American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-03
General N. B. Forrest
sburc Commercial Oct. 30. 1e77.

Vieksburg Commercial Oct. 30, 1877.
The people Of the South Will learn
with the deepest and most unfeign-
ed regret, of the death of Nelson
Bedford Forrest, Lieutenant Gen
eral in the army of the late C0nfed-
crate States of America. This sad
event. which Occured at Memphis,
yesterday evening, though not un-
expected, will cause u THRILL of SOT-
row in many hearts. In many re-
spectS, General Forrest was one Of
the most rtmarkable men of the age.
Born in humble life, with no hPri-
tage but grinding poverty, denied
all the advantages Of education, he
possessed a mind Of great natural
vigor, and a judgment remarkable
for it's strength and accuracy.
Long before the advent of the great
civil war and its horrors, Bedford
Forrest, as he WAS called by his
friends, had become man of mark
and influence. From poverty, he
had, by his great energy and inner
ring Judgment, risen to be Il man of
large fortune, and when the storm
of war burst upon ihe country, lie
was one of the most extensive COT
ton planters III the great cotton
belt of the South.
When the South called her sons
to the field, Forrest was among the
first to respond, and at the head oil
an eight company battalion of cav
airy, be entered at once upon active
service. His first meeting with
the enemies Of his country, was
near Green river, i'll Southern ken~
lucky, where. at the head Of about
three hundred men, lie encountered
an equal number of Col. James
JacksOn's command, and achieved
signal triumph, the bright pc
cursor of most brilliant career.
In this, his first fight Col. Forrest
killed seventy OF the enemy, and
Captured thir Y odd prisoners, all If
whom were wounded. His own
loss was one officer Capt. Ed. Me
riwether, killed, one private wound
ed. His battalion was soon, by the
addition of two companies, increas~
ed to regiment. At the battle of
Fort Donaldson, Col. Forrest was
conspicuous for gallantry and good
conduct, and succeeded in bringing
his regiment from that i'll faited
field. At ShilO, Col. Forrest again
attracted public attention by his
daring and brilliant conduct, and
was promoted 10 the rank of briggs
dier general.
We have not space to follow Gen.
Forrest thu ough his onward and up
ward career during the remainder
of The war, nor is it necessary.
With his dazzling record his coun.
trymen are all familiar. Wher>
ever blows were to be struck, or
danger encountered, the unstained
crest of Forrest streamed like me-
teor athwart the skies. His name
was the synonym, and his presence
the precursor of assured triumph.
When the close came, when t'grim
VISA ed war SmOOIhed his wrinkled
'front.'" Gen. Forrest sought to for
get the fields of blood and carnage
upon which he had so often looked
with calmneSS, and bent his great
energies to the work of peace. Be
lieving that ''peace had her victO>
ries not less renowned than war"
Gen. Forrest diligently devoted
himself to the winning of triumphs
and the gathering OF laurels un
stained with human gore. His la
borS in the cause of internal i'm
provemenIs and other kindred
measures for the promotion of the
interests of the people will not be
forgotten By those for whom he la
bored. AT length the busy BRAIN
began to show signs of WEAKNESS,
the iron frame began to yield to
the long styaIn, and tue once raven
h2ir grew white. II was apparent
TO anxious friends that death had
placed his mark upon the great
cavalry leader, and that the man OF
iron courage, who had so often pass
ed seathless through the storm OF
battle, must soon surrender to the
common enemy OF mankind. That
dreaded event has at last occur ed.
The great soldier is at peace after
all his battles, is at rest alter all
his tolls. The spirit that never
bowed to aught on earth has wing
ed its fight to loftier spheres. The
soldier who was the peer of Jack
son, Cleburne, Polk and Van Dorne,
has gone to rejoin them. The men
who followed his standard through
so many battles, those who still re-
main to fight the battles of life,
will gather arouud his open coffin
with wet eyes, and while they
mourn the death Of the daring sol
dier. will drop a tear to the memory
of the man, and heave a sigh Of re
greet foe the true, the tender, the
gentle friend. The years may come
and the years may go, but the world
will grow gray ere we look upon
his like again. Farewell gallant
spirit! The earth never pressed up
on the breast Of Drawer or more
kuightIy soldier.