Nathan Bedford Forrest and his twin sister Francis were born in a small cabin on the Forrest farm near Chapel Hill, Tennessee in 1821. Forrest was named for his paternal grandfather Nathan and the county he was born in. He was born to William and Miriam Forrest.

Forrest had the responsibilities for his family at a very young age. His father, William Forrest, who was a blacksmith, and his mother, Miriam Beck Forrest, were both around six feet tall. Francis died of Typhoid Fever in 1826, when she was five. In 1834, the Forrests moved from Bedford County to some land on the banks of a small creek near Salem in Mississippi. William died in 1837, when Nathan was not quite sixteen. Forrest became the head of the family of six brothers and three sisters. His mother gave birth to Jeffrey four months later. Bedford worked hard to care for his family, foregoing a formal education for himself so that he could send his brothers and sisters to school. Forrest had worked hard farming and as a blacksmith, and by 1840, he had led his family to a comfortable life. A while later, Mariam Beck Forrest married again to Joseph Luxton. Bedford treated his three step-brothers and one step-sister with love, just as he treated his own siblings.

Forrest was formally schooled only a little more than three months. According to his teachers, Nathan spent more time wrestling than learning. His mother Mariam taught Bedford to read; he was certainly not illiterate. In fact, he loved to read. His lack of education was most evident in his poor spelling and punctuation. He tended to spell words as they sounded, such as “git” and “thar.” Because of this, Forrest dictated almost all of his war communication through Major J. P. Strange. Forrest’s speeches, however, were as polished and eloquent as could be. Most of his grammatical distortions in his speech were products of his staff and their naïve tales of Forrest.

Bedford was described by many as a handsome man. He was lithe and tall at six foot two inches. He was left handed, but so thoroughly refined his right side so that he became ambidextrous. His chest was extremely broad. He had jet-black hair and a long goatee. His gray eyes were narrow and he had a stern glance.

Forrest worked in many different occupations. In 1841, he joined a company formed in Holly Springs, Mississippi to fight invaders in Texas. When they arrived in Texas, however, they discovered that it was not being invaded, and then returned home. Bedford began working as a blacksmith in 1842, with his uncle in Hernando, Mississippi. By 1845, Forrest and his uncle were very successful. Later he became a planter and dealt in trading horses, livestock, and slaves. Bedford never split a family up when he sold slaves, and never knowingly sold a slave to a cruel master. In fact, several slaves approached Forrest and begged him to buy them from their cruel masters, because they knew he would resell them to a kind owner. He entered into the real estate business in 1851. Later, Forrest moved from Hernando to Memphis, Tennessee. He prospered in Memphis, and by the time the war began, he had an estimated fortune of about $1,500,000.

In 1845, Bedford courted Mary Ann Montgomery who was nineteen years old and under the guardianship of a Presbyterian minister. When he asked the guardian for permission to marry Miss Montgomery, he got a strong answer from the preacher: “Why, Bedford, I couldn’t consent. You cuss and gamble and Mary Ann is a Christian girl.” Forrest replied, “I know it, and that’s just why I want her.” They were married in September of that same year.

Nathan and Mary had two children. William, whom they called “Willie,” was named after Nathan’s father. Francis, whom they called “Fanny,” was named after Nathan’s twin sister. Like her namesake, Fanny also died at the age of five.

Bedford joined the army soon after Tennessee entered the war. Jeffrey, Bedford’s younger brother, and Bedford’s son William enlisted in Confederate Captain J. White’s “Tennessee Mounted Rifles” as privates on June 14, 1861. Isham G. Harris, the Governor of Tennessee, appointed Forrest to lieutenant colonel and ordered him to Memphis to raise a regiment. He set up a recruiting office and headquarters in the Gayoso House and Hotel in Memphis. Forrest asked forty-five of his slaves to join him, offering them their freedom after the war regardless of the outcome. Though they had many chances to escape, only one did. He recruited 500 men, but found that most of his men did not have weapons or equipment. The ones who did, had flintlock rifles - some of which that dated back to the War of 1812. Consequently, he went to Kentucky to buy arms and equipment for his men.

Bedford was a key player in many of the battles of the Civil War. Some of the battles he fought in, or raids he undertook were at Shiloh, Tennessee; Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Fort Donelson; Rome, Georgia; Fort Pillow; and the legendary Brice’s Crossroads.

On April 2, 1862, at Shiloh, Tennessee, Forrest, impatient with waiting for orders, ordered an assault across the cotton field at Shiloh. Forrest’s cavalry dodged the Union’s fire and attacked when they neared them. He was successful. Forrest was ordered to protect Breckenridge’s retreat when the enemy attacked the next day. Near Fallen Timbers, Forrest decided to stop the Union advance. He and his men hid behind a wooden ridge which ran parallel to the road on which Sherman was advancing. Forrest led the charge that went through the infantry and into the Union cavalry in a wild battle He ended up separated from his soldiers and was wounded, but he managed to pick up a Union soldier to shield himself from the bullets. He rode out quickly, and then threw down the surprised Union soldier. Bedford went home to Memphis to recover from the mine ball lodged near his spine.

On July 13, 1862, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Bedford began a raid to capture supplies. He freed locals that were imprisoned for supposedly attacking patrols near their farms. Though advised to leaveafter the success, he replied, “I did not come here to make half a job of it; I want it all.” He then proceeded to demand the unconditional surrender of the entire garrison. Unaware that he was bluffing, they surrendered, though they had more men, guns, artillery, and an entrenched position. He succeeded in capturing one million dollars worth of supplies.

On February 3, 1863, Forrest arrived at Fort Donelson after being called away from a success. Bedford had led the charge and discovered fifteen bullet holes in his uniform afterwards, yet he was uninjured. Forrest was awakened at midnight and summoned to headquarters. Generals Floyd, Pillow, and Buckner were discussing surrender. Floyd and Buckner were in favor of surrendering, but Pillow wasn’t. Bedford immediately sent out two trusted men to see if the road was open. Forrest refused to surrender and led his 1500 men out without encountering the enemy; not a man was lost. General Pillow and General Floyd decided to escape. General Buckner surrendered with about 10,000 men well after daylight.

On May 3, 1863, in Rome, Georgia, Col. Abel Streight surrendered approximately 1600 men to Forrest’s 600. He was oblivious to the fact that Forrest was lying, and as soon as he saw Forrest’s men, he demanded to have his weapons back and fight it out. Bedford just replied, “All is fair in love and war, you know.”

On April 12, 1864, Forrest’s men attacked Fort Pillow. This is one of the most disputed battles of the civil war. Because most of the people that were killed were blacks, the North chose to believe that Forrest had slaughtered them as they were trying to surrender, but the South claimed that the losses were deserved because they refused to surrender. However, according to most reports, Forrest was not on the site at the time. He stayed back because of severe pain due to the bullet lodged against his spine. Colonel Chalmer was in charge of the attack. Union white soldiers deserted the fort leaving black soldiers and white officers to hold the fort. They proudly refused to surrender, and that made Chalmer’s unit angry. Unnecessary slaughter did take place, and Forrest was extremely angry when he heard.

At Brice’s Crossroads, on June 10, 1864, General Sturgis entered Mississippi with 8,300 men. Forrest, with 3,200 men, crushed the Union army. He captured over 1500 prisoners, 17 cannons, and 250 wagons. This was an overwhelming proof of Forrest’s military genius.

In addition to these and other battles, Forrest continually showed his military tactics superior. Sherman hated him, calling Forrest “the very devil,” and promising that he would kill Forrest even if it took 10,000 Union lives and the whole national treasury. Sherman sent four successfully larger armies against Forrest, but he decisively defeated each one.

Bedford advanced quickly in the war. He began the war as a private in June of 1861. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in October of 1861. He became Colonel of the 3rd Tennessee in March of 1862 because of his actions at Fort Donelson. In July of 1862, he was promoted to brigadier general. Finally, in February of 1865, he was advanced to lieutenant general.

Forrest possessed natural instincts in strategy and had a killer instinct. Sherman, also considered a great strategist, said that Forrest. “…had a genius for strategy which was original, and to me incomprehensible. There was not theory or art of war by which I could calculate with any degree of certainty what Forrest was up to. He always seemed to know what I was going to do next.” In spite of his supposed maxim to “git thar fustust with the mostest men,” he faced overwhelming odds on almost every battlefield, yet never lost a battle that he himself commanded until he was simply outnumbered at his surrender. Forrest’s greatest tactic was to charge. He never stood a charge, but charged back.

About eighteen months before the official end of the war, Forrest concluded that the south had lost the war. Nonetheless, he continued to fight with resolve until April 8, 1865 at his defeat at Cahaba. General Forrest was the last military commander east of the Mississippi to lay down his arms. When approached about joining un-surrendered Confederates in Texas, Forrest replied, “Men, you may all do as you…please, but I’m a-goin’ home…To make men fight under such circumstances would be nothing but murder. Any man who is in favor of a further prosecution of war is a fit subject for a lunatic asylum.” He surrendered in Gainesville, Alabama on May 9, 1865, after both General Lee and General Johnston.

By the end of the war, Forrest’s personal fortune was gone. Nonetheless, he helped as many of the widows of men under his command as he could afford. He returned to farming a small plantation. He also owned and managed the Memphis and Selma Railroad.

Contrary to the popular belief, Forrest did not found the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan was about a year and a half old when it asked Forrest to lead it in 1867. The purpose of the Ku Klux Klan was to protect the southern people – white and black – from those who were taking advantage of them. In January of 1869, because it had achieved its purpose, Forrest ordered the Klan to disband, which it did not. He refused to have anything more to do with it.

Bedford fought for civil rights. He took a very great risk in saying that black people should be able to be doctors, store clerks, bankers, or in any other occupations equal to those of whites. Forrest was no hypocrite. He followed up on his statement and hired blacks into high level jobs of his Memphis and Selma Railroad. The Independent Order of Pole Bearers Association (forerunner or the NAACP) invited Bedford to speak at their convention on July 5, 1875. He was the first white man ever invited.

Forrest never regained his fortune that had helped him to equip and raise a company of men at the beginning of the war. However, he obtained something of much greater importance. After years of prayer from his wife, Forrest became a Christian in November of 1875. He grew softer, gentler, and much mellower as he grew older. This proud man became humble and God used him to the fullest.

In 1877, Jefferson Davis visited Bedford, who had been removed to his brother Jessie’s home in Memphis. By then, Forrest could hardly recognize Davis. His health may have deteriorated from diabetes or lengthened dysentery, but most likely it was because of being wounded too many times. His last understandable words were, “Call my wife.” Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest died around 7 p.m. on October 27, 1877. Many people came to his funeral – both black and white – to honor one of the greatest military leaders of all time.

Forrest was well praised by many as a brilliant tactician. He was the only soldier in the North or South to join the military as a private and rise to the rank of lieutenant general. When asked who the greatest soldier under his command was, General Robert E. Lee replied, “A man I have never seen, sir! His name is Forrest.” General Joseph E. Johnston said, “Forrest’s capacity for war seemed only to be limited by the opportunities for its display.” Lee also said, “He accomplished more with fewer troops than any other officer on either side.” General Dabney Maury went so far as to say that he was the greatest general of the Civil War. Perhaps it was his enemy General William T. Sherman who paid him the biggest compliment. Sherman said Forrest was “the most remarkable man our civil war produced on either side.” In response to all this, Forrest just said, “War means fightin’, and fightin’ means killin’.” President Davis lamented that he had seen Forrest’s genius too late.

Forrest was reportedly under fire 179 times and he stated, “My provost marshal’s books will show that I have taken 31,000 prisoners.” Of the 54 engagements Forrest was in, he lost only one. He had 30 horses shot out from under him. He personally killed 31 men in man to man combat. It seemed that he lost a horse for every man he killed. After the war, he remarked, “I came out one horse ahead.” He was wounded at least eight recorded times. He was known for pulling battles out of the tank. Because he continuously overcame the enemy and delivered his soldiers from the face of death, he was admired and honored by his gradually fading nation: the Confederate States of America.

Forrest had a vibrant persona and was an aggressive leader. His men feared his temper, but served under him with great pride. They quickly learned his peculiar traits and mannerisms. They did their best, too, to receive his praise. They also learned when to stay out of his way. His men saw his tender nature when his younger brother Jeffrey was struck in the throat by a musket ball. Artillerist Morton later recalled, “The general rushed to him, raised his head off the ground, and spoke his name sever times, melt[ing] with grief.” The gentler nature of Forrest was also revealed among women and children, and also after he became a Christian. He loved children and served every woman – black or white – with genuine respect.