Nathan Bedford Forrest Biography

Nathan Bedford Forrest

By Melissa Cochrane

Early Life

He was born on July 13, 1821 in Chapel Hill Bedford County, Tennessee.

His family was very poor.

He was the oldest out of twelve brothers and sisters.

His parents were William and Miriam Forrest.

Adulthood

His dad died when he was only seventeen.

Role in the

Civil War

When his dad died, he needed to join his uncle in to the field of business in Hernando Mississippi to support his family .

Nathan was the richest man in the south during the Civil War in April 1861.

His uncle died in 1845 due to an argument with the Matlock brothers.

He enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army. He was assigned to the Tennessee Mounted Rifles in July 1861.

When his uncle died he worked as a steamboat captain and slave trader before buying multiple cotton plantations. He was able to do this with little to no education.

He volunteered to pay for all the gear and horses.

He become very rich and powerful because he had the skills of marksmanship, horsemanship and enjoyed gambling which helped him in the future.

He became a commanding officer because he raised his troops. He knew almost nothing about military operations but he learned and became a competent officer.

Nathan got the nickname "The Wizard of the Saddie" because of his raids, strikes, strategies and tactics.

Nathan was the most feared officer in the Civil War even Union major general William Tecumseh Sherman said, "That devil Forrest must be hunted down and killed if it costs ten thousands lives and bankrupts the federal treasury".

Nathan Bedford

Forrest Fighting

Nathans Ad for

Slave Trade

Nathan was a big threat to the Union.

Existing Memorials

Memphis Tennessee

Selma Alabama

Family

My Idea Memorial

Nathan married Mary Ann Montgomery.

If I could make a memorial for Nathan Bedford Forrest, I would have his name graved in cement in front of his home in Chapel Hill Tennessee along with all the battles he has accomplished. I would do this because it would be a great reminder of where he came from.

They had two children, William who later enlists with Nathan in the war and his daughter Fanny who dies at a young age.

After the War

After the Civil War Nathan Forrest joined the KKK and became the first "Grand Wizard".

Personal Connection

He was called into congress and he never said he was a member of the KKK and said he only heard about the KKK and their activities. If he had told them what he really did they could have been put him in prison.

In this picture it shows how much violence was created from Nathan and the rest of the members of the KKK.

I liked how Nathan Bedford Forrest was a fighter and when things got tough he never gave up and made himself the best he could be. I myself, is a fighter and I do not give up when things get tough and I try to make myself better whether it is for school or for softball.

Nathan Bedford Forests Stats