Michael Bradley's Books

The Last Words is my latest book. It examines the farewell addresses of U.S. and C.S. officers to their men at the end of the Civil War. In these addresses the officers review the record their men amassed and reflect on the reasons why they fought.

It is a surprising fact that only one U.S. officer mentions ending slavery as the reason he and his men fought, all the others say they fought to preserve the Union.

$30 hard cover
$25 soft cover
plus shipping.

"Decisions of the Tullahoma Campaign" is now available. Published by the University of Tennessee Press, this book discussed why things happened instead of focusing on what took place.

Paperback, $30 plus postage.

It Happened in the Great Smokies. True stories about the people of the Smoky Mountains from Cherokee leaders to Dolly Parton. 179 pages, paperback, $17 plus postage

March 25, Sam Davis Home in Smyrna, TN, I will give a public program on "Murfreesboro in the Civil War." Tis presentation will be accessible on Zoom. Contact Sam Davis Home for details.

On March 13 I will speak at a luncheon in honor of Patrick R. Cleburne at Eagleville, TN. The luncheon is at noon.

One of my favorite books is David Campbell Kelley, a Methodist missionary and pastor who was a combat officer under Forrest and, post-war, was a founder of Vanderbilt University. He was a personal friend of Forrest and helped conduct his funeral.

David Campbell Kelley --Forrest's Fighting Preacher is $20.

Every Civil War general above the rank of brigadier had an es**rt, or bodyguard, company. The Es**rt Company of Bedford Forrest was unique in that it was recruited solely for the purpose of being his bodyguards and it was never part of a regiment--always an independent cavalry company. The official name of the body is "John Jackson's Cavalry Company."

The Es**rt was formed in Middle Tennessee in 1862 and stayed with Forrest until the surrender in 1865. In 1876 the survivors met with Forrest near Tullahoma, Tennessee, and formed a veterans association of men who had served in the Es**rt or on Forrest's Staff. This group met annually until 1906.

The book contains the war-time exploits of the Es**rt and the record of their post-war reunions. Included is a roster of the men who served in the company.

Price is $25 plus postage.

This book is a catalog of every unit which served under Forrest, both cavalry and artillery. The units are listed alphabetically by state and numerically by regiment. The book includes a history of each unit and stories told by the men who served in it. Price is $20.

They Rode With Forrest