L.^ YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY (5reat Commanbere Edited by j ames grant wilson GENERAL FORREST ^\)t ^ttat €omman^tx5 Series. Edited by General James Grant Wilson. Each, izmo, cloth, gilt top, $1.50 net; postage, II cents additional. Admiral Farragut. By Captain A. T. Mahan, U. S. N. General Taylor. By General O. O. Howard, U. S. A. General Jackson. By James Parton. General Greene. By General Francis V. Greene. General J. E. Johnston. By Robert M. Hughes, of Virginia. General Thomas. By Henry Coppee, LL. D. General Scott. By General Marcus J. Wright. General Washington. By General BRADLEY T. Johnson. General Lee. By General Fitzhugh Lee. General Hancock. By General Francis A. Walker. General Sheridan. By General Henry E. Davies. General Grant. By General James Grant Wilson. General Sherman. By General Manning F. Force. Commodore Paul Jones. By Cyrus Townsend Brady. General Meade. By Isaac R. Pennypacker. General McClellan. By General Peter S. Michie. General Forrest. By Captain J. Harvey Mathes. /« preparation. Admiral Porter. By James R. Soley, late Assistant Secretary U. S. Navy. General Schofield ; An Autobiography. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. GREAT COMMANDERS ? ??? GENERAL FORREST ,/„ BY Capt. J."^ HARVEY MATHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS NEW YORK D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 1902 Copyright, 1902, By D, APPLETON AND COMPANY. All rights reserved. Published March, 19m PREFACE. The writer of the following work served with in fantry commands of the Confederate army, mostly as adjutant of a regiment or on brigade staff duty, for nearly four years. It was not his fortune to ride with General Forrest during the war, yet he knew this re markable character somewhat intimately, as well as members of his staff and hundreds of his men who are still engaged in the activities of private life. From the associations of war and of peace, impressions were formed as to the personality and the mettle of Forrest and the soldiers who made him famous. In the limited space permitted the most salient points have been presented, while many incidents, some of them humorous as well as pathetic and thrilling, have been passed over or only given brief mention. The Re- belHon Records, so replete with official reports, as published by the Government with approximate accu racy and fairness; the Memoirs of Generals Grant, Sherman, and Thomas, and numerous other Union officers of lesser rank ; the Campaigns of General For rest, by General Thomas Jordan and John P. Pryor, issued in 1868; the Life of General Forrest, by Dr. John A. Wyeth (1899) ; The Seventh Tennessee Cav alry, Forrest's old regiment, by John P. Young, of Memphis, and many other publications and papers have been freely consulted in the preparation of this work. The aim has been to gather and put together VI LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. in consecutive order the facts in regard to General Forrest's eventful life from early youth to his death at the comparatively early age of fifty-six. Thanks are returned to General James Grant Wilson for many valuable suggestions as to the scope and spirit of judicial treatment which it is hoped will be found to pervade this volume ; to General Marcus J. Wright, of the War Department, for kindly aid in the revision of some chapters; to the surviving members of Gen eral Forrest's staff, including especially his son, Cap tain William M. Forrest, and Lieutenant-Colonel John W. Morton, who was chief of artillery, and to many others of the old command who have lived to enter upon the twentieth century; and also to Captain Alfred G. Tuther, Dr. Joseph P. Alban, General Milton T. Williamson, and other Union officers now living in Memphis, who have kindly supplied interesting facts which were as missing links in the history of some of Forrest's campaigns. Many au thorities have been drawn upon and pains taken by correspondence and personal interviews to revive and make available the memories and impressions of old soldiers who were in the campaigns described, wear ing either the blue or the gray. If these and such as these can approve the efforts made to do some thing in the line of reliable and unbiased history, then the earnest desire and patriotic ambition of a Con federate veteran will have been realized. J. Harvey Mathes. Memphis, Tenn., February, igo2. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. — Ancestry and early life i II. — First campaign in Kentucky .... 23 III. — The battle of Fort Donelson .... 34 IV. — Battle of Shiloh. — Capture of Murfreesboro 54 V. — Operations on Bragg's flank .... 73 VI. — Battle of Parker's crossroads .... 82 VII. — Repulse at Dover. — Success at Thompsons Station 96 VIII. — Streight's expedition overtaken and captured 109 IX. — Spring Hill to Chickamauga .... 128 X. — In a new field. — Promoted to major-general 153 XI. — General William Sooy Smith's defeat . .173 XII. — Third raid into West Tennessee . . . 197 XIII. — Capture of Fort Pillow 214 XIV. — Brice's crossroads 233 XV. — Severe repulse at Harrisburg, July 14, 1864 . 252 XVI. — A DARING raid ON MEMPHIS 264 XVII. — Forrest's command reorganizes. — Sudden and SUCCESSFUL MOVE THROUGH NORTH ALABAMA INTO Middle Tennessee. — Johnsonville . 282 XVIII. — Covering Hood's disastrous retreat from Nashville 306 XIX. — Final campaign in 1865. — General Wilson's CAPTURE OF Selma. — Then the surrender. — And General Forrest's farewell address AT Gainesville, Ala, 333 vii vm LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. chapter pace XX. — General Forrest after the war. — A quiet, DIGNIFIED CITIZEN. — DEATH AT THE EARLY AGE OF FIFTY-SIX. — Some reminiscences and com ments IN REGARD TO HIS CIVIL AND MILITARY CAREER 358 Appendix : General Lee's account of the battle of Harrisburg, July 14, 1864 .... 379 General Forrest's orthography . . . 382 Index 385 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS. facing PAGE Portrait of General Forrest, engraved by Charles B. Hall from a photograph taken in Richmond, Va. Frontispiece Nathan B. Forrest in early life, from a. daguerreotype taken in Memphis about 1846 4 House in Hernando where Forrest lived when a youth . II Facsimile of letter written in September, 1861, to Dr. J. H. P. Westbrook 26 Map of battle-field of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862 . . 56 Campaign of the early part of 1863 100 Map of vicinity of Nashville 124 Vignette and autograph of General Forrest . . . 129 Map of Pontotoc to Corinth 156 Map of Brice's crossroads battle-field, June, 1864 . . 240 Map of the Tennessee River in Alabama .... 314 Facsimile of letter to Gen. Stephen D. Lee, July, 1865 . 336 Portrait of General Forrest, enlarged from a tintype taken in New York city, 1868 373 ix LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. CHAPTER I. ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE Biography is the most instructive and beneficial of all the efforts of the pen. It molds national character and makes states. By it the greatness of individuals is founded. Plutarch's Lives are to this day read most carefully, nay, studied diligently, by the youth whose ambition seeks a career as soldier or statesman. In a republic it is a matter of special importance that the lives of citizens whose services in peace or war have been distinguished, should be unrolled before their countrymen in the minutest detail possible. Thus the aspiration of the humblest is kindled to emu late. Thus all are informed that great deeds and achievements are within the reach of those who will strive, and that no man's inauspicious conditions of fortune or birth are in the way of a citizen of a free republic who has the means and ability to achieve. Honest, truthful biography is like the flame of the Parsees' altar, ever inviting — as that did to the worship of Deity — the individual to competition in great ac tions, and the people to the contemplation of grand performances and gratified admiration for their heroes. Therefore the life of Lieutenant-General Nathan Bedford Forrest. The subject of this work and a twin sister, who was named Fanny, were born on the 2 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. 13th of July, 1821, near the site of a little place known afterward as Chapel Hill, on Duck River, in Bedford — now Marshall County by change of lines — in Middle Tennessee. They were the first children of humble but respected parents. Their father, William. Forrest, was a plain, hard-working blacksmith, of whom nothing especial is known beyond the fact that he was born in Sumner County, Tenn., about the year 1800, and grew up in Bedford County, where he married Miriam Beck, of a Scotch-Irish family, who at an early day had emigrated from South CaroUna. William, the father of Bedford, was the oldest son of Nathan For rest, who was born in Orange County, N. C, and was married in that State to Miss Baugh, of Irish birth or descent. Nathan was the second son of Sha drack Forrest, who lived in western Virginia and was of English parentage. Whether he was born in Vir ginia or England does not appear. It seems to be ac cepted as a fact that he was taken to the colony of North Carolina about the year 1730, and near the end of the century removed with his son Nathan and a numerous family of children and grandchildren to Sumner County, Tenn., and thence, two years later, to Bedford County, where he died at an advanced age. Nathan Forrest was the father of eight children — five sons and three daughters. The sons were mostly stock traders, but one was a tailor. They were all men of good character. None of the name can be found in that part of the country now. From the foregoing brief genealogy it will be seen that Nathan Bedford Forrest came of a blended strain of English, Scotch, and Irish blood, inheriting the qualities of courage, tenacity of purpose, clearness of judgment, and alertness of action which enabled him to ever make the best of trying occasions, and to be come one of the famous cavalry leaders of the world. ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE. 3 The Forrests were plain, honest people who were in the vanguard of fearless pioneers advancing from the older settlements along the eastern coasts to the then far West and Southwest. They followed the bridleways of civilization, and the trails of the Indian and the buffalo. It is related of this branch of the family that while they were industrious, temperate, frugal, and in everj' way honorable and respected by their neighbors, they were not overfortunate in acquiring wealth. The conditions, the hardships, and severe trials of life in a wild, unhealthy country were not easy to overcome. The necessities of life were barely attainable by sever est labor and the closest economy. The ordinary com forts of to-day would have seemed then as enervating and unnecessary luxuries. William Forrest and his wife, the father and mother of Bedford, had their share of toil and care, and like many other poor people, were blessed with a large family of children, consisting of eight sons and three daugh ters. In 1834 William Forrest, following the tide of emigration ever seeking cheaper lands, removed his family to Tippah County, north Mississippi, and settled near the site of a hamlet which became known as Salem, in the Oklahoma of that period — just vacated by the Chickasaw Indians, and being rapidly occupied by white settlers. The aborigines were slowly and reluctantly disappearing to find new homes west of the Mississippi River. But even after that the dominant, aggressive palefaces had to encounter many hard lines of soil and climate. The new settlers were largely of an adven turous disposition, coming from nearly all the older States. There were no universities to speak of in those days, and but few colleges or other schools worthy of the name. Only a favored and limited number could attend any of these even if so inclined. The average poor boy might pick up a little elementary learning in 4 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. such far-apart schools as there were, but unless he had some dream of ambition above the average, or un usual introspection, he was likely to remain in the fur rows of every-day life. He might make a good citi zen,, answer roll-call on muster-day, work the road, or serve on the jury when summoned, pay his taxes, go to church occasionally, attend corn-shuckings, house-raisings, log-rollings, and shooting-matches, and might be elected a justice of the peace or school trustee, or even go to the Legislature for one term ; yet in the course of time he would be numbered with his fathers, go to the country church or farm graveyard, and be quickly forgotten. Nathan B. Forrest grew up in a period when public schools in Tennessee and Mississippi were limited to sessions of not more than three months a year, and often the boys had to stop to sow wheat, haul wood, go to mill, and do other work. It is claimed that the future general went to school three months in Ten nessee and three in Mississippi. There were some rich people in those days in a comparative sense, but often these were land poor, and only kept up their credit and financial standing by close management and the in crease of slave property. The Forrests were not large landed proprietors or the owners of negroes in the early part of this century, but they were people of good repute, of strong arms and stout hearts, well fitted by nature and experience to lead the way in a new and wild country. No attempt is made here to go into any extensive genealogical research ; but it may be taken for granted almost as an axiom that whenever a man even of most obscure origin greatly distin guishes himself above his fellows he has good blood back of him, and is but a reproduction of some strong ancestors. Usually it can be traced, especially on his mother's side, without going very far back; and Nathan B. Forrest in early life. ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE. 5 so in this instance it appears that Nathan B. Forrest derived more of his aspirations and heroic mold of character from his Scotch-Irish mother than from the worthy blood of his English descent. But be that as it may, he had the will-power and self-assertive- ness to rise above the common environments of life and to leave a name on the enduring pages of Ameri can history. It was in 1837 that William Forrest, the hard working blacksmith, died in Tippah County, Miss. Bedford was then not quite sixteen years old. After that the aim of the boy — ^the oldest son — seems to have been to care for those dependent upon him and his mother, rather than to become acquainted with books and school-teachers. He worked heroically, and soon met with a fair measure of success. In a few years, however, malarial and typhoid fevers had reduced the family by the death of two sons and three sisters, in cluding Fanny, the twin born with him. Young Bed ford was prostrated himself with the prevalent sick ness of the country, and lay at death's door for many weeks. But, speaking from the human standpoint, his superior constitution and will-power triumphed, and at the age of twenty he was a sound, stalwart young man, well equipped for the arduous duties of life be fore him, so far as could then be seen. Many instances are related of his prowess and de cision of character in early youth. On one occasion in Mississippi his mother and her sister, Fanny Beck, returning home on horseback from a visit to a neigh bor who lived several miles away, were pursued by a panther. Mrs. Forrest carried a basket of young chickens which the wild beast scented. They ran their horses at full speed, and Miss Beck urged her sister to drop the chickens, but she held on. Coming to a creek near home, at dark, it was necessary to slacken 6 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. their speed. There the hungry animal sprang up behind Mrs. Forrest, clawing her frightfully upon the shoulder and neck, and also severely wounding the horse which, wild with the pain and fright, plunged and reared in the water until the panther fell into the stream. The horse died immediately. Mrs. For rest was badly hurt, and the clothes were torn from her back, but. Scotchlike in tenacity, she held to her chickens. The screams of the women brought out the whole Forrest household, and the loved mother was soon tenderly cared for by young Bedford and others. After that he took down his old flintlock gun, whistled to his hounds, and, in spite of the protests of his mother and all, started after the panther. Following the trail through briers, tangled vines, and dense woods until midnight, the dogs treed the wild beast in the depths of the forests. Waiting patiently until daylight, Bedford discovered the fierce enemy lying flat on a limb, lashing its tail and snarling at the dogs. Then, carefully priming his gun from an old-fashioned pow der-horn, he shot the animal through the heart, and it fell dead to the earth. By nine o'clock young For rest was back at home with the ears and scalp of the panther as a trophy. At another time, soon after the death of his father, a neighbor's ox committed a series of depredations on the Forrest farm, seriously injuring growing crops, and easily knocking down any fences that stood in the way. Finally the widow's son sent word to the owner that he would shoot the animal if found in his fields again. The man scornfully and angrily returned a message that whoever shot that ox would be shot himself. It was not long before young Forrest dis covered the same old forager feeding in his corn-field. Securing his rifle, he made haste to the scene and shot the thief dead. As he finished reloading, the ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE. f neighbor, in a towering rage, appeared with his rifle on the outside of the fence. Starting to climb over he heard the second crack of young Forrest's rifle. The bullet whistled by, cutting through his clothes; he fell to the ground on the outside as if shot, and never stopped running until he was safe at home, after which there was no other trouble between the Forrests and their blustering neighbor. Such an affair in the life of the boy gave promise of the man which was in his mature years abundantly fulfilled. Dr. Wyeth says: " Within recent years there was living at Chapel Hill, Tenn., an aged lady who was well acquainted with the family of William Forrest, and she remembers Bedford as a mere child and young boy. But the only peculiarity she could recall of him was that when at play he could make more noise, and when his mother was whipping him he could yell louder, than any child in the neighborhood." This too may have been pro phetic of the greater noise he was to make in the world. His good Scotch mother, who cooked her Sun day dinners on Saturday, no doubt had a strong Cal- vinistic tinge in her character, and believed in the laying on of hands, and her eldest son seems to have learned at an early day that the fiercer the rebel yell the sooner the battle would be over. But there really is not much to be learned of Forrest's boyhood days. He was over forty years old before he began to be famous early in the war, and the people who had known him in his days of poverty, hardships, and ob scurity were widely scattered. There were no chron icles in those days of little hatchet stories, or records of the precocious doings and sayings of the backwoods lad, however suggestive these may have been. His life was a hard one, and had never one gleam of ro mance or bright hope in it until he met, loved, and won the noble woman who became his good angel and con- 8 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. trolling spirit all the rest of his days. This event is mentioned in its proper order. General Forrest's sisters all died early in life. His brothers who grew up to manhood were as follows : John, next to him, who served in the Mexican War, and received a gunshot wound which paralyzed the lower half of his body so that he could only walk on crutches. He was living at the Worsham House, in Memphis, in 1862, when a Union officer with a detach ment of men visited his mother's place a few miles northeast of Memphis, and acted in a manner which aroused her indignation. All her other sons were in the army, so next day she came to the city and told John what had occurred. A few days later, as he was sitting in front of the Worsham House, the ofiicer came along, and John charged him with misconduct and threatened to break his crutches over his head. The officer began to abuse the whole Forrest family, when John arose and attempted to strike him, but his crutch was kicked from under him and he fell to the ground. As he lay there he pulled a Derringer and shot the ofiicer, wounding him so severely that he lay at death's door for several weeks, but finally recovered. John Forrest was hustled off to a gunboat in port and placed in irons and solitary confinement. General For rest sent in a demand for his release or humane treat ment until he could have a proper trial. The com manding general complied with this, and John was released upon his own recognizance, as there was cer tainly no danger of his running away, and he was afterward acquitted. He lived several years' after the war. William Forrest, the third son, a tall captain of scouts during the war, was a large, handsome man, a daring fighter, and was wounded several times. He was very quiet in demeanor, but quick in action, and ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE. 9 in personal difficulties, which he had only on behalf of some weaker friend, was a dangerous antagonist. He led the charge near Days Gap on Sand Mountain upon Streight's daring little army of rough-riders on the last day of April, 1863, and had his thigh-bone shattered by a Minie ball ; yet he lived to perform other gallant serv ice, and was in iMemphis several years after the war. He died in 1876. Aaron Forrest, the fourth of these brothers, served as lieutenant-colonel of a Mississippi cavalry regiment, and during the second campaign into West Tennessee and Kentucky, under his brother, died of pneumonia near Dresden, Tenn. Jesse Forrest, the next brother, was colonel of a regiment, and served with the courage characteristic of his family. He was severely wounded in the at tack on Athens, Ala., in 1864. After the war he en gaged in business successfully in Memphis, became a prominent citizen, and reared a large family. He has been dead several years. The sixth and last of the sons of William Forrest and Miriam Beck who became adults, born four months after his father's death, was Jeffrey. He was the pet and pride of his eldest brother, and was given by him every advantage of education up to the beginning of the war. In that respect Jeffrey was the most cul tured member of the family, and is said to have been very popular as well as an accomplished gentleman. He had his full share of military genius, became colonel of a cavalry regiment, and while commanding a brigade in his brother's division was shot through the neck and instantly killed at the battle on the prairie near Oko- lona, Miss., in 1863. He had been commissioned a brigadier-general, but the commission did not reach him before his death. Six years after the death of William Forrest his 10 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. widow was married to Mr. Joseph Luxton, and t6 them three sons and a daughter were born. Two of the boys, young as they were, went into the Confeder ate army, making seven of her sons in the service. The youngest Luxton, born in 1848, remained at home some time after the death of his father, though he passed through the lines late in the war. Mrs. Forrest- Luxton has been incorrectly described as a six-footer of herculean frame, high cheek-bones, and of rough, muscular form and manners. The writer remembers to have seen her and formed quite a different impres sion. He has also talked with Mr. J. M. Coleman, who resides (1902) near Memphis, and was her neighbor while she lived in Shelby County, and with others who knew her as well as Mrs. Luxton. They agree that she was about five feet ten inches in height, and weighed one hundred and eighty pounds. She had dark hair, and, like her oldest son, had bluish-gray eyes, was positive in character, and as a widow was head of her family, but kind-hearted and very pacific and gentle in expression unless aroused to assert herself. She was a strong character, a loved wife and loving mother, and worthy of the race of heroes whom she bore. Soon after the war she removed with her Aounger children to Texas, where one of her sons, Matthew Luxton, became sheriff of Uvalde County. She died in 1868, and was buried in Navasota. Taking up the thread of Nathan B. Forrest's ante bellum life, several interesting facts may be mentioned. After three or four years' hard work on the farm with the assistance of his younger brothers, the family was placed in fairly comfortable circumstances. He often told in later years how he would plow all day and then sit up late at night making buckskin leggings, shoes, and coonskin caps for himself and brothers, for in those days everything the people wore was home- " :»'*'- S' south of the Tallahatchie, was or dered to guard the crossings of that river ; McCulloch was stationed at Panola ; Bell at Belmont ; Richardson at \\'yatt and Toby-Tubby Ferry, and McGuirk at Abbeville. On the evening of the nth. Captain Thomas Henderson, chief of scouts, reported the ad vance of a large Federal force toward Holly Springs by the Germantown and Byhalia roads. General Chalmers was ordered to concentrate at Oxford, which was ac complished after heavy skirmishing at Wyatt and Abbeville. But the initial movements of General Sooy Smith were mere feints of General McMillin's infantry brigade temporarily attached to the com mand.* McMillin had marched to Hernando, directly south of Memphis, on the 7th, then on the 9th moved on Senatobia, and after that had daily skirmishes with Forrest's forces on outpost duty until the 13th, when he reached \\'yatt on the Tallahatchie. General Smith, after he left ColHerville on the nth, moved upon that point as if intending to force a crossing there, and, when at a convenient distance, suddenly turned his cavalry column toward New Albany, crossed there on the i6th and 17th, and headed directly for the rich prairie region around Okolona on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. General Chalmers was ordered to keep on the right flank of the enemy, and on the afternoon of the 14th left Oxford for Houston, forty-five miles dis tant. Colonel Jeffrey Forrest was ordered to march the Fourth Brigade from Grenada to West Point on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and establish a line of * General William Sooy Smith's report. Serial 57, vol. xxxii, part i, p. 256, Rebellion Records. 178 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. communication by couriers with General Chalmers at Houston. General Forrest, with Bell's brigade, his artillery and escort, left Oxford on the 14th for Grenada, and remaining there only a short time, pushed on rapidly to Starkville, twenty-five miles west of Columbus; thence on the i8th he communicated with General Chalmers, who joined him the next day. Colonel Jeffrey Forrest engaged the Federal column on the road to Aberdeen, a few miles north of Prairie Station, and was pushed back toward West Point on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad in a series of light skirmishes. This was a rainy season; all the streams were out of their banks, and the commands on both sides found it difficult to march rapidly across the country. Colonel Barteau, in command of Bell's brigade, the general being sick, was detached on the morning of the 20th to cross the Tombigbee at Columbus, and repel any at tempts the Federals might make to cross at Aberdeen and move down on the east bank. He found that the Federals were massed as far southward as West Point, and took a position at Waverly, whence he might recross and strike the enemy in the flank. General Forrest left Starkville at daybreak on the 20th with McCulloch's brigade and six hundred of Richardson's commanded by Colonel Neely, his artil lery, staff, and escort, and marched as rapidly as pos sible to the support of Colonel Jeffrey Forrest, who was still skirmishing and falling back. At 2 p. m. he reached the Sook-a-Toncha, a branch of the Oka- tibbee, which could only be crossed by a bridge about thirty yards in length, four miles west of West Point. The stream was deep and sluggish and the bridge was approached over a long, narrow, and weak causeway. Forrest, however, pushed through and beyond West Point, and found Jeffrey Forrest engaged GENERAL WILLIAM SOOY SMITH'S DEFEAT. 1 79 with the Federals, the latter being in force and well in line of battle on the prairie. Forrest was hoping for General S. D. Lee to arrive, and reluctantly fell back behind the creek again. He was not ready to fight, and hoped to draw the eneni}- into a pocket formed by the confluence of the Tombigbee, a navigable river, and several smaller streams. This gave the Federals opportunity to burn much more property, which in cluded cotton-gins, cotton bales, granaries, stacks of com and fodder, and other propert}-. The Federal commander had given orders to respect private property and claimed afterward that this was done. But in the rush of such a movement in a region of Confederate sympathizers and facing hostile forces bf unknown strength, there was little time for dis crimination, and when the torch was once applied the flames swept away public and private property alike. General Forrest placed his forces back of the bridge mentioned, and led McCulloch's brigade four miles up the creek, where a small party of Federals had crossed and it was supposed a flank movement was being made. A few of the Union troops were killed, and twenty- three captured. Next morning, the 21st, the bridge was again crossed and a heavy skirmish opened, which lasted until noon, when the Federals fell back precipitately without apparent cause. Forrest with his escort and one hundred of Faulkner's Kentuckians dashed to the front, and found the enemy in full re treat. Ordering Forrest's and McCulloch's brigades forward, and leaving word for General Chalmers to guard the crossings and bridges up the .stream to pre vent any possible flank moveuient, he continued the pursuit, and was soon sharply engaged. Five miles north of West Point the Federals made a strong stand at the mouth of a lane, and charged the Confederate advance. Forrest led a successful counter- l8o LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. charge, and in close quarters here killed a Federal trooper with his own hand. The main line of the Fed erals was in a heavy wood near by, and supposed to be four thousand strong. Forrest dismounted about one thousand of his men and moved them forward as infantry. The Federals fought vigorously but con tinued to fall back until they reached a strong position behind a picket fence half a mile long ; a regiment was thrown around to make a flank movement on the right, a charge was made in front, and after stubborn re sistance the Federals again withdrew. Their column was encumbered in various ways, including a train of loose and pack animals and the care of about three thousand negroes who, mounted on mules, had flocked from the plantations to the Union standard. The ground was soaked with water, and the roads cut all to pieces by the artillery, wagons, and horses. For rest's men and horses were jaded and hungry, but were in lighter marching order than General Smith's com mand, and could move wit'n greater celerity. There was a little more fighting in the afternoon, and Forrest's losses that day were considerable. Bell's brigade, com manded by Colonel Barteau, had crossed back to the west bank of the Tombigbee, near Waverly, and kept between the Federal column and the river as far as Egypt Station, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and there rested for the night. At four o'clock on the morning of the 22d, ]\IcCul- loch's and Jeffrey Forrest's brigades were once more moving toward Okolona, fourteen miles distant. Colo nel Forrest was directed to take a left-hand road when within nine miles of Okolona, and throw his brigade over on the Pontotoc road and cut off retreat in that direction if possible. The general with his staff and escort rode directly to the front. Barteau, as men tioned, had kept well to the Federal right the day be- GENERAL WILLIAM SOOY SMITH'S DEFEAT. l8l fore, but when morning dawned he found himself in an isolated and perilous position. The Federals on reaching Okolona prepared to close in on him. Bar teau deplo}ed his skirmishers and brigade to advantage and moved up as if to make an attack. While he was thus maneuvering, and General Grierson was recon noitering on his flanks to ascertain the strength of the brigade and what might be back of it. General Forrest came up with his small force and joined Barteau in a charge on a w^eak place in Grierson's lines. McCul loch's brigade was seen coming up from the south, and the Federals resumed their retreat in great dis order on the Pontotoc road. The losses on both sides in this brief affair were light compared with the num bers engaged. The pursuit was kept up with great energy, and a number of fugitives who fell behind were killed or captured, and five pieces of artillery and their caissons were abandoned with their horses dead or helpless in the ditches. Speaking of this retreat from Okolona, Lieutenant I. W. Curtis, of the First Illinois Light Artillery, says in his report : " We had not proceeded very far from Okolona 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 un successful attempts to form my battery, I gave it up and marched as best I could until I received an order for me to try and 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 ex hausted, I came to another ditch some six feet deep. I managed to get one gun over safely by the men dis mounting and taking it over by hand, and one other. l82 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. which by the time we got it over was broken, so that we had to leave it. I ordered them to cut the horses loose, to cut the gearing, and to go ahead with the led horses."* The Federals made no halt until they reached a point about five miles west of Okolona. Here Colonel Waring's brigade was ordered to make a stand in con junction with artillery, and hold his ground until the demoralized cavalry could pass through, and, if pos sible, be reorganized in the rear. Colonel Waring said : " I formed my brigade in line with skirmishers far out on each flank, and remained until the Third Bri gade had passed through portions of it in such con fusion as to endanger the morale of my command." f Another stand was made about a mile distant and held for a short time by four regiments, but only to be forced back. General Smith was fully aware of the gravity of his environments, and made a determined stand in a position of great natural strength at a place known as " Iveys Hill," near Prairie Mound, seven miles out from Okolona. This was beyond the point where the road passes from the prairie to the hill country, and on a ridge easily defended. Here the general massed his artillery and threw up temporary breastworks of rails and logs between and on the flanks of the various buildings usually found on a large plantation. This position was not easily approached from the east except by a long, narrow road, ^^'hen General Forrest came up he ordered Jeffrey Forrest's brigade to form on the right of the road in columns of fours, and McCulloch's brigade to form in like man ner on the left; both to change formation into Hne when within three hundred }'ards of the position to be * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, pp. 301, 302. f Ibid., p. 268. GENERAL WILLIAM SOOY SMITH'S DEFEAT. 1 83 assaulted, and this was done with the precision of veterans. Both brigades did not number twelve hun dred men. Colonel Forrest, deploying Duff's Missis- sippians and his own regiment of Tennesseeans and Alabamians under Lieutenant-Colonel Wisdom, moved to the onset at equal pace with McCulloch's brigade and carried the first line, but back of that was another in an even better position. Again the charge sounded, and the Confederate lines advanced under a galling fire, and many fell killed or mortally wounded. Here the intrepid young Colonel Jeffrey Forrest, in front of his command, was shot through the neck within fifty yards of the Federal lines, and died almost instantly. His men and others faltered as they saw their leader fall. General Forrest, hearing of his great loss, rushed to the spot, and, springing from his horse, fell down on his knees by the side of his dead young brother, his favorite, his Benjamin, calling him by name in the most endearing and pathetic tones. But the spirit had fled, and no answer came. The Con federates near by ceased firing and stood back in awe and sorrow, and the Federals, realizing that something unusual had happened, withheld their volleys for a moment. Tears came to the eyes of grimy soldiers, and stifled sobs of sympathy welled up in their throats. Yet it was soon over. Kissing his dead brother pas sionately, the strong man was himself again. Rising to his feet, he requested his adjutant-general, Major Strange, to care for the body, mounted his horse, and looking around at his staff and escort, he called upon his bugler, in a loud, strong voice, to sound the charge. In the last engagement Lieutenant-Colonel James A. Barksdale, of the Fifth Mississippi Cavalry, fell mortally wounded, a loss keenly felt by his regiment and the command at large. Colonel McCulloch was severely wounded in the hand, but did not at once re- 13 1 84 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. linquish his place at the front. Bell's brigade came up, and Colonel Duckworth assumed command of Jeffrey Forrest's brigade. Led by General Forrest the entire command made an impetuous charge, before which the Federal lines gave way. The general acted so rashly that members of his staff feared he had given up to his emotions at the loss of his brother, and was thus rushing forward to throw his Hfe away. The troops, however, went into the charge in flank and in front with their wonted spirit, and soon found that General Smith was con tinuing his retreat. Forrest and his escort, about sixty in number, still kept in the lead, and suddenly dashed into the rear-guard of about five hundred men, thrown across the road, and were at once surrounded and en gaged in a bloody hand-to-hand fight. In a few mo ments McCulloch's small brigade came upon the scene, but the men hesitated about going into such a trap. The colonel had been wounded about the time Jeffrey Forrest fell. Raising his wounded, dripping hand above his head, he called upon the Missourians to follow him, and they were soon mingling in the inclcc, and succeeded in rescuing their general and his few followers. It was said that General Forrest killed or disabled three of his assailants in this short but furious fight, one of them being in the act of shooting Lieu tenant Thomas D. Tate, who was in command of the escort. The Federal rear-guard moved on about a mile, and made another stand. Approaching this position. General Forrest and his chief surgeon, J. B. Cowan, drew a heavy fire from small arms and artillery, and the general's horse fell dead. Forrest declined to take Doctor Cowan's horse, but called up a member of his escort, took his horse, and told the man he could go to the rear. The main command came up, and a few GENERAL WILLIAM SOOY SMITH'S DEFEAT. IS5 moments later a sharp fight took place, in which the general lost the second horse, .\fter that he sent back for his famous war-horse, " King PhiHp," and con tinued to lead his men until dark.* Late in the day the Federals made a final stand, formed into line of battle, and charged down on the Confederates in fine style. Forrest was at the front with about three hundred men, and was in great peril. Falling back behind a deep gully, he repelled two charges, but the third broke through his lines. The Confederates were nearly out of ammunition for their guns, and resorted to the use of their revolvers. In the midst of a hand-to-hand fight, Lieutenant-Colonel jMcCulloch came up in com mand of McCulloch's brigade, the colonel having been wounded a second time. This last and most gallant charge was met and driven back. A number of Fed erals were killed, including an officer said to be an aide-de-camp to General Grierson, whose conspicuous braver}- so excited the admiration of his foes that Gen eral Forrest directed special attention to be paid to his body. This was the end of the real fighting of that eventful day and brief campaign. General Smith made haste to get back across the Tallahatchie River. By 8 p. M. Forrest's men were well closed up, and about that time General Gholson reached the field with a brigade of seven hundred Mississippi State troops. * This remarkable horse, a superb iron-gray, was then twelve years old, and had seen hard service within the Confederate lines at the siege of Vicksburg. Coming out very thin he was well cared for, and afterward presented to General Forrest by the citizens of Columbus, Miss. When in battle he seemed to catch the spirit of his master, would lay back his ears, rush at the enemy, and snap his teeth with a violent show of temper. He was wounded that day near Iveys Farm, but survived the war and was tenderly cared for as long as he lived. All the men of Forrest's command knew "King Philip" as well as they knew the general. 1 86 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. On the morning of the 3d he was ordered to take up the pursuit, which, of course, he could not do very effectively; but his men were fresh, and kept on after the fleeing column as far north as the Tallahatchie, which was crossed by General Smith on the 23d, at New Albany, twenty-five miles east of Oxford, and he moved back to Memphis without further serious molestation. General Gholson picked up about fifty stragglers and some abandoned property on the road. Independent scouts, who happened to be in the neigh borhood, fired several times on General Smith's column, south of the Tallahatchie, creating the impression that Forrest was making flank movements, and thus has tening the retreat across the river. Colonel Waring, in his account of the affair, says: " The retreat to Memphis was a very disheartening and almost panic-stricken flight, in the greatest dis order and confusion, and through a most difficult coun try. The First Brigade reached its camping ground flve days after the engagement, \yith the loss of all its heart and spirit, and nearly fifteen hundred fine cavalry horses. The expedition filled every man connected with it with burning shame, and it gave Forrest the most glorious achievement of his career." The losses on both sides in the engagements of the 20th, 2ist, and 22d were : Confederates, twenty-seven killed, ninety-seven wounded, and twenty missing; aggregate, one hundred and forty-four. Federal offi cers killed, two ; men, fifty-two ; officers wounded, six teen ; men, one hundred and sixty-three ; officers cap tured and missing, two ; men, one hundred and fifty- three ; aggregate, three hundred and eighty-eight.* Major-General Lee, with Major-General W. H. Jackson's division, had arrived at General Chalmers's * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, pp. 194-353. GENERAL WILLIAM SOOY SMITH'S DEFEAT. 187 headquarters, behind the Sook-a-Toncha, on the morn ing of the 22d, and becoming satisfied that the move ment was baffled, fell back to Starkville. General For rest, after giving orders for details, to be made to press wagons and remove the wounded on both sides to hospitals in Okolona, left for Starkville with his staff and escort, reaching there on the 24th. On the 26th he was joined there by his entire force, including General Chalmers's division, and proceeded to Colum bus to go into camp, and was occupied there some time reorganizing his command. General Sherman returned from Meridian to Vicks burg without hearing of General Smith, and excori ated him in his reports, as well as in his Memoirs, for not leaving Memphis and reaching Meridian on time, although speaking of him as an accompHshed gentle man and skilful engineer. Major-General Forrest, in a report to Lieutenant-General Polk, dated Stark ville, Miss., February 26, 1864, says in part: I am under many obligations for the ordnance stores and train sent to Gainesville. Am also gratified at being able to say that your wishes in regard to Generals Smith and Grierson are realized; at least to the extent of their defeat and utter rout. We met them on Sunday morning last (21st) at Ellis's bridge on Sook-a-Toncha Creek, three miles south of West Point, in front of which Colonel For rest's brigade was posted to prevent the enemy from cross ing. After a brisk engagement of 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 Faulk ner's Kentucky regiment and found the enemy had begun a rapid and systematic retreat, and being unwilling they should leave this section without a fight, ordered the ad vance of my columns. Will forward a detailed official report. It is sufficient for me to say here that with twen- l88 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. ty-five hundred men, the enemy, numbering from, six thousand to seven thousand 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 artillery, one hundred killed, over one hundred prisoners, and wounded estimated at three hundred or over. The seriously wounded — about fifty in number — fell into our hands. They took in their retreat every carriage, buggy, cart, and wagon along the road to remove their killed and wounded ofKcers, and all their slightly wounded, according to reports of citizens, were moved in front with their pack- train. Among the killed are my brother. Colonel Jeffrey Forrest, commanding brigade; Lieutenant-Colonel Barks- dale, commanding Colonel George's regiment, and several other officers, names not remembered. 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 discipline and experience, behaved hand somely, 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 dispar ity in numbers, discipline, and drill, I consider it one of the most complete victories that has occurred during the war. After the enemy succeeded in reaching the hills between Okolona and Pontotoc their resistance was obsti nate, compelling me to frequently dismount my advance to drive them from favorable positions. . . . About three hun dred men of the Second Tennessee Cavalry, under Colo nel Barteau, and the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, under Colonel Duckworth, received the repeated charges of seven regiments in the open ground, finally driving them from the field, capturing three stands of colors and another piece of their artillery. A 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 th.it we kept so close to them that the enemy overshot our men. Owing to the broken-down and GENERAL WILLIAM SOOY SMITHS DEFEAT. 189 exhausted condition of our men and horses, and being al most out of ammunition, I was compelled to stop pursuit. Major-General Gholson arrived during Monday night (22d), and his command being comparatively fresh, con tinues the pursuit, and when last heard from was still driving the enemy, capturing horses and prisoners. The enemy had crossed the Tallahatchie River on the night of the 23d (Tuesday), burning the bridge behind them at Xew Albany, and retreating rapidly toward Memphis, with Gholson still in pursuit. Respectfully, etc., N. B. Forrest, Major-General. To Lieutenant-General Polk.* In the course of a more elaborate report made at Columbus, :Miss., March 8, 1864, General Forrest says : " The killed and wounded of the enemy who fell into our hands amount to over one hundred. We cap tured six pieces of artillery, three stands of colors, and one hundred and sixty-two prisoners. By pressing every horse, wagon, buggy, and carriage along the road, they were enabled to take off all their wounded, except those severely or mortally wounded ; and it is a low estimate to place their loss in killed, wounded, and missing at eight hundred. My force in the fight did not exceed twenty-five hundred men, while that of the enemy was twenty-seven regiments of cavalry and mounted infantry, estimated at seven thousand." He regretted the loss of some gallant officers, in cluding his brother. Colonel J. E. Forrest, an officer who, for sobriety, ability, prudence, and bravery had no superior of his age, being only twenty-four years old. Special mention was made of different com mands, and of his staff-officers, for endurance and courage. General Polk issued special orders dated Demopolis, Ala., March 3d, in which he congratulated » Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, pp. 350, 351. igO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. the officers and men of Major-General Lee and Major- General Forrest " upon the brilliant and successful campaign just closed," and Forrest issued a stirring address to the men, dated at Columbus, March nth. Under date of Memphis, February 28, 1864, Brig adier-General William Sooy Smith, chief of cavalry, reported to General Grant at Nashville, briefly as fol lows : " I penetrated to West Point, reaching that place on Sunday, the 21st inst. Burned two million bushels of corn and two thousand bales of Confederate cotton, brought out about three thousand horses and mules. and fifteen hundred negroes. Could not force my way through to Sherman. ... I fought the rebels at four points severely, and skirmished with them as we retired, for sixty miles. We had the best of them at all points except at Okolona, where our loss was very severe, including a battery of small howitzers, which we drove into a ditch, and so disabled that we could not get it along. This whole trouble resulted from the bad conduct of a portion of McCrilli's brigade. I will write fully, and start back to Nashville about day after to-morrow." General Smith made a more specific and elaborate report, dated Nashville, March 4, 1864. which contains facts not previously stated by him. He said in part : On December 28, 1863, I started from this city with the Second, Third, and Fourth Tennessee Cavalrv regi ments. Third and Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, and Twenty- eighth Mounted Infantry. The object of these move ments was to clear the country of the bands of guerrillas that infested it, and to watch any attempt that Forrest, who was then at Jackson, Tenn., might make to throw his force, or any portion of it, over into Middle Ten nessee or Kentucky. . . . Upon reaching the Tennessee River, the command, then consisting of the Second, Third, and Fourth Tennessee Cavalry. Fifth Kentucky Cavalry, GENERAL WILLIAM SOOY SMITH'S DEFEAT. I9I Fourth United States Cavalry, and Seventy-second Indi ana Mounted Infantry, was thrown across the river and moved toward Corinth, which point we reached on the 8th of January. Forrest had moved southward into Mississippi before my command reached the Tennessee River — urged to this step by the movement of the troops of the Sixteenth Army-corps upon him. Orders had been issued to abandon the railroad from Memphis to Corinth, and I moved my command to Col lierville (twenty-five miles east of Memphis) to await the arrival of Waring's brigade, which only reached Collier ville on Monday, the Sth of February. ... By great effort the whole command was prepared for the movement and put in motion on the nth of February. Forrest had taken position behind the Tallahatchie River, determined to re sist our crossing. I threw McMillin's brigade of infan try, temporarily assigned to my command, rapidly toward Panola from ^lemphis on the 8th of February, and on the nth ordered it to move toward Wyatt, toward which point I directed the march of my whole cavalry force, until the impression was made that I intended forcing a crossing at that point, which I attacked with the brigade of infantry, and attracted the attention and forces of the enemy there while I threw my whole cavalry force around by way of Xew Albany, where I crossed the Tallahatchie without firing a shot, although delayed a day at the crossing of Tippah Creek, swollen by a freshet. We then moved rap idly on Pontotoc and Houston. Within ten miles of Hous ton we saw an outpost of State troops. These stampeded, leaving a portion of their arms. We forced our way over a corduroy road, strongly guarded — one mile long — to the crossing of the Houlka Swamp, three miles north of Houston. The roads crossing this road were held by the enemy in force. Our advance made an attack on the force on the road leading to Houston while the main body was moved rapidly eastward to Okolona, where a number of rebel officers and men on furlough were captured. A regiment was thrown forward by forced march to en deavor to seize ferry-boats on the Tombigbee, but none 192 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. were found. The next morning one brigade was moved to the support of the regiment and to threaten Columbus, while two brigades moved down the railroad toward West Point, throwing out strong detachments to make feints and watch the crossing of the Sook-a-Toncha on our right and destroy the roads as they went, together with the vast amount of corn that was collected in cribs near the railroad. They also destroyed all the Confederate cotton that was found. The brigade that went to Aberdeen did the same, and also destroyed a very extensive tannery, together with about two thousand hides. ... I concen trated my command at Prairie Station — fifteen miles north of West Point — and moved on that place on the 20th of February. One mile north of the town we drove in a rebel brigade after a short, sharp fight. The whole com mand arrived near West Point at about 3 p. m., and care ful reconnaissances were made of the Sook-a-Toncha Swamp on our right, the Okatibbee on our front, and the Tombigbee on our left. They were all found strongly held by the enemy, present in four brigades and to the number of about six or seven thousand, according to the best information that could be obtained. Exaggerated reports of Forrest's strength reached me constantly, and it was reported that Lee was about to re- enforce him with a portion, or the whole of his command. Columbus had been evacuated, 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 three thousand able-bodied negroes had taken up with us, mounted on as many horses and mules brought with them. We had also seven hundred pack-mules. All these encum brances to be strongly guarded against the flank attacks constantly threatened. This absorbed about three thou sand of my available force. There remained a little less than five thousand 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 GENERAL WILLIAM SOOY SMITH'S DEFEAT. 193 and Austrian rifles, was better prepared than our force, armed mainly widi 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. Any reverse to my command would have been fatal. I was ten days late with my movement, owing to the delay of W'aring's brigade in arriving from Columbus, and had every reason to believe that General Sherman, having accomplished the purpose of his expedi tion, had returned to Vicksburg. Under the circum stances I determined not to move my encumbered com mand into the trap set for me by the rebels. We had de stroyed two million bushels of corn, two thousand bales of Confederate cotton, and thirty miles of railroad. We had captured about two hundred prisoners and three thousand 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 po sitions and fight with the advantages in our favor. In this I succeeded perfectly, disposing my forces behind every crest of a hill and in every skirt of timber that fur nished us cover, inflicting heavy losses upon them at every attack, while our losses were uniformly light, until we reached Okolona, where, after the Fourth Regulars had driven one entire rebel brigade out of the town three times, a portion of McCrilli'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 Per kins's battery 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 abandon it after spiking the guns, chopping the carriages to pieces, and destroying the ammunition. Organized forces were immediately thrown to the rear and the enemy handsomely repulsed. Skirmishing continued about ten miles, when we reached 194 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. a fine position at Iveys Farm. Here I deployed a line of dismounted men, consisting of four regiments. A battery was placed near the road where it could enfilade the col umn as it advanced. Just to the right of the battery the Fourth Missouri Cavalry (and six companies of the Sev enth Indiana Cavalry) were formed and mounted for a saber charge, and the Third Tennessee Cavalry (mounted) was sent to the extreme right with orders to charge in flank when the troops made the direct charge in front. While these dispositions were being made the enemy pressed our rear, that was well posted, very heavily, and were sorely handled. The rear-guard was at last called off rapidly and the rebel column let into the space pre pared for them, when the battery opened upon them in very gallant style, and the dismounted troops poured volley after volley into them. They pressed their attack with great determination, but at last fell back. Just as they began to retire they were charged very successfully by the Fourth Missouri and Seventh Indiana in front and by the Third Tennessee in flank. This completely routed them, and they were driven from the field with heavy loss. It was reported that Colonel Forrest, brother to the gen eral, commander of a brigade, and Colonel Barksdale fell, and McCulloch, another commander of a brigade, and Colonel Barteau were seriously wounded. Strong detach ments were thrown out upon our flanks at every vulnerable point, and every attempt to cut our column by a flank attack was met and thwarted. Our march was so rapid that the enemy could not 'outstrip and intercept us, which they constantly endeavored to do. No heavy fighting oc curred after we passed the Ivey Farm, although skirmish ing continued as far as Pontotoc. 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. Returning I drew the enemy after mc and inflicted heavy losses upon them, and saved my command with all our captured stock and prisoners and rescued negroes with very trifling losses GENERAL WILLIA.M SOOY SMITH'S DEFEAT. I95 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. . . . Information since obtained fully justifies the decision to retire before Forrest's force from West Point. General Sherman's expeditionary force had withdrawn from Merid ian before my arrival at West Point on a line that could not have been known to me. Forrest's force is ascertained to have been rather above than below my estimate. Chal mers was moving with two brigades to my rear, while Lee, with from three thousand to four thousand, was ordered up to join Forrest in my front. . . . The encumbrances which already overburdened me would have increased, and it was impossible to shake them off, and, involved in an exceeding ly intricate and obstructed country, I would have been com pelled to contend with a force numerically largely supe rior to my own ; and looking back upon the movement I wonld in no way have been justifiable in moving at the time appointed without the whole force which I was or dered to take. Had I moved with the Second and Third Brigades only I would have had less than five thousand men instead of seven thousand, would have had the odds largely against me from the moment I dropped the in fantry brigade and crossed the Tallahatchie River, and, meeting with disaster, would have been subjected to se vere censure. Tbe brigade moved from Columbus under orders not my own, and for its delay I am in no wise re sponsible. 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 mortification of a supposed failure, when we bear with us the consciousness of success and duty well performed. A full list of prisoners captured— about two hundred— is in course of preparation, and will be forwarded, etc.* General Sherman, in forwarding this instructive and valuable report from Nashville to the adjutant- general at Washington on the 9th of April, 1864, * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, pp. 254, 260. 196 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. merely indorsed it as follows : " I have heretofore re ported in this case, and could now only add that Gen eral Smith should have moved on time at any and every risk. His instructions (of January 27th) are as specific as could possibly have been made before the occurrence of the events." Sherman never forgave Smith for his defeat. In his Memoirs, he says : " General Smith never regained my confidence, though I still regard him as a most accomplished gentleman and a skilful 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 said : " General Sooy Smith was ordered to move about the xst of February against Forrest, who was known to be south east of Memphis with four thousand cavalry, com posed of well-drilled, disciplined men, who, under so able a leader, were very effective. Smith's command was nearly double that of Forrest, but not equal man to man, for the lack of experience, such as Forrest's men had. The fact is, that troops that have fought a few battles and won, and followed up their victories, im prove upon what they were before to an extent that can hardly be counted by percentage. The difference in result is often decisive victory instead of inglorious defeat. This same difference is often due to the way troops are officered, and for the particular kind of war fare which Forrest carried on the army could present no more effective officer than he was. Sherman had spent two weeks at Meridian waiting to hear from Sooy Smith, who had met Forrest, and, he hoped, had gained a decisive victory because of superiority of numbers. Hearing nothing, he started on his return trip to Vicksburg. There he learned that Smith did meet For rest, but the result was decidedly in Forrest's favor." (Personal Memoirs U. S. Grant, vol. n, page no.) CHAPTER XII. THIRD RAID INTO WEST TENNESSEE. Forrest remained at Columbus, Miss., no longer than was necessary to rest and equip his command. The men, flushed with success, were eager to follow him into any field. He was soon joined by General Buford, with three small regiments of Kentuckians transferred from the infantry and reduced by hard campaigns, exposure, and sickness to about seven hun dred effective men, and only about a third of whom were mounted. Forrest's plan now was to make an other move into West Tennessee, and extend it as far as Columbus and Paducah, Ky., give the men an opportunity to supply themselves with clothing and horses, and send out supplies. The unmounted Ken tuckians gladly agreed to march back toward their homes. Four small brigades were organized. The First, commanded by Colonel J. J. Neely; the Second, by Colonel Robert AlcCuUoch ; the Third, by Colonel A. P. Thompson, and the Fourth Brigade by General T. H. Bell. General Chalmers was assigned to the com mand of the First Division, composed of First and Sec ond Brigades, in orders issued on the 7th of March. Meantime General Richardson had been sent to Grena da, and thence southward seventy-five miles, to cooper ate with General Ross in an attack upon Yazoo City, which was a failure, although the Federals retreated after having accomplished their purpose of drawing 197 198 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. off a part of Forrest's command. Richardson returned to Grenada, was relieved from duty on the 12th, and his brigade joined the First Division, near Panola, where it had arrived by widely divergent roads two days previously. The Federal commanders well knew that Forrest would soon aim another blow at some point upon or within their lines, and in the despatches passing at that period, expressed a variety of opinions as to where he would next appear. But he was a man of reticence, who kept his own counsels well, and only disclosed his plans to a chosen few until the hour came to mount. The entire command was set in motion on the 15th of March. Buford's division, composed of Thompson's and Bell's brigades, the Seventh Tennessee, and McDonald's battalion marched in the direction of Cor inth, but when near there deflected to the left, and marched to Jackson. Faulkner's regiment, on the left, crossed the now abandoned railroad, and marched by way of Bolivar to Denmark. General Forrest reached Jackson, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, on the 20th, and on the 22d he moved on Trenton, with his escort and the Seventh Tennessee and Twelfth Ken tucky regiments. Colonel Wilson, with five companies of the Sixteenth Tennessee, was.left at Jackson to hold the place, and care for the disabled and dismounted men who could not accompany the expedition. Colonel Duckworth was ordered on the 23d to move with the Seventh Tennessee, Faulkner's regiment, and McDonald's battalion, and capture Union City. Reaching there before daylight the next morning he found the place well fortified, and occupied by a force capable of prolonged resistance. Colonel Hawkins, of the Second Tennessee Federal Cavalry, who had been captured by Forrest in 1862, was in command. Duck worth closed in on the place as soon as it was light THIRD RAID INTO WEST TENNESSEE. I99 enough, and skirmished sharply until ten o'clock, losing several men in killed and wounded. But, having no artillery, he realized that he could not storm the place without much loss of life. Drawing off his men, he resorted to one of Forrest's favorite methods of " pre venting the further effusion of blood." He wrote a peremptorj' demand in the name of Forrest for the surrender of the garrison, stating that he had a large force, and would not be responsible for the conse quences if obliged to take the stockade by assault. This Avas sent in by Captain Henry Livingstone, Adjutant ^^'ill Pope, of the Seventh Tennessee, and Lieutenant William McDonnell, of Henderson's scouts. Hawkins refused to surrender, but wanted to see Forrest in person. He was allowed to come out of his lines, but was met by Colonel Duckworth, who told him sharply that the general would not confer with any one below his own rank, and eloquently advised him to surrender while he could, and enlarged upon the dire calamities that would befall the garrison if a capitula tion \vas not agreed upon in five minutes. Meantime some of Duckworth's men mounted a black log on the forewheels of a common wagon, drawn by two mules, with an old box similarly paraded on other wheels in imitation of a caisson, and drove around in the bushes as if looking for a good position for artillery. This device was not without its influence. Hawkins weak ened, and surrendered at eleven o'clock, when help was near at hand. General Brayman, with two thousand men, a battery, and mounted scouts on a train, was hurrying with all possible speed to the relief of this outpost, but was stopped at a burned bridge only six miles away, and there, hearing of the surrender, he returned to Columbus and thence to Cairo. In his report, he says : " I heard with great pain and surprise that Colonel 14 20O LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Hawkins had surrendered at n a. m., and had, with his force, been removed, and his fortifications destroyed. The force of the enemy does not appear more than one- fourth the number reported (seven thousand), and without artillery. The number of men surrendered is probably five hundred, some seventy-five having es caped. All were armed and equipped; .about three hundred mounted. A few mules, three wagons, and an inconsiderable amount of public property were lost and destroyed. I learn that Colonel Hawkins's com mand had been recently paid for over a year's service, and that the aggregate of individual loss on the part of the officers and soldiers will reach some $60,000." Colonel Duckworth lost no time in removing such useful supplies as were found, burned what remained, and sent the prisoners southward. McDonald's battal ion was moved on the road toward Memphis, and Duckworth started back to join the main command. Forrest had advanced rapidly with his escort and a portion of Buford's division toward Paducah, and on nearing that point, threw forward detachments on the various approaches, and about 1.30 p. m., of the 2Sth, surprised and captured the Federal outpost, about fifty men, at " Eden " Hill. He then pressed for ward rapidly, and at about 2 p. m. had driven in or cap tured all the pickets. The command was immediately thrown into position. General Buford, with part of the Kentucky brigade, consisting of the Third Kentucky, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. C. Holt, the Seventh Kentucky, commanded by Colonel Edward Crossland, and the Eighth Kentucky, com manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Shacklett, were imme diately dismounted, and were advanced on the front and the extreme left, closing in on that side of the fort to feel the strength of the enemy. The Third Kentucky, Colonel Thompson's regiment, in command THIRD RAID INTO WEST TENNESSEE. 20I of Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. C. Flolt, occupied the extreme left of the line. General Forrest, with the balance of his command, was in person on the right, and, pressing up the river, drove everything be fore him into the fort and on the gunboats. In the meantime the Kentucky brigade had rushed forward under a terrific fire from the fort and two gunboats, and taken position under cover of houses in close range of the fort. At this time the entire city, except the fort, including United States Government stores and supplies, and a large number of mules, horses, and wagons, was in full possession of Forrest's troops. General Forrest, on the right, had burned the dry-dock, one steamboat, and many bales of cotton, and cap tured a great number of Government horses and wag ons, and commissary and quartermaster supplies. From the covered position near the fort and river, the sharpshooters kept up a continuous and effective fire on the fort and gunboats for about half an hour. The fort was closely invested. At this juncture. General Forrest sounded a truce, and sent in, under a flag, a note in his usual character istic style, demanding the unconditional surrender of the garrison. Colonel S. G. Hicks, of the Fortieth Illinois Infantry, a gallant officer, was commandant of the post, and declined to surrender. Whereupon firing recommenced from the fort and two gunboats, which was replied to sharply by General Forrest's troops from their sheltered positions, firing at every head that ap peared above the parapet, or on the gunboats, inflict ing considerable loss on the Federals. General Forrest had no artillery except two little mountain howitzers, commonly called in army parlance " bull pups," commanded by Major Upton, which were utterly useless in an engagement of this character ex cept to make a noise. If General Forrest could have 202 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. had even his rifle battery with him on this occasion, the fate of Colonel Hicks would doubtless have been very different. The fort was well garrisoned, besides having a wide, deep ditch around it with abatis work, which rendered it almost impregnable to an infantry charge unaided by artillery. It was not the purpose of Gen eral Forrest to attempt to storm it, as the consequent loss of life would not justify such a course. However, Colonel A. P. Thompson, who was in sight of his home, without orders to do so concluded to storm and capture the fort with his three small veteran Ken tucky regiments. He ordered a charge, which, al though ill-judged, was made in the most gallant style. The brave Kentuckians dashed forward to the ditch, which they found impassable without pontoons or lad ders. This charge was met by a galling fire of grape. canister, shrapnel, and shell, as well as small arms from the fort and two gunboats, which caused the brigade to fall back with considerable loss. General Buford sent an order by his assistant inspector-gen eral, Captain D. E. Myers, to Colonel Thompson, to fall back under cover of a Hne of houses, where his men could be protected. Captain Myers was directed to proceed to the right of the brigade, and down the line to the left, delivering the order to the colonels of the regiments, until he found Colonel Thompson. This he did, running the gantlet of the entire line, and did not receive a scratch. Colonel Thompson was with his old regiment (Third Kentucky) on the ex treme left, and was killed just before this staff-officer reached him, having been struck by a shell or solid shot and literally blown to pieces, a large piece of his flesh having stuck on the shoulder of his aide. Lieu tenant Mathews. Thus, in sight of his home, the brave and gallant THIRD RAID INTO WEST TENNESSEE. 203 Thompson gave up his life to the cause which he had espoused. Here occurred most of the casualties of the day. The brigade fell back, under terrific fire, to the next line of houses (Colonel Edward Crossland suc ceeding to the command of the brigade), where the fire was kept up for several hours and until all the cap tured Government property had been removed, and about eleven o'clock, General Forrest retired, and bivouacked a few miles from the scene of action. The Federal forces did not attempt to come out of the fort, or to follow. The main object of the expedition was, as claimed, accomplished. In this connection, it is proper to note an incident of the fight at Paducah. While Colonel Thompson's brigade was so hotly engaged. Major Upton, not able to remain a looker-on while comrades were engaged, moved his two mountain howitzers to a slight promi nence near the river, and commenced firing on the gun boats. General Buford, discovering this, and that one of the gfunboats was backing out so as to get the range of the little battery, directed one of his staff-officers (Captain D. E. Myers) to order him to get away from there quick, but before this officer reached Major L^pton, the gunboat, with a well-directed shell, blew away one of the little guns, killing and wounding two or three men. It required no order for Major Upton to retreat with the other gun. This attack with his little howitzers on the gunboats was one of the most daring episodes of the war, because it would have been a mere accident if any one of the gunboats could have been injured by the fire from these " pop-guns." On March 26th, General Forrest, with his prison ers and captured property, retired to Mayfield, Ky., where the Kentucky soldiers who lived in that part of the State were furloughed, in order to visit their homes and improve their mounts and wardrobes, with instruc- 204 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. tions to report for duty on the 3d of April, at Trenton, Tenn. To their credit it is said that every man re turned and reported for duty on time. In a report to Lieutenant-General Polk, on the 27th of March, he says : " Left Jackson on the 23d ; captured Union City on the 24th, with four hundred and fifty prisoners, among them Hawkins and most of his regi ment, about two hundred horses and five hundred small arms, also took possession of Hickman, the enemy having passed it. I moved now with Buford's division direct from Jackson to Paducah in fifty hours ; attacked it on the evening of the 26th, drove the enemy to their gunboats and forts ; held the place for ten hours and could have held it longer, but found' the smallpox raging and evacuated the place ; captured many stores and horses, burned up sixty bales of cot ton, one steamer, and the dry-dock, bringing out fifty prisoners. My loss at Union City and Paducah, as far as known, is twenty-five killed and wounded, among them Colonel Thompson, commanding Ken tucky brigade, killed ; Lieutenant-Colonel Lannom, Faulkner's regiment, wounded dangerously, and Colo nel Crossland, of the Seventh Kentucky, and Lieu tenant-Colonel Morton, of the Second Tennessee, slightly wounded. Flave despatched Gholson at Tu pelo to meet prisoners at Corinth and take them (five hundred) to you. I hold possession of all the country except posts on the river. Think if I can remain un molested here fifteen da}rs I will be able to add two thousand men to my- command."* Forrest summed up the loss of the enemy to this date during the campaign at seventy-nine killed, one hundred and two wounded, and six hundred and twelve captured. Colonel S. G. Hicks, commanding "¦ Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i. p. 607. THIRD RAID INTO WEST TENNESSEE. 205 the post at Paducah, reported in regard to the engage ment at that place on the 25th of March, that his force consisted of six hundred and sixty-five men, and that " Forrest had si.x thousand five hundred men. The casualties of my command were fourteen killed and forty-six wounded. The enemy's loss, according to the most reliable information that I could obtain, was three hundred killed and from one thousand to twelve hundred %vounded. His killed and wounded may be safely set dow-n at fifteen hundred. General Forrest admitted in conversation with some of his friends in this city that in no engagement during the war had he been so badly cut and crippled as at this place. Our loss in Government stores was inconsiderable. The colored troops fought as bravely as any in the fight. The gunboats Peosta, Captain Smith, and Paw Paw, Captain O'Neill, were present, and rendered valuable service in shelling the city and operating on the flank of the enemy as they surrounded the fort."* General Chalmers had been ordered to gather up the scattered command in north Mississippi, and follow General Forrest into West Tennessee. Chalmers moved up by way of La Grange, and it was one of his regi ments, Neely's, that encountered and drove back Colo nel Fielding Hurst's regiment on the 29th of March, capturing fifty thousand rounds of much-needed am munition. A Confederate writer of the period imme diately following the war, alluded to Hurst's men as those " who had become as conspicuous for their craven conduct in the presence of armed enemies as for rapacity and brutally cruel outrages toward the defenseless citizens of the country which they devas tated." Hurst's command, as a body, did not again encounter Forrest's men. * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, pp. 548, 549. 206 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. On the 3d of April Forrest telegraphed from Jack son, by way of Waterford, to Lieutenant-General Polk, at Demopolis, as follows : " Six hundred Federal pris oners will arrive at Ripley, Miss., to-day, en route for Demopolis. Colonel Neely engaged Hurst on the 29th of March, near Bolivar, capturing his entire wagon- train, routing and driving him to Memphis, killing thirty, including two captains, and taking thirty-five prisoners, including one captain." On the 4th of April he reported a sharp little engagement between Lieu tenant-Colonel Crews's battalion and two regiments of Grierson's cavalry, fifteen miles east of Raleigh, on the Somerville road, in which Crews lost one man severely and one slightly wounded, while the enemy had six killed, fifteen or twenty wounded, and sus tained a loss of three prisoners. The Federals, taking this to be the advance-guard of a large force, fell back upon Memphis. This incident serves to. illustrate how opposing forces might reasonably be mistaken as to the strength of an enemy. A well-handled detachment could be made to appear as the advance-guard of a division. Forrest struck in so many unexpected places that one of his squadrons, circling around between the lines, nearly always created the impression that he was close at hand to attempt some daring venture. Hence it was not strange that General Grierson, with a con siderable force thrown out east of Memphis, should conclude that it was prudent to retire. On the 4th of April Forrest made a clear and com prehensive report to Lieutenant-General Polk, in which he said : " I have, as far as prudent, allowed my troops an opportunity of going home. Am now concentrating and preparing for any move the enemy mav make, or for offensive operations, provided they do not move on me. ... If permitted by the lieutenant-general commanding to remain in West Tennessee, would be THIRD RAID INTO WEST TENNESSEE. 207 glad to have my artillery with me, and will send for it, as I could operate effectively with my rifle battery on the rivers. With the small guns I have here it would be folly to attempt the destruction or capture of boats. I am yet in hopes the lieutenant-general commanding will repair and operate the railroad to Corinth, as suggested in a former letter. With a brigade of in fantry at Corinth as a force upon which I could fall back if too hard pressed, I am satisfied that I can hold West Tennessee against three times my numbers, and could send out from here all conscripts and deserters for service in infantry. At present it is impracticable, as I am without the transportation necessary to supply them with rations to Okolona through a country al ready depleted, and whose inhabitants are suffering for food. I find com scarcer than I had expected, but have plenty of meal, flour, and bacon for troops. If supplied with the right kind of money or cotton, I can furnish my command with all small-arm ammunition required, and, I think, with small arms also. General Chalmers is here, and will be kept in readiness for any move that may be made from Alemphis. General Buford's divi sion is above this, and concentrating at Eaton, ten miles west of Trenton. As I came up here I employed a man to get up lead. He writes me that he has from eight thousand to ten thousand pounds at Corinth, which I shall send out as soon as possible, and will continue to get up all that can be had. " There is a Federal force of five or six hundred at Fort Pillow, which I shall attend to in a day or two, as they have horses and supplies which we need. There are about six thousand troops now in Memphis ; all else gone up the river. It is clear that they are concen trating all their forces before Richmond and at Chat tanooga. I have ordered everything I have at Colum bus moved up to Aberdeen, and Morton's battery up to 208 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Tupelo to report to General Gholson, and shall bring it in here unless ordered to the contrary, as the little guns I have are of no use to me."* On the 9th or loth of April, General Forrest met his division commanders, Buford and Chalmers, and some of his brigade commanders, in Jackson, for con sultation as to his next move. At this conference, Forrest determined to make a simultaneous demon stration on Memphis, Columbus, Paducah, and Fort Pillow, the latter to be captured. In pursuance of this plan, he ordered Colonel J. J. Neely with his forces to move on Memphis from the northeast, and create the impression that Forrest's whole command was moving in that direction; and at the same time ordered Colo nel John McGuirk, with two Mississippi regiments, to push close to Memphis from the south, and give out the impression that General S. D. Lee was advancing with his whole force on Memphis from that direction. General Buford, with the Kentucky brigade, was or dered to move from Trenton and make demonstrations against Columbus and Paducah, Ky., and capture what Government horses, mules, and other Government property and army supplies he could, and prevent re enforcements from Fort Pillow. General Buford, with the Kentucky brigade, moved rapidly forward from Trenton on Columbus and Padu cah, and on the 12th, the same day of the attack on Fort Pillow, his scouts were in the vicinity of Colum bus, and his whole force moving in that direction. Leaving Fulton, Ky., to his right, at a point northwest of Fulton, General Buford detached about one hundred and sixty picked men, under command of Captain H. A. Tyler and his trusted staff-officer and assistant inspector-general, Captain David E. Myers, with in- * Rebellion Records, vol. x.\xii, part i, pp. 608, 609. THIRD RAID INTO WEST TENNESSEE. 209 structions to push northwest to Columbus, Ky., with all the show of force possible, demand its surrender, make the impression that his whole division was there, and create a diversion in favor of Fort Pillow and Paducah. One of the objects that General Buford had in sending Captain ^Myers with this expedition was that the demand for surrender should be carried in by one of his staff-officers. General Buford changed his course and advanced rapidly on Paducah, where it had been learned that a considerable number of Govern ment horses had been corralled since the last attack. It was important to capture these animals, if possible. Captains Tyler and IMyers, with their detachment, pressed forward, and at daylight on the morning of the 13th, charged and drove the Federal pickets in on the various roads at Columbus, and advanced to the edge of the timber. This woods was admirably adapted to making a great display of a small force by reason of some small, open spaces in full view of the fortifica tions. The Confederate troops were marched upon Columbus, by the main road, showing the head of the column, which was rapidly wheeled into the woods on the left, where it was circled back and came out again, keeping a continuous column moving for some time in the timber. Then the head of this circular column was for a considerable time moved to the right in the same manner, to create the impression of a brigade movement. Squads were sent to the extreme right and left, who showed themselves at different places, so as to give the impression that the command was formed in the woods all along the Federal right, left, and center. Then was displayed the head of a column of fours in the main road near the center. They also showed about one hundred men to the left and right, and advanced in a thin skirmish line into the open plain for some distance, when Captains Myers and 210 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Jack Horn advanced under a flag of truce, with the following note and demand for surrender: Headquarters Confederate Forces before Columbus, Ky., April 13, 1864. To Commanding Ofiicer, United States Forces, Colum bus, Ky.: Fully capable of taking Columbus and its garrison by force, I desire to avoid the shedding of blood, and there fore demand the unconditional surrender of the forces under your command. Should you surrender, the negroes now in arms will be returned to their masters. Should I, however, be compelled to take the place, no quarter will be shown to the negro troops whatever; the white troops will be treated as prisoners of war. A. Buford, Brigadier-General.* This flag of truce was halted at the outer works, where it was met by the adjutant and another staff- officer, who blindfolded the truce-bearers and con ducted them to the headquarters of Colonel Lawrence, the commandant of the post. Next they were con ducted into the colonel's room and the bandages taken from their eyes. Introductions followed, and the order for surrender delivered. Captain Horn, who was some what of a wit, remarked to the colonel, " that he had seen many a blind, but never went quite that blind before." Colonel Lawrence asked to be excused a short time to consult with his officers as to the demand for surren der. He very thoughtfully asked whether they had breakfasted, and, being replied to in the negative, said he would have some prepared for them. Captains Myers and Horn were left in this room by themselves, which was next to the telegraph-office, divided there from by a plank partition. In a few minutes Colonel Lawrence sent in, with his compliments, two delicious * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, p. 553. THIRD RAID INTO WEST TENNESSEE. 211 cocktails, and a considerable time thereafter an elegant breakfast. Much that was going on in the telegraph-office could be heard, and Captain Horn, who knew some thing of telegraph}- himself, could catch portions of the messages being sent, and gathered therefrom that Colo nel Lawrence was of opinion that Buford's whole divi sion, consisting of several thousand mounted infantry and artillery, ^vas in front of Columbus, and asked for reenforcements. The writer was told by one of the parties who carried the flag of truce that at one time they thought the garrison would be surrendered, and that they, in undertone, discussed the question as to how they could manage to receive the surrender with out developing the weakness of their force. The reply of Colonel Lawrence was considerably delayed. He was evidently playing for time, which exactly suited the Confederates. Finally, Captain My ers suggested a reply, fearing that his seeming indif ference might arouse suspicion. This reply was soon thereafter handed him by Colonel Lawrence, and the envoys w-ere politely blindfolded again, and escorted through the lines. Colonel Lawrence's reply was as follows : Headquarters of the Post of Columbus, Ky., April 13, 1C64. Brigadier-General A. Buford, Commanding Confederate Forces before Columbus, Ky. General: Your communication of this date received, and in reply I would state that being placed by my Gov ernment with adequate force to hold and repel all enemies from my post, surrender is out of the question. I am, general, very respectfully, William Hudson Lawrence, Colonel Twenty-fourth New Jersey Volunteers, Com manding Post.* * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, p. 553- 212 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. After the flag of truce returned, this small detach ment remained moving about and making a display at various points until late in the afternoon — no one advancing from the garrison to offer battle, and of course they did not attempt to charge the works — when they withdrew, and by a forced march all night, on as near a direct Hne as possible, intercepted General Buford with the main column at daylight, about three miles from Paducah, on the morning of the 14th, and im mediately joined in the second attack on that place. Soon after daylight on the 14th of April, General Buford pushed forward his advance on all the roads leading into Paducah, Ky., rapidly, capturing a portion of the pickets and outposts and driving the remainder into the fort, and closely investing the same. Under a heavy fire from the artillery of the fort and gunboats. Colonel G. A. C. Holt, with a portion of the Third and Seventh Kentucky regiments, had dashed in and cap tured about one hundred and fifty good horses and some wagons and army supplies, and sent them to the rear. Even the ever-vigilant Colonel Hicks, comman dant of the post, was evidently taken by complete sur prise, as the outposts and pickets \yere cooking their breakfasts. He could not have supposed that Forrest, who was reported moving on Memphis and Fort Pil low respectively on the 12th and 13th, and Buford be fore Columbus on the night of the 13th, would, with any part of his command, attack him in force at day light on the morning of the 14th. The Confederates had practical possession of Paducah, except imme diately around the fort. At this juncture. General Buford sent in a flag of truce, demanded the surrender of the garrison in about the usual phraseology, signing the name of General Forrest thereto, to which Colonel Hicks responded, declining to do so.* * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, p. 555. THIRD RAID INTO WEST TENNESSEE. 213 General Buford only had about twelve hundred men, and no artillery, and remained in the outskirts of Paducah until evening, and retired some miles in the direction of Mayfield with the captured horses and other property, and bivouacked for the night in order to give his troops a much-needed rest. The next day he moved through JMayfield, and thence to Dresden, Tenn.. for a few da}s' rest. Alluding to the events of this time in West Ten nessee and Kentucky, General Grant, in his Memoirs, says : " Forrest, a brave and intrepid cavalry general, was in the west with a large force, making a larger command necessary to hold what we had gained in Mid dle and West Tennessee. We could not abandon any of the territory north of the line held by the enemy, be cause it would lay the Northern States open to in vasion. Forrest made a raid in West Tennessee up to the northern border, capturing the garrison of four or five hundred men at Union City, and followed it up bv an attack on Paducah, Ky., on the banks of the Ohio. While he was able to enter the city, he failed to capture the forts or any part of the garrison. On the first intelHgence of Forrest's raid, I telegraphed to Sherman to send all his cavalry against him, and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself into. Forrest, however, fefl back rapidly, and attacked the troops at Fort PiOow, a station for the protection of the navigation of the Mississippi River. The gar rison consisted of a regiment of colored infantry and a detachment of Tennessee cavalry. The troops fought bravely, but were overpowered." * ' Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, vol. ii, pp. 129, 137, 138. CHAPTER XIII. CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW. Fort Pillow, a point on the east side of the Mis sissippi River, about forty miles on an air-line above Memphis, once strongly fortified by the Confederates, was now occupied by a small Federal force with no ap parent object in view except to maintain a trading-post for the benefit of speculators and people of the interior claiming to be loyal. General Sherman afterward said the fort was not on his list, and he did not know it was even occupied. The outer lines of the place, some two miles long, as well as the river front, had been in tended by General Beauregard's engineers, who laid it off in March and April, 1862, under direction of Gen eral Pillow, for defense on a large scale. After it was abandoned by the Confederates it was never occupied by the Federals with any considerable force. The water batteries, dismantled, were not refurnished. The fort on the river front could be approached to within one hundred or two hundred yards through ravines and gullies on the east and south sides without great exposure, and the artillery on the heavy breastworks could not be depressed so as to play on troops once in such postitions. It was reported to Forrest that raids were frequently made from Fort Pillow by small detachments of both negro and white troops upon the people of several counties for the purpose of foraging, and that defenseless women and children and old men were subject to robbery, insult, and greatest humilia- 214 CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW. 21 5 tions. An earnest request was made that he would leave a brigade as a protection against marauders. This was impossible, but the general, having nothing else on hand requiring immediate attention, resolved to at once relieve the people as well as secure the needed horses and supplies known to be in the place. The post was commanded by Major L. F. Booth,* who had been sent up from Memphis by General Hurl- but, March 28th, with a negro battalion, the First Ala bama Light Artillery. Next in command was Major ^^'i!liam F. Bradford, of the Thirteenth Tennessee Cav alry, and there was a company of negro troops and a few stragglers from other commands. Many of Brad ford's men, it was understood, were deserters from the Confederate army, who had no great relish for fighting on either side. The major was a native of Middle Ten nessee, of good family connections, and was a prac tising lawyer at Dyersburg, West Tennessee, when the war began. His kindred were nearly all on the South- em side, and he was looked upon as one who had be trayed his family to join their enemies and former slaves in a war of invasion and conquest. Such was. the feeling that existed when the strife of a divided people was at its height. General Hurlbut, in his order to Major Booth, March 28th, directing him to proceed- to Fort Pillow, said : " As you will be, if my memory is correct, the senior officer of that post, you will take command, con ferring freely and fully with Major Bradford, Thir teenth Tennessee Cavalry, whom you will find a good officer, though not of much experience. There are two points of land fortified at Fort Pillow, one of which only is now held by our troops. You will occupy both, either with your own troops alone, or holding one with * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, pp. 5o8, 6og. 15 2l6 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. yours alone and giving the other in charge to Major Bradford. " The positions are commanding, and can be held by a small force against almost any odds. I shall send you at this time two 13-pounder howitzers, as I hope it will not be necessary to mount heavy guns. If, in your opinion, 20-pounder Parrotts can be used, I will send them to you. My own opinion is that there is not range enough. Major Bradford is well acquainted with the country, and should keep scouts well out, and forward all information direct to me. I think Forrest's check at Paducah will not dispose him to try the river again, but that he will fall back to Jackson, and thence cross the Tennessee. As soon as this is ascertained, I shall withdraw your garrison. Nevertheless, act promptly in putting the work in perfect order, and the post into its strongest defense. Allow as little intercourse as possible with the country, and cause all suppHes which go out to be examined with great strictness. No man whose loyalty is questioned should be allowed to come in or go out while the enemy is in West Tennessee. •The post must be held."* Brigadier-General James R. Chalmers was placed in charge of the move on Fort Pillow. The First Bri gade, Colonel J. J. Neely, marched from Whiteville in the direction of Memphis, spreading the report that Forrest's whole command was on the way to attack the place, and Neely made a resolute show of building pontoon bridges and crossing Wolf River almost in sight of Memphis. Colonel John McGuirk, with the Third Mississippi State Cavalry, advanced at the same time on the south side of Memphis, drove in the pickets, and gave it out that General S. D. Lee was close at hand with all his troops to take part in a combined "" Rebellion Records, Serial 59, vol. xxxii, part iii, p. 176. CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW. 217 attack. General Hurlbut had reason to apprehend dan ger in his immediate front. On the I oth of April, the way being clear and every thing ready, General Forrest issued orders for Bell's and McCulloch's brigades, and Walton's battery of four small mountain howitzers at Sharons Ferry, on Forked Deer River, near Jackson, to move in the direc tion of Fort Pillow. This force left on the morning of the nth, and was overtaken by General Forrest at 2 p. m., at Brownsvifle, twenty-eight miles distant. General Chalmers was ordered to make a forced march of thirty-eight miles to Fort Pillow. The advance was begun at once, with McCuOoch's brigade in the lead. A citizen of Southern sympathies, named W. J. Shaw, who had been arrested by Major Bradford and held in the fort until he escaped, was secured as a guide. The night was drizzly and murky, and there were rough roads and weak bridges to pass over, but good progress was made by men accustomed to hard riding. Walton's howitzers, however, fell behind and never reached Fort Pillow. Just as day dawned, the advance- guard. Captain J. Frank Smith's company of the Sec ond Missouri, surprised and captured all the Federal pickets, except one or two who escaped and at sunrise gave the alarm to the garrison. There were no sharp shooters to speak of within, but Chalmers's command was well supplied, and these, at a safe distance behind trees and logs, or in gullies, could do effective work on all who arose up to fire over the works. As Major Anderson, of General Forrest's staff, afterward said, in a special report :* " Any one could see at a glance that the fort was ours." There were four rows of cabins, and some tents and troops on the outside on a ridge, and from these a rifle-pit stretched to the_ right, * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, p. 556. 2l8 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. or northeast, some three hundred yards. The fort proper, or inner Hne of defense, was six feet high and eight feet thick, with a ditch outside six feet deep and about twelve feet wide. The artillery equipment con sisted of two lo-pounder Parrott rifled guns, two 12- pounder howitzers, and two 6-pounder rifle-bore. field- pieces, each piece haying an embrasure. The garrison consisted of the First BattaHon Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, under Major William F. Bradford, ten officers and two hundred and eighty-five enlisted men; First BattaHon Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery (colored), eight commissioned officers and two hundred and thirteen enlisted men, and one section of Company D, Second U. S. Light Artillery (colored), one commissioned offi cer and forty men. Total white troops, two hundred and ninety-five ; colored, two hundred and sixty-two ; aggregate, five hundred and fifty-seven,* all under com mand of Major Booth. After the capture of the pickets, IMcCulloch's bri gade rapidly took a position half a mile to the south of the fort, near the river ; Bell's brigade Avas ordered up toward the center ; Wilson's regiment was deployed in front, and engaged the garrison in a heavy skirmish. The rest of the brigade was to take a position along Coal Creek, near the river, on the right, but this could not be reached without unnecessary exposure, and the plan was changed. At nine o'clock. General Forrest, after a ride of sixty-four miles since six o'clock the morning before, accompanied by his staff, escort, and a detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel D. M. Wis dom, came upon the ground. It was learned afterward that Major Booth, commanding the fort, and his ad jutant were killed about that time, though the major's name jvas used in the correspondence that ensued. The * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, p. 556. CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW. 219 general, as usual, pushed to the front to reconnoiter, and in doing so had two horses killed under him and another wounded. He also received a painful injury himself from a falling horse. After examining the ground carefully and adopting a plan, he gave orders to Bell's brigade to move up by way of a ravine leading near to the face of the fort. This was soon done, and the men occupied more sheltered positions. McCulloch carried the entrenchments on the highest point of the ridge in front of the southeastern face of the works. The Federals were driven in, and fell back to the main fort and the earthworks in its front. They made an attempt to burn the cabins mentioned before, but only succeeded in burning one row. McCulloch seized the others, and* occupied them advantageously with his sharpshooters. Adjutant Mack J. Leaming, of the Thirteenth Tennessee Union Cavalry, in his report, says : " We suffered pretty severely in the loss of com missioned officers by the unerring aim of the rebel sharpshooters, and among this loss I have to record our post-commander. Major L. F. Booth, who was killed almost instantly by a musket-ball through the breast. . . . At about n a. m. the rebels made a second determined assault on our works, and were again successfully repulsed with severe loss. They succeeded, however, in getting possession of two rows of barracks, running parallel to the south side of the fort, and distant about one hundred and fifty yards. The barracks had previously been ordered to be de stroyed, but after severe loss on our part in the attempt to execute the order, our men were compelled to retire without accomplishing the desired end, save only as to the row nearest to the fort. From these barracks the enemy kept up a murderous fire on our men despite all our efforts to dislodge him. Owing to the close proximity of these buildings to the fort, and to the fact 220 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. that they were on considerably lower ground, our artil lery could not be sufficiently depressed to destroy them, or even render them untenable for the enemy." Up to this time the gunboat. New Era, weU back in the river, had been shelling the Confederates furiously by sig nals from the fort, but without doing much damage. The guns in the parapet also were fired rapidly with similar lack of effei:t. The Confederate line, at no place more than three hundred yards from the fort, was now short and com pact, and held a well-protected position extending from the river on the south to Coal Creek on the north. There were sharpshooters in front of them, some not more than sixty yards from the fort, and sharpshoot ers four or five hundred yards in the rear on high knolls, from which they could pick off those who showed themselves on the parapet or behind the guns in the embrasures. Satisfied now that he could carry the place by assault, but desiring to save the lives of his own men as well as the garrison. General Forrest caused a flag of truce to be raised about 3 p. m., when all firing ceased. Calling Captain Walter A. Goodman, of Gen eral Chalmers's staff, he dictated a demand for surren der, as follows : " As your gallant defense of the fort has entitled you to the treatment of brave men, I now demand an unconditional surrender of your force, as suring you at the same time that they w-ill be treated as prisoners of war. I have received a fresh supply of ammunition, and can easily take your position. Should my demand be refused. I can not be responsible for the fate of your command." This was carried by Captain Goodman, accompanied by Lieutenant Frank Rogers, a volunteer aide on General Forrest's staff, and W. H. Rhodes, acting temporarily on the staff. Three offi cers came out to receive the flag, and one of them car- CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW. 221 ried it into the fort. In about twenty minutes a reply was brought out and taken to General Forrest. After reading it, he dictated another note, and handing it to Lieutenant Rogers, said: "You can tell that Federal officer that if I am compelled to butt my men against their works it will be bad for them." Lieutenant Rogers, perhaps, did not deliver this verbal message, but delivered the note to the same officers as before. One of them went into the fort. The other two, in conversation, expressed a doubt as to General Forrest being there in person, and referred to the way in which Colonel Hawkins had been taken in at Union City by Colonel Duckworth, of the Seventh Tennessee, a few days before. General Forrest was sent for, and, riding up, addressed the officers, satisfying them as to his identity, and rode back to his point of observation, four hundred yards in the rear. A reply was sOon sent out asking for one hour's time to consult with the .officers of the gunboats. Other boats were seen approaching from below and above, two of them at least loaded with troops presumably to relieve the garrison. Gen eral Forrest demanded a surrender in twenty minutes, which was peremptorily refused. Major Bradford, it may be remarked, had strong personal reasons for dreading to fall into the hands of the Confederates, and was, from all accounts, a weak, vain man as well as without military experience, and no doubt thought he could hold the attacking force in check until the arrival of relief from the river. The Olive Branch, with troops and artillery on board, coming from below suspiciously near the shore while the flag of truce was still flying, was warned off by McCulloch's men under direction of Staff-Officer C. W. Anderson, and kept at a safe distance. A, single volley would have resulted in wholesale slaughter of troops and citizens crowding the decks. A few admonitory shots were fired at the 222 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. pilot-house, which caused the steamer to sheer off and pass up on the other side. Captain Marshall, of the New Era, requested the Olive Branch to proceed to Cairo as soon as possible, and send four or five hundred rounds of ammunition and stop all boats coming down the river. All this occurred while the flag of truce was flying, and General George F. Shepley, on board the Olive Branch, was excused afterward for not ren dering succor to the fort only by reason of his inability to do so, and not because there was a flag of truce pending. General Shepley, in his report of his trip up the river, states that the boat was heavily loaded with a portion of the men of two batteries, with horses, guns, caissons, tents, and baggage taken on at Mem phis, a:nd with orders to report to General Brayman at Cairo. The steamer Cheek hove in sight from Memphis, just below Fort Pillow, and was brought alongside the Olive Branch about the same time that the steamer Liberty, with troops on board, came down the river, having passed Fort Pillow. She only hailed the Olive Branch, and said : " All right up there. You can go by. The gunboat is lying off the fort."* General Forrest, having his command well in hand, after heavy skirmishing for several hours, and finding that the officers within were determined to hold out in the evident hope of relief from, the boats in sight, resolved to take the place by assault, even at the hazard of a heavy loss of Hfe. When the final and most per emptory refusal of all came, he acted at once. Turn ing to an aide-de-camp, according to W. H. Rhodes, who, as before stated, was serving on Forrest's staff that day, he said : " Go to Colonel Bell, commanding on our right, and tell him when he hears my orderly bugler sound the charge, to go over these works if he * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, p. 573. CAPTURE OF FORT riLLOW. 223 gets killed and every man in his command, and tell him I don't want to hear of Tennessee being behind." Turning to another aide, he said : " You go to Colo nel ^McCulloch, commanding our left, and tell him when- he hears my orderly bugler sound the charge, to go over the works if he is killed and every man in his command, and tell him I don't want to hear of Mis souri being left behind." Waiting until the officers had time to reach the brigade commanders, he turned to Gaus. his ever-faithful bugler, and said : " Gaus, ride your horse up the ravine until you reach about the center of our lines, and sound the charge." Gaus gal loped to the center, and promptly gave the blast which settled the fate of Fort Pillow. The whole Hne was immediately in motion. The guns of the fort roared, and the infantry fired volley after volley. The parapet was a sheet of flame and smoke. The Confederates answ-ered with a yell which rose above the din of battle, but they reserved their fire. They dashed across the twelve-foot ditch and clambered up the escarpment, the leaders helping those behind, and were soon pour ing into the fort. They had no bayonets, but at once opened a murderous fire on the now thoroughly de moralized garrison. The colored troops, who had been most defiant while the flag of truce was flying, were the first to break and run down the bluff, and num bers of them plunged into the river, but many of the white, and some black troops, made a desperate show of resistance, and there was never any. formal surren der. For fifteen minutes the slaughter was fearful. The momentum of the assaulting force was so great that the besieged were quickly driven under the bluff, where the survivors were captured. How many rushed into the river and were drowned will never be known. Those thus lost were praying for the gunboat that never came. The New Era kept at a safe distance, and 224 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. was silent. General Forrest, and members of his staff, entered the fort on foot while the firing was still furious. The garrison was practically without officers, while drunken soldiers were shooting in a dazed sort of way at the storming party. The Confederates had closed in from the flanks, and were doing murderous work. The flag still floated defiantly from a tall pole in the center of the square, and none of the defenders thought to pull it down. One of General Forrest's staff-officers, however, suggested that the halyards be cut, and this was done. The Confederates, who could see the flag from all points of attack, took this as a sign of surrender, and at once quit firing. Some of the survivors ran around wildly and kept up a show of resistance for a short time, but were shot down or cap tured and disarmed. It is the concurrent testimony of Confederates who were in the engagement that the slaughter ceased when the flag fell, but of course there might have been individual exceptions. That the as sailants were highly wrought up after an all-night ride and an all-day fight, and by the insane defense of a fort which they knew they could take, is not incon sistent with human nature, for there was no reasoning when force met force " to settle the differences of a cen tury." Another aggravation was the conduct of the besieged, especially the negroes, while the flag of truce was flying and the lines were close together. The lat ter were very defiant and insulting in language and grimaces, and, .no doubt, felt safe against any attack. The officers, after they saw the force in front and knew that Forrest was really on the ground, should have known better. Had Major Booth survived in stead of Major Bradford, the fortunes of the day might have been different. The latter fled down under the bluff, and only revealed his rank after he was cap tured and safe. The battle lasted not over twenty min- CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW. 225 utes, but twelve or fifteen hundred determined men, firing from three sides into a struggling, seething mass of human beings, could play havoc in that short time. It was a terrific slaughter, and yet the Confederates engaged in it — and many of them are living yet (1902) — always claimed that it was not greater than the cir cumstances justified; that none were killed after they surrendered, and that no prisoners were killed or mis treated in or out of the fort that day or next day. Major Bradford evidently expected to be rescued and carried off with his troops on the gunboat, but he escaped from the storm of battle unhurt. Late in the day he was temporarily paroled to attend the funeral of his elder brother. Captain Theodore F. Bradford, and after that he was given quarters and supper with Colo nel McCulloch. During the night he escaped, assumed the disguise of a conscript or butternut soldier, and sought to make his way to Memphis. \\'hen the battle was over, Forrest's men and sur geons gave attention to the wounded on both sides. The live-stock, stores, and munitions of war, as far as available, were hastily removed to the rear. Captain Young, of the Twenty-fourth Infantry, who first came out to meet the flag of truce, was among the prisoners, and in the afternoon he was sent with Major Ander son, of Forrest's staff, with a flag of truce to endeavor to communicate with the captain of the New Era, and turn over to him the Federal wounded. This was a failure, however, for the vessel steamed off up the river without giving any response. General Forrest turned over the command to Brig adier-General Chalmers, with instructions to bury the dead, collect arms and other portable property, trans fer the Federal wounded to the first steamer passing, and to follow as soon as possible with his division and the unwounded prisoners to Brownsville. At sunset, 226 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. accompanied by his staff and escort, he set out for Jackson, and encamped that night at a farmhouse seven miles eastward. General Chalmers caused the prison ers to bury the Federal dead in the trenches, the officers separately from their men, moved his troops back from the river, and went into camp that evening. The next morning a detail was sent into the fort to bury any of the dead overlooked and collect the remaining arms. In a short time the gunboat Silver Cloud came up and opened fire. The officer in command of the detail, ex pecting to leave, set fire to some tents and cabins in which were the bodies of a few negroes killed the previous day, giving rise to the report that they had been burned alive. After General Forrest and his staff had mounted their horses, on the morning of the 13th, they heard the firing at the fort, and he sent back Major Ander son, with Captain Young, the late provost marshal of Fort Pillow, to make an effort to have the Federal wounded turned over to their friends. Major Ander son withdrew the detail from the fort, hoisted a white flag, and arranged with the master of the Silver Cloud for a truce until 5 p. m. Several other vessels stopped at the landing, and many Federals came ashore. Dur ing the day the remaining dead were buried, and the wounded, about seventy officers and men, were re moved to the steamer Platte Valley. Of these, the Federal surgeon of the hospital at Mound City, 111., testified that he received thirty-four whites and twenty- seven colored men ; some died on the way. General Chalmers carried off as prisoners of war seven officers and two hundred and nineteen enlisted men (thirty-six negroes and one hundred and sixty-three whites) un wounded. This would make an aggregate of about two hundred and ninety-six who survived the battle, including the mortally wounded, but does not include CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW. 22/ the unknown camp-followers and. refugees who be longed to no command and appeared upon no list. One phase of the reckless and insane defense of Fort Pillow is worthy of mention as throwing some light upon the state of affairs within. After the place was taken, it was learned that the troops had been liberally dosed with liquor during the eight hours' in vestment. Many of the prisoners were in a muddled condition, equally crazed by fright and intoxication. Colonel C. R. Barteau, of the Second Tennessee, Bell's brigade, who lived to practise law in Memphis many years, stated that numerous barrels of whisky and kegs of beer, partly emptied, were found placed at con venient distances apart, with tin dippers attached for the use of the Federal soldiers. Many others give the same testimony. The negroes especially had made free use of the opportunity, and this accounts in part for their conduct while the flag of truce was flying. When General Forrest rode up to the front to satisfy the offi cers that he was actually present, the demonstrations of the negroes were such that members of his staff urged him to \vithdraw, which he did as soon as the purpose of his visit was accomplished. These igno rant, half-drunken creatures were about as likely to shoot Forrest, whom many of them recognized by sight, there under the flag of truce as at any other time and place. The capture of Fort Pillow was not a great military exploit except by reason of the audacity and bold dash of the movement. Forrest went there with men enough, and accomplished his purpose, though suffering greater losses than he expected in killed and wounded. Had a massacre been intended, it could have been accom plished by a word from Forrest. The fort was well though injudiciously defended. Much testimony was taken and sworn to afterward, which was calcu- 228 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. lated to inflame the Northern mind and convince the civilized world that the Confederates were inhuman butchers unmindful of the rules of civilized warfare. A few 'of the deponents were white officers, but the great mass of affidavits came from ignorant negroes who could scarcely make their mark. All this was necessarily of an ex-parte nature, but it had its in tended effect, and was not seriously questioned at the time. But above all discussion, criticism, and confusion of ideas, the one fact stands out clearly that while Gen eral Forrest needed the horses and stores in the fort, the main object of the raid was to " break up that nest," and relieve the people of several counties from the frequent depredations coming from that quarter. The charge was made, in connection with others, that Forrest was accountable for the death of Major Bradford, which occurred about two days after he was captured. The answer to this was that Bradford was picked up on suspicion by some Confederates at Big Hatchie River, a few miles north of Covington, taken into the town, and there recognized by the citizens, sent across the country toward Brownsville, and turned over to the rear-guard of Forrest's retreating column. The general was far in the front, and Chalmers was also ahead. Bradford was placed in charge of five men, who reported, when they came up with the main command, that he attempted to escape and was killed. A conscript, who afterward escaped, made affidavit that he saw the shooting, and that Bradford was on his knees begging for his life. Forrest claimed that he did not hear of Bradford's death until eight or ten days afterward. There was some correspondence in regard to the matter, but General Forrest, who was very busy getting south just then, disclaimed any sanction of this or any other deed not justified by the rules of war. General M. Brayman made a report directly to the CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW. 229 Secretary of \\'ar from Cairo, 111., April 28, 1864, six teen days after the fall of Fort Pillow, in which he said : " Recognizing the exigency of the case, I prefer to transmit such testimony as could be obtained in the shortest time, and will add such as can be hereafter procured. You will, however, find sufficient in these papers to enforce absolute conviction upon all minds that violations of the laws and usages of civilized war, and of those obligations of common humanity which even barbarians and heathen tribes in some sort ob serve, have been perpetrated. " Men and women who passed through the excite ments of the battle, as well as the horrors of an indis criminate massacre which raged not only when the blood was hot and the judgment clouded by conflict, but which reached into the quiet of the following day, most of them mutilated, hacked, and torn, and some, while dying, have patiently, calmly, and even with a forgiving spirit, told their pitiful story. It may be added that these murders came not of sudden heat con sequent upon battle, and perpetrated by soldiers where their officers could not control them. The purpose to do this very thing was avowed by rebel officers in command. At Paducah threats of indiscriminate mur der were made ; at Columbus, the slaughter of all col ored soldiers was threatened in official papers, signed by the generals, which are in our possession. Verbal threats of the same character will, in due time, be proved. The fate intended for Paducah and Colum bus fell only on Fort Pillow," etc.* This was followed by a flood of affidavits prepared and signed at Cairo, Fort Pickering, Memphis, and other places. Much of this was conflicting and extravagant, but was accepted as if sifted through the processes of the courts in times * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, pp. 518, 519. 230 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. of peace. General Washburn, with headquarters at Memphis, and General Forrest had a spirited corre spondence. The former charged that the captured troops had been inhumanly butchered. The latter de nied this with customary vigor of language, and re ferred to a report that colored troops in Memphis had on bended knees sworn to remember Fort Pillow and show no quarter to Confederate prisoners. General Washburn did not deny this or assume -the respon sibility, but rather justified such action if it had been taken.* There was not much time in the rapid whirl of events for formal or diplomatic communications, and a few sharp tilts ended the mere letter-writing. General Hurlbut had remained in Memphis until suc ceeded by General Washburn, and General Forrest was soon on another move. On the 6th of May, 1864, it was resolved by the Confederate Congress at Richmond that : " The thanks of the Congress are eminently due and are hereby cor dially tendered to Major-General N. B. Forrest and the officers and men of his command, for their late bril liant and successful campaign in Mississippi, West Tennessee, and Kentucky ; a campaign which has con ferred upon its authors fame as enduring as the record of the struggle which they have so brilliantly illus trated." On the I Sth of the month a subcommittee of the Congress of the United States was appointed to take testimony in regard to the " massacre " at Fort Pillow, and made a most damaging and condemnatory report, charging an indiscriminate slaughter after the fort had been taken by storm, which spared neither sex, white nor black, soldier nor civilian ; that the wounded w-ere intentionally burned to death in the barracks and tents * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, pp. 5S7, 588. CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW. 23 1 which were destroyed by fire, and that the rebels buried some of the living with the dead. All of which was vigorously denied by Forrest and his men long after the war closed, when excitement had subsided and cooler judgfment prevailed. Forrest, at that period of the war, still regarded negroes as property, and favored the policy of capturing as many as possible and restor ing them to their owmers, or turning them over to the Confederate Government to be employed in the con struction of fortifications or other public works. It may be further said, in justice to General Forrest, that this was the only time he was ever charged with cruelty to prisoners or inhuman conduct, although many thou sands of U^nion officers and soldiers fell into his hands. A heavy Federal force had gone up the river, but the country was not depleted. General Sherman, on the 24th of April, wrote from Nashville, under the head of " Confidential," to General C. C. Washburn, commanding district of Memphis : " There should be at ^Memphis Buckland's brigade entire, two thousand ; three white regiments (One Hundred and Third Illi nois one), fifteen hundred; Kaffner's negro regiment, Fort Pickering, twelve hundred ; Chetlain's Black Bri gade, two thousand ; Grierson's division of cavalry, at least four thousand ; total, ten thousand seven hun dred. . . . My opinion is, by a close examination you will find at Memphis fully seven thousand good men, besides the Fort Pickering garrison and the mili tia. . . . When I left Memphis, Grierson had fully five thousand horses. Not one of them has been drawn away, and I want to know what has become of them."* That General Sherman thought well of some of Forrest's methods was indicated in a despatch to Gen eral M. C. Meigs, quartermaster-general at Washing- * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part iii, pp. 485, 486. 16 232 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. ton, dated Nashville, April 26th, in which he said: " It is now going to be a grand scramble who is going to get the horses, Forrest or ourselves. I think For rest can beat us in the horse-stealing business, but we must learn. As I advance into Georgia, Forrest will surely manage somehow to gather the horses in Ken tucky and Tennessee, and if we could make up our minds to it, we might take them first. ... By dur returns we have fifty-two thousand cavalry, but if I can get up three divisions of five thousand each, I will deem myself lucky."* This condition of affairs ac counts for General Sherman's tacit willingness for Forrest to operate in West Tennessee and Kentucky rather than on the lines between Nashville and Chat tanooga, or farther south. In fact, he intimated more than once that he had no objection to Forrest amusing himself in that part of the country. It had been deemed advisable to give up such interior places as Hickman and Union City, but to hold Cairo, Columbus, Mem phis, Vicksburg, and Natchez at all hazards, to pro tect the river. Fort Pillow seems to have been hardly considered in the general plans. * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part iii, pp. 503, 504. CHAPTER XIV. brice's CROSSROADS. General Forrest estabhshed his headquarters at Jackson on the 14th of April, and remained there until the 2d of May, directing the collection of absentees and conscripts, horses, and such suppHes as could be sent south. Brigadier-General Buford, by the 28th of April, assembled his division and Bell's brigade at Jackson. On the 2d of May he was ordered, with Neely's brigade, to convoy three hundred prisoners and a large ox-train, freighted with subsistence, liquors, leather, etc., to Tupelo, Miss. The Kentucky brigade, which entered the campaign one thousand and four strong, had increased to seventeen hundred and seven teen effective men, and Bell's brigade, which started with a total of twelve hundred and fifty-four, now num bered over seventeen hundred men, and all were well rested and mounted. Buford made the distance, sev enty-eight miles from Jackson to Rienzi, by the 4th of May, transferred his prisoners and supplies to the Mo bile and Ohio Railroad, and reached Tupelo on the 6th. Meanwhile Chalmers had passed through Browns ville, Somerville, and La Grange with the Fort Pillow prisoners, destined for points farther south. These being transferred, he established headquarters at Ox ford until the 2d of May, and then moved toward Tupelo. Various movements and dispositions of com mands were made. McCulloch resumed his old post temporarily behind the Tallahatchie River, near Pa- 233 234 lieutenant-general FORREST. nola, while Bell's and Neely's brigades reentered West Tennessee to look after absentees, and to give officers and men an opportunity to visit their families and pro cure clothing and fresh horses. On the 2d of May General Forrest left Jackson with his staff and escort for Tupelo, taking the road through Bolivar, Tenn., and Ripley, Miss. Near the former place, that afternoon, he learned that a Fedei'al cavalry force, supposed . to be two thousand strong, under General Sturgis, was engaged near by in a skir mish with a part of McDonald's battalion under Lieu tenant-Colonel J. M. Crews, and pressed quickly to the scene, two miles west of Bolivar, and joined in the fighting. His small force and Crews's men, altogether about three hundred strong, were pressed back within some works west of the town, where a stand was made to cover the retreat of Forrest's headquarters train, some ambulances, and several hundred unarmed men. A sharp fight continued some two hours. The Federal loss was reported by General Sturgis at two killed and ten wounded. Major Strange, of Forrest's staff, had his arm broken by a carbine-ball. Near night, Forrest fell back, and overtook his train five miles from Boli var,' and proceeded without further incident to Tupelo, reaching there on the 5th of May, one day ahead of Buford. General Sturgis kept up the pursuit as far as Rip ley, but upon reaching that place on the 6th, found that Forrest's rear-guard had passed nearly two days before. In a report to General Washburn, made at Salem, Miss., on the 7th, he said : " It was at Ripley that I had hoped against hope to intercept him ; but he was abundantly supplied with forage, and enabled to travel day and night. Still I should have continued the pursuit had it not been for the utter destitution of the country from Bolivar to Ripley, a distance of forty BRICE'S CROSSROADS. 235 miles. My horses had scarcely anything to eat, and my artillery horses absolutely nothing. Had I pene trated one day's march farther, and found the forage equally scarce, I should have not only failed to over take Forrest, but have been compelled to abandon my artillery and a great many cavalry horses. I need hardly assure }-ou that it was with greatest reluctance, and after mature deliberation with myself and my prin cipal officers, that I resolved to abandon the chase as hopeless. Though we could not catch the scoundrel, we are at least rid of him, and that is something." A\'riting to General Sherman from Memphis, May 13th, he said : " My little campaign is ovei;, and I re gret to say Forrest is still at large. ... I regret ven,- much that I could not have the pleasure of bring ing you a lock of his hair, but he is too great a plun derer to fight anything like an equal force, and we have to be satisfied with driving hiin from the State. He may turn on your communications, and I think he ^vill, but see no way to prevent it from this point with this force."* Forrest found Gholson's brigade of Mississippi State- Cavalry at Tupelo, and a few days later this force was transferred to the Confederate States' serv ice. Chalmers also soon reported, and some time was taken for reorganization. The four batteries of four guns each, under Captains Morton, Rice, Thrall, and Walton were formed into a battalion under Captain John W. Morton as chief of artillery. Chalmers's division was composed of McCulloch's, Neely's, and Rucker's brigades, and Buford's division of Bell's and Lyon's brigades, altogether twenty regiments, four bat talions, five independent companies, and sixteen guns. This force was distributed at different points consider- * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxii, part i, p. 698. 236 lieutenant-general FORREST. able distances apart, in order to more easily secure sub sistence and forage, as well as to be ready for attack in any direction. Every detail of interior administra tion was directed by an active and vigorous mind. Buford's division made a reconnaissance from Tu pelo to Corinth from the i6th to the 24th of the month, and about the 26th, Chalmers was detached with McCulloch's and Neely's brigades and Walton's bat tery, and sent on an expedition to the interior of Ala bama, going as far as Montevallo, forty miles eastward of Tuscaloosa, to meet a supposed raid coming from Huntsville and Decatur to destroy some iron-works. A part of this division remained in that region some weeks. On the loth of June, McCulloch's brigade was ordered by Major-General Lee to return by forced marches to Columbus, Miss. Neely's brigade was at that time at Blue Mountain, Ala., near the Georgia line, and Rucker was falling back from Oxford. Gen eral Roddey was, in the latter part of May, near Deca tur, Ala., and reported to be closely pressed by the Federals. General Forrest prepared to go to his assist ance, and so advised him, and had Buford's division ready for that purpose. On the 30th a despatch from Roddey was received to the effect that the raid had probably gone toward Kingston, Ga. Forrest sent spe cific instructions to Roddey to hold his command to gether, and have boats ready for the crossing of the Tennessee River. He proposed to leave on the ist of June with twenty-four hundred men and six pieces of artillery for Decatur, and on the morning of that day Buford's division, except Newsom's regiment left at Tupelo, and Russell's at Corinth, set out for north Ala bama with ten days' rations. Morton's and Rice's bat teries accompanied the expedition. The time seemed to have come when Forrest might break away from his department, cross the Tennessee River and make a BRICE'S CROSSROADS. 237 strike in Sherman's rear. He had preferred to make a move on Memphis, but was overruled by General S. D. Lee, who thought it would be more important to break up railroad lines south of Nashville. General Sherman expected this move, for he knew what damage might be done by such a man as For rest. Busy as he was on the Georgia campaign, flank ing and pushing back General Joseph E. Johnston toward Atlanta, he found time to look well to the territory in his rear, and urged General Washburn to care for Forrest. The man chosen for this work was Brigadier-General Samuel D. Sturgis, an officer of great ability, who had followed Forrest out of West Tennessee as far as Ripley, Miss. ; and it so happened that the day Forrest started for north Alabama, where he might combine with Roddey and make a formidable raid into Middle Tennessee, General Sturgis, looking for Forrest, marched out from Memphis and Lafay ette with thirty-three hundred cavalry, forty-eight hun dred infantry, four hundred artillerists, with twenty- t\yo guns and a supply-train of two hundred and fifty wagons and ambulances. General Washburn says in his report : " The num ber of troops deemed necessary was six thousand, but I sent eight thousand. Everything was in complete order, and the force consisted of some of our best troops. I saw to it personally that they lacked noth ing to insure a successful campaign." The cavalry was divided into two brigades: the first, fifteen hundred strong, with six pieces of artillery, was commanded by Colonel George E. Waring, Jr., a brilliant officer and hard fighter, who had struck Forrest at Okolona. The second, eighteen hundred strong, accompanied by a battery of four guns, was commanded by Colonel E. F. Winslow, who had been with General Sherman on the expedition to Meridian the previous February. 238 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. These brigades constituted a division commanded by Brigadier-General B. H. Grierson, a cavalry leader of high reputation. The infantry was divided into three brigades, commanded (i) by Colonel A. Wilkins, two thousand strong, with six pieces of artillery; (2) by Colonel G. B. Hoge, sixteen hundred strong, with four guns, and (3) twelve hundred colored troops and two guns under Colonel Edward Bouton. All three united as a division under command of Colonel W. L. McMil lin, the entire expedition being commanded by Briga dier-General Sturgis. All were splendidly armed and equipped. The weather was rainy, the roads bad, and the country desolate and almost deserted. The head of the column did not reach Ripley, in Tippah County, seventy-five miles from Memphis, until the 7th of June, where Winslow's brigade ran up against two regiments of Rucker's brigade, who had been sent to develop but not to fight any force in front. General Forrest had moved from Tupelo on the ist of June. He proceeded as far as Russellville, Franklin County, north Alabama, where he was overtaken by a despatch from General Lee, directing him to return with all haste, which he did, reaching Tupelo on the 6th of June. He next made headquarters at Booneville, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, where Rucker re ported to him on the night of the 9th. Sturgis had baked at Stubbs Farm, nine miles from Brice's cross roads, and about the highest point in Mississippi. For rest's forces were scattered. Bell's brigade, twenty- seven hundred and eighty-seven strong, was at Rienzi, twenty-five miles from Brice's ; Rucker, seven hundred strong, was with Forrest at Booneville, eighteen miles from Brice's ; Johnson's and Lyon's brigades, five hun dred and eight hundred strong, were at Baldwyn, five and one-half miles from Brice's. General Forrest had with him at Booneville, Morton's and Rice's batteries, BRICE'S CROSSROADS. 239 besides his escort. General Lee came up from Okolona by rail to confer with Forrest, and formulated the idea of falling back farther so as to weaken Sturgis's con nection with his base of supplies before giving battle. As a result. General Forrest was instructed to prepare three days' rations, and march the following morning in the direction of Brice's crossroads, and thence toward Prairie Mound and Okolona. General Lee left that night with all supplies not needed at Boone ville. Forrest was not ordered to retreat or avoid a battle, yet there was such a suggestion at least as a matter of policy. That night Forrest held an informal council of war. His mind was fairly well made up, but he felt the necessity of concurrence on the part of his chiefs. General Buford, Colonel Rucker, and Chief of Artil lery !M orton joined in the conference. General Forrest stated that, while he would prefer to get the enemy into the open country, a conflict might be precipitated before joining Lee at Okolona, where Chalmers could soon be expected from Alabama, and troops even be brought by rail from Mobile. On the night of the 9th he sent word to Bell to prepare three days' rations, and be ready to move before daylight the next morning in the direction of Brice's crossroads, and all other commands within reach received similar orders. The artillery, eight pieces, was at Booneville, and had to be pulled over eighteen miles of muddy roads to reach the scene of action. Forrest's command was so scat tered that it could not all be concentrated for the fight. A man of more caution would have waited at least for Chalmers and Rodd.ey. When he returned hastily from Alabama, and took a position with Buford's brigade near Rienzi, his impression was that the Federal force coming from Memphis was intended to reenforce Sher man in Georgia; but, after learning through scouts 240 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST, that the column had turned southward, and after a conference with General Lee, he made haste to inter cept the movement. Lee, in returning to Okolona, had taken with him Ferrell's and Thrall's batteries, and expected to make the fight when Sturgis should be well out in the open, and as far away as pos sible from his base of supplies and place of retreat in Memphis. The common road from Baldwyn to Ellistown runs in a southwesterly direction, and is crossed at Brice's farm by a road from Ripley, some twenty-two miles west, running slightly east of southeast, through Gun- town, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and on to Fulton and beyond. Baldwyn is above Guntown and Tupelo below, as seen on the map. There was a little country store and a few outhouses near the Brice house, still standing, and forty or fifty acres of cleared land. Back of this in all directions was heavy timber, and a thick growth of black-jack, scrub-oak, and bushes, with vines and briers in many places through which troops, once off the road, could move only slowly, especially mounted troops. The country was undulating but not broken into sharp ridges. A mile northeast of the crossroads a lane was reached a quarter of a mile long, with broad fields on each side. Forrest was coming this way, but was not the first to get there. About half a mile west of Brice's, ran, from north to south, Tishomingo Creek, which is some twenty feet lower than the common level of the country. The main road descends through high banks to the bot toms, and the stream at that time was spanned by a strong bridge, and there was a large corn-field in cul tivation on the west side. The Union forces came this way. Grierson's splendid division of cavalry wound down toward Brice's at 5.30 a. m. on that bloody loth BRICE'S CROSSROADS. 241 of June. The infantry took ample time for breakfast, and marched leisurely at 7.30. The early morning air was warm and humid after the rains, and the men soon felt the languor that increases with the rising of a hot June sun in a semitropital climate. Still, all moved forward with high hope and buoyant step. By four o'clock that morning Forrest was moving on a low ridge from which the waters flow southeast into the Tombigbee River. His nature was so aggressive that he could not forego such an opportunity for a fight. There were only three small brigades within easy reach : Rucker, with seven hundred men, and the artil- lerj' at Booneville, while Lyon, with eight hundred, and Johnson, just from north Alabama after a forced march, with five hundred men, were at Baldwyn, twelve miles farther south. Total rank and file, two thousand. Besides, Forrest had his escort, eighty-five, and Gatrel's Georgia company of fifty with him. For rest's entire available force numbered about four thou sand seven hundred and eighty-seven, besides artillery ; total, four thousand eight hundred and eighty-five. The Federal force effectives were thirty-two hundred cavalry on the field, and infantry forty-five hundred, with twenty-two pieces of artillery, four hundred ; aggregate, eighty-one hundred. The advance-guard of Waring's brigade had driven in the Confederate posts found above and at the bridge, and followed them past Brice's and out to the left in the direction of Baldwyn, as well as on the Guntown road. Advancing a mile, Waring came to the lane and fields mentioned above. Forrest was coming that way with his escort and Lyon's brigade in advance. The three brigades named were ordered up at a gallop. Captain Randles's company of the Seventh Kentucky, being sent forward by General Lyon to reconnoiter, found the Federal cavalry in force and well posted. The 242 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Third Kentucky, Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. C. Holt, was dismounted, thrown forward at a double-quick, and soon sharply engaged. Lyon dismounted the Sev enth Kentucky, except two companies held as cavalry on the flanks, and advanced in a line with the Third. The Eighth Kentucky was held as a reserve in the rear of the center. Lyon soon drew a heavy fire from the artillery and small arms, but kept up the aggressive for some time, and then fell back. Forrest sent a courier to Old Carrollville, eight miles away, with orders to forward the artillery at a gallop, and to detach Bar- teau's Second Tennessee to gain the Federal rear and destroy their train, if possible. Some of the best trained and most skilful officers and gallant veterans of the Union army were in For rest's front, men who had fought him in West Tennes see, and at Okolona and Iveys Farm, and knew his tac tics. The irnmediate front was composed of Waring's brigade, one thousand four hundred and fifty strong on the left, and Winslow's, of one thousand seven hundred and fifty on the right, with four pieces of artillery placed in position early in the morning, and six guns held in reserve. And thus the opposing forces met and faced each other across the fields and in the woods. Forrest was first playing for time, and after Lyon made a show of fighting and fell back, he had the fences laid down as if preparing for a general charge. About ten o'clock Lyon assumed the offensive with two regi ments, and succeeded in driving the enemy back three hundred yards. Forrest placed the Seventh and Eighth Kentucky slightly in advance, and to the right on the road. Rucker dismounted and took a position in line of battle, and was soon warmly engaged. Johnson's brigade, mounted, was placed on Lyon's right, and the battle seemed fairly opened. Morton's and Rice's bat teries came eight miles on a run and took position in BRICE'S CROSSROADS. 243 an open field in the rear of Lyon, and opened with spirit. Duff's Mississippians were thrown half a mile to the left to guard that flank, and Captain W. A. Tyler, with two companies of Kentuckians, was sent to the left, and also a company under Captain W. D. Stratton, detached from the Nineteenth Tennessee. Rucker charged across an open field with the Seventh Tennessee and the Eighteenth Mississippi battaHon, in the face of a heavy force of infantry. The battalion on the left \yas unsupported, and driven back by a heavy enfilading fire. Rucker, however, rallied his line, and in conjunction with Lieutenant-Colonels William F. Taylor, of the Seventh Tennessee, and Alexander H. Chalmers, of the Mississippi battalion, made another onset which was more successful, though at heavy loss. The Seventh Tennessee lost about one-third its strength in killed and wounded. Lyon had advanced well in the face of a heavy fire, but with severe losses. Buford came on the field at about half-past twelve p. M. with Russell's and Wilson's regiments of Bell's brigade, and Forrest placed them on Rucker's left. Buford was assigned to the command of the right and center, which included Lyon's and Johnson's brigades and the artillery, eight guns, with instructions to throw in his entire force as soon as Bell was heard on the left. Bell advanced to the onset about half-past one o'clock. The Federals occupied ground somewhat higher than that of the Confederates, and it was slightly undulating and thickly shaded by stunted trees and tangled vines. Temporary breastworks of logs and rails had been thrown up hastily by the Federals. Bell received a galling fire; Wilson's regiment on the ex treme left was enfiladed and repulsed, and many offi cers and men fell in the struggle. For a time the isstie seemed to be against the Confederates, but the lines were rallied, and at the supreme moment Lieutenant- 244 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Colonel Wisdom, with about two hundred and fifty men of Newsom's regiment, came upon the field, and formed, dismounted, on Wilson's left. Forrest had admonished the men that this was to be no feint, but a fight to the death for victory. An advance was made all along the Hne. The Federals made charge after charge in fearless and gallant style, and as fresh troops were constantly arriving from the rear, the fates appeared to be greatly in their favor. But the Confederates fought on with desperation, and gained ground little by little. The Hnes came close together in Rucker's front, and when he was about to be driven back, his men drew their revolvers and closed in on their assailants, driving them back with heavy loss. In this hand-to-hand fight For rest led his two escort companies on foot, and by his presence and fierce onslaught did much to inspire the men and roll back the tide of battle. Soon after this he ordered Morton's battery to the front, where there was not even a support, but he opened with double can ister shot with startling effect. Four of the guns were rolled by hand down a wooded slope to within sixty yards of the Federals at the edge of a small field, a quarter of a mile northeast of the Brice house, and opened on a Hne just as it was resuming the offensive. Johnson and Lyon charged successfully on the right, where the battle raged with great fury, and Bell's and Rucker's brigades finally swept everything before them on the left. The Confederate Hne was shortened but strengthened as it converged upon the center of the field. After nearly two hours' furious fighting, the Federals were forced westward of Brice's into a bot tom where infantry, cavalry, and artillery were huddled in a confused mass under a deadly fire from Morton's and Rice's batteries. The battle was practically over before four o'clock. Meantime Barteau's Second Ten- BRICE'S CROSSROADS. 245 nessee, only tw-o hundred and fifty strong, by taking a circuitous route, had succeeded in reaching the Fed eral rear about the time the battle was at its height. Kis presence was quickly known to the Federals and to Forrest's men on the extreme flanks, and was in great part the cause of the loss of the wagon-train. Colonel Barteau says : " I succeeded in reaching the Federal rear just as the fighting seemed heaviest in front. I at once deployed my men in a long line, had my bugler ride up and down sounding the charge at different points, and kept up as great a show as I could, and a vigorous fire upon the Federals until their com plete rout was evident. I was on the flank and rear of their position when \\'aring's and Winslow's brigades came back." This daring movement created great commotion not only in the reserve brigade of infantry and colored troops guarding the train, but drew off all of Grierson's cavalry that could be spared from the front. After that it became a race for the bridge, where over a hundred Federals were killed. Tw-o miles from the battle-field Colonel McMillin ralHed portions of the First and Second Brigades be tween five and six o'clock, at the residence of Dr. E. Agnew, and made a resolute resistance for fifty or sixty minutes, enabling many of the Union forces to pass out through his lines. But this, the last stand worthy of the name, was quickly abandoned when opened upon by Morton's artillery. The bridge for a time was blocked with dead men, wagons, and animals, and the fleeing troops plunged into the stream above and below, and as they came out in the field on the west side they were at once subjected to a heavy fire from small arms and artillery. It was difficult to clear the bridge, but a section of Rice's bat tery was worked across and opened upon the negro brigade held in reserve, and when the way was better 246 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. opened other artillery followed and joined in the pur suit. An order was given by Forrest for the cavalry to halt, reorganize, and pursue. This was done promptly and effectively. The artillery continued for some distance to play an important part. Forrest's force in the field at the time of the most serious work of the day was about two thousand eight hundred and eighty men. Every regiment was dismounted. De ducting horse-holders, he had in this last desperate concentrated effort about seventeen hundred men and two batteries — Morton's and Rice's — one hundred and sixty men. The night after the battle of Brice's crossroads General Forrest was urging the pursuit of Sturgis's flying column with all his wonted energy. Coming upon a squadron of his men at a creek, who had stopped in the near presence of what appeared to be a strong rear-guard, he asked what the trouble was, and was told that the Federal rear-guard stood at bay a few rods in front. He at once took from his pocket a small piece of candle, lighted it, and held it over his head, to the terror of his men, who feared it would cost him his life. " What is that?" he asked, pointing to some object in the water. " A wagon," was the reply. "And that?" "A gun." "Come on, men!" he shouted, plunging into the creek. " In a rout like this ten men are equal to a thousand. They will not stop to fight." And so it proved, as the daring horseman led the pursuit for several hours in the darkness with out adventure. Late that evening several commands were assembled west of Tishomingo Creek, and about one o'clock on the morning of the nth, Forrest gave orders to resume the pursuit. Rucker's brigade, with the Seventh Tennessee in the lead, was in front, and within three miles at daylight came up with the Fed eral rear-guard at Stubbs Farm. After a slight skir- BRICE'S CROSSROADS. 247 mish the enemy fled, leaving the remainder of their wagon-train, nine pieces of artillery, and twenty-five ambulances, as well as some wounded. The Federals were greatly scattered over the coun try, and Forrest threw out a regiment on each side of the road as much to gather up firearms and other de sirable property as prisoners. Rucker's horses were exhausted, and Bell's brigade took the lead. Four miles east of Ripley the Federals were found drawn up west of Hatchie Creek, with skirmishers in the woods near the stream. Forrest dismounted two of Bell's regiments, moved leftward up the creek, crossed over and flanked the Federals out of their position after a slight skirmish. The Federals made a stand at Ripley in some force. Wilson's regiment, the advance of Bell's brigade, reached there about 8 a. m. Forrest came up with his escort, and joined Wilson in a suc cessful charge. The enemy fled, leaving thirty dead and sixty wounded on the field, including Lieutenant- Colonel George M. McCaig, One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Infantry. Buford came up with Rucker's and Lyon's brigades, and continued the pur suit toward Salem. Many more prisoners were taken. Forrest went forward with Bell's brigade by a differ ent road. Near Salem, a few miles from the home of his youth, he fell from his horse from exhaustion, and was unconscious for more than an houi". That night * he rested with staff and escort at the house of Orrin Beck, a maternal uncle. The pursuit grew weaker as men and horses were exhausted, but it was continued in the direction of Memphis about fifty-eight miles. Bell's brigade which left Rienzi at 4 a. m. on the 10th, marched twenty-five miles to Brice's crossroads, fought from 2 p. m. to 4 p. M., joined in the pursuit, and on the night of the nth camped at Davis Mill, twelve miles north of Salem, a distance of eighty-five 17 248 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. miles from the starting-point. Other commands were distinguished Hkewise. Morton's artillery ran eighteen miles to reach the battle-field, was engaged five hours, joined in the pursuit, and reached Salem on the night of the nth, having made sixty-one miles in thirty-eight hours. So great was the strain that fifteen of his horses fell dead in the pursuit. The Federals made all possible haste on the return to Memphis. The cavalry had the advantage and the infantry suffered more heavily. Waring's cavalry bri gade lost only two hundred and seven, and Winslow's one hundred and twenty-six. The colored troops, it was reported afterward, wore badges inscribed " Re member Fort Piflow." Few, if any, of the badges were captured on the prisoners, and the facts were not ¦ known to Forrest's men until after the battle. Some of the pursuers, including a small detachment from Newsom's Nineteenth Tennessee regiment, reached Grand Junction and La Grange, though not in force. Brice's crossroads is now Bethany, as a post-office in Lee County, Miss. The battle was fought in what was then Pontotoc County, and extended nearly three miles into Tippah County, on the road to Ripley, the county seat. The spoils taken by Forrest's men were abundant and of the finest quality. General Sturgis's headquar ters wagon fell into the hands of the victors, and in it were morning reports showing ten thousand two * hundred and sixty-five men on the muster-rolls, but probably not all present for duty. He reported after ward that four hundred, including one hundred cav alry, were sent back from Stubbs Farm. The Federal medical department was especially well stocked with everything required for the treat ment of soldiers on the battle-field and in hospitals. Five splendid new ambulances, loaded with valuable BRICE'S CROSSROADS. 249 Stores, were sent through the country under guard to General Johnston's army in Georgia. General Sturgis made quick time back to Memphis, reaching Collierville in forty-eight hours. All his sol diers were in a most dilapidated condition. It was a matter of great mortification to him and to his gallant officers that they were so defeated, and the general was afterward subjected to harsh criticism and in quiry before a military court, and, although not formally deposed for his unavoidable defeat he was not again given an opportunity to so distinguish him self. General Sherman had severely censured Gen eral William Sooy Smith * for allowing himself to be badly worsted by Forrest at West Point, Okolona, and Prairie Station in the latter part of February, 1864. Sturgis did not fare much better, and little more was heard of him during the war. Had he secured that one " little lock of hair " his reputation would have been secure. On the I2th of June Forrest returned slowly to Ripley, remained there that night, and reached Brice's crossroads on the morning of the 13th. His first order was for the removal of the wounded of both sides to hospitals on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and the next one required brigade commanders to make de tailed reports of all captured property. On the same afternoon he established headquarters at Guntown, where he was soon actively engaged in the reorganiza tion of his command. A few days later he repaired to Tupelo. About that time Roddey's force was placed under Forrest, and ordered to Corinth, leaving three hundred men in north Alabama. * Forrest's command called him " Sookey Smith," while General Andrew J. Smith was known among them as '"Old Baldy," by way of distinction. 250 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. In a report dated at Memphis, June 24th, General Sturgis gave his losses in killed, wounded, and missing at two thousand two hundred and forty, but the re ports of brigade and regimental commanders make a total of two thousand six hundred and twelve. Chief Surgeon Dr. J. B. Cowan, of General For rest's staff, reported four hundred and ninety-two killed and wounded on the Confederate side. Rucker's brigade lost twenty-three per cent and Lyon's over twenty per cent in killed and wounded. The general commanding, in an address to his soldiers, claimed as the results of the victory seventeen guns, two hundred and fifty wagons, three thousand stand of arms, three hundred thousand rounds of small-arm ammunition, two thousand prisoners, and killed and wounded two thousand.* He paid a high tribute to the gallantry of his men as well as to Brigadier-General Buford, com manding division, and to brigade-commanders Colo nels E. W. Rucker, W. A. Johnson, Lyon, and Bell, Captain John W. Morton, chief of artillery, and to staff-officers Major C. W. Anderson, Captain W. H. Brand, and Lieutenants Clay, Sam. Donelson, Titus, and M. C. Gallaway. Forrest could well congratulate his men upon such a remarkable victory over the best troops of the Union army in greatly superior numbers. Away from his immediate superior commander he planned the battle, and it was fought and won in an incredibly short space of time. There was no time or place during the action when he was not outnumbered except at the last, when the retreat began. His forces, although scattered at first and weary from long marches, were brought together and handled with con summate tact and judgment. The general fully grasped the situation, and seized a rare opportunity to win a * Rebellion Records, Series i, vol. xxxix, p. 228. BRICE'S CROSSROADS. 25 1 victory which was without parallel during the war, as conceded by leading generals on both sides. This was doubtless Forrest's greatest achievement from a mili tary standpoint, and the climax of his hard-earned fame. The Confederacy was losing strength, and every battle or skirmish only hastened its inevitable downfall. CHAPTER XV. severe REPULSE AT HARRISBURG, JULY 14, 1864. The Union leaders in the field, as well as the au thorities at Washington, realized at once the serious import of the disaster at Brice's crossroads, and re solved to retrieve it at any cost or hazard. General Grant, in his Memoirs, says : " Forrest had met Stur gis in command of some cavalry in Mississippi, and had used him very roughly, gaining a great victory over him. . . . Two divisions under A. J. Smith had been sent to Louisiana some months before. Sher man ordered these back, with directions to attack For rest."* This was part of a prompt movement in force, leading to the battle of Harrisburg, fought on the 14th of July on a hill above and west of Tupelo. Secretary of War Stanton on the 14th of June tele graphed General Sherman that he had just received the report of the battle between Sturgis and Forrest, " in which our forces were defeated with great loss. Washburn estimates our loss at not less than three thou sand." Sherman replied : " I have ordered A. J. Smith not to go to Mobile, but to go to Memphis and to de feat Forrest at all costs. Forrest has only his cavalry. I can not understand how he could defeat Sturgis with eight thousand men. ... I know I would have been willing to attempt the same task with that force ; but Forrest is the devil, and I think he has got some of our * Memoirs of General Grant, vol. ii, p. 306. 252 SEVERE REPULSE AT HARRISBURG. 253 troops under cower. I have two officers at Memphis who will fight all the time — A. J. Smith and Mower. I will order them to make up a force and go out to follow Forrest to the death, if it costs ten thousand Hves and breaks the Treasury. There never will be peace in Tennessee until Forrest is dead."* Again he telegraphed to Stanton on the 20th as to Forrest : " He whipped Sturgis fair and square, and now I have got against him A. J. Smith and Mower, and will let them try their hands." On the 24th of June General Sher man sent a message to President Lincoln, in which he said : " I have ordered General A. J. Smith and Gen eral Mower from Memphis to pursue and kill Forrest, promising the latter, in case of success, my influence to promote him to a major-general." Forrest had surely grown to be a disturbing factor and a menace to the rear of Sherman's army when it was deemed necessary to make such an offer to secure his destruction. Not only this, but his presence on the field detained Union forces at Decatur, at Nashville, and various other points which might otherwise have been employed rapidly and successfully to crush out what was left of the Southern Confederacy, which even then was gasping for breath, and was so soon to pass into the shadows of history. Never commanding more than five thousand men in any action, Forrest mobilized his skeleton regiments and fought them either as mounted infantry or dismounted cavalry, and so often changed front and used his artillery as the picket line, that it required a largely superior force to look after him. Hence the importance now of engaging his at tention by a strong movement quickly organized to destroy him if possible. Of the several commanders sent out to vanquish * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxviii, part iv, p. 480. 254 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Forrest, General A. J. Smith was, perhaps, one of the ablest, and, in conjunction with Brigadier-General Joseph A. Mower, who was offered the brilliant prize of a major-generalship, he moved forth, resolved not to be surprised, and in this he succeeded. His force consisted of thirty-two hundred cavalry under Grier son, eleven thousand infantry, twenty-four pieces of artillery, and five hundred artillerists. Brigadier-Gen eral Mower commanded the First Division, Sixteenth Army-corps; Colonel David Moore commanded the Third Division, and Colonel Edward Bouton com manded the First Brigade of the United States colored troops, Major-General A. J. Smith being in chief com mand. The expedition moved out from La Grange, forty-nine miles east of Memphis, on the 5th day of July, 1864, passed through Ripley on the 8th, crossed the Tallahatchie at New Albany on the 9th, and camped on the night of the loth five miles north of Pontotoc. Thus far there had been no serious resist ance. The Confederate outpost at Ripley, some six hundred strong, under command of Lieutenant-Colo nel Hyams, First Mississippi Partizans, had been thrown forward on the 7th, and skirmished with Smith's advance, but fell back through Ripley to El listown, fifteen miles to the northwestward of Tupelo. Generals Lee and Forrest had been making head quarters and concentrating some troops at Okolona, and Chalmers, who had returned from Alabama, was ordered forward to Pontotoc and reached that neighborhood on the nth, wath orders to skirmish sharply and detain the enemy's advance if possible for two days, and he disposed his two brigades accordingly on the different roads. The Federal column advanced in parallelogram form with line of battle flanked by cavalry, wagons in the center, infantry and cavalry in the rear. Lyon's SEVERE REPULSE AT HARRISBURG. 255 brigade was encountered at Pontotoc, and pressed back slowly, but only a few miles' progress was made that day. General Forrest was on the field, and was joined by the commander of the department. The road in front ran for two miles through a swamp, and Chal mers's force made such resistance that General Smith abandoned the idea of marching to Okolona, and on the morning of the 13th he turned to the left almost a right angle, and moved toward Tupelo, eighteen miles eastw-ard. His skirmishers on the Okolona road were called in, and the rear was brought up by the colored brigade and the Seventh Kansas Cavalry. His object was to secure possession of the railroad at Tupelo, and thus be able to select his own battle-ground. There was sharp skirmishing on the line of march nearly all day, and when within about eight miles of Pontotoc General Chalmers, by order of General Lee, made a bold attack on the flank of the train, which was suc cessful only to the extent of destroying seven wagons and some caissons and ambulances, and killing twenty- seven mules. The Confederates were repulsed with losses. Colonel Duff, commanding a Mississippi regi ment, was wounded, and lost forty-seven killed and wounded. General Buford also made an attack on the flank farther up the road, but without success. General Forrest brought up the rear until nine o'clock at night, when he reached a point two miles from Harrisburg, near Tupelo, and there employed Mabry's brigade and four pieces of artiHery to feel the enemy. At a later hour he went to the front, accompanied only by a staff-officer. Lieutenant Samuel Donelson, made a wide detour for an hour or more, rode through the pickets and teamsters unnoticed at first, discovered the strong position of the Federals, and only escaped by a dash back through the woods at full speed and under fire. The train was parked two miles west of 256 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Tupelo, and General Grierson held the town and rail road. The Federal line, about a mile and a half long, was in a semicircle form on a low ridge running north and south, and faced west toward Pontotoc. The left rested near the railroad south of Tupelo, and the right half a mile north of Harrisburg. There was much open space and lightly timbered land in front through which the Confederates would have to advance. At some points they would be in plain view for a distance of five hun dred or a thousand yards. General Smith had made a good selection of position, and it was well strengthened during the night. The twenty-four guns were advan tageously placed, and there was a cavalry brigade on each flank. General Smith was ready for battle. While General Lee was not, with the limited force at his com mand, yet he was compelled for various reasons to bring on an engagement. His department was men aced by movements from Vicksburg and north Ala bama, which he felt compelled to meet, and if he had to leave Forrest he would be obliged to withdraw some of his troops on the field. Forrest never acquiesced in the resolve of his superior, and declined to accept the command tendered him for the day. The Confederate line of battle was arranged with Roddey's division — Patterson's and Johnson's brigades — on the extreme right ; Colonel Crossland, commanding brigade of Ken tuckians next to the left in the center, but on the right of the road; Rice's battery, Bell's brigade next, and Mabry's brigade, with one section of Morton's battery, on the extreme left flank of the fighting line. The other section of Morton's battery was under command of Lieutenant Tully Brown, to the left of the road to Harrisburg. The reserve was composed of McCul loch's brigade, and Neely's and Gholson's dismounted men, an infantry force of seven hundred under Genera! SEVERE REPULSE AT HARRISBURG. 257 Lyon, and Thrall's, Ferrell's, and Hudson's batteries. The Confederate forces on the field in front and in re serve were, as near as can be ascertained, as follows: Chalmers's division, composed of McCulloch's and Rucker's brigades 2,300 Buford's division. Bell's, Lyon's, and Mabry's brigades 3,200 Roddey's division, Patterson's and Johnson's brigades 1,500 Lyon's infantry division . Beltzhooven's battalioti of infantry 900 Gholson's (dismounted) brigade 600 Neely's " " 600 Artillerists, 20 guns 360 Total 9,460 The infantry were in line of battle, but partly in reserve. Deducting horse-holders, the available Con federate force was about seventy-five hundred, though not half engaged during the day. General Forrest had sufficient cause to decline the command offered him on account of his ill-health if for nothing else. He had been suffering for some time, and two weeks previously had requested General Lee to relieve him. Without actual command, he was given his choice, and elected to go in the fight with Roddey's division on the right. By seven o'clock on the morning of the 14th, the Confederates were in order of battle facing directly east, and moved up to the timber-line where they halted, and firing was opened at long range both from small arms and artillery, and was continued without serious effect for an hour. At eight o'clock General Lee directed General Forrest to ride down to the right and swing Roddey's division around on the Union left. This movement, however, was confronted by heavy reenforcements which General Smith could easily spare from other parts of his Hnes, and General For- 258 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FOI^REST. rest reached the conclusion that it would be best to hold Roddey in check. So there was no assault made on the Union left. The lines were not nearer together than four hundred yards. A part of Buford's division ad vanced prematurely and overconfidently. Crossland's Kentucky brigade rushed ahead of the main line, and was soon under a terrific fire. The men seemed reck less of Hfe, and without fear or reason. Their officers had little control over them. The artillery was served with fine effect, but the dismounted cavalry regiments and brigades went in without method, to be shot down by platoons and sections. Again and again they fell back, rallied, and charged, always with terrible losses. The brigades were not alined so as to cooperate. The enemy could see this, and quickly took advantage of the irregularity with which the main charges were made. No general plan was observed after the first shock of battle. It was a scorching hot day ; the beds of streams were dry ; vegetation burned to a crisp ; the sultry air, laden with dust and sand, and a red July sky glowed through sulfurous, lazy smoke upon fields where the cyclones of battle had met to wrestle. In this fierce, remorseless work mere personal valor and deeds of daring were of no avail. For two hours the contest raged, and not a point on the Union Hne had been broken, although the fragments of brigades charged time after time up within a few^ yards of the breastworks and were shot down, until regiments looked like mere skirmish lines. The award for rash courage could not be claimed for any one command. Cross- land's Kentuckians, Bell's Tennesseeans, McCulloch's Missourians and others, Mabry's Mississippians, jMor- ton's. Rice's, and Thrall's artillerymen all threw them selves into the supreme struggle with an abandon that has seldom been recorded in the history of civilized peoples. The straggling commands going up the hill SEVERE REPULSE AT HARRISBURG. 25g across an open field drew a concentrated fire from more than five times, or even ten times, their number. It was Crossland's brigade of seven hundred men first, then Bell's, and then Mabry's. Rucker, the stubborn fighter, was ordered to take the place of Mabry, but when within fifty yards of the Federal lines was twice wounded and his men driven back, leaving the ground strewn with the dead and dying. McCulloch's brigade was ordered to the support of Crossland, but recalled before it reached the fatal zone of battle in the center of the field. Forrest moved Roddey's command to Cross- land's original position, but further advance was not to be thought of. The commands engaged went in by piecemeal and were slaughtered by wholesale. At the end of two hours' desperate fighting, without organi zation or skilful handling, the Confederates were re pulsed at every point. It was all gallantry and useless sacrifice of life. General Mower advanced his lines a quarter of a mile, and thus ended a bloody battle and costly mistake. The attack having failed with disastrous results, the Confederates fell back to the position held early in the morning, leaving McCul loch in advance, where he remained several hours. General Forrest never questioned the judgment or authority of his superior officer in command, or com plained afterward, but he said on the field and else where that it was not his fight, and that if it had been successful General Lee would have been entitled to the credit of the plan and its execution. The Confederate loss in killed and wounded officers was especially heavy. In Mabry's brigade. Colonel Isham Harrison ; Lieutenant-Colonel John B. Cage, Fourteenth Confed erate; Thomas M. Nelson, Sixth Mississippi, and Major Robert C. McCay, Thirty-eighth Mississippi, were killed. In Bell's brigade. Colonels C. R. Barteau, A. N. Wilson, R. M. Russell, and J. F. Newsom were 26o LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. wounded, also Lieutenant-Colonel Wisdom and Major Parham. Colonel Faulkner, of the Twelfth Kentucky, was twice wounded, and left on the field. Colonel Rucker was twice wounded, and had to be carried away after leading his men to within fifty yards of the Fed eral works. At least one-third of his small brigade was lost in killed and wounded or by the heat. The few Confederates who crossed the works were killed or captured. Lieutenant Willie Forrest was thrown from his horse by the concussion of a shell which exploded over his head, and had to be carried to the rear. The section of Morton's battery commanded by Lieutenant Tully Brown shared the advance and losses of Bell's and Mabry's brigades. Five out of the seven gun ners and six of the eight horses of one gun, were struck down, and Sergeant Brown, its commander, was three times wounded, but the gun was drawn to the rear by the sharpshooters of Captain Titus's company, and Brown came out with it. Another piece was also brought off by hand after one of its wheels had been shot away. All the batteries were brought into action during the engagement, and handled effectively both at the front and from long range. Late in the afternoon General Forrest moved Rucker's brigade, now under Colonel Duckworth, from the extreme left, with four pieces of artillery south ward on the Verona road, and had a sharp skirmish with the Federal left, artillery being freely used on both sides. Late in the evening the brigade went into bivouac three miles south of Tupelo. Buford was also moved in the same direction in anticipation of an at tack the next morning. General Smith was still expected to move toward Okolona to destroy the railroad and other propertv. but on the morning of the 15th he decided that it had become a necessity to return. The movement was be- SEVERE REPULSE AT HARRISBURG. 26r gun about noon. The retreat was soon discovered, and Bell's brigade, \vith Rice's battery, was ordered to follow and press the rear vigorously. He came up with the rear-guard, commanded by General Mower, at Old Town Creek, four miles northwest of Tupelo, on the Ellistown road, and made an attack which was repulsed with considerable loss, including Colonel L. J. Sherrell, of the Seventh Kentucky, killed, and Colonel Crossland, brigade commander, desperately wounded. Rice's battery also suffered severely. For rest came up with jMcCulloch's brigade at a gallop, dis mounted the force, and made a partly successful charge, in which he was painfully wounded in the right foot, and Colonel McCulloch wounded in the shoulder. General Chalmers made a flank movement on the left with Kelley's regiment, but was forced to fall back. IMcCulloch's attack created a diversion for a short time, and saved Buford's horses and artillery. Forrest's wound was so painful that he was obliged to return to Tupelo and have it dressed, leaving Chalmers in command. General Lee went to the front and ordered McCulloch's brigade to bivouac within half a mile of Town Creek. Buford's division was close by, and the other commands were between these and Tupelo. The morning of the i6th found them all still greatly ex hausted. Men and horses were broken down after three days' hard marching and fighting. Chalmers was directed to follow the Federals with Rucker's and Roddey's brigades and a section of artil lery, which he did for one day only, and engaged in some skirmishing. Two hundred and fifty men were detached to continue the pursuit toward Memphis. Thus reduced, his command returned to Tupelo. Gen eral Smith marched rapidly to Memphis by way of Holly Springs ; Mower brought up the rear. The main reason assigned for the retreat after repulsing such an 262 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. attack, was shortness of rations, only one day's supply being left. In his report General Smith says : " We reached Salem on the 19th, where we found suppHes awaiting our arrival." This was three days after the last brush with Chalmers. General Forrest, in his report, says : " The enemy continued his retreat, and was pursued for two days by Rucker and Roddey. My force during the engage ment did not exceed five thousand men. The enemy fought behind fortifications and in positions of his own selection. Three of my brigade commanders, Rucker, McCulloch, and Crossland, were seriously wounded, and all the colonels were either killed or wounded — two hundred and ten were killed, one thousand one hundred and sixteen wounded." A detailed report for the 13th, 14th, and 15th of July, by commands, shows losses as follows : Chalmers's division, killed, 57; wounded, 255.... 312 Buford's, including Mabry's brigade, killed, 153 ; wounded, 798 951 Remnant (80) of Morgan's detachment, Kentucky cavalry, killed, 5 ; wounded, 19 24 Morton's artillery, killed, i ; wounded, 9 10 Missing from Buford 48 Missing from Morgan's detachment 2 Total 1,347 The percentage of mortality appears greater when it is considered that- so many Confederates in line of battle never fired a shot. General Lyon's reserve force of twenty-one hundred men was not in range of the battle. McCulloch's brigade, fourteen hundred strong, was ordered forward to take Crossland's place, but was not engaged. Roddey's division, fifteen hundred, was only engaged with skirmishers at a range of four hun dred yards. Over five thousand did not take part in this bloody affair. SEVERE REPULSE AT HARRISBURG. 263 The losses of some Confederate commands were especially heavy. Out of Crossland's eight hundred men in the field, including horse-holders, two hundred and seventy-six w-ere killed or wounded ; only thirty were reported as missing. All this occurred in less than an hour and a half's actual fighting. Mabry's brigade of seven hundred and fift} men in the charge left one- third on the field kiUed and wounded. Such percent ages were seldom heard of except in a few of the great est battles of the war, such as Gettysburg, Chicka mauga, and Franklin. The severest loss ever known was at Gettysburg, when a Confederate regiment lost seven hundred and twenty out of eight hundred men, or ninety per cent. General Smith reported his casualties as nine offi cers killed or mortally wounded, sixty-nine men killed, and five hundred and fifty-eight wounded; total, six hundred and thirty-six. 18 CHAPTER XVI. A DARING RAID ON MEMPHIS. General Forrest suffered more from the wound received in his big toe at Old Town Creek on the 15th of July than from any of the numerous injuries sustained during the war. For some weeks before the battle of Harrisburg he had been afflicted with boils and other troubles consequent upon hard fare and the great strain of body and mind endured in three years' service. He remained at Tupelo only twenty-four hours to give orders as to the care of the wounded, burial of the dead, collection of small arms on the battle-fields and the disposition of troops. No longer able to ride on horseback, he secured a buggy, and con tinued to give his personal attention to necessary de tails. Leaving Brigadier-General Chalmers in com mand, he went by rail to Okolona, where he remained until the 22d, and then returned to Tupelo. General S. D. Lee was transferred to Hood's army on the 20th, and General Dabney H. Maury sticceeded him tem porarily. The troops were scattered : those in the State service reported to the Governor of Mississippi at Jackson ; Roddey's division was .sent by rail to Mont gomery on the 28th to meet a reported invasion in the interior of Alabama ; Mabry's brigade was ordered the same day to repair mounted to Canton, Miss., to assist in repelling another Federal movement ; Buford and Chalmers were sent to Egypt Station and other points in the neighborhood convenient to forage and sub- 264 A DARING RAID ON MEMPHIS. 265 sistence, and other commands were also located with a view to recuperation. The small battaHon of infan try present at Harrisburg was returned to Mobile. Depots for supplies were established, the scouting serv ice was reorganized, fortifications were put under construction at Prairie Mound, and active measures taken to remount the men who had lost their horses, and to secure the return of absentees. General For rest returned to Okolona on the ist of August, but was still suffering greatly. General Chalmers, on the ist day of August, re ported to the chief of staff of the department that preparations were being made by the Federals to move from Memphis, Vicksburg, and north Alabama at the same time, and, if successful, to concentrate at Selma, and stated that scouts reported fourteen thousand in fantry and cavalry already assembled at La Grange. " Our effective force," he concluded, " is five thousand three hundred and fifty-seven, but we are very much crippled in officers. Both of my brigade commanders are wounded, also a brigade commander of General Buford's division, and most of the field-officers of the command were either killed or wounded in the late engagement." General Forrest resumed command on the 3d of August, and on the same day General Chal mers set out with his staff escort, Thrall's battery, and McCulloch's brigade through Pontotoc for Ox ford, about fifty miles distant. The command was sup plied with one hundi-ed rounds of ammunition for small arms, and two hundred for the artillery. On the 4th Neely's brigade was also despatched toward Oxford with orders to impress negroes to the number of five hundred, with axes, spades, etc., to construct fortifi cations at Graysport, Abbeville, and other places on the Tallahatchie River, and to obstruct roads and fords in the river not so fortified. Mabry's brigade, recalled 266 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. from the direction of Canton, was ordered to Grenada with similar instructions. General Smith's return to Memphis claiming a great victory over Forrest, but followed even by weak ened Confederate commands, did not give entire satis faction to Grant and Sherman. Forrest was reported to be dead when he was only crippled and riding around in an old buggy with his foot propped up on the dashboard. General Mower had not quite killed Forrest, but he was promoted to major-general. Sher man's pledge was made good. On the 12th of April he telegraphed to Stanton : " Please convey to the President my thanks for the commission for General Mower, whose task was to kill Forrest. He only crip pled him. He is a young and game officer." General Smith soon made another advance from Memphis, but not intending to go as far from his base as before. By the 9th of August he had reached the Tallahatchie River between Holly Springs and Oxford, and was accompanied by Generals Mower and Grierson with a force of ten thousand infantry, four thousand cavalry, three thousand colored troops from Memphis, and three Minnesota regiments sent from St. Louis. The cavalry moved across the country and the infantry by rail as far as Holly Springs, going by way of Grand Junction. The distance from Holly Springs to Oxford, south, was thirty miles, and the Tallahatchie River was crossed about half-way betw-een the two places. Gen eral Chalmers destroyed bridges and trestles below Holly Springs, and took a position south of the river. Fighting stubbornly, he was pushed back to Oxford by the loth of August, and was found there by Forrest with Bell's and Neely's brigades and Morton's artillery. An advance was made and a position taken at Hurri cane Creek, eight miles out from Oxford, and fight ing was kept up almost continuously for three days. A DARING RAID ON MEMPHIS. 267 On the morning of the 13th the Confederates found themselves flanked by a heavy force, and fell back to Oxford. Forrest was well aware before he left Oko lona that he could not successfully meet the forces in his front, and his mind was busy planning a counter- movement. The Federals had repaired the Mississippi Central Railroad as far as Waterford, eight miles south of Holly Springs. As early as the 8th of August Forrest wrote to Chalmers inquiring as to the facilities for crossing the river at Panola west of Oxford, and the number of boats to be found there. Buford was twenty-five miles away on the right, at Pontotoc, to guard against a flank movement in that direction. The way seemed to be open on the extreme left for a move on IMemphis. Chalmers fell back across a swollen stream a few miles south of Oxford, but kept up demon strations in different directions, and occupied the atten tion of the Federals. On Monday, August 15th, he led a detachment of some two hundred picked men from Neely's brigade on a reconnaissance ; drove in the enemy's pickets on the Abbeville road, and dashed into the town and developed a large infantry force which retreated at first in some confusion, but was soon drawn up in line of battle. Seeing this, Chalmers withdrew his little force without loss. By the evening of the 17th it became known through scouts that the Federal commander had repaired the railroad as far as Abbe ville, collected supplies, laid a pontoon bridge across the Tallahatchie, and was ready to advance southward. Buford was ordered to repair with his division to Ox ford to cooperate with Chalmers. Forrest was again able to take to the saddle, but had to carry his foot in a sling. On the morning of the i8th, after freely consulting General Chalmers and other officers, he resolved to set in motion a carefully considered plan to attack Memphis. Two thousand of 268 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. the best men in Bell's and Neely's brigades, and Morton's battery of artillery, were selected for the ex pedition. About five hundred men were rejected on account of their mounts being too weak for the forced marches before them. Late in the afternoon this com mand of fifteen hundred men, besides the staff, escort, and artillerymen, rode to the west in a pelting rain, which had been falling several days. After hard riding in mud, water, and rain the command reached Senatobia, in Tate County, by seven o'clock on the morning of the 2oth. One mile north of this place it became necessary to construct a bridge over Hickahala Creek. Forrest sent in advance a detachment to cut dowm two trees on each side of the stream, and to make cables of grape and muscadine vines to be fas tened to the stumps of the felled trees. A small ferry boat was anchored in the center of the stream, and the cables rested on this. Cypress logs were used to further support the cables. As General Forrest ap proached he sent details to neighboring gin-houses and cabins to strip them of their floors. The planks were laid across the cables, making a substantial though swinging bridge, and the entire command dismounted and led their horses in columns of twos over this swinging, trembling, grape-vine network. Two pieces of artillery had been left at Panola owing to the ter rible condition of the roads and great strain upon the animals. The other two guns, pulled by ten horses each up- and down-hill on the expedition throughout, were here unlimbered and carried over by hand. For rest, upon reaching the south bank of the creek, lame as he was, had dismounted to direct every movement, and even took part in tying the cables to the stumps and placing the planks brought up by the troopers. At the greater bridge of Lodi he would have been one of the first to pass over as he was here. No wonder A DARING RAID ON MEMPHIS. 269 that he had such a following! When once started the command was safely across in about an hour. The construction of the improvised bridge occupied even less time than that. Seven miles northward the head of the column reached Coldwater, a turbulent, full stream twice as wide as Hickahala Creek. Again a ferry-boat was found, and anchored as a central float. Grapevines, gin-house floorings, and telegraph-poles were used without stint in the construction of another bridge on the same engineering principle as the other one. In about three hours this was ready also for use, and the passage of the command was speedily ac complished without a casualty. Forrest pushed on as rapidly as possible, and at sundown on the 20th reached Hernando, his old home, twenty-five miles south of Memphis, and rested a short time to feed and rest. Scouts were met there who gave accurate informa tion as to the strength and position of troops in and around jMemphis, for it might be said of Forrest as of Tamerlane that : " On all occasions his march was preceded by clouds of flying scouts, who, piercing the country in every direction, kept him constantly in formed as to its varied resources and the dispositions of the enemy." Fifteen miles farther on he was met by several citizens who gave him specific reports, es pecially as to the headquarters of prominent officers in Memphis. Henderson's famous scouts met the ad vance of the column at Cane Creek, four miles south of Memphis, and reported the position of the pickets on the road, and also stated that there were fully five thousand troops in and around the city. Forrest's plan was to capture if possible the three generals known to be there, and the troops imme diately around them, but not to attack Fort Pickering, a strong and well-garrisoned position. Incidentally 270 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. the troops might remount and equip themselves, but the main object was to recall the movement of Gen eral A. J. Smith southward. It was arranged for Captain William H. Forrest, the general's brother, with his independent company, to lead the advance, capture the pickets, rush into the Gayoso House and capture Major-General Hurlbut and such other officers as might be quartered there. Colonel T. H. Logwood, with a strong detachment from the Twelfth and Fifteenth Tennessee regiments, was to follow Captain Forrest to the Gayoso, and place details at Beale and Main and Beale and Shelby streets, just south of the hotel, and at the steamboat-landing at the foot of Union Street. Lieutenant-Colonel Jesse A. Forrest was to invest General C. C. Wash burn's headquarters on Union Street ; Colonel T. H. Bell, with detachments of Newsom's, Russell's, and Barteau's regiments, and two pieces of Morton's bat tery under Lieutenant Sale, were to compose the re serve under General Forrest in the suburbs to cover the movement and the retreat. The commanders of the skeleton brigades, regiments, and detachments were assembled, and the part to be taken by each one was fully explained. Separating in the darkness, they formed their troops into columns of fours. The strict est silence was enjoined upon all as being essential to the success of the daring venture to be made. Had this been observed the success of the first hour at least might have been more pronounced. A heavy fog prevailed, and it was a damp, sultry, starless night, propitious for such work by well-seasoned soldiers elated by a spirit of daring and sense of danger. jMany of them were within rifle-shot of their homes, which they had not seen for many months. A staff-officer made the rounds of each command and reported to General Forrest that all were closed up A DARING RAID ON MEMPHIS. 27 1 and in place. At 3.15 a. m. Captain Forrest, with ten picked men some sixty paces in front of his company, led the advance. When within two miles of Court Square he was halted by the sharp chal lenge of a picket, and "Who comes there?" "De tachment of the Tw-elfth JMissouri Cavalry with rebel prisoners." " Dismount, and advance one." Captain Forrest advanced without dismounting, and struck the picket down w'ith a blow of his revolver. His men who were close at his heels, rushed by and captured the picket-post, ten or twelve men, some forty yards to the rear. One gun was discharged by a Union sol dier. The prisoners were sent to Captain Forrest's rear, and he pushed on a quarter of a mile to the next post, where he was greeted by a volley, but dispersed the force encountered. The alarm was spreading, day was breaking, and as the Confederates came in sight of long rows of tents, they broke into wild cheering. Forrest gave the order to Gaus, his ever-faithful bugler, to sound the charge, and at this the troops selected for the purpose, dashed forward in the direction of the Gayoso. Captain Forrest ran into and dispersed the gunners of a battery, but did not think to spike the pieces. Reaching the Gayoso the captain entered with out dismounting, and caused the house to be searched for officers of rank. Fortunately for Major-General S. A. Hurlbut he had not slept in the Gayoso the night before, but at the old Duval residence, used as a quartermaster's headquarters, on Shelby Street. Colo nel Jesse A. Forrest likewise failed in his call for Ma jor-General Washburn at the elegant Williams man sion on U^nion Street. Being warned by Lieutenant- Colonel M. H. Starr of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, and the sound of guns, the general left his room suddenly by a back door, and escaped to Fort Pickering, three- quarters of a mile away, leaving his uniform and per- 272 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. sonal effects behind.* General Buckland, command ing the district of Memphis, likewise escaped from his residence on Court Street, and instead of run ning away, took an active part in rallying the avail able troops and militia for defense. The town was thrown into a state of great excitement. Forrest's men rushed wildly about with no apparent object in view-, and the whole population was soon aroused. Confederate sympathizers, especially women and chil dren who could safely do so, gave the invaders an exultant welcome. The Federals were forming in Hne, drums were beaten, officers and couriers flying hither and thither, and every movement punctuated by the sharp rattle of small arms and the ping-ping of bullets. To this was soon added the heavy boom of artillery in the suburbs and in the city. Logwood's command, following Captain Forrest, ran into a battery of artillery — the Seventh .Wisconsin Battery, com manded by Captain Harry S. Lee — about where Looneys Switch is now located, the gunners of which he dispersed before they could fire the pieces they were charging ; then he passed on to the Gayoso. Neely's command in the suburbs was resisted by a strong infantry force. Forrest went to his assistance with Bell's brigade, and encountered a cavalry com mand. The joint attack was partly successful, as some prisoners were taken, and some of the infantry and dis mounted cavalry were driven into the State Female College, from which a white flag was raised but pulled * These were taken as trophies, but sent back that evening with the compliments of General Forrest. In acknowledging the favor General Washburn sent out .gray cloth with buttons and lace to make Forrest and his staff full uniforms, and a beautiful sword for Major J. P. Strange, which is still preserved by the latter's family in Memphis. A DARING RAID ON MEMPHIS. 2/3 down before a surrender could have taken place. Skir mishing followed, and Lieutenant Sale threw some shells into the building, but the attack was abandoned as the place could not have been taken without a great sacrifice of life. Lieutenant-Colonel Logwood, while chatting pleas antly with some Federal officers at the Gayoso, was ^varned that infantry forces were closing in on him, and ordering Captain Hugh D. Greer, of the Twelfth Ten nessee, to take the lead, he and the two Forrests moved rapidly under fire down Beale Street, out Hernando, near to the old Poston place, where he found Forrest in a heavy engagement. Making a dash to the right he circled around, rejoined Forrest, was in a skirmish for an hour or two, and then with the entire command fell back slowdy toward Hernando. The Federals chased some stragglers out of the city, and attacked others of Forrest's men who were still lingering in an infantry camp. A detachment of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Starr, made a vig orous attack on the rear-guard commanded by Forrest in person. The latter made a counter-charge, and the Federal commander was wounded on the firing Hne. After this incident there was no further pursuit. After crossing Cane Creek, Forrest sent Major Anderson with a flag of truce and a despatch to General Wash burn proposing an exchange of prisoners ; also stat ing that he had a number of captured officers and men who needed clothing. On the south side of Noncon- nah Creek, six miles south of the city, Forrest received the reply that Washburn had no authority to exchange prisoners, but that he would send out clothing, which was done that day. In the afternoon Lieutenant-Colonel W. P. Hep burn and Captain Harry S. Lee, officers of the Union army, who afterward lived in Memphis and were very 274 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. popular with the old soldiers of both sides, were sent out in the afternoon under a flag of truce, with wagons and an abundant supply of clothing for both the officers and men who had been captured, some six hundred in number, including citizens. After these comforts were distributed, the prisoners were examined by surgeons, and the able-bodied ones mounted on the led or super numerary horses to accompany the command south ward. The weak and disabled and all citizens were marched back across Nonconnah, and released under promise to observe the parole of combatants until reg ularly exchanged. General Forrest proceeded with his command and prisoners to Hernando, reaching there on the evening of the 21st. Before leaving Non connah he informed Lieutenant-Colonel Hepburn and Captain Lee that he would not be able to feed the pris oners, and wrote to General Washburn that as they could not be paroled they should, at least, be fed, and that his address would be Hernando for a few days. The next morning, the 22d, these same officers reached Hernando with two wagons well loaded with supplies. Two days' rations were issued to the prisoners, and one day's rations to the command. Settling down, ap parently to stay some time, Forrest paroled four hun dred prisoners as soon as the Federal officers left with their wagons, and by 8 A. m. he was on the march to Panola, reaching there about ten o'clock that night. On the 22d he went by rail with his staff and escort and one section of Morton's battery with the expedi tion to Grenada, where he established his headquarters. The other details returned to their respective brigades and divisions. Major-General C. C. Washburn, in his report of this affair, dated IMemphis, September, 1864, gives his losses in killed, wounded, and missing : Offi cers and men as one hundred and ninety-six, not in cluding about five hundred prisoners — one-hundred- A DARING RAID ON MEMPHIS. 275 days' men as well as citizens, many of whom belonged to the militia.* Brigadier-General R. P. Buckland, commanding the district, reported Federal losses at the time as officers killed, one ; wounded, one ; missing, four. En listed men killed, fourteen ; wounded, fifty-nine ; miss ing, supposed to be prisoners, one hundred and twelve ; total, one hundred and ninety-six (not including citi zens and militiamen). General Buckland, in his graphic report of the affair, dated August 24th, says : " Before it was fairly light I was awakened by the sentinel at my residence by loud raps at the front door, with the exclamation, ' General, they are after you ! ' I jumped out of bed, and asked from the win dow, ' Who are after me ? ' and was answered, ' The rebels ! ' At the same time I heard musket shots in different directions. I dressed myself as speedily as possible, and ran to the barracks on the corner of Third and Jefferson streets, where I found the soldiers had been alarmed and were collecting in the street. I directed them to form in Hne as soon as possible, and then ran to the headquarters of the Second Regiment, E. M., to order the alarm-gun fired. At the corner of Third and Court streets I met Captain Alfred G. Tuther and Lieutenant M. T. Williamson, of my staff, who informed me that the enemy had made a demonstration at my headquarters, but upon being fired at by the sentinel at the door, killing one horse, retired to Main Street. While I was giving direc tions for the firing of the alarm-gun, General Charles W. Dustan, of the militia, came up with my headquar ters guard and assisted in firing the gun. About the same time Lieutenant-Colonel Bell, commanding the Eighth Iowa, came out from the regimental head- * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxix, part i, pp. 469-471. 276 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. quarters across the street, his companies being sta tioned in barracks in different parts of the city. The alarm-gun was speedily fired, and the officers and sol diers in the neighborhood soon rallied to the number, I should think, of one hundred and fifty. Just at this time Colonel Starr, of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, in formed me that General Washburn's headquarters were in possession of the enemy, and that the general was undoubtedly captured. Scattering shots of musketry were continually heard in different directions. My staff and orderlies soon rallied around me, and our horses were brought. I immediately ordered Gen eral Dustan to take charge of a detachment of the Irv ing Block Guards, from the One Hundred and Thir teenth Illinois Infantry, and proceed to Union Street, east of General Washburn's quarters, and at the same time directed Lieutenant-Colonel Bell to take what men he had got together and proceed directly down Third Street and attack the enemy at General Wash burn's headquarters, which was speedily done, myself and staff following Colonel Bell; but the enemy, as soon as they discovered this movement, retreated to ward the Hernando road in great haste, pursued by General Dustan and Colonel Bell. It was supposed that General Washburn had been captured and carried off. Having no information as to the whereabouts, strength, or designs of the enemy, I returned to my headquarters and took immediate measures to rally and organize all the troops within reach. I sent Captain Tuther to watch and report operations of the enemy in the direc tion of the Hernando road, and other officers in other directions. Surgeon Rice was sent to see whether Colo nel Kappner, commanding Fort Pickering, had notice of the presence of the enemy. About this time a pris oner was brought to me from whom I learned that For rest in person was on the Hernando road with a large A DARING RAID ON MEMPHIS. 2"]^ force. I had given orders for the concentration of the troops stationed north and east of the city. Surgeon Rice soon returned with the gratifying intelligence that General Washburn had made his escape and was safe in the fort. I immediately despatched Lieutenant Williamson to inform the general that the enemy had retired from the city, and to receive his orders. Gen eral \A'ashbum soon made his appearance, and assumed general direction of affairs. Soon after, by his direc tion, I proceeded to the front on the Hernando road, but before I reached the scene of action fighting had ceased, the enemy having retired pursued by the cav alry. Various rumors were afloat as to the strength of the enemy, but it was ascertained beyond doubt that General Forrest was in command. Dispositions were therefore made to meet an attack from any direc tion. Colonel David Moore, of the Twenty— first Mis souri Infantry, volunteered his services, and I gave him command, temporarily, of all the forces on and near the Hernando road. Captain Tuther had rendered impor tant service in rallying the One Hundred and Thirty- seventh Illinois, which had been thrown into confusion and scattered by the enemy charging through their camp. Colonel Hoge, commanding First Brigade, though most of his troops were absent on detached service, had reached the Hernando road with Com pany G, Second Missouri Artillery, in position. This battery, and also the section of Seventh Wisconsin Battery, which the enemy ran over but did not cap ture, did excellent service. Colonel Buttrick, com manding Fourth Brigade, had also arrived at the Her nando road. Also the Fortieth Wisconsin, Colonel Ray. The principal part of the fighting was done by the troops under Colonel Bell, of the Eighth Iowa, composed of a part of his own regiment and a detach ment of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois. 278 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Being satisfied that no further attack would be made in that direction, I returned to the city to look after other troops. I found the militia out in strong force, in good spirits, and ready to assist in defense of the city under the command of their deservedly popular general, Charles W. Dustan. The alacrity with which the mili tia of Memphis turned out on this occasion abundantly proves the propriety and Wisdom of the organization. Officers and men of the command, with very few ex ceptions, exhibited great coolness and bravery. The Eighth Iowa, which was on provost duty scattered through the city, fought bravely wherever the enemy appeared. The track of the raiders was marked wher ever they went with their dead horses and men. An attack was made on the Irving Block Prison, but the guards bravely stood their ground, and soon drove the enemy away. Many officers temporarily in the city and others on detached service, promptly volunteered their services. The clerks and orderlies about my headquarters, and many citizens not liable to militia duty, and unarmed soldiers, repaired to the armory of the militia, procured arms, and joined the ranks. By 9 A. M. it was ascertained that Forrest was in full retreat, principaHy on the Hernando road. He failed entirely in the object of his expedition. He un doubtedly expected to capture General Washburn, General Hurlbut, who was temporarily in the city, and myself, and thereby create such confusion as to enable him to march into the city with his main force. His plan was well laid and the moment propitious ; the morning was exceedingly foggy, and the state of the atmosphere such that the report of small arms and even artillery was heard but a short distance. Al though later in the morning six pieces of artillery on the Hernando road fired about thirty rounds each, the report was not heard at General Washburn's or my A DARING RAID ON MEMPHIS. 279 headquarters. The parties sent into the city were led by officers and others well acquainted with the city. They rode through the picket-line and camps, cap turing and killing what they could as they went, but making no halt until they reached these points in the city. They passed through the Seventh Wisconsin Bat ter}- camp, killing one officer and several men and cap turing some, but without disturbing the guns or ammu nition, and these same guns were afterward turned upon them. The principal depredations were com mitted at General \\'ashburn's headquarters and the Gayoso House, where they expected to find General Hurlbut, and at the Eclipse stable on Main Street, where they took quite a number of horses. . . . My thanks are due to the officers of my staff, to General Dustan, commanding the militia, to Colonel Moore, Twenty- first Missouri, who volunteered his services, and to the officers and men of my command generally for their prompt and efficient services."* The success of Forrest's strategic movement had depended not only upon himself and the fifteen hun dred men he led to Memphis, but upon the activity of Chalmers, who, with less than two thousand effectives, kept up such a strong line of pickets and continuous maneuvering as if to take the aggressive, that the ab- sense of his chief was not suspected until he was well on his way back from Memphis. Chalmers had made spirited attacks on the enemy's outposts on the 19th, and being reenforced by Buford, again advanced four miles in front of Oxford on the 20th, and had a sharp fight, only to be forced back. On the 2ist he repewed skirmishing, but being flanked by a strong body of Federal cavalry was compelled to retreat by two small bridges across the Yocona south * Rebellion Records, vol. xxxix, part i, pp. 472-475. 19 280 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. of Oxford. On the 22d the town was occupied by a large Federal force of infantry and cavalry, and in the afternoon the court-house, other pubhc buildings, halls, and many private residences, including the ele gant mansion owned by Hon. Jacob Thompson, and then occupied by his wife, were burned. After that the Federal commander began to retreat toward Holly Springs, and reached that place at ten o'clock the next day. Chalmers followed with two columns and Wal ton's battery, and attacked the rear-guard at Abbe ville on the 23d, but suffered severely and was obliged to fall back behind Hurricane Creek. The troops and horses were jaded from twenty days' hard service, the ammunition was damp and running short, and there was dissatisfaction among his men. General For rest ordered Chalmers to return to the south of Yocona, leaving scouts to watch the enemy, and three regi ments on an outpost some miles south of Oxford at the point reached by trains on the Mississippi Central Railroad. General Washburn on the 24th of August reported to General Canby as to the movement on Memphis: " They were driven out of the city, taking about twen ty-five horses and the horses belonging to one section of the battery. We had about thirty killed and eighty wounded. Smith was instructed to send fifteen hun dred cavalry at once to Panola and hold the crossing, and come around in Forrest's rear. . . . Smith has four or five thousand cavalry with him, and in the exhausted condition of Forrest's men and horses, it would seem that if our cavalry does its duty they should not get away." Forrest, however, had taken the precaution to have the telegraph-wires cut between Collierville and Germantown, and repairs w-ere not made until noon the next day. Then the despatch to Smith was sent south from La Grange with an escort A DARING RAID ON MEMPHIS. 28 1 of one hundred men, and reached him in the forenoon of the 22d. For some reason General Smith advanced only to Oxford, and made no attempt to intercept For rest. In another despatch Washburn said : " The enemy has retired on the Hernando road. He has five hundred prisoners, but failed to take the battery." Add ing the number of prisoners taken to the killed and wounded the Federal loss in the Memphis affair seems to have been about six hundred and fourteen. Some of the prisoners, however, were non-combatants. General Maury telegraphed to Forrest: "You have again saved Mississippi. Come and help Mobile. Fort Morgan was captured by the enemy yesterday. . . . ^^'e are very weak." This bold dash into Mem phis stopped the Federal advance into the heart of IMississippi, for the time being, and materially changed the plans of leaders on both sides. Memphis did not recover from the excitement for many days, and greater precautions than ever were taken to guard against surprise. The place, however, was never again so disturbed, or counted as a storm-center of the war. CHAPTER XVII. Forrest's command reorganizes. — sudden and suc cessful MOVE through north ALABAMA INTO middle TENNESSEE. JOHNSONVILLE. Forrest's cavalry was speedily reorganized and every possible preparation made for active service. Chalmers's division was composed of McCulloch's and. Rucker's, formerly Neely's, brigades, both of these offi cers having recovered from their wounds sufficiently to take the field. Buford's division was constituted of Lyon's and Bell's brigades ; Chalmers was quartered at Water Valley, on the Mississippi Central, eighteen miles south of Oxford, and Buford at and near Ox ford. One regiment, the Fifth Mississippi of McCul loch's brigade, Chalmers's division, was sent to Mobile on the 3d of September, and was detached for six months. On the 4th of September Forrest left Grenada under orders with his staff and escort by way of Jack son, and thence to Meridian, expecting to take part in the defense of Mobile. Before leaving Grenada General Forrest had, on the 30th of August, 1864, issued General Order No. 73. organizing " Rucker's brigade," to be composed of the Seventh Regiment, Twenty-sixth Battalion — or Forrest's old regiment, also known as McDonald's battaHon — and the Twelfth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth regiments, all being Tennessee troops. Colonel E. W. Rucker was assigned permanently to command the brigade, and this raised a storm of indignation 282 FORREST'S COMMAND REORGANIZES. 283 among the field-officers, several of whom refused to recognize the order, or orders from Colonel Rucker. Not that this officer's courage or ability was ques tioned, but because he was not the senior officer of the brigade. Colonel Neely holding that rank. Sev eral of them appealed to General Chalmers, command ing the division, and he warned them in a letter dated at W'est Point, September 12th, that they were guilty of insubordination, and would get into serious trou ble. But they held out stubbornly until Forrest's iron ^vill came into play. He made a speech to the brigade that night, in which he clearly and defiantly asserted his authority and determination to be obeyed. The next day he had the foHowing officers ar rested and sent to Mobile under charges for trial by court martial: Colonel W. L. Duckworth, Seventh Tennessee; Colonel J. J. Neely, Fourteenth Tennes see; Colonel F. M. Stewart, Fifteenth Tennessee; Colonel J. U. Green, Twelfth Tennessee, and Major PhiHp T. Allin, of McDonald's battaHon, or Forrest's old regiment. These were good officers, but Forrest had a preference and would tolerate no captious dis obedience of his orders. None of them returned to their commands until they reported at Gainesville, Ala., in May the following year to be paroled. Lieutenant- Colonel W. F. Taylor assumed command of the Sev enth Tennessee, and so continued, except when dis abled by wounds, until the surrender, and Lieutenant- Colonel D. C. Kelley continued in command of For rest's old regiment. Forrest's action in this matter was fully sustained in orders issued from the War De partment at Richmond. Reaching Meridian on the 5th, he met General Richard Taylor, a brother-in-law of Jefferson Davis, who had just succeeded General Maury in command of the department. It was their first meeting. Forrest 284 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. was informed that he would not be needed just then at Mobile, but must go to the reHef of Hood's army and move his cavalry north of the Tennessee River to worry Sherman's rear. He asked many questions as to supplies, resources, details, line of retreat, etc., as though in doubt in regard to the undertaking, and then suddenly asked for an engine to carry him twenty miles back up the railroad to meet his troops. After that he threw himself entirely into his work. Buford's division was ordered to Verona, where Forrest made his headquarters for about two weeks. Chalmers was ordered to take command at Grenada of all troops not to accompany the expedition. Bell's, Lyon's, and Rucker's brigades were concentrated at Verona. Ne groes were impressed, and under guard of dismounted men used to rapidly repair the Mobile and Ohio Rail road to Corinth. General Roddey was instructed through a courier to repair the Memphis and Charleston Railroad from Corinth to Cherokee Station, near the State line of Mississippi and Alabama. Everything being in readiness, Forrest moved from Verona on the i6th of September with three thousand five hundred and forty-two effectives, and, after repairing numerous bridges and trestles on the railroad, reached Corinth on the evening of the 17th. There his trains were transferred to the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and the advance was resumed the next morning. .His men cut wood for the locomotive and filled the boilers with water brought in buckets. Such were the exigen cies and resources of this suddenly improvised move ment. On the evening of the 19th these four trains reached Cherokee Station, where Roddey's command was found in good condition. Some troops, with the horses of Morton's and Walton's batteries, with Forrest's staff and part of his escort, marched across the country FORREST'S COMM.VND REORGANIZES. 285 from \'erona, and reached the station on the same day. The whole command remained a day at this point to cook rations and to have their horses shod. Forrest's command, including a battalion of dismounted men and exclusive of Roddey's force, numbered three thou sand rank and file. On the morning of the 21st the ad vance was moved to Colberts Ferry, on the Tennessee River, seven miles northeast of Cherokee. The river at this point was two thousand yards wide in a direct line, but the ford was tortuous through ledges and fissures in the rugged rocks, arid was accomplished ^yith much danger and difficulty. The column formed by twos and led by competent guides was safely crossed in a few hours without a casualty, and camped that night within two miles of Florence. Roddey's com mand, fifteen hundred strong, crossed at Bainbridge and joined Forrest on the 22d. The general, however, was sick, and remained at Tuscumbia, leaving the command of his brigade to Colonel William A. John son. The whole force, not forty-five hundred strong, moved forward rapidly and reached the suburbs of Athens, Ala., on the Nashville and Decatur Railroad, at sunset on the 23d of September. This was a strongly fortified and important point. The appearance of For rest was such a surprise that the cavalry in front was forced to seek safety in a fort three-quarters of a mile south of the town, leaving about one hundred horses and equipments in the hands of the Confederates. The encampments were occupied, and three sides of the fort invested, and the artillery was placed in advan tageous positions commanding the redoubt. That niglit Forrest so placed his different commands as to make a strong display of force. Early next morning his artiHery opened' fire at a distance of eight hundred yards, and skirmishers advanced to within one bun- 286 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. dred and fifty yards of the Federal trenches, and the dismounted cavalry was moved up as if ready for a general assault. At lo a. m. on the 24th, Major Strange and Captain Porter were sent forward under a flag of truce with the following note: Headquarters^Forrest's Cavalry, In the Field, September 24, 1864. Officer Commanding United States Forces, Athens, Ala.: I demand an immediate 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 am forced to do so the responsibility of the consequences must rest with you. Should you, however, accept the terms, all white soldiers shall be treat ed as prisoners of war and the negroes returned to their masters. A reply is requested immediately. Respectfully, N. B. Forrest, Major-General. This demand was promptly refused. General For rest then requested an interview w-ith the Federal com mander at any point he might designate outside of the fort. Colonel Wallace Campbell, of the One Hundred and Tenth Colored Infantry, was in command, and granted the interview, taking with him Lieutenant- Colonel J. A. Dewey. Forrest told him that he was determined to take the place ; that he had ample force, and demanded the surrender as a matter of humanity, and offered Colonel Campbell the privilege of inspect ing his forces. After consulting his officers, the colo nel and Captain B. M. Callender, of his staff, rode around the lines with Forrest, and was convinced that the fort was invested by fully eight thousand men of all arms, and as expected reenforcements from Decatur had not arrived, he decided to surrender. The Con federate force had been manipulated both as cavalry FORREST'S COMMAND REORGANIZES. 2S7 and infantry, and made to appear about double its real strength. The garrison, fourteen hundred strong, stacked arms and was marched out at 11 A. m. The officers were allowed to retain all personal property, including horses, saddles, and side-arms, and were to be paroled as soon as Forrest could communicate with A\'ashburn. The place might have been taken by storm, but not without heavy loss of life. Meantime the reenforcements under Lieutenant- Colonel Elliott, One Hundred and Second Ohio, four hundred strong, from Decatur, had reached a point about a mile and a half south of the fort, and made a desperate effort to cut their way through the lines commanded by Colonel Jesse Forrest and Lieutenant- Colonels Logwood and D. C. Kelley, and several men were killed and wounded. Colonel Forrest was one of the severely wounded. While the fight was still raging, reenforcements from Forrest's main command arrived, and the Federals surrendered when surround ed in the open field after a most gallant fight in which Colonel Elliott was mortally '"ounded. There were still two blockhouses in sight to be reduced. One gar rison consisted of eighty-five officers and men, and was surrendered without resistance. The other was only half a mile away, and the officer in charge determined that he would die before he would capitulate. Mor ton brought up four of his 3-inch rifled guns and opened fire at a distance of three hundred yards. The shells cleft through the heavy timbers at the first vol ley and exploded within, kiOing six men and wound ing three. The heroic commander, realizing his mis take, rushed out with a white flag and tendered his surrender to General Forrest in person. The garri son numbered only thirty-five officers and men. The aggregate of prisoners taken in and around Athens that day was thus about nineteen hundred. 288 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. The Spoils were rich and abundant, and filled twenty captured wagons besides four or five ambulances. The staff-officers made careful selection of rations, medical stores and instruments, and ammunition. Four pieces of artillery, including two 12-pound howitzers, were captured, and five hundred horses and two locomotives attached to trains loaded with Government stores. Everything that could be utilized at once was dis tributed among the soldiers in gray, and the four hun dred dismounted men under Colonel Barrett were sup plied with horses and equipments. Stores that could not be removed or turned to some account were burned, together with the blockhouses, buildings used for mili tary purposes, depots, bridges, and trestles. The Fed erals lost about forty killed and one hundred wounded. The Confederate losses were reported as five killed and twenty-five wounded. The prisoners and artillery cap tured and a long, well-loaded wagon-train were started toward Florence at five o'clock that afternoon under a strong escort commanded by Colonel Nixon. At the same hour Forrest moved northward with his main command, making eight miles by dusk. On the way two other blockhouses with seventy officers and men were captured without the firing of a gun, and the bridges as well as houses they guarded were burned. Dr. J. P. Alban, assistant surgeon of the One Hun dred and Second Ohio, was left by General Forrest in charge of the wounded at Athens. On the morning of the 25th the command was advanced three miles from the bivouac to Sulphur Springs trestle. This was a costly and important link in the railroad Hne connecting Nashville and Decatur. It spanned a ravine seventy feet deep and four hundred feet wide from hill to hill. There was a strong block house at each end and a fort on an eminence near by. garrisoned by about four hundred white troops — the FORREST'S COMMAND REORGANIZES. 289 Third Tennessee Federal Cavalry — and six hundred colored infantry. Forrest placed his best long-range guns on an elevation and opened fire at once on the Federal defense, and the lines were advanced on all sides. Then a demand was made for surrender, which, after an hour's delay, was positively refused. Firing was resumed with terrible effect from four different points. The Federals responded briskly with two 12- pound howitzers, but these were soon silenced, and the Confederate shells continued to explode in the midst of a now demoralized and almost unresisting garrison, but no offer was made to surrender. Forrest again ordered the firing to cease, and sent IMajor Strange forward with a demand for capitulation, which was conceded at once. Colonel Lathrop, in com mand, ^yas killed early in the fight, and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Minnis, of the Tennessee Cavalry. The Federals lost about two hundred officers and men, all found in very narrow areas. The prison ers — some eight hundred and twenty in number, offi cers and men — were turned over to Lieutenant-Colo nel Logwood and sent south. At the same time For rest sent back to Florence, and across the Tennessee River, four pieces of his own artillery and the captured guns and wagon-train. Eight hundred rounds of artil lery ammunition had been fired at the Sulphur Springs trestle defenses alone, which left a short supply. The great trestle was cut down and burned on the 26th. General Buford was ordered to follow the line of the railroad northward to Elk River, and destroyed a blockhouse on the way as well as the bridge at Elk River and the long trestle by which it was approached, and a large quantity of cord-wood. Moving on to Richland Creek a few miles, Buford captured another blockhouse with about fifty men. On the 27th Forrest was moving toward Pulaski with about thirty-three 290 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. hundred men, now all well mounted, and soon encoun tered a heavy force supposed to be six thousand strong. A heavy skirmish ensued, the escort, sixty strong, lead ing as usual. A position was gained, but at the loss of seven or eight in killed and wounded. Colonel John son was dangerously wounded, and Lieutenant John Moore, of the Fourth Alabama, was killed. The Fed erals fell back, fighting stubbornly for some miles, and made a determined stand within three miles of Pu laski, and after further resistance, during which For rest turned a dangerous flank movement with his artil lery, the Union troops fell back into the town and behind the breastworks. A demonstration was kept up all the afternoon in front, and after dark the Confederates built long lines of camp-fires, and Colonel Wheeler, with three hun dred men, was ordered around to the north of the towai to destroy the railroad and telegraph-lines between Pulaski and Columbia, and incidentally burned a large supply of wood intended for the use of locomotives. Forrest's loss that day was about one hundred, and he found that he could advance no farther against Gen eral Rousseau's strong force. That night, leaving pickets and rear-guard to watch the enemy, he fell back eight miles and bivouacked until morning. On the 28th, after a march of nearly forty miles in the rain, he reached Fayetteville and at once sent two detach ments eastward to cut telegraph-wires and 'tear up tracks on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad at points north and south of Tullahoma. The next day he advanced to within fifteen miles of Tullahoma and there learned from scouts that large forces, including those recently left entrenched at Pulaski, were advan cing to meet him. His men were growing weary and their horses were footsore and fatigued. A prompt change of plans was necessary. General Buford was FORREST'S COMMAND REORGANIZES. 291 detached with fifteen hundred men with orders to move upon Huntsville, seize that place, if possible, destroy the railroad to Decatur, and cross the Tennessee River at or near that point. Buford's command consisted of a portion of his division and Kelley's and Johnson's brigades. General Forrest, placing himself at the head of his remaining fifteen hundred men, including Lyon's and Bell's brigades, the Seventh Tennessee, and his own old regiment, moved westward to the right of Shelbyville, reached Lewisburg by a circuitous route at twelve o'clock on the 30th of September, and encamped on the north bank of Duck River that night. The next day he reached Spring Hill, captured some Government horses and wagons, and for a time had possession of the telegraph-office, through which he received impor tant information in regard to the movement of troops sent to cut off his retreat; and from one despatch he learned that General Steedman was marching with a heavy column on Huntsville. Gathering all the news he could from intercepted despatches, he sent a few of a misleading character in the name of a Federal officer to General Rousseau in regard to Confederate move ments, and at 2 p. m. set out in the direction of Colum bia. Twelve miles from that place he captured four blockhouses and one hundred and twenty men. These houses, a Government sawmill, and three railroad bridges were burned. The commander of another blockhouse overlooking a ridge refused to surrender, and as Forrest had no artillery with him, all he could do was to call for volunteers to burn the bridge. This was accomplished without the loss of a man. Columbia being well garrisoned, was passed around on the 2d of October, the command skirmishing sharply and meantime burning more trestles and bridges, and collecting cattle and commissary supplies. The aim 292 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. now was to effect a junction with Buford, who had not been able to capture Huntsville, but was crossing his artillery, cattle, and trains at different points. Reach ing Florence on the sth, Forrest found it necessary to hasten on to Colberts Ferry, where he found only three small ferry-boats and some skiffs to use in crossing a now greatly swollen river. The weaker men and horses, the ammunition, guns, and saddles were given the preference, but the process was painfully slow. On the 6th it was learned that the Federals had ar rived in two columns at Athens, and a force was sent back to engage them. Lieutenant-Colonel F. M. Windes, with the Fourth Alabama, two hundred strong, made a flank movement on the Lawrenceburg road and greatly retarded the Federals in reaching Florence the morning of the Sth. The Second, Sev enth, and Sixteenth Tennessee regiments repulsed their advance at the crossing of Cypress Creek, west of Florence, and General Steedman found it necessary to detach a brigade of cavalry and send it around by a crossing three miles above. After that the Confederates taken in reverse re tired from point to point on the Newport Ferry road. About twelve thousand Federals were now within a few miles of the ferries by which Forrest's men were escaping, and over one thousand Confederates were vet on the north bank of the river, besides Windes's men and the Sixteenth Tennessee and a detachment from the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry. A few miles below Colberts Ferry was an island covered with cane and a forest-growth, and the northern bank was not more than two hundred yards from the main shore, which had a perpendicular height above the water of about twenty feet. Forrest had Windes keep up the skirmishing while he caused the ferry-boats to drop down the river to the head of this island. There the saddles and other FORREST'S COMMAND REORGANIZES. 293 equipments were stripped from the horses, tumbled into the boats, and ferried across. The horses were pushed over the steep banks and dropped into the river, and then caught by men in skiffs and made to swim across to the island. This was all done in an incredibly short space of time, but none too soon. For rest in person looked after the last troopers crossing. The skirmishing forces were directed to scatter and cross where they could. The Federals soon appeared on the banks north of the densely wooded island, but made no attempt to follow the Confederates, who re mained concealed there until they could cross the wider channel southward. It was cold weather, but no fires were permitted to be lighted. By sunset on the 9th the entire command was safely on the south side of the river, except Windes's and Wilson's commands, which effected a pas sage at Newport on the 13th and brought off fifty pris oners. In this last and most masterly retreat Forrest conducted in person the crossing of twenty-five hun dred men and their horses to the south bank of the Tennessee River, about one hundred head of cattle and eight pieces of artillery, and crossed himself sev eral times from one side to the other. His losses were two men and twenty horses drowned. Had he re mained in Middle Tennessee only a few days longer his military career would have been at an end. Troops had been ordered to be concentrated on him from sev eral directions, even from Georgia. Generals Thomas, Rousseau, A. J. Smith, Washburn, Granger, Webster, Croxton, Steedman, and others were notified of his movements, and but for his presence of mind and au dacity he would not have escaped. Thirty thousand troops could have been brought into the field against this little improvised expedition of less than five thou sand men. 294 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. The main command was concentrated again at Cher okee Station on the 6th of October after an absence of only fifteen days. General Forrest lost during this raid forty-seven men killed and two hundred and nine ty-three wounded; total, three hundred and forty. In his official report he stated that he captured eighty-six commissioned officers, sixty-seven Government em ployees, one thousand two hundred and seventy-four non-commissioned officers and privates, nine hundred and thirty-three negroes, besides killing and wounding about one thousand more, an aggregate of three thou sand three hundred and sixty, and besides this, cap tured eight hundred horses and eight pieces of artil lery, two thousand stands of small arms, several hun dred saddles, fifty wagons and ambulances, and a large amount of medical, commissary, and Government stores, as well as destroying the railroad, with fhe ex ception of Duck River bridge, from Decatur to Spring Hill. Acknowledgments were made to members of his personal staff: Major J. P. Strange, assistant ad jutant-general; Major C. W. Anderson, acting assist ant adjutant-general ; Colonel R. W. Pitman, assist ant inspector-general ; Major G. V. Rambaut, com missary, and Captain M. C. Gallaway, aide-de-camp ; and thanks expressed to Captain Thomas Robins and Lieutenant J. N. Davis, who were attached to the staff during the expedition. Meantime General Chalmers had not been idle, for at an opportune time, while his chief was in Middle Tennessee, he made a demonstration from the south on Memphis with about one thousand men, spreading the report that this was but the advance of a large force intended for the capture of the place. This \vas merely a diversion, but it had the effect of delaying tbe departure of troops ready to go up the river and around by way of Johnsonville to Nashville. FORREST'S COMMAND REORGANIZES. 295 Learning that a flotilla was coming up the river with reenforcements intended for General Rousseau, Forrest ordered Lieutenant-Colonel D. C. Kelley, with about five hundred men and a section of artil lery from Hudson's battery under command of Lieu tenant \\'alton, to take a position near Eastport, Miss., to intercept the movement. The guns were ali masked and the troops deployed at commanding points. On the loth the expedition, with two gun boats and three transports, came in sight. Colonel George B. Hoge was in command. His force con sisted of the One Hundred and Thirteenth and One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois, the Sixty-first Colored Infantry, and Company G, Second Missouri Light Artillery. This was a part of the three thou sand troops which had left Cairo for Florence on the first of the month. Colonel Hoge's orders were to land at Eastport, march a force across to luka, de stroy railroad tracks and bridges, and hold Eastport until he could hear from General Washburn. Upon touching at the landing Colonel Hoge's troops were disembarked and formed in line of battle, with a battery of four guns. While some of the men were still on the gang planks Lieutenant-Colonel Kelley caused Lieutenant Walton to open fire from his rifled guns both upon the troops ashore and the five vessels in the river. Every shot took effect. The gunboats Undine and Key West were quickly disabled and obliged to drop down the ^ stream. Colonel Hoge went aboard the transport City of Pekin, which also floated away. A shell struck and exploded a caisson on the transport Kernon, setting fire to the boat, and about the same time a similar disaster happened to the Aurora. The boats backed out, leaving two-thirds of the troops on the shore. These were ordered to proceed down the 296 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. river under the bluffs, and a large number were taken on board at a safe point. But four guns of the battery were lost. Colonel Hoge reached Johnsonvihe the same day and reported eighteen kiUed, thirty-one wounded, and twenty-five missing ; total, seventy-four. General Forrest, now well-nigh worn out, applied on the 8th of October for leave of absence for twenty or thirty days, as he needed rest and desired an op portunity to look after his large and neglected private interests. He also requested that his two divisions be placed, as they originally were, under the command of Brigadier-Generals Chalmers and Buford, and that Mabry's brigade be substituted for McCulloch's, which was still at Mobile and much dissatisfied. The request was not granted by General Taylor, but he wrote a most complimentary letter expressing regret that it could not be done. Johnsonville had now become a great depot for supplies sent up the Tennessee River to that point and forwarded thence by rail to Nashville and Atlanta. Forrest was ordered to look after the depot, and first of all to repair the Memphis and Charleston Railroad from Cherokee to Corinth, and the Mobile and Ohio from that point northward to Henderson or Bethel Station for the transportation of troops and artillery. Chalmers, who was below Memphis, near Grenada, was to join Forrest at Jackson by the i6th of October, but he had less than seven hundred and fifty men fit for duty and only a section of artillery. For rest urged, in writing his superior, that the Mobile and Ohio Railroad should be protected bofh for the transportation of supplies and troops to his front and to Hood's army moving on Middle Tennessee, and to afford an avenue of retreat if necessary. Buford's division, accompanied by Morton's and Walton's batteries, moved in the direction of Jacks Creek on the 17th of October. Forrest followed the FORREST'S COMMAND REORGANIZES. 297 next day with his escort and Rucker's brigade, still commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Kelley, by way of Purdy and Henderson Stations, and effected a junction with Chalmers at Jackson on the 20th. Colonel Rucker reported for duty, and resumed cornmand of his brigade, and was again under Chalmers as his divi sion commander. Buford was despatched on the 20th to Lexington, twenty-five miles eastward of Jackson, to watch the movements of the enemy reported to be preparing to cross the river at Clinton, and on the 20th Forrest ordered him to advance northward to Huntingdon and thence by way of Paris to the mouth of Big Sandy River, and Chalmers up to McLemores ville. The men of Bell's brigade were given until the 26th to visit their homes and to secure outfits in clothing and mounts. Special attention was to be given to the collection of forage and subsistence, which were scarcer than ever before, and to the re turn of absentees. No resistance was to be made if the Federals attempted to cross over into West Ten nessee, as such a move would be a diversion in favor of Hood. General Roddey was requested to send as many of his command as could be spared from north Alabama to the neighborhood of Corinth. Lieu tenant-General Taylor was also urged to send troops temporarily to Corinth. Buford, heading the extreme advance, divided his forces between Paris landing and at a point opposite old Fort Heiman, five miles lower down and almost opposite Fort Henry. Two 20-pounder Parrott guns, brought up from Mobile, were placed opposite Fort Heiman; one section of Morton's battery of 3-inch guns was stationed with Bell's brigade near Paris land ing and commanded the river for about one mile each way. These batteries were well masked and supported by troops. Forrest's entire force north of Corinth did 298 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. not exceed thirty-four hundred men, and more than one thousand of these would not have been available or effective in action.. The men and horses were de pleted in numbers and run down by hard service and privation. Meantime Kirzon's scouts had been thrown out to report any movements possibly coming from the direction of Memphis; while the Sixteenth Ten nessee, under Colonel Wilson, Newsom's regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Wisdom, and the Four teenth Tennessee, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Raleigh R. White, were guarding points on the river southward of Clifton where the Federals had been expected to cross. Everything was ready for sharp work by daylight of the 29th, and at nine o'clock the Federal transport Mazeppa, with two barges in tow, came in sight dowm the river, and soon passed the lower batteries little dreaming of danger. A few moments later the guns opened fire with unerring precision, and shells went straight through the unarmed transport. The pilot headed for the northern shore, where the crew and officers, except the captain, escaped to the woods. A daring Confederate volunteered to paddle across on a log, and accepted the surrender of the gallant captain and his disabled steamer. The yawl was launched and rowed to the opposite shore by the two heroes of the occasion. A detail was made for the return trip, and by means of a hawser the Mazeppa was soon pulled across and tied up on the western bank. This proved to be a rich prize, abounding with clothing and blan kets, shoes, sutler's stores, wines, liquors, and manv others of the necessities and luxuries of Hfe to w-hich the thinly clad and ill-fed Confederates were quite un used. The cargo was placed under a strong guard and quickly removed some distance to the rear. While this was going on and nearly completed, about 5 p. m., FORREST'S COMMAND REORGANIZES. 299 three gunboats appeared from below and began to shell the men who were actively engaged in removing the stores. These, however, were soon repulsed by the shore batteries, but General Buford, expecting a re turn of the gunboats in greater force, had the Mazeppa burned. On the morning of the 30th the steamer Anna came down the river and succeeded in running the gantlet of all the batteries. This was attributable in part to the forbearance of General Buford, who was said to have ^yithheld the fire of his heavy guns in the hope of cap turing the vessel. The pilot agreed to round-to, but when firing ceased he suddenly resumed his course and made his escape under a heavy fire. The boat was considerably riddled and damaged. Next from above appeared the gunboat Undine, convoying the transport ^'enus with two barges, the Undine being the boat of recent unfortunate experience at Eastport. These boats were not fired upon until they had passed the upper batteries. The lower and larger guns opened with such effect that they were turned back and held between two fires. Colonel Rucker moved up with two lo-pounder Parrotts to a point on the bank whence he could reach the boats. Just then the J. W. Cheeseman from above appeared on the scene, and was attacked by the upper and middle batteries, supported by the Fifteenth Tennessee regiment and the Twenty- sixth Battalion Tennessee Cavalry, under Lieutenant- Colonel Kelley. The Undine was disabled and driven to the northern bank, where nearly all the officers and crew escaped. The transport Venus was well defended by a small detachment of Union infantry, but surren dered to Lieutenant-Colonel Kelley, who went aboard with two companies of his battalion, crossed the river, and brought the gunboat Undine back to the Con federate side. 300 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Another gunboat. No. 29, came down the river and opened fire for a time and then withdrew. The Cheese- man was found to be badly damaged, and by order of General Forrest was burned. The Undine, a large boat carrying eight 20-pounder brass howitzers, and the Venus were not greatly damaged, and were soon re paired and became the nucleus of a Confederate flotilla which was to have a brief but brilliant career without parallel in all naval history. Forrest had a fancy for artillery, and now this most resourceful man was to organize a small navy manned by mounted infantry. The Undine became the new commodore's flag-ship; the two 20-pounder Parrotts from Mobile were placed on the gunboat Undine under command of Captain Gracey, who fought with Forrest at Chickamauga, and all the sailors and seamen were known for the time be ing as the horse marines. Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. Dawson, however, was placed in immediate command of the Venus, which was to be well supported from the shore in moving on Johnsonvihe. A trial trip of these two vessels was made, and as their noses were not run into the banks it was regarded as satisfactory. The novel sight of Confederate flags flying at the mastheads of Federal craft created much enthusiasm among the troops on shore. Upon the return, supplies of shoes, blankets, hard bread, etc., taken from the Mazeppa were taken on board the Venus, as well as the two 20- pounder Parrotts. On the morning of the ist of No vember the expedition was set in motion toward John sonville. Chalmers's division led the advance, and Buford moved in the rear to watch for gunboats from below. The Undine and Venus were expected to keep under cover of Morton's and other batteries moving southward on the west bank of the river. The roads were rough and slippery, rain was pouring down, and all the conditions as distressing as possible. Yet there FORREST'S COMMAND REORGANIZES. 301 was an exhilaration of spirits among the men created by a sense of danger and the novelty of the surround ings. On the afternoon of the 2d the little flotilla ven tured incautiously ahead of land supports and sud denly came under fire of gunboats Nos. 29 and 32, led by Lieutenant-Commander King, U. S. N. The Venus, well in advance, was soon badly damaged, run ashore and captured, together with the two Parrott guns, two hundred rounds of precious ammunition, five hundred and seventy-six boxes of hard bread, and other valu able freight which had been taken from the Mazeppa by Captain Gracey. Colonel Dawson and the other officers and men all escaped to the shore without hav ing time to fire the vessel. The guns and ammunition taken were afterward used against the Confederates at Johnsonville. The Undine escaped down the river for the time being, and was protected by Chalmers's artillery placed in position at Davidsons Ferry, while the Venus was taken off in tow. That evening the head of the column reached a point a mile below Reynolds- burg and encamped there, General Forrest and staff being four miles southward. On the 3d the Undine and land forces proceeded cautiously up the river. Some Federal gunboats appeared from below but were en gaged and checked by batteries on the shore. The Key West and two other gunboats came down from Johnsonville and, while the first one was damaged by artillery fire, others from above and below closed in on the Undine and drove her to the eastern bank. Cap tain Gracey fired and destroyed the vessel and escaped with his men to the cane-brakes, and remaining there until night, crossed back on logs and rafts and rejoined their command. And thus ended this unique, ill- starred, and almost hopeless undertaking. Late on the afternoon of the 3d Forrest and his 302 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. chief of artillery, Morton, made a reconnaissance of Johnsonville from the opposite shore. The place was a mere hamlet at the mouth of a creek, with railroad depot and considerable buildings at the steamboat land ing. Back of this, in a field about one hundred feet above the water-front, was a strong redoubt armed with heavy ordnance and rifle-pits running down west and south. On the western side the bank was about twenty feet above the river, dropping back to a bot tom. This was heavily covered with timber except when cut down to give range for the guns in the fort. Forrest decided to attack the place at two o'clock next day. During the night Thrall's battery — 12- pounder howitzers — was placed under cover opposite the southern landing. General Lyon, who had been a regular artillery officer before the war, arrived with four hundred Kentucky troops, and took charge of this battery in person, causing the guns to be pushed forward three hundred yards by hand and haying chambers. sunk and embrasures cut through the bank. The men worked hard all night, and even after daylight, but with great caution. The batteries were well supported by Buford's and Chalmers's men con cealed in the timber and behind logs and other natural protection. The Federals evidently felt safe in the thought that Forrest was vanquished and far away, making his es cape. Three gunboats with steam up were moored at the Johnsonville landing; passengers were strolling about, and ladies could be seen coming down the hill as if to bid adieu to friends ; officers and men were busy on the decks ; laborers were at work handling freight ; soldiers, white and colored, straggled up and down the hillside between the landing and the redoubt, and a sense of the utmost security and satisfaction seemed to pervade the animated panorama. General FORREST'S COMMAND REORGANIZES. 303 Forrest viewed all this through his glasses with a different sense of satisfaction. The time had come to strike a decisive blow. Two p. m. was the hour set for the attack, and the watches of . commanding officers had been timed together, but the signal was not given until three o'clock. Then ten guns were fired as one, and every shell seemed to take effect. Steam poured forth from many apertures in the gunboats and the crews were seen to jump into the river and swim for the shore. Only one gunboat was able to return the fire. But the ordnance on the redoubt opened promptly and soon fired with remarkable accuracy on the sunken Confederate batteries, though with not much effect. Two boats were soon in flames and another was run ashore and deserted. As the boats floated away they set fire to nearly all the barges and transports at the landing. At four o'clock Forrest turned his attention to the buildings filled with stores and to the vast ac cumulations of various kinds of army supplies stacked on the ground. A few well-directed shots set on fire great piles of hay and corn and barrels of spirits. The flames shot up madly and in a short time there was a wall of fire on the river banks, consuming every thing of value, and in one hour the great depot, the main object of the expedition, was destroyed. The hungry Confederates claimed that they could smell the burning meats across the river as well as detect fumes of sugar, coffee, and liquors all going up in grand conflagration. The firing of artillery soon ceased, and the cavalry force, except Rucker's brigade, was at once ordered several miles to the rear, and after dark all the artillery was withdrawn except one sec tion. Forrest returned in the morning and viewed the ruins. The gunboats, transports, and barges, rail road depot, warehouses, and other buildings and stores that had covered acres of ground, were all gone, and 304 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. the redoubt guarded only heaps of ashes and smoking embers. The artillery and troops under Rucker were now withdrawn, though not without firing a volley at a colored regiment which came out to make a futile demonstration. The total money value of the property destroyed and captured during the operations of For rest on the Tennessee River, including barges and steamboats, was estimated by an assistant inspector- general of the United States Army at about two mil lion two hundred thousand dollars. Other estimates were much greater. The military and naval forces of Johnsonville on November 4th were stated to be as follows : Forty-third Wisconsin Volunteers, seven hun dred men ; detachments of the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and One Hundredth United States Colored Infantry (numbers not given) ; quartermasters' employees, eight hundred men; six lo-pounder Parrott guns, four 12- pounder Napoleon guns, and two 20-pounder Parrott guns (captured on the Venus), and the gunboats Key West, Elphin, and Tawah. Forrest, in his report, says : " Having completed the work designed for the expedition I moved my com mand six miles during the night by the light of the enemy's burning property. The roads were almost im passable and the march to Corinth was slow and toil some, but we reached there on November lotli after an absence of over two weeks, during which time I cap tured and destroyed four gunboats, fourteen transports, twenty barges, twenty-six pieces of artillery, and six million seven hundred thousand dollars' worth of prop erty, and captured one hundred and fifty prisoners. General Buford, after supplying his own command, turned over to my chief quartermaster about nine thou sand pairs of shoes and one thousand blankets. Mv loss during the entire trip was two killed and nine wounded." FORREST'S COMMAND REORGANIZES. 305 The return back to the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad was attended with great difficulty. Forrest had been ordered by General Beauregard to join Hood in Middle Tennessee. His aim was to cross at PerryviUe. which point he reached on the evening of the 6th of November. Next day he succeeded in crossing over only four hundred of Rucker's command by means of the two yawls which had been taken from the Mazeppa. Then he ordered Rucker to proceed in the direction of Florence while he would continue southward. Such was the condition of the roads that as many as sixteen horses, or from four to eight yoke of oxen, were required to drag a single gun, and one day Morton's battery was only advanced two and a half miles. Chalmers was ordered to march to luka by w-ay of the river roads", and Buford marched by way of Corinth with his division. Both were united at Cherokee Station on the i6th of November, and marched thence to Florence, where they crossed the Tennessee River on the 17th and i8th on a pontoon bridge constructed for General Hood's army, which was encamped on both sides of the river. All extra baggage and artillery, except eight pieces and the dis abled horses of both divisions had been ordered to Verona, Miss. On his way to Hood's army, Forrest met General Beauregard, now in control of operations in the departments commanded by Generals Hood and Taylor, had a full conference with him at Tuscum bia, and upon arriving at Florence he was placed in command of all the cavalry of the Army of Tennessee. CHAPTER XVIII. COVERING hood's DISASTROUS RETREAT FROM NASH VILLE. Lieutenant-General Hood turned the Army of Tennessee from near Atlanta toward Middle Tennes see about the ist of October, 1864. Sherman's com munications were first touched at Big Shanty, north of Marietta and Kenesaw Mountain. The railroad was destroyed thence to Dalton,- and the entire available force was thrown northwest to Gadsden, Ala. The plan was to cross the Tennessee River near Gunters Ferry, the southernmost point of the river, move into Middle Tennessee in Sherman's rear and force him to leave Atlanta and north Georgia, as well as to obtain subsistence for Hood's well-nigh half-starved men. Reaching Gadsden on the 21st of October, he turned the head of his command to Decatur, but halting, soon found a strong Federal force there, lost some three weeks' time, marched forty miles westward, and finally effected a crossing at Florence. It was natural that such a man as Forrest, who had often been over and fought over much of the ground, should be summoned to report to Hood. The main army, divided into three corps, consisted of effective infantry, twenty-five thousand, artillery, two thousand, and A\'. H. Jack son's cavalry, one thousand nine hundred and eighty- six. This division was composed of Armstrong's bri gade, thirteen hundred men, and Ross's brigade, six hundred and eighty-six. To this aggregate force of 306 COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 307 about twenty-nine thousand was added Forrest's cav alry of three thousand effectives. Buford's division was reduced to about seven hundred and fifty men and Bell's brigade to seven hundred and fifty by the ab sence of men furloughed to secure mounts, and ah but four hundred and fifty of the Kentucky brigade were on detached service. Upon assuming command on the 17th of Novem ber Forrest issued a brief but stirring address to his subordinates and all the troops placed under him. Preparations were rapidly made for a forward move ment to Shoal Creek in advance of the infantry. Bu ford and Jackson were ordered northward the next day on the military road and soon came in collision ^yith a brigade of Union cavalry of Hatch's division which seemed to be foraging in force. Huey's Ken tucky battaHon, one hundred and fifty men, was in advance and suffered severely in the sharp skirmish which followed. General Frank Armstrong, of Jack son's division, came to the rescue and the Federals were repulsed with the loss of several prisoners. Colonel Edward Crossland was here again severely wounded . just after recovering from injuries re ceived at Harrisburg. The weather was exceedingly inclement, but Forrest had made well-defined plans, and on the 21st of November set out with Chalmers's division toward Nashville, reaching Henryville on the 23d. Buford and Jackson, by a different road, reached Lawrenceburg on the 22d and had a brush with Hatch's division of cavalry, which retreated toward Pulaski. On the 22d Forrest, with Lieutenant-Colonel White of the Fourteenth Tennessee in advance, encountered a considerable Federal force at Fouche Springs, and ordered Rucker's brigade to skirmish sharply at the front while Lieutenant-Colonel D. C. Kelley was di rected to move around on the left flank. 308 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Forrest led his escort of eighty men far to the right and rear, and just at dark came suddenly upon a body of cavalry in the act of going into camp. Kelley was not within hearing, and Forrest, with characteristic dash, charged at the head of his escort into the encamp ment, firing right and left at short range. This pro duced a stampede and resulted in the capture of fifty prisoners, twenty horses, and one ambulance. Rucker heard the firing and charged in front, driving the Fed erals down upon Forrest, and he was obliged to turn off the road with his escort and prisoners to escape being swept away. As it was they ran against a small detachment of Union soldiers, which was captured.* After that Forrest ambuscaded the retreating Federals and fired upon the advancing column which, being pressed from the rear and unable to deploy in the woods, made a gallant charge down the road and es caped, but not without considerable loss in men and horses. Rucker came up very soon and was recog nized by his voice in the dark, or otherwise would have been fired upon, and the Confederates proceeded to the encampment previously attacked, where an abundance of abandoned forage and subsistence was found and enjoyed for the night. Rucker's losses and those of the escort for the day were five killed and thirty wounded. Those of the enemy were much greater, exclusive of prisoners. Rucker resumed his march on the morning of the 24th to Mount Pleasant, where he captured thirty-five thousand rounds of small-arms ammunition and the guard in charge. The enemy was pressed thence to the suburbs of Columbia, where a strong stand was made, and in a hand-to-hand fight the gallant Lieu tenant-Colonel Dawson, of the Fifteenth Tennessee, * Rebellion Records, vol. xiv, part i, p. 752. COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 309 lost his life in an encounter with a color-bearer. Chal mers, in his report of the affray, says : " In the pursuit Lieutenant-Colonel Dawson was killed while leading his regiment in the charge. He had emptied his re volver and w-as endeavoring to wrest one of the ene my's flags from its bearer when he was killed."* Gen eral Forrest arrived in front of Columbia on the 24th, invested the place, and waited for Hood's infantry, which appeared on the 27th, when the Federals re treated. On the 28th nearly all the Confederate cav alry crossed Duck River at different fords. Meantime Brigadier-Generals Buford and Jackson had advanced from Lawrenceburg, meeting strong resistance, but driving the Federals towrard Pulaski and gaining the advantage in a sharp engagement with Edward Hatch's division at Campbellsville. The forces in Pulaski had been flanked out of position and forced rapidly toward Nashville. Every day there was a battle, though classed only as a skirmish at that period of the war. The Fed erals did not get back to Columbia and across Duck River any too soon. Forrest's quick, sharp advance was a constant surprise, although he was met by gallant, well-trained, and self-reliant troops. Colonel Stone, of General George H. Thomas's staff, says : " In spite of every opposition Forrest succeeded in placing one of his divisions on the north side of Duck River before noon on the 28th, and forced back the Union cavalry on the roads leading toward Spring Hill and Franklin." f Forrest advanced with Chalmers's division that night eight miles beyond Columbia on the Spring Hill and Carrs Mill road, and was greatly disappointed to learn at eleven o'clock that night that Buford had met such effective resistance in crossing Duck River that. * Rebellion Records, vol. xiv, part i, p. 763. f Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, vol. iv, p. 444. 3IO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. he could not join him before the next morning. Jack son's division crossed at' LiUiards Mills, next day moved up the Lewisburg and Franklin pike, and Arm strong soon reported that he had struck a strong force. He was directed to engage it but not too vigorously. Forrest, with Buford's, Jackson's, and Chalmers's di visions then advanced toward Spring Hill, driving General Wilson, now in command, with heavy fighting toward Franklin, and turning eastward when within two miles of the place became engaged with the in fantry in a strong position, and was forced back. Hood sent word to hold out, that his infantry was only two miles away. A general attack was soon made in front on the flanks by Forrest and Cleburne. The Federals were driven from their rifle-pits and back into Spring Hill. Jackson was ordered forward to Thompsons Station to cut off the retreat if possi ble, and he engaged the enemy with his small force at eleven o'clock on the night of the 29th ; but all efforts failed and the retreat was continued with great celerity. General Cheatham, having come up to Spring Hill, was ordered to attack the Federal column vigorously at sunset, but owing to some misunderstanding or blun der this was not done. The Federals in that neighbor hood were now outnumbered by the Confederates two to one. Forrest had prepared the way for a brilliant victory which was not gained. The Union forces w-ere allowed to escape with impunity, and Jackson's heroic fight to hold the pike was all in vain. About nine o'clock that night, the 29th, General Stewart's corps came up to the point where Forrest was in bivouac, and the two officers rode together to General Hood's head quarters, a mile distant, and on the way Forrest w-as surprised to find that Cleburne's division had been withdrawn from its former position, leaving the road COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 31I open for the rear divisions of the Federal army. Word came that Jackson was pressed and needed aid. Buford and Chalmers had fired sixty rounds of ammunition that day and were without a cartridge, and the ord nance train as well as others was far in the rear. As a result of the conference with General Hood, Forrest undertook to hold the pike with Jackson's division. Returning to his headquarters he found General Jack son waiting for him, and after a conference the latter went back to his post and resumed the fight, which lasted from midnight until daylight. But the most he could do was to harass the enemy, killing, wounding, and capturing a few, and causing some wag ons to be abandoned. One of his brigades (Ross's) de stroyed a train of cars near Thompsons Station. The next morning, November 30th, Forrest, after disposing of his forces, moved forward with his escort and Bell's brigade upon the Franklin pike. Six miles from Spring Hill he overtook Jackson, who was close upon the Federal rear-guard. Bell's brigade was thrown forward and took part in a skirmish for four miles, and until the Federals were behind their lines at Franklin. General Forrest proceeded to make a recon naissance of the position occupied by the Federals, and when General Hood came up at one o'clock reported that the place was very strong, but that he could flank the Federals from their works with a division of in fantry and his cavalry in two hours. Hood merely told him to take charge of the cavalry to be posted on both flanks, and if the assault proved successful to com plete the ruin of the enemy by capturing those who attempted to escape in the direction of Nashville. Cheatham's corps was formed on the left, Stewart's on the right, and General S. D. Lee's held in reserve, but nearly all were finally in action. The advance to Franklin had been made as rapidly as possible under 312 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. the conditions. The Federal forces in the way were generally outnumbered and somewhat scattered, and had been flanked and forced back at nearly all points, until now they were well concentrated within strong works and could not do less than make a stand. Hood thought they were still retreating, and that it would be easier to drive than to flank them out of their works. Never was greater mistake made, never such unneces sary wholesale murder of veteran soldiers even on the previous 22d of July in front of Atlanta. By 4 p. M. all was ready for the slaughter. Forrest, under instructions, had placed Jackson's and Buford's divisions on Stewart's right on the south side of Har peth River, while Chalmers's division, with a fragment of a brigade under Biffle, was placed on Cheatham's left on the Carters Creek pike. Buford's men were in touch with the infantry eastward of Franklin between the Lewisburg pike and the river, and as the advance was made soon after four o'clock Jackson's division was thrown across the river and came in contact with Wilson's cavalry. Forrest crossed over with Jackson, and Buford, pushing both the cavalry and infantry in his front before him, soon drove the dismounted Fed eral-troops across the river. The battle raged on this part of the line as well as in the center until dark, when Forrest, learning that Hood had failed in the main battle, withdrew his. troops to the south side of the river. Meantime Chalmers on the extreme Confed erate left advanced as far as possible and was heavily engaged with an infantry force, keeping up a constant fire to hold the enemy in his front. General James H. Wilson, one of the famous cav alry leaders of the war, gave the Confederates great credit for their intrepidity, saying that if Chalmers had been with Forrest, and " had his [Hood's] whole cav alry force advanced against me, it is possible that it COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 313 would have succeeded in driving me back." * But in fact only Jackson's division, eighteen hundred men, was engaged with Wilson across the river. This was one of the bloodiest and most desperately contested battles of the war, not excepting Gettysburg. The Confed erates, with all their valor and implicit confidence in their leaders, only broke through the lines at two or three points. Their losses were frightful both from this point and the batteries on Figuers Hill which over looked and enfiladed the field. The best and the bravest went down like grass before the scythe. It was an awful harvest of death. Here fell the great leaders as well as the privates in the ranks. The details of the battle need not be mentioned in this connection. It is sufficient to say that a force of about sixteen thou sand Confederate infantry was repulsed with terrific slaughter by about thirteen thousand Federal infantry, assailed in strong entrenchments. The remaining in fantry, Federal and Confederate, were not engaged. The Federal cavalry under General Wilson numbered about seventy-seven hundred. Forrest had hardly five thousand all told. That night at a seasonable hour Major-General Schofield, in command, withdrew to ward Nashville, leaving the dead, the greater part of bis wounded, and some stores and supplies in the hands of the Confederates. General Hood, in his report, says : " We captured about one thousand prisoners and several stands of colors. Our loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners was fifty-five hundred. Among the killed were Major-Gen eral P. R. Cleburne, Brigadier-Generals Gist, John Adams, Strahl, and Granbury. Major-General Brown, Brigadier-Generals Carter, Manigault, Quarles, Cock- rell, and Scott were wounded. Carter mortally, and Brig- * Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, vol. iv, p. 446. 314 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. adier-General George W. Gordon captured." Hood's total losses were, in fact, about sixty-four hundred, including eighteen hundred and one killed. The losses of Forrest's cavalry in this battle were light compared to those of the infantry. As soon as it was discovered that the Union forces were in retreat, Forrest's cav alry pursued vigorously on the morning of the ist of December. Crossing the Harpeth at daylight with Buford and Jackson, and advancing to Wilson's cross roads, the enemy was overtaken in some force, but dislodged by the opening of Morton's battery and a charge by Buford. Brisk skirmishing ensued without important results. Some colors, prisoners, and horses were taken in different Hght actions. Chalmers moved forward on the left without meeting with serious re sistance, and when within six miles of Nashville the cavalry divisions were halted slightly in advance of the infantry and thrown into position for the night on a Hne from the Nolensville turnpike on the right to the Granny White turnpike on the left, a distance of four miles. Chalmers being slightly in the advance on the Franklin pike was encamped for the night not more than four miles from Nashville. On the morning of December 2d his troops, with Biffle's demi brigade on the left, moved up nearer Nashville on the Hillsbor ough and Harding pike, while Forrest with Buford and Jackson advanced by the Nolensville pike within three miles of the State capital, which was in full view. The infantry arrived in the afternoon, and Forrest was re lieved to give his attention to blockhouses and garri sons in the neighborhood and to interfere with the navigation of the Cumberland River. On the 3d Lieutenant-Colonel Kelley with three hundred men and two pieces of artillery captured two transports loaded with horses and other Government property twelve miles below Nashville, but while un- Map of part of the Tennessee River in Alabama. COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 315 loading the horses the enemy's gunboats came down from NashviHe and recaptured the transports. Kelley, however, secured fifty-six prisoners and one hundred and ninety-seven horses and mules. Forrest on the same day, with Buford's division, captured a stockade with eighty prisoners, besides killing and wounding several more by the first shots from Morton's guns. A train coming up the road from the direction of Mur freesboro was crippled and captured, but the negro troops on board nearly all escaped. On the 4th two more blockhouses were taken and all were burned. Altogether two hundred and fifty officers and men were captured, including those taken with the train. Under orders from General Hood Forrest proceeded with Bu ford's and Jackson's divisions toward Murfreesboro to picket the railroad, and northward to the Cumber land River. At La Vergne, on December 5th, General W. H. Jackson captured a redoubt with a garrison of eighty men, two pieces of artillery, together with wag ons and stores, while Forrest and Buford took another blockhouse with forty officers and men. The block house at Smyrna Station was also taken that day with thirty-five prisoners. Major-General Bate with his division of infantry reported to General Forrest four miles from La Vergne to cooperate in the movement against Alurfreesboro. The cavalry approached within four miles of that place on the evening of the 5th, but the infantry did not reach the scene until the next morning. The Confederates, reenforced by two small brigades of infantry — Sears's and Palmer's, about six teen hundred men — advanced upon the town and skir mished lightly for two hours ; but the Union troops fell back within their works and awaited an attack. Mean while Forrest, taking one hundred and fifty men of Pinson's Mississippi regiment, made a close reconnais sance of the works — Fortress Rosecrans, the strongest 3l6 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. in the South — and became convinced that the position was too strong to be taken by assault. General Lovell H. Rousseau was known to have at least seven thousand men in the fortress. Forrest had only sixty-five hundred all told and decided to wait un til he could hear from General Hood. On the morning of the 7th Forrest, who was stationed with Palmer's infantry brigade on a hill two miles from Murfreesboro, observed the enemy move out in force on the Salem pike with infantry, cavalry, and artillery. Forrest pre pared to meet this movement by forming a line of battle composed of Bate's division and Sears's and Palmer's brigades, with Jackson's cavalry on the flanks, at the Wilkinson pike. Light breastworks were hastily con structed and the Confederate commander was confident that his infantry lines would prove invincible. The Federal force, consisting of two brigades of infantry and thirteen hundred and twenty-six cavalry, with artillery, all commanded by Major-General R. H. Mil- roy, advanced with great gallantry, and was soon sharply engaged. After thirty minutes General Mil- roy fell back into a thick wood, moved by the right flank in a northeasterly direction, realined his men, and again advanced to the attack. The Confederate lines had to be readjusted to meet the movement on the Wilkinson pike. Forrest rode among the infantry, as suring them that if they would hold their own for fifteen minutes he would destroy the Federals with his cavalry from the rear. In forming a new line of battle Forrest fell back some distance, expecting to draw the Federals away from their base and throw Jackson's and Buford's divi sions in their rear. The enemy came on in handsome, confident style, drove in the Confederate skirmishers and charged upon the main line, when to the great surprise of Generals Forrest and Bate all the infantry, COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 317 except General Tom Benton Smith's brigade (Bate's old brigade), was thrown into wild and hopeless con fusion. These men were veterans who had been exem plars of greatest valor upon many battle-fields, but the panic or the instinct of better judgment or self-preser vation was uncontrollable. Forrest was wild with in dignation and rode among the fleeing soldiers, entreat ing, begging, and ordering them to rally. Pursuing a panic-stricken color-bearer and ordering him to halt, without being heeded, he seized the flag and continued his efforts to try to rally the line.* General Bate and various officers of the line and staff were likewise active in their efforts to stay the ebb ing tide of demoralized Confederates. This was accom plished finally, but not until the cavalry was brought into action. Ross's brigade was thrown forward on the front and Armstrong attacked the Federals on the right flank and rear with such vigor that they yielded the field and fled back toward Murfreesboro. After the battle the Confederate infantry marched northward eight miles and rested at Stewarts Creek, and the cav alry bivouacked in their former position. The with drawal of the Federals within their fortifications was due in part to a bold strategic movement of General Buford who, under orders of General Forrest, had swung around and attacked the place from the rear and with dismounted men advanced near to the center of the town. This hastened the return of Milroy, un der orders from General Rousseau. In this bold at tack Buford had two of Morton's guns with him. These penetrated as far as the court-house, and at 2 p. M., nearly all the horses being killed, the pieces were carried off by hand. * General Forrest's bugler Gaus was by his side constantly sounding the charge, until he for the second time had his bugle riddled with balls at short range. 3l8 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Bate's division of infantry was recalled to join Hardee's corps near Nashville, and a small brigade under Colonel Olmstead was assigned to take its place, thus leaving Forrest with three weak infantry bri gades. Buford was detached on the nth with his Kentuckians, now numbering about three hundred, to do picket duty at the Hermitage and on the Cumber land, so as to obstruct navigation above Nashville. The remaining infantry brigades were engaged on the I2th in destroying the railroad between Murfreesboro and La Vergne. General Jackson, operating south ward with Ross's brigade in the advance, had cap tured a train of seventeen cars well freighted with supplies from Stephenson intended for the garrison at Murfreesboro. This was destroyed, and some two hundred members of the Sixty-first Illinois Infantry, who made a gallant defense, were captured. The re mainder of the regiment escaped to a neighboring blockhouse. On the morning of the 14th General Forrest moved eastward of Stone River with two of his infantry bri gades, to look out for a Federal foraging train reported in that direction. The next day he received orders from General Hood to hold himself in readiness for an emergency, and thereupon concentrated his com mand at Wilkinson's crossroads, six miles distant. On the evening of the i6th Forrest received notice of the battle and disastrous defeat of Hood in front of Nash ville, with orders to fall back toward Duck River and hold himself in readiness to protect the rear of the retreating army. Buford was to retire through La Vergne from the Hermitage and protect Forrest's rear until he was well under way. Forrest's sick and bag gage-trains were at Triune, and he took up his line of retreat by way of Lilliards Mills on Duck River, while Armstrong was detached to Hood's rear. Forrest's in- COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 319 fantry were barefoot, and he had four hundred pris oners as well as one hundred head of cattle and four hundred hogs to retard his march. The roads were in terrible condition and progress was painfully slow. Duck River was found to be rising rapidly. The pris oners, cattle, and half the wagons were rapidly thrown across, and after that Forrest had to move westward to Columbia to secure a crossing for the remainder of his trains and artillery. Meantime General Chalmers had been operating with the utmost alertness upon the right and left flanks of Hood's army. His headquarters were on the Hard ing turnpike, four miles southwest of Nashville. Bif fle's command was deployed up the river, and Rucker's brigade, only twelve hundred strong, on the left, touch ing the river, which was successfully blockaded. On the 14th Ector's brigade of infantry was sent to the assistance of Rucker, and the lines were readjusted. The weather became intensely cold and the ground was covered with sleet and snow, but this did not for a moment interfere with the activity in the trenches around Nashville. Thousands of men were at work strengthening every possible point of defense, and even citizens were impressed or employed, and ah this under the direction of skilful engineers. The army within numbered eighty-three thousand, the one without about twenty-two thousand. Major-General Thomas could have sallied out any day for two weeks and van quished Hood's army, but he seems to have preferred to strengthen his cavalry so as to be able to cut off the retreat even across Duck River, and thus bring the war to an end in the west, which would have been at once a humane and brilliant achievement. When the battle of NashviHe began on the morning of December 15th, Wilson's cavalry force consisted of twelve thousand five hundred men with nine thousand 320 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. horses, two thousand of which he reported as scarcely fit for service. Advancing on the Federal right with a splendid force, greatly superior in numbers to all the Confederate cavalry combined, he easily brushed away Ector's brigade of infantry, which, however, made a stubborn resistance before sweeping eastward to join the main body of infantry. Moving out on the Harding pike, Wilson captured Chalmers's headquar ters wagon and part of his train. Chalmers, who was with Rucker down the river, was thus cut off, and in the rear of the Federal army. Late in the evening he succeeded in effecting a junction with Hood's left. Early on the morning of the i6th Rucker took a posi tion on Hood's left and was soon assailed by a strong cavalry column. Chalmers made every possible effort to resist this and kept up a gallant fight nearly all day. Late in the afternoon he rode toward General Hood's headquarters to seek orders, and in his absence a note was handed to Rucker from Hood, stating that the battle was lost and ordering the cavalry to cover his retreat on the Granny White turnpike, and resist the Federal pursuit at all hazards. A duplicate of this despatch was captured by General Wilson, or it some how fell into his hands. This to him was official information that Hood had given up the battle and was on the retreat. The Seventh Alabama, which had been cut off in the rear on the Harding pike, came up and joined Rucker late in the afternoon, and was placed by him in a position to resist the Federal advance. Kelley was on their line but was soon overwhelmed by Wilson's triumphant troopers. Rucker returned at dusk to the point where he had left his Twelfth Tennessee, and found in its place a Federal regiment commanded bv Colonel George Spalding of Hatch's division. A per sonal combat on horseback ensued between the two COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 32 1 valiant colonels, both of whom were fine riders and good swordsmen. Rucker was isolated in the midst of the enemy, and turned to make his escape. A number of shots were fired at him, and both horse and rider fell heavily to the ground. Colonel Rucker was speech less for a time, though not unconscious, and was soon placed on his own horse and carried to the headquar ters of General Hatch, not far away. There he rallied sufficiently to make the impression that Forrest had arrived from Murfreesboro and was taking an active part in the events of the day. Colonel Rucker was treated with the utmost kindness and courtesy that night by Generals Wilson and Hatch and Colonel Spalding, and the next evening was sent into Nash ville, where the surgeons in the hospital found it neces sary to amputate his wounded arm. Chalmers, Rucker, and Kelley had thrown all the force and energy they could command in the way of the Federal advance. This, with the impression that Forrest was on the field prevented any reckless ad vance in the dark and the rain. The break in Hood's infantry lines occurred about four o'clock, and the pur suit by Hammond and Croxton, of Wilson's corps, was not continued more than two or three miles, owing to the stand made by the Confederate cavalry. In day light this would have been easily swept away. As it was the infantry had time to retreat during the night and reorganize the next morning. As soon as General Forrest heard that a battle was in progress, he ordered Buford's division toward Nash ville and Franklin, and the two divisions were united at the latter place on the 17th of December. Forrest reported to General Hood in person, and was assigned to the command of the rear-guard of the Army of Tennessee, which duty he accepted with his usual promptness, and thus the great retreat was well under 322 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. way, the last one ever to be made out of the State by Confederate forces. General Stephen D. Lee's corps had been placed as rear-guard of infantry. Chalmers's cavalry moved next, as early as 3 a. m. on the 17th, and crossed the Harpeth near Franklin, and it was here Chalmers was joined by Buford and a part of Bell's brigade, and in the absence of Forrest was placed in command of all the cavalry, receiving orders from General Lee until the latter was wounded later in the day in a recon naissance and succeeded in command by Major-Gen eral Carter L. Stevenson. There was sharp fighting nearly all day, and when six miles south of Franklin the Confederates, with two brigades of infantry — Pet- tus's Alabamians and Stovall's Georgians — the cavalry under Chalmers and Buford, and Bledsoe's battery, under Major-General Clayton, halted and formed in line of battle. The Federal brigades came on in reck less style and charged in front and on flank. The lines were mingled in a desperate melee, and many hand-to- hand conflicts took place. General Chalmers killed one Federal trooper and wounded another, and it was here that General Lee, while exposing himself, was wounded. The fight lasted well into the night, officers and men on both sides vying with each other in deeds of unsur passed courage. The Confederates were pushed back, but yielded only with the utmost stubbornness in the face of greatly superior numbers. The object in such resistance was attained in part — Hood's main army was making time and distance southward. The in fantry rear-guard reached Thompsons Station and the cavalry bivouacked that night, the 17th, at Spring Hill and was there joined by Armstrong's brigade. Cheatham relieved Lee's corps as rear-guard, and falling back on the i8th two miles southward of Spring COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 323 Hill formed a line of battle and threw up entrench ments to protect the trains in crossing Rutherford Creek, then swollen by rains. This being accomplished, Cheatham's command of only fifteen hundred infantry, with cavalry on the flanks and in the rear, withdrew across the dangerous creek and burned the bridge. The main Confederate forces were now crossing Duck River only six miles southward, and Forrest, coming upon the scene from the direction of Murfreesboro as stated before, had met General Hood and been placed in command of the rear-guard of cavalry and infantry and at once proceeded to relieve Cheatham's worn-out command. Strahl's and Maney's brigades, however, of this division, afterward formed a new brigade under Colonel Hume R. Feild, for further service in the rear-guard. General Hood had intended to make a stand on the line of Duck River, but his defeat had been so dis astrous that he found it necessary to hurry on and cross the Tennessee River if possible. The Confed erates w-ere in a deplorable condition, many of the men being barefoot and having their feet tied up in rags ; they were hungry, bedraggled, sore, and disheartened, all knowing that they had been irretrievably defeated. General Thomas, in his report, stated : " We captured thirteen thousand one hundred and eighty-nine pris oners, including seven general officers and nearly one thousand other officers of all grades, and seventy-two pieces of serviceable artillery. During the same period over two thousand deserters were received, to whom the oath was administered." Wilson had fully nine thousand cavalry with supply-trains and artillery, well mounted, fed, and equipped, and flushed with victory. Forrest had about three thousand effectives and offered to attempt the protection of the rear if given four thou sand infantry under command of Major-General Wai- 324 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST, thall. This was promptly acceded to, and the follow ing fragments of commands were joined with For rest's cavalry to constitute the most famous and effect ive rear-guard of the war: The brigades of General W. ^. Featherstone ; Colo nel J. B. Palmer ; Colonel C. H. Olmstead, command ing General James Argyle Smith's brigade ; Strahl's brigade, under Colonel Corrick W. Heiskell of the Nineteenth Tennessee ; Colonel H. R. Feild's brigade, Feild having succeeded Maney; General D. Coleman, commanding Ector's brigade; General D. H. Reyn olds's brigade; General J. B. Johnson, commanding Quarles's brigade ; these were to constitute the rear guard of infantry. Three hundred of them were bare footed, and their feet were cut by the ice and snow, yet they were ready to hold their places in the ranks. General Forrest, however, sent them forward with the wagons, thus leaving a little over thirty-five hundred effective infantry, under immediate command of Gen eral Walthall. Four skeleton brigades were formed out of the above and commanded respectively by Colonel Hume R. Feild and Brigadier-Generals Palm er, Reynolds, and Featherstone. General Hood in person arranged this force at Columbia. Riding up to the officer in command of Strahl's brigade, he said: " I am organizing a reserve guard of infantry under General Walthall, and he is to report to General For rest, who will cover the retreat of the Army of Ten nessee, and I would like to know if this command would serve in that body." " We are soldiers, general," replied that officer. Hood promptly ordered : " You will report to Colo nel Feild." A private soldier then said : " General, when are you going to give us a furlough?" The general replied: " When we cross the Tennessee River " ; adding. COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 325 " The cards have been fairly played and the Yankees have beaten us in the game." A member of the Nineteenth Tennessee chimed in : " Yes, but, general, they were d — d badly shuffled." The general did not appear to hear this criticism.* The burning of the bridge at Rutherford Creek by the Confederates after they were across gave them time for a good start southward. The Federals did not reach the creek until the 20th, three days after the battle of Nashville, and did not cross until the 21st. Forrest meantime had impressed oxen around Colum bia to move his train and guns to the Tennessee River. He burned every bridge on Duck Riv^r for many miles, and as the stream was overflowing. General Wilson had to wait fully twenty-four hours for a tardy bridge- train, which had taken the wrong road, to come up before he could begin to throw his men across. These delays enabled Forrest to move half his train back a safe distance, and have his teams returned in time to save the other half. Such was the energy and prac ticability of the man who was instrumental in saving what was left of the once grand and proud Army of Tennessee, now so rapidly and surely becoming a rem iniscence. After the Federals effected a crossing of Duck River, above Columbia, on the night of the 21st, and the infantry began to cross on the morning of the 22d, Forrest put his forces in retreat, his infantry mov ing by the Pulaski road, with Jackson's and Buford's divisions in the rear. Chalmers with the remainder of his division, which he had organized as a. brigade at Columbia — about five hundred strong — moved on the left flank through Bigbeeville, and the right was well guarded by scouts. * Statement of Colonel Luke W. Finlay, of Memphis, who commanded the Fourth Tennessee Infantry of Strahl's brigade in that campaign. 326 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. As the Federals approached Columbia a furious ar tillery fire of shot and shell was opened on the place. Forrest, who was still in sight, sent forward a flag of truce and had an interview with General Hatch across the river, assuring him that the place was only occu pied by non-combatants and the wounded of both ar mies. He also proposed to exchange two thousand prisoners captured during the campaign, as they were without blankets or suitable clothing for such inclem ent weather, to say nothing of food and ordinary comforts. An answer was received in the name of General Thomas, after a delay of two hours, refusing to exchange prisoners or to receive those Forrest had on parole with the understanding that a like number should be subsequently returned. The only result of this flag of truce was that the shelling of the unde fended place was discontinued. The enemy closed up vigorously and opened fire with artillery upon Forrest's rear three miles south of Columbia. After a running fight for three miles far ther southward, the Confederates made a stand at the head of a ravine between two high hills, and held it until the morning of the 23d, and then resumed the retreat back to a favorable point south of Lynnville, and in advance of Richland Creek, where another stand was made on the 24th. Six pieces of artillery were placed in position so as to sweep the pike, and were supported by Armstrong's brigade. The crossing of the creek was held by infantry ; Chalmers and Buford were in Hne to the left of the artillery, and Ross's bri gade was on the right. A brisk artillery duel ensued. Chalmers and Buford were forced back to the creek ; Jackson's division was sent to their aid, and a warm conflict ensued for several hours. The Federals seemed to suffer^ rather heavily, but in the midst of the en gagement General Buford was severely wounded, and COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 327 his division was consolidated temporarily with that of Chalmers. After thirty-six hours' almost constant fighting, Forrest's forces being threatened by flank movements of both infantr}- and cavalry, fell back toward Pulaski without further event of consequence that day. On Christmas moming Forrest, after destroying ammunition and stores that could not be removed, and also some locomotives and two trains of cars, leaving a rear-guard under Jackson, fell back to Anthonys Hill, seven miles southward of Pulaski. Jackson's di vision, composed of Armstrong's brigade and Ross's veterans, remained to make as stubborn resistance as possible without being overwhelmed. Anthonys Hill, forty-two miles from Bainbridge, where Hood's army was to cross the Tennessee River, was approached from the north through a narrow valley between two high ridges. Morton's battery was placed in the gap and well masked; Armstrong's and Ross's retreating brigades dismounted and fell into line in support of the artillery, and were placed in touch with Featherstone's and Palmer's brigades of infantry on their flanks. Temporary breastworks were thrown up hastily, and Chalmers's small command was thrown to the left to look out for flank movements. The stand made at Anthonys Hill was to determine the escape or de struction of Hood's army. Nature had made this a strong strategic point for defense, and Forrest utilized it to the best advantage in a great emergency. The pass was not to be a Thermopylae from which none should escape to tell the tale, but rather a vantage- ground of resistance made to enable flying columns to escape. The Confederates were well placed and con cealed in the gap and on the flanks. As an ambuscade it was the brilliant and resolute conception of a master mind in the hour of defeat and despair. 328 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. It was not long to wait until the victorious Union troops charged the little force posted as a rear-guard, and drove it into and through the ravine and over the crest of the elevated gap. As this point was approached rather cautiously, Morton's battery opened with canis ter at short range, and was followed by a heavy fire of musketry from the main line of infantry and dis mounted men. The Federals were in a trap, and could only answer with a scattering and ineffective fire against hidden foes. It was a complete surprise, and as the Union troops fell back in confusion they were charged and followed to the mouth of the ravine. Their loss in this quick, sharp engagement was about one hundred and fifty killed and wounded, some fifty prisoners, three hundred cavalry horses and as many overcoats, and a 12-pounder Napoleon gun with horses attached. The Confederate losses were compar atively small — about fifteen killed and forty wounded. A direct assault was not again attempted, but by four o'clock heavy Federal columns had flanked the posi tion, its advantages were exhausted, the game of war had taken a turn, and Forrest at the right moment gave an order to withdraw. This movement w-as ac compHshed late in the day, the prisoners and captured gun being moved in the retreat. There were no good turnpikes in that part of the country then. The roads had been cut into canals of mortar and gravel by Hood's flying army. Rain, sleet, and snow had alternated to intensify the gloom and appalling conditions of the situation. The officers and men, however, as only American soldiers could, kept up a spirit of fortitude and cheerfulness, and pushing on through mire knee-deep, reached Sugar Creek, four teen miles from Anthonys Hill, late that night. At one o'clock on the morning of the 26th, Forrest halted the command. Sugar Creek was a clear, pebbly stream, COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 329 in which the men cleansed themselves and horses of clinging mud, and after that threw up light breast works, built fires, and made themselves as comfortable as possible until daylight, which was an unusually long rest for them. At this point, twenty-eight miles from the Tennessee River, the rear-guard overtook the last of Hood's ordnance train, which had been left there while the mules were used in pulling the pontoon-train to the river. These being returned, the ordnance-train was ready to move, and had to be protected at any risk. The road to the river w-as as well kneaded as any passed over previously, and here and there were wrecks of wagons, broken-down animals, and weary men still struggling to make their way back to Dixie. Walthall's infantry division was placed in position at sunrise on the 26th, about two hundred yards south ward of the Sugar Creek ford. Jackson's division was on the right, and Chalmers was thrown seven miles to the left. Feild's brigade of infantry was on the left, Reynolds on the right, and the others in reserve. A dense fog prevailed, and the entire Confederate force was effectively concealed. The Federal cavalry, now more cautious since the ambuscade at Anthonys Hill, was heard at the ford about 8.30 A. m. Several cavalry regiments were dismounted and advanced in front of mounted cavalry. Thus disposed they came within about thirty yards of the breastworks across the road, when a volley was fired upon them and they were driven back in disorder. The two infantry brigades and Ross's brigade of cavalry charged at once, drove the Federals back on their horse-holders and through the icy creek, which was waist-deep, and the pursuit was kept up for nearly two miles before it was re called. The Confederates held their position until noon, when the infantry was put in motion for the river, and the cavalry followed at i p. m. This was the last fight 330 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. worthy of the name during Hood's disastrous campaign into Middle Tennessee. The results of the day, besides the killed and wounded, were the capture of about a hundred officers and men, one hundred and fifty horses, and as many overcoats, which were of great value to the shivering men. General Chalmers repulsed an at tack upon his part of the Hne, and captured some pris oners. Walthall's infantry division bivouacked within sixteen miles of Tennessee River that night, and on the 27th was returned to the command of Lieutenant- General Stewart. An infantry corps was placed on the north bank of the river. Forrest was relieved from his arduous duties, and with his cavalry crossed on a pontoon bridge to the south side that afternoon, and was afterward given credit by General Hood for hav ing saved his army. The remarkable endurance and unfaltering zeal of General Forrest and subordinate commanders, and the men with the carbines, excited the gratitude of the army and the admiration of the world. The last shot fired in this ill-fated campaign was directed by one of Forrest's artillerists, ^^'hile a portion of the retreating army was crossing the river on the pontoon bridge, at Bainbridge, two small Fed eral gunboats came in sight and opened fire on the moving column, but were driven off by a section of Morton's battery. General Wilson, in summing up some of the hor rors of this campaign toward the last, says : " The weather had become worse and worse. It was freezing cold during the nights, and followed by days of rain, snow, and thaws. The country, which was poor and thinly settled at best, had been absolute!}- stripped of forage and provisions by the march of contending ar mies. The men of both forces suffered dreadfully, but the poor cavalry horses fared still worse than the riders. Scarcely a withered cornstalk could be found COVERING HOOD'S DISASTROUS RETREAT. 33 1 for them, and thousands, exhausted by overwork, fam ished with hunger, or crippled so that death was a mercy, with hoofs dropping off from frost and mud, fell by the wayside never to riSe again. By the time the corps found rest on the Tennessee River it could muster scarcely seven thousand horses fit for service. . . . The cavalry advance-guard, under the active and enterprising Spalding, reached the north bank of the river just as the bridge had been swung to the south side and the last of the rebels were disappearing in the distance." General Forrest had completed his passage to the north bank of the Tennessee River on the i8th of November, and recrossed on the 27th of December. His own command, as stated before, started with Jack son's division added, and numbered about five thou sand effectives. For thirty-five days he was in sharp conflict with the enemy in the most inclement weather, and in a country well-nigh devastated and drained of resources. In the last campaign he captured and de stroyed sixteen blockhouses, twenty railroad bridges, destroyed or rendered useless thirty miles of railroad, four locomotives, and about one hundred cars and one hundred wagons. In the same period he captured some eighteen hundred prisoners, one hundred thousand rounds of ammunition, two hundred thousand rations, and nine pieces of artillery, and brought away three pieces of artillery and ten wagons and teams more than he carried in, also many horses ; while the loss of the enemy in killed and wounded was estimated at two thousand. Soon after reaching the south bank of the river, Forrest issued a stirring address to his men, in which he referred to the principal battles in which they had taken part since they left Jackson, Tenn., on the 24th of December, 1863, as fields upon which they had won 332 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. fadeless immortality. Continuing, he said : " To sum up in brief your triumphs during the past year: You have fought fifty battles, kiUed and captured sixteen thousand of the enemy, captured two thousand horses and mules, sixty-seven pieces of artiUery, four gun boats, fourteen transports, twenty barges, three hun dred wagons, fifty ambulances, ten thousand stands of small arms, forty blockhouses, destroyed thirty-six railroad bridges, two hundred miles of railroad, six engines, one hundred cars, and fifteen million dollars' worth of property. In the accomplishment of this great work you were occasionally sustained by other troops who joined you in the fight, but your number never exceeded five thousand, of whom two thousand have been killed or wounded, while in prisoners you have lost about two hundred." The address closed with an appeal to his soldiers to remember their homes- and dead comrades, yield ready obedience to orders, and buckle on their armor anew for the fight. CHAPTER XIX. FINAL CAMPAIGN IN 1865. GENERAL WILSON's CAP TURE OF SELM.y. ^THEN THE SURRENDER. AND GENERAL FORRESt's FAREWELL ADDRESS AT GAINES VILLE, .\LA. General Hood made his headquarters at Tuscum bia, and Forrest's corps was permitted to move toward Corinth on the 29th of December. General Roddey was to protect Hood's rear in the movement toward Chero kee Station, but Armstrong's brigade was soon needed and recalled to assist Roddey. Reaching Corinth, For rest furloughed the West Tennesseeans under Bell, and all his troops whose homes were not too remote or beyond the Confederate lines. The cavalry not fur loughed was sent to Okolona to recuperate. Hood's in fantry began to pass through by rail for Tupelo on New Year's Day, 1865. Scouts were sent through the lines to ascertain the movements of the enemy, and General Bell was ordered to return from West Tennessee with his men and recruits by the 25th of January. Ross's brigade was left at Corinth to picket the approaches. Forrest established headquarters at Verona, some fifty- five miles southward, about the middle of January, and employed all the means in his power to gather in ab sentees and rehorse his men and artillery. He knew full well that the war would soon be over, and so ex pressed himself to a chosen few, but as a soldier he knew nothing but to obey orders and fight on to the end. The officers who accompanied their men on fur- 333 334 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. lough made several small raids, capturing supplies, horses, and even prisoners, and interrupting navigation on the rivers. About this time, General Sherman in a despatch to Thomas, said : " I suppose Forrest is again scattered to get horses and men, and to divert attention. I would like to have Forrest hunted down and kiUed, but doubt if we can do that yet." Roddey's brigade, left in the Tennessee Valley in northern Alabama, was soon surprised by a detachment from Wilson's corps, led by Colonel Palmer, and at the same time Hood's pontoon- and wagon-train was destroyed. This in volved a loss of eighty-three boats, one hundred and fifty wagons, and four hundred mules. Roddey's troops were reported by General Hood to be at home. By request of General Beauregard all the cavalry of the department was placed under Forrest, who assumed command of the Cavalry Department of Alabama, Mississippi, east Louisiana, and West Tennessee on the 28th of January, 1865. The troops of different States were reorganized into groups as far as practicable. The Mississippians were placed in Chalmers's division ; the Alabamians and Kentuckians in a brigade under Buford ; the Ten nesseeans under Brigadier-General T. H. Bell, and Ross's Texans under Brigadier-General W. H. Jack son, while McCulloch's Second Missouri was made an independent command to act directly with Forrest. On the 28th of February he received his commission as lieutenant-general, and on the ist of IMarch trans ferred his headquarters to West Point, Miss. One abuse and source of weakness which he realized long before he left Corinth was absenteeism, amounting practically to desertion. In passing through north Mississippi, General Hood called Forrest's attention to this growing evil, and on the T4th of January had di rected Forrest to " keep picked bodies of cavalry near FINAL CAMPAIGN. 335 at hand that they may be ready to pursue and capture any men that may desert from the army. If the first party of deserters can be promptly caught and pun ished it will, perhaps, deter others from doing the same." Nor was this all or the worst. Many men of in fluence, tiring of real service, had secured authority from department commanders, or the authorities at Richmond, to go within the Federal lines in West Ten nessee or western Kentucky and raise regiments or battalions. These in turn would appoint officers of various ranks for recruiting service, under whom the men enrolled managed to keep out of the service, living off Southern sympathizers either by cour tesy or force, and dodging alike the soldiers of both armies. Had the Southern Confederacy become an independent government, these men's names would, no doubt, have been handed down to posterity at the head of pension rolls. Forrest appealed to Hon. John C. Breckenridge, Secretary of War at Richmond, to have all commissions of such so-called colonels and captains revoked, and the recreants forced back and into the ranks. But it was too late for the Confederate au thorities at Richmond or in the field to reach this class effectually, either by force or sentimental appeals. Other and graver matters already required attention, for the last days of the lost cause were already at hand. None knew or hoped for this more ardently than the " colonels " in the woods and their skeleton regiments of skulkers. Life was sweet to them, and many have Hved on to a green old age to " tell the story of battles lost and won." In the reorganization Chalmers's division was for ty-five hundred strong, divided into brigades under Brigadier-Generals F. C. Armstrong, Wirt Adams, and Peter B. Starke. Jackson's division was about thirty- 336 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. two hundred strong, and the Tennessee brigades were commanded by Generals T. H. Bell — promoted from colonel to brigadier-general about that time — and Alex ander W. Campbell. Ross's Texans were in the lat ter's brigade. General Chalmers's command remained at Columbus, Miss., until the 17th of March. General Buford was ordered to Montevallo, Ala., to reorganize his division, and remained there until the latter part of March. Colonel McCulloch was thrown out of the command of a brigade which he had exercised so long and so efficiently, and was assigned with his regiment, the Second Missouri, to special scouting service to re ceive orders directly from Forrest's headquarters. Roddey's force remained detached from duty in north Alabama, and was to be under Buford. Two of Rod dey's Alabama brigades — Clanton's and Armistead's — were detached in two directions to guard against a threatened movement. These widely separated com mands were never brought together as a compact, ef fective force. Remaining at Verona until the ist of March Forrest then transferred his headquarters to West Point, forty-two miles southward. Meantime he had been vigilant, strengthening his forces as w-ell as watching the various movements of the enemy. He was well aware that heavy forces of Union troops had been concentrated near Waterloo and Gravelly Springs, on the Tennessee River, under Major-General James H. Wilson, and also at Memphis, Vicksburg, and near Mobile, as well as at Pensacola, and he foresaw that Wilson would probably strike for the heart of Missis sippi or Alabama, and so notified his subordinates. Early in March he had the trees marked on roads lead ing to Tuscaloosa and Selma, and had a pontoon bridge placed on the Warrior River at Finchs Ferry, and ar ranged so that the troops should always have five days' rations on hand ready to be cooked at short notice. 1>z-<^. / /.^^cT- ^^_^^^^^^^ y .^ ,0>Ur ^^ r^U-^-^ ^-f^^-^ /^-^.-rt-^J. ^ . 366. 367. 370. Gantt,Lieutenant-Colonel George, at Fort Donelson, 55, 94. Garfield, Brigadier-General James .¦^., 136- Gholson, Brigadier-General Sam uel J., 185, 186, 235, 256. Gilbert, Colonel Henry C, 103. Gilmer, Major J. F., 32, 35. Gist, Brigadier-General States R., killed at Franklin, 313. Goodman, Captain Walter A., 220. Gordon, General George W., wounded at Franklin, 313. Gracey, Captain Frank R., 301. Granbury, Brigadier-General Hi ram B., killed at Franklin, 313. Granger, General Gordon, 107, 146, 147, 293. Grant, General U. S., 36, 40, 55, 94 ; allusion to General For rest's fight with General Wil liam Sooy Smith, 196 ; com ment on affairs in West Ten nessee and Kentucky, 213 ; also Wilson's expedition through Alabama, 350. Greer, Captain Hugh D., 273. Grierson, General Benjamin H., 163, 181, 238, 240, 256. Guntown, Miss., 240. Gurley, Captain Frank B., 83, 84. Hammond, General, 321. Harding, Colonel A. C, 98. Harris, Governor Isham G., 23, 57, 74- Harrisburg battle, 256, 263. Harrison, Adjutant, 83. Harrison, Captain Isaac, 59, 62. Harrison, Colonel Isham F., 62, 259. Harrison, Major Thomas, 61. Hart, Colonel John R., Chicka mauga, 145. Hatch, General Edward, 309, 321, 326. Hatchie Creek, 247. 390 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Hathaway, Colonel Gilbert, no, 122. ' Hawkins, Colonel Isaac R., Sev enth Tennessee Union Cavalry, 83, 86. Haynie, Brigadier-General Isham N., 88, 89, 198. Heiman, Colonel Adolphus, com manding at Fort Donelson, 25. Heiskell, Colonel Carrick W., 324. Helm, Brigadier-General Ben Hardin, killed at Chickamauga, 146. Henderson's scouts (Captain Thomas), 269. Hepburn, Lieutenant - Colonel William P., 273, 274. Hewett, Captain John H., 67. Hicks, Colonel Stephen G., in command at Paducah, 201 , 204, 212. Hildebrand, Colonel, Seventy- fourth Ohio regiment, 60. Hill, Captain Charles S., 356. Hill, General D. H., 146, 149. Hindman, General Thomas C, 145, 146. Hoge, Colonel George B., 238, 277, 295. Holman, Colonel Daniel W., 99. Holt, Lieutenant - Colonel Gus- tavus A. C, 200, 201, 212, 241. Hood, General John B., 146, 323, 330, 333. 334- Hood, Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur, 74- Hopkinsville, Ky., evacuated February, I862 — movement covered by Forrest, 33. Hom, Captain Jack, 210, 211. Huey, Captain J. K., 36, 307. Hurlbut, Major-General Stephen A., 55, 270, 271, 278, 279. Hurst, Colonel Fielding, regiment repulsed, 205. Huwald, Captain, commanding a battery, 73. Hyams. Lieutenant-Colonel Sam uel M., Jr., 254. Ingersoll, Colonel Robert G., 83-85. Iveys Hill, 182. Jackson, Brigadier-General John K., 142. Jackson, Major-General William H., IOI, 186, 306, 315, 318, 324. Jasper, Ala., 339. Johnson, Adam, 40. Johnson, Brigadier-General Bush rod R., 35, 138-146. Johnson, Brigadier-General Wil liam A., 256, 285. Johnson, Lieutenant John, killed, 105. Johnston, General Albert Sidney, 41. 51. 54. 55 ; killed at Shi loh, 56. Johnston, General Joseph E., I ; relieved by General Leon- idas Polk, 170, 237, 351. . Jordan, Colonel Thomas J., 102. Jordan, General Thomas, 51, 366, 370. Julian's battalion, 113, 115, 117. Kappner, Colonel Ignatz G, 276. Kelley, Major David C, at Fort Donelson, 36, 37, 46, 52 ; Lieu tenant-Colonel, 54, 283, 287, 295. 297, 307. 314. 320, 373. Kerr, L. A., 84. Kilpatrick, General Judson, 109. King, Lieutenant-Commander, U. S. N., 301. King, Captain Thomas H., killed at Chickamauga, 143. King Philip, Forrest's favorite war-horse, 185. Kinney, Colonel Thomas J., One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois regiment, 87. Kuklux Klan, 370-372. Lafayette, Tenn., 167, 168. La Grange, General Oscar H., 346. La Grange, Tenn., 160, 163, 165. Lathrop, Colonel William H., 28g. INDEX. 391 Lawler, Colonel, 92. Lawrence, Colonel William Hud son, commanding at Columbus, Ky., 210, 211. Lawson, Colonel Harris A., no. Lawton, Colonel W. J., 64 ; com mands Second Georgia, 77. Lay, Colonel J. F., 77. Lees and Gordons Mills, 13S, 168, 255, 257. Lee, Captain Harry S., 272, 273, 274, 302. Lee, General Stephen D., 158, 160, 162, 179; feint on Mem phis, 208, 216, 235 ; part taken at Harrisburg, 311, 322, 379. See Appendix, 379-382. Lester, Colonel, 66, 67. Lick Creek, 55, 58. Livingstone, Captain Henry, 199. Logwood, Colonel Thomas H., 165, 270, 272, 287, 289. Long, General Eli, 337, 346. Longstreet, Lieutenant-General James (battle of Chickamauga), 146. Loudon, Captain James A., I2, 19, 21. Lowe, Colonel W. W., 99. Luxton, Matthew, 10. Lyon, General Hylon D., 241, 242. MacKaU, Colonel W. W., on Gen eral Albert Sidney Johnston's staff, 31. McCaig, Lieutenant - Colonel George M.j 247. McCook, Brigadier-General Ed ward M., 339. McCook's division at Chicka mauga, 145, 149. McCowan, Major-General John Porter, 68. McCrilli's, Colonel Lafayette, brigade, mentioned by General William Sooy Smith, 190. McCulloch, Colonel Robert, 159, 171, 177, 178, 179, 183, 217, 219. 233. 236, 256, 344. 26 McCulloch, Lieutenant-Colonel R. A., 185. McDonald's Dragoons (Captain Charles), II, 26, 124, 146, 150. McDonnell, William, 199. McGraw, Dr. T. A., 349. McGuire, Lieutenant, Fourteenth Indiana battei-y, 84. McGuirk, Colonel John, 208, 216. McKay, Major Robert C, 259. McLaws's division, 146, 151. McLean's division at Chicka mauga, 144. McLemore, Colonel William S., 134 McMillin, Colonel William L., 177, 238, 245. McMinnville, scene of operations, 64. 69, 71, 72, 73. 75. McNairy, Colonel Frank, killed at Dover, 99. McPherson, General James B., 176.. Mabry, Colonel Hinchie P., Third Texas Cavalry, commanding brigade at Harrisburg, 256, 257. 259. 260. Maney, General George, 142. Manigault, Brigadier-General Ar thur M., 213. Mann, Captain John G., Forrest's chief engineer, captured, 168 ; mentioned, 356. Martin, B. H., 40. Mason, Major Richard M., 356. Matlock brothers, 12. Maury, General Dabney H., suc ceeded General S. D. Lee, 264. May, Captain Charles, killed, 38. Meigs, Montgomery C, quarter master-general at Washington, mentioned, 231. Memphis and Selma Railroad scheme, 362. Merriwether, Captain, killed at Sacramento, Ky., 28. Miller, Colonel J. F., 64. Milroy, Major-General Robert H., 316, 317. Minnis, Colonel John B., 289. 392 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Minty, Colonel Robert H. G, 98. Mitchell's cavalry at Chicka mauga, 145. Monterey, 59. Montgomery, Captain Little, killed, 103. Moore, Colonel David, 254, 277, 279. Moore, Lieutenant John, Fourth .\labama, killed, 290. Morgan, Captain John, 59. Morgan, General, 109. Morris, Lieutenant John O., 163. Morrison, Colonel J. J., 64. Morton, John W., 39, 84, 160; becomes chief of artillery, 235, 256. Mosby, Colonel, mentioned, 109. Moscow, 167. Mower, General Joseph A., 253, 254, 266. Murray, Major, 28. Myers, Captain Daniel E., 100, 202, 203, 208-211. Napier, Colonel T. A., 91, 92. Neely, Colonel James J., 178, 197, 208, 216. Nelson, Lieutenant - Colonel Thomas M., 259. Nelson, Major-General William, 70, 71, 76. New Era gunboat at Fort Pil low, 220, 223, 225. New Salem, Miss., 247. Newsom, Colonel John F., 161, 244, 259. Nixon, Colonel George H., 288. Oglesby, General Richard J., 126. O'Hara, Captain, 83. Olmstead, Colonel Charles H., 318, 324- Overton, Captain Frank, 24, 51. Palmer, Brigadier-General Joseph B., 316, 324. Parham, Major, 260. Parker's crossroads, battle of, 8g. Parkhurst, Lieutenant - Colonel John G., 65. Patterson, Brigadier-General, 256. Pavey, Lieutenant, 116. Pegram, I3g, 140, 146. Pettus, Brigadier-General Ed mond W., 322. Pillow, General Gideon J., 34, 35, 38, 40, 41, 4g. Pinson, Colonel Richard A., cap- tured at Selma, 347. Pitman, Colonel Richard W., 294- Pointer, Captain Henry, 124. Porter, Captain, 39. Polk, General Leonidas, 56, 77, 78, 146, 176, 189. Pope, Adjutant William, 199. Prairie Mound, 182. Prentiss, General, 55, 56. Presidents Island leased by Gen eral Forrest, 363. Preston, Brigadier-General Wil liam, division at Chickamauga, 144. Prince, Colonel Edward, Seventh Illinois regiment, 163, 164 ; re port, 166. Princeton, Ky., Forrest's first use of artillery at, 25. Pryor, John P., 366, 370. Quarles, Brigadier-General Wil liam A., 213. Rambaut, Major Gilbert Vin cent, 100, 170, 355. Randle, Captain C. L., Seventh Kentucky regiment (Brice's crossroads), 241. Ray, Colonel W. Augustus, 277. Reids Bridge, 138, 139. Reynolds, Brigadier - General Daniel H., 156. Rhodes, W. H., 220, 222. Rice, Surgeon John B., 276. Richardson, Brigadier - General Robert V., 159, 160, 163, 171. Richland Creek, 326. Robins, Captain Thomas, 294. INDEX. 393 Roddey, Brigadier-General Philip D., 236, 237, 256, 2B4, 285, 336, 339. 340, 347- Rogers, Lieutenant-Colonel An drew F., no. Rogers, Lieutenant Frank, 220. Rosecrans, General W. S., Sg, IOI, 109 ; advance, June 22, 1864, 132 ; at Trenton, Ga., I35i 142. 145. 147 Ross, Brigadier-General Lau rence S., 159, 329, 334, 336. Rossville, 149. Rousseau, General Lovell H., 290, 295, 316, 317. Rucker, Colonel Edmond W., 282, 308. 319, 320, 321. Rucker's L^on, 153. Russell, Captain Weilton, 122, 125. Russell, Colonel .\. A., 80, 90. Russell, Colonel Robert M., with Forrest in West Tennessee, 161. Rutherford Creek, 323, 325. Sacramento, Ky., scene of For rest's first fight, 27. Sale, Lieutenant, 270. Sanson, Miss Emma, 120, 121. Saunders, James E., 63, 69. Schofield, Major-General John M., at Franklin, 313. Scott, Brigadier-General, 313. Scott, Colonel John W., 64, 146. Schuyler, C. A., 25, 54. Sears, Brigadier-General Clau dius W., 316. Semmes, Raphael, mentioned, 360. Severson, Major Charles S., 355. Shafter, Major W. R., 103. Shaw, William J., 217. Sheets, Lieutenant-Colonel, 116. Shepley, General George F., 222. Sheridan, General Philip, 105, 109. Sherman, Gefaeral William T., 55. 60, 173-175. 251-253, 286, 334. 351- Sherrill, Lieutenant-Colonel T. J., killed at Harrisburg, 261. Slemmons, Colonel William F., 159- Smith, Brigadier-General James Argyle, 324. Smith, Brigadier-General Tom Benton, 317. Smith, Brigadier-General W. S., mentioned, 70, 72. Smith, Captain D. D., no; rear- gjuard, 114, 119. Smith, Captain J. Frank, 217. Smith, General Andrew J., 252, 256, 260, 261, 266, 2g3. Smith, General Preston, 142, 143. Smith, General William Sooy, 173. 176, 177 ; report, 190-195. Smith, Major, 64. Smith, Major-General E. Kirby, 73- Snowden, Lieutenant - Colonel Robert Bogardus, 144. Spaulding, Colonel George, 320. Spillers's battalion, 64. Staff of General Forrest, 354-356. Stanley, Major-General Daniel S., 108. Stanton, Edwin M., Secretary of War, 149, 252. Starke, General Peter B., 325. Starnes, James W., 27, 79, 86, 90, 103, 106, 107, 116, 117, 133. Starr, Lieutenant-Colonel Mat thew R., 271, 273, 276. Steedman, General James B., 291, 292. Stevenson, Major-General Carter L., succeeded General S. D. Lee, command of rear-guard, 322. Stevenson, Vernon K., 53. Stewart, Colonel Francis M., 148, 283. Stewart, Lieutenant-General Al exander P., at Franklin, 310, 330. Stockdale, Lieutenant - Colonel Thomas R., wounded at Har risburg, 261. Stovall, Brigadier-General Mar- cellus A., 322. Stovall's brigade at Chickamauga, 147- 394 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL FORREST. Strahl, Brigadier-General Otto F., 142 ; killed at battle of Franklin, 213. Strange, Major John P., 25, 54, 60, gl, 286, 28g, 355. Stratton, Captain William D., 243. Streight, Colonel Abel D., log in, 115, 119, 121, 126. Stuart, General J. E. B., men- tioned, 109. Sturges, Brigadier-General Sam uel D., 234; report to Wash ington, 235 ; mentioned, 238. Sugar Creek, Forrest's last stand on the retreat, 328, 330. Sullivan, Lieutenant, commander of gunboat, 25. Sullivan, General Jeremiah C, 88, 89. Taylor, Captain, Seventeenth In diana regiment, 343. Taylor, Captain, 64. Taylor, Lieutenant-Colonel Wil liam F., 243. Taylor, Lieutenant-General Rich ard, 283, 338, 340, 351. Terry, W. H., 28. Texas Rangers, 61. Thomas, General George H., 141, 144, 145, 148, 309, 319- Thompson, Colonel Albert P., killed at Paducah, 197 ; men tioned, 204. Thompson, Hon. Jacob, resi dence burned, 280 ; mentioned, 362. Thompsons Station battle, loi. Thrall's battery (Captain James C), 240-246. Tilghman, General Lloyd, 25, 34. 35- Tishomingo Creek, 240. Titus, Captain, 260. Tombigbee River, 241. Trask, Captain William L., men tioned, 369. Trezevant, Colonel Edward Bul ler, killed, 103. Trigg, General, 144. Tupelo, 240. Tyler, Captain H. A., 64, 208, 209, 243, 342. Upton, Brigadier-General Emery, 337. 347- Upton, Major, 201, 202. Van Dom, Major-General Earl, 100, 105, 107. Van Wick, Dr., mistaken for Forrest and kUled, 26. Walker, Lieutenant-Colonel, 65, 75- Walker, Major-General William H. T., 141, 142. Wallace, Colonel Campbell, 286. Walters, Lieutenant John L., 28. Walthall, Major-General Edward C., 324- Waltham, Captain, 64. Walton's battery, 276. Waring, Colonel George E., 175, 182, 186, 237. Warner, Major Archibald, 356. Washburn, General Cadwilader C, 231, 270, 274, 278, 279, 2S0, 293. Watson, Captain William K., 105. Webster, General Joseph D., 293- Wharton, Colonel John A., 61, 65. 68, 73, 96, 98, IOI, 103. Wheeler, Colonel James F., 2gO. White, Captain Josiah S., 23. White, Lieutenant-Colonel Ra leigh R., 2g8, 307, 374. Whitfield, Colonel J. W., loi, 103. Wilcox, Captain, 36. Wilder, General John T., 109, 133- Wilkins, Colonel A., 238. Williams, Captain, 36. Wilson, Captain Wallace, 10. Wilson, Colonel Andrew N., Six teenth Tennessee Cavalry, 161, 198, 244, 259. INDEX. 395 Wilson, Colonel Claudius C, commanding brigade at Chick amauga, 140. Wilson, General James Grant, 379. 381. Wilson, General James H., 310, 312, 313, 321 ; summing up of Middle Tennessee campaign, 330 ; concentrating cavalry for final campaign in the south, near Waterloo and Gravelly Springs, 336. Windes, Lieutenant-Colonel F. M., 292, 293. Winslow, Colonel Edward F., 237. Wisdom, Colonel Dew Moore, 163, 2iS, 243, 260. Wisdom, John H., 122. Wood, M. H., 363. Wood's division at Chickamauga, 145- Woodward, Colonel Thomas G., Second Kentucky Cavalry, C. S. A., 64. Wright, General Marcus J., 142. Young, Captain John T., Com pany A, Twenty-fourth Mis souri Infantry, captured at Fort Pillow, 225-226. THE END. A PICTURESQUE BOOK OF THE SEA. A Sailor's Log. Recollections of Forty Tears of Naval Life. By Rear- Admiral Robley D. Evans, U.S. N. Illustrated. Lai^e i2mo. Cloth, S2.00. "It is essendallv a book for men, young and old ; and the man who does not enjoy it is lacking in healthy red blood." — Cbicago Bookseller. " A profoundly interesting book. There is not a line of bra vado in its chaprers, nor a carping criticism. It is a book which will increase tli, esteem and high honor which the American feels and willingly awards our naval heroes." — Chicago Inter-Ocean. "It would be difficult to find an autobiography possessing more interest tlian this narrative of forty years of active naval serv ice. It equals the most fascinating novel for interest ; it contains a great deal of material that has a distinct historical value. . . . Altogether it is a most delightfiil book." — Brooklyn Eagle. " His is a jricturesone personality, and he stands the supreme test by being as popular with his officers and men as he is with the public generaUy. His bfe has been one of action and adven ture since he was a boy, and the record of it which he has pre pared in his book 'A Sailor's Log' has not a dull line in it fi-om cover to cover. It is all action, action, and again acdon fi-om the first page to the last, and makes one want to go and ' do things ' himself. Any boy between jitteen and nineteen who reads this book and does not want to go to sea must be a sluggish youth. . . . The book is really an interesting record of an interesring man." — New York Press. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY. The Quiberon Touch. A Romance of the Sea. With frontispiece. i2mo. Cloth, $1.50. " A story to make your pulse leap and your eyes glisten. It fairly glows with color and throbs with movement." — Philadelphia Item. " This story has a real beauty ; it breathes of the sea. Fenimore Cooper would not be ashamed to own a disciple in the school of which he was mas ter in these descriptions of the tug of war as it was in the eig-hteenth century between battle-ships under sail." — New York Mail and Express. Commodore Paul Jones. A new volume in the Great Commander Series, edited by General James Grant Wilson. With Photogravure Portrait and Maps. i2mo. Cloth, $1.50 net ; postage, II cents additional. •• A thousand times more interesting than any of the so-called historical romances that are now in vogue." — Spirit ofthe Times. " Mr. Brady's vigorous style, -vivid imagination, emd dramatic force are most happily exhibited in this book." — Philadelphia Press. " Incomparably fine. Being the work of a scholeu-ly writer, it must stand as the best popular life yet available. The book is one to buy and own. It is more interesting than any novel, and better written than most histories." — Nautical Gazette. Reuben James. A Hero of the Forecastle. A new volume in the Young Heroes of Our Navy Series. Illustrated by George Gibbs and Others. i2mo. Cloth, $1.00. " A lively and spirited na.rc3.l\ve."— Boston Herald. "Mr. Brady has made a stirring tale out of the material before him, one of those brilliant and forceful descriptions of the glories of the old wooden- walled navy, which stir the blood like a trumpet call." — Brooklyn Eagle. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. YOUNG HEROES OF OUR NAVY. Uniform Edition. Each, )2mo, cloth, $1.00. Reuben James. A Hero of the Forecasde. By Cyrus Townsend Brady, author of " Paul Jones." Illustrated by George Gibbs and others. " Nothing could be more absorbing than Mr. Brady's graphic tale, which forms an eloquent tribute to the heroes of the forecastle, the predecessors of the men who did such gallant work at Manila and Sandago." — Cleveland World. The Hero of Manila. Dewey on the Mississippi and the Pacific. By Rossiter Johnson. niustrated by B. West Clinedinst and others. " There is nothing sensadonal or bombasdc in the story from beginning to end. It is, however, picturesque and vivid, as well as dignified, modest, and decidedly interesring." — Bouon Budget. The Hero of Erie {Commodore Perry). By James Barnes, author of " Midshipmaa Farragut," " Com modore Bainbridge," etc. With IO full-page Illustrations. Commodore Bainbridge. From the Gimroom to the Quarter-deck. By James Barnes. Illustrated by George Gibbs and others. Midshipman Farragut. By James Barnes. Illustrated by Carlton F. Chapman. Decatur and Somers. By Molly Elliot Seawell. With 6 full-page Illustrations by J. O. Davidson and others. Paul Jones. By Molly Elliot Seawell. With 8 full-page Illustradons. Midshipman Paulding. A True Story of the War of 1 8 1 z. By Molly Elliot Sea well. With 6 fiiU-page Illustradons. Little Jarvis. The Story of the Heroic Midshipman of the Frigate Constelladon. By Molly Elliot Seawell. With 6 fiill-page Illustrations. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. THREE IMPORTANT BOOKS. Recollections of the Civil War. By Charles A. Dana. With Portrait and Index. Large i2mo. Gilt top, uncut, $2.00. "The book will rank among the trustworthy sources of knowledge of the civil war." — New Torh E-vening Post. " Mr. Dana's official position as Assistant Secretary of War while the re bellion was in progress gave him exceptional opportunities of observation which he was keen to take advantage of, while his rare gift of terse and vivid expres sion enabled him to record what he saw in a series of pen pictures that are litde less than instantaneous photographs. The feature par excellence of these reminiscences is their interesting character. ... He tells you briefly but graphically what he saw, heard, or did himself. One gains a very real and personal knowledge of the war from these 'Recollections.' " — Chicago Times- Herald. Cannon and Camera. Sea and Land Battles of tbe Spanish-American War in Cuba, Camp Life, and tbe Return of the Soldiers. De scribed and illustrated by J. C. Hemment, War Artist at the Front. With over one hundred full-page pictures taken by the Author, and an Index. Large i2mo. Cloth, $2.00. " Accurate as well as picturesque. . . . Mr. Hemment has done his work well. In point of faithful realism there has thus far been nothing Jwtter in the whole war literature." — Boston Journal. Puerto Rico and its Resources. A book for Travelers, Investors, and others, containing Full Accounts of Natural Features and Resources, Prod ucts, People, Opportunities for Business, etc. By Fred erick A. Ober, author of " Camps in tbe Caribbees," "Crusoe's Island," etc. With Map and Illustrations. i2mo. Cloth, $1.50. " You have brought together in a small space an immense amount of most valuable information, which it is very important to have within the reach of the American people at this time."— Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. "THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BOERS." By HOWARD C. HILLEGAS. Com Paul's People. With Illustrations. 12 mo. Cloth, $1.50. "He [the author] has written a plain, straightforward nar rative of what he himself saw and learned during his recent visit to South Africa. . . . The only criticism of it will be that which Sam Weller passed on his own love letter, that the reader ' will -wish there was more of it ' — which is the great art of letter- writing and of book- writing. " — Neto York World. "The first systematic and categorical exposition of the merits of the whole case and its origins written by a disinterested observer. ... An informmg book, and a well-written one." — New York Mail and Express. " Gives precisely the information necessary to those who desire to follow intelligendy the progress of events at the present time." — New York Commercial Advertiser. The Boers in War. The True Story of the Burghers in the Field. Elaborately illustrated with Photographs by the Author and Others. Uniform with " Com Paul's People." i2mo. Cloth, ^1.50. "A book of even wider interest than ' Oom Paul's People.' A most novel and curious account of a military form that has never been duplicated in modem times ; exceptionally interesting. Mr. HiUegas has given us beyond question the best account yet published . ' ' — Brooklyn Eagle. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. A TIMELY BOOK. China. Travels and Investigations in the "Middle Kingdom'^ — A Study of its Civilization and Possibilities. Together with an Accoimt of the Boxer War, the Relief of the Legations, and the Re-estab lishment of Peace. By James Harrison Wilson, A. M., LL. D., late Major-General United States Volunteers, and Brevet Major- General United States Army. Third edition, revised throughout, enlarged, and reset, izmo. Cloth, ^1.75. General Wilson's second visit to China and his recent active service in that country have afforded exceptional chances for a knowledge of present conditions and the possibilities of die fiiture. In the light of the information thus obtained at first hand in the country itself. General Wilson is enabled to write with a peculiar- authoritativeness m this edition, which brings his study of China down to the present day. In addition to the new chapters which have been added explaming the origin and development of the Boxer insurrection, the relief of the legations, and the oudook for the future, the author has revised his book throughout, and has added much valuable matter in the course of his narrative. This book, which is therefore in many respects new, puts the reader in possession of a broad and comprehensive knowledge of Chinese affairs, and this includes the latest phases of the subject. The practical and discriminating "character of the audior's snidy of China will be appreciated more dian ever at this time when prac tical questions relating to Chinese administration, commerce, and other matters of the first importance, are engaging so much attention. This new edition is indispensable for any one who wishes a compact, authoritative presentation of die China of to-day. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. A STORY OF THE PEOPLE'S POWER. The Eternal City. By Hall Caine, author of "The Christian," "The Manxman," " The Bondman," " The Deemster," etc. i2mo. Cloth, $1.50. "A vivid and moving picture of Roman life." — Pittsburg Commercial Gazette. " Boimd to exercise a great influence in the controversies now exciting the world." — St. Louis Post-Dispatch. " One of the very strongest productions in fiction that the present age has been privileged to enjoy." — Philadelphia Item. "The most ambitious work the author has so far undertaken, and may be regarded his greatest success." — Cleveland Plain- Dealer. "A powerfid novel, inspired by a lofty conception, and carried out with unusual force. It is the greatest thing that Hall Caine has ever attempted." — Brooklyn Eagle. " The praise of the great men of letters — Ruskin, Collins, Blackmore, Gladstone — ^who hailed with delight the advent of ' The Deemster ' and ' The Bondman,' should now be readjiisted to meet present exigencies, for Mr. Hall Caine has done for the myriads of his English readers what Walpole did for a smaller yet not less discriminating public. . . . The true Italian spirit of Onuphrio Muralto we find revived after many years in ' The Eternal City.' " — New York Times Saturday Review. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. BOOKS BY J. A. ALTSHELER. The Wilderness Road. A Romance of St. Clair's Defeat and Wayne's Victory. i2mo. Cloth, ^1.50. ' ' That Mr. Altsheler has caught the wild, free spirit of the life v-hich he depicts is evident on every page, and nowhere more so than in one of his final chapters, ' The Meeting of the Chiefs,' where he vitalizes the life-and- death struggle of a friendly and a hostile Indian." — New York Mail and Express. In Qrcling Camps. A Romance of the American Civil War. I zmo. Cloth, ^i. 50. " We do not often get as fine a picture as that which Mr. Altsheler paints. The tale covers the period from the election and the inauguration of Lincoln until the surrender of Lee and the entrance of the Northern array into Rich mond. . . . Every good American who enjoys the smell of powder and the crack of the rifle will appreciate the chapters that describe the battle of Gettysburg." — The Bookman. A Herald of the West. An American Story of 1811-1815. izmo. Cloth, ^1.50. " A portion of our history that has not before been successfully embodied in fiction. . . . Extremely well written, condensed, vivid, picturesque, and there is continual action. ... A rattling good story, and unrivaled in fiction for its presentation of the American feeling toward England during our second conflict." — Boston Herald. A Soldier of Manhattan, And his Adventures at Ticonderoga and Quebec. 1 2mo. Cloth, ;gl.oo; paper, 50 cents. " Graphic and intensely interesting. . . . The book may be warmly com mended as a good specimen of the fiction that makes history real and living." — San Francisco Chronicle. " The story is told in such a simple, direct way that it holds the reader's interest to the end, and gives a most accurate picture of the times." — Boston Transcript. The Sun of Saratoga. A Romance of Burgoyne' s Surrender. i 2mo. Cloth, J 1. 00; paper, 50 cents. " Taken altogether, ' The Sun of Saratoga ' is the best historical norel of American origin that has been written for years, if not, indeed, in a fresh, simple, unpretending, unlabored, manly way, thatwe have ever read." — Nem York Mail and Express. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. BOOKS BY C. C. HOTCHKISS The Strength of the Weak. I zmo. Cloth, SI. JO. The delightfiil outdoor quality of Mr. Hotchkiss's novel forms a charming accompaniment to the adventurous happenings of the romance The author has found some apt suggestions in the diary of a soldier of. the New Hampshire Grants, and these actual experiences have been utilized in the development of the tale. The story is one of love and daring and American courage, and the varying outdoor scenes which succeed each other as the tale unfolds provide a picturesqueness and zest which show the increasing power of an author whose previous books have won for him a large circle of admirers. Betsy Ross. A Romance of the Flag. i zmo. Cloth, $ i . 50. ** A novelized drama, and a right good one, too, with plenty of stir, patriot ism, and love." — Neiv Tork fVorld. ** * Betsy Ross ' reaches the American ideal in fiction. It is the long- looked-for American novel. Stirring, intense, dealing with great native characters, and recalling some of the noblest incidents connected with our national history, it is the one novel of the time that fulfills the ideal that we had all conceived, but no one had before accomplished." — Philadelphia Item. In Defiance of the King. I zmo. Cloth, ^l.oo; paper, 50 cents. '* As a love romance it is charming, while it is filled with thrilling adventure and deeds of patriodc daring." — Boston Advertiser. " A remarkable good story. . . . The heart beats quickly, and we feel ourselves taking a part in the exciting scenes described, the popular breeze seizes upon us and whirls us away into the tumult of war." — Chicago Evening Post. A Colonial Free-Lance. 1 zmo. Cloth, ^i.oo; paper, 50 cents. " A fine, sdrring picture of the period, full of brave deeds, startling though not improbable incidents, and of absorbing interest from beginning to end.". — Boston Transcript. ** A brave, moving, spirited, readable romance. Every one of his pages is aglow with the fire of patriotism, the vigor of adventure, and the daring of reckless bravery." — Washington Times. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. THE STORY OF THE WEST SERIES. The Story of the Soldier. By General G. A. Forsyth, U.S.A. (retired). Illustrated by R. F. Zogbaum. A new volume in the Story of the West Series, edited by Ripley Hitchcock. i zmo. Cloth, $ i . 50. In the great task of opening the empire west of the Missouri the American regular soldier has played a part large and heroic, but unknown. The purpose of this book is to picture the Amer ican soldier in the life of exploration, reconnoissances, establishing posts, guarding wagon trains, repressing outbreaks, or battling with hostile Indians, which has been so large a part ofthe army's active work for a hundred years. No romance can be more suggestive of heroic deeds than this volume, which appears most opportunely at a time when the Regular Army is facing so many and so serious duties in both hemispheres. No one is better entitled to write it than the brave officer who with his little handful of men held the sandspit in the Arickaree for days against Roman Nose and his thousands of warriors, and fiftally won their lives by sheer dogged pluck and heroism. Mr. Zogbaum' s illustradons are a most valuable gal lery of pictures of Western army life. ** To General Forsyth belongs the credit of having gathered together for the first time the story of the heroic work, invaluable to the progress of our civilizadon, which regular soldiers performed in silence and obscurity." — Boston Herald. " General Forsyth's identity with the army extends over a notable period in its history, and he is among the few officers who remain who are aisle to write of their personal knowledge of the thrilling experiences of our soldiers on the plains." — Washington Army and Navy Register. * * The soldierly qualities of the author appear on every page of the volume in a precision of statement, a generosity of praise, and an urbanity of temper. The narrative is commended to the. interest and attention of every student ot our national life and development." — Philadelphia Ledger. "There is not a dull page in the book." — Buffalo Commercial. "The story presents a fifcsh and thrilling chapter of American history." — Cleveland World. D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK, 3869 U'H'' '.ill, mfi^m^:';- .... .¦ 'I' 4*i'l«s«'r^' ^ n' |n. ; » '''»;il|t f } • 1 1 , f -Mi., . !*' It.'