The "Fort Pillow National Battlefield Park Study Act" directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate Fort Pillow Historic State Park's national significance and determine if it should become a unit of the National Park System.
Steve Cohen
Representative
TN-9
The Fort Pillow National Battlefield Park Study Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate Fort Pillow Historic State Park's national significance and determine the feasibility of designating it as a unit of the National Park System. This study will consider the park's historical importance, particularly its role in the massacre of Union troops, including United States Colored Troops, and its impact on the Civil War. The findings of this study will help determine whether Fort Pillow should be recognized as a National Battlefield Park.
Fort Pillow Massacre Site Could Become National Battlefield Park: Study Ordered to Evaluate Significance
The "Fort Pillow National Battlefield Park Study Act" orders a deep dive into whether Fort Pillow Historic State Park in Tennessee should become a National Battlefield Park. This isn't just about adding another park; it's about recognizing a crucial, and brutal, piece of American history.
Facing History at Fort Pillow
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of Fort Pillow. The study will evaluate the site's national significance and determine the feasibility of making it part of the National Park System. Right now, Fort Pillow is a 1,642-acre state park with a museum, hiking trails, and camping. But its history is far more profound than its current amenities suggest. As stated in SEC. 2, "The massacre motivated the 209,147 USC. T. who contributed to the Union's victory".
What Happened at Fort Pillow?
The bill lays out the grim reality of what happened at Fort Pillow on April 12, 1864. Confederate forces, after violating a truce and looting, committed a massacre. The findings in SEC. 2 reference a Congressional report from the time, stating that "officers and men deliberately shot down, beat, and hacked men, women, and children." The Union garrison included 262 United States Colored Troops (USCT), and the report indicated at least 300 of the 300 to 400 men killed were "murdered in cold blood after surrendering." This wasn't just a battle; it was a war crime.
The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974 (SEC.2).
Why This Matters Now
This study isn't just about preserving a historical site; it's about acknowledging a painful truth about American history and the sacrifices of the USCT. Making Fort Pillow a National Battlefield Park would provide federal protection and resources to ensure this history is never forgotten. It could also mean more visitors and increased awareness, potentially boosting the local economy. The bill highlights that Fort Pillow "deserves to become a National Battlefield Park due to its impact on USC. T. and all Union forces" (SEC. 2). It's a move to honor those who fought and died, and to ensure that their story is told fully and accurately.