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Nathan Bedford Forrest: War Hero, Self-Taught Soldier, and Successful Raider
*Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, and present when hundreds of Black soldiers were slaughtered
According to the Tennessee State Museum, Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest is a hero. I came to see for myself after the bronze bust of Forrest was removed from the rotunda in the state capital, a few blocks away, after decades of protests from Black people. The removal resulted in a better placement where more people would see it. Job well done, Tennessee.
When Confederate statues and monuments are removed, an argument is made that they are part of history and should be allowed to remain. Some suggest a few words should be added to place them in context—a “both sides” approach. The Tennessee State Museum offers a very one-sided description of Forrest. In the eyes of Tennessee, he is a hero, and if you know where else to look, you might find a couple of discouraging words.
I first spotted a portrait of Nathan Forrest and a description of his rise as a self-taught soldier who led successful raids for the Confederate army.
