Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest CSA

By: Howard Watkins

1837: At the age of 16 his father died leaving him with his
mother and a large family to support on a leased farm.

1841: At the age of 20 he joined a company of volunteers in
Texas.

1842: He moved to Hernando, Miss. where he went into the cotton
business and in 1842 he married Mary Montgomery. They had only
one son, William Montgomery Forrest.

1851: He moved to Memphis, Tenn. There he amassed a fortune in
cotton real estate and slave trade. His assets included a
productive plantation and over $1.5 million in cash and
property.

1861: (June 14th) Nathan Bedford Forrest was enrolled as a
private in a Confederate cavalry company, at Randolph,
Tennessee.

1861: (July) Isham G. Harris, Governor of Tennessee,
commissioned Forrester to organize a regiment of cavalry for
Confederate service. By October 1861, he had organized a
battalion of eight companies and outfitted them at his own
expense. He was elected Lieutenant Colonel and moved into
service at Fort Donelson.

1862: He became a Brigadier General at the age of 41. In 1863 he
became a Major General and Lieutenant General in 1865.

Though he is called a cavalry leader his tactics more closely
resembled that of a dragoon. (mounted foot soldiers). Not being
encumbered by formal military training his tenacity and
creativity gave him a great advantage over the academics of
warfare.

It was characteristic of him to lead the charge shouting with
sword and pistols in hand. He had twenty-seven horses killed and
wounded under him in battle and was twice severely wounded
himself. Instinctively he used classic battle tactics of famous
warriors without ever knowing of them. Concealment, surprise,
intimidation, deceit, bluff, flank, and relentless pursuit were
all part of his arsenal. Extensive use of scouts enabled him to
always know the opponent's location, strength and intentions. He
continuously embarrassed opposing generals who with overwhelming
superior force would retreat from him or surrender.

His assignments included:

- Lieutenant colonel, Forrest's Tennessee Cavalry Battalion
(October 1861) - Colonel, 3rd Tennessee Cavalry (March 1862) -
Brigadier general, CSA July 21, 1862) - Commanding cavalry
brigade, Army of the Mississippi (summer-November 20, 1862) -
Commanding cavalry brigade, Army of Tennessee (November 20, 1862
Summer 1863) - Commanding cavalry division, Army of Tennessee
(Summer 1863) - Commanding cavalry corps, Army of Tennessee (ca.
August -September 29, 1863) - Commanding West Tennessee,
Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana (November 14, 1863
- January 11, 1864) - Major general, CSA (December 4, 1863)

- Commanding cavalry corps, Department of Mississippi and East
Louisiana January 11 - 28, 1864)

- Commanding District of Mississippi and East Louisiana,
Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana January 27
- May 4, 1865) - Commanding cavalry corps, Department of
Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana January 28 - May 4,
1865) - Lieutenant General, CSA (February 28, 1865)

When Forrest captured Fort Pillow a controversy developed over
reports of a massacre of the largely black garrison. General
J.R. Chalmers who served in Forrest's brigade accused the
partisan press of falsehood and later as a Congressman he
formally refuted the rumors on congressional record. Dr. Fitch
of Iowa, A Union surgeon who was present, also vindicated the
Confederates. Still the controversy exists.

Most of his wartime activity was campaigns against the union in
Tennessee and Kentucky and defense of the western front in
Mississippi and Alabama. He thwarted an attack by Colonel Strait
on the ironworks of Montevallo and repelled General Sherman's
attempt on Selma at Meridian.

Finally on April 2, 1865 a force of 17,000 specially trained and
equipped cavalry commanded by Major General James Harrison
Wilson defeated Forrest at Selma Alabama. General Forrest
escaped across the Cahaba River.

After the war Forrest became president of the Selma, Marion &
Memphis Railroad while attempting to restore his lost fortune by
planting. He also held a leadership position in the Klu Klux
Klan. Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest died at Memphis on
October 29, 1877, and is buried there.

William Montgomery Forrest: Captain Forrest was with his father
Nathan Bedford Forrest in all the campaigns that caused the
world to ring with his fame. He was wounded three times; at Fort
Donelson, at Harrisburg and at Spring Hill, Tenn. He was paroled
at Gainesville, Alabama May 11, 1865.

Article Source: https://www.collectibles-articles.com

Howard Watkins is the webmaster and editor of MySelma.net. The history of Selma, Dallas county and Alabama.myselma.net

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