Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891) to R. M. Sawyer
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00119 Author/Creator: Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891) Place Written: Chattanooga, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 March 1864 Pagination: 3 p. ; 20.7 x 27 cm. Order a Copy
Instructs Sawyer, Assistant Adjutant General of forces in Nashville, Tennessee, to ready his cavalry to pursue Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. States Forrest likely will not try to take Fort Donelson, Tennessee, but will instead move into Kentucky. Instructs Sawyer to order Union General Lovell H. Rousseau to hold infantry at Nashville until Forrest's direction is determined. Speculating that Forrest divided his command, orders General James Clifford Veatch to cover the area west, and Rousseau to cover the area east of the Tennessee River. States that if Forrest crosses into Kentucky, Generals Stephen Gano Burbridge and Edward Henry Hobson should attempt to cut him off. Declares "Impress on all that they must not act on the defensive, but must pursue and do all that is possible to kill, capture and destroy every man of Forrest's command that has crossed the Tennessee." Written on Head Quarters Department of the Cumberland stationery, which has been crossed out.
Forrest enlisted as a private in the 7th Tennessee Cavalry in 1861; he was promoted to Brigadier General on 21 July 1862. Throughout the war, Forrest had numerous successes and became a famous cavalry leader. He is arguably most noted for his capture of Fort Pillow (12 April 1864) and the alleged massacre of the largely black garrison. Out of 262 U.S. Colored Troops who fought at Fort Pillow, only 62 survived the attack.
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