Posted on 07/20/2007 6:24:09 PM PDT by SuzyQ2
Forrest's soldiers loved him. His fellow generals admired him. His enemies were terrified at the mere mention of his name. Gen. Robert E. Lee said of his finest subordinate commanders, the most remarkable was one he "had never met" — Forrest. And U.S. and foreign military officers alike have studied Forrest’s campaigns over the decades since the end of the war. It has even been speculated that some aspects of the German Blitzkrieg were patterned after some of Forrest's operations.
(Excerpt) Read more at tank.nationalreview.com ...
General Washburn escaped from the hotel in the 1864 version of his underpants. To compound the general’s terror, William Forrest gathered up Washburn’s uniform and took it as a trophy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
LOL,,,I guess we would call the General a “terrorist” today,
Because he did just that,,,My true feelings ??,,,,,,,,,,,,
I wouldn’t trade the “Brothers” I fought with in the Nam’
For the General,,,Hard Words ??,,,
Blood is Thicker Than Water...:0)...Fo’Sho...
Well said.
Now as then, the yankees could never catch or beat Forrest, so all they could (and can now) do is try to smear him with blood libels.
in my haste and going simply from memory...I failed to correct another point
Bedford stabbed Gould with his penknife after Gould shot him in a dispute
Gould then died in Forrest’s care begging forgiveness and it was later said that was Forrest’s worst day of the war aside from holding his dead neck shot brother in his arms at the battle of Okalona south of Tupelo Miss in 1863
thanks....these weak minded lemmings aggravate me...they exemplify what is wrong with our notions today and why we can’t deal with any problem facing us
it must all be held up to the minority light first....
that trumps all...the truth, the will to prevail, who our real enemies are, who our real heroes are, where we came from, how to solve crime, how to boost cultural self esteem, medical care, taxation, fix schools, fight Islam, manage immigration....
all that and more is crippled by this absurd predisposition here to judge any action by the “prism of minority ..whther race, religion, gender, sexual preference and so forth”
it is a a national disease far far worse than the evils it claims to fight
A convention and BBQ was held by the Independent Order of Pole-Bearers Association at the fairgrounds of Memphis, five miles east of the city. An invitation to speak was conveyed to General Nathan Bedford Forrest, one of the city's most prominent citizens, and one of the foremost cavalry commanders in the late War Between the States. This was the first invitation granted to a white man to speak at this gathering. The invitation's purpose, one of the leaders said, was to extend peace, joy, and union, and following a brief welcoming address a Miss Lou Lewis, daughter of an officer of the Pole-Bearers, brought forward flowers and assurances that she conveyed them as a token of good will. After Miss Lewis handed him the flowers, General Forrest responded with a short speech that, in the contemporary pages of the Memphis Appeal, evinces Forrest's racial open-mindedness that seemed to have been growing in him.
Ladies and Gentlemen I accept the flowers as a memento of reconciliation between the white and colored races of the southern states. I accept it more particularly as it comes from a colored lady, for if there is any one on God's earth who loves the ladies I believe it is myself. ( Immense applause and laughter.) I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe I can exert some influence, and do much to assist the people in strengthening fraternal relations, and shall do all in my power to elevate every man to depress none. (Applause.) I want to elevate you to take positions in law offices, in stores, on farms, and wherever you are capable of going. I have not said anything about politics today. I don't propose to say anything about politics. You have a right to elect whom you please; vote for the man you think best, and I think, when that is done, you and I are freemen. Do as you consider right and honest in electing men for office. I did not come here to make you a long speech, although invited to do so by you. I am not much of a speaker, and my business prevented me from preparing myself. I came to meet you as friends, and welcome you to the white people. I want you to come nearer to us. When I can serve you I will do so. We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict. Go to work, be industrious, live honestly and act truly, and when you are oppressed I'll come to your relief. I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this opportunity you have afforded me to be with you, and to assure you that I am with you in heart and in hand. (Prolonged applause.)
Whereupon N. B. Forrest again thanked Miss Lewis for the bouquet and then gave her a kiss on the cheek. Such a kiss was unheard of in the society of those days, in 1875, but it showed a token of respect and friendship between the general and the black community and did much to promote harmony among the citizens of Memphis.
free dixie,sw
lincoln was a TYRANT & DESTROYER of the Constitution. he & "wee willie klintoon" were "two of a kind". EITHER would have done ANYTHING to get ahead. NEITHER was decent/moral as men/POTUS. BOTH would have passed out White House recipes for cooking people, if 2% of the voters turned to cannibalism.
it's sad that you seem to believe & PARROT the SELF-righteous BILGE out of the most extreme LEFT "idiot fringe" of northeastern REVISIONIST academia.
MOST of those REVISIONIST, sanctimonious. ELITISTS wouldn't spit on you if you were aflame;furthermore they "laugh behind their hands" AT anyone, who is foolish enough to believe their KNOWING lies.
free dixie,sw
all those brave/honorable "Billy Yanks", who wore the blue, fought/bled/died for the OPPRESSORS.
like all to many modern Americans, they were DECEIVED by their "betters" who lied then/NOW.
free dixie,sw
"billy sherman", as i write these lines, has a permanent seat REALLY close to the fire.
free dixie,sw
furthermore, it denigrates the BRAVERY of the Black union soldiers, who mostly fought HONORABLY to their last breath.
face it,you've been LIED TO & made a FOOL of by those who wouldn't spit on you, if you caught fire.
free dixie,sw
anyone who doubts this should read the memoirs of any number of union officers, who were THERE.
free dixie,sw
The War Between the States was lost in the Western theater.
Forrest was an unprecedented cavalryman and commander - much better than Sheridan.
“would have never dared to speak such things to those men’s faces...”
Exactly!
ping
SEVENTH I give and bequeath to my son William M. Forrest the sword and pistols with which I fought in the Confederate army with the injunction to use them whenever called upon to do so in the honorable service of his county.
From Nathan Bedford Forrest's Farewell Speech to His Troops
Civil war, such as you have just passed through naturally engenders feelings of animosity, hatred, and revenge. It is our duty to divest ourselves of all such feelings; and as far as it is in our power to do so, to cultivate friendly feelings towards those with whom we have so long contended, and heretofore so widely, but honestly, differed. Neighborhood feuds, personal animosities, and private differences should be blotted out; and, when you return home, a manly, straightforward course of conduct will secure the respect of your enemies. Whatever your responsibilities may be to Government, to society, or to individuals meet them like men.I have never, on the field of battle, sent you where I was unwilling to go myself; nor would I now advise you to a course which I felt myself unwilling to pursue. You have been good soldiers, you can be good citizens. Obey the laws, preserve your honor, and the Government to which you have surrendered can afford to be, and will be, magnanimous.
I’d take a Stonewall Jackson over a R.E. Lee as a general.
Thanks!
And thanks!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.