Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-08-21
GENERAL FORESTS CAREER.
Address Before the Southern Historical
Society.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.
VA, August 15.-General j. R.
Chalmers Of Mississippi, addressed a
large crowd gathered at the meeting
of the Southern Historical Society
here to-day. General w. H. f. Lee
called the meeting to order, General
D. II: Maury presided and the Rev.
DR.. HOge, of Richmond. opened the
meeting with prayer.
General Maury made brief state
ment of the origin and history of the
society, which has gathered in its
Office at Richmond Invaluable ma
terial for true history of the war,
and which is publishing a monthly
magazine that is recognized both in
this country and in Europe as the
highest historical authority.
The speaker introduced General
Chalmers as the gallant soldier who
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 address on Forrest and
His Campaigns" which elected fire.
quent rounds of applause and is re-
garded as valuable contribution to
the history of the late interstate war.
in reference to the capture of Fort
Pillow, about which there had been
so much heated controversy. the
speaker said
In the first week of March, 1864. a
small brigade of Kentucky infantry
700 ettective-under General Buford.
was turned over to Forrest to be
mounted. and General Buford ap-
Ipointed to the command of his (Sec-
Ond) division. Forrest, ever anxious
to be moving, determined at once to
move into West Tennessee and Ken
tucky, to annoy the enemy and recruit
his command. especially his new Ken
lucky brigade. In ten DAYS he
amounted his new brigade, and on the
| 10th Of March commenced his move
ment, which resulted in the capture of
Union City, with AS prisoners, with
| their arms, ammunition and 300
horses the attack on Paducah, where
a large quantity of supplies were
obtained and his Kentucky brigade
increased to 100 fighting men, the
rOut of a Federal regiment at Bolivar
and the capture of Fort Pillow. This
last fight for political purposes, has
been, by false testimony, and 1 believe
willful perjury, represented as bloody
massacre. The willful and malicious
assaults of a partisan press, who have
recently revived these slanders for
partisan ends, has called forth from
DR., Filth, of Iowa, who was the Union
surgeon at Fort Pillow, a complete
vindication of the Confederates. which
has been published, and as | have re-
Gently published a statement on
this subject | will not detain
you now with its repetition.
You will pardon me, however, for
saying that | regarded one ofsmy
highest duties in life we'll performed
when, as representative in congress,
placed on the records of the country
refutation of this infamous slander
on Forrest and his cavalry 1t was
said that Forests demand for sur
render at Paduoah, coupled with an
implied threat that he would not be
responsible for the consequences if
compelled to take the place by assault,
showed predeterminatlon to cold
blooded murder. This was the form
of his first demand for surrender made
at MurfreesbOro, and he practiced it
afterward Just as he practiced his
flank attack, and for the same pur.
pose and with the same effect-to
intimidate his adversary,
Among the prominent ex- -ConEeder.
at ates present were noticed Generals
Ioombs, Lawton, Alexander and
Gllmer, of Georgia Maury, Lee
Lilly, Field and Groiner, of Virginia;
ex-Governor Brown, of Georgia; Gov
Matthews, Of West Virginia; Bishop
Atkins, Of North Carolina Rev. Drs
Irvine, of Georgia Hoge, of Vir-
ginia George B. Taylor, of Rome,
Italy, and large number of others.