Part 26 (1/2)
[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 ill.u.s.trate 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, crus.h.i.+ng 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 pa.s.senger train had left here at four A.M. on last Sat.u.r.day morning as usual, and had stopped there for breakfast. The conductor, William A. Fuller, the engineer, J. Cain,--both of this city,--and the pa.s.sengers were at the table, when the eight men, having uncoupled the engine and three empty box-cars next to it from the pa.s.senger and baggage-cars, mounted the engine, pulled open the valve, put on all steam, and left conductor, engineer, pa.s.sengers, 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 c.u.mberland 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.