462 



A HISTORY OF < ;a\ A ..RY. 



[period v. 



their comrades who had taken service on the novel 

 element. 



The Federals soon brought down m overpowering 

 force of gunboats to restore their su^ emacy upon the 

 river. The Confederates had been obliged to retain the 

 Federal engineer of the Venus to manage the engine, and 

 he, having treacherously cut the tiller rope, the vessel 

 became unmanageable, and, running her ashore, Colonel 

 Dawson, who had been placed in command, abandoned 

 her, and his men resuming their horses, again became 

 cavalry. A day or two after, the Undine, being greatly 

 overmatched, was run on shore, abandoned and burnt, the 

 troopers scampering off to their horses, fonder of their 

 saddles than ever. Thus terminated the operations of 

 Forrest's cavalry afloat, the destruction of several vessels, 

 the interruption of the enemy's communications for 

 several days, and the great moral effect, being the only 

 advantage to the Confederates. 



We shall conclude our references to the operations of 

 Forrest's cavalry with an account of the pursuit and 

 capture of Colonel Streight's command in Alabama in 

 May 1863. 



Forrest, perceiving that Streight meditated a sweeping 

 raid into the interior of the Confederacy, took vigorous 

 steps to oppose him. 



He first came up with him at Day's Gap, and after 

 a skirmish the Federals fell back to a good position on 

 Sand Mountain. Forrest at once attacked but could not 

 succeed in carrying the position, and after desperate 

 fighting he withdrew his men to re-form them for another 

 attack. Streight took advantage of the opportunity to 

 fall back, and after a running fight for some miles, made 

 another stand at Long's Creek. Heavy fighting took 

 place there, and the Federals were again routed. After 

 retreating some ten miles, and night having come on, 

 Streight again halted, but the swift-riding, hard-smiting, 

 restless Forrest was close upon his tracks, another fighi 

 took place in the thick darkness, and again the Federal 

 horsemen fled in confusion. 



The never-tiring Confederate leader still pushed on 



