Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-20


cities Of the Re6sls.
A correspondent Of the Missouri Demo
crat furnishes that paper with a full ac'
count of the recent massacre at Fort Pill
low, from which we make the following ex-
tracts:
THE ASSAULT AND CAPTURE OF THE PORT.
We have CLEANED the facts Of the SIGHT
from authentic sources, and they may be
relied upon as truthful. The rebels, un-
der Forrest, appeared and drove in the
pickets sbeut sunrise on Tuesday morning.
The garrison Of the fort consisted Of about
two hundred Of the 18th Tennessee vol
uuteers and four hundred negro artillery,
all under the command Of Major Booth;
the gunboat No. was also in the river
The rebels first attacked the outer forts,
and several attempts to charge we're Tepul
sed. They were constantly reinforced,
and extended their lines to the river on
both sides of the fort. The garrison in the
two outer forts Wers st length overpoWer
ed by superior numbers, and about noon
evacuated them and retired to the fort on
the river. Here the fight was maintained
with great obstinscy, and continued till
about 4P. N, The approach to the fort
| from the rear is over gentle deolivi'y,
cleared and fully exposed to a rsking fire
! from two sides Of the fort. About thirty
yards from the fort is deep rsvine, run
ming all along the front, and so steep q
the bottom as 10 be hidden from the fort,
and not commanded by its guns. The
rebels charged with great boldness down
the declivity, and facing without blsnch-
ing a murderous fire from the guns and
small srms of the fort, and crowded into
the rsvine where they were sheltered from
FIRE by the steep bank, which had thus
been left by some uDsccountsble neglect
or ignorance. Here the rebels organized
for q final charge upon the fort, after send
ing flag of truce with demand for sur
render, which was refused. The approach
from the rsvins was up through deep,
narrow gully, and the steep embsnkments
Of the fort The last charge was made
abeut P. N, by the whole rebel force, and
was successful after most desperate and
gallant defence.
The rebel army was estimated at from
1000 to 1000, and succeeded by mere
force Of numbers. The gunbost had not
been idle, but guided by signals from the
fort, poured upon the rebels q constant
stream Of shot and shell. She fired 260
shells, and IS testified to by those who
could see, with marvellous precision and
with fatal effect Major Booth, who Was
killed, near the close of the fight, conduct
ed the defence with great GOODNESS, skill,
and gallsntry. His last signal to the boat
was, ave are hard pressed and shall be
overpoWered." He refused to surrender,
however, and fought to the last. By the
uniform and voluntary testimony Of the
rebel officers IS well IS the survivors OF
the fight, the negro artillery regiments
fought with the bravery and coolness Of
veterans and served their guns with cool
ness and precision. They did not fslter
nor finch until st the last charge, when
it was evident that they would be over
powered, they broke and fed towards the
river, and here commenced the most bar
bsrous and cruel outrsges that ever the
fendishness Of rebels have perpetrated
during the war.
REBEL ATROCITIES.
After the rebels were in undisputed pos
session Of the fort and the survivors had
they commenced the indis-
criminate butchery Of all the federal sol
diery. The colored soldiers threw down |
their guns and raised their arms in token |
Of surrender, but not the least attention |
was paid to it. They continued to shoot |
deWn sIl they found. A number of them, |
finding no quarter was given, ran over |
the bluff to the river, and tried TO conceal
themselves under the bank and in the |
bushes, were pursued by the rebel ssvsges,
and implsred them TO spare their lives. |
Their appeals were made in vain, and
they were all shot down in cold blood and
in full sight of the gunboat, chased and
shot them down as they would dogs. |
passed up the bank Of the river and count
ed fifty dead strewed along. One had |
crawled into hollow log and was killed
in it. another had got over the bank in the
river, and got on to board that 1un out
into the water. He lay on it On his face,
with his feet in the water. he laid there
when exposed stark and stiff. Several had
tried to hide in crevices made by theifsll-
ing bank, and could not be seen without
difficulty, but they were singled out and
killed. From the best information l could
get, the white soldiers were, to very con-
siderable extent, treated in the same way.
One Of the 18th Tennessee on bosrd-D.
W. Hsrrison-informs me that after the
surrender he Wss below the bluff, and one
Of the rebels presented a pistol to shoot
him. He told him he had surrendered, and
requested him not to fire. He spared him,
and directed him to go up the bluff to the
fort. Harrison asked him to 20 before
him, or he would be shot by others, but he
told him to go along. He started, and had
not proceeded far before he met g rebel
who presented his pistol. Harrison beg
ged him not to fire, but paying no attention
to his request, he fired and shot him
through the shoulder, and another shot
him in the leg. He fell and while he lay
unable to move, another esme along and
was about to fire again, when Harrison told
him he was badly wounded twice and i'm
plored him not TO fire. He asked Harrison
il he had any money. He said he hal
little money and watch. The rebel ieOk
from him his watch and ninety dollars in
money, and left him. Harrison is prObs-
bly, fatally wounded. Several such cases
have been related to me, and think, to
great extent, the whites and negroes were
indiscriminstely murdered. The rebel
Tennsssesns have about the same bitter
ness against Tennesseans in the Federal
army, as against the negroes. / was told
by rebel officer that General Forrest shot
one Of his men and cut another with his
sabre who were shooting down prisoners.
1t may be SO, but he is responsible for the
conduct Of his men, and General Chalmers
stated publicly while on the Platte Valley,
that though he did not encourage or coun-
tenanee his men in shooting down negro
capiTes, yet that it was right and justif-
able.
FCDEETs or THE RIGHT.
Tha neorn nnrnnraI. Jannh Wilann- uhnrn