The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-14
SHERMAN'S' MEMOIRS.
fC0nfinnod fror1 first napCl

Gen. Forrest, who had been mos. active
in harassing our garrisons in West Ten
nessee and Mississippi.
After staying a couple Of days at
Memphis we continued on in the gun
boat Silver Cloud to Vicksburg, where |
found Gen. Mcpherson, and, giving him
similar orders, instructed him to send out
spies to ascertain and bring back timely
information of the strength and location
Of the enemy. The Winter continued
so severe that the river at Vicksburg
was full of floating ice, but in the Silver
Cloud we breasted it manfully, and got
back to Memphis by the goth. A chief
part of the enterprise was to
DESTROY THE REBEL CAVALRY
commanded by Gen. Forrest, who were a
constant threat to our railway COM
munications in Middle Tennessee, and |
committed this task to Brig.-Gen. w.
Sooy Smith. Gen. Hurlbut had in his
command about $500 cavalry, scattered
from Columbus, KY, to Corinth, Miss,
and we proposed to make up an aggre-
gate cavalry force of about 1000
. effective out of these and the $500
which Gen. Smith had brought with him
from Middle Tennessee. With this force
Gen. Smith was ordered to move from
Memphis straight for Meridian, Miss,
and to start by Feb. 1. explained to
him personally the nature of Forrest
as man, and of bis peculiar force ;
told him that in bis route he was sure
to encounter Forrest, who always at
tackled with a vebemence for which
he must be prepared, and that after
he had repelled the first attack he
must in turn assume the most de-
termined offensive, overwhelm him and
utterly destroy his whole force. l knew
that Forrest could not have more than
1000 cavalry, and my own movement
would give employment to every other
man of the rebel army not Immediately
present with him, SO that he Gen. Smith)
might safely act on the hypothesis l
have stated.
Having completed all these prepara-
tions in Memphis, being satisfied that
the cavalry force would be ready to start
by the 1st of February, and having seen
Gen. Hurlbut with his two divisions en-
bark in steamers for Vicksburg, also
re-embarked for the same destination on
the 9th of January.
On the 1st of February we rendez-
voused in Vicksburg, where l found
spy who had been sent out two weeks
before, had been to Meridian, and
brought back correct information Of
the state Of facts in the interior of
Mississippi. Lieut.-Gen. Bishop Polk
was in chief command, with Head
quarters at Meridian, and had two
divisions of infantry, one of which
(Gen. Loring's) was posted at Canton,
Miss, the other (Gen. French's) at
Brandon. He had, also, two divisions
of cavalry-Armstrong's, composed Of
the three brigades of Ross, Stark, and
Writ Adams, which were scattered from
the neighborhood of Yazoo City to Jack
son and below, and Forests, which was
united, towards Memphis, with Head
quarters at Como. Gen. Polk seemed
to have no suspicion of our intentions
to disturb his serenity.
LIVELY SURPRISE.
Accordingly, on the morning of Feb.
3, we started in two columns. each of
two divisions, preceded by light force
of cavalry, commanded by Col: p. F.
Winslow. Gen. MCPHERSON commanded
the right column and Gen. Hurlbut the
left. The former crossed the Big Black
at the railroad bridge, and the latter
seven miles above, at Messengers. We
were lightly equipped as to wagons. and
marched without deployment straight
for Meridian, distant $50 miles. We
struck the rebel cavalry beyond the
Big Black, and pushed them pell-
nell into and beyond jackson during
the 9th. The next day we reached
Brandon, and on the 9th Morton, where
we perceived signs of an infantry
concentration, but the enemy did not
give us battle, and retreated before us.
The rebel cavalry were all around us, so
we kept our columns compact and offered
few or no chances for their dashes. As
far as Morton we had occupied two roads,
but there we were forced into one. To-
ward evening of the 18th, Hurlbut's
column passed through Decatur, with
orders to 60 into camp four miles beyond,
at creek. McPherson's head of column
was some four miles behind, and / per-
sonally detached one of Hurlbut's regi-
ments to guard the crossroads at Decatur
till the head of McPherson's column
should come in sight. Intending to
spend the night in Decatur, / went to
double log house, and arranged with the
lady for some supper. We unsaddled
our horses, tied them to the fence inside
the yard, and, being tired, l lay down
on a bed and fell asleep. Presently
heard shouts and hallooing, and then
heard pistol-shots close to the house.
My Aid, Maj. Audenried, called me and
said we were attacked by rebel cavalry,
who were all around us. | jumped up