The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-03-11

L
from ting The enemy on the broad praariss near
West Point, on the rbbes river, he prepared for
action The enemy formed In long and most
Imposing line, outhanking Forrest, and threat
cnipg the instant demolition Of his small and
organised force. The charge was
given, and the Yankees advanced with great |
boldnsss and IN air Of certain victory. Great |
was their surprise when, - they approached
Torrsst's line. they observed his men slip from
their horses, and converting them selves into
infantry, each man taking the moss favorable
position, availing themsslves Of every ad'
vantage the ground afforded, and awaiting
with the utmost coolness the impstuous
charge of the Yankee ohivalry. o. cana
the splendidly mounted dragons, under thoss
far.famsd Yankee chiefs, Smith and Grierson,
with such ds1cs displays Of valor aud deter
minasion ~ sugursd badly for Forress's in
fantry scouts, scattered through the bushes
and over the prairie 10 rather an irregular and
unmili.sry Style. Bot these vsiorous horss-
men did not advance far before the balls oftwo
thousand riff began to rattle throu2h their
ranks with fearful effect. Scores Of men and
horses fell at the frst dre, AID their onward
movement was checked, and before they could
recover and reform the volley was repeated
again and again-ua ALL dismay and terror be-
gan to prevail in their ranks, and they soon
/ broke into confusion and fed.
| Forrest then mounted his men and began
| his pursuit, which he kept up with great
vigor foDneariy twenty miles, the enemy
leaving behind many Of his wounded and
exhausted men, all his dead, his horses, pris-
o.>A.a rarA. niaeas~ Of artillery. burning his
to rally their men and resume the offensive.
Their efforts were successful on tho hills
just beyond Okalona, when the last grand
charge was made by them. 1t was net In
the same way as their previous attempts, but
even with more vigor and determination BY
Forests men, who had in few hours be
come veterans. Several crushing volleys
from their rifles quickly arrested the impet-
uons valor Of the Yankees, and sent them to
the resr In the Widest confusion and dismay.
By this time Forrest had exhausted his am
munition and the strength of his horses.--
He could not follow up the enemy
Fortunately, however, Gen. Gholson az
rived with some fresh State troops, new
levies hastily gathered, and took the place
Of Forests E.en-follo wing up the Y ankecs
for great distance, hsrassing them, cap.
turing and killing and wounding many, and
picking up arms, wagons, horses, and great
variety of other valuable property thrown
away oy the enemy in his wild flight. The
enemy never halted for moment in his re-
treat, and when last heard from the remnant
of this splendid force was Fastening fast to
Memphis in far different plight from that in
which they had so recently emerged from
their Notifications. AS soon as the news Of
this disaster reached Sherman he began his
retrograde movement towards the Mississip-
pi. Lee following HIM up and hanging on his
tanks and harassing him continually
When last heard from he was dragging his
| weArled brokendown column back to Ficks
burg, In demoraliaed state, the most NOR
titled, disappointed and Disguised chief who
ever led ten thousand men up the hill and
then marched them down again.
| To increase this feeling Of modification and
disgust, Shsrman's conscisnee WAS burdened
with load Of irfamy which, even upon
YANKEES General, could not have pressed
| lightly, In the recollection of the dsstsrdly
ou,rages upon private property, in the de.
ssruc,ion of mills. of the houses Of poor, in.
offensive people living near his Inns of march.
and In the shameful excesses Of his wretched
| me, esnaries. We could hardly wish our bit
tsrest enemy larger portion of misery than
must have fallen upon this ambitious aspi'
rant on his return to the Notifications of
| VicksburY. An educated soldier, who had
! long associated with gentlemen, who had re
ceived the highest favors and uabcunded
kindness and hospitality from the Sou:herS
| people, during his reaidancs in louisiana
Sherman has, by the license extended to his
b. utal hirelings, liz their march through Mia:
sissippi, and by his own acts Of outrage and
cruelty, shown a degree Of infamy that en.i-
ties him to take rank with Batter, Mcneil,
Hunter, aud the other Federal chiefs whose
| only achievements in this war have been thoss
of the Iutian, the pirate, the piundsrer, and
| highwayman.