July 21, 1862, he was made brigadier-general, and when in Mississippi, in 1863, was made major-general. His command then became known as Forrest's Cavalry Department among the troops, but such was the pride and devotion of all the men who served under him that they would never abandon the name of Forrest's cavalry, his first regiment retaining during the war the name of "Forrest's old regiment." For his activity he was made lieutenant-general in February, 1865. Forrest met with but one marked defeat—and that was at the hands of 15,000 cavalry under General James Wilson in northern Alabama, April 3, 1865. He surrendered his force at Gainesville on May 9, 1865. Throughout the war he wore a pair of silver spurs made of thimbles that had been worn and were presented by the ladies of Mississippi. After the war he engaged in railroad building. He died at Memphis, October 29, 1877. A magnificent monument to his memory was erected at Memphis in 1905, and a life-size portrait has been placed in the State Capitol at Nashville. After the war, in answer to an inquirer, who wanted to know the secret of his successes, Forrest answered by saying: "Well, I got there first with the most men." A reply that does scant justice to his own masterly campaigning. General Grenville M. Dodge said: "Forrest was one of the best cavalry commanders in history," and quotes General Sherman as saying that if he could match Forrest with a man of equal enterprise many of his difficulties would fade. For the last two years of the war he was the sentinel and safeguard of northern Mississippi and Alabama until the very last battle, defeating every army organized to capture or destroy his forces.

With 60,000 infantry and 5,500 cavalry Sherman left Atlanta on November 15th to march across the country to Savannah, giving his men orders to live on the country through which they passed. Before leaving Atlanta he applied the torch to that city and practically destroyed it; over two hundred acres of buildings were at one time in Aames. Of five thousand buildings, but a few hundred

remained as a melancholy reminder of the prosperous city. In the march, one company of each brigade was detailed to rob the people of the invaded territory of sufficient food to supply the vast army. Every morsel of food was in many cases carried away from houses where there were only women and children living. What one raiding party spared the next would appropriate. Not only was everything eatable taken; whatever pleased a raider's fancy was borne away, whether it was a pet poodle, a family portrait or a piece of silver. General O. O. Howard, in command of the right wing, followed the Georgia Central Railroad through Macon and Milledgeville, while the left wing under General H. W. Slocum marched directly east on the railroad from Atlanta to Augusta, destroying the road as they went. Madison and Milledgeville were burned, the governor, State officers, and members of the legislature fleeing from the capital without securing the State archives. Leaving Milledgeville on November 24th, the two wings of the army met next at Millen, where it had been hoped to free the Union prisoners, but these had been carried away by the Confederates. Here there was a severe engagement between the Federal cavalry and a force under General Joseph Wheeler, but Wheeler had not men enough to withstand Sherman. Sherman reached Millen on December 2d, and left next day for Savannah, his objective point. He met with no further resistance until within a few miles of Savannah, which was found to be entrenched and garrisoned by General Hardee. The siege of Savannah commenced on the 10th. Fort McAllister at the mouth of the Ogeechee, a few miles south of Savannah was captured by assault, being held by a mere handful of men, and communication was thus established with the coast. Sherman hoped to capture Hardee's army, but was outwitted. On the night of the 20th, Hardee ordered a vigorous artillery fire upon the Federals, and while this was in progress conveyed his men across the river to South Carolina by rafts and steamboats. Supplies that he could not move were

destroyed. On the 21st Sherman found to his surprise that the city was undefended and took possession. Sherman's own estimate of the damage he had inflicted on the people of Georgia was one hundred million dollars; "at least twenty millions of which has inured to our advantage, and the remainder is simple waste and destruction."

CHAPTER XVIII

CAMPAIGNS OF 1864—THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI
AND THE COAST

WHEN Vicksburg surrendered and Port Hudson followed, leaving the federal forces in entire control of Mississippi River, all that part of the Confederacy known as the transMississippi had been completely isolated, and though rich in all the resources so badly needed in the other parts of the South, had been unable to contribute of its wealth to the needy sections. Communication was cut off, but the struggle beyond the river continued, in the vain hope that European interference might yet occur. The mistaken idea prevailed to the very end of the war that Great Britain hesitated only by reason of confidence in the ability of the South to achieve her own independence. Great Britain had already foreseen to which side would be the victory, and the cause of the Confederacy was lost, so far as any hope of British aid was concerned. But this feeling continued strong west of the Mississippi. General Kirby Smith had been placed in command of the Trans-Mississippi Department and vested with absolute powers after the communication between that department and the rest of the Confederacy had been destroyed, in order that he might act without having to await orders which could not reach him promptly, and in all probability would not reach him at all. Major-general Taylor was at this time commanding the Confederate forces operating along the west bank of Mississippi River.

General Smith's headquarters were at Shreveport. General Price was temporarily commanding the district of Arkansas, with headquarters in the field, in the neighborhood of Camden, at the head of navigation on Washita River. Camden was an important centre, in the midst of plentiful forage and supplies; but deceived by the supposed intention of the Federals under General John Steele to attack Shreveport, Price withdrew from Camden to a better point from which to impede the advance. Steele then moved between him and Camden, and took possession of the place, thus cutting Price off from a section rich in forage and subsistence. When the Red River expedition failed, the Confederate forces pressed their advantage, and moved against General Steele, who was forced to retreat. His supplies were cut off, and a foraging party of 150 wagons escorted by nearly 1,000 men was driven back on April 21, 1864, by the Confederates, who captured 300 of the men, four guns and the wagons. Four days later, a larger train of 250 wagons, escorted by 200 cavalry and 1,200 infantry, with four pieces of artillery, was sent by Steele to Pine Bluff for supplies, and was attacked by the cavalry under Major-general J. F. Fagan. Two hundred and fifty of the Federals were killed or wounded, and nearly every remaining officer and man was captured, together with the guns and the wagons. Steele then determined to retire from Camden. The Confederates followed, harassing and delaying the rear until General Smith arrived. His forces came up and General Steele was attacked at the Saline. After a bloody battle of seven hours, partly fought in the downpouring rain, the Confederates retired with hundreds of prisoners and many captured supplies. Steele continued his retreat to Little Rock, where he arrived on May 2d.

Early in the year, General Banks had announced his intention to open up the region of western Louisiana to trade, and to occupy the Red River section permanently. Forces were concentrated in New Orleans, and the most formidable fleet ever gathered on the western waters assembled at the