Forrest was tasked to rebuild, equip, and train new cavalry orders semi-independently. Forest resumed attacks on Allied forces through his new, relatively untried sector. Shortly afterwards, he became involved in one of the most controversial and brutal episodes of the war. On April 12, 1864, Forrest's command surrounded Fort Pillow, a small union building on the Mississippi River, about 40 miles (65 km) north of Memphis. After failing to negotiate the surrender of the fortress, Forrest ordered his men to take defenseless garrisons (consisting of African Americans, Southern Unions and the Confederacy) by force. The ensuing battle was characterized by close combat, confusion, and almost complete collapse of command and control. In spite of contradictory
