The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1864-04-20
General Forresst's Reception at
Aberdeen, Mississippi--He Pre-
fars Business to Pleaure. .

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Aberdeen, Mississippi--He Pre-
fers Business to Plesure.
The reception Of Gen. Forrest in this
city was as complimentary to him as it
was creditable. to the community. On
Monday, the 14th, nearly the entire
population of the city and surrounding
country was found on the public square.
The anxious and enthusiastic crowd wait
ed until dark for the arrival of the Gen
eral, but how sadly were they disap-
pointed when it was announced that he
could not reach Aberdeen before 8 o'clock,
on account of unexpected detention at
Columbus on important business. When
Gen. Forrest arrived be was escorted to
the monsion of our hospatablc fellow-cit-
izen, James D. 'McAllistcr, where a most
elegant aud sumptuous supper was pre-
pared for him and his friends. Late as
it was, the people hocked in to see tho
man who had so gallantly defended their
homes from desecration The next day
Gen. Forrest received his friends at the
residence Of Rev. B. B. Barker. For six
hours there was continual stream pour
ing in to grasp the hand so often raised
in defence of his country. Parties, din
ings, collations and every kind of demon
strati9n was offered th c. Geperel, but he
preferred business to pleasure, and at 3
O. clock he left amidst the shouts and
prayers of a grateful people.
This manifestation was not misplaced
But for his energy, gcnious and foresight,
Grierson would have formed junction
with Sherman, and could. then have
passed from Meridian to Selma, Mont
gomcrN Albania and Chattanug.
Gen. Forrest made a profound impress
ion on the people here. His lefty bear
ing, affability and gcutlemanly dcport-
ment captivated all that made his ac-
quaintance. Because he is terrible in
battle, and possessed of en- honest rough
ness in grappling with the enemy, it has
heretofore been supposed that lie is nat
urually rough man, devoid ofall refined
feeling. The writer Ct this has known
him long and intimately. He has been
with him in camp, Oh the march, in bat
tie. and ia tharor,-".- S.-:i:---- --:-' X
his peculiaritics. While he has a capa-
cious brain, broad aud comprehensive
intellect, he has at the same time a big
heart, too. of great sensibillty-fresh,
warm, conliding, aud strong in its atfcc-
tons. TO him the battle of life has
been full of action and turmoil, Of stir
and agitation, doing and suffering.
Thrown at an early age on his OWL re-
sources, fitted for service amid severe
trials andstrugglc, and borne on to victory
by his indomitablc energy and resolution,
his habits of self-rcliancc and self-tuition
have made him an original thinker and
earnest worker, and have given TO his
character in business transactions some
of the ruggcdness, the iron iirmness,
which he displays in battle : but in the
social circle no man is more graceful or
more punctilious III observing the amenl-
tics of life. lie bears the impress Of
character, of greatness, in all his move
mcnts. lie is one Of the few men who
do not dcpreciatc as you approach him.
His physiiyuc is a perfect modcl-talI,
erect and perfect in all its proportions.
His face is handsome, and he has just
such an eye as might be. expected in
such man. He received his friends
with grace, dignity and elegance, and
his demcancr here convinced the people
that while in battle be is as terrible as
the storm, in.the social circle he is the
polished gentleman.
During the recent battle Gen. Forrest
lost his horse, which makes the eleventh
he has had killed under him during the
war. The citizens ofcolumbus presented
him with beautiful gelding few days
since, as an evidence of their. apprecia-
ton of his valuable scrvices.-Letter
from Alcrc1ccn (.Htss.) to Mobile Ad'sr-