CHAP, xxviii.] AMERICAN f lYiL WAR, 1861-1805. 



457 



enabled ForreHt to arm his tiooiKS with Ijctter we.ipoiia 

 than tli(!y iiiid previou.sly l)een oldiged to use. 



At Trenton, in Deeember 18G2, he charged the enemy 

 with a })ortion of his eavahy mounted, and drove them 

 into a fortified position, whieli tluy had strengtliened 

 with a breastwork (jf cotton bak'S and hofjsheads of 

 toba('>co. Halting within fifty yards, \h\ withdrew his 

 force some two or three; liundred yards so as to obtain 

 cover, and then dismountin/,' these same men and 

 bringing up some guns, lie opened such a fire of small 

 arms and artillery that tli(! Federals soon surrendered, 

 and his small force, consisting only of his cavalry escort 

 and a few artillery, in all not more than 275 men, were 

 able to sum up the fruits of their victory. They 

 amounted to 400 prisoners of war, 300 negroes, 1,000 

 horses and mules, thirteen waggons, seven caissons, 20,000 

 rounds of artillery, 400,0v0 of small-arm ammunition, 

 together with a great quantity of equipments, stores, 

 &c. This was all obtained by ji gallant charge of about 

 200 horsemen which drove the enemy into their en- 

 trenchments, folloAved by a bold attack b)^ these same 

 horsemen, acting dismounted as infantry. The American 

 Cival War teems with instances proving that their 

 mounted riflemen were able to do what it is said 

 European cavalry have often failed in, namely, to act 

 with boldness and skill, both on foot and on horseback.' 



On his return to the Confederate lines Forrest fought 

 a desperate action at Parker's Cross Roads, with 1,200 

 men, against 1,800 Federals. His order of ^ attle was 

 in one line of dismounted riflemen, with about 100 

 mounted on each flank, and six guns, along the line, 

 • two in the centre, and two near each wing. The Federal 

 force was defeated after hard fighting, its retreat cut oflf, 

 and white flags hoisted with the object of surrendering, 

 when two Federal brigades came up in Forrest's rear, 

 with several pieces of artillery, and opened fire upon 

 him. The beaten force at once resumed their arms and 

 renewed the fight. Forrest, at the head of seventy-five 

 horsemen, charged boldly at the guns of the fresh force, 

 ^ Fon-est's^Campaigns, 201, 202. 



