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The 6th Tennessee Cavalry, USA, killed a captured Confederate soldier(20 in number) in cold blood at every mile marker from Pocohontas to Purdy, Tennessee and even skinned two of them alive. This is aluded to in the Official Records in Forrest's correspondence to Gens. Hurlburt and Washburn about this incident. Several other captured confederates were also killed by this regiment at Bolivar, Tennessee. Once one knows the history of the brutal treatment of Confederate soldiers by the Hurst Brigade, one will understand the animosity that was vented at Ft. Pillow. The grave of Johnathan Morgan, one of those captured, still stands in McNairy County, Tennessee, and the headstone gives the date of his birth and death and in big letters above them says "MURDERED". Alex Haley was writing about these Union atrocities when he passed away.

The 6th Tennessee Cavalry, USA, killed a captured Confederate soldier(20 in number) in cold blood at every mile marker from Pocohontas to Purdy, Tennessee and even skinned two of them alive.

I was coming to a conclusion and your noting this 6th Tennessee Cavalry has helped cement it, as the commanding officer, Hurst, was a slave holder.

The institution of slavery helped degrade and cheapen all human life in the CSA. That is why there were so many more incidents of murder and massacre by CSA forces than by US forces.

How does that sound?

I think Robert E. Lee might have agreed with that sentiment.

The following is a letter written by Robert E. Lee to his wife on Dec. 27, 1856.

"In this enlightened age, there are few I believe, but what will acknowledge, that slavery as an institution, is a moral & political evil in any Country. It is useless to expatiate on its disadvantages. I think it however a greater evil to the white man than to the black race, & while my feelings are strong for the former. The blacks are immeasureably better off here than in Africa, morally, socially, & physically. The painful discipline they are undergoing, is necessary for their instruction as a race, & I hope will prepare & lead them to better things. How long their subjugation may be necessary is known & ordered by a wise Merciful Providence. Their emancipation will sooner result from the mild & melting influence of Christianity, than the storms & tempests of fiery Controversy … While we see the Course of the final abolition of human Slavery is onward, & we give it all the aid of our prayers & all justified means in our power, we must leave the progress as well as the results in his hands who sees the end; who Chooses to work by slow influences; & with whom two thousand years are but a day."

Walt