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diff --git a/36752.txt b/36752.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a1e900b --- /dev/null +++ b/36752.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: 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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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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