Attack on Fort PillowTHE GREAT FABRICATIONFinding consistent information about the Fort Pillow incident is almost as difficult as determining the moral significance of its outcome. Researchers disagree on what exactly happened on April 12, 1864, at Fort Pillow, when General Nathan Bedford Forrest captured the fort with his 1,500 troops and took the lives of many of the people there. Union (Wyeth 250). It became a subject of propaganda for the Union and, as a result, the facts were grossly distorted. Upon careful examination, it becomes clear that the “Fort Pillow Massacre” (as abolitionists called it) was no such thing. The 1,500 soldiers under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest acted as men and as soldiers in the capture of Fort Pillow. It is first necessary to understand what happened in the battle before judgment can be made. A careful study by Dr. John Wyeth revealed the following information: From April 9 to 11, 1864, troops under the command of Ben McCulloch, Tyree Harris Bell, and Brig. General James Chalmers marched steadily toward Fort Pillow to begin his assault under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Confederate sharpshooters claimed the lives of several key Union officers during the morning assault on the fort. Losses included the commander, Major Loinel F. Booth, and his second-in-command shortly thereafter. These losses created a complete breakdown of order and leadership among the Union troops inside the fort. (251) During the morning engagement, the gunboat New Era continually attempted to bombard Confederate forces from the Mississippi, but with minimal success. Union forces fought back fiercely until about 1 p.m. when both sides slowed down. At that time, the New Era was out of reach to cool its weapons. It had fired a total of 282 shells and its reserves were almost completely exhausted. During this interruption in firing, while Confederate troops were awaiting supplies that would arrive around three o'clock, Forrest was injured when his horse fell on top of him after being mortally wounded (252). When the supplies arrived, Confederate troops, under a flag of truce, delivered a message from Forrest which read: "The Mymen have received a new supply of ammunition and, from their present position, can easily attack and capture the fort" (253 ). Forrest demanded "the unconditional surrender of the garrison", promising