Civil War Nathan Bedford Forrest

Nathan bedford forrest was a confederate cavalry commander during the american civil war.

Civil war nathan bedford forrest. Nathan bedford forrest july 13 1821 october 29 1877 was a lieutenant general in the confederate army during the american civil war. When his father a blacksmith died when he was 16 forrest moved to the memphis delta and eventually became a successful businessman indeed a millionaire dealing in cotton land and slaves. Although scholars generally respect forrest as a military strategist he has remained a controversial figure in southern racial history especially for his role in the massacre of black soldiers at fort pillow and his 1867 1869 leadership of the ku klux klan. Nathan bedford forrest was born on july 13 1821 near the village of chapel hill in bedford county tennessee a redrawing of county boundaries has placed chapel hill in marshall county.

He and his troops were responsible for the massacre of african american union troops stationed at fort pillow tennessee in april 1864 and he was the first grand wizard of the ku klux klan. He is remembered both as a self educated innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years. Lieutenant general nathan bedford forrest was a skilled confederate cavalry leader during the civil war who served in the west and was a master of mobile warfare. He was the oldest son of william and mary beck forrest and would be one of ten siblings including a twin sister who died at an early age.