The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-10-27
copyright. 1904 by C. L. Kilmerl

ia iNfAA VI AAlN 4 WI 81 81 ~ "
attacking ana destroying the
fortified post and naval armament ut
Jacksonville on NOV. /. 1864. The pa
troll of the Tennessee by hostile gun
boats had seriously mterfered with the
freedom of FORESTS guerrilla warfare
in west Tennessee. Il fact which stirred
him TO unusual deeds of desperation,
incredible as this may seem in view of
his past exploits. Covered by their
gunboats, the Federals, who were il
strong force east of the river, could
cross and recross at will.
The first collision between the raid
ing cavalry and the gunboats took
place near Paris, where Forrest had
stationed BufOrd's mounted division
with orders to blockade the river"
Batteries of horse artillery were posted
in some old Confederate works at Fort
lehman and Paris Landing. \ victim
soon appeared before the we'll masked
guns in the shape of the Federal trans
port steamer MaZeppa, heavily laden
with army stores. \ heavy fire speed
lily crippled the steamers machinery,
and she drifted ashore. abandoned by
her crew Some of Bufords men swan
to the wreck and got her to the west
ern bank, where busy hands were IN
loading her rich cargo of hard bread,
blankets, shoes and other military
stores when three Federal gunboats
hove i'll sight and opened fire upon the
captive ship. Buford promptly fired
the transport, and the gunboats drop
ped away down the river.
Another transport came on the scene,
but managed to escape in spite of the
heavy fire poured upon her. Next
came the transport Venus. conveyed by
the tin clad gunboat Undine. The raid
ers permitted the Undine to pass by
the guns Il short distance. then opened
fire. The little ship fought for half an
hour, then dropped down and took shell
ter in bend in the river between two
hostile batteries. Meanwhile Forrest
in person came OH the scene and order
ed a fresh attack in true cavalry style.
Two light guns We're, brought to bear,
anu NVN Il IL Npll lltAIlltN vi AlOOlItlS hiS-
mounted and worked their way through
the brush to the river bank. where
they piled their carbineS at the port
holes of the steamer. The men on the
Undine attempted to make Il fight, but
We're compelled to close their ports
against the rain of sharpshooters' bull
lets. Finally a well aimed shot passed
through her from stem to stern, and
the survivors Of her crew escaped to
the shore.
The Undine drifted to shoal water
and two companies of raiders rushed
aboard and hoiSted the stars and bars.
She mounted eight guns and, with the
captive transport Venus, was instantly
manned and armed for battle against
her former owners After raising steam
the new crew, all landsmen from the
cavalry ranks, steered for Paris land
ing, cheered by the whole cavalcade
which thanked the novel fleet ON both
banks of the river. Meanwhile another
Yankee gupboat hove in sight. having
been drawn by the sound of Forests
cannon, and began to shell the Confed-
crate batteries on land. BY shifting
their guns the raiders drove this boat
back up the river. The Undine had
had in tow two barges, one of which
was laden with suffers stores, and
these the raiders appropriated individ-
ually. This was the first occasion since
the destruction of the Confederate
feet at Memphis in 1862 when the cav
airy had seen their flag floating over
warShip, and, as the captive needed
repairs, the day was given over to mer-
rymaking and tinkering up the tin clad
Yankee gunboat. At nightfall Forrest
made ready for descent upon the
Federal post at Johnsonville
In anticipation of serious work on
the water the cavalry ranks were
secured for men with some knowledge
of seafaring. A Kentucky captain took
command of the eight gun ship I'm
dine, and a lieutenant colonel hoisted
a pennant over the two gun transport
Venus. Forrest went on board the tin
clad, and the noyel feet started on a
trial trip over the stretch of water be-
tween Paris landing and Fort Hell
man.
One incident of this trip was the
loading on board the Venus of the mill
itary stores taken from the MaZeppa.
Next day, however, the little fotilla
ran into three Yankee gunboats, and
the Venus, with all the plumber, went
back to its original owner. Forrest had
already planted brigade with a bat
terry of horse artillery in the bushes
opposite Jacksonville, and the Undine,
with all the land forces, rallied at that
point to wait for favorable opportu-
nifty to attack
The new post at Johnsonville, with
that at Paris Landing, several miles
distant, completely blockaded the riy-
er, but five Federal gunboats roamed
the channel between these points. Be
fore Forrest was ready for the grand
swoop of the raid these gunboats be-
gan a wild Smelling of the shore, and a
day was spent in skirmishing in which
the Undine took part. Finally two
gunboats came up from Jacksonville
on one side of the Undine while she
was under fire from the boats on the