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?