The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-04-20

1 lie steamer II pie Leaf, "u-ic sOIS up Tue
St Johns River, Florida, ran against rebel tor
pedo. which exploded, tearisg Of its bow and
sinking in ten minutes. Two sremen and two
OF the deck hands we're drowned, but the crew
aud passengers, 90 in number, we're saved.
The Committee on WAYS and Means estimate
that the new tax Dill will produce about $780,
900. coo revenue
The Virginia Convention for amending the
State Constitution adj 1urued, having adopted
resolution abolishing slavery in the State.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs
decided il ineIpedient to take any action on
the House resolution in regard to Mexico Al
present
Cairo, April il
Tuesday morning. Forrest, with some 5000
men. attacked Fort Pillow Soon after the at
tack, Forrest sent fAg Of truce demanding
the surrender Of the fort and garrison, mean
while disposing his force so az to gain decided
advantage.
Nj; Booth, OF the 9th Tennessee cavalry
we in command. with 400 OF that regiment and
POO of the lst Battalion 9th United States Heavy
ARTILLERY, formerly the } st Alabama cavalry, col
ored TIE flag OF truce was refused and fight
ing resumed. Afterwards second flag came in
~hich vas also refused Both flags gave the
rebels advantage in gaining new positions. The
battle vas kept up I'LL o'clock in the afternoon
~hen Msjor Booth was killed. Major Bradford
took command Tie reoes now came in swsrEis
OverpOwering our troops and compelling their
surrender Immediately upon the surrender en-
-ued scene which utterly flies description
Up to that time comparatively few OF our men
we're killed, bat, insatiate tends aud blood
thirsty a. devils incaruate, the COnfederates
commenced an indiscriminste butchery OF whites
AID blacks. including those OF both colors previ-
ously wounded. The black suldie,s, becoming
demoraized, rushed to the rear. White officers
having thrown down their arms both white and
black were bayOneted, shot or sabred even dead
bodies we're horribly muulated. Children of
and years. and several negro women were kill
ed in cold blood Soldiers unable to speak from
wounds, were shot dead, their bodies rolled
down the banks into the river. The dead and
wounded negroes we're piled in their huts and
burned, some OF them alive. Several citizens
Who joined our forces for protection, were killed
or wounded. Out Of the garrison of 600, OIL,
200 remained alive.
St Louis, April Is.
A correspondents Of the Union. who was
aboard the steamer Platte Valley at Fort Pillow
gives even more appalling descriptions OF the
hendshness of the rebels than our Cairo des-
patches Many OF our wounded were shot in
the hospital, and the remainder driven out and
The hospital burned. The morning after the
battle the rebels went over the field and shot the
negroes who had not died from previeus wounds.
few escaped from the works and hospitals
who desired TO be treated as prisoners OF var,
as the rebels said. They were ordered TO fall
INTO line when they were inhumanly shot down
Of $50 colored troops not more than sc escaped
massacre, and Lot one officer that commanded
survives. Ouly four officers Of the 9Th Tennes-
see escaped death. The loss Of the 18Th Tee
nessee vas SIS men killed, the remainder wound
I'd and captured Gen. halDers told this cor
espondent that, although il was against the pol
icy OF his government to spare negro soldiers
aud their fiji ers h,. bad dome ali ia his power
10 stop the carnage; at the same time he said
ne believed II was right. Another officer said
} our white troops would have been protected
, al they rot been found on duty with negroes.
The rebels endeAvored to conceal their oss
but it vas evident they suffered severely. Col
Reed, commanding a Tennessee regiment, was
MORALLY wounded. Two or three we'll filed hos
pitfalls we're short distance in the country.
Cairo, april ! ;.
Three other negroes we're burned alive at Font
Pillow, making FIVE in all. All we're wounded
out one, he was forced to help dig pits. lie
vas then thrown in and covered up. Chalmers
said to a Federal oficer the Platte valley
that il WAS their intention TO show no mercy to
home made Yankees, meaning southerners in
,be Union army, and negroes out genuine Van
KEGS would be treated as prisoners of war.
The great Sanitary Fair il New York is still
attracting large share Of attention all over the
country, and the IL dics,ions are that the tota
receipts will equal that of all the other Fair:
that have been held in The country combined
The receipts of the first week footed up over
5000 600 aud it is expected that the receipts the
present week will exceed those OF the last. Las
week 20. O00 persons visited the iair, and the
rush is iucreasing-34, 900 persons visited the
Fair in one day Daily the New York paper:
are filed with descriptions of ibis mammoth
Fair.
e 1t i divided into various departments, eact
2 of which has its attractions There is Fine
Art Department. and one for Arms aud TTo
piles. There is department for Machinery
from the largest engines down to braiding and
knitting machines The MethOdists have Ba
zaar Of their own. The Knickerbocker Kitch-
en- is an institution. But much interest at
taChes TO the sword contest between Mcclellan
aud Grant. sword of a certain description
IS 10 be given to the officer in the army who
shall receive the most votes at the fair. each
sot.r paying one dollar and voting as many
D more times as BE- has dollars to spare The
dollars are taken and the votes are entered in q
book fer the respective candidates. Ladies in
considerable numbers have participated in tbi.
voting without any backwardn' s., and can be
heard discu sing military affairs with much
spirit The latest report we have seen from
the polls was this: Total vote 1914 of which
Mcclellan has 1888, Grant 1886, scattering
40, leaving Mcclellan O 90 majority.
CHATTANOOGA, April Is.
All quiet at the front; no change in the sit