Forrest Ranking Forrest's Commanders

D.C Kelley was important to Forrest and was very much into the Southern cause. He'd just gotten back from China, where he had been a missionary, and found Lincoln had been elected! That lit his fuse. He recruited a large number from his sizable congregation and was the commander of Co. F of the 3rd TN, sometimes called Forrest's Old Cavalry Battalion. (My ancestors were in Co. A of the 3rd TN.) Kelley proved to be an able officer and was on Forrest's staff. In fact, after Forrest was badly wounded at Fallen Timbers, Kelley took his place.
Is this the same Kelley who was killed in September 1864 near Franklin during Wheeler's Middle Tennessee Raid? I rate him pretty highly.
 
Col (later Gen) Dibrell was a good solid leader. His only real bad showing was the Readyville Stampede, in which he tried to bring out hundreds of stragglers and recruits during Wheeler's 1864 Raid. Only about 300 of Dibrell's men were armed when surprised near Readyville, Tenn. The men scattered, but Dibrell brought most of them over the mountains because they were cut off from Wheeler. He served with Forrest before being transferred to Wheeler.
 
Is this the same Kelley who was killed in September 1864 near Franklin during Wheeler's Middle Tennessee Raid? I rate him pretty highly.

No, D C Kelley lived through the war and became quite a religious writer, helped found Vanderbilt University and ran for governor of Tennessee. You might be thinking of John Kelly, who was - I'm not sure - the youngest general killed during the war.
 
No, D C Kelley lived through the war and became quite a religious writer, helped found Vanderbilt University and ran for governor of Tennessee. You might be thinking of John Kelly, who was - I'm not sure - the youngest general killed during the war.
Okay. Yeah, the other guy didn't seem to fit with what I knew.
 
This one was a challenge and please anyone wanting to add on information about this man such as battles, etc please do. Colonel Jacob Barnett Biffle of the 9th Tenn. Cav. (19th Tenn. Cav.) It was interesting to read he had served under Albert Cooper when he was 16 years old in the Mexican War and later Cooper became his second command as a Lt. Col. In the 19th Tenn. Cav. There is two quotes which I read that stated Biffle was similar to NBF in some aspects. Biffle and his 9th were referred to as more of a commando style unit then a Cavalry force for Biffle would divide his men into smaller striking forces which were effective. Some Federal commanders branded his unit not as a conventional military force but as southern guerrillas. States his regiment was targeted and when men were captured they were sometimes tortured or murdered. If anyone knows more about this please inform me for I couldn't find any?
biffle.gif
 
Last edited:
This one was a challenge and please anyone wanting to add on information about this man such as battles, etc please do. Colonel Jacob Barnett Biffle of the 9th Tenn. Cav. (19th Tenn. Cav.) It was interesting to read he had served under Albert Cooper when he was 16 years old in the Mexican War and later Cooper became his second command as a Lt. Col. In the 19th Tenn. Cav. There is two quotes which I read that stated Biffle was similar to NBF in some aspects. Biffle and his 9th were referred to as more of a commando style unit then a Cavalry force for Biffle would divide his men into smaller striking forces which were effective. Some Federal commanders branded his unit not as a conventional military force but as southern guerrillas. States his regiment was targeted and when men were captured they were sometimes tortured or murdered. If anyone knows more about this please inform me for I couldn't find any sources?

Biffle is a good one - he's an example of the type of tough, able officers Forrest was really good at getting! Here is a little bit more information about him.

https://books.google.com/books?id=J...nepage&q=Colonel Jacob Barnett Biffle&f=false

The house they are referring to in that squib is one attached to a funny story. Biffle and Forrest weren't alone in there - it was freezing cold and everybody who could fit in was inside. A scout came in, so cold he almost couldn't get off his horse, with ice in his beard. He came in and saw the place full but there was one guy asleep by the fireplace by himself. The scout stumped up and kicked him. "Make room there!" he growled. "I am nearly frozen!" The sleeper rolled over and the scout laid down happily by the fire. A moment later a coat was flung over him by his new bed partner. In the morning, he discovered the guy he'd kicked awake was Forrest!
 
Biffle is a good one - he's an example of the type of tough, able officers Forrest was really good at getting! Here is a little bit more information about him.

https://books.google.com/books?id=JMr-8uUU3TsC&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37&dq=Colonel+Jacob+Barnett+Biffle&source=bl&ots=DiL7W4Iq_o&sig=t0eroop_W6KQTo6isdVLatH6bTM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAmoVChMIiNbryeWiyAIViiuICh0KtwK-#v=onepage&q=Colonel Jacob Barnett Biffle&f=false

The house they are referring to in that squib is one attached to a funny story. Biffle and Forrest weren't alone in there - it was freezing cold and everybody who could fit in was inside. A scout came in, so cold he almost couldn't get off his horse, with ice in his beard. He came in and saw the place full but there was one guy asleep by the fireplace by himself. The scout stumped up and kicked him. "Make room there!" he growled. "I am nearly frozen!" The sleeper rolled over and the scout laid down happily by the fire. A moment later a coat was flung over him by his new bed partner. In the morning, he discovered the guy he'd kicked awake was Forrest!
I can remember my dad and I reading Forrest biographies when I was a teenager, and my dad saying the books gave high praise to "Biffle, Dibrell and Starnes." It was almost as if we were discussing the backfield of our favorite football team. :dance:
 
I can remember my dad and I reading Forrest biographies when I was a teenager, and my dad saying the books gave high praise to "Biffle, Dibrell and Starnes." It was almost as if we were discussing the backfield of our favorite football team. :dance:
Some sources have Colonel James Wellborn Starnes as General Starnes. I was under the impression he died at Winchester as a Colonel. He is one that is worthy of doing, good one TerryB.
 
Last edited:
More Generals in Gray suggests Starnes was not a general, but it's entry on him is just long enough to refer to one book (Mrs. Avis Stearns Van Wagenen, Genealogy and Memoirs of Charles and Natheniel Stearns, and their Descendants)
calling him a general, him being colonel of the 4th Tennessee, and a brigade commander under Forrest.

I don't know anything about him, but I figure I'd toss that reference in if it means anything to anyone.
 
Poor Starnes! Famous but obscure at the same time. He was a very capable and trusted officer, no slouch at fighting either, and Forrest always spoke highly of him. It is very hard to find anything about him, though. He was all over, too - led the 2nd TN cavalry when Forrest was promoted and led the 4th TN. He was a medical doctor, born in North Carolina, educated at the University of Louisville, and a Mexican War veteran. He was involved in most of Forrest's famous raids and battles, including Streight's Raid, and died during the Tullahoma campaign in Georgia. Forrest was deeply grieved and was never able to replace this member of his staff.
 
Major John Presley Strange of Memphis was a close friend and staff member. He was a merchant, born in Virginia and brought to Memphis as a young child. He came into CSA service as a private with Forrest and, after the successful Murfreesboro Raid of 1862, received a field promotion - so did Forrest and his other close aide Rambaut. Forrest gave a heartfelt speech to his commander about splitting up this team and was so moving that both Rambaut and Strange turned down their promotions! Strange saved Forrest's life at Shiloh (before Fallen Timbers) and on two more occasions, and was wounded twice. He was taken prisoner for a few months by Jefferson C Davis, whom he had known from Fortress Monroe in Virginia, and was treated well - he was shifted from Nashville to Camp Chase to Ft Delaware and finally City Point where he was exchanged in time to help pursue Streight. After the surrender at Gainesville, Strange continued on as a Memphis businessman, and was noted for his polished manner and quiet good character. Under that calm demeanor was a real fighter! He died in 1875 of TB or consumption, and a very emotional Gen Forrest attended the funeral riding King Philip.

(Yes, Major Strange was a distant ancestor of THAT Presley!)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Some sources have Colonel James Wellborn Starnes as General Starnes. I was under the impression he died at Winchester as a Colonel. He is one that is worthy of doing, good one TerryB.
I'm glad Diane was able to add something about him. He does seem to have been obscure, and I doubt he ever made general.
 
Russell.jpg



I'm gonna throw my hat in for Colonel Alfred Alexander Russell of (Russell's) 4th Alabama Cavalry Regiment. He and his regiment were instrumental in Forrest's West Tennessee Expedition of December, 1862 acting as Forrest's rear guard early on. He and his men played a big part in the battles of Jackson, Trenton and Parker's Crossroads as well.

Russell and his 4th Alabama Cavalry Regiment at Lexington on December 17th, 1862 were responsible for capturing 150 men and officers including a Union Colonel and Major, 300 small arms, 200 horses and wagons, and also captured the artillery consisting of two 3-inch wrought iron ordnance rifles, fully equipped.

He never took the Oath of Allegiance and after the war ran off to Mexico where he lived for the rest of his life on his coffee farm and where which he is also buried.
 
Last edited:
This would be a good place to ask my question about this painting. I was looking at a collection of artwork about Forrest and I wondered who is this officer.
Black Bob McCulloch?
Typree Bell?

Forrests_Staff.jpg

The hand holding the reins on the right is Forrest. I don't have the name of this painting. If I did, then it might help identify where and who this is.
 
This would be a good place to ask my question about this painting. I was looking at a collection of artwork about Forrest and I wondered who is this officer.
Black Bob McCulloch?
Typree Bell?

View attachment 81093
The hand holding the reins on the right is Forrest. I don't have the name of this painting. If I did, then it might help identify where and who this is.

I'm as much help as a broken leg! However, that painting is called Gen Nathan Bedford Forrest and King Philip, and the artist is Michael Gnatek. I don't know any more about it, but Tyree Bell is a good choice. Myself, I think it might be Nathan Boone, commander of the escort.

captain-nathan-boone.png
 
This would be a good place to ask my question about this painting. I was looking at a collection of artwork about Forrest and I wondered who is this officer.
Black Bob McCulloch?
Typree Bell?

View attachment 81093
The hand holding the reins on the right is Forrest. I don't have the name of this painting. If I did, then it might help identify where and who this is.
The name of the painting is General Nathan Bedford Forrest & King Philip by Michael Gnatek

general-nathan-bedford-forrest-king-phillip.jpg

https://americangallery.wordpress.com/category/gnatek-michael/

I couldn't find any specifics about the details of the painting.
 
This would be a good place to ask my question about this painting. I was looking at a collection of artwork about Forrest and I wondered who is this officer.
Black Bob McCulloch?
Typree Bell?

View attachment 81093
The hand holding the reins on the right is Forrest. I don't have the name of this painting. If I did, then it might help identify where and who this is.
Correct me if I'm wrong but is the man's insignia of a Colonel?
 
Back
Top