The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-22

watch the unfinished line of works. and fili the gap in the infantry, on the west bank of the river. The other two detacn-
 nents were stationed an3ye s snc nreyent event any attempt of the enemy to cross In boats.
 On the night of the 18th when not ray of light except thak of the bursting shells was visible. the enemy charged our line of works. and having succeeded in throwing column of cavalry tnrougn one of the gaps between the woras. snas IyS gos isolated. the garrison. The line broke in confusion, General Buford and his stan dashed through the enemy at the mouth of the bridge and crossed under ,s a neaSy tSe city was full of Federal troops, and the roads in all directions full of fusitives. The intense darkness added to the disor- der. Friend and foe galloped past each other unrecognized.
 | The order of General Buford being that | his cavalry. In case of the loss or Coinm- bus. should concentrate at West PolnE | the 7th Alabama was compelled to marcn | from the south side of the city around to the north. crossing all of the roaos | leading from the city, which by this time were full of the enemy moving out to
 march. which lasted until day-breaiA the rear of the regiment was fired into as 1t l crossed the railroad; and narrowly es-
 con road. Just as It's rear crossed the | latter road and was hidden in the for est. a Federal regiment galioped past Tn | pursuit. About sunrise of the 17th, nav | ing struck the West Point road and | pressed forward towards West Point, in 1 obedience to General Bnford's order. the | light of the burning. wagons immediate I my was moving down from West Point | The 7th and 9th, disgusted with the loss l of General Adams and General Buford, whose whereabouts were not known; with Al zA N2 AAAIr tered to the four points of the compass. | and with the enemy moving on all the sides of the triangle of which they were the centre, concluded ho switch off into | the woods and wait for further develop rents. In two days the roads became clear and the march was-resumed. Hear | ing that General Buford had crossed the river above. West Point and was mak- ing a bee-line for General Forrest, the | 7th concluded that Its duty was to follow | its leader. and started in pursuit. At | Dadeville was heard the first rumor of l General Lees surrender. At Wetumpka
 was received the terrible shock that the
 rumor was true At Marion the regiment
 heard of General Taylors contemplated
 surrender; and at Newborn the 7th Ala
 bama cavalry, while camped upon thu
 very ground on which two years before
 1t had been organized. received from
 Lieutenant General Bedford Forrest al
 order to march 10 Gainesville to surren
 der.
 No more gallant officer could have giv
 en the order. and no better soldiers coult
 have laid down their arms. Although
 the organization was made late Tn tht
 war, it was one of the oldest Segiment!
 of Forests corps, and was composed
 chiefly of men who had served in vari
 ous regiments of infantry. The officers were principally from the ranks of tn 1st Alabama Cavalry. and Semple's bat } tery During It's term of service 1t los
 about two hundred men in killed, wound ed and prisoners.
 The regiment was paroled at Gaines ville Ala. on the 14th day of May 186i