After the Battle of Chickamauga, Gen Nathan Bedford Forrest was infuriated with Gen Braxton Bragg over his treatment/assignments. Forrest traveled to Bragg’s headquarters at Missionary Ridge and told Bragg just what he thought of that vacillating, indecisive officer after Bragg had twice “tampered with” Forrest’s cavalry command. The confrontation occurred at Bragg’s headquarters on Missionary Ridge during the ridiculous Confederate siege of Chattanooga. Forrest said: “I have stood your meanness as long as I intend to. You have played the part of a ****ed scoundrel, and are a coward, and if you were any part of a man, I would slap your jaws and force you to resent it…. If you ever again try to interfere with me or cross my path, it will be at the peril of your life.”
Forrest left and Bragg never made an issue of the incident. Forrest requested a transfer, with an appeal to President Jefferson Davis, and to take his escort, the 2nd Kentucky Cav, and the 3rd Tenn Cav (McDonald's) with a battery of guns. This was approved by President Davis. However, he was given his escort, the 3rd Tenn Cav (McDonald's), Forrest's Al Regiment, and Morton's battery. On Nov 7th in Atlanta, Forrest wrote he was going to allow Forrest's Al Regiment to remain with Bragg. Forrest mistakenly thought Col Jeffery Forrest had been killed and the unit would be unwilling to transfer. On the same day, General S D Lee told Forrest that Col Forrest had been wounded and paroled. S D Lee assigned Forrest's Al Regiment, Richardson's West Tenn Brigade, and Greer's Regiment to Forrest.
Forrest made a raid/recruiting drive into Tennesse in December and brought back an additional 2,500 troops for his command. Gen S D Lee transferring additional troops to Forrest’s command which resulted in this organization:
Forrest’s Cavalry Department Staff – effective January 24, 1864 at Como, MS
Maj J P Strange, assistant adjutant general
Capt C W Anderson, aide de camp
Lieut W M Forrest, aide de camp
Dr J B Cowan, chief surgeon
Maj C S Severson, chief quartermaster
Maj G V Rambaut, chief of subsistence
Lieut T S Tate, jr, assistant inspector general
Capt George Dashiell, chief paymaster
Capt J P Russell, chief of ordnance
Forrest’s Cavalry Department organization of command – effective January 25, 1864, at Como, MS
***Note – troop designations are as Maj J P Strange listed in General Order #3
First Brigade Brig Gen R V Richardson
12th Tenn Cav Regiment
Marshall’s Regiment
Bennet’s Battalion
15th Tenn Regiment
Street’s Battalion
Collin’s Command
14th Tenn Regiment
16th Tenn Regiment
2nd Brigade Col Robert McCulloch
2nd Mo Regiment
Willis’ Texas Battalion
Faulkner’s Kentucky Regiment
Chalmer’s Battalion
Kizer’s Battalion
2nd Ark Cavalry
Franklin’s Battalion
3rd Brigade Col T H Bell
Russell’s Regiment
Greer’s Regiment
Newsom’s Regiment
Barteau’s Regiment
Wison’s Regiment
4th Brigade Col J E Forrest
Forrest’s Regiment
Duckworth’s Regiment
5th Miss Regiment
McGuirk’s Regiment
Duff’s Battalion
The 2nd and 4th Brigades will be organized into a division to be known and designated as the First Division, Forrest’s Cavalry Department, under the command of Brig Gen J R Chalmers.
*Artillery was not listed at this time, but we have other sources that provide that data