The Portland daily press., 1891-05-09

ENOUGH TO DESTROY YOUR COMMAND IN
THIRTY MINUTES"
They selected for the purpose point where
the road made wide detour with a couple
of sharp bends to avoid the rich, level fields
of plantation. The road was INSTRUCTED
by barricades well manned, but the fences
alongside had been leveled for the conven-
fence of Forests men in fanking the bar
ricades. Beyond the field Streight posted
500 men in a thicket to shoot down the
Confederates, who it was supposed would
move with due caution and perhaps some
confusion.
But Forrest closed up his ranks and
charged with such celebrity that he rode
through the skirmishers and fell upon the
men in ambush before they could arouse
themselves to do execution. The raiders
lost so men, and one of their best colonies
was killed. Streight held on until dark,
and then drew off toward Rome where he
had sent force to hold the bridge until the
main body should arrive. Forrest bivouack-
ed his men and awaited the coming of the
party left behind at Gadsden. On the
morning of the Sd the Confederates mus
tered 500 effective men, and at an early
hour got under way to follow up the pur-
suit The route lay along the west bank of
the Coosa and at the first crossing, which
was Gaylesville, the bridge was found
in ashes. The raiders had passed over
inthe night, and bad done their best to cut
the company of Forests jealous troopers.
But rolling rivers had no terrors for these
men. They stripped to the skin and car
ried over the cannon and ammunition,
swan the horses across, and in an hour
were in line on the east side ready for the
march.
sr~I,A H. L
halt-his men for sleep and refreshment,
and about o'clock Forrest struck his
bfvouac The raiders were SO thoroughly
worn out by their hard ride that when
formed in line of battle they lay down and !,
slept in the midst of aheayy slxirmish fire.
Forrest closed in on both TANKS and center,
and;the demanded surrender sin order
to stop the further effusion of blood"
Streight asked that proof be given that the
force opposed to him was numerically
equaFto his own, to which Forrest replied
that he would not humiliate his men by
suehaa course, for they had been equal to
beating and driving the raiders in every
engagement of the preceding three days.
Atthe- moment Streightsaw a section of
Forrest'ssartill ery galloping upqinside the
line established by the'truce, and protested
against its further advance, casually in
curing Of his opponenthow muchartillery
he had. Enough to destroy your COM
mand in thirty minutes" answered For
rest. After some further parley Strefght
consulted with his officers and decided to
yield. He learned from the detachment
that ahead tosseize the bridgeat Rome
that theascheme was a failure. This left
him completely poweraess, sshe had known
for7sometime that hewould be- unless he
could beat Forrest in the race to, Rome,
cross the, river there and leave his pur-
suers in theslurehiby destroying the bridge.
Hesurrendered L466- officers and men and
had lost about $50 killed and wounded in
his running fight.
Forrest received the thanks of the con-
gress at Richmond for the daring. skill
and perseverance, exhibited in this mad
but successful pursuit.
n T U