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Some folks who were killed didn't follow orders nor good judgement. There's plenty in the civil war to blame Forrest for. Fort Pillow is a minor one at best. If William T. Sherman couldn't hang him with it, the evidence was and is scarce.
That's a mischaracterization. How could Sherman hang him if he wasn't in custody?
He was tasked with investigating the massacre and he in turn assigned another officer to do the actual investigation.
Sherman's recommendation was to let the soldiers handle any retaliation. That doesn't let Forrest off the hook in any way.
The forum that Timewalker linked discussed Fort Pillow exhaustively. There is a ton of good info there, if you are interesting in understanding what happened(as opposed to playing a game of heros and villians).
That's a mischaracterization. How could Sherman hang him if he wasn't in custody?
He was tasked with investigating the massacre and he in turn assigned another officer to do the actual investigation.
Sherman's recommendation was to let the soldiers handle any retaliation. That doesn't let Forrest off the hook in any way.
Regards,
Cash
Seems to me a Congressional hearing and custody were a bit similar? Forrest went on with his life, short as it was, unmolested, aside from the ravages of reconstruction and diabetes. He was on a very weak hook, if at all. A good southern jury would have given him every consideration. It never came to that, and shouldn't have.
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Seems to me a Congressional hearing and custody were a bit similar?
In what alternate reality would that be?
And the "investigation," such as it was, by one of Sherman's officers was conducted during the war while the Congressional hearing was conducted after the war. Two completely separate events. Apples and orangutans.
Quote:
Originally Posted by larry_cockerham
Forrest went on with his life, short as it was, unmolested, aside from the ravages of reconstruction and diabetes. He was on a very weak hook, if at all. A good southern jury would have given him every consideration. It never came to that, and shouldn't have.
The evidence against Forrest is contradicted by evidence in his favor, making the case unresolved, but it's hardly weak on its own. I agree he shouldn't have been tried, but Sherman has nothing to do with it.
"Two completely separate events. Apples and orangutans."
Neither of which convicted nor caused Forrest any additional harm, as far as I know. Sherman had vowed to "hang" Forrest for his involvement at Ft. Pillow prior to the attempt to bring Forrest to task. Sherman backed off. His action should be an example for others.
__________________
Ancestors in US Army: 13th TN Cav; 10th TN Cav; 3rd NC Inf
Ancestors in CSA Army: 48th VA; 63rd VA, 5th NC Cav; 37th NC
Wife and Grandson's CSA: 15th AL, 51st GA, 41st TN; 36th TN; GA Mil 1197 Dist
Back on the subject, if Shernan's "commission" couldn't find Forrest at fault, that pretty much ends it for me. Sherman had every reason to command his people to find Forrest a criminal sunavaseacook.But he didn't. That means something.
To me, it means that Sherman knew that Forrest's actions, however having been beyond his control, were well within the slide given a commander. It happens. And Sherman knew and believed that. He simply left it with the USCT. That they would exact justice and retribution.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Think how the whole "Fort Pillow affair" ruined Forrest's life Firstly- his troops were particularly hated by USCT and were promised to be given no quarter. Secondly- it change Forrest's life forever, because since then he had to answer countless charges of various newspapers and "witnesses". As the New York Times noted in his obituary: " his principal occupation seems to have been to try and explain away the F.P. affair".
Many people didn't want to know the truth- they just wanted the scape-goat. And there are still such people today.
The man was not found guilty and he did have to answer questions the remainder of his life. That pretty much ends it for me.
Sincerely,
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
"Two completely separate events. Apples and orangutans."
Neither of which convicted nor caused Forrest any additional harm, as far as I know. Sherman had vowed to "hang" Forrest for his involvement at Ft. Pillow prior to the attempt to bring Forrest to task. Sherman backed off. His action should be an example for others.
He decided to take military advantage by giving the troops another motivation--vengeance.
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Firstly- his troops were particularly hated by USCT and were promised to be given no quarter. Secondly- it change Forrest's life forever, because since then he had to answer countless charges of various newspapers and "witnesses". As the New York Times noted in his obituary: " his principal occupation seems to have been to try and explain away the F.P. affair". 
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