The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-04-22
General FORESTS Raid.
Success of the Confederates--Cap Of
Fort PiIlnw.


CAIRO Ill, April I4.-On Tuesday morn
ing Forrest, with some 5000 men attacked
Fort Pillow. Soon after the attack Forrest
sent a flag of truce demanding the surrender Of
the fort and garrison, in the meanwhile dispos-
ing his force SO as to gain an advantage.
Major Booth, of the Sd Tennessee L. States
Heavy Artillery, formerly the lst Alabama Cav
airy {negro), refused to receive the flag of truce
and fighting was resumed.
! Afterwards a second flag came in. which was
also refused Both flags gave the rebels the
adyantags of gaining new positions.
The battle was kept up till o'clock p. NJ,
when Major Booth was killed and Major Brad
ford took command. The rebels had come in
| swarms over our troops, compelling them to
surrender.
Immediately upon the surrender there ensued
| a scene which utterly battles description. Up to
that time comparatively few of our men were
killed, but the Confederates commenced an in
discriminate butchery Of the whites and blacks
including those Of both colors who had been
previously wounded.
The dead and wounded negroes were piled IN
heaps and burned, and several citizens who oin-
ed our forces for protection, were killed or
wounded
rushed to the rear, their white officers having
throwndown theirarms. Both white and blacks
were bayoneted, shot or sabred, and even dead
bodies were horribly mutilated. Children Of
seven or eight years of age, and several negro
women were killed in cold blood. Soldiers un-
able to speak, from their wounds, were dead
and their bodies rolled down the banks into the
river
Out of garrison of 600 men only 200 re-
mained alive,
Among our dead officers are Capt. Bradford,
Lieuts. Barr, Ackerstrom, Wilson, Reyel, and
Major Booth, all of the 18th Tennessee cayal-
ry; Captain Posten, Lieut.. Lyon, of the 18th
Tennessee, and Capt. Young, Of the oath Mis-
souri,, Acting Provost Marshall, were taken
prisoners.
Maj Bradford was also taken, but is said to
have escaped. IL is feared, however, that he
has been killed.
The steamer Platte Valley came up about
halipast three o'clock. She was hailed by the
rebels under flag of truce, and her men sent
of the wounded as the rebels had allowed to
live. Fifty-seyen were taken aboard, including
seven or eight negroes. Eight of them died on
the way up. The steamer arrived here this
evening, and was Immediately sent to the Mound
City Hospital to discharge here suffering passen-
gers. Among the wounded of the negro troops
are Captain Porter, Lieut.. Libberts and Adm
tant Lemming.
Six guns were captured by the rebels and car
rled oft, including two 10 pound PARROTS and
two l2-pound howitzers. A large amount of
stores were destroyed and carried away The
intention of the rebels seemed 10 be to evacuate
the place and move on towards Memphis
Twenty years of excruciatng pain, with sleep
less nights, | have suffered. Spanish gentle
man presented me with a bottle Of DR.. Rad
ways Ready Relief; applied it, it gave me ease
at once. have been free from pain since first
used 1t; / now sleep in peace, my rheumatism
is cured, no suffering, no more pain.
WM. SYDNEY MYERS
Correspondent of the n. Y. Herald London
Times, Paris Moniteur, Havana, Cuba"
GENERAL JOSE VILAMIL.
The General in Chief of the army Of Ecuador
stated in the presence Of the Hon. c. r. Buck
aIew, now u. 5. Senator from Penn, (but then
U. S. Minister at Quito,) to Mr. Lee, that he
had suffered with Asthma for forty years, had
not laid down in his bed horizontally during
that time. The first application Of the Ready
Relief secured him sleep its continued use Gu
red him.
Ga The undersigned acknowledge that they
did Jonathan Reighard wrong in giving credence
TO the report of his having taken corn from
George Dibert, and disown any intention of
charging him with stealing April 10th, 1864 |