The National tribune., 1900-05-17

which was shot under him so close to the
works that he left him dead in the ditch.
Our loss was about 500, and 800 prisoners
were taken.
There are many incidents connected
with the capture OF Selma that were told
me by officers participating. 1t was told
me that after taking the city, Gen. Wilson
went into the telegraph Office and wired to
Montgomery. in Forests name, for rein
forcementS, then captured the train on its
arrival. He then sent another message,
this time in his own name, thanking the
Montgomery authorities for their kindness
in sending him the men, and that hew would
be up to their city some fine morning before
long and take care of them.
When we were ordered to go to Centerville,
and left the main column at almost right
angle, with its general course, our pack
train failed to find it out and followed the
column to Selma, so the Second Brigade
had to rough it till we joined the main
force again at that place. 1t was dry
and the roads very dusty. Endeavoring
TO find us, the train got lest in the clouds
Of dust and unwittlngly played an i'm
portant part in the capture Of Selma.
AS usual, there was the quota of strag-
glers, servants and other hangers-on always
to be found with an army. These, with
the pack mules and saddles loaded with
sheet-iron paraphernalia for cooking,
strung out like a large army. Away off
10 llle FlBHb Oh soclInd WAS Il large lOTCc
moving 10 reinforce Forrest. Seeing the
long column of dust coming toward them,
the rebel commander thought Wilson's
whole force was coming 10 meet him, and
halted his column and sent out a party to
reconnolter. This party getting near
enough to the dust-enveloped pack-train,
to see the outridlng StragglerS and hear
the clank of what it thought to be sabers,
hurried back and reported that a heavy
column with fldnRerS out was moving
toward them. The rebel commander evi-
denty thinking discretion the better part
of valor, turned back and left Forrest to his
fate. Who says pack trains are not a
good thing? Ours may have saved the
day by keeping away the reinforcements
from Selma.
/ was also told Of how mounted infantry
regiment. the 18th Ind, l believe, scaled
the high posts forming the palisades and a
breach in the strong wall resulted. The
regiment was fighting on foot and made a
rush for the stockade. Reaching it, two
would grab a comrade by the nap of the
neck and slack of the pants and throw him
on top OF the works and let him jump down
on the other side and go to shooting. This
was done often enough to get sufficient
number inside to drive the rebels away
from that part Of the line, and the aX-men
soon had an opening for the rest
DESTRUCTION OF THE ARSENAL.
Here erelocated extensive shops running
night and day on ordnance and ammuni-
ton. One of them was turning out large
quantities Of field and siege guns, and had
not been .m1olested. or interrupted in their
work until our raid struck them. Large
and well-equipped machine-shops were
running night and day up to our advent
in their midst. A large brick arsenal
several stories high was packed from
basement to garret with ammunition of all
caliber. The gun-works machine-shopS
and other manufacturing establishments
were all burned, but Gen. Wilson decided
TO wait for rain before destroying the arsenal,
as he did not want to endanger the entire
town by firing it in such dry time.
The night Of the 9Th q heavy thunder
storm came up; lightning flashed, thunder
| roared and rain fell in torrents. Soon
the arsenal was ablaZe, and as the ammuni-
ton boxes and shells were ignited, when the
magazine exploded and cast them to the
four winds, natures pyrotechnics had a
close rival for several minutes, and not one
| brick was left upon another where SO short
| a time before stood magnificent structure
Sunday, April AT 10 last night we
were ordered to cross the Alabama at mid
night, but the order was countermanded
early this morning, after nights wait
for orders to march. Selma was beauti-
| full place before we came. Gen. Sherman
said war was -, and we made a big one of
this city. ] went up to the pen TO see the
prisoners to-day, and had quite chat with
them. At 10 TO night we crossed the river
and camped about mile beyond.
April 10.-Marched at 7, and when about
six miles out struck the enemy and pushed
them as fast as our horses could go. Within
two miles of Benton we came to river and
plunged in. Gen. McCook and staff were
leading the brigade, which was in advance
of the column, the rest of the division and
the corps not having crossed, on account
of an accident to the pontoon bridge, and
as they plunged into the river Capt Could
ing, A. /. e.. of the First Division, was
thrown over his horses head, the horse
stepping on and drowning him.