Battle of Fort Pillow

The Battle of Fort Pillow, also known as the Fort Pillow Massacre, particularly in the North, was fought on April 12, 1864, at Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River in Henning, Tennessee, during the American Civil War. The battle has caused great controversy about whether a massacre of surrendered African-American troops was conducted or condoned by Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Military historian David J. Eicher wrote, "Fort Pillow marked one of the bleakest, saddest events of American military history."

Conflicting reports of what happened next, from 4 p.m. to dusk, led to the controversy.

Of the 585 to 605 men present, the Union losses were reported as 277 to 297 dead. It is obvious that the race of the soldiers was a consideration in the casualties. Of the black members of the garrison, only 58 (around 20%) were marched away as prisoners; 168 (almost 60%) white soldiers were taken.