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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

JOHN WATSON MORTON.

J^e Artillery of
Nathan Bedford Forrest's
Cavalry

"The Wizard ofthe Saddle"

BY JOHN WATSON MORTON
Chief of Artillen)

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Nashville, Tenn.; Dallas, Tex,
Publishing House of the M. E. Church, South
Smith & Lamar, Agents
1909

Copyright, 1909
BY
Mrs. Ei.len Morton

Cc74-3I0

DEDICATION
To his Comrades living, and to the memory of those
who have crossed the "Great Divide," who together
followed the gonfalon of the incoinparable leader.
Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest, this rec
ord is affectionately dedicated by,
Thk Author.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.
The War of the Rebellion. Official Records.
Campaigns of Lieut. Gen. N. B. Forrest and Forrest's Cavalry.
Memoirs of Gen. U. S. Grant.
Life of Gen. George H. Thomas.
General Forrest (Great Commanders Series).
Whip and Spur.
Battles and Leaders of the Civil War.
Privations of a Private.
Destruction and Reconstruction.
Military Annals of Tennessee.
Advance and Retreat.
Memoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman.
Life of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest.
De Bow's Review.
Century Magazine.
McClure's Magazine.
Taylor-Trotwood Magazine.
Metropolitan Magazine.
Leslie's Weekly.
Publications of Mississippi Historical Society.
The Battle of Tishomingo Creek as I Saw It.
Men of Tennessee.

CONTENTS. Page.
Introductory  9
A Brief Sketch of the Character of Gen. Nathan Bedford
Forrest  11
CHAPTER I.
Battle of Fort Donelson  19
CHAPTER IL
Life in Prison  37
CHAPTER IIL
Lieutenant Morton Joins General Forrest on His First
Expedition into West Tennessee  45
CHAPTER IV.
Battle of Lexington  Si
CHAPTER V.
Battle of Parker's Crossroads  64
CHAPTER VL
B'.ttle of Dover  7i
CHAPTER VII.
Battle of Thompson's St.wion  79
CHAPTER VIIL
In Pursuit of Streight  9°
CHAPTER IX.
From Spring Hill to Chickamauga  105
CHAPTER X.
Battle of Chickamauga  iiS
5

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
CHAPTER XI. Page.
Second Expedition into West Tennessee  i34
CHAPTER XII.
Defeat of Gen. William Sooy Smith  141
CHAPTER XIII.
Camp Life in Mississippi  160
CHAPTER XIV.
Morton's Artillery at the Battle of Brice's Crossroads  172
CHAPTER XV.
Battle of Harrisburg  201
CHAPTER XVI.
Why Gen. A. J. Smith Abandoned Mississippi  216
CHAPTER XVII.
Morton's Artillery at Athens, Ala  222
CHAPTER XVIIL
Capture of Sulphur Springs Trestle, Elk River, Richland
Creek, and Intervening Blockhouses  233
CHAPTER XIX.
Morton's Artillery at Fort Heiman  245
CHAPTER XX.
Federal Fleet and Stores at Johnsonville Destroyed by
Morton's Artillery  252
CHAPTER XXL
General Forrest's Cavalry and Artillery Join General Hood. 267

CHAPTER XXII.
6

The Battle of Franklin  273

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
CHAPTER XXIII. p^oE.
Opebations around Nashville  277
CHAPTER XXIV.
General Hood's Retreat  286
CHAPTER XXV.
Anthony's Hill and Sugar Creek  295
CHAPTER XXVI.
Preparing for a New Field  301
CHAPTER XXVII.
The Fall of Selma  309
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Surrender at Gainesville  315
Appendix, 1865-1908  325

ILLUSTRATIONS.
Opposite -
John Watson Morton  Frontispiece
Nathan Bedford Forrest  11
General Forrest and Staff  172
John W. Morton, Chief of Forrest's Artillery  207
Beautiful Lines Found on Back of Confederate Note  273
Captain Morton's Parole  316
Only Written Kuklux Klan Order  345
Mrs. John W. Morton  349
Confederate Notes  350, 351
John W. Morton, Secretary of State  359
7

INTRODUCTORY.
The history of General Forrest's artillery companies
as an organization into a battalion, which the writer had
the honor to command, has never been preserved, and for
this reason it is the writer's desire to embody in this ac
count the movements of this branch of General Forrest's
cavalry service during his connection with it.
The difficulties of writing a history which shall treat
fully of each of the myriad factors which make up the
multiple of fate will be readily seen to be almost insuper
able, and in this narrative no effort has been made to
study, to weigh, the innumerable actions and influences
which contributed to events ; but rather has it been chosen
to give a simple recital of those occurrences in which the
writer, a young officer in his teens, under this incompara
ble commander was himself engaged. A close associa
tion with the remarkable being whose natural genius for
the art of war astonished the world even in that period
which has never been surpassed for the development of
genius, and oft-exchanged reminiscences with old com
rades around the bivouac fires and at reunions, have re
sulted in the jotting down of the author's experience in
the heroic companionship of the "Wizard of the Saddle.''
Memory, however, treacherous at best, and doubly so
after absorption in other affairs for over forty years,
has not been depended upon further than to suggest epi
sodes which have been carefully corroborated by reference
to published contemporaneous accounts. Among these
are Dr. J. A. Wyeth's admirable "Life of General Nathan
Bedford Forrest," Jordan and Pryor's "The Campaigns
of Lieutenant Colonel Forrest and Forrest's Cavalry,"
which, in addition to having been written shortly after
9

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the close of the war, has the further merit of having
been revised by General Forrest; the "Records of the
War of the Rebellion," published by the United States
govemment; the memoirs of numerous Union officers;
Captain J. Harvey Mathes's condensed story in the
"Great Commanders" series ; Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley's
"Military Annals of Tennessee ;" and, finally, access has
been had to a number of contemporaneous publications
and private papers. Thanks are also due for valuable
assistance rendered by John Trotwood Moore, Dr. J. B.
Cowan, Chief Surgeon of General Forrest's Cavalry, and
Rev. D. C. Kelley, Chaplain of General Forrest's Cav
alry. John W. Morton,
Chief of Artillery, Forrest's Cavalry.
Nashville, Teim. IO

NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST.

Botn at Chapel Hill, Tenn, July 13, iSii.
Captain Company of Tenne^.sfe Cavalry, Ma^
Colonel P'orrebt'b Ilej^iment Cavalrv, iS6[-'^i-'.
Brig"atlier-Gencral, July 21, iS/12.
Major-General P. A. C. S,, December 4, i'^'\7,.
I^ieutenant- General, February 2S, 1S65.
Died in Memphis, Tenn., October 29, 1^77.

A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE CHARACTER OF
GEN. NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST.
For nearly three years preceding the close of the Civil
War, as a member of General Forrest's military family
and an officer of his staff, I had unlimited opportunities
for observing and studying him as a man and as a com
mander, and that too under all the varying conditions of
the camp, the march, and the battlefield.
"Every structure in nature and in art necessarily rests
upon a base, a foundation, and it has been said that man
himself is in no wise exempt from this primal necessity;
that for him, as a living temple, heredity lays a founda
tion, while environment becomes the dominant factor in
shaping and developing the superstructure." If this be
true, my association with and daily observation of the
man warrants the assertion that a massive brain, an in
flexible purpose, unflinching courage, tireless energy, and
a will that could brook no opposition were the bed rocks
of the foundation upon which General Forrest built —
truly a combination of characteristics and attributes
rarely found in any one man.
Early in life General Forrest fell upon hard lines. The
death of his father left him, when only sixteen years of
age, the sole dependence for support and protection of a
widowed mother and eight young brothers and sisters.
It was then he began building on that foundation upon
which all his subsequent career rested.
Deprived at this early age of every advantage of for
tune, save a resolute soul and a robust constitution, he
faced his duties and responsibilities with all that force
of character displayed by him twenty years later as a
cavalry commander. With no one to look to or lean
II

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

upon, and so many dependent upon him, he was forced
to think and act for himself, and thus, amid toil, priva
tions, and hardships, he began the development of that
complete self-reliance which characterized his whole mil
itary career.
As a soldier, by his intelligence, energy, and bravery,
he carved his way unaided from obscurity to fame —
from the ranks to a Lieutenant-Generalship.
General Forrest, as a commander, was, in many re
spects, the negative of a West Pointer. He regarded evo
lution, maneuvers, and exhaustive cavalry drill an un
necessary tax upon men and horses. He cared nothing
for tactics further than the movement by twos or fours
in column, and from column right or left into line, dis
mounting, charging, and fighting. As attested by his un
paralleled successes, these simple movements proved suffi
cient. Except for officers, as an insignia of rank. General
Forrest banished the saber from his command. In the
hands of troopers he regarded them as a dangling, clat
tering appendage — of no value as offensive weapons. He
armed his men with a Sharp's rifle, or short carbine, and
two navy sixes, better in every way for either attack or
defense. By his captures the Federal Government sup
plied him with guns and artillery and more ordnance,
commissary, and quartermaster's stores than he could
use. With vastly inferior numbers he met on dififerent fields
and defeated Generals Hatch, Grierson, William Sooy
Smith, and Sturgis, all of whom were veteran soldiers
and graduates of West Point. The two last named were
specially selected by Generals Grant and Sherman, and
sent out with splendidly equipped commands for no other
purpose than to whip or kill that "devil Forrest." In the
12

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
light of such events General Forrest can be excused for
holding in contempt the idea that only West Pointers
were fitted to command, and also for saying on one oc
casion: "Whenever I met one of them fellers that fit by
note, I generally whipped h — 11 out of him before he
got his tune pitched."
By nature General Forrest was aggressive, consequent
ly he was always an offensive fighter. He believed the
moral efifect was with the attacking party, and never
failed, when it was possible to do so, to take the initiative
and deliver the first blow. He believed that one man
advancing in attack was equal to two men standing in
line of battle and awaiting attack. When charged by
the enemy, no matter in what numbers, it was his in
variable rule to meet a charge with a countercharge.
His restless nature would not allow him to remain in
camp any longer than was necessary to rest his men and
shoe his horses. Unlike some generals, who seemed con
tent with holding their ground and keeping from being
whipped. General Forrest was ever on the move, and
never content unless he was whipping somebody. He
cared little for army regulations or tactics ; disobeyed or
went outside of them whenever the good of the service
or surrounding circumstances demanded it. Nor was he
free from inconsistencies common tO' us all. While he
could not tolerate insubordination in his own command,
he was himself at times the most insubordinate of men.
However contrary to his own judgment a movement
might be, an order from his superior officer on the battle
field was always obeyed, except in matters affecting him
self or his command unwisely or unjustly. An instance
of this kind I well remember. When General Hood
crossed his army over the Tennessee to Florence, Ala.,
General Forrest was in command of all the cavalry of his
13

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

army. We had our headquarters at a church a few miles
out in the countiy. An officer came out with an order
reducing the number of mules in wagons and ordering
all surplus mules to be turned over to the quartermaster
of transportation. General Forrest happened to be out,
and the officer left after giving specific directions to have
the mules sent in the ne::t morning. It was read to the
General when he came in, and he said very quietly:
"None of my mules will be sent in on that order." The
next evening Maj. A. L. Landis came out and asked
the General if he had received the order, and wanted to
know why the mules had not been sent in as ordered.
If the good people accustomed to sit in the "amen corner"
had dropped in just at that time, they would have con
cluded that the good Lord had been ousted and old Nick
had taken full possession of the sanctuary. The atmos^
phere was blue for a while. Stripped of General For
rest's bad words, he said tO' Major Landis : "Go back to
your quarters and don't you come here again or send
anybody here about mules. The order will not be obeyed ;
and, moreover, if Major Ewing bothers me any further
about this matter, I'll come down to his office, tie his
long legs into a double bowknot around his neck, and
choke him to death with his own shins. It's a fool order
anyway. General Hood had better send his inspectors to
overhaul your wagons, rid them of all surplus baggage,
tents, adjutant desks, and everything that can be spared.
Reduce the number of his wagons instead of reducing the
strength oi his teams. Besides, I know what is before
me; and if he knew the road from here to Pulaski, this
order would be countermanded. I whipped the enemy
and captured every mule wagon and ambulance in my
command; have not made a requisition on the govern
ment for anything of the kind for two years, and now
14

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
that they are indispensable my teams will go as they are
or not at all."
Insubordination may be justified, but it cannot be de
fended. General Forrest's insubordination in this case
was a Godsend and a saving clause to General Hood's re
treating army. From Richland Creek to the Tennessee
River the road was strewn with his abandoned wagons,
and but for the help afiforded the pontoon train by Gen
eral Forrest's fine six-mule teams great delay and prob
able disaster to the army would have occurred before a
passage of the river was efifected.
Long after the gray-haired veterans of the Confederate
armies shall have passed away, and when, as far as pos
sible, all error shall have been expunged from the pages
of history, which should be illuminated by truth alone, a
glorious constellation will shine undimmed in the sky of
the Confederate States of America. It will be an empy
rean of exalted memories in which these fixed stars, dif
fering from- one another in their own peculiar glory, will
beam in their appropriate places, an enduring revelation
to the world of the virtues and genius of our greatest
commanders. In the zenith of the grand constellation
will be a trinity of stars. The greatest and central lumi
nary will send forth earth-wide rays, sustained and bril
liant beyond all others, but beaming everywhere with
softened radiance. The other two, different of eleraent,
but alike calling forth our admiration, will shine with
their own brightness and efifulgence to the right and left
of the noble central star; one, Sirius-like, with far-flash
ing radiance of a light divine, from a Christian warrior's
armor ; the other with a rich, dazzling splendor that seems
to fling lightnings of defiance tO' the sun's fiercest rays
from the burnished shield of a dauntless heart. These
IS

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

stars are Robert E. Lee, T. J. (Stonewall) Jackson, and
Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Tbe first was preeminent by reason of a superlatively
noble nature and exalted purity of character, combined
with world-wide fame as the commander of incompara
ble armies that loved him with a love as near adoration
as ever blessed a mortal ; the other two startled the soli
tudes of space and made the chasms of time to ring
with the echoes of their matchlessly adroit and marvel
ously swift achievements. General Jackson prayed and
marched, and prayed and fought. General Forrest, like
a ruthless besom of destruction, charged the air with
electric energy as he hurled himself upon the foe. He
was indeed the "Wizard of the Saddle," self-reliant and
aggressive, with the consciousness of one who seemed to
know intuitively when, where, and how to strike. With
out military training he forced his way from the ranks
of the company in which he enlisted tO' a commander's
fame as complete and brilliant as ever reflected honor
upon any school of arms. We can picture him one spring
morning at reveille, taking his place with comrades who
barely knew his name, and four years later a lieutenant
general, the resplendent and fiery star of whose glory still
sheds a light that makes his deeds and his genius the
theme of eager discussion in every camp and school
where military science and skill enlist a thought.
He had absolutely no knowledge or experience of war
gleaned from the study of what others had wrought.
General Forrest grasped intuitively and instantaneously
the strategic possibilities of every situation which con
fronted him, and with inspired native genius and com
plete confidence put into practice the tactics of the most
famous generals in all history. His knowledge of men
was in most cases unerring ; and his ability to inspire and
i6

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
bring out the greatest power and endurance of his men
was unsurpassed even by the great Napoleon himself.
His eye for position was almost infallible, and his knowl
edge of the efifect of a given movement on the enemy was
intuitive and seemed to come rather from an inner than
an outer source of information. His plans of battle were
not chalked out on blackboards nor drawn on charts ; they
were conceived on the instant and as instantaneously car
ried out. He struck as the lightning strikes, and his tac
tics were as incalculable as those of the electric fluid and
as mysterious to the enemy, for his movements were so
rapid and his endurance and daring sO' remarkable that
they could not be computed by any known rules of war
fare. 2 17

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S
CAVALRY

CHAPTER I.
The author of this book joined General Forrest's com^
mand the first week of November, 1862. Previous to
that time his service had been in Capt. Thomas K. Por
ter's battery, although this was not the first company he
had joined.
John W. Morton, Jr., was, when President Lincoln
called for troops, a student at the Westem Military In
stitute, of Nashville, Tenn. In common with other lads
of seventeen, he burned with impatience for his State to
secede and afford him an opportunity, if possible, to dis
tinguish himself on the field. Discussions of questions of
State and public policy inevitably, and promptly, resulted
in favor of secession and glorious combat.
When Tennessee passed the ordinance of secession,
the students waited for no formal announcement of it,
no dismissal from the schoolroom. With one accord, the
two hundred and fifty-nine cadets left the Institute and
hastened to their respective homes, eager to join the first
companies being formed. Some eight or nine of the stu
dents were from Indiana and Illinois, and these likewise
retumed home.
The Dunlap Zouaves, composed of boys, and the com
pany being named for Hon. James Dunlap, Secretary of
State, was formed in Nashville in a few days, and young
Morton joined this company, was elected a lieutenant,
and passed some time in drilling. He endeavored to get
19

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the cadets to join the Confederate army as a company,
but this failed.
During the latter part of April, 1861, he joined the
Rock City Guards, Company C, Col. George Maney's
Regiment, First Tennessee Infantry. His captain was
a fellow-physician and intimate friend of young Morton's
father. Dr. John Watson Morton. Doctor-Captain Rob
ert C. Foster, the kindest and most genial of men, took
his company to Camp Cheatham, where he drilled them
daily for about a month. Young Morton drilled faith
fully, and performed every duty incident to camp life,
but upon one pretext or another Captain Foster deferred
swearing him into service. Suddenly the news got
abroad that the regiment had been ordered to West Vir
ginia; and, feeling that the time for decisive action had
come, the ambitious railitary student made a firm deraand
to be mustered into service like the other boys. Captain
Foster, looking earnestly at the enthusiastic youth, said
to him kindly: "John, West Virginia is a very rugged
country, and you are too young and frail to stand the
long marches over the rough raountains and the hardships
of carap life. Go horae to- your raother."
In high dudgeon the disappointed would-be soldier
packed his grip and returned home. His mother wept
tears of joy on hearing the Captain-Doctor's verdict, but
John was not one whit moved from his determination.
Hearing tlie same afternoon that a company of artillery
was being mustered into service at Carap Weakley, just
across the bridge, where artillery corapanies were being
organized in Northeast Nashville, he reported there.
Capt. Jesse Taylor, coraraander of a battery, was busy
inspecting carap, and when requested to muster in young
Morton as a member of his company, he replied: "All
right, John. I'll send for the mustering officer." This
20

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
he did, and somehow the awkward question relating to
the age of the applicant was overlooked. Jubilantly re
turning home, the youth's enthusiasm was somewhat dis
couraged by his mother's grief, but this was as quickly
removed by his father's act in ordering a new uniform
from John Bi'owne, the noted tailor, whose shop stood at
the corner of the Public Square and Deaderick Street.
When the natty suit was finished, it was young Morton's
confident belief that Browne had never executed a more
ira¬portant coramission.
The Battle of Fort Donelson.
The record of young Morton's first battle and his life
in prison cannot better be told than in a resurae of a
sketch prepared by him for Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley's very
useful "Military Annals of Tennessee," on Porter's Bat
tery.* "The political history of Tennessee in 1861 is farailiar
to the student, and especially to the chief actors who have
survived that storray tirae. The North was slow to com
prehend the reality of armed resistance on our part. The
division oi sentiment at the South on the expedience of
immediate secession was mistaken for the existence of a
submission party, whereas the division was confined to
the question of expediency alone, and disappeared almost
wholly when our State was threatened with invasion.
Then was revealed to the people the necessity of defend
ing their homes and their liberties against a ruthless
assault on both, and unanimity prevailed. The question
of the right of peaceable secession — and, in fact, every
other question — was lost sight of. Facts took the place
*"Military Annals of Tennessee." By John Berrien Lindsley,
D.D., M.D. Pages 855-860. 21

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

of theories, and nothing reraained but the arbitrament of
arms. The people were practically united, and a spirit
of deterrained resistance took possession of the masses.
Among the younger bloods, who were the chivalry of the
anny, there prevailed but one sentiment, and that was :
'Right or wrong, we will go with our people and our
section.' "
The first call was promptly responded to-. It was the
second call, the latter part of June, 1861, by Gov.
Isham G. Harris, for regiments of infantry and three
companies of light artillery, that brought out Porter's
Battery, which was organized at Nashville through the
influence and assistance of the Hon. M. Burns, Dr.
John W. Morton, and W. L. Hutchinson. The corapany
was called the Burns Light Artillery, in honor of Mr.
Bums, who in raany ways aided in recruiting the cora
pany and contributed liberally toward uniforraing it.
The first coraraander was Capt. Jesse Taylor, and the
carap selected was known as Camp Weakley, some two
miles north of Nashville, where the company underwent
several weeks of hard drilling. Captain Taylor was
soon relieved at his own request, and ordered to the com
mand of heavy artillery at Fort Henry, for which service
he seemed especially fitted. Thomas K. Porter, a Lieu
tenant in the United States Navy, who had just retumed
to Tennessee, his native State, was appointed Captain,
with the following organization : W. L. Hutchinson, Sen
ior First Lieutenant; John W. Morton (who had been
transferred from Company C, Rock City Guards), Junior
First Lieutenant ; W. R. Culbertson, Senior Second Lieu
tenant; Len Burt, Junior Second Lieutenant; Frank Mc
Guire, Orderly Sergeant; George W. Holmes, Quarter
raaster Sergeant; T. Sanders Sale, Joseph W. Yeatraan,
W. H. Wilkerson, Horace C. Ross, H. W. Hunter, B.
22

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Banister, Sergeants ; Williara Green, Pat Murray, Z. Con-
naly, Pat Hoben, A. D. Stewart, Peter Lynch, Pat Fla
herty, George G. Henon, W. E. Holden, Albert B. Fall,
Corporals; Barney Barnes, Farrier; J. S. Parker, Wheel
wright; P. N. Richardson, Saddler; W. D. Madden,
Blacksraith ; Max Genning, Wheelwright.
In July the corapany was ordered to- Bowling Green,
Ky., and transferred frora State to Confederate troops,
and, as was custoinary, the name was changed tO' that of
Porter's Tennessee Battery, after the narae of its com-
raiander. John W. Morton was made Senior First Lieu
tenant of the battery, and a number of the citizens of
Nashville, wishing to express their appreciation of the
dignity thus bestowed upon a Nashville boy, united in the
presentation of a handsome sword, bearing the initials
"C. S. A." beautifully embossed on one side of the blade,
with a Confederate flag. The reverse side was engraved,
"Lieutenant J. W. Morton," while the handle guard bore
another "C. S. A."
This sword was raade at the first arsenal or gun fac
tory established by the Confederacy. It was located on
College Hill, in Nashville, and here the flintlock guns
were changed to percussion locks and other guns prepared
for service. At this time this was the only arsenal in the
Confederacy, and it was kept busy day and night making,
changing, and repairing arms.
Lieutenant Morton donned his sword with the highest
resolves to devote it to deeds of valor, and wore it faith
fully into action at Fort Donelson, where he was cap
tured and sent to Camp Chase. The sword was taken
from, him when he reached the prison, with the promise
that it would be retumed when the Lieutenant should be
exchanged ; but after the battle of Shiloh he was sent to
Johnson's Island. He could not, of course, claim his

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
sword, and when he was exchanged he was hurried down
the river to Vicksburg, sadly giving up the weapon for
lost. (See book, "Prison Life." Autographs.) Some
years ago, however, it was returned tO' him through the
working of a very peculiar coincidence. During the raeet
ing of the Joint Coramission of the Chickamauga Park
Monument Association at Chattanooga the Federal and
Confederate veterans met with the greatest friendliness
for the purpose of selecting markers to be placed by va
rious States on the battlefield of Chickamauga. Seated
around the speakers' stand the Federals and Confeder
ates were exchanging reminiscences, and in the course
of this a Union officer, seated next to. then Mayor George
B. Guild, of Nashville, told him that he had been placed
in charge of the arms of the prisoners at Camp Chase,
and that, owing to the sending of a nuraber of them
away before they were exchanged, he was left with quite
a collection of swords on hand after the cessation of hos
tilities. Some of these, he said, he had been able to iden
tify and retum to the owners, but he had one in partic
ular which he could not locate. "It bears the name
Lieut. J. W. Morton," he said, "and I know it must have
been the highly prized property of some young officer,
who has raourned its loss many times since then, if he is
still ahve." Mayor Guild replied : "That must be the
sword of Capt. John W. Morton, sitting just across
on the platforra." After the speaking was concluded,
Mayor Guild introduced the two officers. Captain Mor
ton found Colonel Cist to be a gentleman of rare enter
taining qualities, and was made happy by the promise of
the return of the cherished and long-mourned blade. It
reached Nashville in a short time, all carriage prepaid,
and in a very handsome box made especially for it. It is
24

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
such graceful and kindly amenities as this that have done
so rauch to smooth away the bitterness of war.
The arraament of Porter's Battery consisted of six
guns — four six-pounders, smooth bore (brass), and two
twelve-pound Howitzers (brass), with caissons and bat
tery equipments complete. Under Captain Porter, a skill
ful and most efficient officer, the battery soon becarae
veiy serviceable in drill and discipline — in fact, it was a
raost excellent training school for officers. Captain Por
ter and a number of his officers and men subsequently
held iraportant commissions in the Confederate service.
Captain Porter was transferred to the navy, and was
commander of the Florida in her engagement with the
Kearsarge. The battery's first march was with Gen. S. B. Buck
ner's division through Kentucky to HopkinsviUe, where
some "homemade" Yankees were dispersed with loss,
and from thence tO' Russellville. At Russellville the bat
tery was on a low piece of ground near the depot. A
branch ran around the encampment, and, as it rained in
torrents during the night, this little stream overflowed all
bounds. The next morning Lieutenant Morton stepped
from his cot into, water up tO' his knees. An amusing in
cident occurred in leaving the carap. The fords were not
clear, and many of the men plunged into an involuntary
bath. At that time the company was well supplied with
cots and blankets, and this was the only period of the war
when this condition came within the author's experience.
From Russellville the battery returned to Bowling
Green. Captain Porter's strict discipline in camp was
of great service to the officers and raen on this march.
Although actively engaged in daily drills, a great many
members of the company were stricken down with
measles, mumps, and other diseases, until the efficiency
25

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
of the battery was greatly irapaired. This necessitated
details from the Third and Eighteenth Infantry Regi
raents. Captain Morton, being naturally of spare phy
sique and unaccustomed to the rough usage of camp life,
was prostrated with typhoid fever soon after retuming
from the march to HopkinsviUe, which kept hira confined
and frora active camp duty for six weeks. This was his
only absence from duty from any cause during the four
years' service, except the seven months' imprisonment at
Carap Chase and Johnson's Island.
Battle of Fort Donelson.
The company marched with General Buckner's Divi
sion to Fort Donelson, at which place it arrived on the
evening of February 12, 1862. It was assigned to posi
tion on the right center of the outer works, where the
Fort Henry road passes, supported by the Fourteenth
Mississippi Regiment (Baldwin's) immediately around
the guns, the Third Tennessee (Brown's) on the left,
and the Eighteenth Tennessee (Palmer's) on the right.
Colonel Cook's Thirty-Second Tennessee was to> the left
of Brown, and Hanson's Second Kentucky was on the
right of Palmer. The position occupied by the battery-
was exposed on the right, left, and front, being at the
apex of the angle in the works, formed where the in
trenchraents tum in passing frora the river above Dover
around westerly to the water batteries.
Major Foster's Map.
The author, in company with Gov. Jaraes D. Por
ter and Maj. W. F Foster, visited the battle grounds
at Fort Donelson in 1878, and after a careful survey of
the entire line of works and the water batteries, a map
was prepared by Major Foster, who was formerly the
26

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
efficient Chief Engineer of Stewart's Confederate Corps,
Army of Tennessee.
The space to be defended was almost quadrangular in
shape, divided into two parts by Indian Creek, which
was filled by an almost irapassable backwater. The
ground between the valleys was a rugged, hilly upland,
covered with a dense undergrowth. The defenses for
light artilieiy were very meager. Porter, Graves, and
Maney had their men constantly exposed when in action.
The timber south of the fort had been felled, which, with
the ravines and valleys flooded with backwater, greatly
retarded and embarrassed the raoveraents of the Confed
erates within the advanced works. These works were
unfinished and defective.
The Federals had raoved rapidly and cautiously, and
at sundown on the 12th had wound their coils completely
around the Confederate works, almost without resistance.
save a little exchange of artillery firing by our batteries,
and sorae sharp and deadly firing frora Berge's well-
trained sharpshooters, which caused a suspension of work
on the Confederate trenches.
Our first night in the trenches in the presence of the
enemy was balmy and springlike. The stars twinkled
with unusual brightness, the raoon beamed with tranquil
light upon the sleeping hosts, and not a sound was heard
save a shot now and then from a stray picket, the seera
ingly peaceful prelude to the storm of hail and the deadly
strife soon to follow.
The dawn of the 13th was ushered in by the boom of
the Federal artillery and the sharp crack of the skir
misher's rifle, which brought the boys in gray hastily to
their feet, provoking a spirited artillery fire all along the
front. There was a great deal of coquetting along the
lines by the Federals. As early as eight o'clock General

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Cook sallied forth against the right center with his Iowa
boys ; but we enfiladed them, and they found the music and
its accompaniraents from Graves's and Porter's Batteries
too warm for comfort, and soon retired behind a neigh
boring hill. The artillery of the enemy assaulted the
Confederate left, which was promptly responded to- by
Graves and the batteries on that part of the line. For
over two hours a rattling artillery and musketry fire was
kept up along the entire line, when about eleven o'clock
McClernards's Hoosier forces made a dashing charge
on the prominence occupied by Maney's Battery, sup
ported by Heiman's Brigade, but were repulsed. They
retired before the storra of shell and canister poured into
their ranks from Porter's, Graves's, and Maney's Bat
teries and the hail of bullets from our infantry.
Col. John C. Brown, in his official report, says :
"Captain Graves, in less than ten rainutes, knocked one
of the enemy's guns frora its carriage, and almost at the
sarae moment the gallant Porter disabled and silenced the
other." It was here that Lieutenant Morton began to under
stand the seriousness of war. During this assault the
young and brave Albert S. Fall, gunner in Porter's Bat
tery, lost his life. He was handling his gun with great
coolness and skill when Captain Morton, who was within
a few feet of hira, adrairing the quiet and determined
manner in which he was serving the gun, saw hira drop
his head suddenly forward on the breech of his piece, a
Minie ball having penetrated his skull, killing him in
stantly. Porter's Battery lost thirty-seven out of forty-eight
cannoneers at the guns. One of the saddest incidents that
occurred during the war was when, so raany having been
killed and wounded in the battery, Pat Kine, who was
28

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
acting No. i at the gun on the right, with only one man
left at the piece, would tum and appeal tO' Lieutenant
Morton: "Lieutenant, get down the hill; they will kill
you." The young Lieutenant brought up the cartridges,
placed them in the gun, and Kine would ram the charge
horae. After his raany appeals to get lower down the
hill, he finally threw down his raramer, picked the Lieu
tenant up in his anns, and carried hira. down tO' a place
of safety. Kine returned to his post. The Lieutenant
brought another charge, placed it in the gun, stepped to
one side, gave the order to load, and as Kine was in the
act of rararaing the charge horae he was shot through
the heart and fell dead.
Another incident which seems to- the author worth re
cording occurred at this time. Lieutenant Morton, with
his handsorae artillery uniforra, with a black hat, one side
turned up and a feather in it, was a striking figure. One
of the Confederates, rising from the trenches, upon see
ing hira cried out : "Pretty bird, I'll catch him a worm in
the mo'ming." Lieutenant Morton, realizing the situa
tion, took out the feather and rolled it in the dirt.
While these assaults and sorties were being conducted
on the left and center, Gen. C. F. Smith was not al
together idle. He raade three distinct charges upon Han
son's position, which were pushed, as Jordan says, "with
more spirit than judgment, and were rapidly repulsed by
Hanson's and Palmer's Regiments and Porter's Battery."
The weather thus far had been unusually mild and
pleasant for the season, but on Thursday afternoon a
driving rain storm set in, which the keen north wind
soon turned to hail and snow, raaking the cold so ex
cessive that the soldiers on both sides suffered intensely.
The half-clad Confederates were kept from freezing only
by the continued work throughout the night strengthen-
29

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
ing the intrenchments. No one knows the terrible suf
fering and horrible discorafort of that fearful night so
well as the hungry and exhausted soldiers of both armies.
The raorning of the 14th carae with two inches of snow
and a continued chilly north wind. The lines were all
readjusted. No assault was made, though a rambling
fire from the artillery and sharpshooters was kept up all
along the lines throughout the day.
At 3 P.M. a furious cannonade by the fleet of gun
boats was made upon the water batteries, but, although
terrific and at short range, no damage was done our bat
teries; but the artillery at Fort Heiman crashed through
the iron and massive timbers with such resistless force
and caused such slaughter and destruction throughout the
fleet that the defiant gunboats, now badly crippled, were
forced to retire down the river. The five gunboats re
ceived no less than one hundred and forty-seven hits
from the Confederate guns. Fifty-four Federals in the
fleet were killed and wounded, and not a Confederate
hurt. The Confederates were greatly elated at their suc
cess in driving back the gunboats.
It had been decided in a council of general officers on
the night of the 14th to attack the enemy's right at day
light on the 15th and open communication with Char
lotte in the direction of Nashville. This raovement had
become necessary in consequence of the vastly superior
and constantly increasing force of the enemy, who had
already completely invested our works, and the uncer
tainty of Confederate reenforcements — in fact, none were
expected. Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston had ordered a
withdrawal of the troops in case the works could not be
held. Gen. Gideon J. Pillow in person took charge
of the extreme left of the Confederate lines. Gen. Bush
rod R. Johnson, commanding the center, was directed
30

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
to move out of the trenches with his division, except
Heiman's Brigade, which was ordered to extend its line
and hold the works occupied by Johnson. General Buck
ner was ordered to attack the enemy's right center, leav
ing Head's Thirtieth Tennessee to hold his works.
At 5 A.M. General Pillow hotly engaged the enemy
with Baldwin's Brigade, which was soon followed by
Gen. B. R. Johnson's Division. Porter's Battery, with
Buckner's Division, was held in reserve to cover the rear
of the withdrawing army where the Wynn's Ferry road
crosses the Confederate intrenchments, and did not be
come engaged until about 9 a.m. The fight was hotly
contested all along this part of the line. The Confed
erates, with great vigor and courage, were able to turn
the Federal right and press it back upon its center, thus
opening up the Wynn's Ferry road to enable the array to
withdraw. General Pillow, greatly elated at the victory,
ordered General Buckner to hasten to his old lines on the
Confederate right, which were now in great peril from
an attack by the veteran, Gen. C. F. Smith. General
Buckner declined to obey, as he did not consider General
Pillow superior in command, but urged Gen. J. B. Floyd
to carry out the original plan of evacuation. After
some delay and a good deal of vacillation on the part of
General Floyd, General Buckner directed his division to
reoccupy their old works. While this was being accom
plished. Gen. C. F. Smith in person led six stout regi
ments upon Hanson's works, which were now defended
by the gallant Tumer with only three companies of
Head's Regiment. Tumer fell back sorae hundred yards
to the crest of a ridge, where he was joined by Hanson.
Brown had partially reoccupied his old position to the
left of Hanson, and by the rapid and galling cross fire
from the Third and Eighteenth Tennessee Regiments,
31

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
aided by the guns of Porter's Battery, the line was saved,
thus preventing the water batteries from being captured
that evening. Bailey, Suggs, and Quarles, with their
respective regiments, very soon reenforced this new line,
and one section of Graves's Battery, under the personal
direction of the gallant Captain Graves, took position at
the intersection of the new with the old lines, and, as
usual, was most conspicuous for its effective work. Mor
ton's section of Porter's Battery, upon reaching its for
raer position, was promptly thrown into, action to the left
of Graves under heavy fire. The horses were shot down,
but the guns were run into place by hand. Until dark
the desperate conflict raged. Lieutenant Hutchinson, of
Porter's Batteiy, was severely wounded in the neck;
Lieutenant Culbertson, of the same battery, was hit ; and
the gallant Capt. Thomas K. Porter, who, Hanson
said, "always directed his guns at the right time and to
the right place," was disabled by a dangerous wound and
borne from the field. Captain Porter's raarked coolness
and dash and the efficient and intelligent manner in
which he handled his guns elicited the unbounded ad
miration of all who saw hira. While being carried,
bleeding, frora the field, he said to his Junior First Lieu
tenant, who was now in coraraand : "John, don't give up
the guns." Young Morton replied : "No, Captain, not
while I have one raan left," little mindful that his appre
hensions would be so nearly fulfilled. The cannoneers
had been greatly reduced by frost bites, wounds, and
deaths, until toward the close of the engagement one
gun had but three men left. One of these was wounded
and left where he fell, it being irapossible to remove him
at that moment. While in the trenches a shell took off
the Lieutenant's hat, and another shell, which fell on the
bank above, came near killing him then and there, as he
32

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
thoughtlessly put up his hand and, picking up the hot
shell, threw it over the embankment. It did not explode,
as he leamed in 1906, when, revisiting the battlefield
with Hon. John Trotwood Moore, he recalled the in
cident, and going to the erabankraent found the shell in
the spot where he had thrown it. It is now among his
curios at his "Mansfield" home.
The Confederate forces had been four days in line of
battle in a desperate effort to drive the eneray back and
uncover a way for retreat, but at the raoraent when vic
tory seeraed assured it failed of fruition through an un
fortunate raisunderstanding among the generals in coun
cil, resulting in the loss of position, a loss of which
General Grant was not slow to take advantage.
Porter's Battery, from its active participation in the
four days' conflict and its advanced and exposed posi
tion, lost eight men killed outright and twenty-five
wounded, making a total of thirty-three out of forty-
eight officers and raen actively engaged at the guns. The
remainder of the raen were drivers, teamsters, and arti
ficers, and, with the horses, were protected in a ravine
at some distance from the battery. These escaped with
Lieutenant Burt, who had charge of the horses and
teamsters of the caissons and limbers, and were near
General Forrest's Cavalry, all of whom left the works
before daybreak on the i6th. The major part of General
Floyd's comraand escaped also, but the fort and the rest
of the troops were surrendered by General Buckner.
There were only twelve men left in Lieutenant Morton's
command when he raade up the rolls.
The report of the surrender created great astonish
ment among the officers and soldiers who were on the
extreme right of the line where a portion of Porter's Bat
tery was stationed. All had been under the impression
3 33

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
that affairs were progressing favorably for the Confeder
ates, and General Buckner's decision was a great sur
prise, to say the least, and threw the troops into great
consternation. The recollection of that moment is one
of the gloomiest of the whole four years of struggle.
A light drizzle began to fall early in the moming of
the 1 6th, and this softened soraewhat the frozen ground.
Details were sent out to bury the dead, and this done the
prisoners were placed on the transports and steamed out
from under the walls of Fort Donelson, which frowned
grimly upon the captured and the victorious alike. The
destination of the prisoners, as first announced, was St.
Albans; but at Cincinnati they were placed on the train
and sent to Cam|p Chase, at Columbus, Ohio.

In no spirit of vanity, and disclaiming any desire for
personal prorainence in this record other than the events
recorded make it necessary, the author may, neverthe
less, be pardoned for evincing his appreciation of the
kindly reference in the following lines from the pen of
his friend, that poetic genius, Jaraes R. Randall, of pleas
ant meraory : John W. Morton.
I.
Ringed with flame and sore beset,
Where gunboat and rifle fire met ;
Where cannon blazed from water and land
Upon the Donelson Southern band,
A gallant lad of nineteen years,
A stranger to tremor and to fears.
Stood by a battery piece and shot
The first shell in that crater hot.
His captain, Porter, smitten down
Where all the volleyed thunders frown.
Shouted, when borne in pain away :
"John, don't give up that gun, I say !"
34

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVA! ;^Y
"No ! not while a man is left," replied
The lad in the flush of martial pride,
And he kept his word to the utter end,
While a man could live in that river bend.
"No prison for me,'' grim Forrest said,
And thousands followed where he led.
But other thousands remained because
They bowed to Buckner's word and laws.
Whelmed by the girdling Northern men,
They marched to the captive's dismal den,
And the lad who fired the first gun past
Into that solitude sad and vast.
A few months more, and the daring boy
Breathed the air that the free enjoy.
A few months more, and he gayly went
Where dauntless Forrest pitched his tent.
Saluting the hero, he quickly gave
To the South's own "bravest of the brave''
A paper that said he was to be
The Wizard's Chief of Artillery.
A derisive smile swept over the face
Of the stem commander in his place.
"What I" he growled, "are you to wield
Command of my guns in war's fierce field?
Nonsense, boy, go grow a beard."
And this was what the stripling heard.
But presently the Wizard's brow
Grew calm. "I'll try you, anyhow,"
He said, and from that setting sun
Morton and Forrest were as one.
Nigh four tremendous, bloody years,
Full of combat, smiles, and tears.
O'er miles of land in battles grand,
Forrest and Morton went hand in hand.
With sword and pistol the Wizard slew.
While Morton's guns mowed men in blue.
If mortal man could ever have freed
The South from the foeman's grasp and greed.
That man was Forrest, but we see
It was not destined so to be.
35

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
II.
Long years have gone, the grass is spread
Above the bivouacs of the dead.
The mighty Wizard's wand is still.
Like his heart ; but from every Southern hill,
And mount and stream and vale bedight,
With sun and moon and star alight,
He lives in glorious deeds alway,
Baffling the onset of decay.
The lad who made the cannon roar
Survives on Life's tumultuous shore.
His locks are silvered, but his brain
Burns with heroic throbs amain.
Gentle and kind, but valiant yet.
Forgiving, he cannot forget
The Cause he fought for, with his mate.
Immortal, whatsoe'er its fate,
While from his great dark eyes there gleams
The orient of remembered dreams.
And now the old bard's final rhyme
Invokes a blessing of Easter time.
Upon his people and home and race,
Like manna dew of heavenly grace.
With higher aims, in war's surcease,
Be thou allied with the Prince of Peace,
And never, henceforth, forget to be
"Soldier of Him who died for thee."
36

CHAPTER II.
Life in Prison.
Camp Chase was a stoutly built prison, forbidding
of aspect and anything but corafortable. The officers
were fumished with a tent, but neither cot nor blankets,
and were compelled to sleep on the bare ground. Scant
daily rations were issued toi the prisoners, who took turns
in their preparation. Lieutenant Morton had no talent
for any of the domestic arts, and sadly missed the three
negroes who cooked for his mess and looked out for his
comfort, and upon whom he had hitherto depended en
tirely. His usefulness was limited, therefore, to> waiting
on the table.
After the battle of Shiloli the nuraber of prisoners
was greatly augraented. There was some rioting, and
the feeling was so great that, in view also of the craraped
quarters, it was decided to send a portion of the prisoners
to Johnson's Island. Lieutenant Morton was chosen,
among others, for transportation, and found the change
to the lake country quite pleasant. As the sumraer ad
vanced the prisoners here were allowed the pleasure of
a swim in Sandusky Bay, a pleasure which Lieutenant
Morton greatly appreciated, as he was an expert swim
mer. Ropes marked the limit for this exercise, and one
day, impelled by a desperate desire to resist power, the
Lieutenant swara out beyond them. He hoped to be
picked up by some passing vessel, which would land him
on the Canadian side unobserved, but fate was against
him. A shell strack the water in unpleasant proximity,
and under this grim persuasion he came back in double-
quick time. 37

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Fishing in the lake was another delightful occupation,
as well as a means of adding variety to the prison fare.
Johnson's Island is only about three acres in extent,
and was entirely occupied by the prison. Escape was al
most irapossible, yet some daring spirits tried it and a
few were successful. The surrounding wall was sixteen
feet in height and equipped with sixteen sentinel boxes.
A platform ran along the top and outer side of this wall,
and on this the sentinels kept their beats, meeting half
way between the boxes. On the inside of the inclosure,
eight feet from, the wall, a chain marked the dead line.
At night it was indicated by lantems placed upon the sup
ports. The prisoners' rooras were about twelve feet square,
with two tiers of bunks around the walls. Lieutenant
Morton and the late Judge John W. Childress occupied
one bunk, about three feet wide. Taps were sounded at
9 o'clock, and when the sentinel called, "Lights out," ev
ery light was required to be extinguished iramediately. If
one failed to disappear, it was made the subject of an
inquiring shot. This discipline, though strict, was not
unbearable, and was pretty generally observed, very few
of the men needing a bullet to remind them of the rule.
Aside from fishing, various devices were eraployed for
passing the time. Bits of wood, bone, metal, buttons, and
articles of this nature were eagerly bartered for and treas
ured, to be carved into keepsakes for those at home, or
exchanged araong each other as raementoes of the occa
sion. Lieutenant Morton made a puzzle box from a small
piece of maple taken from the wood pile. Among other
curios now in his possession, in addition to the puzzle
box, is a carved pipe. A snake coils around the stem,
with the words in raised letters, "Camp Chase," between
the coils. Lieutenant Morton was very anxious to send
38

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
these to his mother at Nashville, but it was a difficult
matter to get anything out of the prison by raail or ex
press. One of the guards at the principal gate would
frequently come down and talk to the prisoners when
oflf duty, and seemed to take quite a fancy to young
Morton. He ofifered to send the curios to Nashville, and,
taking them out under his coat, packed and sent them; by
express, he prepaying the charges. They were received
by Mrs. Morton, and he has them; now among his curios
at his "Mansfield" home.
Ball and other garaes were played, and of course end
less hours were passed in exchange of reminiscences of
home and military life and experiences. Some of the men
had a fancy for verse, and many were the rhymes that
were turned out on rainy days or in hospital. One pris
oner, especially, is recalled, whose pen was ever ready,
and some oi whose verses were published in Leslie's
Weekly, One of the poems which appeared in this peri
odical was entitled "My Love and I," and was much
admired at the time of its production. The first verse
runs as follows :
My love reposes on a rosewood frame —
A bunk have I ;
A couch of feathery down fills up the same —
Mine's straw, but dry;
She sinks to sleep at night with scarce a sigh—
With waking eyes I watch the hours creep by.
After a few stanzas in this strain the poem concludes :
There's hope ahead. We'll one day meet again,
My love and I ;
We'll wipe away all tears of sorrow then —
Her love-lit eye
Will all my many troubles then beguile
And keep this wayward Reb from Johnson's Isle.
39

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Major McKnight, the author of this and other pleas
ing verses under the ¦)io}ii de plume of "Asa Hartz," was
Assistant Adjutant General on General Loring's stafif.
Another poet, who had the ability to write pointed, if
not perfect, verse, was T. U. Tidraarsh, First Lieutenant
in the Tennessee Volunteer Artillery, who, while acting
as comraanding officer of ordnance at Island No. lo,
was captured April 8, 1862. An exaraple of his ability
is appended :
Major Pierson (Commander of the Prison).
Great Pierson ! ruler of the land !
At thy exploits I'll try my hand.
Proclaim your deeds so famed in story
And publish to the world your glory.
Whether in lay or lighter stanza
Or rambling, rude extravaganza.
In sonnet, epigram, or ode.
To me the movement and the mode,
Alike indifferent if the measure
Gives thee, O Pierson, any pleasure.
Were I some scribe to imitate
Thy early life I might relate.
From that blessed moment might commence
When filled with wit and worth and sense
The world first saw thy empty noddle,
Of "Ursa Major's" now the model.
This was accounted a clever satirical portrait, and was
greatly enjoyed.
Lieutenant Morton managed to get an account book,
and in this some four hundred of the prisoners wrote
their names, coraraand and rank, when and where cap^
tured, and addresses. This book was a great treasure,
and the writing of the autographs an absorbing occupa
tion. Some of them were followed by characteristic ex
pressions of sentiment, as :
"James N. Bradshaw, Lt. Co. F., Tenth Tennessee
40

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Regiraent Volunteers; evacuated Fort Henry Feb. 6,
1862; went up at Fort Donelson the i6th of the same
month and year for 128 days, so far as heard from, sev
eral precincts to come in. June 16, 1862."
"The subscriber hopes that John need never refer to
these autographs to remind him of his nuraerous friends
and acquaintances who are incarcerated with him, but
may he long be reminded who they are by the continu
ance of that friendship which exists and should forever
exist between thera. Truly your friend, F. P. McWhir-
ter. First Lieutenant, C. S. A., Clarksville, Tenn. ; sur
rendered at Fort Donelson Feb. 16, 1862."
"Calvin J. Clack, Captain Corapany A, Third Regi
ment, Tennessee Volunteers; surrendered at Fort Donel
son Feb. 16, 1862; residence, Pulaski, Giles County,
Tenn. Would be glad to meet with you in old Giles
when the war is over."
"Lieut. L. W. Talbot, Forrest's Rangers, Forrest's
Cavalry; seduced and deserted by our generals at Fort
Donelson, and in that forlorn fix 'gobbled up by the
Yanks' on Feb. 16, 1862. Address, Bardstown, Ky."
Other naraes are recorded in the appendix.
The prisoners were also wont to serenade the guards
with raore or less tuneful renditions of popular war
songs, such as "The Horaespun Dress" and "Dixie."
"The Homespun Dress" was coraposed by Miss Carrie
Bell Sinclair, of Georgia, and sung on the stage through
out the South, and was a favorite in every Confederate
camp and in every parlor where the Confederate soldier
visited. "Dixie" was at the height oi its popularity, and
the question of its authorship had not then excited the
controversy which has since raged. Col. H. M. Doak,
the "Sage of Cedarnwold," recently contributed to the
Taylor-Trotwood Maga^sine a most interesting article,
41

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
giving conclusive proof that the song, as sung during
the war, was composed by Dan Emmett, the minstrel,
although Colonel Doak says many of the words came
from Virginia before the war.
On September 23 the remnant of Porter's Battery was
exchanged. Never before had the author realized what
a beautiful month September was. The choicest qualities
of all the seasons seemed to be concentrated in that month
as the start was made for Vicksburg, after seven months'
confineraent within prison walls ; and sO' deeply was the
Lieutenant impressed at that time with the superior ex
cellencies of September that it has since seeraed to him
a raonth of extraordinary richness, especially as he was
born on the 19th of Septeraber.
On reaching Cairo, III., a banter was raade by some
of the prisoners to swim across the Ohio at that point.
Lieutenant Morton accepted the challenge, as did four
others, and they set out, accompanied by a boat, raanned
by the guards. Three of the contestants, weakened by
the long confineraent, soon becarae exhausted and were
picked up, but Morton and one other prisoner, whose
narae is not now recalled, succeeded in reaching the other
side, where they entered the boat and were brought back.
At Helena, Airk., another swimming contest was ar
ranged, to cross the Mississippi this time, and again only
two of the five reached the opposite side. Lieutenant
Morton being one of the two. The others were picked up
by the boat before they had gone fifty yards. None had a
thought of escape, as they were on the way to be ex
changed. At Vicksburg Captain Morton was joined by the pri
vates and noncomraissioned officers of the Battery who
had been confined at Camp Douglas, Illinois, and all were
ordered to report to General Bragg at Murfreesboro.
42

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

Southern Rendition of "Dixie.''
Southrons, hear your country call you !
Up, lest worse than death befall you.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
Lo, all the beacon fires are lighted.
Let all hearts be now united.
To arms ! to arms I to arms ! in Dixie I
Chorus.
Advance the flag of Dixie !
Hurrah ! hurrah !
For Dixie's land we'll take our stand,
To live or die for Dixie!
To arms ! to arms !
And conquer peace for Dixie !
To arms ! to arms !
And conquer peace for Dixie I
Hear the Northern thunders mutter!
Northern flags in South winds flutter.
To arms I to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
Send them back your fierce defiance,
Stamp upon the accursed alliance.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
Fear no danger, shun no labor.
Lift up rifle, pike, and saber.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
Shoulder pressing close to shoulder.
Let the odds make each heart bolder.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
How the South's great heart rejoices
At your cannon's ringing voices !
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
For faith betrayed and pledges broken,
Wrong inflicted, insults spoken,
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
Strong as lions, swift as eagles,
Back to their kennels hunt these beagles.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
Cut the unequal bonds asunder.
Let them hence each other plunder.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
43

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Swear upon your country's altar
Never to submit or falter.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
Till the spoilers are defeated,
Till the Lord's work is completed.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
Halt not till our Federation
Secures among earth's powers its station.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
Then at peace and crowned with glory,
Hear your children tell the story.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
If the loved ones weep in sadness.
Victory shall bring them gladness.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
Exultant pride soon banish sorrow;
Smiles chase tears away to-morrow.
To arms ! to arms ! to arms ! in Dixie !
44

CHAPTER III.
Lieutenant Morton Joins General Forrest on His
First Expedition into West Tennessee.
Impressed as Lieutenant Morton had been with Gen
eral Forrest's daring at Fort Donelson and his deter
mined stand against surrendering his men, recalling his
brave and masterful escape from the fort and his subse
quent brilliant career, of which the report had penetrated
even the prison walls on Johnson's Island, the returned
Lieutenant cherished a strong desire to serve under this
intrepid leader. He therefore accepted gladly the or
ders to go to> Murfreesboro, as he knew General Forrest
was not far away. Reaching Murfreesboro, he succeeded
in having his small reranant of Porter's Battery of ten
men join hira, where he was assigned to command two
siege guns on Stone's River blufif. Lieutenant Morton
did not like the position and character of his guns; and
as he had heard that General Forrest was in Columbia,
he enlisted the aid of Major Graves, General Bragg's
Chief of Artillery, who was stationed on the left, in get
ting a transfer to General Forrest's comraand. Through
the kind offices of Major Graves, Lieutenant Morton was
sent to General Forrest with an order toi take charge of
his artillery. His ten raen accorapanied hira.
Meeting between Forrest and Morton.
Knowing nothing of the friction existing between the
two officers, Lieutenant Morton confidently presented his
order to General Forrest, who looked at him sharply, and
then said curtly : "I have a fine battery of six guns under
Captain Freeraan, and I don't propose to be interfered
with by Bragg." 45

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
This took Lieutenant Morton somewhat aback, but he
said : "I don't want to interfere with Captain Freeman.
I am acquainted with him and nearly all of his men.
But I want to go with you. I know it will not be long
before you capture some guns for me."
General Forrest looked at him again and turned away,
reraarking : "Well, corae to rae in the moming, and I will
see what I can do for you."
Promptly the next raorning the Lieutenant reported.
General Forrest seeraed soraewhat annoyed by his per
sistence, but finally told him. that he would have to get
orders from General Wheeler, at Lavergne, who was in
command of the departraent, before reporting to him
(Forrest) for duty; thus, in a raeasure, superseding
Bragg's orders. A Hard Ride.
Preparations for the raid into West Tennessee were
going on apace; and eager to join in it. Lieutenant Mor
ton mounted at once and rode to Lavergne. General
Wheeler was in the Burdwell house asleep, his head on a
saddle; but the ardent soldier wakened him, and, receiv
ing the orders, rode immediately back and reported the
next raorning at eight o'clock, having ridden one hundred
and four miles in twenty-three hours without change of
horses and without rest or food.
"That Tallow-Faced Boy."
Sometime afterwards, Maj. Charles W. Anderson, of
General Forrest's staff, told Lieutenant Morton that when
he turned away after his first interview with the doughty
leader General Forrest had broken into violent speech.
"I'd like to know," he said, "why in the hell Bragg sent
that tallow-faced boy here to take charge of my artillery?
46

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
I'll not stand it. Captain Freeman shan't be interfered
with!" On December lo General Forrest received pereraptory
orders to comraence his march into West Tennessee. His
troops were insufficiently equipped with guns, and he
appealed for better supplies before starting out, but Gen
eral Bragg was inexorable. Whether he raeant to sacri
fice General Forrest to raake a diversion in the direction
of Memphis between General Grant and General Rose
crans, or whether he tmsted to General Forrest's skill
to provide for himself, is not clear, but one thing is cer
tain, and that is General FoiTest^'s fitness for such a
task. In his call for men General Forrest had urged them to
bring what arms they could provide, and, in consequence,
many members of the brigade were armed with old-
fashioned shotguns and squirrel rifles. Those supplied
frora headquarters were but little better, many of them
being old flintlock muskets. In effect, the new com
mander was given to understand that, having previously
shown his ability to furnish his needs at the expense of
the eneray, he was expected to again do' so.
Crossing at Clifton.
Clifton was selected as the point for crossing the Ten
nessee River; and sending ahead a sraall detachraent of
troops and carpenters, they had ready and concealed in a
slough, awaiting his arrival, two sraall flatboats. The
men who were with Lieutenant Morton had no guns and
were raoving with the wagon trains. The Lieutenant
sought the commander at headquarters and asked per
mission to obtain muskets and serve with Starnes's Reg
iment, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, until some pieces of
artillery should be captured. General Forrest regarded
47

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the stripling with a frown for a moment, then, tuming
to Major Strange, directed hira to order Captain Free
man to send two guns and sufficient additional raen to
man the pieces to Lieutenant Morton. "You can then
take the advance with Starnes," he said curtly.
General Forrest's command reached Clifton on Decem
ber 15, 1862. Federal troops were scattered everywhere,
gunboats patrolled the river, and winter had set in. The
men had no tents, and only the constant work, the des
perate nature of the expedition, and the indomitable spirit
of their leaders sustained them in the face oi the con
stantly increasing difficulties. Pickets were established
and the crossing was efifected by the remarkable luck
which seeraed to accorapany General Forrest, without in
terruption, in a day and a night. A heavy rain helped to
hide the moveraents of the two flatboats, as they plied
steadily back and forth with their sraall loads, twenty-
five men and horses being their capacity. As if Nature
herself were compelled to assist such intrepid efforts, the
sun came out next morning, and the troops had an op
portunity to dry their clothing and prepare their horses
and amraunition for action.
Perhaps the raost successful feature of General For
rest's methods was his liberal employment of scouts.
Attracted by his daring, good scouts were always eager
to enter his service, and in this way he was better posted
as to the moveraents of the eneray than any one else.
His unerring eye and judgment for the peculiar fitness
of a man enabled him to pick out for this service men
who never failed him, and while, as has been stated, his
battles were arranged and fought on the instant, his cam
paigns were carefully planned, and from a thorough
knowledge of the enemy's movements.
Of his successful scouts no better example can be cited
48

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
than General Forrest's own brother, William Forrest,
or "Bill" as he was affectionately called by all whoi knew
him. Added to a shrewd, quick judgraent, ready re
sources, and excellent intuitive powers, he had a winning
nature, which endeared him to all his comrades.
At Clifton, according to^ prearrangement, a supply of
aramunition and further information of the whereabouts
of the Federals awaited General Forrest. He then
raoved toward Lexington.
Federal Estimate of General Forrest^'s Force.
A stratagera successfully practiced by this bold raider,
with the assistance of his trusty scouts, consisted in
spreading greatly exaggerated reports of the strength of
his force. No device for creating this impression was
too insignificant to> be called into play. The constant
beating of kettledrums, the lighting and tending of nu
merous fires, moving pieces of artillery frora^ one point to
another, the dismounting of cavalry and parading them
as infantry — nothing was overlooked. Again and again
these tactics were successfully employed. The most sig
nal instance, perhaps, was given at Athens, Ala., of
which an account will be given later. In the instance
referred to the ruse resulted in Col. Robert Ingersoll's
reporting from Lexington to his coramanding officer that
"3,000 infantry, 800 cavalry, and six pieces of artillery"
had crossed the Tennessee on the 17th, and that more
were still crossing. General Grant telegraphed Admiral
Porter that the force numbered "from five to ten thou
sand men." This grew to "from ten to twenty thousand"
in General Sullivan's report on the i8th, after the battle
of Lexington, and on the next day, when news of the
capture of the Columbus station and the destruction of the
railroads and burning of bridges on the Corinth and
4 49

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Bolivar roads poured in siraultaneously, it is small won
der that General Grant dispatched: "I have reenforced
Sullivan to the full extent of the capacity of the road to
carry troops, partly from Colurabus, partly frora Corinth,
one brigade from here (Oxford) and troops from Jack
son. Lowe is also moving from Heiraan. The enemy
must be annihilated, but it may trouble and possibly lead
to the necessity of sending further forces frora here."*
Here we have one of the strongest examples of Gen
eral Forrest's genius. With a force of 2,500 men re
duced by insufficient equipment to less than 1,500 effect
ives, the dashing cavalry leader in two days created the
impression that he had an army of 20,000 men and
drew out the enemy's reserve force to the full extent of
the capacity of the road to carry troops. If the author
of this book had seen only this one instance of the un
paralleled ability of General Forrest, instead of partici
pating subsequently in scores of equally desperate and
brilliant engageraents, he would still deera it a matter
of lifelong pride to have contributed a small share to
ward success on this particular occasion.
The troops with General Forrest were Russell's
Fourth Alabama Regiraent, Dibrell's Eighth Tennessee
Regiment, Biffle's Ninth Tennessee Regiraent, Cox's
Tennessee Battalion, Woodward's two Kentucky com
panies, a company of scouts under Captain Bill Forrest,
Freeman's Battery, two of his guns under Lieutenant
Morton, and the escort of the coraraander.
The crossing had not been efifected without the knowl
edge of the Federals, for General Sherraan had received
notice of the movement and had reported on the 17th:
"A rebel force crossing the Tennessee from the east to
ward the west at Cli fton. "f
?Official Records, Vol. XVIL, Part II., page 436. tIbid., page 424.
50

CHAPTER IV.
Battle of Lexington.
While the Confederates were crossing the river at
Clifton, Col. Robert Ingersoll, in coraraand of the Elev
enth Illinois, had reached Lexington, where he was joined
by Colonel Hawkins with the Second West Tennessee
Cavalry. Proceeding eastward, they were raet by Cap^
tain O'Hara, with sixty-eight raen, who reported the Con
federate advance, and it was decided to return to Lex
ington. This done, they were further reenforced by the
Fifth Ohio Cavalry and the Fourteenth Indiana Battery,
under Lieutenant McGuire. These forces were forraed
in line at daybreak on the morning of the i8th, and
General Forrest sent Captain Frank B. Gurley, of the
Fourth Alabama, forward with twenty raen to drive in
the pickets. He drove thera back to the creek, where
Colonel Hawkins was drawn up in Hne of battle on the
opposite side. The flooring of the bridge had been re
raoved as the Federals passed over, but the Confederates,
undaunted by this hindrance, charged up to the creek
and, with a heavy fire, drove Colonel Hawkins back from
the bank.
In passing over this creek the planks had slipped to
one side. Lieutenant Morton rode on the bridge to ex
amine it, his horse shied to one side on to the end of the
plank, when tbe plank turned and he, horse, and plank
went over into the creek, some ten or fifteen feet below
the bridge. Some of his men rushed to the creek, ex
pecting to find both Lieutenant Morton and horse dead
or badly injured, but found neither hurt. Lieutenant
Morton called for a prolonge, which was soon brought.
51

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

One end dropped down, he tied it around his body and
was pulled up by his men. To get the horse out was
the next trouble. Two men were let down by the roipe,
and they tied it around the horse, which was drawn up.
In twenty minutes they had replaced the flooring with
fence rails and had passed over to attack Colonel Inger
soll, who had fomied his men in a protected position in
the edge of a wood, just over the crest of a small emi
nence. It was a good position and the Federals raade a
gallant stand, defending it stubbornly and contesting ev
ery inch of the retreat, which the Confederate artillery
soon repelled. This advantage was gained at the ex
pense of a heavy loss on both sides.
Another stand was made near the town of Lexington,
again in an excellently well-protected spot; but the lines
were once more broken by the furious onslaught of Gen
eral Forrest and his artillery, who pushed the advantage
so rapidly and at such close range that the eneray had not
tirae to re-form between attacks. The Union gunners
stood valiantly at their posts and continued in the dis
charge of their duty until they were run over, but the
Second West Tennessee Federal and the Ohio Cavalry
fled in such disorder that, as Colonel Ingersoll reported,
"it was impossible to stop them," and the rest of the
force was compelled to surrender, with a loss of "about
twenty-five killed and fifty wounded," while General
Forrest's loss, quoting from the same authority, amount
ed to but "three privates killed and five wounded."*
Morton Captures Two Guns.
When the Second West Tennessee Cavalry (Federal)
broke and fled to the rear, they left the Eleventh Illinois
*"The Campaigns of Lieut. Gen. N. B. Forrest and of Forrest's
Cavalry," page 196. 52

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Volunteers, with a section of artillery, to support the
brunt of the onslaught. These stood raanfully by the
guns as long as it was possible, but they were borne back
by the steady and irresistible pressure of the Confeder
ates, and Lieutenant Morton, with his eye on the two
guns, trained his borrowed pieces on them with such
fine efifect that they were abandoned, and the artillery
officer found hiraself in possession of two three-inch,
steel-rifled Rodraan guns, fully equipped. One hundred
and fifty officers and raen, including Colonel Ingersoll
and Major Kerr, some three hundred small arms and a
full supply of ammunition, with about twO' hundred
horses and some wagons, were taken. Colonel Hawkins
escaped, only to be captured later. A large portion oi
the force fled in the direction of Jackson, hotly pursued
by the Confederates. Colonel Ingersoll afterwards said
that he had estimated the Confederate force when in
action at 5,000, with eighteen pieces of artillery. There
were six pieces in all.
The capture of Colonel Ingersoll, Major Kerr, and the
four other officers was considered a brilliant feat, well
calculated to inspire the needy Confederates with confi
dence and hope; but in the eyes of Lieutenant Morton,
serving with a portion of a borrowed battery, the proud
est achieveraent of the whole afifair was the capture of
the two guns, rifled Rbdraans, which were given into* his
possession, enabling hira tO' retum to Captain Freeraan
the two which had been loaned. No subsequent capture
ever brought the sarae pleasure as did that of these two
well-equipped guns, and they accompanied him and gave
good service during the remainder of the war. When
later service and advancement had taken him from- the
immediate command of these two pieces he was always
careful to select them for his immediate supervision.
53

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
The claim raay justly be raade that the valorous General
Forrest himself had a more than ordinary afifection for
these two particular pieces, for he was heard to say on
more than one occasion that he had no fear of the out
come of an attack if Morton and his Rodmans were with
him. These two Rodraan guns now adorn the Capitol
grounds at Nashville. Cupid in Camp.
Caraping at Lexington that night, Cupid, in the midst
of dangers and mischance, found time to work one of
those pretty romances which depend neither upon cir
curastance nor favor for culraination. One of the cav
alrymen — ^memory suggests the narae of Carroll, but this
raay be an error — was engaged to a Miss Gardner, of
Lexington, whose parents, however, objected to the union
in such troublous tiraes. The ardent swain determined to
profit by the present occasion and begged Lieutenant
Morton for assistance in stealing the fair maid. With
the eager sympathy of youth the plot was prepared. The
conspirator invited the young lady to go with him to
church, and the unsuspecting parents gave their permis
sion. Arriving at the church door, they were met by the
lover, who had provided preacher and license, and the
knot was soon tied. The happy pair then sought parental
forgiveness, which was not long in forthcoming.
Operations around Jackson.
The fleeing Federals and their pursuers reached Jack
son by the evening of the i8th. General Forrest divided
his force and sent out small detachments on the various
errands of destruction already mentioned, and these op
erations convinced the Federal officers inside Jackson that
the Confederate force was about ten times as strong as
54

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
it actually was. Col. G. G. Dibrell charged the stockade
at Carroll Station, captured it with one hundred and one
prisoners, one hundred rifles, and a great quantity of
aramunition, stores, tents, and supplies.* He fired a vol
ley into a passing train, tore up the track behind it,
burned the stockade, and within thirty-six hours had re
joined General Forrest. At the same time Colonel Rus
sell and Major Cox had been sent in the direction of
Corinth and Bolivar, and, destroying the trestles, cul
verts, and bridg-es, and the two railroads leading to these
towns, rejoined their commander in twenty-four hours.
In the meantirae. General Forrest, with Morton's guns,
was raaking a feint on Jackson, which was well garri
soned and strongly fortified. His scouts brought in the
information that General Grant had dispatched heavy re
enforcements, but no sooner had he sent out the bodies
whose raovemlents have been described than there be
gan a fierce show of assault on the city. He drove in
the cavalry and infantry with his dismounted cavalry, as
the report of Colonel Englemann will show : "At day
break of the 19th the enemy advanced with heavy col
umns of cavalry on either flank, when our cavalry re
tired slowly. They then brought their batteries into po
sition and opened with a well-directed crossfire upon our
cavalry. Our position became untenable, and we fell
back. The enemy's artillery also got range of this posi
tion, and, its cavalry showing itself, our own again fell
back."t Farther on in this same report Colonel En
glemann said: "The cavalry, both on my right and left
flanks, weary from the hardships to which they had been
exposed for the two preceding days, and now under fire
?Official Records, Vol. XVIL, Part I., page 598. tIbid., page SSS-
55

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
from the eneray's battery, fell back about one mile toward
Jackson, without having first obtained any orders from
rae to that effect."* This was a very kindly excuse for
an involuntary retreat, and was made, of course, with
out knowledge of the fact that "the eneray" had, since
the loth, marched on an average of over twenty miles a
day, part of the time in rain and sleet, and over roads
considered impassable at that season for horsemen and
especially artillery ; had been without tents or supplies,
had had daily skinnishes, had rested undisturbed not a
single night, and, finally, only at that very moment when
his (Englemann's) troops were retreating "without or
ders" having for the first time enough ammunition and
guns to make a decent attack.
It is a singular fact that the sharp hardships, the in
cessant action, and the daily conflicts were, in the hands
of this mighty Wizard, but crucibles in which he placed
raw, untried volunteers, and frora which he drew out con
fident, courageous soldiers — an alchemy that puts to blush
the legendary transmutations of base metals into gold,
which enchain our wonder and admiration.
General Forrest, after seeing the Federals again re
treat within the lines of safety ("As the enemy's artilieiy
began to tell araong my men," said Colonel Englemann,
"I determined to fall back out of the rangfe of its
shells"*), raoved north with his usual celerity, leaving
only a small force of skirmishers to keep up appearances
before Jackson. With his customary quickness he dis
patched Dibrell's Regiment, with two pieces of Morton's
Artillery, to attack the stockade at Humboldt and de
stroy the bridge over Forked Deer Creek.

?Official Records, Vol. XVIL, Part I., page 555.
56

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Humboldt and Forked Deer Creek.
Morton's guns were posted on the right of the railroad
on a slight rise, facing southwest. The first attack re
sulted in the capture of two pieces of artillery and some
prisoners; but the stockade proved too strongly fortified
to fall to the guns, and a move was made farther down
the road, near a swamp. Hardly had this position been
reached and the guns masked than a long train drew up.
It consisted of flat cars, and on these were Federal sol
diers. Moving slowly they made excellent targets, and
their surprise was comical when Morton's guns opened
on them. They tumbled off into the swamp, running in
all directions, and the mUrky depths proved a friendly
refuge, as the guns could not venture farther in. A re
cent visit to these positions brought back these incidents
very vividly. Huraboldt is now a thriving little city,
whose precincts have been extended to cover tliese spots.
Two Phases of Gen. Forrest's Character.
The capture of Huraboldt and General Forrest's suc
cess at Trenton gave the exhausted Confederates raore
prisoners than they could handle, saddled, as they were,
with those taken at Lexington. Two incidents connect
ed with the surrender of Trenton irapressed the writer as
so deeply characteristic of the contrasting quick syrapathy
and fierce spirit of General Forrest that he cannot for
bear relating them here. When Col. Jacob Fry carae
forward to tender his sword in surrender, he reraarked
sadly that it had been in his faraily for forty years.
"Keep it, then, Colonel," was the ready and sympathetic
response of the great Confederate. "But," he added,
sternly, "I hope, sir, when next it is worn, it will be in a
57

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
better cause than in an attempt to subjugate your country
men." The other incident took place shortly afterwards.
Smoke was observed to rise from the depot. It had been
too long since the shelling to have been caused in this
way, and General Forrest, suspecting that some of the
Federals wished to deprive him of the fruits of his vic
tory, sprang to the opening from which they were issuing.
Drawing his s\voTd, and supported by Major Strange
with a pistol, he sternly ordered the men back inside to
extinguish the fire. With certain death in front, the men
had no choice but to retum, and the fire was soon out.
The next morning he himself put the torch to the supplies
that could not be utilized before setting out for Union
City. Ingersoll, the Infidel.
The prisoners taken at Lexington had accompanied the
comraand to Trenton, Colonel Ingersoll traveling with
General Forrest and his stafif and making himself very
agreeable, becoming, indeed, quite "chummy" with Dr.
J. B. Cowan, General Forrest's Chief Surgeon, who
loaned him one hundred dollars when they parted.
Some years ago, when "Bob" Ingersoll visited Nash
ville on a lecture tour. Dr. Cowan was present at the
lecture, with the writer, and raet the Colonel, who readily
recognized him and seemed overjoyed to have an opix>r-
tunity of repaying the borrowed raoney. He said that
he had tried in vain since the war to locate his obliging
friend, and insisted upon paying interest for the score or
raore years the debt had been ranning, but the good Doc
tor would not consent to receive more than the original
amount. This was truly a striking exeraplification of the
return of "bread cast upon the waters."
58

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
At Trenton Colonel Hawkins, who had escaped at Lex
ington, was captured, with ten other officers, making in
all something over 1,200 prisoners, a number very little
less than the entire Confederate force. In addition to
guarding and caring for these there were, according to
Jordan and Pryor, "300 negroes, 1,000 horses, raules,
etc., 13 wagons and ambulances, 7 caissons, 20,000 rounds
of artillery, 400,000 of small arm amraunition, and 100,-
000 rations, together with a large araount of cavalry
equipments, clothing, and quartermaster's stores, and a
considerable quantity of soldiers' baggage — in value at
least $500,000."
Assembling the prisoners, the commander arranged
them in squads, placing guards at intervals. He sent out
courier after courier with orders to different generals to
bring up their comraands and help in the business of
guarding and paroling the captured Federals. The
couriers, understanding the tactics thoroughly, rode to
the depot and exchanged their flintlocks and rauskets
for the newly captured rifles, supplied theraselves with
all needed equipments, and were ready when another call
was made for fresh messengers. In the gathering dusk
fires were built, and in front of these were paraded de
tachment after detachment of men, giving the prisoners
the impression that the reserves were coraing up rapidly
and in great numbers.
Among other stores captured at Trenton was a fine
imported sword of Damascus steel, beautifully fashioned.
General Forrest had this blade sharpened on both edges
to a fine point, and carried it throughout the rest of the
war, using it most efifectively. It has been stated that
he drew his sword with his left hand, but the writer has
seen him draw it hundreds of times and always with his
right. Instead of being left-handed, the dauntless caval-
59

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
ryraan was in reality ambidextrous, with a preference
ordinarily for the left hand.
Morton's New Guns on the March.
Alost of the night of December 20 was spent in parol
ing the prisoners. Colonel Hawkins and Colonel Inger
soll were allowed to return home; the others were sent
under escort (Col. Richard Collins, who could illy be
spared) to Columbus, Ky. Early on the moming of the
2 1st General Forrest, with his escort, the artillery, and
the wagon trains, commenced the march to Union City,
leaving the remainder of the command to take a short
rest. At Rutherford Station, seven miles from Trenton,
two corapanies of Federals were captured and the trestles
and bridges destroyed as far as Kenton, where a Federal
force of considerable strength was encountered, and
which at first refused to surrender. A few salvos from
Morton's artilieiy, however, brought them to terms, and
after paroling the prisoners (about twO' hundred and fif
ty) the stockade was burned and the railroad destroyed
for about twenty-five railes. This last was a serious dam
age, as the road runs for miles in this section through
the "bottom" lands of the Ohio River, and the recent
winter rains had made the swaraps irapassable.
At 4 p.m. on the 23d Union City was reached, and
with his wonted bold front General Forrest dashed in
and deraandecl a surrender. It was made without the
firing of a gun, as Captain Logan, in command, seeing
the Confederates swarming in everywhere and observing
in the distance what he supposed to be a large body of
reenforcements (but which was, in reality. Lieutenant
Colonel Collins conveying the prisoners of the previous
battles to Columbus, Ky., and accidentally passing in
view), considered it the better part of valor to yield.
60

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
These prisoners were added to Colonel Collins's care, and
General Forrest pushed on quickly to the Kentucky bor
der, crossing it that sarae afternoon, although word had
been sent that 10,000 Federals were advancing from
Jackson. The taking of Moscow, Ky., reserabled that of Union
City. With "Rebel yells" the Confederates charged into
the town, and the Federals, greatly overestimating their
numbers, made no effort to hold their position, but re
treated to Columbus.
The work of burning trestles and bridges was carried
on without resistance, and by Christraas day every bridge
but one on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad between Jack
son, Tenn., and Moscow, Ky., had been destroyed.
Christmas day was the first day of real rest that the
Confederates had been allowed since leaving Columbus.
General Forrest was in fine spirits, and the raen were
wild with enthusiasm and hope. Riding from corapany
to company, General Forrest visited nearly all the caraps,
talking to the officers, singling out the raen whom he had
noticed in action, and encouraging all by his own confi
dence. MoRTON''s Battery Formed.
The retum was commenced on the 26th and the last
bridge was destroyed. At nightfall Dresden was reached
and captured, the supplies and the railroad being de
stroyed, after which the Confederates encamped for the
night. Napier's battalion, which had joined General
Forrest shortly after the battle of Trenton, contained
two mountain howitzers, commanded by Lieut. A.
W. Gould, and these were consolidated with Morton's
guns at Dresden December 27, 1862, forming the battery
known thereafter as Morton's Battery, with the following
61

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
officers : John W. Morton, Jr., Captain ; A. W. Gould,
First Lieutenant; T. Sanders Sale, Second Lieutenant.
The battery numbered sixty-three noncomraissioned offi
cers and men.
Having received inforraation that a large force was
ratoving frora' Trenton to intercept his crossing at Clifton,
General Forrest's ready resourcefulness was taxed; for
having himself destroyed all the railroad bridges, and the
bottoms being in a state of overflow, it w^as not possible
to cross except at the well-known crossings, which were
now guarded by the Federals.
A Desperate Remedy.
But "impossible" was a word literally unknown to the
"Wizard of the Saddle." Acting on the principle that
"desperate diseases require desperate reraedies," he de-
terralined to make use of an old bridge Avhich was con
sidered unsafe by both sides and had not been destroyed.
This bridge was on a little used country road between
McKenzie and McLemoresville, and was approached by
long causeways built through a swarap on either side.
It was in a very bad condition, and on reaching it at
dark the outlook seemed gloomy indeed. However, set
ting the exaraple of wielding the ax and holding the
lantern (or candle when no better lighting facility could
be had). General Forrest soon had the tired raen working
cheerily at the task, despite the mire and the darkness.
He was himself here, there, and everywhere, directing,
assisting, and encouraging. It must be admitted, too,
that the great strain under which he was laboring found
vent in frequent profanity, as was his custom in mo
raents of great excitement. The author wishes to place
the statement on record, however, and he is sure that all
of his old comrades will bear him out in this, that Gen-
62

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
eral Forrest was not habitually a user of profane lan
guage. Ordinarily his conversation was, while forceful,
clean and moderate, but in tiraes of stress he generally
swore. All through the night the work of repairing the bridge
went on by torchlight, and early the next raorning the
fatigued General drove the first wagon over the still
wobbly structure. The troops, artillery, and wagons of
captured aramunition and equipments followed safely,
with slight loss or delay, though the whole command
presented the raost ludicrous evidence of the toil in the
raud and the darkness. These seemingly deterrent and
unfriendly eleraents proved toi have been real protectors,
however, as it was leamed that the Federals had been
scouring the country all night and had diligently recon
noitered every spot but the old bridge. At one time two
columns of infantry had inclosed the bedraggled workers
between thera, and, indeed, the signs of their recent
marching were so' plain where General Forrest emerged
from the swamp that he raade a halt to allow them, to
pass ahead out of sight. Reaching McLemoresville, he
found they had passed that point only a few hours pre
viously. A short rest was taken here, and early on the
morning of the 29th the march was resuraed toward
Lexington, it having been ascertained that a large force
was advancing frora Huntington, twelve miles east of
McLemoresville. General Sullivan, who had this force
in command, having heard that General Forrest had
reached McLemoresville, but not knowing how it had
been done, was so confident that he could capture him
that he telegraphed to General Grant his conviction that
he had General Forrest in a tight place and that no escape
was possible. 63

CHAPTER V.
Battle of Parker's Crossroads.
General Forrest received news that General Dunham
was advancing on one side and General Fuller on the
other, in an effort to prevent his crossing the river at
Clifton; and realizing that with the poor facilities afford
ed by the twoi small boats he would be unable to cope with
such a force (which would be augraented, in all proba
bility, by the gunboats now patroling the river), he de
termined to give battle at once. He therefore dispatched
two reconnoitering parties to see where the enemy was.
The first of these, commanded by Capt. William Forrest,
encountered Dunham's Brigade at Parker's Crossroads.
The second detachraent made a mistake and took the
wrong road, leaving the field clear for the approach of
Fuller's Brigade, when they came up later and turned
the tide of battle for the already defeated Federals.
Moving down the lane, Dunham's troops were found
in a strong position, and with his usual vigor General
Forrest placed the artillery at close range and ordered
Captain Morton to "give 'em hell," a very emphatic or
der often given to his artillery commander.
Artillery at Short Range.
Captain Morton has been given the credit, in some
quarters, for suggesting to General Forrest that artillery
could be fought at as close range as rifles, but this honor
does not belong to him. Indeed, he wishes no greater
claim to merit than a quick comprehension of, and thor
ough syrapathy with, his commander's ideas. Many of
the orders he received were outside of his knowledge of
64

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
military tactics, but it never occurred to him to doubt
their feasibility nor their success. The author has never
forgotten General Forrest's peculiarly penetrating gaze
from under the bushy black brows, the dark gray eyes
seeming to read the raind before hira. The ready con
forraity he invariably saw in the young artillery com
mander never drew from him any but the kindest of
words. Although witnessing numerous outbreaks of an
ger and infraction of the Second Coramandraent, the
author was never the recipient of violent language or
treatment. Once, indeed, at the battle of Brice's Cross
roads, Captain Morton impulsively advised his chief to
get oiit of danger ; and although this advice was followed
by a quick apolo'gy, he expected a reprimand. To his
surprise, however, his comraander replied mildly, "Well,
John, I zvill rest a few minutes," and withdrew to shelter
under a tree.
An incident to be related later will show the only oc
casion on which Morton raet with anything approaching
sternness. The lines were so close that it soon becarae an artillery
duel between the respective sides, the troops of the Con
federates being held in reserve tO' engage Fuller when
he should corae up. The Union forces made a stubborn
fight and defended their position with marked valor, but
the Confederate fire was too galling for mortals toi stand
and they were driven from' point to point. By noon they
had been repulsed twice, Morton's guns following them
with almost equal speed, as the roads had been churned
to a deep, muddy paste, making all progress slow. Colo
nel Starnes was sent to the right and Captain Russell to
the left to cut off Dunham's retreat; Biffle's Regiment
coming up at tbe same moraent, victory seemed assured.
It was at this point that the brave Colonel Napier fell.
5 6s

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
In the ardor of the charge he advanced his battalion, with
out orders and without support, to a position of extreme
exposure, and was raortally wounded at once, a number
of his intrepid followers falling with hira.
Morton and the Playing Cards.
Captain Morton received a saber wound in the thigh
during the action ; and seeking a handkerchief to stay the
flow O'f blood, he drew out with it a pack of playing
cards, which scattered around him, placing him in a light
totally new to him. They were very handsomely em
bossed, iraported French cards, and had been taken from
the spoils of war at the Trenton depot in youthful admi
ration of their gorgeousness. The writer had never, at
that tirae, played cards, and as he looked upon the gay
pasteboards and thought what his mother's feelings
would have been had he been killed with siich things in
his pockets, he registered a vow never to gamble — a vow
which has been kept to the letter.
Col. H. J. B. Cumraings says the Confederates ad
vanced to within fifty feet of his troops with their artil
lery, and "about half of ray regiment broke and crossed
the road into the cornfield."*
Federals Worsted.
All of the Confederate guns, with the exception of
one which had accidentally exploded, were in fine work
ing order and were kept to the front, together with three
guns which had been captured with four horses each.
When Colonel Cumraings's raen fled, General Dunham
welcomed a flag of truce which General Forrest sent for
ward. All firing ceased; and when the leaders met to
arrange terras, the soldiers in both armies raingled freely,
?Official Records, Vol. XVIL, Part I., page 589.
66

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
as was their custom. Major Strange, confident of sur
render, rode alone toi the ordnance train of eighteen wag
ons, and, taking possession, began to make an inventory.
At this raoment, when the surrender was all but con
summated, there carae the sound of firing from the rear.
General Forrest, who was on the lookout for his other
detachraent, pushed heavily in front, and it was not until
the newcoraers got at close range that he perceived that
Fuller's men had slipped in without waming, and that
what had looked like a victory began to resemble a de
feat, as General Sullivan was also seen advancing frora
the rear at this tirae.
Morton's Battery Escapes.
With incomparable address and coolness General For
rest ordered the artillery out between the enfilading lines
of fire and rallied his men. Firing as they went and adding
to the din and confusion by the "Rebel yell," the bulk of
the coraraand escaped, leaving Major Strange, Colonel
Cox, and sorae 300 men, who had dismounted, prisoners,
eighteen of these being raerabers of Morton's Battery.
A singular fact in this connection lies in the carrying in
the Confederate retreat about eighty prisoners — surely it
is a doubtful battle where both sides carry away pris
oners. Wyeth says of this raovement: "Placing himself at
the head of his escort and Dibrell's Regiment, he threw
his command as a rear guard between his pet guns and
Sullivan's advance. He was not going to give up his
artillery without a struggle."*
A Shot Through Forrest's Hat.
With the exception of the exploded gun, all the Con-
?Wyeth's "Life of Forrest," page 134.
67

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
federate artillery was safely reraoved by Captain Morton ;
but the three captured pieces were left behind, as their
horses had been killed and there was not tirae to substi
tute others. During the retreat Captain Morton rode
by the side of General Forrest at the head of the retiring
column. The commanding officer seemed in deep
thought, and nothing was said for a tirae ; but as a Minie
ball fromi Sullivan's forces, which had just reached the
field in our rear, whizzed by Captain Morton's face, the
General dropped his head to his breast. Thinking he
was wounded, Captain Morton touched hira on the shoul
der and inquired: "General, are you hurt rauch?" Gen
eral Forrest raised his head, took off his hat, and, noticinsf
that a big hole had been raade in the brim, replied : "No,
but didn't it come damn close to rae?"
Singular Effect of a Cannon Shot.
While the Confederates were advancing and firing
down a narrow lane, before reaching the battlefield, one
of Captain Morton's guns was fired with a singular ef
fect. The eneray had piled rails along the road to delay
approach, and the Confederates were obliged to turn
aside and raake a detour through some fields. Captain
Morton kept his guns trained on the road, and one of the
shells, striking a rail, glanced aside and killed three Fed
eral officers and wounded seven men. This incident was
reported to the author by Dr. Henry Long, now a promi
nent physician of Mt. Pleasant, Tenn. Dr. Long saw
the occurrence and dressed the wounds of the Federal sol
diers.
A Doubtful Victory.
This battle was, perhaps, the suprerae test of General
Forrest's greatness as a strategist. Knowing that the
two divisions of the enemy would raeet and, cooperating
68

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
with the gunboats, prevent his recrossing the Tennessee,
he seized the moraent when the two commands were
widely separated, and attacked the first with his artillery,
holding the infantry for the second attack. But for the
miscarriage of his orders, this raost brilliant of tactics
would have resulted in the defeating and possible capture
of tbe eneray. In the face of disaster he succeeded in
withdrawing the greater part of his troops, his artilieiy,
his wagon trains and supplies, as well as some prisoners
from the battlefield.
Nevertheless, as everything goes by comparison, the
Federals were immensely pleased with the victory and
telegrams of a congratulatory nature were showered upon
the generals taking part in the achievement. More re
enforcements were promised, and on the side of the offi
cers promises of a speedy cleaning out of the Rebels were
confidently made. "All the enemies' ferries" were re
ported destroyed, and the comraon opinion was that there
was nothing left but to "go through the country and pick
Forrest and his men up."
In his official report General Forrest commended the
action of his artillery. "Captain Freeraan and Lieutenant
Morton, of our batteries, with all of their men, deserve
especial mention, keeping up, as they did, a constant fire
from their pieces, notwithstanding the enemy made every
effort at silencing them by shooting down the artillerists
at their guns."*
General Forrest's achieveraents for the two' weeks be
tween and including Deceraber 15 and December 31,
1862, may be summed up as follows: The battles of
Lexington, Trenton, and Parker's Crossroads, besides
daily skirmishes ; 50 bridges destroyed on the Mobile and
?Official Records, Vol. XVIL, Part I., page 596.
69

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Ohio Railroad ; 20 stockades captured and burned ; 2,500
of the eneray killed and captured ; 10 pieces of artillery
captured ; 50 wagons and ambulances and their teams,
10,000 stands of excellent small arms, 1,000,000 rounds
of amraunition, and 1,800 blankets and knapsacks were
captured. He recrossed the Tennessee River thoroughly
arraed and equipped, with 500 Enfield rifles to spare and
recruits sufficient to cover all losses in raen. Many of
these recruits were on furlough frora other commands
and seized the opportunity to join General Forrest's vic
torious forces. 70

CHAPTER VI.
Battle of Dover.
New Year's Day, 1863, was a busy one for General
Forrest's artillery and cavalry. After a few hours' rest
the night before at Lexington, the amiy was now on its
way to Clifton, where it was expected the aforeraentioned
"ferries" would be found and used before they were
"picked up." There were now over three hundred pris
oners, and these had to be paroled and losses ascertained.
While this was in progress scouts brought inforraation
that a heavy Federal force was raoving from Corinth.
Knowing that the troops engaged the day previous would
also be in pursuit, the Confederates hurried on and soon'
encountered a cavalry force of about 1,200. They were
stationed across the road in battle array. With Dibrell,
Starnes, and Biffle supporting, Morton's Batteiy charged
through the center, and the road was soon cleared. The
Federal lo'Ss was some twenty or more killed and wound
ed and about fifty prisoners. The Confederates did not
lose a man.
The crossing was reached at noon. The two' flatboats,
which had been raised from the mud by a detachment
sent ahead under Maj. Jeffery Forrest for that purpose,
were put into iraraediate requisition, and Freeman's and
Morton's Batteries were first ferried across and posted on
the opposite bank. Not a gunboat was in sight, and the
crossing was effected with great dispatch. The water
was not as cold as it had been two weeks before, and
many of the horses were made to swira. This was ac
complished by towing a horse across after the boat, while
other horses were led to a high bank and pushed off into
71

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the water, where they had to swira, and they followed the
horse ahead. In this way there were over a thousand
horses in the water at one time; and if the gunboats had
come up at that tirae, the "wiping out" process would
have been corapleted. The river was three-quarters of a
raile wide at this point, but the crossing was accomplished
in ten hours.
In the raeantirae. General Sullivan, deceived by General
Forrest's tactics, had reraained in line of battle all night
after the fight, expecting attack. \Vhen none carae, he
set his troops in raotion and gave chase as best he could
over the miry roads in the wind and rain. Reaching
Clifton on the 3d, they found that they had been eluded
once more. Colonel Fuller, in his official report, says :
"The march on this day was raore severe on my com
mand than any I have witnessed. The road was horri
ble, and the rain, which fell steadily, made it raore so-."*
Colonel Noyes (Federal) also raade coraplaints of the
hardships which his men had undergone (and which the
Confederates had experienced just before) : "The road
was covered with jagged rocks, whose crevices were
filled with raud. The raen, in stepping from rock to
rock, frequently slipped and fell, bruising themselves se
verely. Twenty of my raen are reported raissing, and
have not since been heard of."*
As General Forrest had just preceded the Federals over
this same road without the loss of a man or a wheel,
comparison is useless.
That the governraent at Richmond was duly sensible
of the work done by this expedition is attested by the
vote of thanks passed by Congress to General Forrest
and his troops. General Bragg also coraplimented the

?Official Records, Vol. XVII., Part I., page 598.
72

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
achieveraent: "General Forrest proceeded with his brigade
of cavalry to West Tennessee. His coraraand was com
posed chiefly of new raen, imperfectly anned and
equipped, and in his rotite lay the Tennessee River, which
had to be crossed by such means as could be hastily im
provised. The result of this expedition was brilliant and
decisive. The enemy, in consequence of this vigorous
assault, in a quarter vital to their self-preservation, had
been corapeUed to throw back a large force from the
Mississippi, and virtually to abandon a carapaign which
so seriously threatened our safety. . . The nura
ber of priso'uers taken by General Forrest araounted to
1,500."* Columbia Hospitality.
Returning to Columbia, the Federals were found sta
tioned at Franklin, but they were not very active, and
General Forrest's force obtained three weeks of much-
needed rest. With the quick recuperation in those times
they were soon rested; and as nothing presented itself
for the exercise of their warlike ardor, they quite con
tentedly engaged in a round of pleasant visits, dinners,
dances, and such other entertainments. Maury County
has always been noted for its hospitality and for the
beauty of its women, and the good old section never gave
a raore convincing example of both than in the pleasant
recreations provided for the raen of General Forrest's
cavalry in the spring of 1863. The author loves to tum
the leaves of meraory and look upon the pictures indelibly
imprinted by the beauty, the gentleness, and warra-heart-
ed hospitality of those gracious types of Southem womi-
en, and p'atriotic pride recalls the feasts of dainties pro^
?Official Records, Vol. XVIL, Part I., page 592.
7Z

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
vided under circurastances of hardship, cheerfully and
willingly sustained.
One of these feasts is remembered with particular dis
tinctness. It was given on the plantation of Gen. Gideon
J. Pillow, who was one of the largest slaveowners in
that section ; but at the tirae of the dinner all the slaves
had deserted their owners, and the abundance of de
licious viands to which valiant trenchermen sat down was
prepared and served solely by the hands of General Pil
low's fair daughters.
A song very popular in the parlors where the young
officers visited was "The Homespun Dress," referred to
elsewhere in these pages. The first verse ran :
O yes, I am a Southern girl,
And glory in the name.
And boast it with far greater pride
Than glittering wealth or fame.
I envy not the Northern girl
Her robes of beauty rare.
Though diamonds grace her snowy neck
And pearls bedeck her hair.
This was sung to the air of "The Bonnie Blue Flag,"
and the raen were wont to join lustily in the chorus :
Hurrah ! Hurrah
For the Sunny South so dear !
Three cheers for the homespun dress
The Southern ladies wear!
Another favorite of the ladies was a little ballad, the
first stanza of which was :
If ever I consent to be married
(And who would refuse a good mate?)
The man whom I give my hand to
Must believe in the rights of the State.
This song had a good many verses, but the patriotism
of one of the last ones appealed to every man who heard
it:
74

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
And if he should fall in the conflict.
His memory with tears I will grace ;
Better weep o'er a patriot fallen
Than blush in a Tory embrace.
The weather was unusually severe at that season, and
the men were glad of a time of rest and comparative
comfort, but it is to be doubted if they would have en
joyed a longer perio'd of inactivity than the three weeks.
Ordered to the Cumberland.
The news that General Forrest had been ordered to
raake a raid on the Cumberland was received with ac
clamation by all except the great leader hiraself. He
pointed out to General Wheeler, his immediate superior,
and to General Bragg also, that he had not more than
twenty rounds of ammunition for small arms and only
about fifty for the artillery, the captured supplies having
been sent to General Bragg on arrival at Columbia. Be
sides this, the equipraent was incomplete in some other de
tails. These objections were overruled, however, and
General Forrest set out on his raarch toward the Cum^
berland on January 28, Dover, a small post west of and
adjacent to memory-haunted Fort Donelson, being the
objective point. Morton's Battery was selected to accom
pany the expedition.
Attack on Dover.
At the Cumberland Iron Works, nine miles frora
Dover, two companies of Federals were seen and quickly
charged and captured, with the exception of three raen,
who escaped and gave the alarm to the fort. On arriv
ing about noon, therefore, it was found that the enemy
was ready to repulse an attack. General Wheeler as
signed General Forrest to attack on the right simulta-
75

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
neously with his own attack from the Fort Henry road.
MortO'n's Battery took position on the right-hand side
of the road, less than a raile frora the courthouse, where
its fire could be raost effective. The Federals had a
piece of artillery in the courthouse yard on the raain
street, which was the object O'f Captain Morton's first
fire. It was dismounted after some heavy shelling. As
Captain Morton was directing the firing from O'Ue of the
guns, he saw an approaching shell, and, dropping to the
side of the hill to escape it, had his hat taken off by the
rebound of the missile as it struck the top of the hill and
ricocheted. This shell was found forty years later by
the author of this book while visiting the battlefield, and
is now preserved among his collection of souvenirs.
As has been stated, it had been arranged that the two
comraanders raake a siraultaneous attack ; but while wait
ing for Genera! Wheeler to reach positio'U, General For
rest saw a body of Federal troops marching rapidly from
the fort toward the river, and, mistaking this for an at
tempt to escape, he ordered a charge. The Federals
turned and hastened back tO' the fort. General Forrest
pursuing quickly and pushing dauntlessly on toward the
works, with the intention of entering with thera if un
able to capture thera before shelter was reached. In this
fierce onslaught the Confederates rushed alraost into the
Federal trenches before the garrison could train their
artillery upon thera; when they did, however, they cre
ated terrible havoc, as the heavy siege guns, double-shot
ted, poured death and horrible slaughter into the ad
vancing Confederates, only ten feet away. Genei'al For
rest's horse was shot under him and the General himself
seriously wounded, but he continued the attack with his
custoraary spirit until the bugle sounded retreat and fir
ing ceased. 76

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Night fell, but a brilliant moon rose and flooded the
scene with light enough to enable the Confederates to
gather up the wounded and bring off the captured
blankets and ammunition. Also a detachraent succeeded
in burning a boat load of supplies at the landing, the
garrison evidently contented toi rest on its laurels, or else
never drearaing that troops whicb had suffered soi severe
ly could recover sufficiently to atterapt such movements.
During the afternoon Col. Frank McNairy, a volunteer
on General Forrest's staff for the fight, was killed while
leading his corapany of sharpshooters down the road into
the town. The author saw the gallant dash, tbe galling
fire, and the fall of the courageous young officer and sev
eral of his men. Retreat.
Camp was made that night four miles from Dover.
It was bitterly cold and the wo'unded men suffered great
ly. General Forrest was in agony, too', as he had had
two horses shot under hira: during the actio'U of the day
and was severely bruised internally. He felt a bitter re
gret that the o-utcome of the battle had borne out his
prophecies, and suffered the keenest reraorse that he had
not refused to lead his raen into an action which his
judgment so bitterly opposed. Mo'rton's artillery was
encamiped not far from the cabin which was the head
quarters for the night of the two generals. Seeing the
condition General Forrest was in. Captain Morton was not
surprised to hear the result of the interview between them
that night, when General Forrest told General Wheeler
that he would never serve under hira again. General
Wheeler, with that wisdom and generosity which ever
characterized him, made noi demurrer to this. He real
ized that the genius of General Forrest was an abnorraal
77

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
power of intuition and inspiration, and therefore could
not be measured nor yoked with technical knowledge nor
studied raaneuvers. Bom to lead, and accustoraed from
early boyhood to dare and do, he could never submit to
military discipline and practice as dictated by the ma
chinery of theory. This was no tirae to teach him, and
the great soul of General Wheeler yielded hira the right
to go his own way and accomplish in his own fashion the
deeds that redounded to the good and the glory of their
common cause. General Forrest, too-, reco'gnized the
nobility of his commander, and never, tO' the day of his
death, did he speak a word of him except in praise. He
offered to give up to General Wheeler the troops he had
raised, led, and equipped. General Wheeler would not
accede to this, but assured him of his willingness to assist
him in securing an independent coraraand, and the sepa
ration was made in perfect friendliness and good feeling.
Although General Forrest acted in cooperation with Gen
eral Wheeler afterwards, he never again acted under him.
78

CHAPTER VII.
Battle of Thompson's Station.
The retum to Columbia was made with heavy hearts.
No encounters took place, except a slight skirraish with
a Federal coluran by a detachment led by Major Ram'-
beaut, who was General Forrest's comraissary, and Colo^
nel Carroll, a volunteer aide on General Forrest's staff,
both of whom were captured by the enemy. Reaching
Columbia on February 17, General Forrest's troops went
into quarters for recuperation, but there was hardly a
day without a sharp engagement with the Federal fo-rces
stationed at Franklin and Triune. General Forrest had
asked perraission the day after reaching Columbia to
make a raid on the suburbs of Nashville for the jwrpose
of capturing a large number of mules that were reported
to be there. This permission was refused him, and he
determined to spend the time by adding tO' the efficiency
of his men by daily drills. While he had always depend
ed upon his own inspiration and the force of his per
sonal example to get the best results from' his raen, he
had by this tirae seen enough of the rules of war and
grasped enough of their iraportance to wish to give his
troops the full benefit of such training as they had time
to take. General Lord Garnet Wolseley, who was sent
by the English govemment to study American war tac
tics, says of General Forrest: "He possessed that rare
tact — unlearnable from' books — which enabled him not
only to effectively control these fiery, turbulent spirits,
but to attach them to himi personally 'with hooks of
steel.' . . . There was a something about the dark
gray eye of Forrest which warned his subordinates he
79

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
was not to be trifled with and would stand no nonsense
from either friend or foe. He was essentially a practical
man of action, with a dauntless, fiery soul and a heart
that knew no fear."
Of General Fo'rrest's men he says : "They possessed as
an inheritance all the best and raost valuable fighting
qualities, accustomed as they were to horses and the use
of amis fro'ffl boyhood."
These characterizations are, perhaps, as fair as could
be expected from an Englishman visiting this country
for the first tirae and under such circurastances. Captain
Morton found the artilleryraen especially apt at leaming
artillery tactics, and the study and drill of this perio'd re
sulted in a great improvement in the manageraent and
serving of the guns.
As General Forrest kept hiraself fully inforraed of the
plans of the enemy, he was prepared for the sortie that
set out frora> Franklin on the 4th of March in the direc
tion of Spring Hill. Major General Van Dorn, who had
come from Mississippi with fresh troops, had been placed
in comraand of the left wing of General Bragg's amiy.
He took position near Tho'mpson's Station, and General
Forrest was ordered to join hira.
Captain Morton Is Excited.
On the march to Thompson's Station a halt was made
at Spring Hill. The Morton Battery rested in a fine
grove opposite the residence of Major Cheairs. As this
was early in the forenoon and the order was given to
move at 2 p.m., an opportunity offered for a social visit
to a relative. Dr. McMurray, and incidentally to some
beautiful and patriotic young ladies of the village. The
bright eyes and friendly farewells held the artillery Cap
tain rather later than he had planned, and when he re-
80

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
turned a few rainutes before 2 o'clock he was disap
pointed to find that not a horse had been taken from the
prolonge and the whole battery still at rest. It had been,
and is, a raatter of pride with Captain Morton that he
never uttered an oath, but it must be adraitted that a
greater teraptation to do so never assailed him than at
that moraent, for it was General Forrest's wont tO' as
sert: "I can always count on John getting his nien any
where promptly." One of the gunners, Joe T. Ballan-
fant, has ever since been fond of relating this incident,
and he declares that, though there was no swearing,
"there was some mighty loud talking," and that no' bat
tery was ever hitched up more quickly.
Van Dorn's forces included Armstrong's Brigade, co-n-
sisting of the First Tennessee Cavalry, Col. James T.
Wheeler; General Forrest's old regiraent under Maj. E.
B. Trezevant; Second Mississippi, Lieut. Col. James Gor
don; Saunders's Battalion, Maj. Ed Saunders; Third Ar
kansas, Colonel Earle; King's Battery, Whitfield's Bri
gade, consisting of Third Texas, Colonel Mabry; Sixth
Texas, Colo'nel Ross ; Ninth Texas, Colonel Jones ; Whit
field's Legion, Colonel Brooks ; Cosby's Brigade, consist
ing of Twenty- Eighth Mississippi, Col. F. B. Starke;
Ballentyne's Regiment, Col. J. G. Ballentyne; Second
Kentucky, Colonel Woodward; First Mississippi, Col.
R. A. Pinson.
To these three brigades — about 4,500 rank and file —
were added General Forrest's fo'i'ce of about 2,000, al
though Cosby was detained at the crossing of Duck
River and did not arrive in tirae for the subsequent
action. General Forrest was placed on the extreme right
and General Jackson was sent ahead to ascertain the
movements of the enemy. When within four miles of
Franklin he encountered the coluran of Col. John Coburn,
6 81

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
of the Thirty-Third Infantry. A slight engagement en
sued ; but, dark coining on, the two armies withdrew and
bivouacked in parallel lines for the night. Quietly the
soldiers slept who to-raorrow would engage in mortal
combat. "All quiet along the Potomac," they say,
"Except now and then a stray picket
Is shot, as he walks on his beat to and fro.
By a rifleman hid in the thicket."
All quiet along the Potomac to-night,
Where soldiers lie peacefully dreaming;
Their tents in the rays of the clear autumn moon,
Or the light of the watch fires are gleaming.
General Forrest and Colonel Coburn.
It was evident to Colonel Coburn that he had before
him a desperate encounter, and, as was always the case
when an estimate O'f General Forrest's troops was made,
his numbers were greatly exaggerated. The Federal offi
cer, therefore, while not fearing to face the issue, deemed
it prudent to return a portion of his supplies and all his
surplus baggage to Franklin. He also addressed a dis
patch to his commanding officer, telling of the great num
ber of the Confederates and asking for instmctions.
As early at 5 a.m. on the 5th of March Major General
Van Dorn was ready for an attack, and General Forrest's
comraand was eager for an opportunity to wipe out the
disappointment of Dover. Colonel Coburn, however,
raoved forward slowly, and it was 10 o'clock before he
advanced within fighting range. His cavalry, under Col.
Thomas J. Jordan (no relation, as far as is known, to
the Gen. Thoraas Jordan who was the joint author with
Mr. J. P. Pryor of the interesting "Life of Forrest"
so frequently referred to in these pages), well supported
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ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
by the artillery and infantry, opened a charge in fine style,
but were quickly repulsed. General Forrest, taking ad
vantage of the confusion, hurried Morton's and Free
man's Batteries to the front, where they swept not only
the advancing Federal infantry but enfiladed their bat
tery, causing it to limber up and leave its position.
Colonel Jordan says of this raoveraent: "In a raoraent a
battery of the eneray, of four guns, which had hereto
fore been masked, opened on our flank, completely co-v-
ering the ground upon which our infantry and cavalry
were placed, and also corapletely flanking our guns."*
Meanwhile General Starnes had been ordered to move
around by the right upon the Federal artillery and its
supports, and, executing his orders with his habitual en
ergy, opened with a deadly fire from' his rifles. This
forced the infantry across the railroad, where they took
position O'U a ridge and raade a raost stubborn stand, sup
porting the artillery, which had been forced from its po
sition by Morton's and Freeman's guns. By a quick
movement Captain Morton got his guns into a position
whicli commanded the new position taken by the Federals
and at the sarae tirae cut off their retreat toward Frank
lin. General Forrest, forming his escort, raade a bold
dash up the hill, but in the face of a galling fire; ad
vanced up the steep slope of the ridge until within thirty
paces of the Federal commander, whose surrender he de
manded at the point of a leveled revolver. Colonel Co-
bum, seeing Jordan's Cavalry pushed from the Union
left and the Indiana troops fleeing from' the field in great
disorder, was foirced to succumb. General Forrest was
on foot, his horse having been shot under himi as he
dashed up the ridge.
?Official Records, Vol. XXIIL, Part I., page 8i.
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ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Major General Van Dorn, who was busily engaged
with the Nineteenth Michigan and Twenty-Second Wis
consin Regiraents, had not observed this movement of
General Forrest ancl his artillery, and it had been ac
complished without orders. In fact, at the raoment of
surrender, Major General Van Dorn ordered King's Bat
tery to open fire at that particular point and greatly en
dangered the lives of both General Forrest and Colonel
Coburn. In addition to Colonel Coburn and his force of 1,500
raen, there surrendered at the sarae time to General For
rest Colonel Gilbert and Maj. W. R. Shafter, who dur
ing the Spanish-American War fought in Cuba by the
side of General Wheeler. General Forrest permitted
these officers to retain their horses and side arms.
The coramand surrendered consisted of the Thirty-
Third and Eighty-Fifth Indiana, Nineteenth Michigan,
and Twenty-Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. The
One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Ohio was held in re
serve at the wagon trains and escaped as a unit to Frank
lin. This action Colonel Coburn denounced in the bit
terest terras.
The Confederate loss was heavy, being nearly 400.
Col. Samuel G. Earle, of the Third Arkansas Cavalry,
Colonel Trezevant and Captain Little, of General For
rest's escort. Captain Dysart, of the Fourth Tennessee,
and Rev. Stephen D. Crouch, of Jackson's Brigade, were
killed. Lieut. John Johnson, of Biffle's Regiment, was
killed while advancing with the colors; but they were
seized by Private Clay Kendrick, who, though shortly
afterwards shot through the right arm, continued to
bear them until Colonel Coburn's surrender.
Major General Van Dorn has been strongly censured
for not taking a greater advantage of the information
84

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
General Forrest had given hira in advance of the battle
and for not pushing the advantage gained by the latter
in the capture of Colonel Coburn, but it must be remem
bered that Major General Van Dom, like raany another
West Pointer and experienced anny officer, conducted his
warfare on scientific principles, and very naturally he
was not inclined to place reliance on the impressio'ns of
an untutored man. "Had Forrest been in comraand,"
says Wyeth, "the tactics of Brice's Crossroads and the
terrible pursuit made on that famous field would, in all
likelihood, have been anticipated at Thompson's Sta
tion."* Major General Van Dorn, along with the powers at
Richmond, learned by experience that General Forrest's
undeniable intuitive powers were perfectly reliable, but
they learned it toO' late to give him the assistance he
needed for the success of the cause.
Picket Duty.
Soon after this was to come an escape from a face-
to-face raeeting with General Sheridan. General Forrest,
retiring to Columbia after the battle of Thompson's Sta
tion, was apprised of the advance of General Sheridan
in the direction of Rutherford Creek, and was sent to
cover the withdrawal of pickets on duty there. He saw'
at once that the eneray were too' strong for an attack, and
contented himself with harassing their rear.
The return to Columbia was signalized by a number
of gay parties and entertainments. One of the songs in
vogue at this time was a paro'dy on the college song,
"Upidee," called "That Bugler :"
?Wyeth's "Life of Forrest," page 163.
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ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
The shades of night were falling fast,
Tra-la-la, tra-la-la;
The bugler blows that well-known blast,
Tra-la-la ;
No matter should it rain or snow.
That bugler he is bound to blow.
But, soldiers, you were made to fight,
To starve all day, to watch all night;
Should you, by chance, get bread and meat,
That bugler will not let you eat.
Another popular drawing-roo-m favorite was a ballad
descriptive of the attitude of the soldier and the fair sex :
Soldier.
Lady, I go to fight for thee.
Where glory banners wave.
To fight for thee, and O, perchance.
To find a soldier's grave !
Lady.
Soldier, I stay to pray for thee,
A harder task is mine;
Which is, a long and lonely grief.
That victory may be thine.
Two weeks of comparative quiet aisued, broken by a
number of infantiy skirmishes, but the artillery was not
called into action. Two stockades at Brentwood were
captured. On April lo Major General Van Dom moved to attack
Gen. Gordon Granger at Franklin. This was intended
as a ruse to draw reenforcements from General Granger,
thus weakening General Rosecrans's forces and giving
General Bragg a better chance at Tullahoma. Major
General Van Dom, with Morton's Battery, supported by
a cavalry division under General Williara H. Jackson,
raoved along the Columbia Turnpike, while the remainder
86

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
of the troops were pushed along the Lewisburg Turn
pike, which merges into the first-named just outside of
Franklin. As the Confederate forces were only 3,100
strong, and the Federals had nearly three times that num
ber, it was intended, as before stated, to merely raake a
feint of assault.
An early start having been raade and the raorning
promising a beautiful day, the troops raarched along in
good time and the best of spirits. Encountering the Fed
eral pickets about 10 o'clock, they were driven in with a
rush. The Fortieth Ohio Infantry was also- encountered
and fo'rced back into the town with slight resistance.
General Granger, whether acting from his own conclu
sions or from inforraation he had received, became con
vinced that the attack was merely a feint to draw atten
tion while another attack was made on Brentwood, and
sent all O'f his cavalry in great haste to the relief of that
post. After he had so weakened his fo'rce he gave orders
that the guns from the fort on Figuers's Hill, just across
the river, be fired at every sign of raovement in the
neighborhood of the town in any direction. As the fort
was admirably situated to command the approaches on all
sides, this was a very effective order and checked the Con
federate advance.
Death of Captain Freeman.
At the same time, by the luck that seemed to attend
the Federals that day. General Stanley had, without or
ders, moved his position on the Murfreesboro Turnpike
and collided with Colonel Starnes on the Lewisburg Turn
pike, along which the Confederates, in fancied security,
were marching in column. The collision was equally un
expected to both coraraanders. Captain Freeman, who
was in advance in personal command of his battery, im-
87

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
mediately threw his four pieces into position, but before
he could fire a single shot the enemy was upon him and
he was captured, with the raajor portion of his battery.
This was, to the author, one of the saddest episodes of
the whole four years of struggle, for the killing of the
Confederate artilleryman because he could not raove fast
er was not only a gross violation of the rules of military
propriety, but it reraoved a raan whose character was of
the highest in every capacity he was called upon to fill.
A personal friend of long standing and tried under the
hardest circumstances, the writer felt his lo'ss keenly; and
although it has been over forty years since his brutal
taking-off, he cannot now recall it without a thrill of in
dignation and regret. Dr. Skelton and Lieut. Nat Bax
ter, who were captured at the same time, report that the
circumstances were nothing more nor less than sheer bru
tality. The Federals, being obliged tO' retreat, came run
ning back to the rear, and, not wishing to give up their
prisoners, forced them at the point of their pistols to a
quick run. Both Dr. Skelton and Captain Freeman told
thera they could not move any faster, as they were al
ready exhausted with the efforts they had raade, and Dr.
Skelton, putting up his hand as an appeal for raercy, was
shot through that raember. Captain Freeman received a
charge through the head and fell. His body was left
lying on the road and was recovered by friends and taken
to Spring Hill, where it was buried the next day. The
death of Captain Freeman was universally regretted by
General Forrest's Cavalry, from its commander to the
privates. How true it is that Comedy hangs ujxjn the skirts of
Tragedy! General Forrest sent a courier, Bob Dalton,
with a message to Captain Morton when Captain Free
man fell, and the messenger, riding up to the rear of

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Morton's Battery, which was on the Colurabia Turnpike,
inquired where Capt. Morton was. "At the head of the
column," was the reply. As he rode along he asked again
one of the gunners where he could find the Captain, and
was given the same reply. Nevertheless, when he reached
the head of the battery and saw it led by a slira youth
with a beardless face, he hesitated and asked again. "I
don't want to raake a mistake and give this message to
the wrong person," he confided to the raan he questioned.
"If I give this order to that boy, Forrest'll give me hell !"
89

CHAPTER VIII.
In Pursuit of Streight.
While these skirmishes were going on in Tennessee,
affairs were more serious in Alabama. Col. Abel D.
Streight, frora Indiana, an accomplished and experienced
officer, had de\'ised a plan for destroying all railroad
connections in that and the neighboring States by raiding
in General Forrest's own effective style. It was well
known that the southeastern portion of Tennessee and
the adjoining parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia,
being inhabited sparsely by a class of non-slaveowning
people, were strongly Union in sentiment, and it was
thought that, with the assistance of these inhabitants and
a strong, efficient anny, incalculable daraage could be
done in a short time. Starting at Nashville, Colonel
Streight conveyed the troops down the Curaberland to
Palmyra, where he disembarked and raarched across the
country to Fort Henry, where again he entered the trans
ports and was conveyed up the Tennessee to Eastport,
Miss., from which point it was his intention to begin the
raid. From its inception to the present day Colonel
Streight's raid has been the object of more or less deri
sion and ridicule, not so much from its lack of success
nor from any defect in its plans and subsequent carrying
out as the extreme weightiness of the preparations. If
this raid had been directed toward the inhabitants of
darkest Africa, its originators could not have shown a
greater ignorance of the character of the country they
were to march through, nor of the men they were to
raeet. It was decided, after long and careful discussion,
that mules would be the only safe means of getting over
90

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY.
the wild and rugged country, and after equally mature
deliberation the proposition to equip the soldiers "in the
promiscuous Southern style" (whatever that may have
been construed to mean) was abandoned.
The Mule Cavalry.
From the beginning the mules gave no end of trouble.
Being hard to manage, they caused endless confusion,
and the appearance of the "Jackass Cavalry" caused
arauseraent wherever they went. They kept the whole
countryside informed of their presence morning, noon,
and night. The idea of conducting a raid mounted on a
thousand noisy mules filled the whole country with laugh
ter. Their stubbornness when urged forward, the impos
sibility of stopping them when in full flight, and their
general intractableness raade their use the height of folly.
However, having once erabarked on the scherae, and
laid his plans with the greatest care. Colonel Streight,
after landing at Eastport, hastened to Bear Creek for a
consultation with General Dodge. A detachraent of Colc>-
nel Roddey's raen at Tuscumbia, whether infonned of
their presence by the brays of the mules or whether mere
ly hovering around to see what damage they could inflict,
succeeded in stampeding the whole army of beasts. Two
days were spent by the Federals in search of the runa
way animals, and then they were forced to give up nearly
four hundred of them as lost.
General Forrest in Pursuit.
At Spring Hill, on April 23, General Forrest received
orders to proceed to the relief of Colonel Roddey, and
he put the Eleventh Tennessee — six hundred strong — in
motion the same night. The next morning Morton's
Battery, with the Fourth, Ninth, and Tenth Tennessee,
91

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
set out, and such good time was made that the crossing
of the Tennessee River was effected at Brown's Ferry
two days later, one gun being left with General Dibrell
to protect the north side.
Colonel Streight had by this time got fairly started
on his enterprise, with the assistance of friendly native
guides, and did not know that General Forrest had start
ed in pursuit of hira.
Morton's Battery at Tuscumbia.
Reaching Tuscumbia and conferring with Colonel Rod
dey, General Forrest attacked General Dodge at dawn
on the morning of April 28. All preparations were made
with that extrerae noiselessness that ever characterized
General Forrest's raoveraents, and the opening gun fired
by Captain Morton was the first intimation the Federals
had of the presence of the dreaded cavalryman. Of this
attack General Thomas Jordan says: "The aim was skill
ful. In another instant the inmates of the building in
question swarmed forth, and armed raen rose from the
earth all along the Federal lines — literally like those of
the Grecian fable, born of the dragons' teeth sown by the
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 no
more than eight pieces, of which only twO' were rifled
and of long range. The cannonade soo'n waxed violent.
Open fields intervened on both sides, unobstructed by a
single tree, except the few that fringed the immediate
bank of the creek, and behind which sharpshooters kept
up a warm, incessant fire on both sides. For five hours
this was maintained, and for a time the artillery fire was
92

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
very severe and the skirmishing excessively warm."*
Continuing, he says : "For a tirae the Federal artillery —
superior in weight of raetal as in numbers — was gaining
some advantage over the short-range guns of their ad
versary, but the well-handled rifled section of Morton's
Battery, under Lieutenant Sale, was soon brought into
play at close range, with such effect that the Federal
pieces, cavalry and train, were quickly withdrawn out of
range." Meanwhile, rumors of General Forrest's advance and
the immense size of his force had reached General Dodge,
and that officer notified Colonel Streight of his intention
of retreating to Corinth, at the sarae tirae giving hira the
cheering intelligence that General Forrest was in the
neighborhood, adding, however, that the Confederate
leader had designs on Corinth.
Capture of Three Federals by Two Girls.
General Forrest, learning of Dodge's retreat, was well
pleased, and at once made his plans for the pursuit and
capture of Colonel Streight. Leaving Hannon's Regi
ment, Baxter's Battalion, and a section of Morton's Bat
tery at Tuscumbia, he fell back that night to Courtland.
Here he completed his preparations for a chase which
has no equal in history or legend for endurance, accora
plishment, and roraantic incident. The capture of three
Federal cavalrymen by two barefooted country girls alone
would make the excursion worthy of commemoration in
song and story; the further advent of aid from the gen
tler sex in the person of that modern Jo'an of Arc, Miss
Emma Sanson, is a lighter but no less telling feature
than the desperate rides of forty miles a day, with less
?"Campaigns of Lieutenant General Forrest," page 232.
93

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
than five hours' sleep in the twenty-four, the furious ham
mering against the dismayed eneray, and the final capture
of a force so large that the aid of the citizens of the sur
rounding country had to be invoked to guard them.
These deeds are coraparable only to the achievements of
the inspired crusaders of old, and sorae day a poet of
the South will preserve in fit raeasure all the fullness of
their glory.
THE POEM THAT WON A PENSION.
BY JOHN TROTWOOD MOORE.
The courage of man is one thing, but that of a maid is more,
For blood is blood and death is death, and grim is the battle gore;
And the rose that blooms, though blistered by the sleet of an open
sky, Is fairer far
Than her sisters are
Who sleep in the hothouse nigh.
Word came up to Forrest that Streight was on a raid —
Two thousand booted bayonets were riding down the glade.
Eight thousand were before him — he was holding Dodge at bay-
But he turned on his heel
Like the twist of a steel
And was off at the break of day.
Six hundred troopers had he, game as a Claiborne cock,
Tough as the oak root grappling with the gray Sand Mountain rock;
And they fought like young Comanches by the flash of the Yankee
gun. And they fell at the ford.
And they shot as they rode.
And fought from sun to sun.
But Streight went shirling southward with never a limp or a lag;
His front was a charging huntsman, but his rear was a hounded
stag.
For the gray troops followed after, their saddle blankets wet
With the bloody rack
From the horses' back —
And Streight not headed yet.
94

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
A fight to the death in the valley, and a fight to the death on the
hill,
But still Streight thundered southward and Forrest followed still:
And the goaded hollows bellowed to the bay of the Rebel gun,
For Forrest was hot
As a solid shot
When its flight is just begun.
A running fight in the mornmg and a charging fight at noon,
Till spurs clung red and reeking around their bloody shoon —
The moming paled on them, but the evening star rose red
As the bloody tinge
Of the border fringe
That purpled the path of the dead.
A midnight fight on the mountain and a daybreak fight in the glen,
And when Streight stopped for water, he had lost three hundred
men.
But he gained the bridge at the river and planted his batteries there.
And the halt of the gray
Was a hound at bay.
And the blue — a wolf in his lair.
And from out the bridge at the river a white-heat lightning came.
Like the hungry tongues of a forest fire, with the autumn woods
aflame ;
And the death smoke burst above them and the death heat blazed
below. But the men in gray
Cheered the smoke away
And bared their breasts to the blow.
Should they storm the bridge at the river through melting walls
of fire,
And die in the brave endeavor to plant their standard higher?
Should they die at the bridge on the river or die where they stood
in their track
Like a through-speared boar
With death at his door.
But tossing the challenge back?
"To the ford! To the ford!" rang the bugle, "and flank the
enemy out!"
And quick to the right the gray lines wheel and answer with a shout.
95

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
But the river was mad and swollen — to left, to right, no ford —
And still the sting
Of the maddened thing
At the bridge, and still the goad.
"To the ford ! To the ford !" rang the bugle. "To the ford ! Re
treat or die !"
And still the flail of a bullet hail from out of a mortar sky.
And they stood like a blue bull, wounded in wallowing mud and
mire. And still the flash
From a deadly lash
And still the barbs of fire.
Then out from a near-by cabin a mountain maiden came.
Her cheeks were banks of snow drifts, but her eyes were stars of
flame ;
And she drew her sunbonnet closer as the bullets whispered low.
(Lovers of lead.
And one of them said,
"I'll clip a curl as I go").
Straight through the blistering bullets she fled like a hunted doe,
While the hound guns down at the river bayed in her wake below.
And around their hot breath shifted and behind their pattering feet.
But still she fled
Through the thunder red
And still through the lightning fleet.
And she stood at the General's stirrup, flushed as a mountain rose.
When the sun looks down in the morning and the gray mist up
ward goes.
She stood at the General's stirrup, and this was all she said:
"I'll lead the way
To the ford to-day.
I'm a girl, but I'm not afraid."
How the gray troops thronged around her! And then the Rebel
yell.
With that brave girl to lead them they would storm the gates of
hell.
And they tossed her behind the General, and again the echoes woke,
For she clung to him there
With her floating hair
As the wild vine clings to the oak.
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ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Down through the bullets she led them, down through an unused
road,
And when the General dismounted to use his glass on the ford,
She spread her skirts before him (the troopers gave a cheer) :
"Better get behind me, General,
For the bullets will hit you here 1"
And then the balls came singing and ringing quick and hot.
But the gray troops gave them ball for ball and answered shot
for shot.
"They have riddled your skirt," the General said;
"I must take you out of this din."
"O that's all right,"
She answered light,
"They are wounding my crinoline."
And then in a blaze of beauty her sunbonnet off she took.
Right in the front she waved it high, and at their lines it shook.
And the gallant bluecoats cheered her — ceased firing to a man —
And the gray coats rode
Through the bloody ford
And again the race began.
Do you wonder they rode like Romans adown the winnowing
wind.
With Mars himself in the saddle and Minerva up behind?
Was ever a brave foe captured and conquered by such means
Since days of old
And warriors bold
And the Maiden of Orleans?
The courage of man is one thing, but that of a maid is more.
For blood is blood and death is death, and grim is the battle gore.
And the rose that blooms, though blistered by the sleet of an
open sky. Is fairer far
Than her sisters are
Who sleep in the hothouse nigh.
Miss Sanson's brave deed was rewarded by the Leg
islature of Alabaraa in 1864, which gave her a section of
land; but the next session, under reconstmction rule, re
fused the grant, and it was only after publication of
7 97

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
this stirring ballad in the Confederate Veteran that an
enthusiastic wave of public opinion in the State resulted
in the Legislature giving her six hundred acres of land.
IMorton's Battery Protects Decatur.
Captain Morton, greatly to his regret, was assigned to
other duty at this time. The fiery commander, in mak
ing his plans for the pursuit, selected Femell's Battery
from. Roddey's coramand and Morton's rifled section to
accorapany him. Captain Morton was directed to fortify
Decatur and prevent General Dodge from recrossing at
that point ; and acquiescing without demur to the wishes
of his revered leader, he placed Lieutenant Gould in
command of the two guns selected — a most unfortunate
selection, as events proved. It will be remembered that
Lieutenant Gould had been in command of two guns in
Napier's Battalion before it was merged with Morton's
Battery. He was an old schoolmate and prison mate of
Captain Morton's, and a young man of rare courage and
efficiency. The subsequent disagreement between him
and his chieftain was a most mournful mischance.
Reaching Decatur, Captain Morton found it in a state
of panic over the threatened retum of the Federal forces,
accounts of General Dodge's wholesale pillaging and de
struction having raade his name a terror to North Mis
sissippi and North Alabama. Decatur was almost desert
ed, the citizens refugeeing in Geo'rgia, removing all their
household property that would bear transportation. It
was impossible tO' secure even sufficient help to ferry a
reconnoitering party across the river, the ferrymen being
in hiding and no one being found willing to undertake
the work. Thus confronted with the difficulty of ascer
taining conditions on the other side of the river, Captain
98

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Morton set his wits to work to provide a substitute for
ferryboats.
A Novel Ferry System.
A consignraent of cotton, consisting of about one thou
sand bales, was lined up on the river bank on the Decatur
side. One of these bales was thrust into the streara and,
seizing a board, Captain Morton atterapted tO' guide it
to the other side. A short experience, however, showed
the bale to be too short for the leverage required, as it
would do nothing but turn around and around. Spring
ing ashore, the Captain ordered two bales lashed together
and pulled up the bank. Making another effort, he suc
ceeded, with the aid of the airrent, in reaching the op
posite shore, an example which was quickly followed by
his men. A ferryraan and some hidden boats were found
on that side, and these were put in use after the boatmen
were convinced there was no danger. A fortification
was then made of the bales of cotton and manned with
the guns.
This proceeding restored confidence in the town, and
during the remainder of the sojourn the people of Deca
tur furnished every assistance and entertainraent in their
power to Captain Morton and his men. Only one occa
sion for alarm occurred, and that was the report of Gen
eral Dodge's advance on May 5 ; but this proved to be of
no moment, as the wily Union officer fell back to^ Corinth,
probably on receipt of the news of General Forrest's cap
ture of Col. Streight. The ruraor, however, cut short
the festivities arranged at Rome and along the route of
the victorious Confederates' return, as General Forrest
was in the saddle again as soon as he heard of it, ex
changing his jaded and foot-sore mounts for the best of
the captured horses and filling in with the remnants of
99

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the faraous mules. The residue of the captured animals
were sent under escort to General Bragg, with the request
that they be distributed throughout the country from
which General Streight had impressed thera.
When the issue between the two brave spirits — pursuer
and pursued — was brought to a finish near Rome, Ga.,
on May 3, the whole South was wild with delight. Ev-
er3'where the papers were filled with accounts of General
Forrest's daring exploits, his relentless chase after his
quarry, and the generous terms accorded the surrendering
array. The retention of horses and personal arms by the
officers was a courtesy in comraon practice, but that the
hostile natives of that section, who had aided and abetted
the enemy, should be treated as prisoners of war was
soraething unusual. It is of interest to note that Colonel
Streight, who was sent to Libby Prison, escaped there
frora some months later and resumed his service in the
Union army.
Congress voted its thanks once more to General For
rest and his men for their effective service, and at both
Rome, Ga., and Huntsville, Ala., the citizens presented
hira with a superb horse. Other presentations and cele
brations were planned, but these were cut short by the
news of General Dodge's advance.
Return to Columbia.
Reaching Decatur on May 10, and having sent back
two detachraents for the care of the sick and wounded
and the gathering up of abandoned supplies, General For
rest was joined by the various details which had been on
duty elsewhere, and at once recrossed the Tennessee Riv
er. Captain Morton was joined by Lieutenant Gould,
and the battery returned to Columbia.
100

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
General Forrest and Lieutenant Gould.
The unfortunate difficulty between General Forrest and
Lieutenant Gould is a very painful recollection, and equal
ly painful to describe, but perhaps there is no one better
qualified to describe it impartially than the author of this
book, esteeming, as he did, both men as close personal
friends, and being under the iminediate command of the
one, while having the other under his own command.
As has been said, there never was a braver spirit than
Lieutenant Gould. Cool, daring, and resourceful, he had
given signal example of his ability in a great many in
stances, yet his judgment was only fallible after all, and
when, at Sand Mountain, when Edniondson and Captain
Bill Foirrest's scouts had fallen back on his guns and
found they could not hold therai, Gould thought it best
to abandon them,, as nearly all the horses had been shot
and had become entangled in the gearing. To General
Forrest this seemed an unforgivable offense, and he per
sonally rallied the raen in an effort to retake the battery,
but it proved unsuccessful. On reaching Colurabia he
was assigned to the coraraand of the cavalry on General
Bragg's flank, as General Van Dorn had been killed in
his absence. One of his first acts on taking coraraand
was a request to have Lieutenant Gould transferred to
some other command, though there was no' charge made
against the Lieutenant in any way. The latter, quick of
temper and remembering the statements made in the ex
citement of the loss on the battlefield, construed this as a
reflection on his personal honor, and sought an interview
with General Forrest. The General was at a friend's
house when the request was made, but agreed to meet
the Lieutenant at 3 o'clock at headquarters in the Ma
sonic Building. IOI

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Captain Morton heard the news of the appointment,
and raade an effort to see General Forrest in the hope
that he could explain the matter satisfactorily to both
parties ; but he was unable to find the General, and when
he retumed to carap Lieutenant Gould had gone.
Both kept the appointraent proraptly, and the Lieu
tenant immediately demanded in excited tones why the
transfer had been made. At this point a flat contradic
tion must be made of the story which has been current
in the press for sorae years conceming the reason given
by General Forrest for his action. It has been asserted
that he replied : "Because, sir, you have been reported re
peatedly by your commanding officer for cowardice."
No such reply was raade, and it was irapossible for it to
have been made, for Captain Morton was Lieutenant
Gould's commanding officer, and so far from reporting
him for cowardice at any tirae or on any occasion, he
had repeatedly cornmended hira to General Forrest for
courage and gallantry. As it was equally impossible for
General Forrest to have claimed a false reason for his
action, this should prove conclusively that such an answer
was not and could not possibly have been given. Gen
eral Forrest simply replied that his mind was made up
and that he would not change the order. The now thor
oughly incensed Lieutenant put his hand into his coat
pocket and fired a pistol he had there. The ball, passing
through his coat, struck General Forrest above the left
hip. General Forrest had a small penknife which he was
idly handling, and at this action on the part of the Lieu
tenant he opened a blade and stmck him in the chest,
exerting very little conscious force, as he told Captain
Morton afterwards. Lieutenant Gould ran through the
hall and into the street, and General Forrest, passing
through the hall also, entered the office of Dr. L. P.
102

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Yandell, a few doors down the street. Relating the oc
currence. General Forrest asked the Doctor to exaraine
the wound. After a hasty examination. Doctor Yandell
pronounced it a dangerous wound and was advising the
patient to go to the hospital for treatraent when General
Forrest broke from him, crying: "No d — d man shall
kill me and live!" He ran in the direction Lieutenant
Gould had taken, snatching a pistol from' the holster of
a saddled horse which stood in front of the Doctor's
office. Lieutenant Gould had run into a tailor shop and was
lying on a counter, bleeding profusely, when General
Forrest was seen by some of the men who had gathered
around the wounded man. At their warning Lieutenant
Gould sprang up and, running toward the back part of
the store, juraped frora the door to the ground, a distance
of four or five feet. As he was in the act of jumping,
a bullet from his pursuer's pistol raissed him. In his
haste Lieutenant Gould fell to the ground as he leaped
out of the door, and this created the impression that the
shot had taken effect. "You have killed him. General!"
cried the onloo'kers, as General Forrest reached the spot.
In great pain as he was, and excited at the thought that
he himself might be raortally wounded, General Forrest
expressed regret that he had been forced into the affair,
and O'rdered that Lieutenant Gould be sent to the Nelson
House. He then went to the house of Col. William
Galloway, where Dr. Yandell dressed his wound.
Hearing of the dreadful encounter. Captain Morton
came in from camp and immediately visited both princi
pals in the sad affair. To him both expressed their deep
regret and each conderaned his own hastiness. After
some days, during which the writer was a daily visitor
to each of the injured men, it became apparent that, while
103

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the Chief would recover, the Lieutenant could not do so,
and this cast a pall of deep sadness over the entire camp.
One other interview took place between the two men.
Knowing that he could not live, Lieutenant Gould sent
for General Forrest, who rose from his own bed to make
the visit. An eyewitness to this raeeting related it to
Dr. Wyeth as well as to the writer. "The officer took the
General by the hand and held it in both of his, saying:
'General, I shall not be here long, and I was not willing
to go away without seeing you in person and saying to
you how thankful I ara that I am the one who' is to die
and that you are spared to the country. What I did I
did in a moment of rashness, and I want your forgive
ness.' "
As General Forrest leaned over the bed on which the
young man was lying he told hira that he forgave him
freely and that his own heart was full of regret that the
wound he had inflicted was fatal.
104

CHAPTER IX.
From Spring Hill to Chickamauga.
Numerous sharp and short encounters raarked the tirae
between the i6th of May, when General Forrest as
sumed command at Columbia, and the raoveraent out of
Middle Tennessee after General Bragg. One of these is
especially worthy of mention, showing, as it does, that
the great commander bore a charmed life and co'uld and
did take risks that would have been fatal to any one
else. Hearing that General Granger had changed his head
quarters frora Franklin to Triune, fifteen railes toi the
east, he determined to see how great a force had been left
in the former place. On the 4th of June he led two bri
gades and two guns from. Morton's Battery toward
Franklin, one brigade going by the Franklin Turnpike
and the other by the Lewisburg Turnpike. The Federal
pickets were encountered on both pikes about three railes
frora the town, and both brigades successfully chased
them in. Following close after their heels, the Confed
erates entered with them and boldly charged down the
main street. The Federals ran up a white signal flag,
and General Forrest, thinking it was a flag of truce, sent
forward a similar banner of peace, and, ordering the ar
tillery to cease firing, rode in to arrange the terras of
surrender. He had not proceeded far when a Federal
officer ran toward hira, calling in a frenzy of earnestness :
"General Forrest, go back! Go back! That is no truce;
it is a signal flag. I don't want to see you hurt!" Gen
eral Forrest, overcorae with this generosity, thanked hira
and withdrew. As he retired he looked again at the
105

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
hedge behind which the officer had stood to warn himi,
and observed his magnanimous foe still standing in the
same spot with a detachment of soldiers. Again saluting
in sign of his appreciation. General Forrest rode on. He
soon met his own flag of truce returning with the infor
mation that the flag on the fort was a signal to General
Granger at Triune. This was exactly what General For
rest desired to know; and taking a section of Morton's
guns and two corapanies, he again entered the town. The
horses were unhitched from the battery, which was rolled
along the main street by hand, thus protecting the Con
federate force and shelling the houses and the fort. Un
der this protection he proceeded to the jail, battered in
the doors, and liberated the Confederate prisoners; then,
opening the commissary stores, a large supply of wagons
and necessaries was hauled away. Night was now com^
ing on; and retiring in the direction of Spring Hill, the
command bivouacked that night three miles from Frank
lin, returning to headquarters early next morning. No
attempt was made by the Federals to follow.
At Triune.
A rest of two weeks was enlivened with more or less
brisk skirmishes, and on June 20 the artillery was called
into play again for the purpose of "worrying" our friend,
Colonel Granger, at Triune. Crossing the Harpeth, the
Federal pickets were driven in and hotly followed until
within four hundred yards of the camp, where Captain
Morton planted two guns and a brisk duel began. The
Federals advanced in force; and having found out their
strength. General Forrest retired. As a diversion from
the main object of the assault. Major Jeffrey Forrest had
driven off a large herd of cattle and horses, which were
106

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
pasturing close by, and these were the most valuable
trophies of the expedition. At Shelbyville.
General Rosecrans began his advance on June 22.
General Bragg ordered General Forrest tO' withdraw his
pickets and proceed to Tullahoma, raeeting General
Wheeler at Shelbyville. The enemy was known to be in
large force around Shelbyville, and this made the cross
ing of Duck River at that point exceedingly hazardous.
General Wheeler had succeeded in crossing, and was
about to bum the bridge behind him' when it was re
ported that General Forrest was coming in one direction
and a body of Federal cavalry in another. General
Wheeler's men had been engaged in lively skirmishing
all the aftemo'O'U in an effort to get the sup'ply wagons
safely across the river, and were soraewhat exhausted,
but the noble heart of the "little giant" did not for a
moment entertain any thought save that of helping out
his brother officer. He immlediately recrossed the bridge
with five hundred men and two guns, and raet the Fed
eral charge in full force. His two' guns were iraraediately
captured, and a caisson was overturned -tO' blockade the
bridge. Seeing hiraself heraimed in, the doughty little
Confederate took a chance as daring as that of Israel Put
nam, the Revolutionary hero. Spurring his horse, he
plunged over the bank to the swift, muddy stream, fifteen
feet below, and was quickly followed by his men. As
they struck the water they went under for a moraent,
and the Federals on the bank were too surprised to do
more than stare until they saw heads coming up in all
directions and horses swimming valiantly acr(*s the
strong current. They then opened fire, and it is estimated
107

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
that between forty and fifty Confederates were killed and
drowned. In the meantime General Forrest, in whose behalf this
brave effort was being raade, heard the firing, and with
his accustomed intuition scented the danger and made a
rapid detour to a bridge four miles above, and reached
the train in safety. With Morton's artillery in advance,
the whole army then entered Shelbyville in triumph.
John Hickman Captured.
As the victorious Confederates entered Shelbyville they
supplied theraselves with both necessary and unnecessary
stores. John P. Hickraan, no\\' a prorainent leader in
United Confederate Veteran affairs, at that tirae a clerk
in the Commissary Department, under Major Brown, was
riding along with a bolt of gayly colored calicc under his
arm. In the rapid raoveraent the bolt slipped from his
grasp, and his efforts to regain it only entangled him in
its unwinding folds. The Federals, dashing in at this
moraent, seized the bolt and, drawing it taut, captured
the bold Confederate. The writer, entering the town im
mediately after this occurrence, found it the principal
topic of discussion, much sympathy being expressed for
the unfortunate ending to Commissary Clerk Hickman's
first battle. He was sent to Rock Island prison, where,
although exchanges were frequently made. Colonel Hick
raan languished without exchange until the close of hos
tilities liberated hira.
Tullahoma was reached June 28. Much excitement
was felt at the prospect of General Bragg's retreat on
Chattanooga, and the cavalry now found itself in a coun
try totally different from the territory hitherto operated
in. It was a rough, mountainous section, affording ex
cellent protection for the ambushes of the enemy. In-
108

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
stead of the dashing, sledgehammer tactics hitherto prac
ticed, it now became necessary to adopt the most wary
and adroit strategy. It is a tribute to the height and
depth of General Forrest's genius to say that he pro'ved
fully equal to the deraands of the occasion. On June
30 the Confederates suffered the loss of Colonel Starnes,
than whora there never was a braver or raore popular
raan in the service. An energetic and resourceful officer,
a cultured and polished gentleraan, and a physician of
unusual ability, his death was deeply mourned. The
writer always felt a degree of safety when Starnes's Reg
iment was close at hand.
It was on this same day that General Forrest had an
exciting encounter with a detachraent of raounted Fed
erals. The rain was falling heavily, and, muffled in oil
skins, the escort rode on in advance of the main body of
troops, intending to reach Pelhara and intercept General
Wilder at that point. Advancing quickly and silently
around a sharp turn of the road, they encountered a
body of men, similarly covered with oilskins, but who,
General Forrest's quick sense told him, were not Con
federates. Riding straight on, without even quickening
his pace, he greeted them companionably and carried on
a conversation of sorae raoraents, finding out what com
pany they were and some other points. He passed on,
expecting to turn and attack their rear when they should
come up with Morton's guns in advance of his detach
ment; but perceiving General Wilder coming on in full
column, he was compelled to retreat before he had planned
to do so. At a wild gallop the escort charged through
their whilom companions, causing a stampede and making
somie captures. Reaching his coramand, he iramediately
returned, but the astute Wilder had placed hiraself out
of harm's way. 109

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
At Cowan.
It was a few days later that General Forrest was hailed
as a coward by a fiery dame of Cowan. The mountain
passes were thick with the enemy, and in the daily skir
mishes it frequently happened that "discretion was the
better part of yalor." General Forrest's reputation as a
daring and hot-headed fighter, however, was so strongly
irapressed on the people of that section that when they
saw his array in retreat they always mistook it for some
other command. One day as he rode rapidly down the
street, with a body of Federals in plain pursuit, a moun
tain woman ran to her door and shouted: "You great,
big coward, you, why don't you tum and fight, instead
of running like a cur? If old Bedford Forrest was here,
he'd raake you fight." This incident was never related
in General Forrest's presence without erabarrassing him,
and it is probable that the good woman never knew whom
she addressed on that occasion.
The Federals realized fully the importance of locating
and detaining General Forrest. An examination of their
telegraphic dispatches of that period show a preponder
ance of questions as to General Forrest's whereabouts and
suggestions for holding him in check. Following his
habitual cunning plans, "deserters" began to appear in
A'arious Federal camps and give out infonnation concem
ing the movements of the dreaded cavalryman. At one
and the sarae tirae posts in Kentucky, Georgia, and Ten
nessee, and even as far north as Ohio, were apprised of
intended raids in their directions. Several attacks were
made on coraraands supposed to be under other Confed
erate leaders, and the discovery that they were General
Forrest's raen led to precipitate retreat and more be
wildering dispatches. No wonder that the authorities at
no

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Washington complained of an inability to get "reliable
information," but in justice to the Federal commanders
it must be said that they were not toi blame for the un
reliability of their dispatches, for it was not their fault
that when they had reported retreating fromi General
Forrest one day they should find hira attacking their rear
the next. No power on earth could calculate with any
degree of certainty the movements of a raan who rushed
around and over moimtains as easily, apparently, as he
did over plains, to whom the burning of bridges O'ffered
no hindrance, and who planned and carried out his at
tacks without considering food, rest, or sleep necessary.
It is a singular fact that, although neat and tidy in dress
and person. General Forrest rarely carried any of "the
comforts of home" with hira on any campaign. When
such comforts were offered by the hospitable people of
the section he visited, or when they fell by right of con
quest, their enjoyraent was the very last itera on his pro
gram, the first being invariably the care of the wounded,
the second the inventory of supplies and the burial of the
dead and the care of his horses (he was an ardent lover
of the horse), and last, if there was time, he had no ob
jection to any form of enjoyment that was available.
Water Sports at Kingston.
From Cowan to Kingston a move was made in the
hottest part of July. The roads were rough and rugged
and in many places almost impassable for the artillery.
Added to this, the section was hostile and the entertain
ment scanty and ungracious. Reaching Kingston, where
the sparkling Clinch enters the turbid Tennessee, now
famous for the production of fine pearls, the writer was
delighted to find himself in a fruitful and smiling valley
of plenty once more. During the long, hot days a great
III

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
portion of the tirae was spent in water sports. Many of
the soldiers swara both streams on wagers. General For
rest, coming to the bank one day, asked : "Who is my
best swimmer?" "Captain Morton," was the reply of
one of the swimmers. "Then he must prove his right to
the charapionship," declared General Forrest. Seating
hiraself on the bank, he called for contest after contest
in the various forras of this delightful exercise. The dis
cipline and activities of camp life had changed the writer,
to whom, it will be remerabered. General Forrest had re
ferred at their first raeeting as a "little, tallow-faced
boy," to a sun-browned, sturdy, though still slender body,
with a great deal of muscle and endurance; and, as has
been stated, swimming had been his favorite pastime from
early yo'uth, so that it was not difficult to maintain the
reputation so kindly pronounced by those who had not
had his experience. He treasures to this day the kindly
commendation of his beloved chieftain on this occasion.
The summer waned slowly. Short, peppery engage
ments, necessitating the use of the artillery, were of al
most daily occurrence, and had the effect of keeping the
Confederates well supplied ' with food and ammunition
and keeping Washington busy trying to strike a balance
between the conflicting reports of General Forrest's
whereabouts and intentions. General Bragg had deter
mined to evacuate Chattanooga, and on the last day of
August General Forrest received orders to repair to that
place to cover and protect the retreat, ascertaining the
enemy's plans as he approached.
On the Way to Chickamauga.
On Septeraber lo he learned that two divisions of Fed
erals had crossed the Chickamauga at the Red House
bridge, on the Ringgold road; and knowing that they
112

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
were thus cut off from the rest of the Federal army, he
planned their surprise and capture. He dispatched to
General Bragg for help, and, expecting to attack their
rear, engaged guides; but he received no response from
(^neral Bragg, and at midnight, impatient of further de
lay, he rode hurriedly to headquarters, only to find that
General Bragg had gone to Lafayette and that all the
infantry was under orders to. repair there also. Hasten
ing back, General Forrest placed himself in front of the
Federal line of raarch. Four pieces from Morton's Bat
tery stubbornly O'pposed the advance of the Federal lead
er ; but the stress of numbers proved too great for a com
plete check, and the Confederates, still doggedly disput
ing the passage, were forced back to Tunnel Hill, where
the cavalry were disraounted and fought as infantry, and
Captain Morton's guns brought to such close range and
fired with such excellent effect that the Federals, in their
tum, were foirced to retire. They reraained two days at
Ringgold; and had General Forrest received the supp-ort
he asked for, they could have surrounded and captured
the eneray with the utmost ease. This was the beginning
of the unfortunate clashes of judgment and opinion be
tween the two Confederate generals which later was to
end in open rupture. Without atterapting to lay the
whole blame on General Bragg's procrastination or on
General Forrest's inability to brook comraand, it is quite
plain that the dissensions arose from the wide difference
in the training of the two officers, resulting in raethods as
irreconcilably divergent as the two poles.
Opportunities similar to this, palpably discernible and
even conspicuous to General Forrest but invisible to
(General Bragg, occurred frequently during this cam
paign, and General Forrest chafed and fretted at these
repeated failures to destroy the eneray. They enabled
8 113

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
General Rosecrans to concentrate his forces, although he
was puzzled at General Forrest's apparent indifference,
as is shown by his dispatch to General Burnside on Sep
tember i6: "It is of the utmost importance that you close
down this way to cover our left flank. We have not the
force to cover our flank against Forrest now. He could
cross the river above us before we could discover it. I
want all the help we can get promptly."*
"Pop Goes the Weasel," a song very much in vogue
at that time, quite adrairably fitted the situation :
All around the cobbler's house
The monkey chased the people.
And after them in double haste
Pop goes the weasel.
When the night walks in as black as a sheep.
And the hen on her eggs was fast asleep.
When into her nest with a serpent's creep.
Pop goes the weasel.
?Official Records, Vol. XXX., Part III., page 691.
114

CHAPTER X.
Battle of Chickamauga.
Early on the raoming of September i8 General Bush
rod R. Johnson, under orders from General Bragg to
take the offensive, moved out from Ringgold toward
Reid's Bridge. General Forrest's Command, which had
been resting in the neighborhood for a few days, joined
General Johnson, and was sent to the front to develop
the enemy. Finding they were gathered at Pea Vine
Creek, General Forrest sent Morton's guns forward to a
position on a slight bluff near Alexander's Bridge, from
which point of vantage, although exposed, it was able to
render efficient aid. Two men were wounded.
An amusing incident occurred at this stand. Jimray
Woods, acting No. 5, was bringing cartridges from the
caissons and limbers to the guns. Captain Morton no
ticed that he had thera' in armful lots and repriraanded
him. "Jimray," he said, "don't pile the cartridges at the
guns that way. A spark frora a friction priraer or piece
might cause a serious explosion. Just bring two — give
one to No. 2 and hold the other until the gun is fired,
and then return for more." Jimmy, elated at the way
things were going for the Confederates, took the repri
mand gayly, exclairaing : "All right. Captain ; we'll whip
this fight, or Molly Stark's a widow." He turned and
went capering down the bank to the stream for more
shells. Federals Fall Slowly Back to Reid's Bridge.
A brisk skirmish ensued, the Federals falling slowly
back to Reid's Bridge. Here they made a resolute stand ;
"5

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
but the guns were pressed so close and were so heavily re
enforced by the infantry and cavalry that they were
forced to retreat precipitately, not even taking time to
burn the bridge. The entire force now crossed the Chick
amauga and raarched up the creek in the direction of
Alexander's Bridge. "Thus it happened," says Capt. J.
Harvey Mathes, "that Forrest brought on the great bat
tle."* And it may be added, in justice to all, that this
clear-headed decision and quick, daring action were the
very qualities most deeply needed for such a battle, and
the very ones whose lack brought on the subsequent lam
entable mishap. General Hood, arriving on the field in
the afternoon, assigned General Forrest to position in his
rear, with scouts and pickets out for the protection of
the raain body.
General Forrest was instructed to develop the enemy
as early on the next morning as possible, and was prom
ised reenforceraents if he brought on a general engage
raent. General Walker was ordered to hold himself in
readiness to gO' to General Forrest's assistance Septem
ber 19.
Accordingly, the day had hardly dawned on the 19th
before the cavalry was in raotion toward Reid's Bridge
and Chattanooga. He found the eneray at the bridge in
such strength that he sent a courier after the promised
help, raeanwhile deploying his forces to the best possible
advantage. He saw at once that General Rosecrans had
put into operation a superior piece of strategy ; for while
General Bragg's forces had been moved up the Chicka
mauga the night before. General Rosecrans had moved
his array in the opposite direction, which brought him
nearer to Chattanooga and kept that place as a con-
*Mathes's "General Forrest," page 139.
116

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
venient refuge. Gen. D. H. Hill reported: "I found
that while our troops had been moving up the Chicka
mauga the Yankees had been moving down, and thus
outflanked us."*
Nevertheless, General Forrest hoped to worst the wily
Federal with the aid of the infantry, which he looked for
momentarily. Morton's Battery and Freeman's Battery
(the latter in command of Captain Huggins since the
death of Captain Freeman) were placed directly in front,
General Forrest's favorite style of using his guns, and
were effectual in holding the enemy in check until the
arrival of a part of General Dibrell's Brigade, which
General Polk sent in response to General Forrest's ap
peal. The promised infantiy still not appearing. General
Forrest rode out to reconnoiter, leaving Pegram to. hold
the position, "no matter what raight happen," until he
returned with help.
The braA'C Pegram did as he was ordered, though at
what cost may be seen from his siraply worded report:
"In obeying this order our loss was about one-fourth of
the command."
General Forrest, hurrying back with Col. Claudius C.
Wilson's Brigade, saved the rest of Pegram's command.
Wilson's men swept into General Forrest's line with
out pause and dashed into the attack. All the field was
filled with admiration of the gallant action of this bri
gade. Truly they fulfilled the noble ideal of Tennyson's
braves at Balaklava :
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do or die.
Under this vigorous attack the Federals were driven
back and hotly pursued. The first and second lines of
?Official Records, Vol. XXX., Part II., page 140.
117

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
battle crumbled before the vigor of the onslaught, but the
third lay behind defenses of exceptionally fine construc
tion. The eneray defended valiantly a battery on the
second line, but this too yielded to the Confederate per
sistence, which carried the whole force with a sweep to
the edge of the third line. General Forrest, quickly seiz
ing the situation, O'rdered the attack to wait for further
reenforceraents, and began to rearrange his forces. The
Federals in the meantime had been reenforced, and now-
turned on their recent aggressors in a fierce charge.
General Ector had just reported to General Forrest, but
before he could be assigned to position the Federal as
sault carried the entire line back. The horses in the
captured battery had been killed ; and though the Confed
erates tried to roll them off by hand, they could not suc
ceed, and these guns again fell into the hands of their
former owners. Indeed, it was hard to bring away thc
cherished guns of the Confederate batteries, the dense
undergrowth and thick forest raaking progress most la
borious. The fixed bayonets of the assailing Federals,
however, hastened the surmounting of many obstacles.
At one point, when all of the horses at one of the guns
were killed or wounded, General Forrest ordered four
of his retreating escort to dismount, and the harness was
hastily adjusted to cover the troopers' accouterraents,
thus saving the precious gun. This incident is charac
teristic not O'nly of the General's resourcefulness but of
the importance which he attached to his artillery. The
retreat was made in good order, the Federals not pur
suing beyond their original lines; and General Walker
coming up at this moment with the long-delayed infantry,
the troops were re-forraed and the tide of battle quickly
turned the other way. It was now half-past i o'clock.
General Forrest's men had been fighting since early dawn,
ii8

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
and General Walker was araazed when he heard what
had been done. It was, he declared, "unparalleled," and
the troops deserving of "iraraortal honor for the part
borne in the action." In the thickest o.f the fray General
Forrest's horse was shot from under hira, this being the
one presented to hira by the citizens of Rome, Ga., on
the capture of General Streight. General Forrest was
himself in great danger all day, but remained in the hot
test part of the action, directing, assisting, and encour
aging in all directions. As the sun waxed higher and
higher, the sraoke, powder, dust, and heat became in
sufferable, and the men moved in a grimy, reddish haze.
General Forrest wore a linen duster, with his pistol belt
buckled on the outside.
The following incident occurred to^ Captain Morton :
It was Capt. John W. Morton's twenty-first birthday on the
19th of September, and his entree upon man's estate was amid the
roar of the tremendous battle of Chickamauga. He had just re
ceived a new suit of artillery uniform clothes, which he had packed
away nicely in a wagon; but a hungry mule had taken a fancy to
them and had masticated the treasures. He had three horses at
dawn, and at night one had been killed, two wounded so as to be
unserviceable, and, to crown his mishaps, his colored servant "Bob"
had got "scared" of the battle and run off with all his rations. To
add to his misfortunes, he was a long way from home with not a
dollar in his pocket. 'Twas thus he stepped across the threshold
of manhood.
Capt. John W. Morton, C. S. A.
Of Forrest's brave artillery sons,
John Morton was the chief.
Who in the thunder of his guns
Oft sought his soul's relief.
As Pelham of the West, may he
Be hailed throughout the South !
His war-time eloquence, most free,
Came from his cannon's mouth.
119

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
In him our Wizard found a man
On whom he could rely;
And when his service first began.
His fame was made on high.
General Forrest I have always regarded as the untrained and
perhaps the most remarkable genius of our Confederate war, and
you are one of the military jewels which cluster in his diadem. —
Charles Edgeworth Jones, Augusta, Ga.
The conflict never became general, owing to the fatal
lack of concerted action and concentration on the part of
the Confederates. At nightfall General Armstrong ar
rived with bis second brigade, and the Confederates went
into bivouac upon the ground on which they had opened
the contest, but with very little more advantage. An
early moon carae up and lighted the general readjust
ment of the battle lines, the work with the wounded, and
all the stir incident to a night after a great battle. The
pale faces of the dead were on every side, the acrid smell
of gunpowder hovered thickly in the air, and the mel
ancholy winds whispered thro'Ugh the pines the mournful
story of the day's losses. Cleburne's Division had cap
tured two guns, which were added to Morton's Battery,
increasing Morton's to six guns.
A Gloomy Sunday.
Saturday night was a busy one for the Union troops.
All night the sound of their axes and picks could be
heard as they toiled to strengthen their position. General
Thoraas's Corps, by a long fo'rced raarch, arrived to re
enforce General Rosecrans, and daybreak found them
much better prepared to face the foe than they had been
the day previous. September 20 was a brilliant autumn
Sunday. General Forrest's men had been placed in line
with Gen. John C. Breckenridge's Division, and it was
120

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the understanding that the battle was to open prorajjt-
ly at daybreak. The lines were ready at the appointed
time, but the order was not given until half-past nine,
thus wasting three hours of the precious morning. The
delay is assigned to various causes, some asserting that
the order was not delivered to General Hill in tirae, oth
ers declaring that he received it, but delayed in order to
give his raen their rations. Be that as it raay, the troops
ers stood in line frora dawn until the sun was well on
toward the meridian, fuming and fretting at the delay,
waiting for the sound of the opening fire from Generals
Polk, Breckenridge, and Hill.
General Breclcenridge made the first move at half-past
nine, and met with deterrained resistance. The Federals
were strongly intrenched, and their well-aimed shells
dealt death and destruction throughout the Confederate
ranks. General Forrest's Cavalry, with General Arra
strong, moved to the right, and advancing Morton's Bat
tery, aided by Huggins's and Gracey's, to the front, gave
the op'posing infantry a splendid exaraple of artillery and
cavalry charging.
Sighting a coluran of Federals approaching frora the
direction of Rossville, and believing thera to be in charge
of his old-tirae opponent. General Granger, of whose
approach he had been warned. General Forrest directed
the three batteries to open simultaneously. The Federals
were forced to form in line of battle and fight their way
through to the Union lines. The whole road, with the
Federal cara.ps and hospitals, together with a number of
prisoners and considerable spoils, were now under Gen
eral Forrest's control, and he swept General Granger (for
it proved to be indeed that able officer) back again and
again. General Thomas, seeing the plight of his assist
ant, at last sent a stout body of troops to his aid, and
121

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
by making a wide detour they succeeded in gaining the
Union lines and also in forcing the Confederates back to
some extent. Captain Mo'rton's artillery kept up a fierce
fire in the effort to regain the advantage, but the plucky
and stubborn resistance of the Federals stood them well
in hand, and nightfall found General Breckenridge's
Division just six hundred yards in advance of the posi
tion frora which it had attacked in the morning.
General Hill's Compliment.
In these two days' fighting General Forrest's Cavalry
and Artillery not only sustained the reputation that they
had won on other hard-fought fields but gained fresh
laurels. Hotly engaged in the first day's fight, they swept
the enem.y before thera at every point. The second day
showed an equally glorious list of achievements, and
when night closed the bloody contest, their claim to a
share of the honor of the victory was not disputed by
any on that stormy field. The comraent of Gen. D. H.
Hill is worthy of notice. General Hill, fresh from' the
mighty battles of Virginia, riding with his staff through
the Confederate lines, was attracted by the precision and
steadiness of raoveraent of a body of men on the field
and inquired whose command it was. On being told that
it was General Forrest's Cavalry and Artillery, he asked
to be taken to him:. In Major Anderson's Conipany he
rode up to their rear, and General Forrest, perceiving
them, went back to meet them. What followed can best
be shown by quoting from Dr. Wyeth's account, which
he received from Major Anderson. (See Wyeth's "His
tory," page 252.)
"Arrastrong and Forrest moved over to the right, and
reaching a little bayou the Federal intrenchments found
open going and pushing. As Forrest approached, Gen-
122

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
eral Hill, raising his hat in salutation, said: 'General
Forrest, I wish to congratulate you and these brave men
moving across that field like veteran infantiy upon their
magnificent behavior. In Virginia I raade rayself ex
tremely unpopular with the cavalry because I said that,
so far, I had not seen a dead man with spurs on. No
one can speak disparagingly of such troops as yours.'
General Forrest, concealing whatever of pride or elation
he felt at this high compliment to hiraself and his troops,
simply said, 'Thank you, General,' waved his hand,
wheeled his horse, and galloped away to his favorite po
sition by Morton's Battery."
General Rosecrans, in his effort to help General Thom
as repulse General Forrest, so weakened the other end
of his fighting line that it had been routed completely
by Generals Longstreet and Stewart. The Federal right
wing and center were turned back, and in wild confusion
they fled to Chattanooga, ten miles away. Nothing can
be iraagined to equal the disorder of the flying soldiers,
blocked wagon trains, overturned guns, knapsacks, and
accouterraents, which choked the road leading to the city.
Mr. Charles A. Dana, Assistant United States Secretary
of War, who was on the field, has described this confu
sion in a raagazine article of sorae ten years ago : "Every
thing on the route was in the greatest disorder. The
whole road was filled with flying soldiers, and here and
there were piled up pieces of artillery, caissons, and bag
gage wagons. When I reached Chattanooga, a little be
fore 4 o'clock, I found Rosecrans there. In the helter-
skelter to the rear he had escaped by the Rossville road.
He was expecting every raoment that the eneray would
arrive before the town, and was doing all he could to
prepare to resist his entrance. . . . Having been
swept bodily off the battlefield, and having raade ray way
123

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
into Chattanooga through a panic-stricken rabble, the
first telegram I sent to Mr. Stanton was naturally col
ored by what I had seen and experienced. I remember
I began the dispatch by saying: 'My report to-day is of
deplorable importance. Chickamauga is as fatal a name
in our history as Bull Run.' "*
A large number of prisoners were captured, and the
pursuit continued until nightfall, when the Confederates
bivouacked on the field, while the Federals collected, for
the most part, within General Thoraas's fortifications on
Snodgrass Hill. Had General Forrest been in command
he would have pressed the advantage if it had kept all
hands busy all night, but General Bragg took the chances
of the rout being complete and lost out.
General Hill, speaking of the events of these two days,
said : "No eulogy of raine could add to the reputation of
General Forrest and his soldiers, who, though not under
my coramand, raost heartily cooperated and rendered the
most valuable service. I would ask no better fortune, if
again placed on a flank, than to have such a vigilant,
gallant, and accomphshed officer guarding its ap
proaches." In Thomas's "Memoirs" General Forrest's actions are
thus described on that day: "Forrest's men had passed
beyond Van Derveer's left, and forraed for assault on
his front, and also directly on his flank. . . . The line
presented an obtuse angle opening toward the enemy.
Into this, and heavily against the left of it, Forrest hurled
his columns, four deep. On carae these raen in gray in
raagnificent lines, which showed clearly through the open
forest, bending their faces before the leaden sleet of the
storra, and firing hotly as they advanced. As they came
*McClure's Magazine, February, 1898.
124

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
within range of the obhque fire from Van Dei^veer's right,
they halted within forty yards of his left, and for a few
moraents poured in a destructive fire. A wheel of Smith's
regular battery and of a section of Church's guns, which
had reported, brought them where they poured a nearly
enfilading fire of canister down those long lines, standing
bravely there ancl fighting almost under the mouths of the
guns. ^ A Barren Victory.
The victory of Chickamauga is claimed by both sides,
but to the author of this book it seeras a well-defined
conclusion that an array that makes a hot retreat to a
point ten miles distant, leaving its artillery and thousands
of rauskets and prisoners on the field, can scarcely be en
titled to much claim O'f victory.
General Forrest's co.raraand slept on the field the night
of the 20th. Men and horses were slightly provided with
rations, and there was scarcely any water to be had, so
that the suffering frora the cold raountain wind, the dust,
and thirst was intense. Everywhere the dying and the
dead, the blue and the gray were raixed indiscrirainate
ly. The smoke-begriraed, powder-blackened, exhausted
Confederates gave to friend and foe alike what assist
ance they could. The scanty supply of water was given
to the wounded and dying, fires were built and the suf
ferers brought close to thera, and many raessages were
written by the firelight for the loved ones at horae so
far away. In one spot a group of the wounded engaged
in prayer and singing. In others raen raved of wife and
home and children, or begged piteously for water. It
was a heartrending scene, yet so exhausted were the Con-

*"Life of General George H. Thomas,'' page 395.
125

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
federates that raany were able to sleep at last in the
horrid and depressing confusion.
September 21.
Monday, Septeraber 21, was a clear, cold inorning.
A frost had fallen the night before and the men and
horses felt it very keenly. There were no rations for
breakfast, but everybody expected to raove forward, and
all were eager to follow the advantage gained the day
before. With Morton's Battery in advance, supported
by a strong guard frora General Arrastrong's Brigade,
General Forrest raoved toward Chattanooga on the La
fayette road. Nearing Rossville a rear guard of Federal
cavalry was encountered, and Morton's Battery was
thrown into position for a charge. The Union troopers
returned the first fire, and then fled precipitately in the
direction of Chattanooga. A Minie ball passed through
the neck of General Forrest's horse from this volley and
severed a main artery. General Fo'rrest pressed his finger
into the opening and the horse carried him on. When
the enemy was in full retreat. General Forrest, removing
his finger, dismounted and the faithful animal fell to the
ground. When the pursuit ceased, Morton's Battery was
thrown into position on the bank of a creek, and soon
engaged a battery at the Star fort in Chattanooga, near
where the Stanton House stood. Another move was
made to a little knoll on the right of the road, and a vig
orous fire opened on a detachment of Federals behind a
hedge there. They were soon driven from their position.
The knoll is visible to-day and has a cedar growing on
its top. No other trees or shrubs are near, and the site
is thus plainly marked, and is often pointed out as the
most advanced position taken by Morton's Battery during
the battle. A recent visit to this spot was made with
126

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

Maj. M. H. Clift, who pointed out the tree, now sixteen
or eighteen feet tall, although at the tirae of the battle
it raust have been only a small shrub.
General Forrest in the Signal Tree.
General Forrest next captured four Federals who had
been on signal duty in near-by trees ; and taking a pair of
glasses from one of them, he mounted an observation tree,
from' which he could plainly see the whole city and the
soldiers within the forts. He sent a message to General
Bragg, on the point of Missionary Ridge, asking for a
division, saying he could capture the entire army, as they
were in great confusion, crossing in boats, on planks, and
anything that would serve to bear weight. No answer
being made to this request, he sent another message,
more urgent than the first, saying that he could take the
enemy with only a brigade, if sent at once. General
Bragg ignored this request also, and General Forrest
was compelled to see the glorious opportunity slip from
his itching fingers.
General Longstreet says that General Bragg had de
cided to march away and leave General Rosecrans; but
concluding from General Forrest's information that they
were abandoning Chattanooga, he decided to raake an
other attack.
General Forrest, receiving no answer to his dispatches,
moved on to within three miles of Chattanooga and
shelled the city for several hours, but could not dislodge
the batteries there. Darkness compelled carap tO' be made,
and General Forrest paid a visit tO' General Bragg's head
quarters, where he was reassured as to Bragg's plans and
was ordered to be ready for a general advance in the
moming. 127

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
More Procrastination.
General Forrest accordingly raoved into the suburbs
of Chattanooga early the next morning. With Morton's
Battery in advance, the enemy's pickets were driven to
within a half mile of the town. Dismounting his men,
he forraed therai into line and occupied and picketed the
different roads leading into the city. Some sharp skir
raishing attended the effo>rt to picket the road leading
around the northern end of Lookout Mountain.
No reenforceraents arrived and no further orders. Mc-
Laws's Division arrived about noon, but proved to have
orders raerely for picket duty. General Forrest, eating
his heart out as he saw written over the bloody field the
sarae legend of "failure" that he had seen at Donelson,
Shiloh, and Stone's River, proposed to McLaws to join
in an attack without orders, but this McLaws was not
willing to do. Hour after hour passed in this enforced
inaction, and the great leader, galled inexpressibly at be
ing sent on a wild goose chase and at the unnecessary
loss of his men for so poor a result, made then and there
the determination which led to the final rupture between
hira and General Bragg. All night his troops were kept
in line of battle, and he was not relieved until the next
day at noon, when he was ordered into carap at Tyner's
Station for rest and forage and to shoe horses and cook
rations. In twenty-four hours he was again under orders to
raove; this tirae to Harrison, where General Burnside
was reported. Setting out in this direction, he had cov
ered only a short distance when a courier overtook him
with another change of orders, necessitating an attack on
the enemy at Charleston, on the Hiwassee.
Under cover of Morton's and Huggins's Batteries he
128

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
moved down the road until the Federal pickets were en
countered. These were driven back with little resistance
to the other side of the river, where their troops lay.
In the face of the enemy General Forrest ordered the
artilieiy to be posted on the bank, and this, done under a
heavy fire, protected the crossing of the Confederate
troops. Following his usual tactics of close-range at
tacks, General Forrest ordered the guns tO' the front and
dismounted his men, pushing the Federals in double-
quick retreat toward Athens, Tenn.
Surprising Orders.
The chase was continued hotly as far as Loudon, the
enemy tuming frequently for short brushes, but showing
their sore straits by abandoning supplies all along the
road. At Loudon further pursuit was checked by the follow
ing order from General Bragg: Missionary Ridge, Sept. 28, 1863.
Brigadier General Forrest, near Athens.
General: The General commanding desires that you will without
delay turn over the troops of your command, previously ordered,
to Major General Wheeler.*
In consideration of the feeling General Forrest had
manifested at Dover against serving under General
Wheeler, of which General Bragg was well aware, there
was no constmction to be placed on this order other than
a personal affront. He dictated a red-hot letter tO' his
chief, telling him: plainly what he thought of the deep
injustice that had been shown hira (Forrest), and add
ing that he would follow the letter shortly by a personal
visit and would in no way shirk the consequences of
what he had said. The whole array was, of course, aware
?Official Records, Vol. XXX., Part IV., page 710.
9 129

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
of the ignominy thus heaped upon the head of their com
mander, and all were loud in their expressions of dis
pleasure and sense of injustice.
Visit to General Bragg.
Of this visit, paid two days later. General Forrest's
Chief Surgeon, Dr. J. B. Cowan, who accompanied the
great cavalryman, gives the following account :
When we entered the tent, where this officer was alone. General
Bragg rose from his seat, spoke to General Forrest, and, advancing,
offered him his hand. Refusing to take the proffered hand, and
standing stiff and erect before Bragg, Forrest said: "I am not here
to pass civilities or compliments with you, but on other business.
You commenced your cowardly and contemptible persecution of me
soon after the battle of Shiloh, and you have kept it up ever since.
You did it because I reported to Richmond facts, while you re
ported damn lies. You robbed me of my command in Kentucky
and gave it to one of your favorites — men that I armed and equipped
from the enemies of our country. In a spirit of revenge and spite,
because I would not fawn upon you as others did, you drove me
into West Tennessee in the winter of 1862, with a second brigade
I had organized, with improper arms and without sufficient am
munition, although I had made repeated applications for fhe same.
You did it to ruin me and my career. When, in spite of all this,
I retumed with my command, well equipped by captures, you began
again your work of spite and persecution, and have kept it up; and
now this second brigade, organized and equipped without thanks
to you or the government, a brigade which has won a reputation
for successful fighting second to none in the army, taking advantage
of your position as the commanding general in order to further
humiliate me, you have taken these brave men from me. I have
stood your meanness as long as I intend to. You have played the
part of a damn scoundrel, and are a coward; and if you were any
part of a man, I would slap your jaws and force you to resent it.
You may as well not issue any more orders to me, for I will not
obey them, and I will hold you personally responsible for any fur
ther indignities you endeavor to inflict upon me. You have threat
ened to arrest me for not obeying your orders promptly. I dare
130

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
you to do it, and I say to you that if you ever again try to interfere
with me or cross my path it will be at the peril of your life.'"''
Sorae discussion has arisen lately concerning General
Forrest's use of such language and General Bragg's sub
mitting to it, but it seems to be the general consensus of
opinion of those who knew both men that the facts are
about as here set down. Maj. M. H. Clift has told Cap
tain Morton that he had heard of the incident at the
time it took place and took occasion sorae years after
the war, when General Forrest and his wife were visiting
at his house, toi ask the General about it. The General
told hira the facts were about as he had heard. General
Bragg took no official notice of the incident.
President Davis was at headquarters when the quarrel
occuned, and, without taking official action in the raatter,
wrote General Forrest a personal letter in his own hand,
appointing a raeeting at Montgoraery, Ala., to which place
he was on his way. At the sarae tirae he was given to
understand that General Bragg would be willing to re
store his coramand to him when General Wheeler should
retum from his pursuit of General Rosecrans. Resting
on this assurance, he obtained leave of absence for ten
days in order to pay a visit to his wife at LaGrange,
Ga., the first raeeting with his faraily for eighteen raonths.
He had hardly reached LaGrange when he received an
other order, which placed hira directly under General
Wheeler's coramand ; but he took no notice of this fresh
indignity, knowing that he was soon to have an oppor
tunity to talk with President Davis.
A New Field.
The meeting took place at Montgoraery, as scheduled,
*Wyeth's "Life of Forrest," page 265, 266.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
and the President proraised to arrange for an independent
coraraand for the cavalry officer.
For some time the people of West Tennessee and
Northem Mississippi had been petitioning the govem
ment for protection, and General Forrest had been the
recipient of repeated appeals tQ corae to their aid ; and in
accordance with these requests the President transferred
General Forrest to this section, leaving the selection of
his troops, however, to General Bragg.
Leaving President Davis at Atlanta, General Forrest
presented hiraself at headquarters once raore and was re
ceived with the proraise of a transfer, with the major
portion of the troops which he had raised, equipped, and
taught; but tirae went on, and General Bragg needing
first one portion of the effective raen and then another
for service, the final transfer was not raade until October
29, 1863, thus forcing the active, diligent spirit of Gen
eral Forrest into a raonth of inactivity extremely trying
to one of his restless, eager nature. To raake matters
worse, his coraraand, as finally selected, was reduced to
such slira proportions that it could not hope to accom
plish any serious work.
The raerabers of General Forrest's old command were
extreraely indignant when they learned that they were
not to go with him, and they united in a petition against
separation from their beloved chief; but General Bragg
declared that this was no tirae for the consideration of
private feelings, and that he could not spare more than
he had designated. Morton's Battery was fortunate
enough not to be excluded, and, numbering sixty-seven
men and four guns, set out for Okolona, Miss., going by
way of Rorae (where two days were spent in outfitting
and recmiting), Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Columbus, Miss.
The parting with the old command was a very affecting
132

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
one, and the men could hardly restrain their feelings in
bidding farewell to the brave chief who had led them so
often to victO'ry and frequently inspired thera' to atterapt
the seemingly impossible and wrest victory from the jaws
of defeat. The force coraprised the following :
Escort Company  67
Field and Staff  8
McDonald's Battalion  139 j
Morton's Battery  67
With this fo'rce of 281 men he was expected to. secure
recruits and arras as he had done before. It was near
the middle of Noveraber when Okolona was reached. A
force of 2,000 under Col. R. V. Richardson had been
promised at this point, but the number actually found was
250, a great part of the men having gone home for heavy
clothing and being caught within the eneray's lines. An
other regiment promised arrived shortly after, with only
150 men, and less than half of these were armed. Gen
eral Forrest's own coraraand was deciraated by the long
march and sickness, but as soon as the news got abroad
that the "Wizard of the Saddle" was in Mississippi men
began to flock to his standard. Communication was quite
difficult, as the enemy was in strong force throughout
this section and very watchful. General Hurlbut also
heard the news, and announced to his raen that he ex
pected "more dash" in the efforts of the Confederates in
consequence. 133

CHAPTER XI.
Second Expedition into West Tennessee.
The best ground for securing supplies for his new
troops seeraed to General Forrest to be in West Tennes
see; and although the eneray held a rigid guard over all
possible openings, he was fully confident of being able
to dash through the lines, secure recruits, and then rush
back before he could be captured. Gen. S. D. Lee, Colo
nel Richardson, and General Forrest raet for consultation
on November 29, and it was decided to make this at
tempt at once. General Lee covering the moveraent with
two detachments. Col. Tyree H. Bell was sent into West
Tennessee in advance to raise interest in the proposed
expedition. General Forrest and Colonel Bell also se
cured the assistance of several other officers of great abil
ity in organizing the new comraand. Cols. A. N. Wil
son, R. M. Russell, and Jo'hn F. Newsoin and Lieut. Col.
D. M. Wisdom were well known to the people of this
section, and succeeded in arousing great interest every
where they went.
The supply of horses was so inadequate that many of
the able cavalrymen had to be left behind. Only two guns
of Morton's Battery could be carried, as the artillery
horses were too worn and exhausted for such a long and
arduous trip. The first step of the expedition was the
building of a bridge across the Tallahatchie, which was
accomplished, and a crossing effected by December 3.
General Lee, aided by General Chalmers, feigned an
attack on Memphis, and this drew a concentration of
troops in that direction, and in the confusion General
Fortest's sraall body of soldiers passed over the danger
134

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
line without being discovered. At Salisbury a body of
Federal pickets was encountered, and these were driven
back by a brisk fire from Morton's guns. This gave the
Federals their first intimation of General Forrest's plans.
General Sherman seemed to think that such a poorly
equipped force could be safely neglected for larger bodies,
and General Forrest was left unnoticed for sorae tirae —
an advantage of which he was not slow to avail himself.
So well had Colonel Bell and his assistants done their
work that General Forrest found everywhere an eager
welcome. Colonel Bell was a man of unusual railitary
and social qualities — genial, companionable, and a shrewd
judge of raen and things. Captain Morton always en
tertained for him the deepest admiration and respect, and
in action always felt safe when supported by Bell's Bri
gade. On December 6 General Forrest wrote to General
Johnston that he had gathered 5,000 raen, and this in the
face of numerous Federal recruiting stations scattered
throughout West Tennessee and Kentucky and Federals
in occupation of most of the important tO'wns. Neverthe
less, the soldiers reaped a harvest of delightful entertain
ment everywhere. At Bolivar there was a big wedding,
one of General Forrest's men marrying a belle of the
town. At Jackson, which was reached Deceraber 6, abun
dant food, forage, and entertainraent were pro'vided by
the patriotic ladies. Dinners, parties, and other gayeties
were treats to the weary soldier after the long raarching
and insufficient supplies.
The author received, sorae years ago, a reminder oi
these pleasures in a letter from a lady who recalled her
self as Miss Sue K — . She was remerabered as a very
beautiful and winning girl, graceful and vivacious and
admired by every raan in the company. The recent letter
135

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
was a request for the return of a photograph which the
beardless artillery officer had abstracted from the parlor
mantel during the winter of 1863. She gave as the rea
son for wanting it returned that she desired to give it to
one of her grandchildren, of whom she had thirteen.
The night before leaving Jackson a dance was given
at the courthouse, at which all the city was present. The
dancing was kept up all night and the soldiers marched
out with the dawn.
Sufficient men for three regiments were recruited, but
not arraed, though President Davis had proraised to send
arras, and General Forrest now wrote requesting that they
be sent so that he could occupy that portion of the State
for the Confederacy. It was his opinion that with arms
and food for his new troops he could destroy the Mem
phis and Charleston Railroad and drive back into Mis
sissippi large herds of beef cattle. The destruction of
the railroad would have raade it easy to blockade the
Mississippi River. This request was also raade of Presi
dent Davis ; but it was not acceded to, the authorities at
Richraond having in mind a raoveraent to the South,
which called for all available troops. General Forrest
was promoted at this time, however; but the honor did
not compensate him for the risk and danger of getting
his men safely back into Mississippii without arms, nor
for the $20,000 he had spent from his own purse for food
and supplies. Difficulty in Returning.
The Federal commanders, hearing of the Confederate
success in recruiting in West Tennessee, were preparing
to advance on General Forrest from all directions. He
apprehended no danger except in the direction of Mem
phis. Sending a regiment of the raw and unarmed men
136

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
through the country by night marches, he dispatched to
General Chalmers to raeet hira at Estenaula, where he
would have food and forage and boats for crossing. De
tachments frora Colurabus, Ky., frora Memphis, from
Corinth, frora LaGrange, and even frora Huntsville, Ala.,
were sent to intercept hira, "and cure hira," said General
Hurlbut, "of his ambition to coraraand West Tennessee."
Thus hemmed in on all sides, it behooved the wily General
to move with raore than his ordinary caution, and he
proceeded to divide his raen intoi three portions, the un
tried and unarraed troops forraing the greater part.
These, with two of Morton's guns which accompanied the
expedition, were sent in advance, escorted by Colonel
Bell, and carrying the provision wagons and the beef cat
tle. Moving with such celerity as was possible in the
horribly muddy condition O'f the roads, the 24th and a
part of the 25th (Christmas day) were consumed in cross
ing the Hatchie at Estenaula, which had been appointed
as the rendezvous for the three different divisions of the
forces. The Federals had expected the crossing to be
made at Bolivar, where it had been crossed on the journey
into the interior and where General Forrest had repaired
a bridge, looking to the possibility of its use. The Fed
eral scouts had entered Bolivar and raade an effort to
find the ferryboat, but were told that it had been taken
by General Forrest's orders farther up the river, where
vigorous search failed to disclose it.
This boat was now utilized to ferry Colonel Bell's raen
and Morton's Artillery over, a very slow and tedious
process. Christmas day was bright and sunny, but the
cold was intense, and the two days' and nights' encounter
with the freezing mud and water was an almost un
bearable hardship. The other divisions came up with
some of the enemy in making for the rendezvous, but at
137

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
last all were safely across and the inarch to the south
continued. Crossing Wolf River.
Heavy and constantly increasing forces being still in
raotion to cut off his retum, General Forrest determined
to evade them by crossing the line at a point not ex
pected. It was necessary to cross Wolf River, which
empties into the Mississippi at Meraphis, and this was
possible only at Lafayette, where a bridge had been par
tially burned by the Federals and extinguished by some
patriotic citizens of the place. Word of this crossing was
sent to General Forrest; and although it brought him
into dangerous proxiraity to Meraphis, he deterrained to
raake the crossing at this point. His only hope of safety
lay in getting over before he was observed. Sending
Colonel Faulkner and Major Strange with a small body
of men to make a feint on Memphis, he passed with the
raain portion of his troops and Morton's Artillery in the
direction of Somerville. An encounter with Federal
pickets took place a short distance from: the town, but
Morton's guns soon drove them back and the way was
open to Lafayette. Small forces were sent in various
directions to create the irapression that they were the ad
vance of the main bo'dy, and in the meantime the work
of tearing up the railroad track and the crossing of the
bridge went on. As usual "deserters" began to appear
in various Federal camps, rural citizens were encoun
tered all along the roads leading out of Lafayette, and
all told stories of the immense numbers of the Southem
forces and gave different directions toward which they
were tending. While these conflicting reports were be
ing telegraphed into Memphis and Washington, the main
body of Greneral Forrest's troops were quietly crossing
138

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
over the repaired bridge. The supplies and raw troops
were then sent on to Holly Springs, Miss., while General
Forrest, with Morton's Artillery, supported by three hun
dred men, proceeded in the direction of Collierville, where
a large Federal force had been reported. Scarce two
miles had been covered when a body of Federal cavalry
men was met, coming in double-quick tirae to Lafayette
in the hope of cutting off the progress of the wily Con
federate. These were charged in General Forrest's usual
impetuous, stormy fashion, with Morton's guns in front,
and after a few volleys the enemy beat a hasty retreat.
A torrential rain had been falling for some tirae, and
this assisted in hiding the paucity of the Confederate
forces. At the raoment of the enemy's retreat scouts
brought in information of a body of Federals moving
from LaGrange, and General Forrest was obliged to
send skirraishers out to meet thera and hold them in
check as long as possible. He himself, with the artiUery,
pushed rapidly on to join the train, but at lo o'clock the
enemy overtook him, and a two hours' fight ensued in
the mud and darkness. It resulted in the retireraent of
the Federals in two bodies, one to the fortifications at
Lafayette and the other to the works at Collierville.
General Forrest pressed iraraediately on in the direction
of Holly Springs, following his train, and reaching
Mount Pleasant, Miss., by daylight on the 28th, he al
lowed his weary troo'ps a much-needed rest. By short,
slow marches he then proceeded across the country to
Como, Miss.
Of General Forrest's superb strategy in thus passing
through the net which the enemy had so carefully drawn
for him the Meraphis correspondent of a Cincinnati news
paper said : "Forrest, with less than four thousand raen,
has moved right through the Sixteenth Army Corps, has
139

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
passed within nine miles of Memphis, carried off over
loo wagons, 200 beef cattle, 3,000 conscripts, and in
nuraerable stores, tom up railroad tracks, cut telegraph
wires, burned and sacked towns, run over pickets with
a single Derringer pistol — and all, too, in the face of ten
thousand raen."* All of which has a suflicient coloring
of truth except the burning and sacking of towns.
'^Cincinnati Commercial, January 12, 1864.
140

CHAPTER XII.
Defeat of Gen. William Sooy Smith.
At Como a short period of recuperation was enjoyed
while the officers consulted as to the best raeans of con
solidating the newly recruited troops. Many of them had
been incorporated in small corapanies, and sorae of them
had been on their way to join other commands. All were
united, however, in a desire to serve under General For
rest, and it was decided to disregard the previous forma
tions and reorganize the whole force at once. This plan
was approved by the War Department and an order is
sued annulling all previous authority which had been giv
en to raise troops.
The fragments of companies caused a great deal of
trouble, as they had elected their own officers, and it re
quired all of General Forrest's energy, personal mag
netism, and authority to raiake the necessary consolida
tions satisfactory toi all.
General Forrest at this tirae received his proraotion to
the rank of raajor general, although, by a singular coin
cidence, it was issued on December 4, the very day that
he had set out upon his fruitful expedition — a sort of
anticipatory reward.
The weather continued bitterly cold — much colder than
had been known for years. Many of the new recmits
were without blankets — all were without tents. The
empty slave quarters of the neighboring homes were util
ized for shelter, but these were not entirely adequate, as
will be shown by the following incident, written for
"Lindsley's Annals" by Sergt. Frank T. Reid, of Morton's
Battery, now a prominent citizen of Seattle, Wash. :
141

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
The weather was intensely cold. The guns were parked in an
open space where once had stood a large dwelling house, the
charred remains of it still in part standing, and were inclosed by
a half-dozen or more substantial cabins — servants' quarters — that
had escaped the fire uninjured. The mess of which I was a mem
ber had succeeded in seizing and appropriating one of the largest
and best of these, and each man had with considerable labor con
structed a rude bedstead, and had filled it with cotton secured from
a gin not far off. We were snugly and warmly housed. The win
try scene outside — snow covered the ground — and the recollection
of recent hardships made the big wood fire on the hearth diffuse
a double sense of warmth and comfort. At this moment came a
knock on the door, and one of the men entered with an order from
Captain Morton that our cabin must be vacated, as it was wanted
by the officers of Rice's Battery. By this time all the cabins were
occupied. For the moment there was blank silence, and then from
every throat a cry of indignation.
At this juncture a lieutenant in Rice's Battery rode up in front
of the door and inquired when we would leave. Finally it was
agreed that the question of which cabins should be given to the
officers should be determined by casting lots that evening at roll
call. This was done and, strange to relate, the lot fell on us.
It must be borne in mind that the men composing this
array were bo'rn of the most independent stock on earth
and were not used to having their freedom controlled in
any way. Those who had follo'wed the mighty General
Forrest in battle needed no other guide for their conduct
than his wishes. The new recruits soon absorbed this
spirit, for it took only a short acquaintance with this mar
velous character to discem that, whatever its faults, lack
of earnestness and thoroughness were not araong them.
He was as easily approached by a private as by an officer;
and as no rules of railitary etiquette could keep him from
speaking his raind plainly, a complaint made to him was
sure to meet with justice; and when he considered the
complainant in fault he had no hesitation in personally
attending to his punishment.
142

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

Reorganization.
Four small brigades were formed. The first, under
Brigadier General Richardson, consisted of the Twelfth
Tennessee, under Lieut. Col. J. U. Green ; Fourteenth
Tennessee, under Col. J. J. Neely; Fifteenth Tennessee,
under Col. F. M. Stewart; Sixteenth Tennessee, under
Col. Thoraas H. Logwood ; Seventeenth Tennessee, under
Major Marshall; Street's Battalion, Bennett's Battalion.
The second consisted of the Second Missouri Regi
ment, under Col. Robert McCulloch ; Willis's Texas Bat
talion, under Colonel Willis; Col. W. W. Faulkner's
Kentucky Regiment; Keizer's Tennessee Battalion, Lieut.
Col. Alex Chalmers's Battalion, and Captain Cochran's
Second Arkansas Cavalry, all under command of Col.
Robert McCulloch.
The third brigade. Col. Tyree H. Bell in co.ramand,
was forraed of Colo.nels Russell's, Greers's, Newsora's,
Wilson's, and Barteau's Tennessee Regiraents.
The fourth was made up of McDonald's Battalion, the
Seventh Tennessee, McQuirk's Regiment, Third Missis
sippi, Fifth Mississippi, Duff's Mississip'pi Battalion — ^all
under command of Col. Jeffery E. Forrest.*
These details were adjusted and, an excellent discipline
having been established. General Forrest moved his head
quarters to Oxford, Miss., as affording a better vantage
point to watch the operations both frora Meraphis and
Vicksburg. Here he received inforraation of a large
body of cavalry setting out from Meraphis and intuitively
divined, with perfect correctness, as it afterwards proved,
the Federal plans for raaking a destructive raid into Mis
sissippi from Meraphis, as far as Meridian and from there
*Jordan^and Pryor's "Campaigns of Forrest," page 383.
143

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
on to Selma and Mobile, effecting a junction with troops
from Vicksburg. Meridian Expedition.
Gen. William Sooy Smith had been placed in com
mand of all the Union cavalry in Tennessee, with orders
to break up the railroad connections between Memphis
and Meridian, Miss., at which point he was to be met by
Major General Sherraan, who, having accomplished a
similar work frora Vicksburg on, would then have been
in a position to occupy the whole State. This movement
was excellently planned by General Sherman, and after
much consultation with Generals Grant and Smith, the
latter was given the most careful chart of the territory
he was expected to cover, with explicit directions as to
what he should do and what he should let alone. Gen
eral Smith had at his coraraand 7,000 picked troops, and
the gunboats and transports along his line of march
were at his disposal. Everything was planned with that
care of detail which ever raarked the work of General
Sherraan, and had he been confronted with a less adroit
foe than General Forrest he would have had no diffi
culty in attaining his wish as expressed in a letter to
General Grant, January 6, 1864: "I will aim to reen
force him [Smith] with cavalry, and with infantry oc
cupy the attention of the eneray, so as to enable him to
reach Meridian, and, if possible, Selma."*
General Grant was even raore hopeful, as is shown by
his letter on the 15th of January to Gen. W. H. Halleck,
in Washington. After speaking of General Sherman's
intended march to Meridian, he says : "He will then re-
¦^Official Records, Vol. XXXII., Part IL, page 36.
144

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
turn, unless the oppO'rtunity of getting into Mobile with
the force appears perfectly plain."*
The soldiers were commanded to set out in light march
ing order, supplying theraselves along the route with
whatever the co'untry afforded.
Smith's Delay.
General Smith was ordered to leave Collierville on the
1st of Febmary, 1864, and proceed, by way of Pontotoc,
Okolona, Columbus Junction, and MacO'U, to Meridian,
where General Sherman, having started from Vicksburg
on the 3d of February, was to raeet hini. So certain was
General Sherraan of the success of the movement that he
started on the 3d without atterapting to ascertain whether
or not General Sraith had left on the ist as ordered, al
though he could have done so very easily, as telegraphic
communications were open to him between Memphis and
Vicksburg. As a matter of fact, General Smith had been
delayed in his start by the heavy rains and swollen
streams, and did not leave Collierville until February 11,
at which date he should have been in Meridian over
twenty-four hours. General Sherman, carrying out his
part O'f the program with scrupulous exactness, reached
Meridian at the appointed tirae and waited in vain for the
appearance of his colleague. Unable to hear fi'om hira,
he occupied hiraself buming railroads and public proip-
erty, sending out detachraents in quest of inforraatio'n as
to General Sraith's raoveraents, but without success. On
March 6, then, he commenced his retum to Vicksburg,
wholly mystified as toi what had befallen General Smith.
In the raeantirae General Polk had notified Generai
Forrest on February 7 of General Sherman's ap'proach,
?Official Records, Vol. XXXL, Part IL, page roo.
TO T45

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
and General Forrest's own scouts had brought in tidings
of the preparations at Memphis, so that, with his usual
astuteness, he was able to work out the plan of the whole
movement. This enabled him to meet General Smith's
feints of attack with effective feints of resistance, mean
while keeping his main body close at call. General Mc
Culloch, General Chalmers, and Col. Jeffrey Forrest were
sent to Penola, Houston, and West Point respectively,
while General Forrest, with his escort and Morton's Bat
teiy, supported by Bell's Brigade (now under command
of Colonel Barteau in the illness of Colonel Bell), passed
rapidly by night marches from Oxford to Grenada and
Starkville. An accident quoted from Sergeant Reid's
article, raentioned before, will show the perils and obsta
cles encountered on this raarch :
About the middle of February the battery, then at Grenada, was
ordered to West Point to aid in intercepting and frustrating Gen
eral Grierson's march to join Sherman at Jackson. The road lay
through dismal swamps, and was almost impassable from the heavy
rains which had been falling for days uninterruptedly. The com
mand marched day and night. On this march Captain Morton had
a remarkable escape from death. It was at night, and the light
from the one or two pine torches we had could pierce only a few
feet through the solid black darkness. Every few minutes the
wheels of the gun carriages and caissons would mire up to their
hubs in the sticky mud, and to extricate them the gunners would
be forced to put their shoulders to the wheel, and the drivers would
stimulate the broken-down horses to renewed effort by loud cries
and blows. In crossing a corduroy bridge over one of those black,
snaky, Styx-like streams peculiar to the swampy regions of Mis
sissippi, now swollen to a raging torrent, at this point confined be
tween high, perpendicular banks about fifty feet apart. Captain Mor
ton's horse carried him over the edge of it. How he succeeded in
extricating himself from what seemed inevitable destruction, I have
never been able to understand.
This is only one of the many hardships and discom
forts attendant upon this, the West Point campaign.
Captain Morton, in the discharge of his duty, attempted
146

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
to pass over the bridge to see if it was safe for his men
and guns. One side of the bridge was lower than the
other, and the passing of the cavalry had caused the tim
ber to slip down for some distance ; reaching this inse
cure footing, Captain Morton's horse swerved and fell
over the unprotected side into the black depths about fif
teen feet below, carrying the rider with him. The water
was cold, but not very deep, and the animal, righting
himself by a raighty effort, began to make his way to
the other side. The rider, struggling under the weight
of water-soaked accouterraents, managed to keep himself
afloat, and called for a prolonge, which was speedily
brought and lowered by the light of a torch. Nothing-
beyond a severe chill followed the wetting, and the horse,,
rescued also by raeans of a prolonge, seemed to recover-
quite as quickly as his rider had done.
At West Point it was found that the enemy was in
such superior numbers and occupied such an irapregnable
position that General Forrest reluctantly retreated. The
Federals then began a wholesale destruction of property
and supplies. General Forrest, under orders frora Gen
erals Polk and Lee to retire as long as he could, and thus
draw the enemy as far from Memphis as possible before
turning on himi, had up to this tirae offered slight resist
ance — ^merely enough to let the Federal general think that
he was not making an absolutely easy triuraphal raarch —
but on the 20th and 21st he kept them busy all day and
every day and nearly all night. A slight skirraish result
ed in the enemy's retreat, and before he could re-form
his scattered forces another attack engaged his attention,
so that General Smith could no longer doubt that he was
now face to face with "that devil Forrest," of whom Gen
eral Shemian had warned him. Sraall engagements had
been tabooed in General Sherman's orders. "Do not let
147

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the enemy draw you into minor affairs," he wrote Gener
al Smith on January 27, his last letter before the departure
from Memphis, "but look solely to the greater object — to
destroy his co'mmunications from Okolona to Meridian,
and thence eastward to Selma."
General Smith was powerless, ho'wever, before the pur
pose of the Confederate general. In vain he retreated be
fore the "small engagements," and sought another open
ing that would permit hira to pass on along the line
mapped out. Every avenue was blocked by a provokingly
sniall force of Co'ufederates, who, by various strategies, led
General Smith's array into small pockets, where the very
size of his fO'rce made it awkward for him to handle
them, while the Confederates, fewer in nurabers and more
lightly equipped, dashed rapidly fromi one point of attack
to another, inflicting unlimited annoyance and some actual
damage. The Confederate artillery had cut up the roads
badly, and General Smith was further hampered by the
presence of himdreds of negroes whoi had fled to him
from the Mississippi plantations.
Drilling Recruits.
During these skirraishes an incident occurred which
was raade rauch O'f at the tirae by the Northern press,
and which, while thoroughly characteristic, was not of
frequent occurrence. General Forrest, dashing to the
thickest of the fray, encountered a soldier running from
the field in great terror. In his fright or his ignorance
he paid no attention to the coraraander's order to halt,
and General Forrest rode hira down, caught him, and,
dismounting, picked up a large branch that had been shot
from' a tree and gave the renegade a severe thrashing.
Facing hira to the front, he thundered : "Now go back to
the fight, sir! I'll kill you if you run away again, and
148

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
you might as well get killed there as here." This scene
was made the subject of a wood cut in a New York illus
trated weekly, and under the caption of "Forrest Drilling
a Conscript" obtained wide circulation as a typical ex
ample of his raethods.
Battle of Okolona.
The battle of Okolona was fought on February 22,
1864, Washington's birthday. Capt. H. A. Tyler, with
his Kentuckians, had kept up a spirited pursuit the day
before, and, with the aid of McCulloch's Brigade and
General Forrest's escort, had driven the harassed and
demoralized enemy to within three miles of Okolona, at
which point, just before midnight, they were allowed to
stop, the jaded and hungry Confederates occupying their
abandoned camp and enjoying- the fire, food, and forage
left behind.
After a good night's rest the Confederate troops were
again in motion by 4 o'clock. Colonel McCulloch, Mor
ton's Battery, and Col. Jeffrey Forrest moved toward
Oko'lona, the latter with directions to- throw his brigade
over on the Pontotoc road and cut off retreat in that
direction. Early as the hour was, it was not too early for Colonel
Barteau to keep the rendezvous ordered by his General
for that date (22d). By daylight he was in sight of
Okolona with Bell's Brigade, which he now commanded,
and before he could ascertain that the Federals were be
tween hira and the raain body of his own army he was
in a seriously exposed position. General Forrest, who
had made a rapid dash to the front with his escort, saw
his plight, and by a swift raovement managed to join hira.
Without hesitatio'n the fearless Confederate colonel had
thrown his troopers intO' line and begun a series of ma-
149

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
neuvers which the Federals paused to study before at
tacking. This gave tirae for General Forrest, who had
just driven the pickets and rearguard into the town, to
observe the plight of his newly arrived assistant, and by.
a brilliant dash he brought his escort to the rescue before
the Federals had decided to attack. McCullo'ch's Brigade
and Morton's Battery arriving at this juncture, the pur
suit of the deraoralized Federals was resuraed. Five
pieces of their artillery were left behind, as their horses
were killed.
General Forrest made a ringing speech to Barteau's
men, and this, added to the knowledge that araong Gen
eral Smith's forces were the Fourth Regulars, who had
captured and so mercilessly murdered Captain Freeman
near Franklin, made the onslaught of the Confederates
furious and pitiless. The Federals, beginning an orderly
retreat, were soon thrown into a panic. Lieut. I. W.
Curtis, of the First Illinois Light Artillery, thus reported
the retreat:
We had not proceeded very far when we were unexpectedly
surprised by the presence of flying cavalry on both sides of us.
They were in perfect confusion, some hallooing, "Go ahead, or we
will be killed!" while some few showed a willingness to fight. After
several unsuccessful attempts to form my battery, I gave it up and
marched as best I could until I received an order for me to try to
save the artillery by marching through the fields to the right. I
proceeded to comply with orders. After crossing some two or three
almost impassable ditches, and my horses being nearly exhausted,
I came to another ditch some six feet deep. I managed to get
one gun over safely by the men dismounting and taking it over
by hand, and one other, which by the time we got it over was
broken, so that we had to leave it.*
Colonel ^Varing raade a stand five railes away, and
some effort was made to recover from the confusion, but
he was forced back. A mile farther on a raore deter-
*Official Records, Vol. XXIL, Part I., page 301.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
mined effort was raade in a strong and easily defended
position. Massing his artillery, General Smith threw up
temporary breastworks of rails and logs between the
buildings of a large plantation. This position was ap^
proachable only by a long narrow road and was excel
lently well chosen. General Forrest, coming up, saw the
strength of General Smith's situation ; but, deterraining on
a concerted assault, hoped to dislodge him. Colonel Jef
frey Forrest's Brigade was forraed on the right of the
road in columns of fours, and Colonel McCulloch's Bri
gade in like inanner on the left, with orders to change
formation into line when within three hundred yards of
the enemy's position. The cora'bined strength of the two
brigades was less than 1,200 raen. With the utraost ease
the two brigades swung down the road as ordered, and
changing conformation assaulted the first line, carrying
it resistlessly back to the second line, which was very
strongly intrenched.
Death of Colonel Jeffrey Forrest.
Under a galling fire the second charge was raade.
When vdthin fifty yards of the Federal lines a bullet
stmck Colonel Forrest. His men halted as they saw their
leader fall, and all through the lines of both armies there
seeraed to run an electric raessage that he was raortally
wounded. For the moment firing ceased on both sides,
as General Forrest rushed to the spot and took the no'W
dying man in his arras. His passionate grief for this
youngest and favorite brother evoked the profoundest
sympathy of all spectators. It is well known that the
death of General Forrest's father had made him, at the age
of sixteen, the provider for the family, consisting of six
brothers and three sisters, besides his raother and the in
fant born four months after his father's death. This child
151

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
was Jeffrey, and he was always the object of the ten
derest care from, the brother who had taken the place of
a father to hira since the moraent of his birth. He had
been well educated and gave proraise of a fine career
when the war opened. He entered the service and rose
by raerit to the command of a brigade at twenty-four
years of age. It is a noteworthy fact that General For
rest had four brothers in the war, and although none of
thera ever received any favor because of their relation
ship to himi, all rose beyond the ordinary ranks. Their
implicit obedience to his wishes, their courage, and will
so like his own, set an excellent example in the army.
It was a pathetic sight to see the usually strong and
stern man melt with, grief at the side of his dead brother.
His exhibition of manly sorrows was of short duration,
however. Placing the dead inan's hat over his face, he
called to Major Strange to take charge of the body, and
looking around called in a ringing, passionate voice to
the bugle to sound the charge once more.
Animated by sympathy with their leader, the Confed
erates renewed the charge with a furious vehemence, which
caused a precipitate retreat. General Forrest pressed hot
ly on their rear, his escort, Morton's Artillery and Mc
Culloch's Brigade, engaging in a hand-to^-hand combat as
they ran. "The lion-hearted McCulloch" had been
wounded in the hand, but he never left his command for
a moment. A hasty dressing on the field was the only
attention the wo'und received until after midnight, when
the enemy had been put to complete rout. It is said of
this plucky Misso'Urian by Capt. H. A. Tyler, who took
part in the charge : "McCulloch with his bandaged hand,
all blood-stained and raised high above his head, recalled
the plume of Henry of Navarre, and we rode after it as
faithfully as did the followers of the peerless prince."
152

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Two horses were killed under General Forrest in this
battle. It must be said of General Sraith that he made valiant
efforts again and again to take a stand and re-form his
men, but each time they were driven back by the deter
mined assault of the Confederates. At 8 o'clock on the
evening of the 22d General Gholson carae up with fresh
troops and the pursuit was tumed over to him, General
Forrest's exhausted men and horses being glad of a rest.
Reports of Generals Forrest and Smith.
It is interesting to note the difference in the tone of the
reports of the two generals coramanding during these
fights. General Sraith wrote :
Exaggerated reports of Forrest's strength reached me constantly,
and it was reported that Lee was about to reenforce him with a
portion or the whole of his command. Columbus had been evacu
ated, and all the State troops that could be assembled from every
quarter were drawn together at my front to hold the Okatibbee
against me, while a heavy force was seen coming to my rear. About
3,000 able-bodied negroes had taken up with us, mounted on as
many horses and mules brought with them. We had also 700 pack
mules. All these incumbrances had to be strongly guarded against
the flank attacks constantly threatened. This absorbed about three
thousand of my available force.
There remained a little less than S,ooo men who could be thrown
into action. The enemy had every advantage of position. The
ground was so obstructed that we must fight dismounted, and for
this kind of fighting the enemy, being armed with Enfield and
Austrian rifles, was better prepared than our force, armed mainly
with carbines. There was but one of my brigades that I could rely
upon with full confidence. The conduct of the others on the march
had been such as to indicate a lack of discipline, and to create in
my mind the most serious apprehensions as to what would be their
conduct in action.
I was ten days late with my movement, owing to the delay of
Waring's Brigade in arriving from Columbus, Ky., and every reason
to believe that General Sherman, having accomplished the purpose

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
of his expedition, had returned to Vicksburg. Under the circum
stances I determined not to move my incumbered command into
the trap set for me by the rebels. We had destroyed 2,000,000
bushels of corn, 2,000 bales of Confederate cotton, and thirty miles
of railroad. We had captured about two hundred prisoners and
3,000 horses and mules, and rescued as many negroes, well fitted for
our service.
I therefore determined to move back and draw the enemy after
me that I might select my own positions and fight with the ad
vantages in our favor. In this I succeeded perfectly, disposing my
forces behind every crest of a hill and in every skirt of timber that
fumished us cover, inflicting heavy losses upon them at every at
tack, while our losses were uniformly light, until we reached Oko
lona. There, after the Fourth Regulars had driven one entire rebel
brigade out of the town three times, a portion of McGrilli's Brigade,
sent to the support of the Fourth, stampeded at the yells of our
own men charging and galloped back through and over everything,
spreading confusion wherever they went and driving Perkins's Bat
tery of six small mountain howitzers off the road into a ditch,
where the imperfect carriages they were mounted upon were all so
wrecked that we could not get the battery along, and had to aban
don it after spiking the guns, chopping the carriages to pieces, and
destroying the ammunition.
I then moved back to Memphis with everything that we had
captured, content with the very great injury we had inflicted upon
them and feeling that everything had been achieved that was at all
practicable under the circumstances. Retuming, I drew the enemy
after me and inflicted heavy losses upon them, and saved my com
mand with all our captured stock and prisoners and rescued negroes
with very trifling losses, except in stragglers captured. Attempting
to cut through to Sherman, I would have lost my entire command,
and of course could have rendered him no assistance.
The incumbrances which already overburdened me would have
increased, and it was impossible to shake them off ; and involved in
an exceedingly intricate and obstructed country, I would have been
compelled to contend with a force numerically largely superior to
my own. Looking back upon the movement, I would in no way
have been justifiable in moving at the time appointed without the
whole force which I was ordered to take.
This much I feel constrained to write in the nature of a defense
for the sake of my command, as it must participate in the morti-
T.^4

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRV
fication of a supposed failure, when we have with us the conscious
ness of success and duty well performed.'''
General Forrest's Report.
Contrast this with General Forrest's report to Lieu
tenant General Polk :
I am also gratified at being able to say that your wishes in re
gard to Generals Smith and Grierson are realized ; at least to the
extent of their defeat and utter rout. We met them on Sunday
moming last (21st) at Ellis's bridge on Sook-a-Toncha Creek, three
miles south of West Point, in front of which Colonel Forrest's
Brigade was posted to prevent the enemy from crossing. After a
brisk engagement for an hour and a half, the enemy retired toward
West Point. It was not my intention to attack them or bring on
a general engagement, but to develop their strength, position, and
movements. I moved forward with my escort and a portion of
Faulkner's Kentucky Regiment, and found the enemy were in a
rapid systematic retreat ; and being unwilling that they should leave
this section without a fight, I ordered the advance of my columns.
It is sufficient for me to say here that with 2,500 men the enemy,
numbering 6,000 to 7,000 strong, were driven from West Point to
within ten miles of Pontotoc in two days. All his efforts to check
our advance failed, and his forces at last fled, utterly defeated and
demoralized, leaving six pieces of artillerj', 100 killed, over 100
prisoners, and wounded estimated at 300 or over.
It affords me pleasure to mention the fortitude and gallantry
displayed by the troops engaged, especially the new troops from
West Tennessee, who, considering their want of drill and ex
perience, behaved handsomely, and the moral effect of their victory
over the best cavalry in the Federal service will tell in their future
operations, inspiring them with courage and confidence in their
ability to whip them again.
Considering the disparity in numbers, discipline, and drill, I
consider it one of the most complete victories that has occurred
during the war. .\ great deal of the fighting was almost hand-to-
hand, and the only way I can account for our small loss is in the
fact that we kept so close to them that the enemy overshot our
men. Owing to the broken-down and exhausted condition of our
*Official Records, Vol. XXIL, Part L. pages 254 260.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
men and horses, and being almost out of ammunition, I was com
pelled to stop pursuit. Major General Gholson arrived during
Monday night (22d), and, his command being comparatively fresh,
continued the pursuit, and when last heard from was still driving
the enemy, capturing horses and prisoners.*
Speaking of the rescue of Barteau's Command and the
attack on the Federals with no reenforcements in sight,
he merely said : "General Grierson left a weak place in
his line, and I carried my men right through it."
General Sherman's Opinion of General Smith.
In spite of the excuses raade by General Smith, Gen
eral Sherraan never forgave the latter for the failure to
carry out the brilliant plan, and in forwarding the report
quoted above to the adjutant general at Washington
merely indorsed it as follows : "I have heretofore report
ed in this case, and could now only add that General
Sraith should have nioved on time at any and every risk.
His instructions (of January 27) are as specific as could
possibly have been raade before the occurrence of the
events." Years later, in writing his "Meraoirs," he said:
I explained to him [Smith] personally the nature of Forrest
as a man and his peculiar force ; told him that in his route he
was sure to encounter him [Forrest] ; that he always attacked with
vehemence, for which he [Smith] must be prepared, and that were
he repelled at a first attack he must in turn assume a most de
termined offensive, overwhelm him, and utterly destroy his whole
force. General Smith never regained my confidence, though
I still regard him as a most accomplished gentleman and a .skillful
engineer. Since the close of the war he has appealed to me to
relieve him of that censure, but I could not do it because it would
falsify history.
General Grant was inclined to be more lenient, and in
his "Memoirs" he says of this occurrence:
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIL, Part L, page 350.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Smith's Command was nearly double that of Forrest, but not
equal man to man, for the lack of a successful experience such as
Forrest's men had had. The fact is, troops who have fought a few
battles and won, and followed up their victories, improve upon
what they were before to an extent that can hardly be counted by
percentage. The difference in result is often decisive victory in-
.stead of inglorious defeat. This same difference, too, is often due
to the way troops are officered ; and for the peculiar kind of war
fare which Forrest had carried on neither army could show a more
effective officer than he.
This, it seeras to the author, while very kind in spirit
as an excuse for General Smith's lack of success, is a
misrepresentation as to the experience of the raen under
General Forrest ; and as for characterizing any of General
Forrest's battles as "that particular kind of warfare which
Forrest had carried on," this seems rather absurd in the
face of the different battles General Forrest had won un
der widely divergent conditions. It must be adraitted,
however, that it does require a "particular kind of war
fare" to confront defeat and pursue for raore than fifty
miles 7,000 picked cavalry troops, backed by twenty pieces
of artillery, with a force of 3,000 newly organized and
insufficiently arraed men and only two guns.
However, be that as it may. General Smith retumed to
Memphis a sadder and a wiser raan. General Sherraan,
having wasted two weeks at Meridian without a word
from General Sraith, retumed to Vicksburg, where he
learned to his disgust of the defeat. General Forrest,
having rested a day at Okolona, returned to Starkville,
where he was joined by the details of his command and
by General Lee. General Lee was highly pleased with
the effective work done by General Forrest, and the lat
ter, in turn, expressed his conviction that Morton's Artil
lery had contributed materially to his success. General
Polk, the Department Commander, complimented 'the
troops handsomely. "It marks an era in this war," he
157

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
said, "full of honor to our arras, and calculated to teach
a useful lesson to our enemies. The Lieutenant General
coraraanding tenders thanks, and the thanks of his coun
tryraen, to Generals Lee and Forrest and the gallant spir
its who follow thera."
On the 27th of February General Forrest established
kis headquarters at Colurabus, Miss.
158

CHAPTER XIII.
Camp Life in Mississippi.
Columbus was in an,te-bellum tiraes one of the most
dehghtful places that can be imagined. Inhabited by a
people of boundless hospitality, the stately homes set
amidst the noble oaks fairly radiated with good fellow
ship and sympathy for the soldiers of the stars and bars.
The ladies were unweatying in their efforts to relieve the
tediura of carap life. The raost delicious dinners, the
most comfortable clothing, and the rarest of entertain
ment were provided with a lavishness that could not be
surpassed. Soraetimes there were as many as three
parties in a single night, and frequently all-night parties
were turned into all-day picnics the following day. A
pontoon bridge connected the camps with the town, and
many of the ofiicers were comfortably quartered in cit
izen's horaes.
Captain Morton has preserved the following invitation
in mock military forra :
Headquarters, Cupid's Brigade, Columbus, March 19, 1864.
(Special Order No. 28.)
I. Paragraph IV. of General Order No. 16, current series, is
hereby revoked.
2. Captain John W. Morton is hereby assigned to duty at these
headquarters as Aid-de-Camp, and will report as soon as prac
ticable. By order Miss Emma Durward,
Brigadier General Commanding.
(Ofiicial: R. L. Teasdale, Capt. and A. A. Gen.)
Col. (^orge Harris, a wealthy and whole-souled citizen
of the place, invited Captain Morton to be his guest, and
he had the assistance of a remarkably attractive young
T.S9

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
niece. Miss Renie Harris, in raaking his home a center
of pleasures. This young girl was still at school, and
it was the delight of the young artilieiy officer to accom
pany her on her way to her classes in the moming, car
rying her books and discussing the problems they pre
sented. It will be reraerabered that the probleras in ques
tion had been a schoolboy's work at the outbreak of the
war, and the experiences of the battlefield had not de
prived hira of an interest in class work.
Arrival of the Kentuckians.
General Forrest's talents had now begun to win recog
nition at Richmond, and as a slight mark of their con
fidence the authorities there sent him three small regi
ments of Kentuckians, with instructions to supply them
with clothing, horses, and arms as he had done for his
coraraands before. These were mere fragments of regi
ments, decimated by battles, exposure, and illness, poorly
clothed and only about one-third of thera moimted, al
though many of them came from the best families of
Western Kentucky.
To secure these supplies it was necessaiy to enter West
Tennessee again, and General Forrest decided to do this,
extending his field of operations into a corresponding por
tion of Kentucky. The unmounted Kentuckians agreed
to raarch back to their old home. Four small brigades
were organized — the First cominanded by Col. J. J.
Neely ; the Second, by Col. Robert McCulloch ; the Third,
by Col. A. P. Thompson ; and the Fourth, by Gen. Tyree
H. Bell. General Chalmers was assigned to the com
mand of the First Division, composed of the First and
Second Brigades, and also General Richardson's Brigade.
General Buford's Division consisted of Thompson's and
160

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Bell's Brigades, the Seventh Tennessee, and McDonald's
Battalion. Battery Battalion Organized.
Desiring to get his whole force in excellent trim before
starting out on this expedition, General Forrest decided
to organize his artillery force into a battalion. There
were four batteries with the following organization ;
Forrest's Artillery Battalion, as Organized May 13, 1864.
Morton'' s Battery.
Date of Election
Name. Rank. or Appointment. Remarks.
JohnW. Morton  Captain. .Dec. 23, 1862. .. Acting Chief of Artil
lery, withR.M. Blake-
moreas Adjutant, and
S.K. Watkins, Assist
ant Quartermaster.
T. Saunders Sale  ist Lieut. Dec. 23, 1862. . .CommandingBattery
G. Tully Brown  ist Lieut. Aug. 28, 1863. . .RelievedSept. 13, 1864
Joseph M. Mayson. .2d Lieut. .Nov. 26, 1863. ..Wounded at Harris
burg, July 14, 1864.
James P. Hanner. . . .Surgeon. .July 14, 1863.
Rice's Battery.
T. W. Rice  Captain. .Aug. 15, 1861.
B. F. Haller  ist Lieut. Aug. 15, 1861. . .Transferred with one
section to Morton's
Battery in January,
1865. Surrendered m
that battery.
H. H. Briggs  ist Lieut. Jan. i, 1862.
Daniel C. Jones  2d Lieut.. April i, 1862.
Jacob Huggins, Jr. . .Surgeon.. March 26, 1863.
Hudsoii's Battery.
(This battery is spoken of generally in this work as "Walton's
Battery.")
Edwin S. Walton. . . .Captain. .March 7, 1863. .Severely wounded
during siege of Vicks
burg in spring of 1863.
Milton H. Trantham. 1st Lieut.. April 12, 1862.
Green C. Wright  2d Lieut.. Oct. 3, 1863.
Willis O. Hunter.... 2d Lieut. Oct. 3, 1863.
R. P. Weaver  Surgeon. .July 9, 1863.
II 161

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
ThralVs Battery.
Date of Election
Name. Rank. or Appointment. Remarks.
J. C. Thrall  Captain. .May 12, 1862. . .Wounded at Yazoo
City, Miss. , March 5,
1864.
R. S. Anderson  ist Lieut. May 12, 1862. . . Woutided at Shiloh,
April i5, 1864.
J. C. Barlow  2d Lieut.. May 14, 1862.
W. J. D. Winton  2d Lieut.. May 12, 1862.
J. L. Grace  Surgeon. .July i, 1862.
When this battalion was suggested, Captain Morton
recoraraended Captain Games, of Memphis, for com
mander. Familiar with Captain Carnes's military record,
he would have deeraed it an honor to have served under
him. Captain Carnes, however, failed to respond, and
General Forrest announced that he would place Captain
Morton in the responsible position. The young officer
protested that he was only twenty years old and junior
in rank to a nuraber of men in the artillery, whose age
and experience fitted them better for the position; more
than that, he was contented to coraraand his own battery,
to which he was devotedly attached, believing it to be one
of the best batteries in the Confederate Array. But Gen
eral Forrest had his own notions about things, and, hav
ing raade up his raind to place Captain Morton in com
mand, did so, in spite of protests. A few days later the
young Captain expressed the wish to accorapany his chief
to West Tennessee, but the reply was : "I have placed you
in command of the battalion of artillery. You must re
main and get it in fighting condition by the time I re
turn." Captain Morton took small care of official orders after
they were executed, and cannot, therefore, state positive
ly that any written order was ever issued conferring upon
hira this comraand. In the confusion of the times it is
possible that no formal order was written, but a few
162

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
orders of that date, having been preserved, show the con
dition of the organization about that date.
Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry, Jackson, April 15, 1864.
Captain: The General commanding directs me to say that the
order sent you to move your batteries to Tupelo is revoked, and
that you will move your batteries and the other two now at
Columbus to Aberdeen, unless otherwise ordered by Lieutenant
(Jeneral Polk, and await further orders.
The General commanding requests me to state that he has two
lo-pound Parrotts and two 12-pound field howitzers, which will
be fitted up for the Hudson Battery. He also has two 6-pound
guns which can be made available with cavalry.
He has forwarded to Captain Russell requsition for what is re
quired for the guns, and will, on his return, bring men to man
your batteries.
You will endeavor to get horses and harness to complete the
batteries. Respectfully, J. P. Strange, A. A. G.
To Capt. John W. Morton, Acting Chief of Artillery.

Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry,
Tupelo, Miss., May 12, 1864.
Capt. John W. Morton is relieved temporarily from duty with
his battery, and assigned as Acting Chief of Artillery.
Lieutenant Sale will assume command of Morton's Battery.
By command of Major General Forrest.
W. N. Mercer Otey. A. A. A. G.
To Capt. Morton, Commanding Battery.

Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry,
Tupelo, Miss., May 13, 1864.
Captain: I am instructed by the Major General commanding to
inclose you the within order revoking the assignment of batteries
per S. O. 54, Par. I.
I am further instructed to say that the four batteries of this
command — to wit, Morton, Rice, Thrall, and Hudson — will be formed
into a battalion of artillery. You are instructed to take any surplus
lieutenants in any of the batteries and temporarily assign them to
duty with those batteries which are deficient in said ofiicers. From
among these lieutenants, if they can be spared, you will select one
as the adjutant of the battalion. If no such officer can be spared
from his regular duties, you will give notice of the fact, and one
163

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
such officer will be assigned yon for that purpose. You will also
.select a quartermaster and commissary of the battalion.
I am. Captain, your obedient servant,
W. H. Brand, A, A, G.
To Capt. John W. Morton, .Acting Chief of Artillery,

Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry, Tupelo. May 13, 1864.
V. Part I., S. O. 54, assigning Morton's, Rice's, Thrall's, and
Hudson's Batteries to the two divisions in this corps of the army,
is revoked. The four batteries named are hereby constituted a battalion of
artillery. Capt. John W. Morton, Acting Chief of Artillery, will
select a quartermaster, a commissary, and an adjutant for the bat
talion, the latter officer to be taken from the lieutenants of the
battalion; provided, in his opinion, the exigencies of the service
will justify it.
By order of Major General Forrest.
 W. H. Brand, A, A. A. G,
Headquarters First Division, Forrest's Cavalry,
Verona, June 28, 1864.
Special Orders No. 79 — V.
Hudson's Battery is relieved from duty with this division, and
will report to Captain Morton, Chief of Artillery, at Tupelo.
By order of Brigadier General Chalmers.
W. A. Goodman, Assistant Adjutant General,

Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry, Tupelo, July 8, 1864.
Special Order No. — .
Capt. John W. Morton, Chief of Artillery, will order the Hudson
Battery to report to Brigadier General Buford to-morrow morning
at 5 o'clock, fully supplied with ammunition for the field; with two
days' rations of corn for horses and three days' rations for men. He
will leave his ordnance wagons.
By order of Major General Forrest.
Chas. W. Anderson, A. A. A, G,

Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry, Okolona, July 18, 1864.
Captain: T am directed by the Major General commanding to say
that you will move your artillery to the neighborhood of Gladleys
Mill or Pikeville. Select your camp and recruit your stock, sup
plying your four batteries with two hundred and fifty rounds of
ammunition to the piece. There will be fifty or more horses up
to-day or to-morrow for you.
164

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Rody's Battery will move with his command to Aberdeen, but
the General wants you to supply it with two hundred rounds of
ammunition to the piece.
By order of Major General Forrest.
Chas. W. Anderson, A. A. A, S,
To Capt. John W. Morton, Chief of Artillery,

Inspector General's Office, Forrest's Cavalry Corps,
January 22, 1865,
Captain: You will have all the companies of the battalion pre
pared for inspection at 2 o'clock this evening. I prefer to inspect
them by companies as camped, instead of a general review and in
spection, from the fact that a portion of their equipments are not
here, and the object being to get as near as practicable the condi
tion of each company, the condition of its equipments, wagons,
horses, etc. I will at the same time muster any of the companies
whose rolls are ready.
Respectfully, Chas. W. Anderson, A, 1. G.
To Capt. John W. Morton, Chief of ArtiUery,
With Buford's and Chalmers's Divisions General Fo'r-
rest set out dn March 15 for his third raid into West
Tennessee, leaving the rest of his comraand at Colurabus
for the protection of that section of the country. The
Federals seldora came near that neighborhood, and when
they did were repulsed with slight trouble, so that the
social gayeties continued undisturbed while the West Ten
nessee expedition was away. It was the 5th of May be
fore they returned.
Gen. Stephen D. Lee's Wedding.
It was during this tirae that the wedding of Gen.
Stephen D. Lee occurred. The bride was Miss Regina
Harrison, daughter of one of the raost prominent citizens
of the State. Her faraily was a very wealthy one and
lived in magnificent style in a large, stately home near the
edge of the town. The festivities incident to the wedding
began several days beforehand, and the wedding feast it-
165

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
self was unsurpassable for splendor and lavish hospitality.
There were dainties and delicacies of all kinds and, in
addition, a host of substantial viands. Very lovely and
fair the bride looked as she carae up the aisle leaning on
the arra of her father, her soft hair crowned with a
wreath of orange blosso'ras, frora which floated a filmy
white veil; and verv' gallant the bridegroom appeared in
full regimentals, as he met her at the altar. The young
lady attendants were also attired in white, and the
groomsmen, of whom Captain Morton was one, were in
full uniform. The next day was the occasion of the "in-
fair," according to the custom of the period, and in these
and similar gayeties the hardships of war were lost sight
of for a brief period at least.
Since the above was written General Lee has been called
to etemal rest, following the lovely and noble helpmate
to whom, till her death, he was the chivalrous, tender
lover she had espoused in the dark days of war.
General Lee, apparently in excellent health, visited
Vicksburg and spoke at the dedication of a Confederate
monuraent, and passed away suddenly that evening. His
remains were conveyed to his home at Colurabus and fol
lowed to the grave by a large concourse of friends from
all over the South. The loss of the Coraraander in Chief
of the United Confederate Veterans is a heavy blow, and
the loss to those who enjoyed the privilege of his genial,
whole-hearted, devoted friendship is irreparable.
Resolutions of Morton's Battery.
In the latter part of April, the terra of the majority of
the members of Morton's Battery having expired, a meet
ing was held and it was unanimously resolved to reenUst.
The minutes of the meeting are here appended :
1 66

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Morton's Battery, in the Field, May 17, 1864.
The members of Morton's Battery, having called a meeting for
the purpose of considering the necessity of reenlisting for the war,
unanimously adopted the following resolutions :
Whereas our enemies are still occupying our soil, violating our
hearthstones, and desolating our once happy homes, their efforts
for our subjugation being determined and fraught with all the
malice of a barbarous nation, we hereby
Resolve: i. That we renew to our comrades in arms our pledges
of fidelity, and extend to them our assurances that we will wield
our arms as long as the invader's tread shall pollute our soil.
2. That we express our supreme confidence in our noble and
daring leader. General Forrest, and, as in the past, desire no other
assurance of victory than the justice of our cause and his presence
in the field.
3. That Morton's Battery take the lead and set the noble ex
ample of reenlistment to the rest of our gallant command, and be
the first to receive the approving smile of our glorious Forrest.
4. That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to General
Forrest, and sent for publication to the Memphis Appeal, Mobile
Advertiser, and the Daily Mis sis sip pian.
Sergeant F. T. Reid, Chairman;
A. M. Hadal, Secretary;
Samuel Abney,
J. D. Vauter.
Return from Tennessee.
Flushed with success, splendidly mounted and equipped,
General Fo^rrest and his men returned from West Ten
nessee early in May, and headquarters were transferred
from Columbus to Tupelo, Miss. The Kentucky Brigade,
which had entered the campaign one thousand and four
strong, with only one-third of the raen mounted, now
nurabered seventeen himdred and seventeen effective
men; Bell's Brigade, beginning with one thousand and
fifty-four, had increased nearly one thousand raen, and
all were well raounted and amied.
The raid and return seera to have been satisfactory to
all parties concemed, as Major General McPherson ex
presses hiraself in a lettei' to Major General Washburn
167

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
as "gratified to know that Forrest has been driven out of
West Tennessee and Kentucky."*
Gholson's Mississippi State Cavalry was transferred to
the government service, and for the remainder of the
month General Forrest gave himself up to the complete re
organization of his forces, the weeding out of supernumer
ary officers, and the drilling and equipment of his troops.
On May 13 the organizatio-n of the battalion of artillery
was raade complete, as will be shown by the following
order : He.vdquarters Second Division, Forrest's Cavalry,
Tupelo, Miss., May 29, 1864.
General Order No. 21 — II.
Captain Morton, Chief of Artillery, will hold the battalion ready
to move to-morrow morning with five days' rations cooked and
three days' forage prepared from to-morrow. He will see that he
is supplied with three hundred rounds of ammunition to the piece.
By order of Brigadier General Buford.
Thos. M. Crowder, Capt., A. A. G,
The detachments were sent in various directions, Mor
ton's artillery being ordered to Verona.
Morton Refused Permission to Visit Columbus.
Captain Morton was desirous of keeping up corarauni
cation with his friends in Columbus; and knowing that
his father was there (in the medical departraent of the
array), he asked perraission to visit that point, but was
refused with the only show of sternness that his beloved
coraraander ever displayed toward hira. Entering Gen
eral Forrest's tent, he met Major Strange coming out.
With only a passing salutation and the reflection that
Major Strange looked rather glum, the Captain passed
inside and proff^ered his request.
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part II., page 29.
168

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
"No," replied General Forrest, turning abruptly away,
"you can't go."
"But, General," the Captain urged, "I want to go to
see my father to get the money for a horse. One of my
horses was shot and I haven't the money to get another
one, and want to get it from' my father."
"Got your horse picked out?" asked the General.
"Yes, sir; he is up here now in the camp."
"Does he please you?"
"Yes, sir."
"What is the price?"
"Seven hundred and fifty dollars, sir."
He stepped to his handbag and took from it a roll of
bills. "Here," he said gruffly, but with a certain twinkle
in his eye, "I'll buy you a new horse, but I'll not let you
go to Columbus. I'll not let either you or Strange leave
camp to-night. I've got two goo'd officers, and I don't
want 'em^ running off. First thing I kno'W they'll be get
ting married."
He refused to listen to assurances O'f thanks, and the
Captain retired.
The best of discipline now prevailed in the array, and
preparations for a new expedition raoved on apace. Al
though a man of strong and determined nature. General
Forrest had the knack of inspiring the best principles in
his men, as he himself was so earnestly and thoroughly
sincere. He did not use tobacco or liquor in any forra,
and he always had prayers in his tent and grace at raeals,
as well as divine services every Sunday, issuing formal
orders for the attendance of the troopers. On one oc
casion, Dr. D. C. Kelley related, he sent for a cap'tured
chaplain to come to his tent ; and arriving at the supper
hour, he was invited to sit at the table. The raan had
supposed General Forrest to be a creature of scarcely civ-
169

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
ilized training or instinct, and when asked by his captor
to say grace could not conteal his astonishraent.
As usual General Fonest's actions raystified the enemy,
and the influx of "deserters" and "escaped" prisoners to
the various cara-ps led to conflicting dispatches. "Fonest
is retuming north to West Tennessee," warns Major
General Washburn on May 19, "and a portion of his
forces is now north of the Hatchie."*
On the 20th of May General Washbum writes Major
General Halleck that he thinks General Forrest and Gen
eral Lee are at Corinth. "They raay intend to attack
Memphis,"! he says. On the 20th of May General Wash
burn declares that "he [Forrest] ought to be attacked
where he is at once, and not allowed tO' carry out his
plans, for if not interfered with he will do us incalcu
lable damage."J The same day Major Yorke reports
General Forrest at Corinth and proraises tO' "go as near
him" II as he can, while Colonel Waring writes that he is
in Tupelo on that datej and has 15,000 men. On the
25th Colonel Waring informs Major General Washburn
that "Forrest is opening the railroad north of Corinth
instead of west," and that he had 30,000 raen.§ On the
26th Major General Halleck writes that "he may attack
Colurabus and Paducah again," and adjures Brigadier
General Brayinan to "prejjare for hira,"^ while the very
next day Major Yorke dispatches to Colonel Waring that
General Forrest is reported to have captured Huntsville,
Ala.** Colonel Waring also, who had raet in gallant combat
more than once the dreaded cavalry leader, was likewise
uneasy at General Forrest's silence. "I do not like the
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part IL, page 40.
tIbid., page 41. tIbid., page 43. ||Ibid., page 42.
§Ibid., page 49. Hlbid., page 54. **Ibid., page SS-
170

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
dearth of news," he writes on May i8 to Major General
Washburn. "In view of the uncertainty of Forrest's
movements, I think I ought to send one hundred good
men, under first-rate ofiicers, as far as LaGrange or Salis
bury, to ascertain raore surely the position and moveraents
of the eneray. I don't understand why Henderson's
scouts are constantly about us. They usually have some
corararmication with Forrest."*
The March to Russellville.
While in quarters General Forrest was not neglecting
the study of the eneray's plans and whereabouts. Frora
the news brought in by his trusty scouts he came to the
conclusion that a large force was preparing to set out
from Memphis for Mississippi ; and believing that it was
wiser to attack them before they had completed their
preparations, he suggested a raid on Memphis to General
Lee. General Lee, however, did not concur in these con
clusions, and thought it would be better to raid Middle
Tennessee again and thus annoy General Sherman's rear.
Accordingly General Foirest raarched frora Tupelo on
June I, 1864, for a junction with Roddey in Alabaraa.
A part of Buford's Division, Morton's and Rice's Bat
teries, and his personal escort accorapanied him, nuraber
ing in all something over 2,000. A heavy rain set in, and
the three days' march to Russellville, Ala., was made in
a constant downpour. Here orders reached General For
rest frora General Lee to retum at once to Tupelo, as a
large body of cavalry and infantry was raoving in that
direction from Memphis. The weather improving some
what, the retum march was made in two days, although
the roads were still bad and the country desolate and al
most deserted. ?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part II., page 37.
171

CHAPTER XIV.
Morton's Artillery at the Battle of Brice's
Crossroads.
General Sherman''s astuteness enabled hira to see the
iraportance of General Forrest's operations in the rear,
and he had arranged for Gen. S. D. Sturgis to draw him
back to Mississippi. General Sturgis had been sent to
overtake and capture the wily Confederate when he was
coming out of Tennessee, but had been obliged tO' con
fess his inability to reach hiro, owing, he says in his re
port, to the fact that General Forrest "was able to travel
day and night."* After showing that it was impO'Ssible
for him (Sturgis) to travel day and night also, he closes
with the ho'pe that, "though we could not catch the scoun
drel, we are at least rid of hira, and that is soraething."
General Sherman, however, could not take such a san
guine view of the situation. "That devil Forrest" out of
sight was not Forrest out of the way, by any means.
General Forrest at rest raeant General Forrest studying
the Federal raoves and laying plans to^ sweep down upon
them at some unexpected point and throw the whole ma
chinery of war into confusion. He raust be destroyed at
all hazards. Upon General Sherraan's urgent request
Major General Washbum arranged General Sturgis's ex
pedition with even raore care than had been displayed in
the selection of troops for General Sraith. General Stur
gis was placed in chief command, with the cavalry in
charge of Brigadier General Grierson, and the infantry
in that of Col. W. L. McMillin. General Sherman de
clared only 6,000 troops would be needed, but General
?Official Records, Vol. XXXII., Part I., page 697.
172

general FORREST AND STAFF.

EXTTRE ST.VFF ( )!• CK.V. X. !'.. FCIRRKST.
.YxnKkSdX, (.'ii.\Ri.i:.s \\'.. . .Captain, Alajnr, A. D.C'.. .V. \.(i.
r.KAXi). \V H  X.A.A.C.
Cow.\x, J. ii  Surgeon, Chief Surgeon.
D.vsHiKLL, Georce  Captain, Paymaster.
D.-WES, J. X  Lieutenant, .-\.D.C'.
DoNEL.soN, .Samuel  Captain, A. D.C.
DuNNiNGTdN, FR/\nk C  Volunteer, A. D.C
Forrest. VN'h.li a.m PI  Lieutenant, A.D.L".
(S.vllow'av, j. G  A. and I. General C)rdnance Dept.
.M.\xx, JoH.x G  Engineer Officer.
.Man.sox, Richard .M  Major, A.Q.M.
.\I.\v, A. Warren  .\.Q.M.
AloRFox, Joiix \V  Captain and Chief Artillery.
Xewm.vx, j  Surgeon Medical Division.
( )tey, X. Mercer  Lieutenant, A.A..\.( 1.
I'lTM.vx^ R. ^^'  Captain, .\. 1. ( i.
R,\Mi!.\XT, G. \'  Major, Chief of Subsistence.
RoBixs, Thomas  Captain, A. A. D.C.
S.vuxDiiRs, James  Colonel X'olunteers, A. D.C.
Sn\'ERSox, Charles S  Major. Chief Quartermaster.
Spottswood, E. .\  \.A..\.G.
Str.\xge, Johx Pres  Major, A..\.Ci,
T.vrK, T. S  Lieutenant, .A.I.Ci.
Trezev.vx'j-, Edw.vrd B  Lieutenant, A.A„-\.(i.
Warren, x\rci-iibald  Major, A.Q.M.
Whitthorxe, W C  Vdjt. Gen. of Tenn. \'ol., A. D.C.

MORTOX'S (FORMERLY PORTER'S) BATTERY.
Capt. John W. Morton, Jr  December 27, 1862.
Lieut. A. W. Gould  December 27, 1862.
2d Lieut. T. Sanders Sale  December 27, 1862.
Lieut. G. Tully Brown  July 20, 1863.
.\sst. Surg. James P. Hanner  July 13, 1863.
Lieut. Joseph M. Mayson  November 28, 1863.
2d Lieut. J. W. Brown  September 13, 1864.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Washburn took the precaution of increasing this numr
ber. "I sent a larger force by 2,000 than Major General
Sherraan declared necessary," he wrote on June 12.*
There were sixteen pieces of artillery, and General Wash-
bum personally supervised the preparations, looking to it
that they lacked nothing to insure success. As is shown
by the official dispatches, no effort was to be spared to
defeat and crush General Forrest.
They left Memphis O'U the ist of June. General For
rest had proceeded as far north as Booneville, Miss., a
sraall town on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, not far from
Corinth. The soldiers were raade welcome by the pa
triotic people ; and, the weather being beautiful and clear,
the stay at this point would have been without a cloud
on its memory had it not been for the execution of two
deserters there. Deserters Executed.
A quotation from the article of Sergt. Frank T. Reid,
Orderly Sergeant of Morton's Battery, mentioned be
fore, will best serve to describe this gloomy but neces
sary military practice :
On the Sth of June the command reached Booneville, a small
station on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The battery was en
camped a few feet from the track, where stood a box car, in which
three deserters were confined, who were to be shot the next day.
A preacher was with them, and I can still hear their voices in
prayer and singing hymns. The next morning the clouds had
passed away and the woods were jubilant with the twittering of
birds. The command was drawn up in an old sedge field, in the
center of which three newly dug graves opened their mouths to
swallow the three blindfolded victims of war who knelt at their
brink. How awful it was I The clear, blue, unsympathetic sky so
far away overhead, the world so full of freshness and joyous life,
and before the bandaged eyes of these poor human beings doubtless
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part II., page 107.
^7Z

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the picture of their childhood's home, where sits at the open win
dow this bright June morning the old mother with her knitting in
her lap, the wife with her little children about her knee, all un
conscious of the tragedy that is about to becloud their lives forever.
A sharp command, a crack of musketry, and two lives are snuffed
out like worthless tallow candles. One of them was spared on ac
count of his extreme youth. Will he ever forget the moment he
knelt by that open grave and heard that crack of musketry?
General Forrest had with him at Booneville only his
escort and Morton's and Rice's Batteries from the artil
lery battalion and Rucker's Brigade. Bell's, Johnson's,
and Lyon's Brigades were within close call, but Chal
mers's and Roddey's were not immediately available.
General Lee arrived at Booneville on June 9, and it was
his opinion that an effort should be made to draw Gen
eral Sturgis as far as possible from the base of his sup
plies before giving battle. General Forrest, calling a
council that night with General Buford, Colonel Rucker,
and Chief of Artillery Morton, stated that both refugees
and scouts reported that the enemy had passed Ripley
and were on their way to Guntown, burning and pillaging
as they went. It was decided to concentrate all available
forces and get between the enemy and Tupelo, giving
General Lee tirae to fall back to Okolona, where it was
expected Chalmers would jo'in hira. Three days' rations
were ordered, and before dawn of the loth the troops
were in motion in the direction of Pontotoc, passing
through Baldwin. Only a few railes had been covered
when scO'Uts brought in word of the p'resence of the
eneray on the Ripley-Guntown road, only eight miles
frora the intersection of the Confederate line of march
(the Baldwin-Pontotoc road). General Forrest decided
to engage them at the crossing known as "Brice's Cross
roads," frora the fact that the store, dwelling, and plan-
174

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
tation and the junction were the property of a faraily
by the narae of Brice.
Hard Work for "Morton's Bull Pups."
Word was sent back to the batteries to move forward
as rapidly as possible, but the horses were so jaded from
the long raarch to Russellville and back that it was al
most impossible for thera to drag the guns over the
eighteen intervening miles of unusually deep mud. It
was almost impassable for the cavalry horses, compara
tively lightly burdened, and the artillery horses made
scarcely perceptible progress. The whole coraraand
passed them, and about six o'clock the sound of firing
told that the engageraent had begun. Every few rainutes
orderlies would dash up with "hurry orders" for "Mor
ton's Bull Pups," as the guns were affectionately denorai
nated by the boys, and renewed efforts on the part of
men and horses would result in a desperate gallop. The
last few miles were raade in a frantic run, and the two
batteries crossed the creek "bottora" and passed up a rise
which brought them to the scene at what has been de
scribed by General Lee as "the critical hour of the bat
tle."* The Confederates, having been driven back, were re
covering theraselves, their fire from sraall arras being
rapid and raost effective. The Federal cavalry had re
treated and the infantry was coraing into position. As
Morton's and Rice's Batteries carae in sight. General
Forrest rode up to Chief of Artillery Morton and directed
hira to post the two batteries on the southern slope of a
*"Battle of Brice's Crossroads and Harrisburg," by Gen. Stephen
D. Lee. Publications of the Mississippi Historical Society, Vol.
VL, Chapter III.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
ridge in fro'Ut of Rucker and Lyon,, both of whom were
hard pressed. The enemy was at close range, although
a stretch of woods afforded sorae protection. The first
shots were directed at two guns which protected Brice's
house at the junction of the ro^ad. Capt. H. A. Tyler,
who had been ordered to make a detour and attack the
enemy's rear, made a diversion which brought him with
in iraraediate range of the Confederate artillery. ' Cap
tain Morton discovered his identity, however, before any
daraage had been done, and ordered the artillery to cease
firing until Captain Tyler and his men were safely out
of the way.
Two Guns Captured.
.After a brisk duel with the two guns on the north side
of the house, Morton's Artillery moved down the road
toward Tishomingo Creek, and with the aid of the cav
alry captured the two Federal guns. These proved to be
two fine 3-inch steel Rodmans, greatly to the gratification
of the Chief of Artillery and the raen of the Morton Bat
tery, who had been hoping ever since the capture of two
guns of this superior make at Lexington tO' secure a com
plete battery of Rodman's rifle guns. With a shout of
wild triumph the artillerymen of this battery, without
waiting for orders, bore down upon the captured pieces
and quickly exchanged them with the two 12-pound brass
howitzers, which were still warm from action, and tumed
the newly acquired pieces upon the now fleeing enemy.
The Federals were now driven back at all points and
were raaking for the bridge which spanned Tishomingo
Creek, just north of Brice's house. Infantry, cavalry, and
wagon trains becarae entangled in a hopeless coil. Upon
this mass Captain Morton brought to bear Morton's and
Rice's Batteries with fearful carnage. The road to the
176

I. Forrest. 2. Buford.

GENERAL FORREST AT BRICE S CROSSROADS.
3. Lyon. 4. Morton. 5. Tyler. 6. Will Forrest.

7. Anderson.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
bridge being narrow, made, it impo'ssible to tum. The re
sult was an inextricable tangle of huraan bo'dies, agonized
horses, and iraraovable vehicles. The tearasters and un-
wounded soldiers cut the horses loose, raounted them,
and, riding over all obstacles, made their way to^ the rear.
The creek banks at the bridge were very high, and many
men juraped into the swift stream below, taking their
chances at getting across without being drowned or killed
by the incessant fire from Morton's Artillery on the bank.
General Fomest, in a frenzy of gratification at the suc
cess of what had looked at one time a desperate chance,
hurried along his line, encouraging his men with reports
of the rout everywhere. The bridge was cleared in a
short tirae by the siraple expediency of throwing the
wagons and dead aniraals over the sides intO' the stream.
The Pursuit Continued.
Morton's Artillery now forded the creek and moved
through the swamp. The cavalry dismounted, acting as
support, charging the eneray whenever an attempt was
made to halt, one of these being at Brice's gin, several
hundred yards beyond the bridge, and another at Hol
land's house, nearly two railes frora the battlefield. Hol
land's house was situated on a ridge leading up frora the
Tishomingo Creek bottoms on one side and down to
Dry Creek on the other. Across the creek, on a parallel
ridge, the eneray made a desperate effort to rally and
organize an orderly retreat. It was now 4 o'clock in the
afternoon, and fighting had been going on since 5 :30
o'clock in the raoming. The deraioralization of the enemy
was so apparent that many commanders would have been
content to rest in possession of the battlefield, but rest
either for himself or the enemy was no part of General
T2 177

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Forrest's plan. With his usual relentless tenacity he
continued the pursuit. Morton's Rashness.
At this point an incident occurred to which allusion
has been raade in these pages, but which will bear an
other reference here. General Forrest, coming up while
the guns were in action, dismounted a short distance be
low thera and walked up to them, thus exposing himself
as a target for the enemy's fire.
"General," called Captain Morton impulsively, "you'd
better get lower down the hill; they'll hit you there."
The bullets were cutting the limbs, striking the guns,
and occasionally killing a cannoneer. Realizing his rash
ness, the young officer quickly apologized, but expected,
nevertheless, to be invited tO' attend to his own "d — d
business;" but to his surprise the chieftain replied raildly,
"Well, John, I will rest a little," and, retiring to the root
of a tree, he made himself co-mfortable for a short time
until Bell's and Buford's Brigades were seen coraing up.
Morton Charges the Enemy without Support.
General Forrest no'W determined to make an assault
with his whole force. Calling his Chief of Artillery to
him, he said : "John, do you see that column coming up
the road yonder?" pointing to the rear.
"Yes, General," was the reply.
"Well, I ara going to take command of that column
and move across this open field right in front of us and
strike their coluran over yonder on that parallel ridge.
We'll double 'era up on the road right up' yonder where
that piece of artillery is. And when you hear Gause
sound the bugle for the charge, you take your artillery
and charge right down the road, and get as close as you
178

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
can. Give 'era hell right up yonder where I'ra going to
double 'era up."
This is believed to be the first time in the history of
warfare that a coraraander ordered his Chief of Artillery
to charge the enemy's line of battle without support.
Captain Rice, who had corae up at that moment, thought
he must have raisunderstood the order.
"Captain Mortoin," he inquired, "do yO'U reckon the
General meant for us to charge sure enough witho'Ut sup
port?" Captain Morton, equally in the dark as to the matter of
support, replied, "You heard the order. Captain Rice. Be
ready," and hastened to the guns. In a few moments the-
clear notes of Cause's bugle sounded the charge. Cap
tain Morton ordered the guns limbered to the right and'
moved the batteries forward down the road at a rapidl
gallop. Halting within about sixty yards of the eneray's
position on the hill, the guns were ordered into- action.
Every regiraent had been dismounted, and these, after
the artillery charges, sprang from the timber into the open
field and struck them on the flank. The Federals raade
a gallant, defense of their position, but nO' mortal could
suppo-rt the incessant terrible fire of the artillery at short
range. There was not a moraent's faltering anywhere in the
Confederate ranks. The Federals raade desperate efforts
to countercharge, but with no more effect that to raeet the
Confederates in a hand-to-hand struggle when too close
for the guns.
By this tirae six guns had been captured and anothes;
battery was attacked sorae three hundred yards west
ward of the Ripley road. The Federals fell back on?
this battery, and Captain Morton, urging Morton's audi
Rice's Batteries forward at a gallop., poured a blazing-
179

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
hail of canister into their lines. The havoc was ghastly
and the battery was abandoned, as the enemy crowded
back along the Ripley road toward Dr. Agnew's house.
Thirty-five wagons, stocked with ten days' rations, were
abandoned here.
Dark carae on and the artillery went into bivouac ; but
the chase was kept up, General Forrest relieving his force
in squads and hiraself superintending and encouraging all.
"Come on, men !" he shouted to the almost exhausted
troopers, as they halted at a stream which the Federals
were crossing. "In a rout like this two men are equal to
lOO. They will not stop to fight."
The Federals were not allowed to stop a raoment.
Even the Confederate horse-holders were allowed tO' take
a turn at harassing thera in their wild flight up the Ripley
road.
On to Ripley.
From I until 3 o'clock was the period allotted General
Forrest for coraplete rest. Having been in the saddle
since daylight and fighting since i o'clock araid the roar
of cannon and a sho'wer of Minie balls, with no dinner,
the order to rest and eat was raO'St welcorae. The men
were allowed to- forage for themselves among the cap
tured Federal wagons, and they very quickly emptied
their haversacks of the cold raeat and corn bread they
contained. The abundance and variety of the rations
provided by "Uncle Sam'" were fairly bewildering to the
ever-hungry Confederates. With ham, bacon, coffee, su
gar, cheese, and such unusual delicacies to choose from,
it is small wonder that the haversacks were filled and re
filled as the terapting edibles came to light. The horses,
too, munched their rare treats of shelled corn, dry oats,
and hay, with evident satisfaction. 180

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Charlie Brady, one of Morton's gunners, was a jovial
Irishman, with all the recklessness and wild spirits typical
of his country. When the wagon train was captured on
the ridge the author recalls seeing him emerge from a
commissary wagon, which he had been searching for
spoils. Araong other things he had found a bottle of
whisky and had evidently tapped it freely, for as he
jumped down he began to sing in wavering tones, "The
Girl I Left Behind Me." Captain Morton admonished
hira raildly, and he took it in good part, turning the bot
tle again to his lips and jogging raerrily down the road,
apparently oblivious of the scenes of carnage and suf
fering on all sides.
At 3 o'clock the whole force was agaiii put in motion,
Morton's Artillery in its customary position in the front,
General Forrest riding with his Chief of y-Vrtillery and
appearing in buoyant spirits. He spoke at some length
of his ideas O'U the conduct of his battles. "Get 'em
skeered," he said, "and then keep the skeer on 'em."
On every hand were evidences that "the skeer" was
still on the Federals. Knapsacks, guns, belts, and various
articles of superfluous clothing lined the road. The
bushes were tramped down for twenty feet on each side,
and, as the raoming broke, many prisoners were captured
in the woods, having lost their way.
Lieut. William Witherspoon, of Jackson, Tenn., has
written a very entertaining account, showing the huraor-
ous side of this battle. He says at this point :
We moved on sometime between midnight and daybreak, and
soon came to a wide slough or creek bottom. It was miry, and
truly the old slough of despond to the Yanks. Their artillery and
wagons, which had heretofore escaped capture, were now bogged
down and had to be abandoned. This slough was nearly knee-
deep in mud and water, with logs lying here and there. On top
of every log Yanks were perched as thick as possible, for there
i8i

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
were more Yanks than logs. I was reminded of chickens at
roost, except that each Yank held a lighted candle above his head,
calling : "Don't shoot ! Don't shoot !"
Two hundred and seventy-five men and eighteen pieces of artil
lery were captured there. After passing through the slough
we were very close to the rear of the Federals. In fact, we were
so close and it was so dark they thought we were a part of their
force and talked with us about the fight. One of them fell in with
me and remarked : "Old Forrest gave us h-11 to-day."
"Yes,'' I replied, "we were fooled about old Forrest's strength.
He certainly had 50,000 men in that fight."
"You have it about right," was the reply. "The woods were full
of them. I don't know how many of my regiment got away, but
I'm safe and will take care of No. I from now on. I have a good
horse and can do so."
I thought the joke had been humored long enough, so, clicking
my navy six and pointing it at his breast, I said : "You are now
with Forrest's men. Hand over your arms and roll off that horse,"
He thought I was joking, but I soon convinced him. Similar
instances happened to a number of men who were in the front.*
Within a few railes of Ripley General Grierson rallied
his raen in a last forlorn hope, but they could not keep
their lines in the face of the swift charge of the seeming
ly tireless Confederates. Like the flotsam on the bosom
of a flooded stream they were swept through Ripley and
out on the Memphis road. All day the disheartened Fed
erals raced on, harried by the relentless General Forrest
and hurried by the persistent showers of shot from Mor
ton's Artillery. The road was narrow, with dense woods
on each side, so that it was not possible to use more
than four pieces of artillery at one tirae ; but these were
kept close upon the heels of the retreating eneray in mur
derous activity and prevented them from making a stand.
Major Hanson, of the Federal army, says :
All through the night the beaten army kept on their way, reach
ing Ripley, twenty-two miles from the battlefield, on the morning
of June II, During the retreat the enemy captured fourteen pieces
*"Tishomingo Creek as I Saw It," pages 13 and 14,
182

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
of our artillery, our entire wagon train of two hundred and fifty
wagons, and their ten days' rations. . The bitter humiliation
of the disaster rankles after a quarter of a century. If there was
another engagement like this during the war, it is unknown to the
writer; and in its immediate results there was no success, among
the many won by Forrest, comparable to that of Guntown.*
Near nightfall Salera, the ho'rae of General Forrest's
boyhood, was reached, and here the dauntless leader was
corapeUed to yield to physical fatigue, falling from his
horse in sheer exhaustion. The enemy did not slacken
their pace, however, and by the next morning they had
reached Collierville, having raade a reco'rd in retreating
that was not thereafter equaled by any force during the
war — that is, having covered in thirty-six hours the dis
tance which it had taken thera nine days to travel in their
raarch from that place.
Returning to the Battlefield.
General Forrest, reraaining all night at the home of
his uncle, Mr. Beck, returned to Ripley the next morning,
where he was received with great acclamations by the
citizens. He went the next day (the 13th) to Brice's
Crossroads. At Ripley a prominent citizen sO'Ught for
General Forrest toi arrange for a public celebration O'f the
victory. By accident he raet the General hiraself, but
not recognizing hira and supposing hira to be merely an
officer, told hira of the plan and asked : "Where are Gen
eral Forrest's headquarters?" "In the saddle," was the
quick reply, followed by a courteous explanation of the
pressure which made it impossible to stop for social or
civic honors.
He gave orders for the transportation of the wounded
of both sides to the nearest hospitals, and took stock of
*Wyeth's "Life of Forrest," page 420.
183

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the value of his capture. There were about three hun
dred and fifty wagons, sixteen guns and ammunition,
arms and stores in excess of the needs of even the ever-
needy Confederates. This done, he retumed to Tupelo.
The captured stores were abundant and exceedingly
valuable. General Sturgis's own headquarters wagon
was araong thera, and in it were found the reports for
the morning of the loth, showing 10,065 men on the
rauster rolls, although it is probable that these were not
all present, as several hundred had been sent back before
the battle took place. Five fine new ambulances, well
stocked with medical supplies, sixteen pieces of artillery,
and twenty-one caissons were a part of the spoils. More
than 2,000 officers and men were taken prisoners (Gen
eral Washburn's first report made it 3,000).* Nineteen
hundred dead were left upon the wayside between the
battlefield and Ripley. The scene around the house at
Brice's was especially sad and noticeable, even amid the
turmoil of battle. Fully eight hundred Federals lay dead
in the immediate vicinity of the house. Many of the
slightly wounded wandered into the woods and roamed
about all night in fear of capture.
A Spicy Correspondence.
Of the 1,300 negro troops 800 escaped. These, it was
reported, had worn badges inscribed, "Remember Fort
Pillow," which they tore from their coats in the retreat,
but Captain Morton does not recall seeing one of these
erableras. At any rate, their capture was the subject of
a spirited correspondence between General Forrest, Gen
eral ^^''ashburn, and General Lee, which is reproduced
herewith :
*Official Reords, Vol. XXXIL, Part II. , page 107.
184

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Forrest to Washburn.
Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry, 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 indisputable 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 loth, 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
have taken to the bushes after being run down and exhausted. The
recent battle of Tishomingo Creek was far more bloody than it
would otherwise have been but for the fact that your men evidently
expected to be slaughtered when captured, and both sides acted as
though neither felt safe in surrendering, even when further resist
ance was useless. The prisoners captured by us say they felt con
demned by the announcements, etc., of their own commanders, and
expected no quarter.
In all my operations since it began I have conducted the war
on civilized 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 prison
ers of war; also the course intended 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 com
mand 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 Hurl
but, 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 nec
essary to a regular exchange at City Point, Va.
I am. General, etc., N. B. Forrest, Major General*
*"Campaigns of Lieutenant General Forrest," pages 485, 486.
18.=;

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Washburn to Forrest.
Headquarters District of West Tennessee,
Memphis, Tenn., June 19, 1864.
Maj. Gen. N. B, Forrest,
Commanding Confederate Forces.
General: Your communication of the 14th inst, is received. The
letter to Brigadier General Buford will be forwarded to you.
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 Maj. Gen. S. D. Lee was
in command there, 1 directed 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 JMemphis took an oath on their knees,
in the presence of Major General Hurlbut and other officers of our
army, to avenge F^ort 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 of 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 F''ort 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 occa
sions on civilized principles cannot 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 quarter. You must have learned by this
time that the attempt to intimidate the colored troops by indis
criminate slaughter has signally failed, and that, instead of a feeling
of terror, you have aroused a spirit of courage and desperation that
will not down at your bidding.
I am left in doubt by your letter as to the course you and the
Confederate govemment intend to pursue hereafter in regard to
colored troops, and I beg you to advise me, with as little delay as
possible, as to your intention. If you intend to treat such of thera
as fall into your hands as prisoners of war, please so state. If you
t86

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
do not so intend, but contemplate either their slaughter or return
to slavery, please state that, so that we may have no misunder
standing hereafter. If the former is your intention, I shall receive
the announcement with pleasure, and shall explain 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 govemment and people who mention it be the consequences.
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 circumstances that may arise. If your command here
after do nothing which should properly exclude thera 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 Brad
ford, 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 overnight. The following morning two companies were de
tailed by Colonel Duckworth to proceed to Jackson with the pris
oners. After they had started and proceeded a very short distance,
five soldiers were recalled by Colonel Duckworth, and were con
ferred with by him. They then rejoined the column, and after pro
ceeding 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
Duckworth and his body left unburied upon the ground where it
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 remark that your operations have been conducted on civilized
principles; and until you take some steps to bring the perpetrators
to justice the world will not fail to believe that it has your sanction.
I am. General, respectfully your obedient servant,
C, C. Washburn, Major General.*
*"Campaigns of Lieutenant General Forrest," pages 487, 488, 489.
187

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Washburn to Lee.
Headquarters District of West Tennessee,
Memphis, Tenn., June 17, 1864.
Maj. Gen, S. D. Lee,
Commanding Confederate Forces in Tupelo, Miss.
General: When I heard that the forces of Brigadier General
Sturgis had been driven back and a portion of them probably cap
tured, I felt considerable solicitude for the fate of the two colored
regiments, that formed a part of the command, until I was in
formed that the Confederate forces were commanded by you. When
I heard that, I became satisfied that no atrocities would be com
mitted upon those troops, but that they would receive the treatment
that humanity, as well as their gallant conduct, demanded. I re
gret 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 eyewitnesses, it would seem that the massacre of Fort
Pillow had been reproduced at the late affair at Brice's Crossroads.
The details of the atrocities there committed I will not trouble
you with. If true and not disavowed, they must lead to conse
quences hereafter fearful to contemplate. 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 Confederate government would disavow
the action of their commanding General at 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 of
the Confederate government, but, on the contrary, laudations from
the entire Southern press of the perpetrators of the massacre, I
can 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 govemment intended to pursue here
after in this question. If.it is intended to raise the black flag
against that unfortunate race, they will cheerfully accept the issue.
188

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Up to this time no troops have fought more gallantly, and none
have conducted themselves with greater propriety. They have fully
vindicated 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 Crossroads, 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 intention, or the intention of the Confederate govern
ment, 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. Washburn, Major General*

Forrest to Washburn.
Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry, Tupelo, Miss.,
June 23, 1864.
Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn,
Commanding U. S. Forces, Memphis.
General: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt (per flag
of truce) of your letter of the 17th instant, addressed to Maj.
Gen. S. D. Lee, or officer commanding Confederate forces near
Tupelo. I have forwarded 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 de
nouncing me as a murderer and as guilty of the wholesale slaughter
of the garrison at Fort Pillow, 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 per
sonal privilege alone, I unhesitatingly 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 governments
of the United States and the Confederate States are to decide and
"•""Campaigns of Lieutenant General Forrest," pages 489, 490,
189

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
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 govemment 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 surrendered to us have received kind and humane treatment.
Since the war began I have captured many thousand Federal
prisoners, and the3r, 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 im
pressions. The first is that in not giving them instructions and
orders you have left the matter entirely to the negroes as to how
they should dispose of prisoners; secondly, an implied threat to give
such orders as will lead to ''consequences too fearful for contem
plation." In confirmation of the correctness of the first impression
(which your language now fully develops) I refer you most re
spectfully to ray letter from the battlefield of Tishomingo 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 government. 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 charge
able 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 policy shall be — whether in ac
cordance with the laws of civilized nations or in violation of them.
Very respectfully, etc., N. B. Forrest. Major General.*
General Washburn's official report to Secretary Stan
ton is, however, different in tone. "Of 1,300 colored
*"Campaigns of Lieutenant General Forrest," pages 490, 491, 492^
190

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
troops sent out," he wrote, "about 800 escaped. They
fought desperately, and I hear were well treated by their
captors."* Of this controversy the author of this book can only
say that there was absolutely no unfair or harsh treat
raent of the negroes after the battle of Brice's Cross
roads, and that, although he was not present at the battle
of Fort Pillow, the charges in that afifair, on being inves
tigated afterwards by the government, were shown to be
entirely without foundation. Dr. Wyeth has given all
the details of this investigation in a succinct and satis
factory manner.f Dr. D. C. Kelley, General Forrest's
chaplain and a member of his staff, informed the writer
that General Forrest had repeatedly told him that it was
not his policy to kill captured negroes, but, on the con
trary, to handle thera well and return them to their own
ers, a proceeding in which he was certainly justified un
der the circumstances.
Chief Surgeon Dr. J. B. Cowan, of General Forrest's
staff, reported 492 killed and wounded on the Confederate
side. The percentage of loss fell heaviest among the
officers. General Forrest^'s Address.
General Forrest, in an address to his soldiers, thanked
them for their faithful efforts to uphold hira and for the
spirit which they had shown in this sanguinary contest.
He said : Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry, Tupelo, Miss.,
June 28, 1864.
Soldiers: After a long and laborious campaign the Major Gen
eral commanding deems it an appropriate occasion to address you
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part IL, page 118.
tWyeth's "Life of Forrest," pages 367-391.
191

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
a few words of recapitulation, acknowledgment, and congratula
tion. About the isth of February last the campaign which so glo
riously terminated at Tishomingo Creek was inaugurated. Major
General Sherman, with a large and well-appointed army, undertook
to penetrate the central counties of Alabama and Mississippi. His
object was avowedly to capture Selma and Mobile and to desolate
that productive region of country, from whose granaries a large
section of the Confederacy got supplies. Generals Smith and Grier
son had their duties assigned them, and were to act a conspicuous
part in the work of spoliation and piracy. With a large cooperating
cavalry force, thoroughly armed and equipped, they were to descend
through Northern Mississippi, carrying fire and sword with them.
On they came like a blighting sirocco. At West Point you met
them. There you threw yourselves across the rich prairies, a living
bulwark, to stay the desolating tide. Compared with the enemy,
you were but few in numbers, but every man became a hero, for
all seemed impressed with the importance of the momentous strug
gle. You proved yourselves equal to the expectations of the country.
You met the proud and exultant enemy. The result is known to
the world; you drove him howling back in ignominy and shame,
broken and demoralized. Sherman's campaign was thus brought
to an abrupt conclusion, and Mississippi and Alabama saved. The
victor}- was a glorious one, and with heartfelt pride the General
commanding acknowledges your unexampled gallantry. This great
work was accomplished by Colonel Bell's Brigade, commanded by
Colonel Barteau, Colonel McCulloch's and Colonel Forrest's Bri
gades. But great as was this victory, it is not without its alloy.
The laurel is closely entwined with the cypress, and the luster of
a brilliant triumph is darkened by the blood with which it was pur
chased. It was here that Colonel Barksdale gave up his life, a
willing sacrifice, upon the altar of his country. He fell in front of
the battle, gallantly discharging his duty. He sleeps, but his name
is imperishable. Here, too, fell the noble brother of the General
commanding, Col. Jeffrey E, Forrest, He was a brave and chiv
alrous spirit, ever foremost in the fight. He fell in the flower of
his youth and usefulness, but his dying gaze was proudly turned
upon the victorious field which his own valor had aided in winning.
Peace to the ashes of these gallant young heroes.
After a short repose you were called to a new theater of action.
By long and rapid marches, which you endured without murmur or
complaint, you found yourselves upon the waters of the Ohio,
sweeping the enemy before you wherever you met him, capturing
hundreds of prisoners, valuable and needed stores in the quarter
master's and ordnance departments, while securing for yourselves
192

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
a character for endurance, valor, and efficiency which might well
excite the envy of the most famous legions in military history. At
Fort Pillow you exhibited the same conspicuous gallantry. In the
face of a murderous fire from two gunboats and six pieces of
artillery on the fort, you stormed the works and either killed or
captured the entire garrison, a motley herd of negroes, traitors, and
Yankees. This noble work was accomplished by parts of Chalmers's
and Buford's Divisions, composed of Bell's and McCulloch's Bri
gades and Morton's Artillery, commanded by Brigadier General
Chalmers ; and for his gallantry on this and other occasions General
Chalmers and his men deserve the enduring gratitude of their
countrymen. For the exhibitions of high soldiery bearing on these
fields you have earned from your country and its government the
most grateful and well-deserved plaudits. Congress has voted you
complimentary resolutions of thanks and tendered you a nation's
homage. But the crowning glory of your great deeds has yet to be named.
Tishomingo Creek is the brightest leaf in your chaplet of laurel.
General Grierson, not satisfied with his test of your prowess, united
with General Sturgis, at the head of one of the best-appointed forces
ever equipped by the Federal nation — complete in infantry, cavalry.
artillery, and supply trains. They came forth with threats of venge
ance toward you and your commander for the bloody victory at
Fort Pillow, made a massacre only by dastardly Yankee reporters.*
.A.gain you responded bravely to your General's call. You met the
enemy and defeated him. Victory was never raore glorious, dis
aster never more crushing and signal. From a proud and defiant
foe, cn route to the heart of your country, with declarations both
by negro and white troops of "no quarter to Forrest or his men,''
he became an enemy beaten, defeated, routed, destroyed. You
drove the boasted minions of despotism in confused flight from the
battlefield. Seventeen guns, 250 wagons, 3,000 stand of arms, 2,000
prisoners, and killed and wounded 2,000 more, are the proud trophies
which adorn your triumphant banners. The remainder is still wan
dering in the bushes and bottoms forever lost to the enemy Had
you never before raised an arm in your country's cause, this terrible
overthrow of her brutal foe would entitle you to her deepest grati
tude. Again your General expresses his pride and admiration of
your gallantry and wonderful achievements. You stand before the
world an unconquerable band of heroes. Whether dismounted and
fighting shoulder to shoulder like infantry veterans, or hurling your
*Italics not in original document.
13 193

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
irresistible squadrons on the flying foe, you evinced the same cour
ageous bravery.
Soldiers, amid your rejoicing, do not forget the gallant dead upon
these fields of glory. Many a noble comrade has fallen, a costly
sacrifice to his country's independence. The most you can do is to
cherish their memory and strive to make the future as glorious as
you and they have made the past.
To Brigadier General Buford, commanding division, my obliga
tions are especially due. His gallantry and activity on the field were
ever conspicuous, and for the energy displayed in pursuing the
enemy he deserves much of his government. He has abundant cause
to be proud of his brigade commanders. Colonels Lyon and Bell,
who displayed great gallantry during the day. Col. E. W. Rucker
was prompt in the discharge of every duty. His brigade displayed
conspicuous steadiness during the fight. Col. W. A. Johnson, com
manding the brigade from General Roddey's Command, merits notice
for his coolness and bravery on this occasion and for the valuable
services rendered by his troops. Nor can the General commanding
forget to mention the efficient aid rendered by the artillery, com
manded by Capt. John W. Morton. He moved rapidly over the
roughest ground and was always in action at the right time, and
his well-directed fire dealt destruction in the masses of the enemy.
The General commanding also takes pleasure in noticing the in
telligent alacrity with which Maj. C. W. Anderson, Capt. W. H.
Brand, Lieutenants Otey, Donelson, Titus, and Galloway, of my
staff, conveyed orders to all parts of the field. They were ever
near my person, and were prompt in the discharge of every duty.
Soldiers, you have done much, but there is still work for you to do.
By prompt obedience to orders and patient endurance, you will be
enabled to repeat these great achievements. The enemy is again
preparing to break through the living wall erected by your noble
bosoms and big hearts. In the name and recollections of ruined
homes, desolated fields, and the bleaching bones of your martyred
comrades, you are appealed to again. The smoke of your buming
homesteads, the screams of your insulted women, and the cries of
starving children will again nerve your strong arms with strength.
Your fathers of '76 had much to fight for, but how little and un
important was their cause compared with yours 1 They fought not
against annihilation, but simply to be independent of a foreign, yet
a constitutional and free, government. You are struggling against
the most odious of all tyranny, for existence itself, for your prop
erty, your homes, your wives and children, against your own en
slavement, against emancipation, confiscation, and subjugation, with
all their attendant horrors.
194

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
In conclusion, your Commanding General congratulates you on
the brilliant prospects which everywhere pervade our cause. The
independence of the Confederate States is a fixed, accomplished,
immutable fact. The ray of peace is glimmering like bright sunshine
around the dark clouds. Be true to yourselves and your country a
little while longer, and you will soon be enabled to return to your
desolate homes, there to collect together once more your scattered
household gods.
By order of Maj. Gen. N. B. Forrest.
C. W. Anderson, .Assistant Adjutant General.*
Comments on the Battle.
The artillery present at this battle was as follows :
Capt. J. W. Morton, Chief, with R. M. Blakemore as
Adjutant; Morton's Battery, comraanded by Lieut. T.
S. Sale, assisted by Lieuts. G. Tully Brown and J. M.
Mayson; Rice's Battery, commanded by Capt. T. W.
Rice, with Lieuts. B. F. Haller, H. H. Briggs, and D.
C. Jones as subalterns. Lieuts. J. C. Barlow and W. J.
D. Winton, of Thrall's Battery, casually present and
acting as voltmteers with the batteries of Rice and Mor
ton respectively, were conspicuous for their bravery and
courage. "The spirit that animated the men," says Gen.
Thomas Jordan, "may be illustrated by the behavior of
Jimmie Moran, brother of Mr. John Moran, now a prom
inent banker of Dresden, of Morton's Battery, who,
when shot through the arm and told by Captain Morton
to go to the rear, earnestly replied, "No, Captain; I'll stay
with you as long as I have an arm left," and continued
to drive his gun team with his arra in a shng through the
entire fight. Morton's Battery consisted of two 3-inch
steel rifle Rodmans and two 12-pound howitzers, and
Rice's of two 12-pound howitzers and two 6-pound
smoothbore guns.f
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part I., page 228.
t"The Campaigns of Lieutenant General Forrest and Forrest's
€avalry,'' page 475.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

"Nothing could exceed." says the same volume, "the
daring spirit, energy, and execution with which the Con
federate artiller)' was handled by its officers." Pride in
quoting this and other comments may be pardoned in
view of the remarkable circumstances. Mathes says:
"Morton's .\rtillery ran eighteen miles to reach the bat
tlefield, was engaged five hours, joined in the pursuit,
and reached Salem on the night of December ii, having
raade sixty-one railes in thirtj'-six hours. So great was
the strain that fifteen of his horses fell dead in the pur
suit."'* These horses, it may be added. Captain Morton
lO'St in addition to four killed and twelve \\'ounded in the
fight. A lore highly prized than any of these encomiums, how
ever, was the remark of General Forrest as he rode by
his artillery chief's side on the return from Salem. He
had frequently ridden alongside during the battle and pur
suit with the cheery injunction to "keep the skeer on
'em, John," and had personally ordered two charges by
the artillery, soniething seldora, if ever, done by any
other commander. As the return raarch to the battlefield
was taken up, he rode up again, and. striking the Cap
tain gently on the shoulder, said in his hearty, big voice :
"Well, John, I think your guns won the battle for us."
On his return march the roads and fences were crowd
ed with citizens congratulating, thanking, and encour
aging the soldiers. Fences along the route were lined
with women who held in their hands packages of lunch,
delicious fried chicken and biscuits, cake and buttermilk,
and other dainties which the soldiers had long needed.
Steaming pots of coffee seemed to fill every fence corner,
and even the little children of the "poor whites" ran out
*Mathes's "General Forrest," page 247.
T96

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
with offerings in paper sacks. Everywhere the same
story of the frig-htened and demoralized condition of the
enemy was told. It was said that the officers urged their
soldiers to double-quick by the assurance that General
Forrest would give them no quarter, and that the white
soldiers made frantic efforts to force the negroes away,
the latter being equally bent on remaining with their pro
tectors. "The Yanks were afraid tO' be caught with the
niggers, and the niggers were afraid to be caught with
out the Yanks," was the verdict of a citizen of Ripley.
Lieutenant Witherspoon, in the interesting pamphlet
already referred to, gives the following reason for Gen
eral Forrest's remarkable victory :
Forrest found Sturgis, as he predicted, stretched seven miles on
the road, dry and hot. Sturgis knew Forrest's strength, knew where
Lee was and his strength also. West Point tactics said to Sturgis :
"Forrest will not dare to fight with his small force (3,200), but
will fall back and make a junction with Lee and his 3,500." West
Point would have said to Forrest : "Fall back. It would be fool
hardy to tackle 12,000 men and 22 pieces of artillery with your force
of 3,200 and eight pieces of artillery. Join Lee's forces, only thirty-
five miles distant, and you may win, or at least so cripple Sturgis
that he will have to go back to Memphis." But Old Common Sense,
Forrest's tactician, said : "Pitch into Sturgis with all your might,
and whip him as fast as he can get his men up. You are two
hundred stronger than his cavalry, and you can whip that before
he can bring his infantry up. Then you can handle the infantry
as fast as it comes up.''
So it resolved itself into this : Forrest, with his alertness, bravery,
and good judgment, his style of fighting with reserves, was va.stly
superior to a stronger force numerically — one to four and a half —
handled by West Point tactics.
What material composed Forrest's cavalry? The best type of the
young manhood of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Mis
souri, and Texas — the equal of the earth. They furnished their own
in everything — ^horses, accouterments, arms, service — no expense to
the Confederate government but for corn and beef, and that not too
plentiful or good. But we grumbled not; the principles that actu
ated our grandsires in 1776 actuated us in 1861-65.
197

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
As General Forrest, in a conversation with Captain
Morton, referring to the report that Sturgis's drunken
ness had caused him to lose the day, had said that it was
merely the force of the surprise, Lieutenant Wither
spoon's deductions seem to be bome out. "Sturgis," said
General Forrest, "knew that Lee and I were separated,
and thought that, according to book and rule, I would
not dare try a forced march and battle on a scorching hot
day with a raere handful of raen. In any fight, it's the
first blow that counts ; and if you keep it up hot enough,
you can whip 'em as fast as they can come up." This
statement bears a remote reserablance to the historic "git
thar fust with the raostest raen" rule, accredited to the
great Confederate, but which Captain Morton believes to
be a travesty on General Forrest's concise, if at times
faulty, syntax. General Lyon some years later told Cap
tain Morton that his orders at Brice's Crossroads were
to "charge and give 'era hell, and when they fall back
keep on charging and giving 'em hell, and I'll soon be
there with you and bring Morton's Bull Pups."
This battle is known by the various names of "Brice's
Crossroads," "Tishomingo Creek," and "Guntown," the
last-named town being only a few miles away. The scene
of the battle is now a flourishing little town called Beth
any. Too much cannot be said of the noble women of this
coramunity, who not only cheered and ministered to the
¦victorious soldiers but tended the wounded of both sides
with the self-effacing devotion natural to good women
everywhere and the loving-kindness particularly char
acteristic of Southem women. A poem by "Personne,"
the correspondent of the Charleston Courier, nobly em
balms the spirit of these brave women :
198

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
They have gathered about you the harvest
Of death in its ghastliest view ;
The nearest as well as the farthest
Is here with the traitor and true ;
And crowned with your beautiful patience.
Made sunny with love at the heart.
You must balsam the wounds of a nation,
Nor falter nor shrink from your part.
Sherman's View of Sturgis.
General Sherman, as was to be expected, was disgusted
with General Sturgis, as he had been with General Sraith.
Washburn telegraphed him on the 14th :
Our troops were badly handled from the moment they left here,
I have no doubt. They were nine days in going out and thirty-six
hours in returning.*
General Sturgis, like General Smith, felt that he had
been judged with unnecessary harshness, and made sev
eral efforts to explain the cause of his failure, but a court
of inquiry seeraed to sustain the charge of incompetency.
General Sherraan wrote to Washington on June 1 5 :
I will have the matter of Sturgis critically examined; and if he
be at fault, he shall have no mercy at my hands. I cannot but
believe he had troops enough. I know I would have been willing
to attempt the same task with that force; but Forrest is the very
devil, and I think he has got some of our troops under cower.^
I have two officers at Memphis that will fight all the time— A. J.
Smith and Mower. The latter is a young brigadier of fine promise,
and I commend him to your notice. / ivill order them to make up
a force and go out and follozv Forrest to the death, if it cost 10,000
lives and breaks the Treasury. There will never be peace in Ten
nessee till Forrest is dead.^ We killed Bishop Polk yesterday, and
have made good progress to-day.t
The next day he wrote Major General McPherson as
follows :
?Official Records, Vol. XXXL, Part II., page 118.
titalics not in original document.
tOfficial Records, Vol. XXXL, Part IL, page 121.
199

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Please direct General Washburn or one of your inspectors gen
eral to make close inquiries into the history of the defeat by
Forrest of General Sturgis, and especially whether it, in any meas
ure, resulted from General Sturgis being in liquor. I cannot be
lieve this to have been the case, but it has been suggested, and the
sooner the truth is made manifest the better for the service and
the country. If there should be any truth in the suspicion, then
the remedy must be applied of trial and punishment. We will not
attempt the Mobile trip now, but I wish you to organize as large a
force as possible at Memphis, either Gens. A. J. Smith or Mower
in command, to pursue Forrest on foot, devastating the land over
which he has passed or may pass, and make him and the people of
Tennessee and Mississippi realise that, although a bold, daring, and
successful leader, he will bring ruin and misery on any country
¦iL'here he may pause or tarry,* If we do not punish Forrest and
the people now, the whole effect of our past conquests will be lost.t
"It is all nonsense," he declared the same day to Gen.
Washburn, "about Sturgis being attacked by 10,000 or
20,000. He was whipped by a force inferior to his own.
Let the niatter be critically in\'estigated."i
General Sherman urged General Washburn to fit out
another expedition against General Forrest, and suggest
ed either A*. J. Smith or Mower. He seems to have had
a partiality for Mower, as he sent him word by General
Washburn that if he (Mower) would whip General For
rest he (Sherman) would pledge his influence for a ma
jor generalship, and would ask the President as a personal
favor to hold a vacancy for hira. § He actually wrote the
President as follows :
I have ordered Gen. A, J. Smith and General Mower from
Memphis to pursue and kill Forrest, promising the latter, in case of
success, my influence to promote him to a major general. He is
one of the gamest men in our service. Should accident befall me,
I ask you to favor Mower, if he succeeds in disposing of Forrest.||
?Italics not in original document.
tOfficial Records, Vol. XXXL, Part IL, page 123.
tIbid., page 124. ilbid,, page 130, ||Ibid., page 142.
200

CHAPTER XV
Battle of Harrisburg.
Returning to Tupelo, the next few weeks were spent
in recuperation and drilling, for General Forrest knew
well that General Sherraan raeant to send expeditions
after hira until he was defeated and crushed — the deter
mination to kill him "if it took ten thousand lives and
broke the Treasury" was by this time generally known.
After taking stock of his captures and losses and at
tending personally to the administration of all affairs
with his accustomed energy, he distributed his men to
various points which offered easy subsistence and rest
for them. Forage and subsistence were collected at cen
tral points upon all roads of possible operations ; a thor
ough exaraination was raade of the physical condition of
the troops, and the weak were sent, with all unserviceable
animals, to favorable points for recuperation. Special at
tention was given to the selection of strong horses for the
artillery, for it was now General Forrest's fixed custora
to throw his artillery in advance.
General Roddey, with his division, joined General For
rest's Coraraand at Tupelo. In the raeantirae his scouts
were on active service, and kept him: well inforraed of
the movements oif the enemy. He learned of the with
drawal of Gen. A. J. Smith's troops from the Louisiana
expedition, and shrewdly surraised that this officer was
to be sent against hira as soon as a sufficient number of
men could be raobilized. By the ist of July it was ap
parent that all the resources of General Sherraan's de
partment in the State of Tennessee, including the gar
risons on the Mississippi River, aided by the departments
20I

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
of the States bordering on Mississippi, would be called
to assist General Smith in the great expedition intended
to crush General Forrest.
General Smith's orders were different from those given
his predecessors. Instead of being directed to capture the
Confederate leader, he was told to "keep after him till
recalled" by General Sherman or General Grant.
This great expedition was coraraanded by a man of
extreme precaution as well as ability. By slow stages he
moved through the country, picking up the raen he needed
frora the various coraraands in the vicinity of Memphis,
and keeping himself in close coraraunication with head
quarters. General Smith's Preparations.
Each step was prepared in advance, and on July 5 he
announced that all his preparations were completed and
fared forth from LaGrange with 3,200 cavalry, 11,000
infantry, 24 pieces of artillery, and 500 artillerists. The
infantry was tmder the comraand of Brig. Gen. J. A.
Mower, the cavalry under General Grierson, and their
destination the rich prairie country in the region of Oko
lona and West Point, Miss., called the "Granary of the
Confederacy." There was an unfortunate dissension at this time be
tween the governraent and the people of the Confederacy.
Those nearest the scene of General Sherraan's operations
discerned the grim purpose of the "man of blood and
iron," and suggested that a well-organized attack on his
rear by General Forrest would ruin General Sherman and
sweep him off the face of the earth. General Sherman
himself adraitted that General Forrest had his (Sher
man's) generals "cowed," and all who had seen the ef
fects of General Forrest's operations were convinced that
202

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
he was the only man who could check Shennan and save
Atlanta. General Wheeler, General Johnston, General
Howell Cobb, and others who had fought with General
Forrest and knew his mettle and ingenuity strongly rec
ommended that he be placed in comraand of all the cav
alry. General Wheeler, with characteristic generosity,
offered to give place to hira. A number of petitions to
the same eifect were sent in frora prorainent raen in the
South, but they were fruitless.
At the tirae General Smith started from LaGrange,
General Forrest was undergoing the keenest suffering
from boils, which greatly depleted even his iron consti
tution. He telegraphed General Lee from Tupelo on
June 28 to the effect that he would be unable to take
command of the forces in case the eneray moved from
Memphis, but General Lee, now in comraand of the de
partraent, with Mobile and South Alabama threatened,
and an attack imminent on Jackson, could not dispense
with General Forrest, and he moved to Okolona for the
purpose of concentrating troops there.
The Federals, meeting with light resistance at Ripley
from Lieutenant Colonel Hyaras's First Mississippi Par
tisans, raoved on to Pontotoc, where Lyon's Brigade raet
and detained them for a day with small skirraishes. The
country around Pontotoc being very swampy and the
Confederates' resistance making progress exceedingly
slow. Genera] Sraith deterrained to abandon his attempt
to reach Okolona, and, tuming abruptly toward the left,
made for Tupelo, eighteen railes distant, hoping to get
possession of the railroad at that point and select his own
battle ground. The Confederates hung on his flanks and
rear all day, harassing him at every point and destroying
his wagons and ambulances. Both General Lee and Gen
eral Forrest were on the field, General Lee in command.
203

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
General Forrest was ordered to attack and press upon
the enemy's rear, and succeeded in harassing him sorely,
the Morton Battery in advance, and destroying a number
of \\'agons and ambulances ; but General Sraith and Gen
eral Mower, never losing sight of their objective point,
pushed steadily on, and at 9 o'clock on July 13 General
Forrest's coraraand encamped within two miles of Har
risburg, a sraall town near Tupelo.
The ilorton Battery, supported by Roddey's Division,
was ordered to raake a demonstration upon the left of
General Smith's position, and this was done. No further
assault was made that night.
General I^"orrest in the Federal Camp.
General Forrest, retuming to headquarters about dark,
dismounted from his horse, and, reraoving his coat, spread
it upon the ground. Lying at full length in his shirt
sleeves, he appeared absorbed in thought for some time.
He was greatly exhausted from the heavy work and in
tense heat of the day, and his staff reraained at some dis
tance. Suddenly springing up, he put on his coat, mounted
his horse, and called to Lieut. Samuel Donelson to accom
pany him. They raade a wide detour through the woods.
General Forrest remarked to Lieutenant Donelson that
his scouts had brought in word that the Union forces
were encaraped about a mile ahead. He also stated that
he had neglected to put on his holster, and was therefore
without his pistols. Lieutenant Donelson offered him
one, but it was declined, General Forrest saying that he
did not think they would be needed. In about an hour
they carae up well in the rear of the Federal lines, and
soon found themselves araong the Union wagons and
tearas. The friendly darkness concealed the Confederate
uniforras, and, keeping well away from the camp fires,
204

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the two daring officers rode leisurely through nearly every
portion of the eneray's carap. Having satisfied hiraself
of the position and resources of the enemy, General For
rest turned in the direction of his own carap. They had
proceeded about two hundred yards when they were sud
denly halted by two Federal soldiers who were on picket
duty. Riding directly up to these raen. General Forrest,
affecting intense anger, said, "How dare you halt your
commanding officer?" and without further remark put
spurs to his horse, an example cpiickly followed by Lieu
tenant Donelson. The sentries did not discover the ruse
until the two horsemen were some distance away, and on
accoimt of the darkness could not now be seen. Antici
pating that they would be challenged, General Forrest
and Lieutenant Donelson crouched down upon their
horses, put spurs to thera, and broke into a full gallop
along the narrow roadway througii the woods. The
pickets fired, but the bullets fell wide of the raark, and
the two officers returned in safety tO' their own carap.
General Forrest related this occurrence with great
gusto, declaring jocosely that a bullet raight have done
him good, as it raight have opened one of his boils, which
would have been a relief.
His discovery of the enemy's strong position occasioned
General Forrest some uneasiness, and his last order to
Chief of Artillery Morton was to raake his men cora
fortable for .the night, for they had hot work before
them on the morrow.
The raorning of July 14 found the eneray strongly in
trenched behind breastworks at the head of a gentle slope,
and protected at the sides and rear by a dense stretch of
forest. It was an ideal position, and one -w-hich General
Forrest himself would have chosen had he reached the
spot first. General Grierson had arrived at, and taken
205

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
possession of, Tupelo the day before, and the lines ex
tended fromi that point to Harrisburg, about two miles in
length. Although by hard work all through the night
they were strongly fortified, they showed no intention of
raaking an attack the next moming, and General Lee de
cided to assurae the offensive, as he felt obliged to heed
the call for his troops in Southem Alabama and Mis
sissippi, and it was necessary for him to hurry to the re
lief of that portion of his department. Accordingly, ac
quainting General Forrest with his purpose, he ordered
his troops to position, and asked him to accept the com
mand for the day. General Forrest, from his knowledge
of the enemy's ix>sition, deemed an attack unwise and de
clined the coraraand.
The Confederate line of battle was arranged with Rod
dey's Division, consisting of Patterson's and Johnson's
Brigades, on the extrerae right ; Colonel Crossland's Ken
tucky Brigade next to the left in the center; Bell's Bri
gade carae next, and Mabry's Brigade occupied the ex
trerae left. The reserve was coraposed of McCulloch's
Brigade, Neely's and Gholson's disraounted men, and
General Lyson's Infantry.
The Day of Battle.
The artillery, as it moved from Pontotoc to Harris
burg, where on the 13th of July the Federals had con
structed strong works, was used with little effect or re
sults, except to demonstrate that the Confederates had
met a foe worthy of their steel.
Capt. Morton was in comraand of the artillery battal
ion, consisting of the Morton, Rice, Thrall, and Hud
son Batteries. Ferrell's four-gun battery, of Roddey's
Command, had also reported to Captain Morton on the
evening of the 13th. 206

^^^

^(rrun<y

CHIEF OF ARTILLERY FORREST'S CAVALRY,
ARMY OF TENNESSEE, C. S. i*..

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Camp was made that night a raile and a half frora Har
risburg on the right and left of the Pontotoc-Harrisburg
road. Captain Morton was ready to move at daylight on the
14th. At this time the artillery was in coluran, with
its head in the direction of Harrisburg.
Reporting for orders to General Forrest, Captain Mor
ton was directed by hira to report to General Lee, who
was in comraand. Captain Morton found General Lee,
and, with the usual military compliments, stated that Gen
eral Forrest had ordered hira, as his Chief of Artillery, to
report to hira as being in comraand. General Lee turned
and introduced Captain Morton to his Chief of .A.rtillery,
who was Major Wofford. Although Captain Morton
had never written his name, nor had the pleasure of know
ing him before, nor since the fight, recollections are dis
tinct as to the identity of that officer. The Major re
marked to Captain Morton : "Tlie artillery is all yours.
You report to General Lee direct for orders."
Captain Morton was twenty-one years old and full of
enthusaism and eagerness to go into battle coraraanding
a full battalion of artillery, it being the first opportunity
he had had of the kind. It was a chance he coveted.
With Ferrell's Battery it gave him twenty guns.
He recalls a good deal of talk among his officers of
rumors that General Forrest favored flanking the en
emy; and hence inspected the Verona road, which would
likely be taken in order to throw his men south of
General Smith's forces.
The Cavalry coramands began to move to the front,
when Captain Morton reported to General Lee that the
artillery was ready. The Captain made the suggestion
that he be allowed to concentrate all of the artillery on
the left center and make a breach in the Federal lines,
207

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
creating confusion in their ranks, which would give the
Confederate cavalry easy work. Greatly to his disap
pointraent, General Lee ordered hira^ tO' send one battery
to support the Kentucky brigade on the right of the Har
risburg road, another to support Bell's Brigade on the left
of that road, and a third to the right to support Roddey's
Brigade; the Morton Battery, comraanded by Capt. T.
W, Rice, to support the Kentucky Brigade; and Hud
son's, commanded by Lieut. E. S. Walton, to support
General Roddey. Thrall's (Capt. J. C. Thrall) and Fer
rell's Batteries were placed with the reserve force under
Gen. H. B. Lyon, consisting of infantry and dismounted
cavalry. Captain Morton directed Lieutenant Walton,
of Hudson's Battery, to report with all haste to General
Roddey, a mile and a half on the extreme right, and then
personally directed the placing of the Rice and Morton
Batteries. .*\s soon as the former was in position Captain
Morton galloped through a skirt of woods, and, upon
reaching the Harrisburg road, found the Morton Battery
and placed it to the left of that road in position on a
slight ridge.
He was never directed by General Lee, to whom he re
ported and from whora: he was receiving orders, to fire a
signal gun for opening the fight. He received no inti
mation of such an order from General Lee or any one
else. The enemy, no doubt discovering the positions and
the line of battle of dismounted cavalry, soon opened with
their artillery. There was a sharp artillery duel for about
half an hour, or possibly longer, when the Kentucky
Brigade, with a shout as though pandemonium' had
broken loose on that part of the line, sprang forward to
the charge. In a short time General Bell's Brigade dis
mounted, raoved to the front on the left of the Harris-
208

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
burg road, and took position tO' the right of Mabry. As
this intrepid body of Tennesseeans advanced, the gallant
Lieut. Tully Brown, commanding the right section of
Morton's Battery, pressed his guns forward across a val
ley with Bell's raoving line, and on a ridge went into
battle under a withering fire within four hundred yards
of the enemy's heavily manned and bristling works. The
enemy's fire was so furious and effective that two of
Lieutenant Brown's guns most exposed, which had them
selves been doing great execution, had six out of seven
men wounded, and every horse of one of the pieces dis
abled, while a nuniber of horses of other guns were shot.
A wheel carried away by an opposing cannon shot had
to be replaced; and the two guns were withdrawn by a
detachraent of disraounted cavalryraen. Sergt. J. W.
Brown, of Lieutenant Brown's section, although wounded
three tiraes, refused to quit his gun until it was safely
removed from the field. Lieut. Joe M. Mayson, who
had direct command of the other twoi guns of the battery,
had been placed several hundred yards to the left of
Brown's section and in the rear of Chalmers's Coramand.
This section also did effective work ; had a wheel shat
tered and two men wounded. Lieutenant Sale, in com
mand of Morton's Battery, ordered Sergt. Frank T. Reid,
in charge of the line of caissons, to bring forward an
extra wheel, and the injured gun was soon restored to
good service. The fire of Mayson's two guns materially
aided in the withdrawal of the brigades of Mabry and
Rucker. When Crossland's Kentucky Brigade moved to
the attack. Captain Rice, by order of Captain Morton,
pushed his guns forward by hand, keeping pace with the
rapidly advancing line of battle. A concentrated fire of
the enemy's artillery disabled one of his guns, a nura
ber of his men were killed and wounded, and several
14 209

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
horses disabled. Captain Thrall's Batteiy was ordered by
Captain Morton to the support of Captain Rice, and did
effective service in saving it and protecting the with
drawal from the field of the shattered Kentucky Brigade.
Hudson's Battery did not fire a gun, it being with Rod
dey's Brigade, which failed to engage the enemy. Tlie
Ferrell Battery was with the 2,100 infantry and dis
mounted cavalry, held in reserve under General Lyon,
which to the chagrin of that cool and fearless leader was
never brought into action.
Riding to and fro among the batteries, Captain Mor
ton had his coat shot several tiraes and his horse twice
wounded. It has always been his sincere regret that he
was not required to raake official reports. It was not only
expected but required of general officers to report the op
erations of their troops in all encounters with the enemy.
It is unfortunate, in view of the raany diverging opin
ions now developed, as to the responsibility for the con
duct of the battle of Harrisburg; and considering Gen
eral Lee's experience as a commander and his fine train
ing as a soldier, it is a singular omission that he failed
to raake any report of a battle rmtil thirty-seven years
and raore after its occurrence. Had he followed his usual
custora of making official reports of the operations of
troops coraraanded by hira, raany of the raatters of coiv
troversy now involved would have been settled during the
lifetirae of numerous distinguished and gallant comrades
who, with General Forrest, cannot now speak in praise
or conderanation of any who participated in that unfor
tunately conceived and sadly misconducted battle.
The Confederates suffered an unprecedented percent
age of loss. Crossland's Kentuckians suffered more se
verely than any other regiraent during the war, and the
lack of coordination precipitated a tragic and unparal-
210

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
leled sacrifice, which might have been saved. As bravely
as ever raen fronted death, these raagnificent soldiers,
whose thin ranks were exposed plainly to the Federals,
charged valiantly on the eneray's line, bending their faces
before the seething storra of lead.
Waiting until they were well into the field, and without
even a fence or gully for protection, the Federal artillery
opened upon thera with a deadly hail of shell and can
ister. Even in the face of this they kept on, showing a
splendid courage and resolution; but, an enfilading fire
opening on their right, they staggered and gave way, only
ten or twelve pushing on to the breastworks and to cer
tain death or capture. The brigade had been literally
raowed down, but the pitiful remnant upon the advance
of Mabry's and Bell's Brigades seeraed imbued with
fresh vigor and again charged forward.
"Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Some one had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply.
Theirs not to reason why.
Theirs but to do or die."
An effort was made to draw the eneray into battle on
the 15th, but General Sraith says in his report that his
troops were so exhausted with the heat, fatigue, and
short rations that it was irapossible to press the rebels fur
ther, and he concluded to- retire. Needless to say, his re
tireraent was attended with all the annoyance and in
convenience the Confederates could inflict. The heat
was intense, and eighty of Buford's men succurabed to
sunstroke on the field; General Forrest was painfully
wounded in the foot during this day, and it was
rumored that he had been killed. These tidings threw
the Confederates into constemation and deep gloom, and
211

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
it was reported to General Forrest as he was having his
wound dressed in the rear. Without waiting to adjust
his clothing (it was a sweltering day and he had removed
his coat) he leaped into his -saddle and galloped rapidly
along the lines of his raen. At the sight of their leader
his raen went wild with joy. Huzzas and glad acclama
tions rent the air, and they crowded around him to hear
his own assurance that his wound was a slight one.
Three brigade coraraanders, Rucker, McCulloch, and
Crossland, were wounded, as was also Colonel Faulkner.
The list of officers killed included Col. Isham Harrison,
Lieut. Col. Thonias M. Nelson, Lieut. Col. John B. Cage,
Lieut. Col. L. J. Sherrill, and Maj. Robert C. McKay.
The raen killed and wounded were : Chalraers's Division,
five per cent killed, 255 wounded; Buford's Division, 153
killed, 798 wounded; Morgan's Squadron, 5 killed, 19
wounded; raissing, 50. Total loss, 1,287. Some com
panies came out of the fight commanded by their cor
porals or sergeants, all of their commissioned officers
having been shot down.
General Smith obeyed to the letter General Sherman's
injunctions to punish with fire and sword the people who
lived in the territory occupied by General Forrest, bum
ing a wide track from Harrisburg to LaGrange. General
Forrest, returning to Tupelo, found only the ruins of his
forraer headquarters, and found also two hundred and
fifty Federal prisoners, who had been abandoned because
too seriously wounded to go on with the army. These
poor soldiers were in the greatest torment from the ex
cessive heat and the neglect of their wounds, which were
in a fearful state from the flies and decomposition.
Nothing could be done for them except to bury them
when their awful sufferings came to an end.
Notwithstanding this retreat and the fact that, so far
212

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
from crushing General Forrest, he had not actually en
gaged him, as the portion of the line of which General
Forrest was in coramand had not fired a single volley,
General Smith reported his expedition as entirely suc
cessful and claimed to have cost the eneray 2,500 men.
He did not give reasons for failing to follow up his vic
tory by occupying the fruitful territory then teeming with
rich crops of grain and offering abundant food and for
age; but on the contrary, stated that his food and am
munition had both given out. If this was the case, it was
singularly short-sighted to have made so scanty a pro
vision of the latter; and fresh supplies of the forraer were
at his hand. Captain Morton is inclined to agree with
Dr. Wyeth, who says that "he [Sraith] had never seen
men fight with such desperate [if misdirected] valor.
After this exhibition he did not dare to advance upon his
antagonist in compact line and behind defenses, nor could
he safely remain where he was."*
This occurrence must have led General Sherman to
believe that General Forrest did indeed have some of
his officers "cowed."
General Forrest's Artillery was no inconspicuous fea
ture of such success as was obtained by the Confederates,
although three batteries were assigned to inaction during
the bloody contest of the 14th. Two batteries accom
panied Roddey and Rucker in the pursuit on the isth
and 1 6th, and engaged in several spirited artillery duels.
Sergt. Frank T. Reid, in the admirable article already so
freely quoted frora, says of sorae of the raembers of Mor
ton's Battery: "Sergts. West Brown (three times wound
ed), C. T. Brady (now living in Jackson, Tenn.), and
Lem Zaring distinguished theraselves, as they always did,
?Wyeth's "Life of Forrest," page 459.
213

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
by their cool courage and the adrairable raanner in which
they handled their pieces. So did Corp. Joe T. Bellan-
fant (who was badly wounded, and now lives in Cul-
leoka, Tenn.) and Corp. J. D. Vauter (a gray-headed
veteran, who spent much of the time reading the Bible) ,
Jimraie Woods (novi' a resident of Hollow Rock, Tenn.),
W. Murray, Williara Potter, H. T. Newton, T. J. Wyatt,
and many others whose naraes I cannot now recall."
The raodest Sergeant raakes no mention of his own con
spicuous bravery, nor of that of Lieutenants Sale, Brown,
and Mayson, the latter being wounded in the battle.
It will be reraembered that General Forrest had been
for sorae tirae suffering from boils, and the long strain
of severe fighting was now beginning to tell upon his
strength. In this impaired condition the wound received
at the battle of Harrisburg became very dangerous, and
his Chief Surgeon, Dr. J. B. Cowan, a leading physi
cian of Tullahoma, Tenn., begged him to seek the rest he
so much needed. He had consented to ask for a leave
of absence before General Sraith's invasion, but after that
officer's retreat General Lee was transferred to General
Hood's departraent. Gen. Dabney H. Murray was sent
to take teraporary comraand of Mississippi, and General
Forrest would not leave the field. He procured a light
buggy, and, fitting up a sort of framework over the dash
board, continued his daily and unreraitting attentions to
the details of attending the wounded, gathering up the
spoils frora the eneray's tracks, and rebuilding the rail
roads and bridges. Once raore scouts were sent out vig
orously, the troops reorganized and distributed, unserv
iceable horses weeded out, and supplies gathered at cen
tral points on every avenue of approach. The heavy loss
of officers in the last engageraent raade the work of re
organization difficult, especially as raany of the former
214

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
officers' skeleton companies had been merged into each
other. For two weeks this work was carried on without
the slightest rumor of another attack, a quietude which
was later explained when it was learned that it had been
reported in Meraphis that General Forrest had died of
his wound a few days after the battle.
General Washburn dispatched to General Sherraan on
August 25 : "I have report to-day that he [Forrest] died
of lockjaw some days ago."*
General Sherraan, after telegraphing this news to Gen
eral Grant, wired General Washburn again for confirraa
tion. "Is Forrest surely dead ?" he asked.f
It is interesting to note in this connection that General
Mower got his proraotion as promised.
Generals Shennan and Grant had been inclined to con
gratulate General Sraith when they heard this, but when
it was proved unfounded they insisted that he raake an
other effort to remove the troublesome cavalry officer.
"He raust keep after hira till recalled by rae or General
Grant," wrote General Sherraan rather testily to General
Washbum; "and if Forrest goes toward Tennessee, Gen
eral Sraith must follow him. . . . It is of vital im
portance that Forrest does not go^ to- Tennessee."J
To this comraand General Washburn replied quite hope
fully that he had "sent forward a force that can whip the
combined force of the eneray this side of Georgia and
<ast of the Mississippi."*
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part XL, page 219.
tIbid., page 233. tIbid., page 204.

215

CHAPTER XVI.
Why Gen. ,V. J. Smith Abandoned Mississippi.
On August I General Chalraers reported to General
Forrest the Federal raoveraents in Meraphis, and orders
were given for the issuing of ten days' rations to the
whole force; araraunition for sraall arms and artillery
was also ordered; all furloughs were forbidden, and all
leaves of absence recalled. On August 3 McCulloch's
Brigade of Chalmers's Division, General Forrest's escort
and staff, and Thrall's Battery set out for Oxford for the
purpose of fortifying and repairing the works at Grenada,
Graysport, Abbeville, and other places on the Talla
hatchie. Chalmers reached Oxford to find that General
Smith had reached Holly Springs, thirty miles to the
north. General Smith pressed forward and Chalmers be
gan a slow retreat, obstructing fords and burning bridges
and cautiously pursued by the wary Smith, who did not
wish to be drawn into a surprise. General Forrest,
meanwhile, with Bell's and Neely's Brigades and the other
batteries, under Captain Morton, had succeeded, by forced
raarches, in reaching Oxford at 11 o'clock the night of
the loth of August. Chalraers had been corapeUed to
evacuate it the day before, but upon the arrival of Gen
eral Forrest it was found that the eneray had in tum
retired. They were discovered the next raorning about
eight miles away, and for the next three days a constant
skirraishing with sraall arras and artillery was kept up.
Slight advantage accrued to either side; and although
General Forrest was still corapeUed to wear his injured
foot in a sling, he conceived a brilliant and daring plan
for the confusion of the eneray. Realizing that with
216

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
his small force of 5,000. it would be worse than folly to
cope with Smith's array, nearly four times as large, with
any hope of coraplete success, he unfolded tO' his officers
in council a plan for an attack on Meraphis with a por
tion of the forces then at Oxford. Audacious as it was,
all present saw that it was the only way out of the pres
ent situation with advantage. The plan was for General
Forrest to take two thousand raen and one section of ar
tillery and raake a rapid dash on Memphis, leaving Chal
mers to raake a feint of attack and retreat to keep the en
eray's attention. General Buford was also attracting at
tention at Pontotoc, and the way seeraed open for a dar
ing move to the extreme left. The raen were carefully
picked, and Morton's Battery of the artillery was selected
for the expedition. After the raen were ready, a careful
examination resulted in the weeding out of five hundred
as too weak for the forced marching, and the nuraber was
thus reduced to fifteen hundred besides the staff, escort,
and artillerymen. Late in the afternoon of August 18
this comraand was set in raotion.
The Move on Memphis.
A heavy rain had been falling for several days, raaking
the roads difficult, but assisting in the secrecy of the move
ment. General Forrest rode with some difficulty, as he
had only one foot in the stirrup. The whole expedition
wore a raelancholy aspect. The strearas were greatly
swollen, and it was necessary to make a detour of some
forty miles. The long ride through the rain and raud and
¦dense darkness was raade, however, with cheerful spirits ;
and the eleraent of danger, added to the audacity of the
conception, lent a spice to the movement that overbalanced
the physical discomforts. Many streams had to be crossed
by swimming, and at times it seeraed impossible to get
217

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the artillery across. Perhaps the heaviest part of the ex
pedition fell on this portion of the command. No one but
General Forrest would have undertaken to carry artillery
on such an excursion. By daylight, however, Panola,
Miss., had been reached, and the unsuspecting Federals
were far in the rear. Here another weeding out took
place, and one hundred men were returned with their
horses to Oxford. One section of Morton's Battery was
also returned for lack of serviceable horses. Another
quick raarch brought Senatobia in view ; and as raen and
horses were exhausted, it was necessary to rest here for a
day and night. Early the next morning the march was
resuraed, and a raile to the north the Hickahala Creek
was reached. This stream, increased to imraense propor
tions by the heavy rains, was crossed by means of a ferry
boat ; but, as celerity was the chief asset of success in this
movement, General Forrest set his wits to work to devise
a means of crossing more expeditiously. Sending a de
tachraent ahead, he ordered them to select four trees near
the banl<: opposite each other, and fell them. The next
step was to cut a great quantity of wild muscadine and
grape vines, which grow in abundance in the swampy river
bottoras of Mississippi. These vines were twisted into
cables and stretched from bank to bank, being fastened to
the stumps. Further than this, details had been sent
ahead to strip the flooring from the ginhouses and cabins
along the road, and as each trooper rode up he brought his
plank for the flooring of the improvised bridge. When
the raain body reached the river, the cables were in place ;
and in the raiddle of the stream, just where the weight of
the vines made thera sag to within a short distance of the
water, the ferryboat was anchored between rafts of cedar
poles. It was the work of a few rainutes to place the
planks in position, and the work of only an hour to get.
218

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the whole coramand across the substantial though swing
ing bridge. The guns were pulled across by hand, great
difficulty being experienced with the loose flooring. Sev
en miles farther on another creek was reached; and
though this was twice as wide as the Hickahala, the
bridge was raade as before, and the crossing effected in
three hours. By this tirae fully five hundred cavalry and
artillery horses had given out, and these men were sent
back to Chalmers under command of Captain Morton,
who appointed Lieutenant Sale to the coraraand of the two
gtms of Morton's Battery still with the expedition. Re
tuming Captain Morton and these raen and horses was
an additional instance of General Forrest's far-sighted
ness; for, should a ruraor of his departure have reached
General Sraith, the return of this body would indicate the
abandonraent of his plan.
The success of the raid into Meraphis is too well known
to need repetition here. The quick, sharp fight opened up
in all quarters oi the town, the flight of General Wash-
bum in his night clothes, the riding into the Gayoso Hotel
by Capt. Bill Forrest, and the successful retreat to Her
nando with 400 prisoners, are matters of common re
port.
Burying the "Bull Pups."
Lieutenant Sale had charge of the twO' guns from Mor
ton's Battery, which accorapanied the expedition to the
suburbs of Meraphis. While the raid was in progress,
word was brought to hira that the Federals had sent a
coluran out to cross Nonconno Creek and cut off a I'etreat.
The guns were the three-inch steel rifled Rodmans cap
tured at Lexington with Bob Ingersoll in 1862, and the
resourceful Lieutenant, knowing the affection with which
they were regarded by General Forrest and Captain
219

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Morton, instead of abandoning or spiking them, dug a
hole in the middle of the road and buried them. The
deep raud helped to hide traces of the grave. The limbers
and caissons were concealed in the undergrowth of a
near-by swamp. The Federals passed over them without
discovering their whereabouts, both in coming out of
Meraphis and returning. After the soldiers returned to
Mississippi, Captain Morton sent a detail of cavalry to
resurrect these grira pets of the battery, and they were
safely conveyed into Mississippi again. They were more
highly regarded than ever after their adventure, and, al
though in the front of every subsequent fight, were saved
time and again by strenuous eifort.
The consternation of General Washburn on learning
that General Forrest had doubled around General Smith
and marched into Memphis was beyond expression. It
seeraed impossible that an3rthing short of real magic could
have accomplished such a stratagem. His telegrams to
General Smith were the first intimation that officer had
of the escape of his prey, for so well had Chalmers and
Morton kept up the feints of assault and retreat, evacu
ating the city and reoccupying it, that the Union officer
did not dream that there had been any depletion of troops.
After this the Federals were perforce obliged to acknowl
edge General Forrest's right tO' the title, "Wizard of the
Saddle." Constant telegrams to General Smith kept him in
forraed of General Forrest's every raovement, and he was
daily rerainded that the Rebels would be worn and jaded
after their dash of a hundred railes into Memphis and
back again, and could be easily caught on their return.
Instructions were given him where to intercept them, but
he was delayed by swollen streams and broken bridges
220

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
and by Chalmers's and Morton's unremitting attacks, so
that no obstacles were placed in General Forrest's way.
General Sraith had not neglected to burn and pillage
Oxford and the surrounding country with a thorough
ness worthy of a better cause; but, nevertheless, he was
ordered to return to Meraphis, and Mississippi was aban
doned in disgust to the "Bonnie Blue Flag, that bears a
single star."
"Then here's to our Confederacy, strong we are and brave ;
Like patriots of old, we'll fight our heritage to save;
And rather than submit to shame, to die we would prefer ;
So cheer for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star '"
221

CHAPTER XVII.
Morton's Artillery at Athens, Ala.
General Maury, who had been placed temporarily
in comraand of the departraent, telegraphed General For
rest to corae and help hira out in Mobile. This order
broke up a very pleasant carap in a lovely grove near
Grenada, and after a hasty reorganization a start was
made for Mobile, but at Meridian Gen. Richard Tay
lor was encountered, and he brought news of his own
appointment to the coraraand of the departraent, and
stated that Mobile was no longer in need of General For
rest's assistance. General Taylor was a brother-in-law
of President Davis, and he had orders toi study General
Forrest and give hira as rauch liberty in his raoveraents
as he thought him capable of using to good advantage.
A very short conversation convinced him that here was
a man who could do best without being hampered, and
he forthwith gave him the greatest freedom in making
and carrying out his plans. The Federals had now aban
doned Mississippi, and General Forrest wanted to get
back into Tennessee, where he hoped to cut off General
Sherman's supplies. Given a free hand by General Tay
lor, he turned back and raet his troops twenty miles
from Meridian and returned to Grenada. Here he be
gan iraraediate raeasures for increasing the efficiency of
his force. Buford's Division was quartered at Verona,
with Bell's, Lyon's, and Rucker's Brigades. Chalmers
was ordered to take command at Grenada of all troops
not selected for the expedition. General Forrest made
personal inspection of each regiraent in order to ascer
tain exactly its material and component parts. The Mem-
222

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
phis and Charleston and the Mobile and Ohio Railroads
were repaired from Verona to Corinth, and frora Corinth
to the Alabaraa State line. Negroes were impressed for
this work, and it was pushed with the greatest rapidity.
Everybody was infused with the eagerness and ardor of
"the coraraander. There were no laggards nor idlers.
By the i6th of Septeraber the railroad was in readiness
as far as Corinth, and General Forrest, with 3,542 ef
fective men, besides his escort, staff, and Hudson's and
Morton's Batteries under Captain Morton, moved to that
point over the Mobile and Ohio. The train on the Mem
phis and Charleston road was not quite ready, but the
soldiers were set to work cutting wood and bringing
buckets of water for the boilers, and the delay was slight.
At Cherokee Station a halt of several hours was made,
and rations were cooked and horses shod. The artillery
marched with Bell's, Lyon's, and Rucker's Brigades and
crossed the Tennessee River at Newport, joining Gen
eral Forrest near Athens, Ala., which place was reached
near sundown of September 23.
Personnel of the Command.
The personnel of the command was as follows: Chal
mers's Division, consisting of McCulloch's Brigade, Col.
Robert McCulloch ; Second Missouri Cavalry, Lieut. Cok
R. A. McCulloch; Twelfth Tennessee, Lieut. Col. J. V.
Green; Fifteenth Tennessee, Col. F. M. Stewart; Wil
lis's Texas Battalion, Lieut. Col. Leo Willis; Seventh
Mississippi Cavalry, Lieut. Col. S. M. Hyams; Fifth
Mississippi Cavalry, Maj. W. G. Henderson; Fourteenth
Tennessee, Col. J. J. Neely; Seventh Tennessee, Col. W.
L. Duckworth; Eighth Mississippi Cavalry, Col. W. L.
Duiif; Eighteenth Mississippi Cavalry, Col. Alex H.
Chalmers; Rucker's Brigade, Col. Edward W. Rucker;
223

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Forrest's (old) Regiraent, Lieut. Col. David C. Kelley.
Buford's Division, consisting of the Third Kentucky Cav
alry, Col. G. A. C. Holt; Seventh Kentucky, Col. E.
Crossland; Eighth Kentucky, Lieut. Col. A. R. Shack-
lett; Twelfth Kentucky, Col. W. C. Faulkner; Bell's
Brigade, Col. Tyree H. Bell; Lyon's Brigade, Brig. Gen.
H. B. Lyon; Second Tennessee, Col. C. R. Barteau p
Nineteenth Tennessee, Col. J. F. Newsora; Twentieth
Tennessee, Col. R. M. Russell; Twenty-First Tennessee,
Col. A. N. Wilson. Morton's and Hudson's Batteries
were commanded by Capt. J. W. Morton.
Athens was an unusually strong fort on an embank
ment. Surrounding the fort was a ditch seven or eight
feet wide and about the sarae depth. The ditch was pro
tected with a stockade fence of tree tops lashed together
with wire, the ends sharpened. The news of General
Forrest's move to Mobile having gained general cre
dence, his appearance at this point was a complete sur
prise, and the cavalry guards in front of the town fled
in dismay to the fort when he appeared, leaving their
horses and equipments in their camp. This camp was
immediately occupied by the Confederates and the horses
distributed where most needed. The dififerent commands
were quickly stationed in diiferent parts of the town,
General Buford occupying the western portion. Gen.
Tyree H. Bell the eastern, and Col. D. C. Kelley the
southeastern section of the little city. Lieutenant Colo
nel White caraped between the ferry and the railroad,.
and Colonel Johnson guarded the Florence road. The
artillery, under comraand of Captain Morton, was ad
vantageously placed as follows : Hudson's Battery, un
der Lieut. E. S. Walton, coraraanded the fort from the
northeast; one section of Morton's Battery, under Lieut.
J. W. Brown, comraanded it frora the north; while the
224

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
other, under Lieut. J. M. Mayson, overlooked it from
the West. In this way the Federals were penned up in
the fort and blockhouse with no avenue of escape.
Colonel Barteau and Major Anderson, with a detach
ment frora the escort, were sent to the north of the city
to tear up the railroad track after the Nashville train
had passed. They did this and also captured a large
nuraber of horses which were being driven O'Ut of the
city to keep thera- from falling into General Forrest's
hands. Col. Jesse Forrest was sent to the south of the
depot and began tearing up the track. Col. Wallace
Campbell, commanding the fort, heard of this, and, board
ing the Nashville train with a detachment of one hundred
men, soon reached the scene. The Confederates waited
until the train had nearly reached the demolished rails,
then rushed behind it and quickly obstructed the track,
and the Federals, realizing they had been trapped, aban
doned the train and raade for a near-by blockhouse, hotly
eng-aged by Colonel Forrest. After two hours of de
termined effort. Colonel Carapbell and his men succeeded
in reaching the fort, with a loss of seven killed and
wounded. It must be reraerabered that General Forrest's men ac
complished this investiture between sundown and lo
o'clock, after a week of continuous marching. This was
ever General Forrest's way. When his soldiers had
reached the limit of endurance, he set them the example
of accomplishing still further achievements, and they
never failed to respond nobly to his pride and confidence
in thera.
Opening the Fight.
Captain Morton opened a rapid artillery fire upon the
fort, the skirraishers at the same time moving forward
15 225

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
to within a hundred yards of the walls, and all the com
mands deploying their men as if moving to take part in
a general attack. Great care was taken to make all the
moveraents where they could be observed by those within
the fort. No firing was done except frora the artillery;
and after a prolonged fusillade from this source, a flag
of truce was sent forward, and Maj. J. P. Strange, Ad
jutant General, bore the following communication :
Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry,
In the Field, Sept. 24, 1864.
Officer Commanding U. S. Forces, Athens, Ala.
I demand an absolute and unconditional surrender of the entire
force and all government stores and property at this post. I have
a sufficient force to storm and take your works; and if I ara
forced to do so, the responsibility of the consequences must rest
with you. Should you, however, accept the terms, all white sol
diers shall be treated as prisoners of war and the negroes retumed
to their masters. A reply is requested immediately.
Respectfully, N. B. Forrest, Major General C. S. A.
Now the fort at Athens was built with the especial ob
ject of repelling attacks from cavalry, infantry, or artil
lery. Colonel Campbell refused the demand for surrender.
General Forrest then dispatched another note, which
read: Colonel: I desire an interview with you outside of the fort, at
any place you may designate, provided it meets with your views.
My only object is to prevent the effusion of blood that must follow
the storming of the place. N. B. Forrest, Major General.
Colonel Carapbell consented to the interview ; and after
passing the custoraary araenities of military etiquette.
General Forrest said : "Colonel, I mean to take this fort,
regardless of loss of life and bloodshed. I have more than
plenty of men to do it with, and I am- expecting reenforce-
226

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
ments. Besides," he added earnestly, "if I am forced to
storm and take your fort, the responsibility of the conse
quences must rest on you. I have asked for the surren
der in the narae of huraanity. I want you to understand
this." This was after the battle of Fort Pillow, and Gen
eral Forrest still rested under the iraputation (in Federal
lines) O'f having shown noi quarter to his prisoners.
Colonel Carapbell consulted with a staff officer, who
accompanied hira, and then said: "Show me your troops."
Everything had been arranged for such a trip of in
spection. "I am willing to do so," was the prompt reply,
"if you are ready to give me your decision as to surren
der as soon as we have inspected thera."
Colonel Campbell retired to the fort ; and after consul
tation with the coraraanders of the various detachments
there, it was decided that if, after inspection by himself
and another officer, it was found that the Confederates
had as many as eight or ten thousand troops, it would be
worse than murder to resist.
Parade of General Forrest's Force.
In company with one of his officers. Colonel Campbell
rode through the lines of battle with General Forrest, the
latter pointing out the several bodies of soldiers. "Do
you see that detachraent of infantry there?" he asked,
pointing to the dismounted cavalry. "My cavalry is off
yonder in the distance," pointing to the horse holders in
a skirt of woods some distance away. Captain Morton
next made a display of his two batteries of artillery;
and then the cavalrymen, now mounted, dashed intoi view
and deployed with great show of force; then more artil
lery at another point; then raore infantry (the horse hold
ers this tirae), followed by more artillery — until the whole
place seemed to the Federal commander to be swarming
227

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

with enthusiastic troops and bristling with guns. Cap
tain Morton made his eight guns appear on Colonel
Campbell's list as twenty-four from these raoveraents.
Not without shrewdness. Colonel Carapbell had de
layed the parley as long as he could in the hope that re
enforceraents would arrive; but none having done so by
eleven o'clock, and General Forrest pressing the question
with great firraness, he ordered the surrender of the fort,
with its artillery.
Wisdom of the Surrender.
That the raen and officers who held no communication
with the Confederate commander agreed with General
Sherman that General Forrest "cowed" the Union offi
cers opposing him is shown by the following communi
cation : Enterprise, Miss., October 17, 1864.
We, the undersigned officers in the United States service, who
were surrendered to Maj. Gen. N. B. Forrest at Athens, Ala., on
the 24th day of September, 1864, by Col. W. Campbell, commanding
the post, feel it incumbent upon us to make known to the public
the precise situation of affairs in the fort at the time, in order that
the responsibility of the surrender may rest upon the proper per
sons, and also place upon record our judgment as to the necessity
of the surrender.
The fort was a strong one, well built, 1,350 feet in circum
ference, 17 feet from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the
parapet, and encircled by both a palisade and an abatis of felled
trees. It was considered by inspecting officers to be the strongest
work between Nashville and Decatur.
The garrison at the time of surrender consisted of detachments
from the One Hundred and Sixth, One Hundred and Tenth, and
One Hundred and Eleventh Regiments U. S. Colored Infantry,
numbering in the aggregate 469 efficient men. In addition to the
colored troops there were 150 men belonging to the Third Tennes
see Cavalry, and two 12-pound howitzers. On the night of the 23d
and 24th the colonel commanding caused nearly, if not quite, all
the commissary stores at the post to be moved into the fortifica
tions. These stores were thought ample for a siege of ten days.
228

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
A well in the fort afforded a sufficient supply of water. As for the
ammunition, there was at the time about 70,000 rounds of elongated
ball cartridges and an ample supply for the carbines of the cavalry
men. For the howitzers there were 120 rounds each.
Our pickets were driven in at 5 :30 p.m. on the 23d, and from
that time until long past dark there was a good deal of skirmishing.
The night was passed in making preparations to receive the enemy
and getting provisions into the fort.
On the morning of the 24th, about 7 o'clock, the enemy opened
fire on the fort, throwing solid shot and shell from a battery
planted on the Buck Island road. Shortly after they opened on
us another battery from the Brown's Ferry road. From these two
batteries the enemy threw fifty-five or sixty shots. Of this number
of shots twenty-four struck in the fort or buildings in the fort,
causing the death of only one man, a noncombatant, and wounding;
one soldier. At 9 a.m. the enemy sent in a flag of truce de
manding the surrender of the place ; this was refused by Colonel
Campbell. General Forrest then again demanded the surrender of
the place, stating that he had ample force to take it, and offering to
show his force to Colonel Campbell. Colonel Campbell then called
a council of officers commanding detachments, in which council, we
are informed, but two officers voted in favor of a surrender, neither
of whom had a command in the fort.
Of the forty-five officers present in the fort at the time this
council was held but eight were consulted, and of these eight there
were several who had no command present with them in the fort,
whilst officers who had the largest number of men under their
charge were excluded. Colonel Campbell, after reviewing the forces-
of the enemy, returned to the fort, saying, "The jig is up; pull down
the flag," thus surrendering the best fortification on the line of the
Nashville and Decatur Railroad.
We also feel it our duty to make mention of the bearing and
disposition of the soldiers in the fort, both white and black. It
was everything that any officer could wish of any set of men.
So far from there being any disposition on the part of the men
to surrender or to avoid a fight, it was just the reverse. Officers
had to exert all their authority, even to threatening to shoot their
own men, to restrain them from exposing themselves. The soldiers
were anxious to try conclusions with General Forrest, believing that
in such a work they could not be taken by ten times their number.
When told that the fort had been surrendered, and that they were
prisoners, they could scarcely believe it, but with tears demanded
that the fight should go on, preferring to die in the fort they had
made to being transferred to the tender mercies of General Forrest
229

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
and his men. Another thing should be taken into consideration,
which is, that we were on the point of receiving reenforcements.
While the truce was in operation, and during the time occupied
by Colonel Campbell in view of the enemy's force, firing was heard
on the Nashville and Decatur Railroad. This came from the force
of our troops sent to our relief from Decatur, consisting of de
tachments from the Eighteenth Michigan and One Hundred and
Second Ohio Infantry, numbering 360 men, commanded by Lieu
tenant Colonel Elliott, of the One Hundred and Second Ohio, who
was severely wounded. These brave men had forced their way
through three lines of the enemy; were within musket range of
the fort when our flag was lowered. The surrender of the fort
allowed General Forrest to throw a portion of his force between
the fort and them, thus compelling them to surrender after a hard
fight of three hours' duration, during which they lost one-third of
their number in killed and wounded, and that after they had ar
rived almost at the very gates of our fort.
In conclusion we do not hesitate to say over our signatures that
the surrender was uncalled for by the circumstances, was against
our wishes, and ought not to have been made.
Signed; [Here follow the signatures of some thirty-one officers.]
We also respectfully request that a thorough and immediate
investigation of the above statements be made, that our names
may not be placed in the list of cowards in the general summing
up of our nation's history.
Very respectfully, etc.. Officers That Were Surrendered.
We would also respectfully request that permission be granted
us to publish the original statement, of which this is a verbatim
copy.* After due investigation, Brig. Gen. R. S. Granger re
ported the conduct of Colonel Campbell to be "disap
proved by every one, and disgraceful in the extreme."!
Colonel Campbell, after vainly requesting a court of
inquiry, tendered his resignation and received an hon
orable discharge.
The reenforcements hoped for by Colonel Campbell
were nearer than he drearaed of, being only about a mile
away when the surrender was completed. General For-
*Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part I., pages 523, 524, 525, 526.
tIbid., page 528. 230

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
rest heard the firing while the negotiations were going
on, and sent reenforcements to Colonels Kelley, Log
wood, and Jesse Forrest, who were guarding the road
in the direction of Decatur. These soon brought in the
additional prisoners.
A Comical Dutchman.
There now reraained the capture of the blockhouses
between Athens and Pulaski, Tenn. One of these was
coraraanded by a Dutch officer. A demand for surrender
was sent in to himi by Captain Morton before any shots
were fired, and he angrily replied : "Shoost tell Sheneral
Forrest dot I vill nefer surrender. I haf but vun debt
to pay to mein Gott, und I pay heera in mein block
house. And do you git avay from here d — d qvick, or
I'll haf mein gunners shoot your d — d head from your
shoulders oif!" This message seemed to anger General
Forrest extremely, and he raade the atraosphere blue for
a while. "Does the d — d fool want to be blown up?" he
asked Capt. Pleas Sraith, who had bome the flag of truce
and the reply. "Well, I'll blow him up, then. Give him
hell, Captain Morton— -as hot as you've got it, too."
The first shot did very little damage, raerely tearing
away a large log on top, but the second plowed be
tween two logs, raised a shower of logs, planks, shingles,
and dust that looked like a first-class cyclone had struck
the building. Five were killed and nine were wounded.
Instantly a white cloth floated from a porthole, and Cap
tain Morton ordered the firing to cease.
"Go on, John, go on. That was bully. Keep it up!"
shouted the General jubilantly.
"Why, General, I see a white cloth from a porthole,"
replied Captain Morton; "look yonder!"
"Well, I don't see any," said General Forrest, glower-
231

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
ing at his Chief of Artillery. "Keep on firing. It'll take
a sheet to attract my eye at this distance."
A few more volleys brought a rauch larger flag, and
when the Confederate officers advanced to receive the
blockhouse, its coraraander "was the gladdest person,"
says Capt. Pleas Sraith, "to get out alive that I ever saw.
He seeraed to think raore of his life just then than of
his debt to God or anything else."
The Dutchraan was very useful to the Confederates in
the capture of the other blockhouses, for he was sent in
with the demand for surrender, and his account of the
attack on hira generally produced a surrender without
the firing of a shot. On the doors of the blockhouse a
notice was posted warning its defenders that it had been
built especially to withstand cavalry, infantry, or artillery
attacks, and any officer surrendering it would be cash
iered without trial.
Araong the Dutchman's stores was found a large sup
ply of beer, a treat to which the Confederates had been
strangers for three years. A large quantity of army
clothing was found, too, and this proved very acceptable
in the sharp fall weather just setting in.
Between Athens and Sulphur Trestle, the next engage
ment of iraportance, the captures aggregated between
1,500 and 2,000 prisoners, two locoraotives, two trains
with their locomotives, 38 wagons and four arabulances,
two i2-poimd howitzers, a thousand stands of small
arms, aramunition, and rations in large quantities, and
500 horses ; and this with a loss of five killed and twenty-
five wounded. Such supplies as were needed were is
sued to the men, and the rest, filling twenty wagons,
were sent with the prisoners to Florence under Colonel
Nixon. The bridges, blockhouses, military buildings,
and unavailable stores were burned.
232

CHAPTER XVIII.
Capture of Sulphur Springs Trestle, Elk River,
Richland Creek, and Intervening
Blockhouses.
Sulphur Springs Trestle was the next point of at
tack. This trestle, spanning a seventy-foot ravine, was
some four hundred feet in length, and one of the most
iraportant points on the Alabaraa and Tennessee Rail
road, mnning between Nashville and Decatur. A strong
blockhouse guarded each end, and a fort had been built
near by for its further protection. The position was
known to be defended by a heavy garrison and artillery.
The guns were arranged to sweep all avenues of approach
to the fort, and the garrison force was about i,ooo men,
800 of these being negro troops.
A line of rifle pits surrotmded the fort sorae two hun
dred yards from it. While General Forrest was recon
noitering for advantageous positions for his forces, Cap
tain Morton found and reported four points for the
artillery. An elevation on the south side of the trestle was re
leased for Hudson's Battery, under Lieutenant Walton.
The two sections of Morton's Battery and Ferrell's Bat
tery, all three under the personal command of Captain
Morton, the Chief of Artillery, were quickly disposed on
three sides of the fort and firing promptly opened, with
out the usual demand for a surrender. Under cover of
the artillery fire, General Buford moved forward and
Colonel Kelley's gallant brigade crossed an exposed po
sition to a more protected spot, from which their shots
would be eifective. Colonel Kelley suifered some loss
233

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
in this courageous move, and his horse was shot from
under hira; but he continued the advance with charac
teristic coolness, and once in position his fire was so
rapid and accurate that the eneray could not maintain a
lookout. The rapid advance of the Confederate troops
and the destructive rain of shot and shell raking the
four faces of the front from the artillery created con
sternation among the Federals, although their guns were
at first handled in excellent style, one in particular on
the north side giving great trouble. Observing the ac
tion of this gun closely, Captain Morton saw that the
Federal artillerymen moved it to the porthole, discharged
it, and withdrew. Directing Sergeant Zaring to reserve
the fire of his gun until specially ordered, Captain Mor
ton continued his fusillade from the rest of his battery,
watching carefully for the answer from the fort.
Just as the Federal artilleryraen moved their gun into
the porthole Sergeant Zaring was given the order to
fire, and the shot struck square in the face of the op
posing gun, exploding it and killing five raen, including
the raajor of the fort.
It was afterwards learned that the third volley from
Morton's Battery had overturned one of the guns and
killed six artillerymen, while another shot from the other
section of this battery soon disraantled the reraaining
guns. General Jordan says of the artillery in this action :
The Confederate practice was excellent; every shell fell and
exploded within the Federal work, whose faces, swept in great
part by an enfilading 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 through these
feeble barriers either set them on fire or leveled them to the
ground, killing or wounding their inraates and adding to the wild
helplessness and confusion of the enemy, who, though making,
meanwhile, no effort to surrender, had, nevertheless, become ut-
234

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
terly impotent for defense. Seeing their situation and desiring to
put a stop to the slaughter. General Forrest, ordering a cessation
of hostilities, demanded a capitulation. The demand was promptly
acceded to, and the capitulation of the blockhouses, as well as the
redoubt, was speedily accomplished through the proper staff officers.
The interior of the work presented a sanguinary, sickening spec
tacle. As we have said, all the buildings within the parapet had
either been razed or burned to the ground. Eight hundred rounds
of ammunition had been expended by Morton's 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 been
wounded. The brushing shells had done their work effectively
upon this poor, misofficered force, whose defense, manifestly from
its feebleness, had been thus prolonged because the officers, paralyzed
under the tempest of iron showered upon them, knew not what to
do in the exigency. Officers and men who capitulated were 820;
the other results were two pieces of artillery, wagons, and teams,
about 350 cavalry horses, with their equipments complete, and a
large quantity of ordnance and commissary stores,*
Further Captures.
So effective had been the shots from the sraall arms
and Morton's Artillery that only about thirty were
wounded. The Confederate loss included Captain Car
ter and Major Doran wounded and the gallant Capt.
Jaraes J. Kirkraan killed. Although a large quantity of
stores were taken with the fort, there was very little
araraunition for the artillery, and so exhausted had the
Confederate supply becorae that General Forrest sent
back four pieces of his own artillery to Florence with the
captured wagons and prisoners, it being his intention to
push on to the north in the direction of Tennessee, tak
ing the chances of capturing sufficient araraunition. The
night of the 25th was spent in collecting and caring for
?Jordan & Pryor's "Campaigns of General Forrest," pages 569, 570.
235

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the wounded on both sides and cutting down and bum
ing the long trestle. The fort and blockhouses were also
burned. General Buford and Captain Morton were de
tached, however, with Lyon's Brigade and Morton's Bat
tery to destroy the blockhouses at Elk River, sorae seven
or eight miles farther on, as well as such bridges, trestles,
and supplies as could be reached with their small force.
There was no exciteraent in the raarch, as the block
houses at Elk River and Richland Creek surrendered
without the firing of a gun on the report of the captured
Dutchman, to whom reference has been made. "Poys,"
he said on arriving within the blockhouse, "you better
surrender. Sheneral Forrest iss oudt here, and he got
guns vot can bore right through you like auger."
The blockhouses at Elk River and Richland Creek
were occupied by negro troops. Col. George Spalding,
coraraanding the Fourth Cavalry Division, gives the fol
lowing account of their surrender:
Headquarters Fourth Division Cavalry,
Army of the Cumberland,
Pulaski, Tenn., Sept. 29, 1864.
I have the honor to submit the following report in regard to
the operations of the troops under my command in opposition to
those of General Forrest :
When I reached Pulaski, which was at 9 o'clock at night, on the
24th instant, Athens, Ala., and the troops at that place had been
surrendered to General Forrest.
In accordance with orders from General Starkweather, I moved
about 3 a.m. on the 2Sth inst. for Elk River bridge. I was ordered
to assume command of all the forces between Sulphur Branch and
Elk River. I arrived at Elk River about 8 a.m. on the 2Sth, and as
soon as the horses of the command were fed I moved to the support
of Sulphur Branch, the troops at that place being very hard pressed.
I had 800 men, composed of one battalion of the Tenth Indiana Cav
alry, Company I, Ninth Indiana Cavalry, and the effective force of
the Tenth and Twelfth Tennessee Regiments, Cavalry Volunteers.
I arrived in the vicinity of Sulphur Branch trestle at 11 a.m. on the
2Sth inst., and found the enemy in strong force. I engaged them
236

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
immediately with my small but gallant force, and after fighting
about twenty minutes I learned that the fort near the trestle had
surrendered. I, therefore, deemed it prudent to withdraw to Elk
River. I camped at Elk River on the night of the 2Sth inst., in
tending to hold the bridge until reenforcements should arrive,
which were furnished that night. (See copy of telegram No. i.)
In order to do this I withdrew the garrison of the stockade south
of Elk River, and placed them in stockade at Elk River blockhouses,
making the garrison at these two houses about one hundred strong.
At 3 a.m. on the 26th inst., reenforcements not having arrived and
the enemy having driven in my pickets on my right, left, and
(center) front, I deemed it necessary to move my cavalry out of
such a position as soon as possible. Before morning I sent for the
officers commanding the colored troops garrisoned at Elk River
bridge, and moved them to hold the blockhouses at all hazards ;
also exhibited the dispatches (see copies Nos. i and 2) in regard
to reenforcements. I told them also I would be obliged to with
draw my cavalry, or Forrest would have me surrounded before
daylight. They promised to hold the blockhouses until they were
knocked to pieces. Accordingly I moved off gently in the direction
of Pulaski until daybreak, when I halted to learn the location of the
country. To my great surprise I found that the negro soldiers and
their oflicers that I had left to hold the bridge had abandoned the
stockade and had been in advance of my cavalry all the morning,
having evacuated the stockades without tiring a shot.* I arrested
all of my colored soldiers and sent them under guard to Richland
Creek bridge, that being the nearest blockhouse. At Richland
Creek I found that the officer in charge of blockhouses had ordered
the colored soldiers to pack their knapsacks preparatory to a move
to Pulaski. I immediately sent directions to the captain in com
mand of the blockhouses to make a stubborn resistance, and also
stated that I would support him and shoot every officer and soldier
that I found deserting his post. Having received information that
the enemy had moved to Elkton, I proceeded south on the Elkton
Pike for the purpose of intercepting them, at the same time sending
Captain Donahue, with fifty men, back, with instructions to go to
Elk River bridge, if possible. I had proceeded about five miles
when a courier from Captain Donahue informed me that he had
been driven back, and that the enemy was advancing in strong
force along the railroad. I then moved toward Pulaski and took
position at the junction of the Elkton Pike and road running par-
*Italics not in original document.
237

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
aliel to the railroad, where I fought them until dark on the evening
of September 26, when I was relieved by Colonel Jones, command
ing a brigade of cavalry. I was allowed to camp at Pulaski during
the night of the 26th. September 27 I was ordered by General
Johnson, Chief of Cavalry, Military Division of the Mississippi, to
report to General Croxton. I moved from Pulaski at daylight
and reported to General Croxton, four miles south on the Elkton
Pike. I was ordered to form on the right of the line, and hold it,
if possible, which order I carried out until ordered to fall back on
Pulaski. This movement I accomplished, moving back at the right
of a battalion, covering my rear with a heavy line of skirmishers,
which inflicted heavy loss on the enemy. On my arrival at Pulaski
I took position on the right of General Croxton's Brigade on Col
lege Hill, where we skirmished with the enemy until dark, repulsing
a charge of the Rebel brigade commanded by General Lyon. On
the morning of the 28th inst., the enemy having retreated during
the night, I was ordered by Major General Rousseau to ascertain
the direction the Rebels had taken. Accordingly I moved out on
the Elkton Pike, from there across to the Fayetteville Pike, then
toward Fayetteville to Bradshaw Creek, and, having ascertained
positively that Forrest, with his command, had taken the Fayette
ville Pike, I was ordered to return to Pulaski, which I did on the
morning of the 29th inst.
Thus ended the part taken by my troops in the Forrest raid.
My command was in the saddle eight days and nights, and marched
230 miles, with frequent skirmishes with the enemy, with a loss
of one private killed, two captains, three lieutenants, eight sergeants,
one corporal, thirty-four privates wounded, and three privates miss
ing; also demonstrating to the world that there are no braver or
better soldiers than Tennesseeans.
I feel compelled to call the attention of the authorities to the
disgraceful surrender of all the blockhouses between Elk River
and Pulaski. Every one of these houses, with one exception, sur
rendered without the firing of one piece of artillery by the enemy.
At Richland Creek the blockhouse was surrendered to the enemy's
skirmishers. I drove the enemy's skirmish line back and held the
bridge over Richland Creek three hours and a half, after the negro
troops had surrendered the blockhouse.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
George Spalding, Colonel Commanding.
To Lieut. J. D. Hazzard,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General.
238

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Fight at Pulaski.
Several bridges and sraall trestles were burned, as well
as a supply of cord wood piled along the railroad track.
A rendezvous was raade at Richland Creek and the raarch
in full force resumed toward Pulaski. The coramand
now numbered about 3,000 raen, all well provisioned
and raounted and all flushed with the successes of the
expedition. The Federals were encountered, about 6,000
strong, sorae railes out of Pulaski, and a heavy skirmish
ensued, during which Morton's Artillery was engaged in
some of the quickest raoveraents and the hottest firing
of the war. A heaA^ running fight ensued. General For
rest, with characteristic boldness, taking the offensive
and the eneray contesting every inch of the ground.
Pressing forward with the artillery in front. General For
rest forced a retreat toward Pulaski ; and although the
enemy constantly turned and gave fight, they were driv
en into the breastworks within the town. It was found
to be too heavily garrisoned for an attack, and after dem
onstrations all afternoon to cover the movements of a
detachment sent to the north of the town to destroy the
railroad and telegraph wires, the Confederate force with
drew for a distance of several miles, leaving long lines
of camp fires, which kept the eneray in position for bat
tle all night. A heavy soaking rain began to fall about
daylight, and the force was put in raotion toward Fay
etteville, forty railes away, which was reached that sarae
day. Here telegraphic coraraunication was destroyed and
some damage done the railroad, and the march was re
sumed in the direction of Tullahoma.
When General Forrest Ran.
The roads were ordinary country roads, very muddy
after the recent rains and much cut up by the passage
239

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
of the artillery. Capt. Andrew McGregor was strug
gling with a captured caisson, which had stuck in the
mud and refused to budge, when General Forrest rode
up. General Forrest, thinking the men were not exj
pending sufficient energy in the eifort, began to upbraid
them. "V^/'ho has charge here, anyhow?" he blundered.
"I have. General," replied Captain McGregor.
"Then why in hell don't you do something?" shouted
General Forrest, proceeding to utter further emphatic
utterances. Captain McGregor sprang up. "I'll not be cursed out
by anybody, even a superior officer," he roared, and,
seizing a torch, he rararaed it violently into the caisson.
General Forrest seeraed stupefied for a raoment by the
insanity of thrusting a lighted torch into a caisson full
of powder, then clapped spurs to his horse and rode
away as fast as he could, shouting a waming to the
others. Reaching his staff, he asked: "What infernal
lunatic is that just out of the asylum down there? He
came near blowing hiraself and me up with a whole
caisson full of powder."
The members of the staff knew the caisson was empty,
and everybody laughed heartily, General Forrest readily
joining in as he saw the point. It was noticed, how
ever, that he never used profanity to Captain McGregor
after that.
When fifteen miles from Tullahoma, scouts brought in
inforraation that the force frora which he had slipped
away at Pulaski was raoving to confront hira at Tulla-
horaa. Both raen and horses were foot-sore and ex
hausted by the forced marches and continued action, and
the rain was still falling, so that General Forrest deemed
it prudent to retire for a time at least.
240

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Return to the Tennessee River.
Tlie Tennessee River was rising rapidly, and there
were no means of crossing it, except a few small ferry
boats in the neighborhood of Florence. General For
rest, therefore, decided to divide his force, sending Gen
eral Buford, with a portion of his division (Kelley's and
Johnson's Brigades), by way of Huntsville, while he re
mained to draw the enemy's attention. Captain Morton
took the reraaining artillery with hira, as the ararauni
tion was now entirely exhausted.
In the meantime the rumor of General Forrest's pres
ence had caused uneasiness in Tullahoma. Major Gen
eral Milroy, in command there, began tO' telegraph for
help, and his calls were quickly answered, so that he was
able to wire complacently, if inelegantly, on Septeraber
28: Forrest may grab up some of my blockhouses with his artillery,
but Bridgeport, Stevenson, the tunnel. Elk River bridge, Tullahoma,
Duck River bridge, and Murfreesboro will be held against Forrest
at all hazards.*
Leaving the rest of the comraand to return by way of
their old staraping ground around Colurabia and Spring
Hill, Buford's detachment and Morton's Artillery pushed
rapidly on, intent only on covering the distance between
them and Huntsville. As this place was approached
scouts and citizens brought word that it was strongly
garrisoned, and that General Steedman was moving in
that direction with 8,000 infantry to prevent the Con
federates, 1,500 in number, frora crossing the river. The
attempt was abandoned, therefore, and the route of march
changed toward Newport, where it was known that there
were a few sraall ferryboats.
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part II., page 511.
16 241

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
A Difficult Ferriage.
This point was reached October 5, and the work of
crossing begun iraraediately. The river is about a mile
wide here and was very high, being so full of driftwood
that the swiraraing horses were greatly endangered. This
danger was preferable, however, to the risk of being
overtaken by General Steedman, who was reported to be
headed for the crossing; and as the boats were less than
a dozen in nuraber, it was, of course, impossible to use
thera for the horses. The rain had ceased, but the wind,
rising, blew the waves with such force that it was only
by constant bailing with their hats that the men kept the
boats from being swamped. Thus battling with the wind
and current, the crossing was slower than had ever been
raade, and General Forrest carae up before it had fully
been effected. Although the weather was quite cold, no
fires were lighted, even for cooking purposes. It was
afternoon on the 7th before the whole force was safely
over; and both Steedman and Rousseau being now in
unpleasant proxiraity, it was necessary to devise some
way of escaping them without giving battle.
Pursuit by the Federals.
General Sherraan's wonderful acuraen, perceiving that
the daraage inflicted by General Forrest was in no wise
dependent upon the size of his forces, enabled him^ to
calculate the result of this expedition as soon as he heard
of it. He therefore began at once to arrange for pur
suit, collecting all available forces to meet the 5,000 Con
federates. General Grant, too, was anxious to capture
General Forrest at all costs, and telegraphed General
Sherraan to concentrate all his efforts for the time being
242

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
in this direction.* General Sherraan called upon Generals
Thomas, Rousseau, Steedman, Washburn, A. J. Smith,
Croxton, and Webster for assistance, and all of these be
came eagerly interested in finding the whereabo'Uts and in
tentions of their prey. But the elusive General Forrest
once again slipped through their toils, and reached Chero^
kee Station, Ala., on the 6th of October. Morton's Artil
lery, during the fifteen days since leaving Cherokee Sta
tion, September 21, had participated in the following en
gagements. September 23. — Investment of Athens.
September 24. — Action at and surrender of Athens.
September 25. — Action at and surrender of Sulphur Springs
trestle.
September 26. — Surrender of blockhouses at Elk River and
Richland Creek.
September 27. — Skirmish at Pulaski.
September 29. — Skirmish near Fayetteville.
At Cherokee Station a rest of several clays was en
joyed, and so great were Captain Morton's powers of
recuperation at that time that he was able to enter alraost
immediately into the social life of the place. General
Forrest's loss during these engagements, lasting for fif
teen days almost continuously, was 47 killed and 293
wounded. He captured over 3,000 prisoners (1,000 of
these being negroes), 800 horses, 8 pieces of artillery, 50
wagons and ambulances well provisioned, 2,000 stands of
small arms, and several hundred saddles. In addition,
the railroad from Decatur to Spring Hill, with the ex
ception of one bridge, was corapletely destroyed. General
Chalmers had very effectively raenaced Meraphis, during
the absence of his chief, and delayed there the troops
meant for the reenforcement of those guarding General
Sherman's supplies at Nashville.
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part IL, page 478.
243

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
After a few days' rest at Cherokee Station a move was
made to headquarters at Corinth, the only engagement
during that time being one at Eastport by Col. D. C.
Kelley and five hundred men. Captain Morton detached
a section of Hudson's Battery, coraraanded by Lieut.
E. S. Walton, to accompany Colonel Kelley. They cap
tured 75 officers and men, 4 pieces of artillery and 60
horses, sank a gun and 2 caissons, and wounded 250
officers and raen. This short but brilliant affair caused
the Federals to spread the report that they had been at
tacked by all of General Forrest's cavalry and artillery.
"Forrest has escaped us !" was the wail that went up
frora the converging forces when it was learned that the
crossing had been effected. General Sherraan, disgusted
with their failure to overtake the swift cavalryman, and
disheartened over the losses recently inflicted by General
Wheeler in that same region, telegraphed General Grant
on October 9 :
It will be a physical impossibility to protect the roads, now that
Hood, Forrest, and Wheeler, and the whole batch of devils are
turned loose without home or habitation.*
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part III., page 162.
244

CHAPTER XIX.
Morton's Artillery at Fort Heiman.
General Forrest now applied for leave of absence,
as the long strain of active service had told on his health
and his physicians advised a rest of at least a month.
His private business affairs, too, had suffered greatly
from neglect during his long absence, and it was thought
a month at horae would be of iraraense benefit to him.
General Taylor, however, felt that the service could not
spare hira at this tirae, and requested hira to undertake
an expedition he had once proposed against Johnsonville,
which had now becorae an iraportant depot for the for
warding of supplies by way of Nashville tO' Atlanta.
In preparation for the expedition against Johnson
ville the troops asserabled at Jackson, Tenn., where re
cruits and absentees were gathered in. Morton's Artil
lery was divided, one section being assigned to Chal
mers's Division, another to Bell's Brigade, while Mor
ton's and Walton's Batteries were sent with Buford's
Division to Lexington, with Captain Morton in com
mand, from' thence to Huntington, and from there by
way of Paris to the raouth of the Big Sandy River.
Bell's and Chalmers's Brigades and General Forrest's es
cort and staff followed. Buford, leading the advance, on
reaching Paris divided his forces between Paris Landing
and a point five railes farther down, alraost opposite old
Fort Heiman. Two guns were placed opposite Fort Hei
man and twoi at Paris Landing. Each of these sections
was masked and each commanded the river about a raile
from either direction. All was in readiness by daylight
of October 29, when General Forrest joined Buford and
245

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Morton. The Federals, in utter ignorance of the prox
imity of the Confederates, were pursuing their river
traffic in fancied security.
Capture of the Mazeppa.
The first boat to pass the Confederate guns was the
Mazeppa, an unarmed transport with two barge? in tow.
She passed the lower guns in safety and a few rods
farther on was surprised to receive a terrific raking from
the masked batteries. The shells went straight through
the sides of the vessel, and the crew in consternation
headed her for the northern bank and ran her ashore,
escaping through the woods, the coramanding officer
alone remaining upon the disabled vessel.
Towing the Prize.
As the Confederates had no boats, rafts, or skiffs of
any kind, they were at a loss how to reach and utilize
their captured prize, until Private "Clabe" West volun
teered to cross the river and tow the boat and barge
across. The water was quite cold at this season of the
year, but Private West divested hiraself of raost of his
clothing, tied his pistol around his neck, found a punch
eon, which he pushed into the river, and with a board for
an oar he paddled across. The Federal officer courteous
ly helped the unclothed soldier to the deck of the vessel.
The two now lowered the stearaer's skiff and Private
West rowed back to the landing.
General Buford, Captain Morton, Private West, and
two other officers accorapanied the yawl back to the trans
port and took forraal possession. They were delighted
to find it bountifully stocked with both the necessities
and luxuries of life. Private West rowed the skiff across
again, taking a coil of rope, which was fastened by one
246

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
end to the stearaer's engine. The soldiers then pulled
the stearaer across by the rope.
Among the luxuries a jug of French brandy carae to
light, and as the boat was being pulled across General
Buford, who was on the hurricane deck, raised the jug
to his lips. The raen on the bank chaffingly called to
him not to take it all, and the General replied: "Plenty
of meat, boys, plenty of hard-tack, shoes, and clothes for
all the boys, but just whisky enough for the General."
The cargo was unloaded and carried sorae distance
from the bank and turned over to the comraissary and
quarterraaster's departraent. While this was being done
three more gunboats appeared from above and began to
shell the raen who were unloading the cargo. Morton's
Artillery becanie active, and they soon returned ; but Gen
eral Buford, fearing that they raight return for the pur
pose of recapturing the Mazeppa, had it burned.
Ruse of the Anna.
The next day the Anna carae down the river, and, not
suspecting the presence of the eneray, was stearaing by
in moderate time, when a volley from Morton's Artillery
brought her to a realization of her danger. The captain
of the Anna was a resourceful raan. As soon as he saw
that he was in danger his whistles gave the signal to
stop. He ran out a white flag and turned in toward the
bank. The firing ceased and the Confederates crowded
to the edge of the water, expecting to see the boat put
in; but in the act of putting about at the landing she
threw on full steara and raced past. For a raoraent the
Confederates stood in amazement and chagrin, and then
a quick msh was raade for the guns. Sorae damage was
inflicted, but the boat passed on. The shots disabled her,
247

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
but she was too far away for capture, and floated down
to the protection of the other vessels.
The Capture of the Undine.
The gunboat Undine came next, conveying the trans
port Venus and two barges, the Undine being the boat
Colonel Kelley had met so recently at Eastport. These
boats were allowed to pass the upper guns, but when
between the two batteries they were opened simultane
ously. They tried to turn and retum to Johnsonville,
but the fire frora the artillery was too heavy and they
were held in a trap. At this raoraent the steamer J. W.
Cheeseman carae in sight, and this, too, was allowed to
slip in unraolested, only to be fired at frora the bat
teries so heavily as to be completely disabled in a short
tirae. The troops, concealed in the undergrowth, assisted
in the capture of the Cheeseraan. The Undine held out
for some tirae, but was finally run to the opposite bank,
where rao^st of the officers and men escaped. The Venus
had a detachment of infantry aboard and was stubbornly
defended, but was finally compelled to surrender. The
Venus belonged to Colonel Kelley by right of capture,
as it was the furious attack from his detachraent which
induced it to surrender, and the gallant Colonel went on
board to receive the surrender. He then crossed the
river and conveyed the Undine across.
General Forrest, always experimenting with his artil
lery, called Captain Morton to his side and said : "John,
how would you like to transfer your guns to these boats
and comraand a gunboat fleet?"
"Not at all. General," replied the Chief of Artillery.
"My whole knowledge is of land batteries. I know noth
ing of water, and I prefer to stay on terra fir^ma." Con
tinuing, Captain Morton recommended that Capt. Frank
248

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
M. Gracey, of the artillery, be placed in charge, as he had
been a steamboat captain before the opening of hostilities.
Captain Gracey, now one of Clarksville's prorainent citi
zens, was an efficient captain of artillery, and was placed
in charge of the Undine.
General Forrest's Horse Marines.
General Forrest now had horse marines, and Captain
Gracey, hoisting a comraodore's flag on the Undine and
Lieut. Col. W. A. Dawson taking charge of the Venus,
these daring land lobsters started up the river, the first lot
of cavalrymen that ever attempted to run gunboats. It
was planned to use thera in an attack on Johnsonville
the next day.
"Now, General," said Colonel Dawson tOi his superior,
"I will go with these gunboats wherever you order, but 1
want to tell you now that I know nothing aboiit them,
and I want you to promise rae now that if I lose your fleet
and come in afoot you will not curse me out about it."
General Forrest laughed and told him to go ahead,
and if he couldn't hold his water dogs, tO' mn their noses
into the raud, fire them, and leave.
The new naval officers now invited the army officers
for a cmise, and sorae hours were spent maneuvering the
boats as far as prudent up and down the river. The sup^
plies from the Mazeppa were placed on board and the
boats were fitted out for action. The sight of the Con
federate pennant flying fromi the boat created great enthu
siasm among the men.
Brigadier General Meredith, at Paducah, Ky., became
alarmed when the news oif the capture of these boats
reached him. "Forrest has seven regiments, four bat
talions, and nine pieces of artillery," he reported on No
vember I. "I need more assistance. All reports concur
249

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
that he is to attack rae soon. . . I need 1,500 more
men to insure the safety of Colurabus, Ky. I ought to
have at least 2,000 more raen for this place. . . .
Give me a sufficient force and I will drive hira out of the
country."*
Loss of the Venus and Undine.
The night after the capture of the boats just mentioned
a most enjoyable party was given in Paris. The officers
"danced all night, till broad daylight," but instead of
going "home with the girls in the morning" they set out
for Johnsonville. A rain storra carae up, and this made
the moving of the guns very heavy work. Morton's
Artillery moved along the bank of the river, covering the
Undine and Venus. Chalmers's Division was in the front
and Buford's in the rear. Little progress was made that
day, as skirraishing was heavy.
Lieut. Col. William Sinclair, afterwards sent by the
Inspector General of the U. S. Army to inquire into the
Federal losses at this time, says of this day:
About 12 M. on November 3 the Undine came up the river, near
the head of the island, a little more than a mile below Johnson
ville. Our gunboats moved down to engage her, when she steamed
down the river for the purpose of decoying our boats into their
shore batteries. This was repeated twice.t
The next day the passage became easier, and the two
boats, running incautiously ahead of the artillery, ran
into two Federal gunboats, which immediately opened
fire. The Venus was in advance, and was soon so badly
damaged that Colonel Dawson ran her into the bank and
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part I., p. 867. tIbid., p. 861.
250

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
escaped with all his crew, though they did not have time
to fire the vessel, which was recaptured by the Federals
and did excellent service at Johnsonville later. The Un
dine managed to reach the protection of the batteries,
but on the next day's raarch she was surrounded by a
number of gunboats and forced to run ashore. Captain
Gracey set fire to her before escaping with his men to the
canebrakes which lined the bank. They lay hidden in
the canebrakes all day and at night they crossed on logs
and mde rafts. Thus ended the career of General For
rest's Horse Marines. 251

CHAPTER XX.
Federal Fleet and Stores at Johnsonville De
stroyed BY MoRTON^s Artillery.
Johnsonville is located on the right bank of the Ten
nessee River, two miles above Reynoldsburg and seventy-
eight railes from Nashville. On the right bank of the
river there is a range of hills coming down to within a
hundred yards of the river bank, the railroad running for
some distance along the base of these hills before reach
ing the river. The country north of the railroad in the
direction of Reynoldsburg is flat, the timber having been
cut off frora the hills and flats for more than a mile out
from: the depot on the river bank. The governnient
warehouses were on the bank. The river at this port
is about four hundred yards wide and the course straight.
The ground on the left bank was high and heavily wood
ed, no timber having been cut frora that bank for some
years. Trace Creek erapties intO' the Tennessee a half
raile below where the railroad now crosses.
When Captain Morton reached Johnsonville on the
morning of the 4th of November, he found General For
rest and General Bell at a point opposite the mouth of
Trace Creek. Sorae erabrasures had been cut into the
river bank for the guns (by Colonel Rucker's raen, it was
understood at the tirae by Captain Morton, but Colonel
Rucker has since said that he did not make them). The
troops had worked hard all night, and even after daylight,
to clear away the undergrowth and sink the chambers for
the guns.
Captain Morton, not liking the location of these open
ings, asked permission of his commander to pass up the
252

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
bank to a higher point and make an examination. Gen
eral Forrest hesitated for a moment, but gave the desired
permission, adding that the exaraination would have to
be hurried, as he had given orders tO' open up all along
the line at 12 o'clock. Galloping up the slough in the
rear of the river bank, the Chief of Artillery reached a
point opposite the town, disraounted, crawled up, and
soon took in the whole situation of the eneray. Two gun
boats with steara up were moored at the landing. An
other plied alraost directly beneath the bluff. The artil
lery captain could almost have dropped a stone upon it.
A number of barges clustered around ; negroes were load
ing thera, officers and men were coming and going, and
passengers could be seen strolling down to the wharf.
The river banks for some distance back were fined with
quantities of stores, and two freight trains were being
made up. It was an aniraated scene, and one which
wore an air of complete security. The Federals evidently
thought General Forrest had accepted his loss of the day
before and retired. Above the whole frowned the guns
and the fort.
Morton Moves His Guns.
Captain Morton saw at once that the position where
he stood was an ideal spot for his artillery. It was too
high for the guns from the gunboats, and they would
fire over, and the fort on a ridge was so elevated that
its guns could not be depressed sufficiently to affect artil
lery at that spot.
Slipping back to his horse, Captain Morton hastened
with all speed to General Forrest and quickly detailed
the whole situation, asking for at least one battery for
the advantageous point. General Forrest listened atten
tively and asked a great many questions. He objected
253

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
to Captain Morton's proposition at first, saying: "No,
that's getting too close. They'll knock you all to pieces
there frora the fort and the gunboats too." Captain Mor
ton replied : "No, General, I have exarained the location
well. The fort is so elevated that they can't depress
their guns sufficiently to affect rae, and the gunboats are
so much below in the river that they will fire over me,
and I'll be in an angle of coraparative safety."
General Forrest then said : "Well, you raay carry two
guns and enough men to cut the road througii the swamp
to the position you want to take. But leave the balance
of the artillery with me. Get in position as quickly as
possible, and I will countermand the order to open the
battle at 12 o'clock, and direct the other artillery and
cavalry to hold their fire until they hear your guns."
A detail was sent to cut out logs, remove driftwood,
and help the guns through the mud. It took two hours
of infinitely toilsome work to get the guns in position.
Every step of the road had to be made, and in raany
places the guns had to be carried over fallen tiraber by
hand. The underbrush was dense and the raud sticky.
Reaching the point selected, the guns were unlirabered
and pushed into place. They were well protected by
Buford's and Chalmers's raen concealed in the under
growth and behind logs.
Captain Morton disposed his other batteries as fol
lows : Thrall, under Capt. J. C. Thrall, a half raile above
the landing; two guns of Rice's Battery and two' of Hud
son's down the river, between Reynoldsburg and John
sonville. The section of the Morton Battery opposite the
town was in charge of Lieut. J. West Brown. TwO' other
guns of the Morton Battery and two from Hudson's
were placed nearly opposite the raouth of Trace Creek.
So quickly had the Confederate position been taken that
254

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the enemy remained unaware of their proximity until 2
o'clock. One of the stearaers then seeraed tO' get wind
of the raoveraent on the opposite shore and stearaed to
ward it. At this moment the opening shot was fired by
Captain Morton's two gxins opposite Johnsonville, and
immediately the remaining nine guns followed with a
deafening roar of leaden salute. The scene changed, as
if a magician's wand had been suddenly waved over it.
Spurts of steam and smoke broke from the boats, show
ing that the range had been gauged with pretty fair
accuracy; the crews dropped their washing, hauling, and
packing, and juraped into the water like rats deserting a
sinking ship; the passengers who had been sauntering
around in the neighborhood of the wharf rushed wildly
up the hillside, and everybody raade for shelter.
The gunboats and the fort returned the fire with spirit
and some daraage, but, owing to the advantageous posi
tion selected for the Morton Battery, it could not be
reached, and continued to ply the eneray with unabated
energy; the sharpshooters joining in, the opposite bank
was soon enveloped in a steady rain of fire. At the third
discharge of the Confederate battery the boiler of one
of the gunboats was perforated, and the agonized screaras
of the wounded and scalded could be plainly heard across
the river. For forty rainutes the cannonade continued
with one unceasing roar. Flaraes spread from boat to
boat, and spread rapidly to the warehouses and piles of
hay, corn, and other stores along the bank. So'on the
whole bank was a solid sheet of flame, soaring splendidly
into the air.
General Forrest Acts as Gunner.
As Captain Morton passed from battery to battery,
directing the firing, he encountered General Forrest at
255

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
one of the guns. The General was accorapanied by Gen
erals Bell and Buford and Major Allison, and was him
self acting as gunner. Major Allison, frora his post of
observation behind a tree near the bank, acquainting him
with the effect of his shots. When a shot fell short.
General Forrest would exclaira: "A rickety-shay! A
rickety-shay ! I'll hit her next tirae !" In ordering the
range changed, he called : "Elevate the breech of that
gun lower!" With ready good humor he joined in the
laugh that greeted these amateur orders and continued
to bombard the enemy steadily. After the recoil occa
sioned by the shots, General Bell and General Buford
would push the gun back up the bank.
A Feast of Tantalus.
The fumes of roasting meats and coffee, burning sugar
and liquor, and other tantalizing odors floated across the
river, causing the always hungry Confederates to caper
in an ecstasy of appetite, but there was no way of cross
ing the river and no way of saving the stores. This was
evidently the opinion of the Federals, for they raade but
few efforts to check the flaraes, as their appearance was
greeted with such an effective shower of shot that, ac
cording to the official reports, the soldiers could not be
forced to expose theraselves. The buildings and stored
supplies that had covered acres of ground were soon re
duced to mere heaps of ashes and crurabling piles of
blackened refuse.
General Forrest, raud-stained and sraoke-begrimed,
rode from point to point, encouraging the raen and keep
ing a close watch on the raoveraents of the eneray. When
it becarae apparent that the Federals had given up all
hope of saving the situation, he ordered the firing to
cease. He was especially enthusiastic over the work of
256

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the artillery, and such was the steadiness and accuracy
of the firing that day that not a shot seeraed to be with
out effect.
"John," said the General, addressing Captain Morton
in one of his rounds, "I know the secret of your good
work : the artillery is the best- fed part of the whole array.
They are all as good foragers as that black rascally Bob
of yours." This was an allusion to Captain Morton's
cook. Bob, who had the faculty of providing soraething
good to eat in all sorts of trying situations, and tiraes of
stress and faraine were always sure to be raarked by a
visit frora the coramanding officer to Captain Morton's
mess tent. A pkce was always kept for him, and when
any particular delicacy was forthcoming, word was al
ways sent to hira. He was frequent and loud in his
praises of Bob's ability as a cook and forager, and very
frequently, when he found himself provided with some
unusual treat, he wonld return the hospitality.
Desolation of the Fort.
Darkness carae on, and by the light of the enemy's
burning property the return to Mississippi was begun,
two guns from Morton's Artillery, supported by Rucker's
Brigade, being left to guard the ground. The next morn
ing General Forrest returned, with Captain Morton
went over the field, and again looked at the wholesale de
struction wrought upon the opposite bank. Not a vestige
of the splendid depot and immense supplies reraained —
nothing but sraoldering heaps of ashes. The trains that
had been so busily plying the day before were nowhere
in sight, and it was learned afterwards that the depot
agent had run away with one of them. The fort seeraed
to be still occupied, as was attested by a small force of
negroes who carae out, but quickly retreated on receiving
17 257

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
a volley from Captain Morton's guns. As he surveyed
the embers and deserted spot. General Forrest, tuming
to Captain Morton with a smile of satisfaction, said:
"There is no doubt we could soon wipe old Sherman off
the face of the earth, John, if they'd give rae enough men
and you enough guns."
Such was the reputation accruing to Morton's Artillery
from the work on November 4 that Colonel Morton, of
the Second Tennessee Cavalry (not related to Captain
Morton) improvised the comraand: "Attention! Pre
pare to fight gunboats on foot behind Morton's Artil
lery!" Another jest that went the rounds of the exhausted
yet jovial Confederate army that night was a statement
that, although they had been on half rations all day, the
waves of appetizing odors that floated across the river
were so strong and so steady that they felt as if they
had had a good square meal.
General Forrest estimated the value of the goods de
stroyed at Johnsonville at $3,000,000, and some of the
Federal estiraates placed it as high as $6,000,000. Lieut.
Col. William Sinclair, who, as stated previously, was
sent by the government at Washington to investigate the
cause and extent of the loss, reported, after exaraining all
the Federal officers present at the tirae: "The total money
value of the property destroyed and captured during the
operation of Rebels on the Tennessee River, including
steamboats and barges, is about $2,200,000."*
This comparatively low estiraate is accounted for by
the natural desire of the officers under trial, as it were,
to make as light an estiraate of the losses as possible.
Lieutenant Colonel Sinclair also says : "Colonel Thomp-
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part I., page 862.
258

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
son estiraated the Rebel force operating on the left bank
of the Tennessee at 13,000 men, . . . with thirty-
six guns, twenty of them 20-pound Parrotts. This esti
mate was formed upon the observation of scouts and
men who were captured from the transports below John
sonville. I think this estimate of the Rebel force is too
large."* This same report gives the Federal forces as follows :
"Forty-Third Wisconsin Volunteers, 700 raen; detach
ments of the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and One Hundredth
U. S. Colored Infantry, — men; armed quartermaster's
employees, 800 men; detachment of the Eleventh Ten
nessee Cavalry, 20 raen; First Kansas Battery, six 10-
pound Parrott guns; Corapany A, Second U. S. Colored
Artillery, two 12-pound Napoleon guns ; one section quar
termaster's battery frora Nashville, two 12-pound Napo
leon guns; two 20-pound Parrott guns captured on the
gunboats Venus, Key West (32), Elfin (52), and Ta-
wah (29)."* General Forrest's Report.
General Forrest did not raake a coraplete report of
these operations until January 12, 1865, as the exigencies
of war kept hira almost continually in the saddle until
that time. Even then, with his custoraary terseness, he
confined his report to the mere stateraent of each move-
merit and its effect. Of the capture of the boat at Paris
Landing, he said:
On the moming of the 2gth the steamer Mazeppa, with two
barges in tow, made her appearance. As she passed the battery at
Fort Heiman, supported by Brigadier General Lyon, she was fired
upon by one section of Morton's Battery and two 20-pound Parrott
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part I., page 862.
259

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
guns. Every shot must have taken effect, as she made for the shore
after the third fire and reached the opposite bank in a disabled
condition, where she was abandoned by the crew and passengers,
who fled to the woods. A hawser was erected on this side of the
river and she was towed over, and on being boarded she was
found to be heavily loaded with blankets, shoes, clothing, hard
bread, etc. While the cargo was being removed to the shore three
gunboats made their appearance and commenced shelling the men
who were engaged in unloading the Mazeppa. They were forced
to retire, and, fearing that the boat might be captured. Brigadier
General Buford ordered her to be burned.
On the 30th the steamer Anna came down the river and suc
ceeded in passing both the upper and lower batteries, but was so
disabled that she sank before she reached Paducah. The Anna
was followed by two transports (J. W. Cheeseman and the Venus)
and two barges under convoy of the gunboat Undine. In attempting
to pass my batteries all the boats were disabled. They landed on
the opposite side of the river, and were abandoned by the crews,
who left their dead and wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Kelley, with
two companies of his regiment, was thrown across the river and
soon returned to Paris Landing with the boats. The steamer J.
W. Cheeseman was so disabled that she was ordered, with the two
barges, to be burned ; the gunboat was also burned while moving
up the river to Johnsonville. The Venus was recaptured by the
enemy (on November 2), but was destroyed November 4 at John
sonville by my batteries.*
Of the action at Johnsonville General Forrest spoke as
follows :
All my movements for twenty-four hours had been so secretive
that the enemy seemed to think I had retired, and for the purpose
of making a reconnoissance two gunboats were lashed together and
pushed out just before the attack opened. The bombardment com
menced by a section of Morton's Battery, commanded by Lieutenant
Brown, the other batteries joining promptly in the assault. The
enemy returned the fire from twenty-eight guns on their gunboats
and fourteen guns on the hill. About fifty guns were thus engaged
at the same time, and the firing was prolific. The gunboats, in
fifteen minutes after the engagement commenced, were set on fire
and made rapidly for the shore, where they were both consumed.
My batteries next opened upon the transports, and in a short time
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part I., page 870.
260

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
they were in flames. The immense amount of stores were also set
on fire, together with the huge warehouse above the landing. By
night the wharf for nearly one mile, up and down the river, pre
sented one solid sheet of flame. The enemy continued a ferocious
cannonading on my batteries.^
General Forrest compliraented his division and brigade
commanders in the highest terms. Of Capt. John W.
Morton and O'f the brave troops under his coraraand, he
said : "My thanks are especially due for their efficiency
and gallantry on this expedition. They fired with a
rapidity and accuracy which extorted the commendation
of even the enemy. The rararaers were shot from the
hands of the cannoneers, and sorae of thera were nearly
buried araid the dirt which was thrown upon therai by
the storm of shell which rained upon thera by the enemy's
batteries."t
Meeting an Old Foe.
After the war was over, and Captain Morton, relin
quishing the weapons of strife, took up the irapleraents
of the raedical profession, he noticed among his class
mates at the Nashville Medical University a young raan
who, aside from being from Illinois, was a very worthy
and agreeable fellow, for naturally there was not much
affection at that time for the people north of the Ohio.
One day, however, he made a determined effort to draw
the ex-artillery officer into conversation.
"Were you not at Johnsonville in November, 1864?"
he asked.
"Yes," was the rather curt reply.
"Well, I was too," he confided — ^"on the other side. I
had a company in a small triangular mud fort near the
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part I., page 871.
tIbid., pages 871, 872.
261

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
river bank, and every tirae you would shoot frora below
my men would jump into the ditch above, and when you
would shoot from above they'd jump back into the ditch
below, until they got so demoralized they ran out and
never stopped until they got to Nashville."
Revisiting the Scene.
Forty-three years after the battle of Johnsonville the
author of this book was invited to a barbecue given by
the good people of Eva, a town which has grown up
opposite Johnsonville since the war, and in company with
his good friend, John Trotwood Moore, revisited the
scene of this conflict. Many changes had taken place in
the course of forty-three years, but the contour of the
river banks was the same, and the view over the town
and the sight of the fort identical. A new forest growth
hid all the traces of the road, so laboriously cut out long
years before, and the swamp which at that time en
gulfed the artillery horses and pieces for two' or three
miles had been encroached upon by cultivation, until a
bare quarter of a raile was left. After the speaking and
the abundant feast of good things provided by the hos
pitable people of this section. Captain Morton and Mr.
Moore, accorapanied by Mr. J. F. McKelty, who had al
ways lived there and reraerabered every incident and sit
uation of that fateful day, went over the old route of
the Morton Artillery. Subsequently Mr. Moore incor
porated a graphic account of the action in his "Historic
Highways of the South" series, one of the features of
the Taylor-Trotwood Magazine, which is quoted below:
The field is now in corn, but for a mile down the river bank
we drove, marking the spots. The whole scene was pictured. Yon
der was the fort, high above the town, equipped with fifty guns.
But luck favored Forrest, for the hill on which the fort was situated
was so high that the guns could not be depressed to reach the
262

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Confederate batteries just across the river, right under them. Like
a hound who gets to the flank of a buck, Morton was safe both
from horn and hoof.
The gunboats' hulls still lay out in the water in front of them.
Now either of the gunboats could have swept the bold Rebels from
the river bank, but here luck again (or, who says it was not brains?)
came to Morton's Artillery. The banks of the river were too high
and the gunboats shot above them. Two of the gunboats, seeing
this, started up the river to enfilade ; but the upper Rebel battery on
the bank there pumped it into them so steadily that they turned
back, and then occurred the remarkable scene of a battery of guns
in pistol shot of a big fort and gunboats, in a curve of perfect safety,
absolutely immune from shell above or gunboat below, and delib
erately destroying them, and the millions of dollars of supplies
they were guarding. It was like the workings of incarnate Pros
pero, death immune. Morton cut his shells for fire. In a little
while flames burst from one of the gunboats, and the gallant gun
ners in it jumped for the river. It drifted to the steamers, firing
them. A hot shell aimed at the bales of hay soon had them in
flames. Then the warehouses were riddled, and a blue flame leaped
to the sky and a streak of devilish fire ran to the river. It was
several hundred barrels of whisky, and one shell from Morton's
Battery made the Yankee army dry for a month, and for the first
time in its history Nashville, Tenn., was on the "water wagon."
May that time come again soon, even if it takes Morton's Bat
tery to do it!
The flames lit up the country for miles. The futile guns in the
fort rained harmlessly, burning boats floated around with bursting
flame from ignited powder cases, and three million dollars' worth
of property went up in smoke. No wonder Sherman wrote Grant
on November 6: "That devil Forrest went about Johnsonville mak
ing havOc among the gunboats and transports."
And Forrest, grinning like Mephisto, waving his fiery, forked
tail, pulled away unharmed, swinging around the Federal right, and
led Hood away to Tennessee. And if Hood had not been in com
mand of that fiery army of ragged patriots, who could go up against
the breastworks through death with a zeal that swept up to the
gates of Nashville, Nashville would have fallen.
All's well that ends well. We can see it all now, but God saw
it then. Still, it is good to tell these things so that the unborn
will know whom to imitate and honor when they would fight for
their country.*
*Taylor-Trotwood Magaeine, November, 1907, pages 145, 146.
263

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
A dispatch frora Johnsonville to the Nashville Amer
ican some years ago gives an interesting coincidence re
garding the shots fired at this tirae :
Two men from Brookline, 111., engaged in cutting ash timber
for rafting just across the river from Johnsonville found imbedded
in the trunk of a large tree half of an exploded bombshell and sev
eral grapeshot. These were seventy feet from the ground.
The tree was near where Capt. John W. Morton's Battery was
in action, and no doubt the missiles were sent from the Federal
works to silence his guns and create dismay among Forrest's sol
diers. General Forrest's report of the expedition sums up its
results as follows :
Having completed the work designed by the expedition, I moved
my command six miles during the night by the light of the enemy's
burning property. The roads were almost impassable and the march
to Corinth was slow and toilsome, but I reached there on November
10, after an absence of over two weeks, during which time I cap
tured and destroyed 4 gunboats, 14 transports, 20 barges, 26 pieces
of artillery, $6,700,000 worth of property, and 150 prisoners. Brig
adier General Buford, after supplying his own command, turned
over to my chief quartermaster about 9,000 pairs of shoes and 1,000
blankets. My loss during the entire trip was two killed and nine wounded;
that of the enemy will probably reach five hundred killed, wounded,
and prisoners.*
This expedition, it is interesting tO' note, created as
much uncertainty and suspense among the Federals as
General Forrest's previous incursions had done, as wit
ness the dispatches of that period. Grierson, on October
18, ordered the comraand at White's Station to "imme
diately raove all camp and garrison equipage and every
thing that is raovable" to Meraphis, as "it is thought
that General Forrest intends to attack this place."! The
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part I., page 871.
tIbid., Part IIL, page 323. 264

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
next day General Meredith telegraphed from Paducah
that he had "reliable^ authority" for news of an impend
ing attack on him at that point and at Mayfield, and in
preparation therefor he had evacuated Majffield and want
ed reenforcements for Paducah.* Major General Hal
leck telegraphed General Washburn to reenforce General
Meredith frora Meraphis, but "reliable information" of
an impending attack on White's Station was wired to
Washington that same day.!
On the i8th, however, "indications" were telegraphed
from Memphis of General Forrest's intention to "op
erate in Kentucky,".! while the next day General Thomas
telegraphed General Sherman that he could not send
General Washburn to attack Eastport, Miss., "as Forrest
has a larger force there, with considerable artillery," §
and this led General Halleck to telegraph General Thomas
that "so long as Forrest holds Corinth he threatens sev
eral very iraportant points." || On October 21 General
Washburn concluded to "run home tO' LaCrosse," and
"saw frora the papers on arriving at Louisville that the
Forrest scare was over."l|"
That the effects of this battle of Johnsonville were far-
reaching is attested by General Sherraan's repeated sub
sequent orders to his subordinates to irapress upon the
people of South Carolina and Georgia that "as the Rebels
have destroyed our base of supplies they [the Rebel citi
zens] raust furnish our subsistence;" and also by a tele
gram from the chief quartermaster at Louisville Decem
ber 2 complaining of scant rations for horses. "There
was no scarcity of hay until after the burning of John-
?Official Records, Vol. XXXIX., Part IIL, page 343. tIbid.,
page 34S. tIbid., page 357. §Ibid., page 366. ||Ibid., page 389,
Hlbid., page 394. 265

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
sonville, since which time it has siraply been impossible
to keep up the supply. We should be congratulated that
in the face of this terrible disaster we have met other
wants."* On a subsequent visit to Johnsonville Captain Morton
discovered a shell from one of his guns in the hull of the
sunken gunboats, which are still plainly visible in the
summer when the water is low, grira raeraentoes of one
of the raost notable achieveraents of the war. This shell,
which had failed to explode and is still intact, is among
Captain Morton's curios, together with a fragment of
the hull of the vessel where it was found.
?Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part IL, page 20.
266

CHAPTER XXI.
General Forrest's Cavalry and Artillery Join
General Hood.
The return to Mississippi was accomplished with the
greatest difficulty. General Forrest himself rode at the
head of the coluran, and was constantly in evidence at all
points where his presence was needed. The roads were
deep in mud, and the horses, especially those of the artil
lery, were soon exhausted, having been on scanty rations
for some time. It was the original intention tO' cross the
Tennessee River at PerryviUe, but on reaching that point
it was found that not a vestige of a boat, skiff, or flat re
mained. The river was very high and the constantly fall
ing rain increased its volume hourly. Two yawls frora
one of the captured gunboats had been brought along,
and these, with two hastily constructed rafts, were used
to convey a portion of Rucker's coraraand across, the
horses being raade to swira., although this was exceeding
ly dangerous on account of the swift current and the
driftwood that filled the swollen stream. A day and a
night having been spent in this effort. General Forrest
concluded to abandon the idea of crossing at PerryviUe,
and, directing Rucker to join General Hood at Mt. Pleas
ant, sent Chalmers by way of luka and Buford by way
of Corinth, himself moving with his escort, staff, and
Morton's Artillery with Buford's Comraand. Florence
was appointed as the rendezvous.
The rain continuing to fall and the roads becoming
worse, the matter of transporting the artillery became
more and more serious. The artillery horses were un
equal to the task of pulling the heavy guns for any great
267

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
distance, and they were supplied from the led horses of
the officers and frora those of their servants. These, in
their turn, being hitched sixteen to one cannon, and, be
coraing exhausted, gave place to oxen, eight being re
quired for a single piece. The aniraals were irapressed
from the citizens along the line of march (borrowed rath
er, for their owners were allowed to go along for the
fifteen or twenty railes their steers could carry the guns,
and they were then returned to their owners). As an ex
araple of their disheartening struggle against untoward
conditions, it raay be cited that in one day it was found
that Morton's Artillery had covered only two and a half
railes. The blacksraithing and forging facilities were so
reduced that it was necessary to remove the tires from
farra wagons in order to raake horseshoes and nails. Cor
inth was reached on the 12th, and here General Forrest
again applied for leave of absence, but he was urgently
needed to assist Hood in his forthcoraing Nashville cam
paign. On the I Sth of November a junction with General
Hood was effected at Florence, and here General For
rest received the tardy recognition of his ability, which
lay in his appointment to the coraraand of all the cavalry
of the Array of Tennessee. This necessitated another re
organization of his forces, and it was speedily begun, all
the extra baggage and artillery and all the disabled horses
being sent to Verona, Miss., and the troops reorganized
and augraented with the rapidity for which General For
rest was not excelled in either army. He made a stir
ring address to his troops on assuraing coramand, ex
pressing in a few hearty words his sense of the respon
sibility of his position, his reliance upon the cordial co
operation of all his subordinates, which his previous ex
perience with them led him to look for, and, above all,
268

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
his reliance upon the "patient endurance and unflinching
bravery" of the troops under him.
The unquenchable spirit of jollity that animated these
hardy, courageous men is well typified in a favorite carap
song of the period : GOOBER PEAS.
WORDS BY A. PENDER. MUSIC BY P. NUTT.
Sitting by the roadside on a summer day,
Chatting with my messmates, passing time away,
Lying in the shadow underneath the trees.
Goodness, how delicious, eating goober peas I
Chorus.
Peas I peas ! peas I peas I eating goober peas !
Goodness, how delicious, eating goober peas !
When a horseman passes the soldiers have a rule
To cry out at their loudest : "Master, here's your mule."
But another pleasure enchantinger than these
Is wearing out your grinders eating goober peas !
Chorus.
Just before the- battle the general hears a row.
He says : "The Yanks are coming; I hear their rifles now."
He turns around in wonder, and what do you think he sees ?
The Georgia militia eating goober peas.
Chorus,
I think my song has lasted almost long enough ;
The subject's interesting, but the rhymes are mighty rough.
I wish this war was over, when, free from rags and fieas,
We'd kiss our wives and sweethearts and gobble goober peas.
Chorus,
While the reorganization was going on detachments
had been sent out to gather supplies of corn and raeal,
cattle and fodder. These parties had some skirmishes
with the enemy, and indeed it seemed as if the enemy
had divined the plan of General Hood's campaign into
Middle Tennessee, for they opposed almost every step of
the way. Morton's Artillery was assigned to Buford's
Division, and leaving Florence on the 21st reached
269

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Lawrenceburg the next day, encountering a portion of
the Federal cavalry, under Wilson, whereupon a hot
running skirraish ensued, the Federals retreating toward
Pulaski, hotly pursued by the Confederates, the artillery
in advance. A large nuraber of prisoners was taken.
Col. Hemy Stone, a raeraber of General Thoraas's staff,
contributes the following account of this engagement to
"Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," page 444 :
The Confederate army began its northward march from Flor
ence on the 19th of November, in weather of great severity. It
rained and snowed and hailed and froze. Forrest had come up
with about six thousand cavalry, and led the advance with in
domitable energy. Hatch and Cox made such resistance as they
could, but on the 22d the head of General Hood's column was at
Lawrenceburg, sixteen miles west of Pulaski.
The Federals were forced out of position in Pulaski
and pressed toward Nashville.
"The situation at Pulaski," says Colonel Stone, fur
ther, "was anything but cheering. General Thomas di
rected General Schofield to fall back with two divisions
to Colurabia on the 22d. On the 23d the other two
divisions under General Stanley were to follow. It was
not a raoraent too soon. On the morning of the 24th
General Cox, who had pushed on to within nine miles of
Columbia, was aroused by sounds of conflict away to
the west. Taking a crossroad leading south of Columbia,
he reached the Mt. Pleasant Pike just in time to interpose
his infantry between Forrest's Cavalry and a hapless
brigade under command of Colonel Capron, which was
being handled raost unceremoniously. In another hour
Forrest would have been in possession of Duck River,
and the only line of coraraunication with Nashville would
have been in the hands of the eneray. ... In spite
of every opposition Forrest succeeded in placing one of
his divisions on the north side of Duck River before noon •
270

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
of the 28th, and forced back the Union cavalry on the
roads leading toward Spring Flill and Franklin."
The Confederates were now on their old farailiar carap
ing grounds and received everywhere evidences of the
high regard in which they were held by the citizens.
Rapid raarches were the order of the day, and skirraishes
were of almost continuous occurrence ; but, nevertheless,
many hampers of delectable dainties found their way into
the army mess tents, provided at Heaven alone knows
what self-denial by the generous woraen of that section.
Skirraishes at Fouche Springs and Mt. Pleasant brought
the army to Colurabia on the 24th, and on the 27th, when
General Hood's Infantry appeared, the Federals evacu
ated the place. The crossing of Duck River was raade
at various points, and General Thomas, learning this,
becarae very uneasy for the safety of his troops south of
the river.
Moving on to Franklin.
Pushing through Colurabia with his usual vigor. Gen
eral Forrest had arrived within four railes of Spring
Hill at II o'clock that night, where he encaraped, send
ing Gen. W. H. Jackson forward to develop the eneray.
It was not long before this was done, and breaking carap
the Confederates pushed on to the scene of action. The
Federals were protected by a strong barricade; and re
enforcements coming up at the sarae tirae that General
Forrest arrived, he resorted to his favorite flank move
ment, and after a severe skirmish succeeded in dislodging
the enemy, pushing his advantage with "the greatest
celerity," according to the report of the Federal com
manding officer of cavalry.* Couriers were sent back to
General Hood, and orders carae frora hira to hold the
?Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part I., page 550.
271

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
position at all hazards, as the raain infantry column was
only two railes distant and approaching with all possible
speed. General Bell's Brigade carae up and was imme
diately ordered to attack, although they had but four
rounds of ammunition tO' the raan. General Forrest re
ported this signal exaraple of the implicit obedience of
the admirable Bell : "This order was executed with a
promptness and energy and gallantry which I have never
seen excelled. The enemy was driven from his rifle pits
and fled toward Spring Hill."* General Jackson now
raade a rapid raarch to cut the enemy off at Thompson's
Station. In this he was not altogether successful, as re
enforceraents failed to arrive, and after holding the pike
for several hours in the face of a severe fire, he was
corapeUed to retire, leaving killed and wounded, and cap
turing a few O'f the eneray and sorae wagons. On the
ground of the brilliant capture of Colonel Coburn, the
Confederates were aniraated with the hope of repeating
the successes of that affair, but General Hood, arriving
at that tirae, ordered General Cheatham to attack the
enemy. The order, however, through the inadvertence of
the Assistant Adjutant General, was not delivered. Sub
sequent orders following the line of the first were, nat
urally enough, not understood. The unfortunate misun
derstanding not having been cleared up by nightfall, the
two arraies, as on the previous historic occasion, en
camped in parallel lines, so close that conversations could
be overheard by the pickets of the opposing lines. This
misunderstanding threatened for a time to lead to a seri
ous rupture between Generals Hood and Cheatham, but
the good offices of Gen. Isham G. Harris soon discov
ered the cause for the delay and restored complete un
derstanding and cordial relations.
?Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part L, page 753.
272

Ipauttful Bltn^B Sffnuni* nn lark nf QlnnfeJipratt HoJp

Representing nothing on God's earth now,
And naught in the waters below it —
As a pledge of a nation that passed away,
Keep it, dear friend, and show it —
Show it to those that will lend an ear
To the tale that this trifle will tell ;
Of liberty born of a patriot's dream.
Of a storm-cradled nation that fell.

But tfae Eaith that was in us was strong indeed'
Though our poverty well we discerned,
And this little check represented the pay
That our suffering veterans earned.
They knew il had hardly a value in iold,
Tet as gold our soldiers received it.
It gazed in our eyes with a promise to pay,
And every true soldier believed it.

Too poor to possess the precious ores.
And too much of a stranger to borrow.
We issued to-day our " promise to pay"
And hoped to redeem on the morrow.
The days rolled on and weeks became years,
But our coffers were empty still.
Coin was so scarce the Treasury quaked
If a dollar should drop in the till.

But our boys thought little of price or pay
Or of bills that were overdue —
We knew if it bought our bread to-day
'Twas the best our poor country could do.
Keep it ; it tells all our history over
From tfae birth of the dream to its last ;
Modest and born of the Angel Hope,
Like our hope of success—// passed.

CHAPTER XXII.
Ttie Battle of Franklin.
The battle of Franklin took place on Noveraber 30.
General Forrest, after his customary personal reconnois
sance, favored a direct and fierce assault, as the enemy
was inferior in numbers, and so' reported to General
Hood. That officer, however, held different views, and
General Forrest took the position to which he was direct
ed on Winstead Hill, accorapanied by Morton's Artillery.
Stewart's Corps was forraed on the right, Cheatham's on
the left, and Gen. S. D. Lee's troops were held in reserve
in the early part of the action, although engaged before
it was over. The fort at Franklin was known toi be the
stoutest of the Federal forts, and the enemy, flanked back
at all points, was now well concentrated within it, and
could do no less than make a stand. General Hood was
firm^ in the impression that they meant to retreat to Nash
ville, and on this mistake raust rest the responsibility for
the wholesale slaughter of the bravest fighters that ever
wore the gray.
General Forrest, acting under instructions, placed Mor
ton's Artillery, supported by Jackson's and Buford's Di
visions, on Stewart's right, on the south side of the
Harpeth, while Chalmers's Division, with a portion of
Biffle's Brigade, was placed on Cheatham's left on the
Carter's Creek Turnpike. General Forrest, who was in
command of the Confederate right, advanced with Mor
ton's Artillery, supported by Buford and Jackson, and
immediately engaged a portion of Hatch's Cavalry be
tween the Lewisburg and the Columbia Turnpikes on the
Harpeth. The Federal cavalry were at once reenforced
18 273

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
with infantry, but were, nevertheless, driven steadily
across the river, the Confederates dismounting and wad
ing across. The fighting now became extremely severe
at this part of the line ; and as Chalraers was at the same
tirae heavily engaged with an infantry force, the battle
raged with a fury that reraained unsurpassed in the an
nals of the four years' struggle, Gettysburg not excepted.
The Federals had at first not taken the attack seriously.
"Frora one o'clock until four in the evening the enemy's
entire force was in sight of and forraing for attack, yet
in view of the strong position we held, and judging from
the former course of the Rebels during this campaign,
nothing appeared so improbable as that they would as
sault,"* says Maj. Gen. David S. Stanley in his report
of the battle.
Gen. Jaraes H. Wilson, whose temperate account has
been quoted before in these pages, says of this moment :
As soon as the Rebel cavalry had made their appearance on the
north side of the river, which properly formed the real line of de
fense for the Union army, I ordered Hatch and Croxton to attack
the enemy with vigor and drive him into the river, if possible,
while Harrison, with Capron's old brigade, would look well to the
left and rear. The occasion was a grave one. My subordinate com
manders dismounted every man that could be spared, and went in
with a rush that was irresistible. Toward the middle of the after
noon the fighting became exceedingly sharp. The enemy's troopers
fought with their accustomed gallantry, but the Union cavalrymen,
outnumbering their antagonists for the first time and skillfully di
rected, swept everything before them. Upon this occasion Gen
eral Hood made a fatal mistake, for it will be observed that he
had detached Forrest, with two divisions of his corps, in a side
operation, which left him only Chalmers's Division to cooperate
with the main attack of his infantry. Had his whole cavalry force
advanced against me, it is possible that it would have succeeded in
driving me back.t
?Official Records, Vol. XIV, Part I., page 113.
f'Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," Vol. IV., page 446.
274

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
From 4 o'clock until dark the desperate and bloody
conflict surged between the lines of opposing soldiers, the
advantage veering from^ one side to the other. "We car
ried the eneray's first line of hastily constructed works
handsoraely," says General Hood in his report. "We
then advanced against his interior line and succeeded in
carrying it also in some places. Here the engagement
was of the fiercest possible character. Our raen possessed
themselves of the exterior of the works while the enemy
held the interior. Many of our raen were killed inside
the works. . Never did troops fight more gal
lantly."* "The brigades stood their grounds until the
charging Rebels were almost crossing bayonets with
them," says Major General Stanley, "but the hne then
broke — Conrad's Brigade first, then line's — and raen
and officers raade the quickest tirae they could to our main
lines. The old soldiers all escaped, but raany of the
conscripts, being afraid to run under fire, were captured.
. . . A large proportion of Lane's men came back
with loaded muskets, and, turning at the breastworks.
they fired a volley into the pressing Rebels, now not ten
steps away. . . To add to the disorder the cais
sons of the two batteries galloped rapidly to the rear,
and the enemy appeared on the breastworks and in pos
session of the two batteries, which they coramenced to
tum upon us. . The raoment was critical beyond
any I have known in any battle."t
In the varying fortunes of the day the guns of Mor
ton's Artillery did effective work from several points of
vantage, directing their shots mainly toward the batteries
on Figuers Hill and toward the left of the line rather
?Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part I., page 653. tIbid., page 116.
27s

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
than the town, as it was known that there were many
women and children in the town. Captain Morton's moth
er being a visitor at that time, and many of his relatives
living there.
Never in the history of any war did troops, both officers
and privates in the ranks, vie so gallantly with each other
in the race for death as in this ill-starred battle. War
ever devours the bravest and best, and here perished, un
happily and without profit, sorae of the choicest officers
in the Confederate service. Notably of the nuniber was
Major General Qeburne, who, as a division commander
and a man without reproach in private and public char
acter, had no superior. "Our loss in killed," reads Gen
eral Hood's report, "was 4,500. Among the killed were
Maj. Gen. P. R. Cleburne, Brigadier Generals Gist, John
Adaras, Strahl, and Granbury. Major General Brown,
Brigadier Generals Carter, Manigault, Quarles, Cockrell,
and Scott were wounded, and Brigadier General Gordon
captured."* Night brought an end to the reckless slaughter. Some
of the Confederate troops which had captured positions
maintained them by skirmishing until close upon mid
night, but at that time the Union forces evacuated the
city. In round numbers the forces engaged that day
were about 16,000, and 13,000 Confederate and Federal
infantry respectively, while the respective cavalry forces
were in the neighborhood of 5,000 and 7,700. Hood's
losses were about 4,500, 1,801 being killed.
?Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part I., page 654.
276

CHAPTER XXIII.
Operations around Nashville.
.\s has been stated, the Union forces of the town left
at midnight, and at daylight General Forrest was in pur
suit. The eneray was discovered at Wilson's Crossroads
in some force, but Captain Morton opened on thera with
one of his batteries and dislodged them, aiding General
Buford in taking a nuniber of prisoners. The march to
ward Nashville was resumed, and brisk skirmishing was
kept up, but without important results. On the morning
of December 2 the troops, with Biffle's Brigade (depleted
to almost half its ranks by the forced marches and losses
in battle) on the left, was thrown out along the Hillsboro
and Harding Turnpikes, while General Forrest, with Mor
ton's Artillery and Buford and Jackson, formed in line
across the Nolensville Turnpike. The exact position of
the Morton Battery was near where Wedgewood Avenue
now coraes into the turnpike. A nuraber of shots were
fired at Fort Negley and Fort Ridley before the Federals
retired to Mill Creek. The artillery was then moved up
to the right of the turnpike to the Rains place, about
three miles frora the State Capitol, which lay in plain
view below. About half a raile from this point stood
"Mansfield," one of the first brick houses built in Nash
ville and then owned by Senator Edward H. Ewing, Sr.,
whose family were refugeeing in the South. "Mansfield"
was one of the first handsome houses built in Davidson
County, and is now about one hundred years old. A
grove of about forty acres of forest trees extended from
the house to the turnpike, but these were cut down dur-
277

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
ing the battle of Nashville for a clearing, leaving the
house exposed on all sides.
From his position on Rains' Hill, Captain Morton
could plainly see that the house was occupied by Fed
erals, and his attention was directed to a piece of artillery
which they were operating in an angle between the main
building and a two-story outhouse. This piece was at
once engaged and soon dismounted and the Federals
driven from the building. By a curious coincidence
"Mansfield" is the present residence of Captain and Mrs.
Morton, and the stone foundations and walls still bear the
marks made by his guns.
The news of General Forrest being with General Hood
in his Nashville campaign disturbed General Grant and
Secretary of War Stanton, who did not have great faith
in General Thoraas's activity. On Deceraber 2 General
Grant wired Secretary Stanton for advice as to pressing
General Thoraas. "It looks as if Forrest will flank
around Thomas until Thomas is equal to him' in cav
alry,"* he suggested cuttingly, and on the same day
Stanton asked hira to consider what was best to be done
about Thomas's "disposition to lay in fortifications for
an indefinite period." This was "too much like the Mc
Clellan and Rosecrans strategy of do nothing and let the
Rebels raid the country"* tO' suit the aggressive Cabinet
officer. General Grant immediately sent two telegraras to Gen
eral Thomas, suggesting delicately that if the Confeder
ates were "perraitted to remain quietly about Nashville"
coramunication with Chattanooga would be lost, as well
as the Tennessee River, and pointing out that General
Thoraas could easily "raove out of Nashville with all
?Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part IL, page 16.
278

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
your array to retire or fight upon ground of your own
choosing."* "The Rock of Chickamauga," with that
fimmess which had led him to uphold the Union cause
in the face of his native State's secession, quietly ad
hered to his plan of the "reorganizing, remounting, and
equipping of a cavalry force sufficient to contend with
Forrest, "t
On December 3 Lieutenant Sale, with two pieces of
Morton's Artillery, was detached to accorapany Colonel
Kelley and 300 men on an expedition against some gun
boats on the Curaberland. They succeeded in securing
two transports. These were speedily recaptured by the
enemy, but the little handful of Confederates brought
away fifty-six prisoners and one hundred and ninety-
seven horses and raules. On this sarae day General For
rest, with the aid of another section of the Morton Bat
tery under Captain Morton's personal coramand, and sup
ported by Buford's Division captured Stockade No. 2, a
short distance frora Nashville, near Antioch. The open
ing shots spread such desolation araong the hundred or
more soldiers within the blockhouse that it was speedily
surrendered, "with 80 prisoners, 10 raen killed, and 20
wounded in the attack by Morton's Battery,"J according
to General Forrest's report.
When the attack first began. General Forrest observed
a train load of negro troops coming rapidly toward the
blockhouse; and the latter surrendering at the opportune
moment that the train carae in range. Captain Morton
quickly turned his guns on it, while General Forrest was
receiving the captured blockhouse. The troops on the
train had not seen the Confederates ; and as the first shells
crippled the engine before the engineer could reverse it,
?Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part IL, page 17. tIbid., page 18.
tIbid., Part L, page 754. 279

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the men stampeded from the cars and raelted rapidly into
the woods on the other side of the track.
On December 4 Morton's Artillery, aided by Buford's
Division, captured Blockhouses Nos. i and 3 in the neigh
borhood of the Asylum for the Insane. They surren
dered with thirty-two prisoners without a shot being
fired. These two blockhouses, and two stockades also
captured that day, were burned. One hundred and fifty
prisoners were taken in all.
General Hood issued orders tO' General Forrest to picket
the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, and
accordingly Buford, Jackson, and Morton were dispatched
toward Murfreesboro on that duty. The first night's
carap being not far from Franklin, Captain Morton, hav
ing heard that his mother was in that place, started out
one evening to secure permission to visit her. As he ap
proached headquarters he raet Dr. Cowan, to whom he
confided his intention. "John," said the good Doctor,
looking at the artillery officer shrewdly, "I've just come
frora the General's tent, and my advice to you is this:
you are on your horse and headed for Franklin. If you
really want to see your mother, go and see her without
permission. The General," he added softly as the Cap
tain turned away, "is as mad as hell, and he won't let
you go." Needless to say the young officer took the ad
vice of the older man and enjoyed a short visit with his
mother in Franklin, returning at 9 o'clock to find an or
derly at his quarters with orders for Captain Morton to
move around Murfreesboro to the left at daylight, with
General Buford as support.
The march to Murfreesboro was marked by the capture
of a redoubt at Lavergne, with two pieces of artillery and
eighty prisoners. At Smyrna a blockhouse was captured
with slight resistance. 280

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Major General Bate reix)rted to General Forrest at
Lavergne. On December 6 General Forrest's whole force was
formed in line of battle for a concerted action, but after
some heavy skirmishing the enemy ceased firing and all
General Forrest's efforts could not draw him into an en
gagement. Early the next raorning, seeing the enemy
moving out under General Milroy over the Salem Tum
pike, General Forrest withdrew the major portion of his
command to the Wilkinson Turnpike, and hurriedly forraed
a new line in a favorable position. He dispatched Gen
eral Buford, with a section of the Morton Battery, under
the personal coraraand of Captain Morton, to enter the
town. This was done with slight resistance, and the ar
tillery was posted in a favorable spot for an attack on the
courthouse. Captain Sheafe, for many years a highly re
spected and esteemed citizen of Murfreesboro', was occu
pying the courthouse at the time with his company, and
he has often told the author of this book that when a
shot struck the wall at the corner of the upper window
where he was quartered he turned around to warn his
men to lie down. To his surprise not a raan was in
sight, and it was not until his search led him to the cellar
that he found them.
It was not long until the position gained with such
apparent ease becanie exceedingly warra and untenable.
General Rousseau having sent posthaste for General Mil
roy to return, and in the raeantirae working considerable
havoc in the Confederate lines, twenty-four horses being
killed at the guns.
Captain Morton had four pieces below the old academy
and two above. The horses had been killed at the upper
guns and caissons, and Captain Morton, galloping to this
position, ordered the men to strip the harness, throw thera
281

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
on the caissons and limbers, and, with the aid of the dis
mounted cavalry, the guns were pulled by hand down the
Woodbury Turnpike to Major Sparks's residence, about
a half-mile away, where General Forrest ordered the artil
lery horses to be replaced by cavalry horses.
On reaching Major Sparks's house Captain Morton's
attention was called by one of his officers to the perforated
condition of his uniforra, and on exaraination it was dis
covered that his coat contained eleven bullet holes and
his hat three. This coat, preserved in a glass case, has
been presented to the Tennessee Historical Society by
Mrs. Morton.
General Forrest's intention was to draw the Union
troops far enough away from Murfreesboro to allow
Jackson's and Buford's Divisions, with Morton's Artil
lery, to get between them and their base, and by a con
certed attack in the front, flank, and rear overwhelm
them. He threw up a teraporary protection of logs and
rails and awaited the approach of the eneray. General
Milroy advanced to within a half raile of the Confederate
works and then halted. A spirited artillery fire greeted
hira, and he returned it with equal vigor for some time,
and then suddenly fell back to the protection of a growth
of forest trees. Here his moveraents were concealed from
the Confederates, and they were not prepared to see him
emerge in a short tirae in the direction of the Wilkinson
Tumpike and forra in double line of battle across it. This
flank movement compelled General Forrest to make a
change of front, and his lines were hastily re-formed.
Placing the infantry and artillery in front, he held his
cavalry ready to gain their rear and cut them to pieces
when the infantry should have pressed them back.
The Federals came on with precision and in gallant
style. Something in their confident manner or some se-
282

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
cret fear, whose cause has never been understood, sud
denly inspired the Confederate infantry with terror, and
without waiting to grapple with the eneray they broke
in panic and fled wildly to the rear. Only Sraith's Bri
gade bravely stood to the guns, which were in front ; but
these could not repel the irresistible onrush of the Fed
erals, who captured the two pieces. General Forrest,
who rode on this occasion his gray war horse "King
Philip," and General Bate were for a moment stunned
at this utterly unexpected happening, for the troops were
the heroes of a hundred hard-won fields and were com
posed of the best fighting raen of the entire Confederate
army. The two officers iraraediately rushed to the line
of retreat and endeavored to restore order. To a raan
of General Forrest's proud nature, who was wont to rely
so implicitly on the spirit of his troops, this was the hard
est blow received during the war. Many and severe were
the hardships, deprivations, and losses he had suffered
with his men. He had sent them on many hopeless
quests, and had on his second raid into West Tennessee
formed raw recruits, unarmed, in line of battle. Over
and over he had tempted fate by undertaking the im
possible. But flight, panic, fear was outside the limit of
his calculations, beyond the range of his iraagination.
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he rode hither and
thither, urging, entreating, and comraanding the infantry
to return, even shooting down a fleeing color bearer an4
taking the flag hiraself. General Bate and Major Strange,
too, did their best to renew courage, and even "King
Philip" set an example worthy of iraitation. This re
markable horse, presented to General Forrest by the cit
izens of Huntsville after the capture of Colonel Streight.
seemed to be infuriated by the sight of a blue coat.
Baring his upper lip, he would rush into the thickest of
283

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the fray, attempting to bite every blue uniform he saw.
Gaus, the peerless bugler, rode close by the side of the
now infuriated commander, sounding the commands with
even more than his accustomed vigor and spirit. Twice
his bugle was riddled with bullets, but the little German
kept pluckily on in the hope of reanimating the spirit of
the infantry. All was in vain, and, completely disheart
ened. General Forrest could only order his faithful cav
alry and artillery to do what could be done to save the
situation. Jackson's Division and Morton's Artillery
charged the eneray and checked his advance. General
Hood mentions this event in the following terms :
I had sent Major General Forrest, with the greatest portion of
his cavalry and artillery and Bate's Division of infantry, to Mur
freesboro to ascertain if it was possible to take the place. After a
careful examination and reconnaissance in force, in which, I am
sorry to say, the infantry behaved badly, it was determined that
nothing could be accomplished by assault.*
Just at the moment his advance was checked, General
Milroy received word that General Rousseau desired his
support in Murfreesboro, and retired into the fortifica
tions within the town, thus saving the Confederates some
of the odium of defeat.
Cavalry and artillery pickets were established on the
Cumberland, in the direction of the Hermitage, on De
cember 1 1 . On the 1 2th the infantry, protected by Mor
ton's Artillery, tore up the railroad track running from
Lavergne to Murfreesboro. On the 13th General Jack
son, aided by Morton's Artillery assigned to his com
mand, captured a train of seventeen cars and about two
hundred prisoners. Bate's Division was then withdrawn,
and on the 14th a sortie was raade for the purpose of
capturing a forage train that had been reported on the
?Official Records, Vol. XIV, Part I., page 654.
284

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
north side of Stone's River. The next day, however,
word was received from General Hood of the battle be
fore Nashville, and General Forrest concentrated his en
tire comraand at Wilkinson's Crossroads, in readiness for
marching orders. His baggage trains and sick and
wounded were sent on to Triune, together with the sup
plies and prisoners and a large drove of cattle and hogs.
At nightfall on the i6th he received notice of General
Hood's disastrous defeat, and, amid the gloora attendant
upon the receipt of this news, another courier came up
with orders for General Forrest to fall back toward Duck
River, concentrating his cavalry and artillery for the pro
tection of the rear of the retreating army.
In less than an hour the whole force was under way,
a section of Morton's Artillery, supported by Buford's
Division, being hurried in the direction of Nashville and
Franklin, while General Forrest, in coraraand of the rest
of the force, and his sick and wounded and supplies, start
ed for the crossing at Duck River. The two bodies kept
together as far as Lavergne, Captain Morton accompany
ing his Chief to Columbia. 285

CHAPTER XXIV.
General Hood's Retreat.
The night was pitch-dark, and a steady rain fell,
changing to ice as soon as it touched the ground. Prog
ress was painfully slow ; many of the infantry were bare
footed and the artillery reduced to exhaustion.
In spite of the incleraent weather and the suffering of
the soldiers, whose guns froze to their fingers, Franklin
was reached in the early dawn of the 17th, and the par
ticulars of the great disaster were there leamed for thc
first time. The retreat, as is well known, was almost as
disastrous as the battle itself. The enemy, pursuing re
lentlessly with fresh reenforcements, harassed the dis
heartened Confederates at such close range that in the
doubling and twisting of the Confederates they frequent
ly found their guns trained on their own men. Mile after
mile was a hand-to-hand skirmish. Gen. Stephen D. Lee,
to whose coramand Buford's Division and Morton's Ar
tillery had been assigned, says of the effort to pass
Franklin on the 17th:
About 4 P.M. the enemy, having crossed a considerable force
over the Harpeth, commenced a bold and vigorous attack, charging
with his cavalry and pushing forward his lines in our front. A
more persistent effort was never made to rout the rear guard of a
retiring column. This desperate attack was kept up till long after
dark.* General Forrest, at the request of General Hood, dis
patched regiraent after regiraent to his assistance, reach
ing Duck River with only one regiment and Morton's
Artillery for his own protection.
?Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part I., page 689.
286

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
General Wilson, deterrained on his side to make the
extinction of the Confederates complete, was indefatiga
ble in his personal efforts to inspire his men. He carae
frequently in contact with General Lee. The sufferings
of the soldiers on both sides were indescribable. The
coating of the ice on the roads gave way to mud, and the
continued rainfall froze on the guns and pistols, making
it agony for the numb fingers to fire them, but with a
heroism unsurpassed by Washington's soldiers in that bit
ter winter at Valley Forge they endured all and kept
bravely on. It was necessary to use both hands to cock
the pistols. Fog and darkness cut short the struggle for
the day, and General Wilson, raoraentarily confused by
the intricate raixture of the two arraies, paused in his
pursuit for a brief time, an opportunity which the Con
federates seized for the posting of a section of Morton's
Artillery for the protection of a much-needed rest.
General Wilson's Report.
General Wilson gives the following account of the frus
tration of this design :
The momentary hesitation caused by this uncertainty gave the
Rebels an opportunity to put their battery in position and re-form
their line. I immediately gave orders for Hatch and Knipe to col
lect their raen and charge both flanks of the enemy, and directed
my escort, under Lieut. Joseph Hedges, . to charge their
center on the pike. These orders had scarcely been given before
the enemy opened a rapid fire from their battery not over three
hundred yards from us. Hatch's Battery promptly replied. Lieu
tenant Hedges, thinking that I simply wished him to ascertain the
character of the force in our front, hastily moved his regiment to
the side of the road and out of range of the Rebel guns, but at my
order as promptly resumed his original formation, "in columns of
fours," in the road, and, dashing forward at a gallop with sabers
drawn, broke through the enemy's brigade, dismounted, and rushed
forward at the same moment. The enemy, broken at the center
and pressed back on both flanks, fled rapidly from the field, with-
287

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
drawing his guns at a gallop. Lieutenant Hedges, outstripping his
men, was captured three different times.*
It was here that Gen. S. D. Lee, exposing himself,
was wounded, and, though refusing to retire from active
coramand for sorae tirae, was finally compelled by his
suffering to do so, the command devolving upon Maj.
Gen. Carter L. Stevenson. The next day the retreat was
resuraed, this tirae with slighter delays, as the enemy's
rations were exhausted. The main object of the move
ment — i. c, the protection of General Hood's raain army
as it made for the Soutii — was attained, however.
In this connection, and in connection with numerous
stories current at the time and since conceming the treat
ment of Federal prisoners by the Confederates, the re
port of Dr. George E. Cooper, Medical Director Depart
raent of the Curaberland, is not without interest. "In
Franklin, Columbia, and Pulaski," he says, "a large num
ber of Rebel wounded were found who had been left by
their army. A sufficient nuraber of medical officers had
been left with them to give them proper attention. These
wounded were, as soon as practicable, transferred in hos
pital cars to Nashville, where they were placed in one
large hospital. The raedical officer in charge was direct
ed to furnish them all necessaries and such luxuries as
they required. This was done until the arrival of the
Coraraissary General of Prisoners, who directed that the
wounded Rebels should be confined to prison hospital ra
tions. I do not think that it is the intention of the gov
ernraent to deprive wounded men. Rebels though they be,
of everything needful for their treatment. Prison hos
pitals being at a distance frora the front, it was not ex
pected that wounded raen would be taken there till suf-
*Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part I., pages, 565, S66.
288

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
ficiently well to travel, when diet would be but a raatter
of minor import."*
At Columbia a junction was effected with General For
rest, who had crossed a portion of his force at Lilliard's
Mills, but had been compelled by the rising of the river to
abandon the ford there and raove on to Columbia to seek
a crossing for the artillery. Language is inadequate to
describe the sufferings of the men under General Forrest
on this raarch. The infantry was largely barefooted, as
has been said, and as they raarched the icy mud cut their
feet cruelly. General Forrest ordered them into the wag
on trains, where the poor fellows tied up their raw and
bleeding feet in pieces of garments and blankets, but at
the first alarm of an encounter they sprang heroically to
their places.
It had been General Hood's intention to retreat no far
ther south than Duck River, expecting to winter on its
banks, but when this point was reached his ranks were
so depleted and in such extreme wretchedness and raisery
that he saw it would be folly to try to hold thera in any
position within reach of the superior force of the eneray.
General Forrest concurred in this opinion, and after a
consultation it was decided to cross the river. General
Hood occupying the Alabama portion of the valley of the
Tennessee, while General Forrest retumed to Mississippi.
The Federal generals were greatly concerned when they
learned that General Forrest was not present at the battle
before Nashville. If not there, what disconcerting work
was he planning? General Rousseau found out that he
was at Murfreesboro and thought he had killed him.
Schofield telegraphed the good news to Thomas on De
cember 17: "Citizens on the road in rear of where we
•official Records, Vol. XIV, Part I., page no.
19 289

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
fought yesterday report that the universal testimony of
Rebels, officers and men, is that Forrest was certainly
killed at Murfreesboro, where they admit their cavalry
was badly whipped."*
J. C. Van Duzer confirraed this the next day.f but
before General Grant received the news he noted the ab
sence frora the reports of the depredations of the cavalry
leader and telegraphed to General Thoraas : "The armies
again operating against Richraond have fired two hun
dred guns in honor of your great victory. ... In
all your operations we hear nothing of Forrest. Great
precautions should be taken to prevent him crossing the
Cumberland or Tennessee below Eastport."!
Col. Abel D. Streight, who was present under Genera!
Thoraas, doubtless wondered also where General Forrest
was. Forming the Rear Guard.
When General Forrest and General Hood met at Co
lumbia on the 1 8th of Deceraber, General Fonxst pro
posed that his cavalry, which now numbered 3,000 ef
fective raen, and as much infantry force as could be
spared, remain at that point to protect the escape of the
main body of General Hood's Coraraand. General Hood
concurred in this proposition and selected 4,000 service
able infantry, who were placed under command of Maj.
Gen. E. C. Walthall, the latter being under General For
rest's orders during the retreat.
Maj. D. W. Sanders, General Walthall's Assistant Ad
jutant General, gives this account of the arrangement:
On the morning of the 20th of December, 1864, General Hood
sent a member of his staff to General Walthall, who had established
?Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part IL, page 233. tIbid., page
252. tIbid., page 248. 290

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
his headquarters at the residence of Nimrod Porter, near Colum
bia, with the request that he should call at army headquarters im
mediately. General Walthall at once rode to headquarters, and the
writer accompanied him. On the pike, as Walthall approached army
headquarters, he met General Hood on horse in company with Dr.
Darby, who was the medical director of the army. Hood said to
Walthall substantially as follows :
"Things are in a bad condition. I have resolved to reorganize a
rear guard. Forrest says he can't keep the enemy off of us any
longer without a strong infantry support, but says he can do it
with the help of three thousand infantry with you to command
them. You can select any troops in the army. It is a post of great
honor, but one of such great peril that I will not impose it on you
unless you are willing to take it, and you had better take troops
that can be relied upon, for you may have to cut your way out to
get to me after the main army gets out. The army must be saved,
come what may, and, if necessary, your command must be sacrificed
to accomplish it."
Walthall, in reply, said : "General, I have never asked for a hard
place for glory, nor a soft place for comfort, but take my chances
as they come. Give me the order for the troops and I will do my
best. Being the youngest major general in the army, I believe, my
seniors may complain that the place was not offered to them, but
that is a matter between you and them."
General Hood said : "Forrest wants you and I want you.''
General Forrest rode up during the conversation and said : "Now
we will keep them back."
And General Hood gave verbal orders for General Walthall to
take any troops he wished.
It is a tribute to General Forrest's popularity that as
soon as it became known that he was to organize the rear
guard men rushed to headquarters to ask to join his
forces. Desertions, which had daily rolled up in the
scores, many going over to the enemy for the sheer love
of warrath and food, now stopped almost entirely. So
many of the regiments were decimated to mere skeletons
that it was necessary to re-form them and merge several
into one. The spirit that animated the men may be shown
by the following incident :
Riding up to Colonel Heiskell, in command of Strahl's
291

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Brigade, General Hood said: "I ara organizing a re
serve guard of infantry under General Walthall, and he
is to report to General Forrest, who will cover the re
treat of the army in Tennessee, and I would like to know
if this coraraand would serve in that body." "We are
soldiers. General," was the officer's prorapt reply. Every
where there was the sarae ready acceptance of the new
condition, and it cheered the disheartened General Hood
to see the raen so buoyant under such deplorable circum
stances. The fragraents of coraraands that were consolidated
were as follows : Gen. W. S. Featherstone's Brigade ; Col.
Jaraes Argyle Sraith's Brigade, under coramand of Col.
C. H. Olrastead ; Strahl's Brigade, under Col. C. W.
Heiskell ; Col. H. R. Field's Brigade ; Quarles's Brigade,
under Gen. J. B. Johnson. Four skeleton brigades were
forraed frora these and placed under the respective com
raand of Brigadier Generals Featherstone and Reynolds
and Col. Hurae R. Field.
General Thoraas's reference to this rear guard is in the
highest terms :
Forrest and his cavalry had rejoined Hood at Columbia.
He had formed a powerful rear guard made up of detachments from
all of his organized force, numbering about 4,000 infantry, under
General Walthall, and all the available cavalry and artillery under
his own command. With the exception of his rear guard. Hood's
army had become a disheartened and disorganized rabble of half-
armed and barefooted men, who sought every opportunity to fall
out by the wayside and desert their cause to put an end to their suf
ferings. The rear guard, however, was undaunted and firm, and did
its work bravely to the last.^
No sooner had General Forrest been assigned to the
coraraand of the rear guard than he set to work with his
?Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part I., page 42.
292

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
customary energy and enthusiasra to raake the best prepa
rations possible under the circunistances. Cheatham's
Corps had the day before thrown up intrenchments south
of Spring Hill and engaged the enemy until Hood's wag
on trains crossed Rutherford Creek, and had then, with
astonishing celerity, crossed over the same bridge and
burned it behind them before the araazed Federals could
divine their intentions. This gave General Hood an ex
cellent start, and the Federal rations giving out at this
time, they delayed still further, so that it was the 20th of
the month before they reached the creek, by which time
General Flood's army was two days' rapid march away.
The Federals subjected Colurabia to a heavy shelling, but
General Forrest, who had not yet crossed the river, raade
a personal call on General Hatch under a flag of truce
and told him. that the place was occupied only by the sick
and wounded of both armies and asked for a cessation of
firing. This was acceded to, but a request for an ex
change of prisoners was refused. General Forrest, in the
meantime, had irapressed oxen, and by double-teaming
the artillery guns had effected a passage across Duck
River, destroying all the bridges for railes above and be
low Columbia. Not even a vestige of a bridge remained
when the enemy reached it. General Wilson had provided
himself with pontoon bridges, but by some mistake these
took the wrong road, and the impatient Federals had
perforce to sit on the banks and wait for them, knowing
full well that General Forrest's artillery was masked in
the bushes on the opposite side of the stream, which was
now level with its banks. Courier after courier was sent
to the rear to inquire into the delay of the bridge train
and to hurry it to the front, but it did not arrive until the
293

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
moming of the 24th, when the pursuit was resumed with
great spirit.
General Forrest had fallen back to Richland Creek and
selected a favorable position for an encounter. Upon
crossing Richland Creek Captain Morton placed one sec
tion of artillery across the bridge near a bluft' and an
other to the right of the road on the approach to the
bridge. These guns were supported by Buford's and
Chalraers's Divisions and Ross's Brigade of Texans,
which were part of Jackson's Coramand.
General Wilson made a determined effort to cross the
bridge, but his advance was successfuly checked by Mor
ton's Artillery on the bank of the stream. The other sec
tion across the creek did effective work also. When the
Federals charged down the tumpike, these two pieces,
which were under the iraraediate supervision of Chief of
Artillery Morton, were rushed to the bridge. The floor
ing of the bridge had been torn away by the passing of
the Confederate troops, but, throwing the guns into po
sition, the enemy was held at bay long enough to have
the flooring replaced with sufficient firmness to allow the
guns to be carried over by hand and the horses led across.
The planks were then removed and thrown into the
stream, thereby retarding the eneray's raoveraents.
After several hours' fighting the Federals succeeded in
crossing the creek, and General Forrest fell back toward
Pulaski. The pursuit again became so close that the fight
ing was largely hand-to-hand. General Buford was bad
ly wounded and was forced to relinquish his command.
Both armies bivouacked for the night in the environs of
Pulaski, but General Forrest slipped away in the early
morning, leaving a light rear guard under Jackson. All
stores which could not be carried were burned.
294

CHAPTER XXV.
Anthony's Hill and Sugar Creek.
At Anthony's Hill, seven railes frora Pulaski, General
Forrest, with that masterly grasp of the strategic possi
bilities of every position, selected an impregnable point
for a stand.
"The country on the right and left of the pike, very
broken and densely timbered, was alraost irapassable,"
says General Wilson in his report. "The pike itself, pass
ing through the gorges of the hills, was advantageous
for the eneray ; with a few raen he could corapel the pur
suing force to develop a front alraost anywhere."*
General Hood had written General Forrest to hold the
enemy at Anthony's Hill until he could get across Sugar
Creek, and the point selected was one of matchless ad
vantage, covering, as it did, the front and both flanks of
any force that might come up the road. Morton's Artil
lery was masked and placed on the crest of the ridge,
sweeping every approach of the enemy. To one side
Armstrong's and Ross's Brigades were thrown into supi-
porting lines. On the opposite side were Jackson's Cav
alry, with Reynolds's and Fields's Infantry. Hasty breast
works of logs and brush were constructed, and in front of
these a line of skirraishers was thrown out. A half mile
in front, in the direction of Pulaski, a small detachraent
had been stationed to attract the attention of the enemy
and entice him into the ravine, retreating rapidly as they
fired. This ruse was successful. The Federals charged
into the ambuscade with vigor; but soon realizing the
?Official Records, Vol. XIV., Part I., page 566.
295

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
nature of the trap. General Wilson called off the pursuit
and advanced one piece of artillery, supported by one of
his regiraents. Captain Morton reraained at his raasked
batteries until the eneray was at close range, and then
gave the order to open on thera heavily, the guns being
double-shotted with canister. At the same raoment a vol
ley frora the Confederate small arms greeted the Federals,
and the narrow path through the gorge seemed ringed
with fire and smoke. The eneray broke in turaultuous
disorder, and the Confederates charged upon thera with
the old-tirae "Rebel yell" and spirit. A number of pris
oners, several hundred horses, and one piece of artillery
were captured. At this repulse General Wilson tele
graphed for help: "We are four miles frora Pulaski, on
the Lamb's Ferry Road, and have met a slight check. If
you bring up )''0ur infantry, we raay get some prisoners,
and I think I shall be able to drive Forrest off."*
In after years, in writing of this pursuit for a sys
teraatic account of the war and its leaders, General Wil
son said :
Just before sundown on Christmas eve Forrest, in a fit of des
peration, made a stand on a heavily wooded ridge, at the head of
a ravine, and by a rapid and savage counter-thrust drove back Har
rison's Brigade and captured one gun, which he succeeded in car
rying away as the sole trophy of that desperate campaign.t
Just before the Federal troops broke. General Arm
strong, who was in coraraand of one of the wings, rode
up and said that he had held his position until his am
munition was alraost exhausted, and asked to be relieved.
General Forrest told hira to return and hold it a while
longer. General Arrastrong did so, but soon rode back
?Official Records, Vol. XIV, Part IL, page 348.
t"Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," Vol. IV., page 471.
296

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
again, saying his raen were in a very exposed position,
and, having no ammunition, could not be held rauch
longer. Again the General bade hira go back, and again
General Armstrong returned and tried to encourage his
men, who were feeling keenly their helpless situation.
At last it was impossible to hold the point longer, and
as the men retreated General AiTnstrong, fearing that his
commander had not understood the necessity for the
movement and that the other troops would think his raen
had run from a fight, rode up again and, with tears of
anger and pride, called to General Walthall, who was be
side the coraraanding officer: "General Walthall, won't
you please make that d — d raan there on the horse see
that my men are forced to retreat?" General Forrest,
with perfect syrapathy and gentleness, told hira that he
merely wanted to gain tirae for General Hood to cross
Sugar Creek, and that his (Arrastrong's) men had done
a noble part in covering the retreat. Fie then added, look
ing at his watch : "It is about time for us all to get out
of here."
A Race for the Crossing.
Quickly fomiing in line of raarch, the Confederates
rode rapidly away, the eneray's shot falling thickly around
thera, but they spurred on, animated by their leader's de
sire to reach the crossing of the creek. The Federals, not
understanding this, and fearing it raight be only another
mse of that "devil Forrest," hesitated to push forward.
Rain and sleet fell heavily, accorapanied by a bitter wind.
The two hostile annies, the one a van and the other a
rear guard, advanced all night along parallel roads, both
making for the same crossing. It had been an all-day
fight — it was now an all-night race. General Forrest
never for a moment contemplated getting anywhere last.
297

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
He simply made no allowance for such a possibility, and
such was his genius for animating his men that he could
always inspire thera to fresh efforts, no matter how jaded
they were. The weather had becorae raore and more se
vere. Alternate rain, snow, and thaw had reduced the
roads to a terrible state. The country had for months
been the seat of operations, and it had long ago been
stripped of everything that could minister to sustenance.
General Wilson described these conditions graphically :
The men of both forces suffered dreadfully, but the poor cavalry
horses fared still worse than their riders. Scarcely a withered com
blade could be found for them, and thousands, exhausted by over
work, famished with hunger or crippled so that death was a mercy,
with hoofs dropping off from frost and mud, fell by the roadside,
never to rise again. By the time the corps found rest on the Ten
nessee River, it could muster scarcely 7,000 horses fit for service.*
Crossing Sugar Creek.
As might have been expected, the tireless Confederate
leader reached the banks of Sugar Creek first. A tem
porary fortification of logs and rails was made and the
array encaraped for the night. Dawn of the 27th showed
a dense fog over all the face of nature. In a thicket on
the near side of the crossing Morton's Artillery was con
cealed and supported by Ross's Brigade. On the other
side of the creek the infantry was placed under Colonel
Hume. Colonel Hume was a raan of sraall stature, but
every drop of blood in his spare frarae carae from the
fiercest of fighting stock, and he rather comically misun
derstood General Forrest's orders. The latter said that
the infantry were to lie in the sedge grass that grew on
the banks of the creek and fire on the eneray, and that
when they broke the cavalry would be ready to rush in.
?"Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," Vol. IV., page 472.
298

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Colonel Hume, drawing himself to his full height, said:
"General, don't count on my men breaking — they never
break." The General explained that he referred to the
breaking of the enemy, and Colonel Hume's raen went
into position.
It was not long before the rauffled sound of the en
emy's march was heard. They approached the bank, and,
not suspecting the close presence of the baffling General
Forrest, they drew up in line with their backs to the Con
federates. Captain Morton fired the signal gun, and im
mediately a deadly flood of shot and shell was poured on
their backs, with startling effect. As if they had been
galvanized by an electric wire, the line broke and rushed
madly for the creek. The fog concealing the contour of
the banks, raany of them plunged over the high bluffs and
were shot by the Confederates, who had corae up close,
or were captured as they atterapted tO' swim away. Three
hundred and fifty men with horses were captured. The
main portion of General Wilson's force was pursued for
a couple of miles, but, as they met reenforcements. Gen
eral Forrest returned to Sugar Creek. In anticipation of
a concerted attack with the fresh troops, he remained in
line of battle for some hours ; but no further sign of the
enemy developing, he continued in the direction of the
Tennessee River.
Rejoining General Hood.
This was the last fight of any consequence in General
Hood's ill-starred campaign. Bivouacking within sixteen
miles of the Tennessee River that night. General Wal
thall's Infantry Division was retumed to General Stew
art's Command the next day (27th). General Hood's
pontoon bridge, which had been kept in position, made
299

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the crossing of the river the easiest of the many that
General Forrest and his men had raade. The gunboats,
so feverishly telegraphed for by the Federal commanders
engaged in pursuit, did not arrive, and the gallant Hatch,
with his cavalry, reached the bank just an hour after the
crossing had been effected.
After joining General Hood at Florence, General For
rest was relieved from, his arduous duties, receiving the
earnest thanks of General Hood. His continued successes
had been of the greatest assistance in restoring the morale
of the army.
General Wilson, after pursuing General Forrest to the
bank of the Tennessee, was content to return to Nash
ville for a tirae. There was a certain likeness between the
two leaders, and both felt that the battles of Nashville
had really brought the war to a close. General Forrest
expressed himself to this effect many tiraes.
300

CHAPTER XXVI.
Preparing for a New Field.
It was December 27 when the last of General For
rest's force had crossed the Tennessee River at Florence.
He gave most of the men furloughs for a limited period
in order that they might recuperate their strength and
secure their accouterments at home. The majority of his
men were from Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and
Alabama. Texas furnished one entire brigade — ^Ross's.
These were retained for picket duty, and Roddey's Bri
gade was left to protect the crossings between Decatur
and Waterloo. Caprtain Morton and those merabers of
his battery who were not on furlough went into camp at
Verona, Miss. Ruraors were rife that the war was over,
that the furloughed men would never be recalled, and
that General Forrest was arranging to take a colony of
Confederates into Mexico. As an evidence of their en
thusiasm for the cause and faith in its leaders, the raem
bers of Captain Morton's Battery called a meeting on
February 25, whose minutes and resolutions are here re
produced : Camp Morton's Battery, Jackson's Division,
Forrest's Cavalry Corps,
Verona, Miss., Feb. 25, 1865.
At a meeting of the niembers of this battery held this day, on
motion Capt. John W. Morton was called to the chair, and Sergt.
M. C. Priddy appointed Secretary.
The objects of the meeting being explained by the Chairman, the
meeting was then opened by an appropriate prayer from Rev. W. E.
Rosser, Chaplain, C. S. A.
The following committee was then appointed for the purpose of
drafting suitable resolutions : Lieut. B. F. Haller, Sergt. W. H.
Matthews, Private W. J. Potter, and upon motion the names of
Sergt. W. D. Jobe and Private H. C. Fields were added.
301

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
During the retirement of the committee a very eloquent and
forcible speech was delivered by Sergt. Frank T. Reid, after which
the following resolutions were submitted to the meeting and unani
mously adopted : Resolutions.
Whereas we, the members of Morton's Battery, deem it an ap
propriate occasion, now that the dark clouds of gloom and de
spondency hang like a vast funeral pall over the whole length and
breadth of our land, to renew our pledges of unswerving devotion
and constancy to the great and holy cause of Southern Independence,
to the accomplishment of which we dedicate anew our energies, our
lives, and sacred honor;
Resolved: i. That we believe our cause to be just and righteous,
and our motives to be pure and patriotic. That we have an abiding
faith in the integrity and wisdom of our leaders, in the bravery and
devotion of our commanders in arras, and in the favor and assist
ance of Almighty God.
2. That we cheerfully acquiesce in whatever policy our wise and
able President may deem it right to pursue, and that we here tender
him our earnest and grateful thanks for the skillful and unsur
passed manner in which he has steered our noble Ship of State
through the many breakers and quicksands that have threatened her
destruction. Nor would we omit this opportunity of expressing our
implicit confidence in our great and indomitable chieftain, under
whose banner we have ever been victorious.
3. To the beautiful daughters of the South, and especially to
those within the lines of the enemy, whose hearts have clung the
closer the darker the clouds have gathered around us ; in their cause
also would we express our deep, unflinching devotion. The recol
lection of their wrongs will nerve our hearts in the dread hour of
battle. By our holy memories of the past and by the glowing prestige
of the future we swear the red cross banner of the South shall yet
wave triumphant over our land, consecrated by the blood of free
men and sanctified by the prayers of martyrs and patriots.
Committee: Lieut. B. F. Haller, Sergt. W. H. Matthews, Private
W. J. Potter, Sergt. W. L. Jobe, Private H. C. Fields.
Capt. John W. Morton, Jr., Chairman;
Sergt. M. C. Priddy, Secretary.
At this tirae General Wilson sent Colonel Palmer to
continue the pursuit of the Confederates, and, crossing
the Tennessee River, surprised Roddey and captured
302

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
General Hood's wagon trains and pontoons. Roddey's
Cavalry was very much depleted by absence and deser
tion, and General Beauregard recoramended that the
whole cavalry force be placed under General Forrest's
sole coraraand. This was done, and General Forrest un
dertook the work with his custoraary energy, issuing the
following circular, setting forth his plans :
Headquarters Cavalry Department of Alabama,
Mississippi, and East Louisiana,
Verona, Miss., January 28, 1865.
In obedience to orders from department headquarters, I hereby
assume command of the District of Mississippi, East Louisiana, and
West Tennessee. In doing so, it is due both to myself and the
troops thus placed under my command to see that every effort will
be made to render them thoroughly effective. To do this, strict
obedience to all orders must be rigidly enforced by subordinate com
manders, and prompt punishment inflicted for all violations of law
and of orders. The rights and property of citizens must be re
spected and protected, and the illegal organizations of cavalry
prowling through the country must be placed regularly and properly
in the service or driven from the country. They are, in many in
stances, nothing more or less than roving bands of deserters, ab
sentees, stragglers, horse thieves, and robbers, who consume the
substance and appropriate the property of citizens without remu
neration, and whose acts of lawlessness and crime demand a remedy,
which I shall not hesitate to apply even to extermination. The
maxim "that kindness to bad men is cruelty to the good" is pecul
iarly applicable to soldiers. For all agree that without obedience
and strict discipline troops cannot be made effective, and kindness
to a bad soldier does great injustice to those who are faithful and
true; and it is but justice to those who discharge their duties with
promptness and fidelity that others who are disobedient, turbulent,
and mutinous, or who desert or straggle from their commands,
should be promptly and effectively dealt with as the law directs. I
sincerely hope, therefore, while in the discharge of the arduous
duties devolving upon me, and in all the efforts necessary to render
the troops of this command available and effective to suppress law
lessness and defend the country, I shall have the hearty cooperation
of all subordinate commanders and the unqualified support of every
brave and faithful soldier. N. B. Forrest.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
He iraraediately began a vigorous carapaign for gath
ering recruits and deserters and a general reorganization.
This vexing process was even raore than ordinarily te
dious, owing to the efforts of certain raen to hamper the
work for reasons of their own. Of these, some idea is
given in the following letter to the Secretary of War at
Richraond : Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry Corps,
West Point, Miss., March i8, 1865.
Hon. John C. Breckenridge,
Secretary of War, Richmond, Virginia.
General: I take the liberty of addressing you relative to the state
of affairs in Southern Kentucky, and to bring to your notice and
knowledge existing evils which can alone be corrected by yourself,
as the Chief of the War Department. It is due to myself to state
that I disclaim all desire or intention to dictate. So far from it
that I hesitate even now to make known the facts or to suggest the
remedies to be applied. No other motive than the good of the
service prompts me to address you. A railitary district was formed
in Southern Kentucky, including a small portion of West Tennessee,
and Brig. Gen. A. R. Johnson assigned to the comraand of it. The
object of creating this district was doubtless for the purpose of
raising and organizing troops for our army. Its permanent occupa
tion by any force raised within its limits was not expected or cal
culated upon. If it was, the sequel shows that both in raising troops
or holding the territory the experiraent is a complete failure. Gen
eral Johnson, who was often reported to have from twelve to
eighteen hundred men, was finally wounded and captured, and his
men scattered to the four winds. Brigadier General Lyon then suc
ceeded him and was driven across the Tennessee River into North
Alabama, with only a handful of men. Nothing has been added to
our army, for while the men flocked to and remained with General
Johnson or General Lyon as long as they could stay in Kentucky,
as soon as the enemy presses and they are ordered to turn south
ward the men scatter, and my opinion is that they can never be
brought out or organized until we send our troops there in sufficient
numbers to bring them out by force. So far from gaining any
strength for the army, the Kentucky Brigade now in my command
has only about three hundred men in camp (Third, Seventh, and
Eighth Kentucky Regiments). They have deserted and attached
304

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
themselves to the roving bands of guerrillas, bushwhackers, jay-
hawkers, and plunderers, who are the natural offspring of authority
given to parties to raise troops within the enemy's lines. The
authority given to would-be colonels, and by tliem delegated to
would-be captains and lieutenants, has created squads of men who
are dodging from pillar to post preying upon the people, robbing
them of their horses and other property to the manifest injury of
the country and our cause.
The same state of affairs exists in West Tennessee and along the
Mississippi River. The country is filled with deserters and strag
glers, who run away and attach themselves to the commands of
those who have the authorities referred to. They never organize,
report to nobody, are responsible to no one, and exist by plunder
and robbery.
There may, perhaps, be a few exceptions, but as a general thing
men who besiege the department for such authority are officers
without position or command, who, by flattering representations,
recommendations, and influential friends, avoid the ranks by ob
taining authority to raise troops within the enemy's lines. I venture
the assertion that where one succeeds and organizes a command
ninety-nine fail, and that they take twenty men out of the army to
one placed in it. I therefore unhesitatingly recommend that all
persons or parties holding such authorities, or acting under orders
from those who do hold them, be ordered to report with what men
they have to the nearest department commander within a limited
period, for consolidation and organization, and that those failing so
to report have their authorities revoked and themselves subjected
to conscription whenever caught. Do not understand me as reflect
ing on General Johnson or General Lyon. They did all they could,
no doubt, to carry out the objects of the department in their district.
They have failed ; and the fact, to my mind, is demonstrated most
clearly that the deserters and conscripts in West Tennessee and
Kentucky will never come out until brought out by force. If all
authorities to raise troops in the enemy's lines are revoked and the
mustering officers ordered out, troops can be occasionally sent in
under good and reliable officers to arrest and bring out deserters
and break up the bands of lawless men who not only rob the citi
zens themselves, but whose presence in the country gives a pretext
to Federal authority for oppressing the people.
I am. General, very respectfully your obedient servant,
N. B. Forrest, Lieutenant General,
305
20

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
These letters, expressing so strongly General Forrest's
resentment of the tedious red tape that made it hard to
deal with these shirkers, are so sirailar in sentiment to
General Sherman's letter on the subject of bought sub
stitutes, and show so plainly the high sense of pure pa
triotism that aniraated the two indomitable leaders, that
the author is constrained to insert General Sherman's let
ter at this point :
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Gaylesville, Ala., Oct. 25, 1864.
Hon. E. M. Stanton,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.
Sir: I do not wish to be considered as in any way adverse to the
organization of negro regiments, further than as to its effects upon
the white race. I do wish the fine race of men that people our
Northern States should rule and determine the future destiny of
America ; but if they prefer trade and gain, and leave to bought
substitutes and negroes the fighting (the actual conflict), of course
the question is settled ; for those who hold the swords and muskets
at the end of this war (which has but fairly begun) will have some
thing to say. If the negroes are to fight, they too will not be con
tent with sliding back into the status of slave or free negro. I
much prefer to keep negroes yet for some time to come in a subor
dinate state; for our prejudices, yours as well as mine, are not yet
schooled to absolute equality. Jeff Davis has succeeded perfectly in
inspiring his people with the truth that liberty and government are
worth fighting for, that pay and pensions are silly nothings com
pared to the prize fought for. Now, I would aim to inspire our
people also with the same idea — that it is not right to pay $1,000 to
some fellow, who will run away, to do his fighting, or to sorrie poor
negro, who is thinking of the day of jubilee; but that every young
and middle-aged man should be proud of the chance to fight for the
stability of his country, without profit and without price ; and I would
like to see all trade, commerce, and manufactures absolutely cease
until this fight is over, and I have no hesitation or concealment in
saying that there is not, and should not be, the remotest chance of
peace again on this continent till all this is realized, save the peace
which would result in the base and cowardly submittal to Jeff Da
vis's terms. I would use negroes as surplus, but not spare a single
white man, not one. Any white man who don't or won't fight now
306

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
should be killed, banished, or denationalized ; and then we would
discriminate araong the noisy patriots, and see who really should
vote. If the negroes fight and the whites don't, of course thc ne
groes will govern. They won't ask you or me for the privilege ; but
will siraply take it, and probably reverse the relation hitherto ex
isting; and they would do right. If, however, the government has
determined to push the policy to the end, it is both my duty and my
pleasure to assist; and in that event I should like to have Colonel
Bowman, now commanding the District of Wilmington, Del., to or
ganize and equip such as may fall into the custody of the army I
command. I am, with respect, your obedient servant,
W. T. Sherman, Major General Commandin

Another point of similarity between these two men was
in a certain expression concerning war. "War raeans
fighting, and fighting raeans killing," said General For
rest ; and General Sherraan put it in the more terse form :
"War is hell."
January, February, and March were spent in systera-
atizing the forraation of the regiraents and jDroviding
for supplies. Scouts reported a concentration of Fed
eral troops in the neighborhood of Waterloo, Ala.
Movements from Memphis and Vicksburg were being in
augurated at the same time, so General Forrest had
need of plenary authority to meet the conditions con
fronting his new department. The weather was still se
vere, and this delayed the Federals, greatly to the ad
vantage of General Forrest.
General Wilson had learned enough in this pursuit of
General Forrest to enable hira to know what he would
need in another chase, and he made preparations to cover
every possible emergency, every tum and twist the wily
Confederate might raake. Receiving the heartiest co
operation from General Thoraas, he fitted out his cavalry
with picked raen and horses and secured equipraents of
the highest quality. General Sherman was also in full
307

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
sympathy with the effort, but General Grant seemed to
have been discouraged by the previous failures, and
strongly recommended that General Wilson be given only
enough raen to make a demonstration and keep General
Forrest's attention engaged.
It was the 22d of March before the weather moder
ated sufficiently to permit General Wilson's Command to
leave Waterloo. The force consisted of 12,500 mounted
men and 1,500 dismounted men, armed with the Spencer
magazine repeating rifle, the most effective weapon known
to warfare at that time. They were the flower of General
Thomas's army. Some of them were young, but all had
been in the war since the beginning and had had stren
uous experience, and all were enthusiastic and confident.
Their supplies and the discipline of the troops left noth
ing to be desired. Selraa, Ala., was their destination.
Dividing his coraraand into three colurans. General
Wilson raoved southward as far as Elyton ( now Birming
ham), Ala., without resistance. 308

CHAPTER XXVII.
The Fall of Selma.
In the meantime General Forrest had received news
of General Wilson's raarch as soon as it had begun, and
at the sarae tirae word was brought of an invading force
from Pensacola, also directed toward Selma. This neces
sitated the division of his slender forces. Morton's Ar
tillery was divided among the different commands, the
Hudson Battery going with Chalmers to^ Pickensville, and
two guns of Morton's Battery starting with Jackson's
Division to Selma, by way of Montevallo and Tuscaloosa.
Montevallo was important as the center of a number
of iron mines and foundries operated for the Confederate
Ordnance Departraent. The Federal coluran was report
ed as heading for this point, and General Forrest pressed
on in that direction with his escort and staff and a section
of the Morton Battery.
In the meantirae the eneray, with 13,000 horse, 1,500
infantry, and three batteries, had taken two lines of
march, one in the direction of Russellville and the other
toward Tuscaloosa. General Wilson had made a halt at
Elyton (now Birminghara), and stripped hiraself to his
pack train and artillery, and in light raarching trim
reached Montevallo on the 30th of March.
Capture of Confederate Dispatches.
Here General Wilson had the good luck to intercept
one of General Forrest's couriers with dispatches to Gen.
W. H. Jackson, and thus learned that General Forrest
was in front and had laid a nice plan for crushing him
(Wilson). Having thus the key to the whole situation,
309

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
he detached Croxton's Brigade to gO' back and annihilate
General Jackson and take Tuscaloosa, burning the Uni
versity, foundries, and all important buildings in the place.
He then advanced with his other two^ divisions to meet
General Forrest, encountering him at Bogler's Creek,
where a bloody engagement took place.
In the meantime General Jackson was raoving toward
Centerville, Captain Morton in personal command of the
guns accompanying this division. Attempting to cross
the Catawba Creek, near Scottsville, Croxton was en
countered, and there was sorae spirited skirmishing for a
couple of hours, the Federals trying in vain tO' dismount
Captain Morton's guns, charging time after time on their
position, behind a hastily constructed breastwork of logs,
rails, and brush. They were supported by Bell's and
Campbell's Brigades, and gallantly defended.
General Croxton retired and dispatched to General Wil
son for help, and was quickly joined by General McCook.
The result of this engageraent was a capture of one
hundred and fifty horses, as raany prisoners, several
stands of colors, and Croxton's papers and personal ef
fects.
"Fighting McCook" and "Red Jackson."
Only General McCook's arrival prevented General Jack
son's cutting his way through to General Forrest in time
to participate in the battle of Selraa.
General McCook was a splendid officer and a fierce
fighter, coming from the faraily known as "The Fighting
McCooks." He proved an equal match for "Red" Jack
son, and succeeded not only in buming the bridge over
the Catawba but in preventing a crossing at adjacent
fords. Several efforts were made, but General McCook
310

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
was found pertinaciously defending every spot. It was
not until his assistance was needed by General Croxton
in the burning of Tuscaloosa that he relaxed his vigi
lance long enough for General Jackson and Captain Mor
ton to slip through. By rapid raarching and without
pausing for rest or food, they reached Dixie Station late
in the afternoon of April 3, and, hearing at this point of
the fall of Selma, pressed on to Marion.
General Forrest reached Marion, having cut his way
both through to Selraa and out of it. He was covered
with wounds and his clothing was in rags. At one tirae
he had been surrounded by six Federals, and escaped be
ing slain by a veritable hair's breadth.
General Wilson's Courtesy.
General Wilson was one of the raost courteous, as weU,
as efficient, officers in the Union array. On beginning his
raid into Alabaraa he had issued strict orders against
burning, pillaging, or destroying private property, and
these orders he coramanded to be read every day to every
regiment. In consequence this incursion was the most
orderly of any conducted during the war.
At Plantersville, on April 3, General Forrest had cap
tured the several hospitals, and with his usual generosity
had dispatched the surgeons on his own horses to their
headquarters. General Wilson issued an order for the
replacing of the twenty-five "rackabones" thus loaned by
as many sound animals.*
While the failure to retain Selma seemed at the rao
ment an almost insupportable misfortune, after events
showed the governing of an All-Wise Providence, for
?Official Records, Vol. XLIX., Part IL, page 272.
311

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
just a week later the surrender at Appomattox was made,
and a bloodier engagement would have been useless.
Rumors of Surrender.
General Forrest remained a week or more at Marion,
and then raoved to Gainesville, where he went into camp
for recuperation. Without telegraphic communication he
was in ignorance of General Lee's surrender on the 9th,
although ruraors spread raysteriously throughout the
carap to such an extent that he felt compelled to issue a
circular denying it and encouraging his men to have hope
and patience. "A few raore days will deterraine the truth
or falsity of all the reports now in circulation," he said.
"In the raeantirae let those who are now absent from
their coraraands, for the purpose of raounting themselves
or otherwise, return without delay. Be firm and un
wavering, discharge promptly and faithfully every duty
devolving upon you." For his own part he said: "With
undiminished confidence in your courage and fortitude,
and knowing you will not disregard the clairas of honor,
patriotisra, and raanhood, and those of the women and
children of the country so long defended by your strong
arms and willing hearts, your coraraander announces his
determination to stand by you, stay with you, and lead
you to the end."
This address was issued on April 25. Five days later
he was notified by General Taylor of the sunxnder, and
proceeded to Meridian to arrange for the relinquishing
of his command. The battle-scarred soldiers, seeing the
flag they had so long fought for go down in defeat — ^but
not in disgrace — could only echo the sadly beautiful sen
timents of Father Ryan's poem :
312

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
THE CONQUERED BANNER.
Furl that Banner, for 'tis weary ;
Round its staff 'tis drooping dreary :
Furl it, fold it — it is best ;
For there's not a man to wave it.
And there's not a sword to save it.
And there's not one left to lave it
In the blood which heroes gave it.
And its foes now scorn and brave it :
Furl it, hide it — let it rest !
Take that Banner down ! 'tis tattered ;
Broken is its staff and shattered;
And the valiant hosts are scattered.
Over whom it floated high.
O, 'tis hard for us to fold it.
Hard to think there's none to hold it.
Hard that those who once unrolled it
Now must furl it with a sigh I
Furl that Banner — furl it sadly I
Once ten thousands hailed it gladly,
And ten thousands wildly, madly.
Swore it should forever wave ;
Swore that foeman's sword should never
Hearts like theirs entwined dissever.
Till that flag should float forever
O'er their freedom or their grave !
Furl it ! for the hands that grasped it.
And the hearts that fondly clasped it.
Cold and dead are lying low ;
And that Banner — it is trailing.
While around it sounds the wailing
Of its people in their woe.
F''or, though conquered, they adore it —
Lcive the cold, dead hands that bore it.
Weep for those who fell before it,
Pardon those who trailed and tore it ;
And oh, wildly they deplore it.
Now to furl and fold it so!
313

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Furl that Banner I True, 'tis gory.
Yet 'tis wreathed around with glory.
And 'twill live in song and story
Though its folds are in the dust !
For its fame on brightest pages.
Penned by poets and by sages.
Shall go sounding down the ages — •
Furl its folds though now we must.
Furl that Banner, softly, slowly !
Treat it gently — it is holy.
For it droops above the dead.
Touch it not — unfold it never;
Let it droop there, furled forever —
For its people's hopes are fled I
314

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Surrender at Gainesville.
General Lee surrendered to General Grant, Gen.
Joseph E. Johnston to General Sherman, and Gen. Rich
ard Taylor arranged with General Canby for the cessa
tion of hostilities on the same terms as those raade be
tween Johnston and Sherraan. Captain Morton was not
present at the interview between General Taylor and Gen
eral Forrest at Meridian, but the following account has
been furnished hira by Col. Sarauel Donelson, who ac
companied General Forrest to Meridian :
On our arrival at Meridian General Taylor received us with the
greatest kindness, but the knowledge of the approaching surrender
and parole threw a damper on us all. That night at headquarters
we met General Dennis, a distinguished Federal officer from Kansas,
who had been designated to parole General Forrest and his men.
While the consultation was going on a large crowd of Federal and
Confederate soldiers assembled in the yard, clamoring for a speech
from General Taylor and General Forrest.
Responding to the call. General Taylor made a beautiful and
earnest talk, appealing to his followers, as they were about to lay
down their arms in a cause they had supported with heroism and
sincerity, to accept in good faith the liberal terms under which
they had surrendered.
After he had finished, a perfect storm of yells arose for "For
rest," many of those present having never seen him, but knowing
of his oft-repeated deeds of valor. The Union soldiers cheered
quite as lustily as our own. After the lapse of these forty years, I
can recall his words exactly as he spoke them :
"Men, we have surrendered. We have made our last fight. I
came here to-night to meet the Federal General who will go with
me to-morrow to Gainesville, Ala., to be paroled and to lay down
our arms. Men, you have been good soldiers ; a man who has been
a good soldier can be a good citizen. I shall go back to my home
upon the Mississippi River, there to begin life anew, and to you
315

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
good old Confederates I want to say that the latchstring of Bed
ford Forrest will always be on the outside of the door.''
On May 9 General Jackson and Brigadier General
E. S. Dennis commenced the making out of the muster
rolls of the Confederate army at Gainesville. This threw
the raen into the deepest despondency, and there was
rauch talk of the colony that General Forrest had been
reported to be organizing for Mexico. That General
Forrest had at one tirae entertained the idea of leaving
without surrendering is believed, but there is no con
clusive evidence that he had formulated a definite plan
to found a colony there.
On the raoming the paroles were to* be signed, Maj.
Charles W. Anderson was called from his tent at day
break, and found General Forrest at his door with both
horses saddled for a ride. Major Anderson joined him
without question, and they rode o'ut toward the country
in complete silence. General Forrest with his head on his
breast in raelancholy brooding. Major Anderson nat
urally syrapathized with his coraraander's sadness and
raade no effort to talk, but, on reaching a crossroad, drew
up and asked : "Which road. General ?" "It makes no
difference," replied the General despondently. "If one
of them led to hell and the other to Mexico, I wouldn't
care which one I took." He then spoke of his bitter dis
taste for surrender, and said that the idea of going to
Mexico was alluring to him. Major Anderson, knowing
his character, raade no effort to dissuade him from this
plan, but merely pointed out that if he went the majority
of his men would have to suffer the humiliation of sur
render, as it would be impossible for all of the command
to follow hira. "To these brave fellows, who have by
their unflinching devotion to your fortunes made your
316

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ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
reputation as a comraander, it will be an added humilia
tion to be compelled to bear the bitterness of surrender
without your example and inspiration," said Major An
derson. "That settles it," replied the great man, turning
his horse's head in the direction of camp at once. "I will
share the fate of my raen." Major Anderson was then
requested to prepare an address to the troops, which he
did. It was written on the top of a cracker box at the
powder magazine, and as soon as read and approved by
General Forrest was set up and printed on an old print
ing press and distributed among the troops. The paper
used was of all colors and qualities, but a sufficient num
ber of them was printed for each soldier to have one, in
stead of having a copy read to each regiment, as is cus
tomary with railitary docuraents.
GENERAL FORREST'S FAREWELL ADDRESS.
Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry Corps,
Gainesville, Ala., May 9, 1865.
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 oi: 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 material 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.
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 strug
gled, and for which you have braved dangers, endured privations
and sufferings, and made so many sacrifices, is to-day hopeless.
The governraent which we sought to establish and perpetuate is at
317

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
an end. Reason dictates and humanity demands that no more blood
be shed. Fully realizing and feeling 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 establishing 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 magnanimity 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 Com
mander I sincerely hope that every officer and soldier of my com
mand 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 as
suredly 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, Miss., 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 en
genders feelings of animosity, hatred, and revenge. It is our duty
to divest ourselves of all such feelings, and, as far as in our power
to do so, to cultivate friendly feelings toward those with whom we
have so long contended, and therefore so widely, but honestly, dif
fered. Neighborhood feuds, personal animosities, and private dif
ferences 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 the
government, to society, or to individuals, raeet them like men.
The attempt made to establish a separate and independent Con
federation has failed; but the consciousness of having done your
duty faithfully and to the end will, in some measure, repay for the
hardships you have undergone.
In bidding you farewell rest assured that you carry with you my
best wishes for your future welfare and happiness. Without, in
any way, referring 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, cheerfully and gratefully, acknowledge my in
debtedness to the officers and men of my comraand, whose zeal,
318

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
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 un
willing 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 citizens. 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.
These faded, flirasy scraps were long treasured by the
followers of General Forrest, and the sentiments contained
therein encouraged them to "take up the burden of life
again," in the sarae spirit as that shown by their beloved
commander. For years after the war he was in the
habit of writing to and receiving letters from his raen,
and never did he hear of one of thera being in want with
out making an effort to relieve.
The mmor that General Forrest intended taking his
men to Mexico gained such credence that it reached the
Federal authorities, drawing from General Thomas an
urgent request to Hatch to raake it plain to General For
rest that such an atterapt would place hirai in the ranks
of outlaws, and that the States of Alabaraa and Missis
sippi would be so punished for such an act that they would
not recover for half a century.
Many of General Forrest's raen begged hira to lead
them to Mexico. With tears and entreaties they crowded
around him and told himi they could not brook the thought
of surrender, and would follow hira anywhere, even to
the ends of the earth. But General Forrest pointed out
to them the obloquy that would attach to such an act, and
remained firm in his intention of signing the parole.
Hon. Isham G. Harris and a few independent spirits did
undertake the joumey and were well received by the
Mexican government, which issued a proclaraation, of-
319

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
fering homes and land to Confederates. Hon. Isham G.
Harris remained in the land of fruit and flowers for some
years ; but, although it was a fair country and a fine one,
it had not the sarae sweet attractions for hira that his
own beloved Dixie had, battle-scarred and devastated as
she was. He returned to his State and was accorded
honor after honor by his fellow-citizens before he was
gathered to his fathers.
The work of duplicating the rauster rolls consumed sev
eral days. Captain Morton, whose artillery was en
camped sorae five railes from the town of Gainesville, in
a beautiful grove, taking the rauster rolls of his com
raand to headquarters, secured the paroles for his men,
and returning made a farewell address before disbanding
his raen. "I have but one raore request to raake of you,"
he said, after adjuring thera to return peaceably to their
horaes and there make the best of conditions as they
should find them, "and that is that you take your guns to
the place I have selected — a spot in a group of trees about
a half raile frora the place of paroles — and park them.
You have your paroles in your pockets; and if every one
does not ride home on a good horse, it will be no fault
of mine."
The horses were in fairly good condition, and, though
they bore the "M. B." brand, it was easily obliterated by
the use of raud. For years afterwards Captain Morton
was in receipt of frequent letters from the men of his
coraraand, thanking him for raaking this provision, as
the horses they rode horae were the only barrier between
thera and want. Very few of them were even in posses
sion of the depreciated Confederate money, so ably de
scribed by the poet : 320

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

IN MEMORIAM.
respectfully dedicated to the holders of confederate
treasury notes.
Representing nothing on God's earth now.
And naught in the waters below it;
A pledge of the nation that's dead and gone —
Keep it, dear friend, and show it.
Show it to those who will lend an ear
To the tale that this paper can tell.
Of liberty born, of the patriot's dream.
Of the storm-cradled nation that fell.
Too poor to possess the precious ores.
And too much of a stranger to borrow,
We issued to-day our promise to pay
And hoped to redeem on the morrow.
The days rolled on, and weeks became years,
But our coffers were empty still ;
Coin was so rare that the Treasury quaked
If a dollar should drop in the till.
But the faith that was in us was strong indeed,
And our poverty was discerned.
And these little checks represented the pay
That our suffering volunteers earned.
We know it had hardly a value in gold.
Yet as gold our soldiers received it ;
It gazed in our eyes with a promise to pay,
And each patriot soldier believed it.
But our boys thought little of price or pay.
Or of bills that were overdue ;
We knew if it brought us bread to-day,
'Twas the best our poor country could do.
Keep it — it tells our history o'er;
From the birth of its dream to the last.
Modest and born of the Angel of Hope,
Like the hope of success it passed.
321
21

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
The parting with the cherished guns was particularly
pathetic. Sorae of the artilleryraen wanted to fire a last
salute, but of course this was against the rules of war.
Many of thera threw their arms around the cold muz
zles, as they parked "Morton's Bull Pups" and came sad
ly away.
General Forrest and his officers reraained sorae days in
Gainesville after the paroling was finished, and the part
ing scenes between the peerless leader and his devoted
followers were sad in the extreme. To Captain Morton,
whom the four years' experience had changed from a cal
low, pale stripling of seventeen to a muscular, hardy
raan of twenty-one, he said : "You are young, John, and
you will soon get over it all. Go home and study medi
cine with your father. It is a noble and grand profession,
and I shall love to think of you as being of service to
your fellow-men in that way." He also gave his ex-
artillery chief a letter to his father, which is still carefully
preserved among the raost sacred of faraily papers, and
reads as follows :
Military Department Forrest's Cavalry Corps,
Gainesville, Ala., May lo, 1865.
Dear Sir: It affords me pleasure to report the following to you
of the conduct of your son, Capt. John W. Morton, Jr.
He was ordered to report to me for duty by General Bragg, to
take charge of my Horse Artillery, in November, 1862. His ap
pearance was so youthful and his form so frail that (wishing stout,
active men for ray service) I at first hesitated to receive him; but
coming so well recoraraended by Colonel Hollenquest, General
Bragg's Chief of Artillery, and others, I concluded to try him, hav
ing leamed he was first lieutenant of "Porter's" faraous Tennessee
Battery, which surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
He was highly complimented by General Buckner in his Official
Report, and received from General Buckner the high appellation
of "Gallant Lieutenant Morton, Our Beardless Boy."
322

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
I gave him command of a section of artillery, and raoved with my
first raid into West Tennessee in December, 1862, and soon cap
tured other guns, and placed him in comraand of the battery; and
during this expedition the gallant and efficient manner in which he
handled his guns won my confidence and esteem. He has been con
stantly with me since, in all my engagements, never absent from
his post of duty, apparently happiest when in the thickest of the
fight. He has held with great credit for twelve months past the
position of Chief of Artillery of my corps. By his soldierly bear
ing, generous disposition, affable manners, strict attention to duty
and the welfare of his raen, uniform and true gallantry on so many
fields, he has made many friends, and you may justly be proud of
such a son. He has, with the troops of this department, surren
dered his "Old" Battery, one of the best equipped and finest in
the service.
I deeply sympathize with him and wish him much success and
happiness in any vocation of after life.
Yours most respectfully, N. B. Forrest, Lieutenant General.
Dr. John W. Morton.
The oath signed by Captain Morton on his retum to
Nashville is as follows :
No. 44. Commissioner's Office, United States of America,
Middle District of Tennessee.
I, Edward R. Campbell, Commissioner of the Circuit Court for
the Middle District of Tennessee, hereby certify that on the 26th
day of June, 1865, at my office in Nashville, Tenn., personally ap
peared before me John W. Morton, Jr., who, being by me duly
sworn, took and subscribed the following oath :
"I do hereby solemnly swear, in the presence of the Almighty
God, that I will henceforth faithfully support and defend the Con
stitution of the United States and the Union of States thereunder,
and I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all laws
and proclamations which have been made during the existing re
bellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves. So help me
God. Jno. W. Morton, Jr."
As witness his above signature to said oath, and also ray signa
ture and office seal the day and year aforesaid,
E. R. Campbell,
[Seal] United States Circuit Court Commissioner.
323

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST.
BY VIRGINIA frazer BOYLE.
And the wondering ranks of the foe were like clay
To those men of flint in the molten day;
.And the hell-hounds of war howled afar for their prey
When the arm of Forrest led.
Or devil or angel, life stirred when he spoke.
And the current of courage, if slumbering, woke
.\t the yell of the leader, for never was broke
The record men wondering read.
Swing, rustless blade, in the dauntless hand ;
Ride, soul of a god, through the deathless band.
Through the low green mounds or the breadth of the land,
Wherever your legions dwell.
Swing, Rebel blade, through the halls of fame.
Where courage and justice have left your name;
By the torches of glory your deeds shall flame
With the reckoning of time.

WAIT.*
There's a silver lining for you and for me.
Though the clouds are dark as night ;
For whether on land or on the sea.
Only wait, and all will be right.
?Presented to Mrs. Morton by the author, Mr. Stephen Massett.
324

APPENDIX

APPENDIX

"Life is memory, action, and hope.
Tirae is yesterday, to-day, and to-raorrow.
To-morrow may never come, to-day may chronicle failure,
But yesterday is beyond the touch of time, or azure of oblivion."
If we have acted ill, it is irredeemable; if we have acted well, it
redeems us. Yesterday, then, is either a crown of thorns to tor
ture or a crown to bless us.
Yesterday is history, and history is the treasure-house of the
past, and in it is garnered up for eternity the only parcel of swift-
gliding time that remains to man, and in its amber depths are at
last preserved the deeds of raen and nations.
It is a part of the history of many of you who stood by the
South in the Civil War, and you could not deny it; I hope no one
would deny it. When that tempest of enthusiasm swept over this
land, when the gage of battle was cast between the North and
South, cold indeed was the heart that it did not kindle to a flame.
Men Southern-born, men Northern-born, men born in every
country of the world, who lived in the South, caught the generous
inspiration and stood up for her defense.
No man who joined the ranks with a true heart, however hum
ble his position or slight his service, can ever be scorned, unless
he deserted to the enemy and turned his coat and fought against
his brethren in open battle.
Those ranks were filled with men, who, honestly before God,
took their lives in their hands and defended their State and coun
try from invasion, their firesides from rapine and scathe, and for
those principles of home rule and constitutional government with
out which republics cannot exist.
The Northern children need not be afraid of the verdict of his
tory. The Greeks looked back to Marathon and Leuctra, the Ro
mans to Canne and Pharsalia, France to Ivry and the Revolution
of '93, England to the "War of the Roses'' and of Cavalier and
Puritan. But the children of the South need not look to the
modern, medieval, nor ancient history for justification or example.
Tell rae not of the Asphodel that bloomed on the banks of the
Ilissus, the laurel that wreathes the Capitoline Hills, the lilies of
France, or the roses of Britain, when the soil throughout our be
loved State, wherever your feet tread, blossoms from heroic blood.
327

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Comrades, and the ^ons and daughters of Veterans and their kin
and friends, look to Manassas, to Shiloh, Seven Pines, Chancel
lorsville, Wilderness, Stone's River, Chickamauga, Brice's Cross
roads, Harrisburg, and bloody Franklin; and from those battle
fields arose the smoke of a conflict that dwarfed all previous wars,
billowing up to the arch of heaven like incense to the God of
battles. In the Valley of Virginia the mountains lift their ramparts
through the blue haze, a mural monument to Stonewall Jackson,
and he was as firm as those cliffs of rocks ; and the azure heaven
that hangs above them is like the peace of God that descended
upon him.
In statuesque repose at Lexington sleeps the marble form of Lee,
"the sword of honor by his side, the star of glory on his breast."
Nature's sun and stars rise and set, but the flash of that sword
and the radiance of that star will be undimmed forever.
Forrest thunders in every storm that shakes the earth from Don
elson to Chickamauga, from Fort Pillow to Selma, and the flash of
his sword may be seen when the lightning cuts the darkness with
its quivering line of fire.
The magnitude and desperation of the Civil War is emphasized
when we compare some of its great battles with the great battles
of other countries. The per cent of loss at PerryviUe was 20;
Gettysburg, 25; Shiloh, 29; Murfreesboro, 29; Chickamauga, 32.
Waterloo was one of the most desperate and bloody fields chron
icled in European history, and Wellington's casualties were less
than 12 per cent. At the great battles of Marengo and Austerlitz,
sanguinary as they were. Napoleon lost an average of 14% per
cent ; at Gravelotte and Sedan in 1870 the average loss was 12 per
cent. At Contras, Henry of Navarre was reported as cut to pieces,
but his loss was less than 10 per cent; at Malplaquet, Marlborough
lost 10 per cent; at Magenta and Solferino in 1859 the average
loss of both armies was less than 9 per cent; at Zurich Massena
lost but 8 per cent; at Linden General Moreau lost but 4 per cent;
and the Archduke John lost but 7 per cent in killed and wounded.
At the great battle of Wagram Napoleon lost but about 5 per cent;
at Wiirzburg the French lost but 3^ per cent, and yet the army
gave up the field and retreated to the Rhine. At Racour, Marshal
Saxe lost but 2V2 per cent, and at the great battle of Lodi Napoleon
lost but iJ4 per cent.
I wonder who will be able to figure out what per cent Shafter
lost at Santiago? and will Otis risk his reputation in figuring the
per cent of some of his great battles around Manila?
We had a sure-enough war and some first-class battles. Tennes
see fumished one-sixth of all the soldiers in the Confederate
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armies, and, singular to say, there repose in Tennessee soil one-
sixth of all the dead soldiers of the Federal army. The monu
ments erected to these by a munificent government and the hand
some, well-kept grounds where they are at rest are the grandest
monuments that could be erected to the valor and heroism of the
Confederate soldier. The 750,000 Federal pensioners over forty-
five years after the close of the war (over 100,000 more men than
the Confederates ever had under arms) are further evidence of
the gallantry and marksmanship of the Confederates, and will stand
as a fitting monument to the prowess of Southern arms.
The war is over and the Southern intellect and heart assert their
allegiance to the Constitution and the flag, and thc Southern people
stand solid to-day against any subversion of our constitutional
system and encroachment upon the fiag. The great Civil War, in
which blood enough flowed to incarnate multitudinous .seas, illus
trated to the world, and with truth, that we taught Europe the
art of war.
The world is familiar with the great commanders of both armies,
their fame is secure and safely enshrined in the "Pantheon of
History." They will forever occupy the prominent places in the
picture galleries of the world's heroes, and monuments will tower
to the skies to commemorate their deeds of daring; but upon this
occasion, as upon all such occasions, we should stand with un
covered heads and drop tears of appreciation and affection upon
the graves of the private soldiers, who, without hope of glory or
reward, except that prompted by patriotism, gave up their lives
for their country. Battles are won by the private soldiers; they
mount the breastworks, stand in the trenches, take the long, weary
marches, capture the batteries, and — die. Thousands rest uncof-
lined in their nameless graves throughout the South.
"They fell 'mid the smoke of that terrible charge.
Where Death was his swift strokes dealing.
And received at the hands their final discharge.
While the shouts of the victors were pealing.
But the wild flowers bloom where they rest with their God,
And the stars are their silent watch keeping.
And angels weep dewdrops at night on the sod
Where the private soldier lies sleeping."
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ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
THE CONFEDERATE DEAD.
BY COL. WINSTON FOUNTAIN.
Comrades, sleep your sleep of glory
In your narrow soldiers' graves.
Though the flag you gave to story
In the breeze no longer waves ;
Gently sleep, though hopes most cherished
Vanished when you nobly died;
Though your country's cause has perished,
You for her the world defied.
With our trusted falchion broken.
Naught toward a hostile blow,
Festering sink the insults spoken,
Insults to a fallen foe;
Dastard insults ! Aye, we feel them !
Tingling veins and faces burn
And the anguished tears come bursting,
That no blow we may return.
That the gallant crimson banner
Now is trailing on the ground.
That its thousand true-hearted followers
Lie beneath the grassy mound.
That our pure and patriot Chieftain
In a fortress prison pined.
While in every town and hamlet
Steel of hatred forever shined.
Victors of a hundred battles
With the death wound in the breast.
By the infant, ere it prattles.
Shall your honored graves be dressed;
Children's children shall adore you,
Yet your sunny South be free.
And the germ your blood has watered
Soon becomes a glorious tree.
Yet with tramp of raartial legions
Shall our hills and plains resound.
Lees and Jacksons be their leaders,
Stuarts, Forrests, there be found,
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And the blood-red banner, blazing
With the starry Southern cross
O'er the hero sons of heroes.
Shall again in victory toss.
Comrades, sleep your sleep of glory.
Though the flag you gave to story
Now is trailing, soiled and gory,
Chained beneath the victor's car;
But that chain your sons shall sever,
Raise your flag with stem endeavor.
There defeat shall meet it never,
Where its stars shall gleam forever
Gladly through the Southern air.

GEN. PAT CLEBURNE.
MONUMENT IN HIS HONOR TO BE ERECTED AT FRANKLIN.
Monuments in honor of heroes have been the custom of all civ
ilized nations.
Greece was covered over with the statues of gods, sages, and
heroes. The Roraan general stood in monumental brass or equestrian
bronze in the forum of the Eternal City and in all her prominent
capitals. Trojan overlooked Rome from her lofty columns. Titus
and Marcus Aurelius are bestride their colossal horses on the
Via Sacra.
Peter the Great, with the serpent under his horse's feet, adorns
the Russian capital. Napoleon on the column in the Place Ven
dome surpasses this majesty as he surpassed the glory of the
Roman Emperor, whose monument he imitated. Nelson stands
in honor in Trafalgar Square, and the Iron Duke curbs his war
horse in Waterloo Place. Washington rides down Pennsylvania
Avenue upon his charger; Jackson, with uncovered head, gallops
along the line of battle in Lafayette Square in New Orleans ; and
on our Capitol Hill Andrew Jackson, with the pose of a hero,
uncovers his godlike head for the wreath of glory, which all ages
will put upon it. Forrest, the peerless prince of soldiers and cav
aliers, rides in monumental bronze at Memphis. Why should not
Cleburne and other gallant heroes, who sacrificed their lives in
devotion to their country's cause on the ramparts of the bloody
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battlefield of Franklin, have a lasting monument erected to their
honor and fame?
In the Confederate charge by Cleburne's and Brown's Divisions
across the open field below Winstead Hill, driving the Federals
into their works, six generals were killed, five wounded, and one
captured. At daylight on December I, 1864, about 4,500 Confederates and
2,000 Federals lay dead and wounded on the battlefield. The writer,
who had his artillery in action, and others witnessed this tragic
scene from Winstead Hill.
Another Star Now Shines on High.
"Another ray of light hath fled, another Southern brave
Hath fallen in his country's cause and found a laureled grave.
Hath fallen, but his deathless name shall live when stars shall set.
For, noble Cleburne, thou art one this world will ne'er forget.
'Tis true, thy warra heart beats no more, that on thy noble head
Azrael placed his icy hand, and thou art with the dead!
The glancing of thine eyes is dim ; no more will they be bright
Until they ope in Paradise with clearer, heavenlier light.
No battle news disturbs thy rest upon the sun-bright shore.
No clarion voice awakened thee on earth to wrestle more;
No tramping steed, no wary foe bids thee awake, arise.
For thou art in the angel world, beyond the starry skies.
Brave Cleburne, dream in thy low bed with pulseless, deadened
heart ;
Calm, calm and sweet, O warrior rest! thou well hast borne thy
part.
And now a glory wreath for thee the angels singing twine,
A glory wreath, not of the earth, but made by hands divine.
A long farewell, we give thee up, with all thy bright renown,
A chieftain hero on earth is lost, in heaven an angel found.
Above thy grave a wail is heard — a nation mourns her dead;
A nobler for the South ne'er died, a braver never bled.
A last farewell; how can we speak the bitter word 'farewell?'
The anguish of our bleeding hearts vain words may never tell.
Sleep on, sleep on; to God we give our chieftain in his might.
And, weeping, feel he lives on high, where coraes no sorrow's
night." 332

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Cleburne fell, and here John Adams, intent on victory, found
an undying glory in a soldier's death, his horse falling lifeless
across the enemy's breastworks, and he, sword in hand, dying in
their midst.
Our losses in killed, wounded, and prisoners were 4,500; the
Federals about 2,000. Among the killed were Maj. Gen. P. R.
Cleburne, Brig. Gens. J. F. Gist, John Adams, O. F. Strahl, John
C. Carter, and H. B. Cranberry. Maj. Gen. A. M. Brown, Brig.
Gens. John C. Manigault, Wm. A. Quarles, Frank Cockrill, and
John S. Scott were wounded, and Brig. Gen. Geo. W. Gordon
captured. Byron tells us, and human experience bears him out, that
" 'Tis sweet to hear the watchdog's honest bark
Bay deep-mouthed welcome as we draw near home.
'Tis sweeter far to know there is an eye will mark
Our coming, and grow brighter when we come."
When the Confederate soldier, in 1865, turned his weary foot
steps toward his home, turning his back on the scenes of carnage,
he commenced a journey of horrors for which language has no
words, poetry no pencil. Many returned to their once happy homes,
now crumbling amid the ruined fences and abandoned fields and
the melancholy markers of the passage of the foe. It was the
joyous summer time, and kindly Nature had tried to heal the
scars left by the cruel fangs of war with wild, luxuriant growths
of vine and weed. In vain did she carpet the blood-soaked ground
with a rug of emerald turf and drape the ruined walls with a
graceful tangle of creepers — they but accentuated the absence of the
spirit that had animated the desolated scene and filled it with the
joy of life.
The returned soldier, who had fought a losing battle for his
hearthstone and freedom, who had forced himself into the ramparts
of an enemy's astonishment and admiration, and into the very cit
adel of a world's wonder and honor, could only gaze upon his
ruiiied altars, his despoiled bu't still stainless country, and murmur :
"Thy will, not mine, be done." Inquiring where his wife, his chil
dren, his aged parents had wandered with bleeding feet, half-clad
and homeless, seeking a refuge in the battle-scarred valleys, he
was often pointed to new-made mounds that rose beside the monu
ments in the old family burying ground; often told stories of rapine
and destruction that aroused in him all the demons of savage
fury; and, thank God, he was often greeted with the warm love
333

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
and cheering hope that makes full corapensation for the sorrows
and hardships of life.
His, then, the manly part of rearing anew the temples of love
and affection, of bringing order out of chaos, and of upbuilding
once more a prosperous and happy commonwealth. To this task
the Confederate, let it be said to his honor, applied himself with
a sincere and earnest effort. Abandoning the sword and the gun,
he took up the implements of useful toil, even the plow, the hoe,
and the spade, with which previous conditions had not familiarized
him. No honest labor was shirked that might bring bread to his
family and shelter them from the storms.
Poverty now became the badge of nobility. It spoke eloquently
of heroism, patriotism, oblivion to selfish interest, and a generous
sacrifice of everything upon the altar of a beloved country. The
enduring manhood of the Southern soldier met toil and privations
in the same noble spirit with which he had faced peril and hard
ships. Nor must it be forgotten that the noble wives, mothers, and
sweethearts, who had buckled on their soldier's armor and bade
him go forth to the call of duty on the battlefield, whose cheeks
had glowed with pride in his deeds of daring, blushed not on see
ing him engaged in occupations once deemed menial, nor shrank
themselves from soiling their delicate hands with honest toil, and
fulfilling -in every degree the scriptural injunction to be helpmeets
"in deed and in truth."
Captain Morton's father, John W. Morton, Sr,, as had been
stated, was one of the foremost physicians of Nashville on the
outbreak of hostilities. Returning to his home, he found a wide
field for practice of this noble profession, but, alas ! very little
money to pay for his services. He had left a good estate to go
to the war; he found himself at the bottom of the ladder when
it closed. Nevertheless, the son decided to follow in his father's
footsteps, rather from an ardent admiration of his revered and
gifted father than any strong inclination for the healing art.
A word concerning Captain Morton's family may not be amiss
at this point.
A paternal ancestor, John Morton, was a signer of the Declara
tion of Independence. His maternal grandfather was among the
earliest pioneers of the Cumberland settlement, and made himself
famous for his valor and fortitude as an Indian fighter, and as such
was commander of Fort Buchanan on Mill Creek, Davidson County.
Major Buchanan's wife was Sarah, a daughter of Capt. George
Ridley, who built the fort near Nashville, which is well known
by his narae. She was one of those grand women of the heroic
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ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
pioneer days, who gloriously cheered the men and molded the bul
lets that cleared the wilderness of savages and made a home for
civilization. She was called the "Heroine of the West." Captain
Morton's mother's name was also Sarah. Fiis paternal grandfather,
Jacob Morton, came to Tennessee soon after the Revolution from
Prince Edward County, Va., and settled in Williamson County,
Tenn. Entering the Medical Department of the University of Nashville
in the fall of 1865, Captain Morton took up his studies under the
direction of Prof. W. K. Bowling and Dr. Paul F. Eve, Sr., and
learned the use of the scalpel and dissecting knife. Although many
of the students had served throughout the war, and all were op
pressed by its consequences, the buoyant spirit of youth led them
into pranks common to university students. A favorite trick was
the "guying" of a professor, or a student who happened to be
assisting in a demonstration. "Bob" White, the late highly 'cul
tured and influential Dr. R. L. C. White, undertook one day to
"guy" the ex-artillery officer as he stepped to the rostrum to assist
Dr. J. Berrien Lindslej', Professor of Chemistry, in some experi
ments, and was rewarded with such a belligerent demonstration
that it looked for a few minutes as if an encounter were imminent;
but "Bob" desisted and the experiment proceeded without interrup
tion. February 28, 1867, was the day fixed for graduation, and as it
drew near many hearts began to fill with hope for the coveted
honor of being class valedictorian. Captain Morton had no in
tention of making the race, and made no effort to "electioneer,''
and was, therefore, completely surprised to receive the unanimous
vote of the class for the honor. There were two members who
voted on the first ballot for another student, but on the next these
changed their votes for Morton. Commencement exercises took
place in the Masonic Temple, on Church Street. A pouring rain
all day promised a rather slim attendance, but when the opening
hour came the hall was filled to overflowing with friends who
wished to witness the first conferring of doctor's degrees since
the war. There were fifty-six graduates, representing the States
of Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.
It was a proud moment for the newly fledged physicians, and it
would be difficult to say whether Captain Morton ever felt a more
profound pride, unless, indeed, it was on the occasion of getting his
first cannon at Lexington in 1862.
The valedictorian's address was full of the fervid sentiments of
the extremely youthful and the grandiloquent expressions comraon
to the period. 335

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Following the attainment of the right to add the magic letters
"M.D." to his name. Dr. Morton opened a practice with his father;
but, as has been stated, while there were patients in plenty, money
was the scarcest commodity in the country, and the new profession
proved a very busy and useful but not a lucrative one. Dr. Mor
ton, Jr., joined the Nashville Medical Society, and had the honor
of reading several papers before that august body.
A city dispensary was established for the improvement of the
public health, and Dr. Joseph Jones, of the University of Nash
ville faculty, was placed in charge of it, with young Dr. Morton
as assistant. Ever since the occupation of Nashville by the Federal
troops the greatest disorder had ruled and the mortality rate
among the poor had been steadily increasing, and it was to relieve
this condition among them that the city dispensary was inaugurated.
Dr. Jones was also a student of aboriginal history, and raade a
number of exploring trips in the vicinity of Nashville. Young
Dr. Morton accompanied Dr. Jones on several of these excursions,
and was present at the opening of many of the mounds and graves.
The graves were in the form of small parallelograms, thus giving
rise to the popular behef that they were occupied by a race of
pygmies ; but investigation proved the bodies to range from infants
to old age, the large ones being doubled up to fit the limited space.
They were uncoffined, unless the construction of the grave could be
called a combination coffin and tomb, A large flat rock was placed
at the head and foot, while a number of similar flagstones were
used to line the sides, A single slab was used as a covering. Fre
quently a rude earthen vessel was found at the head or in the
hands of the skeletons, and a few simple ornaments and implements
of cultivation were unearthed. The graves were placed on the
side of an artificial mound, but arranged in no special form or
order. One skeleton was discovered that measured over seven
feet in length, and appeared from the teeth to have been over a
hundred years old at death. Other bones indicating men of ex
tremely large stature were unearthed. Traces of rude fortifications
were found, and near by could also be seen the intrenchments
thrown up by General Hood's brave men in their determined assault
upon Nashville, the erosion of Time slowly leveling both to Mother
Earth again.
Captain Morton preserved for many years some of the copper
arrowheads and pottery found in these graves, and finally deposited
them in the rooms of the Tennessee Historical Society, of which
he has been a member since those times.
Political troubles were at high water during the period of Re
construction. As every one knows, the Confederates were dis-
336

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
franchised, and Tennessee, like her other Southern sisters, groaned
under the yoke of the negro rule and carpetbag domination. Out
of the desperate situation grew a desperate remedy, and one that
was made effective by the same creative brain that conceived the
battle of Brice's Crossroads, and, ignorant of the rules of war,
daringly sent his artillery in an unsupported charge into the enemy's
ranks at close range.

THE KUKLUX KLAN.
The Kuklux Klan was at first raerely an association of college
boys for the playing of those mysterious pranks in which the
ebullient heart of youth takes keen delight. It was formed in
Pulaski, Tenn., in May, 1866. Weird costumes were designed, and
all sorts of revelry held under the seal of secrecy; public curiosity
finally solving the reason for its existence by crediting it with the
intention of checking the Republican domination. This idea spread,
and its plausibilities so appealed to the disfranchised Confederates
that it crystallized in the formation, at Nashville, in 1867, of a
club for the suppression of the plundering negroes and lawless
whites who belonged to the "Union League." Delegates from the
different klans, which were now spread over Tennessee and the
neighboring States, met at Nashville, without attracting notice,
and a regular organization was perfected, to be known as "The
Invisible Empire." It was divided into "Realms," corresponding
to States; each "Realm" was divided into "Dominions," corre
sponding to congressional districts; each "Dominion'' into "Prov
inces," corresponding to counties; and each "Province" into "Dens."
The supreme head of the order was the "Grand Wizard ;" the
ruler of a "Realm" was a "Grand Dragon;" that of a "Dominion"
a "Grand Titan;" that of a "Province" a "Grand Giant;" and that
of a "Den'' a "Grand Cyclops."
The meeting and organization were of necessity secret, as Nash
ville was still occupied by a large force of Federal troops, and
the Confederates had been disarmed as well as disfranchised. A
constitution and by-laws were adopted, printed and bound in perfect
secrecy,, the work being credited to Laps D. McCord, at that time
the editor of the Pulaski Citisen,
The creed of the order was stated as follows :
"We, the Order of the Kuklux Klan, reverentially acknowledge the
majesty and supremacy of the Divine Being, and recognize the good
ness and providence of the same. And we recognize our relation
to the United States Government, the supreraacy of the Constitu-
22 337

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
tion, the constitutional laws thereof, and the union of States there
under." The character and objects of the "Klan" were stated plainly:
"This is an institution of Chivalry, Humanity, Mercy, and Patri
otism, embodying in its genius and its principles all that is chivalric
in conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and patriotic
in purpose; its peculiar objects being:
"i. To protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless from
the indignities, wrongs, and outrages of the lawless, the violent,
and the brutal; to relieve the injured and the oppressed; to succor
the suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and
orphans of Confederate soldiers.''
Captain Morton was elected the Grand Cyclops of the Nashville
Den, and immediately set to work to apply the avowed intention
of the organization. No orders were ever printed, but when any
were promulgated they were found mysteriously affixed in their
proper places and they were couched in a language of mingled
mystery and plainness. "It was,'' says Judge Albion Tourgee,
who was a Reconstruction judge in North Carolina, and who wrote
a novel of that period in which he described his own experiences,
"a daring conception for a conquered people. Only a race of war
like instincts and regal pride could have conceived or executed it.
It was a magnificent conception, and, in a sense, deserved
success. It differed from all other attempts at revolution in the
caution and skill required in its conduct. It was a movement made
in the face of the enemy, and an eneray of overwhelming strength.
Should it succeed, it would be the most brilliant revolution ever
accomplished. Should it fail — well, those who engaged in it felt
that they had nothing more to lose."*
This fair estimate of the movement is particularly appreciated,
coming as it does from a man who suffered at its hands, evading
the death penalty decreed only by the narrowest of raargins.
The leading features of the negro character at the present day
are a vivid imagination, added to a deeply superstitious nature.
At the period which is now being described these characteristics
were even more pronounced. The Kuklux Klan, therefore, read
ily appealed to these people as the incarnation of the powers of
darkness, and it was soon noticed that in the neighborhoods where
the "Dens" were most actively operating no negro could be in
duced to budge beyond his doorsill after nightfall. It was widely
bruited abroad that the Kuklux were the "hants" of dead Con-

*"A Fool's Errand," by Albion W. Tourgee.
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ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
federate soldiers, and travel along the roads where the weird,
sheeted figures were wont to be seen riding in silence that was
no less awful than acts of open violence was almost discontinued
at night.
The rapidity with which the order spread was marvelous. The
news of the good effects flew from community to community, and
everywhere the law-abiding element saw in the organization of
"Dens" the means of substituting order and peace for the in
justice and indignities so long borne.
Mr. T. W. Gregory, of Austin, Tex., read before the Arkansas
Bar Association in 1906 such a clear exposition of the growth of
the organization that it is quoted from freely herewith, with due
acknowledgment to the eminent author :
"The secret Nashville convention gave a still greater impetus to
the movement, for the same unbearable conditions existed in every
Southern community, and the belief that nothing could be hoped
for from the national or local authorities was prevalent and well
founded. In order to more effectively carry out their plans and
deceive the public as to their members, the 'Grand Dragon' of the
'Realm' of Tennessee issued an order for a general parade in
each county seat on the night of July 4, 1867. A faint idea of
the impression created can be gathered from the account of an
eyewitness of what occurred in Pulaski.
"On the morning of that day the citizens found the sidewalks
thickly strewn with slips of paper bearing the printed words : 'The
Kuklux Klan will parade the streets to-night.' This announce
ment created great excitement. The people supposed that their
curiosity, so long baffled, would now be gratified. They were con
fident that this parade would at least afford them the opportunity
of leaming who belonged to the Kuklux Klan.
"Soon after nightfall the streets were lined with an expectant
and excited throng of people. Many came from the surrounding
country. The members of the Klan in the county left their homes
in the afternoon, and traveled alone or in squads of two or three,
with their paraphernalia carefully concealed. If questioned, they
answered that they were going to Pulaski to see the Kuklux
parade. After nightfall they assembled at designated points near
the four main roads leading to the town. Here they donned their
robes and disguises, and put covers of gaudy materials on their
horses. A skyrocket sent up from a point in the town was the
signal to raount and move. The different companies met and
joined each other on the Public Square in perfect silence; the dis
cipline was adrairable. Not a word was spoken. Necessary orders
were given by means of whistles. In single file, in deathlike still-
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ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
ness, with funereal slowness, they marched and countermarched
throughout the town. While the column was headed north in one
street, it was going south on the other. By crossing over in op
posite directions the lines were kept up in almost unbroken con
tinuity. The effect was to create the impression of vast numbers.
This marching and countermarching was kept up for about two
hours, and the Klan departed as noiselessly as they came. The
public was more than ever mystified.
"The efforts of the raost curious to find out who were Kuklux
failed. One gentleman from the country was confident that he
could identify the riders by the horses, but, as we have said, the
horses were disguised as well as the riders. Determined not to be
baffled, during the halt of the column he lifted the cover of a horse
that was near him and recognized his own steed and saddle on
which he had ridden into town. The town people were on the
alert to see who of the young men of the town would be Ku
klux. All of them, almost without exception, were nftrked ming
ling freely and conspicuously with the spectators.
"Perhaps the greatest illusion produced was in regard to the
nurabers taking part in the parade. Reputable citizens were con
fident that the nuraber was not less than three thousand. Others,
whose imaginations were most easily wrought upon, were quite
certain there were ten thousand. The truth is that the number of
Kuklux in the parade did not exceed four hundred."
Continuing, Mr. Gregory says :
"It is safe to say that ninety per cent of the work of the Klan
involved no act of personal violence. In raost instances mere
knowledge of the fact that the Kuklux were organized in the
community and patrolled it by night accoraplished most that was
desired. In case the nocturnal political meetings of the negroes,
organized by scalawags and carpetbaggers, proved disorderly and
offensive, sheeted horsemen would be found drawn up across every
road leading from the meeting place, and, though not a word was
spoken and no violence whatever offered, that meeting usually
adjourned sine die; sometimes the entire Klan was divided into
smaller bodies, which rode all night, appearing in negro quarters,
distributing over a large section of country, and usually maintain
ing absolute silence and molesting no one. In case a negro became
insolent or dangerous, he was likely to be visited by a mounted
specter sorae twelve feet high, who asked for water, drank a bucket
ful with the reraark that it was the first he had tasted since he
was killed at the battle of Shiloh, extended a skeleton hand, or
what appeared to be his skull, to his unwilling host, and departed
with the suggestion that he would call again in case the owner of
340

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the cabin did not improve his manners. No one who was not reared
among the negroes can form the slightest conception of the potency
of these methods.
"In addition to these methods there were some of a much more
drastic nature. The sheeted horsemen did not merely warn and
intimidate, especially when the warnings were not heeded. In
many instances negroes and carpetbaggers were whipped, and in
very rare instances shot or hanged. Notice to leave the country
was frequently extended and rarely declined; and if declined, the
results were likely to be serious. Hanging was promptly admin
istered to the house burner, and sometimes to the murderer; the
defamer of women of good character was usually whipped, and
sometimes executed if the offense was repeated; threats of violence
and oppression of the weak and defenseless, if persisted in after
given due warning, met with drastic and soraetimes cruel remedies ;
mere corrrgtion in public life was too universal for punishment,
or even cornjnent, but he who prostituted official power to oppress
the individual, a crime prevalent from one end of the country to
the other, especially in cases where it affected the widow and
orphan, was likely to be dealt with in no gentle way, in case a
warning was not promptly observed. Those who advocated and
practiced social equality of the races, and incited hostilities of the
blacks against the whites, were given a single notice to depart in
haste, and they rarely took time to reply.
"No victim of their displeasure ever suffered without first a full
and ample investigation of his case, ex parte, 'tis true, but all the
facts were first found out and thoughtfully weighed, for and against
him, and the sentence carefully considered and made commen
surate with the justice and necessity of the case. They made the
'punishment suit the crime.' Where good men controlled little real
injustice was done, but in a few instances 'Dens' were dorainated
by the reckless and cruel. These men committed crimes equal to
or worse than those the movement was intended to suppress, and
ultimately brought the greatest reproach upon the order. The
writer, after going over a large araount of data, including a hur
ried perusal of some thirteen voluraes devoted by the committees
of Congress to the subject, has becorae fully convinced that in a
vast majority of cases the victims of the Kuklux Klans received
just about what they were entitled to.
"On account of the secret character of the Klan it was impossible
for it to defend itself against many false accusations. Violence
and crimes with which it had no connection were constantly charged
to it, and it was well known that many arrests were made ol
341

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
lawless persons, clothed in the Kuklux disguise, who could have
had no connection whatever with the order.
"But the Invisible Empire, however its sway was exercised, was a
real empire. Wisely and humanely, or roughly and cruelly, the
work was done. The State governments under carpetbag control
made little headway with their freedmen's militia against the silent
representatives of the white man's will. Acts of Congress and
proclamations of President Grant, backed by the army of the
nation, were not sufficient to meet the desperate onset of men
who, armed with crude weapons, were making what seemed to them
the last stand for all they held sacred.
"In September, 1868, Governor Brownlow called the Legislature
of Tennessee together and had an Act passed coraparable only to
the Reconstruction Acts of Congress. By its terras association or
connection with the Klan was punished by a fine of $500 and im
prisonment in the penitentiary for not less than five years. Every
inhabitant of the State was constituted an officer with power to
arrest without process any one known to be, or suspected of being,
a Kuklux. To feed, lodge, entertain, or conceal a Kuklux sub
jected the offender to a fine of $500 and imprisonment for five
years, and informers were offered one-half of the fine.
"Notwithstanding these drastic provisions, the Kuklux continued
to actively operate in Tennessee for about six months thereafter.
In the latter part of February, 1869, the 'Grand Wizard,' a citizen
of Tennessee, issued a proclamation to his subjects, reciting the
legislation against the Klan, stating that the order had now largely
accomplished the purposes for which it had been organized; that
the civil law now afforded adequate protection to life and property;
that robbery and lawlessness were no longer to be dreaded for
their property, persons, and families ; that the 'Grand Wizard'
had been invested with power to determine questions of paramount
importance, and, in the exercise of the powers so conferred, he
declared the Klan dissolved and disbanded. It is believed that the
'Grand Wizard' was no less a personage than Nathan Bedford
Forrest. As the possessor of dauntless and sustained courage, re
sourcefulness, and a grim disregard of all consequences, no more
ideal leader of such a movement ever appeared upon the American
stage. This proclamation was addressed to all 'Realms,' 'Do
minions,' 'Provinces,' and 'Dens of the Empire,' but it had little
effect beyond the borders of one State. Tennessee was the first
settled State in which constitutional government was restored and
the scheme of reconstruction abandoned.
"For several years after the Kuklux, as such, had abandoned
their organization practically the same movement was kept up under
342

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
the names of 'Constitutional Union Guards,' 'Palefaces,' 'White
Brotherhood,' 'White League,' and 'Knights of the White Came
lia.' As a general thing, the work done by these latter organiza
tions was more reckless and violent in its character, there was
less justification for it, after 1872, and more bloodshed resulted
than grew out of the operations of the original movement.
"As a general rule, this grim protest against unbearable conditions
disappeared with the worst of the conditions, and not sooner. In
1870, 1871, and 1872 the Kuklux Klan consumed a large part of
the attention of Congress, the President, and the army of the
United States. Investigating committees visited every section of
the South, many volumes of testimony were compiled, hundreds of
speeches were made, martial law was declared in some instances and
proclamations issued in others, and still more drastic laws were
passed; but in the face of all this the movement relentlessly moved
on to the accomplishment of its purposes.
"The Senate investigating committee and a joint committee of
the Houses of Congress each presented raajority and minority re
ports; the first to the effect that a conspiracy existed in the South
of a political nature against law and the negro ; the second, that
misgovernment and criminal exploiting of the country by the re
construction leaders had provoked natural resistance.
"The great debates in Congress and the press of the country be
gan to educate the people to the awful conditions which had pre
vailed and the revolution resorted to as a reraedy.
"In 1872 Congress passed an act restoring the right to vote and
hold office to the real leaders and capable men of the South, the
worst conditions had disappeared, the troops had been withdrawn,
and what was known in the North as 'the great Kuklux con
spiracy' was at an end."
Speaking of the typical Southern man of that day, Daniel H.
Chamberlain, the Reconstruction ruler of South Carolina, said : "I
consider him a distinct and really noble growth of our American
soil. For if fortitude under good and under evil fortune, if en
durance without complaint of what comes in the tide of human
affairs, if a grira clinging to ideals once charming, if vigor and
resiliency of character and spirit under defeat and poverty and dis
tress, if a steady love of learning and letters when libraries were
lost in flames and the wreckage of war, if self-restraint when the
long-delayed relief at last came — if, I say, all these qualities are
parts- of real heroism, if these qualities can vivify and ennoble a
man or people, then our own South may lay claim to an honored
place among the differing types of our great common race."
Rev. Thomas Dixon, Jr., has given a vivid picture of the ad-
343

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
mission of General Forrest to the order and the closing parade in
Nashville, which is inserted here :
"One of the most interesting figures in the inner history of the
clan is that of Hon. John W. Morton, formerly Secretary of the
State of Tennessee, who was General Forrest's chief of artillery.
Pale and boyish in appearance, he was, in fact, but a boy, yet
he won the utmost confidence of the General, who relied on him
as Stuart did on Pelham and Lee on Jackson. Forrest called him
'the little bit of a kid with a great big backbone.'
"When the rumors of the Kuklux Klan first spread over Ten
nessee, General Forrest was quick to see its possibilities. He went
immediately to Nashville to find his young chief of artillery.
"Captain Morton then had an office diagonally across from the
Maxwell House. Looking from his window one day, he saw General
Forrest walking impatiently around Calhoun Corner, as it was
then called. Hastening down the steps to greet his former chief
tain, he encountered a little negro boy, who inquired where he
could find Captain Morton. He said : 'There's a man over yonder
on de corner and he wants to see him, and he looks like he wants
to see him mighty bad.' Captain Morton hurried across the street,
and, after salutation, the General said : 'John, I hear this Kuklux
Klan is organized in Nashville, and I know you are in it. I want
to join.' The young man avoided the issue and took his Com
mander for a ride. General Forrest persisted in his questions about
the Klan and Morton kept smiling and changing the subject. On
reaching a dense woods in a secluded valley outside the city, Mor
ton suddenly turned on his former leader and said: 'General, do
you say you want to join the Kuklux?'
"General Forrest was somewhat vexed and swore a little: 'Didn't
I tell you that's what I came up here for?'
"Smiling at the idea of giving orders to his erstwhile commander,
Captain Morton said : 'Well, get out of the buggy.' General Forrest
stepped out of the buggy, and next received the order: 'Hold up
your right hand.'
"General Forrest did as he was ordered, and Captain Morton
solemnly administered the preliminary oath of the order.
"As he finished taking the oath General Forrest said : 'John, that's
the worst swearing that I ever did.'
" 'That's all I can give you now. Go to Room lo at the Maxwell
House to-night and you can get all you want. Now you know
how to get in,' said Captain Morton.
"After administering the oath to his chieftain. Captain Morton
drove him to call on a young lady, and after a short visit in the
parlor, Miss H. saw them out to the door. General Forrest led
344

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y'f er^', , ^/ ''-^irij-t f^

ONLY WRITTEN K. K. K. ORDER.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
her to the end of the porch, and Captain Morton overheard him
saying: 'Miss Annie, if you can get John Morton, you take him.
I know him. He'll take care of you.'
"That night the General was made a full-fledged clansman, and
was soon elected Grand Wizard of the Invisible Empire. . . .
"Possibly the only order of the Klan that was ever written is
the following, in Captain Morton's possession :
" 'Alarming Era, 2d Black, Horrid FIour 68.
" 'Gen. G. G. Dibrell is hereby appointed Deputy Grand Titan,
Third Dominion, First Realm, to organize all the Divisions in his
Dominion when found competent under the Prescript.
" 'By order of Grand Wizard of the Empire,
" 'Per J. W. Morton, Jr., Genii.'
"Dissolution of the Kuklux Klan.
"The order of dissolution of the Klan, as issued by General
Forrest, was in every way characteristic of the raan. When the
white race had redeemed six Southern States from negro rule in
1870, the Grand Wizard knew that his mission was accomplished,
and issued at once his order to disband. The execution of this
command by young Morton, the Cyclops of the Nashville Den,
also on the staff of the Grand Wizard, is typical of what occurred
throughout the South.
"Sixteen picked men, mounted, arraed, and in full Kuklux re
galia for both horses and men, were selected for the ceremony
and ordered to boldly parade through the streets of Nashville.
The capitol was still in charge of 3,000 Reconstruction militia and
200 metropolitan police, who had sworn to take every Kuklux
Klansman, dead or alive, who dared to show himself abroad.
"On the night appointed the squadron of sixteen white and scarlet
horsemen moved out of the woods and bore down upon the city.
The streets were crowded with people watching the strange pro
cession of ghostlike figures. On the principal streets the police
blew their whistles and darted here and there in great excitement,
but made no move to stop the dare-devil paraders. On they rode
up the hill and passed the capitol building, round which the camp
fires of a thousand soldiers burned brightly, and not a hand was
lifted against them.
"They turned south into High Street, and ladies began to wave
their handkerchiefs from windows and raen to shout and cheer
from sidewalks. The scalawag police heard these shouts with sup
pressed oaths. At last they began to summon citizens to aid them
in the arrest of the clansmen. The citizens laughed at them.
345

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
"On reaching Broad Street, Morton, who rode at the head of
the squadron, observed a line of police drawn across the street with
the evident intention of attempting to stop or arrest the riders.
Turning to Mart N. Brown, a gallant clansman, who rode by his
side, Morton said: 'What shall we do. Mart?'
" 'Turn into Vine Street,' he quickly answered. 'Pass around
them.' " 'No ; ride straight through them without a change of gait,' was
Morton's order.
"And they did. The astonished police, dumfounded at the in
solence of the riders, opened their lines and the horseraen rode
slowly through without a word.
"They passed a large frame building used as a carpetbag militia
armory on Vauxhall Street. It was full of negroes that Brownlow
was feeding at the State's expense. Morton ordered several clans
men to dismount and knock at each door. It was a bright night
and the negroes rushed to the front windows, and when they
saw the ghostlike figures they made a rush for the back and
jumped out. Many of them wore window sashes home for collars.
"The clansmen silently wheeled again into double column and
rode toward their old rendezvous. They had overthrown the car
petbag negro regime and restored civilization. Their last act was
a warning. A handful of their men boldly slapped the face of the
hostile authorities before the new administration entered upon its
work, and dared them lift a hand again.
"Outside the city they entered the shadows of a forest. Down
its dim cathedral aisles, lit by trembling threads of moonbeams,
the white horsemen slowly wound their way to their appointed
place. For the last time the chaplain led in prayer, the men dis
robed, drew frora each horse his white raantle, opened a grave and
soleranly buried their regalia, sprinkling the folds with the ashes
of the copy of their burned ritual. This weird ceremony thus
ended the most remarkable revolution of history."*
HISTORY OF FAMILY.
In 1868 Captain Morton was tendered the command of the artil
lery of the Island of Cuba, but declined it, and on September 15
of that year he was married to Miss Annie Payne Humphreys,
daughter of the distinguished jurist. Judge West H. Humphreys,
who occupied the Federal bench before the commencement of the
war, and was called to the Confederate bench during its continu-
*Metropolitan Magazine, Septeraber, 1905, pages 657-669-
346

capt. w. h. coi.ey,
President John W. Morton Bivouac No. 36, Camp No. 1443-

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
ance. With the aid of this noble helpmeet the difficulties of the
period were met and conquered, and a happy home established at
"Vine Hill," where the latchstring hung always on the outside for
the Confederate soldiers until Mrs. Morton's death on July 14,
1899. "Vine Hill" was the scene of many enjoyable reunions, where
the exchange of jovial reminiscence and banter drove away the
recollection of bitterness and drew the old comrades into closer
bonds of union. It was at "Vine Hill" that the plans for the or
ganization of the Tennessee Division of Confederate Veterans were
laid, those of the Confederate Soldiers' Home discussed, and the
project of marking the scenes of sanguinaiy battle spots by mark
ers and monuments revived. Captain Morton was the first Presi
dent of the Tennessee Division of the United Confederate Veter
ans, is now a member of the Executive Committee, and has estab
lished some eight or ten Caraps and Bivouacs throughout the State,
one of thera, at Milan, being named "John W. Morton Bivouac,"
in his honor. This is now one of the largest camps in the State,
in point of merabership and attendance.
Four children were born to Captain and Mrs. Morton, and of
these the two sons are members of the Sons of Confederate Vet
erans, and one, Capt. West H. Morton, attained his rank in service
during the Spanish-American war. The only daughter, now Mrs.
Samuel H. Stout, of Memphis, is a member of the United Daugh
ters of the Confederacy, and that she has a feeling of tenderest
attachment for the Confederate cause and the men who served it
is shown by the following paper, read before one of her chapter
meetings :
"Now I would in fancy take you with me across a space of years
to my childhood's home. It is on the crown of a hill, embowered
in evergreen and forest trees, a typical Middle Tennessee home. It
is a spot that has been shaken by the tread of armies, marching and
charging and reverberating with the thunders of cannon. There,
where mocking birds have raany a time warbled me a lullaby, the
air was shaken and thrilled with the awful shock of battle. Con
stantly brought to my childish mind and vision were such scenes
and incidents, with many a relic of war times. On the mantel and
shelves and other repositories, the most familiar bric-a-brac, ^ere
huge spherical objects— shot and shells that had shrieked the wild
song of war over the land we love — in such fashion I early became
imbued with the tragic story of the Confederate States of America.
In the old library of that Southern home my young eyes grew fa
miliar' with the silent witnesses of a fadeless glory. I saw in it
an old uniform of gray, now quaint of pattern, but preserved still
347

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
in shape and color, though sadly fragile of texture; the semblance
of what, I am sure, had a great deal to do with making my people
heroic, making our men more gallant and our women more lovely
than those of other lands and times. There was always displayed
on the wall an old tattered battle flag — the starry cross of St.
Andrew — the Stars and Bars. Ah, if it could tell its story, what
a glorious narrative it would be ! It would say that it was never
lowered in defeat until every prop that sustained our young re
public had quite crumbled into dust I
"On that wall I will show you the counterfeit presentations of
many of our best and bravest warrior leaders. These are relics
of a grand modern republic, far more glorious and infinitely purer
than any of the ancient days, whose deeds an^l heroes have been
sung by the world's great poets.
"Ours was no barbaric effort for independence. It was a Chris
tian republic. Our heroic leaders will long live in the memories of
our people — of all people of this great reunited republic— as fur
nishing the highest types of moral rectitude any age can show.
"From that old library, so conspicuously adorned with relics of
the Confederacy, we'll step across the hall into the parlor. The
first pictorial adornraent that greets our view is the portrait of a
youthful soldier, a beardless boy in gray, who for four years, the
best of a buoyant life, unfalteringly bared his breast to the fiercest
storms of battle. It is the portrait of my father.
"In many a Southern home, in many a Southern parlor, you will
find the same sort of picture — the portrait of some youth who wore
the gray. There are to me no finer souvenirs of the old South,
and, I believe, certainly none more cherished and revered, than
these old portraits of the men who made famous the gray."
On August 6, 1901, Captain Morton was married to Mrs. Ellen
Bourne Tynes in the city of Nashville.
"Mansfield," their Colonial home in the suburbs of the city, is
an ideal place, rich in historical collections and memories of the
palmy days of the Southland, where the host and hostess dispense
graceful hospitality.
Mrs. Morton is directly in the line of Sir Roger de Bourne, who
was made Knight Comraander of Bath on April 19, 1326, by Edward
II. In 1333 Sir Thomas Bourne took a prorainent part in the
tournament held at Dunstable by Edward IIL, where he bore arms.
During Philip and Mary's reign, frora 1554 to 1557, Sir John Bourne
was one of the principal Secretaries of State. His grandson and
namesake. Sir John, received a grant of land at Ballanakill in
1682 from Charles I. Sir Gregory Bourne, son of Sir John, was
a raeraber of Parliament, 1685-1688.
348

MRS. JOHN W. MORTON.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Mrs. Morton traces her ancestry on the maternal side to a Nor
man Baron de Macusville, who went to Scotland in 949. He was
the founder of the Maxwell family, distinguished alike for military
achievement and love of letters. A representative of this family
was consecrated Archbishop of the Church of England in the reign
of Elizabeth.
The mottoes on the coats of arms of both Bourne and Maxwell
are as follows : Bourne : "Esse Quara Videri."
Maxwell : "Dorainus Dedit."
Mrs. Morton has always assisted in charitable works, and, among
others, she founded the Nashville Branch of the Y. W. C. A., of
which she is a life member, and which has grown to be of great
benefit to the young women of the city. Mrs. E. H. East was the
first President of the Association, and, with the aid of Judge East,
of blessed meraory, and other interested gentlemen, the institution
was soon established, and is now bearing good fruit.
Every great movement which has marked an epoch in the world's
history has been made possible through the sympathy, courage, and
sacrifice of woman. And amid failure, after heroic effort, no
solace, no support is comparable to woman's.
Among the first conspicuous examples of devotion and unselfish
ness in sacrifice for the cause of the Confederacy, no name shines
more brightly nor stands higher on the Roll of Honor than that
of Mrs. Felicia Grundy Porter, whose life during the four event
ful years of the war and after the war was an unbroken record of
patriotic service and charitable deeds.
Her daughter, now the wife of Hon. Thomas Steger, an eminent
lawyer, wears her mother's mantle in doing charitable and civic
work. To Captain Steger, of Confederate fame, we are indebted
for the use of the dies made from original Confederate money, and
the only ones in existence, together with the accorapanying poem.
THE CONFEDERATE NOTE.
[Written by Maj. S. A.Jonas, of Aberdeen, Miss., and republished In thc Confed
erate Veteran along with a reply.]
Representing nothing on God's earth now,
And naught in the waters below it;
As a pledge of a nation that's dead and gone,
Keep it, dear friend, and show it.
349

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

Show it to those who will lend an ear
To the tale that this paper can tell
Of liberty born of the patriot's dreara.
Of a storm-cradled nation that fell.
Too poor to possess the precious ores,
And too much of a stranger to borrow,
We issued to-day our promise to pay,
Hoping to redeera on the raorrow.
But days flew by, weeks becarae years.
Our coffers were empty still ;
Coin was so scarce our treasury'd quake
If a dollar would drop in the till.
We knew it had scarcely a value in gold.
Yet as gold the soldiers received it;
It looked in our eyes a promise to pay,
And each patriot believed it.
But the faith that was in us was strong indeed.
And our poverty well we discerned;
And then little checks represented the pay
That our suffering veterans earned.
But our boys thought little of prize or pay.
Or of bills that were overdue ;
We knew if it bought us our bread to-day
'Twas the best our poor country could do.
Keep it, it tells our history over
From the birth of the dream to its last;
Modest, and born of the angel hope.
Like our hope of success it passed.
Richmond, Va., June a, 1865.
Reply from Across "the Chasm."
"Thanks, worthy friend, most heartfelt thanks.
Both for the gift so kindly sent
And for the lesson by it taught
Of wisdom and content.
Say not it represented naught.
For, to ray mind, its worth
This day exceeds the fondest hopes
Of those who sent it forth.
350

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

What thotights of dangers bravely raet.
Of hardships calmly borne.
Of hopes deferred, with sickened hearts.
Through winter and through storm.
Come to our rainds while yet we gaze
On "promises to pay,"
Which ne'er were paid, and ne'er shall be
Until the judgment day!
'Tis ever thus with this world's hopes.
We plan and work and pray,
But God knows best and blesses us
In his own time and way.
His way is best ! Could we but feel
How sure his blessings are.
Our promises would be far less.
Our doing would be more.
Like foes we met on hostile fields
When this money bought you bread ;
Like brothers now we raeet again
Since the demon war has fled.
Warned by our sorrows in the past.
May we like brothers stand
Shoulder to shoulder in resolve
To guard our native land !
Invincible we then shall be.
Armed with truth and right.
Ready to help each suffering soul
That seeketh aid or light.
Then say not they are valueless.
For the lessons they have taught
May be of value greater far
Than could with gold be bought."
The work of the United Daughters of the Confederacy is, in
Captain Morton's opinion, the noblest work now done in the South.
Aiming, as it does, to preserve and present the truth of history
and commeraorate the abiding faith of the South in the justice
351

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
of her cause, it is inspired by the loftiest sentiments of patriotism
— sentiments not less elevated than those which led the Southern
soldiers to die in its defense. During the long years of bitter strug
gle the Southern woman rose to a high conception and a faithful
performance of sublime duty, and it is safe to say that the hearts
of all Southern men unite in giving her a chivalric devotion, in
protecting her with a strong arm, and in crowning her with the
love and praise she so nobly merits. From Eve, the mother of
man, to Mary, the mother of the Son and Saviour of Man, from
Mary, the mother of Washington, to the glorious Southern mother
who sent her boy to the field, the history of the human race has
never produced so lovely, so divine a creature as the Southern
woman of the Southern Confederacy.
She suffered not in the glare of the noonday sun, nor in the
world's parade, but in the quiet, the seclusion, the obscurity, and
often araid the desolated homes. Brooding in silence over the sit
uation, knitting and spinning, weaving and sewing, toiling to eam
support and to keep the men in the army well clad; waiting and
longing for news from the army, with hope deferred that made
the heart sick; husband, son, brother, lover — all gone to the de
fense of their country, and, perhaps, to return no more.
And when the war was over, and the few men who were left
returned to their homes, how bravely the women took up the battle
of life, how cheerfully and uncomplainingly they submitted to the
unaccustomed drudgery! These lofty traits of the truest Christian
womanhood are seen to-day in the work of the devoted Daughters
of the Confederacy. All honor to them and to their noble work!
All honor and praise to Mrs. M. C. Goodlett, the "mother" of
the Daughters of the Confederacy !
An interesting coincidence in this connection is worthy of note,
In 1896 Mrs, Ellen Bourne Tynes (now Mrs. John W. Morton),
while collecting funds for the Rouss Memorial Battle Abbey, con
ceived the idea of a monument to the women of the Confederacy,
to be placed in the rotunda of the contemplated building.
It has long been my cherished desire to see a worthy memorial
erected by the men of our nation to the women of the Confederacy,
who displayed from first to last, in every sphere, in the home, in
the hospital, and on the tented field, an unfailing, because untiring,
devotion to their loved soldiers — a devotion which amounted to
heroism of the highest type.
Let us place within the portals of that noble structure, which is
to be erected to the heroes of the Confederacy, a beautiful group
in finest marble, costing not less than $50,000, to represent our
women as welcoming the visitor to the hallowed halls, as she did
352

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

the battered and tattered soldier to her hearth on his return from
the war. Correspondence with Mr. Rouss, Mrs. Braxton Bragg,
Mrs. Stonewall Jackson, and many others prominent in Confed
erate work elicited heartfelt interest and encouragement.
Thirty years of practical farming and horticulture and the editing
of The Tennessee Farmer, a journal devoted to these interests,
rendered Captain Morton's life in peace scarcely less active than
in war. The country began to recover from her wounds and the
horizon of all industries began to widen. Captain Morton was
chosen Assistant Secretary of Agriculture of his State, and en
deavored to stimulate the work of the farmers to meet the needs
of the times. He inaugurated the first Fruit and Vegetable Grow
ers' Association in the State; he soon had one in each rural dis
trict, and the State Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association was
formed. Captain Morton being the first President. He was a com
missioner to the Agricultural Department of the Tennessee Cen
tennial, and prepared an extensive e.xhibit showing the remarkable
variety and extent of the resources of Tennessee. This exhibit
was shown on different lines than had hitherto been followed, and
attracted widespread notice, and has since been adopted by nearly
every State in the various expositions that have succeeded the Ten
nessee Centennial.
CONCERNING THE MARKERS.
The plan of preserving and marking the field of Chickamauga,
under the auspices of a joint memorial corporation representing all
the States that had troops there, was one that met the hearty ap
proval of the veterans of both sides. An organization was effected
at Chattanooga in 1889, and after some years of perfecting details
and getting various State appropriations, a commission was ap
pointed from each State to select the site suitable for the markers
and monuments. Many difficulties in the acquiring of the land for
sites were met and overcome, and many designs for the memorials
were examined. It was a labor of love, but, nevertheless, one of
time, and in 1893 the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Chick
amauga Park Commission, consisting of Ex-Gov. Jaraes D. Porter,
Maj. Charles W. Anderson, Capt. John W. Morton, John P. Hick
man, Maj. M. H. Clift, Col. W. J. Flale, and Capt. Frank A. Moses,
submitted a report to Hon. Robert L. Taylor, then Governor of
Tennessee, showing the erection of three Confederate monuments,
one Federal monument, and forty-nine Confederate regimental
markers. The Confederate artillery monument contains the list of
all the batteries and officers of General Forrest's Cavalry present
23 353

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
at the historic battle. It is represented by a spirited figure of a
gunner with a rammer in action, surmounting a handsome base,
which is covered with inscriptions.
The dedication ceremonies took place on Snodgrass Hill May 12,
1898, when they were finally turned over to the National Chick
amauga Park Commission. Ex-Gov. James D. Porter raade the
opening address, which was delivered with the earnestness and
scholarly finish so characteristic of him. He was introduced by
Maj. M. H. Clift, of Chattanooga, and gave a history of the part
Confederate commands had played in the great battle, and was
followed by Gen. Alexander P. Stewart, who received the monu
ments and markers on behalf of the National Chickamauga Park
Association, with a graceful and pleasing tribute to the soldiers
of both sides. Gen. G. P. Thruston, representing the Federal
soldiery of Tennessee, was the next speaker, and the closing ad
dress was delivered by Gen. Alexander Boynton, Chairman of the
National Chickamauga Park Coramission. In conclusion, John
Trotwood Moore read his fine poem, "Reunited," written espe
cially for the occasion, which provoked an outburst of patriotic en
thusiasra : Reunited.
"By steel-sheathed ship and iron gun.
And fort that frowns on a crouching sea.
Like a reef-split wave in the mad ebb's run.
Like the rock-stopped foam from a driven lea,
They have halted their butchering lines of red.
For a star-flung banner has published a ban;
Let the past be past, let the dead be dead.
Now and forever, American.
It has girdled the depths of the deep heart's blood.
It has tied our links in a white heat fire,
And the gray has come with the old-time flood.
And the blue stands firm in the old-time ire.
And starving eyes whence Hope had fled
Laugh out in the light as the message ran;
Let the past be past, let the dead be dead,
Now and forever, Araerican.
O valorous Blue, in the grave of your fate,
O glorious Gray, in the long dead years,
Ye were sown in sorrow and harrowed in hate;
But your harvest to-day is a nation's tears,
354

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
For the message you left through the land has sped
From this marbled field to the heart of man ;
Let the past be past, let the dead be dead.
Now and forever, American.
General Wheeler was present at the ceremonies, and after their
conclusion an impromptu reception was held and greatly enjoyed,
the audience then scattering over the battlefield until the hour of
the evening entertainment provided by the hospitable people of
Chattanooga. A pleasing feature of this dedication was the meeting of Captain
Morton with Col. Frank G. Smith, the genial and efficient Sec
retary of the National Chickamauga Park Association. In going
over the field they fell into company, and passing by a little hill
Colonel Smith remarked that he had had quite a brush with the Con
federate artillery there, being in charge of the Ohio batteries. He
then said that his batteries assisted in chasing General Hood out
of Tennessee, and that he lost only one gun during the entire
war, a gun that had been stationed on Anthony Hill, already men
tioned. It was below Pulaski, he said, that the Confederates con
centrated forces so that he had to let one go. This recalled to Cap
tain Morton his capture of a Federal gun at Anthony's Hill. The
odd coincidence was followed by an exchange of many reminiscences
of the days when one was in the van of the Federal pursuit and
the other covering the rear of the Confederates, and fought each
other from Colurabia to the Tennessee River.
In 1901 Captain Morton, at the earnest solicitation of his friends,
became a candidate for the position of Secretary of State for
Tennessee. Untutored in the school of politics, his competitors for
the office, albeit honorable and capable men, enjoyed a marked ad
vantage over hira in that respect. However, around the nucleus
of a unaniraous delegation from his own county, his former com
rades in arms from the mountains on the East to the Mississippi
River on the west, rallied to his standard with the same zeal and
enthusiasm which they had shown on militant fields, and his victory
was complete.
Four years later, relying alone upon the record which he had
made during his first term, he became a candidate for reelection,
and had the satisfaction of an indorsement of his earlier admin
istration by a reelection, and after eight years of continuous in
cumbency has laid aside the arduous duties of public office and
retired to private life.
355

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Since the close of the war Captain Morton has contemplated
writing a brief history of Forrest's Artillery that a record of the
deeds of this arm of the service of the "Wizard of the Saddle"
might be rescued from oblivion and preserved to those who come
after as an inspiration to courage and patriotic duty. His official
relation to him as "Chief of Artillery" afforded hira exceptional
facilities. This work was long delayed by the intervention of official duties,
which demanded Captain Morton's entire time. He feels sure,
however, that, although long delayed, not only every admirer of
Forrest and the matchless record which he (Forrest) made, but
every lover of chivalrous deeds and noble sacrifice will some day be
thankful for the recording in permanent form of this fragment of
military history.
During the last year of his official service as Secretary of State
for Tennessee, Captain Morton was greatly relieved by the valuable
assistance of his son, John Watson Morton, Jr,, an alumnus of
Vanderbilt Law School, and later a member of the State Legis
lature. He served one year in the office as Record Clerk and was
advanced to the position of Chief Clerk, which he filled with
signal ability.
The following are a few of the many generous tributes by mem
bers of the State Legislature, to whose earnest, unselfish support
the author was indebted for his election to the office of Secretary
of State.
The fight for Secretary of State was an interesting feature of the
Legislature. Hon. Tully Brown, of Nashville, made a steady fight
for Captain Morton, and did some very effective work. Mr. Brown
was a lieutenant in the battery of Captain Morton in the Confeder
ate army. Speaking of the fight he made for his old friend and
comrade, Mr. Brown said:
"I did not ask the election of Captain Morton because he was
a Confederate soldier; but he was one, and a true one. I served
as an officer with him in his battery, and he earned and deserved
the complete confidence of Gen. Bedford Forrest, one of the ablest
and most exacting soldiers the war produced. I only claim for
him what is claimed for any other honorable candidate. I don't
think four years' service in the Confederate army should be set
against him.
"There is another battle that the Confederates fought that com
menced after the war of arms was over— a battle that was fought
amid poverty, humiliation, and despair, a battle that was won by
ex-Confederate soldiers under disadvantages never before expe
rienced by any other race of men, and it was fought and won that
356

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

the children of this generation should have an easier and a more
prosperous life. We are paying out of the South thirty odd mil
lions of dollars annually to support soldiers who fought against us.
I don't think that we should tum our backs on our own.
"Just a little patience and the reranant of the grandest soldiery
the world ever saw will have passed away. I think Captain Morton
should be elected because in the most arduous trial that man was
ever subjected to he was true and faithful to the end. He was
weighed in the balance and found not wanting. He is the man
for the place." Senator Houston's Speech.
Below is given a copy of the speech made by Senator Houston
in nominating Captain Morton before the Democratic caucus :
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Caucus: In matters per
taining to the government of a free republic like this, as well as
in the other relations of life, happy and important privileges are
attended with grave responsibilities.
"Let us remember now that we are all Tennessee citizens and
Tennessee Deraocrats, raeeting in the present capacity to select
one of our number for an honorable and responsible office. We
are merabers of the same political family, representing the best and
purest principles that were ever promulgated on the face of the
earth. We have just cause to be proud of Tennessee and to glory
in her history and traditions. We love her towering hills and her
sleeping valleys; we love her crystal streams and her blooming
flowers; we cherish her for the great men she has produced and
for the important and conspicuous part she has played in the affairs
of the nation; we honor her because it was Tennessee heroism that
turned the tide of the Revolutionary War and lighted afresh the
lamp of American liberty on the summit of King's Mountain; and
we adore her because the first truly democratic government that
was ever organized on the Weste'-n Continent was born on Ten
nessee soil. [Applause.]
"In order to maintain the high standard of our citizenship and
our party, we should look in this contest first to the good of the
State, and second to the reward of merit.
"I rise, Mr. Chairman, as a humble and obscure citizen and mera
ber of this caucus, to place in nomination a man whose righteous
fame is not confined to Tennessee, but who is known for his deeds
of greatness done in the service of his country throughout the
length and breadth of this great republic, and a man whose quali
fications are conceded by all, and whose integrity and citizenship
are above and beyond reproach; a man who has been tested in
357

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
times that tried men's souls, and who was found every whit a
patriot and a hero, and whose valor still shines through forty years
of time like an undiraraed star; a man who followed the immortal
Forrest for three long years, who was never known to shirk a
duty, and the sound of whose artillery was among the last to die
in the air; a man in every way worthy and qualified for the posi
tion which he seeks. Such a raan, Mr. Chairman, is Capt. John
W. Morton, of Davidson County.
"Mr. Chairman, I was born after the cannon's roar had ceased
and after the smoke of battle had cleared away; hence I know
nothing of the realities of war. But, sir, the bones of my kindred
lie bleaching on almost every important battlefield from Gettys
burg to the Gulf, and God forbid that their memory shall fade, or
that the services of the heroes who stood so nobly by them in
those hours of peril shall ever be forgotten.
"Gentlemen of the caucus, far be it from rae to say that you ought
to vote for Captain Morton because of his services in the Confed
erate army alone, or that you should vote for him at the expense
of merit or qualifications ; but, other things being equal, I want
to call your attention to two iraportant and worthy considera
tions :
"The first is that when you vote for him you do not do honor
and justice to Captain Morton alone, but you say to the country
and to the world that you propose to recognize the principles of
distinguished fidelity to duty whenever and wherever performed.
"Captain Morton, grand and noble as he is within himself, is
but the creature of an hour, and personal regard for hira need not
be the pararaount consideration with you. But when you vote for
him you give pledge to the young men of Tennessee and to pos
terity that deeds of heroisra in their country's cause shall be rec
ognized and shall not be forgotten.
"The second consideration is that these old veterans of the Civil
War will not be with us long. With the passing of each fleeting
year their ranks are run through by the sickle of death, and hun
dreds are laid in the torab. Ere a few more years shall come and
go, ere a few more flowers shall bud and bloom, the last old Con
federate soldier will be numbered with the dead, and the grandest,
truest, and bravest organization the world has ever seen will be
no more, and we cannot honor thera then save in memory. Gen
tlemen of the caucus, you sacrifice nothing whatever, and you rec
ognize all that is truly grand in chivalrous Southern manhood,
when you vote for John W. Morton."
Hon. John T. Peeler, of Carroll, said :
"I choose to pay that debt to that hero of the Confederacy, that
358

JOHN W. MORTON.
Secretary of State 1901-09.

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
grand man, that man who has lived through many years of honor
and who now enjoys no less distinction, a raan worthy and a man
whom I believe to be the next Secretary of State. I cast ray ballot
for Capt. John W. Morton, of Davidson County."
Hon. T. C. Gordon, of Dyer, said :
"But we have balloted yet without result, and it seems to me
that the Democracy of the State is saying to us of the younger
Democracy in this race : 'Not now, but hereafter ; there is another,
an older man, now in life's matured years, whom we must honor
now ere it be for hira too late forever.' There is a man known in
the olden days as the right hand of Bedford Forrest, the thunder
of whose artillery was the sweet music of salvation to the Southern
soldier, and the harbinger of death to the invaders of our country
and those who wore the blue. He was a most splendid type and
example of that Southern soldiery which gave to the world Lee
and Jackson and Johnston and Forrest. He is the personification
of that patriotisra which forgot self and made man willing to live
or die for Dixie. He is a man whose martial deeds and railitary
heroism have added luster, the luster of immortality, to Southern
fame, and who on a hundred hard-fought battlefields bared his
heart in the defense of his country and recked not of danger, or
whether the hissing bullet should sing his sudden requiem, or the
cords of his life be severed by the sharp steel.
"It has always been a most beautiful, tender custom of the people
of the South to remember their soldiers; and while they have no
national treasury frora which to pour treasure into the laps of
their old heroes in their declining days, and no funds with which to
rear the granite shaft which would tell posterity their fame, they
have always honored them in the forum of the State and the nation
in order that the world may know that we are not ashamed of
them and do not repudiate their glorious deeds, but crown them
with honor, love, and affection, and have enshrined them forever
in the temple of our hearts.
"Bate and Harris, Cheatham and Turley and Fitzhugh Lee were
honored by the most exalted places in the gift of the people in
testimony of their love and appreciation, and it seems to me that
now the people of the South are saying: 'Stand back awhile, young
Democracy, until we have shown otir reverence and honor for the
gallant artilleryman of Bedford Forrest.' I hear the caUing, and I
bow in patriotic submission to the same. I now change my vote
and cast my ballot for that gallant and dauntless Tennesseean, that
splendid soldier, that pure patriot and princely gentleraan, Capt.
John W. Morton." 359

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY

THE FADED GRAY JACKET.
'"Tis only a faded gray jacket
That a sainted mother made.
And with each stitch a teardrop fell
As she silently stitched and prayed.
Only a faded gray jacket
That covered a soldier-boy's breast;
Ah, the hands that lovingly raade it
Are now. folded forever at rest.
Only a faded gray jacket.
Yet a story it can tell
Of the brave men of our Southland,
Who fought so long and well.
Only a soldier's old jacket,
Now faded and worn and gray,
Yet it tells a sad, sad story
Of an eventful day.
When were heard the sounds of battle
And the boom of the deadly gun.
And a mother watched vainly the coraing
Of her boy — her only son.
A messenger came from the battlefield
And to her he tenderly said :
'Keep sacred this faded gray jacket.
For your boy who wore it is dead.' "

AT ARLINGTON.
BY J. R. RANDALL.
The broken column, reared in air
To him who made our country great,
Can almost cast its shadow where
The victims of a grand despair.
In long, long ranks of death await
The last loud trump, the Judgment-Sun,
Which come for all, and, soon or late,
Will come for those at Arlington.
360

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
In that vast sepulcher repose
The thousands reaped from every fray :
The Men in Blue who once uprose
In battle front to smite their foes.
The Spartan Bands who wore the gray.
The combat o'er, the death hug done.
In summer blaze or winter snows,
They keep the truce at Arlington.
And almost lost in myriad graves.
Of those who gained the unequal fight.
Are mounds that hide Confederate braves,
Who reck not how the north wind raves,
In dazzling day or dimmest night.
O'er those who lost and those who won;
Death holds no parley which was right —
Jehovah judges Arlington.
The dead had rest; the Dove of Peace
Brooded o'er both with equal wings;
To both had come that great surcease.
The last omnipotent release
From all the world's delirious stings.
To bugle deaf and signal gun,
They slept, like heroes of old Greece,
Beneath the glebe at Arlington.
And in the Spring's benignant reign
The sweet May woke her harp of pines ;
Teaching her choir a thrilling strain
Or jubilee to land and main,
She danced in emerald down the lines.
Denying largess bright to none,
She saw no difference in the signs
That told who slept at Arlington.
She gave her grasses and her showers
To all alike who dreamed in dust;
Her song birds wove their dainty bowers
Amid the jasmine buds and flowers,
And piped with an irapartial trust;
Waifs of the air and liberal sun.
Their guileless glees were kind and just
To friend and foe at Arlington.
361

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
And 'mid the generous spring there came
Sorae woraen of the land, who strove
To make this funeral field of fame
Glad as the May-God's altar flame.
With rosy wreaths of mutual love —
Unraindful who had lost or won.
They scorned the jargon of a name —
No North, no South, at Arlington.
Between their pious thought and God
Stood files of raen with brutal steel ;
The garlands placed on "Rebel sod"
Were trampled in the common clod.
To die beneath the hireling heel.
Facing this triumph of the Hun,
Our Smoky Caesar gave no nod.
To keep the peace at Arlington.
Jehovah judged — abashing man —
For in the vigils of the night
His mighty storra avengers ran
Together in one choral clan.
Rebuking wrong, rewarding right;
Plucking the wreaths frora those who won,
The tempest heaped them dewy-bright
On Rebel graves at Arlington.
And when the mom came young and fair.
Brimful of blushes ripe and red, ¦
Knee-deep in sky-sent roses there.
Nature began her earliest prayer
Above triumphant Southern dead.
So, in the dark and in the sun.
Our Cause survives the Tyrant's tread.
And sleeps to wake at Arlington.
362

LIST OF CONFEDERATE PRISONERS AT
JOHNSON'S ISLAND, 1862.
Taken from Captain Morton's Notebook.
Capt. Robert N. Moore, Company B, Ninth Battalion, Tennessee
Cavalry. Joined Confederate service November 28, 1861, Resi
dence, Columbia, Maury County, Tenn,
Capt, And, J. Campbell, Company G, Forty-Eighth Regiment,
Tennessee, Joined Confederate service December 12, 1861, Foun
tain Creek, Maury County, Tenn,
Lieut. Isaac J. Howlett, Company G, Forty-Eighth Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16,
1862. CuUeoka, Maury County, Tenn.
Lieut. Joe Love, Company C, Forty-Eighth Tennessee Volunteers.
Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Columbia, Tenn.
Lieut. L. R. Cheatham, Company G, Forty-Eighth Tennessee
Regiment. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Culleoka,
Tenn. Lieut. R, A, Mitchell, Company B, Third Regiment, Tennessee
Volunteers, Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
Lynnville, Giles County, Tenn.
Thomas D. Denvenport, Captain Company D, Thirty-Second Ten
nessee Regiment. Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
Josiah R. Hubbard, Captain Company A, Forty-Second Regi
ment, Tennessee Volunteers. Captured February 16, 1862, at Fort
Donelson. Centerville, Hickman County, Tenn.
D. B. Griswold, First Lieutenant Engineer Corps. Captured at
New Madrid March i, 1862, by General Pope's Division, Federal
Army. Memphis, Tenn.
W. Hooper Harris, Captain Company A, First Battalion, Tennes
see Cavalry. Entered Confederate service May 23, 1861. Captured
May 5, 1862, at Lebanon, Tenn. Nashville, Tenn.
George A. Diggons, First Lieutenant Company E, Tenth Ten
nessee Regiment. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
George W. Gordon, Captain Company C, Forty-Eighth Tennes
see Regiment. Captured at Fort Donelson. Residence, Maury
County, Tenn. Volunteered at the age of fifty-four years in de
fense of the rights of the South and her institutions and his native
land. G. W. Jones, Captain Company F, Third Tennessee Regiment,
John C. Brown, Colonel commanding. Mustered into the State
363

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
service August 7, 1861, and captured at Fort Donelson February
16, 1862. Maury County, Tenn.
John M. Winstead, Captain Company G, Thirty-Second Regi
ment, Tennessee Volunteers. Breathed his last air of freedom at
Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862. Pulaski, Tenn.
Joseph A. Irvine, Third Lieutenant Company A, Ninth Battalion,
Tennessee Cavalry. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
Columbia, Tenn.
Joseph N. Walker, Captain Company A, Ninth Battalion, Ten
nessee Cavalry. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
Columbia, Tenn.
Hardin Mayberry, Corapany A, Forty-Eighth Regiraent, Ten
nessee. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Maury
County, Tenn.
Thoraas E. Jameson, Captain Company K, Forty-Eighth Ten
nessee. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Maury
County, Tenn.
W. P. Oneal, Captain Company I, Thirty-Second Regiment, Ten
nessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16,
1862. Belfast, Tenn.
Benjamin F. Matthews, Captain Company I, Third Tennessee,
captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
Charles H. Stockell, Drill Instructor, Fifty-Third Regiment, Ten
nessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16,
1862. Nashville, Tenn.
John H. Handy, Captain Company I, Tenth Tennessee. Cap
tured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
R. F. McCaul, Second Lieutenant Company H, Thirty-Second
Tennessee. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Bethes
da, Tenn.
W. R. Culbertson, Second Lieutenant Porter's Tennessee Bat
tery. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Nashville,
Tenn. Jaraes P. Campbell, Quartermaster Sergeant Thirty-Second Reg
iment, Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson Febru
ary 16, 1862, it being Sunday. Franklin, Williamson County, Tenn.
Thomas C. Banks, Brevet Second Lieutenant Company H, Thirty-
Second Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson Feb
ruary 16, 1862. Franklin, Williamson County, Tenn.
Jesse Taylor, Captain First Tennessee Artillery. Fort Henry,
February 6, 1862.
Addison L. Berrie, First Lieutenant Company H, Tenth Ten
nessee Volunteers. Pedlos Mills, Amherst County, Va.
364

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Williara Sweeney, First Lieutenant Company G, Tenth Tennessee
Volunteers. Nashville, Tenn.
Sarauel M. Thompson, Captain Company K, Tenth Tennessee
Infantry. Florence, Lauderdale County, Ala.
John McLaughlin, Captain and Assistant Quartermastei, Tenth
Tennessee Regiment. Nashville, Tenn.
John A. Hayden, Captain Engineers Provisional Army, C. S. A.
Nashville, Tenn.
Randal McG. Southall, Adjutant Tenth Tennessee Volunteers.
Captured at Fort Donelson. Nashville, Tenn.
D. D. Phillips, Second Lieutenant Nelson Artillery, Tennessee
Volunteers. Captured at Island No. lo. Nashville, Tenn.
Dave S. Martin, Third Lieutenant Third Tennessee Regiment.
Surrendered at Fort Donelson. Giles County, Tenn.
E. C. L. Bridges, First Lieutenant Company G, Third Tennessee
Regiment. Surrendered at Fort Donelson. Giles County, Tenn.
E. W. Harward, Brevet Second Lieutenant Company G, Third
Tennessee Regiraent. Surrendered at Fort Donelson. Giles Coun
ty, Tenn.
C. H. Walker, Captain Company G, Third Tennessee. Went up
at Fort Donelson. Giles County, Tenn.
Leslie Ellis, Captain Tenth Tennessee Regiment Volunteers.
Nashville, Tenn.
Thomas Gibson, First Lieutenant Tenth Tennessee Regiment.
Nashville, Tenn.
James P. Kirkraan, Second Lieutenant Tenth Tennessee Regi
ment. Nashville, Tenn.
C. A. Nichol, First Lieutenant Company D, Thirtieth Regiment,
Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn.
A. H. Van Voorhies, Surgeon C. S. A.
G. R. G. Jones, Lieutenant C. S, A. Nashville, Tenn.
W. Ormsby Watts, Lieutenant Artillery and Ordnance, First
Tennessee Artillery.
W. T. Harris, Jr., Brevet Second Lieutenant Company I,
Eighteenth Regiraent, Tennessee Volunteers. Cornersville, Tenn.
M. R. Rushing, Captain Company A, Eighteenth Tennessee Regi
ment. Captured at Fort Donelson. Woodbury, Tenn.
W. D. Coppage, First Lieutenant Company K, Eighteenth Ten
nessee Regiment. Laguardo, Wilson County, Tenn.
W. P. Bandy, Captain Company K, Eighteenth Tennessee Regi
ment. Captured at Fort Donelson. Lebanon, Wilson County,
Tenn. John M. Douglass, Second Lieutenant Eighteenth Tennessee Reg-
365

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
iment. Captured at Fort Donelson February i6, 1862. Gallatin,
Tenn. William L. Putman, Captain Company L, Eighteenth Tennessee,
Cannon City.
S. H. Freas, First Lieutenant Company I, Eighteenth Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Wilson County, Tenn.
P. H. Huddleston, Brevet Lieutenant Company A, Eighteenth
Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Woodbury, Tenn.
Adley B. Biffle, First Lieutenant Corapany C, Ninth Battalion,
Tennessee Cavalry. Hampshire, Tenn.
Andrew J. Pugh, Brevet Second Lieutenant Company C, Ninth
Battalion, Termessee Cavalry. Hampshire, Tenn.
J. B. Galloway, Second Lieutenant Company B, Ninth Battalion,
Tennessee Cavalry.
G. W. Gaut, Lieutenant Colonel commanding. Mustered into
the service November 28, 1861 ; captured at Fort Donelson Feb
ruary 16, 1862. Maury County, Tenn. Address, Bigbyville,
W, F, Ellison, Second Lieutenant Company D, Thirty-Second
Tennessee Regiment Volunteers, Col, E, C, Cook, Commander,
Lawrence County, Tenn.
W. M. Sullivan, First Lieutenant Company H, Forty-Eighth
Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Columbia, Tenn.
W. D. Walker, Second Lieutenant Company K, Forty-Eighth
Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Maury County, Tenn. Post
office, Columbia.
J. P. McGuire, Brevet Second Lieutenant Company E, Thirty-
Second Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Don
elson, Tenn., by the Federal army under General Grant on Feb
ruary 16, 1862. Nashville, Tenn.
C. G. Tucker, Captain Company C, Thirty-Second Regiment
Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson, Tenn., by the
Federal army under General Grant on February 16, 1862. Boon's
Hill, Tenn.
J. T. Pigg, Second Lieutenant Company C, Thirty-Second Regi
ment, Tennessee Volunteers. Cane Creek, Tenn.
H. H. Tucker, Brevet Lieutenant Company C, Thirty-Second
Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson by
the Federal army under General Grant February 16, 1862. Boon's
Hill, Tenn.
M. Ragin, Second Lieutenant Company C, Fifty-Third Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16,
1862. Bethel, Tenn.
T. G. Curlee, First Lieutenant Company H, Tennessee Volunteers.
Readyville, Tenn. 366

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
M. E. St. John, Third Lieutenant Corapany D, Eighteenth Ten
nessee Regiment. Woodbury, Tenn.
E. A. Speer, Second Lieutenant Eighteenth Regiment, Tennessee
Volunteers. Murfreesboro, Tenn.
J. M. Gilmore, Second Lieutenant Company F, Eighteenth Ten
nessee Volunteers. Fosterville, Tenn.
B. C. Wood, Captain Eighteenth Tennessee Regiment. Ready
ville, Tenn.
Capt. W. J. Wood, Eighteenth Tennessee Regiment. Woodbury,
Tenn. Capt. H. J. St. John, Eighteenth Tennessee Regiment. Wood
bury, Tenn.
Adjt. R. E. Douglass, Forty-Ninth Regiment, Tennessee Volun
teers. Chestnut Grove.
H. L. Bedford, Artillery service, June 14, 1862. Memphis, Tenn.
Capt. A. W. Gould, Fiftieth Tennessee Regiment. Nashville,
Tenn. Gid H. Lowe, Captain Company E, Eighteenth Tennessee Regi
ment, Infantry. Ashland City, Tenn. June 15, 1862.
Capt. T. W. Beaumont, Fiftieth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers,
Infantry. August 12, 1861.
W. H. Joyner, Captain Company B, Eighteenth Tennessee Regi
ment. Mustered into the State service May 22, 1861 ; transferred
into the Confederate service August 7, 1861 ; captured at Fort
Donelson February 16, 1862. Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Lieut, S. C. Bowers, Company B, Eighteenth Tennessee Regi
ment. Address, Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Lieut. J. W. Childress, Drillmaster First Battalion, Tennessee
Infantry. Murfreesboro, Tenn.
P. F. Gould, Surgeon Fiftieth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers.
Waverly, Tenn.
James F. Grant, Surgeon Thirty-Second Regiment, Tennessee.
Millville, Tenn.
Willis Worley, Captain Company A, Thirty-Second Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Bradshaw, Giles County, Tenn.
James J. Finney, Captain Company E, Thirty-Second Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Millville, Lincoln County, Tenn.
William P. A. George, First Lieutenant Company E, Thirty-
Second Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Millville, Lincoln Coun
ty, Tenn.
Franklin L. Ezell, Coramanding Sergeant of Thirty-Second Ten
nessee Regiraent, Volunteers. Millville, Lincoln County, Tenn.
W. R. Collins, Brevet Second Lieutenant Company A, Thirty-
367

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Second Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Cornersville, Giles Coun
ty, Tenn.
Joseph H. George, Captain Company D, Forty-First Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Fayetteville, Tenn,
John M, Wright, Second Lieutenant Company E, Thirty-Second
Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Boon's Hill, Lincoln County,
Tenn, B, R, Fakes, Brevet Second Lieutenant Company K, Eighteenth
Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers, Lebanon, Tenn,
R. R, Hyde, First Lieutenant Company G, Eighteenth Tennessee
Regiment, Volunteers, Captured at Fort Donelson February l6,
1862, Nashville, Tenn,
Joel A, Battle, Colonel Twentieth Regiment, Tennessee Volun
teers, Captured at Shiloh April 7, 1862, the second day of the
battle there, Nolensville, Williamson County, Tenn,
William R, Butler, Captain Company C, Eighteenth Tennessee
Regiment Volunteers, Captured at Fort Donelson February 16,
1862. Murfreesboro, Tenn,
Frank H, Lytic, First Lieutenant Company C, Eighteenth Regi
ment, Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February
16, 1862. Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Isham G. Randolph, Second Lieutenant Company C, Eighteenth
Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson Feb
ruary 16, 1862. Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Nathaniel Gooch, Second Lieutenant Company C, Eighteenth
Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson Feb
ruary 16, 1862. Smyrna, Tenn.
O, Baker, M,D,, Assistant Surgeon C. S, A, Captured at Nash
ville, Tenn,, February 23, 1862, Nashville, Tenn,
Walter S, Lipscomb, First Lieutenant C, S. A., comraanding
Corapany H, Tennessee Artillery Battalion. Was transferred into
Abraham's bosom on April 7, 1862, at Island No. 10, Mississippi
River. New Orleans, La.
E. T. Freeraan, First Lieutenant and Adjutant of Walker's
Fortieth Tennessee Regiment. Captured at Island No. 10 April
7, 1862. Norfolk, Va.
A. J. McWhirter, Captain Company G, Eighteenth Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16,
1862. Nashville, Tenn.
J. A. McRady, Commissary Fifty-Third Regiment, Tennessee
Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Lewis
burg, Tenn.
John G. Hale, Captain Company G, Fifty-First Tennessee Vol-
368

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
unteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February i6, 1862. Mem
phis, Tenn.
G. C. Duncan, Second Lieutenant, Fortieth Tennessee Regiment.
Captured at Island No. 10. Nelson County, Ky.
W. G. Pond, First Lieutenant Corapany C, Thirtieth Regiraent,
Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson by Gen.
S. B. Buckner, of C. S. A., to Gen. U. S. Grant, of U. S. A.,
February 16, 1862. Address, Gallatin.
William A. Quarles, Colonel Forty-Second Tennessee. Surren
dered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Clarksville, Tenn.
John H. Tumer, Captain Company E, Thirtieth Regiraent Ten
nessee Volunteers. Address, Cherry Mount, Tenn. Surrendered
at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
Joseph Barbiere, Captain Company A, First Alabama, Tennessee,
and Mississippi Regiment Volunteers. Captured at Island No. 10
April 8, 1862. Memphis, Tenn.
Lieut. Tom L. Lloyd, Thirtieth Tennessee Regiment. Captured
at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Residence, Gallatin, Tenn.
Lieut. A. H. Douglass, Thirtieth Tennessee Regiment, Tennessee
Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862,
Gallatin, Tenn.
H. Barksdale, Captain Corapany G, Thirtieth Regiment, Teimes-
see Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson. Age, twenty-four
years. Dixon Spring, Tenn.
W. R. Poindexter, Acting Quartermaster Forty-Ninth Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16,
1862. Clarksville, Tenn.
J. B. Cording, Captain Company D, Forty-Ninth Tennessee Reg
iment. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Char
lotte, Tenn.
Robert T. Cooper, Captain Company H, Third Regiment, Ten
nessee Volunteers, coramanded by Col. John C. Brown. Surren
dered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Residence one and
one-half miles southwest of Newburg, in Lewis County, Tenn.
Alpheus Baker, Colonel First Alabama, Tennessee, and Missis
sippi Regiment. Eufaula, Ala.
John M. Clark, Colonel Forty-Sixth Tennessee Regiment. Paris,
Tenn. J. S. Dawson, Adjutant Forty-Sixth Tennessee Regiment. Paris,
Tenn. James S. Brown, Major Forty-Sixth Tennessee Regiraent, Paris,
Tenn. Captured at Island No. 10 April 8, 1862.
24 369

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Lieut. George S. Martin, Tennessee Artillery; Island No. lo,
April 7, 1862. Colurabia, Tenn.
S. R. Hayman, First Lieutenant C. S. A. Artillery, comraanding
seven-gun battery in Madrid Bend, opposite Head Island No. 10.
Captured April 7, 1862. Memphis, Tenn.
T. S. Webb, First Lieutenant One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth
Senior Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Captured near Corinth,
Miss., May 28, 1862. Memphis, Tenn.
Alonzo Lindsey, Second Lieutenant Third Regiment, Tennessee
Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Law
renceburg, Tenn.
W. H. McFall, Second Lieutenant Ninth Battalion, Tennessee
Cavalry. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Co
lumbia, Tenn.
Rufus J. Polk, Second Lieutenant Artillery. Captured at Island
No. 10 April 7, 1862. Columbia, Tenn.
Johnson Long, First Lieutenant Company C, Third Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February
16, 1862. Mt. Pleasant, Tenn.
James H. Akin, Captain Company C, Ninth Battalion, Tennessee
Cavalry. Surrendered at Fort Donelson. Age, thirty years. Hamp
shire, Tenn.
James A. Fisher, Captain of Artillery C. S. A. Surrendered at
Island No. 10 April 7, 1862. Nashville, Tenn.
James J. Murray, Second Lieutenant Company B, Fifty-Third
Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February
16, 1862. Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
R. K. Kercheval, private in the Fifty-Third Regiraent, Tennessee
Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson.
Thomas L. Porter, First Lieutenant Ninth Battalion, Tennessee
Cavalry. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Co
lumbia, Tenn.
James Giddens, Brevet Second Lieutenant Company C of the
Third Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donel
son. Mt. Pleasant, Tenn.
J. J. McDaniel, First Lieutenant Nelson Artillery. Surrendered
at Island No. 10 April 7, 1862. Nashville, Tenn.
A. C. Hickey, First Lieutenant Company C, Twenty-Sixth Regi
ment, Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson Feb
ruary 16, 1862. Newport, Tenn.
William T. Hughes, Second Lieutenant Company F, Tenth Regi
ment, Tennessee Volunteers. Nashville, Tenn.
370

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Capt. B. Palmer, regular C. S. A. Captured at Bolivar, Tenn.
Memphis, Tenn.
James D. Tillman, Lieutenant Forty-First Tennessee Regiment,
Infantry. Address, Shelbyville, Tenn. Captured (more properly
surrendered) at Fort Donelson.
C. D. McFarland, Captain Company G, Twenty-Sixth Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson on February
i6, 1862. Rossville, Walker County, Ga.
Thomas D. Griffin, Second Lieutenant Forty-First Tennessee
Regiment. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
Pleasant Plains, Tenn.
George Y. Williams, Second Lieutenant Fiftieth Tennessee. Sur
rendered at Fort Donelson February t6, 1862. Dover, Tenn.
Sarauel Mays, Second Lieutenant Company G, Fiftieth Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16,
1862. Tank, Davidson County, Tenn.
J. R. Williams, Second Lieutenant Company G, Fiftieth Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February
16, 1862. Charlotte, Tenn.
J. C. Cook, Brevet Lieutenant Fiftieth Regiment, Tennessee Vol
unteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862, Dover,
Tenn. E. G. Sexton, Captain Fiftieth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers.
Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Dover, Tenn.
W. H. Daniel, Second Brevet Lieutenant Company I, Fiftieth
Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson
February 16, 1862. Dover, Stewart County, Tenn.
J. W. Parker, First Lieutenant Company H, Fiftieth Tennessee
Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Dover,
Tenn. Will J. Sweeney, Brevet Lieutenant Company G, Fortieth Regi
ment, Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Island No. 10, Mis
sissippi River, April 8, 1862, Sunflower Landing, Coahoma County,
Miss, A, Moffitt, Second Lieutenant Fifty-First Regiment Volunteers
C. S. A. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Cov
ington, Tipton County, Tenn.
Robert E. Thomas, Second Lieutenant Company B, Fiftieth Reg
iment Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson Feb
ruary 16, 1862. Cumberland City, Stewart County, Tenn.
Rufus H. Wooten, Lieutenant Company C, Fifty-First Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Mt. Zion, Tenn.
371

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
T. D. Pinnell, Lieutenant Company A, Fifty-First Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Mt. Zion, Tenn.
W. J. McAlpin, First Lieutenant Corapany G, First Alabama,
Tennessee, and Mississippi Regiment Volunteers C. S. A. Surren
dered at Island No. xo April 8, 1862. Purdy, Tenn.
John R. Wright, Second Lieutenant Company I, First Alabama,
Tennessee, and Mississippi Regiment. Captured at Island No. 10
April 8, 1862. Batesville, Panola County, Miss.
S. D. H. Whitfield, First Lieutenant Company B, Forty-Second
Tennessee Regiment. Captured at Fort Donelson. Age, thirty
years. Waverly, Tenn.
John H. Grouch, Third Lieutenant Corapany A, Fifty-First Regi
raent, Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson Feb
ruary 16, 1862. Mt. Zion, Tipton County, Tenn.
T. J. Ham, Third Lieutenant Fifty-First Regiment, Tennessee
Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
Purdy, McNairy County, Tenn.
J. P. Lock, Third Lieutenant Company D, Third Regiment, Ten
nessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16,
1862. Giles County, Tenn. Age, twenty-two years.
David G. Alexander, Second Lieutenant Company D, Eighteenth
Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson
February 16, 1862. Campbellsville, Giles County, Tenn. Age,
twenty-three years, and a Rebel of the deepest dye.
Ephraim H. Foster Gordon, Captain Company B, Third Tennes
see Regiment. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
Pulaski, Giles County, Tenn.
Lieut. L. W. Talbott, Forrest's Rangers, Forrest's Cavalry.
Seduced and deserted by our generals at Fort Donelson, and, in
that forlorn fix, "gobbled up by the Yanks" on February 16, 1862.
Bardstown, Ky.
W. F. Collins, First Lieutenant Corapany B, Fifty-Third Regi
ment, Tennessee Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson Feb
ruary 16, 1862. Lewisburg, Marshall County, Tenn.
R. S. Walker, Second Lieutenant Corapany B, Fifty-Third Ten
nessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
Campbells, Tenn.
L. L. Bailey, Sr., Second Lieutenant Forrest's Cavalry. Surren
dered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862. Clarksville, Tenn.
G. W. Harlow, Lieutenant Company G, Tenth Tennessee Regi
raent. Nashville, Tenn.
T. J. Spain, Second Lieutenant Company A, First Alabama,
Tennessee, and Mississippi Regiment Volunteers. Surrendered at
Island No. 10 April 8, 1862. Memphis, Tenn. ; avocation, machinist.
372

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
A. Coleman, Brevet Second Lieutenant Company G, First Ala
bama, Tennessee, and Mississippi Regiment Volunteers. Surren
dered at Island No. lo April 8, 1862. Purdy, Tenn.
A. S. Levy, Quartermaster First Alabama, Tennessee, and Mis
sissippi Regiment. Captured at Island No. 10. Meraphis, Tenn.
F. D. Moore, Second Lieutenant Company I, One Hundred and
Fifty-Fourth Senior Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers. Captured
at Purdy, Tenn., April 29, 1862. Avocation, merchant. Purdy,
Tenn. William Dwyer, Third Lieutenant Company D, Tenth Tennessee
Volunteers. Surrendered at Fort Donelson February 16, 1862.
New Providence, Tenn.
Jones Gennette, Captain Company B, Fifteenth Regiraent, Ten
nessee. Captured at Shiloh April 7, 1862. Memphis.
W. H. Adaras, Chaplain to Forty-Second Tennessee Regiraent.
Captured at Donelson February 16, 1862. Scottsboro, Ala.
L. D. F. McVay, Captain and A. C. S. First Alabaraa, Ten
nessee, and Mississippi Regiraent Volunteers. Captured at Island
No. 10 April 8, 1862. Pocahontas, Tenn.
J. M. Grace, Captain Company K, First Regiraent, Alabama,
Tennessee, and Mississippi Volunteers. Captured at Island No.
10 April 8, 1862. Bolivar, Tenn.
A. M. Duncan, Lieutenant Company K, First Alabama, Tennes
see, and Mississippi Regiment Volunteers. Surrendered at Island
No. 10 April 8, 1862. Jenkins Depot, Tenn.
Sam P. Walker, First Lieutenant Company I, Fortieth Tennessee
Regiment. Captured at Island No. 10 April 8, 1862. Memphis.
John W. Walker, First Lieutenant Corapany C, Fortieth Tennes
see Regiment. Captured at Island No. 10 April 8, 1862. Memphis,
Tenn. Thomas T. Kirkland, Memphis, Tenn., Lieutenant Company B,
Walker's Fortieth Tennessee Regiment. Captured at Island No.
10 April 8, 1862.
Theodore Kelsey, Memphis, Tenn., Second Lieutenant Fortieth
Tennessee Regiment. Captured at Island No. 10 April 8, 1862.
T. H. Tidmarsh, First Lieutenant Tennessee Volunteer Artillery,
commanding officer of ordnance. Island No. 10. Captured there
April 8, 1862.
John R. Farabee, Captain First Alabama, Tennessee, and Missis
sippi Volunteers. Captured at Island No. 10 April 8, 1862.
F. A. Ragsdale, Captain Company A, Walker Regiment, Fortieth
Tennessee. Captured at Island No. 10 April 8, 1862.
St. Clair M. Morgan, Captain Tenth Tennessee Volunteers, Fort
Donelson. 373

ARTILLERY OF FORREST'S CAVALRY
Chas. W. Raesler, Captain Company A, Fortieth Tennessee
Regiment. Captured at Island No. lo April 8, 1862. Athens,
Liraestone County, Ala.
Porter Bibb, Jr., Huntsville, Ala., Captain Fortieth Tennessee
Regiment, Company E. Captured at Island No. 10; chicken.
John Shirley Ward, First Lieutenant Company G, Fiftieth Ten
nessee Regiment. Charlotte, Tenn.
Lieut. T. B. Cook, Tennessee Artillery Corporal. Captured at
Island No. 10 April 8, 1862. Nashville, Tenn.
J. H. Morton, Captain Company H, Thirty-Second Regiraent,
Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson February 16,
1862. Franklin, Tenn.
F. J. Weller, Lieutenant Company B, First Tennessee Artillery.
Surrendered at Fort Henry February 8, 1862. Russellville, Ky.
W. H. Burgess, Lieutenant Company A, Forty-Ninth Regiment,
Tennessee Volunteers. Captured at Fort Donelson, Tenn., Feb
ruary 16, 1862. New Providence, Tenn.
William T. Avery, Lieutenant Colonel First Alabama, Tennessee,
and Mississippi Regiment. Memphis, Tenn.
374

YALE UNIVERSITY

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