FORT PILLOW, constructed by the Con federates on the east bank of the Mississippi, about 40 miles above Memphis. It was bom barded by the Union fleet in its descent of the river and attack upon the Confederate fleet near Memphis, abandoned by the Confederates 4 June 1862, and 5 June was occupied by a small Union force. On 12 April 1864 it was garrisoned by parts of the .second and fourth (colored) United States Artillery, and a de tachment of the 13th Tennessee Cavalry, in all 557 men, with six guns, under com mand of Maj. L F. Booth. At daybreak of the 12th Gen. J. R Chalmers of For rest's cavalry command appeared before the fort with about 1,500 men, and after some hours of hard fighting drove the Union troops from their advanced rifle-pits back into the fort, which was attacked, and the Confederates re pulsed, but securing a sheltered position within 100 yards of it. Forrest had come up while the fighting was in progress, and at 3.30 P.M. de manded the surrender of the fort, saying that he had sufficient force to take it, and would not be answerable for consequences should he be compelled to assault. Major Booth had been killed, but in his name an hour was asked for consideration. There were United States gun boats in the river, and believing that the re quest for an hour's consideration was to gain time for reinforcements to arrive, Forrest would give but half an hour. When the time
was up the bugles sounded the charge, the as sault was made, there was a short and severe struggle, many of the garrison were killed in the fort, and those who attempted to escape by the river were shot or, rushing over the bluff into the river, drowned. More than half of the garrison were killed or wounded, a very large proportion being killed. About 160 white and 40 colored prisoners were taken. The defend ers of the fort fought bravely, but were simply overpowered. Forrest says in his report: The river was dyed with the blood of the slaughtered for 200 yards. The approximate loss was up wards of 500 killed; but few of the officers escaped. There was in the fort a large number of citizens who had fled there to escape the conscript law. Most of them ran into the river and were drowned." Forrest reports his own loss as 20 killed and 60 wounded. Consult (Official Records' (Vol. XXXII); The Century Company's and Leaders of the Civil War' (Vol. IV).