A defensive work erected by the
Confederates on the
Mississippi River at Chickasaw Bluff, above
Memphis, Tenn. It was occupied by a National force on June 5, 1862.
In 1864 it was garrisoned by about 550 men, including 260 colored soldiers, under the command of
Maj. L. F. Booth.
Forrest approached the fort on the morning of
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April 13, drove in the pickets, and began an assault.
A sharp battle ensued.
About nine o'clock
Major Booth was killed, and the command devolved on
Major Bradford.
The whole force was then called within the fort, and the fight was maintained until past noon.
Meanwhile the gunboat
New Era, of the Mississippi squadron.
lying near, had taken part in the defence of the fort, but the height of the bank prevented her doing much execution.
Forrest sent a flag to demand an instant surrender.
While negotiations were going on
Forrest sent large numbers of his troops to favorable positions for attack, which could not have been gained while the garrison was free to fight.
By this trick he gained a great advantage.
Bradford refused to surrender, and
Forrest gave a signal, when his men sprang from their hiding-places, which they had gained by treachery, and, with a cry of “No quarter!”
pounced upon the fort at different points, and in a few moments were in possession of it.
Generals Forrest and
Chalmers entered the fort simultaneously from opposite sides.
The surprised and overwhelmed garrison threw down their arms.
Some of them attempted to escape down the steep bank of the river or to find concealment in the bushes.
The conquerors followed and butchered the defenseless men, who begged for quarter.
Within the fort like scenes were exhibited.
Soldiers and civilians— men, women, and children,
white and
black—were indiscriminately slaughtered.
The massacre continued until night, and was renewed in the morning.
Fully 300 were murdered in cold blood.
Major Bradford, who was a native of a slave-labor State, was a special object of
Forrest's hatred.
He regarded him as “a traitor to the
South.”
While on his way towards
Jackson, Tenn., as a prisoner of war, the day after the
Confederates left
Fort Pillow, the major was taken from the line of march and deliberately murdered.
So testified one of
Forrest's cavalry before a congressional committee.
Forrest had determined to strike terror in the minds of colored troops and their leaders.
This seemed to be his chosen method.
Maj. Charles W. Gibson, of
Forrest's command.
said to the late
Benson J. Lossing, “
Forrest's motto was.
War means fight, and fight means kill—we want but few prisoners.”
