A Civil War 150th Anniversary Commemoration will be held at Fort Pillow on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Heritage Tours will lead a bus tour to this historic site as a part of the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Observance. Activities will include lectures, walking tours, living history, encampments and public displays throughout the day.
“Remember Fort Pillow! Remember Fort Pillow!” Such was the rallying cry of the Civil War United States Colored Troops (USTC) as they charged into battle after hundreds of their fellow Black troops were killed at Fort Pillow, April 12, 1864. The Battle of Fort Pillow, also known as the Fort Pillow Massacre, was fought on the Mississippi River in Henning, TN during the Civil War. The battle ended with a massacre of Federal troops, some while attempting to surrender, under the command of Confederate Raider Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Descendants from two USCT survivors of the Fort Pillow Massacre, will be in attendance, Pvt. Peter Williams, whose Memphis family will be represented, and Pvt. Armstead Burgess. The memorial service will include reading the names of the Union soldiers of the 2nd United States Colored Light Artillery, the 6th United States Colored Heavy Artillery and the Tennessee Calvary.
The historic bus tours will depart from Memphis at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 12 and return at 6:00 p.m. Cost is $30 per person. For further information please contact Heritage Tours at (901) 527-3427 or email: heritagetours@bellsouth.net.