The Battle of West Point: Confederate Triumph at Ellis Bridge (Civil War Sesquicentennial) (MS)
Growing up in the city of Memphis and frequently playing in the park that honored Forrest, John McBryde did not know the significance of Nathan Bedford Forrest. When he was eight years old, his family moved to West Point, Mississippi, where they settled. His life was spent in West Point during his formative years. When in junior high, he began hearing stories told by the older members of the community about General Forrest. These stories piqued his interest in reading about Forrest. When he attended West Point High School, he began reading many books about Civil War leaders and major battles. His love for history took a rest while he attended junior college at Wood Junior College in Mathiston, Mississippi, from 1968 to 1970. He graduated from Wood with an Associate of Arts degree. From Wood, he attended Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, where he originally planned to become a teacher but ended up receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.