The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-06-30

BURIED ALIVE.
A Story Of Fort Pillow.


Ny name is Daniel Taylor, and my skin is
dark, as my mothers was before me. / have
heard that my father had white face, but |
think his heart and life were blacker than my
mothers skin. l was born slave and remain
ed n slave until last April, when found deliv-
erance and shelter under the flag that my mas
ter was lighting TO dishonor.
shall never forget the day when freedom
came TO me. was working in the fields down
In Alabama, my heart was full OF bitterness
and vulnerable longings. had dreamed two
long years OF escape from my bondage; the
thought clung 70 me through the nights, and
filed all the days with a wesried sort of nerv-
Gus expectation. But my dreams had proved
nothing more than dreams the opportunity
yearned for did not come. But that day, work
ing In the fields, suddenly along the dusty
road there flashed long column Of loyal cav
airy, the old flag flying at its head. How many
hearts leaped at the sight; how, like a revela-
tion, came the thought: "rhis Daniel Taylor is
your opportunity" Need tell you how
acted upon that thought; how in one second
OF time, leaped out Of slavery into freedom,
and from slave became man?
Well, joining the flashing column, rode
with them for days, coming at last iuto Baton
Rouge, and thence, having joined regiment
OF my own people, came to Memphis. But
there are not four hundred OF us to-day, Tor
three hundred and odd were murdered in cold
blood only week ago by Forests rough raj
defs.
1t was day OF ihorrors-that 18th Of March.
There were seven hundred oil us in all in the
fort-three hundred whites OF the Thirteenth
Tennessee Cavalry, and four hundred blacks,
as have said, all under command of brave
Major Booth. The fort consisted simply of
earth-works, on which we had mounted hall
dozen gans. We knew that Forrest had pill
laged the country all about US, and imagined
that perhaps he would pay US visit; but the
thought did not alarm US, though we knew,
those OF us who were black, that we had little
TO expect at the hands OF the rebels. At last,
about sunrise ON the morning Of the I2th, For
rest, with some 6000 men, appeared, and at
once commenced an attack. We met the as
sault brayely, and for two hours the fight went
on briskly. Then a flag oftruce came in from
Forrest, asking an unconditional surrender
but Major Bradford-Major Booth having been
wounded--declined TO surrender unless the
enemy would treat those OF US who were black
rs prisoners Of war, which, of course, they re
fused to do, and the fight went on.
The enemy, In the next few hours, made
several desperate charges, but were each time
repulsed. At last, about four O'Clock, they
sent in another flag. We ceased firing out Of
respect to the flag; but Forests men had no
such notions OF hoaor and good faith. The
moment We stopped firing they swarmed all
about the fort,and while the flag was yet with
drawing, made desperate charge on all sides.
Up 10 that time only about thirty of our men
had been hurt. But in this charge the enemy
got within the earthworks and forthwith there
ensued scene which no pen can describe
Seeing that all was useless, most OF us threw
down our arms, expecting, and many begging
for quarter. But IL was in vain. Murder was
in every reDei heart; famed In every rebel eye.
lndiscriginate massacre followed instantly
upon our surrender. Some OF US, seeking
shelter, ran TO the river and tried 10 conceal
ourselves among the bushes, but for the most
part in vain. The savages, pursuing, shot
down the fugitives In their tracks. There was
Manuel Nchols,as brave q soldier as ever car
ried musket. He had been free negro in
Michigan. But volunteered a year ago 10 fight
for the Union. He, with others had sought
shelter under the bank ofthe river, but cold
blooded monster found him, and putting pis-
tol close TO his head, fred, failing however to
Kill the brave fellow. He was then hacked on
the arm, aud only day after died. delirious,
Ia the hospital. Then there was Robert Hall.
another colored soldier, who was lying sick in
the hospital when the massacre commenced.
The devils gashed his hand horribly with their
which he had lifted In q mute appeal for mer-
cy. Then there was Harrison, Of the Thir-
teenth Tennessee, who was shot four times az
ter surrender, aud then robbed of all his ef-
fects. Before | was shot, running along the
river bank. counted ftty dead Upion soldiers
lying in their blood. One had crawled into a
hollow log aud was killed Ia it, another had
got over the bank into the river, and on the
board that ran out into the water. He LAID
on 1t on his face, with his feet in the water
and when Isaw him was already stark and
stiff. Several had tried TO hide In creviees
made by the falling bauk, and could not be
seen without difficulty, but they were singled
out and killed. One negro corporal, Jacob vii
son, who was down on the river bank, seeing
that no quarter was shown, stepped into the
water SO that he lay partly under 1t. A rebe
coming along asked him what was the matter
he said he was badly wounded aud the rebel
after taking from his pocket book all the mo
ney he had. LEFT him. Il happened TO be neal
fiat boat tied to the bank. When all wa.
quiet Wilson erawled into Ii, aud got three
more wounded comrades also into II, aud cul
loose. The boat foated out into the channe
and was found ashore some miles below
There were alas few such fortunate escapes
I.was shot near the river just about darl
Running for my life, a bnrly rebel struck mi
with his carbine, putting out one eye, anc
then shot me In two places. | thought h
would certainly leave me with that, but wa
mistaken. With half a dozen others, ~a
at once picked up and carried TO a ditch, int
which we were tossed like so many brutes
white aud black together. Then they cover
ed US with loose dirt and left us TO die. Oh
how dark and desolste it was, Under m
were several dead, and right across my breas
lay a white soldier, still aliyel How be clutch
ed and strained! How, hurt and weak as
was, with only one hand free, I struggled 70
air and lire feeling my strength waning ever
moments II was strange thing to lie ther
buried and yet be able to think and pray
Maybe, friend, you have known what agon
was, but you never had such pains OF soul a
had down there In that living grave.
thought could feel the worms enawing q
my flesh; am sure / had taste OF wlg
death Is, with the added pain OF knowing ira
j was not dead, and yet unable to live In tha
dark, dismal tomb. So clutched and strait
ed and struggled on, digging upward as
could with my one puny hand. At last-o
joyl- faint streak of light looked in n,
hand had carved an avenue to the world
life But would dare to lift my head P
Might not some rebel, standing by, strike II
down again on the moment? But / cou
not die there in that grave; | must escape
Slowly, painfully. rolled the burden from n
breast-he was dead by that time-snd thi
carefully erept out from that living death.
has dark and no one was near. A moment
ood up on my feet; then
The next thing ] remember i was In d
osptal where ! am now. They had -four
tucf 1hara 4 fall sud hrnnsvhk rv,a ~