French Forrest

Birth: Oct. 4, 1796
Death: Nov. 22, 1866
Expired Image Removed
Civil War Confederate Naval Officer. He was the builder of the Confederate ironclad "CSS Virginia". Born in St. Mary's County, Maryland, he was appointed midshipman in the United States Navy on June 9, 1811, serving aboard the USS Hornet, he saw action in the War of 1812, during the Battle of Lake Erie, and the Mexican War. In the latter he was a Captain, commanding the Cumberland and the Raritan, in which he commanded the landing operations of General Winfield Scott's troops in action off Vera Cruz. He was also the Adjutant General of the land and naval forces during this time. From 1855 to 1856 he was the head of the Washington Navy Yard. Resigning his commission, he was appointed commander-in-chief with the rank of Captain in the Virginia navy after that state seceded. On June 10, 1861, he received the same rank in the Confederate Navy, becoming third in seniority, which, he believed, entitled him to an active command. Placed in charge of the Gosport Navy Yard at Norfolk, after the Union fleet had abandoned it, he was ordered by Confederate Navy Secretary Stephen R. Mallory to rebuild as an armored ship the hulk that was the USS Merrimack. This he did, despite misgivings, resulting in the CSS Virginia, the South's first ironclad. Though he expected to command the Virginia, the position was given to Captain Franklin Buchanan, which bitterly disappointed him. Three months after the Battle of Hampton Roads, on March 8 and 9, 1862, Mallory had him replaced at Gosport for slowness in repairing the Virginia for service. He became head of the Office of Orders and Details until March 1863, when he finally received the command he coveted, becoming Flag Officer of the James River Squadron. The squadron, however, was not involved in any significant action during his tenure, and May 1864 he was replaced by Commander John K. Mitchell. He later would serve as acting assistant Secretary of the Confederate Navy. Not long after the end of the war he succumbed to typhoid fever. (bio by: Ugaalltheway)
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13905316
 
Great job! The old boy never looked so good. :D He's a distant cousin of N B Forrest - Forrest's family originally came from North Carolina and sort of spread out. He was also a pall bearer at Jeb Stuart's funeral. His son Daniel and Stuart were close friends. Son was overseas when Jeb died, so dad did the honors.
 
Great job! The old boy never looked so good. :D He's a distant cousin of N B Forrest - Forrest's family originally came from North Carolina and sort of spread out. He was also a pall bearer at Jeb Stuart's funeral. His son Daniel and Stuart were close friends. Son was overseas when Jeb died, so dad did the honors.

You are a never ending source of information about THAT guy and his family. :thumbsup:
 
Lol! Freak storm hit us and knocked out the power - my squirrel couldn't run fast enough to keep up the generator. Wanted my freezer running more than my computer! :laugh:

Having lived in the back end of nowhere, I totally understand....don't run the pump too long or you'll be crawling around in the dark a mile from the house with a flashlight! :smile:
 
And be sure that flashlight got BATTERIES! There's no running down to the store... :wavespin: Finally got smart and got a couple that you wind up - no batteries. They don't last long but they do come in handy.
 
Great job! The old boy never looked so good. :D He's a distant cousin of N B Forrest - Forrest's family originally came from North Carolina and sort of spread out. He was also a pall bearer at Jeb Stuart's funeral. His son Daniel and Stuart were close friends. Son was overseas when Jeb died, so dad did the honors.
You answered the question I had. Distant relation to N B F, thanks Diane.
 
Does anyone know if Semmes and Forrest were present at the Battle of Sailor's Creek?

They were both with the James River Squadron. They supervised the destruction of the Confederate ships but had trouble getting out of Richmond - think they ended up with Johnston and surrendered to Sherman. However, some of their men and officers did find their way to Lee and joined in the battle at Sailor's Creek, then surrendered at Appomattox.
 
It was probably a disappointment being passed over as initial commander of the Virginia but when Josiah Tattnall was brought up to succeed the wounded Franklin Buchanan it was like another slap in the face. Age couldn't be used as an excuse since Tattnall was actually a year older than Forrest.
 
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