Forrest Forrest Art

[Patrick H]

A younger Forrest during his courtship with his future wife,

MARY ANN

Nathan Bedford Forrest and Mary Ann Montgomery
Hernando, Mississippi – August 1845
by John Paul Strain
View attachment 38291
http://www.johnpaulstrain.com/art/mary-ann.htm

Beautiful painting. One I have never seen. Thanks for posting.

 

[Stony]

A younger Forrest during his courtship with his future wife,

MARY ANN

Nathan Bedford Forrest and Mary Ann Montgomery
Hernando, Mississippi – August 1845
by John Paul Strain
View attachment 38291
http://www.johnpaulstrain.com/art/mary-ann.htm

Wow! A good looking civil war era female. A rarity. No offense to the ladies btw.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Rebel Raiders by Robert Summers

On August 22, 1862 two of the most renowned Confederate Raiders, General Nathan Bedford Forrest and Colonel John Hunt Morgan, along with their forces came together at Hartsville, Tennessee.

This meeting occurred because the Confederate High Command had become aware of the fact that the Federal Army had sent a force of 1200 men under General Richard W. Johnson to Hartsville with orders to capture and/or destroy Colonel Morgan and his 700 men. General Forrest was dispatched with 800 men to aid Colonel Morgan.

Unknown to General Forrest at the time, on the day before he arrived in Hartsville, Colonel Morgan and his men had defeated the Federals and captured General Johnson. Notified of General Forrest's impending arrival, Colonel Morgan and his assistant Lt.Col. Basil Duke rode out to meet him and his men and invited them to visit their encampment site.

Upon their arrival at the encampment site, General Forrest and his men, accompanied by Colonel Morgan and Lt.Col.Duke, were met with an enthusiastic reception. Once the cheering died down, General Forrest congratulated Colonel Morgan's men on their victory over General Johnson and further informed them that he and his men regretted having missed on the previous day's action.

The newspaper "Vidette" of Hartsville, which was first published by Colonel Morgan's men on August 16,1862, and is still in existence today, carried the following article in its August 24, 1862 edition.

"We were pleased to see General Forrest, he looked to be in the enjoyment of excellent health, and happy as you could expect so noble a patriot…I thought as I looked upon the manly forms of Forrest and Morgan that nothing could excel that picture, except our lovely countrywomen…"

http://johnwayne-thealamo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=137&start=570

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

First with the Most by Robert Summers

Another painting by Summers reflecting the conversations between Forrest & Morgan, after Forrest's arrival at Hartsville, Tennessee.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

@William Bechmann posted an excellent thread about the Fort Donelson National Battlefield.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/fort-donelson-national-battlefield.103861/

Included among his fantastic photographs, is a close up of the Surrender House marker. Part of the text on the marker states,

"Lt. Col Nathan Bedford Forrest, refusing to agree to the surrender, led his cavalry regiment and a number of infantrymen out of the defenses without losing a man or meeting opposition."

That reminded me of another Forrest painting,

"Escape From Fort Donelson" by John Paul Strain

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

View attachment 46211 View attachment 46212
Remarques on Lithographic Artist's Proof Print Edition Only, from the above painting.
http://www.johnpaulstrain.com/art/escape-from-fort-donelson.htm

 

[lelliott19]

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Her mom would have REALLY been upset then! Forrest was a pretty desperate character as it was. Streight's mule train had come crashing past the little roadside house - hyah! mule, hyah! After a long pause, a lone Union officer came galloping and plowing the dust, shooting back over his shoulder at pursuing Confederate cavalry. The foremost rider was ahead of them a piece and firing back. The officer stopped and the shooter, who was Forrest, took his gun - all in front of Emma and her mom, standing at the fence with their mouths open. He did not look his best! Ma saw her lower fence running toward the river and started after it about the time Forrest grabbed Emma and swung her up behind him - ack! what are you thinking! Don't worry, I'm Gen Forrest, she's going to show me a ford - be right back! The equally sweaty, dirty men riding with Forrest followed him but a handful stayed behind. I'm really sure she stuck glued to that fence until her daughter came back! Sure enough, he brought her back and all she had was a couple holes in her skirts.

One thing that many people outside of Gadsden AL dont know about the "Emma Sansom Incident" ...... one of Forrest's men was killed at the ford. Private Robert Turner 4th TN Cavalry was laid out in the "parlor" of the Sansom home and buried in the Sansom family plot (which was located between the house and the fence Diane refers to in her post.)

A marker was placed on his grave in 1954 by the students of Emma Sansom High School which reads as follows:
"Lest we forget. Robert Turner who was one of Forrest's Cavalry killed here by enemy fire May 2, 1863"

And on the reverse side of his official VA marker the inscription: "Praised by Forrest. Mourned by Emma. Honored by Us All."

The landscape has changed a lot since 1863 and the cemetery is now located in the median of a busy thoroughfare, protected by a wrought iron fence with a Historical Marker to tell the story. If youre ever down this way, let me know and Ill show you where it is located.

 

[diane]

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One thing that many people outside of Gadsden AL dont know about the "Emma Sansom Incident" ...... one of Forrest's men was killed at the ford. Private Robert Turner 4th TN Cavalry was laid out in the "parlor" of the Sansom home and buried in the Sansom family plot (which was located between the house and the fence Diane refers to in her post.)

A marker was placed on his grave in 1954 by the students of Emma Sansom High School which reads as follows:
"Lest we forget. Robert Turner who was one of Forrest's Cavalry killed here by enemy fire May 2, 1863"

And on the reverse side of his official VA marker the inscription: "Praised by Forrest. Mourned by Emma. Honored by Us All."

The landscape has changed a lot since 1863 and the cemetery is now located in the median of a busy thoroughfare, protected by a wrought iron fence with a Historical Marker to tell the story. If youre ever down this way, let me know and Ill show you where it is located.

Thank you for the additional information! Robert Turner is sometimes said to be a lieutenant but you're right - he was a private. I am not sure - perhaps you know - but thought Turner was part of Forrest's escort. At any rate, he acted to protect the general, which is how he was shot dead. He was standing beside and a little in front of Forrest and Emma. When he went down, Forrest yanked Emma behind him. In most accounts, poor Turner is just mentioned as 'a soldier' Forrest left in the parlor. The entire story - and a name - adds depth and explanation. He saved their lives - that's why Emma and her family had a small service and wake for him.

 

[lelliott19]

Absolutely! You are correct! He was a hero in every sense of the word. If anyone is ever coming to Gadsden and would like to see all the relevant locations I am happy to show you around. We dont get many "tourists" but when we do, we are happy to give them the whole song and dance as well as the dog and pony show.

 

[lelliott19]

Just thinking about how nice it would be if everyone on this board would share their "local knowledge" when we are visiting each other's home turf. Wouldn't it be great if there was a tour swap message board? Where we could post where we are headed and see if anyone local could show us around? I know I could have used some local help 2 weeks ago at Shiloh!

 

[diane]

Lol! You'd probably never get us Forresters out of there! That would be great if we could.

 

[lelliott19]

Diane

If youre ever down this way, you should definitely make the trip to Gadsden. Clearly, we have the BEST stories, heroes, and heroines here. Very little in the way of military maneuvers or tactics, but hey who needs all that? Give me some good old fashioned stories any day! What could be better than a trip to the sunny south for some hiking, road touring, and cemetery exploration?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Just thinking about how nice it would be if everyone on this board would share their "local knowledge" when we are visiting each other's home turf. Wouldn't it be great if there was a tour swap message board? Where we could post where we are headed and see if anyone local could show us around? I know I could have used some local help 2 weeks ago at Shiloh!

Thanks for the invitation !
It's been done more than a few times.

There were two successful CivilWarTalk "get togethers" by members at Gettysburg and in Texas this past year. ( There may have been more that I'm not familiar with)

There are also many other examples of members giving personalized tours if one is in their area.

 

[lelliott19]

Well I really need a local for Shiloh. I am determined to stand in spot of that elusive Mickey House where my gg grandfather treated the wounded without sleeping for over 48 hours. Just need to find someone who was alive in 1862 and knows where it stood.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Well I really need a local for Shiloh. I am determined to stand in spot of that elusive Mickey House where my gg grandfather treated the wounded without sleeping for over 48 hours. Just need to find someone who was alive in 1862 and knows where it stood.

I have no doubt you will stand on the spot one day.
There're quite a few Shiloh experts in that part of TN & MS.

 

[lelliott19]

I have no doubt you will stand on the spot one day.
There're quite a few Shiloh experts in that part of TN & MS.

I sure hope so 7th MS Inf. Maybe one of those experts will come forward to . As suggested elsewhere I sent a private message to Perry to see if he may know. Keeping fingers crossed.

 

[chellers]

I sure hope so 7th MS Inf. Maybe one of those experts will come forward to . As suggested elsewhere I sent a private message to Perry to see if he may know. Keeping fingers crossed.

How about Tim Smith, author, historian, and former park ranger? Or call Park Headquarters for a referral.

 

[Nathanb1]

Just thinking about how nice it would be if everyone on this board would share their "local knowledge" when we are visiting each other's home turf. Wouldn't it be great if there was a tour swap message board? Where we could post where we are headed and see if anyone local could show us around? I know I could have used some local help 2 weeks ago at Shiloh!

Uh, technically there is....try the travel forum And seriously, try the travel forum---as we say around here, someone will know and you might just get some good leads!

 

[lelliott19]

Awesome! Thanks Nathanb1! I had no idea there was a travel forum on here. Thanks!

 

[Nathanb1]

It's under the "Long Dusty Road" main forum.....have fun!