Fort Pillow by Harry Turtledove

Fort Pillow by Harry Turtledove is a story based upon a historical and controversial American Civil War battle. The attack was not driven by any significant necessity as by this late stage of the war Fort Pillow had become a backwater area. Yet in an effort to harass the Union and to prove a point, about 1,800-2,200 Confederates under General Nathan Bedford Forrest attacked the 600-620 Union troops stationed at Fort Pillow.

Though the basis of the story is based upon an actual event, Fort Pillow mingles fictional characters in with historical characters to give the reader a glimpse of the dynamics that were at play that lead to the massacre of the Union troops. In the attack and massacre we see the confluence of chaotic consequences of war that were magnified by fear, misguided patriotism, deep hatred, racism and miscalculations. At the end of the battle the Confederates had about 100 casualties (about 20 killed, 80 wounded) but the Union had 574 casualties (274-294 were killed).

The Union suffered lopsided casualties because the Confederates were reluctant to accept the surrender of the Union troops, particularly the about 300 African American troops from the heavy artillery unit. Though many of the Union’s 13th Tennessee Calvary unit were also wounded or killed after they surrendered, the African American troop casualty rate was double that of the while Calvary unit.

The battle is controversial due to the killing of soldiers after they surrendered. The actions of General Forrest is also highly questionable as this was the only time he did not participate on the attack with his troops. Instead Forrest remained on his horse on a hill overlooking the fort long after the battle concluded and after he entered he was slow to command his slow command his men to cease slaughtering the enemy. Statements made before the attack indicates he knew what would happen yet did not restrain his troops until the bulk of the slaughter had concluded. By today's standards Forrest would be charged with War Crimes.

Though I found this book to be an enjoyable and interesting read, there are sections of the story after the fort fell that seemed to drag. The book gives the reader a glimpse into the social and political dynamics that were at play in the minds of the Southern and the Northern troops.