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The
Horse Marines
Generals N.B. Forrest, J.R. Chalmers and the captured
U.S.S. Undine
Paris Landing Tennessee,
October 31, 1864
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Remarques on
Lithographic Artist's Proof Print Edition Only
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It seemed that nothing could stop the audacious Major General
Nathan Bedford Forrest and his cavalry command. Federal naval
officers were not taught to be on guard for an attack from a
cavalry unit in the USN training manual. Forrest’s military
genius however, did not come from any army manual. He had a
natural instinct for tactics and unconventional warfare, coupled
with a bold and aggressive personality.
Three weeks after General Sherman’s
capture of Atlanta, Forrest and his Corps were wreaking havoc on
Federal garrisons, taking 2,360 prisoners and destroying much of
the Tennessee & Alabama Railroad north to Pulaski. Returning to
west Tennessee, Forrest turned his attention to the United
States Navy who was using the Tennessee River as a supply route
for Atlanta.
With the help of Forrest’s ever-faithful
commanders, General James R. Chalmers, Colonel Tyree H. Bell
with his Tennesseeans, and Colonel Edward W. Rucker, a deadly
gauntlet of artillery was set up near Paris Landing commanding a
mile stretch of the river. They didn’t have to wait long for
the unsuspecting enemy. After two days of vigorous engagements,
the Confederates had captured the gunboat U.S.S Undine,
and the transports Cheeseman, Mazeppa and Venus,
the latter two each towing barges richly laden with valuable
supplies. The Cheeseman was badly damaged and burned
along with the now emptied barges. The Undine was one of
the largest armor clad boats of her class with eight
twenty-four-pound brass howitzers. With some repairs the
gunboat was placed back in action. On the 31st
Forrest decided to organize his own navy arming the Undine
and Venus with more guns and sending them to do battle
with the Federal flotilla at Johnsonville. Forrest’s success on
the river caused the panic-stricken Yankees to destroy and
evacuate the huge Johnsonville depot on the 4th of November.
As rain clouds began
to cover the autumn Tennessee skies, General Forrest
congratulated General Chalmers for their success. Draped across
the General’s saddle was the flag of the U.S.S. Undine, a
very rare prize indeed. His new gunboats and “Horse Marines”
cruised the Tennessee river hearing the cheers of men who had
not seen a Confederate flag on a ship for two years, “making the
air ring with cheer upon cheer.”
Lithographic Prints
750 S/N
Limited Edition Lithographic Prints - Publisher Sold Out!
75 S/N
Artist's Proofs - Publisher Sold Out!
Image Size
26 3/4" x 19 1/2"
Canvas Giclées
50 S/N Studio Canvas Giclées -
Publisher Sold Out!
10 Artist's Proofs - Publisher Sold Out!
Image Size 17" x 23 1/2"
75 S/N Classic Canvas
Giclées - Publisher Sold Out
15 Artist's Proofs - Publisher Sold Out!
Image Size 23" x 32"
10 S/N Executive Canvas
Giclées -
Publisher Sold Out!
4 Artist's Proofs - Publisher Sold Out!
Image Size 29" x 40"
Contact your
local John Paul Strain dealer to order Publisher
Sold Out editions or call us
at
817-560-2143 and we will help you to find the
print you are looking for.
This print will begin
shipping February 18, 2005
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