The Washington herald., 1914-02-19

Fifty years age today Federal cavalry
force of 200 men which. under Gen. Will
lam Sooy Smith, was moving South in
Northern Mississippi to assist Gen. Sher-
man in his Meridian campaign, came into
contact with Forests cavalry at Prairie
Station, fifteen miles north of West Point,
on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
Gen. Smith mad started from Collier
VILE, Tenn, twenty-five miles from Men,
phis, on February II. He was far behind
the schedule which Gen. Sherman had or
dered him to keep. The latter, with 1000
infantry, had moved across the Missis-
sippi from Vicksburg, arriving at Jack
son on February and at Meridian on
the evening Of February u. He expected
to meet Gen. Smiths command at Ne
ridian on his arrival there. having or
dered it to march from Tennessee on Feb
ruary 1 and to form junction with his
command IL possible by February TO-
But Gen. smith who. on February /,
had concentrated the bulk of his COM
mand at Collierv.lle, awaited the arrival
of a brigade under Gen. George E. War
ing, tr., which was coming from Colum-
bus, KY. Warnings brigade did not arrive
at the rendezvous until February s. Its
men and horses were in such poor con-
dition that they were not ready to take
the field until the 11th.
On that day Gen. Smith rode out OF
CollierviIle at the head Of his men. They
were a splendid body OF troops, thorough
ly equipped for the service laid out for
them. Gem Smith had come to West
Tennessee from Nashville, having been
sent by Gen. Grant expressly to command
the expedition cooperating with Sher-
man, and had brought with him $500
picked cavalrymen from middle Tennes-
see
On his arrival at Memphis he had been
appointed chief of cavalry of the Depart
ment of Mississippi. which Sherman COM
manded. and had been instructed to Sc
lect 1000 of the best cavalrymen in that
department. This he had done The men,
fully armed with the latest pattern re-
volvers and carbines, entered upon the
expedition with dash and confidence.
Forrest on the Scene.
The work assigned the command under
Gen. Smith did not appear exceptionally
difficult II want you with your cavalry
10 move from Collierville on Pontotoc and
OkOlona; thence. sweeping down near the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad, disable that
road as much as possible, consume or
destroy the resources of the enemy along
that road, break up the connection with
Columbus, Miss, and finally reach me at
or near Meridian" These were Sher-
mans orders TO Gen. Smith.
But the Federals had in front of them
an enemy Win WnOm tnelr leaQer pre-
viously had not dealt. This was Gen.
Nathan B. Forrest, who. after the Chick
amauga campaign in Northern Georgia,
had been detached from that field and
sent to West Tennessee to organize a
new command.
As an organizer OF cavalry Gen. For
rest was unsurpassed. Twice since the
beginning of the war he had raised
formid le brigades, which had won re-
nown under his command. only to be
taken from him. He was impetuous
and hotheaded, and had extreme diff
Guilty in getting along with his superiors
If they attempted to influence his mill
tary judgment He had quarreled with
Gen. BraZton Bragg after Chickamauga
and had appealed to President Davis to
send him TO a new field of duty.
In compliance with his wishes, he wa 8
relieved command of mis- old brigade and.
with a nucleus of 21 men, comprising
his staff, escort and the artillerymen of
Capt. ]. w. Morton's battery of four
field guns, had moved to West Tennessee
TO build up again a new command.
Recruiting Secretly.
Nearly every important town in West
Tennessee was occupied by the Federals
and great care and secrecy had to be
exercised in carrying on the work OF