| From the Richmond Daily Dispatch |
| |
| December 31, 1862 |
| |
| President Davis in Tennessee |
| The
Chattanooga
(
Tenn.
) Rebel gives a detailed account of the progress of President Davis
from Chattanooga
to Murfreesboro'. The following extract from it is generally interesting: |
| At Shellmound {on
the Nashville & Chattanooga RR} the axle of one of the box
car attached to the mail train (which immediately preceded the
special train for the President) broke short off, and the end of the
exile was dragged some distance over the cross-ties, jolting the cars
and passengers in a most alarming manner. Some one jerked the bell
rope, and the engineer promptly whistled "down brakes," and
brought the train to a stand still before any serious damage resulted.
It was a miracle that the whole train was not precipitated over the
bluffs of the Tennessee. As it was — thanks to the caution and steadiness of nerve of the
engineer — very little damage was done, and the accident, which was
certainly unavoidable, was soon remedied. Col. Cole gathered about him
in a trice a small army of mechanics and engineers, and in thirty
minutes by the watch had a new wheel and axle set, the car
shifted, the mail train on a side track, and the Presidential
convoy, with colors flying, once more dashing along the banks of the Tennessee. |
| ***** |
| The train reached Bridgeport
at midday. The carriage bearing the President and party was detached
from the locomotive and shifted from terra firma to the deck of a
barge prepared for that purpose, under the attentive supervision of
Superintendent Cole, and in less time than it takes to tell it was
floating on the Tennessee, and towed across to the opposite bank, to
the accompaniment of rolling drums and reverberating cannon. The
battery of the Washington Artillery fired a salute of 13 guns in honor
of the distinguished visitor. President Davis dismounted from the car
as soon as the opposite bank of the river was reached, and walked up
to the headquarters of Gen. Jackson, commandant of the post at Bridgeport. The guard came to a present arms as he approached, and he gracefully
acknowledged the salute by lifting his hat, and then passed on. The
party remained a few moments at Bridgeport until the train was got in
readiness, and then proceeded on to Dechard Station, where the
President and his duologue stopped a short time for dinner; after
which interesting event they were on route once more for
Murfreesboro'. |
| ***** |
|