That Devil Forrest: Chapter Four, 2nd Part

Near Monterey, General Sherman advanced with two brigades of infantry and the Fourth Illinois Cavalry under Colonel Dickey, the cavalry in front. Reaching the fork of the road leading to Corinth, the infantry, under General Wood, was ordered by Sherman to advance cautiously along one road, while he took the third brigade of his division along the other route, which led to the right. One-half mile beyond the forks of this road was an open field, through which the highway passed, and beyond this field a clearing of fallen timber several hundred yards wide. The Confederate camps could be seen from this point, from one-half to three-fourths of a mile in the distance. Sherman immediately pushed forward a strong line of infantry skirmishers, and advanced his entire command in the direction of the encampment. He did not know until later that Forrest was a close observer of his moevements and was ready to contest his advance.

Major Thomas Harrison, then in command of the gallant "Texas Rangers," had reported to Forrest with 220 of his men, and, in addition, a company from Wirt Adams's regiment and two companies of Morgan's Kentucky cavalry; and these, together with his own men, this commander had carefully concealed behind a wooden ridge which ran nearly parallel with the road upon which Sherman was advancing. Following his usual custom, he had dismounted a certain number of his men, and these were offering slight resistance to the advance of the line of Federal skirmishers. Behind the Union skirmishers and about two hundred yards in front of the brigade under Sherman, in line of battle came the Illinois cavalry under Colonel Dickey.

After passing through the fallen timber a short distance, and while crossing a small stream, Dickey's cavalry was thrown into temporary confusion and just as this was observed by Forrest he shouted "Charge!" and at the head of his command, about eight hundred in all, rode right over the line of infantry skirmishers, and closed in with Dickey's cavalry. Being in confusion when the assault was made, their resistance was feeble, and they gave way in a wild stampede, running roughshod over their comrades in Sherman's first line of infantry. The Federal and Confederate cavalry became mixed up in a wild melee. The infantry were thrown into a panic, threw down their guns, and also broke for the rear, suffering considerable damage from the pistols and sabers of the Confederate cavalry. As they approached the second line of Sherman's reserves, a brigade in line of battle, the more cautious of the Confederate troopers pulled up their horses in time, and under hte direction of their officers made their way safely back to the rear.

Unfortunately for Forrest, his horse had carried him so far into the line of Union reserves before he could check the animal and turn to retreat that the soldiers rushed forward and attempted to surround and capture or kill him. They fired at him from all sides, shouting, "Shoot that man!" "Knock him off his horse!" So close were they that one infantryman pushed his musket almost against the colonel's side and discharged it, the ball entering just above the left hip, traversing the large muscles of the back, and lodging against the spinal column. He was barely able to maintain his seat, and, to add to the peril of the situation, his horse was wounded severely in two places. Though mortally shot, the plucky animal leaped from his rider's assailants, while Forrest, with pistol in hand, opened an avenue of escape through which he spurred his horse, and found safety in flight.

As shown in General Sherman's official report, this desperate and successful attack by Colonel Forrest checked all pursuit of the flying Confederate army, which, badly beaten at Shiloh on the second day, was retreating toward Corinth, in no shape to resist a vigorous pursuit such as Sherman was capable of.

From this severe wound Forrest did not entirely recover for many weeks, during which period it gave him much pain and annoyance. The noble steed that had done him such great service in this trying experience lived to reach Corinth, but died from his wounds the day after.

Sherman, in speaking of this episode, says:

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION,
Tuesday, April 8, 1862

With the cavalry placed at my command and two brigades of my fatigued troops I went this morning out on the Corinth road. One after another of the abandoned camps of the enemy lined the roads, with hospital flags for their protection; at all we found more or less wounded and dead men. At the forks of the road I found the head of General T. J. Wood's division of Buell's army. I ordered cavalry to examine both roads leading towards Corinth, and found the enemy on both. Colonel Dickey, of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, asking for reinforcements, I ordered General Wood to advance the head of his column cautiously on the left-hand road, while I conducted the head of the Third Brigade of my division up the right-hand road. About half a mile from the forks was a clear field through which the road passed, and, immediately beyond, a space of some two hundred yards of fallen timber, and beyond that an extensive rebel camp. The enemy's cavalry could be seen in this camp. After reconnaissance, I ordered the two advance companies of the Ohio Seventy-seventh, Colonel Hildebrand, to deploy forward as skirmishers, and the regiment itself forward into line, with an interval of one hundred yards. In this order we advanced cautiously until the skirmishers were engaged. Taking it for granted this disposition would clear the camp, I held Colonel Dickey's Fourth Illinois Cavalry ready for the charge. The enemy's cavalry came down boldly at a charge, led by General Forrest in person, breaking through our line of skirmishers; when the regiment of infantry, without cause, broke, threw away their muskets and fled. The ground was admirably adapted for a defense of infantry against cavalry, being miry and covered with fallen timber.

As the regiment of infantry broke, Dickey's cavalry began to discharge their carbines and fell into disorder. I instantly sent orders to the rear for the brigade to form line of battle, which was promptly executed. The broken infantry and cavalry rallied on this line, and, as the enemy's cavalry came to it, our cavalry in turn charged and drove them from the field. I advanced the entire brigade over the same groundr, and sent Colonel Dickey's cavalry a mile farther on the road. On examining the ground which had been occupied by the Seventy-seventh Ohio, we found fifteen of our men dead and about twenty-five wounded. I sent for wagons, and had all the wounded carried back to camp and caused the dead to be buried, also the whole rebel camp to be destroyed.

Here we found much ammunition for field-pieces, which was destroyed; also two caissons, and a general hospital, with about two hundred and eighty Confederate wounded, and about fifty of our own wounded men. Not having the means of bringing them off, Colonel Dickey, by my orders, took a surrender, signed by the medical director (Lyle) and by all the attending surgeons, and a pledge to report themselves to you as prisoners of war; also a pledge that our wounded should be carefully attnded to, and surrendered to us to-morrow as soon as ambulances could go out. I enclose this written document, and request that you cause wagons or ambulances for our wounded to be sent to-morrow, and that wagons be sent to bring in the many tents belonging to us which are pitched along the road for four miles out. I did not destroy them, because I knew the enemy could not move them. The roads are very bad, and are strewed with abandoned wagons, ambulances, and limber-boxes. The enemy has succeeded in carrying of the guns, but has crippled his batteries by abandoning the hind limber-boxes of at least twenty caissons. I am satisfied the enemey's infantry and artillery passed Lick Creek this morning, travelling all of last night, and then he left to his rear in his cavalry, which has protected his retreat; but signs of the confusion and disorder mark the whole road. The check sustained by us at the fallen timber delayed our advance, so that night came upon us before the wounded were provided for and the dead buried, and our troops being fagged out by three days' hard fighting, exposure, and privation, I ordered them back to their camps, where they now are.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

W. T. Sherman,
Brigadier-General Commanding Division

To Major-General Grant.

The gallant part borne by Major Thomas Harrison and his Texas Rangers should not be forgotten. No braver soldiers ever fought under any flag than Terry's Rangers.

In addition to the fifteen men killed and twenty-five wounded in the desperate and brilliant charge, a number of prisoners were taken to the rear. Major Harrison reports forty-three taken by his own Rangers, and it is probable that others wre captured. General Sherman admits that, as the result of this charge of Forrest, he did not push on any farther after the retreating army of Beauregard.

This was the first occasion in which this stern old warrior, one of the greatest of all the Union generals, had men in battle and felt the prowess of the Confederate cavalry leader. From that day on he formed a high estimate of Forrest's ability as a soldier.

The wound received by Forrest was so severe that he was carried to his home in Memphis in order to submit to whatever surgical treatment was necessary for his recovery. He improved rapidly, and although very far from having sufficiently recovered to be back on duty, he left Memphis on the 29th of April (twenty-one days after he had been wounded) to rejoin his command.

He paid, however, the penalty of this indiscretion, for a few days after he had joined his command at Corinth the wound became exceedingly painful and swollen, and reopened, necessitating a second severe operation for the removal of the ball, which confined him to his bed for the next two weeks.

Wyeth, John Allan. Life of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Harper: New York 1899.

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