The plan called for Streight and General Greenville Dodge to move from central Tennessee into northwestern Alabama. Dodge would lead a diversionary attack on Tuscumbia, Alabama, while Streight would take nearly 2,000 troopers across northern Alabama and into Georgia. Streight outfitted his men with mules instead of horses, as he felt they were better adapted to the rugged terrain of the southern Appalachians. The expedition ran into trouble almost immediately when the mules arrived at Nashville in poor condition. A Confederate cavalry detachment swooped in and caused the mules to stampede, and it took two days to round them up.
The first part of the expedition went well. Dodge captured Tuscumbia, and Streight continued east toward Georgia. But on April 29, Streight’s command was attacked by part of General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry. Streight’s men set a trap for the pursuing Rebels, and it worked well. The Confederate cavalry detachment, led by Captain William Forrest, brother of Nathan Bedford, found itself under fire from two sides. William Forrest was wounded, and the Federals continued on their mission.
But now General Nathan Bedford Forrest was on Steight’s trail, and he would not let up. The Yankees were in hostile territory, and several times the Rebels received important information from local residents that allowed them to gain the upper hand. Finally, Forrest confronted the exhausted Union troops. Under a flag of truce, they discussed terms of surrender on May 3. Forrest had just 600 men, less than half of what Streight now possessed. But Forrest spread his men around the woods. As he met with Streight, couriers from nonexistent units rode up with reports. Streight took the bait, and agreed to surrender. When the Confederates finally emerged to gather the Yankee’s weaponry, the Union colonel realized that he had been had by the crafty Forrest.
Steight's men were mainly comprised of men of the 1st Ala. Cav. (U.S.) which was made up of pro-union men from northwest Alabama (See "Free State of Winston. The county that attempted to secede from the state of Alabama, etc.). There were three fairly good battles near where I was raised. "Battleground", "The Battle of Hog Mountain", (I believe Forrest had six different horses shot from beneath him in this battle. He also had a confrontation by one of his artillery officers (Gould) who he was having transferred because he had left canon behind that were spiked by union forces. The enraged artilleryman shot Forrest in the buttocks who in turn stabbed Gould to death) and the last of the running battles was "The Battle of Days Gap". Streight's men were on the run by the time they reached northeast Alabama and they were burning bridges behind them to slow Forrest. Near Gadsden, AL when Forrest rode to a farm near one of the burnt bridges to inquire as where he might ford Black Creek, a sixteen year old girl named Emma Samson (later had a high school named in honor of her) spoke up and said she would show the general where to cross. As they approached, yankees were firing from the opposite side. Emma raised her fist in defiance and the enemy stopped and cheered her. Forrest gave her a pair of doeskin gauntlets as a token of his appreciation. Emma's bullet riddled dress and the gauntlets were on display at the Archives and History building the last time I was there (of course now they may have Michael Jackson's sequined glove). It is a great story all the way around though the first part of Streights Raid was a cake walk as he was passing through "friendly territory".
ReplyDeleteThanks and here we go! :)http://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2013/12/monument-honors-emma-sansom-confederate.html
DeleteI had forgotten about that post! I stated in the earlier one that NFB had four (not six) horses shot from underneath him in the Battle of Hog Mountain. I should have brushed up on my research before posting "I think 6". I know in the course of the war he had 29 horses shot killed or seriously wounded in battle. He was wounded four different times and he is believed to have killed over thirty men in battle using pistols, swords, or a shotgun. He was truly a genius for war (and life in general). I will try to dig out some of my old papers and expound a little on his very close relationship with his slaves who he took campaigning with him and into battle and how they loved and revered him. He paid them the same wage as Confederate soldiers and promised freedom and lands at the wars end. When all seemed lost in 1864 he freed them and told them to go home to their families. Not one left.
ReplyDeleteI remember that. Thanks.
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