Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He was commissioned colonel of the 51st Indiana Infantry September 4, 1861. As such he participated in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville and Stone's River. In the spring of 1863 he led a raid intended to cross Alabama and into Georgia to disrupt Confederate railroads and communications. On April 11, 1863 he led 2000 men from Nashville, Tn. on what became known as "Streight's Raid". The raid developed a number of problems from the beginning including the mounting of a large portion of his command on mules instead of horses. The raid terminated May 3, 1863 with the capture of Streight and his command by General Nathan Bedford Forrest with a force less than half the size of Streight's, near Rome, Ga. Streight was imprisoned in Libby Prison in Richmond, Va. On February 9, 1864 he was one of 109 officers escaping from Libby and was one of the 59 who eluded capture and made their way to freedom. He was brevetted brigadier general March 13, 1865. Involved in lumber and manufacturing most of his life he resumed that business after the war. In 1876 he was elected to the Indiana Senate and in 1880 was unsuccessful in his attempt to win the Republican nomination for governor.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He was commissioned colonel of the 51st Indiana Infantry September 4, 1861. As such he participated in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville and Stone's River. In the spring of 1863 he led a raid intended to cross Alabama and into Georgia to disrupt Confederate railroads and communications. On April 11, 1863 he led 2000 men from Nashville, Tn. on what became known as "Streight's Raid". The raid developed a number of problems from the beginning including the mounting of a large portion of his command on mules instead of horses. The raid terminated May 3, 1863 with the capture of Streight and his command by General Nathan Bedford Forrest with a force less than half the size of Streight's, near Rome, Ga. Streight was imprisoned in Libby Prison in Richmond, Va. On February 9, 1864 he was one of 109 officers escaping from Libby and was one of the 59 who eluded capture and made their way to freedom. He was brevetted brigadier general March 13, 1865. Involved in lumber and manufacturing most of his life he resumed that business after the war. In 1876 he was elected to the Indiana Senate and in 1880 was unsuccessful in his attempt to win the Republican nomination for governor.
Bio by: Steve Dunn
Family Members
Advertisement
