Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-05-06

49, WuSo 0G.oG16U111Y n9
eee0eU - - - Uouo0o1 Uoee 6noa1
acre tne ~ ~ ~ massacre ~ ~ 49,
Gem 800 q OF gusbens, Who were pern 4.
"a 10 20 on shore ard ccllsct he wounded
aud bury ~ dead. The rebsb themselves
had made psetencc NJ buryinr ! great maov
Of their victims bat they had merely thrown
them into The trenches sbo,t The Fort, OF III,
title hollows and tasires, or the hill side
covering them partially with earth, portions
II heads, aue faces, hauds and feet we're found
protrudibg In every direction, and even when
sour committee visited the spot two weeks af.
crwards, although parties Of men bad been
sent on shore from me to time 10 bury The
codes untuiied and re.bury the o,hers, ard
we're even then engaged 10 same work. We
fund the evidences OF this murder aud cru.
city still most painfully evident.
We saw bodies still pnbul;ed ct some
distance from the fort Of some sick men
Who bad been met fleeing from tic hospital
and beaten down and brutality murdered,
and their bodies left where they had fallen
Many other instances OF equal atrocity and
cruelty might be enumerated, but your
committee feel compelled to rcfaain from
giving here moro Of the heart.rending dc.
tails, and refer to tue statements c. ntaintd
10 the voluminous testimony herewith sub
tnitted. These statements were obtained
by them from eye witnesses and sufferers,
many Of them as they were examined by
your committee were lying npon beds OF
pain and suffering SONS 50 feeble that
their lips could with difficulty tell their
story.
But two officers are known to DO living,
aud they arc wounded. Oae Of them, Capt.
Porter, may even now be dead. No hope
was entertained of his recovery. OF the
men, from 300 to 400 are known to have
been killed At Fort Pillow, OF whom At
least 800 were murdered in cold blood,
alter the fort was in possession OF the rebels
and our men had thrown down their arms
and ceased to offer resistance.
When your committee arrived at Mem.
phis they found aud examined man by
the name Of Michigan, who had been con-
scripted by some Of Forests force, but
who with other conscripts had succeeded
in making his escape.
He testifies that while two companies Of
rebel troops, with Major Bradford and many
other prisoners were OH march from
Brownsville to Jackson, Tenn, Maj. 3. was
taken by five rebels, one an officer, led
about 50 yards from the line Of march, and
deliberately murdered, in view Of all those
assembled. lie fell Instantly killed by >
| ,nrs ot halls, whiia asking that mis-
life might DC spared as he had fought them
maDiully ard was deserving Of a better
fate The motive Tor this murder seems
to have been that although native Of the
S.uth he remained loyal to his government.
The testimony herewith submitted contains
many statements by the rebels that they
did not intend to treat homc-;D adc ankrcs,
as they termed loyal Southcrners, any bet
ter than negro troops.
There is one circumstance Connected with
the events herein narrated which your
committee cannot permit to pass unnoticcd.
TIC testimony herewith submitted dis
closes this most astounding and shameful
fact.
On the evening OF Tho day succeeding the
capture OF Fort Pillow, the gnoboats Hi.vcr
Cloud No. 70, the transport Platte Valley, aud
the gunDoat New Era No. Z, IaLdtd At Foit
PILLOW under flag Of truce, for The purpose
OF securing the few wounded there, and bu
lying the dead. While they were lying three
the rebel Geo. Chalmers aud other rebel Uiii
GERS came down TO the landing and some OF
them went Gu The boats. Notwithstanding
The evidences Ut rebel a!rocity and barbarity
with which the ground was covered, there
were some Of our army officers on board the
Platte Valley. SO lost 10 every Ice ing Of de-
c.ncy, bonur and self -Tcspec', as 10 make
hc.nselses disgracefully conspicuous inbe.
slowing civi.i.ies aud attentions upoa these
rebel officers, even while boasliug OF the muir.
ders tney had there c1mmllted. Your com.
mlttee were unable 10 ascertain names of the
officers. They are assured, however, BY The
military authorities that every effort will be
made to ascertain We names AID bring then.
TO the punishment they 80 richly merit.
In relation to the reIniorc, mcn: or cyac
uation OF Fort Pillow, il would appear that
the troops there stationed wcsc WITHDRAWN
on the 10Th OF January last in order to ac-
company the Meridian expedition under
Gen. Sherman. Gen. uu.ltut tes,.tics
ho never reccivod any instructions
to permanently sacatc the post, and deem
Ing 1t important to occupy iG so tho rebels
should not interrupt the navigation OF the
NJ ssiss'pl'l by planting artillery there, he
sent some troops there about tue middle oi
February, increasing their number after
wards untii the garrison amounted TO near
" tUU men. lie also states that as aoon
As he learned that the place was attacked.
nc Immediately took measures, sens up re-
Inducements from Memphis, and they were
actually embarking when he received in
formation OF the capture u thc fort. All
Of when is respectfully submitted.
lS.gned,I i. L. WADE,
d. W. Goocn
Adopted by the committee as their re
port.
lS'gned,l + WADE, Chairman.