The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-06-26

shall County Tenn. July IL, 1921.
Ills patcrnal ancestors were Of Eng
lish descent, his grandmother being of
Irish origin and his mother of Scotch
Irish stock.
His boyhood was uncvcntful. Will
liam Forrest, his father, died when
young Bedford was only lG years old,
leaving him at tn head of the family,
which, besides his mother, consisted
Of six brothers and three sisters. The
family, having moved to Tippah
County, Miss, were very poor when
the father died. and the support Of
the group fell on the Oldest son, as.
sisted by his mother This noble wo-
man, like Aurclia, the great mother of
Cesar, possessed a strong character
and ruled her family, in,luding young
Bedford, with an iron hand but withal
a kindly heart
BY his 10th year young Forrest had
achieved competency for his moth
er's family, and set out for Texas,
which was then engaged in struggle
with Mexico for liberty. Ic did not
succeed, however, in thus early graft
flying his passion for war, and, re-
turning to the States, engaged in bust
ness at fernando, Miss, and thon at
Memphis, Tenn, with great success.
While thus engaged at Memphis he
was elected as alderman for the city.
Soon after, at the instance of the
mayor, he rescued murderer from q
mob of several thousand enTagcd citi-
zens, who were endcavoring to lynch
him. In this exploit Forrest, alone,
and armed only With knife, pushed
through the crowd and, cutting the
swinging wretch down, dragged him to
the jail near by, fighting off the mob
with his knife. People at once re-
cognizcd what manner of man he was
and what overwhelming will power he
possessed. Forrest then again re-
sorted to planting, and in 1860 made
on his plantation 900 bales of cotton.
The war having broken out, For
rest, early in tho summer, having ar
ranged his affairs, enlisted June II,
1861, as private soldier in Company
y, Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, and lie
made capital soldier, too. A few
months later he was authorized by
Governor Harris, of Tennessee, to raise
regiment, which he quickly accom-
plished, going to Louisville in dis.
guisc to purchase and bring out the
arms and equipments for the men, and
becoming its ]icutenant-co With
this new command he did some bril-
liant fighting in Kentucky, and his
great career now began in earnest.
Soon after he won distinction by TAX
ing part in the battle of Fort Donel-
son, fighting for the most part mount
cd. When the garrison was surren-
dered by its commanders he refused to
yield, and, in disobcdiencc Of orders,
brought his regiment through the
Federal lines intact and escaped.
Forrest then rode to Nashville,
where he rescued vast stores which
had been abandoned and were being
looted by mob. Going thence to
Huntsville, Ala, he was there elected
colonel Of his regiment. Soon after
he again distinguished himself at the
battle Of Shiloh, where he was dan
gervusly wounded. After recovering
Forrest was sent to Chattanooga, and
was placed in command Of brigade
of $500 effective men. With this
force he moved on Murfrcesboro, gar
risoned by larger force than h;s own,
and captured the place after severe
tight, taking 1,765 prisoners, includ-
ing their commander, Gen. Crittcn-
den. BY this exploit he earned his
promotion to brigadier. general, his
commission dating from July 21,
1862. Forrest soon after moved with
Bragg's army to Kentucky, going as
far as Bardstown, whence he was
ordered back to Murfrcesboro to take
command of new troops there.
In December, 1862, Forrest, with
his new command, crossed the Ten.
ncsscc River and ovcrran west Ten.
ncssec, capturing towns, garrisons
forts, destroying trestles, bridges and
trains, and bringing away safely i'm
mcnse stores. On this raid he tough!
heavy engagements at Lexington anG
Parkcrs Cross Roads, and captured
Col. Robert Ingersoll, the famous
orator of later years. The spring O,
1868 was spent in various operation:
in middle Tennessee, eliminating
March 5th in the capture, in conncc
ton with Gen. Van Dorm. Of Col. Co