Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/329

 General Stephen D. Lee. 317

he moved due east to Okolona; he then moved south down the Mobile and Ohio Railroad to Prairie station (fifteen miles north of West Point), where he concentrated his command. On February 2Oth, he moved his entire command to the vicinity of West Point. Here he encountered the first Confederate brigade drawn up in line of battle a mile out of the city. After a slight skirmish the brigade retired before him through the citv, and on the road towards Stark - ville over Sookatonichie creek, General Smith, on arriving at West Point (February 2oth), heard of the approach of General Stephen D. Lee's cavalry from the direction of Meriden, and had it confirmed from prisoners and deserters taken on the evening of the same date, when Forrest was retiring, and being followed across the Sooka- tonichie, to await the arrival of General Lee's command.

General Smith, although he had fought no battle, and had met with no opposition to amount to anything on his march from Collier- ville to West Point, suddenly determined to retreat, and issued orders for his command to begin the return march early on the morning of the 2ist of February. He says in his official report: " Exaggerated reports of Forrest's strength reached me constantly, and it was reported that Lee was about to reinforce him with a por- tion or the whole of his command." To cover his retreat, he moved one of his brigades towards Sockatonichie creek and attacked a part of General Forrest's command on February 2ist. The fight lasted about two hours, when Forrest, with his usual perception and vigor, began 'to believe a change of operation had occurred in his front, and with a regiment and escort he began a headlong charge, break- ing through and driving the enemy before him. He found that Smith was rapidly retreating northward. He at once had all his command rushed to the front in pursuit, overtaking the enemy near Okolona, where he began crowding him, and gradually driving him from position to position, capturing six pieces of artillery; this pur- suit was kept up to near Pontotoc, on February 22d and 23d, where it was abandoned except by a small force. General Forrest had about exhausted his ammunition, and could follow the enemy no farther. The retreat was very rapid, the itinerary and reports show- ing that in the first day's retrograde movement (February 2ist), a part of the command marched thirty-seven miles and had to re- rnount with captured horses, abandoning many of their exhausted stock. It is difficult to understand his headlong retreat, except that the enemy was fearful of being cut off by the cavalry getting in their rear. It is difficult now to speculate as to the results had