Volume II Part 50 (2/2)
Q. Do you know whether or not the conduct of the privates, in murdering our soldiers after they had surrendered, seemed to have the approval of their officers?
A. I did not see much of their officers, especially during the worst of those outrages; they seemed to be back.
Q. Did you observe any effort on the part of their officers to suppress the murders?
A. No, sir; I did not see any where I was first carried; just about dusk, all at once several shots were fired just outside.
The cry was: ”They are shooting the darkey soldiers.” I heard an officer ride up and say: ”Stop that firing; arrest that man.” I suppose it was a rebel officer, but I do not know. It was reported to me, at the time, that several darkeys were shot then.
An officer who stood by me, a prisoner, said that they had been shooting them, but that the general had had it stopped.
Q. Do you know of any of our men in the hospital being murdered?
A. I do not.
Q. Do you know any thing of the fate of your Quartermaster, Lieutenant Akerstrom?
A. He was one of the officers who went with me to meet the flag of truce the last time. I do not know what became of him; that was about the last I saw of him. I heard that he was nailed to a board and burned, and I have very good reason for believing that was the case, although I did not see it. The First Lieutenant of Company D of my regiment says that he has an affidavit to that effect of a man who saw it.
Francis A. Alexander, sworn and examined.
By the Chairman:
Q. To what company and regiment do you belong?
A. Company C, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry.
Q. Were you at Fort Pillow at the fight there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who commanded your regiment?
A. Major Bradford commanded the regiment, and Lieutenant Logan commanded our company.
Q. By what troops was the Fort attacked?
A. Forrest was in command. I saw him.
Q. Did you know Forrest?
A. I saw him there, and they all said it was Forrest. Their own men said so.
Q. By what troops was the charge made?
A. They are Alabamians and Texans.
Q. Did you see any thing of a flag of truce?
A. Yes, sir.
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