The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-11-21
q q q q q q = q
THE WIZARD
q
. Of THE SADDLE
q q q q q = q =

| tfate III northern MISSISSIPPI.
| Grants army supplies for the Missis-
sippi campaign had to be drawn from
Columbus, Ky, over the Mississippi
| Central railroad. This long line of
communication was guarded by sol
| diers stationed in forts at Bolivar.
Jackson and Humboldt, west Tennes-
| see and in blockhouses at all the river
crossings. At important points east
of the line there were also strong gar
risons to offer a defense against at
| lacks from east Tennessee, where the
| Confederates were in force.
| At the time Grant was looking hope
fully for a speedy victory ahead south
ward the Confederate general Bragg, at
Murfreesboro, devised plan of harass-
| ing the Federal rear in west Tennessee.
| He chose for the leader of this enter
prise General Nathan Bedford Forrest,
| a cavalry commander who had made
his mark in battle, but more especially
as a soldier of resource and daring in
Independent stacks upon isolated
posts of the enemy.
Forrest originally entered the war as
an amateur. He enlisted in a Tennes
see cavalry regiment, but the govern
| or of the state saw that talent would
be wasted should he remain in the
ranks and authorized him to recruit a
regiment of his own. Being a man of
| rugged type himself, he drew around
him a hardy class of young men, good
riders, good shooters and as brave as
~. 4lo4 f,,nI
was acting in hostile way toward the
Confederates, but Forrest needed arms
for his men, and there were recruits In
the Blue Grass region anxious to join
the Tennessee chief. 1t required tact
to get the arms and horse equipments
across the border under the eyes of
spies and enemies, but Forrest succeed
ed and throughout the war always
looked to the territory of his foes for
supplies.
The first brilliant stroke of war by
Forrest was at the attack on Fort
Donelson. He wanted to fight and Of
fered to break the hold of Grant upon
the position if allowed his way. This
was denied him, but when 1t came to
garrison his Independent nature re-
belled at the etiquette of war. He re-
fused to surrender himself and told
the commander of Donelson he could
take his men out and, what was more,
ride to Nashville and help save that
important Confederate post from cap
ture He called his men around him
md oh 40 t,iH ont
through the Federal lines or surren-
der As for himself, he was going out
at all hazards To a man they fol
lowed, and he kept his word.
During the hard fighting of the in
fantry at Shiloh, Forrest was occupied
picketing the lines. There were no
mounted troops engaged in the battle
proper, but when the Confederates
were forced to retreat the cavalry was
called in to protect the rear. After
the Confederate infantry had retired
from Shiloh church Forrest was left
with but $50 sabers to meet the ad
vance of the Federal cavalry and in
fantry. The Federals advanced to the
charge, but in crossing a stream the line
was broken, and at that moment For
rest rushed in, sabering right and left.
So sudden was the onset that the
enemy gave way in confusion, and For
rest followed up with impetuous dar
ing. When close to the fleeing line of
fugitives, Forrest found himself alone.
Several shots were fred at the intrepid
leader, and one bullet of large caliber
penetrated his left side to the spine.
His horse was also badly wounded.
Instantly the Federals surrounded the
wounded rider, and while some wanted
to capture him others shouted: "Shoot
himr "Stick him." KNOCK him off
his horsel'
With his revolver Forrest cleared q
pathway and rode out of the net. But
his limbs were benumbed, and the sur
geons ordered him to the rear. His
wounded horse bore up until Corinth
was reached and then fell dead of his
wounds.
The bullet in Forests side could not
be found, and he lay inactive at Mem
phis for three weeks. At the end of
that time he returned to Corinth and
was SUM III thC aJ llC AiOlt.
While out accommodating his horse
took a high leap, which reopened the
wound, and the ball was extracted.
Forrest remained with his old COM
mand until midsummer, then was pro
NOTED brigadier general and assigned
to the command of the cavalry operat-
ing with Bragg's command in its march
to- Kentucky Organizing a force of
1900 sabers, he soon became a terror
to all outlying Federal detachments.
His first swoop was the night capture
of Murfreesboro, when he gathered In
over LOO Federal prisoners. In this
affair Forrest showed that almost
fierce resoluteness of purpose, united
with sllillful strategy. which stamped
him as the ideal raiding chief.
Riding forward with his advance,
Forrest was at once scout and COM
mander. In the first rush at Murfrees-
boro the Eighth Texas cavalry struck
the heart of the Federal encampment,
spreading wild dismay on all sides.
Although there was heroic resistance,
the result had been decided by the
bold initial blow.
Besides the prisoners taken Mt Muir
freesboro, Forrest gathered in 600
horses, a train of wagons, some am
balances, four cannon, 1900 muskets
and 40 600 uniforms and vet trained