Nathan Bedford Forrest Quotes (27 quotes)

Nathan Bedford Forrest: 27 quotes14 likes

Famous Nathan Bedford Forrest Quotes

“I have not said anything about politics today. I don't propose to say anything about politics. You have a right to elect whom you please; vote for the man you think best, and I think, when that is done, that you and I are freemen. Do as you consider right and honest in electing men for office. I did not come here to make you a long speech, although invited to do so by you. I am not much of a speaker, and my business prevented me from preparing myself. I came to meet you as friends, and welcome you to the white people. I want you to come nearer to us. When I can serve you I will do so. We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment. Use your best judgement in selecting men for office and vote as you think right.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

1870s, Speech before the Pole-Bearers Association (1875)

“Men, you may all do as you damn please, but I'm a-goin' home.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Forrest to Charles Clark, Governor of Mississippi and Isham G. Harris, former Governor of Tennessee, in response to the request that he keep fighting. As quoted in May I Quote You, General Forrest? by Randall Bedwell.
1860s

“Let us all, then, join their comrades who live, in spreading flowers over the graves of these dead Federal soldiers, before the whole American people, as a peace offering to the nation, as a testimonial of our respect for their devotion to duty, and as a tribute from patriots, as we have ever been, to the great Republic, and in honor of the flag against which we fought, and under which they fell, nobly maintaining the honor of that flag. It is our duty to honor the government for which they died, and if called upon, to fight for the flag we could not conquer.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

1870s, Letter to war veterans (1875)

“Civil war, such as you have just passed through naturally engenders feelings of animosity, hatred, and revenge. It is our duty to divest ourselves of all such feelings; and as far as it is in our power to do so, to cultivate friendly feelings towards those with whom we have so long contended, and heretofore so widely, but honestly, differed. Neighborhood feuds, personal animosities, and private differences should be blotted out; and, when you return home, a manly, straightforward course of conduct will secure the respect of your enemies. Whatever your responsibilities may be to Government, to society, or to individuals meet them like men.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

1860s, Farewell address (1865)

“That we are beaten is a self-evident fact, and any further resistance on our part would be justly regarded as the very height of folly and rashness.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Forrest to his men, 1865. As quoted in May I Quote You, General Forrest? by Randall Bedwell.
1860s

“Boys, do you hear that musketry and that artillery? It means that our friends are falling by the hundreds at the hands of the enemy, and here we are guarding a damned creek! Let's go and help them. What do you say?”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Said to his men at Shiloh, 1862. As quoted in May I Quote You, General Forrest? by Randall Bedwell.
1860s

Nathan Bedford Forrest Quotes about men

“Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict. I have been in the heat of battle when colored men, asked me to protect them. I have placed myself between them and the bullets of my men, and told them they should be kept unharmed. Go to work, be industrious, live honestly and act truly, and when you are oppressed I'll come to your relief. I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this opportunity you have afforded me to be with you, and to assure you that I am with you in heart and in hand.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

1870s, Speech before the Pole-Bearers Association (1875)

“There is no doubt we could soon wipe old Sherman off the face of the earth, John, if they'd give me enough men and you enough guns.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

To Captain John Morton, 1864. As quoted in May I Quote You, General Forrest? by Randall Bedwell.
1860s

“Get there first with the most men.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Reported by General Basil W. Duke and Richard Taylor
Often erroneously reported as "Git thar fustest with the most mostest." In The Quote Verifier : Who Said What, Where, and When (2006) by Ralph Keyes, p. 272, the phrase he used has also been reported to have been "I always make it a rule to get there first with the most men" and "I just took the short cut and got there first with the most men."
1860s

“The attempt made to establish a separate and independent Confederation has failed; but the consciousness of having done your duty faithfully, and to the end, will, in some measure, repay for the hardships you have undergone. In bidding you farewell, rest assured that you carry with you my best wishes for your future welfare and happiness. Without, in any way, referring to the merits of the Cause in which we have been engaged, your courage and determination, as exhibited on many hard-fought fields, has elicited the respect and admiration of friend and foe. And I now cheerfully and gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness to the officers and men of my command whose zeal, fidelity and unflinching bravery have been the great source of my past success in arms.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

1860s, Farewell address (1865)

“However much we differed with them while public enemies, and were at war, we must admit that they fought gallantly for the preservation of the government which we fought to destroy, which is now ours, was that of our fathers, and must be that of our children. Though our love for that government was for a while supplanted by the exasperation springing out of a sense of violated rights and the conflict of battle, yet our love for free government, justly administered, has not perished, and must grow strong in the hearts of brave men who have learned to appreciate the noble qualities of the true soldier.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

1870s, Letter to war veterans (1875)

“Every moment lost is worth the life of a thousand men.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Said to Braxton Bragg at Chickamauga, September 18-20, 1863. As quoted in May I Quote You, General Forrest? by Randall Bedwell.
1860s

Nathan Bedford Forrest Quotes about war

“If you surrender, you shall be treated as prisoners of war, but if I have to storm your works, you may expect no quarter.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

As quoted in May I Quote You, General Forrest? by Randall Bedwell.
1860s

“After all, I think Forrest was the most remarkable man our Civil War produced on either side…He had never read a military book in his life, knew nothing about tactics, could not even drill a company, but had a genius of strategy which was original, and to me incomprehensible.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Regarding Forrest's millitary genius, William T. Sherman w:The Life of General Nathan Bedford Forrest, by John Allan Wyeth, p.635.

“War means fighting, and fighting means killing.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

As quoted in May I Quote You, General Forrest? by Randall Bedwell.
1860s

“I will say to you and to the colored race that men who bore arms and followed the flag of the Confederacy are, with very few exceptions, your friends. I have an opportunity of saying what I have always felt - that I am your friend, for my interests are your interests, and your interests are my interests. We were born on the same soil, breathe the same air, and live in the same land. Why, then, can we not live as brothers? I will say that when the war broke out I felt it my duty to stand by my people. When the time came I did the best I could, and I don't believe I flickered. I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe that I can exert some influence, and do much to assist the people in strengthening fraternal relations, and shall do all in my power to bring about peace. It has always been my motto to elevate every man- to depress none.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

1870s, Speech before the Pole-Bearers Association (1875)

Nathan Bedford Forrest Quotes

“Negro soldiers cannot cope with Southerners”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Regarding the Fort Pillow massacre, as quoted in Personal Memoirs, by U.S. Grant, (Library of America, 1990), p. 483.
Context: The river was dyed with the blood of the slaughtered for two hundred yards. The approximate loss was upward of five hundred killed, but few of the officers escaping. My loss was about twenty killed. It is hoped that these facts will demonstrate to the Northern people that Negro soldiers cannot cope with Southerners.

“This day is a day that is proud to me, having occupied the position that I did for the past twelve years, and been misunderstood by your race. This is the first opportunity I have had during that time to say that I am your friend. I am here a representative of the southern people, one more slandered and maligned than any man in the nation.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

1870s, Speech before the Pole-Bearers Association (1875)

“Ladies and gentlemen, I accept the flowers as a memento of reconciliation between the white and colored races of the southern states. I accept it more particularly as it comes from a colored lady, for if there is any one on God's earth who loves the ladies I believe it is myself.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

1870s, Speech before the Pole-Bearers Association (1875)

“Preserve untarnished the reputation you have so nobly won.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Part of Forrest's last address to his men, 1865. As quoted in May I Quote You, General Forrest? by Randall Bedwell.
1860s

“I am opposed to it under any and all circumstances, and in our convention urged our party not to commit themselves at all upon the subject.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Regarding black voting, as quoted in Report of the Joint Select Committee.

“I have never, on the field of battle, sent you where I was unwilling to go myself; nor would I now advise you to a course which I felt myself unwilling to pursue. You have been good soldiers, you can be good citizens. Obey the laws, preserve your honor, and the Government to which you have surrendered can afford to be, and will be, magnanimous.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

1860s, Farewell address (1865)

“I want to elevate you to take positions in law offices, in stores, on farms, and wherever you are capable of going.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

1870s, Speech before the Pole-Bearers Association (1875)

“I've got no respect for a young man who won't join the colors.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

As quoted in May I Quote You, General Forrest? by Randall Bedwell.
1860s

“This fight is against slavery; if we lose it, you will be made free.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

As quoted in Report of the Joint Select Committee.

“Does the damned fool want to be blown up? Well, blow him up then. Give him hell, Captain Morton- as hot as you've got it, too.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

At Athens, Alabama, 1864. As quoted in May I Quote You, General Forrest? by Randall Bedwell.
1860s

“I'll officer you.”

Nathan Bedford Forrest

Said by Forrest, with saber drawn, to a young lieutenant who would not help in dousing flames on supply wagons set on fire by Union troops on their retreat to Memphis. As quoted in May I Quote You, General Forrest? by Randall Bedwell.
1860s