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
Alexander Nayron, (colored,) private, company C, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In Mississippi.
Question. Have you been a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. At Lagrange, last August.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time of the attack?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When were you wounded?
Answer. After the fight.
Question. About what time?
Answer. About three o'clock, I reckon.
Question. Where were you when you were wounded?
Answer. Down at the river, lying down by the side of a log. They came
there and told me to get up, and as I got up they shot me.
Question. Who shot you, an officer or private?
Answer. A private.
Question. How many times were you shot?
Answer. But once; they shot me in my head, and thought they had killed
me.
Question. Did you see any others shot there?
Answer. Yes, sir; several other black men with me.
Question. Did you see any small boys shot?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you go back from the river after you were shot?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. You remained there until you were brought away by the gunboat?
Answer. Yes, sir. I saw several of our boys shot while they were
fighting. They said, when they shot me, that they were allowed to kill
every damned nigger in the fort--not spare one.
Question. You saw nobody buried or burned?
Answer. No, sir; I saw them throw several in the water.
Question. Were they all dead that were thrown in?
Answer. Yes, sir; about dead.
* * * * *
Eli Carlton, (colored,) private, company B, 6th United States heavy
artillery, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In East Tennessee.
Question. Have you been a slave?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Who was your master?
Answer. Major Fleming. I was sold once; I have had two masters.
Question. Where did you join the army?
Answer. At Corinth, Mississippi, about a year ago.
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow at the time it was taken?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. State what happened there.
Answer. I saw 23 men shot after they surrendered; I made 24; 17 of them
laid right around me dead, and 6 below me.
Question. Who shot them?
Answer. The rebels; some white men were killed.
Question. How many white men were killed?
Answer. Three or four.
Question. Killed by the privates?
Answer. Yes, sir; I did not see any officers kill any.
Question. Were the white men officers or privates?
Answer. Privates.
Question. Were the men who shot you near to you?
Answer. Yes, sir; ten or fifteen steps off.
Question. Were you shot with a musket or a pistol?
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