Forrest "They can have their husbands

[Barrycdog]

"But another incident, related by Col. D. C. Kelley,
vividly exhibits Gen. Forrest in another mood. When
campaigning with his regiment in the vicinity of Fort
Donelson the men captured some Federals who were
known as bushwhackers by our men, as they operated
in the country where they enlisted. The wife of one
of these prisoners, seeing her husband in captivity,
rushed out to where Col. Forrest was standing and,
falling on her knees, appealed to him for his release.
Col. Keller witnessed this incident from a distance,
and, observing the woman spring from the ground and
clap her hands, questioned Col. Forrest about the unusual
scene when he came up. The Colonel replied
with rather unsteady voice: "They can have their husbands
if I've got them-that is, if they will make them
behave."

By J.P. Young-Memphis TN
CONFEDERATE VETERAN
Volume # V No 6
1897

 

[Northern Light]

"But another incident, related by Col. D. C. Kelley,
vividly exhibits Gen. Forrest in another mood. When
campaigning with his regiment in the vicinity of Fort
Donelson the men captured some Federals who were
known as bushwhackers by our men, as they operated
in the country where they enlisted. The wife of one
of these prisoners, seeing her husband in captivity,
rushed out to where Col. Forrest was standing and,
falling on her knees, appealed to him for his release.
Col. Keller witnessed this incident from a distance,
and, observing the woman spring from the ground and
clap her hands, questioned Col. Forrest about the unusual
scene when he came up. The Colonel replied
with rather unsteady voice: "They can have their husbands
if I've got them-that is, if they will make them
behave."

By J.P. Young-Memphis TN
CONFEDERATE VETERAN
Volume # V No 6
1897

She must have put the skeer on him!

 

[diane]

This may be an apocryphal story - that said, though, this was early in the war and Forrest was a much softer touch than later in the war! Especially where bushwhackers were concerned. This early, however, he was more inclined to believe they could be chastised and mend their ways. Forrest was always, no matter how hard boiled he got, deferential to women and greatly respected them. He particularly felt for those whose husbands were dead, no matter what side they were on.

There is an interesting story of the first Murfreesboro raid, one of Forrest's undisputed masterpieces. Passing through a small town on the way, Forrest was mobbed by just about every lady in town because the Federals had passed through and arrested all the men. They had been taken to Murfreesboro. Forrest assured them their men would be back home by next sunset. They were! The red carpet was rolled out and all manner of food and forage was provided for the cavalrymen who had freed the men. As was his custom, Forrest let his command have a few bites and then hit the road. Mobility was his game!

 

[Northern Light]

This may be an apocryphal story - that said, though, this was early in the war and Forrest was a much softer touch than later in the war! Especially where bushwhackers were concerned. This early, however, he was more inclined to believe they could be chastised and mend their ways. Forrest was always, no matter how hard boiled he got, deferential to women and greatly respected them. He particularly felt for those whose husbands were dead, no matter what side they were on.

There is an interesting story of the first Murfreesboro raid, one of Forrest's undisputed masterpieces. Passing through a small town on the way, Forrest was mobbed by just about every lady in town because the Federals had passed through and arrested all the men. They had been taken to Murfreesboro. Forrest assured them their men would be back home by next sunset. They were! The red carpet was rolled out and all manner of food and forage was provided for the cavalrymen who had freed the men. As was his custom, Forrest let his command have a few bites and then hit the road. Mobility was his game!

The more I read about Forrest the more I like him. before I joined CWT, I thought of him as some nasty, evil man in a bedsheet, but his character is very complex and interesting. Diane, I think you have a convert here!

 

[LittleTennessee]

The more I read about Forrest the more I like him. before I joined CWT, I thought of him as some nasty, evil man in a bedsheet, but his character is very complex and interesting. Diane, I think you have a convert here!

It's very true. I thought the same of him up until a few years ago. He is actually one of my favorites now and since most people only associate him with the KKK I have received a few nasty looks when he comes up. I'd hang out with him haha

 

[Patrick H]

This is a good story. One of the things that makes so many of these stories interesting and amusing to me is the dry wit that shows up in the quotes. That goes way beyond Forrest. Perhaps it was the writers who injected the wit during the retelling of the stories.

 

[Northern Light]

It's very true. I thought the same of him up until a few years ago. He is actually one of my favorites now and since most people only associate him with the KKK I have received a few nasty looks when he comes up. I'd hang out with him haha

I had a vague awareness of him, but really had never read anything about him until after I had seen Forrest Gump (don't laugh) What I read and the photos displayed did nothing to impress me. Now I can see in those same photos the grave dignity of the man, and the determination behind that stern exterior! In his later pictures there is a softer, more gentle expression, that intrigues.

 

[12th Missouri Yankee]

General Forrest certainly is an interesting commander. The more I learn about him, the more I like him too.
Incredible story.

 

[diane]

Fwiw, the author of the anecdote is Judge J P Young, who was prominent in post-war Confederate veterans activities. In 1890 he wrote a history of the 7th Tennessee, Forrest's main command, and helped raise money for the equestrian statue in Memphis - he officiated at the ceremonies unveiling it. D C Kelley was on Forrest's staff and was known as "The Fighting Chaplain".

 

[nitrofd]

As always diane, you enlighten us.WELL DONE.

 

[Allie]

I'm pleased to know more about JP Young, as I've just read his book.

Hanging out with Forrest could be a tricky business if you were a man. He seems to have had a legendarily bad temper - one of the things Young says about DC Kelley is that he was able to "talk Forrest down." I think, reading some of the anecdotes about him, that his temper sometimes frightened and embarrassed even him, which made him more likely to show mercy when he was in a calmer mood. That's my reading about these ladies and their petition. It's all very well to terrify men, but when you terrify ladies, it makes you feel bad.

 

[12th Missouri Yankee]

I think Forrest had high standards and expected a lot from his men and officers. Since the woman did nothing wrong it is not unusual that he showed mercy for her plea. He had a low tolerance for ineptitude and was very intelligent.

 

[JerseyBart]

Do bad a** things. Say bad a** stuff. Then be sympathetic in a bad a** way. That'll give you a bad a** reputation.

 

[Stony]

Do bad a** things. Say bad a** stuff. Then be sympathetic in a bad a** way. That'll give you a bad a** reputation.

Sounds pretty bad arse to me. lol

 

[ole]

Forrest was ... well ... Forrest. He is both idolized and condemned. I find him admirable; not great, not bad, but unique. It is difficult to not admire his accomplishments.

 

[diane]

Forrest was ... well ... Forrest. He is both idolized and condemned. I find him admirable; not great, not bad, but unique. It is difficult to not admire his accomplishments.

That's the size of it! Kind of feel the same way about Sherman, too. I do have a hard time figuring why some people can't believe a story like this about Forrest but he was a human being, after all. After the battle at Sacramento, he helped take one of the three men he sabered to his home - the family were old friends of the Forrests. Forrest spent some time with the soon-to-be widow - the man died - and came out crying. To his credit he made no excuses, it was war, but he sure felt for the wife.

 

[Allie]

That's the size of it! Kind of feel the same way about Sherman, too. I do have a hard time figuring why some people can't believe a story like this about Forrest but he was a human being, after all. After the battle at Sacramento, he helped take one of the three men he sabered to his home - the family were old friends of the Forrests. Forrest spent some time with the soon-to-be widow - the man died - and came out crying. To his credit he made no excuses, it was war, but he sure felt for the wife.

And then there's the officer who tried to kill him, the one he charged down the street after. I don't recall all the details of the conflict off the top of my head but I do remember he ended up weeping pitifully at the man's death-bed.

A fair number of great warriors have stories like that about them. Alexander the Great killed a childhood friend in a brawl at dinner. Just this whole other mode where civilized conduct goes right out the window.

 

[diane]

And then there's the officer who tried to kill him, the one he charged down the street after. I don't recall all the details of the conflict off the top of my head but I do remember he ended up weeping pitifully at the man's death-bed.

A fair number of great warriors have stories like that about them. Alexander the Great killed a childhood friend in a brawl at dinner. Just this whole other mode where civilized conduct goes right out the window.

That man was Willis Gould. Forrest stabbed him out of self defense but he didn't believe he had killed him. Gould was shorter by a lot than Forrest, which meant the blade thrust was further downward than Forrest intended - hit the lung.

Forrest's first artillery captain was killed by Union soldiers because he had been wounded and they needed to run - he couldn't and they shot him. (That running was because Forrest was pursuing.) I cannot recall the name at the moment and haven't my resources with me - but Forrest shed real tears over him when they found him.

 

[Nathanb1]

Forrest was ... well ... Forrest. He is both idolized and condemned. I find him admirable; not great, not bad, but unique. It is difficult to not admire his accomplishments.

Just a man. Didn't claim to be perfect. I sort of like that.

On the theme expounded by Diane, I'll say till I really sat down and studied him I didn't realize how much time the guy spent crying for other people. So much for real men and tears.....yes, Virginia, they do cry.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

And then there's the officer who tried to kill him, the one he charged down the street after. I don't recall all the details of the conflict off the top of my head but I do remember he ended up weeping pitifully at the man's death-bed.

A fair number of great warriors have stories like that about them. Alexander the Great killed a childhood friend in a brawl at dinner. Just this whole other mode where civilized conduct goes right out the window.

I think you'll enjoy this thread about that incident.
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/no-ed-man-kills-me-and-lives-the-forrest-gould-affair.98639/