The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-05-12
THE FORT PILLOW MASSACRE
REPORT OF MEssRs. WADE AND :,
Il .r 1 0OOCH, gelrr
Shocking Details---Ths worst Accounts
o ..5ls .tge COnhrmed. NuJlf

report of Messrs. Wade and Gooch, of
the Conduct Of the War Committee, on.
the Fort Pillow massacre: sa4o
, Your Committee were instructed to
inquire only in reference to the attack,
capture and massacre at Fort Pillow,
but they have deemed it proper to
take some testimony in reference to
the operations of Forrest and his com.
mand, Immediately preceding and
subsequent to that horrible transac-
ton. 1t will appear, from testimony
thus taken, that the atrocities commit
ted at Fort Pillow were not the result
of passions excited by the heat of con-
fict, but were the results Of q policy
deliberately decided upon, and unhes-
itatingly announced. Even the uncer-
tainty Of the fact ofthese officers and
men belonging to colored regiments,
who have been taken by the rebels
has failed to convince tire authorities
of our government of this fact the
testimony herewith submitted must
convince even the most skeptical that
it is the intention of the rebel author
tiles not to recognize the officers and
.ncn of our colored regiments as enti-
tied to the treatment accorded by all
civilized nations to prisoners of war.
The declaration of Forrest and his Of
ficers, both before and after the cap
ture of Fort Pillow as testified by such
of our men who have escaped after
being taken by them, contained in the
various demands for surrender at Pa
ducah, Columbus, and other places;
the renewal of the massacre the morn
ring after the captue of Fort Pillow
the statements made by rebel officers
to the officers of our gunboats who re-
ceiyed the. few survivors at Fort PHI
low; all this proves most conclusively
the policy they have determined to
adopt. 1t was at Fort Pillow the bru-
tality and cruelty of the rebels were
most fearfully exhibited.
The Committee then detail at length
the taking of the fort, and proceed to
say: Then followed scene of cruelty
and murder without parallel in civili-
zed warfare, which needs but the tom
1ahawk and scalping-knife to exceed
the most atrocious ever committed by
savages. The rebels commenced an
indiscriminatc slaughter, sparing nci-
ther age nor sox, white nor black, SOL
diers nor civilians, The officers and
men seemed to vie with each other in
the devilsh work. Men, women and
children, wherever found, were delib-
eratcly shot down, beaten and hacked
with sabrcs. Some of the children,
not more than ten years old, were
forced to stand up and face their mur-
derers, while being shot. The sick
and wounded were treated without
mercy, the rebels even entering the
hospital buildings and dragging them
out to be shot, or killing them as they
: lay there unable to offer the least re
sistance.
All over the hillside the work O.
murder was going on. Numbers O.
our men were collected together il
lines or groups, and deliberately shot
Some We're shot while in the river
while others on the bank were sho
b and their bodies kicked into the watel
many of them living, but unable tt
make any eXertion to save themselve
, from drowning. Some of the rebel
stood upon the top Of the hill and ;
short distance from its side, and calleC
to our soldiers to come up to them
and as they approached shot then
down in cold blood, and, if their gum
or pistols missed, forced them to stan(
there until they were again prepared
to fire. All around were heard cries
of "No quarter no quarter!" "Kil
the damned niggers !" "Shoot then
down. All who asked for mere,
were answered by the most crue
taunts and snecrs. Some were spareC
for time only, to be murdered unde
circumstances of greater barbarity.-
No cruelty which the most fendisl
= malignity could devise was omitted b.
these murderers. Ono white soldie
who was wounded in the leg SO as t
be unable to walk was made to stan,
up while his tormentors shot him.
F, Others who were wounded and unabl
( to stand up, were held up and agail
y shot. One negro, who had been or
dered by rebel officer to hold hi
horse, was killed by him when he re
monstrated. Another, a mere chile
whom an officer had taken up benin
him on his horse, was seen by Chal
mers, who at once ordered him to pu
him down and shoot him, which wa
3. done. The huts and tents, in whic
many Of the wounded had sought she
ter, were set on fire both that nigh
s. and the next morning, while tn
wounded were still in them, those or
ly escaping who were able to got on
q themselves, or could prevail on Other
less injured to help them out, and eve
some Of these thus seeking to escaI
the flames, wero met by these ruffiar
and shot down, or had their brair
beaten out. 1894.
One man was deliberately fastene
IS down to tho floor of tent, face uI
sg ward, by means of nails driven throug
u his clothing and into the boards undt
.7 him, so that he could notpossibly e
cape, and the tent was set on fire.
g Another was nailed to the side OF
building outside of the fort, and the
l the building set on fire and burned