Just what is the problem with General Forrest? He was an honorable and wily fighter for the CSA. He founded the KKK as a response to difficult circumstances brought on by the Federal occupation. After all, most southern whites were not allowed to vote in the late 1860’s unless they took a “loyalty oath.” Moreover, the excesses and illegal activities of the Klan came long after Forrest’s day. Okay, he was a Democrat. That I will hold against him, but he was a Democrat in the days when Democrats were loyal to America and its founder’s ideals even if they were not loyal to the United States of America. That is more than you can say for today’s Democrats.
Make that founders’ ideals. We had more than one of them.
Forrest didn’t found the KKK. He was elected Grand Wizard, likely in absentia, in Memphis some time after it was founded. There is no historical source documentation that he ever did anything as Grand Wizard except give a talk or two, and give orders to disband the organization. No evidence he ever “rode with” the KKK or owned KKK paraphernalia (hood, robe, etc.) After the war, he spent a lot of time attempting to get the vote reinstated for Confederate veterans.