191st Birthday Tribute to General Forrest

Canda Free Press ^ | July 13, 2012 | Calvin E. Johnson, Jr.

[BigReb555]

It should be also noted that after the War Between the States, Bedford Forrest returned home with the 'free' black men who fought with him.

[vetvetdoug]

Thomas was responsible for not allowing the Confederates to bag and capture the entire Union Army at Chickamauga on Snodgrass Hill. I agree that Thomas was a capable and efficient Union officer (a Virginian too) but if Forrest would have had the equipment and men at his disposal as did Thomas, it would have been different. A close friend of mine owns Thomas’ swords from his West Point years, his service swords between graduation and the Civil War, and his swords from the Civil War. It is humbling to see them and handle them.

[antisocial]

Thanks for posting this. RIP General Forrest

[central_va]

Thomas was a great leader and humble man. Having said that, he was also a traitor to the South and Virginia. Post war he was not well liked by anyone, rightly or wrongly, nobody really likes a turn coat, even a useful one.

[sergeantdave]

What’s your opinion of Wade Hampton as a cavalry commander?

Was he used effectively against Sherman’s march?

No requirement to answer on your part. I’ve been reading a book and I’m pondering if Hampton had been used differently, could Hampton’s cavalry have turned one of Sherman’s columns and made them vulnerable to attack.

[KC Burke]

Thomas didn’t get a fair shake by the post war era or history.
But it pales in comparison to the lying war to protect the Marble Man waged against Longstreet. Early especially covered his failing by scapegoating Longstreet.

[Kenny Bunk]

General Jubal Early opined that the Union Artillery was much better than the Confederate at longer ranges, but that at close range, in tactical support of combat operations, he thought the Confederate Artillery far superior, more mobile.

To judge from his memoirs, Early was an immensely practical, reliable, and honest reporter. In fact, General Lee depended upon his notes and records for his own memoirs. For example, Early credited the Union Cavalry for the improvements he saw it making during the war.

One thing you'll get from his memoirs was the terrible burden material shortages caused the Confederates. Not only were their resources fewer, but their systems and supply personnel were very weak at the top. The Confederates worked their amazing successes on the field with empty bellies!

[Kenny Bunk]

I am a die-hard Yankee and even I, jaundiced as I am, don't blame Gettysburg on Stuart. The real Confederate culprits IMHO, were A.P. Hill who brought on the general battle before Lee wanted it to start, i.e., before he was ready ... and Longsteeet, whose heart wasn't in this one... and whose battle plan was infinitely superior to Lee's on that day.

I do agree that it would have been handy to have him around. A.P. Hill attacked, perhaps, because he thought Stuart was never going to show up with the info they needed.

[Kenny Bunk]

......the lying war to protect the Marble Man waged against Longstreet.....

Lee was a brilliant General. But no mortal could possibly be as good at anything as the rabid Lee fans make him out to be. Lee himself was very supportive of Longstreet, I think, and had nothing but praise for him.

[central_va]

There is not many instances, perhaps none, even up to the very last day, of a confederate unit completely running out of ammunition. Not so for rations...

[Kenny Bunk]

.... traitor to the South and Virginia.

Well, Thomas may have been a secret abolitionist!

His record during reconstruction as a military governor was praised on all sides. And that story about his family turning his picture to the wall when he stayed blue turns out to be bogus!

Oddly enough, his being a Virginian was what got him crosswise in the road with the Ohio boys, Grant and Sherman. Sherman's brother was an enormously influential Senator who mafe sure the Ohio people got their way!

[central_va]

Longstreet seems like a 20th century man transported back in time to fight a 19th century war.

[prof.h.mandingo]

You need to put “massacre” in quotes. If you know anything about Forrest it was not a massacre. There were quite a number of survivors. If N.B. wanted to kill them all rest assured he would have. Casualties were high but much of the real slaughter happened as the Yanks fled from the fort to the bottoms near the river. There was lots of bad blood between the combatants as this was truly a case where west Tennessee men fought on both sides. Old scores were settled. The Union jumped on the battle and called it a massacre. IF I ever finish my book on the battle I'll send you a copy.
I am working on one theory of the battle and it is panning out but I need a lot of time to travel to pull the research together. My health has sucked and it is hard to find the money to get to the places I need to get to.

[prof.h.mandingo]

I may be wrong but the railroad cut at the Battle of Second Manassas some of Jackson's troops repelled a Union assault with rocks. Aid got up quickly but at first it was rocks only. That is the only time I can think of.

[DeaconBenjamin]

That would have been absurd. Forrest was still mostly unknown after Shiloh.

But if he had gotten the command after Joe Johnson, or if Stephen Lee hadn't kept him in Mississippi when Forrest went out to cut Sherman's supply lines, things might well have been different.

[reg45]

If he led them in a fight, they knew they were going to win.

Otherwise, he would just run away.

[DeaconBenjamin]

With relentless resolve one name stands — Grant.

With endless resources one name stands — Grant.

[reg45]

Cavalry: Confederate Cavalry was superior, but waned towards the end.

They were like the Japanese naval aviators in World War II. Once the experienced ones got killed, there was no one to replace them.

[central_va]

I think there is a story about Rebs throwing bricks at a Union charge at the end of the Petersburg Campaign but I believe it was intentional.

[central_va]

They were like the Japanese naval aviators in World War II. Once the experienced ones got killed, there was no one to replace them.

It was more the horses, rebs had to supply their own. After a mount was killed, if your family couldn't send you a new one, you were transfered to the infantry.

[reg45]

Troops that fought under Stonewall Jackson...

Why would they have named a General after a gay bar?