What did Nathan Bedford Forrest do during reconstruction?
Forrest is also one of the most controversial figures from the Civil War era. His command was responsible for the massacre of African American Union troops stationed at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, in April 1864, and he served as the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan in the early years of Reconstruction.
What happened at Fort Pillow during the Civil War?
During the Fort Pillow Massacre, on April 12, 1864, Confederate troops killed nearly 200 Black troops fighting for the Union. The massacre became a rallying point for enslaved people fighting for their freedom, and it hardened the resolve of Black Union soldiers, who used “Remember Fort Pillow!” as their battle cry.
Who won the Fort Pillow Massacre?
Confederate victory
Battle of Fort Pillow
| Date | April 12, 1864 |
|---|---|
| Location | Lauderdale County, Tennessee |
| Result | Confederate victory |
When did the Fort Pillow massacre happen?
April 12, 1864
On April 12, 1864, fifteen hundred Confederate soldiers led by General Nathan Bedford Forrest attacked the 567 Union troops stationed at Fort Pillow, Tennessee. Fighting raged until a truce was called at 3 p.m., but despite being greatly outnumbered, the Union troops refused to surrender.
How many people died in the battle of Fort Pillow?
The Fort Pillow Massacre in Tennessee on April 12, 1864, in which some 300 African-American soldiers were killed, was one of the most controversial events of the American Civil War (1861-65).
Was Nathan Bedford Forrest a good man?
Forrest supporters point to the general’s actions at the end of his life as evidence he was not an evil man. While noting that change before his death in 1877, many historians argue those actions are too little too late for the Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan leader.
What did Sherman say about Nathan Bedford Forrest?
His legend was constantly growing. That year, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman declared: “that devil Forrest must be hunted down and killed if it costs ten thousand lives and bankrupts the federal treasury.”
What did Nathan Bedford Forrest do during the Civil War?
Forrest is also one of the most controversial figures from the Civil War era. His command was responsible for the massacre of African American Union troops stationed at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, in April 1864, and he served as the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan in the early years of Reconstruction.
How many children did Nathan Bedford Forrest have?
In 1845 Forrest married Mary Ann Montgomery. The two would have two children, only one of whom would survive to adulthood. Forrest eventually became a millionaire, having made a fortune trading livestock, brokering real estate, planting cotton, and especially selling slaves.
When did Nathan Bedford Forrest become a Grand Wizard?
Forrest is believed to have served as the Klan’s first grand wizard upon its formation in 1866, though he would later deny any association with the group when called before the Joint Congressional Committee in 1871. Forrest’s financial situation later became desperate following the failure of his railroad business in 1874.
Is there a statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest?
Nathan Bedford Forrest rivals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson as the foremost human symbol of Confederate identity. In 2017 the city of Memphis, Tennessee, removed a statue of Forrest from a park once named for him, an event that was among the most public contemporary repudiations of Forrest’s legacy.
