This is outright hearsay. You have spoken so much of sworn testimony, that this begs to be taken into account. These are the words of JOHN G. WOODRUFF, Captain Company G, 113th ILLINOIS Infantry...UNION officer of lower rank.

Perhaps we should post what he did actually say! [Please note that I have additional comments below the quotes.] As it is so long, I have deleted parts that are irrelevant, but if anyone wants to read the whole thing, it can be found at: http://www.civilwarhome.com/chalmersftpillowor.htm

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FORREST'S CAV. DEPARTMENT,
Verona, May 7, 1864.

Maj. J.P. STRANGE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

MAJOR:
I have the honor to submit the following report of the actions of the troops under my command in the recent capture of Fort Pillow, Tenn.:

[...]

On the morning of the 11th instant, I moved this division from Sharon's Ferry, on Forked Deer, in the direction of Brownsville, and on the same morning moved Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers' battalion through Brownsville on the Memphis road, and thence by a circuitous route back again to the Fort Pillow road. I moved from Brownsville in person, at 3.30 p.m., on the 11th and reached Fort Pillow, a distance of 40 miles, at daylight next morning. Colonel McCulloch, commanding advance, surprised the enemy's pickets and captured 4 of them. My orders from General Forrest were to invest the place, and I proceeded to do so as follows: McCulloch's brigade moved down the Fulton road to Gaines' farm; thence north to the fort on a road running parallel with the Mississippi River; Wilson's regiment, of Bell's brigade, moved on the direct road from Brownsville to Fort Pillow, and Colonel Bell with Barteau's and Russell's regiments moved down Coal Creek to attack the fort in the rear.

The works at Fort Pillow consisted of a strong line of fortifications, originally constructed by Brigadier-General Pillow, of the C. S. Army, stretching from Coal Creek bottom, on the left, to the Mississippi River on the right, in length about 2 miles and at an average distance of about 600 yards from the river. Inside of this outer line and about 600 yards from it stood an interior work on the crest of a commanding hill, originally commenced by Brigadier-General Villepigue, C. S. Army, which covered about 2 acres of ground. About 300 yards in rear of this, above the junction of Coal Creek and the Mississippi River, stood the last fortification, which was a strong dirt fort in semicircular form, with a ditch in front of it 12 feet wide and 8 feet deep.

The enemy did not attempt to hold the outer line, but trained their artillery so as to play upon the only roads leading through it.

The fight was opened at daylight by McCulloch. He moved cautiously through the ravines and short hills which encompassed the place, protecting the men as much as possible from the enemy's artillery, five pieces of which from the fort, aided by two gun-boats on the river, played furiously upon him. Moving in this manner he succeeded about 11 o'clock in taking the work, which I have spoken of as having been commenced by General Villepigue, and the flag of the Eighteenth Mississippi Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Chalmers commanding, which had been the first regiment to enter the fort, was quickly flying above it.

While Colonel McCulloch had been moving up on the left, Colonel Bell moved up on the right and rear, and Colonel Wilson moved up on the center, taking advantage of the ground as much as possible to shelter their men. Affairs were in this condition, with the main fort completely invested, when Major-General Forrest arrived with Colonel Wisdom's regiment of Buford's division. After carefully examining the position he ordered a general charge to be made. The troops responded with alacrity and enthusiasm, and in a short time took possession of all the rifle-pits around the fort, and closed up on all sides within 25 or 30 yards of the outer ditch. Here a considerable delay occurred from the ammunition being exhausted. A supply, however, was obtained as quickly as possible from the ordnance train and everything was made ready for another advance. To prevent the unnecessary effusion of blood Major-General Forrest now demanded, under flag of truce, the surrender of the place, which after a parley of about thirty minutes was refused. The bugle then sounded the charge, a general rush was made along the whole line, and in five minutes the ditch was crossed, the parapet scaled, and our troops were in possession of the fort.

***The enemy made no attempt to surrender, no white flag was elevated, nor was the U.S. flag lowered until pulled down by our men. Many of them were killed while fighting, and many more in the attempt to escape.*** The strength of the enemy's force cannot be correctly ascertained, though it was probably about 650 or 700. Of these, 69 wounded were delivered to the enemy's gun-boats next day, after having been paroled. One hundred and sixty-four white men and 40 negroes were taken prisoners, making an aggregate of 273 prisoners. It is probable as many as half a dozen may have escaped. The remainder of the garrison were killed.

[...]

I have the honor to be, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAS. R. CHALMERS,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

ADDENDA.

HDQRS. FIRST DIV., FORREST'S CAV. DEPT.,
Oxford, Miss., April 20, 1864.

SOLDIERS:

[...]

Colonel Neely on the north and Colonel McGuirk on the south, by well-executed demonstrations, alarmed the enemy for the safety of Memphis, while the lion-hearted McCulloch, with his "fighting brigade" of Missourians, Texans, and Mississippians, nobly assisted by Colonel Bell, with his gallant brigade of Tennesseeans, from Buford's division, temporarily attached to my command, stormed the works at Fort Pillow, in the face of the incessant fire from two gun-boats and five pieces of artillery from the fort, and taught the mongrel garrison of blacks and renegades a lesson long to be remembered.

JAMES R. CHALMERS,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

While this is not all valentines, roses, and candy, it must be remembered that he is talking about the ENEMY in the midst of a heated WAR. And, its a long way from saying that ANYTHING untoward happened in the battle.

Particularly note this line, marked by asterisks in the above text:
"The enemy made no attempt to surrender, no white flag was elevated, nor was the U.S. flag lowered until pulled down by our men. Many of them were killed while fighting, and many more in the attempt to escape."

THESE MEN HAD ***NOT*** SURRENDERED! THEY WERE ***ESCAPING*** AND WERE THUS LEGITIMATE TARGETS OF WAR!

Hopefully, this is my final word on the matter.