Nathan Bedford Forest

[roberts]

I asked for examples because the poster claimed the wording was basically a license to murder confederate soldiers. I wondered if there were any examples of US generals using it that way.

So your Hurlbut example is him basically proposing retaliation for Forrest's murders of USCT. That's a pretty weak example. Both sides took retaliatory measures when the other side committed heinous acts. "You slaughter our foragers, we'll execute some of your POW's." I was asking if any US general routinely threatened no quarter like Forrest did. Forrest and his men threatened no quarter at least 4 times during that campaign and then actually followed through with murdering soldiers at Fort Pillow.

Forrest responded to this incident with a letter to General Washburn. He denied the charges of no quarter at Fort Pillow. Do you have proof to the contrary?

 

[DanSBHawk]

In Mo (and KS), where lawlessness prevailed, from early in the war Union military authorities adoped 'no quarters' policies to deal with the exponents (both partisan rangers and guerrillas) of irregular warfare there.

On Mar. 13, '62, M-G Halleck issued General Orders No. 2 to U.S. forces operating in MO, that in part stated, ...".....Maj. Gen. Sterling Price has issued commissions or licenses ..... in this State ..... to raise 'guerrilla forces' ..... every man who enlists in such an organization forfeits his life and becomes an outlaw. All persons are hereby warned that if they join any guerrilla band they will not, if captured, be treated as ordinary prisoners of war, but will be hung as robbers and murderers. Their lives shall atone for the barbarity of their general,"... (See 'OR': Vol. 8, @ pp 611-12).

On a similar vein, advising on tactics to employ against Confederate partisan rangers fighting in the same region, Union M-G Samuel Curtis in a correspondence to subordinates on Sep. 29, '62, stated, ..."They deserve no quarters; no terms of civilized warfare. Pursue, strike, and destroy the reptiles, and report to these headquarters as often as possible."... (See 'OR': Vol. 13, @ pp. 688-89).

Regarding relevant events in TN, preceding the 'Fort Pillow Massacre'.

In west TN, Col. Hurst and his 6th. TN (Union) Cavalry summarily executed on the spot several captured officers and troopers of Forrest's command, apparently acting on orders issued on Jun. 17, 64, by Gen. William Sooy Smith to 'grub up' west Tennessee.. (See 'OR': Vol. 32, Part 2, @ p. 124).

In yet another example. Lt. Col. James Brownlow, commanding the 1st. TN (Union) Cavalry, apparently established a practice of 'no quarter' by Federal cavalry operating in TN at the end of '63. In his report following a mounted skirmish that occurred at Yankeetown, TN, Brownlow states, ...'I would take no prisoners"... ('OR': Vol. 31, Part 1, @ p.591).

Indications here are: Seems some Union mounted units operating in MO and west TN from '62 through to '64, at least, may have been practising 'no quarter' in armed engagements with the enemy, following orders received from the top.

Thanks, but I asked about no-quarter threats to confederate soldiers, not guerrillas. I actually thought about Halleck's order that he issued when he was still out west, to summarily execute any guerrilla caught in the act. And he was absolutely justified in doing that.

Guerrillas weren't soldiers. They committed more depredations against fellow southerners than they did any legitimate fighting against US soldiers. They were criminals. And yes I know the CS tried to legitimatize guerrillas with the partisan ranger act. That didn't work out well for them.

 

[DanSBHawk]

Forrest responded to this incident with a letter to General Washburn. He denied the charges of no quarter at Fort Pillow. Do you have proof to the contrary?

I wasn't even counting a threat of no quarter at Fort Pillow. How many no-quarter threats do you count by Forrest and his men during that campaign? They didn't act like honorable soldiers, and I believe that dishonorable behavior originated from the commander.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Guerrillas weren't soldiers. They committed more depredations against fellow southerners than they did any legitimate fighting against US soldiers. They were criminals. And yes I know the CS tried to legitimatize guerrillas with the partisan ranger act.

That's a fair point made. The objects of the Union policy of showing 'no quarter' were only irregular Confederate fighters, like guerrillas and partisan rangers. (Even L-C Brownlow's reported outright statement of 'taking no prisoners' in the cavalry skirmish at Yankeetown, was directed towards a mounted band of Confederate guerrillas led by Champ Ferguson and Colonel John Hughes - see https://mcoecbamcoepwprd01.blob.cor...earch_Modules_B/Browns_Mill/1st_TN_CAV_US.pdf @ p. 111.)

 

[Will Carry]

This post has reached the zenith that all other Forrest posts end up. The thing is, it has been doing this for all of his history. That is the kind of man Forrest was. Love him, hate him but what he accomplished cannot be argued. He was the devil in a saddle.

 

[G Low]

This post has reached the zenith that all other Forrest posts end up. The thing is, it has been doing this for all of his history. That is the kind of man Forrest was. Love him, hate him but what he accomplished cannot be argued. He was the devil in a saddle.

You mean Wizard of the Saddle

 

[G Low]

When they moved Bedford from Memphis, what happened to the artifacts in the time capsule?