stating that if they stayed in the block-houses and
stockades nothing could defeat them, and so it proved. Where these forces
struck a Regiment, and captured it in earth-works, they went twelve miles
north to the Sulphur Trestle, a bridge one hundred and twenty-five feet
high, defended by two companies in a block-house and stockade, and were
signally defeated. The Army of the Cumberland protected the line from
Nashville to Stevenson, and on to Chattanooga, with block-houses at all
bridges and important points, and when on the 5th of May, 1864, General
Sherman started on the Atlanta campaign, General Hooker reports on April
23, 1864, that he detailed 1,460 men to occupy block-houses from Nashville
to Chattanooga, and this force held that line of road throughout the
campaign, though many attempts were made to destroy it. During the Atlanta
campaign as we advanced the railway was rebuilt, and all bridges and
stations had block-houses or stockades to protect them.

General Green B. Raum's Brigade was located at some of the most important
structures. General Wheeler, with all of Johnston's Cavalry force and
several batteries, endeavored to destroy this, our only line of
communication for transporting supplies. General Raum's story is so to the
point that I quote it almost entire. He says:

My experiences with block-houses extended from May to November, 1864,
on the Memphis & Charleston railroad, and the Chattanooga & Atlanta
railroad. Block-houses were built along these railroads exclusively
for the protection of bridges. They were built of heavy square
timbers, sometimes with two or three thicknesses of timber, and were
of various sizes. I had a two-story block-house built at Mud Creek,
east of Scottsboro, Ala.; it would easily hold 100 men. These houses
were carefully pierced with loop-holes, so that the garrison could
cover every approach. My garrisons were usually too large for the
block-houses. In these cases I threw up an earth-work, and protected
it with abatis. The Confederate forces soon learned to respect a
block-house. I found it to be an absolute defense against musketry.

During the Atlanta campaign our block-houses were constantly attacked
by raiding parties; small and great trains would be thrown from the
track and burned, and small sections of the track destroyed. About
July 5, 1864, an enterprising Confederate cavalryman with about 300
men