The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-01
GENERAL IN. B. FORESTS
 BRILLIANT STRATAGEM
Building of Negro School Athens Site of Old Fort Recalls True Story of That Famous Cavalry Leader-Does Not Mention Clever Ruse in Official Report to Major Ellis
BY R. M. RAWLS.

could not possibly withstand" The fed eral commander replied, that if he were satisfied such a force surrounded him he would not feel justified in making a de- fense. Forrest pressed his request for an inspection, and finally Colonel Camp bell, accompanied by several of his staff rode along the lines with Forrest
 The first troops inspected were cavalry, dismounted for the purpose armed with Enfield rifles. Forrest pointed to them, with the remark There Is my infantry line" Several hundred yards to the rear the horse holders were drawn up and mounted as "cavalry," Said For rest: You see colonel, have 5000 cav alry.' A battery was observed in one position, and during the review it would be so shifted as to show four, then six, then eight guns in different positions. The same guns being seen repeatedly but not in the same position. Forrest had only eight guns with him, four were at first placed on the south of the Florence road about eight hundred yards from the fort; two about the same distance on the Browns ferry road; and two on the Buck Island road The infantry and cavalry were also shifted so as to do double duty. And to strengthen the ruse, just as the review ended Colonel Wheeler of the First Tennessee cavalry dashed up to General Forrest, saluted and said: General Wheeler, with two full divisions has just arrived and desires an interview" As General Joe Wheeler had recently made a raid through North Alabama, the announcement of his ar rival was not surprising. And accord ingiy Colonel Campbell decided to sur render only asking that his officers might retain their side arms and private prop erty. Soon thereafter the garrison Of 140O troops were on their way to Florence as prisoners under command of Colonel Nixon. Besides the prisoners, two pieces of artillery, large amount of small arms, thirty-eight wagons, two ambu- lances, 300 horses, and a considerable amount of ordnance and quartermaster and commissary stores were captured. Two block houses and such parts of the fort as could be consumed were burned by the Confederates as were two locouso- lives and two trains of cars and the fed erals destroyed many of their valuable stores during the night previous to the surrender,
 All bloodshed was not averted that day. The federals attempted to reinforce the garrison from Decatur. The enemy approached up the railroad in their effort to make the beleagured fort. Col D. C. Kelly endeavored to intercept them The federals took position behind pile of cord wood where the railroad runs through the first cut below Athens The Fifteenth Tennessee, Col. Thomas H. Lockwood, commanding, charged them be- hind their breastworks, putting them to flight, killing several and capturing eight prisoners. The endorsements then re- newed their effort to gain the fort, and General Forrest says they fought with great gallantry and desperation.' They pressed on but found the Twenty-hrst Tennessee commanded by Jesse Forrest, between them and the fort This gallant regiment opened fire upon the advancing enemy, and during the engagement Col onel Forrest fell seriously wounded In the knee. Col. A. N Wilson then engaged the endorsements and General N. B. Forrest ordered Col. G. H. Nixon and Col. J. D. Carter with their respective commands (numbereing about 150 men each) to move rapidly to his relief. They did so and the enemy surrendered, and were marched up to the fort Just in time to see the garrison march out of 1t and stack arms. There was some loss of life on both sides in this fighting between the railroad and the fort. Every year, with the returning summer, the local chapter of the Daughters of the Confectionery, strew flowers on those graves of the Con federates at the Athens cemetery, and their burial place will soon be marked by a beautiful monument
 Of the two blockhouses mentioned. one located mile and a half from Attn ems, south, surrendered without any fighting, but at the other located almost within the corporate limits of the town' a stout but fatal resistance was att tempted. Here Captain Morton showed the skill as an artlllesist which won him much praise in the war The occupants of this fort had an exaggerated idea Of It's strength. General Wheeler had before this tried to take 1t, and failed. And the inspector of the department had pro- fy,arN r11 hi against surrender had been posted on the outside and on the inside "No surrender under any circumstances. An officer who shall surrender a blockhouse will be gull ty of gross cowardice, and dismissed from the service in disgrace" Captain Morton had informed himself somewhat and remarked to General Forrest that, notwithstanding the thickness of the walls of heWn oak timber, by firing at the joints he might penetrate within and make it so warm for the occupants that they would be glad to come out. He placed Mayson's battery In position on Coleman hill, some two or three nun dred yards southwest of the blockhouse, and Walton's section about 600 yards northward. When Major Strange went to ask the surrender of the fort, the or ficer in charge booted at him. The major assured him of the surrender of the fort and presented the folly of a refusal to
 
 bers. "I care nothing for the fort owe but one debt to God-I can pay this in my bloclShouse. You would UcS leave or I will order my men to fire on you" Thereupon Major Strange gal loped up to Morton and exclaimed give 1t to them, captain" Morton, turning in his saddle, ordered Mayson to fire. The first shot struck the top of the house. making the dirt and plank fly; and the next penetrated the house killing four negroes A shot from Walton's gun quicK- ly followed, killingtwo and wounding three At this moment the gallant cap tain who had apparently changed his mind suddenly as to when he would choose to die, came rushing out and | waved his hat frantically in lieu of flag, and yelled Justify: T surrender, l sur render" General Forrest rode forward | in person to meet him. The captain, in | great excitement, exclaimed: You have | killed or wounded nearly all my men. Your shells bore through my blockhouse like an auger. sir" The garrison of the | blockhouse numbered thirty-ive. And i Forests prisoners that day amounted to abount 1900.
 A few years ago Capt John w. Mor- ton visited Athens; and walking down to inc site of the burned blockhouse, he ob- served small cedar tree growing Tn the center of the embankment about the old walls. He transplanted this ever green in his own yard in Nashville where it js hoped 1t has grown to be reminder of (lis prowess on the 24th of Septem- Der. 1884, when on the famous raid, the first fruits of which were the capture th
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