The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-04-22
The Massacre -, fo,, pa,cv

The Massacre ~ Fort PHrw. FL
A correspondent of the st. Louis
Democrat, who was on boad tho steam
or Platte Valley, gives a detailed de.
scriptioh Of the massacre at Fort
Pillow. We quote rs follows;
THE ASSAULT AND CArrCRg or THE
FORT
We have glcmol the ficts Of the
fight from authentic sources, aud they
may he relied upon ~ truthful. The
rebels, under Forrest, appeared and
drove in the pickcts, about sunrise
on Tuesday morning Tho garrison
of the fort, consisted Of about two
hundred Of the 18th Tennessee Vol
untcers, and four hundred negro ar
tillcry; all under command of Major
Booth. The gun-boat No. {, was al
so in the river. ro
The rebels first attacked tho two
outer forts, and in several attempts
to charge, were rcpulsed They were
constantly re- enforced and extended
their lines to the river, on both sides
Of the fort. Tho garrison in the two
outer forts were at length overpow-
cred hy superior numbers, and about
noon evacuated them, and retired to
/ the fort on the river.
: Here the fight was maintained with
great obstinacy, and continued till
about 1 G clock, T.. NJ The approach
I ID the fort from the rear, is over n
gentle dccliyity. cleared. and fully
teXposed to a ral>ing fire from two
sides of the fort
About thirty yards from the fort is
n deep ravinc, running all along the
front, and so steep at the bottom, as
to be hidden from the forts, md net
commanded by its guns. The rebels
charged with great boldncss down
the dcclivity, anil faced, without
blanching, u murderous fire from the
guns and small arms Of thc fort. and
crowded into the ravine, where they
were sheltered from fire by the steep
bank, which had been thus left by
some unaccountablc neglect or igno.
rance Here the rebels organize for
Il final charge upon the tort, after
sending flag Of truce, with de.
mand for surrender, which was re
fused. The approach from the ra-
vine, was through deep narrow gul-
ly, and the steep cmbankments of the
fort. The last charge was made
about 4 j. NJ, by the whole rebel
force, and was sItccssfil, after q most
desperate defense.
The rebel army was estimated at
from 1000, to 1000; and succeeded
i bv mare force Of fnun5ers. The gun
boat had not been idle, but, guided
by signals from the fort, poured up.
on the rebels n constant stream OF
shot and shell. She fired 260 shells
and rs testified to by those WHO coult
see. with marvellous precision and fa.
tal effect, Major Booth, who was kill
cd near the close ofthe fight, conduct
ed the defense with great coolness
; skill and galllntry. His last sirnal
to the boat, was, 1--WE are hard press
ed and shall be ovcrpowered." II,
refused to surrender, however, an,
fought to the last BY the uniform
and voluntary testimony of the rebe
: officers, as well rs the survivors o
the fight, that the negro artillcr,
regiments fought with the bravery
and GOODNESS OF veterans and scrvec
the guns with skill and precision. -
They did not falter nor finch unit
the last charge, when it was cviden
they would he ovcrpowered, the,
broke and fed toward the river, ant
here commenced the most barbarou
) and cruel outragcs that ever the fen
dishness of rebels have perpctrate,
during the war.