(Directions to Caldwell Hall-Enter the McCallie School campus off of Dodds Avenue opposite the end of Bailey Avenue. Take the main drive into the campus and follow the signs for the Academic Quadrangle. There is a parking area there beside the Chapel and you will have passed Caldwell Hall on the right as you approach the parking area. Find a place and park. Caldwell Hall will be behind you as you park. Come in either the first or second floor doors and follow the signs to the Millis-Evans Room.)

Tyree H. Bell was a Kentucky native who then grew up on a Tennessee plantation. At the outbreak of the war in 1861, he was a farmer and stock raiser himself who was recognized in his neighborhood as a leader. He led one of the early Tennessee companies to war and quickly became the lieutenant-colonel of the 12th Tennessee. With that unit, Bell saw action at Belmont in November, 1861, a battle that is the subject of another of Dr. Hughes' books. Five months later, he commanded the 12th at Shiloh and then took the regiment into Kentucky with Kirby Smith in August of 1862. The Kentucky campaign ended his infantry career. Authorized to raise a cavalry command, he served the rest of the war in North Alabama, North Mississippi, and West and Middle Tennessee and was there when Forrest came west to command in that area in late 1863. With Forrest, as one of the "Wizard of the Saddle's" trusted subordinates, Bell saw action at Fort Pillow, Brice's Crossroads, and during Hood's Middle Tennessee Campaign, actions that won him promotion to Brigadier-General. After the war, Bell returned to farming in Tennessee before moving to California.

Bell's wartime career, particularly the latter half of it, is reflective of just how complex the war in the Volunteer State is. An infantry commander turn cavalry commander many of who's horseman had transferred themselves with at best questionable authority but who did fight and fight well under Bell and Forrest. Those actions of the last part of the war took place in an area where it was definitely a war within a war, where first one side and then the other held sway. We'll hear some of this and more when Dr. Hughes addresses us on Tuesday.

Tennessee native Dr. Nathaniel C. Hughes hardly needs and introduction. Educator, headmaster, historian, author, Round Table member, he has done much to shape the lives of many, young and old and historically minded or not. Dr. Hughes's many, many contributions to Civl War history and scholarship include the only biography of William J. Hardee, histories of the battles of Belmont and Bentonville, edited memoirs of St. John Liddell, Henry Stanley, P. D. Stephenson (one of the best of all soldier memoirs), William Carlin, and the fine unit history The Pride of the Confederate Artillery: The Washington Artillery in the Army of Tennessee. He and his wife, Bucky, live here in Chattanooga.

The first item is a copy of his just released University of Tennessee Press book Brigadier General Tyree H. Bell, C. S. A.: Forrest's Fighting Lieutenant. The second item is a copy of his Liddell's Record: St. John Richardson Liddell, Brigadier General, C. S. A., Staff Officer and Brigade Commander, Army of Tennessee. The third item is the volume he and his wife Bucky did entitled Quiet Places: The Burial Sites of Civil War Generals in Tennessee. The fourth item is five of the six issues from 2003 of Blue and Gray Magazine which include B & G's annual Gettysburg issue with articles and tours of such things as Richard Ewell's demonstration before East Cemetery Hill and Richard ANderson's attack, both on July 2nd, and other issues that cover Forrest at Parker's Crossroads, the Battle of McDowell, Vicksburg, and the Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid. Proceeds from the Speaker's Fund go toward bringing speakers in from outside the area. Your support of the Speaker's Fund is appreciated.

Thurs 7th The morning was beautiful and found me n my post as guard. I was relieved by the Corporal at 7 oclk. and in a short time after I got something to eat (they having loaded the waggons we having been ordered to move) we were ordered into line the battalion formed and ordered right face forward march. Just as the head of our Regiment reached Gen. Polks head quarters it was announced that we would cross the River that the enemy were Coming in great numbers and their Gun Boats were then in sight and our Batteries had already opened up on them and they were returning the fire from their Boats which were soon in sight of us. As quick as the steam Boats at our landing (then being several present) were in readiness to receive us we were ordered aboard and soon our Reg. the 12th Pickets the 21st and Freemans the 22nd & Wrights 13th were on the Missouria shore when we were soon marched in double quick something less then a mile and formed in line of battle directly after which we could distinctly hear the firing of our pickets and the enemy and every minute or so a runner would come in telling us the enemy were steadily advancing and that, in great numbers and every moment the firing was plainer, and plainer to be heard and soon our pickets were in sight and run in and formed for battle and soon the enemy were in sight firing as they come we were ordered to fire and such roar of Cannon and sound of small arms never saluted my ears; our Reg. being on the extreme right and Pickets Reg. (with Watsons Battery who have been for some time encamped on the Mo. side of the River) were in full play upon our extreme left soon our Company the Friendship volunteers being the extreme left of our Reg. were ordered to go (some three or four hundred yards to where our ammunition waggon was) after Cartaridges we being nearly out. and as we went and returned with the Cartaridges the bullets whistled about our heads and about our feet.before we returned to our Reg. they being out of ammunition they were ordered to Charge which they attempted to do but being in such an exposed condition they being somewhat sheltered behind a hill and at it we went again though in a Confused Condition becoming entangled in the Charge and retreat our men beginning to fall and we being in disorder we were ordered to retreat Just before the last order was given Wm Parish was wounded immediately on my left side dropped his gun Clasping his hand to his right shoulder said to me "I am wounded in the shoulder" and shortly I felt the wind from a ball brush my left lock or whisker after we had retreated but a short distance a man whom I did not recognise was shot through the shoulders angling and fell at my feet the blood spouting from both sides some friends picking him up and carrying him off when he soon expired Just in front of me James Jackson of our Company fell being shot through the right Breast and was taken up by some of our boys and Carried off we fell back near the River where we again formed and by this time the enemy had turned our extreme left down the River and took our Batary where the fight was awful. We were then put in motion and pushed ahead in order to out flank the enemy and get in his rear which we accomplished and were ordered to Charge when a yell was raised and we Charged to within full range of our guns and down we fell and at it we went shooting as fast as we could load and fire one not waiting for an other and the Louisianna Reg. having flanked them still further down the River The enemy were exposed to a Cross fire which soon Caused them to retreat and about the time they commenced retreating Gen Cheatham Crossed the River with part of his Command and out flanked them up the River pouring in a deadly fire and pushing after them with our Cavelry followed them to their Boats some two miles strewing the way with the dead and wounded The enemy took our Batary but we retook it from them together with a large number of Small arms ammunition etc. out loss in Killed and wounded was Considerable that of the enemy verry heavy