Customer Reviews:
Torn.......2004-02-10
I'm torn on this review. I'm a new student to the ACW, but new enough to still know that NBF is one of the more intriquing characters of the war. I thought I did my research well and picked the right book to read about him by choosing "That Devil Forrest."
Well, I'm a little disappointed. Not because the book is bad, but more because it wasn't what I quite expected and mostly because I read it out of place (more later on this). The focus is 95% on the military side, which is not all bad. After all, that's what makes him the wizard of the saddle. But the problem is I found the account very dry at times. Much of it is rehashing Official Records and what others have said in their memoirs. I never got the feeling of being there, in the middle of the battle, with bullets zipping by my ear. The only way I can describe it is a very nuts and bolts reading of what troops went where and what troops did what, with a little bit of prose thrown in. Certain chapters are handled better than others, but from time to time I found myself drifting away from engagement to engagement because there wasn't much to make it unique.
Now, I realize not every one can write like Catton or Foote, but considering Wyeth did ride in Forrest's cavalry, I was hoping for a little more from that POV.
As far as the details of the engagements, they are extremely well done. Clearly you will walk away from this book understanding how many casualties he infliced, what companies and who their leaders were who rode on particular missions, etc. It is truly a micro history and if you are unfamiliar with the bigger battles that may have intiated NBF's specific participation (i.e. Shiloh, Murfressboro, etc.) you might get a little lost in the details.
I think I need to read more of a true biography first, and then follow up with "That Devil Forrest" to fill in the military details. That would make a very good one two punch.
So, in short, if you're fascinated by Forrest, but know little of him, I wouldn't start with this book. I think you'll get lost in the details. However, if you have a thorough understanding of the ACW and good back ground info on Forrest the man, I think you'll find this book a good compliment if you're after the details. Another high point is the footnotes and references are impecable. Although the author has a very clear biased opinion about his feelings toward Forrest, he does back up the numbers so to speak.
The Civil War you're looking for..........2004-02-04
I've read the dry memoirs of a few Civil war heroes. Grant, Sherman, Sheridan. They're fine. But if you want the real guts'n'drive factor of this war, this doctor's story of Forrest is what you're after. As another reviewer has mentioned, when you get into other major characters you actually find less good action, more weakness, time-wasting. Forrest has his flaws, but more along the lines of all of ours. Hold a grudge if you like, but give the story its due. This has it all, in spades.
The doc is a passionate storyteller but doesn't prejudice the tale. He's written to a fine line.
The other major biographer, Steel, is known as the fairest (and the most recent and "professional"), but with him we get excessive DRYNESS. Who needs that. Moreover, Steel bends over backwards to discredit the hero Forrest, giving more than equal time to every potshot against him. This is called fairness. The shots never hit their mark even with Steel, yet he gives them their due and their due dilutes, taints and distracts the story. ---Even more so than Forrest's own flaws do! (Touche'.)
Wyeth is a clean historian yet lets the story's vigor come through just right. The adventures of Forrest will keep you riveted from start to finish. There's no other way to put it.
Forrest's covering of Hood's (?) final retreat was, in that day, declared to be the inevitable future subject of EPIC poems. We haven't seen any such thing, sadly. But that's the scale of this story. It would still be worth the effort, I think. A movie anyone?
Of course, every angle is worth savoring---including the old partisan Lytle's "Critter Company" bio.
But enjoy the doc. --JP
Excellent!.......2003-08-15
Nathan Bedford Forrest was one interesting character. A self made millionaire, most definitely an entrepreneur by today's standards, he was a maverick in every facet of his life. Shelby Foote called him the only genius, other than Abraham Lincoln, that the Civil War produced: High praise indeed.
It is easy, with the benefit of hindsight, to paint him with the brush of evil and dismiss him. Slave trader, first Grand Dragon of the Klu Klux Klan, the Ft. Pillow massacre, these are not the calling cards of sainthood. But if we try to view life as he saw it, if we can empathize with him enough to where we can react to his environment, during his times and with his skill set, then maybe we can come close to understanding Mr. Foot's comment.
The Southern High Command did not develop senior generals well. They anointed 8 at the start of hostilities. Without exception, those that weren't killed or injured were still in charge of things at the end of the war. Forrest was one of the few who earned the right to fill the ranks of those who fell.
Independent, devoted to the cause and goal driven he pounds his way to the top. One of his key adversaries, William Tecumseh Sherman, gives him his finest accolade with the words 'that Devil Forrest'. He is a tenacious fighter and good at his job. Judge for yourself, but no one on either side fought under greater hardship, with fewer resources, while amassing a string of truly pivotal victories than he did. No Lost Cause apologia here, Forrest is the genuine article, a true Confederate war hero. You may not wind up liking him but you will wind up respecting him.
Outstanding close look at Bedford Forrest.......2003-02-21
I have nearly every book written on Nathan Bedford Forrest. He was a complex man, a man that should stand out more amongst the 'peacocks'. Who, having had any knowledge about the War Between the States, does not know JEB Stuart? Forrest did not believe in plumbed hats, jackboots or riding around the Union army to prove a point to the Union troops and his Father-in-law. He believed war was fighting and fighting means killing, and his brilliant military tactics demonstrated this. I think by being raised on both sides of the pond, Forrest first fascinated me because I saw much the same 'force' in Forrest I admired in William Wallace. They were common men, men who were willing to give all in a cause they believed, men that were driven by fighting at 110% and never giving quarter. Many of Forrest's tactics of near guerrilla fighting came from Lighthorse Harry Lee's tactics against the British in the Revolutionary War (Robert E. Lee's daddy by the way!!), a character in himself and much in the vein of Mel Gibson's Patriot. The North despised Forrest - why?? Because he was SO EFFECTIVE. One wonders, what the outcome of the War Between the States would have been had Forrest commanded the Army of the Potomac instead of Lee. Grant and Sherman hated him - Grant giving him the label of 'that devil Forrest', while Sherman admired him - grudgingly - considering him "the most remarkable man our civil war produced on either side", and by Lee `the most extraordinary man the Civil War produced'. Historian Shelby Foote called him one of the two great geniuses of the period (Lincoln being the other). Sherman moaned in disgust that Forrest's men could travel 100 miles faster than his troops could 10. Forrest 'liberated' more guns, horses and supplies than any other single Confederate unit. He did not play at war. He rose from the rank of private to a Lieutenant General - the ONLY man to do that in the Confederate army, but he was just as a complex man before and after the war.
Perhaps, you will not come away liking Forrest, but you cannot doubt his sheer genius, his driven power and his ability to spur men to match his dedication and willingness to give all - just as Wallace did.
There are many books that give interesting views of Forrest, but I hold a special spot in my respect for this book, for unlike the others that were written with the distance of time and careful study, this was written by John Allan Wyeth - a surgeon who died in 1922. Wyeth served as a private in the Confederate army until his capture two weeks after Chickamauga. This was written by a man who lived through the war, not an arm chair historian. So his view is unique, more vivid than any other writer or biographer on Forrest. The text is base almost solely on accounts of military papers and records and the people who knew Forrest personally.
So if you have come searching for information on Nathan Bedford Forrest, you collection MUST have a copy of this work.
A Close-up view of Bedford Forrest.......2003-02-21
have nearly every book written on Nathan Bedford Forrest. He was a complex man, a man that should stand out more amongst the 'peacocks'. Who, having had any knowledge about the War Between the States, does not know JEB Stuart? Forrest did not believe in plumbed hats, jackboots or riding around the Union army to prove a point to the Union troops and his Father-in-law. He believed war was fighting and fighting means killing, and his brilliant military tactics demonstrated this. I think by being raised on both sides of the pond, Forrest first fascinated me because I saw much the same 'force' in Forrest I admired in William Wallace. They were common men, men who were willing to give all in a cause they believed, men that were driven by fighting at 110% and never giving quarter. Many of Forrest's tactics of near guerrilla fighting came from Lighthorse Harry Lee's tactics against the British in the Revolutionary War (Robert E. Lee's daddy by the way!!), a character in himself and much in the vein of Mel Gibson's Patriot. The North despised Forrest - why?? Because he was SO EFFECTIVE. One wonders, what the outcome of the War Between the States would have been had Forrest commanded the Army of the Potomac instead of Lee. Grant and Sherman hated him - Grant giving him the label of 'that devil Forrest', while Sherman admired him - grudgingly - considering him "the most remarkable man our civil war produced on either side", and by Lee `the most extraordinary man the Civil War produced'. Historian Shelby Foote called him one of the two great geniuses of the period (Lincoln being the other). Sherman moaned in disgust that Forrest's men could travel 100 miles faster than his troops could 10. Forrest 'liberated' more guns, horses and supplies than any other single Confederate unit. He did not play at war. He rose from the rank of private to a Lieutenant General - the ONLY man to do that in the Confederate army, but he was just as a complex man before and after the war.
Perhaps, you will not come away liking Forrest, but you cannot doubt his sheer genius, his driven power and his ability to spur men to match his dedication and willingness to give all - just as Wallace did.
There are many books that give interesting views of Forrest, but I hold a special spot in my respect for this book, for unlike the others that were written with the distance of time and careful study, this was written by John Allan Wyeth - a surgeon who died in 1922. Wyeth served as a private in the Confederate army until his capture two weeks after Chickamauga. This was written by a man who lived through the war, not an arm chair historian. So his view is unique, more vivid than any other writer or biographer on Forrest. The text is base almost solely on accounts of military papers and records and the people who knew Forrest personally.
So if you have come searching for information on Nathan Bedford Forrest, you collection MUST have a copy of this work.
Book Description
Nathan Bedford ForrestÂ's astounding military abilities, passionate temperament, and tactical ingenuity on the battlefield have earned the respect of Civil War scholars and military leaders alike. He was a man who stirred the most extreme emotions among his followers and his enemies, and his name continues to inspire controversy.
In this comprehensive biography, Forrest is illuminated as the brilliant battlefield tactician that he was--and the only Confederate cavalry leader feared by Ulysses S. Grant. Historians Eddy W. Davison and Daniel Foxx offer a detailed explanation of the Fort Pillow Â"massacre,Â" unraveling the facts to prove that it was not indeed a massacre. The book also discusses ForrestÂ's role in the Ku Klux Klan and how he came to be its first grand wizard.
Dispelling several myths, this is a study of the complete Forrest, including his rise as a self-made millionaire in Memphis, his remarkable success leading the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry, and his life following the Civil War. Although the book is filled with vivid battle narratives, it goes beyond ForrestÂ's military life to examine other aspects of this enigmatic leader—his role as husband and father, for example, and his dramatic call for full citizenship for Black Southerners.
Customer Reviews:
Well written!.......2007-10-22
I picked this book up and almost returned it after looking at the campaign maps. They were well made but gave me the impression this was a bland recounting of every little military move by Forrest. Luckily I kept the book and found a gripping story of his life, personality and campaigns. I felt like I really had an idea of what kind of person or leader he was after reading the book. This is an excellent story. It was one of those books you hope never ends.
The Best Book On General Forrest , I've Ever Read !!!!.......2007-10-04
For anyone with an interest in the Civil War's most interesting character , General Nathan Bedford Forrest , this new book is a MUST ; "Nathan Bedford Forrest , In Search of the Enegma" , by Eddy W. Davison & Daniel Foxx (and forward by Ed Bearss) !!
I own many books , old & new , on General Forrest's life and activities . This is the very best that I have ever read on this topic . There are plenty on good ones and some are on very specific topics , such as the new books "Forrest's Escort & Staff" , by Michael R. Bradley and "Men of Fire" , Grant & Forrest at the Battle of Fort Dolelson , by Jack Hurst ! These 2 new books concerning General Forrest are excellent & are must reads for "Forrest entheusists" , but are basically on very specific topics concerning Forrest . "In Search of the Enegma" covers Forrests life , with emphasis on the civil War , of course , but is in search of The Man , behind the legend !
It is extremely well written , in every way , but I must comment on the way that "battles & engagements & troop activity" of General Forrest's are described ! Everyone with an interest in General Forrest has read about his part in battles at Shiloh or Brice's Crossroads or the Tupelo & Memphis Raid ,for example . I have from several good books ! I have never had such normally "complex battle situations" ; with moving men & horses & confussion & indecisions & mistakes & foul weather & poor communications & heroism & bravery & inactions & retreats----so clearly described & made more understandable than ever before ! Davison & Foxx turn a battle into a "moving picture in your mind" ! You are "there" & you "feel" the situation . You understand more about the "Why's" of how these battles & engagement , concerning Forrest , turned out as they did & its very interesting reading & not "dead facts" !
These two authors , Davison & Foxx , give first hand accounts , often from "non-famous" soldiers & civilians , recorded long after the war , that add "something new or a different prespective" on General Forrest ! The indepth research is fantastic ! You find out from Union reports , just what was being discussed concerning Forrest & his command , as certain actions were about to take place or were happening ! You see how unique Forrest was in almost always "creating the illusion" of haveing a much , much larger force than was reality , to his enemy . Also , you see how confussing Forrests actions & objectives were to the opposite side in a conflict !
Just a splendid work on Nathan Bedford Forrest , by two excellent researchers & story-tellers !
A MUST Read , for anyone interested in Forrest !
Just the over-all best book on this topic of Nathan Bedford Forrest , that I have ever read ! Highly recommended to all who want to know & understand more on "Forrest The Enegma" and Forrest The Man !
A WHOLE LIBRARY IN ONE BOOK!.......2007-09-11
I have a whole library of nearly every book ever written about or mentioning Forrest. Heck, after all, my son is named after him! The book is thoroughly written and well researched. The material contained within is found in a multitude of other sources, but the beauty of this book is that the authors have all the pertinent information in one large volume and presented it wonderfully. No joke, you'd have to buy a ton of books (if you could find them all)and spend more time reading than your eyes could take, to get the information presented in this volume. If I were to buy one book to learn about Forrest, then this one would be it. The definitive work and an excellent value.
The collaborative work of American Civil War experts.......2007-08-04
The collaborative work of American Civil War experts Eddy W. Davison (Adjunct Professor of History, Ottawa University, Phoenix, Arizona and a member of the Board of Directors of the Scottsdale Civil War Roundtable), and Daniel Fox (Professor Emeritus of History, Ottawa University, Phoenix, Arizona), "Nathan Bedford Forrest: In Search Of The Enigma" is the man almost universally acknowledged as the best cavalry leader the Confederate army had in leading the Seventh Tennessee Cavalry. But in the decades following the civil war, Nathan Bedford Forrest was also the subject of enduring controversy as a man both acclaimed and vilified, respected and hated, and generally difficult to categorize. This new and detailed biography reveals Forrest to be complex, possessing a military genius and a generally tragic figure of his times. The biographers cover his childhood, marriage, life as a businessman who became a self-made millionaire in Memphis, Tennessee, his work as a civic leader, and offers explanation for the alleged massacre at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, his dramatic call for full citizenship for Black Southerners, and his post-civil war involvement with the infamous Ku Klux Klan. A very strongly recommended addition to academic and community library Civil War Studies and American Biography collections, "Nathan Bedford Forrest" is a work of meticulous and detailed scholarship -- and a prized contribution to the growing body of Civil War literature.
The Best on Forrest.......2007-08-01
I have read many books about this unusual military genius, but this one is far and away the most complete, up-to-date and informative. Most highly recommended to allstudents of the War Between the States.
Average customer rating:
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The Railroad War: N. B. Forrest's 1864 Raid Through Northern Alabama and Middle Tennessee
Robert, Jr. Dunnavant
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Customer Reviews:
Good Local Area History.......2000-08-31
This book covers N MS, N AL, and Middle TN from 5 Sept. 1864 though 6 Oct. 1864. Events preparing the attack of CS General Hood on Franklin and Nashville, TN in late 1864. In great detail you will understand the feats of CS General Forrest's, "The Wizard of the Saddle", conquest of Union forces with only 4500 men (3500+ Union troops captured). You will discover why US General Grant and Sherman moved 30,000 troops into this area to stop Forrest's success over an area of 200 sq. miles. This well written book also explains several acts of bravery by USCT (Black Troops) along US General Sherman's supply lines and the avenue for advertising the 600 captured Black troops return to slavery. The reader will understand why US Generals Grant and Sherman offered rewards for this Confederate General's capture either dead or alive. General Sherman preferred "devil Forrest" dead. The history is written in an exciting and concise manner with unit actions and commanders view points given from both sides of the conflict. Several individual accounts of escape, daring, and determination by both Union and Rebel soldiers are told in a honest and honorable manner. The book is very interesting reading for the Civil War history reader.
Amazon.com
Nathan Bedford Forrest was the only soldier to rise from the rank of private to general during the U.S. Civil War. At once "a soft-spoken gentleman of marked placidity and an overbearing bully of homicidal wrath," Forrest is best remembered for the combination of brilliant military leadership and flamboyant bravery that drove his Confederate cavalry troops from victory to victory on the battlefield. His subordinates feared him (he shot those who turned tail), as did his enemies (he rarely lost a fight). General Sherman once said that Forrest must be "hunted down and killed if it costs 10,000 lives and bankrupts the [national] treasury." Detractors point out that Forrest never has been exonerated from the Fort Pillow massacre, in which many Union soldiers, most of them black, were slaughtered after attempting to surrender. Following the war, he went on to found the Ku Klux Klan. Late in life, however, Forrest disavowed racial hatred and called for black political advancement. Author Jack Hurst has written the essential biography of a complex and compelling man who was arguably the Civil War's most remarkable soldier. (Movie trivia: Forrest Gump's mother named her son after this general.)
Book Description
Amid the aristocratic ranks of the Confederate cavalry, Nathan Bedford Forrest was untutored, all but unlettered, and regarded as no more than a guerrilla. His tactic was the headlong charge, mounted with such swiftness and ferocity that General Sherman called him a "devil" who should "be hunted down and killed if it costs 10,000 lives and bankrupts the treasury." And in a war in which officers prided themselves on their decorum, Forrest habitually issued surrender-or-die ultimatums to the enemy and often intimidated his own superiors. After being in command at the notorious Fort Pillow Massacre, he went on to haunt the South as the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.
Now this epic figure is restored to human dimensions in an exemplary biography that puts both Forrest's genius and his savagery into the context of his time, chronicling his rise from frontiersman to slave trader, private to lieutenant general, Klansman to -- eventually -- New South businessman and racial moderate. Unflinching in its analysis and with extensive new research, Nathan Bedford Forrest is an invaluable and immensely readable addition to the literature of the Civil War.
Customer Reviews:
Life story of a self-made man.......2007-04-29
Nathan Bedford Forrest was one of the most interesting figures from the mid-19th Century. He was also one of the most controversial -- given his role as Confederate cavalryman, Fort Pillow, and the rise of the first KKK. Thus a n account of his life that shows no bias is an exceptional work, and that's what Jack Hurst brought to the table with his book.
For the most part, Hurst delivers the goods on Forrest. The man's life, as slavetrader, soldier, and Klansman, is detailed, down to the semi-literate letters written in a rough hand as Forrest had. A little-too-detailed -- I think some of the battle scenes, as exciting as they can get, could've been described in less words. Still a good, balanced biography on Forrest that should satisfy anybody looking for such a book.
Superb.......2004-06-07
I gave it a 4 because the military campain analysis is not the best, but there are other, better books for this. This book gives insight into Forrest as the person, including his action after the war. It does a superb job of adressing the issues of the Klan and racism, and I gained a newfound respect for General Forrest.
After reading this there is no doubt in my mind that this man is almost completely misunderstood. The details included and Hurst's own conclusions from these are logical and insightful, and bring out Forrest's true colors: As perhaps the first true civil rights leader and racial equality advocate.
This book is must for anyone wishing for a full understanding of this incredible man.
A Man Worthy Of Objective Study and Admiration.......2003-09-01
He was a born military genius. A man born on the margins of survival in the rural South, who supported his family after his father's early death.
He did what had to be done to save his Mother and siblings from abject
poverty.
He was a successful businessman in the pre war American South and yes he did sell slaves. You must remember that this was a perfectly legal
business. PC whining about yesterday's values miss the point. He was
a millionaire before the war, when a million dollars was probably worth
50 million or more in today's dollars.
As Alexis de Toqueville said, (I'm paraphrasing) the slaves of the South were treated better and all in all lived better than blacks in the North. They were raised from infancy through old age and many of their years were unproductive to the slave owner, but still they were supported.
Back to the book.
This book lays out the commitment of Forrest to the "cause", when he
raises and arms a large group of fighting men at his own expense. He
was the only man to rise from a private to a General in either army.
The book shows Forrest at his heroic best when defeating vastly superior forces with double envelopment tactics, which he invented on the spot out of necessity. He also employed psychological tactics against the enemy and once he had them retreating he would run them down for days and nights without sleep, food or rest, until they had been
killed or surrendered.
He labored under the incompetent General Bragg, until he forces a re-assignment to another superior. His many talents were frequently wasted making up for Bragg's mistakes, but he attacks them with tremendous focus and determination.
Forrest was a dominating personality and foe. Slow to anger, but once aroused his physical appearance would change and this alone
was frequently enough to put down any personal challenge to his person.
He personally killed something like 28 of the enemy and had 30 horses
shot out from under him. He was the most hands on leader and fighter
I've found in either army. He personally led most of the cavalry charges
and once when finding himself all alone in the middle of the enemy
cavalry, he swung his horse around and picked up a short Union soldier
and held him across his back as a shield to prevent the enemy from
shooting him. He dropped the short Union shield when safely away from
enemy.
Oh, and Fort Pillow, I'm not sure what really happened there, but incomparison to what Grant's understudy, Sherman did on his trip of total devastation through Georgia, it pales in comparison for these war crimes. West Point taught it's soldier's what was a war crime and Sherman knew what he was doing to civilian's and their property was a great war crime. A war crime rarely mentioned.
Once the war was over he did work to re-integrate the Southern Soldier
back into life in the Union. He could have been an unstoppable Guerilla
leader has he chosen this path. But ultimately he recognized the need
for peace to prevail.
Hurst paints a vivid picture of a man who lived on the edge of extinction
and put all of his energy into winning every confrontation, but was not
used by Jefferson Davis for maximum effect because he wasn't a West Pointer. This was a big loss to the CSA.
In the end, he died a man at peace with his God, but lived a life that
is well worth examining and admiring. Nature produces few specimens
like Forrest. When Lee was asked who was his best fighter in his Army,
he said, "Forrest, a man I've never met".
I found this book throughly entertaining and suggest that all who have
an open mind will read and have a hard time putting down this book.
There are also other excellent books on Forrest, an object of endless
fascination.
An absorbing study of a man driven.......2003-02-21
The generals of the Civil War are remembered in contrasts. Sherman, Sheridan and Grant, were...well, common. They were hard drinking men, willing to sacrifice any number - thousands of men - believing the ends justified the means. They were not tall, handsome or dashing, so maybe that is why the Generals of the Confederacy live so vividly in our imaginations. A lot of the Southerns were gentlemen, they were the epitome of the genteel South - or at least how we often see it in our imaginations, when we can divorce the spectre of Slavery from that vision. They were men in grey, who rode off to fight for what they believed, and no one more so than Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Only Forrest does not fit that stereotypical Southern Gentleman. He was born in a log-cabin (as was Lincoln and Jefferson Davis); he was a failed businessman same as Grant. He was hard living, coarse like Sherman and Sheridan. And quite possibly one of the most complex figures to come out of the period. He did not fight in the Army of Northern Virginia under Lee, which keeps him out of the general attention of those learning about the Civil War. His first notable occurrence in the Civil War was the Fort Pillow Incident, where - still today we do not understand what happened - how black and white men supposedly surrendering were put to death by Forrest's command. Jefferson David never understood Forrest's guerrilla-like methods of fighting - but one could not dispute the results. He believed calvary men were not as JEB Stuart, dashing figures leading gallant charges, but were fighting men who used horses to get from point A to point B, "the firstest with the mostest" as he is often misquoted saying. As such, military tactics are still questioned and studied today. He did not enter the war as one of the 'nobility' but came in as a private to rise to the ranks of Lieutenant General. A superb tactician, a ferocious fighter unequalled - he killed 30 men and had his horse shot out from under him 29 times! After the war, he was one of the founders of the Ku Klux Klan, it's first Grand Wizard, only to turn around and repudiate it and tried disband it for his racial hatred.
Forrest has been called 'that devil forrest', the 'wizard of the saddle', Historian Shelby Foote called him one of the two great geniuses of the period (Lincoln being the other) and by Lee `the most extraordinary man the Civil War produced'. He was a slaver trader and owner, yet upon his death in 1877, it is well noted that his funeral was attended by hundreds of ex-slaves.
Jack Hurst gives a very balance view of this highly controversial figure and complex figure, showing his prowess, his faults and how he influences fighting of the period. Tries not to excuse or explain away Fort Pillow, but place it in proper perspective.
His work is wonderful look at the man often ignored or overlooked by general history.
An absorbing study of a man driven.......2003-02-21
The generals of the Civil War are remembered in contrasts. Sherman, Sheridan and Grant, were...well, common. They were hard drinking men, willing to sacrifice any number - thousands of men - believing the ends justified the means. They were not tall, handsome or dashing, so maybe that is why the Generals of the confederacy live so vividly in our imaginations. A lot of the Southerns were gentlemen, they were the epitome of the genteel South - or at least how we often see it in our imaginations, when we can divorce the spectre of Slavery from that vision. They were men in grey, who rode off to fight for what they believed, and no one more so than Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Only Forrest does not fit that stereotypical Southern Gentleman. He was born in a log-cabin (as was Lincoln and Jefferson Davis); he was a failed businessman same as Grant. He was hard living, coarse like Sherman and Sheridan. And quite possibly one of the most complex figures to come out of the period. He did not fight in the Army of Northern Virginia under Lee, which keeps him out of the general attention of those learning about the Civil War. His first notable occurrence in the Civil War was the Fort Pillow Incident, where - still today we do not understand what happened - how black and white men supposedly surrendering were put to death by Forrest's command. Jefferson David never understood Forrest's guerrilla-like methods of fighting - but one could not dispute the results. He believed calvary men were not as JEB Stuart, dashing figures leading gallant charges, but were fighting men who used horses to get from point A to point B, "the firstest with the mostest" as he is often misquoted saying. As such, military tactics are still questioned and studied today. He did not enter the war as one of the 'nobility' but came in as a private to rise to the ranks of Lieutenant General. A superb tactician, a ferocious fighter unequalled - he killed 30 men and had his horse shot out from under him 29 times! After the war, he was one of the founders of the Ku Klux Klan, it's first Grand Wizard, only to turn around and repudiate it and tried disband it for his racial hatred.
Forrest has been called 'that devil forrest', the 'wizard of the saddle', Historian Shelby Foote called him one of the two great geniuses of the period (Lincoln being the other) and by Lee `the most extraordinary man the Civil War produced'. He was a slaver trader and owner, yet upon his death in 1877, it is well noted that his funeral was attended by hundreds of ex-slaves.
Jack Hurst gives a very balance view of this highly controversial figure and complex figure, showing his prowess, his faults and how he influences fighting of the period. Tries not to excuse or explain away Fort Pillow, but place it in proper perspective.
His work is wonderful look at the man often ignored or overlooked by general history.
Book Description
Most staff officers and escort members of famous Civil War generals have faded into obscurity. However, the escort company and staff officers of Nathan Bedford Forrest were held in awe by men on both sides of the conflict during the war and long after, and they continue to be held in esteem as figures as legendary as Forrest himself. Not merely guards or couriers, these men were an elite force who rode harder and fought more fiercely than any others. As Bradley writes in his introduction,
'In him they recognized not only the daring, able, and successful leader, but also the commanding officer who would not hesitate to punish with severity when he deemed punishment necessary. They possessed as an inheritance all the best and most valuable fighting qualities of the irregulars, accustomed as they were from boyhood to horses and the use of arms, and brought up with all the devil-may-care lawless notions of the frontiersman. But the most volcanic spirit among them felt he must bow before the superior iron will of the determined man who led them. There was something about the dark gray eye of Forrest that warned his subordinates he was not to be trifled with and would stand no nonsense from either friend or foe.'
"Nathan Bedford Forrest's Escort and Staff" reveals the symbiotic relationship between Forrest and his men, and how their unusual abilities as fighters, thinkers, and leaders made for a team of men who formed a unique brotherhood that lasted long after the war. A testament to their loyalty is the fact that the escort is the only Confederate unit whose numbers were greater when they surrendered than when the unit was organized.
Customer Reviews:
Review of "General N. B. Forrest's Escort Staff".......2007-10-03
This book is a "must" for all Civil War buffs and especially those with an interest in the most interesting civil war character , General Nathan Bedford Forrest !
This book give details of Forrest's special escort & staff , that has never been know until this book . These we truely unique & talented men who served a unique & talented Confederate general . It enables an interested person to understand how Forrest "knew so well what his oponents were going to do" from superior intelligence provided by his special escort .
We see how Forrest used his escort as "shock troops" , that could respond in seconds to changing conditions , that Forrest saw developing ! They were the "best of the best" , hand selected by Forrest and utilized to their utmost !
The background of these men & their lives after the "lost cause" is most fascinating !
The point brought up , in this well written book , is "did Forrest make these men outstanding or was it a mutual uplifting ?" I think Forrest "infected" these brave & talented men with "heroic quilities" , but they enabled Forrest to "succeed in emplementing his genius at deciding the exact moment in a back & forth battle , when a lightening-like strike to a point of weakness could change the entire course of the battle to one of victory for your side !" Forrest had this genius in deciding the moment to strike , but it took his unique escort & staff to be "Forrest's lightening bolts" !!
A most interseting book and highly recommended !
Lacking.......2007-07-29
Other than providing readers with mini-biographies of different members of Forrest's escort and staff this book brings nothing new to the study of Forrest. The book is relatively dry and does not flow well. A glance at the bibliography reveals the fact that the book is poorly researched and documented.
Forrest's Escort and Staff.......2006-12-25
I just read the book and I must say I couldn't put it down till I finished. There were so many little things from 1st hand accounts of Forrest that I haven't found in other places. I have read all the books on Forrest and wanted more details, this book gave me several. There were also some first hand accounts and quotes in here that make me know Forrest was not the racist some try to make him out to be. Many accounts clarified his personality. The more I read of him, the more respect I have for him. There could never be a more accurate statement than Forrest led by example,(for friend or foe). That point made clear in a never before tidbit about him. The 6th US Tennessee had a reputation as looters and rapist. When Forrest and his men entered Purdy, Tennesse, the hometown of Col Fielding Hurst, commander of the US 6th, he sent one of his men to Col's home to tell his wife he was posting a guard from his own escort around her house so that she wouldn't be harmed. Knowing what her husband's men had done to other women less fortunate, the woman broke down in tears. It was the "do unto others as you would want them to do unto you", No doubt when Hurst came home and saw how well Forrest treated his wife, the shame of his own actions must have humiliated him.
As for the Escort, they were as incredible as Forrest. This book is a must for anyone who wants more info on Forrest.
GREAT ADDITION FOR ANY SERIOUS FORREST LIBRARY!.......2006-12-01
Just about the time you think you've seen it all on Forrest, including the old rehashed yet another way, Michael Bradley comes along with some great new source material. My hat is off to him. The book is well written with nice overviews of material that many of the readers may already be somewhat familiar with, but it necessary and complimentary to the subject of Forrest's escort and staff, and the addition of his new material. The appendixes with the rosters are worth the cost of the book alone. Two others were an unexpected surprise that I enjoyed, "Forrest in Literature" and "Forrest and Race", both of which were exceptionally apt at putting both into their proper perspective, something I don't think I've ever seen done so well, concisely, or in one place before. While a few photographs are included in the text, I would like to have seen more, and perhaps they will be added in future editions. Maybe it is just a personal thing, as I like to browse and read sometimes. There are some interesting images out there on the escort and staff, as well as badges only issued to them after the war. Anyway, I'd latch onto a copy, as I don't think you will be disappointed, and the author has managed to find a new niche not previously explored.
Customer Reviews:
Aptly titled.......2007-09-06
Humble beginnings, an uphill battle, and making a silk purse out of a sow's ear. All of these phrases help illustrate the proverbial card that Nathan Bedford Forrest was repeatedly dealt and how he succeeded through tenacious card playing and bluffing.
Like many of the books on Forrest, the author covers Forrest's having to provide for his family out in the frontier after his father died, the highlights of his exploits in the Confederate arm, as well as his dealings with the Klan. The early life shows what Forrest will have to do with his military units as he had to fend for himself in terms of men and materials. Even with the disadvantage of shortages, he found a way to get materials (sometimes paying from his own pocket and other times taking from the enemy) to provide for his men, and he bluffed his way through many skirmishes by deceiving his adversary into believing that Forrest had more troops than he did.
As with other biographies on Forrest, the author discusses the connection to the Klan, but he highlights that Forrest was never explicit in stating that he was or wasn't a part.
If you have read other biographies, then this book will not provide a whole lot of new material. However, it is an intriguing read.
Another interesting perspective!.......2003-02-13
Being a fan of Forrest I was happy to see that Wills went to great pains to only write about true occurrences that he could back up with documentation. Wills covers the myths and potentially wrong information developed by this great commander over the years and dispels them by trying to be fair and accurate in what took place. Myths can become larger than life and Forrest is no stranger to such talk over the years. Such potentially false information of Forrest isn't conveyed in this book.
Wills' coverage presents Forrest from early adulthood pre-war life all the way up until his death in 1877. His battlefield coverage may not be as complete as other books on Forrest although he does cover many campaigns and exploits of this great Southern leader. I felt Wills had skipped some exhaustive detail as found in other books about Forrest post-war career such as his involvement with the KKK, political world and business ventures. Wills covers these but keeps the information quick, informative and focused. Wills tries to realistically look at Forrest and present better facts which I appreciated. Any fan of Forrest owes it to them to read this book to get new and fair insight into a rather large and sometimes mythical character that struggled through life in multiple hardships, conflict and destiny.
Underappreciates the Drama.......2001-12-15
This book is considered the best history of Forrest. It's a Northern book, basically. This may well be the best approach to take on this character, otherwise he does tend to get out of hand. Forrest is still infamous, especially for Fort Pillow. Wills goes after him for all he's worth but in the end doesn't come up with anything. It's a decent exoneration. Forrest was cleared of Pillow officially and historically despite low-blows from a propagandizing North that hasn't let up on him yet (see "Forrest Gump"...and most any public Northern remark about Forrest even today). Forrest had slaves and as much guilt there as other Southerners, but the special venom reserved for him in the North is odd. I found other quotes of Forrest refering to slaves not as property but as a working class to be noteworthy, but they aren't much considered anywhere. It actually seems like he was better than many Southerners in this regard, but still gets picked out for special hatred. Forrest's race "rep" relates his infamy but actually didn't have all that much bearing on the bulk of his amazing military career. In some ways it adds to his interest---he seemed to take a decent if fiesty independent stance there as everywhere else in his career. Anyway, someone who's infamous needs to be looked at more closely than usual. So Wills doesn't give an inch. Most of Forrest's astounding exploits are delivered not only dryly but begrudgingly. You often have to read between the lines to sense what really happened. Great achievements will be mentioned with a line but minor, almost-unrelated harping is given as much play as possible. Even so, the greatness of the drama and character of Forrest comes thru. Now, the Lytle bio is a good read but sappy. In the end "That Devil Forrest" by Wyeth is probably the best...dry, clear but with appreciation for the magnitude of Forrest's actions. Wyeth also examines the roots of his infamy, but because it's an older book perhaps requires more independence in the reader. Wills walks you by the hand, often protecting us more than necessary.
Great Book.......2000-05-24
I personally love reading about the civil war. but all the books I have read have been mainly focused on the eastern theater. This book gave me a great glance of the western theater. This is a great book and I highly recommend it.
Great Bio.......2000-05-04
This biography read like a novel. I couldn't put it down. My father grew up near Selma where Wilson defeated Forrest and burned the foundry. This gave the book a personal touch. I highly recommend it if you would like to learn a little more about the man.
Book Description
Life of the South's greatest cavalry leader whose exploits still astonish.
Customer Reviews:
Sheer manliness and heroism.......2007-09-26
As other reviewers have noted, this is not written for the P.C. crowd, but nor does it seek to be controversial. At first I thought I saw a contradiction in the book's thesis, but I will explain that below. Lytle in his introduction said Forrest stood for the Christian element of the old South, which later Agrarians would pick up on and call the "European element." But in later chapters Lytle has Forrest almost scorning the issue.
Rather than seeing it as a contradiction, I saw Forrest's denunciation of the "dandy Confederate Cavalrymen" as an element of his distinctive Southroness.
Now to the book:
It is beautifully written. The prose is soaring at times. True, Lytle's genius gets the best of him, but the book does read like a novel. It is also true that Lytle borders on hero-worship (but isn't this what makes teh book great?). For instance, after describing Forrest's fighting style, he says "Truly he was a son of the gods!"
Lytle's technical point is that if the South had fought the war like Forrest fought the war, they would have won. Lytle is correct.
The Whole Truth.......2004-10-20
Andrew Lytle was the dean of Southern writers, and in this work -- one of his earliest -- he not only brought to life America's greatest military figure, but an age and a people as well. It was Lytle's aim to make the times of Nathan Bedford Forrest come alive for the reader. He devoted himself to intensive research of the Tennessee where Forrest was born and the Mississippi where he lived.
In reading this book we not only learn about the marvellous -- indeed, often incredible -- feats of a military genius, but we learn at the same time about the people, the places, the morals, the values, and the way of life of a people long gone now. (Lytle's subsequent book, A Wake for the Living, deals more pointedly with how much of the good of those days we have lost.)
This book, although a worthy history, reads like a novel. It truly is one that is hard to put down once you get started.
Great reading, but definitely not for the "P.C." crowd........2001-05-21
In terms of his impact on modern warfare, no general of the Civil War had more than Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. Not Grant, not Lee, not Longstreet or Sherman. This is the man. No less a general than Erwin Rommel studied Forrest's tactics and implemented them with modern weaponry when his Afrika Korps marched all over Libya and Egypt in World War II.
The reason I say this book isn't for the "politically correct" is that it was written some 70 years ago, by a man of the old South who obviously idolized Forrest and everything he stood for. As you know already, not everything Forrest stood for was good. He was 100 years ahead of his time as a soldier, but stuck in 1860 in his personal beliefs.
But...getting into the book. He was a brilliant commander who never had enough men under his command to turn the war in the South's favor. Still, he was a hero to the people of the Tennessee river valley where he won most of his victories, with good reason. When the Union troops overran these areas and placed them under military rule, Forrest made sure they treated the citizens decently. Once he even saved a group of innocent men from a flaming death at the hands of vengeful Union soldiers whom he was defeating in battle. Reading these and other stories makes you understand why he was such a hero to the author, who would have heard first-hand accounts of Forrest's exploits.
Lytle believes that the South would have won the war if Forrest had been placed in command of the main Confederate army in the west, and he's probably right. Forrest was an extraordinary individual who had more impact on the 20th century than any other Civil War general.
Great.......2000-04-05
I never fully appreciated the intellect of Forrest until I finished this book. It peels away the myths about the man, and tells about what he was really like. I loved it, and often flip around in it from time to time. A must for Civil War buffs!
A Stunning Achievement.......1999-12-13
Cunning as the Devil was Nathan Bedford Forrest and this book indicates just how quick and clever this military genius was. Little wonder then that Lee considered this dark knight to be his finest soldier, above even the legendary Stonewall Jackson.
Average customer rating:
- The most overlooked campaign of the Civil War?
- Excellent book for friends of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest
- An interesting sidelight of a little known disaster
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The Lightning Mule Brigade: Abel Streight's 1863 Raid into Alabama
Robert Willett
Manufacturer: Cardinal Publishers Group
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Binding: Paperback
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Yankee Blitzkrieg: Wilson's Raid Through Alabama and Georgia
ASIN: 1578600251 |
Customer Reviews:
The most overlooked campaign of the Civil War?.......2002-10-30
Okay, first of all let me start by stating that I was born and for the most part raised in Gadsden, Alabama. Abel Streight & Nathan Bedford Forrest practically stomped through my back yard while riding toward Rome, GA. What's odd about this is that most people from that area are only aware of Emma Sansom and her role. She was the brave 16-year-old girl who kept Forrest and his Calvary on the heels of Streight and his Mule Brigade. Most of us grew up seeing that statue of Emma Sansom right on the edge of the Coosa River Bridge at the end of Broad Street. This mislead me for years to believe it was the Coosa she helped Forrest cross - it was actually Black Creek that she helped him cross. As a teenager, I would go hunting and see "John Wisdom Trail" signs on old rural roads. For some reason... I never thought to ask, "Who is John Wisdom?" Of course all this was before the Internet. Now I know that John Wisdom is the "Paul Revere of the South" and rode farther, faster and longer than Paul Revere actually did. These are just a few of the interesting elements of Streight's Raid. A Google search sparked my curiosity and led me to this book. This is the only comprehensive work on Streight's Raid. Simply put, this story sells itself. Streight was a righteous and decent man who believed in his cause. Forrest was noble and brilliant... who also believed in his cause. I have read far too few books on the Civil War to offer a serious book review, but I will give you a few thoughts.
I feel as though it was a fair representation of both Union and Confederate point of views. The acute attention to detail and first hand accounts were beneficial to the storyline. I am not an avid reader of military battles, so this next comment should be taken with a grain of salt. I found some portions of the book to be a little confusing. On more than one occasion, I had to back up a page and read it again. Someone more educated in regard to the Civil War might have zipped through these sections with ease. This is the only reason I subtracted a star from the review. I strongly suggest this book to anyone who is a "Civil War Buff". If this were a movie, no one would believe it was non-fiction.
Robert L. Willett conducted his own raid into previously uninhabited territory, and for this I commend him. There were no major battles fought in Alabama during the Civil War. Maybe it is for this reason that Streight's Raid is rarely written about. Maybe it's because the outcome of Streight's Raid somewhat glorifies Nathan Bedford Forrest. It may be too taboo in today's politically correct environment to glorify the founder of the Ku Klux Klan - whose military tactics were admired and studied by Nazi General Erwin Rommel. The significance of Forrest's "victory" is strongly debated. Could this be the most overlooked raid of the Civil War? Not anymore...
Excellent book for friends of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest.......2000-04-20
I'm a great history student on Nathan Bedford Forrest myself. When I heard about this book, "The Lightning Mule Brigade" I immediately had to have it because I knew that NBF was involved in deterring Streight's Raid into Alabama. Bob Willett has done an outstanding job at pulling all the reference resources together into a great book about the raid. It has a lots of factual accounts that make for excellent reading about Forrest and Streight alike.
An interesting sidelight of a little known disaster.......1999-07-07
At the same time that Benjamin Grierson was making his remarkable raid through Mississippi and on to Baton Rouge, another raid took place in the opposite direction. Poorly equiped and badly scouted, Colonel Abel Sleight's raid across northern Alabama could have been successful with better scouting and being better equipt.
Robert Willett has written an interesting story based on eyewitness accounts and regimental histories. This work, which is well cited, is the only in depth work on this raid. Perhaps the most unfortunate aspect of this work is that it will not gain the attention it deserves since it was not published by an academic press or written by an academic scholar. So much the loss.
Customer Reviews:
MUST HAVE FOR ANY FORREST ENTHUSIAST!.......2007-09-11
No one who served with Forrest knew him better than John W. Morton. They uniquely shared a near father/son relationship. Morton was rather modest at times about his own role in Forrest's success, as Morton was a genius with artillery, and Forrest recognized and utilized this in some of his greatest victories. Their relationship extended past the war, and Morton offers unique insight into the KKK, as well as Forrest's role in it. The fact that Forrest sought out Morton to join the Klan, and that Morton swore him in, should disprove to all that Forrest was the "founder". Morton was the youngest Chief-of-Artillery in the Confederate Army. The first reprint after the original was done by Kennesaw Press which copied the original pages, but reduced them in size. The second reprint by Guild Bindery Press used the pages from Morton's original book (mine) and kept them the same size as the original book at my suggestion. There are some great Forrest stories in this book. It belongs on every Forrest bookshelf.
Excellent story of a great man and a patriot.......2007-04-22
I am the great great grandson of Captain John Watson Morton. I purchased this book from Amazon.com and recommend them for their speedy and good service. I also highly recommend this book for an honest, and straight reporting of the events surrounding General Forrest by his most astute and capable Chief of Artillery, a legend in his own right.
Often in the space of years we see books written about the great Forrest by others who have no real idea of his true nature, and thus merely regurgitate already known facts about him without having known anything in the first person. That this is a narrative by his own friend and associate makes this book a MUST have for any student of his genius and wizardry on the battlefield. He and his men are truly american geniuses, successes, and patriots and their like is something to be honored and cherised, rather than the nasty evil stories and lies purpetrated by liberal carpetbagging yankees who would have you believe lies instead of factual events surrounding the war for southern independence. When viewed with honesty, one is felt small by the towering greatness of these men.
The Artillery of Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry.......2002-12-14
A long history/memoir by Morton, who rose to command of Forrest's artillery after the death of (my relative, perhaps) Captain Freeman. Morton was only 18 when he joined up in '62 and spent seven months of the war in Northern prisons, of which he gives some description.
Forrest wasn't happy to accept this "tallow-faced boy" at first, but Morton slowly won him over and participated in all of his campaigns.
We get a lot of observations as to Forrest's character -- including that, according to Morton, he believed one attacker superior to two defenders (this is alarming) and that he was "at times the most insubordinate of men" (13). (Greatest general of all time, eh? I can't quite feature that.)
We learn as well about the activities of Forrest's troops, and I found it interesting to observe how often his men charged entrenched opponents (cf. Morton's description of the Battle of Dover, p. 76; etc.). I would be interested to know what Forrest's casualty rates were, as compared to other cavalry commanders and as measured against what he achieved.
The death (possibly a murder) of Captain Freeman, Forrest's deadly brawl with Lieutenant Gould, Chickamauga and Brice's Crossroads all are covered, among other events. Though Morton quotes letters between Forrest and the Federal commander Washburn regarding the treatment of prisoners of war, there is little discussion of Fort Pillow and it is implied, as far as I can tell, that Morton and his artillery weren't there--which seems hard to believe, but that's what the text seems to suggest.
A detailed account, a vital source for the activities and personality of Forrest. Limited personal narrative, with Morton tending to refer to himself in the third person, but quite vivid nonetheless. For anyone wanting to understand the war in the West this would be indispensable.
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a great man and general........1998-05-18
This book reflects Forrest's will to win the battles, and the fights he put up in the process. He will ALWAYS be known as the GREATEST general any war has ever seen.
Customer Reviews:
First with the Most biography.......2006-10-05
Alright, I admit it, what first interested me in this particular version was the price. I found it on the discount rack at a bookstore and started reading that night. I found it difficult to put down and finished quickly. It was the first biography of Forrest I had read (some years ago) and I was pleasently surprised to find that he was not demonized but judged in the context of his time. Good biography should do just that - keep the person in the context of their time. Mr. Henry's volume may remain my favorite biography of this brilliant general. There are other good ones but it is always difficult to better your first love.
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Nathan Bedford Forrest: A Biography
Bedford Forrest: and His Critter Company (Southern Classics Series)
The Campaigns of Lieut.-Gen. N.B. Forrest and of Forrest's Cavalry
Nathan Bedford Forrest: In Search of the Enigma
Nathan Bedford Forrest's Escort And Staff
