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 heard of their burning some, but I did not see it.
Question. How many times were you shot?
Answer. I was shot twice, and a ball slightly grazed my head.
Question. Were you shot after you had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you see the man who shot you?
Answer. I saw the man who shot me the last time in the side with a
revolver.
Question. Did he say anything to you?
Answer. He did not say anything until he shot me. He then came down to
where I was, and finding I was not dead, he cursed me, and said he would
shoot me again. He was fixing to shoot me again, when one of the boys
standing by told him not to shoot me again.
Question. Did they rob you after they had shot you?
Answer. Yes, sir; they took everything I had, even to my pocket-knife.
Question. You say you heard about the burning?
Answer. Yes, sir, I heard about it; but I did not see it.
Question. Did you see any of the rebel officers about while this
shooting was going on?
Answer. None there that I knew. I did not see them until they carried me
up on the bluff.
Question. Did they shoot any after they fell wounded?
Answer. I saw them shoot one man in the head after he fell.
* * * * *
D. W. Harrison, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company D, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. I had been driving a team and acting as a soldier. I took my gun
that morning and went out in line. They then wanted a train to haul some
ammunition and provisions in the fort. The rebels were throwing balls
around there. I kept hauling, I think five loads. The rest of the wagons
would not go back after they had hauled one load; and after I had hauled
five loads I concluded I would not haul any more. I went down under the
hill and got with two men there close under a log. It was but a few
minutes before the men came over the hill like sheep over a brush fence,
when I saw white men and negroes getting shot down. I threw up my hands
and said: "Don't shoot me; I surrender." One of them said: "Go on up the
hill." I started, but did not get more than two steps before I was shot
in the shoulder. I fell, and while I was undertaking to get up again I
was hit in the body; and this arm that was hit fell over behind me. A
rebel came along with a canteen, and I motioned to him and told him I
wanted a little water. He said: "Damn you; I have nothing for you
fellows. You Tennesseeans pretend to be men, and you fight side by side
with niggers. I have nothing for you." About that time another one came
up with his pistol drawn, and asked if I had any money. I told him I had
a little, and he told me to give it to him. I told him my shoulder was
hurt and he must take it himself. He turned me over and took about $90
and my watch. Another man, who _was_ a man, came along and brought me
some water.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account