Life of Lieutenant-General Nathan Bedford Forrest (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1908 Excerpt: ... When Lieutenant-Colonel Jesse Forrest, whose duty it was to attempt the capture of Major-General Washburn at his headquarters on Union Street, arrived there, he found that that distinguished officer had already been warned of the impending danger, and, without taking time to arrange his wardrobe, had in his "cutty sark" made his escape to Fort Pickering. LieutenantColonel Forrest, however, succeeded in capturing one or two members of the general's staff before they could follow their leader. General Cadwallader C. Washburn was in all probability the most astonished Federal soldier in Memphis on the morning of August 21, 1864, when just at dawn of day a trooper, sent in great haste by the vigilant Colonel Starr, of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, galloped to his house, rapidly dismounted, rushed to the door, and.in Macduff's heroic style banged upon it with the handle of his sabre. Aroused thus unceremoniously, to the inquiry of "What is wanted?" the trooper might with propriety have responded "Your honor," but he did not. In an excited tone he told the general that Forrest's cavalry were in possession of the town, were rapidly approaching and within sight of his house, coming at full-tilt for his capture. The commander-inchief of this department did not for a moment stand upon the order of his going, but made his exit through the back door, crossed the garden to an alley which was convenient, and then after a run of half a mile he was safe in the fort. Lieutenant-Colonel W. H.Thurston, of the United States Army, who was then stationed in Memphis, was bold enough to say in his official report of this affair, that "the general ran away for a safe place in the fort, which was fully a half-mile from his home, when he was but three squares away from the provost mars...