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Four years with Morgan and Forrest
Published in 1914, these are the recollections of Colonel Thomas Berry, from when he served under Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest and John Hunt Morgan during the Civil War. Includes Morgan's invasion into Indiana, Chickamauga, Rock Island prison, serving with General Jo Shelby in Mexico and much more.
516 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1914
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 15, 2019
This book was written in 1914 and it’s quite obvious from the forward how the story is going to go.
Even though Mr. Berry states he is only going to provide the facts as he saw them with no bias, the venom over the North’s invasion of the South spews out in every sentence. He goes to great lengths to justify the South’s position and that it was the state’s rights to succeed, based on the constitution. But to compare it to the colonies breaking away from England and their tyrannical rule over the New World is a bit of a stretch. Let’s see how the rest of the story plays out.
The North wanted to wage the war so they could take over the negro slaves and plantations? How absurd can one be? Why is there no mention of the glorious South firing the first shots at Fort Sumter which launched the country into this bloody contest that, as he says, took the flower of our country who turned the soil red. Many of the Southern Generals, including Lee, knew that slavery was on the way out. This is what happens when emotions overtake reasoning.
While the author raves about the invasion from the North, how does he justify executing the thirty-two men responsible for his sister’s death without a trial? This isn’t the only place where these despicable executions occur. When performed by the South it is justifiable and done with honor. But when the Northern soldiers perform the acts, they are lower than dogs and deserve everything they receive. After all, the only reason they started the war was to steal the Negroes and plunder the rich folk of the South. Seriously?
And after all of his gallantry and love of the South, what does he do after the war? He turns tale and hides out in Mexico. That would make him a coward in my book.
Now for my opinion. This work puts James Bond to shame. He was wounded twenty times and escaped from prison at least eight. Honestly, I lost count because I didn’t believe a word of it. Why. Let’s see. One time he is wounded in the belly with a perforated bowel. It is FOUR WEEKS before it is treated. Not by a physician but by himself. That’s right, he operates on himself.
Another wound is a compact femur fracture which miraculously heals in two months! And then he’s back in the saddle. Another time when he escapes, his entourage covers 320 miles in five days, only riding at night and never picking up fresh horses. Really?
When I do a search for the Berry brothers in The Civil War Registry, I only find privates, not a Captains or a Colonel as Mr. Berry continues to elude to. Oh, and let’s not forget his last masterful escape from the Rock Island prison. He’s grievously wounded, yet overtakes his three guards, jumps out a two-story window, runs down an alley to a sympathizer’s house, obtains a horse and rides for, as I remember, two to three days with no ill affects from the grievous wounds. Give me a break!
I would also like to know how he had exact counts of casualties for both North and South for each engagement his group was in. I’ve never seen such precise numbers in any book I’ve read about any war!
Mr. Berry makes mention that he visited Andersonville prison. Why? What business does he have in Georgia when his men are supposedly fighting in Kentucky and Tennessee? He describes Andersonville as a decent prison with only a poor supply of water. Are you kidding me? History has shown that Andersonville (Georgia) and Douglas (Illinois) were hell holes where tens of thousands of soldiers died at their captor’s hands. To suggest otherwise is ludicrous.
I believe if General Lee would have known what Mr. Berry and his group of raiders were doing to the enemy, they would have been summarily shot on sight.
One last point, why did he have his servant, Negro, Tom with him? He didn’t have enough rank to garner such a privilege yet, like most of the tall tales in this story, he suddenly appears and is accosted and killed by one of Berry’s own men.
Why would a veteran wait sixty years to publish his recollections of the conflict? I can only come up with one answer, all of those in the story have passed on or cannot be found thus no one will be able to refute this fanciful tale. And that is exactly what it is- utter and despicable fantasy.
There is also a slew of misspellings through the story. Not sure if this was in the original manuscript or the new version. I would hazard to guess it was the second.
Who will enjoy this? Those who enjoy a good yarn with no substance.
Two stars
Even though Mr. Berry states he is only going to provide the facts as he saw them with no bias, the venom over the North’s invasion of the South spews out in every sentence. He goes to great lengths to justify the South’s position and that it was the state’s rights to succeed, based on the constitution. But to compare it to the colonies breaking away from England and their tyrannical rule over the New World is a bit of a stretch. Let’s see how the rest of the story plays out.
The North wanted to wage the war so they could take over the negro slaves and plantations? How absurd can one be? Why is there no mention of the glorious South firing the first shots at Fort Sumter which launched the country into this bloody contest that, as he says, took the flower of our country who turned the soil red. Many of the Southern Generals, including Lee, knew that slavery was on the way out. This is what happens when emotions overtake reasoning.
While the author raves about the invasion from the North, how does he justify executing the thirty-two men responsible for his sister’s death without a trial? This isn’t the only place where these despicable executions occur. When performed by the South it is justifiable and done with honor. But when the Northern soldiers perform the acts, they are lower than dogs and deserve everything they receive. After all, the only reason they started the war was to steal the Negroes and plunder the rich folk of the South. Seriously?
And after all of his gallantry and love of the South, what does he do after the war? He turns tale and hides out in Mexico. That would make him a coward in my book.
Now for my opinion. This work puts James Bond to shame. He was wounded twenty times and escaped from prison at least eight. Honestly, I lost count because I didn’t believe a word of it. Why. Let’s see. One time he is wounded in the belly with a perforated bowel. It is FOUR WEEKS before it is treated. Not by a physician but by himself. That’s right, he operates on himself.
Another wound is a compact femur fracture which miraculously heals in two months! And then he’s back in the saddle. Another time when he escapes, his entourage covers 320 miles in five days, only riding at night and never picking up fresh horses. Really?
When I do a search for the Berry brothers in The Civil War Registry, I only find privates, not a Captains or a Colonel as Mr. Berry continues to elude to. Oh, and let’s not forget his last masterful escape from the Rock Island prison. He’s grievously wounded, yet overtakes his three guards, jumps out a two-story window, runs down an alley to a sympathizer’s house, obtains a horse and rides for, as I remember, two to three days with no ill affects from the grievous wounds. Give me a break!
I would also like to know how he had exact counts of casualties for both North and South for each engagement his group was in. I’ve never seen such precise numbers in any book I’ve read about any war!
Mr. Berry makes mention that he visited Andersonville prison. Why? What business does he have in Georgia when his men are supposedly fighting in Kentucky and Tennessee? He describes Andersonville as a decent prison with only a poor supply of water. Are you kidding me? History has shown that Andersonville (Georgia) and Douglas (Illinois) were hell holes where tens of thousands of soldiers died at their captor’s hands. To suggest otherwise is ludicrous.
I believe if General Lee would have known what Mr. Berry and his group of raiders were doing to the enemy, they would have been summarily shot on sight.
One last point, why did he have his servant, Negro, Tom with him? He didn’t have enough rank to garner such a privilege yet, like most of the tall tales in this story, he suddenly appears and is accosted and killed by one of Berry’s own men.
Why would a veteran wait sixty years to publish his recollections of the conflict? I can only come up with one answer, all of those in the story have passed on or cannot be found thus no one will be able to refute this fanciful tale. And that is exactly what it is- utter and despicable fantasy.
There is also a slew of misspellings through the story. Not sure if this was in the original manuscript or the new version. I would hazard to guess it was the second.
Who will enjoy this? Those who enjoy a good yarn with no substance.
Two stars
May 5, 2019
Fascinating memoir of a Civil War soldier
Detailed description of the many battles and leaders in the Western theater. The veteran's detailed descriptions provide excellent insight on the war and the post war actions in the American West and Mexico.
Detailed description of the many battles and leaders in the Western theater. The veteran's detailed descriptions provide excellent insight on the war and the post war actions in the American West and Mexico.
February 20, 2023
Four Years With Morgan And Forrest
I understand in a biography authors sometimes embellish the truth, however this book has gone way beyond stretching the details to becoming a work of total fiction! If Thomas Franklin Berry was shot as many times as he claims he was, he’d have more holes than Swiss Cheese. His recollections of Nathan Bedford Forrest sound more like a romantic love than that of commander and soldier. If you are interested in an arrogant insight into the Southern man’s views of the Civil War, then read this book. In my opinion, if this book had a smell, it would be cow manure.
I understand in a biography authors sometimes embellish the truth, however this book has gone way beyond stretching the details to becoming a work of total fiction! If Thomas Franklin Berry was shot as many times as he claims he was, he’d have more holes than Swiss Cheese. His recollections of Nathan Bedford Forrest sound more like a romantic love than that of commander and soldier. If you are interested in an arrogant insight into the Southern man’s views of the Civil War, then read this book. In my opinion, if this book had a smell, it would be cow manure.
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December 18, 2014Good book
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews