te
bank in an open field, our artillery played upon them for
half a mile, killing and disabling large numbers. Forrests
escort, under the dashing Lieutenant Cowan, having become
detached in the meantime, had pressed around to the west
side of the creek and south of the Ripley road, and here
made one of its characteristic charges across an open field
near the gin house, upon the enemy's wagon train, capturing
several wagons.

"Meanwhile Barteau was not idle. He had moved his regiment,
as we have stated, across to get in the enemy's rear, and in
his own language says: 'I took my regiment across the
country westward, to reach the Ripley road, on which the
enemy was moving, and being delayed somewhat in passing
through a swampy bottom, I did not reach that road, at
Lyon's gin, three miles from Brice's Cross Roads, until
probably 1 o'clock. I then learned that the last of the
Federal regiments, with all their train, had passed by rapid
march, and as there was now a lull in the engagement (for I
had been hearing sharp firing in front), I greatly feared
that Forrest was defeated and that the Federals were pushing
him back, so I moved rapidly down the road till I reached
the open field near the bridge.'

"This could not have been the Ripley Guntown road, as that
road was filled with Federal troops, wagons and artillery
from Dr. Agnew's house to the cross roads, a distance of two
miles. 'Having placed some sharpshooters, whose sole
attention was to be directed to the bridge,' he continues,
'I extended my line nearly half a mile, and began an attack
by scattering shots at the same time. Sounding my bugle from
various points along the line, almost immediately a
reconnoitering force of the enemy appeared at the bridge,
and being fired upon returned. This was followed, perhaps,
by a regiment, and then a whole brigade came down to the
creek. My men, taking good aim, fired upon them coolly and
steady. Soon I saw wagons, artillery, etc., pushing for the
bridge. These were shot at by my sharpshooters. I now began
to contract my line and collect my regiment, for the
Federals came pouring in immense numbers across the creek.
Your artillery was doing good work. Even the bullets from
the small arms of the Confederates reached my men. I