Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-04-21
Surrender of Fort Pillow.

| VA AoAS - AAS"s
AWFUL BARBARIrY OF THE REBEL vIcToRs.
On the 10Th inst. the small Union
garrison of Fort Pillow, Tenn, on the
Mississippi river, surrendered to an
overwhelming force of rebels under
command of the noted guerilla chief
tain Forrest. Thefort was garrisoncd
by battalion of the 18th Tennessee
cavalry numbering 800, and 200 ne
groes. Some citizens also were inside
and fought well. The attack was
made by Forrest, Chalmers and McCol.
Tough with from 5000 to 5000 men.
The rebels demanded a surrender Of
the fort three times without effect. At
last they formed in two columns, and
made direct assault.
| All the troops in the fort fought like
heroes until the rebels were seen on
the top of the breastworks, when the
negroes gave way and ran down un-
der the river bank. White troops
we're ordered up to take their place,
but the arrangement of the lines could
not be remedied, and the enemy poured
in, forcing the Fedcrals back to the
river. Here they were compelled to
give up. Gunboat No. I threw 24O
shells, but they did not do much dam
age to the enemy. The rebels took
three 6-pounders. They found them
spiked by our troops. They set fire
to everything combustible, burning all
the houses in the town. The negroes
who had taken refuge under the river
bank were shot as discovered, not
withstanding the surrender. Some
40 white troops were also shot and
wounded after the surrender. '''7
Major Both, commanderof the fort,
was killed early in the action. Major
Bradford then took command. He
was wounded, and was taken prisoner.
1t is reported that he afterwards es-
capped. The enemy took about 100
prisoners, and wounded IS. The re-
mainder were killed. a,- nod Ed :
The fight began at Sin the morning,
and ended at in the evening. The
18th Tennessee cavalry deserve the
highest praise for the brave manner
in which they fought. The rebel loss
is not known. . ta".'''' ... d
| q Major Bradford seeing he could not
hold out. though ably seconded by q
gunboat.. finally capitulated at 8 in the
afternoon. After an hour the enemy
came in and cruelty butchered every
colored soldier they could lay hands
upon, and the officers commanding ne
gro companies. ~...'@ ." '.."
After capitulation the rebels COM
menced dismounting the works and
carrying off what guns were there,
the latter to he taken to Brownsville.
1t was supposed that Chalmers force
would quickly cvacuate the fort, and
not endeayor to hold it. ss
Forrest had his horse shot, and was
himself wounded. Forrest .acknowl-
edged his loss to be large, and that no
more severely contested battle was
ever fought. a. aE 81
| In all, in five companies Of the 18th
Tenuessee cavalry, 81 were killed,
wounded and taken prisoners. The
rebels also carried off 10I white men
and 60 or so blacks as prisoners.
The Chicago Journal says: ".'
The rebels, with characteristic bar
barity, shot down the colorcd soldiers
in the NEST murderous manner after
they had fallen into their hands as
helpless captives. Surely this cow
ardly assassination ought not to be
permitted to pass by our Government
without prompt and terrible rctalia-
ton. The rebels took about 100 pris-
oncrs, and there were 65 Federals
wounded, the remainder being killed.
The rebel loss is unknown. Three
spiked cannon fell into the hands Of
the rebels. The Notifications were
destroyed, and the town burned to the
ground. The rebels were still in pos
session of the place on Wednesday
evening, but expressed no intention
of remaining. 1t can be of no use to
them. ..... -.... ..t 'n
The main body Of rebels left Fort
Pillow on Friday morning, and the
rearguard left in the afternoon, taking
all the small arms. and destroying all
the ammunition and everything else
destructable. gl ~ #