The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-04-21
CAPTURE OF FIT. Pill
LOW.
TIvC REBELS MURDER THE
NJ q 40 SOLDIERS AFTER
RRENDEfl.
The Publications DESTROYED and
the Town Consumed.
CAIRO, April II.

The Platte Valley, which arrived
this evening from Memphis, passed TT.
Pillow undo, flag Of truce, the rebels
having possession. On Tuesday morn.
ing Forrest Chalmers and Mccullough,
with from 5000 to 5000 men, attack.
ed the fort, garrisoned by battalion
f the 18th Tennessee cavalry, mum
boring 300, and 200, negroes. Some
citizens also were inside, and fought
well. The women and children went
owe, on the island. The enemy hid
and fired frem behind the hills most Of
the time. They demanded surrender
three times without effect. At last
they formed in two columns, and made
direct assault. All the troops in the
fort fous ht like heroes until the rebels
were seen on the top Of the breast
works, when the negroes gave way and
ran down under the river bank. White
troops were ordered up to take their
place, but the derangment Of the lines
could not be re,ncdicd, and the enemy
poured in, forcing the Fcaerals back to
the river. Here they were compelled
t. give up. Gunboat No. I threw 24O
shells, but they did not do much dam
age to the enemy. The rebels took
three FOUNDERS. They founl them
spiked by our troops. They set fire to
everything cambustlc. burning all the
houses in tho twon. The negroes who
had taken refuge under the river bank
were shot as discovered, notwithstand-
ing the surrender. Some forty-ninc
white trpops were also shot and woun
ded after the surrender.
Major Both, commander Of the fort
was killed ea,!y in the action. Major
Bradford then took command, and was
taken prisoner, I, is reported that he
afterwards escaped.
The enemy took about 100 prisoners >,
and wounded IS. The remainder
were killed.
When the Platte Valley left last cv-
cning, the rebels were still there, though
they expressed no determination to re
main. All the dead had been buried
The citizens had returned. The tortiii
cations had been destroyed, and the
houses consumed.
The fight began at 8 in the morning,
and ended at 4 in the evening. The
18th Tennessee cavalry deserves the
highest praise fpr the braye manner in
which they fought. The rebel loss is
SECOND DISPATCH.
CAIRO, April Il.
Mnjor Bradford was wounded, and
seeing ne coul not hold out, though
ably seconded,,by agunboat, finally cap.
itulated at three in the afternoon. AT
ter an hour the enemy came in and cru
ely butcherel every colorcd soldier
they coull lay hands upon, and the
officers commanding companies.
After capitulation the rebels com
mcnced di>mountihy the works and
carrying off what guns were there, the
latter to be taken to Brownsville. IL
was supposed that Chalmers force
you'll quickly evuc,te the fort, and not
cndeavor to hold it.
Forrest had his horse shot, and was
himself wounded. Forrest acknowl
edged his loss to be large, and that no
more severely contested battle was
ever fought.
In all, in five companies Of the 18th
Tennessee cavalry, 81 were killed,
and wounded and taken prisoners.
The rebels also carried off lOl white
men and 90 or SO blacks as prisoners.
We omit the names Of the killed and
wounded except the following, which
il undoubtedly I. +. Bradford, esq.
formerly ofthis town. FL. Transcript. ]
Capt T. +. Bradford, of Toledo, Co,
18th Tennessee cavalry.