The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-16


.hercd at \ meeting OF the Southern HIS
80, society here to-day. Genera! W. II.
~ 90 called the meeting 10 order, General
= II Marry presided. and Rev. DR.. Hoge,
rfchmnnd, opened the meeting with
FEancraf Ma,ry made a brief statement OF
tho origin and history Of the Society, which
no. Gathered in its Office in Richmond in
>sIuahlc material for true history OF the
,rar, and which is publishing monthly
magazine that is recognized both in TINS
country and Euronc Is the highest hi>torl-
r,l authority. The speaker introduced
General Chalmers. gallant soldier, VINO
rode with Forrest in the days OF war, and
who now efficiently serves his country and
state in The councils OF the nation.
General Chalmers then delivered an able
and eloquent address on Forrest and His
Comnanions,'' which elected frequent
-o,,nds Of applause. and is regarded as avaltl
ghr contribution TO the history Of the late
war.
Among the prominent ey-Conicderates
nTr>cnt were Generals ToombS, Lawton,
Alexander, and Gilmcr. OF Georgia; haury,
Lee. Lilly. Field. and others. Of Virginia;
ex-governor Brown. Of Georgia: Governor
Matthews. cf Yves. Virginia; Bishop At
kin<. Il North Carolina: Rev. Drs. Erwin,
~ Georgia: ". p. Houc, OF Virginia :;
George 3. TAYLOR. OF Rome, Italy, and 4
large number oil others.
The Address.
The following are extracts from the adj
dress Of General Chalmers, and chiefly OF 4
personal character:
In February, 1871, when | was but ten
wears Of acc, remember well Il small con-
;anv q, volunteers who marched out OF the
town Of Holly Springs, Mississippi, for the
relief OF Texas, then threatened by invasion
from Mexico. In that little band stood
Bedford Forrest, y tall. black haired, gray
eyed, athletic youth, scarce twenty years OF
age. who then gave the first evidence OF the
military ardor he possessed. The company
saw no lighting. Tor The danger was over
before il arrived. and the men received no
pay. Finding himself in Il STANCE country
without friends or money, Forrest, with
The characteristic energy which distinguish
I'd BIN in after life, split rails at fifty cents
per hundred and made the money necessary
TO bring him back to his family and nome.
Personal COURAGE.
Without tracing him through the steps
i,y watch he accumulated fortune, it is
enough 10 say that at sixteen years Of age
he NaS left iathtrleS>, with mother and
large family TO support on small leased
farm, and At forty years Of age he was the
owner Of large cotton plantation and
slaves, making about one thousand bales OF
cotton per annum. and engaged in pros
pcr0tls business in Memphis, the largest city
ii his native State. His personal courage
lad been severely tested on several occa-
sions: notably at fernando, Mississippi,
where he was assaulted in the street by
three Mainck brothers and their OYerSeer,
Bean. Pistols and bowC-knivcs were freely
used. and after terrible fight, in which
thirteen shots were fired, the three Matlocks
and Forrest all wounded. his aSsailants fled
AID left him master OF the field.
L!ErTENANT-CoLoNEL OF 4 CAVALRY BATTA-
LION.
On the 18Th Of June, 1861, Nathan Bed
ford Forrest was enrolled rs n private in 4
Confederate cavalry company, and went
into camp near Randolph, Tennessee.
About tn. 10Th Of July, 1861, Hon. Isham
G. Harris, the great war Governor OF Ten
ne,>ec. knowing Forrest well and having Il
high regard for the man. teleSrapbed him
10 come To Memphis, and there, through
the aid Of General Polk. procured authority
for him to raise I regiment OF cavalry for
Confederate service. This was somewhat
difficult authority to obtain at that time,
Tor III the beginning OF The war neither
side regarded cavalry aS OF much value for
lighting purposes: and 1t Is, perhaps, more
due TO Forrest than to any other man that
The cavalry VAS subsequently SO largely in
creased and played such m important part
on both sides. But Forests men were
not properly called cavalry-they more
nearly rescmbed the dragons Of the six
tecnth century, who are described as
amounted ioot-soldierS.S Jacksoli's corps
were called web-lootcd cavalry" and
Forests troopers might we'll be called
"wingcd infautry.'
On the both Of July, Forrest mustered
his first company into service, and about the
same time smuggled out or Louisville,
Kentucky, though closely watched, pistols
and saddles 10 cqnip them. During the
second week Of October. 1861, ne organized
Il battalion OF eight companies, OF which he
WAS elected lieutenant. colonel, and the day
alter its organization moved for Fort Don
olson, and commenced his active and bril-
liant career, which knew no cessation until
the aImics Of the south were surrendered.
shall not i'm this address undertake to fol-
low in detail his successful and marvellous
career, nor shall indulge in any flowers
Of rhetoric 10 adOrn my story. / VIII at
tempt by plain and simple recital OF his
most prominent deeds TO raise up tue
monument he Bowed out for himself, and
leave TO other hands to polish its surface
and crown it with appropriate wreaths OF
beauty.
HIS FIRST BATTLE.
After having seen some service IN march
lng and scouting, but with little time or
inclination for drill. on the 2Sth Of Decem-
Der, 1861, Forrest, with three hundred
men, met the enemy for the first time,
about four hundred and fifty strong, near
sacramento, Kentucky. This tight deserves
especial notice, not only because OF its sue
cess and the confidence inspired in the raw
Confederate cavalry, but because it display
Ell at once the characteristics and natural
taclics which were subsequently more fully
developed and made Forrest famous rs a
cavalry leader. He had marched his COM
Mand twenty miles that day, when he found
airesh trail where the encmy's cavalry had
passed. Putting his command at gallop,
Ae travelled ten miles further before be
struck the rear guard. His own command
vas badly scattered, not half up with him;
Nut without hating, he rushed headong
them, leading the charge himself. When
ne had driven tue rear guard on 10 the main
oooy, and they turned on him with superior
urge, he quickly dismounted his men and
aso lie enemy in check until bis command
s same ", and ordered them to attack in
,-aDh and rear. This movement was sue
Sssslui. and the retreat Of the FederalS
sOoh began. Quickly mounting bis men,
Nc commenced one Of bis terrible pursuits.
snuos nand TO hand with pistol and
h;wle, Ihlliins one and wounding two