Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

On the 3d of February, after a march of more than forty miles, which the rain and cold have rendered extremely painful, the Confederate cavalry makes its appearance before Dover. Forrest, who is following the line of the Cumberland, having destroyed some important forges and captured nearly the whole Union squadron which occupied them, reaches the heights situated south of the village. Wharton captures the mounted scouts of the enemy, and soon completes the investment on the land-side by extending the left of the Confederate line as far as the river by way of the north. Harding has hastily made his preparations for the combat: he has sent for assistance to his chief, Colonel Lowe, who occupies Fort Henry, and has placed the sick, noncombatants, and the women upon one of the two transports that are moored close to the landing-place. The other vessel descends the river with a full head of steam, in the hope of meeting some man-of-war which might afford the assistance of its heavy guns to the Dover garrison.

Wheeler has ordered his two lieutenants to begin the attack at half-past 2. At the appointed hour, Forrest, deploying his eight hundred mounted men along the hill opposite to that upon which the houses are located, steadily advances in order of battle: crossing the ravine which separates them, he gallops up the slope under a shower of bullets. The Federal troops, being well posted, inflict upon the assailants fearful losses, but are unable to check their headlong dash: they charge upon the Unionists, who are scarcely two hundred strong on this side, getting over the work and penetrating into the town. But here the combat assumes a different aspect: the defenders have rallied within the central earthwork and are occupying the neighboring houses; a murderous fire is directed from all sides upon the Confederate mounted men, whose movements are greatly embarrassed by their animals: Wharton has failed to bring Forrest assistance. The former, in fact, who has two thousand men under his command, has made them dismount for the attack: he has not been able, therefore, to act as promptly as was necessary, and has not yet approached the position of the Unionists, when the latter,