The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-05-20

TIE FoRr PnLow AfF FAIR-Refuta.ion Of Federal
slanisvs-1Ae Yankee Acknowledgements Isnan,
G Harris, of Tennessee, who accompanied the e'x-
peditIon Of Forrest into Yves, Tennessee gives the
following true version or the aie attack upon Fort
P,iiox. In view of the perverted accounts OF the
ef espess, this 0teisl aassstise ef the xois
proceeding VIII, be found as interesting az II is ne
cessaIy to viaaieate The truth OF history:
Arriving In the vicinity of Fort Pillow, General
forrest, having previously arranged his plans and
issued his instructions for the attack rapidly ad
vanced his Hines, and gained after brief, sharp
contest, the outer works of the enemy. Having
possessed himself of this position, he threw for
ward line OF skfmishers In a sort Of ravine be-
tween the outer works aud the fort, which liae was
protected from the Federal sharpshooters by his
reserve line In the outer dciences.
He then sent In a Hay of tsnce 10 the commander
Of the garrison, demanding the unconditional sur
render OF the fort and garrsod, with all the
and munitions, stating the advantage OF his posi-
ion, his determination to carry the fort, aud an
nOuncing thar II his demand was not complied with
he did not feel certain that he himself would be
able to control his men when they entered he
fort, ater having been forced to take the risk OF
l assault.
| Hearing, amer the'note was dispatched, and be-
fore an TO IL was received, that the FeIe
| rails believed the demand for surrender ruse ds
gterre, and that Forrest In person was not In COM
mand Of the assailants, General Forrest himself
rode up within hating distance, announced to the
enemy in person that he was General Forrest, and
| yerba Iy demanded the snrfeaier.
| reply was sent back, couehed In defiant Ian
| iuase, declining 10 aceede 10 the demand
The assault was commenced, and In ave minlltes
after the bugie sounded the charge the fort was ~
possession OF our men. Our advanced skirmisl-
| ers went over the works peii NELL, all arulind
them, each man lifting his fellow by the leg and
l m0uninK 90 the shoulders OF their c0mfades unit
| the fort was flied with Confederates.,
| Colonel D0uih, commanding the gafnson, was
the ffst maM killed, and not Oficer OF the negso
| regiments was left alive.
/ Il 10 uue that few, black and white, thre y
down their afnls, and made signs OF surrender; bu
rctaiaed their arms aud kept up constant ire ana
l show 0f resistance In the heat, din and contd
sion ut fire at such close quarters there was ha
chance for discrimilattOn. Ia lees than five min
l utcs after 0ws mcn seated the .espIaaade the for
was cleared Ot the enemy, the main body o! whom
fed 70 the edge OF the river leaving the fort coloif
sil flying. AZ the river they still kept up the IRE
/ until the number was feauuly reduced, anu until
as Gen Forrest states himself he absolutely sicke
ed to wtness tue slaughter. lie ordered the iiins
to cease, and dispersed his aaH along the lines viii
orders 20 that effect II was Mext TO Impossible u
effect an immediate cessation OF the firing, the en-
emy themselves still fighting. Gen Forrest rode ~
and down the lines, ordering the men TO cease firing
aud finally stepped the carnage. The survivors Q
| the garrison were all taken prisoners.
Tuo maximum aggregate force Of the Fedora
| ear, ls0n was eight hundred. About five hundres
were buried BY General F0rrest's men. AbOu
i 6fty Of their w0uRded we're paf0ed and sent upor
! Q eunb0at 70 Memphis. Two hundred pElsoneri
/ were brought away, and among the numbeT abou
| There Ia not the semhlance Of = shadow Of truts
In the Federal 1xdggerations OF whole sale siaugh
| ter; The sbOve substantially the facts Of th,
capture, coming directly and officially from Tia
promtnent sectors In the bloody drama.