A particular case I always found interesting happened after the Battle of Missionary Ridge . Braxton Bragg's Confederate army was in full reatreat and he was unwilling to halt for a fight even as the opportunity presented itself . His subordinates were fed up with him and one of them , Nathan Bedford Forrest , went to his headquarters for a confrontation . He excoriated Bragg in the most profane way ending with ; " Sir , If you were any kind of man , I would slap your face !" The implication was itself an insult ... i.e that Bragg was too cowardly to respond and consequently not a gentleman either . I've always liked Forrest . He was really something !