The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-26
r OF SUBSCRIPTION.
A STATUE TO ONE OF TIE GREAT
EST SOLDIERS OF AMERICA

When living in Memphis in 1863 THIS
writer had the pleasure al an acquaih-
tanca with Major General Bedford For
rest. He was then a commanding hg-
ure. well dressed. urbane- We refer TO
him for another purpose tina to men
ton our acquaintance. but are very giad
10 have known this great soldier, the
very distinguished confederate
we ever knew personally. as General
Grant was the only greatly distinguish
ed soldier of the north we ever met
and had a long talk with. This was
in 1865. about 3rd of November.
General ". B.. Forrest was a great
captain. There is no doubt about that.
Distinguished soldiers on either side
concluded that. Gen. Bradley L. john
son in his highly interesting volume on
General Joseph E. Johnston, OF the
very greatest soldiers of this CONT
nent and of the English speaking race.
saws tina General Johnston said TO him
one day, that he regarded General For
rest as the greatest soldier Of the great
war on either side. OF course, we be-
heve that Robert E. Lee was the great
est soldier of this continent. and, Gen.
eraI Lord Wolseley says. the greatest
of the English speaking race unless
Marlborough be greater-that he was
greater than Wellington. We see that
the Charlotte Observer quoting from a
pape written by Bishop Gailor, for the
Sewanee Review, that General w. T.
Sherman wrote After all, 1 think For
rest was the most remarkable man our
civil war produced on either side" and
of whom General Lee is reported to
have said. after the death of Jackson,
MY greatest subordinate is a man 1
never saw, General n. B. Forrest"
Other very 1attering opinions of the
great Tennessee cavalryman have been
given. He was a great soldier wheth-
der fighting at the head of his own cav
air or commanding an army in battle.
His recent life shows this most coE-
1t is quoted that Grant sad
that he was the greatest cavalry COM
= I'll NAhAAN AK vi LIN S4Ni $780,
That may have readily been for the wal
really developed but few conspicuous
soldiers of that arm Of the military
service. The Atlanta Journal avs that.
Lord Wolseley ranks him among the
most remarkable soldiers of modern
times" And so he was. The following
from the Journal cannot fail to inter-
est:
1.-THE czar of Russia, during our civil
war. sent a military expert to this coun-
try ID report on any new and vaiuable
discoveries in the art of wal that might
be made in the campaigns of either
army. On his return to Russia this OBJ
server reported that the most valuable
addition to effective warfare hat he
had been able to perceive was Forests
method of handling cavalry; that his
rapid transformation Of cavalry into
infantry. He said horses for rapid
movement. and when quick transporta-
ton had been accomplished dismount-
ed his rren and had them to fight as
~infantry."
1t is gratifying to learn that the ladies
OF Memphis have begun a movement to
raise funds to erect a fine equestrian
statue of Genera Forrest in that city.
The Journal e~ntertainingly and justly:
Some of Forests achievements, his
victories over much larger forces than
his W which he accomplished by his
wonderful strategems and CELEBRITY OF
movement. seem more IKE romano
than reality.
Tennessee owes it to herself to erect
a lasting memorial to Forrest, and the
Tennessee legislature should grant the
aid to their enterprise which the ladles
of the Forrest Memorial Association
have asked"
We once Die Forests celebrity OF
movement when the Gayosa Bank OF
Memphis failed in 1868. The news was
sent out about u m. n a friend of the
generals FASTENED to his office on Madi-
son street. to tell him Of h startling
news. The general had $1,000 on deposit
and he was the only deposftor who so:
his money. as We learned. So o 20 as
he was informed of thu calamity. he
put tvs Derringers in his pocket arj
fastened to the bank TWO or three
scuare from tis Office on the sam5
street. Just as he reached it, one Of th<
yemployes was closing the huge doubie
doors. Forrest threw his staiUart form
AGAINST it and broke away tae obstacle
He rushed behind the counter ant
cashier knew his man. Let the com
manding statue be erected. We believe
that General Forests father and moth
er were from North Carolina.
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