Forrest, Nathan Bedford
Confederate general in the American Civil War (1861-65) who was often described as a "born military genius"; his rule of action, "Get there first with the most men," became one of the most often quoted statements of the war. A major blemish on his record, however, was the Massacre of Ft. Pillow (April 12, 1864)-the slaughter by his soldiers of more than 300 blacks after the surrender of Ft. Pillow, Tenn.
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