| From the Memphis Appeal |
| |
| February 7, 1861 |
| |
| Letter From Chattanooga |
| Chattanooga, Tenn., Feb. 3, 1861 |
| The unusually heavy rains
which have fallen in this section of the State within the last few days
have played havoc with the railroads generally branching out from this
point. The unsafe state of the bridges on the Memphis & Charleston line
induced such delay as to cause us to fall in making the connection with
either the eastern or southern trains leaving here this morning. A heavy
and impassible breach, I am told, also exists between this place and
Atlanta, which will doubtless detain me some twenty-four hours behind
the time at which I would otherwise have arrived at Montgomery. Nor has
the Virginia & East Tennessee road {East Tennessee
& Virginia RR} between here and Knoxville escaped unharmed. On
this morning, a culvert over a small creek, about twelve miles from
Chattanooga, gave way, as the engine of a freight train was passing over
it, and precipitated the engine and first car into the river below,
causing the immediate death of the engineer. You can form some idea of
the extent of the rains, as well as the damage done, from the reported
bight of the river at Knoxville, which, according to a telegram received
this evening, fell but a fraction below the high-water mark of 1847. |
| ***** |
| H. M. S. |
|