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Volume 1 number 11 |
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The Savior of Rome |
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General Nathan Bedford
Forrest was a military genius. With no formal
military training he instinctively knew military
tactics. He rose to the rank of
Lieutenant-General in the Confederate States
Army. During the War Between the States,
Forrest had a total of 30 horses shot out from
under him and killed 31 enemy combatants in hand
to hand combat (more than any other officer in
the war). His service in the Confederate Army
had a connection to Rome. |
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| In late April 1863
Colonel Abel Streight of the Union Army set out on a
raid through Alabama into north Georgia. One of his
primary objectives was the burning of the Noble weapons
foundry in the strategic town of Rome, Georgia. |
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| Despite numerous
setbacks in the beginning of the raid, the mission
seemed destined for success. But beginning on April 29
and lasting until May 3, Streight's army was constantly
attacked by a force of Confederate cavalry under the
command of General Forrest. |
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| After five days of
pursuit and constant skirmishing, Forrest sent forward a
flag of truce near Gaylesville, Alabama, demanding the
surrender of the Yankee forces to, as he put it, 'stop
further and useless effusion of blood'. The unusual
thing about this demand is, unknown to the Yankee
commander, the Confederate army was outnumbered four to
one. The Confederate General was bluffing. Colonel
Streight asked for twenty minutes to discuss it with his
officers. |
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| After five days of
pursuit and constant skirmishing, Forrest sent forward a
flag of truce near Gaylesville, Alabama, demanding the
surrender of the Yankee forces to, as he put it, 'stop
further and useless effusion of blood'. The unusual
thing about this demand is, unknown to the Yankee
commander, the Confederate army was outnumbered four to
one. The Confederate General was bluffing. Colonel
Streight asked for twenty minutes to discuss it with his
officers. |
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| After fifteen minutes
he returned. Streight's officers voted unanimously to
surrender, but Streight sensed the fact that his forces,
numbering some seventeen hundred men, outnumbered the
Confederate troops. He demanded that proof be given to
him that he faced an equal number of forces before he
surrendered. Forrest had anticipated this and had given
the order that his two artillery pieces were to come
forward at different places giving the impression that
there was many more. |
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| As the General went
forward to meet the Yankee commander, he made certain
that his back and Streight's face would be turned in
that direction. |
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| Forrest recounted the
story a year later: "I seen him all the time he was
talkin', lookin' over my shoulders and countin' the
guns. Presently he said: 'Name of God! How many guns
have you got? There's fifteen I've counted already.'
Turnin' my head that way, I said, 'I reckon that's all
that has kept up.' Then he said, 'I won't surrender
until you tell me how many men you've got.' I said,
'I've got enough to whip you out of your boots.' To
which he said, 'I won't surrender.' I turned to my
bugler and said, 'Sound to mount!' Then he cried out,
'I'll surrender.' I told him, 'Stack your arms right
along there, Colonel, and march your men away down that
hollow.' |
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| "When this was done,"
continued the General, "I ordered my men to come forward
and take possession of the arms. When Streight saw
there were barely 400, he did rear! Demanded to have
his arms back and that we should fight it out. I just
laughed at him and patted him on the shoulder . . . 'Ah,
Colonel, all is fair in love and war, you know.'" |
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| The city of Rome was
saved and the citizens of Rome were elated. Forrest was
presented with a horse by the Mayor of Rome as an
expression of the town’s appreciation. A great
celebration was planned for the victorious Confederate
troops, but rumor of another raid called them away
before they could celebrate. |
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| A monument honoring
General Forrest’s role in capturing Colonel Streight’s
rading party was erected by the United Daughters of the
Confederacy in 1909. The monument stood on Broad Street
from 1909 until 1952. It was moved to Myrtle Hill in
1952. |
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Forrest Monument at Myrtle Hill |
Forrest Monument at Gaylesville |
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| The Forrest Building
on Broad Street (formerly known as the Forrest Hotel)
was named for the General. |
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Kenneth Studdard is owner of
Dogwood Books and Antiques |
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240 Broad Street in historic
downtown Rome |
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(706) 235-2660
dogwoodbooks@comcast.net
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CLOSE WINDOW
TO RETURN |
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TO ROMAN
CHRONICLES |
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