Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-08
FROM KENTUCKY.
HoPKINsyILLE. x ecemhsr >

HOPkiNSFILLE, KY, December %, 1861.
EDITORS APPEAL: AT last something has
occurred to relieve the monotory of our hereto
fore quiet and inactive camp. The cavalry have
just returned from Green river. Late, day be-
fore yesterday evening Col Forrest with part Of
his regiment and Capt. Merriweather's and
Capt. Wilcox kentucky cavalry, amounting in
all to three hundred men, started upon a scout
in the direction of Green river. Yesterday they
ascertained that Jim Jackson's cavalry were at
Sacramento, a small town, nine miles this side Of
Calhoun. They pushed forward at double quick
and overlook the enemy about four o'clock yes
terday evening. The enemy had taken a posi-
ton. Col Forrest ordered his men to charge
which was promptly obeyed, and, in an incom-
parably short time, the enemy retreated pell-mell
each striving to take care Of himself as best he
could. Col. Forrest pursued them for three miles
killing from twenty to twenty-five, taking fifteen
prisoners and wounding n great number.
Among the killed were one major, one captain and
lieutenant, and among the prisoners are one cap
tam and two ieutenants. The captain was cap
tured by Col. Forrest, who narrowly escaped
being killed by the renegade. The band passed
- Rhh VI AiAlAg hVHgNtAn huth TIC
immediately turned and said yes, d-n you,
/ have you now at the same time firing his
pistol. The ball passed through the captains
mouth without inlurIng a tooth. The cavalry
brought back as much Of the spOils as they
could carry, among which were guns, pistols,
sabres, overcOats, etc. They left a great quanti-
ty which they were unable 70 carry. Each man
had a trophy of some kind, some Of which were
valuable.
The loss upon our side was two killed and
several slightly wounded. Capt. Merriwether
was one of the unfortunate ones to sacrifice his
life. He was a gallant officer and his whole soul
was in the southern cause. The loss is greatly
regretted by every one. Col Forrest acted most
bravely and energotically. | have heard sew
eral say this evening that he killed five or six
with his saber. L heard him say myself that at
first he struck them with his saber, but finding
that it merely doubled them and that they
soon recovered, he commenced thrusting his sa-
Der, thereby either killing or dangerously
%wOunding them.
There is weeping in the family of Capt. Meri-
wether tonight, but the Union men of this place
have to mourn the loss Of four killed and three
taken prisoners, a Just retributiOn for their per
sistence in the Lincoln faith.
Col. Forrest this evening remarked: " Gentle
men, III be d-n if they will fight. have given
them a fair trial and they will not fight"
JaeksOn's whole ommand would have been
killed or captured, but for the fact that our horses
were wearied Town by a forced march of thirty
or forty miles, while those Of the enemy were
fresh.
The enemy have had, all the while, possession
OF Sacramento. While the cavalry were pursu-
ing the enemy through the town, women and
children rushed to the door, clapping their hands
and rejoicing as they thought, at the day of their
deliverance from Yankee bondage. There is
great rejoicing among southern rights men this
evening, partly because jackson is from this
place and has often made his boast that he would
dine here with his friends on Christmas day.
Our force here is adequate to any emergency.
We have been expecting " bot work" for some
time, but the enemy here as well as at Other
places shrink from the undertaking.
RIPLEY