Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-04-22

The Massacre Mt Fort Pillow
Will tho Government Redeem
its Pledges
One General Buford, at the head of Con.
fsderate troops, placed himself in front of
our Notifications at Columbus, and under .
flag of truce sent this infamous declaration to
the commander of that post: "Should l
be compelled to take the place, no quarter
will be shown to negro troops whatever"
He did not feel himself compelled to take
that place, thanks to the short decisive an
swer of the Colonel commanding. This same
rebel force, few hours after, appeared 5000
strong before Fort Pillow, garrisoned by 800
loyal Tennesseeans and 200 negro troops.
They demanded the surrender OF our forces
but were refused. They commenced an AS
sault but were repeatedly repulssd. Three
times our troops refused to surrender. When
At last the enemy appeared in full force on
the top of the breastworks, cur troops real
ized that they were to be overpowersd. The
threat of "no quarters to negroes" rang in
the ears Of the negro troops, and they DO
came terrified at the overwhelming numbers
of the enemy. They left their posts of duty
and sought shelter under the river bank
The entire force finally reached the river
bank and surrendered. Were they treated
as prisoners of war? No; they we're shot
down like brutes. They were entitled to
protection; they received death. Forty
NINE WHITE TROOPS WERE KILLED AND WOUND
ED AFTER THE SURRENDER. The negroes who
had taken refuge under the river bank were
shot As soon as discovered, notwithstanding
the surrender. After throwing down their
arms, after being overpowered by overwhelm.
ing odds. several small squads of neg oel
were drawn up in line and shot down. After
this the poor creatures would take refuge be
hind white men, when the rebels would fire,
frequently bringing down both white and
black. No attention was paid to the wound
ed, and the commonest dictates of humanity
were utterly d,sregarded.
Inside the works the most revolving spec.
tacle imaginable presented itself. The dead
and wounded were lying in heaps, writing
in agony, while from the consuming buildings
came forth the death shrieks of the burning
negroes.
Such are the facts as they reach US from
the mouths Of eye witnesses. Who were
those negroes, that they We're drawn up in
line to be shot down? Of what crime had
they been guilty that they must be hunted
and massacred2 They had sworn fidelity te
our flag, and were defending the flag, thu
country, aud the Liberties of white men
Who placed them there under instructions t
resist the assaults of their enemissi TIT
Federal government. Not many months agt
that government pledged its whole strength
to retaliate for the death and sale into bond
age Of black troops by rebels-to hang {
rebel for every black soldier killed contrary
to the usages of wsr--to put at hard labor I
rebel for every black soldier sold into slavery
Let that pledge be now redeemed. Let Their,
be no more trifling with the lives Of mel
who defend our liberties upon the battle field
as was the case after our assault upon For
Wagner. Let not our government Mt tremble q
the knees, but stand firm and punish THU
terrible butchery according to its just deserts
Let the boosted chivalry be taught to respec
not only our flag, but the occupants Of ou
uniforms.
What has that party in the North to 50,
about retaliation in kind - What has thu
50 called Democratic party to say about ex
raw N t;op