Eggman
10-19-2011, 03:37 PM
Well Forrest's Escort will be hosting their capstone Deep South skirmish in a few weeks giving everybody from the south and east a chance to make a stop at Parker's Crossroads, right on I-40, and just a short ways beyond the turn toward N.B Forrest State Park and the skirmish. Most students of the western war are familiar with this fight where Forrest, when confronted by Yankees to his front and rear, reputedly yelled out "Charge 'em both ways!!!" Another less known feature of this battle is Forrest's propensity to use artillery in lieu of ground troops. In his report, Forrest stated that he intended to "whip them with my artillery" in order to "save the lives of my men." This he did to Dunham's brigade of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana troops. Forrest had surrounded these folks and was in the process of inventorying his captures when an Ohio brigade showed up in his rear. The screening force that was supposed to keep these bluecoats off his flank and rear had been pushed away back into the hills giving the Ohioans unhindered access to Forrest's rear.
What's of greatest interest in today's world however is that the main battlefield, along the south side of I-40, and the other sections of preserved battlefield, about a half mile north of the interstate, will soon be connected into one continuous battlefield. The State of Tennessee and the Civil War Trust are right now in the process of buying all of the property inbetween the two sections, some 53 acres. This is the area from which John Morton and his 3" Bullpups, along with the other Confederate batteries, pummeled the Union line, and is the same area the Ohioans attacked in the rear capturing some 300 artilleryists and horse holders -- but not the guns; Forrest and his Escort were able to save these.
It's especially pleasing to me that Tennessee is leading this effort, and not the National Park Service, whch as of late has gone so far as to deny access to clean water and threaten access to peoples' homes in my area in order to devalue property that they apparently desire to add to their holdings.
What's of greatest interest in today's world however is that the main battlefield, along the south side of I-40, and the other sections of preserved battlefield, about a half mile north of the interstate, will soon be connected into one continuous battlefield. The State of Tennessee and the Civil War Trust are right now in the process of buying all of the property inbetween the two sections, some 53 acres. This is the area from which John Morton and his 3" Bullpups, along with the other Confederate batteries, pummeled the Union line, and is the same area the Ohioans attacked in the rear capturing some 300 artilleryists and horse holders -- but not the guns; Forrest and his Escort were able to save these.
It's especially pleasing to me that Tennessee is leading this effort, and not the National Park Service, whch as of late has gone so far as to deny access to clean water and threaten access to peoples' homes in my area in order to devalue property that they apparently desire to add to their holdings.