Battle of Fort Pillow

Battle of Fort Pillow. Enduring Controversy. In 1861, seeking to maintain control of the strategically vital Mississippi River, Confederate forces built Fort Pillow on the eastern bank of the river a few miles west of here. They named the fort for Confederate Gen. Gideon J. Pillow. It was abandoned the next year, as Federal forces advanced along the river. By 1864 a Union garrison consisting of white units as well as U.S. Colored Troops and a black artillery battery occupied the fort., On April 12, 1864, Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry attacked the fort and overwhelmed the defenders after ten hours of fighting. Half of the garrison was killed, including two-thirds of the black troops. Survivors later reported Confederate atrocities, especially the killing of men after they had surrendered. Forrest claimed that the unusually high death toll was the result of men resuming the fight after laying down their arms. The ensuing outrage in the North led to a Congressional investigation, inspired more black men to enlist, helped to equalize service pay and pensions for black and white troops, and strengthened Union resolve. The debate over exactly what occurred at Fort Pillow continues to this day., You may visit Port Pillow Historic State Park by taking State Route 87 west at Henning., [Captions (Clockwise from left)] , . Gen. Gideon J. Pillow Courtesy Library of Congress , . Gen. Nathan B. Forrest Courtesy Library of Congress , . Fort Pillow Massacre Courtesy Tennessee State Library and Archives , . Alex Haley boyhood home,

You may visit the Alex Haley Museum, which is located in Haley's boyhood home in Henning. The museum interprets Haley's life and cultural contributions. He is best known as the author of The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965) and Roots (1976).