From the April, 1908 issue of the Locomotive Engineers Journal, B of LE:
In Railroad Service from 1855 to 1901.

UNION, NY Feb. 10, 1908.
Editor, JOURNAL: As per your request, I forward you my experience at railroading. I was born at Vestal, Broome county, N.Y., on the 20th of July, 1834, and my railroad life commenced in the spring of 1853. I commenced as a brakeman on the Susquehanna division of the Erie Railroad Company, running from Susquehanna, Pa., to Hornellsville, N.Y. In 1855 I commenced firing on the same road, on the Eastern division, running from Jersey City to Port Jervis. Harry Switcher was then division superintendent, and Charles Minot was general superintendent. I fired for John McGinnis, engineer. I fired for McGinnis until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he was commissioned as captain of a company that was raised for service in the United States Army. I enlisted as a private in his company in May, 1861, Co. B, 18th New York Regiment Volunteers Infantry.

In 1861 I was called into my first battle, the Battle of Bull Run. After the battle of Bull Run we returned to Alexandria, Va., and remained there in camp at picket duty until the spring of 1862. In the spring of 1862 we were moved in front of Richmond, and there took part in the battle of Gaines Mills in front of Richmond. We then participated in the seven-day fight from in front of Richmond to Malvern Hill. At this place a stand was made and a battle fought. We went from James River over into Maryland, and again went into battle at South Mountain, Md. From South Mountain we next went into battle at Antietam, Md. From Antietam we returned into Virginia, and the next and the last battle in which I participated was at Fredericksburg, Va., in the spring of 1868, just ten days before the expiration of my term of enlistment. We remained at Fredericksburg for five days after the battle, burying our dead. We were next ordered to Washington, and from thence to Albany, N.Y., from which latter place we were mustered out of the service.

At the time of enlistment I had the promise from the officials of the Erie that whenever I came out of the army I should have at least as good a job as the one I gave up for enlistment; so when I came back to New York I went to see Gen. Supt. Minot in relation to procuring a pass over the Erie to my home, and he asked me who I was and where I came from, and by what right I asked for a pass. I replied that I was one of the "boys" that enlisted with John McGinnis and went "soldiering." He then asked me what engine I was firing in 1861 and I told him engine No. 101, of the day express. He directed a clerk to hand him the register. Then when he had found my name on the register, he told me that I might have a pass to the end of the Erie road, wherever I wished to go. He then gave me a pass and told me that whenever I wanted to come back to work to report to him and he would give me a letter of recommendation to the master mechanic. Later I reported to him and he gave me a letter of recommendation to the master mechanic and I was then placed as an engineer running a switch engine in the yards at Jersey City. This was in 1868.

I ran the switch engine for something like two years, when I was put on the road on an extra freight. I ran extra freight for two years when I was given a passenger train on tbe same Division. I ran a passenger train for twenty five years. In 1891 I was compelled to give up railroading on account of the loss of eyesight.

I joined the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in 1865. I joined Hudson Div. 135, of Jersey City, NJ I joined the Brotherhood Insurance in 1868. I was 78 years of age on the 20th day of July, 1907.

-- FRED ELDRIDGE.