Streight's Raid

Raid during the American Civil War

Streight's Raid (19 April – 3 May 1863) took place in northern Alabama during the American Civil War. It was led by Union Army Col. Abel Streight and opposed by Confederate Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. Streight's goal was to destroy parts of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which was supplying the Confederate Army of Tennessee. The raid was poorly supplied and planned, and ended with the defeat of Streight and his 1,700 men at Cedar Bluff, Alabama, by Forrest who bluffed his opponent into surrendering to his 500 men.^[1] 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.

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, 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.^[2]

Chronology of events of Streight's Raid in 1863

Nathan B. Forrest

• 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

Abel Streight

Colonel Abel D. Streight^[2]

• 80th Illinois Infantry Regiment
• 51st Indiana Infantry Regiment
• 73rd Indiana Infantry Regiment
• 3rd Ohio Infantry Regiment
• 1st Middle Tennessee Cavalry Regiment (2 companies)

Notes

1. "Streight's Raid", Encyclopedia of Alabama website. Accessed 10 July 2015.
2. Dyer 1908, p. 663.

References

• Dyer, Frederick H. (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion: Battles, Campaigns, Etc. in Alabama. Des Moines, Iowa: Dyer Publishing Co. pp. 663–664. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
• Robert L. Willett (1999). The Lightning Mule Brigade: Abel Streight's 1863 Raid Into Alabama. Guild Press. ISBN 978-1-57860-074-8.

External links

• Nathan Bedford Forrest Historical Society
• Abel D. Streight biographical sketch in Streight Family Collection, ca. 1850-ca. 1945, Indiana Historical Society