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- Feb 5, 2017
This is from Bedford Forrest and his critter company, by Andrew Nelson Lyle 1931
In the days immediately preceding a campaign in Tennessee in 1864, General Forrest was e route by train near Tupelo, Mississippi. He was traveling back to his troops camped in the northeast area of the state. Moving to the backend of the last coach, Forrest "sat down, folded his arms, and dropped his chin on his chest. His staff withdrew to a respectful distance. The General was at work, and they knew better than to disturb him. He was planning the raid: how much ordnance he would need, how many supplies, the expected obstacles, the route of march, reports of his scouts, movements weeks ahead — every detail which he could possibly foresee passed through his powerful mind and was put in its proper place. At such a time his imagination, rooted deep in a concrete brain, was too much for his nerves. The slightest interruption turned them, raw and jangling, from his thoughts to his muscles.
"A lady who knew him well happened to be on the train and, seeing him all alone, could not resist the temptation to while away the journey in such distinguished company. A member of the staff told her he was very busy; that at such times he was not quite himself; and that it would not be wise to bother him. But the lady persisted. The officer then suggested that she might find the staff an entertaining group of men; but she let it be known that she never took bread when she could get meat. Passing the empty rows of seats, she greeted the General cheerily. The sound of a growl rose above the noise of the train, and the lady fled back to the amused staff, her eyes flashing, her face red, and her pin feathers bristling. "I've never been spoken to before like that by any man. General Forrest is a boor!" - "I told you, madam, you should not disturb the General."
"Shortly after this episode, the General rose up and rejoined his staff. He greeted the lady as if he were seeing her for the first time. Her anger melted, and they were soon busy with compliments. When the inevitable lull came, the lady asked, "General, why is it the hair on your head is gray and your beard is black?"
"I don't know, ma'am, unless it's because I work my head more'n I do my jaws."
The lady lapsed into silence."
In the days immediately preceding a campaign in Tennessee in 1864, General Forrest was e route by train near Tupelo, Mississippi. He was traveling back to his troops camped in the northeast area of the state. Moving to the backend of the last coach, Forrest "sat down, folded his arms, and dropped his chin on his chest. His staff withdrew to a respectful distance. The General was at work, and they knew better than to disturb him. He was planning the raid: how much ordnance he would need, how many supplies, the expected obstacles, the route of march, reports of his scouts, movements weeks ahead — every detail which he could possibly foresee passed through his powerful mind and was put in its proper place. At such a time his imagination, rooted deep in a concrete brain, was too much for his nerves. The slightest interruption turned them, raw and jangling, from his thoughts to his muscles.
"A lady who knew him well happened to be on the train and, seeing him all alone, could not resist the temptation to while away the journey in such distinguished company. A member of the staff told her he was very busy; that at such times he was not quite himself; and that it would not be wise to bother him. But the lady persisted. The officer then suggested that she might find the staff an entertaining group of men; but she let it be known that she never took bread when she could get meat. Passing the empty rows of seats, she greeted the General cheerily. The sound of a growl rose above the noise of the train, and the lady fled back to the amused staff, her eyes flashing, her face red, and her pin feathers bristling. "I've never been spoken to before like that by any man. General Forrest is a boor!" - "I told you, madam, you should not disturb the General."
"Shortly after this episode, the General rose up and rejoined his staff. He greeted the lady as if he were seeing her for the first time. Her anger melted, and they were soon busy with compliments. When the inevitable lull came, the lady asked, "General, why is it the hair on your head is gray and your beard is black?"
"I don't know, ma'am, unless it's because I work my head more'n I do my jaws."
The lady lapsed into silence."
Bringing the