New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-06

TUT FORT PILLOW DADDARIIY'
RepOEtOfthe Investigating Committee
aEARr-sicKENlNo DETAILS
The Sick and Wounded Murdered.
COsd.Rloodea slaughter Oh
Charmed Nacn.
lpuCRlEG SCENE IN FORT PICKERING.
he Tag of Fort Pillow Presented to the
Remnant Of the Garrison.
y Thrilling srseoh to the Soldiers by
the Widow Of TIajor Booth.
An Gath 20 Avenge the Massacre
WASHINGTON. Thursday, May 5, 1854

to-day:
The Joint Committee on the Conduct ana EXPen!u.,
INES Of DE War to whom was referred the resonon
al Coucfess instructing them 10 investigate t0 "'V
massacre 20 Fort Pillow. designated TWO mcmDeI' ~,
The Commitiee Messls wade ana uooen, 10 &
70 such places they might deem necessary ana tdh
testimony That Subcommittee having nl'c-.I tSu
that duty returned to this city and slun1cd TO TIE
Committee a report with the accompanying papers anu
,ostiurnv The rrrort was read and adopted by Inc
Comm Zee whose chairman instructed TO sahin
The same Will the testimony to The Senate ana ask The
'"''' gifoRr OF THE sUB-coNAnrTE.
Nossre Wnde and GoOch. the sub-t ommttee ap'
pointed by tie Joint Committee on Inc CONQUER on que
war with instructions 20 proceed TO sueh points 's
theg might deem necessary for The purpose 81 lhhg
testimony in regard 10 tie massacre az fot IlNoW'
submitted tbe following report TO tle JOINT Nonulttce
tolctAer with the accompanying testimony ana peiS'
In obedience 10 the instructions Of the JOni CCMml,
Zee adopted tie 18th ult., your Committee len ASH
SenOgrapLer of this Committee and proceeded To caro-
AID Mound City. Illinois. Columbus KENTUCKY ana
Memphis Tennessee at each of which places they pro
SccGcd 20 take testimony.
Although your Committee were instructed to inquire
oy in reference 20 The attack, capture and massacre al
Fort Pillow they have deemed ii proper 70 take some
testimony in reference 70 the operations Of Forrest end
his command Immediately preceding ana subsequent 10
that horrible transaction.
III win appear from testimony thus taken that the
atrocities committed at Fort Pillow were hot the result
Of passions excited by the heat Of conflict but were re-
sus Of policy deliberately decided upon ana Ih.esl-
fatngiy announced. Even II the uncertainty o te dte
81 these officers and men belonging TO colorcd regiments
WHO Lave heretofore been taken prisoners by the Rebels
las failed to convince the authorities OF our Government
oIts feet the testimony herewith submitted must con-
vince the most keptical that is the Intention o.
nc Rebel authorities MOI 20 recognize the officers and
men Of our colOred regiments as entitled 10 tie treat
inent accorded by all civilized nations TO prisoners o.
war. - - 800,
The declaration Of Forrest and his officers, both be-
fore and after tAe capture Of Fort Pillow as iesillcd 70
hy snch Of our have escaped after being taken
by him: the threats contained ia the various demdaS
fOI surrender made az Paduoah, Columbus ara oihtr
places: the renewal Of the massacre on the morning
after the capture OF Fort Pillow; the statements made
hy the Rebel officers 10 the officers of gunhOais,
WHO received the few survivors at Font Pillow All this
proves most concusiyely tie policy The have deter
mined 10 adopt.
upon Union CITY Tennessee, by portion 81 Forrest
command. The attack made on the &fth OF NaIch
under Col HaV klns VI tie llth Tennessee Ihoh Cav
alrv Tie attacking force was superior III NUMBERS
but vas Iopnlsed by own forces. For the phltSu
ls Of the attack and the circumstances attending Inc
surrender your Committee would refer to the testimony
submitted Iley would state however, that II WOMB
by nearly if quite all the officers OF Col Hawkins
command. YOur Committee think the circumstances
connected with the surrender such that they demand
The most searching CATION 10y tie maTy author
tiles At tie time Of the surrender but one man on our
size Was injured.
On the .ssh Of March, the enemy. under the Rebel
Generals Forrest Buiord and Thompson, estimated at
over GOO men. made an attack on Paducah ny,
which poet was occupied by Col 5 G.. Hicks Of the 40th
Illinois Regiment, With 90 men. Our forces retired
into Fort Anderson and there made tleir stand, as
sisted BY gurboais belonging 70 the command OF
Capt SLirk Oi the navy, successfully repelng me at
tack OF the enemy. fanng 10 make any impression on
our forces Forrest demanded an "UncOnditional sur
render" closing Lis communication 10 Col Hicks IN
these words If you surrender You shal DC eated as
prisoners OF war butf have 10 storm your VOTES you
may expect 10 quarter" THIS demand aud threat were
met by refusal the part OF Col Hicks 10 surrender
he stating that lie had been placed there by his Govern
ment 10 defend that post, and he should DO Tie
Tchcls made three other assaults that day. but were
reDusod with heavy loss each time the Rebel General
h0i n
retired next day having suffered loss estimated al
900 10 100 wounded. The loss on our side was IA
Tho operations of the enemy at Paducah were char
,cfcrZed by the same bad faith and Tcdclcy That seem
70 ave become the settled policy Of Forrest and his
command. The flag OF truce was taken advantage Oi
there clseW here 10 secure desirable positions which
Tie Rebels unable 10 obtain by fair and honorable
means. and also 20 afford OlpO tun'es iol Iluideilne
rrivafe stores as well as Government property. Al
iadoeah the Rebels were guilty Of acts more co~rdly
II possible than any they have Irscuced eseW mere;
Wien the attack was made the officers Of the fort and
CuubOats advised the and children 10 60 down
10 lie river for tie purpose OF being taken across oui o.
danger.
thew were leaving the town for that purpose the
tharpshOoicrs mingled with them, end, shielded by
tier presence, advanced and fired upon the gnDoats'
WouDdng some Of our officers and men. Ou FORCES
could not return tie fire without endongellne the
lives Of the women and children. Inc Rebels
also placed women and children ia front of their lines
they moved on the fort were proceeding 70 take
positions, while the flag Of truce wae at Tie fort ID
order to compel our men 10 Withhold their ire ont oil
AtsdlN iOI lNts OF lAc NDNtH NiiO N'Ic h'i' "o
al Ia TINS most cOwaIdly manner lO more iu detahs
az tue attack and trCacheIOus and cOwaIdly practices
OF e Rebels there yOuT Committee refer 10 the ties IL
nlony herewith submitted.
Onthe 18th Of April the day after the capture Of Fort
Pillow the Rebel Gen. BufOrd appeared before Colum-
bus ny, ana demanded It's unconditional surrender.
lie coupled with that demand threat that if the place
was not surrendered and lie should DO compelled to at
lack IL no quarter whatever should be shown 10 the
EIo troops. 10 this, Col. Lawrence IN command Of tie
1Ot iepcu mat Tie surrender out OF the ques ton
a. Le had been placed there by lis Government TO hold
0rd defend TIE place, and should 10 So No attack
Nas made but the eneuIy retired having taken nd.
Union citizens which had been brought in there for Sc
cuIity.
Il was at Fort Pillow, however the brutality and
cruelty Of the Rebels were most feaIfully exhibited
y he garrison there according to the last returns re
oeNed et headquarters. amounted TO 70 officers and e
tqiisted men, OF whom .tz men we've coloIed troops
COMPRISING one bata Of the 9th t. 5. Heavy Artil.
Lery, formerly the LIST Alabama Artillery of colorcd
f.o0ps under the command VI Major L. L. Booth one
section Of tie cd L. 5. Light Artillery (cclorc AID one
battalion Of the 18th Tonnes &c Cavalry (Whe) com.
handed by MGor 4. L. Bradford MAJOR Booth wac the
ranking officer and was IL command Ci Tue iogt.
ON Monday the 18th Of pr, the anniYeisary OF the
Stack ON Fort Sumter III April ls6l The pekes Of the
trrisOn were driven in jud before snilse that being
~, rst intaton on force there had Of any intention
on he part Of the enemy 10 attack The place Fighting
soon became general ana abont o'clock Major Brad.
ford succeeded TO the command and Withdrew all the
E,ces within the fort They had previously occupied
rome iDtTenchments at some distance from the Tort
and fartl,r from the river The fort was situated on
high bluff which descended precipGtely 10 the MYERS
edge the RIDGE the bluff the river side being GOV
cred with tyees bushes and fallen timber E1teldiDg