Forrest Ranking Forrest's Commanders

Correct me if I'm wrong but is the man's insignia of a Colonel?
I think your correct, it looks like three stars.
Forrests_Staff (1).jpg
 
Was their any retaliation for the shooting of Morton or others in that battery from NBF?

I have to amend my earlier statement that no retaliation took place for Freeman - I was thinking immediately. Later down the road, on the retreat from Selma, Forrest's men encountered a garrison of some 36 or so Union soldiers. Forrest was wounded and they persuaded him to stay back, but I kind of figure he knew what they had in mind. These soldiers were members of the same unit that had executed Sam Freeman. They had been pillaging and had conducted some rapes in the vicinity - Forrest's escort had stopped them at one house in the act. They got away but here they were and the escort took them out. All the soldiers of the garrison were killed. Wilson demanded to know why no prisoners had been taken and Forrest replied they had refused to surrender. That was official. Privately, Wilson was informed of why they didn't want to surrender and there was no more said of it. Since the real reason wasn't made public, Forrest was again accused of massacre in the press.
 
I have to amend my earlier statement that no retaliation took place for Freeman - I was thinking immediately. Later down the road, on the retreat from Selma, Forrest's men encountered a garrison of some 36 or so Union soldiers. Forrest was wounded and they persuaded him to stay back, but I kind of figure he knew what they had in mind. These soldiers were members of the same unit that had executed Sam Freeman. They had been pillaging and had conducted some rapes in the vicinity - Forrest's escort had stopped them at one house in the act. They got away but here they were and the escort took them out. All the soldiers of the garrison were killed. Wilson demanded to know why no prisoners had been taken and Forrest replied they had refused to surrender. That was official. Privately, Wilson was informed of why they didn't want to surrender and there was no more said of it. Since the real reason wasn't made public, Forrest was again accused of massacre in the press.
I can't stress enough thank you so much for your help and contributions. I respect and look forward to your valuable information you post.
 
My vote would be for "Black Bob" McCulloch, ( you have to stand up for your home town boys). I knew Patrick H would stand up for Black Bob too.

I'd like to know more about his war record.
 
"Black Bob" had a great record! He usually commanded Chalmers' division when Chalmers couldn't. He was the commander of the 2nd Missouri, which was Forrest's body guard. They did a great job of guarding that body, too, at Okolona, when Forrest plowed into a strong Union line to avenge the death of his brother. His escort followed him as best they could, but they all ended up having to dive into a ravine to escape capture. McCulloch had been wounded in the hand when Jeffrey Forrest was shot through the neck. Seeing Forrest's predicament, he raised his bloody hand and yelled, "My God, men, will you see them kill your general?" He led the charge into the Union soldiers and was able to rout them, and saved Forrest's bacon. It was pretty well cooked! This site seems to have a good capsule of Robert McCulloch's military career:

http://2ndmocavcsa.tripod.com/
 
"Black Bob" had a great record! He usually commanded Chalmers' division when Chalmers couldn't. He was the commander of the 2nd Missouri, which was Forrest's body guard. They did a great job of guarding that body, too, at Okolona, when Forrest plowed into a strong Union line to avenge the death of his brother. His escort followed him as best they could, but they all ended up having to dive into a ravine to escape capture. McCulloch had been wounded in the hand when Jeffrey Forrest was shot through the neck. Seeing Forrest's predicament, he raised his bloody hand and yelled, "My God, men, will you see them kill your general?" He led the charge into the Union soldiers and was able to rout them, and saved Forrest's bacon. It was pretty well cooked! This site seems to have a good capsule of Robert McCulloch's military career:

http://2ndmocavcsa.tripod.com/
diane - '........the 2nd Missouri, which was Forrest's body guard.....' Were the 2nd Missouri also Forrest's Escort ???
 
Thank you, Diane! You had posted parts of that great story previously, but you have added some nice detail this time.

If you'll all go to the link which Diane has provided, you'll find a lot about the 2nd MO.. One of the nav links on that site is for "Chain of Command". Click that and scroll down until you see a picture of Gen. Price. The man immediately to his left is Col. "Black Bob" McCulloch. Now, I must say the resemblance between this photo of Black Bob and the Colonel in the painting behind Gen. Forrest is pretty remarkable. The Colonel in the painting is depicted with a slightly longer beard, but what the heck. If the Butternut Boys were Gen. Forrest's bodyguard, then I think it makes perfect sense for Col. McCulloch to be shown with his commanding general.

By the way, he is reportedly buried in his uniform, but I've seen no detail as to whether it was his shell jacket and cavalry boots or whether it was a longer dress coat.
 
diane - '........the 2nd Missouri, which was Forrest's body guard.....' Were the 2nd Missouri also Forrest's Escort ???

No, Forrest's escort was a different unit, very elite. They were very specialized and did do much the same job. Forrest had plenty of protection but his idea of the use of that protection was quite unique.
 
No, Forrest's escort was a different unit, very elite. They were very specialized and did do much the same job. Forrest had plenty of protection but his idea of the use of that protection was quite unique.
So his Escort were "hand picked" men from different regiments, numbering from 70 -200, and under NBF's direct command.. They went wherever he went !
 
How about Lt. Col. Wiley Martin Reed? Born 1827 in Alabama son to Rev. Carson P. Reed of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which he he followed in his father's footsteps at age 22 years old was a Reverend at a church in New Hope, Alabama. In 1856 moved to Nashville, Tennessee and served as pastor for the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church till Feb. 1862, when he decided to enlist and serve the Confederate cause. He joined the 55th Tenn. Inf. Rgt. And became it's Lt. Col. and fought with distinction in Shiloh, Perryville, Murfressboro, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge. He applied by application to serve as a chaplain for NFB and previously served as one for Gen. A.P. Stewart. In Feb. 1864 his application was approved and served as an aide-de-camp for NFB general staff. He saw action in Kentucky Campaign in March 1864 and was promoted to lead as Lt. Col. by NFB the 5th Mississippi Cav. Rgt. On April 12th while fighting at Fort Pillow Lt. Col. Reed was 80 yards from the breastworks and struck by three bullets one to the bowels, ankle, and shoulder. He died on the 29th of April in Jackson Tennessee from his wounds. A side note Lt. Col. Reed's father stated the spelling of his son's name was in fact Wyly.
 

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A side note Lt. Col. Reed's father stated the spelling of his son's name was in fact Wyly
Thanks for adding that. I have always been confused by the spelling of his name. I also tend to confuse his surname and spell it with an "i".

He was the commander of the 2nd Missouri, which was Forrest's body guard. They did a great job of guarding that body, too, at Okolona, when Forrest plowed into a strong Union line to avenge the death of his brother.

Black Bob McCulloch soon rose up to a brigade commander. The command of the 2nd Missouri fell to his cousin, Lt-Col. Robert A. "Red Bob" McCulloch. It is easy to confuse the two and I'm not really sure when Black Bob McCulloch became a brigade commander but it was surely in the summer of 1863 or earlier---well before Okolona.
I haven't seen anyone link to the previous thread on the McCulloch's.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/black-bob-mcculloch-and-white-bob-mcculloch.24781/
 
In Feb. 1864 his application was approved and served as an aide-de-camp for NFB general staff.

In the OR's and maybe some Forrest biographies, there is a reference to Lt.-Col. Reed's investigation of the acts of murder and extortion by Col. Fielding Hurst and the 6th Tennessee Cavalry (US) upon the citizens of West Tennessee. This lead to one of the main goals of Forrest's Tennessee Raid in March-April 1864 was to capture Col. Hurst and his regiment. I just wish there was a published copy of Lt-Col. Reed's report. I have read what others have claimed but I would like to read his report.
From Reed's service records, it seems he served for a time as a staff involved with Court Martials. I don't know what that position is called or what he did exactly but that may be why he participated in this investigation of Col. Hurst.
 
An interesting side note: Ben McCulloch "White Bob" was the militia commander who received a surrender from Twiggs when Texas seceeded - Twiggs had just sat down in the chair Robert E Lee had vacated. Lee, on his way to a train for Virginia and still wearing his uniform, encountered some militia under another commander and was told to surrender. He told whoever it was to go to hello, he wasn't surrendering to anybody. They arrested his luggage but not him. Had he stayed an extra couple days, he would have received the demand from Ben...and I'd just bet Texas would have been Ft Sumter! As it was, Ben McCulloch was killed early in the war, believe it was Elkhorn Tavern, shot dead instantly by a private with the whimsical and totally unforgettable name of Peter Pelican.
 
An interesting side note: Ben McCulloch "White Bob" was the militia commander who received a surrender from Twiggs when Texas seceeded - Twiggs had just sat down in the chair Robert E Lee had vacated. Lee, on his way to a train for Virginia and still wearing his uniform, encountered some militia under another commander and was told to surrender. He told whoever it was to go to hello, he wasn't surrendering to anybody. They arrested his luggage but not him. Had he stayed an extra couple days, he would have received the demand from Ben...and I'd just bet Texas would have been Ft Sumter! As it was, Ben McCulloch was killed early in the war, believe it was Elkhorn Tavern, shot dead instantly by a private with the whimsical and totally unforgettable name of Peter Pelican.
Hi, Diane,

Gen. Ben McCulloch was, indeed, killed early in the war, but he wasn't "White Bob." White Bob was Robert A. McCulloch--Black Bob's slightly younger cousin. One of the things that causes confusion about these three identities is that Ben McCulloch's photo is often incorrectly given as a picture of Black Bob. In fact, Ben is even shown on the wayside marker sign at the entrance of Walnut Grove Cemetery, and given as a picture of Black Bob. Then, too, Robert (Black Bob) and Robert A. (White Bob) are often confused in print. Black Bob and White Bob both survived the war and lived to ripe old ages.
 
Hi, Diane,

Gen. Ben McCulloch was, indeed, killed early in the war, but he wasn't "White Bob." White Bob was Robert A. McCulloch--Black Bob's slightly younger cousin. One of the things that causes confusion about these three identities is that Ben McCulloch's photo is often incorrectly given as a picture of Black Bob. In fact, Ben is even shown on the wayside marker sign at the entrance of Walnut Grove Cemetery, and given as a picture of Black Bob. Then, too, Robert (Black Bob) and Robert A. (White Bob) are often confused in print. Black Bob and White Bob both survived the war and lived to ripe old ages.
Patrick if you don't mind can you attach the correct photos of each men. Thank you
 
Hi, Diane,

Gen. Ben McCulloch was, indeed, killed early in the war, but he wasn't "White Bob." White Bob was Robert A. McCulloch--Black Bob's slightly younger cousin. One of the things that causes confusion about these three identities is that Ben McCulloch's photo is often incorrectly given as a picture of Black Bob. In fact, Ben is even shown on the wayside marker sign at the entrance of Walnut Grove Cemetery, and given as a picture of Black Bob. Then, too, Robert (Black Bob) and Robert A. (White Bob) are often confused in print. Black Bob and White Bob both survived the war and lived to ripe old ages.

Thanks, PatrickH! I knew better, too... :redface: :laugh: I think somewhere in the archives is a thread on the McCullochs. There was another - Herbert? Eustace McCulloch. Think that was Ben's brother but not sure. Now...who is Red Bob? :smile coffee:
 
Thanks, PatrickH! I knew better, too... :redface: :laugh: I think somewhere in the archives is a thread on the McCullochs. There was another - Herbert? Eustace McCulloch. Think that was Ben's brother but not sure. Now...who is Red Bob? :smile coffee:
Hi, Diane,
Red Bob was White Bob at a younger age. Robert A. had red hair, going prematurely gray. Thus, Red Bob aged into White Bob. By the time the cousins were making a name for themselves in the cavalry, Robert A. had become White Bob.

Interesting to learn a bit about Ben's brother or possible brother. I know very little about Ben and probably wouldn't know of him at all except for his confusion with Black Bob in some references.
 
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