Comments on: Battle of Fort Pillow http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-fort-pillow.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:10:20 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Margaret Hendrick http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-fort-pillow.htm/comment-page-1#comment-203183 Margaret Hendrick Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:45:16 +0000 #comment-203183 My gg grandfather was Dew M. Wisdom. He was one of the officers who led the charge against Ft. Pillow, and he was a close neighbor of Fielding Hurst's. Before Ft. Pillow Dew wrote a letter about the killing of Wharton and others, and sent it to his commanding officer and it eventually went to President Davis. When nothing was done about the killings, one would have to think Pillow was the resulting action. But one point which is not brought up about the mass of killings at Ft. Pillow was that the negro soldiers had promised not to surrender, but they probably would not have wanted to, since they were suspected of not being brave enough. These soldiers were very brave; they fought to the end, and for most of them that meant death. No one told them they could surrender. My gg grandfather was Dew M. Wisdom. He was one of the officers who led the charge against Ft. Pillow, and he was a close neighbor of Fielding Hurst's.

Before Ft. Pillow Dew wrote a letter about the killing of Wharton and others, and sent it to his commanding officer and it eventually went to President Davis. When nothing was done about the killings, one would have to think Pillow was the resulting action.

But one point which is not brought up about the mass of killings at Ft. Pillow was that the negro soldiers had promised not to surrender, but they probably would not have wanted to, since they were suspected of not being brave enough. These soldiers were very brave; they fought to the end, and for most of them that meant death. No one told them they could surrender.

]]> By: Randy Bridges http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-fort-pillow.htm/comment-page-1#comment-76229 Randy Bridges Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:05:44 +0000 #comment-76229 Thank you for a fair and even-handed description of this battle. Thank you for a fair and even-handed description of this battle.

]]> By: Kevin McCann http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-fort-pillow.htm/comment-page-1#comment-22036 Kevin McCann Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:54:38 +0000 #comment-22036 Fielding Hurst was not at Fort Pillow during the battle. His infamous "hatless into Memphis" fiasco was essentially his undoing in the eyes of Hurlbut and other Federal commanders in West Tennessee. His cavalry was dismounted not long after and their horses given to other Federal cavalries. Eventually his command was reassigned to Nashville in late 1864. Hurst himself resigned his commission effective in January 1865. He went on to be elected to the state senate and was appointed a circuit judge by Tennessee Governor Brownlow. If you would like to know more about Hurst and the 6th Tennessee Cavalry, please visit my website at www.fieldinghurst.com Fielding Hurst was not at Fort Pillow during the battle. His infamous "hatless into Memphis" fiasco was essentially his undoing in the eyes of Hurlbut and other Federal commanders in West Tennessee. His cavalry was dismounted not long after and their horses given to other Federal cavalries. Eventually his command was reassigned to Nashville in late 1864. Hurst himself resigned his commission effective in January 1865. He went on to be elected to the state senate and was appointed a circuit judge by Tennessee Governor Brownlow.

If you would like to know more about Hurst and the 6th Tennessee Cavalry, please visit my website at http://www.fieldinghurst.com

]]> By: Jan Hodge http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-fort-pillow.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5282 Jan Hodge Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:49:00 +0000 #comment-5282 Most accounts seem to put Forrest's force at 1,500 not 3,000 men. The impact of the Unions viscious strategy of "total war" was beginning to bite deap into the lives and economy of Southern people. Confederate General Lee's gentleman treatment of civilian's rights and their property looks dumb now in terms of serious efforts to win the war. The battle of Fort Pillow seems to express this "total war" policy through the angered Rebel soldiers visciousness, the Yankees unwillingness to surrender and so sacrifice troops to harm the enemy and destroy any spoils of war. They display the typical rights of any victor in war, to present history in the way that suits the Union best. Most accounts seem to put Forrest's force at 1,500 not 3,000 men.
The impact of the Unions viscious strategy of "total war" was beginning to bite deap into the lives and economy of Southern people. Confederate General Lee's gentleman treatment of civilian's rights and their property looks dumb now in terms of serious efforts to win the war.
The battle of Fort Pillow seems to express this "total war" policy through the angered Rebel soldiers visciousness, the Yankees unwillingness to surrender and so sacrifice troops to harm the enemy and destroy any spoils of war. They display the typical rights of any victor in war, to present history in the way that suits the Union best.

]]> By: Ken White http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-fort-pillow.htm/comment-page-1#comment-4734 Ken White Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:00:23 +0000 #comment-4734 Was Col. Hurst at Fort Pillow? I found some information at one website that placed him at the Fort during the battle. Now I can't locate that website. What happened to Him? Thanks. Was Col. Hurst at Fort Pillow? I found some information at one website that placed him at the Fort during the battle. Now I can't locate that website. What happened to Him?

Thanks.

]]>