Chase, it wasn't a duel. Forrest used what he had at hand; he did not intentionally take a knife to a gun fight. And he picked up a WOUNDED federal soldier. I doubt he would have tried it otherwise; he was desparate, and desparate meaasures were required, Forrest had no illusions about the "glory" of war. He said it meant killing, and to win, you got there first with the most men.