Andrew Ward, the author of River Run Red: The Fort Pillow Massacre In The American Civil War, devoted a paragraph of his book to Milas M. Deason, my 3rd great grand uncle. The son of John R. and Lydia Ann Deason, Milas (or Miles) was a Union soldier in the Tennessee Calvary and a bugler.

Western Tennessee, where Milas was born, had aligned itself with the Unionists of the North. On April 24, 1864, Confederate troops, led by a former “slave trader” stormed Fort Pillow where Milas was stationed in Tennessee. Escaping the carnage that ensued, Milas left his severely outnumbered comrades behind to face imprisonment or death. Many of the Union soldiers stationed here were former slaves who were summarily executed (allegedly) by the Confederates instead of being taken as prisoners of war. According to the author, more than 60 black soldiers who survived were forced back into slavery. The acceptable “code of conduct” between the two warring parties had been violated. While unquestionably tragic, the “massacre” at Fort Pillow remains controversial 150 years later.

Milas apparently returned to the fort after the Confederate soldiers had left. During a later scouting mission, he disappeared and was never seen or heard from again. His bugle was found hanging from a tree and he was officially declared a deserter by the Army. However, thirteen years after the events at Fort Pillow, Confederate veterans – witnesses – came forth and testified that Milas had not deserted but had been caught and executed by guerillas.

In the notes section at the end of his book, the author provided the names of these witnesses. One of them was “Benjamin M. Tuberville“.

I immediately recognized the last name and was a bit stunned because of its implication. Milas’ mother was born Lydia Ann Turbeville. While I have not yet confirmed Benjamin’s identify, it is highly possible that he witnessed the execution of his relative who fought for the opposing side.

I contacted the author who graciously sent me photocopies of Milas’ pension records – the source of his information. A tale of despair and heartbreak unfolds in these documents as Lydia, who never accepted the Army’s conclusion that her son had deserted, tried desperately to claim his pension. The Post Master of Gleeson, Tennessee, who apparently was asked by officials in Washington to provide an unbiased and local account of the events, wrote in his response:

“Mrs. Deason and Husband are very poor people, both old and feeble. The old Gentleman not able to labor for maintenance, nor having been for several years, no Physical disability, except old age and general disability. Milas M. Deason, their Son, was never married, consequently left no widow, or minors surviving him, his only means of contributing to his support was by his labor whilst at home. I do not think he ever sent his mother any money whilst absent in the Army.”  

I do not know if Lydia’s plight was successful. The author did not photocopy everything in Milas’ files, but he has kindly helped me order a complete set from the National Archives for my own records. When I receive the files, I’ll likely update this post.

I am deeply grateful to the author, Andrew Ward, for including Milas’ story in his book and for his assistance. He opened a window that enabled me to get a rare, and now treasured, look into the lives of my ancestors.

Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: 3rd great grand uncle
Common ancestors: Milas’ parents, John R. and Lydia (Turbeville) Deason, are my 4th great grandparents. His sister, Rebecca (Deason) Trantham, is my 3rd great grandmother.

Reference:
Ward, A. (2005). River Run Red: The Fort Pillow Massacre In The American Civil War. New York: Penguin Books.