Gen. N. B. Forrest Captures Col. Abel D. Streight
With a force of about 500 men, General Nathan Bedford Forrest began his pursuit of the far greater Yankee army from Columbia, TN on April 23, 1863. At about the same time a brigade of mounted infantry known as the “Lightning Mule Brigade”, made up of 1750 Union troops under the command of Colonel Abel D. Streight of the 51st Indiana Volunteers, left Nashville, TN under orders from Union General Rosecrans to destroy all Southern depots and factories.
Reaching Centre, Alabama without interruption, Streight moved east and passed Cedar Bluff just after daylight on May 2nd. After he sent ahead Captain Russell to take charge of the bridge in Rome, he halted to feed his animals. But he found that the men, unaccustomed to riding, had become so exhausted that Streight noted it was almost impossible to keep them awake long enough to feed the animals. After a short bivouac, he received word that the enemy - Forrest - was now nearer to Rome than his own forces. For, unbelievably, under the guidance of a 16 year old girl named Emma Sansom, Forrest's small contingent had flanked Streight by passing near Gadsden, AL and fording Black Creek, thus gaining valuable time in his pursuit. Consequently, Streight's pickets were driven in and the men were ordered into line of battle. But Streight found his 'Mule Brigade' had reached their limits; "... every effort made to rally the men for action, but nature was exhausted, and a large portion of my best troops actually went to sleep while lying in line of battle under a severe skirmish fire." After pushing Streight's men east to a spot just before the Georgia state line, Forrest achieved one of the most amazing captures against a far superior foe: Forrest sent in a flag of truce, demanding the surrender of Streight's forces.
Streight called for a council of war, noting that most of his commanders had already expressed the opinion they may be compelled to surrender, depending on the news from Captain Russell. That news was shortly forthcoming -- Russell had been unable to take the bridge at Rome. Forrest had sent warning ahead, and Russell's men were met by armed citizens behind barricades, forcing them to turn back. Though Streight was to later say he personally opposed the surrender, he yielded to his regimental commanders and entered into negotiations with Forrest. Despite the condition of his command, Streight still refused to surrender unless Forrest proved he had superior numbers.
Forrest, with fewer than 500 men - with one report putting the number closer to 420 - on hand, utilized the tactics of bluff and intimidation that he was becoming well known for. By ordering his men and guns to continually move in and out of sight along a ridge, he convinced Streight that he was outnumbered. Streight accepted the surrender at about noon on May 3rd, becoming a prisoner of war.
Streight reported the Union losses at 15 officers and 130 men killed or wounded. He was taken to Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia, where four of his officers and himself managed to escape on February 9, 1864.
For securing Bragg's communications and keeping Georgia's railroads and factories secure, Forrest received the thanks of the Confederate Congress. Streight's surrender netted Forrest over 1,600 Federal prisoners, outnumbering his forces three to one.