The Battle of Brice's Crossroads, June 1864

 

The Battle of Brice's Crossroads, June 1864, where the Wizard of the Saddle, Nathan Bedford Forrest, defeated a Yankee army more than twice his size. Guster Ledbetter and the 55th Colored Infantry were ambushed as they crossed the Tishomingo Creek and were for a period overrun by Johnny Reb. When they had driven off the rebel cavalry, it was too late. The entire Yankee army had disintegrated and fell back in a stampede across the Tishomingo Creek. General Forrest had rounded up prisoners in excess of half his army's size! It was a spectacular victory, and a spectacular defeat. General Sherman was disgusted by the news. (Chapter XL)