Copy of the photograph "General John S. Casement and His Outfit" by Andrew J. Russell, 1867-1868

Although barely five feet tall, Jack Casement was tough as nails worked his men hard. He carried a bullwhip to intimidate tracklayers. The crews lived in 20 cars, including dormitories and an arsenal car containing a thousand loaded rifles.  The photographer of the image was Andrew Joseph Russell. He was employed during the Civil War by famed war photographer Mathew Brady. Following the war, Russell served the federal government on some of the surveying expeditions in the West before being employed by the Union Pacific.