Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-01-29

Gen. Fo.res s last daring raid into West Tennessee.
they are al follows:
Gen. Forrest left Columbia about the 18th Novem-
ber crossed the Tennessee River at Clifton with but
litte difficulty passed over the billy country that lies
between tie Tennessee River End Bush Creek. near
Lexington. Here be met with his first resistance. Two
pieces OF artillery aud eleven hundred Federal cavalry
came out from jackson to dispute his passage After
short sbirn.ish, Col Russell with three companies of
Forrests old regiment, charged the artillery took the
two pieces snd put the eleven hundred cavalry to fight
They followed through Lexington aud In Eve miles
Of jackson. As they passed Lexington, cavalry
xed up with theirs that II was difficult TO tel
hem apart Here amusing Incident took place
AS one Ct our cavalry man fred his horse Jumped.
which caused him to miss hia mark he having a.
bre rode immediately at full speed up TO TIE Federal,
and gave him lick with hs fist somewhere about the
ear, which dropped him." The Federal Jumped up
with both bands raised. and said, surrender now,
sir
He moved on towards jackson aud engaged them,
after cutting the railroad above and below Jackson
jackson strongly fortified, their forces estimated at
from thirteen to twenty thousand infantry and tour
batteries besides having several siege guns 10 position.
He knew II useless 30 try to take the place, and
only intended bis attack feint 70 draw their forces
from Humboldt and Trenton and cover his operations
at those places He succeeded in capturing Hum
boldt aud Trenton, the same day he fought them at
Jackson with the loss OF only two men killed and three
wouDded-burned three million dollars worth of army
stores, brought off large number OF wagons, mules
and negroes destroyed ali the railroads around there,
and paroled thousand prisoners. He marched from
Trenton to Middleburg, from Middeburg to Dresden,
from Dresden to McLemoresville destroying the rail-
road az he went from McLsnoresvile he passed be-.
tween Huntingdon and Olarkesburg. At the former
place there 5000 Eederals and at the latter 1000
to intercept his march, aud they said to cut For.
rect aud capture him. lie passed en- to Parkers
Cross Roads where be met 1000 Federals under Gen.
Sullivan fought them for FIVE hours with bis little
mand killing, they acknowledge, 600, captured g..
400 prisoners and six pieces of artillery But just
they had surrendered, force of 5000 up in time
to save their bacon :" and spoil our "pie" When
the prisoners found their reinorcements had errived
they rushed to their stack Of arms, and commenced
firing on again. Of course, being oyerpowered, We
had to retire.
In this fight the fearless Colonel Napier fell at the
head of his regiment, leading 1t in charge The in
trepd Major Strange, Of General Forests staff was
taken prisoner here. Oar loss in this fight not
hundred and fifty killed, wounded and prisoners.
During Genera Forests whole raid into West Ten
nesse he destroyed twelve hundred miles OF railroad
that cannot be rebuilt ia twelve months cut down ard
burnt Eve miles of trestle the Ohio swamps four
millions worth OF army stores paroled 1900 prisoners
killed and wounded 1000, armed his with .he best
arms in the Federal service, clothed all his well,
and brought of seventyfve wagons loaded with stores
and lost not exceeding 200 during the entire trip
This expedition has shown Gen. Forrest to be one OF
the brayes most sklful and daring officers in the Con-
tederate service.