The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-02-01

near Memphis, Tenn, on his raid into
Mississippi, Forrest was marching into
Middle Tennessee, a long way from his
base. and he had been three days on
this march when he heard that Sturgis
was in is rear down in Mississippi.
When he started from Tupelo, June l,
Forrest believed, fro- the reports of
his scouts, that the Federals were max
Ing no movement southwark from
Memphis. This indeed was true, as
Sturgis did not begin his march until
June 3. The Federal counter-move-
ment disarranged, of course, all of For
rests plans. and, although he could
scarcely hope to get there first with the
most men, he turned about and made
a forced march. through rain and mud
in quest of Sturgis. Forrest had one
important advantage. He knew the
country. Wherever he should find his
adversary he would be on familiar
ground.
"On the evening of June 8, Forrest
arrived at Baldwin, 10 miles from
Brice's Crossroads where he learned
that the Federal force consisted of
three brigades of infantry, two bri-
gades of cavalry, and some Is pieces Of
artillery, followed by a supply train of
$50 wagons; that the enemy's cavalry
had reached the crossroads, and that his
infantry was encamped at Stubb's farm
on the Ripley Road, some nine miles
farther west.
AT council of war. held that even
ing, Gen. Forrest suggested prompt ac-
ton; whereupon Gen. Abe Buford, a
notably bellicose kentuckian, weighing
325 pounds, unhesitatingly exclaimed:
Yes. we must fight 'em, and fight 'em
- quick. We must whip the cavalry
before the infantry can come up The
council was brief, Gems. Rucker and
, Lyon concurring with Forrest, and in
dorsing Buford's neutrality-suspicious.
declaration. AS Bells Brigade and Nor
toms Battery had not yet come up, Gen.
Buford himself went back to hurry
them forward, they belonging to his
division. The eomand was composed
largely of Kentuckians, veteran troops,
the Sd, 7th and Sth KY. regiments hav-
ing served nearly three years as infan-
try, before they were mounted and as
signed to Forrest. In their previous
service as infantry these veterans of
many a hard-fought field had ridiculed
the cavalry but, under Forrest, they
changed their minds and wont to ex-
claim: If you want to catch -. just
jne the cavalry
AT daylight. June 10, FORE. led
Lyons Brigade toward Brice's Cross
roads and encountered a force OF the
enemy short distance north of Brice S
house on the Baldwin Road. A squad
ron of the 18th KY. sent forward to
feel the enemy. returned in undignified
ndSIe. Inc 81 NY, uiSfnOunleu, Intfl
deployed i'm skirmish order and adj
yanced. the remainder of the command
following. The enemy fell back into
the dense woodland. About this time
Barteaus Tennesseans, crack regi
ment, marched from old CarrOllville TO
flank the enemy, west of Brice's, and
gaining his rear, to attack the supply
train and the troops that were guarding
ii. Capt. Tyler. with squadron OF the
18th KY, was also directed by Forrest
TO harass the other flank.
When, at the beginning of the fight
the Federal cavalry slowly retired, not
showing a disposition TO seriously con-
test the Confederates' advance, Lyons
men were inclined to yell and hurry
forward. but, as neither Belts Brigade
nor Morton's Battery had yet come up
IL was not good policy to crowd the foe;
therefore Lyon restrained the rash inn
petuosity of his troopers. However
within short time after entering the
woodland the Confederate General had
little need to caution his men to &c
slow. They received sufficient warning
from the enemy. Ceasing to fall back
the Federal cavalry made a determined
stand. The opposing lines came close
together; so close that the command:
OF officers could be heard from either
side. The underground was SO dense
that the combatants could not see each
other unless their lines were i'm close
proximity. Until noon the brigades OF
Lyon and Rucker, without the aid oil
,rtillery. did the fighting, which wa.
desperate and deadly. The enemy,
nuns were active and destructive. the
ursting Shells falling timber, and tn.
aking the woodland a hot place fol