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| Joined: | Sat Jan 27th, 2007 |
| Location: | Texas USA |
| Posts: | 830 |
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General Forrest lacked formal education, either on the civilian side or the military side.
In spite of this, he had become a wealthy man in various businesses before the war, and was considered a prominent citizen in Memphis. It was probably a surprise to many when he enlisted as a private in Captain White's company of Tennessee Mounted Rifles. Governor Isham Harris promptly commissioned him a lieutenant colonel and authorized him to recruit a battalion. Promotion and regimental command soon followed.
Considering his lack of education, I think it was surprising that he did as well with spelling and grammar as he did. Based on a few examples of his handwriting that I have seen, I think it would have been a challenge for Mr. Davis to try to read the letter as well.