Murfreesboro, TN - If you love history, circle Monday, July 21st on your calendar. The Rutherford County Historical Society will host its monthly meeting at 7:00 PM in Maney Hall at Oaklands Mansion, 901 N. Maney Avenue in Murfreesboro. The event is free and open to the public, and this month’s topic promises to spark thoughtful discussion: “Nathan Bedford Forrest, The True Story.”

Forrest remains one of the most controversial figures of the American Civil War and Reconstruction era. Born in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, he rose from poverty to become a wealthy slave trader and Confederate cavalry general. Despite having no formal military training, Forrest was hailed for his tactical brilliance and daring raids, earning the nickname “Wizard of the Saddle.” Yet his legacy is deeply complicated by his role in the Fort Pillow Massacre and his postwar leadership of the Ku Klux Klan.

The meeting will explore Forrest’s full story—including lesser-known chapters that challenge prevailing narratives. One such moment occurred in 1875, when Forrest addressed a Black civil rights organization in Memphis, the Independent Order of Pole Bearers. In a gesture of reconciliation, he accepted flowers from a young Black woman and kissed her on the cheek, a public act of respect that was virtually unheard of at the time.

When Forrest died in 1877, Memphis newspapers reported that his funeral procession stretched over two miles and included more than 3,000 Black mourners. Historians suggest that Forrest’s postwar advocacy for Black civil rights and his employment of freedmen in his railroad business earned him a measure of respect among the Black community of that era—despite his earlier associations. His complex legacy reflects the contradictions of a nation struggling to redefine itself after war.

As Rutherford County continues to grow, many new residents are eager to learn about the region’s rich and sometimes difficult history. The Rutherford County Historical Society offers a welcoming space for newcomers and longtime locals alike to explore the past and better understand their community. The Society meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at Oaklands Mansion. Annual family membership is just $25.

Whether you’re a Civil War scholar or simply curious about the stories that shaped Middle Tennessee, this meeting offers a chance to engage with history in a meaningful way.