Winchester daily bulletin. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn) 1863-1863, 1863-05-08
Correspondence of the Daily Bulletin1
ROME. ca. MAY 4. 1868.

$500
Ed. BULLETINS: I received a'fprlough "a
few DAYS ago and started for my home in Jack
s%onyille, Ala. On arriving at this place |
found the widest excitement prevailing. The
women were walking the streets, pale and
trembling, asking every one passing If the
Yankees were coming. Upon inquiry | found
that it had been reported early in the morning
that II cavalry force were making towards this
place, from the direction OF Gadsden, Ala,
which place they had almost demolished, burn
ing a number of private houses and all the
Government stores in the town. Gen. Forrest
sent in dispatch to hold the place as long as
possible, that he was pursuing them in their
rear. Col. Caldwell, commandant Of the post,
had already commenced preparations for the
defence of the city. Two pieces of. artillery
were found, and by 8 o'clock were ready for
Internationally though, no ammunition
could be found suitable for the guns, all the
cannon balls being so small that they would
roll out of the piece whenever the brecch OF
the cannon was elevated. However, the pieces
were manned and placed in the command Of
ONE artillery Offices who happened to be
present, and a position selected. A number of
cotton bales were placed in front of the guns
as q protection to the cannoneers, leaving
enough open space to allow the pieces to have
full play. In the meanwhile a vigilant search
was beng made all over the city for all the
guns. Every citizen in the place who had any
kind of n frearm came out with it himself and
fell into line with the company Of soldiers on
post duty in the place, making u force of about
two hundred and fifty fighting men. They
were marched on the other side of the river,
and took up their position, waiting patiently
for the approach of the enemy. About 10
o'clock in the morning news was received that
they were within u mile Of the place, resting
their horses preparatory to giving us Il fight.
About . o'clock in the afternoon a courier
arrived with the news that Gen. Forrest had
captured the entire force, consisting of sixteen
hundred men and two pieces Of artillery, and
that they would be in the city that evening"
1t would be impossible to describe the Joy with
which this news was received. Ladies came
in great crowds to the place whore Gen. For.
rest was to pass, eager to see their dcliycrcr, as
they called him. When he did arrive he was
overwhelmed with showers of boquets. The
ladies crowded around him, anxious to pay
him all honor, and show him how grateful they
were for his timely assistance. One hundred
and forty officers, all belonging to the Fedora
command, were brought into town, parolcC
and quartcred in the two best hotels in tn,
place. The citizens took care Of all our boy
who cam IN with them. The remainder o
the force were cncamped on the other side o
the river, and did not come in until this morn
ing.
All day the Federal officers have been prom
cnading the streets, smoking cigars and max
ing themselves as much at homo as if the,
were in the city of Boston, even going so ia
as to express their feelings and opinions abou
the people of Rome and the South generally
on account Of which Gen. Forrest caused then
to be placed under guard this evening.
I was very sorry to learn that Willie Wat
terson was wounded very severely in the thigI
a day or two ago, while making a charge upoI
these same forces. None Of the other boy
from Winchester were wounded that / hav
heard from.
Gen. FORESTS men are very jubilant owe
their success, and the more so on account of ii
being exclusively q Tennessee affair, no troop
from any other State being engaged in it.
Summing up all the advantages we hav
gained by the capture of this force-we hay
saved the Government factories and foundric
in this city; have captured about sixteen hun
dred stand of arms; the horses of all the pris
oners and their equipments, and two pieces c
artillery.
Gen. Forrest will remain in camp here fe1
days to recruit his horses and men, who ar
nearly worn out from riding and fghtin