Forrest Forrest's Cavalry Corps at Shiloh

[CompanyAytch]

Hello all!

Yesterday (9/1) I traveled to Shiloh NMP to walk the steps tread by the 1st TN Vol. Infantry Co. H. My G-G-Grandfather was a Sergeant with this unit and saw battle there. I've read his subordinate's (Pvt. Sam Watkins) acount of the battle and had to see it in person. I live in Memphis, so it's only a couple of hours away.

They were a part of Stephen's 2nd Brigade and advanced across Sarah Bell's cotton field, North toward the Peach Orchard from Hamburg Purdy road. While I was there I had the pleasure of seeing about five wild turkeys. Being intrigued by them I decided to follow and see where they might have been roosting. They went into the "impentrable thicket" and so I went with them. It was almost as if it was meant to be (if you will) because I found a marker stating that Forrest's Cav. Corps had engaged in battle at that point.

I had no idea that his troops saw battle there that day. Had the turkeys not lead me to the marker I would've always been under the impression that the only action they saw was covering the Confederate retreat April 8th, 1862, at Fallen Timbers.

Can anyone enlighten me and/or point me to a record of their engagment there?

The spot I'm talking about is about a hundred yards North of this location and in the thicket.

I must note that I borrowed this picture from a google image search. I'll post a few more pictures when I get home to my PC. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the marker.

Thanks!

- Murray

 

[diane]

I think you might have found the spot where Forrest attacked a battery with his Tennesseans and some Alabamians. They made a very dramatic sweep along the sides, hoping to miss the direct fire from the cannon, and took the thing. Cheatham was sitting his horse on a little hill and Forrest approached, asking that something be done about that blankety-blank battery. Cheatham replied evasively that he couldn't order such an attack and if Forrest did it, it would be on his own responsibility. Forrest thought a moment and said, "I'll do it!" And he did.

Forrest was mainly supposed to be watching Lick Creek but couldn't just set there when he heard action over the other field. He felt a bit guilty but decided any Federals were over yonder where he heard the fighting, not coming across the creek!

 

[John Davison]

I have a few pictures taken of that batt field from several different locations. They are on my camera and I'll post them all soon.

 

[Sons of Liberty]

Thanks for the photo and interesting info. "Co. Aytch" is one of my favorite books.

 

[mt155]

 

[CompanyAytch]

Diane, thanks for the information. That certainly adds a lot of color to the detail of the battle for me. Especially in a spot that I hold very sacred. Forrest is my favorite figure that emerged from the war. His character reminds me a lot of my Father. If I can be half the man either one of them were, I'll be alright. Like I mentioned in my earlier post, it's thrilling to know that my G-G-Grandfather fought in such close proximity to him.

mt155, that's the spot! Excellent! Thanks for posting that!

 

[JeffCSA]

Congrats on having a relative that we are proud of, too!