Nathan Bedford Forrest and Racial Reconciliation

American Catholic ^ | Friday, August 6th, 2010

[GonzoII]

Easily the most controversial figure in the Civil War, probably the most controversial figure in American history, Nathan Bedford Forrest has always been the subject of fierce debate. Self-made millionaire who rose from poverty with much of his money made as a slaver trader; a semi-literate whose tactics and strategies as the most successful cavalry commander of the Civil War are still studied at military academies around the world; a brilliant general celebrated by the South and condemned by the North as the perpetrator of a massacre at Fort Pillow; a man who killed in combat 31 Union soldiers in the War but who after the War constantly had former Union soldiers visit him to shake his hand; and a racist who helped found the Ku Klux Klan after the War, but who also made a remarkable speech near the end of the life.

In 1875 Forrest was invited to address a meeting of the Independent Order of Pole Bearers, an early black civil rights organization in Memphis, at their Fourth of July barbecue on July 5. Forrest was told by many whites that he should not accept, but Forrest went. Just before he spoke he was presented a bouquet of flowers by Miss Flora Lewis, a daughter of one of the members of the Pole Bearers. Here is Forrest’s speech.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I accept the flowers as a memento of reconciliation between the white and colored races of the Southern states. I accept it more particularly as it comes from a colored lady, for if there is any one on God’s earth who loves the ladies I believe it is myself. (Immense applause and laughter.) I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe I can

[archy]

Nathan Bedford Forrest memorial and grave in Memphis, Tennessee

[archy]

Nathan Bedford Forrest memorial and grave in Memphis, Tennessee

Astride *Old Number Thirty,* one of the few horses whose acquaintance I've made that doesn't have a taste for apples.

[archy]

A man I would gladly have followed into battle.

It would have been real interesting to have travelled alongside him when he went to Texas circa late 1835-early 1836 to join in the fight for Texian Independence from Mexico.

He reportedly arrived after that war had already been won, but speedier transportation or a change of a few details of history by a few months might have offered us a very different perspective on Young Mr. Forrest.

[wardaddy]

I can only imagine...have been on vacation a week..I see I missed NeoYankee anti-semites approving of Grant’s abuse of Jews

[American Soldier]

Old thread. But after seeing this speech quoted so many times over the past few years and wondering about its authenticity, I decided check into sources from the period.

On another discussion board, someone mentioned that perhaps it was quoted in the Memphis Daily Appeal.

I checked the Library of Congress website and found that Forrest’s speech was quoted in the Memphis Daily Appeal on July 6, 1875. I have pasted a link below.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045160/1875-07-06/ed-1/seq-1/

For the record, I am not taking part in any debate about the proper legacy of Forrest — I just found the debates about the authenticity of this speech interesting. I thought the link was worth posting here because I have not seen a link to a digitized document from the period in question in other discussion threads covering this speech.

[GonzoII]

Thanks for the link. That LOC is really something.