Chasing an Iron Horse

ad played his own little part), were taken by the detachment of Confederates to Chattanooga. Here they were placed in the jail, and here also, in the course o

engine chase, and every effort was made to

at General Mitchell was about to take possession of the former place. In a few days, however, when the danger had passed,

ecessary to make detailed mention. Andrews, after a trial, was executed in Atlanta as a spy, dying like a brave man, and seven of his companions, c

e following October. Among them were Watson, George Knight, Jenks and Macgreggor. Waggie, too, was still in evidence, but he would h

ernoon, "it is hard to realize that

on each side of a hallway. In the hallway was a staircase which led to the first story, where the jailer and his family had their quart

r execution I began to hope that the Confederate Government had forgotten the rest of us. I even thought it possible we might be exchanged for the same

boy looked thin and very pal

ying games. 'Keep a very strict eye on those engine-stealers,' the marshal said; 'a court is going to try them-and you know what that means-death! A trial will be nothing more tha

d uneasily. This was not what

tell us before

eturned Macgreggor. "You b

leared h

gave Waggie a mournful pat; "if we don't want to

thought. The idea of liberty was

ter to escape, and run the risk of failing or of being re-ca

enable us not only to get out,

een sitting on the floor watching two of their number at a game o

he dishes. He is then alone. Suppose we seize him, gag him, take his keys, unlock all the doors on this floor, and release all the prisoners. As you know, there are a number besides our own party-whites and negroes. Al

heme. It was finally agreed that the dash was well worth the trial. As Je

shared the room with them, was to be associated in this daring enterprise. It seemed to George as if the hour would never come; but as the sun began to sink g

he party, "and remember that all depends upon the quietness with which we

Waggie. He had been having a walk, with a daughter of the jailer, and one of the negro servants had taken him up-

," said Macgreggor.

good as a kennel." He pointed to an overcoat, which the East Tennessee Captain had given him, a

ort of mournful impressiveness: "Boys, let us all bid ea

t the tears of soldiers who had become attached to one another through suffering and hoping togethe

ed a drop fr

g. Remember one thing. Treat the jailer as gently as possible. H

ions. It was an order whic

It was supper time! Two negroes entered and placed some pans contain

n; "we don't know when we ma

hey finished before the door was thrown open, a

ant, unsuspicious voice. He halted at th

rge felt as if he were living

His Hand Over

r. "It's such a very pleasant evening that we intend to

or this move. He did not ev

you mean--"

a calm, even voice, "and we are going to leave you. Now

oat. Then Macgreggor seized the keys, after a sharp but decisive struggle, and hurried into the hallway, where he began to release the general prisoners. He quickly unlocked in succession the doors of the three

ree soldiers in the rear of the yard, wrenched from them their muskets, crying out at the same time: "Make a movement or a cry and we'll shoot you down!" The rest of the party, among whom were George Knight and Jenks, tore into the front part of the yard, where four

his hold upon the astonished jailer. He did not know that two of the sentinels had escaped, but he arrived down-stairs just in time to see the resul

rison fence. There came the sharp crack of rifles from the reserve guard. Whiz! The bullets rattled all around the heads of the fence-climbers, the whistling noise having for accompaniment the cries of the

d rooms. The bullets were flying thick and fast within and without the prison yard; the scene was one of pandemonium. Ere long five of the engine party had been captured, three inside of the yard and two imm

of the barred window. He could hear the cavalry colonel excitedl

one who is captured is sure to be hung now." Afterwards another pr

former cried out his warning, on the approach of the reserve guard, t

pressed excitement, "over the fence

top of the wooden fence. Whirr! George was conscious of a whistling

nd the two had dropped from the fence and

hot pursuit. A ball sped by George, dangerously near the capacious pocket in which Waggie was ensconced

imprisonment-they will get up to us in the end. Let's try a tric

threw up his arms, as if in agony, and sank on the grass. George ut

emaining soldier came running up to the two prisoners, and after taking one look which convinced him that they were either dead or dy

ay, as it lessened the danger of pursuit. But in another way the night impeded their progress for they could not get their bearings. They groped from tree to tree, and from bush to bush, like blind men

we?" whispe

rned Watson. "Hark!

istinct as they listened. Galloping horsemen and the

y be putting ourselves in a trap-but for th

come. On rushed the horsemen until they reached the outskirts of the wood. Here they halted. The hiders

"These Yankees, not content with troubling us on the battl

ed to escape," laughed the first officer. "The

rence between their officers and those of the cavalry the horsemen galloped away

ad soon been posted within fifty feet of the two fugitives. The situation was fraught with the greatest danger. Wa

low that it could just

pered. "We must wriggle out of here until we come to t

re?" ask

st trust to chance. But anything is better than r

nta prison, and he even pictured himself with a rope around his neck

ound and kept up this snake-like motion until they reached the edge of the wood. It was slow work and v

ch dark, and they could see nothing. Over the road and into an open field tore the two fugitives. They felt like blind men, for they could hardly distinguish any object before them; mo

tree, and seated himself across one of its branches. George was quick to follow; he clim

with an occasional shot. Two of the soldiers passed

en off," one of

. "Any fellows who could do what they did at B

the tree, evidently went back to the woods. The uproar had ceased; the

his pocket, and the little party pushed on in the darkness for about a mile. Here they found a hayrick in a field, alongside of which they laid

There's a chance for us yet, provided we try

u mean?" as

ut for us. Instead of that, let us strike out towards the Gulf of Mexico, where we should reach one of the ships of the Union blockading squadron

cried the boy. "

on s

all horse-sense up our way-and I'm not anxious t

iated. First they reached the banks of the Chattahoochee River, after which they secured a boat and rowed their way down via the Apalachicola River, to Apalachicola, Fl

from them, and their thin, gaunt figures showing the consequences of many days of privation. Watson was feverish, with an unnatural glitter in

t towards the south, where were to be seen a collection

a look at it-glad to know that deliverance was at hand-but

"Perhaps we have been fooled after all. The

drew nearer, a flutter of buntin

y that threatened to upset the boat. "See the blue-and the red and white stripes! Hurrah

a hoarse croak from his parched throat. Then the tears gushed into his eyes

ere four ships of war, and now they could see the sai

d to finish the sentence. He half rose from his seat, relinquished the oars, with a despairing cr

iend. But the movement was too much for the equilibrium of the frail boat and for the balance o

on's coat he pulled to the side of the upturned boat. To this he held with his right hand like grim death, as he put his left arm around Watson's waist. The boy was panting for breath, and as weak as if he had been swimming

I would rather drown myself than

he tiny animal gave a bark that said "Thank you," as plainly as if he had spelled out every letter of the two words. Geo

asked, staring wildly a

hold on to the boat. For I'm so worn out

unwale. At last he managed to gras

exico; he thought he was holding on to a horse. By and by the horse began to move. Could he keep his grasp on the animal? No; not much longer. The horse started to canter, and the boy felt himself slipping backward. In reality he had

vessels, and Waggie was barking in an effort to awaken him. Near him sat Wat

lows had a narrow escape. It was well we saw their pligh

vessel), in a gruff but not unkindly tone, "what on earth are you, and where

ures, in brief but graphic terms, to the interested group of officers. When they

e said emphatically. "And after that so

erclothes, shoes, nice suits and naval caps. When they came on deck again, how the sailors did cheer. And Waggie! How fine and cheerful he looked, to be sure, all decked out in ribbons provided by the tars; and how please

nt vessel to New York. From New York they traveled by rail to Washington, where they were

. Lincoln. He felt nervous at the thought of encountering the man who, more than any one else, held in his hand the destiny of the nation. But, when a tall, gaunt person, with wonderful, thoughtful eyes and a homely face, il

longer-and put to them many questions. When the recital was over the Preside

Stanton had given them this unwelcome in

of the pockets of his ill-fitting

e regular army," he explained. "I know of no one

ank you, Mr. Presi

wered the President, smiling. "That

diately behind his chief, began to

into the unfathomable

means." Then, turning to George, he continued: "My lad, you are one of the heroes of the war! I had intended

Mr. Lincoln!

would you like to go as a volunteer ai

g!" said the b

aced his Secr

y, Mr. Secretary," he observed, dryly,

nswered the Secretary, "but

the past, I'll have no fear for you. Do your duty, and some day you may live to see-as I may not live to see-a perfect reu

m he was obliged to entrust to the care of a friend of Secretary Stanton's. The boy saw plenty of army life throughout the rest of the war. When the conflict was over he hurried back to Washington, found Waggie alive and well, and then went hom

ned the fortunes of the soldiers who escaped from the Atlanta jail. Eight of the engine party and the East Tennessee Captain (this number including Watson and George), managed to escape, and finally reached the Northern lines in safety. The six prisoners who were recaptured, among them Macgreggor an

ll of honors. He was known far and wide as the "Civil War Dog"-a title which caused him to receive much attention, and a good many dainty bits of

e service in the Spanish-American War as an officer in the navy. Before we say good-bye to our hero let us record that he never forgot the

ndle of letters from the old clergyman. The l

Friend

es for the holiday season, and to say-Thank God, the war has been over these twenty years and we are once more a unit

ially

Buck

E