The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-29

appear in the vicinity of Memphis, where they
can In effect do no more than at Columbus and
Paducah, and stand very fair chance indeed
of finding themselves surrounded by over
whelming forces.
CAIRO, April 16-The steamer Glendale
from Memphis yesterday morning, passed Fort
Pillow last evening. There was no appearance
of the enemy, and the river is all clear. Moth
ing remains of the fort The Glendale brought
900 bales of cotton for Cincinnati. No papers
or news from below. A number of steamers
are leaving here for the South.
From the Cairo Daily News, 10th.
Yesterday afternoon We visited the United
States Hospital at Mound City, and had an
interview with the wounded men from Fort
Pillow.
The Fort Pillow Wounded are doing much
better than could be expected from the terrible
nature of their wOunds-but one, William
Jones, had died, though Adjutant Learing and
Lieut.. John Fl. Porter cannot possibly long
survive. Of the whole number-fifty two-aH
except two soere shot or cut after they had sur
rendered They all tell the same story of rebel
barbarities, and listening to recital of the
terrible scenes at the fort, makes ones blood
run cold. They say they were able to keep
the rebels ut bay for several hours notwith-
standing the immense disparity of numbers,
ard but for their treachery in creeping up I'M
der the walls of the fort while truce was pend
ing, would have held out until the Olive Branch
arrived with troops, with whose assistance
they would have defeated Chalmers beyond
doubt.
so well were our men protected behind their
works that our loss was very trifling before
the rebels scaled the walls and obtained DOS
session. AS soon as they saw the rebels inside
the walls, the Federals ceased firing. knowing
that further resistance was useless: but the re-
bells confined firing, crying out, "Shoot them
fhnrp rto
Federals, with one or two exceptions, had
thrown down their arms in token Ofsurrender,
and therefore could offer no resistance; in vain
they held up their hands and begged their cap.
tors to spare their lives-but they were appeal
ing to fiends, and the butchery continued until
out of pear 600 men, who composed the garri-
son, but $50 remained alive, and of this num-
Der 62 were wounded, and nine dead in few
hours after. Col Bradford, of the LIST Alabama
cavalry, was an especial object of rebel hatred,
and his death was fully determined upon be-
fore the assault was made. After he had sur
rendered he was baselY shot, but having his
revolver still at his side, he emptied it among
a crowd OF rebels, bringing three of the scoun-
drelS to the ground. The massacre was acqui-
esced in by most of the rebel officers, Chal-
mers himself expressly declaring that "home.
made Yankees and negroes should receive no
q1arter!" One line officer, however, was not
so lost to all dictates of humanity. and exerted
himself to stop the slaughter. To this mans
noble eXertions are due most of the lives that
were saved. Several of the wounded said,
"he saved my life, God bless him!" His
name, if ever known, will be honored by all
loyal men, while they execrate the memory of
Chalmers and those who carried cut his fiend
ish orders.
The atrocities committed almost exceed be-
lief, and but for the fact that so many confirm
the stories, we could not credit them. One
hnry1 ,IoI y-oI re-
drel who was firing at him, to spare his life.
No! damn you!" was the reply; you fight
with niggers!" and forthwith discharged two
more balls into him. One negro was made to
assist in digging pit to bury the dead in, and
wss himself cast in among others and buried.
Fire are known to have been buried alive; of
these, two dug themselves out, and are now
alive and in the hospital. Daniel Tyler, of Co.
L, was shot three times, and struck on the
head, knocking out one eye. After this he was
buried, but not liking his quarters. he dug out.
He laughs over his adventures, ard says he is
one of the best dug-outs in the world.
Robert Hall, colored, was lying in bed in the
hospital at the Fort, sick and helpless, when
soldier came in and commenced cutting with
his sabre--three cuts went through his scalp,
cleaYing the skull and exposing the brain. The
poor fellow threw up his left arm to ward Off
the blows, end in doing SO lost part of his hand
Eli Cothell, cOlored, corporal Co. D, is man
Of considerable intelligence and two years
ago was a valuable piece Of property. lie
made his boast that he brought fourteen hun
q ed dollars when ''migger property was mighty
low" COthell was shot three times after he
had surrendered.
VIVA. JOrdon, cOlOred, was shot four times,
and lost one leg. He bears his misfortunc5
well, and will doubtless recover.
DR.. Wardner Gays the negroes exhibit Won
derful tenacty of life, and of the desperately
wounded at Fort Pillow nearly all will recover
Most of the white soldiers have several
wounds-several of them four or five. The
wounds are generally severe, but the men are
doing eX remedy well, and are in excellent
spirits. They feel quite proud Of defending
their fort so long against such overwhelming
numbers, and declare but for their treachery in
stealing up while negotiations were going on,
the rebels could not have taken the place in
daylight When asked about the conduct of
the negroes, they gave them great praise, say
ing they fought IS only brave men can fight.
The 18th Tennessee cavalry consisted of but
one battalion under Major Booth, who COM
manded the fort.
They numbered about 250 nen--95 were
taken prisoners, Twenty-Five are in the hospi-
tai, four or five escaped, and the rest lie buried
a5 Fort PillOw-nearly all of them massacred
after they had surrendered. These men all
tell the same tale, and recount the same hOrrd
story, and it is impossible to doubt the truth
of their statements. They are all Kentuckians,
Tennesseeans and GeOrg ans. Some few of
them haye families residing in this State, hay
ing come here to escape rebel prosecutions
We hope grateful government will take the
cases Ofthese brave men into special cOnsidera-
ticn, and place their families above want and
distress.
w. P. Walker. Sergeant company d, re-
ceived four wounds. and was robbed Of every
thing valuable on his person. d. w. Harrison
was shot three times, and robbed of $97 in
greenbacks and silver watch. James Walls
was wounded twice and robbed. Nearly all the
others were robbed; but few Of them, hOwev-
er, had much money upon their persons at the
time. James NJ. Taylor and Wiley Robinson
have four wounds EACH Taylor was shot three
times, and struck in the face with q musket.
Lieut.. Porter and Thomas j. Cartwright are
the only ones who were wounded before the
surrender. William James, of Co. A died yes
terday morning.
Many were driven into the river and drowned.
About four miles below the fort, lodged against
the trunk OF o tree, were seen by passengers OF
the Platte Valley, elk dead bodies. In another
place three bodies were seen. A number on
other bodies were seen singly on the links
GEN. McCLELLAN's DIsCIPLINE.-Sala, the
English correspondent says: When Gen. Nc
CIeilan was first put in command of the Poto-
mac host, he found that he was merely the
caief of an armed rabble. There was scarcely
any discipline and in many instances the OFF,
r. L.