Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 8.
Frank Moore, Ed.

“ [14] fellows come here they will kill us.” I was lying on my right side, leaning on my elbow. One of the black soldiers went into the house where the white soldiers were. I asked him if there was any water in there, and he said yes; I wanted some, and took a stick and tried to get to the house. I did not get to the house. Some of them came along, and saw a little boy belonging to company D. One of them had his musket on his shoulder, and shot the boy down. He said: “All you damned niggers come out of the house; I am going to shoot you.” Some of the white soldiers said: “Boys, it is only death, any how; if you don't go out they will come in and carry you out.” My strength seemed to come to me as if I had never been shot, and I jumped up and ran down the hill. I met one of them coming up the hill; he said, “Stop!” but I kept on running. As I jumped over the hill, he shot me through the right arm.

Question. How many did you see them kill after they had surrendered?

Answer. After I surrendered I did not go down the hill. A man shot me under the ear, and I fell down and said to myself: “If he don't shoot me any more this. Won't hurt me.” One of their officers came along and hallooed, “Forrest says no quarter! No quarter!” and the next one hallooed: “Black flag! Black flag!”

Question. What did they do then?

Answer. They kept on shouting. I could hear them down the hill.

Question. Did you see them bury any body?

Answer. Yes, sir; they carried me around right to the corner of the Fort, and I saw them pitch men in there.

Question. Was there any alive?

Answer. I did not see them bury any body alive.

Question. How near to you was the man who shot you under the ear?

Answer. Right close to my head. When I was shot in the side, a man turned me over, and took my pocket-knife and pocket-book. I had some of these brass things that looked like cents. They said: “Here's some money; here's some money.” I said to myself: “You got fooled that time.”

Arthur Edwards, (colored,) private, company C, Sixth United States heavy artillery, sworn and examined: by the Chairman:

Question. Where were you raised?

Answer. In Mississippi.

Question. Were you in Fort Pillow when it was taken?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Tell what you saw there?

Answer. I was shot after I surrendered.

Question. When?

Answer. About half-past 4 o'clock.

Question. Where were you when you were shot?

Answer. I was lying down behind a log.

Question. Where were you shot?

Answer. In the head first, then in the shoulder, then in my right wrist; and then in the head again, about half an hour after that.

Question. How many men shot at you?

Answer. One shot at me three times, and then a lieutenant shot at me.

Question. Did they say any thing when they shot you?

Answer. No, sir, only I asked them not to shoot me, and they said: “God damn you, you are fighting against your master.”

Question. How near was the man to you when he shot you?

Answer. He squatted down, and held his pistol close to my head.

Question. How near was the officer to you when he shot you?

Answer. About five or ten feet off; he was sitting on his horse.

Question. Who said you were fighting against your master?

Answer. The man that shot me.

Question. What did the officer say?

Answer. Nothing but “You God damned nigger.” A captain told him not to do it, but he did not mind him; he shot me, and run off on his horse.

Question. Did you see the captain?

Answer. Yes, sir; he and the captain were side by side.

Question. Did you know the captain?

Answer. No, sir.

Q. How long did you stay there?

Answer. Until next morning about nine o'clock.

Question. How did you get away?

Answer. When the gunboat commenced shelling I went down the hill, and staid there until they carried down a flag of truce. Then the gunboat came to the bank, and a secesh lieutenant made us go down to such a place, and told us to go no further, or we would get shot again. Then the gunboat men came along to bury the dead, and told us to go on the boat.

Question. Did you see any body shot after they had surrendered, besides yourself?

Answer. Yes, sir; they shot one right by me, and lots of the Thirteenth Tennessee cavalry.

Question. After they had surrendered?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Do you know whether any were buried alive?

Answer. Not that I saw.

Question. Did you see any body buried?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Did you see any body shot the day after the fight?

Answer. No, sir.

Charles Key, (colored,) private, company D, Sixth United States heavy artillery, sworn and examined: by Mr. Gooch:

Question. Where were you raised?

Answer. In South-Carolina.

Question. Have you been a slave?