Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-10-10


aesseo mounted rifles. with deterui.
nation 70 fight his way upwards int,
the realms Of fame. He had always
bsen ! close friend Of Governor Har.
ris snd when the States executive
saw Forrest enlisted he sent him re-
| qnest that be raise and eqnip regi.
msnt of cavalry.
khl1 be did. and for his edaptness
TO the work be was made lieutenant
colonel. In October be moved with
aia men to Fort Donelson. where be
'rsmained until the appro<ch Of Gene.
raj Grant. He participated actively
in the defense Of the fort, but his fore
sight quickly told him that the On.
ion forces wefs too great, and before
f6s iIsg 0F tfocs was ssu< IL ara nesd
! successful escape OF all his men and
himself. he than started out upon
an extended raiding excursion. visit
ing Nashville, Huntsville and Iuka.
His next participant On in any fighting
was at the battle of Shiloh. In the
following June another promotion
came to him, and be was assigned To
more important command-that oi
the cavalry at Chattanooga.
His first active work with his new
command was in the attack on Mur-
freesboro on July l3. 1862. In this
he showed a daring. pluck and brave
~ that attracted the attention Of his
supetiors. BY several dexterous move.
ments Of his men, he showed a won.
derful capacity in the art of war tac-
tics. and he greatly annoyed the Un-
ion forces by his tricky aud stealthy
methods. On July 81 he was made
brigadier general, and the promotion
inspired within him new hopes and
determinations. All this while he was
constantly forwarding dispatches and
documents to headquarters which were
simply marvellous examples of inaccu-
rate spelling and the mos. reckless
grammar.
Ia the case Of some deoipherment
Was almost impossible, yet their con-
! tents were always asceriained, even
though some time was required in
special cases. The following Septem-
Der found him in command at MUIR
freesboro. and in the following Decem-
ber be was engaged at Parker's Gross
Roads. Duiing the next few months
following these participations, For
rests career was marked with but
few important episodes. In the little
skirmishes to which he was called he
always showed bravery and quickness
Of d.spatch. His next battle of mo-
meat was on the 10Th and 20th-of
September. 1868. when he participa-
ted iu the battle Of Chicamsuga, re-.
llecsing much additional credit upon
himself and his men.
In November he was transferred to
Northern Mississippi 10 await orders.
For month he rested. when there
came to him at most unexpected mo-
ment the promotion to major general,
with an assignment to the command
Of Forests Cavalry Department.
When the idea Of siorming Fort Pill
low was conceived. in April. 1864.
General Forrest was placed in COM
mand Of the attacking Confedei ate
forces. In this encounter curious in
cident in Forests life occurred. After
a heavy storming Of the fort by Forrest 9
forces. the signal for negotiations Of
surrender was shown by the fortifcs-
tions. and the firing ceased. While
the negotiations. however, were in
pr,sress. Forrest conceived the pro-
ii i of moving his forces to point Of
attack which it would be impossible
to attain in any other way. This he
Thought would be an advantage in
case the negotiations for the surren-
der of the fort proved unsuccessful.
When the move was discovered by
Major Bradford. commander Of the
fort. he positively refused to surren-
der. although fully recognizing that
FORESTS position was dangerous one
to the notifications.
General Forrest afterwards explain
ed that he had q right to move his
forces wherever he chose, and gain
whatever advantage be could. so long
as the flag Of the fort had not been
hauled down as token Of surrender.
Upon The commanders refusal to SUI
render. the assault Of the Confederate
fo-ces was renewed. with the result Of
a signal victory. wherein General For
rest had taken DO small part. The
garrison, consisting mainly Of colored
troops. we're given no quarter by For
rests men, who had fought with all
the ardor and daring bravery Of their
commander. General Forests next
| mas. was seeminoIv to beeone m An.