Forrest Parker's Crossroads resources

jdb79

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Sep 5, 2018
Location
Dixie
I have been working on a project related to the Battle of Parker's Crossroads for a couple of months and would like to pick the collective brain of this forum to make certain I haven't overlooked any major resources on the battle or the commanding officers.

For the battle itself, I'm working chiefly off of
Tennessee's Civil War Battlefields by Randy Bishop (Ch. 10) and The Dawn of Lightning War by Dan Kennerly

If anyone knows whether Mr. Kennerly is still active I would appreciate any information. The first edition of DoLW was published in 1982, and the address for "Parker's Crossroads Press" in Houston in the 1992 5th printing appears defunct. The book (I am working off of a library photocopy) has several hand-drawn and hand-lettered maps, and I would be curious if the originals or high-quality scans are out there in the wild.

For Forrest biographies, I've gone with
Campaigns of General Nathan Bedford Forrest and of Forrest's Cavalry, That Devil Forrest, and Bust Hell Wide Open. Also have Andrew Lytle's Bedford Forrest and his Critter Company, which is excellent and a good introduction to Lytle if anyone is inclined.

I have ordered but not yet read the Hurst, Wills, and Henry biographies, as I am testing the hypothesis that you can never buy too many used books off Amazon marketplace.

For NBF's officers, Bradley's Nathan Bedford Forrest's Escort and Staff. I'm unaware of anything but biographical sketches for Fuller and Dunham along with some Official Records references, which I haven't investigated yet.

Edit: Can anyone confirm the weather in Henderson County for 12/31/62 or the week of? Strain's "Forrest at Parker's Crossroads" portrays the fight on a snow-covered field, but artists are known to take license with details and I can't recall any references to intemperate weather other than it being "vinegar cold."

Finally, does anyone know if there are complete or partial collections of Forrest's letters and wartime correspondence, either in scans available online or university/private collections? Thank you.
 
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Hello! You seem to have a very good start on your Parker's Crossroads project. It was indeed snowy at Parker's Crossroads Dec 31 - this is a painting of the charge of the 8th Tennessee past the east side of Rev Parker's house to engage Fuller's line:

26869.60265.jpg


He had been waiting for an answer from Dunham about his surrender demand when his quartermaster Carroll came running up to announce there were Yankees in the rear. He was frantic and squawked, "General, what will we do!" Forrest may or may not have swallowed his heart but nobody else knew about it! According to legend, he replied,"Do? We will charge 'em both ways!"

Let me give a holler to some more help! @7th Mississippi Infantry @roberts They can show you more information on the battle and help out more with the letters and papers collections. I am not too sure of where or even if there is a compilation of Forrest's papers. Many were destroyed in a fire on President's Island and many were scattered hither and yon when Forrest's great-granddaughters passed and his things were sold. @AUG @east tennessee roots James N. can help you out as well.

P S
Warn't a general yet! That's legend, though! :D
 
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I have been working on a project related to the Battle of Parker's Crossroads for a couple of months and would like to pick the collective brain of this forum to make certain I haven't overlooked any major resources on the battle or the commanding officers.

For the battle itself, I'm working chiefly off of
Tennessee's Civil War Battlefields by Randy Bishop (Ch. 10) and The Dawn of Lightning War by Dan Kennerly

If anyone knows whether Mr. Kennerly is still active I would appreciate any information. The first edition of DoLW was published in 1982, and the address for "Parker's Crossroads Press" in Houston in the 1992 5th printing appears defunct. The book (I am working off of a library photocopy) has several hand-drawn and hand-lettered maps, and I would be curious if the originals or high-quality scans are out there in the wild.

For Forrest biographies, I've gone with
Campaigns of General Nathan Bedford Forrest and of Forrest's Cavalry, That Devil Forrest, and Bust Hell Wide Open. Also have Andrew Lytle's Bedford Forrest and his Critter Company, which is excellent and a good introduction to Lytle if anyone is inclined.

I have ordered but not yet read the Hurst, Wills, and Henry biographies, as I am testing the hypothesis that you can never buy too many used books off Amazon marketplace.

For NBF's officers, Bradley's Nathan Bedford Forrest's Escort and Staff. I'm unaware of anything but biographical sketches for Fuller and Dunham along with some Official Records references, which I haven't investigated yet.

Edit: Can anyone confirm the weather in Henderson County for 12/31/62 or the week of? Strain's "Forrest at Parker's Crossroads" portrays the fight on a snow-covered field, but artists are known to take license with details and I can't recall any references to intemperate weather other than it being "vinegar cold."

Finally, does anyone know if there are complete or partial collections of Forrest's letters and wartime correspondence, either in scans available online or university/private collections? Thank you.

Welcome ! I had a 4 x 1st cousin from east Tennessee fight at Parker's Crossroads with the 122th Illinois.

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/un...-e-122nd-illinois-infantry.74183/#post-488513

Here's the Union Army's perspective of the battle :

PARKER'S CROSS ROADS, TENNESSEE
DECEMBER 31, 1862.
(See Forrest's Expedition, West Tennessee)
TRENTON, TENNESSEE
DECEMBER 20, 1862.
(See Forrest's Expedition, West Tennessee)

FORREST'S EXPEDITION, WEST TENNESSEE
DECEMBER 15, 1862-JANUARY 3, 1863.


Forrest's Expedition into West Tennessee, Dec. 15, 1862-
Jan. 3, 1863. Pursuant to orders from Maj.-Gen. Braxton Bragg,
Brig.-Gen. N. B. Forrest moved from Columbia, Tenn., on Dec.
11, 1862. On the 13th he arrived at Clifton on the Tennessee
river and in two days had his force, 2,500 cavalry, on the op-
posite bank. His plan was to fall upon Grant's line of com-
munication with Columbus and thereby obstruct and delay the
first move on Vicksburg. Rosecrans had received information of
the move and warned all post commanders "to be on the lookout
for Forrest." Brig.-Gen. J. C. Sullivan, commanding the dis-
trict of Jackson, on learning of the crossing of the Tennessee,
dispatched Col. Robert G Ingersoll with 200 men of the 11th
Ill. cavalry and a battery of artillery to reconnoiter in the
direction of Lexington.

Ingersoll reached Lexington on the morning of the 17th.
His force had been augmented by the addition of 272 men of the
2nd West Tenn. and 200 of the 5th Ohio cavalry, making in all
about 700 men. In the afternoon of the same day he sent out a
detachment to Beech creek to ascertain the strength of the en-
emy. This detachment returned at dark, reporting about 1,000
of the enemy's cavalry in the immediate vicinity, and a detach-
ment was sent out to destroy the bridges on the roads leading
from Lexington, the main body in the meantime retiring to
within half a mile of Lexington. Next morning Maj. Funke with
a battalion of the 11th Ill. advanced on the old Stage (or up-
per) road toward Beech creek. He had not gone far when he
encountered the enemy's pickets, drove them back to their main
line, and then retired. The Confederates pursued until within
range of the 2 guns Ingersoll had posted in the road, when they
were easily dispersed. Simultaneously with Funke's reconnais-
sance Col. Hawkins moved out on the lower road, his orders
being to guard the crossing of the river. Through some neglect
the bridge across the creek at the lower road had not been de-
stroyed the night before and the enemy was pouring in toward
the town from that direction. Hawkins' troops withdrew and
fled in confusion toward Lexington, breaking the line of the
reserves in their efforts to get away from the pursuing Confed-
erates, who were only checked by a charge of a portion of the
11th Ill. Three times the enemy charged the position held by
the 2 pieces of the artillery, and the third time their greatly
superior numbers succeeded in taking it. The Union cavalry
then fled in the direction of Jackson, the enemy pursuing. The
engagement resulted in the capture of 124 Union men, including
Ingersoll, the killing of 11, and the wounding of 13 more.
Some of the prisoners were taken in the retreat after the guns
had been captured. After his success at Lexington Forrest
turned toward Jackson. In the meantime Grant had ordered Sul-
livan to attack Forrest in front, and Dodge, at Corinth, was to
move out and strike him in flank. Sullivan, however, was able
to bring only two regiments to Jackson before Forrest arrived
in the vicinity on the 19th. (See Jackson.) On the same day a
train bearing reinforcements was fired into while passing Car-
roll Station, the place having just been captured by a portion
of Forrest's troops under Col. G. C. Dibrell. From Jackson
Forrest moved on Trenton and Humboldt. Practically all of the
available force at Trenton had been hurried to the defense of
Jackson and only about 130 convalescents were left to guard the
place. The Confederate cavalry dashed into the town but were
unable to dislodge the convalescents, who were posted behind a
barricade of cotton, until their artillery was brought to bear,
when the garrison surrendered. A side expedition under Col.
James W. Starnes of Forrest's staff captured Humboldt with lit-
tle trouble, but another force under Dibrell, sent to capture
the garrison and destroy the railroad bridge at the railroad
crossing of Forked Deer river, failed to carry out its commis-
sion, being driven back by the Federals at that point.

Forrest remained at Trenton until the morning of the 21st,
destroying all stores and provisions not needed by his command.
His report states that at Rutherford Station, on the way to Un-
ion City, two companies of Federals were captured. Union City
was guarded by about 100 men, chiefly of the 54th Ill. Infan-
try, who acceded at once to Forrest's summons to surrender, and
the Confederates remained there for some time. On Christmas
day they departed on the Northwestern railroad. The 27th, 29th
and 30th saw skirmishing at and around Huntingdon. On reaching
Parker's cross-roads, on the 31st Forrest came up with the
skirmishers of Col. Cyrus L. Dunham's (3d) brigade, 8th divi-
sion, 16th army corps. A spirited engagement ensued, during
which the Confederates drove back Dunham's skirmishers and were
having by far the better of the encounter, when Fuller's (1st)
brigade suddenly arrived on the scene and attacked the Confed-
erate rear. The result was a complete rout of the enemy, leav-
ing 300 of their dismounted force as prisoners in the hands of
the Federals. Six guns, 350 horses, a quantity of arms and am-
munition and a number of wagons were also captured. Forrest
retreated hastily to Clifton to re-cross the Tennessee river,
but his progress was checked (Jan. 1, 1863,) by a portion of
Dodge's command sent from Corinth. Forrest, however, succeeded
in getting all his troops across on the 2nd and the next day
Fuller's brigade reached the Tennessee at Clifton. Forrest
opened with his artillery from the opposite shore, the Union
guns replied, and the skirmishers of both sides were busy all
day. The swollen condition of the river put a stop to further
pursuit.

The total casualties of the expedition are not given. Be-
fore the battle of Parker's cross-roads Forrest states in a re-
port that his losses had been 8 killed, 12 wounded and 2 miss-
ing, and later estimates the casualties of his force in the
Parker's cross-roads engagement as 60 killed and 100 wounded.
The Federal losses in the Lexington and Parker's cross-roads
affairs aggregated 38 killed, 153 wounded and 191 captured or
missing. There are no reports of losses in the other engage-
ments.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 6
 
Hi @jdb79! :wavespin: Welcome to the forum. The experts will be along shortly to help you out. :smile: @diane is one of our resident Forrest experts, so she might be able to help you out.

Thank you for the welcome and helpful replies. I have been lurking for a few months now and can say that the forum and its contributors are an invaluable resource to anyone trying to get a handle on the War. I grew up a few miles from Parker's Crossroads and not too far away from Shiloh and only wish I'd gone to the reenactments and camps when I was a kid. My children will be spending their New Year's Eves shivering in the cold at our local battleground and they better thank me for the opportunity.

@[URL='https://civilwartalk.com/members/diane.2710/']diane[/URL] - Thank you, the weather question was one I'd been looking to answer. I know on the day of the weather was described as clear and cool in one of the letters that Randy Bishop mentions in his book.

All I could find in terms of correspondence was a pair of letters on Flickr from Forrest's post-war career, one an autograph request posted below. Mitcham notes that he dictated most of his wartime correspondence, a practice he probably maintained in civilian life while he was attempting to rebuild his fortune after the war, though I'm hoping a response to an autograph request would be in his own hand. One of the biographies also quotes a letter encouraging Willie not to marry young but to finish his studies and find a proper lady after making his way in the world (also, don't gamble or swear). If I had to guess, Bedford probably wasn't one for extensive correspondence.
bfautographrequest.jpg


@7th Mississippi Infantry - The battleground has become quite a presentation in the last 20 years or so as these photos show. They have added 300+ acres in that time and now have long driving and walking tours. Rep. Steve McDaniel has done yeoman's work with that, and there are many West Tennesseans who are happy that the site hasn't been Burger Kinged. And that clipping from @SqurrelHudson is hard to read.

@east tennessee roots - Thank you. It's interesting that it's viewed as a complete route from the US perspective. I'm sure Forrest saw it that way at the time given that he had just lost the guns he had worked so hard to take as well as so many of his men. I would imagine those captured were paroled soon after.
 
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@7th Mississippi Infantry - The battleground has become quite a presentation in the last 20 years or so as these photos show. They have added 300+ acres in that time and now have long driving and walking tours. Rep. Steve McDaniel has done yeoman's work with that, and there are many West Tennesseans who are happy that the site hasn't been Burger Kinged. And that clipping from @SqurrelHudson is hard to read.

:thumbsup:
 
Glad we could be of help! Forrest's correspondence is indeed sparse - if anyone knows of a collection of it, I'd sure like to know, too. The letter posted above is rare as after that date his right arm became increasingly difficult to use - he'd had a number of war time injuries to it - and he usually had either his wife or son write for him. He was left handed but in those days they made lefties write right. He'd taught himself to be ambidextrous but writing hadn't been on that list!
 
Thank you for the welcome and helpful replies. I have been lurking for a few months now and can say that the forum and its contributors are an invaluable resource to anyone trying to get a handle on the War. I grew up a few miles from Parker's Crossroads and not too far away from Shiloh and only wish I'd gone to the reenactments and camps when I was a kid. My children will be spending their New Year's Eves shivering in the cold at our local battleground and they better thank me for the opportunity.

@[URL='https://civilwartalk.com/members/diane.2710/']diane[/URL] - Thank you, the weather question was one I'd been looking to answer. I know on the day of the weather was described as clear and cool in one of the letters that Randy Bishop mentions in his book.

All I could find in terms of correspondence was a pair of letters on Flickr from Forrest's post-war career, one an autograph request posted below. Mitcham notes that he dictated most of his wartime correspondence, a practice he probably maintained in civilian life while he was attempting to rebuild his fortune after the war, though I'm hoping a response to an autograph request would be in his own hand. One of the biographies also quotes a letter encouraging Willie not to marry young but to finish his studies and find a proper lady after making his way in the world (also, don't gamble or swear). If I had to guess, Bedford probably wasn't one for extensive correspondence.
View attachment 211916

@7th Mississippi Infantry - The battleground has become quite a presentation in the last 20 years or so as these photos show. They have added 300+ acres in that time and now have long driving and walking tours. Rep. Steve McDaniel has done yeoman's work with that, and there are many West Tennesseans who are happy that the site hasn't been Burger Kinged. And that clipping from @SqurrelHudson is hard to read.

@east tennessee roots - Thank you. It's interesting that it's viewed as a complete route from the US perspective. I'm sure Forrest saw it that way at the time given that he had just lost the guns he had worked so hard to take as well as so many of his men. I would imagine those captured were paroled soon after.
Welcome from inside of Mosby's Confederacy. I am enjoying your post.
 
DSC06026.JPG


I have been working on a project related to the Battle of Parker's Crossroads for a couple of months and would like to pick the collective brain of this forum to make certain I haven't overlooked any major resources on the battle or the commanding officers.

For the battle itself, I'm working chiefly off of
Tennessee's Civil War Battlefields by Randy Bishop (Ch. 10) and The Dawn of Lightning War by Dan Kennerly

If anyone knows whether Mr. Kennerly is still active I would appreciate any information. The first edition of DoLW was published in 1982, and the address for "Parker's Crossroads Press" in Houston in the 1992 5th printing appears defunct. The book (I am working off of a library photocopy) has several hand-drawn and hand-lettered maps, and I would be curious if the originals or high-quality scans are out there in the wild.

For Forrest biographies, I've gone with
Campaigns of General Nathan Bedford Forrest and of Forrest's Cavalry, That Devil Forrest, and Bust Hell Wide Open. Also have Andrew Lytle's Bedford Forrest and his Critter Company, which is excellent and a good introduction to Lytle if anyone is inclined.

I have ordered but not yet read the Hurst, Wills, and Henry biographies, as I am testing the hypothesis that you can never buy too many used books off Amazon marketplace.

For NBF's officers, Bradley's Nathan Bedford Forrest's Escort and Staff. I'm unaware of anything but biographical sketches for Fuller and Dunham along with some Official Records references, which I haven't investigated yet.

Edit: Can anyone confirm the weather in Henderson County for 12/31/62 or the week of? Strain's "Forrest at Parker's Crossroads" portrays the fight on a snow-covered field, but artists are known to take license with details and I can't recall any references to intemperate weather other than it being "vinegar cold."

Finally, does anyone know if there are complete or partial collections of Forrest's letters and wartime correspondence, either in scans available online or university/private collections? Thank you.

If you haven't already, you should check with the fine folks who run the Parker's Crossroads Visitor Center Museum - and welcome to the forums!

DSC06027.JPG
 
Welcome from The Heart Of Dixie from another Forrest Freak. Be sure to stop by the Weapons & Ammo and Uniforms & relics forums.
FORREST-002.jpg
 
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