Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-08-09
Forests Own Account of
the Pursuit and Capture
of Streight. 2 'asA

Ol StIGiS uG.
Late one afternoon, long after
this, at the moment when the
entire Confederacy was ringing
with his pursuit and capture of
Colonel Streight, Forrest came in
to the editorial room of the. Rebel,
at Chattanooga, where three or
four of his old friends were col
lected, and gave US a minute mar
rative of the recent campaign.
His descriptive powers are natu-
rally very good, and on this occa-
sion he was full of his story, and
spoke with the enthusiasm and
simplicity of a child. He had
pursued Streight'sr column, fight
ming every day, for nearly fort
night, over an almost barren coun-
try, for over several hundred miles,
and with an inferior force, captu-
ring him at last by strategem. 81
wasn't certain when | demanded
his surrender which would have
to give in, him or me. But it
was like Ia game of poker, / called
him ON a single 'snair" to his
"full, trusting to luck. He
seemed at first to have very little
confidence in my hand, but | said,
~ give you five minutes. I've
you and ftlyou for two
weeks, and now I've got you just
where | want you. I'm tired of
sacrificing lives, and offer.you a
chance to stop it. If you don't, I
warn you won't be answerable for
the consequences" K - saassc Z !,
Streight was s'fairly blufed. =
He was in a strange country. His
adversary was known to be a des-
perate man. His command was
iaded. What could he do? If
he stood out any longer and was
mistaken he might be sacrificed.
He surrendered, and in a few min
utes himself and his men were dis
armed prisoners under the, escort
of one-fourth of their number
"Where is the rest of your COM
mand, General?" asked Colonel
Streight. Forrest smiled grimly,
and made no reply. Presently
when they arrived in the village
of Rome, the mystery was re-
moved and the gallant, but out
witted Indianian saw his blunder.
1t was during the pursuit of
Streight that an incident occurred
which Forrest reported with great
satisfaction. The chase was becom-
ing excited and the Confederates
were beginning to be eager for its
conclusion, when they reached a
stream over which the enemy had
crossed in safety, but which had,
in the meantime, risen SO rapidly
as to be impossible. Forrest rode
along the banks baffied and angry,
while the bullets from the other
side spun through the trees and
n,
whistled about his ears. After
vainly seeking for half an hour,
he came to a cabin which stood
alone in the wilderness near the
waters edge.
There, as a last resort, he in
quired for a ford. A young girl
ran out and said, 81 can show you
one if you take me up behind
you." The mother was very much
shocked, but she continued, "Pm
not afraid. You're General For
rest, and will take care of me" >
"Hop up, then" said Forrest, ri
ding close to the fence. The girl
bounced upon the horse, clung
tightly to the Generals sabre sash,
and away they rode, down the
stream and through the bush wood
to the rattle of sharp shooting and
the whizzing ofminnies. sWhat's
thatl' said the girl innocently as
one of these came near.
sf "That," said Forrest, "is a.
slSeered Bird" They reached the
ford in safety, the command passed
over, and the General turned to
his gallant little guide and asked
what he could for her? She re-
piled that her brother had been
captured by Colonel Streight and
was a prisoner in his hands,; all
she desired was his release
Every well," said Forrest, taking
a note of the name, "you shall
have him by twelve o'clock to-