- Joined
- Jul 12, 2007
- Location
- Aledo, IL
Oct. 29, 1877-Confederate Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest, dies in Memphis, TN.
In 1904, his remains were moved to Forrest Park in Memphis, TN.....
And that's where it all went south, so to speak.
I think Foote related that story in the Ken Burns series.He was a fascinating character. Was it Shelby Foote I saw in some documentary once who told Forrests' granddaughter that he thought the War had only thrown up only two true geniuses, one was Lincoln and the other was her grandfather but she said she didn't think her family would appreciate their names being mentioned in the same sentence.
I think Foote related that story in the Ken Burns series.
Forrest didn't say anything about Lincoln but it was clear he didn't agree with him on much! He had been for union until Tennessee seceded, but he didn't think it was necessary to go to war over the separation. However, once he'd made the decision, he was in it all the way - that was always his way on anything. The assassination was most disturbing to him as he knew it would bring on harshness toward the South, which it did.
So if Tennessee had stayed in the Union, Forrest would have fought for the North?
So if Tennessee had stayed in the Union, Forrest would have fought for the North?
He may well have spoken that that question for some on this forum!That is a very interesting question. I believe he would have if he had felt that Lincoln intended to preserve slavery. Forrest fought for his state all right but he was also fighting for his livelihood and way of life - all he had or ever would have was based on slavery. Forrest was one of the few Confederate generals who didn't stress states' rights (one of which he interpreted as a state having the right to decide about slavery) or federal coercion or any other reason than slavery for the whole thing. As he said, "If this d-n war ain't about slavery, I'd sure as hell like to know what it is about!"
Forrest supported Breckenridge in the election of 1860 because he said he was a "states rights" man. The first referendum on secession failed in Tennessee as a whole and even failed in Forrest' hometown of Memphis. His name does not appear on a newspaper list of hundreds of leading citizens in favor of separation and he later claimed to be originally opposed to Tennessee's withdrawal. However, there was a second popular vote after Fort Sumter and Lincoln's call for troops. The results in Memphis were overwhelming in favor of joining the Confederacy. Shortly there after Forrest put his affairs in order and joined the Confederate army as a private. He went with his neighbors. If he and his family had remained in Bedford county he might have been a Unionist.