The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-06-26
WAR STORIES.
Gen. n. B. Forests Daring Successes.
Lost Cause.

infantry, and thus added to his re-
nown. When the Federal army re.
treated from the field Forrest followed
them to within half mile of Chatta-
nooga, all the time urging his supc-
riors to make an attack on the retreat
ing Fcdcrals, which, he believed,
would complete their ruin, but which
vas not nadc.
a few days later Forrest went on
successful expedition into east Ten
ncssee about London. Soon after he
was, by Gen. Bragg, deprived of his
command, except one brigade, and re-
signed his commission, but was in
duccd by President Davis, then with
the army, to reconsider his action and
take command Of affairs in district
composed Of North Mississippi and
West Tennessee. He was only given
his old regiment as nucleus for his
new command, and at once proceeded
to North Mississippi. Here his great
est career as cavalry leader, unham-
percd by the orders of others, began.
At once, December 5. 1868, nc
threw his small command cf about 500
men into West Tennessee with view
of recruiting the abundant war mate
rial in that quarter. This he accom-
plishcd safely after many adventures,
reaching Pamela. Miss, on his return,
January /, 1864, with 5000 recruits
hardy, young Tcnncssccans- a
large train Of supplies, with several
hundred head of beef cattle, hogs,
etc., and running the gauntlet OF more
than 10000 Federal troops. His sue
cess brought with it a commission as
major-general and material from which
to construct new and splendid cav
airy command, never cxcellcd by any
army in the world.
Forests successes nov followed
each other with rapidity which
caught not only the attention Of the
two warning nations, but the whole
civilized world. In February Gen.
William Sooey Smith, with about
5000 cavalry, made rapid movement
from Memphis to the prairie region Of
eastern Mississippi, in order to destroy
the immense supplies of grain stores
and incidentally to cooperate with
Gen. Sherman, moving from Jackson
to Meridian. lincountcring these
troops north Of West Point February
21st, they were rapidly driven back
past Oklahoma and finally routed at
Prairie Mound, February 22d, and
driven back pell nell to Memphis.
March 18th he again crossed into
West Tennessee with q considerable
force, capturing jackson and Union
City, and even reached the Ohio River,
attacking heavily the city of Paducah,
March 25th. Remaining in West
Tennessee and recruiting Forrest at
tackled and captured the strongly for
titled post Of Fort Pillow, April 18th,
with 500 prisoners. After this he
again retired into North Nlississi ppi.
In Jnre the Federal Commander ct
Memphis again sent great expedi-
tion into Northeastern Mississippi,
consisting Of $500 men, Of which
5,40O were infantry, under Gen. S. D.
Sturgis. Forrest encountered those
at Brice's Cross Roads, not far from
Tupelo, June 10, 1864, with only
3,400 men, and after desperate bat
tie utterly routed the whole com
mand, scattering them over the cocn
try, and taking all their artillery and
trains and placing hors du combat
nearly third of the whole command
Such annihilation had not overlook
any command in the whole war.
In July large force of 1000 men
under Gen. A. j. Smith, set out from
Memphis to avengc Sturgis. This
was encountered by Forrest and Gen
S. d. Lee, at Harrisburg, Miss, July
14th, and desperate battle followed
The Confederatcs were repulscd ir
their attack on Smiths fortified posi-
ton, but the Federal commander al
once abandoned his expedition, ant
rapidly retired to Memphis, followed
by Forrest, who harrasscd his com
mand 6erccly until over the Talla
hatchie River. In August Genera
Smith, directed by Gen. Sherman
again moved into North Mississippi
this time in the direction Of Oxford
with $4,000 men. Forrest, unable t,
check this great army, left Gen
Chalmers at Oxford to confront Smith
aud, making wide detour Of eight,