Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 8.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

Colonel — I have the honor to submit the following report of the movements and operations of my command against the Federal forces under command of General Smith, in the engagements of the 20th, 21st and 22d ultimo.

Learning on the 14th ultimo at Oxford that the enemy was moving in heavy force in the direction of Pontotoc, and believing his destination to be the prairies, and from thence a junction with Sherman, I withdrew all my forces from the Tallahatchie and Yazoo rivers and moved rapidly to Starkville, which place I reached on the evening of the 18th ultimo. On the 19th the enemy were reported at Okalona, but his movements or intended course was not developed; and fearing he might cross the Tombigbee, I ordered Bell's brigade to Columbus, and also dispatched General Ruggles to use all his effective force to prevent them from doing so. At the same time, I ordered Brigadier-General Chalmers, commanding division, to send Forrest's brigade to Aberdeen, or in that direction, to meet and ascertain the movements of the enemy, and also with McCulloch's brigade of his division and Richardson's brigade, under Colonel Neely, to move out to West Point — leaving General Richardson at Starkville in command of all the dismounted men of the command, to protect my wagon train, and send out scouts in the direction of Houston in order to give timely notice, should the enemy divide his forces and move in that direction.

On the morning of the 20th, Colonel Forrest met the enemy in force and fell back towards West Point, skirmishing with them, but avoiding an engagement. In repelling their attacks, he lost two men killed and several wounded and captured. I moved over to his assistance with.General Chalmers and his remaining brigade, taking with me also Richardson's brigade and two batteries of artillery, joining Colonel Forrest within three miles of West Point. Finding the enemy in heavy force, and having been informed that General Lee was moving to my assistance, and desiring to delay a general engagement as long as possible, I determined at once to withdraw my forces south of Sookatouchie creek, which I did, [10] camping a portion of them near Ellis' bridge and the remainder at Siloam. After crossing the river a courier reported the enemy as having crossed the river eight miles above Ellis' bridge, destroying mills and taking horses and negroes. With five companies of Faulkner's regiment and my escort, I moved rapidly to the point, clearly designated by the smoke of the burning mill, gained the bridge, and succeeded in capturing the squad, which proved to be a lieutenant and twenty-two privates of the Fourth regulars, United States cavalry. Fearing the enemy might attempt to cross at the upper bridge during the night, I ordered its destruction, and concentrated my force at Ellis' bridge, three miles from West Point. This bridge I determined, if possible, to defend and preserve, because it was necessary, in the event we could drive back the enemy, to use it in advancing on them; and had I allowed the enemy to cross it, and then succeeded in driving them back, they would have burned it behind them, rendering pursuit impossible without heading the stream.

During the night all was quiet. On Sunday morning, the 21st, the videttes and pickets were driven in, and the enemy reported advancing from West Point in full force. I had ordered General Chalmers to dismount his division, throwing Forrest's brigade across the creek in front of the bridge, while McCulloch's brigade took possession of the south bank of the stream, to support Colonel Forrest and protect him in the event he was compelled to retire and recross the stream. Dispatches were sent to General Richardson to move up all his force to the bridge across Line creek, eight miles of Starkville and four miles in my rear; also to Colonel Barteau to move across the Tombigbee, to keep on the flank, and, if possible, to gain the enemy's rear. I ordered Colonel Neely to move his (Richardson's) brigade at once, and to guard all the ferries and fords across Tibbee river from the mouth of Line creek to Tibbee station; sending Major-General Gholson and the State forces under his commond to Palo Alto, to watch any movement of the enemy from the direction of Houston. In making these necessary dispositions, my effective force in front of the enemy was reduced to Chalmers' division, my escort and two batteries. The enemy attacked Colonel Forrest at eight o'clock, and after a fight of two hours, were repulsed with considerable loss. The hastily improvised breastworks of rails and logs, thrown up by Colonel Forrest, greatly protected his men, and our casualties during this fight were seven men wounded. [11]

As the enemy withdrew, I followed them with my escort and a portion of Faulkner's regiment mounted; also with a section of Morton's battery, supported by a regiment from McCulloch's brigade on foot. Our advance at first was necessarily slow and cautious. I soon ascertained, after a few well directed shots from our artillery, that the enemy had begun a rapid and systematic retreat, and dashed on after them — sending back orders to General Chalmers to send forward to me, as rapidly as possible, two thousand of his best mounted men and Hoole's battery of Mountain howitzers. I soon came on their rear guard, charged it with my escort and Faulkner's command, and drove it before me. They made several stands; but Colonel McCulloch, with his brigade, having caught up, we continued to charge and drive them on, killing and wounding fifteen or twenty of them, and capturing a number of prisoners. Night came on, and we kept so close to the enemy that my men mistook each other for the enemy and fired a volley at each other, without, however, doing any damage. Fearing a recurrence of such mistakes, and considering the great risk necessarily incurred in following and fighting a superior force after dark, I determined to camp for the night and resume the chase at daylight next morning.

Early next morning, the column moved forward. Taking a different road with my escort, I came upon and charged the enemy four miles from Okalona, and drove their rear guard into town, where I found them drawn up in line of battle and apparently awaiting our arrival. Colonel Barteau, with Bell's brigade, had also reached Okalona, and was in line of battle awaiting the arrival of the balance of my forces. Leaving my escort in line as skirmishers, with my staff I made a circuit around the town, took command of Bell's brigade, and advanced upon them. They received us with a volley and charged with yells, but were handsomely repulsed in the open field and forced to retreat, which they did rapidly and in confusion — using every exertion to check pursuit by ambuscading and forming regiments on either side of the road, who would fire and retreat successively. Before attempting or being able to make a stand of any kind, they were crowded so closely that they cut out the horses and abandoned five pieces of artillery — some of the pieces spiked — and gaining the broken and hilly country on the Pontotoc road, their resistance became more stubborn. They had every advantage in selecting position, and to drive and dislodge them I was compelled to dismount the most of [12] my command, and fought the last nine miles on foot. About five miles from Okalona, they formed and awaited us, making a determined stand. McCulloch's and Forrest's brigades both arriving, with Hoole's battery, after a short but obstinate resistance, the enemy gave way. In this engagement Colonel Forrest was killed, whilst rallying and leading his men. In a few miles they again formed, and having dismounted a portion of their men and made breastworks of the fences on each side of the road, they were with some difficulty and hard fighting compelled to retire. In driving them at this point, Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale, commanding Fifth Mississippi regiment, fell mortally wounded. Ten miles from Pontotoc, they made a last and final effort to check pursuit, and from their preparations, numbers and advantageous positions, no doubt indulged the hope of success. They had formed in three lines, across a large field on the left of the road, but which a turn in the road made directly in our front. Their lines were at intervals of several hundred paces, and the rear and second lines longer then the first. As the advance of my column moved up, they opened on us with artillery. My ammunition was nearly exhausted, and I knew that if we faltered they would in turn become the attacking party, and that disaster might follow. Many of my men were broken down and exhausted with clambering the hills on foot and fighting almost constantly for the last nine miles.

I determined, therefore, relying upon the bravery and courage of the few men I had up, to advance to the attack. As we moved up, the whole force charged down at a gallop, and I am proud to say that my men did not disappoint me. Standing firm, they repulsed the grandest cavalry charge I ever witnessed. The Second and Seventh Tennessee drove back the advance line, and as it wheeled in retreat, poured upon them a destructive fire. Each successive line of the enemy shared the same fate and fled the field in dismay and confusion, and leaving it strewn with dead and wounded men and horses, and losing another piece of artillery.

Half of my command were out of ammunition; the men and horses exhausted and worn down with two days hard riding and fighting. Night was at hand and further pursuit impossible.

Major-General Gholson arrived during the night. His command was small, but comparatively fresh. I ordered him to follow on the next morning and press them across the Tallahatchie. Having received no official report from him, I cannot give any details of his pursuit after them. [13]

Considering the disparity in numbers and equipments, I regard the defeat of this force — consisting, as it did, of the best cavalry in the Federal army — as a victory of which all engaged in it may justly feel proud.

It has given, for a time at least, peace and security to a large scope of rich country, whose inhabitants anticipated and expected to be overrun, devastated and laid waste; and its moral effect upon the raw, undisciplined and undrilled troops of this command is in value incalculable. It has inspired them with courage, and given them confidence in themselves and their commanders. Although many of them were but recently organized, they fought with a courage and daring worthy of veterans.

I herewith transmit you a list of casualties, which, under all the circumstances, is small, and especially so when compared with that of the enemy.

The killed and wounded of the enemy who fell into our hands amount to over one hundred. We captured six pieces of artillery, three stands of colors, and one hundred and sixty-two prisoners. By pressing every horse, buggy, carriage and vehicle along the road, they were enabled to take off all their wounded, except those severely or mortally wounded; and it is but reasonable to suppose and a low estimate to place their loss in killed, wounded and missing at eight hundred. My force in the fight did not not exceed twenty-five hundred men, while that of the enemy was twenty-seven regiments of cavalry and mounted infantry, estimated at seven thousand strong.

I regret the loss of some gallant officers. The loss of my brother, Colonel J. E. Forrest, is deeply felt by his brigade, as well as by myself; and it is but just to say that, for sobriety, ability, prudence and bravery, he had no superior of his age. Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale was also a brave and gallant man, and his loss fell heavily on the regiment he commanded, as it was left now without a field officer.

I desire to testify my appreciation of the skill and ability of Colonels McCulloch, Russell and Duckworth, commanding brigades. Colonel McCulloch, although wounded on the evening of the 22d, continued in command; Colonel Russell assumed command of Bell's brigade after the injury to Colonel Barteau, and Colonel Duckworth took command of Forrest's brigade after Colonel Forrest fell, on the morning of the 22d ultimo.

I have formally congratulated and returned my thanks to the [14] officers and troops of my command for their gallant and meritorious conduct, for their energy, endurance and courage; and it would afford me pleasure to mention individual instances of daring and dash which came under my own observation, but for fear of doing apparent injustice to others who, in other parts of the field, perhaps did as well.

My escort deserves especial mention. Commanded by Lieutenant Thomas S. Tate on 21st and by its commander, Captain Jackson, on the 22d, its battle-flag was foremost in the fray, sustaining its reputation as one of the best fighting cavalry companies in the service.

I also desire to acknowledge, as I have often done before, my indebtedness to Major J. P. Strange, my Adjutant-General; Captain Charles W. Anderson, my Aid-de-Camp, and Lieutenant Tate, Assistant Inspector-General, for prompt and faithful services rendered in the delivery and execution of all my orders on the field.

All of which is respectfully submitted.