urpose of
inciting your colored troops to the perpetration of deeds which,
you say, "will lead to consequences too fearful to contemplate."

As commanding officer of this Department I desire to make the
following statement concerning the capture of Fort Pillow--a
statement supported in a great measure by the evidence of one of
your own officers 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 General 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 lowered, but retreated from the fort to
the cover of the gunboats, with arms in their hands, and
constantly using them.

This was true, particularly of your colored troops, who had been
firmly convinced by your teachings of the certainty of their
slaughter in case of capture. Even under these circumstances many
of your men--white and black--were taken prisoners.

I respectfully refer you to history for numerous cases of
indiscriminate slaughter, even under less aggravated
circumstances.

It is generally conceded by all military precedents that where
the issue has been fairly presented, and the ability displayed,
fearful results 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 these circumstances against
them, endeavored to prevent the effusion of blood; and, as
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 Tishemingo Creek, the statements of your
negro witnesses are not to be relied on. In this panic they acted
as might have been expected from their previous impressions. I do
not think many of them were kille