The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-04-29
Our Army Correspondence.
IN rEhESTHNG LETTER RROw
MISSOURI.
HASTY "PACK UP"-FALSE ALARM
FORT PILLOW MASSA GRE -REBEI .AR-
BARITlES CONFIRMED-MR cATry
CARTS PLANTATION

Sr. LOUIS, Mo, April 10, 1864
To the Editor Of the Pioneer:
On Sunday night, while most of the regi-
ment were at Church, an order was received
to pack up" from headquarters. few men
were 10 bed those few jumped up in a great
hurry and packed up everything for travelling.
Soon after, all the things, tents, cooking
utensils, etc, were overhauled, and every de-
ficiency was put down on the requisition to the
quartermaster. This done, the excitement
died away for that night, and all retired, ex-
pecting to be OFF next evening at the farthest.
In the morning every one rose with the expec-
tation of having Forests scalp before next
Sunday night, and a packing of old clothes
to send of was the order Of the day. Pack
ages big and small were seen all day on their
way to the Express office, Qor which they do
charge.) We are consequently light laden and
ready for race With Forrest CT any other
man."
The Colone, has been Pun ulchasing new war
mare for the occasion. 1t is Il beautiful animal,
rather Of a cream color, splendid traveller,
ard has been learned to ''go ahead =" and .eycr
backward. "Baldy" has the right kind of stud
now. / presume the boys can keep w with
her in the tong run.
l was down the river during the battle ut
Fort Pillow, and arrived at that place the next
morning with the esunboat No. e, which boat
was towed up from Memphis on the steamer
Plato Valley, Gu Ftich / was passenger.
The first we knew Of it was by the dispatch
boat, at about l.. NJ. OF the 18th, which was
On her way TO the port of Memphis. After ar
irving within ten miles OF Fort Pillow the two
boats separated, and we were ordered to follow
on in the wake Of the gunboat, which We did
until the No. 28 opened on he rebels. whtn
the Platte was stopped.
The gunbOat continuing her cCurse a5scd
Fort Pillow, aud turned down again. iring
shell into them, but no answer was received
from the shore. Soon flag of truce was seen
winding down the steep hills, in answer
white aag was displayed from the jack staff of
the No. % Our boat then pushed ON up
stream to pass under The truce piching up
wounded ard strasglers Of our army off a flas
boat and in canoes two ladies came off in a skif
from Fort Pillow. After taking these on
board we started for up river, when ws we're
ordered back by the whistle of the guniva.,
whereupOD We landed and secured She
wounded
took particular pains to lOoH ut tbs Cb.V-
airy" on shore. Gen. Chalmers was as proud
as peacock over this murder which lie so
bravely conducted He considered il 1 great
victory. They were seca to pursue one of
our cavalrymen up the hill aud shoot him Of
the boats. It vac ordered after q while 20
send ashore the detachment of the Seventh
Minnesota, to bring the wounded on board.
We were glad Of the opportunity TO visit She
battle field. Dead bodies Of cOlored trooDs
were laying around very thick, all along Tie
road to the fort, nearly all shot through the
head After reaching the fort VIC had % good
view Of everything. Rebels were scarce, nut
murdered men plenty. The greatest cruelty
was the burning up of our wounded soldiers.
I saw three. who were said to have been
dragged into the fire. was also surprised at
the treatment of the rebels by our officers on
board of tho Platte Valley. Everything went
Oh as If there was a grand bail going on ard
on each side of the hurricane deck was heard
eu0 {, tOdAinSS VI cut WCunUeQ graves a lazy
was heard to ask for s. pistol TO shoe, down
Gen. Chalmers 1t vas well, probably. that
one was not at hand, as it might nave been a
further massacre en- this boat. The rctoIs
were very we'll clothed, probably from the
Quartermasters' Department at Fort Pillow.
They were in rebel uniform as far as coat an,
pants You probably have copied or read the
account Of this massacre in the Missouri lOe-.-
ocrat, which Is as true as you can get it The
affair cannot be exaggerated.
see MIR. j. w. Cathcart Of ST. Paul has
farm Of a thousand acres and nearly all ready
for seed, six miles from Vicksburs, across the
river. He has eighty negroes to work, aud lad,
on the 10th, thirty plows in operation But
no thinks it is rather ''skittish, there.
Guerillas are pretty numerous around ais
neighborhood,
We are ordered to leave in two hours It
remains to be seen whether we go or not You
will know. e. S. L. OF THE SENENrH.
Headquarters, District of Minnesota.
OEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHwESr(
St. Paul, Mimi, April rs, 1864.