The weekly union record., 1864-04-23
The Massacre at Fort Pillow.

The Massacre at Fort Pillow.
On Tuesday of last week, the rebels, under
Forrest and other chiralrous leaders, attacked
Fort Pillow, on the Mississippi, and, after q
stubborn resistance BY the small garrison,
captured the Fort and proceeded to slaughter
indscrminatefy the troops, without respect to
color A Chicago dispatch says letters in
regard to the massacre give even more appall-
ing descriptions of the deydshness of the rebels
than the accounts telegraphed. Many of the
wounded were shot in the hospital, and the
remainder were driven out and the hospital
burned. On the morning after the battle. The
rebels went on the field to shoot the negroes
who had not died from previous wounds. Many
Of those who escaped from the works and hos
ptals and desired to be treated as prisoners Of
war, as the rebels had promised, were ordered
into line and inhumapy shot down. Of three
hundred and fifty colored troops, not more than
fifty or sixty escaped, and not one officer in
Chalmers told correspondent that, although
it was against the policy of his Government TO
spare negro soldiers or their officers, yet be had
done all in his power to stop the carnage. AT
the same time be believed 1t was right Another
officer said our white troops would have been
protected had they not been found on duty with
negroes. Forty-6ve white troops were shot
and wounded after the surrender. The enemy
fired everything combustible and burned fifty
houses in the town. The rebels evacuated tie
fort, after blowing up the walls of the fortfca-
tons and defensive works, and destroying
everything possible. A rebel mail has been
captured, 10 which were Southern papers con-
tanning Forests dispatches relative to his
attack on Paducah. He says be held the town
several hours, and could have held it longer, but
retired because the small pox was raging. He
says his loss at Union City and Paducah was
only twenty FIVE killed and wounded, while the
Federal loss at Paducah was fifty killed and
wounded and that six hundred Yankees were
captured during the expedition. A Memphis
dispatch, dated April 18th, says: There is not
much said. but there is general gritting ot
teeth among the officers here, when the massacre
at Fort Pillow is mentioned. Several officers
have been heard to say that, unless the Gsyern-
ment takes retaatory steps, they should con-
slider it their duty to shoot every man that they
meet of Forests command, taking no prisoners
The soldiers have threatened to shoot some Of
Forests men now 10 Irving Prison, If they
get chance"
In Congress, the telegraph informs us, the
greatest indignation was expressed by members
Of both Houses upon the reception Of the news
of these atrocities and Senator Conness. of this
State, among Others, declared it to be the duty
Of the Government TO retaliate upon the sends
of secession, who, at Lawrence and Fort Pillow,
have exceeded the barbarites Of the Sepoys in
India. Nothing short Of the most thorough
retaliation can bring these Southern traitors
to recognition of civilized rules Of warfare.
and TO sense Of the terrible fruits in store for
the conspirators who brought about the war,
and its attendant train Of horrors.