Part 9 (1/2)
Answer. I was wounded once about a half an hour before we gave up.
Question. Did they do anything to you after you surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir; they shot me in the head under my left ear, and the morning after the fight they shot me again in the right arm. When they came up and killed the wounded ones, I saw some four or five coming down the hill. I said to one of our boys, ”Anderson, I expect if those fellows come here they will kill us.” I was lying on my right side, leaning on my elbow. One of the black soldiers went into the house where the white soldiers were. I asked him if there was any water in there, and he said yes; I wanted some, and took a stick and tried to get to the house. I did not get to the house. Some of them came along, and saw a little boy belonging to company D. One of them had his musket on his shoulder, and shot the boy down. He said: ”All you d.a.m.ned n.i.g.g.e.rs come out of the house; I am going to shoot you.” Some of the white soldiers said, ”Boys, it is only death anyhow; if you don't go out they will come in and carry you out.” My strength seemed to come to me as if I had never been shot, and I jumped up and ran down the hill. I met one of them coming up the hill; he said ”stop!” but I kept on running. As I jumped over the hill, he shot me through the right arm.
Question. How many did you see them kill after they had surrendered?
Answer. After I surrendered I did not go down the hill. A man shot me under the ear, and I fell down and said to myself, ”If he don't shoot me any more this won't hurt me.” One of their officers came along and hallooed, ”Forrest says, no quarter! no quarter!” and the next one hallooed, ”Black flag! black flag!”
Question. What did they do then?
Answer. They kept on shouting. I could hear them down the hill.
Question. Did you see them bury anybody?
Answer. Yes, sir; they carried me around right to the corner of the fort, and I saw them pitch men in there.
Question. Was there any alive?
Answer. I did not see them bury anybody alive.
Question. How near to you was the man who shot you under the ear?
Answer. Right close to my head. When I was shot in the side, a man turned me over, and took my pocket-knife and pocket-book. I had some of these bra.s.s things that looked like cents. They said, ”Here's some money; here's some money.” I said to myself, ”You got fooled that time.”
Arthur Edwards, (colored,) private, company C, 6th United States heavy artillery, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In Mississippi.
Question. Were you in Fort Pillow when it was taken?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Tell what you saw there.
Answer. I was shot after I surrendered.
Question. When?
Answer. About half past four o'clock.
Question. Where were you when you were shot?
Answer. I was lying down behind a log.