Forrest Why Forrest was Great

[jackt62]

Great story!

 

[Boonslick]

I haven't read much on Forrest in a great many years would like to read the definitive Nathan Bedford Forrest biography. Any sugestions

 

[JeffBrooks]

He was up against Gen. A.J. Smith, he was unique among the Union Generals.

Very true. Smith, unlike the other Union generals, wasn't afraid of Forrest.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

I haven't read much on Forrest in a great many years would like to read the definitive Nathaniel Bedford Forrest biography. Any sugestions

I am currently reading this book. So far, so good.......

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I am currently reading this book. So far, so good.......

View attachment 76693

We're expecting an honest review from ya when you finish.

This is a book that's still on my list. I've only glanced at a few reader reviews, but they seem to average four out of five stars.

I'm looking forward to your opinion.

 

[ole]

At the risk of being yelled at a lot, I consider Forrest to be very good at what he did, but he doesn't quite reach great.

 

[James N.]

Well, it wasn't that Forrest was forced to join as a private, he did as many others, as you properly state, "race to the colors." I'm just thinking that Forrest's background, which did not include being part of the wealthy, aristocratic class of men such as Wade Hampton, did not provide him with the type of contacts with influential members of the political and social circles who had much say in conferring commisions at the start of the war.

Aristocratic wealthy like Hampton were pretty rare in antebellum Memphis which retained its character as an unsavory frontier river town which featured mostly self-made men like Forrest. It was much the same in nearby Helena, Ark., where hotheaded young lawyer T. C. Hindman and recent immigrant merchant/pharmacist Pat Cleburne were considered community leaders. Men like these took the lead in their respective communities and therefore soon had opportunities to prove themselves. As I remember, Forrest purchased a shipment of Colt's Navy Revolvers with which to arm the cavalry company he began raising in 1861; one of them is displayed below in the Tennessee State Museum:

 

[1SGDan]

Those are outstanding stories, Diane!

We can always count on Diane for good stuff.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

We're expecting an honest review from ya when you finish.

This is a book that's still on my list. I've only glanced at a few reader reviews, but they seem to average four out of five stars.

I'm looking forward to your opinion.

You got it!

 

[Patrick H]

We can depend on Mr. Bechmann!

 

[DSessom]

Aristocratic wealthy like Hampton were pretty rare in antebellum Memphis which retained its character as an unsavory frontier river town which featured mostly self-made men like Forrest. It was much the same in nearby Helena, Ark., where hotheaded young lawyer T. C. Hindman and recent immigrant merchant/pharmacist Pat Cleburne were considered community leaders. Men like these took the lead in their respective communities and therefore soon had opportunities to prove themselves. As I remember, Forrest purchased a shipment of Colt's Navy Revolvers with which to arm the cavalry company he began raising in 1861; one of them is displayed below in the Tennessee State Museum:

I bought a Pietta copy of a 1851 Navy Colt, just because it was the type purchased by Bedford. It's a nice copy too! I haven't shot it yet, but hope to do so very soon.

 

[Lazy Bayou]

"This is a book that's still on my list. I've only glanced at a few reader reviews, but they seem to average four out of five stars. I'm looking forward to your opinion.

You can find this book at most any Mississippi library. It's a good read.

 

[chellers]

How does it compare to Jack Hurst's NBF bio?

 

[Reb]

My gg grandfather was a teamster for Forrest's Escort, from the inception of the Company, to surrender at Citronelle, and parole at Gainesville, Alabama. He and a whole passel of my uncles and cousins are listed here.

His name was James William Newsom.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

My gg grandfather was a teamster for Forrest's Escort, from the inception of the Company, to surrender at Citronelle, and parole at Gainesville, Alabama. He and a whole passel of my uncles and cousins are listed here.View attachment 84289 His name was James William Newsom.

I enjoyed reading that article.
Thanks for posting.