456 



A HISTOIIY OF CAVALRY. 



[period v. 



his command and carried it .safely away, wliile the 

 remainder of the force waH Hurrendered th(! following 

 day. This affair eHtablislK'd Forre.st'H n^putution, and in 

 every subsequent operation in which lu; was engaged 

 he gave; proofh of his extraordinary ability as a (uivalry 

 commander. 



A few days after the battle of 8hiloh or Pittsburg 

 Landing, in which Forrest's cavalry had done good 

 service, the Confederate troops were falling back, 

 Forrest, with some 150 men, forming the extreme rear. 

 Iiear Monterey a Federal force of two regiments of 

 cavalry and one of infantry came against him. A 

 reinforcement joining him raised his force to 350 

 troopers. Forrest, with his characteristic impetuosity, 

 decided to charge boldly against the immensely superior 

 numbers of the foe. 



The charge was made at speed, and when within 

 twenty yards of the enemy the Confederates fired a 

 volley with their shot-guns, which were formidable 

 V capons at that short distance, and then rushed in with 

 swords and pistols. So sudden and so impetuous was 

 the onset that the Federal cavalry were at once over- 

 thrown, and driven in confusion through the infantry 

 in their rear, who were broken and scattered by their 

 own disordered horsemen. They had no time to rally, 

 however ; for Forrest was upon them like lightning, and 

 with swift play of sabre, and rapid firing of the deadly 

 revolver, the flying infantry and horsemen were pursued 

 with merciless carnage.' The loss was very heavy, and 

 many prisoners were taken. In this charge Forrest was 

 severely wounded. 



In July 1862 Forrest, with 1,000 troopers, set out on 

 an expedition against a detachment of Federal troops, 

 under command of General Crittenden, which was 

 lying at Murfreesboro. After some desperate fighting 

 the attack was entirely successful, and the Federal 

 general and 1,765 prisoners were taken, besides large 

 numbers of horses, waggons, &c., as well as great 

 quantities of arms, clothing, and supplies. This capture 

 ^ Campaigns of Forrest, 147. 



