Ebenezer creek

[cash]

the ex-slaves joined in the march,making themselfs volounters. When Wheelers men got ahold of them,they were " being soldiers" as Sherman said. Davis got rid of the slaves,Wheeler just finished the job... Wheelers men fought as soldiers, as they were supposed to. Shermans men used the slaves as bullet sponges to save their own a**es

That's a bizarre way of looking at it. The refugees were not volunteers, they were refugees. Murdering unarmed civilian refugees is not being a soldier.

 

[cash]

its not soldierly..And neither is bringing over 600 ex-slaves along for a march then stranding them for certain death..Not soldierly at all,sir..

Military necessity outweighs normal charity. The refugees could not be allowed to cross due to the proximity of Wheeler's cavalry. Any killing was done by Wheeler's men. You appear to think the person who took up the bridge was worse than the person who slashed an unarmed refugee to death with his sabre. That, sir, is warped thinking.

 

[cash]

there is no difference sir. When Davis cut that rope,he knew what he was doing... HE killed those slaves...He knew those slaved had no chance.

Nonsense. Just utter nonsense.

 

[cash]

Sherman and Davis left the slaves behind for certain death... Forrest "massecured" fort pillow... My point is Sherman is not the angel some around here think he is,he had his faults just like everyone else. HE was wrong fpr the ebinezer creen incedent. Wheeler could have handled it differently,but if you were in Iraq and towns people were teaming up with talaban,then the talaban deserts the towns people,would you command your american troops to over look the towns people?No,you would have them terminated at the same extent in wich you would the talaban. Same rules apply here.Wheeler killed the slaves because they were basicly a "union militia". The equivilant of confederate guerillas. They posed a threat,they were disposed of. over 600 human beeings in wich Davis and Sherman were supposedly fighting to protect,but yet left them for certain death... yes Wheeler was wrong,but Sherman and Davis were just as wrong..

Sorry, but you're completely wrong. I don't think you're looking at this with any objectivity whatsoever.

 

[PartywithArty]

That's a bizarre way of looking at it. The refugees were not volunteers, they were refugees. Murdering unarmed civilian refugees is not being a soldier.

refugees? They wanted to stay on the farms, Sherman convinced them to come with him.They marched with the Federal army,making them affiliated with the army

 

[PartywithArty]

Nonsense. Just utter nonsense.

there were more slaves ca

Military necessity outweighs normal charity. The refugees could not be allowed to cross due to the proximity of Wheeler's cavalry. Any killing was done by Wheeler's men. You appear to think the person who took up the bridge was worse than the person who slashed an unarmed refugee to death with his sabre. That, sir, is warped thinking.

ptured than killed... Half of them drowned due to Davis's doings

 

[PartywithArty]

Nonsense. Just utter nonsense.

i disagree sir..

 

[BillO]

Question, how much time elasped between the bridge being pulled up and the arrival of Wheeler?

 

[PartywithArty]

That's a bizarre way of looking at it. The refugees were not volunteers, they were refugees. Murdering unarmed civilian refugees is not being a soldier.

they were voulunteers. They worked as pioneers for Shermans march, they were used to benifit Sherman,and when he realized they were costing too much (they had to eat) Sherman grew tired of them..

 

[diane]

Question, how much time elasped between the bridge being pulled up and the arrival of Wheeler?

Wheeler was breathing down Davis' neck. The blacks were kept off the bridge at gunpoint by Union soldiers and as the pontoons were being picked up, Wheeler's cavalry came up into the back of the refugee train - they drove many into the water. It must be noted, too, that this was in December and the creek was freezing cold.

 

[BillO]

Thanks.

 

[PartywithArty]

Wheeler was breathing down Davis' neck. The blacks were kept off the bridge at gunpoint by Union soldiers and as the pontoons were being picked up, Wheeler's cavalry came up into the back of the refugee train - they drove many into the water. It must be noted, too, that this was in December and the creek was freezing cold.

also,Many slaves jumped in the water and attempted to swim,some were killed by wheelers men because they attempted to fist fight their way out. Most were capturd and sent back to their owners

 

[PartywithArty]

Question, how much time elasped between the bridge being pulled up and the arrival of Wheeler?

i think there was enough time to let the slaves cross over. If what John Steele posted was true, " Wheelers men wernt even a speed bump compaired to Shermans men" So why didnt they allow the slaves to cross,them defeat Wheelers men?

 

[cash]

Wheeler killed the slaves because they were basicly a "union militia". The equivilant of confederate guerillas.

Nonsense. They were unarmed refugees.

 

[cash]

I haven't read that Wheeler killed them. I did read that he may have returned them to slaves, but at that point the end of the war was near and they would have been freed anyway soon. I did read a few drowned in the water trying to follow and that is a tragic event.

Confederate cavalry rode into them, slashing with sabres and shooting with pistols.

 

[diane]

Oh, there was plenty of ugly to go around on this thing. It was the biggest loss of civilian life during the war, by the way, although for a long time it wasn't recognized as that.

 

[PartywithArty]

Nonsense. They were unarmed refugees.

unarmed,yes, refugees, no. They had a home on the plantations. They were pressured into following Shermans men with a promise to be protected. The slaves worked as pioneers for Shermans men. That means they were part of the march., They helped the union,they were affliliated with Shermans march...They were NOT refugees.

 

[PartywithArty]

Confederate cavalry rode into them, slashing with sabres and shooting with pistols.

yes,as the slaves fought Wheelers men with fist. Wich was stupid on their part..Id never stand close to any mounted cavalryman knowing what weapons they might have had. Most slaves drowned in the creek or were captured and sent back to the plantation

 

[cash]

Ive stated Wheeler was wrong for his actions. But Sherman is the man to blame..He had command over Davis. And when ask about Ebenezer creek,later in life,Sherman didnt even care! Yes,wheeler was wrong,but Sherman is to fault.

Sherman's men didn't kill anyone, so Sherman has no blame.

 

[cash]

No,we will blame the comanding officer for his mens actions. Just as everyone blames Forrest for the incedent oa Fort Pillow... Sherman was the high man on the totem pole,he gets the blame.He was the only one there who coulda stoped it..

Forrest was at Fort Pillow, and the men doing the killing were under his command. Sherman was not at Ebenezer Creek, and the men doing the killing were not under his command.