Chasing an Iron Horse

a weird, uncanny effect to a scene which was being enacted, on a certain April night of the year 1862, in a secluded piece of woodland a mile or more eas

although they were all loyal Union soldiers belonging to the division of troops commanded by General O. M. Mitchell, then encamped on the banks of Duck River, only a couple of miles away. For the country was now en

and showed how resolute were the lines of his face; "my friends, if you go into this scheme with me, you are taking your li

Andrews!" "We'll stick to you through thick and thin!" "Nobody's going to draw back!" These were among the fervent answers which greeted the lea

ee as far as possible, and he hopes soon to seize Chattanooga, after he has taken Huntsville, Alabama. But to do this he must cut off Chattanooga from all railroad communication to the south and east, and therefore all aid. In other words, we men are to enter the enemy's country in disguise, capture a train on the Georgia State railroad, steam of

We must succeed, if only to save our necks." The next moment the

drews, warningly; "som

sixteen years of age, flushed and breathless, and at his heels a tiny Yorkshire terrier, bright of face, and with an inquiring glance that seemed to say: "What is all this fuss about?" As the animal danced around the boy it was evident that the latter was by no means frightened, o

night," muttered one soldi

man who had spoken, while the boy thrust into the hands o

ung Knight. "He said it was most urgent-and I

dly to the lad: "You look out of breath, Geo

ge Knight, "we ran into a company of Confederate guerrillas. They paid us the complime

stening attitude. So did every one else. Out on the highroad, not a hundred yards away, could be heard the t

d the boy, as Andrews gav

here of them?"

" answered George. "I thin

chum looked on expectantly, as if regretting that neither of them possessed a weapon. Now there came the clatter of hoofs, like a stampede, and the guerrillas seemed to be engaged in a wild scramble to get away. They were an intrepid party, without doubt, but the sudden vo

evolver, with a little

he said. Then he began to read the letter, with the a

, in the guise of a merchant, and bringing back to the Northern forces much valuable information. He is a man of fine education and polished manners, despite his life in the wilds, and is tall, aristocratic-looking, and full of a quiet courage which, in his own dangerous profession, answers far better than the greatest impetuosity. He has plenty of daring, but it is a daring tempered with prudence. Alt

mas nothing had been heard of him. George, with an aching heart, stayed at home with an uncle, and chafed grievously as he saw company after company of militia pass through his native town on the way to the South. Where was his father? This he asked himself twenty times a day. And must he, the son, stand idly by whilst thousands of the flower of the land were rushing forward to fight on one side or the other in the great conflict? "I must enlist!" George had cried, more than once. "Pshaw!" replied his uncle; "you are too

him, Andrews tears it into a hundred litt

k several of the men, a

accomplish anything. To-morrow [Tuesday] morning he takes his army straight south to Huntsville. If he captures the town by Friday, as he expects to do, he can move eastwards, to

they saw before them, with pleasure rather than fear, the risky part they

life compared to the delight of such an adventure? Waggie

Confederate lines. There you can take the cars, and by next Thursday night you must all meet me down at Marietta, Georgia. The next morning according to

way down to Marietta?" asked George, who could sca

ick though not in an unkindly way. "I don'

ark one might have seen t

as playing eavesdro

rusted, from what General Mitchell has said of you. But you must keep a tight rein on your tongue, and not say a syllable, even in camp, of this

u can depend on me," he said manful

nt, by a blinding fork of lightning, and then a fresh outburst of thunder. Andrews lifted up h

believe you. If any of you fall under suspicion on the way, and are arrested, you can enlist in the Confederate army, and then escape from it at the first opportunity. The Southerners are glad to get all the recruits they can, suspicious or otherwise. But I hope you will all reach Mar

young volunteer. "Uncle Sam doesn't pay us priv

the inner pocket of his overcoat. I

h will pay your expenses through the Southern lines." And with that he began to dea

ur, so that you may travel in separate groups, and thus avoid the suspicion which might be ar

ining three men each, and two containing four. Andrews was to proceed southward alone, without an escort. Poor George Knight and Waggie appeare

se to the leader, and speaking in a w

you are little more than a child. It's bad enough for grown men to risk their lives-and bad enough for me to d

an I am here," pleaded George. "If I stay here I m

ay be hanged as a spy," interrupted Andrews. "I'

me if I am little more than a chi

"Anyway, I have no authority to send you off on this chase. You are a member of G

if I get his permissio

pleading expression in the upturned face of the boy, u

start out before daylight. If you can induce the General to

" he said, snapping his fingers at Waggie, "let us

as if the whole artillery of the Union army were engaged in practice. Soon all the conspirators were

a sudden flash of lightning illuminated the wet landscape, as with the brightness of day, there ca

oat, and on his well-shaped head was a slouch hat of the kind generally worn by Southerners. By the dim, sickly light of the candle which sputtered

in the radiant face of the boy. "Ah! No need to ask you! I see by your dancing

. "Don't you want me to go along wit

d cordially, "you're a boy after my own heart, and I'd like nothing better than to have you for a companion; but it's because I

edition, what would you do?' 'By all the stars,' he said, 'I would run away to it rather than miss it-and get shot afterwards as a deserter, I suppose.' 'Then don't put me under the temptation of running away,'

s you a child!"

nd stood up very straight, to make himself look as tall as possible; "but the

d I have accepted them in addition to the rest. Go to them, ask them to get you a suit of plain clothes, put it on instead of your uniform, and stick to them closely from the moment you leave camp until you me

George, half un

in the camp mail." As he spoke he took the sealed note from the army trunk, and handed it to the boy. "It is written to the young woman I am engaged to marry

siastically cried George, who was beginning t

ed twenty times, do you, my bo

he tent. The night was black, and the rain was still descending in a veritable torrent, but to the lad everything seemed clear an