[SunkenCiv]

Fort Pillow, site of the massacre that stained Forrest's reputation forever.

That, and, he was a Democrat.

[GarySpFc]

Fort Pillow, site of the massacre that stained Forrest's reputation forever.

I took a trip Ft. Pillow, because I specifically wanted to know what transpired. The fort is very small, maybe 100 yards in length and width, and constructed with an earthenworks wall. At the rear is a very steep dropoff to what was the Mississippi River, but it has since changed course.

Forrest sized up the situation instantly, and had his troops approach the earthen works from one side, and then they spread out across the base. Snipers were deployed to make the Union troops keep their heads down.The Union troops could aim their rifles down because the earthen works were approximately 6 to 8 feet wide at the top. When the order was given to charge the Union troops panicked when the Confederates came over the top, and most ran down the steep embankment. The few that remained did not have time to surrender.

Forrest also set up two ambushes on the riverbank at the base of the cliff. When the Union troops came down they ran first into one ambush, and then when they saw the problem ran the opposite direction into the other ambush. I suspect the whole event didn't last more than 5 to 10 minutes at most.