The comment "new men" below refers to Forrest's cavalry. Wonder why the difference in equipment?

The National tribune., August 31, 1899, Page 3, Close Quarters with Forrest, Cutting Out at Athens and the Affair at Sulphur Trestle, By Will A. McTeer, Maryville, Tenn.

"...It was supposed that the command destroying the cotton plantation property was from Roddy's cavalry. We were accustomed to fighting them and knew how to meet them. Arriving at the place of the burning, with part of 2d Tenn. (part of them were also on other duty at the time), under the command of Col. Wm. F. Prosser, we found the smoke and fire, but the enemy had moved on. By way of explanation, this cotton plantation was in charge of a man whose name is now forgotten, reputed to be a strong Union man, and bitterly hated by the Confederates.

"It was only a short time before we came up with the command, or part of it, and a blow was given. It took no expert in such matters to know at once that it was not Roddy, but another, as the manner of attack and defense was different. If Roddy could hold us at long range, he had the advantage and knew it: so his attempt was to keep us at a distance. He had long guns, while we had the short carbines. Our object was to get into close quarters, for then we had the advantage, and that was our tactics: so we understood each other pretty well. These new men, however, appeared to like the close grabble as well as ourselves, and met us in whatever way we offered..."