The National tribune., 1891-01-08


description. The men broke into the liquor
stores and Confederate commissary, and
were dispersed through the streets intoxi-
Gated singing and bowling. They, however,
manully aided The Provost Marshal in sup
pressing the flames, for the frightened citi-
zens could not he induced TO take charge Of
fhoir engines. Order was restored and the
flames subdued by morning, when Selma
was found 10 be a sad-loolling city.
or the rebel forces in Selma at the time
of the attack, Gems. Jordan and Pryor, For
rests boEmphers, say that Armstrong; Bri-
gade numbered ], 400 men and Roddys Di-
vision 700-total, 3,1OO But as we cap
tured 1900 prisoners, il seems TO me there
must have been more than that. After his
defeat, Forrest fled to Marion, reaching there
April A. where he found Jackson's Di-
vision and Gen. Chalmers with Starke's l5r-
gade Where Lieut. Gen. Dick Taylor went
no one knew, ms he escaped from Selmain the
afternoon before the fighting commenced.
Upton was sent out on April TO drive
Chalmers 10 the west side of the Cahaba,
and 10 communicate with Gen. McCooll, but
not being able TO cross the river he joined
McCoob, and together they returned to
Selma on the 5th with the train. McCpok
had been sent on the 1st to Croxton's assist
ance. and took Centeryille, but found Jack
son SO rongly posted AZ Scottsboro on the
2d that e did not attack, but fell back To
Centcr,la. burned the cotton-iactories and
the bridge over the Cahaba and, marching
via Randolph, Joined Upton and the train
and eaua % Selma, rs stated.
Con Wilson bad placed Brcvet Brig.-Gcn.
Nus0u TO command az Selma, and Lieut..
Haywood Engineer officer, was ordered %
pres .he construction Of poutooBs to bridge
the 'af ma R.ycr tho pgnto0Hs with the
command heing insufficient f1r the purpose.
while ibis was going on with details from
the command,
TIE WORK OF DESTRUCTION
was commenced nd the arsenal aud navy
ward several hundred negroes Of the town
au1 who Ild struggled in from the country
were pr. "a into service. Troughs or shutes
wcra 'u'i. extending from The arsenal build
ing- down 10 the river and into these the
shot and she'll and iron-work were tossed,
finding Judgment al the bottom Of the deep
s,rgaH How many tons were thus disposed
of ] could not say. The muskets and sabers
were Dr. han up, and the trunnions Of the
large pta- chopped so as 10 prevent them
from D iua mounted, end, in addition, they
were Chez ped at the muzzle and spiked.
Tile Confederate wounded were placed in
chnrca east Of the arsenal, in charge Of a
rebel SURGEON named Wright, an old New
Orleans physician. Oar wounded were
placed ia the barracks near the levee in
charge ai Surg J. B. LarRin.
party Of the 4th u. s. Cav. on the
plant r., lie road under Lieut. Royce were
attacked by Forests body-guard and all
killed -massaered. Forrest excused ii on
the gr0nrd that the men fought 10 the last,
but his IS highly improbable. That For
rest was brutal and fierce IN his disposition
no one cen deny, his habits as a saye-dealer
and Grrer before the war having probably
mad hiin c4llous TO the finer moral feelings.
on the 9Th Of April Gen. Wilson met For
rest urGrr d Gag Of truce, the latter profess
ing 10 Ge-ire an exchange of prisoners His
Overlooking manner and his belief that he
could EecQHure his men made the interview
very biiri, although in il Wilson learned OF
CE0Eiona safety. lie had encountered
jackson at Triune on March 30 1862 and
finding himself outnumbered,
FrLL BACK FEW MILES
and then turned north, crossed the Black
4.
bank aud nd midnight Of April captured
Tuscaloo+s On the 9th he was reported
marcblnr toward Eutaw, after having
burned Tuscaloosa. where he had captured
three prces OF artillery and 60 prisoners.
IEe encountered Gen. Adams M Bridgeville.
40 mile. southwest of Tuscaloosa, and ind-
ing tie country fun Of troops be turned
north. then marching back 10 Jasper he
moved ,n-terward, crossing the Black War
Tior 81 I uley Mills Hearing from strae-
glers and iugtivcs OF Roddy's command
that = 'iu was in our possession, be pushed
on through northern Alabama 10 Talladega,
disper-ea Brig.-Gen Hills force OF conscripts
and drsrfteFs, capturing one gun, and then
continued his march via Carrolton and New
Haven ro Forsyth, where he arrived April
20 and urparied 10 Gen. Wilson, who was
then "a Macon, Ca.
On tbo night Of the Oh Of April The
arsenal ~ selma Ala. filled with lumber,
tools machinery, etc. was fired The spec
tacle wa- ieuiuily grand. The flames rolled
mp huHdr d. Of feet lighting up the city and
surrounding country for miles, while hidden
stores Of powder blew up with fearful de-
t0natinus Fragments Of shell were sent
whlTling through the city, and the wounded,
both oun. and the C0nicderates were in great
fear Hnd peril. Fortunately heavy rain
commenced falling soon after the fire
got under way putting out the flying
sparks snd saving the city, which would
probably otherwise have been DESTROYED.
Some Locomotives on the track were piled
over with wood aud The saloty-yalves fas-
tened un, 20 that when the steam became
TOO powerful they yeXpoded with reports like
those ui heayy artillery.
The Confederate papers which fell into
our haua- showed ar that Mobile was being
closely 5aseged by our troops under Gen
Canhy ad was expected TO iall al any time
They Htie irantically calling for reinforce
.T L. 4.