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and Historical Data and Resources!
Memphis Tennessee
American Civil War At 4:00 am on the morning of August 21, 1864, Maj. Gen.
Nathan Bedford Forrest made a daring raid on Union-held Memphis,
Tennessee, but it was not an attempt to capture the city, occupied by
6,000 Federal troops. The raid had three objectives: to capture three
Union generals posted there; to release Southern prisoners from Irving
Block Prison; and to cause the recall of Union forces from Northern
Mississippi. Striking northwestward for Memphis with 2,000 cavalry,
Forrest lost about a quarter of his strength because of exhausted horses.
Surprise was essential. Taking advantage of a thick dawn fog and claiming
to be a Union patrol returning with prisoners, the Confederates eliminated
the sentries. Galloping through the streets and exchanging shots with
other Union troops, the raiders split to pursue separate missions. One
Union general was not at his quarters and another escaped to Fort
Pickering dressed in his night-shirt. The attack on Irving Block Prison
also failed when Union troops stalled the main body at the State Female
College. After two hours, Forrest decided to withdraw, cutting telegraph
wires, taking 500 prisoners and large quantities of supplies, including
many horses. Although Forrest failed in Memphis, his raid influenced Union
forces to return there, from northern Mississippi, and provide protection.
Result(s): Confederate victory Location: Shelby County Campaign: Forrest's
Defense of Mississippi (1864) Date(s): August 21, 1864 Principal
Commanders: Maj. Gen. C.C. Washburn [US]; Brig. Gen. Nathan Bedford
Forrest [CS] Forces Engaged: Troops stationed at Memphis [US]; Forrest's
Cavalry (approx. 400) [CS] Estimated Casualties: 194 total (US 160; CS 34)
other links to visit Tennessee State Battle MapState Battle Maps American Civil War Exhibits Civil War Timeline Women in the War Sources: Civil War Battlefield Guide 
Forrest's Defense of Mississippi: June-August 1864 : Memphis II, Tennessee (TN031) , Memphis, August 21, 1864 CS General Forrest launched a daring raid on Memphis on the morning of August 21 to force the Federals to withdraw from northern Mississippi, to capture the three Union generals posted there, and to free Confederate prisoners from the Irving Block Prison. Striking northwestward with 2,000 troopers, his march was slowed by the loss of a quarter of his exhausted horses. The Confederates arrived in Memphis in a predawn fog and galloped through the streets, surprising the Union sentries. They sparred with Union soldiers as they split up for separate missions. US General Washburn's troops stalled the invaders at the State Female Prison.After two hours Forrest withdrew, having failed to capture Union generals or release Confederate prisoners. He did succeed in cutting telegraph wires, taking prisoners and horses, and, most important, in drawing Union forces out of northern Mississippi. There are discrepancies between the two sides' reports of casualties, particularly in regard to prisoners.Estimated Casualties: 80 (plus 400 prisoners) US, 62 CS
Forrest's Raid on Memphis August 21, 1864 In late July, 1864, Sherman's Union Army was embroiled in the vicious fighting of the Atlanta campaign. The Union troops, however, were not so afraid of the Confederates to their front as they were that Bedford Forrest would get behind them. Confederate Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest had already achieved legendary status for his uncanny ability to appear out of nowhere, defeat Federal forces larger than his own, and vanish again after destroying Union supply bases and communications. He had previously faced four successively larger Northern armies and sent them all reeling in defeat or intimidation back to the forts of occupied Memphis. General William T. Sherman wired to General Halleck: "Forrest's cavalry will travel a hundred miles in less time than ours will in ten. I can whip the enemy's infantry but his cavalry is to be feared." Writing to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, after the recent spectacular Union defeat at Brice's Crossroads, Sherman stated that his greatest fear was that Forrest would now get behind him, and that he had ordered that Forrest be stopped "if it costs ten thousand lives and bankrupts the Federal treasury." Thus around July 28th, 1864, General A. J. Smith, with over 20,000 men, was ordered out from Memphis into Mississippi to occupy Forrest's attention and keep him out of Georgia and Tennessee. Forrest had only 5,000 men of his own with which to stop the invasion.By August 8, Smith's army of 16,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, and a number of artillery batteries, was pressing southward towards Oxford, MS. The 7th Tennessee Cavalry (CS) was sent along the back roads to harass Smith's rear and destroy supplies and communications, but had little actual effect on the advancing Northerners. Likewise, General James R. Chalmers' Division was ordered to harass Smith's lead elements and to grudgingly contest every mile of road while Forrest consolidated the rest of his command. Smith moved through Holly Springs, but now slowed the advance to permit supplies to catch up. Chalmers breathed a bit easier, but knew that he couldn't hold back Smith's juggernaut for long. On Aug. 10 near the Tallahatchie River, just north of Oxford, Smith called a week's halt to stockpile provisions. For Bedford Forrest, the time to act had arrived, but being outnumbered four to one, an unorthodox solution was called for.In late afternoon on Aug. 18 at Oxford, Forrest gathered for inspection the 7th Tenn. Cavalry, parts of Bell's and Neely's brigades and Morton's Battery. The sick and lame were culled out of this strike force of 2000,and after midnight they rode west out of town, their objective a secret. Chalmers remained behind and was ordered to build up the campfires, make daily threatening demonstrations, and in every way possible try to fool Smith into thinking that all of Forrest's corps was still in his front.Two days later, after crossing two rivers and a vast stretch of northwest Mississippi countryside, Forrest was on the outskirts of Memphis, sixty miles behind Smith. The bold aim of the expedition was "by a sudden coup de main" to threaten if not capture the city of Memphis, with the effect of forcing General Smith to return to the relief of the city. Forrest also entertained the idea of possibly capturing three important Union generals residing in Memphis: Brig. Gen. R. P. Buckland, commander of the Memphis garrison itself; Maj. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut, former commander of the West Tenn. district; and current West Tenn. district commander, Maj. Gen. C. C. Washburn.At. 4:00 a.m. on a foggy Sunday, Aug. 21, Forrest's silent advance captured the first two picket posts and then the charge was on. Unable to restrain themselves now, Forrest's columns clattered into town amid a burst of gunfire and wild rebel yells. Many of the men were residents of Memphis and it was good to be home, even for a short time. Squadrons were sent after the three generals, to free military detainees at the downtown Irving Block Prison, and to pin down the Federal infantry encampments. Captain Bill Forrest, one of Bedford's younger brothers, rode directly into the Gayoso House hotel in search of Hurl but, who, fortunately for him, was spending the night with another officer and eluded capture. Lt Col. Jesse Forrest made for Washburn's headquarters, but that general had been alerted by the commotion and narrowly escaped in his bedclothes to the protection of Fort Pickering. Buckland, too, escaped out the back door of his residence just as his sentry was firing at the Confederates at the front. Meanwhile on the Mississippi river, several Union gunboats pulled out to mid-stream to avoid Confederate capture.Forrest's troopers quickly captured the telegraph offices. His men, rather than cutting the wires, impersonated Federal operators and sent messages up the line to the various Union command stations that Forrest, with 10,000 men, had captured Memphis and was moving north. The ruse had the desired effect, spreading panic throughout the mid-west. The garrisons in St. Louis and Cincinnati were put on full alert. Chicago called out 20,000 militia, and Cleveland sent urgent pleas for reinforcements.As the city's populace woke to the mornings actions, excited cheering erupted as the citizens recognized the Confederate uniforms of their compatriots galloping through town. "The women -- young & old -- forgetting the costume of the hour, throwing open their window-blinds and doors, welcomed their dear countrymen by voice and smiles, and every possible manifestation of the delight inspired by such an advent." By nearly 9:00 a.m., the Southerners had done as much as they could. They had missed the three generals, the Irving Block was too well defended, and Federal resistance was beginning to stiffen. Morton's Battery and Bell's brigade engaged Union infantry retreating to the State Female College, but ceased fire when they realized that the women were still inside. It was now time to go. After over four hours of holding the city, recall was sounded, and Forrest's men broke off their actions to head south. The Confederates had killed fifteen of the enemy, wounded some sixty-five more, captured eighty horses, wagon loads of supplies and over 600 prisoners. They lost only 35 of their own. Also taken was Washburn's uniform and sword. About 650 men of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry belatedly mounted a pursuit but were easily repulsed. After the Confederates had left, Washburn wired an astonished A. J. Smith that Forrest had invaded the city and that Smith must return at once.That afternoon, under a flag of truce, Forrest sent back Washburn's uniform and some of the sickly prisoners. Washburn later returned the favor, sending fine gray cloth, buttons and lace for uniforms for Forrest and his entire staff. General Smith's army turned around and withdrew from the Oxford, MS. environs to return to Tennessee. Ol' Bedford once more had managed to meet his primary obligation of protecting the grain-laden Mississippi prairie. Sherman, however, had accomplished a goal of his own. Forrest had, for the time being, been kept out of Georgia and Tennessee.
Article contributed by Lee Millar
Sharon McCormack 
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