Rebel Raiders of the West 1863-1864
Abstract
General William Tecumseh Sherman, when he made his famous
statement concerning the nature of war, did not recognize the
element of enchantment and glamor, now strengthened by the
passage of time, that appeared when the dashing Confederate
cavalry sallied forth. Although not emphasized in this paper,
rebel cavalrymen would commence a raid glamorously, exhausted,
overworked, dirty, cursing, and usually, under-equipped.
General Forrest on several occasions started out with an almost
unarmed command and returned fully equipped. Their glamor
at the time was apparent since on many excursions these rebel
cavalrymen returned in stronger numbers than they had when they
left, through the addition of recruits.
Messages containing pertinent orders, communications, and
demands for surrender appear in Appendix A.
Maps of the territory through which the rebel cavalry traveled
are presented in Appendix B.