The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-03-30
NATHANIEL BEDFORD FORREST.
"The Greatest Military Chieftain>of This or Any
Other Ase."-By II. c. Dickinson.

"The Greatest Military Chieftain>of This or Any
Other Ase."-By II. c. Dickinson.
cANo ARMA v1RUMQUE-v1RG1L.
Though the writer has never read
Wyeth's Life of General Forrest, he does
not doubt that some of the incidents con-
tanned in the following sketch may be re-
corded therein, but he is cognizant OF the
fact that three of them have been chron'
icled by writers of the period in substance
if not in the same language and two as
far as is known today have never appear
ed in print before.
OF all the worlds great military leaders
none could compare in celerity OF move
ments and cyclonic assaults with the un-
lettered Tennessean. True, there were
other redoubtable cavalry officers, such as
tanker, Fitzpatrick, the rusher, Sheridan,
the ''hard hitter" Van Dorm, the reckless,
Morgan, the qui vive Wheeler, the dash
ing Hampton, the rollicking j. E. B.
Stuart, but there was only one General
Forrest in the great civil war, "incompar-
ably the greatest war of modern times.
IT'S said that when like Thaddeus OF
Warsaw, the broad cantonments and the
warlike pa-aphernalia of his countrymen
burst upon his sight his heart heayed with
an emotion entirely new to him, and like
the boldest knight he donned his armor,
consecrated his sword to the Confederate
cause, and entered the field. He was not
one to remain at home "when church
bells rang, when drums were beating,
when fight was in the air." and. his invad-
ed Southland needed his services. After
one or two of his first encounters with
the enemy it was patent to his comrades
that he had that even bravery which
Dumas says belongs only to Kings and
eagles" TIE late lamented editor OF the
Columbia, S. c., State, said: Forrest was
the greatest cavalry leader America has
ever produced or ever will" Surely he
displayed the most wonderful generalship
in the handling of large bodies of cavalry
even divisions and corps.
Lord Wo!sely, commander-in-chief OF
the English army during the civil war,
heard Gen. Lee say that Forrest was the
greatest soldier the world had produced"
and added himself that "he was the only
man since the Duke of Marlborough who
thoroughly understood the use OF
mounted infantry"
A year or two after the war there were
three United States officers, a Captain, a
Major, and Colonel in the reading room
of q lake front hotel, Chicago. The Major
was writing at centre-table meath q
brilliant chandelier while the other two
were discussing the unparalleled bravery
and terrible slaughter of the troops of the
opposing armies, when the Captain said:
"Colonel, in all candor, who do you think
was the greatest cavalry officer produced
by the rebellion?
SHERIDAN, of course" quickly replied
the Colonel.
81 consider the Circuit rider jolly Jeb
Stuart, superior to Sheridan or any OF the
cavalry leaders," said the Captain.
The Major ceased writing, pushed his
pen aside and seemed amazed and observ-
ed: "Why, gentlemen, you both miss the
mark hugely according to my humble
Judgment" "Well, Major who do you
think is greater that those wementioned?"
Beyond all cavil, General Nat. Forrest
plebian, mot to the manor born and
who once said that he who won in fight
was the one that got thar fustest with
the mostest men,"
1t was the Captain and Coloneps turn
now to be surprised, but after some indls'
putable data was brought forth by the
Major, there seemed, if not expressed
implied acquiescence on the part OF his
comrades.
The above incident was related to the
writer in 1898 by drummer friend who
attended the Worlds Fair in Chicago and
heard it retold by the manager OF the
same hotel who was lolling in the reading
room during the parley of the officers, and
though his opinion was not solicited, he
heartily conceded with the Major.
On two occasions, if memory serves
Alright, General Forrest did not git thar
fustest,' and in each engagement had q
lesser number of men. Being encamped
with brigade in upper middle Tennes-
see and being informed that a young
friend, scout, had been captured by the
Federals, charged with being spy and
would be shot atsunrise the next morn
ing, he set out near midnight with 1900
brave riders, rode 81 miles and just before
daylight surprised the outposts and swept
like an avalanche into the Federal camp,
killing and wounding 800 or 400 of the
enemy, capturing 1900 prisoners, Aoo
horses and park of artillery, losing only