turned to Memphis. During Forrest's stay in Tennessee a force of negro soldiers marched from Vicksburg to Yazoo City, accompanied by the gunboats Petrel and Prairie Bird; but Gen. Wirt Adams, on guard in that region, defeated the land forces without much exertion, and Colonel Griffith, with a section of artillery and a detachment of sharpshooters, drove the men from the guns of the Petrel and capturing her secured the armament of eight guns and the valuable stores, after which the vessel was destroyed.
Early in May, 1864, General Polk having united his infantry forces with the army under Johnston opposing Sherman's advance to Atlanta, Maj.-Gen. Stephen D. Lee was assigned to command of the department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana, and was promoted to lieutenant-general. Forrest remained in command of the cavalry in northern Mississippi. During May the brigade of Mississippi State troops was turned over to the Confederate States and, after being for a time under the command of Col. John McQuirk, came under the charge of Brig.-Gen. S. J. Gholson again. During June, 1864, the following may be given as representing approximately the organization of the cavalry left to defend Mississippi, though there were frequent changes:
Northern district, Maj.-Gen. Nathan B. Forrest commanding: Division of Brig.-Gen. James R. Chalmers—First brigade, Tennessee cavalry. Col. James J. Neely—Second brigade, Col. Robert McCulloch: First Mississippi Rangers (Seventh regiment later), Lieut.-Col. Samuel M. Hyams, Jr.; Fifth Mississippi, Lieut.-Col. Nathaniel Wickliffe; Second Missouri; Crew's Tennessee battalion; Willis' Texas battalion; Hudson's Mississippi battery, Lieut E. S. Walton—Sixth brigade, Col. Edmund W. Rucker: Eighth Mississippi, Col. William L. Duff; Eighteenth Mississippi, Lieut.-Col. Alexander H. Chalmers; Seventh Tennessee, Col. W. L. Duckworth. Division of Brig.-Gen. Abraham Buford—Third brigade, Kentucky cavalry,
