The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-04-20
GEN. FORREsT's FIRST FIGHT.
Killed Three Out of -Four BuIlies mt
fernando, Miss.

- NV D3iiibNlhll
YAzoo CITY, Miss, April 5.-The
coming reunion of Confederate Veter-
ans OF Memphis, in which members of
Gen. Bedford Forests famous cavalry
Will take such u prominent part, re-
calls to Judge Robert Bowman of this
city, a Confederate veteran, the follow
ing incident in the early life OF the
South's dashing cavalry leader, which
will prove of interest," to Confederate
veterans all over the South:
When Forrest was u mere lad his
father removed from Tennessee TO
Marshall county, this State, which was
then practically d wilderness and the
hunting ground of the redman. The
elder Forrest dying soon after coming
to Mississippi, young Bedford was the
only dependence of his mother and
several younger children tor IL living.
He hired cut to a man who ran a small
supply store and carried on trade prin-
cipally with the indians. Forrest
made enough to support the family.
An uncle OF his subsequently, came
down TO fernando from Tennessee and
established a livery stable, and young
FORESTS fortunes were p%erceptibly
frightened by being placed in charge
OF the stable. Here the first tragedy
OF his lie was enacted, and here first
showed those wonderful qualities for
fighting which shone out so brilliantly
in his latter life, when he proved him
self the Murat of the war between the
States,
Near fernando lived four brothers
who were overbearing, insoleni, drink
ing men, and who were terrors to the
community. Their frequent appearance
in the town was d enac TO the safety
OF the inhabitants. Forrest expressed
himself as greatly surprised that the
men of fernando submitted so tamely
to the ~quartett's~ outrageous behavior
and his remark was repeated to the
brothers, who Immediately went to the
livery stable and informed Forces
THAT they would give him just one houl
to leave town, and that at the expira-
tion OF that time If he remained they
would kick him out. When the,
appeared at the stable an hour later
Forrest mel them at the door with
small, single arreled pistol in eacl
hand, both OF which he instantly
discharged, and two OF the brothers
fell morally wounded. FORESTS uncl
then rushed out with two pistols il
each hand. and after handing two t
his nephew, was himself Instant,
killed by IA shot from one Of tn
brothers. Forrest again fired, and on
Of the desperadoes dropped dead
Panic-stricken, the fourth ran for hi
, life, with Forrest in hot pursuit, FL
attempted to hide under IA salOoi
counter, but Forrest grabbed him b
: the collar, and, after shaking hi
violently add kicking him over an
over again, ordered him to leave tow
n Immediately, which he did.
This was Gen FORESTS first taste
$ glory, and he was the hero Of Hernand
and DeSoto county.
Later, 10 1861, when Forrest was
resident of Memphis, Tenn, and ha
= raised a company Of calvary, IA frier
urged him to become IL candidate Il
the colonelcy of a regiment which W
/, then being organized in thai city. L
| declined, claiming hal he was not on
ignorant Of military tactics, but had
education to SPEAK Of. However, u
efforts of his friends we're successfu
. and he was elected Colonel of Il
regiment. How brilliant his caree
how daring his bravery and how MAJ
the victories won under Discourage
circumstances the pages Of hlsto
reveal. Uututored as he vas, wb'
ic asked the secret Of his success
answered; II always tried to get the
- q Mt NJ; n tho tnpst mon