Bedford Forrest

Help the Gordonsville Grays erect a new 14' monument to General Lee on private property in Virginia. givesendgo.com/LeeRidesAgain

HBD to Major General William Thompson Martin (March 25, 1823 — March 16, 1910) Born in Glasgow, Kentucky, Martin graduated Centre College, in 1844 was admitted to the bar in Mississippi, serving multiple terms as district attorney before the war. While himself opposing secession, he raised the Adams County cavalry troops, when war broke out, riding with them to Richmond, Virginia, the new Confederate capitol. Martin quickly rose to colonel of the Jeff Davis Legion, and served with J.E.B. Stuart's command through Autumn 1862. Promoted to brigadier general, Martin was ordered to the Western Theater, where he commanded divisions at the Tullahoma Campaign and the Battle of Chickamauga, and served as cavalry commander under James Longstreet at Knoxville. After Longstreet's return to the east, Martin was promoted to major general, led a division under Joseph Wheeler at Atlanta and rose to command of the military district of Northwest Mississippi by war's end. After the war, Martin returned to his law practice in Mississippi, becoming trustee of both University of Mississippi and Jefferson College in Washington, Mississippi, served in the state senate, and was a delegate to Democratic National Conventions in 1868, 1872, 1876, and 1880. He was the president of the Natchez, Jackson, and Columbus railroad, of which he oversaw the construction in 1884. Martin died in Natchez, Mississippi, and is buried in City Cemetery.

"No Surrender" by Don Stivers While others would surrender Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862, for Nathan Bedford Forrest there was no other option: "I did not come here for the purpose of surrendering my command." Resolving to cut his way out of the fort to fight another day.

"The Professor from Virginia" by Mort Künstler

HBD to Major-General Patrick Ronayne Cleburne (March 16, 1828 – November 30, 1864) "...history will take up his fame and hand it down to time for exampling, wherever a courage without stain, a manhood without blemish, an integrity that knew no compromise, and a patriotism that withheld no sacrifice, are honored of mankind." - William J Hardee referring to Cleburne The entirety of Hardee's description of his friend Cleburne can be read here: abbevilleinstitute.org/patrick-clebur…

In World War II the United States liberty ships SS William R. Cox (November 1943), William R. Cox (December 1943), and William Cox were all named in his honor

HBD to Brigadier General William Ruffin Cox (March 11, 1832 – December 26, 1919) William R. Cox was born in Scotland Neck, Halifax County, North Carolina, to an aristocratic family that lived in North Carolina since the colonial days. His father died when Cox was only four years old. His mother and his siblings subsequently moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was raised and educated. He graduated from Franklin College[disambiguation needed] and studied at the Lebanon Law School. After passing his bar exam, Cox formed a partnership with a prominent Nashville attorney, and his practice flourished. In 1857, Cox ceased his practice, married, moved back to North Carolina, and owned a plantation in Edgecombe County. Two years later, he moved to Raleigh and entered politics, running as a Democrat for the state legislature. He was narrowly defeated, losing a hard-fought election by just thirteen votes in his district. Civil War With North Carolina's secession and the outbreak of the Civil War in early 1861, Cox raised and outfitted the "Ellis Artillery Company." He soon afterwards raised an infantry company and was appointed as the major of the 2nd North Carolina by Governor Ellis. He fought in the Battle of Antietam, and was given a promotion to lieutenant colonel, as he and the officer previously holding that rank were promoted with the death of the regiment's first colonel, Charles C. Tew, in that battle. Not long afterwards, the new colonel resigned and Cox assumed command of the veteran regiment. He was formally commissioned as the colonel of the 2nd North Carolina in March 1863. In May of that year, Cox was wounded three times in the fighting at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Despite his painful wounds, he stayed in command until late in the fighting when exhaustion forced him to retire to a field hospital to be treated. Missing the Gettysburg Campaign due to his injuries, Cox did not return to the field until the May 1864 Overland Campaign. He fought with distinction at the battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House, being personally commended by General Robert E. Lee for bravery in fighting on May 12. Not long afterwards, he was assigned command of a brigade of North Carolina infantry, despite being junior in rank to other colonels in the brigade. He led his troops at the Battle of Cold Harbor and then accompanied the Army of the Valley under Maj. Gen. Jubal Early in the Shenandoah Valley. At the Battle of Monocacy, Cox's brigade played a prominent role in the day-long fighting. Returning to the Army of Northern Virginia, Cox served in the trench defenses during the Siege of Petersburg, including the counterattack of Confederate forces on the Union's Fort Stedman. Promoted to brigadier general, Cox led a division during the final year of the war, including the Appomattox Campaign. He surrendered his men to the Federal army at Appomattox Court House in April 1865 and returned home. During the course of the war, he survived a total of eleven wounds. Postbellum career After the war, Cox resumed his legal practice in Raleigh and became President of the Chatham Railroad. He spent six years as the solicitor for metropolitan Raleigh, and was chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party. In January 1877, he became Circuit Superior Court Judge of the Sixth Judicial District. He endured the death of his wife in 1880. He resigned his judgeship when he was elected to the United States Congress, serving for six years as a representative from North Carolina. He remarried and retired to his plantation in Edgecombe County, but was appointed Secretary of the U.S. Senate to replace former Union army general Anson G. McCook in 1893. He served until the turn of the century, when he again retired, this time for good, to his plantation. At the time of his death in 1919, he was one of the last surviving generals of the Confederate army. Namesake...

HBF to FELIX HUSTON ROBERTSON March 9, 1839 – 1928 Robertson was the last survivor of the general officers of the Confederacy and the only native Texan to achieve a wreath around his stars. He was born at Washington, Texas, March 9, 1839, the son of Gen. Jerome B. Robertson. He attended Baylor University when it was located at Independence, Texas. He was appointed to West Point in1857, but resigned January 29, 1861, to offer services to the Confederacy. Commissioned 2nd lieutenant of artillery on March9, 1861, he took part in the reduction of Sumter, served in Pensacola on the staff of Gen. Gladden; and at Shiloh, commanded a battery with the rank of captain. He distinguished himself at Murfreesboro where he was promoted major, and led a battalion in Longstreet’s Corps at Chickamauga. In January 1864 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and placed in command of the artillery of Wheeler’s cavalry corps, with which he served during the Atlanta campaign. Promoted brigadier general on july26, 1864, he served for a time as Wheeler’s chief of staff, then led a brigade composed of 8th and 10th Texas and 4th Tennessee cavalry regiments. He was leading a division of cavalry until he was severely wounded at Buckhead Creek near Augusta, Georgia on November 29, 1864. He saw no further active service, but April 1865 he was sent by Gen Howell Cobb to treat for the surrender of the city of Macon with his old West Point classmate, Maj. Gen James H Wilson. After the war he returned to Waco studying law. At the time of his death in Waco, April 20, 1928, he had for many years been the dean of the local bar. He is buried in oakwood Cemetery there in Waco.

The fight was vicious, and Forrest lost two of his best officers, Captain Montgomery Little, the commander of his escort, and Lt. Col. Edward Buller Trezevant, in command of the 10th Tennessee Cavalry. It was apparent to the Northern commander that further resistance was useless. Nearly surrounded and almost out of ammunition, any attempt to escape would be senseless. Before Forrest’s attacking cavalrymen reached his line, Coburn gave the order for his men to surrender. The Southern commanders instructed their men to cease fire, and the cavalrymen quickly complied, but the guns of King’s battery continued to blast away at the Union position. Couriers were hurriedly sent off, informing the artillerymen of the surrender. These guns, too, fell silent. While Coburn’s brave troops fought against hopeless odds, other Union forces back at Franklin stood by helplessly, waiting for orders to go to their assistance. Early in the day, Colonel Emerson Opdyke had urged Gilbert to send support to Coburn, but Gilbert delayed until heavy firing indicated serious trouble, when he ordered Opdyke to advance. The 125th Ohio Infantry moved rapidly to the front until it met the retreating force and discovered that the movement was too late. The 125th Ohio was the only unit to attempt to aid Coburn’s command. The other troops stood at their guns around Franklin and listened to the rattle of musketry and the roar of artillery, but Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, commander of the Army of the Ohio, would not give the order to assist. The Union captives were gathered up and marched to Columbia. According to the newspaper correspondent from Mobile, “The commander of the Yankee forces says that yesterday he was directed to advance and occupy this place, but after finding our force returned word that he could not do so as the enemy were too strong for him. His superior then sent word that that was no answer from a soldier, and directed him to advance to day and occupy Spring Hill. The Yankee commander of the surrendered forces did occupy the place this evening with his forces, en route to Bragg! Hurrah for the cavalry victory.” Of the 2,500 men engaged, the Federals suffered 1,446 casualties, 1,151 of whom were captured. Still, Van Dorn’s Confederate horsemen had not achieved an easy victory. The Southern forces numbered approximately 6,000 men, but only about 3,450 were actively engaged. These men suffered 354 casualties, almost exactly 10 percent of their number.

Forrest Hits the Federal Rear at Thompson's Station Federal infantry thought their cavalry had abandoned them, but Jordan’s troopers were still deployed in the fields east of the pike, holding the road open for the infantry’s retreat. Unfortunately for Coburn, even if he had known Jordan was holding the road open for him, retreat by that route was now impossible—Armstrong’s Confederates blocked the road. At this juncture, Forrest’s flanking column appeared. Tough and disciplined, the men dismounted and moved against Jordan’s cavalry, who fired on them from behind stone fences. The Southern troopers made two charges. At the beginning of the second, Forrest’s horse, Roderick, was badly wounded. Forrest exchanged horses with his son, 17-year-old Lieutenant Willis Forrest, who took the injured animal to the rear. There, the horse holders unsaddled and unbridled him. Roderick, accustomed to following Forrest around like a faithful dog, broke free and ran back after the general. Jumping three fences on the way, the old war horse reached his master, only to receive a fatal wound. After 15 hard-fought minutes, Jordan’s men were forced from the field. Harried by cavalry sent in pursuit, Jordan retreated toward Franklin. Forrest paused to reform his men in the fields east of the turnpike, while Whitfield’s and Armstrong’s brigades launched their own attack against the remaining infantrymen of Coburn’s brigade. The 33rd Indiana faced Whitfield’s Texans and Earle’s Arkansas regiment and gallantly held them off. One volley killed Earle, blowing off half his head, and downed the entire 3rd Arkansas Color Guard. Seventeen-year-old Alice Thompson rushed from her residence outside the village, picked up the fallen flag, and defiantly waved it, rallying the faltering Southerners. The 3rd Texas also lost its flag. When the staff was broken by a shot, the color bearer snatched it up and ran off. Unfortunately, when he was making his escape through a plum thicket, the flag was torn into ribbons and left hanging on the bushes. Meanwhile, the Union troops on the left of the 33rd Indiana were being attacked by Armstrong’s men. The fighting was at close quarters, especially fierce around the schoolhouse. One Southern soldier was shot by an 85th Indiana infantryman from a window as he was trying to break in the front door. During the hand-to-hand fighting, the 19th Michigan captured the battle flag of Armstrong’s brigade. Union Forces Almost Completely Surrounded The Union troops forced the Confederates back, but they were running low on ammunition. The colonel of the 33rd Indiana sent a detail to find the missing wagon train, but the ammunition wagons were gone. There would have been no time to bring back any ammunition even if they had found the train—the Confederates were attacking the hill again, this time reinforced by Starnes’ men of Forrest’s brigade. The Federals could not hold out much longer. Forrest’s two flanking regiments faced them across the valley. Morton brought up his battery, commanding the new position taken by the Federals, and at the same time cut off their retreat toward Franklin. The Union forces were almost surrounded. To the north was Forrest, to the east were Armstrong and Starnes, and to the south was Whitfield. As if the outlook were not already bleak enough for the Federals, the Confederates now received reinforcements. General Cosby arrived with his Mississippi and Kentucky brigade. He sent two regiments to support Whitfield and two to attack Coburn on the west, making the encirclement complete. Coburn ordered his men to fix bayonets and prepare to charge Forrest’s position, but Forrest anticipated him and began his own attack. His Tennesseans moved forward against a heavy enemy fire. Lieutenant John Johnson was killed while at the front with the colors. Private Clay Kendrick of Colonel J.B. Biffle’s cavalry regiment caught the flag as it was falling and held it aloft until his arm was broken with a bullet..

Sorry folks, my Internet decided to bail on me.

you inhumanely while in jail. Point them out to me.' "I told him there was but one man I wished to call his attention to, and that was the one who had set fire to the jail in order to burn us up. Forrest asked me to go along the line with him and point that man out. I did..

Borrowed from Mark Harden During Forrest's Murfreesboro raid in July, 1862, one of the objectives was to free Confederate political prisoners held in the town jail. When Union soldiers saw they would lose control of the jail, they set it on fire to try to burn the inmates..

so. "A few hours later, when the list of private soldiers was being called, the name of this man was heard and no one answered; Forrest said, 'Pass on, it's all right'. " Hurst, "Nathan Bedford Forrest", pg 103

HBD to Brigadier General Clement Evans (February 25, 1833 – July 2, 1911) - New Georgia Encyclopedia share.google/lAbRQ541kjiQlA…

mighty storm and trampled down everything in their front, driving the enemy in the wildest confusion and capturing all his artillery, wagons, and a thousand prisoners besides a great quantity of supplies. The pursuit was kept up until night. Artwork : Hell To Pay By : Dan Nance

the charge," and away he dashed, followed by those present, with the fury of a hurricane. They galloped into the enemy as some of them were mounting to retreat, and the spirit and animation of the spectacle so enthused the other Confederates that they rushed forward like a..

Okolona Laying down the body, Forrest spread his handkerchief over his dead brother's face and, calling on a member of his escort to remain with the corpse, he mounted his horse and said to those who were present: "Follow me." Then turning to his bugler he said, "Gauss, sound..

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Ambassador Mike Huckabee was masterful, poised, and articulate in his interview with Tucker Carlson. Tucker loaded up on gotcha questions and tried to corner him, but Huckabee calmly dismantled each one, exposing the weak logic leaving Tucker rattled. My respect for him, already through the roof, somehow soared even higher. I didn’t think it was possible to admire him more, yet here we are. He handled it like the true statesman and patriot he is. Keep championing truth and strong U.S.-Israel ties 🙏🏼 Shabbat Shalom!! @GovMikeHuckabee

472 probable and 270 possible grave sites — totaling 742 — that had been located underneath a city-owned property at 2313 Wise St. Richmond still has no visitation plan for mass Confederate gravesite on DPU property | WRIC ABC 8News share.google/IcmyYTd3U5TwDn…