Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-26
From shs Missoafi bssaocraf.
The Fort Pillow Massacre.
Graphic Statement by an Eye
Witness.
Rebels Gain an Entrance under
Flag Of Truce.
Union Soldiers Shot Down in Cold
B'ood, and Hunted by Blood
hounds.
Negroes and White AIen Burned
and Buried Alive.

Edward H. Benton, citizen, resident
Of Fort Pillow, who was present at the
inhuman massacre by the rebel troops
under Forrest, At Fort Pillow, was ex.
amined at Department Ieadquarters,
on Tuesday, by Major Bond, A. ID. c.
The testimony was taken by William
Thorpe, ESD. phoaographic reporter, Of
this city, aud is as foIlows
was born in waliham, Vermont
Question. Where have you resided
lastg
Answer was i'm Missouri, engaged
in furnishing beef to the Government
troops on the North Missouri road until
year ago last July then went down
TO Fort Pillow, aud have been there ever
since.
z. What was your business there2
\. | owned two hundred aud fifteen
acres OF the fort, bordering on the river,
snd the very land wc fought on. | WAS
putting in a hundred acres Of cotton
just outside of the forti6cAaions, which
was my principal business
q You lived outside the fertr
A. Yes, sir; slept there | WAS in
the fort every day II was only about
mile from the landing-nos q mile
FROM the iortiheations.
Arrisal Of Forrest
Q. Just say when You saw Forrest $
men--ahout the day and time Of day
| and what you did2
A. Tn Tuesday morning, the 10Th OF
this mouth, ! was awakened at about 5
o'clock, or halfpast Eve o'clock, by a
/ little darkey boy, who came into my
! room and SAYS, 20, Mr.. Belon, all Of
i Forests men have come, and shey are
! just going into the fort TO take it--whas
/ viii ] DOT ] got out Of bed ard looked
/ out Of the window towards the tort and
saw about 30l or 400 Of Forests men
drawn up in line, and some one was ma
king a speech 10 them, which was an
swered By cheering Tkey eheered and
then the plckets fred put some
thingsin my valise, and started for the
fort in my roundabout way, AMI got in by
4 running the pickets,- about six 0 clock
and went Immediately to Major Booth
aud asked for gun, and took my stand
with the soldiers inside the breastworks
where | remained and shot at every per.
son Of Forests men that | could get q
ehance-tiring forty-eight shots in all
+ until the flag OF truce was sent in
Skamefal Conduct under a Flag o.
Truce
+ 2. What was the time Of day it cams
inG
A. 1t cana in aboat two o'clock;
should think hslfpast one orswo o clocl
in the afternoon.
Q. Had they made any attack tAeng
al O, yes, sir.
i Q. Had they tried to carry the fort b,
storm aud been rspulsed3
A. Oh, yes, sir. At enc time th'
Confederate troops had all disappeared
Q. Were 400 all there were2
A.. Those were all | saw there; thi
was when they FIRST made their appear
ance when first saw this 400 ATE
. getting into the fort we saw more than
thousand coming in at the different pass
es, and the shsrpshoo.ers were station
: ed on every hill on every side OF u.s. ex
! eept the river side
Q. Do you recollect how many al
i tseks they made TO carry the fort befor
the tag Of truce came
: a. We bred twice. Il is not proper t
: be called an attack.
!, Y Did they use artillery?
e A. 1es, SIR. They could not hurt q
. with that. They shot at the gunboas.
Y When the aag of truce came i