Nathan Bedford Forrest: Massacre-Ordering General and First Grand Wizard of the KKK

This episode of History's Devils delves into the life of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Joined by the incomparable Edd Mair, James explores Forrest's early life, his rise in the Confederate army, the controversial Battle of Fort Pillow, and his post-war activities, including his leadership in the KKK. The discussion highlights the complexities of Forrest's character, his motivations, and the lasting impact of his actions on American history, particularly in relation to race and the legacy of the Civil War.Further ReadingJohn Allen Wyeth, That Devil Forrest: The Life of General Nathan Bedford Forrest (Quatarro, 2016)Court Carney, Reckoning with the Devil: Nathan Bedford Forrest in Myth and Memory (Louisianna State Press, 2024)Susan Campbell Bartoletti, They Call Themselves the KKK: Birth of an American Terrorist Group (Clarion, 2014)Chapters00:00 Introduction to Nathan Bedford Forrest02:58 Early Life and Character of Forrest05:55 Forrest's Rise in the Confederate Army09:06 The Civil War and Economic Motivations11:51 Forrest's Military Tactics and Leadership14:36 The Battle of Fort Pillow: A Controversial Legacy17:34 The Aftermath of the Civil War and Reconstruction20:13 Forrest's Involvement with the Ku Klux Klan35:11 The Origins of the Ku Klux Klan36:04 The Evolution of the Klan: From Pranks to Terrorism37:50 The Klan's Structure and Governance39:15 Psychological Fractures 41:59 The Klan's Political Aspirations and Violence44:42 The Klan's Influence in the 1868 Election47:46 Ulysses S. Grant and the Suppression of the Klan54:02 The Decline of the First Klan and Its Legacy58:31 Nathan Bedford Forrest's Later Life and Controversies01:00:47 The Legacy of Confederate Statues and MemorializationThanks to SOULFULJAMTRACKS for their tune "Dark Halloween"Follow HISTORY's DEVILS On Instagram @historysdevilshttps://www.instagram.com/historysdevils/On Substackhttps://jamescrossland.substack.com/Follow JAMES CROSSLANDOn Bluesky @jamescrossland.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jamescrossland.bsky.socialTag HISTORY's DEVILS@historysdevils#HistorysDevils #JamesCrossland #HistoryPodcast #Podcast #History #DarkHistory #HistoricalBiography #TrueHistory #HistoryDocumentary #Deepdive #Storytelling History's Devils is a history podcast exploring the lives of murderers, charlatans, psychopaths, dictators, war criminals, tyrants, demagogues, revolutionaries, cult leaders, conquerors, fraudsters, and other controversial figures.History's Devils is hosted by James Crossland, professor of international history and author of:Rogue Agent: From Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Robert Bruce LockhartThe Rise of Devils: Fear and the Origins of Modern Terrorism...