The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-05-06
FORESTS RAID ON THE TEN.
NESSEE.

An Interesting Paper Read at Louis.
vile Before the Southern Histori-
cal Society by Capt John w.
Morton, Of Nashville.
The following inter, sting paper con
corning Forests raid on the Tennes.
see river, in 1864, prepared by Capt
John p. Morton, of Nashville, was
read before the Southern Historical
Society at Louisville, on April 25th.
To Capt. w. o. Dodd, President
Southern Historical Association,
Louisville, Ky. Dear Sir At your
request, | take pleasure in furnishing
you with the paper on Forests raid
on the Tennessee river in 1864 Two
batteries of the battalion of artillery,
Forests cavalry corps, which | had
the honor to command, viz: Walton
and Morton's, the former, composed
of two ten. FOUNDER and two twenty
FOUNDER PARROT" guns. which had
been captured from the enemy by For
rests cavalry, and the latter composed
Of four three>inch steel rihed Rod
man" guns which had also been cap
tured by our command, reached the
mouth of Sandy on the evening of
Oct. %, 1864, accompanied by
Buford's: division of cavalry. This
raid was evidently intended to delay
the concentration of troops and stores
by the Federals at Nashville, and to
assist Gen. Hood, in his advance into
Middle Tennessee.
POSITIONS.
After a careful reconnaissance with
Gen. Buford, of the rivers front, for
several miles above and also below
the mouth Of Sandy, we selected the
old Confederate Fort Holman, and
Paris Landing, and the mouth of
Sandy, the former place some FIVE
miles distant by river from the latter,
as the most available from which to
obstruct the navigation of the Tennes.
see river and cut off communication
with Jacksonville. These points
were admirably suited to entrap any
passing boat from above or below.
Lieut.. w. o. Hunters section-Wal-
tons Battery-of twenty FOUNDER
"Parrotts," under the personal COM
mand of Capt. E. 5. Walton, were
placed in the upper fort at Fort Hell
man. Lieut.. F. S. Sales section
(Sale had been left sick in Mississlppi)
-Morton's battery-in charge Of
Lieut.. j. w. Brown, was placed on
the river bank, some eight hundred
yards below Hunters position, both
sections being supported by Gen. Fl.
B. Lyons Brigade of cavalry. Lieut..
Joe NJ. Mason's section mason had
been left sick at Jackson, Tenn. }
-Morton's Battery-Sergt. Lemuel
Earring in charge, was placed in posi-
ton at Paris Landing, and Lieut..
Tranthan's section-Walton's Battery
--Sergt. Crozier commanding, was
ordered into position about one thou
sand yards above Paris Landing. near
the mouth of Sandy. The guns at
these positions were supported by
Gen. L. II. Bells brigade of cavalry
dismounted and deployed as skirmish-
erS.
The entire command received strict
orders not to disturb any transport,
gunboat or passing troops on the Oppo-
site side of the river. The batteries
being well masked and men concealed,
at daylight of the 29th we waited the
coming of a gunboat or steamer with
nervous delight. Our patience was
not long taxed, for about ga. m. the
transport
MAzEPPA,
with barge in tow, both heavily la
den, unaware of the lurking danger,
was allowed to pass Browns three
inch "Rodmans," and when Well
above us | ordered Brown to run his
guns from under cover up close to the
waters edge and open upon her. This
was promptly followed by Walton's
heavy Parrots, and with such effect
that her machinery was speedily dis
abled, and she drifted helplessly to the
opposite bank and was deserted by
her crew.
Gen. Buford's trouble and anxiety
to secure this valuable prize was soon
relieved by Capt. Frank Z. Gracy, a
gallant artillery officer temporarily at
tached to Lyons brigade, who offered
to swim the river and bring the boat
over, and soon the captain with the