Jay's notes on Fort Pillow: Fort Pillow
Just the facts.
Confederates led by General Nathan Bedford Forrest surrounded Fort Pillow, defended by about 567 men. (295 white, 262 black). Fort Pillow was originally a Confederate fort but captured by the Union in 1862 after a Confederate retreat. The fort was defended by Major William Bradford and reinforced under the command of Major General L. F. Booth, who believed he could hold the fort for 48 hours. The garrison inside the fort was reportedly taking advantage of some citizens around the fort and their property. Once the Confederates were inside the original walls of the fort, they took ground from high knolls under cover by logs, stumps and brush. They attempted one assault at 9AM but were turned back. But the ground the Confederates held enabled them to fire at the fort from up to 400 yards away. Sharp shooters could knock off men who lifted their heads above the walls of the fort to fire, but it was difficult to hit the confederates because of the timber they hid behind. Major General Booth was killed at 9AM. But Major Bradford still believed they could hold the fort thanks to the gunboat New Era, which fired at the confederates through the woods. The boat was highly ineffective. "As they were shelled out of one ravine they would make their appearance in the other. They would thus appear and retire as the gunboat moved." The New Era nearly exhausted its ammunition. The fighting died down when the Confederates ran short of ammo, but reinforcements brought more around 3:30.
Forrest knew he had the fort, but sent a flag of truce so that a letter could be delivered to Booth (who was already dead). It demanded unconditional surrender telling the Union of their conditions and their hopelessness. The letter also promised that they would be treated as POWs. But if rejected, Forrest said that he would not be responsible for the "fate of their command." Bradford asked for time to consult with officers on the gunboat. As he did so, more boats moved closer. Forrest sent 400 men down the ravine, 200 on each side. Bradford sent a note back that lacked clarity. Forrest sent yet another note demanding in clear English whether they'd surrender or not. Bradford refused to surrender. Forrest ordered the charge. His troops crossed ditches and climbed up the wall. Once boosted up, they fired pointblank down upon the garrison. Before the garrison could reload, the next group was over the wall and firing down upon them "as if rising out the very earth." Some men ran out of the fort and down the ravine. Many of them were shot by Andersen's troops. The gunboat did not fire any shots to protect them. The American flag still hung over the fort signaling no surrender. Some were shot while trying to surrender. The Confederates took down the flag which signaled the end of the battle and the capture of the fort. This meant that the fighting was to stop.
Two boats, the gunboat Silver Cloud and the transporter Platte Valley arrived. Silver Cloud shelled the fort until 8:00am. Captain Andersen made a truce for the day. They buried the dead. By 4:00pm the gunboat raised its flag and headed off. The fort was abandoned. The confederates captured the ammo, arms and supplies. Of 557 men, there were at least 336 survivors, 226 unwounded and 100 slightly wounded.
An investigation was launched and all evidence came from Union soldiers. The Confederates were accused of slaughtering troops who surrendered, especially the black men. Propaganda was launched against the Confederates. It wasn't until months later than Confederate sources were found that argued the other viewpoint. By then popular opinion was already against them. Union's side of the story.
1. During the truce, the Confederates took advantaged of the ceasefire to relocate forces by the ravine.
2. Upon retreat, Confederates fired upon innocent men, women, and children who were rushing down to the ravine to escape.
3. One Union soldiers claims "an indiscriminate slaughter of our troops was carried out by the enemy with a furious and vindictive savageness which was never equaled by the most merciless of the Indian tribes."
Accusations
-Bowels ripped open with bowie knives, bayonets through eyes, shot at point blank range in the head (W Ferguson)
-Few of the coloreds were held prisoner, most were shot down.
-Men had such a hatred towards the Negroes that they could not be restrained from killing (Brayman)
-Colored troops threw down their arms and begged for their lives. They were massacred. Forrest ordered no quarter.
-White men begged for their lives on their knees and were gunned down.
-Forrest ordered Bradford shot. Bradford was fired upon after he surrendered. He ran into the river and swam to the boat where they still fired at him. Then he came back, all the while waving a white handkerchief. Still they fired at him. Finally they realized they could not kill him and took him prisoner.
-The rebels came back in the morning and shot the wounded in the hospital. They burnt bodies and butchered them. The Negroes that could stand were forced to stand up and then were shot. Many of them were hung. One man stated "Take that Negro equality" and shot a wounded white man.
-Men were buried alive with the dead.
-Men were nailed to the wall and burnt alive.
4. The Confederates showed no mercy to the wounded and most of the men were killed after the surrender.
5. Killing went on throughout the night
6. Before the fort was captured, not over a dozen of the whites and probably not more than 15-20 Negroes had been killed

Confederate"s side of the story:
1. When the truce was called, the garrison used this time to attempt to reinforce the fort. A couple of boats were drawing closer to the shore, so 400 men were sent to hold the coastline in case they tried to unload more men.
2. The people fleeing the fort were armed. They were still shooting at the Confederates, so the confederates shot back.
3. Many of the people would surrender. Once the Confederates backs were turned, however, they would pick up their guns and continue the fight.
4. The Confederates allowed ample time for burying the dead and even used some of their troops to assist in doing so.
5. General Forrest did not want a large loss of life, which is why he issued the ultimatum to Bradford. He knew he'd win the battle, but he figured he'd give the garrison a chance to surrender first.
6. The fort had not surrendered until the flag was taken down. As long as the Union flag flew above the fort, the battle was still on.
7. Confederate Generals ordered their soldiers not to kill any prisoners. A couple of times Major Chalmers threatened soldiers with arrest if they continued to shoot at the black man or beat him. Some claimed that Forrest did the same.
8. Firing had ceased after 20 minutes
9. The attack was brilliant and gallant. What is surely exaggerated: The number of deaths that occurred after the surrender. Why? First of all, the Confederates were climbing the walls and firing rains of bullets upon the garrison. It was estimated that 1200 rifles were emptied into the crowd, not to mention the deaths caused by the sharp shooters. There had to have been a hell of a lot more deaths than 32 with this many shots fired. Secondly, there were 336 survivors. With the massacre that different sources are discussing, there would have had to have been a lot more deaths than 250. The indiscriminate slaughter of women and children Why? "The aged, the women and children, and the civilians in the fort who did not wish to join in the fight, were placed in a coal barge early in the morning and towed by the New Era to a big island up the river."
Forrest ordered all Negroes and prisoners indiscriminately shot
- Though it is probably true that many of the soldiers killed soldiers that had surrendered, the fact that Forrest ordered this is not very likely. Forrest knows the rules of war and would not do such a thing. What probably happened was that the tensions between the rebels and the Tennessee garrison along with the Negroes was so strong that it led to killing out of hatred.
What I believe
Forrest allowed the killing of Negroes. If Forrest were racist enough to start the KKK, an organization that lynched and killed Negroes, then he certainly was capable of killing Negro soldiers. Though I do not feel that he issued an order to do so, I do believe he tolerated it for a bit. I do believe, however, that Chalmers warned soldiers of arrest if they shot wounded Negroes or prisoners. He seems like a better man than Forrest. Soldiers were still firing guns when running down to the ravines and there was probably a lot of confusion in the air. The garrison lacked command and the rebels were faced with the fear of fire from the gunboats. In the midst of confusion they probably shot at men that were surrendering. But many of the men that they did shoot by the ravine were not surrendering. They were still fighting back. Some men were tortured or killed inhumanely, but by soldiers and not officers. Forrest did not intend a massacre and his demand for unconditional surrender was a way of preventing this massacre. It would also have helped to protect his own troops.

Tim Lawlor's notes: The Atrocity at Fort Pillow The Battle of Fort Pillow occurred on April 12, 1864. A Union garrison at Fort Pillow, a Confederate built earthen fortification and a Union built inner redoubt, overlooking the Mississippi River was occupied by approximately 295 white Tennessee troops and 262 U.S. colored troops, all under the command of Major Lionel F. Booth. Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest accompanied by a Calvary division consisting of 2,500 men attacked Fort Pillow. The rebels attacked the fort many times being turned back each time, however gaining ground with each assault. They were able to gain high ground on surrounding knolls, where their sharpshooters were able to wreck havoc on the Federal troops wounding and killing many men including Major Lionel F. Booth. Major William F. Bradford replaced the deceased Major Booth. The Confederate advances were too close for the artillery of the Union to be affective. The rebels ultimately overran the fort but not after many surrender requests were denied. The fleeing Federal troops were forced down the Mississippi River into a deadly cross fire. Casualties were high with only 62 of the U.S. colored troops surviving, creating an argument that the Confederates were purposely massacring the black troops. The Confederates evacuated the fort that same night, gaining nothing but arms and the disrupting of the Union's plans. According to Major General Stephen A. Hurlbut (writing to Major General J.B. McPherson Commanding Department of the Tennessee), the Confederates, after all resistance had ceased "butchered in cold blood the prisoners and wounded". Apparently even if men were unarmed or wounded the Confederate soldiers were beating them to death or even in some cases burning them alive. There was even accounts of soldiers internal organs exposed or ripped out with what seemed like a bayonets or bowie knives. Which is the complete opposite of what Major General Nathan B. Forrest (Confederate) stated which was that his soldiers took the position without the use of a bayonet charge. An intriguing fact to think about. Few colored soldiers were held as prisoners. Major General Hurlbut wanted the incident to go under review of the War Department, in which it did. Lieutenant Daniel Van Horn of the Union Army escaped the incident by putting on civilian clothes and being taken prisoner. Van Horn remarked on the valor and courage of the black troops throughout the entire engagement. Never leaving their posts and acting as all soldiers, veteransâ black or white should. Lt. Van Horn also remarked on the surrender constantly being rejected, "There was never a surrender of the fort, both officers and men declaring they never would surrender or ask for quarter." According to this account, there was no way that Fort Pillow was just going to be given to the Confederates; these Federal soldiers were not going to let that happen. Lt. Van Horn was amazed that they held the fort for as long as they did, granted most of that to the colored soldiers. I thought that this was great to read. Finally the black race during a time of tremendous dissension was getting the recognition they earned and deserved. In Major General Nathan B. Forrestâs letter to his superior (Lieutenant Colonel Thomas M. Jack), he states that the fort was garrisoned by 700 troops, when the number was more near 557 troops. This may be a mistake on either side, or perhaps Major General Forrest was trying to make his success sound better than it really was. But that is just my opinion. When you attack 557 troops with a Calvary division of 2,500 losing only 20, you might want to cover a little of that up, because what happened may not be considered gentlemanly engagement. When writing to your superior, you want to sound as good as you can right? Forrest also said that the complete number of casualties of the "enemy" was unknown, but that 278 bodies were buried on the battlefield. According to him, 164 Federal troops were captured, 75 of them being negro. Referring back to Major Hurlbutâs account, he stated that many of the dead were found with their intestines ripped out, but Major Forrest said he was proud of his men because they took a well-defended fort without a bayonet charge. There seems to be some discrepancy here. Acting Master William Ferguson of the U.S. Navy gives his account of the engagement, saying he found 70 wounded men in the fort and surrounding countryside, while burying what seemed like 150 bodies, many of which suffered terrible deaths. "All the wounded who had strength enough to speak agreed that after the fort was taken an indiscriminate slaughter of our troops was carried on by the enemy with a furious and vindictive savageness which was never equaled by the most merciless of the Indian tribes. Around on every side horrible testimony to the truth of this statement could be seen. Bodies with gaping wounds, some bayoneted through the eyes, some with skulls beaten through, others with hideous wounds as if their bowels had been ripped open with bowie-knives, plainly told that but little quarter was shown to our troops. Strewn from the fort to the river bank, in the ravines and hollows, behind logs and under the brush where they had crept for protection from the assassins who pursued them, we found bodies bayoneted, beaten, and shot to death, showing how cold-blooded and persistent was the slaughter of our unfortunate troops." Ferguson said that there were around 500 men inside the fort when it was stormed. He received about 100 men including the wounded on his steamer. Those he took on board were taken before the flags of truce were sent in. The rebels had taken few prisoners; at least 300 Federal troops were killed. It is fairly evident that a massacre did take place at Fort Pillow, and will never be forgotten. The Union accounts are very detailed and gruesome. They are much different than that of the Confederates, basically because they Confederates did not want to flaunt what they did in cold blood. Donât get me wrong, war is war and is terribly devastating, but the acts that took place at Fort Pillow should not be done to any human being.

Rich Feeley's notes on Fort Pillow: The Fort Pillow Massacre July 17, 1862- Congress passed Second Confiscation and Militia Act (freed slaves who had masters in Conf. Army) July 19, 1862- Slavery was abolished in territories of U.S. According to the reports in NARA, after the Union Army turned back General Lee's first invasion of the North at Antietam, Maryland, the Emancipation Proclamation was announced and the recruitment of black troops began earnestly. The introduction of blacks into the military was slow, but after some prodding by Frederick Douglass among others, the amount of colored troops began to grow rapidly (by the end of the war·179,000 in U.S. Army, another 19,000 in Navy). But, the inclusion of blacks into the military which was parallel to emancipation, was not all done for the good of man but the good of the cause at the time. The number of former slaves was increasing, their was a large concern with the declining numbers of white volunteers (in army), and also the pressing needs of the U.S. Army (not just troops, but every position was needed). This is why the ban on blacks in the military was lifted and played a large part in the timing of the emancipation proclamation. At dawn on April 12, 1864, Confederate troops under the direct command of Brigadier General Chalmers (it was McCulloch's men, and Nathan Bedford Forrest was the Major General, but had yet to arrive). The battle lasted throughout the day, and by the end of the 12th the skirmish was all but over. According to a letter written by Forrest to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Jack, the next morning was spent attempting to maintain transport for some of the Union wounded troops. Forrest said that he sent Col. Anderson (they didn't actually spend the night after the battle at the fort·but in a camp a few miles away) to procure the transport during the 13th of April. Forrest claims that on one of the two days (after the fighting had ended) that they had even tried to "coax" the ship to shore for the transportation of troops. This, like many of the "facts" is disputable in the accounts provided by the participants. Fort Pillow was a earthen-built establishment, originally by the Confederates in 1861, but restricted in size because the original was too large. By 1862, the Confederates had relinquished their positions in retreat after the siege of Corinth, thus allowing the Federal Army to access Fort Pillow. The original layout of the fort was too large to be held with the smaller forces which were there at this point (U.S. Army). A third "line" was created inside the first two to allow for easier defense. At the outset of the battle at Fort Pillow (now know by the north at least as the Massacre of Fort Pillow), there were 295 white troops (First Battalion, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry) which consisted of ten commissioned officers as well as Major W.F. Bradford (officer in charge of regiment). The "colored" soldiers were comprised of two different regiments. They were the First Battalion, Sixth U.S. Heavy Artillery, which was comprised of 8 commissioned officers along side 213 enlisted men and the second was Company D, Second U.S. Light Artillery. This second regiment had one commissioned officer and 40 men. The 557 troops were "guarded" by 6 filed pieces, which included 2 six-pounders, 2 twelve-pound howitzers, and 2 ten-pound Parrotts. The man in charge of this entire outfit was a Major L.F. Booth, who was ordered to be in command here by Major General Hurlbut of the U.S. Army. In correspondence between the two, it was decided that there was no need for any more field guns than the fort all ready had or was getting (the six mentioned). The only immediate danger that they knew of was a camp where Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest had his troops at Paducah, Tennessee. The impression that Maj. Gen. Hurlbut had at the time was that since the rebels had already suffered great losses, they wouldn't attempt to go up river, but rather go back to Jackson and cross the Tennessee (and once this occurred there would be no need for Booth to stay at Fort Pillow). Fort Pillow, as stated before, was an earth-built fort which was near the banks of the Mississippi River. It was a crescent shaped fortress, and the possessed part of the fort had 8 foot walls that were approximately 4 feet wide (depth). In front of these walls was a ravine which according to most accounts was 6 feet deep and 12 feet wide. The land leading from the fort to the "ditch" was sloped down (descending). So once the rebels reached this particular part, the field guns were pretty much useless (not maneuverable enough to spray the oncoming troops). The land surrounding the fort was pretty uneven which proved to be disastrous for the Federal troops inside the fort. The troops were advancing rather smoothly by the time that Forrest arrived at around 10 am. (the Confederate troops had accessed the main fortifications of the fort by then). The cavalry divisions (regiments) under Forrest's command were 2,500 strong. This included a brigade lead by McCulloch, Chalmer, Bell, and Buford. Then around 3 pm, the rebels sent up the truce flag. At which point the Federal troops claim that while negotiations, Forrest moved troops into closer proximity to the fort (a very large no-no). The truce offered by Forrest according to Forrest included the surrender of the troops, the ability to live, and to escort out the wounded as well as dead. General Booth had been killed by this point so it was up to Major Bradford to deal with the negotiations. After an "agreed" decision, the Federals decided not to surrender. They asked for more time to mull it over though. Forrest agreed to twenty minutes rather than the proposed hour hiatus. He saw it as an attempt to possibly escape or await the arrive of more backup (ships etc·). Needless to say, the fighting commenced soon after, with the unfair advantage of closer proximity to the fort. During the skirmishes leading up to the halt in action, the confederate snipers were able to get "good looks" at the Federals including the officers (i.e. Booth's death) because of the poor land conditions (plenty of protection from tree stumps, uneven land, etc·). It was only a matter of time before it was all over for the Federal troops. The troops had surrounded the garrison, and the gunboat New Era was of no use, for its ammunition had run out. Bradford then ordered for the "retreat" of the fort. According to some accounts, soldiers were running for the river in an attempt to avoid capture. At this point, the Army claims that the rebels began to commit the heinous acts that this place has become so infamous for. Many of the soldiers running for the water were gunned down, as well as those who surrendered to the rebels. Acting Master Ferguson of the U.S. Navy spoke of the horrors which he saw. He said that after the fort was taken "an indiscriminant slaughter of our troops was carried on by the enemy with a furious and vindictive savageness which was never equaled by the most merciless of the Indian tribes." He reiterated stories of men who had seen others been bayoneted through the eyes, had their skulls beaten in, and some even more grotesque stuff to others. In a letter written by Maj. Gen. Hurlbut (to Ma. Gen. Sherman) it stated that "the rebels butchered the Negro troops after rŽsistance ceased." Apparently this is a point of contention, because several of the Confederate officers spoke of how the American flag was never lowered and the troops also never waved a truce flag. The maliciousness of the rebels did not end there, but continued upon their exit. According to a W.R. McLagen, a trader who was detained by these same marauders (rebels), the troops had captured Bradford (the highest ranking officer left at the end) and executed him (several miles from the fort). The Fort Pillow massacre, as with all event sin history was the result of several actions previous to and during the battle. Had the fort not been so large in the first place, it might have been easier to defend, and also maybe if the land wasn't so uneven, then maybe the gunboat would have provided more protection to those inside the fort. If the poor location had not existed, then the rebel sharp shooters might not have been able to snipe at and kill men such as Maj. Booth. It was well documented that Bradford was good, but too inexperienced in his position. This ultimaltely lead to poor decisions being made. If what many say is true, and Forrest did move troops during the truce, the Federal troops may have been able to hold off the onslaught. The Fort Pillow battle was labeled a massacre rather quickly once people began to hear about the events that took place on April 12th and 13th. It is rather convenient to write it off as a racially motivated massacre, especially since Nathan Bedford Forrest was the officer in charge and also happens to be one of the founders of the Ku Klux Klan. The southern officers did make declarations at various times during the Civil War that anyone black or fighting with a colored was in some serious trouble. In 1863 Confederate Congress threatened to punish severely officers of black troops and enslave the black soldiers. To which President Lincoln responded by issuing General Order 233, which threatened reprisal of Confederate prisoners of war for any mistreatment of black troops (blacks were generally mistreated any ways). In no way condoning the actions of the Confederate Army's treatment of blacks and those associated with blacks, there seemed to be a real threat of danger to the southerners, especially after the Nat Turner Rebellion. The south saw the nation swinging towards abolishing slavery and the ratio of blacks to whites in the south was reason enough to be scared. I think that Forrest, like so many others, saw Fort Pillow as an opportunity that he could not over look. He could send a message, if you will, that the south couldn't afford for any uprisings to occur (no blacks were going to have guns if they wanted to keep their society in tact). By "massacring" those at Fort Pillow, he sensed that he achieved a message. The actual attack on the fort was not in any way necessary, and they gained little from the battle (left the fort by the end of the night). Lieutenant Leaming said it best when he wrote in his letter, "The rebels were very bitter against these loyal Tennesseeians, terming them "homemade Yankees," and declaring they would give them no better treatment than they dealt out to the negro troops whom they were fighting." There is little doubt that Fort Pillow was a massacre, and it was used as a social and political tool by the North (seemed to be a vendetic situation). The actions of the southerner rebels were not quite the same in the reports of the southerners but that does not come as a surprise. Either way, the south's treatment of the blacks and the northerner's who "associated" themselves with the blacks was less than hospitable and Was exemplified in events such as the Saltville Massacre and the Fort Pillow Massacre. Any info not found on civilwarhome.com is from these cites or my brain·. 1) www.nara.gov/education/teaching/usct/home.html -if you are looking for a good picture, scroll down til just before the teaching section, theres a link for a recruiting poster (for blacks). 2) homepages.dsu.edu/jankej/civilwar/civilwar.htm -This is professor janke's page at Dakota State -Black Soldiers in the Civil War, NARA·.Colored Troops (11/4/00)

Michelle's notes on Saltville: The bloody battle of Saltville, in the hills of Virginia, occurred on Oct. 2, 1864. After the battle, it has been disputed whether it was black soldiers or unarmed black men who were massacred in brutal fashion. Here is a little background on the formation of colored troops during the Civil War:
Early 1864 saw the formation of a regiment comprised of freedmen, slaves, and ex-slaves, under the command of Union General Stephen G. Burbridge. The 5th United States Colored Cavalry was established on June 30th, 1864, under the direction of General Lorenzo Thomas. Colonel James Brisbin became the commander of the unit. The raid on Saltville, in Smyth County, Virginia, was given to General Burbridge.
Resources in the South were gaining strategic significance. To deprive the South of these resources, the Union was going to destroy the Confederate saltworks in this town. The 5th USCC under Colonel Brisbin was called to join the white forces of General Burbridge. These black soldiers were not welcomed with open arms, as the saying goes. Colonel Brisbin stated in correspondence: they "were made the subject of much ridicule and many insulting remarks by the white troops, and in some instances petty outrages, such as pulling off the caps of the colored soldiers, stealing their horses etc." Brisbin also wrote that "these insults, as well as the jeers and taunts that they would not fight, were borne by the colored solders patiently. In no instance did I hear colored soldiers make any reply to insulting language used toward [them] by white troops." It must have been a test of strength to endure this taunting, though I'm sure that those who were forced into years of slavery had to learn patience to get through each day.
When they arrived near Saltville, preparing for battle on Oct. 2, 1864, the Union forces expected little resistance, but they were met by 2,800 troops under the command of General John S. Williams. When the Confederate troops saw the advancing black soldiers, they were enraged. They felt that this was "their homeland being threatened by armed Negroes." The sight of this delayed their attack just enough to let the Union forces move in. They were not prepared for the strength of the 5th USCC, and the Confederate line was breached by Union forces, and they were pushed back to the top of the ridge. However, after nearly six hours of fighting, and without accomplishing his objective, Burbridge had to retreat due to a dwindling supply of ammunition.
After the battle, the white troops relented and praised the black troops for their valor on the battlefield. One officer commented that he "never thought they would fight until he saw them there." He added that he "never saw troops fight like they did. The rebels were firing on them with grape and canister and were mowing them down by the scores but others kept straight on." Even Colonel Brisbin noted that "I have seen white troops fight in twenty-seven battles and never saw any fight any better."
Thomas Mays and William Marvel, two modern historians of the Civil War, wrote their own accounts of the Saltville Massacre. While they agree on the facts stated above, their accounts of what was to happen after the battle differ a great deal. In Mays' book, The Saltville Massacre, he argues that black troops were captured by Confederate soldiers and were tortured and killed. He described it as an "an orgy of cowardly murders." He goes on to state the following: "After dark, Confederate Captain Edward O. Guerrant and his aide Trooper George Dallas Mosgrove of the 4th Kentucky Cavalry met Gen. Felix Robertson. During the meeting, Robertson proudly informed Guerrant that 'he had killed nearly all the Negroes.' Mays contends that Robertson saw no reason to take any prisoners. Private Lee Smith of the 4th Kentucky Cavalry later recalled 'we surely slew Negroes that day.'" Many of the black troops were horribly wounded during the battle. While retreating under Burbridge's orders, these wounded tried to follow him. "Colonel Brisbin looked on in horror as he 'saw one man riding with his arm shot off, another shot through the lungs and another shot through the hips,' all attempting to evade the Confederates."
This is such a terrible thing to read considering it was only the black soldiers that the Confederates were trying to kill. Many knew that some of their fellow troops were captured and murdered by the Confederate soldiers. Unfortunately, the number cannot be definitely established, due to the fact that the troops were not officially organized when they left for the assault on Saltville. The horrors of the assault on the black soldiers were recounted by even the Confederates. One such soldier noted "Tennesseans killing Negroes. Hearing more firing at the front, I cautiously rode forward and came upon a squad of Tennesseans, mad and excited to the highest degree. They were shooting every wounded Negro they could find. Hearing firing on other parts of the field, I knew the same awful work was going on all about me." This paints a grim picture of what was happening. And if the Confederate soldier noted that it was "awful work," then obviously they were out of line.
Many other accounts Mays gathered tells of the same mayhem and slaughter. He portrays it not as acts of war, but as cowardly and savage acts of murder. He also states that Southern General John Breckenridge tried to order the massacre stopped, but the men ignored him.
The next account, given by William Marvel, is much different than the one given by Mays. He writes that while there were reports of black soldiers being killed left and right, the only verifiable truth is that five black men were killed in hospital beds. This took place on October 3rd. He asserts that comments made about massacring many black soldiers were made the night of the 2nd, before the supposed massacre happened, and this gives Marvel enough reason to believe that those allegations are simply myths. Through a process of elimination done to the alleged number killed, Marvel is able to account for all but 7 of the 118 supposedly killed, making the high number nothing but an exaggeration. He also finds it hard to find credibility in the witnesses. He thinks that delusion due to their wounds could cause them to believe a small number of men killed is really a "great many." This is Marvel's conclusion: "Five black soldiers, wounded and helpless, were definitely murdered at Saltville on October 3, and as many as seven more may have suffered the same fate there that day. Amid the context of a bloody battle in so bitterly contested a theater of the war, can we still call it a 'massacre'?"
We are left to wonder what can be considered a massacre. Does it only have to involve a large number of people killed? Is it less of an atrocity if only 5, as many as 7 more, are killed? Later in October, General Robert E. Lee got word of the massacre and condemned his troops for taking part, including an order for the arrest and trial of those responsible. Eventually, Champ Ferguson was caught and was found guilty of the murders of 53 men. He was executed on Oct. 20, 1865, only one of two men to be executed for war crimes after the Civil War. He was the only man brought to justice for the Saltville massacre.