Nathan Bedford Forrest Facts
5 things to know about nathan bedford forrest 1.
Nathan bedford forrest facts. Before the civil war. His father william forrest was a blacksmith while his mother was called miriam beck. Take a look below for 30 more bizarre and interesting facts about nathan bedford forrest. What forrest means today.
Forrest became a millionaire as a businessman who owned several cotton plantations. 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. By the third year of the war the confederacy was facing severe manpower shortages and a dearth of supplies including the horses necessary to maintain active cavalry campaigning. Nathan bedford forrest was a cotton farmer slave owner slave trader confederate army general during the american civil war first leader of the ku klux klan and president of the selma marion and memphis railroad.
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. Nathan bedford forrest s spring 1864 raid into west tennessee and kentucky areas held by union troops. In the 1850s he became wealthy both by working on a plantation and by selling slaves. Later on when forrest was only 17 years old his father and his twin sister passed away.
Nathan bedford forrest was born on july 13th 1821. He was born to a poor family of 12 children with him and his twin sister is the oldest. Nathan bedford forrest was born in bedford county tennessee the eldest of twelve children. His birthplace was in tennessee.
Nathan bedford forrest photo. Leading the ku klux klan. Nathan bedford forrest summary. His father died when he was a boy leaving him to help take care of his 11 brothers and sisters.
Forrest was born in what is now marshall county. The wizard of the saddle. At the outbreak of the civil war he raised a cavalry and.