Norman Dasinger Jr
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2021
Emma Sansom Monument
Gadsden, AL
How many fifteen year old girls have a military statue in their honor? From the Civil War?
In Gadsden, Alabama there is one. It commemorates the action of Emma Sansom who on May 2, 1863, assisted Confederate General Nathan B Forrest in his pursuit of Union Colonel Abel Streight and his invading force.
Beginning in late April, Streight and nearly 3,000 mounted infantry – many on mules-started moving across northern Alabama beginning from its northwestern corner with orders to invade Rome, Georgia, and eventually cut the Western and Atlantic Railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga. This important rail line was, at that time, supplying Confederate General Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee -located in middle Tennessee- with the bulk of their supplies.
Forrest had been dispatched by Bragg and cavalry commander Earl Van Dorn to investigate Streight's force as they began their movement across Alabama. Initially fooled, Forrest soon realized the extent of Streight's intent and reacted quickly. As the Federals made their way east from Moulton to present day Cullman and then into Blountsville by May 1st, Forrest fought two battles with Streight. In fact, the 'Wizard of the Saddle' was unsuccessful in both.
By the morning of May 2nd, Streight was moving closer to Gadsden and Forrest, with no more than 400 cavalrymen doggedly chased him. As the Federals approached the city, Black Creek, just north of Gadsden, was easily crossed using a small but well built bridge. Not wanting Forrest to have the same luxury, Streight ordered the bridge to be torched. Using fence posts from the nearest farm – the Sansom's- the bridge was soon on fire and leaving behind a small monitoring force, Streight arrived in downtown Gadsden around noon.
As Forrest and his men approached Black Creek and the Sansom home, their commander realized he could not use the bridge and needed another means of getting over the water obstacle. Was there another bridge nearby and was it intact? How about a ford? Forrest had never been in the Gadsden area and neither had any of his men. Therefore, his knowledge of the area was very limited. Why not ask for help? So, the general went to the closest home. That morning the widow Sansom was present, along with two of her daughters, a neighbor girl and young slave girl. Forrest asked about a bridge. There was one nearly a mile away but it was not in good condition. How about a ford? One of the daughters, 15 year old Emma, spoke up. Astonishing her mother, she exclaimed there was one on their property that her brothers used to move cows across Black Creek and she would be glad to show Forrest where it was located. Her mother refused her daughter's request but Forrest assured mom no harm would come to Emma. So, the general pulled her up on his horse so she could direct him to the location of the ford.
As they approached, she recommended they get off the horse and crawl into a ditch that led to the creek and the ford. As soon as their heads appeared at the exit of the ditch, Federal soldiers began firing. But, mission accomplished. Forrest had Emma returned to her house and his forces began crossing amongst the gunfire and quickly flanked the bridge guards. Streight had just begun to settle into some needed rest for his troops when he got word Forrest was on his way into Gadsden. Quickly, the tired and sleep deprived Yankees fled the town and continued their way east toward Georgia. The next day, Forrest would capture Streight and ALL of his men.
Emma Sansom would marry a Confederate soldier in 1864 and eventually move to Texas. But the city of Gadsden would remember her with a large monument in 1907.
On July 4th, a beautiful Italian marble statue was unveiled, at the time; it was believed only one of three monuments erected to women in the South. Funds for its creation were driven by the Gadsden Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. McNeal Marble Company of Marietta, Georgia provided the stone and sculptor at a cost of $3,500. The granddaughter of the UDC chapter president posed for the life-size statue of young Emma.
The Gadsden Evening Journal wrote, "Through all the coming years it will exercise an ennobling influence upon the city and act as an inspiration to municipal progress and unselfish individual effort …The heroic soul which dared to its duty in the cause she loved will live through all the ages yet unborn."
Still, today the monument stands in the center of Broad Street in front of city hall on the bluff of the Coosa River.
In the summer of 2020, the Gadsden City Council formed a committee to explore the possible removal of the statue to an undetermined location.
Gadsden, AL
How many fifteen year old girls have a military statue in their honor? From the Civil War?
In Gadsden, Alabama there is one. It commemorates the action of Emma Sansom who on May 2, 1863, assisted Confederate General Nathan B Forrest in his pursuit of Union Colonel Abel Streight and his invading force.
Beginning in late April, Streight and nearly 3,000 mounted infantry – many on mules-started moving across northern Alabama beginning from its northwestern corner with orders to invade Rome, Georgia, and eventually cut the Western and Atlantic Railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga. This important rail line was, at that time, supplying Confederate General Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee -located in middle Tennessee- with the bulk of their supplies.
Forrest had been dispatched by Bragg and cavalry commander Earl Van Dorn to investigate Streight's force as they began their movement across Alabama. Initially fooled, Forrest soon realized the extent of Streight's intent and reacted quickly. As the Federals made their way east from Moulton to present day Cullman and then into Blountsville by May 1st, Forrest fought two battles with Streight. In fact, the 'Wizard of the Saddle' was unsuccessful in both.
By the morning of May 2nd, Streight was moving closer to Gadsden and Forrest, with no more than 400 cavalrymen doggedly chased him. As the Federals approached the city, Black Creek, just north of Gadsden, was easily crossed using a small but well built bridge. Not wanting Forrest to have the same luxury, Streight ordered the bridge to be torched. Using fence posts from the nearest farm – the Sansom's- the bridge was soon on fire and leaving behind a small monitoring force, Streight arrived in downtown Gadsden around noon.
As Forrest and his men approached Black Creek and the Sansom home, their commander realized he could not use the bridge and needed another means of getting over the water obstacle. Was there another bridge nearby and was it intact? How about a ford? Forrest had never been in the Gadsden area and neither had any of his men. Therefore, his knowledge of the area was very limited. Why not ask for help? So, the general went to the closest home. That morning the widow Sansom was present, along with two of her daughters, a neighbor girl and young slave girl. Forrest asked about a bridge. There was one nearly a mile away but it was not in good condition. How about a ford? One of the daughters, 15 year old Emma, spoke up. Astonishing her mother, she exclaimed there was one on their property that her brothers used to move cows across Black Creek and she would be glad to show Forrest where it was located. Her mother refused her daughter's request but Forrest assured mom no harm would come to Emma. So, the general pulled her up on his horse so she could direct him to the location of the ford.
As they approached, she recommended they get off the horse and crawl into a ditch that led to the creek and the ford. As soon as their heads appeared at the exit of the ditch, Federal soldiers began firing. But, mission accomplished. Forrest had Emma returned to her house and his forces began crossing amongst the gunfire and quickly flanked the bridge guards. Streight had just begun to settle into some needed rest for his troops when he got word Forrest was on his way into Gadsden. Quickly, the tired and sleep deprived Yankees fled the town and continued their way east toward Georgia. The next day, Forrest would capture Streight and ALL of his men.
Emma Sansom would marry a Confederate soldier in 1864 and eventually move to Texas. But the city of Gadsden would remember her with a large monument in 1907.
On July 4th, a beautiful Italian marble statue was unveiled, at the time; it was believed only one of three monuments erected to women in the South. Funds for its creation were driven by the Gadsden Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. McNeal Marble Company of Marietta, Georgia provided the stone and sculptor at a cost of $3,500. The granddaughter of the UDC chapter president posed for the life-size statue of young Emma.
The Gadsden Evening Journal wrote, "Through all the coming years it will exercise an ennobling influence upon the city and act as an inspiration to municipal progress and unselfish individual effort …The heroic soul which dared to its duty in the cause she loved will live through all the ages yet unborn."
Still, today the monument stands in the center of Broad Street in front of city hall on the bluff of the Coosa River.
In the summer of 2020, the Gadsden City Council formed a committee to explore the possible removal of the statue to an undetermined location.
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