May 15, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
The Atlanta Confederacy contains an interesting account of Gen. FORREST’S chase and capture of the Yankees above Rome:
On the 24th day of April he received orders at Spring Hill to move his brigade to Decatur. Arriving there, on the north side of the river, opposite Decatur, he learned that the enemy were coming from Tuscumbia, whereupon he took his command down the Tennessee river twelve miles to Brown’s Ferry, where he divided his men, sending his brother, Col. Jeff. Forrest, and Col. Dibble, with three regiments, down to Florence, on the north side of the river, while he, by working all night, crossed the balance of his men at the ferry, and pushed on to Courtland, a small town in Lawrence county, on the M. & C. R. R., 20 miles west of Decatur. There he learned the enemy were at Town Creek, a bold stream that runs from the mountains through the valley, seven miles west of Courtland. When he arrived there, on Tuesday morning, the 24th of April, about daylight, he found Col. Roddy engaging them, about 10,000 strong, under General Dodge, who had been for a long time in command at Corinth. An artillery duel and some sharp shooting ensued, which lasted all day, and held the enemy in check.
This force started from Tuscumbia on the mountain road to the south of where Forrest and Roddy were engaged against their 10,000, coming out by way of Moulton, in Lawrence county, some twenty miles south of Courtland. But the sagacity of Forrest interfered with this deep laid scheme.
Early Tuesday morning Forrest had thrown out his active scouts, who reported to him late in the evening that a large body of the enemy were at Moulton. At first he supposed this was an attempt to flank him by coming on his rear via Decatur. About dark, therefore, he fell back to Big Nance Creek, near Courtland, where he halted till daylight. Other scouts coming in confirming the movements of the enemy in that direction, he moved forward to Moulton, arriving there in the afternoon, where he learned the enemy had gone on in a southeast direction. In a moment their daring programme of a raid into North Georgia flashed across his mind, whereupon he divided his command, sending the gallant Roddy and Edmonson on themselves safe, and that they could proceed to perform their work of destruction unpursued – whilst he, with Starnes’ and Biffle’s regiments, pushed around to the north on their left flank to head them off, should they be so pressed by Roddy and Edmondson as to turn back. Just at this point begins this great chase – in our judgment one of the most remarkable in ancient or modern warfare.
The Yankee force which he was pursuing at this time, numbered about 1800, under command of Colonel Strait. Jeptha Smith, who has lived in Henry and Fayette counties, a notorious rascal; and a heavy set, dark skinned, impudent looking man, named William Lochlin Philios, once a resident of Forsyth county, on a place ten miles above Cumming, but for the last seven years of Winston county, Ala., acted all the while as guides.
Thus divided, both parties of our forces marched all Wednesday night. On Thursday morning, about seven o’clock, Roddy and Edmondson came upon the rear of the enemy and fired a volley into them, which was the first intimation they had of pursuit, and took them completely by surprise, causing them to skedaddle from the rear, leaving many mules and burning several wagons. When this frightened rear of the enemy came up with the advance, Colonel Strait put his whole command in line of battle. Roddy and Edmondson still pursuing, came up with the enemy’s line on the summit of a high mountain and immediately attacked the entire force. It was a desperate fight and lasted three hours, when Roddy was compelled to fall back by the superior force of the enemy, leaving two of his guns in their hands. His force fell back in good order and remained with their arms in their hands till Forrest came up, having despatched a courier to the General for that purpose.
In this desperate fight Capt. William H. Forrest, a brother of the General, whom many of our citizens in Atlanta will remember, was badly wounded by a Minie ball, which broke his thigh. The General had him carried back to the Valley, left with him to take care of him, a surgeon and his own little son, Willie, only 16 years of age, who has been at his father’s side in every battle up to this time, and was once badly wounded. This son of Forrest has, with his own hand, killed no less than seven Yankee soldiers.
All Forrest’s force south of the Tennessee being again united, he placed them in line of battle and advanced on the enemy, but they had left, pushing on in this direction. He then again divided his force, sending Roddy and Edmondson to the left to mind the passes towards the river, while he, with about 800 men, composed of Biffle’s and Starnes’ Regiments, pursued the Yankees closely for eight miles, when he came up with Strait’s command in line of battle about dark, in a very strong position. He promptly attacked them, and fought them for three hours, during all of which time the battle raged furiously. The combatants were frequently so close that the flash of the guns of the one party illuminated the features of the other. Here General Forrest had two horses wounded and one killed under him. Though always in the lead and in the thickest of the fight, yet wonderful to relate, he escaped unhurt. Finally, he ordered a charge, which his tired but brave men gloriously responded to, when the entire Yankee force broke in confusion and ran, leaving the two guns they had captured from Roddy in the morning. They also left hundreds of mules and their dead and wounded on the field.
He immediately gave chase to the retreating foe, overhauling their rear about twelve o’clock at night. Here, some six miles from the late battle ground, the enemy again made a stand. Forrest commenced shelling them, skirmishers in the advance firing on them with small arms. The Yankees again ran, leaving more mules, wagons, &c. Their meat, flour, meal, crackers, boxes of guns and carbines, old pans, clothing, shoes, &c., &c., were left in their rear; in fact, the road was strewed with all the usual evidence of the wildest Yankee flight. About two o’clock in the night they reached a rugged mountain stream, making a very formidable position, where they attempted another stand; but the indomitable and never tiring Forrest, with his daring rebels, were close upon their heels, and again commenced a vigorous shelling, which the Yankees could not stand, and again fled in confusion.
When the morning came they were all together, again in the saddle, and crossed the stream. The road was clear of Yankees till they arrived at Blountville, in Blount county, where Forrest again encountered them, charged upon them and captured twenty-five of their rear guard, several wagons and more mules, and pressed them so closely that they set fire to and abandoned seventeen wagons, but our vigorous commander came up in time to save several of them. The pursuit was continued to Black Warrior River, some ten miles this side of Blountville, where the General stopped, fed his hungry, jaded horses, and gave his men a little rest.
A little before daylight on Saturday morning he again pushed forward. The enemy now showed every sign of fatigue and fright, and burned every bridge they crossed. It must not be forgotten that they stole every horse and mule they could lay their hands on, which deprived Gen. Forrest of any chance to obtain fresh animals. The Yankees ran into houses, took all the food that was cooked, and all the watches and valuables they could find in a hurried search, but doing no further damage up to this time.
Here I may as well mention that Gen. Forrest set out on this great chase with only three days’ rations for his men and none for his horses, and kept up the pursuit and running fight by day and night without any fresh horses – his march averaging 41 miles per day. Three days of the time, while crossing the mountains, his horses had but ten ears of corn each, divided to them, of what the Yankees threw away in their fright. At Black Creek, a very deep, rapid stream, beyond Gadsden, they burned the bridge and planted their artillery to prevent Forrest from getting any further. Upon reaching it, he found he could not ford it. This was the first serious obstacle in the way of the intrepid rebels. At this moment a beautiful young girl came out to the road from a house close by, her countenance radiant with patriotic enthusiasm, and addressed the General thus: ‘Ride up, General, to this log. Let me get up behind you. I can soon show you a ford where you can cross just above the bridge.’ The General obeyed orders, they young girl leaped up behind him, and they were about to proceed, when her mother came out and said: ‘Stop, Anna; people may talk about you.’ ‘I must go, mother,’ she replied; ‘I am not afraid to trust myself anywhere with as brave a man as Gen. Forrest. Southern men always protect the innocent and helpless.’
The General with his new pilot dashed off through the rocks, over logs, brush, etc., and in a few moments struck the path leading to the ford. Arriving there, he discovered that the enemy had already sent a few to guard the ford. ‘Get down, General,’ said the girl, walk behind me; they will not shoot while I am before you.’ ‘No,’ said the General; ‘I am willing to make a guide, but not a battery of a young lady.’
The command, with their guns, soon came up, when a few shells drove off the guard. In two hours all were over, and again in the saddle in pursuit of their game, pushed on to Gadsden. Here Gen. Forrest started a courier to Atlanta to advise the authorities and citizens of the place to prepare for them and hold them in check till he could come up. It was now late Saturday evening. He selected three hundred of his men who were best mounted and about eleven miles this side of Gadsden, near Turkeytown, he came up with the entire force of the enemy in ambush, near night. He ordered an immediate charge, which he headed. The General says that every one of his jaded horses seemed animated with new life, and came up to the work like fresh animals. He says he never saw anything like it. Here Col. Hathaway, the favorite officer of the Yankees, was killed – it is thought by a private named Joseph Martin, a mere youth of Company G, Biffle’s regiment, with an Enfield rifle, at the distance of 600 yards. This was a severe loss to the Yankees, and did much to dishearten them. Several of their best men were killed and wounded. Forrest lost two of his gallant men – private Hunt, of Starnes’, and Roach, of Biffle’s regiments. This battle was on Mr. Blount’s farm, and the Yankees, it is supposed, in spite for the loss of one of their favorite Colonels, burnt his gin house, stables, cribs, etc., and also burnt up the Round Mountain Iron Works.
It was now dark, and night had put an end to the fight. Forrest waited till all of his men came up, who, though left in the rear with their jaded animals, were hurrying after their glorious leader as fast as possible. When they all came up, Forrest again ordered all to advance, when they found the Yankees had left under cover of darkness, and were pushing on to this place.
About sunrise on Sunday morning, Gen. F. encountered another stream, the Catoosa River, where the Yankees had burned Dykes’ Bridge. Here they again dismounted, stripped and carried over their guns and ammunition by hand – all in one hour – and again pressed forward. About 9 o’clock he again came up with and fired into their rear while they were at breakfast. They again fled, leaving mules, wagons, all their hot coffee, &c., &c., but when they reached the front of the Yankee forces they were halted by Col. Strait and ordered into line of battle. This was some twenty miles west of Rome.
Here Forrest promptly sent in a flag of truce, and demanded the surrender of the whole Yankee command. This was the boldest game of bluff on record. Forrest, with less than 500 men, on worn out horses, demanding the surrender, far out in the country, on a fair field, of 1368 privates and 101 officers, all well armed and in line of battle! For cool audacity, it excels all history or imagination.
It must be remembered that when he sent back Roddy and Edmondson, he started on the chase with about 800 men, ten of whom had been killed, 40 wounded, others left, and details sent back, till his actual force was less than 500. During the chase he had captured and sent back over 300 of the Yanks. Colonel Strait sent forward towards this city 175 scouts, who were at that moment hovering around; and this shows their relative strength, when facing each other, on Sunday morning, and when they were called on to surrender.
Upon this bold demand, a parley ensued between Gen. F. and Colonel Strait, that resulted in the surrender of the entire command, with 1509 mules and horses, 60 carbines and pistols, 1300 Enfield rifles, side arms, and divers other articles, amounting in all to over half a million’s worth, embracing every comfort and convenience for a select command of 1800 men, who were detailed specially by General Rosecrans for this important expedition. They came from Nashville on a boat to Eastport, near Tuscumbia, where they debarked.
Their instructions were to cross Sand Mountain, come to Rome, burn all Government stores, workshops, foundries, bridges, &c.; then the bridges on the State road, then to push direct to Atlanta and burn everything there; then make their escape, if possible, through the mountains. If they should succeed in accomplishing their hellish work, they were to be rewarded by a large bounty and a discharge from service. The whole were marched into this city on Monday morning, in the midst of manifestations of joy and triumph by the people, such as is seldom witnessed in any age or country.