A Rebel Born: A Defense of Nathan Bedford Forrest

by Lochlainn Seabrook

GENERAL NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST was a brave and ingenious Confederate officer who won all but one of the battles he led; a philanthropist who gave generously to family, friends, and charities; and a humanitarian who not only spared the lives of numerous Yankees on the battlefield, but who freed his slaves years before Lincoln reluctantly issued his fake and illegal Emancipation Proclamation. And unlike our liberal sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln, who purposefully delayed abolition, hindered black social and political advancement, and campaigned throughout his life to have all blacks deported out of the U.S., after the War conservative Forrest crusaded to bring new African immigrants into the South-with full civil rights. No one would know any of this by reading the conventional titles on Forrest, however, nearly all which are written and published by enemies of the South. In fact, according to most Northern and New South authors Forrest was a violent redneck, an unregenerate racist, a barbaric slave trader, a philandering husband, an illiterate hillbilly, the founder and grand wizard of the KKK, and "the butcher of Fort Pillow." None of this is true, but it continues to be presented in conventional history books as fact. In A Rebel Born: A Defense of Nathan Bedford Forrest , Southern historian, Tennessee author, and Forrest scholar Col. Lochlainn Seabrook reveals the truth about one of history's most fascinating, charismatic, complex, romantic, and unique individuals. In this refreshingly positive appraisal of Forrest, widely proclaimed as Seabrook's "masterpiece," the author corrects the many falsehoods about him, and, using well researched documentation, shows that the modern negative image of the General derives solely from slanderous myths created 160 years ago by Lincoln's anti-South propaganda machine. The longest book ever written on Ol' Bedford and named "the definitive Forrest biography" by Confederate Veteran magazine, this newly revised Civil War Sesquicentennial edition includes his life story, over 2,000 footnotes, hundreds of rare photos and illustrations (many never before seen by the public), a list of Forrest's military engagements, a Forrest life calendar, Forrest and Montgomery family trees, an 800-book bibliography, a detailed index, and more. Learn the facts about Forrest, facts that have been wantonly suppressed by anti-South proponents. The Foreword is by Dr. Clyde N. Wilson, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History, University of South Carolina, who included A Rebel Born in his work The War Between the States: 60 Essential Books . Available in paperback and hardcover. Acclaimed neo-Victorian scholar Lochlainn Seabrook, whose literary works range from astronomy to zoology, is the leading popularizer of authentic Civil War history and one of the most prolific, popular, and important writer-historians in the world today. A descendant of the families of Alexander H. Stephens and John S. Mosby, he is known by literary critics as the "new Shelby Foote" and by his fans as the "Voice of the Traditional South." The Sons of Confederate Veterans member is a Kentucky Colonel, a recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Davis Historical Gold Medal, and currently the unreconstructed author and editor of nearly 100 educationally enlightening books for all ages. Described by his readers as "life-altering," his voluminous writings (which includes 12 titles on Forrest) have introduced hundreds of thousands to vital facts that have been left out of our mainstream books. A 7th generation Kentuckian of Appalachian heritage, he is a lifelong writer with a 45-year background in American history, and is the author of the international blockbuster Everything You Were Taught About the Civil War is Wrong, Ask a Southerner! His team is seeking filmmakers to turn his screenplay of A Rebel Born into a full length feature film.

822 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 2010

About the author

BIOGRAPHY: World acclaimed Civil War scholar Colonel Lochlainn Seabrook is an award-winning Southern historian and a seventh generation Kentuckian. One of the most prolific and well respected writers in America today, and the leading popularizer of U.S. Civil War history, he is the multi-genre, neo-Victorian author and editor of 100 educational and enlightening books ranging from astronomy to zoology. Known by literary critics as "the new Shelby Foote," "the Southern Joseph Campbell," and "the American Robert Graves," and by his fans as "the Voice of the Traditional South," he has introduced hundreds of thousands to the truth about the War for Southern Independence. For more information or to purchase Colonel Seabrook's books visit us at www.SeaRavenPress.com

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 1 out of 5]

*Please note I could not finish the first chapter of this book, let alone the entire work. After skimming the rest of the book, his prejudice and loathing for anything having to do with the North and liberal ideals completely undermine any facts he presents.

I have one major critique of this book, and it is the uncompromising bias and loathing of the North, of Abraham Lincoln himself, and any other critic of Forrest or the South in general. The author of the forward, Dr. Clyde N. Wilson of the University of South Carolina, says "The first axiom of a real historian is that history...are complicated and should be approached with open mind and with the intent to understand rather than to hasten to condemnation." This is coming from a man who was a founding member of the Southern League, a radical hate group intent on secession today and the expulsion of any non-Christian religion.

That being said, the author tries to belittle and condemn the Union, Lincoln and the "liberal left" at every turn. Indeed, he signed the introduction, "Lochlainn Seabrook, Occupied Middle Tennessee, Summer 2010."

On the third page of Chapter 1, he unleashes a tirade against the "fanatical leftist movement, mainly comprised of self-deluded, self-righteous fanatics..." That doesn't sound biased, does it? He continues, "Rewriting and distorting, even completely inventing, history to match their political and cultural ideas of 'truth', the politically correct then go on to pronounce their fairy tales 'authentic history.' This false data often ends up in college courses and even textbooks, which is happily printed by liberal, cultural Marxist publishers."

Wow, this coming from a supposed "open-minded" historian "with an intent to understand rather than hasten to condemn".

To be sure, this volume is an extensive work on the life of Nathan Bedford Forrest, however, it is not written by any historian. Instead, it is written by a bitter and delusional distant relative intent on hiding the truth through a litany of anti-union, anti-Lincoln, anti-North tirades.

I couldn't get through the first chapter because of all the hatred this author has for his country. I am glad I also got "The Civil War" by Shelby Foote, a true historian who was born, bred, and educated in the South and who reports on "Lincoln's War" objectively and factually, not incendiary rhetoric about the liberals as Lochlainn Seabrook does. Would give negative stars if allowed.

[Douglas Boren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is without a doubt the most extensive and definitive account of Nathan Bedford Forrest, one of the most famous, successful and yet maligned persons of the war between the states.

Copiously annotated with references, this exposes the lies that have been told about this man for over a hundred years. It also illustrates his true character, as a son, husband father, and brilliant war time hero. Even his adversaries had to respect him.

In addition to detailing his life, there are many appendices showing his human nature, his less known accomplishments, and gives insight into Forrest as an ordinary man. Yet, ordinary, he was not!

This book absolutely proves that he does not deserve the vile hatred heaped upon his memory. He was NOT a racist, but rather championed the rights and abilities of the African American. After reading this book you will be incensed and angry that his grave and monument have been desecrated and torn down by the ignorant who don't really know him. May justice prevail!