This is a scan of an article appearing in the current issue of "Confederate Veteran", the official magazine of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Paul Beatty - ----------------------------------------- S. C. V. undertakes the restoration-interpretation Of Confederate hero's only existing residence Submitted by Anthony Hodges, Chairman, N. B. Forrest Boyhood Home Committee An old Confederate, who for three years had been through thick and thin with General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his cavalry, reminisced that the secret of Forrest's military successes was his aggressive nature. The aging soldier wrote that Forrest was, ...always an offensive fighter. He believed the moral effect was with the attacking party, and never failed, when it was possible to do so, to take the initiative and deliver the first blow... When charged by the enemy, no matter in what numbers, it was his invariable rule to meet a charge with a countercharge. It was during his youth, the General related after the War, that he learned the value of the bold attack, even when he was inferior in strength to the enemy. Each day young Bedford and a playmate would ride by a neighbor's house on the way to water their family's horses. During every trip, two ferocious dogs belonging to the neighbor would sally forth, barking and chasing the youngsters on their fleet-footed horses a considerable distance from the house. Boys, being boys, they would torment the dogs by yelling, shouting, and throwing sticks and stones at them as they raced by. On one occasion, the future "Wizard of the Saddle" was riding a colt which was not yet broken or bridle-wise and the resulting incident was related by an early biographer: ...hearing the shout and the clatter of the colt's feet as it came in a swift run along the high- way, the dogs rushed towards him, barking in such a ferocious fashion that, as they came within a few feet of him, the horse bounded suddenly to one side and pitched his now terrified rider into, as he then fully believed, the jaws of death. Springing to his feet as he struck the earth and proceeding to obey the first great impulse to run away, to his surprise he noticed the dogs had fled and left him master of the field. The animals accustomed to having sticks and stones shied at them, were evidently taken with Panic at having such a thing as a boy of this size hurled at them through the air, and had sought safety in flight. In after years General Forrest related this early experience and said .. that it was a valuable lesson to him, which he turned to account in other ways later in life... Today, in middle Tennessee, virtually untouched by the hands of "progress" stands the boyhood home of this studied and storied Confederate hero. The place where Forrest learned the lessons of youth in such a manner as to become an idol to his countrymen in their darkest hours. This humble home was where the foundation was laid that would lead to military greatness in defense of the South. It was a background the great General shared with thousands of high privates. On August 22, 1997, the State of Tennessee trans- ferred to the Sons of Confederate Veterans approxi- mately fifty acres of land upon which sits the only existing home associated with General Nathan Bed- ford Forrest. This transfer was the culmination of years of dreaming and hard work by numerous S.C.V. members, especially the compatriots of Forrest Birthplace Camp 371, State Representative Steve McDaniel, State Senator Douglas Henry, State Rep- resentative Mary Beaver, and many citizens of Chapel Hill and Marshall County. His boyhood home is a circa 1825 two-story log and frame house located in Chapel Hill, Marshall County, Tennessee. It is typical of Scot-Irish building traditions in the South and also typical of the simple rural lifestyle that was the background of thousands of Confeder- ate soldiers. Nathan Bedford Forrest was born July 13, 1821 in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. According to an early bi- ographer, the home of his birth was torn down in the nineteenth century. His grandfather Nathan, had moved into Marshall County (it was then part of Bedford County) in 1808, when his father William was ten years old. In 1830, William Forrest acquired a tract of land from a Mr. W. S. Mayfeld, upon which Mr. Mayfield had built a log home in the 1820's. Young Nathan Bedford Forrest lived in the log and frame house on this property for three years. In 1833, William Forrest sold the property and moved the family to Mississippi. Of all the subsequent homes the General would occupy over the years, only this early boyhood structure survives. Oral tradition in Marshall County says that General Forrest returned during the War and held recruiting barbecues at his old home. Remains of the barbecue pits are said to be visible on property, adjacent to the S.C.V.'s cur- rent holdings. The written historical record is cur- rently being searched for verification of this local legend. The property and house were continually occu- pied until the 1970's when the State of Tennessee acquired the historic site. Plans called for its resto- ration and association with nearby Henry Horton State Park. Finances and politics prevented the com- pletion of the project and the house lay idle until it was transferred to the S.C.V. in 1997. The property consists of 50 acres, a circa 1825 two story log and frame house, a double crib log barn, a log corn crib, and the remnants of a frame smokehouse, A stone-lined well and limestone fence are still in existence. Between the house and barn is the remains of a small rectangular growing plot that was possibly the Forrest family garden. A limestone cavern is located nearby. An amazing number of the house's architectural details, which are contempo- rary to Forrest's occupation, are still intact. These include the mantles over the two fireplaces, staircase and railings, windows, and doors. The site is an ex- cellent representation of a mid-nineteenth century rural Tennessee or Southern farmstead and amaz- ingly has had little or no intrusion from the twenti- eth century even as we prepare to enter the twenty- first! There is no electricity or running water cur- rently available and access is attained over a two thousand foot gravel road off of Pyles road in Chapel Hill. The S.C.V. currently has in place, the Nathan Bedford Forrest Boyhood Home Committee, which is to oversee the maintenance of the property, its res- toration, and interpretation. Plans call for the home to be restored to its circa 1830 appearance, the pe- riod when the farm was occupied by the Forrest fam- ily. The restored Forrest homestead will be used to honor and interpret General Forrest without the politically correct spin so popular in the media to- day. It will also be a tangible illustration of the sim- ple rural background which the General shared with thousands of other Confederate soldiers and their families. We hope to add the restored home with S.C.V. prepared historical interpretation to the lists and brochures of antebellum and wartime sites and homes which have brought so many tourists and visitors to middle Tennessee. This will be the S.C.V.'s chance to give the true story of General Nathan Bed- ford Forrest. One of the premier firms in historic log home restoration, Leatherwood, Inc. was hired to prepare a report of what structural work was necessary to properly restore the home to its 1830 appearance It was felt that the site was of such historic importance, that any restoration contemplated should be done by professionals in accordance with the strictest standards in historic structure restoration. In Feb- ruary of 1999, the completed report was presented to the S.C.V. and the restoration of the two story log and frame structure was estimated at $107,000. Ma- jor items listed in the proposed restoration, included replacement of two damaged logs, a period roof, foundation repair, door and mantle restoration. A lengthy detailed listing with illustrations is in their report. In April of 1999, enough money was available in the Forrest Home budget (augmented by dona- tions, including a very generous gift from the Cali- fornia Division and friends) to begin restoration work on those items deemed a priority "One" by the Leatherwood company. The restoration of this monument to General Forrest is underway, but Ol' Bedford needs your help! We must raise $107,000 to complete the restoration of the two story log and frame structure, the first phase of the project. We are appealing to the members of the Sons of Con- federate Veterans to come riding to the aid of Gen- eral Forrest with their generous donations. If the Sons of Confederate Veterans cannot save this tan- gible link to General Nathan Bedford Forrest and the men who rode to glory with him, it is safe to say no other individual or group will step forward in today's world. A special fund has been set aside for this project and will be overseen by Jeb Stuart, IV, the invest- ment Committee Chairman of the S.C.V. Please send your tax deductible donation to: Forrest-S.C.V., P.O. Box 59, Columbia, Tennessee 38402-0059. Checks should be made out to "S.C.V.-FORREST HOME." All funds donated for the Forrest Home will be used for this project alone. Camps or individuals interested in visiting the Nathan Bedford Forrest Boyhood Home should make prior arrangements with S.C.V I.H.Q. by call- ing 1-800-380-1896. A caretaker, Mr. Boots Nix, lives on site, but he must be contacted by headquarters. We invite your visit with prior arrangement as the restoration goes on. A European observer wrote that: Forrest had fought like a knight errant for the cause he believed to be that of justice and right. No man who drew the sword of his country in the fratricidal struggle deserves better of her; and as long as tne chivalrous deeds of her sons find poets to describe them and fair women to sing of them the name of this gallant general will be remembered in every Southern state with affection and sincere admiration. There could be no finer tribute to General Forrest and the men who rode with him, than the restora- tion of his boyhood home. Please consider a dona- tion. Donor Program for the restoration of the Forrest Boyhood Home Individuals and camps who make donations to the restoration of this historic Confederate landmark will receive the following momentoes of this project: Donors of $25-$49: name of donor and an ancestor will be listed on a permanent memorial roll which will be kept on site. A certificate denoting same will be sent. Donors of $50-$249: ancestor memorial roll, plus a Forrest pattern twelve star battleflag which has flown over the site, a certificate noting the flag's history will accompany it. Donors of $250-$499: ancestor memorial roll, Forrest pattern battle- flag, plus a beautiful writing pen made from original circa 1825 wood salvaged during restoration of the Forrest boyhood home. A letter of authenticity will accompany the pen. These beautiful writing instru- ments will accept a standard ballpoint or roller point cartridge available in stores. Donors of $500 and up: ancestor memorial roll, Forrest pattern battle- flag, salvaged wood writing pen, plus a plaque or additional item made from the original salvaged wood. Note: As much of the original wood and material of the home will be preserved as possible, however, some salvage will be a normal by- product of a historically and structurally correct restoration. Needless to say, THE SUPPLY IS LIMITED! Premiums will be awarded on the order the donations are received. If the original wood supply is used up, a substitution will be necessary. Send your donations to: Forrest-S.C.V., P.O. Box 59, Columbia, Tennessee 38402-0059. Checks should be made out to: "S.C.V.-Forrest Home." Remember to include your ancestor's name, rank, and unit. Ol' Bedford and his troopers appreciate your financial support for this project!