Page:Confederate Veteran volume 02.djvu/11

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PATRIOTIC AND PROGRESSIVE.


Confederate Veteran.


Published Monthly in the Interest of Confederate Veterans and Kindred Topics.


Prior 10 Ckkts. i v„i tt Yearly -i.ihi

VOL II.

Nashville, Tenn., January, 1894.

No. 1

S. A. CUNNINGHAM Proprietor


GEN. NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST.

Born in Bedford County, Tenn., July 13, 1821; died at Memphis, Tenn. October 29, 1877. He removed to Hernando, Miss., in 1842, and was a planter until 1852, when he removed to Memphis.

General Forrest was one of the most remarkable men developed by the war. In fighting he was the Stonewall Jackson of the West. United States Senator John W. Daniel, of Virginia, in his great speech as orator for the United Confederate Veterans, at their reunion in New Orleans, in April, 1892, said: "Forrest, the 'Wizard of the Saddle,' oh what genius was in that wonderful man! He felt the field as Blind Tom touches the keys of a piano. 'War means killing,' he said, 'and the way to kill is to get there first with the most men.' There is military science—Napoleon, Stonewall, and Lee—in a nutshell. He was not taught at West Point, but he gave lessons to West Point." Erroneous statements have been published, even in Encyclopedias, concerning his illiteracy.

His lovely Christian wife died in Memphis only a year or two since. Of his family now living there are Captain William Forrest and his three children—Mary, Bedford, and William.



GEN. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CHEATHAM.


Born in Nashville, October 20, 1820; died September 4, 1886. He served as Captain of Volunteers in the Mexican War, and distinguished himself in the severest battles there. On returning from Mexico he was appointed Major General of the Tennessee Militia.

In the Confederate service he was at once made Brigadier General, and soon afterward a Major General. He was in many fierce battles and always was the pride of his soldiers. In the Hood Campaign he commanded one of the three Corps.

"Mars Frank" was the familiar term under which any private soldier would address him, who hesitated to ask the the same things of their regimental commanders. After the war he engaged in Farming, and when he died was Postmaster at Nashville. The honor ami affection in which he was held was verified by his having "the largest funeral that has ever been held in Nashville." The procession was more than a mile in in length. His faithful, lovely wife "crossed over the river" not long after him. Their five children—three sons and two daughters are all doing well, and live in a good home in Nashville, provided by their parents.