The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-04-22
Surrender of Fort Pillow.
BUTCHERY or OUR SOLDIERS.


Fort Pillow, above Memphis on the Mis-
sissippi, was attacked by FORESTS rebel force
on Tuesday morning. The rebels sent TWO
flags of truce at different times, during which
the fighting ceased and they gained advan-
tage of position. Our forces were under
command Of M4 jor Booth of the 18Th Ten
essee l. S. heavy artillery. formerly of the
LIST Alabama cavalry. The battle was kept
up until ?. NJ, when Major Booth was kill
ed and Major Bradford took command.
The rebels now came in swarms over our
troops, compelling them to surrender. In
mediateiy upon their surrender ensued i
scene which utterly battles description. Up
to that time comparatively fe. of our men
had been killed; but. insatiate as fiends, and
bloodthirsty as devils incarnaie, the confed-
crates commenced an indiScric:inate buichery
of whites and blacks, Including those of both
colors who had been previously wounded
The black soldiers, becoming dem0ralized,
rushed to the rear,-the white officers having
thrown down their arms Both black and
white were bayuneted, shot and sahred.-
Even dead bodies were horribly mutilated
and children OF seven or eight years, and
several negro women. killed IN cold blood.
Soldiers unable to speak from wounds were
shot dead, and their bodies rolled down the
banks into the river. The dead and wound
I'd negroes were piled in heaps and burned
and several citizens who had joined our
forces. were killed or wounded. Ou. Of the
600, but 200 remained alive.
Among the dead officers are Captain Brad
| 4
and Major Booth, all OF the 18th Tennessee
cavalry. MAJ. Bradford was also captured.
but is said 70 have escaped. It is feared,
however, that he has been killed
The steamer Platte Valley came up the
river at about 5! o'clock, and was hailed by
The rebels under flag of truce. Men were
sert ashore to'bury the dead and take aboard
such OF our wounded as the enemy had al
lowed 10 i've. Fitty-seven We're taken aboard,
including seven or eight colored soldiers who
died on the way up. The steamer arrived
at Cairo On Thursday evening, and was in
mediately sent 10 the Mound City hospital
to discharge her suffering cargo. Among
our wounded officers OF colored troops are
Capt. Porter, Lieut.. Libbetts ard Adiutant
Lemming.
Six guns were captured by the rebels and
carried off, including two lO-pouni Parrots
and two l2-pound howilzrrs \ large
amount Of stores Was destroyed or carried
away.
The intention Of the rebels seemed to be
to evacuate the place and move on, or to-
wards, Memphis.
iAiER FROM FORT PILLOW.
No boats nave been allowed TO leave Cairo
for points below Columbus since the first
news Of the Fort Pillow affair. The attack
on Paducah, on Thursday. proved 10 b. a
mere raid for piunder, made by couple Of
hundred men who were shelled out By the
fort and gunboats after occupying a portion
o, the city ii squads, about neon. They
left, taking away numbers II horses and con-
siderable pian1eT. and leaving behind about
six Ct their wounded No one was hurt on
our side. Several Of the guns captured by
Forrest at For; Pillow were spiked before
falling into his hands. and others were turned
upon grnboat No. :. which, having fred
some 800 rounds aad exhausted her ammu-
milton, Was compelled to withdraw. Although
hit. she received but Slight injury.
Five negro soldiers were buried alive at
Fort Pillow, two of whom worked themselves
cut of their graves and escaped All were
wounded but ore. He was forced 10 help
dig the pits. AID was then thrown in and
covered m. Many of cur wounte,! were
she! III the hospital. The remainder were
driven out ard H. hospital buried. On the
morning after the battle The rebels went over
the field, and SHIT tn negroes wiz had not
died f1om their wounds Many Of those
VINO had escaped from tn works and hospi-
tai, who desired to be treated as prisoners Of
war, as the rebels said. were ordered to fall
into line, and when they had formed, were
inhumanly shot down.