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Col. Hurst in the Official Record of the War:

March 24,1864 - Col. Hurst gets some marching orders; “Hang upon and harass” Forrest. “Forage upon secession sympathizers.”

• HDQRS. CAVALRY DIVISION, SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Memphis, Tenn., March 24, 1864.

Col. FIELDING HURST,
Cmdg. Sixth Tennessee Cavalry:

COL.: Information having been received that Forrest with a considerable force of cavalry, had moved to Jackson, Tenn., with the intention either of crossing the Tennessee and operating in the rear of Chattanooga or of striking some point o­n the Mississippi or Ohio Rivers, you will move with the effective force of your command, with a full supply of ammunition and such rations as can be carried upon the persons of the men, without train or other incumbrance, early o­n the morning of the 25th of March, via Somerville toward Jackson, crossing the Hatchie River at Estenaula or such other points as the information you obtain may justify. The object of your expedition is to hang upon and harass the enemy, with a view of impeding his movements as much as possible. You will not bring him into a general engagement, but rather cut off and capture his foraging parties, stragglers, &c.

Hold your command well in hand, and do not allow yourself to be drawn into any trap or to be surprised.

Take any forage or provisions you may find which may be necessary to subsist your command.

Extend protection as far as possible to people of known loyalty, and rather forage upon secession sympathizers. You are particularly cautioned against allowing your men to straggle or pillage. Issue and enforce the strictest orders upon this subject, as a deviation from this rule may prove fatal to yourself and command. Look well with reliable scouts to your flanks and rear, as a portion of the enemy’s force is at present; out, and will endeavor to form a junction with Forrest. Communicate as often as possible by courier or otherwise with the nearest Federal forces, and follow the enemy as long as you may consider it safe and expedient.

With your excellent knowledge of the county I rely upon your ability to inflict serious injury upon the enemy without much loss to your own command.

Yours, truly,

B. H. GRIERSON, Brig.-Gen.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. III, pp. 145-146.

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“The object of your expedition is to hang upon and harass the enemy, with a view of impeding his movements as much as possible.”

Filed under: B.H. Grierson, Civil War, Civil War in Tennessee, Guerilla Warfare, Official Record, Nathan Bedford Forrest, Timeline, Col. Fielding Hurst