Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/24

12 my command, and fought the last nine miles on foot. About five miles from Okalona, they formed and awaited us, making a determined stand. McCulloch's and Forrest's brigades both arriving, with Hoole's battery, after a short but obstinate resistance, the enemy gave way. In this engagement Colonel Forrest was killed, whilst rallying and leading his men. In a few miles they again formed, and having dismounted a portion of their men and made breastworks of the fences on each side of the road, they were with some difficulty and hard fighting compelled to retire. In driving them at this point, Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale, commanding Fifth Mississippi regiment, fell mortally wounded. Ten miles from Pontotoc, they made a last and final effort to check pursuit, and from their preparations, numbers and advantageous positions, no doubt indulged the hope of success. They had formed in three lines, across a large field on the left of the road, but which a turn in the road made directly in our front. Their lines were at intervals of several hundred paces, and the rear and second lines longer thenthan [sic] the first. As the advance of my column moved up, they opened on us with artillery. My ammunition was nearly exhausted, and I knew that if we faltered they would in turn become the attacking party, and that disaster might follow. Many of my men were broken down and exhausted with clambering the hills on foot and fighting almost constantly for the last nine miles.

I determined, therefore, relying upon the bravery and courage of the few men I had up, to advance to the attack. As we moved up, the whole force charged down at a gallop, and I am proud to say that my men did not disappoint me. Standing firm, they repulsed the grandest cavalry charge I ever witnessed. The Second and Seventh Tennessee drove back the advance line, and as it wheeled in retreat, poured upon them a destructive fire. Each successive line of the enemy shared the same fate and fled the field in dismay and confusion, and leaving it strewn with dead and wounded men and horses, and losing another piece of artillery.

Half of my command were out of ammunition; the men and horses exhausted and worn down with two days' hard riding and fighting. Night was at hand and further pursuit impossible.

Major-General Gholson arrived during the night. His command was small, but comparatively fresh. I ordered him to follow on the next morning and press them across the Tallahatchie. Having received no official report from him, I cannot give any details of his pursuit after them.