Nathan Bedford Forrest
N 35° 08.369 W 090° 02.086
15S E 770163 N 3892537
Statue to Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest at Forrest Park in Memphis, Tennessee
Waymark Code: WMAZE
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 04/21/2006
Views: 162
CAUTION SHOULD BE USED WHEN VISITING WAYMARKS AND GEOCACHES IN THIS PARK - ESPECIALLY AFTER DARK!!!PLEASE USE CARE AND BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!!!
General Nathan Bedford Forrest was born on July 13, 1821 in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. Prior to the Civil War Forrest lived in Memphis, Tennessee and was the owner of several plantations and was active as a slave trader occupying offices on Adams Street in Memphis. At the start of the Civil War he was widely regarded as one of the richest men in the south.
When war broke out it was only natural, given his business interests, that he aligned himself with the southern cause. Using his own money, Forrest bought the horses and equipped a regiment of Tennessee Volunteers. During the War Forrest distinguished himself a fine cavalry officer and rose to the rank of brigadier general.
After the war Forrest returned to the Memphis area, and with the slave trade wiped out, he suffered serious financial problems. He was eventually employed by the Selma, Marion & Memphis Railroad and became the company president. During this time he became interested in an organization known as the Ku Klux Klan and at its 1867 convention in Nashville, he became the organizations first Grand Wizard. In 1869, Forrest, disagreeing with the Klan increasingly violent tactics, ordered the Klan to disband, and it is reported that he ceased all involvment and withdrew all support for the organization.
Nathan Bedford Forrest died on October 29, 1877 of Diabetes and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis. In 1904 his remains were disinterred and moved to Forrest Park, a Memphis city park.
The large Equestrian statue stands at the center of Forrest Park and marks not only his grave but also the graves of his wife, Mary and his grandson Nathan Bedford Forrest III.
Forrest Park is a small city park located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, and is centered between Union, Manassas, Madison and Dunlap Streets, and is approximately two blocks east of Sun Studio and Beale Street.
Identity of Rider: General Nathan Bedford Forrest
Date of Dedication: 1904
Material: Bronze
Position: All Hooves Planted
Identity of Horse: Not listed
Name of artist: Not listed
Unusual Features: Not listed
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