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Once the main body had completed scaling the ditch, the sharpshooters held their fire and the attackers launched themselves atop and over the parapet, delivering a massive volley into the Union troops at close range. After some brief resistance, most of the defenders turned and fled the fort, making their way to the bank at the foot of the bluff and southward toward the gunboat; it continued to keep itself sealed up, though, and the Confederates nearby fired into their ranks, causing them to fall back in panic and flee northward, only to be met by the detachment coming from that direction as well. Order among the garrison's survivors completely broke down at this point, with some continuing to fight back, others jumping into the river to escape and either drowning or being shot, and others throwing down their weapons and attempting to surrender. Some of these were indeed taken prisoner, while others were shot down, some of Forrest's soldiers believing this was in line with the implicit threat in his demand to the garrison. However, Forrest had already given orders to cease firing, and he and other senior officers quickly put an end to the action and set to work rounding up survivors.
Once the main body had completed scaling the ditch, the sharpshooters held their fire and the attackers launched themselves atop and over the parapet, delivering a massive volley into the Union troops at close range. After some brief resistance, most of the defenders turned and fled the fort, making their way to the bank at the foot of the bluff and southward toward the gunboat; it continued to keep itself sealed up, though, and the Confederates nearby fired into their ranks, causing them to fall back in panic and flee northward, only to be met by the detachment coming from that direction as well. Order among the garrison's survivors completely broke down at this point, with some continuing to fight back, others jumping into the river to escape and either drowning or being shot, and others throwing down their weapons and attempting to surrender. Some of these were indeed taken prisoner, while others were shot down, some of Forrest's soldiers believing this was in line with the implicit threat in his demand to the garrison. However, Forrest had already given orders to cease firing, and he and other senior officers quickly put an end to the action and set to work rounding up survivors.
Under continuing fire, the ''New Era'' sailed upriver, while the Confederates gathered up the fort's supplies and the able-bodied prisoners; the dead were buried, and the Union wounded were left on the scene in the care of their surgeon. By nightfall Forrest and his troops had left the area.
Under continuing fire, the ''New Era'' sailed upriver, while the Confederates gathered up the fort's supplies and the able-bodied prisoners; the dead were buried, and the Union wounded were left on the scene in the care of their surgeon. By nightfall Forrest and his troops had left the area.
==Aftermath==
The decisive nature of the Confederate victory at Fort Pillow was reflected in the final casualty totals. Of around 2,000 Rebel soldiers engaged in the fight, total losses came to an even 100--fourteen killed, eighty-six wounded--remarkably light, given their attack on a fixed position with artillery and naval support. The Union garrison, by contrast, was completely wiped out. Of its 557 members at the start of the battle, 226 were listed as prisoners sent south to Mississippi under escort, including twenty able to walk despite their wounds. Estimates on the number of killed and wounded vary, but one commonly-cited figure lists 221 killed and 130 wounded.<ref>John Allan Wyeth, ''Life of General Nathan Bedford Forrest'' (1899), p. 361.</ref> Major William Bradford was among those captured uninjured at Fort Pillow; however, he was murdered by some soldiers of Forrest's command outside Brownsville, Tennessee, two days later.
After departing Fort Pillow, Forrest and his cavalrymen remained in West Tennessee for some days. Eventually, Union forces in the region were able to coordinate and use their superior numbers to drive him back into Mississippi during the last week of April and the beginning of May, as a prelude to further actions in that region during the summer of 1864.
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Campaignbox Forrest's Expedition 1864}}
{{Campaignbox Forrest's Expedition 1864}}