(52 



ARMY OPERATIONS. 



ceeded in making their escape unhurt, nothing defi- 

 nite is known, and it is to be feared that many have 

 been murdered after being taken away from the fort. 

 When your committee arrived at Memphis, Tennes- 

 see, they found and examined a man (Mr. McLogan) 

 who had been conscripted by some of Forrest's 

 forces, but who, with other conscripts, had succeeded 

 in making his escape. He testifies that while t\vo 

 companies of rebel troops, with Major Bradford and 

 many other prisoners, were on their march from 

 Brownsville and Jackson, Tennessee, Major Bradford 

 was taken by five rebels, one an officer, led about 

 fifty yards from the line of march, and deliberately 

 murdered in view of all those assembled. He fell, 

 killed instantly by three mosket balls, and while ask- 

 ing that his life might be spared, as he had fought 

 them manfully, and was deserving of a better fate. 

 The motive for the murder of Major Bradford seems 

 to have been the simple fact that, although a native 

 of the South, he remained loyal to his Government. 



On the other side is the following statement 

 by Lieut.-Gen. S. D. Lee, who was in command 

 of the Confederate department. It is part of 

 a letter on the subject, dated June 28th : 



As commanding officer of this department, I desire 

 to make the following statement concerning the cap- 

 ture of Fort Pillow a statement supported in a great 

 measure by the evidence of one of your own ofhcers 

 captured at that place. The version given by you 

 and your Government is untrue, and not sustained 

 by the facts to the extent that you indicate. The 

 garrison was summoned in the usual manner, and its 

 commanding officer assumed the responsibility of 

 refusing to surrender, after having been informed by 

 Gen. Forrest of his ability to taKe the fort, and of 

 his fears as to what the result would be in case the 

 demand was not complied with. The assault was 

 made under a heavy fire and with considerable loss 

 to the attacking party. Your colors were never low- 

 ered and your garrison never surrendered, but retreat- 

 ed under cover of a gunboat, with arms in their hands 

 and constantly using them. This was true particu- 

 larly of your colored troops, who had been firmly 

 convinced by your teachings of the certainty of 

 slaughter in case of capture. Even under these cir- 

 cumstances many of your men white and black 

 were taken prisoners. I respectfully refer you to 

 history for numerous cases of indiscriminate slaugh- 

 ter after successful assault, even under less aggra- 

 vated circumstances. It is generally conceded by 

 all military precedent that where the' issue had been 

 fairly presented and the ability displayed, fearful re- 

 sults are expected to follow a refusal to surrender. 

 The case under consideration is almost an extreme 

 one. You had a servile race armed against their 

 masters, and in a country which had been desolated 

 by almost unprecedented outrages. 



I assert that our officers, with all the circumstances 

 against them, endeavored to prevent the effusion of 

 blood ; and as an evidence of this, I refer you to the 

 fact that both white and colored prisoners were 

 taken, and are now in our hands. As regards the 

 battle of Tishimiugo Creek, the statements. of your 

 negro witnesses are not to be relied on. In their 

 panic they acted as might have been expected from 

 their previous impressions. I do not think many of 

 them were killed they are yet wandering over the 

 country, attempting to return to their masters. With 

 reference to the status of those captured at Tishimin- 

 go Creek and Fort Pillow, I will state that, unless 

 otherwise ordered by my government, they will not 

 be regarded as prisoners of war, but will be retained 

 and humanely treated, subject to such future instruc- 

 tions as may be indicated. 



Your letter contains many implied threats ; these, 

 of course, you can make, and you are fully entitled 

 to any satisfaction that you may feel from having 

 made them. 



It is my intention, and that also of my subordinate 



officers, to conduct this war upon civilized principles, 

 provided you permit us to do so ; and I take this occa- 

 sion to state that we will not shirk from any respon- 

 sibility that your actions may force upon us. We 

 are engaged in a struggle for the protection of our 

 homes and firesides, for the maintenance of our 

 national existence and liberty ; we have counted the 

 cost, and are prepared to go to any extremes ; and 

 though it is far from our wish to fight under a black 

 flag, still, if you drive us to it, we will accept the 

 issue. Your troops virtually fought under it at the 

 battle of Tishimingo Creek, and the prisoners taken 

 there state that they went into battle under the im- 

 pression that they would receive no quarter, and, I 

 suppose, with the determination to give none. 



I will further remark, that if it is raised, so far as 

 your soldiers are concerned, there can be no distinc- 

 tion, for the unfortunate people whom you pretend to 

 be aiding are not considered entirely responsible for 

 their acts, influenced, as they are, "by the superior 

 intellect of their white brothers. I enclose for your 

 consideration certain papers touching the Fort Pillow 

 affair, which were procured from the writer after the 

 exaggerated statements of your press were seen. 



I am, general, yours, respectfully, 



S. D. LEE, Lieutenant-Gcneral. 



The report of the enemy stated that Gens. 

 Forrest and Chalmers "both entered the fort 

 from opposite sides, simultaneously, and an in- 

 discriminate slaughter followed. One hundred 

 prisoners were taken and the balance slain. 

 The fort ran with blood. Many jumped into 

 the river and were drowned, or shot in the 

 water. Over $100,000 worth of stores were 

 taken, and six guns captured. The Confeder- 

 ate loss was seventy-five. Lieut.-Col. Beed, of 

 the 5th Mississippi, was mortally wounded." 



A party of the enemy on the capture of Fort 

 Pillow made an advance against Columbus, 

 Gen. Buford being in command of their force. 



On the 13th he sent the following summons 

 to the commander of the fort : 



HEADQUARTERS COXFEDERATE STATES ARMY, ) 

 BEFORE C'OLUMBTTS, KT., April 13, 1864. f 



To the Commander of t7te United States forces, Col- 

 umljii-s, Ky : 



Fully capable of taking Columbus and its garrison 

 by force, I desire to avoid shedding blood. I there- 

 fore demand the unconditional surrender of the 

 forces under your command. Should you surren- 

 der, the negroes now in arms will be returned to 

 their masters. Should I be compelled to take the 

 place by force, no quarters will be shown negro 

 troops whatever ; white troops will be treated as 

 prisoners of war. I am, sir, yours, 



A. BllFORD, Brig.-Gen. 



This demand was refused, and Gen. Buford 

 retired without making an attack. At the 

 same time an excitement arose at Paducah, un- 

 der apprehension of another attack of the en- 

 emy. The entire forces, however, retired to Bol- 

 ivar, Trenton, and Grand Junction. For further 

 military operations in this part of the country, 

 see KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI. 



Some active operations took place in North 

 Carolina. The important ports on the sounds, 

 as Newborn, "Washington, Plymouth, &c., had 

 been held since their capture by the forces un- 

 der Gen. Burnside. On the 1st of February, a 

 force of the enemy under Gen. Picket, con- 

 sisting of Gen. Hoke's brigade, with a part of 

 Gens. Corse's and Clingman's, made an assault 



