Streight's Raid (19 April – 3 May 1863) took place in northern

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. It was led by

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

Col. Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

Abel Streight Abel Delos Streight (June 17, 1828 – May 27, 1892) was a peacetime lumber merchant and publisher, and was a Union Army colonel in the American Civil War. His command precipitated a notable cavalry raid in 1863, known as Streight's Raid. He ...

and opposed by Confederate

Brig. Gen. Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

Nathan Bedford Forrest Nathan Bedford Forrest (July 13, 1821October 29, 1877) was a prominent Confederate Army general during the American Civil War and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan from 1867 to 1869. Before the war, Forrest amassed substantial wealt ...

. Streight's goal was to destroy parts of the

Western and Atlantic Railroad The Western & Atlantic Railroad of the State of Georgia (W&A) is a railroad owned by the State of Georgia and currently leased by CSX, which CSX operates in the Southeastern United States from Atlanta, Georgia, to Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was fo ...

, which was supplying the

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

Army of Tennessee The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating i ...

. The raid was poorly supplied and planned, and ended with the defeat of Streight and his 1,700 men at

Cedar Bluff, Alabama Cedar Bluff is a town in Cherokee County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 1,845. Unlike the rest of the county, Cedar Bluff is a wet town. Cedar Bluff is located on the north shore of Weiss Lake, noted for its cra ...

, by Forrest who bluffed his opponent into surrendering to his 500 men."Streight's Raid"
Encyclopedia of Alabama website. Accessed 10 July 2015. Streight was additionally hindered by locals throughout his march, while pursued by Forrest, who had the advantage of home territory and the sympathy and aid of the local populace, most famously

Emma Sansom Emma Sansom (June 2, 1847 – August 9, 1900) was an Alabama farmgirl noted for her actions during the American Civil War, during which she helped Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest cross Black Creek. Activists in the 2020 racial pro ...

Raid

The actual capture of Streight's forces was achieved by a clever ruse, when Forrest paraded his much smaller force back and forth in front of Streight, convincing him that he was opposed by a superior force. After surrendering and being informed of the deception Streight reputedly demanded his arms back for a proper fight, a request cheerfully declined by Forrest. This unsuccessful raid was coordinated with the more famous

Grierson's Raid Grierson's Raid was a Union cavalry raid during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. It ran from April 17 to May 2, 1863, as a diversion from Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's main attack plan on Vicksburg, Mississippi. Background Earl ...

, partially as a feint to confuse the Confederate forces. Union losses were 12 killed, 69 wounded, and 1,466 captured, for a total of 1,547.

Chronology of events of Streight's Raid in 1863

*Nashville, Tennessee (7–10 April) — proceeded by river *Palmyra, Tennessee (11–13 April) — proceeded on foot *Yellow Creek, Tennessee (13–14 April) — proceeded on foot *Fort Henry, Tennessee (15–17 April) — proceeded by river *Eastport, Mississippi (19–21 April) — proceeded either by foot or river *Bear Creek/River, Mississippi (22 April) — proceeded on foot the rest of the way *Tuscumbia, Alabama (24–26 April) *Mount Hope, Alabama (27–28 April) *Moulton, Alabama (28 April) *Day's Gap, Alabama (29–30 April) * Battle of Day's Gap (30 April) *Skirmish at Crooked Creek (30 April) *Skirmish at Hog Mountain (30 April) *Arrival at Blountsville (1 May) *Skirmishes at Blountsville (1 May) *Skirmishes at the East Branch of the Black Warrior River (1 May) *Skirmishes at the crossing of Black Creek, near Gadsden (2 May) *Damaged ammunition while crossing Will's Creek, near Gadsden (2 May) *Gadsden, Alabama (2 May) *Blount's plantation, about 15 miles from Gadsden (2 May) *Skirmishes at/near Blount's Plantation, Cherokee County (2–3 May) *Centre, Alabama (3 May) *Cedar Bluff, Alabama (3 May) *Surrender to Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, 3 miles east of Cedar Bluff, Alabama (3 May) *Taken to Richmond, Virginia, as prisoners of war

Union order of battle

Colonel Abel D. Streight * 80th Illinois Infantry Regiment * 51st Indiana Infantry Regiment * 73rd Indiana Infantry Regiment * 3rd Ohio Infantry Regiment * 1st Middle Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (2 companies)

Notes

References

* *

External links

Nathan Bedford Forrest Historical Society
*Abel D. Streight biographical sketch i

Indiana Historical Society The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is one of the United States' oldest and largest historical societies and describes itself as "Indiana's Storyteller". It is housed in the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center at 450 West Ohio Street ...

{{authority control Cavalry raids of the American Civil War Battles of the Western Theater of the American Civil War Military operations of the American Civil War in Alabama The Lightning Mule Brigade 1863 in Alabama Nathan Bedford Forrest April 1863 events May 1863 events