The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-08-11
Nathan Bedford Forrest.

"
the English army, and General w.
J.. Sherman have said that had Gen
eral Nathan Bedford Forrest receiv-
ed military education he would
have been the greatest figure of the
Civil War. After reading the BIZ
ography Of the celebrated Confed-
crate 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
understand why Forrest should be
so esteemed by all who are best
qualified to judge.
General Forrest was keenly APP
preciative of the necessity of Civ
ing his personal attention to the
smallest details connected with his
military operations in order to
achieve success. He was not con-
tent to accept reports from even his
most trusted and faithful subordi-
mates, but he made careful inspec-
ton of his artillery, the harness,
and the condition of the animals as
we'll as the men, and held his Off
GERS strictly accountable for keep
ing his command supplied with am
munition, forage and rations. Moth
ing seemed to escape his careful
scrutiny. When on the march,
which usually began at daylight, he
would take his place by the road
side and observe regiment after reg
iment as they passed before him.
He would then mount his horse and
ride through the column from rear
to front. If it were raining and he
saw a cartridge-box exposed to the
weather, the delinquent need expect
no mercy from the commander. If
in crossing stream a soldier per-
mitted his ammunition to get wet,
he might consider himself fortu-
nate to escape with a reprimand.
His quick eye readily detected
lame or tender-fOoted animal, or one
that did not seem to be well fed or
properly cared for. A veteran of
Forests command informed the
writer that on one occasion the Gen
eral ordered him to leave the ranks,
remarking:
"Why do you let your horses
back get sore? Take your saddle
off and let me see what's the mat
ter" On exposing the animals
back it was found to be chafed.
Forrest reprimanded him, and dis
mounted to give him practical les
son in the manner of rolling the
blanket so that the pressure would
be taken from the abraded surface.
As he rode away, the General re-
marked: "You must never again
let me see you riding horse with
sore back; there is no need of it."
A few days later the General recog-
nized the same trooper, and also
noticed that he had not fixed the
blanket as he had been instructed,
and, narrating the circumstance, the
trooper said: 81 did not get off so
easily that time. The General gave
me hell, but it taught me a lesson
| never forgot"
The precautions he took for the
comfort and safety of his men were
fully appreciated, and formed one
of the strong bonds of attachment
between the soldiers and their com
niander. When they bivouacked for
the night, in proximity to the enc
my, he never rested until he saw in
person that the pickets were prop
erly posted, and that experienced
and reliable men were detailed for
important duties. His men felt the
most implicit reliance in this watch
full care of themselves. A Lieuten-
ant of the escort said: 1--WE had
the confidence in him which / i'm
agine the Old Guard had in Napo-
leon. On one occasion, while we
we're supposed to be in a very dan
gerous position, with the enemy all
about us, we were ordered to go in
to camp for the night. There were
some new recruits with us, who,
seeing the older members of the
command preparing to lie down and
go to sleep, said: you don't ex-
pect to lie down and go to sleep
with the enemy all around you do
you?' The answer was: 'Of course,
we do; General Forrest told us to
do it.