The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-03-05
The BaTTLE Of EAS7PORT.

y
pied from the Iuka, (Miss.) vi
dette:
There are many people who never
heard of such a battle. There are
even old citizens of this county who
have no recollection of it, although
living within a few miles of the
place.
Eastport is situated on the south
bank of the Tennessee River about
eight miles north of Iuka. Forty or
fifty years ago it was an important
business point and had several large
stores and commodious warehouse.
The landing is at the foot of
a bluff of considerable elevation and
the water is deep at all times.
The battle occurred October IA,
1864. General Forrest had Just re-
turned from his celebrated raid into
Middle Tennessee, during which, in
twenty-three days, he had killed,
captured and wounded $500 FEEDER
ais and secured million dollars
worth of supplies. He had crossed
the Tennessee River at Colbert
Shoals. At Cherokee Station on the
morning of the 18th, information
was received through scouts that a
large force of Yankees was ascend
ing the Tennessee River and it was
believed that a landing was contem-
plated at or near Eastport.
To meet this raid, troops were sta
toned at different points. A force
was dispatched to EastpOrt under
command of Col. d. G. Kelley, a
brave and dashing officer, who had
achieved distinction on many hard
fought fields, although by profession
a minister of the gospel. His COM
mand consisted of about 300 men, a
part of the Twelfth Tennessee and
FORESTS old Regiment, together
with two pieces of artillery.
Col. Kelley and his brave troops
reached Eastport on the morning of
the 14th, when a fleet of transport
conveyed by two gunboats, was seen
in the distance ascending the river.
Kelley barely had time to make pre-
parations for battle.
Placing his section of artillery in
position where it commanded the
river landing and masking it skill
fully, he had his horses sent to the
rear and hid his troops behind the
crest of the ridge, with orders not to
fire until signal was given.
1t was an exciting time. On came
the enemy's fleet direct to the land
ing. The three transports were blue
with Yankee soldiers, there being
not less than 5000 on board, the two
gunboats standing to the north shore
AS soon as the transports were
made fast to the bank, the stage
planks were lowered and the soldiers
began to disembark.
Company after company marched
ashore and they had counted sixty
horses and three cannon on the
bank.
Then the signal was given, just as
the stagings were covered with
troops crowding to the shore. A
sheet Of flame burst forth from the
crest of the hill while Walton's Ar
tillery, stationed in the old fort
threw shell into the troops and
another into one of the gunboats
where it was seen to explode with
terrific effect.
The cables connecting the boats
with the bank were cut, the trans
ports drifted back, the stagings
crowded with men dropped into the
water, drowning scores of them.
Nearly l,200 Yankees were now on
the bank and exposed to plunging
fire from the hill above, without or.
ganization and without any chance
of protection from the whitening
death-dealing bullets. The cooler
headed ones rushed down the bank
except some fifty, who threw dOwr
their arms and surrendered. The
transports made 20 effort to save
those who had fallen into the river
but backed rapidly down the river
played upon all the while by the
! Confederate artillery.
Meantime the Yankees on the
shore to the number of about S0(
succeeded IN making their escape
after throwing away their guns
knapsacks and overcoats, by pursu
ing the retreating boats down the
river about half a mile and out o
reach of the COufederates, where
the transports hove to and took thu
! frightened wretches on board.
The results OF this brilliant battle
to the Confederate troops was tn,
capture of 70 Yankees, $50 killed anC
drowned, pieces of rifled artillery
aud 60 artillery horses, besides small
arms and clothing in large quaint
ties, also thwarting raid that wa
no doubt contemplated by this eX
petition. All this was accomplish
ed without the loss of man.
The Yankees retired down tn,
river, reporting that they had beef
attacked by all of Forests Cavalry
and mad haste to get into safe
quarters.
Col. Kelley, now Rev. d. G. Kel
leys attention was called to tn
above, and he confirms the story
The Northern press reported it a,
The PASSPORT Disaster DR.. Kel
ley says;
1--WE had only a single mar
wounded. We were unable to pur
sue the retreating Federals dow
the river bank quickly because tn
high weeds about the landing OBJ
scured their movements and left u
in doubt as to the numbers not join
ing in the retreat. So soon as w
had made sure of those remaining
by capture, our horsemen began pur
suit of those retreating, but fount
the narrow ground between tn
river and the bluff impracticable 70