Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
Alexandria, November 3.—Most of the accounts relative to the attack upon the train at Manassas have been exaggerated. The following is the true version:—
It was about three o’clock on Friday afternoon when the train passed over Bull Run bridge. It proceeded about a mile beyond, when it was thrown from the track. No obstruction was apparent, and the manner in which the Confederates accomplished the fiendish trick was by cutting off the heads of the spikes which confined the rails in position, and undermining the track.
Capt. Clark, of Co. K, writing to the Caledonian from Aligers, La., on the 7th inst., says :
On the morning of the 3d ,I went to Boutte upon the train going to Algiers, to confiscate negros, cattle and mules from Gen. Taylor’s, Capt. Ranson’s, (both active rebel officers) and other adjoining plantations, and to learn if possible whether this rebel force was designing our capture. I was there full five hours, conversed with white men and negroes from the river, and found that no advance had been made for three days.
The next morning, Sept. 4, I was ordered to detail 20 men from each of the three companies, 10 men from the battery and 1 gun, and proceed to the Boutte to look after the safety of the coming train, to learn what I could respecting the rebels, and to gather in and send off the balance of confiscated property there. My train consisted of two platform cars forward of the engine and one open cattle car behind it. The gun and 45 men were upon the forward cars, 5 upon the tender and 10 upon the rear car. I got upon the engine that I might direct its movements, and ordered the men to load their rifles, keep a vigilant lookout, and to signal to me should anything wrong or unusual appear.
Following the record low temperature of Monday morning, the mercury dropped rapidly again Monday evening until at midnight the thermometer registered 10 degrees below zero. In the early morning hours of Tuesday however, there was some moderation of the temperature and at 6 o’clock yesterday morning the average reported in Augusta was 6 to 8 degrees below zero.
Snow began falling about 10 o’clock Tuesday morning and continued throughout the day with increasing intensity in the afternoon and evening. With the low temperature, the storm, which was driven by a bitter wind from the northeast, made it particularly disagreeable for all who had occasion to venture forth.