191st Birthday Tribute to General Forrest

[mrclose]

Some things you 'didn't' know ..

Nelson W. Winbush, a Black and respected member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, as a child accompanied his grandfather Louis Napoleon Nelson to United Confederate Veteran Reunions. Private Nelson was a Black Confederate who saw service during the War Between the States Battles of Shiloh, Lookout Mountain, Brice’s Crossroads and Vicksburg—as a soldier and served as chaplain in the 7th Tennessee Cavalry, under Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest.

It should be also noted that after the War Between the States, Bedford Forrest returned home with the ‘free’ black men who fought with him. Sixty-five black troopers were with the General when he surrendered his command in May 1865. Forrest said of these black soldiers, “No finer Confederates ever fought.”

Some people have called General Forrest an early advocate for Civil Rights.

Forrest’s speech during a meeting of the “Jubilee of Pole Bearers” is a story that should be told. Gen. Forrest was the first white man to be invited by this group which was a forerunner of today’s Civil Rights group. A reporter of the Memphis Avalanche newspaper was sent to cover the event that included a Southern barbeque supper.

Miss Lou Lewis, daughter of a Pole Bearer member, was introduced to Forrest and she presented the former general a bouquet of flowers as a token of reconciliation, peace and good will. On July 5, 1875, Nathan Bedford Forrest delivered this speech:

In part:

We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment. Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict.

Nathan Bedford Forrest again thanked Miss Lewis for the bouquet and then gave her a kiss on the cheek. Such a kiss was unheard of in the society of those days, in 1875, but it showed a token of respect and friendship between the general and the black community and did much to promote harmony among the citizens of Memphis.

This year, 2012, is the 107th anniversary of the dedication of a General Forrest Statue in Memphis, Tennessee.






http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/48023

[obumazombie]

I was operating under the impression that Nathan Bedford Forrest was the founder of the predecessor to the KKK.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

I was operating under the impression that Nathan Bedford Forrest was the founder of the predecessor to the KKK.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest#Ku_Klux_Klan_involvement

[Bad Dog]

I was operating under the impression that Nathan Bedford Forrest was the founder of the predecessor to the KKK.

I had the same impression except, I thought it was the actual KKK, not the predecessor.  The cool news is that it was a Democrap organization so it must have been OK....right?

[obumazombie]

^Well, If it's a lib/dem/socialist organization, they will always get a pass.

edit for speed.

[mrclose]

As I said in my post:
Things you 'didn't' know .. Not what you 'did' know.