Gen. Forrest Disrupts Union Troop Movements

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War-date Union soldier's letter, 2pp. 4to., written by Sergeant Samuel W. Pruett, Co. K, 17th Kentucky Vols., Clarksville, Tenn., Jan. 27, 1863. In early 1863 signs of Nathan Bedford Forrest's men along the banks of the Tennessee stirred the Union high command into action. They believed that the infamous Rebel general was going to cross the river and disrupt the Union supply lines. A series of communiques between U. S. Grant and Commander Alexander Pennock show their level of concern as heavily armed vessels were ordered to the region. This letter reads, in part: "…we stopped in Henderson…waiting for a boat…Mr. [Captain George A.] Little [dismissed from the service 5/14/63] went to Evansville with the other men and I staid to get a man out of the guard house by the time they came down but…they had lost two of the men. They went up town to get whacky and did not get back before the boat came. We left Henderson Tuesday…with a fleet of 22 boats bound for Nashville…the Rebels had a large force on the river above Clarksville and were afraid to go up without a strong guard. The fleet is lying here yet. I don't know what they are waiting for unless they are afraid to go until the country is scoured. We met a fleet…going down the river. They reported that the gun boats had a fight with them and several of the boats were fired into, but no damage…the fleet going up would be a heavy loss if destroyed as they are heavily ladened with provisions. The Rebels did capture four boats and a gunboat…they were going down and the loss was not so great as the boats were not loaded though they had good many wounded soldiers. The Rebels striped them of all their clothes and blankets and put them all on one boat and destroyed all the rest. We found the regiment in good health…Mr. [Pvt. Abraham] Eaton is well. I delivered his things and saw him divide them with the waggoners who enjoyed it very much. Mr. Eaton is a great favorite with his men…S. W. Pruitt". VG

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