To the Lost Ford

General N.B. Forrest & Emma Sansom May 2, 1863 In the spring of 1863 Colonel Abel D. Streight of Indiana submitted a plan to General Rosecrans to transport 2000 soldiers by river boat from Nashville, to Eastport, Mississippi, and on from there to destroy the railroads in the interior of Alabama and Georgia. General Bragg, receiving news of the invading force, ordered General Nathan Bedford Forrest to stop the enemy's advance. Bragg had unleashed the most dangerous quick-striking force of the Confederate Army. On April 30th, General Forrest attacked the rear of the Federal column, completely surprising the startled soldiers in blue. Streight's men engaged a number of Forrest's regiments on horseback. Many horses and men were killed in the charge. Before Forrest could regroup his men and form them into a dismounted line of battle, Col. Streight's forces had remounted their mules and were on the run. So began a running gun battle that would go on for 4 days, 4 nights and cover 199 m