escort. Meanwhile General
Buford had ordered Barteau's Second Tennessee Cavalry to
move across the country and gain the Federal rear, and if
possible destroy their trains and then strike them in
flank."

The gallant conduct of the Federal cavalry inspired the other troops.
They made a stand, and for awhile advanced, driving the confederate line
before them on the right, doubling it up and gaining the rear.

The same writer says:

"It was at this critical moment an officer of Bell's staff
dashed up to General Forrest, very much excited, and said:
'General Forrest, the enemy flanked us and are now in our
rear. What shall be done?' Forrest, turning in his saddle,
very coolly replied: 'We'll whip these in our front and
then turn around, and wont we be in their rear? And then
we'll whip them fellows!' pointing in the direction of the
force said to be in his rear. Jackson and Tyler, charging on
the extreme left, drove back two colored regiments of
infantry upon their main line at the cross roads. In this
charge the gallant Captain Tyler was severely wounded.

"Meanwhile the Federals, with desperation, hurled a double
line of battle, with the four guns at Brice's house
concentrated upon Rucker and Bell, which for a moment seemed
to stagger and make them waver. In this terrible onslaught
the accomplished Adjutant, Lieutenant W. S. Pope, of the
Seventh Tennessee, was killed, and a third of his regiment
was killed and wounded. Soon another charge was sounded.
Lieutenant Tully Brown was ordered, with his section of
three-inch rifles, close on the front at the Porter house,
from which position he hurled a thousand pounds of cold iron
into their stubborn lines. A section of twelve-pounder
howitzers, under Lieutenant B. F. Haller, pressed still
further to the front and within a stone's throw almost of
the enemy's line. Mayson's section of three-inch rifles were
quickly placed in line with Haller's. Just then, General
Buford, riding up and seeing no support to the artillery,
called General Forrest's attention to the fact, when Forrest
remarked: 'Support, h--l; let it support itself; all the
d--n Yankees in the country can't take it."'

The lines were now closing upon each other, and the confederates began
to feel the effect of the Union fire. The dash of the