CHAP. XXVIII.] AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865. 



459 



cavalry fought as bravely and to as much purpose as the 

 best infantry in the army. After the victory was gained 

 Forrest, putting his men again in the saddle, pressed on 

 after the retreating Federals, and captured a number of 

 prisoners. He penetrated within half a mile of Chatta- 

 nooga, and after vainly urging his commander-in-chief 

 to follow up and perfect the victory, he returned to 

 the Confederate lines, deeply mortified at the apathy 

 displayed, but carrying with him large numbers of 

 prisoners.^ 



In repelling a Federal cavalry raid, under General W. S. 

 Smith, in February 1864, a series of fights took place. 

 The most important was at Okoloua, where Forrest used 

 with extraordinary skill his favourite system of fighting, 

 sometimes mounted and sometimes dismounted, as the 

 exigency of the moment required. The Ijattle opened 

 by a fire from the Confederates ; then three regiments 

 aliffhtinoj from their horses and forming in line on foot 

 charged the Federal position, while Forrest himself with 

 one regiment mounted swept around and charged the 

 right flank of the enemy's line. This combined attack 

 was successful, and the Federals falling back took up a 

 second position. 



Pressing on in pursuit, Forrest came upon the enemy 

 drawn up in four strong lines on a ridge. His troops 

 were scattered somewhat by the long pursuit, so he 

 drew them back to a favourable position, and with the 

 small force he had in the advance drew them up in line 

 to resist a counter attack. 



Th(. Federals charged boldly upon him in successive 

 lines, which were all repulsed by the withering volleys 

 of the dismounted sharpshooters, except the fourth or 

 last body, which broke through his lines. And now 

 comes the strangest part of the story. The dismounted 

 Confederate cavalry, although broken and mingled with 

 a mass of charging horsemen, would neither yield nor 

 fly, but at once commenced waging a hand-to-hand 

 combat with their revolvers against their mounted 

 antagonists.* This was said to have been one of the most 

 ' Campaigns of Forrest, 351, 352. " Ibid. 400, 



