e
inquiry as far as you may.

Your desire to shift the responsibility of the Fort Pillow
massacre, or to find excuses for it, is not strange. But the
responsibility still remains where it belongs, and there it will
remain.

In my last letter to General Forrest I stated that the treatment
which Federal soldiers received would be their guide hereafter,
and that if you give no quarter you need expect none. If you
observe the rules of civilized warfare I shall rejoice at it, as
no one can regret more than myself a resort to such measures as
the laws of war justify towards an enemy that gives no quarter.

Your remark that our colored soldiers "will not be regarded as
prisoners of war, but will be retained and humanely treated,"
indicating that you consider them as of more worth and importance
than your own soldiers who are now in our hands, is certainly
very complimentary to the colored troops, though but a tardy
acknowledgment of their bravery and devotion as soldiers; but
such fair words can neither do justice to the colored soldiers
who were butchered at Fort Pillow after they had surrendered to
their victors, nor relieve yourself, General Forrest, and the
troops serving under you, from the fearful responsibility now
resting upon you for those wanton and unparalleled barbarities.

I concur in your remarks that if the black flag is once raised,
there can be no distinction so far as our soldiers are concerned.
No distinction in this regard as to color is known to the laws of
war, and you may rest assured that the outrages we complain of
are felt by our white soldiers, no less than by our black ones,
as insults to their common banner, the flag of the United States.

I will close by a reference to your statement that many of our
colored soldiers "are yet wandering over the country attempting
to return to their masters." If this remark is intended for a
joke, it is acknowledged as a good one; but, if stated as a fact,
permit me to correct your misapprehensions by informing you that
most of them have returned to their respective commands, their
search for their late "masters" having proved bootless; and I
think I do not exaggerate in assuring you that there is not a
colored soldier here who does not prefer the fate of his comrades
at F