside the jail until all their comrades +were on the ground before attempting to dash across the jail-fence and +the guard-line outside. + +It was an anxious moment. They could see the dim form of the sentry, and +hear his measured tread, as he paced back and forth not a dozen yards +away. The word was passed from one to another in the prison that all was +ready. + +Andrews crept out first and swung over the wall, but in doing so +loosened a piece of mortar or a brick, which fell to the ground with a +loud "thump," and attracted the notice of the sentry outside, who +instantly gave the alarm, firing his gun and calling "Halt! halt! +Corporal of the guard!" The whole guard was instantly aroused, and the +firing became rapid. Andrews, however, dropped to the ground, darted to +the fence, and was over before he could be prevented. Wollam heard the +noise from the inside, and knowing that caution was now needless, sprang +through the wall, and slid with the greatest rapidity to the ground. A +number of shots were fired while he was suspended in the air, but the +dim light and the hurry and confusion were not favorable to a steady +aim, and he, also, got to the ground and over the fence unhurt. Dorsey +was third in order, but was too late. Before he could get into the loft +the guard were ready to make sure work of any who might follow. He +prudently turned to his comrades and said, "It is all up with us!" The +whole town was soon aroused. High officers visited the prison to see how +many had escaped. They found the remaining eight safely ironed as +before, the keys having been brought into use. The natural supposition +was that only the two who were missing had succeeded in getting off +their irons, and that the others had not escaped because too tightly +fettered. They were, however, put down in "the hole" as an additional +security, and all damages to the prison carefully repaired, while the +guard manifested unusual vigilance. The afternoon airing was forbidden, +and all the strictness which had marked the first confinement in +Chattanooga returned. The poor captives were made to feel that they had +now nothing to expect but the sternest dealings. + +One consolation was left them in the hope that their comrades had made +good their flight, and that the death-sentence of Andrews could not now +be executed. When the firing was first heard the not unnatural inference +was that both the fugitives had perished, but they knew that _such_ news +would soon have been imparted to them; and as days passed by, their hope +strengthened that two, at least, of their fated company would get back +to the Union lines to tell the story of their adventures and +sufferings. How far these hopes were realized will be seen in the +sequel. + +When Andrews left the prison it was nearly day, so that he knew he could +not long continue his flight without detection. He went only a few +hundred yards away from the city, and there finding a dense tree, +climbed, unobserved, into its branches. It was in plain view of the +railroad and the river. All day long he remained in this uncomfortable +position, and saw the trains passing almost under his feet, and heard +his pursuers speculating as to what could possibly have become of him. +The search all over the vicinity was most thorough, but fortunately no +one thought of looking into the tree. + +At night he came down and swam the river, but becoming entangled in some +drift-wood, floated down past Chattanooga, and did not disengage himself +until he had lost most of his clothing. His boots had been lost in the +first alarm, and he was thus placed in the most unfavorable position for +escaping, but he journeyed on as well as he could. Though so much +superior, in many particulars, to his followers, yet in trying to escape +in the woods he seems to have been as much inferior. As will be seen, +Wollam, and, at a later period, many others of the number, were far more +skilful or fortunate than he. Early in the morning he crossed an open +field on his way to a tree in which he intended to take shelter as on +the preceding day, but unfortunately he was observed. Immediate pursuit +was made, but he dashed through the woods and regained the river much +lower down than the day before. Here he swam a narrow channel and +reached a small island, where, for a time, he secreted himself among +some drift-wood at the upper end of the island. In all his terrible +struggle he seemed to look to the river and to trees for safety. These +became fixed ideas, and possibly interfered with his seeking refuge in +any other manner. But the loss of clothing at the outset was a fatal +misfortune. + +A party with blood-hounds now came over from the mainland to search the +island for him. The dogs came upon him, but he broke away from them, and +ran around the lower end of the island, wading in the shallow water, and +in this way throwing the hounds off the track; then he plunged into the +dense thicket with which the island was covered, and again ascended a +tree. There for a long time he remained securely concealed, while his +pursuers searched the whole island. Frequently they were under the very +tree, whose high foliage effectually screened him from the gaze of dogs +and men. At last they abandoned the search in despair, concluding that +he had by some means left the island. Slowly they took their departure +to devise new plans of search. Two little boys, who came along merely +from curiosity, were all that were left behind. + +At length, in their play, one of them looked upward, and said that he +saw a great bunch on a tree. The other looked,--shifted his +position,--looked again, and exclaimed, "Why, it is _a man_!" They were +alarmed and cried aloud, thus announcing their discovery to their +friends on shore. The latter instantly returned, and Andrews, seeing +himself discovered, dropped from the tree, ran to the lower end of the +island, took a small log, with a limb for a paddle, and shoved into the +stream, hoping to reach the opposite shore before he could be overtaken. +But there was another party lower down the river with a skiff, who saw +him and rowed out to meet him. Thus enclosed, he gave over the hopeless +struggle, and surrendered to his fate,--inevitable death! He afterwards +said that he felt a sense almost of relief when the end had come and he +knew the worst. From the time of losing his clothing in the drift-wood +he had but little expectation of ultimate escape. The spectacle of a man +condemned to death, starving and naked, hunted through the woods and +waters by dogs and men, is one of the most pitiable that can be +imagined. + + EVERY SCHOLAR SHOULD POSSESS A GOOD DICTIONARY. + + A NEW EDITION OF + WORCESTER'S UNABRIDGED QUARTO DICTIONARY + =WITH SUPPLEMENT=, + + =Embracing 204 Additional Pages, containing 12,500 New Words and + a Vocabulary of Synonymes of Words in General Use.= + + FULLY ILLUSTRATED AND UNABRIDGED. + + With Four Full-page Illuminated Plates. Library Sheep, + Marbled Edges, $10.00. Half Russia and Half Morocco, $12.00. + Full Russia, $16.00. + + The new edition is a massive volume of =2058= pages, and + contains considerably more than =115,000= words in its + vocabulary, with their =pronunciation,= =definition,= and + =etymology=. It is illustrated with about 1100 neat woodcuts, + and is enriched by more than a thousand excellent articles on + =Synonymes=, in which five thousand synonymous words are + treated, and accurately and concisely illustrated by short and + well-chosen examples. + + THE NEW EDITION OF + WORCESTER'S DICTIONARY + + Contains Thousands of Words not to be found in any other Dictionary. + + ="WORCESTER"= + is now regarded as the STANDARD AUTHORITY, and is so + recommended by Bryant, Longfellow, Whittier, Sumner, Holmes, + Irving, Winthrop, Agassiz, Marsh, Henry, Everett, Mann, Quincy, + Felton, Hillard, and the majority of our most distinguished + scholars, and is, besides, recognized as authority by the + Departments of our National Government. + + "It follows from this with unerring accuracy that WORCESTER'S + Dictionary, being preferred over all others by scholars and men + of letters, should be used by the youth of the country and + adopted in the common schools."--_New York Evening Post._ + + "The volumes before us show a vast amount of diligence; but + with _Webster_ it is diligence in combination with + fancifulness. 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Half Roan, $1.75. + + "For school purposes, and for common use in the home or place of + business, the _Comprehensive Dictionary_ has no superior."-- + _Massachusetts Teacher_. + + "I regard =Worcester's New Comprehensive Dictionary= as far the best + English Dictionary for general use with which I am acquainted." + THOMAS HILL, LL.D., _Late President of Harvard University_. + + =--V--= + =WORCESTER'S ACADEMIC DICTIONARY.= + With Illustrated Appendix. 576 pages. Crown 8vo. Half Roan, $1.85. + + =--VI--= + =WORCESTER'S OCTAVO DICTIONARY.= + Universal and Critical. 956 pages. Library Sheep, $4.25. + + =--VII--= + =WORCESTER'S QUARTO DICTIONARY= + of the English language. _New Edition, with Supplement._ Unabridged and + fully Illustrated. Library Sheep, $10.00; Half Russia or Half Morocco, + $12.00; Full Russia or Full Turkey, $16.00. + + Many special aids to students, in addition to a very full pronouncing + and defining vocabulary, make the above named books, in the opinion of + our most distinguished educators, the most complete as well as by far + the cheapest Dictionaries of our language. + + * * * * * + + -> For sale by all Booksellers, or will be sent, carriage + free, on receipt of the price by the Publishers. Liberal terms for + Introduction. Correspondence solicited with that view. + + Published by J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., + _775 and 717 Market Street, Philadelphia_. + + (OVER.) + +Alfred Wilson, who was one of the eight who failed to escape, speaks in +feeling terms of the manner in which their leader was brought back to +them on the third day after escaping. He says,-- + + "At the prison we were startled by a rumor that Andrews had + been taken, but we at first gave little credence to it, + probably because we did not desire to believe it. But, alas! + the rumor was only too true, for soon after, a strong guard of + soldiers, having in charge a prisoner, followed by a rabble of + citizens, approached the prison. It was Andrews! Oh, how our + hearts and hopes sank down within us beyond the power of + expression!... I could have prayed that death had spared me + those painful moments, the most harrowing of my life. He was + the most wretched and pitiable human being I ever saw,--a sight + which horrified us all, and even drew words of compassion from + some of our prison guards. His own brother would scarcely have + been able to recognize him. It did not seem possible that the + short space of three days could have wrought a change so + startling. As he lay there chained to the floor, naked, bloody, + bruised, and speechless, he seemed more dead than alive. He had + not eaten a morsel since he left us,--during which time he had + made the most desperate struggle for liberty and life. He had + swam about seven miles in the river in his efforts to keep + clear of the dogs. His feet were literally torn to shreds by + running over the sharp stones and through the brush. Towards + the last he left blood at every step. His back and shoulders + were sun-blistered almost to the bone, and so completely + exhausted was he that he could hardly move his limbs after he + was brought in. His face was pale, haggard, and emaciated. His + eyes, which were sunken, gave forth a wild, despairing, + unnatural light. + + "When we were left to ourselves, we drew around the miserable + man, and, after he had somewhat revived, he told us in that + low, calm tone of voice in which he always spoke, and which + seldom failed to impress the listeners favorably towards the + man, the whole story of his unfortunate attempt to escape. He + told us he had but little time to live, and that now, after + having made every effort to save his life and to rescue us, and + failed, he felt reconciled and resigned to his fate. He said he + was incapable of doing anything more to help himself, and only + regretted that his death could not in some way be instrumental + in saving us, his comrades. He counselled us all against the + fallacy of hoping for an exchange, or for any mercy from those + into whose hands we had fallen. He said his doom foreshadowed + our own, and entreated us to prepare for the worst, and, when + the time came, to prove to them that we were as brave in + confronting an ignominious death for our country's sake as we + had been fearless in doing service for her." + +A few more words will finish this pitiful story. Andrews, in Wilson's +opinion, was somewhat of a fatalist, or at least was haunted with a +presentiment of coming doom from the time he had fairly entered upon +this expedition. He had not long to wait. He was put back into "the +hole," but not before a negro blacksmith had welded a pair of heavy +fetters upon his ankles, and connected them with a chain only about +eighteen inches in length. A scaffold was prepared for him in +Chattanooga, but the indications of an advance by Mitchel, and, +possibly, expressions of sympathy on the part of the citizens, induced +the authorities at the last moment to transfer the death-scene to +Atlanta. His comrades were sent with him to that town. On the way to +Atlanta he was taunted with his approaching doom by the crowds, who +surrounded every station. + +It was the day appointed for the execution. On reaching Atlanta Andrews +and his eight companions were conducted to a second-story room, not far +from the depot. In a little time a body of soldiers marched up into the +building, an officer appeared at the door, and, while all were silent as +death, said, in a low, almost faltering tone, "Come on now, Mr. +Andrews." He instantly arose, and the low, sad "Farewell, boys," spoken +in his calmest, sweetest tones, mingled with the horrible clanking of +his chains, as he walked out with the short, halting step his irons +compelled. This was the final separation. + +The survivors were conducted to the city jail of Atlanta, and there +placed in an iron cage. At meal-time the guards told them how bravely +Andrews died. His fortitude stilled even the clamorous spectators. The +dying agony was protracted by the unskilfulness of the executioner, the +rope stretching so that his feet touched the ground. But the earth was +shovelled away, and the brave spirit set free. Why should the gallows be +accounted infamous when courage and patriotism there meet a hero's +death? The cross was once esteemed more shameful than the gallows now, +but one death has sanctified that instrument forever! + +The grave of Andrews at Atlanta was unmarked, and, in the many changes +that have taken place there, it is probably lost forever. The most +diligent search on the part of the writer failed to discover it. But the +rope adjudged by the court-martial, all of whose members have passed +into obscurity with the downfall of the rebellion they served, cannot +desecrate his memory. No flowers can be placed on his unknown grave by +loyal hands, but loving tears will fall freely for him as long as hearts +can feel for the extremity of misfortune that gathered around the last +hours of the man who planned and boldly executed the most romantic and +perilous enterprise of the Great Civil War. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A CONFEDERATE COURT-MARTIAL. + + +Before describing the adventures of Wollam--Andrews' companion in flight +from the Chattanooga prison--we will turn towards the twelve prisoners +destined for Knoxville, where a yet more fearful tragedy was in +preparation. + +On parting from our comrades we were escorted to the cars by Colonel +Cleiburne, where we found, much to our gratification, that we were to be +guarded by a party of Morgan's guerrillas, whose exploits were then +greatly celebrated. Cleiburne recommended us to the humane care of these +partisans, saying, "These prisoners are men, like other men, and +gentlemen too, and I want them treated as such." This charge from the +generous Irishman, for such he was, did much to secure courteous +treatment from our guard. Indeed, the position of the irregular soldiers +who served under the guerrilla chief was such as to make them admire +rather than blame the bold enterprise that led to our capture. They were +themselves in citizen's dress, and were not always careful to provide +uniforms before penetrating into the Federal lines. A considerable +number of their comrades had been captured under such circumstances, and +were, by every rule of right, equally liable with ourselves to be +treated as criminals. Indeed, the position of some of their captured +comrades was still more questionable, for they had assumed the United +States uniform whenever they found it to their advantage. The +inconsistency of the rebel government in treating our party so harshly +is conclusively shown by the fact that they had passed laws for the +encouragement of just such irregular warfare. + +But we have no complaint to make of these dashing guerrillas. They were +very indignant to see us in irons, and offered to be responsible for our +safe-keeping if these were removed; but this was not allowed. + +As was common in our removals from prison to prison, we had been started +without any rations,--not so much, I presume, from wanton cruelty as +because it was no one's especial business to furnish provisions. As the +journey occupied twenty-four hours (and we were hungry to begin with), +our privation would have been considerable but for the generosity of +Morgan's men. They bought pies and whatever else they could find at the +station eating-houses, and literally feasted us. From the time of our +capture we had not experienced such treatment, and only hoped that these +generous enemies might have charge of us as long as we remained in +Confederate territory,--a hope which was not realized. We never met them +again. + +We arrived in Knoxville shortly after noon, having spent the night on +the cars, and were marched through the hot, dusty streets to the city +jail,--an old building of peculiar architecture,--solid, square, and +massive, presenting quite an imposing appearance. It was used as a +military prison, and was filled from top to bottom with ragged, +dirty-looking prisoners. Some Union men, and several rebel soldiers who +had been captured while attempting to desert, were with them. These +constituted the less-valued class of prisoners, and were permitted to +range over most of the building, which, however, was completely +encircled outside, and watched in every passage-way, by a strong guard. + +The class of prisoners whose offences were considered of a more +aggravated character were shut up in cages. There were five of these +cages, two of which were at once cleared for our reception. The smaller +was seven by nine feet, and four of us were put in it. The larger was +perhaps ten by twelve, and held the remaining eight. + +We arrived at Knoxville in the latter part of May, and remained until +June 10. Outside, the weather was intensely warm, but the enormous mass +of iron and stone in the walls of the prison made it comparatively cool +within. The days here spent were not altogether unpleasant. Our food was +scanty and of indifferent quality, but as long as we were allowed hope I +did not feel much disposed to complain of this. Besides, many of the +Union men of Knoxville, who visited us, were liberal in the gift of +money, and by employing the services of those prisoners who were less +strictly guarded, we were able to get many an extra loaf of bread. + +We here became acquainted with some Tennesseeans who were long our +companions. One of the most remarkable was an old man named Pierce. He +presented a most peculiar appearance, having at some period of his +history received a terrible blow with a gun-barrel, which left a +permanent gash more than an inch deep clear across the forehead from the +nose to his hair. From this circumstance he was variously known in the +prison as "Forked Head," "Old Gun-barrel," etc. He presented the +singular combination of great piety and great profanity, singing hymns +and cursing the Confederacy with equal zeal. But his friendship for +Union soldiers knew no bounds, and, being very bold, he was able to +render us many valuable services. + +Another East Tennesseean, more widely known, was Captain Fry, of +Greenville, a town near the Virginia boundary. He was confined in a +cage, and considered by our guards almost equally criminal with +ourselves. Early in the war he had gathered a number of his neighbors, +and, running the gauntlet of guarded roads, succeeded in reaching our +army in Kentucky. Here he was appointed captain of his recruits, and +remained for some time. When an advance into East Tennessee through +Cumberland Gap was contemplated, the Union general asked him to return +to his home, organize the loyal citizens of that vicinity, burn the +bridges on the Richmond and Knoxville Railroad, and then to keep +possession of the mountainous region till our forces could arrive. With +the most explicit assurances of speedy aid, he departed on his perilous +mission. Success on his part was rapid and complete. He raised fifteen +hundred men, obstructed all communications, burned the bridges, and +seriously threatened Knoxville itself. A very small Union reinforcement +could then have rendered invaluable services, and all the men needed for +the work were assembled not far from Cumberland Gap. But the attention +of the military authorities was then turned in another direction, and +the plan of advancing into East Tennessee was accordingly abandoned. No +word of the change reached Fry, who struggled on alone. But the odds +were too great. An overwhelming force of the enemy was thrown upon him, +and after several contests he and his brave men were forced to disperse. +A few succeeded in reaching the loyal lines, and these mostly enlisted +in our army. Others were captured, and many of them hanged as rebels! +General Leadbetter was very conspicuous in this savage work. Fry himself +passed the whole winter in hiding among the wild mountains of that +section, and in the spring mustered several hundred of those who were +fugitives like himself, and tried to reach the Union lines. Near the +border he was overtaken by a superior rebel force, and after a severe +contest he was defeated, wounded, and taken prisoner. This was on the +5th of March, 1862, and he was kept in solitary confinement until placed +with us on the 11th of June following. Captain Fry's subsequent fortunes +were closely united with those of our party--indeed, with my own--and +will be related in due time. + +When I bring back in memory the minute impressions of those eventful +days, I feel surprise that so many hours of comparative pleasure were +found. We had here many persons to converse with. We had light and air, +which we had not at Chattanooga. We procured newspapers with frequency, +no attempt being made to prevent this as in other prisons, and were able +to form some idea of the gigantic contest in which we were so deeply +interested, and which at that time progressed hopefully. We had become +most intimate with each other, and would not allow despondency or +brooding over trouble to take hold upon any one of our number. We also +provided employment for each waking hour, and until those tragic events +occurred which deepened the gloom around us we were comparatively +hopeful and happy. I even managed to take up the thread of my law +studies and prosecute them vigorously. I sent word through a visitor to +a law firm--Baxter & Temple--that I wanted to borrow "Greenleaf on +Evidence," and almost as much to my surprise as pleasure the volumes +were promptly sent. The prison made quite a good study, and the +spectacle of a man reading law in an iron cage seemed to guards and +visitors alike an excellent jest. But I could afford to let them laugh, +for mine was the gain, not only in the knowledge acquired, but in +causing the prison days to pass less wearily. + +Before we had been long at Knoxville we were visited by an officer, whom +we had seen frequently in Chattanooga, and who told us that he was +judge-advocate of a court-martial about to convene, and notified us to +prepare for trial. Neither this intelligence nor his manner in giving it +was at all alarming. We knew that we had been ordered to Knoxville for +this very purpose, and were only anxious to have the trial soon over, +that we might be formally declared prisoners of war, and thus be placed +in position to be exchanged, if an opportunity should occur. To this end +we asked the judge-advocate if we would all be put on trial at once, and +when he answered in the negative, we urged the expediency and justice of +that course, assuring him that the cases of all were precisely alike. +But he refused with some curtness. We next asked that he would select +one of our number to be tried, whose award might determine the position +of the whole party, and offering to sign a paper agreeing to this +course. This he also refused, with the declaration that the court knew +its own business, and that every one of us should be tried on his own +merits. The only reason I have ever been able to imagine for this course +is that the intentions towards us were much more serious than we had +been allowed to conjecture, and that it would have looked too absurd to +arraign so large a band of private soldiers from one brigade on the +charge of being spies. We asked him for the charge on which the trial +was to take place, and with some apparent hesitation he gave it,--the +same against all. It was charged, in substance, that we were enemies who +were lurking in and around Confederate camps _as spies_ for the purpose +of obtaining military information. Not one word was said about seizing +the cars or anything that we did or tried to do. Wilson spoke out +boldly, and said, "But you know we are not spies, and have yourself told +us that we cannot be held as such." Then, with what I cannot but +consider as deep deception, he replied that their expectation now was to +obtain a negative verdict, which would justify them in exchanging us. He +further advised us to employ counsel and put our cause in good shape, +but not to make ourselves uneasy. The whole conversation left some +apprehension upon our minds, but in the case of most of us the inherent +hopefulness of youth soon banished it. + +Our plan of defence has been partly indicated before. It was to tell +just who we were and what we had done, and to claim that we were United +States soldiers, detailed on a military expedition without our own +consent or knowledge, and simply obeying orders. We were to deny in the +strongest terms that we had been lurking about any camps, or that we had +sought or obtained any military information. No question was to be +answered that would lead to the discovery of the engineer or tend to +show that any one had volunteered for this service. As to evidence +against us, we knew that our recorded confessions, made when we were +first brought to Chattanooga, could be used, and possibly the evidence +of those who first captured us. But no one could say anything about our +lurking around Confederate camps. We had been within the guard-lines at +Big Shanty, but we were no more "lurking" there than a body of cavalry +who might charge into a camp. Indeed, we felt sure that the charge, in +the form it bore, could not be sustained. To make the greatest +impression of candor, our story was sketched in brief, with the approval +of the whole number, and, at a subsequent visit of the judge-advocate, +handed to him. He took our signatures to it, and it was read on the +trials as our confession. It saved our enemies some trouble in the +matter of witnesses, and put our case in what we judged the most +favorable light. + +Baxter & Temple, who had so kindly accommodated me with books, were +willing to act as our counsel. They stipulated that, as fast as tried, +we should give them our notes for one hundred and fifty dollars each. +They did not care for the money, and, indeed, the prospect of obtaining +it was not very favorable. But their own safety required that their help +should appear to be purely professional. They assured me privately that +they were loyal to our government and would do us any favor they dared. +They did promote our comfort by the secret gift of some money. + +The story of the trials may soon be told. The charges and specifications +of William Campbell were first handed in. He was a citizen of Kentucky +in reality, but claimed to be a member of Company K, Second Ohio, and we +were careful to endorse his statement. It was never suspected that he +stood in any different relation from his comrades. After the overthrow +of the Confederacy the writer obtained copies of these charges and +specifications, together with many other papers from the rebel archives. +They are still on file at Washington. With the exception of the change +of names and position in the army, the charges were precisely alike in +all the cases. + + "_Charge._--Violation of Section 2d of the 101st Article of the + Rules and Articles of War. + + "_Specification 1st._--In that the said William Campbell, + private Company 'K,' Second Ohio Regiment, U.S.A., not owing + allegiance to the Confederate States of America, and being in + the service and army of the United States, then and now at war + with the Confederate States of America, did, on or about the + 7th day of April, 1862, leave the army of the United States, + then lying near Shelbyville, Tennessee, and with a company of + about twenty other soldiers of the United States army, all + dressed in citizen's clothes, repair to Chattanooga, Tennessee, + entering covertly within the lines of the Confederate forces at + that post, and did thus, on or about the 11th day of April, + 1862, lurk as a spy in and about the encampment of said forces, + representing himself as a citizen of Kentucky going to join the + Southern army. + + "_Specification 2d._--And the said William Campbell, private + Company 'K,' Second Ohio Regiment, U.S.A., thus dressed in + citizen's clothes, and representing himself as a citizen of + Kentucky going to join the Southern army, did proceed by + railroad to Marietta, Georgia,--thus covertly pass through the + lines of the Confederate forces stationed at Chattanooga, + Dalton, and Camp McDonald, and did thus, on or about the 11th + day of April, 1862, lurk as a spy in and about the said + encampments of the Confederate forces at the places stated + aforesaid." + +All mention of the capture of the train, with the terrible chase that +followed, is entirely omitted from this paper. Could this be for any +other reason than that this sequel would disprove the fact of "lurking +as a spy," on which the whole charge is made to turn, and make the whole +expedition appear of a distinctive military character? The whole charge +of "lurking as a spy" was constructive--not real. No evidence could be +adduced to show that any one of us had lingered for a single hour at any +one of the three Confederate encampments mentioned. Neither was there +any evidence that our false stories were told inside of any encampment. + +With charges which were simply a recital of a small part of our own +admissions and some inference from them, the trials were very simple and +brief. William Campbell was taken out first, the above paper read to +him, and he responded, "Not true, so far as lurking in any camp or being +a spy is concerned." The plea of "not guilty" was then entered for him, +our own confession read, one or two minor witnesses called, and he +returned to prison. The next day another man was taken to the court and +the same story rehearsed. Thus each day one trial only took place, and +no pleadings were heard by the prisoner, either for or against himself, +and no sentence was given. The time occupied in each session of the +court was not much more than an hour. The table around which the court +sat was covered with bottles, newspapers, and novels, and the members +occupied themselves during the proceedings in discussing these. All this +was very well if the object was, as they assured us, merely to put +formally on record our true character as prisoners of war; but it was +most heartless if the trial was in earnest, and a matter of life or +death. + +Wilson related to me a ludicrous incident that occurred when he was on +trial. No instance of his being anywhere within the guard-lines was +proved. A young lieutenant requested to be placed on the witness-stand +to testify of one occasion when he knew that the prisoner had passed +their picket-lines. His offer was gladly accepted. On being sworn, he +stated that he had commanded a picket-post which included the +Chattanooga ferry, and this ferry the prisoner admitted passing. +Immediately the president of the court arose and said that the young +gentleman was mistaken, as he himself commanded the guard that day, and +that _no guard was placed at the ferry_. The whole court was thrown into +a roar of laughter, and the confusion of our would-be convictor may be +imagined. + +Our lawyers visited us frequently in the prison for the purpose of +consultation, and expressed themselves as delighted with the turn +matters were taking. No evidence had been found to discredit or go +beyond our own statements. They said that all the plans of the +prosecution had been deranged, and that if convicted now, it would be +through mere prejudice and perjury on the part of the court. + +There was one feature of the trial, however, which I did not like, and +against which we protested with all our power. No one who was tried was +allowed to be present to hear the pleading of counsel on either side. We +could neither hear what the judge-advocate urged against us nor what our +lawyers said in our favor. Even at the trial of Andrews, in Chattanooga, +he had not been debarred this privilege. But in this, and one other +particular to be narrated later, the rebels used our soldiers with less +show of justice than had been accorded to Andrews himself. + +After three or four of our number had been tried, one of our lawyers +read to us the plea, which he said he had read after the trial of each +man, and would continue to read. It appeared to me to be a paper of +great ability, and I cannot conceive how it could be successfully +answered. Judge-Advocate-General Holt officially speaks of it as "This +just and unanswerable presentation of the case." It was contended that +our being dressed in citizen's clothes instead of Federal uniforms, +which was the only unmilitary incident in the whole history, ought not +to weigh against us, because this was nothing more than the Confederate +government had expressly authorized in the case of their own soldiers, +and that making war without uniform was practised by all the guerrillas +in the Confederate service,--by some from necessity, and by others +because they were thus able better to escape detection, and inflict more +damage upon the enemy. A special instance was cited in which General +Morgan had dressed a detachment of his partisans in Federal uniform, and +passed them off as belonging to the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, by +which means he had succeeded in reaching and damaging a railroad within +the Federal lines. Some of these very men were captured by the Federal +government, and were, up to the present, held as prisoners of war. To +decide that we were spies because we were captured without our uniform +would not only provoke retaliation, but establish a principle far more +dangerous to the Confederate than to the Federal forces. It was urged +that we had stated the object of our expedition, which was a purely +military one, and as such entirely within the laws of war. No evidence +had been adduced to show that we were other than what we claimed. The +plea closed by asking what good purpose could be served by sacrificing +ignominiously the lives of so many brave men on a charge which had been +conclusively disproved by the evidence, and which every member of the +court knew to be really untrue. We were not spies in fact, and to call +us such against their own convictions, and on merely technical and +constructive grounds, would be as unwise as it was cruel. The plea did +_not_ embrace one argument which added very much to our hopefulness, +and which our lawyers considered likely to have a great weight with the +court, though they dared not formally state it. McClellan had not yet +been repulsed before Richmond, and the collapse of the Rebellion seemed +imminent. The same rigid construction which was necessary to make us +spies would assuredly render them all liable to the punishment of +treason, and they were not in a position to make it prudent to invoke +the utmost severities and extreme penalties of the laws of war. As I +glance back over the lapse of twenty years it still seems to me strange +that the decision of the court-martial in our favor could have been for +a moment doubtful. But, alas! reason and sound judgment do not always +rule in human affairs. Though we knew it not then, the life of every man +in that Knoxville prison was trembling in the balance. + +For one whole week--seven days--the trials went on, the same forms being +used in the case of each man, who was taken out for an hour and +returned, knowing nothing of his sentence, having heard no pleading +against himself, and being treated in no sense differently after his +trial. On the seventh day we read that General Mitchel had advanced to +Chattanooga and was shelling the town across the river, and also, that +the Federal General Morgan was advancing from Cumberland Gap, and +threatening Knoxville. We fervently hoped that the latter would settle +the question of our fate by capturing the town while we were still in +it. This would have done away with all further perplexity as to the +decision of the court-martial! + +This advance did prevent all further trials. The officers of the court +were hurried off to their regiments to resist the enemy. From the +newspapers, which some prisoners managed to obtain every day, and then +loaned or read to all the others, we were kept well informed as to the +progress of events. Some of the intelligence they brought thrilled us to +our souls. More than a week before this we read of the escape of +Andrews and Wollam from the Chattanooga prison. We greatly rejoiced, +believing firmly that our leader would be sure to get to our lines, and +then use all his influence to secure some form of help for us. The news +of his recapture overthrew all these hopes and filled us with anxious +apprehension, although we were ignorant of his being sentenced to death. +Of the fate of Wollam nothing was stated. + +But a more terrible blow was in store. One day a newspaper was silently +passed up to our cage by some friend outside, and, glancing at it, the +first thing that arrested our attention was an account of _the execution +of Andrews_! With equal silence we sent it into the other cage. Just +before this deadly intelligence came we had been engaged in +story-telling and in various games, for we were always merry, refusing +to indulge in gloomy forebodings. But this was the sudden opening of an +awful gulf at our feet. All noise and merriment were suspended, and we +passed the whole day in mourning. We could not talk to our guards as +lightly as we had done before, for there was now blood between us. We +all loved Andrews, and would have undergone any peril to save him, but +there was no possibility now even of vengeance. And, although his fate +was governed by different principles from ours, we could not help +feeling more distrustful of our own position. + +An extra guard, bearing a great number of ropes, came in the morning +after the last trial, and we were called out of our cages. This was +startling, as we had no hint of their purpose, and the word was even +passed around that we were all to be taken out and hanged immediately. +But one of the outside prisoners found an opportunity to inform us that +he had overheard the commander saying that he was to remove us to +prevent our capture in case of a sudden Federal dash upon Knoxville. +This convinced us that we were only to have another of our frequent +changes of prisons. + +In our cages here we had not been ironed, and, as our fetters had been +used on some prisoners sent to Richmond, we were now obliged to content +ourselves with a most liberal allowance of cotton rope. It was this +provision for tying us which at first excited our apprehensions. + +While we were being securely bound I had an amusing passage-at-words +with the adjutant, who was superintending that operation. I said to him, +as politely as I could,-- + +"I suppose, sir, our destination is not known?" + +"It is not known to you at any rate, sir," was the gruff rejoinder. + +This was noticed by the whole party, and I felt rather beaten; but a +moment later came my chance for revenge. He turned again to me, and +said, in a dictatorial manner,-- + +"Who was it that run your engine through?" + +I bowed, and returned in the blandest tone, "_That is not known to you +at any rate, sir_." + +All the prisoners around roared with laughter, and the adjutant, +reddening to the eyes, turned away, muttering that he believed I was the +engineer myself! + +When the process of tying was completed to the adjutant's satisfaction, +we took our departure southward, and passed through Chattanooga once +more, but, to our satisfaction, did not stop there. We continued +southward, in the direction of Atlanta. No rations were taken for us, as +usual, and having on this occasion no guerrillas to buy us supplies, we +were obliged to fast the whole time. At various stations the populace +taunted us with Andrews' death, and charitably hoped we might soon meet +the same fate. The remark was often made that we were going to Atlanta +to be hanged there, as he had been! Captain Fry, Pierce, and a few other +of the East Tennesseeans were taken along with us. Before we reached +Chattanooga, we had, as I thought, an excellent chance to effect our +escape. The journey was so slow that night came on, and our guard, +wearied with the frequent delays, had relaxed their vigilance, and most +of them slept by our sides. They exceeded us in numbers, and were armed, +while we were tied. But our two months' experience had made us adepts in +some of the poor, pitiful arts prisoners soon learn. We could +communicate without exciting the suspicions of the soldiers, who were +sitting in the very seats with us, and scarcely one of our number had +failed to so "settle himself" in the cotton ropes that they could have +been thrown off at a moment's notice. To be ready at a signal, to dash +out the two lights that burned in our car, each of us to seize the +musket of the man nearest us while the train was in motion, to secure +the doors, and let no one get out, or make any alarm, seemed to me easy +enough. Then we could have uncoupled our car, and, _with the arms of our +guard_, have started across the country towards the Union lines, which +could not have been more than thirty or forty miles west of us. But +George D. Wilson opposed the project with all his energy. He thought we +might succeed, but some would probably be killed in the scuffle, and all +might be captured outside, and then our case be made much worse, while +by simply remaining quiet, we were sure of a speedy exchange. He had +talked for hours with the captain of our guard, who was certain that our +case had been virtually decided in our favor. He encouraged Wilson by +saying that he had heard officers high in authority say that it had been +necessary to execute Mr. Andrews, as he was a Confederate citizen, and +as an example; but that this was enough, and that no other would suffer +anything worse than possibly, if no favorable exchange could be +arranged, the penalty of being kept to the close of the war. This, in +Wilson's opinion, was not far distant. Wilson's opposition made us +regretfully yield the attempt. Could the future have been foreseen our +decision would undoubtedly have been reversed. + +Atlanta, we found, was our destination. Here, almost in the centre of +the rebel States, the Confederates were as yet free from interruption by +Union armies. Andrews had already perished in this city, and here our +own fate was to be determined. As we marched, with ropes bound tightly +round our hands and pinioning our arms, from the depot to the Atlanta +city jail, a crowd gathered around us, as usual, and a man, calling +himself the mayor of the city, addressed himself first to Captain Fry, +telling him that he knew his history and would soon have the pleasure of +hanging him. Then turning to us, he boasted that he had put the rope +around Andrews' neck and was waiting and anxious to do the same for us! + +The city prison was much smaller than that at Knoxville, but was quite a +large edifice. The lower story was occupied by the jailer and family. +The upper story contained four rooms, two on each side of an entry, into +which the staircase from below led. We, in company with Captain Fry, +were given one of these rooms. The other Tennesseeans brought from +Knoxville with us were put into another, just across the entry from us. +Our comrades, who had been left behind at Chattanooga, had been in this +building ever since the death of Andrews, and in the third room. The +fourth room was on the same side as our own, and had a succession of +occupants,--frequently negroes who had been in search of the North Star. +This jail was to be our home for many eventful months. + +For some days our food was comparatively good and abundant. Turner, the +jailer, was a kind man, and, in a mild way, of Union sentiments. He +showed us all the favor in his power, and, indeed, became so much +suspected that an odious old man named Thoer was sent to watch him. The +change in our condition was at once manifest. Our fare became worse and +more scanty than in any former prison. The constant vigilance of this +spy kept the jailer from doing anything to mitigate our sufferings. But +in this prison we had one great relief. Our ropes were removed and no +chains or handcuffs put upon us. Within our prison-cell we were free. +Here we remained in quiet for a week, thinking the worst of our trials +now over. Little did we imagine how fearful a storm was about to burst +over us. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE CROWNING HORROR. + + +The event described in this chapter will never be effaced from the +memory of any witness. Nothing more terrible or more gratuitously +barbarous is recorded in the annals of civilized war. The seven men of +whose death I am now to write were all young,--from eighteen to +twenty-five. With good prospects, and well connected, they had entered +the army at the bidding of patriotism, ready to endure every peril to +insure the triumph of the old flag. Their only offence, when stripped of +all technicality, was that of accepting a dangerous service proposed by +their own officers. They had entered on this service in the same spirit +that they would have obeyed an order to head a desperate charge on the +enemy's fortifications. Had they perished in the enterprise itself, +their fate would have been but the common fortune of war. But more than +two months had passed since they had been in the power of their enemies, +who had repeatedly testified admiration for their heroism, as well as +for their gallant bearing in captivity. Prominent officers had held +friendly conversations with them and assured them of ultimate safety. +Now, without a moment's warning----. But I must not anticipate the +narration. + +One day--the 18th of June, 1862--while amusing ourselves with games and +stories in our prison-cell, we saw through the barred window a squadron +of cavalry approaching. This only excited a languid curiosity at first, +for it was a common thing to see bodies of horsemen in the streets; but +soon we saw them halt before the gate of the high prison-wall and throw +a line of soldiers completely round the building. This was no ordinary +occurrence. What could it portend? + +A moment after we heard the clink of the officers' swords as they +ascended the prison stairway in unusual numbers, while we waited the +event with deep solicitude. They paused at our door, which was unlocked +by the jailer, and the names of the seven who had been tried at +Knoxville were called over, one by one, and each man as he was called +led out of the room. Samuel Robinson was very sick with fever, and was +not able to rise without assistance, but two guards helped him to his +feet, and he was taken out with the others. Then the door opposite to +ours, on the other side of the hall, was opened, and the Tennesseeans in +that room put with us, while our comrades, with the whole number of +officers, went into the vacated room, and the door was closed. + +With throbbing veins we asked one another the meaning of these strange +proceedings. A confused sound was heard through the closed door +opposite, as of some one reading, but we could distinguish no words. +Some of us supposed they were taken in there to receive their acquittal; +others, still more sanguine, maintained that they were now being +paroled, preparatory to an exchange. + +I was also suffering with malarial fever at that time, but rose to my +feet oppressed with a nameless fear. A half-idiotic man who was among +the Tennessee prisoners came to me and wanted to play a game of cards. I +struck the greasy pack out of his hands, and bade him leave me. + +Our terrible suspense was not of long duration. The door opened and +George D. Wilson entered first, his hands and arms firmly bound, and his +face pale as death, but with form erect and firm step. Some one asked in +a whisper a solution of the dreadful mystery, for his countenance had +appalled every one. + +"_We are to be executed immediately!_" was the awful reply, whispered +with thrilling distinctness. + +Behind him came the others, all tied, ready for the scaffold! They were +to be hanged at once. Not a day nor an hour was given for preparation. +From their hopefulness and fancied security they were snatched in a +moment to die as felons! Surely no rule of war, no military necessity, +no consideration of policy, required such frightful and murderous haste. +I have never heard a word in defence of this military massacre. Even +Andrews, our leader, was given a week for preparation before the +execution of his sentence. The most atrocious criminals are always +allowed a short respite. For a long time I cherished the belief that +some misunderstanding of orders, some terrible error, and not deliberate +cruelty, led to this frightful haste. But the following death-sentence +seems to leave no room for doubt. In the very centre of the Confederacy, +with hundreds of troops at their disposal for guards, there could have +been no military necessity for hurling these poor men into eternity +without one hour's warning! + +The following is a literal copy of the death-sentence read to the doomed +men during the few minutes they were separated from us: + + "HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT EAST TENNESSEE, + "KNOXVILLE, June 14, 1862. + + "_General Orders, No. 54. VII._ + + "At a general court-martial held at Knoxville by virtue of + General Orders Nos. 21 and 34 (Department Headquarters, April + 15 and May 10, 1862), whereof Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Bibb, of + the Twenty-third Regiment Alabama Volunteers, was president, + was tried George D. Wilson, private Company 'B,' Second Ohio + Regiment, on the following charge and specifications, to wit: + + "_Charge._--Violation of Section 2d of the 101st Article of the + Rules and Articles of War. + + "_Specification 1st._--In this, that the said George D. Wilson, + private Company 'B,' Second Ohio Regiment, not owing allegiance + to the Confederate States of America, and being in the service + and army of the United States, then and now at war with the + Confederate States of America, did, on or about the 7th day of + April, 1862, leave the army of the United States, then lying + near Shelbyville, Tennessee, and with a company of about twenty + other soldiers of the United States army, all dressed in + citizen's clothes, repair to Chattanooga, Tennessee, entering + covertly within the lines of the Confederate forces at that + post, and did thus, on or about the 11th day of April, 1862, + lurk as a spy in and about the encampment of said forces, + representing himself as a citizen of Kentucky going to join the + Southern army. + + "_Specification 2d._--And the said George D. Wilson, private + Company 'B,' Second Ohio Regiment, U.S.A., thus dressed in + citizen's clothes, and representing himself as a citizen of + Kentucky going to join the Southern army, and did proceed by + railroad to Marietta, Georgia,--thus covertly pass through the + lines of the Confederate forces stationed at Chattanooga, + Dalton, and Camp McDonald, and did thus, on or about the 11th + day of April, 1862, lurk as a spy in and about the said + encampments of the Confederate forces at the places stated + aforesaid. + + "To which charge and specifications the prisoner plead 'Not + Guilty.' + + "The court, after mature deliberation, find the accused as + follows: Of the 1st specification of the charge, 'Guilty.' Of + the 2d specification of the charge, 'Guilty,' and 'Guilty of + the Charge.' And the court do therefore sentence the accused, + the said George D. Wilson, private Company 'B,' Second Ohio + Regiment (two-thirds of the members concurring therein), as + soon as this order shall be made public, 'to be hung by the + neck until he is dead.' + + "The proceedings in the foregoing case of George D. Wilson, + private Company 'B,' Second Ohio Regiment, are approved. + + "The sentence of the court will be carried into effect between + the 15th and 22d days of June, inst., at such time and place as + may be designated by the commanding officer at Atlanta, + Georgia, who is charged with the arrangements for the proper + execution thereof. + + "By command of + "Major-General E. KIRBY SMITH. + "J. F. BRETON, A.A.A.G. + + "To Commanding Officer of post at Atlanta, Ga." + +It will be noticed that the sentence was to be executed as soon as made +public. The time fixed was between the 15th and 22d days of June. This +was the 18th. The sentence had been received the preceding day, and the +time employed in clearing a spot of wooded ground then lying east of the +city cemetery, but since included in its bounds, and in erecting a +scaffold there. But no word of the awful preparations had been allowed +to reach us. According to the orders of General E. Kirby Smith, several +days' respite might have been allowed; but in a communication to the +Confederate Secretary of War, Colonel G. I. Foreacre, post-commander at +Atlanta, says, "General Smith only sent from Knoxville instructions and +orders to have seven of them hung, which was promptly attended to by +myself." + +After the sentences had been read came the farewells,--which, in their +full meaning, we could scarcely realize,--farewells with no hope of +meeting again in this world! Our comrades were dear as brothers to us, +and to stand helpless while they were dragged away to the scaffold froze +our blood and crushed our hearts. + +These doomed men were brave. On the battle-field they had never faltered +in the presence of danger. They were ready to die, if need were, for +their country; but to die on the scaffold,--to die as murderers +die,--this was almost too much for human nature to endure. + +Then, too, they were destitute of the best support a man can have in the +presence of death. Although most of them had been of excellent moral +character, yet they had no firmly-grounded religious hope. The near +prospect of eternity, into which they were thus to be hurled without a +moment's preparation, was black and appalling. Wilson had been a +professed disbeliever in revelation, and many a time had argued with me +for hours at a time. But in this awful moment he said to me, "Pittenger, +I believe you are right now! Oh, try to be better prepared, when your +turn comes to die, than I am!" Then laying his hand on my head, with a +muttered "God bless you!" we parted. I saw no more the one I had loved +and trusted as few others in the world. + +Shadrack was profane in speech and reckless in action, but withal +exceeding kind-hearted, lovable, and always merry. Now turning to us +with a voice the forced calmness of which was more affecting than a wail +of agony, he said, "Boys, I am not prepared to meet my Jesus." When +asked by some of us, in tears, to trust in His mercy, and to think of +heaven, he answered, still in tones of thrilling calmness, "I'll try! +I'll try! But I know I am not prepared." + +Samuel Slavens, who was a man of immense strength and iron resolution, +turned to his friend Buffum, and could only articulate, +"Wife--children--tell--" when utterance failed. + +John Scott had been married only three days before he came to the army, +and the thought of his young and sorrowing wife nearly drove him to +despair. He could only clasp his hands in silent agony. + +William Campbell smiled grimly as we pressed his bound hands, and said +in response to our declarations, "Yes, boys, this _is_ hard." + +Marion Ross bore himself most firmly of all. He had been more gloomy and +depressed than any other member of the party previously, and did not +seem to share fully in our hopes. Now his eyes beamed with unnatural +light, and there was not a tremor in his voice as he said, in full, +clear tones, "Tell them at home, if any of you should escape, that I +died for my country, and did not regret it." + +These parting words occupied but a moment, and even then the officers +standing in the door seemed impatient to finish their horrible work! + +In this manner the poor men were hurried to their doom. Several of them, +in passing, had the privilege of shaking hands with our comrades in the +other room. Robinson, though too sick to walk, was dragged away with +them. + +Thus we parted. The rough wagon, with a wood-rack for a bed, drove off +with our comrades, surrounded by cavalry. In about an hour it came back, +_empty_. The deed of shame was done. + +Later in the evening the provost-marshal came to our door, and, in +response to eager questions, informed us that our friends "had met their +fate as brave men should die everywhere." + +The next day we obtained from the guards, who, in the absence of their +officers, were always willing to talk with us, full particulars of the +sevenfold murder. + +When all had been mounted on the scaffold Wilson asked permission to say +a few words, which was granted,--probably in the hope of hearing some +kind of a confession. If such was the expectation, they were much +disappointed. It was a strange scene,--a dying speech to a desperate +audience, and under the most terrible circumstances conceivable. + +But Wilson was equal to the occasion, and when he had once begun to +speak, the force of his words was such that the mob remained silent, +making no attempt to interrupt him. Unterrified by the near approach of +death, he spoke his mind freely. He told the rebels that they were all +in the wrong, that he had no hard feelings towards the Southern people +for what they were about to do, because they had been duped by their +leaders, and induced by them to engage in the work of rebellion. He also +said that though he had been condemned as a spy, yet he was none, and +they well knew it. He was only a soldier in the performance of the work +he had been detailed to do; that he did not regret to die for his +country, but only regretted the manner of his death. He concluded by +assuring them in prophetic words that they would yet live to regret the +part they had taken in this rebellion, and would see the flag of our +country wave in triumph over the very ground occupied by his scaffold. + +This address made a deep impression on the minds of all who listened, +and I often afterwards heard it spoken of in terms of deepest +admiration. When he ceased the signal was given, and the traps fell! + +Then followed one of the disgusting exhibitions which so often disgrace +all kinds of public executions. Five only remained dangling in the air. +Campbell and Slavens, being very heavy, broke their ropes, and fell to +the ground insensible. When they revived, they asked and received a +drink of water. Then they requested an hour to pray before entering the +future world. This most reasonable petition, which would not have been +denied to the most hardened murderer under civilized rule, was sternly +denied, as if they wished to do their utmost to murder both soul and +body. As soon as the ropes could be readjusted they were compelled to +mount the scaffold once more, and were again turned off. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +PRISON RELIGION. + + +The afternoon following the execution of our brave comrades was one of +indescribable sorrow, gloom and fear. We knew not how soon we might be +compelled to follow in the same path and drink the same bitter cup. As +has been before narrated, we had offered at Knoxville to accept the +award of the court in one of the cases as the sentence of all, since +there was not the slightest difference among us. At that time, however, +we were confident of acquittal. Now that confidence had utterly +vanished, and no one of our number anticipated anything but speedy death +on the scaffold. + +But even without the addition of apprehension for ourselves, the parting +from our loved friends, whose voices were still ringing in our ears, +while they themselves had passed beyond the gates of death into the +unknown land of shadows, was enough to rend the stoutest heart. Few +words were spoken, but tears and sobs were frequent. + +I could not shed a tear. A fierce fever burned in my veins, and my head +seemed as if on fire. For hours I scarcely knew where I was, or the loss +I had sustained. Every glance around the room, which revealed the vacant +place of our friends, would bring our sorrow in a new wave upon us +again. Slowly the afternoon wore on in grief too deep for words, and +despair too black for hope. + +At last some voice suggested prayer. We had no chaplain, and few of us +were professedly religious, but the very thought of prayer seemed to +bring relief, and was eagerly accepted. We knelt around the bare +prison-walls, as so many prisoners have done before, and tried to draw +near to God. We felt as if already cut off from the world. Captain Fry +first prayed aloud. His voice was broken by sobs, but he did not now +pray for the first time, and we felt our faith leaning on his as he +poured out strong supplications for that Almighty help we so sorely +needed. He prayed that God's love might be revealed to us, and that we +might be able to trust the Saviour even on the gallows. When he ceased +another took up the thread of petition. After him, another and another +followed, until all but two had prayed aloud, and even these were +kneeling and sobbing with the rest. As the twilight deepened, our +devotional exercises grew more solemn. In the lonely shadow of coming +night, with eternity thus tangibly open before us, and standing on its +very brink, we prayed with inconceivable fervor. These exercises +continued far into the night, and wrought their effect deeply in our +hearts. From that night I recognized God's right to my allegiance. I did +accept Christ as my Saviour, and determined to confess His name before +men, whether I lived or died. This resolution in my own case--and I +doubt not the same result was produced in other hearts--restored the +fortitude that had been so rudely shaken, and I felt nerved for any +fate. Strangely enough, with this resignation to the worst came the +glimmer of a hope, unfelt before, that possibly life might yet be +spared. + +This hour wrought a complete and permanent change in the routine of our +prison-life. Games, sports, and stories were no longer our leading +pursuits. The cards we had been accustomed to play for pastime only--an +old greasy pack obtained from the compassion of some soldier on +guard--were thrown out of the window, and that game given up forever. +Each morning and each evening we had a prayer-meeting,--not simply a +single prayer, but all praying in turn. We asked for and obtained a +Bible from the jailer, and read a chapter or more as part of our +exercises, and sang hymns, so that our meetings became as much like +those we had witnessed in the distant but never forgotten days of +freedom as we could make them. There was wonderful pathos in the very +rudeness of the singing, for our sweetest voices were silent in death. +The remark was often made, "If Ross was only here to lead the singing!" +The one who read the Bible lesson was considered the leader of the +meeting, and, for a time, we took this position by turns. In place of +"Do they miss me at Home?" we sang the more inspiring and helpful +"Jesus, Lover of my Soul," and "Rock of Ages." The jailer, the guards, +and all who came near the prison noticed the great change. + +I had one peculiar difficulty which, to many readers, will appear almost +whimsical, but to me was most real. Our hope of ever regaining liberty, +or even preserving our lives much longer, was but slight; yet my +greatest difficulty in finding satisfactory religious consolation had +reference to a possible release. I had been a diligent law student, and +had managed to continue the study even in the army and in prison. But +now it was impressed upon my mind, with daily increasing force, that I +must submit the decision of my future career to God. If I took this +matter into my own hands, I could not feel that I was completely true to +Him. Underlying this feeling was the further conviction that if I made +such a submission of my future profession to God I would be led into the +ministry, and the thought of this was very repulsive. Yet the longer the +struggle continued the plainer duty became. If I gave myself to Christ, +it seemed a necessary consequence that I should accept any work He gave +me to do. If I feared that He would guide me in a certain direction, +this was sure proof that I was not resigned to His will, and, according +to my views, not a true Christian. At last the choice was made,--I +resolved to follow my sense of duty, no matter where that should +lead,--to the ministry or anywhere else. When this conflict was over +there was no great emotional excitement,--only a sense of peace and +rest. I could wait calmly in the prison until led forth to die, if such +should be my doom, and then go forth out of life feeling that I was +loyal to God, and that I should remain His, into whatever worlds the +gate of death should open. If, contrary to all probability, the +prison-gate should open for my passage back into the free world, from +which I seemed almost as effectually separated as if death had already +intervened, I promised still to be loyal to Him. This was the essence of +the inward change I date from that time. My standard of action before +had been pleasure, inclination, the world's notion of honor and +morality. Even this had not been held too strictly, as the reader of +these pages has discovered. But afterwards, however imperfectly +maintained, my standard became the will of God, as revealed in the +Bible, and my own sense of duty as enlightened by His Spirit. No great +joy, such as is often expressed in conversion, came at first. But it was +even better than any joy to feel that I now had a strong arm upon which +I could lean,--that there was one person to whom I could go at any +time, and who was not indifferent to my fate. + +I now read the Bible with a clear purpose, and with a light on its pages +that never before beamed there. Its very history was full of new +meaning. Its grand beginning, the growth of wandering tribes into great +empires, the pathos of the Psalms, the sublimity and eternal hope of the +prophecies, and, above all, the life and death of that loving and lowly +man who was greater than Psalmist or Prophet,--all these passed before +me in the old Atlanta jail, until the place seemed like a new isle of +Patmos. I had a strong bent towards scepticism, though I had not yielded +to it, and found it hard to exercise simple faith in all the Word of +God. But, little by little, my doubts became weaker and my conviction of +truth clearer. + +For a considerable time the whole of our party took turns in the +leadership of our devotions, but finally this work devolved on the +writer, and, after some months, the guards and other prisoners began to +call me the "preacher," though, as yet, I was a member of no church, +unless our prison band can be dignified by that title. + +Two Southern ministers visited us at this period. The first requested +permission of the guard, and was allowed to enter with the express +provision that his conversation should be confined to religious topics. +His name was Scott, but I am not sure what denomination he belonged to, +and his conversation gave no clue. His first question did not contribute +to a good understanding. He asked how we could be so wicked as to enter +the Federal army, to fight against the Southern people and free their +negroes? We were sorry enough about many things, but had not yet +repented of those particular sins, and therefore answered a little +tartly, by asking how he and his friends could be so wicked as to rebel +against a good government? A heated dispute followed. Our visitor talked +so loudly and vehemently that the officer of the guard entered and told +him that he "had given those men religious counsel enough for one time +and had better leave." He never came again, and we were not sorry. + +Our jailer, Mr. Turner, had a very kindly feeling towards us, and +hearing us so often singing and praying, asked if we would not like to +talk with a minister. Knowing that ministers were not all alike, we +assented. Rev. George G. N. MacDonell, of the M. E. Church South, then +visited us. We were glad to see him, and a very profitable conversation +took place. A little offence was occasioned by his first prayer, in +which he petitioned that our lives might be spared, if consistent with +_the interests of the Confederacy_. But we made no comment, and were +richly rewarded for our complacency. He not only gave us Christian +sympathy and counsel above all value, but on leaving sent us some +excellent books. When the first lot of books was finished--of which we +took the best of care, reading most of them aloud--we returned them, and +received others,--continuing the process of borrowing until we had +perused nearly the whole of the good man's library. Only those who know +what a terrible trial it is to pass day after day with no definite +employment, no company, and no means of diverting thought from one +never-ending round, can form any idea of the great boon thus bestowed +upon us. The Christian kindness and disinterested benevolence of this +minister will never be forgotten. But even these books were not +sufficient. I sold my vest--not expecting to live until cold +weather--and my pocket-book,--which my captors had left when they took +all its contents,--and with the proceeds the jailer bought me three +little books--all gems,--"Paradise Lost," "Pilgrim's Progress," and +Pollok's "Course of Time." These I deliberately set to work to memorize. +It was a pleasant and profitable employment, helping very much to +shorten those interminable days. + +Our room was of greater size than that in Chattanooga; the windows +larger, and our number reduced; yet the heat was fearfully oppressive. +One of the party, Mark Wood, was very sick. He had been prostrated with +fever for nearly a month, and at this time his life was despaired of. +This was not thought by the others to be any great misfortune to him, +and they accordingly administered consolation in a style worthy the best +of Job's friends. They would say, "Now, Wood, I wouldn't try to get +well, if I were in your place. They will only hang you if you do. Better +try to die and save them the trouble." Wood, however, did not relish +this counsel, and, becoming contrary, he recovered, "just for spite," as +he often declared. + +The black waiters of the prison were very friendly. They assisted us by +every means in their power, and seemed willing to take any personal risk +on our behalf. It was not long before they found that we desired few +things so much as to read the news, and they tasked their ingenuity to +gratify us. Newspapers were prohibited, as they had not been at +Knoxville. But the waiters would watch until the jailer or some of the +guard had finished reading a paper and laid it down, when they would +slyly purloin it, put it into the bottom of the pan in which our food +was brought, and thus hand it to us unsuspected. It had to be returned +in the same way to avoid suspicion. Our ministerial friend also, as he +acquired confidence in us, gave us reason to think that he was not so +much devoted to the Confederacy as his first prayer (made in hearing of +the guard) indicated. He asked permission of the jailer to give us some +old files of religious papers, and sent in a bundle weekly, or oftener. +They were acceptable, but their value greatly increased when we found +that an old religious paper might have a new daily folded carefully +inside! These acts of friendship were deeply grateful to us, and +lightened many a weary hour. + +One morning our jailer came to our door and asked if we knew John +Wollam. We were startled, and hesitated to answer. For three weeks we +had heard nothing of Wollam, and hoped that one member of our devoted +band had escaped. Now we knew that the jailer was in possession of some +news, and while we burned to hear it, we feared the possibility of doing +Wollam an injury by acknowledging the acquaintance. But while we +deliberated John himself came up, and put an end to our doubts by +greeting us heartily. The door was unlocked, and he entered. All the +survivors of our party were now together, as those who had been +separated from us at Chattanooga were put into our room immediately +after the execution of our comrades. Our number, including Captain Fry, +who remained in our room, was fifteen. + +The first thing in order, when left alone, was for John to tell us all +his adventures from the time he and Andrews had broken out of the +Chattanooga dungeon. He was fired upon while still suspended in the air +by the blankets upon which he was descending, but fortunately the hands +of the guards were too unsteady to inflict any injury. He succeeded in +getting safely to the ground, and then out of the prison-yard and +through the guard-line. + +In his efforts to escape Wollam displayed qualities which would have +done credit to an Indian. A few moments' running brought him down to the +river-side in advance of all pursuers. Finding no means of crossing, the +brilliant thought struck him of making his enemies believe he had +crossed. This idea was instantly acted on. He threw off his coat and +vest, dropping them on the bank of the river, and then walked a few rods +in the water to throw any hounds that might be following off his track. +He next slipped quietly back and hid in a dense thicket of canes and +rushes. He heard his pursuers on the bank above him, and all around, +talking of their various plans. At last they found the clothes, and at +once concluded that he had taken to the river. Accordingly they ferried +the blood-hounds to the other side, and searched for the place of his +exit from the water. As might be expected, the dogs were unable to find +that, and after a due time spent in consultation, the Confederates +concluded that he had been drowned and gave over the search. + +Wollam spent the day in great anxiety, but night gave him the +opportunity of leaving his hiding-place. He made his way cautiously down +the river on the Chattanooga side for some miles. At length he found a +canoe, in which he drifted down the stream by night, while hiding it and +himself in the bushes by day. On two occasions he would have been saved +if he had only known it. General Mitchel had captured a steamboat and +fitted it up as a cruiser, with which he patrolled the river as far as +his lines extended. In his night-voyaging Wollam passed this +extemporized gunboat twice, but fearing that it was some rebel craft, he +crept quietly by in the shadow of the shore without discovery. + +At length he felt sure that he was inside the Union lines, and beyond +the probable danger of capture, and therefore ventured boldly forward in +the daytime. This was a fatal mistake. The danger of capture is never so +great as in the debatable ground between two armies, where both exercise +their utmost vigilance. This boundary in most cases is also a shifting +one. It was so in this instance. A band of rebel cavalry on the shore +saw the lonely voyager, and, riding on ahead, procured a boat and came +out to meet him. He was unable to escape, and thus the poor fellow was +captured on the very brink of safety. As usual, he tried to persuade +them that he was a Confederate, but unfortunately a certain Lieutenant +Edwards, who had assisted in his previous capture, happened to be +present, and at once recognized him by his bold and reckless bearing. He +was then taken to join us at Atlanta. + +Our provisions here became worse and less, until the starvation point +was very nearly reached. Constant hunger was one of the torments of our +life. We only received a very small fragment of half-baked corn-bread, +without salt, and a morsel of pork,--the latter always spoiled, and +frequently covered with maggots. But none of it was wasted! Several had +very little appetite, because of malarial or intermittent fever. The +allowance of _such_ food was abundant for these, but the others ate all +that the sick spared. Many a Barmecide feast was spread by the +description of rich dainties that would be enjoyed if "at home" once +more; and what was even worse, the same banquets would be spread in +dreams, from which the tantalized sleepers awoke more hungry and +miserable than ever. I am not sure that the aching head and burning +fever were more painful than the constant pangs of unsatisfied hunger. +However, I need not linger over these details. In the mere matter of +starving I presume we suffered no more than thousands of our +fellow-soldiers in Andersonville and other prisons. Alfred Wilson, whose +iron constitution bore up well under all hardships, and whose appetite +was always good enough for all the rations of every kind he could get, +felt these privations most keenly. He says of the food that it was +"almost enough to convulse the stomach of a hungry dog. I have found by +experience, and I think I will be corroborated by all the men who have +been in rebel prisons and have suffered the protracted pangs of hunger +and starvation, that man, when forced to it, is as ravenous, reckless, +unreasonable, and brutish in his appetite as the lowest order of animal +creation." In other prisons, it was not uncommon for the inmates to +fight over their miserable allowance; but our common sympathy and +discipline were so strong that few disputes arose, and these were +quickly settled by the general voice. The religious influence that had +grown up in our midst also tended powerfully to prevent any +interference of the stronger with the rights of the weaker. + +Indeed, the completeness of our voluntary discipline and the systematic +manner in which we employed our time was little less than marvellous. To +sleep was always in order, when possible, but the disposal of waking +hours was not left to the will of each person. The only game permitted +was that of checkers or drafts, and over the rude board carved on the +floor eager players bent during all the hours allotted to amusement. +Then we had a couple of hours daily for debating, and discussed +questions of every kind. No little ingenuity and skill were thus +exercised. Often great political questions occupied our attention, and +evoked real and strong differences of opinion. Strange as it may seem, +there were but two of us--Buffum and myself--who avowed ourselves out +and out abolitionists. The name had not yet lost all its reproach, but +we held our own in argument, especially when we pointed out the natural +result of slavery in making men barbarous and inhuman even to whites, as +illustrated in our condition. _That_ argument never failed to give us +the advantage! + +We also set aside two hours in the forenoon and two in the afternoon for +reading. During this time not so much as a whisper was permitted, and +few schools have kept better discipline. Any one not wishing to read was +permitted to sleep or occupy himself in any quiet manner. Frequently +some one was selected to read aloud for a time, but this only took place +by general consent, that those who wished to read silently might be +undisturbed. The extraordinary character of these exercises will be +better appreciated when it is remembered that we had no "light reading," +but mainly theological works, with a few volumes of travels, biography, +and poetry,--just what the good minister's library could furnish, for we +read everything we could get. The Bible was not forgotten. When the +supply of books ran short, we resorted to our memories. All the +prominent incidents of our lives had been told in our terribly close +association, and we next began to repeat for the common benefit the +books we had read so far as we could remember them. One night about dark +I began to tell something about a weird book I had read a few months +previously. A few questions elicited fuller detail, and it was after +midnight before the story was finished. Buffum, especially, was so +deeply impressed that when released he took the earliest opportunity of +getting and reading the volume, but he gave me a great compliment by +saying that the original was not half so good as the copy. The changed +circumstances, perhaps, made a more natural, if less flattering, +explanation of his diminished interest. We also had our regular hours +for gymnastic exercise,--wrestling, boxing, acrobatic feats, etc. One of +our party, Hawkins, having once been connected with a circus, now +trained us in all the exercises that our enfeebled condition and close +quarters permitted. Much of the health and vigor that we retained during +so long an imprisonment was due to our systematic and diversified +employments. + +This careful division of time, and endeavor after constant employment, +was, doubtless, of great advantage, but it could not change the fact +that we were close prisoners in a stifling room, and far from our home. +Those summer days, as month after month glided away, were terribly long +and oppressive. The tediousness and vain longing for action pressed upon +us more and more closely. We fought the dreadful weight with all the +strength of our wills, but even will-power grew feebler. The engineer +Brown, who was one of the most restless of mortals, all nerve and fire +in action, capable of enduring tremendous hardship if it were only of an +active character, would pace the floor back and forth like a caged +tiger; when this, too, grew unendurable, he would stop at the door, +shake its woven iron bars till they rang again, and say in the most +piteous tones (of course, meant only for _us_ to hear), "Oh, kind sir, +please let me out! I want to go home!" The feeling he expressed was +shared by all. Never before could I realize the full value of liberty +and the horror of confinement. In previous prisons the novelty of our +situation, the frequent removals, the painful excitement of trials, +prevented the blank monotony of imprisonment from settling down upon us +as it did here, after the first few weeks of our stay in Atlanta rolled +by, and no whisper regarding our probable fate reached us. It was like +the stillness and death that brood over the Dead Sea! + +We would sit at the windows in the sultry noon and look out through the +bars at the free birds as they flew past, seemingly so full of joyous +life, and foolishly wish that we were birds, that we, too, might fly far +away and be free. + +At long intervals, two of us at a time would be permitted to go down +into the jail-yard to do some washing for ourselves and the party. This +great privilege came round to me at last. It was then three months since +I had stepped out of that prison room, and the unobscured vision of open +air and sky made it seem like another world. I remember looking up at +the snowy clouds, my eyes dazzled by the unusual light, and wondering, +as I gazed in admiration upon their beautiful and changing forms, +whether beyond them lay a world of rest in which there were neither wars +nor prisons. Oh, how I longed for freedom! to be where I could look up +at the sky every day and go where I wished! Yet with the thought came a +great fear. If I was ever removed from the pressure of immediate danger, +and allowed to mingle in the interests and cares of the thronging world, +might I not forget my prison-made vows and lose my claim to the world +beyond the clouds and stars? Such a sense of weakness and helplessness +came over me that I felt greatly relieved when, my task being done, I +was conducted back to the dark and narrow prison room, where the +contrast between freedom and bondage was less palpable! + +All this time we hardly permitted ourselves to indulge a hope of getting +home again. The friends we had known in happier days were separated from +us by an impassable gulf; and when fancy called round us the loved +scenes and friends at home, it was like treading upon forbidden ground. +But when the long day had dragged its hours away, when we were weary +with fighting against weariness, the night removed every restraint, and +for a few golden hours love and freedom were ours again. + +Often in dreams have I seen the streets and buildings of my own town +rise before me, and have felt a thrilling pleasure in contemplating each +feature of the landscape around as I wended my way in fancy towards the +old log cabin forever consecrated by affection. But the waking from such +dreams of earthly paradise was sad beyond measure. The evening hour, +when the burning heat had abated, and when we were settling to +rest,--though it was on the bare floor, and without even a stone like +that upon which Jacob pillowed his head,--was our happiest time. Then +prayer and song and more cheerful conversation prepared us for rest and +often for happy dreams. But the morning hours, when we wakened, hungry, +sore, unrefreshed, with no food but our miserable bit of vile bread and +spoiled meat, and a long day to look forward to,--these were always +dreary. After prayers, and our apology for a breakfast, we grew more +cheerful, and again took up the task of living. + +An anecdote here will fitly illustrate the affection and exaggerated +reverence felt for what we, to the great annoyance of the guards and +citizens, persisted in calling "God's country." I had been reading aloud +a sermon of Bishop Bascom's, from a book loaned us by our friend, the +minister. The topic was "The Joys of Heaven." All listened with delight +to his magnificent descriptions, but when the reading closed, engineer +Brown, who was of a matter-of-fact disposition, asked, "Now, candidly, +boys, would you rather be in heaven, safe from all harm, if it is as +good as the preacher says, or be in Cincinnati?" This roused a very +animated discussion, but at its conclusion, when we took a vote on the +subject, the majority decided, honestly, no doubt, that they would +rather be in Cincinnati,--for a while, at least! + +The expedients to which the tobacco-chewers of our party were driven to +obtain a supply of "the weed" were at once amusing and pathetic. They +were even more eager for it than for their food. They begged from the +negroes, jailer, guards, visitors,--anybody who could supply the valued +article. The little they got was husbanded with the utmost care. One +chewing was not sufficient. No "quids" were thrown away, but carefully +laid up, dried, and again used. When no more narcotic could be so +extracted, they were once more dried and smoked in cob pipes! + +When Andrews broke out of the Chattanooga jail, he gave Hawkins a large, +fine coat, which was too heavy to be carried. This was now sold to the +jailer, and the proceeds furnished quite a treat of provisions. + +We found some diversion in opening secret communication with every room +in the prison. Those on the opposite side of the entry were reached by +means of a small stick, which was shot from the crack under one door to +the corresponding crack under the other. Each door was double,--one +thickness of heavy wood, which was shut only at night, and precluded all +communication; the other of light iron bars. A string tied to the stick +pulled over any message we might desire to send. Between our room and +the other on the same side of the hall there was an unused chimney, into +which stove-pipes led on each side. By removing the elbows we could talk +through, but there was the danger of being overheard. To remedy that, a +long lath was forced off the side of our room in such a way that it +could be put back again when desired, and this was used in passing notes +back and forth through this concealed passage. This "telegraph" was very +useful when we afterwards undertook an escape. + +I can preserve no order of time in relating the events of these tedious +months, which slowly rolled away their ponderous length. It was an +almost perfect isolation from the world, with little hope of ever again +mingling in its busy currents. As each month closed, we were startled by +the thought that we were still alive,--that the thunderbolt had not yet +descended,--and we surmised and wondered how much longer it could be +delayed. At last a small ray of hope began to rise, very feeble at +first, and based only upon the incomprehensible reprieve we were +enjoying. As week after week glided away eventless--marked only by the +monotony that is more wearying to heart and brain than the most severe +anguish--this hope grew stronger; though it was so little assured that +the most trifling circumstance--such as the strengthening of the guard, +or the visit of an army official--was sufficient for the time to +overturn it. It was the 12th of June when we entered that room. It was +the 18th of October before we left it amid events of the most startling +character, which will form a fit topic for a new chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +LIBERTY OR DEATH? + + +One morning the guard brought up four Federal soldiers, who were shut up +in the front room. As soon as we were alone we resorted to our usual +method of telegraphing to learn who they were. To our great surprise and +pleasure we found that two of them--Coleman and Helbling--were of the +Tenth Wisconsin, a regiment of our own brigade. They gave us many most +interesting items of news,--among others, that our comrades had long +since given us up for dead, and were vowing vengeance on our behalf. +They were greatly surprised to find so many of us still alive. The other +two were of the regular army, who had been captured on the coast of +Florida. They remained with us until we were taken to Richmond long +after. From them we gained a complete detail of the movements of our +army since our departure. We were greatly grieved to find the military +situation far less favorable than it had been four months before. The +transfer of General Mitchel from Tennessee to the Atlantic coast we also +regarded as unfavorable to our interests. These soldiers were the means +shortly of leading us to a desperate resolution. + +We frequently talked and plotted about escape. This is the one topic +that prisoners never weary of. We long before resolved that if any +movement was made towards a court-martial, we would make one desperate +effort for life; for the result of the trials in the case of Andrews and +our poor comrades assured us that this formality would not be undertaken +for any other purpose than that of putting us to death, under a show of +law. After the lapse of a considerable time we had hopes that they +would not dispense with this ceremony, and that we would thus have +warning which might be useful. But many of our number--those especially +who were vigorous in health, and, therefore, were more ready for +action--wished to make the attempt at any rate. But time rolled on, and +the dreaded preparations for a trial were not made. Why we were left in +this uncertain condition for four months we could not tell. It might be +that, in the rush of military events, we were forgotten, or it might be +that the rebel authorities considered the hanging of eight men as +sufficient to show their estimate of the enormity of our crime. This +latter view grew upon the minds of some to such a degree that we boldly +resolved to test it, even if it did bring our fate more swiftly upon +us,--resolving that if our action should result in calling a +court-martial we would then break from our prison or die in the attempt. +Indeed, the scanty fare, the uncertainty, and the longing for liberty +had become so completely unendurable, that the prospects of perishing on +the bayonets of the guard had little terror. But our resolution was to +write a letter directly to Jefferson Davis, the President of the +Confederacy, reciting our case, and asking to be put on the footing of +prisoners of war. I acted as scribe, and used language as strong and yet +respectful as possible. While writing, the whole party gathered around, +and volunteered suggestions. Said Brown, "Be very humble to him, +Pittenger. We can take all back, if we get out." Buffum raised quite a +laugh by saying, "Tell him, Pittenger, that 'all we ask is to be let +alone.'" This was an extract from one of Jefferson Davis' own addresses. +But it did not go in the letter. The following is a copy of the +document, obtained from the Confederate archives: + + "ATLANTA JAIL, August 17, 1862. + "TO HIS EXCELLENCY JEFFERSON DAVIS, + "President Confederate States of America. + + "RESPECTED SIR,--We are United States soldiers regularly + detailed from our command to obey the orders of Andrews. He + was a stranger to us, and we ignorant of his design, but, of + course, we obeyed our officers. You are no doubt familiar with + all we did, or can find it recorded in the trial of our + comrades. Since then, Andrews himself and seven of us have been + executed, and fourteen survive. Is this not enough for + vengeance and for a warning to others? Would mercy in our case + be misplaced? We have already been closely confined for more + than four months. Will you not, sir, display a noble generosity + by putting us on the same footing as prisoners of war, and + permitting us to be exchanged, and thus show that in this + terrible war the South still feels the claim of mercy and + humanity? + + "If you will be so good as to grant this request we will ever + be grateful to you. + + "Please inform us of your decision as soon as convenient." + +Signed by all the survivors,--eight of the Twenty-first Ohio, one of the +Second, and five of the Thirty-third, all of Sill's brigade, Mitchel's +division. + +This paper was forwarded from one officer to another in an ascending +grade, and the indorsements on it, and the correspondence which +followed, shed much light upon the position and fortunes of our party. +But this light did not come to us until long after. + +The letter was marked (erroneously as to its address), as follows: + + "Petition from the survivors of Andrews' party, who took the + engine on the Georgia State Railroad in April last, to + Major-General Bragg, commanding Department No. 2." + +The first indorsement is that of Colonel Lee, provost-marshal at +Atlanta: + + "Respectfully forwarded to General Staughton. + "G. W. LEE, + "Commanding Post." + + "HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT NO. 2, + "CHATTANOOGA, August 21, 1862 + "ADJUTANT-GENERAL C. S. ARMY, Richmond, Va. + + "SIR,--I have the honor to inclose herewith the petition of W. + W. Brown and others, soldiers of the Twenty-first and Second + Ohio Regiments, U.S.A., and to request information in the + matter. I am, sir, very respectfully, + + "Your obedient servant, + "BRAXTON BRAGG, + "General Commanding." + +The next indorsement shows a favorable disposition--at least in part: + + [Indorsement.] + + "Respectfully submitted to the President. + + "I recommend that they be respited until further orders, and + detained as hostages for our own people in the hands of the + enemy. + + "G. W. RANDOLPH, + "Secretary of War." + +The Secretary of War seems to have had the impression that we had been +also tried, and that sentence of death was pending over us. Under such +circumstances a respite would have been a valuable boon. + +But President Davis is inflexible: + + [Indorsement.] + + "Secretary of War, inquire whether there is anything to justify + a discrimination between them and others who were executed for + the same offence. J. D." + +The inquiry thus ordered was at once begun: + + [Indorsement.] + + "Write to Major G. W. Lee, provost-marshal at Atlanta, and + inquire why fourteen of the engine thieves were respited while + the others were executed, and whether there is anything + distinguishing their case. + + "G. W. RANDOLPH, + "Secretary of War." + +Only the responses to these inquiries were preserved on file at +Richmond, and are now in Washington. They show the degree of confusion +and misunderstanding which prevailed at the rebel capital: + + "HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA, GA., Sept. 16, 1862. + "HON. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. + + "SIR,--Your communication of the 11th inst. is duly to hand. In + reply, I have respectfully to say that the arrest, + incarceration, trial, and execution of the prisoners you refer + to occurred before I took charge of this post by your order. I + found a number of prisoners on my arrival, and among them the + men named in the petition transmitted. + + "Inclosed I transmit the papers handed over to me by my + predecessor. Since the reception of your letter I have + endeavored to find Captain Foreacre, and ascertain something + more, explaining what I was not conversant with in the + transaction, but as his business takes him away from the city, + I have not as yet had an interview with him. I will still seek + occasion to find him, and give you all the information learned + from him. You will please find inclosed the names of the + engine-stealers and bridge-burners who are confined in the jail + of this city. It is entirely out of my power to answer you as + to 'why fourteen of the engine thieves were respited while the + others were executed, and whether or not there is anything to + justify a discrimination in their favor?' as I am not informed + in relation to the proceedings of the court-martial that tried + the men. + + "I am, sir, + "Respectfully your obt. servt., + "G. W. LEE, + "Commanding Post, and Provost-Marshal." + +The inclosures consist of the seven death-sentences, one of which has +already been given, and the following lists, which show a number of +glaring errors. According to the first we had all been court-martialled, +but only the seven sentenced. The second is wrong in the placing of +several names. The manner in which the word "spies" is interlined in the +"charges" of the first list is also suggestive. + + _"List of Prisoners sent to Atlanta, Ga., June 13, 1862, from + Knoxville, Tenn., by command of Major-General E. Kirby Smith:_ + + + Names. Residence. Charges: + Spies, + 1. Wilson Brown Ohio. Court- and Engine + martialled sentenced. stealing. + 2. Marion Ross " " " " + 3. W. H. Campbell " " " " + 4. John Scott " " " " + 5. Perry G. Shadrach " " " " + 6. G. D. Wilson " " " " + 7. Samuel Slavens " " " " + 8. S. Robinson " " " " + 9. E. H. Mason " " " + 10. Wm. Knight " " " + 11. Robt. Buffins " " " + 12. Wm. Pettinger " " " + 13. Captain David Fry Green Co., Tenn. Bridge-burning and + recruiting for Federal + army. + 14. G. W. Barlow Washington Co., Tenn. Obstructing railroad + track. + 15. Thos. McCoy Morgan Co., " } + } Prisoners of war-- + } Federal soldiers. + Peter Pierce Campbell Co., " } + John Barker Estill Co., " } + Bennet Powers Lincoln Co., " } + + Names. Residence. Charges: + Political prisoners. + Ransom White Morgan Co., Tenn. } Citizen aiding the enemy. + John Walls Blount Co., " } Trying to go to Kentucky. + John Green Union Co., " } Rebellion. + John Thompkins Washington Co.," } " + Henry Miller Sullivan Co., " } Suspected as a spy. + William Thompson Arrested at Bristol " + + "Respectfully submitted by order. + "WM. M. CHURCHWELL, + "Colonel, and Provost-Marshal." + + "_List of Prisoners in Atlanta City Jail, September 16, 1862._ + + ENGINE-STEALERS. + + M. J. Hawkins, W. Reddick, + J. Parrott, D. A. Dorsey, + W. Bensinger, J. K. Porter, + A. Wilson, M. Wood, + E. H. Mason, W. W. Brown, + W. Knight, R. Bufman, + W. Pettinger, David Fry, + J. J. Barker. + + BRIDGE-BURNERS. + + T. McCoy, P. Pierce, + B. Powers, Jno. Walls, + Jno. Green, R. White, + H. Mills, J. Tompkins, + G. D. Barlow, Jno. Wollam." + +The next day Provost-Marshal Lee wrote again as follows: + + "HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTA, GA., + "September 17, 1862. + "HON. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. + + "SIR,--I respectfully forward to you hereby all that I have + been enabled to obtain from my predecessor, Captain Foreacre. + + "The documents relating to the cases, so far as I know anything + about them, were forwarded to you on yesterday. + + "I am, sir, very respectfully, + "Your obedient servant, + "G. W. LEE, + "Commanding Post, and Provost-Marshal." + +The following letter, inclosed from Captain Foreacre, is wrong in saying +that some of the party had been tried but not sentenced. Yet this was +the obvious belief of the Confederate authorities: + + "ATLANTA, GA., September 16, 1862. + "HON. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. + + "DEAR SIR,--Your letter of September 11, 1862, to Major Lee, + provost-marshal, has been shown me by him, and, as far as I am + acquainted with the matter, General Smith only sent from + Knoxville instructions and orders to have seven of them hung, + which was promptly attended to by myself. + + "The remaining fourteen were reported to this office only for + safe-keeping,--some having been tried, but not sentenced, and + others not tried. The only office which can properly answer + your inquiry is that of Major-General E. K. Smith. + + "I have the honor to remain, + "Your obedient servant, + "G. I. FOREACRE." + +No record of any further inquiry remains. Whether the matter was there +dropped, or orders issued for opening the whole question by a +court-martial, remains uncertain. But these documents make it almost +certain that all the party, or at least the twelve who were sent to +Knoxville, were destined to be tried and condemned; that at the abrupt +breaking up of the court, no record was put on file of the cause of the +interruption; and that the authorities at Atlanta and Richmond expected +the court at Knoxville, which they assumed to have finished its work, to +give orders for our disposal. That court never reconvened. Its members +were dispersed all over the South. The commanding general, E. Kirby +Smith, was transferred to a distant department. We were forgotten, and +thus the strange respite we enjoyed is explained. But would it continue? + +Some of the Confederate officers had formed a theory of their own to +account for the death of seven of our number and the sparing of the +remainder. They assumed that those put to death were volunteers, while +the others were detailed by their officers. But there were no grounds +for such a supposition. + +While this correspondence was in progress, Colonel Lee came to our door +one day, and had a long talk with us about our expedition and prison +experiences. He finally told us of receiving a letter from the +Secretary of War at Richmond asking why we had not all been executed! +He asked us the reason, and one of the party, who had not totally +forgotten his experience of duplicity in the early part of our +enterprise, said that it had been thought that there were some +mitigating circumstances in our case. The marshal said that he could +give no reason, but had referred the Secretary to the court-martial at +Knoxville, and that he was now awaiting orders concerning us. On our +request he promised to visit us again when he should receive an answer +from Richmond. We told him of the manner in which our comrades had been +put to death without warning. He admitted the wrong, but disclaimed +responsibility for it, as it occurred before he came into command. + +We waited anxiously for his return for several days, but waited in vain. +It was urged that we had heard enough already, and that now, if ever, we +ought to strike for life. But I was of another opinion. The enterprise +of escaping was of enormous difficulty, and success, at the best, +doubtful. I did not think that, in our enfeebled condition, after six +months of terrible hardship and partial starvation, we were the men we +had been. It was my judgment that nothing but the certainty of death on +the one hand could give the necessary vigor, spring, and desperation to +command success on the other. Despair might nerve us to throw ourselves +with resistless fury on the bayonets of the guards, but this fury would +come only when the last hope was dead. My reasoning prevailed, and we +waited a little longer. + +But evidence came soon that ended hesitation. More of the guard was kept +on duty at once, and greater vigilance was everywhere apparent. We +fancied that the old jailer regarded us with unusual compassion. But +through the stove-pipe, from our friends in the other room, came the +decisive information. The prisoners there saw the provost-marshal ride +up to the gate, have the jailer called out, and heard him give orders +to watch those engine-thieves closely, as he had been notified that a +court was ordered for their trial. The same evening the jailer said to +them that he was very sorry for the poor Yankees in the other room, for +every man of them would be hung! This word was conveyed to us, and +longer doubt would have been folly. + +We were now ready for the emergency, and had fully discussed and settled +our plans. We were in the upper story of the jail. Our room was entered +by a double door,--one of heavy plank, and one of iron slats. If this +was opened, we would only be in the entry, and would have still to go +down-stairs into a hall and pass another door before we could gain the +jail-yard. This, in turn, was surrounded by a board fence eight or ten +feet high, and having but a single gate, which was usually closed. Seven +fully-armed soldiers were constantly on guard, with an unknown reserve +close at hand. We could depend on help from no one of the prisoners +except Captain Fry, so that we were but fifteen, and even two or three +of these were too sick to be of great value in a fight. Then we were in +the skirts of the town, fully a mile from the nearest woods. One +advantage, and the only one on which I relied, was that of surprise. We +knew what we were to do, and the strong motive that impelled it. + +All plans looking to sawing out and swinging to the ground at night, as +in Chattanooga, had been canvassed and rejected. What we meant to do was +to break out in open daylight and overpower the guards. The most +favorable time was when the doors were opened for bringing in our +supper, which was a little before sundown, as by starting then we would +soon have the cover of darkness. It was arranged to seize the jailer +when he came to remove the pans in which our supper was brought, and to +keep him perfectly quiet while all the doors were being unlocked, for we +wished to release all the other prisoners. At the same moment the other +members of the party, divided into two squads, were to cautiously +descend the stairway, pounce upon the guards, and take their guns from +them. If this was done in _perfect quiet_, the guards were to be locked +up, and we, taking their arms, would march out on our homeward journey. +As soon as discovered we were to break into parties of two and strike +out for Union territory by widely-diverging lines. + +All our plans were completed. We had patched our clothes as well as +possible, and made cloth moccasins to protect our feet, many of our +shoes being worn out. We only waited the coming of the appointed hour. + +Slowly the sun sunk down the west; slowly the shadows lengthened in the +east, till the gloomy shade of the jail had nearly reached the crest of +the hill that usually marked our supper-time. We bade each other a +solemn farewell, for we knew not if we should ever meet again on earth, +or how many of us might be cold and lifeless before the stars shone out. +We prayed fervently, though we dared not kneel or speak aloud. Captain +Fry, who was tender-hearted as a child, wept at the parting. He had two +large coats, and as he could not take both with him in the expected +rush, he generously gave one to me. I needed it extremely, for I was +very nearly destitute of clothing. He and I were to be companions, +according to a previous arrangement. + +Everything was put in readiness. I had carefully piled in a corner such +of the books belonging to the minister as we still retained, and had +written him a note of thanks for them. Anything that could be used as a +weapon was now put within reach. + +At last the supper-hour came. We could not afford to lose a morsel of +the scanty food, and ate it in silence. The jailer was not accustomed to +come into the room, but merely opened the door and admitted the negroes +who bore the pans filled with corn-bread. Old Thoer, the watchman whom +everybody hated, was fortunately away. It was well, or he might have +suffered. Turner we respected, and were determined not to injure if we +could help it. After the jailer had given their food to the inmates of +the other rooms he came back to ours and swung open the creaking door to +remove the food-pans. This was the signal. + +It was a thrilling moment! On the action of the next few seconds +hung the issues of life or death. I confess that for one instant +the blood flowed to my heart with a sharp, piercing throb, and +there came a sudden and terrible fear lest the fever-weakened body +would not in this crisis obey the dictates of will. But this ceased +before the door had swung wide enough open to admit the passage of a +man. The others were pale but determined, and a single glance told me +that there would be no faltering. As for Captain Fry, who was to +initiate the movement,--supported by myself,--and whom I had seen +weeping a few minutes before, he was perfectly calm, and his face wore +a pleasant smile! As soon as the door had swung far enough he stepped +adroitly through it as if this were the most natural thing in the world, +and said, very quietly,-- + +"A pleasant evening, Mr. Turner." + +"Yes,--rather--pleasant," responded the jailer, looking bewildered by +this movement, as he no doubt was. + +"We feel like taking a little walk this evening," continued the captain, +while the door was forced clear back, and three of us stood abreast in +it ready to spring. + +The astonishment of the jailer now knew no bounds. "What?--how?--where?" +he gasped, in broken ejaculations. + +Fry's countenance grew darker as he clasped the old man in his arms, and +said,-- + +"We have stayed as long as we can stand it, and are now going to leave +and let the other prisoners out; so give up the keys, and make no +noise about it, or it will be the worse for you!" + +[Illustration: LIBERTY OR DEATH. +Page 255.] + +Turner tightened his grasp on the keys, whispered, hoarsely, "You can't +do that," then threw himself back and began in a loud tone, "Guar--" +when my hand closed across his mouth and stifled the incipient call for +help. He bit my finger, but did no great damage. + +Then came the rush of the prisoners,--quick, stealthy, cat-like. Not a +sound was audible a dozen yards away. The negroes huddled in a corner of +the room in stupid fright, but had sense enough to be quiet. Turner +struggled violently, for he was a man of great strength, but Fry and I +kept him mute; the keys were twisted from him, and Buffum was soon at +work on the locks of the other doors. Quietly the assaulting column +descended the stairway and burst out upon the guards outside. If they +committed a fault, it was in being too quick. In one minute Buffum would +have had the other doors unlocked, and then, throwing aside the disarmed +jailer, Fry, Buffum, and myself, reinforced by all the prisoners who +chose to go with us, would have stood by their side in the second +charge. This trifling circumstance did make a considerable difference in +the result,--at least, to some of us. + +Seven sentinels were on duty,--three in the back yard, four in the front +yard. The charge upon the former was completely successful, their guns +being wrested from them before they knew their danger, and they were +kept perfectly quiet under the threat--which would have been +executed--of instant death. + +The attack in the front yard was made with equal gallantry and skill, +but not with equal success. Two rebels stood near the front door of the +prison, and these were secured in the same manner as their comrades at +the rear, and held in silence. Had the remaining two been close at hand, +I have no doubt they would have fared as their comrades, and thus the +unparalleled feat of twelve unarmed prisoners taking the loaded muskets +from seven guards on their post would have been accomplished. But, +unfortunately, the last two stood at the open gate. Their conduct was +not brave but it was wise, for, without firing a shot, they ran out +through the gate, screaming the alarm in tones that roused the whole +neighborhood. The reserve guard was close at hand, and at once rushed to +the rescue. + +The whole action, from the time Fry stepped out of the door until the +wild cry was raised at the gate, was probably less than sixty seconds. +Fry and myself were preparing to secure the jailer, for we knew not yet +that the attack was made. Buffum had opened two doors, and was working +at the third when the wild, thrilling cry of alarm arose from below. +Those within adjured him to open, and the brave man, though his own +chances of life were lessening each second, worked till the door opened, +and then violently flung it wide, with an impatient "_there!_" while he +bounded down the stairway like a hunted deer. + +All secrecy was at an end, and the only remaining hope was in headlong +flight. Our comrades in the yard saw their peril, and were in a little +better position than those of us who were still inside the jail. They +let go their terrified enemies, flung away the guns, which now could +only impede their flight, and, scaling the board fence, made for the +woods nearly a mile away. Even for the foremost of them it was a fearful +race. Rebel bullets whistled around their ears, but none of them was +hit. Indeed, I am inclined to think that it was a fortunate thing for +our comrades that the rebels had guns to carry, and stopped to fire +whenever they came near a fugitive. Otherwise hundreds of fresh, +vigorous soldiers--for there were soon hundreds on the scene--could have +run down a dozen half-starved prisoners. + +Fry and myself started down-stairs together as soon as Buffum had opened +the last door,--only a moment after the alarm had been given, but +moments were more precious then than common months. The captain was a +little in advance. His eagle eye took in the situation, as in two leaps +he cleared the stairway. He saw there was no chance in the front yard, +now filled with armed rebels, and darted to the back door, found a +passage to the yard fence, scaled it just before a complete guard was +stretched around the prison, was fired at on the fence, but descended in +safety, and run in a different direction from the other fugitives. +Finally, a soldier levelled his musket at him, and he fell. One of our +own men who saw this, and no more, reported that he was killed, and we +long mourned the brave man as dead. But this was only a stratagem to +gain his breath for a moment. His pursuers turned towards other game, +and he rose, and, after a second hard chase, gained the cover of the +woods. Thirty days after he had reached Nashville in safety. + +I was to have been his companion, according to the allotment we made +before leaving the prison, and our boys almost envied me the advantage +of being with so experienced a mountain traveller. But a moment's +misfortune made this advantage unavailing, and doomed me to further +sufferings. My eyes have always been defective, and especially sensitive +to sudden variations of light. When I came from the dark prison room +(the hall was equally dark) into full light, for a moment I could see +nothing distinctly. I lost sight of Fry. It would not do to stand still, +and I rushed for the prison-gate. Many a time defective vision has been +a source of annoyance and vexation, but never so much as then. Before +getting to the gate I could see better, and was confronted by two +soldiers, who were tossing their guns about in a distracted manner, and +crying, "What shall we do? Oh, what shall we do?" They did not look +dangerous, and I ran by; but just in the gate I met a stream of fresh +guards coming on the run. Of course they halted me, and equally, of +course, I did not halt, but turned back towards the jail. There were +other guards around, one of whom snapped his gun at me when not two +yards away. I eluded them, got into the jail again, and out at the back +door. This time I reached the top of the yard fence, but a dozen muskets +were lifted from the outside to fire. To jump down on that side was +inevitable death. One chance only remained. Possibly the gate now was +not watched! I sprang back into the yard, and other guards were after +me. The prison-door was open, and I entered, seeking to pass through it +as before, and get outside the gate for a clear race. But the front door +was now guarded also, and, as I turned, I found my pursuers in the back +door. I was fairly trapped,--back in the prison again! It was a terrible +situation. If I could crush between the two men who stood with loaded +muskets in the door, their comrades were outside, and it was simply +death to attack them. In sheer desperation, I turned my back upon them, +not caring whether they fired or not, and walked up-stairs to a window, +from which I could see something of the fearful race still going on, and +note the streams of troops pouring towards the prison. My guards pointed +their guns at me, but did not offer to come near, and when I walked from +the hall window into a room,--not our own, but another which commanded a +better view,--I found in it the four Federal soldiers, its former +occupants, who had made no attempt to get away, the alarm and the rapid +firing which followed convincing them that it was safer to remain where +they were. + +Parrott and Reddick were recaptured inside the wall, like myself. Buffum +got over the wall about the same time as Captain Fry, but was less +fortunate. A soldier singled him out, and squarely ran him down. When +hardly able to drag another step, and with the inexorable armed runner +within a rod of him, Buffum tried a "Yankee trick." (He was a native of +Massachusetts.) Sinking down exhausted, he said, "I surrender. You can +go on and get that other fellow," pointing to one a few rods away. +"No," answered the man, with a great oath, "I've got _you_, and I mean +to _keep_ you." So he stood with his gun aimed until some of his +comrades arrived, and poor Buffum was marched back to jail. Had the man +taken his advice, and looked for a bird in the bush, the one in hand +would doubtless have flown. Mason and Bensinger were also captured +outside of the wall, making a recapture of six and an escape of nine,--a +better result than I had supposed probable when we planned the attempt. + +From the window of the front room where I then was I had a good view of +the proceedings below. In a short time a large body of troops, including +a regiment of cavalry, were drawn up in front of the jail. I heard +Colonel Lee give his orders. He said, "Don't take one of the villains +alive. Shoot them down wherever you find them," with many similar +expressions, which were possibly meant for the benefit of those inside +the prison as well as for the troops. He also ordered pickets to be +placed at the ferries of the Chattahoochee, along the railroad, and also +at all cross-roads,--an arrangement that pleased me, for we had agreed +to avoid those very places. Our intention had been to travel in the +night-time through the woods, and to cross the rivers on logs as far +from ferries as possible. + +Hearing some confused sounds of distress from the room of the +Tennesseeans, I inquired the cause, and learned that a young man, named +Barlow, who alone of their number had attempted to escape, had broken +his ankle. This injury was received in jumping from the outside fence. +He was driven back to the prison room, where surgical aid was refused, +and he finally died after great suffering. + +Of all who were up-stairs at the time the alarm was given, only Fry and +one other man succeeded in escaping. The latter was a deserter from the +rebel army, and being very active and fleet, reached the shelter of the +woods in advance of all the fugitives. + +From the window I could hear the guards, all night long, talking over +their adventures. Generally they praised their own bravery liberally, +but occasionally some one who had arrived later would suggest that it +was not much to their credit to let unarmed men snatch their guns from +them; but such suggestions were not kindly received, and the work of +self-glorification went on. One of them expressed astonishment at the +speed of the Yankees, who had been so long kept in jail; another +accounted for it by the abundant practice in running Yankee soldiers had +received in battle! + +All night long I lay in a hammock which one of the regular soldiers had +swung by the window, but now kindly resigned to me, and listened to the +boastful conversation below. + + "Sadly I thought of the morrow." + +There was little reason to doubt that full vengeance would be dealt to +each man who remained in the enemy's power. The news we had received, +and which we had agreed in crediting, was the end of all hope. Death, +which had stared us in the face so often, could not be far distant now. +Another escape would scarcely be left by the aroused vigilance of the +enemy within the realms of possibility. And such a death! No vision of +glory to dazzle the sight, and hide the grim monster from view, or +wreathe him in flowers. No eye of friends to behold the last struggle. +No sympathy,--nothing but ignominy and an impenetrable darkness, beyond +which no loving eye might ever pierce! But even as the cold horror of +the scaffold, and the vision of the heartless, jeering crowd rose +freshly before me, I looked out in the clear night, and up to the +shining stars, and remembered that I had one Friend,--a Friend who would +not fear to stand with me on the scaffold, and who had Himself tasted +the bitterness of a public execution. Was it for me he had died,--to +show me that no outward shame is too great to be borne by the true +heart? With the thought came a still and heavenly peace, while my hope, +finding no place on this side, overleaped the darkness of death and +dwelt upon the scenes of promised happiness beyond. It is in such hours +that the value and supporting power of religion is fully realized. + +The next morning the jailer put me back into the room formerly occupied. +When all had gathered, we were only six in number,--Mason, Buffum, +Bensinger, Reddick, Parrott, and myself. We had enough to talk over for +many hours. The jailer, too, had his story to tell. He said that some +man put his hand over his mouth and nearly smothered him, but added, +with great satisfaction, "I bit his finger terribly, and gave the rascal +a mark he will carry to the grave with him." However, though he did bite +hard, his teeth were not so sharp as he thought, and he had only managed +to inflict a slight bruise. I kept my hand out of sight in his presence +for a day or two, and he had no idea that I was the person of whom he +complained, as his fright prevented his clearly distinguishing anything. +He was rather cross for a while, and always brought up the guards when +he came to feed us. + +About the middle of the day some officers came to see us, and talked +very roughly. With many threats, they demanded to know what direction +our comrades had intended to travel. I was glad of this, as it assured +me that some were still at large. They professed to have killed several, +and declared that they meant to kill the others as fast as they were +taken. In answer to their demand I told them the truth, as I thought +that would do them as little good as anything else. I said,-- + +"They intend to try to get to the Union lines; and they said that it +made little difference which way they went, for our forces have you so +completely surrounded, that travelling in _any_ course will do equally +well." + +Being unable to get anything more definite, they retired. + +Not until our own release did we learn with certainty the fate of our +eight comrades. Nothing in this whole story seems more wonderful than +their adventures and ultimate success. Two went South, two West, and +four others, in two groups, went Northward. To recite the adventures of +all would detain us too long, but the reader will expect some account. +We will give two of the four narratives in some detail, and the others +more briefly. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ROMANTIC ESCAPES. + + +J. R. Porter and John Wollam kept in company when they ran for the +woods. The latter will be remembered as having previously escaped from +Chattanooga in company with Andrews, and eluded his pursuers for a long +time. + +It was October 16 when they started, and they reached the Federal lines +at Corinth, Mississippi, November 18, being thus two days over a month +on the way. They endured the greatest hardships. When in wooded country +they travelled both night and day, subsisting on wild grapes, chestnuts, +hickory-nuts, walnuts, and some few sweet potatoes. In a few instances +they got a little morsel of corn-bread from some negroes. This was not +always a gift. Several times they slipped into the fields where the +negroes were at work and stole their scanty dinners. Necessity knew no +law. For one whole week they had no bread, nor any other food, except +the nuts gathered in the woods. + +Their sufferings with cold were also very great, as their clothes were +light and almost worn out, and the nights very chill. Twice only they +slept in houses. One night they travelled till they were chilled and +weary, and almost perishing with cold, when they fortunately discovered +a nest of hogs. It was no time to be choice; so routing out the inmates, +they took possession of the warm bed, and slept soundly till morning! + +They found many streams on the way, which they were obliged to wade, or +float across on logs. Porter was a man of clear religious faith and +great constancy, while Wollam was full of resources, though somewhat +reckless. He longed for the Tennessee River, down which he had floated +alone once before, and somewhere on which he knew Federal troops were to +be found. It was twenty-two days, however, before this stream was +reached, at a point forty miles west of Chattanooga. The worst of their +trials were now over. They pressed a canoe into the service, and used it +as Wollam had done before, paddling and floating down stream at night, +and hiding it and themselves, in the most secret place they could find, +during the day. Two persons under such circumstances have great +advantages over a solitary traveller. Not only does companionship assist +in keeping hope alive in each breast, but one can watch while the other +rests, and thus their resources are husbanded. The voyagers met with no +remarkable adventures until they reached the head of Muscle Shoals, +which they could not pass on account of low water. Abandoning their +canoe here, they made a circuit of forty miles by land, and came back to +the river below the Shoals. Here they "borrowed" a skiff, and continued +their journey until within twelve miles of Pittsburg Landing, where they +finally left the river. Twelve miles of travel brought them to +Corinth,--a post occupied by Union troops,--where they were received +with all the welcome that could be given to comrades long considered +dead. They had passed over three hundred miles in a straight +line,--probably double that distance by reason of the circuits they +made, and this without assistance, and while shunning all about them as +foes. + +Engineer Brown, W. J. Knight, and E. H. Mason were thrown together in +the hurry of escape, although only the former two had intended to travel +in company. Mason's intended comrade was recaptured. Dorsey and Hawkins +were also, at first, in the same squad. The first night, while hiding in +the woods, Mason became very sick, and for two days remained within a +short distance of Atlanta. This was very dangerous, and he finally told +Brown and Knight to leave him and make good their own escape. This the +heroic boys refused to do, but, on the contrary, took him to a house, as +he was growing rapidly worse. They were well received, and given some +food in the kitchen. Just as they had finished it, three men, who had +probably seen their arrival, came in at the front door to arrest them. +This was an almost unique incident in the history of our +expedition,--the attempt to arrest any members of the party without +having an overwhelming superiority in numbers,--and, as might have been +expected, it miscarried. Our comrades did not deny being escaped +prisoners, but when told that they must surrender and go back to +Atlanta, Brown, who hardly knew the meaning of fear, gave in his soft, +silvery voice the very decided reply, "No, we won't; now see if we do," +and with Knight sprang through the back door. There was no alternative +but to abandon Mason; but the other two were the strongest and most +agile of our number,--had always been our leaders in all athletic +sports, and were able to give a good account of themselves either in a +race or fight. They ran round the end of the house and then struck +towards a piece of woods half a mile away, keeping under the shelter of +a fence which extended towards the woods. The Confederates ran out at +the front door with their shot-guns just as the fugitives were flying +along the fence. Not wishing to try a foot-race, the former mounted +their horses and galloped out from the house down a lane that led to +the main road, attempting thus to head them off, while the owner of the +house where they had stayed unloosed his pack of hounds, which were soon +on the trail in full cry. The fugitives changed their course to avoid +the chance of a shot from the road, and to keep at right angles with it. +Before the woodland could be reached, the dogs closed in upon them, and +the struggle which followed was short and decisive. Brown and Knight, +seeing the dogs gaining upon them, selected a place where loose stones +were abundant, and gave their barking foes a reception which must have +astonished them. Stones weighing a pound or more, hurled at close +quarters by the strong arms of desperate men, are not to be despised by +the most savage of blood-hounds. The whole pack were soon crippled or +driven into hasty flight. + +[Illustration: LIEUTENANT WILSON W. BROWN +(Union Engineer.) Page 264.] + +But by this time the horsemen were near, and our hunted comrades were +obliged to run again at full speed, changing their course, with the +purpose of eluding their armed pursuers. They got into some brushwood, +and by "seesawing and tacking" hoped to get out of sight of the +horsemen. But the dogs still followed the trail, though they dared not +come near, and the brave pair would no doubt have been run down in time, +by the aid of dogs and horses, had they not found a little creek, in +which they waded long enough to throw the dogs off the scent; then the +expanse of timber about the creek soon hid them from their human foes. + +That day they reached Stone Mountain, about eighteen miles east of +Atlanta, and afterwards travelled only at night, due north, with the +North Star for their guide. From their daytime hiding-places they +frequently saw parties of patrollers, but were never discovered. + +Mason was taken without resistance and sent back to Atlanta, where he +joined us, being the sixth and last man recaptured. + +Brown and Knight did not venture again to a house, and suffered greatly +for want of food. From the house they had left so precipitately they +travelled six days with nothing to eat save what the woods furnished. +They even chewed brush to appease the gnawings of hunger. On the seventh +day they obtained a great feast by catching a goose, which they ate raw, +and also procured a little of the corn left in a field by the huskers. +Two days after, they found a tree of apples, very poor, but precious to +them, and, after having devoured as many as they could, carried a supply +with them. Before night, however, they had still better fortune. They +discovered a drove of half-grown pigs. To get one was not easy, but +these men were not readily baffled. Their plan was soon laid: Knight hid +behind a tree with a club, while Brown tolled a confiding member of the +drove by biting off bits of apple and throwing towards him. He backed +past the tree where Knight was concealed, and when the pig in following +came near enough, the latter felled it with one powerful blow, and they +bore it away in triumph. That night they found a burnt brush-heap, and, +as some of the coals were not extinct, they made a fire and feasted on +roast pig. They carried off what they could not eat, and it took the +edge from famine for a long while. + +When ten days out they crossed the Chattahoochee on a raft made of rails +tied together with bark. At length they came into the mountains, where +travel at night for famishing men was intolerably difficult. But, though +they knew it not, they were near friends. The border country between +Tennessee and North Carolina was always predominantly loyal. Accident +led to the discovery of those who were glad to give them help. In +crossing an old clearing, which seemed deserted, they came out +unexpectedly in front of a lonely looking log house, where two men stood +on the porch. Brown and Knight were so hungry that they resolved to take +the risk of asking for dinner. As there were only two men, they thought +they could not be arrested, especially if they first got something to +eat. They pretended to be rebel soldiers, who had been sick and were +now trying to get back to their regiments. The mistress of the house +gave them food, but eyed them closely, and soon accused them of being +"Yankees." Denial was useless, and they "soon found each other out." +These Union people put them on the Southern branch of the Underground +Railroad, and they arrived at Somerset, Kentucky, on the 25th of +November,--a month and nine days after leaving Atlanta. + +The course of the next pair, Dorsey and Hawkins, was also northward, and +in nearly the same track. In the early part it presents marked +peculiarities, especially in the fact that much help was obtained from +the negroes. These sympathized with all fugitives on general principles, +and still more when the fugitives were Union soldiers. The latter part +of this narrative passes over the same ground as the former. It is a +trifling but noticeable coincidence that four of the eight who escaped +came to the town of Somerset, Kentucky, and two others to the ship +"Somerset." + +Dorsey shall tell his own story, with a few abridgments. He hurt his +ankle in the first terrible run, and this caused him great suffering. He +also met a countryman just before reaching the woods, but having armed +himself with a large stone in each hand, and looking dangerous, he was +not stopped. The rapid firing of the enemy led him to believe that many +of our number were killed. We take up his story at the entrance of the +forest. The first touch is very graphic. + + "Passing a little way into the woods, I found Brown and Knight + leaning against a tree, gasping for breath. I leaned against + the same tree. None of us could speak. I thought for a moment + or two that each breath would be my last. As we recovered a + little, one gasped, 'Guess we'd better go, boys.' On we went, + but not so fast as before, for none of our pursuers were now in + sight. We were soon joined by Hawkins, Mason, and the escaped + deserter, so that we were six in all. We lay in an open field + that night, judging it to be safer than the woods, and huddled + together as a partial protection from the cold. All night long + we heard the baying of the hounds and the frequent discharge + of firearms. The distance from which these sounds came + indicated that the pursuers were beyond us, and that our best + chance was in hiding and allowing them to pass still farther + ahead. The next day we were fortunate enough to discover some + luscious wild grapes, which we devoured with the greatest + relish. Our mouths afterwards were very sore, and the grapes + may possibly have been the cause of the injury. The same day we + were surprised by some citizens with shot-guns, but outran them + and escaped. + + "Brown, Mason, and Knight left us, the latter being sick. The + deserter continued with us a day longer. He then wished to + visit a house for food, but we, though very hungry, did not + think it advisable, and parted with all good wishes. I have + heard that he got safely to Washington, D. C., but, returning + to his home in Northern Georgia, was arrested and executed as a + deserter from the Confederate army, into which he had been + conscripted at first. + + "On the fourth day out we met two of our pursuers, who were + apparently coming back discouraged, but easily eluded them by + hiding under some bushes. We now began to travel more rapidly, + hiding by day and continuing on our way by night, directed by + the stars, which Hawkins understood very well. + + "On the eighth day out we came to the ferry of the + Chattahoochee River, far to the northeast of Atlanta. We took + rails from a neighboring fence, and began to build a raft, when + we observed a lighted torch approaching the opposite side of + the river. When it came nearer we saw that the party + accompanying it were negroes, two in number, with four dogs. + Hawkins, who had spent some years in the South, and understood + the disposition of the negroes, felt disposed to trust them. + Accordingly, we asked them to ferry us over, which they readily + did, we giving them a little tobacco we had, and which we could + not use because of our sore mouths. They professed themselves + Unionists, and we told them that we were Union soldiers. The + fact of belonging to the railroad party we did not disclose + until we were within the Union lines. One went for provisions, + while the other remained with us, as if to allay any suspicions + we might entertain. They told us that we were forty-eight miles + northeast of Atlanta, in the region of deserted gold-mines, and + proposed to hide us in one of those mines, supply us with + quilts and provisions until we were well rested, and then + direct us on our northward way. It would probably have been + better to have accepted their kind offer, which I think Hawkins + wished to do, but I had some fear; so we declined. + + "The one who had gone for provisions returned with a goodly + supply of boiled pork and beans, mashed Irish potatoes, sweet + potatoes, and corn-bread. What a feast! It was the first food + worthy the name we had eaten for six long months! We did it + ample justice, and what was left carried away with us. Our + African friends also gave us a piece of a broken butcher-knife, + that was of great service. They also gave us invaluable + directions, telling us where the rebel troops lay, and where we + could find a colored slave, who would ferry us over the + Hiawassee (which runs down from North Carolina into the + Tennessee), as they had done over the Chattahoochee. We assured + them that they would soon be free, and parted with a mutual + 'God bless you!' + + "With thankful hearts we pressed on, made a good night's + journey, and then laid by until evening of the next day. Seeing + a house on the edge of the woods, we watched it until assured + that only an old man and woman were there, when we went boldly + up to it and asked for supper, which was given with some + reluctance. + + "Early in the evening journey we came to a small stream, and + attempting to cross on a fallen tree, I fell into the water, + and was thoroughly soaked. From this cause I suffered greatly + with cold. Some hours after we came to a barn, the mows of + which were filled with corn-blades. We were glad to bury + ourselves out of sight in the fodder, where we grew warm, and + slept all day. It was comfortable, but we paid for it by a + terrible fright. Some cavalrymen came into the stable under the + mows and took out their horses. We could hear their + conversation and the jingle of their spurs, and scarcely dared + to breathe. But they left us in safety. We stayed a day longer, + as the bed was the best we had found since our first capture. + But a negro boy came up to hunt eggs, and found us. He was so + frightened that we could not pacify him, and, fearing an alarm, + we hastened to the woods once more. Some negroes were again + met, starting on their favorite amusement,--an opossum-hunt. On + application they gave us a magnificent treat,--a hatful of + apples, a half 'pone,' and two or three pounds of boiled beef + on a bone. This supply lasted for several days. + + "On the night journey we were much annoyed by the barking of + dogs at the houses we passed. Once we were seen, but, + pretending to be rebels on the way to our regiments, we + succeeded so well in lulling suspicion that an old man sent a + message to his son, who was in the rebel army, by us, and added + some corn-bread for the messengers. + + "I here became more lame than ever, by reason of an unfortunate + misstep, and had to walk by leaning part of my weight upon my + faithful comrade. We came to a wide river we could not cross, + and, going back into the fields, lay on the damp ground till + morning. If I ever _tasted_ cold, it was then. Hawkins became + reckless from suffering, and was disposed to go to a house, + even at the risk of capture. But I demurred, and we waited for + an opportunity to communicate with the ever-faithful negroes. + We found a hut, and, watching it some time, saw none but a + black woman there. She readily responded to our appeal for + help, gave us a hot breakfast, a fire to warm by, and some + parched corn to carry on our journey. She also directed us to a + ford. Thanking her from our hearts, we returned to the river, + got over, and concealed ourselves in the woods on the other + side. + + "With the coming of night we once more took up our weary way. + Towards morning we saw a large encampment of whites and colored + people. All were asleep except one of the latter. We + approached, and, in a whisper, asked him who they were. He told + us of the retreat of Bragg's army from Kentucky, and that these + were a band of fugitives coming South with their slaves to + avoid the Union army. To us this was a serious matter. A large + army, with all its baggage, and the country full of pickets, + directly in our front, was a great addition to our danger. The + colored man gave us all the scanty information he possessed + about the position of the army. Hawkins, spying a covered + skillet near the fire, winked at our friend, got an assenting + nod, and reached for it. It had two baked sweet potatoes, which + we appropriated, and departed as noiselessly as we had + advanced. Twenty-four hours after, we had reached the Hiawassee + River. We called lustily for the ferryman, and, to our + exceeding delight, were answered by the very slave our colored + friends on the Chattahoochee had said would be willing to ferry + us over. + + "With his counsel, for we trusted him with the secret of our + being escaped prisoners, we resolved to go down the Hiawassee + to its junction with the Tennessee. To do this, however, it + would be necessary to pass round the rebel camp at Charleston, + a few miles farther down the river. This was Friday, and, by + waiting until Saturday, the young man could get a pass good + until Monday, and could pilot us around Charleston. We resolved + to wait. He treated us royally,--shared his scanty allowance of + food with us, for he had only a slave's rations, doctored my + ankle, kept us in his best bed--_a feather one_--overnight, + though, for prudential reasons, we hid in the woods during the + day, and, on starting, gave us a bottle of molasses and a piece + of pork. We floated down near camp in a 'dug-out' canoe, then + left the river and _surrounded_ the enemy. Our pilot was + obliged to leave us before we got back to the river below the + town, but he put us on the banks of a small stream, which we + had only to follow down to its mouth. This we reached by two + P.M., and amused ourselves by cracking walnuts and hickory-nuts + in a solitary place until dark, when we hunted up an old + dilapidated canoe. It was a miserable boat, and gave us enough + to do in bailing as well as paddling it. We soon saw a better + craft, with good paddles, tied up, and, as the owner was not + there, we 'traded' without difficulty. + + "The stars were shining brightly when we again pushed off, and + the water was as clear as crystal, though not deep. We dried + our wet clothes, and felt very much more comfortable. Save an + occasional whisper between us and the soft ripple of the oars, + silence was unbroken. This was the most peaceful and + satisfactory night's travel we had yet made. + + "At daybreak we hid the boat and nestled away in some dry + leaves, and after the sun got high enough to warm us, slept by + turns till afternoon. Then we noticed an island half a mile + farther down the river, and, as we had seen nobody the whole + day, and the place appeared perfectly solitary, we resolved to + explore it. Nothing was found, but we saw a house on the east + bank, which we watched until sundown, and seeing only women + about it, resolved to try for supper. We got a good square + meal, but judge our dismay at finding a good number of ladies, + and, soon after, a few men, also, at the place. It was a + 'quilting,' and they were to dance that evening. But we told a + new story. We had been working at a saw-mill in the mountains, + were now out of employment, and were going to Chattanooga to + look for a job. They warned us that we would be arrested at + Chattanooga, and would have to go to jail or join the army. + They seemed to care nothing for the war, and to have no + disposition to molest us. We assured them that we would be all + right in Chattanooga, as we were _personally acquainted with + General Leadbetter_. They looked doubtful, and in parting they + said, in a rather insinuating manner, that they wished us a + safe journey to _Chattanooga_. Probably they were Unionists, + but we dared not risk a discovery. I tried, unsuccessfully, to + steal a quilt, which we greatly needed. The night was overcast, + the water was very shallow in places, and some tree-tops were + in the way. We had to get out, pull our boat out of these + obstructions and into deeper water, and then, wet to the skin, + to re-embark and paddle on. + + "About midnight we came to what seemed to be a ferry, where the + river was deeper and wider than it had been before. Suddenly + two shots were fired at us. We lay down in the bottom of the + boat, and, taking in our paddles, let her float down stream, + while we did not move a muscle. I suppose it was a picket of + the enemy, who, after firing once, concluded that our boat was + only a floating log, and took no further trouble. After + getting, as we supposed, out of danger, we again seized the + paddles, and an hour of vigorous work brought us to the river's + mouth, and out on the broader Tennessee. + + "We were very reluctant to abandon the river navigation, but it + was manifestly dangerous to continue it further, and useless as + well, unless we were prepared to take the risk of running by + Chattanooga. So we rowed to the north side of the Tennessee, + and turned our trusty craft adrift, while we started across the + mountains. The first road we crossed gave evidence of the + passage of a large body of troops, and thus warned us that we + were probably in danger of becoming entangled in the scouts and + detachments of Bragg's army, now on its retreat from Kentucky. + Two boys we found by a fire in a school-house--they had been + out 'coon'-hunting--confirmed this report. Soon we saw their + camp-fires, and ascending a mountain, where we supposed we + would be safer than in the valleys, waited for morning. When it + came, an appalling sight met our view,--a large division of + Bragg's army, with its seemingly endless baggage-trains, well + guarded by cavalry, was spread out beneath us. All day long + we watched their movements from our eyrie with breathless + anxiety. We resolved at night to turn to the northeast instead + of keeping due north, as we had intended. Before we had gone + far, Hawkins whispered in my ear, 'Dorsey, we mustn't crack any + corn to-night.' Rebel pickets and scouts were no doubt on every + side of us. The mountain-side was steep and covered with loose + stones, where travelling, even by day, would have been + difficult; at night, in the presence of the enemy, it was + terrible! We came to a picket, and were only saved from running + right into it by the snuffling of a horse. We slipped away a + short distance from the road, and lay down. Soon a squad of + cavalry passed up the road, and we crossed it right behind + them, anxious to get out of that dangerous neighborhood while + the sound of their hoofs drowned any noise we might make. We + moved very cautiously, again ascended the mountain-side, and + near daybreak came to a halt and went into camp,--that is, hid + in the brush. + + "When the light came we could see the enemy no more, but heard + his wagons rumbling off in the distance. The immediate danger + from that source was over. Our stock of provision, which was + only a little parched corn, was almost exhausted; and as the + mountain seemed to be uninhabited, we resolved to move forward + in the afternoon. We found a negro, who, for a wonder, could + not or would not give any provisions or information. Late in + the night we rested, tying some bushes together to make a rude + shelter, and both sleeping, for nature was almost overcome. + Food and water were also very low, but in the morning we + pressed on, halting when our waning strength failed, and going + on when strength allowed. + + "Very impressive were some of the hours spent in watching on + the Cumberland Mountains. One of us would sleep in perfect + trust, while the other watched and thought. The lofty peaks, + the wide landscape, and the rising and setting sun were doubly + solemn in the profound silence, and amid the mighty forests of + that region. I can never forget the beauty of nature associated + with so much of peril. + + "But there were other hours of very prosaic toil. Once we had + to force our way on hands and knees through a mass of briers a + quarter of a mile wide. Several times we hunted persimmons by + moonlight,--Hawkins shaking them off, while I crawled on hands + and knees _feeling_ for them. Many adventures similar to those + already narrated were encountered. Near a ford of the + Sequatchie River we found a quilted skirt hanging out, which we + appropriated, tore in two, and, making a hole in the middle of + each piece for our heads, found ourselves possessed of passable + undershirts, which we needed sorely, as it was now colder than + ever. The ford was waded with our clothes taken off and tied on + our heads. + + "For two days more we travelled and rested alternately in the + mountains, hungry, wet with the rain that now began to fall, + and as solitary as if we were the only inhabitants of the + globe. Near sundown of the second day we heard some + wood-choppers far below us. We were so weak that we repeatedly + fell as we descended the mountain-side. Hunger was so extreme + that we resolved to try for food from them, using the best + story we could frame. We told them we were Confederate + soldiers, who had been left in a hospital, from which we had + run away, and were now trying to get to our regiments; also + that we were without money, and wanted food. They refused to do + anything for us; said that soldiers had already eaten them + nearly out. This reception encouraged us. To test them further + we talked of _our cause_, its justice, certainty of success, + etc. They did not pretend to agree with us, and, finally, told + us that we were in what had been called 'Lincoln District,' + because only two votes were cast there for secession. The + conversation led them to a flat avowal that they were Union + men. We then cautiously revealed the fact that we were soldiers + on the same side, and the hospitality which had been denied + before was now readily extended." + +[Illustration: DORSEY AND HAWKINS IN THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS. +Page 272.] + +This proved to be a station on the "Underground Railroad," which had +been organized since the opening of the war for the escape of Union men +and prisoners to the Union lines in Kentucky. After the fugitives had +completely proved their character, they were put under the conduct of a +local celebrity, known as "Red Fox," from his skill in eluding the +enemy. He conducted them for some distance, and gave them directions to +the next point, and from this they were directed to another. Thus they +were forwarded swiftly and in comparative safety. Dorsey dwells with +great gusto upon the good food and generous treatment received from +these loyal mountaineers, who had no hope of a reward, but were glad to +do anything for their loved and imperilled country. His expressions of +gratitude are also frequent and hearty. One man gave them the only +dollar he had, and would not hear of a refusal. Some very narrow escapes +were run even after they were thus among friends, but they finally +reached Somerset, Kentucky. At first they were received with some +suspicion by the Union officials, but, as soon as their true character +was established, they enjoyed the enthusiastic welcome accorded to each +one of the railroad party who returned from "the valley of the shadow of +death." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +FROM ATLANTA TO THE GULF. + + +No fugitives passed through more romantic adventures than Wood and +Wilson. The southward course they took saved them from an energetic +pursuit, but their unwillingness to trust the negroes exposed them to +imminent peril of starvation. The idea that any of our party would seek +for the Gulf blockading squadron probably never entered the head of any +pursuer. It was well that this route was chosen by Wilson, for in no +other way could he possibly have succeeded in carrying his sick comrade +with him. The manner in which poor Wood, who had been for months +suffering from fever, and was scarcely able to walk about the jail, was +taken from "Atlanta to the sea" by a starving comrade, would seem a most +improbable invention if met in a work of fiction. I extract the complete +account of the escape, with a few unimportant omissions, from "The +Adventures of Alf. Wilson," written by himself, and first published in +book form in Toledo, 1880. The account begins in the Atlanta jail-yard. +The necessity for immediate flight was first seen by Wood, who +exclaimed,-- + + "'Alf, come on, quick! the boys are getting over the fence at + the back of the jail; hurry up, for there's a company of guards + coming double-quick.' + + "This was my old comrade, Mark Wood, and his voice was the + first warning I had of the danger that threatened me, or of the + necessary change in our programme. + + "'Then bounce that fence!' I yelled. We both reached the top of + the high fence at the same instant, and not a second too soon, + for, as I glanced over my shoulder from the fence-top, I saw + the guards with gleaming muskets pouring in at the gate, and + before I could throw my leg over and spring off a volley was + fired, the balls rattling and whizzing all about us. One bullet + struck the picket under my thigh, and so close that the + splinters lacerated my flesh, and as my feet struck the ground + on the outside, I said to Mark, 'I am hit.' + + "'Get up and run like----!' exclaimed Mark. + + "I was on my feet in an instant, not knowing whether my thigh + was shattered or not. As I ran I clapped my hand there to see + if it bled freely. I pulled away a lot of splinters, and had + the satisfaction of finding that I had received only a slight + flesh wound made by the picket splinters. Never did I make + better use of my legs; there was need of it, too, for the balls + were spatting about us in the dirt uncomfortably near. They + came so thick and closely at one time that I was almost certain + that one or both of us would be hit; but we answered their + cries of 'Halt! halt!' by springing forward with all the speed + we could command. + + "It was about a mile before we struck the cover of woods, and + then the trees were so scattering that they afforded only a + doubtful place for concealment. It was now every man for + himself, and, like the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, we + longed for darkness or some other friendly interposition in our + behalf. Wood had come up with me, and we dodged stealthily from + one thicket to another until it began to grow quite dark, when + we breathed easier and acted more deliberately, although we + well knew we were not out of danger yet. + + "About this time, we became aware that we were approaching a + public road. We soon had warning that it was much better to + halt, and not attempt to cross the road. The sound of galloping + horsemen in great numbers and the clanking of sabres could be + heard near by. We were so nearly out of breath that we could + run no farther for the present, and, on looking hastily about, + discovered a low, scrubby pine-bush surrounded with shrubbery. + We both darted under its protecting shelter, and lay flat on + the ground on our faces, neither having spoken a word to the + other for some minutes, on account of our great exhaustion. We + were so near the road that we could plainly see all the + movements of the rebel cavalry, who were deploying their line + something in the manner of skirmishers. + + "This presented an unexpected difficulty in our way. If we had + reached the road two minutes sooner we might have crossed + without being seen, but we could not have been there an instant + sooner than we were, unless we had had wings, for we had both + run until we were ready to fall in our tracks. We had become + separated from the rest of the party, but could still hear the + reports of muskets, and knew that the pursuit was still going + on, but how many of the escaping party had been killed was + beyond our knowledge, though I had seen Captain Fry reeling and + stumbling in a manner that led me to fear he was shot. We were + thus compelled to lie quietly for some time. While we were + waiting here the cavalry was relieved by infantry, and formed + into squads to scour the woods. + + "The place where we lay was not over fifteen steps from where + the infantry sentinel was stationed. We could hear every word + he spoke to the man on the next post. Their comments on the + affair at the jail would have been amusing to us under less + serious circumstances, and I wish I could give their words + exactly now, for they were ludicrous enough. + + "Some time late in the evening, while we were still lying under + the bush, we became aware that some one was approaching us very + quietly. In the dark we could recognize the dim outlines of two + men, and we felt certain, as they came so near us that we could + have almost touched them, that it was two of our comrades; but + we dare not even whisper to them, lest we should cause them to + betray themselves, and, perhaps, us too. They were, evidently, + from the cautious manner in which they moved, aware that they + were very close to the rebel guards. These men, I afterwards + learned, were Porter and Wollam. + + "After waiting a short time to see if they were discovered, and + hearing nothing of them, we began to crawl out, concluding that + there was no probability of the guards leaving that night. I + should judge the sentries were stationed about thirty paces + apart, and to get out there was no alternative but to pass + between them. I selected a place and crawled to the other side + of the road safely, and then lay perfectly still, while Mark + did the same. My hair fairly stood on end as he wriggled along, + for it seemed to me once or twice as if one of the sentries + would certainly discover him before he would reach me. This was + one of our most narrow escapes. + + "We were no more than safely across the road when a new and + unseen obstacle, in the shape of a high fence, presented + itself, over which we must climb before we could breathe free. + We crawled carefully to the fence, and by great patience and + much care, one at a time, managed to get over without + attracting the attention of the guards. We felt as if we had + accomplished quite an achievement when at last we had escaped + beyond the fence a few steps and found ourselves in an open + field, where we could push ahead noiselessly, and when, at + last, we got away entirely out of hearing, we struck out on a + full run. At the far side of the field we came to a small + stream, in which we travelled some distance in the water, to + take precaution against pursuit by dogs. Soon after, we struck + a thick piece of woods on the slope of a hill-side, which we + continued to ascend under the thick foliage for some time. But, + at last, exhausted Nature asserted her full sway, and we were + compelled to lie down and rest out of sheer inability to go + farther. + + "Up to this time, I think, neither of us had spoken any more + than if we had been dumb. As we threw ourselves on the ground, + without breath or strength to go farther, we began to realize + the weak, helpless condition we were in. It did not appear as + if our limbs were strong enough to carry us five miles a day. + When we looked forward to the long journey ahead of us, the + hunger and fatigue, it looked a little discouraging. I think, + however, a portion of this sense of physical prostration was + caused by the sudden relaxation from the great mental strain + and excitement which had been upon us from the time of the + jail-break and immediately preceding it. This, with the intense + exertion in running, in our enfeebled condition, had wellnigh + unnerved us. We were wild, too, almost, with joy at our escape. + + "But we had but little time to rest, rejoice, or feel thankful + in. Many contingencies yet stood between us and the goal of our + hopes. Many armed enemies; many long, weary miles of travel; + many rivers lay across our path, and many days of hunger and + many sleepless nights, if we would succeed. + + "Before we escaped from the prison I studied over the subject + of routes very carefully. I had seen enough of night travel in + the mountains about Chattanooga and along the Tennessee River, + and well knew that the probabilities of our being picked up, + should we go in that direction, would be very much greater. I + therefore decided in my own mind that I would strike out for + the Gulf, and try to reach some of the vessels of the Federal + blockading squadron. While this would be much the longest + route,--the distance, as near as I could calculate, being over + three hundred miles,--I thought there would be less vigilance + and liability of pursuit in that direction. In this conjecture + it turned out that I was correct. The country was entirely + unknown to me, except a slight general idea I had of it from + the school geographies. I only knew that the waters of the + Chattahoochee River, which flowed west of Atlanta, entered the + Gulf. + + "While we rested on the hill-side I communicated, in a whisper, + to Mark my views, and he readily agreed that he would go in any + direction I thought best. Accordingly, we rose up and walked to + an open place where we could see the stars, and soon determined + our course, which was to be slightly south of west, and at once + we set out as fast as we could travel. We spoke no words as we + walked on, and went as noiselessly as possible, for we were on + the lookout for scouting parties of cavalrymen that might be + prowling about. + + "We soon came to the railroad track leading from Atlanta to + Columbus, and knew from this that our course was about right. + Our march led us through some rough country, and we were + compelled to rest quite frequently, so that when it began to + grow light in the east we estimated that we were about eight + miles from the prison. We sought out a secluded retreat for the + day, and after getting each of us a stout stick, which would + answer either as a weapon or a walking-stick, we lay down and + slept until late in the afternoon. We woke up much rested, but + were so lame and our feet were so sore that we could hardly + take a step without excruciating pain. We were hungry, and the + scanty morsel of corn-bread we had brought from the prison the + previous evening did not go far towards satisfying our sharp + appetites. But it was all we had, and we ate it and were + thankful, although we did not know where or when we would get + our next rations. + + "I now saw a difficulty in this attempt to get away that we did + not encounter in our first attempt to reach the Federal lines. + Our clothes had become dirty and ragged, and we had a sort of + jail-bird look, that it seemed to me would betray us if we were + seen. I was brought to a realization of this fact as I looked + at Wood, when we sat together in silence beneath the great tree + where we had taken shelter, waiting for the friendly mantle of + darkness to shield our movements. And I suppose my own + appearance was no more prepossessing than his. The miserable + garments he wore did not cover his nakedness. His face was + begrimed with dirt almost set in the skin. He had become thin + and emaciated with fever, and had a ravenous appetite; his eyes + were sunken in his head and seemed to have the wild, unnatural + glare of a madman, which at times almost made me shudder. The + poor fellow's pitiable appearance, as he sat there despondently + and longingly gazing down on the beautiful valley below, was + such as to appeal to a heart of stone. Yet I knew that it was + unsafe for us to go to a house, and we agreed not to be seen by + a human being if we could avoid it. I felt certain that if we + should meet any one, our appearance would at once betray us. We + were in a country where we could not expect to find a friend, + unless, possibly, it might be the negroes, of whom, as a class, + we knew but very little. We were so weak, and the mental strain + and long-continued anxiety, in which we had lived from day to + day, had had the effect of making us, I may say, foolishly + suspicious and timid of everything. We were startled at every + sudden noise, and crouched like sneaking wolves from the sight + of man. + + "While in the midst of unpleasant thoughts, Mark broke the long + silence by raising his head and saying, 'Alf, it is time for us + to go.' + + "Our journey that night took us through a corn-field, where we + pulled a few ears of corn and chewed it as we went along. I + remember it was hard and made my jaws very tired, but it helped + to quiet my gnawing hunger. It was much better than nothing. + After a toilsome night's journey, guided by the stars, and over + a very rough county, in which we entirely avoided roads, we + again secreted ourselves as the streaks of gray began to appear + in the east, and, after scraping up a pile of leaves, lay down + for the day. When we awoke, late in the afternoon, we found + that our feet were so bruised and sore, and that we were + otherwise so lame, and withal so weak from hunger, that it + taxed our endurance to the utmost to take a single step. We + each took from our pockets an ear of corn, and after crunching + and swallowing what we could, we put the rest in our clothes + and hobbled off, making but very slow time for the first mile + or so. It was in the month of October, and the nights were + pretty cool, which, in our poorly-clad condition, compelled + us to keep moving all the time to keep comfortably warm. + + "The next morning came and still we had not reached the river. + Again we hid ourselves and slept through the day. When night + came and we tried to walk, we found our feet in such a + deplorable condition that it did not seem possible for us to go + farther. Mark crawled some distance on his hands and knees, + and, looking back at me, said in an appealing tone, 'Alf, + what's a fellow's life but a curse to him when he has to drag + it out in this way? I would rather be dead and done with it.' + + "I encouraged him, telling him the worst was over and we would + soon reach the river. I suppose we had shaped our course a + little too far south, and thus made the distance longer than it + would otherwise have been. We struggled on for some time, + crawling where the ground was stony, and stopping very often to + temporarily quell the pain in our feet. I was a little ahead, + and, as the breeze fanned my aching temples, I thought I heard + to our right the lull of running water. I told Mark and cheered + him up. We forgot our tortures for the time being and scrambled + on quite lively, and soon after had the satisfaction of + standing on the banks of the Chattahoochee. + + "De Soto did not feel more joy when he first discovered the + Mississippi, the great Father of Waters, nor was the ecstasy of + Balboa greater, when, from the cloud-capped summits of Darien, + his eyes first beheld the vast expanse of water which he named + the Pacific Ocean. Like that great discoverer, we waded out + into the water, carrying neither naked sword nor the banner of + our country like he, to take possession of our discovery in the + name of our rulers, but to bathe our painful feet and cool our + parched throats. + + "We made certain of the direction the river current ran, and + started southward in high hopes, although the temptation to go + northward to our friends was very strong. We now wanted a boat, + and, not long after we started, fortune had another pleasant + surprise in store for us, for we came upon a skiff safely + moored, with lock and chain, to a tree. After carefully + inspecting the surroundings to see that no prying eyes were + peering on us, we 'loosened' the lock with a stone, and in a + few minutes after were smoothly gliding down the current of the + great river, and I doubt if two more joyful mortals ever + navigated a canoe than we two, with that stolen little craft. + + "What a happy change! Our weary limbs and painful feet now had + a rest, and yet we were gliding noiselessly on our journey. + What wonderful teachers hardship and stern necessity are! + Discontented mortals do not half appreciate the blessings they + have until they have been pupils in the school of adversity. I + felt as if this chilly night's ride, in a little stolen boat, + on a strange river, whose shores were hidden by Plutonian + shadows, was the best and most grateful that I ever had, or + ever expected to enjoy. + + "We pulled off our old boots and bathed our lacerated feet in + the water, and quenched the tormenting thirst caused by the + indigestible hard corn, which was now our only nourishment. We + kept our paddles pretty busy, as we wished to get as far away + as possible from where we took the boat before the dawn of day. + When daylight began to appear, we paddled our craft into a + bayou, safe from view, and secreted ourselves in a thicket for + the day. + + "Four days and nights had now passed since we had eaten food, + except the morsel of corn-bread we brought out of the prison. + We lay down to sleep the day away, but between our great hunger + and the swarms of mosquitoes we could get but little rest. I + could, while sleeping, see in my dreams tables spread and + groaning with loads of good things to eat; bread, meat, cheese, + coffee, biscuit, and butter were all within my reach, and were + vanishing before my ravenous appetite, when, in the midst of + the great pleasures of this feast, I would suddenly waken to a + sense of the reality of the case, and what a maddening + disappointment I would feel. With this disturbed sort of rest + we worried through the day, the demands of hunger and our + stomachs getting the better of nature's demand for rest, until + at last we grew desperate, and at early twilight, in the + evening, pulled out of the little bayou, determined on a raid + of some sort on a house for food. + + "We spied a house some distance from the river-bank, which we + thought from appearances we could capture with a plausible + story or by force. + + "On approaching, we saw in its immediate vicinity quite a + number of negro cabins, and in the yard surrounding the house + about twenty blood-hounds chained to the fence, indicating that + these were the premises of an extensive planter. The only + occupants of the house were an old man and woman. We apologized + for disturbing them, and told them we were soldiers who had + been on furlough returning to our regiments at Atlanta, and + wished directions to the ferry (we had discovered a ferry as we + came down); also, that we were hungry and wanted to get + something to eat, provided they felt like feeding hungry + soldiers without money, as we had had no pay for some time, and + were both moneyless and in bad health, Mark's appearance + proving this latter assertion. It was quite dark, however, and + they could not see us very distinctly, but they evidently + credited our story, for they told us to be seated and we would + soon be made welcome to such food as they had. + + "They were a couple of quite intelligent but unsophisticated + old people, in comfortable circumstances, living, as most + Southerners did, away from any highway, and we gained their + confidence so far as to feel ourselves assured from suspicion. + I had been in Dixie so long that I had acquired, from the + guards and citizens, their vernacular of speech quite + perfectly; besides this, we had learned the names of officers + and the number of different regiments, such as the Eighth + Georgia Cavalry, Fifth Tennessee Infantry, etc., until we + were able to tell quite a plausible story, if not too closely + questioned. + + "We asked the old man if there was any late news. He said, + 'Nothing, except that the Yankee raiders had seized the Atlanta + jailer, overpowered the guards, and a number of them escaped + and had not yet been caught.' We expressed great surprise that + such a piece of audacity could be made successful in Atlanta. + The old man said, 'They were a desperate, dangerous lot of + scoundrels, who ought to have been hung long ago.' He said many + of them stood up and fought the soldiers with clubs and bricks, + even after the guards had shot them through, and finally they + jumped the high fence and ran like deer. + + "In the mean time we had devoured everything the good woman had + set before us on the table. We were ashamed, but our hunger was + so much stronger than our sense of shame that we could not + leave off, and, if we had not been in a hurry, we would have + waited for her to have prepared another meal for us. She said + she regretted that she had not more cooked to set before us, + but we told her she had been very kind, and thanked them, at + the same time bidding them good-night, when we started off, as + they supposed, for the ferry. A short time afterwards we were + in our boat pulling down-stream with more vigorous energy than + we had before. We kept up a steady stroke of the paddles for + some hours, feeling that each stroke placed so much more + distance between us and the prison. + + "While we were thus moving along with steady, cautious stroke, + high in the hopes of the future, I suddenly, quicker than a + flash, found myself lying flat on my back in the river. What on + earth had happened I did not know, the accident had been so + sudden. I thought of earthquakes, whales, sharks, torpedoes, + and many other things. Luckily, one of my feet caught on the + side of the boat, and I drifted with it until Mark came to my + assistance and pulled me out. The cause of my mishap had been a + ferry-boat wire, which was stretched across the river, and hung + just low enough to catch me fairly as I sat in the stern of the + boat. It struck Mark, but he sat in the middle, and fell into + the bottom of the boat. We were going at a good speed, and the + collision came so suddenly that it is a wonder we did not fare + worse. Fortunately, there were no guards at the ferry, so we + had no cause to apprehend discovery or molestation. My greatest + mishap was a thorough wetting, for the night was frosty and + cold, and caused me to chill. + + "This was followed in the after part of the night by a stupor + that I could not shake off, and my continued efforts at the + paddle had wellnigh exhausted me. Mark could not manage the + boat very well, as he had tried it a number of times. But I + felt that I must have rest and sleep, and so gave the boat over + into his hands, enjoining him to keep it in the current. I lay + down in the bottom of the boat, and soon sank into a state of + forgetfulness and sleep. I do not know how long I had slept, + but some time in the night Mark aroused me, and told me we + could go no farther, as we had come 'to the end of the river.' + It was some time before he could awaken me fully to + consciousness, so that I could comprehend our situation. + + "At last I began to look around, to determine what Mark's 'end + of the river' meant. I soon discovered that he had run the boat + away under a ledge of the mountain, and a dim light could only + be seen in one direction. All else around us was impenetrable + darkness. I took the paddle, and worked the boat in the + direction of the light, and in a little while we emerged from + beneath this overhanging mountain ledge, and again reached the + current of the river, down which the boat was soon rapidly + gliding. Mark now discovered that the 'end of the river' had + not yet been reached, but he did not care to take charge of the + boat again. + + "Shortly after this adventure we perceived that we were not to + have smooth sailing all the way. The river began to grow rough, + and the water ran over benches and ledges of rocks, and, in + places, with great velocity, so much so that we narrowly + escaped being 'broken up' on several occasions during this + night's journey. We passed over a number of places that we + would not have dared to risk in daylight, when we could have + seen the danger. It seemed to grow worse and worse as we went + on, when daylight warned us that it was time to tie up and + hide, which we did, and, the day being warm and pleasant, we + had a comfortable rest,--the best since our escape. + + "On the following night we came to a mill-dam, where the water, + judging from the noise, poured over in great volume and force. + We manoeuvred around for some time above it, not knowing what + to do, but finally discovered what appeared to be an apron near + the centre of the dam, and decided to risk running it. + Accordingly, we rowed up-stream some distance to get under good + headway, then turning the head of the boat down-stream, we bent + to our paddles with all our might. We came down with the + velocity of an express-train. What we supposed might have been + an apron, was nothing but a break in the dam, and over it we + shot like an arrow, shutting our eyes and holding our breath. + In an instant after, we landed (luckily right side up) away + below in the midst of the angry, foaming torrent, and plying + our paddles right vigorously, and keeping the bow of our boat + down-stream, we rode out safely, but then and there 'swore off' + on running mill-dams in the night. + + "We continued our journey, though the river was still rough and + growing worse. We were constantly among rocks and foaming, + headlong torrents of water, while steep rocky walls confined + the stream to very narrow limits, and dark, shadowy mountain + peaks loomed up in the background, reminding us of the + Tennessee about Chattanooga. We went on from bad to worse, + until at last, during the latter part of the night, we were + incautiously drawn into a gorge, where it seemed that the + destruction of our boat was inevitable. Such was the force and + velocity of the water, that we lost all control of the boat, + and in one instant would be spinning around in a furious eddy + until our heads were fairly dizzy, and in the next we would be + dashed against the rocks until it seemed as if our boat would + be splintered to pieces. We regarded our escape here as the + narrowest we had made, and as quick as we could do so with + safety we landed on the rocks and, with many regrets, abandoned + our little craft to begin a tedious, toilsome land journey of + three days and nights over rocky hills, bluffs, and mountains + along the river. + + "Just as we landed from the boat Mark started to walk out, and, + losing his balance, fell headlong into the river. With + considerable difficulty I fished him out, and, the early + morning being quite cool, the poor fellow was chilled through + and through, and it was with the greatest difficulty that I + finally succeeded in getting him up into the mountains, and + continued to exercise him by walking, so as to get up a good + circulation of his blood. But he became so benumbed that I + finally let him lie down, and gathered a lot of cedar boughs + and piled them thickly over him, and then crawled in with him + myself, and kept him as warm as possible. Here we slept and + rested until late in the afternoon of that day, which became + very warm under the bright rays of the sun. + + "Our progress was very slow, and towards the last extremely + painful. The old bruises and blisters on our feet, which were + not entirely healed, came back worse than ever, and much of the + time we crept along on the rocks on our hands and knees, + believing that if once we could get below this range of + mountains, we would find navigable waters. We came in sight of + several isolated cabins in these wild, rocky hills, where we + managed to beg a little food on two different occasions, which + helped us very much. The suffering we endured on our last + night's travel I cannot describe. It seemed as if we must give + up and die where we were. But at last, when daylight came, to + our great delight we saw the spires and smoke-stacks of a town + in the distance. We knew this to be Columbus, Georgia, and that + when we got below it the river was navigable clear to the Gulf. + + "We now deemed it prudent to hide ourselves for the day, which + we had not done in the mountains, and wait for the friendly + cloak of darkness. When night came we made a long, careful + detour away out around the suburbs of the town, and at last had + the satisfaction of again reaching the river-bank, below the + town, where we found good shelter among the dense grapevines + and drift-wood. By this time it was nearly morning again, and, + like beasts of prey, we betook ourselves to a safe + hiding-place. + + "During all the time we had been in the vicinity of the town we + had heard a constant clattering sound, as of a hundred workmen + with hammers. This noise came from near the river, where there + appeared also to be a great light. When daylight came the noise + still continued, and we were near enough so that we could see + that it was caused by a large number of workmen engaged on a + vessel, which they were covering with iron. The boat appeared + to be very large and of great strength, and evidently was + intended for a warlike purpose. On closer inspection the + following night I found that she was a powerfully-built + gunboat, which they were evidently in great haste to complete, + as the hammers of the workmen never ceased on her, night or + day, nor for a single moment. + + "This gunboat was none other than the rebel ram + 'Chattahoochee,' a formidable iron monster, built as an engine + of destruction for the blockading fleet in Appalachicola Bay. + The first knowledge the Navy Department had of her was through + Wood and myself. The ram, on her first downward trip, blew up + near the mouth of Flint River, and never reached the Gulf. + + "Our great anxiety now was to secure a boat. Wood was so lame + he could not walk, and I was not much better. This delayed us + here two days and nights. During the nights I was prowling + about, up and down, trying to discover some sort of a craft + that would float. In my reconnoitring about the gunboat I had + discovered an old skiff chained to a stump quite near and in + plain sight of the workmen, to some of whom, no doubt, it + belonged. I secured a stout stick for a lever, and crept to the + stump to which the boat was chained, when, watching my + opportunity, I got a pry in such a manner as to break the lock + on the chain. The lights shone so brightly that I could plainly + see the men's eyes, and I very much feared they would notice + me. However, I worked off with the boat carefully, and half an + hour after I had Mark aboard, and we were pulling rapidly + down-stream. We found our prize to be a leaky old concern, and + one of us was constantly busy keeping her bailed out. + + "After we had drifted down some miles, we spied three boats + tied to the shore on the Alabama side of the river, and as we + had been giving our attention entirely to the Georgians all + along, we concluded to trade boats on that side of the river, + provided we could secure a better boat. Just as we had loosened + the one we selected, three men with a pack of dogs came down + the hill towards us, and the head man, evidently the owner, + began hallooing to us and calling us slanderous names, such as + thieves and the like. We did not stop to bandy words with the + fellows, but speedily shoved all the boats into the river, and + took a course up the river, as though we were going towards + Columbus. They rent the air with curses upon our heads. In the + course of fifteen or twenty minutes they had secured the boats + we shoved into the stream, and with the lights they carried we + could distinctly see that they were bent on pursuing us. We + took a wide circuit, and then headed downward under cover of + the willows, behind several small islands near the Georgia + shore, and came out in the main stream far below the islands, + while we had the satisfaction of seeing the lights of our + pursuers disappearing up the river and prowling about the upper + end of the islands, which we were now leaving far behind. We + soon lost sight of them, and the strong presumption is that + they never succeeded in finding their boat. + + "We increased our speed, and kept under the shadows of the + wooded shores as much as possible, congratulating each other on + our lucky boat trade. With a good boat and an open river we + felt now that our chances of escape were exceedingly good, and + our spirits were buoyant and hopes high, although our stomachs + were craving food. But on we swept, hour after hour, down the + broad river, happy in the thought that we were fast placing + scores of miles between us and the hated prison. The rest given + our feet had much allayed the pain we suffered, and when + morning came and we had secreted ourselves for the day, we + slept well, but awoke in the afternoon ravenously desperate for + want of something to eat. + + "We went out, and, reconnoitring a little, discovered a + corn-field. Making sure that there was no one about, we stole + into the field and found plenty of corn and pumpkins. The hard + corn and river water did not go well together, and proved to be + an unpleasant diet to us, so we broke up the pumpkins, ate + freely of the seed, and filled our pockets with more for lunch, + each of us taking also a few ears of corn. By the time we got + back it was nearly dark, and we pulled out. The pumpkin-seed + diet, poor as it was, helped us wonderfully, and we made a big + night's journey, passing a steamboat upward bound, which we + dodged by pulling under the shadows of the timber and + low-hanging bushes. + + "Thus we progressed, travelling by boat at night and laying by + in the daytime. If any reader of this story has ever made a + trip on the lower end of the Chattahoochee River, I think he or + she will agree with me when I say that the river scenery is + peculiarly monotonous and causes a sense of loneliness. It is a + vast water-path through dense forests of cypress and other + swamp-growing timber. On either side, to the right and left, + were endless swamps covered with water, and the river-channel + was only observable by its being free from logs and gigantic + trees. Great festoons of gray and sombre moss hung suspended + from even the topmost limbs of these trees, reaching clear down + to the water, and floated and swung to the music of the sighing + winds. Perhaps it was the circumstances in our case that made + us feel so, but I remember it as a dismal, lonesome journey. + Sometimes we would not see a sign of civilization for + forty-eight hours at a stretch. + + "Besides the torments of hunger, our nights were made almost + unendurable by the swarms of blood-thirsty mosquitoes, which + came upon us in clouds. I did think that I had learned + considerable about mosquitoes in my boyhood days in the Black + Swamp of Northwestern Ohio, but for numbers, vocal powers, and + ferocity I will 'trot' the Chattahoochee swamp fellows out + against any others I have ever 'met up with.' The ragged + clothing, which yet clung to our backs, did not much more + than half cover us; especially was this the case with Wood, who + was, I may truthfully say, half naked, and was thus doubly + annoyed by the omnipresent 'skeeters.' And my own condition was + but little better. To protect ourselves from the pests, we + thatched our bodies all over with great skeins of moss, and two + more comical-looking beings than we were, thus rigged out, it + would be hard to find, but it baffled the bills of our + tormentors. + + "We had two other annoyances,--moccasin-snakes and alligators. + The latter, with which the water swarmed as we went farther + towards the Gulf, were a terror to me. They were a ferocious, + hungry, dangerous-looking beast at best. We knew but little of + their habits. The largest water inhabitant I had ever seen was + a Maumee River cat-fish, and the most dangerous, a Black Swamp + massasauger. Night or day these 'gators," as the Southern + negroes call them, like the mosquitoes, were always within + sight and hearing. Sometimes during the day, in order to keep + out of the water, we would take shelter in a pile of + drift-wood. When we would wake up, after a short nap, every old + log and hommock about us would be covered with 'gators.' They + would lie listlessly and lazily, with eyes almost shut, looking + hungrily and quizzically out of one corner of their wicked + peepers, as if waiting for us to leave, or for a chance to nab + one of us by the leg or arm and run. Mark grew superstitious of + these creatures. He said he had read of wolves following a + famished buffalo in the same manner, and that sharks would + hover around a ship from which a corpse was to be cast + overboard, and that, too, even days before death had occurred + or was even suspected by the sailors. But the 'gators' were + cowardly fellows, and, on the least demonstration on our part, + would scramble into the water. Still we feared that they might + steal upon and lay hold of us with their powerful jaws while we + were asleep. We had learned that they were not apt to attack, + except when the object of their voracious appetites lay quiet; + but, when once they did lay hold, that they were hard to beat + off. They will drag their victim, be it man or beast, instantly + under the water, where the struggle soon ends. + + "After enduring hunger as long as we possibly could, we were + finally forced a second time since leaving Columbus to go in + search of something to eat. This, I think, was about five or + ten miles above Chattahoochee landing. It is not necessary to + relate the particulars of our search for a human habitation, + and the story of deception we told. It was a little before dark + when we struck out on foot so weak, hungry, and faint that we + could not walk many steps without resting, in search of + something or anything we could devour. We were successful, or + partially so, at least, and came back safely, much + strengthened, as well as elated over our good luck, when, to + our great dismay and chagrin, we found that our boat had been + stolen during our absence. + + "It was evident some one had seen us land and watched until + we left, and then taken the boat. I cannot describe our + feelings. We scarcely knew what to do. The night was very dark, + and it rained incessantly. We waded about in the water, tall + grass and cane, and after a while found a little mound or + hommock, which projected above the water, and on which we + perched ourselves for the night. Such a dismal, long, rainy + night as it was, too! It did seem as if the mosquitoes would + carry us away piecemeal towards morning, when the rain had + ceased. Had it not been for the food we had eaten, I believe we + would have given up in despair. When morning came, we waded up + and down in the cane and grass all forenoon, and about the only + discovery we made was that another river came in just below us, + and we could not go farther without a boat. + + "During the afternoon I descried something on the far side of + the river that looked like a boat partly sunk in the water, one + end only of which was out. The next trouble was to get to it, + as the river was about three-quarters of a mile wide, as near + as we could judge. We found an old piece of plank, which we + lashed on three flat rails with a grape-vine, and with a piece + of narrow stave for a paddle and to fight off 'gators,' I + twined my legs firmly around the centre of the frail craft, + while Mark pushed it off into the stream and stood at the edge + of the grass watching me. The raft sunk down until the water + came about my waist, but I stuck to it, and after about an + hour's hard work I effected a landing on the far side, and not + long after found myself rewarded in the possession of a much + better boat than the one we had lost the night before. I was + not long in bailing out the water and rowing her back to where + Mark was, whose gratitude found expression in tears and hearty + hand-shaking, as he crept into the boat with me. + + "We now plied our paddles energetically for a while, until we + felt sure we had passed out of reach of the owners of the boat, + when we put into the cane and secreted ourselves until night. + After this mishap in losing our boat, we resolved that we would + not both leave again while our journey lasted, starve or no + starve. During the following day, while we were laid up waiting + for night and fighting mosquitoes, I went out, skulking about + to see what I could see, and in passing through an old field + found some fish-hooks and lines in an old vacant cabin. I + appropriated them, and we found them a godsend to us, for they + proved the means of keeping us from actual starvation. + + "We must have had a touch of scurvy, for our mouths and gums + had become feverish, and our teeth were loose, and would bleed + constantly when we attempted to chew the corn. This was the + condition we were in when, providentially, we became possessed + of the fish-hooks and lines. + + "And now for a feast on raw cat-fish, of which we caught a + plentiful supply as we journeyed on in the night. I have + previously neglected to mention that I had with me an old + one-bladed knife without any back, which was our only weapon, + defensive or offensive. This old knife I had secreted when we + were in the Atlanta prison, and had kept it with me as a + precious treasure during all our wanderings. With this knife + and our fingers we managed to skin and dress the fish, which we + ate raw with our soaked corn. Matches we had none, nor had we + been able to get any, and so we had no fire. I could eat only a + mouthful or two of the raw fish at a time. My stomach was weak + and feverish, and rebelled against the flesh. Still it tasted + palatable. + + "Mark, poor, hungry fellow, tore it from the bones in great + mouthfuls, like a ravenous wolf, until I would beg of him to + desist, fearing the results. He would sit and crunch the bloody + flesh, and look at me with a wild, strange stare, and never + speak a word. His eyes were sunken away in his head, almost out + of sight, and as he would seize a fresh piece the pupils of his + eyes would dilate with the gloating, ferocious expression of a + panther or other carnivorous wild beast. I had frequently heard + of men losing their reason and going mad from the effects of + protracted hunger, and I sometimes shuddered as I looked at its + telling effects on poor Mark's wasted frame, and the unnatural + glare of his eyes. He would mutter and groan in his sleep, and + sometimes scream out as if pierced by a knife, when he would + suddenly start up and call my name. Towards the last of our + journey his condition was much of the time a cause of great + anxiety to me. Still, after we began to eat the fish he seemed + much better, and I only feared the unnatural quantities of the + raw flesh would kill him. + + "We were now nearing the bay, as was plain to be seen, for on + each succeeding morning the river had grown wider. Finally we + became well satisfied that we were nearing a large town, which + afterwards proved to be Appalachicola, and this made us anxious + to learn something of the state of affairs below,--whether + there were rebel picket-boats, or obstructions, such as + torpedo-boats and the like. + + "About this time we discovered a cabin some distance from the + shore, and, to have a plausible excuse, I took an old pipe Mark + had, and filled it with a few crumbs of tobacco which I fished + from my old coat-linings, and then taking a piece of rotten + wood which would retain fire, I left Mark with the boat and + walked over to the house to get a light for my pipe. The + occupants of the cabin proved to be an old Scotchman and his + wife. He was very inquisitive, and asked more questions than I + cared to answer. But I managed to evade suspicion, and at the + same time gained considerable information. I learned that we + were about five miles above Appalachicola, and that the Federal + blockading squadron was stationed at the mouth of the bay, + eighteen miles below the city. I hurried back to the boat, and + found Mark rejoicing over a little armful of sweet potatoes he + had stolen from a negro's canoe, which he had discovered in my + absence. + + "We got into the boat and at once paddled to the other side + of the bay or river, where we entered into an inlet or creek, + up which we ran for some distance, when we came to a dense + canebrake. Here we secreted ourselves and built a little fire, + roasted fish and potatoes, parched corn, and dined in right + royal style, although we felt the need of a little salt. Two + hungry wolves never ate more ravenously than we did, although + we were obliged to restrain ourselves, and leave off while yet + hungry. It was with the utmost difficulty that I absolutely + forced Mark to quit. After eating enough for four men, as I + thought, he still begged for more. I finally induced him to go + to sleep, and stored away some of the cooked fish and sweet + potatoes for the next day. + + "The information we had gained was invaluable to us, although I + felt I had obtained it at some risk. When night came on we + pulled out and passed down on the opposite side of the bay from + the city, slowly and cautiously. We had moss in the bottom, on + the sides, and in the seats of our boat for our comfort. As + soon as we had gone well past the city, whose bright lights we + could plainly see, we crossed the bay to the city side below + the city, in the hope of finding a more sea-worthy boat. We + were unable to find any other boat, however, and pulled on down + the bay as fast as we could. While going down the bay that + evening, we ran along in the midst of a large school of huge + fish of some description, from which we apprehended danger + every instant. These monsters would swim along on all sides of + us, with great fins sticking more than a foot out of the water, + and extended like a great fan. One of these fish could easily + have wrecked our boat with its huge body. We hoped to reach the + blockading fleet before daylight, but the night grew cloudy and + we were unable to tell what course we were running, as the bay + grew wider and wider as we went out. We decided the best thing + we could do was to pull for land, which we reached after + midnight, pretty well exhausted with our hard work at the + paddles. We tied up our boat and went to a thicket near by and + slept soundly. + + "When we awoke in the morning, we were cheered by the beautiful + surroundings,--all just as nature had fashioned them, for the + habitation or handiwork of man was nowhere to be seen. Our + couch had been a bed of prickly grass, that caused a stinging, + itching sensation all over our bodies. We had slept in a wild + orange grove. + + "We made a hasty breakfast on our fish and potatoes left from + the night previous, and started for our boat; but imagine our + surprise when we found it distant at least two hundred yards + from the water. Mark, who had lived in the old country, + explained to me that this was the effect of the ocean tide, + which had gone out since we landed, and would not come in again + until that night. There was no safe course left us but to drag + our boat to the water, which we did, after tugging at it for + about an hour. + + "When we were again on the water we could see the spires and + high buildings of the city we had passed, but no sight of ships + could we see. We took our course as well as we could, and + pulled for the open sea. A little boat, which seemed to be a + fishing-smack under full sail, passed away to the leeward of + us, coming out from the city, and caused us no little concern, + but she passed off, and either did not notice us or care to + inquire who we were. We plied our paddles industriously until + about the middle of the afternoon, when we spied an island away + in the distance. We had been out of sight of land for some time + and the view of the island cheered us up a little, for we knew + if a rough sea came on that our little boat was liable to get + swamped. This island was much farther away than we had + supposed. As we neared it we were in some doubt as to whether + we should pass to the right or left of it, when our decision + was made by the discovery to the left and away in the distance + of something that had the appearance of dead trees. + + "In the same direction, and right in our course, was something + that appeared like a bar or gravel-bank. We supposed the old + trees stood on another low island or bar beyond. But as we + neared this bar, that which at first seemed to be dead trees + began to take the shape of ship-masts, and we imagined that we + could see something that looked like the dark outlines of black + smoke-stacks in the blue, hazy distance. This made us quite + nervous, and we pulled away at the paddles with renewed vigor + and strength. Before we were scarcely conscious of it we were + close upon the bar, and began to be puzzled how we should get + by or around it, for it was longer than it appeared to be when + first seen. Presently we discovered a narrow, shallow channel + through it, and we were not long in getting our boat through. + As we were going through, Mark gathered in a lot of rough, + muddy-looking lumps, which I supposed were boulders, and soon + called for my old broken-backed knife, after which I saw him + open-one of the muddy chunks and eat something from it. Says I, + 'Mark! you starving Yank! what in thunder are you at now?' + 'Taste this,' says he, as he opened another muddy chunk, and I + lapped up from the dirty shell the sweetest oyster I had ever + tasted. + + "We were in the midst of a great oyster-bed, the like of which + I had never before seen. I had never, in fact, seen an oyster + in the shell before. Mark gathered up as many as he could as + the boat passed along, and when we reached the still water we + made quite a little feast on them as we paddled on. I think I + never tasted anything so delicious. We were still very hungry, + and the moist, rich, salty flavor of the oysters seemed to suit + our weak, famished stomachs to a nicety. + + "But our little feast was soon cut short by the certain + discovery that the dead trees were nothing less than the masts + of vessels. We could now plainly see the yards, cross-trees, + and great smoke-stacks. We dropped the oysters in the bottom of + the boat, and, though quite exhausted, the sight of the vessels + so renewed our strength that we made the little boat scud over + the still water at a lively rate. Soon we could see the long, + graceful streamers waving from the peaks of the masts, and + the outlines of the dark, sombre-looking hulls of the ships. + +[Illustration: SAVED AT SEA. +Page 290.] + + "We were now nearing the ships very fast, and were a little + anxious to see their colors, as we had become so suspicious of + everybody and everything that we half feared running into the + clutches of our enemies. But we were not long in suspense, for + suddenly a little breeze sprang up, and I shall never forget my + joy on seeing the old flag, the glorious old stars and stripes, + as they unfolded to the ocean breeze, and seemed to extend + their beneficent protection over us, after nearly eight months + of terrible bondage. We could see the field of blue, studded + with its golden stars, and the stripes of white and red! Yes, + it was our flag, old _E Pluribus Unum_! We threw down our + paddles in the boat, and stood up and yelled and screamed and + cried like a couple of foolish boys lost in the woods. We could + not restrain ourselves. Mark wanted to jump overboard and swim + to the ships, although we were yet, perhaps, nearly a mile + away,--at least too far to swim in his condition. After we + recovered our senses a little, we picked up the paddles and + began rowing again, directing our course towards the largest + vessel. + + "It seems now like a dream to me,--that joyful day,--the most + joyful, I was about to say, of my life. I believe there were + three vessels in sight. In steering for the largest one, + although it was the most distant, we had to pass some distance + in front of the bow of a smaller ship or boat. We were now + getting so close that we could plainly see the officers and men + on the decks in their neat, blue uniforms. We could see the + port-holes in the sides of the ships, and the black muzzles of + the cannon projecting out. This gave us much assurance, and we + said to ourselves, 'Good-by, rebs! We are out of your clutches + at last!' + + "We were rowing our insignificant-looking little boat right + along, just as though we intended to capture the biggest vessel + in the fleet, when a gruff voice from the ship, whose bow we + were passing, commanded us to 'Come to, there!' At the same + time we saw a grim-looking old sea-dog, in nice uniform, + leaning over the rail, motioning us in with his hand. We turned + the bow of our little boat towards him, and, when we came + within better speaking distance, he interrogated us, in + stentorian voice, about as follows: + + "'Who in ---- are you, and what are you paddling under my guns + in this manner for?' + + "We were half-terrified by the old fellow's angry, stern + manner, and did not know but we had at last fallen into the + hands of a rebel cruiser under false colors. We did not know + what to say to this unexpected, angry interrogation. We paddled + on very slowly, while the sailors and officers began to gather + in little squads, and look at us with mingled curiosity and + merriment. + + "Presently, the officer hailed us again, with about the same + questions. I now stood up in our boat, and answered that we + were two men trying to get back to God's country, among + friends. I was now quite uneasy, and suspicious of the + situation, and kept my eyes on the officer, for I perceived he + was the commander. I shall never forget his stern but puzzled + look as we came up under the bow of his vessel. We had been so + overjoyed and excited that we had forgotten to pull the old + moss, which covered our nakedness and protected us from the + sun, from our backs, and we must have looked like scare-crows + or swamp-dragons. I cannot speak so well of my own appearance + then, but can see Mark Wood, just as he was on that joyful day, + and a more comical, forlorn, starved-looking being cannot well + be imagined. + + "In our boat were a few cat-fish partly skinned, some oysters + in the shell, some ears of scorched corn, a lot of moss, and + our old boots, for our feet were yet sore, and we went + bare-footed when in the boat. + + "After scrutinizing us in silence for some little time, as we + drifted up closer and closer, he again demanded of us some + account of our strange conduct and appearance. I told him we + were enlisted Federal soldiers, and belonged to the command of + General O. M. Mitchel, in Tennessee, to which he growled + something about our being 'a ---- long ways from camp.' I then + explained to him briefly that we were fugitives, and the causes + that led to it; that we were nearly famished with hunger, and + that, after skulking through mountains and river by night, we + had at last sought protection under the old flag and the guns + of his ship. + + "I could see that his manner towards us had changed. He plainly + saw the indications of our distress. He said he had heard of + the raiding expedition we spoke of, and commanded us to row up + to the ladder and come up the ship's side. We did so, and Wood + went up the steps first. The poor fellow's agitation and joy + were so great, and he was so weak, that he could scarcely raise + his feet from step to step on the ladder or stairs. The + commander, seeing his weak, faltering condition, leaned over + the rail, as Wood came up, and, reaching out, took hold to + assist him, and, as he did so, the rotten bit of old moss, + which covered Mark's shoulder and back, all pulled off, and + exposed his emaciated, bony skeleton, which, in truth, was + nothing but skin and bones. The well-fed, sleek-looking sailors + seemed to look on in horror, but not more so than the + generous-hearted commander, who was moved almost to tears as he + was reaching over to help me as I came to the top of the + step-ladder. They stared at us in silent wonderment, while the + sailors looked down into our little boat with comical + curiosity." + +We need not linger over the royal reception the poor fugitives met, or +their joy as they partook of the hospitality of the commander, or even +their still greater joy when they returned to friends and comrades, who +had long mourned them as dead. From the bright termination of their +sufferings we must turn, with deep reluctance, to the story of the +unfortunate six, still in the power of the enemy. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +FROM ATLANTA TO RICHMOND. + + +"When we resolved to break jail it was our firm belief that failure or +recapture meant death. Yet no sooner was the excitement over, and we +quietly back in prison, than hope began to whisper once more. Possibly +there was some mistake in the report which led to our desperate effort, +or, if it was indeed true, the escape of the larger part of the band +might derange the plan, or change the purpose of holding another +court-martial. It is sure that our anticipations of worse treatment were +not realized. I cannot account for the agreeable surprise we experienced +in this particular. Those who are convinced that the mitigations of our +lot were caused by any representations made by the Union authorities at +Washington after our comrades had escaped must be mistaken, because the +change took place _before one of the fugitives had reached the Union +lines_. Wilson and Wood at Washington, as well as the others of our +number who escaped, did make prompt representations to our government, +which may afterwards have been of service to us. But these could +scarcely have affected us during our stay in Atlanta, as the time was +not sufficient. Possibly, it was thought by the Confederates that the +little remnant of the band, which had already suffered so much, was not +worth persecuting further. However it is explained, the succeeding two +months we remained in Atlanta, after the attempted escape, was the least +rigorous imprisonment endured by us in the South. + +Colonel Lee thought the jail no longer safe, and ordered us to be taken +to the city barracks. These were in the centre of Atlanta, looking out +on one of its busiest public squares. Our room was also far better than +had been given to us before. It was large, well lighted, and provided +with a great open fireplace, in which a fire was kept continually +burning. Our door was never closed, but a sentinel stood in it, watching +us, and the gas was burned all the night. The Confederate soldiers +roomed all around us, and the whole large house--a former hotel, I +think--was surrounded by a line of sentinels. We were in the second +story, and our windows were not barred. We could stand by them, and +watch the busy throng outside for hours at a time. All our surroundings +were now of a soldierly and civilized character. Our treatment was also +more courteous and considerate than formerly. + +Probably much, if not all, of this change for the better may be +attributed to the character of the man in whose charge we were now +placed. Jack Wells, as he was familiarly called, had been a lieutenant +in the regular army of the United States before the war, and had not +forgotten the traditions of the service. He had no feeling of resentment +against us; on the contrary, would come around to our room and talk by +the hour, telling us some great stories of his adventures and receiving +as great in return. His worst fault was intemperance, being frequently +half drunk and not seldom going beyond that point. In these cases, and +when in a communicative mood, he would tell us that he did not care a +cent which side whipped in the war,--that he only held his present +position to avoid being conscripted, and because he preferred having a +commission as a volunteer to being compelled to fight as a private +conscript. But he was an excellent disciplinarian, and we nowhere had +less chance of escape than from under his watchful eye and among his +well-drilled soldiers. He would allow no trifling with his authority, +and was ready to punish with fearful severity, as some of our Tennessee +comrades--who were citizens, not soldiers--found. In fact, he seemed to +care very little for those who were not soldiers. + +One of these men--Mr. Pierce, who had accompanied us from Knoxville--one +day threw his allowance of provisions back again into the tray in which +it was being passed around, with a gesture of contempt, but without a +word being spoken. The supply was very scanty and bad; but, as we could +get no better, we only thought that the old man was very foolish thus to +give up the little that he was offered. But this was not the end. In a +few minutes a file of guards entered, took Pierce out, and tied his +hands before his knees, with a stick inserted across under the knees and +over the arms, in that most uncomfortable position known to soldiers as +"bucking." They left him in the cold hall all night. He was able to eat +his morning allowance without difficulty! + +The next Tennessee sufferer was a Mr. Barker. One of the guards often +used to tease the prisoners by asking them how they liked being shut up +in a prison, "playing checkers with their noses on the windows," etc. A +complaint to the commander would probably have caused a cessation of +such taunts, which it was foolish to notice in any way. But Barker +answered, that _he_ need not feel so proud, for he would certainly be +driven before long to work like a slave in the cotton-fields, to help +pay the expenses of the war. The guard reported the insult, and Barker +was taken to the punishment-room and there suspended, head downwards, +till he fainted. This was repeated two or three times, and he was then +put into a dark cell, only four feet square, without food, for +twenty-four hours. + +I was personally very fortunate here in receiving the favor of the +commander, which I used to the advantage of my comrades as well as I was +able. Having nothing to read, for the kind minister had not visited us +since the attempted escape, and being determined not to be idle, I began +to practise short-hand regularly each day. I had learned it before, and +now wrote with a pencil on any scraps of paper I could find. Wells +watched me while thus engaged, made a good deal of sport of the "spider +tracks," but came in the next day and asked if I would not do a little +writing for him. I was perfectly willing, provided it was not contrary +to my allegiance to the United States. He laughed at the qualification, +and showed me that it was the daily prison reports that he wanted made +out. I did not see that this kind of work would do any harm, and +undertook it. His office adjoined the prison room, and he gave orders +that I was to be allowed to go from one room to the other at pleasure, +but no farther. In fact, when in the office, there was always a special +guard standing at the door. A hundred schemes of escape flashed through +my brain, founded upon the additional privileges I now had; but I soon +found that the guards were instructed to watch me all the more closely +on account of my license. Wells himself laughed, and said that he would +ask no pledges of me, for it was his business to keep us, and ours to +get away--if we could! The qualification was well put. The only time the +eye of a guard was off me day or night was while in the office, and that +had only one door, by which the guard who brought me to the office +always stood till ready to take me back to the common prison room. Yet I +hoped something might occur by which I could help my comrades and +myself. + +One day I had the heartfelt pleasure of saving a man's life. While I was +in Wells' office writing a requisition for provisions a person dressed +in the uniform of a rebel officer was brought in under arrest. He +appeared to be very drunk, but remonstrated so very hard against being +put into the rooms which had common prisoners that Wells consented to +let him stay in his office, to get sober enough to give an account of +himself. He had five hundred dollars in gold, which had been taken from +him,--a marvellous possession, which Wells asked me to feel the weight +of,--but as the officer furiously demanded his money, it was given back +to him. As the charge against him had not yet been made known, Wells +believed that it was only that of drunkenness,--an offence with which he +had great sympathy. When the man got his money he sank down on a lounge +in a drunken stupor. Wells had some business to transact, and soon went +out. Sergeant White, the second in command, was with us, but he, too, +soon took his departure. I was busy writing, but, hearing a step, I +looked up and saw the stranger approaching me. A startling change had +taken place. No trace of drunkenness was visible, but in place of it a +terrible expression of anxiety and determination. I glanced about the +desk to see that the heavy inkstand was in easy reach, for I had never +seen a more desperate face. He leaned over my chair, and whispered, "You +are a prisoner?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"One they call engine thieves?" + +I nodded assent. + +"I know you," said he; "I know all about you. I was here when your +comrades were hung. Brave men they were, and the cruel deed will yet be +avenged. I am not afraid to trust you. The commander here don't know who +I am yet, but he will soon learn, and then I will have to _die_, for I +am a spy from the Federal army." Then he added, with a most appealing +look, "Can't you help me to escape, before it is too late?" + +I was amazed, and for a moment doubtful; but a few hasty questions, put +to test his knowledge of the Federal army and his present character, +set my doubts at rest. Then I asked, "What can I do for you?" + +He answered, "Can't you write me a pass and sign the commander's name to +it?" + +I shook my head. If a pass written in such circumstances had been worth +anything, I would probably have written one for myself and comrades +before that time. Wells, who did not trust me at all, had guarded that +very point in his orders. + +Then my new friend proposed that we together break past the guard and +run for it. I had no wish for such a trial with only one to help. There +was my guard at the office-door; two more guards in the hall; a +barrack-room, with always a dozen or more soldiers in it, at the head of +the stairway; two guards at the front door; and a line of sentinels +around the whole building. + +But as I glanced around the room my eye rested on a fine overcoat of +Wells' lying on the foot of the office bed, and an idea struck me. The +prisoner was a short, thick man, about the same size and build of Wells. +Said I, "Take that overcoat," pointing to it, "and throw it around you, +and just walk out as independently as though you owned the entire +establishment. It is now nearly dark, and the chances are that you will +not be halted at all." + +His countenance lighted at once. "I'll do it!" he exclaimed, with +suppressed eagerness. To fold himself in the cloak, nearly crush my hand +as he said "Thank you! Thank you!" and to open the door and walk out, +was the work of but a moment. I listened as his firm step died away +along the hall, but there was no challenge, no sound that betokened any +discovery. The soldiers, seeing the familiar coat, must have supposed +its rightful owner in it, and allowed it to pass unhindered. A moment +after Sergeant White came in. I feared he would notice the prisoner's +absence, but he did not. I got him engaged in story-telling as soon as +possible, to postpone any inquiries. For some five minutes I succeeded +very well, when Wells entered, cast an uneasy glance about the room, and +at once exclaimed, "Sergeant, where is that officer? Did you put him in +another room?" + +The sergeant answered that he had been out, and that when he returned he +saw nothing of the man. + +It was Wells' turn to be startled now. He sprang over to me and demanded +sternly, "Pittenger, where's that officer?" + +I was not in the least terrified. In fact, I was greatly amused, and for +the moment forgetting the purpose formed two months before, of always +avoiding untruth as well as all other evil things, I answered, "What +officer?" + +"That officer I put in here." + +"Oh! that drunken fellow?" + +"Yes; where is he?" + +"The last I saw of him, he picked up his coat and said he was going to +supper." + +"Going to supper, was he? Ho! I see! Sergeant, run to the guards and +tell them if they let him out I'll have every one of them hung up by the +heels." + +Wells was in a towering passion at once. The alarm was sounded, and for +a few minutes a terrible commotion prevailed, but nothing was seen of +the drunken fugitive, whose importance began to be known. Soon Wells +returned, and demanded in a peremptory tone, "Pittenger, why did not you +give the alarm when he started?'" + +I answered carelessly, "Oh! I did not know that my business in the South +was to guard prisoners." + +"Of course not," he returned; "but I wish you had called me this time." + +Then after a moment's silence, he continued, "You said he took his coat. +Had he a coat?" + +"I suppose so, sir," I returned, "or he would not have taken it." + +"He brought none in. Where did he get it?" + +"Off the foot of that bed." + +Wells sprang to his feet as quickly as if he had been galvanized, kicked +the chair on which he had been sitting clear across the room, and +exclaimed, "_My overcoat!_ sure as ----! Worth eighty dollars! The +villain!" + +No intelligence of this spy reached Atlanta while we remained there. +Wells told me that there was no doubt he had gotten entirely away. + +While in this place, I had the opportunity of learning that there were +many lovers of the old Union in Atlanta. These visited us, and, although +always in the presence of the guards, managed to express their kindness +in very tangible ways. They told us much of their hopes, and of the +strength they numbered. A certain Dr. Scott was very liberal in his +contributions to our wants. I had afterwards the pleasure of repaying +his kindness, when he had been forced to flee for his life, and arrived +destitute in the North. The money we thus obtained, together with some +small presents Captain Wells bestowed, when pleased with the writing I +did for him, gave us the means of living almost luxuriously. One dainty +I remember with especial delight. Sweet potatoes were very abundant and +cheap, and we were allowed to buy as many as our means permitted, and +roast them in the ashes of the wood fire which always glowed on our +hearth. The great mealy potatoes, raked out and dusted off and eaten +hot, constituted a feast good enough for a king! I have never since +found any sweet potatoes equal to those we devoured by the bushel in the +old Atlanta barracks. This abundant living made some amends for the six +months of famine that preceded it, and gave strength, which was still to +be sorely tested before the day of deliverance. The memory of those +beautiful autumnal days, when we could look from our unbarred windows +upon the sky and the street, when we could gather around the fire and +under the gas-jet in the evening, when hunger no longer pinched, and +when health, which I had long missed, came back, when some consideration +was shown for us even by our guards, and when visitors often whispered +words or gave signs of sympathy for our cause as well as for ourselves, +is not altogether unpleasant. True, we were still prisoners, and our +fate as uncertain as ever; but it was easy to persuade ourselves that +these more pleasant surroundings were the promise of still greater good. + +Our religious exercises were here continued as persistently and publicly +as in the jail. There were serious difficulties to overcome. Some of our +own party seemed to consider that our release from the dark cells of a +criminal prison removed the necessity of morning and evening prayer. We +were not alone, and the soldiers who were "off duty" came to our door +when it was first reported that "the Yankees were having +prayer-meeting," and greatly annoyed us by interruptions and by a +continual series of comments upon the exercises. We endured this for a +time, but at last I appealed to Wells. He gave us protection from the +guard, saying that he could not stand praying himself, but if we could +get any good out of it we were welcome, and should not be disturbed. The +opposition of the prisoners soon gave way also, and our morning and +evening devotions were seasons of great interest. Even prisoners from +other rooms came to their open doors that they might hear the reading +and prayers, and join with us in song. Faith, hope, and courage were +sustained by this recognition of God more than by all other agencies +combined. + +An effort was here made to get recruits out of the prison for the +Confederate army. Especially were the regular soldiers who were in our +company importuned. But our band were not asked. I presume they thought +we could not be trusted. Had the offer now been made I would not have +accepted, though I would have done so without hesitation at any time +preceding the death of our friends. Now my religious principles would +have prevented me from taking the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy +for the mere purpose of breaking it by desertion. But I was glad the +temptation was not offered to any of our band. + +At length there came to us most startling news,--a court-martial was +again convened! This was the first since the ever-memorable one at +Knoxville, and we awaited its action with breathless interest. A week of +sickening suspense passed and no summons came for us. Had we been +ordered out for trial we had resolved to try again to escape, even if +the effort only resulted in throwing us on the bayonets of the +surrounding guards. But when news came that the court had adjourned, we +were as much rejoiced as we had been fearful before. It did look as if +they intended to persecute the feeble remnant of our party no further; +and passing from the extreme of despondency to that of hope, we began +once more to indulge the blissful expectations of exchange. But our time +had not yet come. + +The weeks rolled on. Few things worthy of note occurred. The same +monotony which makes prison-life so dreary robs it of interest when +recorded. We would rise in the morning from our hard bed--the floor--and +wash ourselves by pouring water on each other's hands; then eat our +scanty rations when brought. Then the effort was to kill time until +dinner came, which was about four o'clock. It was not abundant, but if +we had a bundle of roasted sweet potatoes to add from our own stores, as +often happened, it was not so bad. Then we did anything to keep busy +until the gas was lit. This was kept burning all night, not from any +favor to us, but only that the guards might see that we were not +arranging any plan for escaping. + +This was the most cheerful hour of the day, for under the soft +inspiration of the gaslight conversation flowed freely, and all the +incidents of our past lives were rehearsed. Wells or some other rebel +officer would often enter and talk with us. Arguments and discussion on +all manner of subjects were introduced, and often continued until the +midnight bells were striking in the town. Then would come our evening +prayers as we lay down to dream often of home and friends and freedom. +In the morning the same round recommenced. Thus days glided into weeks, +and weeks passed into months. The golden hues of autumn deepened into +the sombre colors of early winter, and still we were in Atlanta. It +almost seemed as if we would never be anywhere else. + +At length there came a day of wonderful joy. A number of officers, +including the provost-marshal, came to the barracks, and, inquiring out +our room, had us all drawn up in line. One of them stepped forth and +addressed us, saying that he had good news to communicate, which they +had been hoping to receive for some time past. He continued, "You have +all been exchanged, and all that now remains is to send you out of our +territory by way of Richmond and City Point." + +Each of them then came along our line and shook hands with us,--the +Tennesseeans and regular soldiers included, twenty in all,--offering +congratulations on the happy terminations of our trials, and wishing us +much joy on our arrival at home. + +Our feelings were indescribable, but strangely mingled. There was an +overwhelming rush of emotions which forbade utterance,--rapture +exceedingly great, and yet mingled with a deep touch of sorrow that our +seven dead--murdered--comrades were not with us to share the joy of this +hour. And the eight also who had managed to get out of the clutches of +the rebels by their own daring,--we were uneasy about them. Only a day +or two before we had seen in an Atlanta paper, obtained, as usual, +through the negroes, who were waiters here as well as at the jail, an +article clipped from the _Cincinnati Commercial_, telling of the arrival +of Porter and Wollam at Corinth, as narrated above. Of the others we +had received no reliable information, but supposed that some of them at +least had perished. The provost-marshal told us that three had been shot +and left in the woods, but we did not fully credit him. + +Notwithstanding all this, the prospect of liberty was enough to make our +hearts overflow with gratitude to God. I was so agitated that when Wells +asked me to write a requisition for provisions for the trip to Richmond +I could not do it, and had to transfer the work to more steady hands. It +was nine o'clock in the morning when we received the glad news, and we +were to start for home--_via_ Richmond--at seven in the evening. As the +time for departure drew near, we again lit the gas, and made up a fire, +the ruddy blaze of which was an emblem of cheerfulness, to take a +farewell view of the room in which we had spent so many not altogether +unhappy hours. Often afterwards did we remember that bright hour of +expectation. + +We were forbidden to take any blankets with us, being told that we would +soon be where blankets were plenty. The pieces of carpet we had managed +to secure as blankets were therefore left behind, with the exception of +two small strips, which were afterwards very serviceable. A great +surprise met us when we were ordered to start. We were not tied! This +was the first journey on which we had been sent so carelessly, and it +afforded the strongest presumption that the exchange was a reality. + +All was now in readiness for our departure, and we took a last look at +rebel Atlanta. The guards fell in on each side of us, and we wended our +way along the dark streets. Wells, even drunker than usual, accompanied +us to the cars, where he hiccoughed an affectionate farewell. I carried +away one good article of dress,--a nice felt hat. The day before Wells +clapped it on my head, telling me that I looked better in it than in my +own shabby cap. I supposed that it was only a freak, and that he would +reclaim it again, but he did not. It was much out of suit with my other +garments, but I wore it until I had a chance to sell it for a great +price--in Confederate money! + +Sergeant White commanded our escort. He had always been kind to us, and, +like his superior, did not care which side came out best in the war, so +long as he was not hurt. The guard were only ten in number, while we +were twenty and unbound,--a ridiculous falling off from former +precautions. + +We were crowded into box-cars, and soon began to suffer severely with +cold, for the night air was most piercing. It was the 3rd of December, +and we had only summer clothing, which was, in addition, very ragged. +About three o'clock in the morning we left the train at Dalton to wait +for another train to Cleveland, as we were not to go through +Chattanooga. This was our last passage over the railroad we had so much +wished to destroy nine months before. + +The stars were sparkling in night and frosty brilliancy. When we +stopped, and the keen and icy wind cut almost through us. We nearly +perished before the train arrived, and enabled us to continue our +journey. + +In the morning we found that our three days' rations, which were to last +to Richmond, were barely sufficient for breakfast. We ate everything, +and trusted to buying something with the remaining money our Atlanta +Union friends had given us. When that failed we had our old +resource,--the endurance of hunger. + +During this day's ride on the cars, we discussed the question as to +whether it would not be best to capture the guard and escape. The task +did not seem hard. The guards were very careless, and we could at any +time have had as many guns as they had. They sat on the same seats with +us, and were often asleep. Several times on the trip we awakened the +sentinels by the doors as the corporal approached, thus saving them from +punishment. Once Sergeant White laughingly told us that we could escape +if we tried, but that he thought it would be more pleasant for us to +ride around by way of Richmond rather than to walk over the mountains on +our own responsibility. This very security lulled our suspicions, and +made us shrink from undertaking an escape which would have involved +severe hardship in mountain travel, if nothing worse. Besides, we no +longer had the same homogeneous party as in Atlanta. + +In the afternoon we passed Knoxville, and were glad to keep right on. +Then came the town of Greenville, the home of our former companion, the +heroic Captain Fry. About nightfall we reached the Virginia line, and +ran steadily on. It was a beautiful night; the moon shone over the pale, +frosty hills with a mellow radiance which made the whole landscape +enchanting. The shifting scenes of mountain, stream, or ghostly wood +seemed to me like a panorama of human life. The morning dawned upon us, +still steaming slowly through the romantic valleys of Virginia. + +The next day was wet and dreary. Our car leaked, our fire went out, and +we were thoroughly uncomfortable. By evening we had reached the mountain +city of Lynchburg, and discovered that we had missed the railroad +connection. This led to a delay of twenty-four hours, which we greatly +regretted, being very anxious to get speedily through to our own lines. +We had all our plans laid for the happy day of our arrival at +Washington. + +We were quartered in a large bare room belonging to the barracks, where +some of the worst criminals of the Confederacy were also confined. There +was a great stove in the centre of the room, but, as no fire was put in +it, we had to endure another night of dampness and cold. The only +consolation was found in the thought that we would not have many more +such nights to spend before reaching home. I paced the floor till nearly +morning, and saw a good many amusing incidents. Many of the rebels were +drunk and disposed to mischief. One man diverted himself by walking +around the room on the forms of those who were trying to sleep. In his +round he stepped on Bensinger,--one of our party. The infliction was +patiently endured the first time, but as the sot came again, Bensinger +was on the lookout, and, springing to his feet, gave him a blow that +stretched him out on the floor. Some of his companions rushed forward to +resent the just punishment, but Bensinger's friends also were prepared, +and there was a good prospect of a general fray. But, as soon as the +ruffians understood the position, they retired to their own side of the +room. + +In the raw and chill morning I found here some of the most virulent +enemies of the Union I had yet seen. A prisoner loudly declared that no +quarter ought to be given in the war,--said that he had advocated +raising the black flag from the first, asserting that "if it had been +raised the war would have been over long since." + +"No doubt of it," I replied. "In that case the whole Southern race would +have been exterminated long before this." + +That mode of ending the war had not entered his mind, and he did not +appear pleased with the suggestion. + +A little before dark the next evening we again started, and now had +good, comfortable cars,--the best we had enjoyed on the route. But we +only ran a short distance to the junction, where we had to leave them +and wait the arrival of another train. Here was the best chance of +escape we had yet found. The night was pitchy dark, and so cold that the +guards built a great fire on the border of a strip of woodland, and +allowed us to help in gathering withered sticks to replenish it. They +scarcely appeared to notice us, and all that was necessary for escape +was to give the word and run for it. Nothing held us but the absolute +confidence of a speedy exchange, and, depending upon that, the golden +opportunity was neglected. Of course, the perils and hardships of +wandering through the Virginia mountains in the depth of winter would +have been severe, but the start would have been mere child's play. Oh! +how bitterly we afterwards regretted that we had not darted into the +depths of the forest and sought to effect our own exchange! + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +LIBBY AND CASTLE THUNDER. + + +In a few hours the train for which we waited arrived, and, passing +onward without further noticeable events, long before morning we were in +Richmond. There was the same intense and piercing cold which had been +the main element in our suffering during this journey, but the sky was +clear, and the rebel capital was distinctly seen in the sparkling +moonlight. Everything looked grim and silent through the frosty air, and +our teeth chattered fast and loud as we walked up a street of the +sleeping city. + +But the sergeant in command of our party did not know what to do with +us. We hoped that some arrangements had been made for forwarding us +directly to City Point, the place of exchange, so that we might that +very day behold once more the stars and stripes. Yet we knew it was more +probable that some detention would occur. The sergeant left us where we +were while he started in search of the provost-marshal's office for +instructions. We endeavored to shelter ourselves as best we could from +the unbearable cold, which really threatened to prove fatal. Two pieces +of ragged carpet were all the protection we had, in addition to our +well-worn summer clothing, and we spread these over our heads as we +huddled together in a solid mass in the angle of a brick wall. It was +astonishing what a relief this afforded,--especially to those who were +in the inside of the _pack_, where I happened to be. Here we shivered +till the sergeant returned. He had found the headquarters of the prison +department and conducted us thither. + +Several streets were threaded in the moonlight, and when the office was +reached, to add to our discomfort, it was destitute of fire. We stood in +the empty room, looking at the grim portraits of rebel generals for an +hour or two, until the marshal entered. He did not deign to speak to us, +but broke open a sealed letter Sergeant White handed him and read aloud +that ten disloyal Tennesseeans, four prisoners of war, and _six engine +thieves_ were hereby forwarded to Richmond by order of General +Beauregard. The old name applied to us was no small shock. We had hoped +that the title of "engine thieves" had been left behind, and that from +henceforth we would be only called "prisoners of war." But we still +trusted to be soon beyond their lines, and it would make no real +difference what name they exchanged us under. The marshal then gave his +orders, and we were conducted onward. + +By this time it was daylight, December 7, 1862. Richmond looked still +more cheerless in the cold morning than in the moonlight. + +A long march through a number of streets brought us to the banks of the +James River, where we halted in front of a most desolate-looking but +very large brick building, situated near the water, and surrounded by a +formidable circle of guards. This we supposed to be a prison, and soon +learned that we were right. It was the famous LIBBY. + +We entered, were conducted up a flight of steps, and reached a vast, +open room, where we saw, almost for the first time since our capture, +the old, familiar United States uniform, and were soon in the midst of +over a hundred United States soldiers. + +Our greeting at first was not very friendly, as we still wore the +ragged clothing that had served us all summer; but as soon as our true +character and history were known, a most cordial welcome was extended. +There was only one small stove in the cold, empty room, around which +part of the inmates were huddled. But with the characteristic courtesy +and chivalry of the American soldier they cleared a place beside it for +us. When I got warm I had leisure to look around. + +The prospect was not very cheerful. Above, the floor had been taken out, +leaving only the rafters between us and the roof. The window-sashes were +all removed, and the cold wind whistled in from the river far more +sharply than was consistent with comfort. Only a very scanty amount of +fuel was allowed per day, and when that was exhausted they had to endure +the freezing as best they could. The room was too large and open to be +warmed throughout, and only a few could gather around the stove. The +food was neither better nor worse than in other Southern prisons. +Probably among all the prisoners, past and present, we were the only +ones who were glad to be there. We regarded it as the sure pledge that +our foes had not deceived us in their promise of an exchange, for these +men, with whom we found ourselves, were actually going northward on the +next truce-boat, which was daily expected. What mattered the cold wind +or the bare floor with such a hope? We felt that we were no longer held +as criminals, but were now in the common prison, with other soldiers, +sure that the day of final release could not be far off. What wonder if +our joy was too deep for words, and we could only turn it over in our +minds, and tremble lest it should prove too delightful to be realized? +The vision of freedom was so warm and vivid that all hardships were +forgotten. + +It was also very agreeable to talk with our comrades who had recently +been captured, and get news of the progress of the war from a Federal +stand-point. All the intelligence we had obtained for a long period +came colored by Southern prejudices. In such communion with friends who +were still confident of success in the great conflict the time passed +rapidly. + +But in the midst of our conversation, probably two hours after our +entrance, an officer came to the door and called for the men who had +just been admitted. Every one in the room but ourselves had taken the +customary oath of parole, not to serve against the Confederacy until +regularly exchanged; and supposing that omission in our case was about +to be supplied, we gladly responded. The guard led us down to the +entrance hall and called over our names. The four prisoners of war who +had come from Atlanta with us were sent up-stairs again, while we were +turned into an immense, but dark and low, room on the left of the +stairway and the door locked behind us. + +This was an awful moment. The full meaning of this separation burst upon +us. We had been taken away from those who were to be exchanged and put +in a room reserved for those regarded as criminals. We had been bitterly +deceived, and our hopes at once fell from the highest heaven to which +they had soared. A cold sense of misery and despair came over us. No +wonder we looked at each other with pale, troubled countenances in the +dim light, and asked questions none were prepared to solve. + +But for one moment only were we thus crushed; the next we eagerly sought +an avenue for hope. Perhaps they did not choose to recognize us as +soldiers, and merely wished to exchange us as civilians,--a matter of +perfect indifference to us, provided we were exchanged at all. We looked +around to see what foundation we could build on for this pleasant +conjecture. + +Our present apartment contained even more prisoners than that up-stairs. +They were not Northern soldiers, but were from all parts of the South. +Some of them had been in prison ever since the war broke out, while a +few had been arrested for supposed anti-slavery sentiments even before +that event, and had lived in loathsome dungeons ever since. There had +been a reign of terror in the Southern States preceding the war, as well +as after the opening of the contest, which differed from the similar +terror in the French revolution mainly in being less theatrical, and in +striking humbler victims. A few Northern soldiers were here who had been +put in for attempting to escape or for other breaches of prison +discipline. Every man in the room had some kind of "a charge" against +him. These facts were not calculated to strengthen hopes of exchange, or +even weaken fears of further punishment. + +In the mean time breakfast was brought in. It consisted of a small +quantity of thin soup and a very scanty allowance of bread. To our +delight the latter was made of wheat flour instead of corn-meal; and all +the time we remained in Richmond we received good bread, though it was +very deficient in quantity. + +While we were talking with our new room-mates an officer again entered, +and inquired for the men who had last come in. We responded promptly, +for hope was again whispering in our hearts that probably there had been +some mistake, which would now be rectified, and we be taken up-stairs +again. But no such good fortune was in store,--rather the reverse. We +were taken out of doors, where a guard waited to remove us to another +prison. Again our hearts sank. + +We crossed the street and marched westward, halting at a +desolate-looking building, a few hundred yards from Libby, which we +afterwards learned was "CASTLE THUNDER," the far-famed Bastile of the +South. Through a guarded door we entered a reception-room and waited for +some time. In this interval a fierce-looking, black-whiskered, bustling +individual, who I afterwards learned was Chillis, the prison commissary, +came by and, looking at us, exclaimed,-- + +"Bridge-burners, are they? They ought to hang, every man of them; so +ought everybody who does anything against the Confederacy." The latter +proposition, with the change of one word, precisely suited my own +feeling then. + +Soon we were ordered up-stairs. Up we went, passing by a room filled +with a howling and yelling multitude, who made such an outrageous racket +that I was compelled to put my hands to my ears. A score of voices +brawled with all the power of their lungs, "Fresh fish! Fresh fish!" The +same exclamations greeted every new arrival. + +Here we were searched, as usual, to see if we had anything contraband, +or rather, anything worth taking from us. I had obtained a large knife +in Atlanta, which I managed to slip up my sleeve, and by carefully +turning my arm when they felt for concealed weapons, succeeded in +keeping it out of the way. + +The examination over, I supposed they would put us in the bedlam we had +just passed. They did no better, for we were put into a _stall_ beside +the large room. I use the word "stall" advisedly, for no other is so +appropriate. It was one of a range partitioned off from the room in +which were the noisy miscreants, and from each other, by boards nailed +to the upright timbers, with cracks wide enough to let the wind +circulate freely everywhere. Most of the windows of the large room were +out, which greatly increased the cold. Our stall was only eight or nine +feet wide, and perhaps sixteen in length. It was perfectly bare of +furniture,--not having even a bench or any means of making a fire. It +was in the third story, and had one redeeming quality,--it commanded a +view of the street, but there was a guard below, who had orders to shoot +at any head that might be protruded from the window. + +In this cheerless place our party of six, with nine +Tennesseeans,--fifteen in all,--were confined during the months of +December and January. The first day our spirits sank lower than ever +before. All our bright hopes were dashed to the ground, and there +seemed every reason to believe that we were doomed to this dreary abode +for the whole duration of the war, if, indeed, we escaped sharing with +our murdered friends the horrors of a scaffold. It was too disheartening +for philosophy, and that day was one of the blackest gloom. We seldom +spoke, and when we did, it was to denounce our own folly in suffering +ourselves to be deluded to Richmond by falsehood. I cannot say at this +time whether the false declaration concerning the exchange was intended +to deceive or was only the result of some misunderstanding; but then we +had no doubt it was deliberate treachery. Not being able to spare enough +guards to make us secure, we felt that they had deceived us to this +terrible prison, which we might have avoided by seizing one of the many +opportunities for escape our journey afforded. But it was no use +lamenting; all we could do was to register a vow never to be so deceived +again. One resource remained. It was my turn to lead our devotions, +which we had continued faithfully. If I ever prayed with fervor it was +in this hour of disappointment and dread. I tried to roll our cares upon +the Lord, and at least partly succeeded, for I rose from my knees +convinced that we had one Friend who had not forsaken us, and who had +often made His children rejoice in worse situations than ours. The next +morning we awoke quite cheerful and nerved for any fate that might yet +be in store. + +The routine of prison-life here differed but little from that in +Atlanta, though our condition was far less comfortable. In the morning +we were taken down to the court (the building was square and built with +an open space in the centre) to wash, and were immediately taken back to +our stall and locked up. The principal difference arose from our lack of +fire. No other physical suffering I endured in the whole imprisonment +was more intolerable than this perpetual freezing. We had no opportunity +for those pleasant fireside chats which had done so much to make our +days endurable in the Atlanta barracks. In their stead, as the darkness +and coldness of night drew on, we were compelled to pace the floor, +trying to keep warm; and, when sleep became a necessity, we would all +pile down in a huddle, as pigs sometimes do, and spread over us the thin +protection of our two bits of carpet. Thus we would lie until the cold +could be endured no longer, then rise and resume our walk. When the +weather became warmer than usual we would sleep much, to make up for +wakefulness during the colder nights. + +We never omitted our public prayers. For a while the crowd outside in +the large room, which was composed of the very scum of Southern society, +such as deserters from the army, gamblers, and cut-throats from the +large cities, gave us all the annoyance in their power, by shouting all +kinds of derisive epithets through the cracks in the board partition +while we were kneeling; but, finding their efforts ineffectual, they +finally gave over, and left us to pursue our own way in peace. We found, +afterwards, when, for a short time, we were put in with them, that they +respected us all the more for our perseverance. + +A few days after our arrival we noticed a great stir at Libby Prison, +which was in plain view. A truce-boat had arrived at the place of +exchange. Soon a body of prisoners were marched up the street by us, and +our four Atlanta companions with them. As they passed by they waved +their hands to us in farewell and continued their journey to freedom. +They were not disappointed, and, as I have since learned, they were soon +with their friends at home. The representations made at Atlanta were +true as regarded these four men; the falsehood was in making us believe +that _we_ stood on the same footing. We felt glad for their sakes; but +the parting, to us, was very painful, and we turned away from the window +with something of the gloom that had darkened the first day of our abode +in this prison. + +One great privilege we had here,--a delightful oasis in the dead +sameness that settled over our days. This was found in reading the daily +newspapers. We were not now forbidden their perusal, and some one in the +large room had always money enough to buy a paper and charity enough to +lend it. As soon as we received it, all the party would gather around +while it was read aloud. Each item of importance was eagerly discussed. +The news was often exciting, as the Union commander, Burnside, had just +made an advance, and we breathed hearty prayers that he would be +successful in reaching Richmond. Probably our enemies would, in that +case, try to remove us farther South; but we had firmly resolved to +escape in such a contingency or die in the attempt. We would not allow +ourselves again to be moved from one prison to another without risking +everything for freedom. + +But soon came the sad news of Burnside's bloody repulse at +Fredericksburg,--sad to us, but causing the greatest rejoicing among our +enemies, who felt that they had escaped a great danger. If Union defeats +diffused gloom throughout the whole of the loyal States, there was yet +no place where they were so regretfully and bitterly felt as in Southern +prisons. + +Here I sold the hat I had obtained from Commander Wells in Atlanta, and +made an effort to invest the money in books, for which I was more hungry +than for bread. But the volumes I wanted were not to be found in +Richmond. Chillis, the cross commissary who wished us hung on our first +arrival, but who was, nevertheless, the kindest official in the prison, +made the effort to obtain them; but when he failed, we took instead some +very small cakes, at ten cents each. These were a great addition to our +rations for a day or two. + +The desire to escape once more became intense. Being in the third story, +we could only get out by passing at each door successive relays of +guards, all of whom had reserves ready to co-operate with them in case +of alarm. Our room was nearest the jailer's office, and on the other +side there ran a row of rooms filled with all kinds of prisoners,--some +held as spies and others as murderers. + +The nearest of these rooms to our own was occupied by Federal soldiers +accused of various offences. Captain Webster was one of these. He had on +one occasion been sent to capture a notorious guerrilla captain named +Simpson, who was then hiding within the Union lines. When he was found, +Webster summoned him to surrender. Instead of doing so he fired his +pistol and started to run, but Webster also fired and mortally wounded +him. + +When Webster was afterwards captured by the Confederates, he was charged +with the murder of Simpson, and confined in the room next our own. He +was finally hanged, but in the official report the offence was changed, +in a manner not uncommon with Confederate authorities, for the more +plausible one of violating his parole. + +At this time Webster was very anxious for an attempt at escape. A plan +was soon arranged, and the evening before Christmas selected as the +time. The citizen prisoners in the room below were more favorably +situated than ourselves for beginning the enterprise. We had opened +secret communications with them, and the ramifications of the plot +reached every room in the prison. The signal agreed upon was the cry of +"fire!" When this alarm--always startling, but doubly so in a crowded +prison--was given, we were to rush upon the guards and overpower them. +They only numbered about thirty, while we had over a hundred and fifty +men in the plot. After capturing the guard, we still had the very +serious task of getting out of the guarded and fortified city. It is not +probable that a very great number could have succeeded in doing this. + +That Christmas-eve was not much like Christmas at home. We made +everything ready, and anxiously waited for the thrilling alarm of +"fire!" which we would have echoed at the top of our voices, and then +burst off the door of our stall and flung ourselves on the guard. I had +no doubt that we could thus break open the strongest prison in the +Confederacy; but as to any large number escaping to the Union lines I +was less confident. The hours rolled on and midnight came,--the hour +fixed for the attack. But we waited in vain. No signal was given. The +inmates in the room below had failed in courage at the critical moment +and resolved to postpone the attempt. + +Not yet discouraged, we determined to make another trial the very next +night. Captain Webster was appointed leader, as we felt sure that he +would not falter. The locks were taken off all the side rooms except +ours, which was so near the station of the guard that it could not be +removed without great danger of discovery. We cared but little for this. +A long board which supported our water-bucket afforded a convenient +battering-ram, with which we felt sure of being able to deal with our +door. + +Some of the inmates did not wish to run the fearful hazard, but were +very kind to those of us who did, supplying us with serviceable shoes +and taking our worn-out ones in return. + +Again we waited for the signal. Four of us held the long board, and felt +sure that one blow would dash our door into the middle of the room. + +The other small rooms were soon vacated, the movement being concealed +from the observation of the guards by the inmates of the large room, +into which all the others entered, crowding up around the doors. + +For an instant all was silent. We lifted our hearts in mental prayer to +God that he would be with us and preserve us through the coming strife, +and if consistent with his high will, permit us to regain our liberty. + +What can cause the delay? Minute after minute passes, and the dead +silence is broken only by the throbbing of our own hearts. We have +counted the cost, and are ready for the strife which shall lead us to +grapple, with naked arms, the shining bayonets of the guards. Some will +certainly fall, but we trust that others will regain the unutterable +blessing of liberty. + +But now we see our friends _creeping back to their rooms_! We grind our +teeth with rage and chagrin, but soon hear the explanation, which makes +us believe that the Lord is indeed watching over us. + +Just as the leader was ready to give the signal, a friend pressed to his +side and informed him that we were betrayed, and that the enemy were on +the watch for us. From a window in the far corner of the room a force of +at least eighty men could be seen drawn up before the prison-door. The +story continued that orders had been given to shoot down every one who +attempted to escape, while another detachment was to close in behind and +make an indiscriminate massacre. Had we carried out our plan, the guard +would have yielded before our rush until we had been fully drawn into +the trap, when they hoped to make such a slaughter as would be a +perpetual warning to prison-breakers. + +When I first heard this account I thought it the invention of some +weak-nerved individual who wished to avoid the danger of our scheme. But +it was perfectly true. The next day the newspapers of Richmond contained +a full _expose_ of the whole affair, and Captain Alexander, the tyrant +who commanded the prison, threatened to have every one engaged in it +tied up and whipped. But he finally changed his mind. A nominal +prisoner, who was really a spy in the service of the authorities, had +contrived to get into the plot, and had reported it to his employers. +This was the last attempt at prison-breaking in which I was concerned. + +In Richmond there was a pretence of allowing prisoners to correspond +with their friends in the North,--of course, subject to the inspection +of the prison officials. From Libby Prison some letters did go safely. +We also tried writing, making our expressions very guarded, but, so far +as I have ever heard, none of our correspondence was forwarded beyond +the lines. I was providentially afforded a better opportunity. Some of +the prisoners captured at the battle of Murfreesborough were brought to +Richmond for exchange, and were kept overnight in a room in the basement +of Castle Thunder. When in the court as usual in the morning, I asked a +good-natured Irishman of their number if he would carry a letter and +mail it for me after getting to loyal territory. He cheerfully +consented, and I pencilled a note to my father on the fly-leaf of a book +and, watching an opportunity when unobserved, gave it to him. He +concealed it until out of rebel power, and duly committed it to the +mail. The sensation may be imagined which it produced among my own +friends and those of other members of the party, as nothing had been +heard from us since the October escape, and we had long been given over +as dead. Though the note was very hastily written, I copy it here +without change, as showing the feeling experienced at that time. +Something of the hopefulness and lightness of the tone resulted from the +wish to cheer those addressed. + + "RICHMOND, VA., January 6, 1863. + + "DEAR FATHER,--I take this opportunity of writing by a paroled + prisoner to let you know that I am well and doing as well as + could be expected. I have seen some rather hard times, but the + worst is past. Our lives are now safe, but we will be kept + during the war, unless something lucky turns up for us. There + are six of our original railroad party here yet. Seven were + executed in June, and eight escaped in October. + + "I stand the imprisonment pretty well. The worst of it is to + hear of our men [this refers to the Union army] getting whipped + so often. I hear all the news here: read three or four papers a + day. I even know that Bingham was beat in the last election, + for which I am very sorry. + + "The price of everything here is awful. It costs thirty cents + to send a letter. This will account for my not writing to all + my friends I Give my sincere love to them, and tell them to + write to me. + + "You may write by leaving the letter unsealed, putting in + nothing that will offend the Secesh, and directing to Castle + Thunder, Va. I want to know the private news,--how many of my + friends have fallen. Also tell me who has been drafted in our + neighborhood, who married, and who like to be. Also, if you + have a gold dollar at hand, slip it into the letter,--not more, + as it might tempt the Secesh to _hook_ it. I have tried to send + word through to you several times, but there is now a better + chance of communicating since we came from Atlanta to Richmond. + + "No doubt you would all like to see me again, but let us have + patience. Many a better man than I am has suffered more, and + many parents are mourning for their children without the hope + of seeing them again. So keep your courage up, and do not be + uneasy about me. Write as soon as you can, and tell all my + friends to do the same. + + "Ever yours, + "WILLIAM PITTENGER. + + "To THOMAS PITTENGER, + "New Somerset, Jefferson Co., Ohio." + +The belief expressed in the above letter of imprisonment during the war +was thought by the writer to be most probable. No word was spoken either +of exchange or of court-martial. The prices referred to were in +Confederate money, which was now greatly depreciated. The little we had +brought from Atlanta rapidly melted away, procuring us very little +addition to our meagre fare. We still hoped for great Union victories +and a speedy termination of the war. But at the opening of the year 1863 +the prospect was dark indeed. + +About the 1st of February the range of side rooms in which we were +confined was wanted for hospital purposes. The prison hospital had been +located in the garret above, but disease increased to such an extent +that its accommodations were no longer sufficient. These chill and +comfortless rooms had but little adaptation to their new purpose, and +hastened the release of many a poor unfortunate by the mercy of death. +Disease was now making fearful havoc. The hardships of prison-life and +the starvation diet prepared the way for every contagion. Smallpox broke +out, and prevailed to such an extent that the whole town was alarmed. +The prisoners were vaccinated by the wholesale, but this necessary +precaution caused great additional suffering. Men died in every room, +and the visiting physician came each morning to remove to the hospitals +those who showed marks of the dreaded pestilence. It would scarcely be +believed that some prisoners actually counterfeited smallpox in order to +be sent to the smallpox hospital, where they would have a better +opportunity for escape. But escaping had become a regular mania, and all +possible means were employed to effect it. + +No one of our party of six took the pestilence, though two suffered very +severely from the vaccine virus. But the prevalence of disease did us a +good service in securing our removal from the narrow stall to the +comparative freedom of the room outside. + +This was a great change, and did seem like freedom by contrast. From +this time the isolation of our prison-life was at an end. I have spoken +of the "room," but the term is scarcely accurate. The partitions had +been taken out or never inserted in this upper floor, and the prisoners +could go from one end of the building to the other, but with guards +stationed at every door and watching every window outside. In a far +corner there was a stove,--the first fire we had felt since leaving +Libby two months before. It did not suffice to warm half the people +around it, and these were very quarrelsome, but it was a great luxury to +be occasionally warm. + +The amusements of the hundreds who had been gathered into this +receptacle of humanity were very _striking_, if not elegant. When a +dense crowd had gathered around the stove, some person outside--usually +one of a large group of very mischievous Irish-men--would cry, +"Char-rge, me boys!" and a solid column of perhaps fifty men would rush +against the group around the stove, knocking men in all directions, +endangering limbs, and raising a perfect storm of profanity. Fights were +very frequent, and it only needed the addition of intoxicating liquor to +make the place a perfect pandemonium. As it was, the interference of the +guard was often required to preserve order. Our party, however, always +stood together, and were thus able to protect themselves. + +The evenings were a compensation for the turmoil and quarrelling of the +day. After all who possessed blankets had rolled themselves up and laid +down to rest on the floor, some of the worst rowdies, who had been +annoying and persecuting their fellow-prisoners all day, would gather +around the stove and appear in a new character,--that of story-tellers. +Old Irish legends, and some of the finest fairy-tales to which I have +ever listened, were brought forth, and the greater part of the night was +often passed in such discourse. But the approach of day put an end to +the romantic disposition of these rude bards and left them ill ruffians +as before. + +We soon wearied of this perpetual ferment and excitement, and learning +that there was one room in the prison occupied principally by Union men, +petitioned to be placed with them. To our surprise this request was +granted, and we were taken down to the ground floor, and placed in a +large, dingy room on the level of the street. The windows were not only +secured by crossing bars, but additionally darkened by fine woven wire. +The refuse tobacco-stems--the building was an old tobacco +manufactory--had been thrown into this room, and were now gathered into +a great heap in one corner, occupying more than a fourth part of the +entire apartment. This filthy stuff--for such it was, having been +trodden underfoot for years--was not without its uses for the +tobacco-lovers of the party. + +But this dungeon had ample compensations for its darkness and dinginess. +It contained a stove, and was kept quite warm. Thus the terrible +suffering from cold was now ended. There was also good society +here,--nearly a hundred Union men from different parts of the +South,--all intensely patriotic, and many of them possessing great +intelligence. The rude, wild element which dominated in the third floor +was in complete subordination on the first. + +It would be easy to fill a volume with stories told us by the loyal +citizens confined in this room. One or two may serve as specimens. I +became very intimate with a Scotchman named Miller, from Texas. He told +me of the beginning of the reign of terror, which prepared the way for +secession. The rumor, in Miller's neighborhood, was first spread of an +intended slave insurrection. Weapons, and in some cases poison, were +secreted, to be afterwards found at the right time. Some slaves were +next whipped until, under the torture, they would confess to the +intended insurrection, and implicate the most prominent opponents of +secession. This was enough to drive the populace to madness. The fear of +servile insurrections has always aroused the worst passions of +slaveholding countries. Slaves and white Unionists were now hung up to +the same trees, and the work went on until all who opposed the +withdrawal of the State from the old Union were treated as criminals. It +is not strange that slavery thus furnished the means as well as the +occasion of rebellion. + +Miller, being an outspoken opponent of secession, was seized, and sent +eastward, accused of treason against the Confederacy. Twice he made his +escape, and when recaptured told, each time, a different story. At +Richmond, when brought up for examination, he merely said, "I told you +all about my case before." The examining officer, who was very busy and +a little in liquor, took him at his word and ordered him back to prison. +At length he was included with many others in a special exchange. + +A few Union soldiers, besides ourselves, were in this room. There was a +young and adventurous scout from the Potomac army, Charlie Marsh by +name, who had been sent a short distance inside the rebel lines to burn +an important bridge. While on his way, with a gray coat--the rebel +color--thrown over his own uniform, he managed to get some important +information regarding the enemy, which he committed to writing. In this +perilous position he was captured, and the papers, which he was not able +to destroy, determined his character as a spy. A drum-head court-martial +convicted him, and he was sent with a strong guard to Richmond for +execution. While on the way the sergeant in charge got an opportunity to +drink, and soon became very careless. Marsh could not escape; but, +watching his chance, slipped from the sergeant's pocket the package +containing the report of the trial and sentence, and dropped them, +unobserved, into a ditch by the wayside. + +When he arrived in Richmond, the sergeant could give the prison +authorities no information further than that his prisoner was a Yankee +he had been told to bring to them. The drunkard was reprimanded, and the +authorities sent back to the army for the missing information. Pending +its arrival, Marsh was put into our room, instead of being confined +separately and securely, as would have been the case if his sentence had +been known. When the evidence against him arrived, the commanding +officer entered the room with a guard and called his name. This was +Charlie's last chance for life, and shrewdly was it improved! A man had +died in the prison the night before, and the body had not yet been +removed. Charlie promptly responded, "Oh, that fellow is dead?" pointing +to the corpse. + +"Died, has he? the rascal! We'd 'a hung him this week and saved him the +trouble if he had only held on," growled the officer. + +No prisoner felt called upon to expose the deception, and the officer +departed and reported accordingly. Marsh continued to answer whenever +the dead man's name was called, and was finally exchanged in his place. +I once met him since the close of the war. He was then in congenial +employment as a government detective. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +SICKNESS AND LIBERTY. + + +In February the attempt was made to persuade the Union men of our prison +room to enlist in the rebel army. Over twenty recruits were obtained. +They were loyal in heart to the old government, but so worn down and +dispirited by suffering that they could resist no longer. The refusal of +the remainder to take the same step seemed to exasperate the prison +officials, and new hardships were devised for us. Captain Alexander, the +tyrant who had charge of the prison, issued an order for taking out a +working-party to perform menial service each day. At first volunteers +were called for, and the desire to be in the open air was so great that +they were readily obtained, notwithstanding the conditions of the work +were far from being pleasant. As soon as no more volunteers offered, a +list was prepared, and a certain number of the names called daily for +service. This was putting the matter in another light. One of the first +called was a frank, brave Tennesseean named McCoy. He answered boldly, +"I'm not going." + +"What's the matter now?" demanded the officer who was calling the list. + +"I didn't come here to work, and if you can't board me without, you may +send me home," replied the fearless man. + +"Well! well! You'll be attended to," growled the officer, and proceeded +with the roll. Four others on the list likewise refused. In a short time +a guard entered the room and seized them. We feared that one of the +terrible floggings, which were only too common in the case of prison +insubordination, was going to take place. But another mode of punishment +was devised. The four were taken before Captain Alexander, who ordered +them to "the cell." This was a windowless place, beside the open court, +only about four feet wide by six or seven in length. It had no floor but +the damp earth, and was dark at mid-day. They were informed that they +should remain here until they consented to work. + +We found another alternative for them. There was a piece of file and a +scrap of stove-pipe in our room, which we secreted, and, buying a piece +of candle from the commissary, found an opportunity, when taken to wash +in the prison-court, of slipping the articles into the cell. Thus +provided, our friends began to dig their way out under the wall. All day +and night they worked, but did not get through. We furnished another +candle and they worked on. Towards morning of the second night they +broke upward through the crust of the ground outside of the wall. The +foremost wormed his way out and glided off. He was never heard of +afterwards, and, I presume, reached the Union army. The next man was +just under the wall, when the barking of a dog that happened to be +prowling around drew the attention of the guard that way, and the hole +was closed. This incident prevented the confinement of any others in the +cell. + +Yet the attempt to secure workers from the prison was not given up. I +happened to be on the next list prepared. To work with a guard carrying +a musket to enforce obedience did not seem to me a part of my business +as a United States soldier. Carefully counting the cost, I determined to +go any length in resistance. + +On our refusal, we were ordered into the jail-yard. It was a very cold, +windy day in February, with abundant rain. We were nearly naked, having +only the remnant of the rags that had already outserved their time. The +bottoms were out of my shoes, and the water stood in the yard several +inches deep. The yard itself was only a vacant corner in the building +inclosed by high brick walls, on the top of which guards walked. The +cold, wet wind swept down with biting sharpness, and almost robbed us of +sensation. We paced the narrow bounds, through the mud and water, until +too weary to walk any more, and then resigned ourselves to our misery. +If this exposure had come earlier, when we were accustomed to the +endurance of cold, it might have been less serious. But for several +weeks we had been in a close, warm room, and the contrast was almost +unbearable. + +Here we remained from early in the morning until nearly dark in the +evening. They told us we would have to stay there till we agreed to work +or froze to death! The first we had resolved never to do. The latter +seemed only too probable. I do not think any of us could have survived +the night. We resolved as soon as it was fairly dark to scale the wall +and seek our own deliverance, feeling that it could not be worse to die +by the bullet than by exposure. + +But we had help from an unexpected source. The old commissary, Chillis, +had come out of his room, which was near by, several times during the +day to observe us, and each time went away muttering and grumbling. We +thought he enjoyed our suffering, but were greatly mistaken. In the +evening he went to Captain Alexander and remonstrated with him in the +strongest terms. Said he,-- + +"If you want to kill the men, do it at once! The rascals deserve it. +Hanging is the best way. But don't leave them out there to die by +inches, for it will disgrace us all over the world." + +His remonstrance was heeded, and we were remanded back to our room, +which, with its warm fire, never seemed more agreeable. We soon sank +into a pleasant stupor, from which all awoke very ill. One poor fellow +died within a few hours, and several more after a short interval. I was +the only one of our railroad party who had been thus exposed. That day +of freezing does not seem a worse hardship than many endured previously, +but coming when already enfeebled, it was far more injurious. Pneumonia +followed, and when I grew better a distressing cough continued, which +has never left me. Ever since I have been a confirmed invalid. But the +attempt to make us work was relinquished. + +One day we were summoned into line, and the names of our railroad party, +with a few others, called over. One of the prisoners who had not been +called, asked the reason of the omission. The officer replied,-- + +"We can't tell, for this list came from Yankee-land." + +This speech set wild conjectures afloat. Why should a list be sent from +the North? Was it for the purpose of exchange? Had the Federal +government made some arrangement at last which applied especially to us, +and not to the mass of Union men in the prison? We could not tell, but +it was pleasant to believe that we were not utterly forgotten. + +It was soon discovered that a special exchange of political +prisoners--prisoners whose offences were of a civil and not a military +character--was in contemplation. Soldiers were being exchanged +frequently from the Libby on the other side of the way, but it had +seemed as if we were altogether forsaken. Now the rumor was current that +a large number on each side who were held for various offences were to +be massed into one general exchange, and the including of our names in a +list sent from the loved loyal States was sufficient fuel to rekindle +the almost extinct fire of hope. + +But the delay was long, and we grew very weary of waiting. Truce-boat +after truce-boat went off, and week after week slid away, leaving us +still in our dark and irksome prison. So completely did this damp our +hopes that if any one referred to exchange he was laughed into silence. + +One day, however, we received a most welcome token of governmental +remembrance. An officer bustled into the prison and asked for the name +of every one there who claimed United States protection. There, was a +general rush towards him, for, although we did not know how our +government could protect us while in rebel hands, we were resolved not +to lose anything for want of claiming it. It then transpired that the +authorities at Washington, in order to relieve the sufferings of the +Richmond prisoners, had offered to furnish a supply of clothing for +them. The offer was accepted, and some of the clothing reached its +destination,--not nearly all, as I judge from comparing the accounts +given on the opposite sides of the line. My own portion was a pair of +boots, which were sorely needed. We did not obtain a complete supply, +but what we did get was very grateful, as a token that we were not +forgotten, but that a great nation still cared for us. + +I have said but little for some time past of our religious exercises. It +must not be inferred that we had lost the zeal enkindled during the dark +hours in Atlanta. Up-stairs we continued to pray, sing, and repeat Bible +lessons morning and evening. When we first came into the room below, +where we were strangers, and where the whole current of opinion seemed +utterly irreligious, I did feel as if it would be impossible for us in +the common room to worship publicly as before. At the arrival of the +usual hour I was sorely perplexed, and almost persuaded to wait a day or +two for better acquaintance with our new room-mates. But the matter was +settled providentially for us. Mr. Pierce, who had accompanied us all +the way from Knoxville, and who was very profane in speech, had never +shown any interest in our prayers beyond remaining silent when we were +thus employed. But now he stepped on a box, and calling and stamping +until he had the attention of everybody in the room, he said,-- + +"I have a matter to propose for our general interest. We have some +preachers with us who are accustomed to sing and pray and read the Bible +every morning and evening. Now, I am wicked enough myself, but I like to +have something good going on; so I propose that we invite them to go +ahead as they have done in other prisons. All that favor the motion say +'aye!'" + +The response was most hearty. In a prison a proposition for anything +which will break the monotony for even a little time is sure of favor. +No one voted in the negative, and Pierce, turning to me, said, "Go +ahead." + +There were no preachers in our party, but, under such circumstances, we +gladly embraced the providential opportunity. The majority of the +prisoners gathered around in respectful silence, and seemed greatly +pleased to hear, in that gloomy place, the voice of prayer and sacred +song. Even the guards drew near the open door, and stood in reverent +attention. But a small company of the more reckless of the prisoners +regarded the whole matter in the light of a burlesque. One I especially +noticed, who seemed to be their leader. He was quite young, had a +confident bearing, and uttered great oaths on the smallest occasion. He +watched us without making any disturbance while we read and sang, but, +when we knelt for prayer, he knelt too, and became very noisy in his +mock devotions, responding "amen" with more than Methodistic fervor and +at the most inopportune places. This we endured patiently for that +evening, but I resolved to win him over, feeling sure that we would thus +do good and secure ourselves from interruption. On the next day I +managed to get into conversation with him, told him the story of our +adventures, which always commanded attention, and asked the reason of +his imprisonment. He gave the story, and I afterwards asked after his +friends in his far-off Canadian home. He told me that he had no near +relatives except a sister, and his blue eyes filled with tears as he +spoke of his longing to see her once more. There were no interruptions +to our evening service; and I learned that my friend had taken occasion +to say that those Ohioans were good fellows, and that anybody who +disturbed them would have to reckon with him. A number of other +religious persons made themselves known when the way was thus open, +though each one had supposed himself alone before. We formed quite a +church when all assembled, though there was a great mixture of creeds, a +Roman Catholic being one of the most devoted of the number. + +A day now approached that had been longed for ever since we first tasted +the bitter cup of captivity,--a day which yet shines golden and glorious +in the light of memory,--a day which I never recall without a mental +ejaculation of thanksgiving to Almighty God. To have assured its coming +I would at anytime during the preceding eleven months have unshrinkingly +sacrificed my right hand! + +On the evening of the 17th of March, 1863, when we were sitting around +the stove, discussing quietly but not indifferently the siege of +Vicksburg, an officer stepped within the door and shouted the strange +order, "All who want to go to the _United States_ come to the office!" + +No more plans were laid for capturing Vicksburg that night! We thought +we were in the United States all the while, but had no objection to be +still more so, and at once fell into line, and walked out, between two +files of soldiers, to the office. It seemed like a dream. For a moment a +delicious hope thrilled through my veins,--a vision of happiness and +home, dazzling as a flash of summer lightning,--but it instantly faded +before the remembrance of the manner in which we had been deceived in +Atlanta. I did not doubt that an exchange had been arranged for some of +the inmates of our room, but feared that the good fortune would not +reach so far as our proscribed band. The oath of parole, binding each +man not to serve against the Confederacy until regularly exchanged, was +being signed as fast as the names could be written and the oath +administered. To end the suspense, I pressed forward, gave my name, and +held my breath, while fully expecting to hear "The engine thieves can't +go,"--but no objection was made. I wrote my name, and watched each of my +five comrades do the same, with growing hope, as still no objection was +made. Then came the remembrance that our names were the first on the +list, read a few days before, which, as we had been told, came from +"Yankee-land,"--and I suspected, what I afterwards learned to be the +fact,--that our government, in arranging this exchange, had specially +stipulated that we should be included. Although a sickening fear would +still intrude itself now and then, there was really no reason to doubt +that all the preliminaries of our exchange were actually arranged. + +When all the prisoners had signed the papers we were ordered to return +to our room, and be ready to start for the North at four o'clock next +morning. We could have been ready in four seconds! but we really needed +the quiet night hours to realize the full magnitude of our deliverance. +The wild excitement of that evening can never be fully described. The +majority of paroled men acted as if bereft of reason. The joyousness of +some found vent in vociferous shouts,--in dancing and bounding over the +floor,--in embracing each other, and in pledging kind remembrances. Some +seemed stupefied by their good fortune, others sat down and wept in +silence, and still others laughed for minutes together. But in the room +there were a few not permitted to go, and my heart bled for them. I +remembered the hour when we had been left by our comrades on first +arriving in Richmond, and now these friends sat cheerless and alone, +seeming more wretched than ever amid the general joy. + +But there was one expression of joy which it would have been the basest +ingratitude for us to omit. It was near midnight before we became calm +enough to offer up our usual evening devotions. But when all were +wearied out by the very excess of joy, when the quietness which ever +follows overwhelming emotion had settled upon us, we knelt in prayer,--a +prayer of deep, strong, fervent thankfulness. We implored that we might +not be deceived in our vivid hopes and dashed back from our anticipated +paradise. Yet, if such should be God's mysterious will, and we should +see these hopes fade, as others had faded before them, we asked for +strength to bear the trial. Then, with solemn trust, we tried to commit +the whole matter to the wisdom and the mercy of God, and lay down to +sleep, if we could, and to await the event. + +Few eyes closed during the entire night. Fancy was too busy peopling her +fairy landscapes,--picturing the groups that awaited us, beyond that +boundary which for nearly a year seemed to us as impassable as the river +of death. But even as we muse we find that hope is not the only painter +at work. What unbidden fears spring up to darken the prospect and stain +the brightness of our joy! How many of those dear friends we were hoping +to meet may now be no more! For a year not a whisper from them has +reached us,--no letter or message from any friend, and we tremble as we +think of the ravages of time and of battle. These and a hundred other +thoughts whirled through our brains during that ever-memorable night. It +seemed but a few moments after lying down until we heard the voice of an +officer, who stood by the open door, and gave the thrilling order +to--_prepare for our journey_! + +Hurriedly we thronged to our feet. It was yet long before daylight, but +the guard were in readiness, and they did not need to wait long for us. +The visions of the night were swept away, but in their stead was the +blessed reality. It was true! Freedom once more! Our terrible captivity +ended! Oh joy! _joy!_--wild and delirious JOY! + +There was a hurrying around in the darkness, illumined by the flashing +of torch-lights,--a discordant calling of names,--a careful inspection +of each man to see that none went except those who had been chosen; +then, forming two lines in the court-yard, with bounding hearts we +passed outward through the dreaded portals of Castle Thunder,--the same +portals we had passed inward more than three months before!--passed out +into the cool but _free_ night air, and stood in the dark and silent +street. + +Beside us rose the tall, square, and ugly outline of the prison we had +left. Not far away on the left was the shadowy form of the twin +prison,--the Libby,--fit emblems, in their frowning blackness, of that +system of oppression which had shed rivers of blood in a vain war, and +was soon to pass away forever. But we could not pause to moralize even +upon such a theme. As soon as all were out of the gate, and the column +of prisoners duly formed, with guards on either hand, we marched onward +through the muddy streets for many squares. There were with us a number +of sick, who were too weak to walk unassisted, and yet unwilling to be +left behind. As no conveyances were provided for them, we placed each of +them between two friends, on whose shoulders they leaned, and they were +thus able to totter the weary distance. A few had to be carried +altogether by those who were themselves far from strong, but hope, and +the exultation of liberty, made everything possible. After we were +seated in the cars, which were waiting at the depot, and had begun to +glance around with happy faces in the dim morning light, some Richmond +papers were procured. Looking over them we found the very interesting +news that "a large number of _engine thieves_, bridge-burners, +murderers, robbers, and traitors will leave this morning for the United +States. The Confederacy may well congratulate itself on this good +riddance." The item was handed from one to another, and we recognized +the names applied with quiet joy. Our congratulations were not less +fervid than theirs, but we could not help thinking that the riddance +might have been made long before! + +With the rising sun we glided out of Richmond, and, passing +fortifications and rifle-pits, soon reached Petersburg. Then, with but +short detention and no notable incidents, we continued on to City Point, +on the James River,--the place of exchange. It was not far from noon +when we came within sight of the most glorious and fascinating object on +the American continent!--the "Stars and Stripes," which we had not seen +before for eleven months, floating in proud beauty over the truce-boat +"State of Maine." It was a glorious vision. Cheer after cheer arose from +the cars. The guard ordered the noise stopped, but the command was +unheeded, and the officers did not try to enforce it. + +The memories of that hour are indistinct from their very brightness. I +seem to see again the great boat with its beautiful flag, the line of +Federal guards with their bright blue uniforms, the gray-clad company +for whom we were to be exchanged, and who did not seem nearly so glad as +ourselves, and my own tattered and starved companions, some three +hundred in number. I hear once more the seemingly interminable reading +of names, the checking of lists, the wrangling over trifles, and at last +the order--which needed no repetition--to go on board. There was still a +sense of trembling and apprehension until the boat actually pushed off +and we were on our way down the James. + +Then our delight was boundless. We had awakened from a hideous +nightmare-dream to find that all its shapes of horror and grinning +fiends had passed away and left us in the sunlight once more. Our hearts +kept time with the glad threshing of our wheels on the water, and sang +within us, knowing that each ponderous stroke was placing a greater +distance between us and our dreaded foes. + +The hearty, cheerful welcome we met on board was no small element in our +pleasure. We were hungry--no wonder after a year's fasting--and we were +fed,--the only difficulty being to avoid hurtful excess. With a full +supply of provisions and a large tin cup of coffee--I am not sure that +so good a cup of coffee has been made since--I sat down and ate slowly, +as if I could never have enough. Then I wandered all over the boat, from +the upper deck and the cabin down to the hold, in the mere wantonness of +liberty. To go about with no guard watching me was as strange as it was +delightful. The act of going up to, and passing unchecked through a +door, was a great pleasure! I saw little of the country through which we +passed, for the mind was too busy. No emotion on earth has the same +sweep and intensity as the throbbing sensations that rush through the +bosom of the liberated captive! + +I have no recollection whatever of the lower James, of Fortress Monroe, +of the Chesapeake. In all my memoranda no word occurs of these things. +Whether the hours were spent in sleep or waking, whether the monotony of +happiness obliterated memory, or nature, weakened by disease and +exhausted by too great a multiplicity of sensations, refused to receive +new impressions, I know not; but not until we were near Washington can I +again recall passing events. Then we thronged to the vessel's side, and +bent loving eyes upon the snowy front of our beautiful Capitol. It +seemed a far more grand and fitting emblem of our country's power now +than when I had first looked upon it, an inexperienced boy, in the +far-away opening of the war, though only two years had elapsed since +that time. In those two years the whole country had learned many +lessons, and to me they were an age! + +Here a brief controversy arose with the commander of the truce-boat. He +had orders to forward all the exchanged soldiers to the parole camp at +Annapolis, and wished to send our party with them. I demurred, feeling +that it was right for us to report at Washington, at military +headquarters. General Mitchel, who sent us forth upon our expedition, +was dead. Our leader, Andrews, was no more. How many of our officers had +fallen in the sanguinary battles of the West we knew not; possibly we +had been reported as dead and our places filled. This, we afterwards +learned, was actually the case. The right place for us to report, in +order that everything might be put in proper shape, was at Washington, +and to the Secretary of War, Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, in person. Our case, +as the rebels had been showing to our cost for the past year, was not +that of ordinary prisoners of war, and we thought ourselves entitled to +claim the same distinction on Federal soil. I therefore informed the +commander that we had urgent business with Secretary Stanton, and must +be sent to him. He was a little incredulous at first, but as soon as I +gave my reasons he gracefully yielded. + +Our reception in Washington was even more cordial than it had been on +the truce-boat. We were provided with most comfortable quarters, and +literally feasted on the best the city afforded. Secretary Stanton asked +us to go before Judge-Advocate-General Holt and there give our +deposition, that the full particulars of what he was pleased to consider +our extraordinary adventures might be given to the world on an +unquestionable basis. Our first visit to Judge Holt was merely friendly, +at which Major-General Hitchcock and Mr. J. C. Wetmore, Ohio State +Agent, were also present. We were invited to come again on the morrow, +when we found a justice of the peace and a phonographer to take our +testimony. I was questioned first, and the examination covered all the +outlines of the story. All were sworn except Mason, who was unable from +illness to be present. The result of the examination, together with +Judge Holt's comments upon it, were published in the _Army and Navy +Gazette_ of that date. + +General Hitchcock then accompanied us in our call upon Secretary +Stanton, where we enjoyed a most delightful interview. At its close he +brought out six medals which had been prepared according to a recent act +of Congress and left to his disposal. He said that they were the first +given to private soldiers in this war. Jacob Parrot, the boy who had +endured the terrible beating, received, as he well deserved, the first +one. + +Secretary Stanton next presented us one hundred dollars each from the +secret service fund as pocket-money, and gave orders for payment to us +of all arrearages, and for refunding the full value of the money and +arms taken from us at our capture. This was not all. He tendered us, +each one, a commission in the regular army, and on our expressing a +preference for the volunteer service, he requested Governor Tod, of +Ohio, to give us equivalent promotion in our own regiments. These +commissions were promptly given, but through ill health, some of our +number, myself included, were not able to be mustered as officers. + +Stanton praised the bravery of Mitchel in the highest terms, and stated +that he had been aware of our expedition, but, until the escape of our +eight comrades in October, had supposed that we had all perished; that +he had then threatened retaliation in case any more of us were executed, +and had demanded to know the reason for the execution of the seven who +had been put to death. It was answered that the Confederate government +had no knowledge of the death of any member of the party. Since that +time he had been most anxious to effect our exchange, and by special +effort had at last succeeded in arranging it. + +We were then escorted to the Executive Mansion, and had a most pleasing +interview with President Lincoln. We told him many incidents of prison +experience and received his sympathizing comments in return. + +After taking our leave of the President we received transportation at +government expense to our homes. The joy of our reception in our own +Ohio and among our own kindred I will not attempt to describe. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + + + +No. I. + +EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL HOLT TO THE SECRETARY +OF WAR. + + + "JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERAL'S OFFICE, + "March 27, 1863. + +"SIR,--I have the honor to transmit for your consideration the +accompanying depositions of Sergeant William Pittenger, Company G, +Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteers; Private Jacob Parrot, Company K, +Thirty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteers; Private Robert Buffum, Company +H, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteers; Corporal William Reddick, Company B, +Thirty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteers; and Private William Bensinger, +Company G, Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteers; taken at this office +on the 25th instant, in accordance with your written instructions; from +which the following facts will appear: + +"These non-commissioned officers and privates belonged to an expedition +set on foot in April, 1862, at the suggestion of Mr. J. J. Andrews, a +citizen of Kentucky, who led it, and under the authority and direction +of General O. M. Mitchel, the object of which was to destroy the +communications on the Georgia State Railroad between Atlanta and +Chattanooga. + +"The mode of operation proposed was to reach a point on the road where +they could seize a locomotive and train of cars, and then dash back in +the direction of Chattanooga, cutting the telegraph wires and burning +the bridges behind them as they advanced, until they reached their own +lines. The expedition consisted of twenty-four men, who, with the +exception of its leader, Mr. Andrews, and another citizen of +Kentucky,--who acted on the occasion as the substitute of a +soldier,--had been selected from the different companies for their known +courage and discretion. They were informed that the movement was to be a +secret one, and they doubtless comprehended something of its perils, but +Mr. Andrews and Mr. Reddick alone seem to have known anything of its +precise direction or object. They, however, voluntarily engaged in it, +and made their way, in parties of two or three, in citizen's dress, and +carrying only their side-arms, to Chattanooga, the point of rendezvous +agreed upon, where twenty-two out of the twenty-four arrived safely. +Here they took passage, without attracting observation, for Marietta, +which they reached at twelve o'clock on the night of the 11th of April. +On the following morning they took the cars back again towards +Chattanooga, and at a place called Big Shanty, while the engineer and +passengers were breakfasting, they detached the locomotive and three +box-cars from the train and started at full speed for Chattanooga. They +were now upon the field of the operations proposed by the expedition, +but suddenly encountered unforeseen obstacles. According to the schedule +of the road, of which Mr. Andrews had possessed himself, they should +have met but a single train on that day, whereas they met three, two of +them being engaged on extraordinary service. About an hour was lost in +waiting to allow these trains to pass, which enabled their pursuers to +press closely upon them. They removed rails, threw out obstructions on +the road, and attained, when in motion, a speed of sixty miles an hour; +but the time lost could not be regained. After having run about one +hundred miles they found their supply of wood, water, and oil exhausted, +while the rebel locomotive which had been chasing them was in sight. +Under these circumstances they had no alternative but to abandon their +cars and fly to the woods, which they did, under the orders of Mr. +Andrews, each one endeavoring to save himself as best he might. + +"The expedition thus failed from causes which reflected neither upon the +genius by which it was planned, nor upon the intrepidity and discretion +of those engaged in executing it. But for the accident of meeting these +trains,--which could not have been anticipated,--the movement would have +been a complete success, and the whole aspect of the war in the South +and the Southwest would have been at once changed. The expedition +itself, in the daring of its conception, had the wildness of a romance; +while in the gigantic and overwhelming results which it sought, and was +likely to accomplish, it was absolutely sublime. + +"The twenty-two captives, when secured, were thrust into the negro jail +of Chattanooga. They occupied a single room, half under ground, and but +thirteen feet square, so that there was not space enough for them all to +lie down together, and a part of them were, in consequence, obliged to +sleep sitting and leaning against the walls. The only entrance was +through a trap-door in the ceiling, that was raised twice a day to let +down their scanty meals, which were lowered in a bucket. They had no +other light or ventilation than that which came through two small, +triple-grated windows. They were covered with swarming vermin, and the +heat was so oppressive that they were often obliged to strip themselves +entirely of their clothes to bear it. Add to this, they were all +handcuffed, and, with trace-chains secured around their necks by +padlocks, were fastened to each other in companies of twos and threes. +Their food, which was doled out to them twice a day, consisted of a +little flour wet with water and baked in the form of bread, and spoiled +pickled beef. They had no opportunity of procuring supplies from the +outside, nor had they any means of doing so,--their pockets having been +rifled of their last cent by the Confederate authorities, prominent +among whom was a rebel officer wearing the uniform of a major. No part +of the money thus basely taken was ever returned." + +[The report narrates the continued sufferings of the adventurers in +prison substantially as they are given in the preceding pages, and +concludes:] + +"So they remained until a few days since, when they were exchanged; and +thus, at the end of eleven months, terminated their pitiless +persecutions in the prisons of the South,--persecutions begun and +continued amid indignities and sufferings on their part, and atrocities +on the part of their traitorous foes, which illustrate far more +faithfully than any human language could express it the demoniac spirit +of a revolt, every throb of whose life is a crime against the very race +to which we belong. + +"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + "J. HOLT, + "_Judge-Advocate-General_. + + "HON. EDWIN M. STANTON, + "_Secretary of War_." + + + + +No. II. + +A SOUTHERN ESTIMATE. + + +The following extracts from an editorial published in the Atlanta +_Southern Confederacy_ of April 15, 1862, will serve to show the intense +excitement of the hour: + + "THE GREAT RAILROAD CHASE! + + "THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY AND ASTOUNDING ADVENTURE OF THE WAR!! + + "THE MOST DARING UNDERTAKING THAT YANKEES EVER PLANNED OR ATTEMPTED + TO EXECUTE! + + "_Stealing an Engine--Tearing up the Track--Pursued on Foot, on + Hand-Cars, and Engines--Overtaken--A Scattering--The + Capture--The Wonderful Energy of Messrs. Fuller, Murphy, and + Cain--Some Reflections, Etc., Etc._ + +"Since our last issue we have obtained full particulars of the most +thrilling railroad adventure that ever occurred on the American +continent, as well as the mightiest and most important in its results, +if successful, that has been conceived by the Lincoln government since +the commencement of this war. Nothing on so grand a scale has been +attempted, and nothing within the range of possibility could be +conceived that would fall with such a tremendous, crushing force upon us +as the accomplishment of the plans which were concocted and dependent +upon the execution of the one whose history we now proceed to narrate. + +"Its _reality_--_what was actually done_--excels all the extravagant +_conceptions_ of the Arrowsmith hoax, which fiction created such a +profound sensation in Europe. + +"To make the matter more complete and intelligible, we will take our +readers over the same history of the case we related in our last, the +main features of which are correct, but lacking in details which have +since come to hand. + +"We will begin at the breakfast-table of the Big Shanty Hotel at Camp +McDonald, where several regiments of soldiers are now encamped. The +morning mail and passenger train had left here at four A.M. on last +Saturday morning as usual, and had stopped there for breakfast. The +conductor, William A. Fuller, the engineer, J. Cain,--both of this +city,--and the passengers were at the table, when the eight men, having +uncoupled the engine and three empty box-cars next to it from the +passenger and baggage-cars, mounted the engine, pulled open the valve, +put on all steam, and left conductor, engineer, passengers, spectators, +and the soldiers in the camp hard by, all lost in amazement, and +dumbfounded at the strange, startling, and daring act. + +"This unheard-of act was doubtless undertaken at that time and place +upon the presumption that pursuit could not be made by an engine short +of Kingston, some thirty miles above, or from this place; and by cutting +down the telegraph wires as they proceeded the adventurers could +calculate on at least three or four hours the start of any pursuit it +was reasonable to expect. This was a legitimate conclusion, and but for +the will, energy, and quick good judgment of Mr. Fuller and Mr. Cain, +and Mr. Anthony Murphy, the intelligent and practical foreman of the +wood department of the State Road shop, who accidentally went on the +train from this place that morning, their calculations would have worked +out as originally contemplated, and the results would have been obtained +long ere this reaches the eyes of our readers,--the most terrible to us +of any we can conceive as possible, and unequalled by anything attempted +or conceived since this war commenced. + +"Now for the chase!" + +[The account, which fills a whole page of the paper, is omitted, as it +differs in no essential particular from that given in the foregoing +pages. In concluding, the editor gives his estimate of the purpose and +magnitude of the expedition.] + +"We do not know what Governor Brown will do in this case, or what is his +custom in such matters, but, if such a thing is admissible, we insist on +Fuller and Murphy being promoted to the highest honors on the road,--if +not by actually giving them the highest position, at least let them be +promoted by _brevet_. Certainly their indomitable energy and quick +correct judgment and decision in the many difficult contingencies +connected with this unheard-of emergency has saved all the railroad +bridges above Ringgold from being burned; the most daring scheme that +this revolution has developed has been thwarted, and the tremendous +results, which, if successful, can scarcely be imagined, much less +described, have been averted. Had they succeeded in burning the bridges, +the enemy at Huntsville would have occupied Chattanooga before Sunday +night. Yesterday they would have been in Knoxville, and thus had +possession of all East Tennessee. Our forces at Knoxville, Greenville, +and Cumberland Gap would ere this have been in the hands of the enemy. +Lynchburg, Virginia, would have been moved upon at once. This would have +given them possession of the valley of Virginia, and Stonewall Jackson +would have been attacked in the rear. They would have had possession of +the railroad leading to Charlottesville and Orange Court-House, as well +as the South Side Railroad leading to Petersburg and Richmond. They +might have been able to unite with McClellan's forces and attack Joe +Johnston's army front and flank. It is not by any means improbable that +our army in Virginia would have been defeated, captured, or driven out +of the State this week. + +"Then reinforcements from all the eastern and southeastern portion of +the country would have been cut off from Beauregard. The enemy have +Huntsville now, and with all these designs accomplished his army would +have been effectually flanked. The mind and heart shrink back appalled +at the bare contemplation of the awful consequences which would have +followed the success of this one act. When Fuller, Murphy, and Cain +started from Big Shanty _on foot to catch that fugitive engine_, they +were involuntarily laughed at by the crowd, serious as the matter +was,--and to most observers it was indeed most ludicrous; but _that +foot-race saved us_, and prevented the consummation of all these +tremendous consequences. + +"We doubt if the victory of Manassas or Corinth were worth as much to us +as the frustration of this grand _coup d'etat_. It is not by any means +certain that the annihilation of Beauregard's whole army at Corinth +would be so fatal a blow to us as would have been the burning of the +bridges at that time and by these men. + +"When we learned by a private telegraph dispatch a few days ago that the +Yankees had taken Huntsville, we attached no great importance to it. We +regarded it merely as a dashing foray of a small party to destroy +property, tear up the road, etc., _a la_ Morgan. When an additional +telegram announced the force there to be from seventeen to twenty +thousand, we were inclined to doubt it,--though coming from a perfectly +upright and honorable gentleman, who would not be likely to seize upon a +wild report to send here to his friends. The coming to that point with a +large force, where they would be flanked on either side by our army, we +regarded as a most stupid and unmilitary act. We now understand it all. +They were to move upon Chattanooga and Knoxville as soon as the bridges +were burnt, and press on into Virginia as far as possible, and take all +our forces in that State in the rear. It was all the deepest-laid +scheme, and on the grandest scale, that ever emanated from the brains +of any number of Yankees combined. It was one, also, that was entirely +practicable for almost any day for the last year. There were but two +miscalculations in the whole programme: they did not expect men to start +out afoot to pursue them, and they did not expect these pursuers on foot +to find Major Cooper's old 'Yonah' standing there already fired up. +Their calculations on every other point were dead certainties. + +"This would have eclipsed anything Captain Morgan ever attempted. To +think of a parcel of Federal soldiers--officers and privates--coming +down into the heart of the Confederate States,--for they were here in +Atlanta and at Marietta (some of them got on the train at Marietta that +morning, and others were at Big Shanty); of playing such a serious game +on the State road, which is under the control of our prompt, energetic, +and sagacious governor, known as such all over America; to seize the +passenger train on his road, right at Camp McDonald, where he has a +number of Georgia regiments encamped, and run off with it; to burn the +bridges on the same road, and go safely through to the Federal +lines,--all this would have been a feather in the cap of the man or men +who executed it." + + + + +No. III. + +A FRENCHMAN'S VIEW OE THE CHATTANOOGA RAILROAD EXPEDITION. + + +The following extract from the "History of the Civil War in America," by +the Comte de Paris (vol. ii. pp. 187, 188), is suggestive and +characteristic, though erroneous in many particulars. The numbers of +those who escaped and of those who perished are reversed, and the cause +assigned for the failure of the expedition is purely imaginary; but the +local coloring is exquisite: + +"Among the expeditions undertaken by Mitchel's soldiers at this period, +we must mention one which, despite its tragic termination, shows what a +small band of daring men could attempt in America; it will give an idea +of the peculiar kind of warfare which served as an interlude to the +regular campaigns of large armies. An individual named Andrews, employed +in the secret service of Buell, and twenty-two soldiers selected by him, +went to Chattanooga under different disguises, and thence to Marietta, +in Georgia, which had been assigned them as a place of rendezvous, and +which was situated in the very centre of the enemy's country. Once +assembled, they got on board a train of cars loaded with Confederate +troops and ammunition. During the trip this train stopped, as usual, +near a lonely tavern close to the track; everybody got out, and both +engineer and fireman went quietly to breakfast. Andrews took advantage +of their absence to jump upon the locomotive, which was detached by his +men, with three cars, from the rest of the train; they started off at +full speed, leaving their fellow-travellers in a state of stupefaction. +At the stations where they stopped they quietly answered that they were +carrying powder to Beauregard's army. Presently they began the work of +destruction which they had projected; they cut the telegraph wires, tore +up the rails behind them, and proceeded to fire the bridges which they +reached on their way to Chattanooga. They hoped to arrive at that city +before the news of their expedition had spread abroad, to pass rapidly +through it, and join Mitchel at Huntsville. But it was necessary to +avoid the trains running in the opposite direction. One of these trains, +which they had just passed on the way, after exchanging the most +satisfactory explanations, reached an embankment, where Andrews had torn +up the rails and made every preparation to throw the cars off the track. +The conductor discovered the trap in time, and backed his engine +instantly, in order to overtake those who laid it. At his approach the +Federals made off in great haste, throwing out of the cars everything +that could embarrass their flight. They at first got a little ahead, and +the few occupants of log huts lying contiguous to the railway track +looked on without understanding this strange pursuit. But, being short +of fuel, they soon began to lose ground; they could not stop long enough +to tear up rails; they tried in vain to keep up the fire of their +engine; they were about to be overtaken; their oil had given out; the +axle-boxes were melted by the friction. The game was lost; they stopped +the engine and rushed into the woods, where they hoped to conceal +themselves. Meanwhile, the telegraph had everywhere announced their +presence, and the entire population started in pursuit. A regular hunt +was organized in these vast forests, and Andrews was captured with all +his men. The majority of them were shut up in narrow iron cages and +publicly exhibited at Knoxville, to intimidate the Union men, after +which fifteen of them were hung; the remaining eight were spared, and +had the good fortune to survive and relate their strange adventures." + + + + +No. IV. + +OLD SCENES REVISITED. + + +Nearly twenty years after the events narrated in the preceding pages the +writer passed over the same ground again. Many of the prisons in which +he had been confined were no more. In some cases even their sites had +been so changed by the altering and grading of streets as to be +undiscoverable. But the railroad from Chattanooga to Atlanta continued +to be one of the most important in the whole South, and the memory of +the captured train and the stirring events connected with it had become +a cherished local tradition. The principal pursuers were also found, +some of them being still in the employ of the same railroad, and others +located in Atlanta. From these former enemies nothing but kindness was +experienced. The very locomotive which had been captured was repaired +and continued in use, the writer having the pleasure of once more riding +over the road on a train drawn by it. The same stations were passed. +Many of the smaller towns were externally almost unchanged. Yet +everywhere there was a new atmosphere. War and slavery had vanished, and +the enterprises of peace were in the ascendant. Chattanooga and Atlanta +displayed wonderful improvement, having become like Northern towns in +the rush of their business and the character of their population,--the +latter city, however, to a less degree than the former. + +But a still deeper and more melancholy interest was felt in seeking for +the bodies of those who had perished so tragically in Atlanta while +rebellion was still in the plenitude of its power. Of the grave of +Andrews, himself, no trace could be found. Many old citizens could point +out the spot where his scaffold had been erected, and near which he had +been buried. But that portion of the town had been entirely burnt by +Sherman, and when rebuilt the streets had been raised to a higher level +and rearranged, so that the precise location of the grave is probably +forever lost. + +The scaffold of the seven soldiers was erected in a little wood directly +east of the Atlanta city cemetery, about an acre of ground being cleared +for that purpose. On this spot, which is now included within the bounds +of the cemetery, the terrible tragedy took place. The heart of the +writer was almost overwhelmed as he stood there on a peaceful Sabbath +afternoon and brought back in recollection that hour of horror! When the +work of death was completed the bodies were placed side by side in a +wide trench at the foot of the scaffold and covered over. So profound +was the impression made by their heroism that the place of burial could +not be forgotten, and was often visited by sympathizing friends even +during the continuance of the war. But this rude grave is now empty, and +for a time the writer could not ascertain what disposition had been made +of its contents. An old man formerly connected with the cemetery at +length supplied the information that the bodies had been removed, not to +the Federal cemetery at Marietta, as had been first conjectured, but to +the more distant and larger one at Chattanooga. Here, in probably the +most beautiful of all the National cemeteries, the graves were found. In +Section H, placed in the open space about the centre, which is usually +assigned to commissioned officers, the seven heroes have obtained a +final resting-place. There is a headstone, with name and rank, at each +grave, and the seven are arranged in the form of a semicircle. This part +of the cemetery overlooks a long stretch of the Georgia State Railroad, +the great prize they struggled to seize for their country and thus lost +their lives. From this spot the frequent trains are distinctly visible. +Watched by the mountains and undisturbed by the passing tide of human +activity, they rest here as peacefully as if death had stolen upon them +in the midst of friends at home instead of rushing down amid the gloom +and horror of that memorable Atlanta scaffold. + +THE END. + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. + +Hyphen removed: thunder[-]bolt (page 243), look[-]out (page 277). + +List of Illustrations: For illustration 13, "260" changed to "290". + +Page 220: "Knoxvile" changed to "Knoxville" (than that at Knoxville). + +Page 248: "predecesssor" changed to "predecessor" (handed over to me by +my predecessor). + +Page 290: Page number restored in the caption of the illustration. + +Page 324: "examing" changed to "examining" (The examining officer). + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Capturing a Locomotive, by William Pittenger + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAPTURING A LOCOMOTIVE *** + +***** This file should be named 36752.txt or 36752.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/7/5/36752/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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