Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-04-15
streight,s Attempt on Rome Georgia

Shelbyville a movement of troops IN
der Colonel Streight was begun the
boats for carrying them down the
river" being hauled alongside or tne
wharf at Nashville.
Tenders, bearing the horses, osten'
| sibly for Colonel Strengths expedition
| preceded and followed the transports,
some of which landed at Cumberland
Iron Works and at Dover, seven miles
below, to unload supplies for the troops
destined, as was learned at a later day,
to destroy the Confederate works and
stores at Rome, Ga.
When Colonel Streights command
had gathered a large number Of mules,
etc, belonging to Messrs. Woods,
Yeatman & Co., who owned Cumber-
lane Iron Works, it tool the route for
Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River,
where transports were awaiting to bear
it up that stream to a point nearer to
Rome, it's final destination, as after
ward appeared.
On learning that the transports were
headed up stream from Fort Henry an
express was Immediately sent to Cen
eral Forrest, and the same informa-
ton was forwarded, at a most leisure
ly gait, to Spring Hill.
On receiving this information, Gen
eral Forrest, who had been skirmish-
ing with a Federal force in the vicin-
ity of Florence, sent a party to OBJ
serve Colonel Streight's movements I'M
til his objective was developed.
In a few days he was advised that
Colonel Streight had disembarked his
forces, which, mounted on the best
horses, was hurrying across the coun-
try.
Believing that Colonel Streight's
objective was to penetrate and lay
waste the country, comparatively I'M
protected to the south and west, Cen
eral Forrest took steps to intercept
him, or to press him so closely as to
prevent the thorough accomplishment
OF his work Of destruction.
So, appearing to be beaten in the
contest before him, General Forrest
gathered up all his forces, including
all details for scout and other duty
which were within call, and set out
ito capture that Teller, or to run him
down to the Dry Tortugas."
In a short time the pursuit was be-
gun in real earnest, the men entering
as heartily into the chase as did their
untiring commander.
But "a stern chase" is proverbially
"a long chase" and here the boys had
the fullest ~veriication of the old saw,
Tor two days and nights elapsed before
they were near enough to the enemy
to discover, from various unmistakable
signs. that he was not far in advance.
The chase now became furious. and
we scarcely spent the time required
for making coffee and cooking other
food, around the campfire; for, now
that Colonel Streight's motives dawned
upon US, every nerve was bent to
fhwart his project.
Nor was it long before the pace be-
gan to tell pom the horses in both
commands. Especially was this the
case with the horses ridden by the en-
envy, as they were not Injured to forced
marches, made on empty stomachs, as
were to some degree our horses.
On reaching Blue River we were
much ohagrined to discover that the
enemy had crossed before us and had
fired the bridge, the timbers of which
were falling into the stream when the
main body OF our already depleted
force arrived.
At this j%uncture a Miss W, whose
parents resided in the vicinity, came
to our rescue and offered to pilot the
General to a ford but a short distance
above.
This offer was gladly accepted, and
we crossed the stream In the face of
a battery placed by the enemy to In
terrupt our march.
Forcing the passage, we compelled
the artillery to vacate their position,
n were soon in full chase, sweeping
aside small detachments left by the
enemy to retard our pursuit of the
main force.
1t o became of the most vital i'm.
portance thai we should close with
the enemy at the earliest moment, for
our command had dwfndled down to a
mere handful.
The enemy felt the necessity of
pressing on, and if possible to gain a
few hours in which the work OF de-
struction might be completed. So he
hurried on, every short distance being
marked by a spent horse or some 9th.
er evidence of his mad ride; while the
route passed owe by Forrest was
marked by dead horses and-sleepine
troopers!
Our force was now reduced to about
seven hundred men, and, IL the Chase
continued. we could not hope to reach
Rome with more than one-half of that
numbers force much too small to
cope with Colonel Strengths sixteen
hundred under ordinary circumstances.
But we reflected that the enemy had
no means of learning accurately how
rapidly our force was being disinte-
grated; and we pressed on, trusting
that a demonstration would be made by
the militia, home guards, etc. (Which
we knew would repair to the defenses
In front of Rome), whereby the enemy
would be delayed until we came up
with him.
All this time scouts from Rome
warned Colonel Streight that he might
expect in his front a hostile force of
some strength, no matter how made
quate 1t might be to do more than an
nov him. and ho Ro1k AL.k II