--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him…" description: "\"“Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him, composed of thoroughly well-disciplined men, who under so able a leader were very effective. Smith’s command..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/ulysses-s-grant-1793_leadership_forrest-had-about-4-000-cavalry-with-him_3042280.jpg" --- # Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him, composed of… ![“Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him, composed of thoroughly well-disciplined men, who under so able a leader were very effective. Smith’s command was nearly double that of Forrest, but not equal, man to man, for the lack of a successful experience such as Forrest’s men had had. The fact is…” quote by Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/ulysses-s-grant-1793_leadership_forrest-had-about-4-000-cavalry-with-him_3042280.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/ulysses-s-grant-1793_leadership_forrest-had-about-4-000-cavalry-with-him_3042280.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/ulysses-s-grant-1793_leadership_forrest-had-about-4-000-cavalry-with-him_3042280.jpg) > ““Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him, composed of thoroughly well-disciplined men, who under so able a leader were very effective. Smith’s command was nearly double that of Forrest, but not equal, man to man, for the lack of a successful experience such as Forrest’s men had had. The fact is, troops who have fought a few battles and won, and followed up their victories, improve upon what they were before to an extent that can hardly be counted by percentage. The difference in result is often decisive victory instead of inglorious defeat. This same difference, too, is often due to the way troops are officered, and for the particular kind of warfare which Forrest had carried on neither army could present a more effective officer than he was.”” [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experienced, disciplined troops under strong leadership achieve decisive victories, unlike less seasoned forces. **In simple terms:** Discipline and leadership win battles. Key Takeaway Cultivate disciplined teams and strong leadership. Themes leadership discipline military strategy experience Mood reflective analytical Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - battlefield - military training - leadership development Key Concepts command cohesion morale Questions to Reflect On - What leadership qualities inspire your team? - How does experience shape performance? A Different Perspective Even disciplined troops can fail without proper resources or strategy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Man To Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-to-man/) ## Related quotes > [“And while the most desperate hours of the men within the Perimeter were passing, a second battle had been raging in their rear, back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-fehrenbach-2/and-while-the-most-desperate-hours-of-the-men-within-the-perimeter/) [T.R. Fehrenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-fehrenbach-2/) > [I have one criticism about the Negro troops who fought under my command in the Korean War. They didn't send me enough of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-have-one-criticism-about-the-negro-troops-who-fought-under-my/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [I grew up with a deep belief that wherever our troops fought, they were on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/i-grew-up-with-a-deep-belief-that-wherever-our-troops-fought-they/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [“He was a large, austere man, and I judge difficult of approach to his subordinates. To be extolled by the entire press of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/he-was-a-large-austere-man-and-i-judge-difficult-of-approach-to-his/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [You can't take it with you! Whatever you have there you will have already sent ahead in the way of souls won, victories won,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/you-can-t-take-it-with-you-whatever-you-have-there-you-will-have/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [“That's the way all life's battles are won.. You don't look at the overall picture. You take one step, then another, and another... until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/that-s-the-way-all-life-s-battles-are-won-you-don-t-look-at-the/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [“Battles are won en route, Shalhassan of Cathal though. A worthy thought: he raised his hand in a certain way, and a moment later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/battles-are-won-en-route-shalhassan-of-cathal-though-a-worthy-thought/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [All battles are first won or lost, in the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-of-arc/all-battles-are-first-won-or-lost-in-the-mind/) [Joan of Arc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-of-arc/) > [For when there is victory, when battles are won, when burdens are lifted, when bright shines the sun, when struggling souls gather where heroes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-krause/for-when-there-is-victory-when-battles-are-won-when-burdens-are/) [Tom Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-krause/) > [“Battles have been won or lost for centuries without winning or losing what they were ostensibly fought for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priscilla-smith-robertson/battles-have-been-won-or-lost-for-centuries-without-winning-or-losing/) priscilla Smith Robertson > [Great battles are won with artillery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/great-battles-are-won-with-artillery/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Most battles are won before they are ever fought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-patton/most-battles-are-won-before-they-are-ever-fought/) [George S. Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-patton/) > [“His military triumphs had been neither frequent nor epic in scale. He had lost more battles than he had won, had botched several through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/his-military-triumphs-had-been-neither-frequent-nor-epic-in-scale-he/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [There are more battles won through prayer than by any other means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-smith/there-are-more-battles-won-through-prayer-than-by-any-other-means/) [Chuck Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-smith/) > [“A hero is not know by the number of battles he has won, but rather by the kind of battles he chooses to fight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tonny-k-brown/a-hero-is-not-know-by-the-number-of-battles-he-has-won-but-rather-by/) [Tonny K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tonny-k-brown/) ## More by Ulysses S. Grant > [“In the early days of the country, before we had railroads, telegraphs and steamboats—in a word, rapid transit of any sort—the States were each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/in-the-early-days-of-the-country-before-we-had-railroads-telegraphs/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The much talked of surrendering of Lee’s sword and my handing it back, this and much more that has been said about it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-much-talked-of-surrendering-of-lee-s-sword-and-my-handing-it-back/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely new, and was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely the sword…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/general-lee-was-dressed-in-a-full-uniform-which-was-entirely-new-and/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The great bulk of the legal voters of the South were men who owned no slaves; their homes were generally in the hills and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-great-bulk-of-the-legal-voters-of-the-south-were-men-who-owned-no/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/if-we-are-to-have-another-contest-in-the-near-future-of-our-national/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [...but for a soldier his duty is plain. He is to obey the orders of all those placed over him and whip the enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/but-for-a-soldier-his-duty-is-plain-he-is-to-obey-the-orders-of-all/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“I was afraid, every morning, that I would awake from my sleep to hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing was left but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-was-afraid-every-morning-that-i-would-awake-from-my-sleep-to-hear/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The efforts to kill off politically the two successful generals, made them both candidates for the Presidency. General Taylor was nominated in 1848, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-efforts-to-kill-off-politically-the-two-successful-generals-made/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/hold-fast-to-the-bible-to-the-influence-of-this-book-we-are-indebted/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“The fact is the constitution did not apply to any such contingency as the one existing from 1861 to 1865. Its framers never dreamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/the-fact-is-the-constitution-did-not-apply-to-any-such-contingency-as/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [It was my fortune, or misfortune, to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/it-was-my-fortune-or-misfortune-to-be-called-to-the-office-of-chief/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [No other terms than unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/no-other-terms-than-unconditional-and-immediate-surrender-i-propose/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [I would suggest the taxation of all property equally whether church or corporation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-would-suggest-the-taxation-of-all-property-equally-whether-church/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [I know only two tunes: one of them is 'Yankee Doodle,' and the other isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-know-only-two-tunes-one-of-them-is-yankee-doodle-and-the-other-isn-t/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) > [“I could have allowed myself more time. I have used my best efforts, with the aid of my eldest son, F. D. Grant, assisted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/i-could-have-allowed-myself-more-time-i-have-used-my-best-efforts/) [Ulysses S. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) [Explore all 208 Ulysses S. Grant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/) ## More Leadership quotes > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“Under the treaty of Sevres in 1920 Greece had been given Smyrna, and by 1922 the Greek army was trying to push its way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/under-the-treaty-of-sevres-in-1920-greece-had-been-given-smyrna-and/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [“If you're focused, you can't get bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-focused-you-can-t-get-bored/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [Some people you speak to you speak into their heads. It's logical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/some-people-you-speak-to-you-speak-into-their-heads-it-s-logical/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [You can have Asians being leading men that are sex symbols. You can have leading women powering through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/you-can-have-asians-being-leading-men-that-are-sex-symbols-you-can/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) [Browse all 20,954 Leadership quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him, composed of thoroughly well-disciplined men, who under so able a leader were very effective. Smith’s command was nearly double that of Forrest, but not equal, man to man, for the lack of a successful experience such as Forrest’s men had had. The fact is, troops who have fought a few battles and won, and followed up their victories, improve upon what they were before to an extent that can hardly be counted by percentage. The difference in result is often decisive victory instead of inglorious defeat. This same difference, too, is often due to the way troops are officered, and for the particular kind of warfare which Forrest had carried on neither army could present a more effective officer than he was.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ulysses S. Grant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/forrest-had-about-4-000-cavalry-with-him-composed-of-thoroughly-well/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Leadership" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/forrest-had-about-4-000-cavalry-with-him-composed-of-thoroughly-well/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/ulysses-s-grant-1793_leadership_forrest-had-about-4-000-cavalry-with-him_3042280.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/ulysses-s-grant-1793_leadership_forrest-had-about-4-000-cavalry-with-him_3042280.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a2/ulysses-s-grant-1793_leadership_forrest-had-about-4-000-cavalry-with-him_3042280.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him, composed of thoroughly well-disciplined men, who under so able a…” — Ulysses S. Grant", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ulysses S. Grant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulysses-s-grant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/forrest-had-about-4-000-cavalry-with-him-composed-of-thoroughly-well/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulysses-s-grant/forrest-had-about-4-000-cavalry-with-him-composed-of-thoroughly-well/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```