Newspaper Page Text
was walking proudly along with a pair
of«iew boDts on that he had helped
himself to out of the stores, when a
rifle ball struck him in the head and
he fell dead at our feet.
Now, if the Federals could “whip
all h —l yet,” why did they not drive
us away? This was from 2 p. m. till
about 2:30 p. m. The truth probably
is that other matters claimed their at
tention, and they were not inclined to
disturb us. Then, again, why was
General Cox so dilatory that, leaving
Big Shanty before 8 a. m., he did not
reach Allatoona creek that day, when
the roar of cannon in his front sounded
in his ears all the day long? Ido not
think it is over nine miles from Big
Shanty to Allatoona creek? And so
one might go on. No doubt General
Cox then presumed that Hood with
his army was near or at Allatoona, and
he felt his way very cautiously. So
you see with the light of subsequent
events criticism is very easy, but often
unjust.
Now, Mr. Editor, I have not written
these words with any desire to provoke
hard feelings, or to bring about a hot
discussion; but I have had in mind
the gratification of your desire for giv
ing the people tho truth of history re
garding the army operations along the
line of the Western & Atlantic Rail
road.
No one has a right to object to this.
On the contrary, the American people,
with, as you have termed it, their cus
tomary frankness and fair-mindedness,
at this late day, do not take much
stock in attempts to cover up the facts.
I believe there is an evident desire
for ascertaining the truth of the great
struggle wherein our people were ar
rayed against each other. The Fed
eral soldiery in Sherman’s army cer
tainly fought well; but so did the Con
federate troops, and I think it is the
desire of the soldiery on both sides that
the facts should be stated.
I honor General Corse and the brave
men under him for the desperate de
fense they made, and made success
fully ; but I also honor the brave boys
in gray, who, with inferior weapons,
inferior ammunition, and almost with
inferior numbers, assaulted this strong
position, and, as I still believe, would
have captured it but for the fact that
the 23d U. S. army corps was march
ing to relieve the garrison, and was
near at hand, and obliged Gen. French
to withdraw his forces from around
Allatoona.
Thanking you tor the space taken
by this article, I remain yours respect
fully. R. B. E.
Passengers from the Northwest who
desire to go to Thomasville, and to Flor
ida via Thomasville, should bear in
mind that the sleeping cars which run
over the Western & Atlantic Railroad,
leaving Louisville at 8:30 a. m., arriv
ing at Jacksonville at 7:35 the evening
of the next day, are the only ones which
pass through Thomasville in the day-time.
Their arriving time at Thomasville
is 12:50 p. m., and, after allowing time
for dinner, departure is made from
Thomasville at 1:40 p. m., arriving at
Jacksonville at 7:35 as above stated.
All who desire to go in through pal
ace and buffet sleeping cars without
change to Thomasville should bear this
fact in mind.
The Kennesaw Route (W & A. R.
R.) from Chattanooga, Tenn., to At
lanta, Georgia, is the most popular
road in the South. The equipment
and train service is of the best, and,
passing through a region made famous
during the war, it is also justly called
the scenic route. — Real Estate World,
Chicago and Grand Rapids.
THE WESTERN EXCURSION.
An Exciting- Race from Mem
phis to Atlanta.
The annual holiday excursion from
Arkansas and Texas into Tennessee,
Georgia, and the Carolinas has become
quite an event in the west. The
Southern Passenger association author
ized reduced rates for the recent ex
cursion, and both the East Tennessee,
Virginia & Georgia railroad and the
joint McKenzie and Western &
Atlantic lines worked vigorously to in
duce the excursionists to come by their
trains. E-.ich company had extra
agents sent west of the Mississippi to
work up the business.
The excursion trains bringing the
passengers for the rival lines arrived
at Memphis together. The train via
the Memphis & Charleston and East
Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia rail
roads left Memphis one hour and forty
minutss ahead of the excursion train
which came via McKenzie and the
Western & Atlantic. The former train
had an advantage in distance, the
Memphis and Charleston being seven
ty-two miles shorter from Memphis to
Chattanooga and the East Tennessee,
Virginia <fe Georgia being fourteen
miles longer from Chattanooga to At
lanta, leaving a net difference of fifty
eight miles in favor of the train via the
Memphis and Charleston.
Both roads had special schedules,and
carried throngs of people. The Mem
phis and Charleston distributed its ex
cursionists at points in Tennessee, Mis
sisippi and Alabama; but brought
quite a number to Chattanooga for
that place and points beyond. The
McKenzie line train brought the ex
cursionists to Nashville, Chattanooga
and points beyond. From Chattanoo
ga south there remained about one
hundred and fifty to come via the
Western & Atlantic and nearly one
hundred to come via the East Tennes
see line.
The East Tennessee train left Chat
tanooga about an hour ahead of the
Western & Atlantic train; but the
latter overtook it just below Dalton.
The two roads here run parallel for
five and one-half miles, and there was
an exciting race between the two which
resulted in the Western & Atlantic
leaving the East Tennessee train be
hind.
The Western & Atlantic train reach
ed the Union Depot in Atlanta at 6:30
Wednesday morning, and the East
Tennessee train arrived at about half
past eight. There was great rivalry
between the two lines, and the West
ern & Atlantic and McKenzie boys are
doing some good-humored crowing over
their competitors.
This was quite a race from Mem
phis to Atlanta, the trains running
overlive hundred miles.
The above article from the Atlanta
Constitution of December 24th is pretty
correct in general. There were some of
the details, however, which have been
given us which put quite a humorous
phase on the victory of the Western
& Atlantic and McKenzie line.
Their competitors had stated all over
Arkansas that this race was to be a
test of the time made by the two companies,
and that those who went via the Mem
phis & Charleston and E. T., V. &
G., would make in Atlanta one con
nection quicker than those made by
passengers coming via the McKenzie
and Western & Atlantic line.
It turned out that just the reverse
was true. The cxcursu mists over the
Western & Atlantic reached Atlanta
at 6.30 in the morning, making con-
THE KENNESAW GAZETTE.
nection with the Richmond & Dan
ville R. R., the Georgia R. R. and the
Central R. R.; whereas, the excur
sionists who reached Atlanta via the
E. T., V. & G. at half-past eight in
the morning missed all these connections
and had to lie over until the evening
departures.
The E. T., V. & G. train left Chat
tanooga at 11.25 p. m., and the e t
ern & Atlantic train left at 1.30 a. m.;
or, in other words, one hour and 45
minutes later. The Western & At
lantic train men sighted the E. T., V.
& G. train about a mile below Dalton,
and immediately put out after it at a
lively rate. Before they had ran more
than a mile they were even with it,
and soon thereafter passed it so rapidly
that some of the excursionists on the
W. & A. train thought that the other
train had stopped until they were pass
ing the engine when they saw from
the driving wheels that she was doing
her level best.
One of the excursionists on the East
Tennessee train, the next day was tell
ing some parties in the Union Depot
about the race, and remarked: “From
the way the other train passed us I
thought that ours had turned around
and started back the other way.”
This was certainly a most creditable
showing for the Western & Atlantic
and McKenzie line, between Memphis
and Atlanta, and with this showing
it is no longer a source of any doubt
why the people take that line instead
of going over the line of its competi
tors.
RELIGION IN WAR TIMES.
The Gray and the Blue in a Re
vival Between the Lines.
At the bar banquet given Saturday
night in honor of Judges Key and
Trewhitt, Colonel Lewis Shepherd
made a request seconded by all of the
gentlemen present, that Mr. Temple
ton, of the Knoxville bar, who was
present, relate an incident which oc
curred during the war at a revival ser
vice held by his father in north Geor
gia. Mr. Templeton kindly consent
ed, and related the following in a most
effective and touching manner, elicit
ing the most generous applause at his
conclusion :
“My father,” said Mr. Templeton,
“resides in Chattanooga, but about the
time that Sherman made his way into
the South he refugeed in Georgia, and
stopped in Gordon county. He was a
preacher, and wherever he went he
always preached whenever an opportu
nity afforded.
“About the time that Sherman was
driving Johnston toward Atlanta, some
time in the early part of August, 1864,
my father was conducting a revival at
a little house called Pine Log Creek
church, about ten miles from Calhoun,
on the W. &A. R. R. The times
were most terrible about then; mur
der, robbery and rapine were of daily
occurrence, and the whole country was
subject to visitations by marauding par
ties from both armies. One day the
old gentleman was preaching a sermon
of unusual power, and before he had
gotten well under way a gang of Con
federate soldiers rode up and, dismount
ing out back of the church, asked if
they might be admitted to the church.
Os course they were cordially invited
in, and took prominent seats in the
church.
“Not long afterward a cloud of dust
was seen in the road from the opposite
direction to what the rebels had comes
and pretty soon the tramp of horses’
hoofs was heard, and it was soon dis
covered that it was a squad of Federal
troops, and before the Confederates in
the church could be apprised of the
approach they had ridden up to the
door. Perceiving that religious ser
vices were being held, they alighted
and asked to be admitted. They were
then told that there were Confederate
soldiers in the church, but insisted on
going in, and they were admitted like
wise.
“Naturally the strange spectacle
created some consternation in the con
gregation, and for a time it seemed as
if the confusion would break up the
meeting. But my father raised his
voice aud began most fervently to plead
a better life, beseeching his soldier
hearers to become religious and aban
don their sins. He preached with un
usual force and power, the strange
scene lending him inspiration. Strong
men were stirred to the depths, and
wept like children, and the scene of
confusion was soon changed to one of
strong religious awakening.
“When he had concluded his ser
mon, as was the custom in those days,
he invited those who were convicted to
come forward to the mourner’s bench
aud pray and talk with him on the all
important subject.
“Then it was that one of the grand
est sights ever witnessed occurred.
Those soldiers, enemies to each other,
engaged in a bloody war, arose as one
man, friend and foe together, aud
marched to the front of the church and
kneeled together, Confederate by Fed
eral, their muskets, joining and cross
ing each other: their revolvers touch
ing each other as they kneeled; their
heads bowed upon the same altar and
their tears mingling almost in their
deep contrition and profound feeling.
All animosities were forgotten, all strife
forgotten —they were together as broth
ers around a common altar.
“After the service they met on the
outside of the church; they shook
hands, pledged fraternity, and each
party went off, taking opposite direc
tions. They had been looking for
each other, perhaps with murderous
intent. They found each other, but
they separated with love instead of
hate, friendly instead of angry.”
The recital of the story was listened
to with marked attention and interest,
every one being deeply impressed with
the beautiful incident, which is true in
every detail. — Chattanooga Times.
Psalm. CXXII.
1. David professeth his joy for the church, G and
prayeth for the peace thereof.
A Song of degrees of David.
I WAS glad when they said unto me,
let us go into the house of the Lord.
2. Our feet shall stand within thy gates,
O Jerusalem.
3. .Jerusalem is builded as a city that is
compact together.
4. Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of
the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to
give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
5. For there are set thrones of judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.
6. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they
shall prosper that love thee.
7. Peace be within thy walls, and pros
perity within thy palaces.
8. For my brethren and companions’
sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9. Because of the house of the Lord our
God I will seek thy good.
Considering its size, Marietta is one
of the choicest centres of culture and
refinement of any city in the South.
We may properly term her, “Little
Paris,” as she merits the title.
3