Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 7.djvu/698

Rh in capturing Federal steamers. The Mazeppa, with two barges in tow, was the first to make an appearance, and, being disabled by the artillery, made for the opposite shore, when the crew escaped. She was then towed over and the valuable cargo of military stores removed, after which the vessel was burned. The steamer Anna was the next victim, then the gunboat Undine and the transports Cheeseman and Venus. On the 3d of November, with his whole command, Forrest attacked Johnsonville, where the enemy had an immense storehouse and a wharf lined with transports and gunboats, protected not only by the gunboats but a battery of 14 guns on the hill. Opening upon this force with the batteries of Thrall and Morton and Hudson (Pettus Flying artillery), 50 guns became engaged on both sides. The gunboats were soon set on fire by the Confederate artillery, next the stores along the shore and the warehouse. "By night the wharf for nearly a mile up and down the river presented one solid sheet of flame." Forrest then returned to Corinth, which he reached after an absence of two weeks or more, during which time he "captured or destroyed 4 gunboats, 14 transports, 20 barges, 26 pieces of artillery, $6,700,000 worth of property and 150 prisoners. Brigadier-General Buford, after supplying his own command, turned over to my chief quartermaster about 9,000 pairs of shoes and 1,000 blankets. My loss during the entire trip was 2 killed and 9 wounded; that of the enemy will probably reach 500 killed, wounded and prisoners."

On October 17th General Beauregard assumed command of the department of the West, east of the Mississippi Lieutenant-General Taylor remained in charge of his department, and Maj.-Gen. Franklin Gardner was given command of the district of Mississippi and East Louisiana. General Forrest was assigned to command of cavalry with the army of Lieutenant-General Hood during the Nashville campaign.