Nathan Bedford Forrest Biography
He had virtually no education but became wealthy before the civil war.
Nathan bedford forrest biography. Forrest was the first son of mariam beck and william forrest. 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. Forrest was the first american general to be killed in action during the war in europe. His birthplace was in tennessee.
On march 16 1864 major general nathan bedford forrest launched a month long cavalry raid with 7 000 troopers into western tennessee and kentucky. Their objectives were to capture union prisoners and supplies and to demolish posts and fortifications from paducah kentucky south to memphis. His father william forrest was a blacksmith while his mother was called miriam beck. He was brilliant and intrepid and he commanded the respect and fear of confederates and federals alike.
Nathan bedford forrest was born on july 13th 1821. Just finished reading nathan bedford forrest a biography by jack hurst. He was born to a poor family of 12 children with him and his twin sister is the oldest. Nathan bedford forrest s spring 1864 raid into west tennessee and kentucky areas held by union troops.
Nathan bedford forrest 1821 1877 was a confederate general during the civil war 1861 65. He was killed in action in germany during world war ii. Nathan bedford forrest iii april 6 1905 june 13 1943 was a brigadier general of the united states army air forces and a great grandson of confederate general nathan bedford forrest. After the civil war forrest worked as a planter and railroad president and served as the first grand.
Nathan bedford forrest was one of the most remarkable soldiers to emerge during the war between the states. Forrest grew up poor. Many people nowadays want forrest s statues torn down and destroyed and to end any further discussion of him. Nathan bedford forrest confederate cavalry commander in the american civil war who was often described as a born military genius he is also one of the most controversial figures from the civil war era having led a massacre of african american troops and having served as the first grand wizard of the ku klux klan.
Later on when forrest was only 17 years old his father and his twin sister passed away. Born july 13 1821 in tennessee nathan bedford forrest was a self taught man who made his fortune as a cotton planter and slave trader.