Bedford Forrest was a blacksmith’s son, born in 1821 on the frontier in Tennessee. The blacksmith shop was on a farm and all members of the large Forrest family were trained to work on the farm. One of Bedford’s early tasks was to plow with a team of oxen pulling the plow.

When Bedford was ten years old, he attended a county fair, where he met Governor Bill Carroll of Tennessee. During the day he rode the governor’s pony and won the race for the governor. This made him very happy and proud-not every boy had an opportunity to ride for the governor.

As a boy, Bedford worked hard on the farm, but he managed to spend much time hunting in the woods. Often he went to visit his Uncle Jonathan Forrest, who was a horse buyer and trader. He always was excited when his uncle brought some of his horses to the blacksmith shop to be shod.

When Bedford was twelve years old, his father arranged for him to attend a small log cabin school. Here he learned to read, write, and figure, and before long he began to astonish his father and mother by how well he could figure in his head.

When Bedford was fourteen years old, the family moved to Mississippi and began to clear the land to raise cotton. Soon after the family was settled, a fever struck different members and several of them died. Bedford’s father temporarily survived the fever, but died a few months later.

During the succeeding years Bedford Forrest became a successful cotton planter. He moved to Arkansas and then returned to his native state of Tennessee. All the while he manifested great interest in horses and kept many good horses on his plantations.

When the War between the States started in 1861, Bedford Forrest enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army, but almost immediately he was made a colonel in the cavalry. He recruited men for his brigade and paid for their supplies out of his own money. He was deeply devoted to the South.

During the war Bedford Forrest fought in many battles and performed many deeds of valor and endurance. He was advanced to general and became recognized as one of the greatest military leaders of all time. His motto in determining strategy was: Get there first with the most. This famous motto helped to account for many of his military achievements and other successes in life.

From the dust jacket