His younger sister, Francis Fannie Ann was born in 1849 but passed away at age 6 in 1854. . In the 1870s, Forrests health began to fail, and for several years he was plagued by illness. [143] The title "Grand Wizard" was chosen because General Forrest had been known as "The Wizard of the Saddle" during the war. In the battle of Fallen Timbers, he drove through the Union skirmish line. Local lawyer and radio host Rose Sanders said, "Glorifying Nathan B. Forrest here is like glorifying a Nazi in Germany. [206] In 2008, the Duval County School Board voted 52 against a push to change the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest High School in Jacksonville. The Forrest family had migrated to Tennessee from Virginia, via North Carolina, during the second half of the 18th Century, while the Beck family had moved from South Carolina to Tennessee around . [213] A major push to change its name failed on February 16, 2018, when the governor-controlled Tennessee Historical Commission denied Middle Tennessee State University's petition to rename Forrest Hall. The native Tennesseean had amassed a fortune, which he estimated at $1,500,000, as a slave trader and plantation owner before enlisting in the Confederate army as a private in Josiah H. White's cavalry company on June 14, 1861. FIPS State FIPS County Name State CBSA One-Unit Two-Unit Three-Unit Four-Unit Code County Number Limit Limit Limit Limit Code 01 001 AUTAUGA COUNTY AL . In retaliation, Forrest shot and killed two of them with his two-shot pistol and wounded two others with a knife which had been thrown to him. He destroyed Union supplies and disabled miles of track and trestle work, and eluded pursuit until forced into a pitched battle at Parkers Crossroads on December 31, 1862. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Capt. "[126] A memorial to him, the first Civil War memorial in Memphis, was erected in 1905 in a new Nathan Bedford Forrest Park. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Lieutenant Andrew Wills Gould, an artillery officer in Forrest's command, was being transferred, presumably because cannons under his command[66] were spiked (disabled) by the enemy[67] during the Battle of Day's Gap. [159], In an 1868 interview by a Cincinnati newspaper, Forrest claimed that the Klan had 40,000 members in Tennessee and 550,000 total members throughout the Southern states. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. cemeteries found in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Learn more about managing a memorial . [189], On July 7, 2015, the Memphis City Council unanimously voted to remove the statue of Forrest from Health Sciences Park, and to return the remains of Forrest and his wife to Elmwood Cemetery. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Nathan Bedford Forrest II (August 1871 - March 11, 1931) was an American businessman who served as the 19th Commander-in-Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans from 1919 to 1921, [1] [2] [3] and as the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan for Georgia. [145] According to Jack Hurst's 1993 biography, "Two years after Appomattox, Forrest was reincarnated as grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. On July 10, 1861, Tennessee Governor Isham Harris, who knew Forrest by his reputation as a businessman in Memphis, and commissioned him a lieutenant colonel with the authority to recruit a battalion of mounted rangers. Jane was born 3 February 1847 at Oxford, Mississippi. The Confederate . In the spring of 1864, General Forrest, who had been raiding throughout western Tennessee in Kentucky, planned to move on Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River with about 1,500 to 2,500 men. In June 1862, he assumed command of a cavalry brigade. Unlettered, contemptuous of West Point formal training, and given to insubordination, Forrest nonetheless was a brilliant horseman and tactical thinker and the only soldier on either side to go from private to lieutenant generalduring the course of the war. At the onset of the war in 1861, Jeffery and Nathan each enlisted as a. [4] While scholars generally acknowledge Forrest's skills and acumen as a cavalry leader and military strategist, he has remained a controversial figure in Southern racial history for his main role in the massacre of several hundred Union soldiers at Fort Pillow, a majority of them black, coupled with his role following the war as a leader of the Klan. Forrest recruited and equipped his command, sometimes at his own expense. Forrest's postwar business career was not as lucrative as his antebellum ventures. [14] He and his twin sister, Fanny, were the two eldest of 12 children. [211] Leaders in other localities have also tried to remove or eliminate Forrest monuments, with mixed success. 0:04. Forrest led other raids that summer and fall, including a famous one into Union-held downtown Memphis in August 1864 (the Second Battle of Memphis)[114] and another on a major Union supply depot at Johnsonville, Tennessee. William married Jane Taylor Cook, daughter of James Cook and Elvira Darnell. William Bill Forrest was born in Desoto County, Mississippi on September 26th, 1846 to Nathan Bedford and Mary Ann Forrest. Please reset your password. In July 2021, Tennessee officials voted to move Forrest's bust from the State Capitol to the Tennessee State Museum. A funeral procession formed at the church by thousands of marchers, who then proceeded to accompany the body to Elmwood Cemetery where he was buried. Captain Forrest was with his father Nathan Bedford in all the campaigns that caused the world to ring with his fame. The Klan's activity infiltrated the Democratic Party's campaign for the presidential election of 1868. Add to your scrapbook. In early June . Resentful of Braggs ineptitude and poor treatment of him during the Chickamauga Campaign, the fiery cavalryman bitterly denounced his superior officer. The Union garrison at Fort Pillow consisted of about 600 men, divided almost evenly between black and white troops. His uncle was killed there in 1845 during an argument with the Matlock brothers. One of the most divisive and controversial characters of Memphis and Tennessee history, Nathan Bedford Forrest, has been exhumed a second time since his death in 1877. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 2008 - 2022 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Bill suffered a stroke during the screening of "The Klansman" in 1908 and died less than 24 hours later, and was buried in Memphis. Capt. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. In August 2000, a road on Fort Bliss named for Forrest decades earlier was renamed for former post commander Richard T. Before the war, Forrest amassed substantial wealth as a cotton plantation owner, horse and cattle trader, real estate broker, and slave trader. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4LH-RSS, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8T2-T2N, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD8Q-6Q1, http://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com/tsla/history/military/pension006.htm, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDW8-DXD, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8578580/william-montgomery-forrest, "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (, "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (, "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (, "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (. His cavalry destroyed railroad and blockhouses and blockaded shipping on the Tennessee River, disabling and capturing several Union vessels before destroying the Union supply depot at Johnsonville. Immediately thereafter, Forrest joined General John Bell Hood in the disastrous Tennessee campaign of November and December 1864. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. William Bill Forrest was born in Desoto County, Mississippi on September 26th, 1846 to Nathan Bedford and Mary Ann Forrest. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. [239][238] The Mississippi NAACP petitioned Governor Haley Barbour to denounce the plates and prevent their distribution. blacksmith. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. This is a cenotaph. In July, he led them into Middle Tennessee under orders to launch a cavalry raid, and on July 13, 1862, led them into the First Battle of Murfreesboro, as a result of which all of the Union units surrendered to Forrest, and the Confederates destroyed much of the Union's supplies and railroad track in the area. His younger sister, Francis Fannie Ann was born in 1849 but passed away at age 6 in 1854. The Ku Klux Klan Forrest was evidently active in organizing the Ku Klux Klan, and became its first Grand Wizard in 1867. Through the KKK, he sought to restore white conservative Democrats to power. The group was a loose collection of local factions throughout the former Confederacy that used violence and the threat of violence to maintain white control over the newly enfranchised former slaves. In 1834, Nathans father packed the family up and moved to a small farm in northern Mississippi. WILLIAM MONTGOMERY FORRESTfamily tree Parents Nathan Bradford, Gen. Forrest 1821- 1877 Mary Ann Montgomery Forrest 1826- 1893 Spouse(s) Jane Taylor Cook Forrest 1847- 1882 Children Mary E Forrest 1869- 1965 A system error has occurred. More than 100,000 men from Tennessee served with the Confederacy and over 31,000 served with the Union. Similar accounts were reported in many Southern newspapers at the time. The white men fared but little better. His descendants were present when his remains were placed in the park in November 1904, and again generations later when the. Part of Forrests farewell to his troops on May 9, 1865: In bidding you farewell, rest assured that you carry with you my best wishes for your future welfare and happiness. He had a few successes in the slave trade and investments in business and real estate, and slowly accumulated the capital to buy Mississippi and Arkansas plantations. [238], A 2011 Mississippi license plate proposal to honor him, by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, revived tensions and raised objections from Mississippi chapter of the NAACP president Derrick Johnson, who compared Forrest to Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Forest of Confederate fame was at our head, and was known as the Grand Wizard. Brother of Frances Ann Forrest Report of the Sub-committee", "Abraham Lincoln to Cabinet, Tuesday, May 03, 1864 (Fort Pillow massacre)", "Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and the KKK", "General Nathan Bedford Forrest Versus the Ku Klux Klan", "Memphis daily appeal. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Hernando, DeSoto County, Mississippi, USA. [90] Forrest's men were alleged to have set fire to a Union barracks with wounded Union soldiers inside[91][92] In defense of their actions, Forrest's men insisted that the Union soldiers, although fleeing, kept their weapons and frequently turned to shoot, forcing the Confederates to keep firing in self-defense. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. The Republicans had nominated one of Forrest's battle adversaries, Union war hero Ulysses S. Grant, for the Presidency at their convention held in October. In 1845, Forrest married Mary Ann Montgomery (1826-1893), the niece of a Presbyterian minister who was her legal guardian. based on information from your browser. [216] Forrest fought by simple rules; he maintained that "war means fighting and fighting means killing" and the way to win was "to get there first with the most men". Forrest became well known for his early use of maneuver tactics as applied to a mobile horse cavalry deployment. Nathan Bedford Forrest was born in this Tennessee town. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Congress and Grant passed the Enforcement Acts from 1870 to 1871, to protect "registration, voting, officeholding, or jury service" of African Americans. If so, login to add it. 410 to overrule the city. [102] The Southern press steadfastly defended Forrest's reputation. Several of Forrests battles were minor classics of cavalry tactics. An uncle of William was a Major in the reorganized regiment. The Horrors and Cruelties of the Scene Intensified. He had become interested in the area around Crowley's Ridge during the war, and took up civilian life in 1865 in Memphis, Tennessee. The family moved to Hernando, Mississippi in 1834, where William was a blacksmith and farmer. [246] The City Council then voted on December 20, 2017, to sell Health Sciences Park to Memphis Greenspace, a new non-profit corporation not subject to the Heritage Protection Act, which removed the statue and another of Jefferson Davis that same evening. He was promoted to major general on December 4, 1863. Report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War. The Tennessee Historical Commission denied removal on October 21, 2016, under the authority granted it by the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act of 2013, which prevents cities and counties from relocating, removing, renaming, or otherwise disturbing without permission war memorials on public property. [81] Bradford refused to surrender, believing his troops could escape to the Union gunboat, USS New Era, on the Mississippi River. Streight's goal changed from dismantling the railroad to escaping the pursuit. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Maximum Loan Limits for Mortgages Acquired in Calendar Year 2021 and. Hernando, DeSoto County, Mississippi, USA. Cav. [129], On July 5, 1875, Forrest gave a speech before the Independent Order of Pole-Bearers Association, a post-war organization of black Southerners advocating to improve the economic condition of black people and to gain equal rights for all citizens. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Forrest himself recounted her influence to a friend saying: I am not the same man you were with so long and knew so well. Modern historians generally believe that Forrest's attack on Fort Pillow was a massacre, noting high casualty rates, and the rebels targeting black soldiers. He and his twin sister, Fanny, were the oldest of William and Mariam Beck Forrest's twelve children. [103][104], S.C. Gwynne writes, "Forrest's responsibility for the massacre has been actively debated for a century and a half. [46] Forrest's command included his Escort Company (his "Special Forces"), for which he selected the best soldiers available. Bill Lee Signs Nathan Bedford Forrest Day Proclamation, Is Not Considering Law Change", "Tennessee Governor Slammed Online for Signing Confederate General Proclamation", "Tennessee Gov. Will, "deranged by worry over financial matters. [80] By 3:30 pm, Forrest had concluded that the Union troops could not hold the fort, thus he ordered a flag of truce raised and demanded that the fort be surrendered. This is a carousel with slides. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8578580/william-montgomery-forrest. This browser does not support getting your location. How do we create a person's profile? The next month, he captured the Union garrison with its stores at Murfreesboro, and on July 21, 1862, he was promoted to brigadier general, and began a long and illustrious association with the Confederate Army of Tennessee. Search above to list available cemeteries. [112] Concerned about Union supply lines, Maj. Gen. Sherman sent a force under the command of Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Smith to deal with Forrest. The actor portraying his father was such a great likeness that he had a stroke and died. Captain William Montgomery "Willy" Forrest Born 28 Sep 1846 in Hernando, Desoto, Mississippi Ancestors Son of Nathan Bedford Forrest and Mary Ann (Montgomery) Forrest Brother of Frances Forrest and William Bedford Forrest [half] Husband of Jane Taylor Cook married [date unknown] [location unknown] Father of Nathan Bedford Forrest Nathan always maintained close ties to his family and watched over them as best he could. [100], At the time of the massacre, General Grant was no longer in Tennessee but had transferred to the east to command all Union troops. Hicks refused to comply with the ultimatum, and according to his subsequent report, Forrest's troops took a position and set up a battery of guns while a flag of truce was still up. Afterwards, he admitted to 'gentlemanly lies'. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Smith at Tupelo, where Forrest was wounded while directing the pursuit of retreating Federal troops. [200], A monument to Forrest in the Confederate Circle section of Old Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama reads "Defender of Selma, Wizard of the Saddle, Untutored Genius, The first with the most. Forrest probably organized a statewide Klan network in Georgia during these visits. This is a carousel with slides. By November, Forrests Tennessee Cavalry Battalion included roughly 790 men from Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, and Texas. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. GREAT NEWS! After a brief courtship, the couple wed on September 25, 1845. . ", "Sons of Confederate Veterans 'Put to Rest for Eternity' Gen. Nathan Bedford in Columbia, Tennessee", Animated History of The Campaigns of Nathan Bedford Forrest, General Nathan Bedford Forrest Historical Society, List of Union Civil War monuments and memorials, List of memorials to the Grand Army of the Republic, Confederate artworks in the United States Capitol, List of Confederate monuments and memorials. Obituary: Confederate Veteran Magazine-Page 63-Vol.1-February 1893 No.2 Death of Gen. Forrest's Wife-The lovely wife of Gen. N. Bedford Forrest died January 22nd, 1893, in Memphis, Tenn., where she had resided for many years.

Discuss The Importance Of Diorama In Teaching Learning Process, Turns Out I'm Rich Novel Star, Siser Easy Color Dtv Cut Settings, Articles W