To answer my own question about Black Confederates in Forrest's command, here's a reference if you read down the list which mention's NBFs testimony before a Congressional committee after the war. He does not say that they were armed or served in his escort or anything like that, but the reference appears to be authentic. Somewhere along the line someone assumed they were all armed, served in Forrest's escort &c. Jackson's escort company was organized as mentioned in Lincoln County TN in October 1862, so there is a disconnect in there somewhere.

http://www.dixiescv.org/fact_did-blacks-serve.html

Note the reference to the statue as evidence of Black Confederates. In the two paragraphs from the fellow who went off on me (and that's just a small sample), he thought anyone should recognize the face in this image mentioned as that of a Black Confederate, and that it was the height of arrogance or stupidity on my part to suggest that use of a statue as primary evidence to "prove" anything was a little unusual.

Please understand that I'm naturally skeptical, as we all should be of anything we don't know first-hand. Also, we can readily see that some BCAs are not above manufacturing "evidence", so it all needs to be checked out.