Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-05-06
FORRESF'S RAID ON THE TEN
NESSEE RIVER.

asa Interesting Paper Read a
louisville Before the south
1 ern Historical Society ny
capt. John w. Nor
tom, of Nashville.
The following interesting pape
concerning Forests raid on tn,
Tennessee river, in 1864, prepared
by Capt. John w. Morton, of Nash
vile, was read before the Southern
Historical Society at Louisville.
To Capt. w. o. Dodd, President
Southern Historical Association,
Louisville, Ky.,-Dear Sir: Al
your request, | take pleasure in fur
nishing you with this paper on For.
rests raid on the Tennessee river in
'64. Two batteries of the battalions
of artillery, Forests cavalry corps,
which had the honor to COM
mand, viz: Walton's and Morton's,
the former, composed of two ten
ponud and two twenty FOUNDER" Par
rot" gums, which had been captured
from the enemy by Forests caval-
ry, and the latter composed of four
three-inch steel rified Rodman guns
which had also been captured by
our command, reached the mouth
of Sandy, on the evening of Oct. %,
1864, accompanied by BufOrd's di-
vision 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 be-
low the mouth of Sandy, we select
ed the old Confederate Fort Hell
man, and Paris Landing, and the
mouth of Sandy, the former place
some five miles distant by river
from the latter, as the most avail
able from which to obstruct the
navigation of the Tennessee river
and cut off communications with
Johnsonville. These points were
suited to entrap any pas
sing boat from above or below.
Lieut.. w. G. Hunters section
Walton's battery-of twenty-pound-
er "Parrots" under the personal
command of Capt. z. s. Walton,
were placed in the upper fort at
Fort Heiman. Lieut. F. S. Sales
section (Sale had been left sick in
battery-in
charge Of Lieut.. j. w. Brown, was
placed on the river bank, some
eight hundred yards below Hunters
position, both sections being sup
ported by Gen. III. B. Lyons brig
ade of cavalry. Lieut.. Joe M. Ma
sons section mason had been left
sick at jackson, Tenn. )-Morton's
-Sergt. Lemuel Earring in
charge. was placed in position at
Paris Landing, and Lieut.. Trant-
hams sectiOn-WaltOn's Battery
Sergt. Crozier commanding, was or
dered into position about one thou
sand yards above Paris Landing,
near the mouth of Sandy. The
guns at these positions were sup
ported by Gen. I. II. Bell's brigade
of cavalry dismounted and deployed
as skirmishers.
The entire command received
strict orders not to disturb any
transport, gunboat or passing troops
on the opposite side of the river.
The batteries being well masked
and men concealed, at daylight of
the 29th we awaited the coming of
a gunboat or steamer with nervous
delight. Our patience was not long
taxed, fOr about 8 a. m. the trans
port
MAZEPPA,
with a barge in tow, both heavily
laden, unaware of the lurking dan
ger, was allowed to pass Browns
"Rodmaus," 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 fol-
lowed by Walton's heavy Parrots,
and with such effect that her ma
was speedily disabled, and
she drifted helplessly to the oppo-
site bank and was deserted by her
crew.
Gen. Buford's trouble and ankle
y to secure this valuable prize was
;oon relieved by Capt. Frank z.
5racey, a gallant artillery officer
attached to Lyons
brigade, who offered to swim the
liver and bring the boat over, and
oon the Captain with the aid of a
og was breasting the current amid
he shouts ard plaudits of his COM
AIDES. Not to be OutdOne, Private
Dick Clinton, of WaltOn's battery,
md Private Il. II. (Sack) Moore, of
Morton's battery, dropping the
equipments of cannOneer, following
he noble example of Capt. Gracey,
brew themselves into the water |
md swan the swollen stream,
the "Mazeppa" just after
Japt. Gracey had taken possession
If her. A yawl was lowered, into |
which was placed a coil of rope, one |
nd being attached to the Mazeppa.
This was quickly carried to the OPP
,osTte shore, where many willing
lands were ready to draw the |
teamer across the river. Gen. Bu-
ord, myself and several others, TAX
ng possession of the yawl, pulled
or the boat, and on boarding her,
Nalton's Confederate Battery flag
vas nailed to the flagstaff, and un-
Ter command of Commodore Bu-
ord. who strobe the upper deck
With the pride and grandeur of an
Id salt, we glided smoothly into
,ort amid the cheers and rejOicings
# the ragged rebs," who had an
we more TO the shoes, blankets,
iothing, hardtack and other good
hings, with which she was heavily
reighted, than to the glory of the
apture. Approaching the landing,
n amusing incident occurred Illus
rative Of the former characteristics
# the gallant General. (We believe
Ie has since become consistent
of the Christian church,
having discovered two-gallon jug
f choice old Kentucky bourbon, he
laimed this as the treasure trove,
nd was striding the deck, holding
he jug to his mouth with a devO-
ion peculiar to his impulsive ma
ure, when some of the men cried
ut: "Hold on, General, save some
# the whiskey for us!' He replied
With a full ore rotundo, "Plenty OF
hoes and blankets for the boys, but
ust enough whiskey for the Gen
ral."
The greater part of the stores were
afely discharged upon the bank by
p. IN. About this time, three