The Washington herald., 1915-03-21

fine condition and constant menace
to the bordering Federal territories.
The Federal government was deter
mined to subdue this part of the Con-
federacy. With preparat itons in prog
ress for an attack upon Mobile by a
land force under Gen. f. X. $. Candy.
orders were given Gen. Wilson to
strike into Ala bama from the north to
destroy the arsenals and defeat For
rest. This coming simultaneously
with Gen. Canbys movement. was
counted upon as a diversion to deprive
the Confederates at Mobile of serv-
ices of Forests horsemen.
Gen. Wilson had labored all through
the late winter and spring to bring
his command to a state of perfection.
The Federal troopers were finely
equipped and mounted. camp equipage
had been cut down to a minimum and
the trains reduced to about $50 wag-
ons.
Wilson's Raiders Move.
On March 23. Gen. Wilson's COM
mand. 10000 strong. comprising the di-
vision of Gems. Eli Long, Emory Up
ton and Edward MCCook. rode out of
camp, crossed the Tennessee River near
Florence. and turned their faces south
toward tn" heart of labama. The
wagons were packed with small ratlOnS
and ammunition: Wilson intended to
rely upon the country for the greater
part of his subsistence
EN-. Wilson arrived at Jasper, sixty
mites south Of the Tennessee River
aui ten north from selma on March
-. Here h" received definite informa-
tion A. to tho movements of Gen. For
rest who Was bringing together the
Iniis of his command that had been
scattered To- Obtain subsistence.
Wilson. leaving his trains behind at
that point. again took the road.
SrndinS out dctachments to tho west
to deceive the Confcdcrates as to his
line of march, he pushed on for Hill
boro. whcr" he was so close upon tn"
footsteps of the enemy that they were
unable To destroy III. bridge in his
front The rusc of sending off parties
toward the west succeeded. Gen. For
rests concentration to meet the Fed
eral advance was delayed from day To
DAY.
BY March 81. the Fedcrals had
reached MontevalIo. about nifty miles
north of Selma. There n few hours
wer" spent in wreCking the iron furn-
aces and coIIieries: hut the real work
lay ahead, so the troops pushed on.
All this time Gen. Forrest had with
him only one small brigade. Taking a
stand near ilantersVill". about eight
cen miles north of Selma. on April l.
Gen. Forrest determined to check tn"
Federals- Including small force of
conscrlpts when zen iaEior sent VI,
did nor n,,mher more ,ban =" 0oo men
md nrob,bi,, vas u,de- thai frurc
lraipst rim wer. nitrcd at Icast S OOO
L..6or.I ,roorcrs
Tbe strucrIc was Jesner.,e on.
,ri,L Eorr.,s, aIu-,,., i, tho bo, ,r tho
1.Lt II, w. ono of tho most terri
~, b,rd-,o-L.,5 corsicts ybich oc-
.,,-rod bo,wonn ,,,.Iry soId;ere durin-
,no yar" vrrot. yyvc,h i, his 10 of
,:.r Eorr.si II was test h.tweep
,h, abr in III. hands or as br.yo a
I,t of mon as ever rode horses and
,ho s,,.Loo,or in tho hands or eXnerts
,r,, ,,o,.. the, rs desnor.teIy br.vs
, Forrest 80 most yiciousiv assaiIed
H.. ,npsu;r,,o,,. Dresepce made him the
nhi.cr Of , direct attack nv brave
,,,,nr- ofc.r cont flames ~ TayIor
NJ tho Snyenteeptb Indiana Co G who
!. win five or six others of the Union
tronners were killed in the attempt Ia
XIII the. Confederate general. II this
f.rco opsIaurbt tho FederaIs lost
Twelve kiiIad and forty wounded
m. ,'orrodcratos wore nu.hed hack
az NIGHT drew down upon the field. I'm
the carly morning of ApriI Forrest.
covered with blood from his wounds
dashed into tho street of Selma to give
warning 70 Gen. TayIor.
Forrest appeared. morse and man
covered Win ploou' anu ahnouh,'" inc
enemy at his h"iS. ana mat must
NOV" at once t" escape capture wrote
Tay Tor in his memoirs.
i felt anxious for him. nut he said
he was unhurt and wouic cut ms way
| through. as most OF ms men had done
whom nc had ordered 10 meet MN west
/ OF the tahaWba. My engine started To-
ward Meridian and barely escaped
Before hcadway was ATTAINED the
enemy was upon w. anu rap'ul
seemed inevitable. f"ftuhat"i!' inc
group OF horsemeh near prevented
| their comrades from nF4hS' SO we hau
only TO risk lusllade from dozen
who hred WIG. Inc ofiE'r ana stoker'
both negroes We're as game as POSI-
Die. and as we Ihuhuereu across "a
hawha bridge. all saie' raised louo
Van. yam. or triumph anu shhiieu like
TWO SABLE ahsels:
Forrest