| From the Richmond Dispatch |
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| November 19, 1861 |
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| From East Tennessee -- the hero of Strawberry Plains |
| A correspondent of the Knoxville
(Tenn.) Register, writing from the scene, furnishes the following
particulars of the bloody affray on Friday night, the 8th inst., at
Strawberry Plains }on the East Tennessee &
Virginia RR}, between James Keelan, the hero watchman, and
Pickens's squad of incendiaries: |
| The fight occurred upon a platform in the
trestle work of the bridge. Blood had been profusely poured out upon
the planks; and the beams were literally besprinkled with the element
of life. More than twenty bullet holes were found in the timbers, and
many deep gashes were made in the pasts and slits by the rude knives
of the cut throats. All around were evidences that a terrible affray
had occurred on the premises. |
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At the residence of Mr. Elmore, the Railroad
agent, we found the brave sufferer. He was shot in three places —
the back, thigh, and elbow. His hand was severed at the wrist. Many
gashes are found upon his person. From his coat, I judge twenty
attempts were made to cut his throat. When I saw him he was perfectly
calm and sensible, bearing his pains with patience and fortitude. He
will probably recover. He is a poor man, with a large family depending
upon his labor for the subsistence of life. He fought sixteen men,
probably killing their leader, whilst in the act of firing the bridge,
and finally drove the enemy away without their accomplishing their
fiendish purpose. He done all that he could, unaided by any one, in
defence of his Government and the people. Indeed it was not known by
any one of the citizens, until in a bleeding and exhausted condition
he reached the house of Mr. Elmore, where he sank down from great
weakness, exclaiming, "They have killed me, but I saved the
bridge." He is a hero, and has physically done more for the
welfare of his country than any man in the Confederacy. He deserves
well of his countrymen, and let a grateful people do something for the
relief of his family.
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