The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-08-28
GEN. FORREST.
The Old War-Horse Who couldn' t
be Whipped.

White Sulphur Springs, Saturday,
on the splendid military career OF
Gen Forrest. Gen. Chalmers said
He was restrained by no knowl-
edge of law or constitution. He was
embarrassed by no preconceived
ideas of military science. His IA
vorlte maxim was: "War means
fighting, and fighting means kill
ing" Without the slightest knowl-
edge of them, he seemed by instinct
to adopt the tactics of the great
master of the military art, if there
be any such art.
In February, 1S4l, when / was
but ten years of age, remember
well small company of volunteers
that marched out of the town OF
Holly Springs, Mississippi, for the
relief of Texas, then threatened by
invasion from Mexico. In that lit
tie band stood Bedford Forrest, a
tai, ,lblack- haired, grayeyed, athletic
youth, scarce twenty years of age,
who then gave the first evidence of
the military ardor he possessed.
The company saw no danger, for
the fighting was over before it ar
rived, and the men received no pay.
Finding himself in a strange coun-
try, without friends or money, For
rest, with the characteristic energy
which distinguished him in after
life, split rails at so cents per hun
dred and made the money necessa-
ry to bring him back to his family
and home.
On the 18th of June, 1861, Ma
than Bedford Forrest was enrolled
as private in confederate cavalry
company, and went into camp near
Randolph, Tennessee. About the
10th of July, 1861, Hon. Isham @.
Harris, the great war Governor of
Tennessee, knowing Forrest well
and having a high regard for the
man, telegraphed him to Memphis,
and there. through the aid of Gen.
Polk, procured authority for him to
raise regiment of cavalry for the
Confederate service.
Forests men were not properly
called cavalry. Jackson's corps
we're called "webb-footed cavalry"
and Forests troopers might well
be called winged infantry"
On the Goth of July, Forrest mus
tered his first company into service,
and about the same time smlggled
out of Louisville, KY, though close
ly watched, pistols and saddles to
equip them. During the second
week of October, 1861, he or
ganized a battalion of eight COM
panies, of which he was elected
Lieutenant and Colonel, and the
day after its organization moved to
Fort Donelson, and commenced his
active and brilliant career, which
knew no cessation until the armies
of the South were surrendered.
| On the 29th of December, 1861,
Forrest with three hundred men,
met the enemy for the first time,
about four hundred and fifty strong,
near Sacramento, Ky.
He had marched his command
twenty miles that day, when they
found fresh trail where the enc
my's cavalry had passed. Putting
his command at agallop, he Travelled
ten miles farther before he struck
the rear guard. His own command
was badly scattered, not half up
with him; but without halting, he
rushed headlong at them, leading
the charge himself. When he had
driven the rear guard on to the
main body and they turned on him
with superior force, he quickly dis
mounted his men and held the enc
my in check until his command
came up, and ordered them to at
tack the flank and rear. This
movement was successful, and the
retreat of the Federals soon began.
Quickly mounting his men, he com
menced one of his terrible pursuits,
fighting hand-to hand with pistol
and sword-killing one and wound
ing two himself-continning the
chase for many miles, and leaving
the road dotted with wounded and
dead.
1t was said of him: "His face
face flushed till it bore striking re-
sem mblance to a painted Indian war
rior's, and his eyes, usually SO mild
in their expression, blazed with the
intense glare of panther's, about
to spring on his prey. In fact, he
looks as little like the Forrest of
our mess table as the storm of De-
cember resembles the quiet of June"
Those who saw him when his
Brother Jeffrey fell, who was born
sfter the death of his father, and
who was educated and almost idol
Ized By his brother. say that the
blaze of his face and the glare of his
eyes were fearful to behold, and
that he rushed like madman on
the foe, dealing out death with pis
tol and sword to all around him.
Gen. Dick Taylor said: "He
employed the tactics Of Frederick
at Leuthen and Zorndorf, without
even having heard these Names"
First, his reckless courage in max
ing the attack-a rule which he in
variably followed, and which tended
always to lntimidate his adversary.
Second, his quick dismounting Of
his men to fight; showing that he
regarded horse mainly as a rapid
means of transportation for his
troops. Third, his intuitive adop-
ton to the flank attack, so success
fully used by Alexander, Hannibal
and Tameriane-so demoralizing to
the enemy even in an open field and
so much more so when made, as
Forrest often did, under cover of
wo, DIS, which concealed the weak
ness of the attacking party. Fourth,
his fierce and u1tiring pursuit,
which so often changes retreat into
rout and makes victory complete.
This practice brought him into
many personal conflicts; and Gen.
Dick Taylor has well said: 81
doubt if any commander since the
DAYS of iron hearted Richard, has
killed as many enemies with his own
hand as Forrest" This practice
led to imitation by his general Off
GERS; and at Hurts cross roads, the
day before the battle of Franklin, l
Witnessed what 1 will venture to