Fort Oglethorpe in Catoosa County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Forrest's Pursuit
Chickamauga Campaign Heritage Trail
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 19, 2012
1. Forrest's Pursuit Marker
Inscription.
Forrest's Pursuit. Chickamauga Campaign Heritage Trail. During the Battle of Chickamauga the cavalry forces under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest held the position on the extreme right of the Confederate Army. On the first day of the battle, using his men as dismounted cavalry, Forrest helped push the Federals back from the Reed's Bridge Road and Jay's Mill. His men pressured the Federals to retreat from their position near West Chickamauga Creek to one more in line with other Union troops at the LaFayette Road. As the senior general present, Forrest also commanded the infantry units until General H.T.W. Walker arrived., On the second day of the battle, Armstrong's Division of Forrest's Cavalry Corps operated on the right of Breckinridge's Division. Around 11:00 A.M. they captured the Federal hospitals at the Cloud farm. At this time, the Federal reserve corps, under General Gordon Granger, was located to the northeast around McAfee's Church. During the afternoon they were ordered to the support of General Thomas, who was being hard pressed at Snodgrass Hill. This movement caused the Confederate cavalry to pull back to the east. After the passage of these troops, however, the Confederates returned to the Lafayette Road., Forrest's cavalry held this position during the afternoon, being occasionally engaged with the batteries of Dan McCook's artillery of General J.D. Morgan's Division that General Brannan had left on the high ground to the northwest of the McDonald house to attempt the protection of the Federal left. Near the end of the battle there was some skirmishing with Turchin's Brigade of Reynolds Division from the Federal 14th Army Corps., Immediately after the battle, General Forrest pursued the retreating Federal Army as far as Rossville Gap. There he climbed a high tree and used a telescope to observe the situation at Chattanooga. He reported that the Federals were in somewhat of a disarray and in full retreat to Chattanooga. He strongly recommended that the Army of Tennessee should attack and complete the destruction of the Federal Army. This was sound advice that was completely ignored by General Braxton Bragg. This widened a rift between Forrest and his commander. Bragg, who was having problems with most of his subordinates after Chickamauga ordered Forrest to "turn his troops over" and report to Gen. Joseph Wheeler. This was in spite of the fact that Bragg was fully aware that Forrest had vowed never to fight with Wheeler again. An angry Forrest confronted Bragg over the orders, threatening the Commander of the Army of Tennessee with bodily harm. Bragg never reported the incident because he realized that Forrest was too important to the cause to be jailed for insubordination., Forrest immediately wired his superiors in Richmond informing then he would not follow another order issued by Bragg and resigned his commission in protest of Bragg's actions at Chickamauga. President Jefferson Davis, however, refused to accept Forrest's resignation and, instead, promoted him to major general and handed him command of all cavalry in west Tennessee and north Mississippi.
During the Battle of Chickamauga the cavalry forces under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest held the position on the extreme right of the Confederate Army. On the first day of the battle, using his men as dismounted cavalry, Forrest helped push the Federals back from the Reed's Bridge Road and Jay's Mill. His men pressured the Federals to retreat from their position near West Chickamauga Creek to one more in line with other Union troops at the LaFayette Road. As the senior general present, Forrest also commanded the infantry units until General H.T.W. Walker arrived.
On the second day of the battle, Armstrong's Division of Forrest's Cavalry Corps operated on the right of Breckinridge's Division. Around 11:00 A.M. they captured the Federal hospitals at the Cloud farm. At this time, the Federal reserve corps, under General Gordon Granger, was located to the northeast around McAfee's Church. During the afternoon they were ordered to the support of General Thomas, who was being hard pressed at Snodgrass Hill. This movement caused the Confederate cavalry to pull back to the east. After the passage of these troops, however, the Confederates returned to the Lafayette Road.
Forrest's cavalry held this position during the afternoon, being occasionally engaged with the batteries of Dan McCook's artillery of General
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J.D. Morgan's Division that General Brannan had left on the high ground to the northwest of the McDonald house to attempt the protection of the Federal left. Near the end of the battle there was some skirmishing with Turchin's Brigade of Reynolds Division from the Federal 14th Army Corps.
Immediately after the battle, General Forrest pursued the retreating Federal Army as far as Rossville Gap. There he climbed a high tree and used a telescope to observe the situation at Chattanooga. He reported that the Federals were in somewhat of a disarray and in full retreat to Chattanooga. He strongly recommended that the Army of Tennessee should attack and complete the destruction of the Federal Army. This was sound advice that was completely ignored by General Braxton Bragg. This widened a rift between Forrest and his commander. Bragg, who was having problems with most of his subordinates after Chickamauga ordered Forrest to "turn his troops over" and report to Gen. Joseph Wheeler. This was in spite of the fact that Bragg was fully aware that Forrest had vowed never to fight with Wheeler again. An angry Forrest confronted Bragg over the orders, threatening the Commander of the Army of Tennessee with bodily harm. Bragg never reported the incident because he realized that Forrest was too important to the cause to be jailed for insubordination.
Forrest immediately wired
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 19, 2012
2. Forrest's Pursuit Marker
A close-up view of the area map that is displayed on the historic marker.
his superiors in Richmond informing then he would not follow another order issued by Bragg and resigned his commission in protest of Bragg's actions at Chickamauga. President Jefferson Davis, however, refused to accept Forrest's resignation and, instead, promoted him to major general and handed him command of all cavalry in west Tennessee and north Mississippi.
Erected by Chickamauga Campaign Heritage Trail. (Marker Number 22.)
Location. 34° 57.167′ N, 85° 15.604′ W. Marker is in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, in Catoosa County. Marker is on Old Lafayette Road north of Gilbert Drive, on the right when traveling south. This historic marker is located where the Old Lafayette Road crosses a creek, and where this road runs just west and parallel to the new Lafayette Road for two blocks, and just south of Battlefield Parkway (State Route 2). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Oglethorpe GA 30742, United States of America. Touch for directions.
View of the historic marker looking north along the Old Lafayette Road.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 19, 2012
5. Forrest's Pursuit Marker
View of the historic marker along the west side of the Old Lafayette Road.
Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 19, 2012
6. Forrest's Pursuit Marker
View of the historic marker looking south along the Old Lafayette Road.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 879 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 19, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.