Lieutenant-Colonel Wiley M. Reed was commander of the 5th Mississippi Cavalry Regiment when he was mortally wounded in action at the Battle of Fort Pillow, Tenn, on April 12, 1864. Lieut-Col. Reed was struck by a volley fired from the inner fort while he was standing on the rifle pits and encouraging his troops during the final charge to take the fort. The total number of Confederate casualties from this battle as reported by General Forrest was 14 killed and 60 wounded. However, a review of the records show that the total casualties were 20 killed or mortally wounded and 80 wounded. The 5th Mississippi Cavalry had the highest number of fatalities at that battle.
General N.B. Forrest was present at the battle and reported the results of his victory with these words: "Among the wounded is the gallant Lieut-Col. Wiley M. Reed while leading the Fifth Mississippi."
Lieut-Col. Wiley M. Reed was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. He joined the army from Tennessee but was assigned the command of this Mississippi regiment after its original commander was captured. Lieut-Col. Reid also investigated the series of atrocities committed by Col. Fielding Hurst of the 6th Tennessee(USA) Cavalry against the civilians of Tennessee. This report was passed on to General Forrest and can be found on page 118, Vol. XXXII, Part 3 of Official Records of the War. This was one of the reasons that General Forrest launched his raid into West Tennessee in March 1864. General Forrest moved his Headquarters up to Jackson, Tenn, from where he made attacks on Union forces as far north as Union, Tenn, and Paducah, KY.
After the Battle of Fort Pillow on April 12, 1864, Lieut-Col. Reed was taken back to Jackson, Tenn, where he suffered with excruciating pain and died 19 days later. A military funeral was held for Lt-Col Reed on May 1st, with Masonic rites and a funeral procession led by General Forrest. That same day, General Forrest lead his cavalry force out of Jackson and returned to Mississippi.
An Atlanta newspaper dated 1877 said Wiley Reed's body was moved to Nashville for re-internment 13 years after his death.
General Forrest later released a letter posted from Tupelo, May 5, that details the death of Lt-Col. Reed. It states he turned over his personal effects and side arms to Wiley Reed's sister, Mrs. Mitchner living near Blackland, Miss.
Alternate spelling of name: Wylie Reed.
General N.B. Forrest was present at the battle and reported the results of his victory with these words: "Among the wounded is the gallant Lieut-Col. Wiley M. Reed while leading the Fifth Mississippi."
Lieut-Col. Wiley M. Reed was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. He joined the army from Tennessee but was assigned the command of this Mississippi regiment after its original commander was captured. Lieut-Col. Reid also investigated the series of atrocities committed by Col. Fielding Hurst of the 6th Tennessee(USA) Cavalry against the civilians of Tennessee. This report was passed on to General Forrest and can be found on page 118, Vol. XXXII, Part 3 of Official Records of the War. This was one of the reasons that General Forrest launched his raid into West Tennessee in March 1864. General Forrest moved his Headquarters up to Jackson, Tenn, from where he made attacks on Union forces as far north as Union, Tenn, and Paducah, KY.
After the Battle of Fort Pillow on April 12, 1864, Lieut-Col. Reed was taken back to Jackson, Tenn, where he suffered with excruciating pain and died 19 days later. A military funeral was held for Lt-Col Reed on May 1st, with Masonic rites and a funeral procession led by General Forrest. That same day, General Forrest lead his cavalry force out of Jackson and returned to Mississippi.
An Atlanta newspaper dated 1877 said Wiley Reed's body was moved to Nashville for re-internment 13 years after his death.
General Forrest later released a letter posted from Tupelo, May 5, that details the death of Lt-Col. Reed. It states he turned over his personal effects and side arms to Wiley Reed's sister, Mrs. Mitchner living near Blackland, Miss.
Alternate spelling of name: Wylie Reed.
Lieutenant-Colonel Wiley M. Reed was commander of the 5th Mississippi Cavalry Regiment when he was mortally wounded in action at the Battle of Fort Pillow, Tenn, on April 12, 1864. Lieut-Col. Reed was struck by a volley fired from the inner fort while he was standing on the rifle pits and encouraging his troops during the final charge to take the fort. The total number of Confederate casualties from this battle as reported by General Forrest was 14 killed and 60 wounded. However, a review of the records show that the total casualties were 20 killed or mortally wounded and 80 wounded. The 5th Mississippi Cavalry had the highest number of fatalities at that battle.
General N.B. Forrest was present at the battle and reported the results of his victory with these words: "Among the wounded is the gallant Lieut-Col. Wiley M. Reed while leading the Fifth Mississippi."
Lieut-Col. Wiley M. Reed was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. He joined the army from Tennessee but was assigned the command of this Mississippi regiment after its original commander was captured. Lieut-Col. Reid also investigated the series of atrocities committed by Col. Fielding Hurst of the 6th Tennessee(USA) Cavalry against the civilians of Tennessee. This report was passed on to General Forrest and can be found on page 118, Vol. XXXII, Part 3 of Official Records of the War. This was one of the reasons that General Forrest launched his raid into West Tennessee in March 1864. General Forrest moved his Headquarters up to Jackson, Tenn, from where he made attacks on Union forces as far north as Union, Tenn, and Paducah, KY.
After the Battle of Fort Pillow on April 12, 1864, Lieut-Col. Reed was taken back to Jackson, Tenn, where he suffered with excruciating pain and died 19 days later. A military funeral was held for Lt-Col Reed on May 1st, with Masonic rites and a funeral procession led by General Forrest. That same day, General Forrest lead his cavalry force out of Jackson and returned to Mississippi.
An Atlanta newspaper dated 1877 said Wiley Reed's body was moved to Nashville for re-internment 13 years after his death.
General Forrest later released a letter posted from Tupelo, May 5, that details the death of Lt-Col. Reed. It states he turned over his personal effects and side arms to Wiley Reed's sister, Mrs. Mitchner living near Blackland, Miss.
Alternate spelling of name: Wylie Reed.
General N.B. Forrest was present at the battle and reported the results of his victory with these words: "Among the wounded is the gallant Lieut-Col. Wiley M. Reed while leading the Fifth Mississippi."
Lieut-Col. Wiley M. Reed was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister. He joined the army from Tennessee but was assigned the command of this Mississippi regiment after its original commander was captured. Lieut-Col. Reid also investigated the series of atrocities committed by Col. Fielding Hurst of the 6th Tennessee(USA) Cavalry against the civilians of Tennessee. This report was passed on to General Forrest and can be found on page 118, Vol. XXXII, Part 3 of Official Records of the War. This was one of the reasons that General Forrest launched his raid into West Tennessee in March 1864. General Forrest moved his Headquarters up to Jackson, Tenn, from where he made attacks on Union forces as far north as Union, Tenn, and Paducah, KY.
After the Battle of Fort Pillow on April 12, 1864, Lieut-Col. Reed was taken back to Jackson, Tenn, where he suffered with excruciating pain and died 19 days later. A military funeral was held for Lt-Col Reed on May 1st, with Masonic rites and a funeral procession led by General Forrest. That same day, General Forrest lead his cavalry force out of Jackson and returned to Mississippi.
An Atlanta newspaper dated 1877 said Wiley Reed's body was moved to Nashville for re-internment 13 years after his death.
General Forrest later released a letter posted from Tupelo, May 5, that details the death of Lt-Col. Reed. It states he turned over his personal effects and side arms to Wiley Reed's sister, Mrs. Mitchner living near Blackland, Miss.
Alternate spelling of name: Wylie Reed.
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