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rests career for the strategy he en-
ployed was of the highest order. Wolse-
ley, who studied Forests campaigns
with great care. considered the unlettered
general one of the most brilliant SOL
ders America has produced. but other
students do not agree with him in class
Ing MurfreeSbcro as Forests mosU re-
markable achievement. The pursuit and
capture of Streights raiders and the bat
tie of Brice's Cross Roads are ranked
higher by. them.
1t perhaps was unfortunate for Forrest
that he served under various generals
who were not competent to handle to the
best advantage the big forces committed
to their care, and who never seemed to
realize that In Forrest they had soldier
fitted for much more important work and
larger field than that to which he was
assigned. They used him principally to
relieve pressure upon themselves, to Gre
ate diversions that would draw off sec
uons of the Union forces or to destroy
the Union generals lines of communica-
tion; but when Forrest did everything he
was expected to do, and more. too, they
were unable to take advantage Of the
situation. Not only that, but they with
drew from Forrest some of his best COM
mands. weakening him to strengthen
themselves, and then called on him to
raise new forces and continue his work.
In December, 1862. after his brigade
had been taken from him and given to
another command, he was ordered TO take
new brigade which he had recruited
and make raid into West Tennessee to
attack Grants communications When
he appealed to Gen. Bragg for arms and
ammunition for this brigade he was told
there was none for him. He had to go al
he was. His men had flintlock muskets,
shotEmS and squirrel rifles poor equip
- ,So1.
with carbines and supported by artillery.
But he did not hesitate. All western
Tennessee was held by the Union forces.
Into this territory he dashed with 1000
men. and for fifteen days he played a
game of brag, bluff, battle and destruc-
ton until he drew down upon himself
forces more than ten times as great as
those he commanded.
His first stratagem was to spread the
rumor that he had 10000 men. At Lex
ington he captured Col Robert G. Inger-
soil, together with Ingersoll's command
and section of artillery, threatened the
Union stronghold at Jackson, captured
Humboldt. Trenton and Union City and
completely destroyed the railroads of
western Tennessee. But meanwhile his
escape had been cut Off The Tennessee
river was patrolled by gunboats, and the
forces of Durham and Sullivan were be-
tween him and the river. Forrest placed
himself between these two forces and
planned to defeat one and then the other
At Brices Cross Roads he engaged Dur
ham, and after desperate fight a truce
was called while Durham considered a
demand to surrender. Before the truce
expired Sullivan arrived. the companies
Forrest having sent to hold him in check
missing him. With consummate ability
Forrest extricated his command from be-
tween the two Union forces and escaped
to the river, which he crossed unmo-
lested When he rejoined Bragg his men
were armed with the finest of carSines
and abundant ammunition. He had artil-
lery and a lot of supplies. all of which
had been captured. He had taken / $40
prisoners. including four coonels
Soon after this exploit Gen Joe Wheel
er. Forests immediate superior con-
ceived the idea Of recapturing Fort Dom