, 1862-06-10


he carly hour Of six o'clock this morning.
Nthough forcstalled in the actual capture OF
he place by the rebels themselves, and In be-
ng the first TO occupy, By Col. Fitch, whose
nen took possession OF it before daylight, and
n the planting Of the Federal flag On the
.orks-an act voluntarily. performed By Col.
Elicit OF the ram 1cet-C Commodore Davis
VAS not slow in following up an advantage
gained By the movement, and to the gaining
Of which, as much as any one man, he ind
contributed. The tugs having reported iA
safe ahead, the order was given, the feet moved
steaming down, past Craighead Point at hall
past six O'Clock, quickly followed by the am
and mortar boats, store and trans
portation boats; and among the rest the
steamer John Il. Dickey, Captain Dan Mus
aelman, bearing Bohemian brigade sufficient |
in size to strike terror into the hearts OF all
unfortunate butternuts. The trip WIS short. |
The weather began to become more pleasant, |
and soon inter rounding Crai5h cad the morn |
ing sun came out bright and fresh to h5ht US
on our way. This was not needed. every
heart was cheerful and beat with emotions OF
joy-joy that We were able to moVe-]oY that
we were going to take possession OF Teoci
fort over which the stars and bars has waved
fora twelve month, but over which they Would
wave no mere. AS We came IN sight ot the
fort ..my e5e Was strained to take IN the new.
FORT PILLOW.
When first looking upon Fort Pillow the
most noticeable feature Of the land5espe is
the high, yel1owish clRJey banks Of the river
ct that point, called First Chickasaw BlnG
A nearer view, such as was obtained from the
Federal fleet this morning, upon Teacmng
position Just opposite and beneath the blaaad
in the solid clay soil, the battlements, and 6as-
tions, the casemates and other distinguishing
features Of all fortified places Running along
the river for quarter of L mile and looking
down upon the Fater arc tWo lines Of batter
les able to cover any position an enemy might
take on either shore, above or belo#,--an1
one would naturally be lead to reflect and
| wonder how any human power could dlslodge
| an army once fairly in their occupation. Good
| low stronger and better fortified point than
| Columbus, which was known to be almost
inpresnab1e if properly manned.
TIE FoRTIFIcATloSs-
! Besides the two lines of batteries on the
river front, Fort Pillow was admirably enSl-
Fened With earth workR, extending from the
batteries back into the interior, which is 90
miles, where . line Of heavy em5ankmen,s
| protect its rear from attack from without. Il
| is estimated that there are over seven miles o.
earth works surrounding this post. The sec:
ond line Of batteries on the river is about 15(
feet from the surface Of the water. At the ex
treme northern boundary the fort is furthe1
protected BY the marshy and uncertain depths
Of Cold Creek, a stream entering the Missis
Eippi at that point.
THE ARMAMENT.
Tie rebels succeeded in dismounting tht
greater number Of these guus, and burning
their carriages. But fifteen cannon Of all kind
were left IN the p1ncc, and many Of these Tert
battery line were LEFT twelve guns, four 0
which we're bursted, and Of no use, excepting
for old iron. One 13-inch mortar, also explo
ded, was formerly located on these works
Its fragments aEe still to be seen
On the second line are two 10-incl
mortars, q battery of six guns, Of whlcl
four only remain in position-on G0-pouut
rif1ed and one 10-inch Dahlgren. The mortar
art spiked. Of in the hollow, back of til
western batteries, is located the stores o
shell ard grape and canister shot, large quan
titles Of which are piled tsstefully away 70
future nse The magazine is located in abou
the centre Of the second line Of batteries, an
considerable powder Of different qualities an
grades Of iDencss.
TIE BARRACKS, ETC.
The winter barracks and officers quarter
! are in the southeast corner Of the enclose
space, denominated tile fort, and are quit
comfortable, more especially those intcnde
: Of many ofthe wooden buildings It IS reason;
= hle to presume that very few Of them Lav
r lately been occupied. Although the fort Wa
calculated to hold force Of about 900, thel
have been but as many hundreds within tt
5 as1 four weeks.
! Here were also situated the storehouse, tt
. wagon and blacksmith shops and the coli
chop, material for which was not wanting. I
r the centre Of the grounds almost, is i ruus
c side-hill, where the troops killed in combat I
;. There are about fifty graves in all: covert
1 With slight crib of rough rails. Near Il
t storehonse we're formerly piled long rows
$ l:rlele Of picked beef and pork, all Of Wti<
= were set on fire BY the rebels before leaVin
and when ! passed over the spot to-day Il
j. most horrible and sickening stencil. Wheth
r. the nt ut Was ever good for anything is a NJ?
= t:r Of some doubt. It is certainly For
~ nothing now.
u The Quartermaster's storenouse was also
+, blaze, as well as the bakery aud slip cha
~ dlery house.
q Near the b1acksmith's shops were situat
u number Of army wagons, all broken
j. pieces, not considered us worthy Of reIfoV
10 from the dcTouring clement.
>, On the outer door OF one Of the basTa
L houses Of q Louisiana company, T observe
+, few lines in French, written iu q villain,
10 hand with red chalk, to the effect that t
writer, By the fortunes Of War, was compel
u to lid adieu to Fort Pillow. This was the 9
O. " literary relic l was able to find worthy
10 preservation On the field. There were pleu
n Of old, dried-up knapsacks, cartridge box
axes, slioye1s, spades, &c, &c, and occasi<
y a1ly one would come upon III old, nasty bl!
Of net without sheath, which had been used
of stir the camp fire, or an iron Falurod. Nu
- bers Of these were picked up and broue
Va | h1-f fhe ruf caEf frorf,inS
~ THE REBEL FLIGHT.
1e From the state of order in which the Ca,
IT, was found and its dearth Of plurder old +
tn lowers Of the army were prone to say tIat
-; enemy had departed at leisure and carr
ever. thing useful OF valuable with him.
cannon had undoubtedly been taken on bo:
ed steamers at the river side, and will undou
no etly be planted again at some future Pllc
unless Capt Davis captures the rebel fleet
oe sends the beats comprising it to the bc:t
.ly | Of the Mississippi.
ID One rebel was captured within the ran
~, he not having had time to get safely SIT
a1- hut as to the whereabouts of The remainder
ire | Gen. Willingness command we were unable
Yo obtain the slightest information. Some 81
pose they have retreatcd to Memphis. I E
And spoke with q man By the name ot Ttor
r., son, i resident Of the vicinity Of Fort Pillt
is who WAS captured while carrying of il
Il Wagon, drawn by yoke Of oxen, q supply
tents, pork and mo]asses, sufficient to sup
Il tlte wants Of his family in that direction
N some time, and he could give no iutimat
| Of the trail or the whereabouts Of tho rah
lie informed mc that the evacuation Was &C
m 1lenced three or four day6 since, but 0
completed last night when only four 4
were lett to fire an occasional mortar
deceive Capt. Davis, aud when night came
set fire to all that would burn and make g
| their escape as best they could. Mr. Tho1
- Eon said that he had been informed that
! property Has tated TO the ire and be- IN
number Of his neighbors, off Of whom
soldiers bad for some time been living, c.
] to the fort and obtained permission TO 81
al away what they most needed. This mi
N have been plausible explanation Of Il
possession OF the goods, but 4 more p>aua
one, to ny mind, is that they INTENDED
steal the goods and never had perm:ss
from ATTY one to carry off q thing. They Il
all compelled to disgorge and The propt
Was unloaded and put in i safe place. y
~ TIE JOURNEY TO MEMPHIS.
Capture of q Rebel Transport -Inunenx
f,74ctiou Of Cotto,a-The .FAldy's Ue.
| Chickens, de-, dc.
Especial Correspondence Chicago Triba1e
4, CoNEoDoRE DAVIS MISSISSIPPI FloTlL1A.
TuK PAibF : HEN AND CHICKENS FIVE sl1.
ABOVE MEMPHIS, Friday, June 5th 1s52-
Fort Pillow no longer requiring the Z
uw enre Of the feet, and Commodore D,Sis
ell hands, the Bohe1nians included, beise
tremely anxious to penetrate secessia as +:
Memphis, but few hours we're ALLOWED
observing the beauties Of Gen. Villips