The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-05-10
THE FORT PILLOW AFFAIR.
Refutation of Federal ISLANDERS.
From the Atlanta Confederacy.


From Gov Isham G. Harris of Tennessee who
accompanied and has just reached this city, in re-
turn 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 accounts of the Yankee papers, this off,
cial narrative of the whole proceeding will be
found as interesting it is necessary to vindlcae
the truth Of history.
Arriving in the vicinity of Fort Pillow, General
Forrest, having previously arranged his plans and
issued his instructions for the attack, rapidly ad-
vanced his lines, and gained, after brief, sharp
contest, the outer works of the enemy. Having
possessed himself of this position, he threw for
ward line of skrmishers in a sort of ravine be-
tween the outer works and the FORT which line was
protected from the Federal sharp-shooters by bis
reserve line in the outer defences
He then sent in flag of truce to the command
er of the garrison, demanding the unconditional
surrender of the fort and garrison, with all the
stores and munitions, stating the advantage of his
position his determination to carry the fort, and
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 enter
ed the fort, after having been forced to take the
risks of assault.
Hearing after the note was despatched, and be-
fore an answer to it was received, that the Fede-
rails believed the demand for surrender ruse de
guerre, and that Forrest, in person, was not in
command of the assailants-Gen. Forrest himself
rode up within hailing distance, announced to the
enemy in person that he was Gen. Forrest, and
verbally demanded the surrender
A reply was sent back, couched in defiant Ian
guage, declining to accede to the demand.
The assault was commenced, and in five minutes
after the buge sounded the charge, the fort was
in possession of our men. Our advanced Skin
mshers went over the works pell-mell, all around
them, each man lifting his fellow by the leg, and
mounting on the shoulders of their comrades, un-
til the fort was filled with Confederates.
COL Booth, commanding the garrison, was the
first man killed, and not an officer of the negro
regiments was left alive.
1t is true that few, black and white, threw
down their arms and made signs Of surrender; but,
at the same :ime, the men on each side of them
still retained their arms and kept up constant
fire and show of resistance. La the heat din and
confusion of fire at such close quarters, there
was no chance for discrimination In less than
five minutes after our men scaled the esplanade,
the fort was cleared of the enemy, the main body
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, Gen. Forrest states himself
he absolutely sickened to witness the slaughter.
He ordered the firing to cease, and dispersed his
staff along the lines with orders to that effect 1t
next to impossible to effect immediate ces-
sation Of the firing; the enemy themselves still
fighting. Gen. Forrest rode up and down the
lines ordering the men to cease firing, and finally
stopped the carnage. The survivors Of the garri-
son were all taken prisoners.
The maximum aggregate force of the Federal
garrison was 500. About 500 were buried by
Gen. Forests men. About fifty of their woun-
ded were paroled and sent upon a gun boat to
Memphis. 200 prisoners were brought away, and
among the number about thirty negroes.
There is not the semblance of a shadow of truth
in the Federal exaggeratons of wholesale slaugh-
ter. The above substantially the facts of the
capture, coming directly and officially from the
prominent actors in the bloody drama
Soldiers tell that it is utterly impossible for off,
GERS to prevent the from Staying negroes found in
arms with the yankees.