The Southern watchman. (Athens, Ga.) 1854-1882, April 23, 1862, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextNUMBER 4. bo mu WgM , , 0ST EXTRAORDINARY AND ASTOUND- , !, .^VESTURE, OF THE WAR! 11 ‘ —"* iiffiMn'mi ,, osr paring undertaking tiiat yan- • ; PLANNED OR ATTEMPTED TO Iexucuw:! y $m an Engine—Tearing up the Track— [p.,-sued on. foot—on Hand Cars, and En- L ^J-Ocertaken—A Scattering—the, Cap- _Xh<: wonderful energy of Messrs. h'tiHr Murphy, and Cain—Some reflec tions, &c.,d,C. FUUi PARTICULARS! 5i, ic0 pur lust issue wo have obtained li particulars of the most thrilling Iiu.il- r ,./' a ,{venture that ever occurred on the r-iicun continent,as well as the mighti- •iml most important in its results, if ressi'ul, that has been conceived by the iicoln Government since the commence- |„t <.r this war. Nothing on so grand a a lms been attempted, and nothing min the range of possibility could be •oived that would fall with such a tre foils crushing force upon us, as the ac- imlishiitont of the plans which were L )Cl0 i] and dependent on the execution V[, c one whose history we now proceed UiuiTuto. |ts reality—what was actually done—cx- uil the extravagant conceptions of the <ov-rtioi:h hoax, which fiction created u profound sensation in Europe. ; mike the matter more complete and ligihlo. wo will take our readers over i ni.; history .of the case which vve re- i in our last, the main features of which |( erect, hut are lacking in details, ; huvj since come to hand, r will begin at the breakfast tablo of Jig Stonily Hotel, at Camp McDon- „,r lSl o \V. & A. R. R., where several Mits of soldiers are now encamped, morning mail and passenger train it here at 1 A. M. on- last Saturday lung as usual, and had stopped hero mu!;.ast. Ttve xiondaetcr, Wm. A. , the engineer, J. Cain—both of this -and the passengers wore at the ta- wlieii some eight men, having un- iled the engine and three empty box next to it from the passenger and [age ears, mounted tbe engine, palled pert on all 4t>lt ■t ir, engineer, passengers, specia ls l the soldiers in the camp hard by, st in amazement and da unfounded at tr.uige, startling and daring act. [is uuiioatd ofact wasdou'otb.-s under- it that place and time, upon the notion that pursuit could not be by an engine short of Kingston, some ' miles ;i j >ve or from this place; and jv cutting down the telegraph wires proceeded, the adventurers could >; on at least three or four hours t:ir. of any pursuit it was reasonable peer,. This was a legitimate conoid- [and hut for the will, energy and good judgment of Mr. Fuller and Mr. land Mr. Anthony Murphy, the m- jnt and practical foreman of the wood [tment of the Suite Road shop, who utally went on the train from this that morning, their calculations have worked out as originally con- juied, and the results would have been e l long ere this reaches the eyes of faders—-the most terrible to us of any ,’c can conceive as possible, and tiu- l by anything attempted or con- „ since this war commenced. eld coal engine^ the “Jonah”—one of the first en gi nes on the Sta te Road—was s ing out, fired up. This venerable loo tive was immediately turned upon her old track, and like an old racer at the tap of the drum, pricked up her ears and made fine time to Kingston. ' ^ The fugitives, not expecting such early pursuit, quietly took in wood and water at Cass Station, and borrowed a schedule from tho tank tender upon the plunsible plea that they wore running a press-P ed train, loaded with powder for B>aure gard. The attentive and patriotic tank tender, Mr. VV in. Russell, said he gave them his schedule, and said he would have sent the shirt off his back to Beauregard, if it had been asked., for. Here' the adventu- rotva. fugitives i^iilred Jivhich one! of the switch they shonid'go in on at Kingston. When they arrived at Kingston, they stop ped, went to the Agent there, told the powder story, readily got the switch key, went on the upper turn-out, and waited for tho down way freight train to pass. To all inquiries they replied with the same powder story. When tho freight train had passed, they immediately proceeded on to the next station—Adairsvilie—where they were to meet the regular down freight train. At some point on the way they had taken on some fifty cross-ties, and be-. fore reaching Adairsvilie, they stopped on a curve, tore up the rails, and pat seven cross-ties on the track—no doubt intend ing to wreck this down freight train, which would be along in a few minutes. They had out upon the engine a rod handker chief as a kind of flag or signal, which, in Railroading, means another train is behind —thereby indicating to all that the regu- ular passenger train would be along pres ently. They stopped a moment at Adairs vilie, and said Fuller, with the regular passenger train was behind, and would wait at Kingston for the freight train, and told the conductor thereon to push ahead and meet him at that point. They passed on to Calhoun, where -they met the down passenger train, due here at 4.20 P. M., and without making any stop, they pro ceeded—on, on and on. But we must return to Fuller and his Int iv for tho chase ! iso three determined men, without a _’s delay, put out after the flying ■on fort, amidst shouts of laughter crowd, who, though lost in umaze- t tho unexpected and daring act, not repress their risibility at seeing non start after a train on foot, which adjust witnessed depart at light- iced. They put on ail of their speed a along the track for throe miles, lliey came across some track raisers [id a small truck car, which is shoved >y men so employed on railroads, leh to carry their tools. This track u wore at once “ impressed ” They by turns of two at a time to run this truck and pash it along all up and level portions of the road, and >ive at will on all the down grades. way further lip tho fugitive ii’ers uud stopped, cut the telegraph 'id torn up the track. Hero the h* were thrown off pell mell, truck u, upon tho side of the road.^j For- r “nobody was hurt on our side.” was soon placed on the road inough hauds were left to repair and with all the power of de- 1 wiil and muscle, they pushed on ah Station, some twenty milts party whom we have unconsciously left 1 on the old “ Yonah,” making their way to 1 Kingston. Arriving there a n dJearning. the. jidxcu.-.- fureriTwere ~but twenty minutes ahead, they left the “Yonah” to blow off, while they mounted the engine of the Rome Brtfnch Road, which was ready fired up and waiting for the arrival of the Passen gers nearly due, when it would have pro ceeded to Rome. A large party of gentle men volunteered for the chase, some nr Aeworlh, Allatonoa, Kingston and other points taking such arms as they conid lay their hands on at tho moment; and with this fresh engine they set out with all speed but with great “ care and caution,” as they had scarcely bad time to make Adairsvilie before the down freight train would leave that point. Sure enough, they di scovered this side of Adairsvilie three rails torn up and other impediments in the way. They “ took up” in time to prevent an accident, but could proceed with the train no further. This was vexatious, and it may have been in some degree disheart ening, bat it did not cause the slightest relaxation of efforts, and as tbe results proved was but little in the way of the dead game, pluck and resolutions of Fuller and Murphy, who left the engine and again put out on foot alone! Alter runing two miles t^iey met the down freight tain, one mile out from Adairsvilie. They immedi ately reversed the train and ruiibaok wards to Adairsvilie—put the cars on the siding and pressed forward, making fine time to Calhorn, where they met the regular down passenger train. Here they halted a mo ment took on hoard a telegraph operator, and a uumber of men who again volun teered, taking their guns along—and con tinued the chase. Mr Fuller also took on here a company of track hands to repair as they went along. A short distance above Calhoun they flushed their game on a curve where they doubtless supposed them selves out of danger, and wore quietly oil ing the engine, taking up the track, &c. Discovering that they were pursued they mounted and sped awaj’, throwing.out up on the traek as they went along the heavy cross-ties they had prepared themselves with. This was dono by braking out tho end of the hindmost box car, and pitching them out. Thus, “ nip andtuck, they passed with «aost fortunately, Major Cooper’s fearful speed Rosaea, Tilton and on through Dalton. Tbe rails which they had taken up last they took off with them—besides throw ing* out cross-ties upon the track occa sionally-hoping thereby the more surely to impede the pursuit; but all this was like to, the touch of fire to the now throughly arous ed, excited and eager pursuers. These men, though so much excited and influenced by etonninaitioii, still retained tlieir woil'Knqwu caution, wore looking out for this danger and discovered it, and though it was see mi ugly an insuperable obstacle to their ijnaking any headway in pursuit, was qu djkly overcome by the genius of Fuller and Murphy. Coming to where ■ails were torn up, they stepped, tore the r;uls behind them, and laid them down before; till they had p:i3sod over thatob.sfS.cle. When tho cross ties were reached^ they hauled to and threw them ofij and thus proceeded, and under these difficulties gained on the frightened fugitives, At Dalton they halted a mo ment. ‘Fuller put off tho telegraph oper ator, with! instructions to telegraph to ChattaAoo|a to have them stopped, in case he shdOTWatil Ik*-overhaul thorn. Fuller pressed on in hot chase-sormtunas insight—as much to prevent their cutting the wires before the message could be seen as to catch them. The daring adventurers stopped just opposite and very neir to where Col. Glenn’s regiment is encamped and cut the wires, but the operator at Dal ton In cl got the message through about two minuses before. They also again tore up the track, cut down a telegiaph polo, and placed the two ends of it under the cross ties, and the middle dver the rail on the track. The pursuers stopped again and got over this impediment, in the same manner they did before—taking up rails behind and laying thorn down before. Once over this, they shot on and passed through the groat tunnel! Hill being there only five minutes behind. The fugitives still finding themselves closely pursued, un coupled two of the box curs from the en gine to impede the progress of the pursu ers. Fuller hastily coupled them to the front of his engine, and pushed them ahead of him, to the first turn-out or, siding, where they were left—thus preventing the collision the adventurers intended. Thus, the engine thieves passed Ring- gold, where they begun to fag. They were out of wood, water, and oil. Their rapid running and inattention to the engine, hud melted all the brass from the journals. They had no time to repair or refit, for an iron-horse of more bottom was close behind. vFullerand Murphy and their monsoon came within 401) yards of them, when the fugitives jumped from the engine and left on the North side and five on the South—all fleeing precipitately and scattering through the thicket. Fuller and his party also took to the woods after them. Some gentlemen, also well armed, took tho engine and some cars of the down pas senger train at Calhoun, and followed up Fuller aul Murphy and their p irty in the chase bit a short distance behind, and reached the place of stampede but a very few moments after the first pursuers did-. A large number of nun were s inn m mated, arms l. and scouting the entire c hi itry in search of them. Fortunately, there was a militia master at Ringgold. A groat many countryman were in town. Hearing of the chase, they put out on foot and on horseback in every direction, in search of the daring but no w thoroughly frightened fugitive men. We learn that Fuller, soon after leaving his engine, in passing a cabin in the coun try, found a mule having on a bridle but no saddle, and tied to a fence. “ Here's your mule” he shouted as he leaped upon his back and put. out as last as a good switch well applied could impart vigor to tho muscles and accelerate the speed of tho patient donkey. The cry of “Here’s your mule” and “Where’s my mule” have become national, and are generally heard, when, on the one hand no mule is about, and on the other when no one is hunting a mule. It seems not to be understood by any one, though/ it is a peculiar Confede rate phrase and is as popular as Dixie from tho'Potomac to the Rio Grande. It remained for Fuller, in the midst of this exciting chase, to solve the mysterious mean ing of this national by-word or phrase, and give it a practical application. -All of the eight men were captured, and are now safely lodged in jail. The partic ulars of their capture we have not receiv ed. This wo hope to obtain in time for a postscript to,this, or for our second edi tion. They confessed that they belonged to Lincoln's army, and had been sent down from Shelbyville to barn the bridges be tween here and Chattanooga; and that the whole party consisted of nineteen men, eleven of whom were droppedllat several points on the road as they came down, to assist in the burning of the bridges as they went back. is m fflpr J When the morning freight train which left this city reached Big Shanty, Liout.- Cqls. R. F. Maddox, and C. ?. Philips took the engine and a few’ cars, with fifty pick ed men, well armed, and followed on as rapidly as possible. They passed over all difficulties, and got as far as Calhoun, where they learned tho fugitives had taken to the woods, and were pursued by plenty of men with the means to catch them if it was possible. One gentleman who went upon the train from*Calhoun, who has furnished us with many of these particulars, and who, by the way, is dhe of tho most experienced Railroad men in Georgia, says, too much praise cannot bo bestowed on Fuller and Murphy, who showed a cool judgment and forethought in this extraordinary affair, unsurpassed by anything we ever knew in a Railroad emergency. This gentle man, we learn from another, offered, on hisown account, $100 reward on each man, for the apprehension of tho villains. We do .not know what Gov. Brown will do in -this case, or #rh*t ia. kis custom in sack matters, but if such a thing is admis sible, we insist on Fuller and Murphy be ing promoted to tho highest honors on the road—it not by actually giving them the highest position, at least, let them bo promoted by brevet. Certainly, their idom- itable energy, and quick correct judg ment and decision in the many difficult ermtingene'es c mnectod with this unheard of emergency, has saved all the Railroad bridges above Ringgold from being burn ed : the most daring scheme that this rev olution has developed has been thwarted, and the tremendous results which, if suc cessful can scarcely be imagined, much less described, have been averted. Had they succeeded in burning tbe bridges the enemy at Huntsville would have occupied Chattanooga, before Sunday night. Yes terday they would have oeen in Knoxville, and thus had possession of all East Ten nessee. Our forces at Knoxville, Green ville, arid Cumberland Gap, would, ere this, have been in the hands of tho enemy. Lynchburg, Va., would have been moved aif once. This would have given them posses sion of the Valley of Virginia, and Slone Wall Jackson could have been attacked m trie rear. They would hav.e possession of the railroad leading to Charlottsville, and Orange Court H*use, as well as the South Side railroad leading to Richmond. They might nave been able to unite \vith Mc Clellan’s forces, and attack Jo. Johnson’s army, front and flank. It is not by any means improbable that our army in Vir ginia, would have been defeated, captured or driven out of the State this week. Then reinforcements from all the east ern and south-east portion of the country would have been cut off from Beaurgard. 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 con sequences which would have followed the. success of this one act. When Fuller, Murphy and Cain started from Big Shan ty on foot to catch that fugitive engine, they were involuntarily laughed at by tho crowd, serious as the matter was—and zo most oobservers it was ludicrous; butt/ui foot race saved us ; and prevented the con sumption of all these tremmendous consc- , •- IV ' iA,,; M qieuces. O ie fact we must not omit to menntion . is the valuable assistance rendered by Pe ter Bracken, the engineer ou the down freight train which Fuller and Murphy turned back. He ran his engine fifty and a half miles—two of them backing the whole ffreight train up to Adairsvilie— male twelve stops, coupled to the two cars which the fugitives had dropped, and switched them off on sidlings—all this, in one hour and five minutes. We doubt if the victory of Manansas o;* 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 an nihilation of Beanrcg. vi s whole army at Corinth would be so fatal a blow tons 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 ik We regarded it merely ns a dashing foray ot a small party to destroy property, tear up the road, &c., ala Morgan, When an additional tele gram announced the Federal force there t i i>e Lo.u 17,000 to 20,000, •weijwere in clined to doubt it—though coming from a perfectly honorable and upright gentleman, who would not be apt to seize upon wild report to send here to his friends. The coining to that point with a large force, where they would be flanked on either side by our army, we regarded it asm? racst 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 in to Virginia as far as possible, and take all our forces in that State in the rear. It was all the deepest laid scheme and oi: the grandest scale that ever emanated from the brains of any number of Yankees 38S»aa885& i-v.-:-v?

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Southern watchman. (Athens, Ga.) 1854-1882, April 23, 1862, Image 1