Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-20

! again. The latter were not to be rebuffesl.
however, and at the crossing Of the river
Streight found that he was so hard
pushed that it required all his command
at hand to cover the ford.
After crossing the Black Warrio, For
rest weeded out his poorest animals,
and sent them with their riders back to
Roddy at Decatur. He also sent back all
his cannon but two, and with about coo
men in saddle spurred onward to gather
in the raiders. Before setting out on this
last attempt some of the Confederates
were seen nodding in their seats as they
rode. Their leader made them a little
speech in the presence Of a number Of
women who had assembled to greet the
column, and ended by asking all who were
willing to follow to the end or die in try
ing, to respond. They did so to a man
with a ringing yell, and at a signal the
cavalcade flew onward at q gallop.
The raiders were making good speed and
the pursuers found no nobler game than
the slender rear guard all the way to Gads-
den and even beyond, At the crossing Of
Black creek, a small tributary Of the Coo
sa, Streight's rear guard burned the bridge
and planted themselves on the opposite
bank to harass Forests men while cross
ing. 1t was broad daylight, the 2d Of May,
and the Confederate leader, anxious to be
ut IL, but very cautious about exposing his
men. was at loss how to meet the diff
Guilty Finally one OF a group Of admiring
women such as always hung about For
rests ranks when halted-the men kept
out of view for fear of being told TO fall in
and fght-offered to guide him to an old
ford where there was "a chance OF crossing
She was comely young girl, and her
mother tried to dissusde her, but 1t ended
In her climbing to n seat behind the gen
eral When the horse began to descend
the steep, rough bank OF the ravine
the fair guide put her arms around
Forests waist and bravely held on, and
In every way played the role Of heroine.
When some OF the bullets of Streights
sharpshooters whstled around the daring
couple, and even tugged mt their clothing,
the plucky miss laughingly said. They've
only wounded my criuoline," and after n
dozen like episodes the ford WIS pointed
out. A few Confederate shells quickly sent
the Union guard a-fying, and Forrest with
much labor put his command ACROSS the
deep and rapid stream in q couple Of hours.
At Gadsden, three miles distant, Forrest
foand the debris Of a quantity of arms and
other military stores that the raiders had
destroyed, but the bold riders themselves
had impressed the nectest horses they could
reach, and made of In hot scampcr toward
Rome. Again Forrest divided his force,
and taking 500 picked men and animals
gave chase so rapidly that he caught up
with StreigAt about . o'clock that day,
after fifteen mile race that startled the
sleepy farming region ~ with awhirlwiud
The raiders had formed In line OF battle,
aud their sSirmishers answered the Con.
fedcrato challenges most calamity, show.
ing bold front only to lead their hot
biooded pursuers into a well laid ambush
They selected for the purpose point where
the road made wide detour with couple
OF sharp bends to avoid the rich, Lowell fields
OF u plantation, Tho road was INSTRUCTED
by harrioades well manned, hut the fences
alongside had been levcled for the oonvcn.
ienoc of FORESTS men In fanking tho bar
riosdos- Beyond the field Stroight posted
900 men In a thioket u shoot down tho
Confeicrates, who IL was supposed would
move with due caution aud perhaps some
eoufusiou.
Hut Forrest closed up his ranks aud
charged with such celebrity that he rode