登陆注册
5190400000051

第51章

On the 2d of April Stanley advanced with his cavalry to Liberty, where Morgan met them with his entire command.The two forces encamped within two miles of each other.On the morning of the 3d, Stanley advanced, intending to engage Morgan's command at once, but found that he had retreated to what he regarded as a very strong position at Snow Hill.Morgan, however, had left a strong force at Liberty to watch Stanley's movements.As Stanley advanced, he struck this force and quickly drove upon it with part of his command, sending a portion around to the right, which turned the enemy's left flank.Pressing Morgan's command from both positions, it soon gave way at all points, and was in full retreat.Morgan's officers tried to rally their men, but the latter were thoroughly demoralized and had no fight in them.The teamsters became panic-stricken and added to the general rout.It was two weeks before Morgan succeeded in getting his men together again.

Early in April, Rosecrans ordered Colonel Streight to the command of a brigade he had organized for the purpose of making a raid on the lines of communication of the rebels, and to move through the country south and southeast, destroying as he went all property of use to them.Streight's command started from Nashville, partially mounted, going by way of Clarksville to Fort Henry, at which place he took steamer from Eastport, Miss.En route to Fort Henry his command secured as many animals as they could, but only four-fifths of the men were mounted, and they poorly.The animals were nearly all mules, and very few of them were fit for the service required.

It was expected that the command would capture enough good animals to carry the expedition successfully through, but this was not realized.Leaving Eastport on the 21st, he passed through Tuscumbia three days later, and reached Moulton on the 26th.From here on the 28th he pressed forward through Day's Gap on Sand Mountain, in the direction of Blountsville.In the gap their rear guard was overtaken and attacked on the 30th by the enemy's cavalry under Forrest, who had pressed forward, riding night and day.Selecting the best mounted of his men, he pushed at once to Streight's camp.

Here coming upon the rear of Streight's force as it was leaving camp, Forrest opened with artillery firing.Dismounting his men, Streight formed his command on the crest of a hill on each side of the road and awaited the enemy's attack.As Forrest advanced, Streight ordered a charge to be made which drove the enemy at all points, capturing their two pieces of artillery.Forrest lost in killed and wounded seventy-five men, a large percentage of whom were killed.Streight's loss was twenty-one killed and wounded.Agood many of horses were captured from the enemy, on which Streight mounted a number of his men.On the same afternoon the enemy attacked again, but was driven back with considerable loss, after a severe engagement lasting from three o'clock until dark.On May 1st, the Federal forces reached Blountsville at noon.Here all the wagons save one were burned, and the ammunition placed on pack mules, after distributing to the men all that they could carry.

At three o'clock Streight started again, and skirmishing commenced at once on their rear.Pressing on, the command marched until twelve o'clock that night.Resuming their march in the morning, the rear skirmished all the forenoon of the 2d with the rebels.

Arriving at Gadsden, Streight remained long enough to destroy a large quantity of provisions in store there for the enemy.It was expected at this place that a small steamer would be found, upon which a detachment of men could be sent to capture Rome.In this Streight was disappointed.From this point Streight's animals became much exhausted, and the men were falling to the rear and getting captured.To prevent this the command had to go much slower.Forrest coming up about one o'clock on the 2d, attacked the command while the horses were being fed at Blount's farm.Here Colonel Hathaway fell, shot through the breast.Again the rebels were repulsed, but they constantly pressed upon the rear of Streight's command, keeping up a brisk skirmish fire.The enemy were kept in check at Blount's farm until after dark.In the meantime the main command had crossed the Coosa.Here the river was so high that the ammunition was damaged by being wet.From this place Streight sent a detachment to burn the Round Mountain iron works, one of the principal manufactories of munitions of war in the South.It was burned to the ground and all the machinery destroyed.On arriving at the other branch of the Coosa a bridge was found, and, as soon as the command had crossed, it was destroyed.On the morning of the 3d, as the men were preparing their breakfast, the enemy again attacked.

Shortly afterward Forrest sent in a flag of truce, demanding the surrender of the entire command.This was at first refused, but on consultation with his officers, and considering the damaged condition of his ammunition and the complete exhaustion of his command, Streight, after making a personal inspection of Forrest's artillery, finally yielded, and the entire force of 1,466 officers and men was surrendered.

On April 20th, Thomas sent J.J.Reynolds with three brigades of infantry and Minty's brigades of cavalry, together with Wilder's brigade of mounted infantry, to proceed to McMinnville, capture what force was there, destroy the railroad from Manchester to McMinnville, and co-operate with a force to move from Carthage against Morgan.

Reynolds made a successful raid on the railroad and nearly destroyed it; burned all the bridges, trestle-work, cars, and locomotives on the road, also the depot in McMinnville, and several cotton mills.

A large amount of supplies was captured, some one hundred animals picked up.The command from Carthage failed to aid in the expedition, and Morgan's command in the main effected their escape.

同类推荐
  • 锦里耆旧传

    锦里耆旧传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 孙子批注

    孙子批注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 吕纯阳真人沁园春丹词批注

    吕纯阳真人沁园春丹词批注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 南齐书

    南齐书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说数经

    佛说数经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 小心孩子这样问你:巧妙回答孩子的260个雷人问题

    小心孩子这样问你:巧妙回答孩子的260个雷人问题

    对于3~6岁的孩子而言,那些看似幼稚、好笑或者令人瞠目结舌的问题恰恰是他们认识世界、表达自己情感的开始,也是他们与父母沟通的重要途径。对此,父母必须给予足够的重视。本书针对孩子最常问的260个问题,首先点出父母最容易做出的错误回答,然后通过对问题进行分析,进而告诉父母该如何巧妙、科学地回答孩子那些令人赧颜的雷人问题,从而保护孩子的好奇心和求知欲,增强亲子关系,为孩子认识世界、发展身心健康、扩大认知能力打下良好基础。
  • 紫微郎花事

    紫微郎花事

    京中有二丑,王爷与我。那年紫薇花开,诗会上,我们初会某烂泥塘边。数日后,再会暴雨倾盆的街上。二见投缘。义兄说,王爷是打着灯笼也找不着的好王爷,君子端方,不知会便宜哪家闺女。近来,听说皇上要为王爷赐婚,我心下略感油煎:想我顾眉君,脱了官袍抹了疤,亦是眉清目秀良家女,不知王爷他可曾留意否?
  • 杂烩饭摊

    杂烩饭摊

    从前有条街,街上开着店,店里有个怪厨子,怪厨子做饭很好吃。从前有条街,街上开着店,店里有个怪厨子,怪厨子做饭没菜单。从前有条街,街上开着店,店里有个怪厨子,怪厨子喜欢听故事。从前有条街,街上开着店,店里有个怪厨子,怪厨子自己有故事。从前有条街,街上开着店,店里有个怪厨子,怪厨子开店讲故事......
  • 煮药漫抄

    煮药漫抄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 疫疹一得

    疫疹一得

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 郁达夫散文选(语文新课标课外必读第九辑)

    郁达夫散文选(语文新课标课外必读第九辑)

    国家教育部颁布了最新《语文课程标准》,统称新课标,对中、小学语文教学指定了阅读书目,对阅读的数量、内容、质量以及速度都提出了明确的要求,这对于提高学生的阅读能力,培养语文素养,陶冶情操,促进学生终身学习和终身可持续发展,对于提高广大人民的文学素养具有极大的意义。
  • 圣佛母般若波罗蜜多九颂精义论

    圣佛母般若波罗蜜多九颂精义论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 快穿之我成了男主的外挂

    快穿之我成了男主的外挂

    很久以后,阿昭和后辈们聊起自己的故事。“一开始,我被系统选中,成为男主的外挂,帮助他走上人生巅峰。”“——那后来呢?”阿昭点了一根烟,神色沧桑:“——后来啊,我成了男主的老婆。”【1对1,巨甜~不甜你打我!】
  • 行为心理学合集:一个伟大心理学家的思想精华(套装共2册)

    行为心理学合集:一个伟大心理学家的思想精华(套装共2册)

    行为心理学合集(套装共2册)包括《行为心理学》和《行为心理学2》。在《行为心理学》中,作者认为心理学研究的对象不是意识而是行为,主张研究行为与环境之间的关系,心理学的研究方法必须抛弃内省法,而代之以自然科学常用的实验法和观察法。他在使心理学客观化方面发挥了巨大的作用,对美国心理学产生了重大影响。《行为心理学2》最大的特点是内容全面,通俗易懂,无论是行为心理学的起源到行为心理学的现代发展,还是行为心理的各种表达方式都涵盖在内。《行为心理学2》还以大量调研、实验数据为素材,对行为心理学进行多方面、多层次的阐述。
  • 武韬

    武韬

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。