The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-06-25
his captures, with 3 surplus of 500 En-
field rifles, and with recruits sufficient to
cover all his losses in men-all this dur

his captures, With 8 surplus OF 5O0 En-
field rifles, and with recruits sufficient to
cover all his losses in men-all this dur
ing the brief expedition of a fortnight.
To Forests sagacity and courage, and
the action Of his brigade, was chiefly due
General Van Dorn's capture of 1900
prisoners at or near Thompson's station,
Tenn, in March, 1868.
His pursuit and capture Of Colonel
Streight and his entire command, 1,7O0
strong, near Rome, Ga, in May, 1868,
with a forge of less than 500, is one Of
the handsomest feata of its species 10 be
found in military annals. He distin.
guished himself in the battle of Chicka.
mauga, and contributed materially to
General Bragg's victory upon that field.
But it was as an independent commander
that Forests military genius was most
conspicuously displayed.
,, His defeat and rout of General Grier.
son near Okolona, Miss, in February,
1864, was a brilliant affair. Grierson's
force was 1000, Forests about one.half
that number, and were composed of raw
recruits, which he lad raised after being
detached from Bragg's army in the latter
part Of 1853. His storming and capture
of Fort Pillow, Tenn, in April, 1864, WAS
daring feat. It has been charged that
after the garrison, which refused to sur.
render on demand of General Forrest,
had been taken, the federal troops, largely
composed. Of negroes, were: given no
quarter, but.upon IN investigation of the
facts the charge cannot be sustained.
When the Confederates scaled the fort,
the garrison fled, fighting, toward the
Mississippi river (close by) for protection
from the gunboat, New Era, as had been
previously agreed upon by the command
ers of the fort and the captain of the gun
boat in the event the troops we're COM
PEELED to i;aave the fort. Captain Mar
shall, snmanding the gunboat, in his
evidene touching this affair, says:
"Msjor Bradford signaled to me that we
were whipped. We had agreed on a
signal that if they had to leave the fort
they would drop down under the bank
and I was to give the rebels canister"
Reb. Rec. VIII, doc. l, P. So. Besides,
being no offer to surrender after the fort
was taken, and the fighting retreat, toward
the gunboat, as. had been agreed upon,
the federal flag WAS left flying in the
fort.
At the battle Of Tishomingo, Brice's
crossroads, Mississippi, from June 10 to
10, 1864, Forrest displayed his usual
courage and personal intrepidity, but, if
possible, more than his usual sagacity.
he fought splendidly equipped and
gallant army under command of General
Sturgis, numbering between 5000 and
5000, with force not exceeding one.half
that number. The loss of the federals in
this battle and the pursuit which follow
ed, was 1900 in killed, wounded and cap.
tured, nineteen pieces ofartillery, twenty
one caissons, thirty ambulances, 200
wagons, large number of mules and
horses and ample quantities ofsubsistence
stores.
His fight at Harrisburg, Miss. with
the greatly superior force (1e,oOO) Of
General a. J. Smith, July "A, 1854, was
desperate and attended with heavy losses
the federal commander not only hav.
ing the advantage of superior numbers,
but the natural advantages of position
greatly strengthened by. Notifications.
Nevertheless, the federal commander
began retreat to Memphis on the follow
ing day, closely pursued by the Confed-
crates, and the object Of his expedition
whatever it was-in that direction was
completely frustrated.
His raid into the city of Memphis
(strongly garrisoned,) in August, 1864,
resulting in the capture of 600 prisoners
and a large number of horses, was one of
his brilliant but minor affairs. His de-
struction Of three federal gunboats, eleven
transports, sixteen barges, magazines and
large quantities of quartermaster and
commissary stores at Johnsonyille, Tenn,
in November, 1864, was most remarka-
BILE and unprecedented feat; especially
80, considering the resources at his COM
mand. General Sherman in his book,
"Memoirs," says of this affair: ''I con-
fess it was feat of arms that excites my
admiration"
he distinguished himself at the battle
of franklin, Tenn, and also by his
mastery movements and opportune
fighting while covering General Hoods
retreat from Nashville to Decatur in
December, 1864.
he was beaten by General J. 81. Will
son with largely superior force near
Selma, Ala, in April, 1865, and on May
9th, following after the surrender of
General Lee in Virginia and General
Johnston in North Carolina, be surren.
dered to General Wilson at Gainesville,
Ala. And thus closed the military career
of perhaps the most remarkable soldier,
all things considered, of which American
history gives an account. Considering
the resources at his command, he accom-
plished more than any soldier developed
by the late war on either side. OF an
ardent and aggressive nature, he was es-
sentially intrepid, but his daring was
uniformly directed by common sense, fine
judgment and. a sagacioua intuition.
After the war he became president of
the Selma, Marion and Memphis rail-
road, but resigned that position in 1874 /;
was q delegate to the Democratic nation.