Posted on 04/17/2024 6:07:25 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
WASHINGTON, D.C., Saturday, April 16.
Yesterday afternoon, about 5 o'clock, dispatches were received here from Gen. SHERMAN, confirming the surrender of Fort Pillow, and the brutal conduct of the rebels immediately afterward, which bids fair to be amply retaliated in that quarter in due time.
The Star says:
"According to Gen. SHERMAN, our loss was fifty-three white troops killed, and one hundred wounded, and three hundred black troops murdered in cold blood after the surrender. Fort Pillow is an isolated post, of no value whatever to the defence of Columbus, and utterly untenable by the rebels, who have no doubt left that vicinity ere this, having been disappointed, with considerable loss, in the object of their raid thither, which was the capture of Columbus, whence they were promptly and severely repulsed with no loss to us. We are satisfied that due investigation will show that the loss of Fort Pillow was simply the result of a mistake of the local commander, who occupied it against direct orders a contingency incident to all wars."
"The rebels, according to official dispatches, received here last evening, effected nothing at Paducah, losing a soldier killed or wounded, for every horse they succeeded in stealing, and doing us no other damage than by a few thefts,"
It is believed that FORREST's raiders will next appear in the vicinity of Memphis, where they can effect no more than at Columbus and Paducah, and stand a very fair chance, indeed, of finding themselves surrounded by overwhelming superior forces.
REPORTS FROM CAIRO.
CAIRO, Friday, April 15.
Three other negroes were buried alive by the rebels at Fort Pillow, making five in all. All were wounded but one. He was forced to help dig the pits, and was then thrown in and covered up.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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The Massacre at Fort Pillow: Official Confirmation of the Report – 2
Gen. Butler’s Department: Successful Raid upon the Enemy – 2
The Army of the Potomac: Our Pickets at Bristoe Station Attacked – 2
Department of North Carolina: The Rebels on the Chowan River – 2
Gen. “Baldy” Smith – 2
The Chenango Calamity: Appearance of the Vessel – 3
National Naval Affairs: Review of the Report of the Secretary of the Navy – 3-5
Prison Life at Richmond – Its Cruelties – 5-6
Gen. Meade on the Sanitary Commission – 6
Gen. Sherman’s Division – 6
News from Washington: Proceedings of Congress – 6-7
The Metropolitan Fair: Close of the Second Week – 7-9
Editorial: Little Things and Great Ones – Forrest and Grant – 9
The Rebel Army – 9
The Bull-Beat in Wall-street – 9
Gen. Rosecrans on Raffles at Fairs – 9
Underground Railway – 9
I thought this was a story on Mike Lindell’s warehouse.
Black lives have never mattered to democrats.
LOL.
Right. If Blacks want reparations, they should be going after leftist Billionaires like Soros, Bezos, Gates, and Schwab.
If I recall many witnesses there said the black union troops surrendered then some of them fired on the rebels advancing to take them prisoner. That’s when the massacre started. Not saying it’s right just that if true it’s more understandable.
War is hell.
Did not lead from the front like he normally did because his horse stumbled and rolled over him breaking 3 of his ribs a few days before the battle
There was no "massacre". It was a chaotic battle. Union troops broke and ran as the battle went against them. Some threw their arms up to surrender. Others fired at the advancing Confederates. In the confusion of battle, Confederates simply fired on all Union troops until they themselves were no longer being fired upon (as often happens in battle).
Forrest was able to produce receipts for the Union POW's he handed over both to the Confederate medical corps (wounded POW's obviously) as well as those handed over to the be placed in POW camps. His troops did not cold bloodedly shoot prisoners.
This entire episode was reported by a Republican party aligned newspaper many miles from where the battle took place. Wartime propaganda was just as much of a reality 160 years ago as it is today. This was one such example.
The congressional investigation chaired by Forrest's old enemy William T. Sherman who stated "“We are here to investigate Forrest, charge Forrest, try Forrest, convict Forrest, and hang Forrest.” declined to charge him with anything - either this or the unfounded accusations that he was some kind of grand wizard of the KKK. There was simply no evidence to support either claim.
Here’s a link to his testimony.
https://historicstruggle.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/nathan-bedford-forrest-on-trial-part-1/
There was a massacre. They didn’t massacre EVERYONE and I don’t think Forrest was responsible, but the confederate troops killed a lot of blacks, probably because they WERE black.
Sounds like it wasnt one then, it’s been a while since I read up on it.
I also remember reading some testimony many of the Union troops were drunk.
There wasn't a "massacre". There was a running battle. I have no doubt some troops who were trying to surrender were shot. But that happens when some are trying to surrender while some of their comrades are continuing to fight. The other side doesn't know which is which, often feels like its some kind of trick and is not willing to take any chances - particularly not when they see some of their comrades being shot. So they just mow down any enemy they see until they all stop fighting.
I know someone whose (Confederate) ancestor was killed in exactly this way under very similar circumstances in the battle of Drewry's Bluff.
“Those aren’t pillows!”
The fact the black soldiers kept firing and the federal flag still flying never entered into the equation, eh?
Not to mention most were drowned while their gunboats just sat back and watched!
You might want to read a less “The South Forever” account. There is a good biography of Nathan Bedford Forest by Jack Hurst.
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