they
belonged to Lincoln's army, and had been sent down from
Shelbyville to burn the bridges between here and
Chattanooga; and that the whole party consisted of nineteen
men, eleven of whom were dropped at several points on the
road as they came down, to assist in the burning of the
bridges as they went back.

When the morning freight train which left this city reached
Big Shanty, Lieutenant-Colonels R. F. Maddox and C. P.
Phillips took the engine and a few cars, with fifty picked
men, well armed, and followed on as rapidly as possible.
They passed over all difficulties, and got as far as
Calhoun, where they learned the fugitives had taken the
woods, and were pursued by plenty of men, with the means to
catch them if it were possible.

One gentleman who went upon the train from Calhoun, who has
furnished us with many of these particulars, and who, by the
way, is one of the most experienced railroad men in Georgia,
says too much praise cannot be bestowed on Fuller and
Murphy, who showed a cool judgment and forethought in this
extraordinary affair, unsurpassed by anything he ever knew
in a railroad emergency. This gentleman, we learn from
another, offered, on his own account, one hundred dollars
reward on each man, for the apprehension of the villains.

We do not know what Governor Brown will do in this case, or
what is his custom in such matters; but if such a thing is
admissible, we insist upon Fuller and Murphy being promoted
to the highest honors on the road; if not by actually giving
them the highest position, at least let them be promoted by
_brevet_. Certainly their indomitable energy, and quick,
correct judgment and decision in the many difficult
contingencies connected with this unheard-of emergency, has
saved all the railroad bridges above Ringgold from being
burned; the most daring scheme that this revolution has
developed has been thwarted, and the tremendous results
which, if successful, can scarcely be imagined, much less
described, have been averted. Had they succeeded in burning
the bridges, the enemy at Huntsville would have occupied
Chattanooga before Sunday night. Yesterday they would have
been in Knoxville, and thus had possession of all East
Tennessee. Our forces at Knoxville, Greenville, and
C