Answer. I should say so.
Paymaster William B. Purdy, sworn and examined.
By the chairman:
Question. What is your rank, and where have you been stationed, and in what service?
Answer. Acting assistant paymaster of the navy. I have no regular station or quarters at present; but on the day of the attack on Fort Pillow I was acting as signal officer on the gunboat No. 7.
Question. Will you state what you observed that day, and afterwards, in relation to that affair?
Answer. After our flag was down, I saw the rebels firing on our own men from the fort, and I should say that while the flag of truce was in, before the fort was captured, I could see the rebels concentrating their forces so as to be better able to take the fort.
Question. Do you mean that they took advantage of the flag of truce to place their men in position so as to better attack the fort?
Answer. Yes, sir; I could see them moving down to their new positions, and, as soon as the flag of truce was out, firing commenced from these new positions.