I have a weird hobby, but I find it fascinating to wander through old cemeteries. Lot of history there. Unfiltered history.
While wandering through the “Odd Fellows” Cemetery in Aberdeen Mississippi (Described as a “Quiet resting place for many Civil War veterans”) I found a grave of a black Confederate soldier. He was identified as Nathan Bedford Forrest’s favorite blacksmith.
Yeah, THAT Nathan Bedford Forrest. The Wizard of the Saddle and a founder of the KKK. (Another interesting history that has been perverted. At least the history pre 1880)
If you ever come to St Augustine here you will see many old graveyards as we are the oldest city in the country, but there are also 5 black confederates buried here.
Forrest kept several slaves with him during the war. Once war started he told these slaves that if they stayed with him during the war, that he would give them their freedom after it was over. He also told them that if the Yankees won, that they would be free men also. Those slaves served Forrest throughout the war.
Forrest,ooh, but he killed hundreds of negroes at Fort Pillow, he started the klan,he, he, he...grew a beard so he was a muslim, Glen Beck mentions the massacre in his books I know it’s true;)
Oops, sarcasm lock was on...
Tupelo, do you ever haunt the Confederate cemetaries in Marion, Quitman and Enterprise?