I was summoned to the general's tent that evening.
"That was a brilliant suggestion of yours, young man," he said.

"This Indian fighting is a new business to me.

I realize that if I had carried out my first order not a man of us would ever have reached the command alive." I said: "General, do you remember the battle of Tupedo ?" "I do," he said, with his chest expanding a little.

"I was in command at that battle." The whipping of Forrest had been a particularly difficult and unusual feat, and General Smith never failed to show his pride in the achievement whenever the battle of Tupedo was mentioned.
"Do you remember," I continued, "the young fellow you caught behind a tree, and sent for him afterward to ask him why he did so ?" "Is it possible you are the man who found Forrest's command!" he asked in amazement.

"I had often wondered what became of you," he said, when I told him I was the same man.