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
Answer. I laid down, and a fellow came along and turned me over and
searched my pockets and took my money. He said: "God damn his old soul;
he is sure dead now; he is a big, old, fat fellow."
Question. How long did you lay there?
Answer. About two hours.
Question. Then what was done with you?
Answer. They made some of our men carry me up the hill to a house that
was full of white men. They made us lie out doors all night, and said
that the next morning they would have the doctor fix us up. I went down
to a branch for some water, and a man said to me: "Old man, if you stay
here they will kill you, but if you get into the water till the boat
comes along they may save you;" and I went off. They shot a great many
that evening.
Question. The day of the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir. I heard them shoot little children not more than that
high, [holding his hand off about four feet from the floor,] that the
officers had to wait upon them.
Question. Did you see them shoot them?
Answer. I did not hold up my head.
Question. How did you know that they shot them then?
Answer. I heard them say, "Turn around so that I can shoot you good;"
and then I heard them fire, and then I heard the children fall over.
Question. Do you know that those were the boys that waited upon the
officers?
Answer. Yes, sir; one was named Dave, and the other was named Anderson.
Question. Did you see them after they were shot?
Answer. No, sir; they toted them up the hill before me, because they
were small. I never saw folks shot down so in my life.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Do you know of anybody being buried alive?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Do you know of any one being burned?
Answer. They had a whole parcel of them in a house, and I think they
burned them. The house was burned up, and I think they burned them in
it.
Question. Were the men in the house colored men?
Answer. No, sir. The rebels never would have got the advantage of us if
it had not been for the houses built there, and which made better
breastworks for them than we had. The major would not let us burn the
houses in the morning. If they had let us burn the houses in the
morning, I do not believe they would ever have whipped us out of that
place.
* * * * *
Manuel Nichols, (colored,) private, Company B, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Were you in the late fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When?
Answer. I was wounded once about a half an hour before we gave up.
Question. Did they do anything to you after you surrendered?
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