Mar 22 1864 (Tuesday)

Nathan Bedford Forrest moves his command to Jackson, Tennessee, to find new recruits and additional horses. When he arrives he is outraged to learn from local residents the actions of the local Union commander Colonel Fielding Hurst. Forrest sends a note of complaint under a flag of truce to General Buckland in Memphis. "It has come to the knowledge of the major-general commanding that Col. Fielding Hurst, commanding [6th] Regiment U. S. [Tennessee Cavalry] Volunteers, has been guilty of wanton extortion upon the citizens of Jackson, Tenn., and other places, guilty of depredations upon private property, guilty of house burning, guilty of murders, both of citizens and soldiers of the Confederate States....I therefore declare the aforesaid Fielding Hurst, and the officers and men of his command, outlaws, and not entitled to be treated as prisoners of war falling into the hands of the forces of the Confederate States." Spurred into action, Forrest also plans an attack on the isolated Union outposts in western Tennessee. Orders are sent to Colonel McCulloch: "The major-general commanding...will move on Union City and Paducah....You can move over to Waterford...and be ready for a forward movement should the enemy move...from Memphis, or further orders be sent you....The force of the enemy at Paducah, Columbus, and Union City is reported as small."

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WEST TENN. AND NORTH MISS., In the Field, March 22, 1864. - Brigadier-General BUCKLAND or COMMANDING OFFICER U.S. FORCES, Memphis, Tenn.: - GENERAL: I respectfully demand that restitution be made by the U.S. authorities in the sum of $5,139.25 to the citizens of Jackson, Tenn., the amount extorted from them by Col. Fielding Hurst..., under threats of burning the town. It appears that within the past two months seven cases of deliberate murder have been committed in this department, most of them known and all believed to have been perpetrated by the command of Colonel Hurst. I therefore demand the surrender of Col. Fielding Hurst and the officers and men of his command guilty of these murders, to be dealt with by the C. S. authorities as their offenses require....Lieut. Col. W. M. Reed, bearer of these dispatches and temporarily attached to my staff, is hereby authorized to examine any communications which may be delivered in reply to the above, and also to conclude such arrangements as may arise from the subjects....I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, N. B. FORREST, Major-General, Commanding.