Reports of the Committee on the Conduct of the War: Fort Pillow Massacre. Returned Prisoners.United States. Congress. Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War
History
Reports of the Committee on the Conduct of the War: Fort Pillow Massacre. Returned Prisoners.
United States. Congress. Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War
Fort Pillow, Battle of, Tenn., 1864; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
When your committee arrived at Memphis, Tennessee, they found and
examined a man (Mr. McLagan) who had been conscripted by some of
Forrest's forces, but who, with other conscripts, had succeeded in
making his escape. He testifies that while two companies of rebel
troops, with Major Bradford and many other prisoners, were on their
march from Brownsville to Jackson, Tennessee, Major Bradford was taken
by five rebels--one an officer--led about fifty yards from the line of
march, and deliberately murdered in view of all there assembled. He
fell--killed instantly by three musket balls, even while asking that his
life might be spared, as he had fought them manfully, and was deserving
of a better fate. The motive for the murder of Major Bradford seems to
have been the simple fact that, although a native of the south, he
remained loyal to his government. The testimony herewith submitted
contains many statements made by the rebels that they did not intend to
treat "home-made Yankees," as they termed loyal southerners, any better
than negro troops.
There is one circumstance connected with the events herein narrated
which your committee cannot permit to pass unnoticed. The testimony
herewith submitted discloses this most astounding and shameful fact: On
the morning of the day succeeding the capture of Fort Pillow, the
gunboat Silver Cloud, (No. 28,) the transport Platte Valley, and the
gunboat New Era, (No. 7,) landed at Fort Pillow under flag of truce, for
the purpose of receiving the few wounded there and burying the dead.
While they were lying there, the rebel General Chalmers and other rebel
officers came down to the landing, and some of them went on the boats.
Notwithstanding the evidences of rebel atrocity and barbarity with which
the ground was covered, there were some of our army officers on board
the Platte Valley so lost to every feeling of decency, honor, and
self-respect, as to make themselves disgracefully conspicuous in
bestowing civilities and attention upon the rebel officers, even while
they were boasting of the murders they had there committed. Your
committee were unable to ascertain the names of the officers who have
thus inflicted so foul a stain upon the honor of our army. They are
assured, however, by the military authorities that every effort will be
made to ascertain their names and bring them to the punishment they so
richly merit.
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