The National tribune., 1907-07-25
SIMON CAMERON,
ITO be continued.)
MONUMENT TO EMMA SAMSON.
The Girl who Helped Forrest Capture
Streight's Command.

The Gadsden Chapter. United Daugh-
terS of the Confederacy, has erected at
GadSdcn, Ala, a monument to Emma
SAMSON, the girl who guided Forrest to
a ford at a critical time in his pursuit of
Col. StreightS command The monu-
ment, which was unvailed July 4, cost
$500, and is the third monument
erected to the Southern women in the
civil war. The story told at the unvail-
ing differs very markedly from some of
the exaggerated accounts which have
been current. May 2. 1868, Col. Streight
found Gen. Forrest with an immense
supporting force in hot pursuit of him.
Being in a hostile country fresh troops
could be brot up constantly to reinforce
those who were wearied in the pursuit
and give the Union troops no rest. Col.
Streight saw that his only hope of es-
cape was getting across Black Creek,
deep, rapid stream, and burning the
bridge, which would stop the pursuit un-
til he could have time to rest and feed
his jaded horses and give his men some
sleep and time to eat. He succeeded in
getting across the bridge at 8 o'clock on
the morning of May 2, and setting fire
to it just as Gen. Forrest appeared with
his advance guard. The story of what
followed was thus told by Miss SAMSON,
who died in 1900, three years after her
husband, whom she married after the
war:
"As we got to the top of the hill we
saw the rails were already piled on the
bridge and were on fire, and the Yam
KEGS were in line on the other side
guarding it. We turned back towards
the house and had not gone but few
steps before we saw Yankee coming
at full speed. and behind were some
more men on horses l heard them
shout Halt! and surrender. The man
stopped, threw up mis- hand, and handed
over his gun. The officer to whom the
soldier surrendered said. Ladies. do not
be alarmed. 1 am Gen. Forrest; l and
my men will protect you from harm.
He inquired: Where are the Yankees?' 2
Mother said: They have set the bridge
on fire and are standing in line on the
other side and if you go down that hill
they will kill the last one of you. BY
this time our men had come up, and
some went out in the field, and both
sides commenced shooting. We ran to
the house and / got there ahead of all.
Gen. Forrest dashed up to the gate and
said to me: Can you tell me where l
can get across that creek p | told him
there was an unsafe bridge. about two
miles farther down the stream, but that
/ knew of trail about 200 yards above
the bridge on our farm where our COWS
used to cross in low water, and / be-
lieved he could get his men over there,
and that if he would have my saddle
put on a horse / would show him the
wav. He said There is no time to
saddle a horse; get up here behind me.
As he said this he rode close to the
bank on the side of the road, and
jumped up behind him. Just rs we
started off mother came up out of
breath and gasped: Emma, what do
you mean?' Gen. Forrest said; She IS
going to show me ford where L can
get my men over in time to catch those
Yankees before they get to Rome.
Don't be uneasy; l will bring her back
safe
I'VE rode out into a field thru which
ran a branch or small rayine and along
which there was a thick underground
that protected us for while from be-
ing seen by the Yankees at the bridge
or on the other side of the creek Thls
branch emptied into the creek just
above the ford When we got close to
the creek, / said: Gen. Forrest,
thinl; we had better get of the horse, as
we are now where we can be seem. we
both got down and crept thru the
bushes, and when we were right at the
ford / happened to be in front. He
steppcd quickly between me and the
Yankees, SAYING: L am glad to have
you for a pilct. but / am not going to
make breastworlSs of you. The cannon
and the other guns were firing fast by
this time, as / pointed out to him
where to go into the water and out on
the other bank, and then we went back
toward the house. He asked me my
name, and asked me to give him Il lock
of NV hair The cannon balls We're
screaming over us so loud that we were
told to leave and hide in soEae place
out of danger, which we did. soon al
the firing stopped, and l started pack
home. on the way met Gen. fofres'
again. and he told me that he ha writ
.en q note for me and left it on the bu-
roau. He asked me again for a lock of
my hair"