Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-05-02


than any that had preceded i, came
from the enemy's infantry. Aud among
those swift winged messengers OF death
was one destined TO snap the brittle
chord Of Q fearless and heroic life. II
entered to still forever heart which had
known no impulse save those Of un-
Ainching patriotism aud jealous love of
his sunny home land. With fatal preci-
sion, tapping tbs very life fountains, its
crpel work was mercfully brief. About
tA0kght Gen. Smith fell from his horse,
bleeding profnsely from the breast, and
beside him, as il a single ball had con-
summated all. fell his gallant and trusty
aids-Captains King and Donaldson, the
former of Georgia and the latter OF his
old regiment, the l54th Tennessee. The
General never spoke after receiving his
mortal wound, and in FIVE minutes
after falling from his horse his pulse
had ceased forever. His remains were
tenderly borne from the field and
placed in charge of Capt. b. J. Semmes,
Chief Depot Commissary of the Army OF
Tennessee, by whom they were sent to
Mr.. ID. r. Cook, formerly Of this city,
but then residing in Marietta, BY whom
in turn they were committed to the
grave from which they were but recently
removed to our own lovely and peaceful
"city of the dead" And here let them
rest, to be decked with early flowers and
embalmed in hallowed tears through the
recurring years as they have been to-day.
COLONEL JEFFREY Z. FORREST.
Colonel Forrest was born in Tippah
county, Mississippi, June 10, 1888 In
July, 1861, be was residing in Mem
pbis, and was among the first OF
our patriotic citizens who took up
arms in the war for the Lost
Cause" which had then begun. He vol
unteered in Capt. Charles Mays COM
pany of cavalry, Of which command,
upon its organization, he was chosen
Second Lieutenant. This company
formed part of the regiment organized
under General Forrest, as Colonel, and
ever after distinguished as Forests
old regiment" In his youth, Lieut..
Forrest had attended a military school,
and in view of his superior knowledge
of tactics, he was not unfrequently de-
tailed as drill master of the regiment, in
which capacity he was not excelled.
Captain May being killed in the defense
of Fort Donelson, battle in which the
command bore off many laurels, Lieut..
Forrest, for gallant service in action, was
promoted to the captaincy Of his COM
pauy In this capacity he served with
distinction throughout Bragg Kentucky
campaign, and afterwards in Mississippi
and Tennessee. On the organization OF
the 9Th Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry
the officers and men of the command
petitioned Gen. Bragg. for the appoint
ment of Col. (then Capt. Forrest to the
majority of the regiment, which was
promptly made, and only few months
later he was further promoted to the
rank of Lieut.. COL, and sent into North
Alabama, to aid General Roddy in or
ganizing and disciplining the command to
which the latter had just been assigned.
About this time Gen. Sherman made an
attempt to run along the line OF the
Memphis and Charleston railroad, with
a view to reinforcing the Federal army,
then in the Deighborhood of Chattanooga,
and in this he was met and successfully
resisted by Gen s d. Lee, in command
of small force of cavalry. A
severe engagement took place at the
crossing of Bear creek, in which
Col. Forrest greatly distinguished him
self and was severely wounded in both
thighs. For his conduct on this occasion
Gen. S. d. Lee recommended his promo
ton, which was made, and he was at
once placed in command of a regiment,
composed in part of the old Forrest
regiment and some companies of Ala
bama cavalry.
Ia the fall of 1863, Gen. Forrest, who
had been ordered to West Tennessee and
Mississippi, asked that his brother might
he directed to report to him. This re-
quest was granted, and the Colonel joined
the General at Como, Miss, in January,
1864, with McDonald's battalion, before
he had yet entirely recovered from his
wounds received at Bear creek. by
bis brother he was here placed in
command Of brigade in Gen. Chal-
mers' division, and when Gen. Forrest
moved across the State to meet the
Federal forces under Smith and Grierson,
who were moving down the line of the
Mobile and Ohio railroad to form juno
ton with Sherman, at Meridian, Colonel
Forrest was sent in advance to meet
them. This he did first near Aberdeen,
and fell back slowly before their over
towering numbers, diminishing con-
stantly until he had reached West Point,
where he was reinforced by the General
with the main body Of his command. Here
still another skirmish ensued when the en-.
envy began their retreat, furiously pressed
by the Confederates. The Federals were
strong and stubborn, and contested every
advantageous position stoutly, but we're
in turn driven from each. While leading
his brigade in charge upon one of these
positions, some six or seven miles from
Okolona, Colonel Forrest was shot from
his horse. A mimic ball had pierced
his neck, and he survived but few mo-
ments. diving soldiers death while yet
the clash and shout of battle fell fainter
and fainter on his ear, and his
ewes closed under the smoke and hal
Of the conflict. The young soldier
thus prematurely cut down in his
struggle for the sunny land, to who's.
warm breast his ashes were committed
to- day by those to whom his life wa
consecrated by the tender ties of friend
ship ana love, was gentleman distin
euished for education and refinement,
L. an1 w r n