Night Skirmish at Collierville - December 27th, 1863
Quoted from “Nathan Bedford Forrest; A Biography” by Jack Hurst
The latter column, meanwhile, he took toward a Union garrison guarding LaFayette Station on the Memphis & Charleston, having heard it commanded a usable bridge over the Wolf. There Forrest troopers under Colonel Tyree Bell fired a volley with the 200 rifles they had, and the Federals---apparently (and wrongly) assuming the rest of the Confederates had guns, too---retreated, only to be pursued. Other Federals, though, now were coming hard from Collierville five miles west, Moscow eight miles east, and other farther locations; a Union telegrapher at LaFayette had managed to summon them by sending a message about Forrest’s intent to cross the Wolf. When the first Federal troops arrived in a driving rain, the embattled Confederates attacked westward with most of their armed men, leaving a few others to prevent pursuit from the east until dark. With most of his men, wagons, and livestock being pushed hard toward Holly Springs, Mississippi, Forrest drove almost into Collierville, where the Federals he was pursing finally dug in December 27 for a fight the next morning. Day dawned, however, on an empty field in front of the Federals’ position; their pursuer had retreated in the darkness to follow the rest of his column to Holly Springs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quoted from “The Artillery of Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Cavalry” by John Watson Morton
While conflicting reports were being telegraphed into Memphis and Washington, the main body of General Forrest’s troops were quietly crossing over the repaired bridge. The supplies and raw troops were then sent on to Holly Springs, Miss., while General Forrest, with Morton’s Artillery, supported by 300 men, proceeded in the direction of Collierville, where a large Federal force had been reported. Scarce two miles had been covered when a body of Federal cavalrymen was met, coming in double-quick time to Lafayette in the hope of cutting off the progress of the wily Confederate. These were charged in General Forrest’s usual impetuous, stormy fashion, with Morton’s guns in front, and after a few volleys the enemy beat a hasty retreat. A torrential rain had been falling for some time, and this assisted in hiding the paucity of the confederate forces. At the moment of the enemy’s retreat scouts brought in information of a body of Federals moving from LaGrange, and general Forrest was obliged to send skirmishers out to meet them and hold them in check as long as possible. He himself, with the artillery, pushed rapidly on to join the train, but at 10 o’clock the enemy overtook him, and a two hours’ fight ensued in the mud and darkness. It resulted in the retirement of the Federals in two bodies, one to the fortifications at Lafayette and the other to the works at Collierville. General Forrest pressed immediately on in the direction of Holly Springs, following his train, and reaching Mount Pleasant, Miss., by daylight on the 28th, he allowed his weary troops a much-needed rest. By short, slow marches he then proceeded across the country to Como, Miss.
{Edited to correct omissions in above quote.}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another source says Forrest reached Holly Springs(as I recall) by dawn on the 28th. One account said General Forrest rode into Collierville to have supper at the home of a Confederate captain.
I can’t find the quote but one witness reported that glowing red artillery rounds fired from Union artillery in Collierville passed over their heads. Also other description of this face-off indicates that Forrest moved his forces to the ridge on the East side of town, known by the current name of Tabernacle Hill. This ridge is located on the north side of US Highway 57, about 100 yards east of the Shelby county line in Fayette County, which is also the Eastern border of present Collierville.
Thus ends Forrest 2nd West Tennessee Raid.