The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-11-10
DEATH OF FORREST.
Mobile ReEister.l

he surmOunted the poverty Of youth
and the want Of early education; aud
at the outset Of the late war, at the age
of forty, had attained such u position
among his fellow.cltizens of Tennessee
that, having enlisted as u private, he
organize q regiment of cavalry. AT
that time, by native intellect aud en-
ergy, he had become tho culttvator OF
plantations which produced one thous-
and bales of cotton. His brilliant Ca
reer is y part Of the history Of the
United States. -,..s sf.+,t To-
At Fort Donelson he FIRST exhibited
his genius and intrepfdity.,. AT the
council of war which determined upon
surrender, Colonel Forrest urged the
possibility Of escape, and. receiving
permission to attempt It, led his COM
rnand safely beyond the lines Of the
enemy. From this day to the close of
| the war he was conspicuous as cavalry
enemy's flank aud held him in check
after the Confederate retreat. His dash
upon the pickets around Nashville !;
| his burning OF bridges, destruction Of
property, and capture Of outposts,; his
reduction of block houses and garrisons;
the capture Of Union City; tho disas-
trOus assault Of Wheeler aud Forrest
upon Dover; the pursuit and capture
oi General Sireight; the pursuit OF the
enemy after Chickau,aug0 the rout Of
General Smith at Okolona the descent
upon Paducah the stor,ninX Of Fort
Pillow the splendid battles Of ,rupelo,
Brice's Cross Roads and HarrisOnburg;
the movement upon Memphis; the
OF gunbOats, warehouses and supplies
at Johnsonville the operations with
Hood in front Of Nashville; the heroic
and successful efforts to protect the re-
treat Of the routed army; the over
throw ut Selma, and the surrender at
Gainesville, Alabama, are events which
shed u halo Of military glory around
the head Of this greatest of modern
cavalry leaders. From a. private in the
ranks, unrefined, uneducated, without
political influence, and bearing the
stigma of y disreputabfe business which
he had pursued In early life, this re-
markable man rose rapidly to the posi-
ton of Lieutenant General. His ge-
MUS could not be suppressed or Ignored
1t blazed out in the darkest hours Of
Southern history, and cheered the
hearts Of our people when hope had
almost fled. .-,..,;f.., .,l,..., y,
When the war was over, Gen. For
rest honestly accepted the situation,
and labored to rebuild the shattered
fortunes of his people. He counseled
| acquiescenco in the results of the war
friendship for the colored people, and
restoration of national good feeling.
] There came no word from him of inn
patience or vituperation. ...
Like Lee, Hardee and Johnston, he
accepted defeat with dignity and 81
lence leaving to time and to history
the vindfcation of the people and the
cause for which he had shed his blood
and lost the fruits Of life of arduous
| toll. There was Il stern side to the
character of Forrest--but it was the
result of an iron will which marks the
born commander. He was cruel to- the
deserter, the coward and the sluggard.
When the criminal was to be punished,
and when the punishment served to
save an army from defeat or treason,
Forrest was implacable and unmerci-
iul. But to those who did their duty
ns good soldiers, no man was more lust
and tolerant. The gentler side OF his
nature showed itself to the captive and
the distressed. At the battle OF Oko-
iona, when his brother, the gallant Col.
Jefferson Forrest fell, mortaIly wound
ed, in the charge, Gen. Forrest rushed
to the spot, took him In his arms, and
wept like a child, while the bullets of
the enemy swept around him. This
brother had been reared by the Gen
eral, and had been given liberal edu-
cation at his expense. He died in the
arms of the great leader, while the SOL
diers around uncovered their heads as
the gallant soul took its departure, ac-
companied by the tears and prayers of
the irOn-handcd chieftain. No man
who saw that scene, and who saw mo-
ment after the tcarfui-eyed Forrest leap
into his saddle and dash upon the en-
emy until the lines were broken to
fragments, and driven in tumuItuous
rout, can refuse to recognize the great
nobility Of our dead hero. Had he
received the benefit OF early culture,
and Of even an ordinary common school
education, the harsher features OF his
character would barely have attracted
attention but such rs he was, no truer
knight ever led a squadron, and no
purer patriot ever fought or bied for
his native land.
COLORED MEN IN CONGRESS-.
Tho tlnv nf ff,1rratl fat vnI in,