Tyree H. Bell

Tyree Harris Bell (September 5, 1815 – August 30, 1902) was a senior officer of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

As lieutenant colonel Bell commanded the 12th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was severely wounded at the Battle of Shiloh. He led his regiment in the invasion of Kentucky and the Battle of Richmond.

Later Bell commanded a cavalry regiment and then a brigade under Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest. As one of Forrest's trusted lieutenants, he fought in several raids and battles during the last two years of the war. Bell's force successfully covered the Army of Tennessee's retreat after the Battle of Nashville, but Bell was again seriously wounded and lost his right eye.

After receiving consistent praise from his superior officers Bell was promoted to brigadier general on February 28, 1865. At the end of the war he participated in the Battle of Selma and ultimately surrendered with Forrest's command. Ten years after the Civil War, Bell moved from Tennessee to Fresno County, California, and became a successful farmer.

Early life Tyree H. Bell was born on September 5, 1815, in Covington, Kentucky, the son of Absalom B. Bell and Susannah Harris. 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. Bell married Mary Ann Walton on December 2, 1841. Tyree and Mary Ann Bell had nine children. The regiment moved to Columbus, Kentucky in September 1861 and spending the summer in Jackson, Tennessee and Union City, Tennessee. With Russell again in command of a brigade, Bell led the regiment 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, and also suffered a serious bullet wound.

After only six weeks of recovery after being wounded at Shiloh, Bell returned was promoted to colonel of the 12th Tennessee Infantry Regiment in May 1862. He continued as colonel of the consolidated 12th Tennessee Infantry and 22nd Tennessee Infantry when the regiments were combined on June 17, 1862. Bell again was seriously wounded at Richland Creek in December while covering the retreat of Hood's Army of Tennessee after the Confederate rout at the Battle of Nashville.

Upon his return to duty, Tyree H. Bell was appointed a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army on February 28, 1865. After surrendering with the rest of Forrest's troops on May 9, 1865, Bell was paroled at Gainesville, Alabama, on May 10, 1865. He is buried in Bethel Cemetery, near Sanger, California. thumb