The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-27
THE FORT PILLOW MASSACRE.
Graphle Statement By an Eye Witness.


Graphic Statement b. an Eye Witness.
Edward B. Benton, a citizen, resident
Of Fort Pillow, who was present at the
inhuman massacre by the Rebel troops
under Forrest, at'Fort Pillow, was ex-
amined at Department headquarters on
Tuesday by Major Bond, A. D. c. The
testimony was taken by william
Thorpe, Esq, Photographic reporter, Of
St Louis, and is as follows;
In his testimony Mr.. Benton says he
IS native of Vermont, that he went to
Fort Pillow one year ago last July,
whore he owns 2l5 acres around the
fort, bordering on the river, and was
engaged at the time Of the fight in put
ting in q hundred acres Of cotton On
Tuesday morning, the 18th of the
month, he was aroused by q servant,
and told that Forests men were going
to take the fort lie got out Of his bed
and gained the fort by a circuitous
route. and took his stand with the sol
diers inside the breastworks, where he
remained and shot at every person Of
Forests men that he could get a
chance-fring forty-eight shots in all
until the flag of truce was sent in
The flag of truce was sentin about half
past one o'clock, after the first attack
and repulse. They used artillery, but
principally on the gunboats. After
the flag Of truce was sent in, they came
up on all sides to within ten yards Of
the very embankment that screened
the fort, and after tho refusal to surren-
der they commenced firing from their
nav positions Tho balance ofhis evi
dence we give in full
HOW The FORT WAS CAPTURED.
Q. The second flag that came in
about how long was it after the first
A. Well, there was no second flag of
truce-except the one There was no
firing in the interim.
Q. Was there no firing while the first
lag was inn A. No, sir; not single
shot was fired on either side After the
flag Of truce had been rejected, or the
surrender had been rejected, they were
50 close to the fort that about 5000 Of
them just sprang right in, and the
whole garrison threw down their arn-s
at once The greatest portion of the
darkieB jumped down the bank toward
the Mississippi river without any arms
at all, and were followed by FORESTS
men and shot Unfortunately, black
and white, with handkerchief held
ovet them in 4 great number Of in
stances-ss many as fifty l should
think,
NUMBERING TEB PRISONERS
@ Did you sec any of those prisoners
formed in line and shot down?
A Yes, sir.
@ How many? a. They were col
lected at least, l should think, FIVE or
six different times.
@ How long line? a. Well, twas
more in a collection than it was pro-
perly line In straight line. There
was line probably as long as this
room, or longer-about thirty to thirty
five feet.
Q. These lines were scattered by Re
bel shots several times? A. They were
Q. These men were unarmed2 A
Cnarmed. No arms of any description,
and they holding UP both hands beg
ging for quarters
Q We're you put in the line? 4. No
sir, l was not. 1t was attempted 10 put
me in line but | chung 70 q man who
tried to shoot me, but caught his gun
and prevented him, and he took my
money from me-some S10-and or
dered me into line, raising his gun to
strike me, and as l came to the line the
Captain made feint TO strike me with
his sword, and told me to give him my
pocketbook, which l did; and, as he
turned to look after others, l sprang
away, and chung close to the man that
had first taken my money. l said to
him that he had taken all my money
and he must keep me from being shot
like dog, IS | was citizen and had
nothing 10 do with the fight lie
abused me in every way ssoy bad Ian
guage, saying that we had fought them
like devils and tried to kill all OF For
rests men, until we came 10 the back
stores, where he gave me soldiers
coat ard told me to wait moment
until he could step in and steal his
share
As-soon as was left I took some
clothing, saddle blanket and halter
that were there, and started out of the
Fort as one of FORESTS men. but on the
way ! saw three persons shot-mulattoes
and blacks-shot down singly in cold
blood l succeeded in getting over the
Notifications and hid under fallen
timber, where l remained until dark.
After dark, attempted 10 20 toward
Hatchic River Bottom, but the fallen
timber being so bad, / got lost, and
wandered near the Pass No ,. leading
out of tho Fort inside Of it, where j
could see all, whore / laid until the
next day about o'clock I heard fifty
one or two shots fred singly at different
times within the fort during that time,
and screams and cheers.
BLOODHOUSDs OK THIS TRAN.
About o'clock tho dogs were get
ting so close to me that I knew they
We're on my track.
@ What do YOU mean by the dogs2
A Hunting out people everywhere.
They have dogs
q They had bloodhounds
A. Yes sir. l left the most Of my
clothing and FASTENED down a ravine
in the timber, and kept on through the
ravines till I came to the Cold Creek
Station some mile and half, and swan
across. Finally l succeeded in getting
Ia the Island had 10 swim across the
river and bayou That IS all saw
BURNING THEIR PRISONERS.
Oh was there ct the fort two DAYS
after the battle, and saw the remains
OF burned persons; helped TO bury one
Of the dead that I saw shot in cold
blood, lying where he was left; and saw
many OF them, white and black, buried
together, and a number thres DAYS
not buried
Q How many did yOu see shot in
thia wayY