Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-04-28
Rebel Atr0city.

We last week called attention to the
accounts from Fort Pillow. The accounts
| then received are more than sustained. -
Apt as reports are to be magnided, yet
this atrocity was so stupcndous in its pro-
portions, so horrible in its details that for
once reality outstrippcd imagination. -
Juarmed prisoners of war slain in cold
blood by bullet, bayonet and by sword
were denied even the mockcry of battle
field trench but tumbled headlong down
| the banks Of the river to be washed off by
the current or rot on its brink, others
were thrown into piles of wood and lum-
Der and burned to cinders or ashes as mi eht
happen. Some were hastily covered up
in bitches dug by the negro soldiers who
had succeeded in escaping the first burst
of this infcraal murder, when they shared
the same fate with those whom they had
just buried, after first having dug the
trench which was to hold themselves
Demoniac barbarity had not been satia-
ted by the murder of the men who had
met these demons in honorable warfare.
The negro women too had to fall victims
to this same spirit of butchcry and the re-
fnemcnt of the internal spirit was cxh;b-
tied in some instances by mailing living
men to boards and throwing them into
the burning heap.
This is not the first instance of atrocity
exhibited by these rebellious traitors
though. it is the greatest which has been
openly manifested President Lincoln
in his address at the opening of the Ma
ryland State Fair, alluding to this afro
cious affair, promises that "rotribution
shall surely be given The loyal people
of this country expect "retribution, am
pie and speedy retribw'oa, and will be sat-
isfed with nothing less, not only for this
Wholesale outrage. but indemnity fer
the past and security for the futnre."
But this is not the only or the worst
outrage committed either by the order or
with the connivancc of the rebel author
tiles This rebellion has been character
lied from its very commencement by acts
of vandalism and barbarism without any
parallel in the history Of the present cen
fury III any war carried on by civilized peo-
pie. 1t has remained for JEFF. Davis and
his minions to develop the replacement of
savage cruelty and decilish inhumanity.
If President Lincoln and his Cabinet are
in doubt on this subject. must investigate
and have proof they have only to visit
the Hospitals at Baltimore, there they
will see hundreds of victims of syste-
matte plan more diabolic in its operation
and effects than the massacre at Fort Pill
low.
1t is needless for us to tell the country
that six months since the rebels refused
to exchange prisoners on futile pretext.
that we had the largest number of pris-
oners in our hands. The campaign for
the year was virtually over and they be-
lieved they had nothing to gain by the
exchange and they refused all honest and
honorable terms of exchange, Now mark
the cold-blooded, calculating and diabol-
zeal villainy of the scheme, They were
considered everywhere to be hard up for
provisions and clothing. They could by
holding our men as prisoners at Rich
mond, BY cold, BY starvation, by filth and
vermin exiinguish during the winter many
live. er en,,ssehliers enthe plea 'tat ours