What if N. B. Forrest was killed at Ft. Donnelson?

[samgrant]

He mihgt have been!

[milhistbuff1]

i dont forsee any good consequences for the AOT. Forrest although abrasive, motivated his men, would've been nice if he had overall command instead of Wheeler. the AOT would have been forced out of TN sooner without all those destroyed supply depots slowing the federals down in the buildup and logistics aspect.
Matt

[larry_cockerham]

I believe Sir that Forrest was in command of cavalry during the Tennessee campaign Nov 20 - Dec 28 1864. Wheeler stayed in Alabama? As for his importance, the army could likely have been defeated just as easily without him. Walthall could likely have performed the re-guard duty on the retreat without Forrest, though Forrest did his part.

[FSPowers]

There were others who would have led as well, but without the tenacity Forrest had. Still this would have removed a major thorn in the Union side.

[whitworth]

Little is noted how Forrest remained in the backwater of the Civil War? He never was brought to the Army of Northern Virginia, even after Stuart was killed in 1864?
Forrest did not command the Confederate cavalry in the Army of the Tennessee, when Sherman started his drive south into Georgia and the capture of Atlanta.
In late 1864, Forrest was with Hood's command in Tennessee, on the ill fated defeats of Franklin and Nashville.
In 1865, his cavalry and infantry under his command was overwhelmed in Alabama and the Battle of Selma, by the General James Harrison Wilson cavalry raid.

[whitworth]

Few "Confederate" historians seem to note that Forrest for much of the war was left in the backwater commands of the Confederacy.
Forrest was not part of the Atlanta campaign, when Sherman and the Union army drove Johnston south to Atlanta and captured the city.
Forrest was not moved to the Army of Northern Virginia in 1864 or 1865. After Stuart's death, why didn't Lee consider Forrest for command?

[olerebel]

Forrest had no military background. He didn't 'fit by note'. Forrest simply wasn't a subordinate, he would have been a great leader, but he wasn't a slide rule commander, and would have been at odds (He often was) with superiors. Forrest observed no military courtesy, so he wasn't wanted in the higher circles of command.
Sam:
I believe that the war would have ended six months prior to it's end, if Forrest had been killed early. He was a real thorn in the side of Sherman, who had to find a way to keep Forrest occupied during his later campaigns. At one point, Forrest wanted to open the Mississippi River, and use it as a base, then expand, pushing the Northern forces back, but the War Dept refused his plan. His tactics are studied in detail today by the U.S. Army. No greater tribute could be payed a simi-literate orphan from TN.

[whitworth]

No one would know who he was!

[larry_cockerham]

Nathan Bedford Forrest saved the life of my great great grandfather in the rear guard action following the Battle of the Cedars. To me at least that had considerable consequence. Forrest didn't start the war. It came to him.