_Deposition of John Nelson in relation to the capture of Fort Pillow._
EVIDENCE DEPARTMENT,
_Provost Marshal's Office_.
John Nelson, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith:
At the time of the attack on and capture of Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864,
I kept a hotel within the lines at Fort Pillow, and a short distance
from the works. Soon after the alarm was given that an attack on the
fort was imminent, I entered the works and tendered my services to Major
Booth, commanding. The attack began in the morning at about 5-1/2
o'clock, and about one o'clock p. m. a flag of truce approached. During
the parley which ensued, and while the firing ceased on both sides, the
rebels kept crowding up to the works on the side near Cold creek, and
also approached nearer on the south side, thereby gaining advantages
pending the conference under the flag of truce. As soon as the flag of
truce was withdrawn the attack began, and about five minutes after it
began the rebels entered the fort. Our troops were soon overpowered, and
broke and fled. A large number of the soldiers, black and white, and
also a few citizens, myself among the number, rushed down the bluff
towards the river. I concealed myself as well as I could in a position
where I could distinctly see all that passed below the bluff, for a
considerable distance up and down the river.
A large number, at least one hundred, were hemmed in near the river bank
by bodies of the rebels coming from both north and south. Most all of
those thus hemmed in were without arms. I saw many soldiers, both white
and black, throw up their arms in token of surrender, and call out that
they had surrendered. The rebels would reply, "God damn you, why didn't
you surrender before?" and shot them down like dogs.
The rebels commenced an indiscriminate slaughter. Many colored soldiers
sprang into the river and tried to escape by swimming, but these were
invariably shot dead.
A short distance from me, and within view, a number of our wounded had
been placed, and near where Major Booth's body lay; and a small red flag
indicated that at that place our wounded were placed. The rebels,
however as they passed these wounded men, fired right into them and
struck them with the buts of their muskets.
The cries for mercy and groans which arose from the poor fellows were
heartrending.
Thinking that if I should be discovered, I would be killed, I emerged
from my hiding place, and, approaching the nearest rebel, I told him I
was a citizen. He said, "You are in bad company, G--d d----n you; out
with your greenbacks, or I'll shoot you." I gave him all the money I
had, and under his convoy I went up into the fort again.
When I re-entered the fort there was still some shooting going on. I
heard a rebel officer tell a soldier not to kill any more of those
negroes. He said that they would all be killed, any way, when they were
tried.