Reports of the Committee on the Conduct of the War: Fort Pillow Massacre. Returned Prisoners. — John Shaqi
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
Question. Are you sure they were shot after they had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir. Some were in the river swimming out a piece, when they
were shot; and they took another man by the arm, and held him up, and
shot him in the breast.
Question. Did you see any others shot?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw two wounded men shot the next morning; they were
lying down when the secesh shot them.
Question. Did the rebels say anything when they were shooting our men?
Answer. They said they were going to kill them all; and they would have
shot us all if the gunboat had not come along.
Question. Were you shot?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When?
Answer. After the battle, the same evening.
Question. Where were you shot?
Answer. Right through both legs.
Question. How many times were you shot?
Answer. Only once, with a carbine. The man stood right close by me.
Question. Where were you?
Answer. On the river bank.
Question. Had you arms in your hands?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. What did the man say who shot you?
Answer. He said they were going to kill us all.
Question. Did you see any men buried?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you see anybody burned?
Answer. No, sir; I did not see that. Where I was was a good piece off
from where they had the battle.
Question. Do you know how many of your company got away?
Answer. I do not think any of my company got away.
Question. How many were killed before they surrendered?
Answer. I don't know how many; a good many, I think.
Question. Would you have surrendered, if you had known what they were
going to do to you?
Answer. No, sir.
* * * * *
George Shaw, (colored,) private, company B, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In Tennessee.
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. At Fort Pillow.
Question. Were you there at the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When were you shot?
Answer. About four o'clock in the evening.
Question. After you had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Where were you at the time?
Answer. About ten feet from the river bank.
Question. Who shot you?
Answer. A rebel soldier.
Question. How near did he come to you?
Answer. About ten feet.
Question. What did he say to you?
Answer. He said, "Damn you, what are you doing here?" I said, "Please
don't shoot me." He said, "Damn you, you are fighting against your
master." He raised his gun and fired, and the bullet went into my mouth
and out the back part of my head. They threw me into the river, and I
swam around and hung on there in the water until night.
Question. Did you see anybody else shot?
Answer. Yes, sir; three young boys, lying in the water, with their heads
out; they could not swim. They begged them as long as they could, but
they shot them right in the forehead.
Question. How near to them were they?
Answer. As close as that stone, (about eight or ten feet.)
Question. How old were the boys?
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