Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-05-26
THE FORT PILLOW MASSACRE.
REpoRT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE Con-
DUCT OF THE WAR.

and Expenditures of the War, to whom
was referred resolution of Congress in
structing them to investigate the late
massacre at Fort Pillow, designated two
members of the Committee, Messrs.
Wade and Gooch, to proceed forthwith
to such places as they might deem neces-
sary and take testimony That the Sub
Committee, having discharged that duty,
returned to this city and submitted to
the Joint Committee report, with ac-
companying papers and testimony. The
report was read and adopted by the Com
mittee, whose Chairman was instructed
to submit the same, with the testimony,
to the Senate and ask that the same be
printed.
REpoRTs OF THE SUB COMMITTEE.
Messrs. Wade and Gooch, the Sub
Committee appointed by the Joint Com
mittee on the Conduct and Expenditures
of the War, with instructions to proceed
to such points as they might deem neces-
sary. for the purpose of taking testimony
in regard to the massacre at Fort Pillow,
submitted the following report to the
joint committee, together with accompa-
nying testimony and papers,
In obedience to the instructions of this
Joint Committee, adopted on the 18th
ultimo, your committee left Washington
on the morning of the 10Th, taking with
them the stenographer of this Committee,
and proceeded to Carlo and Mound City.
ILL.,, Columbus, KY, and Fort Pillow and
Memphis, Tenn, at each of which places
they proceeded to take testimony
Although your committee were instruct
ed to inquire only in reference to the at
tack, capture and massacre at Fort Pill
low, they have deemed it proper to take
some testimony in reference to the oper-
ations of Forrest and his command imme-
diately preceding and subsequent to that
horrible M; acre.
1t will appear from the testimony thus
taken that the atrocities committed at Fort
Pillow were not the result of passions
excited by the heat of conflict, but were
the results of a policy deliberately deci-
ded upon and unhesitatingly announced.
Even if the uncertainty of the fate of
those officers and men belonging to color
cd regiments who have heretofore been
taken prisoners by the Rebels has failed
to convince even the most skeptical that
it is the intention of the Rebel authorities
not to recognize the officers and men Of
our colored regiments as entitled to the
treatment accorded by all civilized ma
tions to prisoners Of war.
The declarations of Forrest and his
officers both before and after the capture
of Fort Pillow, as testified to by such of
our men as have escaped after having
been taken by him, tie threats contained
in the various demands for surrender
made at Paducah, Columbus and other
places, the renewal of the massacre the
morning after the capture of Fort Pillow,
the statement made by the Rebel officers
to the officers of our gunboats who re-
ceived the few survivors at Fort Pillow
all this proves most conclusively the poll
cy they have determined to adopt.
The first operation of any Importance
was the attack upon Union City, Tennes-
see, by portion of Forests command
The attack was made on the 24th of
March. The fort was occupied by a
force of about five hundred men, under
Colonel Hawkins, of the Eleventh Ten
nessee Union Cavalry. The attacking
force was superior in numbers, but was
rcpulsed several times by our own forces
For the particulars Of the attack, and the
circumstances attending the surrender,
your committee would refer to the testi-
mony submitted. They would state,
however, that it would appear from the
testimony the surrender was opposed by
nearly, if not quite all, the officers Of
Colonel Hawkins command. Your COM
mittee think the circumstances connected
with the surrender are such that they de-
mand the most searching investigation by
the military authorities, as at the time of
the surrender, but one man on our side
had been injured. .r.
On the 25th of March, the enemy, un-
der the Rebel Generals Forrest, Buford,
Harris and Thompson, estimated at over
six thousand men made an attack on
Paducah, Kentucky, which post was oc-
cupied by Col. S. G. Hicks, + >rtieth ILL.,,
Regiment, with six hundred and fifty-fvc
men. Our forces retired into Fort Ander-
son, and there made their stand, assisted
by some gunboats belonging to the COM
mand of Captain Sheck, Of the Navy,
successfully repulsing the enemy. Fail
ing to make any impression upon our
forces, Forrest then demanded an uncon-
ditional surrender, closing his commune
cation to Colonel Hicks in these worlds
"If you surrender you shall be treated as
prisoners of war, but if / have to storm
your works you may expect no quarters"
This demand and threat was met by
refusal on the part of Colonel Hicks to
surrender, he stating that he had been
placed there by his Government to defend
that post, and he should do so. The
Rebels made three other assaults that
same day, but were repulsed with heavy
loss each time, the Rebel General Thomp-
son being killed in the last assault. The
enemy retired next day, having suffered
loss estimated at onethousand to twelve
hundred wounded. The loss on our side
was fourteen killed and forty-six woun-
ded. .
The operations Of the enemy at Padu-
cab were characterized by the same bad
faith and treachery that seems to have
become the settled policy of Forrest and
his command. The flag of truce was
taken advantage of there, as elsewhere,
to secure desirable positions, which the
Rebels were unable to obtain by fair and
honorable means, and also to afford OPP
portunities for plundcring private stores,
as well as Govr.ment property. At
Paducah the Rebels were guilty Of acts
more cowafdly. If possible, than any they
have practiced elsewhere. tstg
When the attack was made, the officers
of the fort and Of the gunboats advised
the women and children to go down to
the river for the. purpose Of being taken
across the river out Of danger. As they
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