The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies.; Series 2 - Volume 5
pages 960,969
WAR DEPARTMENT, Richmond, May 28, 1863
General BRAXTON BRAGG, Tullahoma, Tenn.
In General N. B. Forrests report of capture of enemy near Rome no mention is made of armed negroes being engaged as has been represented by Governor J. G. Shorter. Request from General Forrest special report on that point.
James A. Seddon, Secretary of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Richmond, Va., June 8, 1863
His Excellency JOHN GILL SHORTER, Governor of Alabama.
SIR: The official reports of General Forrest relative to the operations in Alabama and Georgia resulting in the capture of a body of the cavalry of the enemy near Rome, Ga., have been received, it does not appear from these reports that any slaves were associated as soldiers with the enemys troops and if there were any Alabamians enlisted among them they made their escape before the capture. The probability is that Your Excellency has been misinformed on the subject.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
James A. Seddon, Secretary of War
Here are the reports that may have caused the Honorable Gov. Shorter, to believe Col. Streights raid was to instigate a slave rebellion?
The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. ; Series 1 - Volume 23 (Part I)
page 254.
excerpt from General Braggs report of Streights raid
Tullahoma May 5,1863
...General Forrest pursued this force with two regiments, fighting him all day and night at Drivers Gap, at Sand Mountain, with a loss of 5 killed and 50 wounded, Captains [W.H.] Forrest and [Aaron] Thompson, it is feared, mortally. The enemy left on the field 50 killed and 150 wounded; burned 50 of his wagons; turned loose 250 mules and 150 negroes, and pursued his way toward Blountsville, Gadsden, and iRome, Ga. On May 3, between Gadsden and Rome, after five days and nights of fighting and marching, General Forrest captured Colonel Streight and his whole command, about 1,600, with rifles, horses, & c.
BRAXTON BRAGG.
[General] S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector General.
TULLAHOMA, May 7, 1863.
Between Rome and Gadsden, a party of 1,600 of the Federal Army surrendered to General [N. B.] Forrest, after several days fighting, in one of which he forced them to burn their wagons and turn loose a large number of negroes. Shall I send them as prisoners of [war] to Richmond, or deliver them to the Governor of Alabama
BRAXTON BRAGG.
General [S.] COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General.
Richmond, May 8, 1863
General BRAXTON BRAGG, Tullahoma, Tenn.:
The slaves captured by General Forrest should be sent for safe-keeping, with sufficient guard, to the nearest camp of instruction, as provided in General Orders, No. 25, from this office, of March 6, 1863, with which, as far as necessary,
please comply. S. COOPER.