The sesquicentennial of the start of the Civil War is in two months, which has escaped the notice of most people--states and the federal government aren't doing much to commemorate it because, well, the money isn't there.
Forrest is best known as one of the early leaders of the Ku Klux Klan, one of the most thoroughly awful groups in American history. The fictional Forrest Gump
character was named for him, and early in the film we see grainy footage of an actor portraying Forrest as a klansman.But did Forrest later disavow the Klan? From AP:
Sons of Confederate Veterans member Greg Stewart said he believes Forrest distanced himself from the Klan later in life. It's a point many historians agree upon, though some believe it was too little, too late, because the Klan had already turned violent before Forrest left.Liberals are stomping their feet because Barbour hasn't denounced the plate, but he did say last week, "It's not going to happen. The Nathan Bedford Forrest tag is not going to happen." Besides, the plate has to be approved by the Mississippi's state house, which is controlled by the Democrats.
Forrest was the Confederate commander in the Battle of Fort Pillow.
"If Christian redemption means anything — and we all want redemption, I think — he redeemed himself in his own time, in his own actions, in his own words," Stewart said. "We should respect that.
Barbour might run for president next year--which is why this "issue" is an issue.
The late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) was once a leader in the Klan; at least 30 projects, including four highways and two courthouses are named for him. Oh, speaking of courts, Justice Hugo Black, an FDR appointee, was member of the KKK before being named to the Supreme Court.
We don't hear much about that.
Oh, look what I found in Wikipedia. Yes, there are attributions.
In 1875, Forrest demonstrated that his personal sentiments on the issue of race now differed from that of the Klan, when he was invited to give a speech before an organization of black Southerners advocating racial reconciliation, called the Independent Order of Pole-Bearers Association. At this, his last public appearance, he made what the New York Times described as a "friendly speech" during which, when offered a bouquet of flowers by a black woman, he accepted them as a token of reconciliation between the races and espoused a radically progressive (for the time) agenda of equality and harmony between black and white Americans.Below you will find my post about the Battle of Tupelo, one of the few engagements Forrest lost--he was wounded in the fight.
Related post:
The Battle of Tupelo
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