Answer. Yes, sir; and they did it at Paducah, and they tried it at Columbus.
Question. Did you hear anything about their setting fire to hospitals, while the wounded were in there?
Answer. I learn from what I consider unquestionable authority, that bodies were found which had been wounded by musket shots, and then their eyes bayoneted out; men wounded in a similar way, with their bowels cut open; and I have heard many other instances of equal barbarity.
Question. Did you hear, recently after that capture, of anybody being nailed to a building and burned?
Answer. I heard that Lieutenant Akerstrom was so treated.
Question. Did you learn that from a source that you could give credit to?
Answer. I had no reason to doubt it, with the exception of the identification of the body. The fact that somebody was so treated, I consider to be sufficiently proven; the identification I think is doubtful.
Question. Is there anything more you wish to state? If so, will you state it without further questioning?
Answer. I do not know that I can state anything more than my opinion in regard to certain things that might have been done. I do not know that it is worth while to do that. As I am under censure myself, at present I prefer not to.
Question. Will you give us a description of the situation of Fort Pillow?