Confederate dead at Fort Pillow 1864

[nlcole]

I have read with great interest all the posts on here about the 1864 battle of Fort Pillow. I have learned from the posts on here. I consider the people on here are probably the most knowledgable that I have ever seen on the subject.

My g-g-grandfather was with the 5th Mississippi and was killed at Fort Pillow. Does anyone have a clue where they buried the Confederate soldiers after the battle?

Thanks ahead for any help you can give me.

[M E Wolf]

Dear Nicole;

Welcome to Civil War Talk Forums.

According to the Official Records of the Rebellion; Fort Pillow was active since 1861; so it would be helpful if we find out from you if your great-great-grandfather from 5th Mississippi and what branch? Cavalry, Infantry, Militia?; as they were around at exactly 1864 or before.

If there is a last name and or initials I can see what my files cook up.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[Vareb]

Originally Posted by nlcole

I have read with great interest all the posts on here about the 1864 battle of Fort Pillow. I have learned from the posts on here. I consider the people on here are probably the most knowledgable that I have ever seen on the subject.

My g-g-grandfather was with the 5th Mississippi and was killed at Fort Pillow. Does anyone have a clue where they buried the Confederate soldiers after the battle?

Thanks ahead for any help you can give me.

If you scroll around the web you will find ways of getting the info you need. This may help. West Tennessee Historical Society.

Telephone contact for W.T.H.S. is 901-475-6608
or contact either:
William Detling, Executive Director Dr. John E. Harkins, President
1498 West Crestwood Dr. 1145 West Crestwood Dr.
Memphis, TN 38119 Memphis, TN 38119
901.683.3854 901.767.3757
detling2@aol.com john.harkins@musowls.org

[nlcole]

I already have his NARA records. Two cousins and I are working on trying to find where he was buried and can't find it in the any of the records any where. We just want to know if anyone has a clue where they buried the Confederate casualties of the 1864 battle. The employees at the Fort told me they were buried in Memphis and we have discussed that. Memphis was under Union control at the time and so we have a problem with that. The same people told me that no Confederates were buried at the Fort.

His name is R. W. Cole, killed Fort Pillow, 12 April 1864.

Thanks for your reply.

[Vareb]

Here is a list of casualties.

http://members.aol.com/missregt/FtPillowCSA.html

[nlcole]

Steve Cole that has that website is one of the cousins of which I spoke. He is a military researcher. He has hunted where R. W. Cole is buried for 15 years. My other cousin, a genealogist, has hunted it for 30+ years. I am also a genealogist and have hunted it for 20+ years. We hit a brick wall every time we try to find where Chalmers and Forrest had the Confederate casualties buried.

Thank you for trying.

[M E Wolf]

Dear Nicole'

Only thing that popped up with a search of "Cole" was a Capt. R. W. Cole; 22nd NC Regiment.

MISSISSIPPI--CHAPTER IX.
Confederate Military History, Vol. 7
CHAPTER XI.
On April 12th, with 1,500 men, part of Bell's and McCulloch's brigades, under General Chalmers, Forrest attacked the garrison at Fort Pillow, about 700 strong. After the Federal forces, partly negroes, were driven into the fort, Forrest demanded their surrender, which was refused, after considerable parley. General Forrest, in his report of what followed, says: "I stormed the fort, and after a contest of thirty minutes captured the entire garrison, killing 500 and taking 200 horses and a large amount of quartermaster's stores. The officers in the fort were killed, including Major Booth. I sustained a loss of 20 killed and 60 wounded. Among the wounded is the gallant Lieut.-Col. Wiley M. Reed, while leading the Fifth Mississippi. Over 100 citizens who had fled to the fort to escape conscription ran into the river and were drowned."
=====================end of excerpt===============

Nothing is mentioned of the Confederate dead.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[nlcole]

BTW, my name is Nancy.

We have searched books, OR's, newspapers and everything on the web. We have read an incredible amount of information between the three of us and still can't find the information. No one knows where the Confederate dead were buried.

Thanks,
Nancy

[M E Wolf]

Dear Nancy,

I am sure you have done an exhaustive search. I would have thought that these Confederates who died at Ft. Pillow would have been on an honor roll of some sort.

Did your great-great-grandfather have relatives? Did they per chance write in their family bible where the remains were taken?

Normally, but not in all cases--bodies were buried where they fell. Clearly from the reports; the Confederates took over the fort but did not keep it; as the tainting of the victory by reports of a massacre` started rumors flying all over. I would think if there were dead; they would have been removed from the area and buried elsewhere; as not to be dug up and 'fouled' by the revengeful nature of some.

As absurd as it may sound; perhaps Sylvia Browne can make a connection with the departed and zero in on where R. W. Cole is buried. Unfortunately, I have nothing.

Only other idea I would have; is contacting the National Archives; to see if there are any new documents; such as soldier diaries that have been recently donated; to see if your relative is there.

Civil War Museum may also have a 'bulletin board' like place where people can search with other people. If there can be a connection with a commanding officer, muster rolls, etc. But, it was mentioned by General Lee that many documents were destroyed shortly after his surrender; to which he had trouble finding what he sought. General Lee died before he could write his book. So, that is the brick wall, per se.

Perhaps Sons of the Confederacy and or Daughters of the Confederacy; may have links to family diaries and letters home; thay may mention your relative.

I would ask the churches around where your relative was supposed to have been buried in Memphis, TN; to look in their cemetery log book. They may have a person's name and deceased name; in claiming the body and transferring it to another burial site. The Clerk of the Court; may also be a place to look; as they had to record deeds, death certificates, wills and such. I am not sure if they had laws then about transfer of bodies from one burial site to another. Voting rolls and censes rolls may have a comment on it.



Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[nlcole]

Thank you again. Any suggestions are helpful. When there are three of us working on it all the time, we run out of places to look. These are good ideas and we will pursue them.

R. W. Cole was with the Company C, 5th Mississippi, Carroll county. I forgot to reply to that before.

Nancy