They are far fewer than you may think. Take Fort Pillow for example. The majority of the most far fetched stories of torture, brutality, etc. came from people who were not even within 100 miles of the battle. The eyewitness versions on both sides generally don't contain that stuff. They note that it was a brutal and bloody battle. They note that killing was indiscriminate. And they also note that the yankee command was virtually non-existant with all sorts of contradictory disorganized orders being issued. But that's where the reliable witnesses stop.
At Lawrence, the tales aren't all of clean executions of the Jayhawker leadership. The stories are of 17 year old store clerks being ordered to open safes, then being shot.
I don't doubt that there were, however as I noted previously, Lawrence was not a wholly innocent town in the matter. There are always people who get caught in the crossfire and innocents who get killed in the heat of a battle like that.
At Andersonville, the stories aren't about disease and starvation, but about guards tossing a bit of food over the dead line, then happily shooting the starving prisoner who went for it.
Don't recall ever reading that one, though I do know of several witnesses at Point Lookout, reporters among them, who wrote about a game the guards played - fire some indiscriminate shots over the fence then accumulate points based on who had the most "hits." What I do know of Andersonville though is that the medical reports confirm stomach disorders were by far the largest cause of death.
As for Ft. Pillow, here's an except from a letter written home by one confederate soldier: "The slaughter was awful. Words cannot describe the scene. The poor, deluded negroes would run up to our men, fall upon their knees and with uplifted hands scream for mercy but they were ordered to their feet and then shot down. The white men fared but little better.... I with several others tried to stop the butchery and at one time had partially succeeded but Gen. Forrest ordered them shot down like dogs and the carnage continued."
That's the supposed version of a soldier named Achilles Clark, which has never been considered reputable. It's material and authenticity has been disputed since the 19th century not long after it was first published. Virtually every other source on the battle, including some northern ones, say that Forrest arrived on the scene and almost immediately reigned in any brutality. One of them is Charles Fitch, the yankee garrison's surgeon, who stated that the confederate officers arrived on the scene, quickly called down any men who were engaged in brutality, and placed a guard around the medical area to ensure that his attempts to treat the wounded were not interfered with.
The problem with all of these is that we don't really know what happened.
Indeed we don't, but we can cipher through the credible stories and the non-credible ones to get a general idea. When you do that you will find that stories that portray Fort Pillow as anything more than an extremely violent route of the fort in which some brutalities occured, but seldom if any time beyond the heat of the battle itself.
My favorite Fort Pillow witness statement would be the purported statement of illiterate Corporal William A. Dickey who allegedly said,
LINK to Official Records"I also certify that I saw the rebels shoot down 10 men, white soldiers, within 10 paces of me while they had their hands up supplicating quarter."
That is less credible than the Silver Star with Combat "V" on the Kerry DD-214. I'm not even sure Dan Rather would believe an illiterate said, "they had their hands up supplicating quarter."
[Inclosure Numbers 10.]Statement of Corpl. William A. Dickey, Company B, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry:
I do hereby certify that I was at Fort Pillow, Tenn., on the 12th day of April A. D. 1864, when that place was attacked by the rebel General Forrest. I went into the fort at the commencement of the action. We kept up a continual fire upon both sides until about 1 p. m., when a flag of truce was sent in by the rebels, and while it was being considered the firing was ordered to cease. I also certify that while this was going on I plainly saw the enemy consolidating their forces and gaining positions they had been endeavoring to gain without success. At the same time their men were plundering our deserted camp, and stealing goods from the quartermaster's depot, and from the stores of the merchants of the post. They also at the same time put their sharpshooters into our deserted barracks, whence they view and were in fair range of our little garrison. The firing recommenced after the flag of truce had retired. About one hour thereafter the rebels stormed our works. they had no sooner obtained the top of our walls when the negroes ran, and the whites, obtaining no quarter, ran after them. The rebels followed closely, shooting down all who cam in the way, white and black. I also certify that I was myself shot by a rebel soldier after I had surrendered, and while I had my hands up begging for mercy. I also certify that I saw the rebels shoot down 10 men, white soldiers, within 10 paces of me while they had their hands up supplicating quarter. I also certify that I saw 12 negro solders killed long after they had surrendered. I also certify that I saw the rebels throw several negroes into the river while they were begging for life. One rebel came t me and took my percussion caps, saying he had been killing negroes so fast that his own had been exhausted; he added that he was going to shoot some more. I also certify that I saw negroes thrown into the river by rebels, and shot afterward, while struggling for life.
Mound City, April 23,, A. D. 1864.
WM. A. (his x mark) DICKEY.
Witness:
WILLIAM CLEARY,
Second Lieutenant Co. B., Thirteenth Tenn. Vol. Cavalry.Sworn and subscribed to before me this 25th day of April, 1864, at Mound City, Ill.
WM. STANLEY,
Lieutenant and Assistant Provost-Marshall.
Mound City Hospital, Illinois, April 22, 1864.
George Shaw, (colored,) private, company B, 6th United States heavy artillery, sworn and examined.
By Mr. Gooch:Question. Where were you raised?
Answer. In Tennessee.
Question. Where did you enlist?
Answer. At Fort Pillow.
Question. Were you there at the fight?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. When were you shot?
Answer. About four o'clock in the evening.
Question. After you had surrendered?
Answer. Yes, sir.
================
The above is typical of statements taken in Illinois regarding Fort Pillow. One-third of the purported witnesses claimed to be at Fort Pillow as a member of the 6th United States (colored) heavy artillery. However, at the time of the Fort Pillow incident, and at the time the alleged statement was taken, there was no 6th U.S. Heavy Artillery. It did not exist until April 26, 1864, and then it was not at Fort Pillow.
LINK6th Regiment, United States Colored Heavy Artillery
Organized from 2nd Mississippi Heavy Artillery (African Descent). Designated 5th Heavy Artillery March 11, 1864, and 6th Heavy Artillery April 26, 1864. Attached to Post of Natchez, Miss., District of Vicksburg, Miss., Dept. of Tennessee, and Dept. of Mississippi to February, 1865. Post of Natchez, Dept. of Mississippi, to April, 1865. Dept. of the Gulf to May, 1866.
SERVICE.-Duty at Natchez, Miss., and Vidalia, La., till May, 1866. Skirmish near Vidalia, La., July 22, 1864. Attack on Steamer "Clara Bell" July 24, 1864 (4 Cos.). Expedition from Natchez to Gillespie's Plantation, La., August 4-6, 1864. Concordia Bayou August 5. Expedition from Natchez to Buck's Ferry and skirmish September 19-22, 1864. Expedition from Natchez to Waterproof and Sicily Island September 26-30, 1864. Expedition from Natchez to Homichitto River October 5-8, 1864. Expedition from Vidalla to York Plantation, La., October 26-27, 1864. Skirmish at Black River October 31 and November 1, 1864. Mustered out May 18, 1866.
MISSISSIPPI VOLUNTEERS
2nd REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY (AFRICAN DESCENT)
Organized at Natchez, Miss., September 12, 1863. Attached to post of Natchez, Miss., District of Northeast Louisiana, to January, 1864. Post of Vicksburg, District of Vicksburg, Miss., to March, 1864. District of Natchez, Miss., to April, 1864.SERVICE.-Garrison duty at Natchez and Vicksburg, Miss., till April, 1864. Skirmish at Vidalia February 7, 1864. Designation changed to 5th U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery March 11, 1864, and to 6th U. S. Colored Heavy Artillery, April 26, 1864 (which see).
Most of the statements are signed with an "x". That numerous statements were ghost-written by the "investigators" is readily shown:
"I do hereby [certify] that was at Fort Pillow, Tenn., on the 12th of the present month, when it was attacked by the rebels under General Forrest."
-- The illiterate John F. Ray
"I do hereby certify that I was at Fort Pillow, Tenn., on the 12th day of the present month, when it was attacked by the rebels under Forrest."
-- The illiterate Daniel Stamps
"I do hereby certify that I was at Fort Pillow, Tenn., on the 12th day of April A. D. 1864, when that place was attacked by the rebel General Forrest."
-- The illiterate William A. Dickey
"I do hereby certify that I am a member of Company B, Sixth U. S. Heavy Artillery, and that I was in the battle of Fort Pillow on the 12th day of April, A.D. 1864, and that I was severely wounded during the progress of the engagement."
-- The illiterate Ransom Anderson.
"I do hereby certify that I was in the engagement at Fort Pillow, Tenn., on the 12th day of April, A. D. 1864, and that I was wounded during the battle and then taken prisoner."
-- The illiterate Hardin Cason
"I do hereby certify that I was wounded during the engagement at Fort Pillow, Tenn., on the 12th day of April, A. D. 1864."
-- The illiterate Eli Cothel
"I do hereby certify that I was in the battle of Fort Pillow on the 12th day of April, A. D. 1864, and that I was taken prisoner by the rebels and wounded while I was a prisoner."
-- The illiterate Elias Falls
"I do hereby certify that I was in the battle fought at Fort Pillow. Tenn., on the 12th day of April, A. D. 1864, and that I was wounded during the engagement."
-- The illiterate Emanuel Nichols
"I was in Fort Pillow on Tuesday, the 12th of April, 1864, and was engaged in the fight there on that day."
-- The illiterate Daniel H. Rankin