Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-01-30
A FORTETH
ANNIVERSARY
WAR STORY
December. 1868

cOQScFlplS WHO'LL SOuleOeIdtc uilIldlS
agents were gathering in the region.
The bands of recruits were too small
to fight their way through the Federal
Gordon of guards on the border, but
with Forrest in the field at the head of
several brigades there was little risk in
rallying to the standards Of the south.
At the end Of a week the raiding force
had been augmented by 100 recruits.
Meanwhile the Yankees did not i'll
tend to give Forrest free range OF the
rich preserve. General Hurlburt, the
Federal commander at Memphis, sent
out force to cut the raiders of from
Mississippi, and at the same time news
of the foray brought down detachmentS
from the north to fall upon the invad-
ers in that quarter. Forrest learned
from his scouts that the enemy was
massing on all sides and decided to
make d sudden dash for home across
the Mississippi border. For weeks the
country had been drenched with heavy
fall rains, but on Christmas day the
weather was bright with promise of
fair skies for days to come. AT the
close Of the day the whole command
started southwark. Nearly 5000 re-
cruits had been gathered in and long
train of animals and wagons.
To steal out Of west Tennessee be-
fore the eyes of the alert Federals was
feat to tax the genius of even For
rest, especially as he had been up to the
trick before, and his enemy knew just
how to take him. In order TO cover the
movement from the strong body of en-
emies known 10 be at Memphis III"
raiding chief sent forward a picked
detachment Of 100 troopers to threaten
an attack on that town. This column
rode within four miles Of Memphis.
drawing off large body Of FedcraiS
in pursuit toward the Mississippi Dor
der, while Forrest. with the main col
umn, crossed Wolf river.
The crossing of Wolf river was &C
compliShed with show Of readiness
and energy characteristic Of Forrest.
There was hut one bridge on the river.
and that had been put in order by the
Federals for the purpose Of throwing
troops across to catch the raiders. The
FedcralS had also built small work
to defend Tie h.iG,.". AID the floor
DlankS were kept stored under its guns
for use whenever the bridge might be
needed for troops on the southern side.
On approaching the bridge Forrest sent
out 200 riders TO make feint OF cross
ing the river below. and ut the same
time Colonel Tyrcc ii. Bell, with POO
sabcrS, rode through Il dense wood to-
ward the site of the bridge.
Led by skillrul guides Bells party
diSmountcd and ~ Il signal dashed for
the bridge. charging across the bare
timbcrS and firing one vOlley into the
blOCkhOuSe, only thirty feet from the
bank. The FrdrralS didn't stand fight.
and Forrest relaid the bridge, crossing
safely his whole column. The raiders
were now out of the woods and on
New Years day, 1861, were in their old
camp at Okolona with 1000 raw men,
their trains, artillery and cattle intact.
They had marched out of Tennessee in
the face Of 10000 Fcderals.
At the very time when Forrest
was galloping northward over the Dor
der into west Tennessee on his DARING
raid Sherman WAS speeding 10y rail-
from Chattanooga to Nashville to lHy
before his chief plans to wipe out the
raiding band and also TO free MlSSlS-
sippi entirely from Confederate troops.
Grant had removed his own hcadquar-
ters from Chattanooga to Nashville To
avoid having his communications cut
with Washington by raiding COntedcr
ates. His first campaign against Weeks
burg had been brought to Il sudden end
by this sort Of enterprise on lie part
of his foe Forrest played IA chief rol"
in that affair.
Sherman wanted TO use his troops
under Mcpherson and Hurlburt at
VickSburg and Memphis and strike II
blow" east of the Mississippi. Gran;
told him to 60 ahead. From Nashville
he proceeded to Ohio to pass Christ
mas with his family and started down
the river from Cairo early in Jan
uary. Forrest was then safe in his old
camp dividing the spells of the raid
and whetting his sabers for 4 new cam
paign. When Sherman got ready ("
strike, Forrest was ready. is usual. 10
parry the blow.
Meanwhile the victOrs OF Lookout
Mountain and Mission Ridge remained
at Chattanooga with Thomas AT their
head. These troops were 10 form Ia"
bulk of the army which later would
go forward under Sherman to skin the
southwestern leg Of the Confederacy.
take Atlanta and march to the sea.
Thomas had in his front at the begin
hing of the new year the old foes OF
Chickamauga and Chattanooga. These
Confederate forces on retreating from
Mission Ridge had marched back 20
Dalton, thirty eight miles south O.:
Chattanooga. Toward the close Of r..
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