The National tribune., 1906-07-19

very essential works and factories which
the COnfederates had at those two
places might be destroyed to the infinite
injury to their sources Of supplies Of
warlike materials.
Col. Streight was a man OF irrepres-
,, slDle energy. his heart was thoroughly
In the enterprise, as were those Of his
men, and they worked with the greatest
assiduity to provide the necessary cloth
Ing, ordnance and equipments. April
10 steamers carried them down the
Cumberland to Palmyra, where they
were to march across the country TO
Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River.
When they disembarked at Palmyra the
troubles Of the expedition began in
earnest. In place Of having been sup
| piled with mules Of the very best quail
| ity, 1t was discovered that the Quarter
| master had worked off on them all the
refuse Of his corrals. Many Of them
were poor, wild, unbrOken colts, but
two or three years old. A large number
had the distemper; between 20 and so
were too near dead to be OF any use
| whatever, with 10 or IL dying before
| they started. No cavalry saddles had
| been provided, but instead an INSULT
cient number Of such saddles as are
used by teamsters. Streight immediate
| ly began ransacking the country for
| other animals. and succeeded, during
his march to the Tennessee, in getting
about $50 good horses and mules but
they were barefoot. Intelligence Of what
| was coming was spread through the
| country, and the people were Fastening
| to put their animals out Of reach, SO
! that the scouting party was not reward
ed by many captures. Still, though 100
OF Streight's mules died on the march,
he reached Fort Henry with about 1880.
Here occurred delays which after
wards proved fatal in getting up the
and three precious days were lost in
reaching Eastport Gen. Dodge was
waiting with a force of 5000 men to
make demonstration to cover the
movement. and while Col. Streight was
in consultation with him a stampede
occurred among the mules. and 400 es-
capped. Another precious day was los,
I'm trying to recover these. which was
only successful as to about one-half
Cen Dodge furnished Streight with zoo
mules. and the latter weeded out his
force. reducing II to about !, 500 so tina,
only about $50 Of his men remained
without mounts. In his advance Gen
Dodge had driven Col. Roddey before
him through Tuscumbia. where Streigh,
Joined Dodge. 1t was the purpose tC
keep Streight's command and that ol
Dodge intermingled In the minds OF the
lConfederates, So that when Dodge re.
lsumed the pursuit of Roddey Streigh
could separate and go off In another di.
rection.
! This plan would have succeeded ad
mirably but for the probab bility OF an
other instance OF dogs that fetch an(
carry" Bragg having been fully inform
} ed by his spies OF what was being done
at ROsecrans's headquarters. He ha6
accordingly summoned Forrest In al
haste to join ROddey. The precious day,
; which had been lost enabled Forrest tt
l get back across the Tennessee River
: and comply with Bragg's orders. Dodge
continued his pressure upon Roddey un.
, til he forced him back into a strong
position behind Town Creek, when
learning that Streight was we'll on his
way and had reached Mount Hope, be.