Just another interesting tidbit about Forrest, which is especially interesting in light of the rush to tear down "symbols of racism"......in a lust to purify ourselves... here is how a REAL racist dealt with
Nathan Forrest was, as per: above, a badasses badass. He killed his first man at 24..... in fact he killed his first THREE men, all in one fight. One against four. He shot two of them, and then while fighting the other two, someone tossed him a knife. He stabbed one to death, and almost killed the other one. He was an orphan, and ran his mom's farm as a business genius. He turned it into a slave trading business, and ruthlessly exploited blacks, not for cruelty so much as he just did not give a damn. He had a net worth of 1.5 million dollars in 1861, a Buffet-esque figure at that time. He gambled, swore and caroused, although he never drank, except once when he drank almost a quart of liquor before surgery to dig a ball out of his back in the war.... he was back in the saddle the next day. He married a Christian woman and had great respect for Christian integrity, but considered it unmanly..... and if there EVER was an alpha male, it was NBF. He joined the Confederate army...... as a private. His heroism, leadership, fearlessness and exploits in battle led to him being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General (think: Smedley Butler). His tactics are still studied today. I could tell you story after story of his reckless in your face bravery and toughness and after a while you would be like... "this is boring and can't possibly be true." US Grant so hated and feared him that he said he would exhaust the US Treasury if he could but kill Forrest.
After the war, he had 10 dollars to his name. His wife saved it "for a rainy day." He took it and told her he was going to gamble with it. She begged him not to, and he instead told her to pray that God would not let him lose it, lol. She refused, but he went anyway. He came back that night with over $1500. He formed a business doing farming with mostly prison labor, and was successful. He formed the Klan in 1868 and they went on a spree of political murders and intimidations, forcing the defeat of the phenomenally corrupt Union puppet governor. Forrest claimed the purpose of the Klan had been accomplished and disbanded it, but charges persisted that it was not only active, but that Forrest was still operating it. He appeared before Congress in 1871, but denied the charges.
In 1875, he began attending a Presbyterian church and struggled with what he considered a pussy religion (my words, not his). He met one of his old staff officers who had been converted and was deeply moved by the change in the man's life. He was remarkably and notably converted (nothing the man did was not remarkable and notable, it seems!). Here is how the gospel affected "racism" in his life.
He began doing what he could to guarantee humane treatment on his farm, where the state brokered out labor of convicts. He began encouraging evangelism and small business formation, especially among blacks, but really among all the convicts, when their sentences were over. He began devoting his moneys to help restore independence and self respect among the lowest classes by fostering the things that still work today: family stability, honest trades, financial responsibility, avoiding enslavement to substances, etc etc......, and the gospel.... always the gospel at the heart of it.
His conversion was so notable among the black population that he was invited to speak to a black civil rights forerunner group to today’s NAACP, the “Pole-Bearers” Association. He was sneered at and mocked by the white community, especially the elite socialites and businesspeople for appearing.... you just did not DO such things in that era. Here is part of his address:
“I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe I can exert some influence, and do much to assist the people in strengthening fraternal relations, and shall do all in my power to elevate every man, to depress none. I want to elevate you to take positions in law offices, in stores, on farms, and wherever you are capable of going. I came to meet you as friends, and welcome you to the white people. I want you to come nearer to us. When I can serve you I will do so. We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment. Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict. Go to work, be industrious, live honestly and act truly, and when you are oppressed I'll come to your relief. I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this opportunity you have afforded me to be with you, and to assure you that I am with you in heart and in hand.”
"What he said is what he did. It is what Christ does, and what the school history books will NEVER tell you.