Forrest Forrest hat/uniform

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Forrest was fierce but I can't imagine how his wife was.

I'm sorry.

I should have phrased that better.
@John Winn 's wife told John that it would have been difficult to change the uniforms to "brown".

However, I'm sure Forrest's wife would agree.

Forrest's wife is also an interesting personality. She was the total opposite of Forrest.
Although a very strong lady, she was also very religious ... being raised by her Uncle ... a minister.

There are many interesting threads about Mrs. Forrest on CWT.
For example:

CS - Forrest, Mary Ann Montgomery | Biographic Profiles - We Will Remember

Mary Ann Montgomery Forrest From A to Z - Women Born: October 24, 1826 Birthplace: Franklin County Tennessee Father: William Hugh Montgomery 1792 – 1829 (Buried: Cowan Cemetery, Cowan, Tennessee) Mother: Elizabeth Dougherty “Betsie” Cowan 1803 – 1870 Husband: Lt. General Nathan Bedford...

civilwartalk.com

 

[Nathan Stuart]

In 'Life of Nathan Bedford Forrest' (at pp. 49-50), author John Wyeth gave the following limited description of the General's worn dress (as well as carried sidearms) at Fort Donelson on Feb. 15, '62:

…"From beneath the wide and slightly upturned brim of the soft felt-hat, which bore no tawdry plumes,…....

A plain caped overcoat of heavy gray, close-buttoned to the throat, reached amply beyond the knees. Above the waist, and buckled on the outside for quick and ready use, there was a broad, black, belt in which two 'navy sixes' showed, and from which hung that famous sabre, heavy and long, and, against all military rules, ground to a razor-edge and swinging from the right side of the cavalier."…

(Interestingly as an aside, Forrest was naturally left-handed, but learned during the war to become ambidextrous, and so much so, that he preferred to use his sabre and pistol in his left hand).

This description of his worn field attire seems consistent with other sketched images seen of a mounted Forrest throughout the war.

 

[Bentonville]

Thanks much for the clarification on that. Interesting too that Forrest for all of the actions fought could stop for a moment and listen AND take advice.

I have a pet theory that Sherman was scared to death of women. My guess is that was why fought thevway he did. He could only do it at war. Can't play soldier at the dinner table.

 

[John Winn]

I'm sorry.

I should have phrased that better.
@John Winn 's wife told John that it would have been difficult to change the uniforms to "brown".

However, I'm sure Forrest's wife would agree.

Forrest's wife is also an interesting personality. She was the total opposite of Forrest.
Although a very strong lady, she was also very religious ... being raised by her Uncle ... a minister.

There are many interesting threads about Mrs. Forrest on CWT.
For example:

CS - Forrest, Mary Ann Montgomery | Biographic Profiles - We Will Remember

Mary Ann Montgomery Forrest From A to Z - Women Born: October 24, 1826 Birthplace: Franklin County Tennessee Father: William Hugh Montgomery 1792 – 1829 (Buried: Cowan Cemetery, Cowan, Tennessee) Mother: Elizabeth Dougherty “Betsie” Cowan 1803 – 1870 Husband: Lt. General Nathan Bedford...

civilwartalk.com

For the record the wife used to spin and weave and dye all her own materials. She's also an artist in several other genres.

She said that if you started with blue and added brown you'd end up with some shade of blueish grey or maybe a "dirty" blue but never brown (depends on what dyes were used). What colors blended make what other colors has been well known for a very long time.

 

[RedRover]

Phil Stephenson of the Washington artillery describes Forrest during Hood's Tennessee campaign in late 1864, particularly his homely country made hat...

 

[DSessom]

As mentioned above, Bedford preferred beaver hats mostly. They were quite common at the time, like a baseball cap is today. I'm sure he lost many a hat in combat, but just as he used his own pistols that he had purchased, he probably wore his own personal hats, as opposed to any uniform hats issued by the Confederacy. His hat probably looked a bit like this one.

 

[RedRover]

As mentioned above, Bedford preferred beaver hats mostly. They were quite common at the time, like a baseball cap is today. I'm sure he lost many a hat in combat, but just as he used his own pistols that he had purchased, he probably wore his own personal hats, as opposed to any uniform hats issued by the Confederacy. His hat probably looked a bit like this one.

Stephenson describes Forrest's hat in the winter of 64-65 as a low bell crown with the fur or nap on it, probably something like this.

The low-bell crown type can be seen in many Tennesseans period images, like Captain Neilly of the 6th TN Cavalry Battalion...

or Lt. Nat Baxter of Forrest's artillery:

Lt. Ridley, 9th Tennessee Cavalry...

Some Tennessee infantrymen in similar hats...

 

[H. J. Durgin]

The Hat makes the man.....

 

[Bentonville]

The Hat makes the man.....

I used to think that. I'd sit there working and say, "Tattoos make the man."

Then my boss got cancer and died. In retrospect I think the man makes the tattoos.

That being said I really need to call Billy's and get a new hat.