Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-04-22
FORT PILLOW.

The espturs of this position, By Gen Fok-
REsT. was not only 8 daring achievement 5u'
alan = severe blow to the enemy. The place
however. 4 Of no importance TO as, beyond
Che fact that BY It's downfall our enemy
Vas punished severely, and lost very heavily
In stores, etc. That Gen. FORREST would
not attempt to hold It We were well con-
vipced from the moment bis success was an
nouncsd, and for severAl good reasons coHse-
qasntIy We were prepared TO hear, as was an
nounced By the Memphis BElLstfz Of the losh,
that after destroying eli the property, etc, that
could not be removed, our forces retired, and
the Fedsrals landed from their gunbos.s on the
river, and again occupied the disnsntlod works.
Fort Pillow is far within the enemy's linss,
and easily reached by them by the river. By
this means they were enabled to transport
troops At pleasure, from any point on ths nTsF,
20 operate against Gen. FORREST, should be at
tempt 10 make q stand. Their riysT iron-clsds
could also be brought to operate in an stack
The fort had no guns mounted commanding the
river, a. he enemy, having to defend against a
rear attack only, had removed the guns oFigi-
nAlly mounted in the front batteries Against
Al attack by water, therefore, our forces could
not be expected to make = stand and IS We
had no troops to support those that made the
capture, within hundreds Of miles, and no sup
plies at hand, and the enemy, As before re-
marked, was able to cOncentrAte an oVerWhelm-
ing force, Gen. F. acted wisely in falling back,
Aaer having done all the mischief he could
To couecs sons erroneous statements We see
pubEshed, It may not be improper to state that
Fort Pillow was one Of the frat positions oceu-
pied BY our troops On the river, for blockade
purposes. The labor Of erecting the works for
that purpose was commenced early in the SUM
mar Of 1861. Columbus, Ky, was afterwards
occupied a. our most advanced post on the river,
but the works at Fsrt Pillow were completed
and many heavy gun mounted. The subse-
Queus history Of the war on The river Is an eng
ms that hss never been explained satisfactorily.
Columbus was eTscuRtsd By Gen. Polk, act
ing under orders from Gen. BEAUREGALD.
On taking possession the enemy Ct once
moved down the river, until stopped BY Al OPP
posing force at Island 10. Although our forces
At this peint were comparatively few in num-
bers, and the works Indifferent when compared
with those either at Columbus or Fsrt Pinoz,
resistance was made, end for many days . ter
risIe bombardmens, with but little loss to our
forces o. damage to the works, susued. Finally
the place was fAnked, and = surrender Of the
little garrison made = necessity. Moving on
down the river, the enemy expected to meet
with : stubborn resistance from the garrison in
toe sTong WINS VI FOEt FidS-. SoOh, ~lsO-
was the expectation Of the people At MsmPhis,
who rested in fancied security IS to the safety
Of the city. But, instead Of any defense being
made, IS expected by both sides, YmLEPIGUE
was ordered 20 retire with his command, By Gen.
BEAUREGARB, which be did reluctantly, ss be
expressed to the last moment his confidence in
his sbiity to hold it. The enemy took posses
sion Of The works the same evening, without:
firing sgun, snd St ssybreak he next morn
lag the Federal feet was in front Of Memphis,
10 the establishments and CONSERVATION Of every
body. The naval battle followed, in which our
feet was speedily EnnibilAtsd, when the city
was At the mercy Of the snemy's land forces,
who immediately landed, and the river was
open TO the irOn-clAd5, which at once steamed
down until they encountered the defsnsa At
Yicksburg.