Thank You Mr. Atkinson; this news makes my heart GLAD ! What an EXTRAORDINARY MAN N.B. Forrest was. His Civil War exploits would make General Patton 'step back in awe.' Gutsiest general America EVER produced. A fitting & lovely resting place for N.B. Forrest & his wife......
Interesting post, thanks. With two great grandfathers buried in their Confederate uniforms, I was raised on Southern lore. It saddens me how the story is being erased.
I was born and raised here Memphis,Forrest and his wife should have not been removed from Elmwood Cemetery and buried in downtown Memphis and him wife wanted too be buried in Elmwood not in a park in downtown Memphis.So yes he should have been removed
Matt you are great; great at Gettysburg and apparently great on the road as well. You teach history really, but you also bring it to life and put it in context. Thank you Sir. I fully understand the movement to remove Confederate monuments from in front of Court Houses, State and local government buildings, and other public places. However it is reprehensible to deface or destroy these monuments. It is good to see this bronze Statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest has been preserved and is displayed again. This monument is art, as well as an artifact of history. It is unsavory history to some maybe, but it is still history and should never be destroyed. Forrest was a good example of the Southern mindset before, during and after the Civil War. Before the War he was a very successful planter, a slave owner and a slave dealer. During the War Nathan Bedford Forrest was a brave, supremely competent and successful General. After the war he was for a time the first Grand Wizard of the KKK, but quit because the group was too violent. Later he supported equal rights for black people. Forrest did all this without the benefit of a formal education. Nathan Bedford Forrest was an amazing man. This statue is an excellent likeness.
My favorite park ranger!!! My 3rd great grandfather was mustered into Confederate service in 1862 with the 13th TN Cav from Nolensville to Smyrna and then joined Forrest in Murfreesboro.
In Edinburgh 🏴Scotland there is a memorial obelisk to Colonel Robert Smith killed in 1862 from battle wounds.Obelisk put up to his memory by his brother.Smith was 26 when he died.He is buried in Jackson Mississippi. His brother also put up a tall obelisk on the Munfordville battle field where his brother was wounded.His brother died of his wounds about 11 days later. When Confederate President Jefferson Davis visited Edinburgh after the civil war it is believed he paid his respects to Colonel Smith at the Edinburgh obelisk.
A man of honor and military genius who should be revered and remembered with respect and dignity. I'm an LSU fan but I do admire your hat and loyalty to the Rebels! We are, after all, kindred spirits and brothers in arms.
As a highly talented, adaptable, formidable, intelligent, fearless, ruthless, competent and pragmatic military commander and professional cavalryman, i greatly respect and admire general Forrest for his merits. *Nothing else.*
Thanks mate! I plan on moving to Europe by the end of the year and I can’t wait to visit your beautiful country again for the first time since I was in the Army
My grandfather served under Nathan Bedford Forrest. I have paperwork where he applied for disability from being wounded during the war with the state of Tennessee but funds were scarce after the war and he was denied benefits.
As an "Original Transcon RR" enthusiast, these people of that era are fascinating to study. Two books I recommend, having read lately: Bret Baehr's book on the crisis of 1876, Grant and his times. Also "Fierce Patriot", all about Sherman and his personal and professional career. I had read a bit concerning Forrest, so glad to see this. Thanks for a nice, respectful presentation.
Hopefully the Good General and the Statue will safely stand in the arms of those who love our Confederate Soldiers, shame on Memphis for allowing this outrage but great to have the remains and the memorial back together and in a place where they will be honored. Thanks for the video and thanks to your ancestor, one of our defenders!
Your awesome Matt. Hated that me and my two children missed you when we were at Gettysburg a few years back. I asked a couple rangers where you might be but they just brushed us off pretty disappointed in their reaction being from NC on a 4th of July trip passing through with limited time and had no luck finding you ourselves. But will be traveling again and will definitely not let this happen again. Watch all tour videos and enjoy the laughter and seriousness all in one. ✌️
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
Would Shelby Foote really have desired to take the plots General Forrest in Memphis? Why is it that I just don't think so? I love Shelby Foote's CW Narrative. It should be mandatory reading in US schools so an even handed historical analysis of the War between the States can be presented to the children that desparately need it now and will even moreso going foward. Thanks for reaching out and teaching so many people interested in the war. When I first began reading up on various battles of the war, and geopoltical history as well, I never would have dreamed we'd have the tools to examine and learn about it like we can today. It's the most important period in our nation's history and needs to be properly taught and understood as the country is continually changing with the passage of time. There are many lessons to learn from our history that will be vital to it's survival as a single country going foward. I started table-top wargaming, with maps and chips, dice and tables, (no minatures). They were historical recreations that I and a couple of friends back in H.S. in the early 1970's began playing. By the early 1980's these "war games" had morphed over to early computers (Commadore 64/128) and by 1986-87 to PC's. I've been doing this ever since 1972 eventually to include playing with overseas partners and opponants via email. Some take years and years to complete. Over time this hobby has expanded to all other military conflicts and time periods, some games are complicted and some aren't but they all teach us history. Again, thanks for the battle walks of Gettysburg and the other BF you've wandered around on. I've been to Gettysburg about 5x or so over the years and a bunch of others in the east, where I live. I'm happy to see these people haven't melted down the old General already. Best of health Matt to you and yours and keep the videos coming.
Wow. Very nice to see they have preserved the statue. I hope this means they will also add appropriate interpretation that includes both the accolades and the darker side to this man who was influential in his time.
I am so glad to see this. I lived in Memphis for quite a number of years ands was familiar with the Forrest grave and monument. I was dismayed when political correctness allowed the desecration of history as it was. (My Great Grandfather was a member of Co. K of the 2nd KY Cavalry, I don't know if that was Morgan's command or Basil Duke's)
Matt, I was on the Gettysburg battlefield TWICE in the last two weeks and didn't find you anywhere,, I was to say the least, disappointed,,, BUT! I know you can't be everywhere lol. I talked with Gen. Longstreet and he said he hadn't seen you in a while either. Warren, up on Little Roundtop said look west and I had just came from there so I headed north to that bloody angle where I came upon W.S. Hancock being carried off the field and he muttered DAMN Confederate! Where is he when you need him!.. :) Nice seeing you in a different uniform as well! :)
I have been to the old Forrest Park in Memphis twice to pay my respects to General Forrest and his wife, back in the 90s. In my opinion, it was a win/win to relocate the General and his wife. Memphis has become a shit hole as have most large cities in America. Back in the 90s you saw crack heads and hookers and drug peddlers all over the damned place. It had become a disgraceful place for the remains of any respectable person to be laid in, let alone that of Nathan Bedford Forrest and his wife. They deserve better, and it seems to me that they now have better. HUZZAH TO THE WIZARD OF THE SADDLE, GENERAL NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST!!
Instant subscriber ❤ can’t seem to get away from Matt on RU-vid….lol He pops up on my feed every day. One of these days I’m gonna pop up in person at the park with a guitar in my hand.😂 bucket list item…. I’m sure he gets swarmed, being a local gem and being the kind of guy that everyone wants to be friends with, but I’d love to have that opportunity one day. I’m excited to find this channel and its content! Much thanks from Smithfield,NC!!!
How disgraceful, that they would remove his statue. He was probably the greatest son that the state produced. He even paid to make a cavalry detachment for his state. They're just a bunch of jealous a-holes.
I grew up in Memphis and I remember the statue in what was then Forrest Park. I think it is terrible what is being done to erase American history in the name of Political Correctness. Removing Forrest's statue does nothing to change our history. I agree with Shelby Foote that despite all of his many flaws, Forrest was the best cavalry commander on both sides of the war. He completed 6th grade, never went to West Point, but he was a military genius. German General Rommel even adopted his cavalry tactics to his armor units. So sad that history has to be denied so that virtue signaling and pc can take its place.
Forrest is a more questionable confederate general. Like Lee, Jackson, and other confederates, he was defending his home. Also, like most confedetes, he fought for slavery to preserve the southern economy and his own prosperity that came from the institution. Forrest, through business and especially slave trading, had become one of the richest men in the south and was a deep believer in the rebel cause. While Lee and Jackson were torn between their country and their states and were career United States officers, Forrests career only began when he volunteered to fight for the Confederacy out of principle, not obligation. He then went on to lead the most destructive cavalry of the entire civil war and after that the KKK. What I'm trying to say is his service likely had less to do with sticking with his community and family and more about gaining more riches and fighting for white supremacy. He may have had a change of heart later, but he made comments to support this after the KKK had already caused the failure of reconstruction. Forrest was a born military genius and fought for his home of Tennessee killing many men on his own and leading from the front...but he was one of the great aristocrats of the south. Therefore his reasons were fighting were mainly for greed, but above all to justify his slave practices by proving the white man is superior. He had his virtues and loved his home, but he was much more brutal and crazed with his following of the confederate cause.
Kinda like calling the Ritter house kid the same thing but then like now wasn’t true!!!! When you invade somebody’s home you better be ready to fight cause you are right if he can he will kill you for doing so !!!!!
@jimmyanderson2988 when you rebel, you expect as the secession states did occupation to your cities to happen. Cause and effect. When you attack by force, you can expect retaliation. There were 18 acts committed by Southern states in the following six weeks. As more states joined the confederacy, more federal installations were seized as well. So, who was the aggressor? Dec 27 Castle Pinckney and Fort Moultrie seized in Charleston Hatbor Dec 30 US arsenal seized in Charleston Jan 2 Fort Johnson in Charleston Harbor seized Jan 3 Fort Pulaski GA seized Jan 4 US Arsenal seized at Mt Vernon Alabama Jan 6 US Arsenal seized at Apalachicola FL Jan 7 Fort Marion, St Augustine FL seized Jan 9 Fort Johnston NC seized Jan 10 US Arsenal and barracks seized at Baton Rouge LA Jan 11 Forts Jackson and St. Phillip LA seized Jan 11 US Marine Hospital near New Orleans seized Jan 12 Forts Barrancas and McRae seized at Pensacola FL along with US barracks and Navy Yard Jan 14 Fort Pike LA seized Jan 20 Fort on Ship Island MS seized Jan 24 US Arsenal at Augusta GA seized Jan 26 Oglethorpe Barracks & Fort Jackson seized in GA Jan 28 Fort Macomb LA seized Feb 1 US Mint in New Orleans seized Mar 6 Jefferson Davis calls for 100,000 troops Apr 12 Fort Sumter attacked
Poor General Forrest at least he had a better fate than Gen A. P. Hill with little that remained of him fell apart under somebody's bulldozer over in Virginia.
It's truly sad that a bunch of ignorant people with too much time on their hands and stimulus money in their pockets have to get so excited over an individual who has been gone for nearly a century and a half. The founding fathers will be next and it has already started.
i agree we was an important man during the war, and people should be taught the FACTS about him, BUT he should not be worshiped like an icon or role model.
