Forrest Wilson defeats Forrest at Selma

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

A new article about Forrest at Selma, Alabama:

by early 1865, Wilson conducted a raid against Forrest's units in Alabama that was designed to destroy the enemy's forces, lines of communications and military resources. Forrest's troops were principally concentrated in Selma, protecting a joint Army-Navy ordnance production complex. At its peak, it included a naval foundry, shipyard, army arsenal and gunpowder works employing some 9,000 workers in 160 buildings.

Throughout the war, the mercurial and combative Forrest — a former Tennessee planter and slave trader — had been the bête noire of the Union command in the West. Although a regular cavalry officer, he often operated like a partisan ranger, attacking vulnerable targets behind Union lines.

Forrest had a difficult task ahead, considering Wilson's powerful cavalry force numbering more than 13,000 men armed with seven shot Spencer carbines. Forrest's cavalrymen had suffered heavy casualties in recent battles; therefore, he could only muster about 7,000 — yet, Wilson was aware that the wily Forrest had overcome similar odds in the past.

Read the entire article at:

http://www.coastalpoint.com/content...arean-wilson-defeats-forrest-selma_04_06_2017

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

There's a new thread about this raid here:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/oob-for-forrests-cavalry-corps-opposing-wilsons-raid-1865.152976/

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Many people do not understand the importance of Selma, Alabama.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma,_Alabama_in_the_American_Civil_War

 

[Lubliner]

Many people do not understand the importance of Selma, Alabama.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma,_Alabama_in_the_American_Civil_War

The article for reference in your April 2017 posting is no longer accessible.
Lubliner.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

The article for reference in your April 2017 posting is no longer accessible.
Lubliner.

I can still get this one Lubliner. Not sure what happened for you there

Edit: Oops! No, can't be found @7th Mississippi Infantry . Too bad. Sounded like an interesting article.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

The article for reference in your April 2017 posting is no longer accessible.
Lubliner.

Thanks !
You're right !

It was still 'on line' as of last week.

But as we both know, anything can happen to 'internet' sites at any given time.

 

[redbob]

By 1863, Grierson's Raid had shown that the interior South was a hollow shell and by 1865 it was even more so. Wilson had pushed what remained of Forrest's troopers through the interior of Alabama and while Forrest could hope to slow him down, I believe that he knew that he could never stop him. By the time that they arrived at Selma, Forrest was tasked with attempting to hold an extended line with far too few soldiers/militia/civilians against a well armed , experienced and well led Union force and unfortunately the fall of Selma was a foregone conclusion. By that time, Selma was tasked with supplying armies and navies that were quickly diasappearing and it's value as an industrial center was quickly waning.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

By that time, Selma was tasked with supplying armies and navies that were quickly diasappearing and it's value as an industrial center was quickly waning.

You're right.

Selma had been a vital part of the Confederate State's limited industrial infrastructure . . . but by 1865, it was all but over.

Personally I think Forrest knew this, but was carrying out his orders as best he could.

Forrest was tasked with attempting to hold an extended line with far too few soldiers/militia/civilians against a well armed , experienced and well led Union force

That's what I'm talking about.