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More about SelmaMain article: Battle of Selma On March 30, Wilson detached Gen. John T. Croxtons Brigade to destroy all Confederate property at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. After capturing a Confederate courier who carried dispatches from Forrest describing the strengths and dispositions of his scattered forces, Wilson also sent a brigade to destroy the bridge across the Cahaba River at Centreville. This action effectively cut off most of Forrests reinforcements. Then began a running fight that did not end until after the fall of Selma. Battle of Selma Map On the afternoon of April 1, after skirmishing all morning, Wilsons advanced guard ran into Forrests line of battle at Ebenezer Church, where the Randolph Road intersected the main Selma road. Here Forrest had hoped to bring his entire force to bear on Wilson. However delays caused by flooding plus earlier contact with the enemy enabled Forrest to muster less than 2,000 men, a large number of whom were not veterans but militia consisting of old men and young boys. The outnumbered and outgunned Confederates fought bravely for more than an hour as more Union Cavalry and Artillery deployed on the field. Forrest himself was wounded in a charge by a saber-swinging Yankee Captain who he killed with his revolver. Finally, a mounted Federal charge with carbines blazing broke the Confederate militia causing Forrest to be flanked on his right. He was forced to retreat under severe pressure. Early the next morning Forrest arrived at Selma, "horse and rider covered in blood." He advised Gen. Richard Taylor, departmental commander, to leave the city. Taylor did so after giving Forrest command of the defense. Nathan B. Forrest Selma was protected by three miles of fortifications which ran in a semi-circle around the city. They were anchored on the north and south by the Alabama River. The works had been built two years earlier, and while neglected for the most part since, were still formidable. They were 8 to 12 feet high, 15 feet thick at the base, with a ditch 4 feet wide and 5 feet deep along the front. In front of this was a picket fence of heavy posts planted in the ground, 5 feet high, and sharpened at the top. At prominent positions, earthen forts were built with artillery in position to cover the ground over which an assault would have to be made. Forrests defenders consisted of his Tennessee escort company, McCulloughs Missouri Regiment, Crosslands Kentucky Brigade, Roddeys Alabama Brigade, Armstrongs Mississippi Brigade, Gen. Dan Adams state reserves, and the citizens of Selma who were "volunteered" to man the works. Altogether this force numbered less than 4,000, only half of who were dependable. The Selma fortifications were built to be defended by 20,000 men. Forrests soldiers had to stand 10 to 12 feet apart in the works. Wilsons force arrived in front of the Selma fortifications at 2 pm. He had placed Gen. Eli Longs Division across the Summerfield Road with the Chicago Board of Trade Battery in support. He had Gen. Emory Uptons Division placed across the Range Line Road with Battery I, 4th US Artillery in support. Altogether Wilson had 9,000 troops available for the assault. The Federal commanders plan was for Upton to send in a 300 man detachment after dark to cross the swamp on the Confederate right; enter the works, and begin a flanking movement toward the center moving along the line of fortifications. Then a single gun from Uptons artillery would signal the attack by the entire Federal Corps. At 5 pm, however, Gen. Longs ammunition train in the rear was attacked by advance elements of Forrests scattered forces coming toward Selma. Both Long and Upton had positioned significant numbers of troops in their rear for just such an event. However, Long decided to commence his assault against the Selma fortifications to neutralize the enemy attack in his rear. Longs troops attacked in a single rank in three main lines, dismounted with Spencers carbines blazing, supported by their own artillery fire. The Confederates replied with heavy small arms and artillery fire of their own. The Southern artillery, in one of the many ironies of the Civil War, only had solid shot on hand, while just a short distance away was and arsenal which produced tons of canister, a highly effective anti-personnel ammunition. Battle of Selma Reenactment The Federals suffered many casualties (including General Long himself) but not enough to break up the attack. Once the Yankees reached the works, there was vicious hand-to-hand fighting. Many soldiers were struck down with clubbed muskets. But the Yankees kept pouring into the works. In less than 30 minutes, Longs men had captured the works protecting the Summerfield Road. Meanwhile, General Upton, observing Longs success, ordered his division forward. The story was much the same for his men as on Longs front. Soon, US flags could be seen waving over the works from Range Line Road to Summerfield Road. After the outer works fell, General Wilson himself led the 4th US Cavalry Regiment in a mounted charge down the Range Line Road toward the unfinished inner line of works. The retreating Confederate forces, upon reaching the inner works, all allied and poured a devastating fire into the charging Yankee column. This broke up the charge and sent General Wilson sprawling to the ground when his favorite horse was wounded. He quickly remounted his stricken mount and ordered a dismounted assault by several regiments. Mixed units of Confederate troops had also occupied the Selma railroad depot and the adjoining banks of the railroad bed to make a stand next to the Plantersville Road (present day Broad Street). The fighting there was heavy, but by 7 pm the superior numbers of Union troops had managed to flank the Southern positions causing them to abandon the depot as well as the inner line of works. In the darkness, the Yankees rounded up hundreds of prisoners, but hundreds more escaped down the Burnsville Road, including Generals Forrest, Armstrong, and Roddey. To the west, many Confederate soldiers fought the pursuing Yankees all the way down to the eastern side of Valley Creek. They escaped in the darkness by swimming across the Alabama River near the mouth of Valley Creek (where the present day Battle of Selma Reenactment is held.) The Yankees looted the city that night while many businesses and private residences were burned. They spent the next week destroying the arsenal and naval foundry. Then they left Selma heading to Montgomery and then Columbus and Macon, Georgia, and the end of the war. Selma Demographics As of the census2 of 2000, there are 20,512 people, 8,196 households, and 5,343 families residing in the city. The population density is 571.4/kmÂ² (1,479.6/miÂ²). There are 9,264 housing units at an average density of 258.1/kmÂ² (668.3/miÂ²). The racial makeup of the city is 28.77% White, 69.68% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 8,196 households out of which 30.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.2% are married couples living together, 27.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% are non-families. 32.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.44 and the average family size is 3.10. In the city the population is spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 78.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 72.0 males. The median income for a household in the city is $21,261, and the median income for a family is $28,345. Males have a median income of $29,769 versus $18,129 for females. The per capita income for the city is $13,369. 31.7% of the population and 26.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 41.8% of those under the age of 18 and 28.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Tonight...Clear. Lows around 36. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Friday...Sunny. Highs around 52. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Friday Night...Clear. Lows around 25. Light winds. Saturday...Sunny. Highs around 56. Light winds. Saturday Night...Clear. Lows around 28. Light winds. Sunday...Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Sunday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows around 40. Monday...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Highs in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 40 percent. Monday Night...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the evening...Then a slight chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. Chance of rain 30 percent. Tuesday...Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Tuesday Night...Clear. Lows in the mid 30s. Wednesday...Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Wednesday Night...Clear. Lows in the mid 30s. Thanksgiving Day...Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Powered by HAMweather Copyright © 2003 HAMweather, LLC, all rights reserved.

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