Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/371

 Rh "On to Rome" they cried. "On to Rome"

"After them, men!" shouted Forrest, as he dashed forward, in the lead as ever, his flashing sword an oriflamme to his tired men, who, thus ordered, put spurs to their flagging mounts and with a "rebel yell" and but one will, their chieftain's will, answered: "After them!"

The Federals had to their advantage, by virtue of their advanced position, the first choice of fresh horses, which they seized without formality as they passed through the country, not only to procure fresh mounts for themselves, but to thwart their pursuers of them, and also the tremendous advantage of the deadly ambuscade.

The Confederates, but half the Federals in number, had but Forrest for their leader.

Streight sent 200 picked men ahead of his column to seize and hold the bridge until his arrival. Anticipating this move, Forrest dispatched a courier, who rode with the speed of the Persian angari to give warning to the Romans.

When Streight's detachment arrived they found the bridge barricaded and amply protected by the home guard. In the meantime, the main body, their way lighted by the moon and the stars, reached the banks of the intervening river, the Chattanooga.

The ferryboat had mysteriously vanished. Nothing daunted, Colonel Streight led his men for some miles through the dense woods, a wilderness, along the riverside, in quest of a bridge. Many of his band were so exhausted from the ride of 150 miles over the mountain and rough country roads, from hunger, constant fighting and from weary vigils, that they were sound asleep in their saddles. Finally the site of the Chattanooga bridge was reached.

It was but charred ruins, the bridge had been burned!

Still wandering through the wilderness in search of a crossing, the rising sun found the raiders worn and sleep-ridden. At 9 o'clock a halt was called for rest and breakfast. The faithful band, too exhausted to crave food, fell off their horses to the ground and slept. The tireless raider chief was the only wide-awake, unspent soldier of the troop.