The Progress., 1892-10-22

/ ys5. %,55 rid: i5:a-.ss5 nd
horseback charges, but the laundering
tread of iron hoofo and whirlwind rush Of
mighty cayalcadgs were almost unknown.
FORESTS first act upon promotion was to
Organize the troopers assigned 10 his lead
ership into a cavalry corps. One brigade
was given 10 his brother, Col. Jeffrey For
rest, and a regiment in that brigade was
the Seventh Tennessee cavalry, body Of
men strangers in FORESTS camps except
by reputation.
Like mCst regiments Of Confederate
cavalry, the Seventh had grown up out Of
separate companies Of mounted rangers
that rushed TO arms IN 1851 to guard some
post or town. These separate companies
in time joined forces IN order 60 ell their
importance and roamel and raidcd as bat
talions until it suited them to unite and
form regiments. Logwocd's battalion,
comprising four companies from Memphis
and vicinity, was the nucleus Of the regi-
ment In the winter Of 1862 Col. ". H.
jackson gathered up eight scattering
bands Of west Tennessee troopers and
united them with Logwood's men to form
the Seventh Tennessee cavalry. The first
rendezvous Of the regiment was Union
City, near the Kentucky border Tho
march Of the Union armies southwark in
the Fort DOnelsOn campaign made the
place too hot for troopers in gray, and they
rode away vowinG to call back one day,
and they rladc tie promise good.
More than year more was passed in
scouting, Skirmishing and raiding on Il
scale that gave the men plenty of excite
ment, but never II taste of real war. Thi'
was the regiment that charged on the rail.
road t.Eil on the Memphis and Charleston
at CcllicsSyiile, Tenn, where Gen. Sher-
man and Lis staff were riding to Ch&tta.
ncoya, Oct. Il, lSG3.
It was n special train filing the gap be.
tween the moving divisions Of the army
and guarded by a battalion Of regulars.
The Confederates waited for the train 10
pull out of tho station then called halt
and demanded surrender. Gen. Sherman
answered NO" and ordered the train
back to the station. The station house
was Of brick and was loopholed, and POI
yards away was fort. The regulars, with
some volunteers guarding the place, took
their stand in the station and fort, and
also in Il railroad cut near by. The Com
fcderatc leader Gen. Chalmers, with great
GeliberatiCn formed his men for a clean
sweep The S,ycnih was placed abreast
of the station aud fort, and at the sound OF
the buGlc dashed gallantly up, scizing the
whole train. The supporting columns
all failed 20 90 anything, and the guards
and garrison rallied to concentrate their
strength upon the Seventh, which had ia
fall back. Instantly Chalmers ordered
the regiment to again charge the train at
all hazards ana burn il. The attempt
was more desperate than the first, for the
Seventh went in alone and took a!l the fire
Of the defenders. The leader, Capt. }. Il.
l.awlor, was hit four times and made pris-
oner The rear cars i'm the train were en-
tered, and several horses, including Sher
mans pet mare Dolly, his sword and
other headquarters property, carried OH.
IL was too one sided, however, and the
TennesscaeRs again backed OH covered
with glory and bruises.
Forests first exploit when he got his
newly Rcdged cavalry corps well in hand
was to buffet an extensive raid Of Union
troops from Memphis to the fertile heart
Of Mississippi. II was in February, 1854.
The Union troops were led by Gen, Sooy
Smith Forrest set to work 10 hagass
Sfllln ) uicEtil anu 'tiil itt CoAuulii hilNli
a favorable opportunity offered to smite IL.
On the 2lst Col. Jef. Forrest placed his
brigade across the pathway of the enemy
and fell back slowly, keeping up an ambush
fight. The next day Smith began to re-
treat, and Col. Forrest turned in pursuit.
At the first stand young Forrest was
mortally wounded while leading charge.
Soon afterward the Union troops met
their pursuers ou a hill near Okolona.
a less animated soldier than Forrest
would have been slow TO charge the line
before him without bringing up help or
resting his men, but he had just come from
the side Of his dying brother, who was an
especial favoritc, and seemed bent on
vengeance. He took the Seventh regiment
in hand, sending its colonel OF TO replace
the fallen brigade leader, and dsmounted
Il for des?ercte work, As it advanced the