The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-12

his men. Emma, sixteen year-old
daughter of Mrs. Samson, spoke up and
said there was an old ford on her mothers
farm about zVU yards above the bridge,
that her mothers cattle crossed III low
water and that she had gone over herself
on horseback and she thought he could get
over with his men safely, and offered to-
show it to him if she could get, her sad
die put on horse. Forrest 6aid, there IS
no time to saddle a horse, get up here be-
hind me. and he rode to the bank on the
side of the road. The girl with one bound,
seated herself behind this great untutOredl
genius of war; and her mother, half choked
with surprise and anxiety, gasped out,
Emma, what do you mean?" General
Forrest said: She is going to show me a
ford where l can get my men over in time
to catch the Yankees before they get to-
Rome. Don't be uneasy, I'll bring her
back safe" They rode out into a field
through which ran a branch and along
which thick underground protected them
from being seen by the Yankees at the
bridge, or on the other side of the creek,
until thicket was reached, when Emma
said General Forrest, / think we had
better get off the horse as we are now
where we can be SEEN" They both got
down and crept through the bushes, and
when they were right at the ford Emma
was in front, he stepped quickly between
her and the enemy, and said: II am will
ing to have you as my pilot, but you shall
not be my breastworl1" The crack Of
rifles had warned them of imminent peril
but the ford mad been pointed out. Re-
turning to the house the way they came.
Forrest delivered the girl to her anxious
mother as he promised to do, and in four
hours time had his command over by the
ford Miss Emma had pointed out to him,
and renewed his pursuit with such push
and energy that he overlook the Federal
Commander at Cedar Bluff and worried
him into a surrender of his whole command
to less than one-third of the puTsuers.
Forrest, in grateful recognition of timely
information, placed on Miss Emma's bu-
reau note written on the dingy leaf of al
pocket memorandum book, with these
words:
Head Quoters in Sadel.
MAY ., 1863 My highest Regardes to-
Miss Emma for hir Gallant conduct while
my forse was skirmishing with the Fed
erals a cross Black Creek near Gadesden,
Alabama"
IN. 3. FORREST
Brig Genl Com Ala"
THE above is an exact copy of General
Forests letter, which DR.. Wyeth, his
biographer, reproduces as the only spcci-
men of his wartime writing he had been
able to obtain.
colonel Streight's bold raid, and For
IL,
and will ever remain in attractive chap
ter in American history As long as the
name of Nathan Bedford Forrest shall last
among men, coupled with it will be, in art 4
less womanhood and heroic pose, the name
of Emma Samson. The Congress Of the
Confederate States voted thanks to Forrest
and the officers and men of his command,
and the Legislature of Alabama, in 1899,
voted Emma Samson, then Mrs. c. A. John
son, as in token of admiration and graft
tude, $40 acres of land.
Every armed crisis in national affairs
brings forth men and women and dauntless
courage and devotion, and some of you
here today might realize a sense of sur
prise and disappointment should / fall to
mention one whose name was associated
with the army of Northern Virginia, and
whose timely services to Lee. Jackson and
Stewart made her a popular lool. So great
was the fame and popularity of Belle
Boyd, the Confederate scour or 'Rebei
Spy" as she was called by the Northern
ers, that children were named for her,
and animals called by her name. Her APP
pearance was regarded by the troops az
a premonition of danger or warning OF
the movements of the enemy and their
strength and equipment. The approach of
this trim feminine figure, appropriately
costumed, and gracefully saddled on we'll
seasoned steed, sufficiently capable to dash
from the view of Federal vidette or out
run a company of their well-worn cavalry
was always signal for cheers. and tele-
graphing along the lines the news of her
coming. This primitive way of conveying
news in line of battle, or on the march,
was generally available, and could not well
be restrained, if indeed it was ever at
tempted to be DONE by the commanders
of the army. We had no wires or opera
tors of telegraphy, but the phone of many
voices repeated, and re-repeated in rapid
succession would convey the latest news
along a stretched-out line of several miles
in as many minutes, with amazing accur-
acy"