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Title: Reports of the Committee on the Conduct of the War - Fort Pillow Massacre. Returned Prisoners.
Author: Senate, United States, Wade, B. F., Gooch, D. W.
Language: English
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REPORTS
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR
FORT PILLOW MASSACRE.
RETURNED PRISONERS.
38TH CONGRESS, } SENATE. {REP. COM.
_1ST SESSION_. } {NO. 63.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
MAY 5, 1864.--Ordered to be printed, and that 20,000 additional copies
be printed for the use of the Senate.
JOINT RESOLUTION directing the Committee on the Conduct of the War to
examine into the recent attack on Fort Pillow.
_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled_, That the Joint Committee on
the Conduct of the War be, and they are hereby, instructed to inquire
into the truth of the rumored slaughter of the Union troops, after their
surrender, at the recent attack of the rebel forces upon Fort Pillow,
Tennessee; as, also, whether Fort Pillow could have been sufficiently
re-enforced or evacuated, and if so, why it was not done; and that they
report the facts to Congress as soon as possible.
Approved April 21, 1864.
Mr. WADE submitted the following
REPORT.
_The Joint Committee on the Conduct and Expenditures of the War, to whom
was referred the resolution of Congress instructing them to investigate
the late massacre at Fort Pillow, designated two members of the
committee--Messrs. Wade and Gooch--to proceed forthwith to such places
as they might deem necessary, and take testimony. That sub-committee
having discharged that duty, returned to this city, and submitted to the
joint committee a report, with accompanying papers and testimony. The
report was read and adopted by the committee, whose chairman was
instructed to submit the same, with the testimony, to the Senate, and
Mr. Gooch to the House, and ask that the same be printed._
REPORT OF SUB-COMMITTEE.
Messrs. WADE and GOOCH, the sub-committee appointed by the Joint
Committee on the Conduct and Expenditures of the War, with instructions
to proceed to such points as they might deem necessary for the purpose
of taking testimony in regard to the massacre at Fort Pillow, submitted
the following report to the joint committee, together with the
accompanying testimony and papers:
In obedience to the instructions of this joint committee adopted on the
18th ultimo, your committee left Washington on the morning of the 19th,
taking with them the stenographer of this committee, and proceeded to
Cairo and Mound City, Illinois; Columbus, Kentucky; and Fort Pillow and
Memphis, Tennessee; at each of which places they proceeded to take
testimony.
Although your committee were instructed to inquire only in reference to
the attack, capture, and massacre of Fort Pillow, they have deemed it
proper to take some testimony in reference to the operations of Forrest
and his command immediately preceding and subsequent to that horrible
transaction. It will appear, from the testimony thus taken, that the
atrocities committed at Fort Pillow were not the result of passions
excited by the heat of conflict, but were the results of a policy
deliberately decided upon and unhesitatingly announced. Even if the
uncertainty of the fate of those officers and men belonging to colored
regiments who have heretofore been taken prisoners by the rebels has
failed to convince the authorities of our government of this fact, the
testimony herewith submitted must convince even the most skeptical that
it is the intention of the rebel authorities not to recognize the
officers and men of our colored regiments as entitled to the treatment
accorded by all civilized nations to prisoners of war. The declarations
of Forrest and his officers, both before and after the capture of Fort
Pillow, as testified to by such of our men as have escaped after being
taken by him; the threats contained in the various demands for surrender
made at Paducah, Columbus, and other places; the renewal of the massacre
the morning after the capture of Fort Pillow; the statements made by the
rebel officers to the officers of our gunboats who received the few
survivors at Fort Pillow--all this proves most conclusively the policy
they have determined to adopt.
The first operation of any importance was the attack upon Union city,
Tennessee, by a portion of Forrest's command. The attack was made on the
24th of March. The post was occupied by a force of about 500 men under
Colonel Hawkins, of the 7th Tennessee Union cavalry. The attacking force
was superior in numbers, but was repulsed several times by our forces.
For the particulars of the attack, and the circumstances attending the
surrender, your committee would refer to the testimony herewith
submitted. They would state, however, that it would appear from the
testimony that the surrender was opposed by nearly if not quite all the
officers of Colonel Hawkins's command. Your committee think that the
circumstances connected with the surrender are such that they demand the
most searching investigation by the military authorities, as, at the
time of the surrender, but one man on our side had been injured.
On the 25th of March, the enemy, under the rebel Generals Forrest,
Buford, Harris, and Thompson, estimated at over 6,000 men, made an
attack on Paducah, Kentucky, which post was occupied by Colonel S. G.
Hicks, 40th Illinois regiment, with 655 men. Our forces retired into
Fort Anderson, and there made their stand--assisted by some gunboats
belonging to the command of Captain Shirk of the navy--successfully
repelling the attacks of the enemy. Failing to make any impression upon
our forces, Forrest then demanded an unconditional surrender, closing
his communication to Colonel Hicks in these words: "If you surrender you
shall be treated as prisoners of war, but if I have to storm your works
you may expect no quarter." This demand and threat was met by a refusal
on the part of Colonel Hicks to surrender, he stating that he had been
placed there by his government to defend that post, and he should do so.
The rebels made three other assaults that same day, but were repulsed
with heavy loss each time, the rebel General Thompson being killed in
the last assault. The enemy retired the next day, having suffered a loss
estimated at three hundred killed, and from 1,000 to 1,200 wounded. The
loss on our side was 14 killed and 46 wounded.
The operations of the enemy at Paducah were characterized by the same
bad faith and treachery that seem to have become the settled policy of
Forrest and his command. The flag of truce was taken advantage of there,
as elsewhere, to secure desirable positions which the rebels were unable
to obtain by fair and honorable means; and also to afford opportunities
for plundering private stores as well as government property. At Paducah
the rebels were guilty of acts more cowardly, if possible, than any they
have practiced elsewhere. When the attack was made the officers of the
fort and of the gunboats advised the women and children to go down to
the river for the purpose of being taken across out of danger. As they
were leaving the town for that purpose, the rebel sharpshooters mingled
with them, and, shielded by their presence, advanced and fired upon the
gunboats, wounding some of our officers and men. Our forces could not
return the fire without endangering the lives of the women and children.
The rebels also placed women in front of their lines as they moved on
the fort, or were proceeding to take positions while the flag of truce
was at the fort, in order to compel our men to withhold their fire, out
of regard for the lives of the women who were made use of in this most
cowardly manner. For more full details of the attack, and the
treacherous and cowardly practices of the rebels there, your committee
refer to the testimony herewith submitted.
On the 13th of April, the day after the capture of Fort Pillow, the
rebel General Buford appeared before Columbus, Kentucky, and demanded
its unconditional surrender. He coupled with that demand a threat that
if the place was not surrendered, and he should be compelled to attack
it, "no quarter whatever should be shown to the negro troops." To this
Colonel Lawrence, in command of the post, replied, that "surrender was
out of the question," as he had been placed there by his government to
hold and defend the place, and should do so. No attack was made, but the
enemy retired, having taken advantage of the flag of truce to seize some
horses of Union citizens which had been brought in there for security.
It was at Fort Pillow, however, that the brutality and cruelty of the
rebels were most fearfully exhibited. The garrison there, according to
the last returns received at headquarters, amounted to 19 officers and
538 enlisted men, of whom 262 were colored troops, comprising one
battalion of the 6th United States heavy artillery, (formerly called the
1st Alabama artillery,) of colored troops, under command of Major L. F.
Booth; one section of the 2d United States light artillery, colored, and
one battalion of the 13th Tennessee cavalry, white, commanded by Major
W. F. Bradford. Major Booth was the ranking officer, and was in command
of the post.
On Tuesday, the 12th of April, (the anniversary of the attack on Fort
Sumter, in April, 1861,) the pickets of the garrison were driven in just
before sunrise, that being the first intimation our forces there had of
any intention on the part of the enemy to attack that place. Fighting
soon became general, and about 9 o'clock Major Booth was killed. Major
Bradford succeeded to the command, and withdrew all the forces within
the fort. They had previously occupied some intrenchments at some
distance from the fort, and further from the river.
This fort was situated on a high bluff, which descended precipitately to
the river's edge, the side of the bluff on the river side being covered
with trees, bushes, and fallen timber. Extending back from the river, on
either side of the fort, was a ravine or hollow--the one below the fort
containing several private stores and some dwellings, constituting what
was called the town. At the mouth of that ravine, and on the river bank,
were some government buildings containing commissary and quartermaster's
stores. The ravine above the fort was known as Cold Creek ravine, the
sides being covered with trees and bushes. To the right, or below and a
little to the front of the fort, was a level piece of ground, not quite
so elevated as the fort itself, on which had been erected some log huts
or shanties, which were occupied by the white troops, and also used for
hospital and other purposes. Within the fort tents had been erected,
with board floors, for the use of the colored troops. There were six
pieces of artillery in the fort, consisting of two 6-pounders, two
12-pounder howitzers, and two 10-pounder Parrotts.
The rebels continued their attack, but, up to two or three o'clock in
the afternoon, they had not gained any decisive success. Our troops,
both white and black, fought most bravely, and were in good spirits. The
gunboat No. 7, (New Era,) Captain Marshall, took part in the conflict,
shelling the enemy as opportunity offered. Signals had been agreed upon
by which the officers in the fort could indicate where the guns of the
boat could be most effective. There being but one gunboat there, no
permanent impression appears to have been produced upon the enemy; for
as they were shelled out of one ravine, they would make their
appearance in the other. They would thus appear and retire as the
gunboat moved from one point to the other. About one o'clock the fire on
both sides slackened somewhat, and the gunboat moved out in the river,
to cool and clean its guns, having fired 282 rounds of shell, shrapnell,
and canister, which nearly exhausted its supply of ammunition.
The rebels having thus far failed in their attack, now resorted to their
customary use of flags of truce. The first flag of truce conveyed a
demand from Forrest for the unconditional surrender of the fort. To this
Major Bradford replied, asking to be allowed one hour to consult with
his officers and the officers of the gunboat. In a short time a second
flag of truce appeared, with a communication from Forrest, that he would
allow Major Bradford twenty minutes in which to move his troops out of
the fort, and if it was not done within that time an assault would be
ordered. To this Major Bradford returned the reply that he would not
surrender.
During the time these flags of truce were flying, the rebels were moving
down the ravine and taking positions from which the more readily to
charge upon the fort. Parties of them were also engaged in plundering
the government buildings of commissary and quartermaster's stores, in
full view of the gunboat. Captain Marshall states that he refrained from
firing upon the rebels, although they were thus violating the flag of
truce, for fear that, should they finally succeed in capturing the fort,
they would justify any atrocities they might commit by saying that they
were in retaliation for his firing while the flag of truce was flying.
He says, however, that when he saw the rebels coming down the ravine
above the fort, and taking positions there, he got under way and stood
for the fort, determined to use what little ammunition he had left in
shelling them out of the ravine; but he did not get up within effective
range before the final assault was made.
Immediately after the second flag of truce retired, the rebels made a
rush from the positions they had so treacherously gained and obtained
possession of the fort, raising the cry of "No quarter!" But little
opportunity was allowed for resistance. Our troops, black and white,
threw down their arms, and sought to escape by running down the steep
bluff near the fort, and secreting themselves behind trees and logs, in
the bushes, and under the brush--some even jumping into the river,
leaving only their heads above the water, as they crouched down under
the bank.
Then followed a scene of cruelty and murder without a parallel in
civilized warfare, which needed but the tomahawk and scalping-knife to
exceed the worst atrocities ever committed by savages. The rebels
commenced an indiscriminate slaughter, sparing neither age nor sex,
white or black, soldier or civilian. The officers and men seemed to vie
with each other in the devilish work; men, women, and even children,
wherever found, were deliberately shot down, beaten, and hacked with
sabres; some of the children not more than ten years old were forced to
stand up and face their murderers while being shot; the sick and the
wounded were butchered without mercy, the rebels even entering the
hospital building and dragging them out to be shot, or killing them as
they lay there unable to offer the least resistance. All over the
hillside the work of murder was going on; numbers of our men were
collected together in lines or groups and deliberately shot; some were
shot while in the river, while others on the bank were shot and their
bodies kicked into the water, many of them still living but unable to
make any exertions to save themselves from drowning. Some of the rebels
stood on the top of the hill or a short distance down its side, and
called to our soldiers to come up to them, and as they approached, shot
them down in cold blood; if their guns or pistols missed fire, forcing
them to stand there until they were again prepared to fire. All around
were heard cries of "No quarter!" "No quarter!" "Kill the damned
niggers; shoot them down!" All who asked for mercy were answered by the
most cruel taunts and sneers. Some were spared for a time, only to be
murdered under circumstances of greater cruelty. No cruelty which the
most fiendish malignity could devise was omitted by these murderers. One
white soldier who was wounded in one leg so as to be unable to walk, was
made to stand up while his tormentors shot him; others who were wounded
and unable to stand were held up and again shot. One negro who had been
ordered by a rebel officer to hold his horse, was killed by him when he
remounted; another, a mere child, whom an officer had taken up behind
him on his horse, was seen by Chalmers, who at once ordered the officer
to put him down and shoot him, which was done. The huts and tents in
which many of the wounded had sought shelter were set on fire, both that
night and the next morning, while the wounded were still in them--those
only escaping who were able to get themselves out, or who could prevail
on others less injured than themselves to help them out; and even some
of those thus seeking to escape the flames were met by those ruffians
and brutally shot down, or had their brains beaten out. One man was
deliberately fastened down to the floor of a tent, face upwards, by
means of nails driven through his clothing and into the boards under
him, so that he could not possibly escape, and then the tent set on
fire; another was nailed to the side of a building outside of the fort,
and then the building set on fire and burned. The charred remains of
five or six bodies were afterwards found, all but one so much disfigured
and consumed by the flames that they could not be identified, and the
identification of that one is not absolutely certain, although there can
hardly be a doubt that it was the body of Lieutenant Akerstrom,
quartermaster of the 13th Tennessee cavalry, and a native Tennesseean;
several witnesses who saw the remains, and who were personally
acquainted with him while living, have testified that it is their firm
belief that it was his body that was thus treated.
These deeds of murder and cruelty ceased when night came on, only to be
renewed the next morning, when the demons carefully sought among the
dead lying about in all directions for any of the wounded yet alive, and
those they found were deliberately shot. Scores of the dead and wounded
were found there the day after the massacre by the men from some of our
gunboats who were permitted to go on shore and collect the wounded and
bury the dead. The rebels themselves had made a pretence of burying a
great many of their victims, but they had merely thrown them, without
the least regard to care or decency, into the trenches and ditches about
the fort, or the little hollows and ravines on the hill-side, covering
them but partially with earth. Portions of heads and faces, hands and
feet, were found protruding through the earth in every direction. The
testimony also establishes the fact that the rebels buried some of the
living with the dead, a few of whom succeeded afterwards in digging
themselves out, or were dug out by others, one of whom your committee
found in Mound City hospital, and there examined. And even when your
committee visited the spot, two weeks afterwards, although parties of
men had been sent on shore from time to time to bury the bodies unburied
and rebury the others, and were even then engaged in the same work, we
found the evidences of this murder and cruelty still most painfully
apparent; we saw bodies still unburied (at some distance from the fort)
of some sick men who had been met fleeing from the hospital and beaten
down and brutally murdered, and their bodies left where they had fallen.
We could still see the faces, hands, and feet of men, white and black,
protruding out of the ground, whose graves had not been reached by those
engaged in re-interring the victims of the massacre; and although a
great deal of rain had fallen within the preceding two weeks, the
ground, more especially on the side and at the foot of the bluff where
the most of the murders had been committed, was still discolored by the
blood of our brave but unfortunate men, and the logs and trees showed
but too plainly the evidences of the atrocities perpetrated there.
Many other instances of equally atrocious cruelty might be enumerated,
but your committee feel compelled to refrain from giving here more of
the heart-sickening details, and refer to the statements contained in
the voluminous testimony herewith submitted. Those statements were
obtained by them from eye-witnesses and sufferers; many of them, as they
were examined by your committee, were lying upon beds of pain and
suffering, some so feeble that their lips could with difficulty frame
the words by which they endeavored to convey some idea of the cruelties
which had been inflicted on them, and which they had seen inflicted on
others.
How many of our troops thus fell victims to the malignity and barbarity
of Forrest and his followers cannot yet be definitely ascertained. Two
officers belonging to the garrison were absent at the time of the
capture and massacre. Of the remaining officers but two are known to be
living, and they are wounded and now in the hospital at Mound City. One
of them, Captain Potter, may even now be dead, as the surgeons, when
your committee were there, expressed no hope of his recovery. Of the
men, from 300 to 400 are known to have been killed at Fort Pillow, of
whom, at least, 300 were murdered in cold blood after the post was in
possession of the rebels, and our men had thrown down their arms and
ceased to offer resistance. Of the survivors, except the wounded in the
hospital at Mound City, and the few who succeeded in making their escape
unhurt, nothing definite is known; and it is to be feared that many have
been murdered after being taken away from the fort.
In reference to the fate of Major Bradford, who was in command of the
fort when it was captured, and who had up to that time received no
injury, there seems to be no doubt. The general understanding everywhere
seemed to be that he had been brutally murdered the day after he was
taken prisoner.
There is some discrepancy in the testimony, but your committee do not
see how the one who professed to have been an eye-witness of his death
could have been mistaken. There may be some uncertainty in regard to his
fate.
When your committee arrived at Memphis, Tennessee, they found and
examined a man (Mr. McLagan) who had been conscripted by some of
Forrest's forces, but who, with other conscripts, had succeeded in
making his escape. He testifies that while two companies of rebel
troops, with Major Bradford and many other prisoners, were on their
march from Brownsville to Jackson, Tennessee, Major Bradford was taken
by five rebels--one an officer--led about fifty yards from the line of
march, and deliberately murdered in view of all there assembled. He
fell--killed instantly by three musket balls, even while asking that his
life might be spared, as he had fought them manfully, and was deserving
of a better fate. The motive for the murder of Major Bradford seems to
have been the simple fact that, although a native of the south, he
remained loyal to his government. The testimony herewith submitted
contains many statements made by the rebels that they did not intend to
treat "home-made Yankees," as they termed loyal southerners, any better
than negro troops.
There is one circumstance connected with the events herein narrated
which your committee cannot permit to pass unnoticed. The testimony
herewith submitted discloses this most astounding and shameful fact: On
the morning of the day succeeding the capture of Fort Pillow, the
gunboat Silver Cloud, (No. 28,) the transport Platte Valley, and the
gunboat New Era, (No. 7,) landed at Fort Pillow under flag of truce, for
the purpose of receiving the few wounded there and burying the dead.
While they were lying there, the rebel General Chalmers and other rebel
officers came down to the landing, and some of them went on the boats.
Notwithstanding the evidences of rebel atrocity and barbarity with which
the ground was covered, there were some of our army officers on board
the Platte Valley so lost to every feeling of decency, honor, and
self-respect, as to make themselves disgracefully conspicuous in
bestowing civilities and attention upon the rebel officers, even while
they were boasting of the murders they had there committed. Your
committee were unable to ascertain the names of the officers who have
thus inflicted so foul a stain upon the honor of our army. They are
assured, however, by the military authorities that every effort will be
made to ascertain their names and bring them to the punishment they so
richly merit.
In relation to the re-enforcement or evacuation of Fort Pillow, it would
appear from the testimony that the troops there stationed were withdrawn
on the 25th of January last, in order to accompany the Meridian
expedition under General Sherman. General Hurlbut testifies that he
never received any instructions to permanently vacate the post, and
deeming it important to occupy it, so that the rebels should not
interrupt the navigation of the Mississippi by planting artillery there,
he sent some troops there about the middle of February, increasing their
number afterwards until the garrison amounted to nearly 600 men. He also
states that as soon as he learned that the place was attacked, he
immediately took measures to send up re-enforcements from Memphis, and
they were actually embarking when he received information of the capture
of the fort.
Your committee cannot close this report without expressing their
obligations to the officers of the army and navy, with whom they were
brought in contact, for the assistance they rendered. It is true your
committee were furnished by the Secretary of War with the fullest
authority to call upon any one in the army for such services as they
might require, to enable them to make the investigation devolved upon
them by Congress, but they found that no such authority was needed. The
army and navy officers at every point they visited evinced a desire to
aid the committee in every way in their power; and all expressed the
highest satisfaction that Congress had so promptly taken steps to
ascertain the facts connected with this fearful and bloody transaction,
and the hope that the investigation would lead to prompt and decisive
measures on the part of the government. Your committee would mention
more particularly the names of General Mason Brayman, military
commandant at Cairo; Captain J. H. Odlin, his chief of staff; Captain
Alexander M. Pennock, United States navy, fleet captain of Mississippi
squadron; Captain James W. Shirk, United States navy, commanding 7th
district Mississippi squadron; Surgeon Horace Wardner, in charge of
Mound City general hospital; Captain Thomas M. Farrell, United States
navy, in command of gunboat Hastings, (furnished by Captain Pennock to
convey the committee to Fort Pillow and Memphis;) Captain Thomas
Pattison, naval commandant at Memphis; General C. C. Washburne, and the
officers of their commands, as among those to whom they are indebted for
assistance and attention.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
B. F. WADE.
D. W. GOOCH.
Adopted by the committee as their report.
B. F. WADE, _Chairman_.
TESTIMONY.
CAIRO, ILLINOIS, _April 22, 1864_.
Brigadier General Mason Brayman sworn and examined by the chairman.
Question. What is your rank and position in the service?
Answer. Brigadier General of volunteers; have been in command of the
district of Cairo since March 19, 1864.
Question. What was the extent of your district when you assumed command,
and what your available force?
Answer. The river, from Paducah to Island No. Ten, inclusive, about 160
miles, and adjacent portions of Tennessee and Kentucky. My available
force for duty, as appears from tri-monthly report of March 20, as
follows:
Paducah, officers and men 408
Cairo do 231
Columbus do 998
Hickman do 51
Island No. Ten do 162
Union City do 479
Aggregate 2,329
Question. What was the character of your force and the condition of your
command at that time?
Answer. Three-fourths of the men were colored, a portion of them not
mustered into service, and commanded by officers temporarily assigned,
awaiting commission. Of the white troops about one-half at the posts on
the river were on duty as provost marshals' guards and similar detached
duties, leaving but a small number in condition for movement. The
fortifications were in an unfinished condition, that at Cairo rendered
almost useless by long neglect. Many of the guns were dismounted, or
otherwise unfit for service, and the supply of ammunition deficient and
defective. A body of cavalry at Paducah were not mounted, and only part
of those at Union City. I had not enough mounted men within my reach for
orderlies.
Question. What is the character of the public property and interests
intrusted to your care?
Answer. Paducah commands the Ohio. In hostile hands, the Tennessee and
Cumberland rivers are no longer ours. Mound City, eight miles above
Cairo, is the great naval depot for the western fleet. Gunboats there
receive their armaments, crews, and supplies. An average of probably
$5,000,000 of public property is constantly at that point; I found it
guarded by, perhaps, fifty men of the veteran reserve corps, not
referring to gunboats lying there. Cairo, at the confluence of the great
rivers, is the narrow gateway through which all military and naval
operations of the Mississippi valley must be made. I cannot compute the
amount or value of shipping and property at all times at this point. The
committee must observe that the loss of Mound City and Cairo would
paralyze the western army and navy. The points below Columbus and Island
Ten are fortified places; while holding them, the rebels had control of
the river. It required a prodigious effort to dislodge them. To concede
to them any point on the river, even for a week, would bring disaster.
Furthermore, the rebels now control western Kentucky; they are
murdering, robbing, and driving out the loyal men; they avow their
determination to permit the loyal men to take no part in the approaching
elections. Unless protected in their effort to protect themselves, the
Union men must give way, and the country remain under insurrectionary
control.
Question. Did you consider your force, as stated, adequate to the
protection of your district?
Answer. Wholly inadequate, considering the interests at stake, and the
hostile forces within attacking distance.
Question. When did you first hear that Forrest was advancing?
Answer. On March 23, four days after I took command, Colonel Hicks, at
Paducah, and Colonel Hawkins at Union City, advised me by telegraph of
the presence in their neighborhood of armed bands, both fearing an
attack. At night of the same day, Colonel Hawkins reported Forrest at
Jackson, 61 miles south, with 7,000 men; and again that he expected an
attack within 24 hours. He wanted re-enforcements.
Question. Had you the means of re-enforcing him?
Answer. Of my own command, I had not 150 available men; however, some
regiments and detachments of General Veatch's division had arrived and
awaited the arrival of boats from St. Louis to carry them up the
Tennessee. General Veatch had gone to Evansville, Indiana.
Simultaneously with the reports from Hicks and Hawkins, I received from
General Sherman, then at Nashville, this despatch: "Has General Veatch
and command started up the Tennessee? If not, start them up at once."
Down to this time it was uncertain whether Union City or Paducah was the
real object of attack. Late in the evening I applied to Captain Fox,
General Veatch's assistant adjutant general, to have 2,000 men in
readiness to move during the night, if wanted, promising to have them
back in time to embark, on arrival of their transports. I telegraphed
Hawkins that he would receive aid, directing him to "fortify and keep
well prepared." About 4-1/2 o'clock of the morning of the 24th, I was
satisfied that Union City was the point of attack. Boats were impressed,
four regiments were embarked, and I left at ten; disembarked at
Columbus, and arriving within six miles of Union City at four p. m.,
where I learned that a surrender had taken place at 11 a. m., and the
garrison marched off. I turned back, and at three the next morning
turned over General Veatch's men, ready to go up the Tennessee.
Question. Why did you not pursue Forrest?
Answer. For three reasons: _First_, his force was all cavalry; mine all
infantry. _Second_, he was moving on Paducah, and, while I could not
overtake him by land, I could head him by the rivers. _Third_, another
despatch from General Sherman reached me as I was going out from
Columbus, prohibiting me from diverting the troops bound up the
Tennessee from that movement on account of the presence of Forrest. My
purpose was to save Union City, bring in its garrison, and have General
Veatch's men back in time for their boats. While I was willing to risk
much to secure a garrison supposed to be yet engaged in gallant defence,
I could do nothing to mitigate the accomplished misfortune of a
surrender.
Question. Do you think the surrender premature?
Answer. The garrison was within fortifications; the enemy had no
artillery. A loss of one man killed and two or three wounded does not
indicate a desperate case. The rebels were three times repulsed. A flag
of truce followed, and a surrender.
Question. How large was the attacking party?
Answer. I judge fifteen hundred, the largest portion of Forrest's force
being evidently on the way to Paducah.
Question. How large was his entire force?
Answer. Apparently 6,500.
Question. When was Paducah attacked?
Answer. About 3 p. m. the next day, March 25.
Question. Was Paducah re-enforced previous to the attack?
Answer. It was not. I had no men to send, but sent supplies.
Question. Where was General Veatch's command?
Answer. Embarking for the Tennessee.
Question. Was Paducah well defended?
Answer. Most gallantly, and with success. The conduct of Colonel Hicks
and his entire command was noble in the highest degree.
Question. How did his colored troops behave?
Answer. As well as the rest. Colonel Hicks thus refers to them in his
official report: "I have been one of those men who never had much
confidence in colored troops fighting, but those doubts are now all
removed, for they fought as bravely as any troops in the fort."
Question. Why was the city shelled and set on fire?
Answer. Our small force retired within the fort; the rebels took
possession of the town, and from adjacent buildings their sharpshooters
fired upon us. It was necessary to dislodge them. The gunboats Peosta,
Captain Smith, and Paw Paw, Captain O'Neal, and the fort drove them out,
necessarily destroying property. Most of the inhabitants being still
rebel sympathizers, there was less than the usual regret in performing
the duty.
Question. What became of the enemy after the repulse?
Answer. They went south, and on the 26th I was notified by Colonel Hicks
and by Colonel Lawrence that they were approaching Columbus.
Question. What was done?
Answer. I went to Columbus again, with such men as could be withdrawn
from Cairo, and awaited an attack, but none was made. We were too
strong, of which rebels in our midst had probably advised them.
Question. Do you permit rebels to remain within your lines?
Answer. Of course; after they have taken the oath.
Question. What is done in case they violate, by acting as spies, for
instance?
Answer. I don't like to acknowledge that we swear them over again, but
that is about what it amounts to.
Question. What became of your garrison at Hickman?
Answer. It was but 14 miles from Union City; too weak for defence, and
unimportant. Having no re-enforcements to spare, I brought away the
garrison.
Question. Was Union City important as a military post?
Answer. I think not, except to keep the peace and drive out guerillas.
The railroad was operated to that point at the expense of the
government, being used in carrying out supplies, which went mostly into
disloyal hands, or were seized by Forrest. The road from Paducah to
Mayfield was used by its owners. Enormous quantities of supplies needed
by the rebel army were carried to Mayfield and other convenient points,
and passed into the hands of the rebel army. I found this abuse so
flagrant and dangerous that I made a stringent order stopping all trade.
I furnish a copy herewith, making it part of my answer, (Exhibit A.)
Question. What, in your opinion, is the effect of free trade in western
Kentucky and Tennessee?
Answer. Pernicious beyond measure; corrupting those in the public
service, and furnishing needed supplies to enemies. I am in possession
of intercepted correspondence, showing that while the trader who has
taken the oath and does business at Paducah gets permits to send out
supplies, several wagons at a time, his partner is receiving them within
the rebel lines under permits issued by Forrest. A public officer is now
under arrest and held for trial for covering up smuggling of contraband
goods under permits, and sharing the profits. Pretended loyal men and
open enemies thus combined, and the rebel army gets the benefit. We are
supplying our enemies with the means of resistance.
Question. Could not the rebels have been sooner driven out of your
neighborhood?
Answer. They could by withdrawing men from duties which are presumed to
be of greater importance. That point was settled by my superior
officers. Forrest's force was near Mayfield, about equidistant from
Paducah, Cairo, and Columbus, only a few hours from either. He was at
the centre, I going round the edge of a circle. I could only watch the
coming blow and help each weak point in turn. One evening, for instance,
I sent 400 men to Columbus, expecting trouble there, and the next
morning had them at Paducah, 75 miles distant.
Question. Had you instructions as to the presence of that force so near
you?
Answer. Not specific. General Sherman, on the 23d of March, telegraphed
that he was willing that Forrest should remain in that neighborhood if
the people did not manifest friendship, and on April 13 he expressed a
desire that Forrest should prolong his visit until certain measures
could be accomplished. I think General Sherman did not purpose to
withdraw a heavy force to pursue Forrest, having better use for them
elsewhere, and feeling that we had force enough to hold the important
points on the river. It may be that the strength of the enemy and the
scattered condition of our small detachments was not fully understood.
We ran too great a risk at Paducah. Nothing but great gallantry and
fortitude saved it from the fate of Fort Pillow.
Question. What information had you of the attack of Fort Pillow?
Answer. Fort Pillow is 170 miles below here, not in my district, but
Memphis. On April 13, at 6 p. m., I telegraphed General Sherman as
follows:
"The surrender of Columbus was demanded and refused at six this morning.
Women and children brought away. Heavy artillery firing this afternoon.
I have sent re-enforcements. Paducah also threatened. No danger of
either, but I think that Fort Pillow, in the Memphis district, is taken.
General Shepley passed yesterday and saw the flag go down and thinks it
a surrender. I have enough troops now from below, and will go down if
necessary to that point. Captain Pennock will send gunboats. If lost, it
will be retaken immediately."
I was informed, in reply, that Fort Pillow had no guns or garrison; had
been evacuated; that General Hurlbut had force for its defence, &c. I
understand that Fort Pillow had been evacuated and reoccupied, General
Sherman not being aware of it. On the 14th he again instructed me as
follows:
"What news from Columbus? Don't send men from Paris to Fort Pillow. Let
General Hurlbut take care of that quarter. The Cairo troops may
re-enforce temporarily at Paducah and Columbus, but should be held
ready to come up the Tennessee. One object that Forrest has is to induce
us to make these detachments and prevent our concentrating in this
quarter."
Question. Did you have any conversation with General Shepley in relation
to the condition of the garrison at Fort Pillow when he passed by that
point? If so, state what he said. What force did General Shepley have
with him? Did he assign any reason for not rendering assistance to that
garrison? If so, what was it?
Answer. General Shepley called on me. He stated that as he approached
Fort Pillow, fighting was going on; he saw the flag come down "by the
run," but could not tell whether it was lowered by the garrison, or by
having the halliards shot away; that soon after another flag went up in
another place. He could not distinguish its character, but feared that
it was a surrender, though firing continued. I think he gave the force
on the boat as two batteries and two or three hundred infantry. When he
came away the firing was kept up, but not as heavily as at first. He was
not certain how the fight was terminating. In answer to a question of
mine, he said the batteries on board could not have been used, as the
bluff was too steep for ascent or to admit of firing from the water's
edge, and the enemy above might have captured them. This was about the
substance of our conversation.
Question. What information have you relative to the battle and massacre
at Fort Pillow, particularly what transpired after the surrender?
Answer. That place not being in my district, official reports did not
come to me. However, under instructions from General Sherman, I detailed
officers, and collected reports and sworn proofs for transmission to
him, also to the Secretary of War. Having furnished the Secretary of War
with a duplicate copy for the use of your committee if he so desired, I
refer to that for the information I have on the subject.
Question. Do you consider the testimony thus furnished entirely
reliable?
Answer. "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every work be
established." Here are scores of them living and dying. There are
doubtless errors as to time and place, and scenes witnessed from
different points of observation, but in the main I regard the witnesses
honest and their accounts true.
Question. What did you learn concerning violations of the flag of truce?
Answer. I learn from official sources that at Paducah, Columbus, Union
City, and Fort Pillow, the rebels moved troops, placed batteries, formed
new lines, advanced, robbed stores and private houses, stole horses and
other property while protected by flags of truce. J. W. McCord and Mrs.
Hannah Hammond state, in writing, that at Paducah they forced five women
nurses at the hospital out in front of their line, and kept them there
for an hour, thus silencing our guns. Mrs. Hammond was one of the five.
Reference is made to testimony furnished on the subject, and to official
reports when transmitted to the War Department.
Question. What information have you as to the intention of the enemy to
perpetrate such acts as the massacre at Fort Pillow?
Answer. I furnish the correspondence growing out of demands to surrender
at Union City, Paducah, and Columbus, showing premeditation on the part
of officers in command of the rebel army.
[Take in from reports of Lieutenant Gray, Colonel Hicks and Colonel
Lawrence, with which the committee is furnished.--See Appendix.]
Question. Has there been co-operation and harmony among commanders since
these troubles began?
Answer. Entire and in every respect, so far as I know. Officers of the
army in charge of troops temporarily here gave all the aid possible.
They were under orders which prevented their going out in pursuit of
Forrest, but they gave me detachments to guard our river posts when
threatened.
Question. What have been the relations existing generally between you
and Captain Pennock, of the navy, fleet captain of the Mississippi
squadron?
Answer. Captain Pennock is commandant of the naval station at Cairo and
Mound City, and I understand represents Admiral Porter in his absence.
Our relations have been cordial, and we have co-operated in all
movements. The aid given by his gunboats has been prompt, ample, and
very efficient. His admirable judgment and ready resources have always
been available.
Question. During the operations consequent upon the movements of
Forrest, did you or did you not receive cordial co-operation and support
from Lieutenant Commander Shirk, commanding the 7th division Mississippi
squadron?
Answer. I can only repeat my answer to the last question. Lieutenant
Shirk is an admirable officer, vigilant, brave, and of exceedingly safe
judgment.
* * * * *
MOUND CITY, ILLINOIS, _April 22, 1864_.
Surgeon Horace Wardner sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Have you been in charge of this hospital, Mound City hospital?
Answer. I have been in charge of this hospital continually since the
25th of April, 1863.
Question. Will you state, if you please, what you know about the persons
who escaped from Fort Pillow? And how many have been under your charge?
Answer. I have received thirty-four whites, twenty-seven colored men,
and one colored woman, and seven corpses of those who died on their way
here.
Question. Did any of those you have mentioned escape from Fort Pillow?
Answer. There were eight or nine men, I forget the number, who did
escape and come here, the others were paroled. I learned the following
facts about that: The day after the battle a gunboat was coming up and
commenced shelling the place; the rebels sent a flag of truce for the
purpose of giving over into our hands what wounded remained alive; a
transport then landed and sent out details to look about the grounds and
pick up the wounded there, and bring them on the boat. They had no
previous attention.
Question. They were then brought under your charge?
Answer. They were brought immediately to this hospital.
Question. Who commanded that boat?
Answer. I forget the naval officer's name.
Question. How long after the capture of the place did he come along?
Answer. That was the next day after the capture.
Question. Did all who were paroled in this way come under your charge,
or did any of them go to other hospitals?
Answer. None went to other hospitals that I am aware of.
Question. Please state their condition.
Answer. They were the worst butchered men I have ever seen. I have been
in several hard battles, but I have never seen men so mangled as they
were; and nearly all of them concur in stating that they received all
their wounds after they had thrown down their arms, surrendered, and
asked for quarters. They state that they ran out of the fort, threw down
their arms, and ran down the bank to the edge of the river, and were
pursued to the top of the bank and fired on from above.
Question. Were there any females there?
Answer. I have one wounded woman from there.
Question. Were there any children or young persons there?
Answer. I have no wounded children or young persons from there.
Question. Those you have received were mostly combatants, or had been?
Answer. Yes, sir, soldiers, white or colored.
Question. Were any of the wounded here in the hospital in the fort, and
wounded while in the hospital?
Answer. I so understand them.
Question. How many in that condition did you understand?
Answer. I learned from those who came here that nearly all who were in
the hospital were killed. I received a young negro boy, probably sixteen
years old, who was in the hospital there sick with fever, and unable to
get away. The rebels entered the hospital, and with a sabre hacked his
head, no doubt with the intention of splitting it open. The boy put up
his hand to protect his head, and they cut off one or two of his
fingers. He was brought here insensible, and died yesterday. I made a
post-mortem examination, and found that the outer table of the skull was
incised, the inner table was fractured, and a piece driven into the
brain.
Question. This was done while he was sick in the hospital?
Answer. Yes, sir, unable to get off his bed.
Question. Have you any means of knowing how many were murdered in that
way?
Answer. No positive means, except the statement of the men.
Question. How many do you suppose from the information you have
received?
Answer. I suppose there were about four hundred massacred--murdered
there.
Question. What proportion white, and what proportion colored, as near as
you could ascertain?
Answer. The impression I have, from what I can learn, is, that all the
negroes were massacred except about eighty, and all the white soldiers
were killed except about one hundred or one hundred and ten.
Question. We have heard rumors that some of these persons were buried
alive; did you hear anything about that?
Answer. I have two in the hospital here who were buried alive.
Question. Both colored men?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How did they escape?
Answer. One of them I have not conversed with personally, the other I
have. He was thrown into a pit, as he states, with a great many others,
white and black, several of whom were alive; they were all buried up
together. He lay on the outer edge, but his head was nearer the surface;
he had one well hand, and with that hand he was able to work a place
through which he could breathe, and in that way he got his head out; he
lay there for some twenty-four hours, and was finally taken out by
somebody. The others, next to him, were buried so deep that they could
not get out, and died.
Question. Did you hear anything about any of them having been thrown
into the flames and burned?
Answer. I do not know anything about that myself. These men did not say
much, and in fact I did not myself have time to question them very
closely.
Question. What is the general condition now of the wounded men from Fort
Pillow under your charge?
Answer. They are in as good condition as they can be, probably about
one-third of them must die.
Question. Is your hospital divided into wards, and can we go through and
take the testimony of these men, ward by ward?
Answer. It is divided into wards. The men from Fort Pillow are scattered
through the hospital, and isolated to prevent erysipelas. If I should
crowd too many badly wounded men in one ward I would be likely to get
the erysipelas among them, and lose a great many of them.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Are the wounds of these men such as men usually receive in
battle?
Answer. The gunshot wounds are; the sabre cuts are the first I have ever
seen in the war yet. They seem to have been shot with the intention of
hitting the body. There are more body wounds than in an ordinary battle.
Question. Just as if they were close enough to select the parts of the
body to be hit?
Answer. Yes, sir; some of them were shot with pistols by the rebels
standing from one foot to ten feet of them.
The committee then proceeded to the various wards and took the testimony
of such of the wounded as were able to bear the examination.
The testimony of the colored men is written out exactly as given, except
that it is rendered in a grammatical form, instead of the broken
language some of them used.
* * * * *
MOUND CITY HOSPITAL,
_Illinois_, _April 22, 1864_.
Elias Falls, (colored,) private, company A, 6th United States heavy
artillery, or 1st Alabama artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when the battle took place there, and
it was captured by the rebels?
Answer. I was there; I was a cook, and was waiting on the captain and
major.
Question. What did you see done there? What did the rebels do after they
came into the fort?
Answer. They killed all the men after they surrendered, until orders
were given to stop; they killed all they came to, white and black, after
they had surrendered.
Question. The one the same as the other?
Answer. Yes, sir, till he gave orders to stop firing.
Question. Till who gave orders?
Answer. They told me his name was Forrest.
Question. Did you see anybody killed or shot there?
Answer. Yes, sir; I was shot after the surrender, as I was marched up
the hill by the rebels.
Question. Where were you wounded?
Answer. In the knee.
Question. Was that the day of the fight?
Answer. The same day.
Question. Did you see any men shot the next day?
Answer. I did not.
Question. What did you see done after the place was taken?
Answer. After peace was made some of the secesh soldiers came around
cursing the boys that were wounded. They shot one of them about the
hand, aimed to shoot him in the head, as he lay on the ground, and hit
him in the hand; and an officer told the secesh soldier if he did that
again he would arrest him, and he went off then.
Question. Did they burn any buildings?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Was anybody burned in the buildings?
Answer. I did not see anybody burned; I saw them burn the buildings; I
was not able to walk about; I staid in a building that night with some
three or four white men.
Question. Do you know anything about their going into the hospital and
killing those who were there sick in bed?
Answer. We had some three or four of our men there, and some of our men
came in and said they had killed two women and two children.
* * * * *
Duncan Harding, (colored,) private, company A, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were you in Fort Pillow at the time it was captured?
Answer. Yes, sir; I was a gunner No. 2 at the gun.
Question. What did you see there?
Answer. I did not see much until next morning. I was shot in the arm
that evening; they picked me up and marched me up the hill, and while
they were marching me up the hill they shot me again through the thigh.
Question. Did you see anybody else shot after they had surrendered?
Answer. The next morning I saw them shoot down one corporal in our
company.
Question. What was his name?
Answer. Robert Winston.
Question. Did they kill him?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What were you doing at the time?
Answer. I was lying down.
Question. What was the corporal doing?
Answer. When the gunboats commenced firing he was started off with them,
but he would not go fast enough and they shot him dead.
Question. When you were shot the last time had you any arms in your
hands?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Had the corporal any arms in his hands?
Answer. No, sir; nothing.
By the chairman:
Question. What do you know about any buildings being burned?
Answer. I saw them burn the buildings; and that morning as I was going
to the boat I saw one colored man who was burned in the building.
Question. When was that building burned?
Answer. The next morning.
Question. The morning after the capture?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How did you get away?
Answer. I started off with the rebels; we were all lying in a hollow to
keep from the shells; as their backs were turned to me I crawled up in
some brush and logs, and they all left; when night come I came back to
the river bank, and a gunboat came along.
Question. Were any officers about when you were shot last?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you know any of them?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did they say anything against it?
Answer. No, sir; only, "Kill the God damned nigger."
* * * * *
Nathan Hunter, (colored,) private, company D, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were you in Fort Pillow when it was captured?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What did you see done there?
Answer. They went down the hill, and shot all of us they saw; they shot
me for dead, and I lay there until the next morning when the gunboat
came along. They thought I was dead and pulled my boots off. That is all
I know.
Question. Were you shot when they first took the fort?
Answer. I was not shot until we were done fighting.
Question. Had you any arms in your hands when you were shot?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. How long did you lie where you were shot?
Answer. I lay there from three o'clock until after night, and then I
went up in the guard-house and staid there until the next morning when
the gunboat came along.
Question. Did you see any others shot?
Answer. Yes, sir; they shot down a whole parcel along with me. Their
bodies were lying there along the river bank the next morning. They
kicked some of them into the river after they were shot dead.
Question. Did you see that?
Answer. Yes, sir; I thought they were going to throw me in too; I
slipped away in the night.
By the chairman:
Question. Did you see any man burned?
Answer. No, sir; I was down under the hill next the river.
Question. They thought you were dead when they pulled your boots off?
Answer. Yes, sir; they pulled my boots off, and rolled me over, and said
they had killed me.
* * * * *
Sergeant Benjamin Robinson, (colored,) company D, 6th United States
heavy artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow in the fight there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What did you see there?
Answer. I saw them shoot two white men right by the side of me after
they had laid their guns down. They shot a black man clear over into the
river. Then they hallooed to me to come up the hill, and I came up. They
said, "Give me your money, you damned nigger." I told them I did not
have any. "Give me your money, or I will blow your brains out." Then
they told me to lie down, and I laid down, and they stripped everything
off me.
Question. This was the day of the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Go on. Did they shoot you?
Answer. Yes, sir. After they stripped me and took my money away from me
they dragged me up the hill a little piece, and laid me down flat on my
stomach; I laid there till night, and they took me down to an old house,
and said they would kill me the next morning. I got up and commenced
crawling down the hill; I could not walk.
Question. When were you shot?
Answer. About 3 o'clock.
Question. Before they stripped you?
Answer. Yes, sir. They shot me before they said, "come up."
Question. After you had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir; they shot pretty nearly all of them after they
surrendered.
Question. Did you see anything of the burning of the men?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you see them bury anybody?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did they bury anybody who was not dead?
Answer. I saw one of them working his hand after he was buried; he was a
black man. They had about a hundred in there, black and white. The major
was buried on the bank, right side of me. They took his clothes all off
but his drawers; I was lying right there looking at them. They had my
captain's coat, too; they did not kill my captain; a lieutenant told him
to give him his coat, and then they told him to go down and pick up
those old rags and put them on.
Question. Did you see anybody shot the day after the battle?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. How did you get away?
Answer. A few men came up from Memphis, and got a piece of plank and put
me on it, and took me down to the boat.
Question. Were any rebel officers around when the rebels were killing
our men?
Answer. Yes, sir; lots of them.
Question. Did they try to keep their men from killing our men?
Answer. I never heard them say so. I know General Forrest rode his horse
over me three or four times. I did not know him until I heard his men
call his name. He said to some negro men there that he knew them; that
they had been in his nigger yard in Memphis. He said he was not worth
five dollars when he started, and had got rich trading in negroes.
Question. Where were you from?
Answer. I came from South Carolina.
Question. Have you been a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
* * * * *
Daniel Tyler, (colored,) private, company B, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In Mississippi.
Question. Have you been a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you in Fort Pillow at the time it was captured by the
rebels?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When were you wounded?
Answer. I was wounded after we all surrendered; not before.
Question. At what time?
Answer. They shot me when we came up the hill from down by the river.
Question. Why did you go up the hill?
Answer. They called me up.
Question. Did you see who shot you?
Answer. Yes, sir; I did not know him.
Question. One of the rebels?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How near was he to you?
Answer. I was right at him; I had my hand on the end of his gun.
Question. What did he say to you?
Answer. He said, "Whose gun are you holding?" I said, "Nobody's." He
said, "God damn you, I will shoot you," and then he shot me. I let go,
and then another one shot me.
Question. Were many shot at the same time?
Answer. Yes, sir, lots of them; lying all round like hogs.
Question. Did you see any one burned?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you see anybody buried alive?
Answer. Nobody but me.
Question. Were you buried alive?
Answer. Yes, sir; they thought they had killed me. I lay there till
about sundown, when they threw us in a hollow, and commenced throwing
dirt on us.
Question. Did you say anything?
Answer. No, sir; I did not want to speak to them. I knew if I said
anything they would kill me. They covered me up in a hole; they covered
me up, all but one side of my head. I heard them say they ought not to
bury a man who was alive. I commenced working the dirt away, and one of
the secesh made a young one dig me out. They dug me out, and I was
carried not far off to a fire.
Question. How long did you stay there?
Answer. I staid there that night and until the next morning, and then I
slipped off. I heard them say the niggers had to go away from there
before the gunboat came, and that they would kill the niggers. The
gunboat commenced shelling up there, and they commenced moving off. I
heard them up there shooting. They wanted me to go with them, but I
would not go. I turned around, and came down to the river bank and got
on the gunboat.
Question. How did you lose your eye?
Answer. They knocked me down with a carbine, and then they jabbed it
out.
Question. Was that before you were shot?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. After you had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir; I was going up the hill, a man came down and met me;
he had his gun in his hand, and whirled it around and knocked me down,
and then took the end of his carbine and jabbed it in my eye, and shot
me.
Question. Were any of their officers about there then?
Answer. I did not see any officers.
Question. Were any white men buried with you?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were any buried alive?
Answer. I heard that one white man was buried alive; I did not see him.
Question. Who said that?
Answer. A young man; he said they ought not to have done it. He staid in
there all night; I do not know as he ever got out.
* * * * *
John Haskins, (colored,) private, company B, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when it was captured?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What did you see done there?
Answer. After we had surrendered they shot me in the left arm. I ran
down the river and jumped into the water; the water ran over my back;
six or seven more men came around there, and the secesh shot them right
on the bank. At night I got in a coal-boat and cut it loose, and went
down the river.
Question. Did you see anybody else killed after they had surrendered?
Answer. A great many; I could not tell how many.
Question. Did they say why they killed our men after they had
surrendered?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. How many did you see killed after they surrendered?
Answer. Six or eight right around me, who could not get into the water
as I did; I heard them shooting above, too.
Question. Did they strip and rob those they killed?
Answer. Yes, sir; they ran their hands in my pockets--they thought I was
dead--they did all in the same way.
Question. What time were you shot?
Answer. After four o'clock.
Question. How long after you had surrendered?
Answer. Just about the time we ran down the hill.
Question. Did you have any arms in your hands when you were shot?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Do you know anything about their killing anybody in the
hospital?
Answer. I could not tell anything about that.
Question. Do you know anything about their burning buildings?
Answer. Yes, sir; they burned the lieutenant's house, and they said they
burned him in the house.
Question. He was a white man?
Answer. Yes, sir; quartermaster of the 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Did you see them kill him?
Answer. No, sir; I did not see them kill him; I saw the house he was in
on fire.
Question. Do you know anything about their burying anybody before they
were dead?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Where are you from?
Answer. From Tennessee.
Question. Have you been a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How long have you been in the army?
Answer. About two months.
* * * * *
Thomas Adison, (colored,) private, company C, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In South Carolina. I was nineteen years old when I came to
Mississippi. I was forty years old last March.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when it was captured?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When were you wounded--before or after you surrendered?
Answer. Before.
Question. What happened to you after you were wounded?
Answer. I went down the hill after we surrendered; then they came down
and shot me again in my face, breaking my jaw-bone.
Question. How near was the man to you?
Answer. He shot me with a revolver, about ten or fifteen feet off.
Question. What happened to you then?
Answer. I laid down, and a fellow came along and turned me over and
searched my pockets and took my money. He said: "God damn his old soul;
he is sure dead now; he is a big, old, fat fellow."
Question. How long did you lay there?
Answer. About two hours.
Question. Then what was done with you?
Answer. They made some of our men carry me up the hill to a house that
was full of white men. They made us lie out doors all night, and said
that the next morning they would have the doctor fix us up. I went down
to a branch for some water, and a man said to me: "Old man, if you stay
here they will kill you, but if you get into the water till the boat
comes along they may save you;" and I went off. They shot a great many
that evening.
Question. The day of the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir. I heard them shoot little children not more than that
high, [holding his hand off about four feet from the floor,] that the
officers had to wait upon them.
Question. Did you see them shoot them?
Answer. I did not hold up my head.
Question. How did you know that they shot them then?
Answer. I heard them say, "Turn around so that I can shoot you good;"
and then I heard them fire, and then I heard the children fall over.
Question. Do you know that those were the boys that waited upon the
officers?
Answer. Yes, sir; one was named Dave, and the other was named Anderson.
Question. Did you see them after they were shot?
Answer. No, sir; they toted them up the hill before me, because they
were small. I never saw folks shot down so in my life.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Do you know of anybody being buried alive?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Do you know of any one being burned?
Answer. They had a whole parcel of them in a house, and I think they
burned them. The house was burned up, and I think they burned them in
it.
Question. Were the men in the house colored men?
Answer. No, sir. The rebels never would have got the advantage of us if
it had not been for the houses built there, and which made better
breastworks for them than we had. The major would not let us burn the
houses in the morning. If they had let us burn the houses in the
morning, I do not believe they would ever have whipped us out of that
place.
* * * * *
Manuel Nichols, (colored,) private, Company B, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were you in the late fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When?
Answer. I was wounded once about a half an hour before we gave up.
Question. Did they do anything to you after you surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir; they shot me in the head under my left ear, and the
morning after the fight they shot me again in the right arm. When they
came up and killed the wounded ones, I saw some four or five coming down
the hill. I said to one of our boys, "Anderson, I expect if those
fellows come here they will kill us." I was lying on my right side,
leaning on my elbow. One of the black soldiers went into the house where
the white soldiers were. I asked him if there was any water in there,
and he said yes; I wanted some, and took a stick and tried to get to the
house. I did not get to the house. Some of them came along, and saw a
little boy belonging to company D. One of them had his musket on his
shoulder, and shot the boy down. He said: "All you damned niggers come
out of the house; I am going to shoot you." Some of the white soldiers
said, "Boys, it is only death anyhow; if you don't go out they will come
in and carry you out." My strength seemed to come to me as if I had
never been shot, and I jumped up and ran down the hill. I met one of
them coming up the hill; he said "stop!" but I kept on running. As I
jumped over the hill, he shot me through the right arm.
Question. How many did you see them kill after they had surrendered?
Answer. After I surrendered I did not go down the hill. A man shot me
under the ear, and I fell down and said to myself, "If he don't shoot me
any more this won't hurt me." One of their officers came along and
hallooed, "Forrest says, no quarter! no quarter!" and the next one
hallooed, "Black flag! black flag!"
Question. What did they do then?
Answer. They kept on shouting. I could hear them down the hill.
Question. Did you see them bury anybody?
Answer. Yes, sir; they carried me around right to the corner of the
fort, and I saw them pitch men in there.
Question. Was there any alive?
Answer. I did not see them bury anybody alive.
Question. How near to you was the man who shot you under the ear?
Answer. Right close to my head. When I was shot in the side, a man
turned me over, and took my pocket-knife and pocket-book. I had some of
these brass things that looked like cents. They said, "Here's some
money; here's some money." I said to myself, "You got fooled that time."
* * * * *
Arthur Edwards, (colored,) private, company C, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In Mississippi.
Question. Were you in Fort Pillow when it was taken?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Tell what you saw there.
Answer. I was shot after I surrendered.
Question. When?
Answer. About half past four o'clock.
Question. Where were you when you were shot?
Answer. I was lying down behind a log.
Question. Where were you shot?
Answer. In the head first, then in the shoulder, then in my right wrist;
and then in the head again, about half an hour after that.
Question. How many men shot at you?
Answer. One shot at me three times, and then a lieutenant shot at me.
Question. Did they say anything when they shot you?
Answer. No, sir, only I asked them not to shoot me, and they said, "God
damn you, you are fighting against your master."
Question. How near was the man to you when he shot you?
Answer. He squatted down, and held his pistol close to my head.
Question. How near was the officer to you when he shot you?
Answer. About five or ten feet off; he was sitting on his horse.
Question. Who said you were fighting against your master?
Answer. The man that shot me.
Question. What did the officer say?
Answer. Nothing, but "you God damned nigger." A captain told him not to
do it, but he did not mind him; he shot me, and run off on his horse.
Question. Did you see the captain?
Answer. Yes, sir; he and the captain were side by side.
Question. Did you know the captain?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. How long did you stay there?
Answer. Until next morning about 9 o'clock.
Question. How did you get away?
Answer. When the gunboat commenced shelling I went down the hill, and
staid there until they carried down a flag of truce. Then the gunboat
came to the bank, and a secesh lieutenant made us go down to such a
place, and told us to go no further, or we would get shot again. Then
the gunboat men came along to bury the dead, and told us to go on the
boat.
Question. Did you see anybody shot after they had surrendered, besides
yourself?
Answer. Yes, sir; they shot one right by me, and lots of the 13th
Tennessee cavalry.
Question. After they had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Do you know whether any were buried alive?
Answer. Not that I saw.
Question. Did you see anybody buried?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you see anybody shot the day after the fight?
Answer. No, sir.
* * * * *
Charles Key, (colored,) private, company D, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In South Carolina.
Question. Have you been a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. In Tennessee.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What did you see done there after the fight was over?
Answer. I saw nothing, only the boys run down the hill, and they came
down and shot them.
Question. Were you wounded before or after you surrendered?
Answer. After the surrender, about 5 o'clock.
Question. Did you have your gun in your hands when you were wounded?
Answer. No, sir; I threw my gun into the river.
Question. How did they come to shoot you?
Answer. I was in the water, and a man came down and shot me with a
revolver.
Question. Did you see anybody else shot?
Answer. Yes, sir; right smart of them, in an old coal boat. I saw one
man start up the bank after he was shot in the arm, and then a fellow
knocked him back into the river with his carbine, and then shot him. I
did not go up the hill after I was shot. I laid in the water like I was
dead until night, and then I made up a fire and dried myself, and staid
there till the gunboat came along.
Question. Did they shoot you more than once?
Answer. No, sir.
* * * * *
Henry Christian, (colored,) private, company B, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In East Tennessee.
Question. Have you been a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. At Corinth, Mississippi.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When were you wounded?
Answer. A little before we surrendered.
Question. What happened to you afterwards?
Answer. Nothing; I got but one shot, and dug right out over the hill to
the river, and never was bothered any more.
Question. Did you see any men shot after the place was taken?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Where?
Answer. Down to the river.
Question. How many?
Answer. A good many; I don't know how many.
Question. By whom were they shot?
Answer. By secesh soldiers; secesh officers shot some up on the hill.
Question. Did you see those on the hill shot by the officers?
Answer. I saw two of them shot.
Question. What officers were they?
Answer. I don't know whether he was a lieutenant or captain.
Question. Did the men who were shot after they had surrendered have arms
in their hands?
Answer. No, sir; they threw down their arms.
Question. Did you see any shot the next morning?
Answer. I saw two shot; one was shot by an officer--he was standing,
holding the officer's horse, and when the officer came and got his horse
he shot him dead. The officer was setting fire to the houses.
Question. Do you say the man was holding the officer's horse, and when
the officer came and took his horse he shot the man down?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw that with my own eyes; and then I made away into
the river, right off.
Question. Did you see any buried?
Answer. Yes, sir; a great many, black and white.
Question. Did you see any buried alive?
Answer. I did not see any buried alive.
* * * * *
Aaron Fentis, (colored,) company D, 6th United States heavy artillery,
sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where were you from?
Answer. Tennessee.
Question. Have you been a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. At Corinth.
Question. Who was your captain?
Answer. Captain Carron.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What did you see done there?
Answer. I saw them shoot two white men, and two black men, after they
had surrendered.
Question. Are you sure they were shot after they had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir. Some were in the river swimming out a piece, when they
were shot; and they took another man by the arm, and held him up, and
shot him in the breast.
Question. Did you see any others shot?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw two wounded men shot the next morning; they were
lying down when the secesh shot them.
Question. Did the rebels say anything when they were shooting our men?
Answer. They said they were going to kill them all; and they would have
shot us all if the gunboat had not come along.
Question. Were you shot?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When?
Answer. After the battle, the same evening.
Question. Where were you shot?
Answer. Right through both legs.
Question. How many times were you shot?
Answer. Only once, with a carbine. The man stood right close by me.
Question. Where were you?
Answer. On the river bank.
Question. Had you arms in your hands?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. What did the man say who shot you?
Answer. He said they were going to kill us all.
Question. Did you see any men buried?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you see anybody burned?
Answer. No, sir; I did not see that. Where I was was a good piece off
from where they had the battle.
Question. Do you know how many of your company got away?
Answer. I do not think any of my company got away.
Question. How many were killed before they surrendered?
Answer. I don't know how many; a good many, I think.
Question. Would you have surrendered, if you had known what they were
going to do to you?
Answer. No, sir.
* * * * *
George Shaw, (colored,) private, company B, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In Tennessee.
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. At Fort Pillow.
Question. Were you there at the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When were you shot?
Answer. About four o'clock in the evening.
Question. After you had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Where were you at the time?
Answer. About ten feet from the river bank.
Question. Who shot you?
Answer. A rebel soldier.
Question. How near did he come to you?
Answer. About ten feet.
Question. What did he say to you?
Answer. He said, "Damn you, what are you doing here?" I said, "Please
don't shoot me." He said, "Damn you, you are fighting against your
master." He raised his gun and fired, and the bullet went into my mouth
and out the back part of my head. They threw me into the river, and I
swam around and hung on there in the water until night.
Question. Did you see anybody else shot?
Answer. Yes, sir; three young boys, lying in the water, with their heads
out; they could not swim. They begged them as long as they could, but
they shot them right in the forehead.
Question. How near to them were they?
Answer. As close as that stone, (about eight or ten feet.)
Question. How old were the boys?
Answer. Not more than fifteen or sixteen years old. They were not
soldiers, but contraband boys, helping us on the breastworks.
Question. Did you see any white men shot?
Answer. No, sir. I saw them shoot three men the next day.
Question. How far from the fort?
Answer. About a mile and a half; after they had taken them back as
prisoners.
Question. Who shot them?
Answer. Private soldiers. One officer said, "Boys, I will have you
arrested, if you don't quit killing them boys." Another officer said,
"Damn it, let them go on; it isn't our law to take any niggers
prisoners; kill every one of them." Then a white man took me to wait on
him a little, and sent me back to a house about two hundred yards, and
told me to stay all night. I went back and staid until about a half an
hour by sun. Another man came along and said, "If you will go home with
me I will take good care of you, if you will stay and never leave." I
did not know what to do, I was so outdone; so I said, "If you will take
care of me, I will go." He carried me out about three miles, to a place
called Bob Greene's. The one who took me there left me, and two others
came up, and said, "Damn you, we will kill you, and not be fooling about
any longer." I said, "Don't shoot me." One of them said, "Go out and
hold my horse." I made a step or two, and he said, "Turn around; I will
hold my horse, and shoot you, too." I no sooner turned around than he
shot me in the face. I fell down as if I was dead. He shot me again, and
hit my arm, not my head. I laid there until I could hear him no more,
and then I started back. I got back into Fort Pillow about sun up, and
wandered about there until a gunboat came along, and I came up on that
with about ten others.
* * * * *
Major Williams, (colored,) private, company B, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In Tennessee and North Mississippi.
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. In Memphis.
Question. Who was your captain?
Answer. Captain Lamburg.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Was your captain with you?
Answer. No, sir; I think he was in Memphis.
Question. Who commanded your company?
Answer. Lieutenant Hunter and Sergeant Fox were all the officers we had.
Question. What did you see done there?
Answer. We fought them right hard during the battle, and killed some of
them. After a time they sent in a flag of truce. They said afterwards
that they did it to make us stop firing until their re-enforcements
could come up. They said that they never could have got in if they had
not done that; that we had whipped them; that they had never seen such a
fight.
Question. Did you see the flag of truce?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What did they do when the flag of truce was in?
Answer. They kept coming up nearer and nearer, so that they could charge
quick. A heap of them came up after we stopped firing.
Question. When did you surrender?
Answer. I did not surrender until they all run.
Question. Were you wounded then?
Answer. Yes, sir; after the surrender.
Question. At what time of day was that?
Answer. They told me it was about half after one o'clock. I was wounded
immediately we retreated.
Question. Did you have any arms in your hands when they shot you?
Answer. No, sir; I was an artillery man, and had no arms.
Question. Did you see the man who shot you?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you hear him say anything?
Answer. No, sir; I heard nothing. He shot me, and it was bleeding pretty
free, and I thought to myself, "I will make out it was a dead shot, and
may be I will not get another."
Question. Did you see any others shot?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Was there anything said about giving quarter?
Answer. Major Bradford brought in a black flag, which meant no quarter.
I heard some of the rebel officers say: "You damned rascals, if you had
not fought us so hard, but had stopped when we sent in a flag of truce,
we would not have done anything to you." I heard one of the officers
say: "Kill all the niggers;" another one said: "No; Forrest says take
them and carry them with him to wait upon him and cook for him, and put
them in jail and send them to their masters." Still they kept on
shooting. They shot at me after that, but did not hit me; a rebel
officer shot at me. He took aim at my side; at the crack of his pistol I
fell. He went on and said: "There's another dead nigger."
Question. Was there any one shot in the hospital that day?
Answer. Not that I know of. I think they all came away and made a raft
and floated across the mouth of the creek, and got into a flat bottom.
Question. Did you see any buildings burned?
Answer. I staid in the woods all day Wednesday. I was there Thursday and
looked at the buildings. I saw a great deal left that they did not have
a chance to burn up. I saw a white man burned up who was nailed up
against the house.
Question. A private or an officer?
Answer. An officer; I think it was a lieutenant in the Tennessee
cavalry.
Question. How was he nailed?
Answer. Through his hands and feet right against the house.
Question. Was his body burned?
Answer. Yes, sir; burned all over--I looked at him good.
Question. When did you see that?
Answer. On the Thursday after the battle.
Question. Where was the man?
Answer. Right in front of the fort.
Question. Did any one else that you know see the body nailed up there?
Answer. There was a black man there who came up on the same boat I was
on.
Question. Was he with you then?
Answer. Yes, sir; and there were some five or six white people there,
too, from out in the country, who were walking over the place.
* * * * *
Alexander Nayron, (colored,) private, company C, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In Mississippi.
Question. Have you been a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. At Lagrange, last August.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time of the attack?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When were you wounded?
Answer. After the fight.
Question. About what time?
Answer. About three o'clock, I reckon.
Question. Where were you when you were wounded?
Answer. Down at the river, lying down by the side of a log. They came
there and told me to get up, and as I got up they shot me.
Question. Who shot you, an officer or private?
Answer. A private.
Question. How many times were you shot?
Answer. But once; they shot me in my head, and thought they had killed
me.
Question. Did you see any others shot there?
Answer. Yes, sir; several other black men with me.
Question. Did you see any small boys shot?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you go back from the river after you were shot?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. You remained there until you were brought away by the gunboat?
Answer. Yes, sir. I saw several of our boys shot while they were
fighting. They said, when they shot me, that they were allowed to kill
every damned nigger in the fort--not spare one.
Question. You saw nobody buried or burned?
Answer. No, sir; I saw them throw several in the water.
Question. Were they all dead that were thrown in?
Answer. Yes, sir; about dead.
* * * * *
Eli Carlton, (colored,) private, company B, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In East Tennessee.
Question. Have you been a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Who was your master?
Answer. Major Fleming. I was sold once; I have had two masters.
Question. Where did you join the army?
Answer. At Corinth, Mississippi, about a year ago.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time it was taken?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State what happened there.
Answer. I saw 23 men shot after they surrendered; I made 24; 17 of them
laid right around me dead, and 6 below me.
Question. Who shot them?
Answer. The rebels; some white men were killed.
Question. How many white men were killed?
Answer. Three or four.
Question. Killed by the privates?
Answer. Yes, sir; I did not see any officers kill any.
Question. Were the white men officers or privates?
Answer. Privates.
Question. Were the men who shot you near to you?
Answer. Yes, sir; ten or fifteen steps off.
Question. Were you shot with a musket or a pistol?
Answer. With a musket. I was shot once on the battle-field before we
surrendered. They took me down to a little hospital under the hill. I
was in the hospital when they shot me a second time. Some of our
privates commenced talking. They said, "Do you fight with these God
damned niggers?" they said, "Yes." Then they said, "God damn you, then,
we will shoot you," and they shot one of them right down. They said, "I
would not kill you, but, God damn you, you fight with these damned
niggers, and we will kill you;" and they blew his brains out of his
head. They then went around and counted them up; I laid there and made
18 who were there, and there were 6 more below me. I saw them stick a
bayonet in the small part of the belly of one of our boys, and break it
right off--he had one shot then.
Question. Did you see any of our men shot the next day?
Answer. No, sir; but I heard them shooting. I hid myself in the bushes
before the next morning. I left a fellow lying there, and they came down
and killed him during the night. I went down there the next morning and
he was dead.
Question. Did you see any of our folks buried by the rebels?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you see any buildings burned up?
Answer. Yes, sir; most all were burned up.
Question. Were any persons in them when they were burned?
Answer. I heard so. I went to the quarters and staid about a house
there. One of the rebels told me that he should take me out the next
morning and kill me. He went out and I slipped out into the bushes, and
laid there until the gunboat came. I saw them take the quartermaster;
they said, "Here is one of our men; let us take him up and fix him." A
white man told me the next day that they burned him.
Question. Was he wounded?
Answer. No, sir; he walked right straight. He had three stripes on his
arm. I knew him well; I worked with him. He was a small fellow, weak and
puny.
* * * * *
Sandy Cole, (colored,) private, company D, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where were you born?
Answer. In Tennessee.
Question. Have you been a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the late fight there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When were you wounded?
Answer. After I started down the hill, after the surrender. They shot me
through the thigh and through the arm.
Question. Who shot you?
Answer. A secesh private.
Question. How near was he to you?
Answer. About ten feet.
Question. Did he say anything to you?
Answer. No, sir. I went to the river and kept my body in the water, and
my head under some brush.
Question. Did you see anybody else shot?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw some of them shot right through the head.
Question. How many did you see shot?
Answer. Some seven or eight.
* * * * *
Jacob Thompson, (colored,) sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were you a soldier at Fort Pillow?
Answer. No, sir, I was not a soldier; but I went up in the fort and
fought with the rest. I was shot in the hand and the head.
Question. When were you shot?
Answer. After I surrendered.
Question. How many times were you shot?
Answer. I was shot but once; but I threw my hand up, and the shot went
through my hand and my head.
Question. Who shot you?
Answer. A private.
Question. What did he say?
Answer. He said, "God damn you, I will shoot you, old friend."
Question. Did you see anybody else shot?
Answer. Yes, sir; they just called them out like dogs, and shot them
down. I reckon they shot about fifty, white and black, right there. They
nailed some black sergeants to the logs, and set the logs on fire.
Question. When did you see that?
Answer. When I went there in the morning I saw them; they were burning
all together.
Question. Did they kill them before they burned them?
Answer. No, sir, they nailed them to the logs; drove the nails right
through their hands.
Question. How many did you see in that condition?
Answer. Some four or five; I saw two white men burned.
Question. Was there any one else there who saw that?
Answer. I reckon there was; I could not tell who.
Question. When was it that you saw them?
Answer. I saw them in the morning after the fight; some of them were
burned almost in two. I could tell they were white men, because they
were whiter than the colored men.
Question. Did you notice how they were nailed?
Answer. I saw one nailed to the side of a house; he looked like he was
nailed right through his wrist. I was trying then to get to the boat
when I saw it.
Question. Did you see them kill any white men?
Answer. They killed some eight or nine there. I reckon they killed more
than twenty after it was all over; called them out from under the hill,
and shot them down. They would call out a white man and shoot him down,
and call out a colored man and shoot him down; do it just as fast as
they could make their guns go off.
Question. Did you see any rebel officers about there when this was going
on?
Answer. Yes, sir; old Forrest was one.
Question. Did you know Forrest?
Answer. Yes, sir; he was a little bit of a man. I had seen him before at
Jackson.
Question. Are you sure he was there when this was going on?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you see any other officers that you knew?
Answer. I did not know any other but him. There were some two or three
more officers came up there.
Question. Did you see any buried there?
Answer. Yes, sir; they buried right smart of them. They buried a great
many secesh, and a great many of our folks. I think they buried more
secesh than our folks.
Question. How did they bury them?
Answer. They buried the secesh over back of the fort, all except those
on Fort hill; them they buried up on top of the hill where the gunboats
shelled them.
Question. Did they bury any alive?
Answer. I heard the gunboat men say they dug two out who were alive.
Question. You did not see them?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. What company did you fight with?
Answer. I went right into the fort and fought there.
Question. Were you a slave or a free man?
Answer. I was a slave.
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In old Virginia.
Question. Who was your master?
Answer. Colonel Hardgrove.
Question. Where did you live?
Answer. I lived three miles the other side of Brown's mills.
Question. How long since you lived with him?
Answer. I went home once and staid with him a while, but he got to
cutting up and I came away again.
Question. What did you do before you went into the fight?
Answer. I was cooking for Co. K, of Illinois cavalry; I cooked for that
company nearly two years.
Question. What white officers did you know in our army?
Answer. I knew Captain Meltop and Colonel Ransom; and I cooked at the
hotel at Fort Pillow, and Mr. Nelson kept it. I and Johnny were cooking
together. After they shot me through the hand and head, they beat up all
this part of my head (the side of his head) with the breech of their
guns.
* * * * *
Ransom Anderson, (colored,) Co. B, 6th United States heavy artillery,
sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In Mississippi.
Question. Were you a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. At Corinth.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Describe what you saw done there.
Answer. Most all the men that were killed on our side were killed after
the fight was over. They called them out and shot them down. Then they
put some in the houses and shut them up, and then burned the houses.
Question. Did you see them burn?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were any of them alive?
Answer. Yes, sir; they were wounded, and could not walk. They put them
in the houses, and then burned the houses down.
Question. Do you know they were in there?
Answer. Yes, sir; I went and looked in there.
Question. Do you know they were in there when the house was burned?
Answer. Yes, sir; I heard them hallooing there when the houses were
burning.
Question. Are you sure they were wounded men, and not dead, when they
were put in there?
Answer. Yes, sir; they told them they were going to have the doctor see
them, and then put them in there and shut them up, and burned them.
Question. Who set the house on fire?
Answer. I saw a rebel soldier take some grass and lay it by the door,
and set it on fire. The door was pine plank, and it caught easy.
Question. Was the door fastened up?
Answer. Yes, sir; it was barred with one of those wide bolts.
* * * * *
Sergeant W. P. Walker, (white,) sworn and examined:
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. In what capacity did you serve in the army?
Answer. I was a sergeant in the 13th Tennessee cavalry, company D.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time of the fight there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Will you state what took place there?
Answer. In the morning the pickets ran in. We were sent out a piece as
skirmishers. They kept us out about a couple of hours, and then we
retreated into the fort. The firing kept up pretty regular until about
two o'clock, when a flag of truce came in. While the flag of truce was
in, the enemy was moving up and taking their positions; they were also
pilfering and searching our quarters.
Question. They finally took the fort?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What happened then?
Answer. They just shot us down without showing us any quarter at all.
They shot me, for one, after I surrendered; they shot me in the arm, and
the shoulder, and the neck, and in the eye.
Question. How many times did they shoot you?
Answer. They shot me in the arm and eye after I surrendered; I do not
know when they shot me in the other places.
Question. Who shot you?
Answer. A private shot me with a pistol; there were a great many of us
shot.
Question. What reason did he give for shooting you after you had
surrendered?
Answer. A man came down the hill and said that General--some one; I
could not understand the name--said that they should shoot every one of
us, and take no prisoners, and then they shot us down.
Question. How did you escape?
Answer. They thought they had killed me. They searched my pockets half a
dozen times, or more, and took my pocket-book from me.
Question. Did you see anybody else shot after they had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw several shot right around me.
Question. Did they shoot all, colored and white?
Answer. They shot all where I was. When they turned in and went to
shooting the white men, they scattered and ran, and then they shot them
down.
Question. Did you see them do anything besides shooting them?
Answer. I saw some knock them over the heads with muskets, and some
stick sabres into them.
Question. Did you see anything of any burning or burying alive?
Answer. No, sir; I did not see that.
Question. Were any of the rebel officers about while this was going on?
Answer. Not where I was; I was down under the hill then. The niggers
first ran out of the fort, and then, when they commenced shooting us, we
ran down under the hill, and they followed us up and shot us. They came
back the next day and shot several wounded negroes.
Question. Did you see that?
Answer. I was lying in a house, but I heard the negroes begging, and
heard the guns fired; but I did not see it.
* * * * *
Jason Loudon, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment did you belong?
Answer. To company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When?
Answer. In the evening, after I surrendered.
Question. Where were you?
Answer. At the fort.
Question. State what happened when you were wounded.
Answer. Nothing; only they were going around shooting the men down. They
shot a sergeant by the side of me twice after he had surrendered.
Question. Who shot him?
Answer. A secesh private.
Question. How near was that to you?
Answer. About ten steps off.
Question. Did he say anything to him?
Answer. He commenced cursing, and said they were going to kill every one
of us.
Question. How many did you see shot after they had surrendered?
Answer. I saw five or six shot.
* * * * *
James Walls, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company did you belong?
Answer. Company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Under what officers did you serve?
Answer. I was under Major Bradford and Captain Potter.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State what you saw there of the fight, and what was done after
the place was captured.
Answer. We fought them for some six or eight hours in the fort, and when
they charged our men scattered and ran under the hill; some turned back
and surrendered, and were shot. After the flag of truce came in I went
down to get some water. As I was coming back I turned sick, and laid
down behind a log. The secesh charged, and after they came over I saw
one go a good ways ahead of the others. One of our men made to him and
threw down his arms. The bullets were flying so thick there I thought I
could not live there, so I threw down my arms and surrendered. He did
not shoot me then, but as I turned around he or some other one shot me
in the back.
Question. Did they say anything while they were shooting?
Answer. All I heard was, "Shoot him, shoot him!" "Yonder goes one!"
"Kill him, kill him!" That is about all I heard.
Question. How many do you suppose you saw shot after they surrendered?
Answer. I did not see but two or three shot around me. One of the boys
of our company, named Taylor, ran up there, and I saw him shot and fall.
Then another was shot just before me, like--shot down after he threw
down his arms.
Question. Those were white men?
Answer. Yes, sir. I saw them make lots of niggers stand up, and then
they shot them down like hogs. The next morning I was lying around there
waiting for the boat to come up. The secesh would be prying around
there, and would come to a nigger and say, "You ain't dead, are you?"
They would not say anything, and then the secesh would get down off
their horses, prick them in their sides, and say, "Damn you, you ain't
dead; get up." Then they would make them get up on their knees, when
they would shoot them down like hogs.
Question. Do you know of their burning any buildings?
Answer. I could hear them tell them to stick torches all around, and
they fired all the buildings.
Question. Do you know whether any of our men were in the buildings when
they were burned?
Answer. Some of our men said some were burned; I did not see it, or know
it to be so myself.
Question. How did they bury them--white and black together?
Answer. I don't know about the burying; I did not see any buried.
Question. How many negroes do you suppose were killed after the
surrender?
Answer. There were hardly any killed before the surrender. I reckon as
many as 200 were killed after the surrender, out of about 300 that were
there.
Question. Did you see any rebel officers about while this shooting was
going on?
Answer. I do not know as I saw any officers about when they were
shooting the negroes. A captain came to me a few minutes after I was
shot; he was close by me when I was shot.
Question. Did he try to stop the shooting?
Answer. I did not hear a word of their trying to stop it. After they
were shot down, he told them not to shoot them any more. I begged him
not to let them shoot me again, and he said they would not. One man,
after he was shot down, was shot again. After I was shot down, the man I
surrendered to went around the tree I was against and shot a man, and
then came around to me again and wanted my pocket-book. I handed it up
to him, and he saw my watch-chain and made a grasp at it, and got the
watch and about half the chain. He took an old Barlow knife I had in my
pocket. It was not worth five cents; was of no account at all, only to
cut tobacco with.
* * * * *
William L. McMichael, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment did you belong?
Answer. To Company D, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you shot after you had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir. They shot the most after they had surrendered. They
sent in a flag of truce for a surrender, and the major would not
surrender. They made a charge and took the fort, and then we threw down
our arms; but they just shot us down.
Question. Were you shot after you surrendered, or before?
Answer. Afterwards.
Question. How many times were you shot?
Answer. I was shot four times.
Question. Did you see any others shot?
Answer. I saw some shot; some negroes.
* * * * *
Isaac J. Leadbetter, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. To company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. How long have you been in the army?
Answer. Only about two mouths.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time of the fight there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Will you state what took place after the fort was taken?
Answer. They shot me after I surrendered. I saw them shoot down lots
after they surrendered. They would hold up their hands and cry to them
not to shoot, but they shot them just the same.
Question. How many do you suppose you saw shot after they had
surrendered?
Answer. More than twenty, I reckon.
Question. Did you hear of the rebels doing anything else to them beyond
shooting them?
Answer. I heard of their burning some, but I did not see it.
Question. How many times were you shot?
Answer. I was shot twice, and a ball slightly grazed my head.
Question. Were you shot after you had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you see the man who shot you?
Answer. I saw the man who shot me the last time in the side with a
revolver.
Question. Did he say anything to you?
Answer. He did not say anything until he shot me. He then came down to
where I was, and finding I was not dead, he cursed me, and said he would
shoot me again. He was fixing to shoot me again, when one of the boys
standing by told him not to shoot me again.
Question. Did they rob you after they had shot you?
Answer. Yes, sir; they took everything I had, even to my pocket-knife.
Question. You say you heard about the burning?
Answer. Yes, sir, I heard about it; but I did not see it.
Question. Did you see any of the rebel officers about while this
shooting was going on?
Answer. None there that I knew. I did not see them until they carried me
up on the bluff.
Question. Did they shoot any after they fell wounded?
Answer. I saw them shoot one man in the head after he fell.
* * * * *
D. W. Harrison, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company D, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. I had been driving a team and acting as a soldier. I took my gun
that morning and went out in line. They then wanted a train to haul some
ammunition and provisions in the fort. The rebels were throwing balls
around there. I kept hauling, I think five loads. The rest of the wagons
would not go back after they had hauled one load; and after I had hauled
five loads I concluded I would not haul any more. I went down under the
hill and got with two men there close under a log. It was but a few
minutes before the men came over the hill like sheep over a brush fence,
when I saw white men and negroes getting shot down. I threw up my hands
and said: "Don't shoot me; I surrender." One of them said: "Go on up the
hill." I started, but did not get more than two steps before I was shot
in the shoulder. I fell, and while I was undertaking to get up again I
was hit in the body; and this arm that was hit fell over behind me. A
rebel came along with a canteen, and I motioned to him and told him I
wanted a little water. He said: "Damn you; I have nothing for you
fellows. You Tennesseeans pretend to be men, and you fight side by side
with niggers. I have nothing for you." About that time another one came
up with his pistol drawn, and asked if I had any money. I told him I had
a little, and he told me to give it to him. I told him my shoulder was
hurt and he must take it himself. He turned me over and took about $90
and my watch. Another man, who _was_ a man, came along and brought me
some water.
Question. Did you see any others shot after they had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir. One of the two who was under the log with me was
killed. I don't know whether the other man was killed or not.
* * * * *
William A. Dickey, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when it was taken by the rebels?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. In what company and regiment?
Answer. Company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Will you state what happened there, especially after the fort
was taken?
Answer. After the breastworks were charged I first noticed the colored
soldiers throwing down their arms and running down the bluff. After the
rebs got inside the white troops saw that there was no mercy shown, and
they threw down their arms and ran down the bluff, too; and they were at
the same time shot and butchered. I ran myself, but carried my gun with
me down the bluff, and hid myself behind a tree close to the edge of the
river. I staid there some time, and saw my partner shot, and saw men
shot all around me. I saw one man shoot as many as four negroes just as
fast as he could load his gun and shoot. After doing this he came to me.
As he turned around to me, I begged him not to shoot me. He came to me
and I gave him my gun, and he took my caps, saying he wanted them to
kill niggers. I begged him to let me go with him, as I would be exposed
there; but he said "No, stay there." He made me stay there, and would
not let me go with him. Another man came along, and I asked him to spare
my life, and he did so. I asked him to let me go with him, but he
refused me and ordered me to stay with my wounded partner, who was lying
in some brush. I crawled in the brush to him. He was suffering very
much, and I unloosed his belt, and took his cartridge-box and put it
under his head. Some rebels under the hill spied us moving in the brush
and ordered us to come out. My partner could not come out, but I came
out. They ordered me to come to them. I started after one of them,
begging him at the same time not to shoot me. I went, I suppose, eight
or ten steps, when he shot me. I fell there, and saw but little more
after that. As I was lying with my face towards the river I saw some
swimming and drowning in the river, and I saw them shoot some in the
river after that.
* * * * *
Woodford Cooksey, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company A, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir; from 6 o'clock in the morning until about 4 o'clock in
the evening.
Question. State what took place after the fort was taken by the rebels.
Answer. There were a great many white men shot down, and a great many
negroes.
Question. That you saw?
Answer. That I saw myself.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. At what time?
Answer. After 4 o'clock; after we gave up.
Question. How came they to shoot you after you had surrendered?
Answer. I can't tell; it was about like shooting the balance of them.
Question. Do you know who shot you?
Answer. It was a white man. He shot me with a musket loaded with a
musket ball and three buck shot.
Question. Did you have any arms in your hands when you were shot?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did the one who shot you say anything to you?
Answer. I was lying down. He said, "Hand me up your money, you damned
son of a bitch." I only had four bits--two bits in silver and two in
paper. I handed it up to him. He said he had damned nigh a notion to hit
me in the head on account of staying there and fighting with the
niggers. He heard a rally about the bank and went down there. They were
shooting and throwing them in the river. A part of that night and the
next morning they were burning houses and burying the dead and stealing
goods. The next morning they commenced on the negroes again, and killed
all they came across, as far as I could see. I saw them kill eight or
ten of them the next morning.
Question. Do you know whether any wounded soldiers were burned in any of
those buildings?
Answer. I do not. I was not in any of the shanties after they were
fired.
Question. Did you see them bury any of the dead?
Answer. No, sir; I was lying outside of the fort.
Question. Did they bury the white and black together, as you understood?
Answer. Yes, sir; they were burying pretty much all night.
Question. How many whites and blacks do you suppose were killed after
they had surrendered?
Answer. I had a mighty poor chance of finding out. But I don't think
they killed less than 50 or 60, probably more; I cannot say how many. It
was an awful time, I know.
Question. How many did you see killed?
Answer. I saw them kill three white men and seven negroes the next
morning.
Question. Did you see them shoot any white men the day after the fight?
Answer. No, sir. I saw one of them shoot a black fellow in the head with
three buck shot and a musket ball. The man held up his head, and then
the fellow took his pistol and fired that at his head. The black man
still moved, and then the fellow took his sabre and stuck it in the hole
in the negro's head and jammed it way down, and said "Now, God damn you,
die!" The negro did not say anything, but he moved, and the fellow took
his carbine and beat his head soft with it. That was the next morning
after the fight.
* * * * *
Lieutenant McJ. Leming, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What is your rank and position?
Answer. I am a first lieutenant and adjutant of the 13th Tennessee
cavalry. A short time previous to the fight I was post adjutant at Fort
Pillow, and during most of the engagement I was acting as post adjutant.
After Major Booth was killed, Major Bradford was in command. The pickets
were driven in just before sunrise, which was the first intimation we
had that the enemy were approaching. I repaired to the fort, and found
that Major Booth was shelling the rebels as they came up towards the
outer intrenchments. They kept up a steady fire by sharpshooters behind
trees, and logs, and high knolls. The major thought at one time they
were planting some artillery, or looking for places to plant it. They
began to draw nearer and nearer, up to the time our men were all drawn
into the fort. Two companies of the 13th Tennessee cavalry were ordered
out as sharpshooters, but were finally ordered in. We were pressed on
all sides.
I think Major Booth fell not later than 9 o'clock. His adjutant, who was
then acting post adjutant, fell near the same time. Major Bradford then
took the command, and I acted as post adjutant. Previous to this, Major
Booth had ordered some buildings in front of the fort to be destroyed,
as the enemy's sharpshooters were endeavoring to get possession of them.
There were four rows of buildings, but only the row nearest the fort was
destroyed; the sharpshooters gained possession of the others before they
could be destroyed. The fight continued, one almost unceasing fire all
the time, until about three o'clock. They threw some shells, but they
did not do much damage with their shells.
I think it was about three o'clock that a flag of truce approached. I
went out, accompanied by Captain Young, the provost marshal of the post.
There was another officer, I think, but I do not recollect now
particularly who it was, and some four mounted men. The rebels announced
that they had a communication from General Forrest. One of their
officers there, I think, from his dress, was a colonel. I received the
communication, and they said they would wait for an answer. As near as I
remember, the communication was as follows:
"HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE CAVALRY,
"_Near Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864_.
"As your gallant defence of the fort has entitled you to the treatment
of brave men, (or something to that effect,) I now demand an
unconditional surrender of your force, at the same time assuring you
that they will be treated as prisoners of war. I have received a fresh
supply of ammunition, and can easily take your position.
"N. B. FORREST.
"Major L. F. BOOTH,
"_Commanding United States Forces_."
I took this message back to the fort. Major Bradford replied that he
desired an hour for consultation and consideration with his officers,
and the officers of the gunboat. I took out this communication to them,
and they carried it back to General Forrest. In a few minutes another
flag of truce appeared, and I went out to meet it. Some one said, when
they handed the communication to me, "That gives you 20 minutes to
surrender; I am General Forrest." I took it back. The substance of it
was: "Twenty minutes will be given you to take your men outside of the
fort. If in that time they are not out, I will immediately proceed to
assault your works," or something of that kind. To this Major Bradford
replied: "I will not surrender." I took it out in a sealed envelope, and
gave it to him. The general opened it and read it. Nothing was said; we
simply saluted, and they went their way, and I returned back into the
fort.
Almost instantly the firing began again. We mistrusted, while this flag
of truce was going on, that they were taking horses out at a camp we
had. It was mentioned to them, the last time that this and other
movements excited our suspicion, that they were moving their troops.
They said that they had noticed it themselves, and had it stopped; that
it was unintentional on their part, and that it should not be repeated.
It was not long after the last flag of truce had retired, that they made
their grand charge. We kept them back for several minutes. What was
called ---- brigade or battalion attacked the centre of the fort where
several companies of colored troops were stationed. They finally gave
way, and, before we could fill up the breach, the enemy got inside the
fort, and then they came in on the other two sides, and had complete
possession of the fort. In the mean time nearly all the officers had
been killed, especially of the colored troops, and there was no one
hardly to guide the men. They fought bravely, indeed, until that time. I
do not think the men who broke had a commissioned officer over them.
They fought with the most determined bravery, until the enemy gained
possession of the fort. They kept shooting all the time. The negroes ran
down the hill towards the river, but the rebels kept shooting them as
they were running; shot some again after they had fallen; robbed and
plundered them. After everything was all gone, after we had given up the
fort entirely, the guns thrown away and the firing on our part stopped,
they still kept up their murderous fire, more especially on the colored
troops, I thought, although the white troops suffered a great deal. I
know the colored troops had a great deal the worst of it. I saw several
shot after they were wounded; as they were crawling around, the secesh
would step out and blow their brains out.
About this time they shot me. It must have been four or half-past four
o'clock. I saw there was no chance at all, and threw down my sabre. A
man took deliberate aim at me, but a short distance from me, certainly
not more than 15 paces, and shot me.
Question. With a musket or pistol?
Answer. I think it was a carbine; it may have been a musket, but my
impression is that it was a carbine. Soon after I was shot I was robbed.
A secesh soldier came along, and wanted to know if I had any greenbacks.
I gave him my pocket-book. I had about a hundred dollars, I think, more
or less, and a gold watch and gold chain. They took everything in the
way of valuables that I had. I saw them robbing others. That seemed to
be the general way they served the wounded, so far as regards those who
fell in my vicinity. Some of the colored troops jumped into the river,
but were shot as fast as they were seen. One poor fellow was shot as he
reached the bank of the river. They ran down and hauled him out. He got
on his hands and knees, and was crawling along, when a secesh soldier
put his revolver to his head, and blew his brains out. It was about the
same thing all along, until dark that night.
I was very weak, but I finally found a rebel who belonged to a society
that I am a member of, (the Masons,) and he got two of our colored
soldiers to assist me up the hill, and he brought me some water. At that
time it was about dusk. He carried me up just to the edge of the fort,
and laid me down. There seemed to be quite a number of dead collected
there. They were throwing them into the outside trench, and I heard them
talking about burying them there. I heard one of them say, "There is a
man who is not quite dead yet." They buried a number there; I do not
know how many.
I was carried that night to a sort of little shanty that the rebels had
occupied during the day with their sharpshooters. I received no medical
attention that night at all. The next morning early I heard the report
of cannon down the river. It was the gunboat 28 coming up from Memphis;
she was shelling the rebels along the shore as she came up. The rebels
immediately ordered the burning of all the buildings, and ordered the
two buildings where the wounded were to be fired. Some one called to
the officer who gave the order and said there were wounded in them. The
building I was in began to catch fire. I prevailed upon one of our
soldiers who had not been hurt much to draw me out, and I think others
got the rest out. They drew us down a little way, in a sort of gulley,
and we lay there in the hot sun without water or anything.
About this time a squad of rebels came around, it would seem for the
purpose of murdering what negroes they could find. They began to shoot
the wounded negroes all around there, interspersed with the whites. I
was lying a little way from a wounded negro, when a secesh soldier came
up to him and said: "What in hell are you doing here?" The colored
soldier said he wanted to get on the gunboat. The secesh soldier said:
"You want to fight us again, do you? Damn you, I'll teach you," and drew
up his gun and shot him dead. Another negro was standing up erect a
little way from me; he did not seem to be hurt much. The rebel loaded
his gun again immediately. The negro begged of him not to shoot him, but
he drew up his gun and took deliberate aim at his head. The gun snapped,
but he fixed it again, and then killed him. I saw this. I heard them
shooting all around there--I suppose killing them.
By the chairman:
Question. Do you know of any rebel officers going on board our gunboat
after she came up?
Answer. I don't know about the gunboat, but I saw some of them on board
the Platte Valley, after I had been carried on her. They came on board,
and I think went in to drink with some of our officers. I think one of
the rebel officers was General Chalmers.
Question. Do you know what officers of ours drank with them?
Answer. I do not.
Question. You know that they did go on board the Platte Valley and drink
with some of our officers?
Answer. I did not see them drinking at the time, but I have no doubt
they did; that was my impression from all I saw, and I thought our
officers might have been in better business.
Question. Were our officers treating these rebel officers with
attention?
Answer. They seemed to be; I did not see much of it, as they passed
along by me.
Question. Do you know whether or not the conduct of the privates, in
murdering our soldiers after they had surrendered, seemed to have the
approval of their officers?
Answer. I did not see much of their officers, especially during the
worst of those outrages; they seemed to be back.
Question. Did you observe any effort on the part of their officers to
suppress the murders?
Answer. No, sir; I did not see any where I was first carried; just about
dusk, all at once several shots were fired just outside. The cry was:
"They are shooting the darkey soldiers." I heard an officer ride up and
say: "Stop that firing; arrest that man." I suppose it was a rebel
officer, but I do not know. It was reported to me, at the time, that
several darkeys were shot then. An officer who stood by me, a prisoner,
said that they had been shooting them, but that the general had had it
stopped.
Question. Do you know of any of our men in the hospital being murdered?
Answer. I do not.
Question. Do you know anything of the fate of your quartermaster,
Lieutenant Akerstrom?
Answer. He was one of the officers who went with me to meet the flag of
truce the last time. I do not know what became of him; that was about
the last I saw of him. I heard that he was nailed to a board and burned,
and I have very good reason for believing that was the case, although I
did not see it. The first lieutenant of company D of my regiment says
that he has an affidavit to that effect of a man who saw it.
Question. Have you any knowledge in relation to any of our men being
buried alive?
Answer. I have not, other than I have stated.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. How long had your regiment been in Fort Pillow?
Answer. We reached there the 8th of February. There were no other troops
there then, and we held the place alone for some time.
By the chairman:
Question. By whom were you ordered there?
Answer. By General W. S. Smith, chief of cavalry, and also by General
Hurlbut.
Question. What other troops were there at the time of the fight?
Answer. Four companies of the 6th United States heavy artillery,
colored, and a battery called now, I think, the 2d United States light
artillery. It was before the 1st Tennessee light artillery, colored.
Question. What was about the number of our force there?
Answer. Not far from 500 men.
Question. Do you know what became of Major Bradford?
Answer. He escaped unhurt, as far as the battle was concerned. I was
told the next morning on the boat that he had been paroled. I did not
see him after that night.
Question. Do you know why you were left unsupported, as you were, when
it was known that Forrest was in your vicinity?
Answer. I do not know why, unless it was thought that he would not
attack us. I think it was supposed that he was going to make an attack
on Memphis.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What do you estimate Forrest's force to have been?
Answer. From all I could see and learn, I should suppose he had from
7,000 to 10,000 men.
Question. Is there anything further you desire to state?
Answer. I heard some of the rebels talking during the night after the
fight. They said we ought to have surrendered when we had the
opportunity, but that they supposed the Yankees were afraid the colored
troops would not be treated as prisoners of war; and they intimated that
they would not be; and said it was bad enough to give to the "home-made
Yankees"--meaning the Tennessee soldiers--treatment as soldiers, without
treating the negroes so, too.
On the morning of the fight there was so much hurry and confusion that
our flag was not raised for a time; we had been firing away an hour
before I happened to notice that our flag was not up. I ordered it to be
raised immediately, and our troops set up vociferous cheers, especially
the colored troops, who entered into the fight with great energy and
spirit.
Question. How many officers of your regiment were left alive?
Answer. Only two, immediately after the surrender, that I know of. We
had ten officers in our regiment, and eight were in the battle, only two
of whom remained alive.
Question. Were those who were killed killed before or after the fort was
captured?
Answer. I don't know of but one who was killed before we were driven
from the fort.
Question. Was Captain Potter, who is now lying here unable to speak,
shot before or after the surrender?
Answer. He was shot in the early part of the engagement. I have been
told that Major Bradford was afterwards taken out by the rebels and
shot; that seems to be the general impression, and I presume it was so.
* * * * *
MOUND CITY, _April 23, 1864_.
Nathan G. Fulks, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company D, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Where are you from?
Answer. About twenty miles from Columbus, Tennessee.
Question. How long have you been in the service?
Answer. Five months, the 1st of May.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time of the fight there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Will you state what happened to you there?
Answer. I was at the corner of the fort when they fetched in a flag for
a surrender. Some of them said the major stood a while, and then said he
would not surrender. They continued to fight a while; and after a time
the major started and told us to take care of ourselves, and I and
twenty more men broke for the hollow. They ordered us to halt, and some
of them said, "God damn 'em, kill 'em! kill 'em!" I said, "I have
surrendered." I had thrown my gun away then. I took off my cartridge-box
and gave it to one of them, and said, "Don't shoot me;" but they did
shoot me, and hit just about where the shoe comes up on my leg. I begged
them not to shoot me, and he said, "God damn you, you fight with the
niggers, and we will kill the last one of you!" Then they shot me in the
thick of the thigh, and I fell; and one set out to shoot me again, when
another one said, "Don't shoot the white fellows any more."
Question. Did you see any person shot besides yourself?
Answer. I didn't see them shot. I saw one of our fellows dead by me.
Question. Did you see any buildings burned?
Answer. Yes, sir. While I was in the major's headquarters they commenced
burning the buildings, and I begged one of them to take me out and not
let us burn there; and he said, "I am hunting up a piece of yellow flag
for you." I think we would have whipped them if the flag of truce had
not come in. We would have whipped them if we had not let them get the
dead-wood on us. I was told that they made their movement while the flag
of truce was in. I did not see it myself, because I had sat down, as I
had been working so hard.
Question. How do you know they made their movement while the flag of
truce was in?
Answer. The men that were above said so. The rebs are bound to take
every advantage of us. I saw two more white men close to where I was
lying. That makes three dead ones, and myself wounded.
* * * * *
Francis A. Alexander, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company C, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the fight there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Who commanded your regiment?
Answer. Major Bradford commanded the regiment, and Lieutenant Logan
commanded our company.
Question. By what troops was the fort attacked?
Answer. Forrest was in command. I saw him.
Question. Did you know Forrest?
Answer. I saw him there, and they all said it was Forrest. Their own men
said so.
Question. By what troops was the charge made?
Answer. They were Alabamians and Texans.
Question. Did you see anything of a flag of truce?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State what was done while the flag of truce was in.
Answer. When the flag of truce came up our officers went out and held a
consultation, and it went back. They came in again with a flag of truce;
and while they were consulting the second time their troops were coming
up a gap or hollow, where we could have cut them to pieces. They tried
it before, but could not do it. I saw them come up there while the flag
of truce was in the second time.
Question. That gave them an advantage?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Not in the fort. I was wounded after I left the fort, and was
going down the hill.
Question. Was that before or after the fort was taken?
Answer. It was afterwards.
Question. Did you have any arms in your hand at the time they shot you?
Answer. No, sir. I threw my gun away, and started down the hill, and got
about twenty yards, when I was shot through the calf of the leg.
Question. Did they shoot you more than once?
Answer. No, sir; they shot at me, but did not hit me more than once.
Question. Did they say why they shot you after you had surrendered?
Answer. They said afterwards they intended to kill us all for being
there with their niggers.
Question. Were any rebel officers there at the time this shooting was
going on?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did they try to stop it?
Answer. One or two of them did.
Question. What did the rest of them do?
Answer. They kept shouting and hallooing at the men to give no quarter.
I heard that cry very frequent.
Question. Was it the officers that said that?
Answer. I think it was. I think it was them, the way they were going on.
When our boys were taken prisoners, if anybody came up who knew them,
they shot them down. As soon as ever they recognized them, wherever it
was, they shot them.
Question. After they had taken them prisoners?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you know anything about their shooting men in the
hospitals?
Answer. I know of their shooting negroes in there. I don't know about
white men.
Question. Wounded negro men?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Who did that?
Answer. Some of their troops. I don't know which of them. The next
morning I saw several black people shot that were wounded, and some that
were not wounded. One was going down the hill before me, and the officer
made him come back up the hill; and after I got in the boat I heard them
shooting them.
Question. You say you saw them shoot negroes in the hospital the next
morning?
Answer. Yes, sir; wounded negroes who could not get along; one with his
leg broke. They came there the next day and shot him.
Question. Do you know anything about their burning buildings and the
hospital?
Answer. I expect they burned the hospital after we got out. They said
they would not while we wounded ones were in there. The hospital we were
in was standing when I went down the hill on the boat.
Question. You don't know what happened to it afterwards?
Answer. I don't.
Question. Something has been said about men being nailed to the
buildings, and then burned. Do you know anything about that?
Answer. No, sir; I did not see that, but I heard some of them say they
drove the negroes into the houses and then burned them.
Question. Did you see anything about their burying them?
Answer. No, sir.
* * * * *
Wiley Robinson, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What State are you from?
Answer. Tennessee.
Question. When did you enlist?
Answer. I think about eight months ago.
Question. How old are you?
Answer. Eighteen years old the 19th of next May.
Question. What regiment and company were you in?
Answer. Company A, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time of the attack there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State all about that; when it was, &c.
Answer. I was wounded once in the hand before I surrendered.
Question. Were you shot afterwards?
Answer. Yes, sir; six times. I was shot twice in the foot, twice in the
legs, and twice in the hands.
Question. Had you arms in your hands when they shot you?
Answer. We had retreated to the river bank and thrown down our arms.
Question. What did they say when they shot you?
Answer. They swore at us, and then shot us.
Question. Did you see any of the rebel officers there?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw some, who came round and told them to kill us
all.
Question. Did you see them shoot anybody else besides yourself?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw them shoot one white man close beside me.
Question. Did they shoot you after you were down?
Answer. Yes, sir; through the leg with a musket.
Question. Did you see any negroes shot?
Answer. No, sir; I did not see any. I fell after they shot me, and did
not see much.
Question. Were you there the next day after the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir; they took me on board the boat the next day about ten
o'clock.
Question. Do you know whether they killed any persons in the hospital?
Answer. I know they killed one of our company in the hospital. They said
they fired into the hospital.
Question. Do you know anything about their burying anybody alive?
Answer. No, sir.
* * * * *
Daniel Stamps, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. What was your position?
Answer. I was the company commissary sergeant.
Question. Where do you reside?
Answer. In Lauderdale county, Tennessee.
Question. What was your occupation?
Answer. I was a farmer.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when the fight was there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State what happened there.
Answer. The first thing, I went out sharpshooting, and was out about two
hours, and then was ordered in the fort. I staid there, I reckon, about
an hour. Then I was called out by Lieutenant Akerstrom to go down
alongside the bluff sharpshooting again, because the rebels were coming
down Cold creek. We staid there all the time until they charged into the
fort. Then they all ran down under the hill, and we went down under the
hill too. I reckon we staid there close on to an hour. They were
shooting continually. I saw them shooting the white men there who were
on their knees, holding up their hands to them. I saw them make another
man get down on his knees and beg of them, and they did not shoot him. I
started out to go up the hill, and just as I started I was shot in the
thigh. Pretty well towards the last of it, before I got shot, while I
was down under the hill, a rebel officer came down right on top of the
bluff, and hallooed out to them to shoot and kill the last damned one of
us.
Question. Do you know the rank of that officer?
Answer. I do not. I can't tell them as I can our officers. Their uniform
is different. I went round on the hill then. I heard several of them say
it was General Forrest's orders to them to shoot us and give us no
quarter at all. I don't know whether they were officers who said so or
not. I don't recollect anything else particularly that I saw that night.
The next morning they came round there again, shooting the negroes that
were wounded. I saw them shoot some 20 or 25 negroes the next morning
who had been wounded, and had been able to get up on the hill during the
night. They did not attempt to hurt us white men the next morning.
Question. Were any of their officers with the men who were round
shooting the negroes the next morning?
Answer. One passed along on horseback, the only one I saw. He rode along
while they were shooting the negroes, and said nothing to them. I said,
"Captain, what are you going to do with us wounded fellows?" He said
they were going to put us on the gunboats, or leave us with the
gunboats. He had a feather in his cap, and looked like he might have
been a captain. I don't know what he was. He was the only man I saw pass
that looked like an officer while they were shooting the negroes.
Question. Where were you when the flags of truce were sent in?
Answer. I was down under the bluff sharpshooting.
Question. Is there anything else that you think of important to state?
Answer. I don't know that there is.
* * * * *
James P. Meador, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company A, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Do you live in Tennessee?
Answer. Yes, sir; I am a native of the State.
Question. Were you in Fort Pillow at the time of the attack there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir; twice.
Question. When?
Answer. Once before I surrendered and once afterwards.
Question. Did you see anybody shot besides yourself after he
surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw lots of negroes shot, and some few white men,
and I heard them shoot a great many. I was lying down under the bank.
Question. What were our men doing when they were shot?
Answer. They were begging for quarter when they shot them.
Question. Did you see any of them shot while begging for quarter?
Answer. Yes, sir; I heard an officer say, "Don't show the white men any
more quarter than the negroes, because they are no better, and not so
good, or they would not fight with the negroes." I saw them make one of
our company sergeants kneel down and ask for quarter, and another secesh
soldier came up and snapped his pistol at him twice; but they told him
not to shoot him. I saw them shoot others when they were kneeling down.
* * * * *
W. J. Mays, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you in Fort Pillow when it was attacked?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State what happened there.
Answer. They attacked us about six o'clock in the morning. Sharpshooting
commenced early afterwards, and kept coming closer and closer until the
skirmishers were drawn in about ten o'clock. After that they made
several efforts to gain the fort, and could not get the position. Under
this last flag of truce they gained the position they had been trying to
get all day.
Question. Did you see them moving their troops when the flag of truce
was in?
Answer. Yes, sir; I showed it to the boys.
Question. What was the movement?
Answer. The place was pretty well surrounded, but they were not on the
ground they had been trying to get all day. Under that flag of truce
they gained the place, some 75 yards from the fort, and placed
themselves under logs, with a better position.
Question. Are you sure this movement was made while the flag of truce
was in?
Answer. I know it.
Question. Did others see it?
Answer. Yes, sir; two boys near me, who were both taken prisoners.
Question. Was anything said about it at the time?
Answer. We spoke of it among ourselves at the time. We remarked that
under the flag of truce they were only gaining the position they had
been trying for all day. I was shot in the charge on the fort. The place
was then taken. I would not have fallen then, but our men after
surrendering found no quarter shown them, and they flew down the bluff
and ran over me and kept me down for some time, until I bled so that I
could not get up. I saw them shoot a great many after they surrendered.
I saw them shoot four white men and at least 25 blacks, some of them
within 20 feet of me, while they were begging for quarter. They pulled
one out of a hollow log by the foot and held him, when another shot him
close by me. There were two negro women, and three little boys, some 8,
9 or 12 years old, about 25 steps from me. The secesh ran upon them and
cursed them, and said, "Damn them;" they thought they were free to shoot
them. All fell but one, a little fellow, and they took the breech of a
gun and knocked him down. Then they followed up the men that were trying
to get away down the bluff, and some hours afterwards they came back
searching their pockets. They came on back then, looking over them, and
I saw one man with a canteen and asked him for a drink of water. His
reply was to turn on me with his pistol presented and shoot at me three
times, saying, "God damn you; I will give you water." But he didn't hit
me, though he threw the dirt over my face. I concluded it was best to
lie still, and didn't move any more until after dark, and then I crawled
in with some of the dead and laid there until about 9 o'clock the next
morning, when the gunboat came up, and I crawled down on the gunboat
with a piece of white paper in my left hand, and made signs, and the
boat came ashore and I got on the boat. The general cry from the time
they charged the fort until an hour afterwards was, "Kill 'em; kill 'em;
God damn 'em; that's Forrest's orders, not to leave one alive." They
were burning the buildings. They came with a chunk of fire to burn the
building where I was in with the dead. They looked in and said, "These
damned sons of bitches are all dead," and went off. I heard guns the
next morning, but I was in there with the dead, and didn't see them
shoot anybody.
Question. Did you see any of the men in the fort shot after they had
surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw four white men and 25 negroes that I spoke of
that were shot in the fort. The white men didn't commence flying from
the fort, though they threw their guns down, until they saw there was no
quarter shown them.
* * * * *
James McCoy sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where do you reside?
Answer. When I am suffered to live at home I live in Tennessee.
Question. You don't belong to the army?
Answer. No, sir; but I have been with the regiment six months. The head
officers were old acquaintances of mine. I once lived with Major
Bradford.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time the attack was made?
Answer. Yes, sir; I was in Fort Pillow at headquarters.
Question. Will you tell us what you observed there?
Answer. About daylight in the morning part of the pickets came in and
said the rebels had captured some of the pickets and were coming. I had
not got out of bed then. Major Bradford was up immediately the alarm was
given. I had had my hands mashed a few days before. Major Bradford told
me I had better go on the gunboat, as I would be in the way because I
could not hold a gun. I went on board the gunboat, and about sunrise the
firing commenced. The gunboat immediately played up and down the river,
where I could see everything going on at the fort. I could not see over
the bluff. Major Bradford had a flag and stood on the edge of the bluff
and motioned to the gunboat where to throw their shells. We had a great
many guns on the boat, and about 20 used their guns all the time. The
rebel sharpshooters would come over the hill and shoot at the boat and
everybody that passed.
Question. Where were you when the flag of truce came in?
Answer. I was on the boat.
Question. What did you see?
Answer. As soon as the flag of truce came in the gunboat stopped firing.
It was about 3 o'clock when it came in, and while it was in the enemy
were creeping up constantly, sharpshooters and all, nearer and nearer. I
saw a great many creeping on their hands and feet, getting up to the
hill close to the fort. I don't know what was back of that. Some men in
the fort told me that they had advanced and got close to the fort before
the flag of truce was taken out. I saw them gathering around there all
the time, and all that time they were stealing from the commissary's
stores blankets and everything else they could get at. I reckon I saw
200 men climbing the hill with as much as they could carry on their
backs, shoes, &c.
Question. Why did our officers permit that without firing on them?
Answer. The gunboat, I think, was almost out of ammunition and had
nothing to shoot; and none of them supposed the gunboat would stop
shooting, but she ran out of ammunition.
Question. Were you there until the place was taken?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What happened after that?
Answer. About the time the rebels got over the fort there was just a
cloud of them, our men in the fort running out. About 500 secesh
cavalry, as well as I could see, came up and turned in to shooting them
down just as fast as they could. I heard a great deal of screaming and
praying for mercy. The negroes took a scare from that and ran down the
hill and into the river, but they kept shooting them. I was not more
than 400 yards off, on the gunboat. I don't suppose one of them got more
than 30 yards into the river before they were shot. The bullets rained
as thick in the water as you ever saw a hailstorm.
Question. Were those men armed who were shot?
Answer. No, sir; they threw down their arms.
Question. How many were shot?
Answer. I don't know how many. They lay thick there the next morning,
beside those they had buried.
Question. You came back there the next morning?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What do you know about their burying men who were not dead?
Answer. I don't know anything myself, only what I heard.
Question. Did you go up there where they had buried them?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. What did you hear about it?
Answer. I heard one of them say that he saw where a negro was buried,
and saw a large mass of foam and dirt where somebody had been breathing
through the earth. He brushed it off and saw a negro there still
breathing. I saw one or two who looked as if they had been buried when
they came on board. I heard one ask them if they had been buried, and
they said "Very near it." I don't think they were wounded. One of them
had been in the dirt. I don't know whether he played dead and was buried
or not.
Question. Do you know anything of their killing the men in the hospital?
Answer. Not of my own seeing. Mr. Akerstrom was in his office down under
the hill after the flag of truce was in, and made some signs for us to
come to him. Since that time I have been told that they wounded him and
then nailed him to a door and burned him up, but I didn't see that
myself.
Question. When did you hear about this nailing to a building and burning
him up?
Answer. Since we came up here.
Question. Were you on board the gunboat the next day when some of the
rebel officers came on board?
Answer. I was on board the Platte Valley.
Question. Did they come with a flag of truce?
Answer. A flag of truce was hoisted, and when we got in to the shore
some of the rebel officers came on board the Platte Valley.
Question. How were they received by our officers?
Answer. Just as though there had been no fight. Some of the officers on
the Platte Valley took one of the rebel officers up to the bar and
treated him, and some would ask the rebel officers what made them treat
our men as they did. He said they intended to treat all home-made
Yankees just as they did the negroes. I went to Captain Marshall and
asked him to let me shoot him. He said that the flag of truce was up,
and it would be against the rules of war to shoot him.
Question. Do you know what officers treated him?
Answer. I don't know; they were all strangers to me. The gunboat first
landed, and then the transport Platte Valley came up and took the
prisoners, and then another boat came up and laid alongside of her. The
three lay there together.
Question. Do you know of anything further on the subject that is
important?
Answer. I don't think of anything now.
* * * * *
William E. Johnson, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what regiment do you belong?
Answer. I am a sergeant of company B, of the 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time of the attack there?
Answer. No, sir; I was at Memphis. I came up to Fort Pillow the morning
after the fight, on the Platte Valley, within some six or eight miles
below Fort Pillow, and then got on the gunboat 28.
Question. Did you go on shore at Fort Pillow?
Answer. No, sir; I saw some of the rebel officers come down and go on
board the Platte Valley; and some of our officers were drinking with
them, and making very free with them. I did not particularly notice what
rank, but I took them to be captains and lieutenants.
Question. Did you hear the conversation between them?
Answer. They were making very free with one another, joking, talking,
and running on. I did not feel right to see such going on, and did not
go about them.
* * * * *
John W. Shelton, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. I was born in Arkansas, but raised principally in Tennessee.
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when the attack was made there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Before or after the surrender?
Answer. It was after I surrendered.
Question. Where were you when you were shot?
Answer. I was under the hill, going up the hill.
Question. What did they say when they shot you?
Answer. I asked them if they did not respect prisoners of war; they
said "no, they did not," and kept on shooting; and they popped three or
four caps in my face with a revolver after they had wounded me.
Question. Did you see them shoot any others after they had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir, lots of them; negroes and white men both. They shot
them down wherever they came to them.
Question. Were you there the next day after the battle?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you see them shoot anybody the next day?
Answer. I saw them shoot negroes, not white men.
Question. How many did you see them shoot that day?
Answer. I saw them shoot five or six on the hill where I was; they said
they shot all they could find.
Question. Were you in the hospital there?
Answer. I was in a house there with the wounded.
Question. Did you see them kill anybody there that was wounded?
Answer. They took two negroes out and shot them.
Question. Did you see them burn any buildings the wounded were in?
Answer. Not the one we were in. I was told they fired some buildings
that wounded negroes were in.
Question. Were you where they buried any of the killed?
Answer. I saw them bury some in a ditch in the evening.
Question. Did they separate the whites from the blacks?
Answer. I cannot tell; I was not close enough. I saw them carry them
there and throw them in the ditch.
Question. Did you hear anything about their nailing a man to a building
and then setting it on fire?
Answer. I heard of it, but did not see it.
Question. When did you hear of it?
Answer. After I came up here.
* * * * *
John F. Ray, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when it was attacked?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. At what time were you wounded?
Answer. I was wounded about 2 o'clock, after the rebels got in the
breastworks.
Question. Was it before or after you had surrendered?
Answer. It was after I threw down my gun, as they all started to run.
Question. Will you state what you saw there?
Answer. After I surrendered they shot down a great many white fellows
right close to me--ten or twelve, I suppose--and a great many negroes,
too.
Question. How long did they keep shooting our men after they
surrendered?
Answer. I heard guns away after dark shooting all that evening,
somewhere; they kept up a regular fire for a long time, and then I heard
the guns once in a while.
Question. Did you see any one shot the next day?
Answer. I did not; I was in a house, and could not get up at all.
Question. Do you know what became of the quartermaster of your regiment,
Lieutenant Akerstrom?
Answer. He was shot by the side of me.
Question. Was he killed?
Answer. I thought so at the time; he fell on his face. He was shot in
the forehead, and I thought he was killed. I heard afterwards he was
not.
Question. Did you notice anything that took place while the flag of
truce was in?
Answer. I saw the rebels slipping up and getting in the ditch along our
breastworks.
Question. How near did they come up?
Answer. They were right at us; right across from the breastworks. I
asked them what they were slipping up there for. They made answer that
they knew their business.
Question. Are you sure this was done while the flag of truce was in?
Answer. Yes, sir. There was no firing; we could see all around; we could
see them moving up all around in large force.
Question. Was anything said about it except what you said to the rebels?
Answer. I heard all our boys talking about it. I heard some of our
officers remark, as they saw it coming, that the white flag was a bad
thing; that they were slipping on us. I believe it was Lieutenant
Akerstrom that I heard say it was against the rules of war for them to
come up in that way.
Question. To whom did he say that?
Answer. To those fellows coming up; they had officers with them.
Question. Was Lieutenant Akerstrom shot before or after he had
surrendered?
Answer. About two minutes after the flag of truce went back, during the
action.
Question. Do you think of anything else to state? If so, go on and state
it.
Answer. I saw a rebel lieutenant take a little negro boy up on the horse
behind him; and then I heard General Chalmers--I think it must have
been--tell him to "take that negro down and shoot him," or "take him and
shoot him," and he passed him down and shot him.
Question. How large was the boy?
Answer. He was not more than eight years old. I heard the lieutenant
tell the other that the negro was not in the service; that he was
nothing but a child; that he was pressed and brought in there. The other
one said: "Damn the difference; take him down and shoot him, or he would
shoot him." I think it must have been General Chalmers. He was a
smallish man; he had on a long gray coat, with a star on his coat.
* * * * *
Daniel H. Rankin, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company C, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the late attack there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Will you state what happened there?
Answer. The worst thing I saw was the rebels moving up on us while the
flag of truce was up at the fort. One part of their army moved right up
on the brink of the ditch, and when the firing began, they rushed right
into the fort. Before that the rebels were off two or three hundred
yards. They tried twice to make a charge, but they did not succeed; they
did not get within twenty or thirty steps of the fort then. I saw a
great many men shot after they surrendered, white and black both.
Question. Are you sure you saw the rebels moving up towards the fort
while the flag of truce was in?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw them.
Question. When were you shot?
Answer. After I surrendered.
Question. Where were you when you were shot?
Answer. About half way down the bluff.
Question. Had you your gun when you were shot?
Answer. No, sir; if I had had my gun I would have shot the fellow who
shot me. He was not more than ten steps from me. He was loading his gun,
and I saw him shoot a man near me. As he fired at him I threw myself
over the bluff, catching hold of a little locust. He aimed at my body
and hit me in the leg. I then dropped down and got into the river, and
afterwards got out and crawled behind a stump with two of my company.
Some darkeys came there, and we told them to go away; we saw the rebels
were shooting them, and we allowed if they were not with us we might get
clear. I went back to where I was shot, and some fellow fired at us, but
did not hit us. We begged him not to shoot; that the place was
surrendered to them. One of our fellows threw up his hands, but they
fired at him and hit his arm. We were carried out about two miles from
the fort and then paroled.
Question. How long did you stay where you had been carried out from the
fort?
Answer. I staid there some eighteen or twenty hours; from about 8
o'clock at night to about 4 o'clock the next evening. In that time my
wound was dressed, and I was paroled somewhere between 3 and 5 o'clock.
I got three of the rebels to help me up about a half a mile to a
citizen's house, for I was not able to walk. I found out that the
gunboat had a flag of truce, and I got an old man then in the house to
saddle up a horse and carry me to the fort. Two rebel doctors went along
with me. When we got there a rebel lieutenant colonel took my parole
from me, said it was forged, and that he was going to take me back. The
doctors told him my parole was right, and that I was not able to travel.
They took me down to the gunboat No. 28, and then I went from that boat
to gunboat No. 7, and then I went on the flag-ship.
* * * * *
Lieutenant William Clary, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your rank and position in the service?
Answer. I am second lieutenant of company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when it was attacked?
Answer. No, sir; I was sent to Memphis the day before, and returned to
Fort Pillow the morning after the fight. I came up on gunboat No. 28.
The rebels were at Fulton, about two miles and a half below Fort Pillow.
We fired at them, and the rebels at Fort Pillow heard it, and thought we
were bringing up re-enforcements, and then they set the town on fire.
Question. When did you get up there?
Answer. Early in the morning, or little after daylight.
Question. When did you land at Fort Pillow?
Answer. We got there about 8 o'clock in the morning, and shelled there
an hour or so. The rebels were occupying the fort in large numbers. By
and by the rebels came down with a flag of truce, and I went on shore to
see what was wanting. One of the officers of the 6th United States heavy
artillery said he did not like to go on shore for fear the rebels would
kill him. I went on shore with one of the naval officers and saw General
Forrest's adjutant general, Major Anderson. He said if we would
recognize the parole of Forrest we might take our wounded on the
gunboat; and that was agreed upon. I rode all around the battle-ground,
and saw some of our dead half buried, and I saw five negroes burning. I
asked Colonel Chalmers, the general's brother, if that was the way he
allowed his men to do. He concluded that he could not control his men
very well, and thought it was justifiable in regard to negroes; that
they did not recognize negroes as soldiers, and he could not control his
men. I did not see any white men burning there; if there were any, I
did not recognize them as such. Their faces were burned, and some of
them were sticking out of the tents and houses with their clothes partly
burned. The negroes were lying upon the boards and straw in the tents
which had been set on fire. It seemed to me as if the fire could not
have been set more than half an hour before. Their flesh was frying off
them, and their clothes were burning.
Question. How many did you see in that condition?
Answer. I saw five.
Question. Did they burn the hospital?
Answer. I saw the hospital burning, but I do not know whether they moved
the sick out or not before they burned it. I understood the rebels went
in where there were some 20 or 30 negroes sick, and hacked them over
their heads with sabres and shot them. The negroes had been moved from
the heights up on the hill into two large tents by us; but I do not
think our men had been moved up there. I went through the hospital tents
up there the morning before I started down to Memphis, and saw them full
of colored troops. Dr. Fitch told me that he had his hospital flag on
every bush around the bottom of the hill. At the commencement of the
fight the major had told him to take his instruments and his medicines
down under the bluff and stick up flags there, and have the wounded
taken down to him. But the doctor said they did not notice his flags at
all; that some of his patients were wounded there. He was wounded
himself and taken prisoner and paroled.
Question. Did you see them shoot any colored men that morning?
Answer. I saw them shoot one man just before we landed with the flag of
truce. An escort of about 20 men rode up to a livery stable and set it
on fire. The gunboat fired at them but did not hit them, and they got on
their horses and rode off at a trot. There were some paths down the
hill, and a man came along down one of them; I saw them halt; the
foremost one, an officer I think, pulled out a revolver and shot very
deliberately at this man, and then they galloped off in quick time. He
did not kill the man, however, for I saw him walking along afterwards. I
do not know whether the man was white or black.
Question. Did you hear anything of their nailing men to a building and
then burning it?
Answer. Yes, sir; I heard of it. And I heard a lady say that a man was
nailed to a building that was burned. She said she was well acquainted
with Lieutenant Akerstrom before the fight took place. Some one asked
why he was not buried. Some of the rebels said he was a damned conscript
that had run away from Forrest. But I never heard Lieutenant Akerstrom
say any such thing.
Question. Who was that lady?
Answer. Mrs. Ruffin, the wife of Thomas Ruffin.
Question. Where is she now?
Answer. I think she is at Cairo now. Her husband did not get wounded,
but he was sick. I heard an ensign on gunboat 28 invite General Chalmers
and some of his aides-de-camp to come on board the gunboat, and I saw
Major Anderson and several other confederate officers on the Platte
Valley drinking at the bar, and I saw a couple of army officers drinking
there with them, and there might have been some naval officers with them
too, but I am not certain of that. The clerk of the Platte Valley,
General Forrest's adjutant general, Major Anderson, and an ensign of
gunboat 28, took the names of the paroles. I did not take the names
myself, because I was busily engaged going over the battle-field to find
out if any of our men were left alive. I heard a great many rebel
soldiers say they did not intend to recognize those black devils as
soldiers. They said this to me as I was speaking about the slaughter
there. They also expressed the opinion that if we had not been fighting
with black troops they would not have hurt us at all; but they did not
intend to give any quarter to negroes.
* * * * *
Dr. Stewart Gordon, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your position?
Answer. Acting assistant surgeon, United States army.
Question. Where are you now stationed?
Answer. I have charge of ward N, Mound City general hospital.
Question. Is that the ward in which are the colored men we first
examined yesterday?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Have you prepared a statement of the condition of the men in
that ward whose testimony we have taken?
Answer. I have it here; it is a brief history of their cases, where they
were wounded, how they were wounded, and the condition they are
in.--(Appendix to this deposition.)
Question. Were you here in the hospital when those men were brought in?
Answer. I was.
Question. Had you any conversation with them then?
Answer. Yes, sir; with the greater part of them.
Question. Did you hear their testimony yesterday?
Answer. I did.
Question. Did the statements they made to us correspond with the
statements they made to you when they were first brought here?
Answer. They did.
Question. So far as you can judge, from your experience as a medical
man, are their statements in relation to their injuries corroborated by
the appearance of the injuries themselves?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How many of those men have died since they have been received
here?
Answer. Only one in my ward.
Question. How many are there now who you think will not recover?
Answer. I think there are three who will not recover; perhaps more.
* * * * *
_Ward N._--Private Elias Falls, company A, 1st Alabama artillery, shot
in arm while fighting, shot in thigh after being prisoner, flesh wound,
condition favorable; Private Duncan Harden, company A, 1st Alabama
artillery, shot in arm while fighting, arm broke, shot in thigh after
being prisoner, flesh wound, favorable; Private Nathan Hunter, company
D, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in side and hip after surrender, flesh
wound, condition favorable; Sergeant Benjamin Robinson, company D, 1st
Alabama artillery, shot in thigh and right leg after surrender, flesh
wound, favorable; Private Daniel Tylor, company B, 1st Tennessee
artillery, shot in right shoulder, shot in right eye after surrender,
destroying sight, unfavorable; Private John Haskins, company B, 1st
Tennessee artillery, shot in left arm after surrender, flesh wound,
slight, favorable; Private Thomas Adison, company C, 1st Alabama
artillery, shot in nose and right eye after surrender, destroying sight,
unfavorable; Private Alfred Flake, company A, 1st Alabama artillery,
shot in left hand while lying sick in hospital, flesh wound,
unfavorable; Private Manuel Nichols, company B, 1st Alabama artillery,
shot in left side before, and right arm after surrender, flesh wound,
serious, unfavorable; Private Arthur Edmonds, company C, 1st Alabama
artillery, shot in head and right arm after surrender, causing fracture
of arm, condition favorable; Private Henry Hanks, company A, 1st Alabama
artillery, shot in left side after surrender, wound serious, condition
unfavorable; Private Charles Key, company D, 1st Alabama artillery, shot
in right arm after surrender, fracture of arm, condition favorable;
Private Henry Christon, company B, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in back
before surrender, wound serious, rather favorable; Private Aaron
Fintis, company D, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in both legs after
surrender, flesh wound, slight, condition favorable; Private George
Shaw, company B, 1st Tennessee artillery, shot in left side of head,
shot in right wrist after surrender, not serious, favorable; Private
Major William, company B, 1st Tennessee artillery, shot through nose
after surrender, not serious, condition favorable; officer's servant
William Jerdon, 13th Tennessee cavalry, shot in left ankle, amputation,
shot in left arm, fracture of arm after surrender, very unfavorable;
Corporal Alexander Naison, company C, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in
right side of head after surrender, not serious, favorable; Private
Thomas Gadis, company C, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in right hip after
surrender, serious, condition unfavorable; Corporal Eli Cothel, company
B, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in right leg while fighting, shot in left
arm after surrender, flesh wound, favorable; Private Sandy Cole, company
D, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in right thigh and arm after surrender,
flesh wound, condition favorable; Private Nathan Modley, company D, 1st
Alabama artillery, shot in right knee after surrender, injury of joint,
condition unfavorable; Private John Holland, company B, 1st Tennessee
artillery, shot in right thigh after surrender, flesh wound, condition
favorable; Private Robert Hall, company C, 1st Alabama artillery, sabre
cut of head and left hand while lying sick in hospital, died.
STEWART GORDON,
_Charge of Ward N_.
* * * * *
Dr. William N. McCoy, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your position in the service?
Answer. I am an acting assistant surgeon, now stationed at Mound City
general hospital, in charge of wards L, K, I, and H. Wards L, K, and H
have wounded in from Fort Pillow.
Question. Have you prepared a statement of the cases of those of your
patients whom we examined here?
Answer. Yes, sir; here is the statement.--(See appendix to this
deposition.)
Question. Did you have any conversation with those wounded men in
relation to their injuries when they first came to the hospital?
Answer. I did to some extent.
Question. Have any of the wounded from Fort Pillow died in your wards?
Answer. One in ward H.
Question. Are there others who you think will not recover?
Answer. There are two whose recovery I think is doubtful.
* * * * *
_Wounded in wards L, K, and H, United States General Hospital, Mound
City, Illinois._--W. P. Walker, sergeant, company D, 13th Tennessee
cavalry, received four wounds at Fort Pillow April 12, 1864. One ball
passed through left arm near middle third, fracturing humerus. Second
ball struck right side of neck, 1-1/2 inch below mastoid process, and
remaining in. Third ball made flesh wound in right shoulder. Fourth ball
struck left eye, supposed by himself to be a glancing shot; eye totally
destroyed. Done after the surrender.
Milas M. M. Woodside, a discharged soldier from the 7th Tennessee
cavalry, also from the 13th Tennessee cavalry, wounded by two balls,
first (pistol) ball striking just below insertion of deltoid muscle of
right arm, and remaining in; second (musket) ball striking centre of
right breast over third rib, and passing to the right and downward,
emerged at inner border of the scapula, about 6 inches from point of
entrance. Done after surrender.
Jason London, private, company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry, received a
ball, which struck the dorsal side of right hand about the junction of
carpal and metacarpal bones of index finger; emerged at carpal bone of
thumb; then struck thigh in front, about 6 inches above knee-joint;
passing over the bone, emerged on inner side. After being wounded, he
was knocked down by one of the fiends with a musket. Done after the
surrender.
David H. Taylor, private, company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry, received
five wounds. First (musket) ball passed in under the angle of right jaw,
fracturing the symphysis, where it emerged. Second ball struck front of
right shoulder-joint; emerged immediately behind caracoid process. Third
ball entered 3 inches below, and a little to the right of entiform
cartilage; passing downward, is lost. Fourth ball in left knee,
fracturing inner condyle of femur, and passed into popliteal space.
Fifth ball, upper part of middle third thigh; lost. Done after the
surrender.
David W. Harrison, private, company D, 13th Tennessee cavalry, received
three wounds. First (musket) ball passed from behind head of humerus,
left side; emerged between clavicle and axilla, producing compound
comminuted fracture of head and upper end of shaft of bone. Second ball
struck left side 2-1/2 inches above ilium; ball not found. Third ball
entered at upper edge of scapula behind, passing under the bone, is
lost. Wounds received after surrender.
James Calvin Goeforth, private, company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry,
received wound. Ball passed from right to left across the back, entering
at upper part of scapula; emerged at a point a little below and at the
opposite side, (flesh wound.) Done after the surrender.
William A. Dickey, company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry, wounded after the
surrender. Ball entered abdomen 4 inches to the right of umbilicus; ball
lost.
Thomas J. Cartwright, company A, 13th Tennessee cavalry, received wound
in left shoulder, striking pectoral muscle near axilla, fracturing
clavicle; was extracted near the vertebral column at upper and outer
border of scapula. Done before the surrender.
William L. McMichael, private, company C, 13th Tennessee cavalry,
received five wounds. First ball glanced along the upper portion of
right parietal bone, making wound (flesh) 2-1/2 inches long. Second ball
glanced ulnar side of left forearm at wrist joint. Third ball struck
left side of abdomen on a line from anterior superior process of ilium
to symphysis pubis; ball not found. Fourth ball struck near the
insertion of tensu of right side; passed downwards 4 inches; was
extracted. Wounds received after the surrender of the fort.
Isaac J. Leadbetter, private, company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry,
received wound in left side. Musket ball struck over eighth rib and
plunged downward; is lost. Done after surrender.
James Walls, private, company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry, was wounded by
musket ball striking over origin of gluteus minemus of left side, and
passed upwards and across, emerging 11 inches from point of entrance
almost over the last rib of right side, and about 2-1/2 inches from
vertebral column. Done after the surrender.
In charge of WILLIAM N. McCOY,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, United States Army_.
* * * * *
Dr. A. H. Kellogg, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank and position in the service?
Answer. I am an acting assistant surgeon, in charge of wards E and F,
Mound City general hospital.
Question. Were you present yesterday when the testimony of the wounded
men in your wards was taken?
Answer. I have but one under my charge who was wounded at Fort Pillow. I
heard his testimony.
Question. Had you previously had any conversation with him in relation
to the circumstances attending his being wounded?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did his statements to us yesterday correspond with the
statements he made to you?
Answer. Yes, sir; except he gave a few more details yesterday as to what
was said to him. He told me that he was wounded after he had
surrendered.
Question. Have you prepared a statement of his case?
Answer. Yes, sir; here it is.
Woodford Cooksey, private, company A, 13th regiment Tennessee cavalry,
gunshot wound, with comminuted fracture of middle third of left femur,
received at Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864, _after surrender_.
A. H. KELLOGG, M. D.,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A._
* * * * *
Doctor Charles H. Vail, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your rank and position in the service?
Answer. Acting assistant surgeon in charge of wards A, B, C, and D,
Mound City general hospital. The adjutant of the 13th Tennessee cavalry
is in ward B.
Question. Have you prepared a statement of his case?
Answer. Yes, sir; and also of Captain Porter, who is in the same ward,
and who was too weak to be examined this morning.
First Lieutenant Mack J. Seaming, adjutant 13th Tennessee cavalry,
gunshot wound of right side, received at Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864.
Ball entered right side below inferior angle of scapula, between sixth
and seventh rib, ranged downward and was lost in muscles near hip.
Wounded after he had surrendered; shot by a man standing thirty feet
above him on the bank. Present condition of patient good, with fair
prospect of recovery.
Captain John H. Potter, company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry, wounded at
Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864. Ball fractured skull, carrying away a
portion of left parietal and frontal bones, leaving brain exposed for a
distance of an inch and a half; was wounded early in the fight by a
sharpshooter before the surrender. Present condition almost hopeless,
has remained insensible ever since he was wounded.
CHARLES H. VAIL, M. D.,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A., in charge of officers' ward_.
* * * * *
Doctor J. A. C. McCoy, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your rank and position?
Answer. Acting assistant surgeon in charge of wards O, P, Q, and R, in
Mound City general hospital.
Question. Have you any of the wounded soldiers from Fort Pillow in your
wards?
Answer. I have.
Question. Have you prepared a statement of their cases?
Answer. Yes, sir; I have two statements here prepared at different
times; I will hand you both of them, as each one contains some
particulars not in the other.
_Ward Q._--John F. Ray, private, company B, 13th Tennessee, shot in
popliteal space, ball lodged, done after surrender; John W. Shelton,
private, company E, 13th Tennessee, shot through left leg, middle
third, flesh wound, done after surrender; Joseph M. Green, private,
company A, 13th Tennessee, shot in right shoulder, behind, ball escaping
at middle of right arm, flesh wound, done after surrender; James H.
Stout, private, company B, 13th Tennessee, shot in right leg, producing
compound fracture of tibia, done after surrender; Thomas J. Thompson,
private, company D, 13th Tennessee, shot between sixth and seventh ribs,
ball passing downward is lost, done after surrender; Daniel H. Rankin,
private, company C, 13th Tennessee, shot through left leg, flesh wound,
done after surrender; Wiley Robinson, private, company A, 13th
Tennessee, shot in right arm and right index finger, flesh wounds, shot
through left index finger and through inferior lobe left lung, ball
lodged, shot through left thigh and through left ankle, flesh wounds,
all but one shot done after surrender; Daniel Stamps, private, company
E, 13th Tennessee, shot through right thigh, flesh wound, done after
surrender; James P. Meador, private, company A, 13th Tennessee, shot
through inferior lobe of right lung and superior lobe of left lung, one
shot after surrender; William J. Mays, company B, 13th Tennessee, shot
through right axilla and side, flesh wounds, done just before surrender;
James N. Taylor, private, company E, 13th Tennessee, shot in right hip,
ball lodged, done after surrender; Francis A. Alexander, private,
company C, 13th Tennessee, shot through right leg, flesh wound, done
after surrender; Nathan G. Fowlkes, private, company D, 13th Tennessee,
shot in left leg, compound fracture of both bones, done after surrender.
J. A. C. McCOY,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A._
Francis A. Alexander, company C, 13th Tennessee, shot once after
surrender, dangerous; Nathan G. Fowlkes, company D, 13th Tennessee, shot
once after surrender, dangerous; Wiley Robinson, company A, 13th
Tennessee, shot seven times, six times after surrender, dangerous;
Daniel Stamps, company E, 13th Tennessee, shot once after surrender,
severe; James P. Meador, company A, 13th Tennessee, shot twice, once
after surrender, dangerous; James N. Taylor, company E, 13th Tennessee,
shot once after surrender, dangerous; William J. Mays, company B, 13th
Tennessee, shot once just before surrender, dangerous; John F. Ray,
company B, 13th Tennessee, shot once after surrender, dangerous; John W.
Shelton, company E, 13th Tennessee, shot once after surrender,
dangerous; Thomas J. Thompson, company D, 13th Tennessee, shot once
after surrender, dangerous; Joseph M. Green, company A, 13th Tennessee,
shot once after surrender, dangerous; James H. Stout, company B, 13th
Tennessee, shot once after surrender, dangerous; Daniel H. Rankin,
company C, 13th Tennessee, shot once after surrender, dangerous.
J. A. C. McCOY, M. D.,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A._
* * * * *
The following is a statement prepared by Dr. M. Black of the cases under
his charge:
Horton Casen, private, company A, 1st Alabama infantry, wounded at Fort
Pillow after surrender, gunshot wounds in hip and thigh; Jacob Thompson,
waiter, company B, 11th Illinois cavalry, wounded at Fort Pillow after
surrender, pistol shots through thumb and head and several blows with
blunt instrument (says with a gun) on head and neck, dividing skin in
several places; Henry Parker, company D, 1st Alabama, wounded at Fort
Pillow after surrender, gunshot wound in hip; Ransom Anderson, company
B, 1st Alabama artillery, wounded at Fort Pillow after surrender, sabre
cuts on head and hand and gunshot wounds in shoulder and chest; Mary
Jane Robinson, wife of a soldier at Fort Pillow, wounded by a rebel
after the surrender of the fort, at a distance of ten yards, gunshot
wound through both knees.
M. BLACK,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A._
* * * * *
Surgeon Horace Wardner, recalled and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Have you heard our examination of the wounded in this hospital
from Fort Pillow?
Answer. I have.
Question. Did you have any conversation with them when they were first
brought to the hospital?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did the statements they made to you then correspond with their
statements to us?
Answer. They did.
Question. Do the nature and character of their injuries sustain their
statements in regard to their injuries?
Answer. The character of the injuries of these men corroborates their
statements in regard to the treatment they received from the rebels.
* * * * *
MOUND CITY, ILLINOIS, _April 23, 1864_.
Captain Alexander M. Pennock, United States navy, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your rank and position in the navy?
Answer. I am a captain in the United States navy; fleet captain of the
Mississippi squadron, and commandant of the station of Cairo and Mound
City.
Question. How long have you been in the naval service?
Answer. Since the first of April, 1828.
Question. Will you please state what services have been rendered by the
naval forces here in checking and preventing the recent movements of the
rebel Forrest and his command in this vicinity?
Answer. Two gunboats were at Paducah at the time the attack was made
upon that place; they rendered efficient service there. On receiving
information that Paducah had been attacked, or that there was a
probability of its being attacked, I immediately went to Cairo from
Mound City, with Captain Shirk, of the navy, and conferred with General
Brayman and General Veatch. A regiment was sent by General Veatch up to
Paducah. An armed despatch boat was also sent up, with Captain Shirk on
board, and Captain Odlin, assistant adjutant general on General
Brayman's staff, to ascertain the facts, and render such assistance as
might be needed. I was informed by both Captain Shirk and Captain Odlin
that the gunboats there, and the fort, had expended a great deal of
ammunition and were getting short of it. Ammunition both for the army
and navy was immediately sent up; a division of gunboats from the
Cumberland river, Captain Fitch commanding, came down after the fight
and re-enforced Captain Shirk at Paducah.
Information having reached me that the rebels were crossing over into
Illinois in small squads, four gunboats were stationed by the two
above-named naval officers between Paducah and Mound City, to prevent
their crossing, and orders were given them to destroy all ferries and
skiffs, in fact all means of communication across the Ohio river.
A gunboat had been stationed at Columbus, Kentucky. Hearing that the
surrender of that place had been demanded, I despatched Captain Fitch
with two of the Cumberland river boats, and another gunboat which was
here for repairs, to Columbus, with orders if all was quiet there to go
down the river a far as Hickman. I instructed him that the Mississippi
river must be kept clear at all hazards. After having given this order,
which was in writing, the captain of a steamboat came to me and informed
me that Fort Pillow had been attacked, and that the captain of the
gunboat stationed there sent word that he had expended nearly all his
ammunition. I directed Captain Fitch, if he could be spared from
Columbus, to go down to Fort Pillow with his three boats, and I
immediately had placed on board a despatch boat the ammunition required
for the gunboat then at Fort Pillow. And boats have since been cruising
up and down the Ohio river, and the Mississippi river as far as Fort
Pillow, for the purpose of giving convoy and keeping the river open. On
the arrival of Captain Fitch near Fort Pillow, he found the enemy in
force on this side of the fort, behind wood piles on the bank of the
river; they were burning wood and barges there. They were shelled and
driven off. Captain Fitch also prevented a detachment of rebels from
crossing over to an island, where a number of transports and other boats
had been detained, which the rebels desired to capture or destroy. He
convoyed that fleet as far as Fort Pillow, clear of danger. Afterwards
three boats were sent down to Hickman, for the purpose of giving
protection to such Union men as desired to leave and bring away their
goods, and if possible to capture any rebels that might be in the place.
A detachment of marines accompanied this expedition. The town was
surrounded twice, once by day and once by night; the guerillas had been
in there and escaped. The people of Hickman were warned that if even a
musket shot was again fired at a transport or other boat the place would
be at once destroyed. These boats have been moving constantly day and
night, and despatch boats have been furnished by the navy to convey
despatches for General Sherman and General Brayman, up the Tennessee
river, or wherever they might require. I would add that when Captain
Fitch returned from Fort Pillow he brought away with him refugees, women
and children, who had been left there, and ten wounded soldiers who had
been there for two days.
Question. What, in your opinion, would be the competent military and
naval force to protect the public property at Cairo and Mound City?
Answer. Two gunboats and 2,000 men.
Question. State briefly your reason for believing so large a force is
required for that purpose.
Answer. For the reason that we have public property extending along the
river for seven miles, and we should be ready for any emergency.
Question. What amount of property would be destroyed here, should the
enemy get possession long enough to destroy it?
Answer. It is difficult to estimate its value accurately. We have here a
a large number of guns, and all the ammunition and other supplies for
the Mississippi fleet, consisting of at least 100 vessels.
Question. What effect would the destruction or capture of this property
have upon operations here in the west?
Answer. It would paralyze the fleet.
Question. For how long a time?
Answer. For the entire season, besides giving the enemy means to act
more on the offensive--means enough to last them for a campaign.
Question. Is it also true that all the army supplies for the western
department pass through here?
Answer. To the best of my knowledge it is.
Question. What force have you here at Mound City now?
Answer. I have two gunboats, 85 marines, 100 mechanics, who have been
armed and drilled, one company of the invalid corps, and a detachment of
convalescents from the hospital. Any other forces that may be here are
merely temporary.
Question. What force have you at Cairo?
Answer. Seventy-odd marines. But those we have only to protect the wharf
boat and the inspection boat, which have on board provisions, ship
chandlery, &c. Admiral Porter has ordered me to move them up to this
point whenever I can do so without detriment to the public service. I
understand that there is a permanent garrison at Cairo of between 300
and 400 men. When General Brayman was compelled to re-enforce Columbus,
he was compelled to take away from there all except about 150 men.
* * * * *
Captain James W. Shirk, United States navy, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank and position in the navy, and where are you
stationed at this time?
Answer. I am a lieutenant commander, and commandant of the United States
gunboat Tuscumbia, and the 7th district of the Mississippi squadron,
which extends from the headwaters of the Tennessee river to Cairo.
Question. How long have you been in service in the west?
Answer. I have been attached to this squadron since the 6th of
September, 1862.
Question. You are acquainted with the immense amount of public property
at Mound City and Cairo?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Do you consider that there is a permanent force here, both
naval and military, large enough for its protection?
Answer. I do not consider that there has been force enough here
heretofore.
Question. What, in your judgment, would be a force sufficient to render
that protection and security which the place ought to have?
Answer. I should think it would take a couple of gunboats, and at least
two full regiments. The great danger to be apprehended here is from
fire.
Question. Will you now state what services the navy has rendered in the
late raids in this region of country?
Answer. I will state in regard to my own division. I returned to
Paducah, from a trip up the Tennessee river, on the 25th of March, at
noon. I immediately called upon Colonel Hicks, the commandant of that
post, as was my custom, to hear what news he had. He informed me that
the rebels had taken Union City the day before, and that he expected an
attack there that night. As I had just come down from the southern part
of Tennessee, and had heard nothing of Forrest there, and as I had been
told so many times before without cause that the rebels were threatening
to attack Paducah, I did not put much confidence in the report; at the
same time, I did not wish to leave the place unprotected by gunboats,
and I accordingly left the Peosta and the Pawpaw at that place, while I
came down to Cairo to communicate with Captain Pennock and the
authorities here, in order to find out whether or not there was any
truth in the report. I left Paducah about one o'clock and arrived here
about dark. Shortly after I arrived here the telegraphic operator at
Metropolis telegraphed down that Paducah was in flames. Captain Pennock
and I went down to Cairo to see Generals Brayman and Veatch. General
Veatch ordered a regiment of his troops up to Paducah to re-enforce
Colonel Hicks, and I immediately started up in the despatch boat
Volunteer with Captain Odlin, General Brayman's assistant adjutant
general. On our way up we destroyed several ferryboats and skiffs, in
order to prevent the rebels crossing the river. We arrived at Paducah
about daylight on the 26th of March. The enemy was in force about two
miles and a half from town. It was reported to me by my subordinate
officers that the enemy had attacked the place about three o'clock in
the evening of the day before; that the fort had been bravely defended
and preserved by the gallantry of Colonel Hicks and his small garrison,
assisted very materially by the two gunboats which I had left there;
that Forrest had occupied the town; that about ten o'clock that night
he had been driven out by the fire of the Peosta, she having gone up and
shelled the town for that purpose. I placed myself in communication with
Colonel Hicks on the morning of the 26th, and found that he was short of
ammunition, as were also the gunboats. I immediately telegraphed to
Captain Pennock to send up a full supply of ammunition for the two
gunboats, and 30,000 rounds of Enfield cartridges for Colonel Hicks. The
supplies were sent up by him immediately, and reached us that evening.
In the afternoon, about three o'clock, Colonel Hicks sent me a message
that the enemy were forming in line of battle at the head of Jersey
street, and requested me to open upon them with shell. I fired shell in
that direction, and about four o'clock the enemy left in the direction
of Mayfield. The captains of the Peosta and the Pawpaw both informed me
that the day before the rebels took advantage of the presence of women
there, behind whom they covered themselves, and fired at the officers
and men on the gunboats. The women came running down towards the fort,
and the rebels got behind them and fired at our people on the boats.
Question. And the boats could not fire upon the rebels without killing
the women?
Answer. No, sir. And the rebels also took advantage of a flag of truce,
while it was flying, to enter the town and plant their batteries there,
and to get into brick houses on the levee, from which to fire on the
gunboats, while the flag of truce was flying at the fort. I returned
that night at midnight to Cairo, and assisted Captain Pennock as much as
I could in making preparations to take care of the public property, as I
knew that some few stragglers had crossed the Ohio above, and we were
fearful they would come down and burn the public property here. Again,
on the 12th of this month, I was at Paducah. The rebels were reported in
force all around the town. I telegraphed to Captain Pennock, giving him
that information, and also that in my opinion Colonel Hicks ought to be
re-enforced. Another regiment was immediately sent up by General
Brayman, and Lieutenant Commander Fitch, commanding the 8th district of
the Mississippi squadron, by direction of Captain Pennock, sent four of
his gunboats to report to me for duty. I made disposition of four
gunboats, each with ten marines on board, to patrol between Paducah and
Mound City. The enemy hovered around us until about noon of the 14th,
when they made a dash upon the town, sending in a flag of truce to
Colonel Hicks, giving him one hour to remove the women and children from
the town. I immediately ordered all the transports to the Illinois
shore, and took the women and children over there. When the hour was up
I was informed that the rebels were in Jersey, a suburb of the town, and
Colonel Hicks wished me to go up there and shell them. I did so, with
two gunboats, carrying long-range rifled guns, firing about 120 rounds
of shell, which fell in among them. The rebels retired, and encamped
from three to six miles out of town that night. When the flag of truce
was sent in to the fort, squads of rebel cavalry came into town and
stole all the government horses there, and also a great many belonging
to private citizens.
Question. Under the flag of truce?
Answer. Yes, sir; as the flag of truce came in and went to the fort they
came into the town.
Question. Is not that a direct and utter violation of the rules of
warfare?
Answer. It is a direct violation of the flag of truce. I have had three
or four boats up the Tennessee river all the time. There are three up
there now, one having come out the day before yesterday. There were two
to have started this morning at daylight, and I received a despatch this
forenoon, saying that the enemy were reported to be crossing the
Tennessee river at Birmingham and above, in force, from the west to the
east side. I immediately telegraphed to Paducah and had two heavy
gunboats go up to ascertain the truth of the report. I do not credit
the story, but I have done all I possibly could do, with the limited
number of boats at my command.
Question. How long have you been in the navy?
Answer. Fifteen years.
Question. You are acquainted with the administration of Captain Pennock,
of the navy, here?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What do you say of it?
Answer. I do not think any one could have done more than Captain Pennock
has done, with the means at his command.
Question. Why is it that we do not hear more of the transactions of the
gunboats out here, while we hear so much of what the army does?
Answer. One reason is that there is a general order by Admiral Porter,
prohibiting any newspaper reporter from going on board any vessel in the
Mississippi squadron.
Question. Is there a cordial understanding and co-operation between the
navy here and the military forces under General Brayman?
Answer. I think there is to a very great degree. I never saw more
cordiality existing between officers of the different services. I would
like to say further, that during this late raid I convoyed General
Veatch's division up the Tennessee river. It was ordered up there by
General Sherman to land at or near Savannah, and go out to Purdy and the
Hatchie, in that way intending to catch Forrest. I afterwards sent up
another despatch of the same purport, from General Sherman to General
Veatch, which reached him at the landing near Purdy. I sent up a third
despatch to him, which was brought here by General Corse from General
Sherman. That despatch never reached General Veatch for the reason that
he had come back from Purdy, gone on up the Tennessee and disembarked
his troops at Waterloo, Alabama, and was out of reach of my gunboats.
Captain Smith, commanding the Peosta, broke up a rebel recruiting office
at Brooklyn, Illinois, a week ago last Sunday. The recruiting office was
on board a trading vessel. He destroyed the boat, but saved seven new
rebel uniforms that were on it. He could not discover the recruiting
agent there, there being so many secesh sympathizers around there.
Question. In your opinion, has General Brayman acted with vigilance and
activity, and done all he could with the forces intrusted to him, during
these raids?
Answer. So far as I know, he has done all he could do.
* * * * *
CAIRO, ILLINOIS, _April 24, 1864_.
Major General Steven A. Hurlbut, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank and position in the army?
Answer. I am a major general of volunteers, commanding the 16th army
corps.
Question. Where have you been stationed?
Answer. I have been stationed at Memphis for the last sixteen months.
Question. How long have you been stationed along the river?
Answer. Ever since the battle of Shiloh. I have commanded at Bolivar and
Jackson, Tennessee, until about the 20th of November, 1862, when I was
ordered to Memphis.
Question. Now, with regard to this raid of Forrest, was that raid made
in your department?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Please give us, in your own way, a brief account of that
raid.
Answer. Forrest first crossed the Memphis and Charleston railroad last
December. I organized a force in Columbus, and moved it down and drove
him out. General Sherman then ordered all the available troops in my
command to be got together--leaving very small garrisons at the
important points--for the Meridian expedition. I marched and crossed
there, and marched back again. Two divisions of my command were then
detailed to go up Red river, under General Banks. As an auxiliary to the
infantry movement to Meridian, General W. S. Smith came to Memphis and
took command of all my cavalry and another brigade which he brought
over, all amounting to about seven thousand effective men, to move
across the country, drive the enemy's force out, cut his way across to
Columbus and Aberdeen, and to go down to the Mobile and Ohio railroad,
and join us at Meridian. He failed to make that junction; was met by
Forrest about West Point, and for some reason or other (I do not know
what) retreated and fell back to Memphis. The effect of a retreat, at
the rate at which they retreated, and the loss they met with, and the
retreating before an inferior force, demoralized the cavalry very
seriously. I returned to Memphis about the Three Points, marched, and
found that Forrest was organizing a very considerable force, so far as I
could find out, with the intention of moving up to West Tennessee. I had
orders from the War Department to send home all the veteran regiments
(cavalry especially) as rapidly as possible. I took an inventory of my
force, and found that I had about six thousand cavalry to two thousand
two hundred horses, which limited the efficiency of the cavalry. I
furloughed and sent home the 3d Michigan, 2d Iowa, 3d, 6th, 7th, and 9th
Illinois, and distributed their horses among the men that were left, so
as to keep men enough always, and more, to mount with horses. Forrest
moved up, and crossed the line of the Charleston and Memphis railroad,
towards Jackson, Tennessee, and occupied it. General Grierson was
directed by me to go out with his cavalry, feel him, attack him, and
cripple him as much as possible. He went out, and reported that he was
"a little too strong for him, and he could not touch him." My effective
force at Memphis consisted of 2,200 cavalry, 2,100 white infantry, and
2,400 colored infantry. I had the choice to move out a force
sufficiently strong to attack Forrest and leave Memphis open, with its
immense amount of government stores, ordnance, hospitals, and everything
of that nature. I became satisfied that if I moved out 4,000 men, (which
was the lowest I considered safe to send out,) and they should move out
50 or 60 miles into the country, the enemy, being all mounted, would
turn that force and come in and occupy Memphis, which I considered would
be a greater disaster than to allow Forrest to range in West Tennessee.
I therefore did not send them out, but I kept the cavalry out as far as
we could go, or dared go. It was not possible to divine precisely what
Forrest's intentions were. My own opinion was, that it was his intention
to organize a force, cross the Tennessee river, and operate upon General
Sherman's line of communication. I was at Cairo at the time Union City
was attacked. Four regiments and a battery of one of my divisions, which
were ordered up the Tennessee river, were here also. I directed General
Brayman to take them and throw them up to Columbus in rear of Forrest
when he was at Paducah, but they were peremptorily ordered up the
Tennessee river.
Question. Ordered up by General Sherman?
Answer. Yes, sir. The result was, that there was not force enough, in my
opinion, in the command on the Mississippi river, from Paducah to
Memphis, to operate upon Forrest with any prospect of success.
Question. What was the estimated strength of Forrest's forces?
Answer. Forrest's entire force, according to the best of my information,
was between 8,000 and 9,000 men altogether. That includes this division
of Buford's that operated up here. I have somewhere among my papers a
list of all his brigades. I know nearly all of them. I have run against
nearly all of them. He had five of the oldest regiments in the
confederate service detailed expressly for this purpose as a nucleus of
his organization. These were troops that had seen a great deal of
service along the line below Memphis--Chalmers's brigade, Ely's brigade,
Bell's brigade, and McCullough's. I cannot estimate Forrest's force at
less than between 8,000 and 9,000 men. The cause of his raid,
unquestionably, was the fact that so large an amount of troops which had
been holding this region of country had been removed--a portion of them
up the Tennessee river to Decatur, and a portion up the Red river--also
the fact that he knew perfectly well, from his spies at Memphis, the
condition of our cavalry. Memphis, from the nature of the ground there,
is a place that requires not less than five thousand men to garrison the
outer line. It is the worst place to cover that I ever saw. We have a
fort there that was built that would take seven thousand men as a
reasonable amount to line the parapets. We have immense stores there,
for from Memphis not only the 16th and 17th army corps are supplied, but
General Steele's army at Little Rock are supplied from there also. We
have large hospitals there, scattered all over the city. We have an
unsteady and unreliable population; and the daily interior guard duty,
for the city proper, requires over 300 men. I considered then, and I
consider now, that the removal of any force competent to make any
serious impression upon Forrest would have imperilled Memphis; and I
believe that was what General Forrest wanted done.
Question. How large a force did you retain there for the safety of that
place?
Answer. I retained the infantry--four thousand men. I kept the cavalry
out all the time as far as they could go.
Question. How came you to reoccupy Fort Pillow? Had it been abandoned?
Answer. No, sir. When I moved to Meridian, the 52d Indiana regiment
which had been there was withdrawn, and made a part of the expedition,
and the 13th Tennessee cavalry, which was recruiting, was moved down
there as a recruiting point. I afterwards re-enforced it by sending up
Major Booth with four companies of colored heavy artillery and six guns,
and a section of light artillery, making in all about 600 men.
Question. Do I understand you to say that the post had never been
entirely abandoned?
Answer. No, sir. When the 52d Indiana was taken away it was temporarily
abandoned until the 13th Tennessee came down to hold it as a recruiting
point. I considered Fort Pillow as a place which ought to be held with a
small garrison, and I think so yet, and any navy officer or river man
will tell you that the situation of the channel there requires it.
Question. I am not questioning that at all. I merely inquired as to the
fact.
Answer. I sent Major Booth there because I had great confidence in him
as a soldier. He was an old soldier who had served in the regular army,
and I considered him the best man I had for that purpose. I received a
report from him "that he could hold that post against any force for
forty-eight hours," which was all I expected him to do, and if he had
not been killed I think he would have held it. I have no doubt that his
death was the immediate cause of the capture of the place.
Question. Just in this connexion, please to state why you deemed it
important to keep up a garrison at that place.
Answer. The steamboat channel at Fort Pillow runs right under the bluff,
and brings every boat as it passes within musket-shot of the shore, and
a couple of guns mounted up above there would stop most effectually the
navigation of the river, and drive away any of the tin-clad gunboats we
have, for a plunging fire would go right through them, and they could
not get elevation enough to strike. The whole life of the army below,
especially while these large movements were going on, depended upon an
uninterrupted communication by the river, and the stopping that
communication for two or three days might deprive us of necessary
supplies just at the moment that they were required. These were my
reasons for holding the place.
Question. What information have you in regard to the attack upon Fort
Pillow; its capture, and the barbarities practiced there?
Answer. I am not positive about dates, but my recollection is that Fort
Pillow was attacked on the 12th of April. Just about dusk of the 12th a
boat came down to Memphis from Fort Pillow, bringing information that
the place was attacked, but that Major Booth was perfectly confident of
being able to hold out until he could be re-enforced. I immediately
ordered a regiment to be got ready, with four days' rations and an extra
supply of ammunition; took the steamer "Glendale," dropped her down to
Fort Pickering, and the regiment was in the very act of going on board
when another boat came down with the information that the fort was
captured. The order to move up the regiment was countermanded, for there
was no use in sending it then. There were at Fort Pillow two 10-pound
Parrotts, two 6-pounder field guns, and two 12-pounder howitzers, and
about 600 men. I cannot tell precisely the number of the 13th Tennessee
cavalry, for it was a recruiting regiment, and filling off and on. If
the men had been left in the position in which they had been placed by
Major Booth, and from which position he had already repelled an assault
of the enemy, I think they would have been able to have held the fort
until re-enforced. I believe that the ground there is so strong that 600
men with that artillery ought to have held it; but the command devolved
upon a very good gentleman, but a very young officer, entirely
inexperienced in these matters. The enemy rushed on the fort from two or
three directions, and confused him, I think, and broke him and carried
it. The information which I have from all sources, official and
otherwise, is that--whether by permission of their officers, or contrary
to their permission, I cannot say--a butchery took place there that is
unexampled in the record of civilized warfare. We always expect, in case
of a place carried by assault, that some extravagance of passion will
occur; but this seems to have been continued after resistance had
ceased, when there was nothing to keep up the hot blood, and to have
been of a nature brutal to an extent that is scarcely credible, and I
have embodied in my official report to General McPherson (my present
superior officer) my opinion that the black troops will hereafter be
uncontrolable, unless the government take some prompt and energetic
action upon the subject. I know very well that my colored regiments at
Memphis, officers and men, will never give quarter.
Question. They never ought to.
Answer. They never will. They have sworn it; and I have some very good
colored regiments there.
Question. What do you say of the fighting qualities of the colored
troops?
Answer. That depends altogether upon their officers. If they are
properly officered, they are just as good troops as anybody has. I have
two or three regiments at Memphis that I am willing to put anywhere that
I would put any soldiers which I have ever seen, with the same amount of
experience.
Question. Did you learn anything of the particulars of those atrocities
that were committed there at Fort Pillow?
Answer. I learned the particulars from the reports of the officers.
Question. Did you learn anything about any flags of truce being taken
advantage of?
Answer. They always do that; that is a matter of habit with them.
Question. And they took advantage of them in this case, as you learn?
Answer. Yes, sir; and they did it at Paducah, and they tried it at
Columbus.
Question. Did you hear anything about their setting fire to hospitals,
while the wounded were in there?
Answer. I learn from what I consider unquestionable authority, that
bodies were found which had been wounded by musket shots, and then their
eyes bayoneted out; men wounded in a similar way, with their bowels cut
open; and I have heard many other instances of equal barbarity.
Question. Did you hear, recently after that capture, of anybody being
nailed to a building and burned?
Answer. I heard that Lieutenant Akerstrom was so treated.
Question. Did you learn that from a source that you could give credit
to?
Answer. I had no reason to doubt it, with the exception of the
identification of the body. The fact that somebody was so treated, I
consider to be sufficiently proven; the identification I think is
doubtful.
Question. Is there anything more you wish to state? If so, will you
state it without further questioning?
Answer. I do not know that I can state anything more than my opinion in
regard to certain things that might have been done. I do not know that
it is worth while to do that. As I am under censure myself, at present I
prefer not to.
Question. Will you give us a description of the situation of Fort
Pillow?
Answer. It is a very difficult thing to describe. The original
fortifications, as made by the rebels, were very much too large to be
held by any force that we could spare. It was intended for a very large
force; but there are two crowning heights--bold knobs--that stand up
there, which command the entire region of approach, and which Major
Booth was directed to occupy. He went up and examined the ground, and
reported to me. A light work was thrown up upon one of them, and there
was a portion of a work upon the other. The one to the south was not
occupied during the fight; the one to the north of the ravine, which
leads down to the landing, was occupied. That was the point which I
considered should have been held; and I think yet it could have been,
and would have been, if Major Booth had lived.
Question. Can you describe the position in which the men were placed by
Major Booth?
Answer. Major Booth had his artillery upon this knoll, and held the
slope of the hill with some rifle pits. From these rifle pits, as I am
informed, he repulsed the enemy. The troops were afterwards drawn in by
Major Bradford, into the fortification proper, and that was attacked on
all sides. My opinion is that Major Bradford lost his head--got
confused. The rush was too strong for him. The amount of the enemy's
force that actually attacked there I do not know, but from all the
testimony I could get, I should judge it to have been not less than
2,500 men.
Question. Who do you understand led the enemy's forces?
Answer. Forrest was there personally. I understand, however, that the
main body of the force was Chalmers's command, who was also there. There
was also a portion of Forrest's force there. Forrest will carry his men
further than any other man I know of; he is desperate.
Question. Have we any force at Fort Pillow now?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Do you consider that a point which should be occupied by a
force, in order to make the navigation of the river safe?
Answer. I do.
Question. What force do you deem should be placed there to hold it?
Answer. I think 500 steady troops, properly supplied with artillery, and
properly covered with works, could hold the place until
re-enforced--hold it, all that is necessary.
Question. Did you ever have any instructions or orders to evacuate Fort
Pillow? or did you, at any time, ever propose to evacuate it?
Answer. I never had any orders to evacuate it. My orders from General
Sherman were to hold certain points on the river. I never had any
instructions with regard to Fort Pillow one way or the other that I
recollect. I considered it necessary to hold it, and never intended to
abandon it.
Question. Had it been held by us for some considerable time?
Answer. It had been held since we first occupied the river.
Question. Do not the same reasons exist for holding it now, that had
existed during all that period?
Answer. The same. The reasons are geographical, and do not change.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Then I understand you to state that your instructions, in
spirit, required you to hold it, and that it was necessary that it
should be held?
Answer. My opinion is distinct that it should be held always, and there
is nothing in my instructions that requires it to be abandoned. Some
discretion, I suppose, belongs to an officer in charge of as much range
as I have had to hold; and I certainly should not abandon that place, if
I had troops to hold it.
By the chairman:
Question. Will you tell us what you know about the attack on Union City?
Answer. Colonel Hawkins, of the 7th Tennessee regiment, was at Union
City as an advanced post. He had in round numbers about six hundred men.
He was threatened by about fifteen hundred, I should think. They
attacked him, and were repulsed. General Brayman moved from here with
two thousand troops, and got down as far as the bridge, six miles from
Union City, before Hawkins surrendered. They commenced the flag-of-truce
operation on him, when they found they could do nothing else,
threatening to open upon him with artillery, and to give no quarter.
Contrary to the entreaties, prayers, and advice of all his officers and
all his men, he did surrender his post, with a relieving force within
six miles of him; and surrendered it, as I have no doubt, from pure
cowardice.
Question. Was he aware of the re-enforcements approaching?
Answer. I think so, but I will not be positive. General Brayman can tell
more about that than I can. I was at Columbus when General Brayman
returned.
Question. Where is Colonel Hawkins now?
Answer. He is a prisoner. This is the second time he has surrendered to
Forrest.
* * * * *
Captain Thomas P. Gray, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your rank and position in the army?
Answer. For the last four months I have been holding the place of
captain in the 7th Tennessee cavalry, but I have not been mustered in
yet.
Question. Had you been in service before?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. For how long?
Answer. I enlisted in Illinois on the 24th of July, and was mustered
into the United States service August 1, 1861.
Question. Were you at Union City when the late attack was made there?
Answer. I was.
Question. Will you give us an account of what occurred there?
Answer. On the 23d of March last it was generally understood by the
troops there that the rebels were advancing upon us; we supposed under
General Forrest. That night two companies, I think, were ordered to keep
their horses saddled. The first orders I received were about half-past
four, the morning of the 24th. The adjutant of our regiment came to me
and told me to have my horses saddled. In perhaps half an hour after
that we were ordered into line, and I held my company in line for some
time waiting for orders. As Colonel Hawkins came by I asked him if he
wanted me to take my position at the breastworks, and he said he did. I
then took my position at a place where I thought I was most needed, at
some breastworks that my company had thrown up on the east side. At this
time the rebels were firing on our pickets. I think there was no general
charge until about half-past 5 or 6 o'clock. That charge was made by
cavalry, on the south side. They did not charge a great way, and were
easily repulsed. The same men then reassembled, dismounted, and charged
on the fort. This time they came very close to the breastworks, but were
again repulsed. After that our troops were very exultant, and ready to
meet the rebels anywhere. The next charge was made on the northwest;
that was easily repulsed. The last charge was made on the northeast,
fronting my position; that was repulsed tolerably easily, but with more
loss to the rebels than previously. Then there was sharpshooting for
about an hour and a half, and we were all in good spirits. At the
expiration of that hour and a half a flag of truce came in in my front.
I sent word to Colonel Hawkins that there was a flag of truce coming. I
went in person to meet the flag, and halted it about two hundred yards
from the breastworks, and asked them what they desired. They said they
wished to see the commander of the forces there. I told them I had
notified him, and he would be there in a moment. At that time they
ordered me under arrest, because I made myself easy looking around upon
their position. I demanded their right to order me under arrest under a
flag of truce, and told them I had as much right to look around as they
had. They then ordered me to sit down. I told them that was played out;
that I was not only there under the right of a flag of truce, but that I
was there to give them their orders if they made any mismoves. They gave
up then, as Colonel Hawkins was in sight. When the colonel came a
document was handed him. I do not know anything about it; for, as soon
as the colonel came near, I went back to the breastworks. The flag of
truce then retired. As soon as I got back I made it my business to go
around inside the breastworks to get a view of the rebel troops. They
were there upon stumps and logs, and every place where they could see.
In about twenty minutes, I think it was, they came again with another
flag of truce. I met them as before. This time a demand for surrender
was handed to Colonel Hawkins. I remained there this time, and saw the
communication. I could once give almost the exact language of it. At any
rate, it was a demand for unconditional surrender, promising us the
rights of prisoners of war if the surrender was made; if not, then we
must take the consequences. After consulting with them for a little time
Colonel Hawkins was allowed fifteen minutes to go to camp and back
again. I remained there about fifteen minutes with the rebel truce
bearers. During this time I could observe in every move and remark they
made that they were beaten. Perhaps I should have said before, that when
Colonel Hawkins was talking about the matter, I gave my opinion in
regard to it. This was before the flag of truce came in at all. Colonel
Hawkins came down to my corner of the breastworks. I told him that the
rebels were beaten on their first programme, at any rate; that it was my
opinion that they would either consolidate and make a charge on one
side, or else they would leave the field, or else lie there and
sharpshoot until they could get re-enforcements. I state this merely to
show what our feelings were--that we were satisfied they were whipped,
were beaten.
When the colonel came back from his second flag of truce I left them and
went inside the breastworks. I was satisfied from appearances that the
surrender would be made, and I hid a couple of revolvers and some other
things I had; I did not know whether I should ever find them again or
not. The troops considered that the surrender was made as soon as they
saw a rebel officer coming back with the colonel, and every man tried to
hide his stuff. Some broke their guns, and all were denouncing Colonel
Hawkins as a coward, in surrendering them without cause. That is all I
know of the matter up to the time of the surrender.
Question. Do you say it was the opinion of all the officers and men, so
far as you know, that the surrender was wholly unnecessary?
Answer. Yes, sir; every man I ever heard say anything about it.
Question. To what cause do you attribute the surrender?
Answer. Some said that the colonel was half rebel, anyway; others said
that he was a little cowardly, and surrendered to an imaginary foe--to a
force that was not there. Those were the reasons that I have heard.
Question. What was your force there?
Answer. About 500 men.
Question. Did you have any colored troops?
Answer. None.
Question. What was the force of the enemy?
Answer. As near as I could judge--and I tried to estimate their
number--they had about 800 after the surrender; I think they must have
had a thousand at first.
Question. Could you have held that position against them?
Answer. I am satisfied we could have held it all day, unless our
ammunition had given out.
Question. Had you any information in regard to any re-enforcements
approaching to your relief?
Answer. For the last two hours we had expected to see them at any time.
Question. What reason had you to expect re-enforcements?
Answer. We had a communication that they knew our situation at Columbus,
that they knew the rebels were advancing on us, and, of course, I
thought they would send us re-enforcements.
Question. From what point did you expect re-enforcements?
Answer. From Columbus. I remarked to the men, as soon as the surrender
was made, that I would be ten times more mad if I should hear afterwards
that our re-enforcements were right close to us, which I expected was
the case.
Question. What occurred after the surrender?
Answer. The men were marched on foot; the officers were allowed to ride
their horses. They were marched two days--it was rainy and muddy
weather--nearly east, towards Dresden. They had nothing to eat for two
days, until eight o'clock the second night, and then we got some
corn-bread and meat. The second day they turned from the Dresden road,
towards Trenton, through the country, not in the regular road. On the
evening of the third day we arrived at Trenton, Tennessee. There all our
money, and I think all our watches, were taken--I know some of them
were--and the pocket-knives were taken from the men: all done
officially, one company at a time.
We laid over the fourth day at Trenton. On the fifth day at noon we
marched toward Humboldt, and arrived there in the evening, just before
dark. At seven o'clock, or nearly seven o'clock, I left them. My
intention was to go to the commander at Memphis and get him to send a
force out to make the rebels release our troops. Before I left the
rebels, after I had concluded to leave them, I commenced getting up a
plot to break the guards, and see if we could not redeem our name a
little in that way and get off. It was working finely, but I met the
opposition of the officers, because it was the general opinion that if
we were caught, one in every ten would be killed. I abandoned that and
escaped. I travelled on foot twenty-five hours without stopping, through
the brush, dodging the rebels and guerillas. I was then directed by a
negro to a farm where there were no whites, and where, he said, I could
get a horse. When I got there I found I was so tired and sleepy that I
dared not risk myself on a horse, and I secreted myself and rested there
until early the next morning; I got a little refreshment there, too. I
then got an old horse, with no saddle, and rode into Fort Pillow, just
forty miles, in a little more than five hours. I reached there a little
before noon, on the 30th of March.
The morning after I escaped from the rebels I wrote myself a parole,
which screened me from a great many rebels whom I could not avoid. I was
chased by two guerillas for some distance at this place, where I stopped
over night, and got a horse. I knew two guerillas had been chasing me
over ten miles. I told the negroes, as I laid down, that if any
strangers came on the place, or any one inquiring for Yankees, to tell
them that one had been there and pressed a horse and gone on. They did
so; and more than that, they told the guerillas that I had been gone but
a few minutes, and if they hurried they would catch me. They dashed on
five miles further, and then gave up the chase and turned back. That is
the way I avoided them.
After I got to Fort Pillow I got on a boat and went to Memphis, reaching
there before daybreak on the morning of the 31st of March, and waked
General Hurlbut up just about daybreak, and reported to him.
Question. Did you have much conversation with these rebels, or hear them
express opinions of any kind, while you were with them?
Answer. I was talking almost continually with them. Somehow or other I
got a little noted in the command, and a great many came to me to
discuss matters about the war. They seemed to be confident that they
were all right, and would succeed. I did not hear the command I was with
say they intended to attack Fort Pillow; but while I was on my way from
there to Fort Pillow, the report was current along the road that the
rebels were going to attack it. But I reported to Major Booth, when I
got to Fort Pillow, that I did not think there was any danger of an
attack, because I thought I should have seen or heard something more to
indicate it. I told him, however, that I thought it would be well to be
on the lookout, though I did not think they would attack him. I heard
the rebels say repeatedly that they intended to kill negro troops
wherever they could find them; that they had heard that there were negro
troops at Union City, and that they had intended to kill them if they
had found any there. They also said they had understood there were negro
troops at Paducah and Mayfield, and that they intended to kill them if
they got them. And they said that they did not consider officers who
commanded negro troops to be any better than the negroes themselves.
Question. With whom did you have this conversation?
Answer. With officers. I did not have any extensive conversation with
any officer higher than captain. I talked with three or four captains,
and perhaps twice that number of lieutenants.
Question. Did you see Colonel Hawkins, or have any conversation with
him, after the surrender?
Answer. I did not. I felt so disgusted with him that I never spoke a
word to him after the surrender.
* * * * *
Captain John W. Beattie, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what regiment do you belong?
Answer. I am a captain in the 7th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Union City when it was surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What was our force there?
Answer. Something near five hundred, altogether. There were some there
that did not belong to our regiment.
Question. What was the force that attacked you?
Answer. From 1,500 to 1,800, as near as we could learn from the rebel
officers while we were with them.
Question. What rebel officers were in command there?
Answer. The surrender was made to Colonel Duckworth; but I am not
certain whether it was Duckworth or Faulkner who had the command.
Question. Will you state briefly the circumstances attending the attack
and surrender of Union City?
Answer. Our pickets were driven in about 4 o'clock in the morning. We
sent some men out to see what force it was. As soon as it was light
enough to see we found the rebels were all around our camp. Skirmishing
commenced all around. Those of our men who were out, and could get in,
came in; but some of the pickets did not get in at all. My company were
almost all out on picket. The enemy, mounted men, made a charge on our
camp; they came up on all sides, but we drove them back. They then
dismounted and made three other charges, and we drove them back each
time. I did not see but one of our men killed; and I did not see any
that were wounded at all. One of my sergeants was killed. About 9
o'clock, I should think, the enemy got behind logs and stumps, and all
such places, and commenced sharpshooting. If a man raised his head up,
there would be a shot fired at him. We put out the best of our men as
sharpshooters. A great many of our men lay down inside of our works and
went to sleep, as they felt altogether easy about the matter. I think it
was about half past ten o'clock when the bugle was sounded to cease
firing; and fifteen minutes before eleven they sent in a flag of truce
demanding an unconditional surrender. Colonel Hawkins called the
officers together and asked them what they thought best to be done. All
were in favor of fighting. When he asked me about it I told him that if
they had artillery they could whip us; but if they had no artillery we
could fight them till hell froze over; those were my very words. Then
the telegraph operator said that he had seen two pieces of artillery. He
had my glass, and had been up in a little log shanty, where he could see
all over the ground. Colonel Hawkins said if they had artillery, and we
renewed the fight, like enough they would kill every man of us they got.
So we agreed then he should make the surrender on condition that we
should be paroled there, without being taken away from the place, and
each one allowed to keep his private property, and the officers allowed
to keep their fire-arms. He went out to make the surrender on those
conditions; and if they did not accept them, then we were to fight them
as long as a man was left. He went out, and the next thing I knew there
was an order came there for us to march our men out and lay down their
arms. We marched them out in front of his headquarters and laid down our
arms. The rebels then piled into our camp and cleaned out everything;
what they could not carry off they burned. We were then marched off. The
colonel had not then told us on what conditions the surrender was made;
he only said he supposed we would be paroled.
Question. The enemy had used no artillery?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you find out subsequently whether or not they had any
artillery?
Answer. They had two pieces of artillery, but they did not have them at
Union City.
Question. Where was it?
Answer. On the way from Dresden to Paducah. They told me it was in
supporting distance; that they could have had it at Union City in a
short time; but I heard so many stories I did not know what to believe.
Question. Did you suppose at the time you made the surrender that
re-enforcements were approaching you?
Answer. The colonel could not tell us whether any re-enforcements were
coming or not.
Question. How far was Union City from Columbus?
Answer. I think it was twenty-six miles; but I am not certain.
Question. You supposed re-enforcements would come from there, if at all?
Answer. From Cairo.
Question. How far were you from Cairo?
Answer. It is about forty-six miles from here to Union City. You would
have to go from here to Columbus, and from Columbus out to Union City.
Question. How long did you remain with the enemy?
Answer. From Thursday until Monday night.
Question. How did you effect your escape?
Answer. We were not guarded very closely. When I was ready to leave I
went into the kitchen, just after supper, and asked for some bread and
meat for a man who was sick. The cook gave it to me, and I then went out
the door and called Captain Parsons, and asked him if he did not want to
go down and see the boys; that I had got a piece of meat to take down.
He said yes; but instead of going down to see the boys we turned off
into the woods.
Question. At what point did you come into our lines?
Answer. We came in at Waverly landing.
By the chairman:
Question. Have you heard since that re-enforcements under General
Brayman were approaching to your relief?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you hear how near they had got to you?
Answer. Within six miles of the place at four o'clock that morning.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Had you any conversation with the rebel officers while you
were with them?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you hear them say anything about negro troops, &c.?
Answer. Not much. I was talking with them about our regiment. They said
when they first started to come there that they were going to get us,
and seemed to be surprised to think we had fought them as well as we
did, for they said they expected to get us without any trouble.
Question. Did they say why they expected to get you without any trouble?
Answer. No, sir. They said they would parole Hawkins again, and let him
get some more horses, and knives, and things, and then they would come
when they wanted him again.
Question. How did they treat our men?
Answer. They gave them nothing to eat until the second night, when they
gave them about an ounce of fat bacon each. Some got a little bread, but
a few of them, however. On Sunday morning they marched the men up in
front of the court-house, passed them in one at a time and searched
them, taking boots, hats, coats, blankets, and money from them.
Question. Did they leave you without boots, coats, or blankets?
Answer. There were a great many of our men who had new boots, and the
rebels would take the new boots and give them their old ones, and so
they exchanged hats and blankets.
Question. How many days were you in reaching our lines after you escaped
from the rebels?
Answer. I reached Waverly landing on Thursday, the 7th of April, and
Cairo in two weeks from the time that I got away from them.
* * * * *
Captain P. K. Parsons, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were you at Union City when that place was surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State briefly the circumstances attending the attack there and
the surrender.
Answer. I think it was a few minutes after 4 o'clock in the morning that
our pickets were driven in by the enemy. I was then sent out to look
after them, and commenced skirmishing with them just at daylight. Before
sun-up they had surrounded the fort. They then made three or four
charges, two on horseback, I believe, but they were repulsed very
easily. They then did not do anything but use their sharpshooters until
about ten minutes before 11 o'clock, when they sent in a flag of truce
demanding an unconditional surrender. The colonel went out and received
the demand and brought it in. He then called the officers together and
asked what we thought of the matter. He turned to Captain Harris, as the
oldest officer, and asked him what we should do. The captain said he was
for fighting, and I believe other officers there said "fight." The
colonel then asked me to ride out with him, and I did so. On our way out
I told the colonel that I thought we had the rebels whipped unless they
had re-enforcements, which I did not think they had. They gave us
fifteen minutes more to consider. Then some officers said they thought
they saw artillery out there. Captain Beattie said if they had artillery
they could whip us, but not without. The colonel then went out and made
an unconditional surrender of the fort, about sixteen officers and about
500 men. I guess there were 300 men and officers out of the 500 who
wanted to fight.
Question. Did you see any artillery?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. They had none there?
Answer. No, sir; I rode out as far as I dared go to see, and I did not
see anything with the glass I had but an ambulance; there was no
artillery there at all.
Question. To what do you attribute the surrender by Colonel Hawkins?
Answer. It is hard for me to make up my mind about that. Colonel Hawkins
was a first lieutenant of a company in the Mexican war and I fought
under him there, and I have fought under him in this war, and I never
saw any cowardice about him before. I think this was one of the most
cowardly surrenders there ever was. Still, I cannot think Colonel
Hawkins is a coward; at least I never saw any show of cowardice in him
before. I could see no reason for surrendering when we had but one man
killed or hurt in the fort.
Question. You escaped from the enemy?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How did you effect your escape?
Answer. I escaped with Captain Beattie.
Question. How long were you with the enemy?
Answer. Four days and a half.
Question. Who did you understand was in command of the rebels?
Answer. Colonel Duckworth.
Question. How many men did he have?
Answer. From the best information I could get there were about 1,500 of
them. Several of their officers said they had 1,250 men, regular troops,
and four independent companies. That was their statement to me.
Question. Had you a good position at Union City?
Answer. It was a very good position against small arms; it was not
strong against artillery.
Question. Did you know anything about re-enforcements coming to you?
Answer. We were looking for re-enforcements. We had a despatch to hold
the place, that re-enforcements would be sent.
Question. From whom was that despatch?
Answer. From General Brayman.
Question. Did Colonel Hawkins receive that despatch before he
surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir; the day before the fight, before the wire was cut. He
was getting a despatch when the wire was cut; we did not know what that
despatch was. But the one he got before was an order to hold the place,
that re-enforcements would be sent to him. We were looking for them to
come that morning or that night. I heard some rebel officers and men say
they had come 450 miles for our regiment, and that they had known they
would get it. I asked them how they knew they would get it, but they
would not tell me. A rebel cursed Colonel Hawkins; said he was a God
damned coward, but he had good men.
Question. Were our men in good spirits before the surrender?
Answer. They were just as cool and quiet as you ever saw men; not a bit
excited, but talking and laughing.
* * * * *
Mrs. Rosa Johnson, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where have you been living?
Answer. I have a home at Hickman, Kentucky, but have been at Fort
Pillow.
Question. Did you live there?
Answer. No, sir; my son was there, and I went down to stay with him.
Question. Where were you during the fight?
Answer. I was on a big island, where the gunboat men took us. I staid
there a part of two days and one night.
Question. Did you go back to Fort Pillow after the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir; the gunboat took us over there.
Question. When did you go back there?
Answer. The battle was on Tuesday, and I went back Wednesday evening.
Question. Had our wounded men been taken away when you went back?
Answer. Yes, sir, I believe so.
Question. How long did you stay there?
Answer. I went about 2 o'clock in the evening, and staid till night.
Question. Did you go about the fort after you went back?
Answer. Yes, sir; I went up in it, expecting to find my son lying there,
and I went around, where I saw some half buried, some with feet out, or
hands out, or heads out; but I could not find him. I was so distressed
that I could not tell much about it.
Question. Did you see anybody nailed to any boards there?
Answer. We saw a man lying there, burned they said; but I did not go
close to him. I was looking all around the fort for my child, and did
not pay attention to anything else.
Question. You came away that night?
Answer. I think we did.
Question. Is that all you know about it?
Answer. That is about all I know about it. There was a pile of dirt
there, and there was a crack in it, which looked like a wounded man had
been buried there, and had tried to get out, and had jammed the dirt,
for they buried the wounded and the dead altogether there. There were
others knew about that.
* * * * *
Mrs. Rebecca Williams, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where do you reside?
Answer. In Obion county, Tennessee.
Question. Was your husband in that fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you there during the fight?
Answer. I was over on the island with Mrs. Johnson.
Question. Did you go back to Fort Pillow after the battle?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What did you see there?
Answer. I did not see anything more than what Mrs. Johnson saw. I saw a
burned man. He was lying right where a house was burned. He was a white
man, but as I was alone by myself, I felt frightened, and did not look
at it. I saw many buried there, some half buried, and negroes lying
around there unburied. I heard that there was a man nailed up to a
building and burned, but I did not see it.
Question. What time of day was it that you were there?
Answer. About 2 o'clock, the day after the fight. I saw that the man who
was burned was a white man. Mrs. Ruffin was there and examined it, and
can tell you all about it.
* * * * *
Captain James H. Odlin, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank and position in the service?
Answer. I am a captain, and assistant adjutant general and chief of
staff for General Brayman, for the district of Cairo, where I have been
stationed since the 23d of January, 1864.
Question. Do you know anything about the capture of Fort Pillow?
Answer. Only from hearsay.
Question. You are acquainted somewhat with the circumstances attending
the surrender of Union City?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Will you tell us about that?
Answer. About 4 o'clock on the evening of the 23d of March we received a
telegram that it was likely Union City would be attacked within two
days. Shortly afterwards we received a telegram from Colonel Hawkins
that he would be attacked within 24 hours. He said his men had not seen
the enemy, but that his information was reliable. General Brayman
instructed me to proceed by special boat to Columbus, and from thence,
by special train, to Union City, to inquire into the matter, find out
the truth of the case, and let him know; also, to find out whether
re-enforcements were necessary. I left Cairo about 5 p. m. on the 23d,
arrived at Columbus about half past seven o'clock, and immediately
proceeded to the telegraph office and telegraphed to Colonel Hawkins,
asking him if he had any further information. He answered that he had
none. I then asked him if his information and his despatches could be
relied upon, and whether he had seen the enemy. He answered that none of
his men had seen the enemy; that he had not seen any one who had seen
the enemy, but that his information was entirely reliable, and that he
would be attacked, there was no doubt of it.
I then proceeded, by special train, to Union City, and had a
consultation with Colonel Hawkins. He told me that the ferries on the
Obion had been destroyed, and that scouts whom he had expected in the
day before had not returned; that he supposed that they were captured,
or that it was impossible for them to get across the Obion. He said that
his men had not seen the enemy; that he could not get any of them across
the Obion in consequence of the rebel forces having destroyed the
private ferries, and guarding the other places.
About half past 3 o'clock on the morning of the 24th a messenger came in
and stated that the pickets at the bridge on the Dresden and Hickman
road had been attacked and driven in, and that they were probably cut
off, which afterwards proved to be the fact. The messenger also reported
that, when shots were exchanged, he thought the rebels had brought
artillery to the front, but he could not be certain of that; that it
sounded on the bridge like artillery. I immediately directed Colonel
Hawkins to have his men saddle their horses ready for a fight. I
instructed him, if he saw fit, and thought he could not hold the place,
to abandon it and fall back on Columbus. He asked me how soon I would
re-enforce him if he remained there. I told him I would re-enforce him
just as quick as I could get the troops up there. He said he thought he
could hold the place with his regiment if he had some artillery; but
that he could not contend against artillery without he had some himself.
I told him I did not want him to retreat without having seen the enemy;
that he must have a skirmish with them, and feel their strength, before
falling back to Columbus; that I did not want the command disgraced by
retreating without seeing the enemy, which it would be if the reports
should prove false, or he found that he had fallen back before a small
number of men.
I then told Colonel Hawkins I must leave, for my orders were not to
endanger the train, but to save it. The train consisted of nine cars and
a locomotive, and was loaded with stores from Union City belonging to
the government and to the railroad company, and 150 contrabands,
(railroad hands.) The last words I said to Colonel Hawkins were, that if
he found he could not whip the enemy, he should immediately retreat to
Columbus. He said that, if he did not fall back, he would hold the place
until re-enforcements reached him. I told him I would immediately push
forward re-enforcements; that the garrison at Columbus consisted of only
1,100 men in all, and that 900 and odd of them were negroes, who had
never been in a fight, and that re-enforcements would have to come from
Cairo. I wrote a telegraphic despatch at the time to General Brayman,
giving all the facts. But while it was being sent, the wires were cut,
and we did not get the half of it through.
I then started to return to Columbus with the train, with the distinct
understanding with Colonel Hawkins that he should either hold Union City
until re-enforcements should arrive, or fall back to Columbus. The State
line bridge was burning as I crossed it with the train, the evident
intention of the rebels being to capture the train. I succeeded,
however, in getting it through to Columbus safe.
Colonel Lawrence, commanding at Columbus, had telegraphed General
Brayman that communications with Union City were cut off; that I was on
the opposite side of the bridge, and that Colonel Hawkins was probably
attacked. General Brayman immediately forwarded re-enforcements to
Columbus, taking 2,000 men belonging to General Veatch's command, then
on their way up the Tennessee river. He had received telegraphic orders
from General Sherman not to take any of those troops out of their proper
course, but forward them as soon as possible up the Tennessee. As
transports were not ready for them, and as General Brayman could go to
Union City and back again before transportation would be ready, he
concluded to use some of the troops for the purpose of re-enforcing
Union City. The movement was made with as little delay as possible. He
arrived at Columbus about ten or half past ten o'clock on the morning of
the 24th, and immediately proceeded on a railroad train towards Union
City. Upon arriving within about seven miles of Union City, we were
informed, by citizens and some scouts, that Colonel Hawkins had
surrendered at 11 o'clock of that day; that the rebels had destroyed all
the works and the government property, and had retreated. General
Brayman being fully convinced that Union City had been surrendered,
everything there destroyed, and that the enemy had fled, returned to
Columbus, and from thence to Cairo, with the troops ready to be
forwarded up the Tennessee in obedience to the orders of General
Sherman.
Question. Will you now state what you know in relation to the attack on
Paducah?
Answer. About 8 o'clock on the night of the 25th of March we received a
telegraphic despatch from the operator at Metropolis, stating that a big
light was seen in the direction of Paducah; that it looked as if the
town or some boats were burning. The despatch also stated that the
telegraph repairer had come in and reported that he had been within two
miles of Paducah, and had heard firing there. We had received, previous
to this, no intimation from Colonel Hicks, commanding at Paducah, that
the place was in danger of an attack. In obedience to instructions from
General Brayman, I immediately got on a despatch boat, furnished by
Captain Pennock, of the navy, and with Captain Shirk, of the navy,
proceeded to Paducah. We found, on our arrival there, that General
Forrest, with his command of about 6,500 men, had attacked Paducah in
the afternoon, about 3 o'clock, the troops under Colonel Hicks having
only about fifteen minutes notice of their coming. Colonel Hicks's
scouts had returned from the road over which the rebels had come in, and
reported that they had heard nothing of the enemy. They were just about
sending out new scouts when the rebels dashed into the town, driving our
pickets in, and driving our troops into the fort. As the rear of the
battalion of the 16th Kentucky cavalry were marching into the fort they
were fired upon by the rebels.
After fighting a short time, the rebels sent in a demand, under flag of
truce, for the unconditional surrender of all the forces under Colonel
Hicks's command, and all the government property, stating that, if he
should comply with the demand, his troops should be treated as prisoners
of war; if not, then an overwhelming force would be thrown against him,
and no quarter would be shown him. Colonel Hicks replied by stating that
he had been placed there by his government to hold and defend the place
and the public stores there, and that he should obey the command of his
superior officer, and do so; that he was prepared for the enemy, and
should not surrender.
Forrest then again attacked the fort, making three different charges.
Our troops, both black and white, behaved in the most gallant and
meritorious manner, fighting most bravely. After fighting until half
past seven or eight o'clock in the evening our ammunition began to run
short, so much so that men and officers began to count their cartridges.
Colonel Hicks had only 3,000 rounds of small ammunition left when
Forrest made the second demand for a surrender. But Colonel Hicks, as
before, positively refused to comply with the demand. Firing then ceased
until daylight the next morning.
During this cessation of firing I succeeded in getting into the fort
with re-enforcements and a small supply of ammunition from the gunboats.
The supply of ammunition from Cairo did not arrive until the evening. As
it was impossible to get any despatches through from Colonel Hicks, the
line being cut, we knew nothing when I left Cairo of his being short of
ammunition. The understanding we had with Colonel Hicks, before any
attack was made, was that we had a large supply of ammunition on hand;
that there were about 33,000 cartridges, calibre 58, on hand--that being
the calibre used by the troops there--and a large supply of artillery
ammunition in the fort.
The next morning, about six o'clock, the enemy again advanced in line of
battle towards the fort. There was some firing on both sides, but it did
not amount to much. Some of the rebel troops, while their main body was
firing at the fort, were engaged in pillaging the town, stealing
property from private citizens, horses, and government stores, burning
houses, and committing all sorts of depredations.
While the flag of truce was at the fort the first, second, and third
times, the rebel troops were taking new positions in line of battle,
although they had made a distinct agreement and understanding with
Colonel Hicks that while the flag of truce was in there should be no
movements of troops on either side; that everything should remain as it
was.
While the fight was going on, women, children, and other non-combatants
came running down to the river towards the gunboats. The officers in the
fort and on the gunboats called to them to run down to the river bank to
the left of our fort. They did so, and under cover of the gunboats they
got on a wharf boat or a little ferry-boat and were ferried across the
river as fast as possible. While they were doing this the rebel
sharpshooters got in among them, so that we could not fire upon them
without killing the women and children, and fired on our troops in the
fort and on the gunboats, wounding one officer on a gunboat and two men.
They also made women stand up in front of their sharpshooters, where it
was impossible for us to return the fire without killing the women. They
also fired into houses where there were women, and where there were none
of our soldiers. They also went into a hospital, took the surgeon of the
hospital prisoner, and took a lady that was there and carried her off
and took her clothing from her, leaving her nothing but an old dress to
cover herself with. This woman, as well as Dr. Hart, the surgeon of the
hospital, were taken away by them as prisoners. All the prisoners taken
there by Forrest, with the exception of three or four men, were sick men
from the hospital, unable to move or walk from the hospital to the fort
without injury to their health. All the men who were able to walk were
brought from the hospital to the fort. They took the rest of the men
from the hospital, and under the third flag of truce offered to exchange
them. This Colonel Hicks and myself refused, because we thought it
treachery on their part. We also refused for the reason that we did not
think they had a right to take as prisoners of war men in the hospital
who were unable to walk without danger to their lives. Yet the rebels
took those men and marched them ten miles, and then camped them down in
a swampy piece of ground at night, with their clothes nearly all taken
from them. Some of them were left bareheaded and barefooted, with
nothing on but their pants and shirts, compelled to stay in that swampy
ravine all night long, with nothing to eat, and not permitted to have
fires. The next morning they were marched off again. I have certain
knowledge that for two days and one night those sick men were compelled
to march with the rebel troops without anything to eat, with hardly any
clothing, and a number of them without any boots or shoes.
Question. Do you know that the rebels placed women and other
non-combatants in front of their lines as they advanced towards the
fort?
Answer. They had women and children between us and their lines, and they
stood behind them, the women and children forming a sort of breastwork
for the rebels, as we were unable to return their fire for fear of
killing the women and children. Colonel Hicks reported to me that they
took several women and compelled them to stand in front of their lines
during the fight; that there were women and children between our fire
and theirs; that as the women moved the rebels moved along with them,
keeping behind them.
Question. Have you any idea of the number of women and children they had
thus placed in front of them?
Answer. It varied at different times. Colonel Hicks informed me that at
one time the rebels held six women in front of them, refused to let them
escape, but compelled them to stand there under the hottest of the fire.
Question. Were those women so placed that we could not fire upon the
enemy with advantage without endangering the lives of the women?
Answer. We could not fire upon them at that particular point without
endangering the lives of the women and children.
Question. Do you know whether the flag of truce was violated by the
rebels at any time?
Answer. Yes, sir, it was. While the flag of truce was in they moved
their troops into new positions; they marched their troops around to the
back of the fort, and brought them up through the timber, dashed up
towards the fort at full speed, then turned off towards the right of the
fort, taking up their position between the fort and the town. During
the first flag of truce they marched the majority of their forces, if
not the whole of them, down into an open common between the fort, the
river, and the town, along the river bank, then obliqued off to the
left, and took position in line of battle off to the right of the fort
as you faced the town; and at one time, while their troops were taking
position between the town and the fort during a flag of truce, they had
women placed in front of their lines.
Question. While they were making the movement?
Answer. Yes, sir. The rebel General Thompson with his forces took
position on the right of the fort between the hospital and the fort
while the flag of truce was at the fort. The fact of the rebel movements
was reported to Colonel Hicks, and he requested of the flag of truce
that they should be stopped, as they had violated their word, it being
distinctly understood that there should be no movements during that
time, and the officer sent an orderly to stop it, but it was not done;
the troops continued to move. After they had placed their troops in
position the flag of truce left the fort. As the flag of truce passed
from the fort down through the town, the rebel troops escorting the flag
shot down in the streets some citizens and some men straggling from the
hospital. A charge was then immediately made on the fort, at which time
the rebel General Thompson was killed. The rebels also, while the flag
of truce was at the fort, pillaged the town, and robbed citizens on the
streets who were on their way down to the river for the purpose of going
across. They pillaged the town right in view of our gunboats; and as
soon as the flag of truce left the fort our gunboats opened upon the
rebels, and drove them out of that part of the town.
The morning after I arrived there, when the rebel forces advanced on the
fort, they sent in a flag of truce asking for an exchange of prisoners,
which was refused. It was a written communication from General Forrest,
asking, if his request was granted, that Colonel Hicks, with one or two
staff officers, would meet him at a point designated, when they would
agree between themselves upon the exchange. Colonel Hicks replied that
he had no authority to exchange prisoners; otherwise he would be happy
to do so. When this written reply was handed to the rebel officer in
charge of the flag of truce, he asked three or four questions for the
purpose of gaining time. Colonel Hicks and I both noticed this, and sent
him off as soon as possible. While this flag of truce was at the fort
the rebels were taking position. They afterwards fell back into the
timber.
The main body of the rebels, Forrest with them, retreated on the
Mayfield road, while about 300 of his men remained in the town making
movements and feints on the fort, to prevent our sending out and
ascertaining his movements. Forrest, by that time, had found out that we
had been re-enforced with troops, and that more boats were arriving;
also, that the navy had re-enforced us with two or three more gunboats.
In the afternoon, about 5 o'clock, by Colonel Hicks's consent and
direction, I sent word to the gunboats to move up opposite the town and
shell it at the head of Jersey street, our troops having seen squads of
rebels in that part of the city. This the gunboats did. After that the
town was quiet, the rebels who had remained there having been driven out
by the shells.
Question. Do you know what was our loss and the loss of the enemy there?
Answer. Our loss altogether was 14 killed--of which 11 were negroes--and
46 wounded; I do not know how many of them were negroes. The rebels lost
about 300 killed, and from 1,000 to 1,200 wounded. That is what the
citizens reported Forrest said, and we believed it to be correct from
the number of graves we found, and from other circumstances. Forrest
seized the Mayfield and Paducah train and carried all his wounded off to
Mayfield, except a few who lay near the fort.
Our black troops were very much exposed. The fort was in bad condition,
and the negro troops, with the heavy artillery, were compelled to stand
up on the platforms to man the guns, their only protection there being a
little bank or ridge of earth about knee high. Our loss in killed
resulted from this exposure. The rebel troops got up on the tops of
houses, and also in the hospital, and fired down into the fort upon our
gunners. But the troops fought bravely, without flinching; as soon as a
man fell at the guns, one of his comrades would drag him out of the way
and take his place. The black troops, having muskets as well as serving
the artillery, would load and fire their muskets while the artillery was
being fired. The white troops were better covered and had more
protection; but they fought as well as any men could be expected to
fight.
Question. Will you state to us what you know about the operations of the
rebels against Columbus?
Answer. The first news we received of any operations against Columbus
was about 12 o'clock in the day--I do not remember the exact day, but it
was just before the attack on Fort Pillow. I received a written
communication by despatch boat from Colonel Lawrence, commanding the
post at Columbus, stating that he had received a communication from
General Buford demanding an unconditional surrender of the forces under
his command, with all government property, with the assurance that the
white troops would be treated as prisoners of war, while the black
troops, I think, would either be returned to their masters, or made such
disposition of as the rebels should see fit. To this Colonel Lawrence
replied that he had been placed there by his government to defend the
place and the government property and stores there, and that he should
obey the orders of his superiors; surrender, therefore, was out of the
question.
The rebel general then offered to give Colonel Lawrence half an hour to
remove the women and children out of the town. Colonel Lawrence replied
that he should immediately notify the women and children to leave on a
boat; that if he (the rebel general) attempted to attack the place, the
lives of the women and children would rest on his head, but if he waited
half an hour he would have them all out; that he (Colonel Lawrence)
would not ask them to wait, for he felt amply prepared to receive their
attack.
The flag of truce then returned. On their way out, or while the flag of
truce was at the fort, the rebel cavalry occupied themselves in stealing
horses that had been brought in by Union citizens, and stabled near our
picket lines for protection. The rebels stole something like twenty-five
or thirty horses belonging to Union men while this flag of truce was in.
That was the last Colonel Lawrence heard of the enemy that day. Colonel
Lawrence then gave notice that he should receive no more flags of truce
from Forrest; that as Forrest did not respect them, he should not
himself respect them. That was all that occurred at Columbus.
Question. You have said that you went up to Paducah on a gunboat with
Captain Shirk, of the navy: did he co-operate cordially with the land
forces in repelling the attack upon Paducah?
Answer. He did. Captain Shirk and all his officers did everything in
their power to aid us. He was very accommodating, even furnishing us
with ammunition, although he himself was getting short of it. He had but
a very small amount, yet he divided with us, giving us a share of what
he had. He also sent by boat to Metropolis all the despatches that were
sent by Colonel Hicks and myself to General Brayman, and he sent a
despatch boat to Cairo. To make sure that the information should get
through, and to have supplies forwarded to us, the gunboats did
everything in their power, and rendered great assistance in defending
the place.
Question. Has Captain Pennock, of the navy, co-operated cordially with
the military authorities in their operations in this vicinity, where it
has been possible for the navy to co-operate?
Answer. Yes, sir; Captain Pennock has always been on hand, always had
boats ready; has made such dispositions of his boats that he could at
any moment throw from one to three boats, and at one time as many as
five boats, on any one point in the district, whenever asked to do so.
At the time of the attack upon Paducah he was very prompt in furnishing
us with a despatch boat and supplying us with ammunition. I believe he
has done everything in his power to assist us in carrying out all our
movements and operations. At the same time Captain Pennock has labored
under the difficulty of being compelled to send some of his boats up the
Tennessee river with despatches for General Veatch. I mention that to
show that he has had to send some of his boats away. Yet he has always
been ready to assist us at any time, night or day. The best feeling has
always existed, and still exists, between the naval officers and the
military authorities at this post, and at all the posts in the district;
and they co-operate cordially in carrying out all orders and measures
that are deemed for the good of the service.
* * * * *
John Penwell, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where do you reside?
Answer. Detroit, Michigan.
Question. Do you belong to the army?
Answer. I do not.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when it was attacked?
Answer. Yes, sir; this last time.
Question. In what capacity were you there?
Answer. As a volunteer for the occasion.
Question. Will you tell us, in your own way, what you saw there?
Answer. Nothing occurred of much account--only the fighting part of
it--until after they sent the last flag of truce there. They kept on
fighting, but the fort was not surrendered. While the flag of truce was
outside the fort, and they were conferring together, I noticed and spoke
about seeing men going around behind the fort. They who were out with
the flag of truce came back and said they were not going to surrender,
and commenced fighting again. I had just fired my musket off, and heard
a shot behind me. I saw the rebels come running right up to us. I was
just feeling for a cartridge. They were as close as from here to the
window (about 10 feet). I threw my musket down. A fellow who was ahead
asked "if I surrendered." I said, "Yes." He said, "Die, then, you damned
Yankee son of a bitch," and shot me, and I fell. More passed by me, and
commenced hallooing "Shoot him down," and three or four stopped where I
was and jumped on me and stripped me, taking my boots and coat and hat,
and $45 or $50 in greenbacks.
Question. Where did they shoot you?
Answer. In the breast, and the ball passed right through.
Question. Did you see other men shot after they had surrendered?
Answer. I did not see any after I laid down, but I heard the hallooing
around me, and begging them "Not to shoot," and then I heard them say
"Shoot them down, shoot them down!" In fact, when they stripped me, one
of them said "He ain't dead," and they jerked me up and took off my
coat. It hurt me pretty bad, and I cried out to them "Kill me, out and
out." One of them said "Hit him a crack on the head," but another said
"Let the poor fellow be, and get well, if he can. He has nothing more
left now." I fainted then. After I revived I crawled into a tent near
where I was. A captain of artillery was in there very badly wounded.
Some one had thrown an overcoat over us after I got in there. In the
night they roused us up, and wanted to know "If we wanted to be burned
up." I said "No." They said "They were going to fire the tent, and we
had better get out," and wanted to know if we could walk. I said "I
could not." They helped me out and made me walk some, but carried the
officer out. They took us to a house and left us there. They would not
give us any water, but told us to get it for ourselves. There were other
wounded men there. Some petty officer came in there and looked at us,
and wanted to know how badly we were hurt. I said, "Pretty bad," and
asked him for water, and he made some of the men fetch us some. We lay
there until the gunboat came up and commenced shelling, when they made
us get out of that--help ourselves out the best way we could. Three of
our own men were helping the wounded out of the houses, when they
commenced burning them. As soon as they saw I could walk a little, they
started me up to headquarters with a party. When we got to the gully the
gunboat threw a shell, which kind of flurried them, and we got out of
sight of them. I got alongside of a log, and laid there until a party
from the boat came along picking up the wounded.
Question. Did they have a hospital there that the wounded were put in?
Answer. There were four or five huts there together which they put them
in. That was all the hospital I saw.
Question. Do you know whether they burned anybody in there?
Answer. I do not know, but they hallooed to us to "Get out, if we did
not want to get burned to death." I told an officer there, who was
ordering the houses to be burned, to let some of the men go in there, as
there were some eight or nine wounded men in there, and a negro who had
his hip broken. He said "The white men can help themselves out, the
damned nigger shan't come out of that." I do not know whether they got
the wounded out or not. I got out, because I could manage to walk a
little. It was very painful for me to walk, but I could bear the pain
better than run the risk of being burned up.
Question. Do you know anything about rebel officers being on the boat,
and our officers asking them to drink?
Answer. Yes, sir. There were several rebel officers on board the Platte
Valley. I went on board the boat, and took my seat right in front of the
saloon. I knew the bar-tender, and wanted to get a chance to get some
wine, as I was very weak. I was just going to step up to the bar, when
one of our officers, a lieutenant or a captain, I don't know which,
stepped in front of me and almost shoved me away, and called up one of
the rebel officers and took a drink with him; and I saw our officers
drinking with the rebel officers several times.
* * * * *
COLUMBUS, KENTUCKY, _April 24, 1864_.
Colonel Wm. H. Lawrence, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank and position in the army?
Answer. I am colonel of the 34th New Jersey volunteers.
Question. Where are you stationed now, and how long have you been there
stationed?
Answer. I am stationed at Columbus, and have been there since the end of
January last.
Question. What do you know with regard to the attack and capture of Fort
Pillow?
Answer. All I know about that is, that General Shipley arrived here on
the 13th of April. He took me one side, and told me that as he passed
Fort Pillow he was hailed from a gunboat, and told that there had been
severe fighting there; that he saw a flag of truce at Fort Pillow, and
that, after passing the fort a little distance, he saw the American flag
hauled down, or the halliards shot away, he did not know which; and he
afterward saw a flag, which was not raised higher than a regimental
flag, and that he believed Fort Pillow had surrendered. He then offered
me two batteries of light artillery, which he said were fully manned and
equipped. He repeated this same conversation to General Brayman, as I
understand, after arriving at Cairo.
Question. Did he give any reason why he did not undertake to assist the
garrison at Fort Pillow?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. From his conversation, did you gather that he was in a
condition to render assistance?
Answer. [After a pause.] It struck me as the most remarkable thing in
the world that he had not found out positively; had not landed his
batteries, and gone to the assistance of Fort Pillow.
Question. Under what circumstances did you understand he was there?
Answer. The steamer on which he was passed by there. I am under the
impression that he had also two or three hundred infantry on the
steamer.
* * * * *
Dr. Chapman Underwood, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where do you reside?
Answer. I reside in Tennessee.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow, or on board a gunboat, during the
attack there?
Answer. Yes, sir; I was there.
Question. What was your position?
Answer. I was sent from there, about ten days before that, on detached
service, looking after convalescents, and returned on the Saturday
evening before the fight on Tuesday morning. I was acting assistant
surgeon. The regiment was not full enough to have a surgeon with the
regular rank.
Question. Will you state what came within your own observation in
connexion with the attack and capture?
Answer. I roomed with Lieutenant Logan, first lieutenant of company C,
13th Tennessee cavalry. About sun-up, I got up as usual. About the time
I got up and washed, the pickets ran in and said Forrest was coming to
attack the fort. I started up to the fort. Lieutenant Logan knew the
feeling the rebels had towards me, and told me to go on the gunboat.
Question. What do you mean by that?
Answer. Well, they had been hunting me--had shot at me frequently.
Faulkner's regiment, and a part of another, was raised in the country
where I knew all of them. I was a notorious character with them, and
always had to leave whenever they came around. The lieutenant advised me
to go on board the gunboat for safety, and I did so. The attack came on
then, and we fired from the gunboat, I think, some 260 or 270 rounds,
and the sharpshooters on the boat were firing, I among the rest. We
fought on, I think, until about one or half past one. The rebels had not
made much progress by that time. They then came in with a flag of truce,
and firing ceased from the fort and gunboat, and all around. They had a
conference, I think, of about three-quarters of an hour. They returned
with the flag of truce; but in a very short time came back again with it
to the fort, and had another interview. During the time the flag of
truce was in there, there was no firing done from either side, but we
could see from the gunboat up the creek that the rebels were moving up
towards the fort. The boat lay about 200 yards from the shore, right
opposite the quartermaster's department. By the time the first flag of
truce got to the fort, they commenced stealing the quartermaster's
stores, and began packing them off up the hill. For an hour and a half,
I reckon, there seemed to be above one or two hundred men engaged in it.
Question. This was before the capture of the fort?
Answer. Yes, sir; while under the protection of the flag of truce. When
the last flag of truce started back from the fort, in three minutes, or
less, the firing opened again, and then they just rushed in all around,
from every direction, like a swarm of bees, and overwhelmed everything.
The men--white and black--all rushed out of the fort together, threw
down their arms, and ran down the hill; but they shot them down like
beeves, in every direction. I think I saw about 200 run down next to the
water, and some of them into the water, and they shot them until I did
not see a man standing.
Question. How many do you think were shot after the capture of the fort,
and after they threw down their arms?
Answer. Well, I think, from all the information I could gather, there
were about 400 men killed after the capture, or 450. I think there were
about 500 and odd men killed there. A very great majority of them were
killed after the surrender. I do not suppose there were more than 20 men
killed before the fort was captured and the men threw down their arms
and begged for quarter.
Question. Was there any resistance on the part of our soldiers after the
capture of the fort?
Answer. None in the world. They had no chance to make any resistance.
Question. And they did not attempt to make any?
Answer. None that I could discover. There were about 500 black soldiers
in all there, and about 200 whites able for duty. There were a great
many of them sick and in the hospital.
Question. What happened after that?
Answer. They then got our cannon in the fort, and turned them on us, and
we had to steam off up the river a little, knowing that they had got a
couple of 10 or 12-pounder Parrott guns. They threw three shells towards
us. We steamed off up the river, anchored, and lay there all night. We
returned the next morning. We got down near there, and discovered plenty
of rebels on the hill, and a gunboat and another boat lying at the
shore. We acted pretty cautiously, and held out a signal, and the
gunboat answered it, and then we went in. When we got in there, the
rebel General Chalmers was on board, and several other officers--majors,
captains, orderlies, &c.--and bragged a great deal about their victory,
and said it was a matter of no consequence. They hated to have such a
fight as that, when they could take no more men than they had there. One
of the gunboat officers got into a squabble with them, and said they did
not treat the flag of truce right. An officer--a captain, I think--who
was going home, came up and said that, "Damn them, he had 18 fights with
them, but he would not treat them as prisoners of war after that," and
that he intended to go home, and would enlist again. Chalmers said that
he would treat him as a prisoner of war, but that they would not treat
as prisoners of war the "home-made Yankees," meaning the loyal
Tennesseeans. There were some sick men in the hospital, but I was afraid
to go on shore after the rebels got there. I merely went on shore, but
did not pretend to leave the boat.
Question. Did you see any person shot there the next morning after you
returned?
Answer. I heard a gun or a pistol fired up the bank, and soon afterwards
a negro woman came in, who was shot through the knee, and said it was
done about that time. I heard frequent shooting up where the fort was,
but I did not go up to see what was done.
* * * * *
FORT PILLOW, TENNESSEE, _April 25, 1864_.
Captain James Marshall, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank and position in the naval service?
Answer. I am an acting master, commanding the United States steamer New
Era, gunboat No. 7.
Question. Where is your boat?
Answer. My boat has been twenty-four hours run from Fort Pillow. Since
the attack here, that has been changed. At the time the fort was
attacked, I was to make my principal headquarters here.
Question. Were you present with your gunboat at the time Fort Pillow was
attacked and captured?
Answer. I was.
Question. Please describe that affair.
Answer. At six o'clock, on the morning of the 12th of April, Major Booth
sent me word that the rebels were advancing on us. I immediately got the
ship cleared for action. I gave the men their breakfasts. I had no idea
that there would be a fight. I thought it would merely be a little
skirmish. I went out into the stream. Major Booth and myself had
previously established signals, by which he could indicate certain
points where he would want me to use my guns. He first signalled me to
commence firing up what we call No. 1 ravine, just below the
quartermaster's department, and I commenced firing there. Then he
signalled me to fire up Coal Creek ravine No. 3, and I then moved up
there. Before I left down here at ravine No. 1 the rebel sharpshooters
were firing at me rapidly. I came along up, and the women and children,
some sick negroes, and boys, were standing around a great barge. I told
them to get into the barge if they wanted to save themselves, and when I
came down again I would take them out of danger. They went in, and I
towed them up and landed them above Coal Creek, where the rebel
sharpshooters commenced firing at them. The next time I moved up Coal
Creek ravine I told them to go on up to a house, as the rebels were
firing upon them. The trees and bushes around them there probably
prevented them from being hit. On knowing that they were fired at much,
I kept a steady fire up to about one o'clock. At that time the fire had
ceased or slackened, and everything seemed to be quieting down, and I
thought, perhaps, they were waiting to get a little rest. My men were
very tired, not having had anything to eat since morning, and the
officers nothing at all. I ran over on the bar to clean out my guns and
refresh my men. We had fired 282 rounds of shell, shrapnell, and
canister, and my guns were getting foul. While we were lying on the bar
a flag of truce came in--the first one. It was, I should judge, about
half past six o'clock. While the flag of truce was in, some of the
officers came to me and told me the rebels were robbing the
quartermaster's department. I went out on the deck and saw them doing
so. Some of the officers said that we should go in and fire upon them;
that we could slay them very nicely. I remarked to them that that was
not civilized warfare; that two wrongs did not make a right; and that if
the rebels should take the fort afterwards they would say that they
would be justified in doing anything they pleased, because I had fired
on them while the flag of truce was in, although they were thus
violating that flag of truce themselves. They were also moving their
forces down this hill, and were going up the ravine. When I saw that, I
got under way, and stood off for the fort again, intending to stop it. I
had only seventy-five rounds of ammunition left, but I told the boys
that we would use that at any rate. The flag of truce started and went
out, and I do not think it had been out more than five minutes when the
assault was made. Major Bradford signalled to me that we were whipped.
We had agreed on a signal that, if they had to leave the fort, they
would drop down under the bank, and I was to give the rebels canister. I
was lying up above here, but the rebels turned the guns in the fort on
us--I think all of them--and a Parrott shot was fired but went over us.
I had to leave, because, if I came down here, the channel would force me
to go around the point, and then, with the guns in the fort, they would
sink me. Had I been below here at the time, I think I could have routed
them out; but part of our own men were in the fort at the same time, and
I should have killed them as well as the rebels. The rebels kept firing
on our men for at least twenty minutes after our flag was down. We said
to one another that they could be giving no quarter. We could see the
men fall, as they were shot, under the bank. I could not see whether
they had arms or not. I was fearful that they might hail in a steamboat
from below, capture her, put on 400 or 500 men, and come after me. I
wanted to get down so as to give warning, and I did send word to Memphis
to have all steamboats stopped for the present. The next morning the
gunboat 28 and the transport Platte Valley came up.
Question. When did you go ashore after the fort had been captured?
Answer. I went ashore the next morning, about ten o'clock, under a flag
of truce, with a party of men and an officer, to gather up the wounded
and bury the dead. I found men lying in the tents and in the fort, whose
bodies were burning. There were two there that I saw that day that had
been burned.
Question. What was the appearance of the remains? What do you infer from
what you saw?
Answer. I supposed that they had been just set on fire there. There was
no necessity for burning the bodies there with the buildings, because,
if they had chosen, they could have dragged the bodies out. There was so
little wood about any of those tents that I can hardly understand how
the bodies could have been burned as they were.
Question. Were the tents burned around the bodies?
Answer. Yes, sir. On the 14th of April (the second day after the
capture) I came up again. I had a lot of refugees on board, and as I
came around I hoisted a white flag, intending to come in and see if
there were any wounded or unburied bodies here. When I landed here, I
saw, I should judge, at least fifty cavalry over on Flower island, and
while I was lying here with a white flag they set fire to an empty coal
barge I had towed over there. I put the refugees on the shore, took down
the white flag, and started after them, and commenced shelling them, and
the gunboats 34 and 15 and the despatch boat Volunteer came down and
opened on them. We did not see the rebels then, but saw where they were
setting wood piles on fire, and we followed them clear round and drove
them off. At this time I received information that the body of
Lieutenant Akerstrom had been burned; that it was he who was burned in
the house. Some of the refugees told me this, and also that they had
taken him out and buried him. There was also one negro who had been
thrown in a hole and buried alive. We took him out, but he lived only a
few minutes afterwards. After we had followed these rebels around to the
head of Island 30, I came back to the fort, landed, and took on board
the refugees I had put on shore. The next morning the three gunboats
landed here, and we sent out pickets, and then sent men around to look
up the dead. We found a number there not buried, besides one man whose
body was so burnt that we had to take a shovel to take up his remains.
Question. Was he burned where there was a tent or a building?
Answer. Where there was a building.
Question. Do you know whether there were any wounded men burned in those
buildings?
Answer. I do not. All I know about that is what I was told by Lieutenant
Leming, who said that while he was lying here wounded, he heard some of
the soldiers say that there were some wounded negroes in those
buildings, who said, "You are trying to get this gunboat back to shell
us, are you, God damn you," and then shot them down. I went to Memphis,
and then had to go to Cairo. I was then ordered to patrol the river from
here (Fort Pillow) to Memphis. I started down on my first trip on Friday
morning last. I arrived at Memphis on Friday afternoon. I mentioned
there the manner in which our men had been buried here by the rebels,
and said that I thought humanity dictated that they should be taken up
and buried as they ought to be. The general ordered some men to be
detailed, with rations, to come up here and rebury them properly. They
have come here, and have been engaged in that work since they came up.
Question. How many have you already found?
Answer. We have found already fifty-two white men and four officers,
besides a great many colored men.
Question. Had the blacks and whites been buried together
indiscriminately?
Answer. We have not found it so exactly; we have found them in the same
trench, but the white men mostly at one end, and the black men at the
other; but they were all pitched in in any way--some on their faces,
some on their sides, some on their backs.
Question. Did you hear anything said about giving quarter or not giving,
quarter on that occasion?
Answer. No, sir; but our paymaster here could tell you what he heard
some of their officers say.
Question. Do you know anything about the transport Platte Valley being
here?
Answer. She was lying alongside the gunboat 28 here when I came down the
day after the fight, and came alongside of her.
Question. Do you know anything about any of our officers showing
civilities to the rebel officers after all these atrocities?
Answer. I saw nothing of that kind but one lieutenant, who went up
around with them on the hill. Who he was I do not know, but I recollect
noticing his stripe.
Question. Did he belong to the navy or army?
Answer. He belonged to the army. I saw the rebel General Chalmers but
once. When I came down here that morning I was the ranking officer; but
the captain of gunboat 28 had commenced negotiations with the flag of
truce, and I told him to go on with it. I met those men in the cabin of
the 28 on business. I was not on board the Platte Valley but once,
except that I crossed over her bow once or twice. I was not on her where
I could see anything of this kind going on.
Question. How many of our men do you suppose were killed after they had
surrendered?
Answer. I could not say. I have been told that there were not over 25
killed and wounded before the fort was captured.
Question. Do you know how many have been killed in all?
Answer. My own crew buried, of those who were left unburied, some 70 or
80. The Platte Valley buried a great many, and the gunboat 28 buried
some.
Question. What number do you suppose escaped out of the garrison?
Answer. I have no means of knowing. I have understood that the rebels
had 160 prisoners--white men--but I think it is doubtful if they had
that many, judging from the number of men we have found.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where did those men come from whose bodies we have just seen
unburied?
Answer. I should judge they came from the hospital. One of them had a
cane, showing that he was not a well man, and they had on white
shirts--hospital clothing--and, as you saw, one looked thin, very thin,
as if he had been sick.
Question. How far are these bodies lying from the hospital?
Answer. I should think about 150 yards.
Question. Would men, escaping from the fort, run in that direction?
Answer. They would be very apt to run in almost any direction; and they
would be more likely to run away from the stores that these rebels were
robbing.
By the chairman:
Question. From the hospital clothing they had on; from their appearance
showing that they had been wounded or sick persons; and from the bruised
appearance of their heads, as if they had been killed by having their
brains knocked out, do you infer that they were hospital patients that
had been murdered there?
Answer. I should. I should be just as positive of that as I should be of
anything I had not actually seen.
Question. You take it that they were sick or wounded men endeavoring to
escape from the hospital, who were knocked in the head?
Answer. I should say so.
* * * * *
Paymaster William B. Purdy, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank, and where have you been stationed, and in
what service?
Answer. Acting assistant paymaster of the navy. I have no regular
station or quarters at present; but on the day of the attack on Fort
Pillow I was acting as signal officer on the gunboat No. 7.
Question. Will you state what you observed that day, and afterwards, in
relation to that affair?
Answer. After our flag was down, I saw the rebels firing on our own men
from the fort, and I should say that while the flag of truce was in,
before the fort was captured, I could see the rebels concentrating their
forces so as to be better able to take the fort.
Question. Do you mean that they took advantage of the flag of truce to
place their men in position so as to better attack the fort?
Answer. Yes, sir; I could see them moving down to their new positions,
and, as soon as the flag of truce was out, firing commenced from these
new positions.
Question. Do you understand such movements to be in accordance with the
rules of warfare?
Answer. No, sir; I do not.
Question. Had you any conversation with one of General Chalmers's aids
about their conduct here?
Answer. Yes, sir; with one who said he was an aide-de-camp to General
Chalmers, and a captain in the 2d Missouri cavalry. He told me that they
did not recognize negroes as United States soldiers, but would shoot
them, and show them no quarter--neither the negroes nor their officers.
Question. When was this?
Answer. That was the day after the capture of the fort, while the flag
of truce was in. He then spoke in relation to the Tennessee loyal
troops. He said they did not think much of them; that they were refugees
and deserters; and they would not show them much mercy either.
Question. Was this said in defence of their conduct here?
Answer. No, sir; there was not much said about that. He opened the
conversation himself.
Question. How many of our men do you suppose were killed here after our
flag was down and they had surrendered?
Answer. I have no idea, only from what citizens have told me. They said
there were not more than 25 or 30 killed before the place was captured;
that all the rest were killed after the capture, and after the flag was
down.
Question. Were you on the ground the day after the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you discover upon the field, or learn from any information
derived there, of any act of peculiar barbarity?
Answer. I saw men who had been shot in the face, and I have since seen a
body that was burned outside of the fort. The day after the fight I did
not go inside the fort at all.
Question. Did you see the remnants of one who had been nailed to a board
or plank?
Answer. I did not see that.
Question. Then it was another body that had been burned which you saw?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. It has been said that men were buried alive. Did any such
information come to your notice?
Answer. I heard of it, but did not see it.
Question. What was said about it?
Answer. A young man said he saw one in the morning up there who was
alive, and he went back a short time afterwards to attend to him, but he
was then dead; and I have heard of others who crawled out of their
graves, and were taken up on the Platte Valley, but I do not know about
them.
Question. Where was this man you found burned?
Answer. He was inside of a tent.
Question. Do you suppose him to have been burned with the tent?
Answer. Yes, sir. I took him to be a white man, because he was in the
quarters where the white men were.
Question. So far as you could observe, was any discrimination made
between white and black men, as to giving no quarter?
Answer. I should think not, from all I could see, because they were
firing from the top of a hill down the bluff on all who had gone down
there to escape.
Question. Did you notice how these men had been buried by the rebels?
Answer. I saw officers and white men and black men thrown into the
trenches--pitched in in any way, some across, some lengthways, some on
their faces, &c. When I first saw them, I noticed a great many with
their hands or feet sticking out.
Question. Have you lately discovered any that are still unburied?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you see the three there to-day that were lying unburied?
Answer. No, sir; I heard about them, but did not go to see them.
* * * * *
Eli A. Bangs, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Do you belong to the navy or the army?
Answer. To the navy.
Question. In what capacity?
Answer. Acting master's mate for the New Era gunboat.
Question. Were you here on the day of the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. I was.
Question. Tell us what you observed in regard to the battle, and what
followed.
Answer. I did not observe much of the first part of the engagement,
because I was stationed below, in a division, with the guns; but after
we hauled out into the stream I saw the flag of truce come in, and then
I saw our colors come down at the fort, and saw our men running down the
bank, the rebels following them and shooting them after they had
surrendered.
Question. What number do you suppose the rebels killed after they had
surrendered?
Answer. I could not say, only from what I saw the next day when I went
ashore.
Question. You were there the next day?
Answer. Yes, sir; we came in under a flag of truce.
Question. What did you see?
Answer. Captain Marshall sent me out with a detail of men to collect the
wounded and bury the dead. We buried some 70 or 80 bodies, 11 white men
and one white woman.
Question. Did you bury any officers?
Answer. No, sir; I buried none of them. They were buried by the rebels.
Question. Did you observe how the dead had been buried by the rebels?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw those in the trench. Some had just been thrown
in the trench at the end of the fort--white and black together--and a
little dirt thrown over them; some had their hands or feet or face out.
I should judge there were probably 100 bodies there. They had apparently
thrown them in miscellaneously, and thrown a little dirt over them, not
covering them up completely.
Question. Did you see or hear anything there that led you to believe
that any had been buried before they were dead?
Answer. I did not see any myself, but I understand from a number of
others that they had seen it, and had dug one out of the trench who was
still alive.
Question. Did you see any peculiar marks of barbarity, as inflicted upon
the dead?
Answer. I saw none that I noticed, except in the case of one black man
that I took up off a tent floor. He lay on his back, with his arms
stretched out. Part of his arms were burned off, and his legs were
burned nearly to a crisp. His stomach was bare. The clothes had either
been torn off, or burned off. In order to take away the remains, I
slipped some pieces of board under him, and when we took him up the
boards of the tent came up with him; and we then observed that nails had
been driven through his clothes and his cartridge-box, so as to fasten
him down to the floor. His face was not burned, but was very much
distorted, as if he had died in great pain. Several others noticed the
nails through his clothes which fastened him down.
Question. Do you think there can be any doubt about his having been
nailed to the boards?
Answer. I think not, from the fact that the boards came up with the
remains as we raised them up; and we then saw the nails sticking through
his clothes, and into the boards.
Question. Did you notice any other bodies that had been burned?
Answer. Yes, sir; I buried four that had been burned.
Question. What was the appearance of them?
Answer. I did not notice any particular appearance about them, except
that they had been burned.
Question. How came they to be burned?
Answer. They were in the tents, inside of the fort, which had been
burned. I am certain that there were four that lay where the tent had
been burned, for there were the remains of the boards under them, which
had not been fully burned. Those that were burned in the fort were black
men.
* * * * *
Charles Hicks, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Were you on the ground after the battle of Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir; the day after the battle.
Question. What did you see there?
Answer. A great many dead men.
Question. Did you see any man there that had been nailed down to a board
and burned?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw the nails through his clothes after he was taken
up.
Question. In what position did he lie?
Answer. On his back. There were nails through his clothes and through
the cartridge-box.
Question. So that it fastened him to the boards in such a way that he
could not get up, even if he had been alive?
Answer. Yes, sir, in just that way.
Question. When you tried to take him up you raised the boards with him?
Answer. Yes, sir.
* * * * *
A. H. Hook, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Did you see the man that Charles Hicks has just spoken of?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw him. His body was partly burned, and I saw the
nails through his clothes, and into the floor of the tent.
Question. The tent had been burned?
Answer. Yes, sir; there were three or four bodies burned there, but this
man in particular was nailed down.
* * * * *
George Mantell, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Were you on the ground at Fort Pillow at the time that these
men, who have just testified, spoke of?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. You have heard their testimony?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Do you agree with them?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw the same.
* * * * *
Sergeant Henry F. Weaver, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. To company C, 6th United States heavy artillery, colored. I am a
sergeant.
Question. You were here at Fort Pillow at the time of the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State briefly what you saw, particularly after the capture.
Answer. The rebels charged after the flag of truce, the Tennessee
cavalry broke, and was followed down the hill by the colored soldiers.
They all appeared to go about the same time, as near as I could tell in
the excitement of the battle. I came down the hill to the river and
jumped into the water, and hid myself between the bank and the coal
barge. They were shooting the negroes over my head all the time, and
they were falling off into the water. The firing ceased a little, and I
began to get out. I saw one of the rebels and told him I would
surrender. He said, "We do not shoot white men." I went up to him and he
ordered me away; he kept on shooting the negroes. There were six or
eight around there, and he and another one shot them all down. I went up
about a rod further and met another rebel, who robbed me of watch,
money, and everything else, and then he left me. I went on to the
quartermaster's building below here, and was taken by another rebel and
taken up into the town. He went into a store and I went in with him. He
went to pillaging. I slipped on some citizen's clothing, and it was not
long before I saw that they did not know who I was. I staid with them
until the sun was about an hour high, and then I went away. I walked off
just as if I had a right to go.
Question. Where did you go?
Answer. I went down the river, just back of the old river batteries. I
then got on board a tug-boat and came down here, and the Sunday
afterwards went to Memphis.
Question. Did you have any conversation with these rebels?
Answer. Not anything of any consequence about the fight.
Question. What were they doing when you were with them?
Answer. Just pillaging the store. They commenced going down to the
river, and I came down with them. They went into the quartermaster's
department and went a carrying off things.
Question. Did they give any quarter to the negroes?
Answer. No sir.
Question. Did the negroes throw away their arms?
Answer. Yes, sir; and some of them went down on their knees begging for
their lives. I saw one shot three times before he was killed.
By the chairman:
Question. What number of our troops do you suppose were killed before
the fort was captured?
Answer. I could not tell exactly, but I do not think over a dozen of the
cavalry were killed, and probably not more than fifteen or twenty of the
negroes. There were a great many of the negroes wounded, because they
would keep getting up to shoot, and were where they could be hit.
Question. The rebels must have killed a great many of the white men
after they had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir. I saw yesterday afternoon a great number of cavalry
taken up, and almost every one was shot in the head. A great many of
them looked as if their heads had been beaten in.
Question. That must have been done after the fort had been captured?
Answer. Yes, sir; two-thirds of them must have been killed after the
fort was taken.
Question. Do you know why the gunboat did not fire upon the rebels after
the fort was captured, while they were shooting down our men?
Answer. They could not do that without killing our own men, too, as they
were all mixed up together.
* * * * *
Charles A. Schetky, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your position?
Answer. I am acting ensign of the gunboat New Era.
Question. Were you here at the time of the attack on Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State what you saw after the fort was captured.
Answer. After the flag was down I saw the rebels pouring down their
bullets on our troops under the hill, although they were unarmed, and
held up their hands in token of surrender.
Question. Were they shooting the black men only, or the black and white
together?
Answer. The black and white were both together under the hill, and the
sick and wounded were there, too.
Question. How many do you think you saw shot in that way?
Answer. I should think I saw not less than fifty shot.
Question. How many white men among those?
Answer. I could not tell. I judge that the number of whites and blacks
were nearly equal.
Question. You were here the day after the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir, but I was not ashore at all that day. My duty kept me
on board the boat all the time.
* * * * *
Frank Hogan, (colored,) sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow on the day of the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. In what company and regiment?
Answer. Company A, 6th United States heavy artillery.
Question. What did you see there that day, especially after the fort was
taken?
Answer. I saw them shoot a great many men after the fort was taken,
officers and private soldiers, white and black.
Question. After they had given up?
Answer. Yes, sir. I saw them shoot a captain in our battalion, about a
quarter of an hour after he had surrendered. One of the secesh called
him up to him, and asked him if he was an officer of a nigger regiment.
He said, "Yes," and then they shot him with a revolver.
Question. Did they say anything more at the time they shot him?
Answer. Yes, sir; one of them said, "God damn you, I will give you a
nigger officer." They talked with him a little time before they shot
him. They asked him how he came to be there, and several other
questions, and then asked if he belonged to a nigger regiment, and then
they shot him. It was a secesh officer who shot him. I was standing a
little behind.
Question. What was the rank of the secesh officer?
Answer. He was a first lieutenant. I do not know his name.
Question. Do you know the name of the officer he shot?
Answer. Yes, sir; Captain Carson, company D.
Question. Why did they not shoot you?
Answer. I do not know why they didn't.
Question. How long did you stay with them?
Answer. I staid with them two nights and one day. They took me on
Tuesday evening, and I got away from them Thursday morning, about two
hours before daylight. They were going to make an early move that
morning, and they sent me back for some water, and I left with another
boy in the same company with myself.
Question. Where did you go then?
Answer. Right straight through the woods for about three or four miles,
and then we turned to the right and came to a road. We crossed the road,
went down about three miles, and crossed it again, and I kept on,
backwards and forwards, until I got to a creek about five or six miles
from here.
Question. Do you know anything of the rebels burning any of the tents
that had wounded men in them?
Answer. I know they set some on fire that had wounded men in them, but I
did not see them burn, because they would not let us go around to see.
Question. About what time of the day was that?
Answer. It was when the sun was about an hour or three-quarters on from
the day of the battle.
Question. Did you hear the men in there after they set the building on
fire?
Answer. Yes, sir; I heard them in there. I knew they were in there. I
knew that they were there sick. I saw them shoot one or two men who came
out of the hospital, and then they went into the tents, and then shot
them right in the tents. I saw them shoot two of them right in the head.
When they charged the fort they did not look into the tents, but when
they came back afterwards they shot those sick men in the head. I knew
the men, because they belonged to the company I did. One of them was
named Dennis Gibbs, and the other was named Alfred Flag.
Question. How long had they been sick?
Answer. They had been sick at the hospital in Memphis, and had got
better a little, and been brought up here, but they never did any duty
here, and went to the hospital. They came out of the hospital and went
into these tents, and were killed there. They were in the hospital the
morning of the fight. When the fight commenced, they left the hospital
and came into the tents inside the fort.
Question. Did you see them bury any of our men?
Answer. I saw them put them in a ditch. I did not see them cover them
up.
Question. Were they all really dead or not?
Answer. I saw them bury one man alive, and heard the secesh speak about
it as much as twenty times. He was shot in the side, but he was not
dead, and was breathing along right good.
Question. Did you see the man?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How came they to bury him when he was alive?
Answer. They said he would die any how, and they would let him stay.
Every once in a while, if they put dirt on him, he would move his hands.
I was standing right there, and saw him when they put him in, and saw he
was not dead.
Question. Have you seen the three bodies that are now lying over beyond
the old hospital?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you know them?
Answer. I knew one of them. I helped to take him to the hospital on the
Sunday before the fight. There was another man there. I knew the company
he belonged to, (company B,) but I do not know his name. He was a
colored man, but he had hair nearly straight, like a white man or an
Indian. He had been sick a great while.
* * * * *
Captain James Marshall, recalled.
By the chairman:
Question. Does this witness (Hogan) speak of the same men that you
supposed were fleeing from the hospital when they were killed?
Answer. Yes, sir, the same men.
* * * * *
Frank Hogan, resumed.
By the chairman:
Question. What did they do with the prisoners they took away with them?
Answer. I saw several officers of our regiment, and some of the men.
Question. Did you hear anything said about Major Bradford?
Answer. The first night after they had taken the fort, Major Bradford
was there without any guard. Colonel McCullough waked us up to make a
fire, and Major Bradford walked up and asked the liberty to go out a
while. He came back, and I went to sleep, leaving Major Bradford sitting
at the fire. When they waked up the next morning, they asked where Major
Bradford was, and I told them he was lying there by the fire. They
uncovered the head of the man who was lying there, but they said it was
not Major Bradford. That was only a short distance from here. I did not
see him afterwards.
* * * * *
Alfred Coleman, (colored,) sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company B, 6th United States heavy artillery.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time of the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you captured here?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. About what time?
Answer. About six o'clock, I should think.
Question. Where did they take you to?
Answer. Out towards Brownsville, between twelve and eighteen miles.
Question. What did you do after you were captured?
Answer. I helped to bury some of the dead; then I came to the commissary
store, and helped to carry out some forage.
Question. Did you hear the rebels say anything about a fight?
Answer. Nothing more than it was the hardest fight they had been in,
with the force we had here. I was then with the 2d Missouri cavalry.
Question. What did they say about giving quarter?
Answer. They said they would show no quarter to colored troops, nor to
any of the officers with them, but would kill them all.
Question. Who said that?
Answer. One of the captains of the 2d Missouri. He shot six himself,
but, towards evening, General Forrest issued an order not to kill any
more negroes, because they wanted them to help to haul the artillery
out.
Question. How do you know that?
Answer. This captain said so.
Question. Were colored men used for that purpose?
Answer. Yes, sir. I saw them pulling the artillery, and I saw the secesh
whip them as they were going out, just like they were horses.
Question. How many men did you see that way?
Answer. There were some ten or twelve men hold of a piece that I saw
coming out. The secesh said they had been talking about fighting under
the black flag, but that they had come as nigh fulfilling that here as
if they had a black flag.
Question. How long did you stay with them?
Answer. I was taken on the Tuesday evening after the fight, and remained
with them until about an hour before day of Thursday morning. I then
took a sack of corn to feed the horses, and got the horses between me
and them, and, as it was dark and drizzling rain, I left them and
escaped.
Question. Did you see any of the shooting going on?
Answer. Yes, sir. I was lying right under the side of the hill where the
most of the men were killed. I saw them take one of the Tennessee
cavalry, who was wounded in one leg, so that he could not stand on it.
Two men took him, and made him stand up on one leg, and then shot him
down. That was about four o'clock in the afternoon.
Question. How many do you think you saw them shoot?
Answer. The captain that carried me off shot six colored men himself,
with a revolver. I saw him shoot them. I cannot state about the rest.
Question. Did you see more than one white man shot?
Answer. No, sir. The others that were killed were a little nearer the
water than I was. I was lying down under a white-oak log near the fort,
and could not see a great way.
Question. Do you know how many of their men were lost?
Answer. I heard some of them say, when they went out towards
Brownsville, that they had lost about 300 killed, wounded, and missing.
Question. How many of our men were killed before the fort was taken?
Answer. I do not think there were more than ten or fifteen men killed
before the fort was taken.
* * * * *
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, _April 26, 1864_.
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas H. Harris, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank and position in the service?
Answer. I am a lieutenant colonel and assistant adjutant general of the
16th army corps.
Question. How many troops do your records show to have gone from the 6th
United States heavy artillery (colored) to Fort Pillow?
Answer. There were 221 officers and men left Memphis to go to Fort
Pillow.
Question. How many whites went there?
Answer. None were sent from here. I understand, unofficially, that the
colored troops were recruited, to some extent, after they arrived at
Fort Pillow; but I have no official knowledge of that fact. Of the 221
officers and men who went from here, there are thirty here who escaped,
and some twenty or more above at Mound City and Cairo.
Question. Do you know what was the character and military experience of
Major Bradford?
Answer. To the best of my knowledge and belief, Major Bradford had no
military experience. I had known him for about a year. He never claimed
to have had any military experience.
Question. What was the character of Major Booth as a military man?
Answer. It was good. He was originally sergeant major of the 1st
Missouri light artillery, and was an officer of experience and tried
courage, and of irreproachable character.
Question. Do you know whether or not any information was received here
that Fort Pillow was threatened before it was actually attacked?
Answer. I know that Major Booth assured General Hurlbut that he stood in
no danger, and begged him not to feel any apprehension. General Hurlbut,
I believe, answered that report by sending Major Booth two additional
guns, with a fresh supply of ammunition.
Question. How long have you been here in this department?
Answer. Since the 1st of August, 1862.
Question. Have you, during that time, been familiar with the condition
of the garrison at Fort Pillow?
Answer. I have been familiar with it since the 1st of May, 1863.
Question. Has the garrison been entirely withdrawn from Fort Pillow at
any time since then?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Why?
Answer. In order to send troops for the Meridian expedition into
Mississippi, under General Sherman.
Question. For how long a period was Fort Pillow without a garrison?
Answer. Fort Pillow was evacuated about the 25th of January, 1864, and
remained unoccupied for a short time afterwards.
Question. Why was a garrison again placed there?
Answer. Major Bradford was with his command at and near Columbus and
Paducah, Kentucky, in the early part of this year. Finding recruiting
very difficult there, he applied for permission to proceed to Fort
Pillow and establish his headquarters there, as he believed that he
could easily fill his regiment at that point.
Question. It was then occupied rather as a recruiting station than for
any other purpose at that time?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Do you know whether it has been considered a military
necessity to keep a garrison at Fort Pillow since the gunboats have been
in the river?
Answer. It is one of the most important points on the whole river. It
commands a very long stretch of the river, and a single well-manned
field-piece there would stop navigation entirely.
Question. When the garrison was removed from Fort Pillow, was it in
pursuance of any order from either General Grant or General Sherman?
Answer. I cannot answer that definitely without looking at the records.
* * * * *
_Papers forwarded by Lieutenant Colonel Harris to Washington._
HEADQUARTERS 16TH ARMY CORPS,
_Memphis, Tennessee, April 26, 1864_.
I wish to state that one section of company D, 2d United States light
artillery, colored, (1 commissioned officer and 40 men,) were sent to
Fort Pillow about February 15, as part of the garrison.
The garrison of Fort Pillow, by last reports received, consisted of the
1st battalion 6th United States heavy artillery, colored, eight
commissioned officers and 213 enlisted men; one section company D, 2d
United States light artillery, colored, one commissioned officer and
forty men; 1st battalion 13th Tennessee cavalry, Major H. F. Bradford,
ten commissioned officers and 285 enlisted men.
Total white troops 295
Total colored troops 262
---
557
===
Six field pieces: two 6-pounders, two 12-pounder howitzers, and two
10-pounder Parrotts.
T. H. HARRIS,
_Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General_.
* * * * *
HEADQUARTERS 16TH ARMY CORPS,
_Memphis, Tennessee, March 28, 1864_.
SIR: You will proceed with your own battalion to Fort Pillow, and
establish your force in garrison of the works there. As you will be, if
I am correct in my memory, the senior officer at that post, you will
take command, conferring, however, freely and fully with Major Bradford,
13th Tennessee cavalry, whom you will find a good officer, though not of
much experience.
There are two points of land fortified at Fort Pillow, one of which only
is now held by our troops. You will occupy both, either with your own
troops alone, or holding one with yours, and giving the other in charge
to Major Bradford.
The positions are commanding and can be held by a small force against
almost any odds.
I shall send you at this time two 12-pound howitzers, as I hope it will
not be necessary to mount heavy guns.
You will, however, immediately examine the ground and the works, and if,
in your opinion, 20-pound Parrotts can be advantageously used, I will
order them to you. My own opinion is, that there is not range enough.
Major Bradford is well acquainted with the country, and should keep
scouts well out and forward; all information received direct to me.
I think Forrest's check at Paducah will not dispose him to try the river
again, but that he will fall back to Jackson and thence cross the
Tennessee; as soon as this is ascertained I shall withdraw your
garrison.
Nevertheless, act promptly in putting the works into perfect order, and
the post into its strongest defence. Allow as little intercourse as
possible with the country, and cause all supplies which go out to be
examined with great strictness. No man whose loyalty is questionable
should be allowed to come in or go out while the enemy is in West
Tennessee.
Your obedient servant,
S. A. HURLBUT,
_Major General_.
Major L. F. BOOTH,
_Com'dg 1st Batt. 1st Alabama Siege Artillery_.
HEADQUARTERS 16TH ARMY CORPS,
_Memphis, Tennessee, April 26, 1864_.
A true copy.
T. H. HARRIS,
_Assistant Adjutant General_.
* * * * *
[Extract.]
HEADQUARTERS FORT PILLOW,
_Fort Pillow, Tennessee, April 3, 1864_.
General: * * * * * * * * * *
Everything seems to be very quiet within a radius of from thirty to
forty miles around, and I do not think any apprehensions need be felt or
fears entertained in reference to this place being attacked, or even
threatened. I think it perfectly safe.
I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
T. F. BOOTH,
_Major 6th U.S. Heavy Artillery, colored, Com'dg Fort._
Major General HURLBUT.
HEADQUARTERS 16TH ARMY CORPS,
_Memphis, Tennessee, April 25, 1864_.
A true extract from the last report received from Major L. F. Booth, 6th
United States heavy artillery, commanding Fort Pillow.
T. H. HARRIS,
_Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General_.
* * * * *
Without application or requisition being made for the guns, General
Hurlbut concluded to add two to the four already at the fort, and made
the following order:
Special Orders,} HEADQUARTERS 16TH ARMY CORPS,
No. 88. } _Memphis, Tennessee, April 7, 1864_.
* * * * * * * * * *
III. Captain J. C. Heely, commanding ordnance depot, Memphis, Tennessee,
will turn over to Major L. F. Booth, 6th United States heavy artillery,
two 10-pounder Parrott guns, complete, except caissons, with 150 rounds
of ammunition per piece, and will ship same, to-day, to Major Booth, at
Fort Pillow, Tennessee. The quartermaster's department will furnish
necessary transportation.
* * * * * * * * * *
By order of Major General S. A. Hurlbut.
T. H. HARRIS,
_Assistant Adjutant General_.
A true copy.
T. H. HARRIS,
_Assistant Adjutant General_.
* * * * *
UNITED STATES STEAMER SILVER CLOUD,
_Off Memphis, Tennessee, April 14, 1864_.
SIR: In compliance with your request that I would forward to you a
written statement of what I witnessed and learned concerning the
treatment of our troops by the rebels at the capture of Fort Pillow by
their forces under General Forrest, I have the honor to submit the
following report:
Our garrison at Fort Pillow, consisting of some 350 colored troops and
200 of the 13th Tennessee cavalry, refusing to surrender, the place was
carried by assault about 3 p. m. of the 12th instant. I arrived off the
fort at 6 a. m. on the morning of the 13th instant. Parties of rebel
cavalry were picketed on the hills around the fort, and shelling those
away. I made a landing and took on board some twenty of our troops, some
of them badly wounded, who had concealed themselves along the bank, and
came out when they saw my vessel. Whilst doing so I was fired upon by
rebel sharpshooters posted on the hills, and one wounded man limping
down to the vessel was shot. About 8 a. m. the enemy sent in a flag of
truce, with a proposal from General Forrest that he would put me in
possession of the fort and the country around until 5 p. m., for the
purpose of burying our dead and removing our wounded, whom he had no
means of attending to. I agreed to the terms proposed, and hailing the
steamer Platte Valley, which vessel I had convoyed up from Memphis, I
brought her alongside, and had the wounded brought down from the fort
and battle-field and placed on board of her. Details of rebel soldiers
assisted us in this duty, and some soldiers and citizens on board the
Platte Valley volunteered for the same purpose.
We found about seventy wounded men in the fort and around it, and
buried, I should think, 150 bodies. All the buildings around the fort,
and the tents and huts in the fort, had been burned by the rebels, and
among the embers the charred remains of numbers of our soldiers, who had
suffered a terrible death in the flames, could be seen.
All the wounded, who had strength enough to speak, agreed that after the
fort was taken an indiscriminate slaughter of our troops was carried on
by the enemy, with a furious and vindictive savageness which was never
equalled by the most merciless of the Indian tribes. Around on every
side horrible testimony to the truth of this statement could be seen.
Bodies with gaping wounds, some bayoneted through the eyes, some with
skulls beaten through, others with hideous wounds, as if their bowels
had been ripped open with Bowie knives, plainly told that but little
quarter was shown to our troops, strewn from the fort to the river bank,
in the ravines and hollows, behind logs and under the brush, where they
had crept for protection from the assassins who pursued them. We found
bodies bayoneted, beaten, and shot to death, showing how cold-blooded
and persistent was the slaughter of our unfortunate troops. Of course,
when a work is carried by assault there will always be more or less
blood shed, even when all resistance has ceased; but here there were
unmistakable evidences of a massacre carried on long after any
resistance could have been offered, with a cold-blooded barbarity and
perseverance which nothing can palliate.
As near as I can learn, there were about 500 men in the fort when it was
stormed. I received about 100 men, (including the wounded and those I
took on board before the flag of truce was sent in.) The rebels I
learned had few prisoners, so that at least 300 of our troops must have
been killed in this affair. I have the honor to forward a list of the
wounded officers and men received from the enemy under flag of truce.
I am, general, your obedient servant,
W. FERGUSON,
_Acting Master U.S.N., Com'dg U.S. Steamer Silver Cloud_.
Major General HURLBUT,
_Commanding 16th Army Corps_.
Headquarters 16th Army Corps,
_Memphis, Tennessee, April 24, 1864_.
A true copy.
T. H. HARRIS,
_Assistant Adjutant General_.
* * * * *
W. R. McLagan sworn, and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where were you born?
Answer. In Tennessee.
Question. Where do you now reside?
Answer. St. Paul, Minnesota.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow on the day of its capture?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Where were you?
Answer. About sixteen miles off, at Covington.
Question. Have you seen that statement? (showing witness statement
appended to this deposition.)
Answer. Yes, sir; I made that statement myself.
Question. It is correct then?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you yourself see Major Bradford shot?
Answer. I did.
Question. How do you know it was Major Bradford?
Answer. He represented himself to me as a Major Bradford.
Question. Did you have any conversation with him?
Answer. Yes, sir; and while we were marching from Covington to
Brownsville I heard them call him Major Bradford. He told me himself
that he was Major Bradford, but he did not wish it to be known, as he
had enemies there; and it never would have been known but for a
detective in the confederate array from Obion county, Tennessee, named
Willis Wright, who recognized him as Major Bradford, and told them of
it. Wright is a notorious spy and smuggler in Forrest's command. There
is no doubt that the man was Major Bradford.
Question. Was there anything said at the time he was shot?
Answer. Nothing more than what I said.
Question. What did he say?
Answer. He simply said that he had fought them honorably and as a brave
man, and wished to be treated as a prisoner of war. He was taken
prisoner at Fort Pillow, and was then sent to Covington, to the custody
of a Colonel Duckworth, commanding the 7th Tennessee rebel cavalry, and
from that place he was sent under guard, with about thirty of us
conscripts. We arrived at Brownsville on the 13th; we started out on the
evening of the 14th instant, about dusk. Previous to our leaving
Brownsville, five of the guards were ordered back to Duckworth's
headquarters. Those five guards seemed to have received special
instructions about something, I don't know what. After marching about
five miles from Brownsville, we halted, that is, the two companies of
the rebels. These five guards then took Major Bradford out about fifty
yards from the road. He seemed to understand what they were going to do
with him. He asked for mercy, and said that he had fought them manfully,
and wished to be treated as a prisoner of war. Three of the five guards
shot him. One shot struck him about in the temple; a second in the left
breast, and the third shot went through the thick part of the thigh. He
was killed instantly. They left his body lying there. I escaped from the
rebels at Jackson. I left on the Friday morning about 2 o'clock, and
Saturday night about 12 o'clock I came back where the murder was
committed, and saw his body there, yet unburied. The moon was shining
brightly, and it seemed to me that the buzzards had eaten his face
considerably.
Question. Did you hear them give any reason for shooting Major Bradford?
Answer. Simply that he was a Tennessee traitor, and to them they showed
no quarter. They said that he was a Tennessean, and had joined the
Yankee army, and they showed them no quarter. I think myself that the
order for shooting Major Bradford was given by Colonel Duckworth, for
the reasons I have stated.
Question. What was the officer in command at the time he was shot?
Answer. A lieutenant went out with him. He was one of the five guards.
Question. Who commanded the two companies of rebels?
Answer. I do not know who ranked in these two companies. Russell and
Lawler commanded the companies. Duckworth, who, I think, gave the order
for killing Major Bradford, belongs to Chalmers's command. He is a
notorious scoundrel. He never had any reputation, either before the war
or afterward.
Question. Did Major Bradford have on his uniform?
Answer. No, sir. He had tried to conceal his identity as much as
possible, by putting on citizen's clothes, as he said that he had
enemies among them, who would kill him if they knew him.
Question. Did you hear any of their officers say anything as to the
manner in which they treated our soldiers whom they had captured, and
the way in which they intended to treat them?
Answer. On the evening of the 12th I was in Colonel Duckworth's
headquarters. I had not been conscripted then. I saw a despatch there
from Forrest to Duckworth, dated that afternoon. It read something like
this:
"Colonel W. L. Duckworth, Covington, Tennessee. I have killed 300 and
captured 300."
Duckworth remarked to me previous to the attack that no quarter would be
shown at Fort Pillow at all; that they were a set of damned Yankees and
Tennessee traitors there, and they intended to show them no quarter.
Question. When did he say this?
Answer. On the evening of the 11th of April, at Covington.
Question. How long had you known Duckworth?
Answer. I never saw him before I saw him there.
Question. Did he say this to you?
Answer. I was not in conversation with him, but I heard him say this to
a Captain Hill, a retired confederate captain, who formerly belonged to
his command. He was within five or six feet of me when he said it.
Question. Were they talking at that time about the intended attack on
Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir; and five days' rations were ordered then, and
Duckworth said they were going to take Fort Pillow, and no quarter would
be shown at all.
Question. Do you know how Major Bradford got to Covington, and when?
Answer. I think he arrived there on the evening of the 12th, just about
dusk.
Question. Did Major Bradford state to you that he desired to disguise
himself?
Answer. Yes, sir. He said that he had personal enemies in that command,
among whom was this Willis Wright, who recognized him and told them who
he was. Major Bradford was a native Tennesseean.
Question. Did any of the conscripts who were with you see Major Bradford
shot?
Answer. Yes, sir; and I understand that one or two others, who escaped
when I did, are here in the city; and I shall try to get their
statements.
* * * * *
W. R. McLagan, a citizen of the United States, being first duly sworn,
states, upon oath, that for the last two years he has been trading
between St. Louis, Missouri, and Covington, Tennessee; that at the time
of the attack upon Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864, he was at Covington,
Tennessee, and was taken by General Forrest as a conscript on the 13th
of April, with about thirty other citizens; that on the evening of the
12th of April Major Bradford, 13th Tennessee cavalry, United States
forces, arrived at Covington, under guard, as a prisoner of war, and was
reported as such to Colonel Duckworth, commanding 7th Tennessee cavalry,
confederate forces; that on the 13th of April Major Bradford and the
conscripts, including the affiant, were placed in charge of two
companies of the 7th Tennessee cavalry, Captains Russell and Lawler
commanding. They were taken to Brownsville, Tennessee, and started from
there to Jackson, Tennessee. When they had proceeded about five miles
from Brownsville a halt was made, and Major Bradford was taken about
fifty yards from the command by a guard of five confederate soldiers in
charge of a lieutenant, and was there deliberately shot, three of the
confederate soldiers discharging their fire-arms, all of which took
effect, killing him instantly. This was on the 14th day of April, 1864,
near dusk; that the body of Major Bradford was left unburied in the
woods about fifty yards from the road. The affiant, with the other
conscripts, were taken on to Jackson, and on the 22d day of April the
affiant and twenty-five others of the conscripts made their escape from
the confederate forces at Jackson. On the way back he saw the body of
Major Bradford lying in the same place where he was shot. This was on
Saturday night, the 23d of April. Major Bradford, before he was shot,
fell on his knees and said that he had fought them manfully, and wished
to be treated as a prisoner of war.
W. R. MCLAGAN.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE,
_Memphis, Tennessee, April 25, 1864_.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this day.
T. H. HARRIS,
_Lieut. Col. and Ass't Adj't Gen'l 16th Army Corps_.
APPENDIX.
The following papers and affidavits were furnished the committee by
General Mason Brayman, at Cairo, and are herewith submitted:
CAIRO, _Illinois_, _April 18, 1864_.
We have the honor of reporting to you, as the only known survivors of
the commissioned officers of the 13th Tennessee cavalry, that, on the
morning of the 12th day of the present month, at about the hour of
daylight, the rebels, numbering from five thousand to seven thousand,
attacked our garrison at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, numbering as it did
only about five hundred effective men. They at first sent in a flag of
truce demanding a surrender, which Major Booth, then commanding the
post, (Major Booth, of the 6th United States heavy artillery, colored,)
refused. Shortly after this Major Booth was shot through the heart and
fell dead. Major William F. Bradford, then commanding the 13th Tennessee
cavalry, assumed command of the fort, and under his orders a continual
fire was kept up until about one o'clock p. m., when our cannon and the
rifles of the sharpshooters were mowing the rebels down in such numbers
that they could not make an advance. The rebels then hoisted a second
flag of truce and sent it in, demanding an unconditional surrender. They
also threatened that if the place was not surrendered no quarter would
be shown. Major Bradford refused to accept any such terms, would not
surrender, and sent back word that if such were their intentions they
could try it on. While this flag of truce was being sent in the rebel
officers formed their forces in whatever advantageous positions they
were able to select. They then formed a hollow square around our
garrison, placed their sharpshooters within our deserted barracks, and
directed a galling fire upon our men. They also had one brigade in the
trenches just outside the fort, which had been cut by our men only a few
days before, and which provided them with as good protection as that
held by the garrison in the fort. Their demand of the flag of truce
having been refused, the order was given by General Forrest in person to
charge upon the works and show no quarter. Half an hour after the
issuance of this order a scene of terror and massacre ensued. The rebels
came pouring in solid masses right over the breastworks. Their numbers
were perfectly overwhelming. The moment they reached the top of the
walls, and commenced firing as they descended, the colored troops were
panic-stricken, threw down their arms, and ran down the bluff, pursued
sharply, begging for life. But escape was impossible. The confederates
had apprehended such a result, and had placed a regiment of cavalry
where it could cut off all effective retreat. This cavalry regiment
employed themselves in shooting down the negro troops as fast as they
made their appearance. The whites, as soon as they perceived they were
also to be butchered inside the fort, also ran down. They had previously
thrown down their arms and submitted. In many instances the men begged
for life at the hands of the enemy, even on their knees. They were only
made to stand upon their feet and then summarily shot down. Captain
Theo. F. Bradford, of company A, 13th Tennessee cavalry, was
signal-officer for the gunboat, and was seen by General Forrest with the
signal flags. The general, in person, ordered Captain Bradford to be
shot. He was instantly riddled with bullets, nearly a full regiment
having fired their pieces upon him. Lieutenant Wilson, of company A,
13th Tennessee cavalry, was killed after he had surrendered, he having
been previously wounded. Lieutenant J. C. Akerstrom, company E, 13th
Tennessee cavalry, and acting regimental quartermaster, was severely
wounded after he had surrendered, and then nailed to the side of a house
and the house set on fire, burning him to death. Lieutenant Cord.
Revelle, company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry, was shot and killed after
surrender. Major William F. Bradford, commanding our forces, was fired
upon after he had surrendered the garrison. The rebels told him he could
not surrender. He ran into the river and swam out some fifty yards, they
all the time firing at him, but failing to hit him. He was hailed by an
officer and told to return to the shore. He did so. But as he neared the
shore the riflemen discharged their pieces at him again. Again they
missed. He ran up the hillside among the enemy with a white handkerchief
in his hand in token of his surrender, but still they continued to fire
upon him. There were several confederate officers standing near at the
time. None of them ordered the firing to cease; but when they found they
could not hit him, they allowed him to give himself up as a prisoner,
and paroled him to the limits of the camp. They now claim that he
violated his parole the same night and escaped. We have heard from
prisoners who got away from the rebels that they took Major Bradford out
in the Hatchie Bottom and there dispatched him. We feel confident that
the story is true. We saw several negroes burning up in their quarters
on Wednesday morning. We also saw the rebels come back that morning and
shoot at the wounded. We also saw them at a distance running about
hunting up wounded that they might shoot them. There were some whites
also burning. The rebels went to the negro hospital, where about thirty
sick were kept, and butchered them with their sabres, hacking their
heads open in many instances, and then set fire to the buildings. They
killed every negro soldier Wednesday morning upon whom they came. Those
who were able they made stand up to be shot. In one case a white soldier
was found wounded. He had been lying upon the ground nearly twenty-four
hours without food or drink. He asked a rebel soldier to give him
something to drink. The latter turned about upon his heel and fired
three deliberate shots at him, saying "Take that, you negro equality."
The poor fellow is alive yet and in the hospital. He can tell the tale
for himself. They ran a great many into the river, and shot or drowned
them there. They immediately killed all the officers who were over the
negro troops, excepting one who has since died from his wounds. They
took out from Fort Pillow about one hundred and some odd prisoners,
(white,) and forty negroes. They hung and shot the negroes as they
passed along toward Brownsville until they were rid of them all. Out of
the six hundred troops (convalescents included) which were at the fort
they have only about one hundred prisoners, (all whites,) and we have
about fifty wounded who are paroled.
Major Anderson, Forrest's assistant adjutant general, stated that they
did not consider colored men as soldiers, but as property, and as such,
being used by our people, they had destroyed them. This was concurred in
by Forrest, Chalmers, and McCullough, and other officers.
We respectfully refer you to the accompanying affidavit of Hardy N.
Revelle, lettered "A," and those of Mrs. Rufin, lettered "B," and Mrs.
Williams, lettered "C."
Respectfully submitted.
F. A. SMITH,
_First Lieut. Co. D, 13th Tenn. Vol. Cavalry_.
WILLIAM CLEARY,
_Second Lieut. Co. B. 13th Tenn. Vol. Cavalry_.
General M. BRAYMAN.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
_Affidavit of Hardy N. Revelle._
I was in business at Fort Pillow previous to the fight on Tuesday last.
Was engaged as a dry-goods clerk for Messrs. Harris & Co. Went into the
fight at six o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 12th of April.
Remained outside of the federal fortifications until about 8.30 a. m.,
acting as a sharpshooter. At this time we were all ordered within the
fort. Lieutenant Barr was killed outside the fort, also Lieutenant
Wilson, latter of the 13th Tennessee cavalry. It was not long after nine
o'clock that I took my position behind the fortifications and resumed
the fight. I was standing not more than ten paces from Major Booth when
he fell, struck in the heart by a musket bullet. It was but a few
minutes past nine. He did not die immediately, but was borne from the
field. At this time there was continued firing on both sides. Rebels
were not using artillery; our troops were.
The next thing I recollect is a flag of truce coming in, the bearers of
which--General Forrest of the rebel army, and some parties of his
staff--demanded a surrender of the garrison. Major Bradford was then in
command. Forrest did not come within the breastworks, but remained some
fifty yards outside, and Major Bradford went out to meet him. They
conferred in a southeasterly direction from what was known as "old
headquarters." Bradford is said to have replied that he would not
surrender. Forrest told him that if he did not there would not be any
quarter shown. They were in conference about fifteen minutes, during
which time there was a cessation of firing. Bradford asked for one
hour's time in which to confer with the commander of the gunboat.
Forrest refused it; but I think there was a pause in actual hostilities
of nearly that length of time. The rebels were busily engaged in
plundering our hastily deserted encampment outside the fortifications,
as well as robbing some of the stores below the hill. They were also
massing their troops and placing them in eligible positions while the
flag of truce was being considered. It is my opinion that they could
never have gained the positions had they not done so under that flag of
truce. They had already consumed seven or eight hours in attempting it
with no success.
At about half-past two in the afternoon a large force of infantry came
upon us from the ravine toward the east of where I stood. It seemed to
come down Cold creek. They charged upon our ranks. Another large force
of rebel cavalry charged from the south of east, and another force from
the northward. They mounted the breastworks at the first charge where I
stood. We fired upon them while upon the breastworks. I remember firing
two shots while the enemy were upon the walls. The negro troops,
frightened by the appearance of such numbers, and knowing they could no
longer resist, made a break and ran down the hill, surrendering their
arms as the rebels came down on our side of the fortifications. When we
found there was no quarter to be shown, and that, white and black, we
were to be butchered, we also gave up our arms and passed down the hill.
It is stated that at this time Major Bradford put a white handkerchief
on his sword point and waved it in token of submission; but it was not
heeded if he did. We were followed closely and fiercely by the advancing
rebel forces, their fire never ceasing at all. Our men had given signals
themselves that they surrendered, many of them throwing up their hands
to show they were unarmed and submitted to overwhelming odds.
I was about half way down the hill, partially secreted in a kind of
ravine with Dr. Fitch, when I saw two men, white men, belonging to the
13th Tennessee cavalry, standing behind a stump on which they had fixed
a white handkerchief, their hands thrown up. They asked for quarter.
When they stood on their feet they were exposed, and I saw them shot
down by rebel soldiers and killed. A captain of the rebel troops then
came where we were and ordered all the federals, white and black, to
move up the hill, or he would "shoot their G--d d----d brains out." I
started up the hill with a number of others, in accordance with the
order. I was surrendered with our men. While going up I saw white men
fall on both sides of me who were shot down by rebel soldiers who were
stationed upon the brow of the hill. We were at the time marching
directly toward the men who fired upon us. I do not know how many fell,
but I remember to have seen four killed in this way. I also saw negroes
shot down with pistols in the hands of rebels. One was killed at my
side. I saw another negro struck on the head with a sabre by a rebel
soldier; I suppose he was also killed. One more, just in front of me,
was knocked down with the but of a musket. We kept on up the hill. I
expected each moment to meet my fate with the rest. At the top of the
hill I met a man named Cutler, a citizen of Fort Pillow. He spoke to a
rebel captain about me, and we then went, under orders from the captain,
to one of the stores under the hill, where the captain got a pair of
boots. This was about 4 p. m. on Tuesday. The captain and Cutler and
myself then left to find General McCullough's headquarters, where we
were to report and be disposed of. The captain introduced me to a
lieutenant and to a surgeon of the rebel army. The surgeon made me show
him where goods could be found. The lieutenant got a saddle and bridle
and some bits, and then we helped them to carry them to where their
horses were outside of the fortifications. I also met Mr. Wedlin, a
citizen, and he accompanied us. He helped the lieutenant to mount and
pack his goods, and then he gave Wedlin and myself permission to depart,
and instructed us as to the best means of escape.
I am positive that up to the time of the surrender there had not been
more than fifty men (black and white) killed and wounded on the Union
side. Of these, but about twenty had been among the killed. The balance
of all killed and wounded on our side were killed and wounded after we
had given undoubted evidence of a surrender, and contrary to all rules
of warfare.
H. N. REVELLE.
Sworn to before me at Cairo, Illinois, this 17th day of April, 1864.
JNO. H. MUNROE,
_Captain and A. A. Gen'l_.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
_Statement of Ann Jane Rufin._
I am the wife of Thomas Rufin, a member of the 13th Tennessee cavalry;
was at Fort Pillow on Tuesday, the 12th day of April, A. D. 1864, and
was removed to an island during the progress of the battle. Returned to
Fort Pillow on Wednesday morning, the 13th of April, and saw the remains
of a man lying upon the back, its arms outstretched, with some planks
under it. The man had to all appearances been nailed to the side of the
house, and then the building set on fire. I am satisfied that the body
was that of Lieutenant John C. Akerstrom, second lieutenant company A,
13th Tennessee cavalry, who was on duty as quartermaster of the post of
Fort Pillow. I was well acquainted with Lieutenant Akerstrom when
living. After examining the body I walked around to a ditch where a
large number of dead and wounded had been thrown and partially covered.
I saw several places where the wounded had dug holes and attempted to
get out, but had been unable to do so.
her
ANN JANE x RUFIN.
mark.
CAIRO, _April 18, 1864_.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th day of April, 1864.
ISAAC M. TALMADGE,
_Captain and District Provost Marshal_.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
_Statement of Mrs. Rebecca Williams._
I am the wife of William F. Williams, a private in the 13th Tennessee
cavalry, company D.
I was at Fort Pillow on the Wednesday morning after the fight of
Tuesday, the 12th of April, 1864, and saw the body of a man, which had
the appearance of having been burned to death. It was pointed out to me
as the body of Lieutenant John C. Akerstrom, of the 13th Tennessee
cavalry. I know it was the corpse of a white man.
her
REBECCA x WILLIAMS.
mark.
CAIRO, _April 18, 1864_.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th day of April, 1864.
ISAAC M. TALMADGE,
_Captain and District Provost Marshal_.
* * * * *
I, the undersigned, do certify that I also witnessed the same spectacle
described by Mrs. Williams.
her
NANCY M. x HOPPER.
mark.
CAIRO, _April 18, 1864_.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 18th day of April, 1864.
ISAAC M. TALMADGE,
_Captain and District Provost Marshal_.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
James R. Brigham, a resident of Fredonia, Chautauque county, New York,
deposes and says:
He was and had been a clerk in a store at Fort Pillow over a year
previous to the 12th April instant. On learning, early on the morning of
the 12th instant, that the post was to be attacked by the confederates,
he went immediately to the fort, and was engaged with a musket in
defending the fort, when General Chalmers was repulsed twice. After
this, I was detailed to carry wounded down the hill, on which the fort
was situated, to the river bank, where, beside a large log, I raised a
red flag as a sign of a hospital. The flag was made from part of a red
flannel shirt. The last attack was made by General Forrest in person,
who headed the column. Forrest was wounded in three (3) different
places, and had his horse shot under him.
Major Booth, of the regular army, was in command. He was killed about 11
o'clock by a sharpshooter, when Major Bradford, of the 13th Tennessee
regiment, took command. Major Bradford was taken prisoner, and killed
near Judge Green's, some six miles from the fort, while a prisoner.
When the confederates rushed into the fort, having taken advantage of a
flag of truce to get their men close to the fort in a ravine and
directly under the embankments, this force numbered some fifteen
hundred, with a large reserve in sight. As soon as the confederates got
into the fort, the federals threw down their arms in token of surrender,
and many exclaimed, "We surrender." Immediately an indiscriminate
massacre commenced on both black and white soldiers. Up to the time of
the surrender, I don't think more than from twenty to twenty-five had
been killed, and not more than fifteen wounded. I was taken prisoner,
and when marching with other prisoners, black and white, I saw the
confederates shoot and kill and wound both white and black federal
prisoners. Some negroes were severely beaten, but still able to go
along. We were taken a few miles into the country, when myself and a few
others got relieved by General McCullough, on the ground of being
private citizens. I saw General Forrest, and knew he was wounded, as
before stated. There were from twenty-five to thirty black soldiers
carried off as prisoners, and not over thirty to thirty-five white. All
the rest of that faithful and heroic garrison, some five or six hundred
in number, were killed or wounded in action, or murdered or wounded
after the surrender. I saw officers as well as privates kill and wound
prisoners, and heard them say, while held a prisoner with them in the
country, that they intended taking the prisoners still further into the
country, and make an example of them.
Captain Bradford, of the 13th Tennessee, was engaged with a blue signal
flag in connexion with gunboat No. 7. Captain Bradford was ordered shot
by General Forrest, who said "Shoot that man with the black flag." This
was after the surrender. His body was literally shot to pieces. All,
both black and white, fought manfully. I saw several negroes wounded,
with blood running from their bodies, still engaged loading and firing
cannon and muskets cheerfully. There was no giving way till fifteen
hundred confederates rushed inside the fort. Most were killed outside
the fort when prisoners. The fort was defended successfully for over
eight hours by from 500 to 600 men against 3,500 to 4,000 barbarians. I
heard confederate officers say it was the hardest contested engagement
that Forrest had ever been engaged in. I heard officers say they would
never recognize negroes as prisoners of war, but would kill them
whenever taken. Even if they caught a negro with blue clothes on
(uniform) they would kill him. Officers of negro troops were treated and
murdered the same as negroes themselves.
After lying in the woods two days and nights, I was picked up by gunboat
No. 7, some 5 or 6 miles below the fort.
On my return to the fort I saw and recognized the remains of Lieutenant
Akerstrom; he had been nailed to a house and supposed burned alive.
There were the remains of two negroes lying where the house burned. I
was told they were nailed to the floor. I also found a negro partially
buried, with his head out of the ground, alive. I went for assistance
and water for him; when I returned he was so near dead that no
assistance could save him. We sat by him till he died.
I can recount but a small part of the barbarities I saw on that fatal
day, when hundreds of loyal soldiers were murdered in cold blood.
JAS. R. BINGHAM.
Sworn before me at Cairo, Illinois, this 18th day of April, 1864.
JNO. H. MUNROE,
_Assistant Adjutant General_.
A true copy.
J. H. ODLIN,
_Assistant Adjutant General_.
* * * * *
CAIRO, ILLINOIS, _April 23, 1864_.
Elvis Bevel, being duly sworn, deposeth and says:
I am a citizen of Osceola, Arkansas. I was driven from my home by
guerillas. I arrived at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, on the night of the 11th
of April, 1864. I was at Fort Pillow during the engagement between the
rebel forces under Forrest and Chalmers, and the United States garrison
at that place, on the 12th of April instant, 1864. About sun-up, the
alarm of rebels being in the fort was received at Major Booth's
headquarters. I took a position where I could see all that was done by
the rebel and United States forces. Deponent further saith: I saw the
contraband camps in flames at different points. Could see the
skirmishers of the rebels. Signals were given by Captain Bradford to
Captain Marshal, of the navy, commanding gunboat No. 7, to shell them
from post No. 1, which is in sight of the fort, which was done by
Captain Marshall. About one hour after sunrise, brisk skirmishing began.
The bullets from rebel infantry caused me to move from where I was, and
take position behind a large stump near the fort. About nine o'clock I
moved to the rear of the fort, where I could better see the rebels who
swarmed the bluff.
The rebels were here so near the gunboat that the crew under Captain
Marshall had to close their ports and use their small-arms. At one
o'clock p. m. the firing on both sides ceased. A flag of truce was sent
from the rebel lines to demand an unconditional surrender. While the
flag of truce was approaching the fort, I saw a battery of artillery
moved to a better position by the rebels, and saw their sharpshooters
approaching the fort from another quarter. At two o'clock the fight
began again; about fifteen or twenty minutes after I saw a charge made
by about two thousand on the breastworks and near it on the bluff. Sharp
fighting took place inside the fort of about five minutes' duration. I
saw their bayonets and swords. I saw the Union soldiers, black and
white, slaughtered while asking for quarter; heard their screams for
quarter, to which the rebels paid no attention. About one hundred left
the fort and ran down the bank of the bluff to the river, pursued by the
rebels, who surrounded them; in about twenty minutes, every one of them,
as far as I could see, were shot down by the rebels without mercy.
I left at this time, getting on the gunboat. On Thursday, the 14th of
April, I met Captain Farris, of Forrest's command, about six miles from
Fort Pillow, at Plum point: his soldiers said they were hunting for
negroes. I asked him if they took any prisoners at Fort Pillow. He said
they took some of the 13th Tennessee, who surrendered, but no others.
ELVIS BEVEL.
Signed and sworn to before me this 23d day of April, A. D. 1864, at
Cairo, Illinois.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieut. and A. A. A. G._
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieut. and A. D. C._
* * * * *
_Statement of Wm. B. Walker, company D, 13th Tennessee cavalry._
I hereby certify that I was at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, on the 12th day
of the present month, when it was attacked by the confederates. I saw
nothing more than has probably been related by a dozen others, until
about the time of the panic and the retreat down the bluff by both white
and black Union troops. We were followed closely by the rebels, and
shot down, after surrender, as fast as they could find us. One of the
rebels, after I had given him up my money as he had ordered me, fired
upon me twice, after I had surrendered, and while I begged for my life.
One ball struck me in the left eye. The rebels had almost ceased firing
upon us, when an officer came down and told them to "shoot the last
d----d one of us," and "not to take one prisoner." He said it was the
order of the general, (I could not hear the name plainly, but I think it
was Chalmers.) Then the slaughter of the prisoners was resumed. I saw
some six white and ten colored soldiers thus shot, long after they had
surrendered, and while the negroes were on their knees begging to be
spared.
his
WILLIAM B. x WALKER.
mark.
Witness: WM. CLEARY,
_2d Lieut. Co. B, 13th Tennessee Cavalry_.
MOUND CITY, _Illinois_, _April 23_, A. D. 1864.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 25th day of April, 1864, at Mound
City, Illinois.
WM. STANLEY,
_Lieutenant and Assistant Provost Marshal_.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
_Statement of Jason Lonan, company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry._
I do hereby certify that I was at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, on the twelfth
(12th) of the present month, when it was attacked by the rebels under
General A. B. Forrest. I was ordered into the fort at the commencement
of the engagement. We kept up a continual fire on both sides until about
1 o'clock p. m., when a flag of truce was sent in, and firing ceased.
While the flag of truce was being considered I saw the enemy plundering
our evacuated quarters, and moving their forces up in large bodies,
getting them in position. We had been driving them all the morning. They
were at the same time placing their sharpshooters in the buildings we
had occupied as barracks. The object of the flag of truce not having
been agreed to, the firing again commenced. About one hour afterwards
the enemy charged on our works in overwhelming numbers, and the negro
soldiers, being panic-stricken, dropped their arms and ran down the
bluff. The whites also, when they found there was to be no quarter
shown, also ran down the bluff. The rebels ran after us, shooting all
they came to, both black and white. I also certify that I was myself
shot after I had surrendered, and while I had my hands up and was
imploring them to show me mercy. They also shot Sergeant Gwalthney, of
my company, while he was within ten feet of me, after he had given up
his revolver, and while he had his hands up crying out for mercy. They
took his own revolver and shot him with its contents twice through the
head, killing him instantly. I also certify that I saw the rebels shoot,
in all, six men who had surrendered, and who had their hands up asking
quarter. I further certify that I saw the rebels come about on the
ensuing morning, the 13th day of April, A. D. 1864, and despatch several
of the colored soldiers of the 6th United States heavy artillery, who
had survived their wounds received on the previous day.
his
JASON + LONAN.
mark.
Witness: WILLIAM CLEARY,
_2d Lieut. Co. B, 13th Tenn. Vol. Cav_.
MOUND CITY, ILLINOIS, _April 23, 1864_.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 23d day of April, 1864, at Mound
City, Illinois.
WM. STANLEY,
_Lieutenant and Assistant Provost Marshal_.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
_Statement of Corporal Wm. P. Dickey, company B, 13th Tennessee
cavalry._
I do hereby certify that I was at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, on the 12th
day of April, A. D. 1864, when that place was attacked by the rebel
General Forrest. I went into the fort at the commencement of the action.
We kept up a continuous fire upon both sides until about 1 o'clock p. m.,
when a flag of truce was sent in by the rebels, and while it was
being considered the firing was ordered to cease. I also certify that
while this was going on I plainly saw the enemy consolidating their
forces and gaining positions they had been endeavoring to gain without
success. At the same time their men were plundering our deserted camp,
and stealing goods from the quartermaster's depot, and from the stores
of the merchants of the post. They also at the same time put their
sharpshooters into our deserted barracks, whence they had fair view, and
were in fair range of our little garrison. The firing recommenced after
the flag of truce had retired. About one hour thereafter the rebels
stormed our works. They had no sooner obtained the top of our walls when
the negroes ran, and the whites, obtaining no quarter, ran after them.
The rebels followed closely, shooting down all who came in the way,
white and black. I also certify that I was myself shot by a rebel
soldier after I had surrendered, and while I had my hands up begging for
mercy. I also certify that I saw the rebels shoot down ten men, white
soldiers, within ten paces of me, while they had their hands up
supplicating quarter. I also certify that I saw twelve negro soldiers
killed long after they had surrendered. I also certify that I saw the
rebels throw several negroes into the river while they were begging for
life. One rebel came to me and took my percussion caps, saying he had
been killing negroes so fast that his own had been exhausted. He added
that he was going to shoot some more. I also certify that I saw negroes
thrown into the river by rebels, and shot afterwards, while struggling
for life.
his
WM. P. + DICKEY.
mark.
Witness: WM. CLEARY,
_2d Lieut. Co. B, 13th Tenn. Vol. Cav_.
MOUND CITY, _April 23_, A. D. 1864.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 23d day of April, 1864, at Mound
City, Illinois.
WM. STANLEY,
_Lieutenant and Assistant Provost Marshal_.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
MOUND CITY, _April 25, 1864_.
_Statement of Sergeant William A. Winn, company B, 12th Tennessee
cavalry volunteers._
I was in Fort Pillow on Tuesday, the 12th of April, 1864, when the
attack was made by General Forrest upon that place. At the firing of the
first gun I hastened on board the gunboat, as I had been wounded some
time before and could not fight. The first thing I saw afterwards was
the rebel sharpshooters on the top of the hill and ours at
quartermaster's department, firing at each other, and the rebels were
also firing at the gunboat. The next thing I saw was a flag of truce
come in, which was in waiting some half an hour. This was about one
o'clock p. m., and as soon as it started back, the enemy immediately
started up the hill on the double-quick, not waiting for the flag of
truce to return. As soon as they came close to the fort and had their
sharpshooters distributed through our barracks, (which were just outside
the fort,) they opened fire upon the garrison, and then charged the
works. Those troops which I saw came from the direction that the flag of
truce did. I saw our men run down the bluff, the rebels after them,
shooting them down as fast as they came up with them. I saw twelve or
fifteen men shot down after they had surrendered, with their hands up
begging for mercy. Next I saw them turn their cannon on us (the boat)
and throw several shells at the boat, trying to sink her, but she
steamed up the river, out of range, leaving behind us a scene of
cold-blooded murder too cruel and barbarous for the human mind to
express.
W. A. WINN.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 25th day of April, 1864.
WM. STANLEY,
_Lieutenant and Assistant Provost Marshal_.
A true copy.
_C. B. SMITH, Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
MOUND CITY, _April 18, 1864_.
_Statement of William F. Mays, company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry._
I was at Fort Pillow on the 12th of April, 1864, and engaged in the
fight there. The pickets were driven in about six o'clock a. m., when
skirmishers were thrown out to ascertain the position and number of the
enemy. The contraband camp was then discovered to be on fire, and the
firing of small-arms was heard in the same direction. The skirmishing
lasted about one hour, when our skirmishers were gradually drawn back
towards the fort on the bluff. They then attacked the fort. Two assaults
were made by them, and both repulsed. This was about eleven or twelve
o'clock a. m., when a flag of truce was sent in, demanding a surrender.
While the flag was being received and the firing suspended, the enemy
were moving their forces into position, and occupied one position which
they had been fighting to obtain all day, but had not been able to gain,
except under the protection of a flag of truce. It was from this
position they made their heaviest assault, it being impossible to bring
our artillery to bear upon them.
Question. Do you believe they could have taken the fort or that
particular position had they not done so under cover of the flag of
truce?
Answer. I do not. They had been kept from it for six hours.
Question. What further took place? Go on with your statement.
Answer. In about five minutes after the disappearance of the flag of
truce, a general assault was made upon our works from every direction.
They were kept at bay for some time, when the negroes gave way upon the
left and ran down the bluff, leaving an opening through which the rebels
entered and immediately commenced an indiscriminate slaughter of both
white and black. We all threw down our arms and gave tokens of
surrender, asking for quarter. (I was wounded in the right shoulder and
muscle of the back, and knocked down before I threw down my gun.) But no
quarter was given. Voices were heard upon all sides, crying, "Give them
no quarter; kill them; kill them; it is General Forrest's orders." I saw
four white men and at least twenty-five negroes shot while begging for
mercy; and I saw one negro dragged from a hollow log within ten feet of
where I lay, and as one rebel held him by the foot another shot him.
These were all soldiers. There were also two negro women and three
little children standing within twenty-five steps from me, when a rebel
stepped up to them and said, "Yes, God damn you, you thought you were
free, did you," and shot them all. They all fell but one child, when he
knocked it in the head with the breech of his gun. They then disappeared
in the direction of the landing, following up the fugitives, firing at
them wherever seen. They came back in about three-quarters of an hour,
shooting and robbing the dead of their money and clothes. I saw a man
with a canteen upon him and a pistol in his hand. I ventured to ask him
for a drink of water. He turned around, saying, "Yes, God damn you, I
will give you a drink of water," and shot at my head three different
times, covering my face up with dust, and then turned from me, no doubt
thinking he had killed me, remarking, "God damn you, it's too late to
pray now," then went on with his pilfering. I lay there until dark,
feigning death, when a rebel officer came along, drawing his sabre and
ordered me to get up, threatening to run his sabre into me if I did not,
saying I had to march ten miles that night. I succeeded in getting up
and got among a small squad he had already gathered up, but stole away
from them during the night, and got among the dead, feigning death for
fear of being murdered. The next morning the gunboat came up and
commenced shelling them out, when I crawled out from among the dead, and
with a piece of paper motioning to the boat, she came up and I crawled
on board.
his
WM. F. + MAYS.
mark.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 27th day of April, 1864.
WM. STANLEY,
_Lieutenant and Assistant Provost Marshal_.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH, _Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
_Official statement of facts connected with the attack, defence, and
surrender of the United States military post at Union City, Tennessee,
on the 24th of March, 1864._
CAIRO, ILLINOIS, _April 4, 1864_.
On the 23d of March it was generally understood at the said post that at
least a portion of the rebel General Forrest's command were advancing on
us. At about eight o'clock p. m. of that day the advance of the enemy
were seen and fired upon, near Jacksonville, six miles from Union City,
by a small scouting party sent in that direction from our post. This
party reported the facts immediately to Colonel Hawkins, of the 7th
Tennessee cavalry, who was commander of the post.
The picket guard was then doubled, and two or three companies were
ordered to keep their horses saddled during the night.
I was notified at 4.30 a. m. of the 24th of March to order my horses
saddled. About five o'clock firing commenced all around the line of
pickets. The main part of company B, Captain Martin, were abreast, and a
part of company I, also, I think. The remaining force, about 500
strong, were distributed around at the breastworks. The pickets were
driven in, with a loss of two killed and several wounded. About 5.30 a. m.
a cavalry charge was made from the south side. It was repulsed with
but little difficulty. The same were immediately dismounted and charged
again, this time coming within twenty or thirty yards of the
breastworks. They were repulsed again, and with considerable loss this
time. Immediately following this another charge was made in front, from
the northwest, and again repulsed. Immediately following this, the
fourth charge, and last, was made from the northeast, which charge
confronted my company, and were repulsed again with loss. This charge
was made at about 8 a. m. About this time the colonel came to this part
of the works; I remarked to him that it was my opinion the rebels were
defeated in their first programme; that they would either leave the
field or assemble and make a consolidated charge. Our troops were in
fine spirits. Sharpshooting lasted till 9.30 a. m., when an escort, with
a flag of truce, approached my position. I sent notification to Colonel
Hawkins of the approaching truce flag, and then advanced in person and
halted the truce escort two hundred yards from the defences. Then
Colonel Hawkins came; a document was handed him, the contents of which I
know not. At this time the rebel troops were in full view, in the logs
and stumps. The truce escort retired, and in twenty minutes after again
came. I again halted them on the same ground as before, and remained
with them during this interview. This time an order was handed to
Colonel Hawkins, which I read. As near as I can remember, it read as
follows:
"HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES FORCES,
"_In the Field, March 24, 1864_.
"_Commanding Officer United States Forces, at Union City, Tennessee_:
"SIR: I have your garrison completely surrounded, and demand an
unconditional surrender of your forces. If you comply with the demand,
you are promised the treatment due to prisoners of war, according to
usages in civilized warfare. If you persist in a defence, you must take
the consequences.
"By order of
"N. B. FORREST, _Major General_."
Then followed a council of our officers, in which a large majority
violently opposed any capitulation whatever with the enemy.
Notwithstanding this, the colonel made a surrender at 11 a. m., which,
to the best of my knowledge and belief, was unconditional. No artillery
was seen or used. The surrendered troops were very indignant on hearing
of the surrender. Only one man had been killed and two or three wounded
inside of the works. It was generally believed to be a rebel defeat. Our
troops, after grounding arms, were marched away on foot. The rebel
troops were commanded by Colonel Duckworth, and as nearly as I could
estimate them, there were 800.
A list of prisoners was made on the 26th, at Trenton, which numbered
481, including ten of Hardy's men and a few of the 24th Missouri
infantry, who were doing provost duty.
T. P. GRAY,
_Captain, Company C, 7th Tennessee Cavalry_.
* * * * *
HEADQUARTERS POST OF PADUCAH,
_Paducah, Kentucky, April 6, 1864_.
SIR: I have the honor to report in relation to the late engagement with
the rebel General Forrest. On the 25th instant my scouts came in at
about 12 o'clock m., bringing no news of the enemy's whereabouts. I
immediately ordered out others, and directed them to proceed on the
Mayfield road. They had gone but three miles when they were met by
Forrest's advance guard, who fired upon them. They hurriedly fell back
and gave the alarm, and in less than ten minutes after they reported,
the enemy were driving in my pickets, who opened a skirmish-fire and
fell back to Fort Anderson, according to previous instructions. I
immediately ordered the little force under my command to double-quick to
the fort, which order was promptly obeyed; yet, before they could reach
there, such was the impetuosity of the attack, that their rear was fired
into by the enemy.
At 2 p. m. the enemy took position surrounding the fort, and a sharp
fight commenced, which in a few minutes became furious, and continued
for about one hour, when it was announced that a flag of truce was
approaching. I immediately ordered my men to cease firing, and sent out
to meet the bearer, from whom I received the following demand for a
surrender:
"HEADQUARTERS FORREST'S CAVALRY CORPS,
"_Paducah, Kentucky, March 25, 1864_.
"COLONEL: Having a force amply sufficient to carry your works and reduce
the place, and in order to avoid the unnecessary effusion of blood, I
demand the surrender of the fort and troops, with all public property.
If you surrender, you shall be treated as prisoners of war; but if I
have to storm your works, you may expect no quarter.
"N. B. FORREST,
"_Major General, Commanding Confederate Troops_.
"Colonel HICKS,
"_Commanding Federal Forces at Paducah_."
To which I replied as follows:
"HEADQUARTERS POST OF PADUCAH,
"_Paducah, Kentucky, March 25, 1864_.
"I have this moment received yours of this instant, in which you demand
the unconditional surrender of the forces under my command. I can answer
that I have been placed here by my government to defend this post, and
in this, as well as all other orders from my superior, I feel it to be
my duty as an honorable officer to obey. I must, therefore, respectfully
decline surrendering as you may require.
"Very respectfully,
"S. G. Hicks,
"_Colonel, Commanding Post_.
"Major General N. B. FORREST,
"_Commanding Confederate Forces_."
While the flag of truce was near the fort, and during its pendency, the
enemy were engaged in taking position and planting a battery. As soon as
the answer was returned they moved forward, and our forces opened on
them, and the fight became general. They attempted to storm our works,
but were repulsed. They rallied and tried it again, and met the same
fate. They made a third effort, but were forced to abandon their design.
It was in this last struggle that Brigadier General A. P. Thompson
(confederate) was killed.
I now discovered, on examination, that my ammunition was growing short,
and out of 30,000 rounds, (the amount we commenced the fight with,)
27,000 had been already expended. In this emergency I ordered the
remainder to be equally distributed; the men to fix their bayonets; to
make good use of the ammunition they had, and, when that was exhausted,
to receive the enemy on the point of the bayonet, feeling fully
determined never to surrender while I had a man alive. When this order
was repeated by the officers to their respective commands, it was
received with loud shouts and cheers.
The enemy's sharpshooters in the mean time got possession of the houses
around and near the fort, from which position they picked off some of my
gunners, shooting nearly all of them in the head.
Towards dark the enemy took shelter behind houses, in rooms, and
hollows, and kept up a scattering fire until half past 11 o'clock, when
it entirely ceased, and the rebel general withdrew his command out of
the range of my guns, and went into camp for the night.
On the morning of the 26th the enemy again made a demonstration by
surrounding the fort in the distance. As soon as I discovered this, I
ordered Major Barnes, of the 10th Kentucky cavalry, to send out squads
to burn all the houses within musket range of the fort, from which the
sharpshooters had annoyed us the day previous.
While the houses were burning General Forrest sent in a second flag of
truce, with the following communication:
"HEADQUARTERS FORREST'S CAVALRY CORPS,
"_Near Paducah, Kentucky, March 26, 1864_.
"SIR: I understand you hold in your possession in the guard-house at
Paducah a number of confederate soldiers as prisoners of war. I have in
my possession about thirty-five or forty federal soldiers who were
captured here yesterday, and about five hundred who were captured at
Union City. I propose to exchange man for man, according to rank, so far
as you may hold confederate soldiers.
"Respectfully,
N. B. FORREST,
"_Major General, Commanding Confederate Forces_.
"Colonel S. G. HICKS,
"_Commanding Federal Forces at Paducah, Ky_."
In answer to which I sent the following:
"HEADQUARTERS POST OF PADUCAH,
"_Paducah, Kentucky, March 26, 1864_.
"SIR: I have no power to make the exchange. If I had, I would most
cheerfully do it.
"Very respectfully,
S. G. HICKS,
"_Colonel 40th Illinois Infantry, Com'dg Post_.
"Major General N. B. FORREST,
"_Commanding Confederate Forces_."
With the above General Forrest sent a list of the names of the prisoners
captured, (!) all of whom, with one exception, were convalescents in the
general hospital, and too feeble to get to the fort.
The following troops composed my command during the fight:
Companies C, H, and K, 122d Illinois infantry, commanded by Major J. F.
Chapman, one hundred and twenty men; 16th Kentucky cavalry, Major Barnes
commanding, two hundred and seventy-one men; 1st Kentucky heavy
artillery, (colored,) two hundred and seventy-four men, commanded by
Lieutenant R. D. Cunningham, of the 2d Illinois artillery, making a
total of six hundred and sixty-five men.
Opposed to this was the rebel force under the command of Generals
Forrest, Buford, J. G. Harris, and A. P. Thompson, of six thousand five
hundred men.
The casualties of my command were fourteen killed and forty-six wounded.
The enemy's loss, according to the most reliable information that I can
obtain, was three hundred killed and from one thousand to twelve hundred
wounded. His killed and wounded may be safely set down at fifteen
hundred.
General Forrest admitted, in conversation with some of his friends in
this city, that in no engagement during the war had he been so badly cut
up and crippled as at this place.
Our loss in government stores was inconsiderable. The quartermaster's
depot, a temporary wooden building, was burned, and in consequence
thereof a small lot of quartermaster's property was lost. Our commissary
stores, and most of our government horses, mules, wagons, &c., were
saved.
In justice to the officers and soldiers under my command, allow me to
say they acted _well_ their part, proving themselves worthy of the great
cause in which they are engaged, and all deserving of the highest
praise.
The three companies of the 122d Illinois were the only portion of my
command that had ever been under fire before.
And here permit me to remark that I have been one of those men who never
had much confidence in colored troops fighting, but those doubts are now
all removed, for they fought as bravely as any troops in the fort.
The gunboats Peosta, Captain Smith, and Paw Paw, Captain O'Neal, were
present and rendered valuable aid in shelling the city and operating on
the flank of the enemy as they surrounded the fort.
A list of the names of the killed and wounded I will furnish hereafter.
Respectfully submitted.
S. G. HICKS,
_Colonel 40th Illinois Infantry, Commanding Post_.
Captain J. H. ODLIN,
_Assistant Adjutant General_.
* * * * *
HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES,
_Before Columbus, Kentucky, April 13, 1864_.
Fully capable of taking Columbus and its garrison by force, I desire to
avoid the shedding of blood, and therefore demand the unconditional
surrender of the forces under your command. Should you surrender, the
negroes now in arms will be returned to their masters. Should I,
however, be compelled to take the place, no quarter will be shown to the
negro troops whatever; the white troops will be treated as prisoners of
war.
I am, sir, yours,
A. BUFORD, _Brigadier General_.
The COMMANDING OFFICER
_United States Forces, Columbus, Kentucky_.
* * * * *
HEADQUARTERS OF THE POST,
_Columbus, Kentucky, April 13, 1864_.
GENERAL: Your communication of this date to hand. In reply, I would
state that, being placed by my government with adequate force to hold
and repel all enemies from my post, surrender is out of the question.
I am, general, very respectfully,
WILLIAM HUDSON LAWRENCE,
_Colonel 34th New Jersey Volunteers, Commanding Post_.
Brigadier General A. BUFORD
_Commanding Confederate forces before Columbus, Ky_.
* * * * *
The following affidavit was furnished, at the request of the committee,
by General W. S. Rosecrans, from St. Louis:
"HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
"_Saint Louis, April 26, 1864_.
"Respectfully forwarded to Hon. B. F. Wade, Cairo, Illinois, chairman
congressional Committee on Conduct of the War.
"W. S. ROSECRANS,
"_Major General, Commanding_.
"By O. D. GREEN, A. A. G.,
"_Absence of General_."
* * * * *
_Statement of Edward B. Benton, upon oath, relative to the massacre by
the confederate troops under General Forrest, at Fort Pillow,
Tennessee._
I was born in Waltham, Vermont.
Question. Where have you resided last?
Answer. I was in Missouri engaged in furnishing beef to the government
troops on the North Missouri railroad until a year ago last July. I then
went down to Fort Pillow, and have been there ever since.
Question. What was your business there?
Answer. I owned 215 acres of the fort, bordering on the river, and the
very land we fought on. I was putting in 100 acres of cotton just
outside the fortifications, which was my principal business.
Question. You lived outside the fort?
Answer. Yes, sir--slept there. I was in the fort every day; it was only
about a mile from the landing--not a mile from the fortifications.
Question. Just say when you saw Forrest's men; the day and the time of
day, and what you did.
Answer. On Tuesday morning, the 12th of this month, I was awakened about
five o'clock, or half past five, by a little darkey boy, who came up to
my room and says: "Oh, Mr. Benton, all of Forrest's men have come, and
they are just going into the fort. What will I do?" I got out of bed and
looked out of the window towards the fort, and saw about three or four
hundred of Forrest's men drawn up in line, and some one was making a
speech to them, which was answered by cheering. They cheered, and then
the pickets fired. I put some things in my valise and started for the
fort in a roundabout way, and got in, by running the pickets, about six
o'clock, and went immediately to Major Booth and asked for a gun, and
took my stand with the soldiers inside the breastworks, where I remained
and shot at every person of Forrest's men that I could get a chance at,
firing forty-eight shots in all, until the flag of truce was sent in.
Question. About what was the time of day it came in?
Answer. It came in about two o'clock, I should think--half past one or
two o'clock in the afternoon.
Question. Had they made any attack then?
Answer. Oh, yes, sir.
Question. Had they tried to carry the fort by storm and been repulsed?
Answer. At one time the confederate troops had all disappeared.
Question. Were four hundred all there were there?
Answer. Those were all I saw there. This was when they first made their
appearance when I first saw these four hundred. After getting into the
fort we saw more than a thousand coming in at the different passes, and
the sharpshooters were stationed on every hill on every side of us
except the river side.
Question. Do you recollect how many attacks they made to carry the fort
before the flag of truce came?
Answer. It is not proper to call their fighting but one attack upon the
fort, although they all, or nearly all, seemed to be driven outside the
outside works at one time, and soon came back fighting harder and in
greater force than before.
Question. Did they use artillery?
Answer. Yes, sir. They did not hurt us with that; they shot at the
gunboats.
Question. When the flag of truce came in did they make any disposition
of their troops around the fort there?
Answer. Yes, sir; after the flag of truce was sent in and the firing
ceased they came up on all sides to within ten yards of the very
embankments that screened us.
Question. While the flag of truce was waiting?
Answer. Yes, sir; more especially on the northern side, just under the
bank looking towards Coal Creek.
Question. How long was that flag inside of our lines?
Answer. One hour was the time. I suppose it was all of an hour.
Question. Do you know the nature of it?
Answer. It was for an unconditional surrender.
Question. It was refused by Major Booth?
Answer. By Major Bradford, yes, sir. Major Booth had been killed. He
asked for time to consult with the gunboat, and finally returned the
answer that there was none of Hawkins's men there, and he never would
surrender.
Question. Did not Major Bradford make any protest against troops coming
up under the flag in that way?
Answer. I don't know, sir.
Question. When the flag went back did they commence firing again?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Kept it up for how long?
Answer. They commenced firing again, but the firing didn't last fifteen
minutes. Up to this time there had not been twenty killed on our side.
Question. What was the strength of the garrison?
Answer. 580, I think, just.
Question. How many of these were negroes?
Answer. About 380--nearly 400--I don't know exactly to a man.
Question. How many citizens besides yourself?
Answer. William W. Cutler, of Chicago, and a young man by the name of
Robinson; he was a soldier but in citizen's clothes, and got off on that
plea.
Question. The second flag that came in--about how long was it after the
first?
Answer. Well, there was no _second_ flag of truce, except the one. There
was no firing in the interim.
Question. Was there no firing while the first was in?
Answer. No, sir, not a single shot fired on either side. After the flag
of truce had been rejected, or the surrender had been rejected, they
were so close to the fort that about 3,000 of them just sprang right in,
and the whole garrison threw down their arms at once. The bigger portion
of the darkeys jumped down the bank towards the Mississippi river,
without any arms at all, and were followed by Forrest's men and shot
indiscriminately, black and white, with handkerchiefs held over them in
a great number of instances--as many as fifty I should think.
Question. Did you see any of those prisoners formed in line and shot
down?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How many?
Answer. They were collected at least four different times.
Question. How long a line?
Answer. Well, it was more in a collection than it was properly in a
straight line. There was a line probably as long as this room, or
longer--about thirty or thirty-five feet.
Question. These lines were scattered by rebel shots several times?
Answer. They were.
Question. These men were unarmed?
Answer. Unarmed; no arms of any description, and they holding up both
hands begging for quarter.
Question. Were you put in the line?
Answer. No, sir; I was not. It was attempted to put me in line, but I
clung to a man who tried to shoot me, but I caught his gun and prevented
him, and he took my money from me, some seventy dollars, and ordered me
into line, raising his gun to strike me; and as I came to the line the
captain made a feint to strike me with his sword, and told me to give
him my pocket book, which I did, and as he turned to look after others,
I sprang away and clung close to this man that had just taken my money.
I said to him that he had taken all my money, and he must keep me from
being shot like a dog, as I was a citizen, and had nothing to do with
the fight. He abused me in every way by bad language, saying that we had
fought them like devils, and tried to kill all of Forrest's men, until
we came to the back of the stores, where he gave me a soldier's coat and
told me to wait a moment until he could step in and steal his share. As
soon as I was left I took some clothing, a saddle blanket, and halter
that were there and started out of the fort as one of Forrest's men, but
on the way I saw three persons shot--mulattoes and blacks--shot down
singly in cold blood. I succeeded in getting over the fortifications and
hid under fallen timber, where I remained until dark. After dark I
attempted to go towards Hatchie River bottom, but the fallen timber
being so bad I got lost, and wandered near the Pass No. 2, leading out
of the fort, inside of it, where I could see all, where I laid until the
next day about two o'clock. I heard fifty-one or fifty-two shots fired
singly at different times within the fort during that time, and screams
and cheers. About two o'clock the dogs were getting so close to me that
I knew they were on my track.
Question. What do you mean by the dogs?
Answer. Hunting out people everywhere. They have dogs.
Question. They had bloodhounds?
Answer. Yes, sir. I left the most of my clothing and hastened down a
ravine in the timber, and kept on through the ravines till I came to the
Coal Creek bottom, some mile and a half, and swam across. Finally, I
succeeded in getting to the island. I had to swim across the river and a
bayou. That is all that I saw. Oh! I was there at the fort two days
after the battle and saw the remains of burned persons; helped to bury
one of the dead that I saw shot in cold blood lying right where he was
left, and saw many of them, white and black, all buried together, and a
number, three days afterwards, not buried.
Question. How many did you see shot in this way?
Answer. I should think probably about two hundred.
Question. It was an indiscriminate butchery, was it?
Answer. Yes, sir. There were about fifteen or twenty that lay close in
one pile, huddling together, shot after they were wounded.
Question. Some white soldiers shot after they were wounded?
Answer. Yes, sir, with the hospital flag flying, and they holding white
handkerchiefs over their heads. I saw at least ten soldiers shot
individually with white handkerchiefs over their heads. They tore off
pieces of their shirts--anything they could get--for flags of truce and
to denote surrender.
Question. You say these men were shot down in hospital, with hospital
flag flying?
Answer. Yes, sir, lying right down under it--not up walking at all.
Every man lying near me was killed--lying close to me and on me. Two lay
over me, because they kept piling themselves right up on top close
under the bank. It was just down under the brow of the hill. A great
many were lying in the water and were shot. Trees that were lying one
end in the water and the other on shore, they would just go over on the
other side of them and hide in the water, and the rebels would go over
and shoot them.
Question. Your citizen's clothes saved you?
Answer. Yes, sir; I told them I had nothing to do with them. They robbed
every citizen, taking off most of their clothing.
Question. How much did they take from you?
Answer. Seventy dollars.
Question. You say you were robbed twice.
Answer. Yes, once by the captain of the company and once by the private.
I carry my money in my vest pocket always, and had my pocket-book in my
pocket with notes in it.
Question. That was what you gave to the captain, wasn't it?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. And the seventy dollars in money to the soldier?
Answer. Yes, sir. He asked, "Give me your money," and the other for the
pocket-book.
Question. You say they had bloodhounds; did you see any of them?
Answer. Yes, sir; and not only I but others saw them. One other, Mr.
Jones, was treed by them, and staid there a long time.
Question. What Jones was that?
Answer. I don't know his given name. He lives on Island 34. I can find
out his name. He is not any too good a Union man, but is rather southern
in his feelings.
Question. State about Bradford's death--when he was shot. What was done?
Was he wounded before the surrender?
Answer. No, sir; but it was reported by very reliable persons that
Bradford was shot and hung near Covington, in Hatchie River bottom.
Question. Who told you this?
Answer. This same Jones; and there were some darkeys came in to the
gunboat and said that. Darkey evidence is very correct there. You might
not think it worth while to take their evidence, but it is a great deal
more to be relied upon than the southern evidence there. I might state
that I was inquired after by a large number of officers, and it was said
they would hang me on a flag-pole.
Question. What for?
Answer. From the fact that I employed government darkeys from Colonel
Phillips, at Memphis.
Question. On your plantation?
Answer. Yes, sir. And they shot all my horses unfit for cavalry.
Question. Did they shoot your darkeys?
Answer. I understand they did, and burned them all. I understand they
took one yellow woman, and two or three boys escaped that I tried to
take to the fort with me in the morning to help fight. The balance, a
darkey whose name I don't know, said they were killed and burned in the
house.
Question. You did not go back there, then?
Answer. I did not go back there. That is only what is told me. It was
told me by persons who were hid right near, and I saw persons bury the
bodies after they were burned.
Question. Where?
Answer. In the fort, sir--burned in the house.
Question. In connexion with the fort buildings?
Answer. Yes, sir, and out on timber. There was a large number of them
burned in the buildings, but they had been buried the day before.
Question. You say there were 580 men, you think, in the fort?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How many do you suppose escaped?
Answer. Well, I know there were not more than 100 as they marched out
there surrounded by the other troops, and I would not think there were
fifty of them. There were live darkeys in Cairo hospitals who were
buried alive. Two of them have died since they got there.
Question. Did you see any of these men buried alive?
Answer. No, I did not; but they are facts that can easily be proved by
the darkeys--the darkeys themselves--and those who saw it done, and saw
the quartermaster burned, too.
EDWARD B. BENTON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22d April, 1864.
ISAAC J. DODGE,
_Lieutenant and Assist. Paymaster General, Department of Missouri_.
* * * * *
In consequence of some portions of the evidence of General Brayman and
Colonel Lawrence, which, unexplained, might impeach the good conduct of
General Shepley, Mr. Gooch, of the sub-committee, telegraphed to General
Shepley, giving him the substance of the testimony relating to himself,
and asking him to forward to the committee any explanation he might deem
necessary in writing. The following communication was received from
General Shepley, and the testimony of Captain Thornton, an officer of
his staff, was taken. The sub-committee deemed the explanation therein
contained to be entirely satisfactory, and directed that the following
communication and testimony be incorporated with the testimony in
relation to Fort Pillow.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH,
_Norfolk, Virginia, May 7, 1864_.
SIR: I have the honor respectfully to forward by Captain C. C. G.
Thornton, 12th Maine volunteers, now acting on my staff, a statement in
reply to the communication I had the honor to receive by telegraph.
Captain Thornton was on the Olive Branch, and is subject to examination
by the committee.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,
G. F. SHEPLEY,
_Brigadier General, Commanding_.
Hon. D. W. GOOCH,
_Of Committee on Conduct of the War_.
HEADQUARTERS NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH,
_Norfolk, Virginia, May 7, 1864_.
SIR: At my own request having been relieved from duty as military
governor of Louisiana, and ordered to report for duty to the commanding
general of the army, I left New Orleans, on the evening of the 6th of
April, as a passenger in the Olive Branch, a New Orleans and St. Louis
passenger steamer _not in the service of the government_, but loaded
with male and female passengers and cargo of private parties. The
steamer was unarmed, and had no troops and no muskets for protection
against guerillas when landing at wood yards and other places.
The boat stopped at Vicksburg, and I went ashore. When I returned to the
boat as she was about leaving, I found that a detachment of a portion of
the men of two batteries--one Ohio and one Missouri--belonging to the
17th army corps, with the horses, guns, caissons, wagons, tents, and
baggage of the two batteries, had been put on board, with orders, as I
afterwards learned on inquiring, to report to General Brayman, at Cairo.
The horses occupied all the available space, fore and aft, on the sides
of the boilers and machinery, which were on deck. The guns, caissons,
baggage wagons, tents, garrison and camp equipage, were piled up
together on the bows, leaving only space for the gang plank.
The men had no small arms, so that when the boat landed, as happened in
one instance at a wood yard where guerillas had just passed, the pickets
thrown out to prevent surprise were necessarily unarmed.
As the boat was approaching, and before it was in sight of Fort Pillow,
some females hailed it from the shore, and said the rebels had attacked
Fort Pillow, and captured two boats on the river, and would take us if
we went on.
The captain of the Olive Branch said they had probably taken the Mollie
Able, which was due there about that time from St. Louis.
He turned his boat, saying he would go back to Memphis.
I objected to going back; stopped the boat below the next point; hailed
another smaller steamer without passengers which I saw approaching, and
ordered it alongside. I ordered the captain of this boat to cast off the
coal barges he had in tow, and take me on board with a section of a
battery to go to Fort Pillow.
While he was trying to disencumber his boat of the coal barges, another
boat, better for the purpose, (the Cheek,) hove in sight. Finding I
could get her ready quicker than the other, I had her brought alongside,
and went aboard myself with Captain Thornton, of my staff, and Captain
Williams, the ranking officer of the batteries.
Before we could get the guns on board, _a steamer with troops_ hove in
sight _coming down the river_ from Fort Pillow.
We could not distinguish at first whether they were Union or rebel
soldiers.
I asked Captain Pegram, of the Olive Branch, if the story of the women
turned out to be true, and the rebels had the steamer, could his boat
sink her. Captain Pegram replied, "Yes, my boat can run right over her."
I ordered him to swing out into the stream to be ready for her. When she
approached we saw _United States infantry soldiers on board that had
just passed the fort_. She kept on going rapidly down with the current,
only hailing the Olive Branch: "_All right up there; you can go by_.
_The gunboat is lying off the fort_."
This steamer was the Liberty. We then proceeded up the river in the
Olive Branch. Near Fort Pillow some stragglers or guerillas fired from
the shore with musketry, aiming at the pilot-house.
I was then in the pilot-house, and, as we kept on, I observed that one
of the two other boats I have mentioned, which followed us at some
distance, was compelled to put back. The Olive Branch kept on to report
to the gunboat on the station.
An officer came off from the gunboat, in a small boat, and said he did
not want any boat to stop; ordered us to go on to Cairo, and tell
captain (name not recollected) to send him immediately four hundred
(400) rounds of ammunition. There was no firing at the fort at this
time.
The Union flag was flying, and after we had passed the fort we could see
a "flag of truce" outside the fortifications.
_No signal of any kind was made to the boat from the fort, or from the
shore._
No intimation was given us from the gunboat, which had the right to
order a steamer of this description, other than the order to proceed to
Cairo, to send down the ammunition.
From the fact that the Liberty had just passed down the river from the
fort, with troops on board; from her hailing us _to go by_, and
continuing her course down the river without stopping; that no signal
was made the Olive Branch from the fort on the shore, and no attack was
being made on the fort at the time; that the officer of the gunboat said
he did not want any boats to stop, and ordered the captain of the Olive
Branch to go on, and have ammunition sent down to him by first boat, I
considered, and now consider, that the captain of the Olive Branch was
not only justified in going on, but bound to proceed.
The Olive Branch was incapable of rendering any assistance, being
entirely defenceless. If any guns could have been placed in position on
the boat, they could not have been elevated to reach sharpshooters on
the high steep bluff outside the fort.
A very few sharpshooters from the shore near the fort could have
prevented any landing, and have taken the boat. We supposed the object
of the rebels was rather to seize a boat, to effect a crossing into
Arkansas, than to capture the fort. We had no means of knowing or
suspecting that so strong a position as Fort Pillow had not been
properly garrisoned for defence, when it was in constant communication
with General Hurlbut at Memphis.
The Olive Branch had just left Memphis, General Hurlbut's headquarters,
where it had been during the previous night. If it had not been for the
appearance of the Liberty, I should have attempted a landing at Fort
Pillow in the small steamer. If any intimation had been given from the
gunboat, or the shore, I should have landed personally from the Olive
Branch. The order given to the contrary prevented it.
Coming from New Orleans, and having no knowledge of affairs in that
military district, I could not presume that a fort, with uninterrupted
water communication above and below, could possibly be without a
garrison strong enough to hold it for a few hours.
I write hastily, and omit, from want of time, to state subsequent
occurrences at Fort Columbus and Cairo, except to say that, at Fort
Columbus, in front of which Buford then was demanding a surrender, I
stopped, started to ride out to the lines, met Colonel Lawrence, the
commanding officer, coming in from the front to his headquarters.
Offered to remain, with the men on board.
Colonel Lawrence said he was in good condition to stand any attack;
could communicate with General Brayman; had already taken four hundred
(400) infantry and one battery from the L. M. Kennett, which had just
preceded us, and left six hundred (600) men, and another, or other
batteries, on board, which he did not need. He declined the proffered
assistance, as not needed, and immediately on arrival at Cairo I
reported all the information in my possession to General Brayman, in
command, who was about leaving for Columbus.
Captain Thornton, 12th Maine volunteers, a gallant officer,
distinguished for his bravery at Ponchitoula, where he was wounded and
left in the hands of the enemy, was on board the Olive Branch, and will
take this communication to the committee.
I respectfully ask that he may be thoroughly examined as to all the
circumstances.
I am conscious that a full examination will show that I rather exceeded
than neglected my duty.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,
G. F. SHEPLEY,
_Brigadier General, Commanding_.
Hon. D. W. GOOCH,
_Of Committee on Conduct of the War_.
* * * * *
WASHINGTON, D. C., _May 9, 1864_.
Captain Charles C. G. Thornton, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank and position in the army?
Answer. I am a captain, and aid on General George F. Shepley's staff.
Question. Were you with General Shepley when he passed Fort Pillow,
about the time of the capture of that place?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Will you state what occurred there, and the reason, if any,
why you did not stop there to aid the garrison?
Answer. We were passengers on the boat Olive Branch, which left New
Orleans on the 6th of April, without troops. On arriving at Vicksburg,
parts of two batteries--a Missouri and an Ohio battery--were put on
board. I do not know the exact number of men, but I should think that
perhaps there were 120 men with the two batteries. The men had no
small-arms whatever--no arms but the guns of their batteries. We stopped
at a place to take in wood, where we were told the guerillas had just
passed, and we threw out pickets to keep from being surprised. We were
unable to arm those men with anything whatever, and merely stationed
them so that we should not be surprised, but have an opportunity of
getting on board the boat and leave. Upon arriving within three
miles--perhaps two and a half miles--of Fort Pillow, some women on shore
hailed us and told us that Fort Pillow was captured with two transports
or steamers, and motioned to us to return. The captain of the boat
turned about for the purpose of returning to Memphis, but General
Shepley stopped it. Colonel Sears, the owner of the boat, who was on
board, came to me and asked me to go to General Shepley and tell him the
importance of our going back to Memphis; that it was dangerous for us to
proceed with so many passengers. The boat was a very large one, loaded
with passengers, every state-room being occupied by men, women, and
children.
Question. How many passengers, non-combatants, do you suppose you had on
board?
Answer. Perhaps one hundred and fifty, but that is a mere guess. When
Colonel Sears urged me to ask General Shepley to go back to Memphis, I
told him I should do nothing of the kind; that if he wished General
Shepley to allow the boat to go back, he might see him about it himself.
He did so, but General Shepley positively refused to go. He ordered the
captain of the Olive Branch to hail a boat which came in sight, and
direct her to come alongside. General Shepley then said, "I will have a
section of the battery put on this boat, and will go up and
reconnoitre." The boat was called the "Hope," I think. There is a point
just below where the rebels, if they had a battery, might bring it to
bear on us. General Shepley consented to have the Hope go below that
point with the boat we were on, in order to have this section of a
battery put on board of her. On our way down we met another boat, the
"Cheek," which would answer our purpose better, and she was stopped.
General Shepley ordered a section of a battery put on board of her, and
directed Captain Williams, commanding the battery, and myself, to
accompany him up to Fort Pillow to reconnoitre. I suggested to General
Shepley, or was on the point of suggesting to him, that perhaps he had
better not go himself, but send Captain Williams and myself. The instant
I suggested that, he said "No, I will go myself, and personally
ascertain the condition of affairs." He asked the captain how many
minutes it would take him to get his guns on board. He said he could
probably get a couple of guns on in a few minutes.
Just then a steamer, which afterwards proved to be the steamer
"Liberty," hove in sight. We supposed at first that she was the Mollie
Able, which the captain of our boat said was due at Fort Pillow just
about that time, and that she was one of the boats the rebels had
captured, if the story of the women was true. When we saw her coming we
noticed that she was loaded with troops, whether Union or rebel troops
we could not tell. The general said to our captain, "Can you run that
boat down?" He said, "If it is the Mollie Able, I can run right over
her." When she hove in sight we saw at once that there was no time to
put a battery on board the Cheek; General Shepley then ordered the Cheek
to move out of the way, and the captain of our boat to swing out, with
the intention of running this other boat down if she should prove to be
loaded with rebel soldiers. When the boat got nearer, however, we found
she had Union troops on board. As she passed us our captain hailed her,
and she replied "All right up there; you can go by. There is a gunboat
there." We were then satisfied that everything was all right, as she had
been allowed to come down by them with so large a body of troops on
board.
We went up, and when within perhaps a mile of the place some rebel
soldiers fired upon our boat, probably aiming at the pilot-house. I
stood on the after part of the deck at the time. The general was in the
pilot-house looking out. The shots did not take effect or amount to
anything. We went on up, and found no firing at the fort. We stopped at
the gunboat, as all boats are required to do which pass. An officer came
on board from the gunboat and said to the captain of our boat, "I want
you to proceed immediately to Cairo, and send down 400 or 500 rounds of
ammunition; and order all boats back that may be coming down; we want no
boats here." We talked the matter over, and came to the conclusion that
the object of this Fort Pillow affair was not to capture the fort, but
to capture more of our boats, if possible, in order to get across the
river. That was merely our supposition, as we knew nothing about the
battle. There was no firing at the fort at that time, and our boat went
on up the river in obedience to the orders of the gunboat, as it had a
right to give that order.
We had proceeded but a little way before we discovered a flag of truce
at the fort, as it was reported to me; I did not see it myself, but it
undoubtedly was there. We passed on a short distance further, and then
noticed that our flag at the fort was down; we had seen it flying as we
passed the fort. I went to the stern of our boat, and with a glass
looked carefully at the fort. After a time I discovered that the gunboat
had steamed up a little ways, as I supposed for the purpose of firing
upon the right flank of the rebels. We could see a line of fire or smoke
in the woods, which we supposed to be from the musketry of the rebels.
We then saw a flag raised up on a pole at the fort, I should think ten
or twelve feet high. I supposed that our flag had been shot away, and
they were raising it again. The guns from the fort at that time were
pretty heavy, while the fire of the enemy, appeared to be from musketry.
I have no doubt now that that was the rebel flag that was raised after
the fort was taken.
We proceeded on up to Columbus. Before we arrived there we noticed that
there was heavy firing there. On our arrival there we saw a great many
troops, and they remarked from the shore that there was hot work there.
General Shepley told me to accompany him, and went up to Colonel
Lawrence's headquarters, but was told he was at the front. General
Shepley ordered two horses to be prepared for us to go to the front, to
see Colonel Lawrence. Just as the horses were ready, and we were about
starting, Colonel Lawrence came over and rode down to his headquarters.
He told us that it was all right; that there had been some skirmishing;
that Buford had come there and demanded a surrender of the fort, but he
had refused to surrender. General Shepley told him that he had portions
of two batteries on hand, and asked him if he wanted them; told him how
they came there, and that they were ordered to Cairo as a portion of the
17th corps. Colonel Lawrence said that he had taken 400 troops from the
Luther M. Kennett, and, I think, one battery. The Luther M. Kennett had
just preceded us as we passed by Fort Pillow. Colonel Lawrence said that
he did not need the batteries of General Shepley. General Shepley
inquired particularly about the condition of affairs, and told Colonel
Lawrence what had occurred at Fort Pillow. After ascertaining that there
was nothing to be done by us down there we proceeded to Cairo. On our
arrival there General Shepley called upon General Brayman and told him
the substance of what occurred; the condition of things as we left, the
flag coming down, and the fear that the fort had surrendered. We did not
know then that the fort had surrendered, though we know now it had.
The caissons and artillery had been hoisted on our boat by means of what
they call a derrick, I think, and were piled up, closely packed all
round. It would, therefore, have been impossible for us to have removed
those cannon for several hours. It took us several hours to land them at
Cairo; and it would have been an utter impossibility for us to have
taken those cannon up to Fort Pillow, as we had no infantry to cover our
landing; and half a dozen sharpshooters could have undoubtedly captured
our boat had we attempted it.
Question. If I understand you, General Shepley had no opportunity to
relieve Fort Pillow any way?
Answer. He went on board the boat a mere passenger, with no arms. We did
not know any troops were coming on board. Those two portions of
batteries, with their guns, were ordered to report at Cairo. The gunboat
was lying right by the side of us, and its fire was of no account, and,
of course, ours would not have been.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Would it have been possible for you to have used your
batteries from the boat with any effect upon the rebels?
Answer. No, sir; it would have been an utter impossibility to have done
so. If we had gone in and stopped five minutes there, the rebels could
have captured us without the least trouble in the world. The question
may be asked why we offered assistance at Columbus and not at Fort
Pillow. The fort at Columbus is clear in back from the river, and there
were infantry troops there to protect our landing. But Colonel Lawrence
said he did not expect the fight to occur for some time, even if there
was any fight at all, which he did not expect.
Question. At Columbus you could have landed your batteries under the
protection of our forces there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. And you could not have done that at Fort Pillow?
Answer. No, sir; for at Fort Pillow we should have been right under the
fort, and could have been easily reached. This was all stated to General
Brayman, and I was quite surprised when I heard of the testimony in
regard to the matter.
* * * * *
38th Congress,} SENATE. {Rep. Com.
_1st Session_.} {No. 68.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
May 9, 1864.--_Ordered_, That the report, with the accompanying
evidence, be printed in connexion with the report of the committee in
relation to the Fort Pillow massacre, and that twenty thousand
additional copies be printed for the use of the Senate.
* * * * *
Mr. Wade submitted the following
REPORT.
_The Joint Committee on the Conduct and Expenditures of the War
submitted the following report, with the accompanying testimony._
On the 4th instant your committee received a communication of that date
from the Secretary of War, enclosing the report of Colonel Hoffman,
commissary general of prisoners, dated May 3, calling the attention of
the committee to the condition of returned Union prisoners, with the
request that the committee would immediately proceed to Annapolis and
examine with their own eyes the condition of those who have been
returned from rebel captivity. The committee resolved that they would
comply with the request of the Secretary of War on the first
opportunity. The 5th of May was devoted by the committee to concluding
their labors upon the investigation of the Fort Pillow massacre. On the
6th of May, however, the committee proceeded to Annapolis and Baltimore,
and examined the condition of our returned soldiers, and took the
testimony of several of them, together with the testimony of surgeons
and other persons in attendance upon the hospitals. That testimony, with
the communication of the Secretary of War, and the report of Colonel
Hoffman, is herewith transmitted.
The evidence proves, beyond all manner of doubt, a determination on the
part of the rebel authorities, deliberately and persistently practiced
for a long time past, to subject those of our soldiers who have been so
unfortunate as to fall in their hands to a system of treatment which has
resulted in reducing many of those who have survived and been permitted
to return to us to a condition, both physically and mentally, which no
language we can use can adequately describe. Though nearly all the
patients now in the Naval Academy hospital at Annapolis, and in the West
hospital, in Baltimore, have been under the kindest and most intelligent
treatment for about three weeks past, and many of them for a greater
length of time, still they present literally the appearance of living
skeletons, many of them being nothing but skin and bone; some of them
are maimed for life, having been frozen while exposed to the inclemency
of the winter season on Belle Isle, being compelled to lie on the bare
ground, without tents or blankets, some of them without overcoats or
even coats, with but little fire to mitigate the severity of the winds
and storms to which they were exposed.
The testimony shows that the general practice of their captors was to
rob them, as soon as they were taken prisoners, of all their money,
valuables blankets, and good clothing, for which they received nothing
in exchange except, perhaps, some old worn-out rebel clothing hardly
better than none at all. Upon their arrival at Richmond they have been
confined, without blankets or other covering, in buildings without
fire, or upon Belle Isle with, in many cases, no shelter, and in others
with nothing but old discarded army tents, so injured by rents and holes
as to present but little barrier to the wind and storms; on several
occasions, the witnesses say, they have arisen in the morning from their
resting-places upon the bare earth, and found several of their comrades
frozen to death during the night, and that many others would have met
the same fate had they not walked rapidly back and forth, during the
hours which should have been devoted to sleep, for the purpose of
retaining sufficient warmth to preserve life.
In respect to the food furnished to our men by the rebel authorities,
the testimony proves that the ration of each man was totally
insufficient in quantity to preserve the health of a child, even had it
been of proper quality, which it was not. It consisted usually, at the
most, of two small pieces of corn-bread, made in many instances, as the
witnesses state, of corn and cobs ground together, and badly prepared
and cooked, of, at times, about two ounces of meat, usually of poor
quality, and unfit to be eaten, and occasionally a few black worm-eaten
beans, or something of that kind. Many of our men were compelled to sell
to their guards, and others, for what price they could get, such
clothing and blankets as they were permitted to receive of that
forwarded for their use by our government, in order to obtain additional
food sufficient to sustain life; thus, by endeavoring to avoid one
privation, reducing themselves to the same destitute condition in
respect to clothing and covering that they were in before they received
any from our government. When they became sick and diseased in
consequence of this exposure and privation, and were admitted into the
hospitals, their treatment was little, if any, improved as to food,
though they, doubtless, suffered less from exposure to cold than before.
Their food still remained insufficient in quantity and altogether unfit
in quality. Their diseases and wounds did not receive the treatment
which the commonest dictates of humanity would have prompted. One
witness, whom your committee examined, who had lost all the toes of one
foot from being frozen while on Belle Isle, states that for days at a
time his wounds were not dressed, and that they had not been dressed for
four days when he was taken from the hospital and carried on the
flag-of-truce boat for Fortress Monroe.
In reference to the condition to which our men were reduced by cold and
hunger, your committee would call the attention to the following
extracts from the testimony.
One witness testifies:
I had no blankets until our government sent us some.
Question. How did you sleep before you received those blankets?
Answer. We used to get together just as close as we could, and sleep
spoon-fashion, so that when one turned over we all had to turn over.
Another witness testifies:
Question. Were you hungry all the time?
Answer. Hungry! I could eat anything in the world that came before us;
some of the boys would get boxes from the north with meat of different
kinds in them; and, after they had picked the meat off, they would throw
the bones away into the spit-boxes, and we would pick the bones out of
the spit-boxes and gnaw them over again.
In addition to this insufficient supply of food, clothing, and shelter,
our soldiers, while prisoners, have been subjected to the most cruel
treatment from those placed over them. They have been abused and
shamefully treated on almost every opportunity. Many have been
mercilessly shot and killed when they failed to comply with all the
demands of their jailers, sometimes for violating rules of which they
had not been informed. Crowded in great numbers in buildings, they have
been fired at and killed by the sentinels outside when they appeared at
the windows for the purpose of obtaining a little fresh air. One man,
whose comrade in the service, in battle and in captivity, had been so
fortunate as to be among those released from further torments, was shot
dead as he was waving with his hand a last adieu to his friend; and
other instances of equally unprovoked murder are disclosed by the
testimony.
The condition of our returned soldiers as regards personal cleanliness,
has been filthy almost beyond description. Their clothes have been so
dirty and so covered with vermin, that those who received them have been
compelled to destroy their clothing and re-clothe them with new and
clean raiment. Their bodies and heads have been so infested with vermin
that, in some instances, repeated washings have failed to remove them;
and those who have received them in charge have been compelled to cut
all the hair from their heads, and make applications to destroy the
vermin. Some have been received with no clothing but shirts and drawers
and a piece of blanket or other outside covering, entirely destitute of
coats, hats, shoes or stockings; and the bodies of those better supplied
with clothing have been equally dirty and filthy with the others, many
who have been sick and in the hospital having had no opportunity to wash
their bodies for weeks and months before they were released from
captivity.
Your committee are unable to convey any adequate idea of the sad and
deplorable condition of the men they saw in the hospitals they visited;
and the testimony they have taken cannot convey to the reader the
impressions which your committee there received. The persons we saw, as
we were assured by those in charge of them, have greatly improved since
they have been received in the hospitals. Yet they are now dying daily,
one of them being in the very throes of death as your committee stood by
his bed-side and witnessed the sad spectacle there presented. All those
whom your committee examined stated that they have been thus reduced and
emaciated entirely in consequence of the merciless treatment they
received while prisoners from their enemies; and the physicians in
charge of them, the men best fitted by their profession and experience
to express an opinion upon the subject, all say that they have no doubt
that the statements of their patients are entirely correct.
It will be observed from the testimony, that all the witnesses who
testify upon that point state that the treatment they received while
confined at Columbia, South Carolina, Dalton, Georgia, and other places,
was far more humane than that they received at Richmond, where the
authorities of the so-called confederacy were congregated, and where the
power existed, had the inclination not been wanting, to reform those
abuses and secure to the prisoners they held some treatment that would
bear a public comparison to that accorded by our authorities to the
prisoners in our custody. Your committee, therefore, are constrained to
say that they can hardly avoid the conclusion, expressed by so many of
our released soldiers, that the inhuman practices herein referred to are
the result of a determination on the part of the rebel authorities to
reduce our soldiers in their power, by privation of food and clothing,
and by exposure, to such a condition that those who may survive shall
never recover so as to be able to render any effective service in the
field. And your committee accordingly ask that this report, with the
accompanying testimony, be printed with the report and testimony in
relation to the massacre of Fort Pillow, the one being, in their
opinion, no less than the other, the result of a predetermined policy.
As regards the assertions of some of the rebel newspapers, that our
prisoners have received at their hands the same treatment that their own
soldiers in the field have received, they are evidently but the most
glaring and unblushing falsehoods. No one can for a moment be deceived
by such statements, who will reflect that our soldiers, who, when taken
prisoners, have been stout, healthy men, in the prime and vigor of life,
yet have died by hundreds under the treatment they have received,
although required to perform no duties of the camp or the march; while
the rebel soldiers are able to make long and rapid marches, and to offer
a stubborn resistance in the field.
Your committee, finding it impossible to describe in words the
deplorable condition of these returned prisoners, have caused
photographs to be taken of a number of them, and a fair sample to be
lithographed and appended to their report, that their exact condition
may be known by all who examine it. Some of them have since died.
There is one feature connected with this investigation, to which your
committee can refer with pride and satisfaction; and that is the
uncomplaining fortitude, the undiminished patriotism exhibited by our
brave men under all their privations, even in the hour of death.
Your committee will close their report by quoting the tribute paid these
men by the chaplain of the hospital at Annapolis, who has ministered to
so many of them in their last moments, who has smoothed their passage to
the grave by his kindness and attention, and who has performed the last
sad offices over their lifeless remains. He says:
"There is another thing I would wish to state. All the men, without any
exception among the thousands that have come to this hospital, have
never in a single instance expressed a regret (notwithstanding the
privations and sufferings they have endured) that they entered their
country's service. They have been the most loyal, devoted and earnest
men. Even on the last days of their lives they have said that all they
hoped for was just to live and enter the ranks again and meet their
foes. It is a most glorious record in reference to the devotion of our
men to their country. I do not think their patriotism has ever been
equalled in the history of the world."
All of which is respectfully submitted.
B. F. WADE, _Chairman_.
* * * * *
WAR DEPARTMENT,
_Washington City, May 4, 1864_.
SIR: I have the honor to submit to you a report made to this department
by Colonel Hoffman, commissary general of prisoners, in regard to the
condition of Union soldiers who have, until within a few days, been
prisoners of war at Richmond, and would respectfully request that your
committee immediately proceed to Annapolis to take testimony there, and
examine with their own eyes the condition of those who have been
returned from rebel captivity. The enormity of the crime committed by
the rebels towards our prisoners for the last several months is not
known or realized by our people, and cannot but fill with horror the
civilized world when the facts are fully revealed. There appears to have
been a deliberate system of savage and barbarous treatment and
starvation, the result of which will be that few, if any, of the
prisoners that have been in their hands during the past winter will ever
again be in a condition to render any service, or even to enjoy life.
Your obedient servant,
EDWIN M. STANTON,
_Secretary of War_.
Hon. B. F. WADE,
_Chairman of Joint Committee on Conduct of the War_.
* * * * *
OFFICE OF COMMISSARY GENERAL OF PRISONERS,
_Washington, D. C., May 3, 1864_.
SIR: I have the honor to report that, pursuant to your instructions of
the 2d instant, I proceeded, yesterday morning, to Annapolis, with a
view to see that the paroled prisoners about to arrive there from
Richmond were properly received and cared for.
The flag-of-truce boat New York, under the charge of Major Mulford, with
thirty-two officers, three hundred and sixty-three enlisted men, and one
citizen on board, reached the wharf at the Naval School hospital about
ten o'clock. On going on board, I found the officers generally in good
health, and much cheered by their happy release from the rebel prisons,
and by the prospect of again being with their friends.
The enlisted men who had endured so many privations at Belle Isle and
other places were, with few exceptions, in a very sad plight, mentally
and physically, having for months been exposed to all the changes of the
weather, with no other protection than a very insufficient supply of
worthless tents, and with an allowance of food scarcely sufficient to
prevent starvation, even if of wholesome quality; but as it was made of
coarsely-ground corn, including the husks, and probably at times the
cobs, if it did not kill by starvation, it was sure to do it by the
disease it created. Some of these poor fellows were wasted to mere
skeletons, and had scarcely life enough remaining to appreciate that
they were now in the hands of their friends, and among them all there
were few who had not become too much broken down and dispirited by their
many privations to be able to realize the happy prospect of relief from
their sufferings which was before them. With rare exception, every face
was sad with care and hunger; there was no brightening of the
countenance or lighting up of the eye, to indicate a thought of anything
beyond a painful sense of prostration of mind and body. Many faces
showed that there was scarcely a ray of intelligence left.
Every preparation had been made for their reception in anticipation of
the arrival of the steamer, and immediately upon her being made fast to
the wharf the paroled men were landed and taken immediately to the
hospital, where, after receiving a warm bath, they were furnished with a
suitable supply of new clothing, and received all those other attentions
which their sad condition demanded. Of the whole number, there are
perhaps fifty to one hundred who, in a week or ten days, will be in a
convalescent state, but the others will very slowly regain their lost
health.
That our soldiers, when in the hands of the rebels, are starved to
death, cannot be denied. Every return of the flag-of-truce boat from
City Point brings us too many living and dying witnesses to admit of a
doubt of this terrible fact. I am informed that the authorities at
Richmond admit the fact, but excuse it on the plea that they give the
prisoners the same rations they give their own men. But can this be so?
Can an army keep the field, and be active and efficient, on the same
fare that kills prisoners of war at a frightful per-centage? I think
not; no man can believe it; and while a practice so shocking to humanity
is persisted in by the rebel authorities, I would very respectfully urge
that retaliatory measures be at once instituted by subjecting the
officers we now hold as prisoners of war to a similar treatment.
I took advantage of the opportunity which this visit to Annapolis gave
me to make a hasty inspection of Camp Parole, and I am happy to report
that I found it in every branch in a most commendable condition. The men
all seemed to be cheerful and in fine health, and the police inside and
out was excellent. Colonel Root, the commanding officer, deserves much
credit for the very satisfactory condition to which he has brought his
command.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. HOFFMAN,
_Colonel 3d Infantry, Commissary General of Prisoners_.
Hon. E. M. STANTON,
_Secretary of War, Washington, D. C._
* * * * *
TESTIMONY.
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND,
_May 6, 1864_.
Howard Leedom, sworn and examined:
By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment have you belonged?
Answer. Company G, 52d New York.
Question. How long have you been in the service?
Answer. About seven months.
Question. What is your age?
Answer. Seventeen.
Question. When and where were you taken prisoner?
Answer. At a place called Orange Grove, I think, back of
Chancellorsville.
Question. How long ago?
Answer. In November last.
Question. Where were you then carried?
Answer. Right to Richmond.
Question. In what prison were you placed?
Answer. I was put on Belle Isle first, and then I got sick and was taken
to the hospital.
Question. Describe how you were treated there, and the cause of your
sickness.
Answer. They did not treat me very kindly. I froze my feet on the
island.
Question. How came they to be frozen?
Answer. When they took me prisoner they got away the good shoes I had
on, and gave me an old pair of shoes, all cut and split open; and when I
was on the island, I had just an old tent to lie under.
Question. Did you not have some blankets to put over you?
Answer. No, sir. They took away my blanket, and everything else--my
shoes--even a pair of buckskin gloves I had.
Question. Did they give you anything in place of them?
Answer. No, sir; only that pair of shoes I said.
Question. You had stockings?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What kind of a tent did you have?
Answer. The tent was not very good; the rain beat right through it.
Question. How badly were your feet frozen?
Answer. Well, my toes are all off one of my feet now. [The surgeon
accompanying the committee here took the dressings off the witness's
feet, and exhibited them to the committee. The stumps of the toes were
just healing.]
Question. What did they give you to eat?
Answer. They gave us corn-bread, and once in a while a little piece of
meat.
Question. How often did they give you meat?
Answer. Maybe once a day; maybe once a week--just as they happened to
have it.
Question. Did you get enough to eat, such as it was?
Answer. No, sir; I did not even get enough corn-bread.
Question. How long were you on the island?
Answer. I was on the island only a month, and in the hospital three
months.
Question. How long is it since you were exchanged?
Answer. I came here on the 24th of March.
Question. There were others there with you on the island?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How did they fare?
Answer. The same as I did; we all fared alike.
Question. Were any others frozen?
Answer. Yes, sir; plenty of them frozen to death.
Question. Frozen to death?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were their blankets taken away like yours?
Answer. Yes, sir; they had to lie out in the open ditch. They did not
have as good over them as I had.
Question. Did not they have a tent to sleep under?
Answer. No, sir; no tent at all. There was an embankment thrown up, so
as to keep them inside like, and they had to lie right down in the ditch
there.
Question. With nothing over them?
Answer. If some of them had their blanket, they put that over them; but
they had no tent, or anything of that kind.
Question. Nothing to keep off the rain and snow?
Answer. No, sir; nothing at all.
Question. Are you certain that any of them froze to death there?
Answer. Yes, sir, I am.
Question. State about the treatment you received after your feet were
frozen, when you were in the hospital.
Answer. Sometimes my feet were dressed there every day; sometimes I went
three or four days without dressing--just whether their nurses happened
to be busy or not. When I was exchanged, I had not been dressed for four
or five days.
Question. Were any of the confederate sick in the hospital with you?
Answer. Not that I know of.
Question. Do you know how they treated their own soldiers that were in
the hospital?
Answer. I do not. I suppose they treated them better than they did us,
though.
Question. Was your food any better in the hospital than on the island?
Answer. It was when we first went there, but when I came away it was no
better.
* * * * *
Washington Collins, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company A, 5th Kentucky infantry regiment.
Question. Where were you taken prisoner?
Answer. I was taken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga.
Question. Where were you then carried?
Answer. From there to Richmond, as straight through as they could get us
through.
Question. State how you were treated after you were taken prisoner.
Answer. We were treated very rough. The eatables we got on the way from
the battle-field to Richmond were mouldy crackers, such as you would
never try to eat, with one or two exceptions, when we got a little light
bread.
Question. Where were you confined at Richmond?
Answer. We were put in tobacco factories, and kept there without
clothing or blankets, until our government sent us blankets and
clothing, and some provisions.
Question. Were the clothing and blankets which you had when taken
prisoners taken from you?
Answer. Yes, sir; our blankets were pretty much all taken from us.
Question. Did you suffer from cold?
Answer. Yes, sir, severely.
Question. Was your money taken from you?
Answer. Those of us that had money, had it pretty much all taken away,
or scared out of us.
Question. What kind of food had you after you reached Richmond?
Answer. We got, I should judge, about six ounces of light bread, and in
the afternoon about two spoonfuls of black beans--worm-eaten beans.
Question. Was that all you had for the day?
Answer. I think we got, once a day, about two ounces of meat.
Question. What was the character of the meat and bread?
Answer. The character of the meat was pretty tolerably rough. I cannot
exactly describe it. I never did eat any beef like some of it; and the
first dose of medicine I took since I was in the army, was when I was
put in the hospital at Danville. About six or seven weeks ago, before
that, I was always a hearty, healthy man.
Question. Have you had any disease or sickness except that occasioned by
want of proper food and clothing?
Answer. No, sir; I think not. (The surgeon here remarked, "His disease
is the result of starvation, privation, and exposure.")
Question. When were you exchanged?
Answer. We left the 1st of May, I think. I have more of a life-like
feeling about me now than I had when I left Richmond.
Question. Do you think you are in a better condition now?
Answer. Yes, sir; I know I am. The authorities did not think it safe for
me to start; but I told them if I was going to die, I would rather die
on the Chesapeake than die there.
Question. After you grew so very sick, was your food improved any?
Answer. Very little. The last food I received was light diet. When I
left the hospital to go on board the flag-of-truce boat, I received
about a gill of what they call soup, though in fact it was just nothing;
I should say it was only a little starch and water; and then I got a
little piece of corn-bread, about that large, (measuring on his fingers
about two inches square,) and we got a piece of meat, once a day, about
the same size.
Question. Were the other men treated as you were, so far as you know?
Answer. Yes, sir. I wish to speak of one thing. After this food was
issued out, what was called the ward-master would go round in the
evening with a little mush made of meal, and give some of us a
table-spoonful of it. Say there were 60 or 80 patients, and there would
be 6 or 8, maybe 10, of those patients would get a little spoonful of
this mush; and then he would come round a little while afterwards and
pour a table-spoonful of molasses over it; and just as likely as not, in
a few minutes after that he would come round with some vinegar and pour
a spoonful of vinegar over that.
Question. Why did he do that?
Answer. He said that was the way it was issued to him.
Question. Did he give any reason for mixing it altogether in that way?
Answer. No, sir; and there were a great many of our own men who treated
us as bad as the secesh, because those there acting as nurses, if there
was any little delicacy for the sick; would just gobble it up.
Question. Were all of our men suffering for want of food?
Answer. Yes, sir, all of them. In the winter time these secesh got so
they would haul up loads of cabbages, all full of lice, and throw them
raw into the room for us to eat.
* * * * *
Charles Gallagher, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Odell:
Question. Where are you from?
Answer. From Guernsey county, Ohio.
Question. To what regiment do you belong?
Answer. 40th Ohio.
Question. How long have you been in the service?
Answer. Pretty nearly three years.
Question. Where were you taken prisoner?
Answer. At Chickamauga.
Question. When?
Answer. On the 22d of last September.
Question. State what happened then to you.
Answer. When they took me prisoner they took me right on to Richmond,
kept me there awhile, then sent me to Danville and kept me there awhile.
I got sick at Danville and was put in the hospital, and then they sent
me back to Richmond and paroled me and sent me here.
Question. How did they treat you while you were a prisoner?
Answer. Pretty bad. They gave us corn-bread, and not very much of it;
and we had to lie right down on the floor, without any blankets, until a
long while about Christmas. We had just to lie as thick on the floor as
we could get.
Question. How were you treated when you were taken sick?
Answer. A little better. We then had a sort of bed to lie on.
Question. Did you have all the food you wanted?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. What kind of food did you get?
Answer. Corn-bread, a little piece of meat, sometimes a little
rice-soup, and sometimes a few beans.
Question. How often did you get meat?
Answer. Along through the winter we got a little bit of fresh beef,
(perhaps once a day,) and then from about March a little pork.
Question. What was the matter with you when you went to the hospital?
Answer. I got a cough which settled on me, and I had pain in my breast.
Question. Were there any other prisoners at Danville?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did they suffer at all from want?
Answer. They were pretty hungry.
Question. Did you complain to the authorities that you did not get food
enough?
Answer. No, sir; it would not have made any difference. They said there
that we got every ounce that was allowed to us.
Question. Did you make your wants known to any one?
Answer. Yes, sir; but they would not give us any more. They would come
in and give you a half a loaf of bread, and tell you that was your day's
rations; you could take that or nothing.
By the chairman:
Question. Did they give you as much as their own soldiers for rations?
Answer. No, sir; their own soldiers got a great deal more.
By Mr. Odell:
Question. What was your treatment aside from your supply of food? Was it
kind?
Answer. No, sir. They just came in and shoved us round; finally, they
run us all up from one floor to the second floor, and only let one go
down at a time. When he got back they let another go down.
* * * * *
Isaiah G. Booker, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Harding:
Question. How old are you?
Answer. Twenty-one on the 13th of this month.
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. Bath, Maine.
Question. How long were you in the army before you were taken prisoner?
Answer. I enlisted on the 5th of September, 1861, and was taken prisoner
last July.
Question. Where were you taken prisoner?
Answer. On Morris island, Charleston, South Carolina.
Question. Where were you then sent?
Answer. I was sent to Columbia, South Carolina, where we were kept about
two months, and then we were sent to Richmond, put on Belle Isle, and
staid there the remainder of the time.
Question. How were you treated at Columbia?
Answer. I was treated a great deal better there than I was at Belle
Isle. We got meat twice a day, rice once, and Indian bread once. We got
very near as much as we wanted to eat.
Question. How were you treated at Richmond?
Answer. I suffered there terribly with hunger. I could eat anything.
Question. Can you tell us what kind of food you got there?
Answer. Dry Indian bread, and, when I first went there, a very little
meat.
Question. When were you taken sick?
Answer. I was taken sick--I was sick with the diarrhoea a fortnight
before I went to the hospital, and I was in the hospital a little over a
week before I was exchanged. I was released on the 7th of March, and got
here the 9th.
Question. How were you treated while in the hospital?
Answer. I was treated there worse than on Belle Isle. We did not get any
salt of any account--only a little piece of bread that would hardly keep
a chicken alive.
Question. Did you get any rice?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Any soup?
Answer. Once in a while of mornings I would get a little.
Question. Did the physician come round to see you every day?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did he give you any medicine?
Answer. He gave me some pills.
Question. What was their manner towards you after you were taken sick
and in the hospital? Were they kind, or rough?
Answer. They were neither kind nor rough, but indifferent. The
corn-bread I got seemed to burn my very insides. When I would go down to
the river of mornings to wash myself, as I put the water to my face it
seemed as though I wanted to sup the water, and to sup it, and sup it,
and sup it all the time.
Question. Did you make no complaint to the officers on Belle Isle of
your food?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you ask them for any more?
Answer. No, sir; I knew there was no use. I do not think I spoke to an
officer while I was there.
Question. Did you ever tell those who furnished you with the food you
did get, of the insufficiency of it?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What answer did they give you?
Answer. That was all we were allowed, they said.
Question. Did you have blankets while you were on Belle Isle?
Answer. I had no blanket until our government sent us some.
Question. How did you sleep before you received those blankets?
Answer. We used to get together just as close as we could, and sleep
spoon-fashion, so that when one turned over we all had to turn over.
Question. Did they furnish you any clothing while you were there?
Answer. No, sir; the rebs did not furnish us a bit. It was very warm
weather when I was taken prisoner, and I had nothing on me but my pants,
shirt, gloves, shoes, stockings, and cap; and I received no more
clothing until our government sent us some in December, I think. We had
to lie right down on the cold ground.
Question. Did you not have a tent?
Answer. I had none when I first went there. After a while we had one,
but it was a very poor affair; the rain would come right through it.
Question. Were you exposed to the dew and rain, and wind and snow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. And before you got the tent you lay in the open air?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How did the others there with you fare; the same as you did?
Answer. Many of them had money, with which they bought things of the
guard; but I had no money.
Question. Were there others there who had no money?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did they fare the same as you?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. After you went into the hospital, did you receive the same
treatment as their own sick received who were in the hospital with you,
or did they have any of their sick in there?
Answer. I think none of their sick were in there. I suffered a great
deal with hunger when I was on Belle Isle. When I first went there I had
no passage of the bowels for eighteen days, and when I did have one it
was just as dry as meal.
Question. Did you have any medicine at that time?
Answer. No, sir; I took no medicine until I went to the hospital. About
the middle or last of February (somewhere about there) I took a very
severe cold. It seemed to settle all over me. I was as stiff in all my
joints as I could be.
Question. Did your strength decrease much before you were taken sick in
February?
Answer. Yes, sir; I stood it very well until about the 1st of February.
After that I commenced to go down pretty fast. I know that one day I
undertook to wash my shirt, and got it about half washed, when I was so
weak I had to give it up.
Question. Do you think you had any other disease or sickness than what
was caused by exposure and starvation at that time?
Answer. No, sir. When I was taken prisoner I weighed about 170 pounds, I
think. I had always been a very hearty, stout man--could eat anything,
and stand almost anything.
* * * * *
Isaac H. Lewis, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Julien:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company K, 1st Vermont cavalry.
Question. When were you taken prisoner?
Answer. I was taken prisoner on the 22d of March, on Kilpatrick's raid.
Question. Where were you then carried?
Answer. They carried me to Richmond, and put me in a tobacco house
there.
Question. How did they treat you there?
Answer. Well, they did not treat me as well as they might.
Question. What did they give you to eat?
Answer. They gave me corn-bread.
Question. How much and how often?
Answer. Not but very little. They gave me a little twice a day.
Question. Did they give you any meat?
Answer. Once in a while, a little.
Question. What kind of meat?
Answer. Beef.
Question. Could you eat it?
Answer. No, sir.
[The witness here was evidently so weak and exhausted that the committee
suspended his examination.]
* * * * *
Mortimer F. Brown, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where are you from, and to what company and regiment do you
belong?
Answer. I am from Steubenville, Ohio; I was in the 2d Ohio; Colonel
McCook was our colonel when I was taken prisoner.
Question. Where were you taken prisoner?
Answer. At Chickamauga.
Question. Where were you then carried?
Answer. From Chickamauga to Richmond.
Question. How did you fare while in Richmond?
Answer. We lived very scantily, and hardly anything to eat. Some of the
boys, in order to get enough to live on, had to trade away what clothing
they could to the guard for bread, &c.
Question. What did they allow you to eat?
Answer. When we first went to Richmond our rations were bacon and
wheat-bread. We did very well at first, but they went on cutting it
down.
Question. How was it finally?
Answer. We received corn-bread once or twice a day--I think it was
twice. After we went to Danville we fared a great deal better in regard
to rations.
Question. Did you have enough to eat, such as it was?
Answer. I did, at Danville.
Question. How was it at Richmond?
Answer. Well, some had plenty to eat, but, as far as I was concerned, I
was hungry most all the time. From the time we left Richmond until we
drew our meat at Danville--say ten days--we had with us to eat only what
they called Graham bread--nothing but bread and water for those ten
days. After we got to Danville it was better. They issued us pork and
beef sometimes. There, there would be times when we would be without
meat for a couple of days.
Question. What was their bearing and treatment towards you, aside from
your food?
Answer. We were treated tolerably kindly until we commenced our
tunnelling operations; then they treated us very harshly; then they took
the prisoners that had occupied three floors and put them all on two
floors, and would only allow from three to six to go to the rear at one
time.
Question. What is the matter with you now?
Answer. Nothing at all but scurvy. I am getting along very well now
since I got here. The treatment at Danville was a palace alongside of
that at Richmond.
* * * * *
Franklin Dinsmore, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. At Camp Nelson, Kentucky.
Question. To what State do you belong?
Answer. Eastern Tennessee.
Question. How long have you been in the army?
Answer. I enlisted on the 11th or 12th of last July; I do not remember
which day.
Question. To what regiment do you belong?
Answer. Eighth Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Who was your colonel?
Answer. Colonel Strickland.
Question. Where were you taken prisoner?
Answer. At Zollicoffer, near the East Tennessee and Virginia line.
Question. Where were you then carried?
Answer. Right straight on to Richmond. I was taken on the line of the
railroad. We were burning bridges there to keep the enemy out.
Question. How did you fare after you got to Richmond?
Answer. They just starved us.
Question. What did they give you to eat?
Answer. For forty-eight hours after we got there they gave us only just
what we could breathe; then they gave us a little piece of white bread
and just three bites of beef. A man could take it all decently at three
bites. That is the way we lived until we went to Danville, and then we
had meat enough to make half a dozen bites, with bugs in it.
Question. What brought on your sickness?
Answer. Starvation. I was so starved there that when I was down I could
not get up without catching hold of something to pull myself up by.
Question. What did you live in?
Answer. In a brick building, without any fire, or anything to cover us
with.
Question. Had you no blankets?
Answer. No, sir; we had not. They even took our coats from us, and part
of us had to lie there on the floor in our shirt sleeves.
Question. In the winter?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did any of the men freeze?
Answer. Yes, sir; many a man just fell dead walking around trying to
keep himself warm, or, as he was lying on the floor, died during the
night; and if you looked out of a window, a sentinel would shoot you.
They shot some five or six of our boys who were looking out. Some of our
boys would work for the guards to get more to eat, just to keep them
from starving. There would be pieces of cobs in our bread, left there by
the grinding machine, half as long as my finger, and the bread itself
looked just as if you had taken a parcel of dough and let it bake in the
sun. It was all full of cracks where it had dried, and the inside was
all raw.
Question. Were you hungry all the time?
Answer. Hungry! I could eat anything in the world that came before us.
Some of the boys would get boxes from the north with meat of different
kinds in them, and, after they had picked the meat off, they would throw
the bones away into the spit-boxes, and we would pick the bones out of
the spit-boxes and gnaw them over again.
Question. Did they have any more to give you?
Answer. They had plenty. They were just doing it for their own
gratification. They said Seward had put old Beast Butler in there, and
they did not care how they treated us.
Question. Did you complain about not having enough?
Answer. Certainly we complained, but they said we had plenty. They
cursed us, and said we had a sight more than their men had who were
prisoners in our lines.
Question. Do you feel any better now since you have been here?
Answer. A great deal better; like a new man now. I am gaining flesh now.
By Mr. Odell:
Question. What was your occupation before you went into the army?
Answer. I was a farmer.
By Mr. Julian:
Question. Do you know how they treated their own sick?
Answer. No, sir.
By Mr. Odell:
Question. Were other Tennesseeans taken prisoners the same time you
were?
Answer. Yes, sir; there were twenty-four of us taken prisoners. The
small-pox was very severe among us. Our own men said that they were
just trying to kill the Tennesseeans and Kentuckians. Out of the
twenty-four, there were ten of us left when they started for Georgia. No
man can tell precisely how we were treated and say just how it was.
* * * * *
L. H. Parhan, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. From what State are you?
Answer. West Tennessee.
Question. To what regiment do you belong?
Answer. The 3d West Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Where were you taken prisoner?
Answer. In Henry county, West Tennessee.
Question. From there where were you carried?
Answer. From there they marched us on foot, some 350-odd miles, to
Decatur.
Question. What were you given to eat?
Answer. Sometimes for twenty-four or thirty hours we would have a little
piece of beef and some corn-bread.
Question. Were you a well man when you were taken prisoner?
Answer. Yes, sir; a stout man for a little man. I was very stout.
Question. Were you brought to your present condition by want of food?
Answer. Yes, sir; and sleeping in the cold. They took my money and
clothes and everything else away from me, even my pocket-comb and knife,
and my finger-ring that my sister gave me. They were taken away when I
was captured.
[The witness, who was so weak that he could not raise his head, appeared
to be so much exhausted by talking that the committee refrained from
further examination. As they were moving away from his bed, he spoke up
and said: "I am better now than when I came here. I have some strength
now. I hope I shall get better, for I want to see my old father and
mother once more."]
* * * * *
James Sweeney, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where did you reside when you enlisted?
Answer. Haverhill, Massachusetts.
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company E, 17th Massachusetts.
Question. When were you taken prisoner?
Answer. First of February.
Question. Where?
Answer. Six miles from Newbern, North Carolina.
Question. Where were you then carried?
Answer. To Richmond.
Question. How were you treated after you were taken prisoner?
Answer. We had no breakfast that day. We started out early in the
morning--the 132d New York was with us--without anything to eat. We had
nothing to eat all that day, and they made us sleep out all that night
without anything to eat. It rained that night; then they marched us the
next day thirty miles, to Kingston, without anything to eat, except it
was, about twelve o'clock, one of the regular captains, who had some
crackers in his haversack, gave us about one each, and some of the boys
managed to get an ear of corn from the wagons, but the rest of them were
pushed back by the guns of the guard; then we were kept in the streets
of Kingston until about nine o'clock, when we had a little pork and
three barrels of crackers for about two hundred of us. I got three or
four crackers. Then they put us in freight cars that they had carried
hogs in, all filthy and dirty, and we were nearly frozen by the time we
got to Goldsborough; and near Weldon they camped us in a field all day
long, like a spectacle for the people to look at, and when we got to
Richmond they put us in a common for a while, and then we were taken to
prison. About eleven o'clock that day they brought us some corn-bread.
They gave me about three-quarters of a small loaf and a dipper of hard,
black beans with worms in them. We were kept there all night. If we went
near the window, bullets were fired at us. Two or three hundred men lay
on the floor. I was kept between three and four weeks on Belle Isle.
Question. How was it for food there?
Answer. That night they gave us a piece of corn-bread about an inch
thick, two or three inches long. Some nights we would have a couple of
spoonfuls, maybe, of raw rice or raw beans; other nights they would not
give us that. A squad of 100 men of us would have about 20 sticks of
wood, and in order to cut that up we would have to pay a man for the use
of an axe by giving him a piece of the stick for splitting up the rest.
We lay right on the ground in the snow. Twenty of us together would lay
with our feet so close to the fire that the soles of our boots would be
all drawn, and we would get up in the morning all shivering, and I could
not eat what little food I did get.
Question. What is the cause of your sickness?
Answer. Just the food we got there and this exposure. Eating this
corn-bread continually gave me the diarrhoea. We would get thirsty and
drink that river water. We had little bits of beef sometimes; generally
it was tough, more like a piece of India-rubber you would rub
pencil-marks out with. What little food we did get was so bad we could
not eat it. At first, for five or six days, we could eat it pretty well,
but afterwards I could not eat it.
Question. Have you been brought to your present condition by your
treatment there?
Answer. Yes, sir; by the want of proper food, and exposure to the cold.
* * * * *
John C. Burcham, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Julian:
Question. Where did you enlist, and in what regiment?
Answer. I enlisted in Indianapolis, in the 75th Indiana regiment,
Colonel Robinson.
Question. When were you taken prisoner, and where?
Answer. I was taken prisoner at Chickamauga, on the 20th of September.
Question. Where were you carried then?
Answer. The next day they took us to Atlanta, and then on to Richmond.
Question. What prison were you put in?
Answer. I was on Belle Isle five or six days and nights, and then they
put me in a prison over in town.
Question. How did they treat you there?
Answer. Rough, rough, rough.
Question. What did they give you to eat?
Answer. A small bit of bread and a little piece of meat; black beans
full of worms. Sometimes meat pretty good, sometimes the meat was so
rotten that you could smell it as soon as you got it in the house. We
were used rough, I can tell you.
Question. Did they leave you your property?
Answer. They took everything we had before ever we got to Richmond; my
hat, blankets, knife. We did not do very well until we got some blankets
from our government; afterwards we did better. Before that we slept
right on the floor, with nothing over us except a little old blanket one
of us had.
Question. What was their manner towards you?
Answer. I call it pretty rough. If a man did not walk just right up to
the mark they were down on him, and not a man of us dared to put his
head out of the window, for he would be shot if he did. Several were
shot just for that.
Question. What is the cause of your sickness?
Answer. Nothing but exposure and the kind of food we had there. I was a
tolerably stout man before I got into their hands; after that I was
starved nearly to death.
* * * * *
Daniel Gentis, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What State are you from?
Answer. Indiana.
Question. When did you enlist, and in what company and regiment?
Answer. I enlisted on the 6th of August, 1861, in company I, 2d New York
regiment.
Question. Where were you taken prisoner?
Answer. I was taken prisoner at Stevensville, Virginia; I was there with
Colonel Dahlgren, on Kilpatrick's expedition.
Question. Were you taken prisoner at the same time that Colonel Dahlgren
was killed?
Answer. I was there when he was killed, but I was taken prisoner the
next morning.
Question. What do you know about the manner of his death and the
treatment his body received?
Answer. He was shot within a foot and a half or two feet of me. I got
wounded that same night. The next morning I was taken prisoner, and as
we came along we saw his body, with his clothes all off. He was entirely
naked, and he was put into a hole and covered up.
Question. Buried naked in that way?
Answer. Yes, sir; no coffin at all. Afterwards his body was taken up and
carried to a slue and washed off, and then sent off to Richmond. A
despatch came from Richmond for his body, and it was sent there.
Question. It has been said they cut off his finger?
Answer. Yes, sir; his little finger was cut off, and his ring taken off.
By Mr. Odell:
Question. How do you know there was a ring on his finger?
Answer. I saw the fellow who had it, and who said he took it off. When
they took his body to a slue and washed it off they put on it a shirt
and drawers, and then put it in a box and sent it to Richmond.
Question. How far was that from Richmond?
Answer. It was about 40 miles from Richmond, and about 10 miles from
West Point.
Question. How were you treated yourself?
Answer. I fared first-rate. I staid at the house of a Dr. Walker, of
Virginia, and Dr. Walker told me that a private of the 9th Virginia
cavalry took off Colonel Dahlgren's artificial leg, and that General
Ewell, I think it was, or some general in the southern army who had but
one leg, gave the private $2,000 for it, (confederate currency.) I saw
the private who took it, and saw him have the leg.
By the chairman:
Question. How do you know they received a despatch from Richmond to have
the body sent there?
Answer. All the information I got about the despatch was from Dr.
Walker, who said they were going to take the body to Richmond and bury
it where no one could find it.
Question. Did Colonel Dahlgren make any speech or read any papers to his
command?
Answer. No, sir; not that I ever heard of. They questioned me a great
deal about that. The colonel of the 9th Virginia cavalry questioned me
about it. I told him just all I knew about it. I told him I had heard no
papers read, nor anything else.
Question. Did you ever hear any of your fellow-soldiers say they ever
heard any such thing at all?
Answer. No, sir; and when I started I had no idea where I was going.
Question. Were you in prison at Richmond?
Answer. I was there for four days, but I was at Dr. Walker's pretty
nearly a month and a half.
Question. During the four days you were in prison did you see any of our
other soldiers in prison there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How did they fare?
Answer. We all fared pretty rough on corn-bread and beans. Those who
were in my ward are here now sick in bed.
Question. How happened it that you fell into the hands of Dr. Walker
particularly?
Answer. The way it came about was this: In the morning I asked some
officers of the regular regiment for a doctor to dress my wound. One of
the doctors there said he could not do it. I spoke to a lieutenant and
asked him to be kind enough to get some doctor to dress it, and he got
this Dr. Walker. The doctor asked me to go to his house, and stay there
if I would. I told him "certainly I would go." The colonel of the rebel
regiment said that the doctor could take me there, and I staid until
Captain Magruder came up there and told Dr. Walker that I had to be sent
to Richmond.
Question. Where were you wounded?
Answer. In the knee.
[At this point the committee concluded to examine no more of the
patients in the hospital, as most of them were too weak to be examined
without becoming too much exhausted, and because the testimony of all
amounted to about the same thing. They therefore confined the rest of
their investigation to the testimony of the surgeons in charge, and
other persons attending upon the patients.]
* * * * *
Surgeon B. A. Van Derkieft, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Are you in the service of the United States; and if so, in
what capacity?
Answer. I am a surgeon of volunteers in the United States service; in
charge of hospital division No. 1, known as the Naval Hospital,
Annapolis, and have been here since the 1st of June, 1863.
Question. State what you know in regard to the condition of our
exchanged or paroled prisoners who have been brought here, and also your
opportunities to know that condition?
Answer. Since I have been here I think that from five to six thousand
paroled prisoners have been treated in this hospital as patients. They
have generally come here in a very destitute and feeble condition; many
of them so low that they die the very day they arrive here.
Question. What is the character of their complaints generally, and what
does that character indicate as to the cause?
Answer. Generally they are suffering from debility and chronic
diarrhoea, the result, I have no doubt, of exposure, privations,
hardship, and ill treatment.
Question. In what respect would hardship and ill treatment superinduce
the complaints most prevalent among these paroled prisoners?
Answer. These men, having been very much exposed, and not having had
nourishment enough to sustain their strength, are consequently
predisposed to be attacked by such diseases as diarrhoea, fever, scurvy,
and all catarrhal affections, which, perhaps, in the beginning are very
slight, but, on account of want of necessary care, produce, after a
while, a very serious disease. For instance, a man exposed to the cold
may have a little bronchitis, or perhaps a little inflammation of the
lungs, which, under good treatment, would be easily cured--would be
considered of no importance whatever; but being continually exposed, and
not having the necessary food, the complaint is transformed, after a
time, into a very severe disease.
Question. Is it your opinion, as a physician, that the complaints of our
returned prisoners are superinduced by want of proper food, or food of
sufficient quantity, and from exposure?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What is the general character of the statements our prisoners
have made to you in regard to their treatment?
Answer. They complained of want of food, of bad food, and a want of
clothing. Very often, though not always, they are robbed, when taken
prisoners, of all the good clothes they have on. There is no doubt about
that, for men have often arrived here with nothing but their pants and
shirts on; no coat, overcoat, no cap, no shoes or stockings, and some of
them without having had any opportunities to wash themselves for weeks
and months, so that when they arrive here, the scurf on their skin is
one-eighth of an inch thick; and we have had several cases of men who
have been shot for the slightest offence. There is a man now here who at
one time put his hand out of the privy, which was nothing but a window
in the wall, to steady himself and keep himself from falling, and he was
shot, and we have been obliged to amputate his arm since he arrived
here. These men complain that they have had no shelter. We have men here
now who say that for five or six months they have been compelled to lay
on the sand. I have no doubt about the correctness of their statements,
for the condition of their skins shows the statements to be true. Their
joints are calloused, and they have callouses on their backs, and some
have even had the bones break through the skin. There is one instance in
particular that I would mention. One man died in the hospital there one
hour before the transfer of prisoners was made, and as an act of
humanity the surgeon in charge of the hospital allowed the friends of
this man to take him on board the vessel in order to have him buried
among his friends. This man was brought here right from the Richmond
hospital. He was so much covered with vermin and so dirty that we were
not afraid to make the statement that the man had not been washed for
six months. Now, as a material circumstance to prove that these men have
been badly fed, I will state that we must be very careful in feeding
them when they arrive here, for a very light diet is too much for them
at first.
Question. You have accompanied us as we have examined some of the
patients in the hospital to-day. Do their statements to us, under oath,
correspond with the statements which they made when they first arrived
here?
Answer. They are quite the same; there is no difference. Every man makes
the same statement, and we therefore believe it to be true. All say the
same in regard to rations, treatment, exposure and privations. Once in a
while I have found a man who pretended to have been treated very well,
but by examining closely I find that such men are not very good Union
men.
Question. You say that about six thousand paroled prisoners have come
under your supervision and treatment?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State generally what their condition has been.
Answer. Very bad, indeed. I cannot find terms sufficient to express what
their condition was. I cannot state it properly.
Question. You have already stated that, as a general thing, they have
been destitute of clothing.
Answer. Yes, sir; dirty, filthy, covered with vermin, dying. At one time
we received three hundred and sixty patients in one day, and fourteen
died within twelve hours; and there were six bodies of those who had
died on board the transport that brought them up here.
Question. What appeared to be the complaint of which they died?
Answer. Very extreme debility, the result of starvation and
exposure--the same as the very weak man you saw here, [L. H. Parham.]
Question. We have observed some very emaciated men here, perfect
skeletons, nothing but skin and bone. In your opinion, as a physician,
what has reduced these men to that condition?
Answer. Nothing but starvation and exposure.
Question. Can you tell the proportion of the men who have died to the
number that have lately arrived from Richmond?
Answer. If time is allowed me I can send the statement to the committee.
Question. Do so, if you please.
Answer. I will do so. I will say that some of these men who have stated
they were well treated, I have found out to have been very bad to the
Union men.
Question. Are those men you have just mentioned as having been well
treated an exception to the general rule?
Answer. Yes, sir; a very striking exception.
Question. Have you ever been in charge of confederate prisoners?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State the course of treatment of our authorities towards them.
Answer. We have never made the slightest difference between our own men
and confederate prisoners when their sick and wounded have been in our
hands.
Question. You have treated both the same?
Answer. Yes, sir. When any one of their men, wounded or sick, has been a
patient in our hands, we have treated him the same as we do our own men.
By Mr. Julian:
Question. Have their sick and wounded been kept separate from ours, or
have they been kept together?
Answer. In Washington they were kept separate, but at Antietam, where an
hospital was established, in order to have the patients treated where
they were injured, the Union and confederate patients were treated
together and alike. At Hagerstown almost everybody is secesh. Well, the
most I can say is, that some of the secesh ladies there came to me and
stated that they were very glad to see that we had treated their men the
same as ours.
Question. It is sometimes said, by the rebel newspapers, at least, that
they have given the same rations to our prisoners that they give to
their own soldiers. Now, I want to ask you, as a medical man, if it is
possible, with the amount of food that our prisoners have had, for men
to retain their health and vigor, and perform active service in the
field?
Answer. I do not believe that the rebels could fight as well, or make
such marches as they have done, upon such small rations as our prisoners
have received.
Question. Can the health of men be preserved upon such rations as they
have given our prisoners?
Answer. No, sir; it cannot, not only on account of quantity, but
quality. I have seen some specimens of their rations brought here by our
paroled prisoners, and I know what they are.
Question. As a general rule, what is the effect of treating men in that
way?
Answer. Just what we hear every day--men dying from starvation and
debility. Many of these men--mostly all the wounded men--are suffering
from hospital gangrene, which is the result of not having their wounds
dressed in time, and having too many crowded in the same apartment. We
have had men here whose wounds have been so long neglected that they
have had maggots in them by the hundred.
* * * * *
Acting Assistant Surgeon J. H. Longenecker, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your position in the United States service?
Answer. Acting assistant surgeon.
Question. How long have you been stationed here?
Answer. Since the 27th of July, 1863.
Question. Will you state what has been the condition of our paroled
prisoners, received here from the rebels, during the time you have been
stationed here?
Answer. As a general thing, they have been very much debilitated,
emaciated, and suffering from disease, such as diarrhoea, scurvy, lung
diseases, &c.
Question. In your opinion, as a physician, by what have these diseases
been produced?
Answer. By exposure and want of proper food, I think.
Question. Are you able to form any opinion, from the condition of these
men, as to the quantity and quality of food which they have received?
Answer. From their appearance and condition, I judge the quality must
have been very bad, and the quantity very small, not sufficient to
preserve the health.
Question. We have seen and examined several patients here this morning,
who are but mere skeletons. They have stated to us, as you are aware,
that their suffering arose wholly from the want of proper food and
clothing. In your opinion as a medical man, are these statements true?
Answer. I believe that these statements are correct. We have had some
men who looked very well. How they managed to preserve their health I am
not able to say; but, as a general thing, the men we receive here are
very much debilitated, apparently from exposure, and want of sufficient
food to keep up life and health.
Question. Are you acquainted with the case of Howard Laedom?
Answer. Yes, sir; I am.
Question. Will you state about that case?
Answer. I did not see the patient until recently, when he was placed in
my charge. I found him with all his toes gone from one foot in
consequence of exposure. He has suffered from pneumonia, also, produced
by exposure, and there have been very many cases of pneumonia here,
produced by the same cause, many of whom have died; and we have held
post mortem examinations upon many of them, and found ulcers upon their
intestines, some of them being ulcerated the whole length of their
bowels.
Question. Have you made many post mortem examinations here?
Answer. We have made quite a number of them. We make them whenever we
have an opportunity; whenever bodies are not called for or are not
likely to be taken away.
Question. Are you enabled, from these post mortem examinations, to
determine whether or not these prisoners have had sufficient quantities
of proper food?
Answer. Not from that. Those examinations merely indicate the condition
in which the prisoners are returned to us.
Question. From all the indications given by the appearance of these men,
are you satisfied that their statements, that they have not had
sufficient food, both in quantity and quality, are true?
Answer. These statements have been repeated to me very often, and from
their condition I believe their statement to be true.
Question. How many paroled prisoners were brought here by the last boat?
Answer. Three hundred and sixty-five, I think.
Question. In your opinion, how many of these men will recover?
Answer. Judging from their present condition, I think that at least one
hundred of them will die.
Question. What, in your opinion, will be the primary cause of the death
of these men?
Answer. Exposure and want of proper food while prisoners.
* * * * *
Assistant Surgeon William S. Ely, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Harding:
Question. What is your position in the service?
Answer. Assistant surgeon of the United States volunteers and executive
officer of hospital division No. 1, or Naval Academy hospital.
Question. Please state the sanitary condition and appearance, &c., of
the paroled prisoners received here, together with their declarations as
to the cause of their sickness, and your opinion as to the truth of
their statements.
Answer. I have been on duty in this hospital since October 3, 1863.
Since that time I have been present on the arrival of the steamer New
York on five or six different occasions, when bringing altogether some
three or four thousand paroled prisoners. I have assisted in unloading
these prisoners from the boat, and assigning them to quarters in the
hospital. I have found them generally very much reduced physically, and
depressed mentally, the direct result, as I think, of the ill-treatment
which they have received from the hands of their enemies--whether
intentional or not I cannot say. I have frequently seen on the boat
bodies of those who have died while being brought here, and I have
frequently known them to die while being conveyed from the boat to the
hospital ward. Their condition is such (their whole constitution being
undermined) that the best of care and medical treatment, and all the
sanitary and hygeian measures that we can introduce appear to be
useless. Their whole assimilative functions appear to be impaired.
Medicines and food appear, in many cases, to have no effect upon them.
We have made post mortem examinations repeatedly of cases here, and on
all occasions we find the system very much reduced, and in many cases
the muscles almost entirely gone--reduced to nothing literally but skin
and bone; the blood vitiated and depraved, and an anoemic condition of
the entire system apparent. The fact that in many cases of post mortems
we had discovered no organic disease, justifies us in the conclusion
that the fatal result is owing principally, if not entirely, to a
deprivation of food and other articles necessary to support life, and to
improper exposure. On all occasions when arriving here, these men have
been found in the most filthy condition, it being almost impossible, in
many cases, to clean them by repeated washings. The functions of the
skin are entirely impaired, and in many cases they are encrusted with
dirt, owing, as they say, to being compelled to lie on the sand at Belle
island; and the normal function of the skin has not been recovered until
the cuticle has been entirely thrown off. Their bodies are covered with
vermin, so that it has been found necessary to throw away all the
clothing which they had on when they arrived here, and provide them
entirely with new clothing. Their hair has been filled with vermin, so
that we have been obliged to cut their hair all off, and make
applications to kill the vermin in their heads. Many of them state that
they have had no opportunity to wash their bodies for six or eight
months, and have not done so.
Question. What have been their statements to you in their conversation
with you?
Answer. Their reply almost invariably has been, that their condition is
the result solely of ill-treatment and starvation; that their rations
have consisted of corn-bread and cobs ground with corn, of a few beans
at times, and now and then a little piece of poor meat. Occasionally one
is heard to say, that in his opinion the rebels are unable to treat them
in any better manner; that they have been treated as well as possible;
and I have found several who stated that their physicians were kind to
them and did all they could, but complained of want of medicines.
Question. Is it your conclusion, as a physician, that the statements of
these paroled prisoners, in regard to the treatment they have received,
are correct, and that such treatment would produce such conditions of
health as you witness among them upon their arrival here?
Answer. Yes, sir; and that in many cases their statements fall short of
the truth, as evinced by the results shown in their physical appearance;
and these men are in such a condition that even if they recover, we
consider them almost entirely unfitted for further active field
service--almost as much so, we frequently say, as if they had been shot
on the field.
* * * * *
Miss Abbie J. Howe, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. From what State are you, and what position do you occupy in
this hospital?
Answer. I am from Massachusetts, and am here acting as nurse.
Question. How long have you been here?
Answer. Since the 15th of September, 1863.
Question. Have you had charge of the sick and paroled prisoners who have
come here during that time?
Answer. Yes, sir; some of them.
Question. How many of them have you had charge of, should you think?
Answer. I should think I have had charge of at least 250 who have come
under my own charge.
Question. Can you describe to us the general condition of those men?
Answer. Almost all of them have had this dreadful cough. I do not think
I ever heard the like before; and they have had chronic diarrhoea, very
persistent indeed. Many of them have a great craving for things which
they ought not to have. One patient who came in here had the scurvy, and
he said: "I can eat anything that a dog can eat. Oh, do give me
something to eat;" and in their delirium they are crying for "bread,
bread," and "mother, mother." One of them called out for "more James
river water to drink."
Question. What has been their general complaint in regard to their
treatment while prisoners?
Answer. Their chief complaint has been want of food and great exposure.
Many of them who had clothes sent them by friends or our government,
were obliged to sell everything until they were left as destitute as at
first, in order to get more food. I have seen some of their rations, and
I would myself rather eat what I have seen given to cattle, than to eat
such food as their specimens brought here. One man had the typhoid
fever, but was in such haste to get away from the hospital in Richmond
in order to get home, that he would not remain there. He had the
ravenous appetite which men with typhus fever have; and other men told
me that they gave him their rations which they could not eat themselves.
This produced a terrible diarrhoea, and he lived but a few days after he
arrived here.
Question. What has been the physical condition of these, emaciated or
otherwise?
Answer. Just skin and bone. I have never imagined anything before like
it.
Question. Have their statements, in relation to their exposure and
deprivation of food, corresponded entirely with each other?
Answer. Yes, sir, entirely so, except those who were able, by work, to
get extra rations; and those extra rations were not anything like what
our men have here, but it gave them as much and as good as their guards
had; and they have not only been treated in this way, but they have been
ill-used in almost every way. They have told me that when one of them
was sitting down, and was told to get up, and was not moving quickly in
consequence of his sickness, he was wounded by the rebels in charge.
They have often told me that they have been kicked and knocked about
when unable to move quickly. I could give a great many instances of
ill-treatment and hardships which have been stated to me, but it would
take a great deal of time to tell them.
* * * * *
Rev. H. C. Henries, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Odell:
Question. What is your position here?
Answer. Chaplain of the hospital.
Question. How long have you been here?
Answer. I have been on duty since December 7, 1861.
Question. You are familiar with the facts connected with the condition
of paroled prisoners arriving here from the south?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Will you state generally what was their condition?
Answer. I think it would be impossible for me to give any adequate
description, for I think all language fails to fully express their real
condition as they land here. Their appearance is haggard in the extreme;
ragged, destitute even of shoes, and very frequently without pants or
blouses, or any covering except their drawers and shirts, and perhaps a
half a blanket, or something like that; sometimes without hats, and in
the most filthy condition that it is possible to conceive of either
beast or man being reduced to in any circumstances; unable to give
either their names, their residence, regiments, or any facts, in
consequence of their mental depression, so that I believe the surgeons
have found it quite impossible some times to ascertain their relation to
the army. Their statements agree almost universally in regard to their
treatment at the hands of the rebels. There have been a very few
exceptions, indeed, of those who have stated that perhaps their fare was
as good as, under the circumstances, the rebels were able to give them,
but the almost universal testimony of these men has been, that they were
purposely deprived of the comforts and medical care which could have
been afforded them, in order to render them useless to the army in the
future. That has been the impression which a great many of them have
labored under. They have given their testimony in regard to their
condition on Belle Isle. There were three in one room here not long
since, who told me that some eight of their comrades died during one or
two days, and their bodies were thrown out on the banks that enclosed
the ground and left there for eight days unburied, and they were refused
the privilege of burying their comrades, until the hogs and the dogs had
well-nigh eaten up their bodies. Yesterday, one man told me that he was
so starved, and his hunger had become so intolerable, that his eyes
appeared to swim in his head, and at times to be almost lost to all
consciousness. Others have stated that they have offered to buy dogs at
any price for food, of those who came in there; and one actually said
that when a man came in there with a dog, and went out without the dog
noticing it, they caught him and dressed him and roasted him over the
fire, over a gas-light, as best they could, and then ate it; and, as he
expressed it, "it was a precious mite to them." Their testimony in
regard to the cruelty of the guards and others set over them is to the
effect that in one instance two comrades in the army together, who were
taken prisoners together, and remained in the prison together, were
separated when the prisoners were exchanged. One was returned here and
the other left. The one who was left went to the window and waved his
hand in adieu to his comrade, and the guard deliberately shot him
through the temple, and he fell dead. I mentioned this fact to others of
our prisoners here in the hospital, and they said that they knew it to
be so. Some of them were there at the time the man was shot.
Question. Do you keep any record of the deaths here?
Answer. I have not kept a record. I have the official notice of the
deaths; but inasmuch as the records are kept at the office, and we have
had so many other duties crowding upon us--so many deaths here--it has
been almost impossible for us to keep any record. I think it is
impossible for any description to exaggerate the condition of those men.
The condition of those here now is not so bad, as a class, as some we
have received heretofore.
By the chairman:
Question. Has the treatment of our prisoners latterly been worse than
before, from their testimony?
Answer. I think there has been no very material change of late. I think
it has grown worse from the very first; but for a year past, I should
judge it could not be made any worse.
Question. Just the same thing we now see here?
Answer. Yes, sir. I would give just another fact in regard to the
statements made here by large numbers of our returned prisoners. On
Belle Isle, their privies were down from the main camp. From 6 o'clock
in the morning until 6 o'clock in the evening they were permitted to go
to these sinks or privies, but from 6 at night until 6 in the morning
they were refused the privilege of going there, and consequently, so
many suffering with diarrhoea, their filth was deposited all through
their camp. The wells from which they drew their water were sunk in the
sand around through their camp, and you can judge what the effect of
that has been. Some of these prisoners, soon after they were put on
Belle Isle, not knowing the regulations there, and suffering from
chronic diarrhoea, when making the attempt to go down to these privies
after 6 o'clock at night, were shot down in cold blood by the guards,
without any warning whatever. Several such instances have been stated to
me by parties who have arrived here.
By Mr. Odell:
Question. You make these statements from the testimony of prisoners
received here?
Answer. Yes, sir; from testimony that I have the most perfect confidence
in. Men have stated these things to me in the very last hours of their
lives.
By the chairman:
Question. Were they conscious of their condition at the time they made
their statements?
Answer. Yes, sir; I think they were perfectly conscious; yet there is
one thing which is very remarkable, that is, these men retain their hope
of life up to the hour of dying. They do not give up. There is another
thing I would wish to state: all the men, without any exception, among
the thousands that have come to this hospital, have never, in a single
instance, expressed a regret (notwithstanding the privations and
sufferings that they have endured) that they entered their country's
service. They have been the most loyal, devoted, and earnest men. Even
on the last days of their lives they have said that all they hoped for
was just to live and enter the ranks again and meet their foes. It is a
most glorious record in reference to the devotion of our men to their
country. I do not think their patriotism has ever been equalled in the
history of the world.
* * * * *
The committee then proceeded, by steamer, from Annapolis to Baltimore,
and visited the "West Hospital," and saw the patients there. As they
presented the same reduced and debilitated appearance as those they had
already seen at Annapolis, and in conversation gave the same account of
their treatment at the hands of the rebels, the committee concluded
their examination by taking merely the testimony of the surgeon and
chaplain of the hospital.
* * * * *
"WEST HOSPITAL," _Baltimore, Md., May 6, 1864_.
Dr. Wm. G. Knowles, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Will you state whether you are in the employment of the
government; and if so, in what capacity?
Answer. I am, and have been for nearly three years, a contract physician
in the "West Hospital," Baltimore.
Question. Have you received any of the returned Union prisoners, from
Richmond, in your hospital?
Answer. We have received those we have here now; no others.
Question. How many have you received?
Answer. We have received 105.
Question. When did you receive them?
Answer. Two weeks ago last Tuesday. On the 19th of April.
Question. Will you state the condition those prisoners were in when they
were received here?
Answer. They were all very emaciated men, as you have seen here to-day,
only more so than they appear to be now. They were very emaciated and
feeble, suffering chiefly from diarrhoea, many of them having, in
connexion with that, bronchial and similar affections. From the
testimony given to me by these men I have no doubt their condition was
the result of exposure and--I was about to say starvation; but it was,
perhaps, hardly starvation, for they had something to eat; but I will
say, a deficient supply of food and of a proper kind of food; and when I
say "exposure," perhaps that would not be sufficiently definite. All
with whom I have conversed have stated that those who were on Belle Isle
were kept there even as late as December with nothing to protect them
but such little clothing as was left them by their captors; with no
blankets, no overcoats, no tents, nothing to cover them, nothing to
protect them; and that their sleeping-place was the ground--the sand.
Question. What would you, as a physician of experience, aside from the
statements of these returned prisoners, say was the cause of their
condition?
Answer. I should judge it was as they have stated. Diarrhoea is a very
common form of disease among them, and from all the circumstances I have
every reason to believe that it is owing to exposure and the want of
proper nourishment. Some of them tell me that they received nothing but
two small pieces of corn-bread a day. Some of them suppose (how true
that may be I do not know) that that bread was made of corn ground with
the cobs. I have not seen any of it to examine it.
Question. How many have died of the number you have received here?
Answer. Already twenty-nine have died, and you have seen one who is now
dying; and five were received here dead, who died on their way from
Fortress Monroe to Baltimore.
Question. How many of them were capable of walking into the hospital?
Answer. Only one; the others were brought here from the boat on
stretchers, put on the dumb-waiter, and lifted right up to their rooms,
and put on their beds. And I would state another thing in regard to
these men: when they were received here they were filthy, dirty, and
lousy in the extreme, and we had considerable trouble to get them clean.
Every man who could possibly stand it we took and placed in a warm bath
and held him up while he was washed, and we threw away all their dirty
clothing, providing them with that which was clean.
Question. What was the condition of their clothing?
Answer. Very poor, indeed. I should say the clothing was very much worn,
although I did not examine it closely, as that was not so much a matter
of investigation with us as was their physical condition. Their heads
were filled with vermin, so much so that we had to cut off their hair
and make applications to destroy the vermin.
Question. What portion of those you have received here do you suppose
are finally curable?
Answer. We shall certainly lose one-third of them; and we have been
inclined to think that, sooner or later, we should lose one-half of
them.
Question. Will the constitutions of those who survive be permanently
injured, or will they entirely recover?
Answer. I think the constitutions of the greater part of them will be
seriously impaired; that they will never become strong and healthy
again.
Question. What account have these men given you as to the comparative
condition of those left behind? Did the rebels send the best or the
poorest of our prisoners?
Answer. I could not tell that; I have never inquired. But I should
presume they must have sent the worst they had.
Question. You have had charge of confederate sick and wounded, have you
not?
Answer. Yes, sir; a large number of them. This was the receiving
hospital for those from Gettysburg.
Question. What was the treatment they received from us?
Answer. We consider that we treated them with the greatest kindness and
humanity; precisely as we treated our own men. That has been our rule of
conduct. We gave them the very best the hospital would afford; and not
only what properly belonged to the hospital, but delicacies and luxuries
of every kind were furnished them by the hospital, and by outside
sympathizers, who were permitted to send delicacies to them.
Question. It has been stated in many of the rebel newspapers that our
prisoners are treated the same and fed with the same rations as their
soldiers in the field. In your judgment, as a physician would it be
possible for their soldiers to retain their health and energy if fed as
our prisoners have been?
Answer. No, sir; it would be impossible; multitudes of them would have
died under such treatment.
Question. I do not know as I desire to question you further. Is there
anything more you desire to state?
Answer. I do not know that there is; it is all in a nut-shell.
By Mr. Odell:
Question. Is not the disease as evinced among those men clearly defined
as resulting from exposure and privations, and want of proper food and
nourishment?
Answer. That is our decided opinion as medical men; the opinion of all
of us who have had anything to do with these men.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. The condition of all these men appears to be about the same.
Is there really any difference in their condition except in degree?
Answer. I think that is all. Some men have naturally stronger
constitutions than others, and can bear more than others. That is the
way I account for the difference.
By Mr. Odell:
Question. Are the minds of any of them affected permanently?
Answer. We have had two or three whose intellect is very feeble; some of
them are almost like children in that respect.
Question. Do you think that grows out of the treatment they have
received?
Answer. I think the same cause produced that as the other.
By the chairman:
Question. Is not that one of the symptoms attendant upon starvation,
that men are likely to become deranged or idiotic?
Answer. Yes, sir; more like derangement than what we call idiocy.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Can those men whose arms you bared and held up to us--mere
skeletons, nothing but skin and bone--can those men recover?
Answer. They may; we think that some of them are in an improving
condition. But we have to be extremely cautious how we feed them. If we
give them a little excess of food under these circumstances they would
be almost certain to be seriously and injuriously affected by it.
Question. It is your opinion, you have stated, that these men have been
reduced to this condition by want of food?
Answer. It is; want of food and exposure are the original causes. That
has produced diarrhoea and other diseases as a natural consequence, and
they have aided the original cause and reduced them to their present
condition. I should like the country and the government to know the
facts about these men; I do not think they can realize it until the
facts are made known to them. I think the rebels have determined upon
the policy of starving their prisoners, just as much as the murders at
Fort Pillow were a part of their policy.
* * * * *
Rev. J. T. Van Burkalow, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your connexion with this hospital?
Answer. I am the chaplain of the hospital.
Question. How long have you been acting in that capacity?
Answer. I have been connected with the hospital in that capacity ever
since the 20th of October, 1862.
Question. What has been your opportunity of knowing the condition of our
returned prisoners?
Answer. I have mingled with them and administered unto them ever since
they have been here, night and day. I have written, I suppose, something
like a hundred letters for them to their relatives and friends, since
they arrived here.
Question. Have you attended them when they were dying?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. And conversed with them about their condition, and the manner
in which they have been brought to that condition?
Answer. Yes, sir; I have.
Question. Please tell us what you have ascertained from them.
Answer. The general story I have gotten from them was to the effect that
when captured, and before they got to Richmond, they would generally be
robbed of their clothing, their good United States uniforms, even to
their shoes and hats taken from them, and if anything was given to them
in place of them, they would receive only old worn-out confederate
clothing. Sometimes they were sent to Belle Isle with nothing on but old
pants and shirts. They generally had their money taken from them, often
with the promise of its return, but that promise was never fulfilled.
They were placed on Belle Isle, as I have said, some with nothing on but
pants and shirts, some with blouses, but they were seldom allowed to
have an overcoat or a blanket. There they remained for weeks, some of
them for six or eight weeks, without any tents or any kind of covering.
Question. What time of the year was this?
Answer. All along from September down to December, as a general thing,
through the latter part of the fall. There they remained for weeks
without any tents, without blankets, and in many instances without
coats, exposed to the rain and snow, and all kinds of inclement weather.
And where some of them had tents, they were old worn-out army tents,
full of holes and rents, so that they are very poor shelters indeed from
the storms. I have been told by several of them that several times, upon
getting up in the morning, they would find six or eight of their number
frozen to death. There are men here now who have had their toes frozen
off there. They have said that they have been compelled to get up during
the night and walk rapidly back and forth to keep from dying from the
cold.
Question. What do they say in regard to the food furnished them?
Answer. They represent that as being very little in quantity, and of the
very poorest quality, being but a small piece of corn-bread, about three
inches square, made of meal ground very coarsely--some of them suppose
made of corn and cobs all ground up together--and that bread was baked
and cut up and sent to them in such a manner that a great deal of it
would be crumbled off and lost. Sometimes they would get a very small
piece of meat, but that meat very poor, and sometimes for days they
would receive no meat at all. And sometimes they would receive a very
small quantity of what they call rice-water--that is, water with a few
grains of rice in it.
Question. You have heard their statements separately?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Do they all agree in the same general statement as to their
treatment?
Answer. Yes, sir; they do.
Question. How were they clothed when they arrived here?
Answer. They were clothed very poorly indeed, with old worn-out filthy
garments, full of vermin.
Question. What was their condition and appearance as to health when they
arrived here?
Answer. They looked like living skeletons--that is about the best
description I can give of them--very weak and emaciated.
Question. Have you ever seen men at any time or place so emaciated as
these are--so entirely destitute of flesh?
Answer. I think I have a few times, but very rarely; I have known men to
become very emaciated by being for weeks affected with chronic
diarrhoea, or something of that kind. But the chronic diarrhoea, and
liver diseases, and lung affections, which those men now have, I
understand to have been superinduced by the treatment to which they have
been subjected; their cruel and merciless treatment and exposure to
inclement weather without any shelter or sufficient clothing or food,
reducing them literally to a state of starvation.
Question. Could any of them walk when they arrived here?
Answer. I think there was but one who could make out to walk; the rest
we had to carry into the hospitals on stretchers.
By Mr. Odell:
Question. Did these men make these statements in their dying condition?
Answer. Yes, sir.
By the chairman:
Question. Were the persons who made these statements conscious of
approaching dissolution?
Answer. Yes, sir; I know of no particular cases where they spoke of
these things when they were right on the borders of death; but they made
them before, when they were aware of their condition.
Question. So that you have no reason to doubt that they told the exact
truth, or intended to do so?
Answer. None whatever. There has been such a unanimity of testimony on
that point, that I cannot entertain the shadow of a doubt.
Question. And their statements were corroborated by their appearance?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. You have had under your charge and attention confederate sick
and wounded, have you not?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How have they been treated?
Answer. In my judgment they have been treated just as well as any of our
own men ever were treated. In fact, they have got better treatment than
our men did formerly, for the reason that, in addition to what we have
given them--and we have tried to treat them just as we would have them
treat our men--in addition to that, we have allowed the rebel
sympathizers of Baltimore to bring them, everyday, delicacies in
abundance.
Question. Were these rebel sympathizers bountiful to them in that line?
Answer. Yes, sir, very.
Question. What has been the feeling evinced by our returned prisoners,
after having received such treatment, in regard to having entered the
service? Have they ever expressed any regret that they entered our army?
Answer. As a general thing, they have not. In fact, I have heard but one
express a different sentiment. He was a mere youth, not more than 16 or
17 years of age now. His feet were badly frozen. He remarked that he had
regretted, even long before he got to Richmond, that he entered the
service. But I have heard a number of them declare that if they were so
fortunate as to recover their health and strength, they should be glad
to return to the service, and still fight for their country.
Question. They then bear their misfortunes bravely and patriotically?
Answer. Yes, sir, they do.
Question. And without complaining of their government?
Answer. Yes, sir, without complaining of their fate, except so far as to
blame their merciless enemies.
* * * * *
DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, DISTRICT OF MEMPHIS.
_Deposition of John Nelson in relation to the capture of Fort Pillow._
EVIDENCE DEPARTMENT,
_Provost Marshal's Office_.
John Nelson, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith:
At the time of the attack on and capture of Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864,
I kept a hotel within the lines at Fort Pillow, and a short distance
from the works. Soon after the alarm was given that an attack on the
fort was imminent, I entered the works and tendered my services to Major
Booth, commanding. The attack began in the morning at about 5-1/2
o'clock, and about one o'clock p. m. a flag of truce approached. During
the parley which ensued, and while the firing ceased on both sides, the
rebels kept crowding up to the works on the side near Cold creek, and
also approached nearer on the south side, thereby gaining advantages
pending the conference under the flag of truce. As soon as the flag of
truce was withdrawn the attack began, and about five minutes after it
began the rebels entered the fort. Our troops were soon overpowered, and
broke and fled. A large number of the soldiers, black and white, and
also a few citizens, myself among the number, rushed down the bluff
towards the river. I concealed myself as well as I could in a position
where I could distinctly see all that passed below the bluff, for a
considerable distance up and down the river.
A large number, at least one hundred, were hemmed in near the river bank
by bodies of the rebels coming from both north and south. Most all of
those thus hemmed in were without arms. I saw many soldiers, both white
and black, throw up their arms in token of surrender, and call out that
they had surrendered. The rebels would reply, "God damn you, why didn't
you surrender before?" and shot them down like dogs.
The rebels commenced an indiscriminate slaughter. Many colored soldiers
sprang into the river and tried to escape by swimming, but these were
invariably shot dead.
A short distance from me, and within view, a number of our wounded had
been placed, and near where Major Booth's body lay; and a small red flag
indicated that at that place our wounded were placed. The rebels,
however as they passed these wounded men, fired right into them and
struck them with the buts of their muskets.
The cries for mercy and groans which arose from the poor fellows were
heartrending.
Thinking that if I should be discovered, I would be killed, I emerged
from my hiding place, and, approaching the nearest rebel, I told him I
was a citizen. He said, "You are in bad company, G--d d----n you; out
with your greenbacks, or I'll shoot you." I gave him all the money I
had, and under his convoy I went up into the fort again.
When I re-entered the fort there was still some shooting going on. I
heard a rebel officer tell a soldier not to kill any more of those
negroes. He said that they would all be killed, any way, when they were
tried.
JOHN NELSON.
Mr. Nelson further states:
After I entered the fort, and after the United States flag had been
taken down, the rebels held it up in their hands in the presence of
their officers, and thus gave the rebels outside a chance to still
continue their slaughter, and I did not notice that any rebel officer
forbade the holding of it up. I also further state, to the best of my
knowledge and information, that there were not less than three hundred
and sixty negroes killed and two hundred whites.
This I give to the best of my knowledge and belief.
JOHN NELSON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2d day of May, A. D. 1864.
J. D. LLOYD,
_Captain 11th Infantry, Mo. Vols., and
Ass'nt Provost Marshal, Dist. of Memphis_.
* * * * *
_Statement of Frank Hogan, corporal in company A, 6th United States
heavy artillery, (colored.)_
I, Frank Hogan, a corporal in company A, of the 6th United States heavy
artillery, (colored,) would, on oath, state the following: That I was in
the battle fought at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, on the (12th) twelfth day
of April, A. D. (1864,) one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, and
that I was taken prisoner by the enemy, and I saw Captain Carson, and
heard some of the enemy ask him if he belonged to a nigger regiment. He
told them he did. They asked him how he came here. He told them he was
detailed there. Then they told him they would give him a detail, and
immediately shot him dead, after being a prisoner without arms. I also
saw two lieutenants, whose names I did not know, but who belonged to the
(13th) Thirteenth Tennessee cavalry, shot down after having been taken
prisoners. I also saw them kill three sick men that were lying helpless
in their tents.
I saw them make our men (colored) pull the artillery, whipping them at
the same time in the most shameful manner.
I also saw them bury one of our men alive, being only wounded. I heard
Colonel McCullough, Confederate States army, ask his adjutant how many
men were killed and wounded. The adjutant told him he had a list of
three hundred, and that all the reports were not in yet. Colonel
McCullough was commanding a brigade. I also heard a captain, Confederate
States army, tell Colonel McCullough, Confederate States army, that ten
men were killed out of his own company.
his
FRANK x HOGAN.
mark.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of April, 1864, at Fort
Pickering, Memphis, Tennessee.
MALCOM F. SMITH,
_First Lieutenant and Adjutant 6th U. S. Heavy Artillery, (colored.)_
A true copy.
J. H. ODLIN,
_Captain and Assistant Adjutant General_.
* * * * *
_Statement of Wilbur H. Gaylord, first sergeant, company B, 6th United
States heavy artillery, (colored.)_
FORT PICKERING, TENNESSEE, _April 28, 1864_.
I was in the battle fought at Fort Pillow on the 12th day of April, A. D.
1864. The engagement commenced about six and a half o'clock a. m. I
was stationed about twenty rods outside the fort with twenty men in a
southeast direction, (this was about six and a half o'clock a. m.,) with
orders from Major S. F. Booth to hold the position as long as possible
without being captured. I staid there with the men about one hour. While
there the rebels came within thirty rods and tried to steal horses. They
got two horses, and at the same time stuck a rebel flag on the
fortifications. While I held this position the white men on my right
(13th Tennessee cavalry) retreated to the fort. About ten minutes after
this I went with my men to the fort. While going into the fort I saw
Lieutenant Barr, 13th Tennessee cavalry, shot down by my side. He was
shot through the head. He fell outside the fortifications, about six
feet. Ten minutes after getting into the fort Major S. F. Booth was shot
at porthole No. 2, while standing directly in the rear of the gun; was
shot directly through the heart; expired instantly. I carried him to the
bank of the river. As soon as I returned Captain Epeneter, company A,
was wounded in the head while standing at porthole No. 4. He immediately
went to the hospital, which was below the river bank--about half way
down, I should think. Ten men were killed before a flag of truce came
in, which was about twelve o'clock m. Five men, who were all dressed
alike, came with the flag from the rebels, and Major Bradford, of 13th
Tennessee cavalry, who had now assumed command, asked one hour to
consider; on the conclusion of which, he returned a decided refusal. The
fire on both sides now commenced, and was kept up about half an hour
with great fury, when the rebels charged over the works. (I should have
said that General Forrest came with the flag.) The enemy was checked and
held for a few minutes. As soon as they were fairly on the works, I was
wounded with a musket ball through the right ankle. I should think that
two hundred rebels passed over the works, and passed by me while I lay
there, when one rebel noticed that I was alive, shot at me again and
missed me. I told him I was wounded, and that I would surrender, when a
Texan ranger stepped up and took me prisoner. Just at this time I saw
them shoot down three black men, who were begging for their life, and
who had surrendered. The rebels now helped me through porthole No. 4.
The ranger who took me captured a colored soldier, whom he sent with me.
He also sent a guard. They took me to picket post No. 2. There I was put
into an ambulance and taken to a farm-house with one of their dead, who
was a chaplain. There I was made to lie out doors all night on account
of the houses being filled with their wounded. I bandaged my own wound
with my drawers, and a colored man brought water and sat by me so that I
could keep my foot wet. Next morning Colonel McCullough came there and
sent a squad of men, having pressed all the conveyances he could find to
take away his own wounded. Not finding sufficient, nor having negroes
enough, they made stretchers from blankets. They could not carry me, and
so left me at the farm-house; the man's name was Stone. He got me into
the house and into bed. He and his wife were very kind to me. While
Colonel McCullough was there he told me Memphis, Tennessee, was probably
in the hands of the rebels. The rear guard of the rebels left there
Wednesday about 5 o'clock p. m. The rebels took a young man whose father
lived near here, and who had been wounded in the fight, to the woods,
and shot three more shots into his back and into his head, and left him
until Friday morning, when the citizens took him in. They brought him to
the house where I was, and then carried us both to Fort Pillow in an old
cart that they fixed up for the occasion, in hopes of getting us on
board of a gunboat.
Upon our arrival there a gunboat lay on the opposite bank, but we could
not hail her. We laid on the bank. They took the young man back to a
house, three-fourths of a mile, but I would not go back. I laid there
until a gunboat, the Silver Cloud, took me off, about 2 o'clock a. m.,
Saturday. They treated me with the utmost kindness on board the boat.
WILBUR H. GAYLORD,
_1st Sergeant, Co. B, 6th U.S. Heavy Artillery, 1st Battalion, (colored.)_
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of April, 1864, at Fort
Pickering, Memphis, Tennessee.
MALCOM F. SMITH,
_1st Lieutenant and Adjutant 6th U.S. Heavy Artillery, (colored.)_
A true copy.
J. H. ODLIN,
_Captain and A. A. G._
* * * * *
_Statement of James Lewis, private, company C, 6th United States heavy
artillery, (colored.)_
I, James Lewis, private, company C, 6th United States heavy artillery,
(colored,) would, on oath, state the following: I was in the battle
fought at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, on the 12th day of April, A. D. 1864.
The engagement commenced early in the morning and lasted until three
o'clock p. m. same day, at which time the enemy carried the fort. The
United States troops took refuge under the bank of the river. The
officers all being killed or wounded, the men raised the white flag and
surrendered, but the rebels kept on firing until most all the men were
shot down. I was wounded and knocked down with the but of a musket and
left for dead, after being robbed, and they cut the buttons off my
jacket. I saw two women shot by the river bank and their bodies thrown
into the river after the place was taken. I saw Frank Meek, company B,
6th United States heavy artillery, (colored,) shot after he had
surrendered.
his
JAMES + LEWIS.
mark.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of April, 1864, at Fort
Pickering, Memphis, Tennessee.
MALCOM F. SMITH,
_1st Lieutenant and Adjutant 6th U. S. Heavy Artillery, (colored.)_
A true copy.
J. H. ODLIN,
_Captain and A. A. G._
[This evidence was received after the regular edition was printed.]
* * * * *
P. S. Since the report of the committee was prepared for the press, the
following letter from the surgeon in charge of the returned prisoners
was received by the chairman of the committee:
WEST'S BUILDINGS HOSPITAL,
_Baltimore, Md., May 24, 1864_.
DEAR SIR: I have the honor to enclose the photograph of John Breinig,
with the desired information written upon it. I am very sorry your
committee could not have seen these cases when first received. No one,
from these pictures, can form a true estimate of their condition then.
Not one in ten was able to stand alone; some of them so covered and
eaten by vermin that they nearly resembled cases of small-pox, and so
emaciated that they were _really_ living skeletons, and hardly _that_,
as the result shows, forty out of one hundred and four having died up to
this date.
If there has been anything so horrible, so fiendish, as this wholesale
starvation, in the history of this satanic rebellion, I have failed to
note it. Better the massacres at Lawrence, Fort Pillow, and Plymouth
than to be thus starved to death by inches, through long and weary
months. I wish I had possessed the power to compel all the northern
sympathizers with this rebellion to come in and look upon the work of
the _chivalrous_ sons of the _hospitable_ and sunny south when these
skeletons were first received here. A rebel colonel, a prisoner here,
who stood with sad face looking on as they were received, finally shook
his head and walked away, apparently ashamed that he held any relations
to men who could be guilty of such deeds.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. CHAPEL.
Hon. B. F. WADE,
_Chairman of Committee on the Conduct of the War, Senate U. S._
[Illustration: U. S. GENERAL
HOSPITAL, DIV. No. 1, ANNAPOLIS, MD.
=Private FRANCIS W. BEEDLE=, COMPANY M, 8TH MICHIGAN CAVALRY,
Was admitted per Steamer New York, from Richmond, Va., May 2, 1864. Died
May 3, 1864, from effects of treatment while in the hands of the enemy.]
[Illustration: WEST'S BUILDING HOSPITAL, BALTIMORE, MD.
=Private JOHN BREINIG=, COMPANY G, 4TH KENTUCKY CAVALRY,
Admitted April 18, 1864. Improved a little for two weeks, then gradually
failed and died on the 12th instant.]
[Illustration: U.S. GENERAL
HOSPITAL, DIV. No. 1, ANNAPOLIS, MD.
=Private JOHN Q. ROSE=, COMPANY C, 8TH KENTUCKY VOLUNTEERS,
Admitted per Steamer New York, from Richmond, Va., May 2, 1864. Died May
4, 1864, from effects of treatment while in the hands of the enemy.]
[Illustration: U. S. GENERAL HOSPITAL, DIV. No. 1, ANNAPOLIS, MD.
=Private L. H. PARHAM=, COMPANY B, 3D WEST TENNESSEE CAVALRY,
Admitted per Steamer New York, from Richmond, Va., May 2, 1864. Died May
10, 1864, from effects of treatment while in the hands of the enemy.]
[Illustration: WEST'S BUILDING
HOSPITAL, BALTIMORE, MD.
=Private GEORGE H. WIBLE=, COMPANY F, 9TH MARYLAND VOLUNTEERS,
Was admitted from Flag-of-truce boat April 18, 1864. Is slowly
improving.]
[Illustration: WEST'S BUILDING HOSPITAL, BALTIMORE, MD.
=Private EDWARD CUNNINGHAM=, COMPANY F, 7TH OHIO CAVALRY,
Was admitted from Flag-of-truce boat April 18, 1864. Very little change
in his condition since received.]
[Illustration: WEST'S BUILDING
HOSPITAL, BALTIMORE, MD.
=Private LEWIS KLEIN=, COMPANY A, 14TH NEW YORK CAVALRY,
Admitted from Steamer New York, from Richmond, Va. April 18, 1864. Is
improving nicely.]
[Illustration: WEST'S BUILDING HOSPITAL, BALTIMORE, MD.
=Private CHARLES R. WOODWORTH=, COMPANY G, 8TH MICHIGAN CAVALRY,
Was admitted from Flag-of-truce boat April 18, 1864. Has improved very
much since received.]
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Text uses both hill-side and hillside
Text uses both Tennessean and Tennesseean
Text uses both gulley and gully
Text uses both Paw Paw and Pawpaw
Pg 109 of "Fort Pillow Massacre" - Original text reads "but would kill
them when evertaken." Changed to "but would kill them whenever taken."
Pg 9 of "Returned Prisoners" - Missing character in original text
(assumed to be an "l") "... on the floor, without any blankets, until
a [l]ong while about Christmas."
Obvious spelling and punctuation errors were corrected.
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Reports of the Committee on the Conduct of the War - Fort Pillow Massacre. Returned Prisoners." ***
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