The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-05-18

and Georgia. The expedition lad Tor
its object. as planned at army head
!, -larters, a demonstration in favor Of
ll11e attack by another and larger
force upon the Confederate stronghoids
at Mobile. Wilson made the enterprise
something more than Il parade Of
forces. He turned it into a fighting
campaign, which resulted III the de-
struction of Forests cavalry, the cap
ture of Selma and the conquest Of all
central Alabama and Georgia.
Wilson's force was heavy one. num-
bering 1900 sabers. But it was a new
command which had been hUrriedly
formed in the excitement of the cam
paign against General Hood in Tenues.
see the previous autumn. Tie leader
was a new man in the west. He had
earned his spurs as general Of a caval-
~ division in the Army of tie Pcto-
mac. His opponent, General Nathan
Bedford Forrest, had never found his
match as raider and IA fighting cavdl-
ryman. 1t was Il bywOrd in the MiSSiS-
sippi valley that all the territory Of
western Tennessee, northern and cen
trail Mississippi and Alabama belonged
to Forrest, because his squadrons rode
over it at will. FORESTS country" had
become a 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 ali other directions and meet i'm front
of Selma. The game was to be Il man
hunt; the prey, Forests troopers.
The Confederate cavalry had passed
the winter in central Mississippi. l1u
miles from the border. 1t had been rc-
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 enpmv
Selma, Tuscaloosa and Columbus were
the exposed points. Selma came first
and in front of it, 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
nrat in pitched battle. Upon learning
dat the Federal cavalry was galloping
toward Selma the Confederate leader
ordered his troopers to concentrate for
the defense of that point. After Il day
of lively skirmishing Forests SQUAD
rons had been driven back upon Nd
ans reserve division at the crossings
of the Selma roads over Bogler's creek.
near Maplesville. The Confederates
claimed to have 1.500 men in position.
Forests line of battle extended along
ridge where steep, wooded hills com
manded the passes over the stream. the
right resting on Il height, the left Sc
cured from attack by an impassable
swamp. Two cannon were posted on
each of the two roads converging near
there from Randolph and Maplesvilc.
General Eli Longs division. marching
upon the Maplesville road. held the ad-
vance of Wilson's column. As soon MS
the Confederates were discovered in
position Long REINFORCED his vanguard.
a battalion of the Seventy-second Indi
ana, by the remainder of the regiment.
A spirited charge of the whole com
mand on foot drove Forests heavy
skirmish line back in confusion. and
Long Immediately followed up the ad-
vantage by sending forward a battal-
ion of the Seventeenth Indiana under
Lieutenant Colonel Frank White.
Colonel Whites charge at Naples
vile was worthy of the brave six hun
dred' who rode into the Jaws of death
at Balaklava. His men dashed onward
at a swift gallop, with drawn sabers.
breaking through the Confederate main
line and riding completely over the
SuhS' <AlASl SdDNIlHS sOlllC uIlllltTN
men and their supports who resisted,
the Indiana troopers wheeled and swept
on in a lateral course along the line of
Forests men, both sides shooting and
sabering vigorously. Whites men cut
their way out leaving Captain Taylor
and sixteen troopers dead within the
enemy's camp.
Taylor had carried his men into the
midst of the Confederates banded
about the guns There he and his fol-
lowers, singly fell upon Forests body
! guard man for man and engaged in q
savage running fight of a couple of hun
bred yards. Forrest and Taylor met in
a 9uel, and the gallant captain was
shot dead while trying to saber his an
tagonist The melee around the guns
is described in the History of For
rests Cavalry as follows:
Forrest had at the moment available
only his famous escort and staff and a
sa>on of Adams artillery. From the
or one discharge was secured. but the
lrtillerists abandoned their guns and re-
treated abruptly. On came the Federal
cavalry, with their sabers drawn when
Forrest sprang to meet them and became
J Involved in one of those personal encoun-
tiers that have marked his life, and his
escapes from which appear incredible. He