IN 1861 the Civil War broke out and I was at once
summoned to Washington by Mr. Scott, who had
been appointed Assistant Secretary of War in charge
of the Transportation Department. I was to act as his
assistant in charge of the military railroads and tele-
graphs of the Government and to organize a force of
railway men. It was one of the most important depart-
ments of all at the beginning of the war.

The first regiments of Union troops passing through
Baltimore had been attacked, and the railway line cut
between Baltimore and Annapolis Junction, destroying
communication with Washington. It was therefore nec-
essary for me, with my corps of assistants, to take train
at Philadelphia for Annapolis, a point from which a
branch line extended to the Junction, joining the main
line to Washington. Our first duty was to repair this
branch and make it passable for heavy trains, a work
of some days. General Butler and several regiments of
troops arrived a few days after us, and we were able to
transport his whole brigade to Washington.

I took my place upon the first engine which started
for the Capital, and proceeded very cautiously. Some
distance from Washington I noticed that the telegraph
wires had been pinned to the ground by wooden stakes.
I stopped the engine and ran forward to release them,
but I did not notice that the wires had been pulled to
one side before staking. When released, in their spring
upwards, they struck me in the face, knocked me over,

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