The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-16
Interview with GEN. Forrest.
Of tbs New Orleans True Delta.


tall0w candle, first saw Lieutenant General
N. B. Forrest, commanding corps of cavalry
In the rebel army. Forrest is man of fine ap-
pearance, about six feet high, dark, piercing,
hazel eyes. carefully trimmed moustache and
chin whiskers dark as night, finely cut fea.
lures, and iron-g hair. His form is 1.-the,
plainly indicating great power and activity.
He was neatly dressed in citizens clothes, Of
some gray mixture, the only indication of
military service being the usual number of
small staff buttons on his vest. should have
marked him as prominent man had met
him on Broadway, and when was told that
he was the " Forrest of Fort Pillow" de-
voted my whole attention to him, and eve you
the result of our conversation. My first i'm
preston of the man was rather favorable than
otherwise. Except guard of some hundred
federal soldiers, more than half mile away,
l was, with the exception of another person,
the only Yankee in the room, and, being
dressed In citizens clothes, was never sus.
pected, except by the landlord.
General, said !, ~ little expected to be
seated by this fire with you"
"Why so7" a
"Well, because your name has been in the
mouth of nearly every person for long time {"
Eyes" said he, displaying the finest set of
teeth that l think I have ever seen, s. have
walked up the Yankees everywhere, lately"
Here follows Forests version of the Fort
Pillow affair, which has heretofore appeared in
the PIONEER.
"You have made some rapid marches, Gener-
al" said I. Eyes, said he, Il have five thous-
and men that can whip any ten thousand in
the world. Sturgis came out to whip me once,
and was ten thousand strong. marched off as
if was going to Georgia, and fell upon the
head of his column when he least expected me,
and, with twenty-three hundred men, killed
thnnsond
with all the trains and mules, and drove him
back. meant to kill every man in federal
uniform unless he gave up" bespoke of cap.
turing fort from Colonel Crawford, in Athens,
Alabama, garrisoned by 1900 men. He said |:
II took him out, showed him my forces-some
brigades two or three times, and one battery
kept marching around all the time. My men
dismourted, leaving every fourth man to hold
the horses, and formed the rest in front as in
fantry; and the darn fool gave up without firing
single shot"
Speaking OF Straights capture, he said it
was almost o shame His men rode among
them and shot them down like cattle. They
were mounted on sharp edged saddles and
he killed several of them himself. Didn't
hardly know what to do with them" But the
heart sickens at the infamous conduct of this
butcher. He Is one Of the few men that are
general blowers" and yet will fight. For
rest Is a thorough bravo-a desperate man in
every respect. He was negro trader before
the war. and in personal affairs" as he calls
them, had killed several men.
He had body guard of one hundred and
fifty picked men. These he placed in the
rear. with orders to shoot any one who turned
back. have spoken to numbers of confede-
rate officers, and they speak of him with dis.
gust, though they all admit bis bravery and fit
ness for the cavalry service. He has two bro
theirs living, one Of whom is spoken of as being
greater butcher than the Lieutenant General.
He is man without education or refinement,
married, l believe, to very pretty wife. Any
one would call him handsome.
Any one hearing him talk would call him
braggadocia. As for myself, / would be-
lieve one half he said, and only dispute with
him with my finger upon the trigger of my
pistol. When told him was q Yankee and
late upon prominent Generals staff he look.
ed about him and among his staff for corrobora-
tive proof. volleys Of this. ready prepared,
poured fourth upon his order. Ny not being
short-handed writer necessarily deprived me
OF the pleasure of further contribution to
this true history.
Two young Kentuckhns were walking along
the road when Forrest came up; he called
them deserters, and deliberately shot them. 1t
appears that these young men were on legiti-
mate duty, and one of them under military age
The fathers of these youths are upon Forests
track aswon to kill him. Poetic justice re-
quires that he should meet with violent
death. Probably one hundred men have fallen
by bis hand. He says "the war is played :"
that where he lives. there are plenty of fish
that he Is going to take tent along, and don't
want to see any one for twelve months. What
charming hero he would make for q sensa-
tional King Of the Cannibal Islands,"