The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-22
MARRIAGE AND FUNERAL NOTICES
VIII be charged At the usual advertising rates
THE capture OF FORT PILLOW.
Correspondence Of the Louisville Democrat
STEAMER LIBERTY, No. 3. }
April 18Th, 1864 !

April 18th, 1864
MEssRs EDITORS: In this cruel war
the capture Of Fort Pillow, on Tuesday,
the 18th Of april, 1864, will forever hold
a terribly tragic and bloody prominence
For once, at least, the cruel, brutal and
bloody passion Of the rebels. intensified
by whisky, unchecked by commands
and unrestrained by a single humane
impulse, Tioted IN plunder and murder
IN the presence OF the awful incidents
of the capture Of Fort Pillow, exagge-
ration IS an unmeaning term, and the
English language stands cOnfeSsedIv uu-
able to paint the bloody panorama OF
events. Neither the throwing down OF
arms nor supplication for mercy were
of any avail, and out Of at least seven
hundred Federal soldiers who saw the
sun rise on the morning Of the Fillmore
than six hundred were sleeping the
sleep that knows no waking by two
O clock Of that day. Some were shot,
some hung, others burned, and others
again, it is believed from evidence not
t. be disregarded, were buried alive
We have been favored with the par
ticulaIs Of the attack and fight by sew
eral gentlemen who wei present, and
eye-Witnesses of the terrible scenes. and
the readers Of the Democrat may,
therefore, rely upon their trUthfUlness
At the time Of the attack, Fort Pillow
was deionded by about seven hundred
troops, commanded by Major Booth, Of
the First Alabama NEGRO trOops,) but
subsequently Incorporated into the
regular army and known as the Sixth
regiment A D. heavy artillery, num-
bering about 360 Major Bradford, with
the Thirteenth Tennessee cavalry, num-
bering about 400, made up the balance
OF the Federal force in the fort. Major
Bradford has been in command Of the
post for some time, but upon tho ar
rival Of Major Booth (who outranked
him) and his blacks, he assumed com
mand.
AT daylight on the morningof the
18th the Federal pickets were driven
ia, and at o'clock the attack com
menced on the fort. Adjutant Chand-
Ter, Of Gen McCullochs staff informed
citizen Of Fort Pillow, while prisoner,
that the rebel force consisted of four
brigades, two divisions, numbering
about 4,OG0-
IN the early part of The day the rebel
forces were IN command OF Gen Chal-
mers, and for several hours were held
at bay by the gallant force who were
defending the fort In the early part
of the fight Maj. Booth was killed, and
the command devolved upon Major
Bradford. In holding the rebels in
cheek, the gunbOat No. :, did most eff
Gent service. Too much praise cannot
be bestowed upon Capt Marshal and
his gallant officers and crew for the part
they took in tho defense Of the fort
They fred 233 rounds IN % many min
utes, and their praise is spoken by all
the survivors Of the bloody day. The
gallant defense Of the fort made the
rebels doubt their ability to decide the
question Forrest who had arrived in
the meantime, was in favor Of g charge,
but the other officers, TO q man, believed
it would cost too many lives, and were
to it. Preliminary to the charge
Forrest sent q flag Of truce TO the fort
with a demand for its surrender Mai
Bradford desired TO confer with the
officers Of the gunboats besofo return
ing an answer
Considerable time was in consequence
During the cessation Of
firing Forrest advanced his men in large
numbers to position under the iortiti-
cations, and the moment that Major
reply" Come and take
me''-was received, the charge in over
numbers was made, and then
the work OF death, which
knew no cessation until over i've hun
dred men, black and white, had paid
the penalty Of their gallsntTy and de-
votion 20 their country flag Forests
officers, however, expressed their doubts
Of the propriety Of the charge upon the
fort 1t was led by Forrest himself
who had several horses shot from under
him Major Bradford never surrender
ed, and no officer or private Of MS com
mand hauled down their stars and
stripes; the old flag hoat5d defantly IN
the breeze while the terrible slaughter
was going on Men threw down
their guns and fed TO the river, and
we're shot Is they ran; Others threw
up their hands and implored msr-
Is, and we're killed IN their
suppliaut positions, with the pray
srs upon their lips Daring the fight
the rebels had captured q lot OF whisky
rom the commissary stores, and their
3ticers, even ii they desired 20, we're
utterly unable 10 restrain them Only
our officers of the Tennessee troops sur I
1ived the fight or the officers Of the
negro tFoops not one lives 70 tell the
itory Of Fort Pillow Only IS or so
prisoners were taken. Maj Bradford is
exported killed lie was taken 10 the
tear and shot One officer, 3 German
q deserter from the rebel
.eryice, IS reported as having been nail
ID 10 a plank and burned A rebel
,tficer remarked 20 q citizen prisoner
has every prisoner would be shot in
ew hours. Asj. Bradford command (
ges made Up principally Of deserters /
rom rebel Tennessee regiments, who /
knew their fate if they surrendered /
rba~r -vara fkarefore raaoluad unon