The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-04-30
I)ublir AHairs.
The Capture of Fort Pillow.

Ga|lam Resistance Of tie Garrisov-7ne
Brare'y Of Mr Ncgro .>ohiic,s-7he Gor
rison OrcrporcFed and the Troops Butch
c'el-DetaikS Of tie Bntrary.
Correspondence of the Missouri D"n~r,t1
CAIRO. April II. 1864.
Before leaving Memphis, ON Tuesday after
noon, we heard :. report that Fort Pillow
was captured. and ut ) p Vi. we proceeded
up the river in the Platte Valley, loaded
down with passengers. and with the gunboat
Silver Cloud. No. -. under Acting Master
Ferguson, in tow. We dcsignedly proceeded
slowly. and arrived near the fort at s A. NJ.
where the gnnboat cast off. and steamed up
toward the fort. Wewcre about three miles
below the fort. and could SEE mounted pick
cts ON the shore. After the gunhoat got
within reach she opened fire on the fort with
shell, but met with no reply. She continucd
slowly until she got in near the for, and near
the shore. where she fired Il shot or two and
then stopped. We had followed her at Il
distance, and now. about 10 A. NJ, came III
abreast and passed her and the fort
AS we came up we saw fire and smoke
proceeding from the shore. which proved to
h" some buildings and some hay on the levce
We also for the first time. saw people NOV
ing about, some on foot and some on horse.
back, behind the smoke. and soon several
persons came to the bank of the river with
white flag The gunboat sent IL sbifl ashore.
which returned in about twenty minutes.
and then the gunboat landed We at this
time were a mile above, and being signalled
by the gunboat, returned and landed bv the
boat. While returning near the shore. we
saw numerous dead bodies strcwed along the
river and on the sides of the bluff We
found on landing. quite number of Con-
trderate officers. among them Brigader Gen
cral Chalmers, with his Staff, and Major c.
W. Anderson, of General Smith Staff, and
Others of TIE Rebel officers whose names
did not learn. Arrangements were made to
parole all the wounded. and men were
detached to bring them in. An agreement
Tor truce till five r. NJ. was agreed upon. and
permission freely given to visit the fort and
grounds. Escorted by CAPTAIN Lindsey.
formerly of Natchcz. now in the Rebel army.
your correspondent visited the fort and ada
cent g7ounds-thc scenes of action the dav
preceding. On the way up-about three
miles below the fort-we were signallcd bv n
flatboat on the Missouri shore. and took on
board a c6orcd Corporal and three wounded
men. and received our first account from
them Of the fight.
TIE ASSAULT AND CAPT. re OF THE FORT.
We have CLEANED the facts of the fight
from authentic sources, and they may be
relied upon as truthful. The Rebels under
Forrest appeared and drove in the pickcts
about sunrise on Tuesday morning. The
garrison of the fort consisted of about two
hundred of the 18th Tennessee Volunteers
and four hundred negro artillery, all under
No. was also in the river. The Rebels
first attacked the two outer forts and in sew
cral attempts to charge were rcpulsed. They
were constantly reinforced. and extended
their lines to the river on both sides of the
fort. The garrison in the two outer forts
were at length overpowercd BY superior num-
bcrs, and about noon evacuated them and
retired to the fort on the river. Here the
fight was maintained with great obstinacv,
and continued till about 4r NJ. The
approach to the fort from the rear is over a
gentle declivity, cleared and fully exposed
to a raking fire from two sides of the fort.
About thirty yards from the fort is a deer
ravinc, running all along the front. and SC
steep at the bottom as to be hidden from the
fort, and not commanded by its guns. The
Rebels charged with great holiness down
the declivity. and faced without blanchinp g
mnrderous fire from the guns and small arm.
of the fort. and crowded into the ravine
where they were sheltered from the fire b,
the steep bank which had been thus left b,
some unaccountable neglect or ignorance.
Here the Rebels organized for final charg
upon the fort. after sending flag oftruc
with demand for q surrender, which va