The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-12-15
NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST
South's Most Dashing Cavalry Leader
and Grand Wizard of the
Invisible Empire

mySllc oISanizdCIOH IHag SOubHSIil
men formed to defend their homes
during the time of ''The Great Mis-
apprehension" as reconstruction days
can most fittingly be called. The book
was written by Mrs. s. E. r. Rose,
the well known southern authoress,
and has the endorsement of the Unit
ed Daughters of the Confederacy and
of the Sons of Confederate Veterans,
The copy which the Star has seen was
presented to Mr. w. w. Harriss of
Ocala, commander of the Florida Divi-
sion, by Mr.. Nathan Bedford Forrest,
son of the great general and adju-
tant of the Sons of Confederate Vet
Grams. who last week was the guest
of Mr. Harriss and family:
General Nathan Bedford Forest
A brief biography Of this great
general will not be amiss in this book,
for his record in the service of the
Confederacy, as well as during the Pc
Rod of reconstruction, shows that he
was not only great in war, but great
in peace.
1t should be borne in mind, by the
readers of this book, especially by our
young people, that General Forrest,
the intrepid confederate cavalry lead
er, called "The Wizard of the Sad
de-" was also the leader Of the Ku
Klux Klan, with the title, Grand
Wizard of the Invisible Empire" as
the Khan was also called.
His high standing as a Confederate
officer, his devotion to his country,
his noble principles and sacred honor
pledged to protect the South, puts at
naught forever any false statements
as to the purposes of the Khan, and
challenges and stigma or misrepre-
sensations as to the character of its
members, for they were in the main
Confederate soldiers, and Forrest was
its great leader, and under his leader
ship and with the loyalty of the mem
bers, the mission of the Ku Klux Khan,
or Invisible Empire, was successfully
accomplished.
Nathan Bedford Forrest was born
in Bedford county, Tennessee, July 13,
1921. His father moved to Marshall
county, Mississippi, in 1884 Gen
eral Forrest died in Memphis, Ten
nessee, October 90, 1877.
At the outbreak of the war between
the states, he entered the confederate
service, and rose step by step from
the position of private in the ranks,
TO that of acknowledgement
He entered June IA, 1861, as a pri-#
vate in Whites Mounted Rifles, and
obtained authority to raise regiment
of cavalry, the equipment for which
he purchased at his private expense
at Louisville, KY.
He was placed in command of the
Confederate cavalry at Fort Donel-
son, February, 1862, and distinguish
ed himself in this conflict. When sur
render was decided upon, not being
willing to agree to the terms dicta-
ted by the Federals he led his men out
through the enemy's lines
He took an active part in the battle
of Shiloh, April 81, 1862; was there
wounded, but refused to leave the field
until the safety of the army was as
sured He was promoted brigader-
general July 81, 1862. During the
movement in Kentucky, he hung upon
the flank of Buell's command, protect
ed Bragg's retreat, and while the
army was in winter quarters, covered
the Federal front at Nashville, doing
damage continually to the enemy.
In 1863 he entered Tennessee, and
with less than one thousand men cap
tured McMinnville, and surprised the
garrison of two thousand at ,Murfrees-
boro, capturing all the survivors of
the fight.
General Streight, in his cavalry raid
to Rome, Ca, was pursued by Gener-
al Forrest, whose demand for sur
render was so imperative, that Gen.
Streight turned over his entire COM
mand, which was so much larger than
that of General Forrest, he had to
press into service many of the citi-
zens to help form an adequate guard.
At the battle of Chicamauga, Sep
TENDER 1920, 1868, General Forrest
also rendered distinguished service,
but became so dissatisfied at the in
completeness of the Confederate VIC
tory, he rendered his resignation
However this was not accepted, and
further promotion was given him, and
he was made major general, placed
in command of all cavalry in North
Mississippi and West Tennessee, and
made the guardian of the granary OF
the Confederacy.
With a small force he entered West