The National tribune., 1910-09-08


The fence, and shall state facts, leav-
ing the reader to form his own conclu-
sions.
We are all, as honorable veterans.
Interested in truthful history, and can
not in justice to each other perpetuate
anything but truth. After the Perry
vile. KY, battle Bragg had been forced
out of that State, and was in the vicin-
fly of Murfreesboro. Tenn. Joe Wheel
er was in chief command of the cav
airy, Forrest being assigned to COM
mand of a brigade consisting of the
4th, Sth and 9Th Tenn. and Russelrs
4th Ala, with Freeman'S Battery of six
pieces, with orders to post at Columbia
and prepare for a raid into West Ten
neSsee.
Forrest informed Bragg that his men
were armed only with shotguns and a
few old iint-lock muskets, and in con-
sequence lily prepared to attack an en-
emy between the two great rivers,
which was well intrenched. well armed.
well clothed. in very superior numbers
and in rapid communication and reach
Of each other.
Bragg promised that proper arms
should be issued at Columbia. Forrest,
waiting up to Dec. 10 for equipment,
again wrote Bragg that the men had
only 10 rounds of caps for their shot
guns. while many of the muskets were
OIItSI IEtGlNtI d DGTtIHp-
tory order to march without delay,
which that intrepid leader at once ar
ranged for. and moved out thus pre-
pared, with about 1,S00 men all told,
many fresh, raw troops who had never
drilled or been under fire. tho some
were veterans whose mettle had been
proven in battle.
Forrest Reaches the River.
Mr.. Hobart says in his article: Grant
had informed his commanders at CO.
1umbia, Bolivar, Jackson, ETC. that For
rest was approaching the Tennessee
River" Forrest reached the river the
evening of Dec. 13 at Clifton, effected
passage on the 14th and 18th in time
to get about eight miles toward Lexing-
ton on the latter date, without interfer-
ence or sight of the boys in blue, and
crossed Slis tattered army on an old
fatboat, the horses and mules being
swum across. Officers and men were
exposed to a cold Winter rain the whole
time, with no tents or shelter. On the
18th we moved about IS miles in the
direction of Lexington, when camp was
struck to build fires, to dry off, inspect
and arrange for the desperate work
they felt to be ahead Forrest had sent
a citizen within the Federal lines with
cash to procure gun and pistol caps
which he did, and reached the caml
that night with about $4,000 rounds
and the men were greatly elated there
by. Forrest resumed the march on the
morning of the 18th, and when about
eight miles from Lexington the Federal
.pickets were encountered. Col Stornes
attacked the Federals in front, and For
rest led the balance around to the right,
when HawkinS's Tennessee Federal
Cavalry gave way, leaving an Illinois
regiment and a section OF artillery TO
withstand the Confederates Can't Cor
10y charged the Illinois
tured the two steel guns with a lot of
prisoners. including Col. IngersoI and
Mai. Kerr, about 300 Sharps carbines
and much ammunition, also about 200
horses and some wagons Now what
were these Federal commanders doing
that they let Forrest consume two DAYS
crossing the Tennessee and nearly two
days more before reaching Lexington >
They had to learn much before they
succeeded in coping with their willy an
tagonist, who used bulge" tactics in his
methods and always tried to git than
fust." to use his own expressions, a him
Gen. Wilson put to good use in defeat.
ing Forrest in 1865. But this is a di.
gressiOn.
Forrest reached near Jackson orr the
afternoon of the 18th, where he simply
skirmished and deployed a part of hi.
men to deceive the Fedcrals and keeI
them in their trenches. That night For.
rest sent out detachments toward Hum.
boIdt and Trenton. on the Mobile &
Ohio Railroad. while with a portion o.
his force he moved toward Trenton by
Spring Creek road, on the route beinl
reinforced by Maj. Cox's battalion o
about 1G0 new recruits from Middl,
Tennessee. who had recently enlisted.
Gallant Maj. Jacob Frye.
Col Russell, who had been left in po
sition at Spring Creek to cover tn
movements north was assailed by tn
Federals, estimated by our side 10 b.
about 1000 infantry, who were re
pulsed, losing their ammunition an,
subsistence trains. Russell held the po
sition till about o'clock at night ant
then followed on after Forrest towar,
Trenton, which was attacked and cap
tured at about l o'clock the next day
Dec. 20. This place being my home
where / was born, / saw the fight from
- the time the Federal pickets came dash
ing thru the Public Square to the fina
surrender by the high-toned, gentle
manly Federal officer in command. Mai
Jacob Frye, who was esteemed by al
our people for his integrity as a gentle
man. for his loyalty and devotion to tn,
Stars and Stripes and for his unfaiIinl
courtesy to all who came near him.