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. Did you see any others shot after they had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir. One of the two who was under the log with me was
killed. I don't know whether the other man was killed or not.
* * * * *
William A. Dickey, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Were you at Fort Pillow when it was taken by the rebels?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. In what company and regiment?
Answer. Company B, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Will you state what happened there, especially after the fort
was taken?
Answer. After the breastworks were charged I first noticed the colored
soldiers throwing down their arms and running down the bluff. After the
rebs got inside the white troops saw that there was no mercy shown, and
they threw down their arms and ran down the bluff, too; and they were at
the same time shot and butchered. I ran myself, but carried my gun with
me down the bluff, and hid myself behind a tree close to the edge of the
river. I staid there some time, and saw my partner shot, and saw men
shot all around me. I saw one man shoot as many as four negroes just as
fast as he could load his gun and shoot. After doing this he came to me.
As he turned around to me, I begged him not to shoot me. He came to me
and I gave him my gun, and he took my caps, saying he wanted them to
kill niggers. I begged him to let me go with him, as I would be exposed
there; but he said "No, stay there." He made me stay there, and would
not let me go with him. Another man came along, and I asked him to spare
my life, and he did so. I asked him to let me go with him, but he
refused me and ordered me to stay with my wounded partner, who was lying
in some brush. I crawled in the brush to him. He was suffering very
much, and I unloosed his belt, and took his cartridge-box and put it
under his head. Some rebels under the hill spied us moving in the brush
and ordered us to come out. My partner could not come out, but I came
out. They ordered me to come to them. I started after one of them,
begging him at the same time not to shoot me. I went, I suppose, eight
or ten steps, when he shot me. I fell there, and saw but little more
after that. As I was lying with my face towards the river I saw some
swimming and drowning in the river, and I saw them shoot some in the
river after that.
* * * * *
Woodford Cooksey, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:
Question. To what company and regiment do you belong?
Answer. Company A, 13th Tennessee cavalry.
Question. Were you in the fight at Fort Pillow?
Answer. Yes, sir; from 6 o'clock in the morning until about 4 o'clock in
the evening.
Question. State what took place after the fort was taken by the rebels.
Answer. There were a great many white men shot down, and a great many
negroes.
Question. That you saw?
Answer. That I saw myself.
Question. Were you wounded there?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. At what time?
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