| Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry Corps |
| West Point, March 6, 1865 |
| |
| Lieut. Gen. R. Taylor |
| Meridian |
| |
| General, |
| I have the honor to state that
everything in my power is being done to have the troops in readiness
for the field. It has rained almost every other day and the country
is flooded with water. Tombigbee River is a mile wide. A part of
Armstrong's brigade is on one side and a part on the other of that
stream, with no chance or way of getting it together until the water
falls. Tibbee River is over the whole country and several bridges
and water-gaps washed out of the railroad between this place and
Verona. To move with troops, wagons, or artillery until the streams
run down is utterly impossible. I think, however, in the course of
four or five days it can be done. Have sent competent men with a
force of negroes to repair the roads to Tuscaloosa and rebuild the
bridges in that direction which have been washed away. Am also
rebuilding the bridges on the railroad above this place. *****
|
| I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
|
| N. B. Forrest
|
| Major General
|
|