Nathan Bedford Forrest's Contributions and Legacy
The United States Army, in its doctrine, lists nine basic principles. As stated in
Field Manual 100-5 these include objective, offensive, mass, economy of force,
maneuver, unity of command, security, surprise, and simplicity. 1 Napoleon had 115
maxims, Sun Tzu had 13 principles, but Nathan Bedford Forrest 's advice was the utmost
of simplicity, "Git thar firstest with the mostest men."2 As we look at the challenge
facing our nation 's military today, our leaders would do well to look at Forrest 's
campaigns and strategies as a guide.
. Forrest won respect for risking his life while trying to save his aging uncle.
Subsequently, Forrest won the affection of Mary Montgomery who, in 1845, became his
wife.
In 1851 Bedford moved to Memphis. He won several elections as an elderman
and prospered as a businessman. When he closed out his business in late1859 war was
eminent. He was involved in his own cotton business and was busy putting his family
affairs in order. His net worth was 11/2 million dollars and he was netting $30 thousand
a year for his cotton. While he was a slave trader during this period, Colonel Adair
described his actions as "Forrest was kind, humane, and extremely considerate of his
slaves. He seemed to exercise the same influence over them that in a greater degree he
exercised over the soldiers who served him as devotedly as if there was between them a
strong personal attachment.5
On 14 June 1861, he enlisted in Memphis as a soldier in Captain White 's
Tennessee Mounted Rifles Company.6 This unit would become a subordinate unit of the
Seventh Tennessee Calvary Regiment. Forrest was the unit 's commander when the war
ended. Friends of Forrest 's approached Governor Harris and General Polk, which
subsequently resulted in an authorization allowing Forrest to raise a battalion of
mounted rangers. By October of 1861 he had eight companies of men
Field Manual 100-5 these include objective, offensive, mass, economy of force,
maneuver, unity of command, security, surprise, and simplicity. 1 Napoleon had 115
maxims, Sun Tzu had 13 principles, but Nathan Bedford Forrest 's advice was the utmost
of simplicity, "Git thar firstest with the mostest men."2 As we look at the challenge
facing our nation 's military today, our leaders would do well to look at Forrest 's
campaigns and strategies as a guide.
. Forrest won respect for risking his life while trying to save his aging uncle.
Subsequently, Forrest won the affection of Mary Montgomery who, in 1845, became his
wife.
In 1851 Bedford moved to Memphis. He won several elections as an elderman
and prospered as a businessman. When he closed out his business in late1859 war was
eminent. He was involved in his own cotton business and was busy putting his family
affairs in order. His net worth was 11/2 million dollars and he was netting $30 thousand
a year for his cotton. While he was a slave trader during this period, Colonel Adair
described his actions as "Forrest was kind, humane, and extremely considerate of his
slaves. He seemed to exercise the same influence over them that in a greater degree he
exercised over the soldiers who served him as devotedly as if there was between them a
strong personal attachment.5
On 14 June 1861, he enlisted in Memphis as a soldier in Captain White 's
Tennessee Mounted Rifles Company.6 This unit would become a subordinate unit of the
Seventh Tennessee Calvary Regiment. Forrest was the unit 's commander when the war
ended. Friends of Forrest 's approached Governor Harris and General Polk, which
subsequently resulted in an authorization allowing Forrest to raise a battalion of
mounted rangers. By October of 1861 he had eight companies of men
Bibliography: Bearss, Erwin C. Forrest at Brice 's Cross Roads. Dayton, Ohio: Morningside Bookshop, 1979 Brasher, Justin "Forrest 's Headquarters" and "NBFHQ" 2001 (a website) Corlew, Robert E. Tennessee: A Short History. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1989 Current, Richard N. Encyclopedia of the Confederacy. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1985. Jordan, Thomas and Pryor, J.P. The Campaigns of Lieutenant General N.B. Forrest .New Orleans, 1868. Matloff, Maurice, General Editor, American Military History. Washington D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History. United States Army, 1969. Wyeth, John A. MD, Life of Nathan Bedford Forrest. Dayton, Ohio: Morningside Bookshop, 1975 reprint of 1898 ed. The writer, son and grandson of retired army officers and brother of a currently serving air cavalry officer acknowledges their input and opinions. I could not have fully understood what I was researching without their help.