He was the youngest of the six Forrest brothers who engaged in the interregional slave trade in the United States prior to the American Civil War.

"[8] According to historian Frederic Bancroft, "By 1860, Forrest had demonstrated what success an...energetic man could achieve in a few years by buying and selling slaves instead of beasts and real estate.

"[10] Additionally, the returns of the 1860 U.S. census, which was not released until the year after Bancroft's book was published, show that J. E. Forrest was a resident of Vicksburg in 1860, and his occupation was listed as "negro trader," with personal property (including slaves) worth $15,000.

[12] Lane intervened to protect the lieutenant, "a game little fellow," stating, "I threw my gun down on [Forrest] and told him if he shot the prisoner I would kill him.

[13] In November 1863 it was reported that Col. Jeffrey Forrest had been taken prisoner but released,[14] and had been shot through both hips and was recovering at an officer's house near Tuscumbia, Alabama.

[16] The Civil War and Reconstruction Governors of Mississippi digital humanities project has a letter and a telegram sent by Col. J. E. Forrest about developing military conditions in the area just prior to the battle, requesting additional ammunition, reporting that their horses were tired out, and acknowledging the large numbers of approaching U.S.

[17] The younger Forrest, commanding one of four brigades in a division headed by his brother, was leading a charge when he was "instantly killed by a Minié ball which passed through his neck, cutting the carotid artery and dividing the spinal cord.

"[18] According to an account published by the United States Army Center of Military History, Col. Forrest's death was a notable element of the engagements in Mississippi in February 1864:[16] About dusk, Union officers managed to rally their men along a ridge on the Ivey farm.

B. Forrest's report of the battle, as printed in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, stated "I regret the loss of some gallant officers.

Lieutenant-Colonel Barksdale was also a brave and gallant man, and his loss fell heavily on the regiment he commanded, as it was left now without a field officer.