By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company D, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. I had been driving a team and acting as a soldier. I took my gun
that morning and went out in line. They then wanted a train to haul some
ammunition and provisions in the fort. The rebels were throwing balls
around there. I kept hauling, I think five loads. The rest of the wagons
would not go back after they had hauled one load; and after I had hauled
five loads I concluded I would not haul any more. I went down under the
hill and got with two men there close under a log. It was but a few
minutes before the men came over the hill like sheep over a brush fence,
when I saw white men and negroes getting shot down. I threw up my hands
and said: "Don't shoot me; I surrender." One of them said: "Go on up the
hill." I started, but did not get more than two steps before I was shot
in the shoulder. I fell, and while I was undertaking to get up again I
was hit in the body; and this arm that was hit fell over behind me. A
rebel came along with a canteen, and I motioned to him and told him I
wanted a little water. He said: "Damn you; I have nothing for you
fellows. You Tennesseeans pretend to be men, and you fight side by side
with niggers. I have nothing for you." About that time another one came
up with his pistol drawn, and asked if I had any money. I told him I had
a little, and he told me to give it to him. I told him my shoulder was
hurt and he must take it himself. He turned me over and took about $90
and my watch. Another man, who _was_ a man, came along and brought me
some water.
Question. Did you see any others shot after they had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir. One of the two who was under the log with me was
killed. I don't know whether the other man was killed or not.
* * * * *
William A. Dickey, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when it was taken by the rebels?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. In what company and regiment?
Answer. Company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Will you state what happened there, especially after the fort
was taken?
Answer. After the breastworks were charged I first noticed the colored
soldiers throwing down their arms and running down the bluff. After the
rebs got inside the white troops saw that there was no mercy shown, and
they threw down their arms and ran down the bluff, too; and they were at
the same time shot and butchered. I ran myself, but carried my gun with
me down the bluff, and hid myself behind a tree close to the edge of the
river. I staid there some time, and saw my partner shot, and saw men
shot all around me. I saw one man shoot as many as four negroes just as
fast as he could load his gun and shoot. After doing this he came to me.
As he turned around to me, I begged him not to shoot me. He came to me
and I gave him my gun, and he took my caps, saying he wanted them to
kill niggers. I begged him to let me go with him, as I would be exposed
there; but he said "No, stay there." He made me stay there, and would
not let me go with him. Another man came along, and I asked him to spare
my life, and he did so. I asked him to let me go with him, but he
refused me and ordered me to stay with my wounded partner, who was lying
in some brush. I crawled in the brush to him. He was suffering very
much, and I unloosed his belt, and took his cartridge-box and put it
under his head. Some rebels under the hill spied us moving in the brush
and ordered us to come out. My partner could not come out, but I came
out. They ordered me to come to them. I started after one of them,
begging him at the same time not to shoot me. I went, I suppose, eight
or ten steps, when he shot me. I fell there, and saw but little more
after that. As I was lying with my face towards the river I saw some
swimming and drowning in the river, and I saw them shoot some in the
river after that.
* * * * *
Woodford Cooksey, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company A, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir; from 6 o'clock in the morning until about 4 o'clock in
the evening.
Question. State what took place after the fort was taken by the rebels.
Answer. There were a great many white men shot down, and a great many
negroes.
Question. That you saw?
Answer. That I saw myself.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. At what time?
Answer. After 4 o'clock; after we gave up.
Question. How came they to shoot you after you had surrendered?
Answer. I can't tell; it was about like shooting the balance of them.
Question. Do you know who shot you?
Answer. It was a white man. He shot me with a musket loaded with a
musket ball and three buck shot.
Question. Did you have any arms in your hands when you were shot?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did the one who shot you say anything to you?
Answer. I was lying down. He said, "Hand me up your money, you damned
son of a bitch." I only had four bits--two bits in silver and two in
paper. I handed it up to him. He said he had damned nigh a notion to hit
me in the head on account of staying there and fighting with the
niggers. He heard a rally about the bank and went down there. They were
shooting and throwing them in the river. A part of that night and the
next morning they were burning houses and burying the dead and stealing
goods. The next morning they commenced on the negroes again, and killed
all they came across, as far as I could see. I saw them kill eight or
ten of them the next morning.
Question. Do you know whether any wounded soldiers were burned in any of
those buildings?
Answer. I do not. I was not in any of the shanties after they were
fired.
Question. Did you see them bury any of the dead?
Answer. No, sir; I was lying outside of the fort.
Question. Did they bury the white and black together, as you understood?
Answer. Yes, sir; they were burying pretty much all night.
Question. How many whites and blacks do you suppose were killed after
they had surrendered?
Answer. I had a mighty poor chance of finding out. But I don't think
they killed less than 50 or 60, probably more; I cannot say how many. It
was an awful time, I know.
Question. How many did you see killed?
Answer. I saw them kill three white men and seven negroes the next
morning.
Question. Did you see them shoot any white men the day after the fight?
Answer. No, sir. I saw one of them shoot a black fellow in the head with
three buck shot and a musket ball. The man held up his head, and then
the fellow took his pistol and fired that at his head. The black man
still moved, and then the fellow took his sabre and stuck it in the hole
in the negro's head and jammed it way down, and said "Now, God damn you,
die!" The negro did not say anything, but he moved, and the fellow took
his carbine and beat his head soft with it. That was the next morning
after the fight.
* * * * *
Lieutenant McJ. Leming, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What is your rank and position?
Answer. I am a first lieutenant and adjutant of the 13th Tennessee
cavalry. A short time previous to the fight I was post adjutant at Fort
Pillow, and during most of the engagement I was acting as post adjutant.
After Major Booth was killed, Major Bradford was in command. The pickets
were driven in just before sunrise, which was the first intimation we
had that the enemy were approaching. I repaired to the fort, and found
that Major Booth was shelling the rebels as they came up towards the
outer intrenchments. They kept up a steady fire by sharpshooters behind
trees, and logs, and high knolls. The major thought at one time they
were planting some artillery, or looking for places to plant it. They
began to draw nearer and nearer, up to the time our men were all drawn
into the fort. Two companies of the 13th Tennessee cavalry were ordered
out as sharpshooters, but were finally ordered in. We were pressed on
all sides.
I think Major Booth fell not later than 9 o'clock. His adjutant, who was
then acting post adjutant, fell near the same time. Major Bradford then
took the command, and I acted as post adjutant. Previous to this, Major
Booth had ordered some buildings in front of the fort to be destroyed,
as the enemy's sharpshooters were endeavoring to get possession of them.
There were four rows of buildings, but only the row nearest the fort was
destroyed; the sharpshooters gained possession of the others before they
could be destroyed. The fight continued, one almost unceasing fire all
the time, until about three o'clock. They threw some shells, but they
did not do much damage with their shells.
I think it was about three o'clock that a flag of truce approached. I
went out, accompanied by Captain Young, the provost marshal of the post.
There was another officer, I think, but I do not recollect now
particularly who it was, and some four mounted men. The rebels announced
that they had a communication from General Forrest. One of their
officers there, I think, from his dress, was a colonel. I received the
communication, and they said they would wait for an answer. As near as I
remember, the communication was as follows:
"HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE CAVALRY,
"_Near Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864_.
"As your gallant defence of the fort has entitled you to the treatment
of brave men, (or something to that effect,) I now demand an
unconditional surrender of your force, at the same time assuring you
that they will be treated as prisoners of war. I have received a fresh
supply of ammunition, and can easily take your position.
"N. B. FORREST.
"Major L. F. BOOTH,
"_Commanding United States Forces_."
I took this message back to the fort. Major Bradford replied that he
desired an hour for consultation and consideration with his officers,
and the officers of the gunboat. I took out this communication to them,
and they carried it back to General Forrest. In a few minutes another
flag of truce appeared, and I went out to meet it. Some one said, when
they handed the communication to me, "That gives you 20 minutes to
surrender; I am General Forrest." I took it back. The substance of it
was: "Twenty minutes will be given you to take your men outside of the
fort. If in that time they are not out, I will immediately proceed to
assault your works," or something of that kind. To this Major Bradford
replied: "I will not surrender." I took it out in a sealed envelope, and
gave it to him. The general opened it and read it. Nothing was said; we
simply saluted, and they went their way, and I returned back into the
fort.
Almost instantly the firing began again. We mistrusted, while this flag
of truce was going on, that they were taking horses out at a camp we
had. It was mentioned to them, the last time that this and other
movements excited our suspicion, that they were moving their troops.
They said that they had noticed it themselves, and had it stopped; that
it was unintentional on their part, and that it should not be repeated.
It was not long after the last flag of truce had retired, that they made
their grand charge. We kept them back for several minutes. What was
called ---- brigade or battalion attacked the centre of the fort where
several companies of colored troops were stationed. They finally gave
way, and, before we could fill up the breach, the enemy got inside the
fort, and then they came in on the other two sides, and had complete
possession of the fort. In the mean time nearly all the officers had
been killed, especially of the colored troops, and there was no one
hardly to guide the men. They fought bravely, indeed, until that time. I
do not think the men who broke had a commissioned officer over them.
They fought with the most determined bravery, until the enemy gained
possession of the fort. They kept shooting all the time. The negroes ran
down the hill towards the river, but the rebels kept shooting them as
they were running; shot some again after they had fallen; robbed and
plundered them. After everything was all gone, after we had given up the
fort entirely, the guns thrown away and the firing on our part stopped,
they still kept up their murderous fire, more especially on the colored
troops, I thought, although the white troops suffered a great deal. I
know the colored troops had a great deal the worst of it. I saw several
shot after they were wounded; as they were crawling around, the secesh
would step out and blow their brains out.
About this time they shot me. It must have been four or half-past four
o'clock. I saw there was no chance at all, and threw down my sabre. A
man took deliberate aim at me, but a short distance from me, certainly
not more than 15 paces, and shot me.
Question. With a musket or pistol?
Answer. I think it was a carbine; it may have been a musket, but my
impression is that it was a carbine. Soon after I was shot I was robbed.
A secesh soldier came along, and wanted to know if I had any greenbacks.
I gave him my pocket-book. I had about a hundred dollars, I think, more
or less, and a gold watch and gold chain. They took everything in the
way of valuables that I had. I saw them robbing others. That seemed to
be the general way they served the wounded, so far as regards those who
fell in my vicinity. Some of the colored troops jumped into the river,
but were shot as fast as they were seen. One poor fellow was shot as he
reached the bank of the river. They ran down and hauled him out. He got
on his hands and knees, and was crawling along, when a secesh soldier
put his revolver to his head, and blew his brains out. It was about the
same thing all along, until dark that night.
I was very weak, but I finally found a rebel who belonged to a society
that I am a member of, (the Masons,) and he got two of our colored
soldiers to assist me up the hill, and he brought me some water. At that
time it was about dusk. He carried me up just to the edge of the fort,
and laid me down. There seemed to be quite a number of dead collected
there. They were throwing them into the outside trench, and I heard them
talking about burying them there. I heard one of them say, "There is a
man who is not quite dead yet." They buried a number there; I do not
know how many.
I was carried that night to a sort of little shanty that the rebels had
occupied during the day with their sharpshooters. I received no medical
attention that night at all. The next morning early I heard the report
of cannon down the river. It was the gunboat 28 coming up from Memphis;
she was shelling the rebels along the shore as she came up. The rebels
immediately ordered the burning of all the buildings, and ordered the
two buildings where the wounded were to be fired. Some one called to
the officer who gave the order and said there were wounded in them. The
building I was in began to catch fire. I prevailed upon one of our
soldiers who had not been hurt much to draw me out, and I think others
got the rest out. They drew us down a little way, in a sort of gulley,
and we lay there in the hot sun without water or anything.
About this time a squad of rebels came around, it would seem for the
purpose of murdering what negroes they could find. They began to shoot
the wounded negroes all around there, interspersed with the whites. I
was lying a little way from a wounded negro, when a secesh soldier came
up to him and said: "What in hell are you doing here?" The colored
soldier said he wanted to get on the gunboat. The secesh soldier said:
"You want to fight us again, do you? Damn you, I'll teach you," and drew
up his gun and shot him dead. Another negro was standing up erect a
little way from me; he did not seem to be hurt much. The rebel loaded
his gun again immediately. The negro begged of him not to shoot him, but
he drew up his gun and took deliberate aim at his head. The gun snapped,
but he fixed it again, and then killed him. I saw this. I heard them
shooting all around there--I suppose killing them.
By the chairman:
Question. Do you know of any rebel officers going on board our gunboat
after she came up?
Answer. I don't know about the gunboat, but I saw some of them on board
the Platte Valley, after I had been carried on her. They came on board,
and I think went in to drink with some of our officers. I think one of
the rebel officers was General Chalmers.
Question. Do you know what officers of ours drank with them?
Answer. I do not.
Question. You know that they did go on board the Platte Valley and drink
with some of our officers?
Answer. I did not see them drinking at the time, but I have no doubt
they did; that was my impression from all I saw, and I thought our
officers might have been in better business.
Question. Were our officers treating these rebel officers with
attention?
Answer. They seemed to be; I did not see much of it, as they passed
along by me.
Question. Do you know whether or not the conduct of the privates, in
murdering our soldiers after they had surrendered, seemed to have the
approval of their officers?
Answer. I did not see much of their officers, especially during the
worst of those outrages; they seemed to be back.
Question. Did you observe any effort on the part of their officers to
suppress the murders?
Answer. No, sir; I did not see any where I was first carried; just about
dusk, all at once several shots were fired just outside. The cry was:
"They are shooting the darkey soldiers." I heard an officer ride up and
say: "Stop that firing; arrest that man." I suppose it was a rebel
officer, but I do not know. It was reported to me, at the time, that
several darkeys were shot then. An officer who stood by me, a prisoner,
said that they had been shooting them, but that the general had had it
stopped.
Question. Do you know of any of our men in the hospital being murdered?
Answer. I do not.
Question. Do you know anything of the fate of your quartermaster,
Lieutenant Akerstrom?
Answer. He was one of the officers who went with me to meet the flag of
truce the last time. I do not know what became of him; that was about
the last I saw of him. I heard that he was nailed to a board and burned,
and I have very good reason for believing that was the case, although I
did not see it. The first lieutenant of company D of my regiment says
that he has an affidavit to that effect of a man who saw it.
Question. Have you any knowledge in relation to any of our men being
buried alive?
Answer. I have not, other than I have stated.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. How long had your regiment been in Fort Pillow?
Answer. We reached there the 8th of February. There were no other troops
there then, and we held the place alone for some time.
By the chairman:
Question. By whom were you ordered there?
Answer. By General W. S. Smith, chief of cavalry, and also by General
Hurlbut.
Question. What other troops were there at the time of the fight?
Answer. Four companies of the 6th United States heavy artillery,
colored, and a battery called now, I think, the 2d United States light
artillery. It was before the 1st Tennessee light artillery, colored.
Question. What was about the number of our force there?
Answer. Not far from 500 men.
Question. Do you know what became of Major Bradford?
Answer. He escaped unhurt, as far as the battle was concerned. I was
told the next morning on the boat that he had been paroled. I did not
see him after that night.
Question. Do you know why you were left unsupported, as you were, when
it was known that Forrest was in your vicinity?
Answer. I do not know why, unless it was thought that he would not
attack us. I think it was supposed that he was going to make an attack
on Memphis.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What do you estimate Forrest's force to have been?
Answer. From all I could see and learn, I should suppose he had from
7,000 to 10,000 men.
Question. Is there anything further you desire to state?
Answer. I heard some of the rebels talking during the night after the
fight. They said we ought to have surrendered when we had the
opportunity, but that they supposed the Yankees were afraid the colored
troops would not be treated as prisoners of war; and they intimated that
they would not be; and said it was bad enough to give to the "home-made
Yankees"--meaning the Tennessee soldiers--treatment as soldiers, without
treating the negroes so, too.
On the morning of the fight there was so much hurry and confusion that
our flag was not raised for a time; we had been firing away an hour
before I happened to notice that our flag was not up. I ordered it to be
raised immediately, and our troops set up vociferous cheers, especially
the colored troops, who entered into the fight with great energy and
spirit.
Question. How many officers of your regiment were left alive?
Answer. Only two, immediately after the surrender, that I know of. We
had ten officers in our regiment, and eight were in the battle, only two
of whom remained alive.
Question. Were those who were killed killed before or after the fort was
captured?
Answer. I don't know of but one who was killed before we were driven
from the fort.
Question. Was Captain Potter, who is now lying here unable to speak,
shot before or after the surrender?
Answer. He was shot in the early part of the engagement. I have been
told that Major Bradford was afterwards taken out by the rebels and
shot; that seems to be the general impression, and I presume it was so.
* * * * *
MOUND CITY, _April 23, 1864_.
Nathan G. Fulks, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company D, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Where are you from?
Answer. About twenty miles from Columbus, Tennessee.
Question. How long have you been in the service?
Answer. Five months, the 1st of May.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time of the fight there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Will you state what happened to you there?
Answer. I was at the corner of the fort when they fetched in a flag for
a surrender. Some of them said the major stood a while, and then said he
would not surrender. They continued to fight a while; and after a time
the major started and told us to take care of ourselves, and I and
twenty more men broke for the hollow. They ordered us to halt, and some
of them said, "God damn 'em, kill 'em! kill 'em!" I said, "I have
surrendered." I had thrown my gun away then. I took off my cartridge-box
and gave it to one of them, and said, "Don't shoot me;" but they did
shoot me, and hit just about where the shoe comes up on my leg. I begged
them not to shoot me, and he said, "God damn you, you fight with the
niggers, and we will kill the last one of you!" Then they shot me in the
thick of the thigh, and I fell; and one set out to shoot me again, when
another one said, "Don't shoot the white fellows any more."
Question. Did you see any person shot besides yourself?
Answer. I didn't see them shot. I saw one of our fellows dead by me.
Question. Did you see any buildings burned?
Answer. Yes, sir. While I was in the major's headquarters they commenced
burning the buildings, and I begged one of them to take me out and not
let us burn there; and he said, "I am hunting up a piece of yellow flag
for you." I think we would have whipped them if the flag of truce had
not come in. We would have whipped them if we had not let them get the
dead-wood on us. I was told that they made their movement while the flag
of truce was in. I did not see it myself, because I had sat down, as I
had been working so hard.
Question. How do you know they made their movement while the flag of
truce was in?
Answer. The men that were above said so. The rebs are bound to take
every advantage of us. I saw two more white men close to where I was
lying. That makes three dead ones, and myself wounded.
* * * * *
Francis A. Alexander, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company C, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the fight there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Who commanded your regiment?
Answer. Major Bradford commanded the regiment, and Lieutenant Logan
commanded our company.
Question. By what troops was the fort attacked?
Answer. Forrest was in command. I saw him.
Question. Did you know Forrest?
Answer. I saw him there, and they all said it was Forrest. Their own men
said so.
Question. By what troops was the charge made?
Answer. They were Alabamians and Texans.
Question. Did you see anything of a flag of truce?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State what was done while the flag of truce was in.
Answer. When the flag of truce came up our officers went out and held a
consultation, and it went back. They came in again with a flag of truce;
and while they were consulting the second time their troops were coming
up a gap or hollow, where we could have cut them to pieces. They tried
it before, but could not do it. I saw them come up there while the flag
of truce was in the second time.
Question. That gave them an advantage?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Not in the fort. I was wounded after I left the fort, and was
going down the hill.
Question. Was that before or after the fort was taken?
Answer. It was afterwards.
Question. Did you have any arms in your hand at the time they shot you?
Answer. No, sir. I threw my gun away, and started down the hill, and got
about twenty yards, when I was shot through the calf of the leg.
Question. Did they shoot you more than once?
Answer. No, sir; they shot at me, but did not hit me more than once.
Question. Did they say why they shot you after you had surrendered?
Answer. They said afterwards they intended to kill us all for being
there with their niggers.
Question. Were any rebel officers there at the time this shooting was
going on?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did they try to stop it?
Answer. One or two of them did.
Question. What did the rest of them do?
Answer. They kept shouting and hallooing at the men to give no quarter.
I heard that cry very frequent.
Question. Was it the officers that said that?
Answer. I think it was. I think it was them, the way they were going on.
When our boys were taken prisoners, if anybody came up who knew them,
they shot them down. As soon as ever they recognized them, wherever it
was, they shot them.
Question. After they had taken them prisoners?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you know anything about their shooting men in the
hospitals?
Answer. I know of their shooting negroes in there. I don't know about
white men.
Question. Wounded negro men?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Who did that?
Answer. Some of their troops. I don't know which of them. The next
morning I saw several black people shot that were wounded, and some that
were not wounded. One was going down the hill before me, and the officer
made him come back up the hill; and after I got in the boat I heard them
shooting them.
Question. You say you saw them shoot negroes in the hospital the next
morning?
Answer. Yes, sir; wounded negroes who could not get along; one with his
leg broke. They came there the next day and shot him.
Question. Do you know anything about their burning buildings and the
hospital?
Answer. I expect they burned the hospital after we got out. They said
they would not while we wounded ones were in there. The hospital we were
in was standing when I went down the hill on the boat.
Question. You don't know what happened to it afterwards?
Answer. I don't.
Question. Something has been said about men being nailed to the
buildings, and then burned. Do you know anything about that?
Answer. No, sir; I did not see that, but I heard some of them say they
drove the negroes into the houses and then burned them.
Question. Did you see anything about their burying them?
Answer. No, sir.
* * * * *
Wiley Robinson, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What State are you from?
Answer. Tennessee.
Question. When did you enlist?
Answer. I think about eight months ago.
Question. How old are you?
Answer. Eighteen years old the 19th of next May.
Question. What regiment and company were you in?
Answer. Company A, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time of the attack there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State all about that; when it was, &c.
Answer. I was wounded once in the hand before I surrendered.
Question. Were you shot afterwards?
Answer. Yes, sir; six times. I was shot twice in the foot, twice in the
legs, and twice in the hands.
Question. Had you arms in your hands when they shot you?
Answer. We had retreated to the river bank and thrown down our arms.
Question. What did they say when they shot you?
Answer. They swore at us, and then shot us.
Question. Did you see any of the rebel officers there?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw some, who came round and told them to kill us
all.
Question. Did you see them shoot anybody else besides yourself?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw them shoot one white man close beside me.
Question. Did they shoot you after you were down?
Answer. Yes, sir; through the leg with a musket.
Question. Did you see any negroes shot?
Answer. No, sir; I did not see any. I fell after they shot me, and did
not see much.
Question. Were you there the next day after the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir; they took me on board the boat the next day about ten
o'clock.
Question. Do you know whether they killed any persons in the hospital?
Answer. I know they killed one of our company in the hospital. They said
they fired into the hospital.
Question. Do you know anything about their burying anybody alive?
Answer. No, sir.
* * * * *
Daniel Stamps, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. What was your position?
Answer. I was the company commissary sergeant.
Question. Where do you reside?
Answer. In Lauderdale county, Tennessee.
Question. What was your occupation?
Answer. I was a farmer.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when the fight was there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State what happened there.
Answer. The first thing, I went out sharpshooting, and was out about two
hours, and then was ordered in the fort. I staid there, I reckon, about
an hour. Then I was called out by Lieutenant Akerstrom to go down
alongside the bluff sharpshooting again, because the rebels were coming
down Cold creek. We staid there all the time until they charged into the
fort. Then they all ran down under the hill, and we went down under the
hill too. I reckon we staid there close on to an hour. They were
shooting continually. I saw them shooting the white men there who were
on their knees, holding up their hands to them. I saw them make another
man get down on his knees and beg of them, and they did not shoot him. I
started out to go up the hill, and just as I started I was shot in the
thigh. Pretty well towards the last of it, before I got shot, while I
was down under the hill, a rebel officer came down right on top of the
bluff, and hallooed out to them to shoot and kill the last damned one of
us.
Question. Do you know the rank of that officer?
Answer. I do not. I can't tell them as I can our officers. Their uniform
is different. I went round on the hill then. I heard several of them say
it was General Forrest's orders to them to shoot us and give us no
quarter at all. I don't know whether they were officers who said so or
not. I don't recollect anything else particularly that I saw that night.
The next morning they came round there again, shooting the negroes that
were wounded. I saw them shoot some 20 or 25 negroes the next morning
who had been wounded, and had been able to get up on the hill during the
night. They did not attempt to hurt us white men the next morning.
Question. Were any of their officers with the men who were round
shooting the negroes the next morning?
Answer. One passed along on horseback, the only one I saw. He rode along
while they were shooting the negroes, and said nothing to them. I said,
"Captain, what are you going to do with us wounded fellows?" He said
they were going to put us on the gunboats, or leave us with the
gunboats. He had a feather in his cap, and looked like he might have
been a captain. I don't know what he was. He was the only man I saw pass
that looked like an officer while they were shooting the negroes.
Question. Where were you when the flags of truce were sent in?
Answer. I was down under the bluff sharpshooting.
Question. Is there anything else that you think of important to state?
Answer. I don't know that there is.
* * * * *
James P. Meador, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company A, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Do you live in Tennessee?
Answer. Yes, sir; I am a native of the State.
Question. Were you in Fort Pillow at the time of the attack there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir; twice.
Question. When?
Answer. Once before I surrendered and once afterwards.
Question. Did you see anybody shot besides yourself after he
surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw lots of negroes shot, and some few white men,
and I heard them shoot a great many. I was lying down under the bank.
Question. What were our men doing when they were shot?
Answer. They were begging for quarter when they shot them.
Question. Did you see any of them shot while begging for quarter?
Answer. Yes, sir; I heard an officer say, "Don't show the white men any
more quarter than the negroes, because they are no better, and not so
good, or they would not fight with the negroes." I saw them make one of
our company sergeants kneel down and ask for quarter, and another secesh
soldier came up and snapped his pistol at him twice; but they told him
not to shoot him. I saw them shoot others when they were kneeling down.
* * * * *
W. J. Mays, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you in Fort Pillow when it was attacked?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State what happened there.
Answer. They attacked us about six o'clock in the morning. Sharpshooting
commenced early afterwards, and kept coming closer and closer until the
skirmishers were drawn in about ten o'clock. After that they made
several efforts to gain the fort, and could not get the position. Under
this last flag of truce they gained the position they had been trying to
get all day.
Question. Did you see them moving their troops when the flag of truce
was in?
Answer. Yes, sir; I showed it to the boys.
Question. What was the movement?
Answer. The place was pretty well surrounded, but they were not on the
ground they had been trying to get all day. Under that flag of truce
they gained the place, some 75 yards from the fort, and placed
themselves under logs, with a better position.
Question. Are you sure this movement was made while the flag of truce
was in?
Answer. I know it.
Question. Did others see it?
Answer. Yes, sir; two boys near me, who were both taken prisoners.
Question. Was anything said about it at the time?
Answer. We spoke of it among ourselves at the time. We remarked that
under the flag of truce they were only gaining the position they had
been trying for all day. I was shot in the charge on the fort. The place
was then taken. I would not have fallen then, but our men after
surrendering found no quarter shown them, and they flew down the bluff
and ran over me and kept me down for some time, until I bled so that I
could not get up. I saw them shoot a great many after they surrendered.
I saw them shoot four white men and at least 25 blacks, some of them
within 20 feet of me, while they were begging for quarter. They pulled
one out of a hollow log by the foot and held him, when another shot him
close by me. There were two negro women, and three little boys, some 8,
9 or 12 years old, about 25 steps from me. The secesh ran upon them and
cursed them, and said, "Damn them;" they thought they were free to shoot
them. All fell but one, a little fellow, and they took the breech of a
gun and knocked him down. Then they followed up the men that were trying
to get away down the bluff, and some hours afterwards they came back
searching their pockets. They came on back then, looking over them, and
I saw one man with a canteen and asked him for a drink of water. His
reply was to turn on me with his pistol presented and shoot at me three
times, saying, "God damn you; I will give you water." But he didn't hit
me, though he threw the dirt over my face. I concluded it was best to
lie still, and didn't move any more until after dark, and then I crawled
in with some of the dead and laid there until about 9 o'clock the next
morning, when the gunboat came up, and I crawled down on the gunboat
with a piece of white paper in my left hand, and made signs, and the
boat came ashore and I got on the boat. The general cry from the time
they charged the fort until an hour afterwards was, "Kill 'em; kill 'em;
God damn 'em; that's Forrest's orders, not to leave one alive." They
were burning the buildings. They came with a chunk of fire to burn the
building where I was in with the dead. They looked in and said, "These
damned sons of bitches are all dead," and went off. I heard guns the
next morning, but I was in there with the dead, and didn't see them
shoot anybody.
Question. Did you see any of the men in the fort shot after they had
surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw four white men and 25 negroes that I spoke of
that were shot in the fort. The white men didn't commence flying from
the fort, though they threw their guns down, until they saw there was no
quarter shown them.
* * * * *
James McCoy sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where do you reside?
Answer. When I am suffered to live at home I live in Tennessee.
Question. You don't belong to the army?
Answer. No, sir; but I have been with the regiment six months. The head
officers were old acquaintances of mine. I once lived with Major
Bradford.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time the attack was made?
Answer. Yes, sir; I was in Fort Pillow at headquarters.
Question. Will you tell us what you observed there?
Answer. About daylight in the morning part of the pickets came in and
said the rebels had captured some of the pickets and were coming. I had
not got out of bed then. Major Bradford was up immediately the alarm was
given. I had had my hands mashed a few days before. Major Bradford told
me I had better go on the gunboat, as I would be in the way because I
could not hold a gun. I went on board the gunboat, and about sunrise the
firing commenced. The gunboat immediately played up and down the river,
where I could see everything going on at the fort. I could not see over
the bluff. Major Bradford had a flag and stood on the edge of the bluff
and motioned to the gunboat where to throw their shells. We had a great
many guns on the boat, and about 20 used their guns all the time. The
rebel sharpshooters would come over the hill and shoot at the boat and
everybody that passed.
Question. Where were you when the flag of truce came in?
Answer. I was on the boat.
Question. What did you see?
Answer. As soon as the flag of truce came in the gunboat stopped firing.
It was about 3 o'clock when it came in, and while it was in the enemy
were creeping up constantly, sharpshooters and all, nearer and nearer. I
saw a great many creeping on their hands and feet, getting up to the
hill close to the fort. I don't know what was back of that. Some men in
the fort told me that they had advanced and got close to the fort before
the flag of truce was taken out. I saw them gathering around there all
the time, and all that time they were stealing from the commissary's
stores blankets and everything else they could get at. I reckon I saw
200 men climbing the hill with as much as they could carry on their
backs, shoes, &c.
Question. Why did our officers permit that without firing on them?
Answer. The gunboat, I think, was almost out of ammunition and had
nothing to shoot; and none of them supposed the gunboat would stop
shooting, but she ran out of ammunition.
Question. Were you there until the place was taken?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What happened after that?
Answer. About the time the rebels got over the fort there was just a
cloud of them, our men in the fort running out. About 500 secesh
cavalry, as well as I could see, came up and turned in to shooting them
down just as fast as they could. I heard a great deal of screaming and
praying for mercy. The negroes took a scare from that and ran down the
hill and into the river, but they kept shooting them. I was not more
than 400 yards off, on the gunboat. I don't suppose one of them got more
than 30 yards into the river before they were shot. The bullets rained
as thick in the water as you ever saw a hailstorm.
Question. Were those men armed who were shot?
Answer. No, sir; they threw down their arms.
Question. How many were shot?
Answer. I don't know how many. They lay thick there the next morning,
beside those they had buried.
Question. You came back there the next morning?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What do you know about their burying men who were not dead?
Answer. I don't know anything myself, only what I heard.
Question. Did you go up there where they had buried them?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. What did you hear about it?
Answer. I heard one of them say that he saw where a negro was buried,
and saw a large mass of foam and dirt where somebody had been breathing
through the earth. He brushed it off and saw a negro there still
breathing. I saw one or two who looked as if they had been buried when
they came on board. I heard one ask them if they had been buried, and
they said "Very near it." I don't think they were wounded. One of them
had been in the dirt. I don't know whether he played dead and was buried
or not.
Question. Do you know anything of their killing the men in the hospital?
Answer. Not of my own seeing. Mr. Akerstrom was in his office down under
the hill after the flag of truce was in, and made some signs for us to
come to him. Since that time I have been told that they wounded him and
then nailed him to a door and burned him up, but I didn't see that
myself.
Question. When did you hear about this nailing to a building and burning
him up?
Answer. Since we came up here.
Question. Were you on board the gunboat the next day when some of the
rebel officers came on board?
Answer. I was on board the Platte Valley.
Question. Did they come with a flag of truce?
Answer. A flag of truce was hoisted, and when we got in to the shore
some of the rebel officers came on board the Platte Valley.
Question. How were they received by our officers?
Answer. Just as though there had been no fight. Some of the officers on
the Platte Valley took one of the rebel officers up to the bar and
treated him, and some would ask the rebel officers what made them treat
our men as they did. He said they intended to treat all home-made
Yankees just as they did the negroes. I went to Captain Marshall and
asked him to let me shoot him. He said that the flag of truce was up,
and it would be against the rules of war to shoot him.
Question. Do you know what officers treated him?
Answer. I don't know; they were all strangers to me. The gunboat first
landed, and then the transport Platte Valley came up and took the
prisoners, and then another boat came up and laid alongside of her. The
three lay there together.
Question. Do you know of anything further on the subject that is
important?
Answer. I don't think of anything now.
* * * * *
William E. Johnson, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what regiment do you belong?
Answer. I am a sergeant of company B, of the 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time of the attack there?
Answer. No, sir; I was at Memphis. I came up to Fort Pillow the morning
after the fight, on the Platte Valley, within some six or eight miles
below Fort Pillow, and then got on the gunboat 28.
Question. Did you go on shore at Fort Pillow?
Answer. No, sir; I saw some of the rebel officers come down and go on
board the Platte Valley; and some of our officers were drinking with
them, and making very free with them. I did not particularly notice what
rank, but I took them to be captains and lieutenants.
Question. Did you hear the conversation between them?
Answer. They were making very free with one another, joking, talking,
and running on. I did not feel right to see such going on, and did not
go about them.
* * * * *
John W. Shelton, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. I was born in Arkansas, but raised principally in Tennessee.
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when the attack was made there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Before or after the surrender?
Answer. It was after I surrendered.
Question. Where were you when you were shot?
Answer. I was under the hill, going up the hill.
Question. What did they say when they shot you?
Answer. I asked them if they did not respect prisoners of war; they
said "no, they did not," and kept on shooting; and they popped three or
four caps in my face with a revolver after they had wounded me.
Question. Did you see them shoot any others after they had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir, lots of them; negroes and white men both. They shot
them down wherever they came to them.
Question. Were you there the next day after the battle?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you see them shoot anybody the next day?
Answer. I saw them shoot negroes, not white men.
Question. How many did you see them shoot that day?
Answer. I saw them shoot five or six on the hill where I was; they said
they shot all they could find.
Question. Were you in the hospital there?
Answer. I was in a house there with the wounded.
Question. Did you see them kill anybody there that was wounded?
Answer. They took two negroes out and shot them.
Question. Did you see them burn any buildings the wounded were in?
Answer. Not the one we were in. I was told they fired some buildings
that wounded negroes were in.
Question. Were you where they buried any of the killed?
Answer. I saw them bury some in a ditch in the evening.
Question. Did they separate the whites from the blacks?
Answer. I cannot tell; I was not close enough. I saw them carry them
there and throw them in the ditch.
Question. Did you hear anything about their nailing a man to a building
and then setting it on fire?
Answer. I heard of it, but did not see it.
Question. When did you hear of it?
Answer. After I came up here.
* * * * *
John F. Ray, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when it was attacked?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. At what time were you wounded?
Answer. I was wounded about 2 o'clock, after the rebels got in the
breastworks.
Question. Was it before or after you had surrendered?
Answer. It was after I threw down my gun, as they all started to run.
Question. Will you state what you saw there?
Answer. After I surrendered they shot down a great many white fellows
right close to me--ten or twelve, I suppose--and a great many negroes,
too.
Question. How long did they keep shooting our men after they
surrendered?
Answer. I heard guns away after dark shooting all that evening,
somewhere; they kept up a regular fire for a long time, and then I heard
the guns once in a while.
Question. Did you see any one shot the next day?
Answer. I did not; I was in a house, and could not get up at all.
Question. Do you know what became of the quartermaster of your regiment,
Lieutenant Akerstrom?
Answer. He was shot by the side of me.
Question. Was he killed?
Answer. I thought so at the time; he fell on his face. He was shot in
the forehead, and I thought he was killed. I heard afterwards he was
not.
Question. Did you notice anything that took place while the flag of
truce was in?
Answer. I saw the rebels slipping up and getting in the ditch along our
breastworks.
Question. How near did they come up?
Answer. They were right at us; right across from the breastworks. I
asked them what they were slipping up there for. They made answer that
they knew their business.
Question. Are you sure this was done while the flag of truce was in?
Answer. Yes, sir. There was no firing; we could see all around; we could
see them moving up all around in large force.
Question. Was anything said about it except what you said to the rebels?
Answer. I heard all our boys talking about it. I heard some of our
officers remark, as they saw it coming, that the white flag was a bad
thing; that they were slipping on us. I believe it was Lieutenant
Akerstrom that I heard say it was against the rules of war for them to
come up in that way.
Question. To whom did he say that?
Answer. To those fellows coming up; they had officers with them.
Question. Was Lieutenant Akerstrom shot before or after he had
surrendered?
Answer. About two minutes after the flag of truce went back, during the
action.
Question. Do you think of anything else to state? If so, go on and state
it.
Answer. I saw a rebel lieutenant take a little negro boy up on the horse
behind him; and then I heard General Chalmers--I think it must have
been--tell him to "take that negro down and shoot him," or "take him and
shoot him," and he passed him down and shot him.
Question. How large was the boy?
Answer. He was not more than eight years old. I heard the lieutenant
tell the other that the negro was not in the service; that he was
nothing but a child; that he was pressed and brought in there. The other
one said: "Damn the difference; take him down and shoot him, or he would
shoot him." I think it must have been General Chalmers. He was a
smallish man; he had on a long gray coat, with a star on his coat.
* * * * *
Daniel H. Rankin, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company C, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the late attack there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Will you state what happened there?
Answer. The worst thing I saw was the rebels moving up on us while the
flag of truce was up at the fort. One part of their army moved right up
on the brink of the ditch, and when the firing began, they rushed right
into the fort. Before that the rebels were off two or three hundred
yards. They tried twice to make a charge, but they did not succeed; they
did not get within twenty or thirty steps of the fort then. I saw a
great many men shot after they surrendered, white and black both.
Question. Are you sure you saw the rebels moving up towards the fort
while the flag of truce was in?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw them.
Question. When were you shot?
Answer. After I surrendered.
Question. Where were you when you were shot?
Answer. About half way down the bluff.
Question. Had you your gun when you were shot?
Answer. No, sir; if I had had my gun I would have shot the fellow who
shot me. He was not more than ten steps from me. He was loading his gun,
and I saw him shoot a man near me. As he fired at him I threw myself
over the bluff, catching hold of a little locust. He aimed at my body
and hit me in the leg. I then dropped down and got into the river, and
afterwards got out and crawled behind a stump with two of my company.
Some darkeys came there, and we told them to go away; we saw the rebels
were shooting them, and we allowed if they were not with us we might get
clear. I went back to where I was shot, and some fellow fired at us, but
did not hit us. We begged him not to shoot; that the place was
surrendered to them. One of our fellows threw up his hands, but they
fired at him and hit his arm. We were carried out about two miles from
the fort and then paroled.
Question. How long did you stay where you had been carried out from the
fort?
Answer. I staid there some eighteen or twenty hours; from about 8
o'clock at night to about 4 o'clock the next evening. In that time my
wound was dressed, and I was paroled somewhere between 3 and 5 o'clock.
I got three of the rebels to help me up about a half a mile to a
citizen's house, for I was not able to walk. I found out that the
gunboat had a flag of truce, and I got an old man then in the house to
saddle up a horse and carry me to the fort. Two rebel doctors went along
with me. When we got there a rebel lieutenant colonel took my parole
from me, said it was forged, and that he was going to take me back. The
doctors told him my parole was right, and that I was not able to travel.
They took me down to the gunboat No. 28, and then I went from that boat
to gunboat No. 7, and then I went on the flag-ship.
* * * * *
Lieutenant William Clary, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your rank and position in the service?
Answer. I am second lieutenant of company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when it was attacked?
Answer. No, sir; I was sent to Memphis the day before, and returned to
Fort Pillow the morning after the fight. I came up on gunboat No. 28.
The rebels were at Fulton, about two miles and a half below Fort Pillow.
We fired at them, and the rebels at Fort Pillow heard it, and thought we
were bringing up re-enforcements, and then they set the town on fire.
Question. When did you get up there?
Answer. Early in the morning, or little after daylight.
Question. When did you land at Fort Pillow?
Answer. We got there about 8 o'clock in the morning, and shelled there
an hour or so. The rebels were occupying the fort in large numbers. By
and by the rebels came down with a flag of truce, and I went on shore to
see what was wanting. One of the officers of the 6th United States heavy
artillery said he did not like to go on shore for fear the rebels would
kill him. I went on shore with one of the naval officers and saw General
Forrest's adjutant general, Major Anderson. He said if we would
recognize the parole of Forrest we might take our wounded on the
gunboat; and that was agreed upon. I rode all around the battle-ground,
and saw some of our dead half buried, and I saw five negroes burning. I
asked Colonel Chalmers, the general's brother, if that was the way he
allowed his men to do. He concluded that he could not control his men
very well, and thought it was justifiable in regard to negroes; that
they did not recognize negroes as soldiers, and he could not control his
men. I did not see any white men burning there; if there were any, I
did not recognize them as such. Their faces were burned, and some of
them were sticking out of the tents and houses with their clothes partly
burned. The negroes were lying upon the boards and straw in the tents
which had been set on fire. It seemed to me as if the fire could not
have been set more than half an hour before. Their flesh was frying off
them, and their clothes were burning.
Question. How many did you see in that condition?
Answer. I saw five.
Question. Did they burn the hospital?
Answer. I saw the hospital burning, but I do not know whether they moved
the sick out or not before they burned it. I understood the rebels went
in where there were some 20 or 30 negroes sick, and hacked them over
their heads with sabres and shot them. The negroes had been moved from
the heights up on the hill into two large tents by us; but I do not
think our men had been moved up there. I went through the hospital tents
up there the morning before I started down to Memphis, and saw them full
of colored troops. Dr. Fitch told me that he had his hospital flag on
every bush around the bottom of the hill. At the commencement of the
fight the major had told him to take his instruments and his medicines
down under the bluff and stick up flags there, and have the wounded
taken down to him. But the doctor said they did not notice his flags at
all; that some of his patients were wounded there. He was wounded
himself and taken prisoner and paroled.
Question. Did you see them shoot any colored men that morning?
Answer. I saw them shoot one man just before we landed with the flag of
truce. An escort of about 20 men rode up to a livery stable and set it
on fire. The gunboat fired at them but did not hit them, and they got on
their horses and rode off at a trot. There were some paths down the
hill, and a man came along down one of them; I saw them halt; the
foremost one, an officer I think, pulled out a revolver and shot very
deliberately at this man, and then they galloped off in quick time. He
did not kill the man, however, for I saw him walking along afterwards. I
do not know whether the man was white or black.
Question. Did you hear anything of their nailing men to a building and
then burning it?
Answer. Yes, sir; I heard of it. And I heard a lady say that a man was
nailed to a building that was burned. She said she was well acquainted
with Lieutenant Akerstrom before the fight took place. Some one asked
why he was not buried. Some of the rebels said he was a damned conscript
that had run away from Forrest. But I never heard Lieutenant Akerstrom
say any such thing.
Question. Who was that lady?
Answer. Mrs. Ruffin, the wife of Thomas Ruffin.
Question. Where is she now?
Answer. I think she is at Cairo now. Her husband did not get wounded,
but he was sick. I heard an ensign on gunboat 28 invite General Chalmers
and some of his aides-de-camp to come on board the gunboat, and I saw
Major Anderson and several other confederate officers on the Platte
Valley drinking at the bar, and I saw a couple of army officers drinking
there with them, and there might have been some naval officers with them
too, but I am not certain of that. The clerk of the Platte Valley,
General Forrest's adjutant general, Major Anderson, and an ensign of
gunboat 28, took the names of the paroles. I did not take the names
myself, because I was busily engaged going over the battle-field to find
out if any of our men were left alive. I heard a great many rebel
soldiers say they did not intend to recognize those black devils as
soldiers. They said this to me as I was speaking about the slaughter
there. They also expressed the opinion that if we had not been fighting
with black troops they would not have hurt us at all; but they did not
intend to give any quarter to negroes.
* * * * *
Dr. Stewart Gordon, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your position?
Answer. Acting assistant surgeon, United States army.
Question. Where are you now stationed?
Answer. I have charge of ward N, Mound City general hospital.
Question. Is that the ward in which are the colored men we first
examined yesterday?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Have you prepared a statement of the condition of the men in
that ward whose testimony we have taken?
Answer. I have it here; it is a brief history of their cases, where they
were wounded, how they were wounded, and the condition they are
in.--(Appendix to this deposition.)
Question. Were you here in the hospital when those men were brought in?
Answer. I was.
Question. Had you any conversation with them then?
Answer. Yes, sir; with the greater part of them.
Question. Did you hear their testimony yesterday?
Answer. I did.
Question. Did the statements they made to us correspond with the
statements they made to you when they were first brought here?
Answer. They did.
Question. So far as you can judge, from your experience as a medical
man, are their statements in relation to their injuries corroborated by
the appearance of the injuries themselves?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How many of those men have died since they have been received
here?
Answer. Only one in my ward.
Question. How many are there now who you think will not recover?
Answer. I think there are three who will not recover; perhaps more.
* * * * *
_Ward N._--Private Elias Falls, company A, 1st Alabama artillery, shot
in arm while fighting, shot in thigh after being prisoner, flesh wound,
condition favorable; Private Duncan Harden, company A, 1st Alabama
artillery, shot in arm while fighting, arm broke, shot in thigh after
being prisoner, flesh wound, favorable; Private Nathan Hunter, company
D, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in side and hip after surrender, flesh
wound, condition favorable; Sergeant Benjamin Robinson, company D, 1st
Alabama artillery, shot in thigh and right leg after surrender, flesh
wound, favorable; Private Daniel Tylor, company B, 1st Tennessee
artillery, shot in right shoulder, shot in right eye after surrender,
destroying sight, unfavorable; Private John Haskins, company B, 1st
Tennessee artillery, shot in left arm after surrender, flesh wound,
slight, favorable; Private Thomas Adison, company C, 1st Alabama
artillery, shot in nose and right eye after surrender, destroying sight,
unfavorable; Private Alfred Flake, company A, 1st Alabama artillery,
shot in left hand while lying sick in hospital, flesh wound,
unfavorable; Private Manuel Nichols, company B, 1st Alabama artillery,
shot in left side before, and right arm after surrender, flesh wound,
serious, unfavorable; Private Arthur Edmonds, company C, 1st Alabama
artillery, shot in head and right arm after surrender, causing fracture
of arm, condition favorable; Private Henry Hanks, company A, 1st Alabama
artillery, shot in left side after surrender, wound serious, condition
unfavorable; Private Charles Key, company D, 1st Alabama artillery, shot
in right arm after surrender, fracture of arm, condition favorable;
Private Henry Christon, company B, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in back
before surrender, wound serious, rather favorable; Private Aaron
Fintis, company D, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in both legs after
surrender, flesh wound, slight, condition favorable; Private George
Shaw, company B, 1st Tennessee artillery, shot in left side of head,
shot in right wrist after surrender, not serious, favorable; Private
Major William, company B, 1st Tennessee artillery, shot through nose
after surrender, not serious, condition favorable; officer's servant
William Jerdon, 13th Tennessee cavalry, shot in left ankle, amputation,
shot in left arm, fracture of arm after surrender, very unfavorable;
Corporal Alexander Naison, company C, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in
right side of head after surrender, not serious, favorable; Private
Thomas Gadis, company C, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in right hip after
surrender, serious, condition unfavorable; Corporal Eli Cothel, company
B, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in right leg while fighting, shot in left
arm after surrender, flesh wound, favorable; Private Sandy Cole, company
D, 1st Alabama artillery, shot in right thigh and arm after surrender,
flesh wound, condition favorable; Private Nathan Modley, company D, 1st
Alabama artillery, shot in right knee after surrender, injury of joint,
condition unfavorable; Private John Holland, company B, 1st Tennessee
artillery, shot in right thigh after surrender, flesh wound, condition
favorable; Private Robert Hall, company C, 1st Alabama artillery, sabre
cut of head and left hand while lying sick in hospital, died.
STEWART GORDON,
_Charge of Ward N_.
* * * * *
Dr. William N. McCoy, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your position in the service?
Answer. I am an acting assistant surgeon, now stationed at Mound City
general hospital, in charge of wards L, K, I, and H. Wards L, K, and H
have wounded in from Fort Pillow.
Question. Have you prepared a statement of the cases of those of your
patients whom we examined here?
Answer. Yes, sir; here is the statement.--(See appendix to this
deposition.)
Question. Did you have any conversation with those wounded men in
relation to their injuries when they first came to the hospital?
Answer. I did to some extent.
Question. Have any of the wounded from Fort Pillow died in your wards?
Answer. One in ward H.
Question. Are there others who you think will not recover?
Answer. There are two whose recovery I think is doubtful.
* * * * *
_Wounded in wards L, K, and H, United States General Hospital, Mound
City, Illinois._--W. P. Walker, sergeant, company D, 13th Tennessee
cavalry, received four wounds at Fort Pillow April 12, 1864. One ball
passed through left arm near middle third, fracturing humerus. Second
ball struck right side of neck, 1-1/2 inch below mastoid process, and
remaining in. Third ball made flesh wound in right shoulder. Fourth ball
struck left eye, supposed by himself to be a glancing shot; eye totally
destroyed. Done after the surrender.
Milas M. M. Woodside, a discharged soldier from the 7th Tennessee
cavalry, also from the 13th Tennessee cavalry, wounded by two balls,
first (pistol) ball striking just below insertion of deltoid muscle of
right arm, and remaining in; second (musket) ball striking centre of
right breast over third rib, and passing to the right and downward,
emerged at inner border of the scapula, about 6 inches from point of
entrance. Done after surrender.
Jason London, private, company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry, received a
ball, which struck the dorsal side of right hand about the junction of
carpal and metacarpal bones of index finger; emerged at carpal bone of
thumb; then struck thigh in front, about 6 inches above knee-joint;
passing over the bone, emerged on inner side. After being wounded, he
was knocked down by one of the fiends with a musket. Done after the
surrender.
David H. Taylor, private, company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry, received
five wounds. First (musket) ball passed in under the angle of right jaw,
fracturing the symphysis, where it emerged. Second ball struck front of
right shoulder-joint; emerged immediately behind caracoid process. Third
ball entered 3 inches below, and a little to the right of entiform
cartilage; passing downward, is lost. Fourth ball in left knee,
fracturing inner condyle of femur, and passed into popliteal space.
Fifth ball, upper part of middle third thigh; lost. Done after the
surrender.
David W. Harrison, private, company D, 13th Tennessee cavalry, received
three wounds. First (musket) ball passed from behind head of humerus,
left side; emerged between clavicle and axilla, producing compound
comminuted fracture of head and upper end of shaft of bone. Second ball
struck left side 2-1/2 inches above ilium; ball not found. Third ball
entered at upper edge of scapula behind, passing under the bone, is
lost. Wounds received after surrender.
James Calvin Goeforth, private, company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry,
received wound. Ball passed from right to left across the back, entering
at upper part of scapula; emerged at a point a little below and at the
opposite side, (flesh wound.) Done after the surrender.
William A. Dickey, company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry, wounded after the
surrender. Ball entered abdomen 4 inches to the right of umbilicus; ball
lost.
Thomas J. Cartwright, company A, 13th Tennessee cavalry, received wound
in left shoulder, striking pectoral muscle near axilla, fracturing
clavicle; was extracted near the vertebral column at upper and outer
border of scapula. Done before the surrender.
William L. McMichael, private, company C, 13th Tennessee cavalry,
received five wounds. First ball glanced along the upper portion of
right parietal bone, making wound (flesh) 2-1/2 inches long. Second ball
glanced ulnar side of left forearm at wrist joint. Third ball struck
left side of abdomen on a line from anterior superior process of ilium
to symphysis pubis; ball not found. Fourth ball struck near the
insertion of tensu of right side; passed downwards 4 inches; was
extracted. Wounds received after the surrender of the fort.
Isaac J. Leadbetter, private, company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry,
received wound in left side. Musket ball struck over eighth rib and
plunged downward; is lost. Done after surrender.
James Walls, private, company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry, was wounded by
musket ball striking over origin of gluteus minemus of left side, and
passed upwards and across, emerging 11 inches from point of entrance
almost over the last rib of right side, and about 2-1/2 inches from
vertebral column. Done after the surrender.
In charge of WILLIAM N. McCOY,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, United States Army_.
* * * * *
Dr. A. H. Kellogg, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank and position in the service?
Answer. I am an acting assistant surgeon, in charge of wards E and F,
Mound City general hospital.
Question. Were you present yesterday when the testimony of the wounded
men in your wards was taken?
Answer. I have but one under my charge who was wounded at Fort Pillow. I
heard his testimony.
Question. Had you previously had any conversation with him in relation
to the circumstances attending his being wounded?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did his statements to us yesterday correspond with the
statements he made to you?
Answer. Yes, sir; except he gave a few more details yesterday as to what
was said to him. He told me that he was wounded after he had
surrendered.
Question. Have you prepared a statement of his case?
Answer. Yes, sir; here it is.
Woodford Cooksey, private, company A, 13th regiment Tennessee cavalry,
gunshot wound, with comminuted fracture of middle third of left femur,
received at Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864, _after surrender_.
A. H. KELLOGG, M. D.,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A._
* * * * *
Doctor Charles H. Vail, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your rank and position in the service?
Answer. Acting assistant surgeon in charge of wards A, B, C, and D,
Mound City general hospital. The adjutant of the 13th Tennessee cavalry
is in ward B.
Question. Have you prepared a statement of his case?
Answer. Yes, sir; and also of Captain Porter, who is in the same ward,
and who was too weak to be examined this morning.
First Lieutenant Mack J. Seaming, adjutant 13th Tennessee cavalry,
gunshot wound of right side, received at Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864.
Ball entered right side below inferior angle of scapula, between sixth
and seventh rib, ranged downward and was lost in muscles near hip.
Wounded after he had surrendered; shot by a man standing thirty feet
above him on the bank. Present condition of patient good, with fair
prospect of recovery.
Captain John H. Potter, company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry, wounded at
Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864. Ball fractured skull, carrying away a
portion of left parietal and frontal bones, leaving brain exposed for a
distance of an inch and a half; was wounded early in the fight by a
sharpshooter before the surrender. Present condition almost hopeless,
has remained insensible ever since he was wounded.
CHARLES H. VAIL, M. D.,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A., in charge of officers' ward_.
* * * * *
Doctor J. A. C. McCoy, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your rank and position?
Answer. Acting assistant surgeon in charge of wards O, P, Q, and R, in
Mound City general hospital.
Question. Have you any of the wounded soldiers from Fort Pillow in your
wards?
Answer. I have.
Question. Have you prepared a statement of their cases?
Answer. Yes, sir; I have two statements here prepared at different
times; I will hand you both of them, as each one contains some
particulars not in the other.
_Ward Q._--John F. Ray, private, company B, 13th Tennessee, shot in
popliteal space, ball lodged, done after surrender; John W. Shelton,
private, company E, 13th Tennessee, shot through left leg, middle
third, flesh wound, done after surrender; Joseph M. Green, private,
company A, 13th Tennessee, shot in right shoulder, behind, ball escaping
at middle of right arm, flesh wound, done after surrender; James H.
Stout, private, company B, 13th Tennessee, shot in right leg, producing
compound fracture of tibia, done after surrender; Thomas J. Thompson,
private, company D, 13th Tennessee, shot between sixth and seventh ribs,
ball passing downward is lost, done after surrender; Daniel H. Rankin,
private, company C, 13th Tennessee, shot through left leg, flesh wound,
done after surrender; Wiley Robinson, private, company A, 13th
Tennessee, shot in right arm and right index finger, flesh wounds, shot
through left index finger and through inferior lobe left lung, ball
lodged, shot through left thigh and through left ankle, flesh wounds,
all but one shot done after surrender; Daniel Stamps, private, company
E, 13th Tennessee, shot through right thigh, flesh wound, done after
surrender; James P. Meador, private, company A, 13th Tennessee, shot
through inferior lobe of right lung and superior lobe of left lung, one
shot after surrender; William J. Mays, company B, 13th Tennessee, shot
through right axilla and side, flesh wounds, done just before surrender;
James N. Taylor, private, company E, 13th Tennessee, shot in right hip,
ball lodged, done after surrender; Francis A. Alexander, private,
company C, 13th Tennessee, shot through right leg, flesh wound, done
after surrender; Nathan G. Fowlkes, private, company D, 13th Tennessee,
shot in left leg, compound fracture of both bones, done after surrender.
J. A. C. McCOY,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A._
Francis A. Alexander, company C, 13th Tennessee, shot once after
surrender, dangerous; Nathan G. Fowlkes, company D, 13th Tennessee, shot
once after surrender, dangerous; Wiley Robinson, company A, 13th
Tennessee, shot seven times, six times after surrender, dangerous;
Daniel Stamps, company E, 13th Tennessee, shot once after surrender,
severe; James P. Meador, company A, 13th Tennessee, shot twice, once
after surrender, dangerous; James N. Taylor, company E, 13th Tennessee,
shot once after surrender, dangerous; William J. Mays, company B, 13th
Tennessee, shot once just before surrender, dangerous; John F. Ray,
company B, 13th Tennessee, shot once after surrender, dangerous; John W.
Shelton, company E, 13th Tennessee, shot once after surrender,
dangerous; Thomas J. Thompson, company D, 13th Tennessee, shot once
after surrender, dangerous; Joseph M. Green, company A, 13th Tennessee,
shot once after surrender, dangerous; James H. Stout, company B, 13th
Tennessee, shot once after surrender, dangerous; Daniel H. Rankin,
company C, 13th Tennessee, shot once after surrender, dangerous.
J. A. C. McCOY, M. D.,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A._
* * * * *
The following is a statement prepared by Dr. M. Black of the cases under
his charge:
Horton Casen, private, company A, 1st Alabama infantry, wounded at Fort
Pillow after surrender, gunshot wounds in hip and thigh; Jacob Thompson,
waiter, company B, 11th Illinois cavalry, wounded at Fort Pillow after
surrender, pistol shots through thumb and head and several blows with
blunt instrument (says with a gun) on head and neck, dividing skin in
several places; Henry Parker, company D, 1st Alabama, wounded at Fort
Pillow after surrender, gunshot wound in hip; Ransom Anderson, company
B, 1st Alabama artillery, wounded at Fort Pillow after surrender, sabre
cuts on head and hand and gunshot wounds in shoulder and chest; Mary
Jane Robinson, wife of a soldier at Fort Pillow, wounded by a rebel
after the surrender of the fort, at a distance of ten yards, gunshot
wound through both knees.
M. BLACK,
_Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A._
* * * * *
Surgeon Horace Wardner, recalled and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Have you heard our examination of the wounded in this hospital
from Fort Pillow?
Answer. I have.
Question. Did you have any conversation with them when they were first
brought to the hospital?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did the statements they made to you then correspond with their
statements to us?
Answer. They did.
Question. Do the nature and character of their injuries sustain their
statements in regard to their injuries?
Answer. The character of the injuries of these men corroborates their
statements in regard to the treatment they received from the rebels.
* * * * *
MOUND CITY, ILLINOIS, _April 23, 1864_.
Captain Alexander M. Pennock, United States navy, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. What is your rank and position in the navy?
Answer. I am a captain in the United States navy; fleet captain of the
Mississippi squadron, and commandant of the station of Cairo and Mound
City.
Question. How long have you been in the naval service?
Answer. Since the first of April, 1828.
Question. Will you please state what services have been rendered by the
naval forces here in checking and preventing the recent movements of the
rebel Forrest and his command in this vicinity?
Answer. Two gunboats were at Paducah at the time the attack was made
upon that place; they rendered efficient service there. On receiving
information that Paducah had been attacked, or that there was a
probability of its being attacked, I immediately went to Cairo from
Mound City, with Captain Shirk, of the navy, and conferred with General
Brayman and General Veatch. A regiment was sent by General Veatch up to
Paducah. An armed despatch boat was also sent up, with Captain Shirk on
board, and Captain Odlin, assistant adjutant general on General
Brayman's staff, to ascertain the facts, and render such assistance as
might be needed. I was informed by both Captain Shirk and Captain Odlin
that the gunboats there, and the fort, had expended a great deal of
ammunition and were getting short of it. Ammunition both for the army
and navy was immediately sent up; a division of gunboats from the
Cumberland river, Captain Fitch commanding, came down after the fight
and re-enforced Captain Shirk at Paducah.
Information having reached me that the rebels were crossing over into
Illinois in small squads, four gunboats were stationed by the two
above-named naval officers between Paducah and Mound City, to prevent
their crossing, and orders were given them to destroy all ferries and
skiffs, in fact all means of communication across the Ohio river.
A gunboat had been stationed at Columbus, Kentucky. Hearing that the
surrender of that place had been demanded, I despatched Captain Fitch
with two of the Cumberland river boats, and another gunboat which was
here for repairs, to Columbus, with orders if all was quiet there to go
down the river a far as Hickman. I instructed him that the Mississippi
river must be kept clear at all hazards. After having given this order,
which was in writing, the captain of a steamboat came to me and informed
me that Fort Pillow had been attacked, and that the captain of the
gunboat stationed there sent word that he had expended nearly all his
ammunition. I directed Captain Fitch, if he could be spared from
Columbus, to go down to Fort Pillow with his three boats, and I
immediately had placed on board a despatch boat the ammunition required
for the gunboat then at Fort Pillow. And boats have since been cruising
up and down the Ohio river, and the Mississippi river as far as Fort
Pillow, for the purpose of giving convoy and keeping the river open. On
the arrival of Captain Fitch near Fort Pillow, he found the enemy in
force on this side of the fort, behind wood piles on the bank of the
river; they were burning wood and barges there. They were shelled and
driven off. Captain Fitch also prevented a detachment of rebels from
crossing over to an island, where a number of transports and other boats
had been detained, which the rebels desired to capture or destroy. He
convoyed that fleet as far as Fort Pillow, clear of danger. Afterwards
three boats were sent down to Hickman, for the purpose of giving
protection to such Union men as desired to leave and bring away their
goods, and if possible to capture any rebels that might be in the place.
A detachment of marines accompanied this expedition. The town was
surrounded twice, once by day and once by night; the guerillas had been
in there and escaped. The people of Hickman were warned that if even a
musket shot was again fired at a transport or other boat the place would
be at once destroyed. These boats have been moving constantly day and
night, and despatch boats have been furnished by the navy to convey
despatches for General Sherman and General Brayman, up the Tennessee
river, or wherever they might require. I would add that when Captain
Fitch returned from Fort Pillow he brought away with him refugees, women
and children, who had been left there, and ten wounded soldiers who had
been there for two days.
Question. What, in your opinion, would be the competent military and
naval force to protect the public property at Cairo and Mound City?
Answer. Two gunboats and 2,000 men.
Question. State briefly your reason for believing so large a force is
required for that purpose.
Answer. For the reason that we have public property extending along the
river for seven miles, and we should be ready for any emergency.
Question. What amount of property would be destroyed here, should the
enemy get possession long enough to destroy it?
Answer. It is difficult to estimate its value accurately. We have here a
a large number of guns, and all the ammunition and other supplies for
the Mississippi fleet, consisting of at least 100 vessels.
Question. What effect would the destruction or capture of this property
have upon operations here in the west?
Answer. It would paralyze the fleet.
Question. For how long a time?
Answer. For the entire season, besides giving the enemy means to act
more on the offensive--means enough to last them for a campaign.
Question. Is it also true that all the army supplies for the western
department pass through here?
Answer. To the best of my knowledge it is.
Question. What force have you here at Mound City now?
Answer. I have two gunboats, 85 marines, 100 mechanics, who have been
armed and drilled, one company of the invalid corps, and a detachment of
convalescents from the hospital. Any other forces that may be here are
merely temporary.
Question. What force have you at Cairo?
Answer. Seventy-odd marines. But those we have only to protect the wharf
boat and the inspection boat, which have on board provisions, ship
chandlery, &c. Admiral Porter has ordered me to move them up to this
point whenever I can do so without detriment to the public service. I
understand that there is a permanent garrison at Cairo of between 300
and 400 men. When General Brayman was compelled to re-enforce Columbus,
he was compelled to take away from there all except about 150 men.
* * * * *
Captain James W. Shirk, United States navy, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank and position in the navy, and where are you
stationed at this time?
Answer. I am a lieutenant commander, and commandant of the United States
gunboat Tuscumbia, and the 7th district of the Mississippi squadron,
which extends from the headwaters of the Tennessee river to Cairo.
Question. How long have you been in service in the west?
Answer. I have been attached to this squadron since the 6th of
September, 1862.
Question. You are acquainted with the immense amount of public property
at Mound City and Cairo?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Do you consider that there is a permanent force here, both
naval and military, large enough for its protection?
Answer. I do not consider that there has been force enough here
heretofore.
Question. What, in your judgment, would be a force sufficient to render
that protection and security which the place ought to have?
Answer. I should think it would take a couple of gunboats, and at least
two full regiments. The great danger to be apprehended here is from
fire.
Question. Will you now state what services the navy has rendered in the
late raids in this region of country?
Answer. I will state in regard to my own division. I returned to
Paducah, from a trip up the Tennessee river, on the 25th of March, at
noon. I immediately called upon Colonel Hicks, the commandant of that
post, as was my custom, to hear what news he had. He informed me that
the rebels had taken Union City the day before, and that he expected an
attack there that night. As I had just come down from the southern part
of Tennessee, and had heard nothing of Forrest there, and as I had been
told so many times before without cause that the rebels were threatening
to attack Paducah, I did not put much confidence in the report; at the
same time, I did not wish to leave the place unprotected by gunboats,
and I accordingly left the Peosta and the Pawpaw at that place, while I
came down to Cairo to communicate with Captain Pennock and the
authorities here, in order to find out whether or not there was any
truth in the report. I left Paducah about one o'clock and arrived here
about dark. Shortly after I arrived here the telegraphic operator at
Metropolis telegraphed down that Paducah was in flames. Captain Pennock
and I went down to Cairo to see Generals Brayman and Veatch. General
Veatch ordered a regiment of his troops up to Paducah to re-enforce
Colonel Hicks, and I immediately started up in the despatch boat
Volunteer with Captain Odlin, General Brayman's assistant adjutant
general. On our way up we destroyed several ferryboats and skiffs, in
order to prevent the rebels crossing the river. We arrived at Paducah
about daylight on the 26th of March. The enemy was in force about two
miles and a half from town. It was reported to me by my subordinate
officers that the enemy had attacked the place about three o'clock in
the evening of the day before; that the fort had been bravely defended
and preserved by the gallantry of Colonel Hicks and his small garrison,
assisted very materially by the two gunboats which I had left there;
that Forrest had occupied the town; that about ten o'clock that night
he had been driven out by the fire of the Peosta, she having gone up and
shelled the town for that purpose. I placed myself in communication with
Colonel Hicks on the morning of the 26th, and found that he was short of
ammunition, as were also the gunboats. I immediately telegraphed to
Captain Pennock to send up a full supply of ammunition for the two
gunboats, and 30,000 rounds of Enfield cartridges for Colonel Hicks. The
supplies were sent up by him immediately, and reached us that evening.
In the afternoon, about three o'clock, Colonel Hicks sent me a message
that the enemy were forming in line of battle at the head of Jersey
street, and requested me to open upon them with shell. I fired shell in
that direction, and about four o'clock the enemy left in the direction
of Mayfield. The captains of the Peosta and the Pawpaw both informed me
that the day before the rebels took advantage of the presence of women
there, behind whom they covered themselves, and fired at the officers
and men on the gunboats. The women came running down towards the fort,
and the rebels got behind them and fired at our people on the boats.
Question. And the boats could not fire upon the rebels without killing
the women?
Answer. No, sir. And the rebels also took advantage of a flag of truce,
while it was flying, to enter the town and plant their batteries there,
and to get into brick houses on the levee, from which to fire on the
gunboats, while the flag of truce was flying at the fort. I returned
that night at midnight to Cairo, and assisted Captain Pennock as much as
I could in making preparations to take care of the public property, as I
knew that some few stragglers had crossed the Ohio above, and we were
fearful they would come down and burn the public property here. Again,
on the 12th of this month, I was at Paducah. The rebels were reported in
force all around the town. I telegraphed to Captain Pennock, giving him
that information, and also that in my opinion Colonel Hicks ought to be
re-enforced. Another regiment was immediately sent up by General
Brayman, and Lieutenant Commander Fitch, commanding the 8th district of
the Mississippi squadron, by direction of Captain Pennock, sent four of
his gunboats to report to me for duty. I made disposition of four
gunboats, each with ten marines on board, to patrol between Paducah and
Mound City. The enemy hovered around us until about noon of the 14th,
when they made a dash upon the town, sending in a flag of truce to
Colonel Hicks, giving him one hour to remove the women and children from
the town. I immediately ordered all the transports to the Illinois
shore, and took the women and children over there. When the hour was up
I was informed that the rebels were in Jersey, a suburb of the town, and
Colonel Hicks wished me to go up there and shell them. I did so, with
two gunboats, carrying long-range rifled guns, firing about 120 rounds
of shell, which fell in among them. The rebels retired, and encamped
from three to six miles out of town that night. When the flag of truce
was sent in to the fort, squads of rebel cavalry came into town and
stole all the government horses there, and also a great many belonging
to private citizens.
Question. Under the flag of truce?
Answer. Yes, sir; as the flag of truce came in and went to the fort they
came into the town.
Question. Is not that a direct and utter violation of the rules of
warfare?
Answer. It is a direct violation of the flag of truce. I have had three
or four boats up the Tennessee river all the time. There are three up
there now, one having come out the day before yesterday. There were two
to have started this morning at daylight, and I received a despatch this
forenoon, saying that the enemy were reported to be crossing the
Tennessee river at Birmingham and above, in force, from the west to the
east side. I immediately telegraphed to Paducah and had two heavy
gunboats go up to ascertain the truth of the report. I do not credit
the story, but I have done all I possibly could do, with the limited
number of boats at my command.
Question. How long have you been in the navy?
Answer. Fifteen years.
Question. You are acquainted with the administration of Captain Pennock,
of the navy, here?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. What do you say of it?
Answer. I do not think any one could have done more than Captain Pennock
has done, with the means at his command.
Question. Why is it that we do not hear more of the transactions of the
gunboats out here, while we hear so much of what the army does?
Answer. One reason is that there is a general order by Admiral Porter,
prohibiting any newspaper reporter from going on board any vessel in the
Mississippi squadron.
Question. Is there a cordial understanding and co-operation between the
navy here and the military forces under General Brayman?
Answer. I think there is to a very great degree. I never saw more
cordiality existing between officers of the different services. I would
like to say further, that during this late raid I convoyed General
Veatch's division up the Tennessee river. It was ordered up there by
General Sherman to land at or near Savannah, and go out to Purdy and the
Hatchie, in that way intending to catch Forrest. I afterwards sent up
another despatch of the same purport, from General Sherman to General
Veatch, which reached him at the landing near Purdy. I sent up a third
despatch to him, which was brought here by General Corse from General
Sherman. That despatch never reached General Veatch for the reason that
he had come back from Purdy, gone on up the Tennessee and disembarked
his troops at Waterloo, Alabama, and was out of reach of my gunboats.
Captain Smith, commanding the Peosta, broke up a rebel recruiting office
at Brooklyn, Illinois, a week ago last Sunday. The recruiting office was
on board a trading vessel. He destroyed the boat, but saved seven new
rebel uniforms that were on it. He could not discover the recruiting
agent there, there being so many secesh sympathizers around there.
Question. In your opinion, has General Brayman acted with vigilance and
activity, and done all he could with the forces intrusted to him, during
these raids?
Answer. So far as I know, he has done all he could do.
* * * * *
CAIRO, ILLINOIS, _April 24, 1864_.
Major General Steven A. Hurlbut, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank and position in the army?
Answer. I am a major general of volunteers, commanding the 16th army
corps.
Question. Where have you been stationed?
Answer. I have been stationed at Memphis for the last sixteen months.
Question. How long have you been stationed along the river?
Answer. Ever since the battle of Shiloh. I have commanded at Bolivar and
Jackson, Tennessee, until about the 20th of November, 1862, when I was
ordered to Memphis.
Question. Now, with regard to this raid of Forrest, was that raid made
in your department?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Please give us, in your own way, a brief account of that
raid.
Answer. Forrest first crossed the Memphis and Charleston railroad last
December. I organized a force in Columbus, and moved it down and drove
him out. General Sherman then ordered all the available troops in my
command to be got together--leaving very small garrisons at the
important points--for the Meridian expedition. I marched and crossed
there, and marched back again. Two divisions of my command were then
detailed to go up Red river, under General Banks. As an auxiliary to the
infantry movement to Meridian, General W. S. Smith came to Memphis and
took command of all my cavalry and another brigade which he brought
over, all amounting to about seven thousand effective men, to move
across the country, drive the enemy's force out, cut his way across to
Columbus and Aberdeen, and to go down to the Mobile and Ohio railroad,
and join us at Meridian. He failed to make that junction; was met by
Forrest about West Point, and for some reason or other (I do not know
what) retreated and fell back to Memphis. The effect of a retreat, at
the rate at which they retreated, and the loss they met with, and the
retreating before an inferior force, demoralized the cavalry very
seriously. I returned to Memphis about the Three Points, marched, and
found that Forrest was organizing a very considerable force, so far as I
could find out, with the intention of moving up to West Tennessee. I had
orders from the War Department to send home all the veteran regiments
(cavalry especially) as rapidly as possible. I took an inventory of my
force, and found that I had about six thousand cavalry to two thousand
two hundred horses, which limited the efficiency of the cavalry. I
furloughed and sent home the 3d Michigan, 2d Iowa, 3d, 6th, 7th, and 9th
Illinois, and distributed their horses among the men that were left, so
as to keep men enough always, and more, to mount with horses. Forrest
moved up, and crossed the line of the Charleston and Memphis railroad,
towards Jackson, Tennessee, and occupied it. General Grierson was
directed by me to go out with his cavalry, feel him, attack him, and
cripple him as much as possible. He went out, and reported that he was
"a little too strong for him, and he could not touch him." My effective
force at Memphis consisted of 2,200 cavalry, 2,100 white infantry, and
2,400 colored infantry. I had the choice to move out a force
sufficiently strong to attack Forrest and leave Memphis open, with its
immense amount of government stores, ordnance, hospitals, and everything
of that nature. I became satisfied that if I moved out 4,000 men, (which
was the lowest I considered safe to send out,) and they should move out
50 or 60 miles into the country, the enemy, being all mounted, would
turn that force and come in and occupy Memphis, which I considered would
be a greater disaster than to allow Forrest to range in West Tennessee.
I therefore did not send them out, but I kept the cavalry out as far as
we could go, or dared go. It was not possible to divine precisely what
Forrest's intentions were. My own opinion was, that it was his intention
to organize a force, cross the Tennessee river, and operate upon General
Sherman's line of communication. I was at Cairo at the time Union City
was attacked. Four regiments and a battery of one of my divisions, which
were ordered up the Tennessee river, were here also. I directed General
Brayman to take them and throw them up to Columbus in rear of Forrest
when he was at Paducah, but they were peremptorily ordered up the
Tennessee river.
Question. Ordered up by General Sherman?
Answer. Yes, sir. The result was, that there was not force enough, in my
opinion, in the command on the Mississippi river, from Paducah to
Memphis, to operate upon Forrest with any prospect of success.
Question. What was the estimated strength of Forrest's forces?
Answer. Forrest's entire force, according to the best of my information,
was between 8,000 and 9,000 men altogether. That includes this division
of Buford's that operated up here. I have somewhere among my papers a
list of all his brigades. I know nearly all of them. I have run against
nearly all of them. He had five of the oldest regiments in the
confederate service detailed expressly for this purpose as a nucleus of
his organization. These were troops that had seen a great deal of
service along the line below Memphis--Chalmers's brigade, Ely's brigade,
Bell's brigade, and McCullough's. I cannot estimate Forrest's force at
less than between 8,000 and 9,000 men. The cause of his raid,
unquestionably, was the fact that so large an amount of troops which had
been holding this region of country had been removed--a portion of them
up the Tennessee river to Decatur, and a portion up the Red river--also
the fact that he knew perfectly well, from his spies at Memphis, the
condition of our cavalry. Memphis, from the nature of the ground there,
is a place that requires not less than five thousand men to garrison the
outer line. It is the worst place to cover that I ever saw. We have a
fort there that was built that would take seven thousand men as a
reasonable amount to line the parapets. We have immense stores there,
for from Memphis not only the 16th and 17th army corps are supplied, but
General Steele's army at Little Rock are supplied from there also. We
have large hospitals there, scattered all over the city. We have an
unsteady and unreliable population; and the daily interior guard duty,
for the city proper, requires over 300 men. I considered then, and I
consider now, that the removal of any force competent to make any
serious impression upon Forrest would have imperilled Memphis; and I
believe that was what General Forrest wanted done.
Question. How large a force did you retain there for the safety of that
place?
Answer. I retained the infantry--four thousand men. I kept the cavalry
out all the time as far as they could go.
Question. How came you to reoccupy Fort Pillow? Had it been abandoned?
Answer. No, sir. When I moved to Meridian, the 52d Indiana regiment
which had been there was withdrawn, and made a part of the expedition,
and the 13th Tennessee cavalry, which was recruiting, was moved down
there as a recruiting point. I afterwards re-enforced it by sending up
Major Booth with four companies of colored heavy artillery and six guns,
and a section of light artillery, making in all about 600 men.
Question. Do I understand you to say that the post had never been
entirely abandoned?
Answer. No, sir. When the 52d Indiana was taken away it was temporarily
abandoned until the 13th Tennessee came down to hold it as a recruiting
point. I considered Fort Pillow as a place which ought to be held with a
small garrison, and I think so yet, and any navy officer or river man
will tell you that the situation of the channel there requires it.
Question. I am not questioning that at all. I merely inquired as to the
fact.
Answer. I sent Major Booth there because I had great confidence in him
as a soldier. He was an old soldier who had served in the regular army,
and I considered him the best man I had for that purpose. I received a
report from him "that he could hold that post against any force for
forty-eight hours," which was all I expected him to do, and if he had
not been killed I think he would have held it. I have no doubt that his
death was the immediate cause of the capture of the place.
Question. Just in this connexion, please to state why you deemed it
important to keep up a garrison at that place.
Answer. The steamboat channel at Fort Pillow runs right under the bluff,
and brings every boat as it passes within musket-shot of the shore, and
a couple of guns mounted up above there would stop most effectually the
navigation of the river, and drive away any of the tin-clad gunboats we
have, for a plunging fire would go right through them, and they could
not get elevation enough to strike. The whole life of the army below,
especially while these large movements were going on, depended upon an
uninterrupted communication by the river, and the stopping that
communication for two or three days might deprive us of necessary
supplies just at the moment that they were required. These were my
reasons for holding the place.
Question. What information have you in regard to the attack upon Fort
Pillow; its capture, and the barbarities practiced there?
Answer. I am not positive about dates, but my recollection is that Fort
Pillow was attacked on the 12th of April. Just about dusk of the 12th a
boat came down to Memphis from Fort Pillow, bringing information that
the place was attacked, but that Major Booth was perfectly confident of
being able to hold out until he could be re-enforced. I immediately
ordered a regiment to be got ready, with four days' rations and an extra
supply of ammunition; took the steamer "Glendale," dropped her down to
Fort Pickering, and the regiment was in the very act of going on board
when another boat came down with the information that the fort was
captured. The order to move up the regiment was countermanded, for there
was no use in sending it then. There were at Fort Pillow two 10-pound
Parrotts, two 6-pounder field guns, and two 12-pounder howitzers, and
about 600 men. I cannot tell precisely the number of the 13th Tennessee
cavalry, for it was a recruiting regiment, and filling off and on. If
the men had been left in the position in which they had been placed by
Major Booth, and from which position he had already repelled an assault
of the enemy, I think they would have been able to have held the fort
until re-enforced. I believe that the ground there is so strong that 600
men with that artillery ought to have held it; but the command devolved
upon a very good gentleman, but a very young officer, entirely
inexperienced in these matters. The enemy rushed on the fort from two or
three directions, and confused him, I think, and broke him and carried
it. The information which I have from all sources, official and
otherwise, is that--whether by permission of their officers, or contrary
to their permission, I cannot say--a butchery took place there that is
unexampled in the record of civilized warfare. We always expect, in case
of a place carried by assault, that some extravagance of passion will
occur; but this seems to have been continued after resistance had
ceased, when there was nothing to keep up the hot blood, and to have
been of a nature brutal to an extent that is scarcely credible, and I
have embodied in my official report to General McPherson (my present
superior officer) my opinion that the black troops will hereafter be
uncontrolable, unless the government take some prompt and energetic
action upon the subject. I know very well that my colored regiments at
Memphis, officers and men, will never give quarter.
Question. They never ought to.
Answer. They never will. They have sworn it; and I have some very good
colored regiments there.
Question. What do you say of the fighting qualities of the colored
troops?
Answer. That depends altogether upon their officers. If they are
properly officered, they are just as good troops as anybody has. I have
two or three regiments at Memphis that I am willing to put anywhere that
I would put any soldiers which I have ever seen, with the same amount of
experience.
Question. Did you learn anything of the particulars of those atrocities
that were committed there at Fort Pillow?
Answer. I learned the particulars from the reports of the officers.
Question. Did you learn anything about any flags of truce being taken
advantage of?
Answer. They always do that; that is a matter of habit with them.
Question. And they took advantage of them in this case, as you learn?
Answer. Yes, sir; and they did it at Paducah, and they tried it at
Columbus.
Question. Did you hear anything about their setting fire to hospitals,
while the wounded were in there?
Answer. I learn from what I consider unquestionable authority, that
bodies were found which had been wounded by musket shots, and then their
eyes bayoneted out; men wounded in a similar way, with their bowels cut
open; and I have heard many other instances of equal barbarity.
Question. Did you hear, recently after that capture, of anybody being
nailed to a building and burned?
Answer. I heard that Lieutenant Akerstrom was so treated.
Question. Did you learn that from a source that you could give credit
to?
Answer. I had no reason to doubt it, with the exception of the
identification of the body. The fact that somebody was so treated, I
consider to be sufficiently proven; the identification I think is
doubtful.
Question. Is there anything more you wish to state? If so, will you
state it without further questioning?
Answer. I do not know that I can state anything more than my opinion in
regard to certain things that might have been done. I do not know that
it is worth while to do that. As I am under censure myself, at present I
prefer not to.
Question. Will you give us a description of the situation of Fort
Pillow?