The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-04-12

through the bushes, and when we were
right at the ford | happened to be
in front. lie Skipped quickly between
me and the Yankees, saying: Il am
glad to have you for pilot, but'I am
not going to make breastworks Of
you"
The cannon and the other guns were
firing fast by this time as | pointed out
where to go into the water and out on
the other bank, and then We went back
and asked me to give him lock of my
hair.
The cannon balls were screaming
over us so loud that we were told to
leave and hide in some place out of
danger, which we did. Soon all firing
stopped and started home. On the
way met General Forrest again, and
he told me that he had written a note
| for me and left on the bureau. He
asked nc again for a lock of my hair,
and as we went into the house he said:
|"One of my bravcst men has been kill
ed and he is laid out in the house. His
name is Robert Turner. l want you to
sec that he is buried in some graveyard
near here. lie then told us goodbye,
and got on his horse, and he and his
men rode away and left us all alone.
My sister and l sat up all night
watching over the dead soldier who
had lost his life fighting for our rights,
in which we were overpowercd but
never conquered
General Forrest and his men cndear-
ed themselves to us forever"
Such is the simple story given me
(Dr. Wyeth) in her own direct way by
this noble woman. Her presence of
mind, GOODNESS under circumstances
ulties of most women enabled General
Forrest to overcome a very formidable
obstacle in his pursuit Of Streight, and
gained for him at least three hours in
enabled him to overtake and compel
his surrender almost in sight Of Rome.
In less than thirty minutes from the
ime of FORESTS arrival at Black Creek
the artillery was up and the Fcderals
were driven from the opposite bank.
The lost ford" was soon cleared ana
made passablc. The cavalry went over
carrying the ammunition from the cais
sons; the guns and empty caissons,
with long ropes tied to the poles, were
then rolled by hand to the waters
edge, one end Of the rope taken to the
| top Of the opposite bank and hitched
| to double teams of horses. In this
original way the artillery soon made
subaquOus passage to the east bank.
The advance, guard had already htir-,
ried on after the raiders, who to their
great surprise, were hustled out of
Gadsden less than four miles OF Blaok
Creek bridge, before they could do
much damage to the small commissary
supplies there.
The foregoing account ;a taken ero!,.
manuscript Of Mrs. Johnson, In pos
session OF the author. Miss I0mma San
son married Mr.. C. B. johnson, Of Com
pany /, Tenth Alabama Regiment, on
October 20, 1864. They moved to Texas
i'm 1876, where her husband died in
1887 leaving her with seven children,
five boys and two girls. If they inherit
the courage OF their mother the world
should be better for their coming. The
Legislature Of Alabama in 1899 voted
her in token Of admiration and graft
tude," gift Of six hundred and forty
acres Of land, commemorative OF her
heroic action. The note Of thanks writ
ten by General Forrest in lead pencil
on the stained leaf Of an old pocket
memorandum ur account book, was
preseted to the writer by Mrs. John
son and is doubly treasured by him as
coming from such a woman and writ
ten by such man. 1t is the only
specimen of the generals wartime
writing, sc far obtained.
Headquarters in Saddle,
| May Q, 1863.
My highest regards to Miss En-
ma Samson for her gallant con-
duct while my force was skirm-
fishing with the Federals across
Black Creek near Gadsden, Ala
bama
N. B. FORREST.
| Brig. Gcnl.