“'I will try.'
“'Well, sir, you may try your hand to-day.'
“'All right,' said Sherlin; 'I am now ready, and I want only 1,000 men.'
“The General ordered two regiments to report; they did so promptly, and were off. They started with Sherlin at their head, and were not long in reaching Brady's Wood, where the enemy was strongly posted. Without hesitating for one moment Sherlin attacked them and charged, saber in hand. The contest was of short duration. The rebels had not seen that kind of cavalry fighting before. They were soon routed and driven in great disorder back to and across Goose River. Sherlin returned the next day with 200 prisoners and a command of encouraged men. This aroused great jealousy with the cavalry officers, and made him the subject of many remarks. But he went quietly back to his command of infantry without any exultation or mention of his victory.
“Gen. Sherlin and Gen. Anderson that evening were speaking of our cavalry, when Sherlin remarked that they only wanted some one to teach them how to fight.
“'That is true,' said Gen. Anderson; 'we must obtain consent to go out and attack the enemy whenever and wherever we may find him. We now have re-enforcements, our army is fresh and well supplied in all respects.'
“The General commanding finding this feeling existing, and seeing that his re-enforcements had all come forward and were in camp, amounting to some 14,000, while Biggs had only received the 5,000 cavalry under Van Doring, he felt that he could afford to make a forward movement and attack his antagonist wherever he might be found. So he commenced by directing that our forces were to make Goose River our line for the present, by first driving the enemy to the south side of the same, and if possible force him out of this part of the country.
“Sherlin's division and two brigades of cavalry were to march to Eagle Cove and thence to Columbiana; Sleeman's division, with other troops, were to form the center; the left was to move on Shelltown;—the whole to concentrate on and along the north bank of Goose River. Gen. Corbin, being in advance on the road leading to Columbiana, met Van Doring at Spring Hill, and after five hours' hard fighting surrendered his whole command. When this news reached Rosenfelt, who was still at Murphy's Hill, it disturbed him much. The troops having now marched for a week over very bad roads through rain and mud, he directed them to return to their former positions, 'having accomplished all that the commanding General desired,' as he said.
“Kentucky was at this time infested with raiders and guerrillas. Gen. Broomfield, who had about that time been sent to the West to command the Department of Kentucky, soon cleared that State of these pests. Their mode of warfare on either side was merely harassing without accomplishing any great results. Very soon Rosenfelt's troops were again within his old camp lines, and Forrester commenced annoying him in many ways. Gen. Papson being at Rosenfelt's Headquarters, in conversation remarked:
“'If you will allow Gen. Anderson, of my corps, to take command of a division of your cavalry, and give him instructions that Forrester must be driven beyond Goose River and kept there, I will guarantee good results.'