Nathan Bedford Forrest

The online article I read entitled, "Nathan Bedford Forrest" by Stewart Sifakis, discussed the famous life of General Nathan B. Forrest. A man with no formal military training, who became one of the leading cavalry figures of the Civil War. General Forrest enlisted in the Confederate army as a private in Josiah H. White's cavalry company on June 14, 1861. Forrest's genius on the battlefield was quickly shown and Forrest eventually rose to the rank of Lt. General. When the mass Confederate breakout attempt at Fort Donelson failed, Forrest led most of his own men, and some other troops, through the siege lines and then directed the rear guard during the retreat from Nashville. At Shiloh there was little opportunity for the effective use of the mounted troops and his command again formed the rear guard on the retreat. The day after the close of the Battle of Shiloh, Forrest was wounded, at the Battle of Falling Timbers. After serving during the Corinth siege he was promoted to brigadier general, and he raised a brigade with which he captured Murfreesboro, its garrison and supplies. Forrest had numerous successes on the battle field, but the aftermath of the war left him wiped out financially.

This article was very interesting to me. General Forrest was a Confederate hero as well as being a general. He was a superior commander of cavalry and his knowledge of battle led to many victories for the Confederacy during the war. General Forrest always seemed to know where and when the union would attack and he would make plans to beat the union to the punch. He was without a doubt, one of the Confederacy's greatest generals.

Sifakis, Stewart. "Nathan Bedford Forrest." n. pag. Web. 8 Apr 2010. .