Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-06-16
A SKETCH OF GEN. FORREST.

The Atlanta Regi tsr publishes The following sketch
of Gen. Forrest, written by person who is intimate
with bim;
have Just returned from Tupeo, where 1 spent two
days with Forrest l have listened in his encampment
to stories Of personal adventure that TRANSCEND in eI-
citing interest al that narrated Id books, and that
tll in ng and story, before knight errantry lost
its attracveness in the absurd pages OF Don Qaxotte
Let me tell you what think o. FOIIest-What know
of him There has not been born Of this revolution
more remarkable son H3 is in tIu.n the tfsping OF
revolution. Had there been var, Forrest would be
dstnRui he'd solely for excellent good sense his ndom
table energy and the su,cess that distinguished him
planter and tradesman. He began life Ia the utmo 1t
poverty He was ndsb ed 10 charity for bread and for
10 hing to books.
When frat know him. fifteen years ago, he was
very poor. He came TO Memphis and for time was
Ihe pfetOr Of livery Stable 10 this business he
was not very successful When "a.t youog gentle.
man overaxed his horses Forrest was strangely inclined
to punish the customer He was not popular. He be-
came tlave de ler By his truhfulness aad excellent
Judgment as 10 the valus Of negroes he became the
sgent and purchaser Of Il for the planters of the
valley Of the Mssissppi. He grew rich spIc', when
| the war began he hmstli one Of the wealthest
planters whose home was in Memphis His credit with
merchants and bankers was lmtles5. His capitol was
mo e than half million of dollGs
At the beginning of the he amused himself for
q t me by running the blockade from Louisville 10
Memphis. He brOagbtcu, from Louisville when that
CITY was occupied by large Federal force horss and
equipments for q company OF cavalry He then unds =
took TO raise regiment OF mounted men,. This accom-
p.h d. he Joined Albert 8 dney Johnston at Bowling
Green. 10 every encounter WITH the enemy he was the
victor He killed the e at with sabre who thus
lost bis life after the began. His victim Was
lucky renegade, huge ielow, who bpstrode power
ful horse. Forrest pursued him mile or two. The
Kentuckian fading ipe impossible, turoed to fight
Their sabrts clashed The skin from the back of the
Kentuckian's head was peeled of. Staggered by the
blow the Kenuckan could not parry the next stroke.
Forests .bre passed through bis boy
He ne1t achievement announced at Fort D)nel
son. whence be capped when The plac, was surrender
ed He rode the battle field Of SaIoh like another
Mas was wounded, but only mIddened by pain which
would have consigned other men TO the hospital Ia
his conflicts with infantry and cava ~ he was uniformly
successful. He NIX; captured Murfree,boro', with q
garrs N stronger than his own FORCE Then came his
famed pursuit Of. reght When S;reight had sur-
rendered he complained 10 Forrest that he Forre' bad
deceived him 10 his strength 're, said Forrest
fare your arms those of Jour shall be returned
them; here Is open field We can coon settle the
question Of vaor-numbers are nothirgl" Sire'ght
was silenced .,-.L Oh
Ia the recent 6erce encounter With Smith aud Gri4r-
sop, at 0koenr Forrest himself killed eight men. Two
of these fell beneath his heavy blids. His watch
his battle-Asg. They gather around it, md will follow
it into the very jaws Of death They know that Forr
himself fights beneath It's folds. He loves a fight
ms other men do a game Of cards and says he can q
keep out of u, Is constantly urged by ofioers
sold and citz to avoid needless exposu of his
person. but all in vain. the noise OF battle is the ouy
music that ravishts The senses OF Forrest.
0dinarlJ ha is mild and placable bat VII ,n I'd lee
ed he is very 6end iDcarnAte. He 3 merci,s to
man whom he suspects of coWardce and the most ex-
acting OF oil commanders He is sI FEET 10 he ght per-
ietty proportional, and endusd with wonderful
strobgth His eyes are b ~ aud have very mild
preston, his complexion saoW, hair very black, bis
forehead very broad and his m inner nervou. He ia
bosterotslS He del ghts ia tellir OILS OF tie
achievements Of bis men He says that hs are the tru
est soil eis that ever dew sabres
was amazed, as long as hal koown FJrres., to
hear him cay o. dinner yesterday 10 the presenc OF
staff and OF several visitor thai if he sh nld eves re-
turn 10 Memphis, no deed Of violebc should be .m-
mitied. He would gladly Surrender hs svori to the
CIV authorities, whom he would sas.ain against eli
mobs, however they might originate or OF Whatever
material composed. He wished the war to clcss. aul
said he had no ambition, no WISH beyond tho indepen,
dence Of The South. $50 isnFlsa 80
have stated thit bal knosn ForresI long before
war begAns but can assure you never respected
him az did wen he gave expression to these SENT
ments Let me add again that IL is impossible for For
res. to play the hy oce When you LOOK ia his face
you always clous that he gives utterancs 10 the
plaio, unvainished truth s@af
wife and son are with him Too sfe. an excel
entVo ma nna3cled in her manners of profound re-
igious eonvchons, by her ,lent good senss "A a
many virtues, has Kept Forrest GU of many row. II
her be Is avays gentle and kind but n,W aud
then, even IN the midst OF the m0lotol ou duties in
cdsnt ideness Ia the camp he yiclIl tn, mastery to
his tpgoVernabe temper.
PfenticstaJslif things 60 on in tia South az they
are now going tho rebel sold ets will coon get to be
naEoN al ar mar ln1s. L.. - IA "