Another way is to simply light fires
all along the stringers which bends
& warps the rails considerably. But
the neatest of all is to cut levers &
pry one stringer & rails up from the
ties, and roll it over alongside of the
other, then fire both effectually; the
rails expanding with the heat have
got to bend out of line, as their ends
are laid close together. It’s hard work
tho’ to tear up track & do your 10 or
12 miles a day beside. Our reg’t, 200
strong, tore up on the second day about
1000 yds of track & made 12 miles. The
worst part was marching along the
burning track; the road ran through an
impassible swamp so that we were brought
into unpleasantly close contact with the
flame & smokes. At a steam sawmill on
the road was an immense quantity of
stringers & bridge timber all sawed and
fitted for use, in readiness, doubtless, to
repair any damage done by raiding
parties; and this went the way of all
things railroady.