ee Cavalry and
move forward and develop the enemy. Black soon reported that
he had met the advance of the Federal cavalry one and a half
miles from Brice's Cross Roads and there was skirmishing
with them. General Forrest ordered Lyon to press forward
with his brigade. A courier hastening back to the artillery
said: 'General Forrest says, 'Tell Captain Morton to fetch
up the artillery at a gallop.' Lyon in the meantime had
reached the enemy's outposts, dismounted his brigade and
thrown it into line and had warmly opposed a strong line of
infantry or dismounted cavalry, which, after stubborn
resistance, had been driven back to within half a mile of
Brice's Cross Roads."

The columns of the Federals could not do more than retreat, and if they
had been able to do this in any order, and recover from their
exhaustion, they would have been ready to drive the foe, but they were
hotly pursued by the confederates, who were continually receiving
re-enforcements. It was soon evident that the confederates intended to
gain the rear and capture the whole of the Union troops. The Federals,
therefore, began to retire leisurely.

Says the confederate account:

"General Forrest directed General Buford to open vigorously
when he heard Bell on the left, and, taking with him his
escort and Bell's Brigade, moved rapidly around
southeastward to the Guntown-Ripley road. He formed Wilson's
and Russel's Regiments on the right of the road, extending
to Rucker's left, and placed Newsom's Regiment on the left
of the road; Duffs Regiment, of Rucker's Brigade, was placed
on the left of Newsom; Captain H. A. Tyler, commanding
Company A, Twelfth Kentucky, was ordered by Lyon and
subsequently by Forrest to take his company, with Company C,
Seventh Kentucky, and keep mounted on the extreme left of
the line. The escort, under Captain Jackson, moved around
the extreme left of the line, and on striking the Baldwyn
and Pontotoc road about two miles south of the cross roads
had a sharp skirmish and pressed the enemy's cavalry back to
where Tishamingo creek crosses that road; here it was joined
by Captain Gartrell's Georgia company and a Kentucky
company. By mutual agreement Captain Jackson, of the escort,
was placed in command of the three companies and Lieutenant
George L. Cowan in command of the