Having letters from Chief Engineer Latrobe to Chief Engineer McLeod, he received an appointment from the latter and was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, on June 11, 1857, where he was stationed up to April 23, 1858, as inspector of cross-ties, superintendent of bridge masonry and superstructure, and receiving chairs and spikes and railroad iron. While in Nashville, as a boyish exploit, he climbed the spire of the State Capitol and hung his hat on the point.

Returning to Fountain Head in April, 1858, he spent a short time attending to his father’s business, then joined him near Glasgow Junction, Barren County, Kentucky, and aided in the completion of his father’s last contract on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in the spring of 1859.

While residing near Glasgow Junction in 1859 and 1860 he discovered and explored a number of caverns, the largest of which was the Hundred Dome Cave, two and a half miles from the station. In connection with and aided by John D. Courts, he fitted up and opened it to the sightseeing public, having carriages to meet the trains for the accommodation of visitors.

Although born and educated in Ohio, a Northern State, young Peddicord believed truly and sincerely in the rights of States, and when war became imminent his sympathy was all with the South, and he enlisted in the Confederate States Army in September, 1861. Before enlisting he was engaged in the service as special agent in re-shipping supplies and all kinds of munitions, etc., from Glasgow Junction, L. & N. R. R., to the State line of Tennessee. Permits would not be granted at Louisville, Kentucky, to ship through, but by re-shipping freight and paying charges with gold its southern destination was reached.

While thus engaged the young man met General, then Colonel, N. B. Forrest, who tendered him a fine position, urging Kelion to go with him in the service. The Colonel was on his way through Kentucky, taking out his first company at the time. With some reluctance he was forced to decline the Colonel’s kind offer, because of his engagement with the shipping and commission merchants of Nashville, whose gold was entrusted to him for a specific purpose.

For a record of young Peddicord’s service after enlistment in the Confederate States Army we can do no better than use his Journal, as completed by him in December, 1865.

CHAPTER II
THE JOURNAL

To

My beloved sister, Mrs. India W. P. Logan,

This little History