The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-26

ca halt. and soon his band all ex-
| sept the famous Forty Scouts were
deep in sleep upon the ground. thou
sand nanimatc bundles in blankets and
oilcloths
| at daylight s;reight moved forward,
| but before he had proceeded two miles
| his rear guard was attacked by For
| rest
The following three days contest
across Sand Mountain, as these con-
tending foes struggled to outwit. out
isht and overmastcr each the other,
affords a dramatic spectacle rarely
/ epualied III military annals The set
ting was most auSpicious for the trug c
action--a rugged country With preci-
! pitous cliffs and deep ravines. cut
across here and there with leapnE
streams; the cornbatants, two nlands OF
men who, were aoldiers all, pa triots ali,
venturing for their consciences' sake
that for which It is said q man Will
forswear all things else. his life: tho
roar OF cannon the rattle OF nusi1ctry
the clank Of CROSSED swords. the silen-
ces OF ambush. tho cries of victory, the
groans Of death! And over all, now
April showers had ceased, clear spring
! skies OF the silver rays of the south
crn moon
The Alabama soldiers, with the Fed
erals were familiar with the passcs
i and this fact was OF service 10 Streight
Tor with his dreaded foe at his heels
and detachnents crcling AROUND the
mountain sides cndcavoring TO form
juncture TO meet HIS advance, he seem
cd to be caught in trap. AS he as
! cended the western crest Of the noun
tain, which is the southwestern tcrlni-
nation OF the great Appalachian range
and looked below to the valley which
surrounded him. the bold 1ndianian saw
! that he was III a capital position to
; make q stand. He laid an ambush
which was maasurably effective Coun-
-stratcgen1 and some vigorous fight.
ing followed. in which Forests only
two cannon were captured and a num-
| Der OF men and horses killed on both
sides
The Wizard of the Saddle" told his
han'l that their guns must be retaken
Ii every man died In the attempt and
that they must dismount, hitch their
! horses to sapllngs and begin their
task. assuring them that if they did
not succeed they would never need
| their horses again The fiery, tur-
bu'ent spirits under him loved to exc
cute just such desperate orders S their
beloved chief was giving thcm. for they
hae charged with him at Shiloh, escap-
cd with him from Fort Donaldson, made
glory with him at Murfrees boro. at
Thompsons Station, at Brentwood, and
they knew the inflexible dauntlessness
OF the man.
From this moment there was run
ming fight across Sand Mountain, with
death TO mark the trail. Strcight adj
vanced as IT. pidly as possible, and when
finding his rear too hard pressed would
take his stand and fight or ambuscade
his adversary. Forrest harried him
constantly. attempting 10 circle around
him. and steadily shooting al every
thing blue to keep up the scare
Seeing the difficulty Of his movement,
because Of the natural barriers Of Eor-
ges, precipitous mountain sides and
/ broken paths. the Confederate chief
ordered a portion OF his command to
| advance In "a general direction par
allel with the route upon which
streight was moving" to prevent his
escape by way or the crossroads, while
| he himself led the remaining troops
In pursuit OF the swift marching raid
ers Straight ctill had Forests two
| big guns! The Confedera,es had been
, compelled to unhitch their horses from
the saplines.
That night the fight was renewed
! Forrest, a S always. leading the assault
in person. The encounter became 80
Elephants eranpled hand to hand When
he could no longer withstand the at
/. tack, Str=isht ordertd retreat. leaving
! Forrest his coveted guns, which. how
ever. had prudertly been spiked. AZ
once, with renewed cagerness, the Con-
federates Were Hpon the heels or their
fleeing foe. Late In the night, under
, the light OF full moon, there was
fighting, following an ambnscade. and
again more lighting following another
ambuscaGe
Assured of thwnrtInr. StreiRht's nlans
Forrest allowed his men brief respite
tor rest. and while they slcnt the raid
ers descended the eastern slope OF the
mountain, and on May-daY enterad the
little town OF Huntsville. took a lit
| tie rest, goodly number OF mules and
! horses. and then their departure.
Sy afternoon Forrest rode in and foil
upon the Federal rear guard with Wig
or. Ten miles further away. on the
banks Of the Black Warrior, streisht
was again forcsd to take his stand and
hsht In order to secure a crossing over
this swift and dangerous stream,
me following morning thu raiders
reached Black Creek. "a cracked. deeu
and sluggish st, cam. with precinltous
clay banka and mud bottoms" which
i has It's source on Lookout Mountain.
the southern limit OF which range is
less than one mile to the north"
Betore reaching the bridge which
crossed Black Creek there was an un-
pretentious country home owned and
occupied by the widow SAMSON and her
two daughters. This home was enter
ed by the dreaded Yankees ana
thoroughly nearohed for firearms ana
saddles. The only son and protector
of tho home was far away in Con-
federnte command lighting for the stars
and bars The indignity of this In
| yasion was kcenly resented BY the
three lone women. and to appoase their
fears the raiders chief placed guard