The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-23

The MASSACRE AT FORT PILLOw.-F,,..
and foremost-periidy and j lie. Durinss
cessation of hostilities and under the a.
of truce the rebel commander secretly may
such movement Of his troops as 70 maSs
holding Of the fort impossible and the eaS
ture of 1t easy. A portion Of the rehp
troops were ordered to creep along the y
vine that partially surrounds the fort ana
station themselves close to the brestworssu
behind which our troops were resting M
suspectlngly on their arms, their Cur
mander being in conference with the ~,
commander in good faith under the MA
flag. At given signal the rebel trosss
thus perfidiously located were to pour 49,
the walls. The conference ended. m.
flag of truce was Withdrawn. The sim,
was given. Instantly the rebels were !
and as was utterly unavoidable, At the a.
pearance Of the enemy in such formidaHs
numbers and in such magic sudden
in the veay midst Of our garrison, the a.
risOn was thrown into confusion and ~,
back overpOwered to the banks of ~.
river. The fort was Immediately surrens
dered but what was the horror ssa
amazement of Major Brsdford to see n.
troops ns0ss0cred, burned and buried al;,s
before his face! Beside the rebel trocr.
that were stationed where and when n -
have described, there was, at the same tims
and under the same flag Of truce, anoths,
squad 80 stationed as to pour their fireunon
our troops when they were driven ~
to the river. Between these two fires Al.
helpless soldiers persisted BY scores. aAsr
the surrender, and crying in .aIn for quar-.
ter. No quarter was given them. M
quarter was intended for them. The blaeks
and their officers were shot down, bayo.
neted, and put to the sword in cold blood
tI,o t>ol, <,Tt Hov orEl ~1
they were over powered, and of the sav,ee
barbarOus, brutal, develish blOod-thir3i.
ness that burned in the hearts and imnl.
led the arm of their victors-revelline IN
their fraudulently gotten victory.
Out of four hundred negro soldiers ouv
about t,Centy survive' At least three Am.
bred Of them acere destroyed after the sss.
render! This is the statement of the rebd
General Chalmers himself to our inform.
ant. Negroes were compelled to dk
trenches into which they were throw
alive, Our informant-an officer i
whose probity and moderation we have a.
tire confidence-says he saw the charrel
remains of negro soldiers mingled with =
ashes OF their tents! Their tents Ven
fred, and they were prevented from 4
Gaping.
They were deliberately burned to deotA.-
The spectacle, "a presented to the eyes u
our luIOEm6nt, was one tnat no human b.
ing and no inhabitant Of perdition imae
ined within the range Of human or inha.
man possibilities on the face of The earth
The wounded with great gashes in the
head and with limbs discovered from the
body, writhed and yelled with agony that
terrified the horses, but made the rebel
fiends in human shape laugh, and jest, and
jeer.
We have no heart for more wordA-
Words may convey the facts-they are in.
adequate to the reparation of them.-
Loyal men, the spectacle of Fort PILLOW on
the l2th is before you-What wiU you do
about it, Submit to it or avenge it.-CAl
c1g0 Journal