Fort Pillow had been taken by the Federals and was garrisoned by a Negro regiment and a detachment of cavalry.

It was recaptured April 12, 1864 by the Confederates under General Forrest.

Practically the entire garrison was massacred, an act that will stain forever the name of Forrest, and the cause for which he struggled.
By the close of the Civil war, the value and fitness of the Negro as a soldier had been so completely demonstrated that the government decided to enlarge the Regular army and form fifty percent of the increase from colored men.

In 1866 eight new infantry regiments were authorized of which four were to be Negroes and four new cavalry regiments of which two were to be Negroes.

The Negro infantry regiments were numbered the 38th 39th, 40th and 41st.