The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-04-21
Additional Details of the Massacre al
Fort Pillow.

CARo, April l5.-No boats have been
allowed to leave here for points below
Columbus since the first news of the
Fort Pillow affair.
The attack on PaducBh yesterday
proved 10 BE- mere raid for plumber,
made by a couple Of hundred men, who
were sheIled out by the fort and gun.
boats.
After occupying portion Of the city
in squads about an hour, they LEFT, ia
king away number Of horses and con-
siderable plumber, and leaving behind
half dozen killed and wounded. No
one was hurt on our side.
Several of the guns captured by For,
lest, at Fort Pillow, were spiked before
falling into his hands, Others we're
turned upon the gunboat No. Z, which
from exhaustion of ammunition, having
fred some 300 rounds, was compelled to
Withdraw. Although only tin.clad she
received but slight injury.
Gen. Lee arrived and assumed com.
mond at the beginning of the battle;
previous to which Chalmers directed the
movements.
Forrest, with the main force, retired
alter the fight, to Brownsville, taking
with him the captured guns.
While the steamer Platte Valley lay
under flag of truce, taking on the
wounded, the rebel officers, among them
Chalmers, went aboard, and some Of
our officers showed them great defer.
ence, drinking with them and showing
them other marks of courtesy. Promi.
nent among them is said 10 have been
Capt. Woodruff, Of the 18th Illinois In
lontry.
ST. Louis, April 15.-Tbe cores.
pondcnt of the Union, who WAS aboard
the steamer Platte Valley at Fort Pill
low, gives even u more appalling des.
cription of the fendishness Of the rebels
than our Caro- dispatches. Many OF
our wounded were shot in the hospital,
the remainder were driven out and the
hospital burned. The morning after
the battle the rebels went over the field
and shot the negroes who were not dead
from their previous wounds. Many OF
those who escaped from the works and
hospitals who desired TO be treated as
prisoners Of war as the rebels said, were
ordered to fall into line where they
were inhumanly shot down. or $50
colored troops not more than So escaped
the massacre, aud not one officer Of that
command survives, Only four officers
of the 18th Tennessee escaped DEATH
The loss Of the 9th Tennessee was SIS
killed and the remainder wounded aud
captured. Gen. Chalmers told this cor
respondent although it was against the
policy of his government to spare negro
soldiers and their officers, he had done
all in his power to stop the carnage; st
the samo time be believed it was right
Another officer sail our troops would
have been projected had they not been
found on duty with negroes, While tho
rebels esAespored 10 coaceal their loss.
it was evident they suffered severely -
COL Reed who commanded the Tonnes
see regiment was mortally wounded,--
Two or three we'll Glled hospitals wcro
a short distance in the country.
Two negro soldiers, wounded at Fort
Pillow, were buried by the rebels, bat
afterward worked themselves out Of theis
grave, and were among those brought
up on the Platte Valley, and are now in
the hospital at Mound City.
The officers Of the Platte Valley re-
ceivc great credit from the military and
all others. for landing at Fort Pillow at
imminent risk, and taking our wounded,
and for the kind, human treatment man
Tested toward them on the way up. do
ing everything possible to render aid
and relieve their suferings.
Three other negroes were buried alive
by the rebels at Fort Pillow, making
in all. All were wounded but one. He
was forced to help dig the pits, and
was then thrown 10 and covered up
Chalmers said to an officer on the Platte
Valley thatit was their intention to
show no mercy to home made Yankees
(meaning SouthernGrs serving in the
Union army and negroes, but genuine
Yankees would be treated as prisoners
of war.