The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1879-10-04

was certainly the greatest revolu-
tionary leader on our side. He
was restrained by no knowledge
of law or constitution. He was
embarrassed by no preconctived
ideas of military science: His
ia, ored maxim was, "War means
fighting and fighting means kill
ing' The speaker then, continued
that as early as 1871, when scarce
twenty years old, Forrest went
with a band of volunteers into
Texas at the time OF threatened
Mexican invasion. There he
first gave evidence of his military
ardor. At sixteen he was left
fatherless, with his mother and a
large family to support Oh a
small farm. At forty he owned a
larged plantation and was pros
porous. In June, 1861, he
ENLISTED AS A PRIVATE.
in a Confederate cavalry compa-
ny in Tennessee. In July, through
| the influence Of Gov. Islan. e.
Harris, lie procured the authori-
ty to raise cavalry regiment.
and snnusgled out of Louisville
! pistols and saddles to eqnip the
first company. In October he
| was elected Lieutenant Colonel,
aud III December he fought his
first fight, displaying the charae
eristicS and natTrall tactics which.
made Forrest famous as cavalry
| leader. lie had marched his com
mlnd twenty miles that day,
when he found a fresh trail OF the
| enemy. Ills own command was
badly scattere d. not half up with
him but without hating he rash
ed hratlong at the Federaltroops
leading the charge himself. When
they turned on him with superior
force lie quickly dismounted his
men and held'the enemy i'll checE
until his command came up to al
tack in flank and rear. The re
treat Of the Federals soon began
Mounting his men he began a ter
rible pursuit, fighting hand t(
hand with pistol and sword, con
tinuing the chase for many miles
and leaving the road dotted With
wounded and dead.
His major, subsequently a col
onel, d. {. Lell.y, saw hin theF
under fire, and thus describes tlit
change that always took place il
his appearance in a fight eli:
face flushed till it bore a striking
resemblance to d painted Indian
warriors. and his eyes, usually
so mild in their expressions, blaz
ed with the intense glare Of
panther's about to spring on hi
prey. In fact he looks as little
like the Forrest at our mess-tabl'
rs the storm of December respm
bles the quiet Of june"
Those who saw him when hi
brother Seffery fell say that th'
blaze Of his face and the glare Q
his eyes were fearful to behold
and that he rushed like a mad
man on the foe, dealing ont deaf
with pistol aud sword to al
around him. like Hector tightin
over the body of Patroclus
THIS FIRST EIGHT,
as | have said, Illustrated the Mi
litary characteristics OF the MAJ
and justified the remark of Gei
Dick Taylor that che empioye
the tactics OF Frederick at lie,
then and CONDOR without exc
having heard these names.'
o. December 10, 1882. Forres
was ordered with his brigade .
raw cavalry, armed only wit
Shotguns and snch weapons d
they picked up in the country,
destroy The railroad communities
ton betweet Louisville and hIei
phis. Sending an agent torwaI
to smngg'e percussion caps ont
Memnliis. he started. He cloSse
tie Tennessee river, swimmin
his horses aud ferying over HI
men. artillery and train with
lcaky old ferry-hoat, in a col
peiting rain that destroyed mo:
of his percussion caps. In tW
weeks, with aboat 5000 raw an
almost unarmed cavalry, mare
ing twenty miles day, he toug!
three heavy battles, had almo.
daily skirmishing, burned tift
railroad bridges, destroyed s
much Of its uestle work as to :e
der the Mobile and OHIO Railros
useless there the rest Of the wa
captured eighteen Stockadcs, WI,
1900 prisoners, took and disable
ten pieces OF field artillery, ca
RED off fifty wagons aud ambula
ces With ti:eir teams, capture
10000 stands of arms and LOO
e. 600 rounds of ammunition, an
crossing the Tennessee river in
a., Jx,1 .- 80. ~