Reports of the Committee on the Conduct of the War: Fort Pillow Massacre | Returned Prisoners
[Washington]: [Government Printing Office], [1864]. Woodcuts from photographs. Original cloth over boards. Octavo. 128 and 34 pages.
Two separate reports based on testimony gathered by Benjamin Wade's powerful Committee on the Conduct of the War.
The first report concerns the alleged massacre of Negro and white soldiers by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest's troops after the Union surrender of Fort Pillow, Tennessee.
The second report details the horrendous condition of Union prisoners of war returned from Confederate prisons in May 1864. There are 8 wood engravings from photographs of individual soldiers in deplorable condition. On the reverse of each is recorded the name, unit, and date of return to Union care, and current status of each man. Of the 8 soldiers shown, half had died by the time of this report--3 of them at the hospital in Annapolis.
These reports contain essential facts but are also somewhat marred by inaccuracies and hearsay admitted by the intense hatred of the South shared by Wade and other radical Republicans on the Committee. The inflammatory nature of these documents contributed to McClellan's loss to Lincoln in the 1864 election.
Ref. NEVINS Vol. I, p. 204.
Bound in original green pebbled cloth over boards with gilt titles to upper board. Minor extremity wear with a couple of short, skillfully repaired tears to front free endpaper. Hinges sound. A remarkably clean and bright copy.
Item #1868
Sold