General Forrest and the Confederate flag

Canada Free Press ^ | July 11, 2009 | Calvin E. Johnson, Jr.

[BigReb555]

Monday, July 13th, in the year of our Lord 2009, is the 188th birthday of American legend and Southern Hero--Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest.

[SpaceBar]

ping

[Monterrosa-24]

Forrest was a great man and a great general but I disagree with this depiction...

“..Some people have claimed that Forrest was associated with the Ku Klux Klan but he officially denied participation...”

There is not a shadow of a doubting Thomas that Forrest was an early participant in Klan organizing and leadership. Of course it was a time when White men in the South were without political franchise. It is also true that he advocated closing out the secret societies as the excesses of reconstruction receded.

[GOP_Raider]

Ping!

[TNdandelion]

Just a few weeks ago, some "artists" staged a protest in front of his statue here in Memphis.

Maybe if they had been more interested in reading history than playing with crayons and dress-up, they would know how inaccurate their production was.

[stainlessbanner]

Dixie Ping!

- hat tip to GOP_Raider

[max americana]

What was the production about?

[BigCinBigD]

People not comfortable with seeing the Confederate Battle flag. Might want to tear their eyes out. Because there are going to be more and more sightings the longer this catastrophe continues.

[Ammo Republic 15]

His framed portrait hangs just above my computer.

[vaudine]

In the 1960s my husband was stationed at Ft. Hood, TX, and our teenage son was good friends with the son of Col (later promoted to gen)Nathan Bedford ForrestIII or IV--great grandson of the Confed. Forrest I said great grand--could have been two greats. I believe his father was also an army gen., so it was a family tradition.

As for the KKK participation, it is entirely possible he helped to organize one or more of the first units, as it was a local orgn. devoted to protecting citizens from the offenses of looting, assaults, burning, etc. of the carpetbaggers. The Union army, after Lincoln's assassination and Johnson's impeachment was not much interested in protecting southerners in many parts of the south--sort of thought they got what they deserved. When the orgn. turned to violent intimidation and murder/mayhem, many of the original members got out of it.

vaudine

[wardaddy]

One of my heroes...an incredible historical figure

[razorback-bert]

My Great Grandfather and his brother rode with Forrest.

My G-G uncle was killed at Brice’s Crossroads, just a day’s ride from his home, with one silver dollar in his pocket.

[manc]

well they fly here down in st augustine north east FL and if the left liberals do not like it because of their ignorance to history then so be it.

[manc]

at least obama did not break this tradition though I expect that the media will not cover this.

Sadly many Americans do not know their history and that goes for these so called teachers who try and twist history to suit their needs

[Texas Mulerider]

Shelby Foote, one of NBF’s biggest admirers, is buried next to the Forrest family plot at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.

[manc]

lest we forget

[manc]

agreed and thanks for the ping

[parsifal]

I think some of my family fought for the South also. They did the killing instead of getting killed however. Least that was the way my daddy told it.

BTW, did you know that George Patton used to ride around on horses with John Singleton Mosby who i seem to recall did a little teaching to him.I have to look that back up.

parsy, who is kinda un-reconstructed

[stainlessbanner]

I met a NBF researcher and one told me the family has letters that show him in a different light, although they will not release them.

Forrest was probably the first WBTS cavalryman to seek and destroy opponents.

bert, any stories handed down from your granddady and his brothers?

[razorback-bert]

Get there first with the most.