The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-05-12


ERATE CAVALRY LEADER.
CAdajor General d. H. Maury, in Philadelphia Times :.
first saw Forrest in April, 1862, few miles
outside the defenSes of Corintb. He was
already famous and was then in the very prime
of his powers. In stature he was over six feet
with o physical development of great strength
and activity. His eyes were light gray, his
cheek bones were high, his hair brown and
straight, his complexion generally pa!lid. Bat
those who have seen him in the heat of battle
can never forget the martial beauty and gran
deur of the man. A bright beotic color then
glowed in his cheeks and his eyes cleaned
with the light of his fierce spirit, and have
heard men say, who were by him then, that
nothing could surpass or eradicate the impress
sion of his aspect
RUSE OF WAR.
The writer was commanding the Depart
ment of East Tennessee at the time, and was
cautioned to be on the alert to intercept
Streight, who would pass ont of Georgia
through Tennessee and back to Kentucky. But
scarcely had the cavalry of the department.
been set in motion toward it's Southern bor-
deEs, when Streight and his brigade over 1900
men, came to Knoxville on their way as pri-
soners to Richmond. Forrest had followed
them like q bloodhound. He pressed them by
day and by night, and finally brought Streight
to parley at point about two days march
from Rome By this time Forests command
had been diminished by the severity of his
pursuit. to about four hundred men and but
three cannon of his one battery had been able
between the two leaders occurred within sight
of "cut off in the road, which enabled the
battery captain to keep his guns moving con-
tinually in sight. They would march along
the road, the edge of the hill, turn into the
cent of, march back by it into the road again,
and thus move along as a continuous column
of artillery. While negotiating with Streight,
Forrest stood with his back to the artillery, 30
as to afford the other a full view oft. at last
Streight said "In the name of God, how many
guns have you goti There 60 fifteen l have
about all that have kept up," said Forrest,
looking around carelesely. Impressed by the
futility of futher attempts to escape from
force 80 superior to his own, Streight finally
agreed to surrender, stacked his arms and by
Forests direction moved his men away from
the line of stacks. Then the Confederate force,
which, leaving out the horsebolders, numbered
only about three hundred men, were moved
forward by Forrest and took possession of the
arms. Streight was a gallant fellow, and was
greatly mortified at having been outwitted,
and charged Forrest with unfair dealing. Oh,
no, colonel" said Forrest, laughing, "all's fair
in war, you know" Streight and his men were
sent on to Richmond, whence their brave lea
der effected for him self and for many of them
one of the boldest and most successful escapes
ever made from prison.
This expedition was perhaps the greatest
military achievement of Forres rs life it was
one which evoked in an eminent degree all of
his capacities for war, and of which he was
most fond of relating the incidents. One of
them which he used to tell with much enjoy
ment illustrated the herOSm ana cleVerpesS OF
young Alabama girl, aud is worthy of per-
petuation. While pressing close upon the re-
treating enemy AMI riding at the head of the
column, Forrest met by a little girl of
about twelve years, who told him to stop, "For
just little way on is q bridge where the Yam
kee soldiers are all ready to shoot at you if you
go there" Forrest halted and asked her if
there was no other way to get across that
"two miles above is ford where you can cross
and if you will take me up behind you iii
show you the way to it." Accordingly he rode
up to q stump, from which the little girl
mounted behind him, and then guided him to
to where the road turned down to the ford
Nov, you had better stop here and let some
body 60 to the turn of the road and see if there
are any so.diers there" said she. Forrest and
several others at the head of the column dis
mounted and moved to where the road turned
into full view from the river bank beyond the
ford, when they were at once fred upon by a
vOlley from the enemy who had been sent to
defend the crossing. The little guide had, un-
observed by any of them, kept along with For
rest on this reconnaissance, and what was his
surprise and alarm and amusement, when the
bullets began to whistle, to see the little thing
dart in front of him, spread out her little frock
in either hand, and call out to him: Get be-
hind me, GenerRll Get behind meW He
snatched her up and bore her back to q safer
place.
woMAN's REPRIMAND.
Another illustration of the pluck of our wo-
men, which pleased Forrest greatly, af-
forded by an old lady in North Georgia just
after the defest Of our army at Missionary
- 4. I.