Fortunately for the Confederates, they saw the obstruction in time to prepare for it.  Their engine was slowed up, and the car caught and pushed before it.  Andrews tried the device a second time, another car being dropped.  It was picked up by Fuller in the same manner as before.  On reaching a siding at Resaca station, the Confederate engineer switched off these supernumerary cars, and pushed ahead again relieved of his load.

Not far beyond was a bridge which the raiders had intended to destroy.  It could not be done.  The pursuit was too sharp.  They dashed on over its creaking planks, having time for nothing but headlong flight.  The race was a remarkably even one, the engines proving to be closely matched in speed.  Fuller, despite all his efforts, failed to overtake the fugitives, but he was resolved to push them so sharply that they would have no time to damage track or bridges, or take on wood or water.  In the latter necessity Andrews got the better of him.  His men knocked out the end of the one box-car they had left, and dropped the ties with which it was loaded one by one upon the track, delaying the pursuers sufficiently to enable them to take on some fresh fuel.

Onward again went the chase, mile after mile, over a rough track, at a frightful speed, the people along the route looking on with wondering eyes.  It seemed marvellous that the engines could cling to those unevenly-laid rails.  The escape of the pursuers, was, indeed, almost miraculous, for Andrews found time to stop just beyond a curve and lay a loose rail on the track, and Fuller’s engine ran upon this at full speed.  There came a terrific jolt; the engine seemed to leap into the air; but by a marvellous chance it lighted again on the rails and ran on unharmed.  Had it missed the track not a man on it would have lived to tell the tale.

The position of the fugitives was now desperate.  Some of them wished to leave the engine, reverse its valves, and send it back at full speed to meet the foe.  Others suggested that they should face the enemy and fight for their lives.  Andrews was not ready to accept either of these plans.  He decided to go on and do the work for which they had set out, if possible.  He knew the road.  There was a covered bridge a few miles ahead.  If they could burn this all would be well.  He determined to try.

There was one box-car left.  That might serve his purpose.  He had his men pile wood on its floor, and light this with coals from the engine.  In a minute it was burning.  The draught made by the rushing train soon blew the fire into a roaring flame.  By the time the bridge was reached the whole car was in a fierce blaze.