In June 1861, practically unschooled, without military training or experience, Nathan Bedford Forrest (1821–1877) enlisted in the Confederate Army as a private. Yet by the Civil War's end he was a lieutenant general whose dazzling exploits and bloody victories caused him to be regarded by his Northern opponents as a "devil," by Southerners as a living legend, and by historians as the greatest cavalry commander and one of the few authentic military geniuses produced by the war. His spectacular, unparalleled career has intrigued generations of Civil War scholars and enthusiasts. Subsequent biographies or studies of him have never totally superseded The Campaigns of General Nathan Bedford Forrest (1868) by General Thomas Jordan (West Pointer and chief of staff to Generals Beauregard, Albert Sidney Johnston, and Braxton Bragg) and the professional journalist J. P. Pryor. Forrest himself gave them complete access to his military papers, spent many hours in interviews with them, and closely supervised their writing. Hence, this work is not just a flat campaign study of Forrest—in effect, it is his military memoir and as such remains the most valuable source on Forrest and his cavalry.

"I think Forrest was the most remarkable man our Civil War produced on either side ... he had a genius of strategy which was original, and to me incomprehensible." General William T. Sherman Nathan Bedford Forrest was an unorthodox soldier. He was not trained in military tactics, had not read the great texts on strategy and according to some could not even drill a company. Yet, what he lacked in training he made up for in his aggressive actions and energy to win battles, always taking the shortest lines towards his objectives, grasping opportunities and countless times seizing victory from the brink of defeat. A physically imposing man, he led his men from example as a hard rider and fierce swordsman in the heat of conflict. It was said that had killed up to thirty enemy soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. Forrest's actions and unpredictability terrified Union troops and their commanders who termed him "that Devil Forrest", while for the south he quickly became a hero. Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee both agreed in their postwar memoirs that the outcome of the war might have been different if they had better used Forrest's talents. General Thomas Jordan and J. P. Pryor's brilliant account of the campaigns of Nathan Bedford Forrest and his cavalry uncover the actions of this innovative leader. General Forrest gave the authors complete access to his military papers, conducted numerous interviews and worked closely with them to create this fascinating book. Through the course of the work they cover Forrest's many campaigns and battles including Sacramento, Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, Murfreesboro, the West Tennessee raids, Dover, Brentwood, Chattanooga, Day's Gap, Chickamauga, Paducah, Brice's Crossroads, Tupelo, the Tennessee Raids, Nashville, and Selma, as well as the infamous Battle of Fort Pillow. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the life of this fascinating man and the campaigns that he led through the course of the American Civil War. "Forrest ... used his horsemen as a modern general would use motorized infantry. He liked horses because he liked fast movement, and his mounted men could get from here to there much faster than any infantry could" Bruce Catton, The Civil War General Thomas Jordan was a Confederate general and major operative in the network of Confederate spies during the American Civil War. After the war he became newspaper editor and author, writing articles about the American Civil War. He co-wrote this book with J. P. Pryor who was a professional journalist. Their book The Campaigns Of General Nathan Bedford Forrest And Of Forrest's Cavalry was first published in 1868.

In the work, now in course of preparation by the Messrs. Blelock & Co., will be found an authentic account of the campaigns and operations in which I took part during the war for the independence of the Confederate States. Believing it to be proper that there should be a timely and lasting record of the deeds and services of those whom I have been so fortunate as to command, I placed all the facts and papers in my possession or available to me, in the hands of accomplished, writers, who have done their part with close and conscientious research, and have endeavored to make up a chronicle neither over-wrought nor over-colored, as I can testify. For the greater part of the statements of the narrative I am responsible, and all facts and incidents derived from other sources are properly credited in the footnotes. It is hoped that justice will be found done in some degree to the courage, zeal, fortitude, and other soldierly qualities of the men of “Forrest’s Cavalry,” for that has been the main purpose of the work. N. B. Forrest. Memphis, Tenn., October 3, 1867.

Nathan Bedford Forrest. The Tennessean was one of the most intriguing and controversial characters to emerge during the Civil War. Books and articles on the man span the gamut from hero worship because of his remarkable battlefield victories, to condemnation for his involvement with the slaughter at Fort Pillow and later, his association with the Ku Klux Klan. Retired Special Forces brigadier general John R. Scales plows entirely new ground with The Battles and Campaigns of General Nathan Bedford Forrest, 1861-1865, a careful and unique examination of Forrest's wartime activities and how his actions affected the war in the Western Theater. Each chapter covers specific raids or campaigns, all arranged chronologically. After describing the environment within which Forrest operated, which helps readers understand the larger situation within which his movements were made and his battles were fought, Gen. Scales narrates the decisions Forrest and his opponents made and the actions they took. Firsthand sources, including heavy use of documents and reports from the Official Records, coupled with 109 original maps, make it easy to understand the often complex background, movements, and engagements involving Forrest and his command. Scales' study is also a meticulous guide to Forrest's campaigns. For example, each action is augmented with detailed driving directions to allow readers to examine his battlefields and the routes his cavalry took during its famous raids. For the first time, students of Forrest's campaigns can follow in his footsteps, experiencing the terrain much the same way he did. A detailed review and assessment of each raid or campaign follows the description of the actions and the associated driving instructions. Throughout, General Scales relies upon his own extensive military background to help evaluate and explain how and why Forrest grew in command ability and potential as a result of his experiences--or didn't. The late award-winning author Albert Castel asked two major questions about Nathan Bedford Forrest: "Exactly what impact did Forrest's dazzling raids and victories have upon the overall course of the war?" and "Had Forrest been given a higher command and/or greater opportunities, what would have been the potential outcome as regards the fate of the Confederacy?" The Battles and Campaigns of General Nathan Bedford Forrest makes it much easier to answer both.