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Reports of the Committee on the Conduct of the War

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Title: Reports of the Committee on the Conduct of the War

Author: United States. Congress. Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War
        Daniel W. Gooch
        B. F. Wade


        
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR ***

    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 

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