Forrest DNA sample for N.B. Forrest?

[farmerjohn]

Forrest requested that he be buried in Elmwood Cemetery near his four brothers who all served in the Confederate Cavalry. As per his directions he was buried in Elmwood in 1877. However, his son William, gave the consent for his father and mother's remains to be moved about 1 1/2 miles to Forrest Park in 1904.

Now that the remains are being removed and relocated once more, why in the world would they take DNA samples from Forrest's bones? With all the indignities this intensely proud man's body has suffered, why would you want to do more? He was positively ID when he was buried, interred and reburied so there is no need to further prove that it is Forrest's remains!!
Regards
David

his bros. are still interred at elmwood? the history deplorables will try to move them too if they get wind of it.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

his bros. are still interred at elmwood? the history deplorables will try to move them too if they get wind of it.

No doubt.

But from what I seen over the last few months, NBF is no longer a big issue as much as he was back in 2015.
Seems now "European Colonials" are the focus of those trying to erase history.

There are even current groups within the UK that are attempting to eradicate all memory of Admiral Horatio Nelson.
That man didn't give a hoot about colonies, he just wanted to perfect naval warfare back in the "Age of Sail".

But some of these groups continue to rant and lie that Nelson joined the Royal Navy only to exploit indigenous people within the British Empire.

WTF ?

" Lord have mercy ... and bless their little hearts "

But I do hope Nelson & Forrest have met each other in the afterlife.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Maybe the Department of Defense is planning on cloning on army of super-soldiers.

Bad call! Super big mistake!

Too many modern Generals and other officers would meet the "peril of their life" all over the world, then the clones would start in on the politicians!

On second thought, maybe not a bad call....

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

There are even current groups within the UK that are attempting to eradicate all memory of Admiral Horatio Nelson.
That man didn't give a hoot about colonies, he just wanted to perfect naval warfare back in the "Age of Sail".

But some of these groups continue to rant and lie that Nelson joined the Royal Navy only to exploit indigenous people within the British Empire.

I've not heard of this and am quite bewildered...

 

[Big Sarge]

I have supported the request for DNA to be extracted from Gen Forrest's remains. It will open up a fascinating avenue of research and will prove/disprove some artifacts, plus answer the question of whether he fathered a child (Narcissa) with his slave Catherine. I am close friends with the owner of the Forrest vest and the DNA extraction from a textile 160 years old is a "crapshoot," plus it will necessitate the destruction of part of the textile.

This is likely the only chance to obtain an undisputed DNA sample from Forrest's remains.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I've not heard of this and am quite bewildered...

According to some of these groups, Admiral Nelson is only one of many historic " British racists ":

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...uments-risk-torn-Topple-Racists-campaign.html

 

[RobertBruceFerguson]

Is there a specific reason to study his DNA, i.e., a record of family illness, ancestry research, and others?

I'd like to see a sample of Grant's DNA to test my theory that he lacked the gene that is responsible for producing the alcohol metabolizing enzymes, and would account for his appearing intoxicated with only a small amount of wine or whiskey.

No, no particular reason. I was just curious if it might happen. This is a once in a lifetime event. Thought it might be a good time to get it. With respect of course.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Absolutely !

I'm all for using DNA tests to shed light on any historic mystery.

But this is not a mystery.

Forrest's death in late 1877, is better documented than many famous figures that passed after World War II.

After posting that comment, I've changed my opinion.

Obtaining an original DNA sample from Forrest is probably a good idea.

There's no doubt that a real DNA test would shut-up a lot of "fake claimants" that pretend to have a Forrest legacy.

 

[MzCC]

Does anybody know if the olde general is going to have his DNA extracted?

He was t Celtic was he ? I thought he was Norwegian ? So many Irish want him to be Celtic but the N word he coined and used to humiliate slaves is from a Norwegian word. Seriously he isnt Andrew Jackson … dont see the awe ?

 

[Bentonville]

I can't think why the family would want to do that

"We can rebuild him. We have the technology..."

 

[DSessom]

He was t Celtic was he ? I thought he was Norwegian ? So many Irish want him to be Celtic but the N word he coined and used to humiliate slaves is from a Norwegian word. Seriously he isnt Andrew Jackson … dont see the awe ?

The Forrest family are of Scots-Irish descent. Not Norwegian or Celtic.

Also, Bedford didn't "coin" the word Negro. It's literally the Spanish word for "black" and has been used to describe African peoples for centuries prior to Bedford's lifetime.

 

[G Low]

I can't think why they wouldn't. It's an excellent chance to prove DNA lineages.

Being one of the Forrest Cousins on his mother's side, I would think it would be very cool to show up as a match. He's my 2nd cousin 4x removed !!

 

[R. Porter]

"We can rebuild him. We have the technology..."

Six Million Dollar Man or Robocop?

 

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

I imagine that any opposition to DNA testing is for reasons in the same realm as Billy The Kid.

There is more tourism/value in having a bit of mystery.

Religion probably also has a fair amount to do with it too.

Me personally, there is a huge difference between a scientific study and 'desecration'.

 

[archieclement]

Also I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss artifacts.

Not sure it's dismissing, but by same token a certain amount of skepticism is probally healthy.....

Some those guns claimed owned by Jesse James may indeed been......others........would think same likely true of other items or locks of hair, ect of famous individuals.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

I see no reason to do so and wish this wasn't even happening. We have many samples of Forrest's DNA around after all, locks of hair in various places I think, and items like this vest in a recent thread with his DNA all over it:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/general-nathan-bedford-forrest-vest-sells-for-amazing-price.184979/

As for proving whether or not many of the claimants of his bloodline, I imagine many of them wouldn't want to risk their claims proven true or false, as it would be scandalous right now if the latter and they probably wouldn't believe it anyway. Lots of numbskulls, some who've written laughable books about Forrest are most likely not related at all and have have everything to lose.

Speaking of which, I wouldn't be surprised if many of the "Forrest Family" that the SCV is using to profit from the remains have no relation to the good General and his wife whatsoever.

But for all I or anyone else knows, Tennessee law may require such a test to confirm they are who they most definitely are when exhumed. It would be hilarious if the imbeciles who gave the remains to the SCV are exposed to be frauds, and could be a good thing in my book. He'll just get dug up again in ten to twenty years going where he's going after the banks foreclose on SCV HQ and it dissolves due to bad policies and lack of new non-gray haired recruits, and then they may not get a final resting place then as the history destroyers get more radical by the day.

A question: Is there actually viable DNA on the vest?

 

[Johnny_Reb_1865]

I know I'm late to this but I wanted to comment on it. I wish it never happened. I wish his stupid son never moved him and his wife in the first place.

And I'm also torn between why he wasn't returned to Elmwood vs burying him at the SCV HQ.

The whole thing was a f***ing mess.

But I know what caused this. The science center Gen Forest and his wife were buried near wanted to expand into the park and they were just in the way.

They dug Generals Forest and AP Hill up along with another down in Florida. I can't help but worry about my ancestors who are buried near me.

I learned with what happened in Arlington and with the above incidents that to some people nothing is sacred.

Mark my words: If ANYONE so much as knocks a flag over one of my ancestor's graves and I find out about it I WILL be going to prison.

 

[G Low]

I imagine that any opposition to DNA testing is for reasons in the same realm as Billy The Kid.

There is more tourism/value in having a bit of mystery.

Religion probably also has a fair amount to do with it too.

Me personally, there is a huge difference between a scientific study and 'desecration'.

Ask @DSessom about Billy The Kid.

 

[DSessom]

Billy wasn't killed by Pat Garrett, I assure you. It's never been a secret in my family, but they never spoke much of it outside the family because he wanted anonymity and they respected that. But if you have ever wondered if Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid, the answer is no he most certainly did not. Pat lied about it and then hired Ash Upson to write a book to perpetuate the lie and it worked for the most part. William Bonney went by many aliases but was going by William Roberts when he helped my 3rd great grandmothers family (the Robert and Ellen Casey family) move from Lincoln NM to Toyah TX in 1883-84. Garrett put a warrant our for Ellen's arrest for stealing cattle (her own cattle that has been stolen, she took them back). But long story short, after assisting with the move to Toyah, Texas, Billy stayed with them a few months, working as a cow hand, and then took off to Mexico for a few years, before returning to Texas.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Billy wasn't killed by Pat Garrett, I assure you. It's never been a secret in my family, but they never spoke much of it outside the family because he wanted anonymity and they respected that. But if you have ever wondered if Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid, the answer is no he most certainly did not. Pat lied about it and then hired Ash Upson to write a book to perpetuate the lie and it worked for the most part. William Bonney went by many aliases but was going by William Roberts when he helped my 3rd great grandmothers family (the Robert and Ellen Casey family) move from Lincoln NM to Toyah TX in 1883-84. Garrett put a warrant our for Ellen's arrest for stealing cattle (her own cattle that has been stolen, she took them back). But long story short, after assisting with the move to Toyah, Texas, Billy stayed with them a few months, working as a cow hand, and then took off to Mexico for a few years, before returning to Texas.

Really cool family history and insight @DSessom.