The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-07-28

AAiNil OIpOl0htS anu ny lillS IlltItiilu
action gave signal for a general as-
sault
General Forrest had enjoined secrecy
and silence on all sides until the city
was fairly reached, but the shouts of
young Forests animated band were
echoed by a hundred thrOats along the
column, stretching far behind. and the
secret was cut Seeing this, the gen
eral, who was close up with the pioneer
band, ordered his bugler to sound the
charge. This call was repeated by the
bugler of each separate detachment,
and in tWinkling the enthusiastic
squadrOns scampered away to theirs
work.
Captain Forrest rushed his little COM
pany down the main street, through a
Federal artillery encampment, his eager
followers shooting right and left as
they galloped on, heading for the
Gayoso House, Il noted hosiery fire.
quented by prominent Federal officers.
Followed by as many Of his band as
could crowd in. the impetuous captain
plunged his charger into the hall and
up to the hotel office, spreading CON
sternation among the guests. civil and
military. Was this freak the work of
riotous soldiers on lark or an episode
of real war?
In few minutes all Memphis was in
an uprOar. For more than two years
the city had been in undisputed pos
session of Federal troops. During that
time vast camps had sprung up and
disappeared, discharging battalons in
thousands and tens of thousands to IL
scenes of hostile meeting, east west
and south, to the Red river, to Arkan-
sas, to Nicksburg. New Orleans and
Chattanooga. Mighty squadrons of
Federal war vessels had patrolled the
waters that washed her docks, and
mammoth floating expeditions had
swept past down the broad river to
the gulf.
Memphis. Why, she was another
Cairo or Cincinnati or Baltimore. The
organized Confederate front was hun
dreds of miles distant, and she had long
upheld the character of a city of refuge
fer people driven from their homes far
ther south and for disabled soldiers of
the Federal army, as well as Il place of
safe keeping for Confederate prisoners
Several thousand armed soldiers were
constantly stationed in the city, ana
good sized army lay between it and
the lines Of the nearest known enemy
that is to say, Forrest loose in Mis-
sissippi.
The wild alarm stampeded the en-
tire city. FORESTS command moved
in five separate bodies. Wdetachment
led by Colonel Longwood followed
close upon the heels of young Forests
band down the main street and through
the Federal battery camp. The Fed
eral guns, which had been abandoned
by tlfeir guards at the first fire, were
renamed, but Longwood's men went
through the camp with dubbed rifles
Afterward they ran the gantlet of fire
from scattered bodies of troops and
the home guard along the streets.
Still another Confederate body, under
Colonel Nicely, attacked an infantry
encampment near the point where the
raiders entered the city, but found its
match and more. The Eederals were
in line and received the intruders with
stunning volley. General Forrest,
who had held aloof somewhat, went to
Neely's aid and, with only his escort
for following, charged the enemy i'm
petuously. Nicely dashed in afresh at
the same moment, and the Federal in
fantry ran for cover.
Another body of raiders, under Colo
mel Jesse Forrest, rushed off to the
headquarters of General Washburne,
the Federal commander of the depart
ment, and captured some staff officers,
but failed to secure the general him
self, who was the object of the search
General Forrest finally ordered re-
treat. The enemy was badly scared,
and further bloodshed would be use
less. Colonel Longwood and Captain
Forrest fought their way back with
their commands from the Gayoso
House to the outskirts of the city, hav-
ing sharp fight to get through the
Federal battery camp on their route.
The main body of the raiders rallied
at the camp taken by Colonel Nicely
and General Forrest, and this point
was vigorously attacked by several
hundred mounted Federals. General
Forrest MORALLY wounded Colonel Starr
in personal combat during this fight.
Although the raiders were virtually
chased out of Memphis, the glory of
their unique exploit remained behind
them. Memphis was in a panic, and
before the raiding detachment returned
to Forests old camp in Mississippi
General Smiths troublesome army was
on the back track to save the city.
Forests boldness in attacking Mem
phis was fairly outdone by the GOODNESS
of his withdrawal from the vicinity.
At the end of days march he halted
and sent word to the Eederals in Mem
phis that some of the prisoners he was
leading away south were barefoot and
could not keep up with the column.
A supply of shoes was quickly sent to
his bivouac, and, after another days
march, he sent back asking for rations
for his prisoners. These were prompt
ly sent to the rendezvous, twenty five