Description:

Nathan Bedford Forrest
n.p., November 10, 1862
Nathan B. Forrest Cavalry Brigade Report - New Recruits After Braxton Bragg Reassigns 3rd TN Cavalry
MDS

A 1p manuscript document entitled "Report of Cavalry Brigade Commanded by Brig Genl N.B. Forrest. November 10th 1862" possibly signed by Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821-1877) at lower right; the present signature closely matches known examples of Forrest's signature, but this might be secretarial. November 10, 1862. N.p. Neatly secretarially inscribed and signed by "MJM Mason" on a J.B. Lippincott & Co. (Philadelphia) laid blue-lined and blue-ruled oversized paper form measuring 28.75" x 9" fully extended. Expected wear including isolated smears and stains, with weathering to the docket. Flattened transmittal folds with some minor closed tears and chipped edges. Else very good and quite legible. Folded size: 7.5" x 9."

This detailed inventory of men, animals, arms, ammunition, and equipment belonging to Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry Brigade was recorded on the morning of November 10, 1862. The inventory tallies the number of commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers and privates in eight cavalry regiments and two artillery regiments. Horses, mules, and oxen are counted, and saddles, bridles, halters, blankets, harnesses, and wagons are also recorded. Ammunition and arms are tallied in the greatest detail. Arms are itemized as (with corrected spelling): Shot Guns, Enfield Rifles, Maynard Rifles, Sharps Rifles, Colt Rifles, Flint Muskets, Percussion Muskets, Army Pistols, Navy Pistols, Holster Pistols, and, as one might expect in a cavalry brigade - Sabers. Ammunition included shells, powder, canisters, and shot. Other miscellaneous equipment required for camp life - like tarpaulins, dark lanterns, tents, oven pans, skillets, axes - are also taken into account.

Nathan Bedford Forrest had been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General just four months earlier, on July 21, 1862, after the First Battle of Murfreesboro, in which Union troops had surrendered en masse to Forrest. Forrest's success was tempered by a setback, however. Later that fall 1862, Confederate General Braxton Bragg, commander of the Army of the Mississippi, removed Forrest from his command of the 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry. (This reassignment explains why the first iteration of the 3rd Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry is designated as "Forrest's Old.")

The personnel change was devastating to Forrest on both a personal and professional level. While Forrest's seasoned troops were farmed out to different units, Forrest was assigned to set up a recruitment station in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Eventually Forrest assembled a fighting force of 2,000 soldiers there, though many of them lacked arms. The "Wizard of the Saddle" then focused on harassing U.S. Army forces in western Tennessee and northern Mississippi who were threatening Vicksburg. In December 1862, Forrest and his new troops captured the Union garrison at Lexington, Tennessee, destroyed over 50 miles of bridges, and attacked the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, paralyzing area Federal supply lines.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: folded: 7.5" x 9"
  • Medium: MDS

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