The following papers and affidavits were furnished the committee by
General Mason Brayman, at Cairo, and are herewith submitted:
CAIRO, _Illinois_, _April 18, 1864_.
We have the honor of reporting to you, as the only known survivors of
the commissioned officers of the 13th Tennessee cavalry, that, on the
morning of the 12th day of the present month, at about the hour of
daylight, the rebels, numbering from five thousand to seven thousand,
attacked our garrison at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, numbering as it did
only about five hundred effective men. They at first sent in a flag of
truce demanding a surrender, which Major Booth, then commanding the
post, (Major Booth, of the 6th United States heavy artillery, colored,)
refused. Shortly after this Major Booth was shot through the heart and
fell dead. Major William F. Bradford, then commanding the 13th Tennessee
cavalry, assumed command of the fort, and under his orders a continual
fire was kept up until about one o'clock p. m., when our cannon and the
rifles of the sharpshooters were mowing the rebels down in such numbers
that they could not make an advance. The rebels then hoisted a second
flag of truce and sent it in, demanding an unconditional surrender. They
also threatened that if the place was not surrendered no quarter would
be shown. Major Bradford refused to accept any such terms, would not
surrender, and sent back word that if such were their intentions they
could try it on. While this flag of truce was being sent in the rebel
officers formed their forces in whatever advantageous positions they
were able to select. They then formed a hollow square around our
garrison, placed their sharpshooters within our deserted barracks, and
directed a galling fire upon our men. They also had one brigade in the
trenches just outside the fort, which had been cut by our men only a few
days before, and which provided them with as good protection as that
held by the garrison in the fort. Their demand of the flag of truce
having been refused, the order was given by General Forrest in person to
charge upon the works and show no quarter. Half an hour after the
issuance of this order a scene of terror and massacre ensued. The rebels
came pouring in solid masses right over the breastworks. Their numbers
were perfectly overwhelming. The moment they reached the top of the
walls, and commenced firing as they descended, the colored troops were
panic-stricken, threw down their arms, and ran down the bluff, pursued
sharply, begging for life. But escape was impossible. The confederates
had apprehended such a result, and had placed a regiment of cavalry
where it could cut off all effective retreat. This cavalry regiment
employed themselves in shooting down the negro troops as fast as they
made their appearance. The whites, as soon as they perceived they were
also to be butchered inside the fort, also ran down. They had previously
thrown down their arms and submitted. In many instances the men begged
for life at the hands of the enemy, even on their knees. They were only
made to stand upon their feet and then summarily shot down. Captain
Theo. F. Bradford, of company A, 13th Tennessee cavalry, was
signal-officer for the gunboat, and was seen by General Forrest with the
signal flags. The general, in person, ordered Captain Bradford to be
shot. He was instantly riddled with bullets, nearly a full regiment
having fired their pieces upon him. Lieutenant Wilson, of company A,
13th Tennessee cavalry, was killed after he had surrendered, he having
been previously wounded. Lieutenant J. C. Akerstrom, company E, 13th
Tennessee cavalry, and acting regimental quartermaster, was severely
wounded after he had surrendered, and then nailed to the side of a house
and the house set on fire, burning him to death. Lieutenant Cord.
Revelle, company E, 13th Tennessee cavalry, was shot and killed after
surrender. Major William F. Bradford, commanding our forces, was fired
upon after he had surrendered the garrison. The rebels told him he could
not surrender. He ran into the river and swam out some fifty yards, they
all the time firing at him, but failing to hit him. He was hailed by an
officer and told to return to the shore. He did so. But as he neared the
shore the riflemen discharged their pieces at him again. Again they
missed. He ran up the hillside among the enemy with a white handkerchief
in his hand in token of his surrender, but still they continued to fire
upon him. There were several confederate officers standing near at the
time. None of them ordered the firing to cease; but when they found they
could not hit him, they allowed him to give himself up as a prisoner,
and paroled him to the limits of the camp. They now claim that he
violated his parole the same night and escaped. We have heard from
prisoners who got away from the rebels that they took Major Bradford out
in the Hatchie Bottom and there dispatched him. We feel confident that
the story is true. We saw several negroes burning up in their quarters
on Wednesday morning. We also saw the rebels come back that morning and
shoot at the wounded. We also saw them at a distance running about
hunting up wounded that they might shoot them. There were some whites
also burning. The rebels went to the negro hospital, where about thirty
sick were kept, and butchered them with their sabres, hacking their
heads open in many instances, and then set fire to the buildings. They
killed every negro soldier Wednesday morning upon whom they came. Those
who were able they made stand up to be shot. In one case a white soldier
was found wounded. He had been lying upon the ground nearly twenty-four
hours without food or drink. He asked a rebel soldier to give him
something to drink. The latter turned about upon his heel and fired
three deliberate shots at him, saying "Take that, you negro equality."
The poor fellow is alive yet and in the hospital. He can tell the tale
for himself. They ran a great many into the river, and shot or drowned
them there. They immediately killed all the officers who were over the
negro troops, excepting one who has since died from his wounds. They
took out from Fort Pillow about one hundred and some odd prisoners,
(white,) and forty negroes. They hung and shot the negroes as they
passed along toward Brownsville until they were rid of them all. Out of
the six hundred troops (convalescents included) which were at the fort
they have only about one hundred prisoners, (all whites,) and we have
about fifty wounded who are paroled.
Major Anderson, Forrest's assistant adjutant general, stated that they
did not consider colored men as soldiers, but as property, and as such,
being used by our people, they had destroyed them. This was concurred in
by Forrest, Chalmers, and McCullough, and other officers.
We respectfully refer you to the accompanying affidavit of Hardy N.
Revelle, lettered "A," and those of Mrs. Rufin, lettered "B," and Mrs.
Williams, lettered "C."
Respectfully submitted.
F. A. SMITH,
_First Lieut. Co. D, 13th Tenn. Vol. Cavalry_.
WILLIAM CLEARY,
_Second Lieut. Co. B. 13th Tenn. Vol. Cavalry_.
General M. BRAYMAN.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
_Affidavit of Hardy N. Revelle._
I was in business at Fort Pillow previous to the fight on Tuesday last.
Was engaged as a dry-goods clerk for Messrs. Harris & Co. Went into the
fight at six o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 12th of April.
Remained outside of the federal fortifications until about 8.30 a. m.,
acting as a sharpshooter. At this time we were all ordered within the
fort. Lieutenant Barr was killed outside the fort, also Lieutenant
Wilson, latter of the 13th Tennessee cavalry. It was not long after nine
o'clock that I took my position behind the fortifications and resumed
the fight. I was standing not more than ten paces from Major Booth when
he fell, struck in the heart by a musket bullet. It was but a few
minutes past nine. He did not die immediately, but was borne from the
field. At this time there was continued firing on both sides. Rebels
were not using artillery; our troops were.
The next thing I recollect is a flag of truce coming in, the bearers of
which--General Forrest of the rebel army, and some parties of his
staff--demanded a surrender of the garrison. Major Bradford was then in
command. Forrest did not come within the breastworks, but remained some
fifty yards outside, and Major Bradford went out to meet him. They
conferred in a southeasterly direction from what was known as "old
headquarters." Bradford is said to have replied that he would not
surrender. Forrest told him that if he did not there would not be any
quarter shown. They were in conference about fifteen minutes, during
which time there was a cessation of firing. Bradford asked for one
hour's time in which to confer with the commander of the gunboat.
Forrest refused it; but I think there was a pause in actual hostilities
of nearly that length of time. The rebels were busily engaged in
plundering our hastily deserted encampment outside the fortifications,
as well as robbing some of the stores below the hill. They were also
massing their troops and placing them in eligible positions while the
flag of truce was being considered. It is my opinion that they could
never have gained the positions had they not done so under that flag of
truce. They had already consumed seven or eight hours in attempting it
with no success.
At about half-past two in the afternoon a large force of infantry came
upon us from the ravine toward the east of where I stood. It seemed to
come down Cold creek. They charged upon our ranks. Another large force
of rebel cavalry charged from the south of east, and another force from
the northward. They mounted the breastworks at the first charge where I
stood. We fired upon them while upon the breastworks. I remember firing
two shots while the enemy were upon the walls. The negro troops,
frightened by the appearance of such numbers, and knowing they could no
longer resist, made a break and ran down the hill, surrendering their
arms as the rebels came down on our side of the fortifications. When we
found there was no quarter to be shown, and that, white and black, we
were to be butchered, we also gave up our arms and passed down the hill.
It is stated that at this time Major Bradford put a white handkerchief
on his sword point and waved it in token of submission; but it was not
heeded if he did. We were followed closely and fiercely by the advancing
rebel forces, their fire never ceasing at all. Our men had given signals
themselves that they surrendered, many of them throwing up their hands
to show they were unarmed and submitted to overwhelming odds.
I was about half way down the hill, partially secreted in a kind of
ravine with Dr. Fitch, when I saw two men, white men, belonging to the
13th Tennessee cavalry, standing behind a stump on which they had fixed
a white handkerchief, their hands thrown up. They asked for quarter.
When they stood on their feet they were exposed, and I saw them shot
down by rebel soldiers and killed. A captain of the rebel troops then
came where we were and ordered all the federals, white and black, to
move up the hill, or he would "shoot their G--d d----d brains out." I
started up the hill with a number of others, in accordance with the
order. I was surrendered with our men. While going up I saw white men
fall on both sides of me who were shot down by rebel soldiers who were
stationed upon the brow of the hill. We were at the time marching
directly toward the men who fired upon us. I do not know how many fell,
but I remember to have seen four killed in this way. I also saw negroes
shot down with pistols in the hands of rebels. One was killed at my
side. I saw another negro struck on the head with a sabre by a rebel
soldier; I suppose he was also killed. One more, just in front of me,
was knocked down with the but of a musket. We kept on up the hill. I
expected each moment to meet my fate with the rest. At the top of the
hill I met a man named Cutler, a citizen of Fort Pillow. He spoke to a
rebel captain about me, and we then went, under orders from the captain,
to one of the stores under the hill, where the captain got a pair of
boots. This was about 4 p. m. on Tuesday. The captain and Cutler and
myself then left to find General McCullough's headquarters, where we
were to report and be disposed of. The captain introduced me to a
lieutenant and to a surgeon of the rebel army. The surgeon made me show
him where goods could be found. The lieutenant got a saddle and bridle
and some bits, and then we helped them to carry them to where their
horses were outside of the fortifications. I also met Mr. Wedlin, a
citizen, and he accompanied us. He helped the lieutenant to mount and
pack his goods, and then he gave Wedlin and myself permission to depart,
and instructed us as to the best means of escape.
I am positive that up to the time of the surrender there had not been
more than fifty men (black and white) killed and wounded on the Union
side. Of these, but about twenty had been among the killed. The balance
of all killed and wounded on our side were killed and wounded after we
had given undoubted evidence of a surrender, and contrary to all rules
of warfare.