Aaron Fentis

Aaron Fentis was a member of the Sixth U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery during the American Civil War. He was a former slave from Tennessee. He participated in the defense of Fort Pillow. After Confederate troops poured into the fort, he, Sgt. Benjamin Robinson, Sandy Cole, Nathan Hunter, and Charlie Key formed a small cluster of resistance within the fort. For a time, they were able to beat back attackers. Fentis nearly lost his life when a Confederate solider attempted to bayonet him. Robinson was able to knock the rifle out of the Confederate's hand, and Fentis blugeoned the Confederate.

It soon became clear that this little group could not hold out for long.