Before N.B. Forrest was General -- You can see how keen he was; short, sweet and to the point:
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME IV [S# 4] CHAPTER XII.
Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating Specially To Operations In Kentucky And Tennessee From July 1 To November 19, 1861.
CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#4
HOPKINSVILLE, November 14, 1861.
W. W. MACKALL, Assistant Adjutant-General:
I have been operating with my command of eight companies near Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, by order of General Polk. Finding the country impracticable for cavalry, and with scant subsistence, I moved a part of my command to Canton, north side Cumberland River, leaving two companies at Dover. I am of no use south of Cumberland; desire my command united, and can do vast service with General Tilghman. Will you so order?
N. B. FORREST
Commanding Tennessee Cavalry.
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME IV [S# 4] CHAPTER XII.
Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating Specially To Operations In Kentucky And Tennessee From July 1 To November 19, 1861.
CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#4
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,
Bowling Green, Ky., November 15, 1861.
Brigadier-General CLARK:
GENERAL: I am instructed by General Johnston to say you will proceed to Hopkinsville, in obedience to the orders you have received. Six companies of cavalry, under Colonel Forrest, have been ordered to that point. General Pillow will not take charge of the operations projected on that front.
You will receive no troops from General Polk. A regiment, partially armed by the governor of Tennessee, is, or will be shortly, at Clarksville, and General Tilghman has been ordered to send some 500 arms to that point to meet it. See that this is done, and give orders to this regiment. General Tilghman will be retained by you at Hopkinsville until you are fully posted as to the country and the command. Clarksville will form a part of your command, and you will see that the works now in progress are properly garrisoned.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. W. MACKALL,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 7 [S# 7]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, NORTHERN ALABAMA, AND SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA FROM NOVEMBER 19, 1861, TO MARCH 4, 1862.
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. --3
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION,
South Carrollton, January 27, 1862
Capt. J. B. FRY,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
CAPTAIN: I have received information from Hopkinsville that Colonel Forrest, with his cavalry, has it in contemplation to attempt to destroy Lock No. 1 on Green River. They have destroyed all the bridges on Pond River, which would prevent any attempt on my part to cut them off, as that stream is a deep, muddy one, and only fordable in a few places at low water. At present the locks are perfectly safe, as the water is 10 feet deep on them; but should the water fall while the armies are in their present positions, they could easily effect their object before I could possibly assist the small party stationed there.
I do not think I ought to weaken my strength here by sending away permanently a strong detachment, and would most respectfully suggest that 200 or 300 men be sent from Indiana for that purpose. There are some slight fortifications there, and that number of men could defend the place against such cavalry as could be sent against them.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T. L. CRITTENDEN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 7 [S# 7]
NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 5, 1861.--Forrest's Expedition to Caseyville, Eddyville, &c., Ky.
No. 1.
Report of Col. N. B. Forrest, Tennessee Cavalry (Confederate).
REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS,
Hopkinsville, Ky., December 5, 1861.
Leaving Hopkinsville November 2, with 300 men and their officers, under orders from brigade headquarters, we went to Greenville, where we found some arms and equipments belonging to the enemy, as will be seen by a list herewith returned; also a soldier in full uniform, whom we made prisoner and returned to the commander of the post; from thence to Madisonville, where I sent Captain Overton, with 30 men, in the direction of Ashbysburg and Calhoun, who reported that all the troops had left the former place and gone to the latter (Calhoun). I then sent a scout to Henderson, dressed as a citizen, who reported that all the Federal forces had been sent from that town to Calhoun and their sick to Evansville.
]]]]]I then visited Providence and Claysville and Morganfield, at all of which places the people met us with smiles and cheers, and fed and greeted us kindly.
I then went to Caseyville, on the Ohio River; then up the Tradewater 12 miles, where I crossed and went to Marion, in Crittenden County. When near that place a lady came from her door and begged in the name of her children for help, and representing that her husband (who was citizen of standing and unconnected with the war) had been captured by Federal soldiers, led on and assisted by citizens of the neighborhood, whose names being given, I deemed it proper to arrest. William Akers was arrested, and when I approached the house of Jonathan Bells he shot the surgeon of my regiment from the door and escaped by a back opening in the house. A noble and brave man, and skillful surgeon, and high-toned gentleman was Dr. Van Wyck, and his loss was deeply felt by the whole regiment. Dispatching the body in care of Major Kelly, with 100 men, to Hopkinsville, I remained in the vicinity of Marion another day, and my scouts arrested one Federal soldier and brought him as prisoner, and killed one Scott, the leader of the band, who had sworn to shoot Southern men from their houses and behind trees, he (Scott) attempting it by wounding three horses with a shot-gun. The scouts found with him three guns and a pistol, which are returned to the Ordnance Department; also two horses of the enemy.
[excerpt]
It is believed that the expedition has done great good in giving confidence to the Southern-rights men, destroying the distorted ideas of Union men, who expected every species of abuse at the hands of the Confederate soldiers, many of them expressing their agreeable disappointment and change of views in regard to our army, and not a few assured us that they would no longer use any influence against the cause of the South. Universal kindness was the policy of the officers in command. With me were Captains Overton, May, Truitt, and Hambrick, in command of detachments of their own companies, and Lieutenant Sims, in command of a detachment of Captain Gould's company, and Lieutenant Gentry, in command of a detachment of Captain Logan's company, and as guide Lieutenant Wallace, of Captain Huey's company.
A number of hogs and cattle were started from the counties between this and the river and along the river under the auspices of the expedition.
There are no Federal forces remaining on this side the Ohio from the mouth of Green to the mouth of Cumberland, and with the exception of a few scouts none have been there for twelve days.
After I left Madisonville, Jackson's cavalry visited the place, about 440 in number, but he attempted no pursuit: he might have easily overtaken us. After we were at Caseyville 200 Federal troops came there and captured about eighty hogs, became intoxicated on stolen whisky, and left in a row.
]]]]]All of which is respectfully submitted.
N. B. FORREST,
Colonel, Commanding Forrest Regiment Cavalry.
Brig. Gen. CHARLES CLARK,
Commanding at Hopkinsville, Ky.
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continued
Bringing the