The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-15
Copyright. 1905. by @, L, Kilmer,l

1870, General James II, NliSo
took his squadrons in hand 70
grand raid through Alabam
and Georgia. The expedition had 70
Its object, as planned at army head
quarters, demonstration In favor o
the attack by another and large
force upon the Confederate stronghold
at Mobile. Wilson made the enterpris'
. something more than parade o
forces. He turned It into fighting
campaign, which resulted In the de
struction u Forests cavalry, the cap
ture Of Selma and the conquest Of al
central Alabama and Georgia.
Wilson'S force was heavy one, mum
bering $4,000 sahers. But 1t was new
command which had been hurriedly
formed In the excitement OF the cam
paign against General Hood In Tennes
see the previous autumn. The leader
was a new man In the west. He had
earned his spurs as general of a cayal
~ division in the Army Of the Poto
mae. His opponent General Nathan
Bedford Forrest. had never found bis
match as raider and lighting caval.
ryman. 1t was a byword In the Missis.
sippi valley that all the territory OF
western Tennessee, northern and cen.
tral Mississippi and Alabama belonged
| to Forrest, because his sQuadrons rode
over 1t at will. FORESTS country" had
become new geographical division on
the military maps.
AT the beginning Of the raid Wilson
captured courier with dispatches on
his person showing Forests plans OF
action. He learned that the scattered
Confederates were alert and riding in
hot haste to get between the Federal
columns and Selma. Orders were given
to Wilson's divisions to drop the scent
In all other directions and meet in front
Of Selma. The game was to be man
hunt; the prey, Forests troopers.
The Confederate cavalry had passed
the winter In central Mississippi l50
miles from the border. 1t had been re
organized and numbered about 1000
men. When news reached Forrest that
Wilson was moving he accepted the
challenge. His troopers had been under
orders to march ''at six hours notice.
for several days. so there was no time
lost In throwing his brigades across the
line Of march taken up by the enemy.
Selma, Tuscaloosa and Columbus were
the exposed points. Selma came first,
and In front of 1t, northwest, the clans
gathered, all booted and spurred. with
their swords sharpened for the fray.
April !, 1865, the advance guard of
Wilson and the rear guard of Forrest
met In pitched battle. Upon learning
that the Federal cavalry was galloplng
toward Selma the Confederate leader
ordered his troopers to concentrate for
the defense Of that point. After day
Of lively skirmishing Forests squad
Fons had been driven back upon Ad.
ans reserve division at the crossings
Of the Selma roads over BogIer's creek,
near Maplesville. The Confederates
claimed TO have I.J00 men I'm position.
FORESTS line Of battle extended alon.
ridge where steep, wooded hills com.
manded the passes over the stream, the
right resting on a height, the left Sc.
cured from attaci. by an impossible
swamp. Two cannon were posted on
each OF the two roads converging near
there from Randolph and Mapesyllle.
General Eli Longs division, marching
upon the Maplesville road. held the ad
vance Of Wilson's column. As soon as
the Confederates were discovered In
position Long re-enforced his vanguard,
a battalion Of the Seventy Indi !
ana, by the remainder Of the regiment |
4 spirited charge Of the whole com |
mand on foot drove Forests Heavy |
skirmlsh line back In confusion. and |
Long Immediately followed up the ad-
vantage by sending forward u battal.
ion Of the Seventeenth Indiana under
Lieutenant Colonel Frank White.
Colonel Whites charge at Naples |
Vile was worthy Of the brave six han.
1red' who rode into the Jaws of death
at Balaklava. His men dashed onward
Mt a swift gallon, with drawn sabers.
through the Confederate main
line and riding completely over the
guns. After sabering some artillery.
men and their supports. who resisted.
he Indiana troopers wheeled and swept
On In lateral course along the line OF
Forests men, both sides shooting and
'abering vigorously. Whites men cut
lleir way out. leaving Captain Taylor
md sixteen troopers dead within the
snemy's camp.
Taylor had carried his men into the
midst Of the Confederates banded
about the gurs There he and his fol-
overs, singly. fell upon Forests body
guard man for man and engaged in a
'avage running fight Of couple OF hun
ired yards Forrest and Taylor met in
duel, and the gallant captain was
'hot dead while trying to saber his an
.agonist. The melee around the guns
S described In the History of For
'est's Cavalry" as follows:
Forrest had at the moznent available