Today is the anniversary of the death of Nathan Bedford Forrest (October 29, 1877). In tribute to ‘The Wizard’, I’d like to share an excerpt from my book ‘The Southern Cross,’ as well as a quote from a wonderful sermon on Forrest's path to salvation written by our friend Ken Studdard.
Like many great men, behind Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest was an even greater Christian woman whose name was Mary Ann Montgomery. Spiritually, Mary was a great influence on her husband and he was ever remembered in her prayers. After the Civil War, Forrest recounted her influence to a friend saying, “Major, I am not the same man you were with so long and knew so well. I hope I am a better man now than then. I have been and am trying to lead another kind of life. Mary has been praying for me night and day for all these years and I feel now that through her prayers my life has been spared and I have passed safely through so many dangers.” After his wife had convinced him to attend a sermon on a Sunday morning in 1875, Forrest sat and listened as the pastor read from Matthew 7:24-27, which presents Christ’s lesson on the difference between a “passive or non-believer” who builds his house upon the sand – and a “devout believer” who builds his house upon the rock. When the preacher had finished, Forrest went forward, shook his hand and said in reference to the man who built his house on the sand: “I am that man.” The prayers of Mary Ann were answered. Nathan Bedford Forrest had come to Christ! He realized that all of his accomplishments, all of his morality and all of the religion in the world could not make him right with the Lord. Only Christ, the one foundation, could. From that day until his death in 1877, “The Wizard of the Saddle” lived each and every day for his Lord and Savior. “That is an impressive testimony when you consider that during the war he was wounded 4 times, had 29 horses shot out from under him and killed 30 men in hand-to-hand combat. Yes’ the Lord had answered Mary’s prayers and preserved him.” - Kenneth Studdard, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (Summerville, Georgia)