Tyree H. Bell

Tyree H. Bell often referred to by his full name, Tyree Harris Bell, was a Confederate States Army brigadier general during the American Civil War. He commanded a regiment of infantry in 1861 and most of 1862. He became a cavalry commander under Major General, later Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest and fought with Forrest in several raids and battles during the last two years of the war. After the Civil War, he was a successful farmer in Fresno County, California.

Early life
Tyree H. Bell was born on September 5, 1815 in Covington, Kentucky. He grew up on his father's small plantation at Gallatin, Tennessee. He was educated in rural schools. Bell became a planter on his own plantation in Sumner County, Tennessee.

American Civil War
When the American Civil War started, Bell raised a company of infantry, Company G (later A) for the 12th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the Confederate States Army. He was elected its captain, June 4, 1861. He soon became lieutenant colonel of the regiment and commanded it at the Battle of Belmont and the Battle of Shiloh, where he was wounded in the leg by the fall of his horse, one of two shot from under him during the battle. He was promoted to colonel in May 1862, continuing as colonel of the consolidated 12th Tennessee Infantry and 22nd Tennessee Infantry on June 17, 1862. Bell led the regiment in the Confederate invasion of Kentucky and the Battle of Richmond, and operations around Corinth, Mississippi.

After this service, Bell's consolidated regiment was further merged with the 47th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment on October 30, 1862 and Bell became an extra officer. In Spring, 1863, Colonel Bell was given a cavalry command under Major General, later Lieutenant General, Nathan Bedford Forrest. Bell's regiment threatened the Union rear at the Battle of Perryville and menaced the Union flank and rear at the Battle of Stones River. In January 1864, Forrest gave Bell command of an independent brigade. Soon thereafter, in February 1864, Bell began command of a brigade in Brigadier General Abraham Buford's division of Forrest's Cavalry Corps. Bell led the brigade for the rest of the war, receiving consistent praise. He and his brigade fought in the Battle of Fort Pillow, the Battle of Brice's Crossroads, the Battle of Tupelo and against Union Brigadier General Andrew J. Smith's force in Mississippi in August 1864 after the Battle of Tupelo. Bell was wounded in the chest, back and face at Pulaski, Tennessee on September 27, 1864.

Tyree H. Bell was appointed a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army on February 28, 1865. At the end of the war, he participated in the defense of Georgia and Alabama against Union Brigadier General James H. Wilson's 1865 raid. and the Battle of Selma, Alabama. After surrendering with the rest of Forrest's troops on May 9, 1865, Bell was paroled at Gainesville, Alabama on May 10, 1865.

Aftermath
Ten years after the end of the war, Bell moved to Fresno County, California where he became a successful farmer and participated in civic affairs.

Tyree H. Bell died at New Orleans, Louisiana, August 30, 1902, while returning from a visit to his old home in Gallatin, Tennessee and a Confederate veteran reunion. He is buried in Bethel Cemetery, near Sanger, California.

Personal Life
Married Dec 2, 1841, Mary Ann Walton (Jan 22, 1820 - Aug 20, 1881) in Sumner County, TN. They had nine children, including at least three sons who also served in the Civil War, one of whom died during service.