Thanks, Dave Powell

Eric,
Perhaps you already know it, but the Bearss book is much more than just Brice’s Crossroads, so it should give you a good overview. It includes Forrest’s Memphis Raid, the Hatch Raid, Tupelo, and Smith’s followup raid that was stymied, among other things. One thing that should be mentioned about Tupelo is Forrest was not in command on that occasion. He was subordinated to S.D. Lee, who arrived with reinforcements and directed the horribly botched battle in person. Still not Forrest’s finest hour whichever way one looks at it, however! That will certainly reinforce one of your critical theses that Forrest did not perform well as a subordinate.

Tupelo is my 3 girls favorite battlefield. 1 cannon and 1 arce.

Lee’s hand at Tupelo is evident, and I agree – badly botched. However, Forrest’s role is also quite bad. Lee offered him tactical command, ironically, which Forrest declined – very unusual for NBF, who usually preferred to control things rather than be controlled.

Then there is the argument about whether Lee was premature or Forrest late in supporting the Kentuckians.

Overall, there is a huge unexplored gulf concerning what Lee and Forrest intended, if they agreed or not, and how they should proceed. Forrest bios tend to support the idea that NBF didn’t want to make the attack. Lee claimed (many years later) that Forrest was all for it. There is some evidence (Chalmers and Buford spring to mind, IIRC) that Forrest rebuked subordinates who expressed doubt and was publicly enthusiastic.

I think Tupelo makes an excellent contrast to Bryce’s, and highlights some of the problems that dog NBF’s career.

Of course, the Union opposition in each case is quite different, as well. Smith was not Sturgis, and – though cautious – was not about to make the kinds of mistakes Sturgis did.

I have been to both Tupelo and Bryce’s (though I hardly claim field expertise there) and found them interesting. Tupelo is a classic roadside postage stamp, with several monuments and cannon crammed in along a US Hwy without much explanation.

Forrest must have had incredible stamina. He was recovering from a stab wound during tullahoma, was shot in the back (again) on Sept 10th, just before Chickamauga, and the above-mentioned boils. It didn’t seem to stop him in each case, certainly didn’t prevent him from making a risky midnight recon into the Union lines at Tupelo, but it might have slowed him a step or so in judgement.

However, he rarely seemed to let wounds or injuries get the better of him.

Dave Powell

The Tupelo site is actually managed by the nearest Natchez Trace Parkway HQ (and if you haven’t been on the trace, make a point of doing so some day.) The rangers there have some knowledge of the battle and can give you an overview, point out locations, etc.