Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-01-12
FORREsl,s FAREwELL.
The Cavalry Leaders Impressive
Words when Parting with
His Troops.
&. B. Randolph, in ~philsdslphi. Timss.l

&. B. Randolph. in Philadelphia Times.l
The fat had gone forth; Forrest,
who for so long had battled fora cause
he deemed just, must sheath his sword
that, like a flaming meteor, his troops
had followed through many a hard
fought combat. The day after For.
rest had announced by a published
order or address that he, by command
of General Dick Taylor, had surren-
dered, the writer had the opportunity
Of listening to a long conversation be-
tween General Forrest and some of
his officers. Neither in appearance
or in manner did he resemble that
hard riding, hard fighting cavalry
leader that he had shown himself to
be One of the young officers present
had on a aew coat, with the insignia
OF his rank upon. it. The General
pleasantly remarked to him:
Captain, you ought to have had
your coat made in the citizen style
like mine"
AT this time Forrest had on a new
suit of gray cloth, made strictly after
civilian cut. Some remark was made
about the Generals suit, ~whereupon
he gave its history as follows: Said he,
when | made that night dash into
Memphis some of my crowd captured
and brought of the uniform coat of
Federal commander, General Wash
burne, the General himself barely
escaping capture. | found occa-
sion, not long afterwards, Of restoring
the General his coat, which | did in a
polite way. Washburne r%eciprocated
the favor by sending me enough fine
gray cloth (Which he well knew was
scarce with us) to make a full uni
form. Fortunately | did not have it
made up right away, and now | havea
good citizens suit to wear"
General Forrest seemed to enjoy
talking about the little "courtship,p
as he called it, that was carried on
between General Washburne and
himself. Upon the same occasion
Forrest entertained his numerous
listeners with many Of his war expert
ences. He evidently took pleasure in
fighting his battles over again. Much
thai he said. coming from an ordinary
man, would have sounded like boast
ing self gloriication. But Forrest
was not such a man. Everything he
said impressed his hearers with its
His manner was such that no
1ne thought of bravado or boasting.
was just about the time the news
came OF President Lincoln's death.
Forrest denounced in unmeasured
the manner of his taking of"
Said he: For my part | went into the
var to fight, and my idea is that fight
ny means killing in wal times. | did
light and did all the fair killing |
but not even in war times am |
n faver OF assassination. | have no idea
hat any Of our leaders had anything
o DO With the killing of Mr.. Lincoln.
As a Southern soldier | am sorry that
lie is dead"
Much more on this subject was said
~ hOliCob az tnO JlLut, Dub 4 Will uUC
more than (as | have) the
ubstance of some of his remarks. He
Wound up his conversation with this
emark: Young men, go home. take
If your military, the war is over;
make as good citizens as you have sol
Iiers and all will be well; that is what
will do" That he kept his word
lis alter conduct clearly proved. tie
ully and in truth accepted the situa
ion, aud lived the life of a quiet, law
citizen. But Forrest is dead.
nd many of those who sixteen years
go listened, along with the writer, to
lis conversation in front Of the law
'fice' in the little village of Gains
lille, Ala have laid down their arms
brewer. The bugle will never again
.ummo1 them TO boots and saddles"
sixteen years, thousands who,
ike the wizard Of the saddle passed
through the bloody war, have since
called to that land where wars
md rumors of war" are never heard.