Forrest's 3rd Tennessee Cavalry regiment is the most confusing unit in Tennessee. Their chapter in the excellent book "Tennesseans In The Civil War," is long and very detailed. They began as a battalion and were increased to a full regiment in January 1862. Some of the companies were Tennesseans, one Texas, some from Kentucky and a few from Alabama. The regiment was broken up later and redone as two separate Tennessee cavalry battalions. It later became a regiment again and always carried the name "Forrest's Old Regiment." The units from other states were then added to cavalry units from those states.

Not only did two of the KY cavalry companies remain behind at Donelson, as did the Texans, but so did all of Gantt's 9th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion.

We will never know how many men got out with Forrest nor walked out of the fort itself after the Federals took charge. It may be hundreds of the latter alone including Brig. Gen. Bushrod Johnson and some of his officers.

Greg Biggs