Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-09-27

| 1IOll w III.
t Though the winter. had set il
he Immediately entered West Ter
/ nessee, and established his heaC
, quarters at Jackson. By immens
! exertions he soon organized a fore
: Of seventeen hundred men, and
though totally unarmed, actuall,
: brought them out in safety through
| the bands of federals who wer,
hunting him. 1t is said that OF
, one occasion, being cut off anC
surrounded by large force of the
enemy, he put on bold front
and charged them SO impetuously
with his unarmed squadrons, thai
they broke and fled before him
and he pursued his journey unmo
Tested. He collected the scatter
led detachments that were posted
over the country, and soon his
command was in good fighting
condition, as the battle of Okolo-
ma or West Point evinced.
| Early In the spring of 1864,
Sherman commenced his grand
raid from Vicksburg through the
State of Mississippi; and corps
of seven thousand cavalry and ten
pieces of artillery marched south
ward from Memphis, under Grier-
son, for the purpose of effecting a
| junction with Sherman. This
junction would have produced
disastrous consequences to the
south; but Forrest threw himself
upon Grierson's path, and attack
ed him on the plains of Okolona
with seven hundred men. The
federal cavalry, loaded down with
booty, were unable to withstand
the fierce onset which Forrest, at
the head of his squadrons, made
upon them, and at the first charge
broke and fled to Memphis, leav-
ing their artillery, their dead, woun-
ded, and many prisoners, in the
hands of the victors.
The results of this action were
much greater than the mere de
feat of Grierson and the capture
of his artillery. 1t not only sent
Grierson bowling back to his base,
but forced Sherman to retrace his
steps very hastily to Vicksburg;
for without his expected force of
cavalry, his situation became pre-
carious. 1t saved the State of
Mississippi from rapine and plum
der, and in all probability shielded
the city of Mobile from the threat
ened attack. Well was it for the
people of Mississippi that "the
right man was in the right place."
and to-day his name is a household
word among that people, because
Of his glorious achievements on
their soil.
Soon after, in his successful 'ex-
petition to Paducah, he appeared |
before Fort Pillow, garrisoned by |
negro troops, and demanded its |
surrender. The garrison return
ed defiant and insulting answer,
but Forrest carried their works by |
storm, and as no quarter was ask
ed, and no sign of capitulation ap-
peared, the garrison suffered Sc
yerely, as matter of course
The tremendous amount of groan-
ing over the Fort Pillow affair is
purely puritanical, and prompted
by the basest motives.
After this expedition ended,
Forrest started for Middle Ten
nessee, but receiving intelligence at
Iuka that column of 7,00D in
fantry, 3, 900 cavalry and 20 pieces
Of artillery, had set out from
under commanded Gems.
Sturgis and Smith, he turned
tack and gave his undivided at
tention to THIS column: 1t is said +
that Forrest was ordered by S. d.
Lee, his department commander,
to fall back to the plains, where
be could better resist the progress
of the enemy. But Forrest, obey
ing his own unerring Judgment,
moved directly upon the enemy's
line of march, and encountered
him OH Tishamingo creek, with
not quite five thousand caxalry.
His dispositions for battle: were
quickly made, and before the as
federals were aware of
their danger, they were vigorously |
attacked, both in front and in rear,
and thrown into complete disorder,
while Forests nine pieces Of ar
Iillery poured rapid and murderous !