The Washington herald., 1914-06-10


Fifty years ago today the battle Of
Brices Crossroads was fought in North
ern Mississippi, In which force of about
1900 Federal infantry and cavalry, with
% guns, under Maj. Gen. Samuel ID. Stur-
gis. was defeated and put to rout by less
that 5000 Confederate cavalrymen, with
twelve guns under Gen. Nathan B. For
rest.
The battle was one Of the greatest sue
cesses of Gen. Forests career. 1t illus
trated the greater value of skilled leader
ship as compared with numerical strength
In battle. for the Confederate victory was
due alone to Gen. Forests brilliant tao
tics.
Gen. sturgis was brave. experienced
and resourceful He had been successful
In East Tennessee campaigns, and had
been sent west to try his strength against
Forrest. Like others who previously had
been assigned to that task. he did not
appreciate the full difficulty Of IT. He
was called upon to face one Of the abiest
cavalry leaders the war produced-a SOL
der of iron nerve and unflinchinS cour-
age, and natural leader of men. The
Federals regarded Gen. Forrest as one of
the most dangerous men they had to con-
tend with. and never cease to watch him.
1t was to keep Forrest away from the
nooga. on which Gen. W. r. Sherman de-
pended for supplies In his advance upon
Atlanta. that Gen. Sturgis was sent West.
Early in May Gen. Sturgis. moving
from Memphis, had attempted to find
Forests command and give IT battle,
but had returned without having met 1t.
Gen. Sherman at once gave orders send
ing him into the field to find and hold
Forrest.
Forrest Turns to Flight.
Gen. Sturgis command moved out from
Memphis and Lafayette, TcEr on June
/ 1t consisted of about S.1o0 men. or
ganized as follows: Under Brig. Gen. b.
II. Grierson, $500 cavalry in two brigades
with ten guns, commanded respectively
by Col George E. Waring. j-.. of the 4th
Missouri Cavalry and Col. z. F. Wins
low of the 4th Iowa Cavalry: under Col.
W. J.. McMillen. $500 infantry in three
brigades with twelve guns. commanded
respectively by Col Alexander Wilkins.
of the 9Th Minnesota Regiment. Co.. G.
Hose, of the 1l3th Illinois Regiment
and Col Edward Bouton. of the 18th
United States Colored Infsntry The
troops under Col. Bouton we're all ne
groes- There was a train of aoout 80
wagons and ambulances.
On June l Gen. Forrest moved from Tu-
pelo. Miss, intent on entering middle
Tennessee and doing as much damage as
he could in Sherman's rear. Tfe had
reached Northern Alabama before he was
overtaken by messengers suI1moning him
back to Mississippi to meet .he advancing
force under Gen. Sturgis.
The Confederate troops consisted of
Gen TyXee II. II. Bells brigade. 2.7S
men: Edmond W. Fuckers brigade, 100
strong: Col. William A. Johnson's. and
Col. Hylan B. Lyons bridages, 500 and
so, respectively. Their twelve guns were
under Capt John W. Morton.
Sturgis had intended to go first to Cor
inth and then to proceed south down
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad until he
should meet Gen. Forrest. Bad roads
made progress slow and he had not got
far on his way before he received word
that Gen. Forrest was moving south
from the vicinity of Corinth- Cen Stur-
gis now headed toward Ripley. Miss. He
hoped to strike the railroad thirty-five
miles south of Corinth and cut OF
Forrest.
The routes followed by the two col
umns brought the Federal cavalry in
contact with Forests advance at Brice's
Crossroads at 9:I5 a. m, June 10. Gen.
Forests command wasN strung out for
miles. and less than 1.0oo men were near
the crossroads when the fighting began
EedcraIs Forced Back.
In short time the opposing forces had
formed their lines. On the Federal side
Col Warnings brigade was across the
road to Baldwin. supported on the right
by Col Winslow's brigade. There were
four guns on the line, six in reserve.
and total of about 200 men. The Con-
federate line, much shorter than that of
the Federals. was held by Lyons brigade
and about 100 OF Forests escort.
Gen Forrest ordered Lyon to maintain
brisk attack. and succeeded in keep
ing the Federals on the defensive for
about an hour, when Col. Fuckers
brigade of 700 men arrived at the front
This gave Gen. Forrest about 1850 men.
Rucker was Immediately thrown into
the fray and the fighting developed along
the Federal front.
About IL o'clock. having been further
reinforced by 500 Alabamians. under Col.
W A Johnson. Forrest determined to
close in upon the Federals. At the sound
of bugle the Confederates dashed for
ward across an open field between them
and the Federal line. and soon were en-
gagged at close quarters. Col Rucker
headed his men in an assault on warnings
line. where the heaviest hand to hand
fighting Of the battle occurred. Twice
Fuckers men were hurled back by the
Federals, but in a third charge they
broke the line at the center and spread
confusion in the ranks. The Federal
guns. which had done good work. now
ran short Of ammunition and were with
draw. Col Fuckers success at the GEN.
ter was followed by a general onslaught
by the Confederates and by l o'clock
the Union cavalrymen were falling back.
Cavalry Attack Infantry.
At this time the advance of the Fed
eral infantry. which was nine miles away
when the fight began, came up at double
quick and formed new lines. The cav
alrymen. who now gained heart, sue
ceeded in holding the Confederates at
bay At o'clock there was lull in the
fight. Both sides prepared for further
struggle.
The day was sultry and the sun beat
fiercely down upon the men.
About go the Confederates were again
in action. Forrest had carefully placed
his men in readiness for an advance
and had sent detachments to strike the
Federals on both fianks.
Col Merton, who was thirty-two years
old, had come up shortly after l O'Clock
with his twelve guns. having Travelled
eighteen miles since morning. Just be-
hind him was Gen. Bells brigade Of 2.7S
men, who had come twenty-five miles.
from Rienzi.
Gen. Forrest put himself at the head
of Gen. Bells troops. and leading them
to the left of the line. put them into the
action. The lighting now was heavy
along the entire front. The Federal cav
airy had retired at the first sign of a
general engagement. leaving the infantry
To hold the ground. The infantry was