Amid the aristocratic ranks of the confederate cavalry, nathan bedford forrest was untutored, all but unlettered, and regarded as no more than a guerrilla. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. And at forty years old, nathan bedford forrest enlisted in a tennessee. First published in 1899, that devil forrest is based almost entirely on accounts of those who knew forrest personally and on contemporary military papers and records. The book is about the confederate general nathan bedford forrest who waged a very successful war against union troops throughout tennessee and other areas. A different kind of hero southern poverty law center. With the same eloquence, dramatic energy, and grasp of history that marked his awardwinning fictional trilogy of the haitian revolution, madison smartt bell now turns his gaze to americas civil war. He didnt always make mature judgements as an operations officer, but he never lost popularity for it. Confederate general nathan bedford forrest is, without out a doubt, one of the most controversial figures in american history. A biography of the confederate cavalry leader describes his poor childhood in mississippi, his adulthood as a millionaire slave trader, his rise through the ranks. Battle of brices crossroads forrests greatest victory.
Nathan bedford forrest is the star of the bookbarely. Kastler nathan bedford forrest was not a man that samuel montgomery wanted his niece to marry. Instead of statue demolition, why not turn the tables on racists. Nathan bedford forrest july, 1821 october 29, 1877 was a confederate army general during the american civil war. According to john wyeths 1899 book life of general nathan bedford forrest, forrest burst into braggs tent and blared, i have stood your meanness as long as i intend to. Lee, and the fact that this often brutal and thuggish man has come to be lionized by todays neoconfederate right is remarkable indeed. Jun 24, 2015 5 things to know about nathan bedford forrest. General nathan bedford forrests biographer, john allan wyeth, describes what happened on page 15 of his book, that devil forrest. There were several yard and garden fences intervening, over which he forrest rode lake a scythe over a wheat field. Very rare book that devil forrest by john a wyeth 1959 hardcover dj fi version which i am sure means its a very early edition. Wyeth 1989, paperback at the best online prices at ebay.
Forrest, a confederate cavalry officer during the civil war, his family, friends, and cavalry cohorts form the nucleus of this story of a man who may well be the most fearless and singleminded person who ever lived. Down along with that devils bones connor towne oneill. 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. Forrest entered the service as a private and surrendered as a lieutenant general. Nathan bedford forrest, a biography, by jack hurst pp 448.
Mike sparks of smyrna introduced a house resolution hr. For an even longer and more detailed account, get my book nathan bedford forrests redemption published by pelican publishing. Wyeth and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Nathan bedford forrest was born on july, 1821 to a poor settler family in a secluded frontier cabin near chapel hill hamlet, then part of bedford county, tennessee, but now encompassed in marshall county. Nathan bedford forrest, confederate cavalry commander in the american civil war who was often described as a born military genius. We carry nine popular books on general forrest, one an awardwinner. A powerful new novel about nathan bedford forrest, the most reviled, celebrated, and legendary of civil war generals. General nathan bedford forrest was one of the most flamboyant and ruthless confederate generals of the civil war. From forrests childhood through his involvement in the civil war and the ku klux klan to his conversion to christianity, this spiritual biography. It took me a while, but i finally got through it a bit of a slog, i have to admit. This is a new corrected edition with active table of contents. Why i wrote nathan bedford forrests redemption memphis. Did furious forrest really threaten braggs life after. With the same eloquence, dramatic energy, and grasp of history that marked his awardwinning fictional trilogy of the haitian revolution, madison smartt.
Who is the greatest confederate cavalry officer of all time j. Nathan bedford forrests redemption shane kastler grace. This is the family history of nathan bedford forrest taken from the book, that devil forrest. Amid the aristocratic ranks of the confederate cavalry, nathan bedford. Join national park ranger matt atkinson as he explores the controversial confederate general nathan bedford forrest. Nathan bedford forrest statue is a statue, standing 25 feet 7. Exploring local battles over statues and buildings dedicated to. Nathan bedford forrest was the only soldier to rise from the rank of private to general during the u. Forrest, nathan bedford 18211877 worldcat identities. Nathan bedford forrest 18211877 was a confederate general during the civil war 186165. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now.
Frank and virginia williams collection of lincolniana mississippi state university. The fort pillow massacre in the american civil war, in which he details the capture of the union garrison at for pillow, tennessee, by nathan. Mar 05, 2014 join national park ranger matt atkinson as he explores the controversial confederate general nathan bedford forrest. There is no doubt that madison smartt bell can write a firstrate novel. This book was written in the first decade of the 20th century and is based on correspondence the author had with eyewitnesses to forrests life. Ive always favored wade hampton as a more mature leader. May 29, 2017 why i wrote nathan bedford forrests redemption many have called me a forrest apologist, but i wrote openly about forrest as chief of sinners. That is not to say its an easy book it is, after all, a story of americas bloodiest war, and the protagonist, nathan bedford forrest, is nothing if not a warior. There were several yard and garden fences intervening, over which he forrest rode lake a. That devil forrest life of general nathan bedford forrest by. Dec 02, 2014 a description of nathan bedford forrest from the book 1861 to 1865 by an old johnnie, personal recollections and experiences in the confederate army by james dinkins pp. His tactic was the headlong charge, mounted with such swiftness and ferocity that general sherman called him a.
You have played the part of a damned scoundrel, and are a coward, and if you were any part of a man i would slap your jaws and force you to resent it. That devil forrest is an exhaustive account of general nathan bedford forrest who was one of the most successful generals of the civil war for the confederacy. Nathan bedford forrest recently made the news again, but it is never for a good reason. Devils dream is an incredible novel and could easily get me hooked on bells writing. After reading devils dream, i have come to like nathan bedford forrest a lot. This book was recommended and gifted by a good friend who is a history buff.
Find great deals on ebay for nathan bedford forrest book. His tactic was the headlong charge, mounted with such swiftness and ferocity that general sherman called him a devil who should be hunted down and killed if it costs 10,000 lives and bankrupts the treasury. 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. Forrest comes alive on the pages of john wyeths biography. There occurred in 1845, in hernando, an incident which severely tested the courage of nathan bedford forrest, the result of which was to bring him prominently to the notice of the people in this section of. The book goes into detail about his various battles, his maneuvers, the number of captured and killed and numerous other minute details. There might be a better message to the next generation than simply tearing down statues. When his father, a blacksmith, died when he was 16, forrest moved to the memphis delta and eventually became a successful businessman indeed a millionaire dealing in cotton, land and slaves. A historical novel about the ferocious confederate general nathan bedford forrest and the slaves who followed him. The washington post book worlda powerful new novel about nathan bedford forrest, the most reviled and celebrated, loathed and legendary, of civil war. The book is about the confederate general nathan bedford forrest who waged a very successful war against union.
A tenacious fighter who could be downright vicious and unrelenting he was a largely uneducated man that rose to great prominence. His tactic was the headlong charge, mounted with such swiftness and ferocity that general sherman called him a devil who should be hunted down and killed if it costs 10,000 lives and. The illustrations in this book will be found in three groups facing pages. In the course of down along with that devils bones, oneill brings the reader along as he travels across alabama and tennessee to dive deeper into the story of nathan bedford forrest, less known than robert e. I have selected as my subject on this occasion the campaigns of lieutenant general nathan bedford forrest, who was my immediate commander during the last year and a half of the war, and who, if not the greatest military genius, was certainly the greatest revolutionary leader on our side. Jun 02, 2017 a cavalry and military commander in the war, forrest is one of the wars most unusual figures. Although less educated than many of his fellow officers, before the war forrest had already amassed a. From the author of all souls rising which the washington post called a serious historical novel that reads like a dream, comes a powerful new novel about nathan bedford forrest, the most reviled, celebrated, and legendary, of civil war generals. A cavalry and military commander in the war, forrest is one of the wars most unusual figures. We also have a full length feature film on forrest coming out.
This book, first written in and published in 1899 by confederate soldier john allen wyeth, details the wartime activity of forrest, and includes many other details of the war, particularly in the west. May 11, 1993 nathan bedford forrest, a biography, by jack hurst pp 448. Nathan bedford forrest, one of the most polarizing figures of the civil war era, was born july, 1821 in chapel hill, tennessee a small town on the duck river. Revel had four ancestors who rode with general forrest. Stuart was young and had the panache of a light cavalryman. Why i wrote nathan bedford forrests redemption many have called me a forrest apologist, but i wrote openly about forrest as chief of sinners. Life of general nathan bedford forrest wyeth, john a. From forrests childhood through his involvement in the civil war and the ku klux klan to his conversion to christianity, this spiritual biography follows the general on his journey to salvation.
Life of general nathan bedford forrest is a significant military narrative on the life and controversial military career of confederate lieutenant general nathan bedford forrest. Forrest was the first son of mariam beck and william forrest. General grant and sherman both referred to nathan bedford forrest as that devil forrest. That devil forrest life of general nathan bedford forrest by john allen wyeth. The christian conversion of nathan bedford forrest. A description of nathan bedford forrest from the book 1861 to 1865 by an old johnnie, personal recollections and experiences in the confederate army by james dinkins pp. That devil forrest john a wyeth 1959 hardcover dj fi. After the civil war forrest worked as a planter and railroad president, and served as the first grand. There is some information about his life before the civil war and after which is information rarely presented these days. Lee, but to a segment of people he met still a white supremacist hero. It is the single greatest source of primary material on nathan bedford forrest. 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 18671869 leadership of the ku klux klan.
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