Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-04-19

his men and cut another with his saber who
were shooting down prisoners. 1t may be
80, but he Is responsible for the conduct of
his men, and General Chalmers stated pub
licly, while on the Platte Valley, that
though he did not encourage or counten-
ance his men in shooting down negro cap
tives, yet that it was right and justfflable.
Captain Young, oath Missouri, Provost
Marshal at the fort, was captured, and was
out on his parole. He was at the boat, and
while there the Lady Pike, from ST. Louis,
came up, with his wife aboard. He was al
lowed to 60 into the boat to see her, and
then returned to his captors. Major Brad
ford was also captured, and at large ON his
parole. The rebel officers denounced him
for breaking his parole, and say that atduring
Tuesday night he escaped 1t Is believed
that the rebels killed him, and that the
charge of breaking his parole Is mere pre-
tense to conceal his murder.
Captain Lindsay, a rebel officer, to whom
Lam indebted for courteous attention, adj
mitted to me that Gen. Forrest was slightly
wounded, and had horse killed under
him but another rebel officer informed
friend of his, who was on the boat with us,
that General Forrest was twice wounded,
and badly, by the bursting Of shell.
The rebels claim to have but only ten
Young, who has been to their camp, says
that they have two hospitals well filled, and
he thinks their killed and wounded exceed
ours.
When visited the fort the guns had all
been taken away. The huts scattered
around had mostly been burned up. In one
of these were bodies of colored soldiers
partly burned, but whether or not by de-
sign cannot state.
DIR. Fitch, surgeon of the fort, was taken
prisoner, and through the influence of some
rebel surgeons was released on his parole
and came up with us. He confirms, from
his own personal observation, the butchery
of our soldiers by the rebels. He informed
me that after the fort was taken the soldiers
ran down the bluff to The river, throwing
away their arms. holding up their hands,
and crying out that they surrendered, but
the rebels continued to fire on them from
the bluff without the least regard for their
cries. DR.. Fitch says he saw twenty white
soldiers paraded In a line on the bank of the
river, and when in line the rebels fired up
on and killed all but one, who ran to the
river and hid under log, and in that con-
dition was fired at number of times and
wounded. He says Mai. Bradford also ran
down to the river, and after he told them he
had surrendered, more shan fifty shots were
fired at him. He then jumped into the riv-
er and swan out q little way, and whole
volleys were fired at him there without hit
ting him. He returned to the shore, and
meeting, as the Doctor supposes, some Off
Ger, was protected; but he heard frequent
threats from the rebels that they would kill
him, and he believes that they have killed
him.
The rebel officers were generally well
clad, but had very little to distinguish them
from the privates. General Chalmers had
simply black feather in his hat, and the
other officers stripes on their collars. Their
horses also were in fine condition and much
better than ours.
1t was stated by some of the rebel officers
that they had only about twenty-five COL
ored prisoners, and they were old servants
of white officers, and that all colored soldiers
were killed. This believe to be true.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DISASTER.
have unquestionable authority for say
ing that at least three times before the at
tack upon Fort Pillow, military authorities
In Memphis were notified that Forrest was
within forty miles of the Fort and preparing
for an attack. Why were not re-enforce-
ments sent upP One thousand infantry
would have rendered the post secure, and
the fort Is but seventy miles from Memphis.
Where Is Gen. Grierson? Since his celebra-
ted raid through the rebel States to Baton
Rouge, in which he managed to avoid any
fight, he has never found the enemy. He
went out in pursuit of Forrest, found him,
and, under pretense of being too weak to
attack him, retreated. Where is he now,
and what is he about? The country would
be glad to know.
The wounded had laid out on the cold
ground from the close of the fight Give
o'clock Tuesday evening", until ten the next
day, without the least attention being paid
to their sufferings or their wants.