Edged Wpns Forrest Presentation Sword and Uniform Surfaces?

[gjpratt]

I just heard a rumor from another collector that a Forrest descendant has emerged with his uniform and a presentation sword from Jefferson Davis. Anyone else hear anything to this effect? Confirmation?

I am speculating about the presentation sword. Most plausibly, it would relate to Jefferson's soothing NBF after Chickamauga.

Fascinating stuff. I hope it is true.

 

[1903sprfld]

I have seen Shelby Foote talking about a descendent of Forrest letting him hold his sword

 

[Bonedaddy]

Of all the Forrest books I have read (very many), I have never seen a reference that J. Davis presented a sword to Forrest. That doesn't mean it did not happen, but I would think something of that importance would be indicated in the books.

 

[gjpratt]

@Bonedaddy I agree with you. There are not many books on or about Forrest that I have not read and I have never seen this mentioned. I am just trying to track down an intriguing rumor. I was asked if I knew anything about this by a well known Confederate sword collector. He said "Forrest descendant." If there is anything to the rumor, then we can evaluate the items.

it is of course plausible at least that NBF had one or more presentation or dress swords. That was a custom of the times and a prominent figure like Forrest should have been honored several times. There were working swords carried in the field and dress swords. The known Forrest sword was his working sword — an M1840 wrist breaker. https://civilwartalk.com/threads/forrests-sword.82769/. So again, plausible that there is another or other dress swords that belonged to him. And the same goes for a dress uniform. And what is a presentation sword? Inscribed by Davis to Forrest? Inscribed to Forrest? Or maybe just a gift of a high quality sword? There are plausible explanations notwithstanding the absence of known contemporary evidence. I am skeptical, but if the rumor is true then the items should be easy enough to validate with the genealogy of the descendant being prime proof.

Notice that the M1840 has no external markings identifying it to Forrest. It was validated almost entirely by the family genealogy. I assume but do not know for certain that the blade is sharpened, which would corroborate the I.d. IIRC, as this goes back a ways, but I believe the M1840 surfaced from an elderly surviving family member in Winter Park, FL. Steve Hess, who lived just up the road in Deland told me that.

 

[nbforrestiv]

I have seen Shelby Foote talking about a descendent of Forrest letting him hold his sword

Shelby Foote was a friend of mine, he told me that Mary Forrest Bradley let him swing the sword, she was a long time personal friend of his, in 2002 I put out a Forrest Family Photo Album, and sent one to Shelby, he wrote me a note thanking me, and saying that he thought he had seen all of the family photos that she had, but there were several in the album that were new to him! I being kin to the General's wife, Mary Ann Montgomery, had family photos that Mrs. Bradley didn't have!
As for the sword, a real estate man in Dallas, Texas, Tamerall Crow's family has it since his passing, he paid $250,000 for it! He got it from Hendershot in Little Rock, AK. many years ago. I helped put on the Memphis Civil War Show for 30 years, Dr. Roland Bill had it back in the 1980's, I got to hold it, but did not swing it over my head as Shelby did! Dr. Bill had a big collection of Confederate Swords, and while away from the house someone broke in and stole the entire collection, except for the Forrest sword, they thought it was just an old Yankee sword, and had no value!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I just heard a rumor from another collector that a Forrest descendant has emerged with his uniform and a presentation sword from Jefferson Davis. Anyone else hear anything to this effect? Confirmation?

I am speculating about the presentation sword. Most plausibly, it would relate to Jefferson's soothing NBF after Chickamauga.

Fascinating stuff. I hope it is true.

I would seriously question the validity of such a claim.

Forrest's descendants have a long reputation of protecting almost every original remaining item related to this man.

Jeff Davis was aware of Bedford, but never really acknowledged him until almost the end.

But I've never heard of Davis giving him a fancy presentation sword.
Such would not have made sense at that stage of the War.

And as others have said, I think such a gift would have been well documented within
both the North & South Press.