Signed and sworn to before me this 23d day of April, A. D. 1864, at
Cairo, Illinois.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieut. and A. A. A. G._
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieut. and A. D. C._
* * * * *
_Statement of Wm. B. Walker, company D, 13th Tennessee cavalry._
I hereby certify that I was at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, on the 12th day
of the present month, when it was attacked by the confederates. I saw
nothing more than has probably been related by a dozen others, until
about the time of the panic and the retreat down the bluff by both white
and black Union troops. We were followed closely by the rebels, and
shot down, after surrender, as fast as they could find us. One of the
rebels, after I had given him up my money as he had ordered me, fired
upon me twice, after I had surrendered, and while I begged for my life.
One ball struck me in the left eye. The rebels had almost ceased firing
upon us, when an officer came down and told them to "shoot the last
d----d one of us," and "not to take one prisoner." He said it was the
order of the general, (I could not hear the name plainly, but I think it
was Chalmers.) Then the slaughter of the prisoners was resumed. I saw
some six white and ten colored soldiers thus shot, long after they had
surrendered, and while the negroes were on their knees begging to be
spared.
his
WILLIAM B. x WALKER.
mark.
Witness: WM. CLEARY,
_2d Lieut. Co. B, 13th Tennessee Cavalry_.
MOUND CITY, _Illinois_, _April 23_, A. D. 1864.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 25th day of April, 1864, at Mound
City, Illinois.
WM. STANLEY,
_Lieutenant and Assistant Provost Marshal_.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
_Statement of Jason Lonan, company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry._
I do hereby certify that I was at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, on the twelfth
(12th) of the present month, when it was attacked by the rebels under
General A. B. Forrest. I was ordered into the fort at the commencement
of the engagement. We kept up a continual fire on both sides until about
1 o'clock p. m., when a flag of truce was sent in, and firing ceased.
While the flag of truce was being considered I saw the enemy plundering
our evacuated quarters, and moving their forces up in large bodies,
getting them in position. We had been driving them all the morning. They
were at the same time placing their sharpshooters in the buildings we
had occupied as barracks. The object of the flag of truce not having
been agreed to, the firing again commenced. About one hour afterwards
the enemy charged on our works in overwhelming numbers, and the negro
soldiers, being panic-stricken, dropped their arms and ran down the
bluff. The whites also, when they found there was to be no quarter
shown, also ran down the bluff. The rebels ran after us, shooting all
they came to, both black and white. I also certify that I was myself
shot after I had surrendered, and while I had my hands up and was
imploring them to show me mercy. They also shot Sergeant Gwalthney, of
my company, while he was within ten feet of me, after he had given up
his revolver, and while he had his hands up crying out for mercy. They
took his own revolver and shot him with its contents twice through the
head, killing him instantly. I also certify that I saw the rebels shoot,
in all, six men who had surrendered, and who had their hands up asking
quarter. I further certify that I saw the rebels come about on the
ensuing morning, the 13th day of April, A. D. 1864, and despatch several
of the colored soldiers of the 6th United States heavy artillery, who
had survived their wounds received on the previous day.
his
JASON + LONAN.
mark.
Witness: WILLIAM CLEARY,
_2d Lieut. Co. B, 13th Tenn. Vol. Cav_.
MOUND CITY, ILLINOIS, _April 23, 1864_.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 23d day of April, 1864, at Mound
City, Illinois.
WM. STANLEY,
_Lieutenant and Assistant Provost Marshal_.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
_Statement of Corporal Wm. P. Dickey, company B, 13th Tennessee
cavalry._
I do hereby certify that I was at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, on the 12th
day of April, A. D. 1864, when that place was attacked by the rebel
General Forrest. I went into the fort at the commencement of the action.
We kept up a continuous fire upon both sides until about 1 o'clock p. m.,
when a flag of truce was sent in by the rebels, and while it was
being considered the firing was ordered to cease. I also certify that
while this was going on I plainly saw the enemy consolidating their
forces and gaining positions they had been endeavoring to gain without
success. At the same time their men were plundering our deserted camp,
and stealing goods from the quartermaster's depot, and from the stores
of the merchants of the post. They also at the same time put their
sharpshooters into our deserted barracks, whence they had fair view, and
were in fair range of our little garrison. The firing recommenced after
the flag of truce had retired. About one hour thereafter the rebels
stormed our works. They had no sooner obtained the top of our walls when
the negroes ran, and the whites, obtaining no quarter, ran after them.
The rebels followed closely, shooting down all who came in the way,
white and black. I also certify that I was myself shot by a rebel
soldier after I had surrendered, and while I had my hands up begging for
mercy. I also certify that I saw the rebels shoot down ten men, white
soldiers, within ten paces of me, while they had their hands up
supplicating quarter. I also certify that I saw twelve negro soldiers
killed long after they had surrendered. I also certify that I saw the
rebels throw several negroes into the river while they were begging for
life. One rebel came to me and took my percussion caps, saying he had
been killing negroes so fast that his own had been exhausted. He added
that he was going to shoot some more. I also certify that I saw negroes
thrown into the river by rebels, and shot afterwards, while struggling
for life.
his
WM. P. + DICKEY.
mark.
Witness: WM. CLEARY,
_2d Lieut. Co. B, 13th Tenn. Vol. Cav_.
MOUND CITY, _April 23_, A. D. 1864.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 23d day of April, 1864, at Mound
City, Illinois.
WM. STANLEY,
_Lieutenant and Assistant Provost Marshal_.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH,
_Lieutenant and A. D. C._
* * * * *
MOUND CITY, _April 25, 1864_.
_Statement of Sergeant William A. Winn, company B, 12th Tennessee
cavalry volunteers._
I was in Fort Pillow on Tuesday, the 12th of April, 1864, when the
attack was made by General Forrest upon that place. At the firing of the
first gun I hastened on board the gunboat, as I had been wounded some
time before and could not fight. The first thing I saw afterwards was
the rebel sharpshooters on the top of the hill and ours at
quartermaster's department, firing at each other, and the rebels were
also firing at the gunboat. The next thing I saw was a flag of truce
come in, which was in waiting some half an hour. This was about one
o'clock p. m., and as soon as it started back, the enemy immediately
started up the hill on the double-quick, not waiting for the flag of
truce to return. As soon as they came close to the fort and had their
sharpshooters distributed through our barracks, (which were just outside
the fort,) they opened fire upon the garrison, and then charged the
works. Those troops which I saw came from the direction that the flag of
truce did. I saw our men run down the bluff, the rebels after them,
shooting them down as fast as they came up with them. I saw twelve or
fifteen men shot down after they had surrendered, with their hands up
begging for mercy. Next I saw them turn their cannon on us (the boat)
and throw several shells at the boat, trying to sink her, but she
steamed up the river, out of range, leaving behind us a scene of
cold-blooded murder too cruel and barbarous for the human mind to
express.