| From the Savannah Republican |
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| June 25, 1863 |
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| Our Western Army Correspondence |
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| Huntsville, June 18 |
| ***** |
| Railroad travel between
Shelbyville and Wartrace is quite an annoying curiosity. The distance
eight miles, and railroad time taken to travel it, an a hour and a half
and two hours. A friend wishing to go south at the same time with
ourselves, left Shelbyville on horseback, twenty minutes after the train
had left, and made the best time to Wartrace, where the southern
connection is made. The rails are so worn, and the bed of the road is in
such bad condition, that it is not considered proper to run the cars
faster than five miles an hour! As the locomotive approaches within a
mile of the Shelbyville depot, a down grade is encountered, the
locomotive disconnects itself from the cars, trusting their advance to
the declivity of the grade, and runs ahead to the engine house, where it
is switched off the main track in time to let the cars following pass on
to the depot. |
| ***** |
| From Wartrace south the
Nashville & Chattanooga road is in fine order, a reserve car is kept for
the ladies, water is regularly supplied and the Conductors are courteous
and at tentative -- Messrs. Cole and Whaling, who expend their energy in
the management of the roads, deserve credit for their efforts. From
Wartrace to Stevenson one fortification after another is passed in rapid
succession. The fine works, forts and abatis, and especially Fort Rains,
at Tullahoma, are objects of intense interest. Every bridge and trestle
along the route is well guarded night and day, and a small fort and
stockades are to be observed at every bridge of any importance. The
latter were introduced and built by the Yankees in large numbers and
still remain to mark the presence of the defeated invaders. They are
formed of heavy oak posts placed upright from the ground, extending
fifteen feet high, with musket loops pierced through about breast high,
for the purpose of firing through. On the outside a trench is dug and
the earth thrown at the base of the stockade. These are, indeed, most
formidable defenses for a small force, and it were as well for the
cavalry to dash against the mountain side as charge one of these
stockades. But they afford no resistance to artillery, are only intended
to shelter guarding forces from surprises of cavalry and bushwhacking
attacks. At Estelle Springs a large fort, erected by Yankee hands, still
remains, and strong Confederate works lend an interest to the point. The
houses which once adorned the place were laid in ruins by the vandal
torch, and the brick chimneys still standing, and the walls of what was
once an extensive mill or factory, only remain attesting to the former
village. The next object of interest is the famous tunnel cut through
the mountain. It forms an arch half a mile long, through which the train
passes, enveloped in utter darkness for the few minutes of its passage.
It presents an excellent opportunity for a lover to kiss his sweetheart
without being seen. A very strange incident occurred in its dark
confines a short time since, which will scarcely bear publication. Two
seats in the car facing each other, were occupied respectively by an
Irish lady returning from a visit to a relative in the army, and
opposite to her a young man of twenty, with neatly curled moustach and
head ornamented by long luxuriant tresses, with a mild and refined
expression of features. As the cars approached the tunnel, one of the
railroad hands told the guard he was going to have some fun, and to be
on the alert when the tunnel was reached. As soon as darkness covered
every object in the cars, this coarse fellow entered and took improper
familiarities with the Irish lady, who imagining that it was the person
opposite, seized the poor fellow by the hair, which was removed in
handsful, scratched his face, and screamed energetically for assistance.
When the cars emerged to the open air, the real scoundrel had
disappeared, and the innocent young gentleman of mild appearance
disclosed to view, a very sorry physiognomy from the effects of the
outraged celt whose fingers still clung to his raven locks. An outraged
community was "on the rampage," as Joe hath it in Great Expectations,
and the poor devil was placed under guard and sent back to the army to
await his trial. After having been subjected to this worse than
martyrdom, the unfortunate youth was sent on his way rejoicing, but
determined probably in all futurity to avoid railroad tunnels. |
| Large numbers of ladies
continue to travel to and from the army, and at the present time I doubt
not that a larger number are in its vicinity visiting relatives than
ever before. ***** |
| The train leaving Shelbyville
at 6 a. m. reaches Chattanooga in twelve hours, and makes connection at
Stevenson with the Memphis & Charleston road, which carries passengers
to Huntsville, reaching that point at 6p. m. This road is now in
operation to Tuscumbia, a large bridge over the Tennessee having been
rebuilt by the government. The Central Southern Railroad has been put in
operation by the government, from Decatur to Pulaski, and will soon be
completed to Columbia. Through its aid large supplies are brought from
the interior of Middle Tennessee, Maury and other rich counties. |
| N. |
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