NBF 4

Bedford Forrest had risen from obscurity, like the majority of Southern leaders, like Davis himself; but there was no cotton snobbery in his make-up. He showed that his stock was strongenough to stand the responsibility of large properties. Instead of using his influence to get a commision, he enlisted as a private in White's Tennessee Mounted Rifles. This was in June, 1861.

A few days after his enlistment, certain citizens of Memphis made a trip to Nashville and convinced Governor Harris and General Polk, the bishop who had laid aside his vestments for the sword, that the ranks was no place for Forrest. The result of their trip was the commission of Lieutenant-Colonel, and the authority to raise a battalion of mounted rangers.

He began its organization at once. He scattered his agents through Mississippi, North Alabama, Middle and West Tennessee. Bedford himself set out for Kentucky. This state's neutral position made it a recruiting ground for both governments. Bedford realized that it was not only an excellent place to secure equipment, but that every man he brought out of the state would weaken by so much the enemy's armies.

On July 20, he bought out of his own purse 500 Colt's navy pistols, 100 saddles, and other equipment. But after he had made the purchases, he found it would be a serious matter to get them out. He was a suspect, and he had overheard the Hon. J.J. Crittenden say he ought to be arrested. Fortunately, word was brought him at Louisville that a company was being organized for his regiment in Meade County. He went there and found the Boone Rangers, some ninety strong, under Captain Frank Overton.

Returning, he and two friends were able, from time to time, to carry the pistols under their linen dusters to a livery stable, whence they were subsequently taken to a Mr. Garrison's farm as so many bags of potatoes. The saddles were ordered to a tannery three miles out as so much leather. Here a detachment of Overton's troops appeared after dusk with wagons and hastily moved the freight southward, taking up the pistols as they marched toward the mouth of Salt River. Lieutenant-Colonel Forrest, so soon as his orders were given, mounted his horse and rode leisurely in the opposite direction. On the outskirts of Louisville he quickly changed his course, circled the town and joined the cavalcade by picking up the tracks the wagons had made.

Pushing on toward Brandenburg, he found the Boone Rangers ready to take the field. So he left the same day, marching for Clarksville, Tennessee, by way of Bowling Green. The rumor soon reached him that two companies of Home Guards were waiting at Munfordsville to contest his march.

Following the Boone Rangers were many fathers and kin who wanted to stay by as long as possible. Bedford lined these up with the Rangers, under the Confederate flag, as a train passed by for Munfordsville. So imposing was the array that the passengers, when they arrived at the town, reported a regiment advancing. When the "regiment" arrived, the main force of the Home Guards had dispersed.

He arrived without mishap in Memphis the first of August, and in six or eight weeks he had raised eight companies, 650 rank and file. Parson D.C. Kelly persuaded the Alabama companies to join his command. (Critter 36-37)

-Andrew Lytle, Bedford Forrest and his Critter Company