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[439] recognized nor betrayed. The Southern horsemen, instead of rushing on them and capturing them, disperse in the village; a few moments after the regiment which had left so unseasonably, returning at full speed, compels them to ride away as fast as possible and relieves the general-in-chief. A similar adventure, it will be recollected, had already happened to Sherman at Collierville a few months before. Decidedly, it was not the will of Providence that he should fall into the hands of his enemies. The latter, of course, were not aware of what they had missed. They were only concerned about continuing their retreat, for Polk with his two little divisions of infantry, still reduced by rapid marches, could not think of defending against Sherman's army an open town like Meridian. To quit company with the invaders, the best to be done was, therefore, to leave by railroad; that was the most rapid way and the least fatiguing. On the evening of the 13th, French's division boarded trains for Demopolis; Loring's followed it at daybreak on the 14th. Polk himself started a few hours after, leaving Lee to defend the town for as long a time as possible. The same day, at half-past 3 o'clock, Sherman, who had got the start with a few squadrons of cavalry, reached the railroad-station. After a few musket-shots the Southern horsemen left it, and, passing rapidly through the little town, disappeared in an easterly direction. By withdrawing by the Southern Railroad, Polk wished to protect the depots of Demopolis, and especially the large military establishments at Selma. His effective forces did not enable him to protect them against any attack of the enemy's cavalry, and if Sherman intended to take his whole army into the heart of Alabama, he fully expected that the long march of one hundred and ten miles the Federals would have to make beyond Meridian would allow Johnston time to come to his assistance. But his retreat completely uncovers Mobile, and the Confederate authorities are convinced — a very natural mistake, as we have said-that this important port is the objective point of Sherman's campaign. On the 11th of February, Polk has asked for powerful reinforcements, that he may be able to take the offensive against Sherman and prevent him from attaining his end. His demands have been answered at Richmond, and the same day Jefferson Davis has
Philadelphia, Jos. H. Coates and co., 1888.
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