Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-06
Report upon the Fort Pillow
Investigation,
A Damning Record Of Rebel Bru-
tality.
Ueparralled Scenes of Brutality.
An IndiscrlmInate and Whole
sale bUrdeF.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
FROM WASHINGTON.

| "A5AIhGTOAJ may b. r
The Republican has just issued an extra
containing the following important intel.
ligence:
We feel authorized 10 state, since it can
not now afford information to the enemy.
that the Army Of the Potomac has sdvsno
ed towards Richmond and that the strug-
gle for the possession Of the Rebel capital
ls begun. Our army moved on FuUedey
night and has now crossed the Rapidan
The crossing Was made at Jacob Culpep-
per, GermsniR and United States Ford,
and was effected without serious opposi-
ton.
General Lee has been compelled to fall
back from the strong position where he
has held US at bay all winter. Whether
he Will make stand this side Of the defen-
ces Of Richmond, we are not advised. 1t
is the opinion Of some that he will fight st
ChancellorsviIle. Every hour may now
bring US news of battle, but we are-iB-
olined to the belief that il wilt be foot
race for Richmo-d. The Rebel capital
will undoubtedly be asnked and invested
should Lees army occupy its defences and
the country may reasonably hope that this
time it will fall.
ment Of the death Of a woman employed
in the Treasury Department ssid to have
bsen procured by abortion. She recently
went to New York with friend, who it is
said procured the medicine for her. An
Investigation is now going on in the case.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Chandler, from
the Committee on Commerce. reported on
bill to prevent smuggling, which pro-
vides after the first day Of August next all
baggage and effects OF passengers and sll
all other articles coming into the United
States from any foreign country shall be
inspected, and If any dUtiable article shall
be found, the trunk, vslise or other envel
ope shall be Oonfscated. The same pro-
vision applies to car or vessel, provided
they may be released by the Secretary Of
the Navy upon payment Of dne. The
Secretary Of the Treasury is authorised to
appoint additional Inspectors Of Revenue
for the following districts:
Pssssmsqusddy, Portland, Falmouth,
E4stporS Boston and CbarlestOwn, Penn
bino, Chicago, eight; Sandusky, one |;
Cuyahogs, three; Erie, one; Dunkirk one;
Buffalo Creek, six; Niagara, two; Genes
see, two; Oswego, FIVE; Cbsmplain, four
To avoid inspection at the first port Of ar
rival the Secretary Of the Navy is autho-
rized to make regulations for sealing ves-
sells for their final destination, and the
master, or person in charge, is made guilty
Of felony for selling or disposing Of any
goods until inspected, punishable by fine
Of from $500 to 1000 and imprisonment
| from FIVE to six years. Unauthorized per-
sons removing the seal or fastening are
punishable by imprisonment for ten years
or fine offrom 81 900 to $4,000. The in
former is emitted to one-fourth Of the fine
collected and one eighth Of the net pro-
ceeJs of the sale of the forfeited vessel.
The following are extracts from the re-
port of the Committee on the Conduct Of
the War:
Although your Committee were instruct
| ed to inquire only in reference to the at
tack, capture, and massacre at Fort Pillow,
they have deemed it proper 10 take some
| testimony in reference to the operations
| of Forrest and his command Immediately
preceding and subsequent to that horrible
transaction. 1t will appear from tesi-
mony thus taken that the atrocities CON-
| mitted at Fort Pillow were not the result
/ Of passion resulting from the heat Of bat
tie, but plan deliberately decided upon
and uuhesitstingly announced. Even the
uncertainty of the fate of those officers and
men belonging to colored regiments, who
have heretofore been taken by the rebels
have failed to convince the officers of ou1
Government of the fact, the testimony
herewith submitted must convince the
most skepticsl that it is the intention Of
the rebel authorities not to recognize the
officers aud men Of our colored regiments
as entitled to the treatment accorded By
ell civilized nations to prisoners Of war.
The declaration of Forrest and his officers
both before and after the capture of For
Pillow, has been testified to by such of oul
men, ss have escaped after being taken by
him. The threats contained in the various
demands made at Paducsh, Columbus, and
=. other places, the renewal Of the massacre
the morning after the capture Of Fort Pill
low, the statements made by rebel officers
to the officers Of our guDbosts who received
the first survivors at Fort Pillow, all thil
proves most conclusively the policy they
have determined to adopt. 1t was at For
Pillow, where the brutality and cruelty o
the rebels were most fesrfully exhibited
The committee then detailed at length thu
capture of the fort and proceeded to say
Then followed q scene Of cruelty
and murd T without parallel in civilized
warfare, which needed but the tomshsWl
and scslping-knife to exceed the Wors
atrocities ever committed by ssvsges. Tht
rebels commenced an indiscriminat,
slaughter, sperinE neither age nor sex
white or black soldiers, or civilians. Th'
officers and men seemed to vie with esol
other in the devilish work. Men, Yomel
and children, wherever found, we're delib
erately shot down, beaten and hacked
some Of the children, net more than tel
years old, were forced to stand up an
face their murderers while being shot. Tn
sick and wounded were butchered withou
. mercy, the rebels even entering the hospi
tai building and dragging them out to b
shot or killing them as they Ia,
, there unable to help themselves. All owe
r the hill side the work Of murder was goin
on. Numbers Of our men were eolleete