The Washington herald., 1914-02-24

Fifty years ago today Federal cav
airy force under Gen. William Sooy
Mississippi. was retreating in Confusion
10 Memphis Tenn. pursued by Confed-
crate cavalry under Gen. Nathan B.
Forrest
This was the elimination Of an enter
prise which had been planned with ex-
treme care by Gen. W. 7. Sherman and
intrusted to a chosen leader and picked
= troops.
The cavalry was to cooperate with
Gen. Sherman in destroying the railroads
and Confederate supply depots of Gen.
tral Mississippi.
Gen. sherman with so.ooo infantry had
moved across the State from Vicksburg,
through Jackson to Meridian, at the
junction OF the Mobile and Ohio and the
Mississippi Central railroads.
Gen. Sooy Smith had been sent from
Nashville to Memphis by Gen Grant to
take command Of Sherman's cavalry and
TO proceed south through Mississippi with
a picked body of 1000 troopers to join
Sherman at Meridian.
Gen. Smith was ten days late in start
ing. He waited that time for one of his
three brigades to join him. On February
IL he left Collierville. near Memphis. with
full command.
Crossing the TaIlahatchie River, the
Federals moved across country to Oko-
Iona, on the Mobile and Ohio road, and
thence south to West Point, where they
arrived February %. They had Travelled
nearly 15o miles and were still 100 miles
from their objective.
Up to that time they had met with
scarcely any opposition, and had burned
and devastated the country through
which they passed. On the 10th they
had come in contact with one brigade CT
Nathan B. Forests cavalry-1,00o men.
under Col. jeffrey Forrest, the generals
brother.
Realizing that he was face to face
with the famous cavalry leader OF the
South. Gen. Smith lost confidence in his
ability to meet him. He received exas-
Gerated reports of Forests strength.
= He believed that the Confederate COM
mand outnumbered his own, whereas
Forrest could only muster 5000 raw re-
cruits against Gen. Smiths 1000 picked
troops.
On the night of February 20 Gen Smith
gave orders TO retreat the following
morning. At daybreak the Federals were
in motion toward the North and the
rear guard, the Second Iowa Regiment,
under Mai. d. Z. Coon, was engaged
with Col. Forests brigade, south of
West Point Maj. Coon fought to gain
time for the retreating Federals. At 10
O'Clock in the morning of February q he
retired and Joined the balance OF the
command.
FederaIs in Running Fight.
The retreat now began in earnest and
as Gen. Forrest brought his men TO at
tack became perilously near a rout
That night the Fcderals halted near
Okolona, having marched until mid
night.
Dawn showed tn Federals that For
rest had not been idle in the night. Al
ready a brigade Of "~nfederates was on
their flank. Forrest in person rode
against them in front and forced them
TO continue their retreat.
There was little show of resistance
on the part Of the Federals. The open
plain offered a favorable battle-ground
and they Outnumbered the Confederates
then before item more than three to
ore, for the bulk of Forests men had
taken side roads and had not yet come
up.
As the Confederate leader rode through
OkoIona after the retiring enemy he
came upon scene tat stirred him to
action. Upon the plain north Of the
town Confederates and Federals were
drawn up in battle array. There was
only one brigade of his own men, 1000
strong; the Federals were double that