The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-21
Why General sherman Did Not Get 10
Selma.
SMITHS CAVALRY ExPEDIrIoN-ACcOUNT OF FOR


RESTS EXPLOITS.
from the Richmond Despatch, March g.
The recent victory OF Con Forrest in Northern Mis-.
sssippi by which the grand plan OF the Yankees the
marsspie Of this war We have conversed
with gentlemen recently from that section, whose
lous exploit The elemys reports fully confirm those
accounts but they do mol state the exact force By which
these results were sccomos1ea OWING 10 inc exhaas
other causes Forrest conld array force OF only twenty
four hundred mon 70 confront Smith AID Grorson,s
the Yankees have put ia the field FORESTS men,
too, were mostly new and untrcd. especially in the
valry servica lie mad recently recruited them Wes;
Tennessee 1t seemed the extreme o; rashness and rock
essress 10 attempt with such force TO arrest the march
OF column Of seven thousand splcndd;v mounted and
equipped men, led by experienced officers, whose march
bus far had been uninterrupted who were buoyant and
confident and we're charged with such important mis-.
Tae junction 81 this cara'yy force Nth 81 at
Meridian ICES The ky Of The ic,oie sceas Of he Fdnses
n successful Sherman ,oo,id hare lesn IN a condaon 10
oduance ~ Demopolis and Selma, Mobile and ese
sT.r ant points as ,ceR as the rich countries adjacent,
ooud hare ben at me marcy or ne ei'say. 7hep coati
only hoc been dricca bark al The RISK Of icsakca
ag Johso's nrsny, so ns 70 open orhern Gergia and
Roms and Atlanta 10 Grants army General Polk, with
his scant Infantry force quickly perceived the moen,ous
issue which depended upon the result Of the cavalry
vement from Memphis, and after securing bis small
army the east side OF the Tomblgbee, ard removing
ali his supplies and munitions and returning 10 Mobile
the troops be had borrowed from General Maury sent
imperative orders TO Lee and Forrest unite forces
and al every cost 70 crush and drive back Smith aud
Griersons cavalry.
with his force, which already greatly exhausted
by the continual skirmisaing With shermans column
Forrest therefore lett atone with his two thousand
four hundred men to perform this immense under
Confronting the enemy on the broad prarics West
Point, the Tbbee river he prepared Tor action The
enemy formed In long and most imposing line outasnk-
ing Forrest aud threatening the instant demolition OF his
small and inpcrecty organized force The charge was
gen the Yankees advanced with great bodness aud
air OF cetsin victory Great was their surprise wheu
as they approached Forests line hcyoe' vd has sp
from Mer horses dad coasfn2 Themselves into igfanfgV,
each man taking The mos, favorable position ovaiiing
SET Of erery adraaage s ground agord, and aoaiino
Nth NE utmost cooness tie ippeuon charge Of Hs Yaasee
cniroiry. on came the spendidy mounted dra.
goous. under these tsr.famed. Yankee chiefs,
Of valor ana Determination as argued badly
for FORESTS infantry scouts, scattered through tho
bushes and over IN rather an irregular and IN
military style But there rIloroas horsem did not ddgdnce
far before lie balls Of too fhogs1nd rfen began 10 rads
through h.ir ranks ,y fearful eec Scores Of and
was checked and before they could aud reform
the voey wss repcatcd-agein and sgain-un dismay
and terror began 10 prevail IN their ranks, aud they
soon broke into confusion and led
Forrest then mounted his men and began bis pdr-
suit. which he kept up with great yisor for nearly
twenty miles the enemy leaving behind many OF his
wounded aud exhausted men, oil bis dead, his
horses prisoners Ave pieces Of artillery, Burning his
packs aud turning loose his mules Having discov-
cred tue small force OF Forrest, several attempts
we're made by Smith and Grerson to rally their men
lu on the bills just beyond okaona, when the
last grand cha &c was made by them II was met Ia
the same way as ,na sy S@
men, who bad Ia few hours become veterans.
Several crushing voeys from looir rifles quickly ar.
rested the npetuous vaior ot the Yankees aud seut
them 10 the 10 the Widest conu and dismay.
nv this time Forrest had exhausted hs ammunition aud
the strength OF his horses lie could follow up the
cuemy.
Fortunately, however, General Ghoson arrived with
some fresh levies hastily gathered and
took the place o. Forrest, men, following tho Yankees
for great distance, harassng them capturing and KILL
Ing and wounding many and picking up arms, wagons,
horses aud great variety Of other valuable property
thrown away By the enemy IN his Wild fight The enemy
never halted for moment 10 his retreat, and when last
heard the remnant OF this splendid force hast-
enlug fast Memphis 10 far different plight from that
which they had recently emerged from their fortca.
tons. Az az the news OF this disaster reached
Sherman be began his retrograde movement toward the
Mississippi, Lee following him up and hanging his
TANKS and harassns him continually When last heard
from DO dragging his wesried. broken down
back 10 ycksburg 10 demoralized state, the most
aed, disappointed aud Disguised chief who led ton
thousand mon up the blu aud thcn marched them down
again.
TO increase this tceliag or modification and disgust,
Si1mdns constsce ,gos Jnrdsncd uh load " many
,chch upon Yankee Genera cCd not hare pressed
lightly, ia The recollection OF ire dc'fdfdg oard0es upon
pttdts property the Destruction of ,, o e ho.ses W
poor i1enssse pople trirg neor his ine on march ana
could hardly wish our btterost enemy larger portion On
misery than must have fallen upon ms AMBITIOUS as
prant his return 10 the foriincatous 10 Ncksourg
An educated soldier who had long associated WIN gen
tlcmcu who had received the highest iayors and nn-
bounded kdress aud hospitality from the southern peo-
pic, curing his residence W Louisiana, Shct man has, by
The lceisc extended 10 his brutal hrelings IN their
march through Mississippi nud by ms own acts OF out
him 10 take raGk with Butter ncNe', nrntcr other
federal chief NbCsc oaly achievements ~ this war haze
bccn thvc o. tue roin, tc pirate, tbs llAnGcrcr and
jsh.ayman.