The Washington herald., 1914-11-08
Shell Esderai Ships,
N0yenbef Fourth.

III --.F. fsHuItmDef Eouftns
F1fty years tgo today Gen. N. B. For
rest shelled the FederalS at JohnsonyiIle,
on the Tennessee River, eighty miles west
OF Nashville. causing the eventual de-
struction Of three Federal .glnboats, eight
transports, several barEes. and large
quantity OF stores.
The attack was a serious thrust at one
of Gen Sherman's lines Of supply. "A
large amount of the stores for the Fed
eral armies In Tennessee came up the
Tennessee River in transports and were
landed at Johnsonville, and thence sent
by rail to Nashville.
Forrest was aware that an Interrupt
tion Of traffic at that point would cause
considerable trouble to the Federals, SO
when. in October, he was ordered to make
a demonstration to cover q northward
movement by the army Of Gen. John B.
Hood, he determined to make the upper
Tennessee his objective.
Moving from Mississippi TO jackson, In
West Tennessee, late in October, he re-
mained there until October q, when his
men were sufficiently rested and refitted
for the service ahead OF them. Again
taking the road, he turned east and
struck the Tennessee River near Paris
Landing and Fort Heiman, a few miles
south of Fort Henry.
Half of the command was posted at
Paris Landing under Gen. Tyree H. Bell
and half at Fort Heiman, about five miles
below, both forces being accompanied by
a section of Forests famous horse ar
tillery There they prepared to attack
any vessels that might chance to pass.
Capturing a GunbOat.
The Confederates had not long to walt.
Early in the morning of October % the
transport Mazeppa, heavily laden with
Federal supplies and towing two barges,
also well weighted down with cargo.
came around a bend in the river. She
was making for Johnsonville.
Forrest gave orders allowing. her to
pass the batteries at Fort Hetman with
out being disturbed. but when she was
well on her way toward Paris Landing
the Confederates in the fort, under Gen.
Abraham Buford, opened upon her. The
heavy fire from the batteries soon Grip
pied her. and the pilot ran her ashore
on the opposite bank. The crew deserted
her. but the captain remained aboard
and extended a helping hand to aid the
first Confederate who swan the river to
take possession of her.
Taking one of the ships boats, the man
returned to the west bank OF the river
and ferried over a detachment OF his
comrades The Mazeppa was found rich
in supplies that Forests men much
needed, and an immediate distribution
of blankets, shoes, and clothing was
made The ship was then burned.
The next morning . small steamer
came down the river from JohnsonVilfe
and ran past the batteries in safety. Her
success prompted the transport Venus
and her convoy, the tin-clad gunooat
Undine, mounting eight H-pound now
81 Naaf
The two vessels were well past Faris
Landing before Gen Bell opened upon
them. Though many of his shots took
effect. none of them hit a vital spot, and
the Federal ships steamed on until they
came under fire of the batteries at the
fort The bombardment from that quar-
ter was so hot they they turned about
and sought to return, only to nnd Bell
ready to bar the way.
Col Edward W. Rucker, with two
pieces of artillery. moved down the river
bank to get in close range Of the ships
and while this movement was under way
another Federal transport, the ]. w.
Cheeseman, hove in sight from above.
She was permitted to steam into the trap,
when Col Fuckers guns and Confederate
sharpshooters soon had the three vessels
at their mercy.
The Undine was run ashore on the east
bank of the river and abandoned by most
of her crew. The transports were cap
tured. and later the Undine was secured.
The Federals had lost about ten killed
and fifteen wounded in the sharp fight
As the Cheeseman was badly disabled,
she was burned, but the Undine and We
nus were soon placed in order and man
ned by a detachment of Forests men.
Vessels and stores Destroyed.
These "horse-marines' were without
experience in handling boats and brought
.upon themselves much good-natured
chaff from their comrades because Of the
way they navigated the two vessels. After
a days experience they became very bold
and, sailing upstream, ran into two Fed
eraI gunboats. The Venus was hurriedly
abandoned just as she was about to be
captured, but the Undine made away to
the protection of Forests command,
which was making up the river, south,
toward Johnsonville.
The following day the Undine again
proceeded ahead OF FORESTS command,
and was attacked by the Union hotilla OF
tin-clads. Her crew put up stin ight,
but their bravery counted for little
against the experience of the Federal
sailors. and they finally abandoned her
and set her on fire. She was total loss
without further delay the Confeoerates
ulONeQ up luo WEST OoAlA u
and In the night Of November 8 took po-
sition opposite NJohnsonviiie. The town
consisted OF two or three houses. several
large and well-hIled warehouses, and
barracks The gunboats Key West, No.
q. and No. q; eight transports, and a
number Of barges were tied up at the
bank.
Forrest opend the attack in the after
noon Of November 4. The FIRE of his bat
teries was especially destructive, and
flames soon showed on several Of the
transports The confiagration sprsad. the
Federal garrison doing nothing to stop
It At night the whole water front was
lined with IRE. and several Of the ware
houses were going. It was said several Of
the vessels and storehouses were fired by
the Federals to prevent their capture.
The Federal Commander, Col. G. r.
Thompson, whose force numbered about
1000 min. largely negro troops, had wired
TO Gen. G. H. Thomas at Nashville. ask
ing help. The entire Twenty-third Corps,
under Gen. John NJ Schofeld, was sent
to aid him. II was fumored that the
Confederates had crossed the river and
were moving on Nashville. Their number