Fort Pillow, TN
[Confederate massacre of Federal troops after the
surrender
at Fort Pillow, April 12th, 1864- Courtesy of Wikipedia]
Date(s):
April 12, 1864
Location:
Please click on link below for map.
Fort Pillow, Lauderdale, Tennessee, United States
Campaign(s):
Forrest’s Expedition into West Tennessee and Kentucky [1864]
Battles in
Campaign:
Situation:
-
On March 16, 1864,
General Nathan Bedford Forrest
launched a month-long cavalry raid with 7,000 troopers into western
Tennessee and Kentucky.
-
The Confederate objectives were to capture
Union prisoners and supplies and to demolish posts and fortifications from
Paducah, Kentucky, south to Memphis.
-
On March 25,
Forrest's troops attacked Paducah and damaged the town and
its military supplies.
-
Numerous skirmishes occurred throughout the
region in late March and early April. Needing supplies, Forrest planned to
move on Fort Pillow with about 1,500 to 2,500 men to replenish supplies.
-
The Union garrison at Fort Pillow consisted of
about 600 men, divided almost evenly between black and white troops.
-
The black soldiers belonged to the 2nd U.S.
Colored Light Artillery and the 6th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, under
the overall command of Major Lionel F. Booth.
-
The white soldiers were predominantly new
recruits from the 14th Tennessee Cavalry, a Federal regiment from western
Tennessee, commanded by Maj. William F. Bradford.
Commanders:
-
Union:
Maj. Lionel F. Booth and Maj. William F. Bradford
-
Confederate:
Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest
Principal Forces:
-
Union:
Detachments from three units (approx. 600)
-
Confederate:
Brig. Gen. James R. Chalmers’s 1st Division, Forrest’s Cavalry Corps
Description:
-
In April 1864, the Union garrison at Fort Pillow, a Confederate-built earthen
fortification and a Union-built inner redoubt, overlooking the Mississippi River
about forty river miles above Memphis, comprised 295 white Tennessee troops and
262 U.S. Colored Troops, all under the command of Maj. Lionel F. Booth.
-
Confederate Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest attacked the fort on April 12 with
a cavalry division of approximately 2,500 men.
-
Forrest seized the older outworks, with high knolls commanding the Union
position, to surround Booth’s force.
-
Rugged terrain prevented the Union gunboat USS New Era from providing effective fire
support for the Federals.
-
The garrison was unable to depress its artillery enough to cover the approaches
to the fort Rebel sharpshooters, on the surrounding knolls, began firing into
the fort killing Booth.
-
Maj. William F. Bradford then took over command of the garrison.
-
The Confederates launched a determined attack at 11:00 am, occupying more
strategic locations around the fort, and Forrest demanded unconditional
surrender.
-
Bradford asked for an hour for consultation, and
Forrest granted twenty minutes.
-
Bradford refused surrender and the Confederates renewed the attack, soon overran
the fort, and drove the Federals down the river’s bluff into a deadly crossfire.
-
Casualties were high and only sixty-two of the U.S. Colored Troops survived the
fight.
-
The Confederates were accused of massacring the black troops
and "Homegrown Yankees".
-
The Confederates evacuated Fort Pillow that evening so they gained little from
the attack except a temporary disruption of Union operations.
-
The “Fort Pillow Massacre” became a Union rallying cry and cemented
resolve to see the war through to its conclusion.
Slide Presentation:
None
Classification2:
B
Casualties3:
-
Union:
574
-
Confederate:
80
Results:
Confederate
Victory
Battlefield Website:
Recommended
Resources:
1 National Park
Service summary.
2
Classification:
-
A
- having a decisive influence on a
campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war
-
B -
having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign
-
C -
having observable influence on the
outcome of a campaign
-
D
-
having a limited influence on the
outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important
local objectives
3 Casualties are
someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.
 |
