bsence of which he could not account
for. I directed such railway plant as we had to be moved out on the
roads, retaining a small yard engine to take me off at the last moment.
There was nothing more to be done. Forrest appeared, horse and man
covered with blood, and announced the enemy at his heels, and that I
must move at once to escape capture. I felt anxious for him, but he said
he was unhurt and would cut his way through, as most of his men had
done, whom he had ordered to meet him west of the Cahawba. My engine
started toward Meridian, and barely escaped. Before headway was attained
the enemy was upon us, and capture seemed inevitable. Fortunately, the
group of horsemen near prevented their comrades from firing, so we had
only to risk a fusillade from a dozen, who fired wild. The driver and
stoker, both negroes, were as game as possible, and as we thundered
across Cahawba bridge, all safe, raised a loud "Yah! yah!" of triumph,
and smiled like two sable angels. Wilson made no delay at Selma, but,
crossing the Alabama River, pushed on to Montgomery, and thence into
Georgia. I have never met this General Wilson, whose soldierly qualities
are entitled to respect; for of all the Federal expeditions of which I
have any knowledge, his was the best conducted.

It would have been useless to pursue Wilson, had there been troops
disposable, as many hundred miles intervened between him and North
Carolina, where Johnston commanded the nearest Confederate forces, too
remote to be affected by his movements. Canby was now before the eastern
defenses of Mobile, and it was too late to send Forrest to that quarter.
He was therefore directed to draw together and reorganize his division
near Meridian.

CHAPTER XIII.

CLOSING OPERATIONS OF THE WAR--SURRENDER.

On the 26th of March Canby invested Spanish Fort, and began the siege by
regular approaches, a part of his army investing Blakeley on the same
day. General R.L. Gibson, now a member of Congress from Louisiana, held
Spanish Fort with twenty-five hundred men. Fighting all day and working
all night, Gibson successfully resisted the efforts of the immense force
against him until the evening of April 8, when the enemy effected a
lodgment threatening his only route of evacuation. Under instructions
from Maury, he withdrew his garrison in the night to Mobile, excepting
his pickets, necessarily left. Gibson's stubborn defense and skillful
retreat make this one of the best ach