FREE ESSAY ON NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST

NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST

Nathan Bedford Forrest 1821-1877 My name is Nathan Bedford Forrest. I was born on July 13,
1821 in Bedford county Tennessee, what is now Chapel Hill. I was named after my
grandfather, Nathan Forrest and the county in which I was born. My parents are William
and Merriam Beck Forrest; they met and married in 1820. My sister Fanny and I were the
second and third born out of eleven children. My father was a blacksmith by trade, but as
a family we raised a few head of cattle and enough corn to sustain us and provide seed
for the following year. Before I left Tennessee, I had little formal education, I
attended only three months in school, and therefore I had to educate my self, using the
wilderness and frontier life as a teacher. I learned from trial and error, not the
classroom. In 1834 my father decided to move to Tippiah County Mississippi. Yearning for
a better life, my family started to work the land, raising crops and cattle for sale.
Soon after, my family contracted the fever. I eventually recovered, but I lost my father,
two of my six brothers, and three sisters including my twin Fanny. Being the oldest male
it became my responsibility to take care of the family. I spent my time clearing the land
and working in the fields, always trying to make a better life for my mother and
siblings. In 1841, feeling confident that my mother and other brothers could take care of
the family, I joined a small company of volunteers and went to Texas to help the states'
struggle for independence. However, by the time we arrived, the struggle was over, so I
worked laying railroad track to earn enough money to return home. Once I returned to
Mississippi, my mother remarried Joseph Luxton, so I accepted an offer from my Uncle
Jonathan to start a horse trading business in Hernando, Mississippi. While there, I
became a local hero after killing two men who were out to murder my Uncle. The citizens
of Hernando and DeSoto County made me Constable of the town and Coroner of the county. I
also met my wife, Mary Ann Montgomery and was married on 25 September 1845. My first
child, William Montgomery was born on September 28, 1846, then two years later Mary bore
our second child Fanny, who I named after my late twin sister. My children only lived for
five years. In 1851, I decided to move my family to Memphis Tennessee and started a slave
trading business. Eventually, I became the most successful slave trader in Tennessee. I
was known for my professionalism and my good treatment of my slaves. I also became an
Alderman for the city, where I was known for my moneymaking abilities and my concern for
the welfare of the city of Memphis. In 1859 I moved my family to Coahoma County where I
became a successful cotton planter. In 1861, my profit had reached $30,000. During this
time I was considered one of the wealthiest planters in the area. On June 14, 1861 I
enlisted as a Private in White's Tennessee Mounted Rifles. I refused to use my wealth or
influence to buy a commission. But, within a few days, the citizens of Memphis convinced
Governor Harris and General Polk that I should be given greater responsibility. My first
assignment was to raise a battalion of mounted rangers. I was commissioned a Lieutenant
Colonel and I raised the 7th Tennessee Calvary. This began my four years of war against
the Union Army. My first major battle was at Fort Donelson. Around 6 February 1862, under
the command of General Johnston, My unit was sent to Fort Donelson. I assumed command of
all Calvary troops there. Soon after my arrival, two other senior officers arrived,
General Floyd and General Buckner. During the battle I managed to damage the Union and I
was certain the fort could be held. But, the senior officers decided to surrender. Not
wanting to be part of the surrender, I marched my Calvary back to Memphis the evening
prior, without a shot being fired. On 4 April 1862, my Calvary engaged the Union Army at
Pittsburgh landing at Shiloh. During the battle I charged and routed a line of Union
troops by myself in defense of the retreating Confederate Army. As I rode through the
line, I was shot in the side by a brave Union soldier, the bullet entered and smashed
against my spine. Being Seriously wounded I was sent back to Memphis to recover from my
wounds. While there I helped recruit over six hundred soldiers for service in the
Confederate Army. Two weeks later and perhaps a little too soon I returned to my unit,
where I again became Ill and had to rest for two more weeks. My reunion was short; I was
given a promotion to Brigadier General and orders to command a new unit. In July of 1862,
in Murfreesboro, Tennessee I freed a garrison jail full of locals that had been
imprisoned. According to Union Commander, General T.T. Crittenden, for attacks on Union
patrols near their farms.  I was advised to leave after I made the successful escape.
But, seeing the Union Army's vulnerability I replied, I did not come here to make half a
job of it, I want them all and I demanded unconditional surrender of the entire garrison.
General Crittenden had two thousand more men and guns. They were also in an entrenched
position, but the Union Army surrendered anyway. They were unaware I was bluffing. During
General Bragg's retreat through Tennessee, I was used repeatedly as his rear guard.
Later, my unit was protecting the right side of the Confederate Army during the battle of
Chickamauga. I won the admiration of General Brag's staff when my Calvary dismounted and
attacked as regular infantry troops, pressuring the Union Army to retreat from their
position near the creek. I forced them to move more in line with other Union troops at
the Lafayette Road. Immediately after the battle I reported that the Union Army was in
full retreat to Chattanooga and the Army of Tennessee should attack. General Bragg
ignored the suggestions. Which, if the attack would have been successful, the tide of the
war could have changed. Instead, he ordered me to turn my troops over to another
commander and told me to report to General Joseph Wheeler. This made me angry, I
confronted General Bragg and threatened him with bodily harm. General Bragg never
reported it, because of my importance to the Confederacy, but I was assigned to an area
further west. My engagement of Federal troops at Brice's Crossroads on June 10, 1864 is
considered by many the perfect battle. Union Major General Samuel D. Sturgis, with 8,000
men was marching south into northern Mississippi to block the cavalry from attacking
Sherman's supply lines. When Sturgis ran into my dismounted horsemen he assembled a
perimeter around the crossroads. I flanked him on both sides. The Union soldiers ran. A
bridge over the Tishomingo Creek became a roadblock for the retreating army, seeing my
opportunity and with less than three thousand men my Calvary destroyed an enemy with more
than twice the manpower. While assisting Confederate general John B. Hood in the
Nashville Campaign, I could feel the end of the war was near for the Confederacy. General
Lee and then General Johnston surrendered their forces in April 1865. My troops were some
of the last men to surrender east of the Mississippi. After the war, I returned to
Mississippi, where, for a time I ran a large plantation in Coacoma County with the
business partner, a Federal officer. In May of 1866, I learned about the powerful Ku Klux
Klan movement that had started in Pulaski, Tennessee. I was eager to learn more about
this organization so I went to Nashville Tennessee to see Captain John Morton, my chief
of artillery during the war. There he swore me into the Klan. After I joined the Klan, a
meeting was held to make a more promising name, we were now known as Ku Klux Klan, the
Invisible Empire. There, I was made the first and most powerful Grand Wizard of the Ku
Klux Klan. I soon commanded 100,000 Klansmen throughout the old Confederacy. I later left
the Ku Klux Klan because I thought that it had become too violent. After awhile I sold my
plantation, and returned to Memphis where, In 1868, I was sent as a delegate to the first
presidential election. I also helped in stopping the reconstruction, which I felt had
taken the South out of its countryman's hands. I traveled to New York in attempts to
arrange financing for the Selma railroad. It was a loss; I spent a lot of money defending
myself from lawsuits arising from the Railroad. My wife's health began to fail and I
leased Presidents Island, opposite the town of Memphis, where I contributed the remainder
of my fortune to confederate veteran charities. In about 1876, I became ill with
Diabetes, which began to wear away at my health. My last public speech was before the
Seventh Tennessee Cavalry in September 1876. I said, Soldiers, I was afraid that I could
not be with you today, but I could not bear the thought of not meeting with you, and I
will always try to meet with you in the future. Unfortunately, I did not meet with them
again, my health began to decline and slightly over a year later, on October 29, 1877,
and I died at the age of 56. My wife Mary died 15 years later.My contribution to history
Growing up in a large family plagued with illness and my lack of education put serious
hardship in my ability to become successful. But, utilizing what my parents had taught
me. Along with common sense, I had the ability to become a great businessman and Soldier.
My family was always first and foremost in my life. Next came my country and my beliefs.
I was willing to fight to the death for the Confederacy and our way of life. I consider
myself the best commander of troops during the civil war. On both the North and the South
sides. I led my men into battle from the front, Exploited ever weakness and gave no
mercy, nor did I expect any. Many time's my reputation often allowed me to get what I
wished. The fear of fighting against That Devil Forrest usually meant unconditional
surrender without a fight. I want to be remembered as a man who fought gallantly for the
south and our way of life. I am always loyal to their cause as well as to my fellow
countrymen. Although I was not perfect I hope people see me for the true southerner I
was. I can best summarize myself in saying. War means fighting and fighting means
Killing.My personal viewpoint on Nathan Bedford Forrest's contribution to history. Nathan
Bedford Forrest was the most interesting and controversial general of the civil war. He
was uneducated and almost illiterate, but he was a self-made millionaire who enlisted as
a Private and with no prior military training rose to the rank of Lieutenant general.
General Dabney Maury stated, He is the greatest Calvary commander of either Army. But
perhaps the best compliment was paid by General Sherman, who called him the very devil
and is reported to say that General Forrest is the most remarkable man our civil war
produced on either side...He had a genius, which was to me incomprehensible. On almost
every battlefield General Forrest faced overwhelming odds yet never lost a battle he
personally commanded.Works CitedWyeth, John A. That Devil Forrest. New York: Harper &
Brothers, 1959.Willis, Brian Steel. A Battle from the start, the life of Nathan Bedford
Forrest. New York: HarperCollins, 1992.Confederate General Nathan B. Forrest. On line. 22
September 1998. Available WWW: http://members.xoom.com/bmw658/forrest.htm.Lt. Gen. Nathan
Bedford Forrest. On line. 22 September 1998. Available WWW:
http://nbforrest.com/forrest.asp