The Life of Nathan Bedford Forrest

[@WVgrl59]

Forrest Gump- "Forrest's mother named him after her ancestor, and intended the name to be a reminder that "sometimes we all do things that, well, just don't make no sense". In the film, Forrest explains that his ancestor "was in a club that dressed up as ghosts". " 😂😂😂

[@murrygandy6546]

Forrest was a very complicated man for his time. He was an uneducated, untrained military genius with many faults by today's standards. He was viewed as a hero and a devil. But his life is worth examining - even today.

[@marknewton6984]

He was tough.

[@ronwinkles2601]

Agreed! At least he knew, "Get there first with the most if you want to win!"

[@samcolt1079]

HE WAS A KLANNER. YOU LEFT THAT OUT. HOW SMART COULD HE BE

[@TheRoyJames]

Chat gpt level comment

[@jefferyfowler7860]

​He also asked for the Klan to be stopped because of all the evil it was. He even helped black people in his later years. You left that part out.

[@georgewilkie3580]

Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest was indeed a born Warrior. As this Historian says, "Forrest, just had a "knack" for combat, for the battlefield." And, as this Historian also relates, the rural area in which Gen. Forrest was born and partly raised was quite a tough, and violent place. At the age of 15, Forrest was ambushed and attacked by 2 men. Forrest quickly drew his fighting knife (Now called more Politically Correct, "A Tactical Knife") and killed one of the attackers, with the other attacker quickly running away. As we can see, at 15, Forrest is already carrying a defensive weapon. And, it Was a weapon, not a hunting knife. The Historian hinted at this, but many Biography's on Forrest actually say that Forrest was known to be just, and even kind to his slaves. So much so, that a large number of them volunteered to go off to WAR with him. Some historians tell how other slaves close to the Forest Home would hope they be bought by Forrest from their present master. Forrest was the only Civil War General never to attend college, however, he did graduate High School. He was a remarkable individual, and if not for his association with the Klan, more would have been taught about his exploits!

[@Orly90]

The one thing that many people forget that though he created the Klan, he sought to disband it soon after. He created it to scare freed slaves, not grow into what it is known now.

[@m.forrest7175]

Great documentary. Glad to see a positive point of view after years of malignment. Thank you M. Forrest

[@rosskardon7195]

There were Southerners who fought for the Union and Northerners who fought for the Confederacy. Nathen Bedford Forrest called Southerners who fought the Union "home grown Yankees".

[@reneguenon7824]

Actually they were traitors. Forrest was right.

[@rosskardon7195]

@@reneguenon7824 And what is your opinion of the Northerners who fought on the Confederate side in the War for Southern Independence? Were the Northerners who fought for the Confederacy heroes or traitors?

[@TruthSpeaker.]

@@rosskardon7195 Confederates are the good guys no matter where they're from. Proud southerner myself though.

[@rosskardon7195]

@@TruthSpeaker. Thank you for your reply and pointing this out to me. So the Northerners who fought on the Confederate side in Southern War for Independence were heroes and the Southerners who fought for the Union were traitors.

[@johnbills3757]

@@rosskardon7195 some northern states where with the south and Abraham Lincoln shout them down to keep them from joining the south. But a southern traitor was called a scallywag

[@AmericanPrairieFilmworks]

Nicely done video. Packed full of information, yet concise. Clear as a bell. The music takes hold of you and doesn't let go.

[@rosssoutherland8118]

I disagree with what he said at 5:37 because Lincoln himself in March/1861 said “To the effect that the federal government shall never interfere with the domestic institutions of the states, including that of persons held to service… I have no objection to its (Corwin amendment) being made express and irrevocable“ Abraham Lincoln first inaugural address March 4, 1861

[@bleedingkansai9961]

The Corwin amendment didn't guarantee slavery in the new territories, it would've only protected slavery where it presently existed. That's why the seceded states still rejected it.

[@leahunverferth8247]

The South wouldn't accept the Corwin Amendment because it did not explicitly recognize African slavery (instead using those vague constitutional words "person held to labor or service") and would not allow the expansion of slavery. If slavery couldn't expand then it would eventually die and southerners wouldn't allow that. Read their secession documents. Hence they supported the Crittenden compromise which explicitly recognized African slavery and allowed its expansion. It didn't pass, Lincoln called for an army because the US had been attacked at fort Sumter, and so more states seceded. Yes, the war was about preserving slavery for the South.

[@denniscolvin5106]

Whenever Nathan Forrest showed up anywhere his very first thought was, "look at them Yankees run!"

[@wdb3110]

Yes, including Grant, Sheridan, and the terrorist Sherman!

[@MelancoliaI]

We always think of wars as being largely fought by younger men, but that's a pretty shortsighted view of things. The Civil War had men from their teens into their 50s fighting side by side, different era for sure. Bedford Forrest is a prime example, with his military career beginning at age 40.

[@keith6234]

I have to disagree with you. Yes you had men in their 40's and 50's in the higher ranks but you also had a lot of Cols. and Generals in their early 20's like Custer. It is a problem in movies and reenactors groups used in the movies that show 60 year old fat men as Privates. Troops back then marched 20 miles a day with very little food. Old fat men would not last long. The average age was 25 for Civil War , WWI and WW2. Vietnam average age was 22.

[@GrantDWilliams82]

Who is "we"? I don't always think of that. Just because YOU frequently think one thing doesn't mean that everyone does. It's doesn't even mean that most people do.

[@MelancoliaI]

@@GrantDWilliams82 You must be a delight to know in life.

[@Gr13fKvlt]

@@MelancoliaI I’m sure he’s a blast at parties. Hopefully we have the privilege of him gracing us with his presence someday.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

I love his quote ‘Get there the firstest with mostest’

[@raymunchieftain4170]

General Forrest also employed the idea of having himself and his men to carry 6 to 8 loaded pistols instead of carrying a near useless one shot rifle giving them tremendous firepower in Cavalry warfare.

[@bp6877]

Excellent commentary! Thank you! Very compelling!

[@michaelj.acosta6810]

I highly recommend two books if you want to read some more about Forrest, "Bust Hell Wide Open" by Mitcham and "The battles and campaigns of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest 1861-1865" by Scales.

[@willquigg8265]

When Nathan Bedford Forrest joined the Civil War, he told his slaves that they could come with him and fight for the South, and a lot of them did. Also, a lot of them also stayed to take care of his family and plantation on their own accord.

[@GlennMcDonald-kt5ov]

The War Between the States was not about slavery .It was about money ie. a crippling tariff imposed on the South and States Rights.

[@sendhelpiamahugedisaster8257]

Alex Stephens would beg to differ

[@Sven_E07]

You are right with the later statement. But it was about slavery for the South too. The ruling class of the south wanted to keep slavery, which, ironically, kept everyone (also the white men) poor except the slave owners. They just needed to instrumentalize the poor white men for their cause.

[@Kumofan]

⁠@@Sven_E07agreed. I’ll never understand why people seem to need to have it be either 100% about slavery or not about it at all. Like nearly all wars, it was started for a multitude of reasons and had been coming for a long time. The divide between north and south had been steadily growing for many years and was perhaps best demonstrated before the war by Lincoln’s absence on the presidential ballot in ten prominent southern states. The southerners had quite a few good reasons to be disillusioned with the north and the union, but of the reasons good and bad, slavery just happened to be one of the largest and most morally divisive. The failure of reconstruction and subsequent jim crow era certainly did no favors to the south’s reputation on that front. Even the issue of slavery, at the time, despite modern interpretations, was largely economic rather than moral-the southern economy being entirely reliant upon the institution, and the northern not so. It’s much easier for civilizations to justify evil when it is “necessary” to their way of life. Amusingly, that way of life likely would have been at least partially destroyed even if they had successfully and peacefully seceded, given the development of cotton production outside the states; their grip on the global trade was likely not too far out from significant loosening, which would have been devastating to the southern economy, especially after cutting ties with the north. But I suppose we’ll never know for sure.

[@JimRodarmel]

@GlennMcDonald is correct. The war between the States was NOT over slavery. It was about money.

[@Bradleyzappa-x4x]

No it was about slavery. Slavery in the territories and slavery in general. It had been an issue since the founding of the nation . U need to understand the stuff u are saying is bullshit. Ignorant bs. States Rights to own slaves is the only states rights the secession+ists cared about. Well that and the right to secede. Which they did. There was no federal action taken until the hotheads in South Carolina fired on Ft.Sumpter giving Lincoln the reason he needed to keep the union intact. He said the union must not fragment and if that meant slavery then so be it. Lincoln didn't personally agree w slavery. U sir apparently do. Shame on you

[@margaretgarls153]

My relatives fought with Nathan Bedford Forrest on both sides of my family. My great great grandmother lost 3 sons in 1864- one who served with Forrest is shot by Union cavalry when his horse fell and 2 other sons died of smallpox in Union POW camps in Illinois.

[@georgewilkie3580]

My sincere Thanks to You Margaret, Your Comment was so fascinating. Coming from a long line of Military professionals, I'm jealous of Your Family's noble military history. Again, my heartfelt, Thank You, for Your very interesting Input!

[@1960BobD]

I’m sorry there is such shame in your family history. You have my condolences

[@Jahn_Pah_Jonz]

POW camps in Illinois? Well the old prison in Joliet, Illinois actually started out as POW camp during the Civil War. The actual prison was featured in TV shows and movies. I actually grew up down the street from there.

[@brad238899]

3 traitors in one family. That's unfortunate.

[@bulldogmadhav5762]

They were lucky they were taken prisoner they didn’t seem to believe that was super important

[@ronaldgreen8423]

Nathan Forrest was one of the greatest Confederates who ever lived. His hit and run tactics were unforgettable and well documented.He was fully loyal to the south. And you couldnt call him racist because of what he did at the end of his life.🤔

[@surjobarua792]

This really helped me do my paper. This video was actually very interesting too!!

[@louamato6332]

Fascinating. Thank you for this and I’d love to see more documentation about his later life. Frankly, this would make an amazing mini-series or set of books.

[@jonmeek3879]

Agreed !!

[@willquigg8265]

Nathan Bedford Forrest never mistreated his slaves, that he purchased legally. That is why so many of them went and fought for the South by his side!

[@stephenpierce2242]

This is really well done! I do wish he talked about his role in the Fort Pillow Massacre but again overall ever well done! What editing software did you guys use for this cause it's just very good. Thanks!

[@TheBattleofFranklinTrust]

Thank you! We use Final Cut Pro to edit!

[@stephenpierce2242]

@CSA Farmer keep telling yourself that

[@lovinLaVonna]

Why do you think that so many soldiers were killed by NBF? General Sherman was burning all the crops as they went through the states. They didn't have the food to feed their own army and they killed both black and white rather than take more prisoners.

[@whatshappeningq3301]

This is another. Attempt to make a hero out of a Devil, and blame the victims of his violence because he was a co- founder of the KKK with Albert Pike in 1865,yet this wasn't discussed in the documentary, and testified before Congress so that they would not get him for being behind most of many things eg intimidating,murder, and ordering unlawful against BLACK citizens,yet many of things in this are LIES about this man

[@Glock36er]

John Morton, mentioned in the video, was NBF's Chief of Artillery. His book about Forrest is excellent and very personal.

[@ohverxa6851]

Ain’t you Nathaniel B?

[@smccowan7106]

KKK was born in a Northern state (Indiana) The north was for Big Government and that is what really came after the war. sad really that ppl are ignorant of this..

[@Orly90]

You have any proof of said claim? Because the Klan was created in Tennessee to scare freed slaves.

[@markallengarcia6695]

Great video. In your opinion, what would Forrest have thought about the Jim Crow era had he lived to see it?

[@lovinLaVonna]

Believe it or not NBF turned away from believing in slavery and wrote, spoke and tried to help blacks Americans to get more rights. He spoke at prominent black meetings and gave amazing speeches. When Lincoln dead and Grant lost his backing the Democrats took everything back that had been moved forward.

[@bleedingkansai9961]

@@lovinLaVonna I'm fully aware. I'm curious to know Mr. Jacobson's and BOFT's view on the question. But yes at the end of his life, Forrest was a political moderate and a newfound patriot of the 'old flag'. This has been lost to history as both his modern-day admirers and detractors have used him wrongly for their own aims. So it's interesting to wonder how he would have received the Jim Crow era.

[@lambofatboy9545]

@@lovinLaVonna how many blacks you think he hung before he felt bad for the slaves ?

[@lovinLaVonna]

@@lambofatboy9545 well I can only tell you what his grandson told me, showed me and has history for. I 100% believe that any racism is wrong. From whomever towards anyone at anytime, and for any reason

[@BuckeyeFan-ty4vr]

@@lambofatboy9545 probably not any wasn't worth any dead.

[@mikhailabunidal9146]

8:50 What was the name of this man ?

[@bleedingkansai9961]

I really enjoyed this video, the most interestingly made of Forrest I've seen. Subbed!

[@whatshappeningq3301]

This is like most American history lies,fairy tales,and bulls#@& to get people in later generations to believe that White Supremacy is best curriculum and CRT is not be TOLD and a hundred years from now there was no such thing as Slavery

[@seanl7856]

What music is used for this video?

[@ValerieGriner]

As someone born and reared in southern Georgia, I find the fact that "Sherman called Forrest a DEVIL"...is like the POT calling the KETTLE BLACK! I cannot STAND Sherman!!!

[@johnnotos6162]

General Sherman’s march through Georgia was a devastating path of destruction. It was total war on Southerners. His troops destroyed and burned about everything they couldn’t take with them. It was meant to break their spirit to fight. I don’t like him much either 160 years after the fact.

[@justjosie0107]

Sherman and Sheridan had no room to cast aspersions on anyone. Both would be war criminals by 20th century rules.

[@chadillac365]

Exactly Sherman by today’s standards was a war criminal and would have been on trial if he survived the capture. Then again war is hell

[@Bradleyzappa-x4x]

I'm from Texas add Georgia got what it deserved. Understand that Sherman's March to the Sea was one of the first examples of Total war. Tecumseh said war is hell and he was right in Georgia was wrong South Carolina was wrong. Texas was wrong . Texas should have listened to Sam Houston and just stayed out of it. If Texas had stayed out of it Texas could secede today. But since we were on the losing side we were losers. In order to get back in the Union Texas had to sign legal documents stating they could not secede. Its illegal and the US military would stop that immediately.

[@Bradleyzappa-x4x]

​@@chadillac365no he wouldnt have been. Sherman was on the winning side and his policy of Total war was correct. He said he'd make Georgia howl and boy did they ever howl. War is hell which doesn't make him a war criminal

[@kingmode4]

One thing is certain… we are still talking about him

[@outlaw7615]

Purty good, didn't never tell about the warrior he was though. Had 18 horses shot out from under him, his little brother was shot through the neck at Okalona and died in his arms. Then he chased the yankees all the way to Ripley, if anybody is familiar with this area, that's a long damn way even in a car.

[@redruml5872]

He was a war criminal.

[@trent3872]

Killed 29 enemies and had 30 horses shot out from under him, after the war he stated that he finished a horse ahead

[@johnnotrealname8168]

WoW! It surprises me since so many Generals on both sides were remarkably brave. Sherman, Hood and more were in danger yet lead.

[@trent3872]

@@johnnotrealname8168 Some how I just can see William Tecumseh Sherman or John Bell Hood leading a saber charge on horseback, or lifting an enemy soldier by the nape, lifting him up, and using him for a shield.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@trent3872 What would their battle-cry be?

[@mercedithcompala8148]

Excellent, thanks for sharing

[@jonmeek3879]

Wow ! Really enjoyed this

[@revmo37]

Thank you so much for this amazing mini biography. I must say sir that in my humble opinion you have just told the most downright honest story of who I know Forrest to be. I'm from Pittsburgh, go to Gettysburg often, and although I deplore racism of any kind, I have always very much admired Forrest. Forrest the swashbuckling Calvary leader. I've read a few books on the man. I believe he had a twin sister as well. I sometimes wonder if it's odd that I can have so much disdain for what the Confederacy stood for, and especially Forrest's business ventures, yet still have admiration for the man in many ways. It's not for me to judge the man. Also, I firmly believe he was a better person than many politicians currently serving in the House and Senate. By far !!

[@robertemery5267]

It's CAVALRY not calvary.

[@revmo37]

@@robertemery5267 I'm forever in your debt, Mr. Spelling Nazi. My thanks to you approach levels of imperial magnitude.

[@revmo37]

@@robertemery5267 Your levels of editing skills are clearly unmatched. My thanks to you for your attempt to guide me to higher realms of spelling proficiency reach levels yet to be adequately conveyed by the mere spoken word.

[@Phono-fun]

It’s disputed he was born(or even lived) in the house at chapel hill

[@johnmonroe7378]

The residence on the site now - no Sir; but the original log house was moved about 3 miles to its current SCV location.

[@Phono-fun]

@@johnmonroe7378 I think it's even debated the log house on the SCV location if it's even original. There's not enough documentation to verify it, I remember a state historian in a video saying it very unlikely based off the construction of the home.

[@johnmonroe7378]

@@Phono-fun When I lived in Chapel Hill, I asked many locals, and some SCV gentlemen, these questions. What I was told was that the main portion of the log house was original, but the addition wasn't. That crazy looking log barn there is very bizarre. I left a $20 bill in the donation box.

[@Phono-fun]

@@johnmonroe7378 I live not too far away, I'm trying to remember the rest of what the state historian said. That when it was moved it was in pretty bad damage, and the question is how much is original, that it's undeterminable.

[@Kenwood1990]

General Forrest was a very smart man .He went from nothing to being very wealthy .You have to be very smart to do that .

[@petergiger1278]

"Smart" and trustworthy... You wouldn't invest in such a person - and at least that's how someone must get started on that path - unless you could trust them and they guaranteed returns on their investments.

[@richardluxton3165]

I'm a blood line of Nathan. my middle name is Forrest that's been passed down from generations and generations.

[@jelly.212]

@@richardluxton3165 Inbreeding??

[@FarewellOrwell]

He was a monster. This video is laughable. David Hardin is a real historian who actually know the history and has the best story about the heinous activity of Forrest

[@commiehunter733]

@@richardluxton3165 you have greatness I your dna

[@KingNimrod910]

Forrest Gump was named after that guy...

[@VK-iq5he]

The only reason why i searched for his name was the movie😂

[@stormbaker518]

“My great great granddaddy”

[@richardluxton3165]

@@stormbaker518 I'm related to him too that's how I got my middle name. passed down from my father an his etc etc.

[@reneguenon7824]

Its propaganda from the enemies of the confederacy just like the propaganda against german national socialists, the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS. He was a remarkable, ultra-masculine man. If we had more men like him we wouldn´t be where we are today as western people and white nations. Thats the situation and the fact.

[@colenewaltersmusicandother9330]

@@stormbaker518 hi storm, Would you like to share some information that you might know about the ancestry of your granddaddy? Thank you ❤️

[@jb556drill5]

I've read his bio "to bust hell wide open." This man was one of the greatest generals in human history. It's hard to even fathom what he accomplished.

[@RichardTClark396]

One of the best military tactician that was ever on a battlefield! And only 4 years or less Of schooling he was a natural!

[@redruml5872]

​@Richard Clark he was a war criminal that killed 300 union soldiers after they surrendered.

[@redruml5872]

He was a war criminal that murdered 300 union soldiers after they surrendered. And admitted it.

[@RichardTClark396]

@@redruml5872 another myth just like fort pillow.

[@redruml5872]

@Richard Clark lol.... sure. I guess we'll just ignore the first-hand accounts from confederate soldiers that were at fort pillow.

[@Michael-fl1tm]

General Forest was a true American hero and a genius in the saddle. Thank you for your service

[@OldePete]

I wish you would have mentioned Ft. Pillow and offered your opinion of Forrest's actions there.

[@whatshappeningq3301]

He would do that because it would show how much of y racist Forest was. That's the part of the story of his life history they are trying to keep out of history because it doesn't look good for American institutions to call racist great,but they do, and that's why WE still have it

[@Republic4ever714]

The big lie.

[@jasonkinzie8835]

I was waiting for this to be mentioned as well.

[@capoislamort100]

They want to romanticize their hero, not tell the truth about them.

[@crazyeyes2583]

Heroic and one of the many examples of why he will forever be greatest general in military history to date

[@willquigg8265]

Robert E. Lee was their first choice as Grand Wizard. He could not take that position for certain reasons, but he was sympathetic to their cause, and he was the one that came up with the name Invisible Empire. Because he wanted to be an Invisible Member!!!!

[@petevonstettina8627]

I read about this guy. During the War Against the States his platoon would attack a Union Platoon three to four times the size of his, cause millions in damage and then disappear.

[@kumarg3598]

Against the states? You mean between the states? Or is this a southern thing...like the war of northern aggression

[@whatshappeningq3301]

American Institutions want his racist view to disappear from history,so that he can be veiwed as a great American hero,like John Wayne and make a star out of someone playing him because America needs White heroes

[@scottbivins4758]

​@@kumarg3598you do realize every state had their own reasons for joining the CSA right? Like my State of North Carolina was one of the last states to join the Confederatecy an we joined the south when federal troops came in an Lincoln tried to get the state of North Carolina to fight against their fellow which we said no too. The northern aggression thing is not lie. The states that originally seceded from the Union left because of Lincoln and slavery and states rights the last States to join the CSA joined because federal troops. You can actually look it up to see why North Carolina joined the Civil War. Because yeah North Carolina had slaves we didn't need them like the like deep south. Some of the states did fight and join because of Union aggression

[@robertemery5267]

A platoon is a platoon only one size!!!!!

[@wdb3110]

The war was Not just about slavery, but a myriad of reasons including states rights, taxation, etc.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Surely for the State of the Union.

[@Bradleyzappa-x4x]

Yes but it was mainly about slavery

[@bleedingkansai9961]

Slavery was the chief cause. Without slavery there would've been no states rights or taxation arguments to be had.

[@russiangirl1823]

I live in chapel hill, pass by his once residence all the time.

[@carywest9256]

That's cool that you live in or near NBF's home. I have been there on his birthday l think. Can't recall what month, but it wasn't hot. And they had a small skirmish reenactment. Even saw a feller wearing a sombrero, so l moseyed over and talked to this guy between the losing and winning portion of that little set-to. I figured the feller in the sombrero was a Texican,like myself. Now l live in U.A. as opposed to L.A. Get my meaning?

[@JohnnyRebKy]

Zero military experience. Went from private to General and was the best cavalry commander in the war. The man was a genius.

[@jeffmilroy9345]

Got whipped by Milroy.

[@tbone6203]

Yea thats all us southern boys- its in our blood to be free and fight -

[@beckweth]

His personal slaves went to war with him and came back and stayed with him afterward. They were loyal to Nathan.

[@lovinLaVonna]

After the war (and the time with the Klan) he didn't get tired of fighting, he changed as a man. His morals, racism and faith all changed him to stand up for black people "and for both men and women".

[@ItsKashJ]

And was the Creator of KKK, no slave wanted to be a so I'm sure they weren't as loyal as you may think

[@commiehunter733]

A great general

[@chrisboyd168]

Just 10 years after hosting freed slaves, President’s Island’s activities shifted to activity that was eerily similar to that experienced by the freed slaves before Emancipation. Starting in 1875, Nathan Bedford Forrest leased 1,300 acres and operated a farm there in an effort to recover the fortune he lost in the Civil War and in unprofitable railroad investments. According to a Forrest biographer Jack Hurst, Forrest “contracted with Shelby County for the use of some of its jail inmates in farming operations employing slave-style labor.”

[@Republic4ever714]

30 of them and he released them all after the war .

[@BatuKham]

Ain't u Nathaniel b

[@ZephaniahL]

There seem to be constant cuts in the historian's narrative speaking. Painful.

[@jonnyw82]

Just drove past his memorial in chapel hill and thought I’d learn a bit about the man!

[@anglohero6295]

If a film was to be made about Nathan Bedford Forrest, not a Hollywood version, but a realistic portrayal of the man ,I believe there is only one man worthy of such a role and that man is Mr. Jim Caviezel.

[@marknewton6984]

Or Josey Wales!

[@houstonsam6163]

Nice job, well balanced. I particularly appreciate your placing Forrest's Klan activity within the context of the "Parson" Brownlow administration. As you say, he was a pragmatist, a man of his time; and when his time changed, he tried to change with it. I'm surprised that you completely omitted Ft. Pillow. Although I view Forrest with a lot of sympathy, I find Ft. Pillow inexcusable.

[@ericjacobson7321]

Fort Pillow was omitted because it has been exhaustively covered and debated. Our focus was elsewhere.

[@carywest9256]

Is that a moniker or are you a undercover Unionist from the South?

[@southernlogger2307]

A lot of editing and assuming, telling the whole truth is so much more ethical but that’s not the society we live in. I used to trust pretty much everything a mainstream historian and even tv documentaries said until I grew up and started researching primary documents and reading them for what they are and not making my own assumptions. Edited history and assumptions are exactly why most Americans know very little or just wrong about history all together. There is absolutely no way to tell the entire story of a subject such as this one in roughly twelve minutes, it’s laughable at the very least.

[@ericjacobson7321]

This is a laughable comment. If you do not like the product, move on.

[@mikelovin7]

@Southern Logger I agree 👍🏻

[@chrisschepper9312]

Well, make a doc yourself then, brah.

[@nimitz1739]

Good stuff. Can’t wait tell the 160th! I’ll be there.

[@kenfox22]

Would've loved to ride and fight for him. Really admired his style of fighting. Don't know nothing about that KKK jazz but during the Civil War he was like Special Forces

[@dougsoileau6764]

A very interesting man in the turbulent times of our nation. Met a Army officer who told me about the Battle of Brices Crossroads being taught at US Army war college and how Forrest's tactics influences the Army even today. Well done video and may we never forget the past but learn from it so we can be better people.

[@Tylerboyd2001]

what about him being responsible for the slaughter of 300 black soldiers at The Fort Pillow Massacre in 1864? Piss on NBF.

[@richardluxton3165]

yes sir he was. he was an unstoppable general that was way ahead of his time. to smart for war .

[@reneguenon7824]

The activities of the first Klan were very important. After the civil war northern tyranny ruled over the southern territory. And dont forget that the Klan trained 20.000 blacks too to fight against the Carbetbaggers.

[@forwardobserver6441]

I would’ve followed Forrest, jackson, stuart, and Lee to hell and back. I would attend mass with Longstreet, play poker with Pickett. Some great men right there!!! Deo vindice

[@johnmonroe7378]

Excellent Eric. One of your best.

[@randolphstephenson]

To be sure Patton knew what Rommel thought of Bedford Forrest.🤔 AWE!🤗

[@travisbayles870]

We were born on the same soil We breathe the same air and We live on the same ground then why can't we live as brothers and sisters General Nathan Bedford Forrest

[@jackrosario9990]

Forrest Gump relative.

[@michaelwallbrown3726]

no a namesake

[@avlanche7777]

Very peering Thanks.

[@alexandermcdowell4755]

Honestly his life is a perfect example of redemption. His later life was spent trying to atone for his faults

[@NsNationHQ]

Great informative video! I’m learning about Fort Worth History and just found out he owned William Madison Goosneck. First African American Millionaire in my city.

[@stevestringer7351]

Forrest was a man of his time.... made some questionable choices but I do not think he wad the monster some claim him to be.... but, I never met him.

[@ValerieGriner]

You always have to have the "scapegoats" in history. I don't think he was a monster at all. Neither was George E. Pickett...another "scapegoat." I totally blame Generals Lee and Longstreet for the SLAUGHTER they called, "Pickett's Charge."

[@Tylerforrest01]

That is my grandfather. We have a very old family tree book and we bring it out every single family reunion.

[@brt-jn7kg]

My 5th great grandfather fought for General Forrest from Shiloh to the end of the war.

[@WyteXLighting]

Really wow I'm related to the breauxs that faught for the south all the breauxs but really connected to the ones from louisiana regiment cajuns in grey they were bad ass too [>

[@Blair338RUM]

My great great grandfather was the Colonel of the 15th Tennessee under your grandfather. He also captained one of the captured gunboats at Johnsonville.

[@fuquaysteve271]

Reminds me 4:19 of Daniel Morgan

[@Snuffy03]

The finest cavalry commander the South had. Always in the thick of it. Had 30 horses shot oùt from under him. No other commander got that involved in the fighting personally. I would loved to have served under such an officer

[@waynesigmon5628]

Nathan Bedford Forrest God bless when he talked about the black looking in the window how does he know what they were thinking

[@dougmartin8664]

Excellent!

[@50TNCSA]

this is fair, balanced, accurate, and truthful ... I love it

[@Erin-Thor]

😳

[@davidalvarez578]

Bias truth.

[@jaceforrest3520]

Guys I’m his grandson

[@metroguy4879]

He is paying for his sin of human bondage 🔥

[@revmo37]

I totally agree

[@rupertmay7432]

The "WIZARD OF THE SADDLE" HAD 31 HORSES SHOT FROM UNDER HIM,KILLED 32 YANKEES SO AT WARS END HE WAS 1 AHEAD!!!

[@cliff2011]

I thought the numbers were 29 and 30, but hey that's close enough. What a truly amazing figure in history, his exploits rivaled only by Alexander the Great and Richard the Lion hearted. A complete natural. The quintessential fearless tactical genius, no wonder he is studied by Patton, Rommel and every great commander who came after him.

[@lovinLaVonna]

He also never wanted to become a general because they sat on hills and watched, while he felt his value was in the fight. At one point when he was back home away from the war (before returning) he became a millionaire for an invention that he made for cotton. He repeatedly spoke at black events, put on by both men and women. And believe it or not he was part of the K group, but couldn't get them to back off from being violent so he left the group (he tried to break up the whole thing before leaving) One more thing is is that he's the one who started Gorilla warfare. Before him you would approach the other army in lines of three deep and shot each other. He also would take out the captain's, Sargent, and general's (and for the most part the heads of the military were off limits, because they wanted order)

[@rupertmay7432]

@@lovinLaVonna THANKS FOR THAT I KNEW ABOUT THE KKK THING BUT PEOPLE ARE SO IGNORANT I DIDNT EVEN MENTION IT HIM BECOMING A MILLIONAIRE WAS AWESOME DIDN'T KNOW THAT.....THANKS AGAIN BROTHER DEO VINDICE!!!

[@gemmeliusgrammaticus2509]

What a total Chad.

[@theguy7256]

How many people here because of EST G

[@Civilwar.relics]

I have a cool Nathan Bedford Forrest reunion piece I did a video on and all kinds of confederate buttons

[@janpetrrosenberg884]

Very great job

[@mechcavandy986]

A slave trader had the respectability of a blacksmith. It was accepted. He also sold mules and whole plantations. He sold everything one needed to set up a plantation. Forrest owned 3 plantations that I know of. \X\

[@0._9_.0]

I hope your kids benefit from this knowledge

[@jerrywayne3467]

You didn’t sound biased until the latter part of this so called statement of yours

[@andrewsward46]

This is a generally accurate and fair-minded portrait 1:31 but with some glaring omissions: his employment as a young man as constable in Mississippi at a time when the job consisted primarily of slave catching, his separation of slave families during his slave dealing period, the Fort Pillow massacre he commanded, his murder with a hatchet of one of his black laborers after the war, his pioneering of the chain gang system in Tennessee in which scores of former black troops in the Union Army were cast in irons.

[@yourtypicalbamafan5438]

EST Gee got me doing research

[@danielagajanian5509]

Forrest was the greatest cavalry commander in the civil war ( of all times)...!

[@heathpass3708]

For those who down this man you have to understand that the times these people lived in is far different than ours. Slavery is nothing new in the history of man. The Jewish people were enslaved by Egyptians, Africans were in slaved, and white people were enslaved but it was called indentured servants. Davie Crockett was a slave as a kid for some time. As far as the KKK he was to a point but most democrats were clansmen and in some since still are in ways. Enslave people by promises and free money.

[@Jake-rs9nq]

Forrest lived in a time where abolitionists were loudly protesting slavery, and where half the nation outlawed it outright. People knew better. And Forrest's murders in and after the war prove he wasn't just a product of his time.

[@Tylerboyd2001]

what about him being responsible for the slaughter of 300 black soldiers at The Fort Pillow Massacre in 1864? Piss on NBF.

[@BuckeyeFan-ty4vr]

@@Tylerboyd2001 better study your history a little more bud

[@Tylerboyd2001]

@@BuckeyeFan-ty4vr care to explain?

[@BuckeyeFan-ty4vr]

@Acerthorn The True Acerthorn keep crying about what?

[@science212]

America, i love you.

[@jeffreyprato]

Way too fast. There’s no “air” between the sound bytes. If your assertion is that slavery is immoral in itself, you didn’t establish that upon anything. Obviously people were defending their homeland, not serving rich slave owners by and large. The north was to blame for the whole war for not promptly removing their troops from fort Sumter when SC left.

[@bleedingkansai9961]

The South showed aggression long before Fort Sumter: they had already stormed and seized federal armories throughout the southland and Jefferson Davis had raised a 100k man army when Buchanan was still president. Later rebel forces swept into the federal territories of modern-day Arizona and Oklahoma to claim them for the Confederacy. Northern aggression?

[@jeffreyprato]

@@bleedingkansai9961 Davis assembled a volunteer army for his new nation. Wouldn’t you have done the same? Pretty basic, self-defense is. I can’t speak to the western territories.

[@bleedingkansai9961]

@@jeffreyprato They knew what they were doing, because if it was crystal clear that secession was legal, there would've been no need to ready up arms. Even years leading up to the war, southerners were already speaking with committed militancy to act if slavery was encroached upon. After John Brown's slave raid, planter Richard Archer remarked in 1859: "It is time for all patriots to be united, to be under military organization, to be advancing to the conflict determined to live or die in defence of the God given right to own the African."

[@jeffreyprato]

@@bleedingkansai9961 legal? We entered into a union by our own authority, and left it by the same authority. If that means people wanted to kill us rather than leave us alone, so be it. Defense is a human right. I don’t care what some particular individual allegedly said. John Brown was evil and irrelevant. You gonna bring up some blm tra nny next?

[@bleedingkansai9961]

@@jeffreyprato Defense? The Confederacy was not on the defense. They had a slavery-based expansionist intention before Lincoln ever assumed office. Confederates even penetrated the federal territories of Oklahoma and Arizona to claim them for slavery. The Confederacy wasn't some noble continuation of the original founding, but a deviant movement altogether. CSA vice president Alexander Stephens explicitly outlined this sentiment in his Cornerstone Speech. I mean fine, if you truly think it was of noble defense. But it doesn't change the fact the South lost because it was inferior politically, economically, morally, and culturally.

[@brt-jn7kg]

Hit piece.

[@davidosisek]

One hell of fighter.

[@wrestlingbear1188]

Mighty and terrible was he with his furious power and his tall stature. A God of War. The wizard in the saddle.

[@collingrant6693]

Yes the first wizzard of KKK...what a mighty

[@jeffmilroy9345]

Got whipped by Milroy

[@nathanf.4791]

Hey. Just want to say that I’m a direct decent of Bedford. Named after him by my father. We are also direct descendent dog the “Forrest Clan” I honestly forgot the time period but am obviously intrigued by this topic.

[@FarewellOrwell]

Gross

[@commiehunter733]

You are from Royalty

[@callmewhenyougetlost6707]

i’m am also a relative from him

[@collingrant6693]

Your grandpa was a devil's friend. A cold criminal ...no wonder they have a great party over his dead body. May he not come back to life again

[@romorobloxkalubi5372]

Are you a racist?

[@TheDb2450]

He is often talked about as a military genius but I do wonder how he was viewed by his European counterparts at the time, the British and Prussians in particular, was he really that good or did he just thrive in the theatre he was thrown into?

[@kanyefuck7018]

Isn't that the mark of a good general?

[@whatshappeningq3301]

He was brilliant as a warrior,yet the fort pillow incident shows that he had no honor towards BLACK People, and shows how much a real racist he was because if he wasn't then he would not have co-founded the KKK with Albert Pike ( both being Freemasons that they left out of story),which is a way to clean up his Devilment during his lifetime.

[@TheDb2450]

@@whatshappeningq3301 how does this even relate to my question?

[@ChoongaLoonga]

​@@TheDb2450nazi germany studied forrsst tactics

[@KennethMachnica-vj3hf]

Doesn't matter what they think. Helen Keller could have told you he was badass, and she's dead.

[@chrisboyd168]

Of course Nathan's post-war President's Island convict lease "slavery after slavery" is ignored. This is simply Lost Cause bunk.

[@michaellesueur5103]

Wow! Chris! I’m impressed with the depth of your knowledge of Nathan Bedford Forrest. Tell us more, please! What’s this about prisoners being used as slaves?

[@onemanarmysswampparty]

Cope 😂😂😂

[@janelleallison3866]

“He was just doing business” he literally sold human beings. He became a grand wizard in the klan. I’m not a fan of people pulling down monuments but any one of his is a huge insult not just to African Americans but any human capable of compassion for one another. Franklin battlefield trust you can do better then trying to humanize this monster.

[@ericjacobson7321]

Well he was a human being with plenty of baggage, deep responsibilities and guilt, and a multitude of complexities. That's the point. We pulled no punches about his days as a slave trader and his involvement in the Klan. Thanks.

[@janelleallison3866]

@@ericjacobson7321 I respectfully disagree. Fort Pillow was barely mentioned. How involved he was with the KKK was understated. He lost the right to be a sympathetic character for his actions before the war(being a literal slave trader) during the war(he absolutely played a part in fort pillow) and after the war(being the Grand Wizard of the KKK which was a position that only he ever held). This video tried to portray him as a sympathetic figure instead of the ugliness of the role he played during his life. I would much prefer the resources of the Franklin Battlefield Trust to go to a video on Cleburn's life then one on NBF.

[@ericjacobson7321]

@@janelleallison3866 and you are entitled to your opinion. The video was not about sympathy. The video was about portraying him as a person, because between those like yourself who only see him as a monster and those who idolize him and virtually worship him, little is accomplished. It is easy to play either of those roles. We chose an alternate course.

[@janelleallison3866]

@@ericjacobson7321 true and I appreciate the response and open and respectful dialogue.

[@ericjacobson7321]

@@janelleallison3866 you are welcome!

[@gary9346]

Man. Left out fort pillow. Thats....a take.

[@murrismiller2312]

"pole bearers" ... bearers of Death ,😵‍💫😵😖 that's a DARK NAME

[@victoriachase9550]

Very interesting

[@jacksonward3409]

I’m actually related to him.

[@kenfox22]

An Honor

[@Ironborn]

@@kenfox22 lol, you people.

[@michaelmatanovich6990]

Your lucky

[@merlintlapa5549]

Damn get well soon

[@elizabethvaughn5694]

Damn I'm sorry 😂

[@cedriclisaparks4717]

Watching Forest Gump right now I love that movie

[@brt-jn7kg]

Greatest American calvary Officer that we have ever had!!!

[@bethbartlett5692]

I suspect one would have had to have known him to understand his Personality and Character. He was a handsome man in physical appearance, but its the heart of a man that matters. Following the war, Lincolns death, gave opportunity for all that transpired. Hard to judge the Southern resistance, due to the vile behaviors of the individuals that usurped the power. Lincoln would have handled the events quite differently.

[@arshamir3055]

God rest his soul

[@collingrant6693]

May God punish him according to what he did

[@vincentdavidson755]

One of america greatest fighters and warriors 🧝💃⚡🇯🇪🦉🐴

[@vincentdavidson755]

@@science212 the union at one time was almost finesh then the gold shipments from Calif save them so the homos won and the country is in a big mess today along with its people changes are coming very soon tho and our poplation will be gone and the people that do survive will make the country great again 🧝💃🇯🇪

[@angelaandersons7918]

Daryl Davis brought me here, just watching his ' accidental courtesy, film so interesting I have no interest in promoting a hate figure, yet i am educating meself , *takes a deep cleansing breathe*

[@angusowens2411]

Yes they peered because they loved him to me he was a southern badass and they knew it too

[@lovinLaVonna]

General Sherman said he didn't care if the United States went broke doing it. They have to kill Nathan Bedford Forrest. So yeah he was a pretty bad man!

[@lambofatboy9545]

He was a bitch who slaughtered innocent black women, men & children! Not a badass at all

[@drewmckinney7843]

My 3rd great grandfather was 8th regiment Indiana Cavalry, DNA proven. Clashed horses with that guy

[@carywest9256]

So did Forrest bust a cap in your Hoosier ancestors arse?

[@drewmckinney7843]

@@carywest9256 Nah we survived the war, Johnston surrendered to us, the final surrender of the civil war after Lee. He later established Jim Crow laws but his release was determined by politicians, not us. We had ended it, once and for all, others allowed a different future.