Hathaway - Streight Incursion

The following is excerpted from A History of Rome and Floyd County by G.M. Battey, Jr. An incident of the war which vied in spectacularity with the Andrews' raid was the Hathaway -Streight incursion ....On Sunday, May 3, 1863 General Nathan Bedford Forrest and the 410 men under his command captured 1,466 federal troops commanded by Colonel Abel Streight.

The feat was accomplished through strategy as well as force. After Forrest had sent in a flag of truce demanding surrender, Colonel Streight, of the 51st Indiana Volunteers, asked the terms. "Unconditional surrender, your officers to retain their side arms and personal effects," was the reply. "I have reinforcements and it is useless for you to sacrifice your men."

Forrest met Streight at the meeting place. Streight wanted to argue, and Forrest wanted an answer. Captain Henry Poynter dashed up, and Forrest gave him orders for the disposition of certain imaginary units of men; the order had previously been given to march the artillery around a hill, then out of site, and to keep them circling the brow. Streight was so impressed that he capitulated. The place was in Alabama near the Georgia line about 20 miles below Rome.

(DRN note: A roadside monument marks the location and tells the story.)

thanks to Dennis Nordmen