The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1879-09-20

GEN CHALMERS ADDRESS BEFORE
THE SOUTHERN HISTORICAL
SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA.
An Interesting Description Of the
Great Confederate Cavalryman-
The Principal Battles In Which
He Was Engaged-His In.
tultive knowledge Of
Warfare.
The FAREWELL ADDRESS TO HIS COMMAND

The FAREWELL ADDRESS TO HIS coxxAN1
WHITE SULPHUR SPRING, w. Va,
Aug. l5.-Ihe Southern Historical
Society met here to-day. Gen. Mau.
~, Who presided, recited a history o1
the society and said that 1t had 10
Ito possession material for q faith.
futh history Of the war. The stten.
dance was very large, and when The
chairman introduced Gen. Chalmers
~ FOrrest's gallant comrade 10 the
old war days there was cordial
applause. Mr.. Chalmers's speect,
upon Forrest and his Campaigns
vas listened to with much interest.
10 the audience were Generals
roOmbs, L%wtOn, Alexander and
Gilmer, OF Georgia; G. nersls Marry,
Lee, Lilly, FIELD and Grainer, Of Wiz.
Hi0ia: Ex.Guv. Brown OF Georgia.
Gov. Matthews Ut West Virginia,
Bishop,Atktns Of North Carolina, and
many other we'll. known persons
were also present. The following Is
an extract from Gen. Chalmers
speech:
l have selected a. my subject the
campaigns OF It. Gen. n. B. Forrest,
who was my immediate commander
during the last year and q half OF the
war, and who, II not the greatest
military genius, was certainly the
greatest rev 'luti0nxry leader on
our side. He wa restrained BY
no knowledge Of law or c0Dsti utioD.
He was embarrassed by no precoD.
ce'ved ideas Of military science. HE
favUre maxim was, "War means
lighting and fighting means kill.
INK" The speaker then, continued
that 40 early AZ 1871. when scare
twenty years old, forrest went with
q band OF volunteers into Texas at
The time Of q threatened Mexican
Invasion. Here he first gave evi.
'ience OF bis military ardor. At six.
teen he was left fxtherless, with bis
mother aud q large family to sup.
port on . email farm. At forty be
owned . lxrged plantation and Was
prosperous. 10 June, 1861, he
INLlsTED ~ A PRlvATE.
10 . Confederate cavalry company II
Tennessee. 10 July, through the In.
auence Of Gov. Isham. G. Harris, be
procured the authority TO raise q
cavalry regiment, and smuggled out
Of Louisville pistols and saddles to
equip the first COMPANY. To October
he was elected Lieutenant Colonel,
nsd In December ne fought hts fret
light, displaying the c6arac eristics
and naturarlitaCtics which made For.
rest famous % . cavalry leader. He
bad marched bis command twenty
milee that day, when 10 found .
fresh trail OF the enemy. His own
command Vas badly scattered. not
half up With him; but without halt.
log be rushed hes0l0ng at tho Fed.
erxl troop, leading tho charge him.
self. When they turned on him With
superior force b. Quicly dimounted
hts me0 and held the enemy in
check until his command came up 20
attack In fink and rear. The 70.
,Ieat Of the Federals soon began.
Mounting bic men be began . terri.
Bile pursuit, fighting hand 70 hand
With pistol and sword, continuing
the chase for many miles and leaving
he road dotted with wounded and
deed.
His major, subsequently Q colonel.
D. @. Kelly, cav him then under flre.
and thus describes the change that
always took place In bis appearance
10 Q fight: His face flushed I'M It
bore . etfiklug resemblance to q
psinted Indian Warriors, and bic
eyes, usually % mild 10 their expree.
.siOns, blszrd with the intense Glaze
OF Q panther's about toeDpfing on bic
prey. IN fact be looks - little 1ike
tho Forrest Ut our meoe.tsblo a the
storm OF December resembles the
quiet OF June"
Those Who cav him when bic broth.
er Jelleey fell cay that the blaze Of
bic face and the glare Of bic eyes
we're fearful TO behold, and that be
rushed like Q madm$n on the foe.
dealing out death With pistol and
sword to all around him. like Hector
lighting over the body OF Patroclus.
THIS FIRST FIGHT;
A I have said, illustrated tho mill.
eary characteristics OF the man. and
insiiled tho remark Of Gen. Dbl
TAYLOR that ''he employed tho to.
tics OF Frederick Of Leuthen And
Zorpdorf without even having heard
these names "
IN December 10. 1854. Forreat vas
ordered With bio brigade OF raw cav.
airy, armed only With shotguns and
such Weapons - they picked up in
the country, 20 destroy the railroad
communication between Louieyille
and Memphis. Sending On aeent
forward 10 smu9gle porcueei0n eero
ont OF Memphis, be started. He
ceoeDed the Tennessee IivsI. sWim.1
500 = B. 3 &.