The teamsters, at the first sight of the formidable line, began cutting their wheel-mules loose, and escaping upon them.

Rachel's teamster followed their example.
"The off-mule's unhitcht; jump on him, an' skip," he shouted to her as he vanished up the pike.
The Rebels were shooting down the mules and such teamsters as remained.
Some dismounted, and with the axes each wagon carried, chopped the spokes until the wagon fell, while others ran along and started fires in each.

In a little while five hundred wagons loaded with rations, clothing, ammunition and stores were blazing furiously.

Their work done, the cavalry rode off toward Nashville in search of other trains.
Rachel leaped from the wagon, before the Rebels approached, and took refuge behind a large tree, whence she saw her wagon share the fate of the rest.

When the cavalry disappeared, she came out again into the road and walked slowly up it, debating what she could do.