The following is taken from the Photographic History of the Civil War, The Cavalry, page 282.

"Forrest knew nothing about tactics---could not drill a company. When first ordered to have his brigade ready for review, he was quite ignorant, but Armstrong told him what commands to give, and what to do himself.

"Forrest will always stand as the great exponent of the power of the mounted rifleman to fight with the revolver when mounted and with the rifle when on foot. His troops were not dragoons 'who fought indifferently on foot or horseback,' nor were they cavalry who fought only with sabers. Few of his command every bore sabers, save some of his officers, who wore them as a badge of rank. He himself had no knowledge of its use, but he would encounter half a dozen expert sabreurs with his revolver."

George Martin