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The Campaigns

Lieut.-Gen. N. B. Forrest,

Forrest's Cavalry,

WITH PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

"Postuni quia posse viden/ur." — Virgil.

BY

GENERAL THOMAS JORDAN AND J. P. PRYOR.

BLELOCK & COMPANY,
New-Orleans, La., Memphis, Tenn., and New-York.
1868.

i_7 a • 1 6

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by
BLELOCK & COMPANY,
[n tut Oimk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of
New-York.

T

o the Memory

THE DEAD, WHO BY THEIR ENDURANCE, HARDIHOOD, VALOH,
WHILE LIVING, AND THE SACRIFICE OF THEIR PRE
CIOUS LIVES, LARGELY HELPED TO
BUILD UP THE FAME,
AT HOME AND
ABROAD, OF
FORREST'S CAVALRY.

" The memory of their proud deeds can not die.
They may go down to dust in bloody shrouds,
And sleep in nameless graves. But, for all time,
Foundlings of Fame are our beloved lost."

PREFACE.

We are aware of the belief obtaining among the Southern people
that the time has not yet come for the publication of histories or
memoirs of the more prominent operations of Confederate com
manders and officers. Many, indeed, of our countrymen we know
earnestly deprecate all such publications at this juncture, as fraught
with the provocation of unfriendly controversies at the South ; as
sure to breed ill-feeling and strife there, among the survivors of the
battles, marches, and exploits recounted. We are conscious, more
over, how impossible it were so to write the annals we here present,
as to steer clear of giving pain to some, umbrage to others, dissat
isfaction also, and some grounds for disputation and criticism.
However, we are of those who believe it to be essential to the
truth of history, that the Confederate story of the war should be
told without delay — told with all possible fullness and unreserve.
Unquestionably somewhat intemperate discussions may spring up.
But even this, in the end, will not be without downright profit ; for
in the sharp, vehement clash and collision the truth will be evolved,
as the fire- spark is born of the violent encounter of flint with flint.
One account of a campaign or affair will evoke another, and that,
others again ; and all will be found adding their impcrtant mite, at
least, to the general store of true historical matter, and of a kind, for
the most part, which would never have come to light at all, had each
annalist kept his notes in petto during the lifetime of those who
were chief actors in the war. The early multiplication of these
memoirs to serve, (as the French term them,) of Southern origin, is

viii Preface.
indispensable, in fact, for any adequate summary hereafter of what
was achieved by the armies and the people of the Confederate
States, as well as under what circumstances of disadvantage and
incommodity. Otherwise, there can never be a vivid portraiture of
the splendid martial qualities of that people, their peculiar aptitude
for war, their vigorous, ardent spirit, their manhood and heroism in
the face of prodigious odds, and the constant mismanagement of
their defensive resources. Only from manifold narratives of each
and every important phase of the war will the historian be able here
after to shape a faithful, life-like delineation of their mighty struggle
for a separate nationality, just as the photo-sculptor moulds his mar-
velously exact image of the human features from the reflections of
his camera, taken from every possible side of his subject.
Having been placed in possession of the papers and military
records of General Forrest, as well as copious notes, taken down
from his lips, of the principal occurrences of his remarkable career,*
we were led to adventure upon a work that might be accepted as an
approximate sketch of what General Forrest and his men actually
accomplished, and give a somewhat just conception of what manner
of man and leader he was, the nature of his tactics, the scope of
his operations, and the character of his soldiery, or how he was se
conded. Undertaking this, we next sought out every possible source
of information likely to be of use, until we collected a mass of ori-

* Memphis, Tenn., October 3, 1867. conscientious research, and have eu-
In the work, now in course of prepa- deavored to make up a chronicle nei-
ration by the Messrs. Blelock & Co., ther over-wrought nor over-colored, as
will be found an authentic account of I can testify. For the greater part of
the campaigns and operations in which the statements of the narrative I am re-
I took part during the war for the inde- sponsible, and all facts and incidents de
pendence of the Confederate States, rived from other sources are properly
Believing it to be proper that there credited in the foot-notes. It is hoped
should be a timely and lasting record of that justice will be found done in some
the deeds and services of those whom I degree to the courage, zeal, fortitude,
have been so fortunate as to command, and other soldierly qualities ofthe men
I placed all the facts and papers in my of "Forrest's Cavalry," for that has been
possession or available to me, in the the main purpose of the work.
hands of accomplished writers, who N. B. Forrest.
have done their part with close and

Preface. ix
ginal matter such as seldom or never has been available in the pre
paration of cotemporaneous history. And we may claim that we
have related no important event without carefully consulting many
representations of it, written at widely separated points, by Federal
as well as Confederate officers. At the same time, we have care
fully avoided all embroidery of the narrative with florid phrases or
romantic, picturesque descriptions, preferring to present the inci
dents of a remarkable story in the simplest phraseology. This has
been our constant effort. Having to enter largely into details of
daily marches, occurrences, and incidents possessed of little interest
for the general reader, we have striven to do this as tersely as pos
sible. If we have done all we could to set in strong light the courage
and other prominent military virtues of the Confederates, we do not
believe we shall be found wanting in a just acknowledgment, on all
proper occasions, of the good qualities of their adversaries.
General Forrest's note, affixed to the preceeding page, shows to
what extent he accepts the responsibility for the statements of this
work. It remains to be added, that he did not have an opportuni
ty to revise that chapter of it which touches upon the battle of Shi-
loh, and therefore, is only responsible for so much as'was written
from his notes, in regard to the incidents of the night of the 6th
of April. The responsibility for all of narrative and commentary in
that chapter (IV.) belongs to the one whose initials are affixed to
this paper. The same, indeed, may be said in regar# to all the mili
tary criticisms found in any part of the work.
New-York, October i, 1867. T. J.
p. S. — We had prepared a great deal of documentary matter to
present in the Appendix. Also, a series of sketches of the principal
officers who served under General Forrest ; but the size to which our
volume (700 pages) has extended has made their exclusion inexora
ble ; but we trust the actions and services of those officers will be
found set forth in a satisfactory manner in the body of the work, as
leading members of Forrest's Cavalry.
New- York, January 22, 1868.

p

ONTE N TS

introductory sketch.
PAGB
Ancestry, Parentage, and Birthplace of General Forrest— Early Death of Father — His Mo
ther and hex large Family left dependent upon his Labor for their Support— Characteris
tic Incident of Youthhood — Deprived, by necessity of his condition, of any substantial op
portunity to be educated — Success of his Labors — Volunteered to go to Texas in the
"War of Independence" — Returning to Mississippi, engaged in Business in Hernando —
Attacked in the Public Square by four armed Men, whom he discomfited — Incidents of the
Homicide of Morse by Dyson — Removed to the broader Business Field of Memphis —
Narrow Escape from Death by Steamboat Explosion— Success in Business — Quells Mob
and rescues the intended Victim from the Gallows — Twice elected Alderman — Became an
extensive Cotton-Planter/ — Personal Appearance  17
CHAPTER I.
Aiathan Bedford Forrest a Planter in Mississippi up to June, 1861 — Repairing to Memphis,
Tenn., volunteered, a Private Trooper, in Captain J. S. White's Company — Went to
Randolph with Company — Invited to raise Regiment of Cavalry by Governor Harris and
General Polk — Went to Kentucky to purchase Arms and recruit — How he got the Arms
out of Louisville, Ky. — On return formed a Battalion of Eight Companies — Ordered to
Fort Donelson — Fight with Gunboat Conestoga on Cumberland River — Two Companies
added to Battalion — Brilliant Affair at Sacramento, Ky. — Personal Combat with two Fede
ral Officers in Battle — Made another close Reconnoissance of Federal Force on Green
River — Subsequently occupied with the administrative Duties of the Battalion — Hopkins-
vflle evacuated February 7th, 1862 — Forrest ordered to Fort Donelson — Took Position at
Fort Donelson February 10th— Ordered to make Reconnoissance of Federals at Fort
Henry — Met and chased off Federal Reconnoitering Party — Trap laid to catch another
Party defeated by Eagerness of his Men — Reported impending Advance of Federa.
Arm;  39
CHAPTER II.
Topographical Sketch of Fort Donelson — Construction of a larger System of Exterior Lines
upon the Fall of Fort Henry — Concentration of Reinforcements and Arrival of Generals
B. R. Johnson, Buckner, and Floyd — March of two Federal Divisions from Fort Henry —
Forrest's Skirmish on 12th February— Disposition of Confederates— Offensive Arrangement
of Federal Force— Baffled Assault on Heiman's Position on the 13th February; also on
Confederate Bight — Obstinate Conflict between Gunboats and Water-Batteries, afternoon
of 14th— Confidence inspired among Confederates by their Success — Council of Confederate
Generals, and Determination to sally and attack Federals on Morning of 15th— Resolute
and Successful Sortie made by Pillow's Division at Daybreak— Buckner delays his Move
ments until after nine A.M.— Brilliant Charge upon and Capture of Battery by Forrest's
Regiment— McCleraand's and Wallace's Divisions driven westward of Wynn's Ferry
Road by two p.m., and Confederate Left uncovered— Pillow withdraws Confederates from
the Field— Council of War, Night of isfh, and Determination to capitulate— Forrest urges
possibility of Escape, and ultimately is allowed to make the Attempt with his Command-
Discovered hy a Personal Reconnoissance that Enemy had not reinvested the Left— Ef
fected Egress of Command without Molestation — Commentaries  5°
CHAPTER III.
Alarm of People in consequence of actual Disaster and exaggerated Reports— Conduct of a
State Senator— Panic in a Confederate Cavalry Regiment near Charlotte— * orrest s Ke-
Eunent fed bythe Munificence of a Tennesseean— Reached Nashville February 18th. with

xii Contents.

about S°o Men-General Johnston, quitting Nashville, directed Forrest to report to Gene
ral Floyd, who left Colonel Forrest in Command-Found place abandoned by Staff om
cers- Warehouses full of Supplies and Ordnance Stores-Spoliation by a Mob of Men
and Women-Supplies removed to the Railroad-Removal by Rail of six hundred Boxes
of Clothing, quarter of a million Pounds of Bacon, and forty Wagon-Loads of Ammum-
tion-Final Evacuation of Nashville by Confederates-Forrest repaired to Murfreesboro-
Regiment reassembled-Field-Officers elected-Ordered to Iuka-Confedera te Army
concentrated at Corinth, General Johnston in Command-Federal Army established at
Pittsburg Landing-Buell's en route for same point-Confederate General resolved to
take the Offensive-Inauspicious Delay of Twenty-four Hours ou the March-The two
Armies in presence of each other  99
CHAPTER IV.
Confederates in Battle Order by Dawn— In Movement, Hardee's Corps in advance— Topo
graphical Sketch of Theatre of Battle^Federal Forces and Dispositions at the moment-
Sherman's and Prentiss's Divisions taken completely by surprise— First * ederal Line
swept away— Their Encampments and Artillery captured— General Gladden lulled— All
Federal Forces engaged and forced back— Obstinate Fighting, and Death of General
Johnston— Federal Position carried, with Loss of Artillery and 3000 Pnsoners-^lmmense
Number of Stragglers under the River-Bank— Federals finally driven to the Ridge over
hanging Pittsburg— Timely Arrival of fresh Federal Troops at Night— Cessation of Bat
tle— Picket Service of Forrest's Cavalry— Federals take the Offensive— Obstinate Battle
until two p.m. 7th of April— Confederates withdraw in admirable Order— Not pursued—
Combat of Forrest on the 8th— Severely wounded— Commentaries  114
CHAPTER V.
General Forrest assigned to a Cavalry command at Chattanooga— Sketch of the Eighth Texas
Cavalry— Exchange Regiments— Planned an Expedition against the Federal Forces m
Middle Tennessee — Incarceration at Murfreesboro of a number of Prominent Citizens-
Attack on the Outworks at Murfreesboro — Fearless Demeanor of the Women of the
place— Capture of General Crittenden and Garrison— Release of Impnsoned Citizens—
Favorable effect of success on his Command — Paroled all Prisoners except Officers — At
tempt to Surprise Federal Cavalry Regiment at Lebanon— Dashed at the Pickets around
Nashville— Bumed Bridges and Captured Out-posts in Vicinage — Eluded Pursuit by Gene
ral Nelson — Remained at McMinnville until 10th of August — Visited Chattanooga — For
rest Rejoined at Sparta — Made Brigadier-General— General Bragg preparing for Ken
tucky Campaign — Forrest actively afield Burning Bridges and Reducing Outposts —
Menaced by a Superior Force — Narrow Escape of Command — Reported to General
Bragg at Sparta — Harassed General Buell's Rear-Guard — Assigned to Duty with Polk's
Corps— Munfordsville Surrendered to the Infantry— Strategy of General Bragg— Picket
Service in advance — Forrest ordered to turn over Command of Brigade and Repair to
Murfreesboro to Organize New Levies in that quarter  158
CHAPTER VI.
General Forrest established his Headquarters at Murfreesboro, Tenn. — Tennessee Militia
and new Levies at Lavergne surprised and dispersed by the Federals — Enemy returned
to Nashville, closely followed by Forrest — Confederate Pickets established close around
Nashville — Battalions and Regiments formed of new Cavalry Levies — Major-General
Breckinridge assumed Command in Middle-Tennessee — Forrest proposed to attack Nash
ville with Infantry and Cavalry — Assent given, Movement inaugurated — Federals pressed
within Trenches and Assault to be made, Operation countermanded — Animated Skirmish
on Franklin-Nashville Road — General Bragg, having returned from the Kentucky Cam
paign, established Army Headquarters at Murfreesboro — Major-General Wheeler ap
pointed Chief of Cavalry — General Forrest assigned to the Command of a Brigade — Di
rected to prepare for Expedition into West-Tennessee — Unsuitable Condition of Arms
for such a service reported to General Bragg — Brigade took Post at Columbia  1S7
CHAPTER VII.
Set out for Expedition into West-Tennessee — F.lTected Passage of Tennessee River at Clif
ton — Successful Affair with Federal Force at Lexington, West-Tennessee— Whole Fede
ral Command engaged either killed, captured, or dispersed — Captured Section of Ruled
Guns, which Forrest's Artillery used for the rest of the War— Boldly invested Jackson,
occupied by a largely Superior Force — Capture of Outposts and Destruction of Railways
in vicinity — Skirmishes in front of Jackson — Federal Forces driven behind their Intrench-
ments — Korrest retired from position to operate against Federal Communications — Di
vided Force for that purpose— Cnpture of Trenton by Forrest, with lare;e number of Pri
soners ; also many Supplies— Resumption of March Nonliwavd — Block-Houses and Gar
risons taken — Large Extent of Railway Trestle? destroyed with Guarding Block-Houses —
General Forrest, leaving Force to destroy Railroads, pressed forward to Union Cit> —
Captured there several hundred Prisoners in Intrenched Position — Large Hostile Force
afield to inlercept his Exit from West-Tennessee — Began to retrace Steps — Difficult Pas-

Contents. xiii

PACE
S?geo0fnhe Doub,e Bridies— Battle of Parker's Cross-Roads or Red Mound— Death of
the Gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Napier— Federals worsted and capitulating en masse—
Sudden Appearance of Hostile Reinforcements in Confederate Rear— Federals resume
their Anns and the Battle— Critical Situation of General Forrest— Happy Extrication—
Repapsage of the Tennessee— Summary of Residts 

'93

CHAPTER VIII.

Reestabhshment on Picket Sen-ice, with Headquarters at Columbia, Tenn.— Disastrous Ex
pedition under General Wheeler against Dover— Forrest's Brigade lost one fourth its
number in the Affair — Inclement Weather and Suffering of Troops— Arrival of Major-
General Van Dorn at Columbia with additional Force— Confederate Line advanced to
Spring Hill— Battle of Thompson's Station— Capture of the greater part of the Federal
Force en-raged, rjoo Officers and Men— Confederates some days later retire behind Duck
River beiore heavy Federal Force— Successful Affair at Brentwood— The entire Garrison,
75-1 Persons, captured— Block-House and Railroad Bridge destroyed— Confederate Recon
noissance in Force upon Franklin— Loss of the Gallant Captain Freeman— Found the
Federals in superior Force and prepared— Return to Spring Hill  223
CHAPTER IX.
Forrest's Brigade ordered to. North-Alabama — Junction with Roddy, and Affair at Town
Creek — Dibrell's Diversion — Federal Infantry retire — Desolation of the Country — Inau
guration of Federal Cavalry Raid under Colonel Streight — Prompt Pursuit by Forrest —
Night Combat in Sand Mountain — Series of Sharp Fights to Blountsville — Reduced
Numbers of Confederates — Heroic Services of Miss Emma Sanson at Black Creek, Ala
bama — Federal Ambush defeated at Turkeytown — Colonel Streight overtaken and Sur
render of 1365 Federals to Inferior Numbers under Forrest — Another Detachment Sur
rendered near Rome — Rejoicing of People of Rome — Commentaries  249
CHAPTER X.
False Report of another Federal Raid — Forrest returned to Middle-Tennessee— Reestab
lished Headquarters at Spring Hill — In Chief Command ot Cavalry on that Flank —
Services of the Eighth and Tenth Tennessee Cavalry — Jackson's Divison detached — Suc
cessful Ambuscade by Colonel Dibrell — Reconnoissance in Force of Franklin — Handsome
Affair of Fourth Tennessee with two Federal Regiments — Colonel Stames's Demonstra
tion upon Triune — Forrest's brilliant Reconnoissance in same quarter — Middle-Tennessee
evacuated — At Chattanooga — Forrest's Cavalry in East-Tennessee — Pegram's Division
joined Forrest — Expedition of Eighth Tennessee — Forrest's Cavalry returned to Chatta
nooga.  ,  279
CHAPTER XI.
Topographical Sketch of Theatre of War— Federal Army thrown across southward of the
Tennessee River — Bragg evacuated Chattanooga — Thomas's Corps in McLemore's
Cove — Failure of projected Attack hy Confederates — Isolation of Crittenden's Corps not
profited by-^Operations of Forrest's Cavalry — The general Offensive taken by Bragg —
Battle of the 19th September — Arrival of Longstreet — Confederate Army subdivided into
Wings— Battle of the 20th September— Commentaries  300
CHAPTER XII.
General Forrest pursued Enemy upon Missionary Ridge — Observes and reports state of Tu
mult and Disorder in Chattanooga— Urges immediate Advance upon Enemy— Obtained
View of inaction on Field of late Battle of Confederates— Reports by Dispatches the Con
fusion among Federals— Major McLemore penetrated to within three miles of Chattanoo
ga, and captures Prisoners — Pegram threatened Rossville, but too weak to attack Enemy
in strong Position— Enemy work vigorously in trenches around Chattanooga— Forrest re
called to Red House Bridge— Army in motion— Forrest again threw his Force in Chatta
nooga Valley — Drove in Pickets and occupied Approaches — Dibrell seized Point of Look
out Mountain— Obliged to maintain Position by severe Fighting— Forrest's Command with
drawn to Timer's Station — Ordered to meet Enemy crossing Hiawassee — Combat at
Crossing of Hiawassee — Pursuit, with Skirmish, through Athens and Philadelphia to
LondonT Tennessee— Captured Federal Camp at Philadelphia— Received Orders to return
to Cleveland— Ordered to transfer all Troops, save Dibrell's Brigade, to General Wheeler,
for Expedition— Regarding Order in derogation of his Position, Forrest presents his views
in writing to General Bragg— On Leave of Absence— Interview with President Davis-
Assigned to a Command of Cavalry in North-Mississippi and West-Tennessee  35°

xiv Contents.
CHAPTER XIII. PACE
Beginning of a New Epoch in General Forrest's Career— Welcomed to New Field by General
j E. Johnston— Undertook an Expedition to glean the Military Resources of West-Ten
nessee— Smallness of his Available Command— Celerity and Boldness of Movement to
Jackson— Joined by 3000 Unarmed Men— Formidable Plans of the Enemy for his Inter
ception—Combat at Estenaula— Large Quantities of Subsistence and other Supplies Col
lected—Fight at Jack's Creek — Brilliant Affair of Forrest's Escort with Federal Regi
ment — Near Approach of Numerous Hostile Bodies of Troops — Sharp Conflict near
Summerville— Handsome Coup de Main and Passage of Wolf River at Lafayette^De-
monstration upon Collierville — Established Force around Como, Miss. — Commentaries.. 361
CHAPTER XIV.
Forrest made a Major-General — Assignment to " Forrest's Cavalry Department" — Headquar
ters at Oxford, Mississippi — Affair of the Deserters there — The Federal Cavalry Raid into
Mississippi, under General W. S. Smith — Skirmishing — Savage Waste of the Country by
the Enemy— Federals begin to retire — Series of Sharp Skirmishes— Engagement at Oko-
lona— Federal Defeat in a succession of Combats— Death of Colonel Jeffrey Forrest ; also,
of Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale — Running Fight, and complete Federal Rout.  381
CHAPTER XV.
Small Brigade of Kentuckians added to Command — Another Division organized and assigned
to Brigadier-General A. Buford — Affair at Yazoo City — Another Expedition into West-
Tennessee — Ruse and Capture of Union City— Forrest made successful Descent upon
Paducah — Death of Colonel A. P. Thompson in abortive Assault upon Federal Earth
works — Large Quantity of Supplies secured and carried off— Fruitless Demonstration upon
Columbus, Ky. — Second Descent (Buford) upon Paducah — Handsome Affair of Colonel
Neely's at Bolivar — Splendid Conduct of McDonald's (Crews's) Battalion near Sommer-
ville — Measures taken for the Capture of Fort Pillow  403
CHAPTER XVI.
Forrest in Movement upon Fort Pillow — Description of the Position — First Stage of the At
tack, resulting in the Death of Federal Commander, Major Booth — Forrest, making close
Reconnoissance, had two Horses killed under him— Confederate Sharp-Shooters envelop
and command Position — Outworks and Position seized close to Parapets — Surrender de
manded—Approach of Federal Transports with Troops— Forrest took Means to drive off
Succor — Capitulation refused — Assault made — Parapets stormed — Garrison fled to River-
Bank for Relief under Guns of Naval Vessel— Gunboat failed to render Aid— Results-
Commentaries  424
CHAPTER XVII.
Chalmers detached with Command to Okolona, to meet menaced Operations— Public Recep
tion of Forrest, Staff, and Escort, by Citizens of Brownsville— Reestablished Headquar
ters at Jackson— Occupied with Collection of War Resources of West-Tennessee  Chal
mers ordered to Oxford— Buford reached Jackson with Division— Sharp Affair at Bolivar-
Established Headquarters at Tupelo the 5th of May— Command increased by Brigade of
State Troops— Chalmers detached on the 26th of May, with McCulloch's and Neely's
Brigades and Walton's Battery— Forrest marched with Buford's Division to the Relief of
Roddy— Return to meet heavy Federal Column advancing from Memphis— Concentration
of Forces at Baldwin— Rucker's Brigade engaged Federal Cavalry near New-Albany—
General S. D. Lee at Baldwin— Confederate Troops ordered Southward, to concentrate
with Reinforcements— Federals intercept Forrest's line of March to Tupelo— Lvon's Bri
gade pushed up to feel Enemy  "_ _
CHAPTER XVIII.
Sketch of Theatre of War-Confederates first engaged-Forrest takes the Offensive-Threw
small Force to harass Federal Rear-Desperate Fighting-Transient Checks-Federal!
defeated and driven from the Field-Pursuit and Incidents-Commentaries^? . ..... 45s
CHAPTER XIX.
Rapid March of Chalmers from Monte Vallo-Mabry's Brigade added to Forrest's Cavalrv-
Con-espondence between Generals Forrest and Washburne-Forrest, anuciwtins a strim.
Hostile Movement, reported the Facts to his Superior- Approach of SetiTundlr M auTrS
General A F. S,n,th-The Country devastated^ the FilJlZ^Z^^Ss
D. Lee 111 Command of Confederates-Affair at Pinsou's Hill, also at BarroVs Shop-^
*orrest Reconnoitred the Federal Position-Battle of Harrisburg, July i4th-Conted7

rates worsted, but Federals refuse to advance from their Intrenchments-Retreat of GenI
era! Smith on the 15th of July-Federal Ambuscade at Town Creek-Commentaries.

484

Contents. xv
CHAPTER XX. PAGE
Correspondence with Department Commander; also Governor of Mississippi — Command
distributed for Defensive Purposes — Theatre of Operations transferred to Oxford, Miss. —
Operations of General Chalmers in that Quarter — Confederates pressed by largely Supe
rior Force — Federal Devastations — Forrest made Counter- Move ment upon Memphis—
Extemporized Bridge — Confederates penetrated Memphis to the Gayosa House — Success
of the Operation — Federal Forces withdrawn from quarter of Oxford to succor Memphis —
General Forrest established his Headquarters at Grenada, Miss  520
CHAPTER XXI.
Forrest's Cavalry reorganized — McCulloch's Brigade detached — Repair of Mobile and Ohio
Railroad to Corinth — Expedition into Middle Tennessee — Happy Ruse and Capture of *
Strong Works at Athens, Alabama — Successful Attack upon Works at Sulphur Irestle —
Destruction of Trestle and Large Railroad Bridges— Federals in Superior Force take the
Defensive at Pulaski— Demonstration in Quarter of Tullahoma— Country alive with Fed
eral Corps called forth by Forrest — Forrest divided Forces — His Operations from Spring
Hill to Columbia — Failure to Capture Huntsville — Dangerous Rising of the Tennessee
River— Difficulties of Ferriage surmounted — Handsome Affair of Colonel Kelly at East-
port — General Forrest planned Expedition for the Destruction of Federal Depots at John-
sonville — Chalmers's Demonstration against Memphis— Commentaries  554
CHAPTER XXII.
Campaign to Kentucky Border — Buford's Successful Operations against Federal Gunboats and
Transports — Capture of United States Steam Gunboat Undine and Transports Venus, Ma-
zeppa, and Cheeseman — Operations of Forrest's Cavalry Afloat — Successful Operations
against Federal Depot at Johnsonville — Destruction of Warehouses, Gunboats, and Trans
ports — Description of Scene — Summary of Results— Forrest ordered to join General Hood
in Middle Tennessee — Abortive Effort to pass the Tennessee at Perryville— Wretched
Condition of the Roads— Forrest's Cavalry assembled at Florence, Alabama— Hood's
Army concentrated there-  5^9
CHAPTER XXIII.
Sketch of General Hood's Plans and Movements — General Forrest ordered to him— Confede
rate Forces — The Campaign Opened— Operations antecedent to Franklin— Battle of Frank-
Kn— Advance upon Nashville — Detached Operations of Forrest around Murfreesboro —
Battle of Nashville— Retreat of Confederate Forces— Forrest in Command of Rear-Guard—
Brilliant Character of his Operations— Safe Repassage ofthe Tennessee River— Com raen-

610

CHAPTER XXIV.

Headquarters at Corinth— Rucker's and Bell's Brigades furloughed, others sentto Okolona—
Headquarters at Verona— General Forrest assigned to Command of Cavalry of the De
partment— Reorganized Divisions under Generals Chalmers, Jackson, and Buford— Made
aLieutenant-General— Formidable Preparations for a Federal Raid— Major-General Wil-
son's Movement against Monte-Vallo— Conflicts in that Quarter— Forrest in Collision
with the Enemy— Affiurs at Bogler's Creek and Dixie Station— Stirring Personal Com
bats— Forced into Selma— Dispositions for Defense— Selma stormed by Wilson, and Con
federates dispersed— Adventures of General Forrest and Escort— Headquarters at Gaines-
ville— Forrest's Cavalry lay down their Anns under Parole— Concluding Observations.. . 655

•Introductory Sketch.

Introductory Sketch.

Ancestry, Parentage, and Birthplace of General Forrest— Early Death of
Father — His Mother and her large Family left dependent upon his
Labor for their Support — Characteristic Incident of Youthhood— De
prived, by necessity of his condition, of any substantial opportunity
to be educated — Success of his Labors — Volunteered to go to Texas
in the " War of Independence" — Returning to Mississippi, engaged
in Business in Hernando — Attacked in the Public Square by four
armed Men, whom he discomfited — Incidents of the Homicide of
Morse by Dyson — Removed to the broader Business Field of Mem
phis — Narrow Escape from Death by Steamboat Explosion — Success
in Business — Quells Mob and rescues the intended Victim from the
Gallows — Twice elected Alderman — Became an extensive Cotton-
Planter — Personal Appearance.
July, 1821, to June, 1826.
IT will be expected that a work of this kind should give
some insight of the origin, life, and character of the leading
personage who figures in its pages, at a period anterior to the
notable events which have brought him renown. In compli
ance with that natural expectation, it becomes proper to state
that Nathan Bedford Forrest was born on the 1 3th day of
July, a.d. 1821, near Duck river, at a small wayside hamlet
known as Chapel Hill, in what was then Bedford county, Ten
nessee.* His father, William Forrest, having married Mariam Beck,

* But is now within the borders of Marshall county.

Tg Introductory Sketch.
their first-born were twins, one of whom was Nathan Bedford.
A paternal ancestor, his great-grandfather, Shadrach Forrest
—of English descent— it is known, emigrated from West-Vir
ginia, about 1730, to Orange county, in the colony of North-
Carolina. His second son, Nathan, was the grandfather of
the General. Remaining where he had settled in North-
Carolina until 1806, the great-grandfather then removed, with
the larger part of a numerous family of children and grand
children, to the wilds of Tennessee, and, after tarrying for a
time in Sumner, finally established his home, surrounded by
his descendants, in Bedford county. Previous to their depar
ture from North-Carolina, Nathan Forrest had married a Miss
Baugh — of Irish origin — and their eldest son, William, was
born about 1800. Growing to manhood in Tennessee, he
married, as we have said, Mariam Beck, whose family — of
Scotch-Irish descent — emigrating from South-Carolina, were
among the earliest settlers in Bedford county.
Thus it will be seen Nathan Bedford Forrest is of pure,
though mixed, British stock, and springs directly from those
hardy, stout-handed pioneer families who, ever far out on the
border, wrested the wilderness from the savage by their ready
rifles ; and, felling the thick forests, let in the vivifying sun
light upon the virgin, teeming soil — creating mighty States,
filled with an energetic, intelligent, manly people, the masses
of whom, American born, are the lineal offspring of the origi
nal British emigrants to the colonies.
The pecuniary affairs of William Forrest having gone to
wreck, he removed, in 1834, with his now large family of
young children, from Tennessee to the vicinage of Salem, in
Tippah county, North-Mississippi, a region just then opened
to emigration by its purchase from the Chickasaw Indians by
the Federal Government. It was here the father of Bedford
Forrest died, early in 1837, leaving his son, as yet not sixteen
years of age, the head of a family embracing his widowed mo-

Introductory Sketch. i9
ther, six brothers, and three sisters, and to these was added,
four months later, his brother Jeffrey— a posthumous child.
The impoverished condition of his father had debarred the
young Bedford from almost the opportunity to receive even
a rudimentary education ; for his labor was absolutely neces
sary from his outset from childhood for the support of the
family. His education, therefore, was of the scantiest charac
ter, affording no development of the native capacities of the
man, and being such only as was to be acquired at a primary
school of the neighborhood, for a short time, in Middle Ten
nessee, and subsequently in Mississippi, during the winter
months of 1836 and 1837, when the interval between the har
vest and planting seasons suffered him to attend a school.
The untimely death of his father, however, now made that
labor even more essential than ever for the support of the
near kindred left dependent upon his hands, and for the most
part too young to be of the least aid in the toilsome struggle
with adverse fortune which was his lot for several years fol
lowing that untoward event. But though deprived of every
advantage of fortune but a robust constitution and a resolute
soul, he faced his duties with all that force of character, those
varied resources of head and hand, and the same manful traits
which twenty-five years later were displayed in so conspicuous
a manner by him as a cavalry commander, whether as the colo
nel of a regiment or a lieutenant-general. Striving diligently in
manifold ways to gain the means requisite for the comfortable
maintenance of those intrusted to his charge, this youth, by his
unflinching industry, clear, good sense, and thrifty manage
ment, had wrenched success from every counter force, and
consequent comparative prosperity for his household, as early
as 1840.
But, meanwhile, sickness had sorely harassed the family,
and typhoid fever had proved fatal to two of his brothers and
his three sisters, including the one twin-born with himself.

20

Introductory Sketch.

He, too, had been assailed by this wasting disease, and well-
nigh succumbed to its prolonged grasp upon his system. A
superb constitution, however, annealed by toil and exposure,
empowered him, now about twenty years old, to wage tri
umphant battle with this enemy, and, after a protracted con
valescence, he was happily restored to sound health.
An incident that happened soon after the death of his
father is so characteristic of the man into whom Bedford
Forrest was developed that it should not be omitted here.
A neighbor had an ox which lived at free quarters upon the
Forrest farm, throwing down fences and ravaging the grow
ing corn at will. So injurious were these habits of the trou
blesome brute that they became insufferable. The attention
of the owner was repeatedly called to these depredations.!
He was urged to take measures to put an end to this annoy
ance, but failed to do so, and the ox continued as destructive
a9 ever. Young Forrest then notified his neighbor that he
would tolerate these trespasses no longer, and therefore
should shoot the offending animal if ever again found in one
of his fields. To this an angry retort was made, and a me
nace likewise to shoot whomsoever might shoot the ox. In a
few days following, the inveterate marauder was found, as usual,.
feeding in a corn-field. Sending the owner information of the
fact and of his consequent purpose, Forrest repaired, rifle in
hand, to the scene, and, without delay, did what he had said
he would in such an exigency — shot the roguish beast
Scarcely had this been done, and as he was reloading, the
neighbor appeared, also armed with a rifle, hurrying toward
the field and manifestly bent on violence, as he had threat
ened. Standing on his own ground, and having reloaded his
piece, no sooner did his adversary attempt to surmount the
fence that limited the field than the determined youth
brought his rifle to bear, and fired with such steady aim that
the ball passed through the clothes of the intruder, who,

Introductory Sketch. 21
brought to his senses by the report of the gun and the whistle
of the ball, tumbled from the fence to the ground exterior to
the field, and, speedily recovering his feet, scampered off
homeward as fast as he could run. And in this affair in his
boyhood may be seen the full promise of his subsequent sys
tem of military operations — the same quick recognition of
the situation, the like swift plan for meeting the exigency, and
the same resolute adoption of the active defensive.
Engrossed with the labors of the farm and other efforts to
procure the ways and means for the subsistence of his de
pendent mother and her young family, his only relaxations
were found in the recreation of hunting and an occasional
horse-race : for, in common with his whole family, as far back
as they are known, an ardent taste for horses and dogs pos
sessed him. And thus, trained to the hardest manual toil,
practiced as a hunter of the game of the country, and hard
ened by the manly exercises of the border, Bedford Forrest
grew up to the verge of manhood.
About this time the people of Texas were engaged in their
contest with Mexico for independence, and the young men
of the Southern States were greatly stirred by the oppor
tunity for adventure thus offered them. In all parts of the
Mississippi Valley, therefore, companies of volunteers were
mustered. Having established his kindred in a comfortable
home, and provided them with the essential resources of a
comfortable life, young Forrest, catching the infection of the
hour around him, enrolled himself as a volunteer in a com
pany organized by Captain Wallace Wilson ; and soon
after, February; 1841, started with his comrades for Texas.
At New-Orleans, however, a serious mismanagement of the
funds needful for the transportation of the company having
resulted in the dissolution of the organization, a large num
ber of the members returned to their homes ; but the others,
including Bedford Forrest, now near twenty-one years old, ad-

22 Introductory Sketch.
hered to their purpose, and made their way to Houston,
Texas. There it was found there was no present or prospec
tive need for the services of these ardent young " voluntaries"
and, by this time being entirely destitute of money, the band
was forced to dissolve. Some, through the aid of friends,
were able to return to their homes ; others remained as set
tlers of the new republic. Bedford Forrest, with his wonted
spirit of independence, immediately sought occupation as a
laborer on a plantation, where, by his skill with the ax, he
soon earned money enough making rails to enable him to
return to his home in Mississippi, after an absence of about
four months and a half. The seeds of disease, however, were
carried back from Texas, and he was again prostrated and
disabled by a lingering illness through the autumn of that
year. Restored to health, in association with an uncle, he
next embarked in a trading venture in horses, of which,
already, he was an excellent judge. This knowledge, and a
sedulous attention to the business in hand, resulted in success.
Returning in due season to his homestead, he remained
occupied in a laborious, thrifty husbandry until the autumn
of 1842, when circumstances led him to establish himself in
business in conjunction with another uncle in the county-
town of Hernando, Mississippi, about twenty-five miles south
of Memphis. And there he remained for some nine years,
an active, energetic man of business, turning his small means
habitually to a good account, and noted for the resolution
with which he undertook as well as the judgment with which
he carried out his enterprises.
It was during this period, on the tenth of March, 1845,
that occurred one of those tragical personal rencontres so
common in the settlement of the Mississippi Valley, and in
which Bedford Forrest necessarily became the chief actor—
the scene being the public square of Hernando, and the other
actors three planters and their overseer.

Introductory Sketch. 23
Without going into the details of the origin of the quarrel,
it will be sufficient to mention that Jonathan Forrest, the
aged uncle and partner of Bedford, having been the " secu
rity " on the bond of one Martin James, of the vicinage, as
the guardian of some orphan children, a misundei standing
and violent controversy arose between him and another citi
zen of the community — one William Matlock. At length,
Bedford was drawn into the dispute in behalf of his elderly
uncle ; and to such a height did the discord and passions of
his opponents soon rise that, on the day we have mentioned,
William Matlock, accompanied by his two brothers, James
and Jefferson, and their overseer, one Bean, sallied forth into
the public square of the town as Bedford Forrest chanced to
be passing through it, and all four joined in an immediate
savage attack, with revolvers, upon their single-handed
enemy. Without word or act of provocation from Forrest, Jefferson
Matlock fired upon him. Unharmed, Forrest promptly re
plied in the same fashion, and the whole Matlock party taking
immediate part with the aggressor, a general engagement
ensued, in the course of which thirteen shots were exchanged,
and the dread bowie-knife of the country was freely used.
Strange to say, however, the speedy issue was the discom
fiture of the Matlocks, all three of whom were severely
wounded, and their auxiliary, Bean, being driven from the
field : but not, unfortunately, until, firing at the nephew, he
had inflicted a mortal wound upon the uncle, who, having
come upon the scene, had really taken no part in the affray.
Forrest himself was wounded, but not severely. Unsup
ported throughout, except by the natural sympathy of by
standers, who limited their aid to the opportune provision of
weapons, he had waged this unequal battle with the dis
tinctive audacity, coolness, and determination which were
brought to bear so brilliantly, twenty years later, on his shin-

24 Introductory Sketch.
ing military career, and with very much the same notable
results. So strongly, indeed, were the sympathies of the commu
nity excited by the courage displayed by young Forrest in
this affair, that the aggressors, though seriously wounded and
worsted, were at once arrested, refused bail, imprisoned, and
subjected to a stringent prosecution, from which they were
only relieved, finally, after heavy costs and losses, and a pro
tracted, harsh confinement. He, too, was arrested : but after
a brief examination into the circumstances before a magis
trates' court, he was speedily released as having acted merely
in self-defense.
By mere chance, some months later, he became the witness
of another one of those fierce border scenes of malice and
murder which stain the early annals of the South-West, and
revived in the nineteenth century the savage temper and
practices in private feuds of the fourteenth. It was only by his
dauntless nerve and coolness that he was preserved, moreover,
from being involved as a participant in defense of his life.
Riding, one day, along the highway from Hernando to Holly
Springs, in company with Mr. James K. Morse, a well-known
lawyer of the former place, they were suddenly met in the road
by a planter of the neighborhood in which they were, James
Dyson by name, notorious for his lawless, blood-thirsty courses,
and who cherished, it happened, a deadly grudge against
the lawyer. Dyson carried a double-barreled gun, and, with
out uttering one word or making one gesture of warning, shot
Morse, who fell without a groan from his saddle to the ground,
with a rifle-ball in his heart. Instantly turning the other
barrel— loaded, it seems, with buck-shot— upon Forrest, the
murderous Dyson threatened to shoot him also, though 'with
no other cause of animosity than that he had witnessed
the affair. But Forrest was not to be thus " taken lightly by
the beard"— sudden and unexpected as had been the deed;

Introductory Sketch. 25
for he had drawn and held his revolver, cocked, with a steady
aim at the ruffian who menaced him, and whom he coolly
warned that he had " better make sure work, for it was now
a game at which two could play."
Dyson then lowered his weapon and forebore his sangui
nary purposes upon Forrest * who at once became the stern,
inflexible prosecutor before the law of the murderer, and did
all in his power to secure his conviction and punishment.
Dyson was arrested, tried, and convicted of murder in the
first degree. But the power of money, so constantly potent to
shield crime, was successfully applied, and he subsequently
escaped the rightful penalty of this murder.
It was not long after this affair that General Forrest, on the
25th of September, 1845, in the twenty-fifth year of his age,
was married to Mary Ann Montgomery, a descendant of the
same stock with the gallant Irish general who fell in Decem
ber, 1775, under the walls of Quebec.
Continuing to reside and prosper in his business undertak
ings in Hernando, in 1849 Forrest experienced his first pecu
niary disaster. Having engaged in the manufacture of brick,
he was led to become the contractor for the erection of a
large academy there, which resulted in a severe loss through
the breach of trust of an agent empowered to draw money for
him from a bank in Memphis. Undepressed, however, by
this mischance, he determined to adventure into a broader
field for his capacities and energies. Accordingly, in the
spring season of 1852, he quit Hernando and established him
self in Memphis as a broker in real estate and a dealer in
slaves.f

* He, however, said afterward that t An attempt has been made to cast
he did so because the remaining barrel discredit upon General Forrest because
of his gun only contained buck-shot, of the fact that he once dealt in slaves.
and he feared they would neither be Not only was this done at the North,
fatal nor disable Forrest. at a juncture when all persons promi-

26 Introductory Sketch.
Successful in all his undertakings, which, if boldly planned,
as his means expanded, were always carried on with a sound
judgment allied with marked vigor and decision, by 1859
Forrest had achieved a large measure of success and accumu
lated a considerable fortune. He had previously, for several
years, cultivated a cotton plantation near Memphis. Now,
disposing of the larger portion of his active business in that
city, he bought two extensive plantations in Cohoma county,
Mississippi, and began planting on a large scale — growing a
thousand bales of cotton in 1861 ; and transferring to the cul
ture of his fields all that natural intelligence and aptitude for
affairs which, displayed from youthhood, had developed in
scope as he grew and with the increase of his fortunes, show
ing that he is clearly one of those men, who Schiller says,
" Grow with the circle wherein they move."
As we have seen, narrowly escaping death, once from a

nently connected with slavery had be- it may be justly claimed, carried on his
come objects of a passionate dislike ; business with admitted probity and hu-
but even to some extent with the people manity. It is notable that he never
of his own section. Indeed, it has been sold separately the members of a fami-
one of the strangest of paradoxes that, ly ; and made it a rule, as far as practi-
while earnestly impressed with the be- cable, after acquiring the heads of a
lief that not only the prosperity of their family, to purchase the others, howso-
section was linked with the preservation ever widely scattered, and this, indeed,
of slavery, but also the perpetuity of proved profitable in the end. Habitu-
those traits of which they were proud- ally kind as a master, we are satisfied
est, the Southern people, nevertheless, his slaves were strongly attached to
in no small degree, looked with disfavor him. That in Memphis he rose above
upon traffic in slaves. Selling their any prejudices against his calling is fully
slaves at pleasure or purchasing of the attested by his personal influence in
dealer, they were yet prone to dispa- the community; by the call upon him
.age his avocation. This probably as will be seen, by the Governor of his
arose, at first, from personal causes. State, after he had enrolled as a private
But there were many dealers who over- to raise a regiment of cavalry • and the
came the prejudice by their individual ease with which he made up his regi-
worth and standing; and prominent in ment out of the best young men of
th» class stands Bedford Forrest, who, North-Alabama and Tennessee.

Introductory Sketch. 27
deadly disease and twice from murderous violence, previous
to his removal from Hernando, just at the threshold of his
career at Memphis, he was once more brought within the
closest contact with death, and narrowly escaped falling a vic
tim to the atrocious recklessness of human life and incapacity
of the officers of a steamboat upon which he was a passenger.
It was in the spring of 1852 ; the adjustment of some business
affairs having called him to Texas, he was about to return
homeward. Arriving at Houston, en route for Galveston, it
was found his only means of transportation was the steam
boat Farmer, represented as extremely dangerous from age,
long use, and the reckless, bad habits of her captain. Anx
ious to reach Memphis as speedily as possible, Forrest re
solved to venture the hazard, and accordingly embarked just
as the Farmer was being pushed from the landing. No
sooner was the -boat well under way than another steamer
made her appearance, and it was evident there was a race be
tween them. Soon after supper, being fatigued, Forrest
sought his state-room and berth, but was not suffered to sleep,
weary and drowsy as he was after his long ride across the
country. A party of gamblers was established in the saloon
of the boat ; the vicissitudes of their game speedily brought
on a clamorous altercation, and pistols were right soon drawn
and cocked. All this was audible to Forrest, who further
saw that, from the position of the brawlers, he was in immi
nent risk of being shot in his berth. Promptly rising, and
but partially dressed, he hastened among the desperadoes,
and, by a few peremptory words, his resolute manner, and im
perious will, quelled the disturbance just on the verge of a
general mile'e. This effected, walking out upon the deck
and forward, he was startled to find the chimneys of the Far
mer red-hot as high as the roof ef the cabin, which was only
being kept from breaking into a blaze by the constant dash
of water by the bucketful upon the adjacent timbers by all

28 Introductory Sketch.
the servants of the boat. At the same time all kinds of the
most combustible fuel were being lavishly thrown into the
already volcanic furnaces of the steamer, to increase steam
and accelerate her speed. To all but the insensate captain
and the absorbed gamesters the situation of all aboard that
trembling, overpressed boat was one of apparent, fearful peril.
Forrest, remonstrating with the captain, sharply reprobated
his criminal exposure of the lives of his passengers, some
of whom were women and children, and urged an immediate
cessation of the race and a timely effort to reduce the steam.
But, excited by liquor as well as the race, the captain, with a
coarse oath, exclaimed he was one hundred yards ahead of his
rival, and would preserve that distance to Galveston, six miles
distant, or he '' would blow the old tub with every soul on
board to h — 1." Seeing that he was unable to avert the im
pending catastrophe, Forrest walked to the extreme after part
of the vessel and there awaited the crisis. Nor did he wait
long ; in a few moments a loud explosion was heard forward,
and the whole forward cabin and deck, torn into numberless
shreds and fragments of beams and boards, were thrown with
fearful uproar high up in the air, amid the harrowing death-
shrieks and loud cries of anguish and terror of more than a
hundred human beings who were aboard the ill-fated craft at
the time of the explosion. This took place just as the Farmer
was crossing Rockfish bar, where the water fortunately was
shallow ; and the competitor in the race, being near by at
the juncture, came alongside immediately, and the unhurt and *
wounded were sought out and rescued from the water or from
the wreck. Among those taken from the hulk was Forrest,
half-clad as he had happily left his state-room a few moments
before. His only hurt was a severe contusion of the shoul
der : but the state-room abandoned so timely, with his lug
gage, had been destroyed. With characteristic energy, how
ever, he assisted in removing the survivors to the other steam-

Introductory Sketch. 29
er, with such of the dead as could be found, and did what he
could, by his presence of mind and thoughtfulness, to alleviate
the suffering of the wounded on the way to Galveston, where
he disembarked several hours after the disaster.*
Returning, without further incident or delay, to his newly
opened field of enterprise at Memphis, Forrest set to work to
extend its area each year. Temperate in his habits, cool and
far-seeing in his outlook, recognizing the possible with a rapid
glance, and bringing his good sense to bear on whatsoever he
pursued, a large measure of success crowned his every effort,
and made him noted in his community as a man of uncom
mon aptitude for large and happy business affairs. As a
natural consequence, too, no small degree of influence among
his fellow-citizens followed, and this was strikingly illustrated
by an occurrence thereafter memorable in the history of
Memphis. In 1837, there lived in the city two men — Joe and John
Able, father and son — who had rendered themselves gener
ally odious as gamblers and by their acts of lawless violence,
until the father, having killed a man in a public saloon, was
forced to abscond to escape justice. In June of that year,
the son, John Able, and a man by the name of Everson were
seated together on the "sidewalk" ofthe Worsham House, in
conversation touching or in explanation of an insult which it
was alleged had been offered by the latter to the mother of
Able. Suddenly the interview was brought to an end by a
heavy blow in the face of Everson, given by Able with his
pistol. In the blow the pistol was discharged, and the ball,
passing through the brain of the stricken, man, he was killed
instantly. Surrendering himself to the police, young Able
was at once lodged in prison ; but the intelligence of the
deed was soon broad-spread through Memphis. Other recent

* About sixty souls were swept from mortal existence by this dreadful affair.
including the wretched captain.

30 Introductory Sketch.
acts of similar character had tarnished the repute of the place
by the impunity with which they had been perpetrated, and
the ease with which flagrant culprits had been able to break
through the feeble meshes of the law. Recollecting this, and
coupling with it the past life of the Abies, the populace swift
ly congregated on the streets and in public places, and in free
conversation in regard to this particular homicide, as well as
the prevalence and immunity of open murder in their midst,
soon became so excited that, swept on by their passionate re
sentment, they flocked in a dense crowd to the scene of the
murder. Surrounding the Worsham House, they grew more
and more angry, and, as on all such occasions, ringleaders
being found to begin the cry, the whole throng followed in a
clamorous demand for the object of popular wrath, to the end
that they might inflict summary and condign punishment.
Among those attracted to the spot was Bedford Forrest : but,
while the masses were inflamed by ungovernable passions, he
had remained unaffected and loyal to the laws of the land.
Counseling with the mayor and some other prominent citi
zens, he made his appearance upon a balcony of the hotel, and,
attracting the attention of the vast throng there assembled,
addressed the people in behalf of moderation and deliberation ;
and, in order to insure heed to this counsel, announced that a
mass meeting of the citizens was called at the Exchange
Building, at a special hour the next evening, to consider
what should be done for the public good, and for the punish
ment and suppression hereafter of these acts of murder. This
speech had the desired effect ; the clamor for immediate pun
ishment subsided, and ceased as the people gradually dis
persed and retired to their homes.
At the time appointed, however, vast numbers reassembled,
and the large hall and corridors of the Exchange Building
were packed to overflowing, while the neighboring streets
weie thronged with groups of people, gradually growing as

Introductory Sketch. 31
excited and clamorous for swift justice upon the murderer as
on the previous night. The mayor having been called to
preside. Forrest was one of the vice-presidents ; but scarcely
had this organization been effected than some one in the
crowd shouted, " Let's go and hang the murderer !" Instantly
this was accepted as the public judgment and fiat, and in spite
of every effort made by the officers of the meeting and a few
other prominent citizens present to restrain and turn them
aside from their harsh purpose, the infuriated people rushed
forth and again crowded all the approaches to the city prison.
Ringleaders, seizing the control, at once demanded the keys
and access to the object of their vengeance — threatening
force if not instantly complied with. The universal echo
that resounded from the thousands around to this demand
made it apparent that resistance were useless, and the jailer
yielded up the keys to the mob-leaders, who, entering, soon
brought young Able forth, without giving time even to dress.
Throwing a rope around his neck, Able was hurried, with
out delay, in the direction of the navy^yard, in the relentless
hands of the master-spirits of the occasion, followed by a
boisterous multitude, heated by excitement, for the most part,
into a fierce thirst for his life. It was there, upon one of the
projecting beams under the eaves of the rope-walk, it had
been determined to hang him. Some time was occupied,
however, in the preparation for the execution, but the rope
was finally and satisfactorily adjusted, and Able was on the
eve of being hung beyond rescue. But, meanwhile, Forrest,
who had remained for a time in the court-hall in consultation
with those opposed to the courses of the mob, hearing of the
delay, resolved to extricate Able and deliver him into the
custody of the officers of the law, and hurried to the navy-
yard to make the attempt. Pressing through the turbulent
masses with much difficulty up to where Able was standing
with the rope around his neck, his mother and sister by his

32 Introductory Sketch.
side making piteous, tearful appeals to the implacable throng
around for the life of their kinsman, Forrest was still further
confirmed in his purpose by their presence, and the dauntless
bearing of young Able at that instant of supreme peril. Pallid,
and slender to effeminacy, and scarcely twenty-one years of
age, he nevertheless faced the angry crowd, intent on his
death, with the utmost cool courage, and without the least
tremor in his voice firmly protested against the impending
violence as unjust under the circumstances of extreme provo
cation from which he had acted, as he could fully establish if
allowed a fair trial before the law, which he demanded as his
right. " Hang him ! hang him !" were still the loud and gene
ral cry of the enraged people. But Forrest, drawing his
knife, with a swift sweep severed the rope, and, taking Able
by the arm, announced aloud his intention to remand him to
the custody of the rightful authorities.
Scarcely ever was a mob more uniformly animated by a
single aim, nor one more inflexibly bent upon its execution,
than that which stood between Forrest and the city prison.
The attempt, therefore, to snatch the victim from its clutches
at such a moment was supremely dangerous, and, under all
the circumstances, naught but the influence of the resistless
magnetism of a robust, right royal manhood made success
possible, and averted a fearful tragedy, of which the lawless
hanging of Able had been the least part. Some few stout
hearted, able-bodied friends rallied around Forrest and his
charge at the moment, and as, proceeding to carry out his
announced purpose, he moved through the press toward the
jail. At first, no resistance was encountered ; but right soon
the more tempestuous spirits of the mob gathered to a head,
rushed after, and with such violence that Forrest's little band
of supports were swept away in the torrent, and he was left
alone with his self-assumed charge, still held firmly by the
arm. Fortunately, at the instant, he was close to some small

Introductory Sketch. 33
piles of lumber, and, stooping behind one of these, the frantic
throng actually passed over Able and himself, but with a nar
row escape, as several attempts were made by ringleaders to
strike them with bludgeons and knives, which, however, his
watchful, wary habits enabled Forrest to ward. Impelled for
ward by the weight of the masses behind them, the leaders
were forced beyond their mark, and Forrest, taking advantage
of the opportunity, made directly for the jail, which he happily
succeeded in reaching, and restored Able to his cell.
Meanwhile, the mob again surrounded the building and re-
demanded their victim, as strongly resolved on his immolation
as ever. In reply to a threat that they would break down the
door if the prisoner were not delivered up, Forrest, present
ing himself upon the steps of the prison, drew a revolver, and
declared it to be his determination to shoot the first man who
approached to the door. The collected, stern courage of the
man, and his previous intrepidity in wresting Able from their
hands, made it apparent that he would actually execute his
declaration if forced to the exigency, and no one seemed in
clined to bring on that issue. The ringleaders quailed, the
spirit of violence quickly ebbed away, the people again began
to disperse — and a little later naught remained of the " Able
Mob," as it had been designated.
The genuine worth and potential qualities of the man who
could thus spring forth, take fully three thousand excited men,
as it were, by the throats, and by his own imperious will
force them to recognize the plenitude of discarded authority,
were now fully appreciated in Memphis. Accordingly, the
year following, Bedford Forrest was put forward, wholly with
out his own seeking, for the important office of alderman of
his ward, and easily elected. Serving out his term, in June,
1859^ he was as easily reelected ; but before the close of the
official year, having been called away from the city by his af
fairs, he resigned. But soon returning, he was rechosen —

34 Introductory Sketch.
his own successor — by the board of aldermen, upon whom
the election had devolved. Throughout his whole official life
an active public servant, he was one extremely watchful over
every public interest confided to the city government, and
was ever animated by decided views upon every question
touching those interests, as might be abundantly illustrated.
One transaction, however, must suffice. It was proposed to
sell the stock of the city in the Memphis and Charleston Rail
road to the extent of half a million of dollars at a certain rate
below par. This Alderman Forrest strenuously opposed as
manifestly below the real intrinsic worth of the stock, and
therefore seriously detrimental to the people's interests, espe
cially since the stock was advancing in value. The measure,
however, was carried over his obstinate opposition and argu
ments, and the sale took place. Assured of the correctness
of his views, Forrest, seeing that the transaction was irrevo
cable, did not hesitate, as a business man, to secure as an in
vestment some fifty thousand dollars of the bonds at the rate
established by the Board, which within a year thereafter he
sold at a profit of twenty thousand dollars.*
Thus, beginning life a fatherless youth at the age of six
teen, with a comparatively helpless family of twelve persons
dependent for their support upon his labor on a leased farm
in the rugged hill-lands of Tippah, denied the advantage of
even an ordinary English education, and left to struggle with
out the least extrinsic aid, steady, straightforward, strong, and
self-reliant, we find him climbing year by year, with scarce a

* In this connection it will be in place Board on any subject, or to earn- out
to cite the observations of R. D. Baugh, any measure, no matter how unpopular
Esq., who was Mayor of Memphis it might be at first, that he did not stick
while General Forrest served as an to it and work at it until he carried it
alderman : " While alderman, General triumphantly through."— MSS. Notes.
Forrest never offered a resolution in the

Introductory Sketch. 35
pause in his ascent. With him, indeed, it was as Milton
tells us : " The way found prosperous once
Induces best to hope of like success,"
until, after the lapse of little more than a score of years, he
stands — in 1861 — in the front rank of the prosperous business
men of the largest city of his native State, the owner of large,
well-stocked plantations, the grower of one thousand bales of
cotton per annum, and possessed of a handsome estate be
sides in stocks and other personal property. All this ac
quired by his own unassisted endeavor ; and withal, he was
now generally recognized by his fellow-citizens as a man of
growing mark, already, indeed, one of much public usefulness,
and calculated by a strenuous temper and strong will to sway
others and move them for the public weal.
It remains to be added here : In person, he is six feet one
inch and a half in height, with broad shoulders, a full chest,
and symmetrical, muscular limbs. Erect in his carriage, his
average weight is one hundred and eighty-five pounds. Dark
gray eyes, singularly bright and searching, dark hair, mus
tache, and beard worn upon the chin, a set of regular white
teeth, and clearly cut, sun-embrowned features make him a
much handsomer man than any of his pictures, and person
ally noticeable before the fame of his successes as a cavalry
officer attracted general attention to General Forrest.

THE

Campaigns of Lieut.-Gen. Forrest,

FORREST'S CAVALRY.

CHAPTER I.

Nathan Bedford Forrest a Planter in Mississippi up to June, 1861 — Re
pairing to Memphis, Tenn., volunteered, a Private Trooper, in Cap
tain J. S. White's Company — Went to Randolph with Company —
Invited to raise Regiment of Cavalry by Governor Harris and Gene
ral Polk — Went to Kentucky to purchase Arms and recruit — How
he got the Arms out of Louisville, Ky. — On return fanned a Batta
lion of Eight Companies— Ordered to Fort Donelson — Fight with
Gunboat Conestoga on Cumberland River — Two Co?npanies added to
Battalion — Brilliant Affair at Sacramento, Ky. — Personal Combat
with two Federal Officers in Battle — Made another close Reconnois
sance of Federal Force on Green River — Subsequently occupied with
the administrative Duties of the Battalion — Hopkinsville evacuated
February 7th, 1862 — Forrest ordered to Fort Donelson — Took Posi
tion at Fort Donelson February 10th — Ordered to make Reconnois
sance of Federals at Fort Henry — Met and chased off Federal Recon-
noitering Party — Trap laid to acatch nother Party defeated by Eager
ness of his Men — Reported impending Advance of Federal Army.
June 1st, 1 86 1, to February 12th, 1862.
I N the pages which follow we have undertaken to present a
sketch of the military career of Nathan Bedford Forrest, and
a memoir, in detail, of the campaigns, marches, and battles of
those Confederate soldiers whose remarkable achievements,
from an early day in the winter of 186 1-2 to the 9th of May,
1865, made the name of " Forrest's Cavalry" redoubtable
to their adversaries, a high distinction with their countrymen,
and a designation proudly worn by all who bore it.
At the outburst of the war inaugurated by the evacuation

40 Campaigns of General Forrest.
by Major Robert Anderson of his post at Fort Moultrie, in
Charleston Harbor, and the hostile occupation of Fort Sumter,
he who in the course of a year subsequently, as will be seen,
became a renowned cavalry commander was living quietly on
his plantation in Coahoma county, Mississippi. Always a
strong and decided States Right Democrat in politics, he had
been deeply attached, however, to the Union, and was earn
estly opposed to its dissolution so long as there were reason
able hopes of an adjustment of the questions in issue between
the sections consonant with the safety and rights of his imme
diate State and section. But that hope having been destroyed
by the Proclamation of President Lincoln on the 15 th of
April, 1 86 1 ; and, seeing that a great conflict was inevitable,
he set to work to prepare his large private affairs for the
emergency, so that he might at once and thenceforward take
an earnest part in the struggle for the independence or sepa
rate political existence of the Confederate States. This ar
ranged as far as practicable, early in June he repaired to
Memphis with the intention of joining the Confederate force
then engaged in fortifying the position of Randolph, Tennes
see. On reaching Memphis, however, following the strong
bent of his nature for cavalry, he at once attached himself, as
a private trooper, to the " Tennessee Mounted Rifles," a com
pany which he found forming at the time,* under Dr. Josiah
S. White, and in less than a week afterward he became a part
of the garrison at Randolph, whither his company was or
dered. About the 10th of July, Private Forrest was called to Mem
phis by a dispatch from the Governor of Tennessee, Isham G.
Harris, at whose urgent desire, united with that of Major-
General Polk, Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate Forces
in all that quarter, he undertook to raise a regiment of volun-

* June 14th, 1861.

Went to Kentucky to Procure Arms. 41
teer cavalry, and the necessary warrant was given to that
effect. After making this authority properly known in Memphis,
Colonel Forrest, with characteristic energy and comprehen
sion of his needs, hastened to Kentucky, for the purpose not
only of procuring arms and horse-equipments in that State,
but with a view, also, to recruiting there for his regiment.
This, in his judgment, was desirable, inasmuch as a very
large portion of the young men of West-Tennessee had al
ready become attached to other organizations of the several
arms of the service. Visiting the towns of Paris, Lexington,
Mount Sterling, Frankfort, and intermediate places, he found,
however, that, while the mass of the people, apparently, were
in strong sympathy with the Confederate cause, comparatively
few were prepared to take up arms at that moment.
Turning back at Frankfort, Colonel Forrest visited Louis
ville about the 20th of July, and there purchased, with his
own means, five hundred Colt's navy pistols, and one hundred
saddles and other horse-equipments. While thus engaged,
receiving information that a company of cavalry was being
organized for his regiment at Brandenburg, Meade county,
Kentucky, he went to that point and mustered in the " Boone
Rangers," some ninety strong, under Captain Frank Overton,
which thus became the first company of a regiment subse
quently so conspicuous.
Returning to Louisville, he found it a matter of no little
difficulty to get his arms and equipments out of the city, as
by this time the objects of his presence there had become
suspected, and a strict surveillance was established over his
movements. But with native address and shrewdness, assist
ed by only two gentlemen,* he baffled the vigilance of those

* Colonel Richard C. Wintersmith, son, Esq., a Kentuckian, residing near
a native of Kentucky, but then, as now, Louisville.
a resident of Memphis, and M. Garri-

42 Campaigns of General Forrest.
opposed to his purposes, and eluded all the efforts made to
detect and arrest him. Favored by the happy chance that
his person was not known, he and his two associates were
able to carry, from time to time, the pistols, concealed under
their linen "dusters," to a livery stable, whence they were
subsequently taken in a market-wagon to Mr. Garrison's farm
in the country as so many bags of potatoes, while the saddles
and other equipments were conveyed, under the guise of lea
ther, to a tan-yard some three miles south of Louisville.
Meanwhile, a detachment of Captain Overton's company had
been brought to the vicinage with the necessary wagons ; at
dusk, these were driven to the tan- yard in question, and, receiv
ing the freight awaiting them, hastened southward, taking up
the arms also as they passed on toward the mouth of Salt
river.* These dispositions successfully made, he mounted a
horse and rode leisurely in the direction opposite to that in
which the tan-yard lay until he reached the suburbs, when,
being now quite dark, he swiftly made the circuit of the city
and took the road southward on the track of his wagons, which
he soon overtook ; and, pushing rapidly on with them to Bran
denburg, found the Boone Rangers ready to take the field.
Leaving Brandenburg the same day, he proceeded with the
Boone Rangers, via Bowling Green, Ky., in the direction of
Clarksville, Tenn. Fed and received on the way with great
hospitality by the citizens, they encamped the second after
noon after leaving Brandenburg within fifteen miles of Mun-
fordsville. Here intelligence was received that a Union force
of two companies of " Home Guards" were in wait at the
latter town to contest his march. Many gentlemen, relatives

•As before said, his presence and train between Lexington and Frankfort,
business in Kentucky was known to the he heard the subject discussed, and the
Union leaders, who had a watch set Hon. John J. Crittenden declared that
over his movements. One day, in the " Forrest ought to be arrested."

Successful Return to Memphis. 43
and parents of the members of the Boone Rangers, had ac
companied their beloved sons or young kinsmen thus far, as
indeed for several days thereafter. These Forrest drew up
in a line with his men, under the Confederate flag, forming
an imposing array, as the railway train approached from Mun-
fordsville. So strong, indeed, was the appearance thus pre
sented, that the passengers in their report magnified this little
band into a regiment. The result was, as he drew near Mun-
fordsville, resolved to fight his way, if necessary, through any
obstacles, on making a reconnoissance with a squad of five
men, it was ascertained the main force of the Home Guards
had retired. A small body, however, had remained, and made
show of resistance, until put to flight by a prompt charge on
the part of Forrest and his petty detachment.
Taking the route by Bowling Green* and Russellville, Ky.,
and Clarksville, Tenn., the Confederate flag flying at the head
of his little column all the while, Forrest reached Memphis,
without incident or delay, about the 1st day of August, thus
achieving an operation seemingly insignificant, but really, at
this juncture, one of much delicacy and hazard, requiring for
its success no small sagacity and resolution. For, until he
had crossed the Tennessee river, a superior force of Home
Guards was organized or mustering in every county through
which he passed.
A fine company for his regiment had been raised and or
ganized in Memphis in his absence, under Captain Charles
May, which had been named the " Forrest Rangers," and this
and the Boone Rangers formed the nucleus around which, in
the course of the next six or eight weeks, was formed a bat
talion of eight companies.!

• The parents and kinsmen of the t Namely, Overton's (A) Company,
Boone Rangers returned from this which, as mentioned ubi supra, from
place. Brandenburg, was some 90 strong;

44 Campaigns of General Forrest.
An election for field-officers, held in the second week of
October, of course resulted in the choice of Forrest for the
Lieutenant-Colonelcy, while Captain D. C. Kelly was made
Major.* The day following the final organization by this election of
field-officers, one squadron was put in motion, under Major
Kelly, for Fort Donelson, (Dover,) Middle Tennessee. In a
day or two the remainder followed, and the whole battalion
was assembled at that point during the last week in October.
The immediate commandant there at the time was Colonel
A. Heiman, Tenth Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, and the
garrison, a small command of infantry, did not exceed four
hundred men, who were engaged throwing up fortifications.
Going into camp, some four or five days were employed in
drilling and other camp duties. But a Federal gunboat, the
Conestoga, having made its appearance in the Cumberland as
high as Tobacco Port, Colonel Heiman ordered Colonel For
rest to proceed with his battalion in that direction to watch
this movement. Under these orders, having proceeded as far
as Canton, Ky., an order was received from Brigadier-General
Lloyd Tilghman, commanding the defenses of the Cumber
land and Tennessee rivers, to bring the command to his head
quarters, at Hopkinsville. At that place orders were again
given, about the middle of November, to proceed to the Ohio
river, and report any movement of a hostile character ob
served between the Cumberland and Green rivers. Proceed-

Logan's, (G,) 45 strong, was from Har- 90 men, from Memphis — in all, 650
rodsburg, Ky. ; Kelly Troopers, (F,) men, rank and file.
90 men, from Huntsville, and Trew- * Captain Hambrick succeeded to the
hitt's, (E,) 80 men, from Gadsden, Ala. ; command of the Kelly Troopers, Lieu-
Bacot's, (B,) 80 men, from South- Ala- tenant C. A. Schuyler was appointed
bama, and Milner's, (H,) 85 men, from Adjutant of the battalion, IV. S. M.Van
Marshall county, Ala.; Gould's, (D.) Wick, of Huntsville, Surgeon, and J. P.
JO men, from Texas; and May's, (C,) Strange, of Memphis, Scrgeant-Major.

Affair with Gunboat Conestoga. 45
ing on this errand as far as Princeton, Ky., there the main
body of the battalion halted, while Major Kelly was detached
with a squadron, with orders to repair to Jhe banks of the
Ohio and intercept a steam transport which was to pass on
the following day. Soon after the Major had reached the
river and disposed his men for the execution of his orders, the
expected steamer made its appearance, and was speedily
brought to without resistance. It proved to be freighted with
sugar, coffee, and considerable quantities of other army stores,
including blankets, all most desirable supplies for the Con
federates. Meanwhile, the Federal gunboat Conestoga hav
ing gone up the Cumberland river with the object of seizing
some clothing in store for the Confederates at Canton, a gen
tleman of Smithland, made aware of it, hastened, on horse
back, from that place to Princeton, to give Forrest the in
formation, riding the distance of eighty-four miles in twelve
hours with one change of horses. Major Kelly having re
turned, Forrest immediately set out with the whole battalion
for Canton, which place, thirty-two miles distant, was reached
early the next morning, after a fatiguing night-march of eight
hours. Scarcely were the Confederates at the village and
disposed for the then novel operation of an attack by ca
valry on a gunboat, when the Conestoga came in sight. A
small four-pounder piece of artillery, under Lieutenant Sulli
van, which had been brought along from Princeton, was placed
in position, and so masked as to be hidden from view from
the approaching vessel. The greater part of the men like
wise were concealed, while a few were displayed with the
hope that a party of marines might thus be inveigled ashore
and entrapped. The Conestoga, however, coming to anchor
at the Canton Landing, remained there half an hour without
landing any one ; then she dropped back some few hundred
yards, anchored again, and prepared for action. Scarcely
were her ports unclosed than the four-pounder was opened

46 Campaigns of General Forrest.
upon her, and the few men in sight delivered a rapid fire with
their Maynard rifles through her wide-open ports.* Firing two
rounds, Lieutenant Sullivan, of course, was obliged to with
draw : but, meanwhile, the whole battalion joined in a rapid
fire, returned from the Conestoga by all the guns she could
bring to bear upon the shore, which was swept with grape
and canister from her heavy battery.f Forrest's men, taking
advantage of every possible shelter, directed their fire at her
ports, and the people of the country report the Federal losses
in killed and wounded were some seventeen. After six or
seven hours of this combat, the commander of the Conestoga
closed her ports and made off, leaving his opponent in pos
session of the field.
This affair, as may be readily supposed, was the source of no
small elation in this command of untried soldiers, especially
since it was a decided triumph over a species of adversary
that hitherto had been regarded with actual terror by the raw
troops of the Confederate service, on account of the large
calibres of their armament and their comparative invulnera
bility. The effect upon the spirit of the men was most salu
tary, giving them that confidence in themselves and their
commander which, doubtless, was sensibly felt on many sub
sequent occasions.
Immediately after the departure of the Conestoga, Forrest
set out, by way of Cadiz, to return to Hopkinsville, which, by
making a night march, he reached on the 21st of November,

* These were good marksmen, name- stoga at her second anchorage, and fir-
ly, Sergeant Thomas B. Sheridan, after- ing in the order named. Therefore, the
ward a Major, Private R. H. Balch, honor of firing the first shot in action
afterward Lieutenant-Colonel, Private by the Forrest Cavalry may be claimed,
Aaron Burrow, and Surgeon Van Wick, apparently, by Major Sheridan.
killed a few days subsequently. They t Her armament consisted of nine
were stationed under partial cover, not heavy guns.
more than thirty yards from the Cone-

Reconnoissance to Green River. 47
and remained there to the end of the month, Brigadier-General
Charles Clark being in command of the whole force assem
bled in the vicinage. It was here his command was increased
to ten companies by the accession of Captain Charles McDo
nald's company, " The McDonald Dragoons" and Captain D.
C. Davis's company of cavalry, from Huntsville, Alabama.
About the 1st of December, weary of the routine of camp
service, and of short tours of scouting duty through the sur
rounding country, Colonel Forrest applied to General Clark
for authority to make a reconnoissance, in force, to the imme
diate presence of the enemy at or near Calhoun, on the north
bank of Green river, where General T L. Crittenden was re
ported to have assembled a force of some 10,000 infantry and
1200 cavalry. This having been granted, he .straightway took
the field, with about 450 rank and file, and scoured the region
between Green river and the Cumberland, approaching close
to Henderson, but first reaching the bank of the Ohio at
Cayceville. Twelve days were occupied with this expedition ;
twelve days of rigorous December weather, in the course of
which these raw troops, wholly unaccustomed to such expo
sure, and many of them affected by the measles, suffered
greatly. However, their commander bivouacked with them,
shared their hardships ; and the substantial advantage of the
expedition was, that it served to temper and harden the young
men who mainly constituted the force, served to develop their
martial qualities, and to accustom their chief to military com
mand and the handling of men in campaign.*

* Lieutenant-Colonel, then Major, their movements. Every thing neces-
D. C. Kelly, and second in command, sary to supply their wants, to make
writing of this expedition, observes : them comfortable, he was quick to do,
" The command found that it was his save to change his plans, to which
(Forrest's) single will, impervious to every thing had to bend. New men
argument, appeal, or threat, which was naturally grumbled, and were dissatis-
ever to be the governing impulse in fied in the execution, but, when the

48 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Without noteworthy events, there were, nevertheless, sev
eral incidents connected with this march which, though not
of military moment, must be related as characteristic of the
men engaged and of the time.
Near Marion, in Crittenden county, Ky., just before For
rest's appearance there, a man, at the instance of a " Union"
neighbor, had been arrested, and carried off from his family.
The wife reporting these facts to the Confederate officer, it
was determined to capture the informer, which he proceeded
to do in person, with a small detachment. Unhappily, this
attempt cost the life of Dr. Van Wick, surgeon of the re
giment, who, riding abreast with Colonel Forrest as they
approached the house, was shot through the heart by the
object of their quest, who then made good his escape rearward,
and eluded all pursuit. Dr. Van Wick was the first man of
the regiment slain. "He was," says one of his comrades, "a
gentleman of the highest education and refinement ; his heart
warm with the loftiest patriotism and purest friendship; a
skillful surgeon and an humble Christian."*
A few days previously a Federal detachment had crossed
the Ohio, from Illinois, and abducted some Kentuckians
charged with sympathy for the Confederate cause. One of
Forrest's detachments sent in pursuit of the murderer of Dr.
Van Wick happened to meet ten Baptist clergymen, who had
just returned from Illinois, whither they had been to attend
one of the yearly " Associations" of their church. Well known
for their stringent " Unionism" they were brought to the
Confederate commander, who at once determined to use them
as the means for the recovery of the gentlemen, then prisoners,

work was achieved, were soon recon- a brief sketch of Dr. Van Wick, all out
ciled by the pride they felt in the efforts to obtain the requisite inform*-
achievement." tion having fa;led of results-
* We regret to be unable to append

On Outpost. Service. 49
northward of the river. Accordingly, placing eight of the
number under guard as hostages, he set two at liberty on con
dition that they should follow the Illinois kidnappers, effect
the release of the Kentuckians, and return with them in twen
ty-four hours, remarking, with an emphasis of tone and lan
guage which carried assurance of seriousness, that, unless it
were done, he " would hang the remainder all on one pole." At
the appointed time they reappeared at Marion, entirely suc
cessful in their mission ; and they and their associates were
then dismissed, to return to their respective homes*
It was about the 20th of December, when Forrest and his
battalion returned to their station at Hopkinsville, which, it
should here be noted, was an outpost of the main Confederate
force at Bowling Green, holding in observation the approaches
from the mouth of the Cumberland and from Green river, and
being at the junction of the railroad from the Ohio, at Hen
derson, with one to .Nashville. The men of the command
were set to vjork to arrange their camp for winter, and had
been several days engaged building "huts," when rumored
movements of the Federals, looking to an advance upon the
Confederate lines into Kentucky, led to orders from General
Johnston for a cavalry reconnoissance for the definite ascer
tainment of the military situation. This duty was assigned to
Lieutenant-Colonel Forrest and his battalion.-}- On the 26th

* After this reconnoissance, a report requiring a precise statement of the
of it having been required, one was ideas furnished." — MS. Notes of Lieute-
written by the Major of the battalion, nant-Colonel D. C. Kelly, of Huntsville^
" at the dictation" of Colonel Forrest, Alabama.
which General Sidney Johnston com- t Lieutenant-Colonel James W-
plimented very highly for the precision Starnes, subsequently distinguished a&
and value of the information furnished, one of Forrest's colonels, and for a
The writer of that report observes: while as a brigade commander, and Cap-
" Though he (Forrest) was indisposed tain W. S. McLcmore, joined several
to the use of the pen himself, he had days later at Greenville, with a detach-
' clear and exact ideas of what he wanted ment of fifty select men from his batt*-
¦written, and few were more exacting in lion, stationed then at Russell ville.

50 Campaigns of General Forrest.
of December, therefore, taking 300 of his most effective men,
he was again in movement in the direction of Green river, by
way of Greenville, Muhlenburg county, the quarter of appre
hended hostile approach. The roads, deep with mud and
rough with ice, were excessively severe on the animals ; and
it was the 28th when the several detachments, moving and
observing on different roads, assembled at Greenville. Hav
ing learned nothing definite of the enemy in that direction,
Forrest concluded to reconnoitre on the road toward and also
in close proximity to Rumsey, directly opposite to Calhoun,
where it was understood General Crittenden was still in force.
Moving on that road, with proper military precaution, but at
a good pace, some eight miles beyond Greenville, on the
morning of the 28th, it was there reported that a detachment
of Federal cavalry, some four or five hundred strong, had
crossed from Calhoun that morning to the southern side of
the river at Rumsey. This news, quickly communicated
among the men, exhilarated them perceptibly^ notwithstand
ing the fatigues of their long march ; and with one impulse
the whole command moved ahead, at an accelerated gait,
which was soon increased to a gallop under the inspiration of
the kind greetings and hearty cheers of many of the women
of the country, from their houses by the roadside. Pushing
on, in this spirit, several miles, before reaching the small vil
lage of Sacramento, the column was met by a beautiful girl,
riding rapidly, her features glowing with excitement, her fallen
tresses swayed by the air, who reported that, returning from
the village ahead, she had been obliged to pass through the
Federal column, which was but a very short distance in front.*
The road, as before said, was very rough and heavy, a gentle

* This was a Miss Morehead of the excited by the scene, waving her hat in
neighborhood. Deeply sympathizing the air, she urged the Confederates to
with the cause of her section, and "hurry up;" and rode back at a gallop

Affair at Sacramento. 51
rain having been falling for the twenty-four hours preceding ;
but the Confederates dashed onward so rapidly that in a little
while the rear-guard of the Federal force was overtaken by
the Confederate advance, one mile from Sacramento. Appa
rently in doubt as to the character of the latter, the former
had halted for some moments. This doubt, however, was
speedily solved, as Colonel Forrest, taking a Maynard rifle
from the hands of one of his men, fired at their ranks as a
sort of gauge or challenge to battle. At this, they retired
hurriedly upon their main force, which, ascending through a
lane to a wooded ridge close by, drew up in line just along
its brow, at right angles to the road, evidently ready to con
test the further advance of the Confederates. Their posi
tion was highly advantageous and sheltered; but, as soon
as Forrest had assembled a sufficient force — about 1 50 men*
— to satisfy him, he, too, pushed onward through the lane.
The enemy opened a sharp fire, but the Confederates moved
up steadily, only returning the fire when within less than
seventy-five yards of their adversary, who, giving some indica
tion of a disposition to retire, Colonel Forrest ordered his men
to fall back, with the hope of drawing the Federals after him.
In this he was successful, for they quickly advanced, as if aim
ing to turn his left flank. Just then the remainder of the
Confederates reached the scene ; dismounting a portion of his
men, armed with Sharp's carbines and Sharp's and Maynard's
rifles, Forrest also directed flank diversions, under Major
Kelly and Lieutenant-Colonel Starnes, on their right and left

for several hundred yards by the side * The command had become some-
of Colonel Forrest, before she was in- what scattered, having marched over
duced to return. Such was the spirit thirty miles that day, at least ten of
which animated so many of the South- which had been at a canter or full gal-
ern women. lop.

52 Campaigns of General Forrest.
respectively, while he, with the mounted men, bore down
directly upon the centre. This was done with an animating
shout, and all possible spirit and resolution, but in face of a
sharp fire, under which the brave Captain Merriwether, the
Confederate guide of the expedition, fell, shot with two balls
through the head, by the side of the commander. Seeing the
movement upon their flanks, despite the zealous efforts of a
few gallant officers, the Federals could not be made to stand
the brunt of the Confederate charge, but broke in the utmost
disorder at such speed through Sacramento that, though hotly
pursued by Forrest and his mounted detachment for some
time, only occasional discharges could* be delivered from his
shot-guns. But gaining upon them, Forrest and a number of
his best mounted men at last were in the thick of a stream of
panic-struck fugitives, many of whom, having thrown away
their arms and accoutrements, depended solely upon the speed
of their horses for further safety, deaf, in their dismay, to all
demands for their surrender.* On sped the Federals, and on
followed their Confederate adversaries, with the rage of a first
battle fierce upon them. And the road was soon, and for
several miles, thickly dotted with the wounded and slain — a
number of whom had been cut down by the sabres of the
untrained but heavy-handed Confederates who followed For
rest that winter afternoon. For three miles beyond Sacra
mento this bloody pursuit was continued — its course, howbeit,
marked by a hand-to-hand conflict between the Confederate
leader and two Federal officers and a private, whom he
overtook and engaged, his excited horse having carried him
somewhat in advance of any of his men. Shooting the trooper,
whose ball had passed through his collar, Forrest was assaulted

* An eye-witness relates that appa- of surrender and offers of safety made
« rently no heed was given by the terri- them. They seemed only to look for
fied fugitives to the repeated demands security in flight.

Affair at Sacramento. 53
simultaneously by the two officers with their sabres; but,
eluding the full force of their thrusts by bending his body sud
denly forward, their sword-points only touched his shoulder.
Carried a few paces ahead by the impetus of his horse, check
ing and drawing which aside in time to shoot one of his oppo
nents* as he came up, he thrust his sabre-point into the other, f
who, by this time, was- in his front. Ordering his wounded
opponents to surrender, they still made show of battle, oblig
ing him to run his sabre through one, (Captain Bacon,) and
disable the other (Captain Davis) by a heavy blow on the
sword-arm. Both these officers, now gravely wounded, fell
from their horses, which, riderless, coming in sharp collision
at full speed, knocked each other over at the bottom of a
short, abrupt hillock, where, a moment after, Forrest, eagerly
resuming the head of the pursuit, also came in contact with
them, and horse and rider were thrown prone to the earth,
he falling headlong some twenty feet in advance of the heap
of horses that had wrought his downfall. :{: Some of the
enemy who chanced to be still behind, now dashing on, in
their reckless flight, likewise encountering the fallen horses,
too much exhausted to rise, were also overthrown in quick
succession, and added to the floundering mass of fallen horses
and men, and the latter were taken prisoners. The main
force of the fleeing Federals being out of sight, and their
camp and other troops not being more than three or four miles
distant, further pursuit was abandoned.§

•Captain Bacon. the first time I had seen the Colonel in
t Captain Davis. the face of the enemy, and, when he rode
X These particulars are furnished by up to me in the thick of the action, I
MS. notes of Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly. could scarcely believe him to be the
§ Major Kelly, in notes written soon man I had known for several months.
after the occurrence, thus depicts Colo- His face flushed till it bore a striking
nel Forrest as he appeared in this com- resemblance to a painted Indian war-
bat and chase of Sacramento : "It was rior's, and his eyes, usually mild in

54 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Colonel Starnes likewise was greatly distinguished in this
affair for his personal courage ; and another individual combat
deserves notice as showing the spirit which animated these
raw Southern soldiers in their first battle, fresh from their
civil avocations, and untrained in the imminent deadly perils of
war. Private W. H. Terry* of Lieutenant-Colonel Starnes's
detachment, riding with his commanding officer, after con
spicuous gallantry, while engaged single-handed with a Fed
eral trooper whom he was hammering with his exhausted
rifle, was run through the heart by Captain Davis ; and thus
fell one of the most daring members of the command.
Nor must we omit another incident of this field, personal
to Colonel Forrest. Among those whom he had felled to the
earth in the pursuit, there happened to be a man from
Greenville, who, being found afterward severely though not
dangerously wounded, was carefully carried back with the Con
federate command, and delivered to his wife on his parole.*
The fighting and pursuit being at an end, the Confederate
commander set his men about collecting the wounded, in
cluding Captains Bacon and Davis, who were removed as
soon as possible to the nearest farm-houses, and turned over
to be nursed by the inhabitants ; to whom, also, was assigned
the duty of giving proper burial to the dead, which was faith
fully done. The Federal loss in this encounter was compara
tively very severe. Sixty-five were found dead on the ground,

their expression, were blazing with the through Greenville, on a subsequent
intense glare of a panther's springing expedition, Forrest called and inquired
upon its prey. In fact, he looked as after his prisoner, when the wife and
iittle like the Forrest of our mess-table children of Williams displayed so
as the storm of December resembles much genuine feeling and gratitude for
the quiet of June." his course that, as he emerged from the
• Of Captain McLemore's Company, house, he was seen to wipe a visible
Williamson county, Tennessee. tear from his eye. — MS. Notes of Col-
I His name was Williams. Passing ottel Kelly and Major J. p. Straus*.

Outpost Service. 55
including two captains and three subalterns ; also seventeen
wounded, some mortally ; and some eighteen were captured.
A number of wounded must have made their escape.
The affair gave great satisfaction to the Confederates en
gaged, and had an admirable effect upon the morale as well as
the physical training of the command.
Returning leisurely to Hopkinsville, and reporting his ope
rations, Forrest and his men resumed their position in camp,
with its routine duties, for several weeks, or until about the
10th of January, 1862, when General Clark again threw him
forward on the road toward Calhoun via Greenville, to ob
serve in that quarter the movements of the enemy, supposed
to be concentrating for an early advance upon Bowling Green.
Assured by the recollections of the combat at Sacramento,
the Confederate cavalry commander led his now confident
men very close to the Federal forces on Green river, and
carefully reconnoitered their position, thus ascertaining that,
not less than ten thousand strong, they were evidently on the
point of an early forward movement. Reporting these facts
to his superior at Hopkinsville, by a dispatch he was ordered
to return, burning the bridges on Pond river, a tributary of
Green river ; and this was duly executed.
The several weeks ensuing were unmarked by adventure,
though detachments from the command were actively em
ployed, from time to time, scouring the country in advance of
that outpost ; and its commander improved the time in giving
attention to its interior administration and organization, in
which he was exacting of all subordinates, especially of his
staff officers, from whom he required a ceaseless attention to
the wants of both men and horses.
Under orders from headquarters, in view of threatening
Federal movements, both from the direction of Cairo, up the
Tennessee river, and from Louisville, General Clark evacu
ated Hopkinsville, on or about the 7th. of February ; and in

56 Campaigns of General Forrest.
this movement the cavalry under Lieutenant-Colonel Forrest
covered the rear as far as Clarksville, where he was detached,
and ordered to report with his own force to Brigadier-General
Pillow, from whom he received orders to repair at once to
Fort Donelson, on the west bank of the Cumberland river,
and for the attack of which a large Federal force was then
assembling. Reaching the vicinity on Sunday, the 9th of
February, the regiment was not ferried across the river, how
ever, to the fort side until the next day. As the senior cav
alry officer, he was immediately assigned to the command of
all the cavalry present ; that is, his own ten companies, Lieu
tenant-Colonel Gantt's battalion of Tennesseeans, and Cap
tains Huey's, Wilcox's, and Williams's Kentucky companies —
in all not more than eight hundred troopers.
A camp was then selected rearward of the intrenched
lines ; forage was drawn and the horses were feeding when
orders came from General Pillow to move out at once upon
and observe the road toward Fort Henry, only ten or twelve
miles distant on the Tennessee river, and which, having fallen
into the hands of the Federals on the 6th, had now evidently
become the base of formidable impending operations hostile
to Fort Donelson. Scarcely had Forrest advanced three
miles, pursuant to his orders, when he encountered suddenly
a squadron of Federal cavalry, evidently the escort of staff
officers making a reconnoissance. This detachment, dis
mounted as the Confederates appeared, quickly springing to
their horses, made off precipitately to the rear, eagerly pur
sued by Forrest to the immediate vicinity of Fort Henry,
with a running discharge of fire-arms all the way, resulting in
the loss to the Federals of several killed and wounded, a pri
soner, some twenty stand of arms, and a lot of overcoats and
cavalry equipments. In examining the intermediate country,
another detachment of Federal cavalry was observed, and an
ambush laid to entrap it ; but the men as yet had not been

At Fort Donelson. 57
reduced to that subordination essential for the nicer strata
gems of the field, and a premature discharge of fire-arms
from some over-eager men upon the advance warned the
enemy in time to withdraw by rapid flight. From all the
movements within the Federal encampments, Colonel Forrest
was satisfied that General Grant was on the eve of moving
against Fort Donelson with all his army ; and this was re
ported to his superior.

frsteSgrerKKTiSi^aigy JESJglSg;

CHAPTER II.

Topographical Sketch of Fort Donelson— Construction ofa larger System of
Exterior Lines upon the Fall of Fort Henry— Concentration of Rein
forcements and Arrival of Generals B. R. Johnson, Buckner, and
Floyd— March of two Federal Divisions fro7n Fort Henry— Forrest 's
Skirmish on 12th February — Disposition of Confederates— Offensive
Arrangement of Federal Force — Baffled Assault onHeiman's Position
on the 13th February ; also on Co7ifederate Right — Obstinate Conflict
between Gunboats and Water-Batteries, afternoon of 14th — Confidence
inspired among Confederates by their Success — Council of Confede
rate Generals, and Determination to sally and attack Federals on
Morning of 15th — Resolute and Successful Sortie 7itade by Pillow's
Division at Daybreak — Buckner delays his Movements until after nine
A.M. — Brilliant Charge upon and Capture of Battery by Forrest's
Regiment — McClernands and Wallace's Divisions driven westward
of Wynnes Ferry Road by two P.M., and Confederate Left uncovered-
Pillow withdraws Confederates from the Field — Council of War,
Night of 15th, and Determination to capitulate — Forrest urges possi
bility of Escape, and ultimately is allowed to make the Attempt with
his Command— Discovered by a Personal Reconnoissance that Enemy
had not reinvested the Left — Effected egress of Command without
molestation — Commentaries.
1 HE operations embracing the attack upon and surrender
of Fort Donelson, in February, 1862, are so closely connected
with the military career of General Forrest that we are
obliged not only to relate the part which he and his immediate
command bore in that ill-fated affair, but must adventure
upon a detailed sketch of the investment, the attack, and the
defense of the position, together with such observations, from

Topographical Sketch of Fort Donelson. 59
a military point of sight, as have seemed fit and proper in
regard to one of the most important events of the war.
The position immediately occupied by the Confederate
troops rested on the Cumberland river on the north. West-
wardly, it was limited by a deep ravine, with precipitate sides,
through which meandered a considerable creek, swollen at
the time by backwater from the river. A valley and back
water slough separated it on the east from the county-town
of Dover ; and a line of rifle-pits, with positions for field-
guns, formed its exterior southward boundary, along the crest
of the ridge, about twelve hundred yards distant from the
river's edge. A field-work of an irregular bastioned trace,
fronting southward, surmounted a plateau which rose about
one hundred feet above the level of the water, in which direc
tion it commanded and protected, at close musket-range, the
water-batteries that were established so as to sweep the river
approach, which, by an abrupt turn in the course of the
stream at that point, is almost due north. Unfortunately for
the Confederates, this work was commanded by a chain of
ridges southward, and by an eminence between it and Dover,
where the Confederate hospitals and depots were situated.
It was necessary, therefore, to enlarge the intrenched area
considerably, so as to encompass and hold those otherwise
menacing positions. This led to the construction of a new
series of intrenchments, fully three miles in scope, along the
irregular ridges indicated, and including a space divided into
two parts by the valley and backwater westward of Dover, the
communications between which were so difficult as to add
materially to the perplexities of the defense.
The ground in front or southward, and environing these
lines, is a rugged, undulating upland, densely wooded, covered
with undergrowth, and broken into ridges by deep, narrow
ravines, with a general direction perpendicular to the river.
Unfavorable for the free movement and maneuver of troops,

60 Campaigns of General Forrest.
especially artillery and cavalry, it afforded, however, excellent
cover for sharp-shooters, and strong positions for field-batte
ries, once established there. The declivity, directly southward
of the field-work, was thickly spread with abatis, which, being
now inclosed within the new line of infantry ipaulements, were
not only useless, but an absolute hinderance to the operations
of the Confederates within their exterior intrenchments.
At the time Fort Henry fell, not more than one third of
these outer works' had been thrown up. An experienced
military engineer, Major J. F. Gilmer, was at hand, however,
to lay them out and superintend their erection.* Meanwhile,
on the 7th, Brigadier-General Bushrod R. Johnson, also an
officer of military education and experience, had likewise
reached and assumed command of the place. And, on the
9th, Brigadier-General Pillow, coming upon the scene, brought
to bear upon the works under construction the natural energy
of his character. Much delay, however, was inevitable, in
consequence of the scanty supply of tools. Nevertheless,
by the night of the 12th the water-batteries had been greatly
strengthened ; and the infantry cover placed in a fair defen
sive condition, though somewhat vulnerable in the valley and
ravines. The heavy guns available had also been mounted in
the water-batteries, giving an armament of one ten-inch Co-
lumbiad, (128-pounder,) one rifled 32-pounder, (64-pound bolt,)
eight 32-pounders, and three 32-pound carronades.
In the interim reinforcements had been gathered thither
from different quarters. Brigadier-General Buckner, regarded
as one of the most accomplished officers of either service
came with one division of these new troops, and was assigned

* Major Gilmer was Chief-Engineer time of the secession of his State,
on the staff of General Sidney Johnston, North-Carolina, was an officer of repute
and subsequently became Chief-Engi- in the corps of Military Engineers
neer of the Confederate Army. He is U. S. A.
a graduate of West-Point ; and at the

Advance of Federal Forces.

61

to the command of the right wing or flank of the defenses.
while Johnson was placed in charge of the left. And, finally,
at daylight, on the 13th, General Floyd arrived with two
small additional brigades, making the total Confederate force
of all arms assembled somewhat over fourteen thousand
men*. .
Two divisions of the Federal army, on the 12th, had been
thrown forward, by two roads, from Fort Henry toward Fort
Donelson. These were McClernand's, of eleven regiments of
infantry, and one or two regiments of cavalry, and at least
four field-batteries ; and C. F. Smith's, also of eleven regi
ments of infantry, including Birge's sharp-shooters, and four
or five field-batteries — in all about fifteen thousand men.f
At the same time six regiments were dispatched by water,

* At the time of the attack on Fort
Henry, the garrison at Fort Donelson
consisted of some artillery detachments
and two or three regiments of infantry,
under Colonel J. W. Head. This was
reenforced on the night of the 6th by
two thousand six hundred men, brought
by Colonel Heiman from Fort Henry ;
and later by Buckner and Floyd's com
mands, so that on the 13th the force
concentrated included the following
regiments, batteries, and companies,
namely, the Third, Tenth, Eighteenth,
Twenty-sixth, Thirtieth, Thirty-second,
Forty-first, Forty-second, Forty-eighth,
Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, and Fifty-third
Tennessee, with an average rank and
file of five hundred each; and Colmes's
battalion of five companies ; the First,
Third, Fourth, Fourteenth, Twentieth,
and Twenty-sixth Mississippi regi
ments, with an average strength of four
hundred and sixty-five effectives ; the

Second and Eighth Kentucky, Seventh
Texas, Fifteenth Arkansas, Twenty-
seventh Alabama, and Thirty-sixth, Fif
tieth, Fifty-first, and Fifty-sixth Vir
ginia, with an average of three hundred
and seventy-five effectives ; and several
small battalions ; or, in all, thirteen
thousand infantry ; Forrest's regiment
of cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Gantt's
battalion of five companies, three Ken
tucky companies, and Porter's and Ma-
ney's Tennessee, Graves's Kentucky,
and Jackson's, French's and Lucas's
Virginia batteries. The heavy guns
were manned by details from infantry
regiments. t McClernand's division was consti
tuted of Oglesby's brigade ofthe Eighth.
Eighteenth, Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth,
and Thirty-first Illinois volunteers,
Swartz's and Dresser's batteries, and
Stewart's, Dollin's, O' Harnett's, and
Carmichael's (companies of) cavalry ;

6a

Campaigns of General Forrest.

while seven more, known to be en route* were ordered to pro
ceed at once from Paducah, on their transports, to the scene
of operations on the Cumberland. These thirteen regiments
constituted a third division, nearly ten thousand strong, under
command of General Lew Wallace.!
The weather being mild for the season and highly favora
ble, the land column" reached the vicinity of the theatre of
war early in the afternoon of the day of its departure from
Fort Henry. Meanwhile, Forrest, who had been sent forward
with his whole cavalry in observation, encountered the Fede
ral advance-guard about two miles from the Confederate in-
trenchments. Promptly dismounting his men, he formed a
line of battle along the crest of a ridge obliquely across the -

W. H. L. Wallace's brigade of Elev
enth, Twentieth, Forty-fifth, and For
ty-eighth infantry, Fourth Illinois Cav
alry, and Taylor's and McAllister's
batteries ; and of McArthur's demi-
brigade of the Seventeenth and Forty-
ninth Illinois. C. F. Smith's division
was formed of Cook's brigade of Sev
enth and Fiftieth Illinois, Twelfth Iowa,
Fifty-second Indiana, and Thirteenth
Missouri regiments, and of Lauman's
brigade of Second, Seventh, and Four
teenth Iowa, and Twenty-fifth and
Fifty-sixth Indiana regiments, and, as
previously said, Birge's sharp-shoot
ers, acting independently. {See official
reports of General Grant, and Colonels
Wallace, Lauman, etc., etc., and corre
spondence qf New-York Times and Mis
souri Democrat. Rebellion Record, Vol.
IV., Doc. 46, pp. 138 to 182.] The New-
York Times correspondent estimates
this column at twenty thousand, in

round numbers, with fifteen to seventeen
batteries, and twelve to fifteen 1 hun
dred cavalry ; and the St. Louis Demo
crat 'places the number at eighteen thou
sand. General Grant, however, fixes
his strength at fifteen thousand; this
would give an average to his regiments
of six hundred and fifty, which they
scarcely exceeded.
* Drawn, we infer, from General
Buell's "Army of the Ohio." [See bis
letter to General Halted, March 14M,
1S62, embodied in a paper published in
New-York, April 1Z1J,, tS66.
t These troops were the Eleventh,
Thirty-first, and Forty-fourth Indiana,
Seventeenth and Twenty-fifth Kentuc
ky, Forty-sixth, Fifty-seventh, and Fif
ty-eighth Illinois, Fifty-eighth, Sixty-
eighth, and Seventy-sixth Ohio, First
Nebraska and Eighth Missouri regi
ments of infantry.

Skirmish with Federal Advance. 63
road, to command which specially he placed May's and Ham-
brick's companies of his own regiment, armed with Maynard
rifles. In front of his centre was a narrow vale of cleared
land, through which the enemy must advance ; and, accord
ingly, as this was attempted, he opened with a lively fusilade,
which led to an immediate halt, and soon a retrograde move
ment to a neighboring ridge, along wliich a little later a de
tour and advance by another road were attempted, with an
evident purpose to turn his left. Observing this, his force
was quickly redisposed to confront and check that movement,
while May's and Hambrick's companies, remounting, made a
gallant charge down the road upon some Federal cavalry,
driving them back upon the infantry. And soon after, Major
Kelly, with three squadrons, making a vigorous advance from
the centre, resolutely engaged a large infantry force in that
quarter. For several hours was this maintained, with the
effect of keeping the whole Federal column in hesitation and
check, until about three o'clock p.m., when General Buckner, in
command during the temporary absence of General Pillow, di
rected Colonel Forrest to return behind the intrenchments.
The Federal column was then pushed forward without further
resistance, and, deploying along the ridges, in proximity to the
Confederate lines, their sharp-shooters, about dusk, drove in a
working party engaged in planting abatis in front of Johnson's
line, in the quarter of the Wynn's Ferry road, killing one,
wounding one, and capturing another of his men outside of
the trenches. And by the morning of the 13th they had
completely invested the position, McClernand's Division oc
cupying the extreme right — Confederate left — and C. F.
Smith's holding the left — Confederate right. Batteries had
also been established, without opposition, in the night upon
salient eminences along the Federal lines, at points highly
favorable for annoying the Confederates, and a regiment of

64 Campaigns of General Forrest.
sharp-shooters,* a picked corps, had taken up an advanced
position, from which it began early, from easy range and well
sheltered, to give excessive disturbance to the Confederates
at work on their intrenchments. But General Pillow, calling
on Colonel Forrest for May's and Hambrick's companies, with
their rifles, these were led to the trenches, accompanied by
their Colonel, and mafthed with the Federal riflemen in an
animated, effective skirmish for about an hour, in which the
latter suffered so sharply as to compel them to withdraw from
the conflict for several hours.f
In the mean time the Confederates had not rested inactive,
but labored in the trenches throughout the night of the 1 2th
with very much their whole force, General Bushrod Johnson
and Colonel Forrest, as an example and stimulant, sharing in
the work with their men. Every possible disposition was
made for the most efficient defense. Buckner, as before said,
commanding on the right, had under him the Second Ken
tucky, (Hanson,) Fourteenth Mississippi, (Major Doss,) and
Third, (Brown,) Eighteenth, (Palmer,) Thirty-second, (Cook,)
and Forty-first (Farquharson) Tennessee regiments, some
3588 men, and Porter's and Graves's batteries, each of six
pieces. Heiman, on the right of Johnson's wing, held the
salient and nearly central position of the Confederate line — a
hill separated by broad ravines on the right from Buckner,
and on the left from Drake's Brigade of Johnson's command —
with a brigade formed of the Tenth, Thirtieth, Forty-eighth,
and Fifty-third Tennessee and Twenty-seventh Alabama,

* Birge's Regiment, which was armed the top of a tree six hundred yards dis-
with choice, long-range rifles and urn- tant, took a rifle from one of his men,
formed in gray. and, in another instant, firing, brought
t When in the trenches on this occa- him headlong' to the ground.— Major
sion, Colonel Forrest, observing a small Strange 's MS. Notes.
portion of a sharp-shooter exposed in

Attack on Confederate Centre. 65
with Maney's Battery ; and on his left were posted, in suc
cession, the Fourth Mississippi, Fifteenth Arkansas, a small
battalion of Alabama troops, another of Tennessee infantry,
the Fifty-first Virginia, Third Mississippi, Eighth Kentucky
Regiment, Seventh Texas, Fifty-sixth Virginia, and First and
Twenty-sixth Mississippi regiments ; with the Forty-second
and Twenty-sixth Tennessee, Twentieth Mississippi, and
Thirty-sixth and Fiftieth Virginia regiments held in reserve
at different points in rear of the lines, with French's, Green's,
and Grey's batteries, disposed at suitable intervals. At the
same time, two regiments, the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Ten
nessee, formed the garrison of the field-work near the river.
Between eleven o'clock a.m. and twelve m. on the 13th,
during a warm artillery practice from many of the Federal
batteries along their whole line, a dashing assault on the sali
ent of Heiman's position, occupied by the right wing compa
nies of the Fifty-third Tennessee, was made by four regiments
of McClernand's Division* The left of the attacking force
advanced along a ridge obstructed by abatis, but the right
made the assault handsomely up the hill. Repulsed in their
first effort, the Federals were rallied and brought forward
with great nerve to the charge, but to be again driven back
with much loss. Federal officers on horseback urged their
men up to within fifty yards of the breastworks, while a num
ber of the Confederates, mounting the parapets, would take
deliberate aim, fire, and jump down, reload, and again deliver
their fire in the same manner. The brunt of this attack was-
borne by the left of the Tenth Tennessee, Lieutenant-Coloneli
McGavock, the Fifty-third Tennessee, Lieutenant-Coloneli
Winston, and the right of the Forty-eighth Tennessee, (Voor-

* Namely, Seventeenth, Forty-fifth, Hayne.— Reb. Rec. IV. Doc. 46, Official,.
Forty-eighth, and Forty-ninth Illinois Reports of Colonels Hayne and Wallace:
regiments, under command of Colonel

66 Campaigns of General Forrest.
hies,) and Captain Maney's Battery ; and during the second
assault, the Forty-second Tennessee, Colonel Quarles, shared
in the perils, the losses, and the glory of the repulse. An
important and distinguished part is justly to be ascribed to
Maney and his men, who handled their pieces, greatly ex
posed, with equal skill and courage, losing Lieutenants Burns
and Massey, slain, and so many of their number were either
killed or disabled that only enough were left to man one sec
tion of the battery after the action * Graves's Battery, on
the left of Buckner's position, also brought to bear very ef
fectively upon the Federal storming party, contributed to the
general result. While this attack was going on in the centre,
another was attempted, with more spirit than judgment, by a
demi-brigade of Smith's Division on the Federal left, but it
was -easily repelled, with some casualties to the assailants.
Meanwhile, too, the only gunboat — an iron-clad, the Caron-
delet — that had yet arrived, steaming up within range, had
opened a fierce cannonade upon the water-batteries, throw
ing about one hundred and fifty shot and shells. She then
drew off, discomfited and damaged by a one hundred and twen
ty-eight pound bolt in her engine-room.
The weather, for several days unusually mild and pleasant
for the season, in the afternoon of the 13th changed suddenly
and radically. It began to snow, which later turned into a
-sleet, and, during the night, a keen north wind made the cold
so excessive that both sides suffered acutely, especially the
Confederates, who continued to strengthen their incomplete
intrenchments without intermission.
That night the Federal reinforcements, en route by water,
reached the landing near their left flank, and, disembarking,
were put in motion by midday on the 14th, to take position on

• MS. Notes furnished by General B. R. Johnson, dated November 25th, 1866.

Attack by Iron-Clads. 67
the line of investment between Smith's and McClernand's
divisions, which was accomplished by nightfall.*
In the mean time, however, about three p.m., the Federal
fleet which had convoyed these reinforcements to their place
of debarkation made a prolonged and truly formidable attack
upon the water-batteries, testing their defensive value to the
utmost. Two wooden and four iron-clad gunboats were en
gaged, and these last, at one phase of the action, were
brought up within three hundred yards, or, as it were, into
the very teeth of their antagonist batteries.f The cannonade
was appalling, yet the conflict was bravely maintained on
both sides. The Confederates, wholly unpracticed as artille
rists, and more exposed than their adversaries, fought with
ordnance very much inferior in weight of metal, with two ex
ceptions, as in all other respects, to those employed against
them, a battery of twelve of the heaviest guns at a broadside.
For thirty minutes the battle raged at these close quarters,
when the iron-clads succumbed, and one by one dropped out
of action, badly crippled and worsted in the encounter, with a
heavy loss in killed and wounded.
At this juncture, as the flag-ship, the St. Louis, disabled
by a crushing shot in her wheel, began to drift back before
the current, a feeling of intense anxiety filled the hearts of

* Official Report of General Wal- half inches thick, upon sloping walls of
lace, Reb. Rec. IV., Doc 46. Also thick timber, making strong casemates
correspondence, ibid., of New-York All were built and armed alike, with
Times, etc three nine or ten-inch guns in the bow,
t The " iron-clads" were the St. four heavy guns on each side, and
Louis, Louisville, Pittsburg, and Ca- two lighter pieces in the stern. The
rondelet, each of thirteen guns of the armament ofthe Carondelet, for exam-
heaviest calibre. The wooden vessels pie, we find included three nine-inch,
were the Tyler and Lexington, of nine four eight-inch, smooth-bores, and two
guns each, equally as heavy as those on one hundred pounder rifled guns. Vide
the iron-clads. The latter had an ar- Boynton's History of the Navy during
mor of rabbeted iron plates, two and a the Rebellion.

68 Campaigns of General Forrest.
the Confederate officers and men, and the apprehension was
fast forcing its way into and chilling their souls that the new-
fashioned armor of their redoubtable foes had indeed been
made impenetrable. Their heavy projectiles, hurtling through
the air, tore up the parapets of the water-batteries in great,
gaping fissures, almost burying the guns beneath the mass of
earth dislodged. For thirty perilous minutes it seemed in
evitable that the Confederate batteries must prove altogether
overmatched by adversaries fighting from behind an impreg
nable shelter ; and, as a consequence, the garrison, taken un
avoidably in reverse, in a short while would be exposed to an
insupportable fire from the rear. And already numerous
shells, thrpwn with ease from the wooden gunboats at long
range in all directions, were falling and exploding with a con
tinuous din in the valleys and on the ridges occupied by the
Confederates, though so far without harm to men or animals.
Nevertheless, the Confederate artillerists, standing to their
guns, worked them with astonishing intrepidity and skill
under the circumstances, coolly throwing back the unsettled
earth with their shovels as fast as it incommoded the service
of their pieces. Such, too, was the interest of the garrison in
this conflict that all whose duties did not call them to posts
in the trenches were eagerly watching its progress, heedless
of exposure to themselves. Among these was Colonel For
rest himself* Taking a position near to the principal bat
tery, with profound solicitude he observed the spectacle so
novel at the time in its character to him, and was the first to
dispatch tidings of the happy issue to General Floyd. Grown
deeply fearful previously of disaster, the reaction wrought by
the triumph of the batteries was broad-spread, and many who
had witnessed the scene, sinking spontaneously to their

* His command, meanwhile, was ready for action, in a valley on the left,
drawn up, standing by their horses, near the intrenchments.

Iron-Clads Defeated.

69

knees, gave utterance to devout thanks to their Heavenly
Father for the result. The heartiest cheers and shouts from
the great body of the men resounded from one end of the
line to the other as fast as the good news spread. The effect
on the morale of officers and men was electrical, and all were
inspired with the highest hopes of ultimate success.*

* In the face of his own statement of
the heavy armament of these vessels —
eight and nine-inch smooth-bores and
one hundred pounder rifles — the Rct-e-
rend Mr. Boynton, in his y«<z.rz-official
history of the navy, is careless enough
to allege that the superiority in weight
of metal and number of guns was with
the Confederates. He and other Fede
ral chroniclers have asserted that these
vessels only used their bow-guns. As
suredly this is inaccurate, for they were
forced up close enough (three hundred
yards) to use their broadside, and we
are satisfied did so ; that is, twenty-
eight guns, either eight or nine-inch
smooth-bores or one hundred pounder
rifled pieces. In the Confederate water-
batteries there were but thirteen pieces,
eight of which were thirty-two pounder
smooth-bores, and three thirty -two
pounder carronades, leaving really but
the ten-inch columbiad (one hundred
and twenty-eight pound bolt) and a
rifled thirty-two effective against the
armor. Hence, granting that only the
bow-guns were used — that is, twelve
eight or nine-inch (smooth) and one hun
dred pounder rifled — still the superiority
was greatly with the naval ordnance ;
for, while they threw at least nine
hundred pounds of metal at a broad
side, the Confederate batteries alto

gether could throw but four hundred
and forty-eight pounds, of which, in
fact, only one hundred and ninety-two
pounds were effective and did the dam
age inflicted. That in such a conflict
thirty-two pounders were valueless Mr.
Boynton knew, for, at pages 291-2, in
connection with a discussion of the pro
per armament for a ship, he says so
virtually. He would intimate likewise
that there was an advantage on the
part of the Confederates in having
" land-batteries." In so far as they had
a somewhat plunging fire, there was an
advantage, but one partially neutralized
by the sloping sides of the gunboats.
At sea, batteries afloat, of course, tossed
and unsteadied by the waves, are at a
disadvantage, but not so on a river.
But the reverend historian chooses to
ignore the fact that, while the Confede
rate batteries were open, the Federal
guns were fought in casemates of a cha
racter that, (page 519,) when he is speak
ing of the energy with which these ves
sels were built by their constructor, he
declared were "a good defense against
such guns as were mostly 'found in the
rebel works of the West" but which dwin
dled down into "light armor" when
(page 530) he comes to palliate their de
feat. Only heavy, solid shot were of any
worth against the vessels ; grape, shell,

70 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Before this occurrence, on that morning, a council of general
officers had met. In view of large Federal reenforcements for
the reduction of the position, it had been determined to make
a sally that afternoon upon the Federal right flank with the
Confederate left wing, under General Pillow, and attempt to
reopen communications with Nashville and an outlet for re
treat, while to General Buckner was assigned the duty of
covering that retreat with his division when attempted. Ac
cordingly, the troops of Johnson's Division and Forrest's Ca
valry had been disposed for such an operation, and were held
for some time in expectation of orders to begin it. But instead,
General Pillow, becoming indisposed to essay the movement
that afternoon, procured a countermand of the order from
General Floyd, and the several regiments were remanded to
their respective positions*
Friday night, soon after dark, another council of war was
called. Generals Floyd, Pillow, and Buckner were present,
and apparently all the brigade and regimental commanders.
All now saw that, completely invested and cut off from reen
forcements, the Confederates must either break through the

and canister were the most effective some sharp-shooting between the
missiles against the Confederate batte- cavalry and the enemy, were ordered
teries at certain stages in the fight at back." Colonel Baldwin also states
the short range reached. Other Fede- that on the 14th General Pillow di-
ral historians have treated this affair in rected the "left wing to be formed in
the same disingenuous manner, and it the open ground to the left and rear
is not reputable, if not purblind, to write of our position in the lines, for the
history in this fashion. purpose apparently of attacking the
* Both Generals Floyd and Pillow enemy's right ;" that his brigade had
omit all mention of this arranged plan been advanced about a quarter of a mile
of attack, but General Buckner is spe- with that object, when General Pillow
cine upon the point. Colonel Forrest, countermanded the movement, saying
m his report, likewise states that it was it was " too late in the day to acconi-
ordered, and his men and the infantry plish any thing." And this is further
moved out of the intrenchments, "but, corroborated by Major Brown, of the
after maneuvering a short time and Twentieth Mississippi.

Sortie Determined. 71
well-set toils of the enemy or resign themselves to the fate
of ultimate surrender, as the Federals could be reenforced at
pleasure from abounding resources. It was, therefore, unani
mously decided to make, at the first streak of daylight on the
following morning, a resolute, in sooth desperate, sortie upon
the enemy's right wing, McClernand's Division, with the pur
pose of sweeping it aside and back behind the Wynn's Ferry
road upon the other wing, so that the road to Nashville by
way of Charlotte should be left open. '
Pillow was to lead in the inauguration of this operation,
with General B. R. Johnson as his second in command, and
was to move out of the trenches with the whole force on the
Confederate left flank, (including the cavalry,) except Hei-
man's Brigade* and the garrison of the field-work,f in all
some seven regiments. Heiman's regiments were to be re
tained in their position, except the Thirtieth Tennessee, Colo
nel Head ; that was to repair to and occupy the trenches be
longing to Buckner, who was then to proceed to the Confede
rate left, and likewise advance thence, in aid of Pillow, upon
the enemy along and leftward of the Wynn's Ferry road.
And this plan of operations seems to have been fully under
stood by all the subordinates who were to execute it. Colo
nel Forrest having already made himself well acquainted with
the surrounding country, important parts in the drama were
assigned to him and his command.'
After another bitterly cold night, by which the men were
greatly harassed, at four o'clock Saturday morning, 15 th, the
hour appointed for the formation of Pillow's attacking column,
Forrest had promptly taken his designated position on the
extreme Confederate left, south-eastward of Dover. Detach-

* Tenth, Thirtieth, Forty-second, Forty-eighth, and Fifty-third Tennessee, and
Twenty-seventh Alabama volunteers.
t Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Tennessee.

72 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ing Overton's Company to reconnoitre, the enemy were
found, already formed in battle order, not more than five hun
dred yards distant. And, meanwhile, their sharp-shooters or
skirmishers, early as it was, had opened a brisk fire along the
whole front.
The column assigned to this urgent, paramount work was
composed of Forrest's Cavalry, not exceeding eight hundred
troopers, Baldwin's, McCausland's, Wharton's, Simonton's,
and Drake's brigades of infantry, fourteen regiments, and two
small battalions, with an effective total of not more than six
thousand five hundred rifles and muskets.*
Some delay ensued in forming the column in consequence
of the omission of a brigade commander to communicate the
proper orders. Nevertheless, all were in their assigned posi
tions by five a.m., when the operation began, Baldwin's Bri
gade leading the infantry, and Forrest, somewhat yet in ad
vance, covering the left flank, with a view at the same time
to a movement around the extreme Federal right. As re
ported by Overton, the enemy were found ready for the onset.
The rugged character of the ground and abundance of tan
gled brushwood made the advance tardy, and greatly hindered
the deployment of the Confederate regiments as they reached
the scene. Especially difficult was it for the cavalry to act
with celerity and cohesion, so dense being the undergrowth
that the horses could scarcely be made to push their way
through. Baldwin began the action, encountering Ogiesby's Brigade

* Baldwin's Brigade was formed of sissippi, Eighth Kentucky, and Seventh
Twenty-first and Twenty-fourth Missis- Texas; and Drake's, of the Fourth
sippi ; McCausland's, of the Thirty- Mississippi, Fifteenth Arkansas, and
sixth and Fiftieth Virginia and Twenti- Garvin's Alabama and Browder's Ten-
eth Mississippi ; Wharton's, of the Fif- nessee battalions. — MS. Notes of Gene-
ty-first and Fifty-sixth Virginia ; Si- rat B. R. Johnson.
monton's, of the First and Third Mis-

Sortie Inaugurated. 73
of McClernand's Division. McCausland's Brigade, coming
up on the lc-ft, was followed quickly by Simonton, whose regi
ments were' pushed into action, however, between Baldwin
and Wharton. The enemy fighting stoutly, the rattle of mus
ketry soon was swollen into a deafening uproar. The Fede
rals gave way, but, quickly reeiiforced by W. H. L. Wallace's
Brigade, increased to six regiments of infantry,* a resolute,
prolonged resistance was made. The enemy being now in a
favorable position, over seven thousand, strong and well sup
ported by an ample artillery, the combat grew fierce and ob
stinate. Drake's Confederate Brigade had also become en
gaged. Both sides unquestionably displayed excellent mar
tial quahties and spirit. The Confederates, though on their
first field, pressed forward with the deliberate vigor of vete
rans, and the Federals met the shock of their onslaught with
uncommon steadiness. And so splendid, in fact, was the cou
rage of the assailants, that a Federal chronicler and an eye
witness observes : " It was only by a bravery that equaled that
of the Confederates that they were withstood" The enemy,
howbeit, had to yield the ground, and fall back from ridge to
ridge toward their left flank, nearly parallel with the exterior
Confederate intrenchments.
While the infantry were thus effectively engaged, Forrest
had been moving steadily around the enemy's right until he
found he had turned it. Thereupon, changing direction, he
swept down upon the Federal flank and rear, just as the com
bat had become general with the whole of McClernand's
Division. This, at the moment, was a most opportune auxiliary to a
charge made by the Confederate infantry. It assisted notably

* To wit, Eleventh, Seventeenth, and McAllister's batteries, or, at least,
Forty-seventh, Forty-eighth, and Forty- 4200 men.
ninth Illinois infantry, with Taylor's

74 Campaigns of General Forrest.
to break the stubborn stand made by the enemy, and forced
them again to recede still more to the left or northward.
Following up eagerly, he continued the pressure upon the
Federal right and rear over some very rough ground and
through thickets, until an open field was reached, across which
could be seen their flank greatly exposed, as they were falling
back in much disorder. Attempting to charge across this
field, it proved marshy and impracticable for cavalry. Mean
while, the enemy had rallied somewhat, and formed a line at
the edge of a second field to the front and right, with a flank
ing relation to the left of the Confederate infantry. Unable
to get at their flank, as before said, because of the boggy cha
racter of the intermediate ground, Forrest so maneuvered in
their front and to their right as apparently to disquiet them,
while the infantry made a gallant advance ; and again thev
gave back, leaving the ground, as previously, thickly strewn
with their dead and wounded. There was now, after much
steadfast fighting on their side, a good deal of disorder in the
Federal ranks, and strong indications of an impending panic,
such as so often seizes and in a moment destroys brave ar
mies. Believing that such a crisis was at hand if energeti
cally pressed, Forrest, at the moment in the presence of a
superior, General Johnson, requested permission to make a
charge upon the disordered masses of the enemy in sight,
many of whom, indeed, had halted and hoisted white flags,
while other evidences of demoralization were numerous. But
General Johnson, apprehensive of an ambush, regarding such
an advance at the moment hazardous, withheld his assent* and

* General Forrest is of the belief that Lew Wallace, in his official report, ad-
this was the critical instant in this bat- mits that about this time the fugitives
tie, which, if it had been vigorously im- \n ere crowding back with unmistakable
proved, must have resulted in the com- signs of disaster ; and that the cry was
plete rout ofthe enemy. And General prevalent, "We arc cut to pieces,"

Wallace's Division Engaged. jc
the enemy retreated in haste out of sight. Shortly after this,
moving somewhat westward, with orders from General John
son to guard the left flank, Forrest came upon a battery just
preparing to quit its position, after having several times re
pulsed the efforts of the infantry to seize it. A narrow ravine
separated him from this batter)-, and fallen timber and thick
ets concealed its supports. Charging as he delivered a volley,
the most of the artillerists who were not disabled fled and left
the pieces, six in number, in his hands, as also many of the
horses and a number of prisoners, while the ground was
thickly spread with dead and wounded, the effects of his
charge as also of previous attacks on the position by the in
fantry. It was about this phase of the conflict that Wallace's Divi
sion was brought up to support McClernand's — that is, thir
teen regiments, or about 8500 fresh rifles — thus opposing a
Federal force of fully 15,500 men, only diminished by the
casualties of the morning, to Pillow's force afield, including
Forrest, of about 6500 men, or less than one half of those
attacked. For as yet Buckner's Division had not advanced,
as had been arranged in the plan of operations for the day,
beyond the trenches ; and Pillow's men and Forrest's alone
had thus far been engaged, though they had been substan
tially supported by a fierce and admirably served cannonade
from Graves's, Porter's, and Maney's batteries, from three
several positions within the intrenchments.
Cruft's Brigade, of four regiments, was first thrown into
the vortex of the battle. This was about ten a.m., and Ogles-
by's Brigade, breaking through his ranks, caused some dis
order ; and Cruft's too, like the rest, had to give way before

which had for a time a perceptible ef- by a forward movement. — Reb. Rec,
feet on his own men, so threatening IV. Doc. 46, p. 141.
that he was induced to counteract it

76 Campaigns of General Forrest.
the vigor of the Confederate onset, doing so, however, in cre
ditable order to another position, whence, after a handsome
stand, he was likewise forced to retire to another and com
manding ridge further leftward. Thus the current of battle
set stronger and stronger against the Federals* Meanwhile,
Thayer's and Smith's brigades, of the same division, had also
become engaged Meeting the men of McClernand's Divi
sion in retreat, between" ten and eleven o'clock a.m.,' in the
vicinity of Wynn's Ferry road, and rightward of Cruft's, these
fresh brigades, embracing nine regiments, were thrown across
the path of the triumphant Confederates, and by their oppor
tune interposition gave time to McClernand's broken batta
lions to rally, reform, resupply their exhausted ammunition-
boxes, and resume the struggle.!
Meanwhile, Forrest, after the capture of the battery, as
mentioned, pressing onward, ere long found himself, with his
own regiment, rearward of a Federal force, strongly posted in
a deep road-cut at right angles to the general line of battle.
Opening upon their right flank, he drove them speedily from
this covert and forced an immediate retreat. This was about
eleven a.m., and the battle at the time was raging with intense
heat. The whole Federal right wing had been driven from
its position for quite a mile : many had thrown down their
armsj and fled away into ravines and thickets for shelter.
But their main body, however, had receded doggedly from
ridge to ridge in the direction of their left wing and upon
their advancing supports, making repeated spirited efforts to
recover lost ground. Still pushing on, Forrest now effected

* These details are gathered from Cruft's Official Report.— Reb. Re,: IV. Doc 46,
pp. 144-5.
t Official Reports of Colonels Thayer and Smith and their subordinates.— Ibid.
pp. 155-6.
t Nearly five thousand small-arms were picked up after the battle, Saturday
afternoon, by the Confederates.

Forrest and Pillow. yj
a junction with the rest of his cavalry, which had been de
tached, operating conjointly with the infantry ; and, about the
same time, he was addressed by General Pillow, inquiring as
to the whereabouts of General Buckner, with the remark that
as yet he had heard no sound of battle from the part of the
field assigned to that officer. Colonel Forrest, replying that he
had been too busy himself to know of the movements of others
with whom he had not been cooperating, Pillow exclaimed :
" Well, then, Colonel, what have you been doing since I
saw you last ?"
" Obeying orders, General, by protecting your left flank,"
was the ready rejoinder. And, for witness, Forrest pointed
to the captured guns and prisoners, just then happening in
sight as they were being sent within the intrenchments.
After a few kind words of commendation, the General then
galloped away rightward and toward the trenches, saying that
he would go and see in person what was going on in that
quarter, leaving Forrest with orders to watch the left flank.
Very soon afterward the Fifteenth Arkansas, Colonel Gee,
hotly engaged with a greatly superior force, was repulsed in a
bold charge upon a Federal position. Seeing this, Forrest
rushed up with one of his squadrons into the gap and checked
the now advancing enemy. The infantry at once rallied,
and, reforming, moved up again with such spirit and signal
courage that they drove their lately successful foe from the
position. Several of Forrest's best men fell in this affair, and
his brother, Lieutenant Jeffrey Forrest, at the head of the
squadron, having his horse shot under him, received a painful
contusion by the fall, but, nevertheless, kept the field to the
last, severely as he suffered.
In the mean time, delayed a little at the outset waiting for
Colonel Head and the Thirtieth Tennessee to take the place
of his men in the trenches on the right, General Buckner had
reached the position rearward of the intrenchments on the

73

Campaigns of General Forrest.

left, where they are intersected by the Wynn's Ferry road, and
immediately to its left, and which had been vacated by Pil
low's men, who were already in deadly but successful grapple
with McClernand's Division outside of the intrenchments
further leftward. It was from this point that' his division, as
arranged the night before in council, was to move out and
assail the enemy along and to the left of the road just men
tioned, as nearly simultaneous with Pillow's attack as possi
ble. The situation of affairs, however, appeared to General
Buckner to authorize him to depart radically from the settled
plan of operations for the day.* For, instead of launching his
division forthwith into the mele'e outside, deploying one of his
regiments in the rifle-pits and placing the others under cover
of the neighboring ridge-crests, he brought Porter's and
Graves's batteries to bear upon the enemy in his front in an
animated, sustained cannonade. | Until nine o'clock a.m. did

* A plan that was of his own sugges
tion. t General Buckner, in his Official
Report, which we follow strictly in this
part of the narrative, states that he had
regarded it as " unadvisable to attempt
the assault at this time," or until he had
to some extent crippled the enemy's
batteries by his artillery, "in view of
the heavy duty" which he expected his
division to undergo in covering the re
treat of the army.
Unquestionably, it was highly desira
ble that this division should be kept
fresh and in reserve, if possibly conso
nant with the assured success of the
sortie in which Pillow was engaged.
But incontestably, also, the' course was
fraught with extreme peril to the whole
operation of the day, leaving, as it did,
Pillow with but 6500 men, embattled

with the fearful odds of full 15,000 Fede
ral infantry and a numerous artillery.
For were Pillow to be repulsed, of
which, under the circumstances, there
clearly was a portentous risk, of course
the whole affair, the sally itself, would
prove abortive ; and Buckner's provi
dence of his men, upon which he founds
his delay to engage as originally con
templated and arranged, must then
have been useless — at the deplorable
cost of defeating the operation, upon
the success of which rested the only
hopes left the Confederates for escape.
A graver change of the plan of opera
tions by a subordinate can not well be
conceived than this. — See General Buck
ner 's Official Report, p. 164, Official
(Confederate) Reports of Battles, Rich
mond, Va., 1862.

Effective Use of Confederate Artillery. 79
he remain \hus rearward of the intrenchments, his batteries
handled with admirable coolness, vigor, and effect unquestion
ably upon the enemy, though provoking a furious return fire
from their heavy rifled batteries and strong line of infantry
skirmishers, under which the Confederate artillerists suffered
severely, but endured with a courage that may not be ex
celled. Between nine and ten a.m., however, at the urgent
instance of General Pillow, Buckner threw out the Fourteenth
Mississippi, under command of Major Doss, deployed as skir
mishers, to carry a battery about three hundred yards distant
from the trenches ; and quickly supported the movement by
the Third Tennessee, Major Cheairs, and Eighteenth Tennes
see, Colonel Palmer, while Pillow personally ordered Colonel
Cook, of the same division, to move forward, on the like
errand, with the Thirty-second Tennessee.* The ground was
broken into ravines and bristling with abatis and snow-clad
undergrowth ; but, despite these difficulties and a scorching
artillery and musketry fire, the movement was - executed.
Terrible as was the exposure, and though for a while thrown
into critical confusion, these regiments pressed onward in
emulation of their brethren of Pillow's Division, and speedily
obliged their immediate opponents to yield the. coveted posi
tion. But this entailed a heavy loss, and, notwithstanding
the successful issue, under some misapprehension on the part
of one of General Buckner's staff-officers, the brigade, Colo
nel J. C. Brown's, was immediately thereafter ordered back
behind the intrenchments from which it had so effectively,
though tardily, sallied. General Buckner, however, quickly

* Official Reports of Colonel Cook says that he did not advance until
and others engaged. It is difficult to twelve M., and then on his own respon-
fix the hour satisfactorily of this affair, sibility.
Cook places it at ten A.M. Harrison

80 Campaigns of General Forrest.
sent it forth again, under Colonel Brown, while Porter's,
Graves's, and Maney's batteries poured from their guns a
concentrated fire, sweeping the face of the ground over which
the brigade was to advance. This affair, bravely led and ad
mirably pursued by the men, resulted in the dislodgment of
the Federals from two positions in succession, and the cap
ture of a section of artillery, with small loss comparatively,
but including that of the brave and accomplished soldier
Lieutenant-Colonel W. P. Moore, of the Thirty-second Ten
nessee, and of the lamented and distinguished Captain Frank
M. Rogers,* Fourteenth Mississippi.! The Confederates
were now masters of this part of the field, the line of the
Wynn's Ferry road, as Pillow's Division was of the remainder
of that flank of the recent Federal position.
By the plan of operation for the day, it will be remembered
that, in the event of the success of the sortie, Buckner was to
remain exterior to the trenches with his division in position
on the Wynn's Ferry road, in order to cover the retreat of the
whole force, to secure a route for which had been the main
object of the attack and battle. But it would seem that an
unfortunate disposition to vary or ignore at will the several
parts of that plan affected the two superior officers charged
with its execution, without regard to the effect upon the ob
ject to be attained. And, therefore, it will be seen that Gene
ral Pillow, wholly overlooking what had been thus deter-

• Captain Rogers was an officer was a fair example of the class that
in the celebrated " First Mississippi filled even subordinate grades in the
Rifles " in the Mexican War. Subse- Confederate service at the outset ofthe
quently, while still a young man, he war.
was a popular Circuit Judge in Mis- * Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, ofthe
sissippl for several terms. Chivalrous Third Tennessee, was also severely
and cultivated, this gallant gentleman wounded.

Progress of Sortie. 81
mined, ordered General Buckner's Division, as well as his
own, back to their former positions in the trenches.*
Just as Brown's Brigade, Buckner's Division, was becoming
engaged for the first time. Pillow, having dispatched an order
to Forrest to leave Lieutenant-Colonel Gantt to guard the
left flank, while he repaired to the right with the rest of his
cavalry, the latter, proceeding to the point indicated, was met
by General Pillow, who, pointing to a battery formidably
planted at the head of and sweeping a ravine, inquired of
Forrest whether or not he could take it, adding that it had
baffled several previous attempts. Proud of the superb con
duct of his men in the course of the campaign as on that
morning, Forrest confidently answered, " I can try ;" and,
immediately turning off, drew his men up for the work in an
open space, in a column of squadrons. But, as he did so,
noticing some infantry in the trenches, rearward, only' about
four hundred yards distant, he sent an officer to request its.
support in the charge. This was the regiment of that excel
lent officer, Colonel Hanson, Second Kentucky, and he
promptly advanced to cooperate. At least two regiments
supported the Federal battery. May's company being in
advance, the order to charge up the ravine was given, with
instructions for the first and second companies of the squad
rons severally to deploy to the right and left as they ad
vanced. Right courageously and well were these orders
executed. It was almost a desperate venture ; but this
thought checked the pace of none of that brave-hearted
band as they pressed onward, receiving in their breasts an
appalling volley from artillery and riflemen. Hanson fol
lowed with equal ardor and eagerness, but withholding the
fire of his men, and determined to depend on their bayonets.

• Vide Reports of Generals Buckner and Pillow and MS. Notes of General
Johnson.

82

Campaigns of General Forrest.

Turning with his squadrons upon the battery, Forrest charged
it, leaving Hanson to engage the infantry. About the battery
a hand-to-hand struggle ensued for a few moments. The
Federals stood their ground manfully and fought obstinately.
Sabres, pistols, and carbines were lavishly used, with much
cost of life and wounds on both sides. It was here that Cap
tain May, after displaying the highest martial qualities and a
cool and splendid valor, fell, shot through the heart.* As

* Charles May was born in Buck
ingham county, Virginia, in 1818, of
highly respectable parentage, whose
families had long resided in that vici
nity. Of his early life little is known,
further than that he received what is
called a good English education at
home, where he remained till he was
seventeen, when he moved to Rich
mond, and became a merchant's clerk.
Thus employed two or three years, or
until about 1838, he removed to North-
Mississippi, and established himself at
the town of " Commerce," at that time
the county-seat of Tunica county.
There, rapidly winning the confidence
of his fellow-citizens, he was succes
sively chosen to fill the most responsi
ble offices of the county, including that
of Representative in the Legislature
and Sheriff. His urbanity, integrity,
and intelligence, combined with uncom
mon firmness and a knightly courage,
gained Charles May friends and influ
ence wheresoever he was known. For a
number of years he was also an active
planter, when finally he determined to
remove to Memphis. Resigning the
shrievalty, he took up his residence in
that city about the year 1854, and at
once engaged in the livery business, to

which he was attached very much by
his love of fine horses, and which he
conducted with success and a marked
regard for commercial probity and
honor down to the breaking out of the
war in the spring of 1861.
Soon after the fall of Fort Sumter,
Mr. May entered Captain Charles Mc
Donald's company of " Independent
Dragoons," and, at its organization,
was elected junior second lieutenant
He served with this company during
the term of its enlistment, a period of
sixty days, mainly in the vicinity of
New-Madrid. At that time several
gentlemen were engaged in Memphis
in the effort to raise a company of cav
alry for " Forrest's Regiment" After
collecting volunteers sufficient to or
ganize a company, Lieutenant May was
unanimously chosen captain -, and the
company, in compliment to Colonel
Forrest, was named the " Forrest Ran
gers." Captain May immediately began
to drill and prepare his command for
active service. Thus engaged up to the
25th of October, 1S61, he then took up
the line of march, with his own and
three other companies, to Fort Donel
son. There he renewed his attention
to the drill and discipline of his men.

Sanguinary Conflict. 83
many as fifty of the Federal dead lay immediately around the
pieces taken. And so sanguinary was this affair, it is credi
bly related that, at one spot, the feet of the horses splashed in
the blood of the slain and wounded, flowing along the surface
of the snow until it froze. No more gallant charge than this,
indeed, can be found in the annals of war ; and all bore them
selves worthily, officers and men alike. A section of artillery
and about seventy-five men were taken, and some horses ;
whilst a little later and further on, another gun with hospital
tents and ambulances were also captured, with about sixty
Confederate prisoners recovered.
Forrest's horse, in the course of the morning, had received
as many as seven wounds, but, being an animal of rare vigor
and spirit, had, notwithstanding, borne up under its rider
until now, when it fell exhausted from loss of blood.*
Hanson, as before said, had assailed the infantry supports
of the battery, while Forrest charged the latter. His adver
sary being sheltered in timber and thick undergrowth, he lost
some fifty of his men as advancing at quick time, and closing
to within fifty yards without the discharge of a gun. He then

thus insuring that efficiency which they Memphis, whose citizens received the
subsequently displayed in so many hard- remains of their gallant townsman with
fought battles, and in none more con- distinguished honors, and bore them to
spicuously than that which a few months their last resting-place in the quiet
later illustrated their last drill-ground shades of Elmwood, followed by one of
at Fort Donelson — with the highest the largest funeral processions ever wit-
phases of a manly courage, the fame of nessed in that city. In person, Captain
which was heightened by that crowning May was a little above the medium
act of gallantry just recounted, which height, straight as an arrow, rather
closed Captain May's brief career, and slender, but well knit, lithe, and agile ;
left his companions-in-arms a memory blue-eyed, light-haired, and of gentle
they " would not willingly let die." features.
After he fell, this lamented officer's * Forrest's overcoat had no less than
body was immediately forwarded to fifteen marks of bullets in it
Nashville, and thence for burial to

84 Campaigns of General Forrest.
opened a destructive fire, when they broke and abandoned the
position in great disorder. Graves's battery was then brought
up, and Hanson prepared to occupy and hold the point in
accordance with the general plan of arrangements for the day ;
but he also was now remanded to the trenches by General
Pillow. In the mean time, mounting a captured horse, Forrest had
resumed his place with his cavalry, now some half a mile
ahead of the infantry ; and, riding in advance with two troop
ers to reconnoitre, he discovered the Federals near by, in
occupation of a ridge four hundred yards distant, across the
Wynn's Ferry road. Wheeling, he dashed down a ravine,
drawing the fire of a whole regiment, and his horse was
wounded in the thigh. Instructing Major Kelly to repair
to the right to ascertain the posture of affairs in that direc
tion, he rode his wounded horse slowly back toward the
trenches ; but, as he surmounted a ridge exposed to a Federal
battery, a solid shot, passing through his horse just in rear of
his legs, grazing his pantaloons, covered his feet with blood,
and for a moment left his limbs benumbed. Now, once more
afoot, he made his way back to where the last battery had
been captured, at which place he found assembled several
companies of his regiment. This was about 2 p.m., and
shortly after General Pillow, coming up, instructed him to
employ his men in collecting the captured artillery and small-
arms, and removing the Confederate wounded from the field.
Thus occupied until about dark, as many as five thousand
stands of small-arms and a large quantity of blankets and
knapsacks were gleaned*
About the same time that Forrest and Hanson carried the
last battery and dispersed its supports across the Wynn's
Ferry road, Pillow's whole division, reaching the scene, took

• Two hundred prisoners also had been taken during the day.

Confederates Retire to Intrenchments. 85
part in the subsequent and closing operations of the day,
Johnson striking the road in question with Drake's Brigade,
the left of the division. At that time there were no Federals,
except the dead and wounded, eastward of that road ; nor
nearer westward than on a ridge some four or five hundred
yards distant, where a battery in position with infantry sup
ports could be plainly seen separated from the line of the road
by a deep, cleared ravine. Riding rightward, Johnson found
that there were no other Confederate troops between Drake's
and the breastworks. Some had gone in for shelter under
the stress of the recent severe fighting, but the main force
by order of superior officers. He then sent an aid-de-camp
to ask for reenforcements ; but instead of these came an
order to retire within the intrenchments. Johnson, how
ever, repairing in person thither, suggested a continuation of
the battle, by a general advance from the breastworks ; it was
then decided, after some discussion between Generals Floyd,
Pillow, and Johnson, that Drake's Brigade might remain exte
rior to the trenches, while the other troops should be estab
lished within the rifle-pits. But a little later, after Drake had
repulsed a feeble attempt to dislodge him, his brigade also
was again ordered in. And no Confederates now remained
on the field except those engaged, as previously mentioned,
collecting the spoils of war, and the wounded and burial-
parties. Meanwhile, about the time that Buckner's Division had
begun to return to the trenches, Lauman's Brigade of C. F.
Smith's Division, led by that distinguished soldier in person,*

* General C. F. Smith was one of the instructor and disciplinarian of the
most accomplished officers ofthe United greater part of the most distinguished
States Regular Army. Graduating at officers on both sides during the war,
West-Point in 1825, he was a captain and had won signal distinction also as
in the army and commandant of that a soldier in the war with Mexico. His
school when General Grant entered it subordinate position at this time was one
as a cadet He had been the tactical of the strangest anomalies of the war.

86 Campaigns of General Forrest.
and a battalion of sharp-shooters, in all some three thousand
two hundred rifles, made a well-conceived diversion on the
extreme Confederate right flank — a line of three quarters of
a mile — which was occupied at the time, as will be. recollect
ed, by Head's Thirtieth Regiment Tennessee infantry, about
four hundred and fifty strong.* The point immediately as
sailed was held, however, by only three companies under
Major Turner, whose conduct may be fitly measured by the
fact that the two regiments leading the assailing column
(Second Iowa and Twenty-fifth Indiana) lost three hundred
and thirteen rank and file.! Overwhelmed by the force
opposed, Major Turner coolly withdrew his intrepid men
across a ravine to a commanding eminence, and renewed the
fight until reenforced by the Forty-ninth and a battalion of
the Fiftieth Tennessee, withdrawn from the field-work by
Colonel Head in the emergency. The Forty-second Ten
nessee, Colonel Quarles, was also detached by Colonel Heiman
at a "double-quick," through freezing mud and snow, and
reached the scene in time to cooperate effectively in checking
the progress of the enemy beyond the mere narrow foothold
seised on the extreme right of the trendies. This was about
four p.m., or near dark ; and by that time the whole Confede
rate force had resumed their several positions, after a day of
as signal and brilliant valor as ever illustrated or was thrown
away upon any battle-field. :j:

* Head's official report; also Lau- pany E, Eleventh Regiment Illinois
man's- volunteers, wrote to his father in New-
t See Colonel Lauman's official re- York that only one hundred and six-
port of casualties.-^. Ste. IV. Doc teen men of his regiment remained un-
4 injured ; and of the eighty-five com-
% As evidence of the heavy loss in- posing his own company only seven
flictedontheFederalsonSaturday.it came out. "The most wholesale
maybe mentioned that on Monday, the slaughter," says the Captain, "that
17th, Captain L. D. Waddell, of Com- ever was heard of."

After the Battle. 87
Conspicuous among the bravest of the Confederates on
this occasion were the officers and men of the several batte
ries of field artillery, Porter's, Maney's, and Graves's compa
nies exciting the admiration of the whole army by their effi
ciency, their coolness, and their shining conduct. It was said
of Porter's guns that they were always fired at the " right time
and to the right place." Porter, shot through the thigh by a
Minie-ball, as he was carried bleeding from the field, exclaim
ed to the only unwounded officer left with his battery, Lieu
tenant John W. Morton, a mere lad of nineteen : " Don't let
them have the guns, Morton !" And we are told that that
beardless youth handled them with a courage and intelligence
which emulated the example of his accomplished Captain.*
Nor were the batteries of Captains Guy, French, and Green
less admirably and effectively handled and fought.
Forrest, having executed his orders last mentioned, led his
men at dark back to their encampment, where he advised
them to seek all possible repose, so that they might be ready
to play their part in the operations of the next day, which he
confidently anticipated would be successfully momentous for
his countrymen, inasmuch as the investing force had been
driven aside from the entire front of the Confederate left
flank, as fully as the most sanguine had anticipated. This
opinion of the results of the day was not confined to Forrest
and his men. In the whole division, mainly engaged, it was
thoroughly shared. And, as a corollary, Johnson, under or
ders from his superior, about midnight, drew that division out
and massed it — now including Heiman's strong brigade — in
column of regiments, in the same position as on Saturday

* Captain Porter was an officer of the United States Navy up to the breaking
out of the war. (See Index.)

88 Campaigns of General Forrest.
morning, to make another sortie, with a view, if opposed, to
cut his way through to Nashville.
In the mean time, however, a council of war had been as
sembled by General Floyd, at Pillow's headquarters, to attend
which Forrest had been roused from his slumbers between
eleven and twelve o'clock Saturday night. Generals Pillow,
Buckner, and the other superior officers, except Johnson, were
present ; and, to Forrest's amazement, he found them, as he
entered, discussing the subject of surrender, with the idea
predominant that the Federals had already reoccupied the
positions taken from them that morning. Forrest, immedi
ately expressing his earnest disbelief of this assumption,
represented that the battle-field had been widely examined as
late as nine o'clock that night by reliable men, who reported
that they had seen no traces of the presence of any hostile
force ; and he offered to send out two other trusty scouts to
obtain further and conclusive information upon this vital
point.* This being assented to, the scouts were dispatched,
and, returning in an hour, reported that they could find no
Federals on the Randolph Foundry road, except the wounded,
and possibly some few stragglers searching for the killed and
wounded. The night was extremely cold ; and the smoulder
ing fires on the battle-field had been rekindled by the freezing
wounded, which, seen by previous scouts, were mistaken for
the new fires of a heavy force. This information, however,
was not received as conclusive against the preconceived sup
position that the investment had been reestablished, a con
clusion in which those in chief command were immutably
fixed, though Colonel Forrest continued to urge his convic
tion that the whole force could be safely withdrawn by the

*

Namely, Adam R. Johnson, sub- nant-colonel of a Kentucky regiment
sequently a Confederate general officer; Two gentlemen of peculiar gifts for
and S. H. Martin, who became lieute- the service in question.

Council of War. 89
road reported as unobstructed, and though he earnestly in
voked full credence of the reports of his scouts.*
General Floyd, the senior, expressed himself satisfied the
place was no longer tenable, and escape for the main force
impracticable ; but that circumstances peculiarly personal to
himself determined him not to surrender, for that he would
rather die than become a prisoner. General Pillow likewise
asseverated his preference individually for death rather than
capture, and hence his utter unwillingness to surrender the
army. General Buckner, next in rank, remarking that at such
a crisis personal considerations should have no influence with
an officer, expressed his own purpose to abide by the fortunes
of the troops ; and, if the command devolved upon him, to
take upon himself the responsibilities of the capitulation.
That step he conceived to be inexorably necessary in view of
the fact that any effort to cut their way out as matters stood,
he insisted, would inevitably result in the sacrifice of at least
three fourtlts of the troops, a sacrifice utterly unjustifiable.
That his men were so worn out by exposure, by watching and
fatigue, and so reduced in numbers and demoralized, he could
not hold his position half an hour against the assault which
he was satisfied would be made next morning at daylight.
That his ammunition was nearly expended ; and the men, for
several days without regular or sufficient food, were not in
condition to undertake such a battle and march as would be
involved by a successful sortie. And, therefore, regarding
delivery as hopeless, any attempt toward that aim were sure
to result in a fruitless massacre.!
General Pillow unquestionably did not regard the situation

* This is the positive assertion of t General Buckner's official report,
General Forrest, confirmed, as he al- dated Richmond, August nth, 1862. It
leges, by his subsequent personal re- is but fair to General Buckner to ap-
connoissance of the ground. pend here the views of a participant in

go

Campaigns of General Forrest.

as nearly so desperate, and favored an effort to withdraw the
garrison. But assuredly he yielded his judgment at the
supreme crisis to that of his junior, to whom he passed the
command when it was devolved upon him by the abdication
of General Floyd, their common senior. That junior, with
the soldierly decision due to his conviction and his views of
the situation, made immediate preparations for opening the
necessary communications with General Grant, preliminary to
a surrender ; and gave the necessary notice to General John
son, then absent with the column preparing to make the
sortie. Meanwhile, Colonel Forrest, hearing the decision with keen
dissatisfaction, expressed to General Buckner his utter indis
position to surrender, since he was thoroughly convinced he
could readily carry his command in safety to the headquarters

the operations at Fort Donelson, which
appeared soon after in one of the Mem
phis newspapers :
" The surrender was admitted by all
to be a military necessity. The troops
had been four days and nights in the
trenches, exposed to the cold, with but
little fire ; their feet were frosted from
standing in the cold water and mud in
the bottom of the ditches ; they had
received no regular rations, and had
not had time, from being closely con
fined to the works, to prepare more
than one meal a day ; they were tho
roughly exhausted. I saw many sleep
ing while standing in place at ordered
arms, just before entering the battle
Saturday morning. The exhausting
effects of the battle on Saturday, and
another sleepless night in the cold,
damp trenches, must be added to their
weakened state of that morning. To

have attempted to have cut our way
through the enemy's lines with but ten
thousand men in this condition, having
fifty thousand opposed to us — twelve
thousand of whom were fresh troops —
[two assumptions we have shown to be
totally unfounded] would simply have
resulted in the loss of three fourths of
the entire command. ... I can
safely say, from having walked a part
of the way myself, that no portions of
the force could have marched ten miles
without being completely exhausted
and disabled. The question of sur
render resolved itself into just this :
Shall the remnant of this gallant little
army, after defeating the enemy in three
of the hardest fought battles in our
country's history, and covering itself
with glory, be sacrificed to avoid the
humiliation of a surrender .'"

Colonel Forrest Opposes Surrender. 91
of General Sidney Johnston. He further declared he had
promised the parents of many of his young men to protect
them when in his power to do so. Growing excited, indeed,
as he spoke, he asseverated he would prefer that the bones of
his men should bleach on the surrounding hills rather than
they should be carried to the North and cooped up in open
prison-pens during midwinter.
General Pillow, at this, suggested that Forrest should be
suffered to attempt to escape. This was sanctioned, on ex
press condition, however, that he should do so before the flag
of truce had communicated with the enemy, and, upon this
conclusion, Forrest hastened to his encampment to execute
the movement.
Sending for his field and company officers, he announced,
in brief terms, the situation and his own fixed purpose. Re
solved not to surrender himself, he declared that he would
lead forth all who desired to accompany him, and then in
quired how many would make the attempt. The answer was
unanimous that they would follow him to the last. Orders
were issued accordingly for an immediate movement. Major
Kelly was dispatched to communicate the state of affairs to
Lieutenant-Colonel Gantt, who was not present. The cavalry
encampment was soon alive with drowsy troopers, roused at
first with difficulty from their profound slumber after four
days and nights of sleepless, fatiguing service. As soon as
made fully aware, however, of the exigency, an intense eager:
ness to be in saddle and en route took the place of that slug
gish mood in which they were found at the outset ; and little
time was lost, notwithstanding the habitual confusion attend
ing night movements. When the time for departure was at
hand, as Colonel Gantt had not made his appearance at the
place of rendezvous, Major Kelly was again sent to hasten or
insure the movement of that battalion.
About four o'clock Sunday morning, Forrest was ready

92 Campaigns of General Forrest.
with the main part of his men to begin their critical adven
ture, and took the road through Dover, where he ascertained
General Pillow, whom he had expected to escort, had already
crossed the river fully an hour before.
About five hundred officers and men formed the column
that now followed Forrest upon the road by way of Cumberland
City. Sending forward a subaltern and three men to recon
noitre, after an advance of three fourths of a mile they re
turned with the intelligence that they had seen the enemy in
line of battle moving around and across their proposed road.
Another " scout " was ordered, but no one appeared willing to
volunteer for it. Thereupon, turning the command over to
Major Kelly, Forrest announced his intention to make a recon
noissance himself, and, if killed, the Major would then do the
best he could, but must, hi the mean while, advance along the
road upon which they had set out. Calling for his brother,
Lieutenant Jeffrey Forrest, they rode to the point from which
it had been reported the enemy were seen. There, scanning
closely and listening attentively, nothing was to be seen or
heard of any hostile presence. Then advancing, the sup
posed Federal battle array was speedily resolved into a line
of fencing, formidably staked with short rails into somewhat
the resemblance of a line of infantry in the dim light and
gray atmosphere of that early hour. And, it may be safely
asserted, it was this very fence which had been seen and mis
taken for the enemy by the scouts whose reports had had
such untoward weight in producing the capitulation * Colo
nel Forrest and his brother, after this important discovery,
rode ahead up the ridge to the rightward for three fourths of a
mile, to the place where the fight had commenced the morn
ing before, and there found the blankets which his men had
left on going into action. Riding a little further, they came

* This is General Forrest's conviction.

Reconnoissance by Forrest. 93
upon fires, around which were gathered a number of wounded
Federals, who, in reply to inquiries, satisfied them that none
but a few scattering scouts from both sides had been among
them that night. This had been the scene, near the extreme
Federal right, of severe fighting early Saturday ; the Federals
had occupied it Friday night, and their fires, left burning, had
been kept alive by the wounded, driven to the exertion
through suffering from the extreme cold.
Thus assured that the road was still open, Forrest and his
brother returned to the 'command, that meanwhile had con
tinued on the road to the crossing of the creek eastward of
Dover. In view of what he had ascertained in regard to the
falsity of the reported presence of the enemy in their old posi
tion, he would have felt it his duty to announce the facts to
General Buckner ; but this he deemed now useless, inasmuch
as he knew that already all the steps for a surrender had been
taken, and it were therefore altogether too late to recede
from it.
The creek, expanded by backwater to a breadth of about
one hundred yards, looked formidable ; lined with ice, it was
also supposed to be swimming. Calling for some one to ride
in and test this question, no one came forward promptly
enough, and their commander, with the characteristic self-reli
ant spirit of the born leader, dashed through the ice as their
pioneer, just as but lately he had been their scout. Passing
entirely across, the water proved not deeper than to the
saddle-skirts. Elated at this happy occurrence, the whole
command now moved speedily and joyously over, and took up
the line of march for Cumberland City at a slow pace, with
all proper precautions of advance and rear-guards, scouts and
flankers ; the men, however, much of the time were forced to
dismount and walk to keep from freezing.*

* Captain Gould's Company of ment, and was surrendered. Why it
Texans failed to accompany this move- did not come out was never explained

94 Campaigns of General Forrest.
General Floyd, having turned over the command, as before
said, to General Buckner, stipulated that he might take with
him his three Virginia regiments, and this, it remains to re
late, he effected.
When it was announced to the rest of the forces that they
were to be surrendered, they evinced much surprise, espe
cially those of the left wing, for they did not feel they had
been vanquished ! General B. R. Johnson, who subsequently
witnessed all the prolonged trials and hardships of the illus
trious " Army of Northern Virginia" in the trenches at Peters
burg, says that " the fatigue, cold, and privation endured by
the men " at Fort Donelson " were equal to any thing I have
known ; but there was no repining," except, indeed, at the
hard fate of a capitulation after so splendid and successful
fighting as had signalized them the day before — a capitulation
to men whom they had clearly beaten, notwithstanding the
odds of two to one.
For the details of that sad conclusion to these operations,
we have now no space in these pages, beyond the statement
that it does not appear that more than 9500 officers and men
were actually surrendered into the hands of the Federal com
mander as prisoners of war ; the remainder had either fallen
in the course of the struggle or made their escape.
COMMENTARIES.
I. Whenever the critical historian shall take up and relate

to its commander. Lieutenant-Colonel tive that the popular idea that Forrest
Gantt subsequently explained that he and his men " cut their way out " of
had misunderstood the place of rendez- Fort Donelson through the Federal
vous, and had promptly repaired with lines is wholly unfounded or a war
his battalion to the place he supposed. myth. It is also an error in certain
A portion of Forrest's Regiment, over- official reports that Captain Overton's
looked in rousing the men, followed Company of Forrest's Regiment re-
after sunrise, without interruption. It mained. That officer did, but his corn-
will be seen from the foregoing narra- pany came out.

Commentaries. 95
the campaign ending in the reduction of Fort Henry and
capitulation of Fort Donelson, he must necessarily consider
whether both might not have been easily averted and the
Federal forces overwhelmed by resources which the Con
federates had within easy reach by rail. A glance at the map
will show any reader that the Confederates had the interior
lines, so potential in war. At Columbus, Ky., there were
about fifteen thousand infantry, and at Bowling Green as
many more after Floyd, Pillow, and Buckner had been sent to
Fort Donelson ; and there was railroad communication, with a
large equipage of rolling stock, between each position and the
Tennessee river, not far above Fort Henry, as also a number
of steamers on that stream, so that the work of transportation
had been unusually easy. Moreover, Buell being afield, the
early evacuation of Bowling Green was a foregone conclusion,
and the transfer of the force there to Fort Henry placed them
in the most advantageous position to cover Nashville against
ulterior operations. As it was, Grant, landing with a petty
force of fifteen thousand in the very centre of a force of
nearly forty-five thousand, having the interior lines for con
centration and communication, by railway at that, was able to
take two heavy fortifications in detail, and place hors de combat
nearly fifteen thousand of his enemy. But with this matter,
at present, we have nothing further to do than to indicate the
questions that must arise and be solved.
II. Having permitted Fort Henry to fall, and with it suf
fered the loss of the Tennessee river, by an unpardonable ad
herence to the defensive-passive, the Confederate authorities
committed another egregious, ^mortal error in persisting in
that baleful policy of the defensive-passive subsequently
on the appearance of Grant before Fort Donelson on the
afternoon ofthe 12th of February, with only two divisions, or
fifteen thousand men. By daylight next morning, 13th, all
the Confederate reenforcements it had been determined to
throw into that work, as was known to its commander, had

96 Campaigns of General Forrest.
reached the scene. Hence the Confederates were stronger
then than they would be at any subsequent period of the de
fense, and in better condition to fight successfully. On the
other hand, every day would assuredly increase the numbers
of the enemy. That is, delay insured a daily material diminu
tion of the strength of the Confederates by ordinary wear and
tear ; a heavy increase of offensive power on the Federal side,
and the inevitable loss of the whole Confederate army ! The
defensive-active, therefore, manifestly should have been adopt
ed on the 13 th. Then every man but the heavy artillery in
Fort Donelson should have been thrown upon Grant en masse,
for only one of the Federal gunboats had reached the vicinity
on the night of the 13th. But instead of this, the Confede
rate generals waited two whole days, and until Wallace reen-
forced Grant with thirteen fresh regiments, and then deter
mined upon and took the offensive. But even then, as planned
in council, an unnecessary number of regiments were left in
active in the work during the sortie.
III. After it was determined that the forces at Fort Donel
son should not be further reenforced from Bowling Green than
by the small divisions of Buckner and Floyd, and that no
troops could be drawn from Columbus, Ky., surely it was a
fatal error to attempt to hold Fort Donelson and thus expose
so many fighting men to be beleaguered, with the absolute
certainty that an overwhelming force would be concentrated
upon them. Far better lose the position than to sacrifice, at
that time, fourteen thousand men. Whether considered in
a moral or military point of view, scarcely a greater blunder
was ever committed in war affairs.
IV. In regard to the reinvestment by the Federals on the
night ofthe 15th, unfortunately assumed to be so by Generals
Floyd, Pillow, and Buckner, aside from the evidence of For
rest's scouts and General Forrest's own personal reconnois
sance on the morning ofthe 16th, the Federal official reports,
though asserting that the reinvestment took place, contain

Commentaries. 97
abundant evidence that they bivouacked west or north of the
Wynn's Ferry road, leaving the Confederate left almost en
tirely open. General Wallace says expressly that at five
o'clock he was ordered by Colonel Webster, Federal Chief of
Staff, to withdraw, " as a new plan of operations was in con
templation ;" but that he disobeyed the order and retained his
position, which, from his description of it and his proximity
next morning at the time the white flags were discovered, was
evidently in the vicinity of Wynn's Ferry road and in front of
the centre of the Confederate lines. (See Reb. Rec. IV. Doc.
46, p. 147.) This, too, is more plain by the statement of
Colonel Thayer, one of Wallace's brigade commanders, that
he encamped on the " road," which could only have been the
Wynn's Ferry road. (Ibid. p. 156.) Colonel Wallace, Mc
Clernand's Division, says that his brigade was taken to the
rear and encamped in position convenient for support of either
wing, and that he marched thence " down valley (next morn
ing) into centre of enemy's works." (Ibid. p. 151.)
V. The sources of the failure to make the attack of the
Confederates thoroughly successful and decisive on Saturday
are obviously these :
1. Deviation on the part of General Buckner from the
plan of operations which in council he had had the sound
judgment to advise, and by which it was prescribed that he
should throw himself with his division upon the enemy along
and leftward of the Wynn's Ferry road, as nearly simultane
ous with the attack made by Pillow as practicable. Had he
done so, Lew Wallace, finding employment in that quarter,
would have been hindered from taking any part in the com
bat with Pillow's forces. And McClernand's Division, beaten
back as they were before the impetuous onslaught of the Con
federates, assuredly would have disordered and demoralized
Wallace's men while assailed in front by Buckner. Thus a
disastrous rout must have befallen the two divisions beyond
the ability of Smith to counteract.

98 Campaigns of General Forrest.
2. The deviation of Pillow subsequently from the settled
order of the day was likewise mischievous ; that is, in the
event of such a success as was actually achieved, Buckner
was to remain exterior to the works. Pillow, however, ordered .
him back to his position within those works.
VI. It is true General Smith effected a lodgment within
the Confederate lines on the extreme right, but the position
acquired did not give an enfilading fire, as has been generally
alleged. For, from the nature of the ground, a stronger ridge
was now occupied in that quarter that enabled the Confederates
to reestablish a new, strong line connecting with the old one,
acting as a traverse and defilading the leftward intrenchments.
VII. The Federals were beaten so badly by Pillow, John
son, and Forrest's attack, that there is no doubt they had no
expectation of a surrender ensuing from that day's work. So
beaten, in fact, were they, that, as General Lew Wallace says,
he was informed by General Grant's Chief of Staff " a new
plan of operations " had been arranged.

CHAPTER III.
Alarm of People in consequence of actual Disaster and exaggerated Re
ports — Conduct ofa State Senator — Panic in a Confederate Cavalry
Regimettt near Charlotte— Forrest's Regiment fed by the Munificence
of a Tennesseean — Reached Nashville February iZth, with about 500
Men — General Johnston, quitting Nashville, directed Forrest to re
port to General Floyd, who left Colonel Forrest in Commands— Found
place abandoned by Staff-Officers — Warehouses full of Supplies and
Ordnance Stores — Spoliation by a Mob of Men and Women — Sup
plies removed to the Railroad— Removal by Rail of six hundred Boxes
of Clothing, quarter of a million Pounds of Bacon, and forty Wa
gon-Loads of Ammunition — Final Evacuation of Nashville by Con
federates — Forrest repaired to Murfreesboro — Regiment reassem
bled — Field Officers elected- — Ordered to Iuka — Confederate Army
concentrated at Corinth, General Johnston in Command — Federal
Army established at Pittsburg Landing — BueWs en route for same
point — Confederate General resolved to take the Offensive— Inauspi
cious Delay of Twenty-four Hours on the March — The two Armies in
presence of each other.
February 16th to April 6th, 1862.
JlI AVING, as related in the preceding chapter, safely and
easily withdrawn the main part of his force from the Confede
rate lines, Colonel Forrest moved that afternoon about twenty-
five miles, in the direction of Charlotte, Dixon county, Tennes
see, and encamped. Reaching Charlotte next morning, he

roo Campaigns of General Forrest.
found its inhabitants in a state of wild alarm and agitation from
a report spread by the State Senator of the District, just from
Nashville, that that place was assuredly in possession of the
Federals, who likewise had dispatched a column of some ten
thousand cavalry thitherward to cut off retreating Confede
rates. The Senator's horse, white with sweat-foam, gave other
evidences of a long, hurried ride, but the Confederate com
mander was too cool and circumspect to be misled by an in
credible story from an evidently panic-stricken civilian. He,
therefore, silenced the personage by a stern threat of summa
ry punishment for the circulation of " false intelligence," and
sought, as far as possible, to quiet the distress and anxiety of
the people by exposing the improbable nature of the rumor.
At the same time, he improved the occasion by having a num
ber of his horses shod before resuming his march that after
noon to Nashville.
As a consequence of the evacuation of Bowling Green and
the successive disasters at Forts Henry and Donelson, the
utmost consternation pervaded the whole region traversed.
The roads were alive with invalid and furloughed soldiers,
many of whom, having been scattered through the country
and in the hospitals north of the Cumberland, were now hur
rying southward to avoid capture. This continued stream of
fugitives stimulated the degree of apprehension among the
country people, until many of them also fled wildly from their
homes. Nor was this disposition to panic confined to non-comba
tants and the disabled. A regiment of cavalry, subsequently
distinguished on many a hard-fought field, happening to be
in that vicinage, and having heard of the fall of Fort Donel
son, had countermarched at Charlotte, and was moving back
toward Nashville, not far in advance of Forrest. When one
mile beyond Charlotte, the latter halted, and took the precau
tion to secure readiness for action by discharging and reload-

Mtiniflcmt Hospitality. ioi
ing his fire-arms and redistributing his ammunition. At the
sound of the volley and rattling fire that ensued, the neigh
boring regiment, already cognizant of the Senator's story just
mentioned, was suddenly seized with the belief that the mus
ketry was of hostile origin. An instantaneous and irrepressi
ble panic spread and enveloped the whole force. Breaking at
first into a trot, a sharp gallop quickly supervened. And be
fore long the road was thickly sprinkled with cooking utensils,
provisions, tents, and baggage, thrown from the wagons to
lighten and enable them to keep up with the fast-speeding
horsemen, until the teamsters finally, apprehensive that even
this would not avail, abandoned their wagons also, leaving them
broken or hanging against trees along the roadway. Follow
ing shortly after, Forrest's men came upon these castaways,
and collected almost enough provisions and other supplies to
replenish those that had been necessarily left at Fort Donel
son, and which, to these fatigued and battle-scorched troopers,
were a great windfall.
After this, moving on, Forrest halted for the night some
eighteen miles from Nashville, on the Harpeth river, at a
point where food and forage were liberally supplied by a
gentleman most zealous in his devotion to the Confederate
cause, in whose house a sumptuous supper was set for the
Colonel and his officers. That night, after their severe work
at Fort Donelson, many of his officers were disposed to enjoy
the comforts of a bed under this hospitable roof ; but Forrest,
ever watchful, soon missing them from the encampment, had
all roused, and inflexibly required them to remain with their
respective companies, the men of which, with horses saddled
and arms by their side, slept in the open air on the ground,
as a precaution against the possibility of surprise.
Having ascertained definitely by scouts sent out in advance,
as he had anticipated, that there was no enemy at Nashville,
early on the morning of the 18th he resumed his march to-

102 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ward that city, where he arrived before midday with about
five hundred officers and men. Establishing his camp in the
suburbs, near the penitentiary, he then repaired to headquar
ters and reported in person to General Sidney Johnston. The
General was at the point of leaving for Murfreesboro, and
therefore directed Forrest to report to General Floyd, who
was left to remove to the rear all the subsistence and other
public property that could be done*
Reporting as directed without delay, orders were received
to employ his command, as soon as practicable, to patrol and
guard the interior of the city. So greatly fatigued and fagged
were his men, however, that he did not execute this order
until the next morning. But, meanwhile, all possible exer
tions were made to have his animals well shod. Appearing
on Thursday morning, the 20th, at headquarters in the city,
with his guards and patrol detachments, Forrest found Gene
ral Floyd about to quit the place, en route for Murfreesboro,
and orders were given him by that officer to remain until the
next afternoon, and then to follow.
Addressing himself ^ actively to his duty, according to his
wont, first looking to the question of supplies for his men,
Forrest found that all the officers of the quartermasters'
and commissary departments, except one,! had left their
depots, which were now scenes of spoliation by a ravenous
mob of thousands of men and women, including numerous
well-dressed people, evidently of the respectable classes ofthe
population. Riding among those thus engaged, he besought

* In regard to the orders given Gene- command at Nashville to forward sub-
ral Floyd, we have had access, by the sistence stores and whatever else of
kindness of Colonel E. W. Munford, public property he can. He is covered
Aid-de-Camp on staff of General John- by a heavy battery below town. Has
ston, of Memphis, to a memorandum Bowen's Regiment, (infantry,) Missis-
in the handwriting of General Johnston, sippi, Alabama, and Tennessee cavalry.
which says : " General Floyd is left in f Patton.

Mob Spoliations. 103
them to desist, so that stores collected and essential for the
army should be saved for military purposes, which he felt he
would have ample time yet to accomplish before the advent
of the enemy, and this he explained to the mob. But the
greedy populace were as deaf to his entreaties as heedless of
all mild efforts to clear the warehouses of their presence, and
he was compelled to employ force. The order accordingly
was given to charge with drawn sabres and expel the in
truders, and right effectively was it executed. The doors
were then closed and barred, and Forrest went elsewhere, to
make himself acquainted with the state of affairs. But, soon
learning that in his absence the depots had again been broken
open and were being pillaged, he returned, and once more
tried remonstrance with the marauders, whereupon one of
the most active, a stout Irishman, suddenly rushing upon,
seized him by the collar, swearing loudly that he and the
populace had as much right to the stores as Colonel Forrest
or any other person. Not the man to be thus " taken by the
beard," Forrest's revolver was quickly brought down in swift
contact with the ruffian's head, breaking his hold and sending
him howling with pain through the door. And again the
depots were cleared and placed under guard of small detach
ments of his men, and again Forrest left to attend to other
duties. But another and even more persistent effort than before
was soon made by the mob to overmaster the guards. A
happy thought suggested itself to Forrest — to use the effec
tive but harmless weapon of a steam fire-engine in dispersing
the crowd. Therefore, quickly bringing it upon the scene, a
powerful stream of ice-cold water was brought to bear upon
them. The suddenness and novelty of the attack had an in
stantaneous effect, and no further trouble was afterward en
countered from these incorrigible but baffled depredators.
Trains were now asked for by telegraph. Drays, carts, and

104 Campaigns of General Forrest.
all available wagons were impressed into the sendee, and set
to hauling these stores and a quantity of ammunition from
the arsenal to the railroad depot during Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday, so that by noon of the latter day he had ready
for transportation some six hundred boxes of clothing, two
hundred and fifty thousand pounds of bacon, forty wagon-loads
of ammunition. And the greater part of these supplies were
actually sent off by rail, while more would have followed but
for an untoward break on the road caused by a heavy freshet *
Directing Major Kelly, with the main part of the command,
to begin the movement on Murfreesboro Friday afternoon,
Forrest remained, with a small detachment, to save, if possi
ble, the remainder of the ammunition. Thus was he occupied
through Saturday and until Sunday morning, when the ad
vance of General Buell's column made its appearance, about
eleven a.m., in Edgefield, on the opposite bank of the Cum
berland. Soon thereafter they were there met by some of
the citizens, followed by the mayor, and negotiations for the
capitulation of the city were initiated.!
Some of the citizens now brought a request from the mayor
to Colonel Forrest to retire. As the last load of ammunition
was already en route from the arsenal to the depot, and a little
later the wagon-train having taken the Columbia turnpike, he
also rode away with his little party on the road to Murfrees
boro. In this affair assuredly were displayed many of the charac
teristic traits which subsequently, making Forrest so valuable
and distinguished, carried him to the grade of Lieutenant-
General in the Confederate States service. Cool in the pre-

* Some five hundred barrels and t General Buell did not come up
tierces of wines and liquors belonging until Monday evening, and the formal
to the Confederate government were de- surrender took place on Tuesday, the
stroyed at the railroad depot. 25th of February, 1862.

At Murfreesboro. 105
sence of confusion, clear in his comprehension of the possible,
untiring in his activity and personal energy, ready and afflu
ent in resources to remove or surmount obstacles that would
paralyze most men, by the exercise of these qualities on
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday he managed to rescue for
the use of the army large quantities, as we have shown, of
the munitions of war that had been abandoned by those
whose special duty it was to remove them. And in this
he rendered a service scarcely less in degree than that
wrought, with such intelligence, and endurance, and courage,
in front of Fort Donelson, and little short even of his escape
from its ill-starred precincts with five hundred brave and now
trained veteran troopers.
Moving with his accustomed celerity, Colonel Forrest
reached Murfreesboro Sunday night, and there rejoined his
men, now the objects of general commendation for their ex
ploits during the investment and their subsequent delivery
from the hard fate of a surrender after so much admirable
conduct. And, in this connection, it were unjust not to say
that he had been efficiently served by the mass of his men
and was happy in the assistance of many of his officers.
Throughout the scenes and events we have sought to sketch,
Major Kelly, his second in command, was both a willing and
capable soldier, quick and studious in the acquisition of mili
tary knowledge, as also of the highest courage. Of Captain
May we have already spoken. Captain Frank Overton, Lieu
tenant Jeffrey E. Forrest, and his Adjutant, Lieutenant Schuy
ler, rendered special aid, while all his officers, indeed, were as
zealous as brave in the discharge of their duties.
On the morning of the 23d, reporting to General Sidney
Johnston, Colonel Forrest received orders to proceed to
Huntsville with his regiment and there refit for duty, with
the privilege of giving his men a fortnight's furlough. This
indulgence gave the greatest satisfaction. It was attended,

106 Campaigns of Genef al Forres-'..
moreover, with the best moral effect and an enhanced effi
ciency ; for, at the expiration of their furloughs, all returned
with recruited outfits, and not a few with comrades also,
secured to swell their ranks and share the reputation already
beginning to cluster around " Forrest's Cavalry."
II.
It was on the ioth of March that the regiment reassembled
at Huntsville. At the same time a new company (D) was
added to its line, under Captain Jesse A. Forrest* Several
days later the regiment was ordered to and reached Iuka,
Miss., on the 16th, and thence seven miles westward to
Burnsville, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad There
another company (I) was added, under Captain C. N. Schuy
ler,! its late Adjutant, who had raised it, while on furlough, in
Fayette and Hardeman counties, Tennessee.
With ten companies now present, even in the absence of
Captain Gould's, which had failed to leave Fort Donelson, an
election was held to complete the regimental organization,
hitherto omitted in the press of active and urgent service in
the presence of the enemy. Forrest, of course, became Colo
nel by acclamation, Major Kelly was raised to the grade of
Lieutenant-Colonel, and Private R. M. Balch was chosen
Major. Sergeant-Major Strange was then appointed Adju
tant in the stead of Lieutenant Schuyler, who, as before men
tioned, had become a captain in the regiment.
Nothing of stirring character of moment occurred for the
next ten days, which were usefully occupied, however, with
drills, and the training of the men in the several duties of a
soldier's life, and that routine which, though irksome, adds so

* Enrolled at Memphis, with Jesse t C. N. Schuyler. Captain ; W. F.
A. Forrest, Captain, and W. W. Joyce Hancock, G. W. Buckingham, and S.
and D. C. Crook as Subalterns. A. Hoague, Subalterns.

Confederate Forces at Corinth. 107
much to the efficiency of military bodies. In the mean time,
also, the Confederate forces that had abandoned Kentucky
and Middle Tennessee were assembled by railroad from
Huntsville at Corinth, in North-Mississippi. Major-General
Polk's forces, from Columbus, Ky., and West-Tennessee, had
likewise been concentrated at the same place, as well as a
splendid corps under General Bragg, drawn from Pensacola
and New-Orleans, with the addition of some newly enrolled
Mississippi regiments. This force, at the instance of General
Beauregard, was reorganized during the last week of March
into three army corps.
The First, commanded by Major-General Polk, with an
effective aggregate of about ten thousand, was parceled into
two divisions, under Major-General Cheatham and Brigadier-
General Clarke respectively, of two brigades each.
The Second, under Major-General Bragg, was arranged also
in two divisions, commanded by Brigadier-Generals Withers
and Ruggles, with three brigades each, and an effective force
of fifteen thousand.
The Third, commanded by Major-General Hardee, was
formed of three brigades present at Corinth, and three, under
Brigadier-General Breckinridge, holding the line of the Mem
phis and Charleston Railroad, and numbering about thirteen
thousand five hundred effective men.
At the same time, the cavalry had a separate organization,
about four thousand five hundred strong, but was indifferently
armed for the most part, as well as very recently regimented.
The whole was under the chief command of General Sidney
Johnston, with Beauregard, as second in command, spe
cially charged with the preparation of the troops for an im
pending campaign. III.
While the Confederates were thus occupied, their adversary
had not been dilatory. General Grant, under orders from his

108 Campaigns of General Forrest.
superior, had proceeded, with the three divisions engaged in
the operations ending in the fall of Fort Donelson, and estab
lished himself at a point upon the west bank of the Tennessee
river, known as Pittsburg Landing. Here, too, he had been
followed soon by three other divisions of at least the same
strength, namely, those commanded by W. T. Sherman,
Hurlbut, and Prentiss* That is to say, the Federal force
consisted of six strong divisions, admirably armed and
equipped, several regiments of cavalry, and an unusually large
number of field batteries of the best description. Moreover,
Buell's Corps, of at least five heavy divisions, was known to
be rapidly converging to the same theatre of operations.!
Thus matters stood on the evening of the 2d of April :
Two considerable hostile armies had been brought within
eighteen miles of each other, with no physical barrier such as
a large river or mountain between them. The one not a
little elated by the success achieved at Fort Donelson, the
other anxious and impatient to efface the painful emotions
caused among their countrymen by that disaster.
' That evening, satisfied the time had come to spring upon
the enemy before Buell had effected a junction with Grant,
and, if possible, taking the latter by surprise, to crush him
before the former had come up, General Beauregard proposed
that such an operation should be attempted at once.J
Weighing with deliberation and great ability the reasons in
favor of such an adventure, as well as those that were op
posed — which, indeed, were neither few nor light — General
Johnston, about eleven o'clock that night, decided to put his

* Grant's original objective was the t One of these divisions (Mitchell's)
seizure and destruction of the railroad was diverted toward Huntsville.
junctions at Corinth. Vide official dis- 1 The present writer, the Adjutant-
patch of Major-General Halleck to Ma- General of the Confederate forces, bore
jor-General Buell, U.S.A., dated March the suggestion from General Beaure-
4th, 1862. gard to General Johnston.— T. J.

Campaign Preparations. 109
army in movement the following day, and trust its fortunes to
the " iron dice " of battle. Accordingly, the orders to that
end, issued at once by his Adjutant-General, were received by
his several corps commanders by forty minutes past one on
the morning of the 3d of April,* while a reserve was organ
ized, at the same time, of the three brigades under Breckin
ridge,! to move directly from Burnsville and join the main
body at a petty cross-road village called Monterey. And with
this last force Forrest was to move.
On the following day, the plan of march and battle, as pre
scribed in the General Order printed in the Appendix, was
discussed and arranged between Generals Johnston and
Beauregard4 The country to be traversed was thickly wooded, and the way
through it was by two or three very narrow roads, which made
it a most difficult affair to move such a force and the artillery
without confusion and hazardous delay. This process settled,
the details were explained orally to Generals Polk, Bragg, and
Hardee before midday by General Beauregard, and they were
then severally directed to begin the movements at once, as
provided for in regard to that day's operations. Nothing
could have been more inspiriting or of better presage than
the enthusiasm with which the whole army received the order
and entered upon the preparation for its execution. By noon,
the 3d of April, the whole Confederate army was under arms
and ready to begin the march. But from untoward causes
the first corps, though ready quite as early as one p.m., did
not get in motion so soon as had been expected, and did not
bivouac as far in advance as was desirable.

* That is, to hold their several corps in cartridge-boxes and sixty rounds in
in readiness to move at a moment's no- wagons.
tice, with three days' cooked subsistence t Hardee's Corps.
in their haversacks and two uncooked t See Appendix.
in wagons, forty rounds of ammunition

no Campaigns of General Forrest.
Moreover, the badness of the roads, caused by the fall of a
very heavy rain the night of the 3d, so retarded the movement
that Bragg's Corps was not able to advance the second day
further than Monterey, whereas it had been confidently anti
cipated by the night of the 4th the whole army would have
assembled in the vicinity of their antagonist*
Meanwhile, a force of Confederate cavalry had been, pushed
up, and somewhat injudiciously though boldly landed in the
immediate front of the Federal position. The original pur
pose was mainly to procure topographical information which
hitherto the Confederate Generals had been unable to acquire
of that region, and of which, indeed, they could learn nothing
definite.! Yet such was the spirit of officers and men, that
this movement was made so aggressively that it ought to have
warned the Federal General of what was impending ; but,
strangely enough, he remained imperturbably indifferent to
the plainest signs of the looming tempest.
Instead of being able to. attack Saturday morning, as anti
cipated, General Polk's Corps did not reach the vicinity of the
designated point of concentration until quite as late as two
o'clock Saturday afternoon, 5th of April. At least one division,
if not the whole of Bragg's Corps, was likewise inexplicably
tardy in movement on Saturday, though General Johnston,
through his staff, had made every effort to get his troops in
position for an attack that day. Supremely chagrined that he
had been balked in his just expectations, it was evidently now

* Nevertheless, it is hard to compre- for and their names designated to the
hend or rationally explain how it really Confederate War Department by Gene-
happened that Polk's and Bragg's ral Beauregard in the first week in
corps were so long in marching the February, 1862, but were not sent him
short distance from C orinth to Mon- for sixty days. To the need for such
terey. staff-officers with their armies the Con-
t For the want of staff-officers (To- federate War Administration was sin-
pographical Engineers) to make recon- gularly blind or heedless for at least the
noissances. They had been applied first year of the war.

Council of War. 1 1 1
too late for a decisive engagement that afternoon, so General
Johnston called his corps and reserve commanders together,
and a council was held within less than two miles of Shiloh
Chapel, the headquarters of the Federal General Sherman.*
It was now learned that many of the troops had improvi-
dently thrown away or consumed their provisions, and at the
end of three days were out of subsistence. General Bragg
promised, however, to remedy this from his alleged well-
stocked commissariat. But General Beauregard earnestly ad
vised the idea of attacking the enemy should be abandoned,
and that the whole force should return to Corinth, inasmuch
as it was now. scarcely possible they would be able to
take the Federals unawares after such delay and the noisy
demonstrations which had been made meanwhile. He urged
the enemy would be now found formidably intrenched and
ready for the attack. That success had depended on the
power to assail them unexpectedly, for they were superior
in numbers, and in large part had been under fire.! Cm
the other hand, few comparatively of the Confederates had
that advantage, while a large part were too raw and recently
enrolled to make it proper to venture them in an assault upon
breastworks which would now be thrown up.J And this un
questionably was the view of almost all present.
General Johnston, having listened with grave attention to
the views and opinions advanced, then remarked in substance

* The Federal Commander-in-Chief, precedent in the course of at least one
it appears, had gone that afternoon down illustrious soldier under very similar
the river to Savannah, some twelve circumstances. In 1810, Wellington,
miles distant moving out to attack Massena at San-
t Three of Grant's divisions had tarem, found the French general unex-
been at the taking of Fort Donelson, pectedly on his guard, and his position
or at least forty per cent of his whole stronger than he was led to believe.
force. He did not hesitate to withdraw with-
t In this advice, Beauregard had a out fighting.

112

Campaigns of General Forrest.

that he recognized the weight of the objections to an attack
under the circumstances involved by the unfortunate loss of
time on the road. But, nevertheless, he still hoped the ene
my was not looking for offensive operations, and that he
would yet be able to surprise them. And that, having put
his army in motion for a battle, he would venture the hazard*
This decision being announced, the officers rapidly dispersed
to their respective posts in high and hopeful spirits, notwith
standing the probabilities that all previous expectations of a
surprise would fail of accomplishment.!

* Before leaving Corinth, an address
to the Confederate troops had been
prepared and signed by General John
ston, which was read at the head of each
regiment of the several corps on the
night of the 4th or 5th of April. This
order has always been so grossly mis
printed that we shall reproduce a cor
rect version :
Headquarters Army of the
Mississippi,
Corinth, April 4, 1862.
Soldiers of the Army of the
Mississippi : I have put you in motion
to offer battle to the invaders of your
country. With the resolution, and
discipline, and valor becoming men
fighting, as you are, for all worth liv
ing or dying for, you can but march to
a decisive victory over the agrarian
mercenaries sent to subjugate and de
spoil you of your liberties, your proper
ty, your honor.
Remember the precious stake in
volved. Remember the dependence of
your mothers, your wives, your sisters,
and your children on the result Re
member the fair, broad, abounding

land, the happy homes that will be de
solated by your defeat The eyes and
hopes of eight millions of people rest
upon you. You are expected to show
yourselves worthy of your lineage, wor
thy of the women of the South, whose
noble devotion in this war has never
been exceeded in any time. With such
incentives to brave deeds, and with the
trust that God is with us, your generals
will lead you confidently to the combat,
assured of success.
(Signed) A. S. Johnston, •
General Commanding.
About the same time another order
was prepared and issued by General
Beauregard, touching the conduct of
the troops in the impending battle,
which, republished in Europe, was cha
racterized as a model for such occa
sions. It, too, was read at the heads
of regiments.
t Various melodramatic, imaginary
accounts of this council have been pub
lished, especially in works of Federal
origin. It may, therefore, be well to
mention that it actually took place, not
as has been described, but about four

General fohnston and Forrest. 113
Meanwhile, Colonel Forrest, as we have indicated, had
marched with Breckinridge as far as Monterey. There he
was detached, with orders to picket along and immediately
south of Lick creek, and accordingly slept Friday night with
in three miles of its mouth. During Saturday, having dis
posed his pickets, there was a good deal of unimportant but
lively skirmishing with those of the enemy on the other bank.
A company of Federal cavalry having also crossed by the
Hamburg road to that place, it was promptly driven back.
Leaving his regiment under command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Kelly, Forrest, late in the afternoon, rode, with characteristic
directness of purpose, to the headquarters of the Commander-
in-Chief, to ascertain what was on foot for the next day, and his
part in it. Meeting General Johnston, with whom he was a
favorite since Fort Donelson, after some general conversation
and instructions, the General took occasion to express his
strong confidence both in the regiment and its Colonel, and
his assurance that they would do their duty more than well in
the impending battle. They then parted cordially, to meet no
more alive.

p.m., and was held in the open air. All diately after the announcement of the
who took part met and stood on foot in Commanding General's decision, all
the road, surrounded, at a short dis- repaired to their several commands.
tance, by a number of staff-officers. There was no further conference that
They were Generals Johnston and night Even Generals Johnston and
Beauregard, Major-Generals Polk, Beauregard did not meet again until on
Bragg, and Hardee, and Brigadier- their horses as the movement was about
General Breckinridge. The confer- to be inaugurated.
cnce was of short duration, and, imme-

j^fe^fi-ae. j,j

CHAPTER IV.
Confederates in Battle Order by Dawn — In Movement, Hardee's Corps in
advance — Topographical Sketch of Theatre of Battle — Federal Forces
and Dispositions at the moment — Sherman 's and Prentiss's Divisions
taken completely by surprise — First Federal Line swept away —
Their Encampments and Artillery captured — General Gladden
killed — All Federal Forces engaged and forced back — Obstinate
Fighting, and Death of General Johnston — Federal Position carried,
with Loss of Artillery and 3000 Prisoners — Immense Number of
Stragglers under the River-Bank — Federals finally driven to the
Ridge overhanging Pittsburg — Timely Arrival of fresh Federal
Troops at Night— Cessation of Battle — Picket Service of Forrest's
Cavalry — Federals take the Offensive — Obstinate Battle until two
P.M. 7 tli of April — Confederates withdraw in admirable Order — Not
pursued— Combat of Forrest on the &th — Severely wounded— Com
mentaries.

April 1st to June 1st, 1862.
L/ESPITE the minute precautions urged in the order for
the day against all courses calculated to divulge to the enemy

Confederate Force. 115
the approaching danger, there had really been little circum
spection on the part of the Confederate soldiery, one third of
whom were fresh levies, wholly raw and undisciplined. Fires
had been kindled, drums, too, were lustily beaten in a number
of regiments, and scattering discharges of small-arms had been
kept up all night in most of the brigades, the men being ap
prehensive that otherwise the charges of their guns, possibly
wet, would fail them when needed. These with other noises
ought to have betrayed to the Federal Generals on the first
line the presence in front of more than a reconnoissance in
force. By three o'clock Tuesday morning, however, the Confede
rate army was all astir, and, after a hasty, scanty breakfast,
the lines were formed.
The Third Corps, under Major-General Hardee, 6789, artil
lery and infantry, augmented by Gladden's Brigade, 2235
strong, of Withers's Division, Second Corps, constituted the
first line, of about 8500 bayonets, deployed in battle order on
the grounds upon which they had bivouacked*
The second line, five hundred yards rearward, of some
10,000 bayonets, was formed of Ruggles's and two brigades of
Withers's Division ofthe Second Corps, under Major-General
Bragg! The artillery of both corps followed their respective
lines by the Pittsburg road.
The First Corps, of not more than 8500 bayonets, under
Major-General Polk, was drawn up in a column of brigades
deployed in line about eight hundred yards to the rear of

* Hardee's Corps was subdivided 10,731 infantry and artillery. Ruggles's
into Hindman's, Cleburn's, and Wood's Division consisted of Anderson's, Gib-
brigades. Effective total of artillery son's, and Pond's Brigades. The other
and infantry of this line was 9024. brigades, Withers's Division, were
t The actual total of this line was Chalmers's and J. K. Jackson's.

116 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Bragg* It was subdivided into two divisions of two brigades
each,! and, with the special reserve of three brigades under
Brigadier-General Breckinridge, about 6000 bayonets, consti
tuted a reserve for the support of the attacking lines as might
be needed on either flank.J
The cavalry, about 4300 strong, was distributed, for the
most part, to guard the flanks. With the exception of For
rest's and Wharton's (Eighth Texas) regiments, lately regi
mented, insufficiently armed, and wholly without drill, the
nature of the scene of operations rendered it almost valueless,
and only the two regiments mentioned took any material part
in the actions of either day.
About sunrise, accompanied by their respective staffs,
Generals Johnston and Beauregard met, in their saddles, at
the bivouac of the former, near Hardee's line, just about to
move forward. It was now near six o'clock, and in a few mo
ments later about 34,000 Confederate infantry, with some fifty
guns, were in movement, with a bearing never surpassed, to
fall upon their enemy — an enemy as yet undeveloped, but
known to be ensconced near at hand in the fog and forest, su
perior in numbers and equipments, for their many drums the
evening before had plainly told their formidable strength.
At first a heavy white mist hung low in the wooded valley
between Hardee and the supposed quarter of the enemy, and
into it plunged his sturdy men, not knowing nor caring what

* Actual total of infantry and artille- and artillery of 6439. We may here
ry was 9136. say, en passant, we vouch for the ac-
t Clark's Division forced of Rus- curacy with which the returns were
sell's and A. P. Stewart's brigades, compiled from which we have taken
and Cheatham's (a Major-General) of the strength of these corps, for they
B. R. Johnson's and Stevens's brigades, were made with especial care in the of-
% Breckinridge's Reserve was com- fice ofthe present writer, the Adjutant-
posed of Trabue's, Bowen's, and Stat- General of the Confederate Army en-
ham's brigades, with a total infantry gaged.

Theatre of Battle. 1 1 7
hostile force and appliances lay ready within to receive their
onset. To find that force as speedily as possible and over
whelm it was the errand upon which they and their emulous
comrades were afield so early.
Here a topographical sketch of the theatre of war may
serve to make more readily intelligible the occurrences and
vicissitudes of the battle. Two streams, Lick and Owl creeks,
taking their rise very near each other, just westward of Mon
terey, in a ridge which parts the waters that fall into the Mis
sissippi from those which are affluents of the Tennessee, flow
ing sinuously with a general direction, the latter to the north
east and the former south of east, finally empty into the Ten
nessee about four miles asunder.* Between these water
courses is embraced an area of undulating table-land, some
five miles in depth from the river-bank, from three to five
miles broad, and about one hundred feet above the low-water
level of the river. Intersected by a labyrinth of ravines, the
drainage is into Owl creek, as the land rises highest and ridge
like near Lick creek. Adjoining the river, these ravines,
deep and steep, have a water-shed in that direction. Recent
heavy rains had filled them all with springs and small streams,
making the soil boggy, and hence difficult for artillery for
much of their extent. - A primeval forest, cumbered with a
great deal of undergrowth, covered the region, except a few
•small farms, of fifty or seventy acres, scattered occasionally here
and there. Pittsburg Landing — a warehouse and a house or
two by the water's side — lay three miles below the mouth of
Lick creek. Two roads leading from Corinth, crossing Lick
creek about a mile apart, converge together about two miles
from the Landing. Other roads also approach from all direc
tions. One passing Owl creek by a bridge, before its junction

* Owl creek does not empty directly into the Tennessee, but into Snake creek

n8 Campaigns of General Forrest.
with Snake creek, branches, the one way trending westward to
ward Purdy, the other northward toward Crump's Landing, six
miles below Pittsburg. Another, nearer the river-bank
crossing Snake creek by a bridge, also connects the two
points. Though completely vailed at the moment from the sight of
their approaching enemy, it appears a Federal force of five
strong divisions occupied the space we have described, and
were thus disposed :
Three brigades of Sherman's Division, or nine regiments,
supported by eighteen guns and eight companies of cavalry,
stood directly across the upper Pittsburg road, facing south
ward. One of these brigades rested its right at the crossing
of Owl creek on the Purdy road, and the other two lay, the
one with its right, and the other with its left, near a rustic, log
" meeting-house," called Shiloh. There also were established
the headquarters of Sherman. In front of this position were
a ravine and rivulet, which gave some natural strength if
merely held with soldierly circumspection. As these regi
ments had but lately come from the depots and cantonments
of Ohio and Illinois, their ranks were doubtless full, and did
not fall short of a total of 7000 infantry, with 1 8 guns and 450
cavalry.* A fourth brigade of the same division, by an
anomalous arrangement, was posted, on the extreme Federal
left, at the crossing of the road from Pittsburg to Hamburg,
and only about a mile from the former landing.! The space
thus left was filled by the division of Prentiss, of some eight
or nine regiments, which we assume to have mustered as many

• These brigades were McDowell's, Fifty-third, Fifty-seventh, and Seventy-
oi Forty-sixth Ohio, Fortieth Illinois, seventh Ohio regiments.
and Sixth Iowa ; Buckland's, of Forty- t This brigade consisted of Fifty-fifth
eighth, Seventieth, and Twenty-second Illinois and Fifty-fourth and Seventieth
Ohio regiments ; and Hildebrand's, of Ohio, and was at least 2200 strong.

Federal Forces. i \ g
as 6000 bayonets, one third of whom, however, at the moment
of attack may have been detached at the landing* Another
division, that of McClernand's, of twelve regiments, ten of
which were entitled to wear " Fort Donelson" on their banners,
were in supporting distance of Sherman at the confluence of
the two Corinth roads. It assuredly did not fall below 7300
men.! A second line, to the rearward, was composed of Hurlbut's
and W. H. L. Wallace's (C. F. Smith's) divisions, the first of
which was stretched across the Corinth road, and the other
extended to the leftward in the direction of Stuart's Brigade.
on Lick creek. Five of Hurlbut's regiments had fought at
Fort Donelson. This division, in the studious absence of
official data, we may safely set down at 7500 bayonets.t Six
of Wallace's regiments also had assisted at Fort Donelson,
and not less than 7000 effectives did he command. In fine,
to recapitulate : Regiments. Men. Guns
Sherman's Division,  12 9,200 18
Prentiss's "  8 or 9 6,000 12
McClernand's " ..... 12 7,300 18
Hurlbut's "  12 7,500 18
Wallace's, W. H. L., Division, . . 12 7,000 18

Minimum Federal Infantry force, .... 37,000 84

•The regiments of which this division venth, Twentieth, Forty-fifth, and For
was formed we can not ascertain with ty-eighth Illinois ; Rait's Brigade, Se-
precision. venteenth, Twenty-ninth, Forty-third,
t Thanks to the correspondent of and Forty-ninth Illinois regiments.
the Cincinnati Gazette, we are able to The Thirteenth Iowa was 1017 strong,
fix the complete force of this division as stated in official report of the Colo-
as follows : Hare's Brigade, Eighth and nel.
Eighteenth Illinois, Eleventh and Thir- X It was constituted of the Four
teenth Iowa ; Marsh's Brigade, Ele- teenth, Fifteenth, Twenty-eighth, Thir-

120 Campaigns of General Forrest.
We find in such official reports as have reached us the
names of at least sixteen light batteries present and engaged,
also of four or five battalions of light cavalry, which would
swell the Federal army, about to be assaulted in their very
camps, to 40,000 men of all arms, with not less than 37,000
infantry, full forty per cent of whom were flushed with their
recent success at Fort Donelson. Nor was this all ; not more
than four or five miles from Tecumseh Sherman was Lew Wal
lace's Division, over 7000 strong and 12 guns.
It is bruited that both Generals Grant and Sherman felt
and expressed premonitions of the attack. Indeed, some feel-.
ing of that kind may have been in their minds ; for the great
poet says : " By a divine instinct men's minds mistrust
Ensuing danger ; as, by proof, we see
The waters swell before a boist'rous storm."
But in that event it is passing strange they did not take
even the ordinary precautions which habitually hedge an army
in the field. Instead of that, in sooth, there was no line of
infantry pickets in advance of the ordinary chain of sentinels ;
apparently no cavalry exterior either to Sherman or Prentiss,
and that invading army lay drowsily in its cosy encampments,
as if supremely confident no harm were threatening and no
disaster could befall it ! Many as yet were, in their blankets
fast asleep, many others washing and dressing, others cooking
their morning meal. Some were eating leisurely at bounteous
mess-chests, and the arms and accoutrements of all were
spread around in the orderless fashion of holiday soldiers.
Meanwhile, swiftly forward through the woods strode the

ty-second, Forty-first, and Forty-sixth Iowa. They were brigaaed under
Illinois ; Twenty-fifth, Thirty-first, and Veach, Lauman, and Williams. Two
Forty-fourth Indiana; Seventeenth and battalions of cavalry also belonged to
Twenty-fifth Kentucky, and Third this division.

The Storm Bursts. 121
Confederates. With an elastic tread, inspired by hope and
the fresh April morning air, they surged onward and foeward,
until, the mist gradually lifting, the sheen of the white tents,
their goal, might be seen through the trees. On poured the
living current of the Confederates. By a mischance their left
had not been thrown sufficiently near to Owl creek, so when
the collision came it was only with the left brigade (Hilde-
brand's) of Sherman's Division ; but it fell with overwhelming
force upon Prentiss from flank to flank. Their sentinels,
taken by surprise, were run in with barely time to discharge
their pieces. Just at their heels came the Confederates,
cheering heartily ; and so complete a surprise of an army has
not the like in history. Officers and men were killed or
wounded in their beds, and large numbers had not time to
clutch up either arms or accoutrements. Nevertheless, few
prisoners were taken, nor were many either killed or wound
ed in the first stage of the battle. Hildebrand's Brigade of
Ohioans, swept by the violence of the onslaught from their
encampment, scattered and was heard of no more as a bellige
rent organization on that field ! Prentis's's Division, rallying,
was formed in good time on a neighboring ridge, but, little
able to stand the torrent that streamed after it, was swept
further back. Meanwhile, Sherman's rightward brigades,
which escaped collision with Hardee, he had had time to form,
and with them right manfully did he strive to make head
against Ruggles's Divison of Bragg's Corps, that by this time
had come upon the scene and bore down vehemently upon
them. As we have said before, the position held by Sherman
was one of natural strength ; with a small water-course in
front, it afforded a converging fire upon the approaching Con
federates. McClernand, apprised of the attack, was also ad
vancing to support him. Such, however, was the vigor of the
assault that Sherman, with the loss of five or six guns, was
forced back just as McClernand came up. They were both

122 Campaigns of General Forrest.
then swept rearward near the line of the cross-road from Ham
burg to Purdy. There Sherman, with McClernand, gained a
foothold, and, with several batteries favorably posted, made
another stand on a thickly wooded ridge with a ravine in
front. But, speedily assailed by Ruggles and some of Polk's
brigades with a fury not to be withstood, the Federal line
again yielded, losing several pieces of artillery, and receding
to the position of McClernand's encampment.
About forty minutes past seven a.m., hearing the uproar in
front, Hurlbut also sent Veach's Brigade of his division to
support Sherman, and with his other two brigades moved
swiftly to the succor of Prentiss, who had called for aid.
With these went forward eight companies of cavalry and three
batteries. Prentiss's Division was met, however, in broken
fragments, which filtered through his lines as he formed in
the edge of a field, sheltered by timber and thick undergrowth,
near the Hamburg road, south of the position last taken by
Sherman and McClernand. There Hurlbut also was speedi
ly assailed by the Confederates, now reenforced in that quar
ter by Chalmers's and Jackson's brigades of Bragg's Corps ;
and such was the vehemence of the attack that he was soon
swept back with the loss of some artillery. Thus the whole
front line of Federal encampments was left in the hands of
their adversary, filled with equipage and baggage, the most
abundant and luxurious that ever encumbered any except an
oriental army.*
By this time both Cheatham's and Clark's divisions, Polk's
Corps, were also strenuously engaged, mainly on the left,
where Sherman was making able, desperate efforts to redeem

* The tents were full of new, capa- cies of vest-armor, of sheet-iron or steel,
cious trunks ; in many instances were whose owners had not had time to don
furnished with stoves, and the ground and test them.
around was thickly strewn with a spe-

All the Federals now in Action. 123
the losses of the morning. Several of his positions, as the
Federals drifted riverward, were quite strong, fronted by tan
gled ravines and affording thick cover, from which they poured
a desolating fire, that more than once checked the ardent press
of their adversaries. But gathering volume and resuming the
onset with fresh spirit, the Confederates still drove their ene
my nearer the river.
Wallace (W. H. L.) had soon become involved in the battle.
Manifestly a gallant soldier, he fought his division, men who
had been at Donelson, with decided stamina. Stuart's Bri
gade, Sherman's Division, had also been attacked, and the
Federal line of battle was pushed back to within a mile of the
Landing, and to the ground of their last encampments.
There were massed what remained of their artillery and the
fragments of Sherman's, Prentiss's, McClernand's, and Hurl
but's divisions, as well as Wallace's and Stuart's.
In the mean time, from the nature of the field — the net-work
of ravines, the interlaced thickets, and wide scope of forest —
the Confederate organizations had become greatly disordered.
Not only divisions and brigades had been dislocated, but regi
ments also ; and the troops of all three corps, in fact, were in
termingled. For the most part, confident of the issue and
bent on pressing toward the enemy, there was yet a lack of
harmonious movement. Superior officers led, with notable
courage, regiments or parts of brigades, and doubtless stimu
lated their men, not a little by their example, but at the same
time lost sight of the mass of their commands, which were
thus not infrequently left at a halt without orders and uncer
tain what to do. And this was the case with batteries also,
which, moreover, were too often employed singly*

0

* General Beauregara, through the teries in action and fight them twelve
present writer, had given special orders guns on a point.
to Chiefs of Artillery to mass their bat-

i24 Campaigns of General Forrest.
General Johnston, the Confederate Commander-in-Chief,
was now in the very front of the battle. Assured of a great
victory after the marvelous success of his planned surprise,
he now stimulated the onslaught by his personal presence on
the right, where the press was fiercest, the resistance the most
effective. More than once brigades that faltered, under the
inspiration of his leading bore back the enemy and wrested
the position fought for. As far as can be ascertained, Gene
ral Grant was not upon the immediate field earlier than mid
day. On Saturday afternoon he had gone to Savannah and
slept there. The sound of many cannon at Shiloh was his
first tiding of a hostile juncture at Pittsburg Landing ; but
even that was scarcely regarded as the announcement of a
serious battle, for one of Buell's divisions, Nelson's, lay at Sa
vannah, and, as he was leaving for Pittsburg, General Grant
merely ordered that division to march thither by the nearest
road. However, as the Federal General steamed toward the
scene, the banks of the river were soon found alive with his
men, fleeing from the danger which so early that morning had
routed them from their comfortable beds* When, too, he
reached Pittsburg, it was to find his whole front line surprised,
overwhelmed, routed, and the ravines and river-bank adjacent
packed with thousands of crouching fugitives. These were
not to be rallied nor reorganized, not to be incited to return
to the side of their imperiled comrades who still battled man
fully, and by cooperation make an effort to recover the for
tunes of the day.
Within the hollows and on the slopes and flat ridges of that
circumscribed Tennessee woodland at least sixty thousand
muskets and rifles were now at the dire work of carnage in
the hands of sixty thousand men, in whom burned all the

* Agate.— Cincinnati Gazette, Reb. Rec. Doc. 114.

Death of General Gladden. 125
" Fierce fever of the steel,
The guilty madness warriors feel."*
The sun had dissipated the fog, and shone bright and warm
through the young budding foliage. But the continuous roll,
roar, and blaze of small-arms, the hurtle, shriek, and crash of
rifle projectiles through the trees, the explosion of shells, the
louder discharges and reverberations of more than a hundred
cannon, and the hoarse cheers and shouts of the Confederates
filled every nook of the forest wiih the varied, commingled
clamors of one of the bloodiest of modern battles.
Earlier, General Gladden, at the head of his brigade, in the
first line, had fallen mortally hurt. A merchant in New-Or
leans when the revolution began, full of martial instincts as
well as love of the section of his birth, A. H. Gladden was
among the first to take up arms. With some soldierly expe
rience as an officer of the gallant Palmetto Regiment of South-
Carolina in the war with Mexico, his military worth was soon
apparent, and he had risen to the command of a brigade.
This he disciplined in such fashion as to show in what sol
dierly shape the splendid war personnel of his countrymen
could be readily moulded by men fit to lead them. Soon after
Gladden was cut down in the rich promise of his career, his
brigade faltered under a desolating fire. Its new commander,
Colonel Daniel W. Adams, seizing a battle-flag, placed him
self in front of his staggering ranks and rode forward upon
the enemy.! His men, animated by the act, grew steady, re
sumed the charge, and carried the disputed ground, with

• Sandt amor ferri, et scelerata insania belli. Virgil.
t Each Confederate regiment had * red field, of Hardee's a white medallion
corps battle-flag. Those of Bragg's on a blue field.
and Polk's corps were a blue cross on a

126 Campaigns of General Forrest.
seven stands of colors taken from Prentiss's Division. In
another part of the field similar examples were multiplied.
Brigadier-General Hindman, about ten a.m., pressing his bri
gade forward, with notable nerve, constantly close upon the
enemy, drew down an overwhelming storm of fire, under which
he was severely wounded after conspicuous conduct, and the
brigade for a time wavered and recoiled. There was abundant
intrepidity in leading everywhere ;* but, unfortunately for the
Confederate cause, too little knowledge of the right way to
handle regiments, brigades, divisions, even corps, to secure
that massing of troops, those weighty blows which achieve
decisive victories. Though, indeed, there were far too many
stragglers who ignobly shrunk from the victorious edge of
battle, many going back even to Corinth that night, yet every
where there was the largest measure of sturdy fighting by
regiments, brigades, and parts of divisions. But, notwith
standing the wreck of Sherman's, Prentiss's, and McCler
nand's divisions were now crowded back upon the line of
Wallace's (W. H. L.) and Hurlbut's divisions — that is to say,
a short line scarcely a mile from the river, — and though the
corps of Hardee, Bragg, and Polk, with Breckinridge not far
off, were in their immediate front, there was no concerted con
centration of these triumphant corps respectively, much less
of the whole mass, for a well-timed, overwhelming blow at the
now sorely crippled, dispirited enemy. And, as a conse
quence, with Sherman among them doing all possible in the
exigency, the Federals were enabled to protract their defense
against the desultory onsets with which they were assailed
for the next hour or two.

* Both the division commanders of rals B. R. Johnson and Bowen were also
Eolk's Corps were wounded, General wounded on Sunday. General Hardee
Clark severely, and General Cheatham likewise was slightly wounded, and Gen-
had three horses shot under him. Gene- eral Bragg had two horses killed.

Charge by Forrest's Cavalry. 127
During the occurrences which we have related, Colonel
Forrest had thrown his regiment, as soon as he heard the in
auguration of the battle, across Lick creek, and, pressing up,
held it on the Confederate right flank, ready for orders, for
which he sent at once to the Commander-in-Chief. About
eleven o'clock the enemy, as we have seen, having been forced
back to their second line, he received an order to move his
regiment onward to the front. This he executed at a gallop.
Not finding the General there, or further orders, he pushed
ahead to the point where the infantry seemed most obstinately
engaged. It was near the centre of the line, and, on reaching
the scene, Forrest found that Cheatham's Division had just
received a temporary check. With his wonted impatience of
the least delay, he at once proposed to Cheatham to join in
an immediate charge across an open field in their front. To
this, Cheatham, whose men for several hours previously had
been breasting a tempest of artillery and musketry fire, de
murred for the moment, as his men required some rest. For
rest's men, being mounted, were nearly as much exposed to
an annoying fire where they stood — a fair mark,— as in a
charge, and Forrest determined to make one. Forming in a
column of fours, the order to charge was given, and on they
dashed, at a splendid pace, full in the face of a withering fire
of small and large arms. A number of horses fell in a few in
stants, and several of the men ;* but on they sped, heedless of
the breaks in their column, up to within forty paces of the
Federal line, when the advance became entangled in an im
practicable morass across their path, from which it became
impossible to extricate some of the horses. The boldness of
this movement, however, appeared to produce some effect

• We are only able to mention the greatly esteemed in society and son of
name of young John Apperson, slain one of the prominent citizens of Mem-
at this juncture, a young gentleman phis.

128 Campaigns of General Forrest.
upon the enemy, and, Cheatham advancing with his indomita
ble division about the same time, the Federals, after some re
sistance, were borne rearward again in a good deal of confu-'
sion. Forrest now, having made a detour around the marsh,
galloped through the infantry and threw his regiment upon
the disordered mass of Federals, with the effect to scatter
them a good deal more and hurry their pace, manifestly, to
ward the river.
Meanwhile, to the rightward, the Confederate General-in-
Chief, taking part at a critical juncture in the charge of a bri
gade, and by his intrepid presence giving a resistless momen
tum to the onset, received a rifle-wound in the leg, — a mortal
wound, as it proved, presently, for the want of timely surgical
aid. The Governor of Tennessee, by his side when struck,
caught the fainting soldier in his arms as he sunk from his
saddle, ' exhausted by an apparently painless loss of blood*
A moment after, his aid-de-camp and brother-in-law, Colonel
William Preston, of Kentucky, came up, and Sidney John
ston, with scarce a murmur, died in his arms. The scene
of this untoward death was a wooded, secluded hollow, and the
loss of their chief was not known to the Confederate army
until that night, nor even generally then.!

* Governor Isham G. Harris was by soldier as the subject requires. We may,
the side of General Johnston all day however, contribute one fact to the fu-
up to the moment of his death. On ture biography of a lofty-natured man.
Monday he remained with General In a conversation which General
Beauregard, except when carrying or- Johnston had, late Saturday night, with
ders to the most critical parts of the the present writer, he mentioned that,
field. His calm, collected courage at- though General Sumner had been sent
tracted general attention, as subse- by steamer by way of Panama, under
quently on other bloody fields of the an assumed name, (as we knew and in-
West- formed General Johnston,) to relieve
t It is not within the scope of these him in California, his former Adjutant-
pages to attempt such a sketch of this General, Fitz- John Porter, had been
accomplished General and chivalrous authorized to write a letter by the over-

Fold out

Sketch of General Johnston. 129
About the time of this calamity the reserves under Breck
inridge were thrown vigorously into action. Bragg had ap
plied, through his Aid, Colonel Urquhart, for a diversion to

land mail, to hold up to him the glitter
ing promise of the highest command
within the gift of the Federal Govern
ment There is no question that,
though they were led to relieve him
from duty on the Pacific coast, it was
nevertheless the wish to retain his ser
vices, and, could that have been effect
ed, he would have been Commander-
in-Chief of the United States forces in
the field. It will suffice here to state
that, born in 1803, in Kentucky, Gene
ral Johnston was about fifty-nine years
of age when he fell. Graduating at
West-Point in 1826, he served in the
army until 1834, when he resigned.
Two years later, going to Texas, he
soon became Commander-in-Chief of
the Texas forces in the war with Mexi
co. Quitting public life, however, after
several years, Sidnev Johnston became
a planter until 1846, when, Texas hav
ing been annexed to the United States,
and there being a war on that account,
he was made Colonel of a regiment of
volunteers from the State of Texas, and
served under General Taylor, with
whom he stood so high that that sol
dier urged upon his Government his
appointment as a Brigadier-General,
and ultimately, when President, re
stored him to the regular army as a
Major of the Paymaster's staff. In
1856, Mr. Davis, then Secretary of
War, made him the Colonel of the Se
cond Cavalry, just added to the army.
Under the following administration he
was placed in command of the large

force sent to repress the insubordinate
courses of the Mormons, and acted
with so rare a discretion mingled with
firmness as to give great satisfaction to
the country. After that he was assigned
to command ofthe department of Cali
fornia. No man stood in so high esti
mation generally in the army at that
time, after General Scott. Later, feeling
it his duty to take part with Texas in
the war for independence, he resigned,
and, by the route across through South
ern California, Arizona, and Texas,
with great difficulty succeeded in reach
ing the seat of the Confederate Govern
ment He was at once made the se
cond in rank of the five Generals of the
Confederate Army, and assigned to the
command of affairs in Tennessee and
Kentucky. The official announcement
to the army of his death, expressing the
feeling excited by the event at the time,
bearing date April 10th, 1862, at Co
rinth, is as follows :
Soldiers : Your late Commander-
in-Chief, A. S. Johnston, is dead. A
fearless soldier, a sagacious captain, a
reproachless man has fallen. One who
in his devotion to our cause shrunk
from no sacrifice ; one who, animated
by a sense of duty and sustained by a
sublime courage, challenged danger
and perished gallantly for his country
while leading forward his brave columns
to victory. His signal example of he
roism and patriotism, if generally imi
tated, will make this army invincible.
A grateful country will mourn his loss,

130 Campaigns of General Forrest.
his rightward against some batteries which were distressing
his front and keeping his men at bay. Breckinridge's bri
gades were drawn up on the gentler part of the slope of a
ridge when the order for their advance was given. Clad in a
dark blouse, he sat on his horse, surrounded by his staff, more
like an equestrian statue than a living man, except the fiery
gleam in his dark eyes as he received the order. In front
was to be seen a Federal camp in the open woods, apparently
quiet and without an inmate. Indeed, the stillness seemed
ominous, and just ahead was an open field bordered by a dense
thicket. Through the camp pressed the Kentuckians and
into the open field, and still there was silence ; but not long,
for a few steps beyond a hissing stream and flame of mus
ketry burst at their breasts, mowing their ranks fearfully and
heaping the ground with the dead and wounded. There was
a momentary check and they gave back to the woods, while a
storm of bullets rattled through the trees far behind, reaching
in profusion even a battery posted in another encampment a
half of a mile to the rear. But only for a little while did
the Kentuckians recede. Closing their thinned ranks and
animated by their officers, they retook the advance, and their
adversaries were forced back, yet with not a little stubborn
ness and desperate fighting, on favorable ground.
By this time, Withers's Division, of Bragg's Corps, as well
as Breckinridge's reserves, mingled with portions of Hardee's
men, were all massed on the Confederate right in the quarter
of Lick creek. General Bragg also, as he tells us, was there
in person and assumed command.* Giving, he says, " a com
mon head and a common purpose to the whole," he launched

revere his name, and cherish his many • General Bragg's Report, p. 198,
virtues. Official Reports of Battles, Richmond,
(Signed) G. T. Beauregard, ya., 1862.
General Commanding.

Massing of Federal Artillery. 131
them with a resistless weight at the enemy, who now gave
way and on all sides were forced from the line of Wallace's
and Hurlbut's encampments, leaving behind more of their
artillery and three thousand prisoners, chiefly of Prentiss's
Division, in the hands of their assailants * At the same
time, on the centre and left, Polk's divisions, with Ruggles's
divisions of Bragg, and some of Hardee's also, made no less
strenuous efforts to close the battle. Those of the routed
Federals who were not killed or captured dropped back in
great confusion toward the Landing. Some were rallied upon
the ridge immediately overhanging the Landing, but large
masses were added to the already dense mob of fugitives hud
dled below the bank.
But, meanwhile, Colonel Webster, chief of the Federal staff,
an officer of the regulars, who knew his profession, observing
the mortal peril of his people, had gathered upon that ridge
all the guns available, including some 32-pounders and a bat
tery of 20-pounder Parrotts, or in all twenty-two pieces, which
he manned with gunners from the least demoralized of the run
aways. Soon, too, the remains of the field-batteries were
a'dded, and some fifty guns were massed upon this eminence
about five p.m., with a field of fire sweeping all the approaches
to the river.! The position was strong ; timber and under
growth gave shelter for the artillery and their support, while
a deep ravine separated it from the table-land over which it
dominated ; tangled brushwood obstructed its steep slopes,
and on or behind this position, as we have said, took final; re
fuge the entire Federal force except the remains of one of
Sherman's brigades, which appear to have drifted off with

* ¦

1 Embracing the organizations ofthe t Some Federal writers place these
Eighth, Twelfth, and Fourteenth Iowa, guns as high as sixty.
and Fifty-eighth Illinois regiments.— P.
89 Coppee's Grant and his Campaigns.

132 Campaigns of General Forrest.
their General to the vicinity of the bridge across Snake creek,
on the road to Crump's Landing, and, not being followed, he
established them there undisturbed, — with the rear open for
retreat, in an emergency, northward.
The air now resounded with hearty shouts of natural ex
ultation on the part of the victorious Confederates, and, hav
ing established his headquarters in advance of Shiloh, General
Beauregard, through his staff, urged the forward propulsion
of the whole force upon the shattered fragments of the enemy.
Unfortunately, however, the Federal encampments were ple
thoric with food most tempting to hungry men, as well as
with clothing and other alluring spoil ; the thick woods, too,
had greatly disintegrated almost every regiment, so that none
of the divisions confronted in an embodied form the last posi
tion that remained between them and the deep, broad waters
of the Tennessee. The superior officers present, howbeit,
collected the men immediately around them, of whatsoever
corps. Tired, hungry, and exhausted as were the Confede
rates, nevertheless a number of determined separate efforts
were made by them, during the remaining hour of daylight, to
wrench their last foothold from their elsewhere beaten adver
sary. But, meanwhile, at five p.m., Ammen's Brigade, of
Nelson's Division, had been thrown across the river and
established by Buell as a support of Webster's powerful bat
tery ;* and the Federals, like a rat brought to bay in a corner
from which there is no escape, fought with all the desperation
of that animal under similar circumstances, knowing, more
over, that night with its shield of darkness, and ample succor
were close at hand.
The character of these last assaults on the part of the Con
federates, and their fruitless results, with the causes which

* Nelson's Official Report, Reb. Rec. IV. Doc 114.

Abortive Assaults. 133
wrought their failure, may be best illustrated by what .befell
Colonel Mouton and the Eighteenth Louisiana Infantry.
After four p.m. he was ordered to charge "a battery on a
hill," some six hundred yards in his front. Advancing " un
supported," the regiment soon became uncovered and exposed
to a cross-fire from the battery and its supports. Neverthe
less, these dauntless Louisianians, well led, pressed up to
within seventy yards of the Federal guns, but were then
beaten back, leaving two hundred and seven of their numbers
either dead or hors-de-combat on the ground.*
Another characteristic essay was made on the extreme
Confederate right by General Chalmers, with his own and a
part of J. K. Jackson's Brigade, to press forward to the Land
ing. But in attempting, as Mouton had done, " to mount the
last ridge," they were met by a " fire from a whole line of bat
teries, protected by infantry, and assisted by shells from the
gunboats."! The Confederates, however, stoutly persisted in
storming the steep hill-side despite the impediments with
which it bristled, and " made charge after charge without suc
cess, until night closed hostilities." \ This tells the story of the
closing scene, — tells how a series of disjointed attacks at that
late hour upon a battery of over fifty pieces by fragmentary
bodies of men who had already been embattled for ten hours
without respite, failed necessarily. §
General Beauregard, in the mean time, observing the ex-

• Official Reports of Battles, pp. 307- § Official Reports of Battles, pp. 211
311. to 312, Richmond, Va., 1862; vide Re-
t General Grant, in his official re- ports of Chalmers, Patton Anderson,
port, alleges that, in effecting the re- Pond, Gibson, Hodge, Moore, Joseph
pulse on this last position, " much is Wheeler Deas, Looney, Reichard, Fa-
due to the presence of the gunboats gan, Stanly, Mouton, Chadwick, Jones,
Tyler and Lexington." Clack, Dubrocoa, etc.
1 Official Report of General Chal
mers.

134 Campaigns of General Forrest.
hausted, widely-scattered condition of his army, directed it to
be brought out of battle, collected and restored to order as
far as practicable, and to occupy for the night the captured
encampments of the enemy. This, however, had already been
done in chief part by the officers in immediate command of
the troops before the order was generally distributed*
Foremost in the pursuit that followed the defeat of the
Federals at their second line, it remains to be said, were For
rest and his regiment. They assisted in the capture of Pren
tiss's men, and, being mounted, as well as comparatively fresh,
led the advance upon the ridge where the battery was estab
lished. Despite the efforts of the Federal officers, such was
the confusion prevalent as Forrest began to skirmish vigor
ously that he sent a staff-officer to report to General Polk
(from whom he had last received orders) that, by a strong,
rapid forward movement, the enemy might be driven into the
river. Soon, however, the battery on the ridge opened with
a general salvo, and the gunboats threw their ponderous shells
in the thick of the up-coming mass of Confederates with such
profusion that General Polk ordered the cavalry to take shel
ter in the wooded ravine which, beginning at the river just
above the Landing, extends around the battery-ridge and for
more than a mile westwardly. Here, however, they were ex
posed to a raking fire from the gunboats, and the artillery of

* This was especially so, it is to be calling them. It is proper to state that
noted, with Bragg's Corps. Yet, odd- General Bragg's report, though bearing
ly enough, General Bragg in his own date of 30th of April, 1862, and osten-
official report ventures to state that his sibly made to General Beauregard
men, though greatly exhausted, were through the present writer, was not
about to charge with great alacrity transmitted as addressed, but directly
upon the last position, and most pro- by General Bragg, on the 25th of July,
bably would have carried it, when 1862, to General Cooper, Adjutant-
Beauregard's order was received re- General C. S. A., Richmond.

Confederates hold the Field. 135
both sides playing over their heads, until night brought the
cessation of the conflict.*
All the encampments that had been occupied by the five
Federal divisions were now in possession of their adversary.
They were full of the rich, opportune spoils of war, including
many thousand stands of arms, all the blankets and baggage
of the whole force, their subsistence, their hospital stores,
means of transportation to a great extent, and large stores of
ammunition. But so great was the lassitude and fatigue of
the Confederates that all which could be done was to glean
food sufficient for their supper, for which, indeed, all were de
pendent upon what they could, thus find. The prisoners, how
ever, were collected together during the night not far from
Shiloh church, where Generals Beauregard and Bragg estab
lished their headquarters. There, after a time, the former had
an interview with his corps commanders, and received brief
oral reports of the operations of the day.
Among the prisoners was General Prentiss himself, who
had much to say touching the ultimate issue of the affair,
which he asserted was by no means terminated with the dis
asters of that untoward day ; for Buell, he stated, would
effect a junction that night, the fight would break out the next
morning with renewed vigor, and all losses would be re
covered. At the moment, however, this was regarded as idle
talk, for an official telegraphic dispatch, addressed to General
Johnston from near Florence, was forwarded to the field from
Corinth, announcing that Buell was moving with his whole

• Willie M. Forrest, the only child of they came upon fifteen or twenty Fede-
the General, a lad of fifteen years of ral soldiers. Firing upon the group
age, was with his father during the day, with their shot-guns, these boys then
but, with two other comrades of the charged, and captured, and led away
same age, happening to get detached, some fifteen prisoners, whom they de-
made their way to the river, near which livered up to the provost-marshal.

136 Campaigns of General Forrest.
force upon Florence. Emanating from a reliable officer
placed there in observation, whose scouts had doubtless mis
taken the movement of Mitchell's Division for the whole of
Buell's army, it was credited, and Buell's timely junction with
General Grant was accordingly deemed impossible. There
fore the capture of the latter was regarded at Confederate
headquarters as inevitable the next day, as soon as all the
scattered Confederate reserves could be brought to bear for a
concentrated effort. Meanwhile, night had shrouded the
bloody field in darkness ; a deep silence had settled upon the
scene of so much carnage, — a silence only broken through the
night by the regular discharges of the heavy naval guns, the
explosions of the shells, and by the low wails and moans of
the wounded, of whom more than ten thousand, of both armies,
were spread over the battle-field. Such, however, of the Con
federate soldiery as could find shelter from a heavy rain slept
undisturbed and hopeful of the fullest fruition of a great vic
tory on the morrow. II.
On withdrawing from the ravine in which nightfall had left
him, Colonel Forrest, finding no superior at hand from whom
to seek orders, with his habitual self-reliance looked at once
for forage and food, and happily found both in a Federal camp
near by. Afterward he threw out a squadron as pickets,
confronting, as close as possible, those of the enemy, on a
stretch of a mile across to Owl creek. He also dispatched
Lieutenant Sheridan, (May's old company,) with other scouts
clad in Federal cavalry overcoats, to reconnoitre within the
precincts of the enemy's lines. Completely successful, in
an hour Sheridan returned and reported that, reaching
the Landing, he had seen heavy reenforcements coming
rapidly by water. Also, in his opinion, such was the disor
der prevailing that, if an attack were made in full force at

Forrest Reported Federal Reenforcements. 137
once, they might be readily pushed into the river ! Forrest,
ever a man of prompt action, mounted his horse instantly to
convey this startling intelligence to the nearest corps com
mander ; and, soon coming upon Generals Hardee and Breck
inridge, made known what his scouts announced. He also
bluntly added his opinion that either the Confederates should
immediately resume the battle or quit the field to avoid a
damaging conflict with overwhelming odds. Hardee directed
him to communicate his information to General Beauregard,
and with that object he rode forth again ; but after a diligent
search through the woods and darkness, unable to find that
General, he became so deeply solicitous that he hurried back
to his pickets. Finding all quiet, he again dispatched his
scouts within the Federal lines. It was two o'clock a.m. be
fore they returned and reported the continued arrival of fresh
troops. Again Forrest repaired and reported to General
Hardee the state of affairs, but was instructed to return to
his regiment, keep up a vigilant, strong picket-line, and re
port all hostile movements. All the while, every few min
utes through the night, two gunboats had been sedulously
throwing their dread " bolted-thunder" directly over Forrest's
bivouac, murdering sleep, weary and drowsy as all his men
were. III.
By seven p.m., Nelson's other brigades had crossed the
Tennessee, and, with the one that so materially helped— with
Webster's opportunely posted battery— to save the Federal
army from utter overthrow, were at once thrown forward by
General Buell as a shield between General Grant's army and
the Confederates* Crittenden's Division likewise came up

* This division was formed of Am- and Thirty-sixth Indiana, the First,
men's, Bruce's, ahd Hazen's brigades, Second, Sixth, and Twentieth Ken-
embracing Sixth, Ninth, Twenty-fourth, tucky, and Forty-first Ohio regiments.

138 Campaigns of General Forrest.
from Savannah by water not long after, and was promptly
established in the same manner on Nelson's right.* More
over, Lew Wallace, strangely unable to find the road battle-
ward amid the thunder peals of more than a hundred cannon
within six miles of him, as soon as the dusky shadows and the
quiet of night had supervened, found a way to the south bank
of Snake creek and to a position there commanding the
bridge, and by chance, too, in the neighborhood of Sherman,
with the shreds or odds and ends of his own and other divi
sions that had rallied around him.! One of McCook's bri
gades (Rousseau's) also reached the scene about sunrise, and
the other two were near at hand.J
Thus were marshaled there or near at hand, ready to take
the offensive against the victors of the day before, 25,000
fresh Federal troops, three battalions of which were regulars.
On the Confederate side, to meet such an onset, there was
not a man who had not fought steadfastly for the greater part
of Sunday.§ In addition to the many stragglers incident to
all battles, the casualties did not fall short of 6500 officers and
men, so that not more than 20,000 Confederate infantry could

* .

"Apparently of two brigades, (Boyle's ninth, Thirtieth, Thirty-second, and
and W. S. Smith's,) including Ninth, Thirty-ninth Indiana, Fifteenth and
Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Twenty-sixth Forty-ninth Ohio, Twenty-fourth Illi-
Kentucky, and Thirteenth, Nineteenth, nois, and Seventy-seventh Pennsylva-
Fifty-ninth, and another Ohio regiment. nia regiments. We find the details of
t Smith's, Thayer's, and Whittlesey's these regiments of Wallace's, Nelson's,
brigades, Eleventh, Twenty-third, and Crittenden's, and McCook's brigades
Twenty-fourth Indiana, Twentieth, in letter of "Agate," Rcb. Rec. IV.
Twenty-third, Fifty-sixth, Sixty-eighth, Doc 114.
Seventy-sixth, and Seventy-eighth § A Tennessee Confederate regiment
Ohio, Eighth Missouri, and First Nc- (Hill's) reached the field Sunday, and
braska regiments. was fun,.ished with arms and accoutre.
t McCook's Division was formed in ments picked up there. Its good con-
three brigades, Rousseau's, Johnson's, duct was conspicuous.
and Kirk's, with the Sixth, Twenty-

Federals Assume tlie Offensive. 139
have been found to answer to their names that morning.
Scattered widely, the regiments of the brigades of Bragg's
and Hardee's Corps had slept here and there among the cap
tured encampments, wheresoever they could find subsistence.
Polk's Corps had been embodied to some degree, and led
during the night by their General rearward at least a mile
and a half beyond Shiloh toward Corinth.
In haste to efface the tarnish of the arrant disaster inflicted
on his army on Sunday, with all the attending completeness
of the surprise, General Grant did not await the advent of
Buell's other divisions, but directed the offensive to be as
sumed at dawn. An accomplished soldier, martial by nature,
acquainted with the theory of grand operations, and well
practiced as a staff and line officer, General Buell had known
how to make soldiers of his men, formidable soldiers to the
scorched, battle-jaded Confederates whom they were about
to engage.
From his line of observation, Forrest discovered the first
movement of the enemy, just before day, a tentative advance
of some pickets, as if to feel for an enemy. His men were
now generally clothed in Federal cavalry overcoats, found in
their encampment of the night. These misled the Federal
pickets, some fifty of whom were presently captured. About
half-past five a.m., however, a swarm of skirmishers were flung
boldly forward by Nelson. These Forrest engaged as he fell
back slowly upon the infantry, — then being collected some
what rearward — and behind whom, at seven a.m., General
Hardee directed him finally to retire. The sound of so much
musketry at the front by this time had announced, plainly
enough, the advent upon the theatre of war of Buell's army,
and a desperate struggle for the fruits of yesterday's hard-
earned triumph. All, as we have said, were greatly fatigued,
and under the influence also of that extreme lassitude which
follows every great exaltation ; nevertheless the reaction was

140 Campaigns of General Forrest.
immediate, and with the utmost alacrity the Confederates
sprang once more into serried ranks, bent on a manful effort
to hold what they had won.
Chalmers's Brigade, with a part of J. K. Jackson's, under
Wheeler, in advance, in front of Nelson, were the first to be
come engaged. Nelson came out with vigor, and the Confe
derates retired slowly to concentrate their strength. By eight
o'clock, Hardee, however, had massed in that quarter a num
ber of his own corps, as well as Withers's Division of Bragg's,
and the combat began in good earnest. Nelson now found
a lion in his path, but Hazen's Brigade pushed forward with
decided pluck, and the Confederates were driven from their
position with the loss of a battery. A well-timed concentration,
however, enabled the Confederates to hurl Hazen back from
his prey, and in turn pressed Nelson so sorely that by nine
a.m. he was calling lustily for aid.* In this affair the Confede
rate officers led their ranks notably. Chalmers, seizing the
colors of a regiment as his brigade wavered, rode forward, the
men rallied, and, resuming the offensive, carried the contested
point. At the same time, Colonel Wheeler did the like
with the flag of the Nineteenth Alabama ;! and Lieutenant-
Colonel W. A. Rankin, of Mississippi, lost his life, giving
a conspicuous example of determined courage to his regi
ment. Nelson was reenforced by Terrell's Battery, (regulars,) and
a portion of Crittenden's Division, and an obstinate struggle
for the mastery of this part of the field raged until about one
p.m. But neither party gained any material advantage, except
Terrell's Battery was so cut up that he had to assist as a gun
ner at one of his pieces, and the battery narrowly escaped
capture.

* Reb. Ree. IV. Doc 114, p. 397.
t Subsequently Major-General Wheeler of the Cavalry.

Progress of the Battle. 14 T
Crittenden by this time was likewise hotly engaged in the
immediate centre, and on his right were arrayed several thou
sand of Grant's troops, under McClernand. The Confede
rates on his front, at first retiring to concentrate at his ad
vance, finally rebounded, as upon Nelson, with as great ardor
and cheering as heartily as the day before in the full tide of
their brilliant success. And as Nelson was borne back, so
was Crittenden by the same refluent wave.*
One of McCook's brigades, under Rousseau, leavened by
three battalions of regulars, had been on the field as early as
daylight, on the right of Crittenden, neighboring Sherman and
Lew Wallace. His other brigades reached and took position
about ten o'clock ; and just about the same time Polk's Corps
coming up from the rear, on the Confederate side, entered
the battle in splendid order and spirit.
Grant's shattered forces, on Sunday night, had been reor
ganized into three divisions, of a decidedly composite character,
under Sherman, McClernand, and Hurlbut. Four or five
thousand of these men were brought up under McClernand,
as we have said, between Crittenden and McCook, and about
ten o'clock, several thousand more, that hitherto had been col
lected and held near the river, were also added under Hurl
but, who, however, fusing them with McClernand's command,
repaired rearward again, at McClernand's request, to seek
further support.!
Lew Wallace, it will be remembered, bivouacked near the
river and Snake Creek bridge, and so did Sherman. No con
siderable portion of Confederates had slept in that quarter of
the field, so Wallace and Sherman advancing for a while with
out difficulty, took up a strong position on a wooded ridge,
affording shelter for Wallace's two batteries, with its right

• Reb. Rec. IV. Doc 114, p.397. t Ibid.

142 Campaigns of General Forrest.
protected by the swamps of Owl creek. However, by the
time Nelson was well at work on the Federal left, the Con
federates opened a light fire upon Wallace and Sherman, who,
encouraged by its feebleness, adventured the offensive. But
their speedy greeting was a sheet of flame, lead, and canister
from the woods in their front, where portions of Ruggles's and
Breckinridge's divisions stood in wait. The Federals reeled
and rushed rearward, followed nearly a mile by the Confede
rates ; but here, reenforced by McCook, Sherman attempted
to resume the advance. Now the fight waxed obstinate, and
the firing, says Sherman, was the " severest musketry " he had
ever heard. Rousseau's Federal Brigade here was pitted
against Trabue's Kentuckians. Both fought with uncommon
determination to win, but the Federals were repulsed, and
Wallace was so pressed that his situation became extremely
critical.* McCook's other brigade had joined in the action
meanwhile ; and in that part of the field, including Grant's
forces under Sherman and McClernand, there were fully twen
ty thousand Federals opposed by not half that number of bat
tle-battered Confederates.! The impetus of the Confederate
attack was, therefore, slackened in the face of such odds. Yet
several brilliant charges were made, in one of which, to the
left of Shiloh, General Beauregard himself led in person, carry
ing the battle-flag of a Louisiana regiment ; and Trabue's Bri
gade, having carried earlier an eminence near Owl creek, re
pulsing every effort to dislodge him, held the position until

* This is his own statement. It is a troubled by mosquitoes, " but really
somewhat noteworthy fact, however, there's no living for them just below at
that in the Federal reports, whenever a my neighbor's house .' "
retrograde occurs, it is always a neigh- t That is, Wallace's Division, seven
bor who succumbs, either on the right thousand strong ; McCook's, at least
or left. One is reminded of the homely seven thousand ; and say six thousand
story of the man of the Mississippi bot- under Sherman and McClernand.
toms, who declared that he was not

Retreat Ordered. 143
the retreat was ordered. Here, as on the right, the Confe
derate troops were animated by the greatest intrepidity on the
part of their superior officers.*
It was now after one o'clock. The battle, kindled soon after
daylight, had raged furiously from right to left for more than
five hours. And, notwithstanding the odds of fresh troops
brought up against them, despite their long-continued engage
ment, the Confederates had not receded from the ground upon
which they had been concentrated as soon as it was apparent
that the battle was on their hands.! But they were being
fearfully depleted meanwhile. Beginning the combat with
not more than 20,000 men, exclusive of cavalry, less than
15,000 were now in the Confederate ranks. General Beaure
gard, seeing the unprofitable nature of the struggle, deter
mined not to prolong it. Directing his Adjutant-General to
select a position, and post such troops as were available to
cover the retreat, he dispatched other staff-officers to the
corps commanders, with the order to retire simultaneously
from their several positions, ready, however, to turn and fight
should it become necessary. And accordingly, about two
o'clock, the retrograde movement of the Confederates was
inaugurated, and carried out with a steadiness never exceeded
by veterans of a hundred fields. J
During the various stages of the conflict, General Beaure-

* Lieutenant Sandridge, of General lace, and Sherman. All that Wallace
Cheatham's staff, seizing the colors of claims is, that he was able to hold his
a regiment, holding them aloft, spurred ground and repulse the Confederates
his horse to the front, as did also Colo- up to about two o'clock. That is, to
nel Stanley, Ninth Texas, and both at the hour when they had commenced to
a critical moment thus incited the men leave the field under orders.
to advance. These are but a few of \ All the Federal accounts place the
the examples that might be cited. moment of the retreat several hours
t This is manifest from the official later than it actually happened, as
reports of Generals Nelson, Lew Wal- could be demonstrated.

144 Campaigns of General Forrest.
gard tried to use his cavalry, but so dense and broadspread
were the woods that they proved altogether fruitless of re
sults. Colonel Forrest, with ever-useful instincts, however,
was able to render effective service during the morning in
repressing straggling, until, about eleven o'clock, he was or
dered by General Breckinridge, in whose vicinity he happened
to be, to place his regiment on the right flank, where he soon
became engaged in a brisk skirmish. Three times the enemy
endeavored to break that part of the Confederate line, but
were repulsed, as we have related, until near one o'clock, when,
under an order from General Beauregard, Forrest carried his
regiment to the centre, where it was dismounted and took
part there in repulsing the last onset made by the Federals in
that quarter, before the retreat began.
The retreat had now commenced in earnest, but so stunned
and crippled was the enemy that no effort or pretense to pur
sue was made* The line established to cover the move
ment commanded the ground of Shiloh Church, and some
open fields in the neighborhood. Thence keeping up a vigo
rous play of artillery on the woods beyond, there was no
reply, nor did any enemy become visible. That line was then
withdrawn about three fourths of a mile to another favorable
position. Meanwhile, the retreat had been effected in admi
rable order, all stragglers falling in the ranks, and that line was
abandoned with no enemy in sight. Breckinridge, assigned
to the duty of covering the retreat with his division, was or
dered to bivouac for the night at a point not more than four
and a half miles from Pittsburg Landing. The other corps
were now en route for Corinth, by a road which that night
was made almost impracticable for wheels by a heavy rain
fall. Colonel Forrest, soon after the retreat began, moved

* General Grant states Sherman followed a short way, but found that the Con
federates had retreated in good order.

Federal and Confederate Losses. \ac
over with several squadrons of his regiment to attend per
sonally to picketing Lick creek through the night, and to
guard against any aggressive movement from that direction.
The losses of the Confederates in the two days' combats
are accurately and officially stated by General Beauregard at
1728 killed, 8012 wounded, and 959 missing, or an aggregate
of 10,699. The Federal commander, in his brief report of
the battle, estimates his own losses at only 1500 killed and
3500 wounded, an evidently large understatement, for in the
official reports of three of his division generals we find their
losses foot up in killed and wounded as high as 4614, with
1832 reported missing, a number of whom must have been
killed, as only 3000 were captured, and most of them were of
Prentiss's Division. What the real loss of Grant's army was,
those who could best do it have not been at the pains to ascer
tain. The divisions of Buell engaged lost 3753, much the hea
viest part of which fell upon McCook's Division in the ob
stinate struggle against the Confederate left and left-centre*
Of trophies the Confederates carried from the field some twen
ty-six stands of flags and colors, and about thirty of the guns
captured on the 6th. The guns which figure in Federal sub
ordinate reports as captured from the Confederates, with few
exceptions, were those lost on Sunday by the Federals, which,
for want of horses to draw them from the field, had been left
by the Confederates where they had been taken.
IV.
On Tuesday morning General Breckinridge fell back to a
position only three miles beyond, and there remained undis-

* Since the foregoing was written, writes in a fair spirit, estimates the
we observe that Swinton, who always Federal loss at 15,000.

146 Campaigns of General Forrest.
turbed for some days, with the cavalry thrown forward in
close proximity to the Federal lines. After Breckinridge had
thus withdrawn, Colonel Forrest found himself with a squad
ron of about 150 men, on Tuesday morning, on the road
toward Monterey, in the presence of a heavy Federal infan
try force, advancing in three lines of battle. About the same
time, a company of Wirt Adams's regiment, under Captain
Isaac Harrison, a squadron of the Eighth Texas and some
Kentuckians, under Captain John Morgan, opportunely came
up, making a force of little more than 350 troopers. The posi
tion, a ridge, was advantageous, and Forrest determined to
attempt to hold it until his regiment could be brought up.
Formed in line of battle, the Confederates boldly stood their
ground, as about two battalions of cavalry and a regiment of
infantry were thrown forward to assail them. The infantry
advanced handsomely at a charge, with their bayonets pre
sented. There was some confusion, however, in the Federal
ranks in crossing a small stream ; and Forrest, with his cha
racteristic quickness of sight and plans, his wonted hardihood,
resolved to charge the Federals with his force, as small as it
was. His bugler sounded the charge, and forward dashed
the Confederates from their covert behind the crest of the
ridge in superb order and spirit, and were almost upon the
enemy before the nature of the movement was perceived, or
they had had time to prepare for it. At twenty paces the
Confederates gave a volley with their shot-guns, a formidable
weapon at that short distance, and rushed in with pistols and
sabres. So sudden was the onset that, despite their numbers,
the Federal cavalry broke in disorder, and fled back through
the woods running over their own infantry in their panic, cre
ating a scene of singular confusion and tumult for some mo
ments. Many of the infantry were thus knocked down ;
many horses also were transfixed by the bayonets of their
own infantry. Scores of other horses fell and threw their

Forrest Surrounded. 147
riders sprawling and bruised upon the ground ; and all around
was a medley of cavalry and infantry, scattering and running
to and fro,, hither and thither, officers shouting and cursing,
and the hurt groaning. Before the infantry could recover
from the condition into which the flight of the cavalry had
thrown them, Forrest was upon them also with a swift play of
sabre and revolver, and they broke as well as the cavalry.
The slaughter was considerable, as the flying infantry were
closely pursued for several hundred yards by their eager, ex
cited enemy. Men are merciless on such occasions. The loss
inflicted was heavy, while seventy were captured.
In the ardency and exultation of the pursuit, Forrest pressed
on until he found himself alone within fifty yards of the main
body of the Federal expeditionary force, — and beyond, indeed,
a large part of those whom he had just surprised and routed*
Halting, he saw at a glance that his men, perceiving sooner
the situation, had very properly halted, and were then falling
back with their prisoners, — which they were doing, however,
unaware of the perilous position of their leader. Immediately
observed by the enemy, now all around him, Forrest was fired
at from all sides. One ball from an Austrian rifle, striking
him on the left side, just above the point of the hip-bone,
penetrated to the spine, and, ranging around, lodged in the
left side — a severe if not, indeed, mortal wound, as his surgeon
apprehended. His right leg, benumbed by the blow, was also
left hanging useless in the stirrup. Turning his horse, how
ever, he resolved to escape, surrounded as he was by hun
dreds bent on his death, and shouting, " Kill him !" " Shoot
him !" " Stick him !" " Knock him off his horse !" all of
which they literally sought to do. His horse, too, was
wounded, (mortally, as it proved,) but still bore up under his
daring rider, as he dashed out of the throng of assailants,
using his revolver with deadly aim to clear his path. In a
moment more his path to the rear, at least, was clear of foes :

148 Campaigns of General Forrest.
but their marksmen, still within easy range, sent hundreds of
balls after him as he galloped down the road and over the
hill. Happily, he escaped without further hurt, and rejoined
his command, halted behind the ridge. Giving orders to the
officer next in rank to assume command, but to avoid further
action with so large a force, Forrest now went to the nearest
hospital for surgical aid. There he was advised by the sur
geons, who could not discover the ball, to go to the rear as
rapidly as possible. Doing this, he soon was at General
Breckinridge's encampment, and that General ordered him to
proceed to Corinth, for which place he set out, accompanied
by his adjutant, Captain J. P. Strange. Soon the wound be
came so painful that he was forced to dismount, and take pas
sage in a buggy ; but on the rough roads to be traversed, that
speedily proving more painful even than by horseback, he re
mounted his wounded horse, and finally reached Corinth that
night, when the horse, who had borne him so stoutly and
faithfully, dropped and died a few hours later.
On the next day, Colonel Forrest, furloughed for sixty
days, repaired to Memphis. There his good habits and
sound constitution enabled him to surmount what would have
killed most men. However, on the 29th of April, learning
from Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly that there was some discontent
in the regiment, originating in deficient, defective subsistence,
Forrest, still suffering acutely from his wound, at once re
turned to Corinth and rejoined his men, whose wants, by his
energy, tact, and resources, he was soon able to supply, as
well as to repress the spirit of dissatisfaction which had ger
minated in his absence.
A week after rejoining, being one day out reconnoitering
the Federal lines that had now approached near to Corinth,
leaping a log, the exertion brought such an acute pain that it
became necessary at once to extract the ball which still re
mained in his left side. The operation was very severe, and

Commentaries. 140
made it absolutely necessary for him to be again absent from
command for a fortnight. commentaries.
I. The delay of the Confederate army in making the march
from Corinth is a signal illustration of the truth of Napier's
proposition, " That celerity in tvar depends as much on the
experience of the troops as upon the energy of the General"
Nevertheless, there were grave faults in the handling of seve
ral of the corps on the march. Moreover, several of these
did not quit Corinth as early in the day as they might have
done. We know General Johnston was profoundly disap
pointed and chagrined that his just expectations of delivering
battle on Saturday morning were thus baffled.
II. The precise terrain occupied by the Federal army was
unknown to the Confederate General, who, therefore, adopted
the parallel order of battle rather than the oblique, which has
generally been employed by great captains since Frederick
the Great restored it to the Art of War. Had General John
ston known the actual position occupied by the Federal front
line, he surely would have attacked by the oblique order ;
massing upon the Federal right (Sherman) so as to force it
back south-eastwardly into the cut de sac made, above Pitts
burg Landing, by the junction of Lick creek with the Ten
nessee river. As the attack was made, the shock of the onset
only affected Sherman's left brigade. Had it fallen with full
force upon his entire division, it is manifest that that which
happened to Hildebrand's Brigade would have befallen it.
The entire division must have been swept away as that brigade
was, and been driven rearward so rapidly upon McClernand's,
Hurlbut's, and Wallace's ( W. H. L.) as to give them little or no
time to form their divisions, and make the stand which Sher
man's obstinate resistance with two of his brigades, near Shi
loh, enabled them to do.

150 Campaigns of General Forrest.
III. Both sides have claimed the advantage ! The Confede
rates found their pretension upon the facts of the heavy cap
tures of men, artillery, and colors which they carried from the
field, the complete rout inflicted on the Federals on Sunday,
and their ability on Monday to hold the ground upon which
they had concentrated and made the battle until two p.m.,
when General Beauregard withdrew from an unprofitable
combat ; withdrew in admitted good order, taking with him
all the captured guns for which there was transportation.
Moreover, his enemy was left .so completely battered and
stunned as to be unable to pursue. The Federals claim the
victory upon the grounds that, on Monday evening, they had
recovered their encampments and possession of the field of
battle, from which the Confederates had retired, leaving behind
their dead and a number of wounded. In this discussion it
should be remembered that after the Confederates concentrated
on Monday — or from at least as late as nine o'clock a.m. up to
the time of their retreat — they uniformly took the offensive and
were the assailants. All substantially claimed in reports of
Federal subordinate generals is that, after having been worsted
between nine a.m. and two p.m., they were then able to hold
their own and check their antagonists.* After that, mani
festly, there was a complete lull in the battle until about four
p.m., when, and no sooner, do the Federals appear to have
advanced. IV. General Beauregard has been blamed unjustly for with
drawing his troops just as they were being launched on Sun
day evening against the last Federal position with such num
bers and impetus by generals on the spot as must have insured
complete success. The reports of brigades and regimental
commanders completely disprove this allegation. His order

* Vide reports of Wallace, Nelson, Crittenden, etc, and correspondence of
"Agate." Reb. Rec. IV. Doc. 114.

Commentaries. 151
really was not distributed before the greater part of the Con
federate troops had already given up the attempt for that day
to carry the ridge at the Landing. The true reason why the
battle of Sunday fell short of the most complete victory of
modern war by the capture of the whole Federal army is sim
ply this : After the combat was at its height, about meridian,
those superior officers who should have been occupied with
the concentration and continuous projection of their troops in
heavy masses upon the shattered Federal divisions were at
the very front and " perilous edge " of the battle, leading for
ward regiments, perchance brigades, into action, with great
individual intrepidity, and doing a great deal, no doubt, by
their personal example to impel small bodies forward. But,
meanwhile, to their rear were left the masses of their respect
ive commands, without direction, and thus precious time was
lost. The Confederates were not kept continuously massed
and employed, either corps or divisions ; mere piecemeal on
sets were the general method of fighting after twelve o'clock,
with this consequence : Sherman was enabled to make several
obstinate powerful stands, by which he protracted the battle
some hours. Had the corps been held well in hand, massed
and pressed continuously upon the tottering, demoralized foe ;
had general officers attended to the swing and direction of the
great war-engine at their disposition, rather than, as it were,
becoming so many heads or battering-rams of that machine,*

• Vide Troilus and Cressida, Scene They call this — bed-work, mappery,
III. Act L — Shakespeare. closet-war :
So that the ram, that batters down the
 " the still and mental parts, — wall,
That do contrive how many hands shall For the great swing and rudeness of his
strike, 1>oise,
When fitness calls them on ; and know, They place before his hand that made
by measure the engine ;
Of their observant toil, the enemies' Or those, that with the fineness of their
weight,— souls
Why, this hath not a finger's dignity : By reason guide his execution."

152 Campaigns of General Forrest.
the battle assuredly would have closed at latest by mid-day.
By that hour, at most, the whole Federal force might have
been urged back and penned up, utterly helpless, in the angle
formed between the river and Lick creek, or dispersed along
under the river bank, between the two creeks, we repeat,
had Confederate corps been kept in continuity, closely pressed
en masse upon their enemy after the front line had been broken
and swept back. In that case the Federal fragments must
have been kept in downward movement, like the loose stones
in the bed of a mountain torrent.
V. In a remarkable letter from that distinguished soldier,
General Sherman, which we find in the United States Service
Magazine* he virtually asserts that, even had General Buell
failed to reached the scene with his reenforcements, neverthe
less the state of the battle was such at five p.m., Sunday, as
"justified" General Grant in giving him orders, at that hour,
to " drop the defensive and assume the offensive " at daylight
on Monday morning. This to be the order of the day, irre
spective of the advent of Buell ! In other words, Grant had
resolved to become, on the morrow, the assailant, forsooth,
with Lew Wallace's Division — which, having found it so hard
for the last ten hours to find the road across " four miles" of
country, with the sound of a great battle (and comrades in
dire peril) to "quicken" its steps, was not yet - on the field
— and with such of his own " startled troops as had recovered
their equilibrium" That is to say, with 7000 fresh troops,
not yet in hand, added to such commands as Sherman's, which
he confesses in his official report was now of a " mixed cha
racter," — without any of three of his four brigades present 
and such of the mass then huddled, demoralized and abject,
under the river bank since ten o'clock, as might have their

• For January, 1865. Leading article.

Commentaries. 153
"equilibrium" reestablished.* That this was the purpose
General Sherman is sure from a story then told him by Gen
eral Grant of what had happened at Fort Donelson on the
15th of February ; and, furthermore, he is very positive that he
did not know Buell had already arrived. Now, here the spirit
rather than the letter of the renowned General's paper is to be
weighed. To be relevant to the question, he steps into the
arena not to discuss but settle, he must mean this : That
the offensive was to be taken by the Federal forces then west
of the Tennessee, if Buell did not come to their assistance ;
further, when the order was given to him to that end, he did
not know General Buell's forces were in such proximity as
must insure their advent upon the field in large, substantial
force to make the projected attack. This must be the sub
stance, " bolted to the bran," of what he utters ; for it were
not pertinent to the issue nor frank to say merely that Buell
was not there, when he knew that Buell must be there in due
season with the requisite troops !

* As a proper part of the history of striving to get as near the river as
this battle, we here append the vivid possible. With few exceptions,
picture of the condition to which Gene- all efforts to form the troops
ral Grant's army was reduced, as we and move them forward to the
find it in the official reports of Generals fight utterly failed." ( Reb. Rec.
Buell and Nelson. See also the excellent IV. Doc. 114, p. 410.) Says Nelson :
letter of " Agate," before cited in these " I found cowering under the river-bank
pages : "At the Landing," says Gene- from seven to ten thousand men, frantic
ral Buell, " the banks swarmed with a with fright and utterly demoralized,
confused mass of men of various regi- who received my gallant division with
ments ; there could not have been less cries, ' We are whipped !' ' Cut to
than four or five thousand. Later in pieces !' etc. They were insensible to
the day it became much greater ; . . . shame and sarcasm, for I tried both."
the throng of disorganized and demo- (Ibid. IV. p. 413.) This was, be it
ralized troops increased continually by noted, at five p.m., the hour General
fresh fugitives from the battle, which Grant was giving the order General
steadily closed nearer the Landing, and Sherman alleges.
these were intermingled with teams

154 Campaigns of General Forrest.
We have great respect for the genius, the tenacity, and the
shining courage of General Sherman ; we admit his well-won
fame ; we have a long personal knowledge of the man ; but,
nevertheless, we are constrained in the interest of history to
point out facts, as — " plain as way to parish church,"
that show he wrote hastily, inconsiderately. Saturday night
General Grant slept at Savannah, where both General Buell
and Nelson's Division had arrived. Before the General-in-
Chief left for the battle-field, he ordered Nelson to march
thither, which, by a forced march, was done in four hours, or
which by an ordinary march might have been effected at most
in six. General Sherman says he saw General Grant as
early as ten a.m., at a moment of sore stress. When General
Buell reached Pittsburg Landing, not later than three o'clock,
General Grant was at the Landing, and the two commanders
met there. By five p.m., the hour Sherman alleges the order
for the offensive was given, Nelson had been long enough in
sight at the Landing to throw a brigade across, and upon the
last ridge ; and at that hour the last assaults of the Confede
rates had not taken place, nor until Nelson was in position to
help to repel them ! Very well. Would General Grant,
knowing that Buell must be up that night, be likely, even at
ten o'clock, to omit communicating such important intelli
gence to his doughty, right-hand lieutenant — the very " sinew
and fore-hand " of his army — not only to inspire him to still
more obstinate fighting, but as a solace, a relief of inestima
ble value at the instant ? Or would he, at five o'clock, have
failed to acquaint that lieutenant of Buell's presence at the
Landing, and Nelson's on the other bank ? Finally, at a mo
ment when the Confederates were swarming down to make
their crowning assault upon the last foothold of his fighting
wreck, with but a few hundred yards between it and a wide

Commentaries, 155
river, and when, from what had already happened, he could
scarcely hope it would not be a concentrated, terrible onset —
could General Grant, as yet ignorant of that issue, be in con
dition to give orders looking to the offensive on the next
morning ? We are sure not, as well as that General Sher
man's memory has deceived him. The fact is, the order of
which he speaks was really given later ; that is, when Gene
rals Grant and Buell visited him together ! All who weigh
evidence must come to this conclusion. Were further proof
necessary, it is found in the fact that neither Sherman's, nor
Lew Wallace's, nor any of Hurlbut's troops became really en
gaged on Monday before ten a.m. ; and that after that hour
even Hurlbut, turning over to McClernand such men as he
had been able to collect, was sent back to the river to glean
and assemble the still scattered fragments of the five dismem
bered divisions.*
General Sherman is inexact in other particulars ; as, for
example, he avers that in great part General Grant's troops
were " green as militia," and " nearly all " now heard " the
dread sound of battle for the first time." On this point we
have already shown conclusively that, with the exception possi
bly of four at most, all the regiments he had at Fort Donel
son were at Shiloh, or with Lew Wallace. That is, assuming
his force of all arms in the five divisions engaged on Sun
day to be 40,000, of that number at least 1 8,000 must have
been at Fort Donelson, or forty-five per centum.} Again, the

* As we have said elsewhere, ante, We have ever found Mr. Swinton the
reduced to three subdivisions, respec- justest as well as the ablest Federal
tively under Sherman, McClernand, chronicler, one who could weave a nar-
and Hurlbut rative very free from the errors of bias
t Since this work was partially in or carelessness. He, we observe, ad-
press we have seen the clever and, for mits that Grant was superior in num-
the Times, singularly fair book, Swin- bers on Sunday, but has been misled
ton's Twelve Decisive Battles ofthe War. into an overestimate of the number of

156 Campaigns of General Forrest.
General, in touching upon the question of the position in
which they were attacked, alleges it proved to be judicious, —
one that confined the Confederates to a " direct front attack."
The military student, looking at the map, will not assent to
that proposition. For assuredly the Confederates, as we have
said ubi supra, might have massed their troops on their left,
and upon Sherman, with such weight as to tear his right
flank loose from Owl creek, in an instant, and sweep him, and
with him McClernand, back upon the river above Pittsburg
Landing. General Sherman fancies that " a combat fierce and bitter"
was necessary to " test the manhood of the two armies." But
will it not be inquired whether the battle of Shiloh furnished
that test ? At the first day's combat the weaker force sprang
upon the stronger, nearly half of which was flushed with a
recent brilliant success, broke its full ranks into fragments,
routed it from its luxurious encampments, stripped it naked
of its cannon, its equipage, and shuffled it back for nearly
three miles under a steep river-bank ; that is, as far as they
could go. For does General Sherman believe that had that
river not been there, with its impassable flood, the army of
fugitives who betook themselves by meridian to its marge
would have halted that near the field ? or would have done
otherwise than on another field, whereon he likewise did
stout fighting, his full share of the battle, both with nerve and
skill, — need we say Bull Run ? Neither can the battle of
Monday be adduced as a test of relative manhood. The odds
of fresh troops thrown forward, but held completely at bay

untried troops in that army. He was at Pensacola, that is, not over fifty per
not at his usual pains to calculate the cent ; and where, furthermore, they had
percentage that had been at Donelson ; only been exposed to artillery shelling
and so also does he overestimate the at long range.
portion of Bragg's Corps that had been

Commentaries. 157
up to two o'clock by at most 20,000 Confederates, who had
already been fighting eleven hours the day before, afford no
nice measurement of manhood.
VI. So much has been said, so much credited and grown
to be the source of irritation and ill-feeling on the part of the
triumphant section in the late war, in regard to the treatment
of their prisoners and wounded enemies by the Confederate
officers and soldiery, beginning with Manassas and not ending
with Fort Pillow, that we deem it of use here to place on
record the following from a Federal newspaper correspondent
of the day, {Cincinnati Commercial :) "I am glad," says the
writer, on the battle-field, " to be able to say something good
of an army of traitors. ... No instance came to my
knowledge in which our dead or wounded were treated in so
diabolical a manner as they were reported to be at Manassas
and Pea Ridge. They were invariably, whenever practicable,
kindly cared for." {Reb. Rec. IV. Doc. 1 14, p. 416.) "A. Heck-
enlooper tells me," continues this eye-witness, " that one of
his corporals who was wounded received many attentions. . .
An officer handed him a rubber blanket, saying that he need
ed it bad enough, but a wounded man needed it more ; others
brought him food and water, and wrapped him in woolen
blankets. Such instances were common, and among the hun
dreds of dead and wounded not one showed signs of the bar
barity of which the rebels are accused."

CHAPTER V.

General Forrest assigned to a Cavalry command at Chattanooga — Sketch
of the Eighth Texas Cavalry— Exchange Regiments — Planned an
Expedition against the Federal Forces in Middle Tennessee — Incarce
ration at Murfreesboro of a number of Prominent Citizens — Attack
on the Outworks at Mtirfreesboro — Fearless Demeanor of the IVomen
of the place — Capture of General Crittenden and Garrison — Release
of Imprisoned Citizens — Favorable effect of success on his Command
— Paroled all Prisoners except Officers — Attempt to Surprise Federal
Cavalry Regiment at Lebanon— Dashed at the Pickets around Nash
ville — Burned Bridges and Captured Out-posts in Vicinage— Eluded
Pursuit by General Nelson — Remained at McMinnville until loth of
August — Visited Chattanooga — Forrest Rejoined at Sparta — Made
Brigadier-General — General Bragg preparing for Kentucky Cam
paign — Forrest actively afield Burning Bridges and Reducing Out
posts — Menaced by a Superior Force — Narrow Escape of Command
— Reported to General Bragg at Sparta — Harassed General Buell's
Rear-Guard— Assigned to Duty with Polk's Corps— Munfordsville
Surrendered to the Infantry— Strategy of General Bragg— Picket
Service in advance — Forrest ordered to turn over Command of
Brigade and Repair to Murfreesboro to Organize New Levies in
that quarter. June loth to September y>th, 1862.
1 HE arduous marches, out-post service, skirmishes, and
battles in which Forrest's Regiment had been continuously
employed during the six months just ended had sensibly
winnowed its ranks. Beginning the campaign in Kentucky
with about six hundred effectives, it could not now muster
more than three hundred rank and file. The remainder had

Colonel Forrest Transferred. 159
fallen either in battle or hospital, or were disabled by wounds
and diseases contracted as a consequence of their service in
the field. Colonel Forrest himself was suffering a good deal
from his Shiloh wound, but nevertheless continued on duty,
unwilling to be absent from his regiment at the juncture.
On the 10th of June, Colonel James E. Saunders, a promi
nent citizen of North-Alabama, who, though over sixty years
of age, had been actively connected with the operations of the
Confederate Cavalry for some time previously, on the staff of
Colonel John Adams, in the vicinity of Chattanooga, had
visited General Beauregard, and urged that a competent officer
should be assigned to command the cavalry operations which
looked to Chattanooga as a base. He designated Colonel
Forrest as suitable ; but General Beauregard, who already
had formed a high opinion of his value as a cavalry officer,
was at first loth to spare him from his own immediate army.
Recognizing, however, the importance also of the command
in question in connection with his own projected operations,
he assented to the request. The necessary orders were given,
and an application was made at once to the War Department
for the promotion of Colonel Forrest to the grade of Brigadier-
General, as not only essential to the position to which he had
found it necessary to assign him, but as merited by past ser
vices.* Having received his orders, Colonel Forrest made
some scanty, hasty preparations for the change of sphere and
journey involved, bade his old comrades farewell as their
Colonel, and on the nth of June, accompanied by Colonel
Saunders, set out to repair to his new and widening field of
command and of martial exploits.!

* Really, the troops to the command colonels of two of the regiments were
of which Colonel Forrest was assigned senior, by commission, to him.
were serving within the limits of Gene- t For subsequent history of Forrest's
ral Kirby Smith's department ; and the Regiment, see Appendix and Index.

i6o

Campaigns of General Forrest.

The journey was made on horseback, with an escort, under
command of Captain William Forrest, of some ten picked
men of his old regiment, with each one of whom was con
nected some story of peculiar gallantry, and some eight or ten
others, officers and men, who attached themselves to his suite.
Pursuing the most direct route, through North-Alabama,
Colonel Forrest arrived at Chattanooga on the 18th or 19th
of June. Reporting forthwith through the local commander,
General Leadbetter, to General Kirby Smith, orders of as
signment were duly issued a few days later. The command
assigned was a brigade of cavalry, composed of the Eighth
Texas, Colonel John A. Wharton ;* the First Louisiana,
Colonel John W. Scott ; the Second Georgia, Colonel J. K.
Lawton ;! and Helm's Kentucky regiment, commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Woodward ;% a. force, in all, of about two

* This regiment was raised and com
manded by the lamented Colonel Terry,
whose brief military career, beginning
as a volunteer scout at the first Manas
sas, was full of distinction. He was
killed at Woodsonville, Kentucky, in
a cavalry affair, in the fall of 1861.
Colonel John A. Wharton succeeded
to the command. The Lieutenant-
Colonel was John G. Walker, a dis
tinguished lawyer, of Houston, Texas ;
and the Major, Thomas Harrison, who
subsequently became a most valuable
and conspicuous Brigadier-General of
Cavalry. The privates included a
large number of the wealthiest and
best-educated young men of Texas,
who, with many others specially trained
in the business of stock-raising on
the vast prairies of that State, had
acquired a marvelous skill in horse
manship. The career of this regiment

has been one of the most brilliant in
the annals of war.
t We have been unable to gain any
details of the history or organization of
this regiment. The privates were fine-
looking men, and better skilled in the
sabre exercise than any other of the
command. } The Colonel of this regiment, Ben
Hardin Helm, a graduate of West-
Point, was one ,of the most gifted and
patriotic young men of Kentucky. He
was about thirty years of age, and, being
a brother-in-law of President Lincoln,
had a wide field for promotion open to
him in the Federal service. Neverthe
less, he chose to cast his fortune with
his section, and fell brilliantly at the
battle of Chickamauga.
The greater part of the officers and
men of this regiment were of the most
respectable families of Kentucky, volun-

Troubles Arranged. i6t
thousand rank and file. The latter regiment had recently un
dergone a surprise and night attack in the Sequatchie Valley,
under the results of which it was smarting at the time. Ele
ments of discord were at work in other portions of the com
mand prejudicial to their military spirit and efficiency. And
that fruitful source of trouble in armies, the question of seni
ority of commission, was likewise added, to give their new
commander difficulty and concern in the outset of his associ
ation with them. Colonel Scott's Regiment, however, some
four or five days later, was detached, and the First Georgia
Battalion, Colonel Morrison, assigned in its stead. Thus the
question of rank was removed ; but, meanwhile, another em
barrassment had arisen from the expiration of the period for
which the greater part of the companies of Helm's Regiment
had been enrolled, twelve months. Now disinclined to re
enter the service in their then organization, in a few days
there only remained of it some two companies.
Looking around for an important object for operations, and
by a successful expedition to raise the tone of his force to a
more healthy state, Forrest determined to throw his brigade
into Middle Tennessee, and there make a descent upon a
Federal force which he understood was established at Mur
freesboro. By the 6th of July, therefore, his preparations

tary exiles from their comfortable and view during the last week in June, at
beautiful homes. General Kirby Smith's headquarters,
It is proper here to state that the re- the result of which was an urgent re
luctance of the Kentuckians to ree'nroll commendation to their superior that
was not caused by any desire or pur- the First Kentucky should be transfer-
pose to leave the service, but grew out red to Morgan's command, while For-
of a wish to become permanently a part rest should receive in exchange Lieu-
of a Kentucky Brigade under Colonel tenant-Colonel Starne's Tennessee Bat-
Morgan, who had already become dis- talion ; but this exchange was deemed
tinguished as a partisan officer. Colo- inexpedient and did not take place.
nels Forrest and Morgan had an inter-

1 62 Campaigns of General Forrest.
and plans were matured for this expedition, and on that day
he began to cross the Tennessee at Chattanooga, with about
one thousand troopers.* Setting out on the 8th, he reached
Altamont, near the summit of the Cumberland mountains, on
the ioth. Moving thence on the road in the direction of and
to a point ten miles to the north-east of Sparta, he there
effected an arranged junction with Colonel Morrison and his
battalion, some three hundred strong, on the evening of the
nth, that battalion having come across the mountain from
Kingston, in East-Tennessee.! Forrest now organized his
force, increased somewhat above thirteen hundred men, for one
of those operations for which subsequently he became so well
known, and which in time made him a terror to all outlying
Federal detachments.
At McMinnville, late in the afternoon of the 12th, some
scouts previously detached met him and reported that all was
quiet along the line of railroad leading from Bridgeport through
Murfreesboro to Nashville, and that apparently the enemy
were as yet wholly ignorant of his hostile movements. It
was here he made his regimental and battalion commanders
fully acquainted with his plans and expectations, and gave
specific instructions as to the conduct of the expedition, in
cluding strict orders to keep each command " well closed up."
These details arranged, the march was resumed and continued
to the village of Woodbury about eleven at night. Here the
people were found in a state of deep excitement and distress.
The ladies thronged the streets, and in moving terms soon
made Colonel Forrest acquainted with the cause — that the

* Eighth Texas, 400 men, Second t It had seen field service in East-
Georgia, 450, a battalion of Tennessee- Tennessee, and joined the brigade with
ans, under Major Baxter Smith, 120 a good character for efficiency.
strong, and the two companies of Ken
tuckians.

Near Murfreesboro. 163
Federals, entering the village suddenly the evening before,
had arrested and carried off to Murfreesboro nearly every
man, old and young, with menaces of summary punishment.
Much affected by the relation of the occurrence, Colonel For
rest assured them that they might confidently look for the
restoration of their husbands and kinsmen by the next sun
set, a promise which he was actually able to perform. This
had a happy effect. All vied with each other in a liberal hos
pitality, and an abundance of food and forage were provided
for the command, which was halted at this point until one
o'clock on the morning of the 13th. Then the movement
was rapidly resumed, Murfreesboro being still eighteen miles
distant. By five a.m., the vicinity of their point of destination was
attained ; here the scouts sent ahead to reconnoitre were
overtaken, and reported the Federal pickets were only half a
mile distant. These Colonel Wharton, whose regiment was
in advance, was directed to send forward a small detachment
to capture, which was successfully accomplished, and within
an hour the pickets, fifteen in number, were brought to the
Confederate leader.* A few moments later some other scouts
also returned, and reported that they had traversed the Fede
ral encampments, and found all evidently unaware of the im
pending danger.
Dispositions were therefore made for an immediate attack.
The whole force was formed in column of fours, the Eighth
Texas in front. The orders were to move at a trot until in

* The principal scouts employed in furlough at the time. A native and
these operations were Captains Fred citizen of Murfreesboro, he was a gal-
James and Nichols, afterward a valu- lant, well-educated gentleman. He
able officer under Colonel Paul Ander- fell at the battle of Murfreesboro, 31st
son. Captain James belonged to Bragg's of December, 1862, in sight of his mo-
Army, from which he was absent on ther's house.

1 6\ Campaigns of General Forrest.
sight of the Federal encampment, when Colonel Wharton
was to charge it, with his regiment in column of platoons.
At the same time the Second Georgia was to dash into and
sweep through the main streets of the town in the same
order, capturing provost-guard and all Federal officers and
men that might chance to be in the place, and seize and secure
all supplies and any trains that might be there. Major Smith,
with his battalion ree'nforced by the Kentuckians, was to throw
himself rapidly around upon the turnpikes leading both to
Nashville and Lebanon, and cut off retreat in either direction,
as well as to give notice of any hostile approach from that
quarter ; while Colonel Morrison would get rearward and
there await the turn of events, ready to give aid wheresoever
most needed.
Moving with his advance, as was ever his wont,* Forrest,
on arriving in sight of the suburbs of Murfreesboro, saw
gleaming in the gray, subdued light of that early hour the
white tents of a large encampment out on the Liberty turn
pike, about half a mile eastward of the place, manifestly un
aware of the nearness of the least peril! Led by their Colo
nel, the gallant Texans, without waiting for the final signal
for the charge, dashed on at a splendid pace, and in a few
moments were in the very heart of the Federal cantonment,
the occupants of which were at the instant for the most part
in their tents, but from which they speedily emerged. Many,
undressed and seeking all possible means of shelter from.
their fierce-smiting adversaries, rushed in wild confusion

* Instinctively he adopted this pre- of the Fourth Kentucky Federal Caval-
cept ofthe art of war, as enforced and ry. Reb. Ree. V. Doc SS, p. 2S6, Re-
illustrated by Napier in his History of port of Colonel Duffield. ' There' were
the Peninsular War. als0 in the camp a considerable Imm.
t Occupied by five companies Ninth ber of men going to and from Buell's
Michigan Volunteers and a squadron Army.

Affairs at Murfreesboro. 165
through the mazes of the encampment, hotly pursued by the
eager Texans, shouting as in a hot chase on their broad prai
ries, and striking right and left or using the pistol freely*
At length some of the Federal infantry, rallied by their offi
cers, had made a handsome stand, and by a mishap at the
moment of the charge only about six of Wharton's companies
or some two hundred men, had followed him, the rest having
been led, with the Second Georgia, directly into the public
square. The Texans, now brought under a galling musketry fire
from behind wagons and other effective cover, were too weak
in numbers to carry the position. So severe, indeed, did the
fire become that Colonel Wharton, painfully wounded, felt
obliged to withdraw from the contest, and return on the Mc-
Minnville road with the prisoners whom he had taken, includ
ing the Federal cavalry found in a camp somewhat detached.
from the infantry, which had been captured just as they were
about to mount their horses. Major Baxter Smith's Battalion
also assisted in this part of the affair.! ln rne mean time,
four companies of the Eighth Texas and the Second Georgia
Regiment, cheering lustily, had charged into the public square,

* Among those wounded was Colo- campment ; and there, after a struggle
nel Duffield, the Federal commander, of some twenty minutes, nearly hand-to-
who was probably shot by Colonel hand fighting, the Confederates were
Wharton in person, when surrounded repulsed ; and, breaking, fled in the
by many of his men, whom he was at- wildest confusion, pursued by the Fede-
tempting to rally. rals as skirmishers ; but that the latter
t Colonel Duffield, on the contrary, suffered severely.
says that, apprised by the noise made Another account, however, says that
by the horses on the macadamized turn- all were asleep at the first onset, and ,
pike, the Federals had been roused, and that Duffield was then wounded ; that
were drawn up ready to receive this some infantry were finally rallied and
charge, before which, though fierce and made fight, but were overwhelmed and
impetuous, they retired steadily and forced to surrender. — Reb. Rec. V. Doc
in good order to the centre of the en- 88, p. 288.

1 66 Campaigns of General Forrest.
and surrounded the court-house, which was occupied by a
company of the Ninth Michigan. The noise quickly brought
the inhabitants of the town forth from their houses, greatly
startled but presently delighted on finding their streets swarm
ing with the dear, gray-clad soldiers of their cause. Re
gardless of their dishabille, men and women rushed out to
greet them with incoherent phrases of satisfaction and glad
ness ; regardless, too, of the danger, for already scattered par
ties of Federals had commenced firing from fences and out
houses, while a sharp fire was going on from the court-house.
So severe did the fire become from the court-house, in a little
while, that it wrought a hesitation in the ranks of the assail
ants, who were in fact twice repulsed. But the women, mean
while, were mingling among the men, and cheering them by
their smiles and heartfelt, thankful words. Indeed, the cool
est Confederate was now thoroughly roused by the scene ;
and with a loud cheer of " Long live the women !" the Tex
ans and Georgians, led by Forrest, sprang forward in the face
of a withering fire in front from the court-house, while Morri
son brought up his men to the rear, or west side. The doors
were quickly battered down, the building was carried, and the
garrison captured after their formidable defense. In the
charge, a German soldier, Fred Koerper, of Memphis, of For
rest's escort, conspicuous for his bravery, and endeared to his
officers and comrades by his cheerfulness and soldierly quali
ties, was killed, to the deep regret of all who knew him.*

» Frederick Koerper was born in to New-Orleans. There he resided till
Prussia in 1829. His father, a soldier 1856, when he returned to Memphis,
ofthe First Napoleon, emigrated to the where he continued in business— a
United States in 1839, with his family, popular, fashionable barber— until the
and became a resident of Cleveland, beginning of the war in 1861. First
Ohio. Thence, at the age of fifteen, volunteering in McDonald's company
young Koerper removed to Memphis, for sixty days, at the expiration of his
Tennessee ; and, a few years afterward, term of service he returned, and re-

Release of Citizens from Jail. 167
Both court-house and jail were found filled with citizens, at
least one hundred and fifty in number, of the place and sur
rounding country, including those of Woodbury, already
mentioned. Arrested and thrown into prison at the instance
of infamous informers, on various pretexts, six of the num
ber, prominent citizens, were at the moment under sentence
of death ; or, as expressed by a Federal newspaper corre
spondent, were to " expiate their crime on the gallows."* The
neighborhood was filled with the wives and families of these
captives, who had followed after their seizures, and who now
hastened upon the scene almost frantic with joy at the happy
release of their husbands and kinsmen. Soon the spectacle
became so touching that no one could witness it unmoved ;
and tears might have been seen to glisten on the weather-
bronzed, powder-begrimed cheeks of many of Forrest's fiercest
riders. At the same time, an animated, thorough hunt had been
made in all directions through the town for Federal officers
and men billeted in various houses. Suddenly aroused from
their comfortable beds by the dread sounds of a night attack,
many had sped and sought concealment elsewhere ; but from
detected coverts they were quickly dragged forth, notably a
crest-fallen, unseemly gang contrasted with the more manful

mained at home till a few weeks before dress in the capture of a Federal colo-
the battle of Shiloh. Then repairing nel within the enemy's lines.
to Burnsville, Miss., he rejoined his for- " Always gay and cheerful," (says one
mer commander, Captain McDonald, of his comrades,) " Fred Koerper was
of whose second company he continued a fine, stalwart specimen of German
a member until detached at Tupelo, in manhood. And brief as was his career,
June, 1862, as one of the " ten picked it is not too much to say of him, He
men " to accompany Colonel Forrest to was one of the best soldiers that ever
Chattanooga. Meanwhile, at Shiloh, followed the banner of Forrest."
he had shown notable courage and ad- * Reb. Rec. V. Doc. 88, p. 288.

1 68 Campaigns of General Forrest.
of their comrades, who, meanwhile, were making a persistent
combat from all available positions.
Among those lodging in the town was the Federal com
mander, Brigadier-General Crittenden, to effect whose capture
Colonel Forrest had sent Colonel Saunders, with a small
detachment, to the inn on the square, where it was under
stood he had established his headquarters. After an ineffec
tual search through the house, Colonel Saunders and his party,
emerging and remounting their horses, were making their
way across the square, when a general fire was opened upon
them from the windows of the court-house, and that brave
and zealous gentleman received a ball which passed through
his right lung and entirely through his body ; but, neverthe
less, he maintained his seat in his saddle until able to ride
several squares, to the residence of a citizen, south-eastward
from the square, into which he was taken, as all supposed,
mortally wounded.*
The court-house having fallen into his hands, and all the
Federals immediately in Murfreesboro having been taken pri
soner or placed otherwise hors de combat, Forrest made his
dispositions immediately to attack the Third Minnesota, re
ported to be encamped on the east bank of Stone river, about
one mile and a half from the town. This he deemed it best
to do before attempting to capture the smaller but more

* This was the same gentleman at On the occasion in question, it is pro-
whose instance Colonel Forrest had per to add, he was accompanied by an-
been assigned the command of his bri- other volunteer aid-de-camp, Franck
gade. He was not subject to military C. Dunnington, Esq., formerly editor
duty, being over sixty years of age, but of the Nashville Union, also by a well-
kept the field, rendering most valuable known citizen of Huntsville, Ala., Mr.
service up to the time of his severe Lawrence Watkins.
wounding, as subsequently, for he re- General Crittenden a little later was
covered, and at the present writing, found concealed in a private apartment
January, 1867, is an admirable speci- of the tavern.
men physically of cultured manhood.

Attack on Murfreesboro. 169
strongly posted force that had been rallied in the camp of the
Ninth Michigan, fearing that otherwise the detached force
might effect its escape. Accordingly he made a rapid detour
to the right, so as to defeat that contingency. On reaching
the encampment, it was found comparatively evacuated, the
Federals having just moved out in the direction of Murfrees
boro to join their comrades in that quarter. Forrest's force
assembled for this affair consisted of the Georgians, Major
Smith's Tennesseeans, the Kentucky squadron, and some
twenty men under Paul F. Anderson. Seeing the Confede
rates approach, the Federals, then about six hundred yards
southward of their camp, halted and formed in line of battle,
some nine companies of infantry and four pieces of artillery.
Directing the Georgians to confront and menace the enemy
and engage with skirmishers, taking Major Smith with his
men, including the Kentuckians and three companies of Mor
rison's Georgians, under Major Harper, Forrest pushed rapidly
around to the right and rear of the encampment, which proved
to be still occupied by about one hundred men, posted behind
a strong barricade of wagons and some large limestone ledges
which afforded excellent cover, difficult to carry. He there
upon ordered a charge ; this was promptly and handsomely
made, Majors Smith and Harper leading their men. They
were met, however, with a stubborn, brave defense. Twice,
indeed, the Confederates were repulsed. But Forrest, draw
ing his men up for a third effort, made a brief appeal to their
manhood, and, putting himself at the head of the column, the
charge was again ordered, this time with success. The en
campment was penetrated, and the greater part of the Fede
rals were either killed or captured. A few only escaped to
the main body, drawn up, as before said, some six hundred
yards southward.* 
* It was in this charge that there oc- grossly misrepresented, by misjudging
curred an incident which has been adversaries, to General Forrest's preju-

1 70 Campaigns of General Forrest.
The Georgians, hearing the struggle in the encampment,
and supposing that it proceeded from an attack made by For
rest upon the rear of the main Federal force in their front,
made a dashing charge, deployed in line, breaking through
the enemy's array in the face of their artillery, sweeping the
open field across which they charged. Nevertheless, the
casualties were very few, and, unchecked, the Georgians,
riding through some infantry, passed to the rear of the
position. Finding, however, that the enemy, quickly reforming their
sundered line, held their ground fimly — an elevated ridge,
from which evidently they were only to be driven at much
cost of precious life — Forrest promptly changed his plan of
operations, with that fertility of resource in sudden emergen
cies which has signalized his whole career. Placing Major
Harper with three companies so as to hinder a retreat toward
Nashville, disposing Morrison's other four companies as skir
mishers in front to prevent a movement on Murfreesboro,
and sending off on the McMinnville road the prisoners just
taken, with such captured munitions as could be transported
by the wagons found in the encampment, Forrest led Law-
ton's Regiment and Smith's Battalion rapidly back to Mur
freesboro, sending a staff-officer at the same time for the
Eighth Texas, which he found, to his surprise, had been with
drawn some four miles on the McMinnville road.
It was now about one p.m., and as yet little of a decisive
character had been accomplished, while among many of his
officers there was manifest a perilous want of confidence in

dice. While traversing the camp, he his pistol at the distance of thirty paces.
was fired at by a negro camp-follmver, This negro displayed no common de-
one of whose balls cut his hat-band ; liberation in his purpose to slay the
but, just as the negro was about to fire Confederate leader.
the fifth time, Forrest killed him with

Attack on Murfreesboro. 171
the ability of the command to triumph. Indeed, so far did
this spirit reach, that some officers urged Colonel Forrest to
rest content with what had been accomplished and quit the
field without further and, as they were satisfied, fruitless yet
costly efforts to carry the Federal position. But, instead of
heeding the suggestions of his subordinates, Forrest, dis
mounting Major Smith's Battalion, including the Kentucki
ans, threw them forward, with directions to engage" in an
active skirmish with the Federal force still occupying the
encampment of the Ninth Michigan. Lieutenant-Colonel
Hood, of the Second Georgia, at the same time, was directed
to lead that regiment to a point leftward of the Federal posi
tion and prepare for a charge dismounted, while Colonel
Lawton was detained to write a demand, to be sent by a flag
of truce, for the enemy's immediate surrender. All the while,
Smith and his men were maintaining a brisk skirmish ; and
just as the Confederate demand was presented, Wharton's
Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, came oppor
tunely in full view. The effect was most fortunate ; without
further parley, and very much to the surprise of a large por
tion of the Confederate officers, the surrender was at once
made. This achieved, setting a portion of his command to
collect the wagon-train and fill them with supplies most
necessary, and to destroy such as could not be carried off,
Forrest, with little loss of time, sent Captain Strange, his
Adjutant-General, to the beleaguered Minnesotians, with a
demand for their surrender, to save the further effusion of
blood. At this, Colonel Lester, their commander, asked for
an interview with Colonel Duffield, of the Ninth Michigan,
who, severely wounded, was a prisoner of war at the house of
Colonel Maney, a gentleman of Murfreesboro, where an in
terview and consultation between the Federal Colonels soon
took place. Lester, however, still asked for an hour's delay,
to confer with his officers. Forrest, giving him thirty min-

172 Campaigns of General Forrest.
utes, sent Captain Strange with him to receive his final an
swer, fully satisfied that it would terminate in a surrender,
to insure which he ostentatiously displayed his several com
mands along the path Colonel Lester was led in going to and
returning from the interview with Duffield, so as to make an
appearance of greater numbers than were really present. As
anticipated, Captain Strange soon returned with the intelli
gence " that Colonel Lester had consented to capitulate.
Forrest, now riding forward, received the surrender of some
five hundred infantry and Hewitt's Battery, and the last of
the Federal force that had been in occupation of and a terror
to the people of Murfreesboro for some time past were now
in his hands.
The proximity of large Federal garrisons at neighboring
towns and along the line of the railroad, which might be
speedily concentrated and attack or intercept his movements
with a superior force, made it necessary for Forrest to be
now both diligent and alert, and lose no time in such a dan
gerous position. Orders were, therefore, given to hasten the
destruction of all Federal supplies which could not be re
moved, and by six p.m. the last of his command had filed out
of Murfreesboro on their way toward McMinnville. The results
of this affair, it remains to say, were some 1765* prisoners.
including about one hundred clerks, teamsters, and other
staff employe's, as many as six hundred head of horses and
mules, forty wagons, five or six ambulances, four pieces of
artillery, and twelve hundred stands of arms, which were

* In addition to these prisoners, thus was supposed, mortally wounded, be-
turned loose on their parole, one hun- sought him to parole them also, which
dred and two straggling fugitive Fede- he did in due form, desperately wound-
ral soldiers came into Murfreesboro on ed as he was. It was soon after this
the fourteenth of July, after Colonel affair that General Buell issued an
Forrest had left, and seeking out Colo- order forbidding his men to accept such
nel Saunders, who had been left, as paroles.

Moral Effects of Success. 173
largely distributed among the troops in lieu of those in their
hands of an inferior character, many valuable supplies car
ried off, and a very large quantity of stores, including, it was
said, thirty thousand suits of clothing for Buell's Army *
The effect upon those through whom it had been accom
plished was immediately perceptible. It infused a new life
and energy at once into their movements, inspired a self-con
fidence which had been materially shattered by previous mis
carriages and disaster, gave an assurance of the judgment and
capacity in their leader that had been wanting,! and made
that leader more willing to trust himself in the field with his
brigade hereafter in delicate and dangerous operations. Be
sides, it was the beginning of that reputation for daring,
skillfully conceived and executed forays and sudden assaults
upon isolated positions which soon made Forrest's move
ments a source of constant apprehension to all adversaries
within his reach.
This affair, it is worthy of note, happened on his birthday,
and, as may be readily supposed, wofite in honor ofthe event
could have been so acceptable as this martial success not
many miles distant from the place of his birth. On the eve
preceding, Forrest, in a short address, having acquainted
his command with the fact of the approach of his birthday,
pleasantly called upon them to aid him to signalize it by a
substantial victory.
It must also be related, as a part of the history of the times,
that the vanquished Federals had exercised a harsh and arro
gant dominion over the people of Murfreesboro and the sur-

* A Federal writer estimates the pe- an officer of rank who had left Chatta-
cuniary loss to the government of the nooga just as Forrest was leaving for
United States at nearly a million of this expedition, and which that officer
dollars.— Reb. Rec. V. Doc. 88, p. 289. characterized as rash, inconsiderate, and
t The present writer conversed with likely to lead to disaster.

1 74 Campaigns of General Forrest.
rounding country, who, non-combatants as they were, had
been made the victims of constant wrongful and oppressive
exaction and restrictions discreditable to the age or civilized
warfare. The provost-marshal, churlish when not cruel, it
would seem, delighted in harassing the women, going so far
even as to refuse them permission to attend their churches or
to allow as many as three to collect in a group on the street
or elsewhere. The proof of this rigorous tyranny, we are
assured, was too abundant to be doubted.*
Desiring to avoid the risk of making invidious distinctions
between those who served under him in this expedition with
so signal bravery and zeal in his notes touching it, their
commander has limited his remarks to the fact that the con
duct of almost all — officers and men — was highly creditable ;
that there were numerous instances of conspicuous coolness
and soldierly bearing, and much ability for command displayed
by his officers.
After having sent off in the direction of McMinnville all
the supplies practicable, destroying the rest, Colonel For
rest repaired with his prisoners, late that afternoon, to Reedys-
ville, nine miles eastward of Murfreesboro, and halted for the
night, having previously detached Major Baxter Smith's Bat
talion to destroy the bridges as far southward as Christiana.
Upon the return of this detachment, the next morning, he
threw out other detachments in observation toward Lebanon
and Nashville, Shelbyville and Winchester, to ascertain defi
nitely the movements of the enemy after hearing of his de
scent upon Murfreesboro. When this had been done, he

* On the other hand, a Federal wri- have before cited, of " rebel prisoners,"
ter describes this very Provost-Marshal, gathered from the country, many of
Oliver C. Rounds, as entirely too lax whom were to " expiate their crimes on
and indulgent, though it is admitted the gallows."— Reb. Rec. V. Doc 88, p.
at the same time the jail was full, as we 288.

Prisoners Paroled. 175
found that, with a proper guard to insure the safety of his
prisoners, there were not men enough remaining to drive the
captured artillery and train. Separating the Federal officers
from their men, and putting the former in motion for Mc
Minnville, escorted by a company of cavalry, he drew up the
other prisoners, and promised, if enough would volunteer as
drivers of the wagon-train and artillery as far as McMinnville,
that he would there parole the whole band and let them make
their way homeward to see their families. This proposition
was received with hearty cheers for "General Forrest," who
now resumed his march and encamped that night at McMinn
ville. Here he overtook Colonel Wharton, with a company
of his regiment and some three hundred of the men who had
left the field, and having in charge General Crittenden and
about two hundred and fifty prisoners, the first captured on
the day before. The Colonel was suffering from a severe
flesh-wound in the right arm, which had prevented him from
returning with his regiment the day before, when it had been
called back by Colonel Forrest.
As promised, the prisoners, except the officers, were now
paroled. This having been accomplished by eight o'clock on
the morning of the 15th, the number set at liberty in that
manner was 1700, including, as before said, at least one hun
dred staff employe's.
Provided with two days' rations, they took the roads lead
ing in the direction of the Ohio river, manifestly delighted
with the opportunity to be thus respited, by their parole, from
field service for some time to come. The Federal officers
retained as prisoners, but under a qualified parole not to
escape on the way thither, with most of the wagons and
the captured stores and the artillery, were next dispatched
under a small guard to the headquarters of General Kirby
Smith, at Knoxville.
Satisfied from reports of scouts in all directions that it

176 Campaigns of General Forrest.
might be done without hazard, Forrest remained encamped,
giving his men and horses rest at McMinnville until the after
noon of the 1 8th, by which time all detachments except a few
scouts had returned. He then put his column in motion on Le
banon, about fifty miles distant, where he understood a detach
ment of five hundred Federal cavalry were stationed. Propos
ing to surprise them, he moved, with little intermission for
either rest, food, or sleep, to the immediate vicinity about dawn
on the 20th. Making all necessary dispositions at once for the
occasion, he dashed with his now confident command into the
place, but had the keen disappointment to see that his enemy
had been forewarned and was leaving at full speed by the
Nashville road with such a start as to make pursuit fruitless.
Posting pickets on all the approaches, so as to guard against
the possibility of a surprise, Forrest remained with his com
mand in observation at Lebanon until the next morning, the
recipients, meanwhile, of unbounded hospitality from the
open-handed people of the place and neighborhood. His
men were fed not only during their stay upon poultry, choice
hams, and roasted pigs, but more than three days' rations of
these dainties were supplied spontaneously for the march.
After leaving Lebanon, the line of march brought the com
mand, about one p.m., to the Hermitage — in his lifetime the
favorite home, and in death the burial-place of the illustrious
Jackson. The Confederate leader, halting here, gave his men
an hour to visit the precincts redolent with martial memories
of peculiar interest and value to the young men of his bri
gade, and well calculated to influence them
" To matchless valor and adventures high."
And here, too, a pleasant incident served to brighten the
wearisome and perilous routine of the expedition. A party
of ten or twelve young ladies, escorted by a few gentlemen,
appeared upon the scene to celebrate in its groves the first

Pursuit by Federals. 177
anniversary of the battle of Manassas, and at the same time do
honor to the tomb and fame of the great Tennesseean. With
these charming daughters of the neighborhood the moments
sped pleasantly and with happy effect upon their young coun
trymen. Soon after leaving the Hermitage, in the direction of Nash
ville, information was received from scouts that the Federal
General Nelson had gone, via Murfreesboro, in pursuit of the
Confederates with a force of some 3500 men, chiefly infantry.
It was now determined to move to Stone river, seven miles
east of Nashville, where, coming upon the Federal pickets
around the city, he charged and captured a portion, driving the
remainder into the city. Moving around, now, by a left-hand
road to the Murfreesboro turnpike, near the lunatic asylum,
another picket force was encountered, and, capturing a few, the
rest were driven in. At the same time, an independent com
mand of Confederate guerrillas, without concert, chanced to
dash in upon their pickets, on the Franklin road, making the
Federals suppose that the place was surrounded and threatened
with a serious assault. The long roll and other signals of
alarm were therefore to be heard on all sides.
Gathering his force in hand, Forrest then swept down upon
a small intrenched outpost covering the bridge over Mill creek,
four miles from the heart of the city, and carried it, taking
some twenty prisoners ; and pursuing the rest up the creek to
another bridge, half a mile southward, forty men were there
surrounded and captured. Leaving a company to destroy this
bridge, he next moved with celerity still further up the creek
about one mile to Antioch Station, where the enemy attempted
to make a stand, but were quickly routed by Lieutenant-Co
lonel Walker and the Eighth Texas, thirty-five prisoners and
their arms and supplies falling into his hands, while the sta
tion-house, some cars, and a bridge were burned. A squadron
was then sent up the road toward Murfreesboro, burned a

178 Campaigns of General Forrest.
large quantity of railroad wood, and captured some fifteen Fe
derals ; having thus burned four bridges, and captured some
one hundred and forty-five of the enemy, with fifteen to twenty-
killed or left wounded on the ground, without loss of one Con
federate. Forrest now moved over to the Murfreesboro and
Nashville turnpike, where he was informed by his scouts that
Nelson was returning with his force in all haste toward Nash
ville. His command by this time, men and animals, were so
greatly jaded as to make it injudicious to attempt to harass
Nelson ; therefore, turning aside by a by-way, known in the
country as the " Chicken road," he encamped his command
not more than a mile from the turnpike. Here the prisoners
taken that afternoon were paroled, and while this was going
on Nelson's column had been distinctly heard for several
hours as they passed along the turnpike.
By daylight, the Confederates were again in their saddles,
and on the way back in the direction of Murfreesboro. Soon
apprised of this by his scouts, Nelson countermarched and
pursued. Forrest, however, turned off within six miles of
Murfreesboro, in the direction of McMinnville, while Nelson
pushed on to the former place, where, finding his adversary
out of his reach and his own infantry thoroughly foot-sore and
fatigued, he gave up the operation as useless, expressing his
disgust in energetic terms, and denouncing the folly of at
tempting to catch cavalry with infantry. Reaching McMinn
ville in due season, Forrest halted until the 10th of August,
as the position was one well calculated for observation and
menace upon the movements of the enemy, and the country
abounded in supplies willingly furnished.
On the 10th, Colonel Forrest, having occasion to visit
Chattanooga, turned over his command to Lieutenant-Colonel
Hood, Second Georgia, and repaired thither on horseback
across the Cumberland mountains. In his absence, a Federal
column of three thousand infantry and eight hundred cavalry

Colonel Forrest made a Brigadier. 179
was found to be moving on McMinnville, and Colonel Hood
was obliged to fall back upon Sparta. There Forrest rejoined
the brigade after an absence of only four days, in the course
of which he had ridden two hundred miles over the Cumber
land mountains and back. Daily skirmishes took place for
the next eight or ten days with the Federal cavalry, who had
followed to the neighborhood of Sparta. The Confederate
leader then shifted his force over, first to Smithville, and then
to Woodbury, thus gaining the Federal rear.
Meanwhile, Forrest had received his appointment as a Bri
gadier-General ;* and General Bragg had established his head
quarters at Chattanooga, where he was concentrating the
" Army of Mississippi," by railroad, for his subsequent cam
paign into Kentucky.
From Woodbury, after halting a few hours, General Forrest
led his command again in the direction of Murfreesboro, now
reoccupied by the Federals, and menaced the place with an
other descent ; but on getting within eight miles, turning di
rectly to the left and striking the railroad near Manchester,
some ten miles northward of Tullahoma, he captured a picket
post of twenty men. After that, moving along the line of the
railroad branch to McMinnville up to within ten miles of the
latter place, he destroyed all the intermediate bridges and
otherwise disabled the road. Learning definitely that the
Federal cavalry at McMinnville had been strongly reenforced,
and that two divisions of infantry also occupied the town,
Forrest concluded to take post in the mountain pass at Alta-
mont and await General Bragg. He accordingly took the
road thither, and at dusk on the 29th of August, reached
a cove at the foot of the Cumberland mountains, where he
halted to send forward scouts to reconnoitre the pass ahead.

• Commission dated 21st of July, 1862.

180 Campaigns of General Forrest.
These returned next morning, about daylight, from the vicinity
of Altamont, which they reported to be in possession of
General McCook, with all the passes in that quarter. Other
scouts soon after came in with the intelligence that heavy
columns of the enemy were moving toward his position by
each of the roads leading to it.* The situation evidently was
most critical — one from which the Confederate leader could
only extricate himself by coolness and skill. Keeping his best
scouts out on all the approaches, he rode to a commanding.
point on the mountain to get a personal observation of the
enemy's movements, and was happily able to see for at least
five miles on the three roads that entered the cove, and upon
each of which he observed a Federal column approaching, as
had been reported. He learned, likewise, through another
scout, that General McCook was moving down upon him di
rectly from Altamont. There was plainly no time for delay
or deliberation ; therefore, quickly forming his men in column
of fours, he moved back a short distance to a dry creek that he
had noticed, the deep bed of which fortunately ran almost
parallel to the McMinnville road. With that decision, that
swift calculation of resources and chances, characteristic of
the man, and one of his highest qualities as a leader, he did
not hesitate to throw his command into this opportune shelter.
Scarcely had he done so, when the enemy came up the road,
and, halting in a piece of woods, began to form line not six
hundred yards from where the Confederates were quietly pass
ing, completely hidden by the high overhanging banks of the
water-course just mentioned.! Having successfully effected

• Namely, from Manchester, Win- toils been set, that a telegraphic mes-
chester, and McMinnville, uniting in sage was sent to General Buell, that
one road in the cove, leading out over Forrest and eight hundred men had
the mountain by Altamont. been captured.-,!/.?. Notes of General
t So well and confidently had these Forrest.

Ordered to Harass Federal Rear. 181
this movement, Forrest, emerging from concealment, took the
road rapidly north-ward toward McMinnville, fifteen miles dis
tant ; but when within six or seven miles of that place, he
turned off by another road toward the McMinnville-Murfrees-
boro turnpike, leaving McMinnville some four or five miles to
the east. Striking that highway at a point near where he
found a Federal force of infantry and artillery drawn up in
position, and sweeping around, westwardly, at a gallop, with a
loud cheer from every trooper, the Federals appeared so much
paralyzed by the suddenness of the encounter that they fired
only a few scattering discharges without harm to the Confe
derates.* *Free, now, of the several Federal columns that for a time
had almost cut off his escape, Forrest led his brigade, at a
less rapid rate, to Sparta, in which direction he understood
General Bragg was then moving with his army, instead of
through Altamont, as originally had been arranged. Bragg's
advance was already at Sparta when General Forrest reached
there, on the 3d of September, but the General-in-Chief be
ing still some twenty miles rearward, he repaired to his head
quarters in person, and, on so doing, received orders to throw
his brigade upon and hold in close observation the rear of
Buell's army, then in retreat by way of Nashville

• It appears from the Federal ac- ries. It was fortunate for the Federals
count, Reb. Rec. V. Doc. 196, p. 600, their actual force, as well as isolation
that the Federal troops here encoun- from near support, was not known to
tered were only three regiments and General Forrest at the time. The close
four guns of Wood's Division, that had proximity of all the divisions of Buell's
been encamped near McMinnville, and army had made it his first duty to dis-
which had been sent, in hot haste, to in- entangle his command from all possible
tercept Forrest. The Federal report complication with them, and hence his
of this affair is an amusing instance of purpose was to avoid collisions until
the sheer falsehood by which petty that was effected.
transactions were magnified into victo-

1 82 Campaigns of General Forrest.
II.
Rejoining his command at Sparta, having received an
accession to his force of a section of artillery,* Forrest was
speedily in motion again. Hastening backward to McMinn
ville, he ascertained that Buell's rear-guards had passed
through that place ten hours previously. Pressing on, there
fore, with all possible celerity, he came up with it at Wood
bury, and at once began to harass it all the way thence to
Murfreesboro, which some Federal soldiers attempted to burn,
and must have accomplished had not Forrest come upon them
with such timely vigor as to prevent the spread of a serious
conflagration and to save the court-house.! Pressed inces
santly by the Confederate cavalry, they had now no time for
more than petty devastations.
General Bragg was now in full movement for Kentucky,
and to Forrest's brigade! was assigned the duty of guarding
his left flank, with special view to hindering observation of
the several stages as well as line of march of the Confederate
army. Crossing the Cumberland river near by the Hermit
age, he soon encountered a Federal cavalry force in close
proximity to their army, and back upon which, after a short
brush, he drove them. Hanging constantly and tenaciously
upon their rear, the next morning Forrest made another attack
upon an exposed force at Tyree's Springs. Some hours later,
from a favorable position, he was also able to open upon the

* Increased by the four Alabama civilized people, with the strictest re-
companies of his old regiment, under gard for the rights of non-combatants,
Captain Bacot. while his habits of strict discipline
' t It is due to that accomplished, able tended to repress these outrages and
soldier, Major-General Buell, to say violations of civilized warfare. But he
that he was in no way responsible for was badly supported by many of his
these excesses. He endeavored to subordinate commanders, not of the re-
carry on the war as became a great and gular army.

A Narrow Escape. 183
rear of the main Federal force with his section of artillery, at
the same time making so strong a display of his own forces
as to cause the halt of the enemy's column and wagon-train,
the retrograde, at a double-quick apparently, of the advance,
and the formation in line of battle of very much the whole of
Buell's arm}-, at the cost of at least four hours' delay. In the
mean time, Forrest had quietly withdrawn from his position
in the woods, which the Federal artillery had' been shelling
vigorously for several hours, and at a trot made a wide cir
cuit, of about ten miles, with the aim of getting around to the
north of and striking a blow at the Federal advance. It was
in the course of this movement the Confederates had a narrow
escape from one of those casualties which, despite all possible
precautions, so often follow in the train of and mar military
operations — an accidental collision between parts of the same
army. General Wheeler, another of Bragg's cavalry com
manders, having been instructed to throw his force across
upon the Nashville and Bowling Green turnpike, and at
tempt a blow in that quarter, had struck the Federal flank
while moving in column. Forrest, hearing the firing, pushed
forward to mingle in the affair, but, hearing from his scouts
that a hostile force was approaching through an old field
to his right, he disposed his command for an immediate col
lision. Ordering Lieutenant-Colonel Walker to charge at
once in front with the Eighth Texas, he next moved around
with the rest of the command, with the purpose of sur
prising and falling upon the flank of the approaching force.
Colonel Walker, executing his orders, had reached a ridge in
his front and formed a line for the charge, when he happily
discovered the troops in his front were Wheeler's command,
falling back helter skelter and in much confusion. But, at
the same time, the latter taking the Texans for the enemy,
and seeing that they were directly across their outlet, were
thrown into even greater disorder, and in their efforts to get

184 Campaigns of General Forrest.
away soon ran upon the flank, where Forrest himself was ar
ranging a surprise for the supposed enemy. For a moment
the peril of a murderous conflict between the two Confede
rate cavalry forces was fearfully imminent, but was fortunately
averted by a timely discovery of the real state of affairs.
Learning from General Wheeler that he had been engaged
with the enemy at about the same point where he had aimed
to strike, Forrest concluded to effect a junction at once with
the main Confederate army, then moving on Glasgow, Ky.,
where he arrived about the 8th of September, and made a
verbal report of his operations in person to General Bragg,
who then directed him to report, with his command, to Lieu
tenant-General Polk, commanding one of the corps of the
army. It will be recollected he had been in the field since the 6th
of July — that is to say, for a period of quite two months —
marching on an average thirty miles every day. He had lost
in killed and wounded, or by disease incident to the hardships
of the service two hundred men, but in the mean while had
killed or wounded fully 350, and captured over 2000 prisoners
of war, including one Brigadier-General, four or five field
officers, and as many as sixty regimental officers, besides four
pieces of artillery, two stands of colors, six hundred draught
animals, and a large wagon-train. Incessantly in the saddle
for sixty days, the men and horses were a good deal fatigued.
Nevertheless, the spirit of all was excellent, and an unabated
desire was generally prevalent .throughout the ranks to have
an early opportunity to be thrown into a general and decisive
engagement with the Federal army.
Under orders from General Polk, Forrest's Brigade was
directed to move that night by the road to Clear Point, so as
to pass Green river above Munfordsville and seize the Eliza-
bethtown and Bardstown road. Reaching Munfordsville,
however, the following night, Forrest intercepted an effort

Buell Eludes Bragg. 185
made by the Federals to effect their escape from that posi
tion, and obliged them by his movements to return to their
fortifications, which were surrendered, after some hard fight
ing, on the 17th, to the infantry that had come up in the mean
time.* Bragg's whole army was soon after assembled at this point.
Buell was still in the rear, and Munfordsville was in the direct
line of his march to Louisville, the objective point of his
movement! Nevertheless, for some reason which surely'
must ever be hard to reconcile with sound strategy, General
Bragg here turned aside from the main road to Louisville, and
left it fully open to his enemy, with every possible unob
structed facility to move by it to that city and there effect a
junction with the Federal forces, which, of course, the Con
federate commander supposed were gathered there in view of
the exigencies of the situation. Indeed, why General Bragg
did not force his adversary to fight him at or about Munfords
ville must ever remain a mystery in the history of the war.t
Quitting Munfordsville, Forrest's Brigade took the field
again, with orders to destroy the bridges on the Louisville and
Elizabethtown Railroad, and, after that, to cover Bardstown
while pushing ahead toward Louisville.§
From Elizabethtown scouts were thrown out in the proper

* The force capitulated consisted of neer of the Confederate service, who
the Seventeenth, Sixty-seventh, and was on the staff of the Confederate/
Eighty-third Indiana regiments and a army during this campaign.
company of the provost-guard of Lou- § Continuous and prolonged hard
isville. service had greatly jaded General For-
t According to Diary of Events, Reb. rest's horses, and the night after leav-
Rec. V. p. 84, General McCook's Divi- ing Munfordsville he was severely hurt
sion, of Buell's Army, reached Mun- by the fall of the one he was riding. It
fordsville on the 2 1st of September. fell and rolled over on him, bruised
% " He had Buell in the hollow of his him greatly, and dislocated his right
hand," was the remark to the present shoulder, causing much pain for several
writer of the most distinguished engi- days.

1 86 Campaigns of General Forrest.
direction to ascertain the movements of the enemy, and seve
ral petty cavalry skirmishes occurred. The brigade was also
employed in advance of Bardstown, picketing the several
roads toward Louisville and Frankfort, until about the 25 th
or 26th, when General Forrest was summoned in person to
General Polk's headquarters. He there learned that it was
General Bragg's direction he should repair immediately to
Murfreesboro to take command of the troops that might be
raised in Middle Tennessee, giving special attention to new
companies and organizations, and with such troops as he
could thus assemble to harass the Federal garrison of Nash
ville while preventing it from drawing supplies from the sur
rounding country.
Turning over his brigade to Colonel Wharton, except the
four Alabama companies, which he was authorized to take with
him as well as his staff, Forrest visited General Bragg at
Bardstown about the 27th of September, and, in an interview
with that officer, was given to understand the troops he was
sent to raise and organize should be placed thereafter spe
cially under his command.
Setting out now for his new sphere of duties, he traversed
the distance from Bardstown to Murfreesboro — one hundred
and sixty-five miles — in five days.

CHAPTER VI.
General Forrest established his Headquarters at Murfreesboro, Tenn. — ¦
Tennessee Militia and new Levies at Lavergne surprised and dis
persed by the Federals — Enemy returned to Nashville, closely followed
by Forrest — Confederate Pickets established close around Nashville —
Battalions and Regiments formed of new Cavalry Levies — Major-
General Breckinridge assumed Command in Middle Tennessee — For
rest proposed to attack Nashville with Infantry and Cavalry —
Assent given, Movement inaugurated — Federals pressed within
Trenches and Assault to be made, operation countermanded— Ani
mated Skirmish on Franklin-Nashville Road — General Bragg, hav
ing returned from the Kentucky Campaign, established Army Head
quarters at Murfreesboro — Major-General Wheeler appointed Chief
of Cavalry — General Forrest assigned to the Command of a Bti-
gaae — Directed to prepare for Expedition into West-Tennessee —
Unsuitable Condition of Arms for such a service reported to Gene
ral Bragg — Brigade took Post at Colwnbia.
October \st to Dece?nber 4th, 1862.
GENERAL FORREST found but a small force at Mur
freesboro, mainly made up of the Thirty-second Alabama and
Freeman's Battery of four guns. At Lavergne, however,
Brigadier-General S. R. Anderson was in command of several
regiments of Tennessee militia and about one thousand fresh
ly raised cavalry ;* and Forrest now sent thither the Thirty-
second Alabama. The troops there were raw, and the Fede
ral commander at Nashville, fifteen miles distant, had planned

» The militia were about 1700 in number.

1 88 Campaigns of General Forrest.
their surprise with the hope of their capture. This plan was
well executed by a march on the night of the 6th of October,
and a simultaneous attack, in front and rear, on the morning
of the 7th, by a force of 400 cavalry and 2600 infantry, with a
battery of four pieces, under General Palmer.
At the first alarm the new levies broke and dispersed
through the country, leaving the Thirty-second Alabama to
bear the weight of the Federal attack, which they did right
gallantly until overwhelmed by at least six times their num
bers, and when Lieutenant-Colonel Maury and a number of
his men were taken prisoners.*
Some of the cavalry having reached Murfreesboro and re
ported the disaster, General Forrest hurried to the scene with
Bacot's Battalion and Freeman's Battery. The way thither
was swarming with fugitives, very few of whom had arms in
their hands ; many were riding barebacked, and very many
were shoeless and without any other clothing than that in
which they had slept. Deploying his veterans, about two
hundred strong, across the road, Forrest pushed boldly into
Lavergne, but to find it already evacuated by its captors.
Following closely to within five miles of Nashville, the Con
federate commander was unable to do any thing with his small
command to retrieve this mortifying affair.
Howbeit, he replaced the demoralized force that had been
occupying Lavergne with Bacot's Battalion and Freeman's
Battery, imposing upon the former the duty of picketing the
approaches from Nashville up to the vicinity of the Lunatic
Asylum, and to guard against another surprise. Returning
then to Murfreesboro for the next four weeks, General For
rest addressed himself with all possible energy to restoring
the tone of the troops that had been routed at Lavergne ;

• The Federal Official Report sets the number at 175.— AV*. Rec. V. Doc 215,
p. 623.

General Breckinridge. 189
also to the formation of the widely-scattered and incomplete
organizations which he found in Middle Tennessee into com
panies, battalions, and regiments, so that he was able to mus
ter at least three thousand five hundred cavalry by the 1st of
November. They were regimented as far as possible, and
three of the most distinguished regiments of Forrest's Ca
valry take their date from this period — that is, the Fourth,
(Starnes's,) the Eighth, (Dibrell's,) and the Ninth, (Biffle's.)*
Thirteen full companies had likewise been enrolled that were
not as yet brought together into a regiment.
In the mean time, Major-General Breckinridge had arrived
at Murfreesboro with a force of some three thousand infantry,
and assumed chief command. Forrest's headquarters were
thereupon transferred to Lavergne. Meanwhile, the Eighth
Tennessee and Gunter's Alabama Battalion had been added —
about the middle of October — to the force in close observa
tion upon Nashville. And, during the fortnight following, Colo
nel Dibrell was sent with his regiment several times across
the Cumberland to scour the country between Nashville and
Gallatin, to harass or cut off Federal foraging parties, and to
ascertain the truth of rumors in regard to the movements of
a Federal relieving force. These expeditions were conducted
with promising skill, and the conduct of the men was excel
lent in several skirmishes with superior Federal detachments,
upon whom some loss was inflicted, as well as in repeated
brushes with the Federal picket-posts immediately around
Nashville. The Confederate forces assembled at Lavergne and around
Nashville about the 5th of November were 3500 cavalry and
some 3000 infantry, under Brigadier-General Hanson.!

• See Rosters, Appendix. captured at Fort Donelson, had only
t This gallant, accomplished officer, been lately exchanged and promoted.

190 Campaigns of General Forrest.
As will be remembered, the movement of General Bragg
had completely isolated the Federal force at Nashville from
all available support or relief, and, knowing that force to be
weak, General Forrest now proposed to his superior to attack
it in concert with Hanson's infantry. General Breckinridge
giving his assent, the plan of attack was duly arranged for
the 6th of November.
As the greater proportion of his men were raw and Ten-
nesseeans, Forrest thought it expedient to explain to them
beforehand what he proposed to attempt, and to invoke a
sturdy, resolute effort to recover their State capital from the
hands of invaders. The effect was evidently good, for an
admirable spirit was clearly dominant. At the time appoint
ed, all needful preliminaries having been arranged, the troops,
distributed in columns, moving by the Franklin, Charlotte,
Nolansville, and Murfreesboro turnpikes, were pushed for
ward in close proximity to the city, driving the Federal
pickets and cavalry back behind their works. Forrest, at the
head of about one thousand cavalry, moving on the Murfrees
boro road, supported closely by Hanson, was at the Lunatic
Asylum — six miles from the heart of Nashville — by daylight.
The rifle-pits in advance in this quarter were speedily carried,
and, Hanson having become eager to engage his men, the
main attack was ordered. It was now about sunrise ; the ut
most confidence animated both infantry and cavalry, and in
a few moments the assault would have been essayed, when an
order was received from General Breckinridge countermand
ing the operation, under express instructions from General
Bragg. Hanson was therefore countermarched to Lavergne.
However, leaving a squadron to picket that approach, For
rest moved the remainder of his immediate force across to
the Nolansville turnpike, where Dibrell was in position skir
mishing with the Federals, who were in their works in his
front. Here ascertaining that a strong Federal force was

Skirmish around Nashville. 191
outside of the lines, on the Franklin road, in front of Starnes,
taking Dibrell's Regiment and Gunter's Battalion, with Free
man's Artillery, General Forrest moved across, and was soon
engaged in an animated skirmish with the main Federal
force, artillery being freely used on both sides at very short
range. The Eightli Tennessee was here brought to its first
charge, and executed it so handsomely, in the teeth of two in
fantry regiments firing from behind a fence, that the Federals
retired rapidly in rear of their works. In this affair Freeman's
Artillery, actively employed, gave earnest of its future bril
liant services. Shot and shell plowed the ground and covered
his gunners, while fragments of shell were scattered among
the guns and carriages, killing and crippling a number of
horses. For a time, in fact, it seemed that the battery would
be destroyed ; but all stood staunchly at their posts, and
plied their pieces with coolness, and so skillfully as to make
this battery thenceforward a favorite both with the General
and his men.
In obedience to the orders of his superiors, leaving Dibrell
to hold and observe the Nolansville pike, Starnes the Frank
lin, and Morgan the Murfreesboro highways, Forrest now re
tired to Lavergne, deeply chagrined that he had been forced,
by orders given at such a distance from the theatre of opera
tions, to abandon an enterprise the success of which he was
satisfied was almost an absolute certainty.*
In the mean time, General Bragg, having fought the battle

* The recovery of Nashville at that ble risk from the Army in Virginia for
juncture was so clearly fraught with a fortnight, and moving by rail, would
moral, political, and military advan- have easily compassed it. It was one
tages that those charged with the gene- of those numerous omissions to seize
ral conduct of military affairs at Rich- patent opportunities which, in the study
mond surely ought to have initiated of this war hereafter, will amaze and
measures to insure the operation. A puzzle the military student, and, in-
single division detached without possi- deed, all thoughtful readers.

192 Campaigns of General Forrest.
of Perryville, had been obliged to withdraw from .Kentucky,
and by the latter part of November had taken up a position
with his army in the vicinage of Murfreesboro. General
Wheeler was then assigned to the chief command of the
cavalry, with his headquarters at Lavergne, and Forrest, be
ing relieved, was directed to report to General Bragg in per
son. Thereupon he was assigned to the command of a bri
gade constituted of the Fourth, Eighth, and Ninth Tennessee
regiments and Russell's Fourth Alabama,* with Freeman's
Battery, with orders to take post at Columbia and there pre
pare for an expedition across the Tennessee river into West-
Tennessee. The arms of his regiments being shot-guns and
flint-lock muskets, altogether unfit for such an expedition,
General Forrest made the fact known to the Commander-in-
Chief, who nevertheless adhered to his orders, but promised
that proper arms should be provided for issue at Columbia.
Accordingly, on the 4th of December, Forrest took position,
as directed, with his brigade, about eighteen hundred strong,
at Columbia.

* We regret that we are unable to furnish any roster of Russell's Regiment,
after every effort to procure one.

\',\\\

CHAPTER VII.

Set out for Expedition into I Vest- Tennessee — Effected Passage of Ten
nessee River at Clifton — Successful Affair with Federal Force at
Lexington, West- Tennessee — Whole Federal Command engaged eithe r '
killed, captured, or dispersed — Captured Section of Rifled Guns,'
which Forres fs Artillery used for the rest of the War — Boldly In
vested Jackson, occupied by a largely Superior Force — Capture of
Outposts and Destruction qf Railways in vicinity — Skirmishes in
front of Jackson — Federal Forces driven behind their Intrench
ments — Forrest retired from position to operate against Federal
Communications — Divided Force for that purpose — Capture of Tren
ton by Forrest, with large number of Prisoners; also many
Supplies — Resumption of March Northward — Blockltpuses and
Garrisons taken — Large Extent of Railway Trestles destroyed with
Guarding Blockhouses — General Forrest, leaving Force to destroy
Railroads, pressed forward to Union City — Captured there several
hundred Prisoners in Intrenched Position — Large Hostile Force
afield to intercept his Exit from West-Tennessee— Began to retrace
Steps— Difficult Passage of the Double Bridges— Battle of Parker's,
Cross-Roads or Red Mound— Death of the Gallant Lieutenant-Colo,
nel Napier — Federals worsted and capitulating en masse — Sudr-
den Appearance of Hostile Reenforcements in Confederate Rear-
Federals resume their Arms and the Battle — Critical Situation of
General Forrest— Happy Extrication — Repassage of- the Tennessee
— Summary of Results. December loth—^ist, 1862.
On the 10th of December, orders having been received
from army headquarters to begin the expedition indicated at
the close of the last chapter, General Forrest again called at
tention, in writing, to the ineffective condition of his arma
ment, as well as to the fact that his men were supplied with.

194 Campaigns of General Forrest.
only ten rounds of caps for his shot-guns, while many of the
muskets were flintless. The reply was a curtly couched order
to march without delay. Feeling aggrieved at the manner
and scope of his instructions, as well as profoundly sensible
of the perils which his command was soon to encounter in the
passage of the. Tennessee river, in mid-winter, without any
means of ferriage, and subsequent penetration into a region
swarming with Federal forces thoroughly armed and supplied
— ten times, perchance, his superiors in numbers — Forrest,
nevertheless, prepared for the expedition as rapidly as possi
ble. Unprepared in arms as his men were to cope with even
an equal force, in its outset the operation had very much the
appearance of an unavailing forlorn hope ; but early on the
next morning his entire force, as before said, about eighteen
hundred officers and men and four guns, were in motion, with
a minimum of baggage. Reaching the Tennessee river the
evening ofthe 13 th, at a place called Clifton, (below at Double
Island,) he effected a passage during the following day, and
on the 15 th, in time to advance some eight miles in the direc
tion of Lexington, in Henderson county. An old, sodden,
leaky flat-boat had been found at Clifton, and used for the
ferriage of the artillery and wagon-train, while the horses and
mules had been swum across ; the officers and men exposed
to a cold pelting rain all the time, without tents or other
shelter. On the 1 6th, moving some eighteen miles in the direction
of Lexington, Forrest encamped to give his men an opportu
nity to dry their clothing, and to inspect and arrange their
arms and ammunition for active service. On inspection it
was found that the greater part of the small supply of caps
had become wet and unserviceable. But that night, most op
portunely, a citizen reached the encampment with some fifty
thousand shot-gun and pistol caps, which the General had
sent agents forward to procure within the enemy's lines.

Federal Force Encountered. 195
This was a great relief and an auspicious circumstance.
Resuming the advance on the morning of the 17th, when
about eight miles from Lexington, his scouts and advanced
pickets encountered those of a Federal force moving by the
same road to check the Confederate expedition.
Directing Colonel Starnes to engage and remove this ob
stacle with his regiment, General Forrest immediately led the
remainder of his command by a road to the right at a gallop,
with the purpose of cutting off the enemy's retreat. In this
movement the lead was given to the four veteran Alabama
companies of the General's old regiment,* under Captain
Frank Gurley, with orders to charge upon the Federals as
soon as he came upon them.
As soon as his artillery had crossed a bridge about six miles
from Lexington, General Forrest jmshed on at a gallop to the
verge of the place, where the enemy were found forming, in a
strong position, on an elevated ridge.
Disposing Dibrell's and Biffie's regiments, Gurley's Bat
talion, and his escort, for the attack, he threw himself at once
with them upon the left of the Federal line and broke it ;
then, turning to the left, he again struck them on the flank,
by which Colonel Hawkins and his regiment of Tennessee
(Federal) cavalry were scattered, and fled to the rear, leaving
the Eleventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, and a section of
artillery to bear the brunt of the onslaught.
These troops Captain Gurley charged with a force of some
two hundred men at most, and captured the guns,! one hun
dred and fifty officers and men, including Colonel IngersoU
and Major Kerr, some three hundred small-arms, mostly
Sharp's carbines, and. a full supply of ammunition, with about

* Now constituting part of Russell's rifled (Rodman) guns, fully equipped,
Regiment, Alabama Cavalry. and were used by General Forrest to
t These were two three-inch steel the close of the war.

196 Campaigns of General Forrest.
two hundred horses and a few wagons. The other portion*
of this force had fled in the direction of Jackson, pursued
hotly by Colonel Starnes and the rest of the command.
The artillery of the enemy was bravely handled and fought ;
the men stood stoutly to their guns ; many fell at their post ;
and the remainder only yielded when the Confederates were
directly upon them and further resistance useless. In their
capture, Private Kelly, of Kelly's Troopers, Russell's (Alaba
ma) Regiment, lost his life with signal heroism. He was the
first Confederate to reach the battery, and laying his hand
upon a piece just as it was discharged he was cut in twain.
Colonel Starnes, pursuing closely in the track of the fugi
tives, captured some fifty of them, and gathered a large num
ber of valuable arms with which the road was strewn by the
fleeing Federals.!
Without further resistance the Confederates reached the
vicinity of Jackson on the afternoon ofthe 18th. Their com
mander, losing no time, at once threw out skirmishers, and
drove back the Federal picket line and outposts, to take
shelter behind their works, which consisted of a heavy line of
infantry epaulements connecting some five or six open-gorge
works for field-pieces, that commanded all the approaches to
the position. Meanwhile, troop-trains were evidently coming
up rapidly from the north and south ; citizens also reported
that heavy reenforcements had recently been received.
General Forrest, therefore, at eight o'clock at night, de
tached Colonel Dibrell and Major J. E. Forrest, each with a

* The Eleventh Illinois, and Haw- t The Confederate loss was three
kins's regiment and the artillery, may privates killed and five wounded ; that
be set down 1 100 men. From the offi- of the Federals about twenty-five killed
cial report of Colonel Jacob Fry, Reb. and fifty wounded, who fell into General
Rec. vol. VI, page 283, Doc. 80, it may Forrest's hands.
be inferred that 300 men of the Fifth
Ohio Cavalry were present also.

Stations Captured. iqj
hundred men, the former to move out on the railroad toward
Humboldt, to seize the nearest station, capture any approach
ing trains, and break up the intermediate sections of the road ;
the latter with similar instructions in regard to the Mobile and
Ohio railroad, south of Jackson. At the same time, Colonel
Biffle was detailed to act in the like manner on the railway
leading to Bolivar. These orders, promptly executed, were so
far successful that Dibrell captured the station some eight
miles north of Jackson, about two o'clock in the morning,
with its Federal garrison of some one hundred men, with their
arms and supplies. Major Forrest seized the nearest station
in his quarter, and its guard, some seventy-five men, their
arms and munitions ; and Biffle surprised and captured an
outpost of some fifty men. Each detachment tore up suffi
cient of the railroad to make a substantial obstruction to the
approach of trains from their respective directions, and re
turned to their positions about daylight with their captures.
The arms and ammunition thus happily acquired were imme
diately distributed in lieu of those of inferior species, with
which Forrest had entered the field.
The force in occupation of Jackson was estimated by the
citizens of the vicinage to be fully 15,000 strong of all arms,
with thirty pieces of artillery in position.*

* The actual Federal strength at 5000 men, sent by General Grant from
Jackson at the time of the appearance Oxford. This would make the force
of General Forrest before it could not present on Forrest's approach at least
have been less than 10,000 infantry. A 13,000 men. But the same correspond-
correspondent of the Chicago Tribune, ent, further on, says, General Sulli-
writing from Cairo, January 6th, as he van, taking the field to pursue the Con-
alleges, with thorough knowledge, says federates, the 20th inst, with 7000 men,
the regular garrison, 5000 strong, on the left at Jaclison only 1000 men, General
evening of the 18th of December was Brayman having begun the pursuit ap-
ree'nforced by Brayman's (from Bolivar) parently the day before.— Reb. Rec. VI.
and Fuller's brigades, and, on the fol- Doc 94, pp. 332, 333.
lowing day, by two other brigades, or

198 Campaigns of General Forrest.
General Forrest, on reaching the vicinage of the Federal
lines, disposed his force with a view to deceive them in re
gard to his numbers. Posting his main force in a line across
the highway from Lexington to Jackson, and about four miles
to the east of the town, he placed detachments to command
and observe the roads from Jackson in the direction of Spring
Creek and Trenton, and in these positions the Confederate
troops rested for the night. About sunrise the enemy threw
forward a strong line of skirmishers, who were promptly met
by the dismounted men advanced by the Confederate General,
with a display, on their right and left flanks, of cavalry, and a
spirited conflict with small-arms took place. Meanwhile, the
Confederate artillery — six pieces — were brought up and em
ployed with such effect that the enemy was speedily driven to
his intrenchments, with a loss of about thirty (30) killed and
wounded, who fell into the hands of the Confederates. Near
ly simultaneously with these operations, skirmishers on foot,
flanked by cavalry, had been pushed down the Spring Creek
and Trenton roads, driving back all the Federal force in that
quarter. Meanwhile, also, the Confederate cavalry remaining
mounted or not employed as skirmishers were brought up
and ostentatiously displayed within half a mile of the in
trenchments along the whole, line between the Forked Deer
river and the highway to Trenton, with the object of deceiv
ing as to the actual force investing the place. This and occa
sional brushes between the skirmishers were kept up through
the day.
Leaving Colonel Russell with his regiment displayed in a
thin line of cavalry-pickets in front of the works, between
four and five p.m. General Forrest quietly withdrew his main
force back by the Lexington road as far as Cotton Plant, and
thence on a road leading to Trenton as far as Spring creek.
It was here the Confederate commander now resorted to a
clever ruse to spread and keep up false notions of his

Prisoners Taken and Supplies Captured. 199
strength — that is, he caused a number of drums to be beaten
in such manner as to produce the belief of a heavy infantry
force in that quarter.*
About eight o'clock at night, Colonel Russell's command
was withdrawn from the vicinage of Jackson and followed to
Spring creek. General Forrest then had his whole force as
sembled at that position, with some five hundred prisoners
taken in the several combats and surprises around Jackson ;
his train was enlarged to twenty-five excellent wagons and
teams, his artillery by a section, and the main part of the men
well armed and munitioned.
At five a.m., Colonel Dibrell was detached with his regiment
and a part of Biffle's to burn the bridge of the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad over Spring creek, which was duly executed,
with the capture there of an outpost of some one hundred in
fantry, with their arms and supplies. At the same time, an
other detachment under Colonel Starnes, consisting of his
regiment, a squadron of Biffle's, and Captain W. H. Forrest's
Independent Company,! was dispatched to capture Hum
boldt, which was also effected about one p.m., (December 20th,)
after a slight skirmish. Two hundred prisoners, four caissons
with their horses, about 500 stand of arms, 300,000 rounds of
small-arm ammunition, a large supply of artillery harness,
considerable quantities of subsistence, quartermasters' stores,
and soldiers' baggage fell into the hands of the Confederates.
These stores and materials of war were destroyed except a
portion of the best of the arms and ammunition, and the
caissons. In the mean time, General Forrest had pushed forward in
the direction of Trenton with his artillery^ and train, his
* These drums had been recently man and the captured Rodman guns
captured. under Captain J. W. Morton, manned
t Not more than 750 men in all. by details.
t Four pieces under Captain Free-

200 Campaigns of General Forrest.
usual escort, and Major N. N. Cox's Battalion, of some one
hundred and sixty newly-raised volunteers from Hickman
and Perry counties, of Middle Tennessee, who had joined on
the 19th and 20th. As he did so, he directed Colonel Rus
sell to remain in position at Spring creek with the Fourth
Alabama cavalry,* to cover the movements then on foot.
There Colonel Russell was assailed in the afternoon, as his
commander had foreseen, by a brigade, at least, of some 2000
infantry. Making an intrepid defense, he repulsed, however,
several attacks, and finally, charging in turn, drove the Fede
rals back across Spring creek, capturing their ammunition
and subsistence-train and some prisoners, besides the casual
ties usually incident to a prolonged and resolute combat. Re
maining master of the ground, he held it until eight o'clock
that nigjit, when he followed in the direction of Trenton, as
he had been previously directed.
At one p.m. on the 20th December, General Forrest reached
the vicinity of Trenton, and without delay made his disposi
tions for its capture. Major Cox was ordered to move with
his squadron by the right, to secure a position to the east of
the town and the railroad depot, which the enemy had
strongly fortified by a breastwork made of cotton-bales and
hogsheads of tobacco, erected closely around it. Then
charging through the town with his escort, Forrest drove the
enemy before him into their breastworks. Within fifty yards
he and his men approached without dismounting, — firing upon
the enemy and receiving their fire, with a loss of two of his
troopers killed and three wounded. Now, withdrawing to
a somewhat commanding position some two hundred yards
south-eastward of the depot, the Confederate commander dis
mounted his men and disposed them quickly as sharp-shoot
ers in some adjacent houses, whence to fire upon the enemy,

• Not exceeding 400 men.

Surrender of Colonel Fry. 201
a number of whom at the moment occupied the tops of the
brick buildings at the depot, favorably adapted for shelter by
parapet walls. After a short skirmish the Federals were
forced to quit these positions, with some loss, and seek better
cover. Captain Strange, the Confederate Adjutant-General,
was then directed to bring up and post the artillery, which
was done with judgment on an elevation southward of the
depot, about three hundred yards distant. Scarcely had
three rounds been discharged, when numerous nondescript
white flags were displayed from all quarters of the Federal
fortalice. Captain Strange was next directed to arrange and receive
the surrender, and, at once advancing for that purpose, was
met by Colonel Jacob Fry, the superior officer present, and
several others. However, while the preliminaries were being
arranged by his staff-officer, General Forrest went forward to
the group thus occupied. As he did so, he was directly ad
dressed by Colonel Fry, an elderly officer, with some inquiry
touching the terms which would be given.
" Unconditional," was the Confederate General's brief an
swer. Then, Colonel Fry, observing that having no alternative he
must yield, unswung his sword and handed it to General For
rest, remarking sadly that it had been in his family for forty
years. Receiving the sword and handling it for an instant,
General Forrest returned it to his opponent, saying in effect :
" Take back your sword, Colonel, as it is a family relic ; but
I hope, sir, when next worn it will be in a better cause than
that of attempting the subjugation of your countrymen."
While these matters were taking place, an alarm of fire
was made at the depot, and smoke was observed to rise with
in the precincts of the works. As it was too long after the
shelling to have been caused in that way, it was evidently an
effort to destroy property which was now his spoil of war.

202 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Forrest, therefore, sprang to the narrow sally-port, whence
the Federal soldiers were already rapidly rushing forth,' and,
drawing his sword, and supported by Major Strange, pistol in
hand, ordered the fugitives to return and extinguish the fire
on pain of death. Sternly enforcing this order, the fire was
speedily quelled. Turning, then, to Colonel Fry, he further
declared his determination to punish in the most summary
manner any such perfidy as an attempt by the Federal sol
diers to set the depot on fire and destroy the property cap
tured. In this brilliant affair, it will be recollected that General
Forrest used only his escort, Cox's untried volunteers, and
his artillery, or a force of not more than 275 men. The re
sults — the legitimate fruit of Forrest's military judgment,
quickness of plan, decision, and dash — were as follows : Not
less than 400 prisoners of war, including Colonels Fry and
Hawkins and several other field officers, 300 negroes, 1000
horses, mules, etc., 13 wagons and ambulances, 7 caissons, 20,-
000 rounds of artillery and 400,000 of small-arm ammunition,
100,000 rations of subsistence, together with a large amount of
cavalry equipments, clothing, and quartermaster stores, and a
considerable quantity of soldiers' baggage — in value at least
$500,000. That evening the several detachments under Colo
nels Starnes and Dibrell came up with their prisoners, and
the next morning early Colonel Russell effected a junction
also, so that the whole command was once more assembled.
And in lieu of flint-lock muskets and shot-guns, ineffectively
supplied with ammunition, it was now well armed, equipped,
and supplied, as well as somewhat stronger than when it had
entered West-Tennessee, despite the casualties of battle with
a superior adversary.
The paroling of prisoners had been commenced soon aftei
the surrender of the garrison at Trenton. They numbered
now fully 1300, officers and men. Of these, the officers and

Advance toward Union City. 203
Hawkins's Regiment were paroled and suffered to repair di
rectly, as they chose, to their several homes ; the remainder,
some 800 or 900 men, were paroled, but required to march
under a suitable escort, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
N. D. Collins, to Columbus, Ky., there to be turned over to
the Federal commander.
Early on the morning of the 21st of December, General
Forrest, taking his usual escort, the artillery, and the wagon-
train, resumed the advance toward Union City, giving orders
that the command, after some requisite rest, should follow
with due celerity, while Colonel Dibrell should remain in posi
tion at Trenton with his regiment until the following day, to
cover the rear.
Some seven miles northward, General Forrest came upon a
stockade, which, after capturing its garrison of thirty men, he
burned, with the railroad-bridge and trestle at the same point.
As the troops were occupied with this, the train had been
sent on with such soldiers as were in charge of crippled
horses — Major G. V. Rambaut, Chief Commissary, in com
mand — and were seven miles in advance when overtaken by
the General, who found him halted, and such soldiers as were
with the train drawn up in front under arms, under the belief
that a considerable Federal force was just in front ; and that
was the fact, for the Confederate commander, advancing with
his escort and Rambaut's few men, speedily encountered a
force of some 250 men, who, after a short brush, were driven
into their stockade at Kenton Station. Bringing up the artil
lery, placing it in position, and disposing his small command
present, not exceeding 125 cavalry, so as to cut off escape into
the swamps, adjacent, of the Obion " bottom," General Forrest
summoned the enemy to surrender, which was peremptorily
declined. The salvo, however, from six pieces of artillery,
which speedily followed with a startling crash through the
stockade, quickly produced another conclusion, and many

204 Campaigns of General Forrest.
white flags of every possible description were to be seen flut
tering in all quarters of the work.
By this juncture the main command began to come up, and
were immediately set to work to destroy the trestle, tear up
the roadway, and burn the stockade. These dispositions
having been made, their commander was again moving for
ward with his escort, artillery, and train, but necessarily mak
ing a detour of four or six miles to find a crossing for the train
and artillery over the Obion, just beyond which he halted and
encamped for the night ofthe 21st The main command mov
ing along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, there a continuous
trestle, destroyed it effectually by the torch for seven miles that
afternoon, capturing another stockade with a garrison of forty
men, and encamped.
That night, Colonel Starnes, the senior officer with the
troops, was specially instructed to destroy, the following day,
the entire track through the bottoms of the Obion, a distance
of some fifteen miles, including a good deal of trestle-work
fifteen feet high, which was thoroughly accomplished.
On the following morning, scouts from the direction of
Jackson reported that a force of some ten thousand men had
taken the field, and were moving rapidly northward, with the
purpose of intercepting the return of the Confederates across
the Tennessee.
Nevertheless, the ever enterprising soldier determined to
complete his movement and continue his advance as far as
Union City, yet some twenty miles distant.
The battalion of Biffle's Regiment, Major Cox's Squadron,
and Captain Forrest's Independent company, were ordered
forward. With this force, a section of artillery, and his escort
detachment, or about four hundred men, and the train, Forrest
now pushed forward rapidly that afternoon upon Union City.
The enemy's pickets were met four miles from the place, and
at once driven in, rapidly followed by the Confederates to their

Forrest Retraces his Steps. 205
fortifications, which consisted of rifle-pits commanded by a
small closed earth-work. The Confederates pressed forward,
taking position to assail the works, with great spirit and loud
cheers. As this happened, Lieutenant-Colonel Collins, who, it will
be remembered, was en route from Trenton to Columbus with
a large body of Federal paroled prisoners, came in view about
half a mile southward, presenting, doubtless, a formidable
hostile appearance to the beleaguered Federals, whose capitu
lation was at once demanded, and yielded with little parley.
Two hundred and fifty officers and men, strongly intrenched,
were here surrendered, with their arms and supplies.
Encamping now for the night, the Confederate leader set
his staff to work paroling the prisoners last taken. Those
in the rear, captured since his departure from Trenton, were
ordered to be hastened up, and on their arrival were likewise
paroled, some three hundred in number, and the whole turned
over to Colonel Collins, who resumed his march the afternoon
of the 23d.
That night, an officer was detached with forty men, to
repair to Moscow, some twelve miles distant, in the direction of
Columbus, which place he reached on the following morning.
Notwithstanding it was said to be strongly occupied and de
fended by a stockade, such was the ardor infused by this time
into the whole command, that a charge was made, with a loud
shout, into the very heart of the position, the commander cry
ing aloud for the " artillery " to be pushed " forward." The
Federals thereupon fled precipitately out of their works in the
direction of Columbus, leaving possession to the Confederates,
who then returned to their command with little delay.
On the return of this detachment, the Confederate General,
having fully attained the utmost northern limit of his expedi
tion, turned to retrace his steps. Some twelve miles south of
Union City he was met by a courier from Colonel Starnes,

206

Campaigns of General Forrest.

with the information that he had destroyed the trestle-work to
the south of the Obion river, and was now burning that on
the north. On the 24th and 25th, the entire command* was
thus employed, especially in demolishing the solid heavy tres
tles between the north and south forks of the river.
This achieved, the men were allowed rest for some hours.
Meanwhile, scouts reported that a Federal force, estimated
to be at least twelve thousand strong, had been concentrated
at Trenton.
On the morning of the 26th of December, destroying the
railroad bridge over the north fork of the Obion, on the Pa
ducah branch, Forrest then put his whole force in motion for
Dresden, about twenty-six miles distant, and encamped in that
immediate vicinity that night and during the following day, to
give his men and animals rest, and to receive reports from his
scouts. These soon announced that the Federals were ad
vancing by the road from Trenton to Union City ; and, on the
morning of the 27th, that a movement was being made in force
up the Obion in the direction of McLemoresville and Hunting
ton, with the expectation of cutting off the Confederates from

* Increased near Trenton by Napier's
Battalion, two hundred effectives. This
battalion had been enrolled and mus
tered in, four hundred and eighty strong,
a month previously, for special service
in Middle Tennessee. . It consisted of
five companies, namely, " A," WiUiam
E. De Moss, Captain ; N. J. Robinson
First Lieutenant ; N. P. Evans, Se
cond Lieutenant ; and N. N. Phipp,
Third Lieutenant " B," John Minor,
Captain ;  Nesbitt, First Lieu
tenant ; Joseph Williams, Second Lieu
tenant ; Andrew Nesbitt, Third Lieu
tenant. " C," N. N. Hobbs, Captain

M. M. Box, First Lieutenant ; Jesse
Hobbs, Second Lieutenant ; Charles
E. Somers, Third Lieutenant "D,"
Thomas Easley, Captain ; J. C. Mc-
Auley, First Lieutenant ;  Hall,
Second Lieutenant ; William Frazier,
Third Lieutenant. " E," M. F. Alex
ander, Captain ; W. Dobson, First
Lieutenant ; J. Dobson, Second Lieu
tenant. Lieutenant-Colonel Napier
commanding. Harris Wiley was his
Adjutant. This battalion, under orders
from General Forrest, crossed the river
at Reynoldsburg on the 17th. For its
subsequent history see Appendix.

Forrest Crosses the Obion. 207
the Tennessee river. Upon this, their commander, as wary at
such a juncture as adventurous and daring at other times,
turned the head of his column and moved rapidly in the di
rection of Huntington, encamping at McKenzie's Station, on
the Memphis and Louisville Railroad, with his command, ex
cept Colonel Russell, who was thrown forward six or seven
miles nearer Huntington, to seize and hold the crossing of the
Obion. Scouts, about nine o'clock that night, reported that
the enemy had destroyed all the bridges over the Obion, south
of the high road leading from Jackson to Paris, Tennessee ;
as also that Colonel Russell had come in collision with a heavy
force on attempting to cross the Obion, but, nevertheless, had
effected his passage and held the position. Major Cox was,
therefore, dispatched, at a gallop, to seize the road leading
from Paris to Huntington, and to move down, in direction of
the latter place, until he should meet any Federal force, which
he was to hold in check until compelled to give way, when he
would move in the direction of the Tennessee river.
On being satisfied that a greatly superior force was being
disposed to frustrate his repassage of the Tennessee, Forrest
now concluded to attempt the crossing of the Obion to the
right of Huntington, for which end, however, there was but
one road left available, with a bridge reported to be impassa
ble, and evidently so regarded by the enemy, since it was left
unoccupied. The train was put forthwith in motion for what
are known in that country as the "double-bridges" on the
McLemoresville road, and they were reached about eleven
o'clock that night.
Men were set to work with Forrest-activity to cut timber-
forks, with which to stay and strengthen the bridges and tres
tles, to bear the artillery and train, and in an hour this was
achieved, so that some cavalry were passed safely across.
All the while it was very dark and cold, and a sleety drizzle
was falling. The General drove with his own hands the first

208 Campaigns of General Forrest.
of his headquarter teams over the slippery, narrow, tottering
bridges, in order to give an example and confidence to his
men— a feat little less perilous personally, in their minds at the
time, than the passage of that other bridge made famous to
all time by the valor of Napoleon. The next two teams which
attempted to follow were quickly floundering in the deep
stream and freezing mud, from which they were only relieved
with loss of time, difficulty, and exposure of the men.
Many of the officers and men were now greatly discou
raged—indeed, despaired of effecting a passage in such utter
darkness. But the impossible was literally unknown to the
Confederate leader, who ordered up and distributed five hun
dred men, with their officers, twenty men to accompany each
team. Too heavily loaded for safety and the condition of the
road, the mud-holes were filled with 'considerable quantities
of flour and coffee, though so inestimable to Confederate
soldiers. By these means the train was safely thrown across
by three o'clock in the morning ; but, meantime, the road had
become so cut up as to be almost impracticable. Fifty men,
however, were then attached to each piece of artillery. The
horses bogged deeply and the men waded waist-deep in the
freezing mud and water ; but in three hours all the guns like
wise were upon the east bank of the Obion, in condition for
action. By this time Colonel Russell and Major Cox had re
joined, and, moving on without delay to McLemoresville, four
miles distant, General Forrest halted his troops, and gave men
and animals time to feed, of which all stood in need as well
as of some rest. But in an hour or two reliable scouts an
nounced that a Federal force — reported, by the country peo
ple, 10,000 strong — was only twelve miles distant, at Hunting
ton. Therefore, at ten a.m. on the 29th, the Confederates
were again in movement for Lexington, by a rough, miry,
hilly road, over which the wagons, still heavily loaded, and
the artillery, were drawn with much difficulty.

un.oIc^'^E

Battle of Parkers Cross-Roads. 209
Encamping for the night some nine miles short of Lexing
ton, the Confederate General detached his brother, Captain
Forrest, with his company toward Huntington, to observe the
enemy, retard his march as much as possible, and report hos
tile movements and appearances in that quarter. Captain
Forrest encountered a column of the enemy at or near Clarks
burg, within six miles of the Confederate camp and moving
in that direction. A skirmish ensued, with the loss of several
men to the Confederates, but with more casualties to the Fede
rals. This was speedily reported to General Forrest,* who,
in the jaded condition of his command, regarded it most judi
cious to remain in position and risk a battle on the following
morning with impending odds. Accordingly, Captain For
rest was instructed through his courier to do all that he could
to check the march of the Federal troops, disputing the road
as obstinately as practicable, and to make frequent reports of
the situation. During this time the men were left undis
turbed until four o'clock a.m., when they were quickly roused,
ordered to saddle up and prepare for the march.
Speedily in motion toward Parker's Cross-Roads, (or Red
Mound,) about a mile and a half distant, General Forrest, in
formed of the near approach of his enemy, threw his command
in order of battle. About the same time the Federal column'
made its appearance from the north-eastward and formed
promptly to attack.!

• Through a courier, Private W. C. himself of them by the expedient of the
Hill. parole. So, sending them with a flag of
1 Colonel Biffle had been detached, truce, under Captain John S. Grove,
about twenty-four hours previously, to for the nearest Federal command, by
capture a force understood to be mov- hard riding he was able to effect a
ing, isolated, toward Trenton. This timely junction with General Forrest
he overtook and captured (120 officers after the battle had been commenced.
and men) about seven miles east of Colonel Starnes likewise had been de-
Trenton. Greatly embarrassed by his tached before, and, as will be seen, re-
captives, he wisely determined to rid turned during the combat. He had been

2IO

Campaigns of General Forrest.

TJEXCHANGE

Dibrell's and Russell's regiments were at once dismounted
and thrown forward as skirmishers, the artillery was brought
up — six pieces — and placed in a favorable position on a ridge
in an open field, within about six hundred yards of the Fede
ral artillery and supports, which were all well posted within a
skirt of woods with an open field between them and the Con
federates. The Federal artillery — three or four pieces — ¦
meanwhile had been opened upon the Confederate line with
-spirit. As quickly as possible a vigorous reply was made,
and at the first fire a Federal gun was dismounted and seve
ral of the gunners and horses killed or disabled ; the others
were then withdrawn speedily to better cover, their supports
falling back also toward Parker's Cross-Roads. The Confede
rates followed eagerly, the cavalry — 300 men — disposed equal
ly on either flank of the line of dismounted men.
At the cross-roads the Federal force was again formed, ap-

sent toward Huntington, and had in that killed and wounded, with slight loss to
quarter a severe skirmish with a Fede- his own men.
ral cavalry force, a number of whom he

Opening of the Battle. 2 1 1
parently in two lines, in an open, undulating field, with their
front to the north and at right angles to the highway, a bri
gade of infantry, a battery of artillery, and a detachment of
cavalry, or a total not short of 1800.*
The Confederate force present on the field did not exceed
1200 officers and men, with six pieces of artillery, as before
said. Dismounting his men, except about 200, who were distri
buted equally on his right and left flanks, the Confederate
commander disposed them in one line of battle northward of
his opponent and nearly parallel to the hostile array, on
ground somewhat lower, partly in a peach-orchard and partly
in an open field — the two lines about six hundred yards
apart — with his artillery occupying three positions, Morton's
Battery in the centre, and a section of Freeman's on each
flank, a few paces in advance of the dismounted men, unlim-
bered and ready for action. In a few moments the Confede
rate artillery opened the engagement in earnest, quickly driv
ing that of the enemy under cover of a ridge in their rear.
General Forrest now pushed forward his entire line, as ar
ranged, in battle order, and brought his musketry to bear

• According to the official report of same time, evidently with access to re-
Colonel C. T. Dunham, the Federal turns, reports the strength of the Fif-
commander, it consisted of the Thirty- tieth Indiana at 604 men and the One
ninth Iowa Infantry, 405 rank and file ; Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois
Fiftieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at 600, which would make the brigade
525 rank and file ; the One Hundred 1824 strong.
and Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Moreover, Colonel Dunham states
Infantry, 529 rank and file ; detach- he had learned at Clarksburg that the
ments of Companies A and E, Eigh- Confederate force was 8000 strong, with ,
teenth Illinois Infantry, mounted, 65 12 pieces of artillery, and that he had
men, and 30 artillerists ; or a total of moved out to attempt " to coax or force
1554 men. (Reb. Rec. VI. Doc. 94, pp. a fight out " of that force, which he was
327-31.) A correspondent of the Chi- scarcely apt to do with as small a force
cago Tribune, however, writing at the as he represents present.

212 Campaigns of General Forrest.
with a heavy, continuous fire. The enemy fought with stub
bornness and spirit, but after an hour were driven back into
a skirt of woods eastward of the highway and about half a
mile to the south-east of Parker's Cross-Roads. There they
stood their ground stoutly, and, indeed, in turn made a reso
lute, well-led attempt to regain the ridge from which they had
been driven, so that, as the Confederates reached the crown
of that position, the Federal line was found advanced to with
in eighty yards of the crest also. But a withering fire was
opened with all arms, and the enemy were soon obliged to fall
back again under shelter of the woods, leaving two pieces on
the ground, their horses killed, as well as a number of officers
and men killed and wounded.
General Forrest now concentrated the fire of his artillery
upon the Federals, who had retired behind a strong fence in
the woods, only about two hundred yards distant, killing and
disabling a number of men and horses, and silencing all their
other pieces. About eleven a.m., they essayed another slight
advance, but were repulsed easily. About mid-day, however,
another and very resolute forward movement was made to
within sixty paces of our pieces and their supports, though
only to be repulsed with slaughter.*
It was at this juncture Colonel Napier gallantly, but with
out the orders or wish of his General, charged with his bat
talion upon the position of the enemy, up to the very fence
behind which they were posted, there to fall mortally wound
ed with several of his men. Thus an intrepid and promising
soldier lost his life through a spirit of martial ardor that un-

* The Federal commander says the rate " fire having become terrible in its
Confederate batteries were so posted intensity, "he" determined to take
as to concentrate a fire upon several " the " batteries at all hazards, the one
portions of " his " line and to enfilade on the right especially.
a part of it ; and that the " Confede-

Federal Reenforcements. 2 1

o

fortunately impelled him forward without due reflection or
regard for the instructions and combinations of his com
mander. Finding that the enemy were now weakened and doubtless
discouraged by their heavy losses, the Confederate com
mander threw Colonel Russell around by the left to take
them in flank and reverse, and meantime had several pieces
of artillery so posted as to enfilade both flanks of their line.
Apparently observing that the Confederate line had been di
minished, the Federal force made another charge, which was
met and foiled by a discharge of grape and canister from the
whole Confederate artillery. At the same time, Colonel Rus
sell dashed forward upon their flank and rear, as General
Forrest moved forward in front. Under this stress the ene
my's lines gave way, and, breaking, the men ran across the
road westward into an open field, leaving many prisoners in
our hands. In the mean time, the Confederate lines had
fallen into disorder, and the several companies and regiments
were intermingled ; their General, therefore, found it now ne
cessary to pause and reorganize.
The enemy fleeing, as before said, were cut off and brought
to a stand by Colonel Starnes, who at that moment oppor
tunely came up in that quarter of the field,* and they re
sumed some order, but numerous white flags were displayed
among them. The Confederates were now completely mas
ters of the situation, and a staff-officer was sent to where the
white flags were shown to receive the capitulation. Scarcely
had this been done, however, when Colonel Charles Carroll,
of the staff of General Forrest, dashed up and informed his
leader that a fresh and superior force of Federals had reached
the field and were forming to attack in his rear. Ordering

* As said, note p. 209 ante, he had been detached previous to the battle.

214 Campaigns of General Forrest.
the proper disposition of his forces for this unlooked-for and
untoward exigency, Forrest galloped to the indicated quarter,
and there, indeed, did he find, already in battle order, about to
sweep down upon him, two brigades of the enemy. They
were, in fact, in possession of the peach-orchard and adjacent
field, which he had occupied at the outset of the engagement,
and he was within eighty yards of their line before he could
discover them. Perceived then by a Federal officer, who
called, " Halt and surrender !" Forrest promptly replied that
he had already done so some time since,-but would move up
what remained of his command and surrender in form ; and
with this, wheeling his horse, galloped away in the direction
of his troops, notifying, as he passed, the inmates of his hos
pital of the emergency, that they might make their escape.
Joining his command, he at once put it in motion, by the left
flank, at a double-quick. Scarcely had their rapid departure
been made, when the enemy, also at a double-quick, came in
view of their discomfited comrades, who immediately resumed
their arms and renewed their fire. Major Cox, being at the
time with his and Napier's men on the extreme right of the
Confederate line, was unable to get off the field, and was cap
tured with about 250 men. The horses of four caissons and
of two brass six-pounders were disabled as they attempted to
withdraw across the open field under the fire of both bodies
of the enemy, and had to be abandoned with the loss of a
number of drivers and artillerists killed and wounded.
The new-comers upon the field charged onward with spirit,
and, from a position on the ridge that Forrest had occupied
with such effect that morning, poured into the Confederate
rear a rapid fire with at least two field-guns. Wheeling, with
his escort, (seventy-five men,) and a detachment, some fifty
strong, of Dibrell's Regiment, under Major Forrest, the Con
federate commander now made one of his characteristic dashes
at their pieces, dispersed their gunners, and threw their in-

Confederate Losses. 215
fantry support into such confusion as served materially to aid
' his command at the moment to regain and mount their horses.
The horses of the caissons of three pieces having taken fright
and carried them in the direction of the Confederates, the
General seized and carried them along with him.
Colonel Starnes, detached during the fight until now, with
a mounted force of about two hundred and fifty men, observing
the condition of affairs, happily and boldly fell upon the rear
of Dunham's force, and brought the whole Federal army to a
halt. This afforded the Confederate troops time to get beyond
their immediate reach. Meanwhile, General Forrest had taken
post with about two hundred men on an eminence some eight
hundred yards eastward of Parker's house, whence he, too,
threw himself upon the rear of Dunham's Brigade for a part
ing blow, capturing his wagon train, with all the baggage of
that force, and which were carried safely from the field.
Gathering his whole force now well in hand, the Confederate
leader moved off in the direction of Lexington without further
molestation, and encamped at that place about six o'clock that
evening. In the several conflicts of the day, between the hours of
six a.m. and three p.m., the Confederate losses were some
twenty-five officers, including Colonel Napier, and men killed,
and not to exceed seventy-five wounded, with about two hun
dred and fifty captured by the enemy, three pieces and four
caissons, five wagons, two ambulances and their teams, with
their contents — seventy-five thousand rounds of ammunition.*
The casualties on the other side were three guns put hors
de combat, two caissons, fifteen wagons, two ambulances and

* By an unfortunate blunder on the been safe to the field, where it was not
part of the ordnance officer, this— the wanted, just as General Sullivan came
ordnance-train— had been brought back up. and fell into the hands of the Fede.
from a place where it would have I als by this mischance.

2l6

Campaigns of General Forrest.

their teams, carried off the field, with some eighteen hundred
knapsacks and as many blankets, and about one hundred"
prisoners taken, and subsequently paroled ; also, at least,
fifty killed, including several prominent officers, and one
hundred and fifty wounded,* among whom were one of their
Colonels and a Lieutenant-Colonel ; and fully one hundred
animals either killed or disabled. All this, be it noted, was
achieved on the Confederate side by a force at no moment in
the day exceeding twelve hundred men, opposed by at least
eighteen hundred, whom they vanquished, and finally by two
fresh brigades.!
So complete was the demoralization wrought on Dunham's
Brigade that Major Strange, General Forrest's Adjutant-
General, unaccompanied by even an orderly, took possession
of their ordnance-train and its escort of twenty-two men, who
had surrendered to him just as General Sullivan reached the
scene ; but soon after which that gallant and able staff-officer

* Colonel Dunham sets his losses
down at twenty-three killed, one hun
dred and twenty-nine wounded, fifty-
eight missing — total, two hundred and
twenty — which we are bound to contra
dict. His own description of the fire to
which his men were subjected is incom
patible, we submit, with his reported
loss ; and being utterly wrong as to the
number of prisoners, we have the right
to assume equal inaccuracy as to his
statement of killed and wounded ; be
sides, we are assured by General For
rest that he saw many more dead than
twenty-three on the field in the several
charges which were made with much
spirit by Colonel Dunham and his men.
t Colonel Dunham and the corre
spondent of the Chicago Tribune, before

cited, speak of but one brigade as hav
ing come up ; Dunham designates it as
Fuller's Brigade, but the latter men
tions the fact that General Haynie's was
also on the field as well as Fuller's
Brigade ; and by investigation Haynie's
command can be traced to include at
least the 106th and 1 19th Illinois Volun
teers, the Iowa Union Brigade, and the
7th Tennessee, or at least eighteen hun
dred men. [Reb. Rec. VI. Doc 94,
pp. 334 to 335.] Colonel Dunham
claims that single-handed with his
brigade he had repulsed the Confede
rates ; but the correspondent, giving full
credit for the good fighting, tells very
nearly the truth, that he was thoroughly
beaten. See page 335 of Doc just cited.

How Forrest was taken Unaware. 217
was himself captured while taking the list and inventory of
Ris own captures.*
Colonels Russell, Biffle, and Dibrell, and Major J. E. For
rest bore important parts in the brilliant combats of this field,
and gave shining evidences of soldierly capacity. They han
dled their men with as much resolution as skill.
The lamented Napier displayed an admirable courage, and
was able to lead his raw troops into the hottest part of the
battle, where he fell a victim to an impetuous, brave soul,
eager to do his utmost to win a victory. Captains Freeman
and Morton, in command of the artillery, were conspicuous
for their coolness, their intelligent, intrepid management of
their guns, and their General attributes the larger part of the
loss inflicted that day on the enemy to this and the bravery
of their companies.
It will doubtless be asked how it happened that a com
mander, wary and alert, like Forrest, permitted himself to be
taken unaware, as he was by General Sullivan's fresh force,
and this is a question that must be duly answered. He made
the proper provision to guard against such a contingency by
ordering the detachment of a battalion of the Fourth Ten
nessee, under a good officer, to proceed to Clarksburg, on the
Huntington road, with the object of holding that approach in
close observation, and as a provision against the unannounced
advent of any enemy from that direction. Captain McLemore
was accordingly detailed with three companies, about one
hundred men, for that service ; but unfortunately the written
instructions given him, at second-hand, proved to be vague
and inexpressive of the actual purposes of the movement, and
failed indeed to indicate any other object than a reconnoissance,
a juncture at Clarksburg with Captain Forrest, and their

• He had just captured eighteen of twenty-two men, and was taking a
wagons with ammunition, and a guard list of his captures when captured.

218 Campaigns of General Forrest.
prompt return to the main body. Moving across the country
on byways or through the woods, some seven miles, to Clarks
burg, McLemore found that Captain Forrest had been obliged
to fall back during the night before a very heavy Federal force,
with infantry, cavalry, and artillery that had followed south
ward before daylight. The roads, too, gave evidence of the
recent passage of considerable bodies of troops, and a small
detachment of Federal cavalry disappeared in the same direc
tion at a gallop as the Confederates came up. Meanwhile,
hearing the sound of the artillery engaged at Parker's Cross-
Roads, Captain McLemore felt that, having executed his orders,
his presence was now needed as soon as possible with his regi
ment, evidently in conflict at the time with a superior force of
the enemy. He, therefore, rapidly retraced his steps, not
taking the main road, as he supposed it was occupied by the
Federals, but seeking to reach the Confederates by a detour
to the right. In this some time was necessarily lost, from the
nature of the country, and he reached the scene only to find
that Forrest was quitting the field, and that a large Federal
force was interposed between him and his friends. Therefore,
looking to the safety of his command, he made another detour
northward and eastward, and effected a safe crossing of the
Tennessee river at Perryville on the following day. But for
this misunderstanding of his orders on the part of subordi
nates, Forrest is confident he must have vanquished, and so
disposed of Dunham's Brigade, before the advent of Sullivan,
as to have been in condition to encounter the new column,
with strong chances of victory, flushed as the Confederates
were with success and discouraged as was their enemy by
defeat, while misled in regard to his numbers.
At Lexington— twelve miles from the battle-field— the Con
federate force, as before said, was halted, and men and ani
mals were fed, while proper attention was paid to the wound
ed. This done, that night the column was again in motion

Skirmish with Intercepting Force. 219
toward Clifton. Ten miles in that direction the train and
prisoners, sent ahead meanwhile, were overtaken. The pri
soners, some 300 in number, were then paroled between that
and daybreak and turned adrift — disabled by their parole
until exchanged — to find their way back to their comrades.
Early the next morning, the rear-guard and scouts having
come up, the Confederate commander put his whole force in
rapid march for the Tennessee river, a portion of the com
mand having been sent in advance during the night under
Major Forrest, a courier from whom met the Commanding
General, when ten miles on his way, with the information that
a heavy hostile force was confronting him some eight miles
from Clifton. About the same time, moreover, a scout
brought the intelligence of the approach of about 10,000 in
fantry and cavalry from the direction of Purdy, and moving
on what is known in that region as the Jack's Creek-Clifton
road, with the evident purpose of cutting off the Confederates
from that crossing of the river. Giving the order to gallop,
and keeping that pace for fifteen miles, Forrest caught up
with the main body of his command about eleven miles from
the river-crossing. Forming, without loss of a moment, the
whole force in order of battle, with a front of one regiment
deployed, the others also deployed ; and following at a distance
of two hundred yards — the artillery immediately in the rear
and followed by the train, with stringent orders to keep well
closed up with the command — General Forrest again ad
vanced about three miles, when the enemy (cavalry) were
met drawn up, some 1200 strong, directly across his line of
march. Colonel Dibrell, whose regiment was in advance,
was directed to charge. This he did promptly, cutting the
Federals in sunder. Next Colonel Starnes was thrown with
his regiment upon the leftward fragment, and Colonel Biffle
upon the one on the right hand. Dibrell continuing to push
that portion retreating before him, the detachments attacked

220 Campaigns of General Forrest.
severally by Starnes and Biffle broke and scattered in all
directions, with slight show of belligerency. The road thus
cleared, the train and artillery now moved as rapidly as prac
ticable toward the ferry. In this rencounter the enemy lost
some twenty killed and wounded and about fifty prisoners*
It was meridian when the river was reached. Signals were
promptly made for skiffs that were on the other bank ; they
were brought over, and a party was as swiftly sent back to
raise the flat-boat which had been sunk to conceal it after
the passage on the 15 th of the month. All possible haste
was used, and the flat was brought to the west bank. Mean
while, the animals, detached from the vehicles and artillery,
were being driven into the river and made to swim across to
the eastern bank, as also the horses of the cavalry — a process
which was hurried because of the intelligence received that
the enemy was moving his whole available forces by forced
marches upon the point.
It was a spectacle full of life and movement ; quite as many
as 1000 animals were at one time in the river, which was
about six hundred yards broad, with favorable banks. The
ferriage of the artillery and wagons was very much slower.
Loaded upon the old flat, it was poled up-stream a distance
of nearly half a mile, close to the west bank, and, pushed out
into the stream, was caught and carried by the current gradu
ally to the other bank some distance below ; there discharged,
the process was reversed on its return. In the like way did

* There was only one casualty on the ball squarely in the forehead ; it flat-
Confederate side, and so singular in tened by the percussion without pene-
character as to deserve mention : Mr. trating the bone, and Mr. Thornton fell
Thornton, Forage-Master, standing not on the ground without serious injury be-
far from the General, and calling his at- yond a severe headache.
tention to some object, was struck by a

Fruits of Campaign. 221
the flat ply to and fro until eight o'clock at night, when the
work was completed and the men stood cheerfully once more
in Middle Tennessee, with five pieces of artillery, six caissons
with their horses, sixty wagons, and four ambulances with
their teams, which had been successfully ferried in the short
space of eight hours.
As will be remembered, it was on the 15 th of December
that the passage into West-Tennessee had been concluded —
that is, a fortnight previously. In the interval, seldom in the
annals of war had more hard, swift ridmg, as many sharp ren
counters, affluent in results, been crowded in the same short
space. That command had averaged over twenty miles a
day ; it had fought three well-contested engagements, with
diurnal skirmishes ; had destroyed some fifty large and small
bridges on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and had broken up
so much of the trestle-work of that road as to make it useless
to the enemy for the rest of the war ; had captured and burned
eighteen or twenty stockades, and captured or killed 2500 of
the enemy ; had taken or disabled ten pieces of field artillery,
and carried off fifty wagons and ambulances with their teams ;
had captured 10,000 stands of excellent small-arms, 1,000,000
rounds of ammunition, and had returned thoroughly armed
and equipped, including blankets, after having traversed with
artillery and a heavy wagon-train roads which in the country
were considered and pronounced impracticable at that season
for horsemen, resting undisturbed scarcely one whole night
during the fortnight, and all the while subjected, unsheltered,
to the most inclement weather of mid-winter. Crossing the
river into West-Tennessee with his command wretchedly
armed and equipped, and with only ten rounds of percussion-
caps to his shot-guns, Forrest returned stronger in numbers
than when he entered upon the campaign, admirably armed, as
before said, with a surplus of five hundred Enfield rifles, some

222 Campaigns of General Forrest.
eighteen hundred blankets and knapsacks, and the raw, native
courage of his men ripened by battle and the sharp hardships :
of the expedition into the perfection of cool, confident, sol
dierly valor, which makes men invincible except in conflict
with invincible odds.

CHAPTER VIII.
Reestablishment on Picket Service, with Headquarters at Columbia,
Tenn. — Disastrous Expedition under General Wheeler against Do
ver—Forrest's Brigade lost one fourth its number in the Affair—
Inclement Weather and Suffering of Troops— Arrival of Major-
General Van Dorn at Columbia with additional Force — Confederate
line advanced to Spring Hill— Battle of Thompson's Station— Cap
ture of the greater part of the Federal Force engaged, 2200 Officers
and Men — Confederates some days later retire behind Duck River
before heavy Federal Force — Successful Affair at Brentwood— The
entire Garrison, 759 Persons, captured— Block-House and Railroad
Bridge destroyed — Confederate Reconnoissance in Force upon Frank
lin — Loss of the gallant Captain Freeman — Found the Federals in
superior Force and prepared— Return to Spring Hill.
January 1st to April 2,0th, 1863.
JLl AVING returned to Middle Tennessee, as related at the
close of the last chapter, General Forrest established his
troops in cantonments around Mount Pleasant some time
about the 3d of January, 1863, immediately after which he
reported in person to General Bragg, at Shelby ville,* and re
ceived verbal orders to continue in position at Columbia,
charged with the protection of the left flank of the Confe
derate army, with a line of outposts and pickets thrown for-

• The battle of Murfreesboro or
Stone River, had been fought on the
31st of December, and Bragg had sub

sequently fallen back somewhat on the
night of the 3d of January, 1863.

224 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ward on the Harpeth river in the direction and vicinity of
Triune and Franklin ; and, further, to harass the enemy as
much as practicable in their use and navigation of the Cum
berland. For some eight or ten days following the reestablishment
of his brigade in position at Columbia, Forrest's attention was
mainly directed to its reorganization and thorough prepara
tion for other field operations such as were now his passion.
Meanwhile, the men and animals were given time to recover
from the effects of their late campaign.
About the ioth of January, however, at an interview with
Major-General Wheeler, Chief of Cavalry, it was arranged to
undertake an expedition to Harpeth Shoals, on the Cumber
land, with the view to a blow at the Federal gunboats and
transports in that quarter. Several of Forrest's regiments
were employed in this operation, but took no noteworthy part
in the capture, on the 13th of January, ofthe transports Hast
ing, Trio, and Parthenia, and gunboat Major Siddell, except
it was a detachment under that gallant officer, Lieutenant-
Colonel Holman, that crossed the river by swimming, and
burned a considerable depot of subsistence and quartermas
ters' stores on the north side of the Cumberland. This expe
dition was at the cost of great suffering to the men and ani
mals. Rain, sleet; or snow fell without cessation ; some of
the men perished from the extreme cold, and many were frost
bitten. Afterward, or for the following fortnight, the brigade was
only employed on picket service ; but pushing their ap
proaches as near as possible to Nashville, the Federal garri
son of that position was kept continually on the alert and a
good deal harassed. On the 26th of January, General For
rest was summoned to army headquarters at Shelbyville, and
had an interview with the Commanding General, who in
formed him that an expedition had been directed for the cap-

Defective Preparations. 225
ture of Fort Donelson, under the command of Major-General
Wheeler, who, already en route, had taken a portion of the
Forrest Brigade, which he must follow and command. He
accordingly hastened back to Franklin, made some necessary
arrangements, and hurried to overtake the expedition, which
he effected by two days' hard riding, during bitterly cold wea
ther, within fifteen miles of Dover or Fort Donelson.
Having ascertained that his own troops in his absence had
been moved badly supplied with subsistence, ammunition, and
cooking equipage, General Forrest at once repaired to Gene
ral Wheeler, and, while reporting his own deficiencies, in
quired into the state of the whole command in the same re
spects. Thereupon an inspection and report of the actual
state of affairs of both Forrest's and Wharton's brigades were
ordered. These inspections being made, it proved- that the
former was provided with only fifteen rounds of ammunition
for small-arms and forty-five rounds for his four pieces of
artillery, while the other had only twenty rounds for small-
arms and fifty rounds for two field-guns, while the whole com
mand was short in subsistence as well as lacking the means
of cooking.
In view of this state of affairs, General Forrest submitted
to his superior that the expedition did not promise results in
any wise commensurate with inevitable losses and possible
hazard of serious disaster ; that the men must suffer intensely
from the constant exposure to weather so rigorous ; that at
most, if successful, they could hope for the capture of only
five or six hundred men, and that probably with the loss of two
or three hundred of their choicest men ; that we could not hold
the works for any time if captured, but would be speedily
forced to quit them by the Federal gunboats which swarmed
the waters in that quarter. Moreover, if not successful at the
first onset, we would have nearly exhausted our ammunition,
and be entirely out of subsistence, except such as comld be

226 Campaigns of General Forrest.
gathered in the surrounding country, while we would be at
least one hundred miles away from our base and depots of
supplies, threatened with determined efforts on the part of
the enemy to cut off the command on its way back to its
position, it being reported that General Jeff C. Davis was al
ready moving with that object from Franklin. Therefore,
regarding the operation as one fraught with great exposure to
miscarriage, and indeed calamity, one with scanty probable
chances of success at best, he felt constrained to say so and
to urge its abandonment.
These views, presented substantially as we have related,
passed without heed, and arrangements were made for the
work in hand. Forrest was directed to move with his force —
about 800 men* and four guns — along the river road via the
Cumberland Iron- Works to the vicinity of Dover, which was
the real position fortified and held by the Federals, and not
the site of Fort Donelson. He accordingly moved with his
pickets well in advance, and he with them in person. Mean
time, Wharton, with the remainder of the command, some
2000 strong, and two pieces, advanced by a left-hand road.
As the former approached within a mile of the iron-works,!
he learned from a negro, escaping under the apprehension of
the Federal conscription, that the place was occupied by a
company of Federal cavalry. He therefore quickened the
pace and soon broke into a charge, surprising and capturing
the company, except three or four men who made their escape
despite precautions. Pushing on as rapidly as possible, he
reached the immediate vicinity of Dover about meridian, and
halted for orders, though throwing a skirmish line well for
ward. In a little while Major-General Wheeler came up, and

* Portions of Fourth Tennessee, see battalions, and Woodward's Ken-
(Starnes,) Fourth Alabama, (Russell,) tuckians.
Cox's, Napier's, and Holraan's Tennes- t Nine miles distant from Dover.

Attack upon Dover. 227
assigned the rightward position to Forrest, along the crown
of a crescent-wise ridge inclosing Dover on the south-east
and eastern side, and about eight hundred yards removed
from a rifle-pit around the village, of similar outline, which
was commanded by a redoubt thrown up in the public square
of the place, on an elevated knoll upon the same level with
the ridge occupied by the Confederates, and which ridge, be
it noted, was separated from the sight of the village and in
closing epaulement by a narrow valley seamed by a deep
gully. Wharton had also reached the theatre of operations and
taken up a position to the west and south-west of the place,
between the lines of Fort Donelson and a graveyard, on an
eminence, occupied by a Federal battery, immediately west
of Dover. Arrangements were at once made and watches set
to agree for a simultaneous attack by the entire Confederate
force about half-past two p.m.*
At the hour designated, Forrest charged — his men mounted
— down the slope and across the ravine upon the enemy's
intrenchments, which he carried, making some few captures,
in the face ofa warm musketry fire and rapid discharges from
two brass field-pieces from behind it, and from a thirty-two-
pounder in the redoubt. The main Federal force, however,
effected their retreat with the artillery into the redoubt and
some adjacent buildings, favorably placed as auxiliary defenses ;
but closely followed by their assailants. Sharp and fast was the
musketry fire from the parapets and buildings, while grape and
canister swept the line of approach. Forrest and his sturdy
horsemen breasted the storm ; his horse was now shot, and fell
with him prone to the ground, in sight of his command, who,

* Meanwhile, the Eighth Texas, of serve and prevent reinforcement of the
Wharton's Brigade, had been detached enemy from that quarter.
in the direction of Fort Henry, to ob-

228 Campaigns of General Forrest.
supposing that he had been killed, fell back, from under fire, to
the ridge, where their leader, unhurt, quickly followed, and re
formed them for another onset, this time dismounting his men.
General Wheeler reappeared at this juncture, and explaining
that General Wharton had been unable to get ready to attack
simultaneously, another assault was ordered, as watches were
again compared and arranged for conformity of movement.
At the time prescribed, Forrest once more moved his men
upon the works, which the enemy had reoccupied and held
with more resolution than at first. But two of the Confederate
guns had been so placed on the ridge as to enfilade a part of the
line, and the Federals were again driven from the position
over which their enemy rushed, and moved steadily on
ward into the town, though swept by a well-sustained rifle
fire and by the guns in the redoubt. On pressed Forrest and
his Tennesseeans, Kentuckians, and Alabamians, forcing the
Federals to quit the houses and betake themselves to the
redoubt, the parapets of which flamed with rifle volleys all the
while. It was at this time that Colonel Frank McNairy, of '
Nashville, a volunteer for the fight, on the staff of General
Forrest, was killed, and several valuable officers and a number
of the best fighting men of Forrest's command were killed or
wounded. The General, with his aid-de-camp, Captain C. W. Ander
son, and ten or twelve of his escort, rode up to within thirty
yards, however, and fired at men behind these very parapets ;
and here another horse was slain under him.
His ammunition was now exhausted, and the men were
forced, of course, to cease the conflict. The enemy were
quick to observe or suspect this, and sallying with spirit, cap
tured twenty-five or thirty Confederates.
Wharton's command moving, meanwhile, as arranged, drove
the Federals from the strong position of the graveyard, and
captured a rifled gun of the battery posted there, killed a

Attack upon Dover. 229
number of the horses of the other guns,* and penetrated the
town from that quarter, but in effecting this had likewise ex
hausted their ammunition. It was now dusk, but the moon
rose and shone brightly upon the scene. The Federals, driven
into a small space, poured upon the Confederates a galling
fire, and the latter were obliged, from want of ammunition, to
withdraw. There was no alternative.
The Confederate losses were heavy. Forrest had lost one
fourth of his force, or two hundred officers and men killed,
wounded, and captured ;! and Wharton's casualties did not
fall short of sixty killed and wounded. %
After the Confederates had been withdrawn from under
fire, the Federal gunboats came up about eight o'clock at
night, and began a noisy cannonade, expending a great
many shells, but doing no harm whatsoever to the Confede
rates, who, an hour later, began to retire, and encamped three
miles south-eastward of Dover for the night. Meanwhile,
Forrest had left behind his trusty Aid, Captain Anderson,
with Woodward's Battalion, to cover the withdrawal, and,

* See Reb. Rec. Vol. VL Doc 118. De Moss. The Fourth Tennessee also
p. 419, in which is acknowledged the suffered severely, some seventy-four
Federal field-battery lost forty-eight officers and men having been killed
out of sixty-four horses. or wounded. Its Lieutenant-Colonel,
\ Lieutenant-Colonel D. W. Holman Haines, a gallant officer, was disabled
was also severely wounded in the hip ; for the rest of the war by a wound in
Lieutenants  Summers and A. S. the mouth.
Chapman, of his detachment, were t That of the enemy, as reported by
killed, after the display of conspicuous the commander, were sixteen killed and
gallantry; and * private— Hill Roy— sixty wounded.' [See Reb. Rec. Vol. VI.
who is mentioned as having especially Doc 118, p. 417.] The defense was
signalized himself on the field by his made with courage ; the commander
cool courage. Napier's Battalion had was Colonel A. C. Harding, Eighty-
three officers — Captains M. F. Alex- third Volunteer Illinois Infantry, who
ander, W. J. Hobson, and N. J. Robin- had a force of six hundred of his regi-
son— badly wounded and captured. — ment and a battery of artillery.
MS. Notes of Colonels Holman and

230 Campaigns of General Forrest.
under shelter of night, to bring off the ammunition of a cais
son, captured by Wharton, remaining just outside the works.
This was handsomely done by Captain Anderson, with ten
Kentuckians detailed for the purpose, notwithstanding the
furious broadsides of the gunboats, one of whose shells almost
covered Colonel Woodward with the coals and ashes of a
camp-fire at which he was lying, wounded by a spent grape-
shot in the knee, awaiting the movements of his command.
At nine o'clock next morning, the entire force took up their
line of march, by way of the Cumberland Iron- Works, for
Charlotte. The weather continued extremely cold ; the
wounded suffered intensely. Marching some fourteen or
fifteen miles on the 14th, the command was halted in conse
quence of the inclemency of the weather, and went no further
that day. Intelligence having been here received by General
Wheeler, in certain confirmation of the movement of a Federal
column under General Jeff C. Davis upon Charlotte, it be
came necessary to change his route, and on the following
morning the command, moving slowly along the valley of
Yellow creek, marched only twelve miles, obliged by the
slippery, icy condition of the road to leave it, and traverse
the fields and woods, while the commissaries, with detach
ments, were thrown out on either flank to collect subsistence
and forage, for their rations had been exhausted.
On the 1 6th of February, to avoid collision with Davis, the
Confederate column was deflected somewhat further to the
right and across the valley of Piney river some twenty miles,
the cold still extremely rigorous, causing much suffering to
both men and animals. Forrest with his men encamped that
night at Piney Factory, Hickman county, and threw out
scouts to ascertain Davis's precise position and movement ;
these found the Federals about fifteen miles to the eastward,
on the Columbia-Charlotte road. The following morning, the
command reaching Centreville, found Duck river reported

Return to Columbia. 231
" unfordable." General Forrest calling for volunteers to test
the fact, Major J. M. Crews, an Acting Inspector-General on
his staff, dashed at once into the surging, freezing stream.
But as he reached mid-way, the water proved really as deep
as was alleged, and his horse would not swim. The Major
was washed from his seat, but, by a happy chance, was present
ly drifted across and ashore by the current, where he was res
cued by some citizens ; and so intense was the cold that his
clothes were frozen stiffly in a few moments after he was
drawn from the water. Some miles higher up the stream, a
ford was found during the afternoon, when a crossing was
effected, while a portion of the command was ferried over in
a small boat at Centreville. Beyond Duck river all risk of in
terruption by Davis was averted, and the command resumed
their old quarters at Columbia on the following day, Whar
ton returning to the other flank of the army with General
Wheeler. II.
While Forrest was giving rest to his men for some days at
Columbia, after such fearful weather-exposure, and battle-
losses, Major-General Van Dorn arrived from Mississippi
with three brigades of cavalry — about 4500 rank and file*—

* Armstrong's Brigade : First Ten- field's Brigade : Third Texas, Colonel
nessee Cavalry, Colonel James T. Mabry; Sixth Texas, Colonel L. S.
Wheeler, Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis ; Ross ; Ninth Texas, Colonel Jones ;
Forrest's old regiment, Major E. B. and Whitfield's Legion.Colonel Brooks.
Trezevant ; Second Mississippi, Lieu- Cosby's Brigade : Twenty-eighth Mis-
tenant-Colonel James Gordon, Major sissippi, Colonel P. B. Starke ; Ballyn-
J. L. Harris ; Saunders's Battalion, tine's Regiment, Colonel J. G. Ballyn
Major Ed. Saunders; Third Arkansas, tine, Lieutenant-Colonel W. L. Max-
Colonel Earle, Lieutenant - Colonel well ; Second Kentucky, Colonel
Hobson, Major Henderson; and Woodward; and First Mississippi,
King's Battery of four pieces. Whit- Colonel Richard A. Pinson.

232 Campaigns of General Forrest.
and thus materially strengthened the Confederate cavalry
force on that flank, whose scene of operations, be it noted,
embraced one of the most opulent communities, as also one
of the best cultivated and productive regions of Tennessee,
watered by Duck river, a very considerable stream when
swollen by heavy and continuous rains, as was then the case,
and by its tributaries,
In the mean time, between the 20th and 25th of February,
Russell's Alabama Regiment was detached from the brigade,
and Holman's and Douglass's battalions were assigned in
stead ; and these two battalions, being consolidated, formed
the Eleventh Regiment Tennessee Cavalry, while Cox's and
Napier's battalions, about the same time, were thrown to
gether and became the Tenth Tennessee*
It was now determined to establish outposts and picket-
lines within sight of Franklin and Triune, both of which the
enemy occupied in force, while the headquarters of the Con
federates should be thrown forward across Duck river to
Spring Hill, twelve miles nearer to the former place ; and this
was done by ferrying the stream on or about the 23d of Feb
ruary, 1863. A series of sharp, spirited outpost skirmishes
ensued for the next ten days, of which, however, we are un
able to relate any notable incident, fraught as they were, we
well know, with daily acts of splendid courage and hardi
hood. On the night of March 4th, however, scouts returned with
information that a heavy body of Federals was in motion to
ward Spring Hill on the Franklin-Columbia turnpike. Major-
General Van Dorn, in chief command, made immediate dis
position for the exigency, determining to meet the hostile
movement some four miles in advance, at Thompson's Sta-

• See Appendix for Rosters of Tenth and Eleventh Tennessee Cavalry.

Battle of Thompsons Station.

233

tion, on the Tennessee and Alabama Railroad. Accordingly,
on the next morning early, that position was secured by the
Confederates, who then awaited the enemy in very much the
following array.
Forrest occupied the extreme right, his regiments — some
2000 strong — deployed in line on an eminence that bordered
and overlooked a narrow valley — about half a mile wide —
which meandered with a general direction across and per
pendicular to the railroad and several highways converging
from that quarter upon Franklin, with his artillery — a section
of Freeman's Battery — posted on a knoll on his right. On

HAMPDEN

MRS.KING

ATI ON

the left of these, and some paces retired, was Armstrong's
Brigade, on the crest of a narrow ridge which is cut by the
railroad and by the Columbia turnpike further to the east.
Next on the left, in line with Armstrong, was the Texas Bri
gade, (Whitfield's,)* King's Battery of four pieces planted in
two favorable positions on the right and left hand, respectively,
of the Columbia turnpike.! Across the valley were two de-

» Armstrong's Brigade about 1600 up. He had been detained at the cross-
and Whitfield's say 1800 strong. ing of Duck river and took no part in
t Cosby had as yet not been brought the combat subsequently.

234 Campaigns of General Forrest.
cided eminences, between or in the gorge of which passed
the railroad and Columbia turnpike, and the Station was also
in the valley between the ground occupied by the Confederates
and the uplands just mentioned.
The enemy appeared about half-past nine a.m, moving on
the Columbia turnpike, with five regiments of infantry, some
600 cavalry, and a field-battery* Posting the latter upon
the right hand ridge, the Federal infantry was deployed across
the pike and rightward, astraddle the railroad. King's Batte
ry opened vigorously with shell, but the Federals pushed on
handsomely, resolutely upon the Confederate position, and up
to within one hundred and fifty yards. Then Armstrong's
and Whitfield's brigades sprang forward and met them, and a
sharp exchange of musketry fire took place for full half an
hour before the Federal line faltered and fell back.
Forrest, with his apt soldier's eyes, now observing that no
enemy was likely to appear in his front — with what Carlyle
terms an " interior talent for war " — determined to detach
Colonel Starnes with two regiments to move around by the
right upon the Federal artillery and its supports, while he
with the remainder of his force, present on the field, led it
further to the right and rearward, in order to cut off the route
of retreat upon Franklin. Meanwhile, Starnes, executing his
orders with habitual energy,! opening with a deadly fire of his
rifles, had driven the Federal artillery from their strong
vantage ground rapidly to the rear, down the turnpike, and
forced the infantry across westward of the railroad to another
position upon the ridge in that quarter, where they made a
most stubborn stand. In the mean while, apparently observing

* Reb. Rec. VI. Doc. 130, p. 439. the battle-ground, and was thoroughly
t Major McLemore, then in com- acquainted with every foot of the sur-
mand of the Fourth Tennessee, had rounding region.
been born within a mile and a half of

Battle of Thompson s Station.

'35

Forrest's movement, a considerable Federal detachment fell
back, and took shelter behind a strong stone fence. From
this position General Forrest made two sustained attempts to
dislodge these men, who maintained it with genuine courage.
At the second charge, however, they were overcome, and
surrendering, were sent from the field, the General having his
horse shot in the affair. Moving still rearward and to the west
of the railroad, he succeeded quickly in getting in a position
to cut off the route of retreat of the enemy, who still fought
with signal resolution and spirit. Forming his command, in
cluding his escort, in line. Forrest now dashed forward with
it up the steep slope of the ridge so stoutly held by the
Federal infantry, who poured a galling fire upon his men as
they followed their leader. The loss was heavy, and Captain
Montgomery Little, commander of his escort, fell by his side,
mortally wounded.* Major E. B. Trezevant was also slain,
near by, in this final charge.!

* This escort was organized by Cap
tain Little, at Shelbyville, Tennessee,
in October, 1862. At first some ninety
strong, it reported at Lavergne, and,
composed of the best young men of
Middle Tennessee, became General
Forrest's personal escort thencefor
ward. Montgomery Little was born
in Rowan county, North-Carolina, on
the 1 8th of July, 1825, whence his fami
ly emigrated to Smith county, Tennes
see, in 1829. He was left an orphan in
May, 1 83 1. An elder brother secured
him a good education, including at least
one term at Saint Mary's College, Ken
tucky. Subsequently, he resided in
Mississippi, superintending plantations
there for several years and until he re
moved to Memphis and entered into

business with his brother. He was a
Union man up to the outset of the war.
Captain Little was an admirable officer,
with superior martial aptitudes,including
notable resolution and decision, which
made him greatly trusted and his early
death deeply regretted by his chief.
t Edward Buller Trezevant, son of
Dr. Lewis C. Trezevant, born in Shelby
county, Tennessee, 24th of July, 1838,
was educated at St. James's College,
Hagerstown, Maryland. At the be
ginning of the war he was deputy
clerk of the Circuit Court for Shelby
county. In the spring of 186 1, at the
first call to arms, he joined Captain
Logwood's Company — " The Memphis
Light Dragoons " — of which he was
elected Third Lieutenant. Soon

236

Campaigns of General Forrest.

But this did not check the Confederate advance, and in a
few moments Forrest stood within thirty paces of the Federal
commander. Colonel Coburn, whose surrender he demanded

the Company marched to Randolph,
where it was organized, with five
others, into the battalion known as
" Logwood's Battalion." Lieutenant
Trezevant subsequently accompanied
the battalion to New - Madrid, Mis
souri, and Columbus, Kentucky, with
the troops under the command of
General Pillow, early in September,
1861. He was present in a night at
tack upon the enemy's outposts in front
of Paducah, in October ; and in the
battle of Belmont, November 7th,
where, with another company, the
" Light Dragoons " made a successful
charge upon the Federal infantry.
His health becoming very precarious
from incipient consumption, about the
15th of December Lieutenant Treze
vant resigned, and soon after repaired
to Western Texas, the pure, dry air of
which had been recommended by his
physician as likely to restore his health.
Taking up his residence near Austin,
the change of climate seemed, indeed,
to act like a charm, for early in the
spring he felt so entirely restored, that
he determined at once to rejoin the
army, and attach himself to the com
mand of Colonel Forrest. About the
1st of May, arriving at Corinth, he re
ported at the headquarters of " Forrest's
Cavalry," and was assigned to duty as
Sergeant-Major of the regiment
About the 20th of June, when Cap
tain Strange was transferred from the
regiment — with Colonel Forrest — Mr.

Trezevant was appointed to succeed
him as Adjutant In the following
month, the Alabama Companies having
been permanently detached, the rem
nant of the regiment, with the addition
ofa Louisiana squadron, was reorganized
at Guntown, Mississippi, as a battalion,
of which Adjutant Trezevant was
elected Major.
Major Trezevant served with this
battalion in all its marches and bat
tles ; in the affairs at Middleburg, Me-
don, Britton's Lane, Iuka, Corinth,
etc., exhibiting the best traits of a sol
dier, until February, 1862, when, with
the rest of Van Dorn's Cavalry corps,
he crossed into Middle Tennessee. He
was then transferred, with the rank
of Lieutenant-Colonel, and placed in
command of the Tenth Tennessee
Cavalry. Gallantly leading this regi
ment, on the 5 th of March, he was
struck down, mortally wounded, by
a rifle-ball through the abdomen.
Borne to the residence of Mrs. Bond,
at Spring Hill, hard by, he died there
two days later. Meanwhile, " receiving
at the hands of his hostess," says a near
relative, " all the kindness a patriot
could desire, or a Christian mother be
stow." With a strong, well-cultivated mind,
were united in Colonel Trezevant a
frankness and magnanimity, which
made him an ornament in his social
circle, and surrounded him with friends.
Devoting himself to the acquirement

Battle of Thompson's Station. 237
under the stress of a leveled revolver. Further resistance
was in vain, and his brave adversary, thoroughly beaten at all
points, was forced to succumb. Just at this juncture a section
of King's battery having been favorably planted to enfilade
the Federal position, and in the hurly-burly of battle not
having observed the surrender or cessation of fire, discharged
two rounds, greatly endangering Forrest and his prisoners
before it could be stopped by the courier sent to notify Gene
ral Van Dorn of events.
Fire having now ceased in all parts of the field, General
Forrest conducted and introduced Colonel Coburn to General
Van Dorn, and then returned to look after his wounded, col
lect and fitly care for the dead, and reorganize his command.
A portion of his men — mounted — meanwhile had followed and
endeavored to cut off the runaway cavalry, artillery, and some
of the infantry, that had fled from the field before the last part
of the conflict, but they were obliged to return without more
than some seventy-five captured stragglers ; the remainder
effected their retreat to Franklin, though followed hotly to
within two miles of that place.
The command surrendered consisted of the Thirty-third
and Eighty-fifth Indiana, Nineteenth Michigan, and Twenty-
second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with an aggregate of
two thousand two hundred* — a fine body of men, as shown
by their stout fighting.
It was the Fourth and Eleventh Tennessee Regiments of
Forrest's command, as has been noted, who drove the Federal
artillery from the field, and their support from their strong

of a knowledge of the profession of a gentleman. Altogether, one of the
arms, he soon became fitted for the handsomest young officers in the army.
leadership of men. In person he was * The 124th Ohio, in reserve with
tall, weU proportioned, and erect, he the wagon-train, was not taken : it es-
had light hair, blue eyes, and regular caped with the wagon-train.— Reb. Rec.
features, with the air and manners of VII. Doc. 130, p. 441.

238 Campaigns of General Forrest.
position — a cedar-clad knoll on the left of the turnpike, to the
other hill ; and Starnes, Edmonston, and McLemore deserve
much credit for the vigor and ability with which they handled
their regiments, the officers and men of which displayed the
highest soldierly qualities ; as did also Colonel Biffle, and
the officers and men generally engaged ; especially in the
closing charge, which is represented as the " bloodiest part of
the fighting" that day*
The success was acquired at the cost to the Confederates of
about thirty killed and one hundred and twenty-five wounded. '
The dead included several valuable officers, besides Major
Trezevant and Captain Little, already mentioned. Colonel
Samuel G. Earl, of the Third Arkansas Cavalry, was killed
leading his men upon the enemy ; so too fell Captain Alfred
Dysart, of the Fourth Tennessee, in a charge, and Captain
William Watson, of General Armstrong's staff! The Rev.
Mr. Crouch, a brigade chaplain, also was slain while inspiriting
the men to the discharge of their duty ; and Lieutenant John
Johnson, of the Ninth Tennessee, was killed bearing the
colors of his regiment. Those falling were seized by one
of the color-guard — Clay Kendrick — whose right arm being
severely shattered, shifted the staff, and bore it in his left hand
to the close of the battle. Indeed, the conduct of all was
highly satisfactory.
The results served to make material amends for the bloody
Dover fiasco— the loss there of prestige: and had the effect to
restore the tone ofthe Confederate cavalry in that army, as well
as to increase the confidence in General Forrest's military capa
cities, and therefore enhanced his influence with his troops —
his ability to lead them with even greater efficiency.

* See letter of Centurion, before cited.
t See Appendix for sketch.

A Federal Advance. 239
III.
No pursuit of the force, except that already related, was
made, and the troops were ordered back to their cantonments
at Spring Hill. Pickets and outposts were, however, main
tained within close proximity to Franklin. The usual round
of daily skirmishes followed, with little profit, except that on
the 7th of March, Colonel Starnes, on outpost service, captured
a foraging party, with their train, very near their lines. But
on the 8th, his scouts gave intelligence of the advance of a
heavy Federal column from Franklin down the Columbia
turnpike. The skirmishers soon became warmly engaged,
and a gallant stand was made by Starnes for several hours at
a point a mile northward of the battle-field of the 5 th ; but
the Confederate forces retired finally, though slowly and
deliberately. For some days previously a heavy rain had
fallen, and all the affluents of Duck river, as well as that
stream, were greatly swollen. At and behind Rutherford's
creek the Confederates made another stand, to secure time
to cross Duck river in safety ; and all the artillery, but four
pieces retained for service in that stand, and the train, were
sent to the rear, to be thrown across the river.
On the 10th, the Federals, making their appearance in
superior force, endeavored several times to force a passage of
the creek, but were foiled. Thus baffled, they made another
attempt some distance leftward, and were suffered to get well
into the stream without molestation, when Captain Forrest
attacked with vigor, and repulsed them with loss. It was
raining meanwhile, and quite cold. That night, the artillery
not engaged was conveyed across Duck river to Columbia, by
means of a pontoon-bridge, which gave way immediately there
after, obliging the Confederates to resort to White's Bridge,
some twenty-five miles up Duck river, for means of passage.
To Forrest was assigned the service of covering this move-

240 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ment by holding the line of Rutherford's creek. Moving along
it accordingly, the enemy keeping pace on the other bank, a
series of spirited skirmishes were kept up, with little inter
mission, across the stream, until apparently something seemed
to cause an alarm among the Federals, for they suddenly be
gan a rapid retrograde movement, at a double-quick, to Frank
lin, as was subsequently ascertained.* General Forrest then
followed the march of the main body of the Confederates to
Columbia, where he took position the 12th of March ; and
this retreat before a greatly superior force was safely effected
without any loss, under circumstances involving great hazard,
in consequence of the condition of Duck river.
IV.
The pontoon-bridge at Columbia was repaired as speedily
as possible, and headquarters were again pushed forward to
Spring Hill on the 15th of March. General Forrest was now
assigned to the command of a division made up of his brigade
and that of Armstrong's, now including the Eighth Tennessee,
and occupied the right of the line, his regiments extending
between Spring Hill and Ridge Meeting-House, on the Frank-
lin-Lewisburg turnpike, with a line of outposts and pickets
thrown well in advance, and stretching across as far as to
the near vicinity of the Federals in position at College Grove,
on Harpeth river, and connecting at Thompson's Station with
a similar line furnished by the other (W. H. Jackson's) divi
sion.! Frequent outpost affairs now took place, fruitless of conse
quences, as is usual in that character of petty warfare, after a
campaign has well opened. The most notable of these, and,

• Apprehensive, apparently, of a flank movement
t Whitfield's and Cosby's Brigades.

Forrest in Command of a Division. 241
perchance, of some profit as a species of sharp battle-drill, and
of moral tonic effect upon the men, was a dash made at the
Federal outpost at College Grove by three regiments, or de
tachments, of Forrest's immediate brigade, their commander,
Colonel Starnes, leading. The enemy giving way, fell back
across the Harpeth, and there made a stout struggle for an
hour, in a strong position, from which they were finally routed
and forced back upon their main body at Triune, with a loss
on their side of some thirty killed or captured, and on the
Confederate part of ten or twelve killed or wounded.
Having learned, through reliable sources, that the troops
who had escaped from the affair at Thompson's Station, on the
5th of the month, were in position at Brentwood Station, on
the Franklin and Nashville Railroad, guarding the railroad
bridge over the Little Harpeth, nine miles rearward of Frank
lin, General Forrest received permission from General Van Dorn
to attempt a coup de main, with his division, upon them. This
he proceeded to execute on or about the night of the 24th of
March. Starnes with his own, under McLemore, and Edmon-
ston's regiment, moved forward on a by-way, crossing the
Harpeth some six miles rightward of Franklin, and thence
through fields and woods, deftly threading and eluding the
enemy's pickets without discovery, to the point of destination.
General Forrest himself, with his escort — Biffle's Regiment,
the Tenth Tennessee, under Major De Moss, and Armstrong,
with the First Tennessee, Third Arkansas, Second Mississip
pi, and Saunder's battalion of his brigade, and a section of
Freeman's battery, under Lieutenant Huggins — made a detour
leftward, by the way of Hillsboro, crossing the Harpeth at
the Granny-White-Nashville turnpike, some six miles north of
Franklin, whence he moved rapidly and directly upon Brent
wood. Reaching the place just at dawn, the General made
his disposition at once for the attack, although Armstrong-
impeded by the artillery — had not yet come up, and Starnes

242 Campaigns of General Forrest.
was not in sight.* With his force in hand, brushing some
pickets aside, he moved rapidly around the position by the
right or east, with his escort and Captain Forrest's company,
so as to foil the effort to escape which was already being at
tempted. Securing this position, he then demanded the sur
render of the place, which was made without further parley.
Armstrong, in the mean time, having come up in their imme
diate front, deployed his line, and planted his artillery so as to
command the position. The troops capitulated, as General
Forrest anticipated, proved to be of those that had escaped
from the field at Thompson's Station under Lieutenant-Colonel
Bloodgood, who had quit the ground at the height of the
conflict,! and embracing, according to Federal accounts, some
five hundred and twenty-nine officers, men, and teamsters,
with sixteen or seventeen wagons, and three ambulances and
teams ;% also the arms of the men, and all the baggage of
Coburn's late command, all which was secured with the loss
of one man killed and two wounded. The Federals, besides
prisoners, lost about ten killed in the skirmish preceding the
capitulation. After the surrender had been arranged, Starnes came upon
the ground with his command, and the prisoners and spoils
of war, which were abundant, were placed in his charge.
General Forrest then moved at a gallop, with the Tenth Ten
nessee and Freeman with one of his guns, on the road toward
Franklin to the bridge, which he found defended by a stock
ade strongly garrisoned, the surrender of which, straightway

* It appears Colonel Starnes was in t See Lieutenant Bachman's state-
rposition and full view of the place be- ment. Reb. Rec. VI. Doc. 130, p. 440.
fore daylight, but finding the main force % Ibid. Doc. 147, Chaplain Pillsbury's
was not up, and apprehending some statement, p. 4S2. The force thus
miscarriage as the cause, moved to the surrendered included the remnant of
west side of the turnpike, out of view, the Twenty-second Wisconsin.
as it happened.

Brentwood Coup de Main. 243
demanded through his aid-de-camp, Captain C. W. Anderson,
was curtly declined. A single shot, however, from Freeman's
gun, hurtling and crashing through the stockade, wrought an
immediate change of purpose and brought the display of
white flags. The men at this point, some 230, the remnant
of the Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, another of Co-
burn's regiments, made the sum total of prisoners 759. The
bridge and stockade being burned to the ground, the objects
of the expedition were fully accomplished, making it one of
the most skillfully executed of the war if the Confederates
could effect their return to their lines with their prisoners
and booty without serious hinderance or offset.
Detaching the First Tennessee (Colonel Wheeler) to scour*
the turnpike in the direction of and as near to Nashville as
possible, the Confederate General now set out on his return
with the rest of his force and prisoners by the Harding turn
pike, passing westward of Franklin. Wheeler pushed, mean
while, to within four miles of the outskirts of Nashville, when
he encountered a small wagon-train, a gang of negro wood-
choppers, and some cavalry. Charging, he captured several
well-loaded sutlers' wagons and some thirty odd prisoners,
whom he brought away, dispersing the rest and causing wild
consternation in Nashville, as was heard afterward. This
done, turning, he made a wide sweep, and passed within
four miles of Triune. There, charging and capturing some
picket-posts, which produced not a little alarm in that quar
ter, he pushed on and successfully reached headquarters at
the Ridge Meeting-House with little delay.
Forrest, in the interval, after moving some seven or eight
miles from Brentwood, had halted to rest and break the fast
of his men and animals, as also to wait for the captured
train — under escort of the Tenth Tennessee — to come up.
Suddenly the alarm being given that the latter had been at
tacked, some three companies of the Eleventh Tennessee

244 Campaigns of General Forrest.
were hurriedly mounted and dispatched to its relief, General
Forrest leading the succor party. Not a little confusion was
produced, however, in the Confederate command by this in
telligence, and the apprehension was that a grave attempt to
cut off the retreat was on foot. General Forrest, on reaching
the scene, found a considerable cavalry force in a threatening
attitude, with several of his wagons and ambulances already
in their hands. As he charged boldly upon them, they cut
the draught animals from their traces and fled, with little
show of pugnacity. Colonel Starnes coming up opportunely,
however, on their right flank, they suffered a loss of at least
fifty in killed and captured.* The Federals engaged in this
affair, we learn from Federal sources, were detachments of
four volunteer cavalry regiments, 545 strong/ under General
Green Clay Smith,! who had been detached by General Gran
ger from Franklin that morning to reconnoitre and ascertain
the purposes of the Confederate expedition, of which intelli
gence had reached that officer. Going to Brentwood, they
found the bridge, camp, and stockade in ruins, and the garri
son carried off as prisoners of war. Following rapidly on
Forrest's trace, they came up with the train as related, when
matters, at first favorable for the Federals, were soon given
an adverse turn and termination by the incisive tactics of the
Confederate leader.^

* The Tenth Tennessee lost in this ral Smith made no such stand, much
aftair three killed, including Lieutenant less did he fight such odds ; he made
Andrew Nesbitt, company " E," four no such persistent pursuit, as is painted
wounded, and twenty-five captured.— by this correspondent, after coming up
Notes of Major De Moss. with the train ; and not one wagon or
t Reb. Rec. VI. Doc. 147, p. 481. ambulance did he actually carry off.
i The Federal relation of this affair, What we relate of the affair is taken
just cited, is a characteristic example of from the lips of General Forrest, abun-
the manner and matter of Federal news- dantly confirmed afterward by other
paper accounts of war incidents. Gene- accounts written by spectators at the

Attempted Rescue Baffled. 245
The march was now resumed homeward as far as Hillsbo
rough without further hinderance. There the main body en
camped, while the prisoners, under Captain Forrest and a pro
per escort, were sent forward the same night in the direction of
Columbia. And, on the following morning, meeting no oppo
sition by the way, Forrest led his command safely back to
their quarters near Spring Hill. One effect of this brilliant
raid was to bestir the Federals to somewhat greater watchful
ness ; consequently they placed all the fords of the Harpeth
under strict watch and ward, with a heavy picket-line from
Davis's Mill to Franklin : but a little late, for Forrest had al
ready gained his ends ! -
After returning to their quarters about Spring Hill, the*
usual routine of cavalry outpost service was resumed, without
noteworthy incident until about the 9th of April, when Gene
ral Jackson — commanding the immediate advance — having
been led to suspect and express the opinion that the enemy
were evacuating Franklin,* General Van Dorn ordered a
reconnoissance in force of the position on the 10th.
Forrest's Division was ordered to assemble at the Ridge
Meeting-House, on the Lewisburg turnpike, and move thence
by that approach to Franklin, while Jackson was to advance
by the Columbia-Franklin road ; and by six o'clock on that
morning the movement began. By ten o'clock a.m. — Arm-

time. See dispatch to Chattanooga gone in the direction of Triune ; and it
Rebel, dated Columbia, March 26th, may also be inferred from General Gor-
1863 ; "Centurion's" letter to Atlanta don Granger's telegraphic report of the
Southern Confederacy, April 8th, 1863 ; affair that he had been sending off some
and, besides, there is complete evidence of his troops, though fully anticipating
in the document itself of its gross ex- an attack, and having, therefore, been
aggerations. prepared for it with Stanley's Division
* The Federals had been closely ob- of cavalry stationed on the Murfrees-
served by the Confederate scouts, and boro roadtfour miles from Franklin. —
bodies of troops were known to have See Reb. Rec. VI. Doc. 160, p. 518.

246 Campaigns of General Forrest.
strong's Brigade leading — Forrest's Division encountered the
Federal pickets, strongly posted in a wood extending on and
between both avenues of approach. A sharp skirmish then
took place. General Van Dorn, at the same time moving
with Jackson's command, had become likewise engaged on
that flank. Armstrong drove the force in his front before
him out of the woods, across an open field, and into the town
where the Federals took shelter behind fences, in the houses,
and other very favorable defensive positions.* Meantime,
Colonel Starnes, who followed with his brigade at an interval
of two miles, observing the little resistance made to Arm
strong, supposed there was ho risk, and omitted to throw out
'flankers on his right. Moving thus exposed, he was suddenly
assailed, at a point four miles from Franklin, by a strong
Federal cavalry force, under General Stanley, that had been
thrown across from the Murfreesboro road.! In this attack
the Fourth Regiment United States Regular Cavalry charged
at full speed and captured Freeman's Battery, that officer, and
thirty of his men, at the moment rearward of Biffle's Regi
ment, but in advance of the other regiments of the brigade.
So sudden 'and unexpected was the onset there was no time
to prepare for action ; the gunners and drivers not captured
quit their pieces, and some of the caissons, having been turned
about, were driven into the first regiment in the rear, causing
at first a good deal of disorder. Colonel Starnes, at the time
with Biffle's Regiment, hearing the firing, dismounted it
quickly, and, turning, made a vigorous counter-attack, by
which, after a short but sanguinary struggle, the Federals
were driven off the field, leaving behind Freeman's guns and
some of the men, but unfortunately retaining that gallant and

* See Report of Captain Machett, t General Granger's Report before
commanding Fortieth Ohio Volunteers, cited.
— Reb. Rec. VI. Doc. 160, p. 519.

Capture and Murder of Captain Freeman. 247
most valuable officer in their possession with some thirty of
his men. And here we must pause to stamp an indelible in
famy upon the escutcheon of the Fourth Cavalry— no less
than the deliberate murder by one of its officers of a prisoner
of war, the bold and skillful Freeman, who, as before said, had
remained in their hands. As his captors were carrying him
from the field on foot, he was ordered to break into a run ;
unable to do this, an officer rode up and shot him through
the head, to prevent his recapture* We regret profoundly to
have to believe this atrocious deed, but are assured that it
was perpetrated, and under circumstances utterly without pal
liation or extenuation.!
Driven from the field, or, as the Federal report says, "out-*
flanked and nearly surrounded," the Federals fell back rapidly
across the Harpeth river within shelter of their fortifications,
when Starnes pushed ahead to support Armstrong, who was
still engaged on the outskirts of Franklin.
At the same time, General Van Dorn, with Jackson's Divi-

* Captain Freeman at the beginning A staff-officer, who served long with
of the war was a lawyer ; he entered Freeman, in speaking of him as an ar-
the army at an early moment, as a sub- tillery officer, observed that " his favor-
altern in a company of volunteers. His ite guns were his twelve-pounder how-
artillery company, one of the very best itzers, his preferred ammunition two
in the Confederate service, was raised thirds canister, and his distance as
in Sumner county, Tennessee. He close as his General would let him go."
was a Christian gentleman, standing t The men of Forrest's Tennessee
high with Forrest, who was not easily regiments were greatly incensed by this
pleased. The officers and men es- act, who at once expressed their deter-
teemed him greatly, and his loss, much mination to inflict complete vengeance
deplored, cast a gloom over the com- upon the Fourth Regulars for it, a de
mand. Even General Forrest wept at termination which was carried out in a
his grave, and all were deeply moved measure on subsequent fields — as, for
as this promising soldier was consigned example, at Okalona, and afterward at
to his last home at Spring Hill on the Selma, in Alabama, just before the end
nth of April, 1863. See Appendix for of the-war.
brief sketch-.

248 Campaigns of General Forrest.
sion, had pressed the enemy back on the Columbia road with
equal vigor and spirit, but, having become exposed to a gall
ing fire from houses, fences, and rifle-pits, was forced to re
tire. We find it mentioned that in this quarter of the field
the Twenty-eighth Mississippi Cavalry was engaged with con
spicuous bravery.
It was now apparent the enemy had not been evacuating
Franklin, as was supposed, and was prepared for this attack,
and hence General Van Dorn gave the order for withdraw
ing at once to his lines at and in advance of Spring Hill,
which were resumed that night without any molestation from
the enemy.
The loss on the part of the Federals in this fruitless- affair
is reported by them to be " less than one hundred ;" the Con
federate loss in Forrest's Division was three killed, ten wound
ed, and thirty prisoners, which was scarcely equaled by Jack
son's Division.

MISS EMMA SANSON.

CHAPTER IX.

THE STREIGHT RAID.
Forres fs Brigade ordered to North-Alabama — Junction with Roddy, and
Affair at Town Creek — Dibrell's Diversion — Federal Infantry re
tire — Desolation of the Country — Inauguration of Federal Cavalry
Raid under Colonel Streight— Prompt Pursuit by Forrest — Night
Combat in Sand Mountain — Series of Sharp Fights to Blountsville —
Reduced Numbers of Confederates — Heroic Services of Miss Emma
Sanson at Black Creek, Alabama — Federal Ambush defeated at Tur
key town — Colonel Streight overtaken and Surrender of 1365 Federals
to Inferior Numbers under Forrest — Another Detachment surren
dered near Rome — Rejoicing of People of Rome — Commentaries.
April z$th to May 3d, 1863.
On the 23d of April, Forrest received orders from General
Bragg to move swiftly with his own brigade, by way of Deca
tur, Ala., to the relief of Colonel Roddy, who, greatly over
matched, was being hard pressed by a heavy Federal column,
under General Dodge, detached from Corinth, Miss., in the
direction of Tuscumbia, as well as by a cavalry force that had
moved up the western bank of the Tennessee river from East-
port, under the command of Colonel A. D. Streight*
Making what preparations were needful for efficiency, For-

* See page 256 hereinafter. This reached Tuscumbia on the 24th of
terce moved in rear of Dodge, and April.— Reb. Rec. VI. Doc. 173, p. 556.

250 Campaigns of General Forrest.
rest detached the Eleventh Tennessee, 600 strong, to proceed
directly to the Tennessee river at Bainbridge, where, cross
ing it, Colonel Edmondson effected a junction with Roddy
four miles eastward of Tuscumbia, and that regiment took a
most creditable part in all the skirmishes which occurred west
ward of Town creek.
On Friday morning, 24th, the rest of the brigade* was put
en route to make the crossing eastward of Town creek, and,
moving with his habitual celerity, Forrest reached the Tennes
see river at Brown's Ferry on the evening of the 27th of April,
having ascertained definitely by the wayside, through trusty
scouts, that the commands of Dodge and Streight, already at
Tuscumbia, were estimated, the former at about 10,000, mainly
infantry, with artillery, and the latter 2200 cavalry or mounted
infantry. It was also reported that they gave indications of a purpose
to cross to the north bank of the Tennessee ; and to meet that
emergency, Dibrell was detached with the Eighth and Tenth
Tennessee and a section of artillery, with orders to repair to
Florence and keep a sharp ward against any such project.
Confident, however, that their real purpose would be developed
southward of the Tennessee river, Forrest pushed on with the
main body of his force to Brown's Ferry. There he secured
immediate facilities for ferriage by two steamboats during the
night, and pressed forward twelve miles to Courtland, twenty
miles west of Decatur. Here he learned that the Federals
were already at Town creek, a bold stream which descends
from the mountains and hills of North- Alabama and empties
some seven miles westward into the Tennessee, and the pas
sage of which Roddy was then stiffly disputing.

* Dibrell's, (Eighth,) Stames's, and the Tenth Tennessee, under Lieu-
(Fourth,) Biffle's (Ninth) regiments, tenant-Colonel De Moss.

Affair at Town Creek. 251
Losing no time, Forrest hastened on that night and estab
lished his headquarters on the Tuscumbia road several miles
in rear of Colonel Roddy, who soon met him there, and with
whom the plan of operations was arranged for the next morn
ing. At the same time an order was sent to Dibrell to move
his force westward as far as Bainbridge, and there, opening
with his artillery, make a demonstration as if designing to
cross the river and fall upon the Federal rear.*
The Federal force — about 8000 strong, of infantry, artillery,
and cavalry — 1 meanwhile occupied the west bank of Town
creek confronted by Colonel Roddy, whose force up to the
advent of Forrest consisted of scarcely 1200 men in addi
tion to Edmondson's Eleventh Tennessee.! Their line of
encampments extended from the railroad northward to the
residence of Major Robert King, on the Tuscumbia road,
and General Dodge's headquarters were established in the
old Dearing mansion.
At dawn, on the 28th, General Forrest appeared upon the
scene with and speedily disposed his forces for an obstinate
contest. Posting Starnes' s and Biffle's regiments out of range
of the Federal artillery, with his right resting on the Tuscum
bia road, he assigned Roddy's force to positions on the left, to

• This order was successfully carried rate army at Corinth. He served sue-
by Captain J. J. Scanlan, a young cessively on the staff of several general
Philadelphian, who resided in St. officers until after the battle of Mur-
Louis at the outbreak of the war. The freesboro, when, resigning, he took
service was performed under circum- service as a private in Colonel Roddy's
stances of extremest peril. The cross- Regiment, but later was restored to
ing was made in a small canoe, when staff duty with the brigade commanded
the river was excessively high, filled by Colonel Johnson, of North- Alabama.
with drift, and the night dark and t Namely, Roddy's (350) and Han-
stormy. This gentleman first saw non's (400) Regiments, and Baxter's
service at Pensacola, in the summer of (200) Battalion, (all Alabama cavalry,)
1861. Was subsequently the Adjutant Julian's Battalion also, (150,) and Fer-
of the Chief of Artillery of the Confede- rell's (Georgia) Battery of four guns.

252 Campaigns of General Forrest.
watch the upper crossing, known as the " Shallow Ford," and
the Eleventh Tennessee was held concealed in a woods north
of the railway, to command the railroad bridge, with rigid
orders not to fire a gun unless the enemy attempted to seize
or cross that bridge, in which event a stubborn contest was to
be made.
Happily, much swollen by recent heavy rains, the stream
was nearly unfordable. The rising sun was gilding the dis
tant mountain-ridge to the south. All was quiet in the en
campment opposite, as the Confederate commander ordered
Captain Morton to throw a shell from one of his steel guns*
through the Federal headquarters. The aim was skillful ; in
another instant the inmates of the building in question
swarmed forth, and armed men rose from the earth all along
the Federal lines — literally like those of the Grecian fable,
born of the dragons' teeth sown by an enemy. Their artillery,
speedily placed in position, now began to play upon that with
which Forrest as rapidly confronted them on a ridge seven
hundred yards distant. The Federals had eighteen guns in
position, Forrest not more than eight pieces, of which only
two were rifled and of long range. The cannonade soon
waxed violent. Open fields intervened on both sides, unob
structed by a single tree, except the few that fringed the im
mediate bank of the creek, and behind which sharp-shooters
kept up a warm, incessant fire on both sides. For five hours
this was maintained, and for a time the artillery fire was very
severe and the skirmishing excessively warm.
Meanwhile the Federal commander had sent an infantry
force into an old stockade just west of the railroad bridge, when
Edmondson's men opened a premature fire. The enemy, in
a commanding position, were quickly supported by a battery,

Captured piece, it will be remembered.

Dibrell's Cooperation. 253
and a fierce, pelting storm of minie-balls, of grape and explod
ing shells was quickly poured into the woods, so that the
limbs of the trees flew and fell around in great profusion, and
caused many casualties in the Eleventh Tennessee, who stood
their ground, however, with admirable fortitude.
After the combat had begun, one of Roddy's most skillful
and daring scouts* returned, and reported the presence of a
considerable hostile cavalry force at Newberg, some distance
to the south, moving apparently eastward toward, and on the
road to Mount Hope and Moulton.
Seemingly undisturbed by this intelligence — "as if he had
no flank to be turned " — Forrest continued to battle with his
immediate adversary.! For a time the Federal artillery —
superior in weight of metal as in numbers — was gaining some
advantage over the short-range guns of their adversary, but
the well-handled rifled section of Morton's Battery, under
Lieutenant Sale, was soon brought into play at long range,
with such effect that the Federal pieces, cavalry and train,
were quickly withdrawn out of range.
In the mean time, Dibrell, by a forced march, having reached
his original destination at Florence, had sent out detachments
to raise and repair sunken boats, and by other ostentatious
demonstrations had made show of a purpose to cross the river
at Bainbridge, Garner's Ferry, and an intermediate point ;
while through a reliable citizen he had managed, moreover, to
set afloat in Tuscumbia the report of the presence of General
Van Dorn with his whole cavalry en route for the south bank
of the Tennessee and the rear of Dodge's position, with a
view to subsequent operations against Corinth. And about
four p.m., he opened with great din and rapidity with a section
of artillery upon the camp which the Federals had occupied

• Mr. James Mhoon, of Tuscumbia.
t Notes of Colonel Saunders, of Courtland, Alabama.

254 Campaigns of General Forrest.
at South-Florence. This cannonade, and other intimations
of the threatening presence of a large Confederate force in
close proximity to his rear, by this time had reached General
Dodge, whereupon that officer announced by a dispatch to
Colonel Streight that, having now detained the Confederates
long enough to secure to the latter time to get well on his
way, and inasmuch as there were reasons for apprehending a
serious attempt to cut off his own line of retreat to Corinth, he
should presently fall back, and leave the other to push forward
on his expedition. And accordingly General Dodge began a
hurried retrograde movement, the impress and memory of
which will be hard to efface from the beautiful valley of the
Tennessee. From mountain to the river-marge, from Town
creek to Tuscumbia, that night it was lurid with the flames
of burning fences, granaries, meat-houses, stables, and of
mansions that for years had been the scenes of a boundless
hospitality and domestic comfort, but of which, the next morn
ing, there remained little, save heaps of smouldering ashes and
ruined, blackened walls.*
Several hours, however, before the Federal retreat began,
another of Roddy's trusty scouts had returned with the in
formation that the cavalry, whose movements had been previ
ously reported, had advanced as far eastward as Mount Hope,
sixteen miles directly southward, and on the Confederate left
flank. General Forrest, now assured that this movement was
of grave character, promptly made all his preparations to meet
it, satisfied that, though he might not have the force to cope,

* Prominent in this and other ruth- those of Lagrange College, an old and
less, inexcusable works of desolation well-founded seat of learning, with nu-
was the notorious ruffian Colonel F. merous buildings for many students,
N. Cornyn, who assumed for his band all of which were reduced to a mass of
the designation of the " Avenging An- ruins.
gels." Among the. edifices burned were

Federal Raid under Streight. 255
ultimately, with Dodge, he would be fully able, howbeit, to
baffle and beat this separate hostile operation. Roddy was
ordered to take, as soon as possible, his own and Edmondson's
(Eleventh Tennessee) Regiment and Julian's Battalion, and
throw himself between the cavalry in question, and the force
under Dodge. And before Dodge's retreat had been developed
""into certainty, leaving several regiments to make a show of
continued resistance, he fell back that night to Courtland with
Starnes's and Biffle's regiments and the artillery* There he
completed his preparations for the emergency of a prolonged
pursuit as if he had fully divined the purposes of his enemy.
Selecting Morton's lightest section, and Ferrell's battery of
Roddy's command, he directed that double teams of the best
horses should be attached, and personally superintending the
provision of the best and strongest harness, was ready for the
field early on the morning of the 29th, when without delay he
set out for Moulton, in which direction the enemy had been
reported to be moving. II.
At Moulton, it was found the cavalry in question was cer
tainly that which had been debarked at Eastport, commanded
by Colonel Streight ; as likewise, that he had taken the road
leading to the soufh-eastward, with the object, apparently, of
a daring raid into the heart of North-Georgia, and hence a
blow at the communications of Bragg's army. Therefore,
Forrest divided his force into two columns, one of which,
under command of Colonel Roddy, was ordered to follow di
rectly upon the trail of the adventurous raiders ;! and the
other to make a detour to the north-eastward, so as to cut off

* The troops left were Harmon's t Roddy's and Edmondson's Regi-
Regiment and Baxter's Battalion, and ments, Julian's Battalion, and Ferrell's
a section of Morton's Battery. Battery.

256 Campaigns of General Forrest.
any possible effort, under pressure from Roddy, to turn back
and escape by that flank* The pursuit — one of his most
notable operations — now began in earnest, Forrest leading the
last-mentioned subdivision in person.
The Federal force was of men selected for this special
service, and consisted of the Fifty-first and Seventy-third
Indiana, Eightieth Illinois, and Third Ohio regiments, an*
two companies of Alabama " Union " Cavalry. They were
transported by steam, on the nth of April, down the Cum
berland,! and up the Tennessee to Eastport, North-Missis
sippi, where their march began, as far as Tuscumbia,:}: in rear
of General Dodge, who, as has been seen, was sent in advance
to vail the movement by his demonstrations. They were ac
companied by guides who had lived in the regions to be tra
versed, and had got so well advanced as to feel secure from
effective pursuit.
But the swift-riding, sharp-smiting Forrest was already
sweeping down with his chosen men upon them. Quitting
Moulton, and riding all Wednesday night, the Confederate
General pushed after his enterprising enemy, resolved to cap
ture or destroy him, reaching and encamping, for the last part
of the night, in the vicinity of a small village known as Dan
ville. Thursday morning, 30th, early, it was ascertained that
the Federals had encamped in Day's Gap, on Sand Mountain,
only four miles distant. Therefore, giving instructions to

• Stames's and Biffle's Regiments Eastport. See letter of " Centurion,"
and a section of Morton's Battery ; the in reference to note-book of C. H.
former commanded by Major McLe- Applegate, Seventy-third Indiana Re-
more, Colonel Starnes being absent, ill giment.
at Columbia. \ Reaching Tuscumbia on the 24th
t Probably went down the Cumber- of April, and left on the morning of the
land only to Fort Donelson, and thence 27th, via Russellville, and thence to
across by land to Fort Henry, on the Moulton.
Tennessee river, thence by boat to

Affair at Days Gap. 257
Biffle to push forward rapidly, with the best mounted of his
own and Starnes's regiments, (under McLemore,) so as to cut
the Federals off from any attempt to turn back and escape in
that direction, Forrest transferred his headquarters to the
other command, pursuing by the road. About the same time
the advance-guard sent back ten prisoners, just captured, and
reported that the Federals were but one mile in their front,
engaged in cooking. Advancing, the Confederates were soon
in full view of their camp-fires, and got within four hundred
yards of the ground before the enemy were aware of their
proximity. The discharge of the Confederate artillery was
indeed the first intimation, apparently, of this fact, and, as may
be readily understood, produced the utmost confusion, panic,
and hurly-burly in their encampment. Many negroes and sol
diers scattered in various mountain ravines, leaving the place
where they had passed the night full of wagons, some fifty
broken-down animals, cooking utensils on the fire, as also
large numbers of poultry and quantities of other food newly
cooked.* The Confederate soldiers, almost famished, were
forced, with great difficulty, by their officers to quit the tempt
ing stores thus broadcast around them ; and fully half an hour
was lost at the spot before the pursuit was renewed. Captain
William H. Forrest with his company was first dispatched,
and very soon encountered the Federal rear-guard in the
gorge. A rapid running skirmish then ensued, for quite two
miles, when he fell, seriously wounded by a ball through his
thigh, breaking the bone, and at the same time losing several

• On the approach of Dodge's co- he had harried the country with his
lumn the people of the country had cavalry in the mean time, and collected
fled to the mountains south of Moulton, some fifty wagons and five hundred
with their wagons, teams, animals, and negroes, who had supplied themselves.
valuable movable property, which, already with riding animals.
coming to the ears of Colonel Streight,

258 Campaigns of General Forrest.
of his men under the galling fire he had affronted. The main
force of the enemy were now also in sight, strongly posted in
line of battle along a commanding ridge perpendicular to the
road. General Forrest, pushing to the front, observed and com
prehended the situation at a glance, and forthwith disposed
his men for the onset.
Edmondson's Regiment, dismounted, was deployed on a ridge
or spur parallel to that occupied by Colonel Streight, and bi
sected by the road ; Roddy's Regiment and Julian's Battalion,
mounted, were posted to the rightward of Edmondson, on un
dulating, irregular ground, with orders to advance. Forrest's
escort, mounted, occupied the left flank of the line, with in
structions to move around on that flank, and get a position in
the rear, while Edmondson took the offensive in front. At
the same moment, two pieces of Ferrell's Battery were pushed
forward, and opened fire at a distance of two hundred yards
from the Federal lines. This was promptly answered, but
Edmondson advanced steadily, to within less than one hundred
yards of his opponents, under a warm fire. The escort, mean
while, had executed their orders, and vigorously attacked
Streight's right flank, losing five or six men killed or wounded.
Roddy resolutely charged on the left flank, up to within fifty
yards of the Federal line, the men of which were lying down
concealed. Rising now, they delivered a withering volley,
inflicting considerable loss. Roddy's men, comparatively raw,
gave way in much confusion, leaving forty out of three hun
dred and fifty either killed or wounded on the ground. Fer
rell's guns by this time, however, had been bravely pushed
to within sixty yards of the Federal position, and were throw
ing a stream of grape and canister, though with little effect,
as the enemy were sheltered by the crest of the hill. At the
repulse of Roddy's command, Colonel Streight now charged,
and forced Edmondson back, killing the horses of the Confe-

Fighting in Sand Mountain. 259
derate guns, which were abandoned to the enemy.* But both
Edmondson and Roddy's men promptly rallied, retook the
position previously occupied, and were there re-formed for
another struggle, Roddy having dismounted his own regi
ment and Julian's Battalion.! The loss of the enemy in
this phase of the affair was at least seventy-five killed or
wounded. The Federal commander handled his men with decided
nerve. Massing them, by a resolute charge he obliged the
Confederates to fall back, quite three hundred yards, to
another position, which he likewise attacked with equal
spirit, but was this time repulsed, with small loss on either
side. He then drew back to the position in which he had
first awaited battle ; and Forrest resumed possession of the
ridge in his immediate front. From these opposite ridges
an animated skirmish was maintained between the sharp
shooters of both forces until three p.m. Starnes's and Biffle's
regiments having been, meantime, ordered up, now ap
peared upon the scene ; they were at once dismounted, and
disposed to take part in an immediate grapple with the enemy.
In this line of attack, Starnes's Regiment was on the extreme
right and Edmondson the left ; Biffle and Roddy in the
centre, on the right and left of, and perpendicular to, the road
along which Ferrell's Battery of four guns advanced ; the
escort and Captain Forrest's Company constituted a small
reserve. The enemy, however, did not await the onset ; indeed, they
had been gone an hour, leaving only a thin line of skirmishers,

* Section of Morton's Battery, under Jeffrey Forrest's Regiment. Major
Lieutenant A. W. Gould. W. R. Julian, its commander, had seen
t This battalion was composed of service during the Mexican war. It
Tennesseeans and Alabamians, and lost very heavily in this affair.
was the nucleus, subsequently, of

260 Campaigns of General Forrest.
which in turn gave back, without giving or receiving the fire
of the assailing Confederates ; and in a field-hospital were
found about seventy-five of their killed and wounded, with
some thirty Confederates.
Finding his adversary now evidently disposed to push on
ward and avoid further battle, General Forrest detached
Roddy to return with his own regiment and Julian's Battalion
to Decatur with the prisoners and wounded men, and resume
command in that quarter ; and Edmondson to make a detour
with the Eleventh Tennessee through the valley in the di
rection of Summerville, on the Federal left flank, to watch
and guard the passes, and to foil any effort to turn and escape
in that direction. Biffle and McLemore — the latter leading —
with their regiments, were directed to push on by the road
taken by the enemy, while the Confederate leader, heading
his escort and a company of the Fourth Tennessee, dashed
ahead immediately to overtake and bring them to bay. After
a sharp gallop of half an hour, the Federal rear-guard was
overtaken, and a running fight took place for some miles, in
the direction of Blountsville, Alabama, when Streight's main
force was found formed in a highly favorable position, half a
mile eastward of Long creek, with their own section of
artillery, and that captured, placed at commanding points.
Biffle and McLemore coming up with their regiments, were
dismounted, and rapidly arranged for a charge as infantry,
Biffle, with one hundred men, being held in reserve. It was
now five p.m., or about dusk, as the Confederates resumed the
offensive, and advanced to within one hundred yards of the
enemy. For three houis the conflict was obstinate and reso
lute on both sides ; the Confederates gaining their way slow
ly, their enemy holding their ground stoutly. And at times
the lines were in so close proximity, that the flashes of the
fire from the small-arms illuminated the features of the com-

Night Fighting. 261
batants in the contesting ranks* Always in the thickest of
the milie, General Forrest had the good fortune, as in all his
recent conflicts, under the hottest fire, to escape unhurt, but
he had one horse killed and two wounded under him.!
At eight o'clock p.m., Biffle was ordered with his reserve
force to move around by the left flank, gain the rear of the
enemy, and attack their horse-holders. At the same time
Forrest detached his escort on a similar service around by
the right flank.
The lines of the belligerents were by this time brought to
within thirty yards of each other — the Confederates deployed
in single file, and scattered behind trees and other objects
that greatly favored them. Soon was heard in the Federal
rear the sounds which indicated that the several detachments
sent by the Confederate general for that purpose had attacked
the liorse-Jiolders. But the men, supposing it to proceed from
Roddy striking the enemy from that flank, were animated
with a fierce enthusiasm. An intrepid charge of the whole
ine was made with one impulse, and their brave adversaries
gave way utterly discomfited.
Some fifty of their number were left- behind, dead and
wounded, and many animals, as also the section of Confede
rate artillery which they had previously captured and carried
off, and some thirty wagons ; and some teams were found scat
tered through the woods.
The scene of this prolonged and desperate conflict on the
barren mountain-heights of North-Alabama is remembered
by participants, who have mingled in the great battles of the

* Letter of "G. W. A.," of May A, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, was
5th, published in Atlanta Southern Con- mortally wounded, at the head of his
federaey, May 8th, 1863. company, in this charge ; and Major
t Captain Aaron Thompson, (of McLemore had his horse shot under
Marshall county, Tennessee,) Company him.

262 Campaigns of General Forrest.
.war, as one of peculiar, weird grandeur and exaltation, impos
sible to paint with words. With the thunder of artillery, the
continuous peal of the musketry, and their infinitely multi
plied reverberations from mountain to valley, were mingled
the sharp clangor of words of command, the cheery shouts
of the men, and the uproar and cries of affrighted and wound
ed animals, added to which there was a splendor in the lurid
volcanic flashes of the rapidly served artillery and the fiery
blaze of the musketry, which excited admiration, attracted
notice, even in that moment of fiercest passions, when the
air was thick and perilous with deadly missives.
The Confederate loss, howbeit, was singularly light ; a few
were wounded and fewer killed. Immediately the pursuit was
renewed ; and for ten miles the roadway was found strewn
with saddles and bridles and boxes of crackers, from which
the pursuers drew a hasty ration, their only food for hours
of hard riding and incessant fighting. Mingled with crock
ery and kitchen utensils, blankets and shoes and plated
ware, were to be seen scattered around embroidered skirts,
and other articles of female apparel, taken in sheer wanton
ness, all cast away now by the fugitives, or dropped by runa
way pack-mules, or from wrecked baggage-wagons.
The Federals were evidently demoralized by this time, and
began to understand their peril. Biffle was directed to send
several men to catch up, and, in the darkness, mingle with
the enemy, so as to ascertain, if possible, their purposes as to
any other stand that night. Meanwhile, the Confederates
followed slowly, some four miles, when one of the men de
tached* returned with the intelligence that Streight stood
once more at bay, across the road, within a mile ahead,
which was confirmed by another scout, half a mile further

• Private Granville Pillow, of Grove's company, Biffle's regiment

Night Fighting. 263
on. Moving up, with the least possible noise, to the supposed
distance of a quarter of a mile, the Confederate commander
again dismounted his men, detached the horses from his artil
lery, and had the pieces pushed forward quietly by hand.
Biffle thrown out on the left, and McLemore on the right of
the road, approached to within one hundred and fifty yards of
their quarry before breaking the grim silence of the night
with the crackle of rifle or the din of artillery ; but that
now burst suddenly upon them evidently unaware, for they
broke in much confusion and some loss in killed and wounded,
without return of fire. Swift pursuit was made, and some
captures effected, but it was so dark that it was difficult to
distinguish friend from foe.
It was now eleven o'clock, but the darkness had been
somewhat diminished by the starlight. Remounting his men,
Forrest ordered the chase to be resumed. Again the way
was thick sown with castaway booty, equipments, and aban
doned animals, while the woods swarmed with negroes. Once
again men were pushed ahead of the command to overtake
and intermingle with the enemy, and, as before, returned —
between midnight and one o'clock a.m. — and reported that
another stand had been resolved on by the Federal leader,
who surely was not wanting in courage or enterprise. The
place chosen was the southern bank of a deeply-bedded, rug
ged mountain rivulet, and very strong, some sixteen miles
from the scene of the first engagement, and six from the field
of the last skirmish. The Confederate force quickly arranged
for attack, McLemore was ordered to push across the stream
rightward of the road ; the horses were again detached from
the pieces, which were moved by hand, as before, up the road
to within short range, preceded by some skirmishers who,
taking position, fired suddenly in the direction of the Fede
rals to draw a return, in order to reveal their exact locality to
the artillerists, who opened at the blaze with grape and canis-

264 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ter, while Biffle poured in sustained volleys of small-arms.
McLemore, gaining his position rightward in rear, also joined
in the fight. This was more than they could stand, and again
they gave way, leaving some' killed and wounded on the
ground ; and McLemore, striking their flank, made some cap
tures of men and horses, causing evidently a panic in their
sorely pressed ranks, who now made off hurriedly, still in the
direction of Blountsville.*
It was now about two o'clock in the morning ; evidently
both Federals and Confederates had come upon the people of
this isolated region unexpectedly, and the outburst and tumult
of the battle-storm was their first warning of such fearful
presence. As may be readily supposed, they were filled with
wild terror ; the poor women with their little children fled
frantically from their houses, and were found seeking shelter
or crouching, they scarcely knew from what dire peril, in gro
tesque hiding-places, such as ash-hoppers, horse-troughs, and
in recesses behind chimneys.
Content with the work of the past eighteen hours, and sure
now of the ultimate capture of his game, Forrest halted and
awaited daylight, to water and rest his fagged, foot-weary
horses, overhaul his ammunition, and reassemble his com
mand. May day dawned brightly, the men had been without food
for more than twenty-four hours, but, after two hours' rest,
cheerfully renewed the pursuit. Forrest led with his escort and
one squadron of the Fourth Tennessee Regiment, and about
eleven o'clock a.m. reached Blountsville, where the enemy had
halted to rest, and arrange their transportation henceforward
exclusively by pack animals instead of wagons. Their pickets
being at once driven in, setting fire to their remaining wagons

Here were found twenty-five wounded Federals in charge of a surgeon.

Capture of Prisoners by Two Girls. 265
a»jd some stores, Streight made off, due eastward, in the direc
tion of Gadsden, without offering to renew the combat. Ex
tinguishing the fire, and replenishing his commissariat and
ammunition supply from that abandoned by the Federals,
with little loss of time, Forrest and his men were again in the
saddle. Swift and staunch as so many sleuth-hounds, relent
lessly did they now follow and overtake the Federal column
before reaching the Black Warrior river, ten miles' distance
from Blountsville, and a running fight occurred. The ford was
rocky, rapid, and difficult, yet the Federals hazarded it rather
than venture the risk of another trial of strength with their
indomitable pursuer. But before all were across, the Confe
derates were upon the rearward, killed and wounded some,
made a few captures, and caused the drowning of a number
of pack-mules.* A halt was now ordered by the Confederate
leader for three or four hours, to feed and rest his men and
animals. After midnight the Confederates were once more
in movement at their accustomed pace. The enemy, now
fully aware of the urgency of their situation, were doing what
they could to embarrass pursuit. To this end they destroyed
a bridge over a creek on the route, the banks of which were
high and sheer, and difficult to ascend. Very little time was
lost, however, and by daylight the Confederates were again in

* Just before reaching the Warrior tenuation of their situation, alleged
river, two young country girls, of sev- that they had no stomach for further
enteen or eighteen years of age, ap- fighting. These brave- girls were poor,
peared, leading three accoutred horses, dressed in homespun and barefooted,
and driving before them as many Fede- though clean and neat. They said
ral soldiers, whose guns they carried they would be willing to go on with
on their young shoulders. Asking for the troops, but hardly thought their
the commanding officer, they related, services were at all necessary. The
with much simplicity, how they had General giving each a horse, they went
captured these men, and wished to off smiling and proud.
deliver them. Their captives, in ex-

266 Campaigns of General Forrest.
hot pursuit fifteen miles to Wills Creek in the southern part
of Wills Valley — coming upon the Federal pickets, who were
driven back upon their bivouac in which their main force
were feeding and resting. Not making a stand, Streight re
tired rapidly, leaving in the hands of his ever-urgent foe fif
teen or twenty-five prisoners, at least "fifty negroes, including
some women dressed in Federal uniforms, an abundance of
forage, and some horses and pack animals.
Giving the command several hours' respite, while his weary,
famished animals were feeding, Forrest, selecting his best
horses for two of his most appropriate guns, prepared to move
for the final struggle with not to exceed six hundred officers
and men.* It was here also that he divided with his men a
box of crackers, which he had picked up and carried along in
his ambulance. Meanwhile, worn down by three days and
nights of scarcely intermitted riding! and fighting, eating
little and at long intervals, the Confederates began to show
serious signs of flagging, and many,, in the last stage of the
pursuit, had fallen asleep on their horses. Several ladies,
however, whose husbands and friends had been seized and
carried off by the Federals, appeared about this time, and
filled the encampment with their sad wails and appeals for
the restoration of their kinsmen. This had the happy effect
to rouse the men from their lethargy ; and Forrest, taking
advantage of the circumstance, drew his men up and made
them a brief, stirring address, full of warm words of confi
dence in their ability to attain speedily the objects of then
mission, and the end of their hardships. Calling for all who
were willing to follow or fall in the attempt, the entire com-

• The other two pieces, and all in- t At no time resting more than five
effective animals and their riders were hours out of twenty-four, and twice
left behind, with orders to return to only so much.
Decatui.

Emma Sanson. 267
mand responded with cheers ; the women also broke out into
shouts of joy and encouragement ; and in the eyes of many
of that battle-stained, sun-embrowned, fierce array, we are
assured, the big tear of deep emotion was seen to start,
glisten, and melt. They were then moved off at a gallop, the
artillery section following at the same speed. At this pace
the Federal column was again overtaken by ten a.m., on the
2d ; and the Confederate General selecting fifty of the best
mounted men, with whom and his escort he charged swiftly
upon its rear in the face of a hot fire. For ten miles now, to
Black Creek, an affluent of the Coosa, a sharp, running con
flict occurred. The Federals, however, effected the passage
of the stream without hinderance, by a bridge, which, being
old and very dry, was in flames and impassable as the Confe
derates approached ; besides which it was commanded by
Streight's artillery, planted on the opposite bank.
III.
Black Creek is deep and rapid, and its passage in the im
mediate presence of the Federal force was an impossibility
before which even Forrest was forced to pause and ponder.
But while reflecting upon the predicament, he was approached
by a group of women, one of whom, a tall, comely girl of
about eighteen years of age, stepped forward and inquired,
" Whose command ?" The answer was, " The advance of
General Forrest's Cavalry." She then requested that Gene
ral Forrest should be pointed out, which being done, advanc
ing, she addressed him nearly in these words :
" You are General Forrest, I am told. I know of an old
ford to which I could guide you, if I had a horse — the Yan
kees have taken all of ours."
Her mother, stepping up, exclaimed :
" No, Emma ; people would talk about you."

268 Campaigns of General Forrest.
" I am not afraid to trust myself with as brave a man as
General Forrest, and don't care for people's talk," was the
prompt rejoinder of this Southern girl, her face illuminated
with emotion.
The General then remarked, as he rode beside a log near
by : " Well, Miss  , jump up behind me."
Quickly, or without an instant of hesitation, she sprang
from the log behind the redoubtable cavalry leader, and sat
ready to guide him — under as noble an inspiration of unal
loyed, courageous patriotism as that which has rendered the
Maid of Zaragoza famous for all time. Calling for a courier to
follow, guided by Miss Sanson, Forrest rode rapidly, leaping
over fallen timber, to a point about half a mile above the
bridge, where, at the foot of a ravine, she said there was a
practicable ford. There dismounting, they walked to the river-
bank, opposite to which, on the other side, were found posted
a Federal detachment, who opened upon both immediately
with some forty small-arms, the balls of which whistled close
by, and tore up the ground in their front as they approached.
Inquiring naively what caused the noise — being answered
that it was the sound of bullets, the intrepid girl stepped in
front of her companion, saying, " General, stand behind me ;
they will not dare to shoot me." Gently putting her aside,
Forrest observed he could not possibly suffer her to do so, or
to make a breastwork of herself, and gave her his arm so as
to screen her as much as possible. By this time they had
reached the ravine. Placing her behind the shelter afforded
by the roots of a fallen, tree, he asked Miss Sanson to remain
there until he could reconnoitre the ford, and proceeded at
once to descend the ravine on his hands and knees. After
having gone some fifty yards in this manner, looking back, to
his surprise and regret, she was immediately at his back ; and
in reply to his remark that he had told her to remain under
shelter, replied :

Heroism of Emma Sanson. 269
" Yes, General, but I was fearful that you might be wound
ed ; and it is my purpose to be near you."
The ford-mouth reached and examined, they then returned
as they came, through the ravine, to the crown of the bank
under fire, when she took his arm as before — an open mark
for the Federal sharpshooters, whose fire for some instants
was even heavier than at first ; and several of their balls
actually passed through her skirts, exciting the observation,
" They have only wounded my crinoline." At the same time,
withdrawing her arm, the dauntless girl turning around, faced
the enemy, and waved her sun-bonnet defiantly and repeatedly
in the air. We are pleased to be able to record that, at this,
the hostile fire was stopped ; the Federals took off their own
caps and, waving them, gave three hearty cheers of approba
tion ! Remounting, Forrest and Miss Sanson returned to the
command, who received her with unfeigned enthusiasm.*
The artillery was sent forward, and with a few shells, well
thrown, quickly drove away the Federal guard at the ford,
which Major McLemore was directed. to seize with his regi
ment The stream was boggy, with high declivitous banks
on both sides, and it was necessary to take the ammunition
from the caissons to keep it dry, to pull the two pieces of
artillery across by hand, and to force the animals down the
steep slopes, and to take the ford, but, nevertheless, the pas
sage was successfully effected in less than two hours. Mean
time, the Confederate General delivered his fair, daring

* The Legislature of Alabama, at gold medal, inscribed with suitable
the succeeding session, donated to Miss devices commemorative of her conduct.
Sanson a section of the unappropriated See Appendix and Index. We trust the
public lands of the State, as a testimo- people of Alabama will not permit the
nial of the high appreciation of her result of the war to hinder the dis
services by the people of Alabama ; charge of this duty to a brave daughter
and directed the Governor of the State of the State.
to provide and present her also with a

270 Campaigns of General Forrest.
young guide back safely into the hands of her mother, took a
knightly farewell inspired by the romantic coloring of the
occurrence, and dashed after his command to resume the
chase, as soon as the passage of the creek was effected *
Gadsden — three miles distant — was soon reached, and For
rest dispatched a special courier to Rome, Ga.,! evidently one
of the objective points of the Federal expedition, to apprise
the people of its approach, and to urge every effort to hold
Streight in check before the place until his advent upon the
scene. It was Saturday afternoon as the enemy had dashed
into Gadsden, to the complete surprise of its citizens, and the
place was filled with people from the surrounding country,
whose horses were greedily seized, the prey of all others most
coveted at this moment by Streight' and his men. And quite
a number, consequently, of such animals were taken in ex
change for their exhausted mules.
Here, selecting 300 of his best mounted men, the Confede
rate General again led in pursuit, his enemy having taken the
road up the west side of the Coosa river in the direction of
Rome. After a race of some nine or ten miles, about five
o'clpck p.m. Saturday, May 2d, the Federals were again over
taken at a small village known as Turkeytown, and a smart
encounter followed. Finding a favorable position, they had

* As General Forrest reached the o'clock to-morrow morning," respond-
point of the road, on the east bank of ed General Forrest, a promise fulfilled
Black Creek, opposite Miss Sanson's to the letter.
house, she and several ladies came to f Mr. John H. Wisdom, of Gadsden,
the bridge-head and hailed ; he halted, however, had previously hastened on
and she said she had a request to make, the same errand, gave the people of
namely, that her brother, who had hap- Rome the first warning of the coming
pened to be at home on furlough from danger, for which a grateful people
the army in Virginia, had been captured gave him a silver service.— See letter
by the enemy that momingi and she "Centurion," Atlanta Southern Confeae-
begged for his recapture and return to racy. May 17th, 1863.
her. " It shall be done before ten

Federal Ambush. 271
halted to feed, and at the same time attempt an ambuscade in
a dense thicket of second-growth pines, through which ran
the road — forty yards broad — for half a mile in a straight line,
and then narrowing and bending abruptly to the left, for per
haps about one hundred yards,' turned squarely to the right
again, dividing some fields in a direction parallel to the origi
nal course. At the first bend, a barricade effectually closed
the road, and the fence was thrown down, so that the Confede
rates would be forced to take across the field — the fences of
which were leveled — over a small ridge, behind which were
concealed a body of some 500 Federals, while the pine thicket
through which they were to be drawn was filled with sharp
shooters on either side of the avenue. The ambush was skill
fully arranged, and might have resulted in the easy capture of
the entire command under almost any other than the tactics
of Forrest Their skirmishers were thrown out just in ad
vance of the thicket and throat of the avenue, as if offering
battle. The Confederates well closed up, and moving by
column of fours, Forrest ordered the bugle to sound the
charge, and, instructing his men to fire with their rifles and
pistols right and leftward, he led them forward at a brisk pace.
The Federal line gave way, as planned, but such was the speed
with which Forrest dashed ahead, that scant. time was afforded
the sharp-shooters lining the road to do any damage, and the
Confederates had penetrated the field past the thicket before
the enemy supposed that they could be half-way through the
latter. Observing now the line in his front, Forrest charged
home upon it without halting, and dispersed the Federals
rearward in all directions. Some thirty were here captured,
and as many as twenty wounded or killed ; among the latter
was Colonel Hathaway, one of their best and favorite officers.*

* Colonel Hathaway was probably Martin, Colonel Biffle's Regiment, a
killed, at the distance of six hundred mere youth at the time.
yards, by the rifle of private Joseph

272 Campaigns of General Forrest.
The Confederate loss was very light, only two privates were
killed, but these were tried and gallant soldiers *
It was now dark, the enemy were in full flight, the work of
demolition almost completed, and, confident of their early
capture, the Confederate General caused the recall to be
sounded, and bivouacked his command for the night, so that
the men who had been left at Gadsden might come up. Such,
however, was the spirit of all who followed Forrest that these
proved to have been not far behind, and a good night's rest
was enjoyed by the men and their fatigued animals.!
By sunrise, on the 3d, the Confederates, now winnowed
down to scarcely 500 officers and men, were again in motion,
and on reaching Dyke's bridge, over the Coosa, found it in
ashes. The men were promptly dismounted, and, stripping,
carried the ammunition and pieces over, as at Black creek, by
hand. In an hour this was achieved, and the chase renewed
until about nine o'clock a.m., when the Federals were agrain
overtaken, at their breakfast, which was abandoned at the
sound of firing, leaving their hot coffee, mules, a number of
horses, saddles, and other spoils. Their commander, how
ever, soon rallied them pn a ridge in an open field, but his
men were evidently greatly disconcerted. Detaching Major
McLemore, with his command, to move around on their left,

* Private Hunt, of Starnes's, and the utmost gravity he answered, that
private Roach, of Biffle's Regiment Forrest had his own brigade, Arm-
t Among the casualties of the affair strong's, and Roddy's, with several
at Turkeytown, just related, was the others, the names of whose command-
capture of Sergeant William Haynes, ers he could not recall. Streight ex-
of the Fourth Tennessee, who was claimed, with a fierce oath, "Then
taken at once before Colonel Streight, they've got us." A little later in the
and questioned as to the strength of the night, Haynes, effecting his escape, suc-
Confederate force. Young Haynes was ceeded in rejoining his regiment, and
so solemn-looking and truthful a per- gave immediate information of the story
sonage as to have gained among his he had imposed upon the Federal corn-
comrades the sobriquet of Parson. With mander.

Streight at Bay. 27"
and Colonel Biffle their right flank, they were forced back
somewhat on their centre, while General Forrest threatened
an advance, with his escort and a detachment, in front, from a
skirt of woods which he occupied.
Prone to rush in upon an adversary and crush, by the effect
of swift, heavy blows, the Confederate leader was none the less
an adept in the stratagems of war at fitting junctures, when he
took for his example the cool, crafty Ulysses rather than the
wrathful Achilles. Accordingly, he now sent forward an offi
cer of his staff — Captain Henry Pointer — with a flag of truce
and the demand of the immediate surrender of the Federal
force — as he declared — " in order to stop the further and use
less effusion of blood."
Meeting the flag, Colonel Streight asked to communicate
directly with General Forrest They met accordingly in the
woods, and a parley ensued. Streight, howbeit, declined to
capitulate unless it could be shown to his satisfaction that he
was doing so to a force at least equal in number to his own.
Forrest replied in effect, he could not humiliate his men by
any effort to persuade the surrender of a force that they
had been driving and beating in every conflict for the past
three days.
Just at this moment the section of Confederate artillery
came in sight at a full gallop, remarking which, Colonel
Streight urged that no more troops should be brought up
nearer than a ridge about three hundred yards in the rear.
To this Forrest assented, and gave orders to that end, but,
through an aid-de-camp, at the same time covertly instructed
that the artillery should be kept in movement in a circle, so
as to appear like several batteries coming up, which was so
adroitly done by Captain Ferrell that Colonel Streight soon
inquired of Forrest how much artillery he had. " Enough,"
was the prompt answer, " to destroy your command in thirty
minutes." Some further discussion ensued, Colonel Streight

274 Campaigns of General Forrest.
continuing to insist that he could not surrender unless fully
satisfied that he was not succumbing to an inferior force,
finally asked for a delay of twenty minutes while he con
sulted his officers. But in a quarter of an hour he returned
and repeated his desire to be assured that he was confront
ed by at least an equal force. The Confederate commander,
then remarking that discussion was wholly useless, asserted
that he had known of this movement almost from its incep
tion, had been prepared for it and therefore had his oppo
nent completely in his toils, with a river on his right, which
was not fordable, a mountain on his left, which shut him off
from escape in that quarter, a force in front with which he
would not be able to cope, and one at his heels all the while,
that had gained strength every day. Therefore, if he, Streight,
failed to capitulate, the grave consequences must rest on him
self. Colonel Streight, greatly perplexed, still clung to the
idea that he could not surrender to a force inferior to his own,
and, ending the interview, turned to repair to his men. Cap
tain Pointer, at this, invited him take a drink before separat
ing, observing that it might be the last that he would ever
take. This invitation, pleasantly made, was as pleasantry ac
cepted ; ' the drink was taken, hands were shaken by the part
ing antagonists, and the Federal commander rode' back in the
direction of his lines, but soon to meet on the way the bearer
of a white flag from his command, with whom he returned to
the Confederate quarter. He then announced that his officers
desired to surrender, which he was now ready to do on con
dition :
ist. That all were to be held as prisoners of war*
2d. That the officers should retain their side-arms and per
sonal baggage.

* This, doubtless, was stipulated in Alabamians and guides would not be
apprehension that otherwise the Union treated as " prisoners of war."

The Surrender. 275
These terms were, of course, granted without discussion,
It was still thought to be necessary, however, to keep the
enemy deceived in regard to the actual smallness of the force
that had captured them, and this Captain Pointer adroitly
contrived by asking, at the moment, of his commander, what
disposition should be made of some three or four imaginary
bodies of troops at different near points, and specific orders
were given in that connection, which he rode away as if to
execute. At the same time the Confederate General ex
plained to his prisoners that, as forage was very scarce at
Rome, he would only be accompanied thither by his escort
and a regiment.
These preliminaries being arranged, the two commanders
repaired to the Federal headquarters. A portion of the ene
my were found a mile distant, where, in a field, their whole line
was finally formed, some 1466 officers and men, their arms
stacked, and the capitulation was completed*
Colonel Streight now made a short address to his men,
thanking them for their gallantry and endurance, explained
the reasons which caused him to surrender, and called upon
them to give three cheers for the Union.!
The officers were then separated from the men and direct
ed to be escorted to Rome, some eighteen or twenty miles
distant, without delay, while the men were to bivouac under
charge of Colonel Biffle, who, assisted by a staff-officer — Cap-

* Two Colonels, one Lieutenant- a harsh, relentless foe ; and we do not
Colonel, three or four Majors, 1365 hesitate to assert that had he, on the
privates. other hand, fallen into the hands of
t General Forrest was present, and Colonel Streight, no such privilege
made no objection to this display of would have been extended as an op-
feeling on the part of brave men. The portunity to harangue his men, nor
fact should be remembered in his favor by would they have been suffered to cheer
those at the North who look upon him as for the " Confederate States."

276 Campaigns of General Forrest.
tain Pointer — was instructed to collect the arms and follow to
Rome with the prisoners on the next day*
Moving some ten miles toward Rome, the detachment sent
in advance by Streight from Turkeytown to proceed direct to
that place was met returning, baffled. The commander, Cap
tain Milton Russell, Fifty-first Regiment Indiana Volunteers,
when informed of the catastrophe which had befallen the main
command, was deeply moved, and, with an air of sincerity, and
with tears in his eyes, declared that he had rather die than be
subjected to such a disaster. He was a man of very fine, sol
dierly presence, and, had all his comrades been of the same
martial temper, their capture would scarcely have been so
easy. But seeing that there was now no alternative, his com
mand also laid down their arms, making the number of pri
soners taken, in all, 1700.
Resuming the route to Rome, when within four miles of it,
the high hills which adjoin the place were found alive with
militia scouts in observation, who, evidently regarding the
approaching force as hostile, it was really difficult to open
communication with them. But this was at length effected,
and the people of Rome, to their profound relief, were notified
of the happy results of that day.
Their emotion was great, and proved nearly fatal to the ob
ject of their warm admiration and gratitude. Insisting on
firing an artillery salute, shotted guns were discharged, with
such carelessness, and in the direction of the very road of
General Forrest's approach to the town, as barely to miss
him. As the Confederates entered Rome, the streets were alive
with its citizens, including numerous refugees from Tennessee,

•The Confederates in line at the sur- their horses by the bridle-rein, the
render were so overcome by sleep that, greater part of them were nodding.
while standing dismounted, holding

Commentaries.

277

and some two thousand convalescents
from the large army hospitals estab
lished there, who turned out to wel
come and greet their deliverers.
" All tongues speak of him, and the bleared sights
Are spectacled to see him."
Many ladies of that joyous assem
blage met with husbands or near kins
men among Forrest's men whom they
had not seen for a year or more. These
meetings were inexpressibly tender
and moving ; indeed, the whole recep
tion was a memorable event in the lives
of all present. Every house was thrown
open to officers and men with an un
stinted hospitality, which embraced
even the Federal officers and other
prisoners to some extent, now that all
danger from them was fully averted.
The surrender took place, as before
said, twenty miles from Rome, in the
valley between the Coosa and Chatoo-
ga rivers, some two or three miles
north of the Coosa, and at a point
known, curiously enough, as " Straight-
neck Precinct," in that country.
COMMENTARIES.
1. The merits of this operation are
unquestionably very great in every as
pect, and nothing handsomer, of its
species, may be found in military an
nals. In the last forty-eight hours of the expedition, Forrest

278 Campaigns of General Forrest.
marched his men, jaded as they and their animals were, full
ninety miles ; and they had averaged forty-one miles each day,
fighting for hours, several times daily and nightly, for three
days previously, encumbered with artillery. The most salutary
moral effect was felt throughout the country far beyond the
ordinary capture of so many Federal soldiers, even by so small
a force as that which General Forrest led ; and it is a fact wor
thy of note, that the newspapers of the South, for a month
afterward, contained numerous circumstantial accounts of the
expedition, its stirring incidents, and of the final stratagem
by which the capitulation was brought about. The people of
Georgia were enthusiastic in their sense of the services ren
dered by General Forrest, as evinced in various ways, among
which may be mentioned the proposition to change the name
of Union county to that of Forrest, as an act of " monu
mental significance." He had, indeed, averted the widespread
destruction of the principal bridges and manufacturing and
transportation resources of that State, which were of vital
value to the people of the whole South, and especially to the
army of Bragg. And this had prevented occurrences the
injurious character of which would have been incalculable and
irremediable. 2. Forrest led men to whom all honor is due ; due for quali
ties among the least of which we place, in sooth, their intre
pidity in combat ; men whose acts of individual heroism can
make no figure in battle reports ; men whose endurance of
fatigue, and long abstinence from food, combined with their
unbroken spirit, were indeed marvelous ; and all of them ap
pear to have been thoroughly imbued with his own ardent,
indomitable spirit.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL FRANK C. ARMSTRONG.

CHAPTER X.

False Report of another Federal Raid— Forrest returned to Middle Te n
nessee — Reestablished Headquarters at Spring Hill— In Chief Com
mand of Cavalry on that Flank — Services of -the Eighth and Tenth
Tennessee Cavalry — Jackson 's Division detached — Successful Ambus
cade by Colonel Dibrell — Reconnaissance in Force of Franklin — Hand
some Affair of Fourth Tennessee with two Federal Regiments — Colo
nel Starnes's Demcmstration upon Triune — Forrest's brilliant Recon
noissance in same quarter— Middle Tennessee evacuated— At Chatta
nooga — Forres fs Cavalry in East-Tennessee — Pegram's Division
joined Forrest — Expedition of Eighth Tennessee — Forrest's Cavalry
returned to Chattanooga. May 4th to August 31st, 1863.
V^OLONEL BIFFLE came up on Monday, 4th, with the
main body of the prisoners ; and all were now turned over to
the local commander, who put them en route for Richmond by
rail, by way of Atlanta, on the following day.
The fourth and .fifth were spent in refitting the command
for the field, especially in shoeing the horses. These, be it
noted, were generally of the best " blooded stock" of Middle
Tennessee and Kentucky ; but the hardships of the expedition
had been so extreme and prolonged, that it had perceptibly
affected them, leaving all greatly jaded and foot-sore. Many
also were now taken with the " scours " and cramp, which
proved so fatal in a few moments that, of the five hundred
and fifty with which the command reached Rome, not more

280 Campaigns of General Forrest.
than two hundred and fifty remained* Selecting the best of
the captured horses, many of which proved to be excellent
animals, seized by the roadside, Forrest was able, by the
morning of the 6th, to remount his command, and refurnish
his artillery in an effective manner.
The citizens of Rome had been, meanwhile, preparing for
a formal complimentary ceremony and festival, to be given on
the afternoon of the 6th, in honor of the event of their relief
from the consuming visitation which had been prepared for that
thriving and enterprising community. But on the night of
the 5th, General Forrest was informed, at ten o'clock, by some
citizens, that a heavy Federal cavalry column was penetrat
ing the country from Tuscumbia, in the direction of Talladega,
Alabama, by way of Jasper and Elyton. He was, therefore,
obliged to forego the arranged entertainment and further rest
for his men and animals, much as it was still needed, and
undertake possibly another arduous campaign, for which all
the necessary orders were at once issued. By eight o'clock
a.m., on the 6th, Forrest and his men were on the road to
Gadsden.! At that place, at three p.m., on the 7th, scouts, who had
been left in observation, were met, and they reported that no
such movement as the one alleged was on foot, and that Dodge
had unquestionably returned as far westward as Iuka. As
sured of the accuracy of this information, Forrest then turned

* The artillery of the command had addressed to General Bragg, that they
left Courtland with one hundred and should be sent to North-Alabama for
twenty select horses, of which only distribution among those from whom
twenty-five remained. the most of them had been taken by
t The residue of the captured ani- Colonel Streight, as he traversed the
mals, after remounting his command, country; and this was actually done,
some sixteen hundred horses and mules, though only four hundred and fifty sur-
Forrest sent under escort, direct to vived, such had been the hardships they
Chattanooga, with the urgent request, had undergone.

Forrest at Army Headquarters. 281
the head of his column northward, by the roads through
Brookville, Peach Grove, and Summerville, as the nearest
route to his base. Arriving at Decatur on the 10th, he re-
crossed at once to the north bank of the Tennessee * On
the nth, the command was turned over to Colonel Biffle, with
orders to take post at Athens, Alabama, whither the detach
ments from the brigade were likewise directed to repair.
General Forrest then proceeded by rail, by way of Hunts
ville, to army headquarters, still at Shelbyville, to report to
General Bragg the results and details of his expedition.
At Huntsville his arrival was the occasion of an intense
expression of public gratitude. The people turned out en
masse, and emulated each other in manifestations of their
sense of what Forrest had achieved by his pursuit and cap
ture of the Federal marauders.!
Arriving at Shelbyville on the 13th, he reported imme
diately to General Bragg, who, receiving him with unwonted
warmth, cordially testified his full recognition of the value and
scope of his recent services. He said, indeed, that he should
urge his promotion to the grade of major-general, with the
view of intrusting to him the chief command of the cavalry
with that army. To this, however, Forrest replied that he
preferred the promotion to that position of another officer,
whom he suggested, as having more capacity for the functions
which properly belonged to the rank of major-general.
We learn, too, that the whole army, officers and men, testi
fied in various ways, while he was among them, their satisfac
tion and appreciation also of what General Forrest had ac-

* Two companies had been mean- t One substantial and appropriate
while sent from Gadsden, back by the testimonial was the gift of a fine horse ;
route of the pursuit, to collect and another had been given by the people
bring away all the wounded, and such of Rome, Ga.
captured stock and teams as had been
left behind.

282 Campaigns of General Forrest.
complished. Of these demonstrations it is fit to note a sere
nade by the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Tennessee Infan
try, enrolled at Memphis, Tennessee. Both Forrest and the
regiment had long been anxious that it should be converted
into cavalry, and assigned to his command ; and as they
thronged around his quarters the cry was, that the One Hun
dred and Fifty-fourth might now be mounted with Streight's
captured horses. Forrest was called upon — after the Ameri
can fashion, that even went with the citizens into the army —
for a speech, which he made, and while no orator, and wholly
unused to addressing crowds, he expressed himself, we are
assured, with notable felicity in his unaffected but clear nar
ration of the stirring events which had characterized his late
operations, which all around were anxious to hear.*
After passing several days at army headquarters, Forrest
finally, on the 14th, received orders to return to Spring Hill,
and assume the command of the cavalry on that flank of the
army, General Van Dorn having been killed during his ab
sence. It was on the 16th that he arrived at Spring Hill, and
entered upon his new command, having in the mean time
directed all of his brigade to reassemble there. *
As will be remembered, Forrest, just before crossing the
Tennessee' river to the southward, had detached the Eighth
and Tenth Tennessee,! under Colonel Dibrell, with a section
of artillery, to make a diversion, by a show of passing the
river as far westward as Bainbridge or Florence, in rear of
the Federal column. As has been noted, that service was
effectively performed, and aided materially in hastening the
retreat of Dodge in great haste, he being apprehensive that
otherwise his communications with Corinth would be cut

* MS. Notes of Colonel J. E. Saun- f At the time under command of
•ders. Major Forrest.

Detached Operations. 283
off. The Tenth Tennessee was then ordered back as far as
Decatur, to guard and hold that crossing, while Colonel Dibrell
remained with his own regiment and the artillery, to watch
the river in that quarter until — within a few days — an order
was received from General Bragg to throw the greater part of
the regiment across the river, and take position at Fulton,
Miss., so as to intercept the Streight expedition, should it
attempt to effect a passage back through the country in that
direction to Corinth. The Tennessee was crossed at Garner's
Ferry by swimming the horses ; and a detachment of three
hundred of the Eighth Tennessee, under Captain McGuiness,*
were at Fulton — seventy-five miles from the ferry in question
— early the second day after departure. Meanwhile, intelli
gence of the success of Forest's pursuit having been received
by Dibrell, the detachment of his regiment was safely with
drawn from its greatly exposed position at Fulton, eluding a
strong Federal force that had been thrown out to cut it off,
by making a wide detour through Pikeville and Russellville,
Alabama, at which last place a junction was effected with
Colonel Roddy and the Tenth Tennessee.
The latter regiment had likewise been actively engaged in
the interim ; it had formed part of a force with which Colonel
Roddy pursued the notorious marauder Cornyn, and had lost
some eight or ten men in an affair with him at or near Ham
burg, or the Tennessee river. II.
It was the 16th of May when General Forrest assumed the

* Colonel Dibrell was run over by a narrow escape from capture by the
horse at the river, and so much hurt Federals, who had taken the field
that he was obliged to remain behind meanwhile, to cut off the return of the
for several days ; when attempting to Confederates from Fulton.
follow, though in great pain, he had a

284 Campaigns of General Forrest.
command to which he had now been assigned, with his head
quarters at Spring Hill. At the time, the Confederate forces
in that quarter were Brigadier-General W. H. Jackson's Divi
sion, Cosby's and Whitfield's Brigades, and Brigadier-Gene
ral Armstrong's Brigade, to which, in a day or two, was
added Forrest's own brigade, now under command of Colonel
Starnes. Rearranging his forces, Armstrong was assigned to the
command of a division constituted of his own and Starnes's
Brigades, the composition of which was severally changed in
some particulars* A few days later, however, Jackson's Di
vision was detached and directed to return to their old theatre
of operations in Mississippi, and Forrest was left with the di
visional command under Armstrong and Starnes's brigades.
For the rest of May, the service of the divison was exclu
sively that of picket duty! in the immediate proximity of the
Federals, who were in heavy force at Franklin, with a strong
outpost at Triune. This service, while without important
events to chronicle, was occasionally varied with adventures ;
among which we note one, on the Carter's creek road leading
to Franklin, on the night of the 31st of May, in which a de
tachment of the Eighth Tennessee figured. The enemy in
that immediate quarter had shown enterprise and adroitness
on several recent occasions, and had surprised and captured a
considerable part of a Texas regiment on outpost service
there, through a stratagem contrived by a Federal officer, who
resided in the vicinity. Anticipating an attempt at a similar
coup, the officer in command of the Confederate outpost ex
posed his picket-line to the view of Federal scouts who were

• The Eighth Tennessee was trans- t Connecting on the right with the
ferred to Armstrong's Brigade, and Fourth Georgia, Colonel Avery, Crew's
Colonel Dibrell was assigned to the Brigade, Wheeler's Cavalry, at Be-
command of the brigade. thesda.

Successful Stratagem. 285
noticed in observation ; but after dark, the flooring of the
bridge over Carter's creek was noiselessly taken up, and the
pickets drawn back into a cedar thicket, from the position held
when observed. Scarcely had these arrangements been made,
when a Federal detachment, intelligently led through the
fields and woods across the stream, some distance from the
bridge, reached the turnpike in rear of the point that had
been occupied at sunset by the Confederates. Here the am
buscade prepared was opened upon their party from their rear,
when, of course, they broke, with a rush, for the bridge, and
fell headlong into the trap there set for them. Evidently, a
number of horses and men must have been crippled, from the
many evidences of blood, skin, and hair that were to be seen
on the bridge timbers next morning. There were no more
attempts on the part of the enemy to surprise pickets for some
time, and this little affair served for a while to amuse the men
around their camp-fires.*
About the 3d of June, the enemy were observed, apparently
transferring their main force from Franklin to Triune.! This
led the Confederate General to move forward, on the next
morning, to reconnoitre the former place in strong force, so as
to ascertain precisely to what extent the position w.as still
occupied. Starnes's Brigade, with Forrest at its head, ad
vanced by the Franklin and Columbia turnpike, while Arm
strong moved up by the Lewisburg road. On both routes the
Federal pickets were met within three miles of Franklin.
Starnes, turning their right flank, captured ten and killed
several ; Armstrong driving in the line in his front, the ad
vanced-guard of Dibrell's Regiment followed to the very edge

* MS. Notes of General Dibrell, f That is, the right wing of Rose-
who thinks the Confederate officer in crans's army. See Reb. Rec. VII. Doc
command was Captain Swearingen, 4, p. 6.
with his company K.

286 Campaigns of General Forrest.
of the town. The Federals, however, rallied, and charged, in
turn, with the Seventh Kentucky regiment of cavalry, forcing
their bold assailants back again.
About one quarter of a mile eastward of the suburbs of
Franklin, on an eminence commanding all the approaches to
the place, the Federal engineers had built a strong and exten
sive field-work, well garnished with artillery. This opened
upon Armstrong with much vigor, while their cavalry — three
battalions* — were drawn up between the forks of the Lewis-
burg and Columbia turnpikes, close to and southward of the
place. Having, meanwhile, disposed his main force behind a
chain of ridges skirting the position, with his artillery posted
on an elevation leftward of the Columbia road, Forrest ordered
a charge to be made upon the cavalry just mentioned, by com
panies G and H of the Eighth Tennessee, Captains Gore and
Burns — accompanied by their ever adventurous leader — gal
lantly leading their men, with admirable spirit, and dashed
across an open field, in easy range of the Federal works, in
the face of an adversary greatly superior in numbers. It was
a hazardous operation, but was successful ; and the Federals,
giving way before it, took refuge in the streets of Franklin.
Soon after, mistaking a signal-flag, flying on the fort, for
one of truce, Forrest ceased fire with his artillery, and sent
forward, under a white flag, to inquire the cause or purpose.
In the mean time, also, approaching in person the quarter of
the fort, with the view of meeting his own flag on its return as
soon as possible ; but when within eighty yards of a garden-
hedge, a Federal officer rose to his feet behind it, and, with a
gesture of repulsion, exclaimed : " General Forrest, I know
you, and don't want to see you hurt ; go back, sir !"! For-

* See Reb. Rec. VII. Doc 4, p. 5. he had captured at Murfreesboro, in
t General Forrest has since under- July, 1862.
stood that this officer was one of those

Penetrated Franklin. 287
rest, raising his hat in salute, rode rearward some fifty yards,
when turning, he saw the same officer standing where he had
left him, with a considerable detachment, looking after him,
within short musket-range, and he again saluted in recognition
of their forbearance. By this time his own flag of truce had
returned, with the information that the one noticed was only
a signal-flag. This ascertained, taking a detachment of two
companies of the Eighth Tennessee and a section of Morton's
guns, he entered the town by the street leading from Carter's
creek. Formed across this street, with the artillery in the
centre, unlimbered, and pushed forward by hand, they boldly
entered the town, driving all opposition before them, and took
and held possession of the place for some hours. Breaking
open the jail, some Confederate prisoners were found, and re
leased, while the numerous sutlers' stores, with which the
town abounded, were soon found and thoroughly sacked.
Meanwhile, Armstrong moved across the Harpeth, around
and rightward of the fort, with a detachment of his brigade —
Woodward's Battalion and part of the First Tennessee — to
reconnoitre the approach from Triune, and speedily encoun
tered four cavalry regiments* coming from that direction. A
vigorous skirmish ensued ; but so great was the disparity be
tween the forces opposed, he was forced to fall back — though
fighting stubbornly — across the river, losing eighteen killed
or wounded out of thirty-eight of his escort. By the time he
reached the river, Colonel Hobson had advanced with his regi
ment of Arkansians, on hearing the sound of fire-arms, and
covered Armstrong's safe passage across it. Forrest, too,
having heard the clangor of the engagement, leaving one regi
ment in observation on the Columbia turnpike, hurried toward
the scene with the remainder of his force. But Armstrong

* Fourth and Sixth Kentucky, and the Second Michigan and Ninth Penn
sylvania. Reb. Rec. VII. Doc. 4, p. 5.

288 Campaigns of General Forrest.
having, meanwhile, returned to the west side of the Harpeth,
and it being now certain that the enemy was reenforced
heavily from Triune,* Forrest drew off with Starnes's Brigade,
and encamped in a position on disputed ground, about three
miles from Franklin, where there was abundance of forage,
that neither party, hitherto, had attempted to seize. At the
same time, Armstrong was sent back with his brigade to re
sume its usual picket-line that night.
On the following day — the 8th — the Fourth Tennessee still
remaining in position, about nine o'clock a.m., two Federal
regiments! were observed advancing. A company of the
Fourth was thrown well forward to meet it, and then to fall
back rapidly, so as to draw the Federals into an ambush that
had been carefully arranged. This was partially successful,
and some loss was inflicted on the Federals, who withdrew,
le'aving the Fourth in possession ofthe field.J
Some eight or ten days subsequently, General Bragg having
expressed a desire that a reconnoissance should be made, to
develop the Federal force at Triune, Starnes's Brigade was
detached for that object, and performed the service with the
nerve and thoroughness that characterized the operations of
Colonel Starnes. After driving in and capturing a number of
their pickets at Triune, he moved round and made a demon
stration on Nashville ; returning from which, he destroyed the
railroad bridge at Brentwood, which the Federals had rebuilt
since its destruction in April.
Several days later— the 20th— taking his whole force, ex-

* The Federal force at Franklin and t Brownlow's East-Tennessee (Fe
Triune consisted of at least three divi- deral) Regiment and the Seventh Ken-
sions, namely, those of Morgan, R. S. tucky.
Grainger, and Baird. (Reb. Rec. VII. } Colonel Faulkner, Seventh Ken-
Diary, p. 7.) Also, Stanley's Divi- tucky, was seriously wounded.-^.
sion of Cavalry. ^ m Doc. ^ p &

Bold Demonstration upon Triune. 289
cept a strong picket-line, and Avery's and Crew's Georgia
regiments of Crew's Brigade, Wheeler's Cavalry — his neigh
bors on the right — who volunteered to take part in the opera
tion, Forrest again beat up the quarters of his enemy at
Triune. Moving across the Harpeth to the junction of the
Chapel Hill and Shelbyville roads, he there met Colonel Ro
bert Johnson's Regiment, Federal, Tennessee cavalry, and
after a sharp skirmish drove it back into their lines. Starnes's
Brigade following closely, Forrest, with his escort — several
companies of the Eighth Tennessee and a section of Morton's
Battery — now boldly approached to within four hundred yards
of the main Federal encampment, upon which he opened with
his artillery. Thoroughly imposed upon by the boldness of
the movement, the Federals retired precipitately to their line
of rifle-pits surrounding Triune, in rear of their encampment^
and began a fierce uproar with artillery from several batteries
in position, which was altogether harmless to the Confederates,
who were, meanwhile, greatly amused at the utter misappre
hension of their strength which manifestly possessed and
swayed the Federal officers and their men. The ground, howbeit,
was highly favorable for the success of this brilliant act of au
dacity. But at length, in these daring movements, the Con
federate chief stirred up the covert of an infantry brigade, and
provoked a withering fire, before which he immediately drew
his men out at a run rearward ; for, if impetuous and adventu
rous to the verge constantly of rashness, he was peculiarly *
quick to recognize when he had reached the extreme limit of
experiment with his adversary, and prudence required a change
of policy. Now, satisfied that he had ventured quite as far as
was at all prudent, Forrest began to draw off his whole force,
when the Federal cavalry pursued, and some sharp skirmishes
took place as the Confederates leisurely retired. Assuredly,
the Federal commander of the forces at Triune can not look
back upon this affair without mortification ; and it is a signal

290 Campaigns of General Forrest.
instance of what may be done in war by coolness and confi
dence, allied with boldness and enterprise. Among the mate
rial results ofthe affair, were several hundred horses and mules,
and half as many fat cattle, found at pasture. Dispersing their
infantry guard, Major Jeffrey Forrest drove them off success
fully from close proximity to the Federal lines *
III.
It was now the last week in June, and orders came from
army headquarters to break up the outposts at Spring Hill
and to repair without delay with his division to Shelbyville.
On the night of the 25 th, accordingly, the march began via
Riggs's Cross-Roads. Detained by high water some twelve
hours on the 26th, an order from General Wheeler, Chief of
Cavalry, reached General Forrest at Bigbyville, to direct his
further movements so as to intercept the other cavalry of the
army on the turnpike from Murfreesboro to Shelbyville.
When within ten miles of Shelbyville, however, the sounds
of a considerable skirmish were audible in the direction of
the road just mentioned, and Forrest directed Armstrong to
push on rapidly for the scene. Executing this order with

*

General Rosecrans, in his plans as Cavalry horses on hand, . . 6537
in his correspondence with his govern- Mounted infantry, . . . 1938
ment, strangely overrated the numbers 
of the Confederate cavalry, which he 8475
affirms to be five to one of his own. Deducting 25 per cent for un-
This estimate, we observe, is accepted serviceable horses, . . . 2119
as correct by Federal historians, when 
in fact nothing could be more inexact. 6356
The fact is, General Rosecrans does not He had also orderlies and escorts, 2028
appear to have been inferior in cavalry 
to General Bragg at all. Assuredly not 83S4
after the iothofMay, 1863. Writing to General Bragg could not possibly at
the Federal Quartermaster-Genera! on that time have turned out more than
that day, he says he had : 6000, including those on escort service.

Confederates in Retreat. 291
celerity, Armstrong found the Federal cavalry engaged with
and driving Wheeler's force along a dirt-road half a mile from
and parallel with the turnpike before mentioned. So fast, in
deed, were the Confederates falling back toward Shelbyville,
that Forrest found it impossible to effect the junction indi
cated ; he therefore put his column at a gallop for the next
eight miles, hoping to overtake Wheeler at Shelbyville, or at
least in rear of the works there. But even in this expectation
he was disappointed, for such was the pressure of the Federal
cavalry, that Wheeler had been driven south of Duck river
before Forrest could reach Shelbyville. Informed of this fact,
Forrest then made a circuit rightward of that place through the
mud and heavy rain, and crossing the river at a bridge about
four miles to the west of it, encamped five miles beyond, on
the Lafayette turnpike. On the following day, 28th, he came
up with the main Confederate army, in position at Tullaho-
ma. Here he received orders to picket and scout with his
division the approaches from the northward.
A detachment from the Eighth Tennessee, 200 strong,
under their gallant, able Colonel, was immediately thrown out
eastward toward Hillsboro and thence southward to Deck-
ard's. Federal pickets were met by Colonel Dibrell in the
vicinity of the former place, which he ascertained was occu
pied* by the Federals, while a large force had gone thence to
Deckard — facts which he immediately transmitted to his
chief, General Forrest, by couriers. Colonel Starnes was also
detached meanwhile with his brigade to develop, if possible,
the movements of the enemy in the direction of Shelbyville.
This brigade encountered a strong Federal force, attached to

•This, really, was a brigade of mount- flirted *. good deal of damage to the
ed infantry, under Colonel Wilder, sent railroad in rear of General Bragg.—
to the rear of Bragg's army, and which, Reb. Rec. VII. Diary, p. 21.
moving with uncommon celerity, in-

292 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Crittenden's Corps, a few miles in front of Tullahoma, on the
30th, where a skirmish took place, in which the gallant Starnes
was mortally wounded.*
Late in the afternoon of the same day, General Forrest was
instructed to ascertain the movements of the enemy on the
road from McMinnville. It was raining heavily at the time,
but the General preferred to make this reconnoissance him
self with his escort, some sixty strong. Setting out about
three p.m., the black felt hats and oilcloth cloaks of his men
gave them the appearance of Federal cavalry — a circumstance
that enabled him before dark to pass the advanced-guard of
a Federal column, with whom there was a short parley as they
met. Coming upon the main body of the enemy about half
a mile rearward, he was discovered, as, not more than one
hundred yards distant, he turned to withdraw, and was fired
upon by a Federal battalion. Nothing daunted, he dashed
resolutely back over the road he had traveled, killing and cap
turing several of the detachment he had previously passed ;
and, returning to headquarters, reported the presence of the
Federals on that road, with an evident purpose of turning the
Confederate right flank, which obliged General Bragg to re
sume his movement southward immediately.
While Bragg was aiming to pass Elk river near Deckard,
Forrest was ordered to cover the movement from the north
east quarter, and to obstruct any endeavor from that direction
to cut off the Confederates by seizing the pass in the Cum
berland near Cowan. This brought the division, during the

* On the Tullahoma - Manchester cavalry officer. We regret that all our
road. At the time of his death he was efforts to procure the material for a
with his skirmish line, encouraging the sketch of him and his portrait have been
men to stand their ground against the abortive. He was a man of influence in
great odds pressing down upon them, his community, and a physician before
Colonel Starnes was a most valuable the war.

Confederates at Chattanooga. 293
first of July, in sharp collision with several bodies of Federal
cavalry, that were severally beaten back. The Confederate
army being now in possession of the pass, and Forrest's men
and horses having been virtually without food for twenty-four
hours, he led them to Cowan, hoping to find there both sub
sistence and forage, but, on arriving at the spot, was disap
pointed. Those who were there before him had consumed
all. Gleaning the neighborhood, however, he was able to
secure a meal for his men, and a feed for their horses, imme
diately after which they were again in their saddles, and the
division was thrown out northward toward Pelham, to cover a
pass five miles from Cowan through which Hardee's Corps was
moving. Hardee having effected the passage of the moun
tain into Sequatchie Valley, followed by Forrest's Cavalry as
far as University Place, on the 3d of July, Dibrell, now in
command of Starnes's Brigade, was directed to hold the pass
for the next twenty-four hours, while Armstrong was sent
ahead to Jasper to cover the corps on that flank. On the
4th, no Federal force having appeared, Dibrell withdrew at
ten a.m., and followed to the Tennessee river. During these
movements, repeated short but spirited skirmishes occurred
between the several regiments of both brigades and the ene
my, in which the Confederates, including the artillery, fought
with their wonted spirit and efficiency ; but these we are un
able to relate in detail.
The army having been now withdrawn to the south side of
the Tennessee and concentrated at Chattanooga, Forrest's
Division followed, and went into cantonments near by, where,
for the following fortnight, the conditions of the campaign or
inaction of the enemy, gave it opportunity to rest and refit ;
several changes also took place in the organization of its bri
gades.* About the 24th of July, however, the division was

* The Eighth Tennessee was trans- Brigade in exchange for McDonald's
fcrred from Armstrong's to Dibrell's Battalion— Forrest's old regiment —

294 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ordered to Kingston, East-Tennessee, across to the north
bank of the river, General Forrest at the same time being
assigned to the chief command of the Confederate cavalry
in East-Tennessee* The field of service assigned, a wide
and arduous one, involved the picketing not only of all the
approaches from the Sequatchie Valley to the Tennessee
river eastward of Chattanooga and of the various crossings
of the river, but the watchful observation, also, of Burnside's
movements. Numerous small affairs occurred, but were un
important in results. IV.
Meanwhile, the Eighth Tennessee had been detached on
an expedition to Sparta, beyond the Cumberland mountains,
chiefly with the object of giving the men an opportunity to
visit home and their families in that vicinity, from whom
they had been so long separated. The Federals were in
strong force at McMinnville, twenty-six miles distant, and the
vicinage of the Confederates very soon provoked a conflict.
On the 8th of August, a Federal brigade — Minty's — attempt
ed to surprise and capture the regiment at a time when en
camped some two miles north of Sparta, and when not more
than 300 of the men were present. This attack was made
with so much dash that the escape of any of Dibrell's pickets
was due to the fleetness of their horses, coupled with the pre-

which at the same time was strength- First and Sixth Georgia, Sixty-sixth
ened by the addition of two surplus North-Carolina, Second Tennessee, and
companies— McDonald's and Allen's— Huwald's Battery, of Scott's Brigade,
hitherto attached to the Eleventh Ten- strength 1000, composition unknown,
nessee Cavalry. and 0f Ruckei's Legion of Twelfth, (six
* In addition to Forrest's division companies,) Lieutenant-Colonel Day,
proper, consisting of Pegram's Division, and Sixteenth battalion, (seven corn-
made up Pegram's brigade, command- panies,) Lieutenant-Colonel Neal, 1100
ed by Colonel J. J. Morrison, of the aggregate.

Colonel DibrelVs Fight with Minty. 295
sence of mind of their commanding officer, Captain Leftwich.
The noise of the collision with the outpost gave time barely
to the regiment to form and take up hastily a position behind
a neighboring creek — an affluent of Calf-Killer river — the ap
proach to which was through a narrow defile, made by a spur
of the mountains of one side and the steep banks of a water
course on the other, and across a bridge over Wild Cat creek,
in immediate advance of which Colonel Dibrell took post him
self with the men present of two companies.* The Federals,
coming on Dibrell's deserted camp, fancied the whole regi
ment had been dispersed, and dashed on with loud yells in hot
pursuit, to pick up stragglers and increase the supposed panic.
The defile just mentioned, debouched into an open space just
in front of the bridge, and when about 100 Federals (Fourth
Michigan) had emerged into it, the Confederates poured upon
them a volley that swept fifty men from their seats and laid a
number of horses writhing on the ground. Those who escaped
made a gallant, desperate effort to dash forward, but were
shot or driven back in great confusion. Another regiment
(the Fourth Regulars) now charged with spirit upon the posi
tion, and their onset was formidable ; but the consuming rifles
of Dibrell's men, well posted, with a converging fire upon the
bridge-head and approach thereto, swept through their ranks,
and few reached the bridge ; the others strewed the ground or
fell back, some quitting their horses and escaping on foot.
The Federal commander, now dismounting his men, made an
other advance ; but no sooner did he reach the open ground,
than a volley from the Eighth Tennessee sent all back under
cover again. The Federals, then withdrawing, attempted to
turn the position by crossing the river below the mouth of
the creek, at Meredith's Mill, where, in anticipation of such a

• Companies G and H.— Colonel Dibrell's Notes.

296 Campaigns of General Forrest.
movement, they were met by a small detachment and fired
upon from a covert, with the effect of checking that movement
also. Meanwhile, leaving one company to skirmish, Dibrell,
knowing the country and all its fastnesses thoroughly, led the
rest to another position, into which he hoped to draw his ad
versary. Here he was joined by many of the citizens of the
surrounding country, who, with their old-fashioned hunting-
rifles, and Champ Ferguson, the celebrated partisan — also a
resident of the country — came up with ten or fifteen of his
men. The women, too, brought supplies of cooked food, with
that considerate providence for the needs of their countrymen
that everywhere distinguished the women of the South during
the war.
Finding, from the reports of scouts, that the enemy had
disappeared, Dibrell remounted and went forth with his men'
to pursue, coming in sight of their rear-guard, at a fast trot,
near Sparta ; but, as the weather was very sultry, it was not
considered expedient to pursue further than some twelve
miles. So well had his command been sheltered, that Di
brell's loss did not exceed six or eight captured and as many
killed and wounded ; that of the Federals was heavy in both
men and animals. This affair having been reported to Gene
ral Forrest, he sent Colonel McLemore, with about 200 of the
Fourth Tennessee and some ammunition, to strengthen Di
brell's command.
Keeping his command on the alert and actively moving
near the enemy at McMinnville for the next fortnight, Dibrell
kept careful watch to guard against the possibility of sur
prise. In this way, on the 17th, his scouts encountered a
large cavalry force, several thousand, again under Colonel
Minty, moving in the direction of Sparta, only three miles
from the Federal encampment, and having one of Dibrell's
negroes as a guide, who was thoroughly acquainted with the
whole region. Dibrell was encamped at the moment at

Dibrell's Second Conflict with Minty. 297
Sperry s Mill, on the north bank of the Calf-Killer river, two
miles from Sparta, as was known to his adversary, who had
divided his force, one detachment taking the road through
Sparta and up the south side of the river, while the main
body moved up the north bank. Informed of the emergency,
Dibrell had, meanwhile, made his dispositions embracing a re-
occupation of his battle-ground of the 9th of August, a mile
from his present encampment ; but scarcely were his men
mounted than the Federal advance was at the river. A small
detachment of the Fourth Tennessee, posted at the ford, met
and repulsed an attempt made to pass it. By this time the
Fourth Tennessee had been placed in the position held by
the Eighth Tennessee on the 9th, just in time to beat back
a feeble attempt of the enemy, who, now more wary than
previously, was indisposed to venture into the open ground,
but kept up a heavy fire from long range until dark. The
Eighth Tennessee, in the mean time, had taken position at
the only ford for six or eight miles, at Meredith's Mills, and
there held the Federals completely at bay, though many times
larger in numbers. Repeated attempts were made by the
enemy to force the ford, the approach to which was over an
open lawn, and their check was easily effected until dusk, with
considerable loss to the Federals. After dark, Colonel Di
brell deemed it expedient to take up another and even stronger
position, two miles distant and safe from the possibility of be
ing turned — that is, on the summit of the Cumberland moun
tain, where Frost's turnpike crosses it. Accordingly, McLe
more withdrew from his position to join Dibrell. As he did
so, the Federals, on the watch, pursued and struck Captain
McGregor's company, (G,) but were immediately and hand
somely repulsed, with some loss, by the brave McGregor.
Taking up now, without further interruption, the position on
the mountain, Dibrell awaited quietly the movements of his
opponent, who, it appears, indisposed to prolong the expedi-

298 Campaigns of General Forrest.
tion, retired from the neighborhood the next morning, having
suffered severely, and left Dibrell in undisputed possession of
the district
Soon after this affair, the 22d, General Forrest's orders were
received to return to his headquarters at Kingston,* and the
movement was commenced that afternoon. At the time, a
number of the men and officers were absent on furlough at
their homes ; others were permitted to go for their winter
clothing, and some few officers and men had become disaffect
ed and averse to returning to the army, so that the Eighth
Tennessee recrossed the Cumberland 200 rank and file less
than it had when it reached Sparta.!
In the interim, the other portions of the division had not
been inactive. A squadron of the Eleventh Tennessee, dis
patched across the mountain to Wartburg, in Morgan county,
to observe the enemy reported to be moving in that neighbor
hood,- had there encountered a heavy Federal column of all
arms. In attempting to reconnoitre the position, Captain
Perkins became involved with his single company with Bird's
Brigade of cavalry, which he charged with characteristic dar
ing and threw into confusion. Aftenvard he made good his
retreat! Pegram's Division had also been kept on the alert
watching the various passes in the mountains.
On the 31st of August, orders having been received by
General Forrest to that effect, he began the evacuation of

* About this time, Hamilton's Batta- mained a prisoner until the spring of
lion of partisans had joined Dibrell, 1865, when he was exchanged, his
some 105 strong. health permanently destroyed. Among
t The Lieutenant-Colonel of the re- the deserters were a captain and two
giment, who was subsequently sent to subalterns. — General Dibrell's MS.
collect these men, gathered as many as A'ofes.
200. Instead of rejoining his regiment, J Lieutenant-Colonel Holman's MS.
he took the field, as a partisan, in Ken- Notes.
tucky, where he was captured and re-

Forrest Evacuates East-Tennessee. 299
East-Tennessee with all his force except Scott's Brigade. That
was left to hold the bridge at Loudon, with orders to burn it
on the approach of the enemy in force, which was ultimately
done after a sharp skirmish. COMMENTARY.
General Rosecrans, as we have stated — note, ante, page
290 — insisted that his enemy outnumbered him in horsemen
five to one. Giving his own effective mounted force, exclu
sive of 2028 orderlies and escorts, at 6356, he provided Gene
ral Bragg with no less than 31,780 cavalry. We simply notice
this to show the loose manner in which even an army com
mander may sometimes think and write about grave, impor
tant questions.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEORGE G. DIBRELL.

CHAPTER XI.

BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA.

Topographical Sketch of Theatre of War — Federal Army thrown across
southward ofthe Tennessee River — Bragg evacuated Chattanooga —
Thomas's Corps in McLemore 's Cove — Failure of projected Attack
by Confederates — Isolation of Crittenden's Corps ?wt profited by —
Operations of Forrest's Cavalry — The general Offensive taken by
Bragg — Battle of the igth September — Arrival of ' Longstreet — Confe
derate Army subdivided into Wings — Battle ofthe loth September —
Commentaries.
\J N arriving at Chattanooga, Forrest's command was soon
distributed in the several quarters wheresoever the Command
ing General determined that cavalry were wanted to cover the
movements of the Confederates in the coming evacuation, of
that position ; and to observe the movements likewise of
Rosecrans, who now revealed a manifest purpose to cross
the Tennessee river westward of Chattanooga, with the object
of striking a blow, by way of Will's Valley, at Bragg's com
munications. And here a topographical sketch of the whole theatre of
impending operations becomes necessary. Chattanooga, as
may be seen at a glance on the map, is in the mouth of the
narrow valley formed by Lookout Mountain and a lateral
spur to the eastward, known as Missionary Ridge. Lookout
Mountain, jutting abruptly upon the Tennessee river, a little
west of Chattanooga, and stretching southwardly into Georgia,

Theatre of War. 301
rises a broad, heavily-wooded range, 2400 feet above the level
of the sea, with sides of towering rock-cliffs springing from
steep, densely-wooded bases, and surmounted, in a distance of
fifty miles, by only two practicable wagon-roads, the first twen
ty-six and the other forty-two miles from Chattanooga. Pigeon
Mountain, another spur, branching from Lookout, about forty
miles from Chattanooga, and extending northward, terminates
in the low hills near the road from Chattanooga to Lafayette,
making a larger and broader valley than Lookout, in the upper
portion of which, called McLemore's Cove, the west branch
of the Chickamauga has its sources. Immediately west of
Lookout is Will's Valley, opening upon the Tennessee, about
six miles from Chattanooga, and the other limit of which is
Sand Mountain,* a chain of precipitous, barren, wooded ridges,
scantily watered, with a few steep but practicable wagon-
roads across it from the Tennessee river. The Georgia State
Railroad, passing around the northern extremity of Mission
Ridge, and down the valley of the east branch of the Chick
amauga, by way of Ringgold, connects with the East-Ten
nessee road at Dalton, thirty-eight miles from Chattanooga,
A wagon-road leads from the latter place, in a south-eastward
course, across Mission Ridge, at Rossville, by way of Lafay
ette, to Rome, a distance of sixty-five miles. Lafayette, east
ward of Pigeon Mountain, is twenty-eight miles distant from
Chattanooga, and Lee and Gordon's Mills, where this road
crosses West-Chickamauga, is half-way between the two
points. From Caperton's Ferry, nearly opposite Stevenson,
on the Tennessee, forty miles westward of Chattanooga, as
well as from the intermediate ferries at Shell Mound and
Bridgeport, as we have mentioned, indifferent wagon-roads
cross Sand Mountain to Trenton, and other points southward

* The northern portion of which is known in the country as Raccoon Mountain.

302 Campaigns of General Forrest.
in Will's Valley, and thence connect with the two roads that
lead over Lookout Mountain, the northward one of which,
passing through Cooper's Gap into McLemore's Cove, and
onward, by way of Dug Gap, in Pigeon Mountain, to Lafay
ette, as well as that via Alpine, opened a short and easy line
of march, under proper military conditions, upon the Confe
derate communications at Dalton, or, indeed, as far south as
the bridge over the Oostenaula at Resaca.
As early as the 27th of August, some Federal cavalry,
fording the river above Caperton's Ferry, repaired thither,
and assisted in constructing a pontoon-bridge across the Ten
nessee at that point, by the 29th, upon which, in the course
of the 30th and 31st, Davis's and Johnson's Divisions of Mc
Cook's and Negley's Division of Thomas's Corps made the
passage to the southern bank, and began the march thence
without delay upon the roads we have indicated, over Sand
Mountain ; while, by the 4th September, the remaining divi
sions of both Thomas and McCook had been thrown across
at Shell Mound and Bridgeport.* Tidings of these move
ments, carried to General Bragg by citizens ofthe country as
early as the 1st September, it appears, were discredited until
verified by the presence of a Federal cavalry force at Wau-
hatchie, in Will's Valley, within seven miles of Chattanooga ;
and, as before said, Rosecrans's purposes were now apparent!
On the night of the 3d September, Lieutenant-General D.
H. Hill began the evacuation with his corps, on the road to
Lafayette. Polk followed on the same road on the 7th, % but

* Thomas and McCook's Official well-informed writer evidently. Gene-
Reports, Reb. Rec. VII. Doc. 42, pp. ral D. H. Hill confirms this statement
227, 232. in his Official Report.
T Vide " Historicus," Richmond Whig, % Hindman's and Cheatham's Divi-
reprmted ibid. Doc. 212, p. 689, a sions.

McLemore s Cove. ¦302
halted at or near Lee and Gordon's Mills ; and Buckner's
Corps, from East-Tennessee, recently assembled at or near
the mouth of the Hiawassee, was likewise drawn to the same
point.* By the 9th, Negley's Division, closely supported by Baird,
of Thomas's Corps, forcing Cooper's and Stevens's Gaps, in
Lookout Mountain, very strong positions, left undefended,
poured down into McLemore's Cove, and on the 10th took
post within a mile west of Dug Gap.! At this Hill was sum
moned back from Lafayette, with Cleburne's Division, to hold
the passes in Pigeon Mountain, with orders ultimately to
send or lead it to form a junction with Hindman's Division,
Polk's Corps, in an operation against the Federals in McLe
more's Cove. Circumstances, however, making the timely co
operation of Cleburne impossible, Buckner was substituted
with his two divisions, on the morning of the 10th, and came
up with Hindman after four o'clock that afternoon, at Mor
gan's Farm-house, in the Cove, four miles from Davis's Cross-
Roads, where Baird's Division of Thomas's Corps was at the
time. But no collision occurred ; nor was an attack made, as
late as daylight on the nth, by which time Cleburne, sup
ported by Walker's Division,! had taken up a position in Dug
Gap, to cooperate with such movement at that hour.§ Yet
no conflict ensued even then, though the Commanding Gene
ral, after having ordered Polk to cover Hindman's rear, had
repaired at daylight in person to the position held by Cle-

* Stewart's and Preston's Divisions, recently arrived from Mississippi, whl-'
t Two brigades of Baird's Division ther it had gone from Charleston and
were in support at Davis's Cross-Roads. Savannah in May, 1863, but one of the
The position occupied by Negley was brigades, (Gist's,) of which was absent,
very favorable for fighting, he repre- however, at Rome, until the 20th.
sented in a note at the time to Baird, § Vide General Bragg's Official Re-
Lf supported. port ; also General Thomas's Report,
% A splendid command, five brigades Reb. Rec. VII. Doc. 42, p. 228.

304 Campaigns of General Forrest.
?
burne, whose division and Walker's demi-corps at noon were
again directed to advance and make an attack. Hill accord
ingly made his dispositions ; his skirmishers and those of the
enemy had already come in collision ; and Cleburne's battle-
scarred veterans, deployed in line, were about to spring for
ward with their habitual dlan, when the movement was sus
pended from headquarters. Meanwhile, however, Hindman's
and Buckner's proximity had become known to the enemy ;
and Hindman advancing to the attack in the afternoon, Neg-
ley and Baird began to retire.* Then the order to Hill to ad
vance was renewed, and its execution commenced with spirit ;
but the Federal general, skillfully withdrawing rapidly at the
first onset, refused battle, and, night being at hand, under
favor of the darkness, fell back upon the hills in front of Ste
vens's Gap ; and was able to escape that destruction ! which
a skillful combination and timely, vigorous use of Confederate
resources, readily available, had made the inevitable conse
quence of this singularly wrong-headed isolation.!
In the mean time, McCook, after crossing the river, as we
have related, moving over Sand Mountain by several routes,
by the 9th had assembled his corps in the direction of Alpine,
in the vicinity of Winston's Gap, in Lookout Mountain, forty-
two miles from Chattanooga, and where, that afternoon, about
the time Thomas's leading division had descended into Mc-

• Baird had " closed upon Negley's Cove, Polk's and Buckner's Corps— at
Division at the Widow Davis's house, least twenty thousand bayonets and
at 8 A.M.," on the I ith.— Reb. Rec. VII. fifty-six guns— were at or near Lee and
Doc. 42, p. 228. Gordon's Mills, and Hill at Lafayette
t General Hill's Official Report.— and Dug Gap, with over Sooo bayo-
Land We Love, Vol. I. No. 6, p. 395. nets, all within easy distance for swift
1 The danger of the situation for the concentration, and such movements as
Federals becomes apparent when it is might have made extrication or escape
observed that at the time Thomas es- impossible. See Commentaries, p. 346,
tablished his advanced divisions in the forward.

Crittendens Isolation. 305
Lemore's Cove, he received orders to diverge further by push
ing rapidly to Alpine, and eastward to Summerville, to inter
cept Bragg, then supposed by Rosecrans to be in full retreat.
Reaching Alpine on the 10th, McCook, however, discovering
indications that Bragg, after all, was not really retreating, and
that his own isolated situation, therefore, might become dan
gerous, halted, and during the nth, 12th, and 13th, awaited
developments before venturing beyond to Summerville.*
Previous to these events, another of Rosecrans' s Corps — Crit
tenden's — had crossed the Tennessee at Bridgeport, Shell
Mound, and the mouth of Battle Creek, eighteen or twenty
miles westward of Chattanooga, and advancing on the 9th to
that place found it to be evacuated. Here Crittenden re
ceived orders to push forward with the utmost vigor on the
road to Dalton, by way of Ringgold, Rosecrans evidently
holding his adversary of little account.
When the evacuation of Chattanooga had been commenced,
Forrest was "directed to leave Pegram, with his division, to
cover that movement, and to hasten, with Armstrong's Divi
sion, toward Rome, to assist in repelling Mitchell's Federal
cavalry, reported in movement, in that direction. Making
forced marches, he found Wharton, with his division of
Wheeler's Cavalry, at Summerville, and there learned that
the enemy were just then ascending the mountain near
Alpine.! Going forward with some twelve hundred of his

* McCook could now only effect a tain roads and passes. Fortunately for
junction with Thomas, either by a the Federal commander, the Confede-
march of some thirty-four miles, fore- rate General was neither able to take
ing his way to and through Lafayette, in the true situation, nor gather its ad-
where Bragg had meantime concen- vantages.
trated his whole force ; or, that being t Three Brigades of Stanley's Caval-
out of the question, by marching back ry, supported immediately by several
into Will's Valley, and northward about Infantry Brigades of McCook's Corps.
fifty miles, through most difficult moun-

306 Campaigns of General Forrest.
men, in conjunction with Wharton's, the Federals were promptly
encountered and checked. Here, orders were received, how
ever, recalling Forrest's force to Lafayette. Putting it in
movement, he hurried ahead, under special instructions, to
have an interview with General Bragg, whom he found near
Lee and Gordon's Mills, and orders were then given him to re
pair northward, to ascertain definitely the movements of the
enemy in the direction of Chattanooga.
Late that afternoon, (the ioth,) he discovered that Critten
den's Corps — Palmer's and Van Cleves's divisions at least —
whose movements we have partially indicated, had advanced
just across the Chickamauga, at Red House Bridge, nine
miles from Chattanooga, on the Ringgold road. This intelli
gence he at once dispatched, both to General Polk — whose
force was but six miles distant from the enemy at the moment
— and to the Commander-in-Chief in the same vicinity. From
the well-known position of both Thomas's and McCook's
corps, it was quite manifest Crittenden was dislocated from
support, while within six miles of one half of the Confederate
army on the field, and within easy reach of the rest. There
fore, assured in his own mind of the certainty of an immediate
overpowering movement against Crittenden, Forrest at once
procured guides, and made all his dispositions for a circuit, on
his part, to the rear of the Federals, and the seizure of the
Red House Bridge ; and this, too, he communicated through
staff-officers to his superiors. Meanwhile, so transparently
critical and precarious was Crittenden's position, that the Con
federate pickets in that direction, and the men around their
camp-fires, were talking of his destruction as an affair fore
doomed.* Hearing nothing, however, from headquarters,

* That General Bragg was satisfied from the letters of his staff-officers to
of the wide separation of the several General Hindman, during the after-
corps of his enemy is apparent, not only noon of the ioth, but also from the fact

Forrest's Combat at Tutinel Hill. 307
about midnight, Forrest rode thither to have an interview
with General Bragg, but found, on reaching the point where
he had expected to meet him, that he had gone to Lafayette,
whither all the infantry, then in the quarter of Lee and
Gordon's Mills, were also under orders to repair.
Upon this, hastening back, he immediately disposed his
present command — Scott's Brigade, some nine hundred
troopers, with four pieces of artillery — directly astride of
Crittenden's path, just as the Federals were ready to move at
daylight. With this handful of men, the advancing column
was resolutely confronted. Seizing every favorable position
for a skirmish, and using his artillery freely and boldly, many
Federals went down as Scott's men doggedly held their
ground, and only receded before the inexorable weight of the
numbers opposed. For two hours, indeed, one position was
stubbornly maintained in the neighborhood of Ringgold ; but
forced at length to give way, they fell back finally to Tunnel
Hill, where Forrest made another stand. Pegram, who during
this movement had hung on the Federal right flank, and be
tween it and Lafayette with the remainder of his division, now
joined, and Dibrell came up with his brigade from Dalton,
where he had been sent, on reconnoissance, after the expedition
to Alpine. The position was strong; and thus reenforced,
dismounting his men, for the most part, and handling them
as infantry, Forrest, presently bringing the column to bay,

that he announced in council, on the his centre was a day's march from sup-
morning of the 14th, that McCook was port by one wing, and three days' by any
even then as far off as Alpine, Thomas available road from the other. Imagine
in McLemore's Cove, and Crittenden Napoleon, Frederick, or the Duke of
at Lee and Gordon's Mills. That is to Wellington, with such an opportunity !
say, Rosecrans's right and left wings Vide General D. H. Hill's Official Re-
were more than forty miles apart, with port, Land We Love, Vol. I. No. 6,
a difficult mountain interposed, while p. 396.

3o8

Campaigns of General Forrest.

was able to stay its further advance* In this he was mate
rially aided by Pegram, who wielded his men with especial
coolness and skill. Conspicuous among the incidents of this
combat, was an encounter by Colonel Hart and thirty-eight or
forty of the Sixth Georgia, who, at an urgent instant, charging
upon a largely superior force of infantry, drove them back, and
captured at least fifty prisoners. The enemy now began to
retire, on the road by which he had approached, as far as
Ringgold, where, as if bent on destruction, he turned the head
of his column westward, toward Lee and Gordon's Mills, in
the vicinity of which he was permitted to cross and take the
position which Polk and Buckner had been directed to relin
quish. There, nevertheless, this corps was still isolated, and ex
posed to an overwhelming altack for several days thereafter.!

* General Forrest was again wounded
in this affair, but so sound and vigorous
was his constitution, that he kept the
field, little disturbed by it.
t It will be difficult to account for
General Bragg's strategy in permitting
these movements of Crittenden : for no
thing could have been easier for the Con
federate General than the concentration
of almost his entire force, and its in
terposition in such manner as to have
effectually barred Crittenden's escape
from a battle, with odds so great as to
have made his perdition certain. Bragg,
it seems, did indeed make some unskill
ful dispositions and inadequate fitful
movements to that end ; but mainly after
Crittenden had established himself on
the west bank of the Chickamauga, and
narrowed the break in his communica
tion with the rest of the Federal army.
At six o'clock r.M. on the 12th, Bragg
called Polk's attention to Crittenden,

and expressed the expectation that the
opportunity should be improved at day
light on the 13th ; and, in subsequent
dispatches of the same evening, ordered
and urged Polk to make a quick and
decided attack. ( Vide Bragg's Official
Report, pp. 9 and 10.) But no attack
was made, for some unexplained reason,
further than that General Bragg says,
on proceeding to the front, early on the
13th, he found that Crittenden had re-
crossed the Chickamauga, and formed
a junction — without saying when that
had been effected — namely, several
hours before his order to Polk had been
written. (Vide Crittenden's Report,
Reb. Rec. VII. Doc 18, p. 526.) The
fact is, the Confederate movements were
singularly infelicitous and feeble prece
ding the battle. None ofthe blunders
of the enemy were turned to the least
profit. That "Soul of Armies," as
Napier terms it, " the mind of a great

Federal Forces.

3°9

20th Corps. McCook's. 14,345.

14th Corps. Thomas's. 24,072

21st Corps. Crittenden's. 13,975.

To recapitulate :* At dawn on the 13th, the Federal army
was posted as follows : Davis's, Johnson's, and Sheridan's
Divisions of Infantry — 9 brigades, 48
or 54 guns ; also, Mitchell's 3 brigades
of Cavalry were at or near Alpine,
. Georgia.
(Baird's, Brannan's, Negley's, and
Reynolds's Divisions — 12 brigades of
Infantry, and 72 guns, at Pond Spring,
and on hills in front of Stevens's Gap,
, and rearward in the gap.
Palmer's, Van Cleves's, and Wood's
Divisions — 9 Brigades of Infantry, and
48 or 54 guns, at and westward of Lee
and Gordon's Mills.
That is, 52,392 infantry and artillery, which, added to Minty's
and Wilder's Brigades of Cavalry and the three under Mitchell
with McCook, (in all at least 7500 cavalry,) made an effective
Federal aggregate of all arms of 60,000, with at least 170 guns.
This, exclusive of Steedman's Division — three brigades — of
Gordon Granger's " Reserve Corps," at the moment about to
cross the Tennessee at Bridgeport and Shell Mound, and by
forced marches to attempt, by way of Chattanooga, to effect a
junction with Rosecrans.!

Captain," or, indeed, one of even mode
rate aptitude for war, was wholly
wanting ; and never in military history
were patent opportunities so strangely
squandered, as on the part of the Con
federates. While, on the other hand,
the strategy of Rosecrans was equally
faulty — so faulty indeed, that it must
have ended in complete disaster, but
for the prodigious want of skill on the
part of his adversary.
* We had originally somewhat larger
estimates, but have changed, as we go

to press, to agree with the figures given
in the table appended, p. 549 Harper's
Pictorial History of the Great Rebellion,
taken, not, however, directly from the
official returns, but second hand from
the statement of a staff-officer. Why do
not Federal writers get at the returns ?
The Confederate numbers are made up
directly from the official statements of
brigade and division commanders.
t Granger's Official Report, Reb.
Rec. VII. Doc 184, p. 532.

310 Campaigns of General Forrest.
That officer having now, howbeit, ascertained Bragg's posi
tion and movements somewhat nearly, had ordered McCook
up from Alpine to the support of Thomas.* But so difficult,
indirect, and tortuous were the mountain roads to be traversed,
that none of McCook's Division reached McLemore's Cove
sooner than the afternoon ofthe 17th ; and, consequently, up
to that time, the posture of affairs was still fraught with down
right advantages for the Confederates, whose General, for a
week previously, had had at his disposition, as we have shown,
a force of 35,000 bayonets, as many as 7500 cavalry, rank and
file, and some 150 guns,! with Longstreet's Corps, known to
be near at hand. And as it had been in his power, on the
ioth, to have concentrated this force upon, and destroyed
Crittenden, and then Thomas in detail, so after the 12th, for
at least four days, it had been equally within the compass
of his resources, by short movements, to have swiftly brought
his army into a compact mass, and by throwing it promptly
westward of the Chickamauga, about Alexander's Bridge,
might have flung its whole weight, with crushing effect, upon
Crittenden, whose debris, driven back in confusion upon Tho
mas, would have subjected that corps to be taken at disad
vantage, in advancing to the succor of Crittenden — as doubt-

* Received on the night of the 13th. or " Reserve " Corps, consisting of five
Reb. Rec. VII. Doc. 43, p. 221. brigades, one of which (Gist's) was ab-
t Subdivided as follows : Polk's sent at Rome, present, sav, 5000 infantry
Corps, composed of the divisions of and artillerists, and 20 guns ; also,
Cheatham and Hindman, numbering Bushrod Johnson's Brigade, (at Ring-
about 11,500 infantry and artillerists, gold,) about 761 infantry and artille-
and 84 guns ; Hill's Corps, composed rists, and 4 guns ; Wheeler's Cavalry,
of the divisions of Cleburne and Breck- constituted of Wharton's and Martin's
inridge, about 8100 infantry and artil- Divisions, about 4000 rank and file, and
lerists, and 24 guns; Buckner's Corps, -guns; Forrest's Cavalry, Arm-
composed of Stewart's and Preston's strong's and Pegram's Divisions, about
Divisions, say 8486 infantry and artille- 3500 rank and file, and 12 guns.
rists, and 40 guns ; Walker's Demi—

Rosecrans Concentrates. 311
less would have been undertaken — and insured his disastrous
defeat likewise, with the passes in his rear blocked up by Mc
Cook's Division coming up from Alpine. But the Confederate
leader, if not wholly blind to these patent opportunities, failing
to grasp them with decision, suffered them all to glide away
as so many sunbeams from a child's hand. Instead of any
strenuous surprise, he kept his forces moving from point to
point, with little or no concert, but with some show of menace
of a front attack, at Lee and Gordon's Mills, where the banks
of the stream were steep and rocky, and impracticable for
artillery except at one bridge and ford near by. In fact, each
day opened with plans of operations, promising decisive results,
that at sunset were invariably left unperformed ; and in the
interim his adversary was leisurely repairing those previous
errors which we have pointed out, and massing his forces for
a counter attack.
McCook, on the 17th, as we have said before, brought two
of his divisions into the cove ; and to make room for them,
Thomas, gaining distance northward, closed in that direction
upon Crittenden ; and the several corps of the Federal army
now stood extricated from the imminent peril, to which they
had been severally exposed for a week, to be attacked and
beaten in detail. By the same time, however, General Bragg
had been made stronger by five small brigades which had ar
rived at Ringgold by railroad from Virginia and Mississippi,
forming a column, that, in the absence of General Hood, was
placed under command of Brigadier-General Bushrod Johnson*
In the interval, Forrest's Cavalry had been actively em
ployed, and had had frequent sharp, brilliant dashes with the
Federal cavalry, especially Wilder's Brigade, and on several

* Gregg's and McNair's Brigades, and Robertson's Brigades, of Hood's
from Mississippi, and Benning's, Law's, Division, Longstreet's Corps.

312 Campaigns of General Forrest.
occasions with the infantry. One of these affairs— with
Wilder— occurred on the 12th, near Leet's Tan-yard, east of
the Chickamauga, and Pegram, who commanded the Confede
rates—Hart's Sixth Georgia and Rucker's Legion, (Twelfth
and Sixteenth Tennessee Battalions) — maintained for several
hours a hand-to-hand conflict of notable obstinacy and gal
lantry ; after which, he bivouacked within a quarter of a mile
of the scene. Scott's Brigade, likewise, had had several well-
fought though brief encounters ; and Armstrong's Division,
also, was actively and usefully employed in its several positions.
Having thus carried the story of the special operations of
Forrest's Cavalry down to the edge of the battle of Chicka
mauga, it will become necessary to embrace in the narrative
of the events of the next four or five days the operations of
all the forces engaged.
As we have seen, Rosecrans, by this time — the morning
of the 1 8th — had brought together, in the valley of the Chick
amauga, at and southward of Lee and Gordon's Mills, the
bulk of his army. Bragg, on the other hand, had massed his
corps mainly around Lafayette, with a provisional division of
six brigades at Catoosa Station and Ringgold ; and with his
army thus disposed, resolving to take the offensive, he issued
the order to that grave end.
To the troops assembled at Catoosa and Ringgold, formed
into a temporary division, as before mentioned, under Bush
rod Johnson, were assigned the initiative by an immediate
movement across the Chickamauga, at Reed's Bridge, about
four and a half miles northward of Lee and Gordon's Mills,
and thence promptly southward upon the Federal position ;
Walker crossing at Alexander's Bridge, two miles nearer the
enemy, was to support Johnson.
Buckner's Corps, the next affluent to the battle stream,
was to enter it by way of Tedford's Ford, still nearer the
Federal position. Polk was to swell the tide, at or near the

Confederates in Motion. 313
same point, after having — during the first part ofthe movement
— menaced an irruption upon the enemy at Lee and Gordon's
Mills. At the same time, Hill was to cover the Confederate
left flank from any hostile operation in that direction ; and by
an advance, just south of Lee and Gordon's Mills, to ascertain
whether or not the Federals were reenforcing, and, in that
event, was to attack them in flank. The " utmost promptness
and persistence" in the execution of all these movements
were .enjoined.* II.
Johnson was early in motion on Friday morning, with four
brigades,! some 4300 bayonets and 12 guns. Forrest covered
this column on the front and right flank, with a small force,
constituted of only Martin's Battalion of Kentuckians and his
escort, and came in contact with the Federal cavalry at
Keeler's Mill, on Peavine Creek. Swiftly dismounting his
men, a sharp skirmish took place ; but Johnson pressing up,
and throwing forward his skirmishers, the enemy were swept
back without material impediment to Reed's Bridge, where
another sharp affair, with severe loss, occurred, before the
bridge was seized ; and the infantry began to cross about
three p.m.
Here the other portion of Pegram's Division, except Scott
and a part of his brigade,! came up, and Forrest, crossing at
a ford, southward of the bridge, scoured the country westward
for more than a mile ; while Johnson, after advancing west
ward to Jay's Saw-Mill, there turning the head of his column,

* Bragg's Official Report. 4700 rank and file ; and Culpeper's,
t Namely, Johnson's own Brigade, Bledsoe's, and Everett's Batteries.
under Colonel John S. Fulton ; and % Scott had been detached in obser-
McNair's, Gregg's, and Robertson's vation of the Chattanooga road.
Brigades, with an effective aggregate of

314 Campaigns of General Forrest.
pushed boldly southward, on the road by way of Alexander's
Bridge, to a point about a mile in front of Dal ton's Ford, and
within half a mile of Vinyard's House on the Chattanooga-
Lafayette Road, where, after a warm skirmish, it being quite
dark, he bivouacked for the night, in line of battle, facing the
south-west. This position was one of isolation and hazardous
proximity to the bulk of the Federal army, as may be readily
comprehended ; but throwing up some hasty obstructions in
his front against cavalry, Johnson took the further precaution
of keeping one third of his men under arms all night. Law's
Brigade having come up from Ringgold, meanwhile, was
formed into a division with Robertson's Brigade under Gene
ral Law, and that and Johnson's were placed under the gene
ral command of Major-General Hood, who had joined at
Reed's Bridge.
Forrest at the same time bivouacked in the rear of Hood's
Division, at Alexander's Bridge, from which he had driven a
body of Federal cavalry, capturing some thirty officers and
men ; afterward he relaid the floor of the bridge that had
been torn up, and lay on the west bank of the stream.
Walthall's Brigade, Liddell's Division, had, however, carried
that position about three p.m., with the severe loss of one hun
dred and five, rank and file, killed and wounded ; but finding
the flooring removed, Liddell had sought a crossing a mile and
a half to the north, at Byrom's Ford, where no resistance was
made, nor to his advance to a position in front of the bridge,
and of Forrest's position for the night.
Buckner, as instructed, also marching that morning from
the vicinage of Lafayette, had approached Tedford's and Dal-
ton's (Hunt's) Fords late in the afternoon, and seized the high
grounds commanding both, with batteries in position above
and below them to cover the crossings, — Stewart's Division
at the former and Preston's at the latter ; and after nightfall
a brigade from each (Grade's and Clayton's) was thrown

Eve of Battle.

3iS

across to the west bank, the other brigades remaining east
ward of the stream all night.
Hindman and Cheatham, Polk's Corps, meanwhile had
taken posts nearly opposite Lee and Gordon's Mills, as ar
ranged in the plan of operations, and slept the night qf the
1 8th on the east bank of the Chickamauga, as likewise the
divisions of Hill's Corps ; that is, Breckinridge at Glass's Mill
and Cleburne in the vicinity of Anderson's farm-house,
some four miles south of Lee and Gordon's Mills, fronting the
enemy's extreme right.
Armstrong's Division of Forrest's Cavalry was still with
Polk's Corps ; and Dibrell's Brigade had had several hand
some skirmishes in that quarter.

Thus it will be observed that on the night of the 18th, or
at least by dawn on the 19th, the bulk of the Confederate
army still lay eastward of the Chickamauga, and separated by

316 Campaigns of General Forrest.
that stream from the remainder, ten small brigades with some
forty guns, and about sixteen hundred cavalry under Forrest,
which were in the immediate presence of three strong Federal
corps and a heavy cavalry force. Clearly, this was a position
fraught with extreme jeopardy for the Confederates, had their
enemy been handled by a general more vigorous and with
less inaptitude for war than Major-General Rosecrans. The
battle, howbeit, was at hand, with forces opposed, of numbers,
courage, martial qualities, and aspirations, which assured that
it would be one of the most sanguinary, the most obstinate
of the war. The Confederates had in the field, placed, as we
have shown, not to exceed 38,000 rifles and muskets, exclu
sive of Forrest's Cavalry, 3500 rank and file, fighting mainly
as infantry ; 4000 cavalry, Wheeler's, and 150 guns.*
The movements of the Confederates, which we have related,
caused some changes that afternoon and night in the dispo
sition of the Rosecrans army ; so that while Wood's Division
remained in its position, Van Cleves's Division of the same
Corps, Crittenden's, was formed on Woods's left, or north
eastwardly, along Chickamauga ; and Palmer, on a prolonga
tion of the same line, leftward of Van Cleve.! After four p.m.,
Thomas, with his whole corps at Crawfish Spring, was order
ed forward, by a road at the foot of Mission Ridge, to take
up a line on the Chattanooga-Lafayette road, leftward of
Crittenden, which movement he executed in a characteristic,
soldierly manner that night ; his advanced Division, Baird's,
being at Kelly's Farm,! nearly west of Reed's Bridge, at day
light, and soon after took up a position at the forks of the
road, facing Reed's and Alexander's bridges ; Brannan was

*

Aggregate infantry and artillery, f Crittenden's Official Report
43.531- Cavalry, 7500. See Appen- 1 General Thomas's Official Report.
dix and Index. —Rcb_ Rec_ VII. Doc. 43_ p, 228%

Battle of the i glh September. 3 1 7
formed a little later on Baird's left, and in supporting dis
tance ; and the other divisions were moving promptly toward
the same field. McCook, at the same time, during the night,
moved up, and concentrated his divisions about Crawfish
Spring, until ten a.m. on the 19th, when Davis's and John
son's Divisions were ordered northward to reenforce Tho
mas* These corps numbered 52,392 combatants, and as many as
7500 cavalry, with not less than 160 guns ;! and, meanwhile,
Steedman's Division of three and a half brigades, Granger's
reserved corps, had likewise been brought up from Shell
Mound and Bridgeport, since the 13th, to the vicinity of
Reed's Bridge.! III.
As previously recited, Forrest bivouacked at Alexander's
Bridge, the night of the 18th. It remains to be added
that he had ridden with General Hood to General Bragg's
headquarters, about nine p.m., and received instructions
to develop the enemy on the extreme Confederate right,
as soon as possible the next morning, reporting all hos
tile movements to the nearest commander ; he was also
assured of prompt reenforcements, in the event he brought
on a general engagement,! and General Walker was spe
cially instructed to answer his requisitions in such con
tingency. || Promptly in the saddle, with Pegram's Divi
sion, Forrest repaired swiftly northward to Jay's Saw-
Mill, about three quarters of a mile westward of Reed's

* McCook's Official Report. i Reb. Rec. Vol. VII. Doc. 43, p.
t We give the aggregate as we find 246.
it in Federal sources. The bayonets in § General Forrest's MS. Note?.
the three Corps maybe estimated at not || General Walker's Official Re-
falling below 46,000, which would give port,
3600 officers and 2800 artillerists.

318 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Bridge, where he encountered a heavy Federal force, evi
dently too strong for Pegram single-handed* Dispatching
an aid, Captain Anderson, for Armstrong's Division, as yet
some six or seven miles southward with Polk's Corps, and
calling on Walker for the support of an infantry brigade, he
nevertheless dismounted his small force, except Rucker, de-
jloyed them at once as riflemen, and, advancing boldly to the
issue, brushed back for some five or six hundred yards the
line of Federal skirmishers by the vigor of his onset.! But
now the Federals, assuming the offensive, threatened to over
lap the Confederate flanks ; and Rucker was ordered to
charge, mounted, with his two battalions (Twelfth and Six
teenth Tennessee) along the crown of an open ridge, to meet
the hostile movement, and right gallantly was the service
performed. Breaking through the picket-line, he dashed
down upon the Federal force behind, but had to give back
under the fierce fusilade that he provoked, and under which
many of his saddles were emptied, but, nevertheless, he did
not return without some prisoners.
Forrest, now riding along in front to reconnoitre, observed
two strong Federal lines in battle array, their left, in his front,
nearly due west of Reed's bridge, their right stretching far to
the southward, in the direction of Crawfish Spring ; and in
telligence of this was immediately sent to headquarters, with
an urgent request that his left should be speedily and strong
ly reenforced.
It was now ten o'clock a.m., when the Federals threw for
ward a lavish line of skirmishers, and it may be said the over
ture of the battle of Chickamauga began. The conflict speedi-

* Pegram's old Brigade was under t The Federals thus assailed appear
General H. B. Davidson. Scott's Bri- to have been Croxton's Brigade, of
gade was still absent. Brannan's Division.

Forrest and Walker Engaged. 319
ly became warm, and was maintained with pertinacity on both
sides, the advantage somewhat, however, with the Confede
rates. Dibrell's Brigade, of Armstrong's Division, coming
up about twelve o'clock, was placed in line on the left of Pe
gram's troops, dismounted and acting as infantry. No sooner
had this disposition been made, than a heavy body of the ene
my bore down upon Dibrell with a pressure that forced him
back to a rocky ridge which Forrest had previously held.
Just at this moment, Huggins's and Huwald's batteries —
eight guns — came up and were posted so as to be brought to
bear with salutary effect, the Federals, however, advancing so
closely as to require the drastic use of canister. Armstrong
had now — about one p.m. — brought up his other brigade,
which, being dismounted like the rest of Forrest's Cavalry on
the field, was posted on the extreme right. Wilson's Brigade,
of Liddell's Division, likewise had arrived previously, under
the guidance of one of Forrest's staff-officers sent to urge its
advent ; and, thus reenforced, the offensive was resumed with
renewed determination. Just then a line of Federal skir
mishers was observed to extend southward of their main line,
and these Armstrong turned by a sweep to the right, while
Wilson threw his brigade of Georgians handsomely against
the Federal lines, the fire from which was now terrific. Breast
ing it resolutely, however, Wilson pressed forward, and, in
conjunction with Forrest's men, once more swept back the
enemy in his front some four hundred yards in confusion,
capturing a battery of four guns, when he was brought to a
stand by a staunch, strongly-planted Federal line. The forces
driven back were probably two Federal brigades, but John
son's Division, of McCook's, and Reynolds's Division, of
Thomas's Corps, just at this juncture were added to the Fede
ral divisions already in action in that quarter, so that Thomas
now had at his disposition not only three of his own divisions.
but likewise one of McCook's and Palmer's divisions, of Crit-

320 Campaigns of General Forrest.
tenden's Corps — that is to say, five divisions* Thus formi
dably strengthened, the tide was quickly turned in favor of
the Federals ; for Thomas is of the muscular school of sol
diers, who strike heavy-handed, quick blows ; and the eager
Confederates were in turn driven back over the ground they
had lately gained, leaving it thickly strewn with deplorably
many brave officers and men, but the survivors carried off the
captured artillery. Meanwhile, on his own responsibility,
Forrest had ordered up Ector's Brigade, of Walker's Corps,
and formed it in line rightward of Wilson.! Govan's and
Walthall's — the other brigades of Walker's force — were like
wise brought upon the scene by Walker, and led, with his
wonted gallantry, into action.! Thus far the battle had been
confined to the narrow arena, scarcely a mile and a half in
length and less than one in depth, just in front of Jay's Saw-
Mill and west of Reed's Bridge, and the whole face of which,
an undulating plateau, was clad with an oak forest interspersed
with patches of dense undergrowth. The Federals had al
ready thrown up cover, from behind which they poured forth
a broad, hot torrent of musketry-fire, as well as grape, shells,
and canister from a numerous artillery, before which the Con
federates, as yet consisting only of Forrest's two small divi
sions of dismounted cavalry — less than 3000 rifles — eight
guns, and four of Walker's brigades and sixteen guns — in all,
8000 fighting men and 24 guns first faltered and then re
ceded, but to take breath, close their ranks, and again spring
forward, and with the furious impact of their charge were able
to burst through two Federal lines and capture many prison-

* Vide Thomas's Official Report, Reb. mander to notice the fact that Walker's
Rec. VII. p. 229. two divisions, which had been formed
t Walker's Official Report. and designated as a reserve corps in
j: It may serve to illustrate somewhat the plan of battle, became the first in-
the character of the Confederate com- fantry employed.

Cheatham Engaged. 321
ers from as many as seven regiments of the regular service,
and all the artillery in that immediate front ; but there stood
behind, in grim array, a third line, whose wide-stretched flanks,
overlapping the Confederates, threatened to envelop them, and
to escape which they were again obliged to retire hastily.*
While these events were thickening, Cheatham — Polk's
Corps — crossing the Chickamauga about seven a.m. with his
five brigades at Dalton's Ford,! and moving rightward and
northward a short distance, formed line of battle and awaited
orders, that only reached him as late as twelve o'clock m.,
through an aid-de-camp of the Commanding General. Di
rected to reenforce Walker, he hastened to the Confederate
right, and at one p.m. had taken his position astraddle the
road from Alexander's Bridge, just in rear of Liddell, with a
frontage of three brigades,! with the other two in reserve>§
Making these dispositions with celerity, Cheatham at once
advanced his Tennesseeans with their habitual dash, and they
were soon in conflict, with a formidable counter-movement,
pressing Walker and Forrest back. Three of Thomas's divi
sions, || two of Crittenden's,T[ and Johnson's Division of Mc
Cook's Corps were now in this quarter of the field, and a fiery,
sanguinary, fluctuating conflict followed and raged for several
hours, in which Walker's and Forrest's men bore their share,,
as previously related. At one time the Federals were forced:
back fully three fourths of a mile, only gaining a foothold
again when strongly reenforced and sheltered by breastworks.

• Aggregate of Forrest, 3500 ; of II Baird's, Brannan's, and Reynolds's.
Walker, 5575 ; total, 9075. 1 Palmer's and Van Cleve's. Thomas.
t Jackson's, Maney's, Strahl's, Pres- does not mention the presence of Van
ton Smith's, and Wright's. Cleve, but Crittenden does, and that-
% Jackson's, Preston Smith's, and he took part early in the fight on the
Wright's. Federal extreme left.
§ Maney's and Strahl's.

322 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Then the tide turned once more, and the Confederates, rolled
back, were followed vehemently by great odds. The brunt
of this was borne for a time upon front and flank by Maney's
and Strahl's brigades, disposed on a commanding ridge, and
Turner's Battery,* the immediate support of which was a
picked battalion under Major Dawson, of the One Hundred
and Fifty-fourth Tennessee. From this admirably fought
battery, at short range, a rapid, withering discharge of grape
and canister mowed wide swarths through the Federal masses.
Forrest, however, observing the extreme exigency, had also
brought up two of his own batteries, Huggins's and Huwald's —
eight guns — with the Fourth and Eighth Regiments and
Shaw's Battalion Tennesseeans of Dibrell's Brigade on the
Federal left flank at close quarters — eighty yards — and with
them effectually stayed and turned back the wave that hitherto
had swept all before it ; and nothing could exceed the cool,
splendid courage of these stout-hearted officers and men, as
likewise of Dawson and his battalion, and of Turner and his
battery — all Tennesseeans save Turner and his men.
Meanwhile, Cleburne's Division, Hill's Corps, after having
been held eastward of the Chickamauga until late in the after
noon, was then ordered to pass the stream at Tedford's Ford
and report to General Polk, who, about four p.m., gave orders
that the division should be formed at once in line rearward of
the Confederate right, which was promptly done about dark,
the line, a mile in extent, facing the west and its right resting
just in advance of Jay's Saw-Mill.! The ground immediately

• The commander of this battery t Cleburne's Official Report Polk's
was Lieutenant W. B. Turner, of Salis- Brigade with Keys's Battery on the
bury, N. C, distinguished for his cool- right, Wood's Brigade and Semple's
ness, courage, and skill on that day. Battery the centre, and Dibrell's Bri-
The commander of the support, the gade with Douglass's Battery the left.
gallant Major J. W. Dawson, of Mem
phis, was severely wounded.

Cleburne s Division in Action. 323
in front was a gentle acclivity, covered with open woods ex
cept in the centre which was an inclosed field. In front, some
three hundred yards, Cheatham's Division intervened between
Cleburne and the enemy in that quarter, posted in strong
force behind breastworks. Notwithstanding the lateness of
the hour — six p.m. — Cleburne was now ordered to advance to
the attack over the ground that had been so frequently and
obstinately contested, and Cheatham's Division moved for
ward in concert.* A furious tempest of missiles rained down
upon the advancing Confederates, and for half an hour the
firing was the heaviest, says Cleburne, that he had ever heard.
In sooth, " Such a din was there,
- As if men fought on earth below
And fiends in upper air."
It was very dark the while, and each adversary was directed
in his aim by the flashing line of flame of his opponent, and
hence the affair was less sanguinary than noisy and resplen
dent. Keys's and Semple's Batteries were run up to within
sixty yards of the Federal line and fired with rapidity. Polk's
Brigades of Cleburne's, and Jackson's and Smith's, of Cheat
ham's divisions, were likewise pushed up, when the enemy,
Johnson's and Baird's Divisions, gave way, leaving in the
hands of the Confederates several pieces of artillery, as many
caissons, some 300 prisoners, and the colors of the Seventy-
seventh Indiana and Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania ; but, unfor
tunately, at the cost of the life of Brigadier-General Preston
Smith, an officer who had no superior in that army for a shin
ing courage, while none of his grade excelled him in the quali
ties of a commander ; and by his side fell two gallant, excellent

• Some Federal writers make Cle- Her. They have no warrant for it what-
burne take part in the battle much ear- soever.

324 Campaigns of General Forrest.
officers, Captain John Donelson, his Adjutant-General, and
an Aid, Captain Thomas H. King. For more than a mile
the Federals receded before Cleburne halted, readjusted his
disordered lines, and bivouacked his division upon their arms.
as did Cheatham likewise.*
Meanwhile, though the main conflict had been in the quar
ter of the field we have sketched, there had been handsome
fighting elsewhere. Preston's and Stewart's Divisions, Buck
ner's Corps, after crossing at Tedford's and Dalton's Fords at
daylight on the 19th, remained inactive in line of battle in
that vicinity until in the afternoon, when the latter was di
rected to repair in the direction of the firing, rightward. Ap
plying for more specific orders from General Bragg, just at
hand, Stewart was answered that Walker, much cut up and
menaced with being outflanked, needed aid ; that General
Polk was in chief command on the immediate field of battle,
and circumstances there must govern. Moving up to the
scene, unable to find Polk, Stewart, without delay, threw
Clayton's Brigade into action. It was their first engagement,
and their movements from the outset were worthy of the
veteran brigades assembled on that field. It was Wright's
Brigade, the left of Cheatham's Division, that Clayton chanced
to succor by his advance. Wright's Brigade, the left of which
having just been turned, had been driven back by great odds,
with the loss of its battery. For an hour Clayton's Alabamians
were in action with steadfast courage, as may best be measured
by the fact that, in that hour, nearly four hundred of their offi
cers and men had been killed or wounded. In the mean time,
Brown's Brigade was also thrown forward to relieve Clayton,
whose brigade was withdrawn to replenish its ammunition.
Brown's Tennesseeans were veterans, and, despite an intense

• Cleburne's and Cheatham's Official Reports,

Stewarts Division. 325
fire and an intervening jungle of undergrowth, they drove the
first line of Federals, for several hundred yards, back upon the
second line, which, sustained by artillery, was holding a gentle
ridge. Pressing still onward, this position, also, was carried,
but was not held, as a largely superior force threatened on the
right ; five Federal rifled guns, however, were carried off, and
three others, the horses of which had been shot, were left be
hind. This, it is to be added, was achieved with no slight
loss, and Bates's fresh brigade was now substituted in its
stead, in an impetuous attack, before the shock of which the
Federals soon gave up one position after another.* Clay
ton's Brigade also was soon led forward again, and, in con
junction with Bates, followed the enemy for half a mile west
ward of the Chattanooga road, when, threatened by a heavy
accumulation of the enemy's masses on both flanks, the Con
federate line fell leisurely back, just about sunset, reformed
eastward, and, facing the road just mentioned, and disposing
his lines for emergencies, Stewart bivouacked for the night.!
Twelve pieces of artillery were abandoned to Stewart's Divi
sion, and at least four of these were secured as well as several
hundred prisoners, including a Lieutenant-Colonel of the staff
of Major-General Thomas ; but, at the same time, the loss in
curred was severe in all three brigades.
Meanwhile, the battle had extended further leftward also ;
the other division — Preston's — of Buckner's Corps, and Hood's
two divisions — Johnson's and Law's — after having been held,
drawn up in line around the curved crest of a ridge about one
thousand yards eastward from Vinyard's house, from seven
a.m. to two p.m., then had their skirmish line driven in on

• It would seem that the tactical apprehend prolonged the fight and in-
management of this division in this creased the losses. Nothing is gained
affair is open to criticism. This way by driblet fighting.
of sending it in, brigade by brigade, we t Stewart's Official Report.

326 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Johnson's front, and a sustained attack followed, which was
repulsed with the material aid of Bledsoe's and Everett's Bat
teries. Hood then ordered Johnson to attack in turn, which
was done promptly. Trigg's Brigade, much impeded by a
thicket and dense woods, and dislocated in its brigade organi
zation, soon became, hotly engaged ; while Johnson's own bri
gade, under Colonel Fulton, had gone forward six hundred
yards before it was fired upon. McNair's Brigade became
intermingled with Gregg's, but all pressed gallantly and
persistently forward, with a well-maintained battle line, to
the Chattanooga road at a point north of Vinyard's house.
Robertson's Brigade of Texans, of Law's Division, was also
advanced in a spirited charge, and poured a galling fire into
the enemy, who by this time had been driven westward of the
roadconjointly by Gregg and McNair. In the mean time, too,
Fulton's ranks were swept by a heavy fire of musketry and
artillery from an elevated position, but, after an hour's stub
born conflict, the Federals in his front were forced westward
of the road into an open woods ; but they were not permitted
to tarry, Tor Fulton's Regiment, still advancing, gaining the
cover of a wood leftward of a Federal battery, presently car
ried it by a handsome movement, gallantly conducted by Lieu
tenant-Colonel R. B. Snowden, ofthe Twenty-fifth Tennessee.
The Federals, however, received reenforcements, and, moving
suddenly northward on the Chattanooga road, the left and
rear of Fulton's Brigade, poured a volley into it, causing the
whole brigade to fall back swiftly eastward of the road again,
leaving some seventy prisoners and the captured guns in the
enemy s hands. The Thirtieth and Forty-first Tennessee
regiments, however, were readily halted by Captain W. T.
Blakemore, of Johnson's staff, and, under Colonel Walker,
bravely resuming the offensive, before long drove the in
trusive column back. While Hood's command was thus en
gaged, about three p.m., Trigg's Brigade, of Preston's Division,

Combat on the Confederate Left. 327
was sent by Buckner to the support of Robertson, Law's Di
vision, then sorely pressed by heavy infantry masses and the
blighting fire of a battery from behind an earthwork. Mov
ing up to where Robertson's Texans were thus holding an un
equal contest, at Trigg's first volley at short range the Federals
broke and were driven to cover, gallantly pressed and followed
by the Sixth Florida. Here some misunderstanding led to
the diversion and separation of the other regiments of the
brigade, so that the Sixth Florida, left without support, was
necessarily withdrawn to escape annihilation under the pitiless
fire to which it was now exposed in front and on both flanks.
But it was now twilight, and darkness coming on rapidly, fur
ther conflict was staid in that quarter of the field, and the
Confederates rested on their arms.
The Federals encountered by Stewart, Bushrod Johnson,
and Law, and finally by Trigg's Brigade, were Negley's Divi
sion, Thomas's, Davis's Division, McCook's, and Wood's Di
visions, of Crittenden's Corps, with a brigade of Sheridan's
Division, that came up last and opportunely saved Wood from
disaster, as General Rosecrans affirms. Brannan, also, late
in the afternoon was transferred from the left to this part of
the field. Thus it will be seen, as General Rosecrans, in fact,
observes, that the whole Federal army of three corps was
brought " opportunely and squarely into action"* on the 19th,
save two brigades of Sheridan's Division and Mitchell's Ca
valry. But not so with the Confederates. Their General, it
would seem, did not make amends for the defective operations
of the previous week, and his deplorable failure to avail him
self of transparent opportunities, by diligence or the rapid
movement of his forces, once the battle had been delivered
and accepted. For, after having been kept nearly all day

* FiVfcRosecrans's Official Report— Reb. Rec. VII. p. 223.

328 Campaigns of General Forrest.
southward of Lee's and Gordon's Mills, its artillery engaged
in the exchange of a noisy artillery practice with some heavy
guns, doubtless left by the enemy in that quarter for that ob
ject, while all the Federal army but two brigades had gone
northward, Breckinridge's Division (3395 bayonets*) was only
ordered across the Chickamauga so late as to enable it to
reach a position just on the right, in rear of Cleburne, the
other division of his corps, at eleven o'clock at night ; and
Hindman's (5621 bayonets!) was likewise suffered to remain
eastward of the Chickamauga until the middle of the afternoon
before it was ordered across and to a position in the quarter
where Bushrod Johnson had been engaged, which was not
reached until after sunset, when the conflict had ceased, though
one brigade (Manigault's) had a brief skirmish with some Fede
rals in its front. Moreover, two of Preston's brigades, fully
3000 effective men, had likewise been kept unemployed.
That is to say, while Rosecrans promptly and energetically
engaged with all his infantry save a brace of brigades, Bragg,
numerically his inferior, at best, by 8000 fighting men and 20
guns, had so tardily and unskillfully handled his resources as
to lose. the services of more than 1 2,000 veteran infantry, or
more than thirty per cent of that arm of his army.
III.
BATTLE OF SEPTEMBER 20TH.
Lieutenant-General Longstreet, arriving at Catoosa Station
in the middle ofthe afternoon ofthe 19th, repaired as soon as
practicable, eleven p.m., to army headquarters. There, General
Bragg acquainted him with his purpose to give battle the next
morning, by an initial movement on his right, " to be followed

Aggregate, 3769. t Aggregate, 6102.

Confederate Dispositions. 329
in succession toward the left," so that the whole line should be
wheeled upon the extreme left as a pivot* Moreover, that, for
the occasion, he 'had arranged his forces into two grand divi
sions, or " wings," the command of the right one of which was
assigned to Lieutenant-General Polk, and of the left to Lieu-
tenant-General Longstreet. General Polk was likewise in
formed of this disposition of the forces and plan of battle.
His command embraced Hill's Corps, Walker's Reserve Corps,
and Cheatham's Division of his own corps, while his right
flank was supported and covered by Forrest's two cavalry di
visions. Longstreet's wing was composed of Buckner's Corps,
Hindman's Division of Polk's Corps, Johnson's Provisional Di
vision, and Hood's! and McLaw's! Divisions of Longstreet's
own corps.
In consequence of a radically defective staff organization,
that bane throughout the war of all Confederate operations,
and other causes, the orders in regard to the rearrangement
of the Confederate army, and the inauguration of the battle
at daylight, were not communicated to several of the officers
of highest rank on the field in time to secure prompt in
telligent action with their troops under these orders. Hill,
whose corps was to begin the combat, after an ineffectual
search for General Bragg, learned only about midnight, from
his Adjutant-General, on returning to his own headquarters,
of the subdivision of the army into wings, and that his own
corps fell under the command of General Polk, who wished to
see him. Making a fruitless effort to find that officer, he re
turned to his troops, and remained unaware of the orders to

* Doubtless with the expectation of Kershaw's and Humphrey's brigades,
cutting off Rosecrans's retreat to Chat- (without artillery,) which did not reach
tanooga. the field until late in the afternoon of
t Under command of General Law. the 20th.
X McLaw's Division was made up of

330 Campaigns of General Forrest.
begin the conflict at dawn, until apprised of the fact at eight
a.m., by General Bragg in person, who visited his lines at that
hour. Buckner, likewise, was left equally ignorant of the plan
of operations until informed of it by General Longstreet on
the morning of the 20th.* Walker and Cheatham, however,
receiving their orders direct from General Polk's headquarters,
were both under arms at the hour prescribed for the attack,
ready to advance ; but neither received orders to that effect
for several hours later.! Forrest, moreover, who was not em
braced in the wing organization, did not receive any orders or
instructions until after sunrise.!
Meanwhile, the Confederates were occupying very much
the same positions in which the cessation of hostilities the
night before had left them ; and hence little order or regu
larity in line of battle had been attained at or for an hour after
daylight. At that hour, indeed, while the right wing was in
line facing nearly westward, Buckner's Corps, the right of
Longstreet's, lay almost at right angles to it, fronting near
ly northward, with a part of Stewart's Division overlapping
the left of Cheatham, so that the latter could not move for
ward. Breckinridge, not brought up before the morning of
the 20th, just before daylight, as will be remembered, was
placed on the right of Cleburne, of the same corps, and on
the right of Polk's wing, with his right brigade (Adams's)
stretching across the road leading from Reed's Bridge to the
highway to Chattanooga, at Glenn's. Walker furnished the
reserve for the right wing, and Forrest was drawn up on the
right of Breckinridge, with his two small divisions stretching
northward, some two miles, to the Chickamauga, with Dibrell's
Brigade, Armstrong's Division, immediately on the right of

• Buckner's Official Report. t Vide their Official Reports.
X Forrest's Official Report and MS. Notes.

Federal Dispositions. 331
Adams's Infantry brigade.* Hindman's Division formed the
extreme Confederate left, with his left resting within half a
mile of Vinyard's house. On his right lay Bushrod Johnson
drawn up in several lines ; and Wheeler covered that flank
with a portion of his cavalry, at the same time having the rest
holding watch and ward, southward, over hostile movements
through the passes and fords in that quarter.
On the part of the Federals, Rosecrans had assembled his
corps commanders at his headquarters — Mrs. Glenns's, on
his right — the night of the 19th. Hearing their report, he
then made known his dispositions for the next morning ; and
at or soon after daylight, it would seem that his forces pre
sented a continuous, well furnished front, extending north
eastwardly, from Rosecrans's headquarters to the Reed's
Bridge road, and to a point within a quarter of a mile east
ward of the junction of that road with the Chattanooga high
way, with a strong line of reserves. Since sunset, moreover,
they had not remained idle, but were actively at work in the
construction of breastworks of logs and rails, and the sound
of the labor had been plainly heard by the Confederates all
night. Of their line, Baird's Division formed the extreme left,
while Sheridan's of McCook's Corps occupied the right,
flanked by Wilder's Cavalry.! The sun had risen bright and
clear, but a dense mist lay low in the valley between1 the two
armies, concealing them from each other.
As has been mentioned, it was General Bragg's purpose to
begin the combat at daylight. Circumstances, in part as yet
not satisfactorily explained, as we have seen, led to a delay of
some hours after that time.

* Scott was still absent, watching the mauga, for subsistence and forage du-
movements of Granger, and Rucker's ring the night, but rejoined before the
Legion and Martin's Kentuckians had combat began.
been sent to the rear, across Chicka- t Vide a well-written newspaper artl-

332 Campaigns of General Forrest.
In the mean time, Forrest had ordered Scott to keep the
approach from Rossville closely reconnoitered.. Pegram, di
rected to hold the rest of his division mounted, was also in
structed to seize the road leading southward from Rossville to
Lee and Gordon's Mills, by a strong detachment, and doing
so, reported before the conflict began that there was no enemy
in that quarter. Armstrong's Division was dismounted as
riflemen, except the First Tennessee (Colonel Wheeler) and
one battalion,* which were reserved to act as cavalry.
At length, between nine and ten, the final orders to begin
the battle were received on the right. Forrest being directed
to move and keep in line with Breckinridge's Division, he ad
vanced, with Pegram's Division in reserve. Within half a
mile, a brigade of Baird's Division was struck, and a warm
skirmish ensued.. Breckinridge, about the same time, came
in contact with the enemy in his front, his left — Helm's Bri
gade — becoming furiously engaged with a force behind strong
breastworks. The Second and Ninth Kentucky, and three
companies of Forty-first Alabama, having no troops on their
left by an accident, and from the form of the Federal works,
were brought under an enfilading as well as front fire, that
shattered their ranks, and, despite the admirable courage that
twice incited these brave men to storm the position, they were
forced to retire, but not until Robert C. Anderson, color-
bearer of the Second Kentucky, was slain, as he planted his
flag on the enemy's works. The loss, however, was fearful,
including that of their accomplished commander, Brigadier-
General Ben Hardin Helm, mortally wounded.! During

cle, reprinted Reb. Rec. VII. Doc. 42, p. Hewitt, Captains Madeira, Rogers, a.ia
243, the critical portion of which we Leedman, Second Kentucky, and Cap-
note en passant as very sound. tain Daniels, Ninth Kentucky, and
* A battalion of Forrest's old regi- many other officers were also killed
ment. outright
t Lieutenant-Colonel James W.

Battle of the 20th September. 333
this bloody affair the remainder of the brigade, more fortunate,
had advanced across the Chattanooga road, and captured a
section of Napoleon" guns in position. It was then withdrawn,
and the brigade reassembled rearward, under Colonel Lewis,
Sixth Kentucky* Adams and Stoval, meanwhile, pressing
steadily to the front, in their part of the field, with little im
pediment from skirmish lines, which they brushed aside, had
reached the road just mentioned, Adams capturing a battery,
the supports of which he had dispersed. Satisfied that the
Federal line was substantially turned by these brigades,
Breckinridge now changed their frcnt to one at a right angle
to, and astride the Chattanooga road, facing southward, Slo-
comb's Battery cooperating. Advancing along, and to the
eastward of this road, Stoval in a short distance developed
the extreme Federal left — Baird's Division, strongly in
trenched — and under an enfilading as well as terrible direct
fire, stubbornly withstood, was repulsed, and fell back in good
order only a few hundred yards. Adams, rightward of the
road, soon encountered a Federal line — Beatty's Brigade,
Negley's Division — drawn up, fronting northward, and in rear
of the intrenchments developed by Stoval, which he broke
through by the impetuosity of his attack ; but a second and
stronger line — at least three brigades! — stood behind, sup
ported by artillery, that was an overmatch for Adams's single
brigade. The meeting was bloody ; and the Confederates
being foiled, were thrown back in confusion, leaving the in
trepid Adams severely wounded in the hands of the enemy.!
Slocomb, meanwhile, fighting his guns from a favorable posi
tion, with his wonted resolution and courage, the brigade was

* Fourth and Sixth Kentucky and X The gallant Major Loudon But-
eeven companies Forty-first Alabama. ler, Nineteenth Louisiana, was also left
t See General Thomas's Official Re- c'ead on the field.
port, Reb. Rec. VII, Doc 43, p. 230.

334 Campaigns of General Forrest.
rallied in his rear, when, being severely cut up, he was forced
to withdraw and refit.
Soon after Breckinridge had set his division in motion,
Cleburne received orders to advance, keeping aligned with
Breckinridge ; this caused some confusion. Polk's and the
right of Wood's brigades, already within short canister range
of a line of breastworks along the crest of a ridge in their im
mediate front, were mowed down for some moments by a fire
that they could not withstand, and they gave way. Polk's
men, however, finding partial shelter behind the crest of a
neighboring ridge, renewed and protracted the fight for an
hour and a half, until their ammunition was exhausted, with a
loss of three hundred and fifty killed and wounded.* ' Mean
while, the left of the division had become entangled with
Stewart's Division, so that Deshler's Brigade for a while was
retarded from advancing. Wood's regiments, however, were
able to push forward upon the southern angle of the breast
works in their front, but having to cross an open field swept
by an oblique fire from small-arms and artillery, they were re
pulsed, with the loss of six hundred officers and men killed
and wounded in a few moments.! About the same time, Desh-
ler, having made an ineffectual effort to form a connection
with Polk's line, was thrown forward, to fill up the gap left by
the repulse of Wood, when he was shot through the chest by
a shell. Overmatched, evidently, by the enemy thus encoun
tered in their fortifications — comprising, apparently, the divi
sions of Johnson, Palmer, and Reynolds — Cleburne retired to

* The gallant Captain Hugh S. Otey, sion, Major McGaughey, Sixteenth
of Brigadier-General Polk's staff, Cap- Alabama Cavalry, Major Carr, Thirty-
tains W. J. Morris, McKnight, Second second Mississippi, Major Hawkins,
Tennessee, Adjutant Greenwood, First Hawkins's Sharp-Shooters, Major Gib-
Arkansas, and Captains Beard and son, Gibson's Battalion, all officers dis-
George Moore were slain here. tinguished by former service.
t Four field-officers fell on this occa-

Severe Losses of Walkers Corps. 335
a strong position rearward, some three hundred yards from
the point at which his brigades had been baffled in their onset,
and reorganized.
Walker's demi-corps, as will be remembered, had been con
stituted the reserve of the right wing, and, as soon as Breck
inridge was repulsed, Hill had recourse to it for a brigade " to
fill up the gap made by Helm's withdrawal." The whole
command, however, was led up in line of battle by Walker, for
some ofthe distance at a double-quick ; nevertheless, an hour
elapsed between the discomfiture of Helm's Brigade and
Walker's arrival on the scene, such was the general mal-dis-
position of the Confederate forces of that wing for battle-
emergencies* These troops were now distributed by bri
gades to relieve different portions of the right wing. Col
quitt, thrown forward by General Hill, sought to relieve the
pressure on Breckinridge's right, and was quickly under a de
structive enfilading and front fire, that brought to the ground
in less than half an hour fully a third of his martial brigade,
and fell himself mortally wounded, while all his field-officers
save two were wounded.! With shining valor did the officers
an J. men of this brigade make hopeless head against the fury
of the battle in their front and flank, but finally had to yield
and retire — but fighting manfully — to the position from which
their advance had been made. Ector and Wilson, moved for
ward at the same time in support of Colquitt, unable to render
any substantial relief, were likewise obliged to retire.! Walt-

a

* Gist's Brigade joined that morning Colquitt fell at Chickamauga. As
from Rome, Ga., and Walker's troops colonel, he had shown what could be
were now divided into two divisions, achieved with proper care, military m-
Liddell's and Gist's, the latter com- stincts, and views of discipline in bring-
posed of Ector's, Gist's, (under Colonel ing volunteer troops up to the highest
P. H. Colquitt, Fourth Georgia,) and soldierly standard of regulars.
Wilson's brigades. X See Wilson's Report, Battle of
t No more excellent soldier than Chickamauga, p. 181.

336 Campaigns of General Forrest.
hall's Brigade, Liddell's Division, sent leftward in support of
Brigadier-General Polk, encountered speedily an overpower
ing flank and front fire, before which it too had to give way
with heavy loss.* Nor did the remaining brigade— Govan's —
meet with more success. Detached, like the others, without
support or apparent cooperation, to try to get rearward, on
the right of the Federals, beyond the highway, it likewise,
after penetrating some distance, was presently obliged to re
cede rapidly to escape destruction.! And thus, after an hour
of gallant, costly, bootless fighting, Walker's troops, like their
comrades of the right wing, stood repulsed or baffled despite
the utmost degree of courage.!
During these operations of the right wing, Stewart received
orders from General Bragg, about eleven a.m., to attack with
his division, one brigade of which — Brown's — he immediately
threw forward, as it chanced at the same time and in line with
Wood's Brigade, of Cleburne's Division. Clayton's and Bates's
brigades, drawn up as a second line, soon followed, facing to
ward the south-west, as a support, and both lines sturdily
rushed onward at a double-quick, in the face of an appalling
fusilade, blended with grape and canister. But the troops
rightward of Brown did not keep up long, and, breaking, left
his right flank bare to so blighting a cross-fire from small-
arms and artillery, from behind breastworks within fifty yards,
that the two regiments on the right of this gallant brigade,

* Here the brave and accomplished Really, they were not engaged as " sup-
Lieutenant-Colonel Reynolds, Thirtieth ports," but substitutes for brigades
Mississippi, was killed. equally strong, that had just been beat-
t See Liddell's Report. en by the same enemy in the same
t Surely, it was not sound tactics formidable positions. General Walker
thus to disintegrate Walker and throw seems to have had the correct view as
his brigades separately into action, and to the proper conduct of affairs on the
no other result could reasonably have occasion. See his Official Report, Bat-
been anticipated than what happened, tie of Chickamauga, p. 57.

Fold out

Operations of Confederate Left. 337
grievously shattered, could only be rallied on the position
from which it had advanced,* whither the other regiments
were necessarily withdrawn, though they had penetrated be
yond the road and turned the battery which had been played
so fearfully upon their comrades. Bates's and Clayton's Bri
gades, encountering the same formidable fire, were soon so
cut down that the whole division was checked and withdrawn
a short distance rearward, under cover, to escape destruction.
Here, however, in a little while, it was reorganized and re
formed, with Bates on the right, Clayton in the centre, and
Brown's Brigade, under Colonel Cook, Thirty-second Tennes
see, on the left.
Preston's Division, of the same corps, had likewise moved
against the enemy at the same time with Stewart, Trigg's
Brigade in advance, followed by Gracie and Kelly somewhat
later. Their first field of conflict that day was on the Bro
therton farm, with a strong Federal force in position in some
fields northward of the house, whence the enemy opened with
so vigorous and sustained a fire of shot and shell that the fur
ther advance of Preston in that direction was not attempted
for several hours.
Johnson's Division, which lay leftward of Stewart, supported
by Law's two brigades, had thrown up cover during the night.
About the time Breckinridge and Forrest began the attack on
the right, Johnson's skirmishers were driven in, and then fol
lowed a spirited attack upon his lines, but which he easily re-,
pelled by a prompt,* combined use of small-arms and artillery.
And when Stewart was ordered to attack, Johnson received
similar orders from General Hood. His immediate adversary
was found posted behind several lines of breastworks along
the highway in the vicinity of Brotherton's house, with other

* General Brown was here disabled by a severe wound.

338 Campaigns of General Forrest.
lines in front and to the left of it, with a battery in an open
field southward of the house. Traversing a wood swept by a
scathing fire of musketry and artillery for some six hundred
yards, the left of the division drove the Federals from around
the house, killing and capturing a large number. Posting a
battery in a favorable position, which opened frontward and
rightward, Johnson again moved forward with his infantry
upon a line of works still ahead. His advance was greeted
with a fire so sustained and galling that McNair's Brigade
wavered for a moment and began to fall back, but was quickly
rallied and led forward again by its officers. The whole divi
sion, closely supported by Law, now pressed on with such
vigor that the enemy broke and left their works precipitately,
severely punished, however, especially by a fire from Johnson's
left — several Texan and Tennessee battalions, under Majors
Robertson and Vanzant. Pushing steadily the advantage
gained, Johnson, keeping his division well in hand, had now
carried it some distance through the forest westward of the
road, and emerged upon some open ground and fields, over
which the Federals were falling back under cover of several
batteries planted around the crest of a ridge in front and on
the right, while leftward another battery, on an eminence
southwest of Dyer's House, bore upon and harassed Johnson's
left and front. The scene at this moment is described as
having been one of peculiar exciting interest. In the lan
guage of a prominent participant : " The resolute and impetu
ous charge, the rush of our heavy columns, sweeping out from
the shadow and gloom of the forest into the open fields, the
onward dash of artillery and mounted men, the retreat of the
foe, the shouts of the hosts of our army, the dust, the smoke,
the noise of firearms, the whistling balls and grape-shot and
of bursting shell, made up a battle scene of unsurpassed
grandeur." In three lines Johnson passed on with an impetus that was

The Confederate Left Wing. 330
irresistible, and the enemy's centre was shattered into many
fragments. Simultaneously with Johnson, Hindman's Division* likewise
advanced at a double-quick, and became hotly engaged within
four hundred yards with some five or six Federal brigades
posted on very strong ground ; but just at a juncture, it would
seem, when McCook, commanding Federals in that quarter,
had been ordered to deplete that wing by sending two bri
gades at once, and a third soon thereafter, to reenforce the
left, even at the expense of withdrawing their whole right.!
Deas and Manigault led in Hindman's onset, with Anderson
supporting. Dashing with a splendid impetuosity at the
breastworks confronting them, these were carried. Behind
was a gently rising ridge, upon which were twelve guns in
battery, and another line of infantry cover on the slope of the
hill in their front. Resuming the offensive, the Confederates
carried this obstacle also after a short struggle, in the course
of which Manigault's Brigade, brought under a severe enfilad
ing fire of artillery and small-arms, suffered greatly, and was
staggered for a time, but, rallying, as became their accom
plished Brigadier, and their own martial virtues and repute,
resumed the onslaught and seized the breastworks in their
front and the Federal artillery in that part of the line. Deas
too, in pressing onward to the summit of the hill, was brought
to bay before a battery, when the weight of Anderson's Bri
gade was thrown into the balance, and the position was car
ried, the artillery all captured, and the Federals either killed,
captured, or dispersed, not to reorganize on the field.

* Anderson's, Dea's, Manigault's gade repeating rifles, or some six bri-
brigades, 501 officers, 5621 bayonets and gades at least, with say 9000 effective
artillerists, and 12 guns. men and 36 guns. — Vide Reb. Rec. VIL
t Two brigades, Davis's Division, Doc 43, p. 234.
Sheridan's Division, and Wilder's Bri-

340 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Longstreet's entire wing was now engaged. Handled for
the most part with more concert and concentration than the
right, its assaults fell with greater weight and effect upon the
enemy in its front, embracing two of McCook's and two of
Crittenden's divisions, with Wilder's picked brigade and a
numerous artillery.
On the Confederate right, the attack beginning by divisions
" in succession," as ordered, and made in single lines, was
subsequently maintained with little unity of aim and offensive
means, while Rosecrans accumulated his masses there to re
sist and foil, " at all hazards," his adversary's obvious but
meagrely sustained purpose — to cut off his retreat upon
Chattanooga. Resuming the narrative of operations on that part of the
field, at the time that Breckinridge and Forrest had been
balked in their unsupported effort to turn the Federal left,
we have first to relate that, about eleven a.m., Pegram, in ob
servation toward Rossville, reported to Forrest the near ap
proach of Granger from that direction. Fronting this move
ment promptly with Armstrong's men dismounted and six
teen guns, (two borrowed from Breckinridge,) while Pegram
harassed the left flank, Forrest became quickly and warmly
engaged with this new enemy, and forced Granger to deflect
some distance westward from the road, but was too weak to
prevent his final junction with Thomas, to whom were thus
carried 4500 fresh bayonets and twelve guns.
After this there was a lull in the operations of the Con
federates throughout their entire right wing for more than
two hours, or as late as half-past three p.m. — two hours of as
precious time as were ever squandered on a battle-field, while
Longstreet was driving the Federals from every position with
in his reach on the left.
We are definitely told by Generals Hill and Cleburne it
was halt-past three p.m. when General Polk ordered a general

Operations of Confederate Right. 341
advance ; but again there was delay, delay caused by the
failure of General Jackson (Cheatham's Division) to place his
brigade in a gap in the line to which it had been repeatedly
ordered, and as early as midday.*
In this advance, so inexplicably postponed as late as about
four p.m., Forrest's command, operating, dismounted, as rifle
men, was on the right. Breckinridge came next, on the left,
with two of Cheatham's brigades filling the gap between his
left and Cleburne. Very soon, from Forrest on the right to
Cleburne's left, the right wing of the Confederates was again
fiercely engaged with Thomas, who had now accumulated
under his command, be it noted, his own four divisions, two
divisions and at least two brigades of Crittenden's, and John
son's Division of McCook's, with Granger's 4500 bayonets, or
more than eight divisions, mustering quite 35,000 combat-
tants, notwithstanding the heavy casualties of preceding con
flicts.! • Forrest, pressing forward westwardly toward the highway
to Chattanooga, found a strong Federal force drawn up be
hind a fence that skirted it on the eastward, supporting a bat
tery of six guns, which swept the field between his men and
the Federals. Halting only long enough to reconnoitre, he
deployed a skirmish line in front in the field in question and
established the rifled section of Huggins's Battery in the same
position, from which they were brought to bear upon the
Federal battery as Armstrong's Division charged with im
petuosity, and the enemy gave back to another line some two
hundred yards westward, but not until they had inflicted a
sensible loss upon the assailants. Establishing his line in

• General Hill's Official Report— Rec. Docs. 43 and 184, pp. 233-4-8,
Land We Love, Vol. I. No. 6, p. 401. 52°-534- These divisions before the
t Vide Reports of Generals McCook, battle numbered an effective aggregate
Crittenden, Granger, and Hazen.— Reb. of 45,190, infantry and artillery.

34 2 Campaigns of General Forrest.
the road just abandoned by his adversary, Forrest formed his
men under an angry fire from Federal musketry and field-
pieces, that thinned his ranks to a fearful extent. But,
nevertheless, there was no faltering with these doughty Ten
nesseeans, the men of Forrest's old brigade and of his old re
giment, nor on the part of their brave compeers of Arm
strong's own brigade. They retorted the fire which they had
provoked with surpassing spirit, and pressed upon the foe
slowly but steadily. Dibrell, adjoining the infantry on his
left, had gained a position within seventy-five yards of the
Federal battery, and Huggins was westward of the road, when
the former noticed and reported to Forrest that the Confede
rates on his left had been repulsed and were falling back, un
covering his flank.* Withdrawing his own battery rearward to
a ridge, Dibrell was now ordered to hold his ground, but was
soon enfiladed by the Federals, who had pressed the infantry
back ; and Forrest, too, had now to recede to shelter from the
tempest behind the embankment that bordered a ditch in the
centre of the field just west of the highway. But, happily, at
the. same time his artillery opened with such salutary effect
that the further advance of the enemy was stayed. In this
phase of the combat the Fourth and the Ninth (Biffle's) Ten
nessee suffered more than the other regiments ; but all were
alike conspicuous for the most admirable courage, while the
Fourth Tennessee, under McLemore, and the Eighth, under
Captain McGuinis, maintained their stand after the infantry
on the left gave way until they were almost enveloped by the
enemy, and were ordered back by Generals Forrest and Di
brell, and but for the mishap to the infantry at that juncture,

* Biffle rejoined with his regiment of several months in West-Tennessee,
(Ninth Tennessee) during the battle and took part in the combat
from arduous, stirring detached service

Confederate Right Wing. 343
in a few moments Dibrell assuredly would have carried the
battery almost within his grasp.
In the mean time, as we have said, there had been a general
advance of the Confederate right wing. Breckinridge's Divi
sion, as in the morning, taking the right of the infantry con
joined with Liddell's Division, made a superb assault upon
the Federal left, while Cleburne pressed strenuously forward
in the centre, with Cheatham's Division moving close behind
as a reserve. At first the resistance was obstinate, and at
points favorable for the enemy. Thomas, strongly posted,
well sheltered by breastworks, and superior in numbers to his
assailants,* made a stout, bloody fight to the last tenable mo
ment ; and on his left, where he had massed his forces in
heavy lines, the Confederates, as we have seen, faltered, and,
giving way, uncovered Dibrell's Brigade, (Forrest's dismount
ed cavalry,) and forced them to fall back to the embankment
we have mentioned. Seeing this misadventure, Forrest, leav
ing his own men thus well intrenched, hurried leftward, and,
throwing himself among the infantry, aided their officers to
rail}- them. This, indeed, was speedily attained, the offensive
was finally and handsomely renewed at all points, and the
Federal lines ivere surmounted in all their formidable extent
by the onrushing Confederates. Just before this, however, it is
proper to mention that it was known to the Federals under
Thomas that a disastrous rout had befallen their right, and
this doubtless aided somewhat to shorten the struggle and
added to the disorder that now supervened for the most part
in their ranks.
In this last and crowning attack, Brigadier-General Lucius
Polk fought his brigade, of Cleburne's Division, with brilliant

* Thomas, we repeat, had still intact report and that of Hazen as cited be-
behind his lines, except from battle fore, p. 341.
casualties, eight divisions. See his own

344 Campaigns of General Forrest.
efficiency, and, aided by Keys's and in part by Douglass's
batteries, run into position by hand, carried three lines of
breastworks in succession ;* while at the same time, far and
wide, the field was the theatre of acts of heroism in officers of
all grades and of the private soldiery that were never sur
passed. The entire Federal army was now to be seen by the last
rays of daylight rapidly escaping in swarms up the ravines
and slopes of Missionary Ridge. But no pursuit was organ
ized or ordered, and, darkness being at hand, the Confederates
of that wing, including Forrest's command, bivouacked on the
ground, very much where the close of the battle had carried
them. Returning to the Confederate left wing, it remains to relate
of events in that quarter that, after McCook had been routed
from his early positions, as we have previously narrated, an
impetuous, concerted pressure was maintained. by all of Long-
street's Divisions, so that little time or opportunity was given
to the Federals to rally and mass for a combined resistance,
that might otherwise have resulted. Howbeit, some five bri
gades, at least, of the Twentieth Corps, McCook's, gained a
footing on a wooded height — a spur of Missionary Ridge — be
tween the farms of Villetoe and Snodgrass. Johnson's Divi
sion was brought up to assail this position, supported by Hind-
man on the south, while Kershaw, Preston, and Stewart at
tacked from the northward. Buckner also carried up and
brought to bear with his troops twelve guns, and Johnson was
effectively aided by Dent's and Everett's batteries. The
struggle was stubborn and the results varying, with fluctua
tions of success and check for the Confederates for several

• Vide General Cleburne's Official Moore, Third and Fifth Confederate,
Report. Captains Beard and George fell at this time.

Results and Commentaries. 345
hours, or until about five p.m., when, completely flanking the
enemy, the Confederates, with a simultaneous onset and loud
shouts, sweeping all before them, were complete masters of
the field, and their adversaries finally and completely routed.
Many prisoners were captured on the spot and a number of
guns. It was now sunset, and Longstreet ordered his forces
to bivouac where they were, so that stragglers might be col
lected, ammunition-boxes refilled, and all be held ready for
a vigorous pursuit on the following morning. Among the re
sults accomplished by that wing on the 20th were the capture
of 40 cannon, some 3000 prisoners, and 10 regimental colors.
Its losses were commensurate with these satisfactory achieve
ments, being 1089 officers and men killed, 6406 wounded, and
272 missing, or an aggregate of 7867 casualties out of 22,882
officers and men engaged.*
Of the operations of this day little else remains to be told
than that, during the action, the main body of Wheeler's Ca
valry was assembled on the east bank of the Chickamauga, at
Glass's Mills, far to the southward of the field, and was there
confronted for a time by a Federal cavalry force with artillery,
which Wheeler assailed, by crossing the stream dismounted,
and drove off with some few captures. At three p.m., moving
up to Lee and Gordon's Mills, there too he had a brush, and,
following up with spirit, overtook and captured about 1000
prisoners from the enemy, now flying from Longstreet's troops
over the mountain.! COMMENTARIES.
Reserving for a future occasion and another work an elabo
rate examination of the strategy of this campaign and the
tactics of the battle of Chickamauga, we shall restrict present

* Longstreet's Official Report. t Wheeler's Official Report.

346 Campaigns of General Forrest.
commentary to a few observations that appear to be essential
here. 1. General Bragg's correspondence with his subordinates in
regard to the operation projected against the part of Thomas's
Corps, isolated and imperiled in McLemore's Cove, as given
in his official report of the battle of Chickamauga, suppressed
the more important parts of that correspondence, and is
therefore calculated to mislead. General Bragg's information
at first, when he ordered the movement, was correct — that is,
that the force exposed was about four or five thousand. Un
fortunately, he permitted that estimate to be unsettled in his
mind, and displaced by apprehensions that possibly a much
stronger force might be there — in fact, one that jeopardized
the force he had detached to crush it. Hence, through his
Chief of Staff, General Mackall, he wrote two dispatches (not
given in his report) to General Hindman, evincing that appre
hension in clear terms. One, written after his arrival at Dug
Gap, as late at eleven a.m. on the 1 ith, is in these words : " If
" you find the enemy in such force as to make an attack im-
" prudent, fall back at once on Lafayette by Catlett's Gap, from
"which obstructions have been removed. Send your deter-
" mination at once, and act as promptly." In the other note,
Hindman was thus addressed : " The enemy, estimated at
" twelve or fifteen thousand, is forming line in front of this
"place,* (Dug Gap.) Nothing heard of you since Captain
" Pressman, engineer, was with you. The General is most
" anxious, and wishes to hear from you by couriers once an
"hour. . . . The enemy are advancing from Graysville
" to Lafayette. Dispatch is necessary to us."
Unfortunately, General Hindman was misled by the very
boldness of Negley's movement, and regarded it as a blind to

• That is, Negley's and Baird's Divisions, 11,000 strong.

Commentaries. 347
mask the movements of the main body of the enemy mean
while, and so suggested to his chief, who, however, from spe
cific information ought to have comprehended it was not so,
and that the force in McLemore's Cove, at most, could not be
greater than Thomas's Corps — (it was actually less than half
of it)  FOR HE KNEW THAT McCoOK WAS AT ALPINE, AND
Crittenden quite as far off northward. At half-past
seven p.m., on the ioth, he had the right appreciation of the
situation; for an Adjutant-General of his staff wrote to Hind
man as follows : " The enemy is now divided. Our force at
or near Lafayette is superior to that of the enemy. It is im
portant nozu to move vigorously and crush him." (Signed,
Kinloch Falconer.)
But unhappily, he could neither keep this state of affairs
in his view nor square his operations by it. He vacillated
and left a subordinate to decide, who did not — could not —
have the same knowledge of the actual situation that he had
as General in Chief.
2. Unquestionably, General Bragg is not alone responsible
for the failure to strike and crush Crittenden's Corps on the
occasion we have described. But it would appear that he did
not give General Polk the order to move against that corps
until six p.m. on the 12th, whereas he knew of its movements
at midnight (if not earlier) on the ioth.* He, therefore,
wasted forty-two precious hours before he decided upon doing
what was surely apparent to the veriest tyro in war operations.
Crittenden, in fact, had already taken position at Lee and
Gordon's Mills. Bragg had now, however, subordinated
operations against the enemy in McLemore's Cove to the
attack upon Crittenden ; for, in his orders to General Polk, he
expressly urged that, Crittenden being crushed, " we can turn

* Vide letter of Colonel Brent, A. A. G., to General Hindman, in General
Bragg's Official Report, p. 9.

348 Campaigns of General Forrest.
on the force in the cove." That he knew the enemy was still
divided is apparent ; for, in a subsequent note, Colonel Brent
observes to General Polk : " The enemy is approaching from
the south, and it is highly important that your attack in the
morning should be quick and decided." General Bragg ex
presses in his report his disappointment that his orders for
the attack were not executed on the morning of the 13th,
but does not communicate his reasons for not concentrating
his whole force, as he might have done, either that after
noon or, in fact, for at least the next three days, upon the
same corps (Crittenden's) at Lee and Gordon's Mills. Nor
does he mention why he preferred to wait until Rosecrans
had brought up his three widely-separated corps and united
them (not sooner than the 17th) at and south of Lee and
Gordon's Mills ! Bragg, assuredly, was not waiting for reen
forcements. 3. Granger's movement should have been intercepted. No
thing had been easier than the capture of that entire .force.
Forrest kept his superiors promptly advised of its approach
from Rossville, and Thomas was too busily engaged to spare
any succor had Granger been attacked in proper force. To
hold his own ground was all that Thomas could do.
4. An examination of the returns of Confederate killed and
wounded, of the troops engaged on the right, will show one of
the bloodiest engagements in the annals of war. Wilson's
Brigade lost fifty per cent, and the average was fully thirty-
six per cent. This was because divisions were thrown into
action and fought by driblets. Nor was that all : largely
superior in that quarter of the field, as we have shown —
Thomas having eight divisions at his command, the Fede
rals also were intrenched, and against these intrenchments
the Confederates were hurled in charge after charge, when,
if properly handled, they might in full force have turned

Commentaries. 349
these works as was done at one time by Generals Breckin
ridge and Forrest.
5. It will scarcely escape the general reader that General
Bragg was singularly inert on the morning of the 21st of
September, not to speak of the evening of the battle, in follow
ing up and pressing his adversary, of whose utterly demoralized
condition, as has been seen, he had explicit information. In
the conclusion of his report of the operations of his own corps
at the battle of Shiloh, he uses this significant language : " In
" this result we have a valuable lesson by which we should
" profit — never on a battle-field to lose a moment's time, but,
" leaving the killed, wounded, and spoils to those whose spe-
" rial business it is to care for them, to press on with every
" available max, giving a panic-stricken and retreating
" foe no time to rally, and reaping all the benefits of
" a success never complete until every enemy is killed,
" wounded, or captured." It is unfortunate that he could
not remember his own fluent precept when he had so signal
and early an opportunity to illustrate its justness ; and by his
course has rather illustrated once more, in a notable manner,
how much easier it is to preach than practice.

CHAPTER XII.

General Forrest pursued Enemy upon Missionary Ridge — Observes and
reports state of Tumult and Disorder in Chattanooga — Urges itnme-
diate Advance upon Enemy — Obtained View of inaction on Field of
late Battle of Confederates — Reports by Dispatches the Confusion
among Federals — Major McLemore penetrated to within three miles
of Chattanooga, and captures Prisoners — Pegram threatened Ross
ville, but too weak to attack Enemy in strong Position — Enemy work
vigorously in trenches around Chattanooga — Forrest recalled to Red
House Bridge — Army in motion — Forrest again threw his Force in
Chattanooga Valley — Drove in Pickets and occupied Approaches —
Dibrell seized Point of Lookout Mountain — Obliged to maintain
Position by severe Fighting — Forrest's Command withdrawn to
Ty net's Station — Ordered to meet Enemy crossing Hiawassee — Com
bat at Crossing of Hiawassee — Pursuit, with Skirmish, through
Athens and Philadelphia to Loudon, Tennessee — Captured Federal
Camp at Philadelphia — Received Orders to return to Cleveland
— Ordered to transfer all Troops, save DibrelPs Brigade, to General
Wheeler, for Expedition — Regarding Order in derogation of his Po
sition, Forrest presents his views in writing to General Bragg — On
Leave of Absence — Interview with President Davis — Assigned to a
Command of Cavalry in North-Mississippi and West-Tennessee.
September list — November 15th, 1863.
VTENERAL Forrest had his command in the saddle at four
a.m. on the 2 1st, and taking Dibrell's Brigade, at once ascended
Missionary Ridge. Throwing the Fourth Tennessee — under
McLemore — across into the valley, westward, with the other
regiments he moved through the woods, along the crest,
northward, in close pursuit, while Armstrong swept along the

Forrest on Missionary Ridge. 351
slopes, eastward, toward Rossville, with Pegram still on his
right in the same direction, and north-eastward also. Dibrell
coming upon the Federal rear, captured several hundred, and
drove the rest into Rossville.
Climbing a tree, about seven p.m., Forrest sought to satisfy
himself of the situation, and discovered the enemy in a dis
ordered retreat into Chattanooga, which lay in full view be
neath him, a scene of wild chaos and tumult. This state of
affairs was immediately communicated, in written dispatches,
both to Generals Bragg and Polk, upon whom it was urged
that an immediate advance must be successful, while every
moment was precious, or, to use his own language in one of
these notes, " every hour lost was the loss of one thousand
men." Meanwhile, similar information had been communi
cated by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Anderson, of Wheeler's Ca
valry, who had also been thrown out on Missionary Ridge by
General Longstreet to McFarland's Gap, whence he reported
by an officer, and several couriers subsequently, that the
enemy were rushing toward, and into, Chattanooga, a dis
organized multitude.
After some time spent in these observations and reports,
Forrest again moved forward over very rough ground, still
capturing numerous stragglers, and finding the woods thickly
strewn with arms and accoutrements, ambulances and cais
sons, wagons and their teams. Among the captured was a
vidette, who pointed out a Federal officer in a tall tree, which
had been conveniently fitted up as an observatory, command
ing a complete view for miles in all directions. Displacing
this observer from his lofty perch, Forrest, taking his position
and his glasses, had immediately under his eyes the whole
situation. Rearward, on the field of the recent conflicts, the
whole Confederate, army still lay torpid at the Federal breast
works, as if gorged with carnage, and languid from the ardent
battle-fever of the day before ; while frontward he saw that

352 Campaigns of General Forrest.
the pontoon-bridge across the Tennessee was broken, and the
streets of Chattanooga were blocked up with Federal troops,
impacted with artillery and caissons, ambulances, baggage-
wagons, and beef-cattle, a floundering, tumultuary mass. This
state of affairs he likewise communicated to Generals Bragg
and Polk, in repeated dispatches, dictated to his staff from his
outlook. After which, descending, he again moved north
ward, to a point about five miles in a line from Chattanooga,
and overlooking the town. Here he found in position a strong
Federal force, one too strong to be assaulted by his men.
In the mean time, McLemore had led the Fourth Tennessee
so eagerly forward, that he had penetrated within three miles
of Chattanooga, in the midst of large bodies of Federals, who,
however, were so panic-stricken as not to recognize his expo
sure, and were only anxious to get to the river-bank. Seeing
the danger, however, Forrest recalled his Lieutenant, who
came slowly back, full-handed with prisoners.
During these events, Armstrong and Pegram had become
sharply engaged in front of the gap at Rossville, where Tho
mas had concentrated the wreck of Rosecrans's forces that
had preserved a semblance of organization, but were able to
effect nothing substantial up to four p.m., when Forrest was
informed by General Bragg that he had put his infantry in
movement toward Chattanooga, by the Red House Bridge
road, at which point he would be found that night, and all the
approaches to which were to be picketed by his cavalry.
In the mean time, the sounds were audible from Chatta
nooga of vigorous labor on the fortifications, and large wqrk-
ing parties were already to be plainly seen engaged in their
trenches, as Forrest quit his position of observation on the
ridge, and descended toward the Chickamauga, in the quarter
designated. He was deeply chargrined and depressed in view
of the strange delay and inaction, since the battle, in following
up a great victory ; for he could but apprehend that all chances
for substantial profit were gradually fading away.

*«>GEftnM,eS**

BRIG GEN. JAS R CHALMERS
Com"? Division

Forrest in Front of Chattanooga. 353
His men and horses had now been for nearly three days
almost without food or forage ; so, establishing his picket-
lines as directed, he fell back several miles in pursuit of sub
sistence ; and at ten o'clock p.m., rode to General Bragg's
headquarters. The Commander-in-Chief, receiving him gra
ciously, had much to say in commendation of his action during
the battle ; after which, Forrest was directed to hold his com
mand in readiness, next morning? for a general advance on
Chattanooga. ">- .
At eight o'clock a.m., ,22d, Forrest again assembled his
whole force on Missionary Ridge ; but after some delay, he
could discover no trace^ of a material advance by the main
body of the army. Yet, with characteristic disposition for
action, he did not hesitate to descend into the valley of the
Chattanooga, where he soon came in collision 'both with
Federal cavalry and infantry pickets, all-ef*whonvwere driven
promptly back to within half a mile of Chattanooga itself ;
this was done with his "men dismounted, and extending in a
line with a scope of nearly two miles, sweeping all -before it.
Having achieved this, he took up positions covering and across
the roads from Chattanooga, in the direction of Rossville and
Cleveland, and detached Dibrell with his brigade, to seize and
hold the road around the northern end of Lookout Mountain,
for which Dibrell had a stout fight, losing several officers, and
some fifty or more of his men killed and wounded.
These movements having been effected and positions taken,
at one p.m. McLaws came up with a division of Longstreet's
Corps. Forrest, calling at once on General McLaws, pro
posed they shoukdadventufe an attaek-in the still demoralized
condition of the enemy* This the latter did not feel author-

* In illustration of the condition in 22d, rode, with a score of his brave ri-
which the Federals were left, we may ders, to within seventy-five yards of a
instance the fact that Forrest, on the work commanding the Rossville road,

354 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ized to attempt under his orders, which prescribed picket
service simply.
Meanwhile, several serious attempts had been made to dis
lodge Dibrell, which had only been defeated by hard, brave
blows, Dibrell keeping his regiments dismounted.*
It was now apparent that no general operations against the
place were to be undertaken that day — the second after the
battle ; and as Dibrell was short of ammunition, and his men
and horses almost famished, Forrest asked that the brigade
might be relieved by one of infantry. With that, too, General
McLaws felt unable to comply under his orders. The position
was too important and valuable to be given up, so Dibrell was
left to maintain it until twelve m. on the 23d, by which time
it was recognized by his superiors that Forrest's Cavalry re
quired some relief from outpost service, and an opporunity to
find food and forage. For that purpose, therefore, the com
mand was withdrawn to Tyner's Station, on the East-ChiGka-
mauga, nine or ten miles from Chattanooga.
Here, however, after twenty-four hours' rest and relaxation
from actual contact with the enemy, orders were received to
detach Pegram, with Rucker's Legion and Scott's Brigade of
his division, to picket the Tennessee river, eastward from
Chattanooga, on that flank, to the mouth of the Hiawassee,
some thirty miles or more ; and Forrest, taking Armstrong's
and Davidson's Brigades, was to move beyond Cleveland to
meet and check a movement on the part of Burnside, as was
supposed, looking to a junction with Rosecrans. At Cleve
land he was also reenforced by Hodge's Brigade, some eight
hundred strong, stationed in that quarter. The enemy were
reported to be at Charleston, twelve miles distant, throwing

and so uncertain was the aim of the * Fourth, Eighth.Tenth, and Eleventh
volley provoked, that not a man was Tennessee regiments, and Shaw's Bat-
hurt, though Forrest's horse was shot. talion.

Combat at Hiawassee. 355
up a work on the east bank of the Hiawassee. Detaching
Davidson, rightward, to cross that stream above the place, and
Armstrong to pass it at Kincannon's Ferry, some six miles
below, and thence to get in rear on a road between Charles
ton and Athens, Forrest, after giving his lieutenants time to
make the necessary circuits, as he supposed, moved by the
direct road with Dibrell and Hodge, and Morton's and Hug-
gins's Batteries. Federal pickets, met four miles in advance
of the river, were brushed back to their main force, drawn up
on the west bank of the Hiawassee. An attack was immedi
ately ordered, for Forrest wastes little time in his operations,
and, after a short but sturdy resistance, the Federals were
forced to retire to their fortifications, eastward of the stream,
which is some two hundred and fifty yards broad at this point,
but shallow, and with an excellent ford, across which, under
cover, secured by eight pieces of artillery that had been pre
viously placed in a favorable position, the Confederates dashed
boldly in face of the Federals. Dismounting his men as soon
as they reached the other bank, they were formed as infantry,
and pushed up, with the loss of eight or ten men killed and
wounded before the Federals abandoned the position in rapid
retreat toward Athens, along the railroad, closely pursued.
Armstrong, failing to get in their rear, was able, however,
to strike their left flank at or about Breville, and gave them
an exciting chase for the next five or six miles, his own men
constantly intermixed with the enemy in the ardor of the pur
suit, and some sixty of the Federals were killed or captured.
Dibrell and Hodge, likewise, caught up with the Federal rear
at Athens, where the provost-guard was captured by Arm
strong. The enemy were now reenforced by Woolford's Bri
gade, but they, nevertheless, made little or no stand, and the
pursuit was continued beyond Sweetwater, between which
and Philadelphia, Dibrell's Brigade, just as it was taking the
advance for the day, became engaged in an animated combat

356 Campaigns of General Forrest.
with a strong cavalry force that suddenly made battle. Mc
Lemore at this was deployed forward into line at a gallop,
under a heavy fire, in an open field, with a section of Huggin's
Battery, while the other regiments were promptly disposed
for the emergency of a serious affair ; but the Federals de
clined to accept battle, and quickly made rearward again, as
rapidly as before, and as rapidly followed, to Philadelphia, and
thence on to Loudon, where the Eighth, Ninth, and Eleventh
Tennessee came, to some extent, in a conflict with the enemy,
having several men wounded, respectively, but none killed.
At Philadelphia, the Federal camp was captured, with all their
cooking utensils on the fire. Among the incidents of this
pursuit, one can not be left unrecorded, for it is a signal, yet
not extreme, illustration of the spirit that animated the youth
of the South throughout the war — a spirit that, but for
astounding, perverse mismanagement, must have insured the
success of the struggle of the Southern people for independ
ence. As McLemore charged up, under fire, with the Fourth
Tennessee, as we have related, at a gallop, the pony of young
Neil S. Brown,* a lad of seventeen years, was shot in the
front ranks of the regiment. Horse and rider fell together to
the ground, but the gallant youth, springing to his feet, rifle
in hand, and not halting a moment, ran forward in even line
with his older, mounted comrades, and took an active, con
spicuous part in the brief fight that happened.
The pursuit was not extended beyond Loudon, orders hav
ing been received by Forrest to withdraw his command to
Cleveland, and transfer all but one brigade to General Wheel
er, for an expedition to the rear of, and upon, Rosecrans's com
munications. Giving the necessary orders, on arriving at
Cleveland, for proper compliance with the instructions of the

* Son of Governor Neil S. Brown, of Tennessee.

Greater Part of Forrest's Cavalry Detached. 357
Commanding General* Forrest then addressed himself imme
diately to the task of reorganizing the brigade left him, which
had become essential after so long a period of hard marches,
frequent combats, severe, prolonged outpost service in face of
the enemy, and a great battle. To that end, he issued com
prehensive orders, prescribing duties and preparations for fu
ture service, while stringently proscribing straggling, depre
dations, and all irregularities.
Circumstances connected with this reduction of his com
mand gave it so much the bearing of injustice and disparage
ment, that General Forrest felt it best to frankly present this
aspect of it to his superior ; both in writing, and likewise in a
personal interview did he do this, going to army headquarters
a day or two subsequently for that purpose. He had a con
versation with General Bragg, who assured him that his old
command should be recomposed at the conclusion of Wheeler's
expedition. With this understanding, and there being no
service impending of importance on the immediate flank
where his present force was posted, Forrest now applied for
a leave of absence for ten days, to go to Lagrange, Georgia,
on the railroad, southward, to see his wife, for the first time
for eighteen months.
On the 5 th of October, however, when at Lagrange, he re
ceived an order dated the 3d, placing him hereafter under the
command of General Wheeler. In view of assurances, so re
cent, of a different arrangement, made upon a statement of
circumstances and occurrences connected with their previous
service together, in the ill-fated expedition against Dover, in
February, 1863, General Forrest was extremely dissatisfied ;
for he felt that his usefulness as a cavalry soldier, if again

• Dibrell's Brigade and Huggins's gades were directed to report to Gene-
Battery were selected to remain. Arm- ral Wheeler at Cottonport
strong's, Davidson's, and Hodge's Bri-

358 Campaigns of General Forrest.
placed under Wheeler, must be destroyed. He therefore de
termined to resign his commission as a brigadier-general,
and seek to serve his country in some other sphere, in which
he might be more efficient than he could possibly hope to be
under conditions, as arranged — so unexpectedly to him — by
General Bragg.
A month before, many of the prominent people of West-
Tennessee and North-Mississippi had made appeals to him of
such urgency to come to their section, and attempt to assem
ble their scattered resources for defense and offense, that he
made, at the time, an application for assignment to that field
of duty ; and in resigning, it was his purpose to go thither, con
fident that he could soon be at the head there of a fine com
mand, the main elements of which were, as yet, substantially
lost to the service.
The President of the Confederate States was at the head
quarters of the army when Forrest's resignation reached it,
and wrote him an autograph letter, in gracious and grace
ful language, announcing that he could not accept his resigna
tion, nor dispense with his services, and appointed an inter
view at Montgomery, Alabama, some days later, on his return
from Mississippi, whither he was about to go.
At the time designated, General Forrest repaired to Mont
gomery, and met the President, with whom he had a prolonged,
characteristic, and satisfactory conversation, resulting in an
assurance that he should be transferred to North-Mississippi,
with such forces as General Bragg could possibly spare ; and
Mr. Davis wrote to that effect to that officer. The President
also gave expression to some general views as to the conduct
of operations in that quarter ; after which, Forrest returned at
once to army headquarters, going in the suite of Mr. Davis as
far as Atlanta.
Promptly seeking audience with General Bragg, Forrest
was promised that he should take to his new field of com-

Forrest Transferred to Mississippi 359
mand and action, in addition to his escort company, McDo
nald's and Woodward's Battalion and Morton's Battery ; but
on the following morning, on receiving the written order in
the premises, it proved that Woodward's Battalion was with
held. This force, all told, embraced three hundred and ten
rank and file,* and four guns, with which he repaired imme
diately to Rome, where two days were spent in fitting it up
for the march across the country, via Talladega, Tuscaloosa,
and Columbus, Mississippi, to Okolona, where it arrived on
or about the 18th of November, 1863.
Taking the railway, via Selma, Forrest proceeded as soon
as possible to the same point, so that he might at once begin
the assemblage of the means for such operations as he hoped,
before long, to set on foot in that region.
His command, remaining with the army, parted with their
leader with profound regret, especially the brigade composed
of the Fourth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Tennessee
Cavalry. These regiments he had organized, and commanded
through his West-Tennessee campaign in December, 1 862, at
the combat at Thompson's Station, and in the pursuit and
capture of Streight Always successful under his lead, they
had acquired so supreme a confidence in their General, and
his genius for cavalry operations, that they had come to re
gard him as without an equal in their arm of the service ; and
with this were blended feelings of strong personal attachment,
though he had ever been rigid and stringent — nay, exacting
with them, in all substantial matters of soldierly duty and con
duct, to the verge even, at times, of transient discontent. He
had led them in their charges, had exposed his life in their

* Escort company — 2 officers, 5 officers, 91 enlisted men. Morton's
non-commissioned officers, 60 privates, Battery, 4 officers, 67 enlisted men, pre-
present McDonald's Battalion, 16 offi- sent ; or effective total, 280 ; aggre-
cers, 148 privates, present ; absent, 5 gate, 310 present.

360 Campaigns of General Forrest.
sight, repeatedly, to secure knowledge essential for the success
of operations in which they were to be employed. They were,
therefore, unwilling to serve under another commander in his
stead if it could be averted ; and to that end a respectful pe
tition was addressed to the Commanding General, praying
they might be transferred with him, if possibly consistent with
the necessities of the service. This transfer, however, General
Bragg doubtless was not able to make, in view of the need for
good cavalry with his own army.

BHIGADIER-GENERAL T. n. BELL.
CHAPTER XIII.
Beginning of a N-jj Epoch in General Forrest's Career — Welcomed to
New Field by General J. E. Johnston — Undertook an Expedition to
glean the Military Resources of West-Tennessee— Smallness of his
Available Command— Celerity and Boldness of Movement to Jack
son — Joined by 3000 Unarmed Men — Formidable Plans of the Enemy
for his Interception — Combat at Estenaula — Large Quantities of
Subsistence andother Supplies Collected— Fight at Jack's Creek — Bril
liant Affair of Forrest's Escort with Federal Regiment — Near Ap
proach of Nutnerous Hostile Bodies of Troops — Sharp Conflict near
Summerville — Handsome Coup de Main and Passage of Wolf River
at Lafayette — Demonstration upon Collierville — Established Force
around Como, Miss. — Commentaries.
From November 15th to December 31st, 1863.
W E now enter upon a new epoch in the military career of
General Forrest, and upon the chronicle, too, of operations
made, in the main, with troops other than those with whom
he had laid the broad, deep, stable foundation of the reputa
tion built up in the course of the war by " Forrest's Cavalry,"
among enemies as well as friends.
As related in the preceding chapter, Forrest reached Oko-
lona on or about the 15 th of November, and his small body
of veterans a few days earlier. Meanwhile, on his way thither,
he had met the Department Commander, General Joe John
ston, at Meridian, and explained, in full, his views and the
scope of projected operations. That officer, giving him a
cordial welcome within his department, expressed his appro-

362 Campaigns of General Forrest.
bation of his projects, and at once caused the proper orders
to be issued, including instructions to General Stephen D.
Lee, at the time Chief of Cavalry, to second his undertakings
in all possible ways.
At the time three small cavalry brigades constituted the
Confederate force in all North-Mississippi. These were ex
tended in a line of outposts across from Panola along the
south bank of the Tallahatchie river via Rocky Ford, and
thence eastward to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, about Sal-
tills, or mayhap Baldwin, and active scouts well in advance in
watchful observation of all the approaches from the north
ward, or hostile quarter.* At the same time, the Federals
were in strong force at Memphis and Corinth, with a cordon
of posts along the line of the Memphis and Charleston Rail
road, between the two points, with rapid means of inter-com
munication and mutual succor.!
Preliminary to the extended operations which he hoped to
be able to undertake, General Forrest's first design was to
throw himself, through the Federal line, into West-Tennessee,
and bring to bear his personal influence and prestige upon
the scattered fighting elements abounding there, and thus
bring them together in numbers sufficient to make an effec
tive offensive force.
To cover his passage across the formidable barrier of the
fortified line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, it was
arranged with General S. D. Lee that two of the three bri
gades previously mentioned should be assembled at New-
Albany, whither Forrest and Lee repaired on the 28th or 29th
of November, and where, also, Brigadier-General R. V. Rich-

* One brigade, subdivided for conve- Brigadier-General Ferguson and Colo-
nience into two demi-brigades, (Mc- nel Ross, with their brigades, were on
Culloch's and Slemmons,) under Gen- the right of Rocky Ford.
eral James R. Chalmers, was on the left ; f At least 10,000 men available.

West-Tennessee Expedition. 363
ardson was directed to be at the same time, with his brigade
of West-Tennessee Partisans, to form part of the expedition as
auxiliary to the veteran troops brought from Chickamauga.
This brigade was reported to be 2000 strong, but on inspec
tion and muster, on the 30th, only two hundred and forty,
officers and men, appeared in the ranks ; the rest had gone to
their homes on various pretexts, chiefly, as they represented,
for clothing and remounts. Moreover, the long march from
North-Georgia to Okolona had so materially affected his veteran
command that there were only effective horses left for a sec
tion of Morton's Battery ; and some fifty of his troopers had
to be left behind for want of mounts, thus reducing his force
of trained soldiers to 250, rank and file, and forming, with
Richardson's Partisans, a force in all of barely 500 officers
and men, for the expedition.
For more than forty days the weather had been very rainy,
so that the whole country was saturated with water, and all
the water-courses overflown. The Tallahatchie was so swol
len that a bridge had to be built ; this consumed three days,
and its passage was not effected until the 3d of December,
when Ferguson led the advance northward, by way of Rip
ley, with his own and Ross's Brigades. Meanwhile, Chal
mers, with a demi-brigade under McCulloch, had crossed at
Rocky Ford, to unite with Ferguson ; and the other, under
Slemmons, crossing at Panola, was advancing to threaten
the railroad westward of Lagrange, and occupy the enemy in
that quarter. Ferguson, approaching Saulsbury on the rail
road seven miles eastward of Grand Junction, encountered a
Federal picket-post some six miles southward of the place,
which he pressed vehemently back upon their main body.
Bringing up the artillery, including Morton's section, he then
opened with such spirit that that, too, speedily abandoned the
position, and left it open for the passage of Forrest, who here
parting with General Lee and the convoy, boldly launched his

364 Campaigns of General Forrest.
little force into West-Tennessee without loss of time, his
only impedimenta being five ordnance wagons. Throwing
out scouts along the railroad on the right and left to ascer
tain and follow after him with all possible reliable information
of the movement of the enemy on his rear, he pushed on that
evening to Van Buren, some ten miles on the road to Bolivar,
and encamped there for the night. At four o'clock, scouts
returning, reported that there were no troops in pursuit, and
Forrest resumed his movement, reaching Bolivar at eight a.m.,
on the 5th. Here Forrest and his men were received by the
people with profound pleasure, and a sumptuous provision
was made for the entertainment of men and horses*
After a halt at Bolivar of only two hours, during which an
old raft pontoon-bridge was repaired so as to afford a practica
ble means of crossing the Hatchie, and detaching scouts in
the direction of Memphis, Corinth, and intermediate points,
to keep him advised of any hostile movement contrived to
intercept his exit from the State, Forrest was again in mo
tion. It was late in the afternoon of the next day, 6th, that he
entered Jackson, where he was welcomed by the whole popu
lation with deep feeling, and where, as at Bolivar, an abun
dance of forage and subsistence had been provided.
Previous to leaving Okolona, knowing that Colonel Tyree
H. Bell, under orders from Generals Bragg and Pillow, was
then in West-Tennessee, for the purpose of collecting absen
tees from the several regiments with Bragg's army from that
region, Forrest had dispatched a courier to him with instruc
tions to meet him at Jackson, and he was there accordingly
with a small force already collected. At the same time, quite

• The General and his staff being ceived the hearty gratulations of many
entertained at the hospitable mansion friends.
of Colonel J. J. Neely, where he re-

Federal Dispositions 365
a number of persons had been engaged throughout West-
Tennessee in seeking to raise commands for themselves, and
more than a half-score of them had enrolled detachments
varying from twenty-five to two hundred in number. These
detachments Colonel Bell was directed to bring together at
once, while General Richardson, with his headquarters at
Brownsville, twenty-eight miles west of Jackson, was required
to take steps to assemble the numerous absentees from his
organization, and every practicable measure for gleaning the
fighting resources of the section was put on foot without
delay. Meanwhile the Federals were not idle. News of Forrest's
irruption had been dispatched in all directions, and the Fede
ral commandant of the district, Major-General Hurlbut, had
set to work to organize a large force, which he hoped so to
dispose as to hem in the Confederate leader, and cut off his
escape or return to his base. And to this end, Forrest soon
learned — about the 15 th — that Federal cavalry in large num
bers from Memphis had been thrown out along the Memphis
and Charleston road, while a strong column was about to
move down upon him from Columbus, Kentucky, another
from the direction of Fort Pillow, and yet another was ap
proaching from the quarter of Corinth. In all these direc
tions trusty scouts were pushed in close observation, to ac
quire early information of all serious hostile combinations and
movements ; and meanwhile all possible efforts were made to
advance the objects for which the expedition had been under
taken, with such success that Colonel Bell, by the night of the
23d, had collected some 1600 or 1700 officers and men.*

* It may serve to illustrate the cha- region in small detachments of twenty-
racter of the times, somewhat, to relate five or thirty men, and bivouacked for
here, that Colonel Bell's men were as- weeks in the woods under the rude
sembled in the dense forests of that primitive shelter known among the sol-

366 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Richardson had brought his brigade up to about 1000 men,
and Lieutenant-Colonel D. M. Wisdom had reported at Jack
son with about 150 of Colonel J. E. Forrest's old regiment.
By this time scouts reported the presence of a cavalry force
both at Sommerville and Bolivar, together some 2000 strong,
with infantry still numerously posted on the line of the Mem
phis and Charleston road ; that the column from Corinth had
reached and encamped at Purdy, the night of the 22d, mov
ing on the road to Jack's creek, while those coming from the
northward were as far southward as Trenton and McLemores
ville.* Meanwhile, Richardson, on the 2 2d, had been ordered to
put his brigade in motion southward, and throw it across the
Hatchie at Estenaula, and accordingly had marched early on
the 23d. After passing the river in question on the 24th,
scouts, about one p.m., reported, at Miller's Farm-house, the
proximity of a hostile force from the direction of Bolivar.
Richardson's men, with few exceptions, were raw ; scarcely any
of them had ever been under fire, and less than 300 were
armed. But, nevertheless, he promptly determined on a col
lision. Neely's Regiment, Fourteenth Tennessee Cavalry, in
advance, was at once formed in line in a field eastward of the
road, with Hall's Company deployed as skirmishers ; and the
first skirmish of the expedition began. The Federals opposed
were the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, Colonel Prince, some 600
strong ; and Hall being quickly driven in, a charge with the
whole Federal force was evidently about to be made. Rich
ardson attempted a futile effort to meet this with a counter
charge with his armed troopers ; but in face of the disparity
engaged, his men wavered, and then breaking, scattered in

diers by the name of Shebang, that is, stretched as a roof.— MS. Notes of Colo-
a pole resting on two forks, over which nel Thomas J. Freeman.
a blanket or captured oilcloth was * 8000 infantry and cavalry.

Affair at the Estenaula. 367
confusion, to the deep chagrin of their commander. Mean
while, Neely, who at the time was detached from his imme
diate regiment, rearward, at the river crossing, hearing of the
disaster, took up a position covering it, and was there re
enforced by some of the brigade under Lieutenant-Colonel
H. C. Greer ; and there, too, General Richardson repaired.
Very soon the Federals made their appearance, and a skir
mish began immediately, which lasted for an hour, howbeit,
without much loss to either side. It was now after sunset,
and a full moon had risen bright and clear, that Christmas
eve, shedding almost the light of day on the scene. But the
Federals, apparently satisfied that the Confederate position
was not to be forced, withdrew, quickly followed by a detach
ment led by Colonel Neely, to reconnoitre their movements.*
About meridian the day before, scouts having announced
that the Corinth column, unable to approach by the direct
road in consequence of the overflow of the Forked Deer
river, was moving up by the Jack's creek way, Forrest thought
it prudent to throw out a counter-movement to hamper that
of the enemy until he could remove his wagon-train and cat
tle south of the Hatchie ; and besides, the isolation of this
force was a provocation to a blow that it was not in his nature
to resist. Therefore, Lieutenant-Colonel D. M. Wisdom was
detached the afternoon of the 23d, with his own and Mc
Donald's battalions, and a detachment of Kentuckians, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Lannum, in all not exceeding 500, rank
and file, to move forward to Jack's creek, and oppose all practi
cable resistance sufficiently long to cover the passage of the
Hatchie ; and then to draw off and swiftly follow after the
main body.
Early on the morning of the 24th, Colonel Bell was like-

* MS. Notes of Captain V. B. Waddell.

368 Campaigns of General Forrest.
wise directed to take up the line of march southward, with
the fresh levies and Morton's artillery, the train of forty wa
gons and teams that had been collected in the country, a large
band of beef cattle and hogs, and make every effort to get
them safely boyond the Hatchie as rapidly as possible, which
he proceeded to execute with characteristic energy and intel
ligence. These dispositions having been made, Forrest him
self turned his horse's head southward again at six p.m., and
brought up the rear of his command with his staff and escort.
Meanwhile, Colonel Wisdom, having encamped south of
Mifflin, about fifteen miles from Jackson, the night of the
23d, in immediate proximity to several regiments of the
enemy's cavalry, attacked them before daylight — the Federals
being also in motion at the moment — and a spirited skirmish
occurred. The attack was so sudden that the Federals at
first had recoiled, scattering oilcloths, uniform caps, blankets,
and even their arms by the roadside, as the sharp crackle of
the Confederate rifles burst unexpectedly upon the silence
of the sombre forest at that early hour. But soon rallying,
and day having dawned, an animated, noisy conflict was kept
up for several hours. The Federals were of at least double
the. force of the Confederates, and at last made an effort to
turn their adversary's left flank, which Colonel Wisdom
promptly met and baffled with a counter-movement, with 80
picked men, handled by Lieutenant John O. Morris, Adjutant
of Colonel Lannum's detachment, who was mortally wounded ;
but not until he had made his splendid courage and martial
aptitudes notable to all his comrades* Foiled in this at
tempt, the Federals extended their whole force, and sought to
envelop the much shorter Confederate line, with so much per
sistence that it became but an act of prudence to draw out,

* The gallant and soldierly conduct of this j'oung Kentuckian excited general
admiration and remark.

Forrest's Escort. 369
which was accordingly done in the direction of the north
western corner of McNairy county. McDonald's Battalion.
under Major Allin, covered the movement, and a junction
was effected with the main body of Forrest's command beyond
the Hatchie early the next morning, traversing the distance
of thirty miles in eight hours, during a dark, rainy night.*
As will be recollected, Forrest caught up with his forces at
the Hatchie, while Colonel Neely was in advance reconnoiter-
ing the position of the Federals. That officer, not long
absent, returning, reported that the enemy were encamped
some two miles southward of Miller's house, or four or five
miles distant. Thereupon Forrest directed Richardson to
move forward that night, and establish himself just beyond
Miller's, to which point he also transferred his own headquar
ters immediately, while sending forward his escort company,
under Lieutenant Nathan Boon, to make a close aggressive
reconnoissance. This was done with the characteristic daring
and thoroughness which distinguished that gallant band, of
whom we have heard more than one prominent officer remark,
" They are ever ready to undertake what their chief so often

* The Federal Cavalry.it appears, The following incident will illustrate
consisted of the Seventh Kansas, (Jay the spirit of Forrest's men : Major
Hawkers,) Third Michigan, and a regi- Phil Allin, of McDonald's Battalion,
ment of Alabamians, commanded by a having had his horse shot under him,
Colonel Meisner, who, shortly after- was left horseless in the charge that
ward, returning through Purdy, quar- was being made. Private Argyle Pow-
tered himself in the comfortable house ell of the battalion, near him at the
of Colonel Wisdom's father, an elderly moment, exclaimed, " Wait a moment,
gentleman residing there, making the Major ; I'll bring one from the Yan-
whole family the victims of his ruffian kees yonder !" and dashed on ; but
insolence and brutality, as well as plun- returning in a little while, led up to
dering them of absolutely all their corn, the Major a fine horse and a Federal
Evidently he was the peer of Turchin, prisoner, with the remark, " Here's the
Comyn, and, in his smaller sphere, of horse I promised you, Major, and a
Butler. — MS. Notes of Colonel D. M. Yankee to boot"
Wisdom.

370 Campaigns of General Forrest.
looked to them to do — the fighting of a full regiment!' Indeed,
every member of that choice body of the youth of the coun
try manifestly acted on all occasions with the fullest apprecia-
sion of the fact that, though
" There may be danger in the deed,
'Twas fraught with honor too."
In this instance, not satisfied with a mere reconnoissance,
Lieutenant Boon charged down upon the Federal pickets
and drove them so vigorously back that the Federal com
mander, fancying doubtless there was a formidable movement
behind, broke up his encampment immediately, and retreated
hurriedly that night to Sommerville, leaving cooking utensils
on the fire, considerable quantities of forage, and the vicinity
strewn with dead hogs, poultry, and other plundered subsist
ence supplies.
Christmas came, an unusually fair and sun-bright day for
the season, a delightful relief from the gloomy, soaking wea
ther for some time preceding, and the main part of the com
mand was suffered to remain inactive until late in the after
noon. In the mean time, Colonel Bell had been occupied all the
night before, and until mid-day the 25 th, in crossing the river
with his large, heavily-laden trains and cattle, having the use
of only one small ferry-boat, so frail and unsteady that it was
once capsized, with the loss of one man and two horses
drowned, and a load of bacon. The weather was intensely
cold, and the freezing mud and water almost unbearable ; but,
inspired by the energy and conduct of Colonel Bell, his men
labored cheerfully to the last, or until their task was faithfully
accomplished.*

* Some 200 head of beef cattle, 300 remembered, were ferried by this
hogs, and over 3000 troops, it will be means.

. Federal Forces. 371
In the interval, Forrest's scouts had been actively scouring
the country in all hostile quarters, and had reported that
Colonel Prince was now at Sommerville with his own regi
ment, Seventh Illinois, and a squadron of the Ninth, or some
750 troopers ; that as many as 1000 more were in the vicinity
of Bolivar, and an equal force near Middleburg, on the Missis
sippi Central Railroad, with numerous large infantry detach
ments still spread along the whole line of the Mississippi
Central Railroad eastward of Moscow, with three large trains
held at Lagrange full of infantry, ready to be dispatched
whithersoever needed to bar Forrest's way back to the Con
federate lines. It was apparent from the disposition of these
forces, however, that they expected him to attempt to force
his way southward in the same direction from which he had
penetrated northward. He therefore resolved to move by
way of Sommerville, and seek egress from these strongly set
toils westward of Moscow, or in the unexpected quarter of
Memphis. This involved a conflict with the Federals at Sommerville ;
and Richardson's Brigade, already somewhat increased by
accessions of men since crossing to the .south bank of the
Hatchie, was put in motion that afternoon, by way of White-
ville and a cross-road further southward, to come upon the
Federal rear, while, at a concerted time, Forrest would fall
upon them by the Jackson-Sommerville road. Halting for
the night at Whiteville, Richardson's men were entertained
in the houses of that village with a hospitality so considerate
and large that it may not be passed unnoticed in these pages,
and the memory of which will be ever cherished by the sur
vivors of those weather-beaten soldiers who were made so
welcome at the bright, glowing firesides and well-spread tables
of the people of Whiteville. Resuming his march before day
on the 26th, and turning off rightward at Boyle's house to
ward Sommerville from Bolivar, Richardson, soon after sun-

372 Campaigns of General Forrest.
rise, learned from scouts that the country was swarming with
Federals on all sides ; but, moving on as directed, his ad
vance-guard developed a Federal cavalry force in the head of
a lane near Armors, five miles from Sommerville. His orders
for such an exigency were to occupy the enemy as long as
practicable in a skirmish with his armed men, embracing, it
will be recollected, not more than 300 rifles, to give Forrest
time to come upon their rear ; and this was promptly under
taken, his unarmed men being held in a ravine rearward.
Richardson's men were posted with fields on their right and
left and a wood in front, in which the Federals took cover and
opened thence with their carbines at easy range. Neverthe
less, the affair was apparently without profit to either side,
save that it brought the delay for which the Confederates
fought, and they were able, more by noise than accuracy of
range, to keep the Federals harmless at arm's length, though
several times more numerous and thoroughly armed. How
ever, the situation was somewhat dangerous, and Richardson
detached Captain Wise A. Cooper, of one of his battalions,
with thirty men, to move by way of a ravine rightward and
get into position to open upon the Federal rear.
Forrest, meanwhile moving on the direct road from Este-
naula to Sommerville, on reaching a point five miles from the
latter place heard, through scouts, of this movement toward
Bolivar, and hearing also the firing in that direction, pressed
rapidly forward with some 300 men, and, taking a by-road
branching to the south-eastward two miles from Sommerville,
was speedily on the scene, but with only 150 of his men — his
escort and a detachment of McDonald's Battalion — who had
kept up, so jaded were many of the horses now from long
continuous exposure to bad weather.
As before observed, the position of the Federals was shel
tered, and thus far they had the advantage. But Richardson
ostentatiously brought out his unarmed men, under Lieu-

Affair near Sommerville. 373
tenant-Colonel Hugh D. Greer. These were handsomely
led over the crest of a hill with a loud shout as a vigorous,
sustained fusilade was delivered by the riflemen in front.
The effect was happy, for the Federals, deceived by the num
bers thus appearing upon the flank, gave way. Forrest's men
struck heavily and fast at the same time, and the rout was
complete. Still there was some loss to the Confederates ;
three of Forrest's escort were killed and several severely
wounded, and among the slain was First Sergeant A. H.
Boon, who was stricken by the side of his brother — Lieu
tenant Boon — while fighting with signal gallantry in the
melee, when, carried together by the ardor of the combat, into
a group of fifteen or more Federals.*
The pursuit was kept up for several miles, but without ma
terial results, as the enemy had broken and dispersed in so
many different directions.! They left on the ground, how
ever, some seven or eight dead, as many as thirty wounded,
and eighty prisoners were captured, while their whole train
of six wagons, loaded with subsistence and ammunition, and

* Lieutenant Boon was wounded at t In the pursuit after a party of these
the same time. Not less noteworthy fugitives, a Confederate officer, as he
was the conduct of private Harry was about to turn back, shouted after
Rhodes, at the time only seventeen them, "Get out of our country, you
years old, who, boldly attempting to worthless rascals !" In the rear of the
capture three Federal troopers, was Federals, on a horse rather the slowest
shot painfully in the under-jaw, and, in of the lot, was a trooper, who, turning
the struggle, thrown to the ground, was his head to the rear, exclaimed, in the
savagely beaten over the head with unmistakable brogue and with the
their pistols until seemingly insensible ready wit of his countrymen : " Faith,
or dead. Yet, in that condition, watch- and by Jasus, an't it that same we're
ing his opportunity, he sprang to his trying to do jist as fast as we can ?"
feet, and, severely hurt as he was, shot
two of his assailants dead and captured
the other.

374 Campaigns of General Forrest.
one ambulance, and about one hundred horses and mules fell
into the hands of the Confederates.
Passing through Sommerville, where Colonel Bell joined
with the train and its precious supplies, the march was re
sumed in the direction of Whitehall, on the Memphis road,
six miles westward, which was reached that night about eight
o'clock. Here a detachment of some 700 men, including 50
with firearms, under Colonel Faulkner, was organized to pro
ceed, under the special conduct of Major Strange, Forrest's
trusty Adjutant-General, by the highway to Memphis, cross
ing Wolf river at Raleigh Ferry, and making a demonstra
tion in the immediate vicinity of Memphis, as if designing to
attack that city, sweep by to Hernando, and on to Como, Mis
sissippi, sixty miles southward of the former place. And we
may add, this operation was successfully carried out, to the
great consternation of the Federals and their following in
Memphis, as the Confederates passed within four miles of it ;
moreover, it served to divert attention, as General Forrest
calculated, from the points toward which his valuable trains
were being rapidly convoyed.
It appears there was but one bridge remaining over Wolf
river between Lagrange and Memphis — that at Lafayette
Station — which, however, was not in practicable condition
until the day before, when it was made so by the Federals for
convenience in throwing troops across, and their rapid commu
nications with reference to the envelopment of Forrest ; and
this, fortunately, had been ascertained by Colonel Thomas H.
Logwood, of Memphis, who happened to be in the region just
northward of the river recruiting a cavalry regiment. Satis
fied of this important fact by a personal reconnoissance, Log
wood sent an officer to intercept and acquaint Forrest with
the fact at Oakland. This opportune information determined
the daring Confederate leader to attempt to seize the bridge

Seizure of Bridge. 375
by a coup dc main, and use it for the passage of his trains and
main force.*
After giving his men and horses some little rest, of which
they now stood in great need, Colonel Bell was ordered to
advance hurriedly, with some 200 hundred armed men, on the
bridge in question at Lafayette Station, and if possible sur
prise and seize it. About the same time some 200 more of
Forrest's armed force had been thrown out well leftward, as
if aiming to effect a passage of Wolf river somewhere between
Moscow and Lagrange, and thus cover his real line of march.
A detachment of 100 good men constituted the rear-guard,
and Forrest with his escort took charge of the train and stock,
which were now boldly pushed forward close after Bell.
It was eleven o'clock a.m. on the 27th as Bell, well advised
by the reconnoissance of Colonel Logwood and Lieutenant
Williamson of the situation, approached, under the happy
cover of a dense wood on the north bank of the stream, to the
immediate vicinity of the bridge to be secured. It was com
manded by a closed work within thirty feet of it, on the south
bank, and manned by several hundred riflemen. Neverthe
less, without parley or hesitancy, the vigorous, determined
Bell threw his men upon it, and they splendidly charged
rcaoss, on the timbers of the bridge, under a volley from the
fortlet Only a single volley was fired ; the Federals, observ-

* Meanwhile, also, Logwood de- thus employed, a body of Federal horse
tached Lieutenant John A. Williamson, came up on the south bank, which, on
with a small party, to make a closer re- being challenged, replied, " Ree'nforce-
connoissance under cover of the night ments for Colonel Prince." The guard
That officer, with consummate adroit- was then turned out, light struck, the
ness, crept between the Federal pickets bridge-floor relaid, troops passed over
and the bridge, and found that the floor- and went their way as the flooring was
ing had been removed and was piled up again removed.— MS. Notes of Colonel
on the southern bank, under fire from a Logwood.
work commanding the bridge. While

376 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ing the swarming numbers in the onset, and not the unarmed
condition of the main force, did not stand for another, but,
breaking, took to flight down the road eastward toward Mos
cow, leaving their strongly fortified position, commanding the
bridge, in Colonel Bell's possession, and leaving four of their
number dead on the ground. The flooring was quickly re-
laid, while Colonel John Newsom was sent in pursuit, with
some fifty troopers, to keep up the appearance of vigorous ag
gressive purposes, and was so fortunate, besides, as to encoun
ter a troop-train within two miles, which he attacked with such
effect as to drive it back with the loss, it is said, of some fifty
killed and wounded ; and, pursuing to Grisham's creek, he
burned the railroad bridge over that stream.
By four p.m., 27th, Forrest had succeeded in bringing up
his train and stock, relaid the bridge, and effected the cross
ing to the south bank of Wolf river without the least mishap.
This accomplished, he threw out an armed detachment osten
tatiously upon Moscow, with orders, if pressed, to fall back
toward Memphis, and thus attract the Federals from his trains
and cattle, which, with the main body of unarmed men, took
the road toward Holly Springs, via Mount Pleasant, without
delay, with orders to make a night march. At the same time,
leading his escort, some 300 other armed men, and Morton's
artillery, down the road westward to Collierville, whence a
heavy force was reported to be advancing. Within two miles
of Lafayette he met, engaged, and drove back a detachment
of some 300 cavalry. These he charged, after his usual prompt
fashion, and brushed back, just as scouts returned from Mos
cow and Lagrange, and reported the movement of heavy bodies
of infantry and cavalry from that quarter. The fair Christ
mas weather had not continued, and, for more than twelve
hours, a torrential rain had been falling. But every possible
device was to be put in play to prevent these forces from pur
suing his heavily laden teams. So, throwing out the scouts

Affair at Collierville. ,77
embodied, to open a vehement skirmish, and to fall back, when
hotly pressed, westward along the road, and leaving some of his
older men at Lafayette to simulate country people, and give
false information of the concentration of his whole force and
its movement toward Collierville to attack Memphis, Forrest
moved by the " State line" road to that place, closely pressed,
through mud and rain, by the enemy, until about ten o'clock
at night. Then the enemy came up with him near to that
place, and a sharp, noisy skirmish ensued for an hour or more,
in the uproar of which the artillery in the Federal work there
took a boisterous part.
Several prisoners were taken on both sides about this time,
among others, Captain John Mann, Forrest's Chief Engineer,
who, by a mistake, fell into the Federal hands, and, in reply to
some inquiries, managed cleverly to leave the impression that
General Stephen D. Lee was in the vicinity with his entire
cavalry force, and with that apprehension the Federal com
mander retreated immediately to Lafayette, and there halted
for the night, leaving Forrest in possession of the vicinity of
Collierville at midnight, after having driven the Federals to
their interior fortifications.
In the mean time it had ceased to rain, and, the wind chang
ing to the north, it had become very cold. Having now gained
sufficient time for the movement southward of his train, he
turned the head of his column toward Holly Springs, and
was at Mount Pleasant by daylight on the 28th, after a con
tinuous night work of marches and battle. He stood now on
safe ground, having accomplished in full measure what to
most men would have seemed fatally rash, perilously vain to
attempt. The enemy made no further attempt to pursue, as Forrest
now proceeded by short, slow marches across the country to
Como, Panola county, Miss., having been met on the way, on
the 29th, by Brigadier-General Chalmers, advancing with his

378 Campaigns of General Forrest.
command to assist in covering his return. It was the first
day of the year 1864 when the last of the command arrived
at Como, and Major Strange and Colonel Faulkner reached
there about the same time, without the loss, during their wide
circuit, of one man. The weather being intensely cold, and
the troops without tents, the several regiments were scattered
about so as to secure quarters for their men, as far as possible,
in the vacant houses and cabins on the abandoned plantations
in the neighborhood, of which the course of the war had left
a large number. COMMENTARIES.
1. It should be recollected that General Forrest effected
his withdrawal from Jackson, and this march of one hundred
and forty miles with 3000 unarmed, raw men, a large wagon-
train, his artillery, and all their cattle under convoy of, at
most, 600 armed men. When he began the movement, he
was thoroughly encompassed with foes, some 20,000 strong,
according to General Hurlbut's official admission. Under
these circumstances, his troops fought successfully five com
bats — at Jack's creek, Estenaula, Sommerville, Lafayette, and
Collierville — losing during the expedition not more than 30
killed, wounded, and captured, and inflicting a loss upon the
enemy of fully 50 killed and 150 wounded and captured, or,
in all, 200 at least.
2. While the mass of even the armed force at General For
rest's disposition were raw and untried, there were with him
a number of officers who had seen a good deal of service, and a
great deal of credit for the success of the expedition is attrib
uted to them by their General. Both his staff and his officers
behaved with distinguished courage and notable efficiency,
and all his plans were ably seconded by his immediate staff,
namely, Major J. P. Strange, his Adjutant-General, Captain
Charles W. Anderson, A. D. C„ and Major G. V. Rambaut,

Commentaries.

379

A. C. S., while, as on all previous occasions, his young son
Willie, now his Aid, also was a devoted, effective servitor.
At the same time, nothing could be more admirable than the
conduct of the men. There was no drooping on their part
under the extreme fatigue and exposure to the unusually in
clement weather of the season which they had been suddenly
called out from their homes to undergo before they could be
properly supplied with either clothing or blankets. All these
privations and severe hardships these young men endured with
a fortitude which we are told is that formidable and shining
quality which most distinguishes veterans from raw troops.
3. Forrest, entering West-Tennessee at Saulsbury on the
4th of December with only some 500 men, two guns, and
five ordnance wagons, quit it at Lafayette Station on the
27th with 3500 men, well mounted, 40 wagons and teams
loaded with subsistence, 200 head of beef cattle, 300 hogs,
and his artillery intact.
4. It is proper to add, that the success of this handsome
operation was assisted unquestionably by General Lee's at
tack upon Moscow, on the afternoon of the 4th of December,
with McCulloch's and Ross's Brigades. This affair, though
it failed to accomplish the main purposes for which it was or
dered — the destruction of the railroad bridge at that point over
Wolf river and the capture of the garrison — served to inflict a
heavy loss upon a "strong column of the Federals, taken by sur
prise, and doubtless kept at a stand subsequently in that quar
ter a force that was destined to pursue Forrest, a force which
otherwise might have brought his expedition to a premature
close, far short of the satisfactory results which we have just
enumerated. 5. A Federal writer sums up the results of the Confederate
General's operations on this occasion in these terms : " For
rest, with less than 4000 men, has moved right through the
Sixteenth Army Corps, has passed within nine miles of Mem-

380 Campaigns of General Forrest.
phis, carried off over 100 wagons, 200 beef cattle, 3000 con
scripts, and innumerable stores, torn up railroad track, cut
telegraph wire, burned and sacked towns, (?) run over pickets
with a single Derringer pistol, . . . and all too in the
face of 10,000 men." {Correspondent Cincinnati Commercial,
Memphis, January 12, 1864.) We find the Federal forces
sent into West-Tennessee were General Smith, from Colum
bus, Ky., with 2500 cavalry and 5000 infantry, and two bri
gades from Memphis, respectively under Mower and Mizner.

COLONEL JEFFREY E. FORREST.
CHAPTER XIV.
Forrest made a Major-General— Assignment to " Forrest's Cavalry De
partment"— Headquarters at Oxford, Mississippi— Affair of the
Deserters there— The Federal Cavalry Raid into Mississippi, under
General W. S. Smith — Skirmishing— Savage Waste of the Country
by tlie Enemy— Federals begin to retire— Series of Sharp Skirmishes
— Engagement at Okolona — Federal Defeat in a succession of Com
bats—Death of Colonel Jeffrey Forrest j also, of Lieutenant-Co
lonel Barksdale— Running Fight, and complete Federal Rout.

January 1st to February i%th, 1864.
UURING the absence of Forrest in West-Tennessee, there
had been a change of department commanders. General
Joseph E. Johnston had been relieved from duty by the Pre
sident, and Lieutenant-General Polk placed in his stead, and
to that officer the telegraphic report of the aggregate results
of the expedition was made, in brief but expressive terms.
General Polk in reply, acquainted him with the fact he had
been promoted to the grade of Major-General in the Confede
rate provisional army,* and that he would be assigned to a
proper district, embracing all the Confederate forces in North-
Mississippi and West-Tennessee.
The next ten days were devoted assiduously to the work of

* It is a noteworthy coincidence that 1863, the very day he entered West-
his commission for this rank was actu- Tennessee.
ally issued the 4th day of December,

382 * Campaigns of General Forrest.
organization of the valuable war personnel gathered in the re
cesses of West-Tennessee ; and on the 13th of January, For
rest repaired to General Polk's headquarters, at Jackson, Mis
sissippi, leaving Brigadier-General Chalmers in command in
his absence.
It was then the command of a district was formally assigned
him, that is, " Forrest's Cavalry Department," embracing
all cavalry commands in West-Tennessee and North-Missis
sippi, to the southern boundaries of the counties of Monroe,
Calhoun, Chickasaw, Yallabusha, Tallahatchie, and that part
of Sunflower and Bolivar lying north of a line drawn from the
south-east corner of Tallahatchie county to the town of Pren
tiss, on the Mississippi river. At the same time, he secured
arms and ammunition for his troops, and returned to prepare
his command, as soon as possible, not only for an effective de
fense of the territorial limits assigned him, but for active and
extended offensive operations.
But many and grave or delicate difficulties and hinderances
had to be met and overborne in this work. The regiments
and companies brought out from West-Tennessee were chiefly
skeleton organizations ; these had to be consolidated and
moulded into more compact and efficient forms, somewhat at
the expense of the military aspirations and cherished ambi
tion of some valuable officers. There were great contention
and competition for the commissions at stake under the reor
ganization, and this bred a state of discontent and disorgani
zation among the men. Hitherto in the habit of staying in
the field very much at their own will and pleasure, the sol
diery, moreover, became very restless under the restraints
imposed in this respect by their new commander, and until
his firm hand and strenuous will were made apparent, they
straggled numerously from their colors, and returned even by
large squads to their homes. But detachments of his veteran
troops were promptly sent out to gather and bring back these

Reorganization.

383

men to their duty, as well as all absentees that were encoun
tered. By the 25th, however, the more serious obstacles hav
ing been overcome, on that day Forrest issued an order an
nouncing the limits and scope of his command ;* another,
giving the names and functions of his staff;! and a third, pro
mulgating the provisional organizations determined upon, both
as to regiments, battalions, batteries, and brigades.
Four brigades were formed respectively under Brigadier-
General Richardson and Colonels McCulloch, Bell, and Jeffrey
Forrest, while McCulloch's and Forrest's Brigades were or
ganized into a division, commanded by Brigadier-General J.
R. Chalmers.! These details having been adjusted, Major-
General Forrest removed his headquarters to Oxford, Missis
sippi, as a more central and favorable point, in view of a pos
sible necessity for cooperation with other Confederate forces
against a rumored movement from Vicksburg, northward.

• See Appendix.
t Ibid.
X The first brigade was constituted
of the Twelfth, (Lieutenant-Colonel J.
U. Green,) Fourteenth, (Colonel J. J.
Neely,) Fifteenth, (Colonel F. M. Stew
art,) Sixteenth, (Colonel Thomas H.
Logwood,) and Seventeenth, (Major
Marshall,) regiments, and Street's and
Bennett's battalions, all West-Tennes
see troops, under the command of Bri
gadier-General R. V. Richardson —
1500 rank and file.
The second brigade, Colonel Robert
McCulloch (Second Missouri) com
manding, was composed of the Second
Missouri Regiment,(Lieutenant-Colonel
R. A. McCulloch,) Willis's Texan Bat
talion, (Lieutenant-Colonel Leo Willis,)
Colonel W. W. Faulkner's Kentucky

Regiment, Keizer's — Franklin's — Ten
nessee Battalions, Lieutenant-Colonel
Alexander H. Chalmers's Battalion
Mississippi Cavalry, and the fragment
ofthe Second Arkansas Cavalry, (Cap
tain F. M. Cochran.)
The third brigade, Colonel T. H.
Bell in command, formed of Colonels
Russell's, Greer's, Newsom's, Wilson's,
and Barteau's (Second) Tennessee re
giments — 2000 rank and file.
And a fourth brigade was made up of
McDonald's Battalion and the Seventh
Tennessee, (Veterans,) McGuirk's Re
giment, Third Mississippi State troops,
Fifth Mississippi, (Lieutenant-Colonel
Barksdale,) and Duff's (Nineteenth)
Mississippi Battalion, with Colonel J.
E. Forrest as Brigade Commander.

384 Campaigns of General Forrest.
The rest of the forces were withdrawn to the south bank
of the Tallahatchie, and concentrated for the most part at
Panola, under the command of Brigadier-General Chalmers.
Among other disturbing elements, fomenting and keeping
up discontent, was the extreme want of clothing among the
new troops, who had, as will be remembered, been brought
away so hurriedly from their homes beyond the border ; and
the disposition to leave camp without permission, checked for
a time, breaking out again with renewed violence, prevailed
presently to such a degree as to render severe measures im
perative. Among those who thus abandoned their colors,
were nineteen, who went off together in a body. Promptly
pursued, captured, and brought back in ignominy, their com
mander, giving orders that in consequence of their flagrant,
defiant desertion, the whole detachment should be shot, issued
the necessary instructions regulating the ceremonies of an
early execution. Their coffins were made, their graves dug,
and the culprits advised to make their peace with their Maker
and the world. News of the affair having become bruited
abroad, the clergy, prominent citizens, and ladies of Oxford
waiting on the General, made urgent appeals to him to spare
the lives of their misguided countrymen. Some of the offi
cers of high rank also felt it their duty to inform the General
of their serious apprehension of a mutinous resistance on the
part of the soldiery, to the attempt to execute so many of
their comrades. But Forrest, apparently unmoved by inter
cessions, was unswerved by the suggestion of a mutiny, and
inexorably adhered to his orders ; the preparations for the
execution being proceeded with, even to the presence before
the troops of the prisoners, blindfolded, seated on their cof
fins, and the firing party drawn Up before them waiting for the
command, " Fire !" before he granted a reprieve, and remand
ed them to prison, through one of his staff-officers. The les
son was not lost on any one who beheld the spectacle. It is

Federal Forces Afield. 385
true, the lives of these men had been spared after all this dis
play of an inflexible purpose not to do so ; but it was seen
and felt, at the same time, that, on another occasion, should
the spirit of desertion continue unstayed, Forrest would
prove absolutely inexorable, howsoever disagreeable might be
the duty to him.
Several days later, or about the 7th, General Polk notified
Forrest that a Federal column, under Sherman, had taken the
field from Vicksburg, in the direction of Jackson, while an
other had been put on foot up the Yazoo, which Forrest was
to look after by establishing a part of his force in observation
at Grenada Accordingly, Colonel Jeffrey Forrest was imme
diately dispatched thither with the Fourth Brigade, about
1000 strong.
At the same time, through scouts and private correspon
dents in Memphis, the General ascertained that extensive
preparations were being made in that city for a large cavalry
movement, of which he gave immediate intelligence to his
superior. This was quickly followed, about the 8th, by the informa
tion than an infantry column, (brigade, or 1600 men,) with
perhaps 200 cavalry, a battery and supply-train, had moved
southward from Memphis, by way of Hernando, toward Pa
nola, and another from Collierville, on the Memphis and
Charleston Railroad, toward Holly Springs. To meet these
hostile movements, Chalmers promptly disposed his troops to
guard the crossings of the Tallahatchie ; McCulloch at Pano
la, Bell at Belmont, Richardson at Wyatt and Toby-Tubby
Ferry, with McGuirk at Abbeville.
It at once occurred to Forrest that the cavalry preparations
at Memphis were designed for a cooperative movement with
that of Sherman, whose common objective would be about
Meridian, and that the force, already afield from Memphis,
was a mere feint to occupy attention. Nevertheless, Chal-

386 Campaigns of General Forrest.
mers was directed to detach a brigade to meet it, and McCul
loch was dispatched accordingly.*
Thus stood affairs on the evening of the nth, when Cap
tain Thomas Henderson, Chief of Scouts, reported the
march of a large cavalry force from Memphis toward Holly
Springs, both by the Germantown and Byhalia roads. At
this Chalmers was instantly instructed to concentrate his
entire force at Oxford, as soon as possible ; and this move
ment was made, but not finally, until several skirmishes oc
curred in front of Wyatt and Abbeville, in which the Fede
rals were foiled in apparent efforts to pass the river at those
points, the most persistent of which (at Wyatt) was by Faulk
ner's Kentuckians during the night of the 13th. But, mean
while, as was soon reported by scouts, the main Federal co
lumn had been moving around northward of the river, across
the country toward Pontotoc, fully confirming Forrest's fore
cast as to its ultimate objective — the rich prairie region at
and southward of Okolona. Therefore, Chalmers was further
directed to move at once, so as to keep on their right flank,
to which end his command was in movement for Houston,
forty-five miles south-west of Oxford, late in the afternoon of
the 14th.
Forrest also set out with Bell's Brigade, his escort, and the
artillery, that morning, for Grenada, whence he had previously
directed Colonel Forrest to move swiftly eastward, with his
brigade, upon West-Point, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad,
in the menaced region, and from that place to establish a line
of couriers to Houston, so as to open communication with
Chalmers.

* General Forrest, as early as the move in the direction of Okolona and
9th, expressed the opinion, in => tele- Meridian, and gave orders to keep his
graphic dispatch to General Chalmers, force in hand to grapple with such a
that it was the purpose of the enemy to movement.

Forrest's Dispositions. 387
Chalmers encountered heavy roads, and the rains continu
ing, the ways grew so difficult that it became prudent to leave
the artillery and train to be brought up by details, and to
press on with the troops, by which means he arrived at Hous
ton the 16th, and at Palo Alto on the 17th, and there enter
ed upon the fertile prairie region of Mississippi, abounding in
forage and subsistence. The salutary effect upon the com
mand was soon apparent. To quote the graphic language of
a staff-officer with it : " The bountiful supplies of forage
which the prairies furnished gladdened the hearts of our hun
gry horses, whose rations had been of the scantiest. . . .
When we came in sight of the first stack-yard, with its good
ly array of huge fodder-ricks, and saw a little way off the
teeming cribs, a shout of joy went up from the head of the
column, which was continued down the whole line, as if we
had indeed reached the promised land."*
In the mean while the Federal column had been traversing
the country in a line through Pontotoc, but there trending to
ward Okolona. And Forrest, after having gone to Grenada, had
pushed across rapidly on the 18th to Starkville, a village some
twenty-five miles west of Columbus, and opened communi
cation likewise with Chalmers. He also, on the 18th, had
thrown Colonel Forrest forward toward Aberdeen, to harass
and delay the enemy as much as practicable.
Chalmers, on the 18th, moving but a short distance, halted
at Tampico, where large supplies of public forage had been
accumulated, and on the following day joined Forrest, still at
Starkville. In the mean time, Colonel Jeffrey Forrest, strik
ing the path of the Federals at Aberdeen, had become in
volved in a series of light skirmishes, as they pressed his bri
gade back toward West-Point. In view, therefore, of the pos-

* MS. Notes of Captain Walter A. Goodman, A. A. G., which have been of
exceeding value to the present writer.

388 Campaigns of General Forrest.
sible purpose on the part of the Federal General to throw his
force across at Aberdeen, and move down the east bank of
the Tombigbee, Forrest detached Bell's Brigade, under Colo
nel Barteau,* early on the morning of the 20th, to cross that
stream at Columbus, and, moving up toward Aberdeen, op
pose any such an enterprise. This movement Colonel Barteau
conducted with much judgment ; and finding that the Fede
rals had been massed as far southward as West-Point, he took
up a position at Waverly, and prepared to throw himself
back to the west bank, during the night of the 20th, and
strike the Federal left flank.
These dispositions being made of a part of his force, For
rest marched from Starkville at sunrise on the 20th, with the
rest — McCulloch's Brigade and six hundred of Richardson's,
(under Neely,) and the artillery, to the support of Colonel
Forrest, who was receding toward West-Point as slowly as
was practicable, without becoming involved in a serious action
with the largely superior force pressing him back.
The theatre of approaching operations was one that called
for prudence and judgment on both sides. To the eastward
was the Tombigbee, a navigable river, swollen with rains at the
time ; to the west, and for miles running nearly parallel with
it, from twelve to fifteen miles distant, was the Sook-a-toncha,
a branch of the Oka-tibby-ha, a considerable stream, which,
after receiving the waters of a number of prairie creeks, was
crossed by the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, five miles south
of West-Point, as it flowed nearly due east to empty into the
Tombigbee, not far above Columbus. As will be seen by
reference to a map of the country, these streams form a com
plete cul-de-sac, into which Forrest hoped to draw and hold
the Federals until General Lee should come upon the scene,

* Colonel Bell being sick.

Affair at Siloam. 389
and enable the Confederates, by taking the offensive vigorous
ly, to cut off their retreat or escape. By the road upon which
Forrest moved, the Sook-a-toncha was only to be crossed at
a bridge about thirty yards in length, some four miles west of
West-Point, the only approach to which was over a long, nar
row, thrown-up, dilapidated causeway, while the banks of the
stream, on either hand, were steep and miry. These condi
tions made it hazardous for the Confederates to advance be
yond it in much force. Nevertheless, on reaching the posi
tion, about two p.m., Forrest pushed adventurously forward
through and several miles beyond West-Point, until he met
Colonel Jeffrey Forrest holding the Federals at bay in the
prairie Their lines extended in formidable proportions across
the highway. It was not Forrest's policy to fight as yet, but
merely to maneuver for delay until S. D. Lee came up with
reenforcements that must be near at hand ; therefore, after
some very light skirmishing, he withdrew through West-
Point and behind the creek again ; not a little annoyed, how
ever, at the necessity for doing so, and thus delivering up so
much more of that opulent region to the ruthless ravages of
the enemy, whose track to the northward was marked far and
wide by a heavy, dark pall of smoke in the air, from the
buildings which had been burned or were burning.
Disposing his forces to hold the bridge we have mentioned,
Forrest at once led a portion of McCulloch's Brigade to a
point called Siloam, some four miles higher up the creek,
where it was reported that the Federals were making an effort
to cross, and thus turn his position. It was not, however, a
serious movement ; but a small party had already crossed the
stream, and, taken by surprise, some were killed, and the rest,
twenty-three in number, were captured. That night the
whole country northward was illuminated by burning home
steads, cotton-gins, granaries, and stack-yards, inspiring the
Confederates with a passionate resolution to do all in the

390 Campaigns of General Forrest.
power of men to punish such an unmanly method of war
fare.* On the morning of the 21st, a force was again thrown to
the north side of the bridge, where it was quickly attacked,
but with light loss to either side, though there was a pro
longed, incessant noise and rattle of firearms until about noon,
when the enemy, after several attempts to force the position,
drew off. Forrest followed at once, with his ever-staunch
escort, to satisfy himself of the actual situation ; then calling
up one hundred of Faulkner's Kentuckians, he discovered to
his chagrin that the Federals were apparently in retreat.
McCulloch's and Colonel Forrest's brigades were now ordered
to advance ; and with this force he pressed closely at their
haunches, leaving orders for General Chalmers to collect all
remaining troops, and with them guard the bridge and the
crossings northward of it against any possible hostile flank
movement from the northward.
The Federals were soon found in position in some post-
oak timber, at the edge of the prairie, four miles northward
of West-Point ; but dismounting and deploying as skirmish
ers, the Confederates quickly drove them rearward some five
miles, with a loss of some fifteen killed and wounded, when
they again halted, and formed in battle array across the mouth
of a lane, in which there was a narrow, slippery bridge and
causeway, over a narrow slash, that could not be turned.
About 150 Confederates had been thrown across it when the
Federals charged with vigor ; but Forrest, seeing the peril,
with characteristic audacity led a counter-charge, while Mc
Culloch, alive to the exigency, threw forward, on foot, at
double-quick, a number of men, who rushed across with a

* MS. Notes of Captains Goodman the extent to which these ravages were
and F. F. Aden. Even Federal writers carried. They were a disgrace to the
have been unable to find excuses for age.

Heavy Fighting. 391
loud shout. The Federals, however, again gave way to their
main line in a wood, a short distance northward. For a few
moments the situation was dangerous, the fighting sharp ;
and, as was his way, General Forrest was in the heart of it,
killing with his ready pistol a Federal trooper who was in the
act of shooting him.
The main force of the Federals now confronted did not
number less than 4000 men. Forrest, dismounting the Con
federates, not more than 1000 troopers, immediately threw
them forward as riflemen to give battle, and a warm engage
ment began. The Federals, however, fell back slowly through
the woods, for a mile, into the prairies to a strong position
behind a stout picket-fence, quite half a mile long. Promptly
detaching a regiment to move round by the right and turn
this formidable barrier, he moved upon it with his men in two
lines, as soon as the regiment in question became well en
gaged. The Federals giving way, Forrest's men rushed up
to the fence, and from behind it delivered a galling fire upon
their rear. Up to this time Forrest's losses that day had
been about 80 killed and wounded, while that of the enemy
may be set down at 200, including 75 prisoners taken.
Remounting his men, Forrest now pursued with such
celerity as might be. The roads and whole face of the
country, thoroughly soaked by long-continued rains, were so
fearfully cut up by the feet of the Federal cavalry-horses and
their swarming train of loose and pack-animals, accumulated
in the course of the movement, as to make pursuit barely
possible. The enemy, however, were so encumbered with
plunder and negroes that they too were greatly impeded, and
their retreat so slow that Forrest, with the impetuous force
of his nature, was able to bring his advance into more than
one sharp collision that afternoon with the Federal rear-guard,
which had been made heavy, and evidently now of their best
men.

392 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Meanwhile, Bell's Brigade (Barteau) had crossed by seven
o'clock that morning to the west bank of the Tombigbee,
near Waverly. Coming in presence of the enemy, and moving
boldly northward, it was kept between them and the river as
far that day as the vicinity of Egypt Station, on the Memphis
and Ohio Railroad, where Barteau encamped, after foiling a
dangerous effort by the Federals to envelop his command in
its isolated position, happily discovered in time to be met with
decision. Forrest kept up the pursuit until after the darkness was so
great as to make it judicious to halt ; and, besides, both men
and animals needed rest and food ; moreover, there was dan
ger of a collision between detachments of his forces, as indeed
did happen. In an attempt made by Forrest to traverse a
field with his escort, so as to intercept a body of the enemy,
he became entangled in some ditches, so that a number of the
Confederates getting ahead by the road, as he came up in the
darkness, they mistook each other for the enemy they pur
sued, and both parties fired, killing one man, and a ball passed
through the General's clothes. Under these circumstances,
the command was ordered into bivouac on the ground from
which the Federals had just retired, leaving around a good deal
of subsistence and forage, — and camp-fires, that were greatly
enjoyed by the weather-beaten, jaded, hungry Confederates.
During the night the whole country northward was lurid with
the flames of burning mansions, outhouses, and forage.
By four o'clock on the morning of the 2 2d, McCulloch's and
Jeffrey Forrest's Brigades were once more in pursuit toward .
Okalona, about fourteen miles distant. Instructing his bro
ther, Colonel Forrest, to take a left-hand road when within
nine miles of Okolona, and throw his brigade over on the
Pontotoc road, so as to cut off, if possible, the enemy's retreat
in that direction, the General dashed ahead with his staff and

Combat at Okolona. 393
indomitable escort, to acquaint himself as soon as possible with
the state of affairs in front.
Barteau, as we have mentioned, encamping somewhat fur
ther northward, was also in motion with Bell's Brigade at an
early hour, and moved parallel, as before, with and in danger
ous proximity to the Federals had they been handled with a
resolution or skill commensurate with their great numerical
advantage, for the Confederate brigade did not now muster
over 1200 men. The Federals thronged into and through
Okalona, while Barteau took up a position about three fourths
of a mile eastward of the railroad, toward which he gradually
advanced his line until within some six hundred yards of the
eastern edge of the place to a position in the prairie.
Meanwhile, Forrest had overtaken and harassed the Fede
ral rear-guard for several miles southward of Okalona, and
pressed them into the place, on the western suburbs of which
the Federals were seen drawn up in strong force in several
lines, as if for battle, their right on an elevation across the
Pontotoc road, and their left resting in an open woods. Dis
covering Bell's Brigade, at the same time, in the position we
have indicated, he hastened thither, and as he made his ap
pearance on the front, the effect, we are told, was profound.
Every countenance was irradiated with confidence, courage,
and enthusiasm, which found immediate expression in loud
cheers and prolonged shouts of mingled joy and defiance, and
Forrest gave immediate orders for the brigade to advance to
meet an offensive movement on the part of the Federals, as
was his habitual tactics. The Confederates, advancing with
spirit through and north of the town, mounted, began to fire,
with their long rifles, as they came within one hundred yards
of the enemy ; but the short, breech-loading firearms of the
Federals gave the latter one more advantage, that told percep
tibly, and the Confederates, the most of whom young men in
their first action, were staggered for some moments, which

394 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Forrest observing, ordered to be cured by an immediate charge
of Russell's, Wilson's, and Newsom's regiments on foot, while
he, with Barteau's, (Second Tennessee,) mounted, swept around
to attack the Federal right flank, an attack which was made
with excellent spirit, and followed up by the dismounted men
with equal fire. Happily, about this moment also, McCul
loch's Brigade was seen by friend and foe coming up from the
southward at a rapid pace, and this doubtless aided to throw
the. Federals into the confusion that ensued, and their rapid
retreat along the Pontotoc road. The Federal loss in this
affair was light, only about thirty killed, wounded, and cap
tured ; that of the Confederates trivial, notwithstanding the
superior character of arms used by the enemy.
The chase now became general and eager, Forrest leading
with his escort and the Second Tennessee, but swiftly fol
lowed by the other regiments as fast as they could mount.
For the next four miles Forrest's best mounted men were
constantly up and in conflict with the worst mounted fugi
tives, and many of the latter in that distance were either
killed or captured ; seven pieces of their artillery and their
caissons were abandoned, with their horses dead and cumber
ing the road or fallen in the ditches. Meanwhile, in the
keenness of the pursuit, the Confederates became greatly
scattered, and the men of the several regiments were neces
sarily so intermingled that, for the time, there was no dis
tinct regimental organization.
The Federals having now gained a position, six or seven miles
from Okolona, the natural features of which were highly favora
ble for defense, rallied and made a stubborn stand. They oc
cupied a high ridge, thickly covered with small post-oaks and a
dense undergrowth, which sloped down steeply into marshy
valleys on either hand, that covered both flanks, and they had
besides thrown up obstructions across the road which ran
along the crown of the ridge. Jeffrey Forrest's Brigade, un-

Death of the Gallant Colonel Forrest. 395
able to strike the road in the Federal rear, as had been hoped
had meantime come up, and McCulloch's also, and these two
brigades were ordered, the first to move to the right, the
second to the left of the highway, and assail the enemy's posi
tion. Colonel Forrest, placing himself at the head of his bri
gade, deploying Duff 's Mississippians and his own regiment
of Tennesseeans and Alabamians, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Wisdom, made the onset with splendid spirit. Both brigades
swept forward at an equal pace, and quickly carried the first
line of cover in the face of a withering fire ; but behind was a
second position, strongly furnished, from which streamed a
hissing torrent from the Federal breech-loaders, that cut
down many of the dauntless men who breasted it. Among
others, Colonel Forrest fell mortally wounded, shot through
the neck, within fifty yards of the Federal stronghold. His
men, for the most part as brave and staunch as ever rode in
battle, faltered for some instants as they saw their beloved
leader fall. Moreover, the Federal fire at the juncture con
centrated upon a narrow front, at that short range, was warm
and wasting. Meanwhile, General Forrest, informed of his
great bereavement, rushed to the spot and dismounted. Jef
frey Forrest was the youngest of the family, and was its pride,
its Benjamin.* The now distinguished brother had been lavish
with his means for his education, so that the younger bro
ther's many natural gifts had had liberal opportunities for
culture, opportunities which had been happily improved.
His premature death, with so much promise, valor, and sol
dierly capacity blighted in the flower, was an almost madden-

* We may add here that General who were always near him, ready to
Forrest was materially assisted to his give the most implicit obedience to his
success by the fraternal devotion with orders, and to execute any of his wishes
which he was served on all occasions at any exposure, risk, or hardship, with
by his brothers, some four in number, a courage and will equal to his own.

396 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ing, almost mortal blow to the elder brother, and the scene
of passionate tenderness and grief that took place made a
profound impression upon all spectators. Colonel Forrest
was not yet dead, and his mortal existence terminated in the
arms of General Forrest, whose soul, at that supreme instant,
was moved by such an access of sorrow that it served even
to hush, for some ten minutes, the storm of the battle ; for,
says Colonel Russell, who commanded a regiment present :
"The moment was too sacred for angry passions to have
sway, and, catching its inspiration, I ordered the men to
cease firing, that all might join in sympathy with our suffer
ing General."
" After nature had triumphed for a while," continues Colo
nel Russell, "he rose up, and, casting aside those reflections
which had unmanned him for a few moments, by a strong
mental effort, Forrest was himself again."
Remounting in stern silence, Forrest, taking in the situ
ation at a glance, ordered his staff and escort to follow, and,
shouting in a loud, passionate voice, " Gaus, sound the
charge !"* dashed with them, (some eighty strong,) with the
fury of a Scandinavian Berserk, upon the enemy in front,
just as they were remounting to retreat. His spirit speedily
animated all who followed — especially the brigade of his dead
brother — with the same emotion, and for some moments there
was sore havoc in the Federal mass, as it flowed rearward,
heavily packed in the narrow road, for a mile to another posi
tion, even stronger and better prepared for defense, where
they drew up and again offered battle, with the evidences of a
more determined purpose to make a sturdy defense, from be
hind rail and log breastworks, which had been arranged, of no
slight defensive character. The greater part of Forrest's Bri-

• Jacob Gaus was the name of his favorite orderly bugler.

Stubborn and Sanguinary Combat. 397
gade, now under Colonel Duckworth, was dismounted on the
right of the road and thrown forward to storm the cover.
General Forrest took part with and led the Forrest Brigade,
augmenting their ardor by his presence. The Fifth Missis
sippi, led by Lieutenant-Colonel James A. Barksdale, rising
the crest of the hill, just rightward of the road, were met by
a scathing volley that fearfully thinned their ranks, and their
intrepid commander fell mortally smitten while animating
them, as well by his shining conduct as by words, to be
steadfast and press on. Even as his life ebbed away, he re
peated the word " Charge !" and almost to the last moment
urged them forward. Elsewhere on the line the defense was
equally stubborn and bloody, and the assault equally strenu
ous, detachments of all the regiments of the brigade, led by
their field-officers, taking part with emulous courage.
The Federals, however, were forced back, but only for half
a mile, where the ground afforded another favorable position,
with abundance of rails available for another temporary breast
work ; here again they turned angrily and once more con
fronted their indomitable pursuers. McCulloch was now up
with his Texans and Missourians, who charged forward, shout
ing that their colors should not lag behind any on that field ;
Forrest's Brigade also, though deprived of so many of their
favorite officers either killed or wounded. Therefore the con
flict for the position was short but very sanguinary. The
Federals, evidently in stronger force than previously, fought
well ; but such was the fierceness, the weight of the attack
that they yielded the ground, suffering a good deal as they
retired, especially the Fourth Regulars and the Sixth and
Ninth Illinois Cavalry. The Confederate losses also were
severe before the position was carried.
A mile beyond, a cluster of log cabins and out-buildings,
and some strong fencing, afforded another rallying point for
the hard-pressed Federals, who promptly seized the oppor-

398 Campaigns of General Forrest.
tunity, and again stood at bay. Forrest and his escort were
with the advance, and active in the onslaught. Disposing the
Second and Seventh Tennessee on the right, and McCulloch's
Brigade on the left, an attack followed with little delay. The
musketry was again deadly to both sides, and Forrest's horse
fell under him, pierced with five balls, besides which his saddle,
struck three times, was shattered under him* Pressing on,
however, on foot, with the men, so many of whose best officers
were now disabled, a trooper,! observing the situation of their
leader, dismounted and gave up his own horse, which was
taken as promptly as it was offered, but was likewise killed
before Forrest had ridden it one hundred and fifty yards, for
tunately, just as one of his own horses, a favorite and con
spicuous iron gray gelding, was brought to him from the rear.!
It was about this juncture, too, that the gallant Col. McCul
loch was painfully wounded in the hand, and had to quit the
field — an untoward occurrence, for at the mishap, his brigade,
for a while, was brought to a stand, and Forrest found himself
in advance, with scarcely 300 officers and men from all the
different regiments engaged, and including some of his escort ;
but with this small force he nevertheless hung close upon the

* We may here relate an authentic cloth with chloroform and applied it to
' occurrence which must show how un- the nostrils of the sufferer, and leaving,
founded are the allegations that For- sent his surgeon, Dr. Cowan, to corn-
rest was a ruthless enemy in battle, plete the amputation, and the man got
After this position was carried, as he well.
was passing a hut, on which a hospital t Private J. B. Long, Jackson, Tenn.
flag was flying, his attention was at- J This horse, twelve years old, and
tracted by a cry of agony, and he en- sluggish on ordinary occasions, became
tered. The cry proceeded from a Fed- superbly excited in battle, and was as
eral soldier, deserted by his surgeon, quick to detect the presence of a blue
who had left the amputating saw fast coat as any Confederate soldier, and
in the marrow of the bone of his leg. then as ready to make battle, which he
With his habitual presence of mind, did by laying back his ears, and rushing
the Confederate General saturated a at the offending object with open mouth.

| Closing Conflict. 399
enemy's rear, and just at sunset came upon them, drawn up in
four strong lines* upon an elevated ridge, in the western skirt
of a field of the area of about one hundred acres, ready to
descend upon the Confederates, who, in the eagerness of their
pursuit, debouched well into the field. The Federals stood
in fine soldierly array, and the spectacle was imposing though
inauspicious for the petty band of Confederates that had been
so defiantly thrust into the centre of the field. In a moment
Forrest appreciated the jeopardy of the juncture, exposed as
his men were in that open field, to be ridden over and cut to
pieces, if overtaken by disaster, for they were all dismounted,
except himself and several field officers, not having halted to
remount in the heat of the chase. He therefore hastily drew
them back across and immediately behind a gully which fur
rowed the field. There he formed them in line as quickly as
.possible, to meet the approaching onset. At the same time
he appealed to these stout-hearted men, who had shared so
fully with him in the fierce ardor of that afternoon's work, to
^tand their ground steadily. They shouted cheerily in answer :
the^Federal bugles sounded the charge, and at this prompting,
the first line we have mentioned, dashed down the slope in
excellent order, to within sixty yards of the Confederates,
who, at that distance, poured into it a scorching volley, which
sent it reefing rearward, and strewed the ground in front with
a number of dead and wounded horses and men. Again the
bugle gave the shrill charge signal, and the second line de
scended handsomely at full gallop, the impetus of which was
only broken at forty yards, by a volley from the steadfast
Confederates ; the third line, now thrown forward, was buf
feted back in the same manner, but not until it had been
permitted to approach within twenty yards, when a deadly

* Doubtless a regiment in each.

4°° Campaigns of General Forrest.
fire shattered its firm array, and cumbered the ground with
horses and men. The remaining line, the largest and most
menacing, was now put in action, with such persistence that,
notwithstanding it was promptly met by a warm fusilade, the
mass of it pressed up to the gully we have mentioned, and
many even sprang across and broke through the Confederate
ranks. By this time the Confederate rifle ammunition was
exhausted, and the men, throwing down their guns, betook
themselves to their revolvers, in the desperate hand-to-hand
struggle that now came to pass, no fiercer than which occurred
during the war, and whose stirring incidents have left an
indelible impression in the memory of all surviving partici
pants.* Just at this juncture, Lieutenant-Colonel McCulloch oppor
tunely brought up McCulloch's brigade, and meeting the
portion of the enemy that had broken through, and passed to
the rear of Forrest's position, killed and wounded a number,
among others, an aid-de-camp of General Grierson, whose
conspicuous bravery during the action so attracted the ad
miration of the Confederates, that Forrest directed special
attention to be paid to his remains. The enemy were now
broken and dispersed ; many captures were made, though
night and darkness rapidly supervened.

* And here again, we may relate one at that opponent's head. Happily for
of those battle scenes which are char- his staff-officer, Forrest saw his dilem-
acteristic of Forrest and the young men ma in time to ride up, and with a sweep
he trained and led. Major Thomas S. of his sabre, nearly severed the Federal
Tate, of Memphis, casually on his staff, officer's head from his shoulders. The
became involved in a personal combat man toppled to the ground, and as he
with a Federal officer, when, without did so, Tate, taking the revolver from
any weapon, save an empty carbine, his hand, swung himself into the va-
and in another moment, doubtless, cated saddle, and with the weapon thus
would have been shot by his opponent appropriated took an active part in the
with a revolver, though he was in the nttl/e.
act of hurling his otherwise useless gun

JONESBORO

Federal Losses. 401
Gradually Forrest's men came up, and at eight p.m. General
Gholson arrived upon the field with a brigade — only 700
strong — of State troops.
The Federal losses were not less than 600 killed and
wounded, and 300 prisoners. Forrest's casualties were pro
portionately severe, some fifty killed, and one hundred and
fifty wounded ; they were enhanced, however, by embracing
his brother and others of his choicest officers.
On the morning of the 23d, early, General Gholson was
directed to take up the pursuit with his troops, which he did
as far as Cherry Creek, capturing some fifty stragglers.
Here, too, some scouts, who happened to be in the country,
fired into the Federal flank, making the impression that
Forrest was upon them in that quarter ; the immediate
result was a panic and scurry along the several roads to
wards Memphis, as fast as their jaded animals could be
driven. At Tippah River, where the boat was destroyed, and
a halt became necessary for the construction of a temporary
bridge, some scouts having again fired upon the demoralized
enemy from the surrounding bushes, a rush was made into
the stream, in so frantic a manner, that many horses and some
men were drowned, and thence forward to Memphis, there
was little organization left in this command, which, scarcely a
fortnight before, had left Memphis 7000 strong, and as splen
didly equipped a corps of cavalry as ever took the field.
Meanwhile, having set parties to bury the dead, both Con
federate and Federal, and pressed wagons to remove the
wounded, of both sides alike, to the hospitals at Okolona,
Forrest left the field with his staff and escort, and reestab
lished his headquarters at Starkville on the 24th.
Meanwhile, Major-General Lee, on the morning ofthe 22d,
had arrived, with Brigadier-General W. H. Jackson's divison
at Chalmer's headquarters, behind the Sook-a-toncha, and hear
ing of the retrograde movement of the Federals northward,

402 Campaigns of General Forrest.
had concluded rightly that they were effectually baffled for
the present, and therefore he fell back as far as Starkville,
where he waited Forrest's arrival. They had an immediate
interview and consultation in regard to operations for the
future, and touching their several resources for mutual sup
port. On the 26th, Chalmers's Division had reassembled at
Starkville, and on the following day, General Forrest trans
ferred his headquarters to Columbus, Mississippi.
COMMENTARIES.
It must be recollected that the splendid success which at
tended Forrest's encounter and discomfiture of this large,
splendidly appointed veteran Federal force was achieved by
not more than half the numbers thus beaten ; achieved, too,
with troops, the greater part of whom were the raw, undis
ciplined young men, whom, less than sixty days before, he had
gathered to his standard in West-Tennessee. In that short
time he had been able to impregnate them with his ardent,
indomitable spirit, and mould them into the most formidable
instruments, in his hands, for his manner of making war.

CHAPTER XV.
Small Brigade of Kentuckians added to Command— Another Division
organized and assigned to Brigadier-General A. Buford — Affair at
Yazoo City— Another Expedition into West-Tennessee — Ruse and
Capture of Union City — Forrest made successful Descent upon Pa
ducah — Death of Colonel A. P. Thotnpson in abortive Assault upon
Federal Earthworks — Large Quantity of Supplies secured and car
ried off— Fruitless Demonstration upon Columbus, Ky. — Second De
scent {Buford) upon Paducah — Handsome Affair of Colonel Neely's
at Bolivar— Splendid Conduct of McDonald's {Crews' s) Battalion
near Sommerville — Measures taken for the Capture of Fort Pillow.

March 1st to April loth, 1864.
In the first week of March, Forrest's command was aug
mented by three regiments of Kentuckians, who, having served
hitherto as infantry, were now sent into his department to be
mounted and transferred to the cavalry arm. They were so
greatly reduced, however, all three together did not number
more than 700 effectives, about one third of whom had received
horses already — the remainder were, as yet, to be horsed.
Brigadier-General A. Buford came with them, and was as
signed to the command of the Second Division of Forrest's
Cavalry, which was assembled at Tibbee Station, on the Mo
bile and Ohio Railroad. Buford assumed, command on the
8th of March, when the division consisted of the Third (Col-

404 Campaigns of General Forrest.
onel A. P. Thompson) and the Fourth (Colonel T. H. Bell)
brigades, together not exceeding 2800 effectives*
Chalmers commanded the other, or First Division, with
headquarters at Mayhew Station, (four miles south of Tibbee,)
where the Second Brigade, McCulloch commanding, was es
tablished on the 6th ; also the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, of
the First, or Richardson's Brigade, the other three regiments
of which had been previously detached in the direction of Gre
nada.! Meanwhile Richardson, after having taken post at Grenada,
was called to Yazoo City — 75 miles southward — to cooperate
with a force attached to Major-General Lee's command, against
a Federal expedition which had made a lodgment there, and
established water commirnication with its base ; and on the
4th, he had effected a junction in that vicinity with Brigadier-
General Ross, and his brigade of Texan cavalry. The posi
tion, strongly fortified by the Federals, was garrisoned by one
regiment of white, and two of negro troops,! anc* these were
supported by two gunboats, which could throw shells over and

* Third Brigade was constituted of: onel F. M. Stewart,) Tennessee regi-
Third, (Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. C. ments, (detached at Grenada.) Second
Holt;) Seventh, (Colonel Ed. Cross- Brigade of: Second Missouri, (Lieu-
land ;) Eighth, (Colonel H . B . Lyon ;) tenant-Colonel R. A. McCulloch;)
Faulkner's Kentucky regiments, and Willis's Texan Battalion, (Lieutenant-
Jeffrey Forrest's Regiment, (Lieuten- Colonel Leo Willis ;) First Mississippi
ant-Colonel Wisdom,) about 1200 rank Partisans, (Major J. M. Parks ;) Fifth
and file, or 1004 effective enlisted men. Mississippi Cavalry, (Major W. B. Pee-
The Fourth Brigade of: Second, (Col- ry ;) Nineteenth Mississippi Battalion,
enel B. R. Barteau,) and Sixteenth, .(Lieutenant-Colonel W. L. Duff;)
(Colonel A. N. Wilson,) and Russell's Eighteenth Mississippi Battalion,
Tennessee regiments— 1254 effective en- (Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Chalmers ;)
listed men, or about 1600 rank and file, and McDonald's Battalion— (General
t The First Brigade was formed of : Forrest's old regiment — (Lieutenant-
Seventh, (Colonel W. T. Duckworth, Colonel J. M. Crews.)
at Mayhew ;) Twelfth, (Lieutehant-Col- J Reb. Rec. VIII. Dcic 109, pp. 455-
onel J. U. Green ;) Fourteenth, (Col- 458.
onel J. J. Neely ;) and Fifteenth, (Col-

Affair at Yazoo City. 405
into the town with ease. Nevertheless, the attack was ar
ranged between Generals Richardson and Ross, that evening,
and made on the next morning, apparently with far more of:
courage and spirit than of method and judgment. The Fed
erals were speedily driven from one of their exterior works;
through the town, which became the scene of a sharp combat
with the Federals, who, from behind houses, cotton-bales, and
fences, inflicted considerable loss upon their uncovered assail
ants — chiefly the Tennesseeans — including the gallant Ma
jor Gwinn Thurman, commander of the Fourteenth, who was
killed, and Captain Thrall, of the artillery, and Captain 
Adams, of Richardson's staff, who were wounded. But sev
eral fortified positions, exterior to and commanding the place,
were still in possession of the Federals, who could not be ex
pelled without a loss incommensurate with their value, and
which they declined to surrender when demanded by General
Ross ; hence it was determined to withdraw the whole Con
federate force from under fire. There was no lack of courage,
but clearly an absence of concert and of sustained movement
in this operation ; and, worst of all, a divided command,
for though General Richardson claimed to be the senior, he
waived the chief command in deference to the fact that Gen
eral Ross had a superior knowledge of the theatre of opera
tions, and commanded a brigade of veterans acquainted with
the ground. It would appear, therefore, that each brigade
was handled in the attack as a separate force, with little regard
to the movements or purposes of the other— an incongruity in
war utterly hostile to success. Howbeit, by ten o'clock a.m.
the next day, the Federals had evacuated the position, and
withdrawn down the river — a proceeding unquestionably
brought about by the attack of the day before, even though
it had miscarried* The Confederate forces were then sun-

* We ascertain the object of this ex- least a brigade of cavalry, and thus di-
pedition was to draw to that point at minish the force that else might have

406 Campaigns of General Forrest.
dered, and Richardson marched back to Grenada, in which
vicinity his brigade remained until the 15th, when it joined its
proper division, then en route for Panola.*
For a week after Forrest established his headquarters at
Columbus, he occupied himself actively with the duties of ad
ministration, and his order-books of the period show a wide
range of judicious measures, embracing the detachment of
small commands under discreet and zealous officers, to collect
absentees, or persons owing military duty in different sections
of Mississippi, and for the suppression of Tory marauders in
Alabama, and of the illicit distillation of grain within the limits
of his command, the provision of ammunition for all arms, and
all that could possibly tend to the enhancement of the effi
ciency of his force, either in relation to organization or equip
ment. At the same time he had determined to make another
mroad across the line of the Memphis and Charleston Rail
road into West-Tennessee, and, if possible, into Western
Kentucky, to which he was incited by several motives :
1 st. Buford's Kentuckians were in pressing need of clothing
and equipments, and one third were on foot, while the horses
of many of the rest were indifferent; he therefore desired to
give that command an opportunity to refit in their own State.
2d. The Tennesseeans brought out in December were, also,
for the most part, in great need of clothing, and had left their
homes so suddenly as to make it important they, likewise,
should be indulged in a brief visit to that region.
Meanwhile, on the 13th, Chalmers's Division, at the time
commanded by Colonel McCulloch, was ordered by General

been employed to prevent a junction of * General Richardson, however, had
General Smith's cavalry force with been relieved from duty with it on- the
Sherman, about Meridian, a junction 12th, and the command devolved on
which, as we learn, was very effectually Colonel J. J. Neely.
baffled, nevertheless.

Again en rottte for 1 Vest-Tennessee. 407
Forrest to return to Panola, each regiment taking in its route
thither a different road, to sweep the country as far southward
as Grenada, and gather up all persons irregularly or improperly
absent from the arm}'.
All needful preparations for the contemplated expedition
northward having been completed by the 15th, Buford's Di
vision — Thompson's and Bell's Brigades — the Seventh Ten
nessee, and McDonald's Battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Crews, were in motion on that day. The route was widely
different from that taken in December previously, due, doubt
less, to the point of departure. It was near Corinth that
West-Tennessee was now entered, Faulkner's Regiment hav
ing been thrown out, however, on the left flank, to cross the
line at Pocahontas, and thence, through Bolivar, on to Den
mark, westward of Jackson, which, as in December, was the
point of direction for the main force, and Forrest was there as
early as the 20th, five days after leaving Columbus, one hun
dred and fifty miles distant.
Here one of his battalions was detached in the direction
of Memphis, to hold vigilant watch over and report all Fed
eral movements or approaches from that direction, while Bu
ford (not yet up) was directed on the 2 2d to send thither all
his dismounted men (under a competent officer) who were
unable to make the march northward, as also Colonel Wilson,
with five companies of his regiment, to occupy the place dur
ing the expedition. This arranged, on the afternoon of the
22d, Forrest repaired to Trenton with his staff, escort, the
Seventh Tennessee and Faulkner's Regiments, Buford en
camping the same evening at Spring Creek, twelve miles
north-east of Jackson.
On the 23d, the Seventh Tennessee, McDonald's Battalion,
and Faulkner's Regiment — less than 500 men — were detached
under Colonel Duckworth, to move upon Union City and cap
ture any Federal force there. Approaching the place before

408 Campaigns of General Forrest.
daylight, on the morning of the 24th, the Confederate com
mander discovered by the light of some burning buildings, ex
terior to the position occupied by the Federals, that they were
strongly intrenched in a square redoubt. A close and vigor
ous investment ensued, however, and for several hours there
was a good deal of sharp-shooting, while Faulkner's Kentuck
ians made a charge to within twenty or thirty yards of the
work, the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Lannum receiving a
very severe wound on the occasion. Without artillery, and
the force within the works being fully equal in numbers to his
own, Colonel Duckworth now resorted to the ruse of presenting
a peremptory demand for the surrender of the position, in the
name of General Forrest, as if that redoubtable Confederate
were present, conducting the operations. The Federal com
mander — Colonel Hawkins — who once before (December,
1862) had fallen into Forrest's hands, asking delay, and time
to consider " so grave a matter as the surrender " of his post,
besought, moreover, a personal interview with Forrest, which,
of course, was impracticable, while there was danger, also, of
reenforcement.* Duckworth, therefore, cleverly answered in
the name of his chief, as before, that other important military
movements would not allow a moment for deliberation ; that
the answer, therefore, must be immediate and conclusive ;
that he (Forrest) was not in the habit of meeting officers in
ferior in rank to himself, under flag of truce, but would send
Colonel W. L. Duckworth, an officer of equal rank, clothed
with power to arrange terms, and any arrangement made by
him would be strictly observed. The interview took place.
Hawkins plead for delay, but Duckworth was obdurate ; the

* General Brayman, with a reenforce- hearing of the disaster, returned to Co-
ment of 2000 men, actually came to lumbus, Ky., and Cairo. — See Reb. Rec.
within six miles of Union City that af- VIII. Doc. 1, pp. 6 and 49.
ternoon, after the. surrender, but there

Descent upon Paducah. 409
capitulation was therefore made at eleven a.m., and 475 men,
with their arms and ammunition, camp and garrison equipage,
and 300 horses, were the results of this adroitlp-managed
stratagem* Meanwhile, Forrest, with his escort and Buford's Division,
was pressing, by rapid marches, toward Paducah, before which
he arrived about two p.m. on the 25 th. Federal scouts had been
thrown out that morning, it is stated, but finding no enemy
approaching, had returned and reported the roads" clear.
Presently Forrest presented himself, however, and dashed into
the town with his advance-guard, forcing the Federals to
betake themselves, in hot haste, to their stronghold, Fort An
derson, a large inclosed earthwork, constructed for such an
emergency, in the western suburbs of the town, about one
hundred yards removed from the river bank, and surrounded
by a broad, deep ditch, fringed with a strong abatis.
In this movement, Buford had been directed to dismount
one hundred of his men, and throw them forward leftward, in
the direction of the fort, to reconnoitre and feel the defensive
means of the enemy in that quarter, while, as before recited,
Forrest charged with his escort rightward upon the pickets
and drove them back, down the main street, into the town.
It was not his purpose to attack the fort, and he gave no
orders looking to such a step. But speedily was heard the
sound of rapid, heavy firing of small-arms and artillery in
that direction, and, on sending Captain Anderson, his aid, to
ascertain the cause, that officer, returning in a few moments,
reported that an attack had been made by Colonel Thomp-

* It is but justice to say that Lieu- intelligent conduct of the flag of truce,
tenant W. S. Pope, Adjutant of the contributed largely to the success of the
Seventh Tennessee, and Lieutenant Confederates on this occasion. Lieu-
W. M. McConnell, of Henderson's tenant Pope subsequently fell at Tish-
Scouts, by their presence of m'nd and emingo Creek.

410 -Campaigns of General Forrest.
son, with about four hundred men of the Third and Seventh
Kentucky, which, though gallantly led and made, had been
repulsed with the loss of that distinguished officer.
The work, as before said, was of a formidable class, gar
nished with at least six pieces of artillery, and at. this time all
the Federal troops at Paducah had taken refuge in it — from
700 to 1000 in number, embracing detachments from the Six
teenth Kentucky Cavalry, the One Hundred and Twenty-
second Illinois Infantry, and the First Kentucky Negro Artil
lery, with the provost-guard of the place* The attack was
made by Colonel Thompson and his Kentuckians, with all the
lustrous valor with which men- are inspired to fight for the
recovery of homes and firesides ; but it was deplorably thrown
away ; their ranks were speedily thinned by the hot tide of mus
ketry and grape that seethed over the stout parapets, which
they had vainly aspired to scale, and the life-blood of Albert P.
Thompson was poured out within sight of the place of his birth,
the house of his father, the home of his proud, useful manhood,
the field of his professional distinction. The fire concen
trated upon this band of Kentuckians was too consuming to
be endured ; and Colonel Crossland, who succeeded to the
command, distributed his men promptly among the nume
rous houses, from the upper stories and roofs of which they
poured a deadly fire over the parapets of the works.
Made aware of the situation, Forrest sent a positive order
to Buford not to attempt to storm the Federal position, and
at the same time causing a bugle to be sounded in indication
of his wish for a parley, presented a formal demand for the
surrender of the place, in order, as he stated in his note, to
avoid the unnecessary effusion of blood, inasmuch as he had

• The lowest Federal estimate is 646, while one places the force at 1000.
Vide Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc. 127, p. 502.

Surrender of Federals Demanded.

411

an overwhelming force at his command, a device that more
than once he had found very efficacious in previous opera
tions* At the time of his attack upon the fort, two Federal
gunboats, the Peosta and the Paw Paw, had taken an active,
efficient part, from positions highly favorable, in repelling it,
and probably, indeed, it was -by a shell from one of these that
Colonel Thompson was slain. They greatly added, it was
evident, to the strength of the work ;! and Colonel Hicks,
the Federal Commander, flushed with his recent advantage,

* We find this note embodied in the
report of Colonel Hicks, Reb. Rec.
VIII. Doc. 1, p. 73, as follows :
" Headquarters Forrest's )
Cavalry Corps, Paducah, Ky., >
March 25, 1864. )
Colonel Hicks, Commanding Fede
ral Forces at Paducah :
Colonel : Having a force amply
sufficient to carry your works and re
duce the place, and in order to avoid
the unnecessary effusion of blood, I
demand the surrender of the fort and
troops, with all public property. If
you surrender, you shall be treated as
prisoners of war ; but if I have to
storm your works, you may expect no
quarter. (Signed) N. B. Forrest,
Maj.-Gen. Com. Con. Troops."
The menace with which the forego
ing summons is concluded has been
violently denounced at the North, as
something infamously unusual in war ;
and some of the witnesses examined
by the Congressional Committee,
though affecting to be as learned as a
" Cathedral Doctor," in regard to the

law and customs of war in such cases,
were very harsh in their condemnation,
ignoring the fact that the laws of war
really subject those who prolong a vain
defense of a fortified place to be put to
the sword, when it shall be carried by
storm ; and, further, that on several
occasions, as late as the Napoleonic
wars in Spain, this stern right of war
was exercised. Forrest having no in
tention whatsoever of attempting to as
sault the fort, (without artillery as he
was, except four small, useless moun
tain howitzers,) simply resorted to this
demand, including the threat, as a sim
ple, legitimate brutum fidmen. Un
questionably, it was proper for him to
seek to impress the Federal Com
mander with the idea that he had such
a force at his back as made further de
fense unjustifiable, because hopeless ;
and hence, one that would lay them
liable to severe treatment in the event
he were forced to do that (storm the
place) which he had no idea of doing,
as was shown by the fact that he made
no attempt to storm it afterward.
t Vide Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc. 127, p.
504.

412 Campaigns of General Forrest.
promptly answered the demand of his capitulation with a
defiant refusal.
Meanwhile, the Confederates had complete possession, of
the town itself; the streets of which the guns of the fort and
gunboats were sweeping with incessant discharges of solid
shot, shell, and grape, doing a great deal of damage to the
buildings. Scattered in detachments, Buford's men never
theless began to collect in the various stores, warehouses, and
stables, the clothing, supplies, and horses, for which the opera
tions had been chiefly undertaken ; and other parties were set
to destroy such public property and war material as could not
be removed, including the quartermaster's depot and offices,
railroad depot with all the rolling stock, and the Marine Way
with the steamer Dacotah, on the stocks for repairs.* Imme
diately fronting and contiguous to the river, there was a row
of buildings, mainly used for army purposes, and into these
Forrest promptly threw detachments of Russell's Tennessee
ans and his own escort, with long-range rifles, which were
brought to bear upon the apertures of the gunboats with an
accuracy so deadly, that they were driven to seek shelter under
the fort. Other parties of riflemen, occupying a number of
buildings in proximity to the fort itself, annoyed the garrison
with such effect that, while there was considerable destruc
tion of buildings and property, chiefly occupied or owned by
the Federal government and its friends, by the virulent
cannonade now turned upon the town, the Confederates,
nevertheless, had ample opportunity to glean the place tho
roughly for such military supplies as were wanting.!

* Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc. 127, p. 508. unaware that there was any truce, just,
t The allegation that these sharp- doubtless, as the commanders of the
shooters were advanced, while the flag gunboats were ignorant of it, and,
of truce was up, is unfounded, though, therefore, did not cease their cannonade.
we doubt not, some of them exercised The truce did not last more than three
their skill on the gunboats at that time, quarters of an hour.

The Confederates Withdrawn. 413
Forrest having closely reconnoitered the work, in the inter
val while his sharp-shooters were actively harassing its garri
son from the tops and upper stories of the adjoining houses,
became fully satisfied that to storm it would involve a greater
sacrifice of valuable life than would be justified by the capture
of the force that defended it, withdrew all his troops without
making any other effort to assault the work than that which
had so unfortunately resulted in the loss of Colonel Thomp
son. Therefore, the highly wrought narratives with which
the Northern newspapers of the day abound, of successive
charges — four or five in number — upon the fort, by serried
masses of Confederates, up even to the very " mouths of the
guns," and upon " the walls of the fort " to be ignominiously
beaten back by negro soldiers with clubbed muskets,* and
at the cost of hecatombs of their dead and wounded, are
mean, extravagant fictions, as groundless as the infamous sto
ries of Confederate atrocities, set afloat in the like channels, at
the same period, to infuriate the Northern people.
Such were the salient events and incidents which charac
terized the affair at Paducah, on the afternoon of the 25 th of
March, when that place was in possession of the Confederates,
from a little after two until eleven p.m. Then Forrest with
drew his main force some four miles southward, and encamped,
taking with him some fifty prisoners, about four hundred
horses and mules, and a very large supply of clothing and
quartermaster's subsistence and military supplies, including
saddles and other horse equipments, for the procurement of
which, as we have said, the expedition had been mainly made.

* It would seem that negro courage ultaneously struck in the forehead by a
and prowess were chiefly worthy of musket-ball, fired by an ardent young
notice by these veracious chroniclers. African," while "colored soldiers" are
Therefore, Colonel Thompson, after those specially noticed as resorting to
having been torn to pieces by a shell, clubbed muskets.
must needs be dramatically and " sim-

414 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Another object, however, was to confuse, distract, and defen
sively occupy the Federal forces that, for some time previously,
had been used to harass and despoil the people of West-Ten
nessee and North-Mississippi ; and this, too, was accomplished
in a high degree, for the most exaggerated notions prevailed
among Federal officers of rank in regard both to the strength
of Forrest's forces and his purposes.*
The morning of the 26th, though largely reenforced during
the night, and his ammunition replenished, the Federal com
mander, apprehensive of another attack, threw out detach
ments from his fortress, and set fire to a large number of
buildings, including some of the best dwelling and business
houses of the place, which, in that event, might be occupied
by hostile sharp-shooters, to his annoyance.! But it will be
remembered that Forrest had already begun to retire, having
really accomplished the purposes for which the expedition
had been undertaken, and hence this waste of property was
the fruit of an idle apprehension. At nine a.m., however, on the
26th, Forrest sent, under a flag of truce, a proposition for an
exchange of prisoners, to the extent of those who had been
captured by Faulkner at Union City, and those taken in his
own operations of the day before ; but this was declined, for
alleged want of authority.!

* Vide evidence of Major-General no doubt the proper quarter for For-
Hurlbut before Congressional Com- rest's operations had been upon Sher-
mittee, Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc. I, pp. man's long, exposed, vulnerable line of
40,41. General Sherman says, how- communications. General Johnston had
ever, in one of his characteristic dis- urged upon the Confederate authorities
patches at the time, that it was in just such a use of his force, but they had
such operations he wanted to see other views ; and not having been thus
Forrest kept employed, to divert the employed, Forrest did that in his sphere
Confederate cavalry from other opera- which could most distract, harass, and
tions, the results of which he dreaded hurt his immediate enemy,
more, namely, a concentrated attack t Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc. 127, p. 509.
on his communications as he pressed X Ibid.
Johnston back upon Atlanta. There is

Confederates Furloughed. 415
Meanwhile, the main Confederate force was already in
motion southward, via Mayfield. There the Third and
Seventh Kentucky regiments were detached by squads to re
pair to the several neighborhoods in South-West Kentucky,
in which they had been enrolled, to visit their kindred, from
whom they had been long separated, and at the same time to
beat up recruits — with orders, however, to reassemble by the
end of the month at that place, where General Buford re
mained, with some three or four hundred of the Second
Tennessee and Eighth Kentucky, to await their return. For
rest then moved southward with the other regiments of the
force — taking separate roads severally — and sweeping the
country between the Obion and Tennessee rivers, for absen
tees and other persons subject to military service, horses
suitable for cavalry and artillery, and for government arms in
the hands of citizens. Bell's Brigade, however, was left at
Trenton, in which vicinity it belonged, to give the officers and
men not only an opportunity to see their families and friends,
and to procure summer clothing, but also to recruit.
Buford's Kentuckians having returned promptly to their
colors, he reached Trenton on the 3d of April, and established
the headquarters of his division there, under orders to avail
himself diligently of the resources of the surrounding country,
to mount, equip, and recruit both the brigades, as far as possible.
To that point, likewise, were dispatched the detachment of
dismounted Kentuckians, unable to accompany the expedition
that had been left meanwhile at Jackson. Faulkner's Regi
ment also rejoined, and he was further instructed to hold his
command " in readiness to move at the shortest notice," with
ten days' subsistence constantly on hand.*

* MS. letter of Major Strange, A. A. G., to General Buford, March 31st and
AprU 5th, 1864.

41 6 Campaigns of General Forrest.
While at Trenton, Buford having noticed, in a Northern
newspaper, the statement that the horses which had been
recently carried off from Paducah belonged exclusively to the
citizens, while those of the United States had escaped by their
adroit concealment in the old foundry or rolling-mill, in the
outskirts of the town, acquainted Forrest with the circum
stances, and requested and obtained authority to return at
once with the Kentucky Brigade, or some 800 men, and com
plete his remounts.
Setting out on the 8th, Buford was in the vicinity of
Columbus on the 12th, when he detached his escort, (Captain
Tyler,) Seay's Company of the Seventh, and Home's, of the
Third Kentucky, under Captain J. C. Home, to make a
vigorous demonstration on the position. One of his staff-
officers (Lieutenant D. E. Myers) also accompanied the
detachment, to carry a flag of truce, to demand the surrender,
as if his superior were present with his whole force, with the
hope of thus drawing thither reenforcements, and distracting
the movements of the Federal forces.* Other detachments

* The demand was couched in the the white troops will be treated as
following language : prisoners of war.
Headquarters C. S. Forces,) j am> s!r> y°urs-
Before Columbus, Ky., y (Signed) A. Buford,

ces,)

April 13, 1864. ) Brigadier-General.
To the Commanding Officer U. S. As is seen abov£) on]y three smaU
Forces, Columbus, Ky. -. companies were engaged in the expe-
Fully capable of taking Columbus dition, and it must be apparent the
and its garrison by force, I desire to language of the foregoing note was re-
avoid the shedding of blood, and there- sorted to as a legitimate stratagem to
fore demand the unconditional surren- alarm the Federals to the utmost for
der of the forces under your command, the safety of the troops thus menaced,
Should you surrender, the negroes now and thus attract reenforcements there,
in arms will be returned to their mas- and divert them from Buford's real ob-
ters. Should I, however, be compel- jective, Paducah, whither he was .mov-
led to take the place, no quarter will be ing at the time with his main force.
shown to the negro troops whatever;

Buford's Descent iipon Paducah. 417
r
were also thrown out, to make ostentatious display of force
in the country, especially at points on the Tennessee River.
And on the 14th, Buford suddenly appeared at Paducah, about
one o'clock p.m., by the Paducah road, with his advance-guard,
while his main body entered on the Mayfield way. The
Federal force now at Paducah had been increased to quite
three times that of Buford, and at least four gunboats were
likewise present, with several near by. Nevertheless, the
Confederates boldly entered and occupied the town, the
Federals, in part, taking shelter in the fort, and the remainder
occupying a position covered by the river bank — supported
by several of the gunboats. Thus stood matters, when
Buford proceeding to execute his plan of operations, ac
cordingly sent a squadron of cavalry to the rolling-mill, to
search for horses, and set Lieutenant-Colonel Shacklett, of
the Eighth Kentucky, to investigate the quartermaster and
subsistence store-houses. The horses, some 140 excellent stock,
were soon found concealed, as had been anticipated, but, fo:
the most part, the subsistence and other supplies had been
removed across the river that day, in anticipation of an
attack. Meanwhile, a furious bombardment had been opened
on the town, from fort and gunboat, but no movement was
made on the part of the Federal commander to throw his
troops from their cover. Buford's next measure was now
to beguile his adversary with the apprehension of a serious
attack, so he formally notified the Federal commander of his
intention to attack him, and granted a truce of one hour, for
the purpose of moving the women and children. This was
accepted, and the navy officers began to remove the women
and children to the Illinois shore. Meanwhile, Buford began
to withdraw, with his main force and spoils, leaving Faulkner
to threaten the place for some hours longer, and then retire
westward, on the road to Blandville, to continue the decep
tion as to the objects and the strength of these Confederate

41 8 Campaigns of General Forrest.
movements. Buford himself fell back slowly to Dresden, on
the 1 8th, and established his headquarters there until the
30th, under orders from General Forrest, for the purpose
of recruiting and procuring additional artillery and cavalry
horses.* III.
While the events we have related in the preceding sections
of this chapter were passing, other portions of Forrest's com
mand elsewhere had not been inactive, nor without incidents
that properly belong to this memoir.
It will be recollected that, as Forrest led Buford's Division
and several of Chalmers's regiments and battalions toward the
Ohio river, Chalmers was sent to establish himself with the
main part of his division about Panola, Mississippi. But about
the time Forrest was leaving Jackson, he ordered that Neely's
Brigade! should likewise enter West-Tennessee, and take
post at or about Brownsville, and that McCulloch's Brigade
should be thrown forward across the Tallahatchie to Water-
ford, some eight miles south of Holly Spring. Accordingly,
Neely, getting in motion on the 25 th of March, was at
Bolivar on the 29th, and there encountered and completely
routed a Federal force under the notorious Hurst, that —
leader and men — had become as conspicuous for their craven
conduct in the presence of armed enemies, as for rapacity
and brutal, cruel outrages toward the defenseless citizens of
the country which they desolated. This band of merciless
marauders, trusting to their supposed superior numbers, boldly
approached Bolivar, with a confidence that was speedily
dissipated when it became apparent that the Confederates
intended to fight, and Hurst attempted to withdraw ; but

* Buford's Official Report, with other MS. accounts ofthe transactions.
t Recently Richardson's Brigade.

Neely s Affair at Bolivar. 4r9
Neely, pursuing promptly and hotly, killed about twenty and
captured some' thirty, and their wagon-train, (five wagons
and teams,) and two ambulances, with their contents, includ
ing 50,000 rounds of ammunition, much needed, as it hap
pened, by the Confederates, at the moment. The main
part of these miscreants, however, effected their escape by
way of Sommerville, to Memphis, from the lines of which,
we are told, they did not emerge for the rest of the war as a
band. Previously — 27th — Chalmers, having learned that
Grierson had been detached with a heavy cavalry force from
Memphis, to operate upon Forrest's rear, ordered McCulloch
tp leave two battalions* to guard the crossing of the Talla
hatchie, and advance with the remainder of the brigade toward
the Tennessee border. With this command, General Chal
mers crossed into West-Tennessee, at or near Lagrange, on
the 29th, and was at Bolivar early on the next day. Mean
while, the prisoners accumulated in the course of the expe
dition, at Jackson, some 600 in number, were detached,
en route for Demopolis, Alabama, under a strong escort, in
the direction of Corinth. But rumors being rife of the move
ment of large bodies of Federal troops in that quarter, with
the purpose of intercepting and recapturing the prisoners, the
officer in command returned rightward, toward Pocahontas,
and Chalmers's Division likewise was detached, to insure
their safe conduct beyond the dangerous ground of the line
of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. But so thick and
specific were the rumors of the presence in that direction of
considerable hostile forces,-that Forrest could not keep aloof,
and made one of his characteristic expeditions. It had been
reported that a force of some 6000 Federals were at Purdy.
making his escort, he rode swiftly to that vicinity, with the*

' Nineteenth Mississippi (Duff's) and First Mississippi Partisans.

42 o ' Campaigns of General Forrest.
purpose of engaging them in such a series of skirmishes as
should check their movements.* The information, however,
was untrue. Meantime, the prisoners were safely convoyed
across the border, and Chalmers's Division returned north-
ward,---McCulloch's Brigade to Jackson, and Neely's to
Brownsville and Sommerville.
As will be recollected, as Forrest moved northward, McDo
nald's Battalion, after the affair of Union City, was sent to
reconoitre, and report all hostile movements from the direction
of Memphis. Having performed this service without notable
incident, and returned to Bolivar, Forrest detached Lieutenant-
Colonel Crews, its commander, to repair to the western part
of Fayette county, and, while keeping twenty men of each
company in the ranks, to furlough the rest for a few days to
visit their friends and refit, especially clothing. Accordingly,
being in camp several miles west of Sommerville on the night
of the 2d of April, with only sixty men present, Colonel Crews
received intimation that a strong Federal cavalry force was
en route eastward from Raleigh, On the Sommerville road.
He therefore moved out early next morning to observe this
movement, and at one p.m., within twelve or fifteen miles of
Raleigh, encountered and was fired upon by the enemy's ad
vance-guard, at Royster's farm. Exposing his colors and a
few men upon the crest of a hill, as ostentatiously as possible,
Colonel Crews kept concealed the smallness of his real force,
while he reconoitered from some high ground in advance.
The enemy, as he discovered, evidently apprehensive of the
situation, had also halted, and were drawn up in a long line
of battle, along the crown of a high ridge just in advance,
behind a fence, With a company detached on each flank to
cover it from any movement. Taking advantage of adjoining
woods, Colonel Crews detached Lieutenant Christopher D.

• Dispatch of Major Strange, A. A. G., to General Chalmers, March 31st, 1864.

A Brilliant Affair. 421
Steinkuhl, of Memphis, with twelve men to the right, and
Lieutenant T H. Mayer with ten men to the left, with orders
to approach under cover, and attack and dislodge the Federal
flank detachments at all hazards. Dismounting a small squad
at the same time to engage the Federal sharp-shooters, who
were annoying those of the Confederates exposed to view, and
as Lieutenants Steinkuhl and Mayer and their little detach
ments intrepidly attacked as directed, Crews charged down
the main road with less than forty men mounted. It was a
rash, desperate venture, but the splendid daring and confi
dence with which it was undertaken and conducted so misled
the enemy, that two Federal regiments gave way for several
hundred yards, and took a defensive position, reenforced1 by
two more regiments, among some houses and in a wood.
Crews now moved boldly around to his right, as if seeking
to take his adversaries in reverse, in that quarter where Lieu
tenant Steinkuhl was already creating some disturbance by
his presence. But as soon as he was out of view, Colonel
Crews turning, returned to, and reappeared in front of, the
last position taken up by the Federals. Thoroughly deceived
by these displays of force, incredible as it may seem, and evi
dently mistrustful of the situation, the whole Federal force
immediately fell back in haste to Raleigh. It is said, also,
that General Grierson, moving on another road, with another
force equally large, was inoculated with the same apprehen
sion, and a rapid retreat into Memphis was the result, with
the destruction of all the bridges behind them, leaving Crews
in possession of the field. The Confederate loss was merely
two men and one horse wounded, while that of the enemy was
five killed, six wounded, a captain, a non-commissioned officer,
and one private captured*

• MS. Notes of Lieutenant-Colonel grossly exaggerated narration of this
Crews. That we have not given *. affair is fully shown by the statement

422 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Bell's Brigade of Buford's Division, now about 1700 strong,
and McCulloch'sof Chalmer's Division, had meanwhile assem
bled at Jackson. • Ever since his advent into West-Tennessee,
Forrest had been distressed by well-authenticated instances,
repeatedly brought to his notice, of rapine and atrocious out
rage upon non-combatants of the country, by the garrison at
Fort Pillow. And a delegation of the people of the town of
Jackson and surrounding region now waited upon and ear
nestly besought him to leave a brigade for their protection
against this nest of outlaws. According to the information
received, the garrison in question consisted of a battalion of
whites, commanded by Major Bradford, (a Tennesseean,) and
a negro battalion under Major Booth, who likewise command
ed the post. Many of Bradford's men were known to be de
serters from the Confederate army, and the rest were men of
the country who entertained a malignant hatred toward Con
federate soldiers, their families and friends. Under the pre
tense of scouring the country for arms and " rebel soldiers,"
Bradford and his subalterns had traversed the surrounding
country with detachments, robbing the people of their horses,
mules, beef cattle, beds, plate, wearing apparel, money, and
every possible movable article of value, besides venting upon
the wives and daughters of Southern soldiers the most oppro-

of Major-General Stephen A. Hurlbut, of 2200 cavalry, 2100 white infantry,
before the Congressional Committee as and 2400 colored infantry." (Reb. Rec.
follows : " Forrest moved up and cross- VIII. Doc 1, p. 40.) Thus it is ad-
ed the line of the Charleston and Mem- mitted that Grierson went forth into
phis Railroad toward Jackson, Tennes- the country 2200 strong, and returned
see, and occupied it. General Grierson after finding that the Confederates were
was directed to go out with his cavalry, " a little too strong for him." But we
feel him, attack him, and cripple him have shown he came in conflict with no
as much as possible. He went out, and part of Forrest's command but Crews
reported that he was a little too strong and his sixty men. This may appear
for him, and he could not touch him. incredible, but nevertheless may be re-
My effective force at Memphis consisted lied on.

Fort Pillow. 423
brious and obscene epithets, with more than one extreme out
rage upon the persons of these victims of their hate and lust.
The families of many of Forrest's men had been thus grie
vously wronged, despoiled, and insulted, and in one or two
cases fearfully outraged, and many of his officers, uniting with
the citizens of the country in the petition, begged to be per
mitted to remain, to shield their families from further molesta
tion. Of course this was impossible ; but Forrest determined
to employ his present resources for the summary suppression
of the evil and grievances complained of, by the surprise, if
possible, and capture, at all hazards, of Fort Pillow ; and the
orders necessary to that end were issued on the ioth of April;
Bell's and McCulloch's Brigades, with Walton's Battery — four
mountain howitzers— being selected for the operation.

CHAPTER XVI.

FORT PILLOW.
Forrest in Movement upon Fort Pillow — Description of the Position —
First Stage of the Attack, resulting in the Death of Federal Com
mander, Major Booth — Forrest, making close Reconnaissance, had
two Horses killed under him — Confederate Sharp-Shooters envelop
and command Position — Outworks and Position seized close to Pa
rapets — Surrender demanded— Approach of Federal Transports with
Troops — Forrest took Means to drive off Succor — Capitulation re
fused—Assault made — Parapets stormed— Garrison fled to River-
Bank for Relief under Guns of Naval Vessel — Gunboat failed to
render Aid — Results— Commentaries.

April nth and 12th, 1864.
l\S we have stated in the last chapter, a long course of
brutal, infamous conduct on the part of Bradford's Battalion
toward the non-combatant people Qf West-Tennessee had de
termined General Forrest to break up their lair, and capture
or destroy them before leaving that section of the country for
other operations. To Bell's and McCulloch's Brigades and
Walton's Battery of mountain-howitzers, as we have said, had
this service been assigned, and they were immediately put in
motion by way of Brownsville. Leaving Jackson on the
morning of the nth, Forrest overtook General Chalmers at
Brownsville at two p.m., and, to add another to the chances
of success, ordered that officer to push ahead with thjs troops

Fort Pillow.

425

by a forced march, so that they might be in close proximity
to Fort Pillow by daylight the next morning. The distance
was thirty-eight miles ; it was raining, and so dense the dark
ness after midnight, that it was difficult to distinguish the
road or " to see a file-leader." Nevertheless, such was the
eager spirit of the hardy riders who followed Chalmers, that
they — McCulloch's Brigade in advance — pushed on that
murky, wet night " without halting, except now and then to
examine a shaky bridge."* Hence, just before dawn, the
advance-guard, Captain Frank J. Smith's company of the Se
cond Missouri Cavalry, surprised the Federal pickets and
captured all except one or two, who, escaping to the Fort
just at sunrise, gave the first warning of the danger impend
ing! Fort Pillow, first established in 1861, by the State of Ten
nessee, on the east bank of the Mississippi river, about three
and a half miles above or north of Fulton, was so fortified by
the Confederate States engineers, under the orders of Gene
ral Beauregard, in March and April, 1862, that it effectually
baffled the formidable efforts of the Federal navy to pass it.
But about the last of May, J862, the Confederates having,
been forced to evacuate Corinth, the line of the Memphis and
Charleston Railroad, and hence Memphis, Fort Pillow was
also abandoned. The Federals at once occupied it, but ap
parently never with any considerable force. And they never
refurnished the water-batteries, which the Confederates had
dismantled on retiring from the position, limiting their mea
sures apparently to holding the position against the contin-

* MS. Notes of Captain Walter A. post ; nevertheless, at least one man
Goodman. escaped. See also statement of Lieu-
t Guided by a citizen ofthe neighbor- tenant Leming, Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc
hood, Captain Smith was able to lead 1, p. 23.
his company to the rear of their picket-

426 Campaigns of General Forrest.
gency of its ' becoming, otherwise, a point from which small
Confederate expeditions or partisans might constantly distress
if not interrupt the navigation of the Mississippi river. For
of this there was peculiar danger, from the fact that the steam
boat channel at that point runs within short musket-range of
the eastern bank of the river, while that bank affords admira
ble shelter and a plunging fire* But, evidently feeling safe
against any serious enterprise of any sort, the Federals neg
lected ordinary military precautions for the defense of the
place against just such an assault as the one we have now to
narrate. The lines of works erected by the Confederate en
gineers in 1 861-2 to defend the land approaches were upon a
very extended scale, with a strong profile calculated to resist
siege artillery. That is, far too large to be of the least use or
value to a garrison so small as that which the Federals habitu
ally kept there, and, besides, several points upon it completely
commanded, at a distance not exceeding six hundred yards,
the immediate position upon which the Federals had freshly
thrown up breastworks that were relied on with so much ill-
judged confidence as an impregnable fastness against any
hostile operation which could possibly be undertaken by the
Confederates.! The Federal works were constructed with

* Major-General Hurlbut, in his evi- would go right through them and they
dence before the Congressional Com- could not get elevation enough to strike.
mittee at Cairo, Illinois, April 24th, ' The whole life of the army below, espe-
1864, thus precisely discusses the war cially while these large movements were
value of the position to both sides : going on, depended upon an uninter-
" The steamboat channel at Fort Pillow rupted communication by the river, and
runs right under the bluff, and brings the stopping of that communication for
every boat as it passes within musket- two or three days might deprive us of
shot of the shore, and a couple of guns the necessary supplies just at the mo-
mounted up above them would stop men they were required." — Reb. Rec.
most effectually the navigation of the VIII. Doc. 1, p. 41.
river and drive away any of the tin-clad t " I received a report from him,
gunboats we have, for a plunging fire (Major Booth,) that he could hold that

Fort Pillow. 427
the trace and in the position exhibited in the map opposite —
that is, upon the highest part of the bluff chosen for occupa
tion, and inclosing the north-west angle, formed by the river
and Coal creek, upon the last of which it jutted abruptly,
while a bench of some forty feet lay between it and the imme
diate river-bank at that stage of the water. Eastward there
was a gradual slope from the crown next the river for from
twenty to sixty yards, when the descent became sudden into a
narrow gorge that separated it from a labyrinth of hills and
ridges, divided from each other by a network of interlacing,
narrow ravines, and this slope was broken by several crooked
and deep gullies, affording well-covered approaches for an
enemy to within thirty to one hundred yards of the interior
intrenchments. Southward, this eminence also fell off gently
for about two hundred yards and then rapidly into a narrow
valley, the course of which was perpendicular to the river,
and in which were a number of trading-houses and other
buildings, known as the " town." This slope, as will be seen
in the diagram annexed, was seamed by a ravine which gave
hostile access to within one hundred and fifty yards of the
southern face of the works. Immediately exterior and paral
lel with the face of the works commanding this part of the
ground were four rows of cabins and tents, the outer line of
which (cabins) was not more than sixty yards distant from
the ditch, and rightward from these, stretched around to the
north for some two hundred yards, a rifle-pit along the eastern
verge of the acclivity. The parapets of the inner works were
about eight feet high, with a ditch six feet deep and twelve
broad. The armament consisted of two ten-pounder Parrott
rifled guns, two twelve-pounder howitzers, and two six-pound-

post against any force for forty-eight Hurlbut, Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc I, p.
hours." — Evidence of Major-General 41.

428 Campaigns of General Forrest.
er rifled-bore field-pieces, and the whole garrison did not ex
ceed 580 men.*
Upon the capture of the pickets, McCulloch's Brigade was
pressed rapidly on, with instructions to take up a position
southward of the Fort, and as near as possible to the river-
bank and the work. Bell's Brigade, as prearranged, was like
wise ordered up ; Wilson's Regiment to deploy directly in
front and occupy the close attention of the garrison by an
immediate, vigorous skirmish, while the rest of the brigade
should seek to penetrate to the river northward, along Coal
creek, and invest and attack from that side, understood to be
very weak and vulnerable. These movements were executed
with care, and the many advantages of the ground were aptly
used by the Confederates to avoid unnecessary exposure as
they gradually brushed the small force of Federal sharp
shooters back from their advanced positions. McCulloch, on
his side, soon seized a position with his left flank on the river-
bank, about half a mile southward of the Fort, the remainder
of his line disposed in the ravines extending around and to
ward the north-east, in close proximity to a high ridge upon
which were the old lines of the Confederate works, the most
elevated point upon which was occupied at the time by a
Federal detachment. And thus, as had been predetermined,
he awaited to hear the sound of Bell's musketry on the north
as his signal for an attack from the south.
But Bell's movement had been barren of results : for it was

* Made up as follows : First Bat- section Company D, Second U. S.
talion, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, Light Artillery, (colored,) I commis-
Maj'or William F. Bradford command- sioned officer and 40 men — that is, ag
ing, 10 officers and 285 enlisted men ; gregate white troops, 295 ; colored,
First Battalion, Sixth U. S. Heavy Ar- 262 ; or, in all, 557.— AV*. Rec. VIII.
tillery, (colored,) 8 commissioned offi- Doc I, p. 62.
cers and 213 enlisted men ; and one

Forrest Reconnoitres. 429
found impracticable to reach the river along Coal creek, and
a new plan of attack had to be arranged. This brought delay,
and meantime, after a ride of seventy-two miles since six
o'clock the day before, Forrest came upon the field with his
staff, escort, and a detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel
Wisdom. It was about nine o'clock as General Forrest reached the
ground ; and about the same hour Major Booth, the Federal
commander, and his adjutant by his side, were killed.* Los
ing no time, Forrest pressed immediately to the front to re
connoitre, as was his wont, trusting that important duty to no
other eyes than his own. And so thoroughly was this duty
accomplished, that he had two horses killed and another
wounded under him before he was satisfied, or saw enough of
the ground to warrant him in forming a final plan of opera
tions. It was thus he discovered the ravine, previously men
tioned, leading up in near vicinity to the southern face of the
Fort, which, if seized, would afford complete immunity from
the fire of the Federals, as they could not depress their small-
arms or artillery so as to command it ; while two ridges, from
four to five hundred yards distant, eastward and north-east
ward from the enemy's position, gave the Confederate sharp
shooters excellent cover, from which they completely com
manded the interior of the Federal works, and might effect
ually silence their fire.
Orders were therefore given immediately to "move up."!
Bell threw his brigade forward until he gained a position in
which his men were well sheltered by the conformation of the
ground. A.nd at the same time McCulloch advanced and
gallantly carried the intrenchments on the highest part ofthe

* Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc. I, p. 23.
t Forrest's favorite phrase in such affairs.

430 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ridge immediately in front of the south-eastern face of the
work. The Federals fell back without further stand to their
main work and the rifle-pit in its front, closely pressed by
McCulloch, who seized and occupied the cluster of cabins on
the southern face of the work, which, as we have said before,
were about sixty yards from it, foiling an attempt on the part
of the enemy to burn the buildings* He also carried and
occupied the rifle-pits. The positions thus secured were fatal
to the defense, for the Confederates were now so placed that
artillery could not be brought to bear upon them with much
effect, except at a mortal exposure of the gunners. Moreover,
the line of investment was now short and complete, extending
from the river-bank south of the fort, to Coal creek on the
north, so swollen at the moment by backwater as to be im
passable, while rearward of the advanced line were numerous
sharp-shooters favorably posted on several commanding ridges
ready to pick off any of the garrison showing their heads
above, or indeed, any men moving about within the circuit of,
the parapets. Fully satisfied of his ability to carry the posi
tion without difficulty or delay, but desiring to avoid the loss
of life that must occur in storming the works, Forrest deter
mined to demand the surrender of the place. Accordingly,

* " They (the Confederates) kept up time. Major Bradford then took the
a steady fire by sharp-shooters behind command. . . . Previous to this, Major
trees, and logs, and high knolls. . . . Booth had ordered some buildings in
They began to draw nearer and nearer front of the fort to be destroyed, as the
up to the time our (Federal) men were enemy's sharp-shooters were endeavor-
all drawn into the fort. Two compa- ing to get possession of them. There
nies of the Thirteenth Tennessee Ca- were four rows of buildings, but only
valry were ordered out as sharp-shoot- the row nearest the fort was destroyed ;
ers, but were finally ordered in. We the sharp-shooters gained possession
weie pressed on all sides. I think of the others before they could be de-
Major Booth fell not later than nine stroyed." Evidence of Lieutenant Mc J.
o'clock. His adjutant, who was then Leming, Adjutant Bradford's Batta-
acting post-adjutant, fell near the same lion, Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc I, pp. 23, 24.

Surrender Demanded.

43*

causing the signal for a cessation of hostilities to be given, he
deputed Captain Walter A. Goodman, Adjutant-General on
the staff of General Chalmers,* to bear a flag of truce with a
formal demand in writing, couched substantially in these
terms :
That, having the fort surrounded by a force sufficiently
strong to take it by assault, wishing to avoid the unnecessary
destruction of human life, he was prompted to make a demand
for its surrender. That if this demand was acceded to, the
gallantry of the defense which had already been made would
entitle all its garrison to be treated as prisoners of war.!
This was written and dispatched from a point on an emi
nence included in the old Confederate lines, from which For-

* Captain Thomas Henderson, com
manding scouts, and Lieutenant Frank
Rodgers likewise accompanied the flag.
t In his MS. Recollections of Fort Pil
low, Captain Goodman says : " I have
no copy of this or of any of the corre
spondence that ensued, before me, but I
am satisfied that my recollection of the
substance of the different notes is cor
rect ; and I remember the proposition
in the first to treat the garrison as pri
soners of war, provided they were sur
rendered, the more clearly because,-
when the note was handed to me, there
was some discussion about it among
the officers present, and it was asked
whether it was intended to include the
negro soldiers as well as the white ; to
which both General Forrest and Gene
ral Chalmers replied, that it was so in
tended ; and that if the fort was sur
rendered, the whole garrison, white and
black, should be treated as prisoners
of war. No doubt as to the meaning

and scope of this proppsition was ever
expressed or intimated in any of the
notes and conversations which followed
it under the flag of truce." The com
munication in question, as printed in
the Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc. 1, p. 24, does
not differ in substance from that which
we give :

' Headquarters Confederate
Cavalry, near Fort Pillow,
April 12, 1864.

;i

As your gallant defense of the fort
has entitled you to the treatment of
brave men, (or something to that effect,)
I now demand an unconditional sur
render of your force, at the same time
assuring you that they will be treated
as prisoners of war. I have received a
fresh supply of ammunition, and can
easily take your position.
(Signed) N. B. Forrest.
To Major L. F. Booth, Commanding
U. S. Forces."

432 Campaigns of General Forrest.
rest commanded a full view of the interior of the Federal
works, and of their whole defensive resources ; but so close
already were the Confederates, that their flag of truce was
brought to a halt from the Fort before it had advanced beyond
the line held by the left of McCulloch's Brigade, and the con
ference that followed actually took place just at the left of
that line.
Booth, as we have seen, had been dead for several hours,
and the command had fallen into the feeble hands of Major
William F. Bradford, a West-Tennesseean, and commander of
the odious Thirteenth Tennessee Battalion. Nevertheless,
the answer received, after some delay, bore the name of Major
L. F. Booth, and, in effect, required an hour for consultation
with his officers and those of the gunboat, in regard to the
demand for the surrender of his post and the vessel. This
communication having been delivered to General Forrest, who
had meantime established himself at a point in the valley
about four hundred yards southward from the flag, he imme
diately replied, in writing, that he had not asked for, and did
not expect the surrender of, the gunboat ; but for that of the
fort and garrison, and that he would give twenty minutes for
a decision. Moreover, so great was the animosity existing
between the Tennesseeans of the two commands, he added,
that he could not be responsible for the consequences if obliged to
storm the place.
Pending the delivery and consideration of this communica
tion, and during the period of the truce, the smoke of several
steamers was discovered ascending the river ; and speedily one,
crowded with troops, and her lower guards filled with artillery,
was distinctly seen approaching, near at hand, and manifestly
bearing directly for the beleaguered fortress* Apprehensive

* These were the Olive Branch, with the Hope and the M. R. Cheek.— Reb.
General Shepley and troops on board ; Rec. VIII. Doc. I, pp. 177, 8-9.

Fold out

Approach of Relief Prevented. 433
that an attempt would be made to land reenforcements from
these steamers, Forrest promptly dispatched his aid-de-camp,
Captain Charles W. Anderson, with a squadron of McCul
loch's Brigade, down the ravine, through the " town," to occupy
the old trenches constructed by the Confederates in 1862,
under the bluff at the river, above the mouth of that ravine,
and just below the southern face of the invested work. That
able, zealous staff-officer, promptly moving his detachment in
full view of the Fort, swiftly took up the designated position,
directlv in sight also of the gunboat New Era. And the
Olive Branch in her course soon came so near that by open
ing with a volley on the mass of men with whom she was
laden, a heavy loss of life must have been inflicted ; but Cap
tain Anderson, limiting himself strictly to preventing the
landing of any reenforcements during the truce, caused two
or three admonitory shots to be fired at the pilot-house, with
the immediate effects of making her sheer off to the opposite
shore, and pass on up the river.*

• This clearly legitimate movement ing to gain time by negotiations with
constitutes in large part the gravamen the hope of receiving succor. The
of the charge made with so many Federal commanders made no signal,
weighty epithets, and so widely believ- says General Shepley, (Reb. Rec. VIII.
ed at the North, that Forrest acted in Doc. I, p. 78,) of any kind to the Olive
bad faith and violated the flag of truce. Branch, but permitted it to approach
Assuredly, no allegation could be more to the immediate vicinity of the New
unfounded in this connection. The Era— that is, past the Fort, it may be
movement was made under the eyes noted— before it was boarded from that
both of Major Bradford and Captain gunboat, and told to " proceed imme-
MarshaU, who expressed no objections, diately to Cairo, and send four or five
and took no steps to resist or check it. hundred rounds of ammunition, and
It was the necessary consequence of stop all boats coming down." (Vide
the menacing approach, while the truce Evidence of General Shepley and Captam
existed, of these steamers at a time Thornton.-Rec. AW. VIII. Doc. I, pp.
when the river was full of transports 78, 79-) " is to be noted as somewhat
bearing troops, and when the com- singular that while these Federal Com-
mander of the Fort was manifestly seek- missioners are lavish with their harsh

434 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Meanwhile, Forrest's second communication having been
carried into the Fort by one of the Federal officers, several of
his comrades remaining with the flag, in conversation with the
Confederates, expressed their belief that Forrest really was
not present, and that his name was used as a mere ruse, such
as had been practiced so successfully several weeks before at
Union City. One of these officers having also professed to
be acquainted with the Confederate General by sight, Captain
Henderson immediately rode to where Forrest was — in the
ravine southward of the Fort — and informing him of this sus
picion, suggested that the enemy might surrender the sooner
if he were to go forward and satisfy them of his actual pre
sence. He therefore rode to the spot where the flag stood,
and was formally presented to Captain Young, Twenty-fourth
Missouri Infantry, and the associate claiming to know the
Confederate General, who quickly remarked that he had no
longer any doubt. At the same time, too, the parapets of the
Fort were thronging with negro soldiers, intently watching the
course of events, and some of whom were heard also to say,
it was useless to deny that General Forrest was before them,
for they knew him " too well for that." And so close mean
while were the Confederate lines, that the white men of both
sides were bantering each other from their respective posi
tions, while some of the negroes indulged in provoking, impu
dent jeers. About the same time, likewise, the steamer Olive
Branch reaching a point opposite the Fort, appeared to be turn
ing her bow toward the landing, a fact to which Captain Good-

comments upon this movement as a vio- to do precisely what General Forrest
lation of the flag of truce, their official justly apprehended would be under-
repoits exhibits clearly the fact that taken, and therefore took the war-
they examined closely into the conduct ranted precaution to foil. They ac-
of General Shepley in not carrying sue- cepted as his excuse only his inability,
cor, at that very juncture, to the Fort, not that there was a truce !
Or, in other words, for not attempting

Capitulation Refused. 435
man called the attention of General Forrest, who quietly re
plied, " She won't land," and in a moment, in fact, she was
seen to resume her course up the river.* Some instants latei
the answer to the last demand was brought out from the Fort
and handed to Forrest by Captain Goodman. Almost illegi
bly written with a pencil, on a soiled scrap of paper, transmit
ted without envelope, it ran as follows, " Your demand does
not produce the desired effect."! Reading it hastily, the Con
federate General exclaimed, " This will not do. Send it back,
and say to Major Booth" — whose name was attached — " that
I must have an answer in plain English — Yes or No !"!
This answer, having been dispatched, by the advice of
some of his officers, in view of the now menacing deportment
of many of the negroes behind the parapets, Forrest returned
to the position in the valley, some three hundred yards south
ward, though satisfied in his own mind that the Fort would be
surrendered. It was not long, however, before Captain Good
man came to him with the Federal answer — a brief but post
tive refusal to capitulate. As soon as he had read this com
munication, turning to his staff and some officers around him,
Forrest ordered that his whole force should be put in readi
ness for an immediate and simultaneous assault. With a few
energetic words, he also stimulated the State pride of the
Missourians and Mississippians, Tennesseeans and Texans
of McCulloch's and Bell's Brigades to an emulous struggle for

• MS. Notes of Captain Goodman. Fort ; and a few moments later the Fo-
The time of the passage of this steam- deral flag, it was noticed, had fallen.
er is settled in the evidence of General t This flippant, discourteous phrase-
Shepley and Captain Thornton, cited ology was doubtless the fruit of con-
ante, note p. 433, by these facts : There tinued incredulity in regard to Fo*-
was no firing as they approached and rest's actual presence, and of a stupid
passed the Fort ; the Federal flag was misapprehension of a stratagem.
still flying ; a flag of truce was observed X MS. Notes of General Forrest and
outside, immediately on passing the Captain Goodman.

436 Campaigns of General Forrest.
precedency in planting their battle-flags upon the parapets
before them. These affairs arranged, the Confederate General,
with a single bugler, rode to the commanding eminence, on
the old Confederate lines — which we have previously describ
ed as giving him a complete view of the field of operations —
from that point to give the signal for the assault.
At this time the main part of Bell's Brigade present, with
the Second Tennessee on the right, were in position with
in from thirty to one hundred feet of the ditch, on the eastern
face of the work, and McCulloch's men occupied the cabins,
as will be remembered, within sixty yards of the southern
face, and the rifle-pits on their right. At the same time, the
commanding ridges eastward and north-eastward of the work
were studded with sharp-shooters, and from one of which, as
may be seen from the diagram prefixed, they completely enfi
laded the southern face of the Federal works ; that is, the face
most strongly garnished with artillery.*
On reaching the position we have mentioned, Forrest
scanning the field, and observing that all was ready, caused
the signal to be given for the resumption of hostilities ; and
at the first blare of the bugle, the Confederate sharp
shooters, at all points, opened a galling fire upon the hostile'
parapet, to which the garrison replied, for a few moments,
with great spirit. But so deadly was the aim of the

•It is injuriously charged against was so unfavorable that, while corn-
General Forrest that these positions manded from several surrounding points
were mainly secured by a perfidious within easy range of musketry, it could
breach of the flag of truce. That this also be approached with impunity by
allegation, however, is utterly unfound- an investing force, properly handled, to
ed, ought to be apparent even from the within a few yards of its ditch, as was
evidence cited, note, ante, p. 430 of done by the Confederates before the
Lieutenant Leming, the witness chief- flag of truce, which, be it remembered,
ly relied on to establish it. The fact did not actually advance beyond Mc-
ts; the position selected by the Federals Culloch's line.

Position Stormed. 437
Confederates, from their enfilading positions, that their
enemies could not rise high enough from their scanty cover
to fire over at their foes, nor use their artillery on the
southern face without being shot down. Consequently, there
was practically little resistance, when, a few moments later,
the bugle still sounding the charge, the main Confederate
force, as with a single impulse, surged onward, like a tawny
wave, and crowning the parapet, poured over, on all sides,
into the work. Leaping headlong into the ditch, these agile,
hardy young men found it a feeble barrier, and helping each
other, they clambered nimbi)-, and swiftly, and simultaneously
over the breastworks beyond, opening from its crest a fearful,
converging fire, from all its faces, upon the garrison within.
In anticipation of this contingency, Major Bradford, it
appears, had arranged with the captain of the gunboat that,
if beaten at the breastworks, the garrison would drop down
under the bank, and the gunboat would come to their
succor, and shelter them with its canister* The pre
arranged signal was now given, and the garrison, en masse,
white and black, for the most part with arms in their hands,
broke for the place of refuge and naval aid there expected,
leaving the Federal flag still aloft, on its staff, and turning re
peatedly, as they sped down the precipitous bank, to return
the fire opened upon them.! The gunboat, however, was

* The evidence of Captain Marshall, gentlemen of unquestionable veracity in
conclusive upon this point, is as fol- this connection, we have the conclusive .
lows : " Major Bradford signaled to proof in the fact that 269 serviceable
me that we were whipped. We had muskets were picked up and carried off
agreed on a signal that, if they had to by the Confederates from below the
leave the fort, they would drop down bluff, on and near the river-bank, where
under the bank, and I was to give the they had been undoubtedly carried and
Rebels canister."— Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc finally thrown by the garrison.— MS.
lt p. jj_ Notes of Captain C. W. Anderson.
t Besides the positive averments of

438

Campaigns of General Forrest.

recreant at this critical moment, and failed to give the least
assistance. And no timely shower of canister came from its
ports to drive back the Confederates, who swiftly and hotly
followed after the escaping negroes and Tennesseeans. The
naval commander, evidently, was more anxious for the safety
of his craft and its crew, than willing to endanger either by
endeavoring to do what it had been distinctly preconcerted
that he should, in the emergency ; and so he kept his vessel
aloof, at a safe distance both from the captured guns of the
Fort and from any effort to capture it.*
While these events were passing, the troops stationed
to watch the steamers poured a volley into the left flank
of the retreating Federals, killing and wounding a good many.
Finding that the succor which they had been promised from
the gunboat was not rendered, nor at hand, they were greatly

* Captain Marshall gives, as an ex
cuse for his course, that he was fearful
the Confederates "might hail in a
steamboat . from below, capture her,
put on four or five hundred men, and
come after (him) me." Also, that he
was apprehensive, if he attempted to go
down to the Fort from his position
above, and engage in the fight, as the
channel would force him " to go around
the point," the Confederates in the
Fort, with its guns, would sink him.
" Had I been below here at the time,"
he continues, " I think I could have
routed them out." If so, it may be
asked, why, at such a time, did he take
a position above the Fort, rather than
the favorable one below, and thus put
it out of his power to render assistance
promised, and fatally relied on by the
Federal garrison, when " whipped," as
he terms it. It was surely in his power,

previous to the onset, to have taken the
favorable position. Further, he states
that, during the truce, being at the bar,
and observing movements on the part
of the Confederates, which he regarded
as in violation of that truce, he stood
off for the Fort again, intending to stop
it; but he does not choose to explain
why he changed his mind, went above,
and failed to make the least endeavor
to assist his people. No one who reads
his testimony carefully can acquit him
of a criminal prudence, at the cost of
the lives of the Federal soldiers, who,
on the faith of his engagement to aid
them with his guns and canister, in
stead of laying down their arms and
capitulating when the trenches were
carried, retreated, as they supposed, to
be succored by him. See Reb. Rec.
VIII. Doc. I, p. 55.

The Melee. 430
bewildered. Many threw themselves into the river and were
drowned in their mad attempt to swim away from the
direful danger they apprehended ; a number turning in the
direction of Coal creek, dashed as wildly into that stream and
perished ; others sought to escape along the river-bank south
ward, and, persisting in their efforts to get away, were shot or
driven back.
It should be remembered that the entrance of the Con
federates into the work had been achieved by an impetuous
rush over the parapet by each individual, and therefore, for
for some moments afterward, there was necessarily a general
confusion and tumult, in fact, a dissolution of all organizations.
Accordingly, as always happens in places taken by storm,
unquestionably sjMne_jvhiteSj^as well as, negroes, who had
thrown down their arms, and besought quarter~were shot
under that iusania belli which invariably rages on such
occasions. Nor must it be forgotten that there was no
surrender of the place at all. When the Confederates
swarmed over the trenches^jthat had been held defiantly for
some eight hours in the face of numbers so manifestly
superior, the garrison did not yield ; did not lay down their
arms, nor draw down their flag ; but with a lamentable
fatuity, the mass of them, with arms still in their hands, fled
toward another position in which they were promised relief,
and while on the way thither, returned the fire of their
pursuers, it is true, not as a mass, but in instances so nume
rous as to render inevitable a fire upon their whole body, even
had it not been the necessary consequence of their efforts to
escape capture, whether with arms in their hands or not*

* Many of the prisoners were intoxi- stimulated previous to the final onset,
cated, and few were not, to some de- as was manifest from the fact that a
gree, under the influence of liquor, number of barrels of whisky and beer
with which they had been lavishly were found disposed at convenient

440 Campaigns of General Forrest.
In the mean time, or as soon as he could reach the scene,
Forrest, riding into the work, assisted by Captain John Over
ton, lowered the flag ; and immediately both he, General
Chalmers, and other officers interfered so energetically to
stop the firing that it ceased speedily ; ceased within fifteen
minutes from the time that the signal for the termination of
the truce was given, and all allegations to the contrary are
mere malicious inventions, started, nurtured, and accredited
at a time, and through a sentiment of strong sectional
animosity. The first order, indeed, now issued by General
Forrest, was to collect and secure the prisoners from possible
injury, while details were made from them for the burial of
the Federal dead.* Among the prisoners taken unhurt, was
Major Bradford, the commanding officer of the post since
nine in the morning, and at his special request, General
Forrest ordered the Federal dead to be buried in the trenches
of the work, the officers to be interred separately from their
men. Bradford was then temporarily paroled, to supervise
the burial of his brother, Captain Bradford, after which, under
a pledge not to attempt to escape, he was placed for the night
in the custody of Colonel McCulloch, who gave him a bed in
his own quarters, and shared with him his supper. This
pledge Major Bradford violated ; taking advantage of the
darkness and his knowledge of the locality, when his host

points in the works, with tin dippers orders to stop the shooting, and that,
attached, for the use, evidently, of the " after peace was made," an officer told
Federal soldiers.— MS. Notes of Col- a "Secesh soldier," if he did that again,
onel C. R. Barteau. (shoot,) he would arrest him. Subse-
* It is somewhat suggestive that the quent witnesses, for some reason or
first eye-witness of the affair at Fort other, appear to have been somewhat
Pillow, examined by the Congressional better instructed as to the character of
Committee, Elias Falls, a negro soldier, testimony which was wanting, and sup-
testified expressly that Forrest gave plied it " to order."

Confederate Losses. 441
was asleep, he effected his escape through the careless line of
sentinels, and, in disguise, sought to reach Memphis.*
This brilliant success, howbeit, was not achieved without
severe loss on the part of the Confederates, the loss of some
of their best soldiers. Fourteen officers and men were killed,
and eighty-six wounded. Among these casualties were Lieu
tenant-Colonel Wiley M. Reid, conspicuous among his com
rades for martial aptitude, courage, and ardor, who was mor
tally wounded within eighty yards of the Federal trenches,
while leading and inspiriting the Fifth Mississippi to the
onset ; the intrepid Lieutenant N. B. Burton of the same
regiment was slain by his side. Captain W. R. Sullivan was
mortally stricken at the head of Willis's Texas Battalion,
which he gallantly commanded at the time, and Lieutenant
Ryan of that battalion was killed by a shell at an earlier stage
of the action. Lieutenant Hubbard, of the Eighteenth Mis
sissippi Battalion, a promising young officer, fell in the final
onset ; these are some of the losses among McCulloch's vete
rans. Lieutenant George Love, of the Second Tennessee,!
and Captain J. C. Wilson, of Russell's Regiment of Bell's

* We have this from the lips of Col. of his horse and little possessions, ar-
McCulloch. For the subsequent re- ranged for the payment of his small
capture and fate of this officer, see page debts, and wrote a farewell letter to his
455. orphan sister, living at Gallatin, Tenn.
t '¦' A singular instance of a premo- He led his company on, and at eleven
nition of death occurred in the case of o'clock was laid low by a canister-shot
Lieutenant Love. As an officer, he from one of the enemy's guns. We
was popular with his men, and always buried him the next morning. His
calm and fearless at the post of duty, memory lives in the hearts of all his
In the morning he called several of his surviving comrades, and the regiment
company around him, and lold them, could boast f n . 1 raver soldier or bet-
in a quiet manner, that he should be ter man."— MS. Notes of Colonel C. R.
killed that day. He gave directions Barteau, Second Tennessee Cavalry.
for the disposal, among the command,

442 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Brigade— two valuable officers — were slain while acting with
signal bravery.
Among the prisoners taken was Captain Young, the bearer
of the flag of truce, who, with. Captain Anderson, was sent
up the river-side with a white flag, to endeavor to open com
munication with the gunboat New Era, which was seen mak
ing off to the northward, under the apprehension, it appears,
of its ever-prudent master, that an effort might be made for
his capture.* The object was to deliver into his hands as
soon as possible all the Federal wounded ; but every signal
was obdurately ignored or disregarded, and, keeping on its
course, the New Era disappeared up the river.!
As fast as possible, meanwhile, the wounded of both sides
were gleaned from the bloody field, and placed under shelter
and the professional care of Confederate surgeons of the
several regiments present, who at once set to work with that
assiduity and humanity which we believe have characterized,
with rare exceptions, the medical officers of both services
toward wounded prisoners of war.!
Affairs thus provided for, Forrest next turned over the com
mand of the troops on the ground to General Chalmers, with
instructions to complete the burial of the dead, the collection
of the arms and other portable property, and, if possible, to
transfer the Federal wounded to the first steamer that might
be passing ; and, finally, to follow with the division and the
unwounded prisoners, as soon as practicable, to Brownsville.
These orders given, he set out about sunset to return with his

* Vide Captain Marshall's Evidence, attendance is made apparent by gleams
Reb. Rec.yiW. Doc. I, p. 56. of the truth that escape here and there
t MS. Notes of Captain C. W. An- in the mass of suggested falsehoods,
derson. which appear as evidence taken before
X That the Federal wounded, black the Congressional Committee.— Reb.
and white, received prompt surgical Rec. VIII. Doc. 1, pp. 1 to 80.

The Day After. 443
escort and staff to Jackson, Tennessee, encamping that night
at a farm-house, some six or seven miles eastward.
" Before nightfall," says Captain Goodman, " the prisoners
and artillery had been removed, and the troops were moved
back from the river and put into camp.
" On the following morning, (the 13th,) a detail was sent to
the Fort to collect and remove the remaining arms, and to bury
such of the dead as might have been overlooked on the day
before. They had been at work but a short time when a gun
boat (the Silver Cloud) came up and began to shell them. As
this became annoying, the officer commanding the detail or
dered the "tents which were still standing in the Fort to be
burned, intending to abandon the place. In doing this, the
bodies of some negroes who had been killed in the tents, on
the day before, were somewhat burned ; and this probably
gave rise to the horrible stories about burning wounded pri
soners which were afterward invented and circulated."*
In the mean time — the morning of the 13th — after Forrest
and his staff had mounted their horses, and were about to
resume their way toward Jackson, the sound of heavy artillery
was heard at the Fort, and he detached Captain Anderson to
return thither with Captain Young — the Federal Provost-Mar
shal — to make another effort for the immediate delivery of the
Federal wounded to their friends. Proceeding to execute this
order, Captain Anderson reached the Fort, caused the details,
at which the firing had been directed to be at once withdrawn,
and hoisted a flag of truce and parley, which being accepted
by the master of the Silver Cloud, Captain Ferguson, an ar
rangement soon resulted for a truce until five p.m. It was
agreed that during that time the Federals might send parties

• We give this part of the narrative in the language of that intelligent, accu-
rate staff-officer, Captain Goodman.

444 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ashore to visit all parts of the scene, and look after their dead
and wounded, bury any of the former that might have been
overlooked by the Confederates, and to assist in removing the
wounded on board the transport, receipts to be taken for all
thus delivered. During the day several transports came to
the landing, and before the hour when the truce was to expire,
the prisoners had all been transferred to the cabin of the
steamer Platte Valley, numbering at least 70, officers and men.*
It remains to be added that 7 officers and 219 enlisted men,
(56 negroes, 163 whites,) unwounded, were carried off, as pri
soners of war, which, with the wounded, make an aggregate of
those who survived, exclusive of all who may have escaped,
quite 300 souls, or fully 55 per cent of the garrison, while
those who survived unhurt constituted 40 per cent.!
Several hours previously, having put his main force in
motion toward Brownsville, about four p.m., General Chalmers
withdrew with his staff and escort in the same direction, and
there remained at Fort Pillow none save the dead who had
fallen in storming it, and the dead of the late garrison, vic
tims, not of unlawful acts of war, as has been so virulently
alleged and generally believed at the North, but of an insen
sate endeavor, as foolishly resolved as feebly executed, to hold
a position naturally untenable and badly fortified, — the vic
tims, we may add, in all sincerity, not of a savage ferocity on
.the part of their late adversaries, but of the imbecility and
grievous mismanagement of those weak, incapable officers,
whom the fortunes of war unhappily had placed over them.

• The Federal surgeon of the hos- t Some ofthe Confederate regiments
pital at Mound City, 111., testified that lost nearly as heavily at Chickamaugav
he received 34 whites and 27 colored For a place taken by storm the loss was
men. Some died on the way. by no means heavy.

Commentaries. 44 c
COMMENTARIES.
1. "Valor as well as other virtues has" its bounds, which,
once transgressed, the next step is into the territories of vice ;
so that, by having too large a proportion of this heroic virtue,
unless a man be very perfect in its limits, which upon the
confines are very hard to discover, he may very easily un
awares run into temerity, obstinacy, and folly. From this
consideration it is, that we have derived the custom in time
of war to punish even with death those who are obstinate to
defend a place that is not tenable by the rules of war. Other
wise, if there were not some examples made, men would be
so confident upon the hopes of impunity that not a hen-roost
but would resist and stop a royal army." So wrote old Mi
chael Montaigne, who then proceeded to illustrate the prac
tice in civilized warfare by these historical examples :
" Monsieur, the Constable de Montmorency, having, at the
siege of Pavia, been ordered to pass the Tesino and to take
up his quarters in the Faubourg St. Antonio, being hindered
from doing so by a tower that was at the end of the bridge,
which was so independent as to stand a battering, hanged
roery man he found within it for their labor. And again, since,
accompanying the Dauphin in his expedition beyond the Alps,
and taking the castle of Villane by assault, and all within hav
ing been put to the sword, the governor and his ensign only
excepted, he caused them to be trussed up for the same rea
son ; as also did Captain Martin du Bellay, then Governor of
Turin, the Governor of St. Bony, in the same country, all
his people being cut in pieces at the taking of the place."*
Any one who has read our narrative attentively must be
satisfied that Fort Pillow, at least after the Confederates
secured possession of the rifle-pits and huts near the parapet,

• Works of Montaigne, (English,) Chapter XIV.

446 Campaigns of General Forrest.
was untenable, and consequently its defense unjustifiable. In
deed, we know of no instance of such manifest indefensibility.
It was not so, however, be it noted, merely because of the nu
merical superiority of the Confederates, but for the reason of
the situation of- the Federal work at the moment, even had
the Confederates not been able to get so close as they did
to its parapets. Every foot of it was completely enfiladed
and swept, as may be seen from the map, by Confederate
sharp-shooters. Furthermore, so small was the scope of the
place that, when the whole garrison was driven back within
it, the work was so densely crowded that a sharp-shooter's
bullet could scarcely miss an object, and the jeopardy of the
men was the more fearfully augmented. In fact, Forrest
could have established his men under cover at good rifle-range
and made the work untenable without attempting to storm it.
2. Compare what actually happened at Fort Pillow with
the hideous scenes of slaughter, lust, and rapine that followed
the storming of places in Spain and Portugal either by the
French or English, as Oporto, for example. How trivial and
insignificant in comparison were even the worst alleged at
Fort Pillow to what it is not denied actually happened at
Oporto, as related by Napier. Yet Marshal Soult was never
overwhelmed with obloquy in prose and verse, nor besmirched
with foul epithets for what occurred there. At the storming
of Palamos, after the third demand for the capitulation of the
place, the Spaniards, flying to the sea-shore with the purpose
of finding refuge aboard some vessels — just as the garrison at
Fort Pillow expected to be rescued by the gunboat — were in
tercepted by the French troops and put to the sword. We
might readily fill as large a volume as this with like instances.
The fact is, as was said by a recent writer in Blackwood's Ma
gazine, in connection with a late affair in China: "Every
military man knows that whenever a place is taken by assault
j under the flag of any nation, many of the defenders are put to

Commentaries. 447
death though they throw down their arms and cry for quar
ters."* 3. The Congressional Committee have reported that the
Confederates took advantage of the truce to advance to and
secure positions from which they had been beaten off by the
Federal garrison up to the time that the flag of truce was first
sent by General Forrest. This falsehood is asserted in the
face of abundant conclusive evidence taken before them. For
example, Lieutenant McJ. Leming, Bradford's Adjutant, as
we have cited in note ante, page 430, in the body of his testi
mony expressly admits that the Confederates, previous to the
flag of truce, had " kept up a steady fire by sharp-shooters be
hind trees, and logs, and high knolls ; they began to draw
nearer and nearer up to the time our men were all drawn into
the Fort. Two companies of the Thirteenth Tennessee Ca
valry were ordered out as sharp-shooters, but were finally or
dered in. We were pressed on all sides!' The same witness,
after stating that Major Booth and his Adjutant were killed
about nine o'clock a.m., adds that the Major had previously
" ordered some buildings in front of the Fort to be destroyed,
as the enemy's sharp-shooters were endeavoring to get pos
session of them. There were four rows of buildings, but only
the row nearest the Fort was destroyed ; the sharp-shooters
gained possession of the others before they could be destroyed''
{Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc. 1, pp. 23-4.) Another chief witness,
Captain Marshall, commander of the Federal gunboat New
Era, deposes that previous to truce, and when, at a signal from
the Fort, he was firing up the ravine immediately to the south
of it, the "rebel sharp-shooters" returned his fire " rapidly."
Further, that on the north side of the Fort the Confederates
were so near as to be able to fire at and harass some non-com-

• Number for February, 1867, page 187.

448 Campaigns of General Forrest.
batants who had been removed in a barge from the Fort to
the river-bank north of the mouth of Coal creek. {Ibid. p. 55.)
One Elvis Bevel, a refugee, who was present, likewise testifies
that in an hour after sunrise bullets from " rebel infantry"
drove him to take position behind a large stump near (in
front of) the Fort, and that, about nine a.m., he moved to
the rear, where he " could better see the rebels who swarmed
the bluff" while at the same time the Confederates were so
near to the gunboat that the crew "had to close their ports
and use their small-arms'.' {Ibid. p. 69.) Moreover, private
Daniel H. Rankin, Company C, Thirteenth Tennessee, though
alleging that the worst thing he saw was the rebels moving
upon us while the flag of truce was up at the Fort, never
theless defines the point attained by the Confederates by
saying that they did not get nearer to the Fort than " with
in twenty or thirty steps!' {Ibid. p. 32.)
4. Under manifest prompting, the witnesses in hospital
all claim to have been wounded after their surrender, and
that the killing and wounding were chiefly done after the
position was surrendered. There was no surrender at all,
and all statements to that effect are untrue. When the
Confederates surmounted the parapets, the garrison, as we
have seen, by a preconcerted plan, leaving their flag flying,
retreated en masse to the cover of the river bank, expecting
to be sheltered there under the guns of the New Era. It was,
therefore, unquestionably a legitimate act of war to fij-e upon
them when thus attempting to escape, whether they had arms in
their hands or not ! For those who threw their arms away
and ran below the bluff, simply did so, the more readily
to make their escape from the Confederates. Soldiers in a
place taken by storm, no more than on the field of battle, can
claim to have surrendered or called for quarter, who fly as
fast as they can in the direction of expected or prearranged
succor. The value of the whole, mass of testimony, reported

Commentaries. 449
and relied on as warranting these unfounded calumnies
against General Forrest and his men, may well be measured
in this connection. The witness Leming states in the
body of his testimony : " We kept them (the Confederates)
back for several minutes. What was called ;  brigade or
battalion* attacked the centre of the fort, where several
companies of colored troops were stationed. They finally
gave way, and before we could fill up the breach, the
enemy got inside the fort, and then they came in on
the other two sides, and had complete possession of the
Fort. In the mean time, nearly all the officers had been killed,
especially of the colored troops, and there was no one hardly
to guide the men. They fought bravely, indeed, until that
time. I do not think the men who broke had a commissioned
officer over them." And yet this same "willing witness,"
under manifest manipulation, in answer to the question,
" Were those (officers) who were killed, killed before or after
the Fort was captured ?" answered, " I don't know of but one
who was killed before we were driven from the Fort."
{Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc. 1, p. 26.) In the same connection,
also, is filed an affidavit, signed by Lieutenants F.' A.
Smith and William Cleary, the two absent officers ofthe
Thirteenth Tennessee Battalion, in which it is stated,
on hearsay, confessedly, that Lieutenant Wilson, of their
regiment, was killed, and Lieutenant J. C. Akerstrom was
severely wounded after the surrender ; yet, in conclusion,
they refer to an accompanying affidavit of one Hardy
N. \ Revelle — an eye-witness — in- which it is especially
sworn that the said Lieutenant Wilson was killed outside of

• A man who draws no broader dis- lion than Lieutenant Leming appears
tinction between a brigade and batta- to do, is not a very reliable witness.

45°

Campaigns of General Forrest.

the Fort, in the morning, before the Federal troops were with
drawn* 5. It is the gravest of the charges against General For
rest and his men, that Lieutenant Akerstrom,',, Quartermas
ter of the Thirteenth Tennessee Battalion, was bailed, when
wounded, to the side of a house, by his clothes, and thus
burned alive. The Committee accept as conclusive a mass
of sheer vague hearsay testimony on this point, in the
face of the positive statement of private John F. Ray, Com
pany B, Thirteenth Tennessee ' Battalion, that Akerstrom
was shot at his side, during the action, and in the. fore
head, falling on his face dead, as he believed.! One witness,
Carlton, a negro, who professed to have seen the Confede
rates have the Quartermaster, (Akerstrom,) after the conflict

* This man had previously said
there were ten officers belonging, only
eight of whom, however, were pre
sent at the time. Now, by reference
to the list of the prisoners in the
Appendix, it will be seen that Cap
tain J. L. Posten and Lieutenant N.
D. Logan were taken prisoners, unin
jured, leaving six to be accounted for.
One of those, Captain Potter — at the
time in hospital, wounded too badly to
testify — Leming admits "was shot in
the early part of the engagement."
(Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc. 1, p. 26.) An
other, Lieutenant Wilson, says Revelle,
(Ibid. p. 67) was killed in the morning,
outside of the Fort, and yet another,
Akerstrom, as we show, is positively
stated by the witness Ray, (a white
man,) to have been shot dead in the
forehead during the conflict, and there
fore only three remain to be accounted
for. These are Major Bradford, Cap

tain Bradford, and Lieutenant Leming
himself. Major Bradford, as we know,
was not shot, but, offensive as he was
to the men who took the work by
storm, was taken prisoner. Leming
says he was shot after the place had
fallen, but he likewise says he only
knows of one officer who was not shot
in the same way, which must be Cap
tain Potter, as also just before (p. 24)
that " nearly all the officers had been
killed" before the Confederates enter
ed the work. Captain Bradford was
the signal officer ; it is plain he lived
long enough to give the signal spoken
of by Captain Marshall, and was found
dead at the spot where the signal was
made ; he was doubtless shot by some
one as the parapets were surmounted.
And thus we dispose of Mr. Leming's
loosely constructed tissue. Out of hfe
lips must the Confederates be acquitted.
t Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc I, p. 31.

Commentaries. 451
was over, describes him as having three stripes on his
arm, which assuredly the Congressional Committee must
have known were the insignia of a non-commissioned officer,
and not of an officer of the grade of quartermaster.* Another
witness — one McCoy — who was on the gunboat, swears that
he saw Akerstrom in his office, under the hill, after the flag of
truce was in, making signals for the boat to come to him ;
an improbable story in sooth, that he could distinguish any
man at that distance — fully half a mile.! The story in
regard to this burning of houses, with persons in them,
white or black, while alive, evidently originated at some
distance from the scene. Only one of the witnesses ex
amined testifies that he was present and saw the burning.
Fortunately, the published evidence affords a clue to the
place where this wicked calumny was forged. Two witnesses
— McCoy and Shelton — state positively they first heard
the story after they had reached the hospital at Mound City,
Illinois.! Yet, another alleges that he heard it from the
hands on the gunboat. The witness, a negro, Haskins,
who says that he saw Akerstrom's house on fire, had just
sworn that immediately after the place was carried he was
shot in the left arm, then ran down to the river, jumped in
the water, and that at night he got into a coal-boat, and went
down the river, which would make it out of his power to
see the buildings burn,§ as he was made to say, falsely,
by the leading questions propounded by the Committee.
The burning was not done until the morning of the 13th.
Private Alexander, of Company 'C, Thirteenth Tennessee,
testifies that he heard Rebels say they would not burn the
hospital, while " we wounded ones were in there," and that

* Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc I, p. 18. X E>id. VIII. Doc. I, p. 31.
t Ibid. p. 30. § Ibid. p. 12, 13.

452 Campaigns of General Forrest.
the hospital he was in was standing when he went down the
hill to the boat, on the 13th;* and the witness, Shelton,
states that the building he was in was not set on fire.!
6. The nature and reliability of the testimony adduced by
the Congressional Committee, in support of their report, may
be best measured by some characteristic extracts. As for
example : Thomas Addison, (negro,) having sworn that he
was shot down after " surrender," as were a great many of his
comrades, in reply to a question, goes on to say, " / lieard
them shoot little children not more than that high," (holding
his hand off about four feet from the floor,) " that the officers
had waiting on them."
Question. " Did you see them shoot them ?"
Answer. " I did not hold up my head'.'
Question. " How, then, did you know that they shot them ?"
Answer. " I heard them say, 'Turn around, so I can shoot
you good.' "
Question. " Did you see them after they were shot ?"
This was a clear prompt, but the negro, however willing,
was stupid, and only replied, " No, sir, they toted them tip the
hill before me, because they were small" To prove that men
were shot to a great extent, after they had surrendered, such
leading questions as the following were adventured, " The
Rebels must have killed a great many of the white men after
they had surrendered ?" and such evidence as this was relied
on as a true reply. "Yes, two thirds of them must have
been killed after the place was taken." Let any lawyer
glance over the examinations of the several witnesses, and
say whether questions so glaringly leading were ever at-

* Reb. Rec. VIII. Doc. 1, p. 27. two or three white soldiers were inter-
t Ibid. p. 31. It is a noticeable fact rogated upon the matter, and these
that while the inquiry about the burn- said they did not see it. The whole in-
5ng was general of the negroes, only quiry is x marvel of unfairness.

Commentaries. 453
tempted, much less permitted, in any judicial or other in
quiry, in which the object was to get at the truth. Especi
ally objectionable is it, we may add, to use leading questions
with witnesses so ignorant and stupid as these negroes,
the inevitable effect being to prompt the answer.
7. It is charged that among those shot below the " bluff"
were some hospital patients. We doubt not that was the
case : but simply because they left their hospital and took
refuge among the soldiers who were there seeking succor by
the gunboat. In the turmoil and hurly burly of the moment
they could not be discriminated nor separated.
8. In the Appendix will be found a list of the prisoners
taken on this occasion, and other documentary evidence con
cerning the transaction, to which we refer all readers who
wish to know more of its details.
9. In fine : We submit to the candid and those who are
capable of accepting the truth that, in what occurred after
the Confederates stormed the trenches, there was neither
cruel purpose nor cruel negligence of duty, neither intention
nor inadvertence, on the part of General Forrest, whose
course, therefore, stands utterly devoid of the essence of out
rage or wrong.

CHAPTER XVII.
Chalmers detached with Command lo Okolona, to meet ?nenaced Opera
tions — Public Reception of Forrest, Staff, and Escort, by Citizens of
Brownsville — Reestablished Headquarters at Jackson — Occupied with
Collection of War Resources of West-Tennessee — Chalmers orderea
to Oxford — Buford reached Jackson with Division — Sharp Affair at
Bolivar — Established Headquarters at Tupelo the tyh of May — Com
mand increased by Brigade of State Troops — Chalmers detached on
the 26th of May, with McCulloch's and Neely's Brigades and Wal
ton's Battery — Forrest marched with Buford 's Division to the Relief
of Roddy — Return to meet heavy Federal Column advancing from
Memphis — Concentration of Forces at Baldwin — Rucker's Brigade
engaged Federal Cavalry near New-Albany — General S. D. Lee at
Baldwin — Confederate Troops ordered Southward, to concentrate with
Reenforcements — Federals intercept Forrest's line of March to Tu
pelo — Lyon's Brigade pushed up to feel Enemy.
April 13th to June ioth, 1864.
VV HILE on the way from Fort Pillow to Jackson, having
received instructions to detach a portion of his command to
repel a raid understood to be immediately impending from the
direction of Decatur, through the interior of North- Western
Alabama, Forrest Ordered Chalmers to repair at once, by way
of Okolona, to the menaced border, with the forces which had
been engaged in the operations against Fort Pillow. At the
same time, Brigadier-General Buford was instructed to collect
the men of his command, including all detachments and ab
sentees from Bell's Brigade, and repair with them, by the 30th
of April, to Jackson.

Headquarters at Jackson, Tenn. 455
At Brownsville, the citizens of all classes — men, women, and
children — received the Confederate General with tokens of
deep-felt gratitude. The ladies of the vicinage, assembling at
the court-house, received him publicly, and testified their
profound personal appreciation of his recent operations, by
which they had been delivered from the apprehension of fur
ther outrages, insults, and distressing annoyances, from that
pestilent band of ruffians and marauders which had been so
thoroughly uprooted. And every resource of a heartfelt, teem
ing hospitality was extended to their cherished guests — the
General, his staff, and escort— during the afternoon and night
ofthe 13th and morning ofthe 14th of April.
On the 14th, headquarters were reestablished at Jackson,
where Forrest remained until the 2d of May, actively occupied
with measures looking to the collection of all military re
sources in men, draught-animals, horses, and subsistence, to be
gleaned in the region northward of that point. And to these
ends the proper instructions were framed and intrusted to
Buford for execution by detachments from his command while
en route to Jackson.*
Meanwhile, on the morning of the 15th, Chalmers, turning
off at Brownsville, passed through Sommerville, where, early

• Major Bradford, the Federal com- cer was concerned ; mainly due, we are
mander of Pillow, whose violation of his satisfied, after the most rigid inquiry,
parole and escape is mentioned ante, p. to private vengeance for well-authenti-
441, was, several days afterward, re- cated outrages committed by Bradford
captured in disguise. At first he affect- and his band upon the defenseless fa-
ed to be a conscript, but, being recog- milies of the men of Forrest's Cavalry.
nized, was remanded to custody as a He was shot, not hung; and no supe-
prisoner of war. He was then sent in rior officer had any hand in his " taking
charge of a party-a subaltern and offi" Had there been a wish to slay
some five or six men-to Brownsville, the man particularly, there was ample
On the way, he again attempted to es- opportunity in the mtlle at Fort Pillow.
cape, soon after which one of the men He was treated with the utmost cons.-
shot him. It was an act in which no offi- deration and civility.

45 6 Campaigns of General Forrest.
on the 1 6th, he divided his command ; Bell, with the prisoners
and artillery, taking the road through Lagrange, while he,
with McCulloch's and Neely's Brigades, pushed on toward
Holly Springs. Here, on the i8th, information was received
from General Polk, by telegraph, that the presence of Forrest's
troops under his previous requisition was not needed, and ac
cordingly the movement of Chalmers was halted, and Barteau,
with the Second Tennessee, being detached to convoy the
prisoners to Demopolis, the rest of Bell's Brigade, and Neely's
also, were ordered to return to West-Tennessee, while McCul
loch resumed his old post behind the Tallahatchie river, about
Panola, and General Chalmers took up his headquarters at
Oxford until the 2d of May. Then, pursuant to special in
structions from his superior, he set out for Tupelo, with Mc
Culloch's Brigade, except the Eighteenth Mississippi Battalion,
and, moving by regiments, swept the region, eastward to the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad, for conscripts, absentees, and de
serters.* In the interval, Bell's and Neely's Brigades had reentered
West-Tennessee, and their several regiments were distributed
at points favorable for recruitment, and for granting furloughs
to officers and men to visit their families, renovate their clo
thing, and obtain remounts, as far as needful, by the end of
the month.
By the 28th, Buford had assembled his whole division, in
cluding Bell's Brigade, at Jackson, and on the 30th received
orders to move on the 2d of May with it and Neely's Brigade
to Tupelo, convoying a. large and heavy ox-train, freighted
with subsistence and a large amount of liquor (for hospital

* The Eighteenth Mississippi Batta- proaches of the Tallahatchie, scouting
lion— Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander H. as far northward, on Memphis road, as
Chalmers— was left to hold the ap- Waterford.

Affair near Bolivar. 457
purposes) and leather, and some three hundred prisoners.
The Kentucky Brigade of this division, which had entered on
the campaign with an effective total of 1004 men, now num
bered 1 71 7 fighting men ; and Bell's Tennesseeans, who took
the field 1254 strong, now mustered over 1700 well-mounted
horsemen. Moving, as ordered, by way of Purdy and Corinth, notwith
standing his impedimenta, Buford accomplished the distance 
seventy-eight miles— to Rienzi by the 4th of May, and there
having transferred the supplies and prisoners for further trans
portation southward, to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, was able
to reach Tupelo on the 6th.
Meanwhile, on the 2d of May, General Forrest, breaking up
his headquarters at Jackson, set out also for Tupelo with his
staff and escort, taking the road through Bolivar, Tennessee,
and Ripley, Mississippi. In the vicinity of Bolivar, on that
. afternoon, he was met by scouts with information that a Fe
deral cavalry force, quite two thousand strong, under General
Sturgis, was then engaged in a sharp skirmish with McDo
nald's Battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Crews — not more
than two hundred troopers — on the Sommerville road, about
two miles westward of Bolivar. Pressing on at once with his
accustomed decision, Forrest found several hundred unarmed
men collected in the place. These he directed to move out
with his headquarter baggage-train and ambulances, some five
miles southward, on the road to Ripley, and encamp, while he
repaired to the point where Crews still held the enemy at bay.
Placing himself at the head of the Confederates, reenforced by
his escort, or npw with about three hundred fighting men,
boldly charging the foe in front, he presently drove back their
skirmish line for three fourths of a mile upon their main force,
inflicting a loss of some forty killed and wounded. Unable,
however, to pursue this advantage further against such odds,
Forrest now withdrew a short distance, and took post, with

458 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Crews's men dismounted, in the outer line of fortifications,
which had been thrown up some time previously by the Fe
derals in the western suburbs of the place. His enemy, see
ing in this evidences of weakness, taking heart, advanced
vigorously upon his position, but were swiftly beaten back by
a hot fire, at short range, from the steady, deadly rifles of the
dismounted Confederates. In this affair, Major Strange, For
rest's gallant and ever efficient Adjutant-General, had his right
arm broken by a minie ball. The Federals, breaking in dis
order, immediately quit the field and disappeared. The Con
federate General then resumed his march, and caught up with
his train, encamped, as before said, on the Ripley road, five
miles beyond Bolivar.*
Hurrying on without further incident, and crossing the line
of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and thence through
Ripley, the Confederate General arrived at Tupelo early on
the 5 th, a day in advance of Buford's Division. Here he
found Gholson's Brigade of Mississippi State Cavalry, and
Chalmers, with several regiments of McCulloch's Brigade.
The former, some days later, having been transferred to the
Confederate States Service, was attached temporarily to Bu
ford's Division, while Neely's Brigade was returned to Chal
mers. For the remainder of the month, Forrest was closely occu
pied with means and measures for increasing the efficiency of
his force. Now well mounted, and materially recruited by.
his recent campaign, he sought by every means in his power
to consolidate his organizations and perfect their equipments.!

*

Here, that night, occurred the 12th May; certain Alabama compa-
death of the somewhat conspicuous nies being transferred to Roddy's corn-
partisan, Major Solomon Street, Fif- mand, their places were filled by inde-
teenth Tennessee, by the hand of a per- pendent companies from Tennessee,
sonal enemy in the Confederate ranks, and the regiment reorganized as in the
t Newsom's Regiment re-formed on roster. See Appendix.

Reorganization. 459
His artillery was formed into a battalion of four batteries, of
four guns each, under Captain J. W. Morton, as Chief of Ar
tillery.* The men left dismounted were formed into a pio
neer detachment ; and all supernumerary officers were- direct
ed to report at department headquarters. Special reports on
various subjects touching the materiel as well as personnel of
his command were required from divisional, brigade, and regi
mental commanders ; and his order and letter-books of the
period show that the mind so alert and vigorous in the field
was scarcely less active or effective in connection with the in
terior administration of his force, which as now constituted,
was as follows :
Four field-batteries— Morton's, Thrall's, Rice's, and Walton's — 16 guns.
Chalmers's Division — McCulloch's, Neely's, and Rucker's Brigades, t
Buford's Division — Bell's and Lyon's Brigades.^
In all, 20 regiments, 4 battalions, 5 independent companies, and 16 guns.
This command, for convenience in regard to forage and
subsistence, and, in part, for observation, was distributed at
several points. Chalmers's Division for a time was quartered
around Verona, except a demi-brigade — Seventh Tennessee
and Nineteenth Mississippi — detached under Colonel Duck
worth, for temporary service at Grenada, under the special
instructions of Major-General Lee ; and the Eighteenth Mis
sissippi (battalion) still posted near Panola. The brigade of
Mississippi State troops was at Tupelo until about the 26th,
when it was detached and placed under command of General
Wirt Adams, at Canton, Miss.,§ pursuant to orders from Ma-

* These were the companies of Mor- manded by Colonel Thompson, (killed
ton, Rice, Thrall, and Walton. at Paducah,) and latterly by Colonel
t Rucker's Brigade was organized Crossland, of the Seventh Kentucky.
on the 24th of May, 1864, of the Sev- Colonel Lyon was assigned to the com-
enth Tennessee and Eighteenth and mand about the 24th of May.
Nineteenth Mississippi. § With Brigadier-General Samuel^
X Lyon's Brigade was formerly com- J. Gholson immediately in command.

460

Campaigns of General Forrest.

jor-General Lee. Buford's Division, for the most of the time
at Tupelo, was engaged from the 16th to the 24th in a recon
noissance as far as Corinth.* And later, about the 26th,
Chalmers was detached with McCulloch's and Neely's Bri
gades and Walton's Battery, on an expedition into the inte
rior of Alabama, penetrating that State as far as Monte Vallo,
about fifty miles north of Selma, and forty eastward of Tus
caloosa, for the purpose of meeting a hostile raid against the
iron-works of that region, anticipated from the direction of
Decatur and Huntsville,! Alabama.
Among the several West-Tennessee regiments, both of
Chalmers's and Buford's Divisions, was a considerable element
which Forrest had been able to attract to his standard, and
utilize in a substantial degree, namely, numerous runaways
from the infantry regiments of Johnston's army from that
district. At the time of his expedition into West-Tennessee,
in December, 1 863, that region was full of them. His repute

* Newsom's Regiment, Nineteenth
Tennessee, (Bell's Brigade,) and' Kei-
zer's scouts having been left to occupy
Corinth and the line of the Memphis
and Charleston Railroad.
t This division reached Monte Vallo
on the 31st May, and on the follow
ing day Neely's Brigade was detached
to Blue Mountain, to report to Briga
dier-General Pillow, for the defense of
the coal and iron-works in that quar
ter. McCulloch's Brigade remained at
Monte Vallo until the ioth of June,
when it was ordered by Major-General
Lee to return by forced marches to Co
lumbus, Miss. A glance at the map will
show the great extent of country over
which Chalmers's Division operated
during this period. Its right wing —

Neely's Brigade — was at Blue Moun
tain, in the north-eastern part of Ala
bama, near the Georgia line ; McCul
loch's Brigade — the centre — was at
Monte Vallo ; and Rucker's Brigade —
the left wing — was quartered at Oxford,
Miss. ; and from these widely distant
points were these troops subsequently
concentrated for the combats at Tisho
mingo creek and Harrisburg. Neely's
Brigade, while detached under General
Pillow's command, participated in an
unsuccessful assault on the town of
Oxford, Ga., garrisoned by the enemy,
and did not return under Forrest's
command until just before the battle
of Harrisburg. — MS. Notes of Captain
Walter A. Goodman.

Preparations for the Field. 461
as a successful cavalry leader, however, drew them forth from
their fastnesses to the number of more than seven hundred,
who attached themselves to the different regiments brought
into effective existence by that expedition. Measures, how
ever, were now instituted by the War Department for their
restoration to their old commands, which, carried out by For
rest with his habitual earnestness, resulted in the untoward
depletion of his own force, with little advantage to the gene
ral senice ; for the greater part of these men, while willing
to serve as cavalry under Forrest, though excellent fighting
material, did not hesitate to desert their colors at the prospect
of being remanded to the infantry.*
Information having been received that the Federals were
pressing General Roddy in the vicinity of Decatur, North-
Alabama, Buford's Division, on the 29th, was placed in readi
ness to go to that officer's succor. At the same time, Colonel
Rucker's Brigade was likewise directed to be concentrated,
and held in hand at Oxford for any emergency. Giving
Roddy due notice of his purpose to push to his assistance,
Forrest, in a dispatch, written on that day, advised that officer
to keep scouts well in front of the enemy, to watch and ascer
tain his movements, force, etc., and to collect together and
concentrate his force on the enemy's right flank.

* These men unquestionably were attached himself to Forrest's escort.
guilty of the gravest military crime, es- Subsequently claimed by his command-
pecially in the soldiers of a war for in- er, when he had shown himself an in
dependence; nevertheless, there were valuable soldier, Forrest sent him to
individuals among them of the greatest his regiment with seven conscripts, to
gallantry and devotion to the Confed- give in exchange for himself, so that he
erate cause — men whose conduct was might be regularly and permanently at-
the result of misconception rather than tached to the cavalry. This man, after
purpose. Of such, private W. M. many acts of consummate courage, gave
Strickland is the type. He had be- up his life on Christmas day, 1864, on
longed to the Twenty-seventh Tennes- the retreat of Ho')d out of Middle Ten-
see infantry; and when on furlough nessee.

462

Campaigns of General Forrest.

Forage meanwhile had been collected or thrown forward to
proper points on the line of march, and the shoeing of the
cavalry horses was going on vigorously, night and day. On
the 30th, however, before he had put Buford's Division in
motion, a dispatch was received from Brigadier-General Rod
dy, to the effect, that the Federal force had fallen back to
Decatur, and apparently was projecting an expedition in the
direction of Kingston, Georgia. Forrest, therefore, decided
to await further developments of the enemy's purposes before
moving, and notified General Roddy of his conclusions. He
also gave specific instructions to that commander, for the
present under his orders, to draw in all detached forces, and
hold his whole command well together, to get boats ready for
the passage of the Tennessee, and to keep him thoroughly
acquainted with the situation.*
On the 31st, Forrest, having determined that the time had

* The letter-book about this date
furnishes a communication which, cha
racteristic of General Forrest, at the
same time illustrates a fatal vice of
Confederate staff organization. We
refer to the Subsistence Department,
the chief officers of which — those
charged with the supply of subsistence
— were made independent of the con
trol of military commanders, even of
the armies of the Confederate States.
This anomaly in military administra
tion saddled upon the Confederate army
at an early day, with an impracticable,
pragmatical recluse as chief of the Bu
reau, was persistently adhered to until
the cause was in its death-throes, with
consequences which can not be over
estimated in their mischievous effect

upon all Confederate operations. No
army, no campaign, no operation was
free from the malific blight of this sys
tem. Accordingly, we find one of
these petty sovereignties erected in
General Forrest's department ; and, as
a matter of course, in speedy collision
with him, drawing forth a letter, from
which we extract the following :
'¦ I am directed by the General Com
manding to say, that he understands
you are at Okolona, and several of
your men loitering around here, instead
of being up at the front attending to get
ting out cattle. He further directs me
to say that, if the matter is not given
your attention, he will withdraw his
cavalry, who are to aid you, and report
the fact to the proper department If

(. Went to the Support of Roddy. 463
come to effect a junction with Roddy, transmitted a notifica
tion of his purpose in these terms :
" Your dispatch of the 29th just received. I will start
from this place to-morrow morning, with 2400 men and six
pieces of artillery, to join you. I wish you to ascertain which
direction the enemy has taken, and keep me posted. I will
move by Fulton, and on the road to Russellville, unless you
should advise differently. If the enemy goes in the direction
of Rome, I think they will join the main army. If they turn
South, you will let me know at once ; if they go to Rome, I
will move in another direction, and will meet you. Be
certain to have with you 1000 of your best men and horses.
I have sent my aid-de-camp — Captain Charles W. Anderson
— to see and confer with you as regards our future move
ments. You will send couriers and scouts on the enemy's
right flank, and keep General Chalmers posted. You will
find him at Monte Vallo, Alabama, whence he was sent to
find which road the enemy took from Sommerville. Send
courier, also, to General Johnston, at Marietta, Georgia, giv
ing him the facts."
. Buford's Division — except Newsom's and Russell's Regi
ments, left, one at Tupelo, and the other at Corinth — was in
motion, accordingly, for North-Alabama, with ten days'
rations, by way of Fulton and Russellville, on the morning
of the 1st of June. Morton's and Rice's Batteries accompanied
the expedition, and Forrest followed, somewhat later in the
day, with his escort. The whole force numbered some 2600
rank and file, and on the night of the second of June it en-

there is any thing hindering you from portunity. No enemy in the country,
giving this matter your immediate at- and force sufficient to protect you.
tention he desires to know it at once, (Signed)
and expects that you and all your men Chas. W. Anderson, A. D. C."
will be at work while you have the op-

464 Campaigns of General Forrest.
camped, eight miles westward of Russellville, to which place
Forrest rode, with his staff and escort, ahead of his command,
on the following morning. Several days previously, Captain
John G. Mann, Chief Engineer, had been sent ahead with his
engineer company, to the Tennessee river, about the mouth
of Town creek, to build or repair a sufficient number of boats
for the prompt ferriage of that stream. At Russellville, For
rest was met by a dispatch from his aid-de-camp, Captain
Anderson, acquainting him that Roddy's command had been
concentrated about Moulton, twenty-five or thirty miles
distant, and the requisite number of boats would be ready to
begin the passage of the Tennessee river at four o'clock that
afternoon. Thus affairs stood about mid-day, when a dispatch was
received from Major-General Lee, recalling the force to
Tupelo, to meet a heavy column of mixed arms, penetrating
the country in that direction from Memphis. Moving with
his accustomed celerity, Forrest reestablished his headquar
ters at Tupelo early on the 5 th June, and Buford came up with
his division late in the afternoon.
On leaving Russellville, Forrest had ordered Roddy to
send Johnson's Brigade from Cherokee, on the Memphis and
Charleston, across to Rienzi, on the Mobile and Ohio Rail
road.* And Rucker, who, under orders from General Lee,
was moving with his brigade from Oxford, in the direction of
New- Albany, was instructed, on the 5 th, by a reliable courier,
and through the telegraph, to throw a portion of his brigade
between the enemy and Memphis, and capture his couriers
and train, while hanging with his main force upon the Federal
right flank.

* Was about 1000 strong. Roddy (Patterson's) so soon as it could be con-
was to follow with his other brigade centrated from its several stations.

^fc

GEM A BTTFPKT)

Bieiock <c ¦:

Arrival of Major-Gmeral Lee. 465
Dispatches from trusty scouts were now received, reporting
the main body of the enemy, some 13,000 strong, infantry
and cavalry, at or near Salem, at mid-day on the 4th.* A re-
disposition was now made of the scouts, with the view to the
thorough investigation of the numbers, arms, and objective of
the enemy in their present movement. And for the next
twenty-four hours, Forrest was engrossed with all possible
preparations for an effective rencounter with the Federals.
General Lee, coming up in the afternoon of the 6th, the two
Generals had an immediate conference touching the situation,
and their means for meeting the emergency. Meanwhile,
the enemy were reported by scouts to be at Ruckerville — ten
miles north-east of Ripley, on the road to Pocahontas, while a
body of Federal cavalry, after striking the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad northward of Boonville, was already moving toward
Corinth. It was supposed, from this state of affairs, that the
ultimate purpose of the enemy was a junction with Sherman,
then pressing Johnston back toward Atlanta. It was, there
fore, determined to concentrate all disposable forces to follow
and harass the movement to the utmost, and to that end,
comprehensive orders to the several officers affected were
promptly distributed. Johnson's Brigade was directed to
repair to Baldwin from the north ; Buford's Division, with
Rice's and Morton's Batteries, was ordered to the same point ;
and Rucker was instructed to hasten to New-Albany, observe
the roads in that quarter, and later, pressing on to Baldwin,
thence effect a junction with the main Confederate force,
should it not be found at that place. The enemy, meanwhile,
was reported as still moving eastward, in the general direction
of the Memphis and Charleston road ; and on the 7th, Gene
rals Lee and Forrest, with the escort of the latter, setting out
for Baldwin also, established their headquarters there on the

* 8000 infantry, 5000 cavalry, and six batteries.

466 Campaigns of General Forrest.
morning of the 8th. Rucker, meanwhile, soon after crossing
the Tallahatchie at New-Albany, late in the afternoon of the
7th, had struck a brigade of Federal cavalry, under Colonel
Winslow.* Attacking vigorously with the Seventh Tennessee
and a squadron of the Eighteenth Mississippi, with charac
teristic vigor and judgment, he drove the enemy for two
miles, when darkness put an end to the conflict.
At Baldwin, the Confederate Generals learned that the
main Federal force was still at Ruckerville, arranging, appar
ently, to cross to the south side of the Hatchie river, much
swollen at the time from recent heavy rains. Fresh in
structions were, therefore, transmitted , to Rucker to press
rapidly through Ripley and gain the Federal right flank,
maintaining constant communication with the Confederate
headquarters, which, with Buford's Division, were thrown
forward to Boonville early on the morning of the 9th, and
here Rucker effected a junction with Buford early the same
day. It had been raining four or five days incessantly, and
consequently the streams, brim full, were unfordable, the
bridges generally swept away, and the roads scarcely practi
cable. The information was now brought to the Confederate Gen
erals, that the Federals, having broken up their encampment
at Ruckerville, were moving toward Ripley, and later, that
having passed that place, they were marching toward Gun-
town. Meanwhile, the roads from the west, from the direction
of the enemy, were thronged with citizens, seeking refuge,
with their portable property, from spoliation and those merciless
outrages which seem to have marked the path of the Federal
column, with every species of calamity for the helpless non-
combatants of the region traversed. General Lee now

• The passage of this stream was The ammunition was- carried across by-
effected with difficulty, from high water, the men on their horses, to keep it dry.

The Federals in Forrest's Path. 467'
determined to fall back with the whole force toward Okolona,
so as to effect a junction with Chalmers, and such other forces
as he hoped to be able to glean from Mobile, before grappling
with the enemy. All supplies and public property were
accordingly dispatched southward by rail, and General Lee
proceeded in the like direction and manner the night of the
9th, while Forrest was ordered to move with Buford's Division
and Rucker, and get between the Federal column and Tupelo.
In motion before dawn on the ioth, with Lyon's Brigade in
advance, Forrest was at Old Carrollville, four miles north
eastward of Brice's Cross-Roads* Here scouts reported that
the main force of the enemy having encamped the past night
on Stubbs's farm — twelve miles east of Ripley, and eight from
the cross-roads just mentioned — their cavalry, or advance,
had already been met within a mile of the latter position, and
hence were about to intercept the line of his march. Seeing
no way of avoiding this contingency, and Johnson's Brigade-
having come up meanwhile, Forrest promptly resolved upon
the offensive, and an immediate encounter. Lyon was
therefore ordered to move rapidly forward with his brigade
and feel the enemy, while Rucker's and Johnson's men were
replenishing their exhausted cartridge-boxes. The night had
been rainy, but the sun rose brightly, and dispelling the
morning mists, became warm and somewhat oppressive to
the men and jaded horses ; and the roads, saturated with
water, from recent continuous heavy rains, were so much
cut up as to retard the progress of the artillery. Strict
orders were given, however, to keep the men well closed
up, prevent straggling, and lagging, and to urge forward the
artillery and ordnance trains as fast as possible.

• Lyon's Brigade had bivouacked the had remained at Boonville to await its
preceding night at Boonville, and arrival there, so as to bring up the rear
Bell's Brigade at Rienzi, some eight of the command.
miles northward, and General Buford

COLONEL E. W. RUCKER-
CHAPTER XVIII.
BATTLE OF TISHOMINGO CREEK.
Sketch of Theatre of War — Confederates first engaged — Forrest takes the
Offensive — Threw small Force to harass Federal Rear — Desperate
Fighting — Transient Checks — Federals defeated and driven from the
Field — Pursuit and Incidents — Commentaries.

June ioth to 13th, 1864.
ORICE'S CROSS-ROADS, four miles due west from the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad at Baldwin, is at the intersection
of the road from Ripley through Guntown to Fulton with that
leading from Carrollville through Ellistown to Pontotoc.
Forrest's force immediately in hand at the moment consist
ed of —

Lyon's Brigade,*
Rucker's Brigade,!
Johnson's Brigade,!

800 rank and file.
700 " " "
500 " " "

• Composed of Third Kentucky,
Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. C. Holt com
manding ; Seventh Kentucky, Major
H. S. Hale commanding ; Eighth Ken
tucky, Captain R. H. Fristoe command
ing ; and Faulkner's Kentucky Regi
ment, Major Thomas S, Tate command
ing.

t Composed of Eighteenth Missis
sippi, Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander
H. Chalmers ; Nineteenth Mississippi,
Colonel W. L. Duff; and Seventh
Tennessee, Colonel W. L. Duckworth.
X Composed of Fourth Alabama,
Lieutenant-Colonel Windes command
ing ; Moreland's Battalion, Major

The Battle begun by Lyon. , 469
Lyon, as we have related, had been ordered to press forward
with his brigade, and, coming in contact, to feel the strength of
the enemy without being drawn inextricably into battle. There
fore, his advance, Randle's Company ofthe Seventh Kentucky,
soon coming in conflict with a greatly superior cavalry force
on the road leading toward Tupelo, through Brice's Cross-
Roads, west of the railroad, was forced to fall back on the bri
gade Lyon then ordered Captain Randle to dismount his
men and advance on foot, to develop the Federal position.
This done with spirit, speedily the enemy's cavalry were found
strongly posted in heavy force in front. The Third Ken
tucky, Colonel Holt, meanwhile dismounted, was thrown for
ward at a double-quick, deployed in line of battle, in support
of Randle, and brought at once into action. The Federal po
sition was strong ; Lyon, therefore, dismounting the Seventh
Kentucky and Faulkner's Regiment — except two companies,
held as cavalry to guard his flanks — immediately advanced,
the former on the right and the latter on the left, in line with
the Third Kentucky, while the Eighth Kentucky was held as
a reserve, in rear of the centre, within supporting distance.
Thus disposed, Lyon pressed steadily up through a skirt of
timber, brushing the enemy back as he advanced. But dis
covering that the Federals were being heavily massed in his
front, as if for an attack, Lyon halted his line, reconnoitered'
the position, and directed his men to throw up such cover as
could be quickly made of rails and fallen timber at hand. The
enemy, already having several pieces of artillery in position.

George commanding ; Williams's Bat- forced march from North- Alabama.
talion, Captain Doane commanding ; Not only was this march made through
Warren's Battalion, Captain W. H. an incessant torrential rain, but the
Warren commanding ; and Ferrel's streams, bridgeless and swollen, were
Battery, four guns, under Captain Fer- only to be passed at a good deal of ha
rd. This brigade had then been con- zard, and the march effected by much
stantly in the saddle for a week, on a energy.

4/0 , Campaigns of General Forrest.
opened a hot fire with shell and canister, while a large force
menaced an onset upon Lyon's left.
Meanwhile, a courier had been dispatched with instructions
to Bufor,d to detach a regiment (Barteau's Second Tennessee)
at Old Carrollville, to gain the Federal rear, and, if possible,
destroy their train ; and to hurry forward the artillery at a
gallop, as well as the other regiments of Bell's Brigade.
Informed of the state of affairs on the field, Forrest ordered
Colonel Lyon to take the offensive with the Third Kentucky
and Faulkner's Regiment. This gallantly performed, the ene
my was presently driven back for three hundred yards to the
edge of an old field. Forrest had moved up meanwhile the
Seventh and Eighth Kentucky to a position somewhat in ad
vance and rightward of the road. Lyon then brought up the
Third Kentucky and Faulkner's Regiment lo the same line.
The ground was favorable and he awaited the onset. Rucker,
at the same time, was dismounted and ordered also to form in
line of battle on the left, which being done with alacrity and
characteristic dash, he soon became warmly engaged with the
enemy, who opened upon him with a sharp musketry-fire from
the shelter of a fence and dense thicket of dwarf-oaks. Hear
ing the sounds of this brisk engagement, the Confederate
General next dispatched Johnson's Brigade, mounted, at a
rapid pace, to gain and guard Lvon's right. Meanwhile,
Rice's and Morton's Batteries of the artillery having been
brought up at a gallop for some eight miles, they were. imme
diately thrown forward into position, in an open field on a hill,
in rear of Lyon, and opened with spirit and execution, espe
cially upon the Federal infantry confronting Rucker. Duff's
Mississippians being detached leftward half a mile, to guard
tha* flank from being turned, Rucker now charged with the
Seventh Tennessee and the Eighteenth Mississippi Battalion
(Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers) across an open field in the
face of a heavy hostile force of infantry. Chalmers's Batta-

Severe Losses. 471
lion, unsupported on his left at the time, being overlapped by
the enemy on that flank, was thrown into confusion by a ter
rific enfilading fire, and receded to the shelter of the woods in
its rear ; but, though warmly pressed back to that position, it
was speedily rallied, and handsomely resumed the onset*
The loss was serious among these brave Mississippians and
Tennesseeans. Led, however, with noteworthy courage and
vigor by Colonel Rucker, and Lieutenant-Colonels William F.
Taylor (Seventh Tennessee) and Chalmers, (Eighteenth Mis
sissippi,) they intrepidly breasted the fire of rifles and ar-*
tiller)' that swept the ground over which they advanced, and
carried the position.!
At the same time Lyon, advancing with his brigade in the
face of an actively plied artillery and warm fusilade of small-
arms, drove back the force opposed in his front, after some ob
stinate fighting and several efforts to charge him with a supe
rior force. And Buford having come up at half-past eleven
A.M., with Bell's Brigade, or rather Russell's and Wilson's Re
giments, Forrest had placed them, dismounted, immediately
in line and on the left of Rucker, about the time that brigade
had faltered, as we have mentioned.
The enemy now occupied the arc of a circle three fourths
of a mile, at least, in extent, and about half a mile from Brice's
house, the right of which lay across the Ripley-Guntown road.
They were also in heavy force of infantry, as well as cavalry ;
but a large portion of the infantry had been brought up at a
double-quick for some six or eight miles, and, of course, were
much blown and flurried, and not in good fighting condition.
Lyon's Brigade,' confronting them on both sides of the Bald-

* Its effective strength in this battle Seventh Tennessee, was killed, and
was only 225. nearly a third of his regiment were
t Here Lieutenant William S. Pope, placed hors de combat. See Appendix.
the accomplished young Adjutant of the

472 Campaigns of General Forrest.
win road, was formed in line in the edge of a thick wood ;
Rucker, as we have stated, was next on the left ; and Russell's
and Wilson's Regiments (Bell's Brigade) had taken position
on his left, with Duff's Mississippians on his and the extreme
Confederate left. Meanwhile, Buford had been assigned to
the command of the right and centre, embracing Lyon's and
Johnson's Brigades, and the artillery, (eight guns,) with in
structions to attack strenuously as soon as Bell was heard in
action ; and this was the posture of the combat about midday.
The ground held by the enemy, somewhat more elevated
than that occupied by the Confederates, was undulating, and
thickly clad with stunted trees and tangled undergrowth,
which, vailing their presence, furnished excellent cover, in ad
dition to the breastwork of rails and logs that they had erected.
Nevertheless, Bell advanced to the onset about half-past one
p.m., and speedily a prolonged musketry fire blazed and gushed
in the face of his line, and many of his bravest officers and men
went down before it* Right gallantly and staunchly did these
regiments endeavor to stem the adverse tide, but finally they
wavered. Wilson's Regiment, flanked and enfiladed, gave
back, and the issue seemed inevitably unfavorable for a time.
But animated by their officers, the men regained a footing,
and, happily, Lieutenant-Colonel Wisdom reached the ground
at the same juncture, with about two hundred and fifty men
of Newsom's Regiment. These were quickly dismounted,
and advanced to a position on Wilson's left. The offensive
was now vehemently resumed by the Confederates in all parts

* Here, Captain J. L. Bell, Assistant in the long list of casualties of this bat-
Inspector-General, was mortally, and tie given in the Appendix. We may say
Lieutenant Isaac Bell, aid-de-camp of here, the loss in officers was peculiarly
Hell's staff, severely wounded, as also heavy, for sixteen were killed and sixty-
Major  Webb, of Russell's Regi- one wounded. The Sixteenth (Wil-
mcnt. Many others were slain or son's) Tennessee had eleven of its offi-
vvounded, whose names will be found cers wounded.

The Result Menacing. 473
of their line. The Federals fought well, and made several
persistent charges, in heavy force, upon Johnson's, Lyon's, and
Rucker's, as well as Bell's and Duff's positions, and more than
once defeat seemed unavoidable. Two strong lines of Federal
infantry pressing upon Rucker and Bell and Duff, through an
open field, their front line came within thirty paces of the
Confederates, who then drew their revolvers and drove the
enemy back with great slaughter. At the same time, Lyon
and Johnson repulsed those who had assailed them ;* while
the escort, under Captain Jackson, with characteristic daring,
had dashed down upon some negro infantry, on the Federal
right, and thrown them into great confusion.! Urged forward
bv their officers, the Confederates pressed the enemy back by
the sheer valor and tenacity with which they were handled.
Nevertheless, the Federals, constantly reenforced by fresh re
giments, brought up one after another, were so greatly supe
rior in numbers, that the result was still extremely doubtful.
Forrest thereupon repaired, in person, to where his artillery
was in position in front of Lyon. Ordering the pieces to be
double-shotted with canister— a favorite practice — and lim
bered up, he moved with them down a gentle wooded slope,
to within sixty yards of the Federal lines, to the edge of a
field about a quarter of a mile north-east of Brice's house,
just at the moment a strong Federal line, resuming the
offensive, was emerging from the woods into the open ground.
In this position, the Confederate artillery (eight pieces) were
opened with signal execution ; and, after two or three dis-

• Previously, Johnson's Brigade, on the interval which had been left between
tbe extreme Confederate right, had its left and Lyon's right.
forced the enemy back until within sight t So sharp was the combat in this
of their wagon-train, when it was order- part of the field, that the Seventh Ken-
ed to oblique to the left and rear, and tucky lost thirty officers and men killed
connect with Lyon, to defeat an attempt and wounded.
on the part of the enemy to penetrate

474 Campaigns of General Forrest.
charges, Lyon and Johnson charged upon the Federal left.
Hotly engaged at all points — about two p.m. — the conflict had
now become general and desperate. There was no faltering
at the juncture anywhere in the Confederate ranks. Buford
was steadily pressing the Federals back upon Brice's house,
with Lyon's and Johnson's Brigades ; Bell's and Rucker's
Brigades, moving across the fields and over the fences, in their
front, using their revolvers freely, bore backward all before them
in the same direction. The Confederate fire of small-arms and
artillery was rapid, incessant, desolating* Forrest's line was
now shortened, and hence strengthened, as it converged upon
the cross-roads, and the Federals were driven back at all
points, into a broad ravine, westward of Brice's house, leading
to Tishomingo Creek, infantry, cavalry, artillery, their wagon-
train and ambulances huddled together in an almost inextrica
ble coil, and upon this mass Morton's and Rice's Batteries
were brought to bear with fearful carnage.
By this time, six guns had been captured at Brice's house,
and several of these, manned by the Confederate artillerists,
were turned upon the Federals, disabling the horses of another
Federal battery some three hundred yards westward of the
Ripley road.! Seeing this, Captains Morton and Rice moved
their batteries forward at a gallop up to the obstructed mass
of the enemy, and poured upon it a deadly tide of canister.
The havoc was ghastly, and the second battery was abandoned,
as the enemy crowded back along the Ripley road, toward
Tishomingo Creek, the bridge over which, still standing, was
blocked up with wagons, some of whose teams had been killed,

* Full eight hundred Federal officers Kentucky, having been disabled in the
and men lay dead around Brice's house, charge upon this battery, Sergeant 
and on the field to the east and south Brown, Company A, of the regiment,
°f '*• seizing the flag, rushed forward and
t The color-bearer of the Eighth planted it upon a caisson.

The Pursuit. 475
«
and more than one hundred of the Federals were killed or
wounded in attempting to press across the bridge thus ob
structed. Finding their way thus barred, the enemy rushed
into the creek on both sides of the bridge ; but as they emerged
from the water on the west bank, in an open field, the Con
federates' artillery played upon them, for half a mile, killing
or disabling large numbers.
In the interim, the wagons left on the bridge had to be
thrown into the stream before the Confederates, in any effect
ive numbers, could pass over ; otherwise, the captures must
have been much more numerous. A section of Rice's Battery,
however, was worked across, and, supported by the escort,
overtook, and was opened upon the negro brigade, with double-
shotted canister, with appalling effect.
Meanwhile, the obstructions having been removed from the
bridge, by throwing the wagons into the water, the rest
of the artillery followed swiftly the advance section, ahead, for
the moment, of any support, and securing favorable positions,
joined in the havoc.
The order was now given for the cavalry to halt, reorgan
ize, remount as fast as possible, and pursue. The road was
narrow, with dense woods on either side, so that it was im
possible to use more than four pieces at a time ; but that
number were kept close upon the heels of the retreating
enemy, and in murderous play, preventing them from making
a stand. Nothing could exceed the daring spirit, energy, and
execution with which the Confederate artillery was handled by
its officers.*
* Captain J. W. Morton was in chief tery was commanded by Captain T. W.
command, with R. M. Blakemore as Rice, with Lieutenants B. F. Haller,
Adjutant. His battery was command- H. H. Briggs, and D. C. Jones as sub-
ed by the gallant Lieutenant T. S. alterns. Lieutenants J. C. Barlow and
Sale, assisted by Lieutenants J. M. W. J. D. Winton, of Thrall's Battery,
Mayson and G. T. Brown ; Rice's Bat- casually present, and acting as volun-

476 Campaigns of General Forrest.
About two miles from the cross-roads, the enemy rallied at
length in strong force, and again made stout battle for about
half an hour, in the course of which, concentrating, they made
a spirited charge upon their eager pursuers, and drove them
back upon Rice's Battery ; but that; opening with double
charges of canister, and Lyon's Brigade springing forward with
loud cheers, hurled them back with so stormful an onset, that
the Federal array dissolved before it into a molten mass of
fragments and stragglers, and their defeat was consummate.
The largest portion of their wagon-train was left on the
ground, with many caissons, and the road was so thickly
strewn as to be encumbered with the dead, the dying, and
the wounded, with cast-away arms, accoutrements, baggage,
dead animals, and other wreck and residuum of a routed army.
It was now sunset, but the pursuit was maintained, weary and
over-spent as the Confederates were, for some five or six miles
beyond, and until it became quite too dark to go farther.
In the mean time, Barteau's Regiment, (Second Tennessee,
not more than 250 strong,) which, as will be remembered, had
been detached from Carrollville to get rearward of the enemy
on the Ripley road, effecting the movement, attacked the
Federal rear with skill and resolution. This drew to that
quarter a large part of their cavalry, while the battle was rag
ing with greatest fury at the cross-roads. Deploying his men
as skirmishers, on a line of nearly three quarters of a mile,
and with other admirable and daring dispositions of his force,

teers with the batteries of Rice and plied, " No, sir, I'll stay with you as
Morton respectively, were conspicuous long as I can stand up," and continued
for their conduct. The spirit that ani- to drive his gun-team with his arm in a
mated the men may be illustrated by sling through the entire fight. Mor-
the behavior of one — Jimmie Moran, ton's Battery consisted of four three-
of Morton's Battery — who, when shot inch rifle guns, and Rice's of two twelve-
through the arm, on being told by his pounder howitzers, and two six-pound-
officcrs to go to the rear, invariably re- er smooth-bore guns.

Rucker Leading the Pursuit. 477
well calculated to conceal his weakness, Barteau contributed
materially to disturb and disorder the enemy, and prevent
the escape of their train.
As the negro soldiery broke, after their last stand, they
were seen generally to tear something from their uniform and
throw it away, which subsequently proved to have been a
badge on which was printed " Remember Fort Pillow,"
while at the same time their officers (whites) threw off their
shoulder-straps or insignia of rank.II.
As soon as the several commands were reassembled, and
the darkness had somewhat diminished, about one o'clock on
the morning of the 1 ith, Forrest gave orders for the immedi
ate resumption of the pursuit. Rucker's Brigade — with the
Seventh Tennessee leading — took the advance, and within
three miles struck the Federal rear about daylight, at Stubbs's
farm. A slight skirmish ensued, when the enemy broke,
abandoning the remainder of their wagon-train, nine pieces of
artillery, and some twenty-five ambulances, with a number of
wounded, at the crossing of a small fork of the Hatchie.*
The enemy, as was apparent, were now greatly scattered
through the surrounding country. Forrest, therefore, threw
out a regiment on either side of the highway, to sweep for
some distance to the right and left, and all the morning the
din of firearms was to be heard at the harsh, stern work of
war. Bell's Brigade was now in advance, having, soon after sun-

• During the night, Lieutenant Frank surpassed, made a series of attacks,
Rodgers, of Rucker's staff, with a de- and greatly harassed and annoyed the
tachmentoften men, hanging constant- enemy, numbers of whom were thus
ly and closely upon the Federal rear, killed or wounded.
with an ardent daring that never was

478 Campaigns of General Forrest.
rise, relieved Rucker, whose horses were exhausted. And
about four miles eastward of Ripley, the Federals were found
rallied and in position for another stand at the crossing of
Hatchie creek, where the " bottom " was almost impracticable,
except by the road over a causeway for some 300 yards.
They had already effected the passage of the stream, and
were drawn up on a ridge, some seven hundred yards from its
west bank, with a strong line of skirmishers lining a fringe of
woods near the water's edge, to dispute the Confederate ad
vance. No artillery being visible, Forrest quickly dismounted
two regiments of Bell's Brigade, moved with them, and his
escort mounted, up the creek, leftward, and crossed without
any resistance, taking the Federals on their right flank. At
this moment they again broke, after a very slight skirmish,
and the whole Confederate force, crossing the stream, resumed
the pursuit.
As the advance of Bell's Brigade — Wilson's Regiment —
approached Ripley, about eight p.m., the enemy were found
drawn up in two strong battle-lines, just in the outskirts,
north-west of the place, stretching across the roads leading to
Lagrange and Salem.* Forrest coming up with his escort,
immediately dismounted them and Wilson's men, and without
waiting for any additional force, advanced with his habitual
audacity to the attack ; but sending orders, however, to Gen
eral Buford to throw Rucker around to gain their rear on the
Lagrange road, and to hurry up with the other regiments.
Wilson's Regiment and the escort deployed as a thin line of
skirmishers half a mile long, advancing under cover of the
houses and fences of Ripley, opened with an effective fire
upon the Federal lines, inflicting so sharp a loss that, after a
few moments, they broke, leaving upon the field thirty of their

¦ Ripley is twenty-five miles from Brice's Cross-Roads.

Buford in Pursuit. 479
dead and sixty wounded, including a colonel of infantry.* At
the same time, Lieutenant-Colonel Jesse Forrest charged
with one company, mounted, of Wilson's Regiment, with such
hardihood and tenacity that, it is understood, the commander
of the Federal cavalry and rear-guard narrowly escaped cap
ture. Buford, having now brought up the other troops, was di
rected to pursue with Lyon's and Rucker's Brigades, and hang
closely upon the Federal rear, on the road toward Salem,
through Davenport, while, taking Bell's Brigade, Forrest
would endeavor to reach Salem sooner by a left-hand way,
somewhat more direct, with the hope of thus intercepting the
main body of the retreating enemy at this point. Buford,
however, took up the pursuit with such vigor that this ex
pectation was disappointed. Directed to lead, and charge
without dismounting, Rucker made several spirited onsets
upon the Federal rear-guard.! Sweeping it rapidly ahead of
him, capturing several hundred prisoners, Rucker's horses be
came finally so jaded that Buford relieved that brigade with
Lyon's. Under this rearrangement a charge of signal gallan
try was made by Faulkner's Regiment, under Major Tate
driving the Fourth Missouri (Federal) cavalry back through
the ranks of their infantry, which had been halted for a
stand, and here several hundred prisoners were captured. By
the time, however, Salem was reached, it was apparent that
no body of the Federal force was retreating on that road, but
only widely dispersed stragglers. Rucker and Johnson were
here turned back to scour the country for Federal stragglers
and property — harness, small-arms, accoutrements, and ammu
nition with which the road was profusely strewn— while Buford,
turning northward, with Lyon's Brigade and Russell's Regi-

• Colonel George M. McCaig, One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Infantry.
t Captain W. J Tate was killed here. See Appendix for sketch.

480 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ment, resumed the chase. One detachment, under Lieuten
ant-Colonel Holt, followed the road toward Lamar, and the
other toward Lagrange. These, however, were reduced to
small numbers ; for so exhausted had the horses now become
generally, that few were able to keep ups and reach the
extreme points of pursuit on the nth, which, on the way to
Lagrange, was Davis's Mill, where Buford halted after dark,
and gave his men and animals several hours' rest.
Meanwhile, Forrest having led Bell's Brigade, as we have
related, by the shorter route, nevertheless, on reaching Salem
found that Buford was in his advance. Thereupon, permitting
Colonel Bell to return to the battle-field, to look after the dead
and wounded, he directed Colonel Wilson to proceed with the
brigade on the route taken by Buford, and sweep the country
for prisoners and arms ; but not long after, dispatched orders
to Buford recalling the pursuit.*
The enemy began their retreat about four p.m. on the ioth,
and by five p.m. on the nth they had been driven, with heavy
loss, in frequent collisions with the Confederates, quite fifty-
eight miles, with the loss also of nineteen pieces of artillery,!
twenty-one caissons, over two hundred wagons, and thirty
ambulances, with parts of their teams and large quantities of
subsistence, ammunition, and other materiel of war. More
than 2000 officers and men, including the wounded, were
taken prisoners ; and 1900 of their dead were left upon the
field or by the wayside, between the battle-field and Ripley.
Seldom, almost never, was an army more completely beaten
and dispersed than that of Sturgis on this occasion ; beaten,

* Several miles before reaching Sa- f Seventeen pieces of artillery were
lem, the Confederate General fell from actually captured ; two were buried by
his horse from sheer exhaustion, and the Federals.
for more than an hour lay in a state of
•tupor by the road-side.

Pursuit Recalled. 481
too, as has been seen, by a force of fighting men at no time
exceeding 3200 men, that is to say, little over one third of
the Federal army* The Confederate losses were severe, at
least 140 officers and men killed, and nearly 500 were
wounded. III.
Having directed the return of his command to the battle
field, General Forrest, still greatly fatigued and exhausted by
the extreme mental exertion he had undergone, now set out
in the same direction and slept Saturday night, (nth,) with
his staff and escort, at the house of a paternal uncle — Orrin
Beck — three or four miles from Salem, and almost within
sight of the little farm upon which had been passed the years
of his youth, for the most part in a hard, resolute struggle for
the means of support for a widowed mother and her family of
eleven children.
Returning slowly on the next day toward Ripley, the Con
federate General tarried at that place on the night of the 12th,
and did not reach Brice's Cross-Roads until the morning of
the 13th. His first act was to issue an order for the collec
tion of the wounded of both sides, and their early removal
to hospitals on the line of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
And from the same place a general order was issued requir
ing his division and brigade commanders to make detailed
reports to his headquarters of all captured property of every
description which had been collected by their several com
mands. These details attended to, he repaired that afternoon
to Guntown Station, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, five

* And of this number one fourth, or fore took no combatant part in the bat-
one man out of every four, was de- tie, and reducing the fighting men actu-
tached to hold the horses of their com- ally to about 2300 men.
rades, fighting as infantry, and there-

482 Campaigns of General Forrest.
miles southward, where, establishing his headquarters, he
immediately addressed himself to the reorganization of his
command, and its redisposition for future service.
COMMENTARIES.
1. This battle has been described by Federal writers as
having been fought at Guntown ; it occurred, however, at
Brice's Cross-Roads, in close proximity to Tishomingo creek,
on which account the victors have always called it the battle
of Tishomingo. The Federal force engaged, says their Offi
cial Report, consisted of Warren's and Winslow's Brigades,
3300 cavalry, and Wilkins's and Hoge's (white) and Benton's
(negro) Brigades of infantry, 5400 strong.
2. The action was far bloodier than it would have been had
not the negroes entered upon the campaign inspired by their
officers with the conviction that no quarter would be given
them — inspired, too, with the resolution to give no quarter.*
Impressed with this notion, animated by the apprehension
engendered, they perversely refused to halt and surrender.
Wildly persisting in seeking safety in flight, they were ne
cessarily shot down for a time to such a degree that the affair
became very like a grand battue for wild game.
3. For a week previously the Confederates, be it remem
bered, had been marching, with scant periods of rest, night

• We have seen circumstantial, dra- with such purposes ; and yet had writ-
matic accounts in Federal newspapers ten a letter, (also printed forward, p.
ofthe clay, detailing the administration 489,) complaining that they had been
of the oath to the negroes to give no unmercifully dealt with in battle. The
quarter. General Washburne, in his famous Oxenstiern said, " Le son du
letter to General Forrest, printed here- tambour dissipe les pensees." Assuredly
inafter p. 487, confesses such an oath the drums around the Federal General
was taken, and that these very negroes must have driven thought from his
were permitted by him to take the field head.

Commentaries.

483

and day— through drenching rains, over muddy roads and
bank-full streams, so that they were greatly fatigued. Never
theless, officers and men were made invincible by a determi
nation to conquer. The courage manifested throughout
rarely equaled in the aggregate on any field, has never been
surpassed. General Buford rendered signal aid to his superior
in the general conduct of the battle ; the brigade commanders,
Colonels Bell, Lyon, and Rucker, were men not only of shin
ing courage, but of strong force of character, and the several
regiments engaged were admirably handled by their immedi
ate commanders.
4 In this battle the genuine military capacity of General
Forrest would seem to have been demonstrated. It has been
thought and asserted by many that his successes were largely
due to uncommon good fortune, coupled with audacity ; but it
must be apparent that this brilliant victory was won by his
prompt comprehension of the situation on the morning of the
10th June, and his recognition of the possibility of taking his
adversary at the sore disadvantage of being attacked while hi.*
column was extended in a long line, moving over the narrow
roads of that densely wooded region. Seeing his advantage
at its right value, he planned and executed with equal celerity ;
and never did soldiers fight, we repeat, with greater tenacity
or intrepidity than those he led that day.
5. In this affair, furthermore, was illustrated the sovereign
efficacy in war of the defensive-active, with the concentration
and speedy employment of one's whole force when the battle
moment has come. Forrest brought his entire strength into
action, and kept no reserves unemployed. In this he was
right ; for a reserve is an unnecessary subtractive from — and
emasculative of— a force so small as that which he command
ed ; and victory is surest won on such occasions when every
man is launched, and every gun available is employed, as stre
nuously and swiftly as possible.

CHAPTER XIX.
BATTLE OF HARRISBURG.
Rapid March of Chalmers from Monte Vallo — Mabry's Brigade added to
Forrest's Cavalry — Correspondence between Generals Forrest and
Washburne — Forrest, anticipating a strong Hostile Movement, re
ported the Facts to his Superior — Approach of Enemy under Major-
General A. J. Smith — The Country devastated by the Federal
Army — Major-General S. D. Lee in Command of Confederates —
Affair at Pinson's Hill, also at Barrow's Shop — Forrest Reconnoi-
tered the Federal Position — Battle of Harrisburg, July i^th — Con
federates worsted, but Federals refuse to advance from their Intrench
ments— Retreat of General Smith on the i$th of July — Federal
Ambuscade at Town Creek — Commentaries.

June 14th to July i6lh, 1864.
x\S will be remembered, Chalmers, under orders from
Major-General Lee, had left Monte Vallo with McCulloch's
Brigade on the 10th of June, to return by forced marches
to Mississippi. Notwithstanding the heavy rains, consequent
muddy roads and swollen streams encountered, he was at Co
lumbus, Miss. — one hundred and twenty miles from Monte
Vallo — by one p.m. on the 13th June, and there found orders
to halt for further instructions.
Mabry's Brigade likewise had come within the limits of
Forrest's command, and was posted at Okolona* It had

* Composed of the Fourth Missis
sippi, Colonel C. C. Wilburne ; Sixth

Mississippi, Colonel Isham Harrison;
Thirty-eighth Mississippi, Major Ro-

Letter to General Washbume. 485
been previously on service in the quarter of the Yazoo river,
until ordered by General Lee to push forward to assist in re
pelling the expedition, the fate of which we have just related.
Reaching the vicinity too late to take part in the combat or
pursuit, it became, however, thenceforward an effective part
of Forrest's Cavalry.
During the latter part of the month of May, a controversy
had grown up between the Federal commander at Helena,
Ark., and the Confederate commander on the opposite side of
the Mississippi river, who had initiated the correspondence in
regard to courses alleged to be in breach of the laws of war.
This coming to the notice of General Forrest, he at once, dis
approving what had been done by his subordinate, forbade
such communications thereafter between his lieutenants and
Federal commanders. And almost his first official act on
reaching Guntown was to make the Federal commander at
Helena acquainted with his own views in the premises. The
communication to that end and copies of the correspondence
in question were forwarded, by flag of truce, to the Federal
commander — Major-General Washbume — at Memphis, on the
14th, for perusal, and the transmission of his own letter to its
address. At the same time the Confederate General took
occasion to address General Washbume the following :
"Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry, 7
In the Field, June 14, 1864. \
"General:* ....
" It has been reported to me that all your colored troops stationed in
Memphis took, on their knees, in the presence of Major-General Hurlbut
and other officers of your army, an oath to avenge Fort Pillow, and that
they would show my troops no quarter. Again, I have it from indisputa-

bert McKay commanding; and the * The omitted paragraph relates
Fourteenth Confederate, Colonel F. simply to the inclosures.
Dumontiel.

486 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ble authority, that the troops under Brigadier-General Sturgis, on their
recent march from Memphis, publicly and in many places proclaimed that
no quarter would be shown my men. As they were moved into action on
the ioth, they were exhorted by their officers to remember Fort Pillow.
The prisoners we have captured from that command, or a large majority
of them, have voluntarily stated that they expected us to murder them,
otherwise they would have surrendered in a body rather than taken to the
bushes after being run down and exhausted. The recent battle of Tisho
mingo creek was far more bloody than it would otherwise have been but
for the fact that your men evidently expected to be slaughtered when cap
tured, and both sides acted as though neither felt safe in surrendering,
even when further resistance was useless. The prisoners captured by us
¦say they felt condemned by the announcements, etc., of their own com
manders, and expected no quarter.
" In all my operations since it began, I have conducted the war on civil
ized principles, and desire still to do so ; but it is due to my command that
they should know the position they occupy and the policy you intend to
pursue. I therefore respectfully ask whether my men now in your hands
are treated as other Confederate prisoners of war, also the course in
tended to be pursued in regard to those who may hereafter fall into your
hands. " I have in my possession quite a number of wounded officers and men
of General Sturgis's command, all of whom have been treated as well as
we were able to treat them, and are mostly in charge of a surgeon left at
Ripley by General Sturgis to look after the wounded. Some of them are
too severely wounded to be removed at present. I am willing to exchange
them for any men of my command you have, and, as soon as able to be
removed, will give them safe escort through our lines in charge of the
surgeon left with them. I made such an arrangement once with Major-
General Hurlbut, and am willing to renew it, provided it is desired, as it
would be better than to subject them to the long and fatiguing trip neces
sary to a regular exchange at City Point, Va.
" I am, General, etc., N. B. Forrest, Major-General."
This communication, dispatched with a flag of truce borne
by Lieutenant-Colonel R. W. Pitman, an officer of Forrest's
staff, drew an answer as follows :

Reply of General Washbume. 487
" Headquarters District of West-Tennessee, )
Memphis, Tennessee, June 19, 1S64. \
" Major-General N. B. Forrest, Commanding Confederate Forces :
"General: Your communication of the 14th instant is received. The
letter to Brigadier-General Buford will be forwarded to him.
" In regard to that part of your letter which relates to colored troops, I
beg to say that I have already sent a communication on the same subject
to the officers' in command of the Confederate forces at Tupelo. Having
understood that Major-General S. D. Lee was in command there, I di
rected my letter to him. A copy of it I inclose.
"You say in your letter that it has been reported to you 'that all the
negro troops stationed in Memphis took an oath, on their knees, in the
presence of Mhjor-General Hurlbut and other officers of our army, to
avenge Fort Pillow, and that they would show your troops no quarter.' I
believe it is true that the colored troops did take such an oath, but not in
the presence of General Hurlbut. From what I can learn, this act oi
theirs was not influenced by any white officer, but was the result of their
own sense of what was due to themselves and their fellows who had been
mercilessly slaughtered.* I have no doubt that they went into the field,
as you allege, in the full belief that they would be murdered in case they
fell into your hands. The affair of Fort Pillow fully justified that belief.
I am not aware as to what they proclaimed on their late march, and it
may be, as you say, that they declared that no quarter would be given to
any of your men that might fall into their hands.
" Your declaration that you have conducted the war on all occasions on
civilized principles can not be accepted ; but I receive with satisfaction
the intimation in your letter that the recent slaughter of colored troops at
the battle of Tishomingo creek resulted rather from the desperation with
which they fought than a predetermined intention to give them no quar
ter. You must have learned by this time that the attempt to intimidate
the colored troops by indiscriminate slaughter has signally failed, and that,
instead of a feeling of terror, you have aroused a spirit of courage and des
peration that will not down at your bidding.
" I am left in doubt by your letter, as to the course you and the Con
federate Government intend to pursue hereafter in regard to colored troops,

• Here is * distinct admission that into the field with the declared inteor
the negro troops with Sturgis had gone tion to give no quarter.

488 Campaigns of General Forrest.
and I beg you to advise me, with as little delay as possible, as to your in
tention. If you intend to treat such of them as fall into your hands as
prisoners of war, please so state. If you do not so intend, but contem
plate either their slaughter or their return to slavery, please state that, so
that we may have no misunderstanding hereafter. If the former is your
intention, I shall receive the announcement with pleasure, and shall ex
plain the fact to the colored troops at once, and desire that they recall the
oath that they have taken. If the latter is the case, then let the oath
stand, and upon those who have aroused this spirit by their atrocities, and
upon the Government and people who sanction it, be the corisequences.
" In regard to your inquiry relating to prisoners of your command in
our hands, I state that they have always received the treatment which a
great and humane government extends to its prisoners. What course will
be pursued hereafter toward them must, of course, depend on circumstan
ces that may arise. If your command, hereafter, do nothing which should
properly exclude them from being treated as prisoners of war, they will be
so treated.
" I thank you for your offer to exchange wounded officers and men in
your hands. If you will send them in, I will exchange man for man, so
far as I have the ability to do so.
" Before closing this letter, I wish to call your attention to one case of
unparalleled outrage and murder, that has been brought to my notice, and
in regard to which the evidence is overwhelming.
" Among the prisoners captured at Fort Pillow, was Major Bradford,
who had charge of the Fort after the fall of Major Booth. After being
taken a prisoner, he was started with other prisoners, in charge of Colonel
Duckworth, for Jackson. At Brownsville they rested over night. The
following morning, two companies were detailed by Colonel Duckworth to
proceed to Jackson with the prisoners. After they had started, and pro
ceeded a very short distance, five soldiers were recalled by Colonel Duck
worth, and were conferred with by him. They then rejoined the column,
and after proceeding about five miles from Brownsville, the column was
halted, and Major Bradford taken about fifty yards from the roadside and
deliberately shot by the five men who had been recalled by Colonel Duck
worth, and his body left unburied upon the ground where he fell. He now
lies buried near the spot, and, if you desire, you can easily satisfy yourself
of the truth of what I assert.
" I beg leave to say to you, that this transaction hardly justifies your re
mark, that your operations have been conducted on civilized principles ;

Another Letter from Washbume. 489
and until you take some steps to bring the perpetrators of this outrage to
justice, the world will not fail to believe that it has your sanction.
" I am, General, respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. C. Washburne, Major-General."
Besides this communication, so stuffed with harsh epithets,
and the unsoldierly discourtesy of the gownsman in contro
versy, it seems that, while Forrest's letter ofthe 14th of June
was on its way to the Federal headquarters, one touching the
same subject had been written by General Washburne, and
dispatched on the 17th to Major-General Lee, which we also
print as a part of the history of the day :

-}

"Headquarters District of West-Tennessee,
Memphis, Tennessee, June 17, 1864.
" Major-General S. D. Lee, Commanding Confederate Forces, near Tupelo,
Mississippi. " General : When I heard that the forces of Brigadier-General Stur
gis had been driven back, and a portion of them probably captured, I felt
considerable solicitude for the fate of the two colored regiments that formed
a part ofthe command, until I was informed that the Confederate forces were
commanded by you. When I heard that, I became satisfied that no atroci
ties would be committed upon those troops, but that they would receive
the treatment which humanity, as well as their gallant conduct, demanded.
I regret to say, that the hope that I entertained has been dispelled by facts
which have recently come to my knowledge.
" From statements that have been made to me by colored soldiers, who
were eye-witnesses, it would seem that the massacre of Fort Pillow had
been reproduced at the late affair at Brice's Cross-Roads. The details of
the atrocities there committed I will not trouble you with. If true, and
not disavowed, they must lead to consequences, hereafter, fearful to con
template. It is best that we should now have a fair understanding upon
the question of treatment of this class of soldiers.
" If it is contemplated by the Confederate Government to murder all
colored troops that may by the chances of war fall into their hands, as was
the case at Fort Pillow, it is but fair that it should be truly and openly
avowed. Within the last six weeks, I have, on two occasions, sent colored
troops into the field from this point In the expectation that the Confe-

490 Campaigns of General Forrest.
derate Government would disavow the action of their commanding general
at the Fort Pillow massacre, I have forborne to issue any instructions to
the colored troops as to the course they should pursue toward Confederate
soldiers that might fall into their hands ;* but seeing no disavowal on the part
ofthe Confederate Government, but, on the contrary, laudations from the
entire Southren press of the perpetrators of the massacre, I may safely
presume that indiscriminate slaughter is to be the fate of colored troops
that fall into your hands. But I am not willing to leave a matter of such
grave import, and involving consequences so fearful, to inference, and I
have, therefore, thought it proper to address you this, believing that you
would be able to indicate the policy that the Confederate Government in
tended to pursue hereafter in this question. Il it is intended to raise the
black flag against that unfortunate race, they will cheerfully accept the is
sue. Up to this time, no troops have fought more gallantly, and none
have conducted themselves with greater propriety. They have fully vindi-
dicated their right (so long denied) to be treated as men. I hope that I
have been misinformed in regard to the treatment they have received at
the battle of Brice's Cross-Roads, and that the accounts received result
rather from the excited imaginations of the fugitives, than from actual facts.
" For the government of the colored troops under my command, I would
thank you to inform me, with as little delay as possible, if it is your inten
tion, or the intention of the Confederate Government, to murder colored
soldiers that may fall into your hands, or treat them as prisoners of war,
and subject to be exchanged as other prisoners.
" I am, General, respectfully, etc.,
C. C. Washburne, Major-General."
As this communication passed through Forrest's hands, he
made an immediate reply, which we reproduce :
" Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry, Tupelo, )
June 23, 1S64. \
" Major-General C. C. Washburne, Commanding U. S. Forces, Memphis:
" General : I have the honor to acknowledge. the receipt (per flag of

* But admits in the letter, ante, p. 4S7, vengeance, and sworn to give no quar-
that he knew at the same time those ter to Confederates that might fall into
troops had gone into the field breathing their hands. See Commentaries.

Another Letter from Forrest. 491
truce) of your letter ofthe 17th instant, addressed to Major-General S. D.
Lee, or officer commanding Confederate forces near Tupelo. I have for
warded it to General Lee, with a copy of this letter.
" I regard your letter as discourteous to the commanding officer of this
department, and grossly insulting to myself. You seek, by implied threats,
to intimidate him, and assume the privilege of denouncing me as a mur
derer, and as guilty of the wholesale slaughter of the garrison at Fort Pil
low, and found your assertions upon the ex parte testimony of (your friends)
the enemies of myself and country.
'• I shall not enter into the discussion, therefore, of any of the questions
involved, nor undertake any refutation of the charges made by you against
myself Nevertheless, as a matter of personal privilege alone, I unhesita
tingly say, that they are unfounded, and unwarranted by the facts. But
whether these charges are. true or false, they, with the question you ask,
as to whether negro troops, when captured, will be recognized and treated
as prisoners of war, subject to exchange, etc., are matters which the Go
vernments of the United States and the Confederate States are to decide
and adjust, not their subordinate officers. I regard captured negroes as I
do other captured property, and not as captured soldiers ; but as to how
regarded by my Government, and the disposition which has been, and will
hereafter be made of them, I respectfully refer you, through the proper
channel, to the authorities at Richmond.
" It is not the policy or the interest of the South to destroy the negro ;
on the contrary, to preserve and protect him ; and all who have surren
dered to us have received kind and humane treatment.
" Since the war began, I have captured many thousand Federal pri
soners, and they, including the survivors of the 'Fort Pillow-Massacre,'
black and white, are living witnesses of the fact, that, with my knowledge
or consent, or by my orders, not one of them has ever been insulted or
maltreated in any way.
" You speak of your forbearance, in ' not giving to your negro troops
instructions and orders, as to the course they should pursue in regard to
Confederate soldiers that might fall into (your) their hands,' which clearly
conveys to my mind two very distinct impressions. The first is, that, in
not giving them instructions and orders, you have left the matter entirely
to the discretion of the negroes as to how they should dispose of prison
ers ; second, an implied threat, to give such orders as will lead to ' con
sequences too fearful ' for contemplation. In confirmation of the correct
ness of the first impression, (which your language now fully develops,) I
refer you most respectfully to my letter from the battle-field of Tishomingo

492 Campaigns of General Forrest.
creek, and forwarded to you, by flag of truce, on the 14th instant. As to
the second impression, you seem disposed to take into your own hands
the settlement which belongs to, and can only be settled by, your Govern
ment. But if you are prepared to take upon yourself the responsibility of
inaugurating a system of warfare contrary to civilized usages, the onus, as
well as the consequences, will be chargeable to yourself.
" Deprecating, as I should do, such a state of affairs ; determined, as
I am, not to be instrumental in bringing it about ; feeling and knowing, as
I do, that I have the approval of my Government, my people, and my own
conscience, as to the past ; and with the firm belief that I will be sustained
by them in my future policy, it is left with you to determine what that po
licy shall be — whether in accordance with the laws of civilized nations, or
in violation of them. Very respectfully, etc., N. B. Forrest, Major-GeneraL"
On the 15th of June, General Forrest, repairing to Tupelo
with his staff and escort, established his headquarters at that
central position. Meanwhile, his troops, after burying the
dead, collecting and removing the wounded, and gleaning the
field of all spoils and trophies, had been distributed at points
deemed most advantageous for the easy subsistence of men
and animals, as well as their rapid concentration in an
emergency.* About this time General Roddy, with his en
tire force, was placed under Forrest, and that officer accordingly
was ordered to establish his headquarters at Corinth, taking
thither his other — Patterson's — brigade, except three hundred
men to be left in North-Alabama.
For the next fortnight, General Forrest, ever diligent, ever
looking into all matters of administration with his own eyes,
with unremitting energy, pressed forward his preparations to

* Chalmers was at Columbus with ters were at Guntown, and his division
McCulloch's Brigade and Walton's — Bell's and Lyon's Brigades — was
Battery, and after a few days, Rucker's quartered in that neighborhood.
Brigade was directed to take post at Mabry's Brigade was at Okolona. And
the same place. Buford's headquar- Johnson was ordered to Corinth.

Measures of Preparation. 493
meet any endeavor of the enemy. Numerous parties from
the regular scouting companies of his command were kept far
in advance upon all the approaches from any hostile quarter.
Forage and subsistence were collected at central points upon
all routes of possible operations. And among his measures
at this period was the organization into an infantry battalion
of all the men of Roddy's, Buford's, and Chalmers's Divisions,
who were without serviceable horses. All their horses, and
other unserviceable animals of the command, were then col
lected and sent to favorable points for recuperation. Special
efforts were directed likewise to the restoration of the battery
teams to the most efficient condition. And nothing, indeed,
seems to have been omitted that was practicable for placing
his whole force in the most effective fighting condition.
On the 22d, orders were given to Roddy to observe closely
on the road westward toward Lagrange, and in the direction
of the Tennessee river at Clifton ; also to be in readiness to
move at a moment's notice in the best practicable condition
for active service. A letter written about this time to his
trusty captain of scouts, will show what he exacted of that
branch of his command, and the steps taken to secure accu
rate information :
" Captain," writes one of his Adjutant-Generals, (Captain Anderson,)
" I am directed by the Major-General Commanding to say that he is not
satisfied with the meagre and unreliable information received from your
men. He wishes you to order them to scout well and close up to Mem
phis and the railroad, and give him reliable information as to enemy's po
sition and movements ; also their numbers. Endeavor, also, to send a
scout up toward Randolph, above Memphis, to ascertain whether any
troops are moving up the river from Memphis. _ He also wishes you to
have him advised promptly, by telegraph, from Holly Springs, Oxford, or
Senatobia, and by courier line from Holly Springs, via Ripley, to this
place. "A movement ofthe enemy in force is anticipated, and he desires that

494 Campaigns of General Forrest.
you order your men not only to learn all they can, but see for them
selves."* Sharp and stringent orders were likewise issued to his
medical officers, commanding more rapid movement of the
wounded from the vicinity of the late battle-field. Detach
ments were thrown out to glean absentees and deserters, and
a field-officer was dispatched to West-Tennessee to declare
an amnesty to all deserters who would return to their colors.
By this time, information was received from sources so re
liable as to satisfy the Confederate General that a Federal
force was preparing to march from Memphis against him,
larger than either of the columns which he had discomfited.
Informing his superior of the fact, he made new and additional
dispositions to keep the impending Federal movement under
the closest observation. Among the steps to this end was
the detachment of a picked battalion of 200 men, drawn from
Buford's Division, on the 23d, advanced to Ripley to hold in
observation the many roads converging upon that important
strategic position.
On the 25th, he communicated for the information of his
superior — Major-General Lee— his views, in writing, of the
actual objective of the impending hostile movement, its
strength and progress. That communication is so character
istic of the Confederate General that we spread it upon these
pages :
" From the information I have, am clearly of the opinion that the force
now moving from Memphis meditate the destruction of the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad, as far down as possible ; and then turn across to the

* General Forrest, however, ac- ance, courage, and intelligence which •
knowledges himself greatly indebted to enabled them to render incalculable ser-
Captain Thomas Henderson, his offi- vice. In fact, their operations were in-
cers and men, for their habitual vigil- valuable.

General Forrest's Letter to General Lee. 495
Central Railroad, destroy it, and return to Memphis. I therefore advise
the removal of our surplus stores from Grenada and other points across
in the direction of Meridian. I do not believe they design joining Sher
man. Most of their force consists of ' one hundred day men ;' at any rate,
a large number of that character have arrived, and are arriving, at Mem
phis. My scouts report that 184 wagons and twenty ambulances passed
Forrest Hill, eighteen miles east of Memphis, and that 1200 troops have
passed up ; but I think that an over-estimate of the number which has
thus far left Memphis for up the road. I have no doubt but that they have
and will move with 18,000 to 20,000 men, a portion of which will be used to
garrison the points already fortified on the Memphis and Charleston road.
With a base secured as far east as practicable, they will then attempt the
programme previously referred to. I respectfully suggest, therefore, that
the Major-General Commanding order up (as far this way as forage will
permit) all the available troops of his department. Besides three com
panies of scouts, I have 200 men at Ripley, and intend sending 200 more
under Colonel Forrest, to go as near Lagrange as possible, and ascertain
what is going on, and keep me fully posted. Would move a greater force
there but for the difficulty in supplying it with forage, not having a suffi
ciency of mules.
" Have ordered all General Roddy's force to Corinth, except 300 men,
to be left in the valley to meet any raids from Decatur. Also, ordered
him to send his wagon-train and all his unserviceable and broken-down
stock to this place, to be provided for and pastured."
About the same period — June 27th — another letter, ad
dressed to General Roddy, may be cited as showing the scope
of his preparations, and the method and attention to details
that characterized his instructions to his subordinates :
" I am directed by the Major-General Commanding to say that he de
sires you to move all your wagons, unserviceable horses, dismounted and
unarmed men to this place, reserving and keeping with you only wagons
sufficient for your ordnance, and the smallest quantity of cooking utensils
that will do your command. Take your best teams for your ordnance and
.cooking utensils.
, " Have one hundred rounds of ammunition to the man, forty in cart
ridge-boxes, and balance in wagons, together with as much artillery am
munition as you may think sufficient. Keep five days' rations for your

496 Campaigns of General Forrest.
command, and be prepared for a move at a moment's notice. You will
send your dismounted and unarmed men, wagons, and unserviceable horses
down, in charge of a competent officer or officers, and have all your men,
with horses, able for duty, armed from those whose horses are unservice
able. Two days' rations of hard bread for all the troops you may keep at
Corinth, will be sent you as soon as the number is ascertained and re
ported. The east side of the railroad from Baldwin is the best road to
this place. Direct your wagons to come that route.
" Respectfully, etc.,
Charles W. Anderson,
A. A. A. General"
Two General Orders — Nos. 56-7 — and a circular of this
date (27th) are likewise of noteworthy characteristic import.
The first is as follows :
" The several commands of the army are now well supplied with
wagons, all complete, to wit : Wagon-bows and sheets, feed-boxes, extra
tongues, and tongue-props, in good order, being so turned over to them
from the recent captures of the enemy.
" Unless quartermasters are vigilant and attentive in the preservation
of these things, they will soon be lost or destroyed by the carelessness of
teamsters and wagon-masters. It is therefore the intention of the Major-
General Commanding, whenever he finds a wagon, in camp or on the
march, deficient in any of these needed articles, with all of which it has
been supplied, or finds them damaged, or neglected, or missing, to hold
the proper party to a most rigid responsibility, and without mercy, inflict
the severest punishment known to the regulations, upon the head of that
officer in whose department such neglect shall be found."
The other order is in regard to detailed men, a numerous
class in Confederate armies, and directed that :
" Hereafter, every detailed man in all the departments will be armed
with his gun and necessary accoutrements to go into the fight, and it is ex
pected and will be required of them so to do. One clerk in each depart
ment will be excepted from this order. Division, brigade commanders,
and heads of departments will be held accountable for the full execution
of this order. There will also be exempted one wagon-master with
trains."

Preparations. 497
The circular concerned a vice very common during the
war, and was as follows :
" On account of the many incorrect, improper, and contradictory dis
patches and articles written by officers and others of. this command for
publication, in many of which have been developed and made public its
positions, movements, numbers, and operations, the Major-General Com
manding forbids that dispatches or letters trenching upon any of these
points be written and sent from this command unless first submitted to
and approved at these headquarters, or by the Major-General Command
ing the Department And that there may be no misunderstanding upon
this point, he directs that the order be read at dress-parade, the ensuing
week, at least three times."
Forrest now began to concentrate and redispose his troops.
Chalmers's Division was brought up from Columbus to Vero
na ; the outpost at Ripley was increased to 400 men, placed
under Lieutenant-Colonel Jesse Forrest, who was instructed
to open dispatches from scouts and only to express the im
portant to headquarters, so as to avoid unnecessary work for
his couriers and their horses ; and orders were issued for all
to be held in readiness for movement at a moment's notice.
The absentees, however, from the various regiments were very
numerous, despite his constant efforts to reduce the number.*

II.
For the first week in July the work of preparation for the
menaced conflict was pressed with unabated activity and at
tention to detail The outpost at Ripley was strengthened to
600 men, the command of whom was devolved upon Lieu-

*At the end of June, Forrest's Ca- Bell and Lyon — at Tupelo, Mabry's
valry were disposed as follows : Chal- Brigade at Saltillo, and Roddy's Divi-
mers's Division— Rucker's and McCul- sion— Johnson's and Patterson's Bri-
loch's Brigades— at Verona, Buford's— gades— at Corinth, or in North Alabama.

498 Campaigns of General Forrest.
tenant-Colonel S. M. Hyams, First Mississippi Partisans.
And on the 8th, Bell's Brigade was thrown forward, from Tu
pelo, some fifteen miles to the north-westward, to Ellistown,
with one of his regiments detached as an outpost in advance
of that position. General S. D. Lee came up on the same
day, with some eight or nine hundred infantry, from Mobile.
Mabrey was also directed to move on the next day from Sal-
tillo toward Ellistown. At the same time the whole com
mand was directed to draw and cook their meat-ration for
several days, while all tents and superfluous baggage were
ordered to be sent by rail to the southward.*
Meanwhile, on the 7th, Lieutenant-Colonel Hyams had had
a skirmish with a strong Federal column a few miles in ad
vance of Ripley, and had been forced, by the weight of greatly
superior numbers, to fall back, first to Ripley and then to El
listown, on the 8th. Generals Lee and Forrest visited Vero
na on the 9th, and examined the ground carefully in that
neighborhood, with a view to the selection of a position for
a stand against the approaching Federal force. That force
was rapidly drawing near, ravaging and wasting the country
far and wide through which they passed, and marking their
route by a broad belt of smoke and flame at the moment, and
later of ashes, charred ruins, and blackened, crumbling chim
ney-stacks.! -^t three p.m. on the 9th, the head of the main
Federal column had reached a point six miles south of New-
Albany, on the road to Pontotoc and Chesterville. McCul
loch's Brigade, therefore, was thrown out to Pontotoc, and
Rucker to a point four miles west of Tupelo, at the intersec
tion of the road from Pontotoc with the one from Chester-

*The Federal column concentrated t The Federal column crossed and
¦at Lagrange took the field art least encamped on the south bank of the
13,000 strong, under Major-General A. Tallahatchie on the 9th.
J. Smith, 0*1 the 5th of July.

The Enemy at Hand. 499
ville to Okolona. Roddy, likewise, was ordered to hasten, by
forced marches night and day, to Okolona ; and Buford to
mass his division at Ellistown, at which point Mabry's Bri
gade was also quartered.
The movements of the enemy now developed, apparently, a
line of march toward Okolona. Accordingly, Buford was or
dered to move with the force at Ellistown across to Pontotoc,
whither, as will be remembered, Chalmers had also been di
rected to move with his division at daylight on the ioth, and,
effecting a junction with Buford, was instructed to assume
command of all the Confederate forces in that quarter, with
orders to skirmish vigorously, but to avoid being drawn into
a general engagement. By a forced march during the night
of the 9th, Buford reached the vicinity of Pontotoc early on
the morning of the ioth. His orders also were to throw his
division across the path and on the flank of the enemy, skir
mishing heavily, and to retire slowly in the direction of Oko
lona if overmatched. The enemy now was moving in the di
rection of Pontotoc in three columns, each preceded by a force
of cavalry.
Generals Lee and Forrest established their headquarters at
Okolona, and the former, as senior, took the general direction
of affairs. Chalmers's Division had been pushed forward ra
pidly, on the morning of the ioth July, to the vicinity of Pon
totoc, and the Confederate force was further reenforced, the
same day at Okolona, by Neely's and Gholson's Brigades,
which had been brought up dismounted, the former from Ala
bama and the latter from South-Mississippi.
In the mean time, Buford and Chalmers kept detachments;
well in advance of their respective positions, and a constant-
skirmish was maintained with the advancing enemy, and Bu
ford threw out a detachment of 100 picked men, under Cap
tain Tyler, of Faulkner's Regiment, to gain the Federal rear
and cut off his communications. And on the nth, the dis-

500 Campaigns of General Forrest.
mounted force at Okolona, including Neely's and Gholson's
Brigades, were thrown forward to Prairie Mound, to construct
a line of intrenchments at that point.
On the morning ofthe iith, the enemy, quitting their camp
some four miles northward of Pontotoc, at sunrise, pushed Mc
Culloch and Barteau slowly before them, until McCulloch was
relieved by Lyon with his brigade at Pinson's Hill, a strong
position two miles south of Pontotoc, which General Lyon
strengthened by infantry cover of rails and logs. The Fede
rals, however, moving cautiously and slowly, after feeling
Lyon's pickets, disappeared from his front about sunset. At
this time, or nightfall, the position of the Confederate forces
appears to have been as follows : Barteau's Regiment occu
pied the extreme right, on the Tupelo road, supported by
Rucker's Brigade on the left and somewhat in the rear, on a
way known as the Cotton-gin road. Mabry supported Lyon
on the Okolona road, and McCulloch held the Pontotoc-Hous
ton road, to the leftward of Lyon, with a small force thrown
out on the extreme left and south-west of Pontotoc, to watch
the road from that place to Oxford, while numerous scouts
were to encircle the Federal army. During the night, how
ever, Barteau was withdrawn to his brigade. With his forces
thus disposed, Chalmers was now ordered to skirmish ob
stinately with the enemy, and, if practicable, to detain them
from reaching Okolona for two days longer, so that the pre
parations might be completed for their reception.*
On the morning of the 12th, the enemy, after some preli
minary skirmishing, attacked Lyon's position vigorously, but
were foiled without difficulty. Seeing, however, that a force

* The country was traversed with of extreme difficulty to ascertain the
many roads leading toward various ultimate line of march of the enemy,
points along or near the Mobile and first from New-Albany and subsequent-
Ohio Railroad, so that it was a matter ly from Pontotoc.

A Battle Decided upon. 501
was moving so as to gain his rear, Lyon withdrew several
hundred yards to another strong position. Simultaneously,
Federal columns had moved out respectively on the Tupelo
and Houston roads, encountering and being checked by Duff's
Regiment on the former, and by Willis's Texas Battalion on
the latter. And thus stood affairs at sunset on the 1 2th.*
During this time, however, General Lee was receiving dis
patches from the Confederate commander at Mobile, report
ing that he was assuredly threatened with a grave attack by
land and water, and urging the return at least of the troops
withdrawn from his command. At the same time, he was
advised by General Joe Johnston that no reenforcements need
be expected from his army. Unwilling to leave Mobile thus
weakened and exposed, after a free consultation with Forrest
and other superior officers of his command, General Lee de
termined to draw the enemy into an immediate engagement.
And with that object the Confederate General put all his
forces of every sort in motion, on the night of the 12th, for
the position occupied by General Chalmers, four miles south
east of Pontotoc, on the Okolona road, whither he repaired in
person during the night, accompanied by General Forrest.!

* Several of Forrest's dispatches of General can move up with the balance
this day to his subordinates are note- of the troops." Somewhat later, writ-
worthy. To General Chalmers he ing to the same officer, he says, " You
writes from Okolona that, " If the must find where the enemy is and what
enemy moves on you this morning, let he is doing. You have force enough
him come, keeping his flank and rear to do this, and it must be done."
well watched and guarded, so that you t The forces thus put in motion
may know promptly of any change of were Bell's Brigade, General Roddy's
direction. Skirmish slightly with him. command; Gholson's State Troops,
A section of artillery has been sent up under Colonel Ham ; and the infantry
which you will use occasionally, as and dismounted men, under Lieutenant-
though feebly resisting his advance. Colonel Beltzhoover, with six pieces of
. . . Should the enemy turn back, artillery.
you will attack and hold him until the

502 Campaigns of General Forrest.
On the morning ofthe 13th, pending the coming up of the
infantry and Neely's and Gholson's dismounted brigades, the
Federals having shown no disposition to advance, General
Forrest went forward to reconnoitre the enemy's position, with
Mabry's Brigade, Walton's Battery, and his escort. Within
two miles of Pontotoc, (on the Okolona road,) a Federal out
post was encountered, which retired, skirmishing pertina
ciously, however, at all favorable positions, until finally driven
by Mabry through Pontotoc, and to the Tupelo road. It was
now Forrest learned that the main Federal force had been in
movement toward Tupelo for several hours. Informing Gene
ral Lee of this fact, and taking the same direction, he followed
with his escort and Mabry's Brigade for four miles at a gal
lop, when, coming up with, he drove their rear-guard rapidly
back to the main column, and this brought about some sharp
fighting. The enemy, however, continued their movement
without halting to make any serious combat, as far as a creek
about ten miles eastward of Pontotoc, though closely pressed
by Forrest with his small force, with the hope that he might
provoke the Federal Commander to turn and grapple with his
daring pursuer, and thus give time for General Lee to come
upon their flank with the main Confederate force across from
the Okolona road. But in this expectation he was balked.
The roads upon which Chalmers's and Buford's Divisions had
to advance were narrow ways through dense woods, in large
part very unfavorable for the rapid movement of cavalry;
General Lee, moreover, was unable to throw his forces upon
the Federal flank while in movement; as soon as or in the
manner that had been anticipated. At the creek in question,
however, the enemy drew up, and stood at bay ; but, after a
short skirmish, crossed to the east bank, and resumed their
march toward Tupelo. In this affair a section of Walton's
Battery was used with some effect.
Meanwhile, Chalmers, moving across toward the Tupelo

Rucker's Repulse. 503
road, with Rucker's Brigade, struck it about three p.m., at Bar
row's shop, twelve miles from Pontotoc. At the time the
enemy were moving along in excellent order, their wagons
and artillery on the road, guarded on either flank with infan
try, having flankers thrown out likewise. Selecting a favora
ble position in the edge of a wood, skirting an open field
through which the road passed about one hundred yards dis
tant, Rucker's men, dismounted, were quietly formed, and
opened a heavy fire of musketry upon the moving column.
But, unfortunately, a small detachment, which had been sent
to reach the road somewhat to the eastward, came in collision
with the Federals before Rucker had succeeded in forming his
line, and the enemy were found also in line fronting and over
lapping him, and returned his fire almost simultaneously, with
one of the most destructive character. For an instant, how
ever, some of Rucker's men had driven the Federals from a
portion of their artillery and wagons ; but this was a transient
success, for the devastating fire, instantaneously poured into
Rucker's small brigade from flank and front, could not be
withstood ; and the Confederates were forced to withdraw,
with severe loss, to their horses, where they re-formed, and
stood in admirable spirit, under the circumstances, awaiting
the onset of the enemy.* To which, howbeit, they were not
subjected, for the Federal column was content to resume its
march, burning some of their wagons whose teams had been.
lost. We have said the Confederate loss was severe ; it in
cluded the mortal wounding of the brave Captain W. G. Mid-
dleton, Eighteenth Mississippi ;! the gallant Colonel Duff,

* The Federals lost here eight wa- have been the Seventh Minnesota and
gons, two ambulances, and one caisson, Twelfth Iowa regiments, which suffer-
the teams of which, having been killed ed somewhat.
in Rucker's attack, they were burned t This officer had also been severely
and abandoned. The Federal troops wounded at Fort Pillow, while acting
chiefly engaged at this point appear to most gallantly.

504 Campaigns of General Forrest.
disabled by a severe wound ;* and Major C. C. Clay, Seventh
Tennessee, who was again dangerously wounded.!
A. little later, Buford had struck the head of the Federal
column with Bell's Brigade and Morton's Battery, about seven
miles west of Tupelo. The Federals, however, were not to
be taken unaware, but moving thoroughly prepared for an
attack, their column well closed up, well shielded by flankers,
and their wagon-train full}' protected. Buford being ordered
by General Lee to attack, Bell's Tennesseeans went into
action with their accustomed alacrity and courage. But the
odds opposed were too heavy, and after considerable loss
Buford was compelled to withdraw from the combat ; doing so
just as the Kentucky Brigade, now under Colonel Crossland,
reached the scene.! The two brigades were then formed in a
favorable position to repel any attack.
Forrest, meanwhile, now reenforced by Rucker's Brigade, had
been hanging closely upon the Federal rear, and a succession
of sharp skirmishes ensued until dark, and up to within about
three miles of Tupelo. A thin line of troops was then left,
and the rest of the Confederate forces were withdrawn some
what, and bivouacked ; Chalmers's Division at the intersection
of the Pontotoc with the Chesterville- Okolona road ; Buford
lay in his front, about one mile west of Harrisburg ; and Roddy
and Mabry to his right. The day had been so excessively

* Dufl's Regiment lost forty-seven t Major Clay had been wounded
killed and wounded, including their previously, in February, iS64, while in
Colonel, severely wounded, as we have the pursuit of Grierson and Smith,
said above. Captain E. B. Cochran north of Okolona, Miss.
and Lieutenants J. T. Clayton, E. W. f Lyon's Brigade was now under
Jennings, and William H. Barr, (car- the command of Colonel Edward
rying the colors,) were killed ; while Crossland, (Seventh Kentucky,) Gene-
Captain Johnson, acting as major of ral Lyon having been assigned to the
the regiment, and Lieutenant L. G. command of a division formed of infan-
ICnowles, were wounded. try and dismounted troops.

The Federals Intrench. 505
warm and oppressive, that the dismounted command, moving
slowly and with much straggling, were not upon the field by
the night of the 13th. By daylight, however, a portion had
come up, but greatly exhausted by their long march under the
hot sun of the season.*
The position held by the enemy was a cross-road hamlet —
called Harrisburg — of a few houses, scattered at wide inter
vals, over a somewhat commanding ridge. It was well chosen
for defense; and those strong, natural advantages, Major-
General A. J. Smith immediately set his troops to improving,
as far as practicable, during the night, by breastworks made
of rails and logs, and the materials of cabins and outhouses,
torn down for that purpose, and covered with earth. This was
discovered by General Forrest in a reconnoissance, which,
accompanied by Lieutenant Sam Donelson, of his staff, he
made about midnight, to within fifty yards of the Federal po
sition, riding along and reconnoitering the lines for nearly a
mile. Directing Colonel Mabry to throw forward skirmishers to
within close proximity of the enemy, Forrest repaired to
General Lee's headquarters, and reported what he had ascer
tained. Hoping to be able to draw his adversary into an
offensive movement in the morning, General Lee directed the
immediate disposition of his force for that contingency, and
the erection of temporary infantry cover — of rails and fallen
timber — on the line selected as best for receiving an attack.
Buford's Division was therefore advanced somewhat, and
formed by daylight in line across the Tupelo-Pontotoc road,
one mile and a half westward of Harrisburg ; Mabry's Brigade
being on the left, and Crossland's (Kentucky) Brigade on the

* Cavalrymen, whose horses were from Mobile. They had been marched
unfit for service, and heavy artillery in haste a distance of forty-six miles.

5°6

Campaigns of General Forrest.

right of that highway, with Bell's Brigade as a support or re
serve immediately in rear of Mabry. Roddy's Division, at the
same time, had taken post to the right of Buford's front line,
and Chalmers's division of cavalry, and Lyon's of infantry,
(not yet up,) were held as reserves.

III.

BATTLE OF HARRISBURG.
The Confederate force confronting their adversary on the
morning of the 14th of July scarcely exceeded eight thousand
officers and men.* The Federal army consisted of the Six
teenth Army Corps, and fell little short of thirteeen thousand
infantry, three thousand cavalry, and twenty-four pieces of
artillery.! Their position — an eminence of crescent outline,
convex toward the west, naturally strong, as we have observed

* Chalmers's Division :

McCulloch's Brigade, .

1400

Rucker's " . .

900 — 2300

Buford's Division :

Bell's Brigade, . . .

1300

Lyon's " ...

900 — 2200

Mabry's " . . .

1000

Roddy's Division :

Patterson's Brigade,

700

Johnston's "

800 — 1500

Lyon's Infantry Division :

Beltzhoovers's Battalion,
900
Gholson's (dismounted)
600
Neely's (dismounted)
600 — 2100
9100
Artillery : Morton's Batte
ry, 4 guns.
Rice's "
4 "
Artillery: Walton's Battery, 4 guns.
Thrall's " 4 "
Ferrell's " 4 "
The cavalry being fought as infantry,
one fourth were detached as horse-
holders, and took no part.
t Subdivided as follows : First Divi
sion of Infantry, under Brigadier-Ge
neral Mower ; Third Division, under
Colonel Moore ; and a Brigade of Ne
gro Infantry, under Colonel Benton ;
with Grierson 's Division (four brigades)
of Cavalry. (Correspondents of New-
York Times, and Missouri Democrat,
Memphis, July 22d, 1864.). These wri
ters, however, place the strength of the
whole force at only 13,000.
The Battlefield. 507
— had been strengthened by breastworks, thrown up during the
night and that morning, and commanded all the approaches,
especially toward the west and south.* The ground toward
the Confederate lines was undulating or broken ; and on the
Tupelo road there were woods to within two hundred yards of
the Federal intrenchments, when an open field intervened, on
the right and left of which extended around, between the
Federal and Confederate lines, broad, open fallow fields. That
is to say, while in the centre, any attack on the Federal posi
tion must necessarily be made for two hundred yards over
open ground, up a gentle slope, swept by artillery and mus
ketry ; at all other points the ground of approach was open
for almost a mile. And thus, as may be seen, the advantages
of position were clearly and formidably with the Federals, who,
besides, had a decided numerical superiority.
By seven o'clock a.m., having seen that the Federal Com
mander gave no evidence of a purpose to come forth from his
stronghold and give battle, Major-General Lee felt obliged to
take the offensive immediately, even though he were forced to
attack him upon ground of his own choosing. The precarious
posture of affairs at Mobile, and the urgency of the demand
for reenforcements to that important seaport, it is believed
were the considerations which swayed him at the moment.
Accordingly, acquainting General Forrest with his purpose,
General Lee ordered him to prepare the command for battle.
Presently, too, skirmishers were thrown forward' from Buford's

* The Federal lines on the morning New- York Times and Missouri Demo-
of the 14th were somewhat less than crat, who say expressly, that the ground
two miles from right to left, and rested, gave the Federals " a decided advan
ce left on the railroad south of Tupelo, tage." " // was a magnificent^ position
and the right extended about half a mile in which to receive an enemy?' is the
northward of Harrisburg. The strength language used by one of these writers.
of the Federal position is forcibly al- " The Federals were sheltered by the
luded to by the correspondents of the woods; the Confederates were exposed."

508 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Division, and Morton's Battery began an active fire from a hill
half a mile from the Federal lines, and for some moments a
fruitless effort was made in this way to provoke the Federal
Commander to take the offensive.
Meanwhile, the Confederate order of battle was so modified
that it stood as follows : The extreme right was held by
Roddy's Division, leftward of which Crossland's Brigade was
next in line, with Rice's Battery. Bell's Brigade was formed
on the immediate left, or north of the Tupelo road, with Ma-
bry first, and Rucker next, on his left, and Morton's Battery,
under Lieutenant Sale, was attached to this flank. McCul
loch's Brigade, and Neely's and Gholson's dismounted men,
with Thrall's and Ferrell's Batteries, constituted a second
line, or reserve, posted behind slight intrenchments of rails
and timber across and perpendicular to the Tupelo road.
Finding it impossible to entice the enemy from his cover,
or to assume the offensive, the Confederate Commander, about
eight o'clock, gave orders for the simultaneous advance of his
first line upon the Federal position. At the moment, how
ever, the Confederate order of battle had not been made
to conform in outline to that of the enemy, and Buford,
moving on the Federal centre, struck it before Roddy had
come in collision with the enemy in his quarter of the field*
Consequently, not only was a heavy force of infantry massed
to meet Buford's attack with a furious peal — a scorching fire
of small-arms, but almost their whole artillery was concentra
ted upon Bell's Tennesseans, Mabry's Mississippians, and
Crossland's Kentuckians. Crossland's Brigade was first en
gaged, driving the Federal skirmishers rapidly in, and dashing

* General Lee's orders really were the enemy as that held by Buford, but
that his centre should stand still, while from a misunderstanding, the Kentucky
the right (Roddy) should have time to Brigade prematurely'began the attack,
swing around into a position as near to as we have described.

A Furious Fire. 509
forward, with loud and hearty cheers, across the open field di
rectly upon the strongest point in the Federal position. The
Federals withholding their fire until their daring assailants
were half across the field, then opened, as we have observed,
with a furious, scathing fusilade, and fast, incessant dis
charges of canister from many guns. Bell and Mabry quickly
following to the onset, nothing could exceed the heat of the
fire which they encountered.
As stoutly as ever brave men affronted death, did these
brigades face the terrific torrent of fire thus let loose upon
their thin, exposed ranks, and no battle-field was ever illustra
ted by more general and shining courage, than was displayed
in this onset. Urged and led by their officers with conspicu
ous gallantry, the men were pressed up close to the coveted
position. Crossland's Brigade, being uncovered on its right,
was exposed to an oblique or enfilading fire, under which it
staggered, and finally gave way, but not until some of the in
trepid Kentuckians had penetrated the Federal intrenchments,
where they were either killed or captured. Colonel Faulkner's
horse was shot under him, and he twice wounded within sixty
paces of the same point, and one third of their numbers,
including Lieutenant-Colonel Sherrill, Seventh Kentucky,
(killed,) were stricken down, either killed or wounded* Rice's
Battery moved forward with the Kentuckians, and, kept well
in advance with them, was handled with signal daring and
skill. And when the stress of the Federal fire was greatest,
Thrall's Battery was thrown forward to close quarters in sup
port of Rice. Served with equal spirit and efficiency, it ren
dered invaluable aid in covering the withdrawal of the Con
federates from under fire.!

• Brigadier-General A. Buford's MS. Hale, Seventh Kentucky, were among
Official Report ¦ Colonel Crossland, the wounded.
commanding the brigade, and Major t Captain Morton's MS. Notes.

510 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Bell and Mabry's Brigades, having been moved forward with
somewhat more deliberation, were halted at short musket-
range, and delivered several well-sustained volleys before
emerging from the woods into the corn-field which was be
tween them and the enemy. But, advancing, they had not
gone more than fifty paces into the field before all were spee
dily driven back to the cover of the woods, by so deadly a fire
that it was not possible to breast it, and from which Mabry's
Brigade lost four of its field-officers* killed, and all the colo
nels of Bell's regiments were wounded in the foremost ranks.!
Morton's Battery, commanded by the gallant Sale, had accom
panied this movement, and shared in its vicissitudes. ' Its first
position was within five hundred yards of the enemy, but,
advancing, it was carried at least one hundred yards nearer
under the fire we have mentioned ; and when five out of the
seven gunners, and six of the eight horses of one piece were
disabled, and its commander, Sergeant Brown, three times
wounded. Nevertheless, he remained with his gun until it
was carried safely to the rear by hand, by Captain Titus's
company of sharp-shooters.! Another piece was brought off
by Sergeant C. T. Brady, after a wheel had been shot from it

* Colonel Isham Harrison, Sixth the combat, from Confederates in con-
Mississippi ; Lieutenant-Colonels John finement for capital and other grave
B. Cage, Fourteenth Confederate ; Tho- military offenses. In organizing the
mas M. Nelson, Sixth Mississippi Regi- company, General Forrest told these
ment ; and Major Robert C. McKay, men that he would not return them to
Thirty-eighth Mississippi Regiment, fight with their companies as yet, but
were killed. would place them on probation during
t Colonels R. M. Russell, C. R. the impending battle. They were some
Barteau, A. N. Wilson, and J. F. New- fifty in number, and acted with conspi-
som, were wounded ; also Lieutenant- cuous gallantry throughout the engage-
Colonel Wisdom and Major Parham, ment, losing one third of their numbers
(Sixteenth Tennessee.) in killed and wounded. Subsequently,
X A temporary experimental organi- for their good conduct, they were re-
zation, made up a day or two before turned to their respective companies.

The Confederate Left. 511
The remaining pieces, as the troops were forced back, were
retired slowly, halting and firing with the utmost resolution
and effect. Walton's Battery delivered from its position an
effective, long-range fire upon the enemy's artillery, for which
its Parrott guns were peculiarly suited ; and Ferrell's Battery,
the one that was so gallantly and efficiently handled during
the pursuit of Colonel Streight, in 1863, was held in reserve.
Chalmers, in the mean time, had been ordered to throw
Rucker's Brigade as a support to Mabry, leaving McCulloch
to support the centre, and cover the retreat in event of disas
ter. General Chalmers leading the left and Colonel Rucker
the right wing, the brigade advanced, at a double-quick, with
a loud shout, and with splendid order entered the open ground
between them and the enemy. The heat, that of a sultry July
day of the climate, was intense ; without a breath of air, a
feverish thirst harassed the men. Nevertheless, and despite
an appalling fire of musketry and artillery that swept the
ground over which they advanced, Rucker's small brigade
struggled onward with resplendent courage for some moments.
Twice wounded, Rucker had to leave the field after leading
his men to within sixty yards of the Federal trenches ; and
many of his bravest officers and men were added to the num
ber of dead and wounded that lay on the field already, belong
ing to the brigades which had preceded in the onset. At
least a third of Rucker's officers and men were stricken down,
either by the enemy or by the heat, and the attack was re
pulsed. So great indeed was the distress from thirst that, for
some moments, all organization was at an end, and no author
ity or orders of officers was heeded until water was found ;
and many of the men were so affected by the heat that,
scarcely able to walk, with great difficulty they were induced
to make the effort to reach a place of safety. However, in a
little while, organization being recovered, the brigade was
withdrawn in good order, rearward, as far as the position held

5 1 2 Campaigns of General Forrest.
by McCulloch. Bell's and Mabry's Brigades, having meanwhile
exhausted their ammunition, were also withdrawn.
During this time General Forrest had been on the right flank
with Roddy's Division, which, when Crossland's Brigade was
repulsed, was moved rapidly by the left flank to the position
occupied by that brigade at the commencement of the action,
and where the division was held to meet any counter or offen
sive movement of the enemy. Any further attack on the
Confederate part upon the enemy's position was clearly im
prudent, and it was not attempted. Forrest's staff-officers,
however, were actively employed, rallying the brigades on
the left ; and his aid and son, Lieutenant Willie Forrest,
thrown from his horse by the concussion of a shell, exploded
just above him, was carried from the field.
The Confederate attack had now failed at all points, and it
was manifest the Federal position and force were impregna
ble to any offensive operations of the Confederates arrayed
against them. General Lee, therefore, ordered his whole force
to retire from the field, and occupy the position held at day
light, in rear of McCulloch, and there await the movements
of his adversary. But General Smith appears to have been
satisfied with being able to foil the attack of his daring assail
ants, and adventured no offensive movement at all. There
fore, McCulloch's Brigade remained unmolested in its ad
vanced position until about half-past six o'clock p.m., when it
was noticed that the enemy were burning Harrisburg. Gene
ral Chalmers was then directed to reconnoitre as closely as
possible with that brigade, the first Mississippi infantry, and
a piece of artillery. Some Federal skirmishers, soon encoun
tered, were driven back by McCulloch far enough for him to
ascertain that the main Federal force still remained in posi
tion at Harrisburg, and the reconnoissance was concluded.
Chalmers meanwhile having moved forward with the First
Mississippi and artillery to a favorable position, on the left of

After the Battle. 513
McCulloch, before retiring threw some shell among groups of
the enemy gathered round the burning houses of the place,
and the figures of which, brought into strong relief by the
flames at that late hour, afforded fine targets.
About this time, or at sunset, taking Rucker's Brigade,
under Colonel Duckworth, General Forrest led it around the
Federal left flank, on the road to Verona, some two miles
southward of Tupelo, where he soon found himself in the
presence of the Federal pickets, who opened a scattering fire.
Dismounting the brigade, and taking post across the road,
Duckworth threw one tenth of the brigade promptly forward,
under Captain John T. Chandler, A. A. A. General, and the
Federal skirmishers were brushed back upon their main force.
This was presently followed by the advance of the whole bri
gade, and a sharp skirmish with the enemy, who receded
slowly for three fourths of a mile, until about nine p.m., when
the Confederates encountered a stormy fire from a heavy force
drawn up to receive them. This checked the movement, and
in turn the Federals essayed the offensive ; but their onset was
speedily brought to a halt by a well-directed fire from Duff's
Regiment Directing a small force to be left well in advance,
to watch that road, Forrest withdrew the brigade for the
night to a position three miles south of Tupelo, where it
bivouacked. IV.
Apprehensive that the Federal commander, emboldened by
the results of yesterday's success, would now attempt to press
forward into the prairie country to the southward, to lay waste
the growing crops of that fertile region, Major-General Lee
resolved to interpose every possible obstacle, and accordingly,
before sunrise, the whole Confederate force was concentrated
across the anticipated route of march, and drawn up in line of
battle, fronting the north, directly across the Tupelo-Verona

514 Campaigns of General Forrest.
road, about three miles from the former place. At the same
time working parties were dispatched to repair the roads and
bridges rearward, for the easy movement of the ordnance
trains and artillery, in the event the Confederates were forced
back. There being, however, no indications of any offensive
movement on the part of the enemy, Buford was thrown for
ward (dismounted) on the Confederate right, with Crossland's
and Bell's Brigades, to feel the Federals in that direction, and
coming in contact with their pickets, bore them back for
quite a mile upon the left flank of their main force, in some
timber, where he halted, and, throwing out skirmishers to
cover his own position, stood on the defensive. Meanwhile,
so intense was the heat, that as many as eighty officers and
men were carried from the field exhausted, some of them in
sensible, from the effects of the sun.
This was the posture of affairs at eleven a.m., when the
authentic and pleasing intelligence was received that the
enemy were in full retreat. Chalmers was immediately order
ed to move forward rapidly with McCulloch's Brigade (mount
ed) to ascertain their line of retreat and apparent purposes.
Overtaking their rear-guard, some skirmishing ensued for an
hour, during which a moving cloud of dust was visible along
the Tupelo-Ellistown road, marking manifestly the line of
march of a large force.
Meanwhile, General Lee had moved up with his whole
command as far as Harrisburg, and Forrest, with his staff and
escort, had gone immediately to Tupelo, some of the few
houses of which were found in ashes, the others filled with
wounded, including 250 Federals, too severely hurt to be re
moved, and few of whose wounds had been dressed*

* In consequence of this neglect, and were fly-blown and already in a putrid,
the extreme heat of the weather, many maggoted condition, from which the
of the wounds, both of the Confede- men suffered fearfully. — Notes of Gen-
rates and Federals found in Tupelo, erat Forrest.

Federals in Retreat. 515
While Chalmers was directed to press on with McCulloch's
Brigade, and attempt to get on their flank westward of the
Ellistown road, Buford, about two p.m., was ordered to goad
their rear with his division, now dwindled down, howbeit, to
not more than 1000 effectives. Following vigorously, and
moving at the head of his column with a section of Rice's
guns, just as Buford approached Town creek, four miles
beyond Tupelo, a warm volley was suddenly poured into the
head of his column from a heavy ambuscade in a corn-field,
while his own force was moving along a narrow road through
a dense " black jack" thicket. The character of the ground
made it extremely difficult to deploy forward any effective
body of troops, and Bell's Brigade receiving the first outburst
of the ambush, was driven back in confusion. The road was
blocked up at the same time with led horses and artillery, and
for a short while, had the enemy pressed their advantage with
vigor, the situation was critically perilous. Buford, however,
assisted by his officers, promptly rallied his men ; Bell's and
Crossland's Brigades also became engaged with their wonted
spirit, and Rice's Battery was effectively brought to bear upon
the somewhat rising ground, though it suffered both in horses
and men. General Forrest now came up, moreover, and assisted
materially, by his presence and words, to sustain the men in
their unequal combat ; and McCulloch's Brigade pressing up at
a gallop, he ordered it dismounted and thrown into action on
the left of Buford's Division. That veteran force making a
characteristic charge, pushed the enemy back in its front.
This was not done, however, without considerable loss, and
Forrest, who rode with it in the onset, was painfully wounded
in the right foot, and its intrepid commander, Colonel Bob
McCulloch, was struck in the shoulder. Meanwhile, General
Chalmers had conducted Kelly's Regiment, (mounted,) of the
same brigade, still further to the left, to turn, if possible, the
Federal flank. Advancing well into a corn-field in his front,

516 Campaigns of General Forrest.
and pressing back his immediate ehemy, he discovered, hap
pily in time, that his left flank was overlapped at the moment
by a superior force, in the same field, hidden by the high
com, and he was forced to fall back to the edge of the field to
avert disaster. In this he succeeded without being followed,
while McCulloch's movement saved Buford's horses, and
artillery. Forrest's wOund was now so painful that he was
obliged to quit the ground ; the command therefore devolved
upon General Chalmers. Riding to Tupelo, to have his wound
dressed, he reported the situation to General Lee, who
immediately repaired to the front. In the mean while, the
enemy finding himself borne back by McCulloch, threw
forward fresh infantry, far too strong to be withstood by the
small force of Confederates present or available, and who
were forced to recede in the face of overpowering odds ; but
Chalmers, though hard pressed, retired safely, just about night
fall, beyond the reach of the enemy, who, fortunately, was not
disposed to follow up his advantage with any energy. Gen
eral Lee having come upon the ground, ordered McCulloch's
Brigade to bivouac in observation for the night within half a
mile of the crossing of Town creek. Buford's Division was
assembled not far distant, and the rest of the Confederate
force slept for the night in the vicinity of Tupelo — all ex
hausted by the work of the last three days, and greatly dis
tressed by the weather.
Nor was the condition of the command found to be ma
terially better on the morning of the 16th. The heavy marches
of the last sixty or seventy hours, and scanty forage, had
broken down very much all the horses, while battle casualties
and the fierce tropical rays of the sun had depleted the ranks
fo such a degree that further pursuit in force, had it been of
any material military advantage, was impracticable. Seeing
this, General Lee made his arrangements and dispositions
accordingly.

Chalmers in Pursuit. 517
Chalmers was directed to pursue with Rucker's and Roddy's
Brigades, and a section of artillery. The rest of the cavalry
were ordered to retire on the road to points between Tupelo
and Okolona, where they could be most readily supplied with
forage and subsistence ; the infantry were dispatched by rail
to Mobile. Gholson's Brigade (State Troops) was likewise re
turned to their horses at Jackson's, and the wounded, includ
ing the Federal, having been collected as rapidly as possible,
were sent by railway to Forrest's hospital at Lauderdale
Springs, near Meridian, Mississippi.* These orders being
given, General Lee, satisfied from reports of scouts that the
Federal army was assuredly in retreat upon Memphis, left
on the 17th, to repair elsewhere within the limits of his com
mand, where his presence was required.
Chalmers, taking up the pursuit as swiftly as practicable in
the jaded condition of his animals after the march of fourteen
miles, seized a hill in full sight of the smoke of the camp-
fires of the Federal army, after having driven an outpost from
a creek in front of their encampment ; leaving a regiment to
hold this position, during the night he moved some two miles
to the eastward, to Knight's Mill, with a view of attacking
their flank on the next day, at some favorable opportunity.
On the morning of the 17th, Roddy was dispatched across
the country to seek an opportunity to strike their flank at
Kelly's Mill, on the Ripley road, while Chalmers would follow,
with Rucker's Brigade and the artillery, to hang upon and
harass their rear ; but this position proved untoward, as it was
found the enemy, turning leftward at Ellistown, had moved in
the direction of New-Albany, and not toward Ripley. The

» This hospital, admirably arranged federate service, as well as to the medi-
and managed by Surgeon Thompson, cal officers connected with it
of Kentucky, was a credit to the Con-

5 1 8 Campaigns of General Forrest.
horses, moreover, for the most part, were now so manifestly
unfit for further pursuit, that the Confederate commander
rightly determined to abandon it. Detaching some 250 men
to follow in observation, Chalmers returned to Tupelo with the
rest of his command, while the Federal army was making its
way rapidly in the direction of Memphis, by way of Holly
Springs. COMMENTARIES.
1. The Federal- Commander assuredly displayed much
watchfulness in his movements, but the least possible vigor or
enterprise. He appears to have restricted his movements
after crossing the Tallahatchie, to the defensive against an
antagonist very much his inferior in numbers. Had he
pressed the advantage gained on the afternoon of the 14th
July with resolution, and with his whole force, as the Confe
derates fell back repulsed and badly cut up, as he could plainly
see, the consequences for the Confederates must have been
ruinous. Although he remained in possession of his strong,
intrenched position (including that night) for fifteen hours
after the close of the battle, and removed his wounded and
some of the Confederates to hospitals in Tupelo, yet such was
the demoralized condition of his force that the wounds, nei
ther of the Federals nor Confederates in hospital appear to
have been dressed. And when he began the retrograde, as is
alleged, for want of subsistence and ammunition, it was made
with all the celerity and other appearances of a retreat ; for,
leaving one division under Brigadier-General Mower to cover
his rear by making a stand at the extremely favorable position
of Town creek, he pushed his train on toward Memphis, with
all haste, escorted by the remainder of his force. Indeed, in
view of General Smith's mere military movements, it is diffi
cult to comprehend with what objective the campaign was
undertaken.

Commentaries. 519
2. It must be regarded as an error on the part of the Con
federate General to deliver battle at Harrisburg upon a field
chosen by his adversary, and, as we have seen, peculiarly
favorable for that adversary. Furthermore, victory, under all
the circumstances, never within the scope of reasonable proba
bilities for the Confederates, was made even less possible by
the adoption of the parallel order of battle rather than the
oblique, and the massing of the Confederates upon either
wing, — and subsequently also by throwing the troops into bat
tle by fragments, so that brigades were worsted, sadly cut to
pieces in detail.
3. The courage and tenacity with which the Confederates
fought on the 14th, in front of Harrisburg, and on the 15th
at Town creek, is apparent from the formidable lists of killed
and wounded that resulted. Buford's Division, including
Mabry's Brigade, lost 22 officers killed and 104 wounded, and
825 enlisted men were killed and wounded. In Chalmers's
Division, both brigade commanders were severely wounded.
4 It was a somewhat singular procedure for General Wash
burne to complain, as he did in his letter to General S. D.
Lee, that his negro troops had not received quarter, when he
admits, in the subsequent letter to Forrest, that he was aware,
when he sent them forth, they had taken an oath not to give
Forrest and his men quarter in that very expedition. Since
this chapter was in type, we have found in the New-York
Times, of July 3d, 1864, in a letter written by one Doctor
Hunt, from Memphis, to his newspaper, the Buffalo Express,
a reference to the correspondence, which shows he had been
in immediate conference with General Washburne on the sub
ject. This writer says : " The negro regiments of Sturgis'
expedition took a solemn oath before starting that they would
neither give nor take quarter if they met Forrest. They kept
their oath— took no prisoners." This was not written in
irony, but in exaltation of African courage.

CHAPTER XX.
Correspondence with Department Commanders also Governor of Missis
sippi — Command distributed for Defensive Purposes — Theatre of
Operations transferred :* to Oxford, Miss. — Operations of General
Chalmers in that Quarter — Confederates pressed by largely Superior
Force — Federal Devastations — Forrest made Counter-Movement
upon Memphis — Extemporized Bridge — Confederates penetrated
Memphis to the Gayoso House — Success of the Operation — Federal
Forces withdrawn from quarter of Oxford to succor Memphis — Gene
ral Forrest established his Headquarters at Grenada, Miss.
July 17th to August 25th, 1864.
BUFFERING acutely from his wound, nevertheless General
Forrest remained at Tupelo for twenty-four hours, looking to
the care and removal of the wounded, the burial of the dead,
the collection of small-arms from the late battle-fields, and the
location of the troops. He then went by rail to Okolona,
where he remained until the 22d, though he had turned over
the direct command to Brigadier-General Chalmers.
For the remainder of the month the important movements
of the command were the following : The State Troops, re
lieved on the 20th froni further service with Forrest, were
ordered to report back, at Jackson, to the Governor of Mis
sissippi. Roddy, detached with his division, on the 28th pro
ceeded by rail to Montgomery, to meet a hostile expedition
menacing the interior of Alabama, while his horses and wa
gon-train were sent across the country to the same point a
week previously ; and Mabry's Brigade, likewise detached on

Forrest at Okolona. 521
the same day, repaired (mounted) to Canton, Miss., to assist
in repelling a Federal movement from the southward. Mean
while, the other portions of the command had been distributed
with a view to recuperation. Buford's Division, first at Egypt
Station and subsequently at Shannon Depot, on the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad ; and Neely's and McCulloch's Brigades,*
(Chalmers's Division,) in the vicinity of Oakland Church,
eigh; miles west of Egypt Depot, positions at once healthy
and co. kvenient to forage and subsistence. Staff-depots, more
over, were established at suitable points for the accumulation
of supplies ; while comprehensive measures, including the
offer of amnesty, were taken to bring back absentees to the
ranks, and to re-horse the command. The scouting service,
likewise reorganized, was stimulated to even greater activity
in the procurement of prompt and accurate information in
regard to all movements of the enemy of a hostile character.
And fortifications were put under construction at Prairie
Mound, as the most favorable position for protecting the ap
proaches to the prairie country, a measure of vital interest to
the planters of that section, who were called upon to supply
the labor and tools.
On the first of August, though still suffering from his
wound, General Forrest returned to headquarters at Okolona,
but did not reassume command for several days. In the
mean time scouts had continued to bring in intelligence of
the concentration of Federal troops and other indications of
early hostile movements from the direction of Memphis ; and
active preparations were therefore made in all the departments
of Forrest's command to meet it as effectively as practicable.
A letter, written by General Chalmers, on the 1st of August,

* Chalmers's Battalion (Eighteenth with scouts thrown forward as far in
Mississippi) was detached at Abbe- advance as Senatobia and Holly
ville, on the Mississippi Central Road, Springs.

522 Campaigns of General Forrest.
to the department commander, will best show not only what
was the actual military situation at the moment, but also the
measures and dispositions which General Forrest regarded as
best calculated, with his resources, to baffle the hostile pur
poses of the enemy. It is as follows :

"Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry,
Okolona, Mississippi, August i, 1864.

}

" Colonel : Our scouts report that the enemy is making preparations
to move from Memphis, Vicksburg, and North- Alabama, at the same time,
and, if successful, to concentrate at Selma.
" There are now fourteen thousand infantry and cavalry assembled at
Lagrange, and they are reported repairing theMississippi Central Railroad.
Three regiments of infantry and two of cavalry are reported moving from
Decatur to Moulton, Alabama. The communication with Little Rock by
White River is open, and the troops from Smith, reported as going up that
river, have returned to Memphis. Some troops, number unknown, have
been sent down the river toward Vicksburg. If the enemy moves in three
columns, as expected, it will be impossible for us to meet him ; and, after
consultation, Major-General Forrest and I have concluded to recommend
a consolidation of the troops in this department to meet one column.
" The northern column will be the largest ; if we can defeat it, the
others may be easily overtaken, and crushed. We have accumulated sup
plies at Grenada and Oxford, so that the cavalry from Jackson can be well
subsisted, should you think it advisable to move them there. We can sub
sist our force better upon this line than any other, and it is valuable to the
Confederacy, therefore, more important to be defended. The column from
Vicksburg could do but little damage before reaching Demopolis ; and if
we should defeat the enemy here, could, by means of the railroad, inter
cept him at Meridian, on that line.
" The force moving from Decatur is, as yet, reported small, and ought
to be checked by the reserves and other troops in Alabama. We beg leave,-
therefore, to suggest, for the consideration of the Major-General command
ing the department, that the forces from below be concentrated with this
command on this northern line. But should he disapprove, we still re
commend a concentration of our whole force to meet one of the columns.
We are preparing fortifications here, which, if manned by the whole force
we had here before, may enable us to defeat the enemy.
" Our effective force is 5357, but we are very much crippled in officers.

Orders and Letters. 523
Both of my brigade commanders are wounded, also a brigade commander
of General Buford's Division, and most of the field-officers of the command
were either killed or wounded in the late engagement
" I am, Colonel, very respectfully, etc.,
James R. Chalmers,
Brigadier-General Commanding.
" Colonel George Deas, Chief of Staff, Department of Alabama, Missis
sippi, and Louisiana."
Meanwhile, orders had been issued to the proper staff-offi
cers and commanders, to collect and issue, by the 3d of Au
gust, ten days' rations to the whole force ; one hundred rounds
of ammunition for small-arms, and two hundred of artillery
were also prescribed ; all further furloughs were forbidden,
and leaves of absence, and officers on special detached service
were recalled. And on the 2d, McCulloch's Brigade (Chal
mers's Division) was ordered to move at daylight on the next
morning through Pontotoc to Oxford.
On the 3d, General Forrest resumed command, and General
Chalmers set out with his staff, escort, and Thrall's Battery,
to repair with McCulloch's Brigade to Oxford. One of For
rest's first acts was a characteristic letter, addressed through
a staff-officer, to Colonel Woodward, then on special service
in West-Tennessee or North- West Kentucky. We give it, as
illustrating the close attention to details which characterized
the Confederate General. " Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry, )
Okolona, Mississippi, August 2, 1864.)
" Colonel : I am directed by the Major-General Commanding to say
that it is entirely out of his power to send the ammunition you want. It
is not safe to do so in the first place, and we are without transportation to
spare. The movements of the enemy require all we have for a move at a
moment's notice.
" The General also directs that you will come out with all the men you
can get by the ioth September. Absentees, who come out with you from
the command or army, will not be molested. . . . We have many com-

524 Campaigns of General Forrest.
panies without officers, and parties who can bring out from twenty to forty
men can be placed in the West-Tennessee regiments of this command,
and those raising the men can get position. There are also three Ken
tucky regiments here that need filling up, and your own also, which will
give Kentuckians a chance to be with Kentucky troops.
" Say to all, that they must come out ; every man is needed at this time.
Those who fail, or refuse to come, you will arrest, dismount, disarm, and
if necessary, bring in irons. It is hoped, however, that all will respond ;
otherwise,'when caught, they will be punished to the full extent of the law.
" You will also call the attention of all parties attempting to raise com
mands to the fact, that no new organization can be made for service in the
Confederate States army. The following paragraph from General Order
No. 42, A. and I. General's Office, April 14th, 1862, prohibits it, and re
vokes any authority given.
" ' X. All authorities heretofore given to raise troops, or to recruit for
any particular command, are hereby revoked.'
" They must attach themselves to some regular command, organized
prior to April, 1863.
" By authority direct from the President, which authorizes Major-General
Forrest alone, can they be received into his command as troops from
West-Tennessee, unless they select an organization organized prior to the
date above. By bringing out their men, they can join the command, and
where competent, and with a fair proportion of men, can get position.
" Respectfully,
Charles W. Anderson,
A. A. A. General
" Colonel T. G. Woodward, West-Tennessee."
On the 4th, Neely's Brigade (Chalmers's Division) was also
put in motion for Oxford, and General Chalmers was directed
to impress negroes, northward of the Tallahatchie river, to the
number of five hundred, with axes, spades, and other imple
ments, and employ them in the construction of fortifications
at Grenada, Graysport, Abbeville, and such places as he might
deem necessary, on the Tallahatchie river; and also to ob
struct all the fords and roads on that river, except such as he
might fortify ; while, in a letter of the same date, Chalmers
was further directed to impress negroes around Grenada, to

Letter to General Maury. 525
repair the works there ; and to take every negro that he could
lay his hands on to do the work indicated. He was also au
thorized to direct Mabry's Brigade to repair to Grenada, and
was specially charged to use the utmost energy in the con
struction of defensive works, and the obstruction of the roads
and fords in that region. At the same time, the Governor of
Mississippi was addressed, with a full account of the hostile
movements apparently impending over his State from'various
quarters ; and it was suggested that the Legislature should
adjourn at once, and the members return to their respective
districts to rally the people. " It is plain," Forrest wrote,
" we are to be invaded from various points, and my reliance
for help in the defense of North-Mississippi is alone with the
people. They must act, and act promptly, if they would save
the country from devastation. Their organization is left with
the officers commanding the reserves. All in my power will
be done to assist in rendering them effective, and placing
them where they can be of most service."
During the 5 th, General Chalmers arrived at Oxford with
McCulloch's Brigade and Thrall's Battery, and established his
headquarters at that place. And on the same day, General
Forrest addressed to his superior, Major-General Maury, the
Department Commander, a letter which discloses the exact
condition of his command at the moment, as may be seen :
"Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry, \
Okolona, Mississippi, August 5, 1864. \
" General : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 2d inst, and in reply, allow me to say that I can well understand and
realize the responsibility of your position, and the difficulties under which
you labor, in the command of a large department, with forces inadequate for
its defense, when assailed, as it now appears to be, from all quarters. I
regret very much that recent engagements in North-Mississippi (Tisho
mingo and Harrisburg) .have reduced my command so much in numbers.
But especially am I deficient in field-officers and brigade commanders.
General Lyon having left the department, Colonels McCulloch and Rucker

526 Campaigns of General Forrest.
wounded, leaves me, aside from Colonel Bell, without experienced brigade
commanders, and in Bell's Brigade the greater number of field-officers are
killed-or wounded.
" Nevertheless, all that can shall be done in North-Mississippi to
drive the enemy back. At the same time, I have not the force to risk a
general engagement, and will resort to all other means in my power to
harass, annoy, and force the enemy back. I have ordered the impress
ment of negroes for the purpose of fortifying positions, blockading roads
and fords, and shall strike him in flank and rear, and oppose him in front
to the best of my ability, and fight him at all favorable positions along his
line of march. I am of opinion that his move will be in this direction ;
that the feints against the Mississippi Central Railroad are made to draw
my forces west, and give him the start toward the prairies. I have order
ed Mabry to Grenada, a brigade to Pontotoc, and General Chalmers, with
one of the best brigades I have, has gone to Abbeville, with instructions
to blockade fords, fortify positions, and repair the' works on Tallahatchie
and Yallabusha rivers.
" With Buford's Division I shall await further developments. I have
sent a battery of four guns with General Chalmers, another with the bri
gade to Pontotoc, and have two batteries here yet My artillery, in all,
numbers sixteen pieces, and my effective force as formerly reported, with
Mabry added. You may rest assured, General, of my hearty cooperation
in all things and at all times. I can take the saddle with one foot in the
stirup, and if I succeed in forcing this column back, will be ready to move
to your assistance at short notice, mounted or by rail.
" Will arrange with Governor Clark for a proper disposition of the
State forces, and all reserves he may be able to bring to my assistance.
" Will write you or telegraph as often as deemed necessary.
N. B. Forrest,
Major-General.
' Major-General Maury, Commanding Department"

At this time, the Federals, having repaired the Mississippi
Central Railroad as far as Waterford— eight miles south of
Holly Springs — were running trains to that point, and had
advanced from Lagrange with their main force to Lumpkin's
Mill, one mile north of Waterford, with outposts and heavy
picket force thrown forward to the north bank of the Talk-

Dispositions to meet Enemy. 527
hatchie* The route or direction of the march of the Federal
column being now somewhat developed, General Forrest
began to move his forces westward ; and by the 8th had
thrown Neely's Brigade (Chalmers's Division) and Buford's
Division, and the artillery to Pontotoc, with their trains, with
orders to be ready to take the field on the 9th.
Chalmers was instructed to make as stout and prolonged a
defense of the line of the Tallahatchie, and his positron south
of it, as was practicable with his resources ; but if over
matched and forced back, to bum all the railroad bridges and
trestles as he retired. At the same time, orders were given
for the removal southward of Okolona of all rolling stock of
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and working parties of negroes.
Buford was directed to keep his scouting parties well forward
to the Tallahatchie river, and westward along that stream, to
gain and report early information of any hostile movement
from the direction of Holly Springs toward Pontotoc ; and,
further, to keep his command concentrated, so that in an
emergency they might operate in their full strength.
Giving information of the military situation in a letter of
the 8th of August, to Governor Clark, the Confederate
General expressed the opinion that the enemy intended
following the line of the Central Railroad, and that, while
he should make every effort with his means to impede his
antagonist, and strike him on flank or rear, yet so inadequate
were his forces that he could not hope to interpose any very
effective or successful obstacle ; and hence, " unless Missis
sippians rallied to the defense of their homes, the State must
be devastated." On the 9th, having made his arrangements

• General A. J. Smith was still in force of three divisions, including 3700
command with a force estimated by cavalry, and thirty-eight pieces of ar-
scouts and the people of the country at tillery. He doubtless also had fully
from fifteen to twenty thousand, with a 10,000 infantry.

528 Campaigns of General Forrest.
for the supply of his command, General Forrest established
his headquarters at Pontotoc, still suffering a good deal from
his wounded foot, which he was obliged to wear in a sling.
Meanwhile, the Eighteenth Mississippi Battalion — not over
three hundred strong — had been holding the Tallahatchie
river in advance of Abbeville, with scouting parties northward
of the river, in the immediate presence, and constantly skir
mishing with the Federal pickets.* The southern bank of
the Tallahatchie, occupied by the Eighteenth Mississippi Bat
talion, however, was highly unfavorable for defense, being
commanded from the opposite side. It was stripped of tim
ber for fully half a mile, while the north bank was well
wooded up to the water's edge, giving complete shelter
for skirmishers. Taking advantage of this, the enemy drove
the Confederate pickets from their posts on the river bank on
the morning of the 8th, and immediately threw several small
bodies of troops across to the southern side. In the mean
time, the Eighteenth Mississippi having been withdrawn to a
slight ridge in the edge of the woods, half a mile from the
river, had strengthened that position by breastworks of rails
and timber ; but as it could be easily turned on either flank,
it was only occupied as a post of observation. During the
day, Chalmers had moved up his main force to Abbeville ; at
night-fall, however, leaving a regiment to hold the position,
his whole force was withdrawn to Hurricane creek for forage,
but resuming his position in advance early the next morning.
As will be remembered, he had only one small brigade and a
section of artillery to guard and hold a line of some six
or eight miles, from Wyatt's, on the west, across in front
of Abbeville, to a point some two or three miles east of that

* At the same time the Second Mis- ville. The remainder of McCulloch's
souri Cavalry were at Wyatt, and the Brigade was at Hurricane creek, six
First Mississippi Partisans at Abbe- miles north of Oxford.

Operations about Oxford. 529
place, which made it impracticable for him to hold his
position, as the Federal column now began to press forward
seriously, and the Confederates were obliged to retire. But
this was done with deliberation, in admirable order, with
their front constantly toward the enemy, who followed closely,
but would make no attack unless it could be done with every
advantage of numbers and position. " Like fierce wolves.
they circled around the Confederates, gradually drawing
nearer and nearer, but not daring to close in, when their
desired victim stood at bay."*
Destroying all bridges (small structures) and trestle-work
along the line of the railroad, Chalmers fell back at four p.m.,
on the 9th, to Oxford, and formed line of battle in the north-
em outskirts of that place. The Federals came up immedi
ately, and opening with a fierce cannonade — the shells for the
most part flying over and harmlessly beyond the town — they
resorted to a flank movement, instead of a direct attack, upon
Chalmers's position. Seeing this, the Confederate General
withdrawing his force through the town, formed it in a line of
battle, on some hills immediately southward of Oxford, as the
enemy entered, simultaneously, on the Wyatt, Abbeville, and
Pontotoc roads, so close upon the heels of the Confederates
that, had they pressed vigorously and rapidly onward, Chal
mers's small command must have been reduced to great peril,
and its extrication almost impossible. But, apparently content
with the achievements of the day, the Federal Commander
(General Hatch) did not improve his advantage, nor attempt
to pursue, that day, beyond Oxford.! Boldly holding his posi
tion in line until six o'clock, Chalmers then retired southward,
and, leaving the veteran Second Missouri two miles below

* MS. Notes of Captain W. A. t His force consisted, it is believed,
Goodman. of ten or eleven regiments of cavalry
and some artillery.

530 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Oxford, to watch the movements of the enemy, led the rest of
his command to Taylor's Station, nine miles south of Oxford.
Meanwhile, Neely's Brigade and a battery were en route since
that morning from Pontotoc, to join him.
On the morning of the ioth, finding that the Yocona was
much swollen, and there being little or no forage northward
of it, Chalmers crossed to the south bank of that stream, and
took a position to defend the crossing over it ; and a part of
Mabry's Brigade having come up, it was placed in position on
the right of McCulloch's Brigade.*
The Second Missourians having been still left in position
within two miles of Oxford, they were feebly attacked, about ten
a.m., by a Federal force, which retired, however, after a little
while, and there was no more fighting during the day. That
morning early, General Forrest had left Pontotoc with Bell's
Brigade and Morton's Battery, and by a forced march, effect
ing a junction with Neeley on the way, succeeded in reaching
Oxford by eleven o'clock that night.! The place, however,
had been evacuated after dusk by the Federal cavalry, whose
commander, evidently having no stomach for a rencounter
with the redoubtable Confederate cavalry leader, rapidly re
tired upon the main cavalry force at Abbeville, upon hearing
of Forrest's approach, and the Confederate cavalry horses
were fed on the forage that had been distributed to those of
their adversary. When many of the citizens of Oxford went
to sleep that night, the town was full of Federal soldiers ; but
to their joy and astonishment, the next morning they found

• McCulloch's Brigade was com- to guard against any flank movement in
manded by Colonel William B. Wade, that direction ; and the Seventh Ten-
Eighth Confederate Cavalry. nessee and Forrest's old regiment of
t Buford was left at Pontotoc with Neely's Brigade, were absent also on
the Kentucky Brigade and a battery, detached service at the time.

Spoliations. 531
the pavements and public square covered with their gray-clad
countrymen, still holding their jaded horses by the reins, as
they slept soundly after their long ride.*
It is said the conduct of the Federal soldiery on this occa
sion in Oxford was not so generally in flagrant disregard of
the laws of war with respect to non-combatants, private pro
perty, and the privacy of families of women and children as
had characterized their recent operations in Mississippi ; but
we have to record one conspicuous exception in the brutality
and rapacity of the Federal commander, General Edward
Hatch. Having established his headquarters at the house of
Mrs. Jacob Thompson, his soldiers were suffered to prowl
about the premises, and plunder many articles of considerable
value, such as were to be found in the mansion of a lady of
her affluence and social station. Appealing to General Hatch
for a " safeguard" from this unsoldierly spoliation, he, want
ing in the manners of a gentleman, as of the instincts of a
soldier, leaning back in a comfortable arm-chair, superciliously
answered that his men could take any thing they might wish,
except the chair in which he was then seated. And later,
when about to retire, he caused his ambulance to be filled
with pictures, china, and glassware, and such other articles
from the house as had attracted his fancy.!
Immediately after Forrest had reoccupied Oxford, he dis
patched orders to General Chalmers to return with his com
mand ; and this was done early on the 1 ith. Chalmers's Divi
sion was then reconstituted, embracing McCulloch's, Neely's,

• MS. Notes CoL T. H. Logwood. Thompson is the wife of the Hon.
t The testimony on this point, as Jacob Thompson, once Secretary of
well as concerning other acts of kin- the Interior of the United States, who
dred character on the part of Gene- was absent abroad at the time in the
ral Hatch, is incontrovertible. Mrs. service of the Confederate States.

532 Campaigns of General Forrest.
and Mabry's* Brigades ; and, with Bell's Brigade, were order
ed to take post that afternoon at Hurricane creek, five or six
miles southward of Abbeville.
The pickets of the hostile cavalry were soon in collision,
and a number of fruitless rencounters took place for the next
two days ; until three p.m., on the 13th, when a spirited attack
was made upon Mabry's Brigade and Chalmers's (Eighteenth
Mississippi) Battalion, holding the road from Wyatt, and
forming the Confederate left flank. But for the promptness
with which Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers brought his batta
lion into action, and the tenacity with which these brave Mis
sissippians held their position against great odds, until the
remainder of the command could be formed and take part in
the action, the whole command would probably have been
borne back in disorder. Soon, however, the engagement
became general along the whole line of Hurricane creek ; and,
finally, the Confederates, by the sheer weight of numbers,
were pressed back, after having inflicted some loss upon the
enemy. Without being pressed, the Confederates took up a position
about half-way between Hurricane creek and Oxford, where
they remained for several days, frequently engaged in warm
skirmishes along the line of this creek, behind which the
Federal force had been cautiously withdrawn. And on Mon
day, the 15th of August, General Chalmers, taking a detach
ment of some two hundred men from Neely's Brigade, moving
out to reconnoitre on the Abbeville road, drove the enemy's
pickets with such ease before him that he dashed into Abbe
ville. The place was occupied, at the moment, by two bri
gades of infantry, which, taken unawares, were thrown into

* This brigade was now reduced by of horses to not more than 600 mount-
battle casualties and the breaking down ed men, present, fit for duty.

Federal Excesses. 533
confusion, and retreated in disorder, pursued by the Confede
rates, until it became prudent to halt. But this was not done
until General Chalmers could distinctly see a large force of
infantry drawn up in line of battle, doubtless expecting an
onset from the whole of Forrest's force. Chalmers then
quietly withdrew, and carried his little command safely back
without loss.
Meanwhile, the Federal forces about and northward of
Abbeville had been guilty of the harshest excesses toward the
defenseless inhabitants of that region ; spreading destitution
on all sides, they inflicted manifold outrages, and every species
of humiliation. General Smith, an educated soldier, claims to
have given special orders for the protection of the people on
the routes traversed by his army ; but with that he appears to
have been satisfied, and surely must have given no thought
whether his orders were obeyed or not. He can scarcely
have been ignorant that they were grossly disobeyed, and
that the path of his army was marked by conduct utterly
unbecoming the age and any civilized soldiers.*
Buford was now ordered to repair with the rest of his divi
sion (Kentucky Brigade) to Oxford. And, by the morning of
the 1 8th, from the reports of scouts, it became evident that,
having rebuilt the railroad to Abbeville, collected supplies of
subsistence and forage, and laid a pontoon-bridge across the Tal
lahatchie, the Federal commander designed to concentrate his
whole force at Abbeville, with the view to serious offensive
movements beyond. Knowing his inability to contend success
fully with the force of his opponent, Forrest rapidly reviewed
the situation, and happily resolved upon a counter-movement
That is to say, he determined to lead a picked detachment of

* In proof of this there is abundant the correspondence to Northern jour-
testimony, which might be cited from nals, from that force at the time.

534 Campaigns of General Forrest.
his command, and by a sudden coup de main threaten if not
capture the city of Memphis, with the effect, as he hoped, of
forcing General Smith to return to the relief of that place.
After a free consultation with his second in command —
General Chalmers — the necessary orders for the expedition
were immediately issued, and detachments of Bell's and
Neely's Brigades, and a section of Morton's Artillery, under
Lieutenant Sale, were directed to be got ready to move that
afternoon. II.
Short as was the notice, by five p.m. on the 18th of August,
the Confederates detailed for the expedition had made their
preparations, and were ready to spring into their saddles ; for
by this time Forrest had impressed his characteristic qualities
upon his whole command. After their ranks had been care
fully culled of those whose horses, on inspection, did not pro
mise ability for the forced marches before them, the detach
ments selected for the expedition constituted a force of about
1500 officers and men, and four guns. And this command, a
little after five p.m., went forth in the midst pf a heavy, pelting
rain, which had been falling, without intermission, all day, as
indeed, for much of the time during several previous days.
The streams, as a matter of course, were all greatly swollen,
and Forrest had to take a circuitous route, of some forty miles,
to Panola, in the first stage of the expedition, over roads as
deep with mud as torrential rains could make them. But the
men who followed met the difficulties of the way with hearty
good-will ; and there were no laggards, no croakers, no
gloomy, but a long array of eager, hopeful faces. All night
of the 19th the march was continued, through rain and mud,
and dense darkness, swimming many streams, and hauling
the artillery by hand across and up frequent slippery hills.

Expedition to Memphis. 535
When the command reached Panola, it was seven o'clock a.m.,
by which time the artillery horses were found to be so fagged
as to make it imprudent to take more than a section beyond
that point. Accordingly, a selection being made of the most
serviceable horses, all unfit were sent rearward to Grenada.
One hundred men were also left with their horses, which were
found unable to endure the fatigues of the expedition. Re
suming the march, about ten o'clock a.m., over roads knee-
deep with aiud and water, by the time the command reached
Senatobia, twenty-three miles northward of Panola, Forrest
saw that his animals were so distressed, it was prudent to go
no further thit day.
Before leavng Senatobia, on the morning of the 20th, learn
ing it would be necessary to bridge Hickahala Creek, a deep
stream, runninj sixty feet broad, with full banks, the Confede
rate General sp-ead detachments over the intermediate coun
try to collect tte lumber of cotton-gin-house floors, and carry
it on their shouHers to the crossing, about four miles beyond.
In this manner, with little delay, the necessary quantity was
transported to tie proper point. There was also a small, nar
row flat-boat, abort twenty feet long, but no other means of
ferriage whatsoe'er ; and the construction of a bridge neces
sarily began.
Out of the abuidant, luxuriant grape-vines of the country
a strong, twisted cable was made ; this, quickly stretched
across the strean, was firmly fastened to a tree on either
bank. At the ame time, some dry cedar telegraph-poles
were cut down, aid tied together, with grape-vines also, into
large, but compantively light, fascines, and rolled into the
river to serve as pmtoons. Floated into position, two of these
were attached to t'e cable, likewise with grape-vines, and the
flat-boat was place- and fastened, intermediately, in the same
manner as the cenral pontoon. Telegraph-poles were then
laid across as balk ; over these the flooring (from the gin-

536 Campaigns of General Forrest.
houses) was spread, and a practicable bridge was thus impro
vised in little more than sixty minutes. The command began
the crossing at once, in columns of two, the men leading their
horses, and the artillery, unlimbered, was safely carried over
by hand.
Cold Water river, six or seven miles beyond, was also found
beyond fording, with only a small ferry-boat capable/of trans
porting four horses at a time ; and here, again, a bridge was
absolutely requisite, and one, too, double the length of that
at Hickahala. Another grape-vine cable was quickiy prepared,
and, happily, some dried cypress logs were found st hand, with
which pontoon rafts were made and disposed, as ft the Hicka
hala ; while the ferry-boat constituted the midway pontoon.
Telegraph-poles furnished the necessary material, and neigh
boring gin-houses the requisite flooring. In kss than three
hours, the second bridge being ready for service, the com
mand began the passage, which, as before, wat effected with
out casualty. And the Confederates were as far as Her
nando, only twenty-five miles from Memphii, before night
fall. Forrest was here met by some of his scoits, who had left
Memphis that day, with accurate informatim touching the
position and strength of the enemy's troops it and around the
city, where all was quiet, and without the lest expectation of
the foray impending. Halting at Hemandf but a few mo
ments, the command now took the direct nad to Memphis ;
but so deep was the mud, and so great the fjtigue of the ani
mals, that it was quite three o'clock Sunda' morning of the
2 ist before the Confederate advance had (rrived in the vi
cinity of the city. Meanwhile, however, whn about ten miles
distant, Forrest was met by several citizensof the place, from
whom he gleaned further information in rgard to the num
bers and positions of the Federal troops, fid the location of

Near Memphis. 537
their prominent officers.* And on arriving at Cane creek,
only four miles from Memphis, several of Henderson's trusty
scouts came up, with exact intelligence of the position of the
pickets oh that particular road. From these, moreover, the
Confederate Commander learned that there were fully five
thousand troops, of all arms, in and around the city, for the
most part negroes and one hundred days' men.
Directing his force to be closed up, and summoning the
commanders of his brigades and detachments to the front,
Forrest gave to each definite and comprehensive instructions,
as to the part assigned their respective commands in the ap
proaching drama ; and, at the same time, the necessary guides
were distributed.
To a company commanded by Captain William H. Forrest
was given the advance, with the duty of surprising, if possi
ble, the pickets ; after which, without being diverted by any
other purpose, it was to dash forward into the city, by the
most direct route, to the Gayoso House, to capture such
Federal officers as might be quartered there.! Colonel Neely
was directed to attack, by an impetuous charge, the encamp
ment of the one hundred days' men, across the road in the
outskirts of Memphis, with a command composed of the Se
cond Missouri, (Lieutenant-Colonel McCulloch,) Fourteenth
Tennessee, (Lieutenant-Colonel White,) and the Eighteenth
Mississippi, (Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers.) Lieutenant-Co
lonel Logwood was to press rapidly after Captain Forrest to
the Gayoso House, with the Twelfth and Fifteenth Tennessee

* This information was communica- ward to execute his subsequent orders
ted in the hearing of the field-officers of with intelligence.
the command, who were called up by t Major-General Hurlbut was known
General Forrest for that purpose, so to lodge at that hotel, with a number of
that it might be impressed upon their Federal staff-officers.
minds, and they be the better able after-

538 Campaigns of General Forrest.
regimenls, placing, however, detachments to hold the junction
respectively of Main and Beal, and Shelby and Beal streets,
and to establish another detachment at the steamboat landing
at the foot of Union street. Lieutenant-Colonel Jesse For
rest was ordered to move rapidly down Desoto to Union, and
thence leftward, along that street, to the headquarters of
General Washburne, the Federal Commander, whose capture
it was his special duty to make.
At the same time, Colonel Bell held in reserve, with New-
som's and Russell's Regiments and the Second Tennessee,
under Lieutenant-Colonel Morton, with Sale's section of
artillery, was to cover the movement. And upon all com
mands the most rigid silence was enjoined, until the heart of
the town was reached, and the surprise had been secured.
These dispositions and orders having been made, the several
detachment commanders rejoined their troops, formed them
immediately into column of fours, and at about a quarter past
three a.m., Captain Forrest began the movement.
It was still very dark ; the night having been sultry and
damp, a dense fog had been generated, which enshrouded the
whole country to such a degree that neither man nor horse
could be distinguished at the distance of thirty paces, as
Captain Forrest moved slowly and noiselessly across the
bridge at Cane creek. But anxious that no misconception of
orders should mar the success of the operation, the Con
federate General halted his column, after it had moved about
half a mile, and dispatched his aid-de-camp, Captain Ander
son, to see that each officer understood precisely and clearly
the duty that had been specially intrusted to his execution,
and to ascertain, moreover, whether each command was well
closed up. That efficient staff-officer, not long absent, mak
ing a satisfactory report, General Forrest gave orders for the
movement to be resumed at a slow walk.
Captain Forrest preceded his command some sixty paces,

Picket-Post Captured. 539
with ten picked men of his company, until about two miles
from Court Square. The sharp challenge of the picket,
" Who comes there ?" was suddenly heard to break the still
ness of the morning hour, as also the Confederate Captain's
cool and prompt reply :
" A detachment of the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry with rebel
prisoners."* The customary rejoinder quickly followed :
" Advance one."
Captain Forrest rode forward in person, having previously,
in a low tone, directed his men to move slowly but closely be
hind him.
Meanwhile, General Forrest, with his escort, moving
with the head of the main column, was but one hundred
paces rearward, with not a little anxiety, heard the challenge,
as also, some moments -later, the sound of a heavy blow,
followed soon by the discharge of a single gun. Captain For
rest, it seems, as he rode forward, met the Federal picket,
mounted, in the middle of the highway. As soon as he was
within reach of the unsuspecting trooper, the Confederate
officer felled his adversary to the ground by one blow with his
heavy revolver, while, at the same instant, his men sprang
forward and captured the picket-post of some ten or twelve
men — dismounted at the moment — a few paces rearward, to
the left of the highway, without any noise or tumult, except the
discharge of the single gun, heard, as we have said, by
General Forrest. Sending the prisoners immediately to the
rear Captain Forrest pressed on for a quarter of a mile, when
he encountered another outpost, which greeted him with a
volley. The daring Confederates dashed forward, however,

• This particular regiment was desig- absent from Memphis, in the field, with
nated, because it was known to the General Smith.
Confederates to be one of those then

540 Campaigns of General Forrest.
and scattered the enemy in every direction. But, unhappily,
forgetting the strict orders to be as silent as swift in their
operations, shouting lustily, and the contagion spreading, the
cheer was taken up and resounded rearward through the
whole column, now roused to a state of irrepressible eagerness
for the fray.
By this time the head of the column was in a few paces
of the Federal camp, on the outskirts of the city ; day was
breaking, and a long line of tents were visible, stretching
across the country to the eastward and westward of the
highway for nearly a mile. The alarm having been given, and
the orders prescribing silence generally forgotten by his men,
General Forrest directed the ever-present Gaus to sound the
charge, and all the bugles of the several regiments took
up and repeated the inspiriting notes. Another cheer burst
forth spontaneously from the whole line, and all broke ardent
ly forward in a swift, impetuous charge.
Two only of Neely's regiments charging into the encamp
ment rightward, or eastward, of the road, the way, for some
moments, was obstructed by another of his command, so that
Logwood was unable to push on and enter the city as soon as
had been expected. Moreover, in making the attempt to
break through, his men became intermingled with those of
Neely's Regiment, so much confusion resulted, for the great
est exultation now prevailed among the men. Meanwhile,
Captain Forrest charging rapidly down the road toward the
city, with his little band, (some forty strong,) encountered an
artillery encampment eight or nine hundred yards beyond the
infantry cantonment. Sweeping down with a shout, and
a volley from their pistols, the Confederates drove the Federals
from their guns, (six pieces,) after killing or wounding some
twenty of the gunners. This effected, they pressed forward
into the city, and did not halt until they drew rein before the
Gayoso Hotel, into the office of which Captain Forrest and

In Memphis. 541
several of his companions entered, without dismounting ; and
in a moment, his men spreading through the corridors of that
spacious establishment, were busily searching for General
Hurlbut, and other Federal officers, to the great consternation
of the startled guests of the house. Some of the Federal
officers, roused by the tumult, rushing forth from their
rooms, misapprehending the gravity of the occasion, offered
resistance, and one of their number was killed, and some
others captured ; but Major-General Hurlbut was not to be
found. Happily for that officer, his convivial or social habits
having led him out of his quarters the evening before, they
had also held him in thrall and absent from his lodging
throughout the night.
Meanwhile, also, Colonel Logwood having broken through
the obstructions in his path, with a large portion of his demi-
brigade, found a formidable line of Federal infantry drawn up
facing the road on his right, or eastward, which opened
a warm musketry fire upon the head of the Confederate
column. Ordered to push on into the heart of the city with
out halting to give battle on the wayside, Logwood, placing
himself at the head of his men, pressed onward for some dis
tance, running a gauntlet of small-arm volleys, until a turn of
the road brought him in the presence of a line of infantry
directly across the way, and sweeping it with their fire.
There was a fence on the one hand, a broad, deep ditch on
the other. Unswerved, on rushed the Confederates with
their well-known yell — the men with their rifles poised as so
many battle-maces, and their officers, sabre in hand — burst
through the opposing ranks. Hastening onward, a battery
was seen to the leftward, but commanding a straight reach of
the road ahead, and the gunners of which were busily charg
ing the pieces. In view of the danger his command incurred
from this battery, Logwood was obliged to charge and dis
perse those who manned it ; and giving the command to

54 2 Campaigns of General Forrest.
charge, again his men clubbed their rifles, and with a shout,
swooped down upon their luckless enemy, a number of whom
were knocked down at the pieces, while the rest were driven
off before they were able to fire a gun.* Resuming his
charge toward the city, Logwood, in a few minutes, entered
and galloped down Hernando street to the market-house, and
up Beal, across Maine, to the Gayoso Hotel. The men, wild
with excitement, now dashed forward at a run, shouting like
so many demons, regardless of the fire opened upon them by
the Federal militia from windows and fences. The women
and children, and some men, were screaming or crying with
affright, or shouting and clapping their hands, and waving
their handkerchiefs with joy, as they recognized the mud-be
spattered, gray uniforms of the Confederate soldiery in their
streets once more. Soon, indeed, the scene was one of
memorable excitement. Memphis was the home of many
of those gray-coated young riders who thus suddenly burst
into the heart of their city that August morning ; and the
women — young and old — forgetting the costume of the hour,
throwing open their window-blinds and doors, welcomed their
dear countrymen by voice and smiles, and every possible
manifestation of the delight inspired by such an advent.
Reaching the Gayoso finally, however, Colonel Logwood com
pleted the search of that hotel for Federal officers, after
which, collecting his men in hand as soon as possible, he
began to retire by Beal street, about nine o'clock, as it was
learned, through scouts, that a strong Federal force was being
rapidly concentrated upon that point.
During this time, it will be remembered, Lieutenant-Colo
nel Forrest, also, had been ordered to penetrate the city.

* This, doubtless, was the same bat- by Captain Forrest, and re-manned after
tery encountered and taken previously he had passed.

Fighting. 543
Speeding with his regiment toward the headquarters of
Major-General Washburne, on Union street, he reached that
point without serious resistance, to find, however, the Fe
deral commander had already flown ; but several of his
staff were captured before they could dress and follow their
fleet-footed leader.
Meanwhile, Neely had met serious resistance in the execu
tion of his orders. The infantry — at least a thousand strong
— which it was his part to attack, as we have seen, had been
formed in line in time to receive his force with a warm fire of
small-arms. Seeing this check, General Forrest, who had
remained with the reserves under Colonel Bell, led them
rapidly by the right flank to reenforce Neely ; but on the way
developed a cavalry encampment just eastward of the in
fantry, from which the Confederates were received by a heavy
fire. Being in advance, as usual, Forrest charged promptly
with his escort (mounted) over intervening fences and through
some gardens, dispersing the dismounted occupants of the
encampment, and capturing nearly all their horses, with a
number of prisoners. Neely, at the same time making a
vigorous onset upon the infantry, succeeded in driving them,
with some loss, from their position. Whereupon they and
the dispersed, dismounted cavalry took refuge in the ex
tensive brick buildings of the " State Female College," seve
ral hundred yards distant, a strong defensive position. Fol
lowed by the Confederates, the enemy poured a noisy and
annoying fire from behind the cover afforded by the college_
At this Forrest ordered up Lieutenant Sale with the artillery,
and dismounting some of the troops, made an erort to dis
lodge the Federals, and an animated skirmish ensued. A
number of shells were thrown and exploded in the main
building ; but it soon became apparent the position was only
to be gained at a loss far greater than was required for the
success of the expedition, and the attempt was not made.

544 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Finding that the enemy were rapidly rallying and assem
bling, Forrest had previously ordered the troops to evacuate
the city, and concentrate at the Federal infantry camp which
we have mentioned. This order found the Confederates
greatly dispersed and widely spread over the city, many with
the hope and object of meeting and greeting friends and
kindred ; but for the most part, intent upon the discovery
and appropriation of horses. Few, indeed, retained their
regimental, or in fact, company organizations. As soon,
however, as they could be collected, and Lieutenant-Colonels
Logwood and Forrest having effected a junction on Desoto
street, they moved out together, but encountered a strong
body of infantry, formed across the road, near Provine's
house, as a support for the battery there — the gunners of
which were twice dispersed previously — was found re-manned
once more, and commanding the road. A warm collision
occurred, in the course of which Captain Peter Williams,
Fifteenth Tennessee, charging the battery with his company,
(I,) was in turn charged and driven back ; but reenforced by
Company H (Lieutenant Witherspoon) of the same regi
ment, the battery was again charged and taken.* Colonels
Logwood and Forrest then hastened to rejoin their com
mander, as directed ; and as all the Confederates were now
withdrawn from the city, except some stragglers and those
who had been captured or killed, General Forrest gave orders
for the whole force to withdraw. The object of the expedition
having been in the main attained by the confusion and con
sternation into which the garrison had been thrown by his
operations of that morning, it only remained, to secure the
entire success of Forrest's plans, that General Smith should
receive as early intelligence of the occurrence as practicable,

• Captain Williams had his arm broken in this affair.

Combat at the College. 54c
and, therefore, he retired to give General Washburne leisure
and opportunity to telegraph the menacing situation at Mem
phis, and to ask for succor, which it was felt assured he
would do.
Meanwhile, some of the Confederates who had lingered in
the city, or had lost their way in the general dispersion which
occurred, were chased out by a body of several hundred
Federal cavalry, a strong detachment of which made a dash
at some of Forrest's men still in the infantry camp, and just
in the act of mounting. Seeing their jeopardy, Forrest sprang
forward with a small detachment oi the ever reliable Second
Missouri, that happened to be most convenient, and a close,
sanguinary collision took place Among the slain, on this
occasion, was a Federal field-officer* who, while urging his
men to the attack, was mortally wounded by the hands of the
Confederate leader himself. With this affair the contest
terminated, and the Confederates moved back southward on
the Hernando road for about a mile, when they were halted,
and directed to exchange their jaded horses for those captur
ed in the city, some four hundred in number.
It was now found that some 600 prisoners had been
brought away, including some citizens, and many convales
cent soldiers, who, when the alarm was given, having fled
from their hospitals into the streets, had been captured.
Nearly all were bareheaded, and numbers were without
shoes or clothing, except that in which they slept. After
some delay at this point, the march was resumed about mid
day, but on reaching Cane creek, it was apparent few of the
prisoners were able to walk in their shoeless condition,
while the convalescents were utterly unable to make such a
march as was impending. The Confederate General, there-

• Colonel Starr.

546 Campaigns of General Forrest.
fore, dispatched a flag of truce by Captain Anderson, ac
companied by a captured staff-officer, to propose, as an act of
humanity, that the prisoners in his possession be exchanged
for those of his own command, taken that morning, and that
the rest would be turned loose on parole, provided General
Washburne would accept the arrangement as binding. But
in the event that this proposition were rejected, he would
wait at Nonconnah creek for the necessary clothing to be
sent out. About a little after two p.m., Captain Anderson
returned with General Washbume's reply, to the effect that
having no authority to recognize the proposed parole of the
prisoners, he could not do so ; but thanking the Confederate
General for the proffered privilege of supplying them with
clothing, that should be done as speedily as possible.* After
some delay, Colonel W. P. Hepburne and Captain H. S. Lee,
two officers of the Federal army, appeared with a flag of
truce, and clothing for both officers and men, which were
promptly and properly distributed. This done, the prisoners
were drawn up, and after examination by surgeons, the able-
bodied were selected, some 400 in number, and mounted upon
the led or supernumerary horses, to accompany the command.
The others, that is, the sick or disabled, and all citizens, then
marched back across the Nonconnah, were turned adrift, to
return to Memphis, but with the promise exacted not to bear
arms, or otherwise injure the Confederate cause, until they
should be regularly exchanged.
Another difficulty now presented itself, in connection with
the remaining prisoners. Exposed since leaving Oxford to
the continuous heavy rains, and in the swimming of streams,

* We can not understand General themselves to give their parole, in which
Washbume's assertion that he had no case General Washburne was bound to
authority to recognize the parole ; for recognize them.
it was in the power of the prisoners

Fed by Enemy. 547
the rations of the command, it was found, had been almost all
destroyed, and there were consequently none for issue to the
prisoners. In this dilemma, with that readiness which ever
served him, General Forrest, before leaving Nonconnah,
wrote to General Washburne, and setting forth in emphatic
terms this inability to feed his prisoners, suggested, as he
would not receive them on parole, that he should, at least,
send something that night for them to eat on the road to
Hernando, where he would be found. This communication
having been dispatched, Forrest resumed his movement to
ward Hernando, at which place — seventeen miles distant —
he arrived in four hours, and then halted for the night.
About daylight, Colonel Hepburne, Captain Lee, and
several Federal officers, overtook the Confederate command,
with two wagon-loads of supplies, of the contents of which,
after issuing two days' rations to the prisoners, enough was
left for the whole command for a day.
Remaining at Hernando, as if intending to retire no further,
Forrest gave his men rest until the Federal officers, with the
subsistence wagons, had left to return to Memphis, when —
about eight a.m. — he rapidly resumed his march to Panola,
which place he reached by ten o'clock that night. Here he
remained until the next day, when, with his staff, escort, and
the section of Morton's Battery that had been with him on
the expedition, he went by rail to, and fixed his headquarters
at, Grenada, while the several commands that had accom
panied him to Memphis, were distributed to their respective
divisions. III.
Reverting to affairs at Oxford, we find that General Chal
mers skillfully disposed and handled his small command (about
two thousand effectives) to conceal the absence of his superior
with so important a part of the Confederate force. With this

548 Campaigns of General Forrest.
view, during the 19th of August, he made several sharp attacks
Upon the outposts on all the roads occupied by the Federals.
Nevertheless, the enemy pressed forward heavily, to within
lour miles of Oxford, and Chalmers had to recede to a posi
tion about one mile northward of that place, with a strong
line of pickets maintained, however, in the immediate presence
of the enemy. Meanwhile, the long-continued rains had ma
terially injured the Confederate ammunition, as had been
shown during the skirmishes of the day, and there was a good
deal of uneasiness and discouragement, as a consequence,
among the troops.* Buford, however, came up with the Ken
tucky Brigade, and took position in the line in front of Oxford.
The theatre of these operations — between the Tallahatchie
and the Yocona — is a rolling, broken country, but without any
very high hills or ridges. Much of it had been cleared, and
was extensively cultivated before the war ; the uncleared tim
ber was not lofty, but very dense, with undergrowth. All the
positions were easily turned ; and on both sides of Oxford
were highways from Abbeville, by which an army passing the
place might reach one of the bridges of the Yocona. That
stream, when swollen by rains, as at this time, could only be
passed by bridges, of which two remained standing, (Oliver's
and Carr's ; ) but the roads leading to these through the bot
toms, on the northward, traversed quicksands, which made
them almost impracticable. All the streams and gullies were
now overflowing their banks, and every road in the vicinity of
Oxford was greatly cut up by the constant movement of troops,
artillery, and train.
Reenforced by Buford, Chalmers made a spirited attack on
the enemy during the morning of the 20th, about four miles

* So bad was the ammunition in the the 19th, only thirty-seven guns out of
hands of the men that, in the affair of five or six hundred would discharge.

Federals at Oxford. 549
in advance of Oxford, on the Abbeville road, but, greatly over
matched, in the end was obliged to retire. At the same time,
in view of the condition of the roads in his rear, and of the
growing difficulties of the passage of the Yocona, he ordered
his train behind that stream in advance of his own retreat —
presently inevitable.
But on the morning of the 21st, still making a show of
offensive purposes, Chalmers was skirmishing with the enemy
in his front at eleven a.m. At that hour, however, he received
intelligence that a strong body of Federal cavalry was making
a detour, by way of College Hill, with the evident object of
getting rearward, and cutting off his retreat across the Yocona.
It was therefore an act of transparent necessity to retreat as
rapidly as practicable behind that stream, which, under the
circumstances we have described, was already a matter of
difficulty. Able to pass the Yocona only by the two bridges
we have mentioned, had the enemy pressed vigorously with
their heavy cavalry force, there must have been grave difficul
ties in the movement ; but happily, it was accomplished with
out disaster or molestation ; and Chalmers, fixing his head
quarters at Springdale, disposed his small command to make
an obstinate contest in the event the enemy advanced. His
men, however, having been on duty continuously for more than
twenty days, they and their horses were greatly jaded, while
little of the ammunition was fit for service.
During this time scouts were held closely around Oxford,
and General Chalmers left one of his staff— Captain L. T.
Lindsey — with a telegraph station within three miles of the
place, to secure constant telegraphic communication touching
hostile movements in that direction. The Federal advance,
however, did not enter Oxford until about eight o'clock on the
morning of the 22d, but a column of infantry soon followed.
The cavalry were speedily and widely scattered through the
town, but the infantry were kept in ranks. Up to noon,

550 Campaigns of General Forrest.
although there were a number of petty acts of spoliation on
the part of individual soldiers, yet no general disposition was
shown either to license or commit arson and rapine. The
railroad depot was burned in the morning, but, as yet, no
private buildings were set on fire. Suddenly, about midday,
however, this forbearance ceased. Orders were then given
by the Federal commander for the burning of the public
buildings and unoccupied houses ; and in a little while, to
quote the language of a Federal chronicler, " the public square
was surrounded by a canopy of flame ; the splendid court
house was among the buildings destroyed, with other edifices
of a public character. In fact, where once stood a handsome
little country town, now only remained the blackened skele
tons of the houses, and the smouldering ruins that marked
the track of war."* In this conflagration were consumed all
the principal business houses, with one accidental exception,
the two brick hotels of the place, and, of course, the flames
speedily spread to several dwellings occupied by women and
children, and sick persons, happily rescued, however, from
destruction by the exertions of the inhabitants of Oxford.
One occupied mansion, howbeit, was burned to the ground
under circumstances which make the act noteworthy in these
pages. It will be recollected, Mrs. Thompson's house, seve
ral days previously, had been despoiled by the Federal cavalry
commander and his men. Major-General Smith now sent an
officer of his staff with a detachment to burn it. Mrs.
Thompson made a dignified, earnest, but vain appeal that her
house might be spared her. Only fifteen minutes were

• That is, war, as was now made by made war, as they and their Govern-
Federal commanders, revived from the ment maintained, to restore the autho-
days of Tilly. This destruction of pub- rity of the United States over the in-
lic buildings by Federal commanders vaded region. These buildings could
is altogether inexplicable, since they be of no possible military use.

The Devastation of Oxford. 551
granted for the removal of any articles which she might spe
cially wish to save ; but these, as fast as they were brought
from the house, in the presence of Federal officers, were ruth
lessly stolen from her by the soldiery who clustered around,
so that scarcely an article, other than the clothing on her per
son, escaped fire or pillage.*
Up to midday, guards had been set as if to repress pillage ;
these were withdrawn about that time, and for several hours
thereafter Oxford was delivered up to riot and rapacity.
Houses on all sides were broken into and despoiled of cloth
ing, bedding, and provisions, which, if not carried off, were
maliciously destroyed. Carpets were torn up, curtains cut
down, and furniture broken in downright wantonness ; and in
a number of instances the torch was set to houses thus rifled,
and only the exertions of their terrified occupants saved them
from destruction. Some subaltern officers were greatly cha
grined, and displayed a disposition to restrain their men from
acts so disgraceful to their vaunted flag ; but no officer of
rank was heard to interpose his authority for the suppression
of disorder in a place which there had been no effort to de
fend, nor any conflict in its immediate vicinity. The men,
thus assured of the countenance of their commander, set all
opposition to their licentiousness at defiance, until five p.m.,
when they were suddenly withdrawn, and the enemy began
their retreat northward so rapidly as to reach Holly Springs
by ten am., on the next day. So completely, however, had
they done their work in Oxford, that its non-combatant inha-

• « In the suburbs of the place was was entirely consumed. The Federal
situated the splendid residence of the soldiers stood by and gazed upon the
Hon. Jake Thompson. To this, Gene- scene of destruction with feelings bet-
ral Smith also ordered the torch to be ter imagined than described. They will
applied ; and it also, with its fine not soon forget that visit to Oxford.
furniture, which could not have cost -See Correspondent Chicago Times,
less than one hundred thousand dollars, dated Cairo, September 12th, 1864.

552' Campaigns of General Forrest.
bitants, mostly women and children, were left absolutely desti
tute of food until the soldiers' rough rations could be brought
up from the Confederate depots south of the Yocona, and dis
tributed among them.
The news of the Federal retreat was rapidly communicated
by telegraph to General Chalmers, who promptly made his
dispositions to advance upon their trace at daylight on the
23d. This he did in two columns. Buford, with McCulloch
and the Kentucky Brigade, took the road across Oliver's
Bridge, and General Chalmers moved with Mabry over Carr's
Bridge, near the line of the railroad. Notwithstanding re
pairs, the ways across the Yocona " bottom " were still well-
nigh impracticable, and caused delay ; nevertheless, McCul
loch's Brigade, (Colonel Wade,) being in advance and press
ing on through Oxford, overtook the enemy's rear-guard near
Abbeville. The advance of the brigade, (Fifth Mississippi
and the Forrest Regiment,) attacking with vigor, became
entangled and almost surrounded by the superior force assail
ed, and suffered severely, but were finally withdrawn behind
Hurricane creek, where the whole command was formed in
line of battle in anticipation of an attack, though none was
made. During the 23d, Walton's Battery did handsome exe
cution upon the Federal ranks on several occasions.
On the morning of the 24th, it was apparent the Federal
army was retiring, but not rapidly, in consequence of difficulty
in crossing the Tallahatchie, their bridge over which had been
broken. In the jaded condition of the troops and ineffective
state of the ammunition, it was not practicable for the Confe
derate commander to harass his adversary materially. More
over, supplies were now extremely difficult of transportation
over the roads of the country, consequently General Forrest
ordered Chalmers to fall back southward of the Yocona again,
leaving detachments of scouts to keep in close observation of

The Federals in Retreat.

553

the movements of the enemy, with three regiments on an out
post several miles south of Oxford, at the point to which the
Mississippi Central Railroad was in running condition from
the south.

CHAPTER XXI.
Forrest's Cavalry reorganised — McCulloch's Brigade detached — Repair
of Mobile and Ohio Railroad to Corinth — Expedition into Middle
Tennessee — Happy Ruse and Capture of Strong Works at Athens,
Alabama — Successful Attack upon Works at Sulphur Trestle —
Destruction of Trestle and Large Railroad Bridges — Federals in
Superior Force take the Defensive at Pulaski — Demonstration in
Quarter of Tullahoma — Country alive with Federal Corps called
forth by Forrest — Forrest divided Forces — His Operations from
Spring Hill to Columbia — Failure to Capture Huntsville — Danger
ous Rising of the Tennessee River — Difficulties of Ferriage sur
mounted — Handsome Affair of Colonel Kelly at Eastport — General
Forrest planned Expedition for the Destruction of Federal Depots at
Johnsonville — Chalmers's Demonstration against Memphis — Com
mentaries. August 23d to October 15th, 1864.
UN establishing his headquarters at Grenada, General For
rest found assembled there, as we have mentioned, several
battalions of " State Reserves," under Colonel Pettus and
Lieutenant-Colonel Davis.* His other troops, for the rest

* Composed of men exempt from
conscription, but called forth, under the
laws of the State of Mississippi, in the
exigency. Among them, however, were
many of the " exempt classes," who
were able-bodied men in all respects,

fitted for the most active military ser
vice, and this fact excited among the
veterans feelings of antagonism, which
found expression in the rude but ex
pressive humor of the camp-fire, such
as " Tax in kind," the epithet by which

Reorganization.

555

of the month, were mainly distributed with reference to con
venience to supplies of forage and subsistence *
About the end of the month, however, under a requisition
from Major-General Maury, Chalmers's Division was detached
to proceed to West-Point, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad,
en route to assist in the defense of Mobile. Mabry's Brigade
had likewise been ordered away to cooperate with General
Wirt Adams in the direction of the Yazoo. Moreover, a re
organization was directed of the brigades and divisions, and
every other possible preparation was made for early active
service.! Meanwhile, also, Brigadier-General Lyon had re-

this class were so habitually designated
that General Forrest found it necessary
to issue a circular calling upon the of
ficers of his command to repress the
practice with the utmost vigor.
* Chalmers's Division was quartered
for a time ten miles west of Water
Valley, a station on the Mississippi
Central Railroad, eighteen miles south
of Oxford ; and subsequently at Oak
land, a station half-way between Panola
and Grenada, on the Mississippi and
Tennessee Railroad. Buford's Division
chiefly at Oxford.
t Forrest's Cavalry, as constituted
under this order, was as follows:
CHALMERS'S DIVISION, McCul
loch's Brigade, Colonel Robert Mc
Culloch commanding. Second Missouri
Cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. Mc
Culloch commanding ; Willis's Texas
Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Leo Wil
lis commanding ; Seventh Mississippi
Cavalry, (formerly First Mississippi
Partisans,) Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel
M. Hyams commanding ; Fifth Mis
sissippi Cavalry, Major William Gaston

Henderson commanding ; Eighth Mis
sissippi Cavalry, Colonel William L.
Duff commanding ; Eighteenth Missis
sippi Cavalry, Colonel Alexander H.
Chalmers commanding. Rucker's
Brigade, (formerly Neely's,) Colonel
Edward W. Rucker commanding. For
rest's (old) Regiment, Lieutenant-Colo
nel D. C. Kelly commanding ; Seventh
Tennessee, Colonel W. L. Duckworth ;
Fourteenth Tennessee, Colonel J. J.
Neely ; Fifteenth Tennessee, Colonel
F. M. Stewart; Twelfth Tennessee,
Lieutenant-Colonel J. U. Green, com
manding. BUFORD'S DIVISION:
Lyon's Brigade, Brigadier-General H.
B. Lyon commanding. Third Kentucky
Cavalry, Colonel G.A.C.Holt ; Seventh
Kentucky, Colonel Ed. Crossland ;
Eighth Kentucky, Lieutenant-Colonel
A. R. Shacklett commanding ; Twelfth
Kentucky, (Faulkner's,) Colonel W. W.
Faulkner. Bell's Brigade, Colonel
7. H. Bell commanding. Second Ten
nessee, Colonel C. R. Barteau ; Nine
teenth Tennessee, Colonel J. F. New-
som ; Twentieth Tennessee, Colonel

556 Campaigns of General Forrest.
joined Buford's Division, and Colonels McCulloch and Rucker
returned sufficiently recovered from their wounds to be put
at the head of their respective brigades. And on the 4th of
September, Forrest, directing Buford to hold his division in
readiness to follow at a moment's notice, left Grenada with
his staff and escort to proceed, by way of Jackson and Meri
dian, to take part in the defense of Mobile.
McCulloch's Brigade — except the Fifth Mississippi* — the
advance of Chalmers's Division, having reached West-Point
on the 3d, was at once dispatched by rail to Mobile, and re
mained there, detached from Forrest's Cavalry, for six months ;
but just as Rucker's Brigade was about to set-out, On the 4th,
for the same point, a telegram was received from General
Maury, dispensing with further aid from Forrest's command.
And that telegram made it unnecessary for General Forrest
himself to go beyond Meridian, where he arrived on the 5 th.
The situation, however, determined him to establish his head
quarters for the present at Verona, whither General Buford
was ordered with his division. Orders were given at the
same time to impress negroes and employ them, guarded by
details of dismounted men, to repair the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad as speedily as possible to Corinth, as General For
rest had now conceived the plan of throwing his force, with
that of Roddy, across the Tennessee river upon the line of
Sherman's communications in Middle Tennessee, and cutting
him off from his base of supplies. For the next fortnight all
the preparations for this important operation were pursued
under the sanction of the Department Commander with cha
racteristic extent and vigor. General Chalmers was directed
to take post at Grenada, in command of all the troops not to

R. M. Russell ; Twenty-first Tennes- * This regiment was absent at the
see, (formerly Sixteenth,) Colonel A. time on detached service.
N. Wilson.

Middle Tennessee Expedition. 557
be carried upon the expedition impending.* And General
Roddy was instructed to repair, with his command in North-
Alabama, the bridges and breaches in the Memphis and
Charleston Railroad to the eastward of Corinth, as well as to
prepare boats for the ferriage of the Tennessee river in the
vicinity of Cherokee Station. Moreover, by the 15 th, Bell's,
Lyon's, and Rucker's Brigades, with the artillery, were con
centrated at Verona, previous to which, on the 13th September,
a general order — No. 75 — had been issued in these terms :
" I. This entire command will be in readiness to move on the morning
of the 16th instant, with four days' cooked rations. They will leave all
baggage except one blanket and one change of clothing. All ordnance
stores will be shipped by railroad, and the ordnance-trains of the com
mand will assist in transporting forage, forage and ordnance-trains moving
together. Three days' rations of corn for the command will be carried in
the ordnance and forage-trains.
" II. The command will be supplied with one hundred rounds of am
munition to the man, forty of which will be taken in the cartridge-boxes,
the balance to be shipped by railroad.
"III. Adjutants will not be allowed to take any more papers than will
be necessary for active field-service. No desks will be taken, or other
boxes or baggage allowed to be carried.
" IV. All extra wagons, disabled horses, and baggage will be sent back
to Suquatoncha creek, near West-Point. One officer from each brigade
and one man to every ten horses will be sent back with the extra wagons,
baggage, and unserviceable horses.
" V. All dismounted men will be ordered to report to Lieutenant-Colo
nel Barnett, for the purpose of being organized into a battalion.
" VI. Lieutenant-Colonel Barnett will organize all dismounted men into
a battalion, and be in readiness to move on the morning of the 1 6th in
stant with rations and ammunition as above.
"VII. A full and complete field report of arms, ammunition, horses
and their condition will be sent to these headquarters by the morning of
the 15th instant"

* Mabry's Brigade, brought up from McCulloch's Brigade-and the " State
Lexington — the Fifth Mississippi of Reserves" or militia.

558 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Other judicious and comprehensive orders were issued, re
gulating the movement and the general conduct of the troops,
especially one, stringently forbidding and guarding against
depredations upon the property and premises of their coun
trymen. On the morning of the 16th, as directed, Buford's Division
and Rucker's Brigade, (under Colonel Kelly,) with the horses
of Morton's and Walton's Batteries, marched, with the view
of striking the Memphis and Charleston Railroad at Chero
kee Station, eastward of Iuka, near which it was expected to
pass across the Tennessee river, and this march was accoim
plished by sunset on the 19th.* General Forrest, accompa
nied by his Adjutant-General, Major Strange, also left Verona
on the morning of the 16th, with a battalion, 450 strong, of
dismounted men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Barnett, and the
guns and caissons of his batteries, to proceed by the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad for the same destination by way of Corinth.
Four trains followed freighted with subsistence, ordnance,
and quartermasters' stores for his command. Obliged to re
pair a number of the bridges and trestles on the railroad, he
did not reach Corinth until the evening of the 17th. Trans
ferring his trains to the Memphis and Charleston Railroad,
the Confederate General, early on the 18th, resumed the
movement with his wonted determination and disregard of
obstacles. All the wood used by the locomotives had to be
cut by the wayside by his troops, who likewise, in the absence
of tanks, kept the boilers filled with water brought in buckets
from the streams that bordered or intersected the road Many
parts of the roadway had to be patched, and long " cuttings"
cleared of earth and rubbish, frequently several feet deep,

* General Forrest's staff and the principal part of his escort accompanied this
column.

Colbert's Shoals.

559

which had accumulated upon the track. Nevertheless, by
the evening of the 19th every hinderance had been overcome,
and Forrest reaching Cherokee Station with his trains, his
whole forces and resources were thus auspiciously collected
at that point.
Roddy's Division was reported to be in readiness for the
field, but during the 20th, the whole command remained at
Cherokee Station, actively occupied in cooking their rations,
or other preparations, especially the shoeing of their horses,
Exclusive of Roddy's men, Forrest's force now numbered
three thousand, rank and file, including the battalion of dis
mounted men, and with this command the movement was
inaugurated on the morning of the 21st — scouts previously
dispatched by General Roddy having communicated the satis
factory intelligence that there was no hostile force at hand
to dispute the passage of the Tennessee river. General
Roddy had collected the requisite means of ferriage for the
JrVATfRLOfF

artillery at Colbert's Ferry, just above the head of Colbert's
shoals, about seven miles from Cherokee Station, and to that

560 Campaigns of General Forrest.
point Barnett's Battalion and the batteries repaired, while
the cavalry moved to the ford at the lower extremity of the
shoals. The river, at this point, was about 2000 yards broad, in a
straight line ; but the ford, extremely tortuous, and winding
along the shallows on the ledges of the shoals, was quite two
miles in length. The whole stream was filled with ledges of
rock, some of which jutted high above the water, while over
others the swift surging current broke heavily and boiled in
frothy tumult ; and profound crevices, or holes, marked the
spaces between, by the comparative smoothness of the deep
water that flowed over them. Placing a guide at the head of
the column, Forrest directed it to make the crossing in a
column formed by twos, and kept well closed up, so as not to
lose the devious and obscure pathway through the breakers.
Thus disposed, the Confederate cavalry venturing into the
river, boldly dared the perils of a ford, to stray from which a
few feet, either to the right or left, were almost certain des
truction ; for falling into some pit, the luckless trooper would
have been drawn irretrievably down-stream by the current,
and dashed against the jagged rocks which crowded the
rapids on all sides, with almost certain hazard of being dis
abled and drowned. At one time the whole ford, from side
to side, was filled with horsemen, presenting the appearance
of a huge, sinuous, tawny serpent, stretched across the river
among the breakers.
This serious operation having been happily accomplished,
the Confederate forces were pressed on with Forrest's ha
bitual diligence and celerity, to within two miles of Florence,
and bivouacked for the night. In motion seasonably on the
2 2d, Roddy's command, which had been crossed the day be
fore at Bainbridge, and in that vicinity, effected a junction at
Shoal creek with the troops from Mississippi, and Forrest's
whole force was now assembled, about 4500 strong, of all

Affair at Athens, Alabama. 561
arms* The line of march taken led by Athens, Alabama, an
important point on the Nashville and Decatur Railroad, known
to be occupied in force by the enemy, and in that immediate
vicinity the Confederate column arrived about sunset on the
23d of September.
A considerable Federal encampment was visible in the
north-eastern suburbs of the place. The Confederate leader
pressing forward his command, mounted, at once upon the
cantonment. So sudden, so unexpected was his appearance
and the onset which followed, that its occupants were forced
to take refuge in a fort about three quarters of a mile distant,
southward of Athens, leaving the horses and equipments of
their cavalry in the hands of their ever enterprising enemy.
Losing no time in preliminaries, or in the weighing of plans,
Forrest deployed his force so as to encompass the town, (with
possession of the Federal encampments,) and three sides of
the fort, and thus awaited daylight, before undertaking further
operations. A heavy rain fell during the whole night in
which the men, for the most part, were forced to bivouac
without shelter, and much of their ammunition was injured.
Fully three hours of the morning of the 24th were neces
sarily occupied in this position in preparation for the attack.
The dismounted men were established meanwhile as sup
ports to the artillery, which occupied four commanding po
sitions around the redoubt, and about eight hundred yards
distant from it. Bell's Brigade was placed in line about the
same distance east and south-east of the work ; Lyon about
six hundred yards immediately southward ; and Kelly, with
Rucker's Brigade, as far from the Federal position, to the

* Roddy's forces, about 1500 strong, to accompany his command, and thus
were under the command of Colonel General Forrest was deprived of the
William A. Johnson, Roddy having re- services of this valuable officer.
mained at Tuscumbia, being too sick

562 Campaigns of General Forrest.
westward of it, while Johnson occupied the town with Roddy's
men, so extended in three lines through the streets as to
make it impossible for the enemy to estimate their actual
strength. Detachments from each brigade were held, mount
ed, and thrown out to cover all the approaches, and the rest,
or greater part of the command, were dismounted, with
the usual horse-holders, who were concentrated in one body.
Thus, by half-past ten a.m., the Federal position was tho
roughly invested with a double line of riflemen, the foremost
circle (skirmishers) being within one hundred and fifty yards
of the Federal trenches. Being now ready for the attack, the
Confederate Commander determined to test the efficacy of a
flag of truce, and accordingly ordered the signal for a parley
to be sounded.
A few moments later, a Confederate staff-officer — Major
Strange, accompanied by Captain Pointer — bearing the usual
flag of truce, presented a formal demand for the unconditional
surrender of his position. The answer, an absolute refusal to
capitulate, was not long delayed. Not at all disconcerted,
however, General Forrest immediately sent forward another
communication requesting a personal interview with his ad
versary, which soon took place.
The Confederate General, at once approaching the business
of the interview, earnestly expressed his desire to avoid the
unnecessary shedding of blood ; declared that his means,
including artillery, were so ample that he could carry the
position by storm, without any hazard of failure ; and so
assured did he feel — he observed — of this fact, that he was
quite willing to exhibit his forces to the Federal Commander,
who would find it to be fully 8000 strong, of all arms. In
reply, Colonel Campbell, the Federal Commander, remarked
that, of course, if he could be satisfied such a force actually
surrounded him, he would not feel authorized to maintain
so useless a defense. Forrest's dispositions being favorable

Forces Adroitly Displayed. 563
for his purpose, with characteristic adroitness and audacity,
he proposed that his adversary should at once review his
lines, and they rode together for that purpose.
The first troops displayed were the dismounted cavalry,
who, armed with Enfield rifles, were deployed as infantry,
which they were represented to be. Some six hundred yards
rearward the horse-holders were drawn up, mounted, the
horses in their charge so disposed as to be mistaken for a
body of at least 4000 cavalry, the number indicated by the
wily Confederate. The batteries were exhibited in turn, and
adroitly shifted from position to position, so as to do double
duty in the display. By the time the inspection was con
cluded, Colonel Campbell declared that what he saw far ex
ceeded his conception of the force that confronted him, a
force which, he added, appeared indeed to be fully 10,000
strong, and made defense on his part fruitless and unwar
ranted. He therefore proposed to capitulate, asking only
that his officers might be allowed to retain their private pro
perty and side-arms. Of course, this proposition was accept
ed without discussion ; and Major Strange and Captain An
derson, of the Confederate staff, returned with him, in order
that the surrender should take place as speedily as practica
ble. Accordingly, the garrison was soon marched forth with-
. out arms, some 1400, rank and file — in great part new troops
— and the capitulation was effected by one p.m.*
Previously, howbeit, just as Rucker's Brigade (Kelly) had
taken its position in the line of investment, a train came up
from the direction of Decatur, filled with Federal infantry,
who disembarked, over 400 strong, near a block-house, about

* The work thus surrendered was a ten feet deep and fifteen feet broad, also
strong, square redoubt built upon a with a line oi abatis; and the ditch was
high hill, with parapets from eight to lined with sharpened palisades.
ten feet high, encompassed by a ditch

564 Campaigns of General Forrest.
one mile from the work, and were moved forward with the evi
dent purpose of forcing their way to a junction with the invest
ed garrison. The Seventh Tennessee, having been already
posted in observation in that quarter, became immediately
engaged in a lively skirmish with these troops, as, soon after,
did a detachment of Wilson and Russell's Regiments, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Jesse Forrest, detached for that purpose
by Colonel Bell from his brigade. About 1 50 of the Fifteenth
Tennessee, under Lieutenant-Colonel Logwood, also fell upon
their left flank. The enemy fought, and were handled with
decided courage and resolution ; many of their number were
killed and wounded. Pressed, however, on all sides, finally,
after a struggle of nearly an hour, and under the stress of a
fire in front and flank, throwing down their arms, they sur
rendered to the number of 400, after having inflicted upon
the Confederates the loss of some of their best officers and
men.* Two block-houses still remained in the vicinage to be re
duced ; one half a mile and the other one mile and a half dis
tant from Athens, on the line of the railroad to Decatur.
Both were immediately and simultaneously summoned to
capitulate. The one most remote succumbed at once, and
the garrison laid down their arms on the like terms to those
granted Colonel Campbell.! But a stouter soldier, apparently,
held the other fortalice ; for, when called upon to surrender,
he haughtily answered, that, having been placed in command
by his government, he would forfeit his life rather than yield.
During the parley, Captain Morton, Chief of Artillery, hav
ing casually but closely observed the block-house, formed and
expressed to General Forrest the opinion that, notwithstand-

• Lieutenant-Colonel Jesse Forrest t This garrison consisted of eighty-
was severely wounded through the five, officers and men.
thigh.

Block-House taken by Morton. 565
ing the great thickness of its walls, of hewn oak timber, by
firing at the joints — somewhat wide from shrinkage — he might
penetrate within the work with his projectiles. Thereupon
Morton was ordered to turn four of his three-inch rifled pieces
upon it. This done at a range of not exceeding three hun
dred yards, the first shot — from one of Mayson's section —
striking the roof, scattered earth and plank in every direction,
while two other shells, penetrating, exploded, and killed six
and wounded three of the garrison. The effect was instan
taneous ; the wicket was thrown hurriedly open, and an of
ficer, rushing forth with a white flag, exclaimed in accents of
great excitement, as General Forrest rode forward in person
to meet him : " You have killed and wounded nearly all my
men ; your shells, sir, bore through my block-house like an
auger !" This garrison numbered thirty-five, officers and men,
making the aggregate of prisoners now taken around Athens
1900. General Buford and Colonel Johnson were now actively
occupied supplying their respective commands from the Fede
ral cantonments and depots with such articles and equipments
as their men most needed. The former was able to improve
materially the armament of his division, and to provide about
200 of his dismounted men with excellent mounts. Some
twenty wagons and teams were among the spoils, and these
were promptly loaded with such supplies, medical stores and
instruments, and ammunition, as were selected by the proper
staff-officers. Colonel Wheeler, of the First Tennessee Cav
alry, having come up about this time with some two hundred
men belonging to General Wheeler's Cavalry, left in the coun
try during that officer's recent expedition, his men too were
furnished with arms and equipments. The rest of the stpres,
to a considerable amount, were then set on fire and consumed,
together with the two block-houses, the adjacent trestle-work
of the railroad, which they commanded, and all the buildings

566 Campaigns of General Forrest.
in and around the redoubt that had been used by the enemy.
Meanwhile the dead were buried, and the wounded of both
sides collected and properly disposed of in Athens for treat
ment. The other results of the day not already enumerated
were the capture of four pieces of artillery and five or six
ambulances, while some forty of the enemy were killed and
about one hundred wounded. The Confederate loss was not
over twenty killed and sixty wounded, casualties which pre
ceded the capitulation of the redoubt, and mainly in the skir
mish with the infantry exterior to it.
The block-house buildings, bridges, and trestle-work having
been burned to the ground, the prisoners, captured artillery,
and wagon-train, properly guarded, about five p.m., were dis
patched rearward in the direction of Florence. And at the
same hour Forrest put his main command in motion again,
along the line of the Tennessee and Alabama Railroad, to the
northward, for what is known as the " Sulphur Trestle," in
which direction he moved that evening, eight miles, before
bivouacking. On the way, two other block-houses were en
countered and captured with their garrisons, after short nego
tiations, in which the Federal officer whose block-house Mor
ton's projectiles had so readily perforated related that incident
with quite enough of warmth of color in his description to
produce the effect for which he had been carried along. Both
these block-houses and the bridges which they guarded were
destroyed, and, with seventy officers and men, captured with
out firing a gun, were the closing results of the day.*
III.
Early in the morning of the 25 th, Forrest was in front of
Sulphur Trestle, after a march of only three miles from his

* This was effected by a detachment from Roddy's Division, under lieutenant-
Colonel F. M. Windes.

Sulphur Trestle. 567
bivouac. The position was known to be defended by a strong
redoubt, garnished with artillery and heavily garrisoned, as
well as by several block-houses. The trestle was a costly
structure which spanned a deep ravine, with precipitous sides,
some four hundred feet broad. It was sixty feet high, and, as
may be seen, formed a most vulnerable link in the chain of
communication and supply between the Federal forces in
North-Alabama and their base at Nashville. Hence, its pro
tection was a matter of vital military importance to the for
mer, and accordingly the position had been fortified. A
square redoubt, with faces of about three hundred feet in
length, had been thrown up on an eminence to the southward,
so as to command the trestle and all approaches. This was
furnished with two twelve-pounder howitzers, skillfully ar
ranged, to be fired through embrasures, sweeping all possible
avenues to the trestle ; while, some two hundred yards in
advance, on three sides, it was surrounded by a line of rifle-
pits. And two formidable block-houses were built in the
ravine, at each extremity, so as to command the ravine and
prevent hostile approach to the trestle by that way. These
block-houses and the redoubt were garrisoned by about one
thousand men.*
His brigade being in advance, Colonel Kelly, supported by
Roddy's command, was ordered to drive the Federal pickets
and skirmishers within the redoubt. Leading this gallant
brigade, with their characteristic promptness, across an open
field, Kelly charged the rifle-pits, and made the enemy seek
shelter, after a short skirmish, in the fort, but not without the
loss of several valuable men, while his own horse was wounded
under him, and those of several of his field-officers were killed.
Making a close reconnoissance, Forrest saw that the works

• Third Tennessee (Federal) cavalry, 400 strong, and about 600 negro infantry.

568 Campaigns of General Forrest.
made the position almost inexpugnable to his resources, espe
cially since the block-houses were sheltered from his artillery.
Nothing daunted, however, relying on himself, and ever fertile
in resources, he spent several hours in unimportant light skir
mishes, in the course of which he succeeded, with slight loss,
in establishing a considerable portion of his force within one
hundred yards of the breastworks of the redoubt, under cover
of the acclivity of the ridge upon which it was built, and some
ravines which seamed it. In the mean time, also, Captain
Morton had found, and reported four positions for his artillery
severally within eight hundred yards of, and commanding
the works, from which he might easily explode his shells in it.
At this stage of operations Forrest determined to resort again
to the artifice of demanding a surrender, and, accordingly,
Major Strange was sent forward, under a flag of truce, with
the summons. Fully an hour elapsed before he returned with
the answer — a positive refusal.
Captain Morton was now ordered to establish his batteries
in the positions we have mentioned, and to open with them
without delay ; meanwhile, a lively skirmish was commenced,
and kept up by the Confederate riflemen — a fire, however,
more noisy and ostentatious than effective, for they were di
rected to be kept under cover, and to avoid loss. Walton's
guns were soon in position at two points, from which he en
filaded a large portion of the southern and western faces of
the work, while Morton's own battery, to an equal extent,
raked its other two faces, and Ferrell's guns were brought to
bear from a somewhat more exposed position in a corn-field,
within short range of the fort. From these hurtful positions
the Confederate artillery was speedily plying with perceptible
effect. For a time, the enemy responded vigorously with two
twelve-pounder howitzers ; but a shell from Lieutenant Sale's
section of Morton's Battery, striking the lower lip of one of
them, glanced, and striking the axle, exploded, killing, it is

Sulphur Trestle. 569
said, five men, while overturning the piece ; and soon the other
was dismounted by a shot planted squarely in its mouth by
Lieutenant Brown of the same battery. The Confederate
practice was excellent ; every shell fell and exploded within
the Federal work, whose faces, swept in great part by an en
filading fire, gave little or no shelter to the garrison, who were
to be seen fleeing alternately from side to side, vainly seeking
cover. Many found it, as they hoped, within some wooden
buildings in the redoubt, but shot and shell crushing and tear
ing through these feeble barriers, either set them on fire or
leveled them to the ground, killing and wounding their in
mates, and adding to the wild helplessness and confusion of
the enemy, who, though making, meanwhile, no proffer to sur
render, had, nevertheless, become utterly impotent for defense.
Seeing their situation, and desiring to put a stop to the
slaughter, Forrest, ordering a cessation of hostilities, again
demanded a capitulation. This time, the demand was prompt
ly acceded to", and the capitulation of the block-houses, as well
as the redoubt, was speedily accomplished through the proper
staff-officers. The interior of the work presented a sanguinary, sickening
spectacle, another shocking illustration of the little capacity
for command, scant soldierly aptitudes, and deficiency of mili
tary knowledge of those appointed by the Federal Govern
ment over their negro troops, rather than an example of a
stout, loyal maintenance of a soldier's post on the part of the
garrison. As we have said, all the buildings within the para
pets had either been razed or burned to the ground. Eight
hundred rounds of ammunition had been expended by the
Confederate artillery in this affair, and at least two hundred
Federal officers and men lay slain within the narrow area of
that redoubt, giving it the aspect of a slaughter-pen. Among
the dead were Colonel Lathrop, the commander, and a
number of officers ; comparatively few of the garrison had

570 Campaigns of General Forrest.
been wounded. The bursting shells had done their work
effectively upon this poor, mis-officered force, whose defense,
manifestly, from its feebleness, had been thus prolonged, be
cause the officers, paralyzed under the tempest of iron show
ered upon them, knew not what to do in the exigency.* Eight .
hundred and twenty officers and men capitulated ; the other
results were two pieces of artillery, twenty wagons and teams,
about three hundred and fifty cavalry horses, with their equip
ments, complete, and a large quantity of ordnance and com
missary stores.!
During this operation, intelligence was received that the
enemy, hearing of the movement, were evacuating their block
houses and fort at the bridge over Elk river, some six or seven
miles to the northward. Buford, therefore, was detached,
with Lyon's Brigade, to push forward and destroy the bridge
and its defenses. Having already expended so large a portion
of his artillery ammunition, Forrest now determined to send
back to Florence, and across the Tennessee, four pieces of
his own artillery, the captured guns and wagon-train, and
prisoners, with a suitable escort, commanded by Lieutenant-
Colonel Logwood. The other troops were set to burying the
dead, collecting and providing for the wounded of both sides,
and employed in the destruction of the trestle and block
houses. The trestle had first to be cut down — not a light
work — and was then set on fire. Through the night the Con
federates were thus occupied, so that by six a.m. on the 26th,
there remained of that huge work naught except a heap of
ashes, and coals, and charred beams.

* The Federal wounded scarcely ex- Colonel Johnson's escort, was among
ceeded thirty. the killed. Major John H. Doan and
t This was not achieved, however, Captain Carter, of the same command,
without some loss on the Confederate (Roddy's,) were severely wounded.—
side. Captain James J. Kirkman, (of MS. Notes of Captain J. J. Scanlan.
Florence, Alabama,) in command of

Richland Creek. 571
Bell's Brigade was now dispatched to catch up with and
rejoin Buford at Elk river, as General Forrest set out with
Kelly and Johnson, by other roads, toward Pulaski, the latter
marching through Upper Elkton, while Forrest, with Kelly,
moved by a way nearer the line of the railroad, so as to
be within supporting distance of Buford, who was ordered
to advance along that line as far as Richland creek, seven
miles south of Pulaski ; and there Johnson, also, was instruct
ed to join him.
Buford, moving along the railroad, after he had destroyed
the large railroad bridge and block-houses at Elk river, des
troyed another deserted block-house, and about 10,000 cords
of wood, collected for the operations of the road, in the
burning of which he likewise effectually impaired at least
a mile of the track. The command was then concentrated,
and moved on to Richland creek, over which there was a
truss railroad bridge, 200 feet long, defended by a heavy
block-house, the garrison of which capitulated after a few
shells had been burst against it* The bridge and block
house were then consigned to the torch, and the command
bivouacked for the night.
Early on the 27th, Forrest was again in motion toward
Pulaski, Buford moving still by the railroad, Johnson to the
right of it, deployed across the turnpike, followed by Kelly.
In this order the Federal pickets were encountered a mile be
yond Richland creek, and were borne back for another mile,
when a heavy Federal force was developed in line of battle,
stretched across the turnpike and railroad — here about 400
yards apart — and on a range of hills affording an excellent
position. It was a mixed force of cavalry, artillery, and
infantry, apparently not less than 6000 strong ; while the

* Forty-five officers and men were taken here.

572 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Confederates present did not number over 3300 men and four
guns. Nevertheless, their leader, resolved on the offensive,
dismounting them, deployed Buford's and Johnson's small
divisions across the roads, as Kelly, still mounted, was boldly
launched to make a detour to the eastward and gain the
Federal rear.
Deploying his escort, some sixty rifles, on foot, as skirmish
ers, in front of Johnson and to the rightward of the turnpike,
Forrest threw forward that indomitable band of combatants.
Charging, with characteristic intrepidity, up a hill held by
the enemy in that part of the field, they brought on the
engagement and gained the position, with a loss of seven or
eight of their number killed or wounded. Meanwhile, Bu
ford and Johnson pressed up with vigor, and an animated
musketry and artillery affair ensued.* The enemy, however,
did not stand their ground, and soon were observed retiring
toward Pulaski. At this, directing his escort to remount,
Forrest made a dash with them and his staff at the Federal
rear, and a running skirmish was kept up for five or six miles
in the course of which, the enemy halting frequently, turned
and made battle at every favorable position, until Forrest,
concentrating his forces, deployed, and threw his men forward
with his wonted aggressive tactics.! Then, in each instance,
the enemy withdrew, till finally, about three p.m., they filed
into position behind their works at Pulaski. These consisted
of a chain of detached redoubts of commanding positions,
interlinked by rifle-pits, the whole furnished with artillery,
and bristling with abatis.

* Here Colonel Johnson was dan- Fourth Alabama, was slain.— MS. Notes
gerously wounded by a rifle-ball in the of Captain J. J. Scantan.
leg, below the knee, and the command t Gaus, Forrest's favorite orderly
of Roddy's force devolved, for the rest bugler, ever by the side of his leader,
of the expedition, upon Colonel J. R. had his bugle disabled by three balls in
B. Burtwell. Lieutenant John Moore, this ride.

In Front of Pulaski. 573
Manifestly, nothing was to be achieved by the sword-in-
hand process here, and it had been a folly to have attempted
the offensive even, had not the force in occupancy been
greatly superior to that under Forrest. However, he made a
menace of an attack upon the southern and eastern faces ;
pushing forward a strong skirmish line, he pressed it slowly
but steadily up to within 400 yards of the Federal intrench
ments by nightfall in that quarter.* And after dark, a broad,
long belt of camp-fires, by his orders, blazed on a ridge about
a mile and a half from the threatened part of the Federal
works. Maintaining his pickets close up to the enemy, and
renewing the camp-fires about nine o'clock, the Confederates
were quietly formed, and at ten o'clock, drew off by the road
to the eastward, in the direction of Fayetteville, with the pur
pose of striking the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad at,
and in the vicinity of, Tullahoma.! That railroad was the
main channel of supply and recruitment for Sherman's army,
then at Atlanta, Georgia, and Forrest's object was to destroy
as much of the track and as many of the bridges upon it as
possible. The rain, however, began to pour down, and the
night became soon so dark that the ordnance train could not
be forced along over the miry, rugged roads of the country,
and the command was halted for the night, after a short
march of six or seven miles.
But at daybreak, on the 28th, the movement was resumed,

• In this affair Forrest's Cavalry had Twelfth Tennessee. He was an officer
the misfortune to lose Captain Edmund of zeal, courage, and intelligence, and
Daley, who fell at the head of the his death made a chasm in his regi-
Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry, the com- ment.
mand of which had devolved upon him. t Forrest also sent back to Florence
During the first twelve months of the from in fron of Pulaski all supernum-
war he had served in an infantry regi- erary wagons and teams, some 200
ment, after which, raising a company of prisoners, and 40 wounded men, under
cavalry, he became attached to the a suitable <"?cort

574 Campaigns of General Forrest.
and though the route was by narrow cross-ways, through a
broken, extremely rough country, made boggy by recent hard
rains, nevertheless the command, much of the time at a sharp
trot, marched forty miles, and bivouacked at dark, five miles
beyond and northward of Fayetteville .* Still pressing on,
the next day, toward Tullahoma, till within fifteen miles of
that place, Forrest there was met by scouts, with the tidings
that a heavy column of Federal infantry was advancing from
Chattanooga to meet him ; and that the forces which he had
left in the lurch, intrenched at Pulaski, were now on the way,
by rail, through Nashville, to confront him at Tullahoma.
Thus anticipated, the Confederate Commander found it expe
dient to make a radical change in his plan of operations.
His horses, now in great part unshod, were foot-sore, as
well as greatly fatigued by excessive, prolonged hard service.
It was still raining, moreover, and the Tennessee river was
rising rapidly, while there were no means of ferriage available,
except a few old flats at or near Florence. And besides, the
enemy in the country were greatly his superior in numbers,
even in cavalry. The situation was extremely precarious, and
one indeed that required a large measure of coolness and
judgment for extrication. Forrest, therefore, resolved to sub
divide his command. One detachment, of 1500 men and the
artillery and wagon-train, he placed under General Buford,
with orders to move swiftly upon Huntsville, seize that place
if practicable, and afterward, destroying as much of the rail
road thence to Decatur as he could, throw his command south
ofthe Tennessee at that point, if the means were found there.
Putting himself at the head of the other detachment, likewise
about 1500 strong, he proposed to move rapidly across the
country to Spring Hill, strike the railroad there, and break it

MS. Notes Lieutenant Robert J. Black, Seventh Tennessee Cavalry.

Spring Hill. 575
up between that point and Columbia, and at the same time
drawing after him hostile forces that otherwise would be sure
to follow Buford, and prevent, most probably, the escape of
the Confederate wagon-train and artillery across the Tennes
see river. He had also received information, through citizens,
that a vast amount of army-stores had been collected at John-
sonville, on the Tennessee river, the terminus of the Nash
ville and North-Western Railroad, destined and essential for
the Federal forces at Chattanooga and Atlanta. This depot,
and the bridges on the railroad leading to it, it was likewise
his purpose to destroy, if the condition of his horses, on reach
ing Spring Hill, would warrant him in undertaking it.*
Both subdivisions were in motion on the evening of the
29th. Forrest, taking the road through Lewisburg, in Mar
shall county, encamped at a hamlet called Petersburg, where
he learned, through scouts, that a strong Federal cavalry force,
on the march from Pulaski to Tullahoma, was only eight miles
distant to the north, at the time. Nevertheless, as his weary
animals required rest, he remained encamped until daylight on
the 30th. Then resuming his march across the country, pass
ing through Lewisburg, and crossing Duck river at Hardi-
son's ford, to the eastward of Columbia, Forrest reached
Spring Hill about meridian on the 1st of October.
Here, seizing the telegraph-office by surprise, he found the
line in operation from Pulaski to Nashville, and most oppor
tunely intercepted several official dispatches, which gave pre
cise information with regard to the location at the time ofthe
principal bodies of troops which were afield in pursuit of him.
From one of these he was particularly annoyed to learn that
General Steedman was marching with a heavy column toward
Huntsville, with the evident object of cutting off his retreat to

* Forrest's immediate command now Lyon's, Bell's, and Rucker's Brigades,
consisted of parts of seven regiments, of choice fighting material.

576 Campaigns of General Forrest.
the south bank of the Tennessee river. Having thus acquired
as much information as possible touching the movements of
the enemy, he now sent several misleading, spurious dis
patches to General Rousseau, in regard to Confederate move
ments, especially one, reporting that " Forrest " was still de
stroying the Nashville and Decatur Railroad, and the block
houses in that direction. These messages being dispatched,
he broke up the telegraph-line around Spring Hill, and at two
p.m., turned the head of his column toward Columbia, having
previously detached a force to destroy the small trestles on
the railroad as far northward as Franklin.
The roadside was found strewn with large piles of wood,
collected for the locomotives. These were burned, as also an
extensive Government saw-mill and a large quantity of public
lumber, about three miles southward of Spring Hill ; and here
were captured thirty fat oxen, six wagons, and some forty
mules.* Near by were several strong block-houses, but being
now without artillery, Forrest was perplexed as to the speedi
est method for their reduction. Howbeit, promptly displaying
his force so as to make a formidable show, the oft-tried device
of a peremptory demand for a surrender was again adventured.
Meeting with an equally prompt refusal, he next requested a
personal interview with the Federal Commander, which being
assented to, they met. The Confederate General expressing
his earnest desire to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, urged that
the defense of an untenable place should not be attempted,
for he could not be responsible for the consequences if forced
to carry the position by storm. Then proposing to show to

* This wood was piled and burned gitudinal expansion, under the heat of
upon the railroad, by Colonel Bell, who fire, being prevented, the rails were
had previously and ingeniously caused warped into short curves, which render-
the rails to be firmly fastened at each ed them useless for three miles of the
extremity by spikes;. In this way, Ion- road.

Successful Ruse. 577
his adversary the forces at his disposition, so that it might
be seen there was no deception on the Confederate side, and
furnishing a horse to the Federal commander, they actually
made together a rapid survey of the investing force, in the
course of which some of the Confederate officers, taking the
hint, were heard to speak impatiently to each other of the
delayed approach of several rifled batteries. Moreover, For
rest assuring his antagonist, as he was approaching his ambu
lance, that he had the means to- destroy the block-houses
without artillery, called upon the driver of that vehicle to
bring him a vial of "Greek fire." This being done, it was
thrown and broken against a fresh oak stump, and the fluid
spreading, the blaze immediately covered the still green bark.
The men cheering lustily at this, for the " Greek fire," Forrest,
taking advantage of the tumult, remarked that as his men
were growing excited, it were best for them to retire toward
the block-house, whither they galloped immediately, before
the officer was able to scan the positive effects of the Greek
fire. The Federal officer now expressing himself satisfied as
to the hopelessness of any defense, under the circumstances,
capitulated both block-houses at five p.m., with sixty-five offi
cers and men. Both structures and the truss bridge — 150
feet long — which they guarded, were now thoroughly fired and
destroyed. Major Strange was next dispatched, with a flag
of truce, to demand the surrender of another block-house,
half a mile distant. The commander was a German, who,
greatly excited by the demand, refused not only to yield but
to hold any conference, swearing roundly that he had heard
of Forrest before ; that he was a d— d rebel, with whom he
would have nothing to do. The man even went so far as to
threaten to fire on the flag. Hearing this, Forrest set men to
collecting and filling sacks with dry chips and other light com
bustibles, which were then saturated with turpentine and ©il,
carried for the contingency.

578 Campaigns of General Forrest.
It was now nine o'clock, and very dark. Dismounted men
were at once pressed close up to the work, under cover of the
railroad embankment, and opened a noisy fire upon the block
house, during which others — picked men, provided with bags
of combustibles — crept to the bridge, and placing these
under its braces, at the signal ignited them with the Greek
fire, a small vial of which each man carried also. In a mo
ment the bridge was effectually in flames, and the men who
had applied the fire rejoined their companies without hurt*
The Confederates, now cheering heartily, bantered their ad
versary, while the Dutchman swore profusely as, remount
ing, the Confederates rode away.
While this was going on, Colonel Wheeler, whose com
mand was now increased to five hundred men, had been de
tached, and directed to menace Columbia.! Meeting the
stage with several Federal officers, these were captured and
the horses appropriated. Coming presently, however, across
a force of three hundred Federal cavalry, moving after the
stage, a sharp collision occurred, in which the Confederates
were worsted to the verge of disaster. But, happily, a de
tachment of the old Forrest Regiment, under Captain For
rest, came up opportunely, and Wheeler, thus reenforced,
charged in turn, and drove the enemy rapidly back into Co
lumbia, capturing some twenty-five prisoners and fifty horses.
Moving then -down to the north bank of Duck river, he re
mained for several hours menacing the passage of the stream
and an attack upon Columbia; but after eight o'clock, quietly
withdrawing, rejoined his command, two hours later, on the
road leading clown Duck river, toward Williamsport

• This bridge was burned by Colo- belonged to the different regiments of
nel Russell and his regiment of Ten- General Wheeler's command, and had
nesseeans. been left in Middle Tennessee on the
* As will l>e remembered, these men occasion of his recent expedition.

Columbia. 5 79
Four block-houses and as many large truss railroad bridges
had been burned, and so effectually was the railroad impaired
that it would be useless to the enemy for weeks. At the
same time scouts reported the rapid rising of the Tennessee
river ; that Buford, unable to capture Huntsville, had likewise
failed to destroy the Memphis and Charleston Railroad ; that
General Steedman was moving with a column of infantry,
reported to be 8000 strong, with the evident object of inter
cepting the Confederates, in their retreat at Decatur ; that a
heavy cavalry force was pressing across from Tullahoma to
ward Florence, and a column of infantry and cavalry under
Rousseau, from the direction of Nashville. Thus fully 15,000
Federal troops had been drawn into the field, and Forrest
determined to effect a junction with Buford without delay, for
in that event he would be able, he hoped, to beat off any cav
alry force that he might meet, and by manoeuvre he would
elude any infantry column, if unable to effect the passage to
the south bank of the river.
By sunrise on the 2d of October, scouts reported that Rous
seau was in motion.* Hearing from Buford that he was mov
ing toward Florence, Forrest immediately threw his command
to the south bank of Duck river. Spreading details over the
country to collect beef cattle and bread-rations, he meanwhile
halted his main force about six miles from Columbia, which
he next proceeded to threaten with an attack, by a detach
ment of cavalry under his own immediate command. The
pickets were soon driven in, but the position was found to be-
well fortified ; nevertheless, remaining on the outskirts of the
town until late that evening, he harassed the garrison and
burned some short.trestles in the direction of Pulaski. Mean
while, his main force, after his commissary details had dis-

* Rousseau's infantry mainly moved in wagons, to secure rapid transportation.

580 Campaigns of General Forrest.
charged their duties, had moved across to Mount Pleasant
and bivouacked, and there he joined them that night*
On the 3d, the movement began definitely for there passage
of the river and the evacuation of Middle Tennessee. Mov
ing across the country toward Florence, through Lawrence-
burg, Forrest encamped on the night of the 5th within seven
miles of the former place, whither Buford had preceded him,
and was already ferrying the train and artillery at the mouth
of Cypress creek and Newport.
Detaching Company B of the Seventh Tennessee to push
on with the beef cattle by the direct road to Colbert's Ferry,
at the head of Colbert Shoals, General Forrest led the rest of
his command, before daylight, to Florence. The rapid ap
proach both of Steedman and Rousseau made the situation
urgent ; and the Confederate General now gave his special
attention to every possible means for increasing the facilities
for ferriage, by distributing his command at all practicable
points of crossing, from the mouth of Cypress creek to Col
bert Shoals. The river, already very high, was still rising,
and so full of driftwood as to be extremely dangerous to the
swimming horses ; while three small flat-boats and not more
than half a score of skiffs were the means of ferriage at the
disposition of the Confederates. Nevertheless, by midday on
the 7th, all the artillery, the wagon-train, and a portion of the
troops, had been safely landed on the south bank of the Ten
nessee, as well as a large number of horses.
But the river, nearly a mile wide, had now become much
agitated by high winds, so that the waves breaking constantly
over the skiffs, they could only be kept from swamping by
being bailed incessantly by the men with* their hats ; and the
flats, blown by the wind and drifted by the current, lost fully

Among the supplies now collected were over 150 head of beef cattle.

At the Ferry. 581
half a mile down-stream at each crossing. During this time,
also, both Steedman and Rousseau were drawing so danger
ously near that a counter-movement became necessary for
their delay. Accordingly, the Second, Sixteenth, and a part
of the Seventh Tennessee were detached to move back on
the State line and Athens roads, toward Shoal creek, to meet
and skirmish with the approaching foe, while Lieutenant- Colo
nel Windes was directed to make a detour with his regiment
to the north and rear of the hostile column, on the Lawrence-
burg road, which he was to strike from that quarter* This
service Colonel Windes performed with notable judgment and
daring ; in fact, so effectively that he checked and retarded
the Federals from reaching Florence until late on the morn
ing of the 8th. And, a little later, the Second, Seventh and
Sixteenth Tennessee regiments handsomely disputed the
crossing of Cypress creek, west of Florence, repulsing seve
ral efforts of the enemy to pass that stream, until General
Steedman, finding himself unable to force the position, had
sent a brigade of his cavalry around, by a crossing three
miles above. About to be taken in reverse, the Confederates
were now obliged to retire by the Newport Ferry road, doing
so doggedly, however, and standing at bay to gain time at
several favorable positions.
Quite as many as 12,000 of the enemy were now within a
few miles of one ofthe Confederate ferries; and at least 1000
of Forrest's men, with their horses, were still on the north
bank ofthe river, besides those confronting and engaged with
Steedman and Rousseau, whose advance-guard was at length
in such menacing neighborhood that, in the skirmish which
ensued, their rifle-balls plashed in the water among the Confe
derate men and horses. Abandoning that ferry, Forrest

• Fourth Alabama Regiment, 300 strong.

582 Campaigns of General Forrest.
directed Windes to fall back on the Waterloo road, with the
hope of attracting the enemy in that direction. The Fede
rals pursuing, Windes, cooperating with Wilson (Sixteenth
Tennessee) and a squadron of the Seventh Tennessee, falling
back slowly, kept them actively engaged and engrossed in a
series of skirmishes all day during the 9th, giving the Confe
derate General the opportunity to complete the ferriage of his
cattle from an island at the head of Colbert Shoals, and to
throw the rest of his horses and men to the south bank, ex
cept those under Windes and Wilson, whom he directed to
scatter to the rear of the enemy that night, and recross the
river at such times and places as they might find practicable.
The highest credit is due to Colonel Windes, and the officers
and men of his own and of the Second, Seventh, and Six
teenth Tennessee regiments, for their heroic conduct during
this day.*
Under the difficulties and obstacles we have enumerated,
Forrest, by sunset on the 9th, had transported to the south
bank ofthe Tennessee 2500 men and their horses, as many as
100 cattle, about fifty wagons and teams, and eight pieces of
artillery ; a military feat which illustrates the energy, the
decision, and the fertility in resources which characterized his
operations, and were habitually at his command. His loss on
this occasion was that of two men and about twenty horses
drowned. Windes and Wilson subsequently, about the 13th,
effected the re-passage of the river at Newport ferry, bringing
off fifty prisoners.
Roddy's troops were at once detached, to report again to
their commander at Tuscumbia, and on the evening of the

* Lieutenant-Colonel G. H. Morton, venth ; and Colonel A. N. Wilson, the
commanding the Second ; Lieutenant- Sixteenth Tennessee Regiments.
Colonel William F. Taylor, the Se-

Headquarters at Corinth. 583
ioth the rest of the command was again concentrated at
Cherokee Station, and to the west of it.* The Federal
General, having found no opponent in his presence or within
reach that morning, after several hours of fruitless search, had
countermarched to Florence.
During the ferriage of the Tennessee, General Forrest, with
his usual close attention to all the details effecting his opera
tions, crossed and recrossed repeatedly from one side of the
river to the other ; and believing that the enemy might send
gunboats and a strong force up the river to intercept his
re-passage of it, he detached, as early as the 8th, a squadron
of the Seventh Tennessee, which had crossed the day before,
to make a reconnoissance along the bank of the river in the
vicinity of Chickasaw, and keep him advised of any hostile
movement in that quarter.!
On the morning of the nth, Buford's Division was put in
motion for Corinth, and breaking up his depot at Cherokee
Station, General Forrest repaired by rail, with his staff and
escort, to the same point, where Buford arrived on the morn
ing ofthe 12th. Meanwhile, scouts had reported the presence
of detachments of the enemy at several points on the north
bank of the Tennessee, between Waterloo and Clifton, ap
parently with the object of crossing the stream. Buford,
therefore, was immediately directed to repair, with his
division, to Pittsburg Landing, where it was anticipated
General Washburne would attempt to recross from Middle
Tennessee with a brigade of infantry and his cavalry, with
which he had gone from Memphis to cooperate with the
Federal movements against Forrest. And Rucker's (Kelly's)
Brigade was likewise ordered in the same direction, to

* Rucker's Brigade, under Kelly, was t Companies B and C, under the
at Corinth. command of Captain James P. Russell.

584 Campaigns of General Forrest.
cooperate with Buford. Henderson's scouts were established
between Bear creek and Pittsburg Landing, others were
spread along the river to the northward, to keep watch upon
gunboats and transports, and every practicable measure was
taken to secure early intelligence of hostile movements.
IV.
In the dispositions made to meet any attempt to throw a
force against Forrest by the river, Colonel Kelly was dis
patched to Eastport, where he arrived with less than 300 men,
and Walton, with a section of his battery,* just as a fleet of
three Federal transports, heavily laden with infantry and ar
tillery, and convoyed by two gunboats, came in sight!
Fortunately, his presence was unobserved, and dismounting
his troopers, he threw all, except the necessary horse-holders,
to within six hundred yards of the river, behind the crest of a
ridge near the landing, while Walton's guns were established,
without being seen, in some old fortifications on a hill about
800 yards from, and commanding the point of debarkation, at
which the transports were already making fast. Before these
dispositions were completed, however, the enemy, throwing
out their staging-planks, began to disembark rapidly, while
the gunboats came to anchor opposite, in the stream, about
150 yards from the shore. Fully 1200 officers and men, three
six-pounder rifle-guns, and about sixty horses were ashore,
and the infantry formed in line toward the northward, along
the river bank, before Kelly suffered his riflemen and artillery
to open upon them, at a moment when the staging was still
filled with troops.

* This command consisted of de- t The approach of this fleet and ex-
tachments of the Twelfth Tennessee, pedition had been ascertained and duly
Captain Bell, and of Forrest's old rcgi- reported by Keizer's scouts.
ment, Captain Barbour commanding.

Colonel Kelly's Success at Eastport. 58"?
The Confederate artillery was admirably handled by Wal
ton, who opened the action by one shell thrown and raking
the troops, while another, aimed at a transport, tearing through
it, was seen to explode in one of the gunboats. At the same
moment, the riflemen poured a warm, well-sustained fire into
the infantry ashore, creating the wildest disorder. Breaking
ranks beyond the control of their officers, they rushed en
masse toward the transport. Shell after shell was sent plow
ing through the flying throng, others crashed and splintered
through the sides of the transports, and at least one was
again exploded in a gunboat. At this juncture, the cables of
the transports being cut loose, drifting off from the bank,
their stagings were dropped into the water when crowded
with men, who were plunged headlong into the stream, as
well as another gun and caisson.
The Confederate artillery continued to play rapidly on the
transports and gunboats, while Kelly's riflemen kept up a
scathing fire upon the infantry left upon the bank. Many of
these, in their panic, springing into the river, attempted
to swim to and clamber upon the steamers. Meanwhile,
the commotion in the water caused by the wheels of the
steamers, washing over, submerged and strangled many of
the swimmers, who, in their' death-throes, grappled with
each other, and it is probable that at least 200 were drowned.
The cooler-headed of those ashore, recognizing the situation,
ran down the river-bank, except some fifty, who, throwing
down their arms, surrendered. The transports, making no
effort to save those of their people who were in the water,
were soon under headway down-stream, intent upon getting
from under fire of the Confederate artillery, whose shells
ricochetting along the water, repeatedly struck them, until
they escaped out- of range. Meanwhile, the Federals ashore,
abandoning their guns, knapsacks, blankets, and haversacks,
had reached a part of the river-bank so rough and precipitous

5c586 Campaigns of General Forrest.
that it was difficult to pursue them with the cavalry, and
some four or five hundred of the fugitives effected their
embarkation about half a mile below, upon one of the steam
ers which ventured to touch the bank for that purpose,
but some stragglers were picked up in the woods. The
results of this brilliant little affair were the capture of seventy-
five officers and men, three pieces of rifled field artillery, and
sixty horses, one gun and two caissons sunk in the river,
and the drowning and killing of at least 250 Federal officers
and men, including those hurt on the transports and gun
boats. Meeting with such a summary hostile reception, the
Federal fleet left that portion of the river as rapidly as
possible, reporting, it is said, that they had been attacked
and beaten off by all of Forrest's Cavalry.
About this time, the cavalry belonging to General Wheeler's
command, which had been brought out under Colonel Wheeler,
of the First Tennessee Cavalry, were detached, with orders to
repair to Gadsden, Alabama, and rejoin their division. And on
the 14th, Buford was instructed, after leaving several regi
ments in observation upon the banks of the Tennessee river,
to return to Corinth with the rest of his command, including
Rucker's (Kelly's) Brigade,. for the purpose of reshoeingand
refitting for the field.
Ever on the outlook for new theatres of operation, as soon
as he had safely effected the re-passage of his forces from Mid
dle Tennessee, Forrest reporting to Lieutenant-General Tay
lor, his superior, from Cherokee Station, the results of his ex
pedition, asked that General Chalmers, who had been detached
from his command during his absence, should be restored to
it, to enable him to make another expedition into the northern
part of West-Tennessee, with a special view toward the de
struction of the Federal depot at Johnsonvjlle. This depot,
as he explained, had been established in consequence of the
dangers incurred from guerrillas, and other difficulties in the

Chalmers's Operations. 587
navigation of the Cumberland, and the greater part of the sup
plies for Sherman's forces and those serving in Middle and
East-Tennessee were accumulated here in large quantities for
transportation thence, by rail, by way of Nashville. General
Taylor promptly approving the projected operation, Chalmers
was directed to report at Jackson, Tennessee, with such forces
as he might be able to assemble there ; and orders were give/i
to the rest of Forrest's Cavalry to secure their efficiency and
early readiness for the expedition.
While Forrest, as we have related, was operating so suc
cessfully in Middle Tennessee, the troops, which had been
left meanwhile in Mississippi, under Chalmers, had not been
inactive. But nothing fruitful was the result, however, of all
their continuous exposure, hard riding, and several daring
scouts, except that, having been ordered by General Taylor
to make a demonstration in the immediate neighborhood of
Memphis, to create a diversion in favor of Forrest, at the time
he was repassing to the south bank of the Tennessee, Chal
mers presented himself, with about 1000 of his veterans and
a few State troops, in the vicinity of that place on the morning
of the 8th of October. At the moment, a force of nearly 7000
infantry and cavalry were concentrated in the place, apparently
on the eve of an expedition ; and the approach of Chalmers
producing the liveliest apprehension, stimulated the Federal
commander to the most active preparations for the defense
of his position. Taking the defensive, the enemy placed strong
Tuards upon all the approaches to Memphis ; these threw up
breastworks across all the roads, while barricades of cotton
were erected at various points in the city itself, especially
at the several crossings of Gayoso bayou, the bridge-floor
ings over which were torn up. The militia were called out ;
outlying regiments and depots were withdrawn; the forts
were strongly manned, and the streets were heavily patroled.
Manifestly, so grave and serious did the Federal General re-

588 Campaigns of General Forrest.
gard the situation, that he must have felt unwarranted in de
taching any force of sufficient strength, at that juncture, to
attempt to obstruct or harass Forrest's movements, if he had
previously entertained such a design. It was on returning
from this expedition that Chalmers received the order which
we have mentioned, to meet Forrest at Jackson, Tennessee.
The horses, however, of Mabry's Brigade, to a large extent,
had become unserviceable, so that Chalmers was unable to
march with more than 750 men.
COMMENTARIES.
In the course of the expedition into Middle Tennessee,
General Forrest placed hors de combat fully 3500 Federal offi
cers and men, including those taken prisoners. He also cap
tured 8 pieces of artillery, with their caissons and ammuni
tion, 900 head of horses and mules, more than 100 head of beef
cattle, about 100 wagons, the most of which were destroyed,
3000 stand of arms and accoutrements, with large stores of
commissary, ordnance, and medical supplies. He destroyed 6
large truss railroad bridges, nearly 100 miles of railroad, 2
locomotives, and some 50 freight cars, several thousand feet
of heavy railroad trestling, a Government saw-mill, with a
large amount of lumber, at least 5000 cords of wood, and,
finally, captured and destroyed 10 of their best block-houses,
which, with one exception, be it noted, were actually impreg
nable to ordinary light field-artillery. He also brought out of
Middle Tennessee a thousand men added to his own immedi
ate command, as well as 600 or 800 who had straggled from
Major-General Wheeler in the course of his recent expedition
in that region. All this was achieved at the expenditure of
about 300 officers and men killed and wounded, but, unfortu
nately, among the killed and disabled were several of his best
officers. It was accomplished, moreover, in twenty-three days,
in the course of which, from Corinth back to Cherokee Station,
the Confederate troops marched over five hundred miles.

$*^— ^
^s**

brig adier-general h. d. LYOH.

CHAPTER XXII.

Campaign to Kentucky Border — Buford's Successful Operations against
Federal Gunboats and Transports — Capture of United States Steam
Gunboat Undine and Transports Venus, Mazeppa, and Cheeseman —
Operations of Forrest's Cavalry Afloat — Successful Operations
against Federal Depot at Johnsonville — Destruction of Warehouses,
Gunboats, and Transports — Description of Scene — Summary of Re
sults — Forrest ordered to join General Hood in Middle Tennessee —
Abortive Effort to pass the Tennessee at Perryville — Wretched Con
dition of the Roads — Forrest's Cavalry assembled at Florence, Ala
bama — Hood's Army concentrated there.
October 17th to November 17th, 1864.
EARLY on the 17th, Buford's Division was set in motion
with two batteries, (Morton and Walton,) for the vicinity of
Jack's creek, and on the next day General Forrest followed
with his escort and Rucker's Brigade, still under Kelly, en
route for Jackson, by way of Purdy and Henderson Station,
effecting a junction at the latter place with Chalmers on the
morning of the 20th. Meanwhile, scouts and detachments of
cavalry, under intelligent and trusty officers, were thrown out
to watch all the crossings of the Tennessee river from Ham
burg to Clifton, where the enemy appeared to be concentrat
ing, as if designing to cross. On the morning of the 20th,
Buford was directed to take position at Lexington, about twen
ty-five miles eastward of Jackson, and a central position for

59° Campaigns of General Forrest.
observation. The next day Forrest established his headquar
ters at Jackson, where Colonel Rucker, having reported for
duty, was reassigned to the command of his brigade, which
thereupon was reported again to General Chalmers, as Divi
sional Commander.*
Remaining at Jackson until the 28th, seeing, meanwhile,
that the enemy was indisposed to venture into West-Tennes
see, on the 24th Forrest ordered Buford to move northward,
and establish his division at Huntingdon. Chalmers was di
rected to occupy the vicinity of McLemoresville, and active
staff-officers were sent forward to ascertain the forage and sub
sistence resources of that region, while reliable scouts were
dispatched to Union City and Paducah to glean information
from that quarter. At the same time the commanders of all
outlying detachments were specifically instructed to interpose
no obstacle whatsoever, if the enemy attempted to pass to the
west bank of the Tennessee ; and all were further directed to
give special attention to the collection of absentees in their
respective neighborhoods. Bell's Brigade, being in the vicinity
in which it was raised, the men, in succession, were permitted
to visit their homes to refit, both their clothing and mounts,
until the 26th. General Roddy was also requested to move
to the neighborhood of Corinth as many of his division as
could be prudently spared from North-Alabama, and thus be
in position to oppose any effort of the enemy to strike in that
direction, and Lieutenant-General Taylor was also urged to
send a force temporarily to the same important position.!

•As reconstituted, this division in- eral Forrest at the time: " I shall do
eluded Rucker's and Mabry's Brigades, the best that can be done, and in every
and a battery and section of artillery. way do all in my power to create a di-
t Letter to Lieutenant-General Tay- version in favor of General Hood. I
lor, October 24th, 1864. Wc cite from left a regiment at Corinth, and feel some
that letter the following passages, as solicitude for its protection, as the pre-
shedding light upon the views of Gen- servation of the Mobile and Ohio road

Buford's Operations.

591

Buford's Division having been reassembled, he was then or
dered to repair with it, by way of Paris, to the mouth of the
" Big Sandy" river, or in that vicinity, and " blockade the riv
er" at the most effective point for that purpose, throwing out
scouts as far northward as old Fort Henry, and a section of
twenty-pounder " Parrott" guns, brought up from Mobile, were
sent to him for that purpose. Chalmers, a day later, was also
directed to take position with his division at Paris, in support
ing distance of Buford, in the event that officer should require
aid. Buford, moving on the afternoon of the 26th, with Bell's
and the Kentucky Brigade, two twenty-pounder " Parrotts," and
Morton's Battery of three-inch rifles, arrived at Paris the next
day, though his horses were in wretched condition, especially
those of the artillery. Reaching the river at the " mouth of
Sandy" on the 28th, Buford, after a careful reconnoissance, se
lected the old Confederate " Fort Heiman" and " Paris Land-

may prove to be of great importance,
especially so should it, in any event, be
necessary in transporting supplies to
the ' Army of Tennessee.' I respect
fully suggest therefore, that if pos
sible, you send a force up to Corinth,
as the enemy at Clifton may cross above
and move on the line of the Memphis
and Charleston road, looking to a junc
tion with the forces now at Memphis.
Should they do so, there is nothing to
prevent them from occupying Corinth
and destroying the road southward.
There are about seven hundred of Ma
bry's Brigade, with disabled and unser
viceable horses, at or near Grenada,
and a section of artillery also at that
piace ; and I submit for your consider
ation and action the propriety of send

ing these men across to West-Point or
Tibbee Station, on the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad, where they can be placed
upon cars, and sent. up to Corinth, as
also the section of artillery ; while their
horses could be left meanwhile in the
prairies, to be recruited 
These suggestions are simply for your
consideration, believing, as I do, that
all the forces not necessary for the pro
tection of points exposed or threatened
should be placed at once in position to
protect the Mobile and Ohio Railroad,
as its occupation and preservation may
be of vital importance to General Hood,
as well as protection to myself, it being
the base of supplies for my own and
General Roddy's commands."

592 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ing," some five miles apart, as most favorable for the location
of his batteries. From those points he could command the
river, both up and down from two to three miles, and accord
ingly established Bell's Brigade, with a section of Morton's
Battery, at the latter.* Lyon was put in position with his bri
gade at Fort Heiman, the twenty-pounder Parrotts at the old
works, and Brown's section of artillery four or five hundred
yards below in position, with orders not to disturb any trans
ports or gunboats until the batteries were thoroughly prepared
for action, nor then to fire until such steamer or steamers
should have passed into the reach of the river between the
batteries. In the mean time, Colonel Wilson, (Sixteenth
Tennessee,) and Lieutenant -Colonels Wisdom (Newsom's)
and White, (Fourteenth Tennessee,) were actively engaged in
watching the movements of the enemy at various points on
the Tennessee river, southward of Clifton, while Keizer's scouts
were in close observation upon Memphis ; and on the 28th, For
rest, with his staff and escort, setting out for Paris, reached
that place on the evening of the 29th.
By daylight on the 29th, Buford's Batteries, well masked,
were in effective condition, as well as judiciously disposed,
and at nine a.m., the transport steamer Mazeppa, heavily
laden — with a barge in tow — unaware of the lurking danger,
passed the lower battery at Fort Heiman. A section of
Morton's . guns, 600 yards north of the old works, was im
mediately opened upon her, followed promptly by the heavy
Parrotts, and with such effect that, her machinery being
speedily disabled, she became unmanageable, and drifting to
the opposite shore, was deserted by her crew.! An officer

• Commanded by Sergeant Lemuel section of twenty-pounder Parrotts by
Zarring. Lieutenant W. O. Hunter. — Notes of
t Morton's section was commanded Captains Morton and Walton.
by Lieutenant J. W. Brown, and the

Escape of a Transport. 593
of the Third Kentuck)-, Captain Gracy, voluntarily swam to
her with the aid of a log, and brought back a yawl, in which
General Buford, with a party of men, at once repaired to the
Mazeppa, and taking possession, she was quickly warped by a
hawser across to the west bank of the river. She proved to
be heavily freighted with hard bread, blankets, shoes, cloth
ing, axes, and other military stores, and by five p.m., the
greater part of these were safely discharged upon the bank of
the river.
At this juncture, however, three Federal gunboats came
upon the scene, and taking position out of range of the
Confederate guns, shelled the landing and the Mazeppa
with such vigor and precision that Buford found it expedient
to burn the steamer, and address himself at once to the
security and removal of the stores already landed. Setting
the Mazeppa on fire, she was soon consumed, and shortly
after-sundown the gunboats withdrew down the Tennessee.
Thus left in possession of the field, the Confederates worked
all that night, and during the 30th, in hauling the captured
supplies to a place of security, with wagons and teams
mainly impressed for the service from the neighborhood. On
the morning of the 30th, another transport, the Anna, from
above-stream, passing Colonel Bell unaware of the snare
in her path, drew the fire of the section of three-inch rifles
there ; the heavy Parrotts next opened ; but Buford, anxious to
capture the boat uninjured, if possible, galloping to the bank,
ordered her to come to. Promptly replying that he would do
so, the pilot ringing his signal-bell to that effect, Buford
directed the firing to cease. The pilot then cried out that he
would round to at the lower landing, but really kept on
his course. Speedily apprehending perfidy, the Confederate
General ordered the batteries to reopen ; nevertheless, the
Anna made good her escape from under fire, though welli
riddled and badly damaged.

594 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Several hours later, the gunboat Undine came in sight,
also from above, convoying the transport Venus, with two
barges attached. Permitted to pass by a short distance, the
upper battery was turned upon the gunboat, which then en
gaged the Confederates with spirit for nearly an hour, during
which Bell's sharp-shooters were so actively employed that,
under the effect of the three-inch artillery and the Confede
rate riflemen, it presently dropped down the river in contact
with the battery at Fort Heiman, which was speedily found too
formidable to attempt to pass, however. The Undine withdrew
with the Venus, above and behind the bend of the river, from
which position it began a noisy shelling of the battery, at the
same time repairing damages in the hull and steampipe.
During this time, or about midday, another transport, the
J. W. Cheeseman, coming down-stream, was speedily brought
to, disabled in her machinery by the artillery at the Paris
Landing. Meanwhile, on the afternoon of the 29th, General Chalmers
had reached Paris with his division ; and soon after, General
Forrest arrived with his staff and escort at the same place,
where he received, that night, Buford's dispatch announcing
the capture of the Mazeppa, with her cargo, as well as her
subsequent destruction. Chalmers was then ordered to repair
to Paris Landing, with Rucker's Brigade and four pieces of
artillery, early on the morrow* Leaving Mabry's Brigade
and Thrall's Battery at Paris, and moving at daylight, he
reached Paris Landing, after a march of twenty miles, about
midday. Just before the arrival of General Chalmers, Captain Morton
had come up with orders from General Buford to transfer the

* This artillery consisted of a section commanding, and a section of Walton's
of Rice's Battery, Lieutenant Briggs Battery, Sergeant Crozier commanding.

Capture of the Undine and Venus. 595
section of his battery there to the immediate vicinity of the
gunboat, and recommence the attack. Informed of this fact,
and the situation of affairs, Chalmers, after consultation with
Colonel Bell, directed that officer to move his artillery as near
as possible to the Undine and Venus, and drive them from
their shelter. Some serious difficulties, however, being re
ported to be in the way of transporting the artillery to the
proper point, Colonel Rucker made a personal reconnoissance,
and finding the movement to be practicable, was then ordered
to take the section of Walton's Battery, (two ten-pounder
Parrott guns,) supported by the old Forrest Regiment (Kelly)
and the Fifteenth Tennessee Cavalry, (Logwood) and at
tack as quickly as possible. Dismounting, and taking a
position under cover of the bushes, below the gunboat, Colo
nel Kell)', opening a rapid fire both upon the Venus and at
the port-holes of the Undine with his rifles, attracted the
attention of the enemy, while the artillery, under Sergeant
Crozier, was moved up by hand into a favorable position,
from which a vigorous fire was promptly opened, and main
tained with such precision that the enemy, unable to make
head with their armament — eight twenty-four pounder howit
zers — after a vain but spirited endeavor to do so, was driven
to the opposite shore. One shot striking the bow, passed
through from stem to stern, and she had been forced to close
her port-holes from the effects of sharp-shooters. Her officers
and men not killed or wounded then.escaped ashore. Mean
while, the Venus had been surrendered to Colonel Kelly, who,
going on board with two* companies, took possession of the
Undine, raised steam, and carried both gunboat and transport
to Paris Landing.
During this time another gunboat, descending the stream
at the sound of the conflict, came to anchor about a mile and
a half above the section of Rice's Battery, (Lieutenant
Briggs,) which Chalmers had established several hundred

596 Campaigns of General Forrest.
yards southward of the position that Morton's guns had held,
and began a vigorous shelling of the Confederate position.
Briggs's pieces being too far from the gunboat for execution,
Chalmers directed them to be moved up to shorter range,
supported by his escort and a company of Alabama Cadets*
as sharp-shooters. Securing a good position, the Confederate
artillery, after a brief, spirited engagement, forced their adver
sary to weigh anchor, and withdraw up the river.
Both the Undine and Venus proved a good deal shattered,
but not injured materially, either in hull or machinery ; where
upon mechanics, gleaned from the command, as well as those
on the Venus, were set to work to place them in serviceable
condition, which was effected by the afternoon of the 31st
A detachment of infantry had been on the Venus, ten of
whom were killed or wounded, and an officer and ten men
were captured. The barges, being empty, were destroyed. The
Cheeseman, on inspection, was founcfto be irreparably injured,
with the resources and time at the disposition of the Confede
rates ; she had, however, a small freight of commissary stores,
including coffee, candies, and nuts, and a quantity of furni
ture. The former articles, appropriated by the troops, were
greatly enjoyed, long unaccustomed as they were to any but
the roughest army rations. The boat was burned by order of
the Confederate General.!
The Undine, one of the largest of the class of gunboats
designated as " tin-clads," from the lightness of their sheet-
iron plating, carried, as we have said, an armament of eight
twenty-four pounder brass howitzers, which, with her equip-

* Belonging to the Seventh Alabama supplies as could not be carried away
Cavalry, detached as escort to Colonel was distributed among the citizens of
Rucker. the vicinage.
t The furniture, together with such

Forrest's Cavalry Afloat. 597
ments, were speedily made serviceable, though an attempt had
been made to spike two of the guns, and disable another by
a shell jammed in its muzzle.
General Forrest, coming upon the ground on the morning
of the 31st, with his habitual energy urged forward the pre
parations for moving upon Johnsonville. Crews and officers
were detailed from the command for the Undine and Venus,
upon both of which the Confederate flag was now floating, to
the great delight of the men, none of whom had seen that
flag upon an armed vessel since the Confederate gunboats
went down at Memphis in 1 862. Captain Gracy, of the Third
Kentucky, commanded the Undine ; and Lieutenant-Colonel
W. A. Dawson the Venus, while upon the latter the two
twenty-pounder Parrotts were placed as armament ; and that
afternoon the Confederate General made a " trial-trip " with
his fleet as far as Fort Heiman, to see that all was in efficient
service. As they rounded out into the stream, the troops,
drawn up in line, made the air ring with cheer upon cheer for
Forrest and his cavalry upon their novel element. At Fort
Heiman, stopping long enough to take on board the Venus a
quantity of shoes, blankets, and hard bread, which had been
secured from the Mazeppa, he moved back to the Paris Land
ing, satisfied that both boats were in serviceable condition,
and orders were given for a general movement on the follow
ing morning. Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson, placed in com
mand of the fleet, was instructed to move slowly up the river,
as soon as the cavalry and artillery had taken up their line of
march along the bank, so that he might keep his steamers
under cover of the batteries. Chalmers's Division, being in
advance, was to be kept as close to the river as possible, to
shield the steamers from any attack from the southward, while
Buford, following Chalmers, was to cover them from any gun
boats which might come from the direction of Paducah. ^
At noon on the 1st November, all were in motion, as direct-

598 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ed, but a steady rain began to fall, and the roads, naturally
rough and through a rugged country, became slippery and
difficult. That night the Confederate column encamped just
south of the ruins of the railroad bridge over the Tennessee
river, and the steamers were anchored under the shelter of
the field-batteries ashore. A hard rain through the night,
making the roads worse even than before, the troops moved
slowly ; and the fleet, unfortunately, steamed ahead of the
supporting land-batteries, until at a sudden bend in the river,
above Davidson's Ferry, they were brought into the immediate
presence of three Federal gunboats, when an immediate ani
mated collision ensued. The Venus, soon receiving a shot
among her machinery and her tiller-rope being cut, became
unmanageable, so that Colonel Dawson was obliged to run
her "ashore ; and as the Undine, overmatched, fell back, he,
with his crew, abandoned the Venus under a hot fire. She was
then recaptured by the enemy with her armament and the
stores that had been taken from the Mazeppa.* In the mean
time Chalmers put his artillery in battery at Davidson's Ferry
in time to make an effective diversion in favor of the Undine,
and the enemy, forced to forego their prey, bore off, taking
the Venus in tow. After this untoward affair, resuming the
march,, the head of the Confederate column encamped that
evening a mile below Reynoldsburg, General Forrest sleeping
some four miles to the southward.
Meanwhile, Mabry had been directed, several days previous
ly, to establish himself, with Thrall's Battery and his brigade,
on the river above Johnsonville, and accordingly he had taken
a position — as he reported at Chalmers's headquarters, three

* The tiller-rope of the Venus, who had been retained on duty with
doubtless, was cut by her old engineer, her engines.

Loss cf the Undine. tjgg
miles south of the destined point of attack, where he had been
joined by the Seventh Tennessee, (Lieutenant-Colonel Tay
lor,) from the southward.
Mabry was now directed to establish his command as nearly
opposite to Johnsonville as possible the next morning, keeping
carefully out of sight of the enemy ; and during the day the
rest of the Confederate forces were concentrated in the same
direction from below. But meanwhile, some light skirmishing
occurred with several gunboats that were now hemmed in be
tween Mabry, on the south, and Buford, on the north, though
without substantial results, and thus stood affairs on the morn
ing of the third, when five heavily-armed gunboats appear
ing from below, engaged in a sharp skirmish with the Con
federate batteries, in the course of which shells were thrown
quite three miles, from thirty-two-pounders, among the Con
federates and their horses, with great din and uproar, as they
crashed through the dense, lofty, forest trees of the country,
but happily without harm. For a time the Undine took part
in the conflict, and also two of the gunboats from Johnsonville ;
but the former having been struck as many as three times, and
being within close range of the gunboats, both from above and
below, her crew, far better accustomed to the headlong charge
and unhampered warfare of the trooper or dismounted rifle
man, than to be cooped up in the narrow gun-room of a ship-
of-war, became demoralized, and turning the bow of their ves
sel hurriedly to the bank, set her on fire, and made off for
their horses as fast as they could scamper, fonder of the troop
er's saddle than ever before. And thus terminated the short
lived operations of Forrest's Cavalry afloat.
During this time, though a cold rain had been falling inces
santly, never postponing any thing for to-morrow which he
might possibly do at the moment, the Confederate General had
made a close reconnoissance of Johnsonville.
The river here was about eight hundred yards broad. John-

600 Campaigns of General Forrest.
sonville itself, independent of the depot buildings, was a small
hamlet at the mouth of, and just southward of, a creek, and
was built upon the slope of the river-bank, which, rising gen
tly from the water's edge, in the distance of three hundred
yards attained an elevation of only about forty feet, and ter
minated in a bench or plateau, the upper or northward verge
of which, nearest the creek, was surmounted by a hill about
one hundred feet above the level of the water. Upon this emi
nence an extensive redoubt had been built, that overlooking
commanded the western bank with the heavy ordnance
with which it was armed ; and a long line of rifle-pits envel
oped the depot near the water's edge and to the south. The
western bank, from which the Confederate leader expected to
operate, is abrupt near the river, about twenty feet above the
level of the water, and descends, as it recedes, toward the west.
It was thickly covered with heavy timber, except immediately
in front of the depot, where the trees had been felled for some
distance rearward to give range for their 'guns, and prevent
any hostile approach under their cover. But, notwithstanding
the defensive advantages of the position, and the preparations
made for the event of an attack, Forrest saw, or was satisfied,
after his reconnoissance, that if he could get his guns in cer
tain positions which he selected, he might readily destroy, not
only the depot and vast accumulation of supplies there collect
ed, but the gunboats and transports then at the landing.
In the mean time, Brigadier-General Lyon, who had been
detached from Middle Tennessee, on an expedition into Ken
tucky, had reported, with some 400 men. Lyon had been an
artillery officer of the regular service before the war, and stood
high with Forrest, for his professional skill as well as energy ;
he was, therefore, ordered to take Thrall's Battery, (twelve-
pounder howitzers,) then near at hand, and establish it as
close to the river-bank as practicable, immediately opposite
the upper or southern part of the landing. Losing no time,

Sunken Batteries. 60 1
moving Thrall's guns as near to the desired point, with horses,
as he might, without risk of discovery, Lyon then pushed his
pieces some three hundred yards nearer the river, by hand,
and to within easy range of the steamers and gunboats. At
the point thus secured, the river-bank fell off rapidly west
ward, and formed a natural rampart, behind which Lyon sunk
chambers for his guns, and cut embrasures through the solid,
natural parapet in his front The men worked all night, and
with such alacrity, that the battery was ready by eight a.m.
on the 4th, completely shielded from the gunboats, but to
some extent open to a plunging fire from the redoubt.
Colonel Rucker, who also had much experience as an artil
lery officer, at Madrid Bend, in the early days of the war, was
hkewise directed to establish another battery (Morton's) just
opposite to Johnsonville, and to place four more pieces, a
section (Briggs's) in position four hundred yards to the north
ward, and the other one mile and a half below, to protect the
crossing of a shallow bar. Morton's guns were sunk, like
Thrall's ; but the other sections were not, so that they might
be able to give chase to any steamer which should attempt to
pass below or get by. Rucker, who had met with great diffi
culty in getting his pieces into position, after hauling Morton's
guns through a cypress swamp for half a mile, had been
obliged to lift and carry them over the fallen timber for some
distance, before placing them in their assigned positions.
Seeing that daylight would be upon them before their work
could be completed, Lyon and Rucker had contrived artificial
screens of beech bushes, which, skillfully intermingled with
those already growing along the river-bank, effectually masked
their working parties. Meanwhile, Buford on the left, or
northward, and Chalmers on the right, held their men care
fully concealed in the timber or behind logs, and in the ravines,
in supporting distance of the batteries.
By twelve m., all was ready on the Confederate side. For-

602 Campaigns of General Forrest.
rest then, having the watches of his several subordinate com
manders compared and set uniformly, ordered that his batte
ries should open fire simultaneously and precisely at two p.m.
In the interval, the gunboats from below had withdrawn out
of sight ; the three at Johnsonville were quietly moored at the
landing, but with steam up, and their upper decks covered
with their officers and crew, the latter either busy scrubbing,
or washing their clothes. Straggling troops were sauntering
about over the hill-side or pacing the parapet of the redoubt ;
laborers were at work landing stores from transports and
barges ; passengers lounged upon the decks of the transports
and steamers, smoking or chatting ; and some ladies were to
be seen coming down the bank, evidently in anticipation of
an early departure on some one of the steamers, several of
which were getting up steam. It was apparent there was not
the least suspicion of the impending tempest, and that the
Federals must imagine the Confederates had withdrawn from
their neighborhood without the ability of doing them any harm.
Meantime, General Forrest anxiously surveyed the scene with
his glasses until the moment for action had come. Then aim
ing with his own eye and hand a piece in Morton's Battery, at
the appointed instant, ten pieces, carefully trained upon the
gunboats at the landing, were discharged with such harmony.
that it could not be discerned there was more than one report
— one heavy gun. At the moment, several gunboats were
just beginning to swing out into the stream, as if for a cruise.
Immediately, steam and smoke poured forth from the boats
and at every aperture from one of them, while her crew were
seen jumping into the river nearest the shore and swimming
for the landing, showing that her steam apparatus was mor
tally hurt. Another of the gunboats turned toward the land
ing ; and the ladies just approaching the transports rushed
wildly up the hillside toward the fort. Only one of the gun
boats returned the fire, but the redoubt burst forth with a

Destruction of Gunboats. 603
storm of shells, thrown with much precision. At the third
discharge, however, of the Confederates' battery, the boiler of
one of the gunboats — not in action — was evidently perforated,
for the agonizing screams of the wounded and scalded were
plainly heard across the broad river ; but the Confederates
plied their artillery with unabated energy, and the sharp
shooters joining in, their unerring rifles kept up a fierce
deadly fire at the ports of the gunboats, especially the one
that gave battle. The conflict had now been maintained
for an hour, and the guns of the redoubt, soon getting the
range, threw their shells so accurately, that several were
dropped into the sunken gun-chambers, but without further
harm than breaking the rammers in the hands of the gun
ners in two instances, for they sunk so deep before they ex
ploded that they did no injury. The two disabled gunboats
were now wrapped in flames, and the commander of the third,
after a stout contest, unable to endure it any longer, ran her
ashore, when she was immediately deserted by her crew, as
the other two had been.
Orders were now given to turn Morton's guns upon the
redoubt, and right speedily they were exploding their shells
within its precincts, though a mile distant, and elevated at least
eighty feet above their level. By this time, the burning gun
boats having drifted against some loaded barges, these were
quickly in flames. And Thrall's guns, being turned upon two
transports and some barges lying somewhat above the land
ing, soon succeeded in setting them ablaze ; then their cables
burning, they went adrift and were carried by the current
down-stream, in contact with another transport to which the
fire was communicated, and thence spread in a little while
under the influence of a brisk down-stream breeze to the
other transports and barges at the landing. It was now four
p.m., and every gunboat, transport, and barge was on fire.
Thus far, as successful as could be hoped, Forrest directed

604 Campaigns of General Forrest.
his batteries to the main work in hand, the destruction of the
warehouses and supplies ashore. Discovering a large pile of
hay, a few deftly-exploded shells kindled it into a consuming
fire that soon spread to vast heaps of corn and bacon adjoin
ing. And descrying higher up the slope a large pile of bar
rels under tarpaulins, suspecting that they contained spirits,
Briggs's section, armed with James's rifles, was directed to be
brought to bear upon them, using percussion primers.* A
few well-aimed shell were thrown with the happiest effect,
for a blue blaze, unmistakably alcoholic, was quickly seen to
dart from under the tarpaulins. At this, a loud shout burst
from the Confederates, though many, doubtless, were athirst
for that which they saw swallowed up by the ravening fire.
Soon the barrels began to burst with loud explosion, and the
burning liquor ran in torrents of livid flame down the hillside ;
spreading a flame in its course toward the river, and filling
the air with the blended yet distinct fumes of burning spirits,
sugar, coffee, and meat! Meanwhile, all the warehouses and
buildings were ignited, and the work of destruction effectually
accomplished ; therefore, stopping the fire of his artillery, For
rest directed the main part of the cavalry to move rearward
several miles, to where his train was established, and feed
their horses. And after dark, all the artillery except Briggs's
section were likewise withdrawn to the same point — Rucker's
Brigade being left as a support to the artillery section and to
picket the river. As the Confederates retired, the air was still
redolent with the savory odors of that enormous roast of sub
sistence in which they had been engaged, and the night was
made almost as luminous by the conflagration as the day.

* Captured from the Federals at clared at night that the effect of the
Tishomingo creek. fumes we have mentioned was to make
t The Confederates had been on short them feel as if they had been eating
rations all day, yet some of them de- heartily.

Results. 605
Riding back to the river early on the morning of the 5 th,
the Confederate General had the satisfaction to see that
naught remained opposite of the opulent depot of yester
day but the isolated redoubt, gloomily surmounting and
guarding with its wide-mouthed guns broad heaps of ashes
and charred, smoking debris. Nothing was left unconsumed ;
neither gunboats, transport, or barge had escaped ; the rail
road depot, filled with supplies, and the warehouses and other
buildings of the depot had ceased to be, as well as the large
piles of stores that, on noon of the day before, had covered
several acres of the surrounding slope.
Briggs's guns were now ordered to be withdrawn ; but as
this was being done, a regiment of negroes, emerging from
their covert, displayed themselves upon the opposite bank in
amusing, irate antics. Throwing off their coats, and shaking
their clenched fists at the hated Confederates who had
wrought the desolation around them, they hurled across the
stream upon the morning air their whole arsenal of explosive,
offensive epithets, oaths, and maledictions. Thereupon the
section was halted and turned upon the absurdly frantic
negroes, while Rucker's veterans, bringing their far-reaching
rifles down upon them, one volley and a salvo speedily dis
persed the howling, capering crowd, who scampered away in
the wildest confusion ; but a number" were left dead or
wounded upon the river-bank. This drew a few shell from
the redoubt, but the Confederates moving off unharmed, re
joined their comrades.
As results of this happily-conceived and well-executed
operation, it remains to recount the destruction at Johnson
ville of three gunboats, eleven transports, and some eighteen
barges ; and of buildings, quartermasters' and commissary's
supplies, according to the Federal estimate, to the value of
over eight millions of dollars. Previously, the gunboat Undine
had been captured, and also destroyed, as well as the transr-

606 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ports Cheeseman and Mazeppa, and three barges, from which
last a large amount of subsistence, blankets, and shoes, as al
ready stated, had been secured. This had been accomplished
with the loss of the two twenty-pounder Parrotts, which fell
into the hands of the enemy with the transport Venus, upon
her recapture, and two men were killed and four wounded.
The Confederates, as may be supposed, were highly elated
and gratified by the results we have just enumerated, a bril
liant close indeed to their operations in West-Tennessee ; so
that though put in motion, under a hard, chilly rain, toward the
south, yet all marched off cheerfully. Their commander had
just received orders from General Beauregard, directing him
to repair, with his entire command,, to Middle Tennessee, and
form a junction with General Hood, between Florence and
Columbia ; and with that object he now took the field — march
ing twenty miles that afternoon, in the direction of Perryville,
where he hoped to effect the passage of the Tennessee river.
The roads were extremely deep with mud, as in fact they
had been ever since leaving Jackson, on the way to Fort
Heiman, and up to Johnsonville. The horses, moreover, had
been much of the time on scanty rations, and began, especially
those of the artillery, to show fatigue perceptibly. Never
theless, the Confederate force reached Perryville by the after
noon of the 6th.
Forrest had preceded his command with his staff and es
cort, and went to work at once to build a raft with planks and
timber taken from an adjacent building ; and Chalmers and
his staff coming up, went to work to build another ; but upon
trial, neither would answer any useful purpose. Meanwhile,
two yawls were brought up on wagons from the Undine, and
with these the crossing began that night. By daylight, the
Fifteenth Tennessee had been thrown across, with its horses,
which had been made to swim. The rain fell without inter
mission, and the stream rising at the rate of two feet in

Difficulties of the Roads. 607
twenty-four hours, was filled with driftwood. Howbeit the
crossing continued during the 7th, until the Seventh Tennes
see and Forrest's old regiment (Kelly's) — or about 400 of
Rucker's Brigade — had been crossed with the yawls. Mean
while, some pontoons came up, and an effort was made to
construct a raft with them that would carry the wagons ; a
small, frail flat also had been built ; but this and the raft
proved to be unable to stand the driftwood with which the
rapid current of the stream was flooded. Therefore, direct
ing Rucker to move forward to Mount Pleasant, to effect a
junction with General Hood, Forrest, on the morning of the
8th, determined to abandon the effort to cross the river
at Perryville, and push forward to Florence. Chalmers was
directed to move directly upon Iuka by the river roads in
that direction, which were found as bad as possible. Buford
marched with his division by way of Corinth. Artillery
moved with both divisions, and both commanders were in
structed to send out detachments through the country to
exchange their fagged animals with the people for others fit
for service, and thus effectively rehorse their artillery at least.
But failing peradveriture in this, oxen were to be resorted to.
The rain still poured down in torrents as the Confederates
pressed on over the red clay hills of the country, and through
the deep mud and mire, all weary and constantly wet to the
skin ; and one day so nearly impassable were the roads that,
working from sunrise until after night, Morton's Battery was
only transported two miles and a half. Unable to get fresh
horses, the artillery teams were increased from twelve to six
teen horses to a gun, and oxen.being impressed, eight of them
were attached to a piece, after which, there was less difficulty.
Chalmers finally reached Iuka, with a part of Rucker's Brigade
and the Fifth Mississippi, on the 1 3th ; Mabry's Brigade having
been detached, under order from General Forrest, the day be
fore, to garrison the depot at Corinth. Meanwhile, Buford,

608 Campaigns of General Forrest.
moving by roads further westward, reached Iuka, with his di
vision, on the 1 6th, and passed on to Cherokee Station, the
terminus of railway transportation.* Chalmers, in the interim,
was engaged in having his horses shod and with other neces
sary preparations for the field. All extra baggage and artillery,
except eight pieces and the disabled horses of both divisions,
were ordered to Vernon, Mississippi ; and on the 16th, both
divisions were ordered to move up to Florence, where Chal
mers arrived on the. afternoon of the 7th, having crossed the
Tennessee on a pontoon-bridge, constructed for General
Hood's army ; and his command, moving out, encamped two
miles to the northward of the town. Buford did not cross
until the morning ofthe 18th.!
The army of the Tennessee was found encamped on both
sides of the river, and had thrown up a strong tete-de-pont,
with other fortifications, to protect the pontoon-bridge by
which Chalmers and Buford crossed. Florence was filled at
the time with general officers and their staff, soldiers, baggage-
wagons, ambulances, and ordnance-trains, and all betokened
an early march. The troops appeared to be in fine spirits, but
the ranks of every regiment were attenuated to an unpromising
degree. Besides, the wretched roads and gloom of the weather
were inauspicious. All the supplies were drawn by railway to
Cherokee Station, and thence sixteen miles by wagons, over
roads by constant use almost impassable, and now thick-
strewn with wagons broken down or ruined, and mules which
had literally " died in harness," " and in the last ditch." Alto-

* General Forrest having reached use the led horses of his officers and
Corinth on the 12th, repaired by rail to dismount their negro servants, and if
Cherokee Station, and thence to Tus- that did not supply the requisite num-
cumbia on the 13th, and had an inter- ber, to make up the deficiency by dis-
view with General Beauregard. mounting some of the men from each
t Such was the condition of Buford's regiment.
artillery horses, that he was ordered to

C*- 6>y£- S &z^

GEN. W H. JACKSON

Blelock Jc C°

At Florence.

609

gether, indeed, the movement " looked like the desperate ven
ture of a desperate man," says a staff-officer. " But among all
the troops whom we saw — officers and men — there was no
•faint-heariedness, but, on the contrary, an evident desire to
go forward and fight it out."

CHAPTER XXIII.
THE HOOD CAMPAIGN.
Sketch of General Hood's Plans and Movements — General Forrest ordered
to him — Confederate Forces — The Campaign Opened — Operations
antecedent to Franklin— Battle of Franklin — Advance upon Nash
ville — Detached Operations of Forrest around Murfreesboro — Battle
of Nashville — Retreat of Confederate Forces — Forrest in Command
of Rear-Guard— Brilliant Character of his Operations — Safe Re
passage of the Tennessee River — Commentaries.
November 15th to December 31st, 1864.
IT is sufficient for the scope of this work to say that Lieu
tenant-General Hood, with the sanction of his Government,
having left his adversary, General Sherman, in possession
of Atlanta — about the ist of October— had moved rapidly
northward with the whole Confederate force at his disposition.
First, striking Sherman's communications at Big Shanty, just
north of Marietta, the Confederate General had destroyed
the railroad at intervals thence to Dalton ; and then, after
some manoeuvres and demonstrations in that quarter, moving by
way of Gadsden, had pressed on with the purpose of throwing
himself into Middle Tennessee, near Gunter's Ferry, the south
ernmost point on the Tennessee river. His object was to fall
on Sherman's communications, and thus oblige him to with
draw and give up Atlanta and North-Georgia ; not only to re
establish those communications, but as a necessity to avoid

Confederate Forces. 6n
the starvation of his army. This was the original plan of
operations ; and finding it well on foot when assigned to the
chief command of all Confederate forces in the State of Ten
nessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, General Beaure
gard, in order to give it all possible aid within his power,
ordered General Forrest to cooperate with his cavalry, by an
early junction with General Hood in Middle Tennessee.
From some causes, as yet unexplained, instead of moving
directly to Guntersville, only forty miles distant from Gads
den, where General Hood had concentrated his army as early
as the 2 ist day of October, that General turned the head of
his command to Decatur. There, howbeit, he found so strong
a hostile force ready to dispute his passage of the Tennessee,
that he felt constrained not to attempt the operation at that
point and after a delay of three weeks, he began to throw his
army across the river at Florence, Alabama.
The forces under General Hood were divided into three
corps, consisting of
An effective total of infantry  25,000
An effective total of artillery,  2,000
And Jackson's Division of cavalry, .... 2,000*
Total,  29,000
To this force was now added Forrest's Cavalry, about 3000
effectives,! swelling the Confederate army about to take the
field in Middle Tennessee to 32,000 men, of which 5000 were
cavalry ; and over these General Forrest was placed in chief

* Armstrong's Brigade numbered procure remounts at the moment the
about 1300 men. Ross's Brigade, 686. order to join Hood was received, and
Total 1986 had not had time t0 reassembIe ' and a11
t Buford's Division was reduced to but 450 of the Kentucky Brigade were
about 1200 men, all but about 750 of absent on detached service.
Bell's Brigade being on furlough to

612 Campaigns of General Forrest.
command, on reporting to the commander of the forces, as
early as the 1 7th.
On that day, in a "circular" assuming command, he ex
pressed, in a few hearty words, his sense of the responsibi
lity of his position, his reliance upon the cordial cooperation
of all subordinates as well as upon the " patient endurance
and unflinching bravery" of the troops placed under him.
Other orders directed immediate preparations for the field,
and forward movement on the 21st. Meanwhile, Jackson's
Division was in advance on the Lawrenceburg road, ten or
fifteen miles from Florence, and both Chalmers and Buford
had been also thrown out as early as the 19th in the same
direction, as far as Prewett's Mill, to secure forage for their
horses, with special instruction, likewise, to give daily notifica
tion at Forrest's headquarters of the precise location of each
division. They were also to glean the country of cattle, and
set the mills of the neighborhood to grinding all the meal
possible ; and, further, were to keep scouts well out in ad
vance toward Pulaski, and on the right flank, to gain definite
information touching movements, positions, and numbers of
the enemy. And at the same time Captain Keizer had been
thrown forward with scouts to Waynesboro, and to spread
them over the country from Johnsonville to Columbia. A
demi-brigade under Colonel Biffle was also pushed forward to
Waynesboro about the 21st*
On reaching Butler's creek, on the 19th, Buford found that
a brigade of Federal foragers was also in that vicinity.
Throwing out the Kentucky Brigade with Huey's Battalion,!
he soon came in collision with the enemy, who made a spirited

* Some 500 strong, detached from t About 150 men, recently recruited
Dibrell's Brigade, and during the cam- in Kentucky.
paign were transferred from Jackson's
Division to serve with Chalmers's.

Skirmishes. 613
contest ; but it so happened that General Armstrong, of
Jackson's Division, being in the immediate neighborhood — in
the same field, in fact — in quest of forage likewise, heard the
firing, and making for the scene, suddenly fell upon the Fede
ral right flank. Thus brought between two fires, the enemy
fled precipitately across Shoal creek, but the gallant Colonel
Crossland was once more severely wounded.
The general advance having commenced, Buford and Jack
son, moving by the highway through Lawrenceburg, were
in that vicinity on the morning of the 22d. Driving in the
enemy's skirmishers and opening communications, both Jack
son and Buford arranged for an immediate attack upon the
place, though it was understood from the scouts (Henderson's)
that it was occupied by quite as large a force as 4000 Federal
cavalry. II.
Disposing Wilson's and Newsom's Regiments on the north
ward, and Nixon's (all of Bell's Brigade) on the south-west
of Lawrenceburg, with the Kentuckians under Faulkner to
the west of the town, while Jackson encompassed the south
ward, an animated skirmishing began with the enemy, found
in line of battle on the road to Pulaski. Jackson, bringing
his artillery into active play from a favorable position, and
pushing forward Armstrong's Brigade upon the position, the
Federals rapidly withdrew toward Pulaski, leaving their forage
in the hands of the Confederates* Meanwhile, Chalmers,
moving that morning with Rucker's Brigade on what is known
as the Middle or Henryville road, encamped near the hamlet
of West-Point on the night of the 21st, and during the 22d

•In this little affair Lieutenant Wil- was particularly distinguished while
liam Hunt, Twenty-eighth Mississippi, commanding the leading squadron.

614 Campaigns of General Forrest.
was engaged in having his horses shod. And here, during
that day, the advance of the infantry, pursuing that road, came
up. Moving on the 23d toward Henryville, up the valleys of
several meandering streams, Rucker struck a Federal cavalry
force, about three p.m., soon after his road intersected the
turnpike from Waynesboro to Mount Pleasant. It was the
Fourteenth Tennessee (Lieutenant-Colonel White) that first
became engaged, having been fired upon by an outpost, which,
being put to flight, retreated upon a Federal brigade of cav
alry, encamped to their rear about six miles beyond Perry
ville, and where they were drawn up in line of battle quite
1500 strong.
Rucker's Brigade did not now exceed 800 troopers ; as will
be recollected, Biffle was at Waynesboro, and the rest of the
Confederate cavalry en route toward Pulaski, while the infan
try were some ten miles southward ; but General Forrest,
coming upon the scene, ordered Chalmers to advance and
engage the enemy, sending Kelly with the old Forrest Regi
ment around by the left, to gain the Federal rear, if possible.
At the same time, the Confederate General, leading his escort,
some eighty strong, rapidly around the Federal right flank,
attempted to form a junction with Kelly. Having, however,
an unobstructed road, he struck the enemy's rear three miles
from where Chalmers was fighting, and a running fight en
sued for two miles in the direction of Mount Pleasant. The
escort being well mounted, some of the enemy were overtaken
and captured, including an officer, from whom General For
rest learned that only one regiment was engaged skirmishing
with Chalmers, and that the rest of the brigade had gone into
camp, a mile still nearer Mount Pleasant. Continuing the
pursuit, however, the General and his escort were soon in the
very midst of that encampment, whose occupants at the in
stant were dismounted feeding their horses. The escort
all wore rubber overcoats and leggings, captured at different

Capture of Federal Encampment. 6 1 5
times from the enemy, and this caused them, as they dashed
into the camp, to be mistaken by the Federals for their own
troops ; but as the Confederates fired their pistols in rapid
play into the thronging encampment, recognizing at last their
mistake, the enemy broke and scattered in great confusion,
only one regiment having been rallied. This forming, pre
sently poured a volley into the escort, killing three and
wounding five of their number, but after that, retreated like
wise, leaving General Forrest and his escort in possession of
the encampment, after having killed and wounded in the chase
and onset about thirty men, and capturing sixty prisoners,
with as many horses. Hearing the firing, the Federal pickets
fell back into camp, and were also captured, some eight or
ten in number. It was now dark, and knowing that a portion
of the hostile brigade was still between his force and Chal
mers, Forrest, as a matter of prudence, turned in that direc
tion ; but leaving the highway finally, for a distance of two
hundred yards, he concealed his prisoners under charge of
some forty of his men, and returned with the other portion of
his escort to the road to await the approach of the enemy,
whom he heard engaged with Chalmers about a mile distant.
They were evidently yielding slowly to the Confederates, giv
ing back toward Mount Pleasant, and soon a detachment was
to be heard approaching at a walk. Forrest at once dis
mounting his escort, posted them in the edge of an opportune
thicket, where they rigidly awaited the approach of the foe to
within ten feet. Then pouring forth a volley, many men and
horses went to the ground, and the rest of the surprised de
tachment scattered in wild confusion. But meanwhile an
other, following the same road, coming up at a trot, speedily
met the same warm reception. The rest of the Federal com
mand, finding they were ambuscaded, while the woods were
too dense for them as a body to find a way through in the
dark, now made a right gallant charge down the road. The

616 Campaigns of General Forrest.
escort stood their ground, however, with characteristic fear
lessness, and another volley from their deadly Spencer rifles*
again emptied many saddles, and more than one horse was
added to the number which already blocked up the narrow
road. Meanwhile, Rucker's men, hearing the uproar, charged
likewise at full speed, and with loud shouts, in the same direc
tion. Mistaking this for a hostile approach of a fresh and
still larger force, the escort at length fell back to remount ;
but, fortunately believing that he recognized the cheers of his
own men, Forrest, springing forward, cried out, " Rucker !"
That officer, after his wonted fashion, was at the head of his
column, and answered the hail of his commander. The escort
was at once remounted, and the whole force moved back about
half a mile to the Federal encampment previously mentioned.
There was found an abundance of forage and subsistence
abandoned by the enemy, and the Confederates found it like
wise an opportune bivouac. In the engagements of this day,
Rucker's losses and those of the escort counted up as many as
five killed and thirty wounded ; that of their enemy quite
four times that number, exclusive of some sixty prisoners.
During this time Buford and Jackson had been moving
swiftly across the country in the direction of Linnville, on the
Tennessee and Alabama Central Railroad, northward of Pu
laski, so as to cut the Federal communications with Columbia,
as it was understood the enemy were assembling for a stand
at Pulaski. They did not reach Linnville, however, that day,
and had no hostile encounters.
About two o'clock a.m. on the 24th, Rucker was again in
the saddle with his brigade, and, moving rapidly by way of
Mount Pleasant, about daylight he overtook the Federal rear
near the house of General Lucius Polk, in the neighborhood

* Repeaters, which had been captured from the Federals.

Cavalry at Columbia. 617
0' Columbia. Without making a stout stand, they were pre
sently borne back upon their fortifications and a large in
fantry force. This pursuit closed, however, with a gallant
charge upon the infantry pickets that cost the life of the gal
lant Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. Dawson. Leading the men
across a small bridge near the town, he fell mortally hurt as
he was wrenching a Federal standard from the tenacious
hands of its bearer.* Meantime, Forrest and Chalmers came
up, and Rucker, boldly deploying his men dismounted as
riflemen, maintained a lively skirmish with the pickets all the
afternoon. In the mean time, Jackson and Buford continuing the pur
suit toward Pulaski by separate roads, the former, at night on
the 23d, on coming within eight miles of that place, ascer
tained that the enemy were rapidly evacuating the country.
He therefore, next day, as well as Buford, moved by roads
more directly northward until, on reaching Campbellville,
about noon, he found in his front more than a Federal divi
sion,! under Hatch. Promptly making his dispositions for
an attack, a part of Ross's Brigade was thrown forward, while
Armstrong's Brigade, making a detour, fell upon the Federal
right flank and rear, and Young's Battery was opened with
great fury and effect from a favorable position.
At the same moment, Buford's guns were also heard in
action about a. mile distant. Coming up with the enemy on
his line of pursuit, Buford had previously attacked them with
Bell's Brigade and Huey's Kentuckians, or less than 1000

* This is the same officer who, as re- whom General Forrest so liked to have
lated in Chapter XXII., was placed in around him, and was apt to work hard
command of the gunboat Undine when and in manifold ways.
the attempt was made to use her in the t The Federal forces fought were at
operations against Johnsonville. Evi- least 4000 strong. (Reports of Generals
dently Colonel Dawson was one of Jackson and Buford.) We infer from
those ever-ready, valuable officers Swinton that Croxton was also there.

618 Campaigns of General Forrest.
men, and maintained a vigorous combat until Jackson came
up, when both divisions, with a common aim though a sepa
rate impulsion, were thrown upon their enemy. The ef
fect was the complete rout of their adversary. In Buford's
quarter of the field Newsom, charging with the Nineteenth
Tennessee, dispersed several regiments and captured more
than ioo prisoners ; and Jackson's troops, pressing the ad
vantage vehemently, captured as many more, with their
horses and equipments, four stands of colors, and sixty-five
head of beef cattle.
It was now late, and Buford and Jackson bivouacked, Arm
strong at Linnville and the other brigade somewhat short of
that place. Moving early the next day, they also took posi
tion in the vicinity of Columbia, Buford's right resting upon
Duck river, his left upon the Pulaski turnpike, and Jackson
upon the Chapel Hill turnpike.
At the moment, Columbia was occupied with the Fourth and
Twenty-third Federal Army Corps and Wilson's Cavalry* with
heavy bodies of skirmishers in position behind a line of rifle-
pits stretching around the town, about one mile and a half from
it. From an elevated position, in rear of Chalmers, the main
body of the enemy were to be plainly seen, drawn up in three
lines of battle. Nevertheless, though Buford and Jackson
pressed their skirmishers back at several points on numerous
occasions, and had seized and held portions of their advanced
line, from which they had been expelled, yet was no disposi
tion manifested by the enemy to come to any serious engage-

• The Federal force appears to have error in his assertion (p. 442) that even
been (vide Swinton's Decisive Battles of at that stage of the campaign Hood
the War,,p. 441) Fourth Corps, 12,000 "far outnumbered, above all, cutnum-
men, Twenty-third Corps, 10,000, and bered in cavalry," his adversary. In ca-
7700 cavalry— that is, Hatch's Division, valry it was Hood who was "outnumber-
4000, Croxton's Brigade, (?) 2500, and ed."
Capron's, 1200. Hence, Swinton is in

Confederates Concentrated at Columbia. 619
ment. And Chalmers's artillery, from an enfilading position,
by a few well-aimed shells drove a considerable infantry force
from the shelter of their rail breastworks in rapid flight.
That evening, Lee's (S. D.) Corps of infantry came upon
the ground, and bivouacked in the vicinity of Chalmers, to
whom Biffle also reported with his demi-brigade.
During the 26th and 27th, a good deal of unprofitable skirmish
ing was kept up between the enemy and Forrest's command —
dismounted and acting as riflemen — while the Confederate ar
tillery was employed on the 26th with execution so decided
that the Federals were forced to quit their outer line of
cover. Meanwhile, all of General Hood's infantry having
come up, they replaced Forrest's Division, which then was re-
disposed, Chalmers at Webster's Mills, about ten miles south
west of Columbia, Buford in the neighborhood of Berlin, on
the Lewisburg turnpike ; and Jackson at Fountain's creek, on
the Shelbyville turnpike.
On the night of the 27th, General Forrest was called to
General Hood's headquarters. A full conversation was then
had concerning the roads, nature and condition of the coun
try, and he was ordered to attempt to throw the cavalry to
the north side of Duck river early the next morning, to cover
the construction of the pontoon-bridge for the passage of the
infantry. Accordingly, Buford was instructed to pass the
stream on the Lewisburg turnpike, Chalmers about Holland's
Ford, some seven miles eastward of Columbia, and Jackson
two miles still farther eastward, at Hall's Mill, while For
rest, with his escort and Biffle's force, was to attempt a ford
two miles westward of Chalmers.
The enemy, however, had evacuated Columbia during the
night, and taken up a strong fortified position on the north
bank of Duck river, from which, during the 28th, they threw
an occasional shell at the Confederate infantry, as they were
exposed in their movements in the vicinity of the place ; but

620 Campaigns of General Forrest.
at the same time they had commenced to retire toward Nash
ville. The weather was cold and disagreeably wet. The fords of
Duck river all greatly swollen and swift, their passage was
not only tedious but hazardous, for only the tallest horses
could effect it without swimming. Jackson — Armstrong's
Brigade in advance — had also to force his way across, under a
sharp fire ; but both he and Chalmers, late that afternoon,
stood upon the north bank of the stream with their divisions.
Buford, however, was resisted by a strong force, in face of
which it was impracticable to pass. Late as it was, the Con
federates northward of Duck river were pressed ahead. While
Armstrong pressed after the enemy northward, Jackson had
led Ross's Brigade, about sunset, over upon the Lewisburg-
Franklin turnpike, where Buford's passage of the stream was
being disputed, and making a vigorous attack, after a severe
conflict, he drove off the enemy from the contested ground,
and captured their field-train, including ordnance-wagons, a
stand of regimental colors, several guidons, and about eighty
men with their horses.
Meanwhile, Chalmers, having moved toward the north-east
for some hours, after dark, over roads extremely rugged and
difficult, was directed by General Forrest to halt and bivouac
about four miles from the river.
Buford, having been prevented from crossing, as we have
recounted, threw his force across, however, by daylight on the
29th. In the mean while, Forrest, not able during the night
to ascertain Buford's movements, had sent orders to Chal
mers and Jackson to resume the pressure upon the Fede
ral cavalry toward Hurt's Cross-Roads, before dawn on the
29th, the first by a narrow country road, through the cedar
thickets of that region, and the latter by the turnpike from the
Lewisburg-Franklin road. Jackson, coming up with their
rear near Rally Hill, engaged with animation, and drove the

Obstinate Cavalry Fighting. 621
enemy steadily back in a series of well-contested combats.
At the same time Chalmers had been engaged in some sharp
brushes with the Federals in his path. Fighting for the most
part dismounted, he had several times during the day charged
in the saddle, and his escort bugler was shot by his side.
Meanwhile, Buford had also came up, and the whole Confede
rate cavalry were now assembled near Hurt's Cross-Roads, in
the immediate presence of a superior hostile force.
An immediate attack was then ordered, and a sharp en
counter resulted, in which the enemy were borne steadily
but doggedly rearward, as far as Mount Carmel, on the Lew-
isburg-Franklin road. The country, rocky and rugged, was
thickly clad with cedars, and difficult, of course, for cavalry
movements, so that, for the most part, the fighting was on
foot which, however, was now Forrest's habitual tactics.
Armstrong's Brigade, all fighting admirably, and ever well led,
here had an obstinate combat, in which the Twenty-eighth
Mississippi was especially distinguished, and Buford's men
were thrown into action with their accustomed vigor. Pressed
back by their eager, indomitable enemy, now mounted, the
Federal cavalry turned and stood at bay at several favoring po
sitions, from which they were driven only after most obstinate
contests up to within five or six miles of Franklin. Here
leaving several regiments in observation, Forrest turned off
abruptly, and moved swiftly across the country toward Spring
Hill with the rest of his force.
Meeting a small cavalry force, it was at once brushed back
upon a large infantry command found in occupation of a long
line of breastworks, extending around east and south of the
place, while another infantry column was known to be en route
between Spring Hill and Columbia on the turnpike. Every
disposition was now made to attack and check the infantry in
movement, and some sharp skirmishing had taken place, when
General Forrest received a dispatch from General Hood, di-

622 Campaigns of General Forrest.
recting him to attempt to hold the enemy in check at that
point until Cheatham's and Stewart's Corps, then en route,
should come up. The skirmishing, therefore, was continued
with such effect, that the enemy withdrew all their pickets
and outposts behind their fortifications, and about four o'clock,
Forrest, dismounting his whole force, disposed it as if in me
nace of a general attack.*
At length Cheatham's Corps of infantry came up, and Cle
burne's Division being advanced and formed in line on the
left of Chalmers and Buford, it was arranged that a serious,
joint attack should be made upon the Federal position. Chal
mers and Buford, however, were nearly out of ammunition,
and the plan of attack was, that after the onset Cleburne
should hold the ground gained until the rest of the troops
should come up. The attack was handsomely and success
fully made ; for, after a short though stubborn stand, the ene
my yielded the position and fell back upon a second line,
which, however, was not a strong one. It was now dark ;
Forrest's men, engaged in action since sunrise, had exhausted
their ammunition and were worn down from hard work —
without intermission for the past week ; therefore they were
withdrawn to feed their horses and bivouac out of immediate
contact with the enemy's pickets, the infantry being left to
hold the ground acquired.
About nine that night, General Stewart's Corps came up to
the immediate vicinity of General Forrest's headquarters, and
these two officers meeting, after a short conversation, found
that their orders appeared to conflict. Accordingly, they
rode together to General Hood's headquarters, a mile dis
tant.! On the way thither, however, Forrest was surprised

* Since writing the foregoing, we find Fourth Corps, and Ruger's Division of
from Swinton's Decisive Battles of the the Twenty-third.
War, p. 444, that the Federal force at t At the mansion of Mr. Thomp-
this point consisted only of Stanley's, son.

Forrest Ordered to Obstruct Federal Retreat. 62

o

to find that Cleburne's Division had been withdrawn from the
position in which he had supposed it was to remain through
the night, and had gone into bivouac somewhat remote from
it, where the men were engaged cooking their rations, leaving
no Confederate soldiers interposed across the highway south
of Spring Hill, and therefore throwing that road open to the
rear divisions of the Federal army. At the same time, also,
a dispatch overtook him from Jackson, who had been thrown
round with his division across the turnpike northward of
Spring Hill, reporting that, being overmatched, and pressed
back from the road, he stood in need of immediate aid. Bu
ford and Chalmers, having already expended sixty rounds of
ammunition during the day, were without a cartridge.* For
rest, therefore, hurried on to report the situation to the Gene
ral-in-Chief. General Hood seemed surprised that Cheat
ham's Corps had not been held in position across the turn
pike, declaring that he had so ordered it expressly. Turning,
then, to General Stewart, he inquired whether he could not
establish his corps in that position. There was some imme
diate obstacle, and the Confederate General now asked For
rest if he could not throw his cavalry upon the turnpike in
time to check the Federal retreat ? The cavalry General re
plied : " That, as Chalmers and Buford were without ammuni
tion, their commands would be inefficient, leaving him only
Jackson's Division for the service. That, luckily, had captured
enough ammunition in its operations of the day for present
purposes. But he would do the best he could in the emer
gency." General Hood then remarked that he would order
his corps commanders to furnish the requisite ammunition.
Forrest, unaccustomed to delay in the execution of his orders,

•Their ordnance-train had been left placed at the extreme rear of that
behind at Columbia with that of the train, so that it did not come up until
whole army, and by mischance was the Confederates confronted Nashville.

624 Campaigns of General Forrest.
thereupon hurried off to make application for ammunition ;
but neither Cheatham nor Stewart were able to supply it,
their ammunition-trains, also, having failed to come up. Re
turning to his own headquarters, he found General Jackson
awaiting him. Explaining the situation of affairs as well as
General Hood's expectations, Jackson, engaging to establish
his division upon the road at Thompson's Station and en
deavor to hold the rearward column of the enemy in check at
that point, left at once with that object.*
Having thus done all in his power to interpose a barrier
between the divided portions of the Federal army, Forrest re
ported, through a staff-officer, to his superior, his inability to
obtain ammunition, and what he had done in the exigency.
By midnight, Jackson's guns began to be heard in an ani
mated engagement in the north, and a continuous uproar of
musketry resounded from that direction throughout the night ;
and never did so small a force fight more tenaciously or stout
ly than Jackson's little division on this occasion. The high
est credit is the just meed of officers and men alike. The
force encountered, a heavy column of infantry pressing on to
ward Franklin, was too powerful, however, for Jackson's slen
der force. He was unable to do more than harass the
masses that forced their way by him during the night, and to
oblige them to abandon a number of wagons, which he burned,
while a considerable number of the enemy were killed and
captured ; and one of his brigades (Ross's) came upon and
destroyed a train of cars near Thompson's Station.
On the morning of the 30th, procuring ammunition from
Walthall's Division for Buford and Chalmers, the latter was
at once detached across west of Spring Hill to the Carter's
Creek turnpike, to cover the left flank of the Confederate

* Jackson's Division, as will be remembered, took the field only 2000 strong.

Franklin. 625
army ; while the Kentucky brigade of Buford's Division was
likewise detached to move with a similar object, in connection
with Hood's right flank, on the Lewisburg pike. At the
same time, Forrest, with his escort and Bell's Brigade, moved
forward upon the Franklin turnpike in advance of the infantry.
About six miles in advance of Spring Hill he came up with
Jackson, still hanging closely upon and harassing the Federal
rear-guard. Bell was then thrown forward to take part, and a
continuous skirmish resulted for some four miles, until the
enemy had withdrawn behind their lines in front or south of
Franklin. These lines and the position Forrest at once proceeded to
reconnoitre with his habitual boldness and thoroughness, after
which he returned to meet General Hood, whom he found at
the head of his army three miles south of Franklin, about one
p.m. The whole army was halted, and no movement occurred
for at least one hour. III.
Franklin lies in a bend, and on the south bank of the. Har
peth river, on a gentle plateau. A commanding eminence,
known as Figuer's Hill, which rises abruptly just across the
stream eastward of the town, commands the place and all the
approaches for miles to the southward* Immediately in front,
or southward, of the town, a line of breastworks, with a narrow
ditch, extended for fully three fourths of a mile from the river,
on the west, across the throat of the horse-shoe shaped bend
in which Franklin is built. This breastwork, made quite
strong when occupied formerly by the Federal forces, had
been further strengthened for the present emergency, and
it was heavily garnished with field-batteries.

• On it was an observatory, erected was commanded ofthe whole scope of
in a tree, from which a complete view country.

626 Campaigns of General Forrest.
General Hood, however, was of the belief that the main
Federal force was already in rapid retreat, and that the appa
rent defensive preparations were merely counterfeit, with
the view of gaining time to secure that retreat. This convic
tion he expressed to General Forrest, when that officer re
ported the formidable military resources with which the posi
tion bristled. His determination, therefore, was to defeat it,
by immediately storming the place, rather than to turn it.*
Accordingly, by four p.m., the preparations for that ill-starred
operation were completed. As ordered, Forrest had formed
Jackson's and Buford's Divisions immediately on the right of
Stewart's Corps of infantry ; Buford's men, dismounted, filling
the space between the Lewisburg turnpike and the Harpeth
river ; and Jackson's having been thrown to the south bank
of the stream, to engage and occupy the cavalry, and also the
force which held and was firing from a redoubt in that quarter.
At the same time, Chalmers's Division — including Biffle's
demi-brigade — was on the extreme Confederate left.
At half-past four p.m., the onset began. The Federal forces
were commanded by Major-General Schofield, and consisted
Of the Fourth and Twenty-third Corps, (22,000 infantry,)
formed in a semi-circular line, curved toward the south, filling
their whole line of intrenchments, while the cavalry, under
General Wilson, were mainly disposed northward of the Har
peth, to cover their rear and flanks from that direction. Mov
ing in line with the infantry, Buford soon came, however, in
collision with a heavy cavalry force, but advancing steadily,
after an engagement of more than half an hour, in which his
men. fought with their wonted steadiness, their immediate

• At this day it is scarcely necessary ter, than by storming the position, by a
•to-pomtout how General Hood could very short detour.
have manifestly gained his purpose bet-

Battle of Franklin. 627
adversary withdrew across the Harpeth. Meantime, Chalmers
on the other flank drove in the skirmishers in his front, and
charging, forced a detachment to give up a stone wall in ad
vance, and retire behind the breastworks. Pressing them
hotly to within sixty yards of their lines, he was not strong
enough to attempt to storm their present cover; he there
fore established his own men under convenient shelter, from
which he maintained an incessant skirmish in that part of the
field. By this time, the Confederate infantry — Stewart's and Cheat
ham's Corps — Lee in reserve — had moved directly upon the
breastworks, and were fiercely engaged at all points. Stew
art's and Cheatham's men, charging with their superb spirit
upon an extensive line of intrenchments held by a Federal
division, carried it, capturing some six hundred prisoners.*
The ground of approach to the main position was open, with
very slight shelter ; but on pressed the Confederates, with little
halt, after their first success, though now fully aware of the
appalling gravity of the work in hand. They were presently
met by a broad, desolating tide of musketry, while shot and
canister, both from the intrenchments in front and the redoubts
on Figuer's Hill, smote down their gallant ranks from flank to
flank. The slaughter, indeed, was now deplorable. The
enemy, ensconced behind stout breastworks, with almost a
single salvo of their numerous artillery swept away entire Con
federate regiments, and thinned all the others to a heart
rending degree. But with characteristic, unconquerable reso
lution the survivors— staggered for a moment— still moved
forward, and many reached the intrenchments, and in attempt
ing to surmount them were slain. War ever devours the best,

* We see Swinton says this position was occupied by only two brigades of
Wagner's Division, Fourth Corps.

628 Campaigns of General Forrest.
and here perished, unhappily and without profit, some of the
choicest officers of the Confederate service. Notable of the
number was Major-General Cleburne, without superior as a
division commander. After having filled, with confessed dis
tinction, every grade and command to which he had attained,
he was killed while attempting to leap his horse over the
enemy's works. Though his precious life was thus wasted,
his superb conduct, " honored in death, shall glory gain out of
the lips of foes." In a like endeavor, about the same time
with Cleburne, fell the accomplished soldier, Brigadier-Ge
neral John Adams, just as his genuine worth was beginning
to be appreciated in the service to which he gave his life.
In this fearful onset the first line of the Confederates had
been almost annihilated. A second and indeed a third line
were, nevertheless, brought up, and thrown forward with kin
dred hardihood to meet, as might be expected, the same san
guinary reception, the same repulse with gaping ranks ra
vaged of their best officers and men. For in vain, under the
circumstances, were all their efforts to carry the position and
this general display of as superb valor in officers and men
alike as ever signalized a battle-field.* By this time it was
dark, and affairs were past any remedy for that night ; never
theless, small detachments of the Confederates, that had gain
ed lodgments at different points in the ditch, held their ground,
and kept up across the ipaulement an animated skirmish with
the enemy until midnight, when Schofield withdrew, and re
sumed his retreat upon Nashville, leaving his dead and the
greater part of his wounded in the hands of the Confederates,
as well as some subsistence and other supplies.

• It has not come within the scope did not reach 25,000, while, as we have
of this work to enter into an elaborate seen, the force assailed in their strong
sketch of the details of this battle. It intrenchments numbered 22,000, back-
is proper to say, however, that the Con- ed by at least 7700 cavalry.
federate infantry assailing the position

Federals Fall Back upon Nashville. 629
The loss of Forrest's Cavalry in this mortal' battle was
comparatively light compared with that of the infantry, which,
including some 700 prisoners, was over 6000, embracing six
general officers killed and six wounded* The enemy, fighting,
as we have said, from behind excellent cover, suffered lightly
—according to their reports having lost not more than 2336,
of which 1 104 were prisoners.!
It having been discovered that the enemy had evacuated
the position, the cavalry were at once ordered to move in
vigorous pursuit. Accordingly, Chalmers, still holding the
left flank, was directed to bear leftward to the Hillsboro-Nash-
ville turnpike, and follow it to the latter place ; Buford, thrown
across the Harpeth rightward of Franklin, in conjunction
with Jackson, at the same time hung close upon the Federal
cavalry on that flank, eastward of the Franklin highway.
Forrest himself had his headquarters with this force. Com
ing up with their adversary within four or five miles, several
sharp bits of fighting resulted, as the hostile cavalry was
forced back toward Brentwood ; and in that vicinity Buford
and Jackson, cooperating, made several dashing charges.
These threw the Federal column into a good deal of disorder,
while as many as three stands of colors and a hundred pri
soners, with their horses, were won on these occasions. On
Chalmers's flank slight or no impediment was encountered.
When within six miles of Nashville, however, the cavalry divi
sions were halted and thrown into position for the night, di
rectly in advance of the infantry, on a line stretching from
the Nolansville turnpike on the right across, a distance of six
miles, to the Granny White turnpike.

• We can not give the exact losses affairs in which they had been engaged
of Forrest's Divisions at Franklin, in the past week.
Chalmers's Division, however, had lost t We take these numbers from Swin
dled and wounded) 116 officers and ton, habitually well informed of what
men ; and Buford's 91, in the several he writes.

630 Campaigns of General Forrest.
On the next morning, Chalmers, with Biffle's demi-brigade
on his left, was moved up early to the immediate vicinity of
Nashville, on the Hillsboro and Harding turnpikes, while For
rest advanced with Buford and Jackson, by the Nolansville
road, to within three miles, but in full view of the State
House. But presently, the infantry having followed and re
lieved the cavalry without loss of time, about midday, Forrest
began a series of characteristic operations for the destruction
of the railroads and telegraph lines communicating with Mur
freesboro and Chattanooga, and the block-houses which guard
ed them. IV.
Buford's Division was now reduced by the casualties of the
campaign to 1000 effectives ; with that force he was directed
to destroy the stockades on the Nashville-Chattanooga Rail
road, while maintaining a chain of pickets on the right of the
Confederate army across to the Lebanon turnpike. Intrust
ing this service to Bell's Brigade, Buford moved promptly
with his Kentuckians to attack the block-houses. First in
vesting the one known as No. 1, it proved to be capable of a
prolonged, formidable defense. Cruciform in figure, its walls
were built of unseasoned oak timber, at least three feet thick,
upon which field-artillery made little impression ; as upon the
roof of the structure also, which, being well covered with
earth, was, moreover, not easily combustible. Bell was now
sent for likewise. But so dangerous, if not impracticable, were
the operation manifestly that the men of neither brigade were
in the humor to undertake to storm the fortalice. Morton's
Battery, however, was set to work to pound it, and, it seems,
with the effect of killing ten and wounding twenty of the gar
rison. Meanwhile, a train came up from the direction of Mur
freesboro, with some negro troops, who escaped for the most
part, though the train was captured and destroyed. Thus
invested and nattered by Morton's guns, on the morning of

Reduction of Block-Houses. 631
the 3d December the garrison capitulated— some eighty of
ficers and men.
This happily achieved, No. 3 was next essayed, as also No.
2— the block-house on Mill creek— and both succumbed after
some delay and parley, on the morning of the 4th. All three
were destroyed. The other results were 250 officers and
men captured, including those taken with the train on the 3d.
Leaving a detachment of 250 men, under Colonel Nixon, to
guard and picket from the Murfreesboro road to the Cum
berland river, Forrest set out on the morning ofthe 5 th, with
Jackson and Buford, for Murfreesboro. At Lavergne, Jackson
was ordered to move around to the right, and reduce a redoubt
in that quarter, while Forrest himself, with Buford, beset the
block-house (No. 4) near by. At the usual formal demand to
surrender, with which the Confederate leader habitually ini
tiated his operations of this character, the work was yielded,
with 40 officers and men ; and in the same way the redoubt
surrendered to Jackson, with 80 officers and men, two pieces
of artillery, several wagons and teams, and a considerable
store of military supplies.*
The block-house and a number of barrack buildings having
been burned, the expedition was resumed ; but the force was
strengthened by Bate's Division, ordered to cooperate.!
That evening the cavalry approached within four miles of
Murfreesboro ; but the infantry was unable to reach the scene
until the next morning. Meanwhile, a cavalry detachment
thrown out at Lavergne had captured and destroyed another
block-house, (at Smyrna Station,) and added 35 prisoners to
those already taken that day.

* This block-house guarded a tres- t Bate's Division had been previ-
tle-bridge over the creek, and the re- ously detached to operate against Mur-
doubt on a hill south-east of Lavergne, freesboro, but was met by a force four
guarded the railroad for some distance miles in advance of the place, and
in that direction. forced to fall back.

632 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Soon after the infantry came up in front of Murfreesboro,
it was formed in line, and, promptly throwing forward skir
mishers, offered battle, which, after some feeble skirmishing
for two hours, the enemy refused unless attacked in position,
and accordingly suspended firing. Meanwhile, Forrest, taking
about 1 50 of Pinson's Mississippi Regiment, made a careful
close reconnoissance ; and driving back some pickets behind
their intrenchments, captured a few prisoners. Afterward, he
likewise made a complete circuit from the right around to
the Murfreesboro turnpike, with the result of ascertaining
from close inspection that the works were really impregnable
to the force at his disposition, occupied as they were known
to be with full 8000 men, under General Rousseau. On the
evening of the 6th, Forrest was slightly reenforced by two
small infantry brigades, (Sears's and Palmer's,) about 1600 men,
making his force now about 6500 strong, of all arms. It was
late, however, and no further operations were attempted that
afternoon. Taking post early on the morning of the 7th with Palmer's
Brigade (infantry) on a hill southward of the Wilkerson turn
pike, two miles from Murfreesboro, General Forrest presently
observed a heavy hostile column swiftly emerging from Mur
freesboro by the Salem road. At the moment the Confederates
were spread over a crescent reaching from the Woodbury turn
pike, on the eastward, to Palmer's position. A new disposi
tion was necessary to meet the menaced attack. Retiring
Palmer rapidly to the north side of the Wilkerson road, Forrest
threw forward a line of battle extending from Overall's creek
in the direction of Murfreesboro. It was formed of Bate's
Division and Sears's and Palmer's Brigades, with Jackson's
Division of cavalry, a brigade disposed on each flank of the
infantry. Meanwhile, the enemy moving handsomely forward, drove
in the Confederate pickets and pressed vigorously forward to
grapple with the main line. From some inexplicable cause the

Federal Sortie.

633

Confederate infantry, except Smith's Brigade, fell into disor
der, and did not stand to meet the oncoming charge, so that
two pieces of artillery were captured almost without a
struggle. Seizing the colors of one of the broken regiments,
Forrest, throwing himself prominently in front, sought to rally
his demoralized lines. Major-General Bate, and other offi
cers, cooperated strenuously in a like endeavor ; but all in
vain. No appeal or personal example could restore the spirits
of these troops, veterans though they were of every hard-
fought field in the West, and the peers in repute for shining
conduct on all previous occasions of any of that army.* In this
exigency, Forrest dispatched Major Strange to General Jack
son, to acquaint him with the critical situation, and to say that
all depended upon the staunchness and gallantry of his
division. With admirable spirit was the responsibility ac
cepted. Ross's Brigade was instantly thrown forward in
front, while Armstrong attacked vigorously on the right flank
and rear, and such was the resolution and vehemence of these
charges that, first checking, they presently forced the enemy
to give back and yield the field. This happily accomplished,
the infantry were withdrawn to Stewart's creek, eight miles
northward from Murfreesboro, but the cavalry bivouacked in
their former position before Murfreesboro.
While this was going on, Buford on the left, about midday,
moving down the Woodbury road with some 500 men and
Morton's Battery, had met and fought a strong Federal force
at the college, in the eastern verge of the town. With men

* Forrest, on this occasion, rode his his favorite bugler, was also by his side
favorite gray horse King Philip, of as usual, blowing the charge with ha-
whose bellicose traits we have made bitual intrepidity. This drew the fire
previous mention. Catching sight of of a regiment scarcely a hundred yards
the offensive blue uniform, King Phi- distant, without any other harm than
lip was only restrained with great diffi- the spoiling of another bugle for Gaus,
culty from rushing down upon the the one he was blowing being actually
enemy for an individual battle. Gaus, riddled, as once before, with rifle-balls.

634 Campaigns of General Forrest.
dismounted, and operating as riflemen, and using his artillery
with free hand, he steadily drove them into the place, and
followed as far as the court-house, which he forced the
enemy to vacate, under the pressure of two of Morton's ever
well-handled guns. But soon reenforced with infantry, the
Federals rallied, and Morton became engaged in the heart of
the town until two p.m., losing nearly every horse of one of his
pieces, which was only saved by being carried off by hand.
At that hour, Buford was ordered by General Forrest to
establish his command upon the left flank of the Confederate
line, then engaged as we have mentioned. As he attempted
to execute this order, the enemy pressed after with a heavy
force, for a time with menacing vigor, and he was not able to
reach the scene until after Jackson's Division had so hand
somely repulsed Milroy and brought his daring sortie to a
baffled close.
For several days following, the cavalry remained in position
before Murfreesboro, but without noteworthy collision with the
enemy. In the mean time Bate's Division was recalled to its
corps at Nashville, and a small brigade under Colonel Olm
stead instead was substituted.* But on the ioth, Buford
was detached, with his Kentuckians, to take post at the
Hermitage, and establish pickets along the Cumberland,
between Huntsville and the mouth of Stone river, so as to ob
struct the navigation of the former stream above Nashville.
Another purpose was to drain the country of persons liable to
military service, animals suitable for army purposes, and sub
sistence supplies. This delicate, arduous, and at the moment,
perilous service, General Buford discharged with notable
efficiency, though his force at no time exceeded 300 men.
In the interval, the infantry brigades were engaged tearing
up and destroying the railway between Lavergne and Mur-

* Leaving General Forrest three small brigades of infantry.

Orders to Fall Back. 635
freesboro ; and Jackson having been thrown with his division
to the southward, Ross's Brigade, on the 15 th, surprised and
captured a train of cars en route from Stephenson, freighted
with subsistence for the garrison at Murfreesboro. It was
gallantly defended by the Sixty-first Illinois Infantry for a
time ; but overcome, 150 of their number were captured, while
the rest secured refuge in a strong block-house near by. Some
200,000 rations fell into the hands of the Confederates, who
had, however, to destroy the greater part, as well as seventeen
cars and the locomotive. The day before moving out east
ward of Stone river, with two of his infantry brigades, to
intercept a Federal foraging-train reported in that quarter,
General Forrest, on the evening of the 15 th, received an
order from General Hood to hold his force in hand ready for
the emergencies of a general engagement which had then com
menced at Nashville. Thereupon the immediate concentra
tion of his command was directed to take place at Wilkerson's
Cross-Roads, six miles distant, and that was effected, with the
exception of the Kentuckians absent with Buford, during the
next day. And happily so, for that night a staff-officer
brought intelligence of the disastrous issue of the battle for
the Confederates, and orders for Forrest to fall back by way
of Shelbyville and Pulaski.
Buford was now ordered to retire through Lavergne, and
cover Forrest's rear until the artillery and wagon- train were
well in motion. But as his sick and baggage-train were at
Triune, Forrest fortunately did take up his line of retreat
through Shelbyville, but by way of Lillard's Mills, on Duck
river, while Armstrong's Brigade was detached to push across
at once to get in the rear and cover Hood's beaten corps.
The infantry with Forrest were barefooted. The country
to be traversed, naturally rugged and obstructed by cedar
thickets, was rendered almost impracticable by the deep mire
wrought by recent heavy rains. It was late in December ;
he was encumbered with prisoners, several hundred head of

636 Campaigns of General Forrest.
hogs and beef cattle, and few marches have been more toil
some or involved more suffering. But Forrest led it in per
son, and with his officers did all that could be done to cheer
and urge his men forward, and to repress straggling. Reach
ing Lillard's Mills, Duck river was found to be rising rapidly.
Pressing the passage at once and vehemently, after the pri
soners,* cattle, and about half the wagons had been thrown
over, the stream became unfordable, and Forrest was obliged
to move westward to Columbia to secure a crossing for his
other baggage and ordnance-trains and artillery.

V.
While these detached operations, which we have recounted,
were taking place under the immediate direction of General
Forrest, Chalmers had remained, with his division distributed
upon the right and left flanks of the Confederate army, in
front of Nashville, his headquarters on the Harding turnpike,
about four miles from the city.! As early as the 3d of De
cember, Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly was detached, with some
300 men of Rucker's Brigade and Briggs's section of artillery,
to take post and blockade the Cumberland twelve miles below
Nashville. On reaching the scene, he was so fortunate as to
capture two transports laden with army horses and mules en
route down-stream. However, four gunboats quickly ap
peared, and Kelly's artillery ammunition being, unhappily,
exhausted, the transports were wrested from his hands despite
his efforts to burn them ; but he secured 56 prisoners and
197 horses and mules.

• 400 prisoners, 100 head of cattle, tending to the river above, and Rucker
and 400 hogs. on the left, his pickets reaching to t?le
t Biffle was upon the right flank, ex- river below Nashville.

Nashville. 637
A day or two later, Ector's Brigade of infantry having been
sent to relieve Rucker on the Harding turnpike, the ca
valry were redisposed* The Seventh Alabama being left
in position on the right of Ector, leftward of the road, the rest
of the brigade, about 900 men, were stretched on the left of
Ector, across the Charlotte turnpike, to and along the river
for four miles, in support of two of Briggs's Parrotts and two
sent from an infantry division, which were successfully em
ployed in hindering the navigation even by iron-plated gun
boats. Meanwhile, the weather had become very cold ; there
had been a heavy snow-fall, upon which a sleet supervened, and
the ground was heavily coated with ice for several days. But
this did not deter the enemy, as could be seen, from the great
est activity in the trenches, in which there had been em
ployed, we learn, 5000 quartermasters' laborers, as well as many
citizens of Nashville, under a general officer of the Regular
Engineer Corps of the United States Army, until the place
stood girded with a double belt of earthworks — detached
forts connected with strong curtains and infantry intrench
ments. And behind these had been gathered more than
30,000 men,! besides the two corps of Schofield that had
been suffered to escape through the clutches of their adversa
ry, first at Columbia and next at Franklin. Or in all, the
Federal force now invested at Nashville mustered 50,000
fighting men, behind intrenchments of the strongest, most
scientific character, amply furnished with all the resources
and appliances of efficient war. The investing force, on the

* Whole brigade was not more than tanooga, some negro troops, and twenty
1200 strong. new regiments of twelve-months' men,
t That is, the corps of A. J. Smith, and 12,000 Wilson's Cavalry.— Vide
11,000 strong, brought from St. Louis ; Swinton's Decisive Battles of the War,
the forces under Steedman, from Chat- pp. 45I-2-5-

638 Campaigns of General Forrest.
other hand, was absurdly small : three small corps of infantry,
the wreck that survived the shambles at Franklin and the ex
cessive exposure to the harsh December weather of the cli
mate, and not exceeding 1700 cavalry,* or, at most, a force in
hand of but 22,000 of all arms. We know of no parallel to this
in war annals ; no instance in which an army so superior as
that which Major-General Thomas commanded permitted itself
to be so long beleaguered by one so inferior in all but a supreme
courage, a blenchless devotion to a cause, as was arrayed under
the tattered Confederate battle-crosses upon the ice-clad hills
that encircled Nashville. It is said the Federal leader waited
to complete the organization of his cavalry, in order that, after
having routed his adversary, he might insure his destruction
by having some 9000 cavalry! to launch upon his broken, de
moralized ranks. That being so, it becomes singular that
there was not a more vigorous effort made to that end, a more
vehement, damaging employment of that powerful element of
his strength.
However, as early as the 13th there were portents in the
air of the storm about to burst upon the Confederates. Indi
cations were manifest of an early offensive movement on the
part of the enemy, especially in the transfer to the south bank
of the Cumberland of a very large cavalry force. At the
same time the Confederates had thrown up rifle-pits and had
commenced to construct some detached earthworks. But ex
terior to the enemy, their line was necessarily of much greater
length, and really, as has been aptly said of it,! "it presented

* Jackson and Buford being with of whom were badly and 7500 finely
Forrest at Murfreesboro, as also three mounted. — Decisive Battles, p. 455.
brigades of infantry. j MS. Notes of Captain Walter A.
t We learn from Swinton that it Goodman, ever reliable, very full, and
numbered full 12,000 men, about 1500 acute and sound in their observations.

Nashville. 639
the appearance of the skirmish-line of an investing army
rather than of that army itself." And we repeat, never in
military operations have two belligerent forces occupied to
ward each other an attitude so anomalous as that maintained
by the Federal and Confederate forces at Nashville on the eve
of the 14th of December, 1864.
It does not come within the purview of this work to describe
in detail the disastrous results that befell the Confederate army
in that quarter on the 15 th and 16th December. We shall
therefore confine our recital mainly to the part taken by the
cavalry or by the troops with whom Chalmers cooperated.
It must be observed, however, the enemy, making a feint of
an attack on the Confederate right, hurled the mass of his
forces upon Hood's left flank. As will be recollected, Rucker
was in that quarter with his brigade of about 1 200 cavalry.
The gunboats opened, soon after daylight, upon his left with a
boisterous cannonade, and speedily a heavy division of cav
alry, closely supported by infantry, advanced along the Char
lotte road simultaneously with another of like character along
the Harding way. The country was broken and wooded, and
a heavy fog, hanging low over the scene, so enshrouded these
movements, that they passed without observation, until almost
ready to burst in full force upon the lean Confederate lines.
Ector's Brigade, on the Harding turnpike, was struck by the
mass, and forced to swing eastward for support upon the in
fantry, leaving the Seventh Alabama Cavalry to seek a junc
tion with the rest of Rucker's Brigade westward of the road.
And thus the Harding turnpike was now left in possession of
the enemy, while a part of Chalmers's wagon-train, which had
been left for security in rear of Ector's Brigade, was captured.
Meanwhile, Chalmers with Rucker had maintained an obsti
nate unequal combat on the Charlotte turnpike; but Chalmers
held his ground until what had happened rightward was re
ported, 'and it was manifest he was now isolated from the

640 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Confederate army. He therefore retired by a cross-road to
a point on the Harding turnpike, being without orders in the
exigency, and unable to communicate with General Hood. Ad
vancing up the road in the direction of his enemy, with his es
cort and a small detachment, after a spirited skirmish, in which
the enemy encountered were repulsed, Chalmers ascertained.
about dark, by a personal reconnoissance and from scouts,
that the Confederate left wing was still in position in the main
lines eastward of the Harding turnpike, on the Hillsboro road.
Rucker was then directed to take position for the protection
of its left flank, which he effected just before dawn at the
point where the cross-road from Brentwood strikes the Hills
boro turnpike. Here he was speedily assailed by a strong
cavalry column, apparently bent on turning the Confederate
left flank. Made aware of the emergency, Chalmers present
ly moved across with his escort and Kelly's Regiment (the
old Forresters) to the Granny White turnpike, just in time to
meet there a hostile cavalry force. Securing a strong position,
he held his enemy at bay, and Cheatham's ambulance-train,
meanwhile, was enabled to escape capture. In the mean time,
Rucker, with a part of his brigade,* was hotly beset, by forces
equally strong, on his front and left flank. Sorely pressed,
Chalmers ordered the concentration of his cavalry imme
diately in front — northward — of Brentwood, and about half-
past four p.m., went to seek orders from General Hood. Very
soon, between sundown and dark, a dispatch from General
Hood to General Chalmers was received, and handed to Col
onel Rucker, in the absence of his superior. It was the an
nouncement of defeat and his retreat, with orders that the

* The Seventh Tennessee had been sent off on escort service that morning to
Franklin.

Wounding and Capture of Col. Rucker. 641
cavalry should resist at all hazard the pursuit of the Federal
cavalry by the Granny White turnpike.
Rucker — formed by nature, except perchance in stature, for
a cavalry leader — swiftly drew up his dauntless veterans in
line across the designated road, and placing Colonel Kelly in
command, went rearward with his escort a half-mile, there to
build some breastworks of rails at the intersection of the road
from Brentwood with the Granny White turnpike, and across
the latter. But before this could be done, a largely over
whelming force was upon Kelly, who maintained desperate but
unavailing battle as long as possible against the odds accumu
lating upon him. Rucker, meanwhile, working at his breast
works — as Rucker can — was then joined by the Seventh
Alabama, which as yet had been rearward ; but while throw
ing it into position well to the leftward, the Twelfth Ten
nessee fell back with the ill-tidings that Kelly had been
driven from his ground. Colonel White, its commander, was
directed to form behind the breastworks, just leftward of
the turnpike, and Rucker then repaired in person farther
to the left, to dispose the Seventh Alabama precisely as he
wished. Returning presently to the point he had indi
cated for the Twelfth Tennessee, he found himself in the
midst of a mounted regiment ; inquiring for the commanding
officer, he was immediately approached by an officer so closely
that both saw, from their uniforms, they were enemies. Both
drawing their sabres, sprang to the conflict with the like spirit.
The weather was, however, so cold that the combatants could
not manage their horses, and Rucker's sabre, as he struck
with all his power, missing its aim, fell from his hand. In
immediate contact with his foe at the moment, he grappled
and wrenched his sword from the Federal officer. Seeing that
he was in the midst of at least a Federal regiment, the Con
federate officer rapidly glanced around for an avenue of escape.
In his front were breastworks of rails, in his rear a hostile

642 Campaigns of General Forrest.
regiment. Turning his horse, he boldly dashed toward the
right, with the purpose of threading, in the darkness, his way
between the line of breastworks and the enemy ; but the latter
shouting, " Shoot the man on the white horse !" in an in
stant hundreds of weapons were leveled and fired at him. One
ball, taking effect, shattered his left arm above the elbow,* just
as the dauntless Rucker struck an adversary who was trying
to cut off his escape. But his own horse falling at the in
stant, he was thrown violently to the ground against some
rails, and rendered speechless from the concussion, though
conscious of what was happening around. For a moment,
there was a rush upon the prone Confederate, as of so many
hounds upon the dead quarry of their long pursuit. After
some moments of wild, fierce clamor and rough handling,
Rucker, replaced on his horse, was carried to General Hatch,
a short distance off, and questioned, with the result that
the Federal Commander was probably satisfied that Forrest
(previously supposed to be at Murfreesboro) had come up and
was covering Hood's retreat.
As Rucker was being carried, however, to General Hatch,
some one shouting for the Federal Commander, the Seventh
Alabama was made aware of the proximity of the enemy. Ma
jor Randolph immediately moved on in the indicated direc
tion, and so intently were all interested in the examination of
the Confederate, that a sudden volley from the Seventh Ala
bama, killing and wounding a good many of Hatch's escort,
was their first admonition of the danger. The Federals scat
tered, but carried their prisoner away, though vigorously
pressed by Randolph for a mile.
Kelly had previously fought manfully for the position assigned,
but such were the odds assailing him that he was forced from it,
as we have said, and a general ntelt'c occurred in the dark.

* Amputation was subsequently performed in the hospital at Nashville.

The Retreat. 643
The Seventh Alabama, were able, however to check the fur
ther progress of the Federal cavalry down the turnpike ; and
notable in their ranks for splendid courage on the occasion, as
through the da)-, were a company of cadets from the Alabama
University — mere youths — commanded by one of their num
ber. The unconquerable tenacity, the brilliant valor of these
boys, who faced and fought all odds, until their ranks were
cut to pieces, excited general notice and praise.
In the main, the darkness which shrouded the field was
decidedly propitious for the vanquished, for it concealed their
fearful weakness — their shattered, disorganized condition.
Some regiments, however, preserved a nucleus embodied,
and bivouacked within near sight of the Federal camp-fires.
Meantime, until eleven, the roads toward Franklin had been
swarming with infantry, preserving little or no organization.
Then, worn down and overcome by fatigue, they fell by the
wayside, and rested for the night as they could.
Fortunately, the Federal cavalry were not handled with
resolution, and bivouacked after the rencounter with the
Seventh Alabama. Had they been pressed forward, with all
their redoubtable numbers, (nine thousand,) they must have
inflicted irremediable damage that night upon General Hood's
army. Doubtless the impression adroitly given by Rucker
of Forrest's presence had a material effect in staying the
movement ; for Forrest was not a soldier whom they were
willing to meet in the dark or with unlaced harness.
It was not a juncture for sluggards. The infantry were early
afoot again, some by the Franklin and others the Lewis
burg turnpikes ; and by three o'clock a.m., Chalmers's Cavalry
were in their saddles, following and covering the rear on both
roads, but crossing the Harpeth near Franklin immediately
after Lee's Corps. That corps, though greatly reduced, had
preserved its organization, and was placed as the rear-guard
of the army. Here, too, Buford joined with the Kentuckians
and a part of Bell's Brigade, and Chalmers, assuming general

644 Campaigns of General Forrest.
command of the cavalry, was directed to receive his orders
from General Lee, who was presently wounded, however, in a
reconnoissance, so that the command was devolved upon Ma
jor-General Carter L. Stevenson.
Meanwhile, the enemy, though not following with that vigor
which their superiority and long preparations portended, yet
were getting troublesome. But a favorable position inter
vening, about six miles southward of Franklin, the Confederate
cavalry were halted, formed astride the highway, and awaited
the onset. Right speedily this ensued, and a succession of
weighty charges were beaten back. But the Federals per
sisted, and gathering volume, poured down with such a tide
that the Confederates were swept back about dark to a second
position, where they happily gained another foothold — one,
moreover, of great strength, which was held. In this affair
there were numerous hand-to-hand conflicts between officers
and men. General Chalmers himself shot one Federal and
captured another ; and General Buford and Chalmers's ac
complished Adjutant-General, Captain Goodman, becoming
entangled in the mile'e with the enemy, narrowly escaped.
The weather, still wet, was very cold, the roads desperately
muddy, horses and men so hungry and jaded that despondency
was now stamped upon the sombre features of the hardiest
That night, (17th,) the infantry rear-guard bivouacked about
Thompson's Station, while the cavalry rested southward, at
Spring Hill, and were there reenforced by Armstrong's Bri
gade. The infantry passing southward, the cavalry were again
disposed to cover their retreat ; and Cheatham's Corps re
lieved Lee's as the infantry rear-guard. Thereupon, Cheat
ham, to secure the passage of the trains across Rutherford's
creek, then greatly swollen by the rain-fall, halted his corps
two miles southward of Spring Hill, and intrenched. He was
thus able to hold the enemy at bay, while the train was safely
thrown southward of the dangerous stream. Then, late that
afternoon, he withdrew slowly across it, his rear and flanks

Forrest Placed in Command of Rear-Gtiard. 645
covered by cavalry ; but as the Federal cavalry continued to
be handled with singular languor, there was no collision. By
this time, the main Confederate forces were passing Duck
river, six miles rearward, and Cheatham and the cavalry held
the line of Rutherford's creek the night of the 18th. It was
then, during the night, the redoubtable battle-flag of Major-
General Forrest reappeared among his men, with the rear
guard. As Cheatham's available force of infantry did not now
exceed 1500 men, Forrest offered to relieve him with his men,
and this was sanctioned. VI.
On the morning of the 19th, the enemy's cavalry were
early afield and, in formidable numbers, displayed a resolute
purpose to force the passage of Rutherford's creek, while a
considerable column was observed in movement, as if aiming
to cross Duck river, below the junction of the creek with it.
But up to three p.m., they were unable to break the barrier
of the creek. And meanwhile, the Confederate train and
main force were safely behind Duck river. Then the rear-
suard likewise was withdrawn southward of that stream with-
oout hinderance, and bivouacked the night of the 19th at
Columbia. There, on the morning of the 20th, Walthall's Division,
Stewart's Corps, reenforced by five other fragments of brigades
— in all only 1900 bayonets — was placed under the orders of
General Forrest as commander of the rear-guard ; and he was
directed to hold the position to the last possible moment, re
tiring, when forced to do so, upon Florence, by way of Pulaski,
doing what were possible meanwhile to gain time for the safety
of the remains of the Confederate army *

• These orders and dispositions re- the 19th, between Generals Hood and
.ulted from an interview the night of Forrest, in which the former expressed

646 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Of Walthall's force, at least 300 were shoeless, and so foot
sore as to be unable to march and bear arms, and were there
fore detached on the wagon-train. For some reason the
enemy did not appear in force until late that afternoon, when,
although Columbia was manifestly unoccupied by any part of
the Confederate army, they opened upon it a furious cannon
ade of shot and shell. Hoisting a flag of truce, Forrest had
an interview — the stream between them — with General Hatch,
whom he formally assured that Columbia was only occupied
by non-combatants and the wounded of both armies. He
also proposed the exchange of some 2000 prisoners, the fruits
of the campaign, who were, as he acquainted him, without
blankets or proper clothing for the inclement season, and
must therefore perish, in many cases, from cold, if not ex
changed.* After a delay of two hours, the answer — in the
name of General Thomas — was a refusal either to exchange
prisoners or to receive those Forrest had on parole, with the
understanding that a like number should subsequently be re
turned. The shelling, however, was discontinued.
Forrest, after a careful examination into his resources, found
that he had only 3000 officers and effectively mounted men,
with 1600 infantry and eight pieces of artillery. With this
force he was expected to confront and keep off a hostile army

the belief that he could not escape in and morning of the 20th was of unusual
such weather, with unfavorable roads severity — indeed, beyond the experience
and broken-down teams. Forrest re- of any one with Hood's army. We
plied, that to remain there would cer- learn, besides, from General F., that as
lainly result in the capture of the whole many as a fourth of these prisoners
force, but that, if reenforced with 4000 must have perished from exposure, and
infantry, he would undertake to secure many more were disabled on the re
time and opportunity for the escape of treat. He did what he could to allevi-
all across the Tennessee. Gencr.il Hood ate their wretched condition, as well be-
rcjoined that he should have the in- fore as after the strange, unjustifiable
try- refusal to receive them, even on parole,
* The cold of the night of the- 19th for subsequent exchange.

The Retreat. 647
of 10,000 cavalry, and possibly 30,000 infantry. Seldom or
never has a soldier been placed in a graver situation, or one
from which extrication seemed so little probable. We arc-
assured, however, " that at no time in his whole career was
the fortitude of General Forrest in adversity, and his power
of infusing his own cheerfulness into those under his com
mand, more strikingly exhibited than at this crisis. De
feated and broken as we were, there were not wanting many
others as determined as he to do their duty to the last, and
who stood out faithfully to the end ; but their conversation
was that of men who, though determined, were without hope,
and who felt that they must gather strength even from des
pair ; but he alone, whatever he may have felt, (and he was
not blind to the dangers of our position,) spoke in his usual
cheerful and defiant tone, and talked of meeting the enemy
with as much assurance of success as he did when driving
them before him a month before. Such a spirit is sympa
thetic, and not a man was brought in contact with him who
did not feel strengthened and invigorated, as if he had heard
ofa reenforcement coming to our relief."*
During the night of the 21st, the enemy effected the pas
sage of Duck river, above the town, with their cavalry, and by
morning their infantry began to cross ; whereupon Forrest-
put his forces in retreat, the infantry moving by the Pulaski
road. Jackson's and Buford's Divisions covered the rear,
and Chalmers's the right flank, moving by the road through
Bigbyville,! while the left was carefully guarded by detach
ments of scouts. Pressing closely after, the enemy came up
with and opened warmly with artillery upon Forrest's rear-

• Notes of Captain Walter A. Good- sion he had organized at Columbia as
man a brigade— about 500 men— which he
t The remains of Chalmers's Divi- commanded in person.

648 Campaigns of General Forrest.
guard, about three miles southward of Columbia, and under
this stress the Confederates continued their retreat until
a strong defensive position was found in a gorge between two
high ridges, three miles further on. Here a stout stand
was made until the 23d, and the Federals were held in check
by the cavalry. Resuming the retreat then, to gain time for
the movement of the stock and wagon-train, another stand
was made on the 24th south of Lynnville, and Walthall's
infantry being brought into action, a severe engagement
ensued for several hours, after which the Confederates fell
back in good order two miles, to a favorable position just in
advance of Richland creek, where dispositions were made for
another combat. Armstrong's Brigade was here placed in
support of six pieces of artillery, established upon and sweep
ing the turnpike ; the infantry held the crossing of the
creek ; Chalmers and Buford were drawn up in line with and
to the left of the artillery, while Ross's Brigade was on the
right. A vigorous artillery conflict then resulted, in the
course of which two Federal guns were dismounted. Mean
while the enemy pressing Chalmers and Buford heavily with
superior masses of cavalry, forced the creek to the Confede
rate right. But Jackson's Division was sent to meet them,
and for several hours a warm conflict was maintained — in
which the enemy lost heavily and the Confederates lightly,
but among the wounded was General Buford, whose di
vision was then temporarily consolidated with Chalmers's
forces. The Federals, however, being now reenforced, For
rest withdrew toward Pulaski without further molestation
that day. During the past thirty-six hours, however, the
fighting had been with little intermission. The Federal
cavalry had been constantly making strenuous efforts to flank
Forrest's force, while their infantry had pressed vigorously on
ward by the highway ; but each Confederate officer and man
appeared to act and fight as if the fate of the army depended
on his individual conduct. And never were there manifested

Anthonys Hill. 640
higher soldierly virtues than by Forrest's heroic band-
including the infantry— the virtues of fortitude, unblench-
ing valor, and an unconquerable cheerfulness and alacrity
under orders.
The roads now, grown even worse than before, were nearly
impracticable for wheels, hence it became necessary to destroy,
at Pulaski, a quantity of the ammunition of the army, which
could not be carried off, also several locomotives and two
trains of cars. Jackson was then left there with orders to
make an obstinate stand, while the other divisions of the rear
guard retired ; and well did that division— Armstrong's and
Ross's veterans — discharge that service, retiring only when
about to be overwhelmed.
No further stand was now attempted until the Confederates
reached and took post upon Anthony's Hill, seven miles be
yond Pulaski. It was now only forty-two miles to Bainbridge,
the point on the Tennessee river where Hood's army was to
cross, but as yet many of his infantry had not reached the
river-bank ; the main part of the ordnance-train had been
abandoned, and the horses necessarily taken to transport the
pontoons, many of which also were known to be still some
distance from the river. At the same time the enemy were
reported to be in portentous numbers and proximity. Gene
ral Wilson had already passed Pulaski with 10,000 cavalry,
and Thomas had reached that point with a large force of infan
try, and both were pressing onward in hot pursuit. To pre
vent the annihilation of Hood's army, it was necessary to
make a yet more obstinate effort to delay the approaching
enemy as long as possible, and fortunately the ground was
highly favorable to that end. The approach to Anthony's
Hill, for two miles, was through a defile formed by two steep,
high ridges, which, uniting at their southern extremity, form
ed the hill, the ascent of which was sudden, and both the
ridges and hill were thickly wooded.
Morton's Battery was established upon the immediate sum-

650 Campaigns of General Forrest.
mit of the hill, so as to sweep the hollow below and the road
through it. Along the crest of the hill and around on the
ridges, were grouped Featherston's and Palmer's Brigades of
Walthall's Division, reenforced by 400 of Ross's Texans and
as many of Armstrong's Mississippians, dismounted. The
rest of Jackson's Division were disposed as cavalry on either
flank, with Reynolds's and Field's Brigades of infantry formed
in a second line as a reserve. The infantry had further
strengthened their position by breastworks of rails and tim
ber, and a' line of skirmishers were posted under cover on the
hill-side. At the same time Chalmers was halted about a mile
and a half to the rightward, on the road by which he was mov
ing, to guard that flank from being turned. So broken and
densely timbered was the ground that the concealment of the
Confederate forces was complete.
Scarcely, however, were these dispositions made when,
about one p.m., the Federal cavalry, driving the Confederate
rear-guard into the mouth of the glen, followed hotly. But
the place at length began to look so dangerous, that their
commander apparently thought it requisite to dismount seve
ral of his regiments before undertaking the ascent of the hill.
These he pushed forward on foot with a piece of artillery.
The Confederates, meanwhile, had ridden rapidly through
the hollow, a,nd up and over the hill, as if left unsupported,
as the enemy was suffered to ascend within fifty paces of
the skirmishers without hinderance. Then Morton break
ing the grim silence with canister, the skirmishers enve
loped them with a hot, galling fire of musketry from front
and flank, followed quickly by a heavier fire from the main
line of infantry. The enemy, thoroughly surprised, returning
but a scattering, feeble fire, gave way in disorder, as the Con
federates sprang forward with a shout, and charged down the
hill after them, through the horses of the dismounted men,
only halting once to deliver another fire. Thus the enemy were
driven back in great confusion out of the defile, when Forrest

The Retreat. gcj
recalled his men from their eager pursuit, to avoid becoming-
entangled with the Federal infantry, the advance of which,
he apprehended, was near at hand. The enemy left behind one"
hundred and fifty, killed and wounded, some fifty prisoners,
about three hundred cavalry horses, as many overcoats, and a
twelve-pounder Napoleon gun, with its team of eight horses
intact. The Confederate losses did not exceed fifteen killed
and fortv wounded.*
It was now nearly four p.m., and heavy Federal cavalry
columns having made the detour both to the right and left
of the road through the ravine, were beginning to press both
Ross's and Armstrong's mounted men, and Chalmers reported
the near approach, in his quarter, of a heavy force. All the
advantages of the situation had been exhausted, its further
defense was therefore inexpedient, and Forrest at once gave
orders to retire, which was done in good order, carrying off
his prisoners .and captured gun. The roads were now as bad
as ever an army encountered, and the horses had to be pushed
through mud and slush every step of the way, often belly-
deep, and never less than up to their knees. The men
marched, barefooted in many cases, often waist-deep in ice-
cold water, while sleet beat upon their heads and shoulders ;
nevertheless, by one o'clock that night, they had reached
Sugar creek, fourteen miles from Anthony's Hill. There
the stream was clear, with the pebbly bottom ; and the men
were brought to a halt, in order to wash the mire from their
ragged clothing, and, building fires, were suffered to remain
at rest until daylight.
But at dawn the Federal cavalry was up again, and, in heavy
mass, attacked Ross's Brigade, now manifestly bent on a vigo.

* It was here Forage-Master William M. Strickland was killed, of whom we
have made note ante page 461.

652 Campaigns of General Forrest.
rous attempt to press forward over all obstacles, so as to strike
Hood's force before it might escape across the Tennessee.
The road to the river was now filled with the debris of Hood's
army. His ordnance-train was still at Sugar creek, while the
mules had been used to assist in drawing the pontoon-train
to the river ; but having been returned, the ordnance-train
was just on the point of moving. It was, therefore, necessary
to make another resolute stand to secure that movement.
Accordingly, about sunrise, Reynolds's and Field's Brigades,
of Walthall's Division, were put in position some two hundred
yards southward of the ford, across a narrow ravine, and
upon a high ridge to the north of the creek and ravine, where
they threw up cover with rails and other material at hand,
while two other brigades (Featherston's and Palmer's) were
established in a strong position, half a mile further to the
rear, which was also strengthened by logs, rails, and some old
out-houses. Jackson's brigades were grouped, Ross on the
right and Armstrong on the left of the first line of infantry,
and Chalmers was halted in a strong position, where the
parallel road which he pursued crossed Sugar creek. Fortu
nately, a dense fog enveloped the position, and enabled the
Confederates to remain concealed.
About half-past eight a.m., the enemy's cavalry were to be
heard fording the creek, scarcely one hundred yards in front
of the Confederate infantry, until several regiments had been
crossed over and formed in line. The fog vailed their move
ments, but it was apparent that, apprehensive of a lurking
danger, the enemy had dismounted and were advancing, with
a part of their force, on foot, in front of the cavalry. Thus
disposed, the Federals came within thirty paces of the breast
works across their path, when, from behind it, a broad stream
of rifle-balls, cleaving through the thick fog, spread confu
sion instantly through the Federal ranks, and, springing for
ward, the infantry pressed their advantage with such vigor
that the enemy, unable to recover and rally, were driven back

Sugar Creek. 653
through their horse-holders and among their cavalry, thus
increasing the disorder. The creek was about saddle-skirt
deep, and through it the Federal cavalry clashed rearward,
without regard to any ford, and after them followed Walthall's
dauntless men, charging waist-deep through the icy water.
Ross, charging at the same time up the east bank of the
stream with about eighty men, rode over at least a regiment
of the disordered enemy, capturing a number of men and
horses. At the same time, Colonel Dillon, making a circuit
with the Second Mississippi, of Armstrong's Brigade, cross
ed the creek above, struck the enemy on the other flank,
driving them pell-mell up the defile for a mile, and killing
and wounding many.. Pursuit was now recalled, as at An
thony's Hill, for fear of collision with the Federal infantry,
but the position was held by the Confederate infantry until
twelve o'clock, up to which, the enemy having made no
demonstration upon the position, they were again put in
movement for the river. The substantial results of this
handsome affair were the capture of at least 150 horses and
many overcoats, of great value to the men in weather so
inclement. As many as one hundred officers and men were
taken prisoners, and at least four hundred of the enemy and
their horses were placed hors de combat. But the most valua
ble effect was, that it checked further close pressure upon the
rear of Hood's army by the Federal cavalry, who had now
been punished so severely in men and horses, here and at
Anthony's Hill, as to be altogether unwilling to venture an
other collision with their formidable adversary. In the mean
time Chalmers, having been attacked in his position, repulsed
his enemy handsomely, and charging in turn, captured some
prisoners, thus checking the hostile movements in that direc
tion also.
At one p.m., Forrest's Cavalry was next withdrawn ; and
that night Walthall's Division bivouacked within sixteen miles
of the Tennessee river, and on the following day returned

654 Campaigns of General Forrest.
under the command of Lieutenant-General Stewart. And on
the afternoon of the 27th, a corps of infantry being left to
hold the north bank of the Tennessee, the cavalry, relieved
from further rear-guard duty, were ordered to cross to the
south bank of that stream on the pontoon-bridge. Chalmers's
command brought up the rear after night, and there was not
a man of all that battle and weather-tempered band who did
not feel a sense of supreme relief at the moment.
COMMENTARIES.
1. General Forrest completed his passage to the north bank
of the Tennessee, on the 18th day of November, with not
more than 3000 men, and was then placed in chief command
of the Confederate cavalry with Hood's army, which, with
Jackson's Division, numbered 5500 effectives, officers and
men. The campaign, with its eventful disasters, lasted 35
days, during which Forrest's Cavalry were incessantly in sharp
conflict with the enemy, at a season of singular ¦ inclemency.
With this force he captured and destroyed 16 block-houses,
20 considerable railroad bridges, more than 30 miles of rail
road, of immediate vital importance to the communications of
the enemy, 4 locomotives, at least 100 cars, and 100 wagons.
He captured as many as 1800 of the enemy, 100,000 rounds
of ammunition, 200,000 rations, and 9 pieces of artillery ; and
brought away 3 pieces of artillery and 10 wagons and teams
more than he had carried in, besides many horses, while the
aggregate of the killed and wounded of the enemy may be set
clown at 2000. At the same time, nothing in the annals of
war exceeds in soldierly excellence the conduct of the Confe
derate rear-guard from Columbia to Shoal creek ; and the
results signally illustrated how true it is in war, as the Latin
poet says : *' They can, because they think they can."*
* Fossunt quia po.-.se videntur. Viri-.il.

rtffiw"^

BRIGADIER-GENERAL ALEXANDER w. CAMPBELL.

CHAPTER XXIV.

FINALE.
Headquarters at Corinth — Rucker's aud BeUs Brigades furloughed,
others sent to Okolona — Headquarters at Verona — General Forrest
assigned to Command of Cavalry of the Department — Reorganized
Divisions under Generals Chalmers, Jackson, and Buford — Made a
Lieu tenant-General — Formidable Preparations for a Federal Raid —
Major-General Wilson's Movement against Monte Vallo — Conflicts in
that Quarter — Forrest in Collision with the Enemy — Affairs at Bog-
ler's Creek and Dixie Station — Stirring Personal Combats — Forced
into Selma — Dispositions for Defense — Selma stormed by Wilson,
and Confederates dispersed — Adventures of General Forrest and
Escort — Headquarters at Gainesville — Forrest's Cavalry lay down
their Arms under Parole — Concluding Observations.
January ist to May, 1865.
CjENERAL HOOD having established his headquarters
at Tuscumbia, General Forrest, repairing thither, reported the
broken-down condition of his horses and his inability to forage
them in that region. He was, therefore, permitted to put his
whole corps in movement, on the 29th of December, for Co
rinth, leaving to General Roddy's small cavalry force the duty
of covering Hood's rear. This soon brought Roddy in sharp
collision with a largely superior Federal force that had been
thrown southward of the Tennessee at Decatur, and which
pressed him actively back toward Tuscumbia. Armstrong's
Brigade was therefore recalled and directed to remain rear-

656 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ward of Hood's infantry until they had passed westward of
Cherokee Station. On the 30th of December, Forrest, reach
ing Corinth, furloughed the West-Tennesseeans of Bell's Bri
gade, to proceed to their homes for fresh horses and clothing.
And a few days later, the like privilege was granted to Ruck
er's Brigade, and, indeed, to all the cavalry whose homes were
not either too remote — as Ross's Texans — or beyond the Con
federate lines.
On New- Year's day, 1865, Hood's infantry, beginning to
arrive, were dispatched, as rapidly as practicable, by rail to Tu
pelo. At the same time, all the cavalry not on furlough were
ordered to Okolona, to recuperate in that country, so rich in
forage. One of General Forrest's first acts at Corinth was, on the
2d of January, to indite a letter to Lieutenant-General Tay- ¦
lor — to whose command he had been now returned — exhibit
ing the situation, with a close grasp of details, a broad reach
of military views. ' Remaining there until the 9th or ioth, he
dispatched picked, trusty scouts into Middle Tennessee, to
ascertain the exact situation of the main body of the enemy,
and reliable indicia of probable offensive movements. Gene
ral Bell was likewise recalled by the 25th, with orders, as he
returned, to glean West-Tennessee for absentees from milita
ry service. And at the same time, measures were taken to
secure timely information of any offensive movement from the
quarter of Memphis, or up the Tennessee river. Then, leav
ing Ross's Brigade to garrison Corinth, about the 12th of
January, Forrest established his headquarters at Verona,
some fifty-five miles southward of Corinth. Here, occupied
assiduously with measures looking to the recruitment of his
gaunt ranks, the re-horsing of cavalry and artillery, and to
the close, stringent search of the country for absentees from
his regiments, Forrest remained until about the ist of March.
For some time aware that he was to be assigned to the com
mand of the cavalry of the Department of Alabama, Missis
sippi, and East-Louisiana, the order to that effect reached him

Forrest's Command Enlarged. 657
about the 24th of February, when he assumed the command
assigned him. It embraced about 10,000 men, widely dis
persed over three States, and to combine these as speedily as
possible for the most part into one coherent, effective body
became his immediate aim.
One of his early measures was to group the troops of the
several States into State divisional organizations, as far as
practicable. Brigadier-General Chalmers was placed over the
division embracing the brigades made up of Mississippians ;
Brigadier-General Buford, one constituted of the Alabama
cavalry and the gallant remains of his old Kentucky brigade,
with orders to proceed to Monte Vallo, Ala., and there organize
his new division. The Tennessee troops, with Ross's Texans,
were assigned to the command of General Jackson. And, as
under this arrangement Colonel McCulloch necessarily lost
the command of a brigade after having exercised it so long
with distinguished efficiency,* his regiment, the famous Se
cond Missouri Cavalry, was excluded from either brigade or
divisional association and constituted a special scouting force,
receiving orders direct from Forrest's headquarters. These
and other orders, devised for the thorough organization of his
resources — including the Mississippi Militia! — upon the most
effective footing possible, were promptly matured and issued.
Indeed, nothing calculated to that end appears to have been
overlooked. But meanwhile, he had been promoted to the
grade of Lieutenant-General!
Before the middle of March, Chalmers's Division was organ
ized with an effective aggregate of 450Q,§ divided into three

* He had been many times recom- t Composed of classes of citizens not
mended for promotion since early in subject to military duty under the con-
1862 — that is, by all his commanders, scription laws of the Confederate States.
Colonel Bell was promoted about this J Commission dated 28th of Febro-
time, and Brigadier-Generals Starke ary, 1865.
and Campbell having joined, there § Up to the 17th of March, Chalmers
was no longer a brigade command va- was at Columbus, Miss., and Bufordi ai
cant. Monte Vallo, Ala.

658 Campaigns of General Forrest.
brigades, commanded respectively by Brigadier-Generals F.
C. Armstrong, Wirt Adams, and Peter B. Starke. Jackson
also had his division in shape, about 3800 strong, the Tennes
see brigades of Generals T. H. Bell and Alexander W. Camp
bell being increased to 3200 rank and file. As yet, Buford
had not been able to organize his division. Roddy's force,
which was to constitute an important part of it, was necessa
rily detached, and actively on duty in North- Alabama, watch
ing the movements of a heavy Federal cavalry force, accumu
lated just across the Tennessee river, at Gravelly Springs.
The other two brigadeSj (Alabamians,) Clanton's and Arm-
stead's, constituting his command, were likewise detached,
guarding one of the then threatened flanks or approaches to
Mobile. During this period, thus mainly occupied — from the first of
January to the middle of March — with the cares of reorga
nization, numerous hostile demonstrations had taken place
upon the outskirts of the territory intrusted to General For
rest, and as many counter movements on his side were made ;
but in each instance the enemy recoiled without a collision.
Meanwhile, also remaining at Verona until the ist of March,
he had then transferred his headquarters to West-Point,
forty-two miles southward, on the line of the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad.
In the interval the Federal authorities had not been in
active. The cavalry in Middle Tennessee, to the number of
22,000, had been collected in cantonments about Gravelly
Springs and Waterloo, just northward, as we have indicated,
of the Tennessee river, near favorable points for the passage
of that stream, for piercing either the heart of Alabama or
Mississippi. Formed into five divisions, Major-General
James Wilson was in command of this formidable force.
A distinguished graduate of the West-Point Military
Academy, and standing very high as a cavalry officer with
his superiors, Wilson had devoted himself to the drill, orga-

General Wilson Afield. 659
nization, and discipline of his corps. Instituting " a thorough
system of instruction," he used every effort to bring this
splendid body of horse into the highest possible state of
efficiency and mobility.* His men all in hand, the vast
resources of the arsenals and supply depots of the United
States were at his easy disposition, and so he was left free to
give his thoughts and care exclusively to the military mould
ing of his force. His adversary, on the other hand, had his
means, as we have seen, scattered over at least two great States,
Alabama and Mississippi. He had to recruit his regiments,
to disperse his men to procure remounts, and secure cloth
ing, to glean the lean Confederate arsenals and armories for
weapons and ammunition, to watch a long frontier bristling
with foes ; in sooth, not only to mould resources into effective
form, but in great part to create them.
In February, however, one of Wilson's Divisions was de
tached for service elsewhere, but he was left with 1 7,000 men,
5000 of whom, it appears, were without horses.! Those
mounted, about twelve thousand strong, constituted three
divisions, under Generals McCook, Long, and Upton. Mean
while, Canby had commenced his operations for the reduction
of Mobile. And on the 18th of March, General Wilson threw
his three mounted divisions, with about 1500 dismounted
men, to the south side of the Tennessee at Chickasaw
Station, on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, with the
immediate object of making a diversion in behalf of the
operations against Mobile, by penetrating deep into Ala
bama. Four days later, accordingly, he set out from Chicka
saw upon his expedition, invested by General Grant with the
widest range of discretion in his operations. His equipage
included a pontoon-train of fifty wagons ; otherwise, he moved

• Vide Andrews's History of the Campaign of Mobile, p. 243.
t Vide Andrews.

660 Campaigns of General Forrest.
with not more than 250 supply and baggage-wagons. But
each man carried five days' " light rations " in his haversack,
and on his horse twenty-four pounds of grain, 100 rounds of
ammunition, and a pair of extra horse-shoes. Five days' ra
tions of hard bread and ten severally of sugar, coffee, and salt
were carried, moreover, on pack animals.
As we have said, Roddy had been in watchful observation
of this force for some time, and so wary a soldier as Forrest
had not failed to hold it under constant surveillance. He was
therefore promptly informed of Wilson's movement upon
Chickasaw, and of his departure for that point.
In anticipation of it, however, Chalmers, as early as the
17th of March, had been ordered to establish himself with Arm
strong's and Starke's Brigades (3200 strong) at Pickersville,
Alabama, the other brigade of the division (Wirt Adams's) at
the moment being on the march to Columbus, from Jackson,
Mississippi. Bell's and Campbell's Brigades — some 3200 men
—were at West-Point * Therefore, 6400 men, with such
force as Buford might assemble, were all that Forrest could
rely on to confront his adversary, as it was thought essential
to leave Adams's Brigade to guard the line of the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad. Having duly communicated to General Tay
lor tidings of the dangerous expedition afield in his depart
ment, that officer, on the 24th, telegraphed orders to Forrest
to concentrate his available forces upon Selma, the supposed
objective ofthe enemy.
Meanwhile, both Chalmers and Jackson had for some days
been held in readiness to move at " six hours notice" and on
the 25 th Armstrong's Brigade and a battery were put in
motion for Selma. The next day Chalmers's other brigade,
(Starke's,) and Bell's and Campbell's Brigades, of Jackson's
Division, were likewise ordered to march in the same di-

* Ross's Brigade was still at Corinth.

Forrest in Motion. 66 1
rection — Jackson's command moving first upon Monte Vallo,
about fifty miles from Selma, and forty eastward of Tusca
loosa, important as the centre of a number of iron mines and
foundries, worked for the Confederate Ordnance Department.
On the 27th, Forrest also set out for the theatre of impending
operations. At Columbus he learned, through scouts, that it
was manifest the Federal column was aiming for Monte Vallo.
This he at once reported to his superior, General Taylor, by
telegraph, and urged the concentration of all possible re
sources for the defense of Selma. Directing Jackson now to
press forward to Tuscaloosa with the utmost celerity, Forrest
set out for the same point on the morning of the 28th, and
reached there in a ride of thirty hours. There he learned
definitely of the movement toward Monte Vallo. Again com
municating with General Taylor, he reported his movements
and dispositions.
In the mean while, the enemy, with 13,000 horse, 1500 in
fantry, and three batteries, had taken two lines of march ;
Upton's Division the most eastern, through Russellville to
Saunders's Ferry on the west fork of the Black Warrior
river; the other two — long in advance with the pontoon-
train — following the road toward Tuscaloosa. General Wil
son, on the 27th, was at Jasper, and there hearing of Chal
mers's movement, apprehending that it portended a concen
tration of Forrest's Cavalry to meet him, he at once stripped
to his pack-train and artillery, and ordered his three divisions
to move in light order, with all haste, by way of Elyton, to
Monte Vallo, leaving the wagon-trains to follow. He was at that
place on the 30th, and there detached Croxton's Brigade — Mc
Cook's Division — to hasten to Tuscaloosa to burn the Uni
versity,* and the military stores accumulated there.

* A military organization had been burn the buildings, and it was a savage
given to this University, but that as- act, unworthy of civilized war. See
suredly did not warrant the order to Andrews, p. 246.

662 Campaigns of General Forrest.
It was Upton's Division that, flooring the railroad bridge
near Hillsboro, crossed the stream then, and pushing on,
approached Monte Vallo, late on the evening of the 30th, when
he encountered Generals Dan Adams and Roddy. Several
days previously, General Roddy, having been ordered by
General Taylor to hasten southward with his command to
meet a hostile force moving northward from Pensacola against
Montgomery, had already been thrown across the Alabama
river at Selma, when the order was countermanded, and his
destination changed to Monte Vallo, to report to General
Adams. Recrossing the river, and making a forced march of
fifty miles, he reached the scene just in time to meet Upton's
Division, with his petty force, a little northward of Monte Vallo.
Overborne by numbers, after a sharp rencounter, Adams and
Roddy were driven back through the place, and the Federal
Commander was enabled to execute the purpose which had
led him thither— the destruction of four iron-furnaces, a roll
ing-mill, and five collieries in the neighborhood. On the 31st,
the other two Federal divisions arrived, and also General Wil
son, in person.
The Confederates, meanwhile, having rallied, had reappeared
before the place as the Federal Commander reached the scene.
Upton's Division was at once thrown out to engage them,
and a keen collision ensued. Greatly inferior in numbers, the
Confederates were soon worsted, and driven southward, to
ward Randolph, to the " Six Mile Creek," where Roddy, being
reenforced by Crossland's small brigade of Kentuckians, and
the ground being rather favorable, a stand was made. As
Crossland came up, he threw his little force gallantly across
the road down which the Federals were pressing strenuously,
and presently, taking the offensive, he charged, in turn, half a
mile, thus gaining a good position at a bridge, which he was
able to hold against several vigorous attempts to dislodge
him, and until at length he was about to be turned on both
flanks. Then, sending his horses rearward, Crossland fell

Forrest upon the Federal Flank. 663
back slowly on foot, as the enemy pressed hotly after, receiv
ing, however, at least one galling fire from Crossland's deadly
rifles. The situation was one of extreme peril, but as the
ground — a thick pine wood— was favorable, he, with equal
skill and resolution, kept a steady front to the enemy of half
his men at a time for several miles, while the other half would
fall back, re-form, and await the enemy in its turn. The Fe
derals charged, by regiments, with much spirit and vigor, but
were met with a courage and tenacity that has never been
exceeded. Crossland, originally reduced to about 600 rank
and file, now finding that he was rapidly dwindling away by
the casualties of the conflict, attempted to remount ; this be
ing observed, the enemy charged upon the Kentuckians while
thus engaged, and some captures resulted, making his losses
in killed, wounded, and prisoners, a little over 100 men. The
rest of his command he was able to lead safely away from the
field. Meanwhile, General Roddy had rallied or massed the
greater part of his brigade a short distance northward of Ran
dolph, and there Crossland joined him.
During this time, Forrest was rapidly riding across the
country from Centreville toward Monte Vallo, with his staff and
escort, some seventy-five in number, and it so happened he
came within sight of this road, just where the conflict we have
related had been fought, and he observed that it was filled
with Federal cavalry, at a rapid trot moving southward. Ever
swift and daring in his measures, he determined to avail him
self of a favorable conformation of the ground to make a dash
at the hostile column, great as was the disparity. Accordingly,
forming his little following— upon each man of whom he could
rely— into a column of fours, when within fifty yards of the
road he charged boldly from his covert into the moving mass,
and broke through. Turning, he now dashed upon the frag
ment northward of him, and drove it rearward for half a mile.
But there his adversary stood drawn up in a heavy line of
battle to receive him. Changing his direction at once to the

664 Campaigns of General Forrest.
southward at a charging pace, he now found the road strewn
with signs of a recent battle, including some fifteen or twenty
dead Federals and some ten or twelve of Crossland's Ken
tuckians ; moreover, having also captured several prisoners, he
learned that there had been a good deal of fighting in that
quarter, and that General Wilson was already southward of
him, pressing Roddy and Crossland back toward Selma. In
his own little, affair he had lost three men, and being in the
very midst of the whole Federal force with now less than 75
men, it was incumbent upon him to withdraw, and find his
way speedily to the main body of his force southward. Mak
ing a slight detour from the line of the road, after a rapid
ride of six or eight miles, he succeeded in finding Roddy and
Crossland, about ten o'clock at night, confronting the enemy
near Randolph.
Informed of the situation and of the occurrences of the day,
he dispatched an order to Jackson — supposed to be at Scotts-
ville — to move swiftly across to Centreville, and, throwing his
division upon Wilson's right flank, harass him as much as
possible, after which to effect a junction before they were
forced back into Selma. Again reporting the situation to
General Taylor at Selma, Forrest repeated his recommenda
tion of a general concentration for the defense of Selma, and
inquired the present locality of Chalmers's Division. The
answer being that Chalmers was then at Plantersville, about
twenty miles southward of Randolph, Forrest requested — by
telegraph — that the division should at once be dispatched to
his aid in the direction of Randolph, so that he might delay
the enemy as long as possible, and secure time, both for the
concentration of troops for the final defense of Selma, and the
removal of stores from that depot.
During the night of the 31st, the enemy remained quietly
in front of Randolph ; but they had intercepted dispatches
both from Jackson and Captain Anderson, of Forrest's staff,
which divulged to General Wilson the plans of his adversary,

Confederate Forces Divided. 665
the scattered disposition, at the moment, of the Confederate
forces, and the weakness of Forrest's command, then im
mediately in his front. Jackson, as he ascertained from these
dispatches, was still westward of the Cahawba, moving toward
Centreville. Already he had come in collision with Croxton,
and was expecting another conflict. Wilson, therefore, cog
nizant of the small available force in his path, detached Mc
Cook with another brigade to seek to form a junction with
Croxton and occupy Jackson, while , he would press directly
for Selma with his other divisions, still at least 9000 strong.
To meet this force, Forrest had now little over 1500 men,
portions Of Roddy's and Crossland's Brigades, and some raw
militia that had been in garrison at Monte Vallo under Gene
ral Dan Adams.
¦At sunrise, on the ist of April, the enemy were promptly in
their saddles, Wilson now, as we have said, fully conscious
of the extreme weakness of any enemy he could possibly en
counter. The Confederates, of course, retired, but in the
course of the next eight or ten miles there was some spirited
skirmishing with the Federal advance, which several times
was checked by Forrest and his escort, and portions of Rod
dy's and Crossland's commands. Giving General Taylor tele
graphic intelligence of his inability to make substantial head
against Wilson with his present force, about twelve m., Forrest
learned, to his chagrin, from Captain Goodman, of Chalmers's
staff, near Maplesville Station, that that officer was not south
ward, on the Plantersville road, as had been reported, but was
really northward, moving by another road to the left hand.
Couriers were accordingly dispatched hurriedly in all probable
directions, to find Chalmers, and guide him to a junction in
front of Selma, at the expense, if needful, of his train and ar
tillery. Several hours later, a dispatch from General Chal
mers himself, announced his exertions to reach a point south
ward (Dixie Station) as soon as his horses would enable him.
Having learned, meanwhile, from General Adams, that there

666 Campaigns of General Forrest.
was a strong defensive position some four miles southward,
that officer was directed to fall back and occupy it with the
artillery and the main body of Roddy's, Crossland's, and his
own men. Forrest then threw himself across the path of the
enemy with his escort and ioo of the Kentuckians, resolved
to dispute every inch of the ground, to gain time for Adams
to get into position and arrange for its defense. For several
miles did he boldly grapple with the Federal advance, con
stantly checking it by a series of charges of characteristic
audacity, and only falling back when the numbers brought up
were overpowering. But by four p.m., he had been forced to
fall back upon Adams, where he hoped for a junction also
with Chalmers.
The position was, in fact, very favorable for defense. Bog-
ler's creek, with rugged banks, intersected the railroad and
highway, forming a narrow valley rightward of the former,
with steep, wooded hills commanding the several approaches
from Randolph and Maplesville. On these ridges the Con
federates were drawn up — Roddy's Brigade immediately
astride the highway, supporting the artillery, which swept
both the road from Randolph and the one from Maplesville ;
on his left lay Crossland, and on his right Adams with the
remains of the State troops, and a small infantry battalion
from Selma, resting rightward on Mulberry creek. They did
not exceed in all 1350 men, and to these now Forrest added
about 150 officers and men, making a force of scarcely 1500
men, and six guns.
About four p.m., the enemy — Long's Division — came up, and
promptly and resolutely assailed the right of Roddy's position
with a mounted battalion, (Seventeenth Indiana,) with drawn
sabres. It was handsomely done, and the Confederates were
thrown into a good deal of confusion, giving way in disorder.
Forrest, observing the disaster, dashed upon the scene with
his staff, and, assisting Generals Roddy and Adams, succeed
ed in reestablishing their lines, while a number of the enemy

Federal Charge. 66>
were left on the ground either killed or wounded. Having
thus restored the integrity of his lines in that quarter, Forrest
returned to where his artillery was posted.
During this time the other Federal division— Upton's—
guided by the sounds of battle, had been rapidly approaching
by the Maplesville road. Previously, Forrest had thrown for
ward that indomitable, hard fighter, Lieutenant Nathan Boon,
of his escort, with ten men, to reconnoitre, and presently the
shrill clangor of a bugle was heard beyond an old field in front
of the Confederate position, and, soon after, Boon and his
little band dashed into sight, closely pressed by the enemy,
who charged across the field in right gallant fashion in line.
The Confederates now opened upon them with a destructive '
fire, both of canister and rifles, emptying a number of saddles.
In the mean time, Upton, having come upon the scene right-
ward, dismounted his division, and pressed up to the attack
upon the Confederate right. There were the militia, and
they could not be made to stand, but fell back in confusion.
The left had held their position successfully, but there was
now imminent risk of being turned and cut off from the ford
of Dixie creek ; Forrest therefore ordered his line withdrawn
to secure that crossing. This being observed, doubtless, by
the enemy, a vigorous charge by platoons was made, to meet
which Forrest had at the moment available only his famous
escort and staff and the section of Adams's artillery. From
the latter, one discharge was secured, but, seeing that the in
fantry support had gone, the artillerists abandoned their guns
in position, and retreated abruptly. On came the Federal
cavalry, with their sabres drawn, when Forrest sprang to meet
them with his escort ; but he was swept back into the woods
about fifty yards by the overwhelming stress of numbers ; and
such was the momentum of the Federal charge, that one of
their horses, striking squarely against the wheel of a piece,
broke every spoke, and split his own breast open. A single
artillerist had remained staunchly at that piece ; gathering a

668 Campaigns of General Forrest.
handspike from the trail, with one blow he dashed out the
brains of the overthrown trooper, and knocked another from
his seat, after which feat, shouldering his handspike, he deli
berately made his way rearward.
By this time, five p.m., General Forrest, his staff, and
escort were engaged in a hand-to-hand miUe with the enemy,
and the General became involved in one of those personal ren
counters that have marked his life, and his escapes from
which appear incredible. He was set upon by four troopers
in the road at one moment. Shooting one, the others dashed
down upon him with uplifted sabres, which he attempted to
parry with his revolver, but received several slight wounds
and bruises, both on his head and arm. Three others came
up, meanwhile, and took part, so that actually as many as six
troopers were either attempting to sabre or shoot him. By
this time the hammer of his pistol had been hacked away, so
that the weapon was useless, while his right arm was sorely
weakened by the many blows which had fallen upon it. His
staff and escort could not help him ; for all, at the moment, were
strenuously engaged in the like personal combats. On either
hand the roadway was hedged by a dense, impenetrable
thicket, and rearward was choked by a tWo-horse wagon,
which barred his escape in that direction, while his enemies
filled the road frontward, fiercely cutting and shooting at him.
Escape, indeed, seemed hopeless ; for, as if to render it utterly
so, his horse was now severely wounded by a pistol-ball in the
thigh. But it was not the habit of the man to look upon
aught as hopeless. Wheeling his horse toward the wagon,
giving him the spur fiercely, and lifting him with the bridle,
the brave animal rose into the air, and surmounted the obstacle
at the bound, going some thirty steps before he was halted,
and Forrest turned to survey the field. Scarcely had he done
so, when he was charged by a Federal officer, who lunged at
him with his sabre ; but Forrest parried the thrust with his
other pistol, which he had been able to draw, and, firing,

Gallant Fighting of Forrest and Staff. 669
killed his resolute adversary * By this time, however, those
whom he had eluded by his desperate leap over the wagon
had contrived to pass it, and were again upon him ; but Colo
nel M. C. Galloway (of Memphis) and Dr. Jones, of his staff,
by this time had come to the aid of their imperiled chief, and,
firing, had each put an adversary hors de combat. Forrest
killed yet another, and Galloway, wounding still another, took
him prisoner. Meanwhile, the escort, fighting with their
usual fearless prowess, had first checked and then driven their
enemy back, which discovered by the few who survived, they
retreated precipitately, leaving him and his intrepid party
masters of the field. The enemy had used the sabre almost
exclusively. Forrest and his staff were armed, each with two
navy revolvers, and the men with Spencer rifles as well as
pistols. It was a contest of sabres with firearms, in a thick
wood, with the odds of four to one against the Confederates.
Forrest, Lieutenant Boon, and five of his men only were
wounded, while some thirty of the enemy were killed and as
many as sixty were left in hospital, near by, badly wounded.
The caissons had been carried off, but it was necessary to
abandon the section of artillery to the enemy, as Forrest fell
back across the creek. Previously, likewise, some 200 of the
State troops and infantry had also fallen into their possession.
This stand and combat which we have related, would not
have been undertaken but for the supposition that General
Chalmers, from his reported short distance from the ground,
would be able to bring his division up in time to enable For
rest to profit by the favorable character of the position to
make a prolonged, effective resistance there. But Chalmers,
untowardly diverted and retarded by conflicting orders, and
bad roads and swamps across his route, had really gone to
ward Marion with Starke's Brigade.

• Captain Taylor. Vide Andrews, p. 250.

670 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Adams's men were now utterly demoralized, and many
too, of Roddy's were dashing rearward toward Selma, with
little or no organization ; meanwhile, the enemy were persist
ently pressing after. But Forrest still interposed his staff and
escort across their path, and again a squadron, apparently, was
launched upon him ; but standing at bay, they were repelled
and driven back across a creek. Roddy, meanwhile, having
gathered some three or four hundred of his best men, was or
dered to cover the rear as long as practicable. By this time,
Forrest's wounds had become very painful, and he rode with
his staff and escort rapidly to Plantersville. General Adams
was there, and had succeeded in again embodying the mass of
the Confederates. But, unluckily, Chalmers was not there.
Scarcely had General Forrest had time to telegraph General
Taylor the present state of affairs, before the eager enemy
appeared, and, without halting, dashed down upon the Confed
erates, who at the instant, for the most part, were occupied
drawing forage and subsistence from the stores accumulated
there. Straightway the panic was general, there was mount
ing in hot haste, and the larger portion made off, as fast as
their horses could carry them, to Selma. But around Forrest
rallied his matchless escort, each one as doughty as any Pala
din of story, and with them he quickly sallied forward. Pre
sently, a short but most spirited engagement took place, which,
thanks to the virtue of the Spencer (repeater) rifle in the sure,
steady hands of that sturdy, band, resulted in forcing the Fed
erals to retire upon their main force about sunset.
Apprehensive that Roddy and the rear-guard had been cap-
cured, after a brief conference with Adams, Forrest directed
that officer to fall back, that night, to Selma, with such forces
as could be collected, while he would go in quest of Chalmers
with his escort, now reduced to not more than forty men, by
courier and other detached service, and casualties.
Taking the road toward Marion, some five miles from Plan
tersville, Forrest was relieved somewhat by coming upon Rod-

Concentration. 6 y i
dy and his detachment, seeking their way toward Selma, after
having been pressed off the road by the enemy. Later, about
eleven p.m., he also met Armstrong, with his brigade at a halt,
awaiting Chalmers, who, he reported, was still six or eight
miles distant, impeded by a swamp and some bad streams
across his road. Armstrong was now ordered to hasten to
Selma, and Colonel Thomas W. White was dispatched to find
Chalmers, with orders to press in the same direction with
Starke's Brigade, even though he had to leave his artillery be
hind. These measures having been taken, at two p.m., the
2d of April, the Confederate General, suffering acutely from
his hurts, and worn down with fatigue, halted, and gave his
escort opportunity for several hours of rest, and to feed their
hungry horses.
We must now turn to the movements, meanwhile, of the
divisions of Chalmers and Jackson, so far at least as may shed'
light upon the causes which hindered a timely concentration
of all Confederate defensive resources across the path of Wil
son. Armstrong's Brigade, as will be recollected, moved on
the 26th day of March, two days ahead of the other brigade
(Starke's) of Chalmers's Division ; but he was overtaken by
General Chalmers and staff at Greensboro on the 28th, hav
ing been detained in the passage of the Black Warrior. At
Marion, in consequence of an order from General Forrest pre
scribing concentration, Armstrong was halted, and Starke's
Brigade was ordered thither. The country is one of great fer
tility, abounding, at the time, in large, highly improved plan
tations, handsome houses, with pretty villages, and had never
been visited or seared by any of the material ills of the war.
Little accustomed to see soldiers, the people received Forrest's
Cavalry with a boundless hospitality, and made their reception
and stay very pleasant ; an unwonted holiday and relaxation
from the toils which were their usual lot. Meanwhile, the
country was full of rumors of the movements of tbe enemy.
Starke's Brigade came up on the afternoon of the 30th, and

672 Campaigns of General Forrest.
that night an order was received from General Taylor, at eleven
o'clock, to move upon Plantersville. The Cahawba, after some
unavoidable delay in the construction of the pontoon -bridge,
was crossed late in the afternoon of the 31st. But swamps
and wretched roads made General Chalmers diverge from his
projected line of march toward Randolph, and seek practicable
roads for his artillery and trains, escorted by Starke's Brigade,
Armstrong's Brigade having become detached on the ist of
April. Jackson's Division, moving on the route assigned it, had
encountered Croxton, eight miles north of Scottsville, and,
after a sharp fight, dispersed that brigade, capturing a number
of prisoners, several stands of colors, one hundred and fifty
horses, and Croxton's papers ; but, as the bridge over the Ca
hawba, near Centreville, was burned by the enemy under Mc
Cook, with whom he also had a skirmish, he was unable to
pass that stream in time to throw the weight of his splendid
division into the unequal scales. Thus, with three of his
choicest, largest brigades absent or beyond his control, the
morning of the 2d of April dawned upon General Forrest.
But, meanwhile, he was riding swiftly, with his faithful escort,
toward Selma, where he arrived at ten a.m. He found the
place in wild confusion, not unnatural, perhaps, in view of the
serious dangers impending. Long trains of cars, freighted
with stores and prisoners, were being dispatched toward De
mopolis. Steamers at the landing were being loaded with
other stores and freight of all descriptions, to be sent up the
river to Montgomery ; the streets were thronged with wagons
and drays, laden with boxes, barrels, and parts of machinery,
and rapidly driven in different directions. Troopers, too, rode
hither and thither, seeking their commands and officers. Gen
eral Taylor, the Department Commander, was still there, but
on the eve of departure, by rail, with a train of ordnance and
subsistence supplies, for Demopolis.
Selma is upon the west bank of the Alabama river, and

Selma. 673
stands upon a bluff nearly one hundred feet above high-
water level. There were established one of the chief arsenals
of construction and depots of the Confederate States, embra
cing ordnance foundries for the army and navy. Therefore,
the place was extensively fortified by a double line of works,
the exterior of which was upon a trace of nearly four miles,
which enveloped the town upon all sides save the river-front.
These works were of strong profile, and well arranged with
bastions, proper ditches, and strongly palisaded at many
points ; but they required for their proper defense a very
large garrison, one far larger than was now available, as For
rest was satisfied, after taking a careful survey, and the
resources at hand for holding them. Nevertheless, as the
chief command devolved upon him by the departure of Gene
ral Taylor at two p.m., he made his dispositions for the at
tempt, hopeless as it seemed. Armstrong's Brigade, about
1400 strong, was stationed to hold the lines on the left and
west, his men being deployed at intervals of ten feet in order
to cover the whole ground assigned the brigade. Roddy's
men, and such .other forces as were in the place, in all some
1700, rank and file, were disposed in the same extended man
ner to the right of Armstrong, filling the centre and eastern
portion of the line.
The enemy had bivouacked nineteen miles distant, at Plan
tersville. Taking the field at daylight that morning, they
began to skirmish with the Confederates as early as two p.m.,
and kept it up until four, when they had completely invested
the position, making it impracticable for Jackson and Chal
mers now to enter the place. Meanwhile, Forrest had ascer
tained not only the weakness of his garrison, but likewise
that the artillery had been left with a small supply of ammu
nition, and not one charge of either grape or canister* Hav-

* For example, two of the principal of General Forrest and Cattain Good-
batteries, with twenty rounds of am- man.
munition and mainly solid shot. — Notes.

674 Campaigns of General Forrest.
ing also opened telegraphic communication with General Bu
ford, he found that that officer had not been ordered thither
with his disposable forces, and therefore gave the order.
In the interval, under cover of the light skirmishing kept
up, as we have mentioned, since two p.m., General Wilson had
made his dispositions with decision and celerity. Confident
of success, and appreciating the value of the prize almost
within his grasp, his approaches were yet made with special
care, to avoid the exposure of his men to any profitless, need
less loss. An extensive wood in front of Armstrong's posi
tion was favorable for this end.
About five p.m., a piece of artillery on the extreme (Arm
strong's) left opened upon the Federals, who were forming
for an assault in that quarter. Soon, too, all of Armstrong's
artillery opened upon similar forces in their front ; and pre
sently the enemy, bringing up a battery to a favorable ridge,
replied with spirit, but their projectiles, flying high, did no
harm. For a while they appeared little disposed to come to
close quarters ; but at half-past five, three strong lines of bat
tle were pushed forward to the assault, not only of Arm
strong's position, but of the Confederates on his right. As
we have mentioned, the Confederate artillery was not pro
vided with proper ammunition, and despite all the fire that
was opened upon the advancing Federal lines, they moved up
steadily and handsomely to their work. They were armed
with Spencer rifles, repeaters, and breech-loaders ;* and from
their massive lines poured out an unceasing stream of leaden
hail, to which the return fire of the attenuated Confederate
line was as that of a skirmish detachment to the uproar of a
battle at its climax.
Forrest had rapidly repaired to the scene where the assault

• The Spencer rifle discharges sev- then reloaded in less time than an or-
en loads in quick succession, and is dinary rifle.

Selma. 675
was most strenuous. Meanwhile, the militia began to falter
and gradually quit their places behind the breastworks, leav
ing broad gaps, and Armstrong's right exposed. Roddy was
therefore directed to move over and fill the breach ; but before
it could be effected, the enemy had reached the exposed, de
serted section of the lines, and surmounted it, cutting Roddy
and Armstrong in sunder. Turning leftward, they opened an
enfilading fire upon Armstrong, who had repulsed three at
tacks upon his front, with severe loss to his immediate assailants.
At this, however, Armstrong was forced to withdraw his bri
gade, which having to do under a heavy fire, his loss was very
heavy. The last to leave their position were the First Mis
sissippi (Pinson's) Cavalry. Standing stoutly their ground,
the enemy were in their rear before they fell back, and theii
gallant Colonel and a large part of his regiment were taken
prisoners. In the mean time, the militia had thrown away
their arms, and were swiftly seeking their horses, and divest
ing themselves, as they fled, of all that would betray their late
connection with the defense of Selma. The scene generally
was one of the wildest confusion. The Confederates, beaten
from the breastworks, were rushing toward their horses ; in the
town the streets were choked with horses, with soldiers and
citizens hurrying wildly to and fro. Clouds of dust rose and
so filled the air, that it was difficult to distinguish friend from
foe. From the houses came the wails and lamentations of
terrified women and children, about to be left to the mercies
of a storming enemy. The Federals were still firing upon
their routed, fleeing adversary.
Further resistance upon a field so utterly lost, indeed as
soon as the enemy appeared in such overpowering force before
it, was now worse than useless. But what avenue of escape
was there left open ? For the broad Alabama river as effectu
ally closed the way in that quarter, as the enemy did appa
rently on all other sides. While Armstrong, who throughout
the fight had led his men with the most signal gallantry,

676 Campaigns of General Forrest.
gathered some of Ashcraft's Regiment around him, and con
tinued to skirmish with the enemy as he fell back into the
town, Forrest, assembling his staff and escort, sallied forth
from Selma, by the Montgomery road, upon which, happily as
yet, there was no hostile force to bar his egress. Armstrong
soon followed, with a like sturdy band around him, but mis
taking the road, became enveloped in a bend of the river,
where, having been closely pursued, he effected his escape by
cutting his way out with forty or fifty followers.
Thus Selma fell, and with it the last important arsenal of
construction belonging to the Southern people remained in
the possession of General Wilson, and the main purpose for
which that General had taken the field was accomplished, — just
as the illustrious, the "incomparable" army of North-Virginia
was forced to abandon its long-held lines at Petersburg, and
enter upon a dogged, hopeless, fatal retreat along the valley
of the Appomattox, to that field whereon, seven days later, it
finally stacked the arms so long borne with such affluence of
glory, furled the colors that it had made all-famous, and, quench
ing its camp-fires forever, practically brought to a close the
manful, heroic struggle of the Southern people for a separate
national existence and political institutions of their own choice.
Forrest, as we have said, taking the road along the west
bank of the Alabama river, some three miles from Selma,
across the highway by which the Federal force had approach
ed, suddenly heard in the stillness of the night, the cries of
women in distress. Guided by the sound, he and some of
his men dashed thither to find a neighboring house in the
possession of four Federal " bummers," who, after having rifled
it of all jewelry and other portable valuables, were engaged in
the effort to outrage the women who lived there. Summary
was the fate of these wretches. The escort were now greatly
excited and provoked by the incident, and those in the ad
vance-guard, meeting a number of these fellows, loaded down
with plunder, did not hesitate to slay them on the spot.

The Escort Surprise a Federal Squadron. 677
Hearing the sounds of what was happening ahead, Forrest, to
check it, took the conduct of the advance himself. Presently
capturing a picket-party, he learned that it belonged to a
small squadron of the Fourth Regulars, encamped near by,
rearward, which he determined to surprise and capture also,
small as was his own force. Meanwhile, learning froni the
picket, also, that there was a scouting party in the neighbor
hood detached from the same squadron, he dispatched a part
of the escort in their quest, with speedy success ; for they
were soon found, a little distance from the road, and taken
without resistance, burdened with articles of jewelry, plate,
and the like, from the neighboring houses. Encumbered
with prisoners who had to be guarded, he had only, about
thirty men left disposable for the surprise of the squadron we
have mentioned, reported over fifty strong. Nevertheless, he
was not diverted from his purpose ; but as they approached
its immediate vicinity, Captain Jackson, the commander of his
escort, stated to him that he was requested on the part of the
men to say, they would not attack the enemy if their General
led them ; for in a night attack he would be exposed to danger
which they were altogether unwilling he should incur at that
time ; that if he would remain where he was, they would cheer
fully execute his orders. To this wish of men who had served
him so long with superb devotion and valor, Forrest properly
acceded, and, halting by the wayside, directed Captain Jack
son to do the work in hand, their prey being less than a quar
ter of a mile distant. Presently Jackson was close upon his
adversary without being observed, but then a Federal soldier,
springing up, fired his pistol. The escort rushed upon the
enemy, as, startled by their comrade, they rose from their
blankets and caught up their arms. An animated fight re
sulted, which was brought to a close in a few minutes, how
ever, by the complete success of the Confederates, thirty-five
of the enemy being either killed or wounded, and five cap
tured, with tbe loss on the other side of only one man wounded.

678 Campaigns of General Forrest.
Rapidly resuming his march, in the course of the next eight
miles, they met and captured some more of the plundering
" bummers," so that the fruits of the night's operations were
at least sixty, either killed, wounded, or captured.
Reaching Plantersville early on the next morning, Forrest
here found in a hospital one hundred Federals who had been
brought thither by the enemy after their affair with him
at Dixie Station, on the ist of April. Here, too, he halted
until three o'clock in the afternoon, to give his jaded men and
animals food and rest. Then, retaking his line of retreat
toward Marion, scarcely had he gone a mile when he came in
collision with the advance of the Federal brigade which had
been detached some days previously under General McCook.
After their old fashion, the escort promptly charged upon the
adversary in their road, and killed, wounded, and captured at
least twenty ; but further combat was altogether too unequal
to be adventured, and Forrest swiftly withdrew by the left
flank through the woods. It was now four p.m., and, pushing
on all night — crossing the Cahawba river — he reached Marion
at ten a.m. on the 4th. Forrest and his band had now been
in their saddles, with little intermission, for seven days and
nights, with the scantiest fare for men or horses ; and all
were so greatly worn down that rest and sleep were essential.
Here, too, he found Jackson's Division, Chalmers with Starke's
Brigade, and the entire train and artillery intact that he had
brought from Mississippi.
For the week following, Forrest remained with this force
in that vicinity, reassembling so many of his command as had
escaped from Selma ; and, notwithstanding the inauspicious
aspect of affairs, he set to work with characteristic activity to
place his own command in condition for service by recruiting,
and exchanging his horses and mules, while at the same time
closely guarding the line of the Cahawba from Marion to
its mouth. Then, on the 15th, establishing his headquarters
at Gainesville, he withdrew his force to that, quarter. It was

The End at Hand. 679
here that Northern newspapers began to give the particulars of
the surrender of General Lee's army at Appomattox Court-
House ; and, presently, the fall of Mobile, followed soon by
telegraphical intelligence — about the 25th — that General
Johnston had opened negotiations with General Sherman for
the final cessation of hostilities. All had now to see that the
end was near at hand ; the end of toilsome marches ; the end
of night-watches ; the end of fierce battles with an enemy
always superior in numbers ; the end of years of hardship
and peril ; but alas ! the end also of all the proud hopes, which
had inspired them throughout, of political independence. So
soon as this was comprehended, the deepest anxiety seized upon
the men to get home once more, and numbers did not await
the last moment, but went off of their own accord. Thus
stood affairs on the 9th of May.* General Taylor having pre
viously completed negotiations with General Canby for the
cessation of hostilities by the Confederate forces of his depart
ment on the same terms as had been stipulated between
Generals Johnston and Sherman, on that day Brigadier-
General E. S. Dennis reached Gainesville as the Federal
Commissioner to execute the proper paroles. General Jack
son was appointed a Commissioner on the part of the Con
federates to authenticate muster-rolls and other necessary
papers, and the work of paroling began ; and in this manner :
muster-rolls, in duplicates, of each general and his staff ; of
each regimental staff; of each quartermaster and commis-

* General Croxton, after having and, after a warm combat of about one
destroyed the factories at Tuscaloosa, hour, the Federals were beaten back,
moving westward, sought to strike and with the loss of about one hundred
break up the Mobile and Ohio Rail- killed, wounded, and captured. Adams
road from Columbus to Meridian. But pursued for some thirty or forty miles,
General Wirt Adams, left at West- but without securing any other material
Point by Forrest to guard that road, advantage. This was the last engage-
threw himself with about the same force ment of the war east ofthe Mississippi.
across Croxton's path, near Sipsey river,

680 Campaigns of General Forrest.
sary, and their employes ; and of each company, were made,
and a copy furnished each Commissioner. To each non-com
missioned officer and private was then issued a certificate of
parole, bearing the number opposite their names, respectively,
upon the muster-rolls, and signed by the two Commissioners.
The officers, however, were required to sign duplicate obli
gations, as follows :
" I, the undersigned, prisoner of war, belonging to the Army of the De
partment of Alabama, Mississippi, and East- Louisiana, having been sur
rendered by Lieutenant-General R. Taylor, Confederate States Army,
commanding said department, to Major-General E. R. S. Canby, United
States Army, commanding Army and Division of West-Mississippi, do
hereby give my solemn parole of honor that I will not hereafter serve in
the armies of the Confederate States, or in any military capacity whatever
against the United States of America, or render aid to the enemies ofthe
latter, until properly exchanged in such manner as shall be mutually ap
proved by the respective authorities."
This was then approved by both Commissioners, and General
Dennis added his indorsement, that the officer in question
would " not be disturbed by the United States authorities as
long as he observed his parole and the laws in force where he
resides!' On the same day of the arrival of General Dennis at his
headquarters, General Forrest issued his address to his troops
in the following language :
" Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry Corps, >
Gainesville, Alabama, May 9, 1865. j
" Soldiers : By an agreement made between Lieutenant-General Taylor,
commanding the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East-Louisiana,
and Major-General Canby, commanding United States forces, the troops
of this Department have been surrendered.
" I do not think it proper or necessary, at this time, to refer to the causes
which have reduced us to this extremity ; nor is it now a matter of mate
rial consequence to us how such results were brought about. That we are
beaten, is a self-evident fact, and any further resistance on our part
would be justly regarded as the very height of folly and rashness.

General Forrest's Farewell Address. 68 1
" The armies of Generals Lee and Johnston having surrendered, you
are the last of all the troops of the Confederate States Army, east of the
Mississippi river, to lay down your arms.
" The cause for which you have so long and so manfully struggled, and
for which you have braved dangers, endured privations and sufferings, and
made so many sacrifices, is to-day hopeless. The Government which we
sought to establish and perpetuate is at an end. Reason dictates and
humanity demands that no more blood be shed. Fully realizing and feel
ing that such is the case, it is your duty and mine to lay down our arms —
submit to the ' powers that be ' — and to aid in restoring peace and es
tablishing law and order throughout the land.
" The terms upon which you were surrendered are favorable, and should
be satisfactory and acceptable to all. They manifest a spirit of magna
nimity and liberality on the part of the Federal authorities, which should
be met on our part, by a faithful compliance with all the stipulations and
conditions therein expressed. As your Commander, I sincerely hope that
every officer and soldier of my command will cheerfully obey the orders
given, and carry out in good faith all the terms of the cartel.
'•' Those who neglect the terms, and refuse to be paroled, may assuredly
expect, when arrested, to be sent North and imprisoned.
" Let those who are absent from their commands, from whatever cause,
report at once to this place, or to Jackson, Mississippi ; or, if too remote
from either, to the nearest United States post or garrison, for parole.
" Civil war, such as you have just passed through, naturally engenders
feelings of animosity, hatred, arid revenge. It is our duty to divest our
selves of all such feelings ; and, as far as in our power to do so, to culti
vate friendly feelings toward those with whom we have so long contended,
and heretofore so widely, but honestly, differed. Neighborhood feuds,
personal animosities, and private differences should be blotted out ; and,
when you return home, a manly, straightforward course of conduct will
secure the respect even of your enemies. Whatever your responsibilities
may be to government, to society, or to individuals, meet them like men.
" The attempt made to establish a separate and independent Confede
ration has failed ; but the consciousness of having done your duty faith
fully, and to the end, will, in some measure, repay for the hardships you
have undergone.
M In bidding you farewell, rest assured that you carry with you my best
wishes for your future welfare and happiness. Without, in any way, re
ferring to the merits of the cause in which we have been engaged, your
courage and determination, as exhibited on many hard-fought fields, have
elicited the respect and admiration of friend and foe. And I now, cheer-

682 Campaigns of General Forrest.
fully andgratefully, acknowledge my indebtedness to the officers and men
of my command, whose zeal, fidelity, and unflinching bravery have been
the great source of my past success in arms.
" I have never, on the field of battle, sent you where I was unwilling to
go myself; nor would I now advise you to a course which I felt myself
unwilling to pursue. You have been good soldiers ; you can be good citi
zens. Obey the laws, preserve your honor, and the Government to which
you have surrendered can afford to be, and will be, magnanimous.
" N. B. Forrest, Lieutenant-General."
The utmost eagerness now pervaded the command to pro
cure their paroles. General Dennis, found to be a courteous
gentleman, did all in his power to accelerate the work as
signed, and in a manner most acceptable to his late adversa
ries. And by the 16th of May, about 8000 officers and men
had been paroled, and allowed to return to their homes.* To
that extent at least " For them the blooming life is sweet ;
Return is not for all."
Ah ! no. Thousands of their comrades, as valiant and strong
of soul as ever died on the battle-field in defense of their birth
right, after having established the proud records of their corps
at Fort Donelson, Red Mound, Murfreesboro, Thompson's
Station, Prairie Mound, Fort Pillow, Tishomingo, Harrisburg,
and in that fearful winter retreat from Nashville, were in their
graves on that day when Forrest's Cavalry ceased to exist.
CONCLUDING COMMENTARIES.
If by this time our readers have not been able to form a fair
and just conception of the distinctive traits of General For
rest, both as a man and a cavalry commander, we have mate
rially failed in the work we undertook, and it were needless
now to attempt to make amends by a wordy summary of what

• Including about 600 of Scott's Louisiana Cavalry, paroled at Gainesville.

Concluding Commentaries. 683
we regard those traits to be. It may not, however, be amiss
to say, that one of the lessons of his operations will be in the
demonstration of the great utility in war of horses in the rapid
transportation of a body of men to the field of battle or opera
tions, there to be employed as riflemen, fighting on foot. The
current of belief has been, that any advantage thus secured
was more than counterbalanced by the necessary absence,
during battle, of the horse-holders — about one fourth. But as
Forrest handled his men, we believe it to be apparent he
made his corps so effective, by the celerity and uncertainty —
to the enemy — of his movements, as to add immensely to the
value of mounted operations in war.
Examined closely, his operations will be found based on the
soundest principles of the art of war. His tactics, intuitively,
and without knowledge of what other men had done before
him, were those of the great masters of that art — that is, to
rush down swiftly, thunderously upon his enemy with his
whole collective strength. He had the happy gift of knowing
how to confirm the courage of his men, how to excite their
confidence and enthusiasm, how to bend them, the most reck
less, to his iron will. In his composition there is apparent as
much sagacity as audacity. Fortitude, animal courage, and
vitality of body gave him energy and celerity in action, while
all was guided by a judgment and circumspection rarely at
fault At critical instants he was ever quick to see, clear in
his previsions, swift to decide, and swift to strike— the very
embodiment assuredly of warlike vigor. With every expedi
tion he seems to have been able to increase the influence of
his resolute character upon his men, and infuse them with the
like spirit.
His combats appear to have been habitually delivered or
accepted at the right juncture. Exigencies were encountered
with a wise audacity, and without loss of time in weighing
probabilities after his preparations were made. When left to

684 Campaigns of General Forrest.
himself and to his own resources, General Forrest always
prospered. It may be justly said that no other soldier of either side, dur
ing the war — Stonewall Jackson excepted — carried the genuine,
distinctive traits of the American character into their opera
tions as did General Forrest. Ever attracted to take the short
est line toward his object, he always knew how to grasp op
portunity, and was never at a loss for resources in the most
sudden emergencies. Endowed by nature with as stormful,
fiery a soul as ever blazed to heat and flame in any soldier,
yet surely he accomplished as much by address as by swift,
hard-smiting blows. A strong man of action, of sleepless
temper, strenuous, aggressive, and to whom war was a killing
manner of thing, nevertheless General Forrest was not the
less adroit, and wary, and watchful than swift, and resolute,
and indomitable in his operations. Essentially as daring a
cavalry leader as ever gained distinction, it may, in fine, be
said of him, in the words of Napier, that his daring was " not
a wild cast of the net for fortune" for it was always supported
by a penetration and activity that suffered no opportunity to
escape.

A

PPENDIX.

(A.)

Staff and Regimental Rosters.
The Staff of General -N. B. Forrest in his several Grades and
Commands,

Namk.

Grade.

Function.

Date of
Appointment

Remarks.

•John P. Strange..

Major..

•Chas. W. Anderson..

•Wm. M. Forrest..
•Samuel Donelson .

C S. Severson..

•R. M.Mason...
*G. V. Rambaut.
?George Dashieil
*J. B. Cowan....
•Charles S. Hill.
"John G. Mann..

Assist Adjt-Gen 

July 21, 1862..

ist Lieut. .
ist Lieut .
ist Lieut .
Major..

Aid-de-Camp .
Aid-de-Camp. .
Aid-de-Camp. .

Major . . .
Major....

Chief Quartermaster.

Chief Quartermaster.
Chief Commissary. . .

July 21, 1862.
Jan. 10, 1862.,
Nov. 20, 186 1

May 17, 1861.
July 21, 1862.

Captain.. Surgeon.. .

Captain. . .
Captain. . .

Chief Paymaster.
Chief Surgeon...

Nov. i, 1862.

Chief Ordnance.
Chief Engineer..

Remained as Adjutant-
General through all
Gen. Forrest's pro
motions. Was wound
ed at Fort Donelson
in February, 1862,
near Nashville, De
cember, 1862, and at
Bolivar, Tenn., May
2d, 1864.
Acting Assistant Adju
tant and Inspector-
General — acted as
an effective inspector
through all General
Forrest's commands.
Was an Aid-de-Camp
through all General
Forrest's grades.
Was attached to staff
when General Forrest
became Major-Gene
ral.
Served on General For
rest's staff until late
in 1864, when he was
relieved by Major
Mason.
Remained on Gen. For
rest's staff through all
his promotions.
Joined staff of Major-
General Forrest.
Remained as Chief Sur
geon through all Gen
eral Forrest's promo
tions.
Joined staff in North-
Mississippi in 1863.

Note.— The organization of the staff marked with * was formed on General Forrest's promo
tion to grade of Lieutenant-General, and, remaining unchanged up to the time of the surrender, was
80 PG?neral Forrest was commissioned Brigadier-General July 21st, 1862, Major-General Decem
ber 4th, 1863, and Lieutenant-General March 2d, 2865.
Other oncers whose names are mentioned in the foregoing work served from Urae to time
transiently but effectively ou the staff of General Forrest

686

Appendix.

Staff of Brigadier-General James R. Chalmers,* Commanding
First Division, as organized at Como, Miss., January, 1864.

Name.

Grade.

Function.

Date of
Appointment

Remarks.

Walter A. Goodman. ,
L. Tunny Lindsey. . . ,
Andrew G. Mills 

Captain. . .
Captain. . ,
Captain. .

Asst Adjt-Gen 
Act Asst Adjt-Gen.
Act Asst. Insp.-Gen.

July 31, 1862.
Oct. 5, 1863.
May — , 1863.

George T. Banks. .
Samuel O'Neill...

William F. Avent.

ist Lieut ,
Captain. . .

Captain. . .

Aid-de-Camp. 
Chief Quartermaster.

A.Q.M. and Paym'r.

Feb. 13, 1862.
May 28, 1862.

May — , 1 86 1.

John T. Buck. . . .
Brodie S. Crump.
James R. Barnett,

ist Lieut.
Major..... Surgeon...

Chief Ordnance. . . .
Chief Commissary .
Chief Surgeon 

June 2, 1862.
April 24, 1862.
Sept 25, 1S61.

Relieved Febru'y 27th,
1865, by Colonel
Thomas W. White,
Eighth Mississippi
Cavalry, and after
ward (March 16th,
1865) assigned to duty
as Captain of Com
pany D, Eighteenth
Mississippi (consoli
dated) Regiment
Relieved September,
1864, by Major Wm.
Barnewall. Barne-
wall was succeeded
February ist, 1865,
by Major J. P. Hor-
bach. Both assign
ments made by order
of Secretary of War.
Relieved February 3d,
1864, and assigned to
duty at Oxford. Miss..
by orders frcm De
partment Headquar
ters. Captain Samu
el O'Neill (formerly
Chief Quartermaster)
was assigned Chief
Paymaster of Di
vision February ist,
1S65.

Relieved by orders from
Department Head
quarters (at his own
request) November
1864, Surgeon G. W.
Henderson, Fifth
Mississippi Cavalry,
appointed Chief Sur
geon. His health
railing, Surgeon L.
M. Hall succeeded
February 27th, 1865.

* From MS. Notes of Captain Walter A, Goodman.
Note. — General Chalmers's commission bears date February 13th, 1862.

Appendix.

687

Staff of Brigadier-General A. Buford, Commanding Second Divi
sion, as organised near Columbus, Miss., March, 1864.

Name.

Grade.

Function.

Date of
Appointment

Remarks.

1 Hunter Nicholson 
[Thomas M. Crowdex. .
;D. A. Given 
D. E. Mvers. 

Major. ...[Act. Asst. Adjt-Gen.
Captain. ..! Asst. Adjt.-Gen.
ist Lieut .
ist Lieut .

James L Lea..,

Captain. .

Act Aid-de-Camp
Aid-de-Camp and
Act Asst Insp.
Gen 

Oct 31, 1862.
Dec. 4, 1S62.
Aug. 1, 1863 .

Chief Quartermaster.

'J. R. Finch.  Major  Chief Commissary.
John D. Gardner.  ] ist Lieut . Chief Ordnance .
Thomas F. Clardy.  Surgeon.. .
W. M. CarguX  Major. ...

Sept. 27, j 861.

May 20, 1862. .

Chief Surgeon. 
Quartermaster and
Division Paym'r.

Lieutenant Myers was
formerly Captain of
Company E, Ninth
Kentucky Cavalry,
and was severely
wounded in the bat
tle of Murfreesboro,
December 31st, 1862.
Having to be retired
in consequence, _ he
received the appoint
ment of Aid-de-Camp
to General Buford in
August, 1863.
Captain Lea was trans
ferred to the staff of
General T. H. Bell
at the reorganization
of Forrest's Cavalry
in February, 1865.
Assigned from Seventh
Kentucky.
Assigned from Seventh
Kentucky.

Staff of Brigadier-General William H. Jackson, Commanding
Tennessee Division, as organized November, 1864.

Name.

Grade.

Function.

E. T. Sykes.  Captain. . .
I James C Jones  ist Lieut. .
T. B. Sykes  Captain. ..
1 J. Henry Martin  ist Lieut .
>W. P. PauL  1 Major. ....
A. P. Slover  Major. .. . .
Arthur Bragden  |Surgeon ..
,G. A. Hogg.  1 Surgeon.. .
| Lewis Bond.  i Captain. . .
] John Waties  : Captain. . .
'William Ewing,  I Lieut 

Asst. Adjt-Gen.
Act Asst Adjt-Gen.
Asst. Insp.-Gen.
Aid de-Camp.
Chief Quartermaster.
Chief Commissary.
Chief Surgeon.
Asst. Chief Surgeon.
Chief Ordnance.
Chief Artillery.
Drill-Master.

Date of
Appointment.

Remarks.

688

Appendix*

Staff of Brigadier-General Tyree H. Bell, Commanding BelVf
Brigade,* Buford'' s Division, Forres? s Cavalry.

Name.
Reuben D. Clark.
T. E. Richardson.
J. L. BeH 
Pleasant A. Smith,
Isaac T.Bell 
T. P. Allison 
J. L. Lea 
A. G. Harris 
D. M. Wormack..
C. C. Harris 

Grade.

Function.

Date of
Appointment.

Remarks.

Captain. . .
ist Lieut.
andAdjt
ist Lieut.
and Adjt.
ist Lieut
and Adjt
ist Lieut. .

Major 
Captain. . .

ist Lieut. .

Captain. . .
ist Lieut.

Act. Asst Adjt-Gen.
Act Asst Adjt. -Gen.
Act Asst Insp.-Gen.
Act Asst Insp.-Gen.
Act. Aid-de-Camp. . .
Act. Brigade Q. M . .
Brigade Quarterm'r..
Act Brigade Com. . .

Brigade Commissary.
Ordnance Officer. . . .

Dec. i, 1863. .

May 8, 1864. . .
May 17, 1862..
Feb. 15, 1864..
Feb. 15, 1864.
Sept 27, 1861.
Sept. 27, 1861..

Sept 16, 1864.
Nov. 1, 1863 . .

Mortally wounded at
Murfreesboro — De-
cember, 1864.
Was assigned to duty
left vacant by death
of Captain Clark,
Dec. ist, 1864.
Mortally wounded at
Tishomingo Creek,
June ioth'. 1864.
On staff from Feb. 15th,
1865.
Severely wounded at
Tishomingo creek,
June ioth, 1864.
Became Brigade Quar
termaster Feb. 15th,
1865, by transfer from
Gen. Buford's staff
Subsequently, from
Feb. 15th, 1864, serv
ed on same staff in
Adjt-General's De
partment
Apparently Brigade
Commissary since
Feb. nth, 1865.

* This brigade was transferred to the division of General W. H. Jackson upon reorganizing
the troops in February, 1865. Vide " Roster of Bell's Brigade, Jackson's Division. It was first
organized March, 1864.

Staff of Colonel Ed. Crossland, Commanding Kentucky Brigade,*
Buford Js Division, Forres? s Cavalry, as organized May, 1864.

Name.

Grade.

Function.

Date of
Appointment

Remarks.

C. L. Randle 

Captain. . .
ist Lieut.
Captain. . .
Captain. . .
Captain. . .

Assigned from Seventh
Kentucky. Wound
ed at Tishomingo
Creek.
Assigned from Seventh
Kentucky Regiment
Assigned from Eighth
Kentucky Regiment 1

J. R. Smith 

Act Asst. Insp.-Gen.
Brigade Quarterm'r..

July 1, 1861.
July 1, 1862.

Robert A. Galbraith. . .
F. G. Terry. 

Act. Aid-de-Camp. .. ;May 30, 1S61.

* This brigade was formerly commanded by the lamented Colonel A. P. Thompson, who fell
in the attack on Paducah, March 25th, 1864 ; subsequently by General H. B. Lyon. General
Lyon having received orders assigning him to another command in East-Tennessee or WesteiD
Virginia, Colonel Crossland succeeded to the command of the brigade.
Appendix.

689

Staff of Colonel Robert McCulloch, Commanding First Brigade,
Chalmers's Division, Forrest's Cavalry, as organised January, 1864.

Name.

Grade.

Function.

From what Com
mand Assigned.

^ Remarks.

John T. Chandler.

Captain. . .

Act Asst Adjt-Gen.

2d Mo. Cavalry . . .

Transferred to the staff
of Colonel E. W.
Rucker, and Lieute
nant L. L. Maughs,
Bledsoe's Missouri
Battery, Army of
Tennessee, on de
tached duty with the
brigade, succeeded
him. Lieutenant
Maughs was wound
ed in the engagement
near West - Point,
Mississippi, Februa
ry, 1864.

W. J. Vankirk....
J.M.Tyler 

Captain. . .

Brigade QuartermY.

ist Lieut .

Act Asst Insp.-Gen.

Missouri Infantry..

Relieved 1864,

and Lieutenant F.
R. Wolffe, First Mis
sissippi Partisans, as
signed.
Captain. . .
Brigade Commissary.
ist Miss. Partisans.
T. M. Turner
ist Lieut .
Act Aid de Camp. . . 2d Mo. Cavalry . . .
Severely wounded at
Town Creek, Miss.,
July 14th, 1864.
J- J. Hay. 
2d Lieut..
Ordnance Officer. ... Prov. Army C. S.
F. R. Durreti ....
Surgeon.. .
2d Mo. Cavalry.
Staff of Colonel E. W. Rucker, Commanding Rucker's Brigade,
Chalmers's Division, Forres fs Cavalry, organized September, 1864.*
Name. ' Grade, i Function.
From whence
Assigned.
Remarks.
John T. Chandler.. ( Captain. . . \ Act Asst Adjt-Gen.
Ferdinand Stith. . . Captain. . . Act Asst Adjt.-Gen.
John Overton, Jr. . : Captain. . . j Act Asst Insp.-Gen.
Frank B. Rodgers. »ist Lieut. Act Aid de Camp...
William O. Key... Major ... !Brigade Quarterm'r..
R. M. Ligon.  Captain.. J Brigade Commissary.
C K. Caruthers. . . Surgeon. . . Senior Surgeon 
C. N. Featherston. 2d Lieut.. Ordnance Officer....
2d Mo. Cavalry. ..
McDonald's Bat'n.
McDonald's Bat'n.
Prov. Army C. S.
7th Tenn. Cavalry.
Prov. Army C. S.
Wounded at Athens,
Alabama, September,
1864.
* This organization existed until the return of General Forrest's command from Middle Ten
nessee on the '^Hood Campaign" and the reorganization of the troops early in 1865. Colonel Rucker
having been wounded and captured at Nashville, and the troops reorganized into brigades with
reference to States, the larger part, if not the entire command formerly constituting his brigade,
were arranged under command of General Alexander W. Campbell, and placed in Jackson's (1 en
nessee) Division, the officers of the personal staff reporting to General Campbell under this ar.
rangement
690

Appendix.

Staff of Colonel J. J. Neely, Commanding Neely's Brigade, Chal
mers's Division, Forrest's Cavalry, as organized May, 1864.

Name.

Grade.

Function.

From whence
Assigned.

Remarks.

V. B. Waddell....
M. K. Mister 
William 0. Key...
S. J. Alexander. ..
C. K. Caruthers. . .

ist Lieut. .Act. Asst Adjt-Gen.
2d Lieut. . lAct. Asst. Insp.-Gen.
2d Lieut. . 'Act Aid de Camp.
Major. ... Brigade Quarterm'r.
Major. . .. j Brigade Commissary.
Surgeon... Senior Surgeon.

12th Tenn. Cav'ry.
12th Tenn. Cav'ry.
15th Tenn. Cav'ry.
Prov. Army C. S.
Prov. Army C. S.
7th Tenn. Cavalry.

Staff of Brigadier-General Alexander W.
manding Campbell's Brigade, Jackson 's jfennessee)
Cavalry, organized March, 1864. Commissioned
March 1, 1865.

Campbell, Corn-
Division, Forresfs
Brigadier-General

Name.

Grade.

Function.

Date of
Appointment

Remarks.

Ferdinand Stith 
William R. Harris

Captain. . .
Captain. . .
ist Lieut. .
Major. . . .
Major. . . .
2d Lieut. .

Act. Asst. Adjt-Gen.
Act. Asst Insp.-Gen.
Act. Aid de Camp. . .
Brigade Quarterm'r..
Brigade Commissary.
Ordnance Officer 

Sept 11, 1864..
Sept 11, 1864..
M'ch 29, 1865..
Dec. 23, 1863.
Oct 1, 1862.

Transferred from Ruck
er's staff.
Transferred from Ruck
er's staff
Transferred from Se
venth Tennessee.

W.J. Sykes 

C. N. Featherston

April 2, 1863 ..

Transferred from Ruck
er's staff.

FORREST'S ARTILLERY BATTALION,

AS

ORGANIZED MAY 13TH, 1864.

Name.

Rank.

Date of
Election or
Appointment.

Remarks.

Mortorfs Battery.
Joseph M. Mayson 
James P. Hanner 

Captain.. .
ist Lieut. .
ist Lieut..
2d Lieut. .
Surgeon . .

Dec. 23, 1862.
Dec. 23, 1862.
Aug. 28, 1862.
Nov. 26, 1S63.
July 14, 1863.

Acting Chief of Artillery, with R. M. Blake-
more as Adjutant, and S. K. Watkins
Assistant Quartermaster.
Commanding Battery.
Relieved Sept. 13, 1864.
Wounded at Harrisburg, July 14, 1864.

Rice's Battery.
T. W. Rice 

Captain.. .
ist Lieut. .
2d Lieut . .
2d Lieut. .
Surgeon . .

Aug. 15, 1 86 1.
Aug. 15, 1861.
Jan. r, 1862.
April 1, 1862.
March 26, 1863

Transferred with one section to Morton's
Battery in January, 1S65. Surrendered in
that battery.

B. F. Haller 

H. H. Briggs 

Jacob Huggins, Jr 

Hudson's Battery.
Edwin S. Walton 
Milton H. Trantham..
Green C Wright 
Willis 0. Hunter
R. P. Weaver 

Captain.. .
ist Lieut. .
2d Lieut. .
2d Lieut. .

March 7, 1863.
April 12, 1862.
Oct. 3, 1S63.
Oct. 3, 1863.

This battery is spoken of generally in this
work as "Walton's Battery."
Severely wouuded during siege of Vicksburg,
in spring of 1863.

Tkralts Battery.
J. C. Thrall 
J. C. Barlow 
Captain.. .
ist Lieut. .
2d Lieut, .
2d Lieut, .
Surgeon . .
May 12, 1S62, .
May 12, 1SU2. .
May 14, iSi>2
May 12, 1S62.
July 1, 1862.
Wounded at Yazoo Citv, Miss., Mch. 5, XS64.
Wounded at Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
W. J. D. Winton
J. L. Grace 
Appendix.

691

SECOND TENNESSEE CAVALRY.

C R. Barteau, Colonel.
G. H. Morton, Lt -Colonel
William Parrish, Major.

T. B. Underwood (B)
M W. McKniuht (Ci
WUliam T. Rkkman (D)

T. C Atkinson (Al
G. W. Smithson (B)
H. L. W. Turnev (Q
George Love (D)
A. H. French (A)
S B. Wall(B)
LD. Core (B)
nuel Dennis (C)
I. S. Harrison (C)
F. W. Youree (D)
Ed. Bullock (D)

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
¦!¦ M. H'ighes, Surgeon. p. A. Smith, Lt. and Adjutant
J. W Harrison, Asst. Surscon. S. C. Talley, Chaplain.
E. O. Elliott, Acting Q. M.

CAPTAINS.
W. A De Bow (E)
John A Brinkley(F)
J. M. Eustis (G)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
George E. Seay (E)
James F. Austin (F)
B. H. Moore (G)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
R. B Dobbins (E)
F. J. Carman (E)
John E. Deming (F)
Newsom Pennell (F)
A. W. Lipscomb (G)
J. J. Lawrance (G)

B. Edwards (H)
S. W. Reeves (I)
O. B. Farriss (K)

J. Bedford (H)
William Lattimer (I)
J. H. Neal (K)

E. Lassiter (H)
T. L. Stubblefield (H)
I. H. Bettick (I)
W. C. Roberts (I)
F. M. McRae (K)
H. Pryor (K)

FOURTH TENNESSEE CAVALRY.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
James H. Starnes, Colonel Wm. H. Davis, Lt arH Adjt Joseph B. Briggs, A. Q. M
Peml C Haynes, Lt-ColoneL Edward Swanson, Surgeon. Moses H. Clift, A C. S.
Peter T. Rankin, Major. Allen E. Gooch, Asst Surgeon. Wm. H. Whitsitt, Chaplain.

Aaron Thompson (A)
J. B. Britton (B)
E. L. Lindsey (Q
A. A. Dysart (D)
JamesCCandiff(A)C C Rutherford (B)
VT. E. Donnel (Q
W. M. Robinson (D)
Benjamin F. Bovd (A)
Silas S. Short (A)
E. L. Collier (B)
S. T. Bass (B)
C. C. Hancock (CI
D. W. Granstaff (C)
F. M. Webb (D)

CAPTAINS.
G. W. Robinson (E)
W. S. McLemore (F)
Andrew McGregor (G)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
W. F. White (E)
J. T. Pierce (F)
A. J. Duffey (G)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
John Carpenter (D)
W. A. Hubbard (E)
J. W. Norton (E)
S. S. Hughes (F)
S. C. Tulloss (F)
John H. Dice (G)
E. W. Burwell (G)

J. E. Teagne (H)
J. M. McBride (I)
Francisco Rice (K)

l- W. Johnson (H)
* . Smithermai
. Poston (K)

J. A. Smitherman (I)
J. B. ~

C. G. Pryor (H)
J. M. Ragen (H)
G. L. Freeman (I)
T. W. Lewis (I)
W. E. Baker (K)
W. A. Young (K)

SEVENTH TENNESSEE CAVALRY.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFfcERS.
L. Duckworth, ColoneL Wm. S. Pope, Lt and Adjt I. C. Word, Surgeon.

F. Taylor, Lt-ColoneL
. Clay, Major.
Sneed (A)
. Russell (B)
1 T. Lawler (C)
". Taliaferro (D)

Kenneth Garrett, A. Q. M.
CAPTAINS.
W. J. Tate (E)
C. H. Jones (F)*
F. F. Aden (G)
H. C. McCutchen (H)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
J. P. Statler (E)
J. J. Blake (G)
J. A. Jenkins (H)

. L. Rosser, Chaplain.

T.R.Alexander (I)
J. A. Anderson (K)
Alexander Duckworth (L)
Benjamin T. Davis (M)

H. W. Watkins (A)
H. T. Sale (B)
W. B.Winston (Q
Henry J. Livingston CD)
* Companie. E and F became so reduced in officer, and men, tbat they were consolidated.

W. P. Malone (I)
J. S. Hille (K)
WUliam Moorer (M)

692

Appendix.

W. L. Certain (A)
j. D. Mitchell (A)
J. N. Stinson (B)
Robert J. Black (B)
Samuel B. Higgins (C)
A. L. Winston (C)
T. J. Mann (D)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
A. A. Johnson (D)
H. Harris (E)
W. C. Mashbume (E)
W. N. Griffin (G)
James T. Haynes (G)
P. A. Fisher (I)
E. M. Downing (I)

John Trout (K)
E. R. Scruggs (K)
Frank PughfL)
William Witherepoon (L)
Charles Rice (M)
J. L. Livingston (M)

EIGHTH TENNESSEE CAVALRY.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
George G. Dibrell, Colonel. M. D. Smallman, Lt and Adjt Wm. H. McCord, Surgeon.
F. H. Dougherty, Lt.-Colonel. A. C. Dale, A. Q. M. J. Luke Ridley, Asst Surgeon.
Jeffrey E. Forrest, Major. Jasper N. Bailey, A. C. S.

W. W. Windle (A)
Hamilton McGuinness (B)
Isaac G. Woolsey (C)

Thomas C Webb (B)
William C Wood (C)
James W. Revis (D)

A. L. Windle (A)
Allen G. Parker (B)
Levi W. Maynard (B)
J. W. Pendergrass (C)
Jackson Davis (C)
William R. Hill (D)

CAPTAINS.
Jefferson Leftwich (D)
Josiah Bilbrey (F)
Mounce L. Gore (G)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
William P. Chapin (E)
Jefferson Bilbrey (F)
WUliam Z. Beck (G)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
Waman L. Dibbrell (D)
Lloyd W.. Chapin (E)
Jesse Allen (E)
Thomas H. Webb (F)
 Hemer (F)
Newton C. Byber (G)

James M. Barnes (H)
James W. McReynolds (I)
Bryan M. Swearongin (K)

John Hill (H)
Jesse Beck (K)

John S. Rhea (H)
Joseph D. Bartlctt (H)
James Walker (I)
Simon D. Wallace (I)
Elijah W. Terry (K)

NINTH TENNESSEE CAVALRY.

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.

J. B. Biffle, Colonel.
A". G. Cooper, Lt.-Colonel.

J. J. Biffle (A)
James Revnolds (B)
t F. Barnes (C)
Lewis M. Kirk (D)

John W. Hill (A)
 Littleton (B)
Thomas Helmick (Q
 May (D)

Gip Wells (A)
P. Brownlaw (C)

Pap Nichols

W. S. Johnston, A. C S.
Henry Long, Surgeon.

Frank Smith (I)
R. L. Ford (K)
Robert Sharp (L)

(E)

Roderick Perry, Lt. & Adjt
Wm. M. Irwin, A. Q. M.
CAPTAINS.
Gideon J. Adkisson (E)
J. W. Johnson (F)
John S. Groves (G)
Thomas H. Beatty (H)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
James Leftwich (E) B. F. Burkitt (I)
J. P. Montague (F) Thomas Hargroves (K)
D. B. Cooper (G) Ed. Cannon (L)
Dent Pennington (H)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
B. S. Hardin (F) J. Davis (H)
John Johnson (P) Mat D. Cooper (H)
Robert Harris (G) John Hicks (K)
Jacob Armstrong (G) Robert Clarke (L)

TENTH TENNESSEE CAVALRY.

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.

N. N. Cox, Colonel.
E. B. Trezevant, Lt.-Colonel.
Wm. E. De Moss, Major.
W. T. Hall (A)
W. H. Lewis (B)
W. H. WhitweU (C)
W. J. Robinson (5

E. A. Spottswood, Lt. and Adjt. J. N. Rickman, Commissary.
D. H. White, Q. M. Julius Johnston, Surgeon.
CAPTAINS.
John Minor (E) B. G. Rickman (H)
W. W. Hobbs (F) Thomas Fletcher (I)
T. S. Easely (G) Thomas M. Hutchinson (K)

Appendix.

693

John Pace (A)
William Fisher (B)
A. D. Craig (C)
W. P. Edds (D)
J. W. Townsend (A)
J. M. Randall (B)
Thomas Whitwell (B)
John Homer 1.C1
Thomas F. Lewis (C)
W. N. Phipps (D)
W. A. Wray (D)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
Andrew Nesbitt (E) W. H. Coode (H)
M. M. Box (F) Clinton Aden (I)
J. A. Macauley (G) J. Utley (K)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

Joseph B. Williams (E)
 Nesbitt (E)
Jessee T. Hobbs (F)
Charles S. Summers (F)
J. M. Hall (G)
W. J. Frazier (G)

E. H. Shepherd (H)
T. D. Land (H)
B. E. Summers (I)
 Dodson (1)
W. O. Chapman (K)
J. O. Pinick (K)

ELEVENTH TENNESSEE CAVALRY.

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.

James H. Edmonson, Colonel
D. W. Holman, Lt-ColoneL
Jacob T. Martin, Major.

Co. A was commanded by
Captain Charles McDonald,
subsequently of McDor.ild's
Battahon, to which it was
transferred in Mav, 1863.
T. C H. MiUer iQ

John M. Nevus (B)
W. W. Biaden (C)
John L. Carney (D)
E G. HamUton (Q
E F. Rainey (C)
J. H. Butler (D)
N. P. Marable (D)
Robert Gordon (E)

W. R. Garrett, Lt. and Adjt
Jesse D. Core, Surgeon.
Wm. H. Anderson, Asst. Surg.
CAPTAINS.
John Lvtle (D)
A. R. Gordon (E)
Co. F was commanded by
Captain PhU. T. Allin, and
in May, 1863, transferred to
McDonald's Battalion.
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
J. M. Edmondson (E)
Thomas Banks (G)
SECOND LIEUTENAN '
George Rothrock (E)
David S. Chaney (G)
A. S. Chapman (G)
Robert Bruce (H)
WUliam Durley (H)

O. G. Gurley, A. Q. M.
J. D. Allen, A. C. S.

Chatham Coffee (H)
Thomas F. Perkins (I)
James Rivers (K)
John M. Rust (L)

John C. Bostick (I)
Wm. H. Baugh (K)

Malachi Kirby CD
Sol. Rozelle (I)
Robert McNairy (K)
James Ward (L)

TWELFTH TENNESSEE CAVALRY.

J. U. Green, ColoneL
G. W. Bennett, Major.
R. B. Bone, Lt and Adjt
Edward Dary (A)
W. T. Carmack (B)
J. L. Payne (C)
J. G. McCauley CD)
W. H. Crite(A)
W. D. Wader (B)
Wiffiam Bell (Q
J. Appleberry (D)
R. H. Strickland (A)
H. LeMassey(A)
F. E. Brown (B)
J. E. Yancey (B)
R. C. Simon ton (C)
C. L.SuHivan(Q

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
A. Beaty, Surgeon. S. F. Cocke, A. Q. M.
E. H. Shell, Asst Surgeon. A. G. Burrow, Chaplain.

CAPTAINS.
C. S. McStusack (E)
WUliam Bell (F)
John Massey (G)

W. M. Craddock (H)
J. B. Scarborough (I)
R. J. McSpadden (K)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
J. S. Grandberry (E) J. C. Haines (H)l
John Matthews (F) R. Johnson (I)
W. W. Freeman (G) E. H. Cobbs (K)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

W. M. Parker (D)
J. S. Stewart (E)
James Brooks (F)
Hiram Prewitt (F)
Ambrose House (G)
O. H. Wade (G)

W. J. Overall (H)
L. L. Cherry (H)
William- Stewart (I)
William McKirskill (I)
T. T. Briars (K)
R. A. WiTSford (K)

FOURTEENTH TENNESSEE CAVALRY.

J. J. Neely, ColoneL
fe R. White, Lt -Colonel.
Gwynn Thurmond, Major.
a j. c«c (A)
J. H. Deberry (B)
Z. Voss (Q
L. A. Thomas (D)

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
E. S. Hammond, Lt. and Adjt T. H. Turner, Surgeon.
M. H. Pirtle, A. Q. M. R. P. Watson, Asst Surgec*

CAPTAINS.
E. M. Jacobs (E)
W. J. Hall (F)
A. C. Reid (G)

James Gwynn (H)
E. S. Elliott (I)
C. C. Conner (K)

694

Appendix.

K. A. Senter (B)
R. J. Strayhorne (Q
J. W. r"

. Ricks (D)

M. P. Harbin (A)
J. B. Harris (A)
G. Hicks (B)
John B. Holt (B)
W. H. Swink (C)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
A. R. Emmerson (E)
J. M. Moore (F)
W. F. DUlard (G)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

B. F. Tatum (H)
A. W. Fleming (K)

James Drake (D)
W. G. Pirtle (E)
M. G. HaU (F)
J. Robertson (G)
J. Reid (G)

D. L. HOI (H)
H. J. Brewster (H)
James Laird (I)
John Langley (I)
W.J. Campbell (K)

FIFTEENTH TENNESSEE CAVALRY.

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.

F. M. Stewart, Colonel. •
T. H. Logwood, Lt.-ColoneL
Sol. G. Street, Major.
P. W. Moore (A)
J. L. Garrison (B)
H. T. Hanks (C)

W. R. Griffith (A)
John F. Garrison (B)
A. B. Henry (C)

R. S. Van Dyke (A)
Richard T. Gardner (A)
W. B. Nolley (B)
W. D. Brown (B)
J- Ray (C)

John Skeffington, A. Q. M.
A. B. Tapscott, Surgeon.
CAPTAINS.
T. Nutt (D)
E. L. Hussey (E)
T. C. Buchannon (F)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
G. W. Yapp (E)
J. P. Thurman (F)
J. M. McCaleb (G)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
G. T. Baker (Q
L. C. Street (D)
F. G. Ferguson (F)
E. S. Thurman (F)
P. H. Sutton (G)

A. Bruce, Asst Surgeon.
J. L. Barksdale, Lt. and Adjt.

R. B. Sanders (G) i
P. M. Williams (I)
J. A. Williamson (K)

J. M. Witherspoon (H)
T. W. Allen (I)

R. Y. Anderson (I)
J. L. Seward (I)
R. Stone (K)
V. H. Swift (K)

SIXTEENTH TENNESSEE REGIMENT.

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.

A. N. Wilson, Colonel.
Jesse A. Forrest, Lt.-ColoneL
W. T. Parham, Major.
J. A. Russell (A)
E. D. Polk (B)
T. J. Rice (C)
W. H. Bray (D)
W. A. McCandless (A)
J. C. Shipp (B)
I. J. Galbreath (C)

John Coberne (A)
T. F. Wilson (A)
W. B. Malone (B)
J. R. Glover (B)
J. F. Collins (C)
7. D. Walker (C)

F. M. Bell, Lt. and Adjt
B. M. Bray, A. Q. M.
CAPTAINS.
W. H. Simmons (E)
James Stennett (F)
J. W. Fussell (G)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
J. R. Arnold (D)
J. P. Revely (E)
James Tomlinson (G)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
J. C. Dodds (D)
J. M. Bray (D)
A. J. Baxter (E)
S. J. Crowder (F)
Thomas R. Mangrum (G)
T. A. Haynes (G)

S. H. Caldwell, Surgeon.
M. D. L. Jordan, Asst Surgeon.

J. W. Carroll (H)
J. C. Gooche (I)
R. E. Dudley (K)

M. L. Cherry (H)
H. Lassitter (I)
J. F. Loony (K)

S. C. Kennedy (H)
M. H. Goodloe (I)
B. Northern (I)
E. Scales ( K)
A. F. Brooks (K)

w1

NINETEENTH (NEWSOM'S) REGIMENT TENNESSEE
CAVALRY.

John F. Newsorn, Colonel.
D. M. Wisdom, Lt.-Colonel,
W. Y. Baker, Major.
W. N. Barnhill (A)
R. M. May (B)
William Wilson (C)
T. H. Taylor (D)

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
H. T. Johnson, Lt. and Adjt
A. B. Crook, A. Q. M.

 Lockhart, Surgeon.
John Randolph, Chaplain.

CAPTAINS.

J. B. Michin (E)
J. R. Damron (F)
J. J. Sharp (Gi
J. G. Sharp (H)

S. C. McClerkin (I)
W. D. Stratton (K)
Thomas R. Dick (L)

Appendix.

695

1. T. Settle (Al
Middleton Haves (B)
William Lee tC>
M. B. Ormsby (D)

J. C. O'Neill (,A>
H. Klvce (Al
N. T. 'Buckley (BI
J. O. Rav (B)
John McBarrett (CI
Thomas Barrett (C)
D. J. Bowdin (D)
W. P. Walker iD)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
R. M. Wharton (E) J. J. Betts (I)
A. P. Meeks (,Fl J. C. Miller (K)
M. T. Shelby (Ol William Hollis (L)
J. D. Springer (H)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

E. R. Turner (El
J. R. Adams (E)
A. L. Winningham (F)
W. R. Ledbetter (Ft
Absalom Brashear (Gl
Robert T. Simmons (G)
J. M. Wardlow (H)

Nathaniel Busby (H)
S. M. Ozier (I)
J. M. Bunvpass (I)
J. J. Lan.(K)
E. W. D. Dunn (K)
James Stuart (L)
 Lockman (L)

TWENTIETH (RUSSELL'S) TENNESSEE REGIMENT.

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.

R. M. Russell, Colonel.
H. C Grier, Lt-ColoneL
H. F. Bowman, Major.
William Gav \ Al
William H.Hiwldus (BI
J. T. Matbis {C)

J. H. Blakeraore (Al
N. W. McNeUle (B>
J. P. Armstrong (C)

J. N. Gav (Al
R. H. Goodman (A)
WUliam H. Courts (B)
M. B. Dinwiddie (B)

S. J. Ray. A. Q. M.
T. C. McNeille, Surgeon.
CAPTAINS.
J. A. Shane (D I
W. D. Hallam(E)
J. C. WUson (F)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
J. R. Dance (D)
J. A. Caster (E)
J. A. Crutchfield (F)

J. R. Westbrook, Asst. SurgeoE.
A. G. Hawkins, Lt. and Adjt

J. R. Hibbitts (G)
J. R. Gardner (H)

A. C. Miller (H)
W. H. Lawler (I)
M. H. Freeman (K)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
U. S. Halliburton (C) George Cathy (H)
J. W. Herrin (D) A. J. Killibrew (K)
G. F. Nelson (D) T. J . Burton (K)
R. C McLesky (H)

SIXTEENTH BATTALION TENNESSEE CAVALRY.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
W. B. L. Reaean, Lt and Adjt H. W. McElwee, A. Q. M.
CAPTAINS.
W. P. Darwin (C) Thomas S. Rambaugh (E)
F. M. Murray (D) Mike Stoley (F)

J. R. NeaL Lt-ColoneL
Joseph Paine, Major.
James Rodgers (A)
R. F. Mastm (B)

Frederick A. Lenoir (A)
W. N. King (B)

G. A. Montgomery (A)
W. C. Pride (Al
I. T. Vaughn (B)
J. M. King (B)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
H. C. Collins (C)
Thomas H. Mastin (D)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
 Armour (C)
 Thommasson (C)
 Campbell (D)
James Baine (D)

Thomas Williams (E)
E. Eitson (F)

William Williams (E)
W. P. Reed (E)
—  Monegham (F)
Moses Anderson (F)

FORREST'S (OLD) REGIMENT,*

D. C. Kelly, Lt-ColoneL
P. T. Allin, Major.
T. F. Pattison (A)
James G. Barbour (B)
J. C. Blanton (C)
W. H. Forrest (D)
W. J. P. Doyle (A)
C. D. Steinkuhl (B)
Charles Balch (Q

AS ORGANIZED MARCH, 1865.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
E. A. Spottswood, Lt. and Adjt. G. A. Cochran, A. Q. M.

CAPTAINS.
N. E. Wood (El
J. F. Rodgers (F)
W. J. Shaw (G)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
T. H. Magee (D)
D. A. Autrey(G)
M. Nelms(H)

J. L. Morphis (H)
T. R, Bearfoot(I)
Wiley Higgs (K)

J. M, Duncan (I)
J. P. Johnson (K)

* Mentioned prominently in this work, in different places, as " McDonald's Battalion.'

6g6

Appendix.

J. A. Powell (A)
James Southerland (A)
R. L. Ivey (B)
J. W. Alexander (B)
Samuel Powell (C)
G. Glenn (C)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
S. B. Soliman(D)
Joseph Luxton (D)
W. J. Redd (E)
B. A, Powell (E)
C. A. Douglass (F)
J. S. Nichols (F)

J. H. Jones (H)
W. J. Morphis (H)
E. Wooten (I)
J. C. Savage (K)
John Ramsay (K)

NIXON'S CONSOLIDATED REGIMENT*
COMPOSED OF NIXON'S AND CARTER'S FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH TENNESSEE REGIMENTS.

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.

G. H. Nixon, Colonel.
T. H. Logwood, Lt.-Colonel.
J. M. Crews, Major.
Peter W. Moore (A)
Z. Voss (B)
C. A. S. Shaw (C)
A. C. Reid (D)
J. L. B. Barksdale(A)
W. H. Wharton (B)
H. J. Brewster (C)
C. C. Conner (D)
W. R. Griffith (A)
W. M. Weatherly (B)
H. D. Nealson (C)
W. H. Reid (D)
Alonzo Gilbert (E)

W. W. Bayless Lt. and Adjt
T. H. Turner, Surgeon.
CAPTAINS.

A. L. Hamilton, Asst. Surgeon
H. R. Shacklett, A. Q. M.

Calvin Gilbert (E)
J. H. George (F)
J. R. Voss (G)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
J. T. Scott (E)
J. F. Byers (F)
A. C. Harwell (G)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
B. G. Pierson (E)
P. W. Halbert (F)
J. M. Jackson (G)
George W. Prior (G)

J. B. Van Houton (H)
N. J. Vaughn (I)
R. H. Dudley (K)

J. L. Herrin (H)
L. Burnett (I)
E. J. NeU (K)

Eugene Allen (H)
G. W. Heath (l~

T. R. Hollowell (I)
K)

J. L. Dismukes (K)

SECOND MISSOURI CAVALRY.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
Robert McCulloch, Colonel. N. S. Adams, Acting Q. M. R. E. Howlett, Asst Surgeon.
Robert A. McCulloch, Lt.-Col. Lucius J. Gaines, Lt. and Adjt. J. B. Link, Chaplain.
W. H. Couzzens, Major. F. R. Durrett, Surgeon.

A. L. Zollinger (A)
Jno. S. Thompson (B)
P. M. Savery (C)
J. J. Eubanks (A)
Felix Murray (B)
Ed. Aldrich (C)

G. M. Buchanan (Al
W. O. Hall (A)
Thomas A. Bottom (B)
J. R. Chambers (B)
Charles Hayes (C)

CAPTAINS.
Geo. W. Lyndamoor (D)
F. J. Smith (E)
R. F. Lanning (F)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS
T. J. Chandler (D)
A. H. Chadwell (El
C. M. Sutherlin (G)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
J. J. Peck (C)
R. H. Douglass (D)
Z. D. Jennings (E)
W. N. Hinds (E)

G. B. Harper (G)
Josiah Tippatt (H)
 Collins (I)
W. G. Blakey (H)
¦  Christian (I)

John S. Ford (G)
W. A. Thornton (G)
Asa Pittman (H)
 Quarles (I)

THIRD MISSISSIPPI CAVALRY,
AS ORGANIZED UPON TRANSFER FROM STATE TO CONFEDERATE SERVICE IN MAY, 1864.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
H'hH1RCS,,lCOI<lnr 1 1 y-,i0%W£nter; L,v™d, Adit- A. F. Clayton, Asst. Surgeon.
H H. Barksdale, Lt.-Colonel. 1. M. Griffin, Act. Q. M. W. F. Baker, A. C S.
Thomas W. Webb, Major. J. F. Butler, Surgeon.

T. T. Kyle (A
F. M. Griffin (B)
John W. Logan (CI
Wm. Gwartney (D)
E. M. Fewell (A)
J. F. Peeler (B)
S. H. White (C)
Samuel Downing (D)
* These regiments,

CAPTAINS.
E. L. Richmond (El
J. G. Kennedy (Fl
S. T. Daniel (G)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
W. O. Cochran (E)
W. H. Thornton (Fl
J. L. Hamer (G)

J. L. Brannon (H)
C. W. Orr (I)
R. H. Turner (K)

E. T. Harden (H)
C M. Richards (I)
Tames T. Dubard (K)

thus consolidated, mustered an " aggregate present " of 437.

Appendix.

697

los. Fox (A)
L. P. Pipkin (At
T. J. Grafton (B)
A. Price (B)
Jno. Miller (C)
J. S. Ford (O
S. H. Bogard (D)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
R. A. Butler (D)
C. G. Yarborough (E)
E. Q. Withers (E)
11. F. Bibb (F)
G. W. Sadler (F)
1. G. H.imer (G)
C. C. Wilkins (G)

W. L. Brannon (H)
H. P. Bridgers (H)
R. F. Dickens (I)
R. B. Sheegog(I)
J. H. Carr(K)
J. W. GriffistKi

FOURTH MISSISSIPPI CAVALRY,

AS OKGAN-IZBD WHILE REPORTING TO GENERAL FORREST IN 1S6
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
C. C WUboume, Colonel. B. H. Morehead, Lt and Adjt. V. T. Chew, Asst. Surgeon.
T. R. Stockdale, Lt-Co!onel. W. C. McCaleb, Surgeon. W. W. Vaught, A. 0- M.
J. M. Norman, Major.

D. McCullnm (Al
V. L. Terrell tB)
Wm. Martin tQ
O P. McLean (D)

S. R. Allen (A)
John Pope (B)
C E Buck (C)
B. B. Thomas (D)

R. Q. Allen (A)
R. J. Ma»ee (B)
C Lott (B|
D. B. Humphreys (Q
J. P. Parker (C)
B. F. Atkins (DI
John B. Hairing (D)

CAPTAINS.
S. D. Ramsey (E)
Luther Blue (F)
A. C McKissack(G)

J. J. Whitney (HI
C.Hoover (I)
John B. McEwen (K)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
A. J. Short (E)
S. B. McCown (F)
T H. Arnold CG)

W. S. Crawford (H)
D.Williams (I)
W. J. Webb (K)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
John T. Hardie (E)
W. H. Bondurant (E)
L. B. McLaurin (F)
Tom Robinson (F)
John Armistead (G)
W. C. Dunn (G)

H. C. SnodgTass (H)
David Kinnison (H)
D. N. Walker (I)
B. C. Quinn (I)
W. J. Driver (K)
E. G. Burney (K)

FIFTH MISSISSIPPI CAVALRY.

J. Z. George, Colonel.
1. A. Barksdale, Lt-ColoneL
w. G. Henderson, Major.
W. B. Peery (A)
J. P. Trotter (Bl
W. H. Curtis (Q
W.N. Scales (D)

R. B. Barton (A)
C. Lindsay (B)
Ed. Crippin (C)
W. H. Goff(D)

C E. Magm're (A)
R J. FredricfB;
H. D. Stone IB;
Tames Flowers CC)
J. C. Ferguson (C)
R. M. Coyle (D)

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
J. Moore, A. Q. M. John Gerdine, Asst. Surgeon.
G. W. Henderson, Surgeon. R. L. Watson, Lt. and Adjt

CAPTAINS.
D. Love (E)
J. P. Povall (F)
J. R. AUen (G)

R. Hill (H)
G. P. M. Turner (I)
A. G. Ward (K)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
W Kelly (E) J- C Conner (H)
R M. Bridgeforth (F) L. M. Nash (I)
H. H. Hightower(G) T. M. Blassingame (K)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
W. H. Nichols (D) J- R- HoPTeT,(H)
R. D. McCree (E) **. JPark (H)
H.F. Moore (E) J. M.Brown (I)
R. C. Harrington (F) J. F. Rook (I)
W. C. Cole (Fl E. A. Lampkm (K)
J. H. Parker (G) T. E. Neely (K)

SIXTH MISSISSIPPI CAVALRY.

[sham Harrison, ColoneL
T. C. Lipscomb, Lt-ColoneL
R Y. Brown, Major.
S. Harper (A)
H. B. Brown (BJ
W. P. Pardue (C)

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
John Oliver, Lt and Adjt M. K. Harrison, Asst Surgeon

W. Russell, Surgeon.
CAPTAINS.
C. H. Carter (D)
J. E. Hunt (E)
W. S. Harrington (F)

M. Clay, A. C. S.

E. J. Runnels (G)
J. H. Richards (H)
C. A. Johnston (I)

698

Appendix.

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

Thomas N. Cockrell (A)
M. J. Priddy (B)
J. T. McDougal (C)
Wm. Gilmer (D)
C. S. Atterbury (A)
J. A. Grant (A)
J. F. Clifton (B)
Wm. Dulaney (B)
W. L. Moody (C)
A. D. Clifton (C)
W. H. Bearden (D)

D. J. Ward (E)
B. G. Underwood (F)
John Lampkin (GJ
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
C. G. Barton (D)
J. Bankston (E)
J. D. Turner (E)
J. Kennedy (F)
J. H. Byers (Fl
O. F. Buland (G)
T. S. Pigford (G)

W. D. Carrington (H>
W. M. Bell (I)
W. E. Pope (K)

W. W. Whitfield (H)
T. C. Billups (H)
J. M. Arnold (l)
G. W. Belts (I)
T. G. Fields (K)
W. J. Witherspoon (K)

SEVENTH MISSISSIPPI REGIMENT,
AS ORGANIZED MAY 1864.
FIELD AND STAFFjOFFICERS.
Samuel M. Hyams, Lt-Colonel. W. W. Bailey, Lt. and Adjt. W. D. Carter, Surgeon.
J. M. Park, Major. J. E. Rogers, A. Q. M. E. A Cox, Asst Surgeon.

Thomas Ford (A)
H. T. Counseille 'B)
M. Manney (C)
A. White (D)

W. A. Morgan (A)
J. W. Parr (B)
Francis A. Wolffe (C)
J. B. Butler (D)J
W. T. Malory (A)
D. M. Patton (Al
J. J. Reedy (B)
B. F. Dixon (B)
Thomas White (D))

CAPTAINS.
W. N. Stansell (E)
H. L. Duncan (F)
John Garrett (G)

C. N. Wheeler (H)
Wm. Young (I)
W. C. Gambill (K)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
John K. Guyton (E) H. J. Raglin (H)
D. L. S. Mosby (F) W. E Donaldson (I)
W. A. Crook (G) L. C. Meek (Kj

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
C. C. McGill (D)
John Golston (E)
W. M. Thomas (E)
W. A. Barkley (F)
James Haddox (F)

V. A Grace (Gl
Jerome Patton (G)
H. Collom (H)
W. B. Swonson (H)
P. S. Souge (I)

EIGHTH OR DUFF'S MISSISSIPPI REGIMENT,

W. L. Duff, Colonel.
W. L. Walker, Lt.-Colonel.

Thomas J. Williams (A)
W. T. Therrell (B)
C. W. Johnston (C)
E. B. Cochran (D)

Absalom Swaim (Al
E. W. Jennings (B)
Thomas J. Bell (C)
W. F. Irving (D)

Thomas J. Kennedy (A)
W. N. Cox (A)
W. F. Young (B)
T. J. Dowdy (B)
W. D. Thornton (C)
T. B. Turner (C)

AS ORGANIZED FEBRUARY, 1S64.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
T. A. Mitchell, Major. H. T. Roaae, A. Q. M.
J. S. Caruthers, Lt and Adjt B. F. Eads, Surgeon.

CAPTAINS.
J. M. Brownlee (E)
H. H. Shackleford (F)
Thomas L. Duke (G)

Thomas J. Morris (H)
W. W. Robinson (I)
Wm. E. Cox (K)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
S. J. Bailey (E) E. B. Kilpatrick (H)
R. G. Steele (F) Ezekiel Bardwell (I)
W. L. Mitchell (G) W. W. Coin (K)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
R. Thompson (D)
T. W. Atkinson (El
Joseph Woodall (E)
R. L. Bean (F)
T. J. Middlebrook (F)
W. W. Stone i,G)

L. G. Knowles (G)
J. T. Morris (HI
C. C. Garrett (H)
R. V. H. Black (I)
E. R. Yerger (II
J. W. Clarke (K)

EIGHTEENTH MISSISSIPPI REGIMENT,
ORGANIZED MAY, 1SO4.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
Alex. H. Chalmers, Colonel. Samuel V. Green, Lt. and Adjt. T. T. Chandler, Surgeon,
J. Waverly Smith, Lt.-Colonel. R. F. Cock, A. Q. M. E. M. Thumpson, Asst. Surgeon.

Appendix.

699

MUls W. Brittnum (A)
E. D. Porter (B)
Wm. H. Carroll (C)

Hugh A. Reynolds (A)
J. P. Morton (B)
Cal. T. Smith (C)
J. Z. King (D)
Fred Chick (A)
George Wall (At
H. H. Hopson (B)
J. Johnson (B)
Clayton R. Jones (Q
W. J. Hughes (C)

CAPTAINS.
>'. G. Middleton (E)
. H. McCain (F)
. R. Perry (G)

W. J. Floyd (H)

A. T. Wirilberly (I)
»(K)

W. A. Raines (

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
John L. Knox (F.l  Hubbard (H)
D. M. Slocumb (F) A. T. Farriss (I)
O. F. West (G) Elbert Oliver (K)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
Ed. Smith (D) B. F. Thompson (G)
J. T. Davis (El David Wright (H)
J. L. Harris (E) Robert Brown (H)
E. L. Dooley (F) Americus H. Payne (K)
 Dickens (Ft Joseph P. Goodman (Kt
 • Wallace (G)

THIRTY-EIGHTH MISSISSIPPI (MOUNTED) INFANTRY.

P. Brent Colonel
W. L. Ware, Lt and Adjt
J. S Hoskins (A)
W. L. Faulk (B)
J. L. Hart (CI
J. H. Jones iD)
P. E. Dyson (At
E. T. Harrington (B)

S. D. Gwin (At
E. S. Leonard (A)
S. F. Smith (Bt
J. W. WUlougnby (C)

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
E. Hoskins, A. Q. M. J. J. Wade, Surgeon.

CAPTAINS.
J. A. Bass (Et
J. I. Green (F)
B.'M. Black (G)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
L. L. Charles (Ct
W. B. Graves (F)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
W. L. Jenkins (D) Tom Ball (H)
W. D. Carmichael (F) W. Ball (I)
John E. Tarpley (H) N. L. Ball (I)

W. M. Estelle (Ht
A. E. Foxworth (I)
J. C. WUliams (K)

M. H. Cuny (H)
John Applewhite (I)

CHALMERS'S CONSOLIDATED (MISSISSIPPI) REGIMENT,
FORMED BY CONSOLIDATION OF EIGHTEENTH AND A PORTION OF FIFTH MISSISSIPPI REGI
MENTS, MARCH 16. 1865.

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.

A. H. Chalmers, Colonel. W. J. Floyd, Major.
J. Waverly Smith, Lt-ColoneL R. F. Cook, A. Q. M.
CAPTAINS.

A.T. Wlmberly(A)
B. F. Saunders (B)
¦C. T. Smith (Q
A G. Mills (D)
Hugh Revnolds (A)
J. P. Morton (B)
James Dinkins (C)
R. E. Smith (D)
Fred Chick (A)
H. H. Hopson (B)
Thomas M. Jones (Q
John G. Burton (Q

J. L. Knox (E)
Wm. A. Raines (F)
O. F. West (G)

J. T. Chandler, Surgeon.

David Wright (H)
R. L. Watson (I)
R. Hill (K)

R. F. Moore (I)
J. C. Conner (K)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
George E. Harris (E) Robert Brown (H)
D M. Slocumb (F)
 Moore (G)

SECOND LIEUTENANT.
I. Z. King (D)
J. Wright (E)
S. F. Green < Ft
R. M. Banks (F)

R. T. Bowen (G)
S. H. Hyatt (H)
R. J. Hoke (K)
M. Park (K)

CONSOLIDATION OF ASHCRAFT'S, HAM'S, AND LOWRY'S
MISSISSIPPI REGIMENTS,

AT THE REORGANIZATION OF FORREST'S CAVALRY, MARCH, 1865.
T. C. Ashcraft, Colonel.

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
W. P. Curlee, Lt.-Colonel. L. L. Marshall, Major.

7oo

Appendix.

T. Brownrigg (A)
George W. Bynutn (Bt
J. R. Wallace (C)
W. H. Hill (A)
W. A. Parish (B)
T. R. Strickland (C)
G. W. Frazier (D)

George Owen (A)
K. M. Harrison (B)
L. B. Brown (C)
T. G. Stocks (D)
John Coffeewood (D)

CAPTAINS.
J. E. Lowry (D)
A. B. Cole (E)
J. C. Fears (F)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
J. E. Davis (E)
C. L. Martin (Ft
>(G)

W. D. Graves (

S. H. Wood (G)
M. H. Howard (H)
T. J. Rye (I)

L. M. Coburn (H)
F. J. Thomas (I)
J. K. GUleylin (K)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
Lafayette Weatherell (E) A. C. Tatum (H)
Lucius Herndon (E) Wm. Hinds (H)
W. H. Keyes (F) W. E. Thomas (1)
L. P. McCord (G) L. T. Taylor (I)
Scott Turner (G) J. L. Laughridge (K)

THIRD KENTUCKY REGIMENT.

A. P. Thompson, ColoneL
G. A. C. Holt, Lt.-Colonel.

H. Blackwell (Al
C. H. Mishew (B)
A. C. McGoodwin (C)
M. Kincade (D)

J. L. Noe (A)
G. W. Timberlake (B)
G. W. Rucker (Ct
J. A. Turk (D)

J. P. Brian (A)
W. C. Clements (A)
J. A. Fuller (B)
W. G. Ashbrook (Bt
J. S. Wheeler (Ct
W. H. Carter (C)
J. H. Jarnutt (D)
I. H. KUon (D)

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
T. T. Barnett, Major. J. C. SmaU, Lt and Adjt
J. B. Saunders, Surgeon.

C. A. Duncan, A. Q. M.
CAPTAINS.
S. P. Ridgeway (E)
W. L. Stevenson (F)
T. C. Edwards (G)
T. A. Miller (H)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS
G. W. Thomas (E)
Jno. Ashbrook (F)
J. E. Morgan (G)
J. P. Witherspoon (H)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
S. B. Edwards (E)
J. F. Cacey (E)
J. M. Minhar (F)
J. F. O. Donnelly (Ft
W. R. Owens (G)
T. H. Hall (G)
A. H. Duncan (H)
J. M. J. Manning (H)

William Sheppard (It
T. J. Bamett (K)
J. E, Morris (L)
J. Clay Home (M)

E. B. Rose (K)
W. H. Burruss (Lt
William Cheeres (M)

A. E. Davis (I)
W. J. Charles (K)
R. B. Bames (K)
W. J. Bushard (L)
S. W. McMurry (L)
T. J. Haile (M)
T. W. Dumas (M)

SEVENTH KENTUCKY CAVALRY.

Ed. Crossland, Colonel.
L. G. Sherrill, Lt.-Colonel.
H. S. Hale, Major.

James Lynch (A)
H. C. Watson (B)
Tesse Hinkle (C)
D. P. Walston (D)

T. A. McFall (A)
R. M. Seay (B)
I. T. Davis (Ct
T. D. Gardner (D)

W. G. Pirtle (A)
B. P. Willingham (At
W. H. Seay (B)
S. M. Renwick (B)
Baker Bovd (C)
Jno. Heady (C)

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
T. F. Clardy, .Surgeon. C H. Roulhac, Lt. and Adjt

W. Lindsey, A. Q. M.

CAPTAINS.
J. T. Cochrane (E)
J. W. Logan (F)
D. L. Nowlan (G)

J. B. McCutchen, Chaplain.

C.W. Jetton (Ht
D. S. Campbell (I)
D. H. Grubbs (K)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
E. W. Anderson (Et
T. T. Garrett (F)
J. K. P. Wills (G)

J. D. A. Hall CH)
Allen Campbell (F,
Charles La Pice (K)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
R. D. Crest (Dt W. W. Easelv (G)
W. Cochrane (Et F. E. Dodd (H)
J. B. Adair (E) T. C Wilson (I)
T. F. Roberts (F) J. C. Penn (Kt
D. S. Frazer (F) James Frazer (K)

Appendix.

701

EIGHTH KENTUCKY REGIMENT.

H. B. Lyon, Colonel.
A. R. Shacklett, Lt.-Colonel.

J. W. Brown (B)
K. IL Fristoe (C)

T. B. Jones (At
J. E Burchard (O
John T. Dennis tD)

J. W. Hamilton (A)
WUliam L. Dunning (Bt
I. R. GUfay (B)
R. T. Albntton (C)

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.

Jabez Bingham, Major,
J. W. Smith, Asst. burgeon.
CAPTAINS.
J. H. Goodloe (D)
James Powell (F)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
J. M. Couch (F)
Logan Field (H)

J. H. Beniss, Lt. and Adjt.

F. G. Terry (Gl
W. D. McKay (K)

J. T. Redford (It
J. G. Duncan (K)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.

. T. B. Dane (DI
B. D. Morton (F)
Lee Turner (G)

A D. Leadrum (H)
H. T. Rowland (H)
J. A. Duncan (K)

FAULKNER'S KENTUCKY REGIMENT.

W. W. Faulkner, Colonel.
W. D. Lannum, Lt-Colonel

H. A. Tyler (A)
E. R Dent (B)
G. W. Clanton (C)
J. J. Wuson (D)

G. W. Maraman (A)
E. P. NaUing (B)
W. R Boaz (Q
R. Thomas (D)

B. H. Welch (A)
P. B. Stoner (A)
G. G. Tyson (B)
John C Dent (B)
J. A. Berryman (C)
N. B. Morris (Cl
H. C. Lawhome (D)

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
J. M. Malone. Major. E. A. Manning, Lt. and Adjt
W. A. Thompson, Asst Surg.

CAPTAINS.
J. Z. Linn (E)
R. P. Cole (F)
J. F. MUton (G)

J. J. Kelleher (H)
N. F. Davis (I)
W. D. Merriwether (K)

FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
B. W. McClure (E)
L. C Baker (F)
W. J. Matthews (G)

J. L. Card (H)
G. J. Freeman (I)
L. bonelson (K)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
J. J. Birdsong (D)
O. P. O'Brien (E)
D. McMorgan (E)
J. W. Goodloe (F)
H. L. Raines (F)
J. D. Wilson (G)
R. E. Beckham (G)

J. M. Ezzell (H)
M. B. Beardon (H)
H. D. Wilson (I)
A. J. Bennett (i)
W. H. Anderson (K)
Thomas Stone (K)

FOURTEENTH CONFEDERATE CAVALRY.

FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.

F. Dumontiel, ColoneL
P. C. Harrington, Major.
Era, Forstall, Lieut and AdjL
W. O. Weathersby (B)
M. T. Deuson (C)
J. Gonzales (D)

Robert Bacot (A)
George P. Harrison (B)
Zeb Williams (Q

J. M. Hart (A)
B. O. Callahan (A)
J. M. Cloy (B)
S. T. Kennedy (B)
Z. B. Gatlin (C)
Sam Marshall (Q

James Miltenberger, A. Q. M.
Ernest Bourges, A. C. S.
CAPTAINS.
N. G. Rhodes (F)
G. C. MUls (G)
L. S. Greenlee (H)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
R. T. Fridge (D)
W. S. Wrea (F)
Edward Young (G)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
J. A. Gonzales (D) P. M. Watson (H)
V. A. Ganthram (D) James Bosby (H)
R. B. Easely (F) L. M. Baldwin (I)
W. B. Lenoir (F) B. T. Temple (I)
G. W. Cage (G) W. L. Williams (K)
Thomas J. Fuqua (G) X W. Furlow (K)

C. P. Henderson, Surgeon.
S. G. Luckett, Asst. Surgeon,

W. M. Porter (II
S. F. WUliams (K)

P. Boyac (H)
T. P. Kell (I)
E. Applewhite (K)

702

Appendix.

E. R. Hawkins, Colonel.
J. H. Brooks, Lieut-Colonel.
J. T. Whitfield, Major.
J. N. Zachary (A)
J. M. Ingram (C)
bavid Snodgrass (D)
B. H. Norworthy (E)

B. M. Irwin (A)
J. F. Pleasant t.C)
R. L. Elkin (D)
R. J. Bradford (E)

W. T. Rogers (A)
J. W. Urquahart (A)
S. It. Horton (Ct
J. W. Gale (C)
J. L. Nance (D)
Adam Adams (E)
J. E. Sharp (E)

FIRST TEXAS LEGION.*
AS ORGANIZED MAY IOTH, 1864.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
B. T. Soindle, Lieut, and Adjt. T. J. Scurlock, Surgeon.
R. J. Lee, A. Q. M. J. Y. Bradfield, Asst Surgeon.

CAPTAINS.
Benjamin Griffin (F)
Edward O. Williams (G)
F. M. Smith (H)
Jesse M. Cook (I)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
L. R. Williams (G)
W. G. Wellbourne (H)
Thompson Morris (I)
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
W. J. Swain (F)
T. M. Bagley (F)
J. S. Moore (G)
W. L. Snell (G)
H. McAllister (H)
J. A. Welch (I)
W. Bridges (I)

J. J. Welbourne (K)
R. W. Billups (L)
O. P. Preston (M)

$1

W. Middlebrooks (K)
"" Barcley(L)
McKennon (M)

J..M. Taylor (K)
J. V. Logsden (L)
John Williams (M)
H. Murray (M)
D. Griffin (N)
Joel Parks (N)

D. W. Jones, Colonel.
T. G. Berry, Lieut-Colonel,
J. C. Bates, Major.
Thomas Purcell (At
E. M. Wright (B)
J. W. Beckett (C)

F. O. Clare (A)
J. T. R. Jewett (B)
R. W. Gallagher (Q
J. H. Smith (D)

J. E. Moore (A)
F. M. Dyer (AV
W. A. Wingo (B)
C. Duncan (C)
D. C. Robinson (C)

NINTH TEXAS CAVALRY,
AS ORGANIZED MAY IOTH, 1864.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
G. L. Griscom, Lieut, and Adjt. J. F. March, Assistant Surgeon.

R. C. Simms, A. Q. M.
J. E. Robertson, Surgeon.
CAPTAINS.
M. A. McLemore (D)
David Whiteman (E)
W. E. Alderson (F)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
M. N. Scoggins (E)
D. W. Odell (F)
T. C. Hensley (G)

R. C. Armstrong, Chaplain.

A. R. Wells (Gt
Perry Evans (I)
H. C. Dial (K)

S. A. Griffith (H)
H. G. Haynes (I)
J. C Garrett (K)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
J. S. Wright (D) , J. W. Smith CH)

Thomas Cox (E)
W. E. Orr (F)
A. B. Claringer (F)
M. Russell (G)

J. W. Moore (I)
W. J. Chambers (I)
H. F. Young (K)
W. T. McClatchy (K)

SIXTH TEXAS CAVALRY,
AS ORGANIZED MAY IOTH, 1864.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
Jack Wharton, Colonel. Edward Myers, Lieut, and Adjt, J. H. Hill, Surgeon.
Peter F. Ross, Lieut-Colonel. J J. Baker, A. Q. M. R. B. Sadler, Assistant Surgeon.
S. B. Wilson, Major.

J. S. Porter (A)
H. W. Wade (B)
George B. Brown (Q
G. S. Rosamond (D)
H. T. Moore (A)
A. Richardson (B)

John R. West (C)
' ~. Milan (D)

G. S.

CAPTAINS.
Reuben Simpson (E)
R. A. Rawlinss (F)
J. McWilson (G)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
Josiah Bradley (E)
James Green (Fl
W. T "

W. B. Whittington (H)
H. M. Morrison (I)
A. G. Graves (K)

. McCann (G)
There was no Company B to this command.

R. H. Baker (FT)
M. M. Guerin (It
L. H. Graves (K)

C H. Walworth (Al
J. C Caruthers (A)
A. P. Thomas i,K>
W. H. Thomas 1.C1
W. P. Wright (E)

Appendix.
SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
T. S. Woodt(E)
A. J. Gray (H
P. S. Taylor I F)
U. Chick (G)
W. H. Riggs (H)

E. R. Collard (Ht
W. C. Scott (1)
R. H. Royal (ft
R. C. White (K)

703

WILLIS'S TEXAS BATTALION.
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
I^'V^!?i?:.^^™''*-Colonel A. G. Evans, A. Q. M. John Wyatt, Surgeon.

H. S. Parker, Lieut and Adjt

. T. Leon (Q
V. D. M. Peck (D)

A. Persons (At
W. F. MUler (C)

W. H. Ridgewav (A)
J. R Thomas (At
E. F. Matthews (B)
W. M. Redding (B)
R. J. Johnson (Q

CAPTAINS.
W. R. Sullivan (E)
F. M. Harwood (F)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.
F. J. Nally (D)
T. J. Cleveland (F)

W. R. Roff(G)

 Sterritt (G)
G. M. Blackshear (H)

SECOND LIEUTENANTS.
T. W. Hodges (Q S. T. Walters (F)

A. S- Gregory (D)
H. McKay (D)
W. H. Logsden (Et
T. T. Hopkins (E)

L. E. Kelley (F)
G. W. McKinzie (G)
H. S. Palmer (G)

THIRD TEXAS CAVALRY,

H. P. Mabry, ColoneL
J. S Boggess, Lieut-ColoneL
A B. Stone, Major.

R. B. Cause (A)
J. W. Wynne (B)
John Germany (C)
R. S. Dabney (D)

J. P. Alexander (A)
A. C. Rorison (B)
W. H. Carr (Q
John E. Yeager (D)

W. J. Cavin (A)
M. B. Harwell (A)
Taylor Brown (B)
Thomas S. Stephens (B)
R L. Hood (Ct
S. B. Barren (Q
B. P. Nance (D)

AS ORGANIZED MAY IOTH, 1864,
FIELD AND STAFF-OFFICERS.
W. H. Gee, Lieut, and Adjt E. B. Blocker, Asst Sureeoa.
E P. HU1, A. Q. M. N. A. Duckett, Chaplain.
Daniel Shaw, Surgeon.

CAPTAINS.
P. B. Word (E)
R. F. Dunn (F)
S. E. Noble (G)
FIRST LIEUTENANTS.

J. W. Lee (H)
G. A. Connally (I)
S. S. Johnson (K)

T. M. Soap (E)
S. O. Ternll (F)
D. N. Alley (G)
SECOND LIEUTENAN
A. J. Chambers (D)
W. S. Holman (E)
D. T. Roberts (E)
H. P. Teague (F)
W. C. Cresswell (F)

A. H. Hargrove (HI
A. G. W. Hunt (I)
A. C. Erwin (K)

T. J. Towles (G)
H. L. Taylor (G)

F. M. Henderson (Ht
M. W. Moon (H)
W. H. Rutland (I)
J. D. Jackson (I)
F. M. Noble (Kt
John Jeffries (K)

Joint resolution of thanks of the Confederate States to Major-General N. B. Forrest, and the offi
cers and men of his command, for their campaign in Mississippi, West- Tennessee, and Ken
tucky :
Resolved, by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the thanks of Con
gress are eminently, and are hereby cordially tendered to Major-General N. B. Forrest, and the
officers and men of his command, for their late brilliant and successful campaign in Mississippi,
West-Tennessee, and Kentucky — a campaign which has conferred upon its authors fame as en
during as the records of the struggle whih they have so brilliantly illustrated.
Approved May 23d, 1864.

7°4

Appendix.

(B.)
LIST OF PRISONERS CAPTURED AT FORT PILLOW.
Thirteenth Tennessee Battalion.— Co. .4— Sergeant R. C. Gunter; Privates J. Chil
dress, A. J. Knight, J. E. Lemon, J. L. Howell, G. W. Kirk, T. F. Burton, J. B. Phipps, J.
Clarke, J. Long, C. Swinny, D. Burton, J. Minyard, J. Berry, J. Halford, W. T. Lovett, M.
Mitchell, E. Haynes, E. Anthony, V. V. MatthemV, J. Moore. Co. .5— Privates A. J. Pankey,
B. R. McKie, J. H. Scoby, J. Green, A. McKie, W. G. Bowles, E. Jones, A. J. Crawford, S.
Hubbs, G. W. Bowles, T. L. Perry, J. W. Stewart, D. Floyd, W. P. Flowers, J. A Baker, J. C.
Steward, W. C. Asprey, J. H. Cover, J. Eason, J. Ellington, Z. Ellington, W. Etheridge, T. M.
Paulk, C. F. Bowles, W. T. Hooser, J. Jones, W. Morrow, C. R. Allen, H. BaUey, J. A Beatty,
D. B. Burress, W. J. Mifflin, J. Burruss, W. Woodward, A. H. Barom. Co. C— First Lieutenant
N. D. Logan ; Privates H. Corning, W. L. Tate, N. G. Henderson, T. Wheeless, E. Scarbo
rough, J. Bynum, S. Read, J. Clarke, D. Myers, W. Stafford, A. McGhee, F. E Neeham, J. A.
Smith, J. Ham, J. Pressley, M. Day, D. F. Hood, F. M. Gammon, J. Jones, L. Hohoer, G. L.
Ellis, J. H. Webb, H. C. Moore, W. H. Bolls, A. J. Rice, Wm. Ryder, J. Norman, J. Souther-
land, A. Middleton, H. S. Morris, J. M. Tidwell, J. M. Knuckles, C. Oxford. Co. D— Privates
D. Z. Alexander, S. E. Kirk, B. J. Kirk, F. D. Tidwell Wm. Hancock, John Taylor, J. W.
Brown, T. Woods, B. Johnson, J. Wilson, W. R. Johnson, J. Moer, M. Harper, E. b. Stewart,
B. F. Ellison, T. P. Pascal, J. M. Wilson, J. W. Gibson, P. S. Alexander, B. W. King, J. Rum-
age, J. C. Green. Co. E— Captain J. L. Poston ; Privates J. T. Cochran, A. J. Hall, E. ChU-
dress, J. A Brown, W. G. Poston, J. Smith, O. B. Goodman, S. N. Scarberry, N. C. Kleek, J.
Cozort, W. Hines, J. W. Antwine, C. Ellis, A. J. Madlin, A. Carr, J. F. Stamps, R. Richardson,
T. A. Haynes, J. M. Smith, T. J. McMurry, J. F. Rolf, j. Shoemate, Henry Clay, J. Arnold, R.
Williams, A. J. Sutton, A. Lewis, J. H. Scarboro, T. A. Lunsford, W. J. Scarberry, J. Hodge,
H. Jones, W. M. Henley, H. L. Brogden, M. E. Beard ; F. Dowling, Quartermaster's Clerk. Co.
[known as Johnson's Escort Co.)— First Lieutenant P. H. McBride ; Private M. H. Blanton.*
Second United States Light Artillery. — Co. D — First Lieutenant A. M. Hunter ; Private
J. D. Fox. Twenty- Fourth Missouri Infantry. — Co. A — Captain J. F. Young. SJigall's
Home-Guards.— Privates W. H. Gibson, S. T. Gibson, J. W. Autrey, Wm. Boyer, R. C Price,
S. M. Price. Second Iowa Cavalry.— Co. L— Private R. B. Springer. First United States
Rf.gular Artillery. — Co. A — Private C. E. Pratt Second Illinois Cavalry. — Co. B —
Private H. W. Holloway. Fifty-second Indiana Infantry. — Co. G — Private A. Baker. Se
venth Tennessee Cavalry. — Co. A — Private R. Mullins. Co. C — Private R. H. Stewart Co.
D— Private W. M. Crews. Co. M— Private W. H. Snow. Sixth Tennessee Cavalry. — Co. E—
Private J. K. Taylor. Seventh Kansas Cavalry. — Private T. C George, (Hospital Steward.)
Sixth United States (colored) Artillery, (heavy.)— Co. A — Captain C J. Eppeneiter ;
First Lieutenant P. Bishop ; Sergeant J. Hennissey ; Privates A J. Hatfield-. J. Thompson, Frank
Hopper, Tom Norris, Anthony Flowers, Bill Smith, Oliver Jones, Henry Smith, Jenkins Rice, Bill
Ward, Monk Moores, Cog Horton, Edmund Trice, Peter Williams, Charlie Williams, Dave Man-
ley, Ray McGhee, Broxton Kirkman, Wilson Johnson, Bill Oates, Solomon Patrick, Henderson
Jotinson, John Gentry, Sandy Worsham, Wilson Crenshaw, Jim McCauley, Albert Ingram, Jef
ferson Dobbs, Spott Clayton, Harry Hili, Wm. Gray, Jim Danbridge, Dan Newbern, Dave Oats,
Frank Browder, Tom Palmer, Aaron Bradley, David Oats, Henry Smith, Wilson Peyton, David
Johnson, Jacob Lumpkin, Moses Wiseman, Lewis Van Eagle, John McHainey, Jim Murrell,
Jim Flowers, Sam Baugh, Dick Sallee, Hiram Lumpkin, Jim Pride, John Henry Harper, Dave
Flowers.

RECAPITULATION.

Officers.

Enlisted Men.

Total.

Sixth United States Heavy Artillery, (Colored)...

3 Xi

54 i
i4S

15'

First United States Regular Artillery 
7
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aa6
* In the recapitulation, Lieutenant McBride is enumerated with the Thirteenth Tennessee.
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