Forrest Cavalry | Battle of Nashville & Beyond

August 30, 2017 By Bob Henderson Leave a Comment

Born to Battle

Back-water Generals: Forrest and Grant

The focus of this insightful book is not about the battlefield accomplishments of these well know generals, it’s about two elite military commanders that came form nowhere, and how they rose to prominence. This 2012 book signing event at Landmark Booksellers, was author Jack Hurst’s commentary of what may have molded these two opposing American Civil War generals. Grant and Forrest had much in common: humble beginnings and many early challenges in life.

“If opportunity knocks, you better have your hand on the door knob”

#grant #forrest #civilwar

April 26, 2017 By Bob Henderson Leave a Comment

Fallen Timbers

The Battle of Fallen Timbers at Shiloh

April 8, 1862

An amazing rear guard action by Colonel Bedford Forrest after the Battle of Shiloh. This property will soon be added to the Shiloh National Military Park, thanks to the Civil War Preservation Trust. It’s located about 7 miles southwest of the Shiloh Visitor Center here. This, and other planed additions, will make Shiloh the largest military park system in the United States.

Recommended reading: The Campaigns of General Forrest

“At twenty paces the Confederates gave a volley with their shot-guns, a formidable weapon at that short distance, and rushed in with pistols and sabres. So sudden was the onset that, despite their numbers, the Federal cavalry broke in disorder, and fled back through the woods running over their own infantry in their panic, creating a scene of singular confusion and tumult for some moments. Many of the infantry were thus knocked down; many horses also were transfixed by the bayonets of their own infantry. Scores of other horses fell and threw their riders sprawling and bruised upon the ground; and all around was a medley of cavalry and infantry, scattering and running to and fro, hither and thither, officers shouting and cursing, and the hurt groaning. Before the infantry could recover from the condition into which the flight of the cavalry had thrown them, Forrest was upon them also with a swift play of sabre and revolver, and they broke as well as the cavalry. The slaughter was considerable, as the flying infantry were closely pursued for several hundred yards by their eager, excited enemy. Men are merciless on such occasions. The loss inflicted was heavy, while seventy were captured.

In the ardency and exultation of the pursuit, Forrest pressed on until he found himself alone within fifty yards of the main body of the Federal expeditionary force,—and beyond, indeed, a large part of those whom he had just surprised and routed. Halting, he saw at a glance that his men, perceiving sooner the situation, had very properly halted, and were then falling back with their prisoners,—which they were doing, however, unaware of the perilous position of their leader. Immediately observed by the enemy, now all around him, Forrest was fired at from all sides. One ball from an Austrian rifle, striking him on the left side, just above the point of the hip-bone, penetrated to the spine, and, ranging around, lodged in the left side—a severe if not, indeed, mortal wound, as his surgeon apprehended. His right leg, benumbed by the blow, was also left hanging useless in the stirrup. Turning his horse, however, he resolved to escape, surrounded as he was by hundreds bent on his death, and shouting, “Kill him !” “Shoot him !” “Stick him!” “Knock him off his horse !” all of which they literally sought to do. His horse, too, was wounded, (mortally, as it proved,) but still bore up under his daring rider, as he dashed out of the throng of assailants, using his revolver with deadly aim to clear his path.” – The Campaigns of General Forrest

Take a 360º Virtual Tour of the Fallen Timbers Battlefield:

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360º photography by Bob Henderson

#fallentimbers

March 29, 2017 By Bob Henderson Leave a Comment

Sugar Creek

The Battle of Sugar Creek | Hood’s Retreat

440 Appleton Road, Five Points, TN 38457

In The Lion’s Mouth – by Derek Smith

“What followed over the next twelve days would be one of the most spellbinding and tragic episodes in American military history, as hunters and hunted left bloody footprints on the bayonet-sharp ice for more than 100 miles. Grizzled Confederates who survived claimed, it was worse than the patriots’ sufferings at Valley Forge. One general wrote ‘that it was a most painful march, characterized by more suffering than had ever before, been my misfortune to witness.’ ”

Sugar Creek was the last battle for the Confederate Army of Tennessee. It was fought on the Giles and Lawrence county line, near the Tennessee, Alabama border in late 1864. For ten bitter December days, and over one hundred miles, Lt. General Forrest defended Hood’s vanquished army, in a sequence of valiant rear-guard delaying actions, following the crushing rout at Nashville. From Brentwood, to Sugar Creek, Tennessee, these final desperate maneuvers, enabled the war-weary Confederates to break out, over the Tennessee River into Alabama. But the game would soon be up. The South would capitulate a few months later, ending the long bloody war between the States.

Recommended Reading:

“Just before 8 A.M. on a cold winter morning, U.S. Gen. James H. Wilson’s cavalry corps advanced slowly through a thick fog. Forrest had stationed two brigades under Gen. Edward C. Walthall about 200 yards south of the creek’s main ford behind rock-and-log breastworks”… read more

The core battlefield of this last stand, is about 3 miles northwest of the Highway 11 bridge crossing at Sugar Creek. The battlefield is on private property, but can be viewed from several street views. The closest public perspective is on Puncheon Branch Road. PLEASE RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY HERE. This is not a public park.

This virtual tour is the final leg of that 100 mile battle. Tour points include the following historical Civil War sites in southern Giles & Lawrence County, Tennessee:

Appleton, TN at The Big Red Store
The Lower Ford
The Upper (Peach) Ford
Puncheon Branch Road
Sugar Creek Road
Dobbin’s Cemetery
Cemetery at Anthony Hill
Lytle-Noblit House

The Lytle-Noblit House

“Thomas H. Noblit (1812-1899), who served the community as justice of the peace, doctor, merchant, and farmer, built this log dogtrot farmhouse in the 1840s. The Civil War battle at Sugar Creek occurred nearby in December 1864. In the 1890s, his son-in-law, William Franklin “Will” Lytle (1858-1942), renovated the house in the Queen Anne style. Will’s daughter, Mary Will Lytle (1897-1990), was among Tennessee’s first women dentists.”

NOTE: The historical marker for this site disappeared around 2014, as well as the Sugar Creek marker a few miles away.

Take a 360 degree virtual tour of the battlefield land below:

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The Big Red Store

440 Appleton Road, Five Points, TN 38457

The Big Red Store in Appleton, Tennessee is said to be the largest historic rural General Store in the country. It host’s several events during the year, including one on the 4th of July, and the anniversary of the Battle of Sugar Creek, each December 26th.

The event center is open by appointment only, and on special occasions. Contact Linda Boyd for details at (931) 556-2023. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated to help with restoration and upkeep of the building.

More battle sites on Hood’s Retreat

Chronology of General Hood’s Champaign

Reports from the Military Official Record

#sugarcreek

March 9, 2017 By Bob Henderson Leave a Comment

Cavalry Tour

Civil War Cavalry Virtual Tours:

09 MAR 17

Cavalry operations in the western theater of the United States Civil War.

Some tours have expanded links to the battlefields*

* Brices Crossroads – Forrest vs Sturgis

* Davis Bridge – Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn vs Maj. Gen. Edward O.C. Ord

Johnsonville Battlefield and Tennessee River Naval Battle – November 4–5, 1864. Forrest’s Cavalry raid on the U.S. Navy and the Army supply base at Johnsonville, Tennessee:

West Bank of the Tennessee River at Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park
Upper Redoubt
Tennessee River Front

Clifton, Tennessee – Forrest Cavalry crossing of the Tennessee River – Dec. 15, 1862 – Jan. 3, 1863

* Parkers Crossroads – Forrest’s Cavalry Raid into West Tennessee – December 31, 1862

* Kelley’s Point – Cumberland River Nashville Naval Battle Dec. 2-15, 1864

Look for the icons that open to display the historical signage.
The lower left corner of the display has a full screen option hot spot.

* Hood’s Retreat – Battle of Nashville Rear Guard

* John Hunt Morgan Raid’s – Munfordville and Tebb’s Bend

Note: get the full screen mode by clicking the icon in the lower left of the video frame. A zoom option is available also for reading the historical signage. Some markers are embedded in the floating icons.

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Recommended Reading:

#virtualtour #civilwar #johnsonville #nbforrest #cavalry

February 8, 2017 By Bob Henderson Leave a Comment

Brice’s Crossroads

Sturgis vs. Forrest at Brice’s Crossroads

June 10, 1864 | North Mississippi

The Confederate success at Brice’s Crossroads (also known as the Battle of Tishomingo Creek and the Battle of Guntown) was a significant victory for Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest, outnumbered over 2 : 1 (4,800 infantry and 3,300 cavalry to Forrest 3,500 cavalry). Forrest captured more than 1,600 prisoners of war, 18 artillery pieces, and wagons loaded with supplies. Once the defeated General Sturgis reached Memphis, he asked to be relieved of command. It was a brilliant victory, including a rare artillery charge, but the battles strategic effect on the war proved to be insignificant. …read more

Take a 3D like virtual tour of the Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield. The V/T consists of 8 separate locations around the core battlefield.

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