The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-04-27
THE FORT PILLOW MASSACRE.

We last week published an account of
the barbarous massacre of Union troops at
Fort Pillow, by tho rebel General Chalmers,
and the mon undcr his command. Certain.
ly, every person notat heart demon, must
have wished that the scene wero greatly
exaggerated but later account Is not only
confirm all previous reports but reveal new
atrocities committed by the rebels. And
the question has been raised by tho press
throughout tho country as to whether any
blumc attaches to our Government for this
butchery.
Certain is, that since the employment
of negro troops, they and their officers,
when taken prisoners, have boon summari
ly disposed of. White soldiers engaged in
battles, where negro troops fought and
were taken prisoners, have given we'll au-
thentcated accounts of tho murder Of the
latter or their return to slavery, whilc their
officers have in many cases been wantonly
murdered and the whereabouts of single
white officer of colorcd troops, who has
fallen into tho hands of the enemy, wo be-
licvc is not now known to our authorities
True, it may be said that no official, cred
tapo information has established these
facts; although they have been established
to the satisfaction ofall loyal private citizens.
Yet, has our Government demanded, and at
tented to enforce the demand, that our col
ored troops and thoir officers shall he treat.
ed as prisoners of war? We arc not aware
that any decided action has been taken in
the case. If then, tho rebels have horeto
foro been permitted to murder single pris.
oncrs or small squalls, with impunity, and
without retaliation on our part, may they
not have taken our indifference as u liconse
TO murderous operations on a larger soalo
And in such case, are our authorities free
from responsibility for this Fort Pillow
butchory?
For months past the opinion has boon
expressed hy many leading Union nowspa.
pers, that our Government was not dealing
justly by negro soldiers. Many thousands
OF negroes have hocn enlisted and nearly
If not all of thom optcrcd the service with
tho understanding that they were to receive
the same pay ms white troops, Yet after
they have been for months in tho service,
performing all tho dutos of white soldiers,
they have boen paid at the rate of only ton
dollars per month. Several negro regi.
ments have been for months in the service
,oHompay, because they would not receive
less amount than they were promised
when they enlisted. And q sergeant in one
regiment (the oath Massachusetts, wo be.
lievc) whoreGused TO serve longer because
he was not paid according to agreement,
was triod by court martial, sentenced to be
shot, aud was executed
Is this treating our negro soldiers as our
/ white ones are treated? Aud if our Gov
ernment docs not treat them thus, can it
consistently demand that the rebels shall
make no difference in their treatment of
black or white prisoners of war? Most as
surcdly not--and If such demand be made
while our present treatment of black sol.
diers continues, it will only be treated with
contempt,
The black soldier in tho field is required
to perform ms arduous Guties as the white
sodieri and every black man who enlsts
relieves white man from the rgors of mil
itary life. II seems to us, therefore, that
the payment of negro troops at the same
rate MS white ones, would be merely in com
plianco with the dictates of Justice and
sound policy and we believe it to be the
duty of the people to demond of their Re-
/ personalities in Congress the enactment of
a law providing for such payment. The
people should also demand that The murder
OF negro soldiers and their officers, no long,
CT be permitted without retaliation,
II ia due, however, to President Lincoln
to say, that at the opening of the Baltimor,
Sanitary Fair some days since, he STATED
that as soon MS positive information wa,
received that the Fort Pillow massacre wa.
as reported, retaliation should follow.
I When our Government adopts, and strict
y adheres to This course, then, and not til
then, will rebel atrocities ON negro soldier,
anu their officers cease 10 be committed.