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Quoted from George Kundahl, Confederate Engineer, pp.
214-215, which is based on John Wampler's Journals.
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Returning to Tullahoma by train the following morning,
Wampler learned of the redeployment of Hardee's corps to Wartrace.
Confederate response to the Federal incursions around McMinnville had
been to relocate Hardee's troops farther up the Nashville &
Chattanooga tracks. Bragg intended for the enhanced Confederate
presence in that vicinity to influence the Federals north of Hoover
Gap, thereby protecting the rail line connecting Manchester with
McMinnville. While waiting for the Yankee raiding party to pull back,
Wampler and Presstman evaluated the bridge sites across Duck River to
facilitate their army's rapid movement. Once the Federals withdrew,
Wampler was ordered to repair the bridges and put the McMinnville
& Manchester Railroad in operational condition once again. He was
authorized to hire, buy, or impress any necessary labor or materials.
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| Starting from Manchester on April 27,
Wampler's engine could go no farther than the first burnt trestle,
eight miles to the northeast. After assessing the situation, he
hurried back to Tullahoma for tools and, returning to Manchester,
enlisted a detail of one hundred men. They camped for the night at the
trestle and began work at 6:00 the next morning. By early afternoon
two new bents were installed, along with other repairs. The work party
then proceeded up the track, restoring three successive trestles,
before finally reaching the bridge over Hickory Creek. The engineer
found it "badly damaged," *****. |
| Assembling materials for these repairs was
challenging. Lumber and rope came from Tullahoma. Bolts and crossties
were more scarce. ***** By mid-afternoon on May 2, an engine and cars
were able to cross the bridge, enabling the engineer party to move two
and a half miles into town {McMinnville} to
regrade and rebuild its railroad switch. ***** |
| Completing work on the switch the
following day, Wampler dismissed half of his crew at a time, sending
them back to Manchester by train. |
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