FORREST AT MURFREESBORO.
We were now ordered to Chattanooga. Here we were placed in a brigade
under the command of Colonel N. B. Forrest. At this time but little
was known of this great soldier. He had not then become famous, and
there were not wanting officers of high rank who predicted disaster as
the result of his operations. Without the advantages of education, he
possessed strong common sense, unfaltering courage, energy that never
flagged, and unbounded confidence in himself. Under his leadership our
metal was not to grow rusty for lack of employment.
Setting out from Chattanooga on the 8th of July, we crossed the
Tennessee river and the Cumberland mountains into middle Tennessee.
On the 11th we reached McMinnville and remained until the afternoon
of the 12th. Here Forrest made his regimental commanders acquainted
with his plans. His objective was Murfreesboro, over forty miles away,
garrisoned by a force of the enemy estimated at 2000 men, under the
command of Brigadier General Crittenden.
Late in the afternoon we started for an all night ride. At Woodbury we
halted and fed our horses, resuming the march at midnight. We reached
the vicinity of Murfreesboro at daylight on the 13th.
Now occurred one of those unfortunate blunders which often mar the best
laid plans; probably made by Forrest himself. Colonel Wharton with the
Rangers was to attack a camp of the enemy on the Liberty pike north of
town. Forrest, who had been riding at the head of the column, turned
aside to allow us to pass. When six companies had gone by he fell in
with his staff and escort. Thus it happened that nearly half of the
regiment followed Forrest into the town and out to the westward. The
courthouse was garrisoned by a company of the Ninth Michigan Infantry,
who poured a hot fire into our ranks from the windows. Forrest and the
Rangers rode on, but the sound of firing had aroused the good ladies
from their beds; looking out they saw the dear defenders of their
cause. Without taking time for very elaborate toilets, they rushed into
the streets just as the Georgians came up. Pointing to the courthouse,
they begged them to attack the hated foe. With a “Hurrah for the
women!” these perfectly green troops dismounted, broke down the doors,
and captured the garrison, but with severe loss.
When Forrest discovered that he had with him only a handful of Rangers,
he turned back to look after the rest of his command. Captain Ferrell,
now the ranking officer, led us through the suburbs of the town towards
the right, or north where he thought to find the regiment. While we
were passing through a field of standing corn, the artillery of the
enemy opened on us at short range. The first shot struck William Skull
of Company G, taking off both legs and passing through his horse,
killing both instantly.
We found the main part of the regiment about half a mile east of the
town, on the road by which we had come. They had made a spirited attack
on the enemy, but were too weak to get any favorable results, and had
retired, Wharton being wounded. As soon as the regiment was united
Wharton sent the adjutant, M. H. Royston, and ten men to report to
Forrest for orders. I was of this party. We found Forrest in the town.
He spoke with some show of irritation:
“Tell him to bring his men up here.”
During all this time he had been attacking the enemy with the forces at
hand, but there was little result of a decisive nature.
Some of his chief officers had advised him to be content with what
he had already accomplished and withdraw; but he was not of the
withdrawing kind. Preparing for a final assault, when the Rangers came
up, he delayed the attack long enough to send a demand for surrender
to the camp of the Michigan regiment. This was promptly agreed to. He
now sent a like demand to the Third Minnesota. Colonel Lester of that
regiment asked for an hour’s time and an opportunity to consult with
Colonel Duffield. This officer was seriously wounded. Forrest allowed
half an hour and the privilege of the interview. As Lester was going
to the room of Colonel Duffield opportunity was given him to see our
strength. When the half hour was up he surrendered his entire force.
The troops surrendered consisted of fifteen companies of infantry, six
of the Ninth Michigan and nine of the Third Minnesota; seven companies
of cavalry, four of the Fourth Kentucky and three of the Seventh
Pennsylvania; and two sections (four guns) of Hewett’s battery: in all
1765 men.
The brigade commander, General Crittenden, was found hiding in a room
at a tavern.
The spoil was immense; a large number of wagons, with military stores
and equipment of all sorts.
The merits of this enterprise are very great, but it must be admitted
that had the enemy all been together, under a resolute commander, they
could have beaten us. They had nearly 1800 men of all arms, infantry,
cavalry and artillery--a miniature army--while Forrest had a little
over 1300 men, some of them absolutely green troops.
In regard to this affair, General Buell, commanding the department,
published a very caustic order, of which a short extract is here given:
“Take it in all its features, few more disgraceful examples of neglect
of duty and lack of good conduct can be found in the history of
wars. It fully merits the extreme penalty which the law provides for
such conduct. The force was more than sufficient to repel the attack
effectually.”