Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1864-05-06

WAsHrNGr N, May 5.
Extract IRON report ol tie Commute on
CoaGucs II the War :--Although your
committee were instructed to inquire only
IN reference to the ATTACK, Capture and
massacre at Font Pillow, they have deemed
1t proper to take somc testimony in refer
ence to the operations Of Forrest and his
command. 1t will appear from the testi-
mony thus taken that the atrocities COM
United ut Fort Pillow were not tho result
Of passions excited by the heat Of conflict,
but were the results Of policy deliberate
ly decided upon aud unhesitatingy an
nounced. Even if tho uncertainty VI the
fate of those officers and mn belonging to
colored regiments, who have hereto
fore been taken by the rebels, have failed to
convince the authorities Of our Govern
ment Of this fact, the testimony herewith
submitted must convince even the most
skeptical that it is the intention Of the
rebel authorities not TO recognize the OH
GERS and men Of our coorcd regiments a.
entitled to the treatment accorded by all
civilized nations to prisoners Vi war.
The declaration Of Forrest aud his Off
GERS, both before and after the capture Of
Fort Pillow as testified to oy SUCH OF our
tncn as have escaped alter being taken by
nim the threats contained IN tnc various
demands fyr surrender made ut Paducah,
Columbus and other places; the renewals.
VI tho massacre the morning alter the
capture VI Feit Pillow the statements
made by rebel officers TO the officers OF our
gunboats VINO received the few survivors al
Fort Pillow, all this proves most concu-
siyely the policy they had determined To
adopt. 1t was at Fort Pillow the barbarl-
~ and cruelty u tic reoeis was most fear.
fully exhibited
The Committee then detailed at length
the taking Of tho Fort, AMI then proceed to
say there followed . scene OF cruelty and
murder without parallel IN civilized war
fare, Inch needed but the tomahawk and
seal ping knl.c to exceed the most strocious
ever committed by the sayages. Tue reb
els commenced an indlscriminate slaus liter,
sparIs neither age nor sex, white nor black
soldiers MOI civilians. The officers and men
seemed 10 vie with caca other III the devil
lsh work. Men women and children were
even found deliberately shot down, and
beaten and hacked with swords. Some vi
the children, not more than ten years old,
we're forced TO stand up aud lace t--r muir
dcrers while being shot.
The sick aud wounded were bn.chcred
without mercy, the rebels even cnteIio. the
hospital buildings, and deasg!ng them on!
10 shoot Or XIII them as they Lag there unable
10 oiier the least reDonstranec. Al. over the
nil side the work OF mud r was going GU.
Numbers Of our mea were c. Nec,cl together
IN iines or groups, and deliberately shG.-
Some were Shot while IL the river, while OH.
ers on the banks were ST, AID their bottles
kicked Tito the wa.sr, many af them sui
living but unable to make exsrtlous ~ saw
from drow4Is.. ecne Ut he ie-
bells stood upon The top vi l1e il er Il shoi
distance from its side aud cal.a TO our sJi-
Tiers 10 come up 10 tn IL, AID as they ap-
preached them snol III N down il cold bloOo,
and II their guns aor pistols missed iosc d
hem 10 stand thefe uutii they were asasn
prepared 10 tire. A! aso11d "eie head ctles
,f NO quarter No 4nat.,,! Eifitn damned
li9gets! bhuot them WI! !" AL h. a. K d
or uieicy were answered By the Most tic.
,aun:s aaG sDeers. some we're spaftd tor q |
] 4.e oLiy 10 be IL agdeIei ulder citCeias.aa )
II greater baruarl.y. no cruelty which tic
most neacish tnaigui.y Could de.s. H. |
,aiiiIed % these ilu.Gege.s.
he leg So IS 10 be usac!a To wax, VS. |
made 10 stand up Willie his !or.aeD.sv, sat- |
,im. Offers y 40 ae.o wouaeed aud une.
bic 80 stand up were held up and again !
not. Unc negro w-o tad oeen oi0cecu ,
~ rebel III ser 10 ao.d BIS ho,se WA Lii;-
- ~ lim Hnel be demonstrated. Aa0tL. |
II, mere cn:ia, @loM an officer lad laac, |
Up behiBi l.sn Ell Lis horse, was scea by |
JDa lncIs, wuo st eIce I'D red him 10 put
llm do1n aud sao9t Iin, which was done. |
Ine Gu.s and tents 10 winch n2uy vi the |
soundsd had seusa, shelter, were set Oh
lie BON Tat nigh and neas night anl
XXI ;aoFnius, @nie tac wound. q ~ei.
Eli 10 slen, these oaiJ escaping " no were
'oie ~ get tt m.eiyes out, Or WHO c0uiu
'revsli on Others less Injured to hep them
ut and even sotne vi tuese thus seeking
0 escape the flames were met By these rul
ians aud shot down or had their brains
eaten out. Oae man was deliberately
sstened down to tbs floor Of tent, face
pwards by means Of nails driven through
is clothing aud into tue boards under him,
D that be could not possibly escape, and
hen the tent was set on fire. Another
- nailed to the side Of building outside
the fort and then the building set on fire
I'd burned. The charred remains Of Tvs
: six bodies were afterwards found, all
ut one SO much dis6gured and consumed
? the flames that they could not be ideu-
fed. and the Identification Of that one is i
u absolutely certain, although there can
Irdly be . doubt IL was the body Of Lieur.
Ibeftson, Q. n. Of the 18th W. cavalry,
ID I native Of Tennessee. These deods Of