Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-07-08

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The Fort Pilfsw AfYair--Peputaf!on OF
Federal Siendcrs

from Governor lsham G.. Harris, Of
Tennessee. who accompanied. and ha. just
reached this city. in ro.urn from the expe-
dision Of Forrest inso West Tennessee, we
get the following true version Of the late
attack upon Fort Pillow. In view Of the
perverted accounts VI the Yankee papers
thi. official narrative Of the whole proceed
ing will be found a. interesting as it is nee.
cssary to yiDdicafe the trait, VI history.
Arriving in the vicinity Of Fort Pillow.
Gen. Forrest. having previously arranged
his plans and issued his instructions for the
attack. rapidly advanced his lines, end
gained. after brief, sharp contest. the
outer-wofss Of the enemy. Having pos
! sesced himself Of this position, he threw
forward line Of skirmishcrs in . sort Of
| rayisse between the outer works and the
fort, which line was protected from the
Federal sha,pshooters by his reserve Jine
In the outer 1efences,
! lie then sent in flag Of truce 10 the
commander Of the garrison, demanding the
unconditional surrender Of the fort and gar.
rison. with all the stores aud munitions,
stating the advantage Of his position, hi.
determination Go carry the fort. aud an.
nouncing that If his demand was not com
piled With he did not feel certain that he
himself. would be able 10 control his mer
when they entered the fort, sitter having
been forced TO take the risks of assault.
| Hearing. after the note was dispatched
aud before AZ answer TO it was received
that the Federals believed the demand H.,
surrender rase de ensrre, and that For
rest. in person, WAS not in command Of tn.
| assailants-Gen. Forrest himself rode u.
within hai!ing distance. announced TO tht
enemy in person that he was General For
rest, and verbally demanded the surrend Ell
| A reply was sent back. couched in de-
fant language, declining TO accede to The
| demand.
The assault was commenced, aud III five
minutes after the bugle sounded The charg'
the fort was in possession Of our men. Our
advanced skiririshers went over the works
pell-mell. all around them. each man lift
ing his fellow by the leg. and mounting OF
the shoulders Of their comrades until tht
fort was filled with Confaderates.
| Col. Booth, commanding the garrison
was the first man killed, and not on officer
Of the negro regiments vas left alive
| It is true that few, black and white
threw down their arms and made signs o.
of surrender-but at the same time the
men on each side of them still retained
their arms and kept up constant fire and
show OF resistance. In the. heat, din and
confusion Of fire at such close quarters
there sas 10 chance for discrimination. To
less than five minutes afterour men cleared
the egplauade. the fort was cleared Of tbs
enemy, the main hody Of whom lied to The
edge Of the river leaving the fort colcrs ETH
flying. At the river they still KEEP. up the
hriag, nn.:l 4, IL .si.s - was fearta!ly re-
! Qgeei, aud until ,ses General Forrest states
himself he absolutely sickeEed to witnes!
sio daughter. lie ordered tie firing tc
cease. and dispersed his staff along ,h(
lines with orders to that effect It was
ncxs 10 impossible to effect OF immediate
cessation Of the firing. the onetny.themselvel
still fighting General Forrest rode VI
and down the lines ordering the men &c
cease firing. and finally stopped the car.
mage. The survivors Of the garrison were
all taken prisoners.
The maximum aggregate force Of the
Federal garrisons was 500. About SOC
were buried by Gen Forests man. About
fifty Of their wounded were paroled and
sent upon a grnboat to Memphis Two
hundred prisoners were brought away, and
among the number about thirty negroes
There is not the semhlance II a shadcF
OF truth in the Federal exaggcrations oi
wholesale slaughter The above are sub
stantially the facts Of the capture. coming
directly end officially from the prominent
| actors in the bloody drama.
n-----------------
SiiAnP PaAcrIcE. A thirsty, but q pen
niiess soldier. belonging to q regiment en-
camped near 49,. N G. procured quart
of brandy in novel manner. lie provided
himself With two canteens one OF which be
filed with water. the ether he kept empty
He then repaired to the house Of Mr. -
few miles from town and asked IL he