Forrest The Last Time I Saw Gen Forrest

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Great article from the CS Vets magazine.
last time I saw Forrest.jpg
 
Love these Confederate Veteran recollections! Thanks for putting it up.

The good reverend's memory is a little distorted, though! Ebenezer Church was the last battle Forrest fought on ground of his own choosing and, in turning to fight he surprised the heck out of Wilson. Wilson had been skirmishing with Forrest's troops for days, Forrest knew Wilson had a lot more people than he did - but Wilson didn't know Forrest was expecting Red Jackson. Had that general shown up, the battle might have been less one sided. As it was, the Hoosiers were led by a berserker just about as formidable as Forrest in battle - Major White - and they overwhelmed Forrest's troops. That was where Forrest was surrounded by a dozen Union soldiers intent on making a personal glory hit out of the rebel general and nearly did it - his saber was knocked out of his hand, his pistol was whacked so the hammer was broken and the second one hung up on his belt. His escort couldn't get to him, either. Being mounted on King Philip, a great horse, Forrest wheeled around and took an incredible leap over a wagon bed blocking his path - if he'd been on any other horse he'd never have made it - and immediately encountered the young Indiana captain, Taylor, who commenced wielding his saber with excellent effect. He chopped up Forrest's right arm, shoulder and head. His saber was always attached to his wrist so that he never completely lost it, so when he got hold of it and brought it up, it was from the left - a side the captain was completely not expecting and so...he never saw it coming. Captain Taylor was the seventh and last man Forrest killed with his saber. King Philip had been shot and hacked with a saber, but he took Forrest on down the road and into Selma, where he arrived in time to tell Richard Taylor to hit the road like his britches were on fire. Taylor noticed Forrest and his horse were drenched in blood and didn't need to be told twice. Forrest then began to prepare the defense of Selma. In the meantime, the battle at Ebenezer Church degenerated into a terrific pants-grabbing, collar-yanking free-for-all to see whether Union or Confederates got across Bogler Creek first. His horse didn't die that night - King Philip survived the war and lived happily ever after in a nice pasture in the front lot of Forrest's home in Memphis, giving Yankees a bad time to the very last! The Kentuckians with Forrest were the 7th Kentucky Infantry - Crossland's Brigade.

Just a note: Some accounts say Forrest used his pistol to kill Captain Taylor but it was indeed his saber. It haunted Forrest somewhat, perhaps because Taylor was very close to the age of his own son, but all he said about it was, "He wasn't hurting me much but he was making me mighty mad! If that boy had had the sense to give me the point of his saber, I would not be here to tell of it."
 
I believe the writer was saying it was his last battle as they were captured at Ebenezer Church. He states in the last sentence that Forrest went on to fight the battle of Selma. Ebenezer Church is only 35 miles from my house and I use to spend endless hours relic hunting there.
 
Love these Confederate Veteran recollections! Thanks for putting it up.

The good reverend's memory is a little distorted, though! Ebenezer Church was the last battle Forrest fought on ground of his own choosing and, in turning to fight he surprised the heck out of Wilson. Wilson had been skirmishing with Forrest's troops for days, Forrest knew Wilson had a lot more people than he did - but Wilson didn't know Forrest was expecting Red Jackson. Had that general shown up, the battle might have been less one sided. As it was, the Hoosiers were led by a berserker just about as formidable as Forrest in battle - Major White - and they overwhelmed Forrest's troops. That was where Forrest was surrounded by a dozen Union soldiers intent on making a personal glory hit out of the rebel general and nearly did it - his saber was knocked out of his hand, his pistol was whacked so the hammer was broken and the second one hung up on his belt. His escort couldn't get to him, either. Being mounted on King Philip, a great horse, Forrest wheeled around and took an incredible leap over a wagon bed blocking his path - if he'd been on any other horse he'd never have made it - and immediately encountered the young Indiana captain, Taylor, who commenced wielding his saber with excellent effect. He chopped up Forrest's right arm, shoulder and head. His saber was always attached to his wrist so that he never completely lost it, so when he got hold of it and brought it up, it was from the left - a side the captain was completely not expecting and so...he never saw it coming. Captain Taylor was the seventh and last man Forrest killed with his saber. King Philip had been shot and hacked with a saber, but he took Forrest on down the road and into Selma, where he arrived in time to tell Richard Taylor to hit the road like his britches were on fire. Taylor noticed Forrest and his horse were drenched in blood and didn't need to be told twice. Forrest then began to prepare the defense of Selma. In the meantime, the battle at Ebenezer Church degenerated into a terrific pants-grabbing, collar-yanking free-for-all to see whether Union or Confederates got across Bogler Creek first. His horse didn't die that night - King Philip survived the war and lived happily ever after in a nice pasture in the front lot of Forrest's home in Memphis, giving Yankees a bad time to the very last! The Kentuckians with Forrest were the 7th Kentucky Infantry - Crossland's Brigade.

Just a note: Some accounts say Forrest used his pistol to kill Captain Taylor but it was indeed his saber. It haunted Forrest somewhat, perhaps because Taylor was very close to the age of his own son, but all he said about it was, "He wasn't hurting me much but he was making me mighty mad! If that boy had had the sense to give me the point of his saber, I would not be here to tell of it."
Thanks Diane.

We can always count on you to provide details.
 
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