Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-26
FORESTS Rad ON MEMPHIS.
DesRils of the Guerrilla Attack upon
Meaaphis..--E Exciting scenes i'm the
Caty.
I2rom the Memphis Bulletin, ead.l

Citizens in the south OF memphis were
startled from their slumbers, at an early
hour this morning, by the noise OF mus
kerry, accompanied by hooting and yelling,
and rafting of horses hoofs through tne
streets. Looking from windows OF their
houses they discovered groups of rebel cav
alry in every direction. Instantly the alarm
spread through the city, and officers, SOL
diers and citizens rushed to their respective
camps and armories to prepare for defense.
The militia and Provost Guard were soon
ready for action. BY this time the repeis
were scattered In squads throughout the
city. Skirmishing became lively, musketry
was heard on all hands, and excitement De-
came intense. The cry was, Forrest was In
town, but it was believed by only lew,
from the fact that he was supposed 10 nave
his hands full in Mississippi. But Forrest
was here, sure enough, and was seen py
many. Citizens and soldiers going aDouC
the streets were halted, and in many cases
killed or wounded by the rebels, and wier,
ever negro was seen he was holly pursued
and shot down. About ten are reported
killed. At the hour of writing 1t Is impos-
sible to tell how many met that tate. Sev,
eral rebels were killed by the guard, ana
their bodies left for hours on the streets,
viewed by crowds OF curious spectators.
Several prisoners were brought into lr,
wing Block, from one OF whom we learned
the following: On Thursday, at IL O'Clock,
his regiment, the 10th Tennessee Cavairy,
were on picket duty at Oxford, Miss, where
Eorrest and his command were Stationed
A courier rode in hot haste into the lines,
and they were Immediately ordered to Ok
ford. That evening at o'clock, with twen-
ty rounds of ammunition and short rations,
thev left with other regiments in wester-
lv direction, and after riding all night, TAX
ing the same circular course, struck the
Mississippi and Tennessee railroad at Pano-
la, three and half miles distant. Early
next morning they were furnished with
six days. rations and sixty additional ROUNDS
of ammunition, part of which was carried
in wagons, of which there were ten ac-
companying the expedition. Ihey rode
hard that day, Friday, and IN the evening
encalnped six miles above Como. AT a
o'clock on Thursday they resumed their
march, and soon after arrived at Hickahalla
and Coldwater, where they built bridges,
and succeeded in crossing about half an
hour before suDdown, the same evening.
They halted for while, after crossing, to
rest, and soon after started al quick pace,
bv the fernando road, toward Memphis
At three o'clock they dashed through the
picket lines on the same road, and, after
brisk skirmish, in which a few were killed
and wounded, portion OF the force enter
ed the city.
On Saturday night, our informant stated,
special orders were issued to several regi-
ments, to the effect that any man found dis
mounting or leaving the ranks while In
Memphis, would be shot, and horse-steailng
and other depredations were prohibited
under the same penalty. This order, it is
believed, was to prevent struggling and de-
sertion.
About half of the force entered the city,
the other half remaining outside the lines
| to prevent retreat from being cut off. The
| I'd Missouri, 10th Tennessee and 18th Mis-
sissippi were of the force entering the city:
Arriving at Beal street, the rebels DIVIDED
into several squads and struck for the Cay
oso House, Hospitals, Irving Block, and
| General Washburn's headquarters. on
Union street. The latter was first visited
bv force of about two hundred, under
| Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Forrest, who en-
tered and found it deserted, the General and
his staff having but a moment before es-
caped, They received warning from Colo
mel Starr. of the 9th Illinois cavalry, OF the
approach of the rebels. He had been at the
front. and dashed in ahead. The General
sought refuge i'm the fort, and escaped. His
staff also escaped. Lieutenant Colonel
Forrest remained in headquarters some fif-
teen minutes, and brought forth General
Washburn's overcoat and some papers, al
ter which he started for the Gayoso House
with his force. They drove right into the
office of the hotel, until 1t was crowded TO
excess with horses and men, and inquired
for General Hurlbut, whom they wished
delivered up.
The clerk, who was behind the counter,
informed them that he was not in the hotel.
The rebels called him id liar, and said
tbev knew better, and demanded the num-
ber of his room. 1t was given, and the
rebels dismounted, and leaving their hor-
ses standing in the Office, assembled to the
MINER floor, and battered in two-thirds of
the doors through the house in the search.
The General, however, fortunately, per-
baps, was at the residence of Colonel Eddy,
on Shelby street, whittier he had gone the
night before. Captain Cook, OF his stan,
was in the hotel and escaped capture after
sharp encounter with three rebels, who
entered his room to take him prisoner
Further than breaking in doors, the rebels
committed no depreciation in the rooms
The furniture was not molested. COnsid-
erable money and jewelry, as well as cloth
ing. were taken from b0arders' rooms
Some of the boarders were taken prisoners,
but subsequently, released.
lieutenant Harrington, of the Sd United
States Artillery, was in the office when the
rebels first appeared. They made him
prisoner, and placed him behind the coun-
ter with Mr.. Benthold, the clerk, when a
bullet coming through the window from
the street pierced his head, killing him in
stantly. His person was Immediately
plundered. The Quartermaster OF the 9TH
| illinois Cavalry is said to have been killed.
A private was shot at the door. Private
Alex. MCGOWAN, of the 9Th Iowa, who was
on guard, was taken prisoner.
A party of twenty or thirty rebels, while
this was going on at the hotel, amused them
selves by attacking the house OF fire-engine
No. s, nearly opposite. Charles Roach and
Ed. Boswell were on duty there. The former
was killed, and the latter escaped. Two ne
groes were killed on the bluff, at the foot OF
| Monroe street. Another force of rebels
stopped at the Union House, corner Of Beal
and Second streets, and were about to sack
| IL. when an old lady from Mississippi, stop
| ing at the house, who was acquainted with
some of the rebel officers, appeared, and per-
suaded them to desist.
They then started for the Bulletin office,
and staving the lock at Irwin Block, they
called upon the prisoners within to break
loose, as they had an opportunity ofescaping,
and then fred upon the guards in the yard.
The latter rushed up through the prison, ap-
peared at the upper windows, and simulta-
neously with portion of the 9th Iowa, who
appeared at the corner of Court street, OPEN
| ed sharp fire upon the rebels, who skedad-
died with the loss of one or two wounded.
Rut for the timely arrival of the Sth Iowa,
who seemed to be everywhere, doirig excel
lent service in the right time, the prisoners
at Irwin Block might have been released, and