The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-04-20
Rebel Guerrilla Operations in Ken.
lucky and Tennessee.
MORRTD BARBARRTTY!

The rebol General Buford, who is For
rests second in command, appeared before
Fort tIallock, Columbus, on Wednesday 18th
inst, and demanded the unconditional sur
render of the place. A part of the garrison
was mado up of negro soldiers, whom Buford
said he would return to their masters If the
place was instantly surrendered; otherwise,
he would make no terms for them. Five
hours were given for the departure of wo-
men and children a large number of whom
were immediately sent to Cairo. Colonel
Lawrence, who commanded Fort Halleck,
of course refused to surrender. He was ro.
enforced from Cairo, and by 5000 veterans
and u battery who were stopped on their
way home. Under these circumstances, Bu-
ford found discretion the better part of va
lor, and withdrew his forces. 1t has since
been discovered that thore were only seven
ty-two rebels outside OF Columbus, and that
tho demand for surrender was only a ruse
to get an opportunity to steal some horses.
The citizens have returned.
On Thursday, the l4th, Buford appeared
at Paducah, ard demanded its surrender.
Colonel Hicks refused Tho enemy swarm
cd in as If to attack, and stole a few horses,
Col. Hicks then opened fire from the fort,
when the rebels retired.
Fort Pillow eighty miles above Memphis,
on the Mississippi, has been captured by
tho rcbels under Forrest, after gallant
and protraoted resistance. The garrison
numbered only six hundred men, two hun.
dred of them black The rebels who were
commanded by Forrest, wero over 5000
strong, They were three times repulsed
but finally overpowered tho little garrison
the commander of which--Major Booth
was killed. No sooner had they gained
possession of the Fort, than scene OF
butchery commenced The negroes were
massacred withoutmercy, and many of the
whites killed nfter they surrendered
Wounded mon and children wero killed.
and oven dead bodies mutiated by the fe
rooious victors. A number of wounded
negroes and the corpses of other colored
soldiers were put in u hut, which was ther
set on FIRE. After the fight was over, the
steamer Platte Valley came up the river
She was hailed by the rebels and some Of
her men sent ashore to help bury the dead
and take the wounded up to Cairo. She
arrived at the latter place Thursday even.
ing last, with some Of the sufferers.
A correspondent of the st Louis Union
who was on board the Platte Valley at Fort
Pillow, gives q appalling description of the
iiendishneSs of the rebels Many of our
wounded were shot in tho hospital the re-
mainder were driven out aud the hospital
| burned, The day after the battle the rebels
went over the field and shot tho negroes
who were not dead from their previous
wounds Many of those who escaped from
tho works and hospitals who desired to bt
treated as prisoners of war; as the rebels
| said, wore ordered to fall into line, whet
they were inhumanly shot Down. OF 35(
! colored troops not more than SO escaped the
massacre, and not ono officer of that com
maud survives. Only four officers of the 3tl
Tennessee escaped death. Tho loss of tn,
18th Tennessee was S5 killed and tno remain
der wounded and captured, Gen. Chalmer,
told this correspondent although it wa,
against the policy OF his government TO spar,
negro soldiers and their officers, no haC
done all in his power 60 stop the carnage
at the same time he said he believed it wa
right. Another officer said our whit
troops would have been protected had the
4, not been found on duty with negroes. Will
tue rebels cndeavored to conceal their loss
it was evident they suffered severely. Co
Reed who commanded the Tennessee Geg
ment was mortally wounded, Two or thre
we'll filed hospitals were short distanc
in the country.
Two negro soldiers, wounded at Foj
Pillow, were buried by the rebels, but atte
1 ward worked themselves out of their gray
), and were among those brought up on &
Platte Valley, and are now in the hospit
at Mound City, Three other negroes wei
bur,ol Oiive by the rebels, making five
0 all, All were wounded but one He W,
: forced to help dig tho pits, aud was th,
!. thrown in and covered up.
The officers OF tho Platte Valley recei,
great credit from the military and all othe
/ Tor landing at Fort Pillow, at imminent ris
). and taking cur wounded, and for the kin
humane treatment manifested toward the
. on tho way up, doing everything possib
Is TO render ad and relieve their suiiermgs.
e Chalmers said 10 nm officer on the Plat
\ Valley that il was their intention to sho
, no mercy tohome,mado Yankees lmeauil
' Southerners serving in the Union army)al
y negroes but genuine Yankees would
treated as prisoners OF war,