Forrest Stories

Humor of Bedford Forrest and His Cavalry

Bedford Forrest was not a jester or joker, but he did have a good sense of humor. When a difficult, combative situation was under control, which with him it inevitably would be, his demeanor would lighten up, and Forrests humorous side would come out. He was also a master of the poker bluff and psychological warfare, and he played these to great advantage during the war. One of the best episodes of this was the 1863 week-long pursuit and surrender of an entire Federal brigadeover 1,700 mento fewer than 600 of his own. The Union commander had seen the Confederates three cannons, but a Forrest ruse and bluff made it appear as fifteen cannons, to which the astonished Union man asked Forrest how many he had. Forrest replied, I reckon thats all thats kept up. This book is a trove of those factual and almost-factual happenings.