Saphroneth
I thank you for again a thoughtful intelligent reply. While I like your Wellington assault of Badajoz comparison, I am afraid it is all in vain. There is simply no real profession conduct being of note here in most of the American Civil War. Especially in these small scale back woods engagement involving mostly southerners. Bedford Forrest had no intention of being professional in the ceasefire flag event. It is reported and I am inclined to agreed; that Bedford cheating during the note exchange event; by allowing his troops to steal their way to vital positions so as to soon afterwards make that final assault; that did indeed reach the main entrenchment fatally for the garrison. He knew the Federals would not surrender and he cheated to take advantage of the situation in which he had been failing to gain said advantage. Also, I assume you read Bedford’s note and surely you did not fail to understand its implication. What Bedford was saying is that if you do not surrender, I will withdraw any attempt to control my troops violent acts upon you. Therefore, as promised, Bedford allowed the commencement of the pogrom/massacre, but stopped it when he was satisfied that a point had been made to all southern former slaves that enroll in Federal Army. Everyone knew meaning and they also knew they could not trust him to surrender to him. And again, they believed they could beat him. On your point about survival of too many Federal white officers, it was because it was too dangerous to murder them, as one would face retribution more quickly and likely if that is done.
We agreed that the outlaying rifle pit line had been seized before the ceasefire flag and that the buildings were also occupied prior. Boothe and Bradford showed inexperience for not burning down the buildings quickly and not fighting for those outer rifle pits. Federals did have a thin force there but withdrew them. However, there is no evidence that the Federals were aware of how fatal this situation was until too late. Nor that the Confederates were even aware. What is added that during the note exchange Bedford again had some special troops sneak and grab even more vital positions. Once Bedford had the gain, he was ready to stop the note exchange and resume the assault.