Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-04-20
Capture of Fort Pillow and
Butchery of ats Defenders by
the Rebels.

attacked on Tuesday morning, April IA
by 5000 rebels under Forrest. Soon afte
the attack Forrest sent a flag of truce de
manding the surrender of the fort ant
garrison; meanwhile disposing his force
SO as to gain a decided advantage.
Major Booth. of the 18th Tenneese'
cavalry, was in command. with 400 o
that regiment, and 200 of the LIST battal
ion Sixth U. s.. Heavy Artillery, formerly
First Alabama Colored Cavalry.
The flag of truce was refused and tbs
fighting resumed. Afterwards, a sec
ond flag came in, but was also refused
Both flags gave the rebels the advantage
of gaining q new position. The battle
kept up until 3. P. NJ, when Mai. Booth
was killed. Major Bradford then took
command.
The rebels now came in swarms, over
towering our troops and compelling theiI
surrender. Immediately upon surrender
ensued a scene which utterly battles de
scription. Up to that time comparative
ly few of our men were killed. But insa.
tiate as fends, blood thirsty SIS devils, the
incarnate Confederates commenced indis.
criminate butchery of whites and blacks,
including those of both colors previously
wounded. The black soldiers becoming
demoraliEed rushed to the rear, the white
officers having thrown down their arms.
Both white and black were ~bayoneted.
shot, or sabred, even dead bodies, and
horribly mutilated; children seven or
eight years old, and several negro women
were killed in cold blood. Soldiers una
| bic TO speak from wounds were shot dead,
their bodies rolled down the banks into
the river. The dead and wounded ne
groes we're piled in huts and burned, and
several citizens who joined our forces for
protection, killed or wounded. Out of
the garrison of six hundred, only 200 re-
manned.
Among our dead officers are Capt Brad.
ford, Lieuts. Braser, Ackenton, Wilson,
Rovei and Major Booth, all of the Wes-
tern Tenn, Cavalry, Capt. Poston, Lieut..
Logan, 18th Tenn, Capt. Young, Path
Mo-, acting Provost Marshal, wal taken
prisoner. Major Woodford was also cap
tured, but it is said that he had escaped;
it is feared, however, mat he has been
killed.
The steamer Platte Valley came up
about half-past three. and was hailed by
the rebels under a flag of truce. Men
were sent TO bury the dead and take
aboard such wounded as the rebels had
allowed TO live. 81 were taken aboard, in
Guiding Z or 8 colored. Eight had died on
the way up. The steamer arrived here
this evening. and was Immediately sent
to Mound City Hospital to discharge her
suffering cargo.
Among the wounded officers of the col
1rn1 trno-a 80 Ta-T porta- Tfar,f TIL
belts, Adjt. Lemming. Six guns we're cap.
tured by the rebels and carried of, includ-
ing two l0-pounder PARROTS, two l2-poun-
der howitzers, and a large amount of
stores we're destroyed or carried of. The
intention of the rebels seemed to be to
vacate the place and move towards Mem
phis.
Three negroes were buried alive by the
rebels at Fl. Pillow, making 5 in all; all
were wounded. They were forced to help
dig pits, and were then thrown in and
covered up.
Chalmers said to the Federal officers in
Platt Valley, that it was their intention
to show monterey to homemade Yankees,
meaning Southerners serving in the Un-
ion army, and negroes, but genuine YAM
KEGS would be treated as prisoners of war.
The negro soldiers, wounded at Fit. Pill
low were buried by the rebels, but after
wards worked themselves out of the grave
and were among those brought up on the
Platte Valley and are now in the Hospi-
tai at Mound City.
The officers of the Platte Valley ~receiv-
ed great credit from the military and all
for landing the boat below at i'm.
risk and taking our wounded, and
for kind and humane treatment towards
them on the way up, and doing every
thing possible to render aid and relieve
their suferings-
ST. LOUIS, April IS.
4 gentleman who was aboard the steam
er Platte Valley at Fort Pillow, gives even
a more appalling description of the fen
dishness of the rebels han our Cairo dis
Many of our wounded were shot in the
and the remainder driven out
and the hospital burned.
The morning after the battle the reb-
els went over the field and shot the ne
rroes who had not died from previous
wounds. Many of those who escaped
rom the works and hospitals, who desir-
ed TO be treated as prisoners of war. as
the rebels said, were ordered to fall into
when they were inhumanly shot
Town. OF $50 colored troops not more
han sc escaped massacre, and not one Of
icer that commanded survives. Only 4
officers of the 18th Tenn, escaped death.
rhe loss of the 18th Tenn, was IS killed,
md the remainder wounded and captur-
ID.
Chalmers told this Commissariat that
although it was against the policy of his
Government to spare negro soldiers and
he had done all in his power to
top the carnage; at the game time he be-
it was right.
Another officer said our white troops
Tould have been protected had they not
cen found on duty with negroes.
While the rebels endeavored to conceal
heir loss, it was evident that they had !
Uttered severely.
Col. Reed, commanding a Tennessee
was mortally wounded.
Two or three well filed hospitals were J
short distance in the country.