Fort Pillow History will help you extinguish prejudice.

• The official opening for the Barnsley Resort, located north of Atlanta, Georgia, is July 15, 1999. I arrived on June 24, 1999. During a brief meeting, I gave Prince Fugger an autographed copy of my book: EXTINGUISH the Flames of Racial Prejudice – The Fort Pillow Massacre. And a letter, that explained my German heritage, and facts from the book.

• The letter explained that with the discovery of rare, hard to find Civil War documents, the mystery behind the Massacre at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, has been solved. Also, the book exposed a Policy of Extermination; the Hidden Truth behind the Breeding of Humans; and the origins of Racism in our day. 

• My book explained that the Origins of Racism in Our Day, and the lies it produced, are directly linked to circumventing the law of 1808. According to this law, ships carrying slaves can be confiscated, and the slaves set free. To get around this law, the slave owners stooped to a new low. They started breeding humans. By the 1830’s their inhumane practice was publicly displayed in slave pens in Washington D.C. To counteract this brutal, degraded practice on the part of Slave owners, Anti-Slavery Societies were formed. In an attempt to justify the breeding of humans, slave owners promoted lies that continue to serve as a basis for the racism of our day. One of the biggest lies, is that slaves were not human, but animals.

• Brave to a Fault. Tom Selleck’s production company had sent a letter explaining their interest in Selleck playing the part of Major William F. Bradford, a Tennessee Attorney who risked his life freeing slaves.

• Was She a Man? To hide the identity I call this person Striker. Striker served on General Forrest’s Staff as a Lieutenant, and, when dressed as a woman, served as Forrest’s spy procuring guns and ammunition. At a location not far from where the Bradford brothers served as Attorneys, Striker had a plantation. Striker recruited men that could be trusted, and armed them. They gave Striker the title, Lieutenant. When Forrest escaped Fort Donelson, Striker and company went with him. It is from Striker that we get facts about the Secret Society and General Forrest receiving orders from them. Jane Fonda was sent a copy. Her secretary was excited about her playing the part of Was She a Man?  When I called again, I was told that the information disappeared. 

• Buried Alive! The story is of a man that was buried alive at Fort Pillow. I call him the Professor. With eloquence he describes his escape from slavery, and the horrors that he felt underground, among the dead and live bodies that were thrown into a trench and buried at Fort Pillow.

• The Secret Society

• Prince Fugger said he would read the book, and that we should meet the following morning.

• At the appointed time, on the morning of June 25, 1999, I returned to the Barnsley Resort.

• We are sitting together at a table.  (The restaurant was not yet open to the public.) Since Prince Fugger ordered coffee for me, I believe he was also drinking coffee.

• Prince Fugger said he knew people in Germany with my name. That they were in banking, and respected.

• He said he read the book and that, he thought, it would be well received in Europe.

• Our conversation was friendly, and I enjoyed meeting him. He was a down-to-earth sort of man, and I like him. Since then, I have not seen him, but I remember how I felt knowing that people in Europe would be eager to read the book.

Why did a Prince from Bavaria visit Georgia?

• In Chicago, Brayman became a trustee for the Chicago University, and one of 6 men on a committee appointed to set forth the foundation of instruction for the Illinois Industrial University in Urbana, Illinois. (The committee had to make sure that the legal statues governing the purpose of the grant were fulfilled.) 

• In addition to these activities, Brayman was the lawyer who helped establish the Chicago Historical Society. For this reason, he is considered a leading founder of the Society. 

• Still in existence is Brayman’s home in Springfield and his house in Chicago at 1254 North Lake Shore Drive, designed by Swedish architect Lars Gustav Hallberg. (It faces the Lake and is on the tourist list.) Also remaining is Chicago’s Historical Society (now called the Chicago History Museum); Chicago University; and the Illinois (Industrial) University in Urbana-Champaign.

In 1861 Brayman enlisted in the Illinois 29th Volunteers. 

• Governor Richard Yates (January 4, 1861-January 16, 1865) commissioned him as a Major, and then appointed him as chief of staff and assistant adjutant-general to General McClernand. 

• On November 7, 1861, Brayman fought in the desperate battle at Belmont, Missouri, a waterfront town on the west side of the Mississippi River. Directly across, on the east side of the river, was Columbus, Kentucky. Then, again, on February 13-15, was constantly exposed to fire in the battle at Fort Donelson, on the Tennessee River. Something happened that convinced Brayman that he had God’s backing, for he decided that from that time forward he would not cut his beard. Inspired by what he decided, he continued to expose himself to danger.

• At Shiloh, he galloped forward to rescue Major Stewart who lay wounded near the rebels. Though his horse was shot, he completed the rescue. Another incident, that resulted in his being promoted to Brigadier-General, occurred during the rebels attack to overrun two batteries of canon fire. In fear, 2 supporting regiments fled at the rebel yell, and advancement. Brayman reached down and seized the flag that was dropped, then rode up and down in front of the rebel line, with the flag flying. His bravery inspired his men to turn and fight, saving the batteries and turning the charge.

• In 1864, Brigadier-General Mason Brayman is assigned to protect the supply depots in Cario, Illinois, West Kentucky and West Tennessee. 

• Unbeknown to Brayman the Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) had plans to use him as their patsy, (someone to blame for the defeat of the Union Army.) Their well laid plan involved men crossing the Ohio and Mississippi River to join General Forrest. A corridor had been opened for General Forrest so that he could ride out of Mississippi into Tennessee. He was to capture the supply depots, and then use the arms for the men that crossed the river. With this new force of men he would cross over to Cario, and take the largest Union depot. 

• General Sherman emptied the depots of seasoned soldiers, taking them south of Memphis and up the Red River. What was left in the depots were faulty equipment, traitors, and a small force of colored troops. Convinced that they could be easily conquered, General Forrest entered West Tennessee. His first conquest was the depot at Union City, where the commander, a traitor, surrendered to him. The attacks against Paducah and Columbus failed. The men that were to cross the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers were unable to do so. Cairo was never attacked.

• The details that describe why the Mississippi and Ohio rivers could not be crossed involves the heroic actions of Brigadier-General Mason Brayman. And why the depots could not be taken, involves the heroic actions of loyal colored troops.  Their story has been reserved for the Movie: The Secret behind the Mystery.

• BRIGADIER-GENERAL MASON BRAYMAN was ordered to investigate the cruelties at Fort Pillow, Tennessee. The order came from the Secretary of War and General Sherman. To a less discerning person it would appear as a normal request. Brayman quickly realized there was a violation of the order of command.  What were the Secretary of War and General Sherman up to? Why order him to send the report to the Secretary of War, Stanton, and General Sherman, and not to General Grant? Smelling a rate, Brayman made a secret copy of the report. Likely, this copy was intended for President Lincoln. When Lincoln was murdered, Brayman had to find a way to hide the report for future generations. What he did was ingenious. (The copies sent to the Secretary of War and General Sherman, and another to the chairman leading the Congressional Investigation of Fort Pillow, Senator Wade, were either destroyed, or hidden. Stanton, Sherman, and Wade, withheld any mention of having the Military Report.) After 150 years, Brayman's copy has been found.