“..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.
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
My understanding, correct me on this, is that the organizers of the first Klan circles "adlected" Gen. Forrest as their leader, that he apparently accepted but resigned after about 18 months when night-riding and other suppressive activities began to be organized among the Klan, because he disagreed with such tactics.