The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-09
ANECDOTES OF A GREAT SOLDIER.

Lord Wolseley. commander OF the
English army. and General w r. Sher-
man, have said that had General Ma
than Bedford Forrest received mil
lary- education he would have been the
greatest figure of the civil war After
| reading the biography OF the cslebra-
ted Confederate cavalry leader which
has been written by DR.. John A. Wyeth.
and which is TO be published shortly by
Harper & Brothers, it is easy TO under
stand why Forrest should be SO esteem
ed by all who are best qualified to
| Judge
| General Forrest was keenly appre-
| clative of the necessity OF giving his
personal attention to the smallest de.
tails connected with his military or era
tions i'm order to achieve success. He
was not content To accept reports from
even his most trusted and faithful sub
ordinates, but he made careful inspec-
ton of his artillery. the harness, and
the condition. OF the animals as well as
the men, and held his officers strictly
accountable for keeping his command
supplied with ammunition forage. and
careful scrutiny. When on the march
which usually began at daylight, he
would take his place by the roadside.
and observe regiment after regiment az
they passed before him. He would II en-
mount his horse and ride through the
column from rear TO front III il were
raining and he saw "a cartridge box ex-
posed to the weather, the delipduel.t
need expect no mercy from the conf
mander III in crossing "a stream n SOL
der permitted his ammunition to get
Wet. he might consider himself for,u-
nate To escape with a reprimand. His ]
quick eye readily detected lame or |
tender-footed animal or one tha. aid /
not seem TO be well-fed or properly |
cared for. veteran OF Forrest; &, m |
mand informed the writer that on one /
occasion the general ordered him 20 |
leave the ranks, remarking why Do |
YOU let your horses back get SO 20 eTaka
your saddle off and let me see what's
the matter ON exposing the q mails
back IL was found TO be chafed. sorr. st
reprimanded him, and dismoupteG II
give him practical lesson I'm the man
ner OF rolling the blanket so that The |
abraded surface AS he rode away. the
general remarked: You must never |
again let me see YOU riding q horse
With a sore back there is no need OK
IL. rev Gays later the general rec |
,gnized the same trooper. and also no
iced that he had not fixed the biau.
Iet as he had been instructed. and, mar
'aung the circumstance the tr)ope~
aid II did not get off so easily ;hat
ime. The general gave me hell. but IL
aught me a lesson I never forgot"
The precautions he took for the COM ,
ort and safety OF his men wee fully | ,
and formed one of the |
trong bonds Of attachment betw-.,r !
he soldiers and their commander When q
hey blvouacked Cor the night. I'm uruX-
nifty To the enemy. he never rested un- =
II he saw In person that the pckcts | I
we're properly post u. and that eXaeri- v
need and reliable men were ctailci 7! y
or Important duties His men FELT the | r
most implicit reliance in this Watrhful ! e.
are OF themselves. 4 Lieutenant OF the | g
scOrt said: I'VE had that cont Ienc. | "A
n him which | imagine the O'd ,ida~d a
ad I'm Napoleon on one occasion. while n
w. Were supposed Go be in "a very dan n
'erous position. with the enemy al :,
bout us. we were ordered 40 O. into y,
amp for the night There wore scuc Vt
lew recruits with Us. who sa,ing the \ /,
'der members of the command nreplr- Z,
ng Co lie down and 30 to slcap. s,il. a'
You don't expect 10 lie down and go ~
% slep with the enemy all AROUND -
'ou. do you?' The answer WAS ~ "
curse We DO. General Forrest tnld us :,
o do it.' y