W. A. WINN.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 25th day of April, 1864.
WM. STANLEY,
Lieutenant and Assistant Provost Marshal.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH, Lieutenant and A. D. C.
Mound City, April 18, 1864.
Statement of William F. Mays, company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry
I was at Fort Pillow on the 12th of April, 1864, and engaged in the fight there. The pickets were driven in about six o'clock a. m., when skirmishers were thrown out to ascertain the position and number of the enemy. The contraband camp was then discovered to be on fire, and the firing of small-arms was heard in the same direction. The skirmishing lasted about one hour, when our skirmishers were gradually drawn back towards the fort on the bluff. They then attacked the fort. Two assaults were made by them, and both repulsed. This was about eleven or twelve o'clock a. m., when a flag of truce was sent in, demanding a surrender. While the flag was being received and the firing suspended, the enemy were moving their forces into position, and occupied one position which they had been fighting to obtain all day, but had not been able to gain, except under the protection of a flag of truce. It was from this position they made their heaviest assault, it being impossible to bring our artillery to bear upon them.
Question. Do you believe they could have taken the fort or that particular position had they not done so under cover of the flag of truce?
Answer. I do not. They had been kept from it for six hours.
Question. What further took place? Go on with your statement.
Answer. In about five minutes after the disappearance of the flag of truce, a general assault was made upon our works from every direction. They were kept at bay for some time, when the negroes gave way upon the left and ran down the bluff, leaving an opening through which the rebels entered and immediately commenced an indiscriminate slaughter of both white and black. We all threw down our arms and gave tokens of surrender, asking for quarter. (I was wounded in the right shoulder and muscle of the back, and knocked down before I threw down my gun.) But no quarter was given. Voices were heard upon all sides, crying, "Give them no quarter; kill them; kill them; it is General Forrest's orders." I saw four white men and at least twenty-five negroes shot while begging for mercy; and I saw one negro dragged from a hollow log within ten feet of where I lay, and as one rebel held him by the foot another shot him. These were all soldiers. There were also two negro women and three little children standing within twenty-five steps from me, when a rebel stepped up to them and said, "Yes, God damn you, you thought you were free, did you," and shot them all. They all fell but one child, when he knocked it in the head with the breech of his gun. They then disappeared in the direction of the landing, following up the fugitives, firing at them wherever seen. They came back in about three-quarters of an hour, shooting and robbing the dead of their money and clothes. I saw a man with a canteen upon him and a pistol in his hand. I ventured to ask him for a drink of water. He turned around, saying, "Yes, God damn you, I will give you a drink of water," and shot at my head three different times, covering my face up with dust, and then turned from me, no doubt thinking he had killed me, remarking, "God damn you, it's too late to pray now," then went on with his pilfering. I lay there until dark, feigning death, when a rebel officer came along, drawing his sabre and ordered me to get up, threatening to run his sabre into me if I did not, saying I had to march ten miles that night. I succeeded in getting up and got among a small squad he had already gathered up, but stole away from them during the night, and got among the dead, feigning death for fear of being murdered. The next morning the gunboat came up and commenced shelling them out, when I crawled out from among the dead, and with a piece of paper motioning to the boat, she came up and I crawled on board.
his
WM. F. + MAYS.
mark.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 27th day of April, 1864.
WM. STANLEY,
Lieutenant and Assistant Provost Marshal.
A true copy.
C. B. SMITH, Lieutenant and A. D. C.
Official statement of facts connected with the attack, defence, and surrender of the United States military post at Union City, Tennessee, on the 24th of March, 1864
Cairo, Illinois, April 4, 1864.
On the 23d of March it was generally understood at the said post that at least a portion of the rebel General Forrest's command were advancing on us. At about eight o'clock p. m. of that day the advance of the enemy were seen and fired upon, near Jacksonville, six miles from Union City, by a small scouting party sent in that direction from our post. This party reported the facts immediately to Colonel Hawkins, of the 7th Tennessee cavalry, who was commander of the post.
The picket guard was then doubled, and two or three companies were ordered to keep their horses saddled during the night.
I was notified at 4.30 a. m. of the 24th of March to order my horses saddled. About five o'clock firing commenced all around the line of pickets. The main part of company B, Captain Martin, were abreast, and a part of company I, also, I think. The remaining force, about 500 strong, were distributed around at the breastworks. The pickets were driven in, with a loss of two killed and several wounded. About 5.30 a. m. a cavalry charge was made from the south side. It was repulsed with but little difficulty. The same were immediately dismounted and charged again, this time coming within twenty or thirty yards of the breastworks. They were repulsed again, and with considerable loss this time. Immediately following this another charge was made in front, from the northwest, and again repulsed. Immediately following this, the fourth charge, and last, was made from the northeast, which charge confronted my company, and were repulsed again with loss. This charge was made at about 8 a. m. About this time the colonel came to this part of the works; I remarked to him that it was my opinion the rebels were defeated in their first programme; that they would either leave the field or assemble and make a consolidated charge. Our troops were in fine spirits. Sharpshooting lasted till 9.30 a. m., when an escort, with a flag of truce, approached my position. I sent notification to Colonel Hawkins of the approaching truce flag, and then advanced in person and halted the truce escort two hundred yards from the defences. Then Colonel Hawkins came; a document was handed him, the contents of which I know not. At this time the rebel troops were in full view, in the logs and stumps. The truce escort retired, and in twenty minutes after again came. I again halted them on the same ground as before, and remained with them during this interview. This time an order was handed to Colonel Hawkins, which I read. As near as I can remember, it read as follows:
"Headquarters Confederate States Forces,
"In the Field, March 24, 1864.
"Commanding Officer United States Forces, at Union City, Tennessee:
"Sir: I have your garrison completely surrounded, and demand an unconditional surrender of your forces. If you comply with the demand, you are promised the treatment due to prisoners of war, according to usages in civilized warfare. If you persist in a defence, you must take the consequences.
"By order of
"N. B. FORREST, Major General."
Then followed a council of our officers, in which a large majority violently opposed any capitulation whatever with the enemy. Notwithstanding this, the colonel made a surrender at 11 a. m., which, to the best of my knowledge and belief, was unconditional. No artillery was seen or used. The surrendered troops were very indignant on hearing of the surrender. Only one man had been killed and two or three wounded inside of the works. It was generally believed to be a rebel defeat. Our troops, after grounding arms, were marched away on foot. The rebel troops were commanded by Colonel Duckworth, and as nearly as I could estimate them, there were 800.
A list of prisoners was made on the 26th, at Trenton, which numbered 481, including ten of Hardy's men and a few of the 24th Missouri infantry, who were doing provost duty.
T. P. GRAY,
Captain, Company C, 7th Tennessee Cavalry.
Headquarters Post of Paducah,
Paducah, Kentucky, April 6, 1864.
Sir: I have the honor to report in relation to the late engagement with the rebel General Forrest. On the 25th instant my scouts came in at about 12 o'clock m., bringing no news of the enemy's whereabouts. I immediately ordered out others, and directed them to proceed on the Mayfield road. They had gone but three miles when they were met by Forrest's advance guard, who fired upon them. They hurriedly fell back and gave the alarm, and in less than ten minutes after they reported, the enemy were driving in my pickets, who opened a skirmish-fire and fell back to Fort Anderson, according to previous instructions. I immediately ordered the little force under my command to double-quick to the fort, which order was promptly obeyed; yet, before they could reach there, such was the impetuosity of the attack, that their rear was fired into by the enemy.
At 2 p. m. the enemy took position surrounding the fort, and a sharp fight commenced, which in a few minutes became furious, and continued for about one hour, when it was announced that a flag of truce was approaching. I immediately ordered my men to cease firing, and sent out to meet the bearer, from whom I received the following demand for a surrender:
"Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry Corps,
"Paducah, Kentucky, March 25, 1864.
"Colonel: Having a force amply sufficient to carry your works and reduce the place, and in order to avoid the unnecessary effusion of blood, I demand the surrender of the fort and troops, with all public property. If you surrender, you shall be treated as prisoners of war; but if I have to storm your works, you may expect no quarter.
"N. B. FORREST,"Major General, Commanding Confederate Troops.
"Colonel Hicks,
"Commanding Federal Forces at Paducah."
To which I replied as follows:
"Headquarters Post of Paducah,
"Paducah, Kentucky, March 25, 1864.
"I have this moment received yours of this instant, in which you demand the unconditional surrender of the forces under my command. I can answer that I have been placed here by my government to defend this post, and in this, as well as all other orders from my superior, I feel it to be my duty as an honorable officer to obey. I must, therefore, respectfully decline surrendering as you may require.
"Very respectfully,
"S. G. Hicks,
"Colonel, Commanding Post.
"Major General N. B. Forrest,
"Commanding Confederate Forces."
While the flag of truce was near the fort, and during its pendency, the enemy were engaged in taking position and planting a battery. As soon as the answer was returned they moved forward, and our forces opened on them, and the fight became general. They attempted to storm our works, but were repulsed. They rallied and tried it again, and met the same fate. They made a third effort, but were forced to abandon their design. It was in this last struggle that Brigadier General A. P. Thompson (confederate) was killed.
I now discovered, on examination, that my ammunition was growing short, and out of 30,000 rounds, (the amount we commenced the fight with,) 27,000 had been already expended. In this emergency I ordered the remainder to be equally distributed; the men to fix their bayonets; to make good use of the ammunition they had, and, when that was exhausted, to receive the enemy on the point of the bayonet, feeling fully determined never to surrender while I had a man alive. When this order was repeated by the officers to their respective commands, it was received with loud shouts and cheers.
The enemy's sharpshooters in the mean time got possession of the houses around and near the fort, from which position they picked off some of my gunners, shooting nearly all of them in the head.
Towards dark the enemy took shelter behind houses, in rooms, and hollows, and kept up a scattering fire until half past 11 o'clock, when it entirely ceased, and the rebel general withdrew his command out of the range of my guns, and went into camp for the night.
On the morning of the 26th the enemy again made a demonstration by surrounding the fort in the distance. As soon as I discovered this, I ordered Major Barnes, of the 10th Kentucky cavalry, to send out squads to burn all the houses within musket range of the fort, from which the sharpshooters had annoyed us the day previous.
While the houses were burning General Forrest sent in a second flag of truce, with the following communication:
"Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry Corps,
"Near Paducah, Kentucky, March 26, 1864.
"Sir: I understand you hold in your possession in the guard-house at Paducah a number of confederate soldiers as prisoners of war. I have in my possession about thirty-five or forty federal soldiers who were captured here yesterday, and about five hundred who were captured at Union City. I propose to exchange man for man, according to rank, so far as you may hold confederate soldiers.
"Respectfully,
N. B. FORREST,
"Major General, Commanding Confederate Forces.
"Colonel S. G. Hicks,
"Commanding Federal Forces at Paducah, Ky."
In answer to which I sent the following:
"Headquarters Post of Paducah,
"Paducah, Kentucky, March 26, 1864.
"Sir: I have no power to make the exchange. If I had, I would most cheerfully do it.
"Very respectfully,S. G. HICKS,"Colonel 40th Illinois Infantry, Com'dg Post.
"Major General N. B. Forrest,
"Commanding Confederate Forces."
With the above General Forrest sent a list of the names of the prisoners captured, (!) all of whom, with one exception, were convalescents in the general hospital, and too feeble to get to the fort.
The following troops composed my command during the fight:
Companies C, H, and K, 122d Illinois infantry, commanded by Major J. F. Chapman, one hundred and twenty men; 16th Kentucky cavalry, Major Barnes commanding, two hundred and seventy-one men; 1st Kentucky heavy artillery, (colored,) two hundred and seventy-four men, commanded by Lieutenant R. D. Cunningham, of the 2d Illinois artillery, making a total of six hundred and sixty-five men.
Opposed to this was the rebel force under the command of Generals Forrest, Buford, J. G. Harris, and A. P. Thompson, of six thousand five hundred men.
The casualties of my command were fourteen killed and forty-six wounded.
The enemy's loss, according to the most reliable information that I can obtain, was three hundred killed and from one thousand to twelve hundred wounded. His killed and wounded may be safely set down at fifteen hundred.
General Forrest admitted, in conversation with some of his friends in this city, that in no engagement during the war had he been so badly cut up and crippled as at this place.
Our loss in government stores was inconsiderable. The quartermaster's depot, a temporary wooden building, was burned, and in consequence thereof a small lot of quartermaster's property was lost. Our commissary stores, and most of our government horses, mules, wagons, &c., were saved.
In justice to the officers and soldiers under my command, allow me to say they acted well their part, proving themselves worthy of the great cause in which they are engaged, and all deserving of the highest praise.
The three companies of the 122d Illinois were the only portion of my command that had ever been under fire before.
And here permit me to remark that I have been one of those men who never had much confidence in colored troops fighting, but those doubts are now all removed, for they fought as bravely as any troops in the fort.
The gunboats Peosta, Captain Smith, and Paw Paw, Captain O'Neal, were present and rendered valuable aid in shelling the city and operating on the flank of the enemy as they surrounded the fort.
A list of the names of the killed and wounded I will furnish hereafter.
Respectfully submitted.
S. G. HICKS,
Colonel 40th Illinois Infantry, Commanding Post.
Captain J. H. Odlin,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Headquarters Confederate States,
Before Columbus, Kentucky, April 13, 1864.
Fully capable of taking Columbus and its garrison by force, I desire to avoid the shedding of blood, and therefore demand the unconditional surrender of the forces under your command. Should you surrender, the negroes now in arms will be returned to their masters. Should I, however, be compelled to take the place, no quarter will be shown to the negro troops whatever; the white troops will be treated as prisoners of war.
I am, sir, yours,
A. BUFORD, Brigadier General.
The Commanding Officer
United States Forces, Columbus, Kentucky.
Headquarters of the Post,
Columbus, Kentucky, April 13, 1864.
General: Your communication of this date to hand. In reply, I would state that, being placed by my government with adequate force to hold and repel all enemies from my post, surrender is out of the question.
I am, general, very respectfully,
WILLIAM HUDSON LAWRENCE,
Colonel 34th New Jersey Volunteers, Commanding Post.
Brigadier General A. Buford
Commanding Confederate forces before Columbus, Ky.
The following affidavit was furnished, at the request of the committee, by General W. S. Rosecrans, from St. Louis:
"Headquarters Department of the Missouri,
"Saint Louis, April 26, 1864.
"Respectfully forwarded to Hon. B. F. Wade, Cairo, Illinois, chairman congressional Committee on Conduct of the War.
"W. S. ROSECRANS,
"Major General, Commanding.
"By O. D. GREEN, A. A. G.,"Absence of General."
Statement of Edward B. Benton, upon oath, relative to the massacre by the confederate troops under General Forrest, at Fort Pillow, Tennessee
I was born in Waltham, Vermont.
Question. Where have you resided last?
Answer. I was in Missouri engaged in furnishing beef to the government troops on the North Missouri railroad until a year ago last July. I then went down to Fort Pillow, and have been there ever since.
Question. What was your business there?
Answer. I owned 215 acres of the fort, bordering on the river, and the very land we fought on. I was putting in 100 acres of cotton just outside the fortifications, which was my principal business.
Question. You lived outside the fort?
Answer. Yes, sir – slept there. I was in the fort every day; it was only about a mile from the landing – not a mile from the fortifications.
Question. Just say when you saw Forrest's men; the day and the time of day, and what you did.
Answer. On Tuesday morning, the 12th of this month, I was awakened about five o'clock, or half past five, by a little darkey boy, who came up to my room and says: "Oh, Mr. Benton, all of Forrest's men have come, and they are just going into the fort. What will I do?" I got out of bed and looked out of the window towards the fort, and saw about three or four hundred of Forrest's men drawn up in line, and some one was making a speech to them, which was answered by cheering. They cheered, and then the pickets fired. I put some things in my valise and started for the fort in a roundabout way, and got in, by running the pickets, about six o'clock, and went immediately to Major Booth and asked for a gun, and took my stand with the soldiers inside the breastworks, where I remained and shot at every person of Forrest's men that I could get a chance at, firing forty-eight shots in all, until the flag of truce was sent in.
Question. About what was the time of day it came in?
Answer. It came in about two o'clock, I should think – half past one or two o'clock in the afternoon.
Question. Had they made any attack then?
Answer. Oh, yes, sir.
Question. Had they tried to carry the fort by storm and been repulsed?
Answer. At one time the confederate troops had all disappeared.
Question. Were four hundred all there were there?
Answer. Those were all I saw there. This was when they first made their appearance when I first saw these four hundred. After getting into the fort we saw more than a thousand coming in at the different passes, and the sharpshooters were stationed on every hill on every side of us except the river side.
Question. Do you recollect how many attacks they made to carry the fort before the flag of truce came?
Answer. It is not proper to call their fighting but one attack upon the fort, although they all, or nearly all, seemed to be driven outside the outside works at one time, and soon came back fighting harder and in greater force than before.
Question. Did they use artillery?
Answer. Yes, sir. They did not hurt us with that; they shot at the gunboats.
Question. When the flag of truce came in did they make any disposition of their troops around the fort there?
Answer. Yes, sir; after the flag of truce was sent in and the firing ceased they came up on all sides to within ten yards of the very embankments that screened us.
Question. While the flag of truce was waiting?
Answer. Yes, sir; more especially on the northern side, just under the bank looking towards Coal Creek.
Question. How long was that flag inside of our lines?
Answer. One hour was the time. I suppose it was all of an hour.
Question. Do you know the nature of it?
Answer. It was for an unconditional surrender.
Question. It was refused by Major Booth?
Answer. By Major Bradford, yes, sir. Major Booth had been killed. He asked for time to consult with the gunboat, and finally returned the answer that there was none of Hawkins's men there, and he never would surrender.
Question. Did not Major Bradford make any protest against troops coming up under the flag in that way?
Answer. I don't know, sir.
Question. When the flag went back did they commence firing again?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Kept it up for how long?
Answer. They commenced firing again, but the firing didn't last fifteen minutes. Up to this time there had not been twenty killed on our side.
Question. What was the strength of the garrison?
Answer. 580, I think, just.
Question. How many of these were negroes?
Answer. About 380 – nearly 400 – I don't know exactly to a man.
Question. How many citizens besides yourself?
Answer. William W. Cutler, of Chicago, and a young man by the name of Robinson; he was a soldier but in citizen's clothes, and got off on that plea.
Question. The second flag that came in – about how long was it after the first?
Answer. Well, there was no second flag of truce, except the one. There was no firing in the interim.
Question. Was there no firing while the first was in?
Answer. No, sir, not a single shot fired on either side. After the flag of truce had been rejected, or the surrender had been rejected, they were so close to the fort that about 3,000 of them just sprang right in, and the whole garrison threw down their arms at once. The bigger portion of the darkeys jumped down the bank towards the Mississippi river, without any arms at all, and were followed by Forrest's men and shot indiscriminately, black and white, with handkerchiefs held over them in a great number of instances – as many as fifty I should think.
Question. Did you see any of those prisoners formed in line and shot down?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How many?
Answer. They were collected at least four different times.
Question. How long a line?
Answer. Well, it was more in a collection than it was properly in a straight line. There was a line probably as long as this room, or longer – about thirty or thirty-five feet.
Question. These lines were scattered by rebel shots several times?
Answer. They were.
Question. These men were unarmed?
Answer. Unarmed; no arms of any description, and they holding up both hands begging for quarter.
Question. Were you put in the line?
Answer. No, sir; I was not. It was attempted to put me in line, but I clung to a man who tried to shoot me, but I caught his gun and prevented him, and he took my money from me, some seventy dollars, and ordered me into line, raising his gun to strike me; and as I came to the line the captain made a feint to strike me with his sword, and told me to give him my pocket book, which I did, and as he turned to look after others, I sprang away and clung close to this man that had just taken my money. I said to him that he had taken all my money, and he must keep me from being shot like a dog, as I was a citizen, and had nothing to do with the fight. He abused me in every way by bad language, saying that we had fought them like devils, and tried to kill all of Forrest's men, until we came to the back of the stores, where he gave me a soldier's coat and told me to wait a moment until he could step in and steal his share. As soon as I was left I took some clothing, a saddle blanket, and halter that were there and started out of the fort as one of Forrest's men, but on the way I saw three persons shot – mulattoes and blacks – shot down singly in cold blood. I succeeded in getting over the fortifications and hid under fallen timber, where I remained until dark. After dark I attempted to go towards Hatchie River bottom, but the fallen timber being so bad I got lost, and wandered near the Pass No. 2, leading out of the fort, inside of it, where I could see all, where I laid until the next day about two o'clock. I heard fifty-one or fifty-two shots fired singly at different times within the fort during that time, and screams and cheers. About two o'clock the dogs were getting so close to me that I knew they were on my track.
Question. What do you mean by the dogs?
Answer. Hunting out people everywhere. They have dogs.
Question. They had bloodhounds?
Answer. Yes, sir. I left the most of my clothing and hastened down a ravine in the timber, and kept on through the ravines till I came to the Coal Creek bottom, some mile and a half, and swam across. Finally, I succeeded in getting to the island. I had to swim across the river and a bayou. That is all that I saw. Oh! I was there at the fort two days after the battle and saw the remains of burned persons; helped to bury one of the dead that I saw shot in cold blood lying right where he was left, and saw many of them, white and black, all buried together, and a number, three days afterwards, not buried.
Question. How many did you see shot in this way?
Answer. I should think probably about two hundred.
Question. It was an indiscriminate butchery, was it?
Answer. Yes, sir. There were about fifteen or twenty that lay close in one pile, huddling together, shot after they were wounded.
Question. Some white soldiers shot after they were wounded?
Answer. Yes, sir, with the hospital flag flying, and they holding white handkerchiefs over their heads. I saw at least ten soldiers shot individually with white handkerchiefs over their heads. They tore off pieces of their shirts – anything they could get – for flags of truce and to denote surrender.
Question. You say these men were shot down in hospital, with hospital flag flying?
Answer. Yes, sir, lying right down under it – not up walking at all. Every man lying near me was killed – lying close to me and on me. Two lay over me, because they kept piling themselves right up on top close under the bank. It was just down under the brow of the hill. A great many were lying in the water and were shot. Trees that were lying one end in the water and the other on shore, they would just go over on the other side of them and hide in the water, and the rebels would go over and shoot them.
Question. Your citizen's clothes saved you?
Answer. Yes, sir; I told them I had nothing to do with them. They robbed every citizen, taking off most of their clothing.
Question. How much did they take from you?
Answer. Seventy dollars.
Question. You say you were robbed twice.
Answer. Yes, once by the captain of the company and once by the private. I carry my money in my vest pocket always, and had my pocket-book in my pocket with notes in it.
Question. That was what you gave to the captain, wasn't it?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. And the seventy dollars in money to the soldier?
Answer. Yes, sir. He asked, "Give me your money," and the other for the pocket-book.
Question. You say they had bloodhounds; did you see any of them?
Answer. Yes, sir; and not only I but others saw them. One other, Mr. Jones, was treed by them, and staid there a long time.
Question. What Jones was that?
Answer. I don't know his given name. He lives on Island 34. I can find out his name. He is not any too good a Union man, but is rather southern in his feelings.
Question. State about Bradford's death – when he was shot. What was done? Was he wounded before the surrender?
Answer. No, sir; but it was reported by very reliable persons that Bradford was shot and hung near Covington, in Hatchie River bottom.
Question. Who told you this?
Answer. This same Jones; and there were some darkeys came in to the gunboat and said that. Darkey evidence is very correct there. You might not think it worth while to take their evidence, but it is a great deal more to be relied upon than the southern evidence there. I might state that I was inquired after by a large number of officers, and it was said they would hang me on a flag-pole.
Question. What for?
Answer. From the fact that I employed government darkeys from Colonel Phillips, at Memphis.
Question. On your plantation?
Answer. Yes, sir. And they shot all my horses unfit for cavalry.
Question. Did they shoot your darkeys?
Answer. I understand they did, and burned them all. I understand they took one yellow woman, and two or three boys escaped that I tried to take to the fort with me in the morning to help fight. The balance, a darkey whose name I don't know, said they were killed and burned in the house.
Question. You did not go back there, then?
Answer. I did not go back there. That is only what is told me. It was told me by persons who were hid right near, and I saw persons bury the bodies after they were burned.
Question. Where?
Answer. In the fort, sir – burned in the house.