Forrest Crosses a River...

[5fish]

I found this article about Forrest escaping the clutches of the Union Army in Dec. 1862. This river crossing was a big moment for Carroll county in the Civil War.

Carroll County & Civil War

General Forrest and his brigade reached the South Fork bottom about 11 o'clock on the
night of the 28th of December. They quickly began to cut timbers to brace up the
bridges and lay as tracks for the wagons and artillery. After this was done and the
slow painful crossing started, General Forrest drove the first wagon across to
inspire his men not to give up. The General made it across, but the next two teams
slipped into the icy backwaters. Soon, these were pulled out, and the rest were
helped across by hand, twenty men to each wagon. In some cases, the wagons were so
heavily loaded that the men threw flour and coffee in the mud holes to get them
through. Finally, the artillery was drawn across fifty men to each gun and caisson.
The men were becoming very weary and demoralized by this time from such a hardship.
It is hard to imagine men wading in waist-deep freezing water, pushing wagons across a
swamp at night in such conditions. This type of crossing would have been very
difficult in daylight in the summertime.

 

[5fish]

The battle mentioned in the link above post shows Forrest being surprised from behind. I love Forrest always asking for the union forces to surrender...

Battle of Parker's Cross Roads - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"Charge 'em both ways," ordered Forrest. The Confederates briefly reversed front, repelled Fuller, then rushed past Dunham's demoralized force and withdrew south to Lexington, Tennessee.

After the fight, Forrest was able to cross the Tennessee River. Both sides claimed this battle as a victory - however, the Confederate forces withdrew and suffered greater casualties.

Parker's Cross Roads

The Battle of Parker's Cross Roads page includes history articles, battle maps, photos, and other helpful links for this important 1862 Civil War battle in Tennessee.

www.battlefields.org

Dunham refused and was preparing for Forrest’s next onset when Fuller’s Union brigade arrived from the north and surprised the unprepared Confederates with an attack on their rear. Forrest reported his uncharacteristic "surprise and astonishment“ at the appearance of the Federal force, but on the field he responded to the shock with more typical boldness, ordering: "Charge ’em both ways."

 

[5fish]

More details of the battle... Grant wanted him... He almost got him...

The Battle of Parker's Cross Roads: Then & Now

Learn more about the Battle of Parker's Cross Roads and the state of the battlefield today from Representative Steve McDaniel of Tennessee.

www.battlefields.org

Gen. J. C. Sullivan, commander of the West Tennessee federal forces, learned of Forrest’s crossing of the Tennessee River into West Tennessee on December 17, 1862. Federal estimates ran as high as 10,000 rebels under the command of Forrest when the maximum number of men was actually less than 1,800. Grant had ordered various federal regiments sent by rail north from Mississippi to track down Forrest. Col. Cyrus L. Dunham of the 50th Indiana Volunteer Infantry commanded the forces that met Forrest at Parker's Crossroads on the morning of Dec. 31st. Col. John W. Fuller commanded the Federal brigade that came in behind Forrest later in the battle and which had Forrest caught between two opposing forces each roughly the size of his own.

Parker's Crossroads: Where Nathan Bedford Forrest Made the Union Weep

Forrest’s habit of frustrating the Federals was on display in a New Year’s Eve clash here.

www.historynet.com

 

[5fish]

Forrest gets help from a young lady to victory...

Battle of Thompson's Station - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Van Dorn and Forrest received help with their victory from an unlikely participant. Miss Alice Thompson, age 17 at the time, was sheltering in the basement of the residence of Lieutenant Banks. The 3rd Arkansas Cavalry Regiment was advancing through the yard, lost their Colonel (Samuel G. Earle) and their color bearer, and the regiment was thrown into disorder. Miss Alice Thompson rushed out, raised the flag and led the regiment to victory. The enemy lauded her action

I found this link, a photo, and more on Ms. Alice Thompson... she has a good story...

Alice Thompson, Heroine of Thompson Station

17-year old Alice Thompson "Heroine of the Battle of Thompson Station" Source: Battles and Sketches of the Army of Tennessee, 190 6 ...

marksremnants.blogspot.com

When she saw the regimental color-bearer down, brave Alice bolted from her shelter, snatched up the banner, and began waving it to rally the troops. Seeing such valor displayed by one of their women, the Confederates charged again, and this time they took the hill. Even the enemy cheered her heroism. After the battle, Alice tended many of the wounded who were taken into the Banks house.

Alice later married Dr. David H. Dungan, the brigade surgeon she assisted at the hospital set up in the Banks home after the battle. Sadly, Alice enjoyed only a short life, dying in 1869 at the age of 23. She is buried in her family's cemetery at Thompson's Station. Their home was just north of Banks house (now Homestead Manor) on the opposite side of the road.

 

[diane]

Parker's Crossroads is the only time Forrest was actually captured by Union troops. With the lines so close, Forrest went down his checking them and around a thicket was a group of Union soldiers, who demanded his surrender. He said let me get my troops...and they agreed. He rode right off, never to be seen again!

 

[diane]

The battle mentioned in the link above post shows Forrest being surprised from behind. I love Forrest always asking for the union forces to surrender...

Battle of Parker's Cross Roads - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"Charge 'em both ways," ordered Forrest. The Confederates briefly reversed front, repelled Fuller, then rushed past Dunham's demoralized force and withdrew south to Lexington, Tennessee.

After the fight, Forrest was able to cross the Tennessee River. Both sides claimed this battle as a victory - however, the Confederate forces withdrew and suffered greater casualties.

Parker's Cross Roads

The Battle of Parker's Cross Roads page includes history articles, battle maps, photos, and other helpful links for this important 1862 Civil War battle in Tennessee.

www.battlefields.org

Dunham refused and was preparing for Forrest’s next onset when Fuller’s Union brigade arrived from the north and surprised the unprepared Confederates with an attack on their rear. Forrest reported his uncharacteristic "surprise and astonishment“ at the appearance of the Federal force, but on the field he responded to the shock with more typical boldness, ordering: "Charge ’em both ways."

As noted in your citings, the scouts who failed to report a change in the enemy's behavior were commanded by William Hezekiah Forrest, and it's uncertain what happened. Likely they took a wrong road. What is noteworthy, that was the first and last time Forrest was ever surprised in battle. Bill did not make that mistake again. His scouts (also known as the 40 Thieves) were extremely good, and Forrest had an iron-clad intelligence gathering operation that the Union never broke. Bill Forrest was actually better than Stuart for real time information gathering and contributed greatly to his older brother's success.

 

[5fish]

It seems Forrest tried to burn down Paducah, KY.

Forrest's Raid | ExploreKYHistory

Historical Marker #517 in McCracken County recalls Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest's raid on Paducah in March 1864. The journey to Paducah from western Tennessee began in the spring of 1864. Forrest was intent on reaching Kentucky to disrupt Union supply lines. He also hoped to...

explorekyhistory.ky.gov

Shortly thereafter, Confederate Colonel Albert P. Thompson, a Paducah native, led an unauthorized and unsuccessful attack on the fort. Thompson was killed in the assault just a few miles from his home by a cannonball. After being driven back, the Confederate troops burned many of the military buildings in the town and collected more than 200 horses and mules. Ten hours after the raid started, Forrest and his troops withdrew to Mayfield.

Battle of Paducah - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

American Civil War – The 1864 Battle of Paducah — History is Now Magazine, Podcasts, Blog and Books | Modern International and American history

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www.historyisnowmagazine.com

 

[diane]

It seems Forrest tried to burn down Paducah, KY.

Forrest's Raid | ExploreKYHistory

Historical Marker #517 in McCracken County recalls Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest's raid on Paducah in March 1864. The journey to Paducah from western Tennessee began in the spring of 1864. Forrest was intent on reaching Kentucky to disrupt Union supply lines. He also hoped to...

explorekyhistory.ky.gov

Shortly thereafter, Confederate Colonel Albert P. Thompson, a Paducah native, led an unauthorized and unsuccessful attack on the fort. Thompson was killed in the assault just a few miles from his home by a cannonball. After being driven back, the Confederate troops burned many of the military buildings in the town and collected more than 200 horses and mules. Ten hours after the raid started, Forrest and his troops withdrew to Mayfield.

Battle of Paducah - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

American Civil War – The 1864 Battle of Paducah — History is Now Magazine, Podcasts, Blog and Books | Modern International and American history

96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-GB JA X-NONE &amp

www.historyisnowmagazine.com

That was the Union commander Hicks who tried to burn down Paducah! Forrest achieved his objectives, to get supplies and in particular medicines, and let the Union know he could get in behind their lines, but it sure wasn't one of his shining battles. He sometimes had problems with subordinates forgetting who was in command, like Thompson, and with others impersonating him. The surrender demand was standard for Forrest - he always threatened the worst if they failed to surrender. This bluff was based on his reputation as a fierce opponent, and it worked more often than not. If he did have to take a fort, he never delivered on the 'no quarter' threat. Strangely...no one seemed to notice that until quite a while after the war ended!