The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-05-04
THE FORT PILLOW BurcnERy.

Outchery az fort Pillow aud tue crucinxNOn Of
Lieut.. Ackerstrom, by the rebels, are published
In the Chicago Tribune. Part of them have been
gathered from the testimony before the mill
tary authorities at Cairo, and part from person
al conversations held with the survivors Of the
massacre
srATENENTs OF THREE wONEN.
Mrs. Rutfn. the wife OF Thomas Rufian. pri.
vate IN the lSth Tennessee cavalry. states that
she was al Fort Pillow on TuesdA. the 18Th inst
but was removed TO the tow head opposite dur.
ing the progress OF the battle. She renamed
there until the ensuing morning, when she was
taken over 10 the tort While passing Over the
ate field O. strife, examining the wounded and
slain. she found the body OF man sire ,ched up
on What appeared 10 have been the planks once
forming the val OF house Tue hands were
saied 10 the pisnks aud extended horizontally
from the trunk. AL we're so blackened and
charred that she had some difficulty in recogui-
zng the person. But she Is positive that the
remains we're those of Lieut. }. C. Ackerstrom.
with whom, when alive. she vas well acquainted
I little distance from Lieut. Ackerstroms body
Mrs Ruffin passed 20 4 ditch where number
OF bodies bad been hastily buried.
y large collection OF bodies seemed 20 have
been hastily tumbled into the hole and loosely
covered With earth. She saw several places here
by the movements which had taken place in the
soil covering the bodies she knew the meu had
not been dead when Inferred. Holes had been
dug with their hands in the endeavor 70 escape
TINS testimony j. corroborated by negro Al
Mound City Hospital. Who SAYS he himself dug
out OF pit in which the rebels buried him alive.
/ These things arc almost past belief, but are 80
well attested must believe them else discredit
hat has every appearance OF being perfectly
authenticated
Mrs. Ruihan's account of what she sa~ on
the next day after the fight il borne out bv
statements made BY Mrs. Williams aud Mrs.
johnson, who were also on the spot They also
saw Lieut. AckersIrom's body, but not knowing
him, we're unable to Identity IT,
srArEHEST OF TWO UNION OFFICERS.
/ | have also taken full notes of the statements
Of two officers in the 18th Tennessee cavalry.
lst Lieutenant Francis A Smith, aud 2d Lieu-
tenant VIM. Cleary, IRON which produce the
following
These officers were not present at the 6ght
on Tuesday, they being absent on detached
service, but they returned early on Wednesday
morning
The rebels had no sooner entered the fortidca
tons than a scene OF terror ensued. There was
10 retreat The Confederate forces below the
".
shot down both from the front and the rear. In
many instances they were known to beg for life
upon their knees, but begged in vain There
was no mercy shown. They were made TO stand
up only to be shot down.
Capt Bradford. Of Co. A, 18th Tennessee cav
airy, was on duty the signal officer for the
gunboat. and was seen with the signal flags in
his hand. Forrest Immediately ordered him shot
His words were: "Shoot that man with the flags
in his possession" And the order was all too
soon obeyed. Captain Bradford fell fairly rdded
with bullets aiull regiment having exhausted
their pieces npon him. This was all after the
surrender had been duly made by Major Brad
ford.
Lieutenant J. c. Ackerstrom. from all we can
learn, and from examination into the facts,
ilan 6oee7a-rsrt,} J = 5srdreu, and tueu nameu 20
the side OF a building and the structure set on
fire. He was thus first wounded and then tor.
tured TO death, all otter be had made known that
he surrendered.
TIE STATEMENT OF A CITIZEN PRESENT AT THE
MASSACRE.
We have seen and conversed with a gentle
man just arrived from Fort Pillow, temper
ary resident there. not connected with the ar
my. but who took part in the gallant defense
Of the fort From his statement. no doubt
truthful in every respect, The horrors of that
day were even more terrible than first reports
seemed to indicate.
Our informant states that when he had sur
rendered the officer first demanded his money.
then bis boots then bis shirt. and finally took
about all the cloths be had on. Next to killing,
robbery seems TO be the first impulse Of the
rebels. He says he is cognizant Of the fact re-
lated OF the crucifxion Of Lieut.. Ackerstrom.
As is related, he was taken while wounded but
1aI hill
hre The demons looked on and saw him thus
consumed, continually laughing and shouting
at the horrid spectacle. The body Of Lieut..
Ackerstrom was afterwards seen still nailed
TO the charred plank. completely burned 10 a
crisp
Major Bradford. who wa. in command Of the
fort after the death OF Mai Booth. was wound
cd and taken prisoner. tie was afterwsrd ia
ken 90 the woods a short distance from the fort,
aud hung OF this there is no doubt The in
formation Of our informant is positive. He is
also confident that every negro in the fort,
whether belonging to the army or not, aud
every white officer in the command OF negro
: troops, bad been sacrificed, either 10y being shot
or hung. after being taken prisoners. with per
haps the exception Of ten or a dozen who
T made their escape. and Forrest himself, and all
Of bis officers, boldly asserted that that would
be the fate Of every prisoner in their posses
sion.
Z HANGING or MAYOR BRADFoRD-sTArENENT ol
= TWO UNION OFFICERS.
0 Major Bradford the commandant OF th'
troops. after the death Of MAJ. Booth, was fireC
on all the time be was making siguals Of sur
render. The rebel officers told him that be bad
il not 10 bis power TO surrender. The MAJOR
all the time being fred upon ran into the rive
aud swam out some forty yards. lie was still
a target for their rifles, but all failed 10 strik
bin. He was then order,d to return aud d.
: So and ran up the bauk. bis white haudker
chief 10 bis hand saying he had surrendere'
" the place; but the firing still continued wit
= the same result. be still remained unhurt. II
U ran in among the rebel soldiers 10 prevent fBl
I" ther use Of their muskets. There were severa
+ rebel officers present, looking on, and none in
ID terfered But. finding they bad 50 far fale
y 10 hit him. they at last took him in charge Ii
y was afterwards paroled TO the limits of th
camp But that sane night a. the rebels claiU
r be violated his parole and escaped This stor,
= however. does not correspond with that OF OF
Is er prisoners, who escaped from the conicd'
is crates after they had started from the vicnit,
is These latter say that Major Bradford was take
II out on the Hutche Bottom and was there e.
eCuted.
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