The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-11
The Fort Pillow Naturalization
of Yankee Slanders.

OF Yankee S1anderS.
From Governor Isham G.. Harris, of
Tennessee, who accompanied, and has
jus: reached this city, in return from,
the expedition Of Forrest into West
Tennessee, we get the following true
version of the late attack upon Fort
Pillow. In view of the perverted ac-
counts of the Yankee papers, this off,
cial narrative Of the whole proceeding
will be found as interesting as it is ncces,
sary to vindcate the truth Of his
tory.
Arriving in the vicinity of Fort Pill
low, General Forrest having previously
arranged his, plans and issued bis in
structions for the attack, rapidly advan-
ced his lines, aud gained, after brief,
sharp contest, the outer works Of the
enemy. Having possessed himself Of
this position, he threw forward line Of
skirmishers, in sort of ravine between
the ouser works and the fort, which line
was protected from the Federal sharp
shooters by his reserve line in his outer
dcfcnces.
He then sent in a flag of truce to the
commander Of the garrison demanding
the unconditional surrender Of the fore
and garrison, with all the stores and
munitions, stating the advantage Of his
position, his determination to carry the
fort, aud announcing that if his demand
WAS not complied with, he did not feel
certain that he, himself, would be able
to control his men when they entered
the fort, after having been forced to
take the risks of assault.
Hearing, after the note was despatched
and before answer to it was received,
that the Fcderals believed the demand
for q surrender ruse dcguerre and that
Forrest, in person, was not in command
of the assalants-Gen. Forrest himself
role up within hailing distance, annaun,
ccd, to the enemy in person that be was
Gen. Forrest, and verbally demanded
the surrender.
\ reply was sent back, couched i'll
defiant language, declining to acccde to
the demand.
The assault was commenced, and i'll
five minutes after the bug lie sounded the
charge he fort was in possession of Cur
men. Our advanced skirmishcrs went
over the works pclI.mcll, all aroundFthcm,
each man lifting his fellow by the leg,
and mourning on the shoulders of their
comrades until the fort Was filel with
Confeicratcs.
! Col Booth, commanding the garrison,
was the first man killed and not an of
! fccr Of the negro regiments was left
; alive.
1t is true that few, black and white,
threw down their arms and made signs
of sun cnder--but at the same time the
men on eaci: side of them still retained
their arms and kept up q constant fire
and show of resistance. In the heat, din
aud confusion of fire at such close quar-
ters there WAS no chance for discrimina:
ton. In less than five minutes after
our men sealed the esplapade, the fort
was CLEARED Of the encwy, the main bo-
dy of whom fed to the edge of the river
leaving the fort colors still flying. At
the river they still kept up the fire, until
the number was fearfully reduced, and
until, as General Forrest states himself,
he absolutely sickned to witness the
slaughter. He ordered the firing to cease,
and dispersed his staff along the lines
with orders to that effect. 1t was next
to impossible to effect an immediate ces.
sation os the firing the enemy them
selves still fighting. General Forrest
! rode up and down the lines ordering the
men to cease firing, and finally stopped
the carnage. The survivors of the gar
rison were. all taken prisoners.
! The maximum aggregate force of the
Federal garrison was S00 About 500
were buried by Gen. Forests men.
About fifty Of their wounded were pa
rolled and sent upon gunboat to Mom-
phis. Two hundred prisoners were
brought away, and among the number
about thirty. negroes.
There is not the scmblance Of a sha.
dow cf truth III the Federal e1aggcra.
tions of Wholesale slaughter. The above
are substantially the facts ofthc capture,
coming directly and officially from tho
prominent actor in the bloody drama
Al4nta Contederacy.