SMYRNA, TN (WGNS) - The Rutherford County Historical Society’s July meeting brings back a familiar face and a deeply researched Civil War storyteller. Bret Hawkins will present Nathan Bedford Forrest: The True Story (Part II) on Monday, July 20, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sam Davis Home Visitor Center.

Hawkins’ connection to Forrest’s command runs straight through his own family tree. He is the great‑grandson of Private Joseph Irvin Hawkins, great‑grandnephew of Privates Enoch James Hawkins and Robert D. Hawkins, and first cousin three times removed of Private Stephen Masey—all men who rode and fought under Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest during the war.

Part II of Hawkins’ presentation continues his effort to separate legend from record, focusing on battlefield accounts, personal correspondence, and the lived experiences of the men who served in Forrest’s ranks. His programs typically blend genealogy, military history, and lesser‑known primary sources, offering audiences a more textured look at one of the Civil War’s most debated figures.

The meeting is free and open to the public.