Middle Tennessee State University - Midlander Yearbook (Murfreesboro, TN)

Page 6 text:

I rode with General Forrest back in 1863 under this banner. I remember we bivouacked in this area, but times sure have changed — as you can tell from the sketch that my buddy. Bob, drew showing some of our maneu- vers back in 63. I can still remember General Forrest saying, ' Let ' s get there the fustest with the mostest ' .

Page 5 text:

Presenting T H E 1 9 5 6 MIDLANDER VOL. XXXI Published by the Students oj MIDDLE TENNESSEE SI ATE COLLEGE Murfreesboro, Tennessee Don Jackson Editor in ChieJ Lois Stedman Assistant Editor George Gardner Business Manager Nathan Bedford Forrest Nathan Bedford Forrest ' s spirit symbolizes the spirit of Middle Tennessee State College, the school of indi- vidual opportunity. He came from a poor home and from there he rode into the annals of American history. Born in Chapel Hill, Bedford County, Tennessee, on July 13, 1821. he received little education; but was suc- cessful as a planter and real estate operator. Always ready to defend a cause, young Nathan enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army in June, 1861; but shortly afterward won the rank of lieutenant colonel to command a battalion of cavalry, which he outfitted at his own expense. By the time he was a full colonel, Forrest had joined forces with General A. S. Johnston ' s army at Shiloh, where he received his first wounds in the north-south combat. As a cavalry leader in 1862, he captured the entire Federal garrison at Murfreesboro in one of the most brilliant operations of the Tennessee campaigns. Following the Battle of Chickamauga, in which he par- ticipated, he was transferred to Mississippi and ap- pointed major general. In November of 1864 Forrest was placed in command of the cavalry with the Army of Tennessee. A year later he was made commander of the cavalry in Alabama, Mississippi, and eastern Louisiana. He died October 29, 1877, in Memphis. Forrest was known for his fairness in battle and his hard-charging cavalry.

Page 7 text:

This is where my buddies and I, who fought and died in the War between the States, stay at Stones River Na- tional Cemetery. For years, since 1911, I had been hear- ing strange sounds ' and much commotion coming from our old bivouac area that sounded like the War had started all over again. Several of my buddies had taken a short furlough from here, so when my turn came up, I decided to make a reconnaissance of the situation. On my first visit, I thought it would be easy to find my way around, since I had encamped there, but it was more difficult because the terrain features had changed. In- stead of a level field surrounded by a wooded area with blue-coated Yankees peeking out from behind every tree, all I could see was a big group of buildings sur- rounded by new-fangled things called automobiles. At the entrance was a sign which said ' Middle Tennessee State College. ' I wandered around, and all at once bells out of no where started ringing. From my post in the top branch of the nearest tree, I could see people of all kinds running from building to building with books under their arms and pencils sticking out from behind their ears. After ten minutes of this confusion, every- thing was quiet again. I carefully climbed out of my shelter and resumed my reconnaissance. I know you ' ll be as interested in this campus, its people, their classes and activities as much as I was, so I ' ll tell you just what I have learned in my few short visits here.