The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-05-12
MistrllantONs.
THE MOST ryHUMly BUTCHERY TIE
WORLD EVER SAW.
The Rebel Massacre at Fort Pillow.
Special Cor. to the Chicago Tribonc.
CAIWo, April 18, 1864.

Special Cor. to the Chicago Trihnne.
CAIuo, April l9, 1864.
The atrocities com mitted by the Con-
federate troops at Fort Pillow, on the
o'casion of the recent massacre, has not
been fuly'spoken Of by the representa-.
tives of tho public press, for the very
good reason that. with the exception Of
tho two wounded officers now at Mound
City hospital, and the wounded privates
Of the 9th U. S (colored) Regular heavy
artillery, and 18Th Tennessee cavalry, no
man remains TO tell the story. OF course
the ideas Of the wounded pre somewhat
confused. | have taken considerable
pains TO arrive at clear and unimpqs
stoned understanding Of the whole affir
hnt until Yesterday with limited success
Accidentally meeting a gentleman by
tho name nf n. N. Rsvellc, who lost n
brother in the ish', aud who was himself
= participant although a civilian, pro
,rpd to take down az clear and concis e
a statement as possible of his individ-
nal experiences upon that bloody battle
Geld. Mr.. Revcle was engaged as clerk
in dry goods store at Fort Pillow when
the rebels came aud envroned the place,
and is man of considerable intelli.
gencc and of good reputation as to We.
racity' lie tells me that he is perfectly
willing to make affidavit regarding tho
facts within his knowledge Of the oc.
eurrences of tho 18th inst, and send
you his statement in my owD language.
The incidents, assure you, are literal :
ly as rel ted by Revelle in his converse.
tion with me, copious notes Of which |
took at the time.
STATEMENT OF II. N. REvELLE, ESQ.
According to Mr.. RevelIc, it was
about six O'Clock on the morning of the
18th, when I've was called upon to take
arms, with other citizens, in defense oi
the Fort, against tho troops of Forrest
then known to be in forco GU tside the
outer works. lie remained without the
walls of the fort, acting'iR the capacity
Of a sharp shooter until about nine
o'clock, when all we're ordered by Ma.
jor Booth 70 retire to the protection oI
the Notifications. While outside he
saw 1t. Barr fall, pierced by bullet,
also Ut. Wilson, who, it appears at that
time, was only wounded. Both were OF
the 18th Tennessee cavalry. Their bod
les were taken within the walls of the
fort. 1t was about half past nine, per.
hups little earlier, when our vOlun.
teer took position inside the walls and
resumed his muskcf, firing regularly
aud with good effect upon the rebel.
who were now within range.
HO had not thus been engaged many
minutes when bullet struck Major
Booth, Of the 9th COlored Heavy Ar.il
lery, then Copmander Of the forces, an j
be fell, dying almost instantly, the mis-
sils having pierced his heart. Mr. Rev,
ellie was standing not more than ten pa
ces from the Major. Iio was not sure
that he was dead when taken up ant
carried away, but he could not have
survived many minutes. The firing Oh
both sides at this moment was heavy
the rebels nsing only their musketry
and the Union forces delivering vollc,
after volley Of rhuskstry, and q contin
uous canuonade from the six or eigh
guns with which they we're provided.
The second d g Of truco was brough
in. by Gen Forrcst. in person. with
number Of his staff officers. Forrest dc
manded an--unconditiOnal surrender q
the garrison. Major Bradford, OF IN
18th Tennessee cavalry, having assum
ed command of the Fort, went out t
meet Forrest, conferred with him per
hspS fifteen minutes, and replied tha
be would not surrender. The place 0
conference was about City yards fron
the bre ast-wOrk', in a southcaster
ly direction.
Forrest told Mgjor Bradford, in
bullying manner, that he had bette
Give up, and thatif he did no. hs Woul
show no quarter. It is said that a.
Bradford asked was one hours time, i
which to confer with the Captain Q
gunboat No. 7. which was then lying j
the river, off the fort, but from tn
character Of the ground, entirely unabl
to render any assistance to the besiege
garrison. Tho request was refuse,
but for about an hour there was
partial If not complete cessation of &C
!, i've hOstiIities. The conFedoratss in